It was early morning and Tarla was walking the park in silence. But this time she was completely at ease, no worries nagging at the back of her mind. She liked to believe that it had to do with Roj Kell not being here, but the young woman knew that her inner peace was due to a newfound trust in the Cor'dan. He had not turned the Jedi's offer down and he had not fought them again. Instead he had been very cooperative and appeared genuinely happy at this turn of events. Maybe all he wanted had been some peace himself, and Belana Jen's company. As far as Tarla had understood the first had not been an option for him over a long period of time, where he had been constantly on the run either from the Jedi or the Sith. A strange existence he had chosen there. And yet, his title fascinated the newly knighted Jedi. She had thought at length about the implications of the Heart of Darkness and what Master Jeldo had been willing to share from his conversation with the Sith just before he had left with Belana. To her it seemed that he was much more of a guardian than anyone thought. Had he not told them himself that he was no warrior? Additionally the young woman found that someone as attracted to beauty and life could not be basically evil.
"Tarla!" Turning around she smiled at Gyro who was hurrying toward her along the graveled path. "We are ready to leave!"
"Good." Wrapping her arms around him she hugged him closer.
"The voyage isn't that long. Too bad that they can't report back. Else we would know what we are about to face."
"I just hope that they are all right. Both of them."
"Yes." His mouth turned into a grim line.
"What is it?" she asked, slightly bewildered.
"Just a feeling. About what Master Zerkan said."
"The vision Belana had?"
"Hm-hm. We all thought that it meant Kell's imprisonment back here, but maybe ..."
"If they get captured they will get out again. You know Kell. I doubt that he is as helpless as it seems."
"I would not be so sure about that. He was upset about his loss of power and concerned too. We have no idea what he was like before his bonding with the Force."
Tarla shook her head, frowning. "But that does not matter. After all he has not suffered amnesia or anything. Kell remembers and he can't just forget all of his previous experiences, am I right?"
"Yes, you are right. I guess we will see once we have rejoined them."
Waking up Belana felt groggy. Her head hurt terribly and she was awfully cold. It was dark around her and very quiet. Suddenly reality caught up with her again and she rose with a strangled scream. But she did not get far. Her wrists were fixed in metal shackles that were connected to the far wall. No light fell into the small room she found herself in and the Jedi Master felt her skin crawl with worry. Where was Kell? Taking a deep breath she closed her eyes to recuperate. Belana let her mind fall deep into herself, the way her last master had taught her, and reached out to the golden light he had first shown her back on Alderaan. The Force filled her gradually, but it could not conquer the darkness she could sense all around. When the door opened Belana calmly held on to the light as she looked up to meet her captor's gaze. Not the Chadra'Fan she had expected, but a tall human. He wore the apparently traditional black robes of a Sith warrior, but, like Kell, his forearms were covered by shining armor. Looking down at her coolly he came forward slowly, measuring her up and down. She thought she could even see curiosity lurk in the back of his blue eyes. Dropping down on his haunches in front of her he reached out to cup her face in his right hand.
"A pretty one. And strong in the Force too."
"What did you expect?" Belana challenged him defiantly, but did not even try to free herself from his grasp.
"You are right. A special apprentice for a special master. If I am not mistaken you are a Jedi Knight."
"And you are a Sith Lord."
"Clever answer. He is gone, you know?"
"Gone?"
"Exactly." Rising abruptly he went to check on the chains holding her. "Roj Kell, the survivor. He always finds a way to escape. Always. It is astounding."
Belana felt her heart freeze for a second. Then he had simply abandoned her? But no, what could he have accomplished all on his own? He would get help, wouldn't he?
"Yes, astounding," she echoed quietly.
