Last time: Sasha learned that the Sith is trying to use her head to get the fragment from Op.

Now: They arrive to Artemis and seek out help.

Part 2-Chapter 2: Help From a "Friend"

Oppie and Sasha both crowded into the small cockpit behind Viran as he brought the ship low over the forests. The planet was two-thirds water, and most of the land mass was made of the crests of underwater mountain ranges that turned the coastlines into a rambling series of fjords, and huge polar ice packs that capped both the top and bottom of the planet. The land was lush, but cool. Shrouded in mists and made up of hearty conifers or open tundra, Oppie felt a little uneasy as he saw huge trees flying past outside, appearing out of the mists like speeding wraiths before disappearing out of view behind them. Viran looked like he was having fun though.

"So who is this guy anyway?" Viran spoke up, narrowly dodging out of the way as another tree rose all too fast right in their path.

"He's…" Oppie searched for the right way to describe the complicated relationship. "A bounty hunter, remember when I was a couple of days late when we were moving to Haktere?"

"Yeah." Sasha said, "You didn't really go into it at the time."

"Well, it was because he found me." Oppie replied sheepishly.

"Wait, we're looking for help from a bounty hunter?" Viran asked incredulously.

"It's a… complicated relationship, it goes back before the three of us knew each other. He never sold us out, and he also knows a little about the Force, or at least knows people who do. I think."

"Okay…" Viran responded dubiously. "Well he sure knows how to find the garden spots."

Outside the canopy the trees gave way to a view of a small settlement, nestled in the mountains. What little Oppie knew of this planet was that it was home to some ferocious beasts, and the only real business on the planet, and the only purpose for being populated, was supporting big-game hunters that wanted new trophies for their wall. The outpost was made of ramshackle wood buildings that might be described as 'rustic' if someone was feeling generous. The landing field had a curious mix of ships - some old and battered, a few high end personal transports and yachts.

"I think it best if I go alone, at least to meet him. I can send an all clear if it makes sense for you guys to come join me." Oppie said, checking the charge on the blaster at his hip, one of the spares they kept aboard. "If anything happens, call me."

"Okay." Viran said, still not quite trusting the situation while he finished doing the post-flight. He and Sasha both got up and followed Oppie to the entry hatch.

"Be careful." Sasha said, still not quite her usual self.

"If I have to be." Oppie replied with a smirk before walking down the short ramp and heading off into town.

The cold, early evening sun shone through mists that loomed overhead, and he was glad for his jacket as he made his way off the exposed landing platform and into town. Though the mud streets were a little slippery, and the wood buildings even more ramshackle than they looked from the air, looking more like a hodgepodge of lumped together logs. A few droids carted goods about, and the local residents kept their heads down. One or two boisterous people of obvious wealth strutted here and there, having returned from the hunt or heading out for the night, though most of them were heading towards the center market of town which had a few vendors selling souvenirs or food, and also the main alehouse. The alehouse, maybe described as more of an alelodge, was doing good business, the sounds of revelry jumbled from the inside, and the light of various flaming torches and a roaring fire from a central firepit spilled out into the square invitingly. He stepped through the open doors and was immediately struck by the change in temperature; warmer than outside, almost stuffy, and the air thick with wood smoke. He looked around, trying to spot the bounty hunter, and found him almost immediately in a secluded alcove far in the back.

A Mandalorian, his rifle laying across the table in front of him, and his copper tinted beskar plates catching the light like a beacon on the other side of the lodge. He had a tankard of some sort in front him, which immediately struck Oppie as odd considering that he sat there quietly with the helmet on. Oppie took a deep breath and made his way through the crowd of people reveling in their experiences of the day. There was laughter and drinking from the entire crowd, which made a general din that overpowered the space. A few took notice of him but none paid any particular attention as he passed. He approached the Mandalorian gingerly, not quite sure what to say as he came up and stopped a small distance away in this quieter corner of the lodge behind the seated figure.

