Chapter 6

Sins of The Past

KIROS

14 Years ago

Kiros was an idyllic world filled with vast green valleys and flowing waterfalls located in the galaxy's Expansion Region. The world was host to 50,000 Togruta colonists. The planet was ruled by Governor Gupat Roshti, who was contacted by Master Yoda just prior to the Separatist occupation of Kiros during the Clone Wars. During which the Sith Lord Count Dooku approached the Governor of the world to allow the Separatists to move the population to a secure location while they established a base there. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, and Clone Captain Rex later fought a battle on Kiros, where they liberated the planet, but discovered that the entire population had been taken by slavers. After a battle at Kadavo had ended and the Zygerrian slave processing facility was destroyed, the former captives were returned to Kiros, to rebuild their society.

In the waning years of the old republic Kiros was trained by Republic forces to create a security force for the once pacifist world. The togruta colonists had suffered much under the brutal heel of the Zygerrian slavers and vowed never to face such hardships again. As it was when a cargo shuttle flying down toward the planet late one night descending to the front of the colony. Now reinforced with anti aircraft guns and togrutan soldiers on the battlements carrying republic blasters watched it descend.

The shuttle landed and opened its cargo hold, as two three togrutas approached, all men, their montrels each a different color, one was green, yellow the middle purple like his skin, the white markings on their faces each different yet similar. The two behind the purple one had blaster rifles while he carried a pistol at his waist. Dressed in colorful but simple clothes akin to military fatigues the pilot exited. A weequay man with a short stature wearing goggles and a flight suit, he scratched the back of his neck "Pilot, you are late why?" the Guard Captain asked.

"Uhh well, good news is your shipment is all here bad news is uh… the reason I'm late actually." he said "But you may not find that bad news." the pilot said.

The weequay gestured back to his ship and gave a wave insisting the kiros guards to follow, they did so but cautiously raised their blasters. "I was leaving my last drop off in the Besh Gorgon system when I found an uh… stow away." the pilot said.

The Guard Captain narrowed his purple brow as he walked into the ship to see a pair of metal tipped boots "We have no time for refugees, with the Empire spreading across the galaxy we have to look after our…" looking down the togruta guard captain gasped to see pressed up against the supply crates was a young Ahsoka Tano holding a bundle of cloth in her arms, she had a cut forehead and her arms had blaster singe marks on them, her right leg was bleeding wrapped up in a makeshift bandage to halt the bleeding but she had passed out. Looking to the bundle in her arms the guard captain saw a pair of big green eyes staring back at him.

PHOENIX HOME

The Bridge,

"And… that's when the bounty hunter flew off." Hera said finishing up their report from Ord Mantell, the rest of her crew was there minus Ahkilleon. "With Ahkilleon." she added, looking at Ahsoka and Sato. Ahsoka was frightfully calm about the loss of her only son and Sato was looking none too pleased beside her.

Folding his arms Sato looked at Turok "So not only did we fail to gain any intel on the mercenaries from Garel, but instead revealed one of our operatives with a known history of anti imperial activity who will now put us all at jeopardy but you lost Commander Tano's son."

Turok sighed out of his nose "Well when you put it like that." "Enough!" Sato snapped at Turok who didn't even flinch, but the rest of the crew all went rigid at the outburst. "We have humored your offronts for the last time Skell, I want you off my bridge."

But Turok didn't move, slowly, Turok walked around the table toward Sato, some of the guards on the bridge got ready to intervene but the Commander waved them off meeting Turok halfway. Both of them standing off against one another the smell of blood still on Turoks kimino and scales. Reaching up with his left claw Turok scratched his right cheek "You know one of these days, I'm going to take that chain of command you have…" he looked up "And I'm going to beat you within an inch of your life."

"Threatening a superior officer is an offense that gets you a ticket to the bridge." Sato said but none of his men moved.

The smell on Turok and the stains were all still too fresh. "Enough, my son is missing." Ahsoka said to both of them.

"But who took him, the Empire, Inquisitors?" Ezra asked worriedly. Both Sato and Turok were still staring down at them when Ahsoka said "I already know who took him."

