Note: I shortened the title because it was too long

Lordess Chronicles

# 10

The location of the secret Crimson Blades base

" " = Talking

' ' = Thinking

(" ") = Talking in different language

(' ') = Thinking in different language

Timeline: 2 months 2 week after the end of the Sith Rebellion

Jessica Stari and Joe Charr finished packing their bags, Jessica placing her hand over her inflated stomach. They were going to Corellia to raise Jessica's twins, who will be born in just two weeks. Jedi Master Ozan Stari, who is Kim Stari's uncle, was waiting for them. When Joe and Jessica exited the cell, Ozan smiled at Jessica.

"Well, I have to say, I never imagine my grandchildren would never move so far away from me so soon." He hugged Jessica, and when they separated, he looked at Joe Charr. "Well, I guess this is where we say goodbye." Ozan shook Joe's hand. "I don't even know if we really are considered related or not, but I would like to say one thing." He leaned in, saying, "You better treat my grandchildren right, or else I will be sure to find you, and make your life a living hell. I already watched my brother's youngest son grow up unloved, and I will make sure that it will never happen again to any more members of my family."

Joe gulped, and then nodded. "Yes, master Stari." Ozan grinned, and then turned toward Jessica. "I'm sorry we haven't gotten the chance to get properly acquainted. I wish we could." He placed one hand on her shoulder. "I wish you the best of luck." Jessica hugged Ozan, and then, taking Joe's hand, left towards the space port, four Clone troopers in tow behind them.

("Why do you want to know where he has given most of his money?") A female Ugnaught said. Womp rat and Fiona Solusar have been trying to find out where Womp rat's brother, Ugloste, has been sending most of his money. After telling Fiona that Womp rat saw the Crimson Blades symbol on the vault, she wanted to find out where the credits went to. Her hypothesis is that, when they find out where the money went to, then they are either lead to the Crimson Blades secret base, or to another Crimson Blades base which could have the information as to the base's location. The female Ugnaught looked at something off screen, and then looked back.

("There have been three places that he has transferred his money to, all of them labeled CB one, two, or three. Whatever CB means, I do not know.") Fiona knew what CB stood for, it stood for Crimson Blades. "Thank you, is there anything else? What planets are these locations on?" The female Ugnaught looked off screen again, and then looked back. ("The most recent one is Briekua, near the outer rim, Kayra, which is also in the outer rim, and then the Aargau, the oldest one he use to send money to, is an deep core world.")

Fiona thanked the Ugnaught, and then cut the transmission. She looked around her office, grunting. "We could have made this call in the cockpit if Lyra and Korvas hasn't locked it up." She crossed her arms. "What the hell are they doing in there anyway?" Womp rat lifted a eye brow, responding, ("What about you and Linora? When I came to visit you in here last night, you were gone and I found out that you were in her room.") Fiona coughed into her fist, and then stood up.

"Well, as soon as we can, we will go to Briekua, and then to Kayra. We'll call Pok and tell him about this so we won't go in there alone, but I'm not entirely sure if we need them when we go to investigate Aargau." ("Why not?")

Fiona turned towards him, saying, "It's because of all the Nexu on the planet's surface." Womp rat looked surprised. ("S-So Nexu live on the p-planet?") His body started shaking. "Are you okay?" Womp rat quickly nodded his head left and right. ("N-No, I'm not! B-Before I became an assassin, I-I was asked to d-do a job out on the planet Cholganna, and while I was there two Nexu tried to eat me! I was stuck up in a tree for a whole day! E-Ever since then, th-they've scared the hell out of me!")

Fiona chuckled, and then walked away. "I'll be sure to let Linora know that, just in case you try to use another perverted move on her." She then walked away, leaving behind a shaking Womp rat.

Tyra Taa sat behind his desk, moving his chair around to look out the window in his office. For a week now he has been trying to get the council to see Linora's side of the story, but they seem so transfixed that she is guilty and want her put in jail. What the hell is their problem?

Wasn't the Republic a democracy? Have the Senator's forgotten that they do not have the right to ignore one side of the story because it was a little late? "We both knew running the Republic wasn't going to be easy." Tyro Taa turned his seat around, and saw Keenan Sunfall standing on the other side of the desk. "What am I gonna do? I can't even get half way through their side of the story before they say something about it being a lie, or blasphemy, or something of the sort?"

