Just a word from me: The beginning of this was simply to set this up, and give a brief look into the world of Sanctum. I know the name seems generic, but it would not be called Sanctum by it's populace, but something like Kawha. Of course I will not create a whole new language...lol...so this will be written in English, the language I know best, and thus Sanctum. This is not an ongoing never ending story. It has a beginning, and will have an end, and I will move onto another story. So do not view this as a journal of the life of Krist and Sanctum. While I will return to Krist at some point, I may never return to his home world again. I do use words like Heru, which is "old tongue" for Lord. It marks those Houses that are deeper into the old ways. I choose to do this because it is actually a part of their name as much as a title. Heru'(name). They would have grown up being called this. Fun fact: The little bit of "old language" I use is actually Tolkien, or close to it. I just like how it sounds. They have no relation to anything Tolkien otherwise. Finally, I will start using spoilers as suggested, partially because this takes place around the Rise of the Hutt Cartel time line and may have spoilers, and also at the suggestion of Kitar, which I think was a good suggestion. Enjoy.

Kristana looked to her son, a big smile on his face as he shook his head. "So mother, you are telling me that you are a Sith," Krist asked, and let out a bit of a chuckle. "Of course not," she replied, looking to the lake now, wondering if she made a mistake trying to talk to him. "I am sorry mother, it just seemed a strange thing for you to say," Krist said, letting the grin trickle down to a smile. Truth was he knew his mother well, and he knew there was something far more serious about to come from her. Kristana collected her thoughts a moment, nodding to his words. Why would it not seem strange, she wondered. "A man came to our planet long ago, a man of such power in the force and with such technology that he was able to defeat the princes of each house with ease. He could have destroyed all of the royal families, yet, he chose to spare them. He said they were his little secret. Sanctum a secret place of power that he would return to one day. I now believe he was the one that named it Sanctum. He said The Force was strong here, but our ancestors had no idea how to manipulate it. The House princes were taught by this man, and told their offspring would reach the stars one day. In turn they taught their children, on down the generations, even to now." "Who was this man," Krist asked, but his mother shook her head, not knowing. "It doesn't matter, he left, and never returned. With knowledge of this force came a will to use it. The Houses cooperated with one another at first, but as always happens with man, wars started for one reason or another. The force that was used mostly for great things now was being distorted, manipulated, and used for war and very dark things. The princes that did this were no more than Siths themselves, maybe not by blood of Sith, but by action none the less. The corruption was rooted out, and those that distorted the force were tried, and executed, to keep others from falling." "This is quite a tale mother, not something that anyone is taught. Who all knows of this? Why is it the general population does not know?" Krist asked, looking concerned. "Because there are only a few of us that know, we only found this out a few decades ago. A strange box, shaped like a pyramid, was found by archeologists in the Great Dark. It held much information that we never knew about. It has been carefully guarded ever since by House Yunqena." "Yunqena? The twelfth house. It has always been a house of troubles. Do you know what you found?" Krist asked, but he had a feeling she did. "Yes, we know what it is. It is a holocron. Yes, we know Yunqena is a house easily corrupted. The truth is Krist, it has never been sufficiently brought back into The Way." "But to let them have such," Krist began, but his mother waved him off. "Some of us did not let them. However Happer Sune of House Yunqena convinced the majority of archeologists that it was safest with his prince, Prince Langden. We were not ready to fight and kill over this thing, so we relented. House Yunqena in turn allotted that we each could send an emissary, as a means to keep an eye on the house, and the holocron." "This is where you sent Yohanna!" Krist said, eyes widening at the thought. "Your cousin is fine, Krist," she said, but she did not seem to fully accept it herself. "It is not just a holocron, it is a Sith holocron. It possibly houses some of their very essence," Krist said, worry obvious on his face. "It may have the power to corrupt." "As far as I know, it has not been opened. According to all reports it remains sealed away, with Prince Langden not even accessing it." "Why did you tell me this mother, why tell me before I see father," Krist asked. "Your father knows little of it, only of its existence. To most it seems like some kind of ancient technology. He does not know what we know, because he never touched it." "Then you touched it mother. What did it....what kind of.....," Krist began, but did not even know the proper question to ask. "It has the power to corrupt, it seems, in a limited way, even unopened," Kristana rose from the bench, turning her eyes away from her son. "What did it do to you," Krist asked, rising as well, watching her walk closer to the lake's edge again. "That I will not discuss with you, but it's corruption was limited," she said. "This was the story of what, but you are searching for a who." She added, looking back to him, her eyes slightly glistened, threatening tears that would not come. "Then who," Krist said, a frown on his lips, and worry on his brow. "We were hidden well from the Empire and the Republic, and in a sense, I suppose, cut off from the force of the rest of the galaxy, until the they came. The Republic. With them their people, and eventually, the Jedi. Something about the Jedi coming into contact with us has brought the Sith into contact with us as well now. When the Republic left, along with the Jedi, then it left a vacuum of sorts. Krist, a Sith has come, willing to fill that void." "Then there is a Sith as was reported," Krist said, "and it is part of House Yunqena. This Sith probably wishes the holocron, thinking it may give him power." "Maybe," was all Kristana said of that. "Krist, we do not believe in The Force as you do, nor in the Jedi code. Before you speak to your father on this, remember, we believe in The Way, and with such, that all can find their way back." Krist sighed a bit, but nodded all the same. She was right. This would be as much a political mess as anything. Centuries of teachings, taught that House Yunqena had a right to its decisions as long as it did not cause trouble for the other houses. Each prince was a sovereign ruler of their princedom. The only way the other houses would stand by while an outside party went against it is if they were convinced House Yunqena was a threat to them. Krist understood why his mother wished speak to him first. He also knew why she felt she was one of the people he was looking for. She was, in her part, responsible for the holocron that probably called the Sith to them. She was also responsible for keeping it secret for so many years

