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Realms: These Shattered Stars Logs

Chapter Five, Part Five

The day draws on to late afternoon, and the city starts to wind down from the day's work. The murky haze from earlier is starting to dissipate, replaced by a bit of a moist chill in the air as the evaporating water starts to draw away the heat from the ground and anything that was dampened. The valley is clear but for a growing fog that clings to the lower parts. The newslink reports the fog should grow as the night wears on, but will have dissipated by morning.

As they go to the slave dormitories later that day, Fhazil explains how they ran into the young girl in the first place. Freyja listens with interest as she paces along with her friends, "Interesting. So the mother was working to cover for the sick father -- but the girl was stealing something instead of working? I wonder if that means the type of slavery used here is similar to what they had millennia ago in the Balmorran sector -- except that was called indentured servitude. The offspring of slaves weren't automatically slaves themselves..." She looks around thoughtfully, then adds with a wry grin, "I'll ask later, I think... just to be polite."

Freyja sighs quietly, adding, "I wish I had my Dragon's Heart to show them too, if it means so much to the father." She adds a few moments later, "Sounds like the father has a chest cold, at best. Clearing that up will be good for him -- don't want it to grow into something like pneumonia!"

Zero assures Freyja that he'll vouch for her. The Dragon Heart carries enough clout in and of itself that respect is accorded to someone whom a bearer of the Dragon Heart says has it as well... or says should have it. Freyja smiles, touched, "Thank you, Zero." She's silent a moment, then adds a bit exasperatedly, "I swear, if those houseless thieves mess with that, or the sash, I'll be so upset!"

Fhazil deadpans, "I'd be more worried about 'space pirate Captain Thorn,'" he says it in a reasonable facsimile of Thorn's particular Corellian accent, "-accidentally blowing the ship out of the ether."

Freyja laughs delightedly at the accent! -then grins ruefully, "Well, let's hope he wants to impress both Ameil and us enough that he doesn't, eh?"

Fhazil nods. "I wonder what it is the thieves took?" he muses.

Freyja shakes her head, "No idea. What do ruling Hutts value?" She looks at the long line of identical dormitory style houses, her face carefully expressionless, "Ah... this would be their home?"

Fhazil shakes his head. "I imagine it varies from Hutt to Hutt...." He nods. "This is the place...."

The dormitories are identical, more or less, and have not changed from when Zero and Fhazil were at them earlier that day. The one with the Saijo family is quickly found, and Zero introduces Freyja and Vakkal to Guanxhu and Youdo Saijo, and their daughter Fengwu.

Freyja smiles, bowing politely with her palms forward as Zero taught her, "Greetings, honored friends of my friend. I hear you might be able to use the services of a healer? I apologize for not having the Dragon's Heart to show you."

Guanxhu's cough seems to have gotten slightly worse, despite the snug warmth of the dormitory room. "It is no matter, Makkaisdottir. The Yao Zi vouches for you, and that is well enough for me. I do not know what healing can be done for my wife, but anything you can do-" He breaks off into a string of wet hacking coughs. "We'd *wheeze* we'd be grateful. But they took her vocal chords...."

Freyja smiles, kneeling next to the sick man, "One thing at a time, please, honored fu. First you..." As she's talking she puts the medkit on Guanxhu, talking calmly as she watches it run through the diagnostics, then guiding it through treatment, "Sounds like at least a chest cold, and in this damp environment we don't want you coming down with pneumonia..."

Guanxhu tries to wave Freyja away. "I'm fine, I am in no need of-" The brace of hacking that follows pretty much not only shuts him up, but makes it painfully obvious he's wrong. Freyja grins quietly, but politely makes no comment. She's seen the same practically self-destructive behavior before, even among her companions, so she feels being discreet about it is the least she can do!

Freyja sits back with a pleased sigh several minutes later, "There we go! Your breathing sounds far less labored now. How do you feel?"

Guanxhu takes in a few breaths. His voice still sounds a bit wet, but reasonably better; much better than how he was. "Yes... thank you, Makkaisdottir. I am very grateful to you..."

Freyja smiles and nods, politely adding, "Please, call me Freyja, honored fu?" She turns then to Youdo, the wife, asking politely, "May I examine your throat, honored mu? I don't know if I can do anything, but I'd like to at least verify that, if so?"

Youdo nods carefully, sitting and positioning herself so that Freyja can examine her throat. Guanxhu was right -- her vocal chords were removed physically, not merely cut. Judging by the lack of scar tissue on the skin of the throat, whatever method was used was probably oral and, mercifully, not likely to have been while Youdo was conscious.

Freyja nods thoughtfully after the careful examination, "Mm... unpleasantly fascinating. It appears the technique used is the same as that used to mute excessively noisy frehkees, instead of proper training -- a sharp set of clips on the end of a lo- er..." she pauses, looking guilty, "I'm sorry, honored mu -- you probably don't really want to hear this." Guanxhu winces and looks away when Freyja begins describing the method, and only turns back, looking a little less shaken, when she apologizes.

Freyja takes a deep breath, then nods once. "Well. A few questions, please? First, it's my guess those around here would consider it practically miraculous were you to suddenly regain your voice. It might in fact be safer if you pretended not to have a voice until your return to Sedrak. Is this something you feel you can do?" Guanxhu looks cautious and concerned. Youdo, on the other hand, nods unhesitatingly. There's a vein of steel that's visible in her eyes.

Freyja smiles gravely at Youdo, recognizing a kindred spirit in that steel-eyed look, "I thought you might say that. All right, here's the second question, then." She takes another deep breath, then continues steadily, "I can do this, I believe -- heal your vocal cords. However, as I'm sure you've guessed by now, this isn't, ah... 'normal' healing. Therefore I would ask you -- all of you -- to not reveal what I've done, or what I am, please?"

Youdo arches her brow and nods, glancing to Guanxhu. Fengwu and Guanxhu exchange glances before the older man asks, "How... do you mean, Freyja?"

Freyja says, "Uhm... well, you are correct, honored fu, in saying they took her vocal cords. There simply aren't any there any more -- there's nothing to encourage to re-grow, like a good healer can do with bacta." Her gaze is steady as she continues, "I'll be, ah... well, in essence, I'll be re-creating her vocal cords." She adds quietly, "Plus even bacta has time limits... it wouldn't work after the afflicted area had healed itself... which this has."

Guanxhu is quiet for a long moment. The he murmurs softly, "Jedi." Freyja gives a slight, courteous head bow, then continues to wait, kneeling with her hands neatly resting on her thighs and medkit back on her belt, for the small family to decide.