Keenan walked around the desk, and stopped when he was next to him. "You're the Chancellor, Tyro. You have power, so use it to make them listen." Tyro sighed. "I've tried, but they just won't listen! It's almost like they WANT Linora to be guilty. I don't know if she is or not, but I actually look at all the facts before I make a decision, whether or not they come in near the end or not."

Keenan simply grinned. "Then remind them of that. They should be reminded of what it is they're a part of." Then, just as quickly as he appeared, he vanished. Tyro scratched the top of his head, not knowing how to do what is needed to be done. The Jedi Council listened to him, but if the Galactic Senate won't listen to him, then Linora is doomed whether they have the evidence to prove her innocent or not. "I'm gonna kill whoever talked me into this job."

Pok stretched as Kayra's three suns were high above, the rays from the sun hitting his fur. It felt good, very good. "I can't believe it." Linora said, sitting on a stump nearby while holding her head in her hands. "This is the second planet mentioned, and just like Briekua, the base is abandoned with all the data deleted." She looked over at Fiona, who was about fifteen meters to her right, talking with a group of Rodian scouts that worked for Pok and his resistance.

She looked back at Pok, saying, "So, explain to me again why you won't come and help us investigate Aargau?" Pok looked over at Linora, and then away again. "It's because of the Nexu, and the fact that No one has ever gotten off Aargau for the past ten years, which was when the Nexu came. People say that it's because of the Nexu, but I don't think so. I think that something else was with them, something I rather not let my men meet, in case it decides that they might taste good."

Linora stood up, stretching her back as she does so. "Well, this should be fun." Fiona walked over to Linora, her hands on her hips. "Are we ready to go?" Fiona asked Kop "Yeah, this base is just as empty and deserted as the last one. I bet you that, if the Crimson blades had any sense at all, they left their base to the Nexu."

Linora sighed. She feels like she hasn't been given a break at all ever since the Republic has started hunting her down. Well, at least one good thing came out of this. She turned towards Fiona, and then, spreading part of the wrapping apart to reveal her lips, she kissed her. Yes, this was definitely one good thing out of this.

Lyra Chode, secretly Lyra Hunt now, looked through a journal for baby boy names. She already looked through a journal for baby girl names, and selected two names she likes. Korvas was in the pilot's seat, finishing putting in the coordinates for Aargau. "Well? Any boy names that catch your eye?" She looked over at Korvas. "Well, not so far. Why don't you look at them? You know, get a say in it."

Korvas pulled the lever, and watched the stars stretch into long lines. "Well, you're the one that will actually push the baby through a small hole between your legs." Lyra groaned. "Don't make me get second thoughts, Korvas. I rather think about AFTER pushing the baby out." She looked back at the console. "Well, we have ten hours before we get to Aargau." She looked over at Korvas. "We can still have sex, you know." Korvas smiled back. "Two nights in a row? I love sex, but if you already are pregnant, I could just get you pregnant with twins. I think I'll stay on the safe side and say no to sex until we find out."

Lyra sighed. "You're becoming a real bore, you know that right?" Korvas just grinned. "Well, I don't mind. I'm gonna be a father, so I might as well start being a boring old guy now." Lyra sighed, and then said, "Well, just as much as you want to be boring, I rather not."

The planet Aargau was a giant desert planet. Linora hated desert planets. "So, we're going down there?" Womp rat asked, fidgeting with a wrench he was holding. "Yes, we are." Lyra said, looking down there. Not exactly the perfect place for a pregnant woman, but then again this entire situation wasn't good for a possible pregnant women.

Fiona walked into the cockpit, her hands on her hips. "Well, there's Aargau. We better get moving, people." Fiona looked over at Linora, saying, "Linora, take Garen and F4-T6 with you. We'll keep the Nexu preoccupied here, so hopefully you won't have too much opposition."

Korvas brought the Blood Angel into the lower atmosphere, but didn't land it. He flew it towards three tall mountains that form a circle, multiple points on the top of each one. "We're nearing the LZ." Korvas said. As he brought the ship over the top of the mountain, in between the three mountains stood one lone, long tower about three fourths as tall as the mountains. "Okay Linora, get to it." Fiona said, looking over at Linora. Linora nodded, and then quickly left the cockpit to gather up F4 and Garen.