"Su cuy'gar" the Mandalorian said in a gruff voice filtered through his helmet, not turning his head and still holding the same vigil at his empty table over the tankard of half drunk ale. "If you're here for the hunting season, all the good guides are taken already." He turned his shiny helmet a little towards Oppie.

"Hi Kyr, it's been a while." Oppie stepped forward around the table, not taking a seat and instead resting his arms on one of the high back chairs.

A snort of helmet amplified derision was all he reacted with. "What brings you here?"

Oppie wasn't quite sure what to say, so he just spoke plainly. "We need help."

Kyr's head slowly turned to look up at him and appeared to digest the plea for a moment. "That's rich." He responded in a low grumble. "I asked for your help for my aliit last time, if I recall, and you refused."

Oppie sighed heavily. "I had my own aliit to worry about, and you wanted my help in taking revenge." He said with an even stare.

The dark T-visor just stared back.

"A Sith attacked us, she's still attacking Sasha's mind, I think." Oppie said. "It's a side of the Force I know almost nothing about… I was hoping that you might know someone who could help us."

The copper helmet looked down towards the table for a few seconds before responding. "I can't help you with this." He looked back up at Oppie, "You turned your back on me, on my family, and I can't forgive that."

Oppie stood there brooding for a moment before preparing to step away. "Very well, I-"

"But I know someone who may be able to help you." Kyr interrupted. "She's wise, and knows some about the Force. She's actually here for a hunt, so lucky you." Kyr finished.

"How can I find her?" Oppie asked.

"Her name's Kitsu, my elder cousin. She's up in the mountains, hunting an arkothrax cat. Big, scary things, look like lothcats but their jaws are like this big." Kyr held his arms out, stretching them to their fullest. "She likes their fur. This time of year they're down on the slopes hunting before they hibernate, I think she went up the west slope of Kaphrax Peak." Kyr concluded. He looked down at his ale and Oppie got the distinct impression he wanted to take a drink. "She'll be up there for a few weeks, so you'll need to go find her unless you want to wait."

Oppie stood up fully. "Thanks Kyr, I owe you for this if she can help us."

Kyr snorted again "You owe me either way. Keep an eye out for orange and white beskar. One other thing, if you're going up in the mountains… don't take any electronics with you, at least none that are powered on. A lot of the bigger, nastier things can sense electromagnetic sources, and electronics draw them like a magnet."

"Hmph, okay. Thanks, see ya around." This sounded like it was going to be a ton of fun. Oppie started walking away.

"Op…" Kyr's voice called as he started walking away, with a reluctant and almost sorrowful tone. Oppie turned back and saw Kyr fishing something out of one of his leather waist pouches as he stood up. "She would have wanted you to have this." Kyr said, walking to Oppie. From his fingers, a Mandalorian heart piece, made in the same copper beskar as Kyr's own armor, dangled from a leather loop like a necklace. Oppie just looked at the small plate of armor, then up at the face hidden behind the T-visor, not quite sure if he should take it. "She cared for you just as much as she cared for me. Take it."

Oppie reached out gingerly and took the piece, the metal a little heavier than he was expecting. He held the heart piece in his hand inspecting it for a moment before looking back up at Kyr. "Thank you."

"Watch your shebs out there." His half cape caught the air as Kyr turned, he moved back to the chair and settled heavily in the same position Oppie had first found him in.

Oppie turned and left, going out the door into the square and catching a small flurry that was gently cascading snowflakes to the ground. He pulled out his comm and called back to Viran and Sasha. "I found him, he can't help, but he knows someone who can…"

"Well that's great!" Sasha chimed over the comm line, Oppie was glad to hear her voice in a good mood considering the circumstances.

"Yeah, but she's up in the mountains, hunting some beast or other. And I'll have to go up without comms - can't use electronics up there."

A few moments of quiet came over the small speaker before Sasha replied "Oppie, I don't like the idea of you going alone without comms. Shouldn't we come with you?"