Kristana tossed some food that looked more like biscuits to the water fowl in the lake. The predominant ones were called Dragons, because of heir long necks and long tails, along with their colors, that reminded people of the fictional creatures. The water was pristine, and one could see deep into the lake, even the lake bottom at some points. There were many different species of fish in the lake as well, and schools of them were visible as they swam past. "I know you did not ask me out here to feed fish mother," Krist said, sitting on one of the sand stone benches that were strategically placed around the lake for the perfect viewing. "I wanted to ask you a few things," she said, finally sitting down next to him. "Do you mind?" "Of course not mother, but something tells me this is not about asking me if I eat well," Krist chuckled. "I have not been off this planet, neither has most of our people, so you are not only the closest thing to an expert I have on this, but you are absolutely the on I trust most." Krist nodded, but had no idea where this could be going. "Are other planets as beautiful as ours?" She asked first, looking to her son's face, then looking out to the surrounding area. It truly was a beautiful planet. Still pristine, and the technology they used kept it that way. He knew she knew of other planets and their being overcrowded and over polluted. "None as beautiful," he said. "Krist, I want this planet to stay as it is. I know a conventional idea around the Republic is probably technology equals safety, safety equals happiness, and happiness equals prosperity. I am not sure that is wrong for all planets, but happiness and safety can be achieved in other ways." Krist just looked to her now, not completely sure he understood what she was talking about. "Krist, I know why you are here. I mean, I know exactly why you are here. I even know who you are here for, even if you do not. There are things you do not know, and before you go looking for some dark side force or Sith, I must tell you, I am one of the ones you are here for."

