Chapter 21

I would like to thank my reviewers, those who added my story to their alerts and favorites, and to all anonymous readers.

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or Prototype.

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Jon Fevrau sat in the inner sanctum of the chairman's office located in the Kaldani Spires on Coruscant. The room was darkened by tall, brocade curtains and filled with masterpieces of art. Despite the many pieces of value, his mind paid no heed to them, his focus lay elsewhere. Since his transformation, a life of power and adventure awaited him. Or so he thought. Instead, he had been weighted down by the responsibilities brought by managing one of the largest companies in the galaxy. Overseeing the construction on Castell, coupled with the company's new divisions kept him from the life he truly wanted.

It was, however, not all bad. He had always been a somewhat famous figure on Coruscant ever since taking over his families company, now with a slight reputation of being a recluse. Jon could not wish for more power, neither physically or politically. He did have many influential friends he could call upon should any political pressure arise. The wealth was also an added factor, both for him personally and for ProtoCorp. He knew exactly how much this very room cost, just how much resources had been depleted to secure it to their belonging. This room was his private office where no one was allowed to enter.

This was why he felt a rush of anger when he heard the door swish open. Jon flew out of the chair, determined to give hell to whoever employee had been disrespectful enough to enter without an invitation. He came to an abrupt halt; the figure in the doorway was clad in unremarkable clothes, the raised hood effectively hiding his face.

"Zeus!" Jon said, bowing to the knee in a show of respect. "I was unaware we had a meeting."

"Rise, Jon." Zeus told him, "I have been given an opportunity to personally oversee your progress."

Jon stood up to address the master looming above him. For without a doubt, Zeus would one day be the master of all. And he was the tool that would shape the way for his uprising.

"Shall I give a report on our current operations?" Jon offered.

Zeus made a gesture of approval as he sat down in one of the chairs opposite to the desk.

Jon adopted a more professional posture. "I have created three cells, each without knowledge of the others. All to make sure that if one cell is compromised the others will be able to continue as is."

"The first cell focusing on xenopathology," Jon said, leaning back in his chair. "Work on the cure you provided for the Rakghoul plague has already begun. Our operatives of the second cell have begun their work on xenomedicine. Their work will prove invaluable for our pharmaceutical divisions during the next decade."

Jon paused, eyes shifting in consideration. "I have nothing to report about cell three, since you have decided to keep that information from me."

"I am impressed," Zeus began, ignoring to elaborate on the matter. "That you managed to make this possible in such a short amount of time."

"The thought of credits blind the minds of most beings," noted Jon, before adding contentedly. "Yet they will be unable to reap the benefits."

"Be sure to contain them," Zeus warned, emphasizing his point with a shake of the hand. "This cannot get out into the public; the repercussions for ProtoCorp could be catastrophic."

"I will make sure of it." Jon said, considering being more daring. "Perhaps I could be of more use if you informed me of their research?"

"All in good time. For now you need not concern yourself with this." Zeus instructed, tone frosty.

The lack of force sensitivity had been a setback he had not calculated for, this had spurred him to find a reason behind the problem and possibly a cure. While he took care of the Sith's Superweapon, this team would work on his impotency. He would not allow Jon to know about this research and take the possible benefits behind his back. The risk of him becoming a rival instead of a powerful servant was simply too great.

Changing the subject, he asked. "How goes the operation on Castell?"

"I have begun channeling funds," said Jon, nodding towards his master. "Per your request. It will not be traced back to us and a substantial sum is already to our disposal."

Zeus threw him a datapad. "Then it's time to move forward with stage two of project Genesis."

Jon scanned the information on the pad with shock, a silence formed between them, when over a minute had passed did he finally speak.

"What you're planning would take over a hundred years." Jon scratched his chin. "Not to mention the difficulties of finding a large enough workforce and doing so without causing attention."

Zeus nodded, having anticipated such a response. "This is why I am sending you to Zygerria in the Outer Rim. They will provide us with what we need."

"I am unsure if they have the supply required," Jon remarked tentatively.

"If not then make contact with the Karazak Cooperative or the Thalassians." Zeus ordered with authority.

"What about the Jedi? They will not allow this should word reach them."

"The Jedi are too busy waging war against the Empire." Zeus stated flatly. "Besides, they do not have any authority outside the borders of the Republic."

Jon wanted to express more concerns, but the cold eyes without emotion on the opposite side of the desk dissuaded him from raising them. Instead he announced that he would take care of it without fail. Zeus now stood and turned to walk towards the door.

"One more thing," he stopped and glanced back. "I will provide you with a vessel for your… less public activities. Coordinates for its location is in the datapad."

"I will take good care of it."

"See to it that you do." Zeus said. "And prepare a fueled, piloted ship for immediate takeoff."

"Can I provide the pilot with a destination beforehand?"

"Tatooine."

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Voren felt a headache coming as the Holonet flashed on the screen in front, two Star Maps where in the bag but they still lacked the information from the other three. Three more planets where the Empire could lie in wait, it was a difficult dilemma. He did not have the luxury of caution and speed was of the essence, but he was also unwilling to leave a member of the team behind. The news vid showed a piece about the Empire's conquering of Thosa, homeworld of the Draethos, a warrior species with a natural affinity for telepathy and a natural lifespan for up to 800 years. His mood did not settle as he listened intently to Bastila explained the dangers of staying on Tatooine for too long.

"We cannot wait much longer, Voren." Bastila argued. "The Empire knows we are here now. An entire fleet could be arriving at any moment."

