"Well?" Kira asked.

"Doe," he told her. "Dot yet."

"Agenyor," Yvie said. "Why dib it hab to be owange?"

"I lige owange," Agenord replied. "Who hab the largetht pearlth?" he asked the Duros vendor.

"Usually Knaltoq," the Duros said, pointing at a Rhodian.

"How gan you thtand it?" Kira asked.

"You get used to it, ma'am," the Duros replied.

They went to the Rhodian, and Agenord asked, "Knaldog?" The Rhodian nodded. "Fweshetht, pleathz." Knaltoq took a container from his assistant, set it down, and removed the cover. The three Jedi winced away from the smell.

"Thadz fwesh all wight," Kira said.

Agenord spread his hands over the Krayt dragon pearls and concentrated. After a moment, he selected two of them. "Both," he said. The Rhodian nodded, and his assistant began to box the pearls.

"Finally," Yvie said.

They took the automated speeder back to the processing center, documented their pearls, and turned them in for processing. Agenord left for the male showers, and Kira and Yvie went to the female showers. They pulled off their disposable shoes and jumpsuits and dropped them in the incinerator tubes, and Kira got her first good look at all of Yvie.

"Like what you see?" Yvie asked without looking up.

"Sorry," Kira said and looked away.

Yvie stood in front of Kira and said, "It's okay if you do."

"Oh," Kira said. "Are you-?"

"I experimented recently," Yvie replied. "Not bad, but I prefer men." She smiled. "Like you."

"I guess," Kira said and went into the chemical shower.

"I'm not," Yvie said, following. "I don't need the Force to see how you look at him."

"We're Jedi," Kira said. "All three of us."

Yvie shrugged. "I've never been happy with that part of the Order." She bent her head forward to let the chemical wash slide down her back. "Have you ever stripped in front of a crowd?"

Kira choked a little. "Excuse me?"

"Have you ever stripped naked in front of a large crowd of men?" Yvie asked without looking up.

"No."

Yvie turned toward Kira and tilted her head back. "I agreed to help Sheriff Encot with a slaver problem." She massaged the chemical wash down her body. "So, for training, I've been stripping at a cantina." Kira choked again, and Yvie looked at her with a smile. "A room full of men. A hundred eyes and minds focused solely on me." She turned off the shower. "Their lust and their thoughts are intoxicating."

Kira blinked.

"You should try it," Yvie said. "It's something only a Force Sensitive can understand." She closed her eyes and moaned. "You can feel everywhere they look, like someone sliding a feather over your bare skin." She smiled at Kira again.

"Please tell me you're joking."

Yvie shrugged and left to get dressed.

Kira finished and dressed, and the two of them returned to the speeder. Agenord noticed Kira's expression and whispered, "What did she do?"

Kira leaned in and said, "Well, she said she was stripping in a cantina. To train."

"Oh," he said with a sigh. "She finally found an excuse. Don't worry about it."

When they returned to the Guardian, they were contacted by General Var Suthra and Doctor Godera.

"Has Master Kiwiiks reported in?" Agenord asked.

"Negative," Var Suthra said. "And before I brief you any further, I'd like to make something clear. Master Satele informed me of her decision regarding Kira. I don't approve." Agenord's eyes narrowed. "The Jedi Council may trust your Padawan, but that doesn't mean I have to."

"I understand what the Dark Side can do," Agenord said in a low voice, and Teeseven rolled back from the holoemitter. "And I know some are strong enough to fight it. To overcome it. Kira has proven herself to me more than once, General. More than you have, in fact. I don't need your approval. I do need you to respect my decisions, especially with regard to my Padawan."

"Thank you for making that clear," Var Suthra said. "Doctor Godera, if you would."

Halfway to the research facility, Agenord said, "Something wrong, Kira?"

"What the hell was that?!"

"That what?" he asked.

"That speech to Var Suthra! That's what! What was that?"

"Clarifying my position," Agenord replied.

Teeseven beeped from the back of the speeder, and Seetwo said, "He said he supports Kira, sir. I agree with him."

"What if you're wrong?" Kira asked. "What if I turn, and you can't save me? What are you going to do?"

He stopped the speeder abruptly, as if she hit a nerve. "I would do what I had to do," he said softly and turned toward her. "For the good of the Republic. And its people."

