"What's this suppose to be?" asked Hux. He eyed the four-wheeled vehicle that looked like something out of a historical novel. A pre-space flight historical novel.

"It's our transportation, Alasdair," replied Aurelia as she stuffed the basket of provisions in the back seat of the, for want of a better word, vehicle. "Hand me our bags, please."

"Even the vehicle we rode up here in wasn't as primitive," complained Hux as he passed her the bags. "This belongs in an archeological dig, not on a road."

"It only looks primitive on the outside, Alasdair. I'm sure the engine and fuel components would be familiar to you, though a bit dated. It's designed to blend in with the technology in the high country."

"So I'm being spirited away to some sort of primitive, back-to-the-earth community? Do they live in mud huts? Light their dwellings with animal grease lamps? Chant incantations to some sort of deity totem while they rub blue mud in their belly buttons?"

Aurelia sighed. "The people who live in this part of the high country tend to be Luddites who are enamored to the idea of the simple life that existed before humans traveled to the stars. Perhaps too enamored. But no mud huts or bear grease lamps."

"I still don't understand why we're going there instead of a more civilized location," he huffed.

"Limited contact with the planetary authorities, a marked disinterest in outside news, and a very large percentage of the population have red hair," answered Aurelia with a smile. "And historically it has a long association with the Clan Sinclair. We will be identifying ourselves as Sinclairs, which should shield us if any authorities come calling."

She opened the driver's side door, slid into the operator's seat, and looked up at Hux. "Get in Alasdair. We have a ways to travel."

*TaBa*

It was fully dark when Inspector Falkus, Agent MacBheatha, Poe, and Finn finally left the Aerodome for the Charterhouse of the Òrdugh Liath.

"Are you sure we're going the right way?" asked the Inspector, as he tried unsuccessfully to find a comfortable way to sit on the thinly padded seat.

"Yes, Inspector Falkus. Our driver is quite familiar with the route," replied MacBheatha

"It's an awfully narrow, twisty road to attempt in total darkness, especially in a vehicle like this." Poe protested. "It's a bit ancient, isn't it?"

"We're quite safe, Inspector Dameron," assured MacBheatha.

"Maybe we should have waited until morning," suggested Finn.

"Master Mac Dhomhnuill is making time for us tonight," answered Falkus. "If he knows anything that would lead us to Hux I'm not going to let travel conditions deter us."

"Of course, sir. I understand. I want to see Hux brought to justice also," said Poe.

Inspector Falkus sighed. He had thought that Comraich would have inched closer to modernization in the 30 years he had been gone. Apparently, that had been a forlorn hope on his part. The planet seemed determined to stay a bucolic backwater in the arse end of the Outer Rim. There's a reason he tells his wife that they aren't going back to 'the old country' when he retires.

"Inspector Falkus?" ventured Poe.

"Yes Dameron?" he answered.

"Are these people Force users?"

"As far as I know, Dameron."

"Are these Force users Jedi or Sith?" Poe asked.

"As far as I know they're neither, he shrugged. "I think they're somewhere in the middle."

"Does that make the Jith?" asks Finn, "or maybe Sedi?"

"Are you trying to be cute?" growled Falkus, irritated. He wasn't looking forward to this interview. Most Force users set his teeth on edge.

"Oh no, sir!" protested Finn. "I just like to understand how things are ordered."

"Part of your Stormtrooper training?" Falkus grunted.

"A bit, yes sir," responded Finn.

As they talked the lights of the Guest House appeared in the near distance.

"What's that?" exclaimed Finn suddenly. The driver braked hard, throwing them against the seat belts.

"What's what?" asked the Inspector. They all looked at the road in front of the transport. There was nothing there.

"There was something out there when we went around that last curve," answered Finn. "Something was out there waiting. At least that's what it felt like."

"Should we go take a look Inspector?" Poe reached for the door control next to him.

"Getting lost in the woods is not on my 'to do' list this evening," Falkus snorted. "It was probably some sort of animal."

*TaBa*

"What are you doing?" exclaimed Hux as Aurelia suddenly drove off the road and killed the engine and vehicle lights.

"Be very quiet, Alasdair. Someone is coming up the road. I can feel them in the Force."

