Manaan

Danika

I dived from above, seeing an ocean that stretched from horizon to horizon. There in the distance, was what looked like a structure, but it was not important. I dropped like a stone, plunging into the ocean. Down I flew, passing creatures both strange and wonderful. Ahead of me I saw a structure, and stopped. Somehow I knew this had not been here before. At the foot of the farthest reach of the machinery, there was a circle of lights around the Star Map. I dropped to stand on the mud, feeling the water rock me gently. There was a cry, a sound of distress and anger. Off to one side I saw Firaxa, the predators of Manaan's deep. Then a shadow came over, and I looked up at-

I opened my eyes. I had gotten better at least, not disturbing Sasha when a vision came to me. We were less than a day out of Manaan.

The next morning, Bastila was ecstatic.

"The Force continues to lead us on the proper path. Another Star Map. It is strange, however that the builders we seek should set such a map here. The entire surface is covered with oceans."

"Perhaps like Tatooine, it wasn't always so."

"There is that. A cataclysm such as the one that turned Tatooine into a desert might have melted the polar ice caps and drowned the planet. The records of that time are fragmentary, and the Selkath have little knowledge of the ocean depths, even though that is where they were born. No matter, we will find it." As we closed I could see the city named Ahto. Fifty kilometers across, it rested on massive pylons that kept it high and dry for the visitors. It had been built only for visitors, because the Selkath were amphibious, with both gills and lungs, and wore environmental suits to keep their skins wet when they were out of the water.

As we approached, it became more interesting. Davik was wanted on Manaan as was Ebon Hawk, and we had to use one of the extra ID chips for the ship. So it was Star-cluster Wayfarer that called down for landing instructions. There was no argument, and when we landed, there were no massive amounts of troops ready to lock us up. I went into the landing bay with Juhani and Mission.

The door opened on an argument. A Sith trooper in full armor was squared off with a Republic trooper. "You pathetic people. Living off the table scraps of the Senators!"

"The Senators work for the common good! Not for gain!"

The Sith laughed. "If you are truly that weak minded, you might live long enough to be ruled by someone with true strength, like the Sith!'

"I ought to rip your fool head off!" The Republic soldier said.

"Go ahead. If you're man enough!" The Sith growled.

"Trooper." I called the Republic soldier. "You have duties to perform. I suggest you go about it."

The Sith looked at me, and I could feel the glare. "Yes, run like a little child when your mother calls."

"At least we know who our parents are." I replied calmly. The Sith clenched his fist, and stormed off.

"Sorry, master Jedi. The Sith keep trying to goad us into fighting." He motioned. There were a lot of security cameras. "The Selkath are neutrals, and they mean it. Any fighting, they dock the nation responsible. So far we've spent almost twice what the Kolto cost in fines." He laughed. "But so have the Sith, so I think it's working out."

"So the Selkath are neutral. What of the Sith?"

"Neutral means just that. Neither side is allowed to attack an enemy ship in their system. If you do, they cut off your side's share of the Kolto."

"But the Sith could just move on in!" Mission said.

"Don't bet on it. The only people that can get down to harvest the Kolto are the Selkath. This entire city," He waved at the structure, "was built for our benefit, not theirs. When the Sith Ambassador of two years ago suggested they could take it by force, the Selkath council itemized every weapon the Sith had, and how just aiming at a Selkath would cause them to sink the city. No one wants to find out if they're really that crazy. The Kolto is too important."

I nodded. Kolto is a healing agent, and also has a limited regenerative effect in small quantities. Billions of lives had been saved in the years since it was first discovered. What it was really no one could say. The Selkath brought it up out of the ocean, processed it, and sold it. All attempts to duplicate it in a laboratory thus far had failed. The only source was controlled by people who obviously wanted to be left alone.

"They sell it to anyone that brings in a ship with the credits for it." The soldier went on. "Us, the Sith, they don't care. They even sold to the Mandalorians during that war."

"Why haven't they joined the Republic?"

He shrugged. "If someone had asked before this war began, they might have. But right now it's too profitable selling to both sides. But I can't see the Sith just standing there and taking that for long."

Neither could I. "We're looking for the Embassy."

"There's an information kiosk at the Port authority office. They'll give you a map there."