Voren shot her a look. "We can't just abandon him."

"Indeed," the elder Jedi Knight mused. "But the longer we wait the more we jeopardize the welfare of every being in the galaxy."

"I know, I know." Voren sighed, lifting a finger to his chin. "Let's give him a few more hours. If he has not turned up by then, we leave."

"Finally you see reason."

Voren folded his arms. "Is there something else on your mind?"

"Yes, there is actually." said Bastila, with a nod. "I have observed you. For someone with so little training, you have been true to the values of the Jedi. I am impressed."

Voren lifted his chin in satisfaction. "A compliment from you? Is the world ending?"

"What!" Bastila said, mouth falling open. "Surely I'm not that bad."

"No," Voren agreed. "But you could turn down your lectures about the dangers of the dark side."

Bastila frowned. "I remind you because the dark side will change you, twist you into something you're not. Once you start down the dark path, it will forever dominate your fate."

"Is that your personal view or the councils?"

"I believe in redemption," Bastila said. "But it can involve some rather unique and powerful circumstances for it to occur."

Voren raised a brow. "Speaking from personal experience?"

Bastila formed a pained expression and opened her mouth to respond when the sound of the ramp lowering echoed throughout the ship. Both of them jumped to the ready and exited the room in the east wing. Voren reached for his lightsaber as they rushed towards the entrance, no one should have been able to open the ramp from the outside. Not without the access code, and there were only one person absent with that knowledge. He prepared for the worst and side-stepped around the last corner, prepared to strike against his foe.

Instead, he came face to face with a hooded figure, sprouting a massive grin.

"Yo, I'm back." Alex said.

"Don't you 'Yo' me!" said Voren, "Where have you been?"

Bastila folded her arms. "More importantly, how did you escape?"

"Let's just say," Alex said mildly, inclining his head. "They won't be a problem anymore."

"You killed them, didn't you?"

"It's not so much I wanted to kill them," he said, "It's just that I didn't want them to be alive anymore."

Voren scoffed, yeah right! More like you wanted to butcher them and their mothers.

"Who were they?" Bastila asked. "And why did they want you?"

"Nothing to worry about," Alex huffed, waving a dismissive hand. "just some Mandalorian mercenaries trying to take me to Malak."

"Oh how stupid of us," Voren said, extending his arms. "It's just the Dark Lord Of the Sith that wants to capture and torture you, no biggie right?"

"I agree." Alex sighed, hands up in front. "It is cause for some concern. But I took care of it."

Bastila were about to retort but Alex cut her off.

"Now if there's nothing else, I'd like to have some privacy."

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Voren pulled his hair back.

If he thought a headache was forming before, it had now hit him straight on. He still had a lot of questions left when Alex abruptly left the entrance and locked himself in his room. Not just about his recent capture, but earlier circumstances needed to be cleared up, not to mention that the council expected progress. So he found himself staring at Alex's closed door, hearing a hiss as it flew open.

"What are you?" he asked.

"Annoyed," Alex grumbled, looking up from the datapad in his hands. "At being interrupted."

"You know what I mean." Voren shot him a look. "I need to know if you're a threat to the team."

"Well," Alex began. "I'm not human, which you probably realize."

Voren nodded. "You can shapeshift, Canderous mention something about the clawdites."

"Similar, but not the same." Alex set down his datapad. "My… species don't have a name and we can change our appearance at will after we consume a target."

"Consume?" Voren put a hand to a throbbing temple. The headache intensified, is that what he did to those Tusken Raiders? Did he consume them? Was such a thing even possible?

"I absorb what I want; the process converts organic material into biomass." His grin stretched even further. "I take all they are, their names and skills, their thoughts and beliefs, their memories. I can also use their meatsuit whenever I please."

Alex convulsed, a layer of black and red tendrils crawled over his body, when they settled a figure clad in Mandalorian armor stood in his place. Voren stared with bulging eyes, skin tingling. He couldn't believe what his eyes showed him; the force gave him no further comfort. All he felt was a large empty space where Alex should have been, just like every other time. A few moments passed and Alex convulsed again, replacing the armor with his trademark black leather jacket and raised hood.

Voren let the force wash over him, calming his mind. Then he realized just how dangerous the being standing in front of him truly was. Alex could become anyone, and learn anything in the span it takes him to blink. He also had the capacity to have a wrestling match with a Krayt dragon. He seemed to have no weaknesses. If one member of his species could do this, imagine what a few hundred could do. They could possibly be a match for the Jedi Order. Voren shuddered and swallowed hard, and he couldn't help but ask.

"How many of you are there?"

Alex shrugged. "I left my homeworld a long time ago, but to my knowledge, I'm the only one to do so."

Voren let out a breath. "And should I ever get the sudden urge to meet with your people, where would I find them?"

"Far into the Unknown Regions." Alex said flatly. "But the exact location shall remain my secret."

Voren nodded, letting the subject drop. Making sure Alex was not a threat to the team and stopping the Sith was more important at the moment than to worry about a species far removed from the galactic community. He vowed to reclaim the subject when this war was over, for now he would observe and make sure he fell in line. Should Alex become a problem afterwards, then he and the Jedi council would take care of him.

"Well," Alex began. "Am I a risk to everyone? If so we can part ways here."

"No," the Jedi answered. "That won't be necessary as long as you know that I'm in charge."

"Of course."

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Au

The team is back together, not much else to note in this chapter. Basically a bunch of conversations that I felt needed to be done. Next time we're off to the lands of hairy apes… *Clears throat* I mean, fine looking Wookies.