Author's Note: Dearest readers, the wait is finally over. And before we go any further, I would like to shout you ALL out. Thank you for your kindness...your patience...and your understanding of my personal situation. I desired to preserve quality over quantity and worked to get my personal affairs in order. I'm in no way perfect, but I'm certainly in a better place than where I was. We are back, my friends. Weekly chapters are back. And I am here to deliver and entertain you once more. I missed this and missed all of you. Your reviews have all been so kind and supportive. I thank you for these and appreciate the time you take to write them. "The Frozen Force" continues to be a passion project and I'm so excited to keep taking it further. Today begins the second half of Season 4 and the first chapter published under my new pen name. As I leave my birth name behind and create a new legacy for myself, this name will be used in both fanfiction and all of my completely original works. I am so honored to share this monumental step in my journey alongside you all and I hope you enjoy today's chapter.

PS: Happy Obi-wan Kenobi day! Two episodes of the highly-anticipated show have debuted on Disney+! I was too excited to sleep for the premiere and my friends...I CANNOT stress how good the show already is.

Long Live Imagination,

~ Michael Gavilán

GOLDENHEART STORIES PRESENTS

A MICHAEL GAVILÁN PRODUCTION

THE FROZEN FORCE SEASON 4 RETURN SPECIAL

Chapter: 106 The Rodian Strikes Back (Part I)

"Every second of our lives offers a chance to change."

Tensions in the Senate! As the Separatists lay siege to the Outer Rim, those in the Republic wonder how safe they truly are. The loss of Ringo Vinda hangs heavily over the Supreme Chancellor, who asks that more emergency powers be granted to him. While his actions create division among senators, they also bring the rest of the Republic's needs to a drastic halt. Now, members of several committees meet to discuss these shifts in power...

Some of the Senate's greatest battles were fought before a hearing was even made. Before anyone even knew who they could trust, their best chance was to hold a personal conference. In one of the Senate Building's vast offices, delegates from several committees had joined together to make a crucial decision. For Senator Padmé Amidala, these meetings were nothing new. She'd been to hundreds throughout the course of her political career, and yet she couldn't stay focused this time. The politicians around her had become muffled blurs as she gently rubbed her stomach. The galaxy was changing so quickly and she worried about her child. No one had spoken of her pregnancy yet. At least not to her face. Padmé had become increasingly cautious of the attention she could draw to herself and had opted for bulkier attire. Her violet cloak was as much a veil as it was a ceremonial piece. Yet no matter how much she tried to hide her secret, its very existence prodded her. She hadn't even told Anakin yet.

Focus, Padmé told herself. If not for yourself, for the future of the Republic. The future your child needs.

Young Amidala pinched the bridge of her nose and honed her concentration. She observed her closest colleagues, Bail Organa and Mon Mothma. The senators carried a profound amount of influence from their worlds. Padmé continued looking to them for guidance throughout her career. Their unwavering resilience was inspiring, to say the least. While the three of them represented the Loyalist Committee, Pantoran Senator Riyo Chuchi sat in the centermost seat. In many ways, the young woman reminded Padmé of herself when she'd just started in the Senate. And like Padmé, Chuchi had always been ambitious in the pursuit of peace. But the Pantoran's efforts could fall short depending on whose side she listened to.

Senator Chuchi found herself beside a hefty politician. His balding head and piercing, hazel eyes had become well known to his peers. Tobin Ranassa's firm, yet calculated voice could sway senators to his perspective in a single meeting. But this time, it was he and Senator Chuchi who would need convincing. Across the way sat Senator Sofi Pru, a rising member of the Finance Committee. The youthful blonde was accompanied by Senator Orn Free Taa. The notoriously obese Twi'lek had a prominent seat in Sofi's committee, despite his numerous and corrupt infractions. With Chuchi and Ranassa's combined influence over their private sects, whomever gained their favor would tilt the Senate's scales. Padmé and her companions had to play their cards right.

"This inoculation is a distraction," Bail continued. "And while the Republic focuses on vaccinating its troops against a Ringo Vindan parasite, they don't realize what freedoms they're giving up."

"This morning-" Mon Mothma added. "-the chancellor has green-lit his teams for a project regarding ID markers. These codes will uniquely scan each individual as a form of restriction."

While Chuchi appeared worried, Ranassa remained skeptical. Both neutral senators turned to the opposition for their perspective. Eager to impress her superior, Sofi spoke up for Senator Taa. "You mistake restriction for security," she answered Mon Mothma. "Yes, we've heard talk of these chain codes getting potentially implemented. And if so, what's the problem with identifying everyone? Threats won't be able to hide."

"What if you don't have to be a threat?" Bail countered. "How long until movements are restricted? Until everyone needs a chain code to do anything?"

"Come now, Senator Organa." Senator Taa placated. "Surely a man with your experience can see that the chancellor is utilizing his emergency powers to keep us safe."

"But at what cost?" Padmé interjected. "With each passing crisis, he's asked for and has been granted more power from the Senate. How many innocents were caught in the crossfire of his random raids during the search for the Revenant?"

"Too many," Mon Mothma added. "And the chancellor's new powers left him free of all consequence because the raids were authorized."

"Are you people kidding me?" Sofi scoffed. "With the way you speak ill of our chancellor, the three of you sound like Separatists."

"This isn't about leaving the Republic," Bail intoned.

"It's about preserving its constitution," Padmé concluded.

Sofi's eyes swayed between the two of them as she scoffed. "You know there won't be anything to preserve if the Separatists win the war, right? Our Republic way of life-" she glanced at the neutral senators and feigned sadness. "-will be destroyed."

"We are not Separatists," Mon Mothma retorted. She had a powerful way of asserting herself without actually raising her voice. Her blue-green gaze was unwavering and sincere. "And the 'Republic way of life' that Senator Pru speaks of is already being destroyed. I raise this question to everyone here. When is the last time we voted on a matter? Truly." Mothma slowly nodded betwixt the rising silence. "In the name of security amid crisis, thousands of systems have surrendered their right to choose."

Sofi shook her head. "And you people are part of the 'Loyalist' Committee," she scoffed. "Listen to yourselves. The war has never been so brutal. A Mid Rim world was attacked and even our counteroffensive failed. How long until the Separatists strike closer to home? And I certainly don't mean a couple of droids bombing a power generator. It's only a matter of time before this blissful ignorance comes crashing down. And no amount of war bonds or pretty propaganda is gonna save anyone."