Everyone looked at Ahsoka, both Turok and Sato broke their stalemate, "But that's impossible, Ahkilleon isn't on any record Imperial or otherwise, they'd have to…" Turok trailed off as realization covered his face.

"They'd have to know him already and want him alive if they hired that bounty hunter." Sabine said, holding her helmet under her arm.

Ahsoka folded her arms behind his back "They do, and they wouldn't dare hurt him."

"So, these people they're friends of yours Ahsoka?" Zeb asked, "I mean they kidnapped her son, I doubt their friends." Kanan pointed out.

Chopper gave a few beeps beside Ezra who shoved the droid, "No not friend, family." Ahsoka said.

ELSEWHERE

Ahkilleons felt something soft, underneath him, he was warm too, not hot he was comfortable. Lying in something oh so soft, he didn't want to move he just kept finding new ways to be comfortable. Rolling over he felt light hit his closed eyes, blinking he saw a great window. Sitting up he looked around to see he was in the largest room he'd ever been in. The floors were all chrome metal with gold and red accents running across the walls. There were ringed pillars, the walls were adorned with art or maybe hanging furniture? There was a large heat generator on the other side with a picture of a beautiful woman with chestnut brown hair, flawless light skin and pale blue eyes that shine like stars. She was dressed in a beautiful gown of silver and a golden circlet on her brow. The bed he was in was bigger than an A-wing. Comfier too. The sheets were linen, with a dozen pillows to rest on, sitting up he looked at himself, his white and blue hair was down hanging at his shoulders not being in the usual top knot and… he grabbed a handful of locks and smelled it. It smelled good?

Pushing the sheets up he saw he wasn't wearing his usual blue vest and beige tunic, no he was wearing snow white sleepwear which was as he rubbed his cheek on it "... soft…." he moaned into it. Walking on the floor he felt a carpet that was like walking on a cloud to his feet.

He looked over at the light, he was in space not far from a large star that was already warm at the feeling of its rays, looking over his shoulder he saw a doorway leading to another room, possibly a bathroom and next to another door that he heard click open. Ahkilleon got ready to stand his ground to whatever came in and to his surprise it was…

Breakfast? A full tray of eggs, bacon, pancakes with butter and a pitcher of syrup next to it, two muffins, three slices of toast with some green stuff on it, and a pitcher of blue milk with an already filled cup next to it and holding it with a firm grip was a man, an old man standing tall with gray hair receding back over his head combed neatly. He was wearing a white coat with fine gold pattern embroidered on the shoulders and collar, his eyes were green like Ahkilleon and he had a thin beard around his chin giving him a scholarly dignified look to him "Ah your awake wonderful." The man said, speaking with an outer rim accent.

Walking toward the bed, Ahkilleon backed up "You must be starving after such a long journey." he said, setting down the tray holding the small feast. Sitting on the other side he patted the other side of the bed "Come come, eat up young man." Still not sure if this was friend or foe Ahkilleon said nothing, the old man sighed "We have no intention of poisoning you young man, here look." The man picked up a piece of bacon. His right hand had a ring and gold chain on it. He took a bite and the sound of the crunch and the smell of the bacon's juices filled Ahkilleons nose making his stomach growl.

"Hmm ah Selucami pork, well no use letting it go to waste." The man said as he took out the fork and knife and started to eat, he went from each dish as he spoke "Now I know you have no shortage of questions young man and I will answer them if you but answer me one question in return." he took a bite of the eggs then poured the syrup onto the pancakes. Now his stomach was really growling.

"Deal?" The old man asked.

Ahkilleon gave a weak knod, his eyes solely focused on the food and his growing hunger "Splendid." The man said wiping his mouth by dabbing a napkin on each end, very proper like. Setting it down he leaned forward "Now, what is your name?"

Again Ahkilleon didn't speak, he gulped. The old man stood one arm behind his back "Young man, it is clear to me that you do not know the proper etiquette for gentlemen, when a man gives his word he must keep it. I have honored the sacred tradition of hospitality, you have slept in my bed, I have shared my food though you are yet to take it, but this silence is starting to sound like an insult?"

