The stars streamed past the viewport of 'Stealth' with fluidity. Kayless touched the controls lightly, running a routine diagnostic before they entered real space and remembering her Master's words about grace.
Drais looked at her busy hands feeling nauseous "Give me rock, water, ice, sand, anything but space".
Kayless smiled, used to this ritual "Won't be long now" Still, she could not help but feel slightly edgy, she would have requested to do some lightsabre sparring if not for her Master's paranoia about cutting cables in the confined space of the ship.
He had clearly picked up on his "Uneasy?"
Kayless nodded "It's strange" she tried to articulate her feelings "I heard her call my name as if she was standing right next to me. How could that be?"
"One of the many riddles we will have to solve once we reach Elphora" he replied calmly "All we can do now is be patient"
The Twi'lek girl turned her head to look at the starlines. "Master, have you ever faced a Sith Lord"
His expression changed, taken aback by her question "Kayless, the Sith have been extinct for over a millennia…" but his padawan gave him a look that suggested they both knew differently, and even when she was small he always had trouble defending against the Kayless Tieta stare. He sighed "No I have not. They are very cunning, very dangerous. I hope I never find out how dangerous. It takes someone very extraordinary to survive such an encounter."
"But I thought a Jedi had to always believe in herself" She replied confused.
He glanced back wistfully "A Jedi has to always believe in the Force. Do not confuse the two. Doubt can sometimes drive us; if we believed we could do everything we would never feel the need to better ourselves. Its all a question of balance"
Kayless closed her eyes "Yes, balance, its all about balance. It's shifting".
"The balance in the Force has been uneven for sometime" He stated, "We might help it right itself".
"But how?"
He smiled as if it should be obvious "By adding weight to the light side by our thoughts and deeds".
Somehow Kayless knew it fitted in to why the Force had compelled her back to Elphora, but the connection was too elusive and it was lost on her.
It's all about balance, Bis aka Yer Malchit of Corellia thought as he slid around the edge of a vast gulf. He had made his first stop Kuat, after all one of the biggest shipping manufacturer's was the logical place to start for an ion cannon. He had come to the conclusion that getting parts would be a less conspicuous when he sent them back to Elphora than a full size one. It was taking a risk, that Kyia and the special team could put it together, but it was less of a risk than the alternative. Getting into see Kuat of Kuat had proven to be more problematic, Yer had already run into reams of secretaries and paperwork that he really did not feel like filling out, so he tried the subtle approach, breaking and entering. The internal security was good, too good, but whoever had designed it figured that nobody would be stupid enough to climb up the side of a two hundred and fifty three storey building over looking a sheer drop into a quarry, in the middle of the night to get in through a vent on the top floor
Bis grinned recklessly, "Guess they were wrong". The wind whistled in his ears, he was on floor two five three and compacting his body to squeeze into the small space. Then it was just simply a matter of jimmying the lock on the door of the boss's office, which would most likely also be on the top floor. He pushed himself out the other end of the vent and into the corridor and kept close to the wall to avoid any cameras.
A big shiny plaque denoted the correct door "Businessmen are so predictable, biggest boss, shiniest name plate, highest office, smallest… " There was a click as the door opened. He had looked stupid when he asked the dealer he bought the lock decoder off how to use it, but the embarrassment has been worthwhile. Now all he had to do was wait until morning.
Kuat of Kuat got quite a shock when he entered his office. His high-backed chair swivelled around theatrically to reveal the intruder, twiddling his thumbs.
"How did you get in here" he demanded, his face turning a violent shade of red.
Bis held up his hands palm outwards "Relax" He said smoothly, enjoying his first acting role "I don't wanna shoot you" he used his Corellian accent "Well, unless you really tick me off then I might, which would include calling any hired muscle" He opened his arms wider for a moment, just enough to let him see the blaster strapped to his side before it was covered again by his jacket "I'm here on business".
The Kuati, finding himself on more familiar ground settled into the chair on the other side of the desk "Of course. What can I do for you?"