Seeking to reach level ground, Padmé spoke up. "I agree with you, Senator Pru. The Core Worlds have never been so at risk and we cannot let our guards down. Certainly not while this war seems to rage on without end. No one here wants to see our foundation burn, but we also want to preserve the code it was built upon."

Sofi's eyes listed to Orn Free Taa, who lazily waited for her to answer in his stead. Acting on his gesture, Sofi said, "Then you need to ask yourself who you want to make the tough decisions. Hypotheticals are just that until they actually happen. So let's throw caution to the wind and say the Core Worlds are attacked. Kuat falls, giving the Separatists our means of mass fleet production. The spoils of a thousand generations fall to Dooku as Corellia is sacked and pillaged. And of course, Coruscant is razed to the ground-"

"We get it," Padmé intoned.

"I don't think you loyalists do," Sofi continued. "It'll be total chaos when everything crashes and burns. Look how insane the masses went with just a bombing. When full-scale war comes here, you need to ask yourselves who you want to maintain order. Do you want literally thousands of politicians waiting and voting to make a decision while innocents suffer?...Or do you want a man who's going to act?" Sofi rose from her seat and paced around the table. "Chancellor Palpatine is that man. And while his emergency powers can seem excessive, they are a necessity. To stand against an overwhelming foe, you need overwhelming force. The Jedi certainly aren't enough to help us. They're too busy dealing with their own traitors." Sofi leaned against the table to focus on Chuchi and Ranassa. "This change is inevitable and everyone has to pick a side. For the Republic's sake, I hope you two make the right decision." As Sofi returned to her seat, Senator Taa gave her a subtle nod. His discreet approval had her biting back a smirk.

All eyes fell to the neutral senators as they prepared to reach their verdicts. Padmé held her breath while observing the Pantoran. While she was unfamiliar with Senator Ranassa, she'd had several meetings with Senator Chuchi before. She could only hope that she'd remain true to the constitution. Chuchi's golden eyes passed over everyone at the table. She could feel the weight of their stares against her as she cleared her throat.

"I understand the responsibility that falls upon me," Chuchi said. "I acknowledge the rising Separatist threat, however..." Chuchi's change in tone had Sofi scowling. "I have experienced firsthand what absolute power can do to an individual." Chuchi dropped her head as her mind drifted elsewhere. She recalled one of her first assignments in the name of Pantora. The office's air conditioning was as frigid as the winds of Orto Plutonia. No amount of therapy nor good intention could stave off the pulse-pounding memories from that assignment. She could still see, Cho, the former chairman of Pantora staring at her through the snow.

"You must avenge me," he'd whispered through his wounded state. "As my final command as Chairman of Pantora, I order you to destroy the Talz."

"I'm afraid I cannot do that, chairman." Chuchi had boldly refuted, even as her heart plummeted within. "The Pantoran Assembly has called you out of order. I am to negotiate peace."

Senator Chuchi lifted her head and brought herself back into the present moment. "The seed sowed by absolute power is nothing short of destructive," she affirmed. "Even in crisis, it is my firm belief that Chancellor Palpatine cannot take away the rights of so many systems. Emergency powers or not. My fellow representatives and I will side with the Loyalist's notion."

Sofi refused to bite her tongue. "You shame your planet, Senator Chuchi. Chairman Papanoida will be most disappointed in you."

"That's for him to decide," Chuchi calmly defended. "Not you."

We'll see about that, Sofi thought. Despite her frustration with Chuchi's decision, the senator easily shifted gears towards Tobin Ranassa. "Surely you have more common sense," Sofi told him.

Ranassa's nostrils flared as he gripped his armrests. His light scruff shifted with his quivering lip. "If these chain codes go into effect-" he grumbled. "-what freedom will we surrender next?"

"Oh not you too," Sofi groaned while Taa shook his head. "You represent Kuat! Your planet's shipyards rival Corellia's and you're willing to just throw that all away?"

"Senator Mothma is right," Ranassa asserted. "Palpatine's been getting off free of charges on anything he wants. Yet if any of us made just one of the decisions he'd gone through with, we could be facing jail time. Why? Because he has emergency powers? How many of those stopped us from losing Ringo Vinda? None. If you ask me, this crisis is nothing more than a power grab for him. We don't hear about it on the mainstream HoloNews, but I do my research. We're not winning this war. We're giving more power to a leader who says we're winning while more planets are getting invaded each week."

"Senator Ranassa-" Sofi tried to plead until Ranassa cut her off.

"Am I finished?" he barked. "No. Palpatine promised an end to the Outer Rim Sieges months ago. But we're still out here struggling because we don't even have the numbers to hold off the enemy. So he's playing everyone in exchange for more powers." Ranassa huffed, crossed his arms, and sank into his chair. "So yeah, I have common sense, Senator Pru. Enough to know that I wasted my time coming to this meeting."

"Wait-" Sofi blurted, but Ranassa was already storming out. Her flustered glare fell to the rest of her opposition. "Why the hell are any of you still here? You've made your points, haven't you? Meeting adjourned."

Sofi folded her fingers and picked at her polished nail. Whatever formalities were exchanged between the others became a blur. So much so, that Sofi wasn't even sure if anyone interacted with her. It was unlikely, because she only heard Orn Free Taa calling her name.

"Pru," the Twi'lek bellowed. "Pru!"

Sofi snapped out of her daze and peered up at her superior. "Sir?" she queried.

Taa shook his head disappointedly. "You told me that you had this under control," he derided. "That you had a strong enough case."

"I...did," Sofi sighed. "The Loyalist Committee is a sham. They-"

"I don't care what they are," Taa scolded. "Those neutral senators had the influence we needed to push chain code funding. You couldn't even get that novice, Chuchi, to agree with you. It was humiliating."

"I'll make this right!" Sofi blurted exasperatedly.

"See to it that you do," Taa grumbled. "Or I'll replace you with someone who can. You're not the only one aiming to be an advisor on this committee. There are plenty of hungry and competent partners I could be working with. I expect results. And clean this mess up while you're at it."

