Chapter Three. Jim Delgardo was far from happy. Was all this worth it he thought. He wanted to remain a member of Senate Guard, but he didn't like what he was having to go through to retain his membership. For the last five days he been up "first thing" to take part in Special Forces Trooper physical training, then after breakfast weapon drills, as if he needed to know how to break down and clean a blaster rifle or auto cannon. Afternoons were spend on the range, here at least he was allowed to use his own blaster pistol. OK, his marksmanship had improved, slightly. But cleaning armour after that ! He didn't wear armour ! This was the task that frustrated him the most. It was also what he was doing at this moment. Radipole was cleaning some too. That was something else that really annoyed him too, every thing that he had to do, Radipole did also, just quicker and better. He had thought about quitting every day for the last five days, he knew he wouldn't, but he still thought about it He looked up to see if Rad was watching him again. He noticed that he did that a lot, all part of the report he was writing about wether he was to stay a member or to be booted out. He was looking. Jim quickly looked back down. "Your sighing more than a lovestruck teenage girl. You falling for me or something ?" "In your dreams old man. Just a bit boring, all the armour cleaning." "You rather we went for a run ? I'm good with that." "No ! No, I'm OK with the polishing." "Your getting better at it, your learning, and that's good. Not just this either, weapon skills, marksmanship, and fitness. Less than a week and even that's getting better, you've not thrown up for the last two mornings. Can't tell how happy the cleaner droids are about that. Your thinking, improvising too." "What do you mean by that ?" Little alarm bells started to go off in Jim's head. "Well, after the second morning you said to meet you at the exercise hall, smart move, you've not been late since then, there before me." "Guess your training is paying off." "Maybe, or the motion scanner you placed in the hall aimed at my door and that your quarters are closer to the hall than mine might have had something to do with it." "You noticed." Jim placed the piece of armour and the cleaning cloth on the table. "So that's me out then. I suppose cheating doesn't sit well with you ?" "Cheating ? Who said anything about cheating ? Boy if you were a Jedi, yer, maybe it wouldn't look so good, but your not. You used your head to solve a problem, you improvised. I like that." "So I'm still in the game ?" "Untill I say other wise. Now unless you've finished get cleaning." Jim set back to the cleaning, most of the armour was already done. Once the last had been cleaned, inspected, polished and put away Jim sat back with a sigh. "Good job Boy, like I said your getting better. How do you like being in Senate Guard ?" "It's good, I like the feeling of belonging to something, that family feeling, I know what I did was wrong, but, well sometimes.... I don't know." "Spit it out Boy, what ? You feel like your not fully accepted ? Not fully trusted ?" "Well if your asking you know that's what I feel, and I must be right in feeling it, but why ?" "It's not you, it's what you do." "Well if my skills aren't needed why accept me in the first place ? And why all this ?" "Settle down Boy, if you were not wanted you would have been forgotten already. What do you know about Senate Guard history ?" "Just what I've been told, why ?" "Sit back and let your Uncle Rad tell you a story." "Fine, but I'm not sitting on your lap."

Chapter Two. Delgardo walked along the silent corridor. The echo from his boots his only company. No one was up at this hour, no one was stupid enough. That made him chuckle to him self. Except him, he was up because he was stupid, stupid enough to get caught. He still wondered how, the security systems they had here looked nothing special, but they quite obviously are or he would not be making his way to Radipole's quarters at this time in the morning. Morning, he thought, it's not morning, it's still half way through the night. Rounding the last bend he saw Radipole's door. Stopping before it he entered the access code Radipole had given him, to save him having to slice his way in, he had said with a smile. Amazing how someone else's smile can ruin your day. The door slid open silently, it was still dark in there. Ha, got you, he thought and entered, the door sliding shut behind him. He looked around the room, he never got the chance for a proper look last time. Two doors leading to other rooms, basic but functional furniture, a few ornaments, nothing special. There, what was that about. On a wall, next to one of the doors, was a heavy armour breastplate, looked like Trooper issue. Cocking his head to one side he listened for any sign that Radpole was up and about, silence. Good the old man was probably fast asleep dreaming about, what ever old soldiers dream about. Moving closer he could see it was a breastplate, but right by the spot where it would cover the heart was a hole, no, it was just the the right of the heart, painful, but probably not lethal if treated straight away. Reaching up he ran a finger over the damaged section, no not a hole, it was a slice, a blade or sword ? "Boy, you are a Batha's hair away from finding out what happens to Smugglers after they die." The voice had been whispered in his ear, Jim had not heard anything to alert him. How good was this guy ! Lowering his hand he turned his head. Radpole was stood right next to him, less than a foot away, very good, that's how good. "I was just looking, that's all." "You got an eyeball in that finger Boy ?" "No." "Then don't touch what ain't yours. Anyway, your late." "How early do you want me here !" "Told you, first thing, young lad like you should have no problems getting up, or is that it Boy, can't get up ?" Jim looked at him deadpan. "I ain't got no problems getting up." "Good, in that case if your late again, your doing it deliberately, so you won't complain when you get punished." How did he get trapped into that ! More to this guy than meets the eye. "So, Rad, I'm here, so what now ?" "Have you had breakfast yet ?" Things seemed to be looking up at last. With a smile he said, "No, not yet." "Good, you won't have anything to throw up. Follow me." "What d'ya mean, throw up, where are we going ?" "Morning physical training, do it every morning, for as long as I can remember, and if I'm sweating your sweating." "Whoa, I'm not a soldier, I don't go in for stuff like that." "OK, fine, I'll let Vuzen know quit, you didn't want to stay in the Senate Guards, it was too hard for you." "I didn't say that." "I told you boy, the only way was my way. No close that hole the noise is coming from and follow me, or collect your gear get to your ship and bug out off here and don't look back. Either way I'm going to the training yard and I WILL sleep tonight, wether your here or not." With that he grabbed a large bag sat by his feet and made his way to the towards the way out. "Don't forget to close the door behind you Boy." He said over his shoulder as he left the room. Jim Delgardo, paused for a second before following him out into the corridor, closing the door he set of at a slow job to catch up with Radpole. "Best stay with you Rad, old fella like you might not make it all the way without help." "We'll see you needs the help in an hour or two Boy." Two hours later. "In through the nose and out through the mouth, you need to control your breathing. If you don't, your just gonna....... Don't worry about it, I'll get a cleaner Droid to mop that up." Jim Delgardo was on his hands and knees, what occupied his mind the most at the moment was not that his bones and muscles felt like jelly, nor was it the fact that he was soaked head to toe in sweat and double vision he had wasn't even a passing concern. No, what was on his mind the most was that even though he had eaten nothing this morning, he could still throw up so much. Why the running ? We have speeders. Why the exercises ? We have droids for heavy lifting, and we can walk around obstacles, no need to climb ropes and blocks and jump and lift and, he started to throw up again. The main exercise yard, a large enclosed area with in the Senate Guard Mothership, was starting to fill up, Jedi doing their own physical techniques or practicing with their lightsaber forms, either alone or in twos and threes. Troopers and civilians also were working out or jogging around the perimeter. Warbonnet, who had been running in full heavy armour stopped by his friend and Radipole. He nodded a hello to the senior Trooper and looked down at Jim. Taking a canteen of water from his belt kit he offered it to him, "Jim, take a sip, you'll feel a bit better." Delgardo took a sip and then coughed it up back through his nose. Both Radipole and Warbonnet laughed. "Boy, you might find that a bit easier if you stand." "Hnnn." Was all Jim could manage. Using what little energy he had left, and using Warbonnet at a climbing aid, he pulled himself to his feet. "Remember Jim, sips, and you need to control,your breathing. Trust me, it helps." "Fknofof." Came back a muffled garbled reply, but he did sip the water. "How's he doing Rad ? I have told him he needs to work on his fitness." "I've seen worse, can't remember when, but I'm sure I have. He'll be fine. I've not killed anyone through physical training." Jim looked at him, colour was slowly beginning to come back to his face. They all moved to one side as a cleaner droid started to clean Jim's mess. "Days early Rad, you got time yet." Radipole slapped him on the back, setting of another coughing fit. "See, you feeling better already. Few months of this and you might even be at recruit level." "Months !" "Keep the canteen Jim, give it back later, when you've washed it out. Catch you later Rad. And Jim, stick at it, it's worth it in the long run." "War, please shoot me, no shoot him first, then shoot me." Radipole snorted and slapped his back again bringing another coughing fit. "Glad you still got your sense of humour, right go get cleaned up, get some food inside you too, me back at my quarters in an hour." He then left Jim looking at his back. He had done everything Jim had done, but he had done it in the heavy armour that was now back in the bag he carried. Stims, got to be Stims. He looked over at Warbonnet, who was making his way over to the weights area. "War," he shouted,"I wasn't joking, shoot him !" Warbonnet looked over his shoulder and smiled. "Stick with it Jim, stick with it."

Chapter one "So which bit of "last chance" don't you get Jim ?" Major Warbonnet, commanding officer of Havoc Squad, was sat in a small cell with his long time friend Jim Delgardo, Smuggler, slicer, conman, an all round Scoundrel. "I know, sometimes I get an idea and I just don't think. If they kick me out the Guard then they kick me out. Just glad I didn't get you involved." The Senate Guard, a shadowy paramilitary organisation that recruited the best the Republic had to offer, Jedi, Military, civilian specialists. Self funding they did covert and overt actions that would benefit the Republic against anyone. Although not part of the Republic Senate, they did get a certain amount of leeway in the use of personal, so the absence of a Jedi Knight or a Special Forces Trooper would not raise too many questions. Jim Delgardo had fallen foul of the Senate Guards regulations a few time before. The last time he had been caught slicing into the restricted archive he had received a final warning. One more time and he was to be removed from the Senate Guards. Although technically a criminal in some Republic worlds, Jim enjoyed being a member. "I think this time they are gonna throw the book at you, and why Radipole ? Why would anyone try to sneak into his quarters ?" "I've heard he has some really old stuff in there, stuff no one else knew about, about the Guards itself. I wanted to know what. I wasn't going to steal anything, that's not my style. You know that right ? War, you do know that don't you." "Yes I know, your a lot of things, but an out right thief, no. Like it or not, your too much of a good man to do that. But Radipole ? The mans a legend in Special Forces. If he'd caught you your voice would be a lot higher than it is now, if you could still talk. That's one tough old bas....." "Guys, the court martial is back in, best not keep them waiting." Standing just the other side of the force field that was the door to the cell was the Jedi Knight Stephannan and the Trooper Modninzo. Both men were armed, but as a show of friendship and respect for a fellow member they had not drawn their weapons. Jim got to his feet, holding a set of binders in his hand he said, "Do I have to put these back on ?" Stephannan looked at the Smuggler and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't mind, it's not as if your going to run off any where. What d'ya reckon Mod ?" "If it was up to me, I wouldn't bother, but the mood Vuzen is in, I'm afraid so Jim. I am not gonna take the blame when he looses it. Sorry Pal." Warbonnet took the binders and put them on his friend, loosely. "Do it properly." Warbonnet squeezed the ratchet tighter. "Sorry." "Don't worry about it. Right lets get this show on the road. Don't want to keep my audience waiting." Once the force field was lowered Jim and Warbonnet stepped out of the cell into the main room of the Detention centre. Modninzo and Stephannan formed up on either side of him with Warbonnt behind. They then made their way to the to the briefing room that was being used as a court. They all marched in perfect step, except for Jim Delgardo, who with a broad smile put all his effort in keeping out of step with the others. Jim looked at the five people who sat at the long table in front of him. Vuzen, Jedi Knight and the present Leader of the Senate Guards. T his left sat another Jedi Knight, Guard General Mahadere, next to him was Guard General Avonrea, she was a Jedi Consular. To the right of Vuzen was Guard General Kaydanaa, a Jedi Knight who had presided over Warbonnet's final trail to join the Senate Guard. Next to her was Guard General Radipole. No civilians Jim noted, oh well he thought, play it by ear. He gave them a slight smile and what he hoped was his honest innocent face. Vuzen spoke. "James Delgardo, by a unanimous vote, you have been found guilty of all the charges laid before this court. Before sentence is passed, do you have anything to say ?" Jim turned his head and looked at Warbonnet, who looked back with a "please don't make this any worse than it is look". "I can only apologise for my actions, and I accept what ever punishment this court gives." Vuzen stood. "Very gracious I'm sure. Very well. This court sentence's you to be removed from the Senate Guard, your name will be struck from the the roll, you will not be granted access to any Senate Guard information, equipment or property. This is to be carried out." He paused for a moment and looked down the table to Radipole. "After a final report from Guard General Radipole. The outcome of that report will determine wether the sentence is to be suspended or not. Until then you are demoted to Probationary Member, you may not leave the Senate Guard Base. If at any time you do try or wish to leave, the full sentence will be carried out. Any questions ?" "Errr, no. Thank you." "Court dismissed." Behind him, Jim heard the door open, all the senior officers at the table left, except Radipole who remained seated. When only the three of them were left in the room Radipole moved his chair back slightly and put his feet on the table. "Warbonnet, why are you still here ?" "I err, I don't really know Sir, just waiting for Delgardo Sir." "Well you won't be seeing him for a little while, so if you want to kiss good bye do it now, if not don't be here." "Sir, yes Sir. Good luck Jim, I'll see you when I see you." Warbonnet then carried out a textbook about turn and left the room. Jim looked at Radipole, he in turn just looked right back. Jim who was used to being in control when he dealt with people felt very much on the back step. He wanted to remain in the Senate Guards. Why he wasn't sure, maybe it gave him a sense of belonging to something, something important. "Boy, I don't really care why, you done it and got caught. Done, gone, in the past." "Jim, my name is Jim. Err, Sir." "Boy I know your name, for someone as smart as you are, you sure act dumb. And don't Sir me. Call me Rad." This was not making Jim feel any easier. Go along with it and hope for the best. "OK Rad, how are we going to do this, what's next ?" "That's better Boy. Report to my quarters first thing in the morning, we'll start then." "OK, what time." "Boy I just told you ! First thing." "Well what time is that ?" "Let me put it like this, if I'm awake, your late, OK." Radipole got up and moved towards the door, he stopped and turned to Jim, "Boy, I like you, but you don't use your head, you've got no understanding of the big picture. I can understand that, in your job it's all about you and the here and now. Well I'm gonna try to remedy that. There are two ways this is going down, my way which will be the hard way, or, well actually there is only that way, or the exit. See you in the morning." Then he left. Jim thought to him self if heading straight to his ship and leaving would be the best thing to do. That would be a failure in his book, a failed job. James Delgardo did not like to fail in any job he started.

James Delgardo has been found guilty by the Senate Guard, the very group he wants desperately to remain a member off. Now he finds he must complete a punishment that is not what he had expected.

