SPACE – THE SHADOW

The X70-B Phantom dubbed the Shadow, moved through Hutt space, the long sleek silver ship on a course to where Shadelis knew her family would be. She had tracked communications and managed to narrow down where they were all headed. Of course, Necrolis had created enough noise above Drommund Kaas to make her job just that much easier. For whatever reason, they were all headed to Nar Shaddaa, so that was where Shadelis needed to be.

Most likely it was Teffa's idea, she knew. Only he was crazy enough to waltz into the Hutt's domain when there was a price on his head. She had not tried to contact either Necrolis, or Teffa however, for fear such a transmission might be picked up. There was also the minor detail of everyone believing she was dead. Such was the price of being a ghost. At some point she was going to have to deal with that, but that time was not now.

"You look nervous." Kaliyo said as she moved up behind the command chair, hands finding the chiss's shoulders and kneading gently. Shadelis gave a soft groan as she felt the other woman's fingers working on her, suddenly fully aware of just how tight and tense she was.

"I guess I'm just a bit on edge is all." She said, casting a glance to the ratattaki woman. "We should talk."

Kaliyo sighed and stopped massaging Shadelis's shoulders and just nodded. In truth, she had been waiting and expecting such since she had gotten the original holo call asking for her help. While they had been close, and she liked to consider the chiss a friend, the fact was they had a love and hate relationship. My fault on that one, Kaliyo thought as she flopped into the co-pilot seat and stretched to get comfortable. Ancient history was not so ancient after all, she knew.

It seemed forever ago that Kaliyo had used her position inside Imperial Intelligence, and her friendship with Shadelis, to be able to get and sell information. Sure she had made a tidy bit of profit, but she had been found out in the end. It had almost destroyed their friendship, and while she and Shadelis were on good terms as it were, there was a strain and tension between them that stemmed from all of that.

"I expected sooner or later you'd want to." Kaliyo finally said to break the silence that had fallen between them.

"We can't undo the past." Shadelis said back, red eyes glancing to the woman before looking out at the stars sliding by as the ship continued on its programmed course. "I just want to know why?"

Kaliyo frowned at the question, looking out at the stars as well a moment. How do I answer that? What could I possibly say that would make any sense or justify what I did? Kaliyo had those thoughts immediately and it surprised her. She'd lied, stolen, killed, betrayed before countless times. For some reason though, this time seemed to make her feel guilty about it. It was a different feeling, to have her conscience kick her in the ass so. Sighing heavily she shook her head and then looked back at Shadelis.

"It wasn't meant to be personal. I never gave you up, never put you at risk." Kaliyo answered finally, working through her thoughts as she spoke. "I have no loyalty to the Empire. I saw an opportunity and I took it. I never meant to betray you though, never meant to hurt you."

"You used me." Shadelis pointed out, a bit of her anger showing in her face and how she said the words. Kaliyo flinched slightly in response before dropping her gaze downwards.

"Everyone uses people. We did it enough times, didn't we?" Kaliyo countered, but even as she said it the words seemed all too hollow to her. "I'm sorry. I fucked up, what more do you want to hear?"

Shadelis sighed and frowned, looking back out to space beyond the viewport once more. In truth, she was not at all sure what she wanted to hear from the woman. Maybe I just want to know she cared and it hurt her too, Shadelis thought. In the end it was ancient history, there was no going back and no changing it. She could not live in the past, and she did not want to. Being about the woman, just the two of them like the old days, it felt comfortable and right. Shadelis knew she had to be willing to forgive and forget, to move forward. She just hoped Kaliyo was being honest with her, and that she could in fact trust her.

Before either of them could say anything else the ship gave a shudder, sending both of them spinning in their chairs to look for the display screens. Shadelis grit her teeth as hands flew over the controls, making sure every one of the ships suppression systems were engaged, rendering the ship nearly undetectable save for visually.

"Another ship coming in." Kaliyo announced.

As if on cue, the large capital ship appeared just off to the left, dwarfing the Shadow as it moved past. Even at top speed the larger ship was just that much faster than they were. Shadelis swore under her breath, hoping nobody was looking out a viewport as the larger vessel sailed past. Glancing at it, Shadelis began to get a bad feeling.

"I've got an Imperial transponder id on it. It's Darth Marr's command ship!" Kaliyo said before whistling. "Wow, this thing is just armed to the teeth."

"She's a big one." Shadelis commented, peering out at the other ship a moment.

"Think he's compensating for something?" Kaliyo joked, and smiled when Shadelis giggled at it.