"I understand, sir. Understood." Sofi murmured and bowed her head. Taa hobbled out of the room and left her to stand in silence. She glared at the cups and plates across the conference table while waiting for the doors to close. As soon as they hissed shut, it was as if something snapped within Sofi's mind. She lunged at the table like a wild nexu and clawed for the nearest plate. Her nail was cracked and jagged from where she'd picked as she threw the table's contents to the floor. Her silky, scarlet dress ruffled as she flipped the entire table out of rage. Like her pleas and efforts for advancement, the raucous clamor went unanswered. Sofi was left to stumble and linger in a mess of her own creation. Her eyes scoured the floor's scattered items before narrowing on a cracked glass. She stared into her own distorted reflection and forced a twitching grin.

"Fine," Sofi whispered sharply while reaching for her communicator. "This is...fine." She placed a call on her secured frequency while making sure the door was locked. The dial tone's extra pause had Sofi scowling impatiently. Within moments, one of her Mirialan underlings answered the call.

"Ma'am?" he sternly inquired.

"Put our guest on," Sofi demanded. "Now." Her firmness faded once she heard a woman mumble through the speaker. "Dia, darling," Sofi greeted.

"Cut the act, Pru," Dia snapped. "What's going on?"

Impatient and flustered, Sofi dropped her melodious tone. "You're up," she asserted. "The meeting didn't go as planned and won't as long as there are prominent voices to oppose Palpatine's decisions."

"Let me guess," Dia snarked. "Senator Amidala?"

"And then some," Sofi groaned. "That Loyalist entourage wants change and progress, but on their terms. Time to show them what happens when you get too comfortable."

"What exactly are you getting at?" Dia asked.

"Don't worry," Sofi assured while pacing about the room. Her heels crunched against fallen glass as she formulated a plan. "I'll handle the details. We're going to send a message to all of these stubborn senators. I will schedule another meeting with Senator Ranassa and Senator Mon Mothma. We will meet on level ground, away from other's influences and agendas. At least that's what they'll think. But that's where you'll come in." Dia's pause had Sofi biting her lip. "Hello?"

"You can't be serious," Dia muttered.

"The deaths of Mon Mothma and Tobin Ranassa will send a message to everyone in the senate. That the chancellor needs emergency powers to keep us safe and that I was right to take his side."

"Sofi," Dia hissed. "Let's be upfront here. I knew you were playing an angle with me from the start. The food and shelter has been nice. I figured you'd ask me to kill for you, but senators? You're asking me to assassinate two prominent seat holders."

Sofi completely ignored Dia's concern. Instead, she sighed heavily and answered, "Did you know that the cops found a corpse a while back? In fact, it was right after your arrest. Seems like an eternity ago."

"They find bodies in this city daily," Dia retorted.

"But not like this," Sofi continued. "This old Gran-" she identified and Dia's heart sank. "-was found thrown inside an airspeeder trunk...abandoned in the city's Agricultural District. While others were appalled by the story, I found it interesting. To know that a man could be left so horrible disfigured by blaster bolts, that law enforcement would need scanner droids to identify him. Korbi, I believe they said his name was." Sofi knew precisely what she was doing as Dia's breaths hastened. The Corellian recalled how desperate she'd felt to stop Chela Tuzi and preserve her position in Crimson Dawn. Dia remembered how furious she'd felt when neither her nor Korbi refused to give up. "But you sent a hell of a message," Sofi lauded. "Twenty-eight blaster shots. Didn't even give him a chance. Tied up, fired upon with a DL-44 at point-blank range."

Dia could remember aiming at the old man. In reality, Korbi was dead after the first shot and Dia had hoped the rest would break his partner. "I don't care what steps you think you're taking," Sofi continued. "You're a cold-blooded killer and I love that about you." Memories of ruthlessly stabbing Detro and Bertz in prison flashed through Dia's mind. "The only second chance you'll ever get at power is through me and you know it."

Dia recounted what Clayton had said to her. "Maybe it's not too late for us."

"It is too late," she'd answered.

Reeling herself back into the moment, Dia asked, "Where will I find the senators?" The question was music to Sofi's ears as she smirked.

Coruscant's Jrade District had only devolved over the years. The so-called 'Happy Town' section of Coruscant had succumbed to increased unemployment and crime rates. Still, the Republic's immigration officers were eager to dump the newest waves of refugees into this ramshackle residential area. They arrived in droves...eager-faced and bright-eyed. Believing the 'Republic Dream' was within their grasp, when in reality they'd be living paycheck to paycheck for the rest of their lives. Yet amid the boisterous bluster of compliance, there were those who didn't care for Palpatine's promises. They didn't need mountains of credits nor a shiny airspeeder in their hangar. Some people...just wanted to belong.

A cloaked figure traveled across Jrade's expansive square. Timid, the young man ducked his head when a speeder zoomed high above. His frightful bout was only quelled by the delectable aroma of freshly stirred stew. Several Nikto volunteers from the Vica Foundation had set up a portable meal center for those in need. One of the volunteers spotted the cloaked man and a benevolent grin formed across her leathery face. "Come!" she beckoned. "Come! Come!"

Shy, yet willing...the youth stumbled towards the table. His emerald hood bobbed with each curious step until the stew had his stomach growling. Without a second thought, the Nikto merrily served a bowl for him. "Th-thank you," he mumbled.

"It's going to be alright," the Nikto assured and reached out to pat his hand.

To her surprise, the man suddenly shuddered and pulled away from the table. "No!" he snapped and startled the volunteer. Stew sloshed and trickled from the bowl, briefly burning his fingers. Realizing that he'd frightened her, he immediately lowered his voice and bowed his head. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "It's just that-...I don't like...I-" As more eyes fell upon him, the hooded man dashed off into the nearest alley. His heart pounded even as no one followed. Only when he was alone in the shadows did he finally start to relax. At least almost alone.

The man peered over his shoulder and found relief in the empty alley. He then pulled back on a set of slanted, wooden boards. Freshly settled dust puffed and revealed a secret passage within the smashed duracrete. One person's abandoned storage unit was another's home. The humble man shuffled into his decrepit space and sealed the wall behind him. Once he was safely hidden away, he plopped into the nearest corner and slurped at his stew. The edges of his collar dampened in the flavorful fluid as he dipped his head to meet it. Desperate for sustenance, he licked the spare broth from his prickly beard. His brown eyes focused on the stew's bobbing vegetables just as a series of squeaks emanated from his sleeves.

"Oh," the man chuckled. "I could never forget you. Eat up, friends." He lifted his arms just enough for a trio of fuzzy rodents to emerge. The Coruscanti rats scampered across his hands and each plucked a vegetable for their own enjoyment. The man sat back and smiled softly at his company. His joy was short-lived as a woman's voice suddenly spoke up.