"... Ah… Ahkilleon." he squeaked out.

The old man's face lit up, a smile going ear to ear with white teeth like his hair. "Ahkilleon, it is a great honor to have you in my home once again."

"Again? Ahkilleon asked.

The old man's eyes blinked and got a bit watery and he nodded "Y-yes young man, you see we met, we met many… many years ago." He said his hands rubbing against one another, he took a step toward him and Ahkilleon backed up "Oh there's no need to be afraid, I…" The man swallowed and stood up straight, "Ahkilleon, you look so much like my son, like my Leo."

The boy frose, hearing that name "You're… you're son?"

The old man nodded, "I am Iaco, Iaco Stark and you…" the old man or Iaco, started to get weepy eyed "You are my grandson, welcome home."

GHOST

Hyperspace

"His name is Iaco Stark, and he is Ahkilleons biological grandfather." Ahsoka said to the specters, they were in the cargo hold with a chopper showing a hologram of the same old man who Ahkilleon had recently met. Ezra looked at the old human man then at Ahsoka, then back at the moon and back at Ahsoka. The Man, Ahsoka, the human male, the togruta female. Sabine rolled her eyes as she lifted her helmet off her head.

Leaning in "She means on his fathers side."

Ezra sheepishly said "I knew that."

"The story of Ahkilleons fathers family is, long, and not a very happy one, but you all should know the most recent stuff even if it was nearly fifteen years ago." Ahsoka said her arms folded holding her forearms nobody said anything. They were all listening.

Before Hera asked "Should Turok be here?"

"I already know everything!" Turok called from the bridge "Wish I didn't." he mumbled to himself.

Ahsoka frowned pausing till everyone was ready "Shortly after Ahkilleon was born, I didn't have a lot of options, the Empire was looking for surviving Jedi and Le- Ahkilleons father's forces were divided, leaderless. Turok suggested we seek shelter with the Starks, without many options we went to the Wheel." Ahsoka said.

Both Zeb and Sabine's ears perked up, "The wheel?" Ezra asked.

"It's a space station Ezra, a really really big one in the Besh Gorgon system of the Mid Rim along the Perlemian Trade Route, it's in a part of space called the immunity sphere Imperial ships can't go in it's got casinos, resorts it's practically one big vice city." Sabine said.

Ahsoka, curious, looked at her "You've been?"

"Once or twice." Sabine said, smiling guilty.

Zeb chuckled, "The wheel operates independently, but it's owned by Iaco Stark after he created a second wheel, got a lawsuit and then the original owner counter sued, but Iaco ended up getting it anyway." Ahsoka explained, a hologram appeared next to Iaco of said space station. As its name indicated it resembled a huge wheel, with a central axis consisting of the main fuselage of the station. This axis was an immense cylinder, and at its midpoint there were two main spokes leading out to the circular promenade and inner-rim city.

"How'd he manage that?" Zeb asked.

Ahsoka put her hands on her hips "You remember the Stark Hyperspace war?" Ahsoka asked.

Ezra's eyes nearly popped out of his head "You mean he's that Iaco Stark, the pirate?"

"The same, somehow he strongly armed his way into getting the Wheel, which grants him immunity from the Empire, hence why Turok and I went there." Ahsoka said on the other side of the hologram "To make a long story short, I had a disagreement with him, it got bloody and we had to run."

"What was the disagreement about?" Ezra asked.

Ahsoka got very quiet, "It's in the past, what matters now is getting Ahkilleon out of there, Iaco Stark cannot be trusted even if he is his grandfather."

"We'll do whatever we can to help Ahsoka." Hera said, speaking for the crew.

"Alright so what's the plan?" Kanan asked, following Hera's lead.

Ahsoka turned to them "Glad you asked, since it's going to be you two and me going in."

"What, we're sitting this out, I can't." Ezra said jumping to his feet he pulled out the nexu fang necklace "Ahkilleons my brother, he'd do the same for me."

Smiling at him Ahsoka said "Your bravery does credit Ezra, but if whoever saw you and Ahkilleon that also means they saw Zeb, Sabine and Turok."

