I'm not going to promise faster updates because I'll probably make myself a liar, but the ideas are finally flowing easier now. My problem is, I know exactly where I want to end up at certain points in the story...I just want to make sure that getting there makes sense as well as being interesting to read! Things are going to start deviating from the OC in significant ways now, I think, just to give fair warning. And I really love all the reviews, and I seriously do take them to heart, so please keep them coming:)

Chapter Nine – Not So Warm Welcome

"Tell me I'm not going to jail again," Atton groaned under his breath.

Aeryn shot him a warning glance as the Telosian security unit closed in around them, and the scoundrel fell silent as they were escorted to the detention center. Once inside, Lieutenant Grenn, a somber, aging man with a face lined by hardship, motioned them toward a row of empty force cages.

"You have got to be kidding me," Aeryn muttered, but moved toward the cages in spite of her reluctance. "We're not a threat to you, for Force sake. Is this really necessary?"

"I am sorry," Grenn responded, though Aeryn was inclined to believe he felt not one iota of remorse. "As I said, this is only temporary until we can arrange for more suitable living quarters." The moment the three entered the cages, he activated them, then said shortly, "Now if you will excuse me."

Grenn and his security detail silently filed out, leaving Aeryn, Atton and Kreia with only the gentle hum of the force cages for company.

After an awkward silence, Atton finally turned a burning stare on Aeryn and snapped, "Why in the hell did you tell them we were at the facility? Are you out of your damned mind? Do you have any idea what they'll do to us if they think it was our fault!?"

Aeryn was momentarily startled into silence by his vehemence, and when she finally began to respond, Kreia answered for her instead. "They already knew. As it were they would still have taken us into custody. Although…" the old woman tilted her head toward the Exile, "I do question the wisdom of such candor."

Aeryn stood gaping at her companions for a moment before setting her jaw determinedly. "I'm no liar," she growled, her anger barely restrained. "You said yourself that they already knew, so what exactly would be the point of lying to them? At least they can't say we didn't tell the truth from the beginning."

"Yes, perhaps," Kreia said thoughtfully. "Though it is a naive notion." Without waiting for a response, Kreia lowered herself into a meditating position on the floor of her small cell and proceeded to ignore the other two.

With a weary sigh, Aeryn avoided Atton's fiery gaze as she too sat down and leaned back against the small wall that was the only portion of the cage safe to touch. Atton soon followed suit, producing the ever-present deck of Pazaak cards from his vest and dealing himself a game. After only a few moments of silence, Aeryn felt her eyelids drooping as sleep called to her.

Aeryn wasn't sure how long she had been asleep when she was jolted awake by the detention center door opening, but it could only have been a few moments as Atton did not appear to have progressed far through his deck. Atton and Aeryn warily watched the lone security officer enter the room, though Kreia remained deep in her meditations. Barely sparing them a sidelong glance, the officer paused in the doorway for a moment before closing and sealing the door behind him. The look in his eyes when he turned back toward them sent chills down Aeryn's spine.

"Well, well," the man purred, his voice dripping with mockery as Aeryn and Atton slowly stood up inside their cages, "if it isn't the famous Jedi. You've got quite the price on your head, my dear." His eyes traveled the length of her body as he clicked his tongue and shook his head. "What a shame, really. They've specifically requested you…undamaged."

"Hey, watch how you talk to her!" Atton snarled before Aeryn had a chance to respond. "You scum never know how to talk to a woman, you know that? Ever try picking on someone your own size, chump?"

The bounty hunter bit out a bark of laughter as he eyed Atton contemptuously. "You? My size?" He laughed harder. "You must be joking. The Exchange only hires the best bounty hunters and assassins, and I can assure you I am more than a match for the likes of you."

"Oh, yeah?" Atton shot back. "Then prove it, tough guy. Let me out of this cell and fight me like a man."

The other man stood smirking at Atton, a soft chuckle rising in his throat, a sound that worried Aeryn deeply. "Tempting, I assure you," he murmured. "However, I am afraid I have little time for such…barbaric means." He turned purposefully to the control console.

"I can't believe this," Atton muttered in disgust. "You're going to overload our cages and make it look like an accident. Wow, some almighty assassin you are."

The man's eyes flashed with fury as he sneered, "Mock me if you like, fool. It will be you who dies first, then the old woman. This one," he nodded toward Aeryn, "will survive with mild injuries…thanks to my 'timely intervention.'" An evil smile spread across his face. "All according to plan."

Aeryn's eyes snapped to a faint shimmering outline just behind the assassin only a split second before a soft, female voice said, "Sorry buddy. Your plan doesn't quite mesh with mine."

The man whirled on the cloaked person, but before he could raise his weapon, blood erupted from his nose as an invisible palm crushed into his face. As if in slow motion, Aeryn could hear the bones splinter as they were forced upward into his brain with a sickening crunch. The would-be assassin reeled backward, horrific gurgling noises emanating from his broken face, before he slumped into a twitching heap at the base of the console.

There was breathless silence for a moment before their unknown benefactor finally disabled her stealthfield generator. She was small, barely over five feet tall, and covered from head to toe in a Jedi-like robe, the cowl pulled low over her eyes. Without a downward glance, she stepped over the lifeless body and stopped in front of Aeryn's cell, her eyes sparkling from the shadowy depths of her hood.

"I can't believe it," she finally said, her tone low and thoughtful. "He was right for once. It's really you. But I still can't believe it."

Aeryn struggled for her voice as she tried to take in the terrible death she had just witnessed. "I-I'm sorry," Aeryn finally managed with a rueful attempt at a half-grin. "I don't know who you are…but I certainly hope you're not an enemy."

