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Realms: These Shattered Stars Logs

Chapter Ten, Part Four

As the group lands at the diplomatic center, Zero says, "You don't have official ID, do you, Jedi Colburth?" Colburth shakes his head no. Fhazil says, "Should we deal with that right away, or later? I think we can let it slide until we can see Lord Methel-ssa again."

Freyja nods cheerfully to Fhazil, "Hai, let's give poor Jedi Colburth a chance to rest and clean up first! We can introduce him to Alleine too."

The others agree, and getting him in is no worry. The front desk isn't counting heads that carefully, and it only takes one person's ID to summon the lift. Freyja will bundle Colburth off into one of the guys' rooms for a bath and a bit of rest... then orders dinner for them all, after they've all had a chance to clean up.

As she does that, Freyja notices something out of place. Fhazil is looking oddly at something else, and Vakkal says, "Someone's been in here." Freyja tilts her head inquiringly at them, going still, Anything we should worry about? Are we being listened to?

Fhazil, Zero, and Vakkal all prowl around all the rooms. Manishsha comes in and watches curiously. Fhazil replies, Don't know. Hard to say. They do have a cleaning staff. Maybe they moved stuff around. Zero's reply is, I've never had cleaning staff so interested in my toolkit, and Vakkal answers, It smells like two groups of people. The consensus is there's nothing new put in and nothing missing, but someone has searched the rooms.

Freyja thoughtfully asks, Two groups? Odd. Was one of the 'groups' Alleine? Maybe he noticed some of them. Moment, I'll check on him.

Vakkal replies, No. I'd bet one was housekeeping and the other was someone else. If they'd come in the other order, with housekeeping last, I might not have been able to scent them. Soap and suction cleaning will do that.

Freyja nods over her shoulder at Vakkal's comment, then taps lightly on Alleine's door. "Heiyo? It's Freyja, Alleine. May I come in?" She gets no reply when she knocks. Worried, she tries the door, "Heiyo?" The door opens easily for her ID. The room appears normal enough, but Alleine is not to be found.

Freyja calls silently, He's not here. Vakkal, can you come check the room for possible violent scents, please? She looks around carefully, hoping to find a note or something.

Freyja finds no note. Vakkal comes in and sniffs around carefully, then says, "Alleine was afraid of something; the room is full of fear and nervousness. Then the same people that were in our rooms were here." Vakkal points, "Alleine's clothes are gone, as is his ID. His scent leads out into the hall, towards the lift."

Freyja's heart drops -- she hurries back to their room, "Watcher Manishsha, Alleine's gone, and so are his clothes and his ID. Can you stay here and make sure Colburth is all right and gets some food and rest? We'll be back as soon as we find Alleine." She darts out a moment later, grimly murmuring, "Let's go. He's under our protection -- we can't abandon him now."

Fhazil says, "What?" and then, "Oh no." Zero says, "Let's go."

Manishsha says, "I think Jedi Colburth and I can manage that all right. I'll answer any of his questions that I can. Go, find our missing Sith."

Freyja heads for the lift, "Vakkal, if we pause on each level, do you think you can scent when he left? I'll check the ship while you do that, all right?"

Vakkal says, "Maybe. Depends on how busy it's been and if housekeeping has been through. We can try it."

Freyja nods, stepping to the side in the lift so Vakkal has all the room he needs. She pauses, studying the datapad on the wall, then softly says, "Would his scent be on the level marker on the datapad?" As she speaks she taps her comm, alerting the ship to ask it if anyone's boarded.

Vakkal follows the trail to the lift, and spends a long time there. He waits for each car to come, for there are four of them that may open on this floor. The third one is the one Alleine used, and Vakkal says, "He was still afraid. He paced around." He spends a long time in the car, then says, "Lobby." He presses that button, and then steps out, frowning at the hard, polished stone floor. He sighs and tries anyway, following a faint trail to the front doors -- and loses it there.

The ship reports all systems are normal, and access has not been requested or granted to anyone since they left. Freyja murmurs worriedly, "I don't want to get him into trouble... but I think I'm going to try using the Sith ID tracking information on a monitor." She steps over to the nearest one in the lobby, querying the last known location of Alleine's ID. She adds quietly to her friends, "At least he was still under his own power, last we know of."

The monitor does not want to give out information about someone else's ID without special permission. It is happy to connect her with the local Security office to get that permission. Freyja looks at Fhazil, "Any idea if it'll grant you the information?"

Fhazil says, "Probably not." He sends over the link, Zero might slice into it, though.

Freyja glances inquiringly at Zero, Try, please, sweetheart? We're responsible for Alleine, after all. Fhazil can cover for you while you try, if there are any vidcams around?

Zero replies, No problem. Freyja sighs in relief, getting out of the way and standing by the lobby door. She looks around anxiously, trying to figure out where a frightened former Oather might go. Zero sends, This'll take a minute or two. Can I get a subtle distraction, please? Fhazil smiles and sends, Freyja, c'mere.

Freyja looks puzzledly over her shoulder at Fhazil, then turns and heads that way, What? Did you find something?

Fhazil slides his arms around her and snuggles up, sending, I found you! And if you were a bored security guard watching a vid, which would you watch -- the guy fiddling with directory enquiries or the cute girl getting snuggled?

Freyja blinks -- then giggles, Oh, that kind of distraction! She grins cheerfully, relaxing a bit, and her eyes get smoky as she puts her arms around Fhazil's neck and gives him a long, leisurely kiss.

Zero sends, Rrgh, you'll distract me! Freyja giggles again mentally! He continues working at the terminal, trying not to miss a single detail but still looking bored.

It takes nearly ten minutes, but Zero sends, Got in. Come look. On the monitor it says, "Welcome, Officer Friendly! The results of your query are shown below:" and lists all the uses in the last day of Alleine's ID. Zero comments, Was easier to break in and create a new account than it was to get permission with mine.

Alleine's ID was used to get a taxi from the hotel to a busy district just outside of downtown. No other uses show today. Freyja hastens over to look... then sighs in relief, putting an arm around Zero's neck and giving him a gentle, affectionate kiss as well, "Thanks, sweetheart." She straightens and says firmly, "All right, let's go find our wandering lamb!" She adds quietly, as they exit the building, I wonder if I could call to him. Do you want link up and try?

A cab is easily collected, and the cab driver is talkative. When they tell him where they want to go, he says, "Ahh, out for a night on the town, eh? Good night for it; looks like it'll stay dry and clear."

Fhazil replies, Oh. I don't know. That might frighten him even more. We could try.

Freyja thinks a bit... then says, All right, let's save that for a last ditch effort, then. The poor man's frightened enough -- we don't want him lashing out in fear at anyone. She smiles at the cabby, chatting easily with him until they get to their destination, then thanking him as they leave.

The cabbie is happy to recommend one of the restaurants in the area they're dropped off in. There are several, and the evening sky is lit with their signs, bright indicators of fun and energy all around. People stroll the streets in groups ranging from one person to a dozen, and all manner of clothes are about. The three Force users are dressed a little drably for the area, in fact.

Freyja looks around a bit despairingly, "Oh, dear... how are we ever going to find poor Alleine?!" Then she sighs, taking a deep breath, "All right, we've just got to remember... there's always a way -- in the Force."

Fhazil says, "If he'd bought anything, he'd have used his ID... so he hasn't. That means none of these places have seen him, or he hasn't tried to pay yet." Vakkal adds, "Or he stiffed them, or got tossed out."

Freyja shakes her head, "He's a lord... and frightened. I don't think he'd call attention to himself in such an undignified way. So... he must've walked out." She looks around, trying to figure out what might look safest to a frightened Sith lord. She adds thoughtfully, "Wait... there's a way the Sith use to convince people to believe them, right? Just like the Jedi have Friendship?"

Fhazil says, "Yeah, there is."

Zero says, "Is he trying to hide, or trying to run? If he's trying to hide... will he hide in the dark or in a crowd? If he's trying to run, where will he go?"

Freyja shakes her head in frustration, "I... don't know!" Vakkal is trying to scent, and blinks in startlement at some of the smells. Freyja thinks carefully for a few minutes, then says slowly, "In... the dark. He's afraid of being recognized." She looks around for darker areas, trying to think like a terrified Sith lord trying to hide.

Fhazil says, "Or he'll try and get away completely."

Freyja says slowly, "He knows the IDs can be tracked... so best to leave this area for another area before leaving the city... maybe...?" There are a number of alleys and dark service-ways between the buildings, and even just a couple of blocks away are dark, closed shops. Freyja steps slowly towards them, Vakkal, any possibility of tracking here?

Fhazil says, "Or not to use it. Steal rides, hide in other things, walk. He might have just come here to be dropped off, and be walking."

Freyja checks visually -- are there any folks who're just sitting and watching? Older people and the very young are often more observant than busy folks. She nods absently, "That's what I mean, Fhaziza."

Vakkal sniffs again and sneezes, startled. He says, "No, I'm sorry. There's way too many things." He rubs his nose and adds, "I'm not sure what they even all are."

Freyja says thoughtfully, "He's only had three hours. Hm... go to ground, wait for night, and slip out of the city then would be my guess."

The crowd is mostly younger people, out for a good time. They move from place to place, or arrive and go into restaurants or clubs. There are a couple of people who are staying in one place, though. One of them is a doorman to a club not far from here, a droid who is carefully watching people and checking IDs before he lets them into the quiet and exclusive place he guards. There is a cart on one corner selling some kind of food, and an older woman is working at it.

