Lor Alandrek was having one of the worst days of his life. Not only had his facilities been hit, then what were in those facilities were broadcast planet wide. It was an illegal broadcast, but his people couldn't figure out where the source had come from. That notwithstanding, his next problem came in the operation. It rested on the precipice of disaster, and the bounty hunter sent to do one job was acting like everything was fine.

It wasn't fine! Governor Starfielder was on his back. Her person had disappeared, and forget that she disappeared under her own volition, following an outlaw. No, the governor wanted answers, and yesterday. Normally he would suggest things he might know, things that shouldn't get out.

However with the illegal broadcast, there were murmurs in the planetary council about his last few budgets. Too many of the wrong people, were now interested in the wrong things about his tenure at the Security Forces. Even worse, some of those he had intimidated in the past had grown spines. Leave it to the Jedi to mess everything up.

This though was the worst by far. He would have to play it safe, keep his hands clean. He'd get through this, maybe have to rebuild a few political walls and bridges. Nothing too bad if this all panned out right. Catch the Jedi, kill him and make him the de facto scapegoat for all the ills. That was one thing Lor was sure of, no matter what the Jedi was going to die. If could extend that death over several painful sessions, the more the better.

Squadron Commander Flynn Starstriker was piloting a modified air speeder across the Terra'Den sky. He hadn't been in one of these since they had been converted to snow speeders on Hoth. He was definitely flying a lot slower than he was back then, mostly because the big boss wanted every available pilot in the air and searching.

Why was being kept on a need to know, and headquarters almost told him that he didn't need to know. He had to remind them that if he wasn't able to give his people what to look for, headquarters could expect a report on every fowl, flying mammal and aurora borealis that came into their field of vision. They saw reason at that point and told him about the missing person from the Governor's office.

The Brass didn't say anything about it being a meeting, but after the illegal broadcast everyone had seen, it wasn't hard to guess. Someone had gone to investigate or meet with whomever had sent that holo. Flynn had to admit that it had disturbed him too. He could see in them every one of his people or friends lost in the fight against the Empire.

That was why he was trying not to think about it. The more he did, the more his heart burned, and the more he wanted to know. Things like this were better left unknown, due to the fact they tended to push people to one side or another. If he found out that the Security Forces were indeed holding citizens illegally, he'd be bound by oath to resist. Like anyone who entered into the military, there was an oath to defend against enemies foreign and domestic.

Krayt 4 and 5 were in their own modified air speeder. Commander Starstriker had taken 6 as his second seat. Normally it would be wing man with flight lead. Krayt 1 and 2, then 3 and 4, 5 and 6, etcetera. Krayt Leader normally didn't get to fly with his people except in training, and that title normally fell to whomever was flying as Krayt 1. In the rare instances that he did fly with his people, Krayt 1 and 2 became his wingmen, and he their flight lead. Technically it was an Imperial formation, but it allowed him to fly.

Krayt 2 and 7 were seeming to get along just fine. Sometimes with pilots they tended to get a little egocentric, and certain egos didn't mesh well together. These two had been doing great, even cutting up across the comm channel. Normally he'd allow this, but Krayt Leader needed the comms clear. The Brass would be listening in, and they tended to have a different opinion onto what professional was.

"Boss, this is nothing but a needle in a haystack," Krayt 5 said behind Flynn.

The experienced pilot cut his copilot a reproachful glare, "Just keep your optics up. It'll be dark in about an hour, so go ahead and switch to the higher frequencies. Maybe we'll get lucky."

Below them Krynn drove the black luxury speeder through an underground tunnel. It started in an old, ancient building. It was from a time when they still used brick and mortar instead of durasteel. The door though to its large garage opened with the fluid speed of modern work. Just as quickly the floor opened up to reveal the tunnel that the speeder disappeared into.

A few blocks away the speeder reappeared coming out of a more modern building, but still one built before the time of the Empire. It was a gleaming work of art, polished durasteel meeting crystalline glass. Krynn guided it back onto the street, merging and blending with traffic.

He continued on with this route for several blocks, before turning into an alleyway again. The speeder continued to the end of the alley, were a fence cut off access to the other side. From where he sat, he could see their destination. His passengers in the back wouldn't though, and he had made so many turns, that even a trained spy would have a hard time remembering them all. Well he hoped he had, he'd never actually chauffeured a spy around before.

The speeder sat for a moment before the road beneath it split away, revealing a large speeder sized elevator. The unit attached itself to the speeder and gently pulled it down. The road closed over the sinking speeder, till nobody but the most observant could see where the opening was.

