Author's Note: If this chapter feels familiar, there may be a reason for that...


-Chapter 110: Follow the Trail-

Location: The Sedawan

"The path to danger is often found by innocent inquisition."

The Wraith found himself journeying to a variety of worlds as he began his search for Savage Opress. His questions concerning 'a large black and yellow Zabrak' led him down a variety of different trails and searches throughout the galactic underworld. He collected only a few leads, Savage's quest into the darker hideaways of society just freshly begun. For several days he tracked his quarry until he reached a dead end on Lotho Minor, after a fruitless pursuit down a trail that definitely ran cold.

With nothing more to go on, Wraith held Dooku to his word to passively maintain this mission, he chose to collect his available data and call off the search for a while until a new lead could be opened. On his way out, he decided to make a pit stop at a cafe on the edge of the settlement called 'Plop Dribble's'.

"Boy I hope the products are better than the name." He mumbled as he queued his comms. "Wraith to all open channels." After a brief moment, he soon got a trio of responses.

"Go ahead, my boy."

"I'm here, partner."

"Banshee here, sir."

"On my way back to the Dominance and I'm thinking about grabbing some drinks at a cafe. Anybody want anything?" He relayed.

"Well, since you're offering, I wouldn't mind a Spacer's spiced ginger smoothie." Scipio responded.

"I'll have an iced caf, Spiran roast." Reaper quickly added.

"I would like a Blue Milk shake, please." Banshee politely requested, causing Wraith to smile. While she was a super-soldier like he and Reaper, and could be as deadly as they come when in combat, there was a childlike sense of innocence about her at other times, shining through in moments that made Wraith wonder if Banshee was even younger than her file indicated. Wraith finalized the order, cold ones all around it seemed. The automatic door slid open as he stepped inside, met by the silvery plated walls and bright red adornments. He immediately felt all eyes on him as the local patrons realized the fully-armored super-soldier among them. Surely they questioned his presence and wondered why he walked among them. But Wraith brushed aside their gazes as he approached the counter where the owner, a purple-skinned Stobarian called Loubo, watched him with a petrified gaze. His eyes were a mix of agitation and fear.

"You!" He exclaimed, finding his tongue. "Y-You... are The Wraith!"

"I am." The super-soldier answered, his voice deep and clear.

"We don't want no trouble here!" Loubo stated.

"And I'm not here for trouble. I'd like to order a few beverages before I leave." Wraith explained, setting down a small stack of credits that quickly enticed the owner. Seeing as he simply wanted to do legitimate business, Loubo relented.

"Well, very well then... what can we get you?" He asked.

"One Spirian-roasted iced caf, one Blue Milk shake, one Spacer's ginger smoothie... and one cloudberry iced tea." Wraith listed, all of which were simple orders the Stobarian and his staff could fulfill with ease.

"Coming right up." Loubo promised as he disappeared behind the machinery necessary to craft said drinks. Wraith calmly waited, still sensing the eyes of everyone else in the cafe on him as they watched his every move. Surely he seemed like a strange sight to them, nowhere near a battlefield yet still bearing his bold Confederate emblems, walking about and conducting business in a calm and collected manner. He stood perfectly still, used smooth and natural words, waiting ever so patiently for his order. It seemed so uncharacteristic of the monster the HoloNews constantly reported on. After a moment, Loubo appeared with one sealed cup in his hand.

"Here's the iced tea. The rest'll be done in a moment, down at the far end." He said.

"Fair enough." Wraith affirmed with a tilt of his head as he picked up his drink. He took a sip and offered a quiet, satisfied exhale. Chilled to perfection and hit the spot just the way he liked it. The super-soldier began to venture down the length of the bar, patrons of varying species watching him do so. It finally occurred to Wraith that the establishment had grown very quiet since his arrival. He could care less about what others thought of him... well, save for a select few individuals that is, and carried on like normal. Finding the open part of the counter, Wraith leaned back and took another sip, only to pause mid-swallow as he recognized two patrons sitting across from him.

It was Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano, casually enjoying a bite to eat.

Their eyes were on him too, carefully observing him with far more meticulated gazes than everyone else. Wraith took notice of Ahsoka's stony expression, not a trace of elated recognition to be found in her eyes. Testing their bond, he found it closed off and her feelings concealed, inaccessible to him. That made him sad and he realized that he truly did miss her presence, especially now that his agitation and fury had worn off. "Skywalker." He passively greeted, voice breaking the silence. His gaze shifted to Ahsoka "...Tano." He said, though his voice was softer when using her name. They Jedi simply nodded in acknowledgement, saying nothing further.