"Do you really think you could?" she said.

He watched her before answering. "I've been asking myself that question for nine years." He turned back and continued driving. "And it's always the same answer."

Agenord stopped well before the facility, scanning the cliffs around them.

"I sense it too," Kira said. She grabbed her macrobinoculars and searched the ridges ahead of them. "Sand People," she said.

"Droid patrols should have driven them off," Agenord said. He took out his holocomm and examined a map of the area. "Here," he said. "This ridge is our best way into the facility. They'll have snipers along the ridge, so stealth mode."

"Sir-," Seetwo began.

"Yes," Agenord said. "You stay here. Kira, Teeseven, let's go."

"Does this seem a little convenient?" Kira asked.

"Very," Agenord replied. "Angral's testing me again."

"The Sand People?"

"Don't know anything about it. Someone opened the door, and they walked in. It's unfortunate, but we do what must be done."

Kira sighed. "I didn't really want proof."

"Me either," Agenord said.

For the first time, Kira saw Agenord pause before heading into battle.

Hare'en and Brrik huddled in a corner of the Seismology Lab. The Sand People had been trying to cut their way in. The progress was slow but definite. Then, the cutting stopped and blaster fire began and another sound, a lightsaber, was mixed in. The Sith had come back to finish them. The blaster sounds were replaced with screaming. The screams faded to silence, and an orange blade stabbed into the door and cut away the lock. The door slid open, and Agenord, Kira, and Teeseven entered, looking for targets.

"Jedi!" Hare'en said. "I told you help would come."

"Brrik ukujabula ukungalungile!" the Jawa replied.

"Doctor Hare'en, I presume?" Agenord said, his lightsaber still active.

"Yes," Hare'en replied. "General Var Suthra told us he was sending help, but I never expected more Jedi."

"Master Kiwiiks," Kira said. "Where is she?"

"She defended us against Imperial soldiers led by a Sith," Hare'en said. "She fought bravely, but the Sith was stronger."

Agenord looked around. "They took her alive?"

"Yes," she said. "And they took the Shock Drum prototype."

"Agenord?" Kira said, looking at his lightsaber.

He shook his head clear, deactivated the saber, and returned it to his belt. "Doctor, why didn't they kill you?"

"The Sith said we were no threat- that we didn't deserve to die," Hare'en replied. "It was almost like the idea of killing us insulted him."

"'Didn't deserve to die'," Agenord echoed. "Strange, but I'll keep it in mind. Now, tell us about this Shock Drum, what it does, and how to find it."

After Doctor Hare'en's exposition, Agenord said, "Very good, Doctor. We'll get your base functional again." They turned and found worker droids outside the room, carrying away the Sand People.

"You must be Master Agenord," one of the droids said. "General Var Suthra sent us. We will have the research facility up and running in no time. We have already found thirteen more survivors and are providing medical assistance." Agenord nodded. "You more than match the General's description of you, sir. You must be very proud."

"Proud?" he asked as if the word were alien to him. "Proud?!" He glared at the maintenance droid like an enemy. "I killed them!" He squeezed his hand into a fist, and the droid's body screeched in protest as it began to crumple, its limbs twisting against its body. Brrik and Teeseven scurried into the shadows, and Doctor Hare'en backed away. "I KILLED ALL OF THEM!" The droid's body squeezed into a tight ball. It protested the unfairness until its speech synthesizer broke. Agenord finally released the droid-ball, and it hit the floor with a heavy clank. Kira watched as the lights in the droid's eyes flickered and went out. Agenord stood over the crushed droid, gasping for breath.

"Yes," Kira said at last. "Yes, you did. And saved fifteen lives. And who knows how many more, if we hadn't gotten to her in time."

"You're right," he said. "My apologies, Doctor. Mass murder throws me off my game."

"Well," she replied. "Better that than... nothing."

He tried to smile. "Very true. Kira, Teeseven, let's go."

Once they were outside, Kira said, "Something special about Sand People, or has this been building up?"

"Building up. Since Tython. Flesh Raiders, gangsters, rakghouls, even the Imperials. None of them has been a challenge. Like I was killing civilians." He slumped against a nearby boulder. "I'm not the Champion I should be. And them." He nodded at the corpses. "They were victims of the Force and my destiny, whatever that is."

