Hapes

The person who hired Lumiya had given her a transponder code to bypass normal security screening at the Hapan skyport. She was also provided data on the location of the Palace air intake ducts.

Using forged papers identifying her as a courier and with a little help from the Force, she was able to get past the guards and into a maintenance room. She locked the door behind her and quickly pulled open the venting system air intake panel and dragged out a large filter capable of removing particles as small as ten microns. She then reached into the duct system and sprinkled the viral spores deep within the air conduit and then replaced the filter. The spores would now disperse without having to get past an air purifying system. When the air circulation system kicked on the nanovirus would disseminate throughout the Palace. Lumiya chuckled to herself. If Ta'a Chume was the person who actually paid for the hit, she was in for a nasty surprise. Lumiya wondered with some sadistic glee if Ta'a Chume would realize she had been betrayed before she died.

Having finished her work she exited the Palace and returned to her ship in a nearby docking bay. It was imperative to get out of the area before she was identified…and she was fairly certain she would eventually be identified. The forged papers provided most likely would track back to her somehow. Even if they didn't, there was a chance that face recognition software would eventually key on her. Hopefully her features changed enough in the last two decades that she would only pop up in a security screen as a 'possible' match.

Of course, she could have avoided this danger if she wore her veil. But on Hapes that would only attract more attention. The population's narcissistic worship of human beauty meant only somebody severely disfigured would opt to cover her face.

She made it back to her ship and powered up. She wanted to be off the planet before the former Queen mother died and the spaceports were locked down for an investigation. While in the cockpit she noticed there was a message on her subspace transceiver. She pushed a button and listened to the recorded communication. She frowned as she heard a frantic Jacen Solo trying to call off the mission. He was obviously getting cold feet, but it was too late now. She peeled off her jacket and tossed it on the co-pilot seat. The garment hit the chair and then slipped off pulling her satchel to the deck and spilling its contents.

"Stang," she cursed as she bent down, grabbed the bag and started tossing the contents back inside. Suddenly something on the floor caught her eye. She reached out and with a trembling hand, picked up a Lecapanine dart. She dropped it on the co-pilot seat and began a frantic search of the satchel. She poured all the contents out on the seat and picked through the objects. When she didn't find what she was looking for she closed her eyes and groaned in dread. She packed a toxic dart and a Lecapanine dart—exactly one each. If her tranquilizer dart was here that meant she gave Jacen the wrong injector.

She sat down heavily in the pilot chair. That was notwhat she wanted. She craved redemption and avoidance of the eternal damnation given to Sith spirits after death. She was fairly certain helping kill the wife of the Grand Master of the Jedi Order wasn't going to help her achieve that goal.

"Fierfek," she swore angrily. This was bad. If Jacen killed Mara Jade Skywalker he would be in danger. She wouldn't be surprised if Skywalker himself hunted his nephew down and killed him.

She wasn't sure how she was going to salvage this mess. Jacen would suspect treachery on her part and would hate her for what happened. Lumiya sighed. Jacen may hate her, but now he had nowhere else to go but to her. The Jedi would never forgive him or accept him back within their ranks. If he killed Mara, he would be hunted down and brought to justice…unless she found him first and brought him back to The Home…there he would be safe.

.
.

Hydian Way Hyperspace Route

Mark looked over to his nephew resting in the co-pilot seat. The young man finally fell asleep after Mark gave him shot of Nyex for his pain. He also slapped on a couple bacta patches on his nephew so his face wouldn't be permanently disfigured.

He was still angry, but as long as he didn't get into any arguments with Jacen he could feel the fury slowly slip away. He still couldn't forgive his nephew for the attack on Mara, but at least he wasn't in the homicidal rage that frightened him earlier.

By now, Kira must have heard the news about him and was worried sick. He currently was between hyperspace jumps; he needed to call her while he could. He leaned forward and keyed in the transceiver code for his apartment. After a few minutes his wife's beautiful, but anxious, face appeared.

"Mark!" She let out a relieved breath. "Gods Mark, you should have called me earlier. I've been having a panic attack. People are going crazy around here about Mara's injury and Ben said something bad happened to you and he was afraid you were going to kill Jacen. Mara's still in a coma so she can't tell us what happened. What is going on?"

Mark put his hands up in a placating gesture. "Don't worry Kira. I'm fine and Jacen is…well, he's almost fine. I had to use the dark side to save Mara's life, but I'm…I'm feeling much better now."

Kira looked grief-stricken. "Was Jacen the one who hurt Mara?"

Mark nodded sadly.

"Why?" Kira asked. "He adores his aunt."

"People do things horrible things when the dark side of the Force is involved. Believe me, I found that out in the last day."

Kira leaned in closer to her holonet transceiver. "Ben said your eyes changed."

"My eyes turned yellow when I used the dark side of the Force," Mark admitted.