"Yeah, especially after Turok took on half of Ord Mantell city." Sabine said, Zeb chuckled and Ahsoka looked over at her.

"Sabine, did you ever take your helmet off on Ord Mantell?" She asked.

The mando shook her head "No."

"Then you're coming with the three of us, the rest of you will be sneaking in a less public route to here." Hera pointed to the top of the space station hologram, the tip of the central spire, "This is the Executive Tower, it's where Stark is and indefinitely where Ahkilleon will be." she said.

Zeb grunted "And why do I get the feeling that this is the place with the most guards."

"Second actually, the first is with the vault." Ahsoka said.

Hera looked at it, "Hmmm that's a lot of guns, looks like we'll have to pull off the Lady Pennelope again."

"Not quite, Stark hasn't survived this long in the shadow of the Empire by taking chances, he'll expect something so our best bet is to blend with the crowd." Ahsoka said.

Kanan gave a groan "Disguises, again?"

"Disguise again at least for the four of us, but I think we're going to need to change it up a bit, Sabine come with me." Hera said, Sabine followed and Ahsoka looked at Zeb, Chopper and Ezra.

"Time for your part of the plan." Erza asked.

THE WHEEL

Executive Tower

The Wheel was a large space station located in the Besh Gorgon system of the Mid Rim along the Perlemian Trade Route. Well-known for its casinos, this space station resembled a huge wheel, with a central axis consisting of the main fuselage of the station. This axis was an immense cylinder, and at its midpoint there were two main spokes leading out to the circular promenade and inner-rim city. At the main axis's top was the Executive Tower, where Simon Greyshade and later administrators lived and worked. From the tower, people could access the main transport tube and travel through the entire installation in airflow cars. There were several other transport tubes besides the main one, but it had access to the Imperial dock, reserved for military personnel specifically of the Galactic Empire. All parts of the station were equipped with containment doors that could seal off damaged sections during an emergency. These walls were blast-shielded. Sprouting from the circular section were nearly 100 docking piers, allowing any size of ship to safely approach and dock with the Wheel. Beyond these luxury docks, thousands of buoys were placed to allow for less expensive docking, with shuttles providing guests with transport to the station. The outer section of the Wheel, which gave the station its name, was a sprawling city with an untold number of casinos, including the Crimson Casino and the Grand Casino, which were two of the Wheel's star attractions. Deep in the central axis was also a gladiator arena, where all manner of beings were forced to fight to the death for the entertainment and wagering of the Wheel's visitors. The security and main systems of the Wheel were run by Master-Com, a super computer capable of projecting his consciousness into several droid bodies provided for him, in an unusual gesture of friendship between Human and droid, by Senator Simon Greyshade so he could move around the casino and to make him seem more Human. Security was provided by a heavily-armed and well-trained organization known as the Wheel Security Force which helped enforce the law aboard the Wheel, as well as provide armed escort for winners of large jackpots at the casinos.

"So you run this whole place?" Ahkilleon asked Iaco as they walked through the executive tower, Ahkilleon had been given a new set of clothes, sleek white garments similar to Iacos, minus the elaborate gold pattern on the shoulders. They were walking through the hallways passing by Wheel Security forces who were dressed in black suits, with orange and green armbands that had a logo on it in the shape of the space station, wearing visor shades that wrapped around their head to their ears, each armed with a blaster pistol standing tall and intimidating.

Iaco chuckled "Among other things, but the Wheel is my pride and joy, I won it in a card game actually, but got the money from Rossum Droidworks, my company." Just then two droids walked out in front of them.

"Really any models I'd know, I've spent a lot of time around protocol and astro droids?" Ahkilleon asked.

Iaco smilled "Nothing of the sort, Rossum Droidworks doesn't make droids we buy and trade used droids, fixing them up or scrapping them for parts, with so many after the Clone Wars ended the corporate sector was all too happy to get droidikas or personal battle droids for bodyguards, it would have been a waste to see them all scraped." Iaco said as they passed through some more doors "A wasted opportunity is a terrible thing grandson."