He came directly to the point "I need a ZX10 generator, no serial number. Figured you might have one lying around."
Kuat narrowed his eyes "There are easier ways to get a generator than breaking into my office. No serial number, sounds suspicious".
"That's why I prefer unofficial channels. Questions make me nervous" He replied through his teeth "Now do you have one?"
He nodded "For a price, no serial number will cost extra".
"Did I mention that over charging is a really easy way to make me angry" Bis raised an eyebrow suggestively but kept his voice level.
Kuat glared back patronisingly "I won't be threatened by a two credit Corellian. You'll get what you pay for, no more".
"Just as long as it's no less".
"What do you want it for?" Kuat asked harshly.
Bis smiled with sardonic sweetness "Mine broke".
Kuat lounged back in his chair, trying to get a measure of the man who was sitting opposite "Then why didn't you just go through my associates?"
He shrugged "Don't think they would like how it broke".
"Hmmm" The businessman pondered, "Hence no serial number, that's the trick isn't it. It won't be easy and it's going to cost extra".
Bis laughed as Yer Malchit, "Won't be easy" he mocked him "You've got several cruisers under construction out there. It's not exactly astrophysics to pull one off the factory line before it reaches them, before it gets stamped." He pointed his figure at the Kuati "So don't give me all that bantha fodder to raise the price, I'm not stupid".
Kuat screwed up his face "Apparently not. How will you be paying? Cash?"
"Of course" He stood up and handed him a card and a modest pile of credits "Send it here. The other half of the cash is stashed somewhere in the building with a large amount of explosives. You'll get it and the codes for the detonator when it arrives". Actually that was a lie, he had left the credits in a cleaning cupboard across the hall with a mock up, but Kuat did not know that.
Understandably he shifted uncomfortably "How do I know you'll deliver?"
Yer shrugged "You don't, but at least you'll have my address"
Kuat looked at him calculatingly, wondering why it was such a worth such a big effort to stay elusive. Yer walked around the desk and drew the blaster. He linked arms with the man and held the blaster against him, but concealed by his arm "It's nothing personal, it's just I'd like to go out the front door this time, and you know how such a long turbolift ride can get lonely."
Kuat scowled, knowing that he was just insurance that he got out of the building in one piece "I suppose your name, or the name of the client is out of the question"
"Oh yeah" he replied "Come on" He nudged him forward "The small talk's getting boring. Remember, nice and slow, just one buddy walking another buddy to the door, assuming you have any that is."
It was no matter, he would let him get out of the building, and if he came up with the rest of the credits he would even let him get his generator, but then he would crush him in the palm of his hand, especially the mystery client who thought it was funny to make a fool out of Kuat of Kuat.
Kyia lifted her head from her desk "I wonder how Bis is doing?" she thought out loud.
"What?"
The voice startled her out of her reverie. Obi Wan was once again standing in her doorway, she was surprised that he had not knocked but then remembered she herself had left it open.
Kyia wet her dry lips exhaustively, preparing for another round of kick the Rancor, but she sensed something had changed. Unsure she continued, not giving too much away, "A friend is offworld"
"And you're worried about him" he finished, not making her explain.
She was grateful for the reprieve, she ran her fingers through her hair before placing her head in her hands "Yeah"
At that moment it hit Obi Wan just how close to breaking point she was, and he felt guilty "I'm sure Bis will be fine"
Her head looked up, wondering where this sudden perceptiveness had come from.
He shrugged at her unanswered question. "I'm sorry, for the way I behaved earlier. I was out of line. You're obviously under immense pressure, I hope I haven't made it worse"
She shook her head "I'm sorry too, I shouldn't have snapped at you like that"
He held out a hand, doing what he should have done days ago "Friends again?"
She exhaled softly, letting half a smile reach her lips "Friends" She took his hand and he held it for a second before he let it fall.
"Anyway, I should probably let you, you know" He said doggedly.