Youdo simply nods again. Guanxhu glances to her, then bows his head as best as he can. "We are honored, Jedi," he rasps. "Please, whatever you can do for her... we will be in your debt."

Freyja smiles in quiet relief, but simply says, "Please, call me Freyja?"

Guanxhu nods his head. "Freyja, then. Thank you..."

Freyja looks around the tiny room, then nods once to herself. She settles with her back to a supporting wall, borrows a pillow, and has Youdo lay flat on her back and relaxed, with her head resting on the pillow in Freyja's lap. Freyja quietly explains this may take several hours, and asks Fengwu to have some nice, hot tea ready in about that time, please? Then she walks Youdo through a simple, relaxing meditation, so the woman's as calm and quiet as possible. And then... Freyja lets her Self fade into the Force.

Initially thoughts drift through her head, settling quietly into silence like the scarlet and golden leaves of fall on her home world, or the petals of the lovely Freya's Tears flowers... this is important to the Force... I am a servant of the Light... I am both Healer and Creator... I am a Restorer of Order and an Explorer of Beauty, and the healthy body is both... I shall restore the patterns of Order and Beauty in Youdo -- as she should be, as the Force wishes her to be...

Finally even thought is gone and Freyja drifts through the Force, an imaged woman of quiet flame trailing slender golden fingers through the harmed pattern before her, helping it to recognize where it should be; how it should properly glow...

Freyja comes back very slowly from the Force, feeling worn out. She lets her head fall back against the wall, breathing deeply, and it's several minutes before she huskily murmurs, "Started... 'll take about a week to be completely healed, but well started." She sighs, wearily rubbing her face, then smiles and gently brings the meditatively peaceful woman before her back into wakefulness.

Fengwu and Guanxhu have been silent throughout this. When Freyja makes her pronouncement, Fengwu all but jumps into her mother's arms. Youdo herself looks a little bewildered as to what just happened. Guanxhu bows his head again. "Thank you, Freyja. We will be forever in your debt. This has been a good day; others beyond this rock know we are here, and my Youdo shall have her voice return to her."

Freyja smiles, her voice still tiredly throaty, "Ah, please don't consider yourselves in my debt, honored fu... just help those that need it. Your story needs to be told on Sedrak, so the Black Wind can be stopped. Doing good things like that is more repayment than I could ever ask for."

Guanxhu says, "Even so, if you find yourself on Sedrak again, please come to us. You will be welcome in our home."

Freyja's smile is more genuine and less tired this time, as she nods politely, "I would be very pleased to do so; thank you! Perhaps then I can also show you the Dragon's Heart I received." She grins a little shyly, adding, "I think it's lovely, even though I don't know as much about it as you and Zero do... but then I like gold better than silver, so I was really happy to get the one I did."

Freyja quietly explains to Youdo it will take about a week for the vocal chords to completely renew themselves. She also whispers quietly in Vakkal's mind, asking him if he could pour the tea? She's feeling rather drained currently, even if it's only temporary. Vakkal nods and does so. Youdo herself seems to understand completely, and makes no attempt to speak yet.

Freyja accepts the tea with relief, warming her hands on the small mug as she sips carefully. She savors the restoring heat inside her as she swallows, then peacefully inhales the slightly sweet scent, relaxing with the quiet pleasure of a job well done. Guanxhu smiles quietly. "It is a high honor. I would ask you what you did to receive them, but I suspect that it is not something you wish well-known here on Tynnea."

Freyja smiles and shakes her head, "Neh, please, although I suspect Zero and I would both be happy to tell you the story once we're all on Sedrak again."

Guanxhu nods, "I understand, and it is well. This is not a good place to speak of such things. The Hutt do not hate Jedi, but they are distrustful of them." Freyja nods a little ruefully, glancing at all her Force-awakened friends, with a faintly amused smile, over the rim of the mug as she sips hot tea.

Zero says, "Guanxhu, you could tell her what hers means."

Freyja blinks, raising her head from the mug and looking interested, "Er... what? They mean different things?"

Guanxhu hmms? "The Dragon Hearts? The red stone is for valor in battle, or physical combat. Many, many Red Dragons were given for the Ten Years' War. Too many were posthumous. What color was your stone, Freyja, if I may ask?"

Freyja smiles, "Blue... a sapphire. One of my favorite colors." She grins, adding cheerfully, "I always wondered if they knew that."

Guanxhu smiles quietly. "Ah, the Blue Dragons. Many of them came after the war... and some of them were posthumous as well. It is for valor in negotiation or reconciliation. On both sides after the war there were some who would not accept the Truce. There were others who did all they could to bring a lasting peace. And as I intimated, many of them did not live long. For them were made the Blue Dragons."

Freyja is silent, considering thoughtfully... then she smiles, her blue eyes alight with quiet warmth, "Thank you, honored fu, for enlightening me about that. I... am not sure I am that good a negotiator, but... well, I will respect the decision of the Sedraki government." She grins a little shyly, adding, "I'm glad I could help, though. Maybe I can help again, here."

Freyja studies the small family for a moment, then casually adds, "Although... might I ask a favor of you? For the time we'll be on planet, we'll be... a bit at loose ends. Could I persuade you to let me hire your daughter as a local guide for that time?" She recognizes that prickly pride in the little family that she's seen in Zero also. They won't accept straightforward charity from her... but maybe a face-saving 'job' will do instead, in order to quietly pass a bit of cred to them. It will be important the parents eat properly for the next week, after all.

Guanxhu considers. "Well. If she is amenable to it, you certainly may." Freyja smiles at Fengwu, raising an inquiring eyebrow.

Fengwu blinks, then bobs her head. "Sah, I would!" She stands and quickly bows to Freyja.

And that seems to be the cue for an explosion to rock the ground right out from under her.

Freyja smiles, nodding in return -- then blinks, trying not to slop her tea out of the cup, "What was that?!"

Zero says, "Tch! Always something..."

Other explosions follow, and from somewhere an alarm starts to sound. The group can hear the other slaves talking animatedly outside, as they poke their heads out of their dorms. Freyja hastily takes Vakkal's offered arm, hauling herself up to her feet and half-bowing to the family as she does so. Her words tumble over each other, "Thank you so much we must be going Fengwu you can find us at the Hostel tomorrow morning can you take the teacup please?"

Zero kneels down near a window, glancing with just one eye outside. "Damned rude to interrupt tea, you ask me..." Freyja giggles in spite of herself! -then glances around to be sure everyone's as under cover as the little hut can provide. She quietly 'scans' outside as well, with the Force, just in case.

