A/N: Hi everyone! So here's my next chapter, and even though it isn't as action-packed as the last one, it still has some action, a few familiar faces, and a bit of backstory for one of our more secretive characters. I hope you like it, and see you next time! (whenever that will be ;)

Mysterious message! A transmission has been intercepted far beyond the Outer Rim, deep in the Chrelythiumn system. Why the call has been made, and from where cannot be established. But buried in the message is a Jedi distress code that has not been used in over 2,000 years. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and his Padawan Ahsoka are sent to investigate. Fearing a Separatist trap, they are to meet with a heavily armed Jedi cruiser….

A few days after the debrief and decision to track down Sundali Abazza, Eeth Koth and Plo Koon were on their way to Alderaan to meet with the Queen and her husband, Senator Organa. As they journeyed through hyperspace, Plo turned to Eeth and asked, "What do you remember about Master Abazza's family? Is there anything there that can help us find her now, do you think?"

Eeth thought before saying, "I remember that her parents seemed very young themselves, and I could sense they felt uncomfortable while I was there. Perhaps that was just because I was a Jedi, perhaps not. I cannot say for certain what it was about, but hopefully, they are a bit more forthcoming than the last time we met."

"If they are still alive," Plo said quietly, "It has been a long time."

Eeth nodded slowly before an indicator started beeping, and he turned to the monitor in front of him and said, "We're approaching Alderaan now," bringing the ship out of hyperspace and guiding it to the planet's surface. Once clear of the atmosphere, they headed for the palace, located in the beautiful city of Aldera. Touching down in the hangar of the palace, the two Jedi disembarked and were greeted by Queen Breha and her husband, Senator Bail Organa. The queen greeted them kindly, "Master Jedi, welcome to Aldera and my home. I trust your journey was pleasant?" as she extended a hand and started leading them into the palace itself.

"It was, Your Majesty, thank you," Eeth said as they walked, "And your palace is quite beautiful. I had heard tales of the beauty of it in the past but have never had the pleasure of seeing it myself. It is breathtaking," as he admired the beautiful architecture and artwork displayed throughout the palace as they walked towards Bail's private office.

The Queen beamed as she said, "We are always pleased to have the honor of Jedi Masters visiting," her smile faded a little then, "But your message didn't exactly say why you were coming. Is there something the matter?"

Eeth hesitated a moment, while Master Plo only said, "Perhaps this discussion is better had behind closed doors. There is much to speak about."

The Queen and her husband looked at each other before Bail said, "Then please follow me. We will be at my office soon and can discuss things there," leading the way and eventually coming to a wooden door. Bail reached out and turned the handle on the door, opening it and inviting everyone inside before entering and shutting the door behind him. His office was rather large and had plenty of space for a desk, chairs, and even an aquarium of brightly colored sea creatures along one wall. A table near the aquarium was surrounded by several chairs, and it was there Bail guided his guests and his wife before he sat down as well.

Once all were settled, Bail turned to the two Jedi Masters and asked, "Now that we are less likely to be disturbed or overheard, what brings you here, Master Jedi? I assure you that anything you say will not go beyond these walls."

Master Plo nodded, while Eeth said, "A little over a week ago, Darth Maul was revealed to be alive and working with a brother of his, Savage Opress, as I'm sure you know?" to which both Queen and Senator nodded. Eeth continued, "Opress severely wounded Adi Gallia, a Jedi Master and General. She is healing and will survive, but after she was wounded during the fight, the half-Nautolan appeared and defeated not just Opress, but Maul as well. She has bound her life-force to Master Gallia so she could survive her wounds, and we are hoping to learn more about her from another angle now."

The Queen was surprised to hear about what had happened so recently;. At the same time, Bail said, "Please pass along our regards and well-wishes to Master Gallia, Master Koth," the Zabrak nodded. Bail continued with a slight frown, "But I don't understand what this has to do with us. As far as we can tell, the half-Nautolan isn't from Alderaan, so I'm not sure what good it will do for you to come here."

"While the half-Nautolan isn't from here," Master Plo said slowly, "we think the one who trained her to be a Sith hunter is from Alderaan. Her name is Sundali Abazza; she disappeared many years ago, and there has been no sign of her ever since. We hoped that perhaps some clues on her homeworld could lead us to her now. We realize it has been a long time since she was here, but perhaps there is something here."

Bail and his wife had been listening closely, but the moment they heard the name Abazza they exchanged a glance. Once Plo was finished speaking, the Queen turned to the Jedi and said, "I don't know about a Sundali Abazza, but there is a Hulia Abazza that lives nearby. She is a protector of the Isatabith rainforest; she keeps people from interfering with the natural wonder of the forest and looks after the animals that call it home. She has been there longer than I have been Queen, but we have been worried about her in recent years. She is getting older, and her health isn't what it was, but she refuses to leave her home."

Master Plo nodded, while Eeth said, "That is Master Abazza's mother. Do you know anything about her father?" to which the Queen shook her head. Eeth sighed before turning to Master Plo. After a few moments of silent communicating, Eeth turned to the Queen and Bail, "Would it be too much trouble to direct us to her home? We would like to speak to her as soon as possible."

The Queen nodded immediately, "Of course, I will take you there myself. I have been visiting her for the last few months to make sure she is doing alright and try and convince her to live closer to people, if not in the palace itself. She has served her homeworld faithfully for so many years; I would be honored to have her spend the rest of her days here. Give me a few moments to arrange a transport, and we can leave," rising from her chair as the two Jedi and her husband stood as well. Then, she left to make the arrangements, leaving Senator Organa and the two Jedi alone for a few minutes.

Once the door shut, Bail turned to the two Jedi and said, "How does tracking down Master Abazza help you find the half-Nautolan? And why would you do so?"

Master Plo only said, "We think she trained the half-Nautolan to become a Sith hunter, a task that is incredibly difficult to do. As for why….we are hoping that finding the half-Nautolan will reveal answers. Before, we were content to pursue her when the war was progressing smoothly, but now that she has freed the Zygerrian slaves and killed Maul and Opress, we are beginning to think she has a plan as well for the galaxy. We would like to know what it is."

"I see," Bail said softly before saying more loudly, "I wish you luck in that, Master Jedi. And luck speaking with Hulia Abazza. I have only met her once, and I can say with absolute certainty she isn't one to be intimidated or impressed by much of anything. Especially two Jedi Masters. If I am honest, I find her attitude and personality rather refreshing."

Eeth smiled slightly as he and Master Plo followed Bail out of his office and to the hangar where a transport had been arranged. The Queen appeared a few minutes later, dressed in less formal attire. Once the guards had been convinced that the Queen and her husband had enough protection with two Jedi Masters, the transport took off and headed for the Isatabith rain forest.