They came to the window and Ahkilleons jaw dropped, looking out at the sheer size of the space station, swarms of ships were coming in and out of its docking bay, and there were bright lights and signs everywhere, he also saw a group of cruisers guarding the station. "Guardian-class light cruisers?"

"Yes, part of my personal fleet, I keep ten here to watch out for my investment." Iaco said, coming over to the window.

"I can see why there fast, heavily-defended, and extremely well armed, the Guardian-class was designed to patrol the remote and hostile systems at the edges of space unescorted and for prolonged amounts of time and more than capable of handling freight traffic, smugglers, and pirates, the Guardian was not well equipped for large-scale boarding actions as it lacked the space for a sizable boarding party, with crews often opting to simply destroy targets in true Imperial fashion. To assist in interdiction and customs, Guardians could be outfitted with external docking points to carry TIE Fighters; however, these fighters reduced maneuverability noticeably." Ahkilleon rattled off fact after fact about the ship to his grandpa who chuckled.

Taking his shoulder "My my you know your ships."

"Hehe mom insisted I learn everything about stuff." Ahkillen blushed a bit.

Iaco gave a sideways knod "Did she, well a good mother, see to her son's education perhaps we can send for her sometime, I'm sure she's worried about you."

Ahkilleon looked away "I mean, she's been a bit…. Busy."

"Doing what, what could be more important than you?" Iaco asked.

Not answering Ahkilleon remembered how Phoenix Squadron was supposed to be a secret but this was his family, surely he could trust him, but "Father."

Iaco stood up and looked over his shoulder, a man stood behind him holding a holopad, he was dressed in a fitted black suit with a white under shirt, he had chestnut brown hair with combed to the side and down his neck, he had a strong jaw and straight nose with brown eyes. "The shipment to Raxus has proceeded on schedule, and but we've run into a problem with raiders in the corellian system, we'll need to dispatch two of the Guardians to escort the next shipment."

"One will suffice Jaclyn, but we can talk business later, your nephew is awake." Iaco said as he stepped aside to let Ahkilleon be seen.

Looking up at him Iaco blinked a few times, and Iaclyn just looked at him unsurprised "Yes indeed, so this is the bastard." "Iaclyn." Iaco snapped.

The man didn' seem to upset at the snap, "Hmm welcome Nephew I'm sure you'll enjoy your visit."

Iaco scoffed, "Visit, this is no visit, this is our families home, and he is staying." Iaco said, Iaclyn just walked off after that abruptly and without a word.

Shaking his head Ahkilleons Grandfather led him away "Now you said, that the people you were with were your friends, not your kidnappers, my sincerest apologies for the misunderstanding now why don't you tell me everything I need to know about them so that when they arrive we can give them a proper Stark Welcome."

Meanwhile, down in one of the public docking bays, the Ghost was landing down in the hangar with the ramp lowering, "This is never going to work." Kanan said to Hera.

"It won't if you don't hold still, your hairs still not just right." she said as she touched him up.

Groaning, Kanan sniped and nagged "You don't even have hair."

The ramp lowered as two Wheel security guards walked up to see who was coming out, "Hold, there are no landings scheduled in this area today you'll have to-" "I say our scheduled landing wasn't confirmed, preposterous!" Walking down the ship's ramp dressed in a sleek purple suit and gold colored cape, black boots and with a monocle on his left eye, his brown hair fluffed, and volumed up to spread across his shoulders was Kanan with Hera on his right arm in her white and silver gown of Lady Pennelope and in his left hand he carried the credit briefcase Turok was using on Ord Mantell. The security guards looked ascant at the two finely dressed people.

"I'll have your jobs for this, do you hear me!" Kanan barked at them giving his best impression of an Imperial Moff.

"My love, please, let the help handle it." Hera said doing her Lady Pennelope impersonation. Just then walking out in black heels, wearing a pair of spectacles, dressed in a black low cut gown with long sleeves running up just beneath her broad shoulders and matching heels was Ahsoka, the backless part of her dress showed a strong back and as she approached the two guards she held out a datapad "Guardsmen this is Lord Pluto Vanhauffen Xang Zlitsbee and his new wife the Lady Pennelope, I assure you if Iaco Starks people have failed in the simple tasks of remembering our arrival we'll take our business and credits elsewhere." She said hands behind her back.

