Last time: Sasga, Viran, and Kyr arrived to their first system to look for the constellation.

Now: The argument between Sasha and Viran has caused some problems.

Chapter 4- Tenison

Overhead the sun shone in dappled patterns through the leaves and played off the gentle movements of the creek that flowed quietly beside the scene. There was not another soul on the planet, as far as Oppie could tell, and it was the same as his past visit to this spot. There was a small set of dilapidated ruins that were a little up from the creek, nestled into the trees that suffocated the bank.

This was the site of a Jedi temple, the actual temple extended underground and left little evidence above. Master Redika had disappeared into it for several days when he had sought guidance, just as Oppie was doing. And a little ways away he could see the spot where he had made camp, waiting for his master and thought upon his own actions that had worried him so. The inconspicuous entrance was flanked by some ancient stone benches, supposedly for others to wait while another Jedi completed their journey in the temple. He had sent a short message off to the others, letting them know he was all right and where he was headed for the next leg of his investigation, and a brief explanation that he felt like he might be able to do the most good receiving guidance here.

Taking a deep breath, Oppie stepped forward and concentrated. The entrance was sealed behind a stone slab embedded in a track that let it only lift vertically. The stone was an immense weight, a squared off boulder that was easily two meters a side. Concentrating, and straining, Oppie reached out with the Force, surrounding it, grasping it in his minds eye and lifting it up. Slowly it inched up, the strain causing him to start perspiring as it grated in its tracks with grinding sounds and dirt dislodged from around it falling off like smoke. He gritted his teeth as it rose to a level that would let him slip underneath. Keeping his concentration he walked forward, transitioning his hold on the boulder as he hurried his way below, feeling the strain of trying to hold it up all the while. He finally made it to the other side and let it fall, with a horrendous crashing sound as he stood there inhaling deep breaths in the darkened space.

The air was stale but breathable. But there was no light. No windows or any glowlamps. He pulled a small torch from his belt, he had brought it with the expectation of delving underground, and clicked it on. The light cast around the small space, it was a small, roughly hewn room that served as some kind of entrance. There were no markings, no guides, only a passage that extended down farther than his light could play. With one last look around to make sure he hadn't missed anything, he started down the tunnel that led deeper into the complex.

He walked for several minutes, the passage feeling like it might have been dug out by hand in ancient times. There were no smooth, clean lines that might have belied the usage of excavation tools, it was maybe two and a half meters tall and a meter wide. A little too claustrophobic for Oppie's taste, but he kept moving forward.

Finally, after some time, he stepped into an octagonal chamber, perhaps eight meters across. Where the tunnel had been rough, this chamber was smooth and clean, with almost cathedral-like lines that extended up into the ceiling which was peaked perhaps twelve meters above him. There was a faint glow from an upper story of simple paintings that depicted Jedi of note, though Oppie recognized none of them off the top of his head.

Completing his inspection he glanced back to where he had come, and then did a double take. The path he had entered from was no longer there. It was now simply another featureless wall, identical to the other seven. He played his torch light around trying to find the entrance, trying to figure out if he had become turned around. All of the walls were identical, now. There were no windows and no doors, and there didn't seem to be a way out.

Outside the cockpit windows the swirl of hyperspace cast blue flickers of light that played into the darkened compartment. Kyr sat at the controls in the pilots seat. Sasha sat next to him at the co-pilot's station, while Viran was conspicuously somewhere else. Tac was off probably knitting another sweater. Kyr slouched in the seat, but felt the unease pouring off Sasha, and the tension that had played between the two Jedi for the last day they had been en-route to the next planet had suffused the ship with a somewhat uncomfortable air.

"So that Sith girl wants to ally with us?" He finally asked, as much as to break the uncomfortable silence as to clarify what he had only partially heard before.

Sasha stiffened in her seat and glanced at him. She then looked back out into the swirls of hyperspace. "Yeah."

"I don't know a lot about Jetii and Darjetii relations, but that's kind of unusual?" He continued.

"It is. Especially, since she tried to control my mind a year ago," Sasha said as she gathered one leg up and rested her chin on her knee. "But… when she reached out to me to show me his return, I sensed something different about her. I don't know what it is, but I can't ignore the fact that she seems afraid of Dracul and what he is going to do."

