Chapter Twenty-Four – Images

Aeryn slumped back against the seat inside the gun turret. Already the moon around her was affecting her, and she quickly shut herself off to it, withdrawing the Force into herself as much as possible. Dxun was the last place she'd ever wanted to revisit.

"General?" Bao-Dur's warm brown eyes were full of questioning concern as he appeared in the hallway beside her.

Without answering, Aeryn accepted the hand he offered and let him help her out of the turret. "It's just…this place," she eventually muttered, frowning.

The Iridonian nodded, his expression grim. "I understand."

Aeryn offered him a sad smile and patted his living hand affectionately. "Yes. You do."

Steeling her resolve, Aeryn led the way to the common room where the rest of the crew had gathered. "What the hell was that all about?" Atton asked. "Why can't we go anywhere without being shot at?"

"They," Aeryn frowned, "whoever that was that just attacked us, are allied with the Sith that are chasing us. There was an emissary standing behind that commander – he was wearing the same markings as the assassins from Peragus."

Atton shook his head almost angrily. "If an exploding planet can't even slow this Sith Lord down, how are we supposed to kill him?"

Kreia's malevolent chuckle from the shadows of her cowl was chilling. "You cannot kill one who is already long dead, fool. But everyone has their...weaknesses."

"Well, that's a cheerful thought," Atton grumbled.

"We should not waste time." Goto's fat droid bobbed impatiently. "You realize they will have begun searching for you by now. Our landing was not entirely…discreet."

As Atton leaned over the console to scan the area, Visas spoke softly, a tense frown on her lips. "I sense something here. Something we are meant to find. But…I cannot bring it into focus."

"Yes," Kreia agreed, her voice no less cold as she centered her attention on Aeryn, "the Force has brought us here."

"Why can't the Force just send me a nice, pleasant little vision once in a while? One with beaches and lots of alcohol. Getting shot out of the sky seems a bit extreme."

You would not have returned here otherwise, Exile, and there are things here you must face.

Aeryn barely kept herself from reacting to Kreia's voice in her mind, only scowling a little and pushing the other woman's thoughts aside. "Is the ship damaged?" she asked to mask her irritation.

"Doesn't look like it," Mira said without looking up from the diagnostics she was running. "A few hard hits, but nothing that damaged the hull integrity. Still, it'd be best to run a full set of diagnostics and do a visual inspection before we try to take off again."

"Uh…" Atton was frowning down at the scanner readings, "you should really take a look at this, Aeryn. There's something big nearby. Really big."

"Search party?" she asked as she leaned over his shoulder, then her mouth fell open in surprise. "Oh shit."

Bao and Mira both craned their necks to see the panel. "Damn," Mira whispered, just as Bao-Dur murmured, "That's enough output to power a large city."

"Do you think the Onderonians are finally trying to tame this place?" Atton asked with a discreet glance at Aeryn's hand on his shoulder.

The Exile realized she was leaning against him and took a quick step back. "I'm not sure," was her reply, although she was starting to suspect why the Force had led her here. "We'd better investigate it though."

Everyone seemed to accept that and they all headed off to gear up. Aeryn paused to give HK-47 orders, and the assassin droid obediently left the ship with a delighted gleam in his yellow eyes. When the crew was finally prepared, everyone began to file down the loading ramp but Mira hesitated with an uncomfortable frown.

"Don't you think we should leave someone to guard the ship?" she finally asked. "I mean…it is our only way out of here…that we know of."

Thoughtful, Aeryn asked, "How exposed are we?" Without waiting for an answer, she strode down the ramp into the misty rain of Dxun. Immediately memories threatened to flood her mind, but she shoved them away. Standing in front of the Hawk, Aeryn surveyed the ship's position. "It's pretty well hidden by the trees and grass. Visually, someone would have to be right on top of it to see it."

"Sensors would pick it up," Bao-Dur stated.

"Even if all functions were shut down?"

The tech looked intrigued by the question, but answered with a shrug, "Yes, but it would be difficult. The most common sensors look for heat or energy readings, not large metallic objects."