The morning came, bright and early, and while it truly was early, it really was not as bright as on some other worlds due to the distance from its host star. Still, it sure seemed bright, and early, when Krist's mother pulled back the ceiling high curtains and let the sun rays in. "What did they teach you at that Academy anyway," Kristana asked, never calling it the Jedi Academy. If she called it that, then it would mean her son was never coming back, and never being the heir to the house of Lindor. "They teach you how to sleep all day?" She was in a good mood, and this brought a smile to Krist's face. "They taught me to try and get 8 hours of sleep when I am able to, or so I think they did," Krist said, covering his face with his pillow. It would be nice if this was a vacation, Krist thought, but it was not. "Well your father is already in court, the service is already busy around the place, and I have a tray here for you to eat your breakfast and not be disturbed," she said, sitting on the bed and pulling the pillow from her son's face. Krist wished he was on vacation, he wished he could just enjoy the moment, but as the grogginess of just waking up left him, his duty sobered him up completely. "Is father in court all day," he asked. Krist wanted to get to business as soon as he landed on the moon planet, but that would have been disappointing for his parents, and the one night of celebration was not going to stall his plans. "Yes he is, and that leaves you to me," she said, getting up from the bed. "But first you need to eat, and then get dressed." "I really need to speak to father and his counsel as soon as possible." Kristana looked over to him, a little more serious look on her face now. "You really need to spend today with me, and tomorrow you can be about your business," she said, offering only the slightest of a smile before she left the room. Krist did not need his Jedi instincts or any deep meditative state to tell him that was exactly what he was going to do, and his mission was going to have to wait one more day. Krist dressed in the colors of his House, dark and soft blues. It was not out of nostalgia, it was so that he could fit into the crowds much better. His family wore the colors, just as families of other houses wore their colors. With this being Lindor, many wore the blues of House Lindor, even if they could only trace a drop of blood back to the House. "The people have missed you, Krist," she said, looking over to him as they walked through the crowds. Krist wanted to tell her not to use his name, but he did not wish to hurt her feelings, and no one seemed to care or notice anyway. He left when he was young, and few in the general population would even know it was him. Even fewer would know to miss him. "I don't know about that," he said. They did not know him, but they knew her very well. Many waved and smiled. Merchants showed her their merchandise from a distance in hopes she would purchase, and waving when she shook her head uninterested. She was liked, maybe even loved, by the masses. She seemed to take it all in, and give back a piece of herself in return. "Of course they do, or would, if they knew you." That was the closest his mother would get to chastising him. They went through the market, and she bought very little. What she did buy would be brought to the palace. It wasn't her being lazy, it meant someone else would benefit from her shopping. She would also pay more for it being delivered. The conversation between the two was light, Kristana telling him of what had been going on between the Houses, and none of it seemed beyond the normal to what Krist remembered. She told him of the family and what they had been up to. She spoke of family marriages, family deaths, and family births. Much of whom Krist had no idea who she was speaking of. He had a feeling she knew this. "Let's go to the lake," she finally said, speaking of the lake on the vast property of House Lindor. When she said this, Krist knew she was wishing to speak to him in complete privacy, and that meant of complete importance. He wasn't sure if it was what she felt was important, like her son being back on Sanctum, or if it was something that was important for the planet. Kristana was not an open book, as most thought of her, and she was not just the keeper of The House of Lindor. She was very politically astute, even more-so, Krist thought, than his fathr. "Sounds good to me," Krist simply replied.

As expected the inside of the palace was decorated with Welcome Home signs and streamers and such to celebrate Krist's return, if it was only for a time. His mother and some of his aunts and uncles and cousins were there, and Krist had a feeling that they probably had figured out who exactly was being welcomed home, even if his mother had not told them. Krist felt at home, but also felt out of place. His brown robes were in stark contrast to the blues and whites that were the colors of his people and their coat of arms. His family wore those colors proudly, as did each house their own. While the gathering was small, in comparison to gatherings he remembered as a child, and only took up a fraction of the hall, it was more fanfare than Krist was used to as a Jedi Knight. It made him uncomfortable, yet he did his best to greet each face with a smile, even those that offered him a courtly bow in return. "I see you controlled yourself well," Krist smiled to his mother, Kristana, as he motioned about at the decorations. "You are right son, I did," his mother laughed, and broadened the smile on Krist's face. "I am glad to have you here, even if you will not be staying." Her tone meant it to sound almost as a question, but Krist did not answer that question. "Are the twins here," He asked instead, looking about the hall. "No, Yohanne is studying in Sanctum City, and of course has no idea you are here. Yohanna has been working with our emissary to Prince Langdon, and does not know you are here either." Krist nodded, trying to hide his disappointment. The twins were not just his cousins, he was raised with them after their parents died tragically in a fire that almost killed them as well. His aunt had taken them in, and they grew up only a few kilometers apart. The time had grown late, and the planet Heru'Nuhada covered much of the sky, its own reflection of the sun providing some light. There were few dark nights on Sanctum, only occurring when the planet was between the moon and the sun. There were few star filled nights. Because of this it was was gray out, as opposed to dark, while Krist sat on the smaller back porch. Small was hardly an accurate description, and merely relevant in this case. The service had either gone home, or the few that lived there to their own chambers. It gave him time to think, and decide what exactly he wished tell his father of his visit. Bram was smart, and knew his son well enough to know that this was not just a social visit. A Sith had decided to break their agreement and stay on Sanctum, and while the information he received was vague and cryptic, it apparently came from a good source. Whatever the reasoning, it was imperative to find out why, before the dark side took hold, and began corrupting the planet and its people.

