CHAPTER FORTY SIX

THE FOUNDRY

The airlock of the Widowmaker was crowded as the bounty hunters packed in shoulder to shoulder, armed and geared up. Tight quarters made for a warm environment and clanks of armour hitting other armour seemed to fill the close quarters as they all shifted in the rising warmth. Reyal Bloodmoon glanced upwards in annoyance at the red telltale lights that were on either side of the exterior hatch. Until they lit up green, the seal had not been made. Connecting to the asteroid's exterior entry, they needed to ensure they had a solid pressurized seal. If not, it would mean a quick and ugly end for all of them.

Reyal ran over such a scenario in his mind, knowing there was little else to keep himself occupied with. If they were suddenly sucked out into space he knew they would be facing ebullism, hypoxia, hypocapnia, decompression sickness, extreme temperature variations and cellular mutation and destruction. Reyal took a long deep breath and pushed the thoughts away. The long and short of it was in about nine seconds exposed to such he was a dead man. The klaxon sounding grabbed Reyal's attention, and the lights on either side of the hatch flipped from red to green indicating a sound and pressurized seal between the asteroid and ship. It was time to go hunting.

Kiren Bloodmoon lead the way, opening the hatch and climbing through to then slice open the asteroid's outer hatch. When no alarm sounded at the hatch's opening, Kiren said a small prayer of thanks and scurried through. In the bowels of the asteroid he knew they had the advantage of surprise, but only for so long as they kept it.

Kiren watched the others of his family climb up, crouching with blaster rifle drawn and covering them. He had already made sure they all knew the plan going in. They would divide into three teams, work the levels and capture their targets as quietly as they could. Given the sheer numbers they were up against, capturing them quickly and quietly was the order of the day. He knew the moment fighting started and rang out, there was going to be chaos. At that point it's kill or be killed, Kiren knew.

Reyal and Cevse paired off and headed for the upper levels, moving quietly together. Kiren knew the younger siblings were just more in tune with each other, could anticipate each other and worked best together. Raknac and Dukzek were paired together as well. The two well muscled behemoths of the family normally would have been split up, their strength used to balance out the groups but Kiren knew if it came to a fight with those they hunted, having them together barrelling in would prove handy. It was a gamble but one he was willing to take. That left his oldest sister Sciowen with him of course.

"Move it, and keep it quiet." Kiren said quietly over the comm channel. "Seek and capture, try not to engage. The moment we lose the element of surprise the tougher this is going to get."

"I'd prefer a straight up fight." Dukzek growled back.

"Yeah screw this sneaking around." Raknac chimed in and hearing such made Kiren groan. Those two would cause him no end of trouble, he suspected.

"Do your jobs." Kiren answered back silencing the conversation.

Kamthar Mantell lay on the bunk in his quarters and frowned as he stared a hole into the ceiling above him. Annoyed all the mirialan trooper could do was try and take a deep breath to calm himself. Shaking his head, Kamthar pushed up to a sitting position even as another round of steady banging against the wall between his room and next door began, broken by the intermittent moaning and crying he knew came from Elara Dorne. The more growling cries would of course be Aric Jorgan.

Rising, Kamthar paced across the floor, unable to drown out the sound and having had enough of listening to such. There's only so much I can stomach or take, Kamthar thought, knowing it had been going on forever it seemed. Stopping to stare at his reflection in a mirror on the wall, Kamthar scowled back at himself. What bothers you more, that they're being that loud, or that it is Aric in there and not you with her, Kamthar questioned silently?

Letting out his frustration, Kamthar threw a fist into the mirror hard enough to shatter it. Long streaks of cracking radiated from where his fist made contact breaking and distorting his image. Growling more at himself than in anger, the trooper looked down at his bare fist, noting the broken skin on his knuckles and small bits of glass that had broken the skin and stuck. Carefully removing the pieces, Kamthar shook his head and sighed.