"My name is Sechan, by the way. Since your master was so considerate as to kill Loata I have risen in his place. He killed quite a lot of us during his flight, I should add. But maybe you could enlighten me as to what is wrong with him. He has lost, how shall I put it, his calm composure." His left hand brushed over her cheek as he continued: "And somehow I have the feeling that you know all about it." Closing her eyes Belana held her breath when he kept on caressing her cheeks and forehead. She was positively shivering by the time he knelt down next to her, his warm breath flowing over her neck almost tenderly. "Tell me, my dear Jedi: how come someone like you finds herself in the company of the likes of him?"
"A twist of fate?"
He laughed aloud. "Fate? Roj Kell and fate, that does not go together well. Don't you ask yourself why he has left you here to - die?"
"No. I do not question my master."
Again a laugh, but this time it seemed much meaner than before. "A good girl. Very good. I think I will enjoy your company very much."
"And what makes you believe that you are even worthy of my presence?"
When he touched her again Belana was overwhelmed by his darkness and only shortly after her screams echoed throughout the room while his laughter filled her ears with its cruel staccato. Kell! she screamed inwardly, but her desperate call could not break the bonds her fear had placed on her. No way.
He was breathing hard, his blood boiling with the rush of adrenalin and his eyes burning with the golden light of darkness. Leaving her behind had been the hardest thing to do but also the only solution to guarantee both their survival. His head came up sharply, ears perking up when he picked up the sound of hoovercraft headed his way. Relying on senses honed by centuries of survival Kell refrained from using the Force in any form, and kept his mind very still. All there was left to guide him were his instincts and those were no different from those of the predators populating the forests and swamps. He started racing through the undergrowth again, adopting the restless gait of the nightly hunters, and headed for the morning. Belana had been a most adept student and she would last for as long as it would take him to get her out again. But there were always risks, weren't there? The torchlights cutting through the gloom could not reach him as Kell was keeping to the shadows adeptly. There was no way they could catch up to him in this terrain. He knew the planet far better than any of them and when he dropped down a cliff into a gorge lined with rocks and giant trees he slid down the sheer wall unconcernedly.
Live the moment. Roj Kell snorted at that. Most people never realized what that meant. Drop down. Catch the branch to the left. Jump off the next ledge and land on the rock underneath. Check for the next ledge. Avoid the slippery rock and watch out for shadows, where it is colder and ice might have survived in the crevices. Keep alert and don't think. And don't ever stumble or else it will be a very long drop. The jumps he made became longer and the landings harder, but there was no turning back now. He laughed with the dizzy feeling of too much tension needing to be released when he realized that the gorge ended in a sheer drop over the shadowy bottom. But Kell was not afraid of that at all. Increasing his speed he put his leg muscles to the test as he raced toward the cliff, using the wet stones to gain more momentum. In the last moment possible he jumped, and for precious seconds he was supended in thin air, feeling the rush of wind and the cold moisture clinging to his face most acutely. Then the rock met him again and his fingers dug into the rocky crevices on the other side of the gorge while his boots found precarious purchase underneath him. But he needed only a heart-beat to assess his enemies' positions. And in that moment he made his choice.
Arching his back gracefully Roj Kell let go of the cliff and back-flipped into the gorge, fallling at high speed as he extended his mind. It was a glorious feeling, to encompass such a vast area of his surroundings. The Sith hunting him would not be able to pinpoint his location until he relinquished control again. But using that sort of power also had its dangers. Not this time though, this time he could not afford to let balance get in his way. He had to act fast. As the ground came up to greet him his sharp eyes could identify each single stalk of brilliant green moss and leaves. "Fou cyl!" Roj Kell snapped, shivering in the grip of the power of darkness, but his fall was broken just in time. "Terad sh leyto," he added with a sigh and put his feet on the ground once more. The rules dictated that he should rest now and not walk to keep a balance between earth and sky. And yet he knew that he could not follow those rules, even if only he was still riding high on adrenalin. Withdrawing very suddenly he let his mind fall back into himself again and refrained from thinking at all. All there was were the scents and noises surrounding him.
