"That was fun," complained Hux sarcastically as the doors of the passenger car closed behind them. They were both puffing a bit from running across the terminal before the train left without them.

"The cash ticket kiosk was having issues," replied Aurelia grumpily as they found seats in the mostly empty car.

"You could have used a credit stick. Hell, I could have lent you one of mine if you didn't have one."

"Keep your voice down!" she hissed. "I didn't want to leave a record trail for Peter to follow."

"Who's Peter?" asked Hux, settling into his seat.

"Inspector Falkus," she answered shortly.

"Sounds like you know him."

"Yes," she acknowledged shortly.

"Aurelia, this is like pulling teeth, which was something I reserved for advanced interrogations," he complained. "Just tell me, please."

She sighed. "There isn't much to tell. I met Peter through his wife, Liz, while she and I were colleagues in an experimental Stormtrooper rehabilitation program. When he found out that I was Force-sensitive he asked me to work with him occasionally when a mind reader would be useful."

She smiled thinly. "He thinks I'm a minor talent."

Hux frowned thoughtfully. "It seems I need to reevaluate whether I can trust you, Dr. Galen."

"Public transport is a poor place to have this discussion, Alasdair," murmured Aurelia. "I suggest we table this conversation until we reach Dùn Èideann and find overnight lodgings. I am willing to drop my barriers and allow you to verify my truthfulness."

"Until we reach Dùn Èideann," agreed Hux, albeit with some reluctance.

**TaBa**

Kylo and Rey stared at Master MacSheumais in disbelief.

"Did you say an arrest warrant?" asked Kylo challengingly.

"Did you say Neurostrin?" asked Rey weakly.

"Yes to both questions," he replied.

He looked at Kylo. "Master Ren, you knew eventually the UNR would come up with a rationale to arrest you."

Then he turned to Rey. "Master Skywalker, are you familiar with Neurostrin?"

"Too damn familiar," growled Kylo. "We were ambushed by some bounty hunters on Ord Mantell and Rey was injected with it during the fight. It's nasty."

"I'm not sure which of the physical symptoms were worse," added Rey, "nausea, the muscle aches, the blinding headache, or the full-body shaking. Although they were mild compared to how it felt to be totally cut off from sensing the Force."

The Seneschal frowned. "I need more information on this. What else can you tell me?"

"We have a file of background information on the Ghost that Dr. Galen obtained," said Kylo. "I can transmit it to you when Rey and I return to the ship."

"Thank you, Master Ren," replied Master MacSheumais. "I would like to get this information to Master Mac Dhomhnuill and the Council of Elders as quickly as possible."

"Master MacSheumais," interjected Rey, "do you know if the courier from the UNR has arrived yet?"

"Our latest information indicates that the courier is still in route, he replied. "However, I expect they will arrive at the Dùn Èideann aerodrome within the next three days."

Kylo looked at Rey. "We have time to get back to the Ghost and get off-planet then," he concluded.

"Before you leave, Masters," said the Seneschal, "I have a request and a suggestion."

"What's the request?" asked Kylo.

"We have lost contact with Master Galen and Armitage Hux. I believe her comm unit is no longer active."

"Hux probably disabled it," commented Kylo. "Off-the-shelf UNR comm units are as insecure as hell. They're loaded up with trackers and spyware."

"So I surmised. Do you and Master Skywalker have a way to contact Hux?"

"My ship's comm is pretty damn secure. I'll call him when Rey and I get to the Ghost. Or in the morning at the latest."

"Excellent. One further request, if you don't mind. Could you delay your departure from Comraicht for a day or two? I believe we will need to get Master Galen and her apprentice off-planet in a hurry."

Kylo looked over at Rey. She shrugged and nodded. "I owe Aurelia for helping me through the Neurostrin injection."

"Anything else?" asked Kylo.

"Just a suggestion Master Ren." The Seneschal smiled briefly, "The Grand Master and the Council of Elders would like to speak to you and Master Skywalker. I believe it would be to your advantage to give them an audience. I can comm you the coordinates for their current location."

"We'll take it under consideration," replied Kylo. He held his hand out to Rey and helped her out of her chair. "Thank you for your time and information, Master Seneschal."

Master MacSheumais stood and bowed his head briefly, "It was my pleasure, Masters. Good evening and safe journeys."

**TaBa**

Inspector Falkus sighed. Dameron and his husband were on the comm again. He didn't think one of his better agents would need so much hand-holding. He scowled at Poe's holoimage.

"What is it this time Dameron?"

"I think we have a lead, Inspector!" It took a little squinting, but he could see that Poe was grinning excitedly. His husband, Finn was standing behind him.

"Dameron, is your husband eating a haggis sandwich?"

"Good eye, sir," said Poe.

