"Sir? I have a request for docking from an Academy shuttle."
Haran'buir opened his comlink. The tiny holographic image depicted one of the Dawnbreakers he had stationed over at the headquarters of the Order of Mercy. As Head of Security for both facilities, he was required to sign off on any new arrivals two either location. "Who is it, verd?"
"Reeve, sir. He says he's coming for some research items stored at this location. Shall I let him pass?"
Haran frowned behind his mask. Most of the Order HQ was deserted for the day, with various members called off on missions. He had a standard regiment of guards posted, but no one he trusted to keep an eye on Reeve covertly. "Patch him through to me."
"Roger that, sir. Coming in."
The holographic image flickered with static, and switched to that of Reeve Halcyon, one of the few people in the organization that Haran got along well with. Like Haran, Reeve worked double duty as a member of both the Halcyon Academy and the Order of Mercy. While Haran'buir worked security, Reeve was the resident information broker, so they often were required to work together with their duties, and Haran found him to be one of the few honest, kind men he had ever met. Still, this visit to the HQ was poorly timed.
"Hello Reeve."
"Haran'buir. A pleasure to see you. Requesting permission to access the storage units on site."
"Of course. May I ask why?"
"I had a most thought provoking chat with our newest ally, Jodoc the other day. He got me thinking about history, and I was wanting to do some catching up on some old data."
"Very well. You have clearance. Just be advised, the HQ is on skeleton crew right now. Don't go getting in trouble."
Reeve smiled warmly and offered a goofy thumbsup to the camera. "Roger that, sir. Reeve out."
A few moments later, Reeve was walking through the ancient temples that served as the HQ for the Order of Mercy. He had a quick visit with the Quartermaster, Mantae, who had offered to requisition some more equipment at the Order base for Reeve's activities, but he assured her that his equipment stationed at the Academy was more than sufficient to serve his duties to both organizations. She shared a quick cup of caf with her as they visited, and then dismissed himself to head for the storage units.
He reviewed his datapad as he walked. The questions Jodoc had been asking the other day about the Halcyon history, and specifically about Asmodeus and Oryon had gotten him thinking. There was much of the story that he had neglected to tell Jodoc, such as the circumstances leading to Asmodeus' fall, and the death of a young woman named Calliope. He did not like to dwell on such unpleasant circumstance, but it was his duty to sometimes see beyond the gruesomeness of truth in order to find the data beneath it.
He was still lost in thought when he approached the storage units, and almost did not register that the door was open. Almost. He tucked away his datapad and quietly drew his sidearm. Haran had said that the Order was running on skeleton crew today...who else would be accessing the storage unit?
He slowly nudged the door the rest of the way open with his foot. The lights were off inside, yet Reeve could sense a heat source inside. A living humanoid was in this storage unit, and was hoping not to be found. Reeve drew his sidearm higher, and slowly walked inside. The facility housed several different units, each containing various files and data backups, personal belongings and trophies. The intruder was near the back of the facility, in a section cordoned off for the Halcyon Clan.
Movement.
"Hold there! Put your hands above your head!"
It was dark, and Reeve, being technically blind, had the drop on the intruder. He was large, though. Taller even than Lothärius. His scent, his warmth, his aura, all were unfamiliar to Reeve. "Hello there. Hope you found what you were looking for. Please turn around, get on your knees and put your hands behind your head."
The dark figure paused, uncertain of what to do.
"I'd rather not kill you, if it's all the same to you. Please turn around, get on your knees, and put your hands behind your head."
The figure sighed, and his shoulders lowered slowly. Every hint of body language said to Reeve that the person in front of him was filled with a great sadness.
No, not sadness. Regret.
The figure turned to face Reeve, and with a broken voice uttered a single word.
"Kill."
Without hesitation, Reeve brought his sidearm against his temple. An expression of confusion adorned his face as he pulled the trigger.
"What the hell happened here?"
Lothärius stormed through the Order's HQ. Haran's Dawnbreakers had immediately alerted him to an emergency situation back at the base. Apparently there had been a break-in at the storage unit. He charged through the entrance of the facility, past the security tape, and found Haran'buir kneeling next to a body, a pool of blood slowly drying around them.
"My god. Reeve." Lothärius raised a hand to his mouth. He had lost more than his fair share of soldiers in his time, but it never got any easier to witness. He closed his eyes for a moment to regain his composure, and turned to Haran'buir. "How did this happen?"
The Mandalorian shook his head. "We don't know yet. Reeve was the only one on site cleared to access the storage units."
"What are you saying? Reeve wouldn't have done this to himself!"
Haran stood and crossed his arms. "It doesn't make any sense to me either. But all the evidence indicates that this was done with his own weapon, by his own hand."
"That's not possible. Someone got past your security and did this!" Lothärius was barely containing his fury. "Typical Mandalorian incompetence! Never can take any responsibility for-"
Haran turned to Lothärius quickly, ready to show the old man exactly what he was ready to take responsibility for, when they were interrupted by one of the Dawnbreakers on the scene. "Excuse me, sirs?"
"What?" They both snapped impatiently.
"Sir, we did an inventory of the Halcyon storage unit, and there is in fact a missing item."
"What is it?" Haran asked, reaching for the datapad.
"A single crate of personal belongings sir. Contained a set of armor, weapons, and various medical supplies."
Lothärius felt his heart drop. "No...no that's impossible."
The datapad contained an image of the crate in question. It was a simple, non-assuming box that had been tucked away in the back for over six years. It was unmarked save for a simple tag.
Property of Oryon Halcyon.
A flash of light, a feeling of being pulled in all directions at once, and it was over. Zahavi had reactivated the transporter on Tatooine, and now found himself teleported across the Outer Rim to Belsavis, the prison planet. The greatest technology the Rakata had ever conceived, buried and forgotten for over a thousand years.
He carried with him a duffel bag that he had filled with the contents stolen from the storage unit on Yavin 4. He regretted the death that had occurred as a result of that trespassing, but it was inevitable. All for the greater good.
He slung the bag over his shoulder and descended into the lush forests of Belsavis. He had a doctor to find.