He was running again, unable to keep still at this time of day. The wind was rushing through the leaves overhead and small critters scuttled through the undergrowth ahead of him. Sometimes he could sense other predators stalking the night, but he paid them no head. When a sudden light flashed through the darkness it came completely as a surprise and Kell shied back immediately, turning his head away to protect his eyes. Something jumped at him and smashed in his temple. He screamed more in anger than pain and lashed out at his attacker wildly, dropping down at first he then came back up to hit the other in the belly hard, tackling him. With a growl Kell brought up his hands to smash the man's arms down as his opponent tried to fend him off. The edge of his left palm hit the other's neck right above the jugular vein, but by then his attacker had recovered sufficienly to counter the ancient magician's assault. Kell roared in fury as he was hurled away, the Dark Side burying into him like a vicious beast. He brought up his hands and moved them in a half-circle, forming a shield easily. When he opened his mouth to unleash the magic of his voice though the creature opposing him was quick to intercept him.
"No!" the other grated in a distincly alien accent.
Kell came to immediately and his face turned into a scowl: "Novis," he hissed and shook his black mane. The tall Weequay loomed ahead of him, his slitted eyes barely visible even to the Cor'dan's sensitive gaze. "You are a fool if you believe that I will spare your life."
"Listen to me," the other said quickly. "This woman has bewitched you. The Jedi are not your friends. You know that!"
"Of course I know."
"And yet you attacked us."
"Self-preservation. Loata was bent on destroying us. And I will protect Belana no matter what."
Novis relaxed a bit: "She will lead you to your death. There is no way you can escape the Dark Side."
"No? Maybe you are wrong there."
"Kell, you ar a master of the Dark Side, you have to realize that-"
"Silence!"
The Weequay fell silent and Kell started stalking around him purposefully. It was frustrating, but both he and Novis knew very well that technically Kell was far beneath the other's power. So what was he waiting for?
"You can lead us. Sechan thinks the same."
"Really. Do you know how long it has been since I have last led someone in battle? Besides, this is a war we cannot win if we are not truly unified." He stopped himself short. But that was what he had learned, was it not? To back down on his ego and listen to others, to respect their views. His mouth turned into a grim line: "You will let her go."
"But she knows what we have planned!"
"Does she? Guerillia tactics are all very well, but sometimes too inefficient. Novis," whirling around Kell frowned at his companion, "I love her. I truly do. But I have forgotten my priorities over Belana Jen. You are right. The Jedi are not my allies. And yet, there is only one way to defeat them. If you are willing to follow me I cannot promise you what Loata may have promised. No way. It is a sacrifice I am asking you to make and one I hope you will give."
Novis gave him a quizzical look. "What is it with you?"
"I have grown wiser," Kell growled and stalked off into the night.
She would have loved to believe that she was asleep and dreaming right now, but he was standing there for real! Belana gave the apparition she had longed for a tender smile, but his face never changed. He had come back for her! The fact that Sechan, curse the man, was standing next to him did not bother her at all. The only one that counted was Kell. She was safe now. And then the relied pouring through her very soul threatened to bring tears to her eyes. Never before had she felt this way about him, never felt that bond of trust so strongly. It was like a miracle, one she wanted him to share with her. When he dropped down next to her and stroked her face gently a single tear slid down his cheek and Belana wiped it away unconsciously, smiling all the time.
"You came back," she whispered."
"Yes."
"Why did you leave at all?"
"I was confused."
"What about?"
"A lot of things. But not any longer."
"I have missed you."
Wrapping his arms around her head and pressing her face against his shoulder Kell kissed her left ear slowly and sighed. "Do not hate me for my weakness, Belana. I did not mean to abandon you at all." Suddenly her anger stirred again.
"Do you know what he did to me?" He tensed and Belana stiffened immediately too, sensing trouble. Over his shoulder she could see Sechan frown deeply.
"I would have done the same in his place," he answered at last, his voice almost too low to hear, but it froze the marrow in her bones at hearing him say that.
"No!"
