Hey, everyone! It took me entirely too long, but I have a complete chapter for Days of Fire. Hopefully, I can have the next one out sooner. Anyways, I hope the wait was worth it.

Without further ado, I give you chapter 21...

"...As you can see behind me, even three hours later, clone soldiers are maintaining an airtight perimeter. I, personally, was stopped well over a hundred meters from the front entrance by fully armed soldiers with no Judiciary officers in sight. The only sign that they are here, are the speeders scattered across the line. According to a statement by Captain Azira of the Coruscant Judiciary Force, one hundred twenty people have been confirmed dead. This includes twenty people believed to be involved in the attack. Unfortunately, the number of dead is expected to climb as rescue workers continue to dig through the rubble of the blast. Given the rank and position of the hotel's residences, the Coruscant Guard is-"

Senator Organa muted the holocast and leaned back in his seat. Next to him, Padme threw back a shot of Corellian whiskey.

"Easy, that stuff will drop a gundark," Organa warned.

"Not the first time I've had this," Padme reminded him as she set the glass down.

"So, how bad is it?" he asked.

Padme gave a dejected sigh before answering, "It looked like a war zone. Most of the diplomatic mission is dead. We have two ambassadors left and five guards. That Death Watch team totally ripped them to pieces."

"But all except one of the Mandalorians were killed," he noted.

"Only because of Fox's men. According to the Captain, they only started to pull back when the gunships arrived on that level," Padme elaborated, "Two escaped from the building. One of which was gunned down by perimeter forces after his jetpack failed. The second one was cornered and killed by a joint unit in the lower levels."

"And Shiv was captured," Organa added, "That's still most of his force. I watched the tapes from the attack, and they fought valiantly. Their problem was a lack of adequate firepower. You can definitely argue that Earth has the will to fight. Hell, they left their own trail of bodies. What is happening now?"

"The mission was moved to the Coruscant Military complex while a new location is found. Fox's men and the Judiciary Force are racing to find where Shiv was staying. In..." she paused to check her chono "about one hour, I have a meeting with Agent Garner. According to the Jedi, something the Chancellor said during the meeting caught his attention," Padme answered as she shifted uncomfortably.

Senator Organa frowned at the revelation. He knew what trail he and Padme were following, but he couldn't think of a trail that Garner would know to follow.

"Where?" he asked.

"Club on the lower east side," she answered with a shrug.

"Lower? At least tell me you're taking guards," Organa gasped.

"Just Captain Typho. It's Scalian's... I know the place well," the senator reassured him.

Bail Organa relaxed as he heard the name. While he still didn't like the plan, he was quite familiar with the place. Whenever, Senators or other high ranking officials wanted to have meetings off the books, they slipped down below the Government district to a club in the lower east side. There was a pool of money that most Senators paid into. This went to the staff and owners in exchange for complete anonymity. One senator had joked that it was more airtight than the Jedi war room in the temple. Senator Amidala was convinced that the joke contained a lot of truth.

"I want to come with," Organa requested, "I think it would be wise to know everyone we are working with."

The answer crossed Padme's mind and was out the same instant.

"No. He's already distrusting enough as it is. I don't need to give him more cause for worry," she answered quickly.

"But-"

"But he's also a weapon, Bail. He's a weapon with nothing left to lose. You and I both watched the same tape. On top of that, I was in the council meeting. You were not. Sooner or later he's going to hurt someone, and when he does, everyone who's ever had contact with him is going to share in the blame," Padme argued.

The worry was plain to see on her face.

"Sounds like a loose cannon," he observed with a sigh, "Let me at least trail and observe, and for the love of all things good and decent, at least take your captain."

"Fine, observe from a distance. You can share a drink with Typho," she conceded.

(Lower East Side: twenty minutes later)

Agent Garner kept his head low as he made his way through the crowded city street. Around him neon lights danced in the rainy night sky. Not for the first time, Garner was finding himself wishing he understood "basic" more than he did. Not long after the Republic force began digging in on Earth, Agent Garner (among others) had begun learning how to read "basic" script. While it wasn't the hardest language he had learned, it was similar enough to English that the Asian-like foreign letters severely screwed with his head.

"Scalian's," he muttered, "S... C... A... L... Ya, that's it."

From outside the building, Agent Garner could feel the thumping of the base and smell something that reminded him of a sweetened version of cigarette smoke.

