These Shattered Stars -- Logs

The following day is relatively hectic around the manse. Syf is gleefully entertaining everyone around before the hafla that evening. Lord Ghang and his party have been escorted to the Moot by Haus Rigg armsbearers without incident. The talks with the Republic officials are going without a problem despite the distinctive absence of not only Senator Kalatis, but also Count Miz.

While there isn't much time to stop in the preparations at the manse for the hafla, occasional news reports circulate about the meeting. So far it has just been to solidify the cease-fire; none of the major revelations Ghang is going to make have been made yet. This suits most of the attendees, though it is taking up more than a little of Balmorra's HoloNet bandwidth since some of the Republic persons are attending via holopresence.

Roakkana attends the session, discreetly accompanying Lord Ghang. While his presence there is at least as much to show his own personal support for the ceasefire and peace negotiations (which is all anyone in the Republic has any idea this is all about) he is also gratefully seen as a counter for any tricks that the Sith Lord might pull. Less cynical members welcome him as assurance that nothing untoward happens.

There are a few Jedi present -- the master of the chapterhouse and a representative from the sector priory. However, as plenipotentiaries reporting directly to the Supreme Chancellor they are advisors, not policy-makers, and so do not directly take part in the negotiations.

Little comment was made on the unconventional way Lord Ghang arrived, or of the rather distinctive position this places Haus Rigg in. Some pointed questions are asked at first but these are soon lost in the confusion as to where Count Miz might be.

Freyja is somehow ruefully unsurprised Miz Thulkallen has fled now also. She wonders if he alerted the treasonous Hausa, or left them to their fates. Zero smiles a little to himself, thinking about the missing Count. No matter, he thinks placidly. Nobody can run from the Force. We'll meet again, when the time's right.

The day wears on, and it is now midday. Freyja, Zero, and Fhazil have a few minutes of breathing time after dodging all the people making ready with the hafla. Since the hafla is more for closer relations to the family than the reception and wedding, the atmosphere is much less stilted and a little more relaxed.

Freyja is relieved to have been able to spend some time with just her paramours. During that free time she amusedly relates her story of mistaken identity that morning in the fog with the Sith lord, and also of what transpired. Curiously she asks Fhazil, "What was the hydra doing there? When it coiled around me?"

Fhazil looks mildly discomfited. "Well... it was protecting Ghang. It saw you as a threat... uhm, this is getting confusing. It was his Sithstain; it was a part of him so his subconscious was seeing you as a threat and was trying to deal with that threat."

Zero says, "Which is why I came running when I did, love. I thought it was going to hurt you."

Freyja nods curiously, asking, "Why is it confusing?" as she curls an arm around Zero's waist and leans her head against his. Smiling, she adds to Zero, "Thank you for that. I don't know if it meant to... but I was a little... high at that point!"

Zero hugs Freyja gently around the shoulders. "No need for thanks. I know you weren't thinking clearly." He murmurs, "And I'm here to protect you. Always." Freyja smiles, her eyes going half closed with quiet pleasure as she nuzzles gently against Zero's hair, listening to Fhazil.

Fhazil says, "It gets confusing when people try to separate the Sithstain from the person. It's not really a separate thing. It's a part of them; it's their subconscious making use of and influencing the Force."

Freyja nods, "That I understand. What I don't understand -- or perhaps more clearly, what deeply concerns me -- is it attacked me." She sighs a little ruefully, "If that's the response I get from a Sith lord who half-trusts me because two of his former apprentices trust me, who knows I'm helping him... then I worry for what sort of response an injured Sith lord on the battlefield, who knows me not from Yimr himself, will give." She shakes her head slowly, her expression grave, "Of what use is a wonderful new skill, if it cannot ever be applied to those it could most aid?"

Zero says, "It may not be useless. I was able to come talk it down. Maybe if Fhazil or I are there to help, we can... be interference for you while you work."

Fhazil adds, "Freyja... Ghang does not trust easily. That you were able to get as far as you did speaks volumes of the trust he does have for you."

Freyja thinks a bit, then says slowly, "Well... at least he thanked me. I suspect his Soulguard, Amn Noss, is not Force aware, or it would've been able to see more clearly what was occurring." She shakes her head, smiling, at Zero, "Oh, it is far from useless, to be able to heal blight. We will be able to help ourselves, our friends and companions and people, and the land itself... but I suspect not the Sith. I certainly don't wish injured and insane Sithstain attacks on you both, just so I can heal some Sith lord who doesn't want me around anyway!"

Then she nods to Fhazil, "And that is precisely what troubles me, Fhaziza. He trusts me as much as he does -- and yet still I was attacked? I will not endanger my friends just to assuage some weird inner desire on my part to be considered 'nice' by the Sith!" Zero rests his head gently against Freyja's, his eyes closed. The others can feel the silent turning of thoughts in his mind.

Freyja adds a little wistfully, "It's a pity Ghang's former Soulguard, Kang Nael, wasn't here. I bet he'd have known better than drawing a sword in Republic space, under truce. Fortunately for both Noss and Ghang, Vakkal's experienced with Empire traditions. If there'd been just one of the regular huskarls there, Noss would've been considered to be breaking the Oath his Master had made... and there'd have been a nasty diplomatic incident on his hands!"

Fhazil says slowly, "...I'm Sith."

Freyja giggles at Fhazil, "See what I mean? Here I am, wanting you to think I'm nice! So..." she grins, waggling her eyebrows at him, "Is it working yet?"

She thinks a bit more, then curiously asks Fhazil, "So... I take it Soulguards don't follow regular dueling traditions in the Empire? Or... wait. You do have dueling rituals that are followed, to keep folks from just killing each other randomly, hai? Things like you have to have a second, and you can't pull a blade on each other until the arranged time of the duel, and stuff like that?"

Fhazil chuckles a little. "You are nice. I'm just saying it takes time for a Sith to trust." He considers for a moment. "There's a dueling tradition, but a Soulguard is bound by oath, honor, and spirit to protect their charge. There are forms to be followed in arranging a duel, and one of those forms is the formal instructions a lord gives to their Soulguards -- that retribution not be enacted upon the other no matter what the outcome of the duel. They... tend to be twitchy, especially with things regarding the Force, because in the Empire so much can happen that's more often than not beyond even their ken. He's awakened to the Force, Freyja. He just probably didn't understand what was happening."

Freyja hms thoughtfully, idly running her slender fingers through her heavy fiery-gold mane as she considers... then finally looks up, "There's a lot I still don't get, Fhazil. I described what happened and what I saw to you. So... let's look at this systematically. What was the hydra doing? Why did it coil around me like that, as if that was some sort of... of means of stopping me?" She grins, "It almost felt... cozy, in a way, but in retrospect it seemed to think that'd... I don't know... kill me, maybe?"

Zero murmurs without opening his eyes, "If I were a snake, crushing the life out of my enemy would be my first goal."

Freyja nods thoughtfully, "All right, so it was trying to squish me. Then... what about the things it said?" She looks up at Fhazil again, "Do you know who the Serpent, the Red, or the Warmth-bringer are?" She adds with a grin to Zero, "Only if you're a constrictor, surely?"

Zero mms softly. "Sah. Actually the snake forms I know are striking styles, so what do I know?" He leans into her a bit. "I have some ideas about the Red and the Serpent, but I'm curious to hear if you're thinking what I am, Fhazil."

Fhazil shakes his head, "I don't know, Freyja. I can only think the Red has something to do with Valsha, but I don't know what the Serpent is. What was the context of 'Warmth-bringer'?"

Freyja grins affectionately, hugging Zero, then adds to Fhazil, "Well, I speculate it'd have to be a monster big Sithstain for Ghang's hydra to consider it the Serpent... so maybe that's the Dark lord or Shen Ravos? But I've neh idea why they'd favor us... and regarding the Warmth-bringer -- that was apparently me, remember? I was wondering, since the Saber's Edge seemed associated with the Warmth-bringer, if you knew of a third mythical entity which was usually associated with them."

Freyja adds thoughtfully, "When it said that, it sort of blew out and about us, surrounding us... kind of like yours does when we're linked, Fhazil. You know what I mean?"

Fhazil nods slowly. "I've never heard of any Sith myths referring to a 'Warmth-Bringer,' though."

Freyja says, "Neh? Well, wolf-feathers." She frowns a bit disappointedly, resting her chin in one hand as she considers. "Is the Dark lord ever called the Serpent, do you know?"

Zero says, "I think Fhazil's right and the Red is referring to the Redcloak and her clan of caretakers. I'm also wondering if the Serpent isn't related to the Ophics... it seemed to refer first to powerful organizations: the Red, the Serpent -- and then to some kind of powerful aspect inside the Force. Saber's Edge, Warmth-bringer..."

Freyja adds quietly, "I wonder what happened to Kang Nael?"

Fhazil nods to Zero. "That's a good thought. The word 'Warmth-bringer' reminds me of something but I'm not sure what, really. I'll have to look into it, but since it's something I once heard on Ziost I doubt I'll be able to get to any information here... Kang Nael? Why do you ask, Freyja?"

Freyja adds more thoughtfully, "I guess the one that really perplexes me is Noss, though. I mean, think about it! It's not like we'd have forced Ghang to put his head in my lap, or to put his hydra around me, or that we'd harm him on Haus grounds after we'd exchanged oaths of hospitality. How could the guy not tell Ghang wasn't in danger? How could he risk breaking his lord's oath like that? And surely he wasn't foolish enough to think the only thing facing him, if he tried harming a Haus member... was Vakkal? We are, after all, a droid creating family..."

She shakes her head, utterly bemused by the Soulguard's actions, then looks up at Fhazil with a wry smile, "I ask mostly because I'm guessing Nael's got more experience than Noss... and would have made better decisions this morning." She murmurs dryly, "The Empire must be very, very different from here..."