Fhazil already has his concussion rifle out, though if you were to ask him why he'd be unable to give a good answer. Fengwu nods quickly, as another blast hits the paddy. The sound of superheated steam hissing into the sky and the splatter of hot water droplets upon the dormitory adds to the ruckus. The roar of some small spacecraft echoes overhead, followed by the whistle of something small moving at high speed... then another explosion, somewhat more distant.

Freyja pats her belt -- medkit, lightsaber, blaster, good, she's ready -- as she steps to put her back to the wall next to the door. If Zero wants the door opened quickly, she's ready to do so for him. Zero says, "Flyers! Bastards are dropping explosives on a shantytown -- have the Hutts lost their minds?"

Freyja murmurs thoughtfully, "Is that what the thieves were after? Front runners for... what... an invasion? Or just a diverting attack, perhaps?" She frowns, wondering if their ship is one of the attacking vehicles. She hopes not.

Outside, Zero sees small craft doing hit-and-run bomb drops on the area. Most of the damage seems to be limited to holdings belonging to the Hutt or her immediate subordinates. From what Zero can see, this includes the slave quarters: across the paddy, a column of smoke rises from a pile of rubble that bears a passing similarity to the dormitories the group is in. One bomber attempts a run on Ameil's fortress, but is shot clean out of the air. Concussion flack begins to rise up from the fortress, as a small flock of fighters begins to rise from the spaceport.

As for the Force, Freyja feels nothing outside of the usual life-sparks of most Force-unawakened. She's faintly relieved at that. To Zero she murmurs, "Should the people be moved or neh, Zero?"

Zero says, "They're hitting Ameil's territory -- oh, stang, the slave quarters!"

Freyja nods, "Right, time to move." She looks at the little family, "Come... time to disperse into the city, I think. Harder for you to be hit there, as 'property' of Ameil the Hutt. Zero, is there a path to the city with any cover?" She wonders silently if the 'native' fighters will bother covering the slaves at all. She hopes so... but isn't holding her breath for that to occur.

Guanxhu grimaces as he starts to stand. "Stang," he mutters. "None of us can leave the Mos, you know..."

Freyja nods to the man, "Hai, stay in the city, honored fu. It will be your cover from the attackers. Can you get the rest of the slaves to follow you there?"

Zero says, "We can get you to the hostel; C'mon, I think I can find us a route with some cover."

Guanxhu nods, "I will try. Sah, we will!"

Freyja nods in relief to Zero, swinging the door open, "Let's move then -- swifter we do so, the fewer may die!"

The four, with the Sedraki, begin to gather the slaves, moving them towards the city. Some enforcers -- obvious by their weapons -- soon show up on the scene and begin to assist in the movement. Apparently they think this is part of the defense plans, especially considering the other dormitories were hit.

Freyja keeps an eye out for injured. She does a hasty triage, making sure other slaves help the walking wounded, that the mildly wounded are quickly helped as much as necessary to get them to walking wounded... and the too badly injured are regretfully left by her for last. Those are the ones that take the most effort, and unfortunately right now it's critical to get as many as possible to the hostel and the Mos. She won't leave them behind, however -- as much as possible she makes sure enforcers and other healthy individuals carry them in makeshift stretchers and slings towards the city.

The attacks continue as they move the slaves to the relative safety of the city. Just in time, as well -- seeing the stream of escapees, one of the attacking pilots lobs a concussion bomb at the dormitories -- just as the last few are caught in the radius of destruction.

As they enter the city proper, there is one terrifying blast of pseudo-nuclear fire from the fortress. A particularly brave pilot has lobbed a proton bomb at the strong fortress, and now the front half appears to be blown clear away. From their vantage, Freyja and Zero can see figures, armored rather more respectably than the typical Outer Rim riffraff, making their way through the rubble.

Freyja murmurs a soft, "Oh, dear..." as she stares up at the rubble.

Zero says, "Here's a question for you, Freyja mine." Freyja hms quietly, still watching the battle attentively. Zero says, "Does it serve the will of the Force for us to go down there and stop Ameil from being annihilated? Before you answer, I guess it doesn't bear repeating that it does serve our transportational needs, since they apparently still have the Eclipse."

Freyja turns to smile with rueful warmth at her brother Padawan, "I wish I knew, Zero." She looks back, then adds, "Well... I do know one thing -- we need to either make sure those last people there, that were on the edge of the last attack on the slave quarters, are in fact deceased -- or get them to cover." She takes a deep breath. She's not looking forward to checking what may be either horribly injured people, or concussion-shattered former individuals -- then mutters to herself, "Right... get on with it!" as she heads forward.

The last few folks are unfortunately beyond any help outside of extreme unction... and for most of them it's too late even for that. Freyja winces, turning away from the last remains, trying to quell the nausea. She shakes her head at Zero, not trusting herself to talk just yet -- just throws her arms around him when she's close enough and back under cover, and hugs him tightly until the shakes stop. Zero curls his arms around Freyja gently. "It's all right," he murmurs. "We're going to stop this now."

Freyja takes slow, deep breaths, holding on almost desperately, nodding tightly once. This is the first time she's personally seen the horrific results of full-out war. When she finally gets her voice back, her whisper is a little husky, "Hai... hai, you're right, Zero... we have to stop this." She finally straightens, looking back up at the fortress with a slightly haunted look, even as she still tightly holds one of Zero's hands, "But... who do we help... if any?"

Zero nods, holding Frejya's shoulders gently. "Look at me for a moment, Freyja. All right?" He leans forward slightly, and murmurs, "Don't turn your eyes away from this. Remember this for as long as you breathe. This is what we're put on this plane to stand against, as Jedi Knights. Remember today, and you'll never falter."

Freyja listens, looking at Zero as he asks. At his words she bites her lip, her eyes filling with tears in spite of herself... then she nods firmly once again, brushing the tears out of her eyes with grim purpose. Zero says, "This is not an object lesson anyone should learn. But it would be disrespectful to the dead to ignore it. When you're ready, Freyja, we're going to go down there, and end this together."

Freyja nods again more slowly this time, taking a moment to scan the battlefield, even though it invokes an involuntary shudder. She looks then back at the fortress, then at the slaves standing behind her... and then she thoughtfully asks, "Honored fu, what sort of master was Ameil the Hutt, please? Was she one you'd give anything to replace? Or would you rather have her than an unknown Hutt?"

Guanxhu blinks, then grimaces a little. "She was better than some, I imagine. To one born free, any slavery is intolerable. Sah... I would say, better her than others. We were at least given warmth, if not copious food."