Freyja sighs quietly, "All right... let's start." She wanders over to the woman, ordering some food for her and her friends. As the woman prepares the food, Freyja attempts to engage her in a bit of chatting, "This is your corner, hai? Been here for a while?"

The woman is serving some kind of vegetable that has been rolled in a pasty crust, and the whole thing baked. The vegetable is starchy, like a potato, and winds up being something like a polenta but with a crust. It's got some subtle spices to it, too, apparently a native dish. She says, "Thirty-eight years," and grins a cheerful grin, adding, "And boy, are my feet tired!" She giggles happily, then asks, "Why do you ask?"

Freyja laughs, then grins a little sheepishly, "I guess you get asked that a lot, hai?" She accepts the veggies, passing them out to her friends as she says, "Well, we're new on-planet, and we were supposed to meet a friend here about 2 or 3 hours ago. He may have hung around for a while, but now we don't know where to find him." She describes Alleine, adding hopefully, "I don't suppose you saw him?" She mentally crosses her fingers -- Massassi don't seem that common here, so perhaps they'll get lucky.

The woman says, "Huh! I wouldn't have thought he was waiting for someone." She asks, "You mad at him or something? He seemed nervous." She adds, "I guess I did notice him," and grins, adding, "It was slower then, and he was kind of twitchy."

Freyja looks unhappy, "Oh, poor guy -- we were afraid he'd be worried. We definitely have to find him now, and reassure him. Did you see where he went?"

The woman says, "He went down that way, and down the alley there between those buildings." She points and adds, "I didn't see him come back out, but it's been busy, y'know?"

Freyja nods, looking in the direction the woman indicates... then turns back and smiles, "Thank you so much -- you've been very helpful." She pays for the food, and adds some as a tip. Her "Have a good night!" is called back as she hurries toward the alleyway with her friends.

The woman smiles widely and says, "You too! Hope you find your friend!"

Freyja murmurs mentally, Me too... for his sake...

The alleyway seems dark, quiet, and empty. Vakkal immediately starts to sniff around, and says, "He was here all right. This way." He leads down the alley. It ends at a T intersection of two more alleys, and Vakkal follows one unhesitatingly. Freyja follows Vakkal, covering him carefully. Twitchy Sith lords are not a joy to her.

This Sith Lord isn't hanging around to cause anyone grief. At a particularly dark corner of the alleyway Vakkal says, "He may have stopped here for a while... maybe even an hour or more. He's moved on -- this way."

Freyja whispers softly, "Only two hours behind... we still have hope of finding him first..." She follows as quietly as possible, still keeping a careful eye out.

Fhazil asks, "First? Before what? If I'd run out on you, I'd be more afraid of you than anyone else."

Freyja grins over her shoulder at Fhazil, "Everyone gets one panic attack, especially if he knows anything about manuses -- he could very well have truly believed we'd never return for him. If he'll listen to reason, we'll just quietly go back to the hotel and forget this ever happened." She doesn't mention the alternative -- she's quietly praying it won't come up.

The trail continues down darkening back streets, moving in a certain direction, apparently with some intent. A course is easy to spot once the lights of a big space-liner shoot up into the sky in front of the searching party. Vakkal follows Alleine's footsteps from pool of darkness to pool of darkness. Freyja murmurs quietly over the link, Have any of you any familiarity with the city? I'm wondering where he's heading so purposefully.

Vakkal points at the rising ship and says, "Spaceport."

Freyja shakes her head in worry, "Oh, dear. We'd best hurry. If he's hurt anyone, we won't be able to cover for him. We need to find him before he does anything bad."

The trail does in fact lead to the spaceport; its high guardian wall is unbroken when they get there. Vakkal spends extra time scenting before turning back and leading away from it. "He got here, and backed off. He's looking for another way in." Finally something leads him to a nearby building, and he spends a long time there. It's a warehouse, with little stores along the first level. Freyja keeps an eye out for the distinctive Massassi as she follows Vakkal -- hopefully they're close by now. Vakkal smells hard, then looks up and sighs. "He's gone up here. I don't know why. Who gets to climb the wall?"

Freyja says calmly, "I will -- it's my fault he was afraid and fled." She backs up several steps, then takes a running start at an oblique angle to the wall. Almost dreamily calling on the Force as Zero taught her, she runs up the side of the wall to the roof, and along it as she looks around for the Massassi. She calls softly, "Alleine? It's all right... you've neh need to flee. Come out to us, please?"

There is no response; the wind carries clearly across the building's roof. There are some shadows that could be concealing, but they seem empty. Vakkal climbs the wall -- much more heavily and much less gracefully, using a drainpipe and claws on brickwork, and pulls himself up onto the roof. Freyja sighs worriedly, moving to help Vakkal up. A moment later Fhazil and Zero practically ghost to the roof.

Vakkal pants for a moment, then sniffs across the roof. He lingers in one place where he can see the spaceport -- even the Platinum Eclipse. The dim forms of the spaceport's two guards still stand by her hatch. He says, "He was here. Waited, watched for a while. His fear is a little less now." He adds, "We're catching up. He was here ten, maybe fifteen minutes ago."

Freyja says sincerely, "Thank goodness!" She ruffles Vakkal's fur gently as she looks around, "All right, sweetheart... which way now?" She pauses, studying the Eclipse carefully. Hiding in its shadow and waiting for nightfall sounds about right... can she spot anyone hiding by their little ship?

Fhazil says, "He's clearly going to the spaceport. Do we want to follow exactly and risk getting caught, or getting him caught, or just go to the ship?" Zero adds with a half-grin, "We could meet him there."

Freyja says quietly, "Do we want to split up?"

Zero says, "I'd rather not. I'd rather only be looking for one misplaced Sith." Fhazil says, "...hey!" and glares at Zero.

Freyja looks around, watching the sun slowly setting, "If he's going to make for the ship, it will happen soon." She hastily follows Vakkal, adding worriedly, "We need to find him before full dark!"

Vakkal has been sniffing around the edge of the roof. He sighs and says, "I know where he went." He puts a hand on the parapet around the edge of the roof and flips himself over, landing two and a half stories below with a heavy thud. Freyja nods, then gracefully leaps after the Khar Velosi. Her landing is much quieter... but she's also much more lightly built. Her overcloak billows for a moment -- then she rises smoothly and strides after Vakkal.

Vakkal is scenting and moving back towards the spaceport wall, even as Zero and Fhazil make their own leaps from the roof. Vakkal finds a dark corner against a pillar and mutters, "He went over here. He'll have to dodge some lights, then get across the tarmac and past the guards to the ship."

Fhazil mutters, "Yes, but what ship?"

Freyja nods, putting her hands together for a lift-off for the heavier Vakkal to leap the wall, "All right, let's keep moving, please." She adds softly to her friends, "Keep an ear out for any sort of commotion or thuds."

Vakkal takes the boost up and hangs there, looking over the wall for a moment. He looks down and says, "I see how he did it, I think. Avoid the lights and stay behind the ships." He pulls himself over the wall and lands gracefully but heavily.

Freyja backs up a bit, then drifts in a casual run over the wall to her friend, "Howso, sweetheart? And can you see him yet?" She pushes her wind-ruffled mane back, looking around worriedly. The setting sun picks up the gold in her hair and makes her skin glow. A moment later, like twin ghosts, the last two members of the group arrive and settle lightly next to them.

Vakkal murmurs to her -- and the others when they land, "No, I can't, and if he does it right we won't. He may be aboard already." He points to pools of darkness, a parked ship, a fueling truck, a fire truck, a wide post holding some sensors of some sort, and thus describes a path, "You could move from here, to there, to there, to there, to there, and get around behind the ship. The hard part is getting past the guards."

Freyja says firmly, "Well, if he's on a ship we must find it! Keep tracking, please, Vakiza -- we're almost done."

Vakkal says, "Try to stay out of sight, or wait here for me." He heads off, scenting and moving quickly, following Alleine's trail, He was moving quickly here.

Freyja says puzzledly, Why would we want to stay out of sight? We're here legitimately! She does stay out of sight, though, in case there's a reason she doesn't know of to stay hidden.

Fhazil replies, We don't want to startle Alleine and get him in trouble. Zero also suggests, And they might take our leaping over the wall and skulking around kind of badly. If we want to be here officially, we should come in the front gate. Vakkal is gliding between two parked trucks, nearly flat to the ground. His incredible native speed is his friend tonight.

Freyja nods, Good point. She settles into a crouch, slowly scanning the dark areas Vakkal pointed out. If she can spot Alleine now, they can still hopefully extricate him gracefully, so it doesn't come to Methel-ssa's notice.

Freyja's ears would prick up if she could move them -- she whispers over the link, There he is! He's behind the Eclipse, watching the guards. Let's go to the Eclipse, and if we keep moving through shadow and light we can maybe sneak him out without the guards any the wiser.

Vakkal freezes in the lee of some equipment under a tarp, and looks closely himself. Fhazil sends, Or we could go out to the front and come in to the ship, then let him slip aboard while we distract the guards. We can go aboard then and get him.

Freyja murmurs quietly, Either way we must hurry. Vakiza, are you all right here, keeping an eye on Alleine, if we dash around to the front?

Vakkal replies, That's a good plan. I'll keep tabs on him, and let you know if he does anything foolish.

Freyja nods, All right. Be well, sweetheart! She's already following her pale-haired lovers at top speed, swiftly darting over the wall like a trim school of fish darting around an obstacle. A moment later they pull up, breathing softly from the quick run, outside the gate to saunter casually in.

Vakkal leans out and gestures towards Alleine, trying to catch his eye but not the eye of the guards. He lets, Why can't I talk to him like this? Fooey! slip out over the link.