She nodded and he left. Kyia stood up, closing the door behind him "Make up your mind Obi Wan, at least be consistent." She muttered sitting back at her desk. She had to admit; talking to him without a confrontation had been…nice "He was only here for two diacts". She picked her datacard up, she had bigger problems to think about now.
"Why are we always apologising to each other, Kyia" Obi Wan whispered as when he was far enough away not to be heard. It seemed like that was all he had been doing since he had met her. He was caught in a tug of war, even though he had told Garyde he would not be. Every man who entered her life would be, she was destined to share herself between her planet and her partner, just as he was destined to serve the order, they needed her more than he or the Prince á Lithé did, and there was nothing either of them could do about it, but at least Garyde could overlook it.
The inter-com buzzed in Anice's office.
"Yes" She replied stiffly, her eyes still grazing over the invoice she was examining.
"There's an incoming transmission from a ship on-route. They're requesting R.A status" a crackly voice said over the device.
"Who is it?" The woman asked directly, she did not have much time for niceties nowadays.
"A small cruiser, her transponder identifies her as 'Stealth'. The pilot hasn't answered our calls other than that"
Anice looked quizzically at the com then reached for her consol, intentionally knocking a pile of datacards off the desk to make room. The name sounded familiar, she tapped the keys and came up with a name. "Two passengers?"
"We believe so, yes".
"Grant them R.A status and prepare the docking bay" She smiled, Kyia would be pleased. "The Quelena will probably want to welcome them in person"
"Understood" The L.E.D blinked off
Anice walked over and dialled the frequency for Kyia's rooms "I've got some good news".
The slightly tired voice of the Quelena replied, "I could definitely use some".
"It's pointless looking for Kayless anymore" Anice paused for dramatic effect "Because she's come looking for you, due to land any diact".
A sigh of relief came over the com "That's great, any idea why?"
Anice shook her head even though there was no one else in the room to see it "No. They wouldn't give their names out to the flight co-ordinator, but that could mean anything."
There was another sigh "I had better get down there then" The receiver light lost its illumination as Kyia cut the connection.
Anice returned to her consol and started to look through the roster for free rooms. The office, unlike the rest of the Palace was uncharacteristically untidy. It was her, as she put it 'organised chaos' but the fact was simply that she did not have time to organise the changing palace systems and keep her own personal space tidy, yet still she could always put a hand to whatever she needed. This was part of the reason she held Kyia, and her mother in such high regard. A Quelena's reach extended over the entire planet, whereas she only had the Palace to worry about. Although Anice considered herself meticulous, Kyia and Hannah, despite their seemly laid-back attitudes had always been more so, although Kyia's tendency to improvise set her on edge more than her mother had.
She found a small duel room, knowing that two rooms separated by shutters was an ideal suite for a master and apprentice team. Over the years she had picked up that they preferred it that way, another lesson experience had taught her, as it had a great many things. Anice had watched the courtship of Quelena Hannah Levelle with the same urgency that she now watched her daughter. Anice leaned over to pick up the datacards she had dislodged earlier, feeling her age. The old woman mused on how similarly they handed the problem of Unity, how they both under-estimated its importance and delayed it as long as possible. Only the direct line from Kyia the Great carried 'the gift' that allowed the transreflection of incidents on to Elphoran water and healing ability. It made sense to the tradition of the ruling family that only those born with 'the gift' had the ability to lead the Elphoran people. Purely, Kyia had to have an heir. Hannah had been the same until the mysterious and troubled appearance of Dextro that led to their joining, but Hannah was an only child and she had only one daughter. Unless Kyia married the line would disappear, as would 'the gift', and as the years past she was running out of time and running out of suitors. Elphorans everywhere would be expecting Unity soon.
She shut the door of her office and headed to meet the 'Stealth'. It was a pity that the Force had made Kyia rush, most Quelenas did not take the sceptre until around thirty five rotations old, but she had lost both her parents in a accident at twenty, making the need to secure Elphora's future by marriage ever more urgent.