Freyja nods thoughtfully again, "Thank you, honored fu." She looks back at the fortress, murmuring almost to herself, "All right... one data point for her." She looks then at her friends, taking a moment to really see their faces; their personalities shining through their eyes... then she smiles -- if there is no pleasure in the smile, there is at least quiet determination -- at them. "All right... I'm ready. Let's stop this fighting as best we can." She studies the sky, then the fortress, murmuring half under her breath, "Battle... we want us to win, so far..."

Zero kneels down and sets his long black case down on the floor. "Fengwu, I'd like you to take care of this for me, all right? This case was..." he smiles faintly, "-a gift from a friend." He draws the blaster out, checks the action, and slips it into the holster across his hip. The sword he picks up and studies momentarily, looking at his reflection in the blade, then checking the power cell. He nods, then closes the case again. "I'll be back to get this soon, Fengwu, so take good care of it for me, okay?" Fengwu nods quietly, eyes wide as she picks up the case.

Freyja turns to regard her friends, her slender golden hands framing them in her vision as she whispers, "We shall succeed... we are united in our purpose -- to stop this senseless conflict... I invoke the Light for us all..." By this time, the soldiers that were seen have already entered the fortress. Flashes of blaster fire can be seen in the gaping opening, then no more.

Zero straightens up and swings the blade once -- a short chopping arc in front of him -- getting used to the heft again. "It seems that war is determined to follow me no matter where I go. Fine. It is my place to trim away that which does not belong in this world. In the name of the third walking path, I will cut it all away." He invokes his battlemind and thumbs his blade's power on, his aspect changing with the invocation of power that Freyja adds, more power than it seems his little frame should be able to hold. "We're going to put an end to this territorial pissing game right now!"

Freyja's demeanor is becoming still and dispassionate, her eyes growing frosty pale, as her battle mind also activates. Fhazil's jaw sets as Freyja calls upon the Force, his Sithstain coiling around him as if an active shield -- but oddly not snapping at the Light of Freyja. "Ready when you are." Freyja can sense his own version of the battlemind being held in check for the time being.

Freyja turns her pale, emotionless gaze towards the fortress, murmuring, "Lead, Preserver." She reaches under her coat and pulls the lightsaber handle out, running her free hand down it once in silent caress and greeting, even as her gaze doesn't leave the battlefield before them.

Zero turns and waves the others on after him, blade singing. "Let's go." The walk -- run? march? -- to the fortress passes quickly, in a half-dream state almost, seen through the remarkable clarity of battlemind and the focus-upon-purpose of Freyja's inspirational invocation.

As she moves forward to the fortress, Freyja can almost -- no, she does feel -- gentle, golden-furred hands upon her shoulders. Camaasi hands. The darkness takes many forms, the Master seems to be whispering from ages ago and miles away. Some must be excised, others reconciled with. You must know what you are doing when you draw the Three-Dawn saber, sister. If a child of Light, of Creation, must kill, then it is to create. You must love your enemy even as you extinguish their light, to keep that light from annihilating others'. This is why the Light must burn...

Freyja nods silently, her gaze intent on her goal, even as she whispers inside her head, I hear you, Master. I... do not understand completely yet... but I shall do my best.

The sense of the being from his vision, assembling the twin blades of blue light so long ago, is with Zero: Preserve that which must be preserved, the alien intones. Let fall that which must fall. Life relinquishes its right to continue when it takes another life. Though we live by the saber and shall die by the saber, let your own life mean something more, something greater than mere survival, as you bring balance to this universe.

Zero licks one of his canines absently. This is how it has to be. How it's always been for us. We can't fail now.

If the Jove-like knight who had once wielded Fhazil's saber says anything to him, it is not audible to the others. It is with firm resolve, however, that Fhazil seems to stand within the Force as he approaches the fortress with the group. Vakkal, not privy to these thoughts, these Memories from ancient times, is satisfied enough to have blaster and un-ignited saber at the ready.

The entryway to the fortress is less of a doorway, and more of a gaping wound in the side of the cliff face, now. The bodies of several Gammoreans are on the ground. Blaster shots echo through the corridors ahead. Freyja raises a thoughtful eyebrow at the echoes. If they get any closer she'll light Kourakani, to be sure. She falls naturally into bounding overwatch with Vakkal and Zero, whom she's worked with before in conflict situations -- she puts her back to a wall and waits for Zero to start.

Zero says, "Overwatch into the corridors. We'll make our way to the dais room... that's where they'll be headed."

Freyja nods, and her whisper rises in the minds of the other three, Should we stick to mental contact only? Fhazil keeps his concussion rifle out for now, eschewing his saber to keep long-range fire cover for the group. When he's near her the Sithstain is almost palpable, but knowing what it is helps in dealing with it.

Zero says, "That would be best."

Freyja nods again, then quietly reinforces her connection with the Light, so the Sithstain isn't distracting. The idle thought drifts through her mind with quiet amusement... is she 'blinding' poor Fhazil? She hopes not... then dismisses that thought and concentrates on following Zero and Fhazil, with Vakkal and herself the other half of the bounding overwatch.

The corridors are dark, and as they approach the dais room the sounds of fighting increase. Suddenly the sound of boot steps up ahead is heard, and three soldiers -- the armored ones who came in earlier -- appear. "Look! More rabble!"

"Kill them too...."

Freyja snarls sharply in Huttee, "Stand down!" Her whisper rises in the minds of the other three, If I can persuade them to fall upon themselves, do not attack them -- or they will recognize you as their real enemy...

Freyja whispers in a soft, carrying tone, "The real enemy... can't you see? They're standing next to you -- there!" She points at the group, her pale eyes intense. Two of the soldiers don't look at all that confident suddenly... and the third seems to be giving some serious thought to Freyja's words. His blaster carbine -- they're packing blasters? -these must be well-funded troops -- is edging towards his two former(soon to be less than former) buddies. Freyja smiles slowly, although her eyes are cold and distant, and nods past the two front soldiers, murmuring, "I'd watch out if I were you..."

Zero says, "Don't look at me. I'm not your problem." Vakkal arches a brow -- ready, it seems, to leap forward. Fhazil also holds himself, fidgeting a little with the concussion rifle, casting a glance at the others.

One of the soldiers -- probably mercenaries -- fidgets, then snorts, "You just became one!" He raises his carbine and fires a snap-shot at Zero.

Zero says, "Your decision's made, then. Fine." No sooner does Freyja formulate the thought, and the saber comes alive almost on its own, purring to itself as it lights up in a golden tongue of flame.

