Here's an update! Enjoy!


Terry's POV

I flew the Millennium Falcon all the way to the Outer Rim, on a barely navigable hyperspace route that went to the space station known as Otor's Hub; unknown to most other than an easily forgettable black market hole that hardly anyone would care about. The perfect place for someone to hide.

Once I landed and the boarding ramp came down (blowing a mysterious smoke), I stepped out to look around for her.

Yep, and good place to hide and blend-in, but not quite a good place find someone, regardless of how familiar one is with them.

"I was beginning to think that you wouldn't show up." Said an intentionally raspy female voice behind me. "Those two horned men would have found me quicker than you would if you delayed any longer."

I turned around to see the pale and bald woman there. "I am sorry. I had business to do in the Coruscant Underworld. You know the saying, 'Another day, another credit."

"Hmmmmm, despite being in close proximity with the Jedi Temple, that place sounds like a haven to become bounty hunter..., and hide at the same time. At least it will get me as far away as possible from the Outer Rim. I wonder if you could drop me off there?"

I smiled. 'Another day, this time a little more credits.' "Of course, Ventress."


Lux's POV

I sat on a bench, waiting outside the room for my 'Soka. I remained silent, even when Lando came out the door.

"Would you like some breakfast?" He asked

I didn't know. My stomach felt so dissipated. Empty with no longer a hunger, no longer a desire to feast... I had no appetite for any gain to serve me, not even to liberate Onderon... All I wanted was to be with Ahsoka, hold her hand to get warmth, be in her arms for comfort, or just to look into her eyes to disappear from the struggles of the real world. Be in the clouds and away from all needless distress.

"What time is it?" It felt weird not knowing the time. So far all this morning has been was reminding myself for what I don't have.

He pulled a datapad from his pocket, "A couple of hours after sunrise."

"Noon?!"

He shifted his shoulders. "About that time."

I shook my head, almost in disbelief. "The rebels. How are the rebels doing? Are they sending search parties for us?!"

"I-I don't know..."

What was I thinking?! Of course he doesn't know! How would he know?!

But then again, he is part of the Rebellion. "Where's Saw?"

"In my room still. He..., he doesn't wish to be disturbed."

My eyebrows arched. "Why?" I said slowly and abundant with suspicion.

"I-I don't know..."

I shook my head at his fulfill-less answer. "Fine, fine... Where's Steela?"

"Um, she's back at base." She must have left in the middle of the night.

"Then I guess I'll find out from her." I went to my wrist imagecaster and dialed her code to send a signal.

"Who is this?" Came a familiar voice.

"Lux Bonteri calling to Tecora Bartford Gerrera's complex. Password: 'Appreciate the foundries on which you are born in before you appreciate yourself.' How are things going at base?"

Then her body appeared in a blue hologram. "Lux, everything is fine. All's quiet here. Is Saw with you?"

I gave a frank sigh, "No, from what Lando is telling me, he has locked himself in his room."

Steela gave a silent snarl. "He's still blaming himself for what happened last night... This..., this whole effort is changing him. He used to be such an open guy. Always making pranks and-" She stopped herself there.

"This 'effort' shall not be in vain. The destruction of the power generator, albeit not being from us, shall advertise to the people that we can be effective."

She mimicked me with another frank sigh, "No... The attack did quite the opposite. Rash is using the attack on the power generator as propaganda rather than as an advertisement for us... Cello showed me some proclamation bulletins that he ordered to lay all around the city. Rash is lying to the public that we are vicious, that we desire harm to everyone of Onderon, and is comparing us to uncontrolled beasts. We need to regroup and come up with a better plan to convince our people that we are on their side rather than just attack- attack- attack over and over again."

"I suppose we'll come back to base as soon as possible."

"No." Came an affable voice behind me. It was, of course, my 'Soka. "I need to find out who this assassin is that attacked me, attacked us, last night... A very close and smart friend of mine is studying the matter... But despite that, she needs more information to narrow down her already-ongoing research. I must look for clues out in the open city."

"'He'? What makes you so sure that it's a 'he'?"

"I don't have any, only my senses. And my senses is telling me it's a he."

Steela gave a huff, wanting to ask something like 'And if it's not?', but kept it to herself. "And we know that this man is a keen assassin, with skills of a sword, and is affiliated with a secret bio weapon... One that he used on you, Commander... Is there anything you remember from the effects of the venom he implanted?"

Ahsoka shook her head, her colorful headtails shaking feverishly and sedulously. "Not much... Other than it couldn't have been some misused medication."