He ducked inside the dimly lit entrance and his eyes widened. Agent Garner had seen all manner of aliens since arriving on the planet. However, they were one at a time where he could reasonably process what he was seeing. Here, it was like he had stepped into a bad freakshow. He did his best to blend into the mixed-race crowd as he found a seat toward the back.

As he got comfortable, Agent Garner let his eyes wander. In one corner, a green alien- Rodian if he remembered right- was talking up an orange skinned waitress that had tentacles running down her back. To the right was a human who swapped credits with a similar looking blue creature. Actions that Agent Garner recognized well were happening all across the room. The only thing off was the fact that he felt like he had just stepped into a much better version of Cool World.

"And to think we get hung up on the color of our own skin," he gawked.

Slowly, awe gave way to pain as his leg began to protest all of the walking it had been subject to. Agent Garner quietly produced a pill bottle from his pocket while letting his eyes wander across room. He downed two pills and made the bottle disappear into his pocket. At that moment, a green skinned Twi'lek appeared.

"Can I get you something to drink?" she asked in a disarming tone.

Agent Garner thought for a moment before answering. Perhaps things weren't that different after all.

"Yes, I'll take what he's having," he answered as he pointed to a human at the bar.

The waitress wrote a mental note and stopped mid turn.

"Say, I don't recognize that accent. Where are you from?" she asked.

"Seventy-five if you decide not to care," Garner offered as he produced a handful Republic credits.

The woman frowned as she considered the offer.

"One hundred and I'll forget you were ever here," the Twi'lek countered.

The curiosity in her eyes had suddenly been replaced by a predatory smirk that made up the Agent's mind.

"Alright," he agreed as he fished around in his pocket for the extra twenty-five credits.

He gave the woman the money and she disappeared to get his drink. She was back long enough to deliver the drink before quickly disappearing into another group of people. Garner checked his watch and confirmed that he was quite early to the party. He took a small sip of his drink and let his eyes wander.

Could use something stronger, he thought as he eyed the place.

By most standards, the room was both large and dimly lit. Lounge chairs and knee-high tables sat on a bowl shaped floor that descended down to a colorfully lit dance floor. On the right wall was a bar that ran from front to back, where a door gave obvious access to the kitchen and storage areas. On the opposite wall was a line of large, tv-like screens broadcasting various sports that Agent Garner didn't recognize.

Forty minutes and two drinks later, Agent Garner watched the Senator walk in. She didn't pause as she made her way to the bar. However, her eyes were everywhere except the place she was going. Upon locking eyes with her, he used a finger to scratch an imaginary itch on his arm. She clipped together the top snap on her top and didn't move.

"I was followed," the response translated.

Agent Garner's eyes immediately went back to the door, and quickly spotted the tails. He scowled as he recognized the faces. One was the Captain of Senator Amadala's guard- "Typho" if he remembered right. The second was Senator Organa. He recognized the face from some of the files he had read. The only comforting observation was that both men had found seats at the far end of the bar, where they were clearly out of earshot. He made sure the displeasure was plain to read on his face as he nodded to her. He couldn't afford to cancel the meeting because she felt the need to bring in others.

She shrugged and found a seat to the left of him.

"I see you brought friends," he noted.

"Familiar or not, this is the lower levels. I'm not crazy enough to be down here without someone watching my back. I hear Gunray's doubled the price on my head since the war began," she answered firmly.

"I don't care about Captain Typho. I expected him," Agent Garner corrected, "I do have reservations about Senator Organa's ability help him."

"No. He wanted to see who the newest member of our 'conspiracy' is," Padme explained.

Agent Garner shrugged as he processed the information. "New member" meant that he was walking into something with a more specific goal than what the Jedi were doing. The fact that there was another Senator involved told him that he was, to some degree, wading into the quagmire of Coruscant politics.

"I see," he responded as he stood up awkwardly.

"Where are you going?" the Senator protested.

Agent Garner hiccuped before answering boisterously, "Why, to go meet our new friend of course."

Before Senator Amadala could argue, he had already stumbled across the bar while drunkenly rambling on to no one in particular. Agent Garner pushed his way through the crowds and made his way up to the Senator, who at present, was nursing a drink and talking sports with Captain Typho.