The second soldier seems startled by the blaster shot, and triggers his own weapon. His shot, too, misses with almost preternatural failure. Not so the third soldier, who plugs the second of the other soldiers square in the back. The soldier who was shot looks mightily surprised as he stumbles forward from the impact. "What the-?!"

Freyja whispers carryingly, "Told you so..."

Zero says, "Well? Make your choice. If you're going to play with him, then get out of our way." Freyja waits with expressionless patience. Holding the Force invocations requires concentration... she's busy.

Vakkal and Fhazil exchange a conversation by eyeballs alone, as the sergeant stumbles out of the way to put his back to the wall. "What the FREL? Gorosh, what are you-?" Another report from the blaster carbine from the third soldier -- apparently Gorosh -- leaps from the carbine -- and strikes the wall behind the sergeant. The second soldier just holds his blaster on the others. "Just... just stay right where you are!" he stammers.

Freyja smiles slowly again, her eyes shaded by her fiery gold bangs. It's a creepy sort of smile, utterly unfazed by the blaster pointed at her... as if he didn't matter in the least. Vakkal and Fhazil exchange looks again. Included in that conversation-without-words is a complete tactical evaluation of the situation: one blaster carbine, owner saying 'Freeze.' Three heavy blaster pistols, three lightsabers, one double lightsaber, a vibroblade, and a concussion rifle -- all of whose owners haven't been touched yet. Fhazil murmurs, "Riiiiiiight...."

Zero sighs a bit. Some people, then says, "We're leaving now. I'd recommend you not show that other fellow your back." He turns and gestures to the others, "Come on. They're busy."

Freyja nods, straightening to follow Zero. Fhazil, with wry humor, shoulders the rifle. "See ya!" he says cheerfully as he passes.

The soldier blinks. "Hey... no, wait, you can't... hey, come back here...! Uh, Sarge, you want some help?"

*BLAM!* "YES, DAMMIT!"

Zero says, "Can't we? Worry about your officer." Freyja grins, pacing silently along next to her friends -- then looks ahead with grim intensity, worried about what they'll find in the dais room, if three soldiers could so casually stroll out.

The Camaasi's voice carries faint laughter in the echoes of Golden Dancer, even as the group approaches the sound of the fighting. Freyja grins, giving a silent thumbs-up to her mental companion even as she warily falls back into bounding overwatch mode. The dais room is up ahead, and the flash and flare of blaster and concussion fire flickers against the walls.

From this position, the dais room is in shambles. Armored soldiers have taken up positions behind pillars, while Ameil the Hutt and some of her enforcers are behind the upturned dais. Several enforcers -- and one of the girl-churls, the Human -- are on the ground, badly injured or dead. So far only a couple of soldiers seem to have been killed. Quarter is neither asked for nor given, though the enforcers bolster their flagging morale and numbers by hurling invectives at the attackers. The mercenaries do not rise to the bait.

Freyja looks cautiously around the doorway's edge, frowning thoughtfully. Hm... any suggestions on who we should support -- if either? She considers a moment, then adds softly, We could run a test... announce we want to aid the wounded, so please don't shoot... then see who does shoot when we step out?

Zero shakes his head, Don't forget the mercenaries demolished the slave quarters when the fortress itself proved too hard a target.

Freyja nods to Zero, Hai... but that only shows we don't want to support the mercenaries. I fear it does not help decide if we should support Ameil. She thinks a bit, then nods, It's simple, then... see if the enforcers fire. If hai, we do not support either. If neh... then we help Ameil?

Zero mms. You read my mind.

Freyja grins, I'm assuming the mercenaries will definitely fire. She covers a soft giggle at Zero's comment, then straightens, still grinning. All right... here goes then. She yells out clearly, "We are noncombatants! We wish to aid the injured -- temporary cease fire, please!" Then she waits to see who, if anyone, just fires blindly at the doorway.

Freyja's answer is a few enforcers blinking over to her, and a few wildly-shot blasts from the mercenaries. "We're not here for prisoners, wench!" comes a shout.

Zero tchs. Wish I had a thermal detonator.

Fhazil almost facepalms. Not exactly the best thing to say to ensure his survival here.

Freyja grins at her friends, Looks good so far for Ameil's folks! She laughs aloud at the wench comment, then steps out into the doorway. Kourakani sings fiercely alive in her hands as she smiles towards the mercenaries, "Thank you for making our decision so easy." She steps smoothly to the side so she draws fire, but her friends can return it easily.

Freyja notices a wounded Gammorean floundering weakly near the doorway; the other Gammorean is clearly dead. The only other barely-alive enforcer is being dragged behind the dais by a buddy, while the pretty-boy Human is clearly dead. It takes Freyja a moment, but then she finally spots the other one -- the Twi'lek toy-boy. Surprisingly (and pleasingly, to Freyja's point of view) Ameil is keeping him behind her bulk as she herself wields a really high-quality blaster.

Freyja murmurs softly, and with a touch of pleased surprise, to her friends, Ameil is protecting the live pretty-boy -- good for her! -and fighting too. I think we made the right decision. Well, I hope we did. The Force will let us know if we should change our minds, I'm sure. I'm going for the wounded Gammorean -- have fun keeping the mercs' heads down!

Zero dashes forward, leaving the ground as he passes the doorway. He crosses the length of the room, tracing a broad parabola, and skids to a halt, sliding past a column to stop next to a mercenary. "It's over now!" His blade flashes against the black of his coat, still flying with the momentum. Sparks spray from the column as it bites on its way past. The guard chokes out a startled yelp and ducks out of the way of the saber's cut, sprawling on the ground in the process and spluttering a curse.

Freyja grins at Zero's daringly flamboyant entrance, although her attention is focused entirely on the Gammorean. She also dashes forward, seconds later hauling the Gammorean bodily back into the protection of deep within the doorway. As she does so, she growls in Huttee, "Be calm and come with me!" She's faintly surprised how easy it is to haul the large, bulky, half-unconscious Gammorean back. Must be the adrenaline.

As she does that, two of the mercenaries closest to the door attempt to fire on Freyja -- and miss badly. Vakkal's blaster shot spangs into the pillar those mercenaries are hiding behind. The mercenary down at the floor beneath Zero attempts to bring his blaster to bear on the Grey Jedi, firing as he rolls onto his back. Zero twists his body out of the way at the last moment, his blade flicking to the ready. The blast comes close enough to make him feel the heat, and to leave the smell of ozone behind it. Another blast comes from the side towards Zero, but goes wildly awry. The blast is joined shortly by a concussion bolt from Fhazil's rifle, which unfortunately misses the mercenary who was just trying to shoot Zero.

