A new batch of recruits had just arrived to the New Republic facility on the planet of Felucia.

Going through the papers of the recruits, Colonel San'her found a group of interesting recruits. Writing their names down, he called in one of the guards.

"Captain Rert, find these recruits. Have them ready by midnight on the training course", he handed the datachip.

Rert saluted, "Yes sir".

--

Training Course, Near Midnight, Felucia

Rert arrived with the recruits in time, "Sir, what is your intention?", he carefully asked.

"This is the new Sapphire Force, Captain. And you will lead them", San'her approached the line up. "From left to right, you have Tana Ohil, Lucir Hea, Kana Wing, and Rann Kicelorn", passing each as he mentioned their name.

Rert raised an eyebrow, "Kicelorn? As in General Kicelorn's son?"

San'her nodded and smiled, "He asked for it as his retirement gift that his son should be in the reborn Sapphire Force". He continued back to his first position.

"Your first assignment will be to follow up on a lead from a secret source. Rodian mercenary, Ikni San'th, escaped our prison facility on Kashyyyk four day ago. He was apparently spotted hanging around on Yavin 4. Hea and Ohil, go to the Kicelorn Retreat and see if the General has heard anything"

San'her turned to Rann and Kana, "You two will infiltrate a compound in the jungle. Of course you'll need to pose as a couple, but i suppose that wont be a problem?".

"Of course not, Sir", Kana assured him.

"Good," he paused before continuing "You will leave tomorrow morning before the sun goes up. Dismissed".

Lucir stopped Rann as he was heading away, "You're lucky"

"Excuse me?"

Lucir let go of his arm, "Kana is sweet. She used to work for the Kuat Shipyards, but her boss weren't too fond of her, and gave her a chance. She declined"

Rann turned around, "And you know this from...?"

"I have sources, you know", Lucir passed him.

--

Kicelorn Retreat, The following day.

Thirty years had passed since the Empire's defeat at Yavin. During the time between his exile from the core, and the destruction of the first death star, Zach had been working with the rebellion in secrecy.

Akramar, the ship of Lucir Hea, descended onto landing pad of the Kicelorn Retreat.

Tana looked out the window, "Looks overgrown and abandoned" she remarked.

"It's supposed to be that way. It used to be an Alliance hideout, but the Empire found it. Luckily General Kicelorn was out at that time. But his wife, Shelit Kicelorn, and Rann were at home. According to himself, Rann hid in a secret room under the house, but Shelit had disappeared before he knew it", Lucir explained and turned on the cloak of the ship.

Tana looked suprised, as she turned to Lucir.

Confused, Lucir carefully asked, "What?"

"Shelit Kicelorn was a Twi'Lek, so why doesn't Rann have a Lekku like she did?"

Lucir grinned, "It's a miracle really. Apparently, Rann is more Human than Twi'lek. But he somehow maintained the telepatic abilities of the Twi'lek. Now, let's better go see Zach"

They both left the ship, closing the ramp.

--

Burhet Compound, Jungle of Yavin IV

Kana leaned over the table, "So, you see, we need Mister San'th to execute the job. Otherwise it won't be done"

The Sullustan nodded, "I can see that. But i'm afraid San'th is unavailable at the moment"

Loosing his patience, Rann drew his knife and put it to the Sullustans throat, "Tell us where he is now, or you'll never speak again"

Shocked, Kana backed off and locked the door.

"All right! He's somewhere in the Jungle. I think he said he was going to finish a job at the Kicelorn Retreat", he admitted.

Unable to maintain his anger, Rann forced the knife into the Sullustan's leg and turned to Kana, "Come on, we've got to hurry! Lucir and Tana may be in danger"

Kana nodded and unlocked the door, leaving the room as a shot was heard. Rann followed and holstered his pistol.

--

The door was open when Tana and Lucir arrived. In preparation, Lucir put safety off his carbine rifle and checked the surroundings. Kana took her pistol and ventured inside.

She noticed signs of a battle, and abit of blood on the floor. The trail led to a door which had been sealed shut.

She took her commlink, "Lucir, i think General Kicelorn may be hurt. Get the medical equiqment from the ship"

"Affirmative", he responded.

Tana noticed a ventilation shaft on the balcony pumping fresh air into the bedroom where Zach was. Removing the front, she was able to catch a glance of a person on the bed, bleeding.

Instead of waiting, she took her sonic charges and placed them on the wall. Detonating them, the wall was blown inwards, barely missing the bleeding person.

"General!", Tana shouted as she ran up to the bed, only to find him dead from the loss of blood. She turned around, aiming her pistol at the hole as she heard someone approaching.

"Rann?", she asked as he burst through the rubble and ran up to the bed.

Leaning over his fathers body, he stared at the mark on his arm.

"Rann, what's wrong?" Tana asked, also noticing a mark with two knives corssing a skull.

Sighing, Rann looked at her, "This is the symbol for the Kultrian Collapse. It is said that members of this cult was exterminated millions of years ago," he took a brief pause before continuing, "But rumours recently surfaced that followers had started to appear. The man that betrayed my father, Fancitti, was an opposer of this cult"

Kana and Lucir both appeared in the dust behind Rann.

"By the suns of Tatooine...", Kana turned her eyes to the floor. Lucir dropped the kit and slumped against the wall.

After a moment of silence, Lucir suddenly pulled back from the opening, "Mourn later, Rann. Ikni San'kh is here". Lucir backed against the wall.

Kana and Tana both covered behind the bed, while Rann just stood by the bed with his DH-17 blast pistol ready.

They heard footsteps approaching the opening, followed by San'kh appearing.

"Ikni San'kh, you're under ar-", Lucir was interrupted by the fire from Rann. The Rodian walked backwards, staring at his chest before finally falling over the railing and off the cliff.

Kana disarmed Rann and knocked him down, "What's wrong with you?! You're not even crying!", she exclaimed. Lucir managed to stop her from further hurting Rann though.

"Calm down, Kana. Rann uses his Twi'lek side to master his emotions. Trust me, he's much more powerful that way", letting go of Kana, Lucir took a quick glance at Rann before leaving the room.

Rann sat up on the bed and Tana carried out Zach's body, leaving Kana to clean up the mess.