Zero says softly, "It's a big Galaxy."

Vakkal comes by at that moment, pausing as he hears Freyja's conversation. "Oh... you didn't know? I mean, why Amn Noss had his weapon drawn?"

Freyja says to Zero, "Hai. Well, hopefully Noss' loyalty is what caused Ghang to pick him as a Soulguard." She gives Vakkal an amused glance, "I can guess, but go ahead. Why?"

Vakkal glances around. "Remember what I have said about a Soulguard's duty. They preserve the life, honor, and soul of their charge. Had Ghang killed you he would have violated his oath to cause none of his hosts harm. Amn Noss knew that if he struck his Lord then he would become the target of Ghang's wrath -- which would free you, and probably give Ghang enough time to get himself under control. As Ghang's Soulguard Amn Noss is not protected from Ghang himself by that oath, though he's bound to follow it."

Freyja blinks slowly, staring at Vakkal silently for a heartbeat... then shakes her head incredulously. Her linked companions can feel her renewed inner determination over the link to never, ever put her friends into such a difficult situation. She murmurs quietly, "When geri-cats battle... ants suffer..." She adds over the link, at the faint feeling of bemusement, Oh, it's a metaphor to remind aristoi not to endanger their kurasai with pointless Hausa squabbles.

Vakkal nods. "Anyway, I came by to inform you that you've a guest."

Zero mmms. "Honor means something different to everyone. It's a big Galaxy, like I said... I'll tell you a story sometime soon about it."

Freyja sighs, shaking her head once again, then adds quietly, "Thank you, Vakkal. I hadn't known that. Um... we do? Another one?" Then she nods to Zero, still thinking hard.

Vakkal nods. "Yes. Well, no, not just another one. Normally someone who says they need to see you desperately would not get through the front door, but I think this one makes for a good exception."

Zero says, "So who is it?"

Freyja looks puzzled for a fraction of a second, then bounces suddenly to her feet, "Oh, neh! An injury?!" She's heading for the door, but pauses long enough to hear in case she'll need more medical backup.

Vakkal blinks. "If it was an injury, Freyja, we'd be putting them in the Haus infirmary." He smiles a bit. "Sit, rest, I'll show him in." And with that he steps back out the door.

Freyja pauses, looking a bit bemused... then shrugs and settles comfortably back down. "Wonder who it is."

Zero quirks one silver eyebrow. "He's getting awfully cryptic lately."

Freyja giggles, then says, "Hey, at least Ameil and her majordomo never figured out who I was -- can you imagine me trying to explain a wedding present of a pretty Twi'lek dancing boy to Mother?!" She giggles again at the image.

In a minute or so Vakkal returns with a person wearing the abbreviated robes and tan leggings of a Jedi guardian. Over his shoulder is a bedroll with what looks like a muslin-wrapped sword thrust through the center, in easy reach but not at all convenient to use -- all the more odd since a lightsaber hangs at his belt. He is already doffing his hood, and shortly thereafter the group can see it is Jedi Diath, wearing a mildly haunted and disturbed look.

Zero says, "You never know, she might like -- aah!"

Freyja bounces to her feet again, a delighted expression on her face, "Jedi Diath! Heiyo, how are you?!" She darts forward to give him a hug, "C'mon in! Have a seat? Are you thirsty or hungry or anything?"

Zero says, "Diath! It's good to see you, but... you look like you've seen a ghost."

A droid pours a mug of hot, sweet tea for the Jedi as he settles. Another droid floats peacefully over the fireplace in the room, where a simply huge, eight-foot-long scabbarded sword is displayed in two regular sword rests. The sword is peace-tied to the heavily decorated scabbard and to the sword rests, with Freyja's personal seal on the ties.

Diath returns the hug lightly and not with a great deal of strength. "Thirsty, yes; water, please. The welfare transport I was on for the past three weeks was on water rationing after their water plant died a week out from Balmorra." He nods to Zero. "Well... not a ghost, per se -- oh, thank you," he says, accepting the tea gratefully.

Freyja blinks worriedly, "Oh, dear. Have as much tea as you'd like. We'll wait."

Zero says, "I bet I won't like what you're going to say, Diath... you're not injured at all, are you?"

Freyja adds, "I'm very sorry Master Roakkana's not here... he'd know best how to help." She asides to the droid to be sure a suite is prepared for Diath near Master Roakkana's suite. She's guessing he's going to be tired after whatever he has to say.

Diath sits, shaking his head as he sets down the bedroll. "Thank you. It's just been a long trip. My courier broke down on Zinghul and that transport was the only thing I could get that wouldn't leave a trail a parsec wide." He lets out a breath, then looks up from the tea and around at the others. "Have any of you heard from Paladin Diana lately?"

Freyja says, "Er... define 'lately,' please? Within the last year... or last month?" She adds puzzledly, "Leave a trail? You're... being somewhat confusing, Jedi Diath...?"

Zero says, "Slow down a bit, Diath. Start at the beginning, please."

Freyja says in sudden worry, "Where are the rest of the Comp- er, hai, Zero's correct." She hushes, listening carefully.

He nods, taking a sip of the tea. "I'm... sorry. All right. Six months ago I... had a dream. We'd just been reassigned to Ord Hoersch. In my dream... I saw the Galaxy, and the battle lines between the Republic and the Empire..."

Freyja thinks. Ord Hoersch is significantly more gal-south than Sedrak... about halfway to the Republic border from there, in fact. She tries to place where the group was 6 months ago, too... We were... we'd just left the fleeing Gray contingent, hai? Neh, that's not right... we were closer to Ameil's planet -- I remember now.

Zero confirms, That's right. It's an Ord planet, one of the places the Republic uses as ordnance bases.

Diath's voice grows a little distant as he stares into the tea. "I saw the lance-thrust of the Sith offensive, except it wasn't going to Coruscant, and I knew it wasn't going to. The fleets -- they blotted out the stars. The armies -- they made the surfaces of worlds shake. The offensive became as sharp as a saber's tip, and it came to Balmorra Sector... and stopped."

Freyja listens in interest. So far there's nothing new to the triat here... but from Diath's expression she's guessing there will be.

Diath closes his eyes and lets out a long, low sigh. "And then there was light, like red gold, that exploded from this sector and spread out. Where it met the Sith lines it melted them. Where it covered Republic space it made the stars burn hotter. I saw Diana's eyes -- I think they were Diana's eyes -- weeping blood. There was blood everywhere... there was blood on the Force. After thousands of years, the galaxy was burning with Light -- and then something tore..."

Freyja's eyes widen slightly in worry, but she remains silent, listening still. Zero just sits quietly. Too much light. The Calefactors.

Freyja whispers over the link, All this time we thought Valsha was the one they were after... that she was safe off gal-west with the Mandalorians. Could she be here, in this sector? Could Diana be the 'Red'?!

Zero murmurs, Something's wrong here. I can feel it. Freyja nods worriedly over the link to Zero, but continues her intent listening.

Diath opens his eyes and sighs. "A few days later Diana contacted me through the Holonet. She'd sliced access and tried to tell me something. She said to look for you, but then her connection started to break up, and all I could make out was 'Stop the Red General.' And that was it." He sighs. "I went errant and came here as soon as I could, but I came under fire from droid fighters in Norrush, which led to my courier breaking down and me hooking up with a thousand farmers coming here to help with the next harvest on the moon."

Freyja whispers softly, "Uh-ohh... did she lose Valsha?"

Zero says, "Stop the Red General?"

Freyja blinks, adding in a more normal tone of voice, "On Balmorra's moon?! Oh, dear... is there something Leif's not told me?"

Diath shakes his head. "I don't know. I... knew she'd found her niece somehow, but I didn't know what she was talking about."

Freyja glances at Zero, "Well, if Valsha told one of the Mandalorians she had to come here... you know how strong she is, hai?"

Zero says, "But what would she be doing that Diana would want us to stop?"

Diath looks up. "Huh? Oh, the farmers said that the harvest in the southland was going to be bountiful this year, so much that they took on a lot of extra hands, and also three thousand fairly experienced hands from out-system.

Zero says, "If she'd gone to the... no. I'm not even going to say it."

Freyja says, "I... don't know, Zero." She nods absently to Diath, not really that worried about the moon currently, then adds quietly to Zero, "We should call Master Roakkana and let him know. What if Valsha or one of the Mandalorians are there now?"

Zero says, "Whatever it is... I'll go get the Master. Why don't you see if you can sense her nearby? She blazes like a star in the Force -- even if she's hiding herself there's got to be some trace of her..."

Freyja nods to Zero, reminding him, "Master Roakkana's at Council with the Sith lord, remember. Give me a moment..." She settles more comfortably into a meditative pose, then lets her senses start to quietly, smoothly reach out in the Force.

Zero says, "I'm going to the net terminal, I'll leave word for him." Freyja's faint nod is the only reply, as she sinks into another mode of seeing. Over the link, the other two can feel Freyja 'reaching' gently for the connection of the triat.

Meanwhile Diath has just slumped lower and lower into his chair, then gives a bit of a start. "If... if you don't mind, I... think I'd better get some sleep. The welfare transports are vestiges of refugee transport lines, and they're not built for comfort, just survival." The droid which had previously poured tea politely escorts Diath to the suite prepared for him.

Try as they might, with the entire triat together and seeking, Valsha does not seem to be within the system -- nor, with a little more expanding of awareness, within a score light years. Any further seeking would require more preparation and meditation time. There is Roakkana, of course, and Ghang. The chapterhouse master is certainly no slouch. Beyond this there is nothing to indicate anyone of Valsha's power nearby.