"Hey!" he exclaimed as he grabbed the man's shoulder, "I know you!"

Bail's mouth opened but words refused to form as he was spun around on his bar stool. The startled expression was real, but the lack of recognition was a well executed act. Agent Garner had seen the man's eyes lock on him a while ago. Organa was expecting him to do something but it clearly wasn't something this obnoxious.

He finally stammered, "I'm sorry, but I don't-"

"Oh, don't be that way. I met you back on Alderaan a while back," Garner enthusiastically slurred as he pointed back to Padme, "We worked on a trade deal with that brunette chick over there. Come on, next round's on me."

To make his point clear, Agent Garner drunkenly dropped some credits on the counter and dug his fingers into Bail's shoulder in an attempt to pull the man along. The senator winced but agreed nonetheless. Soon, the two had wandered their way back to the chair with the Agent loudly rambling the whole way back. As soon as the two sat, it was as though someone had flipped a switch. Agent Garner leaned forward and immediately quieted down. His movements became more deliberate, and his wild eyes and manic expression immediately disappeared.

"Now that everyone's here, let's begin," he declared.

The two senators looked at each other before turning to him.

"Were you able to find anything new in those files you were given?" Padme asked.

"A bunch of dead people that I wish were still alive, and others that won't have a damn clue who's behind all of this," Agent Garner answered with obvious frustration, "As far as the evidence is concerned, this all ties up neatly with Count Dooku."

"But you don't agree with that conclusion," Senator Organa noted.

Agent Garner smiled without a trace of humor as he explained, "Score one for you. The fact is, I was trained to answer the "Who?"; "What?"; "When?"; and "Where?". In that sense, I'm like any other investigator. However, the unique part of this job is taking what I've read so far and using it to figure out the rest of the story. For example, if someone shoots up an embassy, I want to know who did it; when they did it; and, obviously, why they did it. After that comes the rest of the story. Why did this attack happen? What do these people hope to achieve? What is their end game, or did was the attack their end game? It all unfolds like chapters in a larger story."

"So, what story are you reading?" Padme asked with a frown.

"Someone's trying to take over the galaxy, and Count Dooku is nothing more than a public face. He's a person who is willingly taking the heat in order to shield the real mastermind. He's too close to the action to be anything more. Dooku was present at engagements on Geonosis, Florem and others," Agent Garner noted.

Senator Amidala listened and formulated her next question. The man's suspicions were clearly on a different level than hers. Padme was looking for a leak. Agent Garner was looking for a mastermind. This would make things complicated. Given the way Dooku seemed to lead everything, she hoped his suspicions weren't adding an unnecessary complication.

"That would mean you think someone is commanding Count Dooku," she observed.

"Correct," Garner confirmed.

"That's impossible. He commands the CIS. There is no conceivable way for someone in their ranks to be in charge of him," Senator Organa argued.

Agent Garner shrugged and offered, "What about the Republic?"

The two Senators looked at him and then each other with skeptical frowns.

"What about the Republic?" Senator Organa finally asked.

"Count Dooku's moves have been too well timed. Even if he wanted to drag out this war, he could not have done so without some aid on the other side of the battle lines. Why else would every other major Republic offensive slam into a brick wall of droid defenses and vice-versa? There are too many coincidences for there not to be someone working within the Republic," Agent Garner answered firmly.

"Maybe Count Dooku is calling shots to this person you're talking about," Senator Amidala offered.

By this point Agent Garner was starting to become irritated with the questions.

"No," he answered firmly, "Given what is at stake, this plot has an innumerable amount of moving parts and variables. While it is possible to control most of them, it can't be done from the front lines. On top of that, important to note how young the CIS is. Their position and authority within the galaxy is extremely fragile. If someone is playing the long game, they are best positioned within the Republic where their base of power isn't constantly at risk of collapsing."

An uncomfortable silence fell on the group as the gears turned in each Senator's head.

Finally losing his patience, Agent Garner hissed, "Look, either trust me or don't. I don't care. Just know that you are running out of time to fix this mess. On their own, neither type of person is very dangerous. However, together you are looking at a ticking time bomb, and when it goes off, you won't want to be anywhere near it. The Republic that you wish to serve will crumble, and countless people will die."

The Senators looked at each other and Bail silently shrugged. Padme sighed in response and turned to the agent.

"Alright Garner, let's talk."

