Decisions Part 4 Force Ghosts and Demons

by Jules Cesar

A continuation of the Decisions series. Krillgan is having trouble mourning Smasher's death. He also blames himself for not being there in time to prevent Grandmother Emily from dying. While on Devaron, researching how to be recognised as a Krillgan, the Voss contact him. They need his help preventing the dead Sith Emperor from taking on corporeal form and ruling the Empire, again.

9. Chapter 9

©2018

Krillgan moved out of Rasha and Tamrack's suite, after the Lianna Royal Yacht left the planet. He asked the Selkath elder, if he could move in with them. Just like when he was a child. He did not expect them to vacate their bedroom again. But they insisted. He was too important of a person to them. To sleep anywhere but their bedroom.

Krillgan found that he spent most of his time, talking with Grimm. They would even take a fishing boat, the beat up grill, the tent, and a cooler full of vegetables, and chilled tea. Krillgan would paddle to the sand island, with the lagoon on one side, and they would stay there and talk. Even sleeping overnight in the tent. They were only warned about certain nights that they could not sleep there, because the tides would cover the islands.

While they were there, Krillgan would fish for them. As he knew where the fish were, using the force. He was never gone for long. The Firaxian Sharks that swam around the sacred lagoon, quickly learnt to respect this stranger that readily entered their waters. If they did not, the water would suddenly go cold, and they would run into something they did not see, but would bruise their snout.

While on the island, they had raw fish and seaweed for breakfast, along with some boiled grain they cooked the previous day. At lunch, they cooked crustaceans, grilled vegetables, and enough boiled grain, to last an entire day. After lunch, they would place some fish and vegetables on the grill. Because they were past the hottest part of the day. It took much longer for the food to cook on the grill, but by the time they were hungry for dinner, it was usually ready.

They talked about Krillgan's inability to mourn for the people he lost. To Krillgan, Smasher was people. Grimm surprised him one day, by saying that he should not be upset about himself, when it was his turn to die, helping him. Many on his planet had seen Krillgan, and some of the things he has done. But he got to work with him. He has also seen that he gets to die, helping him. So he needs to understand, that he has chosen this ending to his life. He is going to be real proud to stand before his ancestors, and describe in detail, all the ways he helped him when he was alive. So he will be very upset with him, if he starts blaming himself for his death. Grimm told Krillgan, that he knows that everyone who died helping him, were very proud to have met him, and given their lives in a worthy cause. Even Grandmother Emily. Only she did not expect her death to be so drawn out. She regrets that she hurt him by dying slowly. Krillgan asked him, how he knew this? Grimm told him that Grandmother Emily came to him in a dream, when they first started talking, and shared what she did. She also shared, that as Andriel's mother, she has been welcome at many fires. She has even had a chance to visit with Grandmother Dreamarra from Eriadu. Who saw him sent by Andriel to rescue their One Clan. She saw this just before she died, so was able to pass it along, so that the One Clan had hope.

Grimm told him that he has brought hope to many people, and will continue to bring hope to others, as long as he does not let his heart fill with bitterness, by learning to grieve for those he lost. Their loss has hurt his heart, because they all meant something to him, including little Joy. So now he needs to grieve, so that the pain can be put into its proper place, so he can continue to live and minister to others.

Grimm gave Krillgan a lot to think about. This isolated island turned out to be a great place for both Grimm and Krillgan to meditate. After that day, they spent more time meditating, then they did talking. Returning to Ahto City, when expecting high tides. Then returning to the island to continue were they left off.

One morning, an excited Grimm told Krillgan, while they were eating breakfast, that he now knows why he has not been able to mourn, and that his heart is now able to receive what he has to say. Krillgan wanted to know, why has he not been able to mourn? But Grimm would not tell him, until after they finished breakfast, and washed up. Then he dropped the biggest bombshell. He told Krillgan that he has trouble mourning for others, because he has not mourned for himself. Krillgan became defensive, and asked Grimm, why should he mourn for himself? Grimm told him that he was raped. It is something that has wounded him deeply, and hurt his marriage. Krillgan became a little angry and said that he wasn't raped, he was the one doing the raping. Grimm reminded him, that rape is when someone is forced to do a sexual act, against their will. Yes he raped that woman, but at the same time, he was also being raped, because of the drugs he was given. He was forced to commit acts of sex, against his will. Because he has never admitted this to himself, but has focused on what he did to someone else, he has never properly mourned. Since he was always mourning about what he did, and not what was done to him. Krillgan broke down crying, then he started sobbing, as a pain very deep in his heart, started to come out. Grimm sat with him, with an arm around him, and let him sob. After the tears washed the one pain from his heart, Krillgan started sobbing about another pain. He cried again for abusing Amblin-Elu, who sacrificed her body, so that the toxins could be purged from his body, with as little damage to him, as was possible. He mourned for Smasher, who died while he was so far away from him, rather than being with him, as was his responsibility, as they were bonded. He cried as he remembered the last words that Smasher told Ludia. At least she was there in his place. Then he remembered their time together. He rescued Smasher from a deep sorrow, and they shared many good times together. That they have the Phoenix, was only because of their bond. It was fitting that Smasher was there when the Phoenix was reborn. That because of their bond, he was able to give him something beyond his imagination, he gave him membership into his herd. Though he was one of the smallest herd members, he was highly respected. The herd always looked forward to his return, and the new stories he would share with them. Again it was Ludia, who took his place, in telling the herd about Smasher's passing. Then he started mourning Grandmother Emily's passing. Because of what Grimm said, he saw her passing in a new light. She stood up to the bully, not because she could physically beat him. She had a grandson who could do that. She stood up to him. To let him know that he could not defeat her where it counts, in her heart. He beat her because he was a coward, who knew he could not win. Krillgan went over everyone he knew that died because of him. He was so sorry that he never got to meet Joy, except in her death. Then he grieved for the smuggler, who died in the fighter/bomber. Ludia was right, he died a hero. It was wrong of Krillgan to take that away from him. At least in his heart, he can acknowledge that about him. So his life was not wasted, as Krillgan had been looking at him.

Krillgan had not noticed that he had been crying all day. Grimm only got his attention, because the water has started to rise. They need to pack everything up, and put it away, before it all floats away from them. But first, Grimm gave him a couple of bottles of not so chilled, chilled tea. He needs to replace a lot of the fluids he had lost.

Krillgan was not in a hurry to return to Ahto City. He thought about what happened today, and how it tied in to what he had learnt through his meditations. He only picked up the pace when his stomach growled, and he realised that he had not eaten anything since breakfast. Then he started craving a burger from the cantina, and a bottle of new ale to wash it down.

It was a few days later, that the Phoenix landed. Rasha ran down off of the ramp, and embraced Krillgan, asking him to forgive her. Krillgan told her that he forgivers her. Now he needs her to forgive him, because he was not strong enough to help her, when she needed him. She told him that it was alright. Tamrack was there for her, and even carried her, when she did not have the strength. Tamrack heard that last part, as he approached Rasha and Krillgan. It felt good to have his wife praise him, to this man he greatly respects. Timrune also wanted a hug from Uncle Krillgan. He missed him. So Tamrack handed him over, for Krillgan to carry.

Krillgan told them that he knows Dranna wants them to leave right away. But it would not hurt them to be there for a couple of days. The Ambassadors really want to have dinner with them. Then he went aboard to say hello to Stoneman and Rudy. He apologised, that he would need to put his starfighter in their den area again, but it can't be helped. He approached Dranna to let her know that Madam Santhe filled him in on the situation on Cerea. He told her that Rasha and Tamrack need a couple of days on Manaan. They are his family. Then they will go, so that he can help her with her family. He reminded her, that there are those on Cerea keeping an eye on her family until they get there. From what she has already shared, their happiness is because they are together, not because of where they live. Dranna admitted that he spoke the truth. She just wants them living in the place that is their real home. Krillgan asked her, if she was going to leave the Phoenix, and move back in with her family. Dranna told him that she does not know. Her heart and head are divided, over where her place should be. The whole crew went to the dock to grab a launch, after Krillgan finished loading his starship onto the Phoenix.

For Wu'la and Ya'rrun, it was hard to imagine that the owner and the Captain of the Phoenix, had so much influence, and respect, that they have special suites, in a resort. On the launch ride over, Krillgan told Tamrack, and Rasha, that Ludia and the children were there when he returned from Tatooine. Then Madam Santhe showed up with her entourage. So they moved out of the Phoenix's suite, into their suite. They forbid the children to lite any more fires, after they started that campfire in the middle of the living room. Someone had told them that they need a campfire to sing some campfire songs. Timrune asked Uncle Krillgan if they really started a fire in the place they live on this world. Tamrack told his son that Uncle Krillgan was just teasing them.

"You are teasing, aren't you?"

"Talmi said that his people can perform miracles. There will be no way to tell that anything happened."

Then Krillgan winked at Tamrack.

Krillgan and the crew went to the Phoenix's suite. Rasha and her family went to their suite. Timrune inspected every square centimeter of the carpet in the living room, and could not spot any evidence of a fire or repair. He asked his father, where he thinks the fire was? Tamrack asked him if he smelt any smoke, or anything burning? Timrune told him that he could not smell anything because of mother's candles. Tamarack told him that if there is no evidence of a fire, than there was probably no fire. Then he told his son to get ready for dinner, they are going to eat with the Ambassadors.

At dinner, Timrune came up to Chask, and asked quietly if he could sit on her lap. He saw his friend Ta'Yanna sit on her lap, and she looked like she was having fun. Chask picked him up, and sat him on her lap. She then offered him the tip of one of her headtails. She told him that Ta'Yanna liked sucking on her headtail. Timrune looked at his mother, and she nodded her head yes. So he started sucking on the headtail, and leaned against her chest. Chask told Rasha that she has a very nice little boy. She hopes her baby will be as nice as him. All the Ambassadors said the same thing, which made Rasha's eyes go wide. She asked, if they were all pregnant? They told her that Krillgan said they are, and they hope that he knows his stuff. Rasha told them, that as far as she knows, he has never been wrong. Then she told them about some Togruta that his family visited when he was about Timrune's age. They told him that one of the companions was pregnant. So he went up to her, lifted her blouse, and put his head against her tummy. So that he could listen for the baby. He started to hum the lullaby that his mother would sing to him every night. He then told everyone that the baby is happy. They had him listen to the tummy of another companion. He told them that there is something there, but it is not yet a baby. It was looking for food. Then he listened to the third companion. He told them that he only heard gas. He pushed on her tummy, and she burped. The next day he listened to the tummy of the companion he was not sure about. He started humming the lullaby. When they asked him why? He told everyone, that it found food. Now it is a happy baby. The companion started screaming, and jumping up and down. He grabbed her, and told her no jumping.

The Ambassador asked Krillgan, if this story is true? Krillgan told them that he doesn't remember. But it sounds like something he would do. His parents also had to teach him to stop lifting women's blouses. The Ambassadors laughed, and asked him if he was a very good student? He told them that Ludia does not think so. Which made them laugh again.

The Ambassadors told Rasha when they were each expecting, according to Krillgan. They told her that Talmi thinks that there is something in the water, because it seems that a lot of female young ladies that work at the resort, have let their supervisors know that they are pregnant. Tamrack told them that they better order some water for his wife. They told him that it is in the chilled tea she is drinking. Rasha took his hand, and asked him if he wanted another baby? Tamrack looked into eyes and said yes. They have down well so far. The Ambassadors were astute enough to know there was more communication going on than they were hearing. But they liked that Rasha's cheeks had a nice healthy glow.

The Ambassadors told them about Madam Santhe's visit, and how she and her Lady-in-Waiting, started teaching them how to dance like Royals. That Talmi has even hired an instructor, to continue with their instruction. Since this is the only type of dancing their healer will permit. They invited Tamrack and Rasha to come with them after dinner. They want to show them the outfits made for them, and they want them to watch them practise this new type of dance.

Rasha looked at Tamrack, she really wanted to see the dresses. Tamrack reminded her that they have no plans. So it was agreed. Tamrack had to pick up Timrune after the meal. Since he had fallen asleep on Chask's lap. When they reached the practice are. Rasha asked if she could try on a dress, it looks much nicer than the dress she wore, when pretending to be a Royal. The Ambassadors helped dress her, then brought her out for the rest to see. Tamrack told her that he prefers this Royal look to the other one. In this one, she looks beautiful. The other men quickly agreed, because they saw in the Ambassadors eyes that they also thought so.

Then they started the music, and the couples started to move and twirl to the music. Tamrack told Rasha that he thinks they could dance like them. Rasha looked at him to see if he was just saying that, or meant it. An Ambassador had heard him, and stopped the music. She told the others, that they have their first pupil. Tamrack had to hand Timrune to Krillgan, as he was still sleeping. Because Rasha was wearing one of their dresses, they had her hold a portion of the dress in one hand. They don't know why, but that is the way they were taught to do it. They had Tamrack put one hand on her hand, and the other hand on her waist but slightly back. Then they showed Rasha were to place her hand on his waist. They started the music again, and three couples started dancing, while the fourth couple helped them to move the way the other couples were doing. After a few songs, there were five couples dancing in the room. When the practise was over, they helped Rasha change out of the dress. Then they invited Rasha and Tamrack, to come practise with them the following night. They told them that they believe that Talmi has scheduled them for dinner with some other couples, so they will not be able to have dinner together, but they would like them to come dance with them. Rasha and Tamrack, agreed. Tamrack took Timrune back again, and Rasha mentioned how special she thought this evening was.

The next morning, Timrune was taken to the daycare, so he could play with the children. He told them that he lives on a ship called the Phoenix, so would only be playing with them for one day. Because they are leaving tomorrow. They told him that that was okay. They have a friend called Ta'Yanna, and she could only play with them for a short time. He told them that Ta'Yanna is Uncle Krillgan's daughter. She also used to live on the Phoenix, but doesn't anymore. He was told, that it was because her brother, Richard, has to go to school, but he does not know what school is. They told him not to worry. When he is old enough, he will find out. They don't have to go to school, so they can play.

Tamrack and Rasha met with his men, over lunch. They found out that one of them is engaged, and is about to be married. One has a girlfriend, and is thinking of asking her to marry him. The other two are dating. They think they may have found someone, but they are not sure. They also believe that their former boss has some pull at these resorts. They were scheduled to work that evening, but were informed, that they now have the evening off. They also contacted their female friends this morning. They were also told that they could have the evening off, if they wanted it. Both Rasha and Tamrack said that they wanted to meet their female friends. They also said that this is a short visit. They are leaving in the morning.

After they picked up Timrune from daycare, Krillgan knocked on their door. He told them that he had convinced the crew to go with him, to the cantina in Ahto City. They can come if they want. They told Krillgan about their dinner arrangements. Krillgan suggested that Timrune come with them, and he can spend the night in the Phoenix's suite. They asked Timrune if he wanted to go with Uncle Krillgan for a burger. They were going out with some friends and their girlfriends, for dinner, then they were going dancing, like they did last night. Timrune told them that he would rather go with Uncle Krillgan for a burger, if he promises to tell him a story. Krillgan said he promised.

After dinner, they sat outside the cantina to watch the sunset. Krillgan decided to tell Timrune how Aunt Diennu met Protector. He told him, how they went further from the village than the ever did before, and forgot to take a nap. So they were very tired. He told him about the size of the creature that started chasing them. That it was about the size of the tail of the Phoenix. He knew there was another creature nearby, and thought that they should ask it for help. He hoped that it would not be another creature that wanted to trample them, or want to eat them. It was a lone Rancor, larger than Stoneman. It also had no herd. When they asked for help, it agreed to help. It asked that only Diennu speak to him, because he could hear her voice the best. He told Timrune about the creature charging them. That normally it would take four large experienced Rancor to kill it. But this Rancor that said it would help them stood its ground. Krillgan than showed him how the Rancor was standing. Ready to smash down hard on the creature's head, then move out of the way, so that the creature does not crush him. When the Diennu gave the signal, the Rancor brought both fists down very hard, smashing it head against the ground. The creature rolled over its own head, breaking its neck, and causing its body to flip over its head. One of the creature's feet clipped the Rancor in the shoulder, cutting the flesh, and making him bleed. But the Rancor was so excited, it did not notice. It punched the creature in the stomach. When it did not move, it ripped the creature open, and started eating its liver, because it was very hungry. After it had eaten some chunks, Krillgan thought it was safe to approach the Rancor, and asked if it was injured anywhere. The Rancor told him that his shoulder was sore, so Krillgan climbed up and healed it. Ludia asked it if he would like to be part of their herd. She believed that because it risked its own life to help them, the Herd Mother would let him become part of their herd. The Rancor gave them a ride on its back to the village. He told the Herd Mother and the herd a very nice story. When the Rancor hunters retrieved the body of the dead creature, for the herd to eat. They were all surprised about how big it was. It should have been too big for one Rancor to kill all by himself. He told them that he did not kill it by himself. The children told him what to do. The Herd Mother was happy to invite him into the herd. Diennu chose to bond with him, because he had saved her life, and called his name Protector. Timrune told Krillgan that he has met Protector. He is a nice Rancor. He thanked Uncle Krillgan for a nice story. He told him that he was tired and wanted to go back and sleep. Krillgan told him that he will be sleeping in Richard's room, but he would sit with him, until he was asleep. They shared a lounge chair on the launch ride back to the resort. A sleepy Timrune asked Uncle Krillgan, if Richard and Ta'Yanna really lit a fire in their living room? Krillgan told Timrune that he made it up. They had never been in his parents' suite before. They knew that they would let them. But they never asked their permission before. So he thought he would tease them, by pretending that they did not look after the suite properly. If Richard and Ta'Yanna wanted a campfire, they knew to ask him, so that he can take them to where it is safe to have one. By this time, Timrune was asleep. So Krillgan did not know if he heard his answer. He carried Timrune to his suite, and changed him into his pajamas, before putting him to bed. Then he had the computer play a copy of his mother's lullaby that some singer had recorded. He had the lights in the room dimmed right down, but not off. So if Timrune woke up in the middle of the night, he could see where he is. The computer would also notify Krillgan, so that he could talk to Timrune through the computer, in case he wanted his help.

Everyone was in a good mood, when they met for breakfast. Timrune told his parents that Uncle Krillgan told him the story about how Protector became Aunt Diennu's Rancor. His parents told him that they had a nice time talking with their friends. There is a good chance that they might all be married by the time they return to Manaan. Then they all went to the Ambassadors dance practice, and watched as the Ambassadors tried teaching their friends to dance. Then they all danced together.