Drais looked at her busy hands feeling nauseous "Give me rock, water, ice, sand, anything but space".
Kayless smiled, used to this ritual "Won't be long now" Still, she could not help but feel slightly edgy, she would have requested to do some lightsabre sparring if not for her Master's paranoia about cutting cables in the confined space of the ship.
He had clearly picked up on his "Uneasy?"
Kayless nodded "It's strange" she tried to articulate her feelings "I heard her call my name as if she was standing right next to me. How could that be?"
"One of the many riddles we will have to solve once we reach Elphora" he replied calmly "All we can do now is be patient"
The Twi'lek girl turned her head to look at the starlines. "Master, have you ever faced a Sith Lord"
His expression changed, taken aback by her question "Kayless, the Sith have been extinct for over a millennia…" but his padawan gave him a look that suggested they both knew differently, and even when she was small he always had trouble defending against the Kayless Tieta stare. He sighed "No I have not. They are very cunning, very dangerous. I hope I never find out how dangerous. It takes someone very extraordinary to survive such an encounter."
"But I thought a Jedi had to always believe in herself" She replied confused.
He glanced back wistfully "A Jedi has to always believe in the Force. Do not confuse the two. Doubt can sometimes drive us; if we believed we could do everything we would never feel the need to better ourselves. Its all a question of balance"
Kayless closed her eyes "Yes, balance, its all about balance. It's shifting".
"The balance in the Force has been uneven for sometime" He stated, "We might help it right itself".
"But how?"
He smiled as if it should be obvious "By adding weight to the light side by our thoughts and deeds".
Somehow Kayless knew it fitted in to why the Force had compelled her back to Elphora, but the connection was too elusive and it was lost on her.
It's all about balance, Bis aka Yer Malchit of Corellia thought as he slid around the edge of a vast gulf. He had made his first stop Kuat, after all one of the biggest shipping manufacturer's was the logical place to start for an ion cannon. He had come to the conclusion that getting parts would be a less conspicuous when he sent them back to Elphora than a full size one. It was taking a risk, that Kyia and the special team could put it together, but it was less of a risk than the alternative. Getting into see Kuat of Kuat had proven to be more problematic, Yer had already run into reams of secretaries and paperwork that he really did not feel like filling out, so he tried the subtle approach, breaking and entering. The internal security was good, too good, but whoever had designed it figured that nobody would be stupid enough to climb up the side of a two hundred and fifty three storey building over looking a sheer drop into a quarry, in the middle of the night to get in through a vent on the top floor
Bis grinned recklessly, "Guess they were wrong". The wind whistled in his ears, he was on floor two five three and compacting his body to squeeze into the small space. Then it was just simply a matter of jimmying the lock on the door of the boss's office, which would most likely also be on the top floor. He pushed himself out the other end of the vent and into the corridor and kept close to the wall to avoid any cameras.
A big shiny plaque denoted the correct door "Businessmen are so predictable, biggest boss, shiniest name plate, highest office, smallest… " There was a click as the door opened. He had looked stupid when he asked the dealer he bought the lock decoder off how to use it, but the embarrassment has been worthwhile. Now all he had to do was wait until morning.
Kuat of Kuat got quite a shock when he entered his office. His high-backed chair swivelled around theatrically to reveal the intruder, twiddling his thumbs.
"How did you get in here" he demanded, his face turning a violent shade of red.
Bis held up his hands palm outwards "Relax" He said smoothly, enjoying his first acting role "I don't wanna shoot you" he used his Corellian accent "Well, unless you really tick me off then I might, which would include calling any hired muscle" He opened his arms wider for a moment, just enough to let him see the blaster strapped to his side before it was covered again by his jacket "I'm here on business".
The Kuati, finding himself on more familiar ground settled into the chair on the other side of the desk "Of course. What can I do for you?"