Arriving there half an hour later, they flew low for a few moments to appreciate the beauty of the forest before reaching the simple home Hulia Abazza kept. Landing in the small meadow in front of the house, the two Jedi were able to appreciate the simplicity of her home as she came out from behind her house. It was a modest dwelling with one floor and several windows. There were a few rooms, and a beautiful lanai served as the front porch. Orchids and plants were kept in pots hanging from the ceiling, and a few animals were dozing on the porch as well.

Eeth smiled to himself; his memory of the last time he had been here wasn't as clear as it used to be, but it looked as though nothing had changed in all that time. The only thing that may have changed was the owner of the home, Eeth realized as he turned to look at Hulia Abazza as she came forward to greet them. She was dressed in a simple tunic and trousers, and her hands were a bit dirty from working the ground.

She was still as tall as she had been years ago, but her red hair had started to turn white, and her features weren't as sharp as they had been in the past. But she and her daughter were nearly identical, now that he thought about it, and her blue eyes were still as keen as ever. She looked over them all with interest before turning to the Queen and saying, "Your Majesty, it is good to see you again," she raised a sardonic eyebrow then, "I think."

The Queen only smiled and said, "Don't worry, Hulia, I am not here to convince you to leave, although I wish you would consider it. We would be more than happy to have you at the palace, and you could still work outside."

Hulia only raised an eyebrow again and said, "I will think about it," before turning to the Jedi and saying, "Eeth Koth, correct?" and the Zabrak nodded. Hulia nodded as well, and her eyes weren't as warm as they had been a few seconds before, "I remember you; you took my daughter to the Temple. And who is your friend here?" looking at Master Plo as she asked this.

"This is Master Plo Koon," Eeth said, "We were hoping to speak with you if it is not too much trouble. It won't take long."

"I doubt that," Hulia said bluntly, "But you are welcome here for as long as you wish to stay. I've just put the kettle on for some tea, so please follow me. I think I would prefer to have this conversation on the back terrace," turning and leading the way back to her house. The Jedi and two humans with them only looked at each other before Bail shrugged and started following Hulia. The Queen and Jedi followed after him and Hulia. The latter led them around the side of her house to the back terrace, which had a small stone fire pit with several chairs and a settee around it.

Hulia gestured at the chairs and settee before disappearing inside her home for a few minutes. When she came back, the Jedi, senator, and queen had settled around the fire pit and were enjoying the day. She had a tray with a few cups on it, which she passed out to them before sitting down. Once they were all seated, she turned to the Jedi and asked, "What brings you here, Master Jedi? It isn't to take another of my children, is it? Not that I have any more to give."

Eeth quickly shook his head, "No, Madame Abazza, we are not. We have questions about the one you gave us, about Sundali. We were hoping you could answer them."

"I don't see how," Hulia said before taking a drink of tea, "I only knew her a few years; you and your Order knew her longer than I did. And please call me Hulia, 'Madame' makes me feel older than I already am."

"As you wish," Master Plo said while Eeth smiled slightly, "And while it may be true we knew her longer than you did, we are not aware of her recent movements. She disappeared years ago, and we are hoping you might know something. If not now, then from when she disappeared."

Hulia glanced at him before looking away, but that was all the proof Master Plo needed, "You do know something, don't you? You know why your daughter disappeared so many years ago, don't you?"

Hulia turned to him then, and Master Plo was almost taken aback by the intensity of her stare, but it didn't last long as the Queen said, "You know they don't want to hurt her, Hulia; they just want to know why she left them. It couldn't have been an easy decision for her; they just want to understand it."

The older woman still said nothing for many long moments before finally saying, "All I know is that I was working in the back when I heard her ship come down in front of my house one day. I didn't know who it was initially and was worried, but I knew exactly who she was after she came out of the cockpit. I don't know how she knew how to find me since I wasn't on Alderaan at the time. I had gone back to my homeworld with my husband, Uranu."

"Your homeworld?" Bail asked, and Hulia froze a moment before turning to him and saying, "I am not from Alderaan originally, Senator. My homeworld, and my husband's, was Mandalore. We were forced to leave many years ago when we were younger, and it is still questionable whether or not it is safe for me to return there. Especially now that Death Watch has a somewhat established presence on the planet."

The revelation that Alderaan wasn't her homeworld was a surprise to the Queen and the senator, but the Jedi got over it a bit more quickly than they did, with Eeth asking, "Why were you forced to leave?"

"I got pregnant," Hulia said as she turned to Eeth, "My husband, Uranu, was from a rival clan and house. We were never supposed to meet as friends, and yet, not only did we meet as friends, we became lovers. When I found out I was pregnant with his child, I knew we would have to leave. It meant leaving everything and everyone I knew behind, and it likely wouldn't have happened without my mother. Mandalore was still a warrior planet at that time, with various clans and factions fighting each other, so getting away was difficult. I remember fighting my way through the warriors of my clan to get to Uranu, my mother right beside me before she fell. But her sacrifice allowed me to escape and start a new life, far away from Mandalore, with Uranu and our daughter. Until you came and took her, which I don't regret. The Jedi could give her what we could not; we were barely out of being children ourselves and were in no position to raise a child. I know that."

Eeth nodded, while Master Plo asked, "And yet you were on Mandalore when your daughter found you?" trying to understand the puzzle pieces that made up this story.

Hulia nodded, "Yes, I was, specifically Kalevala. That is where my house is from," seeing how Bail was looking at her, she turned and nodded again, "Yes, Senator, I am of House Kryze, like Duchess Satine and her siblings. They are my distant cousins, actually. Bo-Katan was the only one to stand by me when I left Kalevala, and her brother has kept his home open to me whenever I wish to visit. Satine never believed in the warrior ways of our people, but I did for a long time. I still do; and will fight with everything I have to defend not just my home but my family as well."

Bail nodded slowly to that, understanding the Mandalorian way was not something easily turned away from, while Eeth asked gently, "Why did your daughter seek you out so long ago?" hoping to prod the story out of her and knowing if they pushed too hard she may shut them down and ask them to leave.

Hulia turned to him and said, "I don't know entirely. I didn't know then, and I don't entirely know now." The Jedi could sense she was telling the truth as she continued, "When she arrived, I was surprised to see her and more surprised at the state of her ship. She was wounded slightly but wouldn't say anything until she had calmed down and her injuries were tended to. Once she had settled, I asked her what had happened, but she wouldn't give me a straight answer. She just said she had been attacked after completing a Jedi mission, shot at by a strange craft while leaving the planet and only just escaping. She knew why it had happened, but not by who, and she wouldn't explain why it happened no matter how much I pressed. Her father came in then and was surprised to see her, just as I was, but then she told us we had to leave Kalevala again. I could see that she was afraid for us and was terrified whoever had come after her would come after us. Uranu didn't want to leave; he wanted to fight in the war against the New Mandalorian movement, but Sundali convinced him to leave. We left that night and returned here, where we have stayed ever since until Uranu died a few years ago," looking over at an old tree on the edge of the meadow behind the house. Under the tree was a small headstone and grave. Even from this distance, the Jedi and Alderaanians could just see a sigil carved into the rock, a sigil of the house Uranu had called his own in his life.