"You look well son," Bram Lindor said, looking the younger man over. Krist's brown robes were in contrast to his father's blues and whites, but one look at their faces marked Krist as Bram's son. There was no mistaken. What little difference one could see from Krist to Bram was caused by time, Bram aged and in his 60's, Krist young and in his mid 20's. Bram also had a full beard, while Krist was clean shaven. Bram was alone to meet his son at the space port, a port that was built in part by the Republic. It was not used much, as no one really visited the planet, and those on the planet had no desire to visit anywhere else, or even the means to do it. No shuttles run, no space station, no intergalactic pilots. The Republic came in name only, brought by the Jedi. Aside from security provided by the people of Sanctum, it was very empty at night. Krist had asked him not to make too much of his arrival, as it already would not be long that people would know he was there. Still, maybe for one night, he would be able to spend it quietly with family and close friends. "You look well too father," Krist said with a smile, suddenly feeling like a kid again. Bram was a big man, barrel chested, and seemed to command any room he walked into. Krist was a large man as well, and very muscled, but seemed to be able to keep from drawing attention upon entering the same room. Bram always said with good humor, " the kid looks like me, but has his mother's personality". And for the most part, it was probably true. Krist and Bram loaded what little personal items Krist brought into a speeder, and prepared to head home. "Your mother cannot wait to see you," Bram said with a smile, causing Krist to lift his blue eyes from the bags, to his dad's. "I cannot wait to see her either. I hope you followed my wishes and did not spread the word of my coming." "If you are asking if your mother got too excited, I would say no. Even the service does not know who is coming tonight," Bram said with a smile. Krist nodded smiling back. Knowing his mother, it would be a fanfare all the same, and meal fit for a king....or a prince.

((Comments are welcomed, just FYI))