Before Oppie responded, Viran answered for him. "Sasha, you know what's supposed to be out there. Besides, you're in no condition to go mountain hiking and fending off monsters right now. What happens if she attacks your mind again while we are in the middle of nowhere?"

"Viran's right." Oppie replied. "It will be dangerous out there and with that Sith attacking you like this it's just not safe."

He heard Sasha sigh in defeat. "I feel fine. I promise! But I get the feeling I'm not going to win this argument, am I?"

"Nope," Oppie said at the same time as Viran.

"Fine! But please be careful out there Oppie," Sasha pleaded.

"I will," Oppie replied. "And if you don't hear from me in two days, then you can lead the search party to find me."

"Will do," Viran said. "Be careful."

"I will," Oppie finished then thumbed off his commlink.

He then turned toward the road that led out to the wilderness and spied a provisions store, he would need to get some supplies before this trip.

It had been a couple hours since they had last heard from Oppie. Viran had decided during that time to do some maintenance on the ship as it had been a while since they truly used it. He had stepped outside to get to work on it while Sasha remained in the cockpit. Since the last mental attack from the Sith, which was hours ago, her head wasn't hurting as much. The pain had gone down quite a bit, but there was still a dull ache and nag in the back of her mind that the Sith was still there, waiting.

With a heavy sigh, Sasha kicked back in the chair and put her feet up on the console. She was so bored. She thought about meditation, but she feared she would encounter the Sith again. Earlier, she said she could handle her. But now the mere thought of that sent a chill to her bones. She wished she was back at the bar again. She always felt in control there. Making drinks, hearing amazing stories of the galaxy, throwing out drunkards, etc. She always wondered what would happen if they did ever leave and never came back, but now that they were in that exact position, she didn't realize she would miss it that much.

The thought then crossed her mind of all of her patrons showing up in the next few hours to find the bar closed. To be fair, she never actually worked the bar alone. There was a small kitchen staff, but even they were due to arrive to find her… gone. Sasha had never formed an attachment with a planet they lived on before. Sure, she would miss it once they left, but then she would come to love her new home. However, this time Sasha did miss it dearly. That small little outpost where everyone would come visit her at the bar. Where they could hide undercover and no one would bother them. It was probably her favorite place yet.

"A Jedi running a bar? Never have I heard of that one before," a vicious female voice rang.

Sasha nearly fell out of her chair at the sound of the voice. Frantically looking around, Sasha looked for the source of the voice.

"Where are you?" Sasha asked the empty cockpit around her.

"Here, little Jedi," The Sith said as she appeared in the pilot's chair.

Sasha glared her down as she straightened in the chair. "What do you want?"

"The same thing I wanted the last time we spoke," The Sith said. "The fragment. Now where is it? I have already wasted enough time."

"I don't know what you are talking about," Sasha fibbed with ease.

"You can't lie to me while I have a grasp on your mind," the Sith sneered. "Now I will only ask this once more, otherwise I will move onto more drastic measures."

Sasha stood and stared the Sith down. "And I will tell you again. I don't know what you are talking about."

"Insolent wench. I have had just about enough of these games," the Sith stood, irritated. "I will get what I want."

The Sith moved in a flash and reached for Sasha's mind. Sasha dodged her hand as she moved away from her.

"What are you doing?" Sasha asked annoyed.

"You think that I am just a projection?" The Sith cackled. "You may have incredible power in the Force, but you have so much to still learn."

The Sith moved closer again and before Sasha had a chance to flee, the Sith reached into her mind. The Sith's hand phased through her skull and now had an actual grasp of her brain. Sasha's eyes rolled back into her head and felt her knees wobble. She staggered back into the wall of the ship and leaned heavily on it. Her voice could not escape her lips as she gasped at the immense pressure in her head.

It felt like the Sith was physically digging around in her mind. Sasha gasped as she felt the Sith brush up against her mental shields. The shields that every Jedi had built around them mentally with the Force to protect their minds from those who wished to bring them harm. Oppie always said that Sasha's mental walls were stronger than his or Viran's because of her close connection to the Force. However, she could feel the Sith start to chip away at them.