Her story finished, Hulia turned back to the Jedi, waiting for them to speak. Finally, Master Plo said, "You truly don't know why there was someone after her or what they wanted with her?"

Hulia shook her head, "No, I don't. I tried to get her to tell me, but she refused and was too stubborn to listen. When I told her to go back to the Jedi and tell them what had happened so you could help her, she told me she couldn't go back and had to disappear. She said there was nothing the Jedi could do for her and no way for you to protect her. Whatever was after her was more powerful than you could fight, she thought, and so she decided she had to leave and strike out on her own. I wish I knew what had been after her, but I still don't know. Even after all these years, I don't know."

Master Plo looked at Eeth, who looked back at him, wondering the same thing: could it have been a Sith that was after her?

Turning back to the conversation at hand, they heard Bail say to Hulia, "You are from Mandalore and were trained as a warrior, but I don't think I have ever seen that side of you. We practice peace here on Alderaan, and so do you, from what I can see. You have never used a weapon or shown yourself capable of fighting the entire time you have been here. You look after the animals and the forest and protect it, but I have never seen you as a warrior."

"Don't let looks deceive you, Senator," Hulia said with a bit of warning in her voice, "I practice my drills every morning, still, and stay in fighting form. I may not be as young as I used to be, but I can and will give a good account of myself. I will fight to protect my own and die if necessary. All that matters to me is protecting that which I think is mine. Be it this forest or my family."

Bail nodded, but Eeth was only half listening to this part of the conversation. Something about the way Hulia was speaking wasn't settling with him. It wasn't that she was lying; it was something else. She wasn't speaking in riddles and was answering honestly, but she was also hiding something from him and Master Plo. After a few minutes, he thought he knew what it was, but the Queen was speaking, and he decided to wait for the right moment to ask his question.

"….still have your armor? From Mandalore?" the Queen asked, to which Hulia nodded and stood up, beckoning them to follow her. They all did, following her inside her home. It was modest on the inside and comfortable, with the kitchen leading to the outside and flowing into a simple dining room. A small office and living area were accessible from there, and the door to the front was visible in the living area. A few bedrooms were accessed by a long hallway and leading them to her room, Hulia led them straight to her closet. Opening the door revealed a full suit of Mandalorian armor, complete with the helmet. The blasters and jet pack were there, and all were polished and well-kept. The armor itself was made of pure beskar, the helmet decorated with the symbol of House Kryze, leaving the Queen surprised. She shook her head before turning to Hulia, "I wasn't aware of your past, Hulia, and I wish you had told me the truth."

Hulia shrugged as she shut the door to her closet, "It wouldn't have changed anything, Your Majesty. My warrior days are almost behind me," leading the way back to the back terrace, "A few more years, my armor will pass to someone else in my family and clan, and I hope they bring themselves great honor wearing it," sitting back down around the fire pit with the others.

That was the opening Eeth had been looking for, and he asked, "Where is your daughter, Hulia?" she froze then before looking at him, and he continued, "You know where she is, don't you? You have always known?"

Hulia stared at him before suddenly breaking into laughter and surprising everyone there. After a few minutes, she was able to calm down and say breathlessly, "I'm sorry, I'm not laughing at you specifically. I'm laughing at the Jedi Order in general. For all its talk about being all-seeing and all-knowing, you certainly don't know much about those who serve the Order. You really don't know where she is?"

"That is why we are here," Master Plo said seriously, "We are looking for her now, which we should have done more carefully when she first disappeared. And we need your help. If you know where she is, you have to tell us now! We need to find her!"

The Mandalorian warrior stared at him before saying softly, "You really don't know, do you?" she leaned forward then, staring him dead in the eye, "She sat where you sit now three days ago. You just missed her."

On Coruscant, Obi-Wan had finally had a moment to check on Master Gallia. It had taken a few days for him to rest and recover from the fight on Florrum, and he would be the first to admit he had been using his last reserves of strength and energy during the debrief after the battle. And Master Gallia had needed those few days to rest and start to heal. But now, Master Nema had sent word to him that she was ready for visitors again, so he was taking the opportunity to see how she was doing.

She, along with Qui-Gon, had trained him and his friend Siri to become Jedi Knights, and he had found himself wondering what it would have been like in the Temple without her certain confidence and calm demeanor.

It was almost terrifying to think about how close her life had come to being cut short by Opress.

Arriving at the medical center, he nodded at Master Nema, who nodded back and smiled in the direction of the door leading to the inner room. He entered and walked over to Master Gallia, who had made some progress over the last few days and was now staring out the open window at the air taxis and transports flying past the Temple. She turned when he sat down next to her bed, smiling slightly when she saw who it was, "Obi-Wan, it is good to see you."

"And you, Master," Obi-Wan said softly with a smile, "I'm glad to see you recovering."

Adi nodded slowly before saying, "I wish I could understand all that is happening, but I can't. I have been trying to make sense of it, but I still can't."

Obi-Wan cocked his head, "What are you trying to make sense of?"

Adi shook her head before saying softly, "I can feel her presence in my mind, Obi-Wan," causing Obi-Wan to stare at her, "I can feel the half-Nautolan's presence in my mind. She isn't doing anything, isn't causing any harm; she's just there. It's been receding over the last few days as I've gotten stronger. It's been getting quieter and quieter, like she is fading away. And it leaves me with many questions."

"What kind of questions?" a new voice asked, and Obi-Wan turned to see that Mace and Yoda had arrived as well and were walking over. Adi shook her head again, "Confusing questions, Master. Remember when we went to Korriban early in the war and found it changed?"

Both Mace and Yoda nodded at that, and Adi continued, "While we were there and were looking at the white tree, I felt a presence that I had felt before, I think. From so long ago, the memory doesn't exist, but I recognized that presence. And now, with the half-Nautolan taking up residence in my mind and keeping me alive, I feel her presence. It is the same as the one on Korriban, but also different. I don't understand it."

Obi-Wan started stroking his beard in thought while Mace said, "There are many questions we don't understand about this young woman, and you have added a few more to the list, Master Gallia. But don't concern yourself with it too much. Focus on healing and recovering your strength, and hopefully, we will have a few more answers soon. Masters Plo and Koth are looking into the disappearance of Master Abazza as we speak. She is a missing link in all of this, I know it, so hopefully, they will find some answers that will help us."

Adi only shook her head, "It will be hard to do with her in my mind, Master. She isn't doing anything, isn't influencing my thoughts or speaking with me; she's just there. It's rather unsettling, and my defenses are no match for her. I think she hasn't intruded more than she has already because she doesn't want to and would think it rude. Once I have recovered my strength enough, she will leave, and there will be no way to find her through me. I have tried to get her to speak to me, but she won't. It is a strange feeling, having a foreign presence in your mind that doesn't wish you harm."