"Here's the rest of 'em." Loubo announced, a tray sliding across the counter behind Wraith containing three cups nestled in secure holders.

"Thank you. Have a good day." Wraith promptly replied, sliding his cup into an empty holder before making for the nearest exit. Once he was gone, the patrons returned to their activities, though many of them now conversed about having seen the infamous super-soldier in person.

"Now there's something you don't see everyday." Anakin remarked. His apprentice just shrugged.

"Who knew The Wraith could do normal things outside of killing people?" Ahsoka mused.


Elsewhere in the galaxy...

The T-6 shuttle dropped out of hyperspace, carrying its two passengers towards another distant vessel. Masters Aayla Secura and Kit Fisto had been dispatched to answer a distress call, one of grave importance to the Jedi Order.

The Sedawan, a significantly larger version of Corellian Engineering's CR70 and CR90 corvettes, had been in the Jedi Order's service for many countless years. During the Clone Wars, it had been relegated to ferrying precious kyber crystals from varying worlds to secure Jedi enclaves, the process often overseen by a single Jedi Master and a handful of selected Clones. And now, it was in trouble, a final communication from one of the Clone staff indicating invaders had boarded the ship. Considering there were no further communications, either from the staff or from the overseeing Saesee Tiin, Yoda ordered an immediate investigation. Kyber crystals themselves were a unique stone due to their connection to the Force and their ability to adapt to a Force user who was attuned to its sensitivities.

They were also known for powering Sith super weapons thousands of years ago, hence the Jedi's desire to move as many as they could to secure locations known only to the Order. Now it seemed some other party wanted in on that secret.

"From a distance, it looks pretty intact." Aayla noted.

"I suppose that perception may change the closer we get," Kit added, "we've received no further communications from them and I'm not reading very many life signs on board."

"I hope Master Tiin is well." Aayla whispered as her partner throttled the shuttle ahead. They skirted the edge of the ship and rounded towards the hull, letting their shuttles scanners sweep the ship while they performed a visual check. True to Kit's notion, the closer they drew the more signs of struggle they could see across the Sedawan's hull. "That looks like buzz droid damage." Aayla noted, seeing geometrically shaped holes bored through the outer hull plating.

"The scorch damage up front looks evocative of seeker missiles." Kit agreed, seeing multiple blast marks across the bow. "The bridge's blast shields have been triggered." Normally, the transparisteel viewport offered a look inside, but interlocking plates now barred viewings of any kind.

"We should board and start looking around. Perhaps the intruders are still here." Aayla suggested.

"I think you're right. The starboard hangar has been locked down. I wonder why..." Kit said aloud as he piloted the ship towards the port side hangar. The Sedawan was large enough to house several smaller vessels within, although the T-6 proved to be a tight fit given the length and breadth of its large wings. Kit eventually managed to squeeze the shuttle inside and he and Aayla disembarked, the hangar empty and ominous. "No obvious signs of battle." Kit observed.

"That may change the further in we travel." Aayla suggested as she triggered the nearest door release with the Force. Kit followed after her and the good-natured Jedi couldn't resist cracking a joke.

"While this might not be the most ideal place for a date, I suppose we'll have to make due." Aayla softly laughed.

"Kit, be serious. We're on assignment right now." She gently chided. "Besides, you know what the Code says." After Kit saved her life with a kiss during the first Battle for Kamino, the two Jedi had grown much closer than any other would be comfortable with. Their romance was tangible, but not entirely purposeful. Their feelings for one another could best be defined as a sort of mutual love affair, something they enjoyed but no one else could condone. While their relationship definitely pushed at the limitations of the Code, both of them knew to slow down at times. Although there were occasions when they definitely wanted to break the Code entirely...

"I'm pretty sure we weren't limited by the Code after Kamino." Kit teased in response. Aayla turned away rather bashfully, her cheeks turning a shade darker.

"We can only take this so far, Kit. You know that."

"I do. But I am willing to take this as far as we can Aayla. I'm positive we can still keep the peace while keeping each other warm." The Nautolan responded, slipping his hand into hers. "After all, we've done so many times before."

"I marvel at how you can say something so brazen so calmly." Aayla remarked with another laugh.

"Consider it one of my many talents." Kit replied, dark eyes twinkling as he smiled at her.

Their moment was suddenly interrupted by a trio of buzz droids rolling into the hall, sprouting dozens of tiny limbs as their shells shifted to the upper half of their body. Aayla and Kit quickly brandished their lightsabers as the droids advanced upon them, the cutting tools located below their twin optics whirring to life in a rather menacing fashion. Summoning the Force, the two Jedi dashed towards their opponents as the two forward buzz droids engaged their cutting lasers, solid beams of energy lancing through the floor and the wall as the Jedi ducked and dodged. Sprinting along the wall, Aayla lept over the leading droids and bisected the one behind. Kit used his saber to deflect the beam of energy and redirect it towards it's opposite, destroying the droid by cutting clean through its limbs and central processor. As the penultimate buzz droid fell to pieces, Kit maintained the focus of the final one just long enough for Aayla to swoop in and cut it into thirds.