She could have been yours, he thought. Elara Dorne had flirted with him enough times to make her interest quite clear. It was not that he didn't feel the same, but he was her commander, the leader of the squad. His duty, his responsibility forbade such a romance. Even if he had managed to convince their superiors to leave them together on the team, there was perception to deal with from the rest of the squad. And then there was all the paperwork to go along with such a request. The thought of her being shipped off to another group where she might well have already died outweighed his feelings. Eyes moving back to the broken mirror and reflection in it, Kamthar could only come to one conclusion.

"You're a fucking idiot."

Unable to remain in his room, hearing and knowing what was going on next door, Kamthar headed out deciding to just walk about the large base. He did not think he was going to be fit company if he caught up with anyone else, but anything would beat the present. Hitting the door, the trooper moved out into the hallway. As the door closed behind him, Kamthar paused. Turning he glanced down the hallway which remained poorly lit and darker than he would have liked. Something had moved there in the darkness, he was sure of it.

Kiren Bloodmoon stepped lightly and quietly as he made his way forward, Sciowen close on his heels. The hallways were wide and also poorly lit, all of which worked to their advantage as they crept through the massive asteroid base. It was almost too big, he thought, knowing that it was almost impossible to defend unless you housed a small army inside it. They had yet to encounter anyone, having taken stairs and passageways upwards. They had passed and circumvented a couple of droids but otherwise the place was deathly quiet. It made him nervous.

Coming around a curve in the hallway, Kiren brought them up quickly, pressing himself flat against the wall and watching intently. Ahead of them he could see a figure emerging into the hallway. When the figure stopped and looked back down the hall towards him, Kiren swore under his breath. All he could do was remain perfectly still and hope it was dark enough that he blended in and was not noticed. Beside him, Sciowen hissed low as she followed suit, waiting to see if they had been discovered or not.

"Are we made?" Sciowen whispered, not daring to move to peer around Kiren.

"I don't think so but he's not moving either." Kiren hissed back quietly.

"What do we do?" Sciowen asked, knowing they simply could not stand there forever.

Kamthar Mantell frowned and squinted, trying to see past the darkness down the hall. The fine small hairs on the back of his neck were rising, and he knew enough to trust his instincts. A lifetime of dodging enemies and their attempts to kill him had made certain he listened to his gut, and his gut was telling him he was in danger right then and there. Slowly Kamthar let his hand lower to his hip where he had his blaster holstered. Better to react and have it be nothing, than not react and wind up dead, the mirialan thought.

Before he could get his blaster drawn the hallway lit up with red blaster fire. Kamthar swore aloud, as he realized he was under attack and had been right. A lifetime of training made him turn sideways in an effort to minimize himself as a target. As quick as he moved, a pair of shots still caught him. The first tore into his left shoulder leaving his arm numb and hanging, the second clipping into his right thigh and dropping him to the floor. Gritting his teeth, Kamthar fought to push and scrabble his way towards the wall, letting loose with his blaster returning fire.

Kamthar still could not really make out his attackers but he could tell there were at least two of them down the hallway. He heard running from the opposite direction and his head whipped around to see Yuun and Tanno Vik racing towards him, both men opening fire. Yuun threw a grenade then a smoke bomb down the hall. The first explosion shook through the base, the second letting go a choking cloud that would blind their attackers, though it left them just as blind. Tanno Vik moved over to kneel beside Kamthar, glancing at his wounds and trying to assess how badly their commander was hurt.

"Who'd you go and piss off now?" Tanno cracked even as he let loose a handful of shots.

"It's not pretty this time." Kamthar groaned trying not to move too much. "That's going to leave a mark."

"Scars." Tanno noted, " Chicks dig 'em!"

Both of them laughed but it was cut off quickly as Kamthar noted the sound of a door opening. He knew who's door as well. Head quickly turning, the mirialan barked out loudly over the sound of blaster fire to Elara and Aric.

"Stay right there!"