"Certain of that, you are, Master Gallia?" Yoda asked softly, and she turned to him as best she could, wincing as the stitches pulled a little, "Yes, Master Yoda, I don't think she intends to hurt me. She has been unbinding her life-force from mine as I've gotten stronger, but she is doing it slowly and gently so that it doesn't shock my body or spirit too much. I don't think she wants to hurt me; otherwise, she wouldn't have saved my life and gone to such extremes to keep me alive."

Yoda nodded slowly, but before he could say anything else, Master Gallia leaned back into the pillow and said tiredly, "Unfortunately, she does have some power over my will right now and pushes me to rest when I don't want to. I don't have the strength to fight it, yet," her voice becoming quieter as her eyes drifted shut despite her struggle to keep them open.

Obi-Wan smiled at that, "She may be right, Master Gallia. Get some rest and recover your strength," watching as she lost the fight to stay awake and slid into a deep sleep. Once certain she wouldn't wake, he gently placed her lightsaber on the small table beside her bed before getting up and leaving the room with Mace and Yoda. Once outside, he turned to them and said, "This half-Nautolan may be more of an issue than we thought if she can exercise her will over a Jedi. If she can do this with a Jedi as weakened as Master Gallia, what could she do with one at full strength? Could she force her own will on that Jedi entirely?"

"I don't know, Obi-Wan," Mace said as they left the medical center, "but it is a concerning thought. We will have to take more precautions with her, but I think she is more concerned about Master Gallia surviving. Perhaps she will leave the rest of us alone or at least respect our personal boundaries enough to not cross them."

"I guess we will find out," Obi-Wan said as they started walking towards the communication center, "I'm starting to get annoyed with all the waiting we have to do regarding this half-Nautolan, though. It is a disconcerting thought to know she is out there, somewhere, and is that powerful."

Mace nodded, while Yoda only shook his head as he went with them, wondering what would happen next and how the hunt for Master Abazza was going. Masters Plo and Koth were due to check in soon, and hopefully, they would have some answers.

It was completely silent around the fire pit as Hulia stared at Master Plo. Even Bail and the Queen were shocked to hear the news Sundali had been on the planet so recently. Eeth was just as shocked, not expecting that news so suddenly.

Or the news they had been too late to find Master Abazza there.

Finally, Master Plo asked softly, "She was here?"

Hulia nodded as she sat back in her chair, looking like she was almost enjoying surprising a Jedi again, "Yes, she was. She has been visiting, off and on, for many years. I have never been able to figure out what she is doing or where she is going, but she has always come by. The last few years, she has been doing what you are doing, Your Majesty," turning to the Queen, "trying to convince me to move closer to Aldera and the palace, just so that there is someone to look after me and keep an eye out for me. I think it is because she is being hunted again, like she was all those years ago. By whom I don't know, still, and I don't know why, but I could see her fear every time she came. When she came three days ago, that fear was so real she was jumping at every sound, and was more insistent that I leave. So insistent that I think I will take her advice and leave now. Perhaps for Aldera, perhaps not. I haven't fully decided yet."

"You would be welcome in the palace, Hulia," the Queen said, to which Hulia asked, "Will my armor be welcome, Your Majesty? It is part of who I am, and I am never parted from it for long. Whatever is going on with my daughter that makes her so fearful that she feels she can't go to the Jedi for help and fears for my safety means that I would rather have it near me, even though I respect the fact Alderaan is meant to be a place of beauty and learning, not war and fighting."

The Queen exchanged a glance with her husband before turning to the Jedi and looking at them a moment. Seeing Eeth's barely hidden concern for Hulia's safety, the queen nodded to herself before turning back to Hulia and saying, "Your armor may come as well, Hulia. I don't like it; Alderaan is a planet of peace, not war, but I will accept it if you come to the palace. Your daughter must have a good reason for wanting you to be closer to people; if it means your armor must come with you for that to happen, then so be it. I hope you don't have to use it, though."

Hulia bowed her head, "I will be at the palace in a few days, Your Majesty; you have my word on that. I just need to shut up my house, get everything settled, and pack a few things. If Sundali does come while I am gone from here, I want to leave her a message to let her know where I have gone. She does know the ancient language of Concordia; I will code it in that language so she knows it is from me."

Having agreed to that, she turned to the Jedi, and Master Koth said, "I'm glad to see you taking this path, Hulia, but there is one more thing I have to ask: do you know where your daughter is going? You must have some idea. Even if it is true and we couldn't protect her back then, perhaps talking with her now will let us know if we can protect her now."

Hulia stared at him for a few moments before saying softly, "Kalevala, she is heading for Kalevala. Our kin in House Kryze always welcomes her whenever she visits. I don't know if she will still be there, and there is the fact the Death Watch may have moved to Kalevala to take over House Kryze and strengthen their hold on the Mandalore system. I can't say for certain if that is the case, but watch yourselves when you go there. I will see if I can get a message to my kin there before you arrive so that they will expect you with open arms, not blasters. While Satine rejected the warrior ways of the past, recent events have forced many in the Mandalore system to take up arms again to fight against Death Watch. They may try and shoot you down if you come unannounced."

"We appreciate that," Master Plo said as they all stood up and started getting ready to leave. The Queen said, "We will come and get you in a few days, Hulia, and help you bring your things to the palace."

"I will be waiting," Hulia said as she led them through her house and out the front to the transport. Once there, she added, "It was interesting to see you again, Master Koth, and nice to meet you, Master Plo. It's not every day I get so many exciting visitors all in one day, so please visit again when things have calmed down. I think we could have a very interesting conversation about the future of Mandalore and the galaxy one day," smiling as she said this.

"Perhaps we will," Eeth said as they boarded the transport. A few minutes later, they were taking off and heading back for the palace, watching as the figure of Hulia Abazza and her home got smaller and smaller. Once back at the palace, Bail turned to the Jedi and said, "Well….that was an interesting excursion. I never would have guessed that Hulia was a Mandalorian, much less a warrior. She hides it well," as they got off the transport and headed for the Jedi's ship which had been refueled and was ready to go.

"We never truly know someone, Senator," Master Plo said as they stopped outside the ship, "And that has become more than clear now with Master Abazza," turning to the Queen, he added, "Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty."

The Queen bowed her head to the Jedi, "It was a pleasure, Master Jedi. We will let you know when Hulia gets here, and I hope you successfully track her daughter down and figure out why she has stayed away from you for so long."

"Thank you, Your Majesty," Eeth said as Master Plo boarded the shuttle, "We will see you in a few days," boarding the ship as well.

A few minutes later, the ship took off and headed for the atmosphere, and once out in space, the two Jedi sent a transmission to the Temple. Once it was secure, the two Jedi were greeted by the hologram image of Yoda and Mace, along with Obi-Wan, who asked, "Master Plo, Master Koth, have you learned anything new?"