She looked confused. "If you're feeling fine and not using the dark side now…then why are they still yellow?"

Mark shrugged. "I don't know. I think something happened with the green dye in my eyes. The dark Force energy interacted with my natural pigments and the dye and…made my eyes yellow."

She looked at him skeptically. "Blue and green mixed usually doesn't equal yellow."

"Don't worry. I don't feel Sithy," he said with a roll of his eyes. "I'll get them dyed when I get back home." He paused and then gave her a cocky grin. "Unless you like them this way."

She gave a shudder. "I'll pass." She looked at him uncertain. "So I can report to the Jedi that you have no psychotic desire to ravish the galaxy?"

"No, but I would like to ravish you," he said with a grin. "I can wear leather pants and a black cape if you like. It would give me a Darth Vaderesque look perhaps."

"Gods," she said with a shake of her head. "What am I going to do with you, Mark?" She closed her eyes in frustration, but then chuckled. "No thanks, I said I liked you as a bad boy, but that's not what I had in mind."

"Are you sure?" He held his hand out toward the holocam. "Join me Kira and we can roll under the sheets as husband and wife."

She waved him off with her hand. "I know you are trying to reassure me by being your same playful self, but be serious for a moment." She gave him a steady look. "Is Jacen alright? Is he really fine…or almost fine?"

His brow furrowed. "Yes, I said he was." He reached over to his nephew and lightly poked him on the shoulder. "Jacen, Jacen!"

The young man lifted his head and struggled his groggy eyes open. "What?"

Mark turned the holocam toward him and pointed to the video screen. "Your Aunt Kira wants to make sure you're okay."

Jacen's eyes went wide. "Aunt Kira, help me!" He struggled against his bonds as he pleaded to his aunt. "Tell Uncle Luke he is going to kill me! He's Sith. Tell him he's Sith."

Mark groaned as he pulled out his blaster and stunned his nephew again. As Jacen's head lulled to the side, Mark turned the holocam back towards him and gave his wife a disarming look. "Sorry about that. He's a bit excitable."

Kira's hand was over her mouth in stunned shock. "Mark, did you kill him?"

"What? No, I stunned him. It's for the best. Irritating me is not good for his health." He holstered his weapon and gave his wife a sad pleading gaze. "Kira, he's the one that tried to kill Mara. I'm the one who saved her. I hope the Jedi remember that. I'm going to Myrkr. I'll give Luke a call when I get there."

She didn't return his smile. Her eyes narrowed and he could see her fold her arms across her chest. She then gave him the look he always dreaded—the 'you are in big trouble'look. "Was Jacen in that condition when you found him?" Her voice was tight with emotion, demanding. "It looks like he was worked over good!"

Mark shifted in his seat nervously. "No, I hit him."

Her expression darkened. "Is that why you're not bringing him to Coruscant? Are you waiting until he's healed so Luke, Leia and Han can't see what you did to him?"

"No, that's not it," he said defensively.

"Then what is it? I know you are hiding something from me!"

Mark fought back his frustration. He never understood how a non-Force user could read him better than any Jedi. "Shavit, Kira! I don't want Luke to see me like this!" he yelled at the holocam. "It'll take time to purge myself of the dark side. I need to calm down…and I have to secure Jacen. He is dangerous. I'll feel safer on Myrkr."

Kira glared at her husband. "Mark," she said slowly. "You and I both know that being on Myrkr is not going to help you one bit when it comes to controlling your temper and it won't purge any dark side tendencies haunting you. This is going to be all on you. Don't give me any of this 'the darkside made me do it'poodoo. You have to control yourself. You! If you don't you might accidently kill someone. You, of all people, know what you are capable of."

Mark's head drooped penitently. "You're right." He took a couple deep breaths then looked up and gave her a strained smile. "Everything is going to be fine. I just need some time to cool down." He looked over to his unconscious nephew. "I think we both need some time."

"Don'thit him again." Kira punctuated every word of warning.

Mark nodded. "No hitting. Got it."

"I'll give you some time to calm down, but if you don't tell Luke the situation by tomorrow, then I am going to tell him."

"I understand." He gave her a warm smile. "I'm sorry for making you worry. I love you."

"I love you too," Kira replied softly. "Please take care of yourself...and Jacen."

"I will, Love. I promise. I'll talk to you soon. Mark out." He switched off the comm and leaned back in the pilot seat. He heaved a frustrated sigh within the dimly lit cockpit as he contemplated his fate.

He hoped everything was going to be all right. He knew Zekk turned to the darkside when he was held captive by the shadow academy and he returned to the Jedi. Darth Vader, the youngling killing sleemo that he was, was redeemed. He shouldn't have a problem. After all, he used the dark side for good. He'd get back on track.

Mark looked over to Jacen. "I even think you're redeemable," he said to his unconscious nephew. "We both are."

Or at least, that's what he hoped.