Satisfied, Aeryn nodded. "Okay, T3-M4 and G0-T0 will stay behind with the ship. Shut everything down, and set yourselves on minimal functions. When HK gets back in a few minutes, he'll stay too. The rest of us will get as far from the ship as possible to lead any search parties away from the Hawk."

The red eye on Goto's droid seemed to glow more brightly. "You expect I will comply with this decision."

Although she tried to say calm, Aeryn could feel her hands curling into tight fists. "Your success depends on me staying alive. I have a feeling these people won't want to sit and have a friendly chat over caffa, so this is the best plan I have at the moment."

"I do not like the idea of being left behind."

"Fine, if I never come back you can have the Hawk, okay?"

The droid considered for a moment, then wordlessly drifted back aboard the ship.

"Damned stupid stubborn machines…" Aeryn muttered, turning around straight into HK-47's chest. She jumped then glared up at the assassin droid.

"Statement: This 'damned stupid stubborn machine' has done as ordered, Master." He held out a datapad to her.

"Good work." She studied the crude map she'd had him create. "Any resistance?"

"Answer: Indeed. Meatbag search parties have already been dispatched throughout the area. Additional Information: Three have been disposed of, but their communications indicate that there are between five and seven more."

Aeryn nodded. "I'm leaving you here to guard the Hawk. Kill anyone who is not part of the crew if they try to approach, and notify me immediately through the Comm if the ship's location is discovered. And," she grabbed the droid's chest-plate firmly and pulled his face down to hers so she could speak quietly, "if G0-T0 tries to take the ship, destroy that fat blob."

"Statement: With pleasure, Master."

-

Visas lost her footing and slipped in the damp grass. Aeryn jerked forward to catch her, but still the Seer collapsed to her knees, he face contorted in a grimace of pain. The woman seemed unwilling to stand, so Aeryn knelt beside her as the rest of the crew took up defensive positions, their eyes flickering worriedly to their fallen comrade.

"Visas?"

"Can't you hear them?" The Miraluka's voice was pinched and quiet. "There are so many of them. Screaming."

Aeryn suppressed a shudder. "I know," she responded. "I'm doing my best to block them. I think," she stole a glance at the woman she was bound to standing silent several yards away, "I think Kreia is helping me keep them out."

"Then you are fortunate. I cannot center myself here."

A familiar urgency was burning in the back of Aeryn's mind, and although she was loath to rush the former Sith, they needed to keep moving. "I will do what I can to help you, Visas, but we can't stay here. Perhaps, once we get past these battle grounds, it will be better for you anyway."

The veiled woman remained on the ground for another moment, breathing deeply, then allowed Aeryn to help her to her unsteady feet. "I will follow."

With a glance down at HK's map, Aeryn once again took point, leading them cautiously through the lush vegetation. Atton hesitated a moment, then strode up to match her pace. "There's debris everywhere," he commented quietly, watching as Aeryn frowned and glanced around almost fearfully.

"One of the worst battles of the Mandalorian Wars was fought here," she responded, her gaze turning inward. "Many, many Republic Soldiers and Jedi were lost…."

"This is the place where the Dxun battle happened? What are the odds we'd crash here…?"

With a scornful glance, Aeryn replied, "Apparently good enough. Revan and I fought here. And Malak." She frowned, then continued almost to herself, "It was the first time I questioned Revan's methods and motives during the war. It wasn't the last time either."

Bao-Dur, who'd been walking only a few paces behind, spoke up softly, "It wasn't your fault, General. We all did the best we could to keep each other alive."

"Too bad the best wasn't good enough," Aeryn muttered.

Frowning, the Iridonian added quietly, "You were following orders, General, you were just doing your duty."

Aeryn stopped in her tracks, forcing the rest of them to stop as well, and she turned on Bao with an almost savage anger in her eyes, though it was clearly not aimed at him. "I'm really getting sick of people using the word 'duty' as if it entitles them to do monstrous things," she growled, louder than she should have in the quiet wilderness. "We won the battle here, and we won the war, but was it worth it?" She saw her own pain, the memory of Malachor V, mirrored in Bao-Dur's eyes as he met her angry gaze stoically.