"You could say that," Eeth said, quickly relaying all they had learned from Hulia Abazza and ending with, "It seems Master Abazza is heading for Kalevala. We are on our way there to see if we can catch up with her. If not, we still may be able to learn where she is headed next."

"Very well," Mace said, "Masters Kenobi and Skywalker, along with Padawan Tano, are heading out to investigate a transmission that has been intercepted in the Chrelythiumn system. We can't determine why the call was made or from where. But there is a Jedi distress code that hasn't been used in over two thousand years embedded in the message."

"Perhaps it is Master Abazza?" Eeth ventured to ask, but Mace shook his head, "We don't think so. But it could be a Separatist trap, so an armed cruiser is meeting them there. If it is Master Abazza, we will let you know. In the meantime, go to Kalevala and see what you can learn. We will be waiting for any news you can share."

The two Jedi nodded and as the transmission ended, looking at each other for a brief moment before Master Plo set the coordinates for the Mandalore system and Kalevala, heading for whatever answers could be found there.

Back on Alderaan, night had fallen a few hours ago as Hulia got her house ready for her to leave after sending a message to her kin on Kalevala to expect the Jedi. Even though she had promised to finally move closer to Aldera, she still was unsure about the idea. She enjoyed her solitude and knew the queen wasn't pleased about the idea of her armor coming with her. But there was no other option; either her armor went with her, or she didn't go at all. That was all there was to it.

The sound of a ship landing in her front yard caught her attention, and Hulia went to her bedroom window to see who it was. The Queen wasn't returning for a few days, so whoever this was was uninvited. Watching the ramp descend and the door open, Hulia felt fear for the first time in a long while as she saw black-cowled figures leave the ship and start heading for her house. They began igniting lightsabers, blades as red as blood as they got closer. Seeing this, Hulia immediately ran for her closet, yanking the door open and reaching for her armor.

Whoever these people were, they weren't taking her without a fight.

Mystery on Mortis! Sent to discover the origin of a mysterious distress call, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and his Padawan Ahsoka Tano are stranded on a distant planet. There, they discover three beings more powerful with the Force than any Jedi have seen before. The Father keeps a fragile balance between his Daughter, who allies with the light side, and the Son, who drifts ever closer to the dark. With his strength failing, the Father asks Anakin to stay and take his place, preserving the balance between light and dark. But after passing a perilous test, Skywalker refuses. Now we find our heroes about to depart for their journey home, or so they think….

Arriving at Kalevala, Eeth Koth and Plo Koon were able to easily find their way to House Kryze's headquarters. It was a somewhat sprawling compound, and as they approached for a landing, they were surprised and a little concerned to see people dressed in the armor of Mandalore waiting for them. Exchanging a glance, the two Jedi nonetheless landed their shuttle, shutting down the engines and leaving the ship, warily watching the warriors watching them. The warriors didn't take their helmets off and didn't attack, they just stood there watching the two Jedi, and the tension started to build.

Just went it felt like it would boil over and things would come to a head; as the warriors were starting to get a little anxious, a figure started walking through the crowd, and the warriors made way for her. Seeing who it was, the two Jedi were able to relax slightly: it was Bo-Katan Kryze, leader of the Nite Owls and the resistance against Death Watch. Reaching them, she said, "Master Jedi, welcome to Kalevala and House Kryze. If you would follow me, we can get this over with as soon as possible," turning slightly and beckoning them to follow her.

The two Jedi followed her while the warriors closed ranks behind them, a few walking with them while others continued their training and drills. It was silent for a few moments before Eeth finally said, "Has there been any word from your sister, Lady Kryze, since she was forced to leave Mandalore?"

Bo-Katan looked behind her then and said, "No, there hasn't. We don't know where she is sending her transmissions from, but they keep coming, and the people respond to them and join our side more and more every day. Maybe not to fight for some, but they help us in our attacks when they happen."

Eeth nodded while Master Plo said, "I am sorry that your planet has had to return to its warrior ways. I remember coming here and seeing the people content. I hope those days come again."

"We will survive, Master Jedi; we always have," Bo-Katan said softly as she led them to the far side of the compound, where there was a small garden area. Reaching here, she nodded to the warriors who had followed them, who stopped walking but stayed nearby. Once out of earshot of the warriors, Bo-Katan turned to the Jedi and said, "I got the message from Hulia Abazza a few hours ago that you were coming; otherwise, the reception would have been a bit warmer. She said you were looking for her daughter, Sundali?"

The two Jedi nodded, with Master Plo saying, "Yes, we are. Hulia said she was heading here, and we are hoping she is still here. Sundali was a Jedi before she left the Order; we just want to know why she left and what it could mean now. If we can offer her the protection she feels she needs, we will do so."

Bo-Katan nodded slowly before saying, "I honestly don't know why she left the Jedi when she needed the Order most. Say what you like about the Jedi, and I happen to say a lot, but you are skilled warriors and more than capable of protecting her. I do know that when she came here the first time, my siblings and I were younger than her, so she did reveal a few things to us that she didn't reveal to her parents. She probably didn't want to worry them. She told me she had a place in mind where she could be safe, a place no one could find her, but only she and a few others knew where it was. She called it Home Base, saying it could only be found by those who knew where it was. She also told me, in secret, that she was going there because she needed help with something the Jedi couldn't understand. She didn't tell me what that was, and I didn't ask. I was barely out of being a child myself, after all."

Master Plo nodded slowly while Eeth cocked his head and asked, "Is she still here, Lady Kryze? We want to help her now, if she will let us."

Bo-Katan actually looked sympathetic for a moment before saying, "She left yesterday, heading for Mustafar she said. I honestly don't believe that, but there is a small base House Kryze maintains there she knows about. I don't think that is the Home Base she was talking about since everyone of our house knows it's there, but there may be a clue there for you. And if you see my sister there, can you tell her to send a message to me just to let me know she is safe? I'm worried about where she could be and just want to make sure she is alright."

"If she is there, we will do so," Master Plo promised, while Eeth said, "Is there anything you can tell us about Sundali now that would be of use? We haven't seen or heard from her in several decades; we aren't entirely sure what to expect from her now."

Bo-Katan thought a moment before saying, "She is a rather skilled warrior, and coming here has only honed her skills over the last few years. She is much more likely to kill now than before, and she is skilled at not just hand-to-hand combat and a lightsaber but with a blaster and sniper rifle as well. I don't know who taught her the rifle, because it wasn't us. But she is incredibly skilled with it and more than capable of fighting just about anything that comes her way. Be careful; she packs quite a punch," reaching up and rubbing her chin slightly with a small smile, "We spared when she arrived, and she can still beat me. I don't think that is ever going to change."

"That is good to know," Eeth said with the slightest tinge of sarcasm in his voice, making Bo-Katan smile slightly while Master Plo said, "We should head to Mustafar as soon as we can. We may be able to catch her if we are quick enough."