What surprised Krynn the most, were that all these secret entrances and tunnels had been so largely forgotten. They had been used in the Clone Wars, and later against the Empire. Yet, there appeared to be no public record of them in the Security Forces databases. He knew several of the officers in higher positions had been part of the resistance on Terra'Den during this time. Yet, it seemed they had forgotten them wholly.

Krynn didn't take that for granted, another thing his teacher had drilled into him. Just because something looked like one thing, didn't mean it always was. Boy, that one had been a tough lesson to learn. How many times had he thought he was doing right, only to find out that his actions had unintended consequences. Although that was also how he'd gained his best ally, Lorn Haro.

Finally at their destination, Krynn and Selena opened the doors for their guests. Still wearing their coverings, both motioned for Kelon and Jess to step out. Kelon went for his weapons, but Krynn firmly reminded him that this was an unarmed meeting. He also knew that the bounty hunter probably had some items on that that could be weapons. Maybe a cable launcher in the wrist gauntlet, possibly a dart launcher as well. The Jedi wasn't going to fault him for those though, he had his lightsabers after all.

"This is a safe place for those we rescued," Krynn said as he led them into the next room.

Where the first room was large enough to be a personal garage, the next one was surely part of a factory or military base. The roof was easily two to three floors on a normal building, and it ran longer than it was wide, barely. The roof was curved and clearly made form industrial durasteel. There were small windows that dotted around the complex, bringing a soft light in to illuminate the area inside. Above hung several rows of staggered lights, the better to illuminate the large building.

The one thing that caught the newcomers attention though, were beds and beds of the rescued being treated by medical personnel. Each of them were given a cot, and warm, utilitarian blanket and two pillows to rest on. Those that could move around, were asked to help out with those that couldn't. They acted as impromptu nurses and caregivers, when they were needed. Other times they were companions and someone to talk to.

Jess impatiently scanned each bed as they walked towards the rescued. She noticed each doctor or nurse wore surgical masks and head coverings, obscuring their images like the Jedi had. She filed that away for later, she wasn't looking for who they were. No, she felt something in her heart, a dreadful feeling of dread and hope. Her niece, would she be okay, was she still alive, what had happened to her? Like a maelstrom these thoughts warred in her head.

She was even relieved when Kelon put a gentle hand on her shoulder. She turned to see why, when she saw the Jedi beckoning her down a particular row of cots. Jess quickly followed and nearly ran into the other Jedi when the first one stopped. He brought his hand around to show her the occupant of the bed, resting peacefully.

"Lyra!" Jess cried.

For one instance there were no other people there. It was just her and her niece, long lost, thought dead, but alive. Jess crumbled next to her sleeping niece, taking her hand in her own. She felt the warmth, the life in that small hand. It had been tested, nearly extinguished, but it remained.

She couldn't speak, couldn't cry, all she could do was hold her niece. A lightness of being came back to her, as if a burden she had carried for so long lifted. Eyes closed she murmured things that would be words, if any language could ever truly give words to the emotions of the heart. Jess couldn't stand, wouldn't sit, and nothing else mattered. Lyra was alive!

When she finally reopened her eyes, darkness had fallen and her sleeping niece was starting to rouse. Little eyes adjusted and instantly became big as she recognized her aunt, crouched beside her. With no heed for any medical devices hooked up to her, the young Twi'lek girl leaped into her aunt's loving embrace. Family was reconnected, and while they did, Krynn led his guests back. Better to give them some privacy, even if it is such a small act.

Inside his suit, Kelon flipped the switch on the tracking device he had put on the speeder. Even with his ship locked up, he could still access its computer, and he erased the log of their journey. Even if Lor's people were to board his ship, they would be unable to find any evidence of where the Jedi had taken him.

After seeing the Jedi make good on his promise, coupled with the humanity he was showing towards two lost souls, he had earned a little leeway with Kelon. The feeling was apparently mutual as Jess finally came over to speak with the Jedi. Before Krynn could react, she threw her arms around him, holding him tightly and whispering thanks.

Krynn for his part took it in stride. His studies had taught him how to defend against an array of attacks. The one thing it hadn't prepared him for was an impromptu hug, from a grateful person. He also knew it felt good, because this was from the heart. She was truly thanking, even though he didn't expect it. This must be what it feels like to be a real Jedi, he privately thought to himself. Making a difference to those who need the help, to bring balance back.

Jess finally released him, "I'm not going to apologize. Right now I'm not sure what to feel, there is so much going through my head."

Krynn nodded, "The doctors say she should make a full recovery. You said her name was Lyra? That is a pretty name."

"Yes, it was a name my sister and I had said we'd name one of our children when we grew up," Jess explained. "When she died, and the Security Forces told me Lyra had too.."