"And who the hell-" "I am his chief assistant, you may call me Ashala and-" "DADDY!" The screams like banshee made both guards jump out of their skin.

Kanan lips pressed and looked back holding his monocle "Yes darling?" Walking out of the ship in a short neon blue dress that went past to her knees with frills, with a pink fur shawl was a girl with blonde hair, wearing see through heels "You said I could go shopping as soon as we landed AND I WANNA SHOP NOW!" It was Sabine in a disguise.

Up in the ship, Zeb had to cover Ezra's mouth to stop him from laughing, along with Zeb doing his best to hold in his amusement of Sabines totally out of character performance.

Turok who was loading up his hunting rifle looked over at them "You're never going to let her live this down."

And very pleased with that prospect both Ezra and Zeb nodded very hard. Down in the hangar the two guards were at a loss with an irate teenager, "As you can see my client's daughter has had her heart set on this trip for some time, we can forget about this all if you let us pass." Ahsoka said gently, waving her fingers in the air and both guards' faces went blank.

"Forget it about, you can pass." one guard said.

"Enjoy your stay at the Wheel." The other guard said.

The first team walked past them with Ahsoka giving a thankful wave "You two should take a break."

"Take a break?" One guard asked glossy eyed, "Yeah, break." and the two guards left the hangar for Ezra, Turok, Zeb and Chopper to slide out and make their way to an access door in the hangar wall.

Ezra held up his comlink as they walked in "Specter 1, this is specter 6 we're moving into the access corridors on our way to the executive tower." Ezra said.

Kanan reached under his well done hair to his earpiece "Good work specters, radio silence until we meet back up." Kanan said as they passed through two gilded doors into the Wheels massive interior, the entire ring inside was hallow with a tube the floor rounded up and around with its own gravity, walking through it Kanan, Hera, Ahsoka and Sabine could see the massive casinos with holograms of chips, slot machines or money signs above them and all around them. There were tall towers and hotels with pools held above them that would take only a walk to go up and then upside down but then you'd be rightside up on it. Speeders flew in between the walls carrying people from one part of the small city to the next, "This is… amazing." Kanan said looking at it with fresh eyes, Hera had them too, Sabine smiled seeing a shooting range where people were testing out the latest blasters. But Ahsoka, she had a grim expression as one part of the ring's giant interior was hollow, and she could see the Executive tower, where her son was.

Meanwhile, up in said tower Iaco Stark was at a loss for words, in his gran dining hall a row of service droids from Rossum Droidworks were lined up carrying trays of food to Ahkilleon who was inhaling plate after plate like it was nothing, the old man watched Ahkilleon down a Dantoonian chicken in three bites, Mon Cala trout in one, and an entire Rodian Pizza in two by rolling up the sides and eating it like a burrito. "My my, you certainly have an appetite?" Iaco asked as he held a gold goblet of wine.

The hall was long and somewhat narrow, but the table was a fine glass with chrome chairs and gold silverware. Ahkilleon, whose face was covered in some food, swallowed "Oh yeah uh… guess I that's the togruta in me."

"Indeed, most hybrids don't live past infancy but your blood is strong." Iaco said toasting to their shared lineage.

"Tell more of this Ezra Bridger, you two seem like quite the pair?" Iaco asked.

Ahkilleon smirked "He's a handful, we actually- oh no." Ahkilleon grabbed his shirt "no, no, no."

"What's wrong son?" Iaco asked him.

Ahkilleon started to look for something on his person "My nexu fang, it's- Ezra and I we killed a Nexu and we became blood brothers it's-" "Is this it?" Iaco asked, holding up the necklace in his fist, the fang dangling from his grip.

He tossed it to Ahkilleon who looked relieved "Oh thank the force, I thought I lost it."

"It seemed important to keep." Iaco said, smiling at him.

Ahkilleon slipped it around his neck before asking "Speaking of, where are my old clothes, my sword?" he asked.