With their opponents reduced to scrap, the Jedi tucked their weapons away. "Well, at least someone is still here." The Nautolan mused.

"There may be more. We should hurry to the bridge." His Twi'lek partner concurred and Kit was quick to follow her. Find their way through the monotonous corridors, they took a detour through the Sedawan's engine room, its primary reactors cold and lifeless.

"These have not been used in some time." Kit observed as they scaled the catwalks surrounding the three bulbous generators.

"Was their goal to commandeer the ship?" Aayla wondered aloud as they continued. But Kit did not have an answer.

"The bridge should hopefully have everything we're looking for." He stated in reply.

The Jedi continued their trek, only to discover more answers along the path to the bridge. The bodies of Clones started to fill the halls, each one bearing either a scorch mark in its armor or a bloody wound of impalement and dismemberment. The Jedi stopped upon reaching a hall filled with the bodies of six unfortunate Clones. Aayla knelt beside one, his head a short distance away.

"Droids do not inflict damage like this." She keenly observed, her gaze lingering on the gruesome sight of his headless neck. The cut had been clean and quick, much like an adjacent Clone whose torso had nearly been ripped open entirely by a vertical mark. The bodies Kit was analyzing bore very different marks, one particular Clone sporting two scorch wounds evenly spaced apart that passed through his whole body.

"And yet these resemble lightsabers." He noted, chin in hand as he reached out with the Force. The echoes put out by this room were tumultuous and chaotic. These Clones had fought bravely but stood no chance against whatever felled them... or should he say whoever. The final Clone nearest the door seemed to have borne the brunt of both instruments of destruction. A deep groove through his helmet exposed a bloody eye while his torso was scarred by the twin marks. "What do you think? Two or one assailant?" Kit queried.

"It looks like two, but it could be one." Aayla agreed. "Do you remember that new super-soldier, the one who was present for The Wraith's escape from prison?"

"Yes. She wore a saber gauntlet." Kit confirmed, remembering the report and the very few images of her they had on record. "That would explain these marks. But did she use another bladed weapon as well?" Aayla shook her head.

"We know so little about her. It is hard to say what she is and is not capable of." Both Jedi decided to hurry to the bridge and made haste through the corridors. They passed the bodies of more Clones, all of them killed in similar fashions to those behind them. They were in a protective formation, lining the halls in an effort to fend off the intruders and keep them from invading the bridge.

When Kit and Aayla discovered the bridge door, bent and torn open by immeasurable strength, they knew without a doubt the Clones had failed.

Surprisingly, the bridge was fairly clear of anything resembling a battle, save for some collapsed ceiling panels off to one side. But it was not as vacant as the Jedi first deemed it to be, as they sensed a presence through the Force. "Master Tiin?" Aayla called out.

"There, under the debris!" Kit realized as his honed senses quickly located their fellow Jedi. They rushed over and used their powers to slowly and carefully remove the debris, revealing a battered and wounded Saesee Tiin. A deep, bloody wound had been driven into his shoulder and his robes bore the wounds from multiple blaster hits. Aayla carefully pulled him out with Kit's help and the Iktotchi coughed as he regained consciousness.

"Master Tiin... who did this to you?" Aayla quietly asked.

"Super-soldiers..." Tiin slowly responded, "not... The Wraith."

"What did they want?" Kit pried.

"They said... they'd keep me... from stopping them." Saesee revealed with another grating cough. "Left me... for dead."

"We will help you to our shuttle. I'm afraid the rest of the crew is dead." Kit responded, helping Aayla to gingerly lift him up between their arms. Tiin coughed some more, a fresh pain flowing from his shoulder with each sudden movement.

"The... crystals..." He rasped. "They wanted... the crystals." Aayla thought quickly. If they were still here, they might be able to stop them.

"Kit, check the terminal and run a diagnostic scan of the ship. Maybe we can stop them." She suggested. The Nautolan quickly did so and called up a list of known issues throughout the ship... only to not receive a response.

"I can only read mechanical diagnostics, Aayla. The computer's memory has been erased." He revealed. That puzzled the Twi'lek.

"No scans? No alerts? Then what is there to read?" She wondered.

