Myrkr System

Mark Tantiss' modified Headhunter, the Red Rancor, came out of hyperspace in the Myrkr system and made its approach to the planet at a sublight speed. Jacen sat silently in the co-pilot seat staring out of the viewport blankly, too deep in thought to even notice their approach to their final destination. His mind kept going back to the tranquilizer dart Lumiya handed to him. Why didn't he confirm it was Lecepanine? Could he have actually killed his aunt? He felt heartsick, but also very confused by the events of the past few days.

He wished he could meditate through the Force, but the ysalamiri prevented him from doing so. He had to think things through like a normal non-Force user—albeit, one who probably had a concussion, was stunned twice, and was being held captive by a giant, redheaded Sith.

He remembered back to that day on Kavan. He saw two ships, the Jade Shadow and Mark's Headhunter. If only two people followed him, then where was his aunt now? If she was really dead…did Mark leave her body in the tunnels? Sith or not, Jacen couldn't imagine Mark leaving his aunt's body to rot on the floor of an abandoned shelter. He was always overprotective when it came to Mara—the woman he regarded as his sister. Was Mark lying to Jacen about her death? Could it be a trick to turn Jacen to the dark side?

But if it was true, if Jacen did accidentally kill his aunt…then what is his uncle going to do to him? Why was he bringing him to Myrkr and not Coruscant? Did he plan on giving Jacen a slow, painful death? He shuddered not wanting to think about the possibility. Mara must be alive. Otherwise, he was sure Mark would have beaten him to death on Kavan.

At the risk of being stun-blasted again and asked his uncle the question. "If aunt Mara is actually dead…where's her body? She's not on this ship."

He expected his uncle to get angry or strike out at him, but all he saw was a deep sense of sadness on the larger man's face. "No, she's not," he said cryptically.

"Where is she?" Jacen asked.

His uncle glared at him for a moment and turned away. "It doesn't matter where she is."

"Why are you bringing me to Myrkr?" Jacen asked nervously.

Mark gave him a quick glance then went back to flying his ship. "I'm not ready to face Luke yet."

"What do you mean? Are you going to Myrkr to help disguise your true nature?" Jacen scoffed. "You better do something about your eyes then. We're both Force blind and you still can't hide the fact you're a Sith."

Mark turned and gave Jacen an ominous, icy glare. "You're wrong about that Jacen, very wrong."

"Just like you're wrong about me," Jacen shot back. "I'm no Sith."

Mark shrugged. "That may be, but you did kill Mara. That I know for a fact."

Jacen shook his head. "No, that's not true. You must have killed her. Who's next? Uncle Luke?"

His uncle just laughed. "You're a moron, Jacen." Mark punched in the autopilot and stood. "I'm going to get something to drink, you thirsty?"

Jacen was surprised by his uncle's more cordial nature. "No, thanks," he said with a shake of his head.

"Suit yourself," Mark replied as he walked to the rear of the ship while mumbling something about 'stupid Sith'.

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As Mark moved aft he looked back at Jacen and shook his head. He wondered why he wanted to know where Mara's body was. Was he afraid she was lying in some forensic lab while crime scene investigators built a case against him? He was going to be surprised when he found out she was alive, but right now it was best that he didn't know.

Currently his nephew was hanging on to the slim hope nobody could prove he attacked his aunt. If he knew she survived and could testify against him…then he would become like a cornered animal—desperate and with nothing to lose. Mark wanted backup before that was revealed. He knew from experience that desperate men were the most dangerous people in the galaxy.

He reached the ship's small galley and opened up the cooling unit. He pulled out some blue milk and drank straight out of the carton. In a few more hours and they would be planetside. Mark was relieved that Jacen hadn't given him any trouble since the last time he stunned him. He mostly sat and stared out the viewport in a depressed silence. He didn't even try to escape when Mark took off his cuffs long enough for him to remove his overly warm cloak. The lack of conflict was a blessing. It allowed Mark to cool down and compose himself. Unfortunately, with the return to normalcy came a feeling of profound guilt for his brutal attack on Jacen. Kira was right; he could have killed the man. And, although that is exactly what he wanted to do at that particular moment, he knew he could never face the Solo family again if he had.

He sat down at the galley's small dining table, pushing aside Jacen's cloak lying on the tabletop. He took a couple long sips of the milk, grimacing at its sour taste. He looked at the expiration date and realized it was a week past the 'Use by' date.

He looked over at Jacen's cloak and noticed something odd. Near the hem of the garment there was a patch of cloth that didn't look like it was part of the original fabric. Mark reached out and ran a finger over the patch and felt an outline of a small object underneath.

He put down the milk and pulled the cloak over to him. He scratched at the corner of the patch and eventually was able to pry up the corner and peel back the fabric. Underneath was a small electronic apparatus that he immediately recognized it as a personal tracking device.

He held up the small homing beacon and smiled. He was fairly certain it was Lumiya following Jacen's movements and if he was correct...then there was a very good chance she would attempt to retrieve her apprentice.

He really hoped she would drop by Myrkr. If Lumiya never visited the planet's lush ysalamiri-infested forests before she was in for a surprise…a very big surprise.

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Hapes Cluster

Tenel Ka was on the bridge her Capital Ship the Dragon Queen when Commander Tavik walked up and bowed before her. The commander of her personal security team was somewhat cheeky in private, but in public he showed her every courtesy befitting a Queen. "Your highness, your father has requested your presence in his stateroom."

She was a bit startled by her father's request; that typically meant he had something serious to discuss. She nodded to her guard. "Lead the way, Commander."

She walked through the Queen's deck and to the lavish stateroom she kept specifically for her father's use. She pushed the door buzzer and entered gesturing for her guard to wait outside.

Prince Isolder sat on an ornate couch in the middle of the room. Her father was in his late fifties, but maintained his handsome, regal good looks with only of a few worry lines around his eyes and some graying at the temples to mark the years that passed. He was nursing what looked like a shot of whiskey. He looked up and she could feel through the Force, and see on his face, that something was very wrong.

Her first thought was for her daughter. She turned in the direction of her quarters and reached out with the Force, searching for Allana. She quickly found her in good health and projecting amusement and happiness through the Force. In Tenel Ka's mind's eye she could visualize Allana playing with her toys while two nearby guards remained vigilant.

She let out a relieved breath then turned back to her father. "What's wrong?"

He finished his drink and placed it on a side table. "My personal assistant on Hapes informed me a viral epidemic broke out within the Palace. The Palace and surrounding government buildings are all under quarantine until the Hapan Center for Disease Control can contain the outbreak. It's recommended that you stay away from Hapes and I strongly suggest you heed that recommendation."

"Is there any news as to the source of the outbreak?" Tenel Ka asked with a growing sense of unease. "How many are ill or dead?"

"Preliminary tests indicate that it's a resistant strain of influenza but, for whatever reason, members of the Royal families have been hit the hardest. The doctors don't know if there's a genetic factor involved or not. No deaths are reported so far, but some of the more elderly royals have been hospitalized…including my mother."

Tenel Ka wanted to say, "Good", but she didn't. Her father professed an intense hatred for his mother, but often children of the most despicable parents will still mourn their passing. Instead, she gave him a sympathetic gesture of understanding.

"I will call for a full investigation of the highest priority. This could be a deliberate attack on the Hapan ruling class."

Her father gave a solemn nod. "That is all we can do at this point."