Kazzy:  I confused a lot of my other readers, don't worry. They all said it got easier to understand after a while. The only thing that got them slightly mixed up was the fact that I have a lot of characters and they haven't heard of most of them. *giggles*

Disclaimer: Shut up. Really. Just, shut up.

Chapter 5


The tall pirate watched the dark haired boy as he huddled in the corner of the cell.

His temper flared. Durron failed. We gave him a mission and he failed. Devil blast it all! We needed that piece of in-

"Twenty five standard seconds, Captain." The quiet voice of his aide helped him pull his temper under control.

"Implode it manually. I want that place floating in separate pieces." His tone was cold. Waving his hand, he said "Now."

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Kyp huddled in the corner, his gaze transfixed on the small metallic ball ticking in the corner.

The ticking sped up.

Kyp closed his eyes.

Suddenly a large explosion tore the small cell apart.

Kyp was falling... falling.... falling...........

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The crewmembers had two widespread reactions and several of them fainted.

One reaction was to freeze with horror and the other was to panic.

Over half of his night-shift crew ran around the rest of the crew who stood and sat as still as statues. Those that were not in stasis were yelling conflicting orders, trying to get to escape pods, manning the guns, and still others trying to turn the ship around.

It was, in a word: mayhem.

All because of what awaited them at this place.

A sharp gasp came from behind him and Tanyr jerked his head around to see Zylar. She was the former leader of a small pirate squadron who had unceremoniously booted her out. Zylar was a Falleen who had been kidnapped and raised among humans; because of this the Falleens despised her for her lack of control and humans criticized her for her uncaring attitude. Tanyr was the first being she had met who did not despise her so she had decided to stay on with him acting as his aide.

Zylar's dark eyes stood out painfully out against her pale blue skin.

"Zylar?" Tanyr's concern was instantaneous. "Are you okay?"

Zylar glanced at him and then swallowed.

Shaking her head sharply her skin tone changed to a bright orange, like a sun rising over Naboo. "Naturally." Her tone was husky, "Why would I be other wise?"

Tanyr rolled his eyes and grinned slightly. "As you wish…"

"Thank you." Zylar narrowed her eyes and cocked her head to the right. "Is that not the Katana fleet?"

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Zekk and Mara walked easily together, his small hand clasped by her hardened one.

"Lady Jade?" he inquired politely, "Where are we going?"

She smiled down at him, "I'm not a lady, and I'm going to see someone."

"The new Empress?" Zekk asked innocently.

Mara halted. No, no. It couldn't be! "Empress?"

"Empress of the Resurrected Empire. She has a really long title, but I can't remember it." Zekk truly didn't know why Mara's eyes narrowed and flashed like lightning, or why her hands curled into fists, or why she began running for the upper levels of Coruscant.

Mara turned and started running for the Imperial Palace, Zekk following as fast as his much shorter legs allowed him.

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Han had dark circles under his eyes. Jacen was inconsolable over the loss of his younger sister and had screamed none stop for the past four days.

"Chewie!" Han tried to yell, but his voice was nearly gone. "Chewie, how long till we get there?"

Chewie's answering roar did not improve Han's mood.

"Another day?! We won't be alive in another day!"

Chewie laughed and then they both froze suddenly.

Something was wrong.

Terribly wrong.

It was important and it was just……... gone. Han held his breath; he could hear the blood rushing in his ears.

A small screech came from the hall. Chewie's comin'. Han thought. Wait, how do I know that? I heard him in the ha-

Han's face was the picture of absolute bliss. Chewie growled a soft question that fell on deaf ears. He asked it again, the volume increased slightly.

"SH!!" Han demanded, throwing a death glare at the one who would dare to disturb the heavenly peace on deck.

Chewie looked at his friend with amusement and then shook his shaggy head. He'd leave Han to his silence and go laugh himself silly in the cockpit.

Jacen's eyes were wide open, their color wavering between brandy and blue. "Da?" he questioned in a very sweet voice.

"Yes, little one?" Han made a cutesy face and grimaced mentally; thank heaven's Chewie's gone. If he saw this, I'd never live it down.

"DA!!" Jacen squealed and pulled on his father's nose.

"Ow!" Han jerked his head back swiftly, tears in his eyes.

"Da?" Jacen's wide eyes looked worried, "Aya?"

Han's heart clenched so fiercely that he thought he'd die from the pain. He tried to speak but words failed him.

Jacen's eyes looked puzzled and then a faint smile showed in them, as though he had just realized something important. He struggled to get a grip on the Force that was eluding his grasp. Then it was handed to him, it was as though the Force had been suddenly chastised and was ashamed of itself. Jacen took a hold of it with a sweet toothless smile, "Da!" he cried happily, throwing both hands out as well as the Force.

The sleep suggestion hit Han hard and fast.

He was dead to the world before his head landed on the floor.

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Teneniel Djo stood by the tall window; her eyes were dark and brooding.

"Your majesty," an aide called from the door, her head bowed. "You wished to see the Princess?"

"Yes An'an." Teneniel turned, a smile crossing her normally stern face. "Tenel Ka. Have you been a good girl?" she cooed softly as she took her baby daughter in her arms.

"You'll spoil her rotten." Isolder said quietly from a narrow doorway, drinking in the sight of his beloved wife and daughter.

"Don't listen to him." Teneniel whispered softly to the quiet gray-eyed baby. "We'll toughen you up. After all, you are a Dathomirian warrior, are you not?"

Isolder rolled his eyes and walked towards them.

"I love you." He whispered in Teneniel's ear as he ran his hands up and down her arms gently.

She looked over her shoulder at him and smiled. "I know." Isolder leaned in for a kiss and Teneniel got a brilliant idea.

"Hold her for a moment." She instructed. Placing their daughter unceremoniously in his arms as she swiftly stepped away from him.

Isolder's eyes bulged in shock as he felt the warm, pliant weight rest in his arms.

"Teneniel-" he said in a strangled tone that was cut off as she glared at him.

He swallowed and looked into Tenel Ka's dark gray eyes. "Uh- Hello."

She cocked her head, her expression unreadable. The slight movement made the corner of the blanket that was covering her head fall back.

Tenel Ka, Princess of the Hapes Cluster, was only five days old and already had a full head of flame colored hair.

She reached a hand up to touch Isolder's face curiously. "Da?"