A moment later a fuzzy head popped out low against the ground to peer out of the open doorway. Kamthar had to suppress a laugh at seeing such. Aric looked and noted his injuries then glanced back at the smoke filled corridor illuminated by blaster shots that streaked through the cloudy haze. So much for a safe place to finally get a breather, the cathar thought.

"You guys better get in here." Aric growled, gaze returning to Kamthar.

"Do it, get inside." Kamthar barked the order, pushing himself from the wall and letting Tanno grab him by the belt to help him move.

Teffa Darkstar moved up behind his wife, arms wrapping about her and hand moving to rub over the swollen belly she was showing. Mako smiled and leaned back into him, casting a quick glance over a shoulder before looking back over the control panel before her. Alone in the control center of the Foundry Mako had been doing as she normally did, going through the different systems and means of collecting information. Teffa joining her just made it all the better. Alone time had been scarce for a while given the circumstances they found themselves in. Quiet moments, she knew, needed to be grasped and treasured when they came along.

"It's kicking up a storm." Teffa noted feeling such through Mako's belly.

"Yeah, she's active today."

"She?" Teffa asked with a grin.

"Oh it's going to be a girl, and she is not taking after her father that's for sure!" Mako stated pointedly, but could not keep the smile off her face.

Teffa was about to make a remark back to her but he noticed the blinking red light on the control panel. Cocking his head to the side questioningly he nodded towards the little light. Mako turned her attention back to the control panel and frowned even as she leaned forward and began going through screens, scanning over them.

"I think we have a problem here."

"What else is new?" Teffa questioned back, getting an uneasy feeling. "What have you got?"

"I don't know." Mako frowned even as she kept scrolling through information. "It looks like some hatches and blast doors have been activated and opened, but we're not getting any alarms. Teffa it's in the bottom of the foundry where none of us are."

Teffa's brow furrowed as he scowled. He was not thrilled with the information he was hearing. He doubted any of them had wandered off. There was no real reason to go exploring that far into the depths of the place. Considering that, Teffa could only believe it to be one of two possibilities to explain what was happening. Either they truly were not alone on the asteroid base as they had thought and someone was wandering about, or the more unsettling possibility was that they had company.

"I don't like this one bit." Teffa growled, turning to head towards their quarters to get his armour and weapons. Reaching the doorway he turned to look back once more at his wife. "Sound the alarm Mako."

Asha Lightstar swore as the zap from the training unit caught her shoulder making it sting and tingle. She was distracted, she knew. Normally she had three of the small spheres floating about, and she had not been stung by a single one. The fact she was using but a single unit and taking a hit, she was not at all happy with herself. She heard the slight chuckle and gritted her teeth at the sound.

Aela Darkstar leaned against the nearby wall watching the tall redhead as she got in some practice. They had not talked since the ship, but it did not take much at all to see the jedi was still mulling over recent events. Aela could literally feel the tension and buried rage within the other woman. Sooner or later, she knew Asha was going to have to make a choice and deal with such. It was something Aela was interested in seeing happen.

"Something amusing you?" Asha growled out the words, even as she parried the three shot attack from the sphere, then watched it float low and to her right.

"You're distracted." Aela commented and shrugged. "It happens."

Asha clicked off her lightsaber, leaving the practice unit to hover waiting to be shut down or continue. Blue eyes locked on the sith in a hard stare of annoyance. She was about to say something to the other woman but they were interrupted as Necrolis Darkstar wandered into the room. Asha gave the man a hard look before turning her weapon back on and resuming her practice.

Necrolis walked in noting the tension in the air, the staring between the two women, and then Asha's hard glance his way. Arching an eyebrow curiously, he moved over to stand near his sister, joining her in watching Asha practice. Whatever he had just interrupted, it likely had been good timing, he guessed. There were enough problems without letting the tensions and frustrations turn them against each other. Necrolis had already noticed how things were changing, tolerances wearing thin along with nerves. Something had to give, and soon, he thought.