"Only that the ship is structurally degrading, and quickly, and that the escape pods have all been launched." Kit revealed. Aayla thought about that for a moment and considered the possibility that the invaders could be hiding something, or were trying to at any rate.

"We should split up. One of us takes Saesee back to the shuttle while the other goes after the super-soldiers. We need to find them and stop them." Aayla determined.

"It would be wiser if we went together." Kit countered as he returned to them.

"Necessity would dictate otherwise. Saesee needs immediate medical attention but one of us can intercept the others before they leave." Aayla responded. Before Kit could muster a reply, the corridor access before them slid open and a wounded Clone staggered in, reaching for the blast doors.

"Generals... I-" He tried to say, only to be stopped when a blaster shot echoed from behind him and he felt dead with a scorch mark in his back. Banshee lowered her pistol as her emitter charged up. Kit quickly brandished his lightsaber.

"And so we learn who is here." He said aloud.

"Been saving a little something for you Jedi." Banshee remarked. "Was thinking of detonating this later, but since your here I can make an exception."

"I would not do that if I were you, Miss-?" Kit responded, leaving his question to be filled in.

"They call me 'Banshee'." The super-soldier replied. "And they're about to call you three 'deceased'!" Snapping up her arm, a sudden blast of ultrasonics from her Shriekburst sent all three Jedi tumbling across the ground. Satisfied, Banshee hit the trigger of her detonator and left as the consoles around the Jedi began to explode. Kit recovered first and helped up Aayla, Saesee knocked unconscious by the blast.

"She plans to destroy the bridge!" He realized as smoke from lingering electrical fires started to fill the cabin.

"With us on it." Aayla agreed. "Come, let's get Master Tiin out of here." Together they shouldered their knocked-out comrade and quickly moved him through the halls, moving back the way they came. The ship rumbled as the distant sound of multiple explosions reached their hearing. "Perhaps she plans to destroy this entire ship." Aayla theorized as pieces of the roof began to crumble around them. A wall panel behind them hit the ground as a fire raged out of control.

"If that's the case, it appears to be working." Kit grimly realized as he lost his humorous demeanor. They picked up the pace and carried Saesee as fast as they could, passing by the engine room as they heard the generators falling to pieces with loud clattering uproars. "The entire ship is coming apart! They must've planted explosive to destabilize it!"

"Then they have the cargo they came for." Aayla concluded, deeming their efforts simply too late to prevent the very methodical plan the super-soldier had executed. "There is nothing left for us to do but leave, we must help Saesee."

"I agree." Kit nodded. Together they helped their comrade through the empty halls of the shuddering Sedawan, back to the hangar where their shuttle sat waiting. They boarded as more debris rained down around them, fires preventing them from going back into the ship and cutting off any means of escape. "It appears this was their plan from the beginning." Kit mused as he took the controls bad started to maneuver the T-6 out of the crumbling hangar bay.

"They proved to be quick and efficient. Whatever their plan was, I would not be surprised if they completed it entirely." Aayla commented as she laid Saesee down and prepared some medical equipment as Kit throttled them out into space and away from the collapsing Sedawan. "Do your scans read any other ships in the area?" Aayla queried, prompting Kit to ping the shuttle's sensor array. After a moment, he had a startling report.

"I read one craft that has just jumped into hyperspace. I could not get a fix on them in time."

"Then they got what they wanted." Aayla murmured. "But to what end?"


Aboard the Revenant, Reaper sat back as his ship bolted into hyperspace, on its way towards the second phase of their mission. He and Banshee had been tasked with raiding the Sedawan by Count Dooku while Wraith was sent on his own quest. He was looking forward to enjoying the drinks the super-soldier had promised were back on the Dominance and hoped that this cargo of kyber crystals would not take long to transport to the secret Separatist installation they were journeying towards. Banshee entered the cockpit as he finished his personal musings.

"The Jedi were waylaid, as you suggested. But I doubt those explosions killed them like I hoped they would." She reported, taking a seat beside him.

"They were not our primary focus," Reaper responded, "we just needed them sufficiently distracted so we could fulfill our mission without interruption."

"Yes sir." Banshee quietly agreed. Since Reaper had spent some time training her, there was a level of superiority between them she felt bound to honor, even though Wraith had told her time and time again she was an equal and not inferior to either of them. She supposed it was the Umbaran in her, the portion of her that remained true to a society bound by social hierarchy where there was always someone better than her. "And now for the Uncharted Regions?"

"Where we can put these crystals to good use." Reaper affirmed.

"I should like to see this project Count Dooku informed us about. It sounds very fascinating." Banshee mused, her tone shifting to subdued excitement.

"A superweapon unlike any other." Reaper recalled the Count's exact words. "One that will herald the end of the Republic."