Rasha as Captain decided to go to Duro, across open hyperspace. From Duro, they would take the Corellian Trade Spine, past Devaron, all the way to Kinyen. At Kinyen, they would take the Great Gran Run, all the way to Cerea. Krillgan looked over her proposal, and agreed that this would be the way to go.

After entering hyperspace, the whole crew wanted to know where Krillgan went, after leaving them at Vjun. At some of their stops, they heard rumors of a purple Jedi, being responsible for capturing a slavers' base, and freeing the prisoners, they were planning on selling to the Sith Empire.

Shaak had finished Queen Krinta's dress. Queen Krinta was delighted when she saw it, and even more delighted when she put it on. Shaak explained to her, how she altered the design, since she designed it for Andriel, when she would be considered to be at the peak of her womanhood. Having never given birth to children at this time. Where Queen Krinta has given birth. She has the body of an appealing, mature women. So she does not want everything tight, she wants to look beautiful. She achieved it by sewing two dresses instead of one. The inside dress was true to the original design, but forgiving, not constricting, as silk can be. The outer shell of the dress, was made from the same silk, but woven thinner, giving the impression of being shear. So when someone looked at the dress, they were not sure whether they were looking at the outer dress, or inner dress. To enhance this illusion. The silk in both dresses was dyed the same colour, for the same places. Being royal blue, and royal purple. The dress had a small train, which was not that obvious. Because there was a cape attached to the dress, also made of silk, which dragged behind the dress. The other thing that was not obvious, that the inside dress had some of Dreamarra's special wire woven into the panels of the inner dress. So her back, from the neck to the small of the back was protected from vibro-blade attack. Her abdomen, up to just below her mountains was protected, and the area between her mountains was protected. So she could not be attacked in the sternum or heart. It was felt that if her mountains themselves was protected, the outer silk layer of the dress, could not have been able to stop the wire grid from being visible, and would have ruined the visual illusion of the dress. Because the dress appeared to flow. The sleeves also had to flow, so it was snug at the elbow, and kept expanding, until a head could have fit inside at the wrist.

Queen Krinta decided when the big reveal would be. Negotiations on the new Starfighters, to be built on Lianna, and assembled by Santhe Corporation, had been concluded. The contract was already sealed, and approved by the Dark Council. For publicity sake, they were having a signing ceremony at the Palace, followed by a dinner, and a celebration dance afterwards. There was going to be two other signing ceremonies, taking place at the same time. Sienar Technologies, has secured a contract to build Starfighters for the Mandalorians, who were turning around and selling them to the Hutt. So a Mandalorian delegation was coming to sign the contract. Sienar Technologies has also negotiated a contract with Barseg, to supply parts for the Mandalorian Starfighters. This contract was being signed by their King. He is being accompanied by a delegation of Barseg Noblemen, and one Noblewoman. Lady Kirrissa, the mother and guardian, of a young man, who inherited everything from his father. When he was killed in a contract dispute, with a Mandalorian Bounty Hunter.

Lady Brelmy's father was heading the delegation, as his factories would be involved, and he was instrumental in getting Barseg involved. Lady Brelmy's factories on Lorrad, are also part of the contract. Once the contract is signed, the Mandalorian delegation would be heading to Barseg, than Lorrad. To inspect the security of each factory involved. The Barseg Nobles are responsible to pay for the security upgrades that the Mandalorians will demand of them. Lord Sienar told Queen Krinta, that Lady Brelmy's factory security, will be the only ones that will satisfy the delegation. Without any additional upgrades. With Lady Kirrissa's factories on Barseg, being next, as they are in the midst of their security upgrade, to bring them up to Santhe Corporation's standards.

Queen Krinta thought that this was the perfect occasion to unveil this dress. Shaak and her companions wanted to see the unveiling, but were not interested in being seen themselves. Queen Krinta decided to put them in the room, right next to the Palace Security Office. The Palace operation, might seem old fashion. With Palace Guards responsible for opening and closing doors, throughout the Palace. The Security Office, actually has the right to seal doors, so that they cannot be opened. They also have cameras set up throughout the Palace. They are checking to see if someone, somehow, managed to sneak into the Palace. The most likely situation they encounter, is someone being invited to the Palace, and ending up in a place they should not be. The likelihood of this occurring, increases in magnitude, with the greater number of people being invited to a function in the Palace. The innocent excuse, is that they are looking for a souvenir of their visit. They are told that the invitation itself is souvenir enough.

What Palace Security is really worried about, is that they may be trying to figure out the layout of the Palace. Either for themselves, or for someone else. Once someone knows the layout of the castle, it is easier to plan a break-in, to steal some of the priceless items they have on display, at key points in the castle. Another possible scenario, is that they want the layout, to plan an assassination attempt, with a clean getaway. So as soon as Security sees someone stray, they notify the closest Palace Guard, to nip it in the bud.

What the Queen will have the Security Office do, is have the computer transmit the visual signal, from every camera that has the Queen in sight. So they should see multiple images of the Queen, at the same time. They will also see the people around her reacting to the dress, in real time.

When the big day came. None of the women involved were disappointed by everyone's reaction. A hush fell over the people when Queen Krinta entered the room, to sign the documents, on behalf of Lianna. When she was seated, Lady Brelmy's father, slowly made his way to his daughter's side, to ask her about the Queen's dress. What was comical to the Togruta was that most of the Barseg delegation tried keeping pace with him as he moved. As they wanted to hear what was said between them.

Lady Brelmy whispered to her father, that it was her seamstress that designed and made the Queen's dress. She also designed her dress, and Princess Anthila's dress. The father was gracious enough to compliment his daughter, as to how beautiful she looked. Then he mentioned that he noticed that the Queen's dress was made out of a different silk than either her dress or Princess Anthila's dress. He quietly asked, if it was Denebrillian Star Silk? Lady Brelmy whispered that the silk used in making Queen Krinta's dress was even rarer. It cannot be bought. What Queen Krinta is wearing, is all that could be found in the galaxy. She had been hoping that her seamstress would have enough left over, that she could sew her a blouse. But there was nothing left.

Lady Brelmy's father pressed his daughter to tell him where this silk was obtained, and how much the Queen paid for it? Lady Brelmy told her father, that apparently, her seamstress is friends with a number of seamstresses around the galaxy. One of them is retired, and was considered the Guardian of the spools of silk thread that was used for making the fabric for this dress. Because no monetary value could be assigned to the silk thread. The Guardian was looking for a worthy design, and a worthy person to wear it. Her seamstress convinced the Guardian that her dress design was worthy, and that Queen Krinta was a worthy person to wear it. Apparently, the Guardian agreed, and released the silk to her. A couple of the top members of Lianna's Weaver's Guild, then wove the fabric, according to her seamstress's specifications.

Lady Brelmy's father was not satisfied with that answer. Since it did not indicate where the silk came from. So he decided to ask one more question of his daughter. He asked, if she knew what it was called? Lady Brelmy told him, that she was told that it is called, Rimohtad Spider Silk.

One of the Barseg delegates decided that he would ask his associates to look into where the Rimohtad Spider Silk came from. Being spider silk, it must have a planet of origin. It was also very likely that that this planet produced more than what the Queen was wearing. If they could find the planet, it would be extremely profitable to control the market, even if it was a small amount. There are people in the galaxy who would pay almost anything to have it. If he could have an entire outfit made out of this silk, it would show everyone that he is the most powerful Nobleman on Barseg. Even more powerful than the one who currently calls himself King. This Nobleman thought that the title of King would suit him. His associates, are members of The Exchange.

Krillgan wondered if they may have just flown past Devorn, as they were flying down the Corellian Trade Spine. Because when he looked at Rasha, he suddenly noticed that she is pregnant. He quietly told her. He also suggested that she wait until they reach Cerea before she tells anyone. Rasha told him that she has learnt her lesson. She will do whatever he tells her, to ensure the health and wellbeing of her baby. Krillgan reached into the fruit and vegetable bag beside their meal dispenser, and pulled out a vegetable. He handed it to Rasha, and told her to eat it. Rasha stuck her tongue out at him. But she did take it from him and start nibbling on it. She told Krillgan that the next market she goes to, she hopes that they have berries. Because she wants to buy a whole bowl full, and eat them in front of him. Timrune had come over, looking for a snack. He heard what his mother said, and asked if she would share her berries with him, because he loves berries. Rasha told him that she loves him, and is more than willing to share everything she has with him. She then broke off a piece of the vegetable she was holding, and handed it to him to chew on.

Ludia found herself feeling sick in the mornings, which was a big disappointment to Ta'Yanna. Since she wanted her mother to play with her, while Richard is on the communicator. Ludia at first wondered if it might have been this latest batch of Nerf Cheese. So she stopped eating it for a few days, to see if that helped, but it didn't. The next time Kenny went to the market, she went with him. She left him while he bought some noodles, and vegetables. She found the lady that sold the morning sickness remedy, and bought some. Hoping that this was not the reason for the way she felt. If it was, she was in trouble.

Ludia did start feeling a little better in the morning. Which made her really scared. She remembered everything Yma mentioned about what could happen with her next pregnancy. She was afraid to tell everyone that she thinks she is pregnant. What she did want to do is head straight to Dathomir, and be examined by the healers. She was terrified at the thought that their might be something wrong with this baby. She knew that the last time she was with Krillgan, was when they were together on Manaan. She checked through the calendar. It looks like she will be giving birth, sometime around the middle of Richard's last semester. Ludia knew that she will have to leave Yitabo before then. To leave while Richard is still in school means that Krillgan will have to come to Yitabo. Ludia felt reluctant to call him. She knew that Madam Santhe wanted him to wait for the Phoenix, and go with them to Cerea. Ludia decided to wait. She was hoping that Krillgan will contact them after he is finished on Cerea. Then she would ask him to come to Yitabo, while she has Kran and Elibet take her to Kindell's world, in the Songbird. What she did do, is eat more salads, and less of Kenny's cooking. She was very happy that all the seeds she brought from Dathomir, are doing well in her garden. She was also happy that Ta'Yanna wanted to share Mommy's salad whenever she made one.

Kenny noticed her diet change. He started cooking more of the vegetables from Ludia's garden, to add to the meals he made her. He knew that everything in her garden was from the world where she grew up. He wondered if she was feeling homesick. Then he wondered, why now?

Shaak was so excited about the wonderful things that have happened in her life. She wanted to express this joy she felt. She decided to organize a choreographed dance, in tribute to Andriel. She called it Ode to Andriel. Everyone in the Enclave wanted to help. So she knew that it could not simply be a fashion show, which was her first thought. She also decided to get some Nautolan's involved, because their friendship is because of her. She also decided not to do it as a life tribute, like they did to remember Bagruta. That would reveal too much of Andriel's involvement in their lives. Which can attract the wrong attention. It was hard, but Shaak finally thought that she had it figured out. She even had a humorous section where only the men would be dancing, only they would be wearing variations on Andriel's pregnancy dress. What was important to Shaak, was that nothing would be spoken throughout the dance. It was the dance itself that would speak for them. The other hard part, was there would be a lot less room to dance. Because a lot of people wanted to see it. The Togruta men had to construct seating, and set it up in the common room. When everyone was seated, it looked like people were sitting on each other's shoulders. They even had to take all the weaving looms out of the common room for that day. To have room for everyone to sit and watch.

Santhe Security had a number of their people record the Ode to Andriel. Someone in their office was very creative in combining the recordings, to finally come up with the version they attached as a supplement to the report they submitted to Madam Santhe. After watching it, Madam Santhe sent the report to her office, so that they could all see it.

There was a new young lady in the office, who had recently been hired. She asked the other office workers, who Andriel is? They told her that she was the first Master Seamstress on Lianna. Her full name is Andriel Mirranna. That she touched a lot of lives, during the short time she lived on Lianna.

This young lady was enthralled by the beauty of the dance performance, and thought that it should be shared with the whole planet. So she did something she was not allowed to do, and started to download it to her favorite site on Lianna's net. Before she started the download, she typed in an introduction. She wrote that this dance is a tribute to Andriel Mirranna, entitled, "Ode to Andriel".

When security noticed the illegal download, they blocked it right away. They informed Madam Santhe right away, including who had done it. Then they hacked the site, and forced it to crash. Hoping that they could prevent it from getting out to the holonet. They were too late. Because of the programs written to find any mention of the Blue Ghost and his wife, the little that was downloaded, automatically made it to special sites, and alarm bells were going off all over the holonet, including in the Ministry of Intelligence.

Santhe Security did contact the hosts of the local site that it was originally downloaded to. Letting them know that they had to remove it, before they could allow their site to start running again. The hosts did comply. They also showed Santhe Security how many hits they had on their site from when the introduction was first submitted, until their site was crashed. They had more hits in that short time, than they get in an entire year. So it is out there.

Madam Santhe sent Lady Brelmy to warn Shaak about what happened, and to prepare for an onslaught of Bounty Hunters. It was because of this warning, that the Togruta noticed the mercenaries hired by The Exchange, watching the Elegant You Dress Shop. This prompted more patrols of Lianna's PD Officers in the area. All dress shops operated by seamstresses, were put under Lianna PD surveillance. The home of Shaak's human trainee was also put under surveillance, as well as an increase in people accompanying her to and from the shuttle terminals, to prevent a possible kidnaping situation. The display case, containing Chitrah and Andriel's outfits were also moved from the dress shop to the Enclave for safe keeping. Since that was the only thing in the dress shop that could not be replaced, if someone broke into the dress shop, when no one was there.

Madam Santhe called the new young lady into her office, to outline what she has done. She told her that in normal circumstances, they would have simply fired her, for the breach in security. But because she has endangered her own life, and she is a citizen of Lianna, they have to put her safety first. They transferred her from Madam Santhe's office, to Security. Where she took over being Santhe Corporation's receptionist. She also had a security detail accompany her home. So she could gather all her belongings, and say goodbye to her family. She had been ordered to move into Santhe Corporations singles residence. Becoming its only permanent resident. As the residence had only been designed as a temporary situation, until employees from off planet, found their own accommodations. She now had to have permission from the head of Santhe Security to leave Santhe Corporation property. When she did, it was always with a full security detail. It was while she was working in the Security Department, that she found out that Andriel Mirranna, is the wife of Chitrah Drashing, aka, the Blue Ghost. That there was a sizeable bounty on their heads, placed there by both the Sith Empire, and the Mandelorian Governments. This further hit home, when a Sith Lord and a Mandelorian Bounty Hunter, asked permission of Queen Krinta, to speak with her.

She was taken to the Palace to be interviewed by them. They were both disappointed that she knew nothing. They did watch the edited version of the dance submitted with the security report to Madam Santhe. As well as all unedited copies they had of the dance. The Sith Lord and Mandelorian Bounty Hunter wanted to know, what is the Togruta's connection to Andriel Mirranna? The Head of Santhe Security informed them that Andriel had started training the Togruta seamstress called Shaak Chi. But this training was interrupted, when Andriel left Lianna. To complete her training, Shaak Chi travelled to Ranroon. Where she met the seamstress that also happened to be Princess Krinta's personal seamstress. That is where the Seamstress Guild awarded her the designation of Master Seamstress and Dress designer. The Sith Lord and Mandalorian Bounty Hunter, wanted to know why this Shaak Chi organized this dance called "Ode to Andriel"? The head of Santhe Security informed them that Shaak Chi recently received permission from her former instructor, to create a dress for Queen Krinta. He showed them the coverage of Queen Krinta at the signing ceremony. He told them that because the dress was so well received, Shaak wanted to celebrate. She attributes all her success to Andriel finding her, and teaching her the basics for being a seamstress. Because the Togruta like to dance, she expressed it in dance form.

Both the Sith Lord and Mandalorian Bounty Hunter, were satisfied with what they were told, and left Lianna. The young lady asked the Head of Security, if she can now go back and live a normal life? He just told her, No! They are not the only predators out there, who want to get their hands on her.

Rasha did wait until they entered the Cerea System, before announcing to everyone that she is pregnant. It seems that Timrune was the most excited, that he was going to have a little brother or sister to play with. He asked his Mommy, how much longer before the baby in her belly, will be able to come out and play? Uncle Krillgan told him how long he believed before the baby would be born. Then how long after that, before the baby would be large enough for him to play with. Timrune was disappointed, and asked Uncle Krillgan why it takes so long? Krillgan had no answer. He did tell Timrune that he also wondered the same thing when he was his age. But he did have fun with his brother, when he finally was able to play with him.

There was a delegation from the Cerean Government, waiting for the Fenelar Phoenix to land at their freight spaceport. They were happy to see the Devronian Krillgan step off the ship with the Cerean Engineer. They ushered them into a meeting room in the administration building so that they can talk with them, and explain the situation. They told them both, that if the Krillgan does not detect the Witch as being a dark force user, they want this to be a public trial. They want to do it this way, because there may be other families. Especially with the honor wives in math or physical sciences, that may be going through the same thing. Since they tend to be focused on what they are good at, rather than being familiar with what protection is built into the law. So a public trail usually breaks through that barrier. So other honor wives will reach out for help, concerning their families, and the wellbeing of the children.

Dranna wanted to know, which honor wife will replace the bond wife as legal guardian for the family's assets. They told her that the birth mother of the oldest child is usually the court's first choice. If she is not capable, then they will examine the birth mothers of the other children. Making their choice according to the child's age. Dranna told them that she is the birth mother of the younger daughter. This caught the delegation by surprise. They had assumed that she was just one of the honor wives. They did ask her, if she felt her sister was capable of handling the role of bond wife? Calling the birth mother of the other daughter, her sister, is normal practice in Cerean Society. Dranna told them that she has utmost confidence in her sister. As she has held the family together until now. The delegation felt better after hearing that. They explained to her, that as the complainant, it would not look good to the public at large, for her to be seen to benefit directly to any court ruling. It would look much better if she maintained her position aboard the Fenelar Phoenix. Dranna asked, if she was allowed to visit with her family? They told her that this would be no problem. So Dranna went ahead and filed the official complaint. Then she asked permission to visit with her family.

The delegation than spoke with Krillgan, they told him that the Witch frequents cantinas near the freighter spaceport, looking for crewmen to satisfy her physical desires. Krillgan wanted clarification, on why they called her a witch, when they did not know whether or not she is a force user. Were he comes from, the term witch is applied to women who give themselves over to the dark side of the force. They told him that on Cerea, the term Witch, is applied to a bond wife, who puts herself above her family. Especially, after her husband has died.