Chapter Eight. "So I destroyed it ?" "Yes my Lord, no other way to release you presented itself. The Trooper weakened it, but it was you who had the power to destroy it." "With his help still." "I believe he just wanted the glory, it was you who did it my Lord." "And he carried me from the building as it collapsed." "Yes my Lord." "And then carried me back to their ship." "Alas I lack the strength, so yes my Lord." "And then this Smuggler rendered medical aid to me." "Nothing I could not have done with the right equipment. Yes, my Lord." "Then using their communications equipment you contacted Andronikos, who in turn collected us from the surface." "Yes my Lord." "By which time you had let them escape." "My Lord I was incapable of preventing them. They had the power cell from my blaster. I would have tried to render the Trooper unconscious by striking his head with the pistol butt, however... err..." "You were too short." "He was very tall my Lord. Also I had no other weapons." "Not even my Lighsaber it would seem." "They stole it from you my Lord, said it was a fair payment for saving your life. I was powerless to stop them my Lord." "Perhaps I should have Khem train you in hand to hand combat. I'm sure he could demonstrate some techniques that you may find usefull. If you survive the lesson." "I'm positive that wont by necessary my Lord." "One last question." "I can guess my Lord. My uniform." Talos looked down at himself. He was stood bare foot in his underware. "Yes, your uniform." Kribs turned the double bladed lightsaber around in her hands, inspecting it from different angles. "A lightsaber, even for a Sith Lord, is more than just a weapon. It becomes part of them. I fear you have made a very powerful enemy gentlemen. I shall place it in the Senate Guard museum for all to see. I think it is best that the jewel was destroyed. If it had fallen into the wrong hands it would have exerted a too powerful controlling influence over both the Jedi Order and the Sith. There are elements in the Republic and the Empire who would have used it for personal gain. As wise decision to destroy it." "We really had no choice Mam, err Kribs. Those diamond dogs would have depleted my ammunition and then over ran us. Mind you if that Sith Lord hadn't have helped, well, I don't think we would be having this conversation." "A satisfactory outcome from the mission I think. Well done to you both. Honour and integrity was demonstrated. The Senate Guards are proud of you. One question though before you go." Jim Delgardo stepped forward and took the bundle of clothes that had been sat on her desk. He looked her in the eye, smiled and said, "The uniform ? Hate to come away from a job empty handed Kribs." They then both turned and walked out of he office.

Chapter Seven. The dancer was the most beautiful woman Jim had ever seen, and she was smiling at him, he smiled back, she started to walk towards him, here hips swayed from side to side in a graceful display of femininity. She was a vision, she halted in front of him, her eyes the palest blue had a twinkle to them, as she moved her head towards his he closed his eyes and waited with puckered lips for the kiss which would be like touching heaven. He felt her soft warm skin touch his cheek and her sweet breath on his ear, so she liked to tease. "Hmm, I like to tease too sweetheart." "Do you now, well I've told you before, we may be friends but no walks in the moonlight or swapping spit." He frowned, her voice, it sounded just like Warbonnet. "Hmm, your voice......" Jim Delgardo sat bolt upright. Rubbing his face with his hands he then looked up at his friend. Warbonnet looked back down at him with a huge grin on his face. "That ain't funny. And your even uglier first thing in the morning." He looked around, Talos was studying at data pad. The Sith was still in the same place. He friend hadn't moved either. "Don't you have someone to kill or something." "Not today, besides its much more fun making your life miserable. Sweetheart." "Make the most of it, I can't see you being called that much. Understand why you go for the full face helmet now." "What do ya mean by that ?" "All I'm saying is, right face just the wrong planet. Take from that what you will. Now make your self useful and give me a hand up." After Warbonnet pulled him up, he in turn sat down. He then field stripped his blaster rifle and started to clean it. Jim tried to stretch the kinks out of his back. "What you reading there Professor ?" "My research notes." Jim noticed that Talos hadn't even looked up, he took a couple of paces toward. "Hey ! That's my data pad." "Yes, with my research notes. Obviously the Republic is not too high and mighty to indulge in theft of information. I shall inform the Imperial Reclamation Service of this. They will have to improve their data security." Getting to his feet he threw the data pad at Jim. Straightening his uniform tunic he said, "While he was walking in circles and you were talking in your sleep, you must tell my about Evelynne by the way." Jim looked at Warbonnet, who was nodding and smiling. "Bad habit that, talking in your sleep will always get you in trouble." "Do you mind not interrupting, this is vitally important. I think I have gained an insight into how this gem may work. I have scanned it and it is emitting a very unusual high frequency pulse. This, I think, may have an effect on the extremely high concentration of crystal impregnated into every surface, to which it animates them, why into dog shapes is beyond me." Warbonnet looked up from his weapon cleaning. "What ?" Jim chipped in. "The jewel makes the dogs by vibrating." "Why didn't he say that ?" "He did." "I did !" "He did ?" "Yup, do want me to draw a picture for you ?" "Do you want me to brake a bone or two for you ?" Jim smiled at the standard banter between them, no matter what the situation, they could always find time to exchange threats and insults. Warbonnet looked at Talos, "So why has it frozen your friend here, Dooodidas ?" "Dondinas, Lord Dondinas. I think the gem may affect Force users at some kind of cellular level." "So how do we snap him out of it, or do we want too." "Of course we do. We have to sing the song.......... Oh course ! I have it. He is in an hypnotic state, correct ?" Jim and Warbonnet looked at each other. "Sure." "What ? Oh, yes. The jewel places a force user in a trance, the song plants a hypnotic suggestion into the mind and counteracts the effect of the jewel releasing them from the trance. So all we have to do is sing the song. Simple now I think about it." He stood with both hand on his hips beaming a million watt smile. Jim smiled back. "And do you know the song ?" The smile faded away. "No." "So why did it attack you two with the dogs and not us." "Maybe an natural reaction to a Force user or some form a defence mechanism, Although that would denote a level of intelligence." "Are you saying its alive ?" "The existence of crystalline life forms is well documented. I would have thought even the Republic would have encountered some." "So how do we stop it doing what it's doing to Dondinas without the song ?" "Direct force on the jewel enables the animation of the diamond dogs, I believe the skeletons were the remains of the pirate party that attempted to steal the jewel, it may have reanimated them because the bones were already formed. They are mentioned in my notes, so I assume you know all about them, and Hoth too." Jim looked sheepishly at both of them. "Yer, we do. So what do you suggest then ?" "I do have a theory. It may have quite a large amount of risk attached. I can generate a pulse from my scanner, if I start at the lowest spectrum and build to the highest, while being nothing like the Force, it may at some point be at the same frequency as the song, and free my Lord here." Jim asked, "Can we suggest that he move to the light side ? And develop a love for kittens and puppies ?" "Firstly that would be extremely unethical, even for the corrupt Republic, secondly the scanner has no voice to make such a suggestion, it is just going through the frequencies, not actually singing." Standing with his now fully reassembled blaster rifle, Warbonnet asked, "Can we expect it to defend itself ?" "I'm afraid that would be a logical expectation." "That means yes." Quipped Jim "I know. Right, lets do it then. Imp, you start the scanner to , err, scan. Jim I want you to stand by with your Med gear, just in case. Have your blaster or a tranquilliser for the Sith, I don't want him coming around and frying us out of habit. I'll try to Ion Pulse anything that comes our way. A few mortars might help too. Any questions ?" Talos walked over to Warbonnet, and without asking took his blaster from the Troopers belt, Warbonnet never tried to stop him. "You shoot my Lord, I shoot you." Warbonnet snorted, "Good luck with that, I've taken the power cell. If that's it, let do it." Standing facing out toward the chamber, Warbonnet set his blaster at his hip, both mortar and ion pulse were area effect weapons and did not require precise aiming. Jim stood behind him next to Talos. "Do you think it'll work ?" Talos looked him in the eye, a slight smile touched his face. "At this point, your guess is as good as mine. Right, do you both have audio dampeners fitted to your ear pieces ?" "Yes, why ?" "Because high frequency oscillation can be an unpleasant experience, loosening of teeth and bowls to name but a few of the effects." "Nice." Said Jim. He noticed Warbonnet tap the side of his helmet to double check it was working. Jim did the same to his ear piece. "Starting now." They felt rather than heard the effect of the scanner, near to them the dust began to jump around, then as the frequency gained it settled. Higher, it went still. Then the green and blue pulse from the jewel changed, Dondinas seemed to drop his shoulders and his head dropped forward. A low quiet moan came from him. Excitedly Talos shouted, "It may be having some effect, I'm going to slow the escalation in pitch !" Looking out into the audience chamber, Warbonnet thought to him self, you may be right. The ground began to form a shimmering mist that moved together and formed a pack of about twelve diamond dogs, they were still out of reach of the Ion Pulse, but within range of a mortar volley. The explosive rounds all landed within a few feet of the dogs, the blast hurled then into the air. When the smoke cleared eight dogs remained. "Seems you Diamond Dogs don't like mortar rounds either !" As the eight slowly advanced a new layer of shimmering mist began to form, this time solidifying into two large dogs. Shouting back towards Talos, "What ever it is you doing, hurry up. It's about to get very exciting over here !" "I can't go any faster. Just do what you can." The eight smaller dogs were now within range, the Ion Pulse released arcs of ionised energy in a fan, the pack of dogs instead of freezing started to move jerkily, then they shattered. As soon as the Ion pulse had finished the two larger dog started to run towards Him. Warbonnet lowered the barrel of his blaster rifle and fired a volley of mortar rounds in a flat trajectory. Three of the round impacted directly on one of the dogs instantly exploding it into a cloud a dust that glistened and shimmered. Through that cloud the last dog launched it self, claws reaching towards Warbonnet. At the last moment he side stepped the razor sharp talons, then reversing his weapon the Trooper delivered a powerful butt strike to the dogs head sending it sliding along the floor to come to rest at the base of one of the tall pillars. Following after it Warbonnet fired off an Ion Pulse into the still prone dog at point blank range. It disintegrated into a million pieces almost immediately. Returning to his place he looked out in to the chamber, more shimmering mist was forming. Taking advantage of the moments lull, he quickly reloaded mortar rounds and a fresh power cell. As soon as the new pack had formed the mortar round fell among them. Talos was looking at both the Scanners, the MedScanner was showing that Dondinas's brain wave pattern was quickly approaching what would be considered normal. The other scanner was still slowly rising in pitch. There ! He thought to him self, that band seemed to affect the jewel, he returned back that frequency. The green and blue light had stopped pulsing and was a steady glow now, but much brighter. This was the level that had the most impact. He turned his head to see if it had any effect on the dogs the Republic Trooper was in battle with. Indeed he was an impressive figure to watch, switching from Ion Pulse to mortar rounds and back again, and using the stock of the rifle against any dog that got too close, he was dispatching wave after wave of dogs. The movement of the dogs had become less fluid and slower, but that was all. The relentless waves of them continued. "That's it, I can't do any more, the scanner is not powerful enough to have any more effect !" Warbonnet heard him but did not acknowledge him, he was too busy. In his peripheral vision he saw Jim drop to one knee with his blaster pistol in a two hand grip, bolt after bolt shot from the gun, mostly bouncing off their targets to hit wall and pillars. "Just you and me again." "Wouldn't want it any other way." Talos felt helpless, he would be in the way if he joined them, he knew that, he looked back at the scanner, the power cell showed only twenty five percent left. "No ! We need to feed more power into the jewel !" "Allow me !" He looked up and to his left, Dondinas stood there, both hands outstretched. Sheets of Dark Force lightning flew from his hands into the jewel, the green blue light grew in intensity, almost too bright to look at. The anger and rage Dondinas felt at having been trapped and made to feel so helpless he now fed into his attack. He screamed his rage, as more and more lighnining flew from his hands. A high pitch wail begone to come from the jewel. Behind him Warbonnet and Jim Delgardo having destroyed the last wave of dogs heard the wail, no more mist was forming now. Working on instinct they both turned and stood either side of the Dark Lord, and opened fire of the Jewel. The combined assault of Dark Force Energy and the Ion Pulse sent the wail into an ear piercing shriek. For the briefest of moments to jewel turned from eye searingly bright green and blue into nothing, not black but almost a hole into the void, then with a conclusion wave that sent all four of them flying half way down the chamber, it exploded. Getting to his feet first, Warbonnet started to pull the others up, "Out ! Now! This whole place is gonna come down." Jim and Talos started to sprint for the exit. Dondinas was almost a dead weight. "Damn you Sith, I should leave you." Instead he threw the still stunned Sith Pure Blood over his shoulder and ran as fast as he could after the other two. Behind him he could hear to building starting to collapses. Coming out of the doorway into bright morning day light Jim and Talos stopped and turned to look at the building when they were about a hundred feet away. Both men were gasping for breath. As they watched the roof of the structure fell in, pulling the wall in with it. A great plume of dust flew from the doorway as the once great palace became another pile of stone to join the other ruins on the hill top. As the dust settled walking out of the debris came Warbonnet, his helmet and rifle gone, over his shoulder Dondinas flopped like a rag doll. Talos and Jim ran towards him, Talos helped lower Dondinas to the floor. Jim looked at his friend. "You OK Buddy ?" "You owe me a new rifle." Jim laughed. "Not a problem, you worried me for a moment then." "You getting soft on me ?" "He'll no, it's just I'm sure you owe me money." Warbonnet clasped Jim's arm, "You wish." They both looked down at the Sith on the ground. "How is he ?" "Weak, but I think he will make a full recovery, but we have no medical supplies, all of our equipment was in there." "It's OK, my ship is at the bottom of the hill, everything you need will be there." "We then, are your prisoners I presume." "We can sort all that out later," Said Warbonnet, "Let's just get to the ship." Jim said "And a drink." Talos looked up at him. "Now that is an idea that receives Imperial approval."