"They were also victims of that Sith Lord. He let them in just for you." She sat on the boulder next to him. "You've also done a lot of good. The ancient masters believed Champions were made strong enough for the task before them. I've often wondered how bad it must be to need someone like you. I have to say, better you than me."

He snorted a laugh. "That's how you make me feel better?"

"No," she said. "That's how I drag you out of the brooding. You do that way too much. Let's get going. I'll drive, and you can brood in the speeder. How's that sound?"

He smiled at her in a way he really shouldn't. "It sounds good."

"Thank you, Kira," Master Satele said from Kira's holocomm. "Did you have any hint of it?"

"I asked him what he would do if I turned. He really didn't like the question."

"How is he now?"

"Back to his old self," Kira replied.

"But who is that?" Satele asked. "He's not who he was before Mau'te. About a month before the incident, we tested their ability to fight in unison." Kira nodded. That was a common technique for Force Sensitive twins. "A dozen Masters against the two of them and they nearly won."

"Which means what?" Kira asked.

Satele shrugged. "The betrayal hurt more than Master Agenord is letting on. How is the mission going?"

"It's been a busy week. Havoc Squad has been on a related mission, so we've had the chance to work together," Kira told her. "Cyr'rnin always raises his spirits. And, we've located the Shock Drum. We'll move against the Imperial base as soon as Havoc Squad can get us the coordinates."

"Very good," Satele said. "Bastila Shan mentioned some similar events in Revan's life after he accepted what he was. Let's hope this was Master Agenord adjusting to his role."

"This is why you wanted me with him, isn't it?"

Master Satele nodded. "You didn't fawn over him like so many others have. He could respect that. How has he reacted to Ranna and Dax'l?"

Kira said, "If anything, the thought of Dax'l has calmed him down. He's fighting for something more tangible."

Satele sighed. "Bastila Shan mentioned something about that too. Keep up the good work, Kira. You're there because he trusts you and the Council trusts you. May the Force be with you both. Satele out."

"They put it on a fault line," Hare'en said to Agenord as Kira returned to the sensor room. "It could destroy whole cities."

"Great," Kira said. "Any word on the Imperial base?"

"Havoc Squad just contacted me," Agenord said. "We'll meet them at the base. We'll split into two teams once we're there. I want you to head the team going after the Shock Drum."

"What?" Kira said.

"You're ready for it," Agenord told her. "Let's go." When they were in the speeder, he said, "How did she react?"

"Concerned."

"Yeah," he said. "Me too."

When they reached the rendezvous, Yvie, Nariel, and Havoc Squad were already there. The distant buzz of speeders signaled the approach of the other troops.

"Nariel," Agenord said. "Good to work with you again. How is your search going?"

Nariel scowled. "According to SIS, Vaverone Zare is dead. Sith infighting, apparently. They could tell me nothing of the artifact. Taken, presumably, by the assassin."

"An item like that will turn up again," he told her. "Yvie, Cyr'rnin, glad you're here. Sergeant Jorgan, something wrong with your arm?"

"Broken," Elara Dorne replied. "He should be resting."

"It's a mission for Master Agenord," Jorgan said. "He'll need everyone."

"As you say, Sergeant," Dorne said.

Once the other troops arrived, Agenord divided them into two groups. He told the first group, "You will report to Lieutenant Onoka. She will report to me. We need to capture the base. The Imperial have been setting off the bombs. We can expect a large quantity inside the base. We also need computers and communication. The bomb designer is a former Havoc Squad trooper. We want him alive. Second team, you will report to Masters Kira and Nariel. Master Kira is in charge. You need to shut down the device before it causes an earthquake. The nearest cities would be devastated."

"What happens to us?" a lieutenant asked. "If we don't shut it down in time?"

Cyr'rnin said, "The Republic honors your memory."

"Thank you, ma'am," the lieutenant said. "Just checking."

"Any Sith Lords to worry about?" another lieutenant asked.

"Yes," Agenord said. "He's-" His comm beeped.

"Greetings, Master Agenord," a Sith Lord said from the holocomm. "I am Lord Praven."

"I remember you from the Temple," Agenord said.