Freyja is faintly relieved Balin Khoud's not managed somehow to sneak up on them... but she's concerned as to Diath's dream. She frowns thoughtfully to her friends, "Well... there is the possibility Diath's dream is set well into the future?"

Zero returns from leaving word for the Master. "I don't know. There are too many variables to consider for me to put together a picture..." Fhazil has nothing to provide either. He's still faintly mystified, though as a Sith he's clearly disturbed by the idea of a new Red General.

The group themselves, of course, are extremely 'bright' in the Force, especially when bound together as the triat. It's almost blinding if the group didn't think to sort of metaphysically 'squint' at itself in the process. The intensity of their presence, however, is odd -- not entirely like Roakkana's and yet also not entirely like Ghang's either.

Freyja wonders thoughtfully how they must look to others. Then again... maybe the reason they look a little odd is because they're... well... 'shaded,' sort of? Hard to see? She wonders if either Roakkana, the chapterhouse master, or Ghang even noticed their 'gaze' searching by. Roakkana and Ghang and the chapterhouse master seem to be distantly aware that something is watching them, though they're focusing on the debate currently going on in the hall they're in.

Freyja frowns, drumming her fingers quietly on her knee where she sits. Finally she looks up at her friends, "D'you think we should just quietly go to the Council, just in case? Despite my misgivings about healing blight on a paranoid, Light-spooky Sith lord... he's here under truce. I don't want him hurt by some fanatic while he's here."

Zero says, "I was just having the same thought." He smiles crookedly, "No surprise there, though, right?"

Freyja nods, looking a bit worried as she rises fluidly, swiftly changing clothes so she's properly dressed for formal Council. "Hai... I'll call Vakkal. Zero, can you see if Piper's free to give us a lift?"

Zero says, "On my way."

Fhazil himself goes to get ready. Zero finds Piper munching on a sandwich in the kitchen at the table. She looks up,, and smiles cheerfully. "'Eyo, Zero! Com an' 'ave a spot o' dinner?"

Freyja looks at Fhazil, her brow furrowed in worry as she packs an extra chip for her medkit, just in case, "I have the weirdest sensation we've forgotten something critical. Can you think of anything?"

Zero smiles apologetically, "I'd love to, but I need to ask you a favor. There's... a disturbance in the Force. Can you get us to the Council hall on the quick?"

Fhazil thinks, then shakes his head. "I... don't know, Freyja. There's nothing I can think of." Pause. "Except for the fact that Jedi Diath apparently ran into droid starfighters on his way here."

Freyja nods, "I vaguely remember that. Um... why would they be attacking our side, though? The Republic side, I mean? Your side doesn't have them, do they?"

Piper blinks, then makes her sandwich disappear. "Mmrph!" she mutters, scrambling to stand and grab hold of her gear bag. "Hai, nary a problem, Zero, I'll 'ave th' Hildy ready on th' pad in fifteen, twenty minutes. Goin' from a cold start... gonna be rushed."

Zero says, "I owe you one, Piper; thank you."

Fhazil shakes his head. "Only shadow-droids, but they wouldn't be that far forward of our lines. They can't hyperjump."

Freyja blinks, considering, "Then... wait. This is... wrong...?" She falls silent for a moment, then murmurs, "So... do we wake Diath for more information... or check first that he's... wait... the Oathers had droids first... so... would the Calefactors have droid starfighters first?" She rubs her face confusedly, "This just doesn't make any sense!" She frowns, then says slowly, "Where is Norrush? Is it on the way here from Ord whatever-it-was?"

Zero says, The Hildy is waiting for us in fifteen minutes, I will meet you there, I'm going to the Eclipse -- I'm going to get my weapons. Freyja nods over the link to Zero, still thinking furiously.

Fhazil gently embraces Freyja. "It's all right, Freyja... don't worry. Just be calm; we'll think this through. The Republic does have droid starfighters, and they use them a lot but only in major fleet battles. The trouble is they can be untraceable, and won't hesitate to blow themselves up if they're caught."

Freyja nods, wrapping her arms around Fhazil and leaning against him as she thinks, "Hai, we'll think it through. I'm just worried we'll miss something incredibly obvious because it would simply never occur to us... just as it never occurred to us Khoud might want war."

Freyja says, "So... how can we find out about droid starfighters near Norrush?" She thinks a bit, then just shakes her head, "I'm really sorry, but at this point I'm too worried to feel too bad about waking Diath. I'll be right back -- we need to know as much as he knows about the cursed things."

Fhazil nods. "I'll look into fleet deployments. Droid starfighters need carriers to operate from, or land bases. There has to have been a Guard carrier in that system, or there's a base that can support droid fighters. Or someone has made some seriously nonstandard modifications to a bulk freighter."

Almost as soon as Zero enters the Eclipse, the comboard starts to chirp for attention. He tchs. "Always something." He tests the shard-blade in his hands, getting quickly used to the heft again, and turns right, headed for the cockpit. "Yes, this is Platinum Eclipse, go ahead, five-five-five."

Freyja nods, adding, "Strange there was a welfare ship so nearby..." as she paces swiftly out of the room, heading for Diath's suite. She'll apologize profusely to him for waking him, then ask about the droid starfighters.

The comboard clears, making the proper connections to the HoloNet for an interstellar call. Zero watches as line after line of router responses scroll up his screen -- this is something coming in from clear across the galaxy. He recognizes the name of one of the major routers. Whoever the caller is, they are located out gal-east. Zero says, "...the stang?"

Diath is understanding at being woken up, though he's clearly groggy. He couldn't identify them, but he was certain they were normal droid starfighters. "I mean, almost anyone could have used them, from corporate security to the Guard itself. Pirates, maybe I guess, could, if they were insane enough..."

Freyja says with soft urgency, "Does the Order have any, Jedi Diath? Do you know? Who knew you were coming here? Or... oh! Could that be where Kalatis is hiding?!"

He shakes his head, sighing. "Nobody knew, or should have known. The Order militant uses them sometimes, or at least we can use them. But not often, and usually only as decoys." Freyja nods quietly, still thinking furiously as she thanks Diath and lets him go back to sleep. If he thinks of anything else -- anything! -- he should feel free to call her at once, please.

The screen hits the last router and pauses. Zero has enough time to recognize the HoloNet exchange code for Ossus, before the screen simply blanks and a hazy, distorted, static-covered, vaguely near-Human face appears on the flat screen. Zero takes a step back. Ossus! "This is the Eclipse. Who is this?"

Diath starts to nod, but then Freyja's comlink suddenly chirps and Fhazil's excited voice comes over it. "Freyja! Just checked. Bloodeagle was the only carrier-capable ship in that system when he was attacked! There're no surface bases capable of handling droid fighters there."

Freyja blinks, listening to the comlink, "Bloodeagle? Wasn't that the ship at Sedrak when the worms attacked, Jedi Diath?" To Fhazil she says, "Who's its commander now, please?"

The voice is grainy, scratchy; Zero can only imagine the antiquated HoloNet terminals in use on the ancient spiritual home of the Jedi. It's even impossible to tell the species of the person speaking. "Hello, Eclipse," and the voice is gentle, sonorous, even through the muffling static. "My name is unimportant and there is not much time." Briefly the face fizzles out, and for a moment Zero can see the peculiar symbol on the screen that he last saw burned into the wood of the box the Awatea lightsabers came to them in.

"Naruu Fol Ghrat Ghi of Moander. But there's more. They're operating under a special status code I've never seen before. It's not local law enforcement, it's not Guard, and I can't tell who the hell they were getting their orders from."

Zero says, "I understand. I'm listening." The Serpent. Ophics.

Freyja murmurs, "Thank you, Fhazil. Let's get specialists in on this now. I'll put my mom's folks onto figuring out what's going on there. For now... let's get to the Hildy and get going." She squeezes Diath's hand and says sincerely, "Thank you for trying so hard. Sleep now, all right?" then dashes out of the room, heading for the ship bays even as she asks her Mother's assistant to look into this as soon as possible, please -- it's apparently critical to know who's making the orders there.

The face is smiling quietly as it appears on the screen again. "I know you do. I must tell you something, and it is important you do it. I cannot tell you to, but it is the way the song need be sung if we are to avoid the Eschaton." The timer on the call frankly amazes Zero. No real-time HoloNet signal over this distance has ever remained in place for so long, that he knows about.

Swanhild, Freyja's mother's attaché, is soon found by Freyja en route to the ship bays. Swanhild take many notes, and agrees to look into it. As Freyja is finishing with Swanhild, Fhazil catches up to her. Freyja thanks Swanhild, then turns to Fhazil, "All right, let's go. This is starting to seriously worry me."

Zero says, "Then tell me quickly. There are signs here, too. Please hurry -- I think it may have already begun."

There is static on the screen for a moment, enough to almost seem like the connection will terminate, but then the face appears again and says a single word. "Run." With that and nothing more the face disappears, replaced briefly by the Orphic crest before disappearing into light years' worth of static hissing and spluttering upon the screen, filling the cockpit with its staccato hiss.

Zero is very still for a moment. Then he blinks, Fhazil, Freyja, we have to get out of here now!!

We're hurrying, we're hurrying! To the Hildy, right? Fhazil and Freyja enter the ship bay. Outside the hangars, Piper is positioning the Hildeberth Rigg on the ship pad, its repulsorlifts winding up.

Get to the Hildy and tell Piper to get off the planet! I'm going to launch the Eclipse -- something's gone wrong, Freyja, there was an Ophic in here! We've got to get off Balmorra!

What?! Freyja's thought is almost blank with astonishment. A moment later she fires back, I can't leave the people if they need us! What about Master Roakkana? -my family? What about Lord Ghang? What do you mean?!