"So what is going on?" Necrolis asked quietly, casting a sideways glance to Aela.

"Just having some girl talk, nothing to worry about." Aela smiled at him, but Necrolis was far from reassured.

Necrolis gave his sister a meaningful look and Aela just grinned back and shrugged before going quiet again. His gaze swung back to the jedi, watching the woman intently. He had already been brought up to speed by Vette on what had transpired. Adding to that with their return and Doc going missing, he knew Asha would have a lot on her mind. He could feel the turmoil within her, it practically radiated from her. Of course having Aela poking at her, and he guessed likely encouraging her to give in to such, was not going to be helping at all. Necrolis was about to say something more to Aela about leaving the jedi alone when he noticed two figures appearing as the far doorway to the large room cycled open.

Reyal Bloodmoon stood in the now open doorway and froze. The room was large and spacious, as well as being well lit, unlike the darker hallways and rooms they had previously come across. Cevse likewise came to a stop beside him. They had not seen anyone as they had made their way up levels and through the asteroid base. It was almost to the point of their believing the place to be deserted and their targets having fled without their knowledge. They had heard nothing when they had cycled open the heavy doors to the room ahead.

"Oh crap." Reyal muttered even as he brought his assault rifle up, eyes quickly scanning over the three figures in the room and assessing them. Only one had a weapon drawn, the lightsaber marking her as a force user, and he let his weapon begin tracking towards her. Beside him, Cevse moved silently, twin blasters drawn even as she moved to his left, crouching against the bulkhead of the doorway.

Reyal opened fire, squeezing down on the trigger and letting go a steady paced stream of shots towards the woman with the lightsaber. Cevse likewise opened fire, strafing the far wall where a red skinned pure blooded sith and another woman had been standing. So much for the element of surprise, Reyal thought.

Asha Lightstar dismissed the training probe, turning as she heard the door and Necrolis's hiss of surprise. Seeing the two figures there, both drawing weapons, she set herself and as the shots came at her, she deftly turned them aside with the blade of her lightsaber. Not waiting for the others to act, Asha rushed forward, blade sweeping away the shots as she closed the distance. Halfway to the two figures, Asha tossed her saber out from her in a spinning arc that sent the armoured figure diving into the room onto his stomach to avoid being hit. Calling on the force, Asha leapt forward twisting herself mid leap even as she snagged her returning weapon. Landing on her feet behind the attacker, Asha reached out with the force and lifted and tossed the armoured figure like a ragdoll, sending him crashing through a stand of storage crates.

Necrolis ducked as blaster bolts tore into the wall above and behind him. Leaping forward he rolled and came up into a crouch with red lightsabers drawn. Even as the female attacker trained the shots towards him, Necrolis moved forward in a slow steady march, swatting each blast away with his lightsabers.

Aela Darkstar had ducked and rushed in the opposite direction from her brother, watching as the female attacker shooting at them focused solely on Necrolis. Able to move freely, Aela drew both of her own weapons and then called on the force to aid in her leap towards her attacker. The female was clearly startled as Aela landed before her, trying to swing about with her blasters to attack. Aela swept the blade of her weapon across, slicing off both barrels of the woman's weapons.

Before Aela could do anything more, or the woman could react, Asha Lightstar shot her hand out grabbing the woman with the force. Lifting and throwing her across the room from the doorway, Asha sent her crashing into the wall close to where she had shoved the other male attacker. The woman hit with enough force the imprint of her body dented into the wall. Slumping to the ground, the woman could barely move, even as she pulled off the cracked and dented helmet that had hid her face.

"Well now." Aela commented, casting a glance at Necrolis even as she shut off her lightsabers. "This is unexpected."

Necrolis cast his sister an annoyed glance, knowing full well his sister had been nurturing the darker nature of the woman. While he was not surprised at all, he was taken aback that Asha had taken the opportunity to lash out with such fury. He had suspected she had such within her, but doubted he would have ever seen such given her sense of control and adherence to the jedi code.