"Thank you." We walked out. There was a small kiosk beyond the door. I heard a voice in Selkath over the speakers. I looked up.

ENTERING CITY STRUCTURE. ALL CAMERAS NOW ACTIVATED

"I know, it's disturbing, but it's to warn visitors where the law stops on the city." The Selkath at the kiosk said. "Otherwise you dry landers would be killing anything and everything!" They were an odd looking race to us land dwellers. Bipedal, with two arms which ended in webbed hands, they had to wear an environmental suit constantly to keep their leathery skin moist. The wide flat snout stuck out, with two small dewlaps that hung from the end of their jaws. A mister sprayed over the head, keeping it moist. The two eyes at the back of the skull were set to look outward. The merchant had to turn his head side to side to look at us with both eyes.

"I carry a variety of souvenirs, and local delicacies for the discerning palate if you've a mind."

I glanced at Mission. "Do you have any candy?"

"Ah, sweets for children?" He ignored Mission's protest. He pulled out a small bag of jelly like blocks. "This is Maaanal. I will allow your youngling a sample."

Mission took a piece out, and popped it in her mouth, "Oh! That is good!'

"One credit for a large bag." He held up a bag that would hold about a kilo of the sweet.

Mission looked at me entreatingly, and I paid for it. "Be right back." She ran toward the ship.

"Should I ask what it is made of?" I asked when she was out of earshot.

"Humans can be so, disturbed by natural processes. It is made from the belly slime of a Mala fish."

"Thank you for not telling us earlier." I said. Mission rejoined us, and we walked on toward the central alleyway. The city had five sections, and each was separated by wind screens and shields to block the ever present waves. With no land to block them, the waves could reach 100 meters in height even without storms. The first section was the Docking ring, set in the center of the giant doughnut. Access was restricted to the owners when they were corporate, or by nationalities, so that the Sith docks were in one section, and the Republic in another. We had landed in the unaligned/merchant area. If we had given a Republic code, they would have sent us there instead.

A tram rushed us to West Central, where the customs kiosk was. We found only another Selkath, and a heavy guard droid. As we entered, the droid straightened, and it's targeting sensors locked on us.

"Halt." It ordered. "Who among you is Davik Kang?"

"Davik Kang is dead. Why are we being asked this question?"

"Your vessel was once named Ebon Hawk, registered as owned by Davik Kang, a known smuggler." The Selkath replied. "We allowed it to land in hopes that we had finally captured the criminal. Ship's papers please?"

I handed over the ID chip. "Ah, purchased a month ago. Very well. Droid, stand down." The droid settled back, and fell silent. "Welcome to Ahto City, we hope you will decide to obey our laws while you are here?"

"What laws specifically?" I asked.

"Human humor, I see. The single most important law is that smuggling of Kolto is punishable by death. If you are transporting Kolto in any form, you must also have a permit for the amount you carry except in standard medicinal quantities.

"The only other rule is that the planet and our people are neutrals in this war. We adhere strictly to that policy. If you part in a confrontation here, and it is proven that you are responsible for it, you will be fined. If you are actively working for either the Sith Empire, or the Republic, your national units will be fined. Is this understood?" I nodded.

"We allow the carrying of weapons because we practice religious freedom here. It would not be right to tell you to disarm when an Echani needs to carry his under his religion or a mercenary because they are the tools of his trade. This means you must practice restraint. Is there anything else?"

I shook my head. He named the fee, and I paid it. He handed me a set of translator plugs, and a map. "Please peruse the guide if you have any questions. There are information pads in every corridor, and by touching one, you can gather any information not within the guide. Thank you for visiting."

Ahto West

Mission

That Maaanal was tasty! I had brought a handful along, hoping Sasha the glutton wouldn't scarf it all while we were gone. Danika and Juhani kept looking at me and smiling when I popped another one into my mouth. I ignored them. I'm a growing girl, well, in one area at least, and we need our calories, you know? The Selkath had set up the main tramline with malicious aforethought. Unless you're going to the docking ring, the trams stop at each section on the way. The Embassy was in East Central, but to get there you had to go through West, then West Central...

You get the picture.

