Chapter VII

Upon returning to his quarters, it had been a simple matter for Vhaldoq to confirm his fears by checking the recording made during his absence by the automated sensors. A single vessel had left the atmosphere; rising from the region Gavis had disappeared into during the early part of his stay. Which meant that others would have to find the older man and discover just what his plans were. Opening a channel using the secure communications network that his superiors had established, Vhaldoq was soon in touch with the Supreme Chancellor. "Commandant D'ukal," Palpatine said, "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"I am the bearer of bad news, your Excellency," Vhaldoq said, "My training ground had suffered an attack from an individual who infiltrated our ranks." "Do you have any idea who might be behind this?" the Supreme Chancellor asked. "His behavior leads me to believe he may have some connection to the Jedi, in which case our position here may be compromised. I am transmitting the sensor records that will aid in locating his ship," the commandant said. "Fortunately, I have a trusted agent in a nearby sector who should be able to begin a search for this person," Palpatine said, "Do you think it will be necessary to move the training grounds elsewhere?" "No, not yet, but perhaps in time," D'ukal informed him.

"Very well then, I look forward to reading your complete report," the older man told him, and a moment later his face faded away. Rising, Vhaldoq stepped to the door and sealed it from the inside. Then he went to his closet and removed a small holographic projector he'd only used a few times before. If anyone knew how to handle the suspicions his battle with Ideji might have raised, it would be his true master. Setting down the device on his desk, D'ukal activated it. Barely half a minute later, a familiar figure appeared.

"You have something to report?" the individual he'd contacted said without preamble. "Yes, Lord Sidious," Vhaldoq replied, "My position may not be easy to maintain for much longer. I have recently fought with a warrior skilled in the Force in full view of my students." "Indeed," the Sith Lord said, "Do you believe that this person was one of the Jedi?" "His behavior was unusual," D'ukal said, "And his tactics seemed to be those of a man who was used to using the Dark Side." "How many persons are aware of your abilities?" Sidious inquired. "I cannot say for certain," Vhaldoq admitted, "But I shall begin investigating that as soon as our discussion ends. I have already spoken with my official contacts in the Republic and they inform me that someone nearby will try to locate this person."

"Naturally, if this man is skilled with the Force, their efforts may fail," the Sith said, "And then that will arouse the attention of the Jedi, and perhaps lead them back to you." "The thought had occurred to me, my master," the younger man said. "We shall monitor these events closely," Sidious declared, "In the event that the efforts of the Republic do fail, my resources are more than adequate to deal with one man. You are wise to have informed me of this, Vhaldoq. I look forward to hearing the results of your investigation." The shadowy figure dissipated, and D'ukal rose and returned the holographic projector to its hiding place.

Whichever side of the war eventually proved victorious, Vhaldoq knew that he would be safe in the days to come. If, he thought, I manage to avoid exposure as a servant of the power behind the throne in the future. If only Gavis had known, Vhaldoq mused, just how right he was.


Baring his teeth at the approaching bounty hunter, Xlc'r lashed out with his tail in an attempt to throw the man to the ground. But the other managed to leap over the incoming mass of flesh and bone, the energy from his weapon slicing off a few of the alien's scales as his did so. The Duinuogwuin howled with rage and pain, tempted to rise in the air and try to crush the human beneath him. Somehow, Xlc'r knew that such a tactic would not prove successful. "Once, long ago you were a respected being," Zol Xarh said, "But a twist of fate robbed you of that heritage and turned you and Cayn away from your past." [Your lies mean nothing to me,] the Star Dragon said, eyeing the other's weapon tentatively. If I had a blaster, Xlc'r thought, I might be able to overcome him.

"They should," the bounty hunter claimed, "Or have you already forgotten the Battle of Dxun?" The Duinuogwuin paused, considering the other's words. He knew of the place and time Zol Xarh referred too, and while the mystery surrounding those events still troubled him from time to time, he didn't dwell on them. [I have forgotten nothing,] Xlc'r said, [Does your babble have a point?] There was the report of a blaster firing, and almost without thought Zol Xarh deflected it with his weapon and continued to speak, saying, "I was there, on the surface, when the plague struck. When the minds of all the Jedi above were the first to lose all memory of the ways things had been and were altered into the way a powerful man wished for them to be."