Chapter Six Designed by Bravis Halcyon, and built by the Corellian Engineering Corporation, the XS Freighter was an outstanding ship, fast and highly manoeuvrable, and in the right pilots hands the ship could truly excel. Just such a pilot had the controls of one now, Jim Delgardo was one of the best pilots in the galaxy, it was one of his many attributes, if asked he would say it was a natural gift, along with his modesty. Jim, however, was an excellent pilot. The ship he piloted now skimmed just a few feet above the wave tops. Even though the XS was a light starship, she still responded well in the atmosphere, the white tips of the waves just a blur as Jim flew his most prized possession at full speed towards the coast line that was still a dark line on the horizon. It was moments like this when he was at his happiest. He turned his head briefly to the right then back forward, his hands making the slightest corrections to direction and height. The smile already in his lips spread to a full face grin. "War, you should learn to relax and enjoy life." "I do enjoy life, I enjoy living it. I can see that changing any second now." "Ha ha, relax you big baby, trust me, your in safe hands." "I would feel safer walking through the city streets of Dromund Kaas, naked and unarmed." "I could arrange that, you do know that don't you." "Shut up talking and concentrate of getting us safely landed on that island." Jim laughed again but said no more. The dark line line had now grown into a high cliff face, lifting the ship so that it was above the cliff, Jim then banked the ship to the right and flew around the island, finally deciding on a spot he said, "Yer, there, that will do." "Bit close to the edge don't you think ?" "If I was loaded I would worry, but empty this baby is as light as a feather." He looked down at Warbonnet's heavy armour. "Mind you, with all your gear and your big fat ar.." "Just get this thing on the ground." "Not a problem my friend." Coming to a hover, the freighter rotated so the landing ramp would be facing the tree line. Then with a gentle grace that seemed impossible for an object so large the ship touched down. Back in the cockpit, Jim was switching the engines off. "See, told you there was nothing to worry about." "No other ships in the area, and no sign of that Fury. So far so good. But save your self congratulations until we are back at base." Jim set the auto defence to active, and then they both made there way to the ships exit. Warbonnet had with him his blaster rifle and all his belt gear. Delgardo, with his blaster pistol strapped to his leg collected a back pack with some med supplies. Just in case, they were both experienced enough to know, you just never know. Once they had both cleared the ramp, Jim closed the door. Now it would not open without the correct access code being entered, twice. Entering it once or wrongly would activate the ships auto defence system, and unless you had multiple heavy auto cannon protection, your day would very bad very quickly. Jim looked around. "No Gulls. You noticed ?" Warbonnet was crouched down looking at the ground. "Footprints, two sets. Imperial issue boots too. We might not be alone." "Think that Fury might have dropped them off ?" "Could be, we'll follow the prints, there going in the right direction anyway. Keep your eyes open Jim, we don't want any surprises." "I'll go along with that, lead on big fella, I'm right behind you." With their weapons at the the ready, they both entered the forest. A thick layer of dust covered the floor and every surface of the building, scuffs showed signs of activity but nothing recent, even those looked to have happened a long time ago. Dondinas and Talos both advance along a broad entrance corridor. At the end stood two statues holding hands, the gap under their hands and between the bodies forming the door. The female statue, protected from the elements by the building had a look of joy and happiness on her face as she looked to the male statue. The male, had no smile upon its face, it showed no emotion at all. Totally neutral. Doing through the door way, they found themselves in a huge domed roof chamber. Giant pillars ran down each side of the room, on a raised platform at the far end of the room were two chairs of equal height. Between them embedded in the wall was what they had come for, the jewel. None of that was drawing their attention. The bones from many bodies, now long decayed, did have their attention. Some of the skeletons still whole, many not, hinting at a death by being torn apart. At the first step they took into the audience chamber the swirling shimmering mist began to form again. This time around the bones. The complete skeletons began to pull them selves to there bony feet, while the other scattered ones slowly pulled towards each other to join. Dondinas and Talos both starred in mute fascination as twelve complete skeletons now stood line a line before them. Once the dust of ages had fallen from them, it was clear that they too were made from diamond. Slowly they began to shuffle towards the two. Talos looked towards Dondinas, he remained motionless. "MY LORD ! They advance !" "Yes, so hard to think, I. Yes." Talos began to think hard and fast. He dropped to one knee and took carful aim on one of the skeletons. Squeezing the trigger as he had been taught, a red bolt shot from the barrel towards his target. It ricocheted off the skull and hit the roof with a small explosion and puff of smoke. "My Lord, did you see, I hit the mark !" He looked at his master again, no movement. Damn typical he thought, I fire the best shot I have ever done and no one to witness it. He had to shake Dondinas out of this state, reaching into his bag he pulled his last mental stimulant. "I hope you understand my intentions." He said to himself, then stabbed Dondinas in the leg, injecting him with the drug. Again his head snapped up. "I understand now why the Sith are always on the back foot with the Rupublic now." Dondinas spun he head around to face Talos. "What did you say ? How dare you, I shall make these, your last living moment, a lesson in pain." "Shouldn't you deal with those first ?" Talos then pointed towards the diamond skeletons slowly approaching, their slow walk made a high pitched ***** each time a crystal foot touched the stone floor. "I don't recall..." "Later my Lord, please destroy them before we become one of them. Turn your anger and rage on them." Dondinas, now filled with rage and indignation at the comments from Talos, now channelled all that raw emotion into his attack, this is what it means to be Sith he thought as arcs of blue lightning flew from his fingers. As each was struck it shattered to dust, slowly Dondinas advanced upon his undead diamond enemies. As the last motes of shimmering mist from the last one vanished into the floor, they now stood before the raised section. Even with the stimulant in his blood, Dondinas still found it hard to think. It had to connected to this jewel. "What does your research tell about how we proceed from here ?" ""Nothing my Lord, only that she sang the song "Of Darkness and Dismay." Nothing about the actual song I'm afraid. Err, my Lord ?" "Speak." "About before, I'm sorry about that, I needed you to be full of rage and anger, I have nothing but the utmost respect for the Sith. It is my greatest privilege to be allowed to join your companion. Please understand, I needed too..." "Silence. It took courage to do what you did. Never do it again. Next time I might not be so understanding. Mercy and forgiveness are not my strong points. Now to the matter in hand. I shall feel with the Force, maybe....." That was as far as he got. For Talos, Dondinas had just stopped talking mid sentance, looking up at Family Badge on the wall he could see the dust on it was being vibrated off to reveal a soft nimbus of green and blue light, it pulsed like a heart. "My Lord have you detected something ?" When he got no reply he saw that Dondinas was statue still, he touched the Sith Lords arm, solid and unmoving. Taking a MedScanner from his bag he checked Dondinas. All the readings were normal. The brain wave patterns were slightly out, but they still looked normal. It was at this point he noticed that the pulse from the green and blue jewel was in time with Dondinas's heart beat. "Oh dear, this does not bode well." For Dondinas, the universe stopped. Advancing through thick wooded terrain with a weapon at the ready position is tiring work for a trained soldier, for someone like Jim Delgardo it was exhausting, and boring. He had long since re-holstered his blaster and was looking around at the trees. Warbonnet on the other hand was a highly trained and experienced professional soldier, he still had his blaster rifle at his shoulder, and every now and then drop to one knee and scan the area in front through his scope. He wished he had a pair of the new Macro-binoculars he had heard about. Even though Special Forces units got all the new gear first, it had to go through Equipment Trials with Research and Development first. As Warbonnet slowly looked through the sight of his blaster rifle at the wooded terrain in front, he wished he had the rest of Havoc Squad with him, a tactical advance like this would be a matter of basic soldiering skills. Instead he had Jim Delgardo, the exact opposite of a highly trained and motivated professional soldier. Standing behind him with his hand s on his hips he said loudly, "Do we really need to do this every five seconds ? There is nothing here, nothing. Not birds, no bugs, no Imps, no nothing." "That doesn't strike you as being odd, we've seen absolutely no sign of life, except for those boot marks ?" "What strikes me as odd is that you still do that kneel look kneel look, your gonna need new knee when you get older, you do know that don't you. C'mon, there's a clearing up there, we can have a quick break then crack on, I want to be of this island before dark." Not waiting for a reply Jim strode on towards the clearing. As soon as they both entered the open space they became alert. "Grounds been disturbed." "Your right War, and recently. These look like the same boot marks ?" "Yup, Imperial Issue, don't know what happened here, but we missed it. I'd say we defiantly are not alone." "We'll let's push on, if they are going for the same thing, their ahead of us. You want the Imps to get that jewel ?" Without saying anything more they struck out, heading towards the centre of the island. Warbonnet set a fast pace, this time Jim kept up with ease. "Fury, do you read me, hello !" Still nothing. Talos was getting very worried. Maybe the jewel was having some effect on his communications. He didn't know. This was not what he was trained for. Tombs and ruins, relic, ancient writings, he could do all of those in his sleep. This he had no answer for. He daren't leave Dondinas, but what could he do. He emptied the contents of his bag on the floor, maybe something among the contents could help, something he had missed the last time he checked. And the time before that. When Jim and Warbonnet reached the base of the hill they began to run up the slope. Warbonnet reached the summit while Jim still had a third left to climb. Waiting on one knee with his weapon in his shoulder, he looked ahead. Ruins all the way to the main building. The only building. Plenty of cover for an ambush. His quick tactical assessment was interrupted when Jim fell to the floor next to him, rolling onto his back and taking great gulps of air. "You got to be on stims, that fast in heavy armour carrying that thing." He quickly got to his hands and knees and promptly threw up. Warbonnet chuckled. "Take a sip of water to clear your mouth, don't drink loads or you will just hurl it back up again. That's it, small sips. Now control your breathing, in through the nose and out through the mouth, nice and steady. You got to get in sharpe." "Stims, you got to be on stims !" "OK, we'll take it nice and slow going forwards now. Keep your eyes open Jim, you listening ?" "Yer, I'm good, nice, forward, open. OK, I'm behind, you. Go." Warbonnet considered hard targeting towards the building entrance. That would involve a sprint, but with sudden changes in direction. Coming to the conclusion that Delgardo might not survive that he settled for a steady walk, blaster rifle swinging left and right. Every dozen paces or so he would turn and take a few paces backwards, scanning to the rear. He could see his friend recovering but still not any real use. Once they reached the building they stood with their backs to the wall either side or the portal. "OK Jim, I need you sharp. Are you up for this or do you need some time ?" Having gained his breath he replied, "I'm good. You lead, I'll follow. I'm OK." "Good, no stopping now until we are there. Ready on three. One - Two - Go." In a slightly stooped steady walk with his rifle in his shoulder Warbonnet advanced down the entrance corridor, aiming left and right as he came. "Room looks clear, moving into the next room, you with me ?" "Yes Sir !" Moving into the main audience chamber Warbonnet stopped in his tracks. "Target ahead." "Seen." Talos was more frustrated than worried now. And annoyed. "What a predicament, this is believable. I'm a bloody Archeologist, not a bloody, bloody ! Word failed him. "We'll I can see your not a soldier Imp, hands up." "What !" Talos spun around, less that ten feet away were a heavily armoured Republic Trooper aiming a very large blaster rifle at his head. The end of the barrel looked impressively huge from his angle. Behind him was another man in civilian cloths pointing at blaster pistol at him. How dare they. He reached for his own blaster pistol, it snagged in his belt. Looking down and using both hands he freed it, and dropped it. Both Jim and Warbonnet lowered their weapons on now aimed from the waist. They were beginning to feel embarrassed for this Imperial. Collecting his pistol from the floor he held it with both hands and aimed at the pair. "Don't move ! In the name of the Imperial Reclamation Service I order you to surrender your weapons at once." Warbonnet take a small step forward. "OK, sure, but first you need to know three things." "Really ? What ?" Another step forward. "One, your out numbered." "I am an Imperial Officer, and my superior training will overcome any numerical disadvantage." Another step forward. "OK, two, when you snagged your pistol in your belt, you switched it off, your weapon isn't powered." Talos looked at his gun. Another step forward. Turning it on, Talos brought the pistol back up into the aim. "How foolish of you, you could have seized the moment, now all the odds are stacked in my favour." Another step forward. "Hmm, and three, and this is the most important." Before Talos could react, Warbonnet snatched the pistol out of his hand. "I have your gun." Looking quickly at the pistol, Warbonnet looked at Talos again. "You still had the safety on. Weapons and combat are not your speciality are they. Who's your motionless friend ?" "This, is Dark Lord of the Sith Dondinas, and on any other day you would both be very dead." "Very dead ? OK, what's up with him ?" This came from Delgardo. "That is privileged information. You can torture me all you like. I shall reveal nothing." "That's more of an Imperial thing, we don't go in for torture. But let me guess, your after the gem, so you can control Jedi ?" "How did you know that ?" "Why ain't he moving ?" "I don't know, every since we came to the wretched place he said it was affecting him, slowing his mind, the closer we came the worse it got, and now, this. Like a fly in amber. I don't know what to do. I only have the most rudimentary medical skills, everything looks fine on the MedScanner. I am at a loss." Jim stepped forward, "Show me the scanner, I'm not a medic, but I have had some training." Talos handed the scanner over to the Scoundrel, "Yup, physically he's fine, but the brain wave pattern, looks like he's in some form of hypnotic trance. He's a Sith you say, uses the Force ?" "Yes, he is a Sith Assassin, your going to kill him now, aren't you ? And no doubt me too." "Again, that's an Imp thing, the Republic don't kill the defenceless. Did he try to use the Force on the jewel ?" "Why yes, he did, do you think that has any bearing ? Do you know the story concerning this jewel ?" Delgardo told him what they knew, but not were he had got the information, if this guy worked in the same place he could cut off his source of information. Talos stood open mouthed. "Fascinating, unbelievable. Who would have thought that we two would have carried out the same research about the same thing at the same time and came to the same conclusion. I wonder what the odds of that are ?" Warbonnet shrugged. "Nine times out of ten, every time. Right, we ain't gonna kill you or the Sith, we want the gem. Now either you tell us everything that has happened since you got here, or we take the gem and leave you and the Sith here to rot. Your choice." "Very well then." For the next two hours Talos told them every thing that had happened since their arrival. Also all about digs he had carried out on Hoth, Korriban and Dromand Kaas. And about his time in the Imperial Reclamation Service. And a myriad of other useless information. Eventually Warbonnet stopped him. "Right, I think we get the picture. These dogs, we didn't see anything like them, good job really, we don't go into Force Lightning much. I can use my rifle to Spray a wave of ionising energy. That might do the trick. First though, we wait until morning, he ain't going no place, and neither are we in the dark. If you got supplies I suggest you use them. I'll stand watch, you two try to get some sleep." Within five minuets Jim was snoring. Talos had his head down in a data pad. Warbonnet looked at the pair, shook his head and continued to walk a small patrol around them. Gonna be a long night, he thought to himself, where was Havoc Squad when he needed them most.