"Not what I was expecting," she teased and the man immediately bolted to his feet. Startled, he dropped the stew and covered his rats.

"That's for sure," another woman remarked.

"Who-...who's there?" he asked into the darkness. The man coddled his rats as a distinct, metallic twisting sounded just ahead of him. "Sh-show yourself," he stuttered.

To the man's astonishment, a power cell was suddenly activated. A pair of figures became illuminated under its warm, yet dim glow. The woman closest to him donned a thick, leathery jacket. Its black accents contrasted vividly against her silver skin. Like many females of her kind, the Kage had bright pink eyes which saw keenly through the shadows. Her blonde bun led up towards the second, much taller woman. Lanky and blue-skinned, this stranger donned a form-fitting tank top as red as her hair.

"You're a hard fellow to find," the Kage jested as the young man shivered. "Bruno, right?"

"What do you want with me?" he worried. "I didn't hurt anyone."

"Relax, kid," the tall redhead asserted. "You're not in trouble. And if we wanted to hurt you, we would've done it already. I will say though, you're nothing like the rumors."

"People around the Jrade District talk about you, Bruno," the Kage added. "They say you've got a seven foot frame...and rats along your back. At least the rat part seems true."

"And that's only on Coruscant," the redhead quipped. "But you've been around, haven't you? Planet to planet. City to city. Searching for a place to belong?"

Bruno gulped and asked, "Who are you?"

The Kage slowly raised her hand towards the power cell. With a quick swish of her wrist, she was able to call upon the Force to levitate it towards her partner. Once the light source was close enough, her friend also used the Force to send it back. "I'm Riz," the Kage said. "This powerhouse behind me is JJ." Bruno clenched up as Riz stepped closer. "We're just like you. Or rather...we were."

Bruno furrowed his brows. "Y-you also could see into...people's futures?"

"No," Riz corrected. "We used to be just as scared as you are now. Afraid of your power and the potential it possessed. Never really understanding that the very gift we thought we were cursed with was actually our greatest strength."

"I don't understand," Bruno fretted.

Riz sighed heavily. "Each of us is uniquely strong in the Force. We were just never given the chance to embrace our abilities. For example...my homeworld, Quarzite, is ruled by the Belugan dictatorship. Its oppressors eliminated all outside contact for my people. There was no way in hell that a Jedi Seeker was ever going to find me, no matter how Force sensitive I was. So I had to discover my abilities for myself. And by the time I made a life for myself, I was long past the age of being a potential Jedi student."

"My parents refused to contact a seeker," JJ explained. "As Terellian Jango Jumpers, we were always on the go and didn't have time for such 'trivial pursuits'."

"So what's your story?" Riz inquired. "We know you're on the run...but why?" Bruno twiddled his thumbs as Riz continued to lay into him. "You might've been hard to find, but stories across the stars form a pattern. That all it takes is touching someone for you to glimpse their future."

"All I did was bring pain," Bruno uttered. "I-I-I try to avoid it these days. And it's worked! I just...stay with my friends."

"The rats?" Riz murmured. "Come on, Bruno. You know you're better than that. Whatever 'pain' you're talking about isn't your fault. You can't control what people don't want to hear. But we-" Riz slowly grinned. "We admire your gift. We'd never shun you nor force you to live in some gutter, foraging for food like a rodent yourself. We want you to fully realize your potential."

"I appreciate your offer," Bruno mumbled and raised his hands in protest. "But it's okay, really. I don't need any help."

"Trust us," Riz implored. "I've seen that look on your face before, because I once carried it. You don't have to be afraid of us because we're not afraid of you." Bruno gasped as the Kage reached out for him.

"No!" he blurted and backed up against the nearest wall.

Riz paused and stared him down. Her piercing, pink stare was unwavering as she reiterated, "Trust us."

Bruno held out his shivering hands as both Riz and JJ reached towards him. When their hands met his, Bruno suddenly hunched forward. What started as a mild wince became a full surge of Force energy. Bruno whimpered as he shut his eyes tightly. Unable to stop the visions from crossing his mind, he held his breath to steady himself.

"That's it..." Riz urged. "Feel it."

"What do you see?" JJ asked.

"I see-" Bruno twitched his head as the visions pried at his consciousness. "Warmth," he answered. "A powerful warmth...surging from your chests. It's bright and fiery..." Bruno quivered and ultimately clenched his own chest. "It burns!"

Noticing his pain, the duo confusedly backed away from Bruno. "Incredible," Riz remarked. "Your sensory precognition is astounding."

"G-go away," Bruno wept while still clasping at his chest.

JJ forced a chuckle. "Look," she muttered. "I get that you're scared but-"

"Please go away!" Bruno snapped and tucked his hands beneath his cloak.

Frustrated with his response, JJ prepared to advance on him until Riz held her back. "I can tell that you're feeling...overwhelmed," the Kage said. "We'll give you some time to think about things before coming back. Even if we know that joining us is your best option for survival. Come on, JJ." Bruno kept to his corner as the women slipped out of his hideaway. Riz sighed before fully departing. "It's a real shame to see such potential go to waste," she added as Bruno hung his head.

Riz and JJ made their way out into the alley. "Well that was a bust," the latter griped. "You know he won't change his mind. right?"

"You'd be surprised what the right amount of pressure can do," Riz replied. "He needs to join us willingly, JJ. It's the only way to secure his loyalty and-" The Kage stopped in her tracks and clenched a fist.

"I sense it too," JJ growled and narrowed her eyes. They scoured the alley for any potential threats until a figure dropped from the rooftop above.

"Picking on immigrants now?" another woman taunted. "How far you two have fallen."

JJ and Riz turned to see an armored Rodian straightening her posture. "Jee," Riz greeted. "Or is it the Bug? I never know what name you're going by these days."

"Anything but your friend," Jee countered and crossed her arms.

"So what?" JJ scoffed. "You're a traitor and a bounty hunter now? Here to collect the price on our heads?"

"Money for anything is a bonus," Jee professed. "But this-" she continued and unclipped her lightsaber. She clenched Master Chaki's hilt and ignited its blue plasma. "I'll take you both down for free."

"This doesn't have to end in violence," Riz tried to placate. "At least...not this time, Jee."

"I know you're after another Force-sensitive," Jee asserted and refused to back down. "I won't let you recruit him for your little posse."