"It is the truth, my love. But I am in a much different position now than I ever was before. Don't you see? You have changed me, in a way. A good way, I hope." Looking at her his pale eyes softened ever so slightly. But then his face turned into a snarl. "Leave us," Kell snapped and Sechan immediately left, closing the door behind him. Belana felt her heart clench in dread. What was this supposed to be? Was Kell a prisoner too or something else? She did not understand what was going on at all.
"What are you doing?" she asked softly, not wanting to listen to the voices screaming at her in the back of her mind.
"Belana, you know that I treasure my freedom and I have told you that I want you to have the same."
"Maybe I do not want that at all!"
"I know what you want."
Her lips pressed together firmly: "Do you now?"
"You want security, a home you can return to, someone to love and someone to care for, someone who loves you in return and something to believe in. What I want is to teach this galaxy a lesson. One it will never ever forget."
"Why?" she stared at him, disbelieving.
"The Jedi, my dear, are not my allies, I have told you so before. I did not come here to scout out the Sith, but to find my way back. Out of your grasp but not out of reach. I will be there for you when you need me, you know that. But I cannot stay with you."
"Kell!" Holding on to him Belana's eyes went wide with shock. "This is foolish! All you can hope for is death, no peace, no freedom, nothing! They will not be as forgiving as the Council!" He lay a hand over her lips to silence her and the words sputtered away into nothingness. Belana shivered. The calm gaze that met her was not comforting in any way, rather the opposite. "You are making a mistake," she whispered, desperate now.
"No. I have made that a long time ago, but now I can see clearly."
"What! What is it you see!"
"All of it," he answered and again his voice had taken on that dreamy, yet powerful tone, spellbinding her instantly. Belana did not want to fight him and she let herself get sucked in by his mind to perceive matters with his senses, see through his eyes and examine his thoughts. She balked a bit at the way he looked at her, as something that needed protection, weak and indecisive, dependent on others and far too trusting. There was love too, but it was muted in a way, as if something were missing in their relationship. Belana would rather not know what that might be. The Jedi. He regarded them not with hatred or anger, but in the cool, calculating manner she knew his mind analysed everything. To him their motives were clear and the war between the Jedi and Sith no more than a dispute about the right approach to the Force. The fact that he did not share either view did not come as a surprise either. He despised both of them.
"What mistake was that?" she asked timidly, not wanting to disturb the flow they both were riding together.
"I let myself become distracted by the Dark Side. I thought I had no choice in the matter. But that is untrue. I do have a choice and I made my decision back on Alderaan."
"That was a good thing you did."
He snorted softly and somehow she imagined a smile on his lips. "Maybe," Kell conceded, but he sounded so weary that she could not quite believe him.
"And staying here, that is no mistake?"
"Not at all. You must believe me, when I tell you that this is the right thing to do for me. The Sith will return and the Jedi will learn that there is more to the Force than they can think of. As you know very well, my love. Never forget what I have taught you. Promise me, all right?"
"I promise."
Belana closed her eyes when their lips met in a gentle kiss and her mind fell into blissful oblivion gratefully. The last thing she thought, was that Kell needed someone to tell him what a stubborn fool he was. But that one was not her and never had been.
He held her in his arms for a while, regarding her peaceful expression earnestly. Planting a feeling of profound loss in her mind was easy with her keeping her shields down like that. But he regretted doing this to her, mainly because it was like a lie, only worse. Nuzzling her forehead Kell sighed once more. Why could he not make up his mind? Belana was his fulfillment, he knew that for sure, but on the other hand there were his duties as Cor'dan. He had neglected those for far too long. And if he did not receive a calling he would promote himself. The past events had shown him very clearly that the balance was shifting in favor of the Jedi. Not good. Laying Belana back on the floor gently Roj Kell's eyes misted over with sorrow. But there was nothing he could do now that would not make things worse or else accomplish nothing at all. He rose slowly and turned away reluctantly. Best to get this over with quickly. Three long steps brought him to the door and he drew it open violently. Outside both Novis and Sechan were waiting.