Freyja grins at Vakkal's thought, then smiles and nods to the guard at the gate as her friends slip their ID cards through the monitor. A moment later she follows suit, and walks after her friends. Their IDs open the gates, and the bored-looking guard watches them head to their ship until the next visitor distracts him. The guards at the ship look at them curiously and one says, "Can I help you?" These are different guards than before.

Freyja murmurs to her friends, Keep them distracted? She saunters around the ship as the other two chat with the guards, heading for Alleine's shadow. Her voice is soft, "Alleine, it's all right. You don't have to run."

Alleine looks up at Freyja from where he's hiding and whispers, "Talk aboard ship?"

Freyja nods quietly, "Wait here for the cargo bay door to open, please." She wanders back around to the front of the ship and smiles at the guards. Alleine looks like he'd say something else, but nods, and waits.

Freyja waits as Zero opens the ship, then heads aboard while the other two continue chatting to the guards. He's willing to talk on board. Let me let him in... She heads for the cargo bay, opening the big gangplank and puttering around as if she's checking things. Vakiza, you can come in too now if you'd like?

Vakkal's reply comes, On my way. Freyja nearly misses his arrival, aside from him suddenly being right there next to her. He leans over and gives her a quick nuzzle, trying not to startle her quite to death, and then darts up into the ship after Alleine. Freyja giggles and gently nuzzles back, then calls as he vanishes into the ship, And could you guys make some tea for us all, please, guys? She does a little more 'checking,' then closes and seals the cargo bay.

Vakkal sends irreverently over the link, Well, that was fun! Freyja giggles mentally at Vakkal.

Freyja paces quietly into the ship's common room, calling Manishsha on the comm to reassure him, "Heiyo, Watcher. All clear and safe. We'll be back soon." Then she settles comfortably on a cushion, studying Alleine with some concern. "Well. Perhaps you should tell us what happened, please? We were quite worried for you."

Fhazil and Zero shortly finish distracting the guards, and arrive as well. Alleine says quietly, "I'm sorry. I didn't want you to think I'd run away, even though I had run away. I wasn't running away from you, but I didn't know how to leave a message that you would find and they wouldn't."

Freyja quietly boosts her ability to Enhance her Sense Motives... it's important they be sure he's truthful -- and her eyes suddenly flare alight with the Force's silvery glow -- she's almost overwhelmed by the sudden rush of power! It pours like silk down her bare golden arms and slides sleekly along her leather-clad form, while her fiery-gold mane ripples restlessly with the energy. Seated in a graceful half-lotus, she serenely observes the Massassi before her as he explains.

The Massassi is telling the truth as he knows it, and hiding nothing from Freyja -- that is clear to her. His fear is real and obvious as he says, "They came to the hotel rooms, searching. I heard them and I knew I was doomed if they found me."

Freyja murmurs quietly, "Who?"

Alleine says, "I don't know. I didn't get any names and I didn't see them. I heard them and I fled. I only had a minute or two before they got to my room, and I took it."

Freyja says quietly, "Why didn't you try reaching me through the Force?" Her tone is not accusatory -- she's sincerely puzzled. Could he have possibly simply never thought to ask for help?

The Massassi looks startled at the suggestion and says, "I... perhaps I would have thought of it once I was someplace I felt secure. I was too concerned with flight to try and reach someone who wasn't immediately at hand. What could you have done from where you were?"

Freyja smiles serenely, "Whatever was necessary. Have you so little faith in our promises to protect you in return for your promise to trust us?"

Alleine says, "What? No! I do trust you! But how could you do anything? You were an hour or more away by speeder, and busy. If I didn't trust you, why would I have come here?"

Freyja says, "Why didn't you simply take a walk while the room was searched, then?" She sighs, waving a graceful golden hand, "Never mind... you were worried and afraid. I understand that. The most important thing right now is to get you swiftly off planet and on your way to Balmorra. For now, however, we should return to the diplomatic quarters." She smiles, "There's someone there we'd like you to meet... since I think we shall ask him to pilot you and some others to Balmorra a little earlier than we are scheduled to leave."

Alleine says, "I am sorry. I didn't want to leave, because I was afraid you would be unhappy. You have all been so kind to someone you very easily could have simply killed out of hand, and I did not want to do something to make you all unhappy or angry... but I didn't know what else to do."

Freyja reaches out and gently pats the Massassi's hand, "It's all right... we do understand, truly. But please, let's not have a 'next time' like this, hai? We were extremely concerned for you."

Alleine says, "Then perhaps you had better leave me here, or not leave me alone at the government suites. I don't know if I'll be safe there." He adds, "I don't know if you'll be safe there either. Stay together."

Freyja smiles, "We shall do our best to do so... which means we should head that way now." She rises gracefully, "Come, you should meet Jedi Colburth. He is another who should leave tomorrow for Balmorra, if we can arrange a ship for him."

Alleine comes quietly. "Jedi Colburth? Where did you find another Jedi on Dantooine? And... he won't react too badly to me?"

Freyja smiles over her shoulder at Alleine as she heads out, "Hai. In a grain silo, actually... and I doubt he'll react badly, considering we rescued him from rogue Jedi."

Alleine says, "Oh," like that explains everything. It's clear it doesn't, but he's decided not to worry about it too much.

The spaceport has many taxis, and one for the group to get back to the diplomatic center is trivially arranged. The cab driver keeps trying to engage the travelers in conversations about a local sport none of them have ever heard of. Soon thereafter they arrive. The hotel rooms are unbothered, and Manishsha is found sitting in one of the rooms, watching Colburth sleep and reading something on a datapad.

Freyja is tiredly relieved to see Manishsha and Colburth are fine -- enough so that she forgets herself and gives the tiny Kushiban a hug, "Everyone's fine now, thank goodness! Let's all settle and have some dinner."

The Kushiban says, "Was that in question?" and is hugged. He blinks startledly, then says, "I'll take that as a yes."

Freyja laughs softly, settling next to him, "We were worried for Alleine, hai, but we're all safely gathered now."

Manishsha says, "So we are." He points and says, "Colburth had been through a lot, and has dropped off. Shall we wake him for dinner?" The sleeping Jedi says, "Mmm. Food," and opens his eyes, smiling tiredly.

Freyja says, "Let's have some dinner and rest up a bit, and then we'll see about getting a ship from Methel-ssa if we can." She smiles at Colburth, adding, "Heiyo, it's good to see you feeling better! This is the honorable Alleine. Alleine, this is Jedi Colburth. We're hoping to send you both to Balmorra tomorrow... maybe with Kalatis too, if we can borrow a large enough ship."

Freyja pauses, considering a moment, then adds thoughtfully, "Maybe Watcher Manishsha too, because he can command the respect of any troublesome Jedi, on your way to Master Roakkana." She adds a little worriedly, "It will make us all a bit late for the arrival of Ghang and Sarn... but we simply must get you all safely to Balmorra -- as well as any Templars we can manage to persuade, friendly or otherwise, to go with us."

The Watcher nods, "Not a bad idea. Considering the cargo, and the likely origins of the ship, we might need some respect like that." He adds, "Too bad, too. I was hoping to introduce Master Sarn to Alleine here." He grins, surprisingly evilly for such a cute sentient.

Freyja gives the little Kushiban a reprovingly amused look, "Neh fair being alarming around Alleine, Watcher!"

Alleine says, "As if the idea of a manus about isn't alarming enough."

Colburth looks down, "Two manuses, actually."

Freyja grins at Alleine cheerfully, "Well, hopefully-" She blinks, looking at Colburth for a moment... then grins again, turning back to Alleine, "Well, we'll just have to get you off-planet soonest then, hai?" She adds cheerfully to Colburth, "We'd very much like you to tell us any and everything you can about them before you go, too." She pauses, reflecting, then says, "Oh, the incident pattern map makes more sense now, hai! That's why the incidents were clustered so -- two manuses working out of two separate locations. Excellent!"

Colburth nods, and says, "They are separate, and I suspect one - the one I know where it is - will move once they know I'm gone. I never found the other directly."

Freyja nods, "Understandable. We can talk more later. For now, food -- and then a call to Methel-ssa's people."

Considering the hour, a recorder is all that can be raised of Methel-ssa's people, at least via normal channels. Restaurants, however, are more easily obtained, and dinner is a pleasant enough affair. Afterwards, there is no word from the Lord. In the morning, however, a waiting message informs them of a mid-morning audience.

Freyja checks with Alleine, Manishsha, and Colburth to see if they'd like to come along. She also checks to make sure Colburth's all healed up and better.

Alleine says, "With your permission, I will stay here. I do not wish the Lord to trouble herself about me in the slightest. The less she thinks about me, the happier I am." Manishsha and Colburth -- who is more or less better now -- are, on the other hand, both very interested in meeting the Lord themselves, and listening to what goes on.

Freyja smiles at Alleine, "That's fine." She considers a moment, then adds quietly, "This time you will stay put, hai, please? Or at the very least let us know you're moving, and where you are?"

Alleine looks a bit abashed and says, "It has not been my intention to do otherwise, Lady Freyja. I will stay here."

Freyja smiles again with quiet warmth, "Thank you." To the others she says, "All right, let's tidy up appropriately and go, hai? We're all good with that?"

Zero nods. "Let's go, then."

Vakkal comments, "That means you have to put on clothes, brother," and nudges Fhazil, who grins, says, "Awww!" and gets ready.

The anteroom to Lord Methel-ssa's office is as they remember it, except that her aide stops them and says, "Lord Methel-ssa is not yet free. If you would please wait a few moments she will be able to see you."