"Last time I checked...you walked away from this life," Riz retorted. "You don't get to have a say in what we do anymore." Without paying anymore mind to her, Riz and JJ climbed up a nearby fire escape. Unwilling to let them flee, Jee hurriedly leapt after them.

The Rodian met them on the roof and flourished her lightsaber once more. "That's far enough," Jee warned.

"You think that stolen lightsaber gives you any advantage over us?" Riz laughed and glanced at the roof's nearby billboard. Its neon outline had her smirking. "It's you who's gone far enough," Riz said and curled her fingers. Calling upon the Force, she crunched the neon signage until sparks flared across the rooftop. Acting on instinct, Jee immediately rolled under the incoming sparks. Little did she realize, this was merely a distraction from Riz.

Using Force Speed, JJ dashed forward and delivered a swift punch to Jee's face. The heavy uppercut was enough to reach beneath her helmet and send it swiveling off of her. By the time Jee took a swing with her lightsaber, JJ had already bolted in a different direction. Instead, Riz was charging at her head on. With the Kage moving slower, Jee prepared to attack her. Before she could, JJ returned with another burst of Force Speed. The attack caught Jee from behind and sent the Rodian tumbling directly into a kick from Riz.

Although she recoiled, Jee countered with a powerful Force push. While she was able to push Riz away, she couldn't predict another speedy move by JJ. As a Terellian Jango Jumper, she was already incredibly agile. Her Force-sensitivity had only increased her speed to a terrifying degree. JJ darted again, this time flanking Jee and sweeping her leg. The Rodian fell face first. Her snout shriveled in pain as she winced. The duo was relentless as Riz Force-pushed Jee's own helmet towards her face. She threw her arms up just in tim and let durasteel meet durasteel. The clamor left a ferocious ringing in Jee's ears, disorienting her as JJ zipped in for another attack. The impact also loosened Jee's grip and forced the lightsaber out of her hand. The Jango Jumper kicked Jee while she was down and then spun beside Riz. Together, the Duo Force-pushed Jee off of the roof and into the fire escape.

Metal beams unbolted as the stairway collapsed on impact. Jee tumbled betwixt the mess and Force-pushed whatever debris she could. But she was helpless against gravity's mercilessness. As the crashing came to a halt, Riz and JJ stepped towards the roof's ledge. Dazed and bruised, Jee poked her head out from the collapsed fire escape. Her bent antennae twitched as she observed silhouettes of her former friends.

"It was never personal, Jee." Riz hollered while scavenging Chaki's lightsaber. "But we can't have you interfering with our plans."

"You should've never went off on your own," JJ scoffed. "Ruger paid the price, and we lost our eye into the future."

"He threw in with Dooku," Jee coughed from below.

"And we're gonna make sure Bruno doesn't do the same," Riz assured. "He'll be part of our family."

"He'll be used," Jee winced and tried to wriggle out of the debris.

"Sadly, you won't be around to tell him that." JJ jeered and reached for the nearby billboard. Using the Force, she and Riz dislodged the neon signage from its bolted casing. Jee's bulbous eyes widened as the billboard hovered above. The Rodian's breaths hastened as its ominous shadow blanketed her in darkness.

"Bugs are meant to be squashed, aren't they?" Riz jested before releasing her grip on the sign.

Its descent was eerily silent before ultimately crashing atop the debris pile. The remaining neon tubing exploded atop the collapsed stairs and flattened the rest against the duracrete. The ensuing blast sent bystanders fleeing as a single piece of gear rolled from the wreckage. Jee's iconic helmet came to a halt as flames crackled behind it. The ongoing destruction reflected against its smashed, cyan lenses.

If she had ever been asked about the Force, Anna Dellian was quick to dismiss its overwhelming capabilities. Any experiences she'd personally had were always peculiar to her. Never like the stories she'd heard of clear premonitions with direct meanings. Because why would life ever be that easy for her? But this sensation was different. Anna couldn't place it, even as she took time to herself back at the temple. Her auburn brows knitted as she cautiously rubbed her forehead. Anna paced across her room and tried to come to terms with the feeling. It wasn't physical...and yet it was. As if someone or something she'd spent a significant moment with was calling out to her. Her thoughts were a frenzied mess teeming with painful emotions. Yet amidst it all, Anna kept seeing Rodia. The planet was on her mind for no apparent reason and she couldn't understand why. Thinking of the planet made her visualize its spiny and snouted populace. Before she could consider the thoughts further, someone suddenly knocked at her door.

"Huh?" Anna stammered. "Yeah?" she inquired.

"It's me," Master Mattias answered and Anna was quick to get the door.

"Good afternoon," the knight greeted. "Is everything alright?"

Mattias stepped into her room. "I could ask you the same thing. We were supposed to meet for lunch, remember?"

As soon as the plans fled Mattias' lips, Anna immediately winced. "Oh kriff. That was today, wasn't it? I'm sorry...I was napping."

"Anna," Mattias spoke in a deeper yet nurturing tone. "Are you okay? You know you can tell me anything."

"I know," she sighed. "And yes. I'm fine. I've just been so exhausted between missions."

"You sure that's it?" Mattias pursued and Anna raised a brow.

"Okay," the young Dellian murmured. "What'd he tell you?" Mattias feigned confusion, but Anna persisted. "Kristoff. What did he tell you about me?"

Mattias huffed. "Just that he's concerned about your wellbeing. He wanted me to check on you."

"Oh kriffing hell," Anna groaned and stepped towards her window. "Now you're taking orders from him?"

"No," Mattias intoned. "He simply expressed a concern-"

"And you believed him," Anna groused. "That guard has been bugging me for days, worrying and asking how I'm doing."

Mattias crossed his arms and asked, "Should he be worried about you? Should I?"

Anna rolled her eyes. "He's probably just hearing more about my missions these days and watching too much HoloNews. It's freaking him out and he feels like he has to protect me. He barely even knows me and I don't need protecting! I'm not a child!" Her raised tone caught Mattias off guard as he clenched his fists.

"You may not need protecting-" the master began. "-but you do need people in your corner. Friends. And I won't be around to look after you forever."

