The atmosphere around the grounds was uneasy. Not many were doing exercises and all seemed wary of anything that moved. Luke sighed. They're gonna blow it... Two especially fidgety jedi--the youngest no more than few years older than Luke--were the human older brother / younger sister duo, Cirabein (the brother) and Jimiaci (the sister), Cirab and Jim for short. Luke sighed again. Eron, Hateya, and Alden were done with their exercises and Ezhno was finishing up his. As Ezhno walked over to the table to turn his saber in, Luke asked for his. "G-17." Borka handed Luke his as Caden grabbed Ezhno's, but the Togruta jedi held firmly. Shrugging, Luke flicked on his own lightaber and held it at Borka's throat. Ezhno followed Luke's lead and held his own to Caden.

Borka laughed. "You fools! Don't you see the eight troopers with blasters!" Borka nodded to the armed troopers.

Four shot at each Luke and Ezhno, but neither were hit, and neither had moved their lightsabers from their positions at Borka and Caden's throats. Luke grinned. Hateya had deflected the shots from Luke and Alden those from Ezhno. Only two of the guards, Borka, and Caden were left in the yard and were promptly tied up. "So, Eron, you finally managed to unlock some of the containers."

"It's not so easy, O Master Sky."

Luke flicked his left hand and the rest of the containers opened; all the prisoners drew their lightsabers to themselves and flicked them on.

"Oh, wonderful, Sky. Just show me up why don't ya'." Eron smiled at Luke. I'll never be as good as him... bastard.

Captain Carnig ran out of the complex with thirty guards behind him. "What's going on here!"

Luke, lightsaber blazing, slowly walked up to Carnig and took his blaster. "A prison break."

Chaka shivered. He hated going on scouting missions with Adhira and Damini, Devante's undercaptains.

Adhira, First Undercaptain in the Squadron of Fire, snapped at him. "Chaka! Give me energy!"

"Y-Yes, mam."

She grinned cruelly at the half-alive trooper at her feet, and with the flick of her wrist, targeted the energy straight to the man's heart. "A quick death... How boring. I wish I had your powers, Damini."

The other woman, Damini, Second Undercaptain in the Squadron of Fire, shrugged as concentrated the left-over energy from Adhira's attack and focused it on the face and eyes of the trooper below him. He screamed in terror and ripped off his helmet. Chaka tried not to throw up as he beheld the sizzling face of the enemy, then slowly sank to the ground. What a way to die...

Adhira laughed. "Why did you get graced with your powers. To kill one with pure energy by attacking external organs such as skin and eyes... Such a thrill; while I am stuck with the ability to kill one by focusing energy on an internal organ, primarily the heart." She glanced at Chaka. "At least it's useful, destructive--not just the channeling of energy." The two undercaptains laughed as they continued to patrol their designated areas.

Chaka shivered again. Why me...?

A red-headed, gorgeous woman entered the fire-decorated office. "Captain Paytah of Fire Squadron... I still cannot wrap my mind around that. Less than thirty and already an Elemental Captain..." She sensuously wrapped her arms around Paytah's neck.

"Oh? Is that so, Nuri? Pardon, First Undercaptain Nuri of Fire Squadron..." He bent his neck and locked his lips with hers. After a while, he straightened his neck and smiled down at Nuri, staring intently into her golden-green eyes. "... Able to spark fire on anything remotely flamable... I do believe you have sparked more than my heart, my dear..."

"Oh? Is that so?" They embraced again; Paytah quickly led Nuri to his private chambers.

"Three pints," Gaia commanded the tavern girl. Shaking her head, she faced her two sub-officers. Nodding to the male, she asked, "What do you think, Damek?"

"I cannot make heads or tails of it, Captain. I'm just glad it was you in that room and not me."

"Be careful that you do not think too much like that. As First Undercaptain, it is your job to take over lead if something happens to me, which is highly likely nowadays." She gave the tavern girl nine coppers for the ale, then turned to her pale-eyed female companion. "What about you, Zola? I know you are new to being Second Undercaptain, but you need to be more involved in affairs than other Captains allow their Undercaptains to be."

After a moment, Zola stammered out, "I-I suppose, Captain, that I am... s-simply horrified that someone would even... well, even suggest such a horrible thing." The last part she blurted so fast that Gaia could barely understand her.

Gaia simply smiled and nodded. Eying her Undercaptains, she became truly appreciative of the team the three of them made. She herself could take rocks and/or compressed earth and explode it into a thousand pieces; First Undercaptain Damek could levitate anything of the earth element, which made Gaia's ability become even more devastating against an enemy; Second Undercaptain Zola, while meek, had an amazing capability to compact even the loosest of earth into almost solid stone. They made a great team.

Three women rushed into the healing station, the one in the middle being supported by the other two. "CAPTAIN ZHI!" one of them cried.

Zhi came rushing out. "What happened, Captain Imogene."

"Ambush. Vonda is hurt. Bad. Can you help her?"

Zhi helped Vonda onto a cot and sighed as he saw the massive damage to not only her heart and lungs, but also to her intestines and stomach. The woman was spewing up blood. He turned to an assistant. "Go fetch First Undercaptain Galena, Second Undercaptain Asa, and young Jason." Not two minutes later, the three of them came rushing over to help. Naturally, Zhi tended to Vonda's heart, moderate to severe heart injuries being his specialty; Galena tended to the lungs, moderate to severe lung injuries being her specialties; Asa saw to the stomach; Jason concentrated on the intestines. But for all their work, it was no use. An hour later, Vonda was dead. Jason laid his hand on Imogene's shoulder. "I am sorry, Captain Imogene. We did all that we could. She was just too far gone."

Imogene held back tears as she pulled a sheet over Vonda's head. Turning to the other woman, she cleared her throat. "Second Undercaptain Pratima, I hereby promote you to the rank of First Undercaptain. Go find young Toshi and inform him that he now holds the responsiblities of Second Undercaptain."

"Yes, mam." Pratima was trying to hold back tears of her own.

Imogene could hold in her emotion no longer and gave in to Jason's comforting embrace. "... Such is war... Civilians should not have to meet such a fate..."

Tess and Tertius stood at one of the many large windows of the Tantive V. "We should be entering Mansurien space soon, Tess. How do you think the battle is going?"

"I think that as soon as we land, we need to contact Captain Zhi, Tertius."

"Agreed. Much blood has been shed in our absence, of that I am certain."

"Agreed."

Ashon walked up to Essien. Everyone seems to be gazing out these windows...

"There is nothing better to do." Essien turned around. "Yes, Seventh? What is it you desire?"

"... Sister?"

Essien tilted her head sideways and stared at her younger brother. "What is wrong, Ashon?"

"Why does father hate me?"

"What?"

"Why does he never recognize me? No matter what I do, all he ever does is compare me to you."

Essien sighed. "He is a man and a leader. Though he may not realize it, when he sees destructive powers, he views it as being of greater strength. When he sees control, he views it as being of greater potential."

"But is not the creation of fire strong even on its own?"

"It is, dear brother... Father just does not see that. He sees me control fire and take it wherever I want it to go, and he sees me as powerful."

"But I can create fire anywhere, anytime, on any surface. That's almost as good as your power, but he treats me as if I am merely what he settles for. All he ever does is appreciate you. He neither loves nor respects me."

"I cannot say much about the love of Father, for he rarely has any since mother died, but he does respect you, else you would not be one of the Seven. He knows your power, dear brother."

"But he cares for yours more."

Essien sighed. Why did mother have to die? If she were still alive, Father would not be so cold... and Ashon would not feel so downtrodden and unappreciated... Well, at least Ashon and I have each other... That's more than most siblings can say...