Freyja nods politely to the aide and settles serenely on a nearby cushion to wait. Manishsha murmurs, so that only the others he is with can hear him, "Well, some things don't change..." and settles out of harm's way to wait. Freyja's lips curl up slightly at the corners, but aside from that she appears to be simply meditating. Zero folds his arms and waits, hood over his eyes.

It is only a handful of minutes before the office door opens and two pureblood Sith emerge -- one male, one female. Both look, for Sith, somewhat pale and tired, and both are staring somewhat blankly as they leave the inner office. Freyja raises a mental eyebrow, watching the two Sith. She feels sorry for them -- she's guessing they're the journeymen holding up the stupid mind control blanket for Lord Fan's paranoia.

A moment or two after they have left, Methel-ssa's aide works a control on his comm, and is rewarded with a quiet feep. He looks at the waiting party and says, "Lord Methel-ssa will see you now," and smiles.

Zero nods. "Thank you." He gestures to the others, "After you." Freyja rises with almost boneless grace and nods politely to the aide, then proceeds with her friends into the Sith lord's office. Manishsha and Colburth follow Zero, Freyja, and Fhazil, letting Vakkal stick as close to Freyja as he sees fit. The big dog Sith does not seem as nervous as he could, but is not entirely at ease.

Freyja salutes the Hkkal with her right fist touched to the left shoulder, as she's seen other Sith do, and nods politely, "Sith lord Methel-ssa. A pleasure to meet you again. Thank you for seeing us on such short notice." Zero bows politely, then folds his hands in front of himself.

Methel-ssa is sitting on some cushions behind her low desk, watching as the newcomers enter. She appears alone, but not concerned about being in a room with Jedi. She also looks very tired, pale, and drawn. Even the gold glitter of her eyes is a sickly, pale yellow. She gestures a bit and says, "Please be seated."

Vakkal sends to his friends That must be one heck of a drain to keep up. I smell blood. They've had to do real ritual to keep the mind-control field up.

Zero mms softly. Sith Sorcery. I recall reading veiled references to it at the Temple. I thought they might have been exaggerations.

Freyja looks a bit concerned as she settles comfortably cross-legged on a cushion, making sure there's room for everyone else. At Vakkal's thought, though, her eyes widen slightly in shock. A moment later, with careful courtesy, she asks, "May we inquire as to your health?"

The Hkkal woman looks at Freyja and says softly, "My health is as well as can be expected. Thank you for enquiring. I hope you are all well. Are your accommodations acceptable? Is there anything else you will be needing?" Her voice is quiet and low. Not quite completely flat, but without much inflection.

Freyja takes a slow breath, giving them time to consider whether it would be politic or neh to push the issue at all. The lightest brushings of thought between the group, of checking on correct behavior for the Sith... and Freyja nods slightly, then says carefully, "Honored Sith lord, there is the scent of blood in the air. Are you wounded in some way? Might we be of assistance?"

Methel-ssa twitches one eyebrow up curiously, "I did not think a Human nose would be so sensitive. I hope it has not disturbed you." She looks more keenly at Freyja and then at the Kushiban and the Khar Velosi, considering. She then adds, "As to being of assistance... you might be able to, but I doubt you would be willing to. You made quite clear your opinions on the mind-change effects, and I cannot imagine your being willing to perpetuate them."

Freyja grins quietly at the Hkkal's glances between the group members, then says thoughtfully, "Well... my understanding of Sith, er... sorcery?" her tone is unsure, as if she's not positive she's using the right term, "is indeed limited, I admit. However, if I am putting the few facts we have together correctly, it would appear Sith lord Fan is requiring his people to bleed for him -- f- ah, without a personal choice in the matter." Her voice goes very flat at that last. She deeply disapproves of using people like that, but she doesn't think it would be wise to say that aloud. She adds politely, "Is that correct?"

Tiredly but wryly Lord Methel-ssa smiles and says, "Oh, we have great personal choice in the matter, Padawan Freyja. This is the best choice for us."

Freyja's face goes utterly still and her ice blue eyes are hooded as she murmurs expressionlessly, "Indeed. Nevertheless, I shall speak for myself and not the others when I state I find I cannot countenance such mistreatment of one's people." She takes another slow breath, then says in a more normal tone of voice, "May I ask how we might be of assistance?" She adds quietly, "I am a healer, after all. Amongst other things."

The Lord says, "We manage to heal ourselves by the end of the day, at least physically. What is needed is a respite from the draining of Force life energy. I am certain my apprentices could both use a day where they did not have to bear this burden. Were someone to stand in for them, they could recover. This has been much harder on them than it has been on me."

She looks at Freyja, smiling coolly and gestures casually, "These two Sith could certainly do this. You yourself, or the two as-yet-unspoken Lightsiders with you, probably could too. I would even be willing to teach you the needed tools of our Sorcery to do it. The support role is very simple." She asks lightly, "Wouldn't you like to know more about how Sith sorcery works?"

Zero hms. She is tired. She can't discern my neutrality.

Vakkal sends, Freyja... don't. If you do... let me come with you.

Zero replies, I cannot let either of you do that. From what little I know... the risks are too permanent to even countenance.

Freyja shakes her head, "Neh, thank you, Sith lord. I am happy to help through assisting those who've been taxed with this onerous duty... but you are correct. I cannot in good conscience help keep this effect running." She sighs quietly, then says thoughtfully, "If I understand correctly, however, if the manuses were dealt with you would neh longer have to maintain this, hai?"

The Lord says, "Manuses? It really is this, then?" She frowns, considering,

Freyja smiles quiet mental reassurance at Vakkal, and nods somberly through the link at Zero. She's being pushed to the edge on this, from what I can tell. I do hope Fan isn't stupid. If we're lucky he won't be around at all until we've taken care of the manuses. She's silent a moment, then adds gravely, If we're not lucky, though... well, I was hoping my speculations the other night would remain just that -- speculations. I don't want us to be around warring Sith lords.

Freyja says quietly, "Honorable Sith lord, may I introduce you to Jedi Knight Colburth? We rescued him yesterday, and wish to send him back to Balmorra as soon as possible."

Colburth nods and says, "I am honored to meet you, Lord Methel-ssa."

The Sith Lord looks at the still-pale Jedi and says, "And what brought you to Dantooine? I was not aware you were part of Lord Ghang's party."

Freyja says cheerfully, before Colburth can answer, "We would like to send him to Balmorra as soon as possible because he has evidence of the manuses being here, and will be believed long before we would. This is why we would very much like, please, to temporarily borrow a ship from you, honored lord!"

Methel-ssa looks at Freyja, "You would, mmm?" She looks back at Colburth and says, "Why did you come to Dantooine and when, Jedi Colburth?" Her voice is quiet, but somehow intense. She waits for an answer.

Zero very carefully forces himself not to smile. Now the really interesting part begins.

Freyja plays her trump card -- she says politely, "Hai, we would. If we can borrow a ship, that will allow us to stay here and deal with the manuses, instead of having to go to Balmorra first, then arrive late for the Ghang's arrival... and still have the manuses to deal with." She then settles comfortably and waits. Seeds take time to grow.

Methel-ssa says, "I see," to Freyja, then looks back to Colburth.

Freyja glances thoughtfully at Colburth, wondering if he's ready to deal with this -- or wants a bit of help out of this situation.

Colburth sits up straighter and says, "Lord Methel-ssa, I do not know how much you know of the Jedi Templars. I used to be part of that Order, but have left them because I feel what they are doing on Dantooine and elsewhere is wrong. They break a solemn oath and lie to everyone, themselves included, about this. I had a very wise Jedi make this incongruity clear to me, and once I had taken the time to consider and understand it, I decided it was wrong. I came here to speak to my former brethren, to try and get them to see the error of their ways."

He pauses, and adds, "Their behavior here on Dantooine has only made this clearer to me, even before they captured and held me. If they will not come away peacefully I am prepared to go to the Jedi Order reveal their deception to all. The Jedi are not liars and should not be taking the action they want to be taking, if it is wrong -- regardless of how good a justification they can come up with for doing so."

Freyja listens quietly -- then blushes a bright gold hue! She casually pulls up her hood to give herself a moment to recover.

The Lord says, "So you say. How long have you been here?" Colburth tells her, and how long he was held. Methel-ssa says, "You believe I should take what is an invader to my world, and let them go free on the claim they can go back where they came from and get some renegades in trouble with your High Command?"

Freyja says calmly, "Hai... because it is the truth, honorable Sith lord. And because if we cannot handle the manuses here, at least the information will have gotten out, and others who are better than we will come and deal with them."

Zero says, "...some renegades? If I may be so frank, honored Lord, 'some renegades' constitute a potentially serious partisan threat to your security." Freyja nods in silent agreement.

Methel-ssa says, "And, having been shown to be renegade, do you think this will get them to stop their activities? Even were I to promise them safe passage away, do you think they would accept it, or would they continue their attacks? And if they continue what they do, have I not invited more Jedi invasion, supposedly to deal with this 'renegade' threat?"

Zero says, "Again, honored Lord, if I may be perfectly honest-- you are facing operative 'hands' of Force-strong terrorists. What choice do you have?"

Freyja sighs quietly, then says, "Honored Sith lord, may I be forthright?"

Methel-ssa says, "I would be surprised if you could be more forthright than you already are. Do continue."

Freyja grins cheerfully, "I've been told I'm full of surprises, Sith lord, and while I cannot speak for the others I can assure you they often surprise me."

She smiles, then gestures gracefully, "But in all gravity, honored Sith lord, we -- you and the group of us -- have several options here. You can continue bleeding for Sith lord Fan's paranoia, until he demands carpet bombing... and then you will have neh guarantee the manuses are gone, but you will have a scorched planet."