Eeth nodded and turned to Bo-Katan, saying, "Thank you for telling us this, Lady Kryze; we will leave now and let you get back to freeing your world. I wish you success on that front, and a return to prosperous days for your people."

Master Plo nodded in agreement, while Bo-Katan only said, "When Mandalore is free of Death Watch, and the people can choose how they live their lives, we will know it has been a success. But thank you for your words, and good luck to you finding my kinswoman. Sundali is smart and tough, and if she feels the need to protect herself and those with her, watch out. She becomes fiercer than a Mandalorian warrior of old when that happens. Even if those she is fighting were her friends and allies at one point," the warning more than clear to the two Jedi.

Eeth and Plo both heard it and bowed their heads, following Bo-Katan back to their shuttle and taking off again, heading for the fiery world of Mustafar and wondering what would be waiting for them when they finally arrived there.

Hopefully, it would be Sundali Abazza, well and alive, willing to let them help her.

Back in the Temple, Adi seemed to be sleeping soundly, but her dreams were troubled by images she couldn't understand.

Fire….death….destruction...a green lightsaber descending to block a blow that would have killed her….a starless night overhead as a home burned….figures fighting with everything they had to survive….

Adi's head tossed and turned on the pillow, her dreams becoming more vivid and more real as time went on.

Another lightsaber, a red lightsaber, descended on a fallen figure….no hesitation….pain as she took the blow and ended her own life….falling into the abyss of death before flying into the Force….

She woke up with a gasp, breathing heavily as she tried to sit up before the pain drove her back down. She just lay there, trying to get her breathing to settle as she ran a shaking hand over her sweat-beaded forehead. Whatever she saw in her dreams still haunted her, the sounds and screams of the dead and dying not leaving her mind as she tried to settle herself. After a few seconds, she was able to do so, feeling the half-Nautolan's presence in her mind return a bit stronger and banish those memories and sounds away from her, making her realize those memories weren't hers.

They were the half-Nautolan's. Why she was seeing them, she didn't know, and she couldn't understand what they meant, but she wanted to find out. But just as she was reaching for those memories wishing to understand and see them again, a barrier came up in her mind that she couldn't get over or past, leaving her beyond frustrated.

"Why are you doing this to me?" Adi whispered softly, "Why are you showing me these things? Why are you helping? What do I mean to you?" there was no answer, no response, and Adi tried again, "Won't you answer me at all?"

Still, there was no response, and Adi finally lay back and let out a sigh as she stared at the night-darkened ceiling above her. After a few moments, she turned her attention inwards and was surprised to feel the half-Nautolan was still there but fading away even more. As she focused on her, Adi could feel her spirit unbinding from hers and leaving her slowly, making sure she was strong enough to survive on her own. Feeling that and knowing there was nothing else for her to do, the half-Nautolan's presence faded away completely, leaving Adi feeling somewhat hollow.

Turning to the window, she looked out at the night sky and the stars that were just visible through the bright lights of Coruscant, wondering what world those images had come from and if it was a place she had been to before.

Had she lied when she said she had never met the half-Nautolan before? Had they indeed met, and she just didn't know it?

Why couldn't she figure out these questions, and what did it mean she couldn't?

When Master Nema came to check on her the following day, she found Adi was still awake and staring out the window. Seeing this, Rig immediately felt some concern, and it was heightened when Adi said quietly, "She's gone. The half-Nautolan's gone," sounding rather upset about the entire thing.

Rig smiled softly, "Then you are strong enough to heal on your own, Master Gallia. You no longer need her to keep you alive. That is good news," as she sat down next to Adi's bed.

Adi nodded slowly before saying, "I feel strange, without her there. For the last week almost, she has been there, keeping me alive and keeping me company, even if she never said a word. But last night, my dreams were strange, but they were hers. I don't understand what is happening," voice fading away as she shut her eyes, thoroughly exhausted and having not slept the entire night but refusing to do so now.

Seeing this, Rig was justifiably concerned. Healing was a difficult thing, and it required the right amount of sleep, but Adi clearly hadn't given herself any if she had been woken by strange dreams that weren't her own in the middle of the night. Noticing how she was forcibly keeping herself from sleeping, jerking herself awake, and forcing her eyes to stay open, Rig decided there was only one thing she could do. Adi wouldn't appreciate it, but she needed rest in order to heal. And the drugs would guarantee a dreamless sleep.

Glancing at Adi and seeing she was still lost in her own mind for the moment, Rig typed a few commands into her handheld computer that she carried with her at all times. This computer allowed her to check the vitals of any patient under her charge and distribute drugs as needed if they were already hung for the patient. Looking up, Rig watched the drugs take effect, and a few moments later, Adi was sleeping deeply. Once certain she was asleep, Rig reached out and rested a hand on her forehead, using the Force to nudge her mind into a deeper sleep that left no room for dreams or nightmares.

As she was doing this, she could feel the half-Nautolan come back and check on Adi, but seeing nothing else she could do, the half-Nautolan retreated, leaving Rig to wonder why she was so concerned. Adi wasn't part of the Conspiracy as far as she knew, and there was no reason for the half-Nautolan to care as much as she did, yet she did and wouldn't tell anyone why. Master Fisto knew, but he refused to say as well. Whatever secret they were keeping must be important, and Rig hoped they would tell Adi soon, if only to grant her some peace of mind from the questions she wasn't being allowed to find answers for.

Shaking her head and standing up, Rig left the inner room, turning back to look at Adi's sleeping form one more time. She looked rather….small, for lack of a better word, with all those bandages around her midsection and too weak to leave the bed.

Hopefully, this enforced sleep would give her some peace for a little while.

Finally reaching Mustafar, Eeth and Plo quickly found the base Bo-Katan said belonged to her house. Reaching the landing platform and touching down, the two Jedi were quick to leave the shuttle and look around the outside. Finding nothing seemingly out of place but a ship on another platform, the two Jedi headed inside, looking around carefully before heading deeper into the building. They explored each room carefully, finding a kitchen, living area, sitting room, office, and a few bedrooms. There was also a fully equipped medical center and equipment shed for ships that needed repairs but no sign of life.

At least that was what it seemed like to the two Jedi as they looked around even more and found one more bedroom, almost by accident. This room had been recently occupied, and as they looked around, Eeth noticed something and tapped Plo on the shoulder. The Kel Dor Jedi looked at him, and Eeth pointed at a nearby desk. Plo looked and immediately saw what Eeth had noticed: there, on the table, was a mug of tea Jedi were fond of, Gatalentan tea. Steam was still coming from the liquid, making the Jedi realize someone was still there. Reaching out with the Force, Eeth tried to find the person, or at least their presence.

Seconds later, they were running, racing after the presence they felt getting farther and farther away from them. This presence was running fast and already ahead of them, so by the time they made it to the landing platform, they were confronted by the sight of a third ship they hadn't known about taking off and leaving the planet. Reaching out with the Force, Eeth could feel a familiar presence and said, "Master Abazza is on that ship, I know it! Let's go!" turning to Plo as he said this.