We strolled, with both Danika and Juhani watching everything. Man, you'd think at that age with their looks they should have trolled the first cantina they came to for free drinks and food. But not them. We came to the edge of the city walk, and looked down. The edge of the disk of the city ran down a kilometer from where we were, and as we watched a huge wave ran up almost to the city walk. Like a steel beach! Danika was looking at it, then turned. I can't feel the Force, but I knew she felt something. Then she was striding forward, into of all things, a cantina.

Back in the back of the room, a Selkath sat by himself. I don't know what he was drinking, but if his breath was any indication, woof!

"You are troubled." Danika said.

The Selkath looked up, then away. "Leave me in my misery if you are of the Sith."

"I am not of the Sith. I am a Jedi."

"Jedi?" The fish-man looked at her in that goggling way they had. "Perhaps you can help an old fin then. I expect that we have little in common human, but do your people have a love of family?"

"Yes, we do."

"Then listen and tell me if you can help. I have no love of the Sith. They have never allowed anyone to stay neutral before, and their words to our council do not match their natures. They do not respect our laws, and try to get your people to break it with their words.

"I would never allow this to continue, but I am only an old professor, and no one wishes to learn history anymore. But I believe I can gain the proof of what I think is happening."

"Tell me." Danika was in that gentle bemused place she gets in. They tell me it helps when you're negotiating.

"Some of our young have gone missing. They have only a few things in common. They are all on the cusp of adulthood, all what you might call 'lucky', and, they are all children of our leaders. The ones that in the next few years will become our Councilors. My own Shasha is among them."

"A professor's child? Why would they take her?" I asked. Danika gave me a 'butt out' look.

"Well I am also a Councilor. I am on the High Council itself." He admitted. "I am most alarmed because these disappearances began when the new Ambassador arrived. The last one had a bit of a mischief a couple of years ago."

"He did?"

"He called A Wookiee that belonged to Czerka Corporation a monkey. The fellow twisted his head completely around before the restraining collar could stop him."

"I am touched." Danika replied. "Czerka just lost control of Kashyyyk."

"I have heard. The Wookiee here have all asked for and received political asylum. They are awaiting transport home."

So you want me to investigate these disappearances?"

"Yes. There is no one else I can turn to. The Mercenaries aren't allowed out of this section of the city without a valid contract, and the Republic troops are too carefully watched. Relations are already strained thanks to our own council. There is talk of throwing both governments off our planet, allowing only transshipment of Kolto through a civilian carrier trusted by both sides."

I looked at Danika. She was grim. The information dovetailed too neatly with what Jordo had given us.

"We will investigate this." Danika replied.

"If you find any information, you can contact me through the barkeep. He will send it to me immediately."

"Agreed."

"Can it be that Jordo is truthful?" Juhani asked as we walked away.

"A civilian carrier 'trusted by both sides' sounds like Czerka to me. Mission, find an info kiosk. See if there is a Czerka office here."

I stopped at the info pad they had installed, pulling out my tools. People tend to forget that if you take a computer and link it to a net, the right person can access anything.

I'm not decorating my Lekku when I say it, but when it comes to computers, I am the right person.

"Got it! Located in Ahto East Central, near the Republic embassy. But their main computer isn't in the system. Neither is the Sith or Republic ones."

"Not surprising." Danika murmured. "Come. We have an ambassador to see."

The tram dropped us near the ocean. We walked into the main courtyard, and I nodded toward a door. "Czerka offices."

Danika nodded. "How fast can you work?"

"Well T3 would be better than I am, but... Five minutes?"

"Too long." She decided. "We would need to clear the building for that long, and can't see them letting us in."

"Well I can clear the building!" I said. They looked at me. "I did access everything but their main systems. The secondary system includes environmental. Have you consider how bad some stuff can smell?"

"What do you mean?"

I held up the tourist guide. "It says here that raw Kolto has an odor so horrible that only the Selkath seem to be immune to it. Processing is required to alleviate this odor, and only the final refining process limits it to a tolerable level. That," I pointed at the large door beside the Czerka office, "Is listed on the map as a raw Kolto storage area."

"Mission, must we always put up with your criminal proclivities?" Danika asked in a mock-severe tone. "Though I think this would be more on the practical joke side."