A moment later the Awatea lightsabers scream, terrified, in their minds. Freyja, the Serpent -- they said -- AAAH! Can you hear that?!

Freyja runs into the ship almost on automatic, Vakkal and Fhazil on her heels. She's wincing at the scream, and yells at Piper, "Take off! GO!" She's doing her best to relay to Roakkana and Ghang the desperate, if confusing, urgency that's hitting them all -- she doesn't know what precisely is wrong, but they need to know too! Master, Ghang, something's wrong but we don't know what -- the Ophics -- the lightsabers are screaming -- I don't understand -- get off the planet, I think?!

Zero bites down on his thoughts. I am the place they can't go. I will not be afraid of anyone, not now when it's so important... He slides into the pilot seat and begins the liftoff sequence. The Ophics, Freyja -- the time-seers. Run is all they would say. Diath's dream, a warning from the Ophics that defies the way the Force and technology as I know it work, we're putting the planet in danger here, we've got to go!

Freyja shakes her head, her hands covering her ears reflexively, even though that doesn't help muffle the mental screaming, and desperately hopes Zero is right and it's the triat the danger is honing in on. She buckles in, trying to concentrate. Link up with Fhazil and Zero, right... if it's us they're after, that'll draw them away from the planet. All right... what else can I do? Bring up the Force as protection, got it...

Zero touches the communications array. "Piper, this is Zero, do you read me? We're getting out of here as fast as possible, and tell the Balmorran traffic to stay the hell away from the Eclipse -- it's us they're after and I don't want anyone else too close." He pauses, powering up the engines, "And tell the tower I'm sorry, because I'm about to ruin all their days." He adds, "And warm up the hyperdrive; I'll send you my coordinates just in case. We need to be someplace else before... whatever it is gets here."

Freyja forces calm on her thoughts and murmurs to Piper, "Prep the hyperdrive. Apparently we're supposed to be leaving the planet." She has no idea what's going on any more at this point... she has the uncomfortable feeling they're all being driven someplace they shouldn't really be going, but has no idea where or how to get more data to make an informed decision, at this point.

Zero's thoughts are apologetic, I don't like it either, lovely. But this screaming in my head... there's too many coincidences here.

Freyja nods mentally to Zero, then sighs, We'll sort it all out someday, I hope. For now, I guess 'run' is the best we get.

Piper's voice calls from the cockpit. "Ah kin only warm up th' Hildy so fast, Freyja-! Ah! Almost done. 'Alf a minute more an' the reactor'll be up tae speed! What's wrong?"

There is a moment of confusion Freyja can sense from both master Roakkana and Lord Ghang, then a moment of discontinuity. Roakkana's voice comes back. Freyja, the chapterhouse just received word Balin Khoud is at the third beacon and is inbound to Balmorra. I have a very bad feeling about this, child. I've just managed to convince the council this is in violation of the ceasefire and it would be better to relocate to Tanaab. Ghang's shuttle is already preparing to depart. Just in case... I recommend you do the same.

I extend to you the courtesy you have shown me, Lady Freyja. Ghang's voice is deep even through telepathy. Travel with us to Tanaab. I swear to you the Empire will initiate no fighting there with the Republic.

As Zero prepares the ship he starts to hear the quiet, normally steady voice of Silver Defender in his mind -- it isn't calm now, though: It's coming. Shadow Devil. It's coming...

Freyja whispers, "It's Balin Khoud. How'd he avoid our sweep?"

Zero calls, Freyja! I can hear it! The Kuatuara -- it's speaking! The Shadow Devil is coming! Stang -- Freyja... has Khoud got the last saber!?

Fhazil shakes his head worriedly. "Third beacon is still a ways out, about fifty light years. Still has to get through the second at twenty-five light years, and the first at ten, before he gets here."

Freyja practically explodes into movement a second later, yelling both mentally and physically, "Piper, stand down! Zero, we're coming over -- did you hear Ghang and Roakkana?" She's racing for the exit, dragging a startled Vakkal with her, since she knows he's least likely to hear the triat's linkage messages.

I don't see where we have a choice -- I'm already in communication with his pilot -- we're syncing the drives right now!

Freyja races up the gangway to the Eclipse with Fhazil and Vakkal, "Time to leave our luggage on the wharf, guys -- hit it, please, Zero! Hai, follow Ghang's pilot -- fortunately we're already loaded up here with all the logistics we'd need for take-off. Um... oh, sheisse!" Over the link she says hastily, Master Roakkana, please tell Mother and Leif and Father what happened? She pauses, then bites her lip in frustration. Damn Khoud! Please tell them... tell them I'm so sorry?

Freyja heads into the cargo bay and does a hasty scan, making sure everything is tied down. She'd asked for more air, food, water, and medical supplies than usual, since she'd been sure they'd be going into a war zone... she doesn't want to lose any of it to sloppy packing.

Zero sighs a little, suddenly reminded of something. As he touches the control to seal the hatches and begin takeoff, he takes the comm and says quietly, "I'm sorry, Piper. I'll take you out for some real food when this is over, promise. I still owe you one."

Roakkana's voice is smiling and gentle. I will tell them, child. They will understand. Go and be safe. Today is not your day for confronting him. But soon.

Piper's confused voice follows Freyja out the door: "...aye?" A few moments later Freyja, Fhazil, and Vakkal are aboard the Platinum Eclipse. This ship is ready for launch and Piper is clearing the Hildy off the pad just as fast as physically possible.

Meanwhile, over the navigational com the tower is complaining: "Platinum Eclipse, you've not been cleared for launch! Space Traffic Control is refusing your departure clearance, and so we can't let you go! What's the problem?!"

Freyja snaps over the com, "Ask Master Roakkana! Now let us out of here now!"

"Uh... uh, hai, Lady Freyja! Platinum Eclipse, you are cleared for launch!"

Freyja adds calmly, "Thank you, tower... and my apologies. I assure you, Master Roakkana can explain all."

Zero switches the comm back to standard channels and commences final takeoff procedure. "Tell anyone on the escape vector out of Rigg airspace to get their heads up because we're out of here and can't wait!" He calls over his shoulder, "Taking off now! Grab a seat!" With that, he punches the ion drives.

Freyja sighs quietly, Thank you, Master. I... wish- She hastily buckles in, then continues, I... almost feel like we're doing the wrong thing to run. Will Khoud hold you to blame for this? Will he try to hurt my family?

Zero smiles grimly, "It's a good thing you have a fantastic pilot on board, you know? No shadow can catch me... I'm the Devil Son. We'll see who needs to be afraid..." He is, in his own way, just trying to be encouraging. He hates the idea of fleeing -- the other two can feel the frustration in him. But he dares not recommend facing the enemy here on Balmorra... there are so many innocent lives here with no clue at all what might be unleashed in that kind of battle...

Freyja sighs quietly again, staring silently out the viewscreen. She knows Khoud will follow them to Tanaab... and Master Roakkana won't be there to calm things down. Instead there'll be a terrified planet, an Empire's invading fleet... a strike force of assassins, an insane and Fallen Jedi and all his fanatic followers... she puts her face in her hands and wonders if there really is any way out of this...

She remembers herself a moment later and adds, "Tower, please clear Sith Lord Ghang's shuttle also as soon as possible?" She says politely to Roakkana and Ghang, Sith lord Ghang, we accept your kind invitation. Were you able to give any of the critical information to the Council, regarding the Republic traitors?

A few minutes later the ship has blasted up and out from the Rigg manse. Punching its way to orbit, it startles two speeder trucks, a low-flying shuttle, two stock light freighters, at least two flocks of birds, and all the frehkees in the kennel. Off the portside they can see the Sith courier pulling up alongside them. With its wings extended, it's probably unsurprisingly not unlike a swooping bird-of-prey. The Sith pilot's voice, with a species accent neither of the two can recognize, comes over the com: "Platinum Eclipse, we read you off our wing. Prepare to receive coordinates on sideband."

Zero tchs and glances behind him, over his shoulder and through the viewscreen, as they leave atmosphere. "I'm going to remember this, you miserable traitor. Forcing me to flee and leaving all those people behind... hiding behind the Shadow Devil. Honorless piece of filth." He mutters something dark in his native tongue. "This is a stain on my honor. I swear before I die I'll take your life for this. For my honor. For Balmorra's."

Freyja stares enviously at the shuttle. That ship holds the Empire's secret of hidden flight! Neh... that's not important now. Concentrate. One thing at a time. Zero says, "I'm ready, Escort. Transmit at will." Freyja smiles humorlessly at Zero, then simply stays alert on the comboard. Right now the important people in the cockpit are Zero, the pilot, and Fhazil, the navigator. She and Vakkal are backup.

Ghang's tone is mildly frustrated. No, blast it. I suspect he has some sort of impeccable timing, or preternatural foresight. I would wager on the latter. No matter. When we reconvene at Tanaab they will know everything immediately and without delay. It irks me he has managed to delay this for even a few days' more.

Freyja murmurs quietly, although without much hope, Master Roakkana? You know who it is... can you...? -or would that not be appropriate? Then she sits up suddenly, shocked and biting her lip, "Sheisse!" Her mental tone is very, very unhappy, Sith lord Ghang... I apologize profusely, but I did not think to pick up your sword...

Roakkana murmurs, I would try, child, but I do not have the records of proof. I can only say these things and assure people that proof will be forthcoming at Tanaab. But I will do this.

Freyja gives the Wookiee a gentle hug through the link, At least we're trying to do what's right. Can't ask for more than that, can we? She's half-shielding mentally, expecting anger or outrage from Ghang.

Ghang replies amusedly, A pity. I'll have to return someday to retrieve it, with your permission.