[What plague?] Xlc'r rumbled, certain that if he could catch the bounty hunter in a crossfire, the standoff would end. Then there was a crash from the rear of the landing field and his subordinate fell the ground and lay still. Adeyl appeared from behind the concealing frame of his ship, her weapon trained on the alien. "You forgot who you were and accepted the life you thought to be yours," Zol Xarh went on as though nothing had transpired, "Even Cayn no longer remembered that he was a Jedi Knight and son of Master Ulic Qel-Droma." [Now I know you are insane,] the Duinuogwuin said, [The man of whom you speak died centuries ago, as did his contemporaries.]

"Are you sure?" Adeyl called out, "Take a good look, Xlc'r. You may find out it is you who are wrong." The alien frowned, uncertain what she was talking about. The bounty hunter smiled, reaching up with a free hand and peeling aside the eyepiece he wore. [This is some sort of trick,] Xlc'r protested, unwilling to believe what he saw, [You must have altered your appearance.] "You are of course free to believe what you like, Master Xlc'r. However, that will not change the truth," the human said, "We don't have to be enemies." [What do you want of me?] the Duinuogwuin asked, [I cannot change the past.] "No, but the future is yet to be made," Adeyl reminded him, "I'm certain that together we can make a difference."

"I agree," the bounty hunter said, "This war hasn't finished its first year, so there is still time to sway the course of events." [Your goal is not possible,] Xlc'r stated, [The fate of the Republic and Jedi is inevitable. I've seen enough in my time to know that.] "You may be right," Adeyl said, "But we cannot assume that the worst will happen." "In the meantime, we should leave this world. Before anyone learns that I am here," the man who'd called himself Zol Xarh said, his eyes locked with those of the Star Dragon. [I will not reveal your identity,] Xlc'r told him, [But I will not join your efforts at this time either. My instincts tell me that your efforts to stop the end of this government will prove futile.]

"That may be," the bounty hunter told him, "But I refuse to simply give up without a fight. And if the Republic does fall, something will replace it. Your assistance may then be needed." [Until then, Exar Kun,] Xlc'r said, speaking the true name of the man who stood before him. Kun smiled, replaced his eyepiece and walking off with Adeyl following behind him. Carrying his subordinate onto his ship, Xlc'r couldn't help but wonder about the circumstances of the next meeting he would have with Kun. One thing was certain, the alien decided, the future still held many surprises for them both.


Tending to the few wounds he'd received in the battle with the insane duplicate had taken only a brief amount of the time that had followed his victory. Of course, if Cyfik had not intervened, the Wookiee knew, there might not have been a victory at all. Now, the Empress Saveq and her husband had accompanied him back to his shuttle, undoubtedly waiting to hear his decision regarding the nature of the report he would make to the Supreme Chancellor. [The refinements you were investigating obviously need further study,] Rkvzlnmara stated, [I will be sending information on your research to my superiors, with the stipulation that actual mass development of any such technology should take place elsewhere.]

"So, you will respect our wishes not to become involved in this war?" Saveq inquired. [For the time being, we have the luxury of doing so,] the alien told them, [However, circumstances may change and your involvement may become a matter of your own survival. Will you be retaining any of the technology here on the surface?] "We have one prime clone that we believe is stable enough to be allowed to develop," Cyfik told him, "The others will be taken care of." [I hope you do not have another incident like this,] the Wookiee said. "The prime clones we consider to be potentially unstable will be shipped off-world in a vessel piloted by a droid and head out to a distant world in the Unknown Regions," Saveq said, "It seemed to be the most effective way to be rid of them without executing them for crimes they haven't committed." Rkvzlnmara nodded, and boarded his ship, sealing the ramp behind him.

When he got to the cockpit, he saw that the ship had received a transmission earlier that morning. Activating the hologram pod built into the console, the Wookiee soon saw the figure of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine resolve itself. "My loyal servant," the Supreme Chancellor said, "There has been an attempt to damage or destroy one of the facilities that train the Republic guards in a nearby region of space. I am sending data that will allow you to identify this vessel. It was last reported to be heading towards a jungle world called Vansant En. Find & question this person, & if necessary, dispose of him. The safety of the Republic may be at stake." The recording ended, & Rkvzlnmara started the engines & was soon rising from Ilthmar; heading off on a new assignment.