I grinned, and ran to the nearest information kiosk. I sliced in, and had a thought. When they tried to fix the problem, they would discover what I had done. Maybe... I checked the info for news. Czerka hadn't officially reported what was happening on Kashyyyk yet, though it was in everyone else's news. All they had to say was complaints against the 'high handed' manner of the local courts judging the Wookiee here as free. I came up with a name, The Anti-Slavery People's Army, and quickly drafted a communique claiming responsibility for their 'attack' on Czerka here. I downloaded it to a datapad then wiped the case, and logged out. I sliced back in using another kiosk a few meters away, and first buggered the local cameras. They fuzzed out and would remain out for the next ten minutes.

Now, shift forced draft air from here, order it sent to here instead. Open vents here and here...

I logged out, and was back beside my friends when suddenly there was this horrendous smell! When they said raw Kolto smelled bad, they weren't joking! It made Zaalbar's breath smell sweet! Everyone who wasn't Selkath recoiled from the stench. A group of people ran frantically from the Czerka office. I slipped on a breathing mask, and as they ran past us, took off at a dead run.

Behind me, Danika and Juhani were helping, making people look other ways as I went through the door. I dropped my datapad with the declaration on the reception desk, then ran into one of the inner offices. There was a terminal still up! That saved me time. I sliced in, bringing up secret company correspondence. There was a lot, but I downloaded all of it onto a datapad I picked up off the desk with a nice Czerka logo on it. A good touch if you ask me.

Thanks to the already operational console, I was back out in two minutes flat.

I pulled off my mask, and took a deep breath.

Bad Idea. I whooped my cookies right there. I hated that part. I didn't have any more Maaanal and would have to hope that Sasha had left me some. Coming back up, it tasted like fish slime!

Danika and Juhani ran in, picking me up, and carrying me out of the way as a whole lot of Selkath arrived. Some were obviously the local cops, and they were looking for someone. But the only one close to us looked at me, then past to search.

We had to stay there the better part of an hour as the Selkath first shut down the vent system, then began looking for the Anti-Slavery People's Army rep they had caught on the monitors. They showed around the picture, but we didn't recognize her. A pity. According to their cameras she was short human with red hair and Echani armor. Nothing at all like me.

Ahto East Central

Danika

While we were waiting, I read the correspondence Mission had downloaded. The part that bothered me most was a comment on one of the inner office memos;

'The contract has been sent to the Sith Ambassador, who has been trying to adjust the conditions. He will get it back to me by close of business in two days'.

That had been written yesterday. I nibbled at my lip as the Selkath finally began allowing people to move again. If I had a reason, I could enter the Sith embassy, but what reason could I give?

The Republic embassy was a small structure off Ahto East. We went through the process of reporting in, asking for an audience with the Ambassador. Surprisingly, as soon as the guards knew we were Jedi, we were sent in immediately.

He greeted us like an officer in charge of a besieged garrison. "Welcome! I am Roland Wann, Ambassador to Manaan. I'm so glad you finally arrived!"

I looked at him oddly. "We were not scheduled to arrive, Ambassador. We have another mission for the Jedi Council."

His smile slipped. "Oh, dear. Well what can I do for you?"

"We are looking for a Star Map. A relic of an ancient and forgotten people."

"An ancient and forgotten people." He repeated. "That might be what we found."

"You know something?" I asked.

"Perhaps." His aura grew darker, a sign of duplicity. "However, if you wish my information, you must help me out with a problem first."

"Ambassador, Jedi do not barter like fishmongers in the street."

"If my problem is not taken care of, you will not have time to go to the artifact we have discovered." He replied waspishly. "We were using a submersible reconnaissance droid near Hrakert Rift which is about twenty kilometers from the city. Something we have never seen before damaged it during that mission. The last record we received showed literally hundreds of the Firaxan sharks circling the Rift.

"The droid was badly damaged, and it's auto systems engaged to get it back to the surface. However a small Sith vessel was inbound, and spotted it first. They picked it up, and took it into their Embassy.

"The Sith have been pressuring the local government for some time, and they were able to block our attempts to get it back. Once it was inside their embassy of course, they didn't need to. The droid's data block is heavily encrypted, and we know it will take several days for the Sith to access it. But they have already had twelve hours to work on it, and time is running out!"

"What about your own troops?"