Freyja blinks... then sighs, physically relaxing into the chair. He's not furious! Thank goodness... she smiles ruefully, If we are fortunate, perhaps we can do so soon, in peacetime, hai? Well, at least she left it well cared for, thank goodness. She looks over to Vakkal and whispers, so as to not distract the busy folks in the cockpit and tower, "So... is Ghang's ship big or something? Are we likely to dock in his ship and go that way, or fly alongside, do you know?"

Vakkal nods quietly. "Malice is a very large ship, and we'll likely land aboard her. It is... quite different form a Republic ship."

Freyja nods interestedly... then looks down at her clothing with a wry smile. Good thing she's of the Order, and both somewhat immune to temperature, and not prone to worrying about what she's wearing -- since what she's standing in is it, currently! She considers, then dryly decides it's a good thing she's finally mastered the negation of poisons too. If there are any hiding Oathers on the Malice... she'd guess they're about to find out.

Tied into the space traffic control net, the group can hear the traffic chatter: "Seventeen-four-three, mark... all clear, solar activity nominal. Flight seven-three-three-one-Aura, Gilgameshei, you are cleared along departure corridor eight-Besh, vector Neph-two... seventeen-four-four, mark. Solar flare activity up point-zero-zero-one and rising, consistent with forecast..."

"Seventeen-four-five mark, solar flare activity up point-zero-zero-three and ris- the stang? All ships, all vectors standby, military ship inbound at fourth -- no, second beacon, arrival quadrant Neph-seven-Besh, vector Grizma-one! She's coming in hot! -what? No, that's not Khoud's ship; it's coming in on a completely different vect- oh, right, sorry, *ahem*... seventeen-four-six, mark, solar activity up point-zero-zero-five and steady, all ships clear for inbound, military ship inbound on vector..."

Freyja listens, making sure the others can hear too. Could it be Ghang's ship? Fhazil shakes his head warily, "Ghang's ship is at least several days out, according to ceasefire stipulations..."

Freyja says, "Then who..." she pauses, then asks puzzledly, "Bloodeagle?" A moment later her eyes widen, and she says softly, "We... should prepare to defend the Sith courier, guys, I think..." She quietly closes her eyes, starting to bring up the Force within the triat for defensive purposes.

The Sith pilot says with eerie calm over the secured channel, "Eclipse, we are nearly ready to make the jump to lightspeed. One more standard minute until we reach minimum safe distance."

Freyja murmurs with quiet thoughtfulness, "So it's Khoud who's the new Red General, then..." Over the com she says equally quietly, "Tower, ETA to arrival of military ship, please?"

"Eclipse, this is Tower. Space Traffic doesn't talk with us much, but their screens read ETA one minute for the military inbound; half an hour for Balin Khoud's signal."

Freyja nods thoughtfully again, "Thank you." So... it's going to be close. She nods again, this time to herself, and gathers up the threads of the triat in her mind, careful not to distract her companions from their current duties.

"Seventeen-five-one, mark. Solar flare activity point-zero-zero-nine and rising. All ships read clear for inbound military ship. Stang, what kind of drives did they put on this thing -- they already passed the first beacon... seventeen-five-two, mark..."

Freyja can feel the Force within her like a small rising sun, warm and full and growing. She reaches out her senses within the Force, enhancing her companions' abilities to alertly fly and dodge the little ship they're in, then takes a moment to draw breath... then Inspires all her allies -- across the entire planet.

Freyja smiles quietly within the link. She likes the feeling of the Force moving about and through them... it's almost like a crackling aura she can sense rising like a mist from her arms before her, and lifting her scarlet mane. Zeriza... Battlemind, please, just in case?

Freyja whispers with golden pleasure across the link to Ghang, We extend the hand of alliance within the Force to you, Sith lord... please do not attempt to attack the incoming military ship, even if it should open fire on you. We will distract as necessary.

Already on it. Zero's senses are narrowing, the gentle drift between past and future, near and far that is the Force contracting, withdrawing into a single timeless now -- everything in the moment, thought and action, will and result. Got it now... yeah. Let them come.

"Seventeen-five-four, mark. Solar flare activity norm- break, break, break, we have emergence from hyperspace in quadrant Neph-seven-Besh, vector Grizma-one. Military warship reading as Republic Guard, ident Regular Navy. Defense condition four. Stand down the guns, boys, she's friendly."

"Friendly" she may be but the huge, multilayered, wedge-shaped cruiser-carrier seems anything but as she erupts from hyperspace far too close. Ghang is about to reply when the usual chatter of local space traffic control is interrupted by the no-nonsense voice of a military com operator. "This is the Republic ship Bloodeagle in plenipotentiary service. Platinum Eclipse, by order of the Knight-Cardinal you are to stand down and prepare to be taken aboard."

"Knight-Cardinal" -- a rank of the Order militant not used in millennia... a rank last used during the latter part of the Heresy Wars -- a rank last held by the Red General. Zero says, "How about we tell them to go stang themselves?"

Freyja nods slowly and peacefully at Zero's mental message concerning the Battlemind, then concentrates on the possible impending battle. They will successfully jump -- both ships, Ghang's and the Eclipse... she forms the reality in her mind, within the Force, then whispers across the link with utter certainty, Jump.

Zero hits the jump throttle. "Go to hell, and take your titles with you."

Freyja murmurs calmly over the com, "We are sorry, Bloodeagle, but we are ordered elsewhere, and do not know your Knight-Cardinal. Good day."

For an instant there is nothing, then Bloodeagle says, "Platinum Eclipse, surrender immediately; these orders come straight from the Knigh-" The voice disappears as the stars become whirling streaks that surround and envelop the ship as she jumps into hyperspace with the courier.

Freyja murmurs peacefully across the link, Gracious... now we are renegades. I do hope Master Roakkana is all right. She starts to release the various Force aids she's holding up, now they're in the safety of hyperspace.

Zero says, "We were renegades from the start... only now are they starting to catch up to us. But that's okay... it'll take more than that to catch this ship."

The ships are alone then, streaking away from Balmorra at many times the speed of light. Ghang's voice, tenuous through the rippling energies of hyperspace, comes to them: ...as I was about to say, we thank you and accept the alliance gratefully. I will assume for the moment they were not friends of yours.

Zero's thoughts ripple with amusement. Just someone that assumes we're going to acquiesce to them because they dress themselves up in titles nobody's used in a thousand years, and act officious.

Freyja murmurs with distant courtesy, You are too kind, Sith lord. I suspect the Bloodeagle's commander was simply following orders. She sighs, letting down the triat's defenses one at a time... a little wistfully she watches the Light fade back into herself.

Ghang nods mentally. Quite. And also quite extraordinary. What you three are capable of, I mean. I imagine it is much of what the Templars are capable of, but... they would hardly approach you. I should feel threatened by such a display of power you three have... and yet, because Fhazil is amongst you I do not.

Freyja smiles, quietly pleased he seems calmer around them. She'd not enjoyed being attacked by his... ego, she guesses. She whispers, Who are the Serpent and the Warmth-bringer, Sith lord? Another part of her wonders thoughtfully what in fact they truly are capable of... and if they'll ever find out.

You three have a power that goes beyond merely Light and Dark. I find it fascinating; I can see why the Calefactors are terrified. I suppose... yes, I do owe you that much. The Serpent is what we in the Empire call the Prophets of Ossus, Lady Freyja. And the Warmth-bringer would be you. There are some Lightsiders who are burners, and some who bring warmth. Obviously we of the Darkside are more comfortable with the latter.

Zero sits back from the controls once the ship is stable in its hyperdrive path, and folds his arms. He closes his eyes. "So. I was right." Nobody needs to feel threatened by what we are. That the Calefactors have made it into an object of fear is just proof of how really twisted they've become. He sighs softly. "Or always were. I don't know." He rubs his eyes.

What role is Fhazil's, then? And is the Red the Red General? Freyja wonders again -- how could Ghang know they were 'favored' by the Ophics, or Valsha? She thinks to herself, Well... at least we've prolonged the truce time somewhat. Now to see if we can keep it that way...

Zero murmurs just to his friends in the cockpit, "The Ophic that spoke to me here seemed to think if the Red General got ahold of us it would mean the end for everything." He frowns a little. "So far they've actually been able to see the future. If they hadn't said the word Eschaton, I wouldn't have reacted half so urgently as I did... which in retrospect is probably why he said it to me."

Ghang gives a soft chuckle. There is a series of small, hexagonal tokens which some in the Empire use as a library of symbology and myth -- a sort of tarot of runes, if you will. The Warmth-bringer is one of these symbols. Fhazil... well, for Fhazil and Zero, I will have to meditate upon it. If my subconscious has taken to thinking of you as the Warmth-bringer, perhaps there are other symbols which would apply to them. The Red... it could be the Red General. Or what the Red General represents.

Freyja finds herself wondering quite a bit... what's it like to be feared? She'll probably find out very soon -- they'll be on a Sith battleship, after all. What does Ghang's hydra think of her -- of them? Had it truly behaved like Fhazil's Sithstain, surrounding them as a protective friendly? Will she have this imminent danger to her friends and herself every time she tries to help a Sith lord? If so, they're just going to have to live with their blight -- she won't ask that constantly of her friends. That's the worst kind of synergy -- constant panic at her approach.

Freyja nods silently to Zero, still listening and thinking. She replies politely to the Sith lord, Zero is the Saber's Edge according to your hydra, Sith lord Ghang. She's fascinated to hear there's a positive Lightside symbol in the Empire -- she'd never have guessed it. To her friends she murmurs quietly, Interesting Diath saw a red-gold wave. I thought the Shadow Devil was a light purple, neh?

Indeed? I don't recall that symbol myself. It seems we will all have much to do during the journey to Tanaab.