The arrival of reinforcements seems to bolster Ameil's forces, and they begin to fight back harder, oddly seeming to just barely start to turn the tide of the desperate battle.

Zero doesn't show quarter this time. Some things... just have to fall. He strikes at the same target he selected, the blade singing to the ground. The mercenary, already wounded, screams out as the blade strikes him, drawing a lot of blood. He's alive, barely, but throws his weapon to the side, panting as he holds his hands up weakly. His face, however, shows he doesn't expect quarter. Zero jerks the weapon away and turns away from him. "Stop begging. Your decision's made."

Freyja slaps a medkit on the wounded Gammorean, then smiles slowly again as she sees out of the corner of her eye that Ameil's forces rallying. As she works on the injured enforcer she whispers, "Hai... be filled with the encouragement of the Light, my allies... we are creating victory." She's satisfied -- the Gammorean is barely conscious, but not dying. She murmurs quiet reassurance to him, encouraging him to lie still and rest.

One of the mercenaries shooting at Vakkal misses cleanly, while the other's shot smacks sharply into Fhazil's armor. The flash of pain is noticeable in the bond between the three. Fhazil grimaces, hiding the pain visibly but not mentally, as his armor drinks up only a portion of the hit. That's when Freyja and Zero can sense the Sith version of battlemind starting to assert itself, as his Sithstain starts to lash out. A black rage wraps itself around Fhazil, as he whips around the pillar, the concussion rifle aimed like a spear at the mercenary who had just shot at him.

The mercenary is startled by the ferocity of Fhazil's attack, but manages to barely duck behind cover as the concussion shots pulverize the pillar beside him. Vakkal's shot misses, much to the canid Sith's frustration, and the last merc's shot against Zero misses as well. From all appearances, however, Ameil's forces are doing significantly better.

From down the corridor, Freyja hears many booted feet running, shouts and rallying calls. An authoritative voice shouts in a distinctive Corellian accent, "Take 'em alive if you can, but don't hesitate to burn 'em!"

Freyja gazes dispassionately out over the battlefield, understanding now why Fhazil and Vakkal hold so tightly onto their battlemind activation... then turns and steps to the first twist of the corridor. Sounds like Captain Thorn, and she doesn't want her friends harmed -- she steps out, Kourakani alight in a defensive pose across her front. In Huttee she barks, "You will not harm the Force users -- only the armored mercenaries are your enemies!" To her friends she whispers, Captain Thorn's forces have arrived. I've warned them not to attack us.

Zero turns suddenly, his grip sliding all the way to the pommel of his vibrosword's handle, Sorry, old friend, hope you won't mind if I treat you a little roughly... He lets the blade fly, singing to meet the mercenary that took so close a shot at him. The mercenary blinks and ducks out of the way, but not before the vibroblade cuts a sliver through his shoulder, making him shout in pain. Zero's coattails fly around as he continues to describe long circles with his hand and footwork, this time carrying the coat far enough back for him to reach back and draw Kuwatuara. As Zero's 'old friend' strikes and sticks in the wall with a hail of sparks, his 'new friend' comes to life with a burst of silver file.

The two mercs closest to the doorway miss again, but Fhazil does not miss nearly as badly as before. His shots -- almost thrown forward by the Sithstain -- force his target (the same from before) to push his head down. Vakkal does well as well, spanging a blaster shot against the cover of the other mercenary. Zero's circular footwork carries him out of the way again, although this time he seems to be readying to move again...

It is indeed Captain Thorn -- and Freyja's timing is impeccable, considering the corridors carry some sounds surprisingly poorly. As she steps out she almost drives Kourakani lengthwise into a burly, dark chest. Thorn's dark eyes widen and he takes a startled half-step back, not expecting to run into a lightsaber here of all places. One hand holds what looks like a cut-down blaster rifle. His other hand snaps up quickly to hold back one of his Rodians, who starts to bring a decksweeper to bear on Freyja. "Hold it!" he says quickly, then looks to Freyja. "Are the Jedi working with Thorghul the Hutt?" he asks pointedly, though he sounds almost like he half-knows the answer.

Thorn is a tall man, six and a half feet tall. He has a buff figure, broad shouldered and muscularly well-toned. Black eyes flick here and there with a merry, alert light, set into a sharp-featured face framed by a mop of dreadlocked hair. Either he's well aware of his physique, or he's comfortable with less, as he wears only a leather jerkin and a slender bandolier that holds the holster for a very large blaster. His other clothing is a pair of breeches and boots, both of Corellian style. The breeches have bloodstripes running along the seams.

Freyja says, "Neh." Her faintly amused gaze indicates he should already know the answer to that one -- then she whirls lightly, the coat flaring out around her, and strides swiftly towards the dais room. As she passes the canid Sith she murmurs, "Vakkal, how hard will it be to pull Fhazil out of battlemind? We can't have him attacking the supporting forces."

Vakkal says, as he draws a bead on the mercenary's position, "Not hard. He has experience enough in battlemind that he won't attack just anyone. It is a skill younger Sith take years to acquire." He adds wryly, "I can do it -- usually by biting him, though he insists I don't have to go that far."

Freyja nods once, "Excellent." She calls out clearly, "Reinforcements have arrived. You may surrender now," then coughs at Vakkal's wry addition, grinning down at her aiming friend. Quietly she adds to Vakkal, "I'll see if I can stop him, then."

Zero dashes toward the mercenary that fired last at him, saber blazing, "This is your last chance..." There is a brief moment of silence... then there is the sound of weapons clattering to the floor -- or, in the case of the scared-witless merc that Zero is charging, the sound of a carbine being thrown against the wall in his eagerness to get rid of it. Zero skids to a halt. "Very wise."

Fhazil keeps his own weapon trained on the mercenary he's been aiming at, his finger not quite twitching on the trigger, even as that one stands with arms raised. Freyja strides swiftly out, heading for Fhazil so he won't cut someone helpless down. She's quite aware also she'll draw fire from any still fighting... so Kourakani remains lit in her hands. She's relieved to note Fhazil's self control. Zero sighs and reaches up to pull the still-humming vibrosword out of the wall. "Well, so much for deep cover."

No more weapons fire echoes in the room. The enforcers herd the surviving mercs into the center of the room amidst shouts and jeers, as Thorn walks in discreetly with his own enforcers. Freyja smiles ruefully at Zero, but doesn't move away from her stance close to Fhazil until his 'target' is removed.