"I guess she would know more about his plans than anyone." Kyr mused. "She seems pretty tough from what you guys have described, so if it makes her afraid it can't be good."

"No it can't," Sasha said softly. She then looked at Kyr. "Am I wrong in wanting to help her? To ally with her? I mean I haven't said yes to her offer, but… I have seen what Dracul can do. The enemy of my enemy is my friend." She mumbled the last statement.

Kyr shrugged. "Enemies can become strange allies when the need arises." He glanced at her. "Look at us, Jedi and Mandalorian working together, we've been enemies for thousands of years as well, but here we are." He paused for a second, and continued. "Do you think it's a trick, or do you think she's genuine?"

"I think she is genuine," Sasha said honestly. "I just know to be wary of everything she does and says. But a small part of me is telling me to trust her in this." She then sighed and laid her forehead on her knee. "Curse my need to see the good in everyone. It's only going to bite me in the butt someday."

"Probably." Kyr said without preamble. "But you're tough too Sash'ika, you can handle that day when it comes."

Sasha glanced at Kyr again. "Thanks, Kyr." She then looked down again. "What should I do about Viran? We had a fight. We have never done that before. I don't know what to do."

"I dunno." Kyr said. "I think he's upset because he's worried about you in all this. If this alliance is a fakeout then you're the one that's probably going to bear the brunt of whatever her plan is, and I think he's worried about you. He's also fought Cien a couple of times, and had to watch helplessly while she attacked you last time, so he's got a grudge to bear against her." He looked off into the distance of hyperspace before continuing. "It's one thing to forgive someone who hurts you, it's another to forgive those who hurt the ones you love."

Sasha straightened and looked at Kyr with raised eyebrows. "Whoa, that was… that was very wise of you Kyr." She then smiled at him. "Thank you. That helped a lot."

He looked back at her with a bemused expression under his helmet. "Hey, I'm not just good for shooting stuff you know. More than beskar in here." He thumped the side of his bucket with his fist. He looked back off out the cockpit window. "The Darkcool guy, some of the stuff you described from him seems pretty bad. I have to admit I think we need every advantage we can against him. So if this seems like a genuine offer, I'm not sure I can see the sense in not taking it." He advised. "You know her better than anyone, though, so if you feel uneasy about it we can figure out some other way."

Sasha nodded. "Thanks again Kyr for your advice. That helped and made me feel better." She then stood from the chair. "I'm going to go talk to Viran." She patted his shoulder as she moved by. "Thanks again."

"No problem." He watched her go through the rear view display of his buy'ce, and then resumed listening to an audio file he had on gravitational wavefronts and their effects on hyperspace he had paused while she was in the cockpit.

Sasha moved back into the lounge of the ship. Viran was sitting there playing a game with Tac, but he wasn't paying attention to the droid kicking his butt. He looked up when she approached.

"Viran, I'm sorry about earlier," Sasha started before he could say anything. "You are just worried about me and I appreciate it. I just wanted to make sure you knew that Cien was reaching out to me with that warning."

Viran stood from the table, ignoring Tac's persistent beeping as the droid was not done beating him in their game. He walked over to Sasha and pulled her into a hug.

"I'm sorry for raising my voice earlier too," Viran said as he held her. "I am worried about you. And I don't trust her Sasha." He then pulled away and looked at her. "But I do trust you with my life. And even though I know you can easily handle her yourself," He gave her a wink at that as he knew how strong she is. "Just promise me that you are careful around her. I don't want to see you get hurt again."

Sasha nodded. "I promise. And if I do, I know I'll have you, Oppie, and Kyr there to have my back."

Viran smiled at her. It made her smile to see his smile once again. She then leaned in and kissed him. They shared a kiss for a moment before pulling away and holding each other.

Tac had pulled away from the holotable, quite indignant, and watched the scene in fuming silence. As they held each other close for too long, in the droid's estimation, he deployed his grasping claw and started tugging insistently at Viran's pants leg. Viran chuckled as he pulled away and looked at Tac.

"Alright, we can continue playing," Viran said to the impatient droid. He looked at Sasha. "Sorry, but I need to kick this droid's butt."

Sasha smiled. "Have fun you two."

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