"Exactly," Praven replied. "My master seeks retribution for his son's death. I must give it to him. I know you've located the weapon, but that won't be enough. I changed the deactivation code."

"Surprisingly forthcoming for a Sith," Agenord said.

"My master deserves justice," Praven said.

"No, he doesn't."

Praven smiled. "Perhaps. But there are more noble ways to have it. I will destroy you personally. Come. Face me. If I win, I've done my duty. If you win, you'll have the new code. Whatever the outcome, we will battle with honor. I await you at these coordinates." Praven switched off.

"The mission hasn't changed," Agenord told the troopers. "Kira, you have the coordinates to the Shock Drum. Take your team, and go." He turned to the lieutenant that had asked about the Sith Lord. "Are you in charge of this team?"

"Yes, sir," he replied with a salute. "Lieutenant Tasser, sir, Forty-third Advance Recon Squad."

"Have you ever backed up a Jedi?" Agenord asked.

"No, sir."

"Master Yvisnussish and I will deflect blaster fire. Aim wide. Give us room to work. Follow Lieutenant Onoka's lead. She's done this before. How is your team with demolition removal?"

"We have good people, sir, and we've had practice with the bombs. If I may ask, sir, why are we taking an injured man?"

Jorgan said, "That is life with Master Agenord. You'll understand later."

"Weapons ready," Agenord said. "We're on a tight schedule. We attack now."

At the Imperial base, they fought through droids and minimal troops to reach the guard station.

Agenord said, "The next troops we find, I want them alive." At the next corridor, they pushed back three troopers. Agenord rushed forward, shoving two into a wall, knocking them out, pinning the third and disarming him. "Why is this base empty?" he asked, his lightsaber aimed at the trooper's chest.

"Evacuation," the Imp said. "Praven's orders. The weapon will destroy this place. We're supposed to destroy any data, set the self-destruct, and get out."

"Where's Praven?"

The Imp smiled. "You must be him. You scared Gorik shitless. Something you did on Taris. He was gone before Praven could sign the orders."

"Fuse?" Cyr'rnin said.

"Straight back," the trooper replied. "Locked in his cell. Gorik doesn't like betrayal."

"Praven," Agenord said.

"Main hub." He nodded toward the room behind him. "Door to the right. Go straight out of the base. You'll find him waiting."

Agenord nodded a thank-you and grabbed him by the throat. The Imp's eyes fluttered, and he dropped to the ground.

"Teeseven, go with Cyr'rnin. She'll need you to unlock the cell. Cyr'rnin, get your man, and go. Leave the base. Gorik is your priority. He'll have the plans for the bombs and the Shock Drum. Yvie, this is a military operation. Cyr'rnin is in charge."

"What?! Fine."

Agenord approached the entrance to the main hub and yelled, "Your troops are down, we have you outnumbered three to one with two Jedi, and your commanding officer left you to die! Surrender now, and you'll make it out alive!" A moment later, he heard weapons clatter across the floor. "Good choice!" He turned to the Republic troops. "I'll meet you back at the Salara Outpost."

Agenord found an Imperial speeder near the exit and commandeered it. His path toward Praven's location was clear of troops. He entered a large cave and saw the first of the tremors from the Shock Drum. The pebbles around him shook, and dust fell from the cave ceiling. Another tremor hit as he exited the cave, and he sensed Kira's distress.

He found Praven on an outcropping, waiting patiently. He smiled as Agenord approached, as if they were old friends.

"I sense your power," Praven said. "Now I understand why Tarnis was no match for you."

"You're not what I expected," Agenord told him.

"Nor are you," Praven replied. "My family may be Sith, but my only passions are integrity and honor. But in you, I sense rage and pain and... revenge?"

"Jedi don't seek revenge."

Praven smiled again. "You're less Jedi than you let on. You could be a great Sith if you embraced the dark side."

Agenord's saber snapped to life.

"I thought so," Praven said. "What did Lord Mau'te do to you? Did he give you that scar?"

Agenord stepped forward.

Praven's smile deepened. "He did, but that's not the reason, is it? I've been following his career. Everything is a little too easy for him. I hope I'm there when Baris realizes it."

Another tremor hit, stronger than the last.

