Commenor

As Hamner continued to stare ahead in a mix of abject horror and physical pain at Valin's corpse, Kyp and Saba were already looking in the direction from which the acting Grand Master was shot from. They found a frightened-looking male Neimoidian holding a blaster pistol with smoke funneling out of the barrel, the gun held in a shaky grip and still aimed at the downed Hamner.

The cowardly alien finally took notice of Saba and Kyp and quickly aimed his blaster in their general direction. But before he could fire off a shot, Saba flickered a hand, and the weapon went flying into her outstretched hand. She then took her other hand and promptly dismantled the blaster, all while looking back at the trembling Neimoidian.

The latter then turned and started to run off, arms flailing in the air all the while. However, Kyp launched himself into the air and came down in a graceful crouch in front of the alien, stopping him in his tracks. After the Jedi Master stood up, Kyp said, "You're gonna have to answer for shooting the acting Grand Master of the Jedi Order, sir." Then he punched the Neimoidian out.

As Kyp dealt with the Neimoidian, Saba was already at Hamner's side, looking at his cauterized wound. She didn't hesitate to take out her field medpac from within her Jedi robes to apply a bacta patch to his wound; yet Hamner didn't seem to notice, for his haunted gaze was still fixed on Valin's dead body ahead.

"We're never going to find out what made these Jedi go crazy," Hamner muttered. Master Cilghal's assessment on Qwallo Mode's dismantled corpse turned up nothing in regards to any chemicals that might have been in the Duros's system; Cilghal had theorized that whatever enhanced Mode's abilities must have been some kind of chemical that was neutralized as soon as the subject, like Mode, had died.

"Do not think that, Kenth," Saba said. "Something iz going on; we will find out what." It was then that Kyp joined the two Masters, with the unconscious Neimoidian's body floating next to Kyp via the latter's telekinesis.

"For Octa's sake," Kyp said with determination, "we will find out what's going on."

Soon, after Kyp had the Neimoidian's wrists and ankles bound with some rope from the Master's utility belt, he set the unconscious alien in the spare seat just behind Kyp's pilot chair in his StealthX. And with the exception of being tied up and unconscious, the same occurred with Hamner - given that he would still need time to recover from his blaster wound - behind Saba's seat in her own starfighter. Hamner's own ship was soon slaved to Saba's so that it wouldn't miss the hyperspace jump back to Coruscant.

As for Valin's corpse, it was placed in the small cargo compartment of Kyp's ship; a crude, and possibly disrespectful, method of transporting a dead body (almost to the point of comedic effect), but effective nonetheless.

But before either Kyp or Saba could take off, all three Masters groaned in pain as they felt something awful occur in the Force. Once they recovered, they realized what it was: Corran Horn's turn to the dark side of the Force, no doubt because he had felt his son's death.

And just as they realized that, the three Masters suffered another Force-blow; Kyle Katarn's death. Once they realized that, they were hit by yet another blow; Corran's own demise.

"You know, Kenth," Saba said, "I'm starting to believe... that your pessimism may have a point."

Nevertheless, no more disturbances through the Force occurred as Kyp and Octa finally took their StealthXs to Commenor's skies.

.

Qiilura: Besik Dresdaj's Residence

After stepping into the lavishly-furnished office, Mirta dropped the head of the petrified Weequay she had murdered a day earlier onto the desk of the shady-looking Bith sitting behind it. The Bith - a Black Sun Vigo named Besik Dresdaj - looked at the head of the Weequay in contentment before looking back up at Mirta with the same expression.

"Ï must say, Miss Gev," Dresdaj said, "I'm quite pleased. You even made this sleemo squirm in fear, just from what I can tell by his dying expression." He waved at the head. "Along with your fee, you've even earned that bonus. You'll see the credits in your bank account after you've returned to your ship."

"Thank you, Vigo Dresdaj," Mirta said with a relatively respectful nod before she turned away and left the office.

After she left the summerhouse residence minutes later, Mirta was met by an elderly human male dressed in white Mandalorian armor who bore a passing resemblance to her grandfather; and he was a man whom Mirta was familiar with.

She gave the elderly man a smile. "Hello, Kad'ika."

But Venku "Kad'ika" Skirata's expression was grim. "Mirta, I have some bad news."

Mirta's expression sunk as Kad'ika continued.

"I felt it through the Force; your grandfather is dead."

Mirta's mouth dropped completely as her eyes widened to their fullest in shock. "What?"

Kad'ika nodded sympathetically. "I'm sorry, Mirta, but not only have you lost your grandfather, but Mandalore has lost its Exiled."

Mirta's expression changed to one of both anger and sadness. "Did you feel... how he died?" Given how old Boba Fett was, she couldn't rule out that the possibility of death was natural causes, even if she did doubt that.

"It felt like he died in combat," Kad'ika said.

"Of course he did," Mirta said. "I think Natasi Daala is behind this."

Kad'ika looked confused. "How can you be so sure?"

"I'm not," Mirta answered. "But it's just a feeling that I have, not supported by the Force. And even if she's not behind my grandfather's death, she's still going to pay just for threatening Boba Fett and the Mandalorians." Her growl was audible.