Freyja glances over through the viewscreen at the blurry image of the other ship near them, idly wishing she could see Ghang's Sithstain again. She hms, considering Ghang's words as she stares at the other ship, as if she could look right through it. Is there aught you need of us on this journey, Sith lord?

Answers will do if you are capable of speaking them, Lady Freyja. Of what it is that makes you three what you are and so powerful that Jedi succumb to fear at your coming, and throw their own plans into chaos to capture you.

Zero ohs softly and sits up, "Hey, Fhazil. I forgot... I was gonna give this to you at the hafla." He reaches into his tunic and pulls out a large, round credit chip -- more like a heavy coin -- and flips it to him. Fhazil catches and looks at it before giving Zero a curious look.

The coin has an odd calligraphic ideogram (likely in the Sedraki native tongue) on one face. The other bears the word 'Taas' and a gal-standard date about eight months in the past. "Jedcred. I heard they do these on Corellia when you become a Knight. I figured since we'd dragged you so far from home it was the least we could do." Zero grins crookedly, "Though I kinda had to do that one with an etching laser out of my security kit. Sorry about that."

Fhazil blinks, then laughs. "Yes, there is that Corellian tradition. Thank you. I was hoping I could surprise you both with your own when the time came."

Zero grins. "If the Master says he considers us Knights, that's good enough for me. I don't think they'll let me set foot on Coruscant ever again to take their Trials anyway... so, hey. I figure we may as well do for each other. It's the closest we're going to get to any kind of 'ceremony'."

Freyja smiles with quiet warmth, listening to her friends and touched by Zero's consideration of Fhazil. To Ghang she murmurs quietly, Sith lord Ghang, I am neh longer on Balmorra... and thus currently I am but a Padawan. Please feel free to refer to me so, now. She falls silent, considering, then realizes she already knows what it's like to be feared. How... odd. How unpleasant.

Freyja finally says, I... do not truly know if we are powerful... we've not done anything where I felt that powerful or anything. I just know it feels very right when we link into the triat. I do not know if that answers your questions, though. She pauses, then adds a little sadly, I am pleased to see you do not regard Fhazil with the same fear Zero and I seem to inspire in our Order.

There is a pause. Padawan Freyja it is, then. We shall speak next in two days' time when we rendezvous with the Malice, though please do reach me if something happens. For the nonce I need to meditate and consider all that has happened.

Freyja finally turns her head to smile at her friends. Her voice is soft, "That was sweet, Zero... and a kind thought, Fhazil. Thank you."

Zero says, "Besides, Fhazil, you and Freyja are all I've got outside of my parents back home. And all things considered you've given up as much, if not more, than the rest of us for this." Freyja nods quietly, her expression faintly worried, and 'touches' them both with her mind in gentle hugs.

Once the two ships have coordinated on their intended locations, there's not much more for them to do but wait until arrival -- as is the nature of space travel. Unfortunately it was midday on Balmorra, and Freyja'd been mentally preparing for a fun celebration. Now she finds herself with lots of energy -- and nothing to do for the next 24 to 48 hours, until arrival at the Malice.

Freyja wanders restlessly around the Eclipse for a while, fussing with things. She checks the automatic watering system on her little flowering plants is working correctly; she verifies her clothing storage locker is indeed empty, due to her cleaning everything out for a good washing; she needlessly straightens some of the pillows and tapestries she had put up in her room for her paramours' enjoyment; she examines the kitchenette and finds everything is (unsurprisingly) just fine there too; she wanders into the hold and looks around.

The hold is as immaculately packed as everything else on the ship. Carefully labeled crates, sealed boxes, and air tanks are precisely where they should be, in exactly the numbers ordered. The hammock for Master Roakkana swings gently in place, with the colorful, thick Balmorran rug laid out neatly below it; the holoscan of Kashyyyk she'd ordered on the far wall is exactly where the Wookiee would see it upon awakening -- were he actually on board ship.

Freyja sighs, looking around. There's nothing for her to do. She feels unexpectedly awful.

"That's the upper forest layer. The katarn on my sword case is from that level." Zero sits on the end of the ramp leading back to the main area, legs stretched out in front of him. "But I don't think you came down here to admire the holography." He smiles a little. "You want to talk about it?"

Freyja looks over at Zero unsmiling, unconsciously fingering the edge of the hammock. "I... I don't know, Zero. I just... I feel... like... like I've been disconnected or something, you know?" She shakes her head, looking down at the hammock again, "I... wish... I wish we hadn't had to leave so fast."

Zero stands up slowly and pads softly over toward Freyja. He reaches up and gently touches her shoulder. "I know. I didn't want to leave either... not like that." He leans closer and gently embraces her from behind. "You seemed so much happier this time."

Freyja opens her mouth to say something -- then suddenly blinks, biting her lip and turning abruptly to hug Zero very tightly. Zero frowns, leaning back just a little. "Freyja? Did I say something wrong?"

Freyja just shakes her head, stepping forward to hug him again, as if she's afraid he'll just disappear also. When she finally speaks, her voice is slightly muffled against Zero... but it sounds like she's fighting tears too. "It's just... well, I was happy, you know? I mean... hai, I know it's silly, but it even seemed like my father -- my father! -- was -- a bit... well, proud of me! It was nice! There was going to be a party -- for me! Well, for me and Leif, but still... it was good! And now..." she straightens, sniffling and rubbing her nose, "-now... it's gone. Balin Khoud stole it from me."

Freyja is silent for a moment, then snaps in sudden, tearful heat, "Damn him for stealing my family from me like that! And damn that stupid Shadow Devil for fooling some poor naive Jedi into falling for it!" Then she sighs, rubbing her face, and shakes her head, "I... I'm sorry, Zero... I'm just not myself just yet..."

Zero shakes his head. He leans in and gently kisses Freyja's forehead. "No, it's okay... it's all right. You can let it out if you want to." He smiles a bit. "But don't worry, Freyja. Do you think that just because we had to leave it's all gone? Khoud hasn't stolen anything yet. Leif and your family are still going to be there when we come back. There's nothing we didn't create on Balmorra that the Shadow can destroy. You're always going to be the Lady. Your success in your family's eyes isn't diminished by absence, my bright one."

Freyja looks around, still looking a little shocky as she wipes tears off her face and murmurs, "I wanted it to be nice for Master Roakkana too. I thought maybe we could spend some time together again... I could show him what I've learned -- we all could -- and he'd smile that way that makes his whiskers all flick up -- you know how I mean?" She waves fingers around her face to show how they'd perk upwards, "and he'd say," she growls something which even Zero can tell is a truly horrendous rendition of 'Very nice, child,' in Wookiee.

Freyja sighs at her utter lack of Kashyyyk accent or tonality, then adds resignedly, "Well, you know what I mean. And..." she waves a hand, "the holoscan... I thought he'd like that, y'know? And the c-carpet... so his toes w-wouldn't be on c-cold metal..." She blinks, her lips quivering, then suddenly throws her arms around Zero again and cries silently on his shoulder.

A moment later she wails miserably, "What if Balin Khoud hurts them, Zero?! What then? I'm not there -- I feel like it's all my fault!"

Zero hugs her tightly, "He won't. His puppet Calefactors aren't so strong that they can defy all the Jedi principles to get to us... they wouldn't dare commit a crime against the Republic itself just to hurt us. Remember, we aren't the only ones left who want to see the right things happen... there are still good people in the Republic. They'll be safe."

Freyja sniffles, rubbing her eyes with one hand even as she holds tightly onto Zero with the other. She nods firmly, trying to pull herself together again... then says uncertainly, "But... they tried to... to shoot Jedi Diath down..." She takes a deep breath, then straightens, "Neh. Neh, you're right, Zero... this isn't out on the far edges of known space, is it? They... they wouldn't. They wouldn't dare hurt my family to get at me... not with Master Roakkana and Jedi Diath there, right?" She bites her lip nervously, thinking... then says wistfully, "'Bright one'... do you really think so, Zero? I... don't feel very Jedi-like at times like this..."

Zero gently squeezes his paramour in his arms. "I know I'm right. To act against Balmorra now would bring the scrutiny of the entire Republic on them. They can't afford it. They'd be cutting their own throats to let the Senate know they exist. Besides, one Jedi disappearing on the fringe... that happens. But the disappearance of a Jedi Master on a heavily populated Republic hub... they're not that stupid. The Order -- the ones that still have sense -- they would never let that go silently." He smiles and gently kisses Freyja's eyes. "I do think so, Freyja. You're my light. As for feeling Jedi-like..." He smiles crookedly. "I don't think I ever did."

Freyja sniffles again, rubbing the last tearstains off her face with the edge of her sleeve, "That -- you're really sweet, Zeriza. Thank you. I..." she sighs, "I'm sorry I'm all falling apart here. I feel... kinda stupid, I guess." She hugs him again, slow and quiet, drawing reassurance from him, and murmurs softly and shyly, "Love you, sweetheart... you shine to me."

Zero rests his head against hers, and brushes his fingertips along her cheek. "I love you too, Freyja. Always will. I promise." She smiles softly, her half-closed eyes quiet, and just stands and hugs closely for a few moments.

Freyja finally sighs, although more with resignation than pain this time, and straightens, "There's... one other thing we need to talk about before we get to the Malice, Zero. I... need to apologize to you, Vakkal, and Fhazil about... well, about behaving irresponsibly regarding healing the Sith lord's blight." She smiles ruefully, letting one hand slide slowly down his back to take his hand, "Shall we go find them, to talk?"

Zero brushes a hand gently along Freyja's back, reassuringly. "You don't need to apologize to me, Freyja... I know you were doing what you thought was the right thing. But... sure. Come on, let's go find them."