She had to get away from the Sith and her grasp on her mind. Using what Force she could gather, Sasha Force pushed the Sith away from her like she did before. It worked just like before. The pressure was gone… for now. However, she felt weaker. Mentally and physically weaker. The Sith growled at her.

"I am not done with you yet."

Sasha glared up at the Sith who still stood before her. She had to get away. She had to find Viran. Sasha staggered her way out of the cockpit and towards the ramp of the ship. She used the walls of the ship to hold her up as her legs shook with every step she took. Sasha could hear the Sith's villainous cackle as she staggered along.

Once she reached the ramp, Sasha shivered at the cooler outsider air compared to the interior of the ship. She leaned against the hatch opening and looked around for Viran. She then risked a glanced back to see if the Sith was following her. She didn't see her, but she knew she was still there.

"Viran!" Sasha cried out. She had to get his attention somehow. "VIRAN! VIRAN!"

"He can't hear you," the Sith said behind her. "Now stop running."

Sasha looked back and saw that she was not there. When she turned back around, the Sith was there again in front of her and phased her hand back into her mind. Sasha gasped again at the pressure as she collapsed against the opening, clinging to it like it was her last resort.

"Now your mind is completely mine," the Sith said as Sasha felt her last wall drop.

"No… no… Viran…" Sasha somehow managed to let out. "Viran…vir…"

Sasha slowly peeled her eyes open to see the Sith was gone. She tried to call out to Viran again, but she didn't even have the strength for that. Slowly, she slid down the opening and rested against it as she sat down on the floor.

She couldn't think or see straight. Her head felt empty, but also crowded at the same time. Her head throbbed and she felt cold. This wasn't good.

Viran was elbow deep into the ship working on the engine. The poor thing sat dormant for a very long time on Vestora then suddenly traveled across the galaxy without a proper start up. However, the ship still did a great job after not moving for a long time.

Suddenly, Viran felt a strange disturbance in the Force. Something was wrong. Something with Sasha. Deciding to take a break and check on her, Viran closed up the engine access point and headed back to the ramp.

"Viran… VIRAN! VIRAN!" He suddenly heard her call out.

Picking up his pace, Viran found himself rushing back to the ramp. Something was actually wrong. It must be that Sith again, attacking her. Viran rounded the ship and approached the ramp. When he got to the ramp, he saw Sasha resting in the opening, pale as a sheet.

"Sash!" Viran gasped as he hopped onto the ramp and hurried to her side.

He grabbed her by the shoulders and her head slowly raised to look at him. Her eyes were distant. That's when he felt it. Sasha's connection to the Force felt… off. He wasn't as strong as her in the Force, but he could tell that the Sith had done something to her mind.

"Sash, talk to me," Viran asked delicately. "Are you okay?"

"Vir… I feel… feel...so dizzy," Sasha spoke in the quietest of voices.

"Let's get you back inside. You're shivering and…" he cut off when he felt the warmth radiating from her body as he gathered her into his arms. He reached up and felt her forehead. She was burning up with a fever. "Kriff," Viran cursed as he picked her up off the ground and carried her back inside and to their makeshift medbay.

Once there, he laid her down on the bed and wrapped her in a blanket. He then grabbed a cloth and wet it in the compartment sink. He brought it over and placed it on her warm forehead. Viran then grabbed what medical supplies he needed to help treat her fever.

As soon as he was done, he slumped into the chair beside her bunk and watched her with a worried gaze. She was asleep, pale, running a fever, and being attacked by the Sith. And Viran? He was alone. Taking care of the ship and his best friend. The person he cared about the most in the galaxy. Even more so than Oppie who he saw as an older brother to him. And now? Without Oppie or Sasha to really guide him to what the next step was, Viran sat, for the first time ever, contemplating what he should do next.

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