Garen finished checking the straps that strapped F4 to his back, satisfied with Linora's work. ("We're good to go.") Garen said, looking down at the tall tower below. ("Are we sure this is the right base?") Garen asked, shifting the weight of the bowcaster in his arms. "Trust me, Garen, there aren't too many big towers in the middle of three mountains that form a circle. Why do you ask?" Garen gulped.

("I'm afraid of falling from heights, especially when we're this high up.") Linora patted his shoulder. "We all are, but now let's just man up and get this done with." Pulling her Lightsaber out, she jumped down on the top balcony, which had a telescope and a table with destroyed legs on it.

Garen groaned, and then jumped down on the Balcony. As he hit the ground, he crouched, trying to keep his balance. The Blood Angel flew high up into the sky above them, and then turned on all of its lights, making it a bright light in the sky. As it flew away from the tower, Linora sensed a few Nexu chasing after it.

"I'll go first." Linora said as F4 was freed from the ropes that bound it to Garen when he used his claws to cut the rope. F4 rolled after Linora, Garen staying in the back. The first room they entered was a pitch black room with multiple terminals, all black. Whenever they had F4 try to access one, he always told them that they were out of power. Linora's Lightsaber, which was the only source of light in the room except for the rays of sunlight, lit up a small couch in the corner with red stains on it. They were old, extremely old, almost blending in with the orange couch, but they were still noticeable.

Linora walked to the closest door, and then opened it. It was a closet, but instead of mops or brroms or dust pans, it was filled with several different types of rifles that were old and outdated. "I have to guess that they left this base a long time ago. Everything here is old and outdated."

Garen went up to a door, and then opened it to a long, dark stair case. ("Let's try farther down.") Garen suggested, turning on a flashpoint on the bottom of his bowcaster. Linora reached out with the force, and, using the force, picked up F4 as she walked down the stairs. They searched three more levels before Garen was ready to give up.

"Garen, our ship picked up power somewhere, and we're not leaving until we find that power source." Linora countered, twirling her Lightsaber as she looked around the current room they were in, which was full of old and deactivated terminals. Garen groaned as he picked up F4 again, and then headed towards the door that led to the stairway. When he opened the door, he felt himself get pushed down on the ground by four paws. Garen brought his hands up, grabbing the creature's throat as it tried to bite Garen's face. It stopped inch's from his face, allowing Garen to smell the terrible smell of rotten meat from its breath.

The face of the creature disappeared as Linora's boot came up and around, hitting the creature right in the jaw. Garen stood up, grabbing his bowcaster and aiming it at the creature. Garen narrowed his eyes at the silhouette of the creature, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness again.

Then he growled. The creature wasn't a Nexu. Hell, Garen didn't know what it was, just that it had four legs, some sharp claws, and instead of skin it had metal with a tail behind it where it split off into two tails at the half way point on it's tails. ("What is that thing?") Garen growled softly, quickly cheking to see if the safety was on or not. It wasn't.

"You're asking the wrong Jedi , Garen. I've never seen anything like this before." 'That is because I am the only one of my kind.' The look on Linora's face was one of multiple emotions: Fear, confusion, and wary. 'No, you are not insane.' The voice said again. It was a male voice, very rough. 'I have no name, and I am created by the far out siders.' Linora was just completely confused now. What the hell did he mean by the far outsiders?

Then it hit her. "You mean the Yuuzhan Vong." The creature that attacked Garen nodded, walking towards them. 'I was made many sunset's ago, too many for me to count. The Yuuzhan Vong were just discovering this part of the universe when they made me, along with several other of my kin. We were made to try and sniff out any and all force users, but I was not perfect. I do not know why, but they deemed me unworthy.' Linora was shocked.

"But, if you were made when the Yuuzhan Vong was at war with us, then that makes you hundreds of years old." The creature nodded. 'We are not made to die of age, or from wounds. We bleed not what you call blood, we bleed nothing. We were made to be very sensitive to the force, allowing us to speak telepathically. My kin died from the Nexu and the lack of food here. I used the meat of my kin to help me survive, something I am not proud of.'