"Get me a projected course on them, Kaliyo." Shadelis demanded, having that feeling in the pit of her stomach get worse.

"Got it." Kaliyo said, glancing over to Shadelis with a worried look. "They're heading right for Nar Shaddaa it seems. What are the odds of that?"

Shadelis swore and pounded a fist on the control console in front of her. She had feared such was the case. There was no way they could match the speed and keep up with the behemoth, not without taxing out every system on the ship and making it painfully obvious. The last thing she wanted was that ship taking any sort of interest in her.

What the hell was Darth Marr doing here? It could not be coincidence at all he just happened to be heading right for where her family was going. Could Marr be behind what was going on? Was he working for the Dark Council, or was this something of his own making? There were just too many damn questions for Shadelis' liking.

"Alter course to run parallel but get us some distance. Just fly along like nothing's wrong."

"What do you mean fly like nothing's wrong? How the hell do I fly that way?" Kaliyo grumbled giving the other woman a perplexed look.

"I don't know! Just keep your distance, but don't look like you're keeping your distance!" Shadelis answered back.

"Right." Kaliyo rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I'll just fly casual!"

Shadelis laughed and shook her head even as Kaliyo laughed alongside her. The tension of their conversation and sudden appearance of the capital ship gone, the two women set about following after the behemoth, adjusting their course to keep some distance, The trick of course was trying to just keep up and not let the ship get too far ahead. With any luck, Shadelis thought, they would not arrive too far ahead of them to Nar Shaddaa. The former operative had a bad feeling about its presence.

SPACE – THE DOGS OF WAR

Kamthar Mantell leaned back into the comfort of the command chair, brown eyes glancing about at the rest of those present. Tanno Vik manned the communications station, while Alric had the co-pilots chair and weapons. Command had granted permission to take on a new mission, not that Kamthar had left them much choice there at all.

"Ok so where do we start?" Alric growled as they just flew along at the moment without a heading.

Kamthar honestly was not sure at all. All they knew at this point was that someone was putting up major credits for a hell of a hit list. It was the who's who of the Republic. He had been both shocked and flattered his name had been in there at all. Still, who in the abyss wanted his head was a question he had no answer to.

"Honestly this is absurd!" Alric continued to complain. "Who the fuck spends that kind of money to take out a damn grunt? No offence meant of course, Kam."

Kamthar laughed at that and waved a dismissive hand at the cathar. "None taken. I don't get it either."

Kamthar stared at the galaxy display map, trying to figure out where to begin when Tanno coughed to get his attention. Turning about, he stared at the man.

"Out with it."

"We've got a priority call coming in from Tython." Tanno said, a perplexed look on his face. "It's from the jedi, and they're asking specifically for you."

Kamthar rose and Alric was quick to his feet beside him. The cathar was not about to miss out on this call. It was not common the jedi were dialling them up for a chat after all. Kathar gave a nod of his head towards the command chair and Tanno nodded back and switched locations, taking over for him in piloting.

With Alric right on his heels, Kamthar made his way from the cockpit down through the middle of the ship and into the large lounge area near the rear of the ship where the holo terminal was located. Pressing the button on the terminal brought the crackle and blue glow of the holo image to life. Alric swore under his breathe behind him, as he and Kamthar immediately recognized Jedi Master Satele of the Jedi Council.

"I hope my call has not come at an inopportune time." Satele stated, voice soft and light.

"Not at all." Kamthar responded, bowing his head politely to the jedi. "What can we humble soldiers do for you?"

Satele laughed and shook her head at the man's words. His reputation of course preceded him, but she had not known what a sense of humour he had. It appeared the rumours of Havoc Squadron being rough around the edges and not the typical strict and rigid Republic unit were in fact true.

"It is what I can do for you." Satele said. "I understand you are aware there was a bounty put on your head?"

"Yeah, have to love pissing someone off that much they bankrupt themselves to get revenge." Alric answered for Kamthar and getting a sharp look from his commander as a result.

"Indeed. It is strange circumstances." Satele responded letting the man's words pass without a thought. She had been around enough Republic forces to know they did not stand on etiquette and ceremony much.

"That said a number of other Republic targets have come to light as well, including some of the jedi order. I'm sending you co-ordinates to Kyl'thanis Lightstar. I want you to rendezvous and work together in this."

"Yes m'am!" Kamthar acknowledged the request. "I will welcome the help."

"Good luck commander." Satele said giving the man a small smile. "May the force be with you."