He came directly to the point "I need a ZX10 generator, no serial number. Figured you might have one lying around."
Kuat narrowed his eyes "There are easier ways to get a generator than breaking into my office. No serial number, sounds suspicious".
"That's why I prefer unofficial channels. Questions make me nervous" He replied through his teeth "Now do you have one?"
He nodded "For a price, no serial number will cost extra".
"Did I mention that over charging is a really easy way to make me angry" Bis raised an eyebrow suggestively but kept his voice level.
Kuat glared back patronisingly "I won't be threatened by a two credit Corellian. You'll get what you pay for, no more".
"Just as long as it's no less".
"What do you want it for?" Kuat asked harshly.
Bis smiled with sardonic sweetness "Mine broke".
Kuat lounged back in his chair, trying to get a measure of the man who was sitting opposite "Then why didn't you just go through my associates?"
He shrugged "Don't think they would like how it broke".
"Hmmm" The businessman pondered, "Hence no serial number, that's the trick isn't it. It won't be easy and it's going to cost extra".
Bis laughed as Yer Malchit, "Won't be easy" he mocked him "You've got several cruisers under construction out there. It's not exactly astrophysics to pull one off the factory line before it reaches them, before it gets stamped." He pointed his figure at the Kuati "So don't give me all that bantha fodder to raise the price, I'm not stupid".
Kuat screwed up his face "Apparently not. How will you be paying? Cash?"
"Of course" He stood up and handed him a card and a modest pile of credits "Send it here. The other half of the cash is stashed somewhere in the building with a large amount of explosives. You'll get it and the codes for the detonator when it arrives". Actually that was a lie, he had left the credits in a cleaning cupboard across the hall with a mock up, but Kuat did not know that.
Understandably he shifted uncomfortably "How do I know you'll deliver?"
Yer shrugged "You don't, but at least you'll have my address"
Kuat looked at him calculatingly, wondering why it was such a worth such a big effort to stay elusive. Yer walked around the desk and drew the blaster. He linked arms with the man and held the blaster against him, but concealed by his arm "It's nothing personal, it's just I'd like to go out the front door this time, and you know how such a long turbolift ride can get lonely."
Kuat scowled, knowing that he was just insurance that he got out of the building in one piece "I suppose your name, or the name of the client is out of the question"
"Oh yeah" he replied "Come on" He nudged him forward "The small talk's getting boring. Remember, nice and slow, just one buddy walking another buddy to the door, assuming you have any that is."
It was no matter, he would let him get out of the building, and if he came up with the rest of the credits he would even let him get his generator, but then he would crush him in the palm of his hand, especially the mystery client who thought it was funny to make a fool out of Kuat of Kuat.
Kyia lifted her head from her desk "I wonder how Bis is doing?" she thought out loud.
"What?"
The voice startled her out of her reverie. Obi Wan was once again standing in her doorway, she was surprised that he had not knocked but then remembered she herself had left it open.
Kyia wet her dry lips exhaustively, preparing for another round of kick the Rancor, but she sensed something had changed. Unsure she continued, not giving too much away, "A friend is offworld"
"And you're worried about him" he finished, not making her explain.
She was grateful for the reprieve, she ran her fingers through her hair before placing her head in her hands "Yeah"
At that moment it hit Obi Wan just how close to breaking point she was, and he felt guilty "I'm sure Bis will be fine"
Her head looked up, wondering where this sudden perceptiveness had come from.
He shrugged at her unanswered question. "I'm sorry, for the way I behaved earlier. I was out of line. You're obviously under immense pressure, I hope I haven't made it worse"
She shook her head "I'm sorry too, I shouldn't have snapped at you like that"
He held out a hand, doing what he should have done days ago "Friends again?"
She exhaled softly, letting half a smile reach her lips "Friends" She took his hand and he held it for a second before he let it fall.
"Anyway, I should probably let you, you know" He said doggedly.