"Have you decided?"
"Yes," the Weequay told him calmly.
"Then let's do this. You know the plan. We hit fast and hard, very hard."
"They will come down on us even harder," Sechan laughed and flexed his hands in anticipation. Apparently he was itching to go into battle. Good. Then he would lead the first mission.
"Get your troops together. We are leaving within the hour. There are Jedi on their way here."
"How do you know?" Novis asked.
"They told me," Kell replied coldly. "Now stop asking questions."
"What about her?"
"She will be all right. And she won't remember." Whirling around he put all of his anger into his voice as he said: "Sechan, you are coming with me. There is something we need to talk about."
"And what would that be?"
"Your punishment." Stalking ahead Kell did pay the mumbled protests behind him no heed. Sechan had known that this would be inevitable. If Kell wanted to reestablish his authority with the Sith he would have to make Sechan pay quite publicly. They walked into the meeting hall quietly and the ancient Sith ignored the stares of the assembly. Sechan was frowning deeply, the model picture of indignation and hurt pride.
"What is he doing here?" someone shouted and pointed at Kell accusingly.
"Taking over," the old Sith whispered, but his voice reached even the farthest corner of the hall easily. His left hand whipped out and Sechan screamed very suddenly and loudly, dropping to the floor at the other's side. Kell smiled down at him mirthlessly. The young man would get over it somehow, and if not - well, that was not his concern. "Now," he continued when the screams had subisded and dropped to painfilled moans instead. "We will need to change our tactics just a bit. And I so hope that you will follow my lead. Understood?"
The assembly stared at him blankly, then some looked down at Sechan's crumpled form. Though none voiced their acquiesance aloud Roj Kell knew that he had won. Their leader had been rendered powerless and they knew Kell well enough not to risk having him at bay. This was starting out well, luckily. Now, if only things would stay that way.
Tarla was following Master Zerkan only reluctantly. They had touched down on the so far uncharted world a few hours ago and had found Belana's ship easily. According to the last log entry both the Jedi Master and her companion had left three days ahead of them. Now they only had to find out where they had gone to. Fortunately they had a lead of a kind, since their radar had picked up three ships leaving the system at the same time they had entered it. Judging from their exit vecor the three Jedi had determined a set of coordinates they hoped would lead them to their friends. Friends. Tarla smirked at the thought of counting Roj Kell as a friend, but he was, in a way. She had accepted that and now she could only hope that he did not disappoint that trust again. If he did he would pay dearly, that she had vowed a long time ago.
They were riding a speeder toward their target, but a few hours walk away from the coordinates Zerkan stopped the vehicle. The young Jedi Knight hopped out of the speeder gracefully, her senses alert and open. But there was nothing she could pick up. Immediately her eyes sought Zerkan's grim gaze. He was staring straight ahead, as if he could see something she could not, and she did not doubt that this might even be the case.
"Belana is in that direction," he explained at last and led the way.
"What about Kell?" she asked, stumbling after the Jedi Master and Gyro, who had kept very quiet so far.
"Nothing yet," came the somber answer. Tarla's face froze. I just hope that he's all right. If not, Belana would be heart-broken, she knew. And that despair was something she wished to keep her friend from. When finally they had reached a sprawling lake all three stopped short at the sight of a small fortress situated on the other side of the great body of water. Tarla sighed. They had a long walk ahead of them, it would seem.
"It is not so bad," a soft voice said suddenly and she whirled around with a laugh to rest a hand against Gyro's chest.
"No? Maybe you are overestimating us a bit."
"Hm, who knows?"
Wrapping an arm around his waist Tarla guided him along the pathway almost possessively, to Master Zerkan's great amusement. He did not show it, but she could feel it plain enough. That, and Gyro's embarrassment. She laughed at his discomfort softly, then shook her head.
It was easy to find merriment in such a bleak environment, she thought suddenly. Too easy. All of a sudden her mirth was gone again and her dark eyes widened slightly as she was expecting an attack at any turn. It was so eerie here. All she wanted was to find Belana fast and get out off planet.