Anna simmered down at his words. "Wh-...what's that supposed to mean?" Mattias' glower had Anna's eyes widening. "I swear if you're sick or something and haven't told me-"

"I'm not sick," Mattias quickly reassured her. "But I am getting older." Anna pursed her lips as he continued. "You're right. You're not a child and can therefore hear these things. Master Adersen's passing put life into perspective for me all over again. Every time someone dies, we tell ourselves that we'll live life to the fullest. But over time, that promise fades and we sink back into blissful ignorance...believing we'll live forever. Then the cycle repeats when another person dies." Mattias straightened his posture. "But I want to hold true to my beliefs and make the most of my time alive. Just as we all should. So I know that I may come off as a nag...or even overprotective at times. But it's because I want to use whatever time I have to care for those around me."

Anna hung her head and sighed. "I'm...sorry, Mattias. I guess I'm still trying to figure out if I'm putting the right amount of energy into the right places. And I'm so afraid of being wrong, that any weakness or overprotection feels threatening."

"You are powerful, Anna Dellian." Mattias said. "I know it isn't easy to find the right places to share that power, but I have faith that your impact will be unforgettable. And remember...you're young. You've got all the time in the galaxy to find yourself." Anna's rising smile matched Mattias' joyous demeanor. They pulled each other into a kindly embrace before a sudden chime rang out.

"What the?" Anna uttered and approached the comlink on her desk.

"Watcher with a new mission?" Mattias presumed.

Anna scooped up the device and squinted at its coding. "Not on this frequency." She dared to answer as Mattias listened in. "Hello?" Anna inquired. Both she and Mattias were equally perplexed by the sound of crackling flames.

"Red," a familiar voice croaked. "Thanks for picking up."

"Jee?" Anna blurted and Mattias gasped. "How'd you get my transmission code?"

"Pocketed it from ya-" Jee grunted while shifting through something metallic. "-while we were on that ship to Malastare. Figured it would come in...handy someday."

"Where are you?" Anna asked, more concerned about the state of her acquaintance. "What am I hearing?"

"Oh just some collapsed debris," Jee groaned. "I'm on Coruscant. Listen...there isn't much time."

"I'm planetside as well," Anna replied. "I can get you out of-"

Even in her injured state, Jee still found a way to chuckle. "I said listen, Red. Not babble. I'm not the only Force sensitive reject out there. You might've had a run-in with one of my associates a year or so back."

"Wait..." Anna recalled. "Ruger?"

"Mhm," Jee coughed. "That Quarren was just one from a group of us...using the Force for our own personal needs. Not all of them...legal. But ever since you eliminated their 'foresight guy', they've been relentlessly searching for another. Now they've tracked him to your city and they won't take no for answer. I know he's too old for your hoity toity Jedi school, but you can't let this guy fall into their hands. I tried to stop them, but I can't do it alone."

While Mattias remained cautious, Anna was eager to jump into action. "I'll be there with backup," the young Dellian assured. "Where can I meet you?"

"Our guy's gonna be terrified out of his mind," Jee explained. "He'll likely flee to a place of refuge for those without homes. Like the Vica Foundation Shelter. It's just a level above mine."

"Meet you in the upper city then," Anna confirmed.

"Yeah..." Jee huffed. "Sounds good. Just...gimme a second. Or a little longer." She heaved profusely while wrestling with debris.

Anna cut the transmission and immediately lunged for her utility belt. "We've got to help her," she urged.

"Hold on, Anna." Mattias warned. "Let's stop and think about this."

"What's there to think about?" she panted. "Jee's in trouble and she's trusting us to step in."

"But can we trust her?" Mattias asked. "She escaped a Republic prison-"

"One she was wrongfully detained in."

"Nevertheless," Mattias intoned. "Throwing in with Aurra Sing didn't help her case."

"I know her background is...questionable," Anna confessed. "But don't forget that she's the one who tipped us on the Revenant. She killed Monrak the Hutt!"

"But is that enough to erase her past?" Mattias questioned. "All I'm saying is that we should consider any alternative motives she might have. What does she gain from this?"

Anna took a moment to reprocess the situation. "If nothing else-" she began. "-we share a common enemy. Meeting Jee showed me that there are Force-sensitives across the galaxy who never made it to our Order. Not all of them ended up like her and their abilities are threatening in the wrong hands. I encountered one of these Force abusers on Manaan when I was still a Padawan. He was using his foresight to aid the Separatists in stealing kolto from the planet. If more of his type are raising an army, we've got to put a stop to them."

Mattias' beard twitched as he peered out the window. He observed skylane traffic and thought about each individual driver. He wondered how many of them had powerful secrets. How many had the Force flowing through them, yet never had the opportunity to become Jedi. Mattias had never fully considered the severity of such an issue across the galaxy. In fact, it was a downright miracle that they hadn't heard about more Force-related incidents. "We'll meet her," Mattias affirmed. "We'll find out how drastic this situation really is and how much she's involved."

"I'll take it," Anna jested and reactivated her comlink. "I'll get Hans to-"

"Wait wait wait," Mattias sputtered. "Hans?"

Anna's fingers curled against the device. "I figured we could use an extra Jedi."

Mattias bit his lip. "Anna..." he murmured and she winced. "I may not be your master anymore, but I still must advice against this."

"Why?" Anna blurted. "It's not like you don't know the truth about us."

"That's precisely why I'm advising you," Mattias assured. "We may be going against some powerful adversaries. Either way, they aren't to be underestimated. With Hans there-"

"He can do it," Anna asserted. "He may not be the best duelist, but he's stronger than you think."

"I'm sure he is," Mattias sighed. "But with your bond comes an emotional connection. Just as I feel with Zodra. And I'll be the first to admit, it impacts your decision making. When the temple was bombed, you dropped almost everything to be at Hans' bedside. Can you keep a level head even with him by your side now?"

Anna's nostrils flared as she tried to steady herself. "I'll be...fine," she insisted and immediately called Hans.

"Come on," Jee grunted beneath the tremendous pile of debris. "Come...on!" Shimmying her way through, the Rodian got into a position where she could bend her arms upward. As Jee utilized such a limited space, she overheard squabbling just beyond the wreckage. Electing to ignore it, Jee used the Force to free herself from the pile. Her snout quivered as pressure increased. "Almost...there..." she hissed.

"Hey!" a grizzly woman panicked from beyond the debris. "Something's moving in there!"

"What the hell?" a raspy man blathered.

With a final push, Jee shifted the dented sign just enough to glimpse the outside world. "Ah!" Jee gasped. "Fresh, smoggy air."