She nodded and he left. Kyia stood up, closing the door behind him "Make up your mind Obi Wan, at least be consistent." She muttered sitting back at her desk. She had to admit; talking to him without a confrontation had been…nice "He was only here for two diacts". She picked her datacard up, she had bigger problems to think about now.
"Why are we always apologising to each other, Kyia" Obi Wan whispered as when he was far enough away not to be heard. It seemed like that was all he had been doing since he had met her. He was caught in a tug of war, even though he had told Garyde he would not be. Every man who entered her life would be, she was destined to share herself between her planet and her partner, just as he was destined to serve the order, they needed her more than he or the Prince á Lithé did, and there was nothing either of them could do about it, but at least Garyde could overlook it.
The inter-com buzzed in Anice's office.
"Yes" She replied stiffly, her eyes still grazing over the invoice she was examining.
"There's an incoming transmission from a ship on-route. They're requesting R.A status" a crackly voice said over the device.
"Who is it?" The woman asked directly, she did not have much time for niceties nowadays.
"A small cruiser, her transponder identifies her as 'Stealth'. The pilot hasn't answered our calls other than that"
Anice looked quizzically at the com then reached for her consol, intentionally knocking a pile of datacards off the desk to make room. The name sounded familiar, she tapped the keys and came up with a name. "Two passengers?"
"We believe so, yes".
"Grant them R.A status and prepare the docking bay" She smiled, Kyia would be pleased. "The Quelena will probably want to welcome them in person"
"Understood" The L.E.D blinked off
Anice walked over and dialled the frequency for Kyia's rooms "I've got some good news".
The slightly tired voice of the Quelena replied, "I could definitely use some".
"It's pointless looking for Kayless anymore" Anice paused for dramatic effect "Because she's come looking for you, due to land any diact".
A sigh of relief came over the com "That's great, any idea why?"
Anice shook her head even though there was no one else in the room to see it "No. They wouldn't give their names out to the flight co-ordinator, but that could mean anything."
There was another sigh "I had better get down there then" The receiver light lost its illumination as Kyia cut the connection.
Anice returned to her consol and started to look through the roster for free rooms. The office, unlike the rest of the Palace was uncharacteristically untidy. It was her, as she put it 'organised chaos' but the fact was simply that she did not have time to organise the changing palace systems and keep her own personal space tidy, yet still she could always put a hand to whatever she needed. This was part of the reason she held Kyia, and her mother in such high regard. A Quelena's reach extended over the entire planet, whereas she only had the Palace to worry about. Although Anice considered herself meticulous, Kyia and Hannah, despite their seemly laid-back attitudes had always been more so, although Kyia's tendency to improvise set her on edge more than her mother had.
She found a small duel room, knowing that two rooms separated by shutters was an ideal suite for a master and apprentice team. Over the years she had picked up that they preferred it that way, another lesson experience had taught her, as it had a great many things. Anice had watched the courtship of Quelena Hannah Levelle with the same urgency that she now watched her daughter. Anice leaned over to pick up the datacards she had dislodged earlier, feeling her age. The old woman mused on how similarly they handed the problem of Unity, how they both under-estimated its importance and delayed it as long as possible. Only the direct line from Kyia the Great carried 'the gift' that allowed the transreflection of incidents on to Elphoran water and healing ability. It made sense to the tradition of the ruling family that only those born with 'the gift' had the ability to lead the Elphoran people. Purely, Kyia had to have an heir. Hannah had been the same until the mysterious and troubled appearance of Dextro that led to their joining, but Hannah was an only child and she had only one daughter. Unless Kyia married the line would disappear, as would 'the gift', and as the years past she was running out of time and running out of suitors. Elphorans everywhere would be expecting Unity soon.
She shut the door of her office and headed to meet the 'Stealth'. It was a pity that the Force had made Kyia rush, most Quelenas did not take the sceptre until around thirty five rotations old, but she had lost both her parents in a accident at twenty, making the need to secure Elphora's future by marriage ever more urgent.