Krillgan found out that a number of Cerean women will frequent the cantinas looking for male physical gratification. It is usually assumed that these women have never been in a marriage relationship. If a bond wife or an honor wife is ever found in there, it is also grounds to be permanently excluded from the family, this can also lead to being released from their job, and forced to leave Cerea. Never being allowed to return. So this Witch has two marks against her.

Krillgan also found out that on Cerea, were they are desperate for families to produce more offspring. Women who get pregnant, because of their indiscretions, usually seek abortions, before it becomes obvious. Or it will become a career ender.

Krillgan found out which cantina the Witch preferred to frequent. He felt that if he observed her interaction with others, he should be able to tell if she was using dark force magic, to help with her seductions. The good thing for Krillgan, was that the food in the cantina was good. The bad thing was their Nice Surprise mix was terrible. When he questioned the waitress about it, she told him that the bartender is too cheap to purchase real fruit juice for her mixes. She purchases powdered substitutes, and mixes them as needed, because they are supposed to last longer. Krillgan told the waitress, that if real fruit juices are used, customers would order the drinks more frequently, so the fruit juices would not have a chance to spoil. Even using juice concentrates, is a better option than using a powder. Krillgan ended up bringing his own juice blend into the cantina, and ordering a regular ale with his meal. Mixing his own Nice Surprise at his table. When the bartender contacted Internal Cerean Security to have him removed, they told her that if she mixed the drinks the way her customers wanted, this would not be happening. They did not tell her that he is the Devaronian Krillgan, and can do as he wants. She was even more upset, when other customers started doing the same thing. The waitresses were just amused by the situation. They also found the purple man nice to talk to.

It was a few days before the Cerean female Krillgan was sent to observe, entered the cantina. Krillgan knew that he had not missed her at another cantina, as she was under observation, and he would have been informed through his communicator, if she had gone somewhere else. The Cerean noticed that Krillgan was watching her. She thought that it was because he was interested in her. So she went up to his table, and asked if she could sit down. Krillgan decided that being obnoxious was the way to go, but told her that she could sit if she wanted to. He had enough room on his side of the table for his needs. She asked him, if he would by her a drink? Krillgan asked her, why he would want to do that? She became defensive, and told him that she had seen him watching her. So she thought he was interested in her. Krillgan told her, that he was watching her, because she looks like she was old enough to be the mother of most of the young ladies in the cantina. He was wondering if she was looking for her daughter. He was definitely not interested in her. Her cheeks turned all red. She asked him if he was there looking for a younger woman. Since he was probably old enough to be their father. Krillgan told her that he was not interested in the younger ladies either. But for her reference, his oldest daughter is about half the age of the young ladies that are in there. His interest is in real people, with real stories. Not people who are self centered fakes. People like her that think only of themselves, rather than family and community.

She knew that he had just insulted her. She reached over to slap him. But he caught her hand. Then she heard him say that she is all yours, she is not a force user. She tried pulling her hand away, but he held it like a vice. Then two uniformed Internal Security Officers entered the cantina. They walked up to their table. One of them reached for her hand, and slapped a restraint on it. They told her that she was under arrest for being a Witch. They forced her to stand, securing both of her hands behind her back. Than they forced her out of the cantina. After they left, it seemed that every female that was not working there, got up and left.

Krillgan stayed and finished his meal. His waitress brought him his bill, and sat down opposite him. She asked him. "Who are you?" He told her that he is Krillgan Djo. Part owner, and sometime Captain of the Fenelar Phoenix. When he is not making life difficult for someone somewhere. The waitress laughed, and told him that she is happy to see him. When he paid his bill, he told the waitress to give his compliments to the cook. Just like he always did. The only reason they kept serving him when he would come back.

The trial was short and quick. It was all anyone on Cerea was talking about. It also showed the people that they had been watching the Witch for a long time. The family did get the apartment back. It was owned by the family, so they did not have to pay rent. Just maintenance and utilities. Which was less than what they paid, in the apartment they had been renting. The family's financial records were part of the court proceedings. Where it was revealed, that all the money set aside for the daughters, and their tuition costs, was squandered by the Witch on herself. She was placed in what was called, debtor's prison. A ferroconcrete box, with a bed and a toilet, and a communal shower. Her wages were garnished by the government, with 60% being given to the family, and the rest going to the government for taxes and accommodations.

The company where she worked, was also being investigated, since Dranna complained about being forced out of a job, because of the Witch's manipulations. So the government wanted to know if the company was being run properly, or did it need to be turned over to a new management team. Since Dranna should have never been let go.

It was a happy but sad family, when it was time for Dranna to say goodbye. What was comforting was that many of the honor wives that had gone off planet, because there was no room in the apartment for all of them, were coming back home. They all promised Dranna that they will watch over their daughters. The daughters were excited to see that there really was a Rancor and Vornskr on the Phoenix, but no one was brave enough to go on the ship and meet them. They just stood at the bottom of the ramp and waved at them. Then ran away, when Stoneman decided to stand up and stretch.

After they took off, Dranna asked to speak to Krillgan. She told him that she had picked up the components to extend the ship's computer control to outside the ship, at the ramp. This would mean that simply pressing the open button on the ramp will not do anything. The computer would need to verify that the person who pressed the button had authorization. Voice authorization of a crewmember would be enough. Krillgan asked if this could be used to crack the computer, giving someone outside access. Injecting a virus, or some other malicious code. Dranna told him that their ship's security is layered. It would take more than accessing the voice recognition software, for someone to gain access to their ship's computer. She will have to check and see if there might be the possibility of the computer shutting down all access to the ship, if attacked. Which could lock them out of the ship. Dranna promised to look into it.

Krillgan knew that what Dranna was proposing, would make Stoneman and Rudy's position on the ship, obsolete. Before giving approval to that type of project, he would need everyone's unanimous agreement. Then he would need to find a new home for his security team.

The Twi'Lek pimp walked into the Elegant You. When Shaak came out, he asked if she knew that her place is being watched. Shaak surprised him by saying yes. She told him that there is more than one. At first they that that it was Bounty Hunters after the bounty on the family of the Blue Ghost. But these are professionals. Someone with deep pockets is paying them. The pimp knew that the Blue Ghost helped their boss make their organization stronger. He told Shaak that he will warn his boss. He asked, if she wanted them to do something? She told him to keep his head down, and his eyes open. He laughed. He told her that it is second nature to him.

When he first took this position, he was wary of what was happening at the dress shop. The first time he saw the royal limousine parked in front of the dress shop, he almost freaked out. But they have always been good to his girls, and they don't bother him. It's taken a few years, but he has learnt to respect them.

Shaak was not surprised when the lady in the cookie cutter business suit walked into the dress shop. Shaak pegged her right away as being ex-military. The lady asked if she could speak to the head seamstress. Shaak told her that she is talking to her. The lady tried to hide her surprise. She told Shaak that she wanted to upgrade her wardrobe. Shaak asked point blank, what did she do? The lady was taken aback. The lady asked, if that might be personal? Shaak told her that if she was not willing to open up to her out in the storefront, then there was no point in taking her into the workshop, and asking her to take off her clothes. Because that is being personal. The lady was all embarrassed. She knew that she had made a big blunder, and did not know how to dig herself out of this hole. She had never set foot in a dress shop before. She told Shaak that all she wanted was a nice dress, she then pointed at a mannequin. "Like that one, but in silk." Shaak told her that the dress she is pointing at, is made out of silk. The lady's cheeks started turning red. She asked, if it can be made out of another type of silk? Shaak told her that making it out of another type of silk is no problem. Then she asked what the dress would be used for? The lady thought she was on a role. She ignored Shaak's question, and asked if it can be made out of spider silk? Shaak told her that most types of spider silk on the market, is not made into fabric. She did not think she wanted a dress made out of spider silk. The lady asked, why wouldn't she? Shaak told her that most spider silks are used for making rope. She did not think that she would want that type of material for making a dress. The lady became all embarrassed, and left the dress shop.

When she returned to her Commander, she told him that the lady at the dress shop said that spider silk is used for making rope. The Commander thought for a moment. He remembered that the twine connected to their grapples, is supposed to be spider silk. It is light, and very strong. Maybe the lady is right.

Later that day, the mercenary Commander met with his Lieutenants. They discussed the risk factor for trying to kidnap the seamstress. The Lieutenants pointed out, that the only weapons they have are some vibro-blade knives. Their informant told them that the Togruta are not bothered by people holding vibro-blade knives. They keep the streets around their Enclave clean of the normal riffraff. They are all supposed to be armed with knives, which cannot be detected by spaceport scanners. So they are not afraid of a knife fight. Besides, they don't know which one is the real seamstress. They know that there is always three of them in any group. They also don't know what the Twi'Lek pimp, and his body guards will do. They know from observation that there is no animosity between them. They just act like neighbors. Their judgement, is that they don't have the manpower to be successful with what they have. The only way to smuggle any weapons onto the planet, is through the Balosaur Enclave, and they won't cooperate, because they do not want war with the Togruta. The Balosaur are of the opinion, that the Togruta are associated with the Royal Family. That would give them access to more and better weapons through Sante Security, than anything they can smuggle onto the planet. So if there was a war, they would lose.

The mercenary Commander spoke with his contact in The Exchange, the next day. He told him what they have found out from watching the dress shop. He told them of their attempt to get one of their people into the dress shop to case it out, and see how many people exactly, are in the dress shop. Because they have consistently found more people going into the dress shop, than come out. According to the area land office, there is no back entrance to the dress shop. When they checked it out. What looked like a back door, only led to the apartments on the second level. There was no way into the dress shop from the alley, unless they bash a wall down. He also mentioned, that the Togruta lady at the dress shop told the female mercenary, that commercial spider silk, is only used in the manufacturing of ropes. He also told him about the lack of weapons and manpower, for them to successfully kidnap the seamstress.

The mercenary Commander was surprised that the contact from The Exchange did not dress him down, for him and his people being incompetent. It was almost like he was expecting this report. Instead he was told to pack up and leave. If they need him again, they will contact him.

The contact from The Exchange had talked to the Imperial Base Commander on Lianna. He told the man about the incident that caused him to lose half his command. One of his men had tried to grope the Togruta seamstress when she was on her way to Mandelore. She was interested in picking up some fabric that another seamstress was unloading at a discount. Because that seamstress was expecting a big shipment of new stock. The Togruta broke the arm of the Trooper who tried to grope her. She them kicked him into two Imperial Troopers in full armour, before they could bring their blaster rifles to bear on her. Meanwhile, her Nautolan friend, sprained the wrist of another Trooper, who tried the same with her. She then dislocated his shoulder, and kicked him into the two Imperial Troopers in full armour, that were standing behind him. Before any of his men could respond to this incident, they all found themselves surrounded by Lianna Planetary Defence Officers pointing their blaster rifles at them. Because the two women are Lianna citizens. Now when his people start getting aggressive, because they think the Lianna PD Officers are being two lacks. The security monitor will start flashing, Togruta trained, as a warning, not to interfere with certain people. What was even more demoralising for his Troopers, is that everyone that Lianna PD identified as having groped women on the spaceport, was transferred by the area Moff to the front lines on a disputed planet. The Base Commander also refused to lend them any of their weapons, for a mercenary operation on Lianna. He told the representative of The Exchange, that if it was ever found out that one of their weapons was used, that would be all the excuse the Royal Family would need, to kick the Imperial Military completely off of this planet.

The Base Commander did tell the rep from The Exchange, that the Royal Yacht was sent to another planet, with no one from the Royal Family aboard. His people could not tell where it went, but he would guess, that they went to get whatever The Exchange is looking for. The man from The Exchange knew that this was the best lead he has received so far. It was certainly worth investigating.

When they exited hyperspace in the Kinyen system, to take the Corellian Trade Spine to Duro. They received a communication from Devron for Krillgan. There are representatives of the Republic, who want to speak with him. Krillgan asked Dranna to send a reply, telling them that they are on their way, and to give them an ETA. So Rasha entered the coordinates for Devaron, instead of Duro.

Because she was feeling anxious, Ludia sent a message to the Phoenix, asking Krillgan to contact her.

On Ryloth, Jim'Bak's cousin obsessed about getting his hands on the Lethan Twi'Lek on Manaan. He had tried really hard to think of a subtle way to manipulate his cousin, after he heard that he married the blue Twi'Lek Ambassador called Ju'ma. Finally, he gave up being subtle. He had his men raid his uncle's compound on Ryloth. He had them kidnap his aunt and cousin, along with some of the other women in the compound, to have as a reward, for their service. He sent a message to Manaan. He told Jim'Bak, that if he ever wanted to see his mother and sister again, he will bring the Lethan Twi'Lek with him from Manaan, and exchange her for them. Because of his obsession, the cousin did not care that he had just made his uncle his enemy.

When the message arrived on Manaan, Talmi had the Selkith send a message to the Phoenix right away, telling Krillgan that there has been a kidnapping, and they need his help.

When they dropped out of hyperspace in the Devaron System, Deanna told Krillgan that there are two messages for him. One from Yitabo, the other from Manaan. Krillgan listened to both messages, having Dranna play the one from Yitabo first. After listening to both of them, he had Dranna contact Yitabo first, asking if she could connect Grimm's computer to the communications console, so that there could be an audio and visual component to the signal.

Richard was on the communicator, listening to the boring lesson of the day, when he noticed the signal, indicating that someone wanted to communicate with them. He immediately broke the connection with the Sith teacher, and had the communicator connect to the other signal. When he saw it was Papa, he told him that he will go and get Mamma. Mamma was in the music conservatory with Ta'Yanna. Who was listening to her favorite song, again. Richard had to touch Mamma to get her attention, because she had something in her ear. When she pulled it out, Richard told her that it was Papa. Ludia jumped up right away, and ran to the communicator, with Richard behind her. Ta'Yanna ignored them, because it was coming to her favorite part of the song.

Ludia came right out and told Krillgan she is pregnant, and she is worried because of what Yma said. She wants to go home right away, so that Yma can look after her. Krillgan told her that Rasha is also pregnant. He told her that when they were on Manaan, Talmi complained about all the female staff members that are pregnant. He said that there must be something in the water. Krillgan then asked Ludia, if she drank any water while on Manaan? Ludia laughed, and admitted drinking some water. Krillgan was happy to hear her laugh. He told her that they are in the Devron System. Someone from a government wants to talk to him. Then he is going to Manaan. They just contacted him about a kidnapping. After that, he should be free to fly out to the ranch. Richard told Papa that he also drank some water on Manaan. Should he be worried about becoming pregnant? Krillgan said "Yes", then said his goodbyes, asking them to say hello and goodbye to Ta'Yanna for him.

After the connection was broken, Richard asked his mother, why Papa said "Yes"? Ludia told him that Papa knew, that he knew, he could not get pregnant. So because he asked a silly question, Papa gave him a silly answer. Then Ludia reconnected him with his class in the Ministry.

When Krillgan contacted Manaan, he was connected right away with both the elder, and Talmi. They explained about the kidnapping on Ryloth, and who Jim'Bak's cousin was demanding, to exchange for his mother and sister. Krillgan told them to have Jim'Bak respond to his cousin. Tell him that he agrees to exchange the Lethan Twi'Lek for his mother and sister. Have him say that he is having trouble finding a freighter that will take him to Ryloth, and it will be a few months before the freighter from Ryloth arrives with the spice. That he will contact him, as soon as he arranges a ride. Both the elder and Talmi asked Krillgan if he was serious about exchanging the Lethan Twi'Lek for Jim'Bak's family. Krillgan told them that of course he would not do that. He asked them to look for a volunteer amongst their security staff, who has some self-defence training. Male or female it does not matter. Then they are going to transform them to look like a Lethan Twi'Lek. If a guy volunteers, let them know that they will have to shave off all facial hair. Now the elder and Talmi understood what Krillgan was planning.

Krillgan was not pleased that senior members of SIS were waiting to speak with him. Before talking to them, Krillgan asked that three judges be with him as witnesses. When Krillgan entered the room where they were waiting, he asked them if they were there to ask him to rescue someone, or to prevent him from moving around in Sith Space. They asked him to explain himself. He told them that from what he has discovered, many of their agents are double agents. So anything he tells them, will be delivered to the Ministry of Intelligence. He also reminded them about the Children of the Emperor. They had infiltrated every influential level of the Republic's society. One was even on the Jedi Council, and one was a senior member of SIS, until they were activated, and discovered. The two SIS agents were clearly embarrassed by everything that Krillgan said. They asked him, what did he want? He told them that he does not want them to use his name, Krillgan Djo, or his title, the Devaronian Krillgan. If anything they should just call him a Revanite warrior that knows both the Revanite Force User, and the Revanite Bounty Hunter. They both agreed, then one asked him, where he received his training? Krillgan looked at the agent. Then he asked the agent, if he mistook him for a fool? Now both agents knew that this was going to be a lot harder than they expected. The other agent asked, if the Revanite Force User has damning evidence, showing that the Sith Empire kidnapped and used their own people in deadly experiments? Krillgan just told him that he cannot answer that. Both agents took that as being a yes.

Then they asked Krillgan if he can tell them what happened in the Maridun and Phindar Systems? Krillgan looked at them for a short time, then sighed.

"I guess I won't be able to describe what happened as the Revanite Warrior. I will have to tell you as the Devaronian Krillgan."

The two SIS agents were glad he conceded that, because it would have been hard writing it up as a Revanite Warrior, when everyone else's report states that it was only the Devaronian Krillgan that was there.

Krillgan told them that he first went to the Maridun System, to meditate, and quiet his soul. Because he had just been through something that tore him inside. The agents both wanted him to describe what he had just been through. Krillgan simply stated, "No", and continued. He told them about going to the cantina for a fresh made meal, and some conversation. He told them how surprised he was that the out of the way cantina was so busy. It did not take him long to make friends with the crew of a freighter. An agent asked, if they were smugglers? Krillgan told him that he assumed so. He assumed that all the freighter crews there were smugglers. Krillgan told them that when the place was almost full, he noticed the owner of the establishment went into a room with communication equipment, then reappeared a short time later. He did not think anything of it at the time. He and his new friends had finished dinner and were sitting there drinking, and sharing adventure stories, when the slavers landed, and set up barricades. Then they introduced themselves, by stating that everyone in the cantina has just volunteered to join the Imperial Military. Everyone got off their chairs, and hugged the floor. One of the waitresses swore. She said that this was the third time the slavers had raided the cantina, only the previous times they left the staff alone. Then he understood why the owner went into the communications room.