She holds up the other hand, continuing, "Or you can lend us a ship, which we will return to you, so we can send proof home of what the manuses are doing. While the ship is away, we will continue to work on dealing with the manuses, to hopefully have the issue resolved by the time the Ghang and entourage arrive."

She adds calmly, "I suspect the Ghang and Master Sarn will forgive us for being late to the peace negotiations if the cause of our lateness was transporting the remaining members of the manuses to Balmorra, to face trial for their actions."

Methel-ssa says, "I don't quite follow what you want to do. You want to send this Jedi away to report on the manuses. Why would you then be late for Ghang's arrival?"

Freyja says, "Once we'd captured any of the manuses we could, we'd transport them to Balmorra also -- then return here for the peace negotiations." She waves a golden hand towards the Kushiban, "The Watcher is not a pilot, so we'd be required to be sure the loaned ship came back, and that he had a lift here." She smiles calmly at the Sith lord, adding, "That's it, really."

Methel-ssa says, "I can't let you have this Jedi leave unless all the manuses go with him. If Lord Fan arrives before they have gone but after having lost this one, he would kill me." She adds, "He will be furious he has missed this opportunity for this new sport, as well. That will be unpleasant enough."

Freyja sighs, "We need to send him home, Sith lord Methel-ssa, as insurance should we not succeed here. We cannot go deal with the manuses until we know..." Her voice trails off as she listens to the Hkkal -- then she adds incredulously, "New what?!"

Zero sighs faintly. "Freyja..."

Fhazil sighs and says, "Do you really think Lord Fan would be fool enough to consider a manus as such?" Methel-ssa says, "Why do you think he has so many Soulguards? I think only Shen Ravos has more. He would relish the chance, and it would help his standing in the Moot were he to succeed."

Zero says, "And if he were to fail, it is the way of your people to meet failure with death, no? While I can certainly understand his motivations, I believe his chances against a cell of these beings are slim."

Freyja's eyes widen in shock -- then narrow to an icy coldness matched by her voice. "I am simply devastated to hear the Sith lord Fan will miss out on a chance to make sport of the honor of others." She takes a slow breath, wiping the contempt from her voice, then says flatly, "I am terribly sorry, honorable Sith lord, but it appears we may not personally help with the manuses. We must keep our word and make sure news of them gets out to Balmorra. We also must make sure our prisoner arrives there safely, as we were directed by Sith lord Ghang. If we may not borrow a ship... we must make do with our own."

Methel-ssa says, "Jedi Colburth. Let me ask you... do you think there is a chance Padawan Freyja and her friends could convince the manuses to leave in a timely manner?" Her intent look rests unflinchingly on Colburth, who says, "If anyone can do so quickly, it would be them." Freyja smiles quietly, touched by Jedi Colburth's faith in them. They'll have to do their best to justify that faith, she thinks.

Methel-ssa says, "Give me a moment to consider," and closes her eyes, thinking. Fhazil sends to his friends, She only does that when she's making big decisions. I wonder what we've gotten ourselves into.

Freyja quietly meditates, centering herself and carefully letting her anger at Fan's insanity flow out of her. Her mental voice is peaceful as she murmurs, We got ourselves into it when we became the triat. This is simply more of us trying our best to do what is right, hai?

Zero muses silently. Insanity? No, perhaps not. Self-centered myopia? Arrogance? Immaturity? All these things are possible. One need not be mad to simply be a bad person.

All the Force users in the room can feel a dark tug on the Force, as Methel-ssa does something in the Force. She remains still, eyes closed, considering. After a moment Methel-ssa says, "You have eight days until Lord Fan arrives. I will not be able to lie to him about Jedi Colburth's presence here. If he is gone and the manuses are not, you will have to bear the brunt of his wrath." She opens her eyes again and looks at the group, adding, "If you are prepared for that outcome, you may have your ship."

Zero says, "If we were not, honored Lord, we would not have asked. We will deal with this."

Freyja sighs softly, "He's coming here? I wish you'd told us this earlier."

Methel-ssa says, "I just found out this morning. He wishes to be on hand to meet the Lord Ghang."

Freyja sighs again, then shakes her head, muttering quietly to herself, "So much for peace..." Over the link the others can hear her half-guilty thought that it'd be simply poetic justice to let the manuses have a field day with him... then she resigns herself to keeping honor before indulging in self-gratification.

Vakkal sends back a worried comment, What if he bests them? They need to leave. Now. With three full Lords here... they might be able to combat them.

Freyja says, "Mm... Fan arrives two weeks before the Malice is due... and with luck we'll be gone a few days before that..." She calculates with her datapad, "...and a month each way to Balmorra... so we'll most likely be gone when he arrives, and we'll arrive again a month and a week after the Ghang." The others hear her faintly amused, Let the crazy Sith lords play with each other -- unless we're dead we'll be gone. She looks up and smiles politely at the Sith lord, "Thank you, we accept your offer of a ship. Taken in the spirit we mean, and not the word."

The Hkkal adds, "We shall see how things go. Lord Ghang and Lord Fan have not always worked well together, and this may be an... interesting... visit. It would not surprise me if Lord Ghang tries to get Fan to be the one to deliver you to Ziost, as his ship will be here and incapacitated for some time."

Freyja doesn't comment, but also suspects it would be stupid to accept a ride with a wyrd-touched man. Zero, sensing immediately how that comment will be taken, sends, Calm, Freyja. No need to give the Sith either satisfaction or provocation. This is a game. We will play it until we can safely exit the board. Nothing more.

Freyja murmurs serenely, What is your worry, sweetheart? The Force provides justice as well as rightness. We're just hands of the Force.

Fhazil says, "I... I hadn't thought of that. Thank you for bringing it to our attention, Lord. Your kindness is all-encompassing." The Sith Lord almost snorts at him, but says instead, "It must be, to let a room full of our enemies walk away like this." She sighs and adds, "Why can't you all be easier to hate, hmmm?"

Freyja nods politely to Methel-ssa, merely saying, "Perhaps it would be wisest for us all to withdraw, and make the necessary arrangements." She murmurs quietly to Fhazil, We have neh bond of honor with Fan. I would politely refuse.

Zero replies, My worry is for you; Methel-ssa has gotten more than one rise out of you in the course of the conversation. I know this is stressful, but we must play this game a little longer... just a little longer.

Fhazil replies, Even if Ghang asked?

Freyja smiles at Zero's thought, Very well then... I will stop showing emotion around Sith lords... with the exception of the Ghang, who has earned my honesty. To Fhazil she says simply, Hai.

Zero says, "I most humbly apologize for my difficult nature." He bows politely. It might actually be a joke. Freyja's face smoothes out into a mask of serene expressionlessness, rather like a golden Noh play mask, and she says nothing, merely waiting for the Hkkal to excuse them.

Manishsha says quietly, "We are not easy to hate because we do not hate you in return, even when some try and make that easy." Methel-ssa laughs and says, "And so, the quiet Jedi speaks, and speaks truth." She waves and says, "Go then, and do what you can, with my blessing for what that's worth to you."

Freyja nods politely, then rises and leaves with her friends, careful to remain the aristoi throughout. Zero adds, silently, I have a thought for you, when we have a free moment. Freyja nods silently to Zero, but remains utterly expressionless until they're in a cab and away from the government building.

The spaceport is a busy place, as usual. The command from Lord Methel-ssa is relayed quickly to her staff, and from there to others. It turns into a chartered ship for Colburth and Manishsha. The ship is not new, but in good repair, and will make the trip easily. It is also old enough that it has Republic ID, and Manishsha seems confident nobody will bother two Jedi traveling from place to place too much.

Freyja makes sure the ship has room and logistics for four, as it will be carrying Alleine and Kalatis as well. She also makes sure both the Jedi understand Kalatis is a dangerous and slippery lunatic who should be turned over only to her parents, who have the right of justice on their terrain so he can't demand release or sanctuary or anything equally annoying -- and who are also high-ranking enough to get him under guard to the closest Republic court.

Then she makes sure both Jedi promise to guard Alleine's safety, and turn him over only to Master Roakkana, or someone designated by Master Roakkana. She will thank them both profusely if they agree to this, and will ask them to please feel free to call on her for a favor also, for doing this great kindness.

Colburth says, "You're sure we'll be all right traveling with this Sith? We shouldn't restrain him or something?" Manishsha laughs, then says, "No, we've much more to worry about with Kalatis. I think Alleine's kind of gotten used to having people treat him with respect, and he'd be a fool to run away from that."

Freyja nods gravely, "Hai, the Watcher is correct, Jedi Colburth."

Manishsha says, "Don't worry, Padawan Freyja. We'll take care of all this. I'm worried about you and these manuses."

Zero says, "It is something we are best equipped to deal with. Better us than unprepared ground troops."

Freyja smiles, dropping to one knee to give the Kushiban a gentle hug if he's amenable, "Hai, my brother Padawan is right, Watcher Manishsha." Then she adds very softly to the group, "I wonder if there's going to be a power shake-down between Methel-ssa and Fan, considering how things are going. Our presence is going to put a huge strain on their already-shaky relationship."

Colburth nods, then says, "I'm worried about that, too." He proceeds to give her everything he knows about them -- five names and species of the manus he met, and the location where they were hiding -- a long disused farmhouse not too far from the grain terminal. He also says, "Don't forget -- when they're a manus they can see through each other's eyes, and it will seem like they have eyes in the back of their heads. One will see you and another will shoot you. Don't lose track of any of them... if you can interrupt their formation you should be able to deal with them."