I spoke out. "This venom also created obsessive suffering and nightmarish pain inside her, almost like it was controlling her emotions." Ahsoka lifted an eyemark, as if she was saying, 'And how exactly do you that?' But I ignored her confusion. "And also, from his dialogue, has something against Ahsoka... And I don't think he was lying. Ahsoka said that she sensed a familiarity with him during his planned meddling with our assault on the generator."

Steela nodded. "I don't know of anyone who fits that. Do you, Commander?"

Ahsoka gave a blank expression, her mind expanding its width to search for an infallible answer to this mystery. "Some... But none that fit the description perfectly... There is Dr. Nuvo Vindi. He reinvented the Blue Shadow Virus in an attempt to poison the galaxy. But he should be in Republic custody at this very moment. And he was much too tall compared with the man who was cloaked, regardless of the possibility of him owning a voice changer... There's Pre Viszla, Mandalorian terrorist leader. Me and Lux trespassed his secret base on Carlac. And even though Republic efforts attempted to track him down, he and his Death Watch already escaped from the planet. He has friends in high places, hence his possibility in possessing the venom... There's bounty hunter Cad Bane. All I know is that he would take any job for money... There is Prime Minister Almec from Mandalore. He poisoned innocent children to keep his position in power, which I foiled and, er, tortured him as well." I was a bit discomforted at her confession, revealing a darker side of her that I originally denied way too many times before. She's indescribably and iridescently beautiful! She's absolutely perfect in every possible way! "But he's way too old to be an expert swordsman."

"Some people can fool the mind just by judging them from their looks. That easy-way-out ideal has plagued the galaxy for centuries... Is there anybody else?"

"There is one more. Another bounty hunter that I have been at odds against many times and is Force-sensitive as well. Aurra Sing of Nar Shaddaa... But she's a woman, not a man." I almost snorted. 'You sure she's a she? She doesn't behave much like one.' "But those are the only people I can think of, man or woman, who fits the description... I better tell Barriss this!"

"Barriss?" I questioned.

"Yes, Barriss. She's the friend I was speaking of. A fellow Jedi of mine and expert in the Archives. These details should help her research."

"Another Jedi." I said, slightly curious. "What she like?"

"Oh, she's a brilliant Jedi Knight. She trained under Master Luminara Unduli and has a profession as a healer."

"'Healer'?"

"Jedi doctor who uses the Force to bring someone back to health. And she's a wiz when it comes to that. I swear, she is able to give any creature jittery life once more even if they lost all their blood. She knows a lot when in comes to remedies and medicines as well. Able to give anyone a sliver of hope to sustain life."

I smiled a bit. "She sounds like a really good Jedi." I complimented.

"Of course she is. One of the most brightest stars in all the Order. She is the perfect researcher to study this case."

So Ahsoka walked down the hall to contact her friend Barriss about our debate.

"What do we do now, Steela?"

She coughed a bit. "I don't know. I'm a bit sick, so I am no condition to 'attack' anything." Oh, Lando. You just had to put liquid tibanna inside her bacta tank! "And I don't believe 'attacking' is much good of an option anymore. We need to speak out directly to the people of our home... But some time tomorrow. We have to regroup our strength before running into the fray head-first."

My mind paused for a second. "I understand." Looks like it's going to be a boring day.

But Steela wasn't finished with our conference. "You know, I have another idea. While Ahsoka is out in the streets, go with her. You know, as extra protection and see how the public are viewing us due to all the propaganda milling about. We need some back-up information if we wish to reach out with them again."

A day with Ahsoka! Is there any better task?! "I don't understand?" Inquisitive as to why she would assign me this.

"My brother obviously isn't in a good mood, and you are the only other one out there who was attacked by the assassin... And not only that, you're the one most physically and mentally fit for this job." Well, you don't have to exaggerate, but yeah, I guess I'm 'fit'. "I believe in you, Lux Bonteri. You are one of few people who still possess a love of the true Onderon that everyone else seems to have been lacking." I don't believe I possess that anymore. All I want now is to spend whatever time I have in my life to live with Ahsoka. "Please go out with her..." She gave a slight smirk. "I know you want to."

I couldn't deny that. "I will put that time to good use."

"Oh, and I believe you would need a disguise. Something other than cloaks because that would look too suspicious-"

"Mistress Cello and Master Terry has spares in a nearby closet." Lando spoke out, his sudden appearance shocking me.

I nearly growled. "Lando, would you quit butting in on everything at the worst moments!" I didn't mean to shriek like that, but my patience was on the edge of knife.

"Hey, what else can I do!?"


Mysterious assassin and mysterious T.B. The Mystery Truck is out for another spin. Sorry to end it short, but I this was more of an info exchanging chapter. I believe that the next one will be a whole lot more interesting.

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