Krillgan then described the battle. Downplaying his use of the force. Basically that he helped the one guy jump to the roof of the cantina, to get a better shot at the slavers. He told them about reflecting blaster bolts back at the slavers, using the shield on his heavy blaster pistol. The agents wanted to see his pistol. Then he had to activate the shield using the force, so that they could see that it was a force sensitive metal, just like his sword. Then he had to show them his sword, and activate it as well. But he would not let them touch his sword. Finally, he described the Jedi landing in the middle of the firefight, and believing the slavers, when they said, that they trapped the pirates that had been raiding settlements in the area, in the cantina. Only they need help, because the pirates are better shots then they anticipated. He told them that he became really mad when the Jedi jumped between the two groups, and started reflecting the blaster bolts back at the cantina. It forced him to jump in front of the cantina, to protect the smugglers, and intercept what the Jedi were doing. Fortunately, his sudden appearance, distracted them enough that he could hit them both with a force push. Knocking them both right out of the field of fire. Then to prevent them from returning, he used dark force energy to surround them with a whirlwind. He told the agents that it wasn't long after that, that all the slavers were killed. Then he stopped the whirlwind. Then the Jedi received an earful, not just from him, but from all the smugglers. Pointing out how they overlooked the obvious, just because they wanted to get into a fight, and almost did the slavers work for them.

The agents asked him, why he used dark force energy, to create a whirlwind? Krillgan told the agents that he suspected that the Jedi would not know how to handle the wind. They would just understand that they were surrounded by dark force energy, but there was none where they were standing. So it was not a direct attack. He confused them enough to keep them immobile, and not interfere. He did admit that the Jedi wanted to fight him after. But he identified himself as being the Devaronian Krillgan, and that the need to go read all the messages they received from the Jedi Council, because he needs their help figuring out what is going on. By this time they clued in that he wasn't a Sith. The only Devaronian in his group, backed him up, telling them that his grandmother told him stories about the new Krillgan, and that if he ever meets him, to do exactly what he says. So he does not get into trouble.

This comment brought a smile to the lips of the judges, as they have been sitting there, patiently listening. They were actually glad that they got to hear a good story.

Krillgan told them that the Jedi eventually went back into their ship, and started going through all their messages, until they came across the one telling them about the Devaronian Krillgan, and how they are to give him their full cooperation. Krillgan then authorised all the freighter crews to leave, because he knew what they knew.

Krillgan told them about binding the cantina's owner, and turning him over to the Jedi as their prisoner. Because if it was just up to him, he would have killed him for endangering the life of a Devaronian.

He explained how they located the slavers base in the system, from the information in the cantina owner's communication room. They used the slavers own transports to gain access to it. But were not able to determine their main base, because it was obvious that they were not equipped to handle prisoners at that base.

It was the slavers themselves that told them where their main base was. When they left a message for the owner of the cantina. So they used their transports once again, to head to the Phindar System. It was a good thing they did, because the two transports were set up to communicate automatically with the beacons the slavers set up in the system, to warn them of any unwelcome ships entering the system. Because the Jedi ship kept close to the transports, the beacons did not detect it as being a hostile ship. They were able fly all the way to the slavers hanger, without being challenged. It was only when they stepped off of the ships, that the slavers knew that they were not one of them. Because he knew where everyone was, he sent the Jedi to take out the larger group of slavers in the hanger setup. While he went to their control center to take out the ones that were there.

The SIS agents wanted to know, how did he know where everyone was? Krillgan told them that he is a healer. Healers tend to be more sensitive to the life force energy around them, using the force. They asked Krillgan, if he knew where everyone is in the administration building? Krillgan simply said, "Yes". He did not want them to know how far he could actually detect life force energy, when he is resting, or when he is concentrating. The two agents had a quick conversation. The Jedi had never told them that they have this ability. The one agent pointed out that Krillgan said that this trait is specific to healers, so not all Jedi would have it. But it would be handy to have someone with that ability, when they have to infiltrate a secret facility. They both agreed that they need to talk to the Jedi Council about this.

They then asked Krillgan to continue. Krillgan explained to them how the hangar and the main base were set up. With only one way to get to the main base from the hangar, and the slavers were waiting for them. Their only option was to make their own way into the base, without the slavers being aware as to what they were up to. He told the Jedi what he proposed, and that one of them would have to stay behind. Because once the slavers realised they were in the main base, they would probably make a run for the ships. It was not very long for one of the Jedi to volunteer to stay behind. Krillgan mentioned how he was disappointed, in that the Jedi was behaving like a child that was just becoming aware of their force abilities. He had to coach him most of the way through the trees. Including warning him not to grab for any of the vines, because they were really poisonous serpents. That the fat vines lying on the branches, were really constrictors, so not to step on them, or they will get angry.

He does wonder, what do they teach their Jedi, in their temples? This question made everyone in the room smile.

Krillgan told them how they cut their way into the main base. So that they could put the concrete slab back in place, to keep the jungle predators out. They found themselves in a cell where some of the kidnapped victims were. Krillgan explained how the area they were in was setup. As well as the precautions that were built in, in case they had some of their prisoners try to escape. Krillgan told them how he got into the control room, before the two slavers that were responsible for that section could react.

The two agents asked, how thick was the glass protecting the control room? Krillgan told them that it was thicker than the width of his hand. Krillgan then told them that the Jedi was able to call up a schematic of the main base. Then they strategized how to attack each section, without the slavers realising they were there, or they might start killing the people they kidnapped. For this reason they only open cell doors in each section, but not the sections themselves, until they were all liberated. Or the kidnap victims might accidently warn the slavers they were free, when trying to get to their loved ones.

Krillgan then went on to say, that after that, it was easy to eliminate the slavers that were still waiting to ambush them. When everyone was finally free, they all wanted to go to the hangers. That was when they were told that a Sith Fleet was on their way to pick up their new recruits. All the freighter crews started going through all the starfighters and gunships, just to see what was operational. As suspected, the slavers did not do a good job maintaining their ships. While they did that, the two Jedi flew out into the system, to contact the Jedi Council. To see if they could send a Republic Fleet, to deal with the Sith Fleet. The Jedi were warned that the Sith Fleet would probably reach the system first. They were also informed about the possible makeup of the Sith Fleet. This allowed them to strategize, on how to attack the Sith Fleet, to keep them from invading the planet, and to also keep them from fleeing the system.

The freighter crews were able to get some of the slavers ships operational, and most volunteered to man them. So when the Sith Fleet entered the system. They were ready for them. Krillgan then described the space battle, and that the Republic Fleet arrived at a good time. After returning to Phindar, he got his own starfighter out of the slavers transport and left.

The SIS agents asked him, why he did not participate in the celebration, and wait for someone from the Fleet to arrive? Krillgan reminded them that he is a healer, but he cannot heal death. It always bothers him when someone who trusts him dies. So he did not feel like celebrating. There was also no need for him to wait for someone from the fleet to show up. He was pretty sure that they had the people to figure out where all the other slavers bases were. As well as having the manpower to eliminate them. So it was safe for the settlers to return home.

Then Krillgan surprised them, by asking if their undercover operative, survived the base attacks? They asked him, how he knew they had an undercover operative? He told them that he talked to the settlers, and the freighter crews. None of the settlers had the equipment to warn the Jedi. None of the freighter crews could get back to their ships to send out a distress call. So it had to be someone inside the group, to tip off the Jedi. They told him that their operative is one very lucky fellow. He was injured, along with some other slavers, when their base was attacked. So after a few days in a Bacta tank, he was well enough to give his final report, before retiring.

When they took a break, the Judges arranged for another group of Judges to sit in on the questioning. A total of three groups of judges sat in with Krillgan, through that day. Later they all compared what transpired while they were there. They all had much more respect for their Krillgan after that.

The SIS agents showed Krillgan images of people that had bounties on them, but have disappeared. Krillgan saw youthful pictures of his mother and father, as well as a conceptual image of what he must have looked like when he was a child, as well as an artist rendering of what he looks like as an adult. He saw the picture of the Moff from Eriadu, as well as pictures of a number of other people. Krillgan only gave them a cursory look. He told the agents that the Revanite Bounty Hunter knows where some of the people are. Some he will protect. Others he will turn over for their bounty, when the time is right.

Krillgan had talked to his father about what to do when he dies. Chitrah believes that once everyone knows he is dead, they will stop looking for him and Andriel. Chitrah has sewn an entire leather outfit, from the furs Krillgan has brought him from Myrkr. He also has a spear shaft fashioned from a dead branch that Krillgan brought him. Krillgan is supposed to dress his father in this outfit after he dies, he is also supposed to take one of his Togruta knives, and attach it to the end of the spear shaft, like it is the spear point. Then dressed as Death Hand, he is to turn his body and spear over to one of his Bounty Hunter friends. So that they can take it to the Mandalorian Government to collect the bounty. This way all the evidence will look like he has been hiding out on Myrkr all those years.

There was not very much more that Krillgan was willing to share, from all the questions that they asked him.

He did tell them that the Force User Revanite would not be able to unite all the Revanite cells under his command. Some will help him if he asks. Others will not want to have anything to do with him. Because he is not Revan. Others will try to kill him, believing that he is disrespecting the memory of Revan, by doing his own thing.

What did surprise them, was when he shared with them his encounter with the Ansat Assassination Guild. Krillgan did modify the story somewhat. He did not mention seeing the Fenelar Phoenix and his original crew. Instead he said that it was a Barloz Medium freighter, with the crew and passengers he saw on the bridge, dressed like they were going to go gamble in the casinos on Sleheyron. He also mentioned that the first Starfighter he noticed himself flying was a Batil Fighter. The first Starfighter he flew in a simulator program. He doubts that there are any that still exist, except in museums. He also did not mention that he was wearing armour that could be activated by the force, or that his personal starfighter could also be activated by the force. Other than those trivial alterations, he pretty much stuck to his story. He also did not mention Yitabo as the first system he sensed the Ansat drawing him. He claimed that he was in hyperspace on his way to Chalacta. As he does have an export license allowing him to purchase small amounts of Marley's Brew, and take it with him.

Krillgan mentioned that other than sensing a force message embedded in the distress beacon signal, he did not detect the force being used by the Ansat at all. He also knew that none of them were force users. So if they were using the force to help them with the mind control, they must have found a way to use the light side and the dark side at the same time. In order to mask that they are using the force. Krillgan said that because of his experience, he does not believe that one Ansat by themselves could gain control of his mind. But if he ever detects an Ansat again, the first thing he will do is plug up his nose. So that they cannot stick their tendril thingy up his nose, and suck out his brain. Then he will confront them. If they do not have a good reason as to why they are there, he would not hesitate to kill them. He considers them the most dangerous creature he has ever encountered.

It was getting late when they decided to call it a day. The SIS agents were hoping they could meet again the following day. Krillgan disappointed them, by telling them that he has more important things to do. He only stopped in this time, because it happened to be on the way to where he was going. He knows that they probably won't believe him, when he tells them someone's life is in danger. But he did speak with the authorities of the planet, as to what to prepare for him, so that he could help them. So he thought that one day's delay on his arrival will not affect the outcome.

Now Krillgan had to roundup the crew of the Phoenix. He reached out with the force, and detected Rasha in a local cantina. He found his crew at a table surrounded by Devaronians. Most looked like they were the crews of the freighters at the spaceport. Tamarack was right in the middle of telling them a story, when he saw Krillgan, and his face turned all red. Timrune ran up to him, and grabbed his hand, to lead him through the crowd, to the table. He told Uncle Krillgan that a lot of people wanted to buy them drinks. But his father told them that they don't have as many livers as they do. He asked Uncle Krillgan, why they need liver to drink juice? He likes drinking juice, but if he is given liver, he gives it to Rudy. Krillgan told Timrune that his father is just being polite. He also told Timrune that eating liver is good for him. He told him that Aunt Ludia has a very good recipe for liver that he even likes. He did admit that he doesn't like the way it tastes, when most people cook it.

Everyone made room for Krillgan at the table. Krillgan told Tamrack that he was starving. So he might as well finish the story while he eats. Krillgan ordered the house special from the waitress. He did not see Tamrack wink at her. When she returned, she placed a plate of sautéed liver, and fried vegtables in front of him, along with a glass of warm New Ale. She told him that this is what the First Officer said that he likes. Krillgan told her that he will drink the New Ale, if she mixes it with chilled fruit juices. Then he asked Timrune if he wanted to help him eat the liver. Timrune made a face and said no. So Krillgan had to eat his dinner all by himself, while Tamrack continued telling his stories.

From the Devron System they flew to the Duro System, where Krillgan had them land, and purchase Bio Hazard Waste handling suits. He did not want anyone travelling to Ryloth with him becoming addicted to spice, because they were exposed to a Ryll Spice Bloom. From Duro they flew open hyperspace to Manaan.

On Lianna, the Twi'Lek Boss was furious, when he found out that his nephew raided his compound on Ryloth, and kidnapped his sister and niece, along with other women working in his compound. He sent a message that his people support the Devaronian Krillgan when he comes. As well as giving him the most up to date map of his nephew's spice mine. Then he went to the Elegant You Dress Shop, and asked Shaak if she can send a message to the Devaronian Krillgan. He told her about the kidnappings, and he wants the Krillgan to know what assets he has on Ryloth, that he can take advantage of. When Shaak understood his relationship to the husband of the one Twi'Lek Ambassador. She told him that she does not have the capability, but knows who does.

Shaak and her companions escorted the Twi'Lek Boss and his bodyguard Lieutenants to Santhe Corporation Headquarters. When the Receptionist saw the group approaching, she immediately, called for security back up to the main entrance. When Shaak entered the building, she asked if she could speak with the Head of Security. She was reluctant to ask for Madam Santhe herself. Not knowing that she was already monitoring the situation.

The Head of Security knew Shaak and her companions by sight, and was very cordial with her. He suggested that they speak in a side room. Shaak insisted that the Twi'Lek Boss come with them. They explained the situation with him. The Twi'Lek boss asked if there was a way to encrypt the message, because some of the information he would be sharing, could be dangerous for him, if it fell into the wrong hands. The Head of security just sat there, not looking at anyone. Then he told the Twi'Lek Boss that the message can be encrypted before it will be sent. But he will have access to the unencrypted message. He asked the Twi'Lek Boss, if he trusted Santhe Security with that information? The Twi'Lek Boss said that he did. This is why he let Shaak talk him into coming to them.

Then the Head of Security asked Shaak if he could talk with the Twi'Lek Boss alone. After the companions left, the Head of Security told the Twi'Lek Boss, that they detected vibro-blade knives on his two Lieutenants. The Twi'Lek Boss told him that his men feel naked without them. The Head of Security asked him, how they got them past Shuttle Security? The Twi'Lek Boss assured him that they didn't. His people have special stashes were they can drop off the weapons they have, and pick up other weapons, at every Shuttle Terminal. He told the Head of Security that it is easier, and cheaper, than trying to bribe Security Officers at every Shuttle Terminal. The Twi'Lek Boss refused to elaborate. Madam Santhe told her Head of Security, not to push it. The Twi'Lek has been frank and honest. She directed him where to take him, to record the message. The Cereans are standing by to encrypt it, and send it to the Fenelar Phoenix.

In the message, the Twi'Lek Boss, gave the Devaronian Krillgan the name of the Twi'Lek on Ryloth that he trusts with his life. He told him that he has been ordered to cooperate with him fully. He told him the code to give Ryloth Traffic Control when they enter the system, so his people know that he is inbound. He told him the planetary coordinates for the spaceport, where his people will meet him. He told him that he has quite the armoury of weapons, if he thought that he could use more than his sword, and his blaster pistol. He also has special electronic equipment, and the people who know how to use them. He included an old copy of a map of his nephew's mine, promising the Krillgan that his people have a more up-to-date version. His version was two months old. Then he told the Krillgan that he loves his sister, and all her children. When his mother could no longer look after him, she was there for him. The nephew that kidnapped his sister, is his oldest brother, youngest son. He was born with a chip on his shoulder, always trying to prove he was better than everyone else. He never was. He gave him this break, by putting him in charge of this mine. He told the Krillgan, that if he does not kill his nephew, he will.

When they dropped out of hyperspace in the Pryshak system, Dranna informed Krillgan that they just received an encrypted message. Krillgan was wondering what the Voss wanted with him now? He had completed everything they asked of him. He knows that it is important to get to Yitabo as soon as possible. Ludia needs him to be there for her.

They were all surprised that it was from the Twi'Lek Boss on Lianna. That he arranged for Santhe Corporation to send it for him. For Krillgan this was great news. He and Tamrack can start the important strategizing, on how to free the kidnap victims. It will also be nice to have some locals covering there back. What was really helpful was getting the map of the mine, where the kidnap victims are being held. They can start looking at all the choke points. Possible ambush points, and how best to overcome them. Rasha mentioned that she was really looking forward to looking at the Twi'Lek Bosses armoury. Krillgan told her that she is not coming to Ryloth. She and Timrune are staying on Manaan. He does not want to chance her and her baby becoming spice addicts, from accidental exposure to Ryll Spice. Tamrack agreed with Krillgan. Rasha was about to object, then remembered what happened the last time she was pregnant. She reluctantly agreed, saying that she also wants what is best for the baby. Timrune was all excited, because he gets to play with all the children in the daycare, for more than one day.

When they asked space traffic control for permission to land on Ahto City's freight spaceport. They were denied. They were told to dock with the orbital spaceport. There will be a shuttle standing by to take them straight to the resort. Talmi left instructions that they are to proceed straight to the conference center. Everyone is waiting there for a meeting about the kidnapping. Krillgan asked Dranna, if she can load the message from the Twi'Lek Boss onto Grimm's computer? They had already had to connect it to the communicator, to access the file on the map of the mine. Dranna told him it would be no problem.

In the conference room, Talmi introduced Krillgan to the team of people that volunteered to go to Ryloth for the rescue. Krillgan told him right away that there are too many people. It will be obvious to anyone that they would be there for a rescue, but not a trade. They have to keep the cousin thinking that he is getting what he wants. The female Twi'Lek bodyguard is perfect for impersonating the Lethan Twi'Lek. She naturally has orange skin. The Selkith gave her a strong red dye, which they manufacture from one of their small sea creatures. A long time ago they had thought that this creature was a pest. It released a black ink when they killed it, as many sea creatures do. But when they left its ink exposed to sunlight for a day, it turned crimson. The Twi'Lek put some on her arm, so that Krillgan could see how red her skin looked. She assured Krillgan that she did not react negatively, the first time she put the dye on her skin. But to be safe, she will not undergo the transformation to Lethan, until they enter the Ryloth System. Krillgan found out that she had originally come to Manaan to be a dancer. But when she found out that there were not enough female bodyguards for the Ambassadors, she applied for that position. She still gets to dance, as she accompanies the customers, who have qualified to dance with the Ambassadors, on stage. But she also gets to train in self-defence. Right now, Hm'Basha is her instructor.

