-Than-

I woke up to the sharp beeping of my comm. My mouth felt like sandpaper and I had a splitting headache, which wasn't helped by the shrill sound. I struggled to lift my head and took in my surroundings. I'd fallen asleep on the barstool. Phil was nowhere to be found, but a glass of water and pills were sitting on the counter. Ster was rousing from his alcohol induced slumber as well, and was none too happy about it.

"Wotdekriffisat" he mumbled.

I clumsily fumbled for the pills by me and tossed them in my mouth before draining the entire glass. I then shook Ster to try and wake him up.

"Idonwanna" he mumbled. I shook harder, and he finally lifted his head.

"Wefellasleep" I said, just now realizing how swollen my tongue was. "Yougottatakedese" I said reaching for the pills and handing them to him. He grabbed them and threw them in his mouth, then groped around until he found the glass of water.

"Answeryercommjackass" he muttered. I fumbled around until I found it and managed an "Ughh."

"Good morning Than. We leave for Mirial in two hours."

"Ugh."

"Charming. Make sure you're ready."

The call ended abruptly, and it took me a few minutes to process what was said.

"Whassgoinon?"

"IgottagotoMirial" I muttered before getting off the stool and promptly falling on my face. Ster burst into a fit of laughter before falling backwards off the chair, making him laugh even harder. His laughter was infectious, and I started laughing as well. We were quite a sight, two hungover guys laying on the floor and laughing hysterically.

Eventually, I made my way to my room, where I threw up in the toilet and took a long shower. I felt the medicine start to kick in while I was in the shower. By the time I was done, most of the symptoms of last night's drinking binge had disappeared. I got in my armor and made my way to one of the hangar bays. Inside was the usual hustle and bustle of ships coming and going and tech crews making last minute repairs. My eyes were immediately drawn to Sylvia, who was standing by a sleek royal starship and impatiently tapping her foot. When she saw me, she marched over to me, staring daggers at me the whole time.

"Hey."

"What took you so long?!"

"I had a hangover. How are you not feeling it?"

"I can cleanse it from my system. Get your ass on the ship. We need to go."

As I followed her to the ship, I asked "Why are we going to Mirial?"

"Information on the Jedi we're hunting."

I thought it was strange that information would be on Mirial, but you never know.

We landed towards the northern part of the planet, by an isolated village surrounded by rock and ice. I walked out and found Charybdis and about 15 Junel waiting outside the ramp. Sylvia followed behind me. I glanced at the village and noted that the villagers were glancing warily at us. "How do they have information? They don't look like they've had contact with anybody for ages."

Sylvia walked to Charybdis's side and said "They haven't."

I noticed that the Junel were slowly circling around me, and instinctively backed up. I realized what was happening and said "This is treason."

I attacked the Junel nearest me, but never made contact. An invisible barrier separated me from them. The Junel I tried to strike swung his hammer in an attempt to obliterate me. I dodged, then a hammer crushed into my back, dropping me to the ground. Then another, and another. I felt my bones shatter with each blow. Then, as suddenly as it started, it stopped. Shakily, I lifted myself up so I was on my hands and knees.

"Your grit is impressive," said Charybdis.

"When Lord Terrias hears of this, he will tear you apart."

Charybdis laughed menacingly, grabbed a hammer, and stepped towards me "He ordered me to do it." With that, he hit my broken body off the cliff, sending me plummeting to the rocks two hundred meters below.

-0000-

Charybdis barked at the Junel to go down and make sure he was dead, but Sylvia stopped him.

"Leave him. He's dead. Finish the mission here."

He handed the hammer to the other Junel and smiled broadly.

"With pleasure." He turned and barked "Raze the village! Leave no survivors!" while Sylvia got back on the ship and left to finish her end of the mission.