"Holy kriff," the raspy voice returned and Jee twisted towards it. A group of Coruscanti scavengers had arrived to salvage what they could from the debris. Thick layers of grime lay encrusted against their haggard, surprised faces. Fed up and exhausted, Jee paid little mind to them. Instead, she proceeded to crawl out of the junk as they gawked at her. "Hey," the forward most man beckoned. Still Jee ignored him. "Hey!" he barked, making dirt puff from his curly beard.

"Me?" Jee jested while dusting herself off.

"What were you doing in there?" the man asked while his cohorts lingered around like vultures.

"Taking a nap," Jee quipped. "Doesn't everyone nap under fallen signage?" She groaned while picking up her destroyed helmet. "Damn it," she whispered and frustratedly dropped it.

"Hey!" the man persisted.

"You're still talking?" Jee groused and glared at him.

Her response caused some of the scavengers to shudder, but the bearded heckler stood his ground. His vivid, hazel eyes juxtaposed against his filthy visage. "Th-that's some fancy armor you gots there."

"Wonderful observation," Jee snarked.

"It'll fetch a fine price down here," he cackled as Jee rolled her eyes. The man plucked a blaster pistol from the back of his pants and aimed it at her head. "We'll be taking that armor off your hands-"

In that very second, Jee casually raised her hand and Force-pulled the gun to her. Her grimy foe and his cohorts barely had time to even register what had happened. The sheer act of witnessing the Force firsthand was enough to send one of them fleeing out of the alley. "Not a bad piece," Jee confessed while nonchalantly examining the pistol. "KYD-21, right? Hadrium alloy frame. Small yet sturdy." The scavenger was clueless and still mystified as to how she'd been able to disarm him.

"I don't know," he confessed in terms of the pistol's design. "I just found it. Honest! Plucked it off some fool's severed arm in an Uscru bar years ago."

"And what makes you think you won't end up just like that fool?" Jee inquired and aimed the pistol at him.

His arms darted up in surrender while another scavenger fled. "No! Please!" he begged through his quivering beard. "The-the gun's yours! Take the scraps too! Just please don't shoot!"

Unwilling to waste her time any further, Jee lowered the pistol and said, "Enjoy your scrap pile." As she hobbled off with her new firearm, the scavengers descended on the scraps like ravenous savages. The sight was as devastating as it was degrading. To see citizens in the heart of the Republic, fighting over pieces of a broken sign and collapsed fire escape.

Jee concealed the blaster, stumbled onward, and hailed the nearest air taxi. The speeder's checkered hull tilted towards her as its Nimbanel driver opened his door. Jee slid into the backseat and succumbed to a cacophonous, yet abhorrent tune. Despite the malformed melody, the Nimbanel's whiskers perked up with his widening grin. "Woahoho!" he babbled while peering through the rearview mirror. "Nice armor, lady!" He squinted at the minor cuts and darkened bruises on her violet skin. "Lemme guess. Hospital?"

"Vica Foundation Shelter," Jee corrected. "The sooner the better."

"You got it!" the Nimbanel cackled and Jee swore he was hopped up on spice.

"Everything will be set to flow perfectly. I've done my part...so now it's time for you to do yours. You know where they are. Finish it."

Sofi Pru's words dwelled deeply within Dia's mind. Dia had made plenty of calls just like Sofi's at the height of her power. She just never fathomed being on the other end of said call. It was like she'd believed from the start. The very ideology Dia had told Clayton continued to materialize. From Crimson Dawn to whatever the hell she'd become. From Detro and Bertz to Dryden Vos...now Sofi. Dia truly believed she'd been right all along. She would never be free.

A senatorial airspeeder glided between the upper city skylanes. Chromium accents left bright streaks gleaming across its sleek frame. It mattered not how much she'd grown, Mon Mothma maintained the curiosity she'd fostered in her youth. Her inquisitive, gentle eyes peered out from the passenger window and observed the city's skyline. Mothma sought to focus on each passing district and those who dwelled within. She reminded herself that every political stance she took was to benefit the Republic's citizens. She couldn't lose sight of her vision for a better, equal future...even if her driver's fidgeting was rather distracting.

Tobin Ranassa's thick thumbs drummed against the speeder's controls. "Come on," he groaned and wiped the sweat from his balding head. "Is there ever a time when this city isn't overflowing with traffic?"

"This is why I insisted that we leave early, Senator Ranassa." Mothma jested. "I accounted for this ceaseless traffic."

"Well aren't you the prepared one," Ranassa grumbled and slouched in his seat.

"Let's hope Senator Pru is," Mothma replied. "Or that she's at least created a better argument than what we listened to this morning."

"She was desperate to establish this second meeting," Ranassa considered. "Her types always are." Mothma raised a thin brow at him while maintenance droids hovered beside the speeders. Their strobing craniums indicated an alternative route to avoid air traffic tower construction. Impatient, Ranassa diverted course and followed the droid markers. As he and many speeders took the detour, Ranassa noticed Mothma glaring at him. "I can feel your eyes on me," he huffed. "What'd I do?"

"I'm just curious as to what you meant by 'her types' senator," Mothma inquired.

The detour dropped the speeders out of the skylane and into a street-level route. Ranassa huffed when he realized the speeders ahead were still moving slow. "I just-" he scoffed. "Look, I've seen her attitude before. All these young senators are rising up." With traffic at another standstill, he took the time to look at his companion. "They get a seat in the Senate and get this god complex. In reality, they're all just desperate for attention. But we weren't like that at their age. We had respect."

"One can still have respect and challenge the norm," Mothma replied. "Senator Amidala proves this every day. And while I do not agree with Senator Pru's stance on the chancellor's emergency powers, I admire her tenacity. At least we'll get to hear her out."

A sudden knock came to the driver's window and made Ranassa flinch. "Karabast!" he hissed through gritted teeth and turned to face the window. A traffic control droid leaned towards him as he rolled down the window.

"Please move up, sir," the droid computed.

Realizing that traffic had advanced while he was talking, Ranassa rolled his eyes and muttered, "Yeah yeah. I'm going. All of five damn feet." As he pulled up, he noticed Mon Mothma chuckling and raised a hand. "Don't you say it."

Mothma subtly grinned and shook her head at his frustration. "This is why we left early," she teased.

Ranassa couldn't help but snort. "Well...thanks for that. For what it's worth-" he sighed and turned back to her. "-I hope Senator Pru does have a solid argument. Young lady's got heart. I'll give her that."

"Didn't we all at that age?" Mothma answered as Ranassa nodded reluctantly.