Fhazil stands there, his eyes narrowed in somehow scary focus on the mercenaries, his weapon rock-steady in his hands. He doesn't relieve the aim for a moment. It looks as if by sheer will alone he could generate a blaster bolt from thin air and hurl it into the midst of the mercenaries. Oddly, as she nears him, Freyja has the unsettling sensation or impression of Fhazil's Sithstain 'watching' her.

Freyja 'watches' curiously back -- it doesn't occur to her to worry she might be attacked. Her attention is more to defend a helpless target. Zero frowns and says sharply as he can through the telepathic link, Fhazil.

Freyja waits until the merc is herded away, then murmurs quietly both verbally and mentally, Stand down, please... we've won. Come back now?

Fhazil blinks at the mental jar, immediately lowering the rifle. His Sithstain coils up within him, in its usual 'place' as he again works to mute it somewhat while in the presence of Force-sensitives. "Oh," he murmurs, looking around. A moment later he hefts the rifle across his shoulders. "Well, that wasn't too- ow!" It isn't pain so much as sharp soreness, as he reaches up to his shoulder.

Freyja steps forward to check the injury, then smiles a moment later as the medpack chirps helpfully. Apparently it's mostly a superficial wound, and easily healed. She looks around carefully for any other wounded, either before or behind the dais. Zero thumbs the vibrosword power off and extinguishes Kuwatuara. He rests the metal blade up along his shoulder. "That's that, then."

Freyja knows there's at least one wounded behind the dais -- she saw the body dragged back there. She heads for the dais, springing lightly up onto it and looking down at those behind it. Ameil the Hutt gets a smile and a polite nod, but her focus will be for the wounded.

Ameil finally manages to come out from around the dais-blockade. Her eyes have taken on a rather lovely, deep azure hue -- until Freyja and Zero realize this is probably a physical sign of utter rage, judging by the way the Hutt's tail twitches as she glares at the mercenaries. "You..." she murmurs, then, "You...!" Her tail lashes out, snagging one of the mercenaries in a single turn of its coil as the Hutt's broad face breaks into a toothless snarl. "All for a trinket, a little bauble?!"

Freyja glances over her shoulder as the Hutt slithers by, then bounds down behind the dais to aid the wounded Gammorean. Zero doesn't move. He just watches to see if hostilities are about to jump off again.

The mercenary gurgles as the Hutt's coil tightens. He starts to let out a wet, strangled cry -- then gets simply thrown into the other mercs, as Ameil sighs wearily. "Put them into cells," she says. Wana Orfune appears out of almost nowhere, her robe loose for ease of movement. On any other Twi'lek, on any other occasion, what she wears under the robe might be considered alluring -- if simple and utilitarian. In this case, it's just plain dangerous -- in an 'un-good' sort of way. She has a protective hand on the shoulder of the other pretty-boy, and nods to Ameil, handing the boy to a trusted enforcer before making herself and the mercenaries disappear.

The Gammorean enforcer behind the dais is squealing or whimpering softly in pain, his arm almost blown off. Freyja's ministrations seem to ease the pain, and it looks like he'll be able to have his arm saved. Though she doesn't speak Gammorean, she gets a squealed set of oinks that must mean thank-you. A bit clumsily, the Gammorean takes her hand and touches his forehead to it. Freyja smiles and gently whispers to him in Huttee to relax... he'll be fine; he just needs to rest now. Then she continues searching for wounded... and quietly suggests to her friends that disappearing soon might be wise?

Ameil settles onto the dais. "You four... hold. Please, if you would."

Freyja sighs, pausing in her quiet pacing towards the door... didn't quite make it. She turns, her hands tucked neatly into her sleeves, across her front, and bows politely, "Hai?" She raises a thoughtful eyebrow to herself as realization hits her -- Ameil asked nicely! Zero tucks Kuwatuara into his belt, and rests the point of his sword on the floor, folding his hands on the pommel. He stands silently, regarding the Hutt and waiting.

Ameil settles into her accustomed position with as much dignity as she can. "Why did you help?" she asks curiously. "It surely is not in the Republic's interest, is it?"

Freyja translates silently for her friends as she politely murmurs in reply, "Honored Ameil, it is always in the interest of the Force to encourage thoughtful leadership, rather than brutality to the helpless."

Zero says, "The deaths of hundreds of more or less innocent slaves is not in anyone's interest."

Freyja adds simply, "You protect your people. The attackers were bombing the slaves."

Ameil listens thoughtfully, though she twitches a little at the 'bombing slaves' comment. "I had seen that. It flew me into a rage... which is right when they attacked the fortress, of course." She regards the four before her carefully. "Jedi you may be, and doing your duty you may have, but much for me have you done. Without you, many I care about would have been lost." She pauses. "What would you ask of me? If it is within my power, I will grant it."

Zero silently asks the others, Maybe she can help us get on to Zhar unmolested. He adds a little irritatedly, Provided the Eclipse isn't destroyed...

Freyja is silent, considering for a moment, then glances curiously at her friends. She knows what she'll ask for, but doesn't want to interrupt the others. Let's not ask for that, please -- it would be dangerous if our destination were known. Ah... may I ask for something?

Zero replies, We needn't tell her where we're headed, just ask that she tell her people to leave the Eclipse alone.

Freyja's tone is faintly wry, I think we already have that, Zero, considering they went to some effort to reclaim it for us. She glances at the other two -- if they say nothing, she's going to speak to Ameil.

Zero doesn't say anything. You're more trusting than I. But go on and ask.

Ameil is being quiet, apparently curious. Most Jedi she's met do not deliberate telepathically. The other enforcers are starting to get a little antsy by the time Freyja answers.

Freyja says carefully in Aurabesh, "I do not have anything I want from you, honored Ameil, as you've already promised to return our ship to us so we may leave peacefully... but may I make a suggestion for you to consider? I would suggest when the Sedraki government's representatives come, full of righteous indignation that some of their people are here -- due to being sold to you by the Black Wind tong members -- that you turn the meeting to your advantage by giving their people back with as little fuss as possible -- and ask them for trade advantages in exchange for helping them stamp out the tong?" She adds quietly, "It is my thought that it cannot hurt for you to have friends in the Republic, if other Hutts are attacking you openly."

Zero suggests, "The Republic does recognize the autonomy of Hutt Space. A few legitimate trade advantages could be useful to you as a source of relatively clean funds... and it would be to your advantage not to allow the Black Wind to operate in your territory."

Freyja nods, smiling dryly, then adds a little wistfully, "I... admit I would love to see slavery stopped here... but I suspect you'd just laugh, with reason, if I asked for that. So... this is hopefully an acceptable alternative for you, that will aid the slaves as well."