"First, we would be in violation of Selkath law if I sent troops in to retrieve it. Such an act could get the Selkath to evict us from the planet, and cut our supply of Kolto. Second," He sighed. "All of the troops I have available were sent on another mission, and have not yet returned. We do not have time to waste."

I nodded. The Star Map and the droid were linked in this web of duplicity. So were the men he had sent out. I felt that he didn't expect them to return at all. "How would I get into this base?"

"The Sith have exclusive access to a docking bay for a shuttle that runs from here to the lower level of the Sith embassy. It has an encrypted access, but a man we captured had a pass card for that door."

I reached out, and he handed me the pass card. "I should warn you that we have no idea of the numbers the Sith maintain in the embassy. If you do not move swiftly and decisively, they will overwhelm you. I must also warn you that the Republic will disavow any knowledge of your actions. I cannot protect you if you are captured."

I had never considered that he might. Kolto was too important to the war effort. We left, returning to the ship. I decided to take Juhani and T3 with me. If we needed to break into computers in the Sith embassy, T3 was much better suited. Mission went in search of Sasha to get some more of the Maaanal. I shuddered. Maybe it was addictive to humans or Twi-lek?

Juhani stepped down onto the dock, and T3 rolled to a stop beside her. "We go in quietly if we can, but no one stops us. Understood?"

Juhani nodded. T3 just burbled and beeped. I led the way back to the tram, and inserted the Sith pass card. The tram rumbled along, and stopped at another section of the docking ring. I stepped out, leading them to a door into one of the bays. I opened it, and we entered the access way.

EXITING CITY STRUCTURE. ALL CAMERAS NOW DEACTIVATED. The system said.

The inner door opened, and a Dark Jedi turned, seeing us. I blasted him off his feet with the Force, my light saber singing. "So much for quietly." I whispered.

T3 rolled in, turned, and the twin blasters in his dome popped up. He took three Sith troopers in armor to our left under fire as Juhani charged three more on our right. I charged at the Jedi, cutting him down. I blocked a blast, the bolt ricocheting to blow another trooper off his feet as Juhani dealt with the last one on her side. T3 rolled forward, checking the bodies of his kills.

There was a small shuttlecraft resting on the pad, and we entered it. There was only one control, a red button, and a slot for the pass card. I slid it in pushed the button; and the ship lifted, rotating as the ramp closed. It flew outward, then dived, turning to fly under the city. The bottom of the city was smooth. Any crevices or bends in the metal would have given the ocean something to pull against during a storm. The shuttle aimed upward, and a section of the city opened ahead. The ship flew in, settled on a landing pad, and cycled down.

Sith Embassy

Danika

We moved into the embassy, and T3 led the way. There was a door ahead, and he stopped at it, inserting an arm into the locking mechanism. There was a squealing, and it opened into a room. We went left, passing down a hall. The door at the end read Flow Control Room. We charged in, dealing with the guards there. There was a computer, but it was controlling just the flow of water into a series of rooms in a baffling manner. We went on, and found a hallway blocked by a force field. Beyond it were two hulking Heavy droids.

"What is in there?" I wondered.

"No matter. Where is the droid facility?"

T3 rolled up to an access panel, and plugged in. Then it bleeped, and my data pad blossomed with another section of halls, One was marked as the main entrance to the city above, the other had a room marked 'Droid Recovery Room'.

"Is this the best you can do?" I asked. He bleeped. I read my pad.

That is all that is in the memory of this toaster they have mounted in the wall. There is a main computer beyond the droid recovery room The section that ended in darkness flashed as if to say, 'here dummy'.

I shook my head, and we headed for the recovery room. Unfortunately we had to pass through the Security control room, and we couldn't have timed our arrival worse if we had tried. The shift had just changed, and every soldier knows that this is the most alert time of any watch.

The guard at the desk saw us, and started to press a button. I reached out, and she slumped stunned as we charged the guards. There were five of them, but we took care of them easily. We hurried past into the section where the Droid Recovery Room was. The guards there were expecting relief, not an attack. We took them down, and turned to look at the droid. It was shaped like a torpedo with legs, all hanging limply at the moment. T3 rolled up, hoisted himself to full height, and opened a panel on the side. He pulled out his access arm, and signaled that he was done.