Before he could answer, another knock came to the driver's window. "Oh for the love of-" Ranassa groaned and shuffled in his seat. Angrily gripping the controls he turned towards the window to give the traffic droid a piece of his mind. "I'm going!" he snapped only to find himself staring down the barrel of a gun. "I'm-"

The DL-44's blast was ear-splitting. Its heavy laser burst through the window and struck Ranassa directly in the face. Mothma gasped, shuddering from both the shot and Ranassa's sudden flailing. The blastershot's heat reached her pale face, even as its residue still scorched Ranassa's. His head fell back beyond the point of recognition while his limp legs collapsed against the accelerator. Their speeder darted directly into the vehicle ahead. Its tumultuous impact almost sent Mothma crashing into the dashboard. Her seatbelt yanked her back as excess exhaust shrouded the street.

Neighboring horns blared as Mothma struggled through her daze. Her disheveled, auburn bob draped forward as sweat doused her temples. "T-Tobin?" she croaked while slowly glancing leftward. "Tobin?"

Mothma's heart sank at the sight of Ranassa. Her fellow senator's body fell fully against the dashboard. And while he'd landed facing opposite to Mothma, she could still see remnants of a sizzling indent in his skull. Charred flesh stretched far beyond the wound, bringing Mothma to the brink of nausea.

She was about to unbuckle her seatbelt when the hooded assailant returned. The shooter was a blur, elbowing the window from where the laser had gone through. Fragile shards plummeted across Ranassa's corpse while the shooter leaned in. As the gun came to her next, Mothma impulsively screamed. Her next impulse was to flee, but she was still buckled in by her seatbelt. Thinking quickly, Mothma shoved Ranassa's body towards the door. The shift caused his leg to tilt on both the controls and accelerator.

Sparks spewed from grinding durasteel as the airspeeder broke out of the street lane. As Ranassa's body pulled back on the controls, it gained altitude. The swift motion sent both Mothma and the shooter climbing high towards nearby buildings. The speeder spiraled out of control while warning signals rang out from inside. The shooter dangled for dear life, clinging to the speeder window while still trying to shoot Mothma. Using momentum and adrenaline to her advantage, Mothma went on the offensive. She lunged towards the shooter just as they leaned in through the window. The seatbelt dug into her hips, yet Mothma fought through any stinging pain. She siezed the shooter's arm and wrestled to get the firearm away from them.

Sweat plummeted from Mothma's brow as she tilted back and forth. Desperate to deal a killing blow, the shooter fired multiple times. Mothma's heart sank each with each shot, believing one of the heavy lasers had struck her. Instead, the blasts ravaged the speeder's interior. Scorched chunks of leather severed from the cushions while the windshield endured two shots. As Ranassa's body shifted once more, his legs abandoned the accelerator. The airspeeder's engines stalled and dipped towards a nearby skyscraper. Both Mothma and her assailant stared out of the broken windshield in alarm. No amount of bracing for impact could prepare either person for the high-speed collision.

The thunderous crash echoed beyond the nearby edifices and towards a Jedi airspeeder. Master Mattias felt a disturbing tremor in the Force as he clenched the vehicle's controls. "What was that?" he uttered as Anna leaned from the passenger's seat. Her blue eyes darted across the windshield as a pair of police cruisers bolted by. A gunship from the Coruscant Guard wasn't far behind them as sirens blared throughout the district.

"Holy kriff," Anna gasped.

"Hang on!" Mattias asserted and made a sharp turn after the police. The sudden shift had a napping Hans yelping in the backseat.

Jee had just left her taxi when the crash echoed from the adjacent side. "Oh no," she murmured and sprinted towards the sound.

"Hey!" her cab driver hollered. "You gotta pay me, lady!"

"Bill it to the Republic!" Jee shouted back before dashing onward.

"Are you kidding me?" the Nimbanel groaned before hanging his head. "Again? I gotta start asking for credits upfront."

Jee's heart pounded as she neared the crash site. "Riz," she panted. "JJ...what'd you do now?" Preparing herself for a fight, she drew the KYD-21 and inched her way into the main street. Smoke and flames climbed towards a smashed building. Jagged cracks ran across the duracrete and led to a wrecked airspeeder. A Weequay bystander scurried to the burning vehicle and peered inside the driver's seat. As he did so, emergency services and a Jedi speeder arrived across the street.

The Weequay gasped over what he'd witnessed and stumbled back. "Some-" he stuttered. "Someone's been shot!"

The gunship opened its hatches while police droids clanked over. Red-armored clone troopers secured the street as the Jedi speeder landed. Mattias and Anna easily slid out while Hans was still waking up. Despite the chaotic scene, Anna glimpsed her helmetless friend across the street. "Jee?" she beckoned.

"Red," was all the Rodian could say before a police cam droid zipped over to her. The disc-shaped machine zoomed in, scanning both her face and the firearm.

"Shooter located," the droid computed before emitting a repetitive chime.

"Wait-" Jee choked and peered down at her blaster. "I didn't...No!"

Responding to the chime, Commander Fox and his men ran over. Police droids flanked their right as the Jedi took their left. "Drop the weapon!" Fox barked as he and his men took aim. "Drop it!" Still bewildered by all that was occurring, Jee stood her ground. Her grip on the pistol tightened as she recalled the last time she'd trusted someone to free her from Republic custody. The police droids aimed their minuscule blasters while Fox's fury intensified. "Drop the gun...NOW!"

"Jee?" Anna worried as the Rodian refused to yield. Mattias worriedly looked to his former Padawan, wondering if they'd misjudged the vigilante. Even with so many weapons aimed at her, Jee didn't comply. She stood tall, gripped her pistol and stared deeply into Anna's eyes.

Author's Note: Thank you all so much for reading this week's chapter of "The Frozen Force!" Your kindness, patience, and support is always appreciated. It's so good to be back. I am both honored and excited to be returning to weekly chapters. So I'll see you NEXT FRIDAY for Chapter: 107 - The Rodian Strikes Back (Part II)! May we all enjoy the first two episodes of "Obi-wan Kenobi" on Disney+!

Fun sidetone: I love when things just coincidentally fall into place and just work out. I love Mon Mothma and wanted her to have a significant part in today's chapter. She deserves more time in Star Wars...and then BAM! Today Disney dropped a trailer for "Andor" and it looks like Mothma will be taking on the Imperial Senate!

Long Live Imagination and May the Force be with You!

~ Michael Gavilán