Krillgan dismissed the other security personnel. He thanked them for volunteering. But right now they will be over kill. He told the Ambassadors that they will not be allowed to come, and he had Rasha tell them why. They were all disappointed, because they wanted to tryout the Togruta martial arts moves. Krillgan told Chask, that she looks like she will be delivering her baby before they return. He does not have very much experience delivering babies, so it would be best that she stayed with the women who know how to look after her.

Before Krillgan could say anything to Hm'Basha, he spoke up and told Krillgan that he knows that Jim'Bak has to go. Well he has accepted Jim'Bak and Koon'Ja as his companions. So he needs to go with him. Krillgan told him that he was expecting him to continue with May'ma's training. He will be evaluating what she knows on the way to Ryloth. In case he thinks that some moves need to be added to what she already knows.

When everyone understood who Krillgan expected to be going, Jim'Bak and Koon'Ja made a presentation on the planet Ryloth. The surface conditions, in the region where the Twi'Leks live. How well the locals will interact with them. Because they are foreigners, they will pretty much be ignored. But because they will be accompanied by Twi'Leks, they will still be pretty much ignored. They should not be surprised of some gang of locals, tries to relieve them of their Lethan friend. So they must always keep their eyes open.

Krillgan did not react when someone slipped into the conference room during Jim'Bak and Koon'Ja's presentation. He was very familiar with the life energy this person emitted. You could say that he was comforted by it.

Jim'Bak and Koon'Ja then went on to describe Ryloth's most vicious predators. Indicating that they are both insectoid in origin. Then they mentioned the likelihood of encountering them. The most vicious is the Lyleks. Their habitat the equatorial forests. One Lylek by itself is trouble enough. They stand on average 2 meters tall. They walk around on three pairs of legs. Their forelimbs have powerful pincers, which they use to dismember their victims. They also have powerful mandibles, with which they have no trouble biting through duraplast armour. To make them an even more formidable of a predator, they have a ridged, carapace, with small spikes, which is reported as being able to deflect blaster bolts. If that is not enough, they are usually encountered in hordes. They are cannibalistic, so the larger members of the horde are not opposed to dismember the smaller members of their horde, when hungry. The hordes are led by a Queen. They also have elaborate underground nests, which can cover an area of 15 square kilometers.

The likelihood of encountering one on the surface, is very remote, as Ryloth's deserts prevent their migration to the planet's temperate zone, where the Twi'Leks have their habitations. Where they might encounter them is in the mines. If a mining tunnel happens to break into a Lylek nest. For this reason mining tunnels are narrow, and must be navigated bent over. Except where Ryll Spice Blooms have been encountered. The narrow tunnels are intended to slow down the average Lylek. But the small members of the hordes can still maneuver through the tunnels. To slow the hordes down, mining foremen always carry mine bombs. They are similar to grenades, but larger and more powerful. They have a hard shell that projects shrapnel in every direction when they explode. The explosion is also powerful enough to cause a tunnel collapse. To be safe, the rest of the tunnel is filled with reinforced concrete. As the Lyleks would quickly clear the collapsed tunnel, in search for easy prey. They say that if you here hissing, clicking, and chittering through the rocks. Drop what you are doing, and run. You are about to break through into a Lyleks nest.

They went on to say that the more likely predator they will encounter, both on the surface, and in the mines, is the Gutkurr. When they displayed its image. Krillgan commented that this is how a Rancor would look, if it was an insectoid.

The Gutkurr are only about 1.4 meters in height, with a brown exoskeleton, and red eyes. Their two thin legs and two thin arms, with hooked claws, are connected to a more bulbous carapace, which also has small spikes. It is vulnerable to blaster bolts.

Because of their size, they have no trouble going wherever a Twi'Lek can go. So they always have to be careful.

After they sat down, Krillgan had Dranna play the message from the Twi'Lek Boss on Lianna. After the message, Krillgan got up and talked about the map of the spice mine, which Jim'Bak's uncle had provided. He pointed out the choke points. A place where they can expect ambushes, and the strategies that he and Tamrack came up with, to counter them. He told them, that now that he heard the report on predators, he now knows why there is only one mineshaft to the lowest levels, with only one elevator. It is intended as a last ditch isolation of the lowest level, if something bad happens. But it also means that whoever controls the elevator, controls the mines.

Krillgan told Jim'Bak and Koon'Ja, that he believes that between his outfits and Tamracks outfits, they should be able to provide them with leather pants and jackets. He told them that this was better than duraplast armour. Only they had no padding. So if they are shot with a blaster bolt, it will hurt. He apologised to Hm'Basha. They only leather protection he thinks he can offer him, is a leather vest. He did tell the three men that they will have to provide their own boots.

Rasha took this opportunity to take May'ma to the ladies washroom to exchange outfits. As Rasha was wearing her favorite leather outfit. They are a very close fit. Even having the same shoe size. May'ma liked having the two vibro-blade daggers in her boots. She told Rasha, that if she ever retired the outfit, she would take it off her hands.

Krillgan had even brought four communicators for the team. Ludia had left hers behind, when she transferred to the Songbird, as her ship. Rasha and Tamrack, had both surrendered theirs. Krillgan had also surrendered his. He had decided to wear the bounty hunter's armour. Rather than his special armour. He was planning on following the team, by making himself appear small. Something he could not do with his force activated, special armour. As he would just glow purple. Then Krillgan gave each member of the team, one of the bio-hazard handling suits, he purchased on Duro. The last safety item. To help them from becoming addicts.

Krillgan asked Grimm, what was he doing there? Grimm just said that he is going with them. Krillgan grimaced, but did not say anything. He did introduce Grimm to the team. They told Krillgan that they all know him, as a good friend of the Selkith elders. So were happy he was coming along.

Krillgan than asked Jim'Bak about the man his uncle mentioned. Does he trust him?

Jim'Bak replied that he is his uncle's cousin. They grew up together as best friends. Always having the other's back. He also considers Jim'Bak's mother as his older sister. Since he was an only child. He is pretty sure, that if the person that let his cousin's men into his uncle's compound, was not killed by them. This man would have taken them to where the Lyleks would find them.

Jim'Bak admitted that he feels much better knowing that they have his uncle's people backing them.

After everyone felt that they had covered all bases, they said their goodbyes to their loved ones, and boarded the shuttle. On the spaceport Jim'Bak sent a message to his cousin, saying he found a freighter, and is coming to Ryloth with the Lethan.

May'ma took the Captain's cabin, as that is Rasha's cabin. Wu'la used either May'ma's or Dranna's washroom, as the crew washroom now became the men's washroom. With Grimm and Hm'Basha sharing a cabin, and Jim'Bak and Koon'Ja sharing a cabin. They worked out twice a day in Cargo Bay 2. With Krillgan insisting that they wear the same clothes they will be wearing on Ryloth. So that they would become familiar with any restrictions the clothing might provide, and learn how to compensate. So they would not be second guessing a self defense move, if it ever came down to a combat situation. What was good, was that Koon'Ja remembered that mining foremen also carried modified forcepikes, as well as blaster pistols. To protect themselves and their crew from predator attacks. He said that they were shorter than normal forcepikes. He also did not think that they had the stun feature. So Krillgan dug up a couple of fighting sticks they had on the Phoenix, and started teaching the team how to fight with them.

From Manaan, Tamrack took the Phoenix through open hyperspace, all the way to Duro. From Duro they took the Corellian Run almost to the end. Since Ryloth is in the Outer Rim, right on the edge of Wild Space. He was not happy that he could not join the team. But understood. Dranna kidded him, that he was now part of internal ship's security, and would have to report to Stoneman.

Dranna did talk to Krillgan about the upgrade she mentioned before. The ship's computer felt confident that it could keep the external link separate from the internal link. It also mentioned how it was able to thwart all attempts by the pirates from hacking the ships computer, when they controlled the ship. It only allowed the Cerean's access, because of the improvements they were doing to the ship, when installing the Ion Cannons. Even then, Grimm was working with them. So if the ship's computer was ever unsure about what the Cereans were doing, it could contact Grimm, to verify what was being done, was approved by him as ship's Engineer. Krillgan included Grimm in the discussion. Because he wanted to make sure that all contingencies were covered. Then he had them approach Tamrack, to get his approval. The final person Dranna would have to convince would be Rasha, when they return to Manaan. Krillgan felt that if he approved as owner, and Rasha and Tamrack approved, as Captain and First Officer. Then Ludia would just go along with everyone else's decision.

The last command Krillgan gave the ship's computer, before landing on Ryloth, was not to accept any inputs from the external ramp controls, while on planet. To be safe they will be exiting the ship through one of the side hatches. To keep the ship's air isolated from the planet's air. Krillgan will go first, because he can jump to the surface without being injured. Then he would use the force to catch everyone else.

Jim'Ba had the privilege of introducing everyone to the man his uncle trusted. He told everyone that this is his uncle, Bad'Ja. This brought a smile to the man's face. He led them into a room, and showed them the updated map of the mine. He told them that his people now control the upper portion of the mine. He showed them the original control room, in the upper section. He showed them where the new control room is, in the lowest section of the mine. From there Jim'Ba's cousin controls the elevator and all of the lowest section. He also has access to the cameras in the upper section, so can see anyone approaching the elevator. Hm'Basha asked him, why they let him continue to have access to the video feed from the upper section? Bad'Ja told him that Jim'Ba's mother and sister are not the only hostages. They kidnapped most of the women in the compound. Many of his people are in relationships with them. So they bring them a daily supply of food, to make sure that the people who were kidnapped are fed.

Bad'Ja showed them where on the map they believe the hostages are kept. Jim'Ba's mother and sister are in the control room, with the other women in the large cavity where they found an extremely large Ryll Spice Bloom. A big concern, is that some of the miners working to remove that bloom. Claim that they heard noises in the rocks there. They believe that the Lyleks have a nest nearby. If they think there is prey there, they will dig to the rocks to get to them. Some of the cousin's people who have surrendered. Believing that they are on the wrong side claim the cousin has some Gurkurr trapped in a tunnel, but they do not know how many. Cousin also has two Lyleks chained in his command center. Everything they can reach is metal. So they cannot dig their way out. If someone gets him upset, he will push them, so that the Lyleks can grab them, and tear them apart.

Bad'Ja also mentioned that the reason they have not seized the elevator yet, is because it is booby-trapped. He believes that anyone who tries reversing the controls will be killed. So far they have speculated that there are at least two traps. There is a dart gun in one of the panels. They don't know if the darts will paralyze you, or kill you. There are also highly conductive filaments, just in front of where it needs to be rewired. Touch one, and you will be electrocuted. Grimm asked if he can have a close look at the elevators schematics, so he knows what adjustments need to be made. Bad'Ja not only showed him the schematics, but he also showed him all the tools they have put together, to rewire the elevator.

While Grimm was studying the schematics, Bad'Ja took everyone to the upper control room. So that they could see the camera feeds, as well as indicating where the dead spots are. He pointed out where May'ma can stand, at the entrance to the elevator. By standing in that spot, it forces a dead zone on the other side of the entrance, so that Grimm can sneak aboard, undetected. Then she just needs to take a step back, so the elevator will close its doors, and start descending, without her being aboard. This should give Grimm time to find and disconnect the needle gun. Before they realise in the lower control room, that someone is in the elevator, and they have to activate all their traps.

When everyone was ready, Bad'Ja pointed to the miner's force pikes that were stored on a rack beside the door. He was surprised to see May'ma grab one, but Grimm didn't. May'ma led the group. Krillgan and Grimm held back. With everyone watching the front group, they should be able to follow undetected. As soon as Krillgan and Grimm started moving, Krillgan used the force to make himself small. Grimm's natural skin colour, and the clothes he wore, were like camouflage in the natural rock of the mine. Grimm was forced to grab Krillgan's shoulder, because he did not feel a thing when Grimm tapped him to get his attention. Krillgan stopped and looked at him. Grimm told him that the shielding on his pistol is glowing. Making it easy to see where he is. If Krillgan did not have his helmet on, Grimm would have seen his face go dark with embarrassment. Krillgan handed his pistol to Grimm, so that he could hide it in the folds of his clothing. Then they continued.

It was quite a hike getting to the elevator. Hm'Basha called a halt twice, so that his group had a chance to rest. By the time they reached the opening in front of the elevator, they were all sorry that they did not pack a lunch. Their stomachs told them that they were ready for one. When they stepped into the clearing. The image of Jim'Bak's cousin appeared before them. They could see Jim'Bak's mother and sister secured to chains, attached to machines, which could pull them backward when activated. Behind the ladies were two Lyleks, straining on their chains. Reaching towards the ladies with their pincers. It was clear that if the machines pulled the ladies backward, the Lyleks could reach them.

It looked like the cousin was holding the controls in his hand. He asked Jim'Bak, who are the two men with him? Jim'Bak reminded him that Koon'Ja was on the freighter with them, when they flew to Manaan. The cousin mumbled, "The quiet one". Jim'Bak then introduced Hm'Basha. He told him that he married the Togruta Ambassador. He calls them his companions. There is a chance they may be bonded. Hm'Basha will not let either one of them go off on their own. It is a Togruta thing. So where on goes, the other two must also come. The cousin nodded his head like he understood. He then asked Jim'Bak, if they were okay with this trade? Jim'Bak told his cousin that they are not. But they know that it is his mother and his sister that were kidnapped. So they left the final decision up to him, and hope that they can live with it. The cousin nodded his head in understanding. He told Jim'Bak that it looks like the Lethan has lost weight. Jim'Bak responded that when Talmi heard about the value of the Lethan Twi'Lek. He stopped having her working in the daycare, and had her concentrate only on dancing. He had a number of dance coaches working with her. Both to help her improve physically, and to teach her the latest dance moves coming out of Hutt Space. The cousin told Jim'Bak to have the Lethan enter the elevator. When she arrives on the lowest level, they will exchange his mother and sister for her, and send them up to him. Jim'Bak told May'ma to go enter the elevator.

May'ma did as Bad'ja instructed her. She acted shy and tentative, and did not head straight to the elevator. She acted like it was a beast about to swallow her. She was holding her miner's force pike behind her back. So that the cousin could not see it. To the cousin it looked like Jim'Bak had secured her hands behind her back. So she was his prisoner.

Grimm whispered to Krillgan that this is his cue. Krillgan pleaded with him, that he be allowed to go, to protect him. Grimm reminded him that they discussed this on Manaan. If this is his time to go, his healing oil will not work on him. But if they are being tested, then he will return onto him. Grimm also reminded Krillgan what affect the force has on cameras. As soon as the image of May'ma becomes distorted, the cousin will suspect something is wrong, and will not surrender control of the elevator to its automatic control system. Preventing him from doing the adjustments that need to be done. So Krillgan reluctantly let him go.

Now the elevator is not your typical office tower or hotel elevator. It was a freight elevator. It could hold more than twenty people at a time in the elevator. It was also the only way to get the raw Ryll Spice from the lowest level, to the upper level. On the upper level, you entered the elevator from one side. When you reached the bottom, you exited out the opposite side. Because of its higher capacity, the doors were more than twice as wide as on a regular office tower elevator. Which is why the camera could not cover the entire width of the door, without starting to distort the image it was broadcasting. Because May'ma approached the elevator first. The camera automatically kept her image in the center of its field of view. She approached the elevator from the side were the manual controls were situated. Grimm hugged the wall on the other side of the enlarged clearing in front of the elevator, and was able to sneak inside, without being seen by the lower mine control room.

May'ma stepped just inside the elevator doors. Starting the automatic decent algorithms. Then she said that she wasn't comfortable going down by herself, and stepped back out, before the door closed on her.

Grimm stood in the dead spot for both cameras in the elevator. As soon as he felt the elevator descending, he knew it was on self-control. He had to make all his adjustments, while it was moving. Since as soon as it stopped, if he wasn't finished, the lower control room would have control of the elevator again.

The first thing Grimm did, is find, than disable the needle gun he was warned about. He knew that this would automatically trigger the rest of the built in defenses. He had to quickly remove panels on both sides of the elevator. Making sure he did not accidently trigger another trap in the process. Then he put on the special glasses Bad'Ja gave him. So it was easier to see the electrocuting filaments, which he could not touch, nor did he have the time to disable them. Before doing the adjustments, he spotted and disabled the spice bomb. Whoever was near it when it exploded, would receive an overdose of spice, and die in a hallucinogenic state. Everyone else in the elevator, would have spice enter their bodies, despite the bio-hazard suits, and become addicts for the rest of their life. It was tricky doing the adjustments with the tools that Bad'Ja gave him. But they were better than the tools he left on the Phoenix.

When Grimm went to the other side of the elevator cabin, to continue with the adjustments. He found and disabled the dart gun he found there. The dart would have been shot at chest height for most Twi'Lek men. It also looked like it had a coating on the tip. So if it did not pierce the heart, the poison probably would have stopped it. He had to run back and forth across the cabin. Since he could only proceed so far on one side, before he was forced to do the adjustments on the other. This would have been much easier if there had been two of them.

Grimm did not set control of the elevator, the way Bad'Ja wanted. He set it so the elevator would be controlled by the manual panel, and respond to the call button on each level, without the control center giving their approval. He punched the manual button for the elevator to start ascending as soon as it stopped on the bottom. But he wasn't fast enough to hit the door close button. In order to prevent the doors from opening, when the elevator stopped.

There were about a half dozen Gutkurr in the clearing on the bottom level. One was standing like it was waiting to get on. It right away attacked Grimm with the hooked claws on the end of its arms. One claw caught Grimm in the neck, cutting the artery that takes blood to the brain. The other claw imbedded itself in Grimm's chest. Grimm used Krillgan's blaster pistol, to shoot the Gutkurr. The elevator doors closed before the rest of the Gutkurr could rush over. As they had only opened ¼ of the way before they responded to the close door button. If Grimm had set up the elevator, to be controlled by the upper control room. The elevator doors would have opened all the way. Before the control room could have given the approval for the doors to close. Which would have given all the Gutkurr time to get aboard the elevator.

When the doors did close, the outer doors clamped solidly on the Gutkurr's arms. Rendering them immobile. The inner door did not close as solidly. So the arms slid in the gap. Causing the hooked claw in Grimm's chest to tear Grimm's chest open, as the elevator ascended.

