Three Days Later
Wraith headquarters' Lounge, 1103
Inyri, Ciny, Garik and Kaizan all sat in a circle, conversing quietly, heads bent together. Well, Ciny and Inyri were talking, Garik offering comments every other sentence and Kai listening in silence. Their topic of discussion? Dealing with Sith Mother Jori Daragon. Somewhat connected to the conversation were both sets of Afyon twins, their comments a bit more than whispers. Meli and Lis continually had to be reminded to keep their voices down due to their loud outbursts.
A grin on his face, Anakin quickly nodded to Tahiri and Mara. His daughter-in-law moved forward behind him as they headed towards the place the three Sith had been rumored to be near at the current time: they were just outside the headquarters. Mara quickly followed them both, her movements much less loud than theirs. Of course they would be that way. Seconds later, Anakin heard the sound of a human body hitting the duracrete wall behind him, another one soon to follow.
The Force jerked and pulled at him, but he stifled it with his own power, reducing it's drag to something more like a gusty wind. Seconds later, there was the sound of small and numerous feet hitting the ground. Muffled rustlings gave away that the pursuers were the Afyon and Loran Wraith 'kids'. Meli was rummaging in her explosives bag for a grenade, no doubt. Before any of the Jedi Masters could demand they get back inside, Maul had used the Force to set off all the detonators and explosives in Meli's bag.
With a curse, Anakin lunged forward to engage the red and black tattooed Sith Lord. The explosives bag flew high in the air, landing far out in the demolition range, creating a rather nice explosion. Sending Mara and Tahiri the distinct impressions of getting the kids back into the building, Anakin parried another attack and then erected a 'force-field' around him, using it's sudden appearance to send the Sith flying backwards. Seconds later, just after he'd jumped back, another explosion took place, only this time in front of him. Using the Force to sense the movement beyond the rubble, Anakin heaved a sigh.
"Kriffin' Sith. Always escaping behind big booms."
Meli turned to reply after all of them had gotten safely indoors. "But ya gotta admit, it was a pretty boom!"
He caught sight of Mara and Tahiri rolling there eyes before the latter trailed off in the direction of the sims. Anakin just sighed and shook his head, muttering darkly. "Yes, it was a pretty boom Meli. That doesn't mean it's going to be a pretty boom in the Council tomorrow." Then as an afterthought, he added, "Kriffin' Mace Windu..."
Meli and Lis exchanged a glance and Anakin couldn't help but notice the twinkles in their eyes. "Well," Meli began, "the Sithin' Council can deal with us trying to get revenge for our mother. And if anyone open's their mouth to give us some lecture about the Jedi Code saying no revenge, we're going to completely lose it."
Shrugging in spite of himself, Anakin nods. "It's your funeral. Call me when you're done having twelve Jedi Masters yelling down your throats." He caught sight of the twins exchanging another, less-pleased look. "Or how about, more specifically, Mace Windu, Jedi Master of the Yelling Voice? Just as Mirax what she thinks." He glanced to the Rogue pilot as he spoke, having been aware of her presence in the building since before she'd come to the lounge.
"It's not like we're the first Jedi to get really pissed off at Jori," Lis complained, as if anything she argued to Anakin would change the Council's thoughts.
Before he could reply, Anakin watched as Mirax shook her head, all the while backing away, saying, "Keep me out of this, Skywalker."
Obviously ignoring Mirax's comments, Meli went on in her sister's stead. "It's not like we're the first Jedi to go after Jori either."
"No," Ciny agreed, "but that doesn't make Master Yell A Lot any funner." Anakin nodded silently as he watched the girl glance an her Jedi Master for confirmation. Mirax merely rolled her eyes and nodded.
At this point, however, Anakin's attention was demanded by a supernova in the Force web of life. Well, apparently there would be no audience with the Council tomorrow. Nope, it would be today. Amazing how quickly they could move when it involved one of their 'big problem' Jedi.
He looked over to where Meli and Lis had abruptly stopped talking and quickly realized why. Adra had come up between where Mace Windu stood at the door and the twins' backs, tapping each of the on a shoulder. Using the Force to hear her words, Anakin fought a grin.
"Somehow I doubt that matters to a mad Jedi Master."