Thick silence followed her outburst, broken by the sharp crack of a nearby tree branch that instantly dashed all of Aeryn's fury aside. "Ambush," she hissed as the group formed a tight circle, their backs pressed lightly together. Aeryn's lightsaber sprung to her hand, but she didn't ignite it as she tracked the shimmering movements of a stealthfield generator somewhere in front of her. Something was holding her back from attacking, and so she waited as the cloaked person approached her and deactivated the field.

Mira gave a startled gasp. "Madalorians."

"You have trespassed on Mandalorian territory," the fully armed and armored Mandalorian scout announced in Basic, his manner more curious than hostile. "State your business or prepare to fight."

Momentarily, Aeryn found herself affected by the emotions of her companions. Bao-Dur was burning with indignation, and his feelings were the hardest for her to ignore as he stared with open hatred at the scout. Atton was tense, ready for anything, but Mira was oddly…excited? Curious? Aeryn thought it strange, but she blocked their emotions quickly and stepped forward, placing her 'saber back on her belt as she indicated the others should put their weapons away as well.

"Take me to Mandalore," she said in careful Mando'a, desperately hoping that her hunch on the situation was correct. "He will want to hear what I have to say."

"Arrogant jetti," the scout spat back in his own language. "Your kind is all the same. What could you possibly offer Mandalore?"

"Take me to him and find out," Aeryn snapped back. "I know he will be most displeased if he finds you delayed me needlessly."

The man seemed a bit taken aback by her confidence. After a brief hesitation, he grunted and motioned for them to follow. Aeryn could hear the other cloaked Mandalorians that they hadn't even known were there quietly close in around the group like an invisible shield – it was unnerving.

"What the hell is going on?" Atton hissed in her ear as they followed the scout. "What did you tell him?"

"She asked him to take us to Mandalore," Mira answered for her, a dark frown focused on Aeryn. "Mandalore is dead though…so I'm not sure what's going on."

"The old Mandalore is dead," Aeryn whispered in confirmation. "Revan killed him. I just hope this is the one she chose to replace him."

Atton and Mira exchanged a confused look, but the group fell silent as they passed from the jungle onto what could almost be described as a road. With a surreptitious glance down at the map in her hands, Aeryn confirmed that they were headed directly toward the area of enormous energy readings. Even so, she was still awed as they entered the Mandalorian base.

In essence, the place was a fort surrounded by high walls capped with formidable-looking gun turrets. Although the compound was not as large as the readings had indicated, the weapon systems were so massive that they gave off a misleading reading to sensors. Still, it was the size of a small town and Aeryn could feel the apprehension of her companions growing as more and many Mandalorians appeared.

"There must be close to a thousand men here," Mira murmured as she stared around her in disbelief. "Look at those guns. This place is amazing."

"Amazingly dangerous," Atton grumbled, a scowl permanently fixed on his face. "I hope you know what the hell you're doing."

Aeryn chose to ignore the comment and silently followed the scout as he led them to a large, somewhat separate building. "You will show respect for Mandalore or you will die," he stated flatly before entering the building.

"What a cheery fellow," Atton quipped as he followed Aeryn through the door.

"What," Mira whispered from behind him, "you don't think he's smiling behind the helm?"

Aeryn resisted the urge to tell them to shut up, but thankfully they did so on their own as the group approached a large man at the far end of the room with his back to them. The fully armored man seemed focused on something at the workbench and didn't bother to look up as they neared.

"What is it Xarga?" Mandalore asked, his focus still on his work as the scout stood stiffly at attention.

"I found this jetti and her crew wandering in the jungle - I believe they are from the ship that started the firefight above Onderon. This one," he gestured almost dismissively at Aeryn, "claims to have business with you, Mandalore."

Clearly unwilling to be disturbed, Mandalore cast Aeryn a careless glance, but his attention snapped back to her immediately. His whole body tensed and the hydrospanner in his hand clattered noisily to the ground. Although her attention was utterly focused on the man she was now certain knew her, Aeryn could feel the confusion and uneasiness of the scout and the two other Mandalorians that had flanked them through the door.

Trying to balance her tone between pleading and demanding, Aeryn said, "Take my crew outside immediately. I need to speak with Mandalore alone."