All data downloaded and data block reformatted He rolled to the computer console and accessed it. Al copies deleted and data segments used for storage reformatted

Instead of heading back, we went on down the hall that T3 said led to the main computer. We entered a large atrium, and ducked for cover as a Sith and a Selkath came out of a room to the south.

"Then it is agreed Duula?" He asked.

"Yes. Ambassador Kolorid. The next time there is a major confrontation between your peoples, and the Republic is judged to be the blame, I will call for the removal of both forces from Manaan. Czerka Corporation has already offered to take up the shipments of both sides." The Selkath said.

"Good." Kolorid purred. "I am sure that Czerka will live up to their responsibilities."

"You understand this is the only way to maintain our neutrality." Duula went on. "If fight you must, you must do it away from here."

"I can agree with that. I know my Republic Counterpart will disagree, but he wants the Kolto for himself."

They stood exchanging platitudes for several more minutes, then the Selkath touched a stud on his armband. A small flyer lifted over the rail, and he mounted it.

"As do we, you stupid fish." Kolorid growled once the Selkath was gone. He went back into the office.

T3 rolled out, and entered the hallway to the main computer. He accessed the system, humming in satisfaction.

I can slice and dice this system He bleeped. Do you want it fried or as sushi?

"Don't say that where the Selkath can hear you." I admonished. "Any guards left?"

One barracks. Neutralized

"Droids?"

The two in the passageway we saw. Disabled. Force field down

"What about the contract the Czerka rep was talking about?"

Correspondence over a four week period including discussions on the percentage of Republic consigned Kolto to be turned over to Sith ships, then reported as 'captured' by Sith forces. Sith want 45%, Czerka wants to limit it to 25. Copy downloaded to data pad

"So they get paid twice." Juhani said. "The Republic even pays their insurance for loss!" I nodded.

"What is that area beyond the droids?"

Marked Selkath Training Area. Marked as Accessed only by Dark Jedi Master Tolan

"Dark Jedi Master?" Juhani asked aghast. Among the Jedi, you have merely Apprentice Padawan and Master as ranks, though Padawan are also divided into Padawan-teacher and Padawan-learner. But the Sith seemed to have discovered the pleasures of a bureaucracy. Apprentices, Dark Jedi, Dark Jedi Teachers, Dark Jedi Masters, Darth Apprentices, and Darth Masters.

"We have to find out what is in there." I said. "Dark Jedi or no." I looked at T3. "Can you store all of the data you have collected in a file so no one can access it without my command?"

As if that were hard. All data collected in this complex stored in file 'Ship maintenance' and 200 pages of basic maintenance of the ship stuck on at the start

We moved back to the force field. The droids beyond it were dark, and T3 went up to each disabling them permanently.

I walked past them, and into the hall beyond. The walls were covered with murals, and each mural extolled a battle the Sith had won, or a great leader of their sect. However history played second fiddle to histrionics. Darth Kun killing his master, but in the mural, Vodo-Siosk Baas was attacking him from behind. Yavin, with Exar Kun standing on the summit of his temple, the worshipful Massassi falling to power the great bolt of Force he fired into the heavens. There were more, each more appalling. Ajunta Pall, the first of the Jedi to join the Sith, looking like a saint as he stood on Korriban on a pile of bodies.

I was sickened by the time we reached the end of the corridor. I heard a moan, and knew that it was not sound, but the Force calling. I turned right, and opened the door marked Medical Bay. Lying on the floor was a horribly tortured young Selkath. I knelt beside him, running my hand over his head gently. The rubbery skin was soft.

"Shasha?" The dying male asked in a soft voice.

"No. I am Danika. I am a Jedi."

"Then it is not too late." He tried to roll over, and I helped him. He ripped open his suit, pulling out a small medallion. "Tell Shasha... tell the others... The Sith..." He gasped, and died.

I clutched the medallion, then lay him back down. "T3, where is this 'master' Tolan."

He bleeped, and for once I didn't need the translation. I stormed down the hall to the door, and it opened. A Selkath was busy with two training droids, and I slammed him into a wall with the force hard enough to knock him out. The door beyond was where Tolan was.

This door also opened. "Who dares disturb..." He stared at me. "You're dead!"

"What is it, Master?" One of the Selkath apprentices with him asked.

"Kill her!" He screamed.