(Senate Building: Next morning)

Kad never liked the building. However, he did see it as a necessary evil. Sure everyone was corrupt, but that was part of the appeal. If you knew how to conduct and present yourself, the Republic Senate Building was a Bounty Hunter's dream location. Everyone was stupid rich and most had something or someone they were willing to pay you to deal with. For this reason, among others, Kad and Iska-ka were in no hurry to leave after their Committee hearing.

"What time did you say they were supposed to arrive?" Iska asked impatiently.

Kad looked at his chrono then across the front lobby.

"Fifteen minutes, and I don't see anyone worth talking to," he answered, "We should get to the observation deck before things get crowded. That attack put this Earth delegation on the map. That committee chamber will be full."

Iska agreed and the two made their way towards the room. Two minutes later they arrived in a large room with an arched ceiling and Senatorial pods bolted into the back wall. The twelve pods were lined up in two rows of equal number and stacked two levels high. Each pod had a door that opened up into the sealed off chambers behind. However, what caught his attention was the level of security. Each Senatorial pod contained a Senate honor guard while fully armed clone shock troopers lined the walls. Both entrances to the observation deck contained a pair of clones on either side of the door.

"They've got enough security to occupy a small planet," Iska observed as two clones visually dissected her and Kad.

Kad opened his mouth to speak. However, a previously unseen clone cut in instead.

"Excuse me. I have to ask you two to remove your helmets," the clone requested curtly.

Both Kad and Iska-ka turned around to face the clone. His markings indicated that he was a Captain by the name of "Sharp". Kad had talked to the clone at length while waiting for various hearings and appointments.

"And why would that be?" Iska demanded.

Sharp didn't miss a beat as he calmly answered back, "Because we trust you two, Iska, and that trust is hard to rebuild. We know you guys aren't Death Watch. On top of that, I just got done vouching for you to the Commander. That's why no one's raising a problem over the blasters you two are carrying. However, after the attack on the Cordecena last night, we're all running hot. Guards need to be able to see faces."

Kad grabbed Iska's shoulder to silence the protest he knew was coming.

"I get your trust, but why did you say 'we'? I doubt your word carries that much weight," Kad asked suspiciously.

The clone stooped down to their seat level, and removed his helmet to reveal a smirk.

"We know who made the call last night. Commander Fox wants a debriefing after the hearing," Sharp whispered.

Kad shot a glance over to Iska and shrugged. Clearly his second in command hadn't been able to disguise the signal in time to keep up with the pace of events happening elsewhere. Without another word, Kad popped the seals on his helmet and pulled it off. Next to him, Iska let out an annoyed groan as she removed her own helmet. Both people placed their helmets at their feet and turned their attention to the front as Senators began entering the room. Captain Sharp disappeared back into the heavily shadowed back wall and Kad turned his attention forward where the Earth representatives were making their way forward.

As proceedings began, Kad found his eyes drifting to the pair escorting the representatives. Each man stood tall and proud in their black and blue body armor. Held low and tight to the body was a large black slug thrower. A black cloth covered each man's face, while white lettering adorned both helmets and chest armor alike. The obvious message was one of unity and strength. However, Kad's experienced eyes saw more. These were tired men. Both were obvious survivors of last night's attack. Barely noticeable stains of red and grey marked up each man while scars and bruises showed on what little skin was visible. All four members of the group walked in step. However, Kad noticed that it was not easy or without pain. The man on the left appeared to be dragging his left leg ever so slightly; as though he might be trying to hide a fracture or severe bruise.

The opening ceremonies proceeded just like those of any other Senate hearing. They were concluded with a roll call from the Rodian chairman and opening statements from each Senator. Everyone expressed well polished outrage at last night's attack, but were quick to follow it up with words about how the war was unduly hard on everyone. Kad shook his head as he scanned the Senatorial faces. This was going to be a tough crowd for Earth. There were some like Senator Amidala that were sympathetic to their cause. However, most were jaded Senators from hard hit planets, or from planets that were at risk of attack. Senators from either category would be hesitant to aid a planet that wasn't even a part of the Republic.

"Ambassador Galina, your homeland is considered one of two "superpowers" on your planet, is it not?" asked one of the Senators.

"Yes, prior to the CIS invasion, the Russian Federation and United States were the two nations to hold this status," the woman answered in heavily accented basic.