Chapter Five As soon as Dondinas and Talos entered the forest they felt the world had changed. Out in the open in the thin stretch of land between cliff edge and the forest, it had been bright sunlight with a breeze coming in from the sea, bringing the smell of salt water. Once under the canopy of the forest it was very different. Now they moved in a dark shadowy world, the air was still and was thick with the smell of pine and vegetation. In less than a hundred yard Dondinas stopped. Talos who was intent on a data pad in his hand almost walked into his back. "Does something vex you my Lord ?" "What do you hear ?" Talos paused, tilted his head, then he looked around. "Nothing my Lord, total silence." "Exactly, and that is what's wrong. Not even bird song. Have you seen any sign of animal activity on the island ?" "Not really, but to be honest, I haven't been looking either, I'm not a Zoologist, I'm an Archaeologist." "There have been none, and there should be, at least birds. I can feel no other life, nothing. Keep your wits about you, I feel there is more to this place than I can see." Talos placed the data pad in his shoulder bad and drew his service blaster pistol. The thick carpet of old pine needles made there progress through the forest almost totally silent. The darkness and closeness of the tall trees made Talos feel slightly nervous. Dondinas would have felt quite comfortable except for the slight tingle he was feeling, which although barely perceptible, was increasing. A patch of light ahead proved to be a small cleaning, caused by a huge pine that had fallen, taking a few younger and smaller trees with it as it fell. A sudden jolt of pain went through Dondinas's head, making him miss a step, as soon as the pain had come it was gone again. "My Lord, are you ill ?" "Check the back ground resonance." "A spike just a moment ago, but an increase on 9.5% compared to the coast. Do you think......... Wait, it's spiking again. My Lord, look, the ground !" Dondinas was holding his head, pain again. He could sense the force, but rather than flow, it felt thick and slow, like heavy oil instead of rapid water. As he lowered his hands and looked around the clearing. A shimmering mist was rising from the ground, it formed into a glistening trail that lead into the trees. As it tailed of the pain was gone. "We'll I never, what do you suppose that was my Lord." "Quiet you fool, there, where the mist went, movement." They both looked into the trees at the point the trail of sparkling mist had entered. A slight sound could be heard, like something walking on the pine needles. Then, stepping casually into the clearing came a dog. Two things immediately struck then about the dog, one it was huge, it's back was about mid chest on Dondinas. The other was that is was made from crystal. It circled them in silence, padding around the clearing. Two red glowing eyes never left the duo. "A diamond dog." Dondinas had ignited his lightsaber, as he began to draw the Dark side of the Force to cast a sheet of lightning, the dog leaped. Talos yelped in shock and fell to his knees, he fumbled his blaster and it fell to the ground. The dog, with out stretched claws and a mouth full of diamond sharp teeth, was heading straight toward Dondinas's throat. Realising he would not have enough time for the lightning, he used both hands to bring his lightsaber in an upward sweep to strike the odd between the front legs and into the chest. Any normal dog would have been cleaved neatly in two, this was no normal dog, the hid from the blade only knocked the dog into a higher trajectory, so it sailed over the head of Dondinas instead of straight to his throat. Years of training with the weapon enabled him to carry out a straight lunge with the point of the other blade, this pushed the dog of balance and it landed les than a yard from Talos. He froze in fear. The dog got to his feet and began to circle the clearing again. It had totally ignored him. It also showed not a mark from the hits from the lightsaber. Dondinas took advantage of the moment and unleashed a of Force Lightning, arcs of blue energy flew from his outstretched hands towards the dog. It stopped its pacing and stood stock still, but as soon as the electrical assault had finished it resumed its stalking. "Get to you feet damn you, scan the beast again, it looks different." Indeed for a moment when the arcs of energy had stopped, it dog looked slightly blurry. Talos got to one knee and retrieved his scanner. The dog, admin launched at the throat of Dondinas, this time he was ready. As he had waited for the attack, he had been building up Dark Force energy into the double bladed lightsaber. Now just before those razor sharp claws came into contact, with all his might Dondinas threw himself backward and towards the ground, at the same time bringing his legs up and towards his chest. One foot caught the back foot of the dog, sharp pain lanced through his foot as the trailing claw bit deep. As the dog once again travelled over him, he jerked his legs back straight, the momentum lifting his body back from the ground. The pain as his foot hit the ground was immense. Spinning on his good foot he now discharge a massive bolt of energy at the rear of the dog as it touched the ground. Frozen in place the dog crashed to the floor. Arcs of blue eagerly travelled across the body. "YES ! That's it, more. Your attacks are causing it to vibrate. It's cracking." Dondinas knew he would not be able to keep up a prolonged assault of lightning to the level he had just used, but smaller bolts and hurled balls of energy he could keep up all day. Focusing on the pain from his damaged foot he began to launch his attack. As each bolt found its mark, the dog would freeze and blur. Dondinas increased the speed of his assault. Now the dog was completely rooted to the spot, the blur was becoming even more pronounced. Small cracks and fissures in the beast body could now be seen. "GET DOWN !" Yelled Talos, Dondinas stopped the attack and dived to the ground. The Crystal dog remained still, vibrating more and more, until it shattered with a load crack. Small motes of glittering dust filled the air. Then they turned back into the shimmering mist and returned back into the ground. "It was the resonance, my Lord, once it reached a certain level, it became self sustaining." Dondinas looked around, the pain had returned as soon as the dog had shattered. "Quick, into the trees." Once in the dark under the trees, the pain receded to a dull tickle again. "What is the background resonance now ?" "Again the increase of 9.5%, but no more spiking. You think the spike and the dog are connected ?" "The background resonance I can feel as a slight tickle, the spikes are painfully. But since we landed, the Force has been slow to react to my bidding. I could still kill you with hardly any effort, but that beast, it took more strength than it would have normally. It took no notice of you either." "Of which I am most great-full." "I think it attacked me because it knew I was a Force user. I think this whole place has some kind of connection or influence with the Force. I'm just not sure how or why yet. Keep scanning as we proceed. But first, attend the my injured foot." "Yes my Lord." Dondinas placed his back against a tree and let Talos remove his boot. He didn't bother to look at the wound, instead he kept a watch. "I think your instinct to enter the trees again may have been the correct one my Lord." "I am glad you agree." The sarcasm of his comment past Talos completely. "Thank you my Lord. Hmm, yes, I think the dense concentration of the trees may act as some form of buffer against the mist or dust concentrating to form one of those Diamond Dogs." The med probe Talos had used while he spoke had done its task. Replacing Dondinas's boot, he then put his medical kit back into his shoulder bag, keeping the scanner in his hand. "I think it best we avoid any such clearings my Lord, just in case." "Obviously, you do know that if this is no more than a fools errand, you will suffer a great deal before you die." "My Lord, everything so far corroborates all of the research, the effect on the Force you are feeling, the location of the island, the Diamond Dog, diamond is a precious stone used in many jewels. It all adds up my Lord." "Pray it does. For your sake." In silence they marched further into the forest. They encountered no more Diamond Dogs, but they did have to avoid three more clearings. The dense forest slowed their progress, so it took nearly four hours before they came to the forest edge at the base of Poachers Hill. Standing at the edge of the forest, Talos looked at Dondinas, he was worried, he dare not voice his worry for fear of being punished for exposing an even imagined weakness in the Sith Lord. As they had got closer to their present position he had seen him stumble more than once, normally Dondinas was sure footed. He had too say something. "My Lord, the background resonance seems to have peaked here, are you sensing to also ?" "Yes, it seems to be fogging my mind, I still feel the Force, and I know I can use it, but I feel I have to fight harder to control it. You may need to play a more active part in any combat." "Not to worry, my Lord, I still remember my combat training." Dondinas was worried, his mind felt like it was slowing, everything took an effort of will, he felt anger at the effect this place was having on him, normally he would have fed of that anger, he would be more powerful, but the strength used to fight through this thick mental for diluted his power. He could not show weakness to his companion, standing straighter he said, "Come, we gain nothing by delaying, let us find your mythical jewel." With that they both stepped out from the trees into the clear bright sunlight. The ground here was clear of the pine needles that littered the forest floor, dry mud and stone was the ground here. Before they had taken two steps the shimmering mist started to form again, but this time rather than form into one huge Diamond Dog, it formed a pack of smaller hounds. Not even bothering to take his lightsaber from his belt, Dondinas launched a wide sheet of lightning, engulfing the entire pack is arcs of blue energy, they all froze and then shattered, the mist dissipating back into the ground. "Well that was a lot simpler." "If I have to do that every few paces, I will be exhausted and we will be at their mercy before we get half way up the hill." Fumbling in his shoulder bag, Talos pulled out and injector. "I have this my Lord, it's a mental stimulant, it should bolster your willpower for a few hours at least. I'm afraid I have nothing that would help. You see I'm not a Medical Technician, I'm an Archaeologist." "Apply it." Talos responded to the command, injecting the liquid into his masters arm. Immediately Dondinas could feel the mental fog recede. "Better, do you have more ?" "My Lord, only one stimulant may be used at a time, multiple applications will not have a culmanitive effect." He did not answer but started to walk up the hill. With in five paces the mist began to swirl yet again, before the pack had fully formed Dondinas was ready. As soon as the dogs were fully formed lightning struck them. Again almost immediately they shattered and disappeared back into the earth. This same routines was repeated until they reached the hill top. Once the ground levelled out the relentless attacks stopped. "Have you nothing in that bag of tricks that will aid me ? I am almost spent. " Dondinas's voice was almost a whisper, his robes of light armour were soaked in sweat, his shoulder sagged. The almost constant battles on the hill had left him physically drained. "I can give you an endurance boost, but that would negate your mental stimulant, they will not work in conjunction." "Then do it ! What good would an agile mind be if the body drops from exhaustion." Talos retrieved the injector and administered the stimulant. A rush of fresh energy infused his body, his head came up and his shoulders back, but the mind numbing fog was back. They both walked forward. The hill top was on flat area about half a mile in circumference. Ruins from ancient structures lay all around, except for the centre. Here stood and imposing building. A palace of splendour. Or it had been a few thousand years ago. Now it showed the effects of time and the elements. Window long since devoid of glass now were just holes, cracks covered nearly every surface, and wind erosion had rounded every corner. What had once been a statement of authority was now merely a monument to the power of time. Dondinas stood looking at the entrance, an open doorway, the doors long since gone, the wood rotted away. Talos looked at him. "It looks a bit shabby my Lord, but it is still structurally solid. I have been in much more unsound places, occupational hazard of being an Archaeologist with the Imperial Reclamation Service." Instead of the usual threat of violence or death, Dondinas just stood looking ahead. Taking a step forward Talos said, "Shall we proceed my Lord ?" The movement at his side spurred him into action. Taking his Lighsaber from his belt they entered.

Chapter Four. "So this is what your were doing when you were hiding." Jim coughed and sprayed a mouth full of his drink across the cockpit. "Hiding ? I was researching this mission. So what do you think ?" "Looks like most intel, guesses and wishful thinking. Who's this Kendrick guy ?" Delgardo looked up at Warbonnet, then looked down and continued wiping the front of his shirt. "Your silence tells me I'm not gonna like the answer." OK, Kendrick is an Archaeologist, and I sliced the data from his computer." "You do know the kind of trouble you could get into slicing into Republic computers don't you." It wasn't really a question, they both knew Jim Delgardo either was or had been wanted on a number of planets for slicing crimes. The Senate Guard had used it considerable influence both in the Republic government and within planetary governments to try and expunge his criminal record, but on some planets they would much rather see him in a cell then forgiven. One of the conditions that the Senate Guard had forced upon Jim in order for him to join, was that he would not hack into the computer of any friendly government. Within a month of him joining the agreement had to be amended to include the Senate Guard's computer systems as well. "I haven't." "Then who ? Jim, no, you didn't." Warbonnet started to chuckle when Jim gave him a side ways glance and smiled. "That took some guts, if they traced you, they would have sent every Bounty Hunter that could travel in Republic space after you, might have been tempted to cash in on a prize that big myself." "They've got a bigger price on your head last I'd heard." "The Hutts have nothing on me." "Not the Hutts, the Empire." This time it was Warbonnet's turn to cough and splutter. "WHAT !" "Kendrick is an Archaeologist for the Imperial Reclamation Service, I've been slicing his computer for years, good price for artefacts and relics on the black market, won't touch any of that Sith stuff, great price, but they make your skin crawl. Well the story might have more to it than myth, I found out that this Kendrick guy has been exchanging some research with another Archaeologist called Talos Drelik about it, he left the service and now works for some guy called Dondinas, ever heard of him ?" "Nope, should I have ?" "He was on Hoth about the same time as you, never mind, probably some academic rich son of some Imperial jerk, wants all the best people around him to make him look good." "Did you tell Kribs how you got this data ?" "Well, I did tell her it was all meticulously researched, checked and checked again, but I may have left out the bit about the Empire." "So she thinks you worked all this out." "Who am I to tell a Jedi what to think. She never asked, too much, so I never told. I never lied, and that's the main thing." "So is this Dondinas looking for the jewel too ?" "Can't see it, the chances of us both looking for something that has been nothing more than a myth for hundreds if not thousands of years, are what ? A million to one." Warbonnet sighed. "Jim, as we know, million to one chances happen nine times out of ten." "War, you coming up to the cockpit ? We should be dropping out of Hyperspace soon." Jim shouted this from his pilots seat. Moments later Warbonnet entered and sat in the co-pilots seat. "So what's the plan Jim ?" "Well I'm gonna drop into real space not far from the point of entry into the atmosphere, then approach the island at low altitude. That way we shouldn't be spotted, and if we are they'll think we're just smugglers and report us to planetary customs, and since we are going no place near a customs officer, no awkward questions." "Done this sort of thing before ?" "Couldn't possibly comment. Strap your self in and shut up, we're coming out of light speed now, prepare to be impressed." The XS freighter dropped out of hyperspace and hung stationary in the inky blackness above Alderaan. "See, couldn't have been easier." As Delgardo reached forward to engage the sub light engines the cockpit was suddenly flooded by a blinding white light. Over the cockpit loudspeakers boomed a voice. "Unidentified freighter, this is the Imperial ship Fury, what is your purpose and intention in this area." "Oh yes, real easy, got any more genius plans ?" "A Fury, good, heavy on armour, light on speed, we can out run them. I'll jam there communications and then we are out of here." "Err, Hi Fury, how you doing ? Err, bye !" With that Jim stabbed a button jamming all communication frequencies in the area, then put his ships powerful sub light engines into full power. The ship shot forward, un-knowingly straight at the Fury, then at the last moment, Jim rotated the ship 180 degrees and then dived towards the planetary atmosphere. On board the Fury Andronikos, who was sat in the pilots seat, shouted into the ships intercom, "Brace for impact !" The impact never came, at the last moment with the freighter filling the cockpit window, it twisted and dove for the planet. Khem lumbered into the cockpit and with Darth Zash's voice enquired, "What just just happend ?" "Just some smuggler by the looks of the ship, I think we scared them more than anything. Nothing to worry about." "I'm not worried, as long as they pose no threat to the reason we are here. Have you let them know on the surface yet ?" "No need, like I said just some Smuggler. Haven't you got a book to read or something ?" "You really are a most irritating man." Khem smiled, not a nice site, he did not like having to share his body with the spirit of Darth Zash. He then turned and left the cockpit. Andronikos laughed, he liked to annoy Zash, everyone should have a hobby he thought. "Look, there are only eight islands in the chain, won't take long to fly past real low, scan them and find the one we are looking for." "What do you think that Fury was doing ?" Warbonnet was a bit worried about the presence of an Imperial ship, he was beginning to get a bad feeling about the mission. "I don't know, they didn't even try to follow us. Just have to keep our eyes peeled." "I'm going to check my gear, tell me when you find something." He got up and left the cockpit, once he had gone, Jim Delgardo let out a big breath, that Imperial ship had shaken him, what were they doing here ? He tried to put it out of his mind, one thing at a time Jimbo he told himself, one thing at a time.