Freyja smiles a bit self-consciously as she paces out of the hold with Zero, "Well, hai, I did think I was doing the right thing... but I didn't think first, you know?" She looks around for the other two.

Fhazil and Vakkal are both in the cockpit, maintaining the ship. "...understood, shuttle," Fhazil is saying. "We will adjust our relative speed appropriately." He leans back in the chair, glancing back and grinning. "Seems we're outpacing the Sith shuttle. They asked us to throttle back a little to let them catch up."

Freyja looks a bit surprised, "We are?" She considers a moment, then puzzledly asks, "How could a run-of-the-mill Republic ship be faster than a Sith high military command shuttle?"

Fhazil deadpans, "This isn't 'run of the mill.'"

Freyja tilts her head in confusion, "But... surely we didn't do that much adjustment... er..." She gives the three men a faintly suspicious, half amused look, "What have you three been up to?!"

Vakkal provides, "Above and beyond the tweaking of the hyperdrive, this class of courier is one of the faster ones, made for the Order. What it lacks in sheer power it makes up for in speed, speed, and a little bit more speed."

Zero grins, "This is a better ship in most respects than the average Republic cruiser -- by all counts. I asked for a few custom adjustments, but that's all, really... besides, the command shuttle is, after all, just a shuttle. It's designed as a short-haul hopper, not a distance machine."

Freyja considers that for several moments... then finally simply says, "Huh. Weird. I'd have thought the personal vessel of the Sith fleet commander would outstrip us in spades." She smiles, shrugging slightly, "Oh, well! Even if we can't vanish, we can go real fast. Better is better, right?"

Zero smiles. "I wouldn't agree to live in just any craft."

Freyja grins at Zero, her eyes finally starting to regain their usual brightness. A moment later she adds to them all, "Is the intercom off? Can we go to the common room? I, um... need to talk to you all for a moment, please?"

Fhazil adds, "The shuttle also has the cloaking device, which takes up a lot of mass -- and it's armed and armored. It's made for assault landings, not long-range fast courier runs."

"Ah! All right, that explains a lot." As she heads for the common room, Freyja murmurs under her breath, "Would still love to get plans for that to the Republic, though..."

Fhazil says wryly as he follows, "Which is probably why only the Smiths on Korriban are allowed to build and repair them..."

Freyja grins cheerfully at Fhazil as she settles cross-legged on one of the couches, pulling off both her highly decorated formal boots and glittering silken outer coat. She takes a deep breath, then says, "All right. Basically, I wanted to apologize to you all... for leaping in to try something I wanted to do, without thinking it carefully through first."

Vakkal lifts his shoulders. "No worries, Freyja. I would have expected Lord Ghang to have a bit more control over himself."

Freyja sighs thoughtfully, then nods slowly, saying, "Well... that's sort of the problem, I think. See, it didn't even occur to me his, um... ego, his Sithstain? -whatever we call it -- it didn't occur to me it might actually attack me." She frowns, adding, "Worse, in retrospect I'm quite shocked to remember how easily it evaded my mental dodge. All that training with Master Thann -- and it almost didn't even notice me! Or rather, notice my attempt to defuse the situation."

Fhazil shakes his head. "He's a Sith Lord, Freyja. Way more powerful than any of us individually."

Freyja shakes her head, "It was... I was really lucky, I think. If Zero'd not been there... well, it wasn't listening to reason, and I was... sort of mentally high, still, at successfully clearing away the blight. I wasn't in any sort of defensive mode at all. And... through my lack of preparation, I inadvertently placed both Vakkal and Noss in bad positions too. I'd have felt terrible if his Soulguard had been harmed to safeguard me -- when I was being an idiot!"

Zero folds his arms and leans against Fhazil's shoulder. "I wouldn't ask you for an apology, Freyja, unless I thought you didn't believe absolutely you were doing the right thing. You learned, right? That's what's important." Fhazil nods emphatically in agreement with Zero, who adds, "I got there in time; nobody was hurt. We'll handle it better next time."

Freyja nods gravely to Fhazil, "Hai... and he's far closer to trusting me than any other Sith lord is likely to be," then nods just as gravely to Zero, "I just wanted to apologize and let you know I won't make that mistake again. Trying to heal blight may make me feel virtuous, but it's not right to do when other folks are endangered by my actions. So... I don't think there should be a next time, Zero. It's just too dangerous. Sith lords don't truly want to be healed, if it necessitates letting a Lightsider so close."

Zero says, "If you feel that's how we should operate, then that's how we'll work." He smiles, "Do you feel better now?"

Freyja considers for a long moment... then sighs quietly, "I wish there was some way I could help blighted Sith... but I'm not willing to risk you three, myself, and any innocent bystanders to do so. I thought they'd be happy about it, but... well, all I got was fear -- astonishing, incredible amounts of fear! -- and anger from it." She looks a bit unhappy, "I don't understand... but I'm not them." Then she adds a bit wistfully, "At least I can keep us all blight-free... even if they won't let me help them."

Zero says, "We can't help everyone. Besides... understanding isn't going to come quickly, if it comes at all. For now... keeping the galaxy from setting itself on fire should be enough to keep us all busy." Freyja nods slowly. She still looks a bit unhappy... but she's already stated her issues, and there doesn't seem to be any way around them.

There is remarkably little to do when one is traveling in hyperspace... even less to do when one is traveling synchronized with another ship, and the other ship is, for the most part, doing all the navigation.

The long 'evening' shift has come. Zero has programmed the ship's interior lights to dim automatically at a preset interval, to help prevent jump-lag on long trips. The artificial night finds the triat entangled together on the low bed in Freyja's quarters, the room almost entirely dark, shrouded in the heavy Balmorran arras on the walls, filled with the lovely, delicate scent of flowers from the dark blue pot of plants set near to one wall. Closer to the bed a tiny pyramid of some fragrant incense from Sedrak smolders silently, leaving the room flooded with warmth and hazy fragrance.

Freyja sighs quietly, stretching slightly and luxuriating in the reassuring emotional and physical closeness of intertwined beloveds. Fhazil is awake; the other two can see his yellow eyes glinting faintly in the pseudo-night, not at all as reflective as a catta's. Though he shifts his position with the others as needed, he doesn't quite say anything yet.

Zero opens his eyes a little after the silence stretches on for some time. He shifts a little, rolling onto his back. "Hey," he murmurs, glancing over at the other side of the bed. "Fhazil? Can I ask you something?"

"Mmm?" The Corellian lifts his head a little to look to Zero. "Of course."

Zero turns again, onto his chest, and folds his arms under his chin. "You don't have to answer, of course, but... I was just thinking about how much the three of us have had to give up for this endeavor. Personally... I didn't lose much of anything. I've always been a bit of a drifter -- but you two, well... do you ever miss Corellia?" Freyja is silent, listening thoughtfully as she draws her fingers slowly and caressingly along Fhazil's side, next to her.

Fhazil is quiet for a moment. "Corellia? Not really. Corellia, Sedonia, the whole small cluster of worlds... I don't miss them much. After I graduated and went into CorSec, I was never on Corellia for very long at any one time." His hand finds and gently entwines his fingers with Freyja's. "Ziost, now... that I've sometimes missed. It... became the place where I really felt like I'd started to live. And sometimes on cold nights I'll be reminded of it." He smiles a little in the darkness. "But to be honest...where you two are is my home. So no matter where I am, if you two aren't there... I'll be missing home."

Freyja smiles quietly, bringing up Fhazil's hand to lightly brush her lips across it. Zero nods softly. "What was Ziost like?"

Freyja murmurs in quiet relaxation, "And how did you mean, start to live?"

Fhazil closes his eyes, making a soft, quiet sound. "Ziost... cold. Ice. Blizzards. Winter lasted a long time there. And the nights were especially dark. But to someone who could see in the Force, it was... warm. Bright. The people there lived. It wasn't like Coruscant, where you look out along the city and see a million or two people trudging along... and it wasn't just because most of the people who lived on Ziost were awakened to the Force, though maybe that's part of it."

Freyja's voice is soft with wonder, "A whole world of people awakened to the Force?" She falls silent, trying to imagine it.

He shakes his head. "Not everyone. That's what I mean. Not everyone was awakened to the Force, but everyone there... lives. More than the people who live in world-cities like Coruscant or megapoli on Corellia."

Freyja says, "What do you mean... 'lives'?" Her voice is quietly puzzled, "Can you show us?"

Zero mms. "I think I know what he means."

Fhazil considers for a moment, then smiles and nods. "I'll try..."

The image is slow in coming; Fhazil is not quite adept at this sort of sharing of sensations. But there is first the sight of Coruscant, or a similar megapolis. It is somewhat dreary, perhaps colored by Fhazil's bias. There are people, hundreds of thousands of people, in airspeeders and on walkways making their way to work or school or home or wherever.

Freyja nods mentally, watching interestedly -- this she's familiar with. Zero finds it brings back memories of a bare room in a low-altitude block and long hours staring at the ceiling. Freyja quietly offers Zero a warm mental hug as she watches and catches that thought also. Zero moves closer to Freyja, body and soul, and thinks with some irony he may have illustrated Fhazil's point somewhat. Freyja's mental grin is a little sheepish -- that's not a part of those worlds she's much familiar with. Her traveling companions were such as to preclude that... but she comfortably and happily accommodates Zero snuggling closer.

The initial visual is contrasted by the next image Fhazil sends, which is of a terribly cold, snow-driven city that seems one part belowground and one part stone spires with sealed windows. Within that city there is life, but of a decidedly different sort that Fhazil sees in a megapolis.