Across the room, Mirax was muttering a choice display of curses while Cloud Ritril was leaving the room with all speed. Poor kid. Mirax wasn't slow to follow after Cloud, dragging Ciny with her. Before she mad it out the door, however, Mace spoke.
"Halcyon, before you go, that Uncle of yours wants to have a chat sometime in the near future." Mace kept a straight face, as he did only too well, Anakin thought, but through the Force he thought he could detect a hint of fun.
Mirax's expression had paled and she'd stopped at the doorframe, Ciny behind her, to look back at her former master. "Oh Sithspit. Where is he?"
"No here, thankfully for you."
"Oh, now what have I done?" Mirax questioned indignantly.
The Jedi Master fixed her with a hard look before shaking his head calmly, as if casting away her unspoken thoughts. "Nothing. Anyway, someone go fetch Ritril. He should've known better than to take one of the Afyon twins as a padawan if he wanted to avoid me."
Anakin watched Mirax leave the room, Ciny following dutifully, muttering choice curses under her breath. With a grin, Anakin realized that as Mirax's voice faded, Cloud Ritril's grew louder. And with the same curses. Three strides from the Council Jedi, Meli was muttering something that sounded distinctly like 'it's not my fault he took me as a padawan', from what he could hear.
The cursing Jedi pilot entered the room and walked over behind his apprentice, his curses coming to a halt. "No, you're right Meli." He cast a wary glance quickly up at his former Master's face, then looked back at his apprentice. "But to him- and he's got the say in this matter- it's my fault not to keep you away from Jori."
Mace nodded silently, a phantom smile forming on his lips. "In fear of quoting Tenel Ka, fact."
Mirax stuck her head back into the room, her face glowering and filled with fun all at the same time. "Windu can quote people besides himself? Amazing!"
Guessing that that wasn't the right thing to say or do at this moment, Anakin's thoughts were confirmed as accurate when Mace raised an eyebrow, frowning, and spoke deliberately to Mirax. "Yes, I can, Halcyon. Now take that padawan of yours and find your obstreperous relative."
"I'll do the former and skip the latter," Mirax replied, after appearing to think about it.
"If you skip the latter, you'll be having even more fun retraining under him. Get a move on."
Scowling, Mirax sighed out an answer. "Fine then, be that way."
"I think I will," Mace replied simply. "It seems to have gotten me along well enough in life so far."
Once again muttering curses, Mirax's head disappeared and she could be heard telling her padawan never to engage in a battle of words with Mace Windu while they- presumably- went to find her relative.
* * * * *
Adra grinned slightly as Mace muttered softly under his breath, so quiet that she could hardly hear it. It sounded very much like 'Always good to know you're got your attitude. Now remember that you don't have a Council position to back it up'. Stifling a laugh, she struggled to keep a straight face, intent on not breaking out into laughter.
Through the Force, she heard Mirax's muttered complaints, though they be coming from down the hall, about how she 'wished she'd met Adra Tallon earlier in life'. Confusion coming over her interior features, Adra watched as Mirax turned back towards the lounge, obviously deciding she wanted to hear the to-be conversation. Deciding to ask her question on Mirax's thoughts, Adra did just that.
Why do you wish you'd met me earlier?
Mirax's reply came almost instantly. I could've played so many more pranks on him!
Who? Mace? Yeah, I know. Adra gave a wistful mental sigh before continuing. But hey, after you left, I kept up our traditions.
Yeah, but I could've been doing it for years before!
In spite of her will, Adra felt a smile begin to appear on her face. Such fun times those days were...torturing Bror, annoying Master Windu, putting on the innocent act for Master Yaddle, plotting the next day's events... Such times never should end.
You could always talk to Yaddle about it, or go talk to General Tallon at Bastion. I'm sure he'll understand and sympathize.
Except there's no need to, Mirax replied, walking into the room once more. Adra grinned slightly as her friend came over to stand next to her, Ciny in tow. Her daughter looked a bit bored with the walking back and forth, but stuck it out anyway.
I rest my case. Anyway, you've got a mini-me to help you. She's not half bad, though I must say, she'd never stand up to an Imperial Academy.
Adra watched as Mirax struggled to keep a straight face, though the grin underneath her blank expression was trickling through. True, true. Now, I've got to find my uncle before I get in even more trouble.
You have fun.