In the upper control room, they detected that the elevator started ascending, after reaching the bottom. They saw the doors open only part way, then start to close. They also saw the Gutkurr outside the elevator. They did not see the attack, because Grimm's body was in the way. They did see Grimm, fire a blaster pistol, before the doors closed. Then they saw him collapse. But they did not have control of the elevator. Bad'Ja ordered all camera feeds from the upper level be cut off to the lower level control room. He ordered one of his men to grab a speeder bike, and get to the elevator. Bad'Ja wants it under his control. He then ordered his men down the tunnel to the elevator. It was time to take control of the lower level.

In the lower level control room. They knew they had lost control of the elevator. They did not see the Iktotchi in the elevator, until they saw him running back and forth in the elevator. They knew that he had successfully disabled the traps he needed to, to survive. The one lieutenant kept track of how many times he ran back and forth. To determine whether he was in time to cut off their control of the elevator. If it was not complete. They would have no problem regaining control of the elevator. Cousin ordered the Gutkurr to be released. So the Iktotchi would have a proper welcome.

They saw the one Gurkurr attack the Iktotchi. They saw the slash of the neck, but did not see the one hooked claw become imbedded in his chest, because the Gutkurr blocked the view. They did see the hole made in the Gutkurr's caprice, so knew the Iktotchi fired a blister pistol. What surprised them in the lower control room, was the elevator doors closing before they had opened all the way. The one lieutenant informed his boss that the upper control room does not have control of the elevator. The elevator's controls are now isolated. They did not see the Iktotchi's chest being ripped open as the elevator started to rise. They just saw him collapse. Probably from the cut on his neck. They surmised, that if he kept a hand on his neck, he will survive until he gets medical attention.

Jim'Bak's cousin told one of his lieutenants to go to where the hostages are kept. He told his lieutenant who to take of his men, with blaster rifles, then to lock the door to the barracks. What they will do next will depend on who gets on the elevator on the upper level. He gave the lieutenant the code word they will give him, if they have kept control of the lower level, and he can stand down. As if in response to what he said. They lost all images from the cameras on the upper level. All they still have, are the camera feeds in the elevator, and the few cameras they have set up in the lower level.

When the lieutenant went to get the men the boss indicated should come with him. He also told them the code word, before closing the door on the barracks. So everyone near the door heard it. They did not like that they were being locked in the barracks, without any word about what was going on. All they suspected, with the extra men going to where they are keeping the female hostages, is that they are expecting company from the upper level.

The Gutkurr that were in the clearing before the elevator door, ignored the body of the fallen Gutkurr. They were hungry, and the only prey they saw had disappeared. Two of them went back to where they had been held, in case more food appeared. The other three each chose to go down a different tunnel. There were prey odours everywhere.

One of the lieutenants told his boss that one of the Gutkurr is heading towards the control room. The cousin told him, that if it keeps coming, then they will have to kill it. They don't have the time to try and corral them again. They also don't want them getting past the control room, and the bunker. They have no cameras there, and they have no way to worn the men who are guarding the women, that a Gutkurr is heading there way.

Krillgan was waiting for the elevator where Grimm had entered the door. The team was waiting on the other side. Where the camera had been pointing at May'ma. Krillgan did not like that he could not sense any life signs when they heard the mechanical locking mechanism engage before the elevator doors opened. When the doors opened, Krillgan told the team to hold the doors open, while he removes Grimm's body. Krillgan made himself look small in the force. Knowing that he would be moving in view of at least one camera. As he was carrying Grimm's body out of the elevator, it seemed like a spark of life entered the body. Grimm open his eyes, and said "Gutkurr". Krillgan told him that they know. Grimm then said, "Dreamarra needs you", then closed his eyes again. The spark of life had left his body. When Krillgan put Grimm's body down, he took one gauntlet off, and put his hand on Grimm. Hoping the spark of life would come back. It never did.

Krillgan went to the dead zone for the two cameras, and let the team know that they can go down. Just after the doors closed, the one Twi'Lek riding the speed bike arrived. He was too late.

In both control rooms, the lieutenants in charge of the camera feeds, reported the same thing, when Krillgan used the force, and the two camera feeds in the elevator became distorted. They both claimed that the other control room was trying to block them out of the signal on the elevator. Then they both tried doing what they could to get the signal back. They were both relieved when the image became clear again.

Bad'Ja swore when he saw the elevator doors start closing, because he just saw his man flash by one of the cameras in the tunnel leading to the elevator. He knew that he would not make it in time.

When the cousin saw only the Lethan, Jim'Bak, and his two companions in the elevator. He sent two of the four lieutenants in the control room, to go down the tunnel towards the elevator. They are to hide in two of the safety boxes. (The safety boxes are there for miners to jump into, when there are Gutkurr or Lyleks in the tunnel. Once the foreman have dealt with them, it is safe for them to come out.) When the four of them walk by, they are to come out and disarm them. Since he saw that all four of them are holding miner's force pikes, even the Lethan. Then they are to bring them to the control room. Once he has the Lethan, he will contact the upper control room. Hopefully Bad'Ja will be open to negotiating. He suspects that the freighter that brought his cousin, is still standing by, and will be open to carrying more passengers. The lieutenants knew that their boss was ready to betray their men. Leaving them to Bad'Ja's mercy. When he has the reputation of not being a merciful man. What they did not know, is that their boss was just as equally willing to betray them, if he thought it would get him what he wants.

Krillgan told the team that he does not detect any Gutkurr, when the elevator started slowing down. He told them to lock the elevator in the open position. Because they don't want it going back to the upper level without them. He did tell them that the Gutkurr will come running, when they start smelling Grimm's blood.

The team did have time to move the body of the Gutkurr that Grimm killed, out of their way. They stood ready in the clearing with their force pikes ready. Krillgan warned them when one approached, and the direction they were coming from. With the training they did on the Phoenix, with the fighting sticks, they were ready. Even Jim'Bak's cousin was impressed, as he watched the fight from both the camera feed in the clearing, and the one camera feed in the elevator.

When Krillgan could not detect anymore Gutkurr, he told them that it was safe to head for the control room. Because he had his blaster pistol back, Krillgan had wrapped it in a piece of Grimm's clothing, so it would not be seen to glow when he used the force. This meant that it would not fit in his holster, so had to be carried in his hand. He warned the team about the two men hiding in the safety boxes. He suspected that they will come out when they are behind them. He told May'ma to let the men get ahead of her. He suspects that they will not shoot at her. Since she is the prize that their boss wants. He will also get close enough behind them, so that he can take them out if they are more inclined to shoot, rather than talk.

The two lieutenants did do as Krillgan suspected, and disarmed the four team members. Letting them know that there are no living Gutkurr in this stretch of the tunnel. When they walked past the dead body of the Gutkurr they understood what the two men meant. When the team entered the control room, it was pretty much as they saw when Jim'Bak's cousin talked to them in the area ahead of the elevator, on the upper level? Only this time he had a blaster pistol in one hand, and the control to the machines holding Jim'Back's mother and sister where they were, in the other. The cousin mentioned to Jim'Bak that he is a much better fighter than he remembers. Jim'Bak replied, that this was the reason uncle persuaded him to leave the planet. He was afraid that people would start pulling vibro-blade knives on him, when they understood that he can beat them up, when they only fight him two or three at a time. The cousin knew that Jim'Bak was not afraid of taking on more than one person at a time. He himself had to use his companions then, who are his lieutenants now, to restrain Jim'Bak. So he could get him back, for giving him a black eye and a bloody nose.

No one seemed to notice, when someone else followed the two lieutenants into the control room. Before the one lieutenant closed then secured the door. You do not have doors on automatic open, when the chances of a predator being in the tunnel was on the high side. Krillgan kept low, and went around to where a piece of equipment would block anyone from seeing his body. While Jim'Bak and his cousin talked, Krillgan told Hm'Basha through the communicator, that he needed to take out the two lieutenants closest to him when he gives the signal. May'ma was told that the cousin was her responsibility. Not to worry, he will call her over. He will want to have a good look at his prize. He told the group that he will handle the other two.

The cousin wanted to know, how good are his companions, when it comes to fighting? Jim'Bak told him that Koon'Ja was the weakest. He could only take on two of his goons in hand-to-hand combat. Hm'Basha was the strongest, he could take on all his goons at once. He would not care that they all had vibro-blade knives against his bare hands. They can be sure that their own knives will end up in their own heart, before the fight was over. The cousin then asked about the Lethan? Jim'Bak told him that they started training May'ma hard, when they knew that they were taking her to Ryloth. The cousin had a look of confusion on his face. He told Jim'Bak that he thought she was called by a different name on Manaan? Jim'Bak countered, that she has been called many names by many men, in her lifetime. Including, slave. It was only the Bounty Hunter who freed her, that called her free. He warned his cousin that he does not want to get on the wrong side of that man. He told him to surrender while he has a chance. Or his death, and the death of his lieutenants will be on his hands.

The cousin's two lieutenants had maneuvered from behind the captives, to slightly ahead of the captives, during this talk. The cousin was still suspicious of May'ma, so he told her to approach him. So he can strip her down, to make sure that she is really a Lethan. May'ma approached him submissively, as is engrained in every Twi'Lek female. When she was within arm's length of the cousin, Krillgan spoke to her through the communicator. "May'ma now!" It was like May'ma woke up from a bad dream. All her training on Manaan, as well as her training on the Phoenix kicked in. She grabbed the cousin by both his wrists, and twisted. Then she brought her foot up between his legs. Causing the cousin to gasp in pain. At the same time he involuntarily discharged the blaster pistol, narrowly missing the head of one of the lieutenants. At the same time, the cousin hit the button activating the two machines. Which started pulling Jim'Bak's mother and sister toward them. May'ma followed through with a side kick to the cousin's abdomen. Which saved Jim'Bak's mother and sister. As the force of the kick caused the cousin to stumble backwards, right between the two Lyleks, who immediately started to dismember him.

When Krillgan called out to May'ma. Hm'Basha took that as the signal to attack. He threw one of his stone knives at the neck of the one lieutenant. Then he stepped forward, and took out the second lieutenant with his other stone knife. Krillgan used his Dathomirite daggers to take out the other lieutenants. It was an attack the lieutenants were not expecting, as they had their eyes on May'ma, expecting a show. Krillgan then leaped over between mother and daughter. Severing the chains that were pulling them with his sword. Causing them to fall forward. Krillgan used the force to soften their fall. At the same time he leaped for the one Lylek, chopping off its head. Then he jumped to the other, and did the same thing. He found it very interesting that the Lylek did not die right away. They continued to dismember the cousin's body. Feeding strips of flesh to the mandibles that were no longer there. Dropping that strip while tearing off another, to repeat that process. Krillgan felt their life force slowly ebb from their bodies. He figured that they will continue to do what they are doing for another 5 to 10 minutes, before they will actually be dead.

In the meantime Krillgan retrieved his two daggers, then went to finish cutting Jim'Bak's mother and sister free from their bonds. They had been picked up off of the control room floor, by Jim'Bak and Koon'Ja. Jim'Bak's sister was disappointed when she realized that Koon'Ja was the other Twi'Lek man in the video she saw of Jim'Bak's wedding. She quietly asked her brother, are there any more Twi'Lek men like him on Manaan?

Krillgan had to turn May'ma around, as she was staring this whole time, at what was happening to the cousin. Krillgan then asked no one in particular, who all the men are in the one monitor, and can they communicate with them? Jim'Bak's mother told him that they are the cousin's men. But he does not fully trust them. Since any he has sent to the upper level, to retrieve their food. Have loaded the food on the elevator, but have themselves stayed behind. Preferring to surrender to Bad'Ja, then risk becoming the next meal for the Lyleks. Koon'Ja came over and studied the controls. He pressed a button, and told Krillgan that he could now talk to them. They can see him in their monitor.

Krillgan told them that their boss is dead. He asked if they will surrender to him. They told him that they will. They also asked, if he would square things away with Bad'Ja? Krillgan told him that he will see what he can do, but makes no promises. Finally they asked, if he could let them out? They had to explain that the armoury is just outside the barracks. Not inside. Or they would have the miner's force pikes, and could cut their own way out. The door cannot be unlocked from the control room. Someone has to enter the code, or use a force pike to cut their way in. They did say that they know the password, to have the men guarding the women, stand down.

Krillgan sent the team to go guard the elevator. He told them that only the hostages are allowed to go up first. He then went to the barracks. His force sword had no problem cutting through the locking mechanism. He told them to prepare for the worst. Prepare for the Lyleks to break through a tunnel. So they all grabbed the miner's force pikes. Krillgan asked them if they know how to make the metal part of what they plug a tunnel with. They told him not to worry. They have two cages ready to go. Krillgan told them that to be safe, they should start preparing a couple more. Then he asked who was going with him, to give the password? One of them volunteered. He also had an ulterior motive.

Krillgan asked the man, how good are his boots? The man looked puzzled. Krillgan told him that he was running to where the hostages are. His responsibility was to stay on his feet, because he cannot run fast enough, and he wasn't waiting. Krillgan then grabbed his hand, and started off slower than he would have liked, just to give this guy a chance to learn how to stay on his feet. The rest of the men did not see very well what was happening, because of the dust he was kicking up. But they did hear him yell like he was having a good time. When Krillgan felt he was getting the hang of it, he started running even faster. The Twi'Lek had to remind himself to keep his knees really bent. Not just to give him better stability, but also because the tunnel was quite low in a number of spots. He came very close to losing the skin on the top of his head a number of times. It was easy to tell were they found a spice bloom, because the tunnel suddenly opened up into a small cavern.

The only thing the Twi'Lek was worried about, was how to tell this strange Bounty Hunter, when to slow down. He could not tug on his arm to get his attention, because all he was doing was tugging on the guy's arm. He also had no way to communicate with him. So he was surprised, when the Bounty Hunter started slowing down, on his own. He stopped before the next bend.

It was the Twi'Lek male who had to catch his breath, before he called out the lieutenant's name, and gave him the password. He then stepped in front of the Bounty Hunter and told the lieutenant, that he has a message for him from the boss. He also signalled the Bounty Hunter to crouch down, even though you could stand upright in this section of the tunnel. When the lieutenant came around the corner, he asked him, what was the message? The man stabbed the lieutenant in the heart with his force pike. He told him that the boss said there is room right next to him in hell. The man told the Bounty Hunter that this lieutenant would not have surrendered to him. What he did not say, was that he had a personal vendetta against this lieutenant, and he figured that this was going to be the only time that he would have a chance to get even. He then dragged the body of the lieutenant around the corner, and into the cavern. He told everyone the boss is dead, they need to listen to the Bounty Hunter.

Everyone tried talking at once. Krillgan hissed loudly like a Lylek. Then he held a finger in front of his helmet indicating he wanted silence. He then pointed to the roof of the cavern. That was when everyone heard the scraping of stone, and the chittering of what could only be the Lylek. Everyone got up and headed for the tunnel. Krillgan had to keep them in some sort of order. Pulling the men out so that the women could go first. Some of the first guards had bombs with them. Krillgan pointed to where he wanted them to put them. Picking one up in his hand. While a quarter of them were still in the cavern. The ceiling started to crack. One of the women screamed. It certainly helped everyone in the tunnel to start moving even faster. What they did not know, is that Krillgan had started holding the ceiling up, using the force. Since the weight of the Lylek should have brought it down, in the back half of the cavern. When it didn't collapse. The Lylek started digging again. They broke through just as the last Twi'Lek reached the tunnel. Krillgan let go of the ceiling. Catching the Lylek off guard. He threw the bomb he was holding up towards the Lylek's tunnel. Knowing that the tunnel was too big to cause a cave-in. But the shrapnel part of the bomb would shred a lot of Lylek bodies. When the bomb went off, Krillgan saw in the flash of light, what looked like smaller Lylek, dismantling a Ryll Spice Bloom. He did not have the time to think about what he just saw. Krillgan then jumped for the Lyleks that fell into the cavern, and started lopping off heads. He felt that these Lylek would attack anything that they sensed moved next to them or touched them. Giving the Twi'Leks more time to get down the tunnel. Krillgan grabbed two more bombs, and threw them to either side of the Lylek tunnel he was hoping for a small cave-in on each side of the tunnel. This will not stop the Lylek from coming through, but it should slow them down enough that they might come through one at a time. Making his welcoming committee that much more effective. The last two bombs, he placed at the mouth of the tunnel. He was hoping that the blast would cause the cavern wall above it to collapse. Sealing off the tunnel, until the Lylek can organize themselves, and remove the debris, before trying to widen the tunnel. Krillgan was hoping to have the first plug in place, before they reached it. Krillgan had not realised that the dust he caused to be kicked up, in his hurry to get to the hostages, was making it harder for the Twi'Leks to move through the tunnel. Because they had trouble breathing because of the dust. Most of them were trying to breathe through a sleeve. They did not have proper air ventilation in these tunnels. The last Twi'Lek was happy that it was the Bounty Hunter, and not a Lylek that came up behind him. So he just breathed through his sleeve, and held onto the person in front of them.

When they made their way back, Krillgan asked them how they go about plugging the tunnel. They showed him the concrete machine that they use. It pushes the cage down the tunnel, then it pumps concrete through the cage. They did mention that it is not very strong. So it does not travel very fast, when pushing a cage. Krillgan asked them, how fast does it travels when it is not pushing a cage? They told him that it can travel at more than double the speed. Krillgan told them that he will push the first cage down the tunnel, then wait for them at the last cavern. When they return, he will show them where they should place the others.

Bad'Ja was getting impatient waiting for the elevator to return to his level. He was happy that it was all the women from the compound. He asked them, why they were covered in dust? They told him that the Lylek broke through to the cavern where they were being held. They told him that the Bounty Hunter he hired was fearless. Standing up to the Lylek all by himself. They don't know what he did, but they did hear three distinct explosions. He also has all the men organised in holding defensive positions, or involved in plugging the tunnels. When he asked them about Jim'Bak's cousin? They told him to ask Jim'Bak and his friends. All they know was that the lieutenant that was sent to supervise the defense of the cavern, if they made it down to the lower level, is dead. They suspect that the bombs they brought to the cavern was intended for them. In case Bad'Ja's men were somehow able to fight their way into the cavern. So they were happy that someone killed the lieutenant.