Xarga snorted in derision. "I don't take orders from you jetti."

"Take them and leave us." Mandalore's voice was neutral but commanding.

The scout hesitated just long enough for it to be obvious he was unhappy with Mandalore's orders, but he nodded stiffly and turned to herd the crew outside. Bao-Dur's expression was fierce, but Aeryn sent him a wave of reassurance through the Force and he did not resist.

The moment they were alone, Mandalore slumped hard against the workbench, seeming hardly able to hold his own weight up. Aeryn could feel his stare on her through his helm, and she was immobilized with uncertainty. "I-I'm sorry," Aeryn stammered quietly, "I didn't want your men to see you like this." She was pretty sure Mandalorians weren't allowed to have moments of weakness.

A silence stretched for a long, breathless moment, then the man said, his voice very low, "I thought you were her."

Nodding with sympathy, Aeryn responded softly, "I know."

"You look so much alike. But different." He broke off and slowly straightened up, removing his helm as if it weighed a ton and placing it on the workbench. Canderous looked much the same as Revan had described him, perhaps a bit older, a few new scars, but his expression was carefully neutral, as he looked her over. Only his eyes revealed his emotions, the gray-blue depths filled with a dull longing, a sadness that was buried deep within.

He stepped closer to her, though not close enough that Aeryn felt uncomfortable, but he startled her as he reached out and ran one armored finger across the bridge of her nose. "No scar." He flicked her hair back from her forehead and frowned at her tattoos. "Don't tell me you two have switched sides."

Aeryn shook her head, relaxing as he stepped back again. "No it's not like that. We…" she sighed, suddenly exhausted, "it's a very long story."

Mandalore grunted. "I will be glad to hear it. But…" he gave Aeryn a searching look and strained the question out, "where is she?"

"To be honest, I have no idea. All I do know is that she's alive, but I don't know where and I don't know how long she has. I think…I think she's been captured."

Canderous scowled and his jaw flexed. "Revan would never let that happen."

"I don't think she had a choice."

Although he was eager to press her, Canderous reigned in his questions and replaced his helm. "I want you to tell me everything, but you and your crew are welcome here. I will make arrangements for you to stay here as long as you need."

"I appreciate that, although I hope to make our stay here as brief as possible. The Hawk is not far from here, and HK-47 is guarding it, so tell your men not to approach it."

Mandalore stared at her silently for a long moment. "You have her ship and her assassin droid. How did this happen? Why was she alone?"

"I promise I will explain everything I can, but I need to reassure my crew that I'm alright, and maybe you can find something for them to do while we talk. Keep them out of my hair for a few hours."

Canderous nodded slowly and moved past her to the door. Outside, Atton and Bao were both pacing like rabid cannoks, while Mira was chattering away in Mando'a with a clearly reluctant Xarga, while Kreia and Visas stood like living statues against the wall. Everyone seemed to relax a notch as Aeryn emerged, but she ignored their curious stares for the moment.

Standing on a raised dais in the center of the courtyard, Canderous bellowed, "Mandalorians! To me."

The effect was amazing, warriors streamed out of the training areas and smaller buildings, most of them wearing full armor, and gathered in front of the platform, their demeanor respectful and calm. Overall, their presence was quite intimidating.

"This woman," the Mandalore continued with a gesture at Aeryn, "is my sister in all ways. She is to be treated as you would treat a fellow Mandalorian, and no insolence toward her will be tolerated. Her crew is to be treated as honored guests. Do you understand?"

"Yes Mandalore!" The unified shout echoed in the silence that followed. Aeryn could feel the confusion and hostile curiosity emanating from the Mandalorians in general, but their loyalty to Canderous was steadfast.

"Very well. Continue with your duties." He turned to Aeryn and added almost to himself, "My sister and I have much to discuss."

The next chapter or two will be lots and lots of dialog, but there should be some good action sequences thrown in a few times to break up the monotony. I love all the reviews, and I really appreciate the feedback. I can now say that the rest of the story is completely planned out, it's just a matter of details and of course writing it down. Some big changes to the OC are in store and I'm excited to write it.