(I did a little research and fiction allows for other, little known planets not really touched by either the Republic or the Empire. The game fiction simply calls them aliens, or did at one time. I have been working in my brain for some time now on a character that comes from such a planet, trying to cling to their old ways, but forced into a struggle between light and dark on a galactic scale within only a few generations. I will do my best to keep it within fiction, and think I can. Hope it is a good read all the same. Remember most is written from the view of someone from this planet, so not everything he thinks is correct) Krist looked down at the blue planet. No, it was not a planet. It was a moon, by galactic standards, or so the "experts" claimed. The gas giant that it circled was the planet, with it's majestic rings and swirling massive clouds. Yet no life could come from it, not like Sanctum, as the moon planet was called in the common tongue of the galaxy. Sanctum, in contrast to the gas giant it rounded, hosted much life. The moon was too far from its sun to produce the warm lush environment it had, but the gas giant provided. The Republic called the gas planet some kind of numbers based on its position from the galaxy center, but to the people of Sanctum, it was Heru'Nuhada. It gave life, to which without it, there would be none. Much of the galaxy would call his people backwards, living by old codes and laws that did not seem to fit the more advanced worlds. They still lived in wooden and stone homes, and great palaces of cement and sand stone, old palaces kept strong by The Way. The Way, something the Jedi called the force, was the rule of Sanctum. The Force and The Way, to Krist, did not seem exactly the same. The Way was simply that, the way. It had no opposite, no darkness, to it. Anyone that corrupted it was not considered dark, they simply lost their way. Either they turned around, or they faced judgement, and judgement was swift once faced. On such a small planet there was no banishment. The population on Sanctum was about the population of major cities on other planets, so there was no blending in. No hiding. The Force, on the other hand, offered a light and dark side, and sought a balance of the two. It seemed to be an eternal struggle. A constant struggle, with war forever waged to correct itself. Sanctum was not all peace, they had their wars. The planet was ruled by Houses, prominent families of power. Only a very few generations before Krist, they fought on horseback, using swords and shields, and of course in the cases of the knights, The Way. War was terrible, but it came and went, and people went back to their simple lives. And then they came. It was not the Empire that discovered them, and their attachment to The Force. It was the Republic, and it's Jedi Order, that saw the danger in if they were corrupted, and absorbed by the Empire. Krist could understand that, to a degree. Some lost The Way, and if a prince lost his way, and the Empire backed him, then the planet would be ruled by the Empire. According to the Jedi Knight envoy and his padawan that came to them, those of Sanctum were lucky it was the Republic that discovered them first. Krist was not so sure being "discovered" at all was best for his people. With the Republic came technology, with technology, greater understanding, with greater understanding, less use for The Way. Instead, The Force was now taught to the people, and those that showed promise in it, were offered training. The Jedi would come in secret, and the person would leave with them if they so chose to. It was presented as a great honor, so few would say no. Krist was one of those. A child prince to be of his own house. Yet his abilities, which would have marked him as a true prince, by blood and by The Way, now caused concern, even among his own family. "What if the dark ones came for him, we must protect him. We must send him away with the Jedi, to teach him harmony," his father said. This left him no heir, yet he loved his son enough to let him go. A nephew would now have rights to the House of Lindor. At the time Krist did not want to be let go. He wished stay, and be a protectorate of his home, his family. Yet the Empire was moving in, and the Jedi had to leave to keep peace. They left, and Krist left with them. A child prince, now a padawan in a greater struggle. Now a Jedi Knight, looking down on a moon planet that seemed so small. Too small even, for the big memories he had of it. As feared, the Empire came to fill the void the Republic left behind, and with them, the Sith. They made offers with honey words, and some of the princes bought into the lie. The lie being, peace is a lie, there is only passion. How could a people, even a fraction of them, fall for this, when their own history tells them peace is not a lie. Why not? Did the Jedi Code not say there was an opposite, an opposite that The Way did not allow for? Sith were not killed, it was not The Way, but they were not allowed to stay on the planet. The Emperor or his Dark Council had agreed. Why not? They had an endless supply, it seemed, of force sensitive students to corrupt to their way of thinking. Krist sighed. It was not helpful to ponder on such, and he needed to settle himself, and let The Force wash over him. Many of his people wondered, if the Republic had never found them, would the Empire have even bothered? Krist did not wonder this. There was a darkness emanating from the center of the Empire, and it was seeking and searching for that which it could devour. Sanctum would have been found soon enough. The Way did not allow for it, but it existed all the same, and by all reports, one of its dark Siths were surely even now on Sanctum , not to recruit, but to rule. Krist would have to find them, and rid his home world of it, without the Republic's help. Well, without their obvious help anyway. After the signing of the Treaty of Coruscant, Sanctum fell within the boundaries of the Empire, though it had never truly sworn to either. It surely could not serve the Empire proper. Surely not. Krist was granted leave to investigate this, and found himself in deep hopes that his world remained true. He needed to be careful. Deep emotions could form a bridge to the Dark Side, and a small bridge it seemed was all the Dark Side needed to begin to corrupt.

Good bit of reading when you start in May 2018, but worth it. Keep it up.

It appears everyone in the Star Wars universe that actually has been in space can pilot any ship. Why do we have some actually called pilots then? I get that some may be better than others, but in the Star Wars universe, has anyone seen where piloting is actually a special skill, or is it all just like driving a car? Just curious as to what people think, or if anyone has an actual link that explains this. I could not find anything on it. I know every character you play in game is a pilot of sorts, and that I understand can be explained. I have no problem with it, just wondering how people view ships and the skill to operate them.

