"If Sidious thinks to betray me he is wrong. I will turn the tables on him; Get the Jedi on his back and off of mine? I more than likely have lost the support and respect from the senate republic already. The Jedi no doubt have run to Valorium with claims that I instigated the attack on the Jedi on Telos."

"And how wrong would that be?"

The viceroy's secretary never failed to let Gunray know when he had made an error in his strategies.

"Not wrong and I don't care how many Jedi lost their life but I won't stand around and have a bunch of robe wearing holy men castrate my chances in the senate republic or cost me my financial gains in mines throughout the republic. I will usurp some of my own authority and viceroy of this planet. I have some power left."

"Very little you have endangered all of your allegiance in side the republic and a great many outside, the rogue planets rulers as well. Most have found out about the murdered masters and most know who the Jedi suspect had a hand in it. I'd say our creditability is dammed beyond repair."

They were intruded upon by another currier with a message.

This time it was a one sentence message but it nearly floored the viceroy.

"The dark lord is gone."

Gunray stomped to where the shorter frog-like man, the messenger stood.

"You fools, I told you to watch his ship and let me know if there is any activity to indicate he planned to launch."

"We did that and here I am. The ship plans to leave. There are several battle droids, a few red guards, not an extortionate amount preparing it for launch but it has not left yet. Just the number you would expect to guard Sidious' ship, oh and a woman, her appearance mimics the female Jedi killed in the alley."

"And so we haven't missed Sidious. Comm your men and tell them to watch for him."

"Sire I don't think you are listening as to me, or possibly I am not stating the facts as they should be."

"You try my patience. If the ship is there though being readied to leave then Darth Sidious is here."

"No sire, he left."

"Left without his ship? With just who did he leave with, Jedi?"

"Yes Sire?"

Gunray whirled around and penned the bug-eyed fog-like messenger to over his desk, held tightly by his throat.

"Yes what? Do not joke or play word games with me?"

"NO sire I do neither. Maybe I have not spoken again as clearly as I should. Sidious left not with Jedi Jinn and his troops but with the dark failed apprentice."

Instantly Gunray understood. Xanatos was galaxy renowned. He held more interest for Gunray because of his inheritance to the mines. However, now the amphibian type being focused on Xanatos' former destiny as a Jedi. He was shocked a little by his forgetfulness.

"Jinn had been the dark Jedi apprentice's master. That can only help me once I figure all this out."

Gunray didn't not have the time to formulate a plan around his new found knowledge of who Xanatos had been apprenticed too. The door to his government office was suddenly nearly ripped off the hinges with Master Yoda leading the formable Jedi gathered; Mace, Jinn and Yoda ready to defend if necessary.

"Time you have only to tell me where Jinn's apprentice is.. Know of his kidnapping, convinced I am, in some way you do."

On the contrary Master Yoda was wrong. The viceroy knew nothing of it but now that he did, it could only help manipulate the Jedi..

"Know of any kidnappings on my home world I do not and I am immensely sorry about your loss Master Jinn."

Gunray fought off the sneer that threatened to spread over his face, however he could not hide the mocking sound in his voice that gave his true feelings away.

"Sure you are. Just tell us where he is. Where is Obi-Wan being held?"

"I have no idea, well not exactly but I have news for you that might aid you."

Yoda stepped up activated his saber, put a the fiercest force hold on the surrounding guards of Gunray's, and began slicing through the air, at first threatening.

"Closer you want this saber, possibly on your arm?"

Yoda, with seemingly no compassion at all in him swung out and singed the leathery scaly skin of Gunray's forearm.

"More precise I can be. Aim at that ugly face of yours I will next time. No time to think of lies. Want the truth I do. Where is Padawan Kenobi and who has him?"

Gunray fought from calling Yoda any number of nasty little names used on his home world. He knew it would do no good to anger the little troll of a Jedi.

"You want your Jedi apprentice Master Jinn, Yoda, then you should ask one of your own. He is the one who supplied transport for the dark lord, Darth Sidious."

Gunray reasoned that if Sidious left him without a word, he did not intend to help and it was now every man for himself.

"You say Sidious is gone? Is that who has Obi-Wan?"

"I would know of no other on this planet, myself included that would dare bring wrath of the Jedi against them. And yes my currier just brought news that indeed Sidious and his henchmen, the Hunter Fett and Syfo Dyas are all gone."

"What do you mean one of our own? Look I can't hold my former master back off you much longer."

Jinn was not kidding. He could see anger rising in Yoda's bulgy eyes and twitching ears.

Gunray was terrified of the Jedi but the excitement for what he had to tell them overrode that terror.

"Why Master Jinn, you should have thought of it sooner. You will find your present apprentice with your past one. Darth Sidious left here compliments of Xanatos De' Crion, no doubt to his planet Telos……. Seems you have a great deal of trouble keeping your apprentices from swaying to the dark side."

ewen