Garen then growled. 'I attacked you because I am hungry, and when I smelled something new I became excited. But I did not know there was a Jedi.' "Maybe that's why you were left here." The creature eyed Linora, not knowing what she means. "Well, you were meant to be made to track down Jedi, but you couldn't tell me and Garen apart from being a human or wookie."

The creature stayed quite. Did she offend him? 'Yes, that does make sense. I am a failure. I do not deserve to live.' Linora deactivated her Lightsaber, walking up to him. "No, you don't have to die." She said, a plan forming in her mind. "We could actually use your help."

Garen roared loudly. "I know he tried to eat you, but imagine how long he was stuck here without food! Then he smelled us, and he couldn't stop himself! Can you really blame him?" Garen stayed silent. She looked back at the creature. "Well, lets get a few things out of the way first of all. There is power running through this tower, and I want to investigate it." The creature nodded. 'Just follow me.'

Garen picked up F4, who was rolled over when Garen dropped him after he was jumped on, and then they followed the creature down the set of stairs all the way to the bottom floor. 'I liked the sound of power running through here, so once I cleared it out of the inhabitants, I kept the power running through one of the terminals, just to preoccupy myself during those long days.'

When they reached an open door, Linora peaked inside as the creature stepped in. It was a garage, with several speeder bikes that were in the middle of being constructed. There was one terminal in the far corner, it's screen the brightest light in the room. Linora watched as F4 rolled to the terminal, and then accessed it. After ten seconds, F4 gave a series of low beeps. Linora smiled. He found the Crimson Blades secret base.

She turned towards the creature, her hands on her hips. "Alright, we've got what we came for. I will let you on the ship, and fight with us if our boss approves it, but we need to give you a name." She pulled out a small datapad, and then held it out. "This is a list of words in alphabetical order. Just press on one of the words if you want to check the meaning." The creature took it with one of its tails, and then grinned. 'Thank you.'

Fiona felt very uneasy while she looked at the creature, her hand on her holster. What good her blaster will do against it, she wasn't sure. She wasn't even sure what her girlfriend was thinking, bringing aboard this… thing. Of course, since it isn't trying to eat them, and since Linora trusts it, she doubts that it's all that bad.

She still wasn't going to move her hand away from her blaster. Lyra and Korvas entered the room, Korvas in front of Lyra, like he was guarding her. The creature didn't turn his head when he spoke. 'Who are the three new visitors?' He asked. Fiona chuckled. "Linora was right about your sense of smell. Only two people entered, not three." 'Wrong.' The creature turned its head towards Korvas and Lyra. 'The female is pregnant.'

The look that Fiona shot at Korvas and Lyra could cut steel. "You two, or should I say three, wait outside in the meeting room. We'll talk about this later." "But caption…" She brought her hand up, saying, "Later." Korvas and Lyra exited, Korvas whispering, "I told you that coming to meet it was a bad idea."

Fiona looked back at the creature. "Well, I have to admit, your nose could come in handy, but we don't need a good nose anymore." The creature chuckled. 'I am more than just a nose. I was made to kill Jedi, but my creator's saw me as a failure. My claws and teeth are made from a type of metal that could cut through a tank, I can change my vision from normal to heat vision or X-ray vision. I am very agile.' Just to prove his point, he jumped up unto the wall. When he landed, he did not make a sound. When he left, no matter how much Fiona looked, she found that he did not leave any mark. He leaped all around the room, not making a single noise or leaving any marks.

When he landed on the same spot that he started, there were no signs of him leaping around the room. Fiona crossed her arms. "Where have you been all this time? We could have used you for so many things." She then shrugged. "Oh well, we have you now. We might have some use for you just yet."

Lyra and Korvas have seen Fiona angry, but they never knew what it was like being on the other end of her anger. It was actually very terrifying, more terrifying than they thought. "What were you two thinking?" Fiona asked, her arms crossed in front of her chest. "We are not in an good situation for you two to start a family." Lyra was silent. She would usually snap back, say something to defend herself, but she was silent.

This was a sight that Korvas would rarely see.

"We just… It was after Cyan… um… you know, and I just…" Lyra having a hard time to actually say her thoughts? This was definitely going to be a night to remember. "I just wanted to have something from Korvas in case something happens." "And what if you die?" Fiona barked, pointing at Lyra. "This isn't some fucking show where the pregnant women never die! We are being hunted down by the Republic and the Crimson Blades, and to make matters worse, we now have a fucking new creature we know nothing about on our ship! Who knows what he might do to the baby!"