"Does he know that haggis does not belong in a sandwich?"

"He's hoping it will become a 'thing' before we leave the planet."

Falkus sighed and shook his head. "Report, Dameron."

"Well sir, we went back to the meditation center as you instructed but they had already scarpered. So Finn suggested that we go back to town and check out the car park and the train station."

"And?" the Inspector asked.

"And, sir?" hesitated Poe.

"And what did you discover?"

"There were just 2 cars left in the car park. I called Agent MacBheatha and he confirmed that one of them was registered to the Grey Order."

"I doubt they walked out of Both Chèi," speculated Falkus. "What else?"

"We walked over to the train station next," Poe continued. "a passenger train stopped briefly about an hour ago. It was going to Dùn Èideann. I talked to the night attendant and he said he thought he saw a couple of people buying tickets at the cash ticket kiosk."

"Did he describe them, Dameron? Was it a man and woman?"

"It was a man and a woman but he couldn't describe them."

"Damn. See if the night attendant can check the kiosk register and determine if the tickets they bought were destination Dùn Èideann or if they were traveling through to another city."

"Will do, Inspector," agreed Poe.

"And Dameron - good work."

**TaBa**

Daibhidh Mac Dhomhnuill, Grand Master of the Grey Order yawned and wrapped himself in a robe. The Council of Elders were meeting at a discrete location on a planet near the border of the Outer Rim and the Unknown Regions. The evening session had run a little late, and then there was the obligatory schmoozing and deal-making afterward. The urgent beeping from his datapad was not a welcome sound.

He activated the call and squinted at the blue holoimage of Seneschal Dòmhnall MacSheumais on his datapad.

"It had better be an emergency if you're contacting me at 3 bloody 'o clock in the morning Dòmhnall," grumbled Master Mac Dhomhnuill.

"I apologize Daibhidh, but I felt this was important enough to bring to your attention." explained the Seneschal. "I'm sending a report to your datapad that originated in the United New Republic. The report details information on a drug aimed specifically at Force-sensitives. It's called Neurostrin and is derived from melange."

"Melange?" interrupted Master Mac Dhomhnuill. "Didn't you submit a report on melange to the Council last year?"

"Yes sir," replied Master MacSheumais. "We have been attempting to get the UNR, among others, to make importation illegal with varying results."

"To continue, Neurostrin was developed by Praxis Pharmaceuticals and was funded as a joint project between the UNR, the Confederation of Planets, and United Planetary Systems."

"Praxis created a proprietary formula using an olbio tree extract to mitigate the addictive properties of Melange. Olbio trees are found on the planet Myrkr," the Seneschal added.

"Does the report indicate why these governments would fund a Force suppression project?" the Grand Master asked.

"Not directly, Grand Master. However, I have correlated this report with others from our contacts in these spheres of influence and there is a strong suggestion that the activities of Supreme Leader Snoke, Kylo Ren, and the reappearance of the Sith Lord Darth Sideous have exacerbated fears of Force-sensitive persons."

"Interesting," mused Master Mac Dhomhnuill. "Anything else I should know?"

"Neurostrin can be administered as either an intramuscular or Intravenous injection, with intravenous allowing for the quickest absorption and complete suppression of the Force connection at 5 minutes. Intramuscular is slower at 15 minutes but still effectively suppresses the Force connection. There is a section on dosage information but you can get it from the file at your leisure."

"Was there any discussion of long-term effects, Dòmhnall?"

"Yes sir, the researchers found that long-term blockage of the Force can cause depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and potential suicide attempts."

"Other potential long term effects of repeated doses of Neurostrin include consistent low-grade fever, fast or pounding heartbeat, dizziness, memory, concentration or sleep problems, damage to heart muscle, persistent cough, breathing problems due to damage to alveoli in the lungs, potential stroke and/or seizures. There is also an increased potential for blood clots and chronic fatigue."

"Thank you, Dòmhnall, for forwarding this potentially horrifying information to haunt what little time I have left to sleep."

"It comes with the territory, Daibhidh," Master MacSheumais conceded. "I wanted you to have enough time to absorb this development before you presented it to the Council of Elders."

"Anything else, Dòmhnall?"

"If I presented it correctly Masters Ren and Skywalker will be joining you soon. Perhaps even the bonus of Armitage Hux."

"A discussion for another time, Dòmhnall."

"Yes sir. Good night, Daibhidh."

Author Notes: Aurelia and Hux are on the run. Kylo and Rey get some disturbing news. Poe reports to Inspector Falkus. He and Finn may have found a clue. Master MacSheumais comms the Grand Master with an unsettling report.

Not much to say about this chapter. It's mostly a transitional chapter. I haven't forgotten about Phasma and Kateria. Just trying to figure out the best place to bring them back into the storyline.