Chapter Three. In a low geosynchronous orbit around Alderaan, Dondinas's ship was cloaked in darkness. Once again all outside lights had been extinguished, anyone looking for them would easily find them, but no-one was looking for them. In the briefing room the entire crew was gathered. Even though there were enough chairs for everyone, only Dondinas sat. "Talos, tell me what you know about the whereabouts of this jewel." Commanded Dondinas. "Yes my Lord, at present we are positioned in orbit above an island approximately 7 miles long by 4 miles wide and is the eighth in a fairly long chain. The island was scanned quite recently by the Imperial Topographical Services Department of Imperial Intelligence. The scan would indicate that due to erosion from the surrounding seawater, there is no access to the island from the sea itself, high cliff faces form the entire circumference. It would be interesting to study the strata of that cliff face. It would give a fascinating glimpse into the global weather patterns, not to mention the fossil remains." The rest of the crew began to look nervously from Talos to Dondinas and back again. The Archaeologist was well known to ramble when he was talking, often moving from subject to subject resulting to confusion to whom ever he was addressing. Dondinas, on the other hand was known to deliver a quick shock of lightning to whom ever tested his patience. Talos was silenced when Andronikos gained his attention by clearing his throat and then slightly nodded his head in the direction of Dondinas, who was now slowly drumming his fingers on the arm of his chair. Speaking through the hugely muscled body of Khem Val, the voice of Darth Zash sounded incredibly out of place. "Oh do get back to the point you tedious little man !" "What ? Oh yes, where was I, oh the island, yes, well, it is called Hilversum, it would appear to be uninhibited. Mainly covered in deciduous forest with one major land mark, a hill called "Poachers Hill". Atop that hill is the building I believe we are looking for." "Any Imperial, Alderaanian or Republic forces in the area ?" "None my Lord" "Zash, do you know anything about this ?" "Well I had heard the myth my Apprentice, but like everyone else, I thought it was just a story." "I have told you before, I am no longer your Apprentice." "Oh don't be so melodramatic. If this does indeed prove to be what that odious little man says it is, think of the power we would wield. First Darth Thanaton, then maybe the Dark Council, perhaps even the Emperor himself, just think of that, Emperor Dondinas. All the power we would ever want." "We ? There is no we. Can you land the ship there Andronikos ?" "Looking at the map, I'd have to say no. The area between the forest edge and the cliff edge looks large enough, but i wouldn't like to bet that it could take the weight of this ship. The Fury is quite heavy for her size, it's the cost of all the armour she has. I could blast a landing zone, be a bit noisy, but it would get the job done." "No, we don't want to attract any attention." Andronikos looked closely at the display screen on the wall, he tapped a small section of the map displayed on the screen. "There, if we had no strong winds, I could hover the ship there, just a small jump from the landing ramp and your on land" Ashara stepped forward. "Do you wish me to accompany you my Lord ?" "No my Apprentice, if it is only Jedi this jewel has an influence over, it would only be an added danger. No, since this is Talos's area of expertise, and his idea, he shall accompany me to the surface." "But my Lord, I'm an Archaeologist, not a soldier !" "Yes, that much is obvious, but it is your skills and knowledge in that field that I need, and are the only reasons you still live. Now go and gather what tools you may need. Andronikos, take the ship down to where you can place us on that wretched island, then depart back into orbit. I will contact you when we are ready to depart. The rest of you will monitor all communications for any indication that our presence has been detected. You are all dismissed." They all hurried out of the briefing room to the tasks that they had been given. Dondinas looked at the map on the display screen. Could it be true ? He still had his doubts, but still, if it gave him an edge in his fight against Darth Thanaton it was worth investigating. Dondinas's Fury class ship skimmed just above the surface of the ocean. Dondinas and Talos stood by the closed airlock. Using the comlink build into his grey helmet he said, "How far now ?" "We will be at the cliff edge in just over a minute my Lord." A moment later they both heard the sound of the engines change as the ship began to slow. As the Fury approached the coastline she began to agin altitude, slowing to a hover just two feet above the ground once she had past the cliff edge. Spinning in place so the airlock door and access ramp faced the trees, she then came to a full stop. With the whine of hydraulic motors the landing ramp extended and with a pop of air the door leading into the ship opened. Dondinas ran down the ramp and jumped the last few feet to land on the ground, he ignited the lightsaber held in his left hand and in his right was a ball of Force lightning, ready to be hurled at any opponent. Slowly edging down the ramp came Talos, when he got to the edge of the ramp he got onto his knees then sat and pushed his legs over the edge, his feet touched the ground. Then with an effort he pushed him self away from the ramp. He landed flat on his stomach, he touched to comlink in his left ear. "We are clear of the ramp, you may depart the area." "Roger that, leaving the area now." Talos pretended not to hear the peals of laughter from the rest of the crew in the background, as he kept saying he was an Archaeologist, not a soldier. As the airlock door slid shut and the landing ramp retracted, the Fury shot forward and dropped like a stone to to once again skim the surface, once she was over the horizon she would arc upwards to resume her orbit waiting to be called back. The sound of the lightsaber being turned off made Talos look up, standing looking down at him was his master, Dondinas. "Are you sure you passed out from the Imperial Military Academy ?" Getting back to his feet and brushing some dust and grass of his uniform he said, "Oh yes my Lord. Although, that was my first combat deployment. All rather exciting." Dondinas looked at the man for a moment longer. "Conduct a scan of the area, then we shall proceed to the structure." Out of the bag Talos had slung over his shoulder he took a large thick data pad, after a few seconds he said, "My Lord, I can detect no electronic signatures in the area, however that does obviously preclude shielded devices." "Obviously." How ever this is rather unusual, it seems that the entire area in covered, no impregnated with a fine layer for a carbon based crystal, in a highly compacted form. I have never seen the like before." "Highly compacted carbon based crystal, you mean diamond, the area in covered in diamond ?" "Yes, I suppose it is diamond, but it would seem in an extremely fine layer, and it is on everything, the trees, grass rocks, even the soil." Reaching down he plucked a blade of grass bent it and then snapped it in half. "Hmm, it would seem that lather than the crystal forming a layer and thus making this blade brittle, it seems to be infused into the outer layer, I don't understand why though, it offers no strength or protection. "Is it a danger to us ?" "No my Lord, completely harmless, none of the crystal particles are in the air, just on solid matter." "Then we proceed." Keeping his lightsaber in his left hand they started to walk towards the tree line. After only a dozen steps Dondinas stopped. Something was there, he reached out with the Force but felt nothing, it was in his mind, a slight almost feather like tickle, as soon as he concentrated on it it was gone. "Is everything alright my Lord ?" "I feel something, but it evades me. Are you sure you can detect nothing else ?" "Nothing my Lord, slightly elevated background resonance, but apart from the crystal, nothing." "Resonance ?" "Yes my Lord, the movement of the oceans, the wind, the molten core all cause vibration, this vibration is so low it is all but ignored, an increase in the resonance in certain areas can indicate an earthquake or volcanic eruption. The island chain we are on is part of the top edge of a continental plate, and quite stable, there is no volcanic activity in the area." "Then why is it higher here then." "I really don't know my Lord, I am an Archaeologist, not a Geologist." "Monitor the levels. Inform me of any possible danger it could cause." "Yes, of course my Lord" They then entered the forest.

Chapter Two. Newly promoted Captain Warbonnet, commanding officer of Havoc Squad, which was a special forces unit in the Republic military marched along the corridor at a regulation 120 paces per minute. And he had just the barest hint of a smile on his lips. Not that marching made him happy, he was more of a "up to your armpits in mud getting down and dirty" type of soldier rather than the "spit and polish looking all nice and shiny on parade" type of soldier. The reason for Warbonnet's amusement was beside him. Jim Delgardo, slicer, smuggler, conman and all round scoundrel was struggling to keep up with him, he would alternate between jogging for a few steps then walking again. It wasn't the pace that caused the problem, it was that because Warbonnet was nearly a foot taller than Delgardo, so lengthening his step from the regulation 30 inch step to 35 inch, hardly noticeable, but enough to make his friend struggle to keep up. They arrived at a closed door and halted. The panting from beside him gave Warbonnet even greater amusement. "Getting out of shape there Jim, looks like you need to work out a bit more." Delgardo was slightly bent over with the heel of his hands supporting his upper body on his knees, he was taking deep breaths and was sweating quite heavily. "Why ? No problems, could keep that up all day, besides, we're early." "A good soldier is always 5 minutes early." "Well we are more than 5 minutes early" "Well I am a very good soldier, stop moaning, stretching those spindly little legs will be good for you." "Nothing wrong with my legs, not spindly, shapely, well proportioned." "If you say so. Do you know why Kribs wants us ?" "Nope, might be a job, so be on your best behaviour and try not to drag you knuckles along the floor." "Ha, yer, and I'll do my best not to tear one of your arms off and beat you to death with the soggy end, but I'm not promising anything." The banter had been a part of their friendship since they first met. The then Lt. Warbonnet had been tasked to escort a prisoner, Jim Delgardo, from the Republic Fleet headquarters to Coruscant, but the whole thing had been a con by Delgardo to get to Coruscant without paying for the journey, and to have a military trained bodyguard in case things got interesting. The ship they had used was the Esseles, and thanks to the Empire things had indeed got very interesting. Shortly after that Jim Delgardo had joined The Senate Guard and had in turn recruited his friend too. The Senate Guard were a shadowy paramilitary organisation, self funded and working for the Senate. Officially not recognised as a part of the military or the government, they did covert actions against any enemy or potential threat to the stability of the Republic. Jedi of all disciplines, Special Forces Troopers, Gunslingers and experts in underworld affairs were all members of the Senate Guard, and with connections within the Jedi order and the Military, the absence of members while on Senate Guards missions would not arouse suspicion. "Time." Said Warbonnet as he raised his thumb to press the call button on the compad just to the left of the door. Just before he touched the button the door slid open, two senior Guard members were standing there looking back into the room. Modninzo, another Special Forces Trooper and Stephannan, a Jedi Knight, both wore heavy armour that was both dirty and showed marks from recent action. "I don't care, it's not my fault and I'm not taking the blame." Shouted Modninzo into the room, then they both turned to leave, giving Warbonnet and Delgardo a nod of greeting as they left. Then they both stormed off down the corridor. The two friends looked at each other, shrugged their shoulders and entered the office. Stood by her desk with both hands on her hips was Kribs. A slim dark haired attractive Jedi Knight with piercing blue eyes. As a senior member of the Senate Guards, but not yet an officer, she was able to lead large operation in the field and also to authorise small unit mission. "Gentlemen, I'm sorry about that. Please come in, make your self comfortable." They moved further into the office and looked around. The only chair in the room was the one behind Kribs desk. Warbonnet stood with his hands behind his back in the "at ease" position, Delgardo strolled over and leaned against a wall and folded his arms. Kribs looked at him for a moment, he looked straight back at her and smiled. She looked away and sat at her desk, she didn't smile back. They both knew better than to ask what all the shouting was about. The Senate Guard was very compartmentalised when it came to sharing information about operations. Important intelligence gained would be placed in the central archive, any sensitive information would be shared on a need to know basis, and as both men had worked in covert operations before, sometimes in the shady dealings of the underworld in Delgardo's case, keeping secrets would not be a problem. "To business," she began, " has Jim brought you up to speed with this mission ? This was said directly to Warbonnet. He looked over at his friend and frowned, then looking back at Kribs said, "No Mam, he's said nothing at all." "Drop the Mam, it's just Kribs, this isn't the Republic Military Academy. Well in that case this might take a little longer. I had hoped Jim would have briefed you, since the mission is his idea. Never mind." Warbonnet looked over at Jim Delgardo again, Jim was inspecting some small unseen blemish on the palm of his hand and most determinedly not looking back at Warbonnet. "I'm sure we will have a nice cosy chat about it later. Won't we Jim ?" "Look Pal, I would have said something, but you were busy and I didn't want to waste your time if it panned out to be nothing. Besides your an important man, you don't want to be looking at fairy tales and myths" "What the hell are talking about ? I know it's still early but have you been drinking already ?" "I hate to interrupt," interrupted Kribs, " but may I continue ?" She did. "I will start from the beginning, there is an Alderaanian myth concerning a gem or jewel that could make someone fall in love with them." Warbonnet looked over to Delgardo again, he clenched his jaw, then looked back to Kribs. "In the story the victim was a Jedi. Jim thinks that there may be some truth in this story and he has a lead on where the jewel might be. If this stone were to exist, the possible threat to the entire Jedi Order would be enormous, what if this was to fall into the hand of the Empire, or worse still the Hutts. Could you imagine the consequences to the entire galaxy if the Hutts had control over the Jedi Order. No, it's a possibility we can not and will not ignore." Kribs then stood and moved around to the front of her dest, she placed both hands on her hips and said "Gentlemen, you are both tasked to travel to Alderaan and investigate the possible existence of this artefact. If it is real, you will secure it and return it to us here, if this is not possible you will destroy it. Any questions ?" "Mam, sorry, I mean Kribs, will there be any friendly assets in the area ? Can we call on Republic forces if we need back up ? I know the Empire has troops stationed on Alderaan, and if we are heavily outnumbered we might need some support ?" "You are to carry out his mission without alerting the Republic to your presence. The Empire had agents within the Government as we all know, if the gem is real and they get wind of it, well you can imagine, it would be a race, and the Empire would destroy Alderaan to gain such a powerful weapon. For that reason, you will both travel on Jim's ship, Warbonnet, your ship is fairly well known within Special Forces, and we can't risk it being recognised. It will also give you a chance to study Jim's research notes. If you are desperate of need advice you may contact a Senate Guard Officer through the normal secure channels. Any other questions ? When both men remained silent she carried on. "In that case Gentlemen, I suggest you proceed at once to Alderaan, if it does exist it must be made safe as soon as possible. Good luck and may the Force be with you." "May the Force be with you also." They both chorused. Once back out in the corridor, Warbonnet turned to his friend, "Jim, please tell me this has nothing to do with Evelynne." Jim looked at his friend then looked down sheepishly. "OK, I'll admit when I first started looking into it I was thinking of her. I know, I know, it would have been wrong. But now I know she will never be mine, it hurts still but, well, it still hurts." "Jim, for all your faults I don't believe your that kind of man to do that to anyone. That's not love, it would be closer to slavery. So are you over her now ?" "Yes, I think so. But I think that it is real. After I showed Kribs what I had found, she thinks so too. Besides, it it turns out to be nothing to be more than a fairy tail, I know a great bar we could go to, they've got these two dancers, twins they are........." As they made their way to Jim Delgardo's ship he continued to tell Warbonnet all about the twin dancers.

