Thanks everybody for reading and taking the time to review. This is one of those chapters where it would be more meaningful if you have had read The Journal of Mark Tantiss. That fic explains the back story to Commander Tavik. But, no worries, I think I wrote it so it is not dependent on reading that fic.

Coruscant - Jedi Temple

Commander Tavik had been in the Jedi Temple a few times and was fairly sure he could find his way around. He moved through the maze of corridors until he reached his destination. He stood in front of a temple door, straightening his uniform and running his hand through his hair, before he pushed the door buzzer and waited impatiently for someone to answer. After a few moments the person Tavik often jokingly referred to as Mark Tantiss' 'true Master' opened the door.

He smiled warmly at the tall, dark haired woman with flawless tan skinned and a figure that would be the envy of women two decades her junior. The commander of Tenel Ka's private security force gave her a teasing grin. "Hello Kira, is your brain dead husband here? I need to talk to him?"

She smiled broadly. "Deke! Deke Tavik!" She pulled the large man into her embrace. "I haven't seen you since Talon's Knighting ceremony. It's been years."

He returned the hug and gave her a platonic kiss on the cheek. "Working security for Tenel Ka is a full time job…and I mean full time."

She stepped back and ran an appraising gaze over his dark blue dress uniform. "I like that outfit. It is much nicer than the Galactic Alliance uniform."

"And definitely better than that ugly Taris Defense Force uniform I wore the first time we met." Deke said as he proudly straightened his leather holster that held his blaster and an odd assortment of other lethal weapons.

"Definitely, that was one ugly uniform." she said with a smile. "Now, what has my brain-dead husband done to warrant a visit from the Commander of Her Royal Highness' Security Force?"

He shrugged. "I just need to beat some information out of him."

She nodded, looking completely unconcerned. "You let me know if you need any help with that."

He laughed. "I knew I could count on you if he got stubborn."

"Well, don't just stand in the doorway, come on in." She ushered the man inside. "Mark is cleaning the ysalamiri cages, I'll go get him."

"No," Deke said. "I know my way." He looked over to the kitchen where he smelled something delicious baking. "I don't want to take you away from what you're making. Would that be some of your famous chocolate candies?"

"It's a cake, but you are welcome to have some before you leave if you like."

"You know I would. I still remember those chocolates you'd send Mark while we were in Jump School together," Deke said before he moved to the back of the apartment where he knew Mark kept his animals.

Deke Tavik met Mark Tantiss almost three decades earlier at Jump School and worked together as Jump Buddies throughout the instruction. After graduation, Mark went back to the Jedi and Deke returned to his home planet of Taris where he requested a transfer from the Taris Defense Force into a Galactic Alliance Jump Trooper regiment, which was later renamed and given the distinguished designation of Void Jumpers. The two men had fought together in a number of battles and skirmishes with Mark attached to the GA military units as a 'Jedi Asset'.

Deke popped his head through the doorway of the ysalamiri room and found Mark cleaning up lizard droppings off the bottom of the cage. "The great Jedi, cleaning up lizard crap…how appropriate."

Mark looked up and smiled broadly. "Deke, what brings you here?" He wiped his hands on a rag, but after inspecting them he decided to forgo the handshake. "Sorry, my hands are a little dirty."

"That's what I heard," Tavik said.

Mark frowned. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is the Queen Mother is horribly upset by what you did to her friend Jacen Solo."

"Oh," Mark whispered. "She told you." Mark gave a big sigh as he ran his fingers through his beard nervously. "We made the best decision based on the knowledge we had at the time."

"A memory rub seems a little extreme," Tavik said brusquely. "But what's done is done." He leaned against the doorjamb while giving his friend a steady gaze. "I heard you picked up some of Jacen's thoughts while doing the rub. The Queen was informed today that Lumiya was identified as the person who delivered the virus to the palace…and Jacen is associated with Lumiya. What I need to know is… was Jacen involved with the Hapan Plague?"