Kad watched her body language shift as she answered. This was clearly a source of pride for her.

"I assume this means that both territories were quite powerful," the Senator observed.

Kad frowned. What angle was the Senator playing? These questions should have been answered in a briefing packet sent to committee members ahead of time. Kad didn't recognize the blue skinned individual and couldn't guess as to what he was doing.

"Yes, Senator," Galina answered crisply.

"Then why did seven Ambassadors from seven different lands feel the need to come to us? Surely, you or Ambassador Coleman would have the ability to speak on everyone else's behalf," the ambassador quizzed.

The contempt dripped from the Senator's voice. He spoke and various Senator's silently nodded to each other. This was the angle that would be played. This planet was fragmented and weak. They clearly didn't deserve a place on the galactic stage.

"The different representatives all came from nations that belong to the UN Security Council. That is the most authoritative body there is on a planetary level. It has also taken the lead in coordinating the war effort against the CIS. We brought multiple individuals because we know that you must be able to speak to Senators individually to succeed in this type of government," Senator Coleman cut in, "Surely a man of your status understands the power of connecting with others."

The Senator nodded and scooped up a datapad, "So, I do. Ambassadors, I have serious questions about your authority. Of course you can each speak on behalf of your own governments. However, the UN is not universally respected institution from what I can tell. As such, how can we be sure that your planet as a whole would honor any agreement made?"

"With respect Senator, countries as we know them became an antiquated concept three months ago. In my homeland alone, there are eight different armies, plus your own clones, fighting along three separate battle lines. Most of the countries have been wiped off the map by the CIS. Those that still cling to life are hanging by a thread, often times only because of their massive physical size. Right now, and for the foreseeable future, the United Nations is the only stable government. Whatever deal we make will stand," Galina answered with certainty.

Kad arched an eyebrow at the statement. Unlike the Senator, he had caught the cold edge to her words. Clearly she expected this "U.N." to use force if required.

"Earth was never ready for this level of fighting," Isk-ka muttered as the two individuals continued back and forth.

"They're too fragmented," Kad agreed.

He listened intently as Senator after Senator raked the duo over the fire for their lack of central government. Their defense against these objections gave Kad quite the expanse of information. It was soon clear that these nations, while fiercely independent, weren't above cooperation. Examples given included disaster relief, multi-nation peacekeeping operations, scientific advances, and medical research. In each of these areas, the planet had made giant leaps. Kad noted some striking similarities between Earth and his own home world. Replace term "nation" with "clan" and the resemblance was uncanny.

Finally, it came Senator Amidala's chance to speak.

"Representatives, we've talked a lot about the fragmented nature of Earth's politics. While my fellow Senators may see this as an issue, I believe any questions related to that have been adequately answered. At the core, I believe this Senate committee wants reassurance that any clone reinforcements wouldn't be wasted on your planet," she began, "Would you please explain, in detail, how effective Earth is at fighting a war?"

Both Representatives nodded in understanding, and Kad leaned forward. He was familiar with Amidala's brand of politics. This didn't fit at all. Unusually cold and roundabout, he could tell she was trying something different.

Ambassador Galina nodded and turned to the other Ambassador who nodded and hit a couple keys on her datapad. The lights lowered, and screens giant screens appeared along the walls.

Ambassador Galian began, "Unfortunately, warfare is a skill our planet excels at..."

As she spoke, images flashed across the screen. All of them were images from before the CIS invasion. Most were in color but there were black and white pictures and paintings as well. Vehicles burned while bodies littered their respective landscapes. Narrations from the Ambassadors gave context to the images. The black and white ones stretched across a 100 year period. They started with something known as the American Civil War and stretched all the way into a time and place known as East Germany during a period they called the Cold War. These images were replaced with the burning jungles of Vietnam to Tienanmen Square and the deserts of the Middle East.

"Although, I could recommend some great readings on the subject of warfare and politics on Earth, that is not why we are here. Our tactics have been forged in time and blood. They have also proven effective against our common enemy," Ambassador Coleman picked up, "From data gathered so far, Earth tanks have consistently stood up against CIS tanks of similar or higher class. They have a kill rate equal to the AT-TE and, due to greater maneuverability, a higher survival rate. Tungsten and depleted uranium shells have disabled everything from AATs to Magna tri-droids. If you would turn your attention to the screen, please."