She was leaning against the stone wall of her prison, unable to move or even think. Never before had she felt this alone and her pitiful sigh rang throughout the silence softly. Eyes blank and unseeing, Belana stared at the door, wishing that he would come back. But the sadness enveloping her very being told her that her wish would not come true. He was gone forever, lost to her, and it was as if her life had been torn away. She did not even know if he was dead or alive. All she remembered was that he had left and never returned. Never. A moan wrung itself from her throat and another sigh followed it suite. What was she to do? The love he had shown her had filled another part of her lfe that had been unfulfilled as of yet, some part that hungered for his presence, his touch, his understanding and wisdom. Even his protection. They had shared so much. And all that was gone now. Raising her head a light returned to Belana Jen's eyes once more. No, not gone. It lived on within her heart, all that he had taught her, all she had seen with his eyes and mind. And yet it was not the same. Not at all.
"Belana?" the hushed whisper sounded incredulous, but it caught her attention immediately. Looking toward the door she found a familiar face, but not the one she had been longing for.
"Tarla," she breathed, smiling faintly. "You are here."
"And she is not alone," Zerkan announced as he joined the young Jedi Knight. Both came forward to help her rise."Where is Kell?"
She hesitated. "I - do not know. Gone, I think."
"You mean he is dead?"
"I don't know..."
"I see," the Jedi Master mused and frowned deeply. "Let us get you back to Coruscant first. Then we can talk in peace and safety."
"Yes. That is ... a good idea."
It was very tempting to justify a renewed bonding with the Force with its necessity for the fight ahead, but Roj Kell had vowed to himself that this lesson would not be decided on that level. He would eventually have no other choice but to bond again, but for now that option was not desirable. No way. The Jedi might believe themselves to be superior, but he would show them how mistaken they were. Without the aid of the Force. So far his mind had been his major weapon, with the Force to back it up if anything else should fail, but then he had been merely playing, careless of the consequences. There would be no more games. He was Cor'dan and he would end this struggle, one way or the other. A faint smile appeared on his lips as he went through the single steps of the plan again. First, to strengthen the enemy. Second to ruin his reputation. Third, - he paused, suddenly pensive. Third, to surrender and end the battle. That last point was a risky gamble, but the Jedi had to realize that lesson before they could learn. And Belana would help them gladly.
Sechan would take care of the first step, by attacking the Republic. At the same time himself and Novis would secretly put a scheme in motion that Belana in particular would never approve of. And yet it was necessary. Strange. He had never felt guilty about anything like this before. But now there was a feeling of self-disgust and a hint of fear lingering in the back of his mind, distracting him. He shook his head in annoyance. Well, he had known that without the bond to the Force, albeit a tainted one, he would become more human again. If only it did not backfire on him. Biting his lower lip hard Roj Kell held back a sigh. Belana. He dearly hoped that her friends had found her by now. They would undoubtedly take her to Coruscant for questioning and comfort, possibly. He growled softly. Once this was over he would never leave her again. Ever.
Tarla ran her hands over Belana's body gingerly, her eyes half-closed as she searched for any injuries. It would be some time before they could subject her to a real med droid. Better to make certain. The older woman pushed her hands aside impatiently.
"I am all right. Really."
Opening her eyes the young Jedi Knight frowned slightly. "That is strange."
"What is?"
"There is an echo of your Force signature."
"An echo?" Belana stared at her, aghast.
Taking the other's hand Tarla moved it over Belana's belly gently. "Here, do you sense it?"
"I-"
"I think you are pregnant," Tarla told her friend with a wide grin.
"Pregnant," Belana echoed, her eyes wide in astonishment. But suddenly tears began falling down her cheeks. Drawing her legs up to her chest she turned away, hugging herself tightly into a small ball of fear and despair.
"Belana," the younger woman whispered and reached out to stroke her hair slowly. "Don't cry."