I stepped between them. To me at that moment they were stuck in syrup and unable to move. I struck at Tolan, and his lightsaber blocked me. He reached out, and I felt his feeble attempt to catch my throat. I pushed it aside, then reached out. I could visualize his heart, and he spasmed as my hand closed on it. One squeeze...

No! I would not sink to his level!

I released him, then cut, his head bouncing across the floor. Juhani looked at me, and I could see the shock then approval at how close I had come to becoming what I hated the most.

It took a few minutes to find Tolan's logs. He had waxed lyrical on the 'naiveté' of the Selkath, and how they would fall into the line the Sith demanded without demur. As for the poor tortured Selkath, he had noted, 'Galas has proven intransigent, wanting reasons for why the Jedi are evil. I have dealt him a lesson in pain that would have pleased Darth Malak!'

I held it. I knew somehow where the Selkath apprentices were. I led our party back to them.

The door hissed open, and the four Selkath stood. "Intruders! I can feel the Force in them. The Jedi are attacking!" He looked to a female. "Shasha, should we call our Master?"

"Not yet. We cannot run to the Master every time a little problem occurs. We will handle this by ourselves."

"Perhaps this is a test they have given us!" Another Selkath said.

"Perhaps. Speak, Human. What are you doing here? Only Loyal Selkath of the New Order and our Dark Jedi Masters are allowed here!"

"I send you greetings from your father Shaelas. He asked me to investigate your whereabouts."

"I told you he would investigate Shasha! You're father has always hated the Sith!"

"My father is blinded by his own prejudice! He cannot see that we, the young must soon lead, and it is we that will make the decisions. Decisions guided by what is right for our people!" She glared at me. "Return to that old man who knows nothing of truth! The Sith teach us the ways of the Force, praise us for our insight! Will lead us into a new world where we will decide! Not old stupid men!"

"They lie to you." I said.

"Everything the Republic spouts about the Sith are half-truths and full lies! They are no more monsters than the Republic! Their system is more pure, in that the intelligent and the strong lead!" She laughed. "As a sign of their good faith, they have even promised to withdraw their forces after the Republic is defeated!"

I sighed. Then I spoke from the well of the Force within me in her own language. "And it is said the Firaxa will promise to let you go if you enter his mouth. For he knows a meal says nothing of value about being eaten."

She stiffened. "Spare us your lies! The Sith have treated us with nothing but respect! Your words say that we are prisoners, but do you see any guards? Galas decided that this was not his way, and was returned to the city not an hour ago!"

"What of Taris-"

"Taris was propaganda! Like the claims of the Mandalorian atrocities that were lies!"

I held out my hand, the medallion Galas had given me on my palm. "Look in the Medical Bay. You will find a young Selkath tortured to death. Before he died, he gave me this."

One of the Selkath took it, looking at the medallion. "I recognize this! I gave it to Galas when we were both young!"

"Lies and more lies!" I could see that she was shaken by it. "You must have killed him yourself! That is only proof that Galas is dead, but not of who killed him!"

Wordlessly, I handed her the datapad. Shasha took it, and keyed it open. The others gathered to look.

"Shasha, this is the master's own pad! And that is the master!" They watched the scene play out. Shasha shut it off, and her hand dropped lifeless.

I spoke gently. "Shasha, I know what they said to you. 'The old will not pay attention until you force them. They are jealous of what you can do that they no longer can. We can give you the power they have now, rather than waiting the years they say you must'." I shook my head sadly. "I would have gladly brought you to the attention of the Council if I had seen you before today. Do you think that I, your elder by ten years likes being told that I am too young and foolish? Yet there is wisdom in the words, 'He that admits he doesn't know everything is willing to learn anything'. My master told me that."

"I cannot deny it." She said sadly. "The Sith only use us to betray our people. We must take this to my father, report this to the Council." She looked sadly at me. "It was a beautiful dream, but dreams are not real. I apologize for my harsh words. We must go from here, warn our people of what the Sith intend."

They walked out with the pad. We retraced our steps to the elevator.

Arrest

Danika

A pair of Selkath in Constabulary uniforms with a full dozen droids awaited our arrival on the deck above. "You there, human! You are to be placed under arrest by order of the City Council of Ahto City. You will come with me."