The Senate Guard. Chapter 1 Threads weave, this way and that, random patterns for a random Galaxy. The comlink in his ear chirped to life. "Lt. Warbonnet report to the Esseles docking area ASAP." Great, thought the still young Republic Vanguard Trooper. Life had got a lot more complicated since his transfer to Havoc Squad. "On my way, out." What now ? He wondered if they wanted him to fly the damn ship, Havoc seemed to get the jobs to do everything else lately. The Brass couldn't blame him for the defection, no, he thought put that from your thoughts, right time, right place, here and now was neither. As Warbonnet exited the turbo lift onto the docking area the usual mix of Jedi and Troopers all headed for Coruscant milled around, most headed for the shuttle that did the regular milk run from Fleet H.Q. to the Republic Capital world. Standing next to a holo display of the Esseles was a junior grade Navy officer with two fleet security guards, between them was what looked to be a prisoner, thick heavy weight binders held his wrists together, observation and attention to detail, the hallmarks of a good Republic Trooper, that and noticing the blindingly obvious, Warbonnet chucked to himself at his own joke. "Something funny grunt ?" "Yup, your lack of any immediate future if you keep opening you mouth." The Navy officer looked Warbonnet up and down and said "I take it you are Lt. Warbonnet, the new and very junior officer commanding of Havoc Squad." "You Navy boys are a lot smarter than you look, or did someone give you help." The Navy jg just looked blankly back, this was not how people talked to him. "Yes, Lt. Warbonnet reporting as requested. So what's all this about ? I'm a little busy right now, but if you ask one of these two guard out for a date I'm sure they could show you a good time." Another blank look, this could take all day. "Yes I am, now what do you want, I'm under orders to report to Coruscant and you delaying me, so spit it out son or wave me goodbye." Ah, giving orders, this was something the Navy officer understood. "Your orders have been some what amended. Instead of taking the shuttle to Coruscant, you are to board the Esseles and escort this prisoner to stand trail on Coruscant. You will be met on arrival for prisoner handover. Any questions ?" "You have got to be joking, I'm no baby sitter !" "Navy never joke. Sign here for the prisoner. Accommodation on board has been arranged, you are to remain with the prisoner at all times." Warbonnet looked at the prisoner, a civilian, he looked Warbonnet straight in the eye and said "Hi, Jims the name, Jim Delgardo I'd shake hands but I'm a bit tied up at the moment." Looking at Delgardo Warbonnet asked the Navy officer "What's he done ?" "Says here, theft of a space craft" "It was my ship that was stolen !" Said Delgardo, "Forging planetary landing permit to a designated war zone" "I didn't know they were fake, I bought the, err, got them in good faith !" "And gun running." "Err, is there any chance I could get something to eat ?" Warbonnet took and signed the pad for Delgardo, "Hope you got a nice cell on board for him." "Nope," grinned the now very happy Navy officer, " you got a single cabin, you signed, your prisoner, your problem, have a nice flight grunt." With that he marched towards to turbo lifts with the two security guards in tow. Could the day get any worse. "And then she said that's not my cat !" Delgardo laughed out loud, Warbonnet and the crewman who was showing then to their cabin remained silent, the three continued down the corridor. "You really had to have been there." "What ?" Delgardo said nothing more and continued to walk just ahead of Warbonnet, muttering under his breath about the extraction of the sense of humour gland during basic training. The crewman came to a halt by a door, he pushed the access button and the door slid open to show a small but functional cabin. Single sleeping bunk, desk with a chair, and a bench along one wall. On the desk was a data pad and a box abou inches. "The data pad on the desk will show you a ships plan and the location of all guest areas. We hope you have a pleasant stay aboard the Esseles, enjoy, err, gentlemen." With that the crewman about turned and walked back down the corridor. Warbonnet pushed Delgardo into the cabin. "In." He said. "Hey, take it easy big guy, I'm delicate." "Hmm, sure, I had heard the rumours." "So what's the plan then, hit the bar, a few drinks, pick up some girls and then enjoy the gambling tables ?" "Weapon cleaning, then food, then sleep." "Weapon cleaning, good thinking, I could do with a shower, won't impress the ladies smelling like a Bantha's armpit." "My blaster rifle, not my..., never mind. You just sit there and keep quiet." Delgardo sat on the bench and watched as Warbonnet went to work stripping the blaster rifle down, then with an expert eye inspected then cleaned every part, finally reassembling the weapon. The fluid grace of doing a familiar job was soothing to Warbonnet and impressive for Delgardo to watch. The quiet was broken when Delgardo said "Why don't you have one of those big cannons I've seen the other Troopers use, big guy like must feel kind of embarrassed to have such a small gun." Delgardo grinned at the taunt. "It says on the data pad that when you were captured you were armed with a snub nosed blaster pistol, I hear high society ladies like tiny little guns like that. So do you really want to talk about who's got the biggest gun ?" "There are times when size isn't important, it's what you do with it that counts." "Can't argue with that." "Reminds me," said Delgardo, " the box, it's got my blaster in it, could I have it back." Warbonnet looked at the box, then at Delgardo, then back to the box which he slowly opened. Inside was a well maintained, clean and fully charged customised blaster pistol. Looking again at Delgardo he said "How did that get here ?" "She's a beauty ain't she. Had a mods done to here, not quite got the power or range of what you've got, but she will do the job and get me out of trouble when I need to." "Answer the question or we will see if your little pop gun can survive a garbage compacter." "Bit of a long story, but first we need to get a few things straightened out. I wasn't captured. My ship really was stolen, and the cheap Taun Taun dropping that took my ship is on Coruscant. And since the price of a flight to the capital is more than I have right now, plus there are a couple of guys who would like to see a hole in my head, I sliced into fleet security." "You what !" "Simple really, for the military it's a very easy system to slice into I would have thought that my tax credits, if I paid tax, would have bought a better system. The system they have at Sung Restraints ltd, the people who make these binders is a much better system, not perfect but better." As he finished his sentence the binders securing Delgardo's wrists together dropped to the floor. Instantly Warbonnet reached towards his rifle. Delgardo raised his hands and said "Easy big fella, I mean no harm and I'm going no place this ship ain't taking me already. As I said I tracked my ship to Coruscant, so that is we're I need to be, so I arranged for Navy security to be alerted to the fact that an arrest warrant had been issued for my arrest and that I was on the Navies Fleet H.Q. Space station. Even then I had to walk slowly past them 5 times before they noticed me. I arranged for an armed escort too, In case some one tries to rescue me, didn't expect you though." "We'll I'm delivering you to Coruscant security as soon as we get to the surface, you can explain to them." "I should think so too, they would be most upset if you didn't deliver Ambassador Delgardo from Ord Mandel I am expected you know. Now was there some mention about food ? If you not sure about your new mission brief, press the restart on the data pad." Warbonnet looked at the data pad, then pressed the restart, a few seconds later a red flashing priority message warning flashed on the screen. Accessing the message informed him the Lt. Warbonnet was to act as escort and body guard to Ambassador Delgardo from Ord Mandel, and he was to be accorded all honours due his rank. "Your scum." Said Warbonnet. "My preference is Scoundrel, has more style than scum." "Well I'm keeping hold on the pistol, and I'm going for food, please feel free to join me if you wish Ambassador." "Don't mind if I do, don't ya know, what what !" Warbonnet clipped the blaster pistol to his belt, shouldered his rifle and with Delgardo following left for the ships galley. A few minuets into the trip Delgardo looked at Warbonnet the looked away, a few moments he looked then looked away again. "You keep looking, if you thinking since we are sharing a room we might be swapping spit and taking walks in the moonlight, think again." "Don't worry your not my type." As they entered the dining area a steward droid came over and took there order, then returned in a few moments with there food and some non alcohol drinks. Delgardo mentioned to him self never to travel Republic class again. "Right, I've got to ask, Warbonnet, what kind of name is that, were you not liked by your parents ?" "My personal life is off limits. Most Troopers when entering special forces adopt a new name. It's to protect your family from revenge attacks." "But why Warbonnet ?" "On the planet I come from, don't ask, warrior tribesmen make a head dress to show there power as a warrior, it is also a mark of honour and pride." As they were talking they had noticed a young Jedi Knight had entered the dining hall and was talking the the steward droid. "I chose the name Warbonnet to remind myself of the standards of honour and integrity that I had and would live up to every day. A name should mean something, it is who and what you are." As he finished talking the Jedi sat at the table with them. "Hi, hope you don't mind if I join you. My name is Hairyegg... Is something wrong ?...why are you both laughing ?" The laughing was cut short by the sudden wailing of sirens. What happened next on board the Esseles in well documented in Republic archives. Threads twist and weave. Chapter 2. Life for James Delgardo had got very interesting lately. The galaxies greatest, by his own estimation, conman, trickster, forger, and thief. A man who by choice was a natural loner, and liked it that way, now found himself not only very good friends with a Jedi Knight called Hairyegg, a bastion of truth and justice, a guardian of the Republic, and a guy who could not understand why everyone found his name hilarious, but also Warbonnet, a Vanguard Republic Trooper and rising star in Republic Special Forces, you could bend solid plasteel bars around that mans honour. They both new about Delgardo's chosen profession as a Scoundrel, and still accepted him as an equal and freind. The events aboard the Esseles had cemented the friendship, their combat skills and the bag of medical probes and kolto that Delgardo had found had saved each others lives numerous times that day. Any previous problems like the fact that Delgardo was technically Warbonnet's prisoner being escorted to Coruscant were forgotten and a bond was formed that transcended things like the law, well that was the way Delgardo liked to see it. Something else that had a remarkable effect of Delgardo was the unexpected encounter on Taris, a plague infected jungle world, of a young Jedi called Evelynne, they had teamed up to infiltrate an Imperial base, after leaving the planet they had kept in touch. She had even persuaded him to join the Senate Guard, a shadowy group that worked for the Republic Senate, a collection of Jedi of various disciplines, Special Forces Troopers, Civilian Gunslingers and specialist infiltrators like himself. Working alone or in groups for the Senate. For free. FOR FREE ! Delgardo still had problems with that, any thing of value found during a Senate Guard mission was, technically, meant to deposited into the vault. And he would, it was just at the moment he felt they were safe in his own safe on his ship, a ship he loved, a ship that was stolen from him, and was once again his and was now fully fuelled and ready in the docking bay of the Senate Guards own capital class ship, with was in obit around the Republic Fleet H.Q. Main space station. Delgardo was sat on a hard bench on the side of the main practice hall waiting for his two closest friends Hairyegg and Warbonnet to arrive. He had persuaded them to come to the Senate Guards to have an interview with the Guards leader, Radipole. He hoped it all went well and they would agree to join and were accepted. He liked working with them, even when the chance of a tidy little profit was lost. Their combined skills had turned the tide in more than a few scrapes, and it seemed to make the bond between the stronger. As Delgardo sat waiting, he was watching the Senate Guard members in the hall going through practice drill with lightsaber's and at one end of the hall target dummies had been placed for low yield blaster target practice. He was watching the Jedi practice their forms with single and double bladed lightsaber's, some even had one in each hand. They leaped high into the air, twisting and turning, spinning their blades in arcs of light, then to land light as a feather ready to launch into another form, they did this on their own or in pairs. In one corner of the hall five blindfolded Jedi armed with single bladed lightsabers surrounded one equally blindfold Jedi armed with a double bladed lightsaber. The Jedi in the middle seemed to move so fast that the energy from the blade seemed to create a wall of glowing energy. Delgardo's attention was drawn to a young Jedi who had entered the hall. After a few stretching moves she ignited her double bladed lightsaber. Delgardo could feel his heart beat quicken and a light sheen of sweat began to form on his forehead. As Evelynne moved with ease through her practice forms her speed increased, until she was a blur of light. Delgardo was breathless just watching. "Hey Jim ! You in there ?" The voice made him turn his head, Hairyegg and Warbonnet were both standing to the side of him. What was this woman doing to him, he thought no one has ever got this close to him with out him knowing before, get a grip man. "Got bored waiting for you two stalwarts of the Republic, so what did the big cheese say ? Sorry your both too uptight and proper, come back when you've learnt to relax and have a good time." "We are both accepted as probation recruits. He did say we would receive accelerated promotion if we ejected you out of the nearest airlock." Said Warbonnet, following up his comment with a solid punch to the arm. "Sorry Jim," he said, "you might need a Kolto pack on that." "You know what War, I don't care what every one else thinks and says, I think your a funny guy." Warbonnet looked at the Scoundrel and just grinned. "Practice real hard and one day I'll let you touch my armour, or is it someone else you got your eye on ?" Both Warbonnet and Hairyegg looked towards Evelynne who at that moment looked over and waved with a smile. Delgardo felt his heart soar at that smile, and waved back. "You've been sniffling rocked pack fuel again haven't you. C'mon I'll let you buy me a drink in the cantina to celebrate, and remember, I'm senior to both of you, that means I out rank you." "Well in that case, after you Oh high and exalted one." Said Hairyegg. "Indeed, lead on Sir." Added Warbonnet. They all then made there way to the cantina were Delgardo got drunk and Hairyegg and Warbonnet, didn't. Chapter 3. As the time drew on, both Hairyegg and Warbonnet were both tested in there skill as a Jedi Knight and as a Special Forces Trooper. Both suspected that the Senate Guard may well be connected very highly within the Senate itself when Hairyegg received extended personal leave to continue "personal meditation" from the Jedi High Council and Hairyegg was granted permission to field test new equipment for Havoc Squad. Vuzen, the Senate Guards leader in Radipoles absence, explained that the Guard had members in most arms of the Galactic Government, and even had eyes and ears in the Empire itself. It was a self funding paramilitary covert wing of the Republic, anything else they would know on a need to know basis, and right now they didn't need to know. That suited both Hairyegg and Warbonnet well, they were both used to the compartmentalised world of covert operations, how ever it did not sit well with Delgardo who was unused to being told he could not have access to information he wanted, he grew even more frustrated when he received an official warning about trying to slice into the Senate Guard central archive, then an unofficial warning after ignoring the first, the result being the discovery of a large Gamorrean Battle Axe embedded into the deck of the docking bay his ship was in, a subtle hint that he did take. Because he had introduced both Hairyegg and Warbonnet to the Guards he was expected to mentor them and be accountable for their actions until they had become full members. This ment Delgardo was expected to remain on the Guards home ship. He filled each day with learning new healing skills from the Guards extensive library, his skill with a blaster pistol improved as did his skill in unarmed combat, or dirty tricks as he liked to call it. He also spent a lot of time watching Evelynne, it almost became routine for him to be there when she practiced her forms. He decided that he must do something other than just watch, he knew the all Jedi take a vow that meant they could not have an emotional relationship, but surely there must be a way around that, he had heard of Jedi that had married even. He promised that the next day he would approach her and ask her to join him for a meal. Pretty harmless that, test the ground and see what developed. The following day as Delgardo was making his way to his usual place on the side benches his mind was in turmoil, how would he approach her ? He'd never had problems with women before, he was a very self confident man, could make people laugh, so what was the problem now. He knew of course. Evelynne was not a mark, she was not a target to exploit, this was new territory to Delgardo. He had thought about asking Hairyegg or Warbonnet, but 'Egg had also taken a vow of solitude, and Warbonnet just said he had no time for that kind of stuff at the moment. He was on his own. As he turned a corner going towards the practice hall him almost walked straight into Evelynne, who was staning alone in the corridor, she looked