"I'm sorry that they lied to you," Selena said, wrapped the Twi'lek into a comforting embrace.

Krynn shook his head, "I believe it was Lor Alandrek and his SPINTAC, but I'm not sure how many of the regular officers are part of this. We found her when my friend and I were escaping Security Force Head Quarters."

"Why though? What danger could a child be to the Surpreme Commander?" Jess asked. "Our family is nothing, I'm the first one to hold any sort of power, and that's because I serve the Governor."

Kelon interjected, "He said earlier because she could touch the Force."

"That's impossible!" the Twi'lek woman snarled. "She is just a little girl, full of life. She's innocent. Her biggest concern is bringing a smile to her friends' faces."

"Deeply empathetic," Selena started, "keen to other's moods and sensitive to those around her. Have you ever noticed that wild life or plants seemed to thrive around her? Maybe a sense of familiarity with people she's never met, or a greater sense of joy around her?"

"Well yes, she always seemed to get along with little mirrels," Jess answered and she felt her stomach drop as she thought more about it. "She always knew when I needed cheering up, sometimes calling me on the comms for no reason. Her friends love her, when they thought she was gone, her whole class was out for several days. Even the teachers couldn't stand to go back to school."

"She has the gift then," Kelon said.

He knew for sure now that he wasn't going to get paid. He couldn't bring this Jedi in, not when so much had been risked to free the wrongfully imprisoned. The only question that would cement this, was how could he be sure that the Jedi hadn't set this whole thing up? Somehow he knew that was the case, but he had been wrong in the past. It never hurt to verify.

"You are wondering if I'm deceiving you," Krynn said. He could feel the turmoil inside the bounty hunter brewing. "Review the data stick. You can copy it if you like, let her take one copy and you another. You'll find the data on there came from the facilities and Security Forces Head Quarters."

"If you have proof, this could bring down Security Forces," Jess realized the sombering thought. "Especially if you have proof Supreme Commander Alandrek is involved."

"He is the only one that could authorize such set ups," Krynn explained. "However I don't have enough to tie it to him directly. I'm hoping the last site we went to liberate does have that evidence. However, I can't get in without a major battle and loss of life."

"Aren't you Jedi invincible?" Jess asked, and immediately regretted it. It sounded more callous than she would have liked.

Krynn didn't seem to have taken offense, "No, Jedi are just people. We can interact with the Force, but we can be killed. It isn't my death I'm concerned with. If we go in with lightsabers swinging, guards could be killed, we could be or those loyal to Lor could start murdering the people we came to save."

"I want to see them free too, but not at the expense of their lives," Selena spoke up. "My teacher and I came looking for students, to bring back an Order that would serve the Force and the Galaxy. Instead they arrest me, while my master was taken by pirates. If this is one small way of making things right, then maybe that'll lead to a way for me to find her."

Jess turned away, then back to the two Jedi, "I'm not sure what help I can be. Whatever I can do, I'll do it. However I can help."

"Have the Governor investigate the prison on that data stick," Krynn said. "In there are more people like your niece, and I'm not sure of their condition. I've worked outside the law long enough to gather this much information, if she is an ally, it's all hers."

"I will, she will want to know about this," Jess sighed. "All this time, hidden under our noses. Why would he do all of this?"

"That is the million credit question," Kelon interjected. "What's the plan, Jedi?"

Lightyears away, a cold descends on Ariana Noble. She is still bound, her arms ache, in a way that makes her wish they would just fall off. The temperature of the room is kept chilly, perfect for high energy computers, no so much for a tortured person. She can feel a dark shadow coming. The Dark Siders have returned, and probably to cause her more pain.

The teacher excels at trying to humiliate her. He mocks her devotion to the Force, more precisely to her reliance on the Light. More than once she has felt Lightning tear through her, or felt pressure around her neck. Other times he tests her will by tearing secrets out of her head. Ariana's will hasn't failed her, but each time he gets closer and closer.

Her one weakness is that she knows he wasn't formally trained. The one who taught her was old, and had started to lose his knowledge. Still she had all of his books and records to review. With what she had, she had done her best to live up to the legacy of the Jedi. It was all being tested, and she was afraid she was failing all those had come before her. The only small victory she held, the one thing the Dark teacher wouldn't get from her, the fact that her student was out there.

That brought a smile to her face, Selena was out there. The young woman was smart, and every so often she could feel her student. She seemed safe, and her abilities were growing. There was something around her, obscuring and at times amplifying her in the Force. Ariana couldn't make out what, or who it was. She was only glad that her student was safe.