Freyja grins at Colburth, her eyes sparkling teasingly, "You think we don't do that?"

Colburth isn't sure what to say, but Manishsha says cagily, "I suspect you do, yes."

Freyja grins cheerfully at the Kushiban, not answering him directly, "Anyway! Jedi Colburth, Watcher Manishsha, would you like to stay here and supervise the loading, and we'll go fetch Kalatis and Alleine, so you can take off as instantly as possible?"

Fhazil adds, "And between Fan and Ghang, with Methel-ssa playing both sides against each other."

Freyja grins amusedly at Fhazil, "Only if Ghang's foolish enough to let himself get dragged in... and he didn't strike me as such."

Vakkal, watching the other people at the spaceport, guarding Freyja as always, comments, "But Ghang needs something from Fan... so he'll have to get involved. We'll see how that goes."

Freyja tilts her head curiously at Vakkal, "What does he need? He's not bound here for repairs -- we could always send tugs to tow the Malice to Balmorra." She giggles, adding, "Bet neither Fan nor Methel-ssa would think of that, though!"

Vakkal says, "No, they wouldn't, but Ghang might. I don't think it a good idea, though. Malice'll be here a while... maybe as much as a year."

Freyja waves to the two remaining Jedi, then heads out with her friends to get the other two travelers. Curiously she says, "Why do you not think it a good idea, Vakiza?"

Vakkal says, "Would you like this huge warship hanging over your world, with only promises of peace given? It would make many very nervous, wouldn't it?"

Freyja murmurs peacefully to Vakkal, "You know as well as I there'd be at least one other warship hanging over the planet -- Republic ones. It'd be foolish for the Ghang to do anything to break his Guest Oath with my Haus. What else... oh, the pseudo Red General would be flushed out... hai, the situation would be dangerous, but manageable, I believe. We'd have, after all, the very best of the Jedi Order helping us make it so."

The loading of the ship goes well, and Kalatis is delivered from the Lord's holding cells. He looks unscathed, but has a slightly glassy-eyed stare and is only mostly responding to people around him. Alleine is quiet and obedient, carrying a small bag with his few extra clothes.

Freyja is careful to explain what's occurring to Alleine, so he doesn't worry. She's a bit worried about Kalatis, gently coaxing him to try and talk to them. She's a bit surprised at her concern for the individual who most helped push this horrible war... then mentally shrugs. Compassion isn't a detriment to proper action, she decides -- if anything, it's an aid to it.

Kalatis seems to look around him in some dawning recognition of where he is. He tries to stay close to Freyja, somehow convinced she won't hurt him. He is very nervous around Zero, Vakkal, and Alleine. Alleine particularly makes him unhappy, and he quietly says, "He'll kill me. I know he will," to Freyja.

Freyja smiles and gently reassures Kalatis, promising him there will be two Jedi with him, and Alleine will do nothing to harm him. She then carefully asks Kalatis, "Are you all right? You seem a little... shocky...? Nothing happened in the prison to you, hai?"

Alleine, on the other hand, seems at ease. He says, "Thank you for your kindnesses, and for giving me the chance to live. I will never be able to repay you for that."

Freyja smiles at Alleine, happy to see him finally relaxing, "Certes, you can, honored Alleine. We ask only that you listen carefully to Master Roakkana -- he's very wise, and knows what is right."

Alleine says, "I know you have some things that you took from the battle. You have two swords. May they serve you well." He turns to Vakkal and adds, "And may the armor protect you from those who would hurt you. I am pleased to say I am not unhappy or angry to see it go to someone else who might use it for different ends than I would have."

Freyja blinks, remembering the sword -- she's been carrying it around half forgotten for a day now! She 'touches' it gently with a thought, checking to see how it's doing. The energy around the sword is still there, a Force-cocoon unlike any she has seen. It seems somehow brittle and fragile, as if it now only needs to be scraped clean.

Vakkal smiles and says, "Good luck to you, Alleine. I can understand how you might fear the future. Don't. Trust Freyja's Master and be true to your will to live, and you will be fine."

Freyja whispers to Zero, Hey, I think the sword's almost ready to -- uh, to open up? Blossom, whatever? She grins, even more pleased Alleine's doing so well, and thanks him for his kindness. Zero wonders what it's going to do.

Alleine pauses as Freyja leaves, then says a little awkwardly, "May the Force be with you, Padawan Freyja. You do good things for people. Don't let others make you forget that."

Freyja blinks, turning back with a delighted expression on her face -- then she laughs happily and gives the former Oather a quick, spontaneous hug, "Oh -- thank you so much!" She beams at him as she steps back, "May the Force be with you also, honored Alleine!" Alleine seems terribly embarrassed by this, and says nothing. He also seems quietly pleased. Freyja adds happily, "When we come back to Balmorra, maybe we'll meet again, and we can make music together -- I would like that!"

Alleine murmurs, "I would like that, too, Padawan Freyja. We shall see what the Force has in mind for us all." Freyja grins and quietly departs after that, not wanting to embarrass the poor man any further. Plus... she's still a bit concerned with Kalatis. It worries her a little he's not answering questions.

Kalatis watches, apparently in quiet horror, as the captured Sith is taken aboard. His long Rodian fingers clutch gently at Colburth's or Freyja's sleeve as they keep watch on him, and he blinks his big, black, slightly misted eyes slowly at the interchanges. He finally looks at Freyja with understanding of her question and says, "No... nothing happened to me." After a very long pause he adds softly, "But they were experts at making one think something would happen."

Freyja sighs quietly, feeling a bit guilty -- she should have guessed that would happen. She gently takes Kalatis' hand, "It's all right, Kalatis. Nothing bad is going to happen to you now -- you're safe on this ship with Watcher Manishsha and Jedi Colburth. They're going to take you all to Balmorra. Just do what they say, and everything will be fine."

Kalatis says, "That Sith will kill us all, you know. He can't be trusted. He was going to kill me so you couldn't have me back. I would have been quite dead if his assistant or whatever he was hadn't started attacking him."

Freyja firmly reminds herself mentally how good Kalatis is at punching people's buttons, and remembering how he tried to use Zero hardens her resolve. Just as firmly she says, "Neh, he will not, as long as you do nothing against him or the Jedi. I repeat -- do what the Jedi say, and you will be fine. Do you understand?"

Kalatis asks quietly, "Do as the Jedi say and nobody gets hurt... how is that different than the Sith?"

Freyja says dryly, "The Jedi don't want you dead. The Sith do. Neither Alleine nor the Jedi will harm you unless you provoke them... but you won't believe me, and I don't know how else to convince you."

Kalatis looks blankly at Freyja for a long moment, until Colburth sighs and says, "Come on, Kalatis. Let's go," and takes the Rodian by the elbow, leading him towards the ship. Once Kalatis is settled Freyja goes and quietly reminds both the Jedi of Kalatis' emotional manipulation skills. She gives examples, too, so they're not caught off guard.

Manishsha grins, and says, "I doubt he can talk his way in to any sort of difficulty with either of us, and we'll make sure he hasn't got a chance to bother Alleine." Colburth nods in agreement and adds, "For some reason the Sith worries me less than the supposedly friendly Rodian."

Freyja nods a touch grimly at Colburth's comment, "I also."

Manishsha adds, "I concur. Alleine has turned away from his evil... I don't think I can say that of the former senator. Let us get him back to Balmorra, and to Haus Rigg for them to take care of."

Zero simply says dryly, "Good luck, Watcher. You can have him."

Freyja sighs, then gives both Jedi a goodbye hug, "Take good care, my friends. May the Force be with you... and if it is with us, we will follow in but a few days."

The two Jedi agree, and Colburth adds, "You'd better be along, or you'll have us all terribly worried. I don't know how we'll tell Roakkana." Manishsha says, "Oh, that's easy. 'Master Roakkana,' we'll say, 'your crazy Padawan has gotten in over her head again. She'll either perform another miracle in the name of the Force, or have her head handed to her. My money is on 'miracle.'" He grins, and Colburth laughs -- as does Freyja!

Freyja waves to the small group aboard the ship, then leaves. To her friends she says, "Do you think we can trade some of our medical supplies cargo for a few good power cells for the kurasai we met that were holding Colburth?"

Fhazil says, "In times like this I'm sure medkits will always be good sellers. Batteries should be reasonably easy, and nobody will blink too much at someone buying some. It's not like they're explosives or anything."

Freyja says, "At this point I'd like to make up a load to take to them, then let the sword hatch, maybe get a good night's sleep... then leave first thing tomorrow to give the Magentoch clan the goods, and go flush out a manus?"

Vakkal comments, "I cannot believe I just heard 'let the sword hatch' in a sentence."

Freyja giggles cheerfully! -then says, "But don't you want to know?!"

Fhazil pokes the big hairy one, then says, "We can do that. Let's see..." He tries to find out where they might sell some things. The obvious, easy answer is to ask the guards in front of the Platinum Eclipse, which he does. Freyja will package up a load of goods while he does so.

Fhazil comes in and finds Freyja and Vakkal packaging things. He says, "The guards suggested a big surplus place that will both buy and sell. They say it's reasonable prices, and they'll be interested in medkits and probably have power cells." He adds, "Took a little doing, because it seems this place isn't entirely legal, but isn't entirely illegal, and they were hesitant to suggest it."

Zero says, "Nothing is entirely what it seems, here."

Freyja grins amusedly, "Ah, gray markets -- we couldn't get by without them, but we can't admit we need 'em!" She hefts the bundle up and adds cheerfully, "All right, let's go there now, hai?"