The woman gave a small chuckle as she said, "I hope so, too." She watched Aeryn frown in confusion, then continued, "I don't have time to explain right now. I have to get scarce before Grenn comes back, but…well…." She started to reach for her cowl, hesitated, then finally pushed it back from her face to reveal sharp, pale blue eyes set into deeper bright blue skin that covered her face and lekku.

"Mission," Aeryn breathed in shock, immediately recognizing the young woman from the many stories Revan had told of her. The petite twi'lek looked understandably older than Revan had described, and there were frown lines around her mouth and eyes that indicated that the last few years had not been kind to her.

"Look," Mission said with sudden urgency, "he's going to have my hide for showing you who I am, but I don't think you're here to hurt anyone. So I'll take the heat for it. There's a lot we have to talk about." She stiffened suddenly and jerked the hood back over her features. "I have to go, security is on its way."

"Wait!" Aeryn called out as Mission reactivated her stealthfield generator and vanished from sight. "How will I find you again?"

"You won't," came her disembodied voice. "We'll find you."

The force cages were suddenly deactivated, mere seconds before the detention center doors opened to reveal a confused looking Lieutenant Grenn, trailed by a handful of officers. "We're having some sort of malfunction with the security cameras and…" his voice trailed off as his mind registered that their cages were off. Less than a second later, his eyes fell on the corpse of the Telosian "officer" and the rather large pool of blood around his face. The three prisoners suddenly found themselves at the wrong end of nearly a half dozen blaster rifles.

"Don't move," Grenn ground out as he sidled over to the still form on the floor. He checked the man's pulse and scowled in fierce anger as he snarled, "Don't give me an excuse to kill you."

"Come on, Lieutenant!" one of the officers hissed urgently. "They've already killed…" the young woman frowned down at the ruined face of the dead man. "Is…is that Batu Rem?"

"What?" Grenn demanded, lowering his weapon and turning to give the corpse his full attention. "Batu Rem is on leave. This man can't be him."

"He was an assassin," Aeryn spoke up softly, careful to keep her hands above her head and make no sudden moves. "He was attempting to collect some kind of bounty."

Grenn studied her silently for a moment before giving her a curt nod. "For the moment, I will give you the benefit of the doubt. Since I have never seen this man before…I can only assume you speak the truth." His lip curled slightly as he glanced once more down at the damage to the man's face. "You seem to have eliminated him rather…efficiently."

"I didn't-" Aeryn started to deny, then realized she would have to claim to be his killer. Mission obviously didn't want them to know she was here…. "I only did what was necessary," she said quietly, feeling a twinge of guilt despite having not told an outright lie.

"Yes, I see that," Grenn nodded somewhat dubiously. "If you will follow me, we have arranged for more suitable quarters for you. Right this way please."

Aeryn hesitated to follow, turning her gaze back to Kreia. The old woman was only then rising from her meditations, completely unfazed by the events that had transpired.

-

"So…we're just supposed to sit here? The three of us…in a one room apartment…for how long again?" Aeryn had never been happier to see a bed as she was now, but the idea of being stuck in one room with Atton and Kreia for an undetermined amount of time made her nauseous.

"I assure you," Grenn droned, "we are doing everything in our power to expedite this process. Our investigation shouldn't take long."

"You're not exactly giving us a specific timetable there, chief," Atton chimed in.

Grenn glared at his disrespectful tone and snapped, "I'm sorry, but that is the best I can offer for the time being. Two of my officers will be posted outside your door should you need anything. Excuse me."

Aeryn flinched inwardly as the door closed and locked behind the retreating man. Not even thirty seconds go by and I already feel like a caged animal. Swallowing her claustrophobia, Aeryn turned to the nearest bed and flung herself unceremoniously down face first and buried her head in the pillow.

"So that's it?" Atton's sharp demand cut through her delusions of immediate sleep. "We're just going to sit tight and wait for that Sith Lord to catch up, then, huh?"

Aeryn groan as she sat halfway up and faced him. "Atton, I don't really see that we have a choice. Besides, there is information to be had here." By the Force, I hope Mission finds me again.

"I agree," Kreia spoke up, finally breaking her silence. "The Force has brought us here for a reason…though I do in part agree with the fool. We should not delay needlessly."

"I don't intend to," Aeryn shot back, feeling defensive suddenly, and ignoring the indignant snort from Atton at being referred to as "the fool." "But like I just said, I don't see a choice at this point. So the best we can do is sit around, rest up, and order a lot of room service until this whole thing blows over."

"If this whole thing blows over," Atton grumbled under his breath as he flopped down into the bed beside hers.

"Well, if it doesn't," Aeryn said with mocking cheerfulness, "and they find us guilty of blowing up a planet, they'll have us executed. Then we won't have to worry about being chased by Sith Lords anymore."

Atton couldn't repress the amused smirk that tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Well, aren't you just a bright ray of hope in a dark, dark galaxy."

Aeryn grinned as she turned back to her pillow and quipped, "I try."

Sleep crept over her mind then, but before it could claim her fully, Aeryn felt Kreia "watching" her from the other side of the room. The old woman's presence unnerved her, more so because Aeryn found herself forgetting Kreia more and more. It's far more than just growing accustomed to someone being near me all the time…it's like I completely forget that she exists at all.

The idea worried her more than she would like to admit, and Aeryn knew the line of thought was terribly important to think through, yet sleep would not wait, and within moments, she was deep into oblivion.