Ameil arches her brow slowly. "Sedraki? Who are-" An aide ducks in close to her, whispering hurriedly. "Ah. A world of the Republic, is it? Fairly deep in Republic space, in Balmorra Sec- Balmorra?" Ameil is silent for a moment, glancing to the advisor, who makes some sort of affirmative gesture. "I see," she murmurs. "You both make good points. No, the Hutts would not appreciate the presence of the Yaofeng Tong in our space any more than they already are. They have been useful in the past... but perhaps your accommodation would be more advantageous -- and comfortable -- in the long run."

"We will do as you ask. When the Sedraki come we will give them their nationals. Are the identities of the Sedraki known to their masters? Did they survive the attack?"

Freyja looks faintly relieved. For Zero's sake, as well as for the Sedraki, she's quite happy to see former allies of the Yaofeng turn against them. She smiles, "Hai, honored Ameil. We, ah... led them into the city, for camouflage."

Zero says, "They were alive when we left them to come here to end the assault."

Freyja nods, then oh!s quietly, asking, "By the presence here of Captain Thorn, may we deduce the Platinum Eclipse has been safely recovered?" She figures introducing another element into the conversation would be wise, considering she basically asked Ameil to change her planet's entire culture on, in effect, a Jedi's whim. She grins ruefully, internally, thinking to herself, ...and will you be asking for Mani and Luni next, silly girl?

Thorn says grandly, "Indeed it has!" He steps forward, bowing. "We are sorry we were not here earlier, your Excellency." He flashes a grin to Freyja. "I'm glad that help arrived from an unexpected quarter."

Zero says, "That's no small relief."

Freyja gazes emotionlessly at the Captain. Being silent seems wisest, considering he's only been working for Ameil for a year or so. That means he was pirating in the Balmorra sector recently enough to know who she is... if she were foolish enough to spill her family connection, which she doesn't intend to be. She hopes the Dragon's Heart and the sash are untouched. A part of her wonders dryly what pirating entails... she finds her sympathies lying with the small families he may have inadvertently ruined, or the lives he took. Is that what pirating is like? -and if so, why is it so often romanticized in the stories, she wonders?

Thorn straightens. "Well," he says, "The ship's contents are untouched. We were unable to, uh, retrieve what they had taken. They ditched the Eclipse for another ship they had hidden, but I have some of my boys still following them. But I'm starting to think that it was just a distraction."

Zero says, "And a bother." Freyja wonders a bit puzzledly what the bauble was. Was this whole ploy just a distraction for something else? She turns her pale-eyed gaze back to the Hutt, wondering what she makes of all this.

Ameil looks particularly put off. "If they were not mere mercenaries, I would have them sent back to Thorghul the Hutt in pieces for all that they've done today!"

Freyja is quietly heartened by that statement, even as she translates it for her friends. She's also quietly heartened by Ameil forgetting her silly comment about abolishing slavery. She murmurs quietly, "What did they seek so ardently?"

Ameil regains some of her composure. "I might still do that... but that would be giving them too much credit. Captain, return to your duties. Orfune..." The red Twi'lek, again in a discreet robe, wordlessly appears. "Orfune, find out who the Sedraki in the slave dorms are, and remove their implants. And then we must prepare to make a response to Thorghul's affront."

Freyja sighs in quiet relief. Looks like they're off the hook, so to speak. Ameil turns her attention to the four. "We thank you again for all that you have done. If you wish, there is a place for you in my organization."

Thorn comments wryly, "The benefit plan is top notch." Ameil casts an amused glance at the Corellian.

Zero smiles at that. I'd make such a good torpedo, too! Freyja smiles, but politely shakes her head, "We thank you... but we really are on a journey for learning." She doesn't even look at the Corellian.

Zero grins. "That's a very kind offer. But I have to accompany my friends. That bit about having sworn to protect them; that part at least was not a lie." Freyja smiles quietly, thoughtfully studying her boot toes for a moment, then looking back up at the Hutt.

Ameil nods. "As you wish. You are welcome on Tynnea should you return."

Freyja's smile is a bit more sincere this time, "Thank you, honored Ameil. We shall withdraw then, if you have concluded...?"

"Of course. Thank you again. Rest, and meal, and depart in peace when you wish."

Zero bows politely. "Thank you again, honorable Ameil. I think you'll find you've made the best decision, once the Tong are gone from your territory." He salutes the Twi'lek in passing, and flips the sword into the air, catching the grip and resting the blade on his shoulder again as he departs.

Freyja bows politely, then walks out with her friends in quiet dignity... but her gait gets a bit more hasty once they're away from the dais room -- she very much wishes to check and be sure the medallion and the sash are safe and sound! She murmurs to her friends, "That wasn't too bad, I think...?"

The ship itself is in good condition. Nothing is misplaced or removed. The only odd thing is a faint smell, probably from whomever (or whatever) had first stolen the ship. The scrubbers should be able to remove the smell before long. Zero wrinkles his nose, "Stang, what were they eating in here?"

Freyja is quite relieved to find the Dragon's Heart and the sash from the nomads are both untouched. She grins at Zero's comment, then sits down with a quiet sigh of relaxation, "I'll forgive them the smell, considering we got away safely, no one's recognized me, the Sedraki will be happy, the tong will be unhappy... and Ameil thinks we're all good people!"

Zero says, "Tcha. I'm going to go work on the scrubbers before we all pass out."

Freyja smiles at Zero, then considers a moment. Finally she says quietly, "Just have to get my bardic friend safely off... then we'll have accomplished all our goals." She checks Fhazil's shoulder again, just to be sure, then curiously asks, "Anyone know anything about Gammorean culture? -like what putting someone's hand to your forehead means?" She adds in quiet thought, "I wonder if I was right, in my guess about slavery here... would have been interesting to be able to talk to Ameil freely about it." She smiles a touch wistfully, "Hai, I know... if wishes were slaypneers, beggars would ride..."

Fhazil and Vakkal blink. "Uhm... no idea, really," Fhazil says. "I think it's some kind of sign of respect." Zero goes clanking down the corridor with his tools, muttering something about their culture and noxious emissions.

Freyja nods quietly, "That would make sense." She sighs quietly again, standing on her tiptoes to stretch her arms out above her head for a long, body-pleasing moment. Then she brightens suddenly, "Oh! Dancing -- I get to go dancing tomorrow! We should tell your little friend to meet us here, too, Zero..." She laughs as she realizes he's gone, and cheerfully turns to Vakkal, "Shall we go out again?" She's tired but pleased... it's been a good day so far. Looks like it will continue being so in the near future, too.

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Last modified: 2002-Jul-16 16:14:54

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