Korvas stood up, saying, "You leave my wife alone!" Fiona chuckled. "Or else what?" Fiona regretted saying that. Fiona found herself on the ground, her jaw throbbing in pain. Korvas stood above her, his fist raised. "If you dare do anything to physically or mentally hurt my family again, I swear I'll use more than just my fist."

Fiona stood up, grinning underneath her wrapping. "You will be a good father. I'm glad you will tsick up with them." Korvas just watched as Fiona walked away, surprised. 'Did she just test me?' He almost lost his balance when the ship started to shake. "We've got incoming!" Linora's voice said over the speakers.

Korvas and Lyra ran into the cockpit, Fiona sitting in the pilot's seat. "What's hitting us?" Korvas asked as Linora stood up from the pilots seat, Korvas taking her place while Lyra sat in the co-pilots. "Fighters of a small class. They're Republic fighters, marine ships." Korvas groaned. "Why don't I like the sound of that?" "The Marines are tough, and Just two of them could take on an entire battalion of Sith troopers, and I don't mean the droids, I mean the Lightsaber wielding clones."

She looked back out the cockpit as two marine fighters flew by them. "An single squadron of their fighters are able to take on six squadrons of any normal fighters, two of anything stronger." Linora watched as they left the atmosphere, the fighter's right on their tails. "Luckily we upgraded the ship's armor and shields." She groaned. "I wish we spent more time on our speed, though." She looked over at Lyra. "Don't kill any of them, just try to scare them."

Linora thought about her choice of words, and then said, "Actually, don't scare them. They don't scare easily. Get rid of their shields, and they should back away to let their shields recharge." Lyra nodded, and then started to fire at the marine fighter's. Soon there were four Republic war ships in front of them, blocking their path. The ship then shook, and the three of them watched as the fighter's flew past them, and then started to encircle them. "We're trapped in eight tractor beams. Those warships must have two tractor beams on each ship, making it impossible for us to do anything."

Linora sighed. "We're getting a transmission." Lyra said. "Patch it through." Fiona replied, crossing her arms. On a small screen the image of a man in his mid-thirties with a black beard appeared. "This is Jedi Master Seger We, Linora Lordess. I am taking you in." Linora pushed Fiona out of the way, saying, "Master Seger We, this is Linora. I have just found out the location of the Crimson Blades base, I just need a few hours to get the evidence I need to prove my evidence there, I can get it, but I just need time!"

Seger We then scratched his beard. "How much time do you need? The most I can give you is eight hours, but then I MUST come after you!" Linora looked over at a nearby screen, and then pressed several buttons. "All we need is three hours to get there." She looked back at the screen. "If my plan works, then the last five hours will be all we need." Seger stayed silent for a few seconds, and then pulled out a communicator. "This is Jedi Master Seger, contacting all fighter's and capitol ships! I have the coordinates for Linora Lordess's next stop, and I am letting her go. I repeat, I am letting her go. We will come after her in the next eight hours, but we are letting her go! I will discuss with you all why I am letting her go once everyone has returned to their ships."

He put the communicator away, and then looked back at Linora. "I am only doing this because I feel that I can trust you, but this is the only time I can give you. After this, next time we meet, ready or not, you are mine. Give me the coordinates of the planet." Linora nodded, and then sent the coordinates.

Once he saw the coordinates, he nodded. "Don't make me regret this, Linora." Linora nodded. "I won't." Seger's image disappeared on the screen, and Linora let out a sigh of relief. "That was a close one." Linora said as the tractor beams were deactivated and the fighters were returned to their ships.

Fiona looked at the coordinates of the planet, and then gasped. "What is it?" Linora asked. Fiona looked up at her, saying, "The planet they're hiding on is surrounded by asteroids! Trust me, getting past those asteroids won't be easy." Fiona looked over at Linora. "So, what plan do you have?"

The smile on her face showed that she didn't have one. "I'll think of one, don't worry." Fiona groaned, and then put her hand on her shoulder. "You have three hours. I'll contact Pok and his men, we could use their help."

To Be Continued In # 11 The Final showdown