Master Plo was already at their ship, but as Eeth approached, he turned around to reveal a lightsaber slash right through the aft engine. Seeing this, Eeth frowned and said, "She sabotaged our ship to ground us. What is going on?" as he looked out at the other ship that was gaining altitude and leaving the planet's atmosphere. As they watched it disappear, Master Plo said, "I don't know what is going on, but we will need another way off this planet now. The shuttle is damaged beyond whatever repairs we can make here."

Eeth nodded before looking around. Seeing the other ship on the landing platform nearby, he turned to Master Plo, seeing the same idea in his mind. They ran over to the ship and climbed aboard, looking around quickly before heading for the bridge. The ship was a smaller version of a Mandalorian cruiser and was capable of more agile flight and maneuverability. It also functioned perfectly, with Master Plo saying, "This ship has been kept in good repair. And the coordinates it was headed for are already programmed into the hyperdrive."

"Where are we going?" Eeth asked as he sat down in the copilot's seat, knowing Master Plo was the better pilot.

"Concord Dawn," Master Plo said as he fired up the engines, and a few minutes later, they were heading for the atmosphere. Once clear of the atmosphere, Eeth sent a message to a nearby Republic fleet to pick up the damaged shuttle for repairs. After that, they entered hyperspace, wondering what they would find at their destination, if anything.

Stranded! Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and his Padawan Ahsoka Tano are caught in the middle of a treacherous battle between good and evil. The scales now tip toward the dark side. Our three warriors must guard against attack as they plan their escape. A great weight has been placed on Anakin's shoulders, for it is now that he must face who he really is….

Arriving at Concord Dawn, the two Jedi weren't surprised to see their journey had led them to a planet near Mandalore. The planet itself looked as though it had been through a war, with almost a third of it as asteroid debris around the planet.

But that wasn't what caught the attention of the two Jedi.

Their attention was focused on the ship that was arriving just as they were. It was the same ship that had been on Mustafar, and reaching out with the Force, Eeth was able to sense the presence he had felt on Mustafar.

"I think she's here, on that ship," Eeth said as he pointed at the ship, making Master Plo fire up the transmitter and try and establish communication with the other ship.

Nothing.

Wondering if the transmitter was working properly, Master Plo tried again, with the same results. Before he could try a third time, the other ship shot off, racing through the asteroid field and heading for the far side of the planet. The two Jedi raced after it, but Master Plo had to slow down quite a bit because of the field. He wasn't familiar with the asteroids or their layout, while the pilot of the other ship clearly was. As they watched, the other ship disappeared into hyperspace, leaving the two Jedi behind and wondering what was going on.

Eeth shook his head, "Every time, without fail, that we get close to Master Abazza, she runs. Why is that? She must know we are Jedi, and I know she knows what my presence feels like, so why does she stay away from us?" turning to Master Plo as he said this.

Master Plo was silent for a few moments before saying, "I don't think the answer is a simple one. Perhaps whatever she is afraid of is significant enough that she won't let us get close enough to find out what it is. Perhaps running for so long has made it impossible for her to trust anyone, even us. I remember her as being independent and free-spirited; she won't accept help easily from us."

"Maybe," Eeth said, thinking for a few moments before saying, "Shall we go down to the surface and see what she wanted here? We may not be able to find her, but maybe we can find out what she was planning on doing here."

Master Plo nodded, but before they could start heading down to the planet's surface, the transmitter received a transmission. Looking at each other for a moment, Master Plo accepted the transmission and was somewhat disappointed when he saw it was Commander Wolffe, having secretly hoped it was Master Abazza. The clone only said, "Sir, we have an urgent request for your presence coming through from Alderaan. The Queen insists on speaking with you, in person, on Alderaan. She says it is urgent."

Eeth shook his head while Master Plo asked, "It can't wait? We are in the middle of an investigation."

Wolffe only said, "She requests your presence now, sir, and refused to accept that you were busy. She wants you to return to Alderaan, immediately."

"Very well," Master Plo said, "We will be there as soon as possible; send us the coordinates where she wants to meet us."

"Yes, sir," the clone commander said and ended the transmission. Turning to Eeth, Master Plo said, "The Queen wouldn't want us there unless it was an emergency. Perhaps something has gone wrong, and Hulia decided she doesn't want to leave. The Queen may need help getting her to Aldera."

Eeth only nodded silently, knowing there was nothing else they could do but head for Alderaan. Arriving there the next night, they immediately traveled to where Hulia had made her home. But something wasn't right, and Eeth said as much, "There's a lot of smoke coming from the clearing. Something's wrong!"

Master Plo agreed and pushed the ship a little faster, landing a few moments later on the outskirts of the clearing, the two Jedi disembarking immediately and taking in all that was left.

There wasn't much, Eeth realized as they looked around. The entire area was illuminated by spotlights, which revealed the smoking ruins of Hulia's home. Small fires were still being put out by the Alderaanian guards scattered about. As they approached, the two Jedi were greeted by Senator Organa and the Queen. The queen said, "Thank you for coming so quickly, Master Jedi. We weren't sure if you would."

"You said it was an emergency, Your Majesty," Master Plo said before looking around, "What happened here?"

The Queen shook her head while Bail said, "We're not entirely sure. We arrived here a few days ago to find the house burned to the ground and Hulia Abazza gone. We're not sure what happened to her, but there are a few bloodstains in the house and on the grounds. Whatever happened, I don't think she went down without a fight."

The Jedi were slightly heartened to hear this, but before they could truly look through the wreckage, a guard called out, "Your Majesty, I found something!" causing the four of them to join the guard, who said, "It seems the owner of this house had surveillance equipment set up, not just in the house but around the grounds as well. The footage was saved on a different server so that if the cameras inside the house were destroyed, the information would still be safe. Give me a few moments, and I will see what there is," turning back to the computer he had with him and plugging the server into it. He started accessing the codes, and after a few minutes, the footage was ready.

They all started watching, and after only a few minutes, the two Jedi looked at each other, seeing the same realization in their eyes.

They needed to tell the Council about this, right away.

Arriving back at the Temple, after assuring the Queen and Senator Organa that they would do everything they could to find Hulia, the two Jedi were quick to get to the Council room, arriving there just as Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Ahsoka were delivering their report on what had happened on Mortis. Eeth and Plo took their seats quietly, and waited as patiently as they could for their turn to speak, which came soon enough as Mace turned to them and asked, "Were you able to track down Master Abazza?"

"Not entirely, Master Windu," Eeth said, "We caught up to her on Mustafar briefly, but she got away after destroying one of the engines on the shuttle. She escaped on a different ship before we could see her, and we were able to follow her to Concord Dawn. There was a third ship on Mustafar, already programmed to go there, and when we arrived, we saw the ship she had escaped in. But she knew the area, and knew the asteroid field surrounding Concord Dawn, and was able to escape again. Before we could go after her, we were called back to Alderaan by the Queen."