Bad'Ja heard what happened in the control room from Jim'Bak's mother, as they descended to the lowest level. At first Hm'Basha was not going to allow them to go down. Bad'Ja wanted to take too many men. Hm'Basha told him that Krillgan is in control. That Bad'Ja will be a guest. So he should only have an honor guard. It was Jim'Bak's mother who convinced him to do it Hm'Basha's way. Then she described Hm'Basha to Bad'Ja, the way Jim'Bak described him to his cousin. So Bad'Ja agreed.

Bad'Ja was impressed with the way May'ma handled herself. May'ma told him that it was because of Hm'Basha's self-defence training on Manaan, then Krillgan's additional training while on the Phoenix. They helped her believe that she can do anything, then proved to her that she could. Jim'Bak affirmed that Hm'Basha is in charge of their self defense training, and the training of all the Ambassadors bodyguards. But he has a special training regime for the three wives, which no one else is allowed to participate in. He calls it the Akul style of self-defence. They believe he calls it that, because he is called and Akul killer. (Hm'Basha called it that, because he was teaching them the Togruta style. Since Krillgan had taught them the basics. He was also teaching them the Andriel style. Which is what he was teaching everyone else. Because he was not teaching the husbands the Togruta style. Hm'Basha thought it was safer to call what he is teaching the wives, the Akul style.)

When Bad'Ja stepped off of the elevator. The Twi'Lek men in guard positions bowed to Bad'Ja to show respect. Just like the Bounty Hunter told them to do. Since he let them know that he was not staying on Ryloth, so it would be Bad'Ja that would be deciding their fate. Krillgan sensed them, and came out to greet them. He took Bad'Ja to the control room. He showed him the lower level of the mine. He showed him where he detected the Lylek above them. He showed him where they had already placed plugs in the tunnels. The Lylek can dig down from their farthest point, and actually bypass the first two plugs in the one tunnel. The rest of the plugs were there in case the Lyleks decide to come down to this level. Bad'ja asked Krillgan, what he thought the Lylek were doing, so far from their traditional area? Krillgan told him that he believes that the Lylek are doing what they are doing. They are following the spice. Krillgan told him what he witnessed when the flash from the first bomb went off. He asked Bad'Ja, if Lylek are spice addicts? Bad'Ja admitted that they don't know. Everything they know about Lyleks, was learnt from long range observation. Any person or machine that has come close to them, has been dismembered.

Krillgan suggested that this level be abandoned. What he is doing, is only a temporary measure. Eventually they will need to plug about the bottom half of the elevator shaft. To keep the Lylek from getting to the upper level. He suggested that they tunnel back from the elevator shaft. The way they came. So that they do not risk bumping into the Lylek, for a very long time. Bad'Ja thanked him for the input. He told Krillgan that the ultimate decision will be up to the Twi'Lek that Jim'Bak's uncle places in charge of the mine. He will only be able to pass along the recommendations. Bad'Ja was going to look at the samples once again, from when they put in the elevator shaft. There just might be indications of spice nearby. At the depth the Devaronian Krillgan suggested. It will be very hard to abandon this level, since they have pulled more spice out of it, then any other level. He can see that when his son takes over, it will be hard for him to go to another level, unless they find a major Ryll Spice Bloom higher up.

Before returning to the upper level, Bad'Ja had a talk with the man that Krillgan said killed the lieutenant. The man told Bad'Ja about his vendetta with the lieutenant. Bad'Ja left him in charge of the plugging operation. Then he let him know who will be taking over command of the mine. He told him that he has his own people to be his lieutenants. But he will recommend that he be offered the position of head mining foreman. This news was well received by this man, and the others, after Bad'Ja and the Bounty Hunter left.

Krillgan went into the crew washroom wearing the bounty hunter armour. He wanted to wash any human blood, Lylek blood, and mine dust off of the armour, before returning it to Tamrack. Then he took a regular shower, and put on one of his leather outfits, before taking his starfighter, out of Cargo Bay 1, and down the ramp. The rest of the team knew that they had to remove their hazardous waste handling suits, before being allowed on the Phoenix. Bad'Ja told them it was his problem to dispose of their suits. Jim'Bak's sister wanted to go to Manaan with him. As did some of the other Twi'Lek women from the compound. Some of the men also wanted to accompany them. Some because they felt bonded to a particular female. Others, because they heard that there are a lot of Twi'Lek dancers, but not that many Twi'Lek men for them. Krillgan told Tamrack that this was his problem. If he brought the wrong type of Twi'Lek men to Manaan, he could see the Selkith revoking the Fenelar Phoenix's landing privileges.

Tamarack decided on a twofold approach, when trying to determine which men can be allowed to board the Phoenix, after going through a rigorous cleansing program. He let the men know about the Great Mother's ability to distinguish between what she considers good people and bad people. With the bad people ending up as shark food. He told the potential male Twi'Lek candidates, that they also had to convince Hm'Basha to let them go. It was usually a good sign if he did not kill them right away. That greatly reduced the male candidates. Tamrack also listened to Bad'Ja, as to the men he thought would not upset the Selkith. These were also men that Bad'Ja was willing to give up.

Krillgan asked the droid for the quickest way to the Deysum System. The droid first took them back along the Corellian Run to the Mon Gazza System. They took an unnamed hyperspace lane to the Leritor System. From there they took another unnamed hyperspace lane to the Lannik System. There they took the top of the Bothan Run to Daalang, then up the Trak Tube to the Deysum System.

It was hard, but the representative of The Exchange was able to trace the Lianna Royal Yacht to Randon, then to the Deysum III. The Military Commander was very cooperative once the representative gave him the proper persuasion. In a nice bag full of Credits. He told the representative that people from the Royal Yacht were hosted at two residence in Dragnoor City. The one is a cobbler shop, were a retired Master Cobbler completed the training for a Cobbler from Lianna. The Military Commander showed off the boots he had custom made, as part as his test to be certified as a Master Cobbler. He told them that the other residence used to be a dress shop. The lady that lives there is a retired Master Seamstress and Dress Designer. Most of the women on the ship would frequent that residence. The representative asked, if there may have been a very rare silk thread at the seamstress's residence? The Military Commander told the representative that anything is possible. If it came in as thread he doubted that the Customs Officers would have spotted it. He also told the representative, that this seamstress used to be the head of her Devaronian Clan. So she had more connections than the average seamstress. She would know many of the legitimate freighter crews. It is also believed, that she may have associates that are smugglers. So it is very possible, that she may have had some rare silk on hand. He also suspected that she would not reveal that information willingly. The representative of The Exchange agreed with him. He used the General's communication equipment, to contact The Exchange's Persuader. He has a job for him.

Dreamara wondered why she locked the roof hatch. Krillgan and Ludia are the only ones who use it. Now that she no longer has that special silk in the house, there was not very much of value in the house that was worth robbing. So she unlocked it before climbing into bed. She was interrupted by a banging at her back door. She went downstairs to see if one of her neighbours needs her help. When she peaked outside, she was surprised it was an officer, with a platoon of Imperial Troopers, she knew that this cannot be good. She opened the door a crack, to ask him what he wanted. He forced the door all the way open, and two men dressed all in black entered the kitchen. One of them was carrying a briefcase. They were followed by the officer. He ordered the platoon to make the residence secure. Before closing and locking the door.

One of the men went and filled her kettle, then placed it on the stove to boil. He told her that he hopes she doesn't mind? He has a lot of questions for her. He was hoping that they could share a cup of tea. While they had their talk. He pulled some tea leaves out of his briefcase. Dreamarra asked him, what is this about? He told her that she recently had some guests from Lianna. He wants to know, what were they doing there? Now Dreamarra understood the seriousness of this situation. She told them that a seamstress from Lianna, who was in touch with some of the seamstresses she was in touch with, came by for a visit. She was commissioned to design and sew a dress for her Queen. The young lady was rather nervous, as this was the first time she was asked to sew a dress for this woman, who she both adored, and respected from afar. She wanted her opinion on the dress design. She asked two questions that seamstresses often asked themselves. Was it too plain, or was it too opulent? Having only known of the woman by reputation. They first had to spend some time to get to know one another. Which took a few days. Not something that can be done just sharing a cup of tea. So her and her companions helped her with her daily chores. It is during the breaks that you can find the real person. She was happy to say that she lived up to her reputation. The next part was even harder. The seamstress needed to describe her client in the minutest detail. So that the dress design could be properly appraised. What is plain for one woman, would be too opulent for another. So by describing the client, you get the understanding of where the balancing point is for the lady. Needless to say, that during this time, she had to assign tasks to some of her companions, so that they do not sit around and get bored. It made her feel young again, to have talented women using all of the equipment in her dress shop.

The man asked Dreamarra, what did they make? She told them that the weavers made fabric. The sewers made outfits for children. One can never have too many outfits for children. They are so oblivious of all the dangers in the world. They run around and play. Sometimes they hurt themselves. You need to be ready to heal their hurts, and change their garments. Sometimes it is better to replace a garment, then repair it. The man asked, if she ever used silk for children's garments? Dreamarra told him that it is better to use silk for infants clothing. It is strong and durable. It can even be passed down for generations. It is not recommended to use it for children's clothing, unless it is for a very special occasion. Even though they may only be worn once. The memory of the occasion, will be preserved in that garment. The man asked, if she ever used a rare silk? Dreamarra told him that silk by its very nature is rare. It is not like the material they make most fabrics out of. Because hers is a dress shop. She has handled most every silk that is imaginable.

The man made a cup of tea for Dreamarra, and one for himself. Because he had never worked on a Devaronian before, he did not do a proper research of their peculiarities. So he did not know that they could detect poisons, or that they have two livers. When Dreamarra smelt the poison in the steam coming up off her tea cup, she sneezed. She ended spraying most of the content all over the kitchen table. She even managed to get some on the quiet one. He jumped up in disgust, looking for something to wipe his outfit down. This gave Dreamarra the opportunity to pour out what remained in the cup, on the table top, without being spotted. Then get up to offer the gentleman a washcloth. Then she opened her cupboard, so that the stranger could see all the different types of tea that she had. She pulled one down and made herself another cup, before the stranger could offer to do it for her. She told the man that she was not familiar with his tea, and it tickled her nose. It is not very often that something like that happens. Unfortunately, she did not expect to sneeze because of it. After she was given the washcloth back. She washed than wiped the table. By this time her tea was ready. So she sat back down and sipped her tea.

The man with the tea, asked her what was the rarest silk that she has ever worked with? Dreamarra sat there and thought for a long time. Finally she said, Webweaver's Silk. The Wookiees told her that it is very hard for them to collect the long strands that are best for weaving fabric. Which is why most of what they collect, is used to make rope. But occasionally, they find strands that are both long and thin. She was able to make a nice shirt for someone. The normal threads are too thick to use for a shirt or blouse. That thread is used to make a jacket, or work pants. The man asked her how much that silk cost? Dreamarra told them that you cannot buy Webweaver's Silk. You have to know someone on Kashyyyk. You also have to be prepared to trade something for that silk. So the monetary value will change with what they would like for trade. Unfortunately, all her contacts have also grown old. So she can no longer get the thread to weave.

After they both finished their tea, the man with the briefcase asked Dreamarra to show him her equipment? Dreamarra told him that hers is a dress shop. Men are not allowed inside. He told her that there must be exceptions to the rules. Dreamarra told him that there are. But she has not seen anything about him that would warrant an exception. The man became angry. He told Dreamarra that he has tried being nice. But she is not very cooperative. So now he must do it the hard way. He grabbed Dreamarra's arm, and forced her into her workshop. He then called out to the other man to bring one of the chairs from the kitchen. None of them in the workshop will do. The man in the kitchen knew to bring one with armrests. The briefcase man put his briefcase on Dreamarra's work table. He only needed one hand to open it. When he did, Dreamarra saw all sorts of vials and needles, as well as the double container that held the two types of tea. He pulled out some synthetic silk cords out of his briefcase. While fastening Dreamarra's hands and feet. He told her that this is the type of silk that he was most familiar with. Dreamarra replied that it is not real silk. So he does not know his silks at all. Every seamstress would tell him that synthetic silk is a cheap imitation. None of them would dare use it in making a dress for their client. Besides rope, it only has application for fabrics used in heavy industry.

When he was getting ready to inject her with one of his chemicals, she warned him that he is now making a big mistake. Her grandson will find out about what he is doing. When he does he will make them pay. The man told her that the agents of The Exchange receive threat like hers all the time. Usually, they never amount to more than someone's wishful thinking. She told them that her grandson is real. But they will hope that he is just wishful thinking.

After being injected, Dreamarra realized that this man did not know about Devaronians, and only injected her with the amount he would use against most humanoid species. She decided it was in her best interest to play along. So she decided that she should act like she is drunk. Devaronians are good at pretending that they are drunk. So as not to offend someone who means well. She was getting ready for bed, so did not have to try hard to feel or look drowsy. The only other thing is to slur ones speech. Make it harder for them to understand her, so she has to repeat things a number of times, before they think they understand. She told them that the silk was brought to her by a smuggler. She has no idea where it comes from. When pushed, she told them that she believes that it was a fine Webweaver's Silk. When asked why the smuggler gave it to her? She told them that the smuggler claimed that they had a family connection. She thinks that he was hoping for some business. They asked her, if she thought the silk was very rare? She told them that the amount she was given, would have taken a community more than two hundred years to collect. Probably closer to one thousand. So it is a very rare silk. They asked her to compare it to other silks. She told them that the Denebrillian Star Silk, is the closest when it comes quality and feel. If she was going to make something for herself, she would prefer the silk she was given, over Denebrillian Star Silk. But she could see a lot of people preferring the other. It would be a subjective taste, as they feel similar. They asked her, why she did not make anything out of it for herself? She told them that she is retired. There is no need for her to flaunt herself, or her skill. So she forgot about it, and let it collect dust, until Shaak Chi from Lianna came to her, with a dress design for her Queen. They asked her, how Shaak Chi found out about the silk? She told them that this is a very good question. She can only guess that Shaak Chi may have used the same smuggler, to obtain some hard to get fabric, from the Republic. To get the real answer, they will have to ask Shaak Chi. She smiled when she saw on their face, that this was not an option open to them. Maybe the stories she heard about how tough the Togruta are, must be true. She knew that Shaak Chi and her companions were stronger than most women she knows. After she started repeating answers to questions they posed to her in different ways. They felt that they had gotten as much information from her as they can. The Persuader used Dreamarra's communicator to talk to the General, and gave him an address of a member of The Exchange, to forward a copy of this conversation to. It will be up to them, if they want to pursue this Webweaver claim with the Wookiees. When he finished, and stepped into the workshop, he was surprised to see his associate's body lying on the floor, with blood oozing out of a slit throat. Dreamarra looked at him, and told him to meet her grandson. Then he felt a hand over his mouth and nose, just before his throat was slashed.

Krillgan landed in his usual spot on Deysum III. He was almost expecting a predator to ask for credits for a parking fee. He decided to leave his blaster pistol in his starfighter, so it does not give him away, when he tries being small. He also left his sword behind, as he was not expecting to encounter any Jedi or Sith. His two daggers will have to do. He made it by the first check point he encountered, and jumped onto the roof of the local transit. Jumping to the roof of the next line, whenever he needed to transfer. It was much faster getting through Dragnoor City this way. Krillgan spotted the Imperial Troopers standing in front and in back of Dreamarra's home. So he jumped to the roof of the building complex, hoping that Dreamarra left the roof hatch unlocked. Before reaching the roof hatch, Krillgan already knew that there are three adults with Dreamarra in her home. That they were on the main floor, in close proximity to one another. He was happy that the roof hatch was unlocked, and quietly made his way into the second floor of the home. As he went down the stairs, he saw the Imperial Officer listening at the doorway leading to the workshop. He was definitely being a naughty boy. Krillgan had no trouble sneaking up behind him, and slitting his throat. He lowered his heart rate right away, so he would go unconscious, and slowly bleed out. It seems that the two men in the worship were finished doing what they came to do, as one man entered the alcove were the communicator is. At least Dreamarra's life force was still strong. So they did not kill her. Krillgan quietly entered the workshop, he made note in his mind, to apologise to Dreamarra later, for not asking her permission. He saw that they did not physically torture her, so there was no need to prolong their suffering. Like Krillgan did to the Imperial Officer, he now did to the man watching Dreamarra. Only he turned the victim's body, so as not to hit Dreamarra with any blood spray when he slit his throat. Then he quietly made his way to the alcove, to listen in on the communication. Now he knew why they are there. Krillgan realized that this was really his fault, for bringing grandmother that supply of Dathomir Spider Silk. Grandmother's reaction to the man, showed Krillgan that she was alright. So he quickly dispatched this last man.

Krillgan cut his grandmother free, then went into the kitchen to pour her a glass of water. He apologised that they do not have time to make some tea. He also remembered to apologise for entering her workshop without her permission. Dreamarra smiled at him. She told him, that she is going to complain to his mother, because he was starting to make a habit of it. Krillgan asked her not to tell his mother. He promised to work harder at being better. This earned him a kiss and a hug from his grandmother. Krillgan closed the interesting briefcase, and carried his grandmother up to her bedroom. He suggested that she change into some travel clothes, and pack herself some change of clothing. He also recommended that she take any Kolto she has left. They don't want the Imperials finding it. While she was changing, she asked Krillgan, where she was going? Krillgan asked her if Devron would be a good location. There is a clan there that has undertaken a business endeavor with Ludia. He told her that they are nicknamed the widow clan, since so many of their men have been killed by pirates. Dreamarra told Krillgan that he could come back into the bedroom. After asking for more details, she told him that she believes that it will be a good fit. When she was ready, they left through the roof hatch. Krillgan set it up, so that it would lock, as soon as it was closed. Krillgan carried Dreamarra in his arms, who carried the briefcase, and her travel bags. Before jumping down from the roof. Krillgan generated wind, the defense for the fire element. In case there was a fine dust on the roof. Making his footprints visible in daylight. No point in making it easy for them to figure out how he got in and out.

Because it was the middle of the night, they did not have to worry about meeting anyone on the streets, and it was easy to get around any checkpoints. Krillgan took his grandmother to her daughter Lindream's home. Where they entered without a problem, as Dreamarra has access to the home. Grandmother had to use the washroom right away, because of the tea she drank, as well as the cup of water.

It was the sound of rushing water in her home that woke Lindream up. She saw the light in the kitchen turned on, but at night mode. So she decided to go down and see what was going on. Krillgan had put some water on to boil, and mother had just stepped back into the kitchen. Krillgan told her that some men injected her mother with drugs to get her to talk. So they need to flush her system, so nothing inside is injured. Krillgan suggested that Lindream add some juice to her mother's tea. It will be better for her. He then told Lindream that he will be back for her later that night. He will let himself in and out, so as not to wake her, for when she goes back to bed.