at him and smiled, she said, "Are you alright ? I apologise and don't mean to pry but I sense confusion and worry in you, and fear, I know you are not sensitive to the Force, but you must guard your feelings, the Dark side can influence even you." She smiled at him, he could feel him last meal racing around his stomach like a Rancor chasing its next meal. "No I'm fine thanks, it's just War and Egg are being given there final tests in the next couple of days, just worried for them." Why had he said that he asked himself, yes they both were coming to the end of their probationary period, but they all knew the would pass with flying colours, damn this woman was really getting to him. "I'm sure your two friend will made full members with out any problems, I know they both have had to go though many more test and trails than you have, but they have a very specific skill set, and the Guards must be vigorous, be at peace, you show them both great regard and respect with your worries, you are a true and loyal friend." "I worry about all my friends, even you." He followed this with a little laugh, it sounded nervous and stupid to himself, she must think I'm so weak and pathetic. "Thank you for your concerns about me, you are most kind." "You do know that I like you, a lot, if ever you needed me, anywhere in the Galaxy, I would be there for you, you do know that don't you." "I am truly touched by your concern for my well being, thank you. You too should know that if ever you need me, I will always be there for you too." Right at that moment, Delgardo was the happiest man in the universe, could she truly feel the same way too, this was the happiest moment of his life, right now he would have done anything for this wonderful beautiful woman standing next to him. "As members of the Senate Guard it is our duty to be there to protect each other, none here would be so derelict in our duties to see any harm come to a fellow Guard." The Universe crashed all around him, a pain like he had never felt gripped and tore at his heart. "Of course, that's what I meant." "Are you sure you are OK ? I still sense great torment in you." "I must admit I do feel a little unwell, think I'll go see a med droid, might have eaten something that disagreed with me." "You should, go now, you don't want it to get worse and miss your friends gain full membership." With a weak smile that never went any further than his lips Delgardo left Evelynne alone in the corridor and made his way to his ship. How could he have been such a fool. The Jedi never felt that kind of emotion, he truly was a fool, a damn lovestruck fool. How could he have been so blind, she was Jedi, unattainable, remote and alone by choice. Humiliation was a new emotion to Delgardo he didn't like it. Chapter 4. Evelynne was in the central archive, the Guards archive contained a vast amount of information, what wasn't there would soon be found and put there. A small army of archivist droids would take enquires from Guards members seeking information and then return with a data pad, a holocron, a book or scroll. If it wasn't for the droids you could spend a lifetime looking and still not find what you wanted. It was the perfect place for mission research, which is exactly what she was doing. This was one of her favourite parts of a mission, he hunger of knowledge had never been satisfied, and never would she hoped. "Jedi Master, I apologise for interrupting your study, but may I please ask you something quite important ?" She looked up to see Hairyegg standing to the side of her, just behind him was the looming bulk of Warbonnet, she knew them in passing, that they were friends with Jim Delgardo and were nearing the end of their probationary period. "Of course, please be seated Gentlemen, could I get you some refreshment ?" "Thank you but no. We were wondering if you had seen Jim Delgardo lately, he has not been seen and he does not respond to our holocalls, his ship is still in dock, but on a lock down, the dock master knows nothing about it except the ship is fully fuelled and prepped for launch, but not logged to do so. Jim is normally a sociable type, this is very out of character for him not to be seen out and about. We know he spends a lot of time in the practice hall, but no one has noticed him for the last few days. Do you know if he has been sent on a mission ?" "As far as I know he has not, nor should he be until the pair of you have completed your trails and passed. Has anyone scanned his ship ?" "We didn't want to invade his privacy if he is on board, besides it would do no good, his ship has a heavy scan screen, and it has a feed back generator that will show a scan what he wants it to show. Short of destroying the airlock door you can't slice your way in either, his security is of the highest quality, he told us so." All three smiled at the thought of Delgardo never failing to inform anyone who would listen about his skills and talents, the problem was he really was that good as well. His slicing skills and persuasive abilities had got him into the Senate Guard, as well as his outstanding pilot skills, not to mention he was a very good shot with a blaster pistol, but Delgardo always said if the situation ever got to the point of blaster fire it was time he wasn't there, and if he was something had gone very wrong indeed. "The last time I saw him," she said," was as I was making my way to the practice hall for my daily form practice, I've seen you both practice there too, maybe we could spa sometime, practice against organic's is much better that self practice or using a target droid. I digress, he seemed disturbed, when I questioned him about it he mentioned that he was nervous about your impending trails. We talked about our joint commitment to the Senate Guards, the he seemed to be taken by a bout of illness, of course, that must be it, he must still be ill. I will have a med droid take a look at him." "Won't work, he would never let someone else's droid on his ship, it's a trust thing. We'll go over and hammer on his ship until he opens the airlock. He'll enjoy a subtle approach like that. Thank you for your time and once again we apologise for interrupting your study." As the two stood to leave Evelynne said, "Please think nothing of it, it was my pleasure if it helps you find your friend." With that Hairyegg and Warbonnet made their way to Delgardo's docked ship. The dock area containing Delgardo's ship was quiet and devoid of an activity, using there holo communicators they tried to call Delgardo, no answer. "I've got an idea." Said Warbonnet, "Am I going to like it ?" Asked Hairyegg as he watched his friend unsling his Blaster Rifle. "Probably not, but I will." Warbonnet then set his blaster to its lowest power setting, took aim at the airlock door, and then proceeded to lay down volley after volley of low yield laser bolts at the ship, within a second the ships auto defence system kicked in and small hatches opened up in numerous points on the ship, from these auto cannons on jointed arms appeared and took aim at the pair. "Please tell me this is part of your plan." Groaned Hairyegg. "Well, kind of, in a way. Nice defence system he's got. Hope it' not set to auto fire." The cannons trained on them but did not fire. The airlock door slid open and a disheveled Delgardo came running down the exit ramp then spun around to inspect his ship. "What is the matter with you ? Why are you shooting at my ship ?" The smell of alcohol was heavy on his breath. "Hardly scratched the paint work, which needs touching up anyway. Wouldn't have happened if you answered your holo calls." "My paint work needs touching up ? Have you two even looked at the flying sheds that you call ships. This baby is pure class, she's got it were it counts. And she does not need you trying to blow holes into her. What do you want anyway ?" Warbonnet was grinning as he slung his rifle over his shoulder. Hairyegg shook his head, then looked at Di Griz, "We were worried about you my friend, no one has seen you in days, we are due to finish our trails tomorrow, we had hoped you would be there." "I've got to be there to babysit you two, part of the deal about your probation and trails remember. Have they told you what your final test will be yet ?" "No, but I think we are ready for anything, we seem to cope with the simulations very well, and well within the target goals set by the Guards testing officers. So what have you been doing hidden in your ship ?" "I wasn't hiding," Di Griz knew he had to think quick, " I was working on our first Guards mission, that's if you two manage to fluke the test and pass with out me pulling of trouble. Lost count of the times I've saved you worthless lives. Next time I might not bother and just see how much scrap value I can get for your armour." Delgado knew the lie would not fool his friends, but being the friends they both were they decided to let Delgardo share his problem when he felt ready. "Ha," laughed Warbonnet, "seen to remember that you had that much Kolto in your system on our last little outing, you looked like a Twi'lek." "I was close to death !" "Had worse shaving." "No sense no feeling. You'll both be ok tomorrow, as long as you don't get the droid swarm, but they haven't used that for years, I hear it nearly destroyed the trail yard last time, it'll be fine. Trust me." Chapter 5. "Gentlemen, the Droid Swarm is a test on endurance, improvisation and initiative. You will encounter waves of droids culminating in a final Boss. The rules are simple. Survive. This final test will be a live fire trial, both your weapons and your enemies will be at full power, there is no non lethal option. Survive this final trial and you will be offered a place as a full member among the Senate Guard. If at any time you choose to discontinue with the trial, it will be halted, this will count as a fail also. Since you have already chosen to face the trial as a pair, you will both either pass or fail. Do you wish to continue ?" Both Hairyegg and Warbonnet stood side by side in the arena, in unison the both replied, "We are ready." "Very well. The adjudicators for your trail will be Guards Captains Marriq and Belizia. I will have the final say. As a Guard General I can decide that even if you survive, not to admit you to join our ranks. Make ready Gentlemen, your trail is about to start." Guard General Kaydanaa then moved backwards a step. The shimmer of a force field then hid the General from view. Both men turned to face the large double doors behind them and readied their weapons. Hairyegg said, "Once the doors open, you drop a mortar volley as soon as they start to appear, I'll then leap in and Force sweep to stun them, if you then charge in we can finish them of quickly." As he finished speaking small alcoves slid back in the walls in a complete 360 degree circle, out of each portal a droid stepped armed with a blaster pistol. "Plan B ?" Said Warbonnet. Silence settled on the arena. As the smoke cleared, the carnage could be seen by all. Droid parts littered the floor, ranging from the small guard droids up to a heavy assault droids. Both Hairyegg and Warbonnet showed the scars of battle. Scorch marks covered the armour of both men, blood seeped from joints in the armour where shrapnel had found gaps to cause injury. The last two assassin droids had been the toughest fight either men could remember. Both men took advantage in the lull, Hairyegg instantly entered a state of light meditation to focus on the Force, Warbonnet to reload his blaster rifle with grenades and a new fully charged energy pack. The sound on a heavy duty jet pack caused both men to look upwards. Their vision was filled with flame from the exhaust ports of the jets packs on either side of the giant Battle Driod that descended to the arena floor. Warbonnet opened fire on the Driod as Hairyegg leaped towards it, igniting his lightsaber in mid air. As Hairyegg started to come closer to the droid he could see Warbonnet's energy bolts being absorbed by a force field, his last thought before bouncing off the force field was this is going to hurt. It did. They both circled the droid, it had not fired at them yet but it's optical receptors mounted on top of the spherical body swivelled to follow them, between the two receptors they could see the force field generator, on either side of the body were two large powerful legs, on top of each leg were multiple missile launchers which had a belt feed mechanism for reloading from the main body. Forming a glowing red belt around the waist of the droid was a laser targeting array, red laser dots appeared on both men and a fraction of a second later both missile batteries launched at them. Lightning reflexes enabled both men to leap and roll out of the path of the rockets but even so the concussive wave from the blast sent them flying like rag dolls. "Won't be able to take many of those." Growled Warbonnet. They watched the war machine reload it magazine of missiles, slow to reload, a weakness. "Gives us time to think luckily, did you notice when it launched ?" Said Hairyegg "What ? Death coming our way ? Yes, I noticed." "Ha, no a flicker in the force field. It's nearly ready, stand behind me this time, you go left I'll go right, and keep your eyes open this time." The two red targeting dots centred on Hairyeggs chest. The droid launched. Just a millisecond before the flaming rockets left the launcher the force field was lowered then raised as the rockets cleared the outer edge of the protective screen. Both the Jedi and Trooper bounced hard of the arena wall. "Did you see." "It can't fire through its own shield, this time just before it fires I'll open up on it." "Aim low, I have an idea." Chucked Hairyegg. "I learnt to love your ideas almost less than Jims." "Ready, wait, NOW !" Hairyegg quickly fired a grenade and a blaster volley as he jumped with all his might backwards out of the path of the in bound missiles. The last he saw of his friend before flame and smoke filled his vision was the Jedi leaping upwards. Slowly and using the wall for support the Trooper got to his feet, too close that time. As he looked for the Jedi he saw the droid turning in a tight circle, the targeting array was sending its twin sighting dots all over the arena. Then Warbonnet saw what Hairyegg had done. As the force field had dropped to let the missiles out, the Jedi had Force leaped in, he was now sat on the top of the War Droid, he grinned at his friend, then igniting his lightsaber, he plunged the glowing energy blade deep into the body of the machine next to the force field generator. He then moved the sabre in a circle around the generator, and with one hand pulled the now useless piece of equipment from the main body. The force field was down. Warbonnet dropped to one knee, and held his blaster rifle waist high aimed at the droid. "Egg, you really don't want to be there anymore." Warbonnet said between clenched teeth. As Hairyegg leaped away from the struggling droid, a rain of armour piercing rounds and grenades fell. The work to destroy the last opponent in their trail was now simple. Warbonnet circled the War Droid and starting with the launcher and then working done proceeded to turn the death machine into scrap metal. When it was done both men took a deep breath of relief. The large double doors swung open and Kaydanaa escorted by Belizia and Marriq entered the arena. In a voice that carried across the arena, Kaydenaa said, " James Delgardo, enter the arena." Delgardo walked to stand besides Hairyegg and Warbonnet, he was in his best clothes, which ment the very latest in fashion. The beaming smile he had for his two friends made them both forget the fatigue and pain of the wounds they felt. This was the Jim Delgardo they knew, not the drunken wretch that had emerged from his ship. "James Delgardo, do you still wish to present the Jedi Hairyegg and Lt. Warbonnet for admission to the Senate Guard ?" "Yes Mam, I do." Warbonnet whispered to Delgardo, "If you grin any more, the top of your head may fall off." "Thinking of all the credits I won betting on you two to win." Kaydanaa then spoke. "Jedi Knight Hairyegg and Lt. Warbonnet, you have both completed your trails, you have both survived the final trail. It is with great pride and honour that I, Guard General Kaydanaa, offer you both a position as full member within the ranks of the Senate Guard, you may, if you so choose, decline the offer and leave with full honour and pride, or you may accept and take your place, with us as the hidden Guardians of the Republic, never to receive public recognition, never to receive reward, but also never again to walk alone in the darkness, never to face the universe alone. How do you choose ?" "We accept." "Welcome then to the Senate Guards. Go now, tend to your wounds and rest. There will be know celebration, no great feast to welcome you to our ranks. The evil we battle never rests, nor should we, your duties with the Jedi Order and the Republic Special Forces will continue as normal. We will call you as we need you. Our doors and facilities are now fully open to you. One thing I will say before you go, it is harder to stay a Senate Guard than to become one. If you choose to leave or are removed from our ranks, it is almost impossible to join them again. Now go, our enemy is waiting." Hairyegg, Warbonnet and Delgardo walked and limped in silence towards the doors. Warbonnet leaned down towards Delgardo, and in a loud whisper said, "Don't suppose you've got any of those med probes of any Kolto on you by any chance ?" "Got plenty on my ship, just follow me." Chapter 6. The following day both Hairyegg and Warbonnet left the Senate Guard H.Q, to resume their normals duties, Delgardo remained behind, as a freelancer his time was pretty much his own. There were a few profitable plans he had, but nothing that could not wait. Besides his mind was still very much focused on Evelynne. He knew that there was no way she would leave her Jedi order for him, she liked him as a fellow Senate Guard and maybe as a friend, nothing else. The pain from realising his love for her was not returned had now subsided to a dull ache. Time truly was a great healer, but at the back of his mind there was still a need to make her love him back. He had an idea, just the barest hint of a plan, the story of an aristocrat from an Alderaanian family came to mind. It was more fairy tale than anything. The daughter of a Duke fell in love with a Jedi Knight, she gave him a fabulous jewel, and they ran off together. Just a fairy tale. All made up. But...