"Deactivation code," Agenord said.

"Your lust for revenge will destroy this galaxy," Praven said.

"Are we here to fight or talk?"

"I want to see you at your best," Praven said. "Do that, and the code is yours. Hold back, and I'll kill you. Or throw myself into the chasm." He waited. "Why do you hesitate? Oh. You don't know, do you? Even you haven't seen your best. This will be a fight to remember." He ignited his saber. "Begin."

Agenord rushed in before Praven could react. He swept Praven's blade out of the way and cut the emitter from the hilt. Praven stared at the hilt as if it were a toy.

"You might actually have a chance against Darth Angral," Praven said.

"Deactivation code. Now."

"Contact your team."

Kira soon appeared on Agenord's holocomm.

"Tell me you have something!" she yelled and struggled to stand upright. Praven recited the code. "Shit! That worked!"

"I honor my debts," Praven said. "Now, there is nothing more to say. You won our duel. Finish me."

"No. You don't deserve it."

"Then honor demands I surrender to my master," Praven said. "He will do what you cannot."

Agenord scoffed at him. "Look at what your honor and duty has led to. You don't owe that maniac anything."

"You saved Imperials on Taris when you had no reason," Praven said. "And I am left with no options at all. So be it. I will surrender to your people and to Republic justice." He bowed. "I thank you, Master Agenord. You understand honor and respect. Even though you didn't keep your promise."

"I'm sorry. I gave you as much as you could take."

Praven chuckled. "I wish I could be there when Baris realizes what he's got."

"Your Sith Lord is still alive," Kira said.

"I noticed," Agenord replied.

"I surrendered willingly to a far superior warrior," Praven said.

"Tasser!" Cyr'rnin called out.

"Yes, ma'am," the lieutenant replied.

"Master Agenord brought you another Imp."

"Yes, ma'am," the lieutenant said again.

Praven scanned the Imperials in custody at the outpost. "Far more of my men than I expected. And your defector is still alive. I see I chose the right path. Colonel Gorik?"

"Didn't make it," Cyr'rnin told him. Praven shrugged.

"The plans?" Agenord asked.

"Already gone," Cyr'rnin said. "On an earlier shuttle."

"Great," Agenord said. "What did Angral want with the weapon?" he asked Praven.

Praven began, "Something about-", and was interrupted by Doctor Hare'en shouting at Agenord from behind the assembled troops.

"Here you are!" she said running up. "You did it. You stopped- oh. It's him. What happened?"

"He surrendered," Agenord said.

Praven said, "Master Agenord beat me as I have never been beaten before."

"Angral?" Agenord asked.

"Of course," Praven said. "It's to be a component of a larger weapon called the Desolator, but he kept the details to himself."

"Doctor," Agenord said. "I need you to find a way to counter the Shock Drum or resist its effects."

"Of course. I'll do whatever I can."

"Kira," Agenord said. "I don't see Master Kiwiiks."

"Medical," Kira replied. "The Shock Drum did a lot of damage before we got to her. She said we'll see her again on Tython."

"Yvie and Nariel?"

"Yvie wanted to talk to Sergeant Dorne," Cyr'rnin said. "Master Nariel wanted to get away from Yvie. I'm not sure why. And she's still hunting that artifact."

Praven said, "Lieutenant Tasser, is it? I deliver myself into your hands. Master Agenord, I hope you succeed against Darth Angral. Half his age and nearly his equal. I want to see what you become. Lieutenant, lead the way."

A little while later, Yvie and Dorne returned. Elara was saying, "You want me to what?"

"It's just undercover work," Yvie replied.

"Excuse me?" Cyr'rnin asked.

"I'm helping Sheriff Encot," Yvie told her. "With slavers. I'd have gotten it done already, but people keep distracting me."

"What about Dorne?" Cyr'rnin asked.

"She wants me to go undercover, ma'am," Elara replied. "As a potential slave. Can you imagine that? And please don't answer that question. It's highly inappropriate, and potentially... inappropriate."

"We'll discuss it later," Cyr'rnin said.

"Yvie," Agenord said. "Your fighting changed. A lot."

"Field work does that," she said.

"Fine," he said. "Kira, Teeseven, let's get back to the ship. I've had enough of Tatooine."