"Ah yes, the sword is in my office, I thought it prudent to keep it somewhere safe. Children shouldn't play with such weapons without a proper instructor present." Iaco said.

This made his grandson laugh "No disrespect Grandfather, but I know how to use a sword. My mom taught me lightsaber skills since I could walk."

"... indeed, as for your clothes I must say you no longer need to dress in such rags they were incinerated." Iaco said plainly.

Ahkilleon sipped his cup of blue milk quietly, "Um… okay, well I really liked them but guess I got these new ones."

"And a fine young man you make, now about your hair and those tattoos." Iaco said, scratching his chin.

Ahkilleon felt very self conscious right now, "W-what about them?"

"We should visit my barber, have him give you proper grooming and don't worry we'll be able to have those barbarian markings removed." Iaco said confidently, flapping his hand on the table.

"But-" "He's awake." Both Iaco and Ahkilleon looked to the entrance to see a young woman with bleach blonde hair dressed in a snug white one piece with exposed shoulders and a silver neck guard approaching them, she had icey blue eyes and she was wearing a blaster at her bip.

Iaco stood holding up his goblet "And to the heroine of the hour, Ahkilleon your aunt and my daughter the Lady Elli Stark."

Ahkilleon looked at her and blinked a few times "It was you!" Ahkilleon grabbed the nearest dinner knife and before he could pull it off the table Iaco was suddenly there to stop him.

"Easy son, Elli was the one who saw you on Ord Mantell yes, but she and I had no idea you were with friends." Iaco said, making Ahkilleon stand down.

Elli who hadn't moved her hand to the blaster at her hip, was calm at the moment but scanning Ahkilleons face "Yeah sorry about that, but when that trandoshan went berserk I feared the worst." Elli said.

Squeezing the knife Ahkilleon said "So you hired a bounty hunter to kidnap me?"

"Rescue was the word I'd use, but again sorry but, it's Ahkilleon right?" She asked.

He nodded "Please, understand we haven't seen you since you were a baby, we had no idea you were even still alive being with your mother and a hybrid." Elli said somberly, "What about her?" He asked.

Iaco and Elli shared a brief glance, "Let us sit, this will take some time to explain, Elli where is your brother he should be here too?"

"He's dealing with an issue with his father." Elli said.

"A shame, but he knows the story anyway please." Iaco gestured for them to sit back at the table, Ahkilleon still holding the knife watched them each take a seat, Elli across from Ahkilleon and Iaco at the head. He sat, put his hands on the table and locked his fingers looking at the glass table. "Where to begin…." He sighed.

"Perhaps, I should start?" Elli asked her father.

The old man gave a soft nod "Y-yes, I think that would be best."

Elli looked at Ahkilleon, "What has your mother told you about us?" She asked.

Setting the blade down, Ahkilleon blinked a few times "She… she never mentioned you."

"I'm not surprised, our last meeting ended somewhat… abruptly." Elli said, trying to keep it simple, "Typical jedi tricks." Iaco hissed.

"What?" Ahkilleon asked, "He means that our family's history with the Jedi is dubious at best, you must have read your histories?" She asked.

Ahkilleon nodded "Iaco Stark was a pirate who led a fleet of ships against the Republic and Jedi in the outer rim, stealing from Trade Federation ships and selling them back to the Outer Rim?" He asked.

"Indeed, I was impertinent in my youth, I saw the prices the Trade Federation and the Core Worlds asking were downright criminal and I, well already being a pirate, saw a more profitable approach." Iaco said.

Elli knodded "But then it became more, your grandfather's forces grew, hundreds became thousands, mercenaries, smugglers, pirates united under his leadership before the Jedi and a volunteer of Republic military forces attacked the Outer Rim. The core called it the Stark Hyperspace War, to the Outer Rim it was the Stark Rebellion by the time the war was over, my mother your grandmother ..." Elli trailed off her face appearing very sad.

Ahkilleon felt his senses tell him who they were talking about "The woman in the painting?" Ahkilleon asked.