Life here is hard, but it is lived well and lived expansively. Emotions run strong -- moments of anger flare but are just as quickly replaced by joviality, eagerness, and other emotions. It is not a virtue here to be reserved, unless it is to control the power that awakening to the Force brings. Instead of blustering and shouting, what brings a threat more tangible is the utter lack of such outbursts. But even this is rare, except in the cold towers where the Sith lords reside. Within the warmer depths of the city life is lived -- and not desperately, but fully.

Freyja 'watches' in quiet fascination, one hand lightly and gently stroking along her lover's side as she tries to understand. Surely the kurasai will be kurasai, neh matter where one lives? What makes these different to Fhazil's eyes? Zero smiles a little. "Mm. It's funny... I have the same thoughts about my homeworld, Fhazil."

Freyja murmurs slowly in thought, As do I... in a way. The cold reserve of the aristoi isn't how the kurasai live, I know... Her mental voice trails off as she continues to carefully examine the memory-picture Fhazil's sending, trying to see differences.

The flow of images slows, then stops. "That's... really the best way I can put it, I'm afraid," Fhazil says. "But I guess you guys understand what I meant already..."

Zero says, "I think he means that people there live their lives instead of floating through it from day to day. Living in a place like Coruscant can do that to you."

Freyja nods to Zero, although she doesn't really understand. Instead she whispers softly, "I hope someday we can go there to Ziost, Fhazil. I'd like to see your home... it means a lot to you, I can see."

Fhazil smiles quietly in the night. "I hope I can show both of you Ziost, someday. Maybe when this war's over..." he is thoughtful for a moment, then says, "Normally, I get... antsy... with being in a confined space for too long -- Coruscant, the Pinnacle, Seldonia Down. But not here, of course. And... not there."

Zero smiles a little and nuzzles along the edge of Freyja's ear. "I'll explain it to you later, lover." He tilts his head a bit. "Are you claustrophobic, Fhazil?"

Freyja gently runs her fingers through Fhazil's silvery hair, smiling as she remembers the terribly earnest little Watcher. Then she grins at Zero's comment, turning to kiss the tip of his nose... then laying her head back so he can continue what he's doing.

Fhazil gives a soft chuckle. "Kind of, yes. Sometimes I try to use that, though. The... you know, the Darkside thing. Using your fear as a weapon in your arsenal. I can spend a few days in a small area, but after a while I get cabin fever badly. If it's in a battle, I can use that. If it's not... it's a little harder. But not here... I don't feel like the walls are holding me in here. With you two... it's more like there doesn't have to be walls ever again."

Freyja smiles in quiet contentment, letting her fingers trail along the edge of Fhazil's ear -- she thinks that's a lovely sentiment! "Do you know why you don't feel it in Ziost, sweetheart? Maybe we can use that to help you if you're ever someplace where it's giving you trouble?"

He shakes his head quietly. "I... don't really know why. It might be... on Coruscant people just drift, they just... go to one place, do their thing, go to another place, do more of their thing. In the Pinnacle I was just meat. On Ziost... everyone was just so alive it didn't matter. The walls there... it's like they didn't exist."

Zero laughs softly. "Meat. That expression brings back memories. I guess prisons are prisons no matter what world you're on."

Freyja winces mentally at the phrase 'just meat' -- that's icky to her! She gives Fhazil a warm mental hug, as much reassurance for her that he's there, as for him that he's not 'just meat.' Then she sighs softly again, in quiet wonder. A world full of the Force-awakened... what an extraordinary thought! Would they instantly know her for a Lightsider and Jedi? Would she be shunned for that, or refused landing permission?

Freyja frowns quietly, remembering the Sithstain hydra. Despite her constant and truthful reassurances, it'd never listened to her. If that's how someone who had reason to trust her reacts... she guesses it would be wisest to simply assume the majority (if not all) on Ziost would react with fear and loathing to her. She sighs quietly again, disappointed. She'd had such hopes for healing blight... she turns her face against Fhazil's hair and puts an arm around Zero... and lets her thoughts drift into pure sensation instead of rational thought.

Zero brushes a hand gently up and down Freyja's stomach, the way she's done for him when he's had nightmares. "I was telling Freyja, you know... if you'd asked me before we left for Marnaas that this is where we'd be now, I'd have told you to cut back on the glitterstim."

Fhazil blinks, then laughs. "It does seem weird after what happened two years ago, to be here now." Freyja giggles in spite of herself, muffled in Fhazil's hair.

Zero nods. "It feels like a long time ago, now."

Freyja turns her head, grinning as she brushes hair from her face, "Marnaas? Oh, my... I was sure you were both insane, definitely!" She giggles again.

Zero says, "What, me? What did I do?"

Freyja laughs, her eyes bright in the dim light, "The dread Quiet? Did you have to do anything, with a reputation like that?" She giggles again, lightly brushing one slender fingertip across his jaw line.

Zero tchs and smiles, nuzzling into her neck. "I just got that from letting Argent do all the talking. I wasn't so scary." He grins, "Was I?"

Fhazil grins. "Hey... between the two of you it was enough to make me wary. Well, as wary as a Sith gets."

Freyja laughs, quiet and comfortable, "Well, neh. You felt more... more alone than scary, to me." She smiles in warm memory, "It was nice to feel you slowly relaxing... made me feel like maybe I was helping a little." Then she laughs again, "Wary? Good gracious, this from a man who tried to do a back flip over a Jedi-filled speeder -- while shooting at it?!"

Zero grins, "You know, I fully intended at the time to put you through the windscreen."

"Well, you saw I wasn't exactly going into that house with all due caution!"

Freyja grins quietly, remembering, "It was the eyes, for me. Vakkal had that same sort of look in his eyes... like... umm..." she considers, trying to pick a good descriptive, "Well... like your lift wasn't going all the way to the top?" She giggles, "All right, not the best phrase to use!"

Zero smirks, "You might not want to say that while we're in bed, love."

Freyja giggles again, her cheeks flushing, then grins, gently poking Zero in the side with one slender finger. "Hmf. You know what I mean, though, don't you?" Curiously she asks Fhazil, "Is that due to the Battlemind?"

Fhazil grins. "I know. But the true Sith Battlemind doesn't leave much in its wake. Besides, better the mad fool who can still evaluate the situation and alter the plan. I got out of there pretty quickly when you pointed that blaster at me, Freyja."

Freyja grins, blushing more, "Hai, well, um... I couldn't think of anything else to do?" She adds cheerfully, "At least I didn't have to actually shoot you!"

Zero says, "I would have."

Freyja grins mischievously at Zero, "That's why I had the really big blaster!" She grins again, "Well, neh... truth be told, I think I had it because I really didn't want to go hand to hand with a better-trained Sith apprentice." Dryly she adds, "Neh fool I, either..."

Zero says, "Tch. Size is all that matters to you. No wonder you were paying attention to me when I had the larger saber."

Freyja gasps in mock outrage, "Oh! You fiend!" and cheerfully rolls over on him, tickling him gleefully, "I'll show you size, you!"

Zero mmfs and nearly falls off his side of the bed. "Gah! Fhazil, help!"

Fhazil laughs uproariously. "Why? You brought it on yourself with that 'larger saber' comment!"

Freyja giggles, her long hair falling forward to inadvertently tickle Zero's face as well. Zero thuds onto the pillows strewn on the floor, "Heartless bastard!"

Freyja catches herself at the edge of the bed, swaying slightly and still giggling, "Oh, sure, run away!"

Zero sits up at the edge of the bed, catching his breath, "Where's the compassion? I ask you."

Freyja sits up and tosses her head, her hair flying back in a gleaming scarlet swirl. She grins, eyes alight with mischief, "Uhm... I ate it?" She covers an amused snort with one hand.

Zero hmphs. "I'll bet." He climbs carefully back onto the bed and rolls his shoulders. He grins over one shoulder at the others, "You two are ruthless. And I'm supposed to be the dangerous one?" He smirks.

Fhazil grins, rolling over to rest his head at the end of the bed Zero fell off of. "Hey, we have to balance you out somehow..." Freyja laughs again, leaning back comfortably against Fhazil and cheerfully baring her teeth in a big grin at Zero.

Zero laughs and nudges Fhazil's shoulder. "Oh, that's the excuse, is it?"

Fhazil grins up to Zero and nudges back lightly. "Yes, that's the excuse! And I'm sticking to it!"

Zero grins and shakes his head. He reaches over and musses Fhazil's hair. "Fine, fine, I know when I'm outnumbered."

Freyja grins quietly, then rolls her eyes exaggeratedly, "Graysiders... can't live with 'em, can't... um... figure out how big they are?" She giggles in spite of herself again.

Zero smirks, "I can think of a few ways to fix that problem."

Fhazil mmphs! with the hair mussing, then at Freyja's remark lifts up his head a bit to peer at -- or rather down at -- Zero. "I don't know, Freyja, looks like you can figure out pretty well at this angle...

Freyja laughs, then throws her hands up, "Wait, wait, let's not go there!" She grins amusedly, "You're both teases, you know that?"

Fhazil grins to Freyja, leaning his head on his arm. "She thinks we're both teases, Zero. We'd better practice more just to make sure."

Zero snickers softly. "Oh, sure, quit as soon as Fhazil's backing me up. I see how this is." He nods to Fhazil, "I agree entirely."

Freyja giggles again, lightly running her fingers across Fhazil's hair where it lies across her arm, and smiles with quiet happiness, "Mm... I think you're both doing wonderfully."

The lovers practice a little more, shifting from thought-form to body-form and back as they twine themselves together, the triat bond ever deeper and more entangled between them. The evening cycle wears on, and the little pyramid of Sedraki incense burns lower. Eventually the room is silent but for the sound of breathing, and dark but for the remains of the pyramid; three bright embers stubbornly refusing to admit the vaster dark.

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

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