Fhazil grins and says, "Much like Zero here," and grabs the white-haired Triat member cheerfully.

Zero says, "Oh, it's all right. I'm used to it." He leans against Fhazil a bit.

Freyja giggles, pacing out to the landspeeder, "Save that for later, you sillies -- when we can all share!"

Vakkal snickers and says, "No, we need him. Otherwise I don't think the two of us would be enough to keep Freyja in check..."

Freyja blinks, adding a sharply amused, "HEY!" to that!

Vakkal adds, staying mostly out of Freyja's reach, "Not that it wouldn't be fun to try..."

Freyja laughs, tossing the bundle carefully into the landspeeder, "Neh, you don't get a rise that easy!" She hops in herself, then grins, "C'mon, you guys... sooner this is done, sooner we can relax and have fun!"

The cab they hire is an ancient model that barely hovers, and makes the most disturbing noises as it starts and stops. The driver is a short, wide, bright red, hairless person like none they've ever seen before, who apparently doesn't speak a word of Aurabesh. He understands it, though, and drives them directly to the place they'd like to go, surprisingly smoothly considering the ancientness of the speeder. As usual, someone's ID is enough to pay him, and he swoops off happily after swiping the card.

Freyja grins, shaking her head amusedly, "I'm not asking what species he was..." She shoulders the big bundle again and heads into the building, looking around interestedly, "Heiyo? Anybody here?"

Zero says, "Red, apparently." Freyja giggles at Zero's comment.

The building is labeled in indecipherable script. It's a big, unremarkable warehouse. There is a small office, and when Freyja calls a very tall, thin Human woman comes out and says, "Hello."

Freyja smiles, "Heiyo, kuras, we would like to trade some medical goods with you for some power sources, please?"

The woman says, "Ah. Traders." She smiles, "Medical goods are often welcome. May I see them?" Her interest is professional and straightforward, "These are very nice. Will we have any difficult enquiries about them?"

Freyja smiles and shakes her head, her voice calm and truthful, "Neh, we brought them legitimately from Balmorra. We thought we'd be entering a war zone, but fortunately we were incorrect."

The woman smiles again, "Then I will be able to offer you trade of goods or local currency if you would prefer. I can probably give you greater value of goods. You said you were interested in power sources?"

Freyja nods, "That would be lovely. Hai, please."

The woman picks up a datapad and writes on it for a few moments, doing calculations. She hands it to Freyja, and asks, "Will this be an acceptable trade?" There are a surprisingly large number of mid-grade industrial power cells listed, and a few other odds and ends related to them: adapters, filters, etc.

Freyja checks the list thoughtfully, then smiles and nods, "This would be quite nice, thank you very much." She adds amusedly to Fhazil, "Better call a cab now, please, so we can load it all up into it and take it back to where our landspeeder is?"

Fhazil makes the call, and the trader says, "Very good, ma'am. If you will sign or thumbprint here?" She indicates a space on the datapad.

Freyja signs her name as 'Padawan Freyja Rigg,' then hands back the datapad. "Thank you."

The woman takes the datapad back and works at it for a moment. A droid rolls up the big outside doors and begins stacking power cells of varying sizes outside. Fhazil sees how many there are and gets on the comm to get a bigger cab. Freyja grins, both at Fhazil's action and the woman's lack of reaction to her title. She'd guess the woman didn't really see it.

The woman asks mildly, "Will there be anything else?"

Freyja glances inquiringly at her friends? Fhazil shakes his head, "I'm good." Vakkal agrees. Zero says, "I think that will be all."

Freyja nods to them, then says to the woman, "Do you have any rations or camping goods we can take with us out into the countryside?"

She says, "Of course. I can give you quite a number for another medkit or for a couple of those cells. Supplies are plentiful lately."

Freyja grins and lays another medkit on the pile. "We'd like supplies for four, please, for a week." Terms are reached and the additional medkit is replaced with a surprisingly large amount of food. No paperwork was needed this time.

A large hover-van arrives, to cart all this back to the hotel where it can be loaded on the Lord's speeder. The truck, unentertainingly, is driven by a matter-of-fact droid. Freyja helps the guys load everything up on the new cab, then head for the government buildings. On the way back she grins at them, "So I figure if we've only got eight days, we need to get busy, hai?"

Fhazil says, "Makes sense to me."

Freyja checks her datapad, making sure Colburth's data is properly assimilated... then she checks for possible new nearby hiding places for the manus Colburth knew about. The maps they have don't show anything terribly interesting in the area. They don't show the abandoned farm that Colburth mentioned, either. Vakkal says, "Maybe if we hurry, they won't know Colburth is gone and we can catch them." Fhazil adds, "And maybe the Magentochs would know where else they might go."

Freyja nods thoughtfully, idly brushing the soft tip of her Padawan's braid across her lips as she considers. "Hai... it might be worth our while to head out today, do you think? Maybe the Magentoch clan will let us spend the night, as long as we don't cut into their food supply?"

Vakkal says, "With things like this for them, I suspect they'll be quite pleased to see us."

Freyja grins cheerfully at Vakkal, "Hope so! Plus we'll have good news for them about Jedi Colburth."

Once the new goods are packed into the landspeeder and ready to go, the group gathers to do one last once-over on their rooms, to be sure everything which should go is packed up. Then they all settle interestedly in one room, and Freyja draws out the sword. She looks thoughtfully at the sword laying on a blanket on her lap. "What do you think? Scratch gently at it within the Force, or let it break itself out?"

Zero says, "I've no idea. I've never seen anything like it."

Fhazil settles next to Freyja and puts his arms around her, snuggling in but also looking closely at the sword in the force. He gets nicely comfortable and murmurs, eyes closed, "Or fight with it. Hit it hard with something and see if it breaks. It feels brittle."

Freyja mms contentedly at Fhazil, then nods musingly to Zero, "Me either..." She gently taps on the flat of the blade with a fingernail, careful not to get oil on the blade. The field of protective energy around the blade ignores her. It can't be seen or felt with eyes or with touch -- only as a resonance in the Force. Freyja thinks for a bit, then says consideringly, "Maybe some sword practice, but not with a living target?"

Fhazil nods, "The other sword, or a lightsaber. Just a little practice to limber it up." He adds, sighing, "This means I have to move, doesn't it?"

Freyja says, "Oh! Hai, the other sword would be good -- because if it shatters it doesn't matter that much." She grins, turning her head enough to lightly nuzzle his cheek, "Hai, sweetie... sorry."

He grins at the nuzzle and says, "You're not helping," kisses her, and stands up. He asks, "You want to, Zero, or shall I?"

Freyja grins unrepentantly, flowing to her feet as he does, "Whichever of you is most comfortable with the Oather apprentice's sword?"

Zero says, "Why don't you, Fhazil -- I think it will resonate better with you than I."

A short while later they're ready -- Freyja with the chrysalis sword and Fhazil with the apprentice's sword. Freyja carefully links up in the triat, just in case, and wraps the Force as protectively as she can around them all... then looks at Fhazil, "Ready?"

Fhazil nods and says, "Ready."

Freyja starts out slowly with regular sword kata, warming the combatants up until they're both moving smoothly together. Then, after a mental alert to them all, she snaps out a sharp, precise attack against Fhazil's sword.

As the blades get close to one another a curious buzzing feeling is felt, almost as if they're drawn towards each other. When the blades impact, not only do they ring with sharp tones of metal on metal, but there is a very strange reaction. The dark Force around the blade Fhazil is wielding seems to spark off in great, dark, jagged rents, surrounding the other blade, which emits Light Force until it's countered. The chrysalis around Alleine's sword begins to be charged with grey energy, the power flowing from one Triat member to another as these changes happen. Vakkal backs away slowly, ears back.

Zero narrows his eyes silently. Freyja gets a very thoughtful look, going still as she watches, the sword still held up before her. As long as there's nothing directly antagonistic-feeling to her, she'll continue to do so. The energy around the sword seems to hesitate as Freyja does, one sharp blow leaving it shorn with stress fractures in glowing gray-Force energy. Freyja hms thoughtfully... then alerts the triat and continues the sword kata, giving clean, direct attacks to Fhazil's sword as long as there's no really unpleasant or worrisome sensation within the Force.

There aren't any worrisome or unpleasant sensations. There certainly are sensations! Flashes of power, black from the apprentice's sword, and bursts of bright white power emerging from the places on the cocoon where it is cracking. At the end of the kata, with the last strike of the two swords, the cocoon dissolves, fracturing and vanishing into the calmness of the Force, leaving the room charged, if possible, with a clean, balanced energy and the possibility of Light or Dark.

The Apprentice's sword still has a Force field around it of malevolent, Dark Sith energy, almost like it is on fire, but with black, sucking energies rather than flames. Alleine's sword has changed... it now glows with a strange, furious power -- a bright, Light power, but with the raw energy of the Sith behind it. No one has ever seen a Bright sword before, but that seems to be what this is.

Freyja blinks, then murmurs wryly over the link so Vakkal can also hear, Bet they felt that over at the government building... think now's a good time to leave for the countryside, hai?

Zero says, "I think the manus probably has too."

Freyja says, "Hai, but we're in the city -- they won't necessarily come find out here, nor expect to find the source out in the countryside."

Fhazil stares quietly and says, "Right. Leaving might be good." Vakkal only manages to say, "Wow!"

Freyja scabbards the sword and heads swiftly out of the room with it in her hand, "Let's fly. Fhazil, feel free to keep the apprentice's sword. Vakkal, I think this is a Bright sword -- it seems appropriate you wield it, hai?"