"Be silent." Necrolis hissed and Aela gave him an annoyed glance back.

Asha Lightstar looked at the woman as she ripped off the helmet. Knowing she posed little threat, she turned her attention to the prone form of the male attacker still where he had fallen on his back amidst the crates. Moving to stand over the man, Asha pointed the lightsaber down at him, blue eyes narrowing in a hard stare. Once again they had been attacked, once again their lives put on the line by an enemy who remained out of their grasp to deal with. Their minions sent on their behalf did not care about their lives. It was all about the job, the credits, the glory. So why should I be any different, she thought? Asha drew the lightsaber up poised to deliver a killing blow she knew the man was helpless to defend against. And then staring at him, Asha hesitated.

"Do it!" Aela called out, grey eyes watching the jedi. "They'd just as soon have killed us!"

Asha heard the woman, knew the truth in her words. If it had been Aela poised so, she knew there would be no hesitation at all. The blow would be struck and quickly after the woman would also fall. Such was the sith way. Asha thought on that a moment, remaining still even as she stared down at the armoured figure at her feet. The sith way she knew was not supposed to be her way, revenge was not something she should seek. Controlling yourself, the base dark nature of your being, adhering to the jedi code, that was supposed to be her way. Yet even as she thought that she knew something was different. Following the code would mean Kyl'thanis had died and his killer would never face any justice, just another casualty in a war she could see no end to. Were the sith so wrong, she wondered? They had passion, misguided at times as it might be, they loved and had relationships. Frowning, Asha remained unmoving, weapon poised to strike. Her blue eyes glanced over to the female attacker.

The woman said nothing, watching her, arm and hand outstretched to the fallen figure at her feet. Asha could see the worry and pain in her eyes. She knew what was coming, she could see death hovering and waiting to embrace the man. Who was he to her, Asha wondered, a friend, lover, family? The woman's black eyes looked to her, locking with hers and holding her gaze, the expression on her face questioning, almost pleading.

Asha Lightstar stood still a moment longer before turning her weapon off and stepping back from the prone figure at her feet. The woman sobbed, even as she pulled herself over to him, grabbing and holding him. Asha did not miss the fact she placed her body between them, shielding him as best she could even though the effort would be futile if she wanted to strike.

"You can't be serious?" Aela remarked as she watched. "You know they'll be back trying to kill us again, right?"

Necrolis put his hand out, and Aela frowned but grew quiet even as Necrolis walked over to the jedi. Standing beside her, Necrolis looked down on the two figures. The woman was very young, with short purple hair that set her apart. She had made little noise and said nothing at all. The other figure in his armour was more of a mystery, though in truth Necrolis could have cared less. He was sick of being attacked and hunted.

"You alright?" The pure blooded sith questioned.

"I'm fine." Asha said, casting a quick glance to the man. "He wouldn't have wanted me to do that."

Necrolis nodded in understanding at Asha's words. He was not surprised, and in truth where most would have seen weakness, he knew it to be strength of her character. She could control her emotions, channel them. She still had them and could acknowledge them, draw power and strength from them, but they would not rule her. Glancing once again at her, Necrolis studied the woman who was for all intents and purposes his sister. She's flipside of the same credit, he thought. Very much like him, merely jedi instead of sith.

"You did fine." Necrolis said and had to fight away a smile as Asha gave him a confused and unsure look at his words. "Escort them back to the airlock with Aela and make sure they leave."

"Where are you going?" Asha asked, seeing him move to leave.

"It's time we put an end to this." Necrolis answered back without looking.

Necrolis walked past Aela, leaving his sisters alone to deal with the two battered prisoners. Just how they had gotten onto the asteroid undetected bothered and nagged at him. As he reached the doorway the internal alarm sounded. Necrolis groaned and shook his head. Better late than never, he thought.