"My Arris." Iaco said smiling fondly, "A one woman army she was, leader of our boarding parties stars she was the boarding party in her armor, she was pregnant with your father." Iaco said he would take over. "With so few options, our forces being slaughtered needlessly I was forced to make a deal with the Jedi, the life of my wife, myself and the few men we had left in exchange for my first born son." Iaco's voice trembled at the end, his eyes watery, shaking his head as he looked at Ahkilleon who was listening intently.

Taking a breath Iaco continued "They took him, the jedi took my son the same way they took your mother from her people, kidnappers the lot of them, I spent years on Coruscant trying to find a way into their Temple but the sorcerers sent him away, took away his name- your name. It was only after the outbreak of the Clone Wars did we meet again?"

"How?" Ahkilleon asked.

Elli smiled "I got in a fight."

"Eh?" Ahkilleon asked.

Elli and Iaco both chuckled "We're getting muddled down in the details my boy, but to make the long story short, publicly you must know your father was a spy during the clone wars."

"He was spying on Count Dooku, a Sith Lord, he was the leader of the Separatists."

"Indeed, I met him once, your father and us reunited during that time and when he was discovered we had to flee, the reprisal of Separatist leadership was a swift one, he of course with the aid of other jedi to their credits order saved us from bounty hunters." Iaco said.

Ahkilleon smiled hearing his fathers adventurers "But I'd rather not say more on those days, we were talking about your mother, you see after your fathers death, trying to assassinate the Emperor, his crusaders like Turok Skell scattered. Word was that the Tuskens and Kage went home, the Sun Guard were said to have made a final stand somewhere in the Outer Rim but no one knows where and the Jedi were… hunted down, all but your mother that is." Iaco said.

"Father, Ahsoka wasn't a jedi anymore, she left the order." Elli corrected.

He nodded "Oh yes, and as fate would have it she and Turok both arrived here, a little over fourteen years ago."

Looking at his food Ahkilleon started to piece it all together "I would have been-" "A newborn, barely a year old and premature no less." Iaco said chuckling, "The smallest baby I've ever seen, skin a bone mostly but you were a fighter." Iaco nodded at the idea.

"Because I'm a hybrid?" Ahkilleon asked.

Iaco sipped his wine again "A minor detail, what mattered was she needed a place to hide, to heal to-" Iaco held his hand up to gesture to him "To protect you of course, what good mother wouldn't." Iaco said, shaking his head.

"You say that but you're shaking your head, what are you trying to tell me?" Ahkilleon asked.

Iaco turned to Elli and then to him, "She stole you." Elli said.

Ahkilleon chuckled "What, she's my mom she can't steal me?"

"Can't she?" Iaco asked him cocking his head "I doubt you would have survived, either of you without the care we provided, and when you were both stable, I approached her. You and I know she is an… adamant woman when she puts her mind to something, now I curse the Empire for taking my son, but I have other children I must protect." He reached for Elli and squeezed her hand. "Her aims to impede the Empire are admirable, heroic some might say but as a parent she should have done what was best for her child." Iaco said looking to him, Ahkilleon didn't say anything he waited for him to continue "I made your mother an offer, to leave you here with us, with me, I would see to your every need, education, and here in the neutral zone you would be protected from the Empire."

Ahkilelon picked at his food and ate some of it, "I take it she didn't agree."

"No, she refused." Iaco said, standing up and pacing away.

Ahkilleon looked at Elli. "We begged her, pleaded with her, and my father offered to empty the Wheel's entire vault to fund her cause, but she refused to see reason, it's what your father wanted."

"My father?" Ahkilleon asked.

"Yes, the last time I saw him he wanted us to be a family again but, my mother was killed by our enemies they almost killed your grandfather but Leo saved him, your father was trying to change the Jedi and the Republic from within, but they drove him out and he couldn't contact us, but I know deep down he wanted us to be together." Elli said as she stood up and walked over to her father and took his hand.

Elli helped him turn around, "If this is true, why hasn't my mother told me anything about this?" he asked.

"We can ask her that ourselves when she gets here." Iaco said pressing a button on his bracelet, a hologram appeared showing Ahsoka walking through the Casino.