As the video cued up, Ambassador Coleman explained, "While we do not have a navy in the same way that the Republic does, our planet is seventy percent water and our seafaring capabilities reflect that. At her prime, the Iowa-Class battleship was one of the most powerful ships to sail those waters. The seventy-six year old warship was recommissioned specifically to fight against the CIS. Two weeks ago, after extensive modernization, she turned her guns on a CIS weapons depot. This was the result."

Even on screen, Kad could feel the damp coldness of the forest. Trees reached up to touch the overcast sky. As the angle shifted, Kad could make out three clones and three humans in dark green and black uniforms. In their hands were slug throwers similar to what the guards down below him were holding. Out in the distance, Kad could make out the outline of a small town. Suddenly, the hushed whispering was silenced by an explosion... then a second... third and fourth explosion. The ground shook as fireballs blossomed. Within seconds, the explosions had morphed into a single ground-shaking rumble that carried on. Along the edges of the explosion, Kad could make out the faint silhouettes of tanks and spider droids.

Five minutes later, there was some muffled radio chatter and the shelling stopped. The entire event took five minutes. However, the results were undeniable. When the smoke cleared, fires raged across the flattened city. Even from a distance, it was clear that the city was nothing more than a crater. The video stopped and was replaced by images.

"This is a closer look at what the Iowa did," Ambassador Coleman explained as she clicked through the images, "Given it's un-defendable nature, the city was taken in tact by the CIS. All of the damage you see was done by that one ship."

A ripple of hushed gasps as everyone saw the images. At the same time, various senators shared hushed thoughts. While Kad didn't gasp. he couldn't deny the impressive nature of what he was seeing. The city looked as though it had been raised from orbit. While the explosive nature of an ammunition dump probably helped, he knew enough about the CIS to know that it took more than a couple proton shells to raise a town.

"Not bad," muttered Iska.

Kad nodded in agreement.

"While cruise missiles have proven largely ineffective against CIS warships due to their point defense systems, nuclear devices have seen widespread success," declared Ambassador Galian.

The screens were replaced with mushroom clouds and burning warships. The Ambassador went on to explain that they had taken down seven CIS frigates using this method, and two more by way of hijacking. For the next hour, the two ambassadors took turns answering various questions, and highlighting how Earth had stood up to the CIS.

"With that final question, we will conclude this hearing. I would like to thank the ambassadors for their willingness to discuss this issue and answer the questions of this committee. Given the delicate nature of this discussion, the final vote will happen behind closed doors. When a decision is reached, we will reveal it to the ambassadors in a similar meeting," the Chairman concluded.

With that the meeting came to an end. Audience members began to pour out. As the room began to empty, the Ambassadors were also lead out. This was Kad's cue to move. He motioned for Isk-ka to follow and marched for the doors. The Mandalorian had just found a potential contract.

(Earth: CIS Flagship)

"General Grievous's death is an unfortunate setback to our plans. I still had a use for the lumbering beast," Darth Sidious declared, the disapproval clear in his voice.

"Yes my lord. I have ensured that the problem is contained. Our invasion will continue as planned," Count Dooku agreed.

The Sith apprentice knew enough to not come to his master without a solution in motion. He had done that once, and had no wish to re-experience his master's punishment.

"It is bigger than Earth. There were plans for the offensive, and now those plans are gone," Palpatine.

"Perhaps one of the others could take his place," Count Dooku suggested.

Off the top of his head, he knew of two officers that could step into Grievous's role.

"We will discuss that later. In the meantime, I've got the delegation dealt with. I was able to mitigate the damage of their claims. However, the Jedi are growing troublesome. They're asking questions that are harder to answer, and some are growing even more suspicious," Sidious warned.

Count Dooku nodded in understanding. It was clear that his master was keeping the details to himself. This annoyed the younger Sith, but he knew his place. In time he would be strong enough to challenge Sidious. However, that time was not yet here. So, for the time being, he allowed Sidious to keep his secrets.

"The planet is falling. Their grit has only stalled the inevitable. The virus is spreading, and multiple defensive positions are about to be overrun," Count Dooku explained as he pointed to different areas on the planetary map.

"Good. The drawn out nature of this battle has presented a political opportunity. Proceed with your current actions," Sidious ordered.

"Yes my Lord."