Ravanus Set saw the weak smirk on his Jedi captive. He tilted his head as if curious about that reason, and then let Force Lightning flow through him. The woman screamed as the intense physical pain slammed into her at once. He bent over as she fell into her bindings, his own mouth a twisted, evil, corrupted version of what any other person would call a grin.

"You see Nyrom," Ravanus moved behind the trapped Jedi. "They cling to the weakness of the Light. See how this could all end if she were to call up on the Dark Side. How simple it would be to destroy her bindings, rip the door from its frame and slaughter every guard from here to the hangar."

His student was watching intently, nothing on his face but a relaxed mask. Beneath that mask was a whirling maelstrom of anger, hatred, fear, and rage. Oh his student's rage poured off of him, but not a physical sign was to be seen on his placid face. Soon, it would be time. Soon they would return to his planet, and vengeance would be his on those people. Those who had cast him out, hunted him, and let him for dead.

"How do you think someone like her would treat those on your world?" Ravanus snarled. "She'd probably try to talk with them, mediate with them even as they burned you at the stake. All because she could not stand up and grab the power you have. Show her your power, let her be the surrogate for those who hounded you from your home!"

Nyrom looked at the woman, this Jedi fool. Even now, beaten and defeated, she had that smug air of being above this all. She should join them, liberate those like him, but his teacher was right. She'd be held back by politics, and her refusal to harness the power of the Dark Side. This Jedi was beneath him, beneath his master, and he didn't see why they kept her like this. It wasn't like they were getting any valuable intelligence from her.

"It would be like stomping on a baby bird, Master," Nyrom growled. "I seek a challenge."

"Ah! My student, you must build up your hate," Ravanus said. "Empathy and sympathy will make you weak. You will soon have your challenge, and your vengeance." He turned to Ariana, "See, Jedi, my student here. I found him in an alley as a child. His fear was great then, but so was his hate. The people of his world feared him, feared that one day someone like him would enslaved them. How funny it is that they created that person. When we get back to his planet, I'll have the guards set up a holo for you, so you can see what a real warrior is.

The Force is a weapon, a tool to be used against those that harm you, but you Jedi coddle it. It is there for us to take up and use its power to bring order to the Galaxy."

"If that is true," Ariana said weakly, "I feel for your student. If I had found him, he would have been protected, trained and turned into a knight. Instead you have turned him into a weapon to be disposed."

"Now, now, Jedi, that is where you are wrong," Ravanus sent another bolt of lightning shooting through her. "He's my finest creation. Youth, power, and the will to use it. I foresee him being even greater than I! Just not yet, the poor boy still needs so much tutelage. The cursed weakness will be gone when his vengeance is complete."

Ariana used her remaining strength to pull her head up. No matter how much she hurt, no matter how much she suffered, she was a Jedi. She may not be able to fight him saber to saber, but she wasn't giving up. She called on the Force, feeling it flow through her, repairing the damage the lightning had done. She still felt exhausted, but the currents of the Force lifted her spirit.

"Your power is that of death and destruction," she spat. "You know nothing of the Force, or the miracles it can do."

She screamed again as Ravanus set the lightning back onto her, and kept screaming for several minutes. When she finally did, the dark embrace of unconsciousness slipped over her. Into her subconscious she lapsed and for a brief moment she could have sworn there was a blazingly brilliant figure standing over her.

Lor Alandrek was staring at his absolute worst nightmare. In his hands was an order to prepare Styx Prison for inspection. Worse, it was a personal inspection by the Governor herself. His first question was why, what had she been told, and who had told her? Was she aware of what was in that prison?

Ever since the Jedi had attacked the two facilities, Lor had been worried. With how close the Jedi had come, he knew there had to be a leak. The extent of that leak was now becoming increasingly obvious. The Governor couldn't find out what was going on, and he knew it was time to plan for the eventuality that she learned too much. Nobody could prevent his plans, even if it meant they had to disappear.

The problem was that making a Governor vanish wasn't as easy. She was demanding her security team have access, and she wanted a team to go in with her. Still prisons were dangerous, and things happened from time to time. It would be messy, but things also went missing during riots. The question then was how much she knew, how much was out there, and what it would take to clean all this up.

No matter what happened, after this was all settled, he needed to find the leak. Either someone was helping the Jedi, or they had infiltrated the Security Forces. That was the only way to explain the recent attack and this sudden interest by the Governor. It raised the question of which one of his people were sympathetic. He'd have to root them out, then remove them.

"Gast!" Lor called. "I need you to get a group ready. The Styx Prison is about to visited. I want you to make sure that the Governor is taken care of, I have a feeling something bad is going to happen."