"Why?" Anakin asked, to which Master Plo replied, "Master Abazza's mother is a Mandalorian warrior, and a skilled fighter. We didn't know this until we spoke to her and she told us about her past, but when we arrived back at her home when the Queen sent for us, we arrived to find her home destroyed and her missing. Until then, we knew she was a warrior, but even she admitted her days of fighting were mostly behind her. But after seeing her house, I don't think she was completely honest with us."

"Why do you say that?" Mace asked, "What happened?"

"It would be easier to show you, Master," Eeth replied as he stood up and brought forth a small data card, "She had surveillance set up in and around her home and recorded this," starting the recording and revealing a hologram. He sat down then, and the Jedi were treated to the sight of a woman in full Mandalorian armor shooting with deadly precision at cloaked and hooded beings dressed in black. They were wielding lightsabers and deflecting the bolts, but the warrior kept firing until they were too close. Only then did she leap into the air, her jet pack taking her higher still and giving her the altitude she needed to fire at them from above.

The beings weren't expecting that and two of them died, making the others more incensed. They leaped into the air after her, but she only ignited a flamethrower on her wrist gauntlet and burned another one. She fell back to the ground then and started firing poisoned darts, hitting another, before activating her left vambrace. Out of that vambrace flew twelve individual munitions, and they made the sound of whistling birds as they hit their targets.

The Mandalorian warrior kept fighting, slowly whittling down the numbers of those fighting her from seven, to five, to four, to one. This one only retreated a few paces before charging back in, his lightsaber swinging about his wrist, but the warrior was ready. She raised her arm as the lightsaber hit it, but her arm wasn't severed. Her armor had stopped it and deflected the blow, sending her assailant back a few steps. He shook his head and attacked again, but she only drew a short knife from her belt and threw it at him, the knife hitting him in the heart and killing him.

The warrior stayed where she was for a few moments, the dead around her, before she looked up as more cloaked figures approached. She seemed to stare at them a moment before drawing herself up to her full height, and the Jedi were treated to the sight of a veteran Mandalorian warrior fighting with everything she had.

But it wasn't enough, and they all watched as she was eventually overpowered and dragged away, still alive. The footage moved on to the shadowy figures loading the warrior into their ship and taking off, circling back a few moments later and blowing the house up.

The recording ended there, leaving many in the room speechless before Mace said softly, "Is there any clue regarding who those people were, or where they came from?" turning to Master Plo.

The Kel Dor shook his head, "Unfortunately not; they retrieved the bodies of their dead before they disappeared, and there was no trace of where they had come from either. What they are is clear to see, though, although I don't understand what they want with the mother of Jedi. Especially the mother of Jedi that disappeared so long ago."

"But has been wandering the galaxy on her own ever since," Master Mundi interjected quietly, "And has been up to who knows what since she disappeared. We know she has been visiting her mother on Kalevala and Alderaan and convinced her to go back to Alderaan because she felt it was safer. Safer why? Was it because of the Sith that we now know are active in the galaxy once more? And why attack her? She isn't involved in this conflict, as far as we know."

"Not involved, you say?" Yoda asked, and the Council turned to him, "Not involved she is, but involved her daughter is. Aware, Master Abazza is, of where to find the half-Nautolan. Lure her out; this may be for. Use her mother to get to her; they will. Fall for the trap, she may."

"Master Abazza doesn't seem like she is making this easy for anyone," Anakin said carefully, "Even if the Sith did take her mother and she knows where they are, if she has trained with the Mandalorians and her mother is a Mandalorian that has proven she can kill Sith, the Sith may have bitten off more than they could chew with her. And if she knows the half-Nautolan, a Sith hunter, then the Sith's plan to draw them out may backfire if they come after Master Abazza's mother. It seems like a risky play."

"Perhaps," Mace said, his hands clasped before him, "But I don't think we are getting the full story here. Even if Master Abazza did train the half-Nautolan to be a Sith hunter, how did she know where to find her? How did she know how to train her? And why does she keep avoiding us now? We can help her find her mother, and protect her, but she isn't giving us a chance to."

"I feel she wants to do this on her own," Master Koth said softly, "And yet….I feel there is another reason. While we were on Mustafar, she avoided us completely, which gave us a chance to look around. While there, I thought it looked like two of the rooms were in use, so perhaps there was someone else with her she was with. It may have been the half-Nautolan, recovering from her wounds from Florrum, it may not have been. Perhaps this base really was the Home Base Lady Kryze told us about and was the staging area for the half-Nautolan to plan her missions," turning to Yoda as he said this.

"Hmmmmm," Yoda murmured before saying, "Find more answers tonight; we will not. Find the half-Nautolan, understand her purpose we should. Find Master Abazza, we will attempt in the future. For now, rest you should, Master Plo, Master Koth. Discovered much you have, more to be learned in the coming days there will be."

The two addressed Jedi bowed their heads, and the meeting continued to discussing the latest happenings in the war and around the Temple, as well as what should be done to combat the Sith presence becoming stronger and stronger in the galaxy, with Anakin and Ahsoka leaving when it became clear their insight wasn't needed any longer. As she left, Ahsoka couldn't help but notice that Master Fisto looked deep in thought, but that lasted for two seconds before he was again paying attention to the meeting and Master Mundi, who was speaking about the progress made in the war with his fleet.

Whatever all this meant to him, she had no idea, but she knew she wouldn't find out anytime soon.

He knew how to keep his secrets too well sometimes.

Deep in the far reaches of space and the Unknown Regions, the dark desert planet of Exegol hid that which wasn't ready to be revealed yet. It also hid one there against their will, which became clear when she woke up and found herself in a cell hidden far underground, beyond where any light hoped to reach.

She sat up slowly, looking around in the near-darkness as best she could before standing up and noticing several things, the first and foremost being that her armor was gone. Realizing what that meant, Hulia walked to the front of the cell, looking out carefully into the darkened hallway beyond. There was nothing there, no guards and no signs of life, but she knew she was far from alone. She backed away from the small window and looked around again, looking for any way to escape. There were none, and she realized then and there she was bait for a trap.

And it was a trap meant to snare her daughter.

Don't fall for it, my Sun, whatever you do, don't fall for it, she thought as she sat down in a corner of the cell, My life is not worth yours or any others. Don't come for me.

Outside the cell and a few levels up, Sith trained and fought each other, honing their skills for the right time to reveal themselves to the galaxy again.

Soon, very soon, they would be unleashed on the galaxy, and the Sith Empires of old would return.

Back on Coruscant, Kit sat in the darkness of his quarters, in thought for several long moments before sighing and reaching for the hidden transmitter he used to communicate with the more secretive Conspiracy members.

It was time to let them know things had just gotten much harder than they already were.

They may have to change their plans.