Vakkal says, "I'll think about it." He does take it from her, and carry it as they move to the speeder. Freyja smiles at him, then hops quickly and smoothly into the speeder.

The trip out to Magentoch Grain and Storage is uneventful, although Vakkal sits in the back of the speeder, staring in quiet contemplation of the sword. Shortly, he has managed to damp its exuberance in the Force a great deal, but still sits and contemplates it -- or he looks at Freyja, saying nothing.

Freyja raises an inquiring eyebrow at him, although he can 'feel' her mental translation as a curious flick of an ear. Vakkal shakes his head almost imperceptibly and sends to Freyja, Later, love. Not important. Just me thinking too much.

As the speeder pulls up close there is only the same sense of Force-incorrectness as before, as if something was still being hidden -- but nothing else odd at the damaged grain terminal. From outside, it still looks deserted.

Freyja smiles at Vakkal, All right. Let me know when you'd like to talk. She studies the large buildings ahead of them, "Looks good so far," then checks the triat's Force stealth is still up and strong. Let's scan for life signs and see if there're five more or not.

Zero murmurs, "There are people here, but no Force sensitives. Unless they've found some way to hide themselves, I sense no hands here."

Freyja nods, "All right. I'll go in with Vakkal, and if everything's calm the rest of you come as well, hai?"

Zero says, "All right. I'll keep watch for now." Fhazil nods and says, "Be careful."

Freyja hops lightly out of the speeder, takes a moment to smooth down her poncho and make sure Vakkal's ready too... then she smiles and strides into the building. Barring anything unusual, she heads for the little desk and rings the bell, calling, "Heiyooo? Anybody home?"

Nothing unusual happens. After a few moments heavy boots can be heard coming downstairs, and the large voice of Rose Magentoch calls, "Hallo there! Here I come, here I come..." When she rounds the corner of the stairway she looks a bit surprised to see the Jedi lady and her furry friend again, "Ah, hello. Something I kin do for you?"

Freyja smiles, "Hai! We brought the things you asked for, kuras Rose. Where would you like them?"

There is a long pause before the woman says, "You... you did?" She looks incredulous, saying, "Migosh. We'll put 'em up in the shed. Let me get Fel, he's got the keys." She moves to the stairs down to the silo accesses and shouts at Fel. He and Tuley emerge quickly, saying, "What's the rush, Mama?" and staring in surprise at Freyja and Vakkal. Their mother explains, "She said they'd see what they could do, and they've done something. Supplies from the city! Open the big shed and let's get help 'em unload!"

Freyja grins, waving cheerfully, "Heiyo, we're back!" She giggles quietly at the surprised looks. Over the link the others get updated on what's happening, so there's no worry.

Fel says, "Ay, Mama!" and heads off to open doors, while Tuley tries not to stare too obviously. It isn't every day a gorgeous woman in tight black leather turns up. Lucky for his self-esteem, she's got a giant, toothy friend who seems somewhat protective, and the big man doesn't even think of doing something foolish or embarrassing.

Fel has opened the building across from the silos, which is a big shop and workspace. Some of it is used as storage already, and Fel says, "We can move stuff around later... let us help y'all unload." They are all stunned, pleased, and incredibly thankful at the delivery of needed equipment.

Freyja adds happily, "We can help unload!" and trots out and around the building to the big doors. She waves Zero over, if he's not already piloted the speeder over. Zero pulls the speeder up carefully, greeted by nothing more dangerous than a couple of exuberant farm boys and their mother. Zero says, "Just show us where you'd like these things."

Freyja will help with the unloading, cheerfully chatting with Fel and the others as she does so. Have they heard anything from the Templars? Also, do they know of anyone out in the countryside who could use a bit of help with anything, like a harvest or building or anything, while the group is out this way?

The Magentochs are happy to talk to these newly-found saviors. Rose says, "No, they've only been coming by once a week or so. Probably won't be here for another day or two. They come by in the afternoon -- usually two of them, sometimes three."

Freyja brightens, "Really? Can you tell us from what angle they usually come? We'd like to meet and talk to them, but I think it'd be wisest to do so well away from your home, hai?"

Fel asks, "Why, will they be unhappy? Are they likely to be dangerous?" Rose says, "Never noticed where they came from; we're usually inside trying to keep the silos running." Tuley says, "I've seen 'em come in a couple of times. Both times from the southeast."

Freyja nods to Tuley, "All right, and thank you." To Fel she says gravely, "We don't know... but regardless, we don't want you at any risk."

The unloading is quick and sure, and Rose says, "Well, the least we can do for y'all is to invite you in for some dinner. Do you need a place to spend the night, or will you be off?" She adds, "I'm not sure we have enough rooms for four..."

Unless someone indicates otherwise, Freyja will cheerfully accept dinner for them all. She adds, "We have some food too, if you'd like to make nail soup. Er... you know, soup where you throw whatever you have into the pot?" She thoughtfully adds to Rose, "The silos... I notice there's quite a bit of rotting grain around them. If that were moved, would that make running the silos easier?" She adds in explanation, "I don't know if we could do anything about it, but it's good to know what folks need in case you meet someone who can do something about it, you know?"

Rose says, "Naw. Those three are a dead loss. We use them for parts and pull wire and conduit from them. The grain's mostly just messy. Someone had that kind of labor handy, we'd rather see them go over to Magernkl's and help them with tilling or harvesting. Since her big pullers quit, she's been hard pressed to keep up."

Freyja says, "What are big pullers?"

Tuley grins, "This time of year we've got plenty of food to share. With power we'll be able to freeze some for the winter. That'll be a big relief!" Rose adds, "And bread... if we've got one thing, it's grain."

Freyja laughs! "All right, as long as we're not a burden."

Fel adds, "The big tractor-pullers that the farmers use to drive all the farm equipment. Most equipment hereabouts has one power plant that can have several functions dropped onto it. Cheaper that way. But it means if your plant dies... all your equipment goes out."

Freyja says, "Oh, dear. I understand." She's silent a moment, then pulls out her datapad and brings up a map of the local area, "Where is Magernkl's, please?"

Zero hms. "I might be able to look at that for them. We'll have to go out to find the Templars, so if you'll show Freyja where this farm is..."

Freyja beams hopefully at Zero, "Wonderful! And I'm happy to help with harvest while you're working, Zeriza, if they're in the middle of it."

Rose considers, "Maybe the boys can share the guest room, and Freyja can stay with me..."

Freyja smiles at Rose, "Honored kuras Rose, we can all share the same room. It will be fine; that's how we usually sleep."

Fel says to Zero, "Gosh, they'd be so grateful. I have been meaning to get out there, but I've been tied up trying to get one of the sumps working before it rusts solid, and haven't been able to. Follow the road here northwards, then make the second left; there's a sign at this one, and not at the first one. Down the left -- it's the first house you come to. With a speeder, shouldn't take more than four hours to get there."

Freyja adds cheerfully to Rose, "We're Force users, and we've been in far worse. This is luxury!" She hastily makes notes of Fel's directions.

Rose smiles and says, "Well, I'm pleased to be able to offer the hospitality we can. It's not what it once was, but I refuse to become barbarians."

Freyja says courteously, "Kuras Rose, you have given us nothing but kindness; you have nothing to fear in that department."

The farmers' dinner is excellent, with meat and a barley-like soup and home-baked bread. The two boys regale the travelers with tales of their life there in the terminal -- both of them have only left it a handful of times -- some of which are quite entertaining. The far silo, for instance, had been filled with popcorn when it burned -- it burst the concrete and the wind blew popped corn for miles. The birds were amazing.

Freyja laughs delightedly and cheerfully returns the occasional childhood anecdote of spending time around the farmers and the autumlas herders. She's very comfortable with these people -- they remind her of the kurasai of her Haus. She will also curiously ask if there are any large, heavy beasts on Dantooine which might be used for hauling.

"Sure!" explains Tuley, "there are several kinds of big lizards that can be used with good success. Most of the smaller holders around here use them now because they can't get fuel for the 'pullers. Magernkl's're trying that now, but they'll never get it all done in time."

Freyja nods thoughtfully, then grins, "Well then, maybe we can help! Zero's a wizard with machinery, and I'm good with animals."

Zero murmurs, "I know a few things, that's all."

Freyja smiles, gently hugging him with one arm, "You're modest, too."

Fel says, "Ah! I was going to say that if you wanted some, Magernkl's bought all anyone could spare. If you can get their 'pullers working, though, I bet they'd give them to you. Old Magernkl hates them."

Freyja says, "Hates the lizards? Huh... wonder why?"

Fel says, "Prefers the 'pullers." He imitates someone, 'Difficult, hard to care for, cantankerous beasts! Gimme a 'puller any day, and I'll show you a clean laid or clean stripped field!'" His brother chuckles, and says, "Yah, that's 'er, all right."

Freyja laughs! "All right, we'll see what we can do for her."

Rose says, "Ah hope you can help 'em. They're good folks, and been struggling as hard as we have. Be a shame to see them fail after so long."

Freyja smiles at Rose, "Well, I can talk to the lizards, so at the very least we can give them a good day's work." She adds proudly, "And Zero really is good with machinery."

Zero says, "I can at least look. Perhaps I can do something. If not, perhaps I can recommend something. I'll try."

The morning dawns early, as dawns are wont to be, and the Magentochs are up and about. Rose insists on feeding them a large breakfast centered around some sweet rolls, and gives them a big sack full of hearty rolls to take with them. She gives them another sack and says, "Give this to Magernkl if you would, and tell her she has our support if we can help." Freyja smiles and thanks Rose, gives her a big hug, and happily agrees to do so.

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

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