"What if-" Belana whispered, then broke off again.
"What if what?"
A pair of dark brown eyes peered out at her from behind a thick curtain of hair. Tarla almost cried too at the look her friend gave her. "What if - Sechan?"
Tarla's mouth turned into a grim line. Leaning forward she hugged the other to herself, trying to wrap her in a protective layer of caring and love. "Belana," she said softly, "do not think about that now. Try to relax." But inwardly the Jedi Knight had a hard time keeping her temper in check. How dare Kell leave his beloved in such a situation? He should have known what she had been about to face! Why had he not protected her better? Secretly she knew, of course, why he could not have interfered at all. But it still flung her into a mad rage to remember Belana's hushed report on what had happened back in the fortress.
The Jedi Master seemed to believe firmly that her lover was dead, and it broke her heart over and over again. No wonder she reacted that way now. And yet Tarla remembered Belana's joy some three years ago when she had confided in her student her feelings for another Jedi Knight, who had unfortunately turned out to be a Sith and Kell's apprentice. Back then the Jedi Master had talked most vividly of having a family one day. A husband and children. And deep inside Tarla knew that her friend had hoped to achieve both with Kell, as insane as that sounded. But such were the mysteries of true love, she suspected. "Hush," she whispered, holding Belana close. "It will be all right, you'll see." Damn you, Roj Kell. Once I find you, you will have a lot to answer for.
It was a great comfort to have Tarla around. She understood much better than both Zerkan and Gyro what was going on inside of her. And yet her friend's words could not reach her heart. She had only survived the torture and the rape because she had latched all of her hopes on to Kell's return. How great her faith had been that he would come back to free her. And now here she was, angry at him and yet very worried. Was he feeling the same? If he was alive, did he worry for her too? She was almost certain that he did. Almost. Shivering in Tarla's arms Belana closed her eyes again, but there the memories were only waiting to claim her.
"Tarla."
"Hm?"
"What am I supposed to do now?"
"I- do not know. Maybe just wait for now. Think about it. Talk."
"Yes. Talk. I have a few questions for Master Jeldo once we are back."
"What questions?"
"About Kell."
"Huh? I thought that you would know him better than the Council!"
"Yes, but maybe I do not know the Council as well as Kell does."
The small fleet broke up only a few clicks from Alderaan, Sechan's first target. Standing at the forward viewport of the lead corvette's bridge Roj Kell had folded his hands on his back and his green eyes were glittering with anticipation. At his side Novis had taken up station, his presence much calmer than what Kell could feel from Sechan, who was seated in the captain's chair. And Sechan had every reason to be very concerned indeed. The ancient Sith Lord had sworn that the other would still pay for what he had done to his beloved. And even though he himself could not exact that sentence he could plan for others to execute it. Preferably the Jedi. Preferably Belana. But that was not so important right now. Other things had first priority. When the small fleet had slipped into formation at last he released a tiny sigh and nodded at Novis.
"Very good. Proceed as planned, Sechan. If everything goes well we will meet you again in thirty standard days on Coruscant."
"If," the younger man muttered.
"There is always a risk," Kell told him pleasantly. "Besides, do not forget that you are going to have all the fun here. Make the most of it. And I mean that literally."
"Of course, Lord Kell. As ordered."
"Good. We will leave now. Give us ten hours, then attack."
"I know, no need to remind me."
"Just making certain. Good luck then."
Whirling around he gave the crew a cool smile and strode off the bridge briskly, Novis right on his heels. The Weequay gave an annoyed snort. "I do see why we have to wear these, but it still looks ridiculous to me."
"Then let us hope that others will come to see it the same way," Roj Kell told him softly and drew the hood of his dark brown cloak deeper into his face. He had bound his hair back carefully, knowing full well that his trademark black mane would be a dead giveaway to any Jedi who might cross their path, despite their disguise. "You have your lightsaber?"
"Yes, of course."
"Then let's do this."
TBC