Chapter One. Perfect pristine white, a field of untouched virgin snow as far as the eye could see. He looked down at his booted feet, the stark contrast of his dark almost blood red boots against the snow made his presence even more alien to the landscape. He lifted one foot and gently placed it in front of him, just so his heel was touching the surface, then slowly he placed his weight on the foot, the crust of snow and ice made a satisfying crack as his heel broke the surface, then the crunch as his fool crushed the snow under his foot, he smiled. He had made his mark on this planet. Time and the elements would erase it, it would erase all the marks made. Everywhere. That was the nature of all things, they fade and disappear. Would this place still show the marks that the Empire had made here in a hundred years ? A thousand ? He would be dead in a thousand years, he was sure of that, dust in a tomb if he was lucky, another forgotten name in another forgotten list of forgotten names. The cold frigid terrain of Hoth matched his mood. How he hated this place. So different from his home planet of Korriban, a hot dry dusty place, the cold didn't suit him, even with the Force warming him as well as the extreme cold weather gear he wore under his light outer armour he could still feel it biting into his bones. He yearned for a hot sun. When would he next be on that red planet. He looked around him again. One thing this cold hell had in common with his home was that it was a land devoid of mercy. Only the strong could and would survive here. "My Lord, your belongings are loaded on board the shuttle." Lord Dondinas, Pure Blood Sith Assassin, spun to face the young human Imperial Navy Captain, the Captain took a step back in surprise. He stared at the grey mask the Sith wore. He began to shake, and not from the cold. "Is Talos Drelik on board ?" "My Lord, he was not yet returned, shall we send out a patrol to escort him back ?" "Yes, and tell him, the shuttle will leave on time, either with him or without." Dondinas waited a moment, letting the human shake with fear. Through the Force he could feel that fear, like all who swam in the dark currents of the Dark Side of the Force, strong emotions allowed him to amplify his strength with the Force, and like others of his ilk, he was able to feed off the emotions of others, he was not strong in this ability, he had seen some who could almost drain them of emotion. He was strong in the Force, stronger than most, but he also knew he had much still to learn. Almost all Sith Pure Bloods were Force sensitive from birth, those who were not would be left to die. Only the strong survive. He bathed in the Captains fear for a few seconds more. "Why are you still here ? Do you seek the Emperor's blessing ? You have your instructions now GO !" He took a dark delight in watching the human stammer a few unintelligible words, then almost trip over himself as he attempted to bow, turn around and walk away all at the same time. His mask hid the smile as he watched the Captain struggle to hurry across the the snow into the Imperial base. Talking a last look at the white landscape, he also made his way into the base. Hovering in the dark space between star systems, and far enough from recognised travel routs, the Imperial Fury class small starship was hidden. All external marker lights had been extinguished. The ship would only be found by pure luck or if you knew where to look. Dondinas was in his personal cabin, a low firm bed, a wardrobe, a desk with computer display, a safe and a small shrine with a single blood red candle. Spartan with no distractions, that was how he liked it. He knelt on the floor before the shrine. His eyes may have been focused on the candle flame but his consciousness was in the void. Nothingness filled his mind, he was empty. He brought his mind in closer to his body, his mind could feel his heart beat a steady slow rhythm, his lungs draw in air. He moved in closer, filling his body, now he could feel the blood flow through his veins and arteries, the air expand his lungs, mind and body became one. He reached out with his mind for the Force, there, he let it flow into him, filling his soul. He almost wept with joy as the power nearly overwhelmed him. Now the exercise of control. With out control the Dark Side of the Force would consume him, he had to master it or it would master him, tearing his soul apart and condemning him to a short life of terror as his own mind would destroy him. Binding the Force to his will, he felt it flow though and around him, dark energy filled him and gave him strength. Now for the final part of his ritual meditation, he began to recite The Way, or The Sith Code as the Human Imperials liked to call it. To a Pure Blooded Sith like himself, it was The Way, The Way of the Sith. Peace is a lie, there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me. He was in control, powerful, deadly. As he stood a slight tremble in the Force gave him warning of a presence close to him, he stretched out his hard and reaching with the Force brought his double bladed lightsaber to his hand. Holding it and igniting the twin red blades with his left hand, he trust out his right hand, fingers splayed ready to unleash a sheet of blue Force Lightning. At the last moment he held back. Stood in the open door way was the small slim form of Talos Drelik. "I'm sorry my Lord, did I startle you ?" "I will say this once, and only once, never approach my chamber unannounced." "Quite. May I my Lord ?" The human then walked in to the chamber, he stood looking at the Sith with his hands held behind his back and legs apart. His slicked back light brown hair sat on a sloping forehead, beneath which sat two half lidded blue eye, a sharp prominent nose and a thin lipped slash of a mouth finished off with a short weak chin. Talos was no combat soldier, that was painfully obvious, what made up for it though, was a brilliant analytical mind. Recently seconded from the Imperial Reclamation Service, Talos was an excellent Archaeologist. His mind was filled with data from digs he had been on from across the Empire. If something caught his eye everything else would be ignored, he had demonstrated this while on Hoth, as Dondinas had fought a dozen pirates, Talos had been engrossed in the remains of an old freighter that had crashed on the frozen planet, countless years before. He was totally oblivious to danger, while he was an average shot with a blaster pistol, his personal file had said that the only reason he had completed his basic military training was because he had found the remains of a ruin beneath the pistol ranges, and all students had received a paperwork pass to enable Imperial Reclamation Service's to dig up the entire range area. He was though a very competent field Medic, this was explained, he said, to enable him to be a better Archaeologist, couldn't dig a site with an injury. "This is my private chamber, if you wish to speak to me, use the briefing room, that is what it is for." Talos, looked around him as if seeing the room for the first time. "Shall I meet you there then, good, on my way my Lord." With that he then walked straight out of the room. Dondinas contemplated ejecting him out of the airlock. No, what was in that head was to useful. Dondinas then frowned, he hadn't even said what he wanted. Maybe if he smashed some of his relics, he would just dig up some more. Clipping his lightsaber to his belt, he made his way to the briefing room. The briefing room was dominated by a long grey metal table running the length of the room, on each side were six chairs, un padded and without arms but functional, at the head of the table was a larger chair, this had a high arching back, the top of which finished above the head of who ever sat there, on the arms were a collection of controls which operated the display system on the wall to his left. It was also deeply cushioned. As Dondinas entered he saw that Talos was seated in the seat closed to the door, even so he still had not heard Dondinas walk the metal floored corridor, and seemed to be concentrating on a small datacron in his hand, turning it this way and that. He walked past him and sat at the head of the table. As the seat hissed air as it automatically adjusted the deep cushioned sides and back to form a perfect fit to Dondinas's shape, Talos snapped his head up, he looked at the Sith Lord sat in his chair, then to the door then back to Dondinas. "Ahh, my Lord, your here." Dondinas spread his arm with his palms upward. "It would seem so, now what is so important that you would ignore basic etiquette when addressing a Lord of the Sith ?" For a second or two Talos just looked back at Dondinas, then understanding what had just been said to him he leaped to his feet, looking at the datacron in his hands, he then swapped it from hand to hand before finally placing it on the table. He then looked at Dondinas. "Forgive me my Lord, I sometimes get distracted by my work, I meant no disrespect." "None taken. This time." "They said in the Imperial Reclamation Service that I would not notice my own death if I was on a dig or examining a relic." He then gave a short laugh. "Should we test that theory ?" "Ha ha, yes, very good my Lord." Dondinas looked back at Talos, the Sith was not wearing his mask, so his face and expression was plain to see. He had known grown men, seasoned battle hardened troopers grow visibly pale when a Dark Lord of the Sith looked at them. But this small physically weak man, this Archaeologist, seemed to be of the opinion they were sharing a joke. Using his thumb and index finger he rubbed the engraved brass piece of jewellery that sat across the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. Dondinas himself had killed men for more trivial things than wasting his time before. The Sith were not known for either their patience or their sense of humour. "I can promise you this, if you do not tell me the reason why you intruded into my personal chamber very soon, you will not leave this room alive." Finally Talos seemed to grasp the fact that his new Master did not liked to be kept waiting. "My Lord, during my time with the Imperial Reclamation Service, I have chased many myths and legends that ended up to be nothing more than that, a myth. One of those myths was about the youngest daughter of an aristocrat on Alderaan. Being the youngest daughter she would be married off in an arranged marriage to the son of a allied family. This is the custom on many worlds. It is even common among Imperial families. Ha ha, I heard of one Major who married his only daughter to his Colonel's youngest son to seek favour, but because she was so ugly the Colonel sent the Major to a remote outpost in one of the rim worlds." Talos began to laugh at his story, Dondinas looked at him for a moment. "Please tell me you have not brought me here to discuss marriage customs across the Galaxy." Talos stopped his nasal laugh, with slight frown he said, "Why no, of course not my Lord. Such a thing would be a complete waste of both our time. No, the young daughter I mentioned, the one from Alderaan, not the Majors, well according to the story she fell in love with a visiting friend of her father. Who just happened to be a Jedi Knight. Now I'm not sure if you are aware my Lord, but the Jedi are forbidden from having any form of emotional relationship, an extremely un-natural thing in my opinion. I mean, I love my work, and apply myself to it all the more because of my love of it, it surely is a strength, not a weakness, don't you agree my Lord ?" "You wish to discuss the pros and cons of the Jedi Code of Conduct ?" "Why would I wish to do that my Lord, if you wish it, I could summon Ashara, I'm sure she would be more suited to debate Jedi practices than I my Lord." Ashara Zavros was Dondinas's new apprentice, a former Togruta Padawan that had been turned to the Dark Side of the Force by Dondinas himself. Talos began to move towards the door. "I shall fetch her now my Lord, we can finish what we were talking about later." Using the Force Dondinas closed the door a fraction of an inch from Talos's nose. "You will continue. Now." Talos turned back to face the Sith Lord. "As you wish my Lord. Please forgive me, but we will proceed much quicker if you try to let me continue uninterrupted." Would s shock of Force Lightning encourage this infuriating Human to get to the point thought Dondinas, probably not. "Speak." "Yes, the now heartbroken daughter vowed that she would win the heart of the Jedi. Apparently she sought out the wisdom of the old dark gods, a priest from that ancient pantheon in exchange for her soul, so the story says, gave her a jewel, and taught her a song, let me remember this correctly, "A Song of Darkness and Dismay". She then tricked the Jedi to meet her in a wood close to the family castle, in the clearing was the ruins of a temple to the dark gods. Why the Jedi did not suspect something may have been amiss is really beyond me. Surely he must have suspected something. I mean......" Talos fell silent as Dondinas formed and then began to rotate in his right hand a ball of Force Lightning. "Oh, I'm sorry, did I brake your concentration. Please do continue." "Err, yes. So, even though he had rejected her advances once, they met. The myth states that at the meeting, his eyes became dazzled by the jewel and his mind filled with the song she sang him, and his heart was hers. They married. And like all good stories lived happily ever after. One would have to assume he left the Jedi order of course. The symbol of their new family was the dazzling blue and green jewel." Talos, now stood silent, hands on hips smiling. The ball of Lightning began to rotate faster and lifted into the air. "All this so you could tell me a fairy tale ?" "No my Lord, while on Hoth I found a data entry on one of the crashed ship wrecks, it was heavily corrupted, but I managed to piece some of it together. It mentions a failed raid on a castle on a small island on Alderaan. The raid failed when the raiders were killed after attempting to remove a jewel from a crest in the audience chamber, a "Family badge of Sapphire and Cracked Emerald." Don't you see my Lord, it exists, and I think I know where it is !" The ball of Force Lightning winked out of existence. Dondinas began to think. If this jewel was real and it had some form of controlling influence over a Jedi, it would indeed be a potent weapon. "Are you sure it exists ?" "We'll my Lord, most myths are based on a real event or person. But judging on what I have found so far, I would recommend further investigation. If it would be your preference, I could forward my findings to the Imperial Reclamation Service, they would dispatch a team to carry out a dig." "No. We shall look for your mythical jewel." If the Dark Council found out about this jewel, if it truly existed, then it would soon be taken by one of them. To sit in a dusty vault on a shelf. No, he would study this jewel, and if it did what Talos said it did then it would indeed be a powerful weapon. Would it only be Jedi it influenced or any Force user, or anyone, how many at one time could be controlled. Would he be able to controll the entire Dark Council, or even the Emperor himself. He needed to study this trinket first, no, first he needed to find out if it was real. If it turned out that it was just a myth, Talos would wish he had never learnt of this jewel. He reached out with his left hand and flicked a switch on the intercom build into the arm of his chair. "Andronikos, set a course for Alderaan."

When Talos tells Sith Lord Dondinas of a myth that mentions a jewel that may have the power to control Jedi, they travel to Alderaan in search of the myth.

Janos and Dondinas will be back.