Mark's newly dyed green eyes turned hard. "Jacen killed Lumiya. That's his only association with the Sith you need to know."

Tavik gave a big toothy grin. "He killed her? Did he really?" he said mockingly, not believing that account at all. "I bet he didn't, but that story is genius. Not only are you covering up his association with a Sith, but you are going to make him the hero. Oh that's rich." He shook his head in dour amusement. "I'll bet that was your idea. Well, that may be what the Jedi want the galaxy to believe, but you and I know better."

Mark gave him a disgusted look. "Why do you need to know? Do the Hapans want a Jedi to execute? Force knows they hate us enough."

"Damn it, Mark," Deke stepped forward. "There's going to be a big investigation. The creator of the virus might be found and interrogated. If he talks then things will get very bad for your nephew, the Jedi and the Jedi Queen."

"What are you planning?" Mark asked. "Are you going to locate and kill the person who made the virus?"

"If I have to. I definitely need to destroy the datapad trail back to Jacen…if he's involved." His eyes bore into Mark's "Tell me Mark…was Jacen involved?"

Mark looked away in thought. "The Queen, does she know what you're doing?"

"Yes…she wants this issue resolved…quietly. I believe she is somewhat fond of your Jedi. She wants to keep him out of trouble, but to do that I need to know the truth. I need to know where to start. There are too many planets in the galaxy for me to track down every geneticist." He put his hand on Mark's shoulder. "I swear to you, on my honor…I am here to help Jacen…to clean up his mess and nothing more."

Mark looked at him doubtfully. "You once told me you hated Jedi, why risk everything for Jacen or Tenel Ka?"

Tavik smirked "Because a Jedi once saved my life…I guess I owe you guys one."

Mark gave a self-effacing smile. "You don't owe me anything."

"Maybe so, but I need your help." There was an uncomfortable pause between the two men until Tavik broke the silence. "Come on!"

Mark had to laugh. "Why does everybody that's trying to make me do something I don't want to do use the 'Come on' argument?"

Deke smiled. "Because it usually works." He dropped his hand from Mark's shoulder and took a step back. "If he wasn't involved you would have said so by now. Don't you want to help your nephew and the Jedi?"

Mark's shoulders slumped as a soft groan escaped his lips. "I have been thinking about that all week. I am torn as to what to do. I'm a Jedi…but Jacen is family."

"I guess that answers the question of whether he's involved or not."

Mark nodded sadly. "He was involved, but he was told the virus would only kill Ta'a Chume."

"Well she was definitely somebody who needed a good killing." He looked at Mark confused. "Why so many deaths then? We need to find out why this disease ran rampant throughout the palace. Maybe it was a double-cross. Where's the doctor who made the virus?"

A weary expression crossed Mark's face. "That is another reason I have been hesitant to act. He's an Imperial. I didn't want to do something to interfere with the treaty."

Tavik made a face. "Great…not only does this involve the Jedi, Hapans, and the Galactic Alliance, but let's throw the Imperials into the mix." He ran his hands through his graying blond hair. "Mark, just tell me who it is and I'll take care of this problem."

"I'll tell you everything I know about the virus, but I want to go with you. I can't let you do this alone."

"Sure, I can use backup," Deke said with a smile. "It'll be like old times."

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Author's Notes: Deke was a major character in Mark's life in the fanfic "The Journal of Mark Tantiss". In this story I needed somebody that Mark would trust that wasn't a Jedi...somebody who didn't mind getting his hands dirty. Deke Tavik is identified by his full name in The Journal of Mark Tantiss at least twice. I was waiting for someone to go back to find out if Deke's last name was Tavik, but nobody did. I hope I gave enough clues. Tavik said he had friends among the Jedi. He calls the Jedi 'Spooks' in front of the Queen...something Deke Tavik would do. He is totally insolent and insubordinate like Deke. His physical description is the same and he is a Jump Trooper (according to Wookieepedia the term Void jumper came into existence approximately around the time period that this story takes place. Before that it was Jump Troopers and prior to that they were Jet Troopers).