"Why am I being arrested?" I asked. T3 and Juhani had moved aside, ready to attack at me word.

"While the Sith Embassy is by law an extraterritorial region, our systems have detected a number of energy discharges suggesting weapons fire. Inquiries of the embassy staff have netted incomprehension. The only person that could be contacted was the ambassador himself. He has since reported that there are a number of dead and things of great value have been stolen.

"You, the Cathar and your droid were reported by the cameras in docking section 7A, which is restricted to the Sith, yet your entry records state no such allegiance.

"As the leader of this party it is the judgment that you are the cause of the loss of communication, and are to be arrested for murder and other charges yet to be determined. Your companions will be returned to your vessel, and the ship will be banned from departure until your trial is completed.

"You will now come with us. Any attempt to escape will be dealt with. Lethal force has been authorized."

I looked at him, then took my lightsaber from my belt, handing it to Juhani. "I am at you disposal."

The trams may have been set to go through and stope at all the areas of the city, but the pass card the Selkath officer used took us straight to Ahto West, where the court and the holding facility was. I was put in a holding cell, and the door closed. I knelt, and focused my mind. I meditated while I waited. Something brought my attention back, and I opened my eyes, seeing Ambassador Kolorid.

"Well, I have to thank you woman. Thanks to this brazen attack, the Republic will either be barred from the planet, or will pay such a fine that they will buy our Kolto for the next year."

"I think not." I said softly. "My trial will reveal that you have been taking Selkath youths and trying to convert them to your philosophy."

His smile slipped. "You can't prove that. We know your droid didn't have any such data in his memory banks." We asked the Selkath to check. And the data pad you carried?" He smirked. "Proprietary diplomatic correspondence. We demanded its return."

"Then it is only my word against yours." I said, closing my eyes. "Gloat somewhere else, Ambassador."

He stormed off. I was starting to sink back into meditation when someone else came to the cell. I sighed, opening my eyes. It was a Selkath in the drab covering of their legal profession.

"I am Bwa'lass. I have been selected to be your arbiter for the trial."

"Arbiter?"

"Yes. The accused is allowed an arbiter to plead his case, since only the arbiter may speak unless the subject is directly questioned in court. It streamlines our court system. I will endeavor to defend your actions and to mitigate the severity of the sentencing."

"What have I been charged with?"

"Initiating violence against the Sith within their embassy, murder of Sith embassy personnel, theft or deletion of proprietary data, and disregarding our own laws in so doing." He checked his data pad. "The evidence is strong, but I may be able to mitigate sentencing at least."

An alarm went off in my head. "You don't expect me to go free."

"It is highly unlikely. The Sith have supplied video data that shows you assaulting their people, and killing them. However there may be mitigation in your reasons for being there. I have been given all the relevant background data on you and your companions, so we can ignore that. For what reason did you enter the Sith Embassy illegally?"

"I, well, I broke in."

He made a whistling sound I knew was the equivalent of a human snorting. "Criminality seems to be the norm with you off worlders. I am not terribly surprised by your actions, but the court will wish to hear something more substantive. What is your prior association with the Sith?"

"I am on a mission for the Jedi Council. As such my previous dealings with the Sith are not germane to this case."

"I would beg to differ. It is well known that the Jedi and the Sith hate each other. The Sith are an expansionist power, as is the Republic. You and your Council may make it your personal mission to forestall them, but we frown on you fighting on our planet.

"I think you will need a more thorough explanation, including your mission in order to convince our judges." He hummed to himself. "That seems to be all I need before the trial. When you are ready, I can petition the Judges for the trial to commence."

That had been the most lackluster attempt at an interview I had ever heard. "That is all you're going to ask?"

"I have all the information I need to mitigate your sentencing. The facts on the other matters are clear."

"If it's all the same to your laws, I would rather defend myself."

He looked at me. "While that is your right, I would advise against it. I am versed in all the necessary particulars of this case and the laws of the Selkath as they apply. To set me aside as arbiter will put you at risk of the death penalty."

"That is all well and good, but I would rather go into court as my own council, rather than with an arbiter who already believes my guilt and merely seeks to mitigate it."

"I will so inform the court. I will also ask as my final act as your arbiter, that they give you until dawn tomorrow to think about this request."