She put up a hand. "Quiet your mind also. Don't try to reach in the Force. There is a minor sensitive with them who might feel you if you do."

Aurelia reached out and took his hand.

/I'm masking our Force signatures./ she whispered into his mind.

Hux jumped slightly at the contact but otherwise didn't react.

They both sat quietly in the dark as the lights of a transport vehicle appeared around a curve, passed by, stopped for a minute, and continued up the road. Aurelia waited until it disappeared around a far curve, then started their engine and proceeded down the narrow, winding side road that connected to the highway to Sruighlea.

"Get comfortable, Alasdair. It's going to take an hour to reach our destination."

"I have a feeling I'll be asking this question frequently," drawled Hux, "But what just happened here?"

"I just prevented you from being arrested by the United New Republic," she replied shortly as she took a curve faster than recommended.

"Is that a fact?" he scoffed.

"Yes, it is," she snapped as she braked hard to avoid hitting a large animal barreling across the road in front of them. "I recognized 3 of the 4 mental signatures in the vehicle we avoided. Senior Inspector Falkus from the UNR External Investigation Bureau was one of them. He's been after you for a while. He didn't believe the First Order propaganda that you were executed as a spy during the Battle of Exegol."

"As far as the First Order was concerned I had been executed. The bridge crew of the Steadfast saw Allegiant General Pryde shoot me at close range."

"How did you escape?" asked Aurelia as she turned on the main road toward Both Chèi and away from Sruighlea.

Hux gave her a sharp knife of a smile. "Reinforced armorweave undertunic and two loyal stormtroopers Phasma arranged to be on hand to 'dispose' of my body. It helped that Pryde is an arrogant, careless prick."

*TaBa*

Master Mac Dhomhnuill sat back in his chair and gave Kylo and Rey a penetrating, calculated look.

"That's quite a story you've told me Master Skywalker," he said thoughtfully.

"It's not a story," rejoined Kylo.

"A poor choice of words on my part, Master Ren" acknowledged Mac Dhomhnuill. "I don't discount what she told me, though I will admit that we have no records or accounts that detail the phenomena of a Force-sensitive returning to the material world after being subsumed into the Force."

He knocked the dottle out of his pipe, refilled it with fresh tobacco, and lit it before continuing. "But your return to the living, Master Ren, while fascinating in and of itself, is not why Master Galen brought you to see me."

"Yes," replied Kylo. "She was of the opinion that the Grey Council could assist us to identify the source of the Force attacks we have been experiencing and perhaps assist us in countering them."

Master Mac Dhomhnuill puffed on his pipe thoughtfully for a few minutes. "I think we may be able to help," he declared decisively. "I need to consult the senior council and order some research. This may take several days."

"That's acceptable," replied Kylo. "We can return to our ship to wait for the results."

"Please accept the hospitality of the Guest House," rejoined the Meimeal. "It's warded against Force attacks as is the Charterhouse. You may use any of the Òrdugh Liath facilities while you are here."

[[Say 'yes' Kylo. The beds here are wider and more comfortable than the ones on the Ghost.]]

{{Good point. Brat.}}

[[Love you too, Kylo]]

"Thank you for the kind offer," said Kylo. "Rey and I accept."

There was a knock on the door, which opened to admit Seneschal MacSheumais.

"Master, the representative from the United New Republic has arrived. He's waiting to speak with you and has also requested to talk to Masters Ren and Skywalker."

Master Mac Dhomhnuill turned to speak to Kylo and Rey "Would that be acceptable to you, Masters?"

They looked at each other.

[[What do you think, Kylo?]]

{{As far as we know they're here for Hux, not me.}}

"We'll talk to them, Master Mac Dhomhnuil," answered Kylo.

"Very well," acknowledged the Seneschal. He turned and motioned the people in the hall behind him to enter the parlor. A rumpled middle-aged man sauntered into the parlor followed by 3 other persons.

"Master Ren, Master Skywalker, we meet again." purred Inspector Falkus.

Author's Notes: Aurelia and Hux will be hiding in plain sight while he learns how to live with Force sensitivity. I have some interesting times planned for them. We will see more of Kylo and Rey in upcoming chapters. And no, I haven't forgotten about Phasma and Kateria.