After Krillgan left with the briefcase, Dreamarra started giving instructions to her daughter. What she must do as head of her clan. She reminded her that her home, just like Lindream's home, is owned by the clan. So the Imperial's law concerning inheritance does not apply. Lindream's name is on all of her mother's bank accounts. So she was told which accounts to close, and which accounts she should simply remove her name from. There is no need to go into survivor mode. Lindream will need to notify the freight company, to stop paying her that portion of her husband's salary. It is better that they think she has passed away. Dreamarra then told her that she has to retrieve all articles of clothing that has been made from the Rimohtad Spider Silk, and destroy them. She did tell her daughter that Krillgan has promised to bring her some Webweaver's silk from Kashyyyk. Lindream asked her mother about the Webweaver Silk. This was the first time she has heard about it. Dreamarra told her that it is a coarser silk. It will be fine to use to replace all the infant's clothing. She might also want to make a jacket for her husband, to wear over his jumpsuit. It will help keep him warm, when they land on one of the colder planets. She should also make a jacket for the Captain. It would be better that they look like a team. Some people might think that they are company issue. Lindream started taking notes, because she did not think that she will remember, come morning.

Krillgan had decided to go after the Military Commander. He was involved in this decision to hurt his grandmother. He wants to send a message to The Exchange, that anyone who goes after his family or friends, will pay the price. When the Moff asked them to go after the Sith Lord, he gave them all sorts of information, to cover every possible contingency. One of them was a detailed layout of the Main Military Base on Deysum III. In case one of their people was captured, and they had to stage a rescue. So Krillgan knew the exact height of the security fence, and the placement of sensors around it. He also knew that there are sensors on the top edge of every building. In case a grappling hook is used to climb up on top. Krillgan found a building that was close to the Military Base. What he was planning on doing is running down the roof of the building as fast as he can. Then use the force to jump up off of the building. He will have no problem clearing the fence. It was clearing all the sensors that he is concerned about. He has to stop using force push down, to help him stay aloft, as he approaches the fence, so as not to trigger any sensors.

Krillgan made his jump. He was able to get a lot more forward momentum than he expected. In fact, with his present trajectory, he is going to smash hard onto the building on the base side of the fence. Krillgan had to use force push on the building to slow down his forward momentum. It just meant that he fell down an extra half meter because of it. But it could not be helped. Krillgan had his two daggers ready. Slamming them into the wall of the building, so he does not go down. He remembered to keep the blades horizontal, or his own weight would be enough for the blades to start cutting down through the ferroconcrete wall.

Krillgan used his daggers to travel along the wall. The hard part was going around the corner of the building. He continued down that wall until he came to the next corner. Then he dropped to the ground. When he looked at the wall, he felt the dagger marks were only visible to him, because he was looking. So they would not be easily seen by the casual observer. He knew where the building was that the General was in. All Krillgan had to do was to avoid the patrols on his way there. Krillgan could easily jump up and grab the top lip of the building. But that would trigger the sensors. What he decided to do, is jump up, and stick the daggers into the wall. He then threw himself up and over, doing a somersault, and landing on the edge of a rooftop landing pad. It was there in case they had to use a troop transport to whisk the General away. It would have been easier to use his starfighter to come in and land, except the airspace approaching the base, as well as over the base, is heavily monitored. It just would have sent all the buildings into lockdown mode. Not to mention all the starfighters that would be scrabbled to intercept him, and shoot him down, if they could not force him down.

Fortunately the Moff gave him the code to enter the building. The Moff actually gave him a lot of codes, so he is hoping that he enters the right one. The door opened so it meant that he did not trigger any alarms. In this building, the door leads straight down into the General's apartment, as it takes up the entire floor. Krillgan was not sure who he would encounter first. The General, or his personal assistant. Also a high ranking Officer in the military. It was the General he encountered first. He had just stepped out of the shower, to get ready for bed. Krillgan just knocked him out. He will want to take him out of town to question him. Krillgan then tracked down the assistant. He snuck up behind him, and snapped his neck. He did not slit his throat, because he needed the uniform. Krillgan than went to the main door in front of the personal elevator. He quickly snapped both necks of the two Imperial Troopers guarding the apartment, and dragged their bodies inside the apartment. Where they would not be seen on the security monitors. Krillgan dressed the General first, before putting on the uniform of the Officer. He used the General's handprint to summon the elevator, and took it all the way to the garage level, where the General's personal limousine was waiting. Krillgan sat the General in the back, then took the driver's seat. He kept it at a steady pace, to give patrols the time to get off of the road. At the main gate, the guards just saluted the vehicle, as they removed the barriers to let the limousine out. Krillgan only drove it a short distance, before ditching it in an alley, once he was out of sight of the main gates.

Krillgan removed the uniform he was wearing over his clothes. Leaving it on the driver's seat. Then he stripped the General right down, leaving all his clothes in the back. He then threw the General over his shoulder, retrieved the briefcase, then headed out of the city.

He found an easy to defend position among some rock columns. He suspected that now that he had prey with him, the predators will be harder to warn away. He revived the General, who was obviously frightened. Sitting naked amongst a pile of rocks with an alien towering over him. Krillgan asked him if he recognised the briefcase. The General tentatively nodded yes. Not remembering if he had seen it before. When the alien opened the briefcase, the General recognised it as belonging to the Persuader. This scared the General even more. For the alien to have this briefcase, means the Persuader is dead. Something most people would have considered impossible, with the protection he had. Then the General realised that this alien kidnapped him right out of the Main Military Base. Something considered beyond impossible. He watched as the alien carefully filled a syringe with the contents of one of the vials. Then he stuck it in his arm, and pushed the contents into his body.

Krillgan had carefully questioned Dreamarra about the amount of chemicals injected into her arm? Which vial it was taken from, and approximately how long the man waited before asking her questions? This is what Krillgan was careful to copy. Dreamarra told him that the first few questions were control questions. The answers should reveal whether the serum had taken a hold of the subject. So Krillgan started by asking his name, then his place of birth? He asked the General why he did not care about the people he was supposed to protect? The General snorted, he told him that he was not mandated to protect them. He was there to rule over them. To make sure that they produced what the Empire required of them. Krillgan wanted to know, why was he not supposed to protect them? The General replied that they are not Sith, so not worthy of protection. If they were Sith, they would still not need him to protect them, since they would protect themselves. He told them that what they are, are a cunning adversary, which needs to be broken, and forced to submit. Krillgan commented, that it sounds like they are trying to protect themselves. Maybe they are Sith, forced to protect themselves from him and the Empire. This statement stunned the General, as he tried to process what the alien just said to him. Krillgan asked the General, why he permitted the interrogation of the Devaronian seamstress? She had no knowledge that would advance the Empire. The General responded, that she had knowledge that would advance The Exchange, and they were willing to pay for it. The military has found it advantageous to cooperate with The Exchange. In some regards they have a common interest.

Krillgan did not get the answers he was looking for from the General. It was obvious from his answers that he is a man of divided loyalties. What disappointed him the most, was that he did not know the identity of the man he forwarded the results of the interrogation to. He confirmed the address and that the person was supposed to be a member of the exchange. Not just an agent. The only new thing that Krillgan discovered, was that this all started when a Barseg Nobleman saw the new dress of Queen Krinta of Lianna, at a special celebration on Lianna, for a number of contracts that were finalised. When the Nobleman heard that the Queen was wearing all the Rimohtad Spider Silk that was in the galaxy. He wanted to find its source, so that he could control it, and become extremely rich. He shared this desire with an associate with connections to The Exchange. The Exchange also thought it is a good idea. The first agent he met shared this with him.

Krillgan had heard enough from the General, and slowed his heart down until it stopped. He then lifted up the General's body, and placed it on a column of rocks. Giving the military a good chance to find it. If Krillgan just left it. He knew it would be torn apart in no time. He had to kill two predators during the questioning, before the others learnt to respect him enough, to leave him alone.

Krillgan went back to Lindream's home, to get his grandmother. She was resting with her head on the kitchen table. When he touched her arm she stirred, asking Krillgan, if it was time to leave? Krillgan told her it was. Dreamarra told him that her daughter has already gone back to sleep.

They were already preparing to jump to hyperspace, before the military establishment realised that something was very wrong. It started when one of the Imperial Troopers guarding the seamstress's home thought that they should have been relieved quite a while ago. He went into the home to ask the officer, about arranging their relief. Instead he found the slain officer, on the kitchen floor. He right away notified the other members of the platoon to contact the Main Base, the officer has been slain. He then went back inside, and found the bodies of the two agents of The Exchange. He checked the storefront. The outside door was secure, and the rest of the platoon were holding their place. He went back, and told them about the dead agents of The Exchange. Communications tried raising the General, to notify him, and ask for his instructions, only he wasn't in his apartment. Communications contacted the main gate, and confirmed the time the General departed, without an escort. They then tried to raise the General in his limousine, but received no response. They then contacted the motor pool, to have them locate the General's vehicle. The motor pool called Communications back, to say that it was parked not that far from the main gate. Communications then contacted the main gate, and ordered a patrol go find the General's vehicle. They then contacted Base Security, to have them send a patrol to the General's apartment. Finally, they contacted the Base's Second in Command, to notify him of what happened at the seamstress's home, and that the General is considered as officially missing, and what orders have already been issued. When the Second in Command, was informed that the General's vehicle was found, with only the General's uniform inside. Then that the two Troopers guarding the General's apartment, both had their necks broken. He contacted the other bases on Deysum III, to let them know that he is in charge, that the General was abducted. Then he was put through to the office of the sector's Moff, to let them know about the General's abduction, as well as the deaths of two agents of The Exchange. There was concern on the Moff's part about the General's abduction. There were not very many people who could pull it off. Then he wondered if this was the work of Krillgan Djo of the Djo family on Yitabo? He also wondered if this might be the work of one of the Hutt Consortiums. As they are the enemies of The Exchange. The Moff decided that before he became too excited, he would let the military investigate what happened, then he would launch an unofficial investigation.

Lindream was awaken just before sunrise, by an angry knocking on her door. She threw her house coat on and went downstairs. An Imperial Officer asked her, where is her mother? Lindream had a moment of shock on her face. She honestly did not know, and told that to the officer. Then she asked him what happened? That he was asking about her mother? The officer told her that some people were murdered at her mother's home, and somehow she has disappeared. Lindream looked shocked once again. Neither her mother nor Krillgan mentioned anything about murder. Krillgan what have you been up to? She told the Officer that she was going to dress, then she was going to her mother's home.

The Officer patiently waited for her, and escorted her to her mother's. He wanted to see her reaction to the scene. He was still trying to decide if she was acting, or was she telling the truth. When Lindream saw the blood in the kitchen, she immediately when to the kitchen sink and emptied the contents of her stomach, which wasn't very much, as she had not yet had breakfast. When she went into her mother's workshop, she told the officer that this is not right. (They had removed the chair and the rope fragments.) She told the officer that this is a dress shop. Her mother never would have allowed men to enter. They would have had to force their way in. The Officer asked if men were ever allowed to enter. Lindream told him that occasionally, family members were allowed in. But it had to be for a special reason. The men knew to use the back door if they wanted into the apartment. If they needed to get out front, they had to go out and around. No cutting through the dress shop. It was only little boys that could go thru, and that was only until they learnt the rule. The Officer asked Lindream if her mother may have done this to enforce the rule. Lindream actually laughed at that idea. She said that the most violent act her mother may have done, was to slap someone's face. Her mother does not have claws. The Officer asked if there was a third way out of the apartment. Because there experts cannot figure out how her mother was taken? Lindream told the Officer that all the homes have roof hatches, in case they need to do maintenance or repairs. Her father was the last one to use the roof hatch, and he died when she was a teenager. Lindream had to take the Officer into the apartment, to show him where it is. She pointed out that it is still locked. She said that it cannot be locked or unlocked from the outside, so they did not go out this way. She also pointed out the dust on the ladder. No one has used it since it was last dusted. Then she told the Officer that she is going to have to scold her mother, for not looking after her place better. Then Lindream started to cry. She knew that she would never see her best friend and advisor again. The Officer asked, why the tears? "I'm never going to see her again, am I?" The Officer looked at the floor. He told her that he doesn't know. Lindream became clan leader. She told the Officer that this building is clan property, as soon as they finish cleaning it up, it will be assigned to another member of the clan. The officer told her that he doubts that anyone will clean it. But as soon as they complete their investigation, they will let her know, so that she can arrange to have it cleaned.

After Lindream left, the Officer had the investigator team check the roof hatch, then the roof. The team admitted that they were the only ones to get marks on the ladder. They also found no footprints on the roof, or marks on the roof hatch, showing it was forced.

When Lindream returned home, she called her oldest daughter, and asked her if she wanted to live in grandmother's apartment? Her daughter's face brightened, she said that she would love to, it's a much nicer location than where she is currently. Then her daughter frowned, "Where is grandmother?" Lindream told her daughter that she is calling a family meeting for this evening. Then she changed her mind. She told her daughter to tell everyone that it will be a pot luck dinner, then recommended what she should bring. Her daughter knew that that was her grandmother's favorite. Because it was going to be dinner, the news was bad, but not that bad. It was too bad her kid sister could not make it because of the Imperials and their stupid rules.

It was a starfighter pilot that spotted the General's body, later that morning. In the grid that he was ordered to search. They used a Troop Transport to retrieve it, without landing. Because of the number of predators on the ground, and because they did not see how to climb the column of rocks, without causing it to collapse. The autopsy was also puzzling. They had no definitive cause of death. It was as if his heart stopped pumping. But they found nothing that would cause it to do that. They did find a foreign substance in his blood. When they analysed it, they found that the formula was similar to what they use in interrogation droids. Only this was a custom blend. Their records indicated that this is a blend used by an agent of The Exchange, code named, Persuader. That was when the new Commanding Officer, also a general, sent a new message to the address of the member of The Exchange. Notifying him that two of his agents were murdered. They also wanted to know why the Persuader would kidnap their Commanding General, interrogate him, then leave him naked, exposed to the elements, where he died. They wanted to know what was so important about the seamstress, that it would trigger all this to happen.

The member of The Exchange never got back to the General. Instead he had a conference call with other members of The Exchange, to discuss what happened. They knew from information passed along from other agents. The Hutts were prepared to destroy the planet Livien, in the Tion Cluster. Instead they encountered Santhe Security on the planet. There was some sort of negotiation, and the Hutts left the planet alone. They were wondering if this was the beginning of a cooperative agreement, between the Lianna Royal Family and the Hutts. Lianna is now making starfighters for the Hutts. Even though the Mandalorians were acting as the broker. Then they started speculating, that the source of the silk, is in Hutt Space. That the Hutts were testing the feasibility of the market, by releasing just enough silk, for a formal gown to be worn by Queen Krinta. It could also be a trap for The Exchange. A way to lure agents to their death, and in the process, try to uncover the identities of members of The Exchange. If they cannot destroy it. They will try to cripple it. They did authorize the member to send someone to Kashyyyk, to follow up on Webweaver Silk. But they need to be extremely cautious, and their tracks have to be well covered.

When Krillgan and Dreamarra arrived on Kashyyyk, Krillgan flew them to where the medical clinic is. He wanted to find out about the contents of the briefcase. He also wanted to arrange passage for Dreamarra to Devron. He did not think it would be wise to take her to Yitabo. Where she might be identified. The Wookiee doctors were very much interested in the contents of the briefcase. It was like a small chemical lab. They told Krillgan about some of the different raw ingredients. The only one that Krillgan was aware of, was the Thissle Bark extract. They told Krillgan which ones were combined by the Imperials to be used in their interrogation droids. They indicated which ones were preferred by the Hutts in their interrogation droids. They of course wanted to know where he got it. They also mentioned that all the chemicals were illegal to possess, except by certain medical facilities. On Kashyyyk they only have one. Krillgan smiled at the comment. He told them that this briefcase used to belong to someone used by The Exchange, called the Persuader. He pointed out the vial used on his grandmother. But it was not very effective, as the person did not know how to adapt it for Devaronians. He also mentioned that he would like to keep two applications. As he believes he will need to interrogate some people. But it will be a number of months before he can use it. They helped him to prepare two applications, then sealed them in a custom made wooden box. Recommending that they be kept in a cooler for long range storage. They also emphasised that he needs to warm them up, preferably to the body temperature of the person he wants to interrogate, before injecting the contents. Krillgan also left them some Kolto, both for the clinic, and to cover the cost of smuggling Dreamarra to Devaron.

Krillgan said goodbye to his grandmother, and flew to the Chieftain that had helped him before. He wanted to talk to him about two things. He wanted to collect more Webweaver's Silk, and take some of it with him. He also wanted to know if they knew how to track someone down, using just a holonet address. He wanted to know who they are, and where they live. He also warned the Chieftain that the person is a member of The Exchange, so will do anything, including murder, to keep their identity secret. The Chieftain assured him that he has the right contacts. He told Krillgan how much Kolto it would cost him. He also recommended that this time Krillgan take his wife. As she is very good a spotting Webweaver's nests. Krillgan let him know that he would only be flying down one tree. As he was anticipating a lot of empty nests, by the amount of Webweavers that followed his team down to the surface. The Chieftan told Krillgan that he was very smart. They made arraignments to fly out the following morning.

The Chieftain's wife was very good at spotting Wenweaver's nests. If it was empty they would fly through it. If it had an occupant they would leave it alone. Krillgan would try to fly through it in such a way, that they had little silk on the canopy. The wife was excited about how much they were accumulating on the starfighter. Before they reached the shadow zone, she had to admit that she had trouble spotting the Webweaver's nest, because of the amount of silk on the canopy. So it was time to head back. They had a whole brigade of women, standing ready with mop and bucket, to give Krillgan's starfighter a good washing. To get rid of all the sticky parts of the webb. Krillgan had to use the force to open the canopy. Then he carried the Chieftain's wife down to the landing pad, being very careful not to let her fur touch the spider silk. He had to be equally careful when he jumped down. When the canopy closed, the women knew that the ship was theirs. Krillgan told the Chieftain what Dreamarra told the people from The Exchange about Webweaver Silk. He expects that they will send someone to follow through on what she said. The Chieftain promised to send the word around. They will also make sure that the person who comes will get contradictory reports. So they cannot tell if what they heard is true or not. They have enough trouble with the Imperials trying to control their lives. The last thing they need, is for The Exchange to make things worse.