The XS seemed to barely move as Luke sat at the controls, just watching the darkness of space. He was thinking of taking another job, as the last job did not pay off, at all. He had no cargo to sell. No credits to invest. His expenses were not even paid. Technically he did not finish the job, and that part he supposed he could understand. Judging from everything that happened, however, Luke had a feeling that he never would have been paid. Luke and the others fled Tatooine, with nowhere to really go. Luckily it was the Outer Rim, so it was very easy to just get lost. He monitored the area for any sign of pursuit but there was none. In this vast empty part of the galaxy, they were quite alone. Brindon was still recovering from the hole that the Sith put in his chest.Luckily it never penetrated the substantial muscle to enter his heart. Marcy'a stayed with Brindon, mostly, and spoke little to Luke over the couple of weeks time they had been drifting. Luke knew she was not mad at him, but probably blamed herself for turning over the only thing that could have helped Luke remove the bounty from his head. Luke did not blame her. It was actually the fault of the lady that hired him, and apparently sent Ria after him. Coronet was his next destination, and he would be having a conversation with Madam Ulia. Luke did not care about the politics of the Empire or the Republic, but he absolutely did not like the idea that he was made a pawn, a sacrificial pawn at that, in their little game. For the next few days though, Brindon had to recover. Marcy'a had to get her head on straight, and Luke just wanted to relax. The ship was fine drifting for the next couple of weeks, and the cargo had plenty of food. Luke leaned back, forgetting the Sith's rage, and letting his smuggling pains wash away in the silence of space.

Darth Sim looked out of the window at the storm clouds of Dromund Kaas. His suite was situated at the very top of one of the tall skyscrapers, as was many of the Sith Lord's abodes. There was nothing spectacular or over done about it. It was decorated modestly, and mostly in honor of the Sith run Empire. Aside from a single droid, Sim lived here alone. He welcomed no visitors, and those that came on their own were never made to feel completely welcomed to return. It was his place, his den, and he wished keep it for himself. It had been weeks since he returned to his home, having brought the dark cube back with him, and back to the Sith Council. The dark cube was ordered turned over to the Sphere of Ancient Knowledge for study. Sim found this somewhat odd, that they were willing to part with the cube for the assistance of a Hutt, but now needed to study this same cube. It made little sense, but then again, it was not his duty to question it. He completed his task as commanded. That was all that really mattered. Sim did question himself on why he allowed any of the group that took the cube to survive. The woman, Ria Stormblown, had to die. She was an agent for the Republic and ordered killed by the council. He wasn't sure who the others were, but they were not on any list he knew of for termination. At least not by the Council. Rumor had it that there was some infighting among other Sith Lords over the dark cube, but Sim wanted no part of that. He was a weapon, to be aimed and fired, at the enemies of the Emperor and his Empire. Darth Sim relaxed as he stared out of the large window, rain running down it distorting everything, everything except the flashes of lightening produced by the tall thunder clouds.

"I prefer my blasters, but let's see how you like a taste of your own medicine," Luke said, then flashed a handsome smile, just before the force blast from Sim hit him, knocking him off of his feet, and the light saber hilt from his hand. Luke felt the wind knocked from him, and then felt the ground as his head hit it. He was not knocked out, but was finding it hard to gain his bearings. Stupid idea, the handsome smuggler thought as he tried to clear his head. Sim reached out and called the light saber to him before Luke even hit the ground, the blade lighting up immediately as he looked around for any new threat. The woman had not yet returned. The man that attacked him in the ship was starting to stir, and Sim walked over to him. He grabbed the heavy man, and with help from the force of his rage, drug him back toward the ship's exit. He held his saber over the man's heart, and waited for the woman to reappear. Marcy'a gained her bearings almost immediately, and went back to the door of the ship. The Sith had Brindon down. He was standing over him, his light saber pushing into Brindon's chest, just over his heart. She could smell the flesh burning even as she saw Brindon grimacing in pain. "He doesn't have to die, but as you see, if I merely push another inch he will. I ..... want......the......CUBE!" he finished with a shout that Marcy'a felt as much as heard, pushing her back again ever so slightly. Marcy'a looked past the Sith and saw Luke lying on the ground as well, barely moving. The blaster slipped from her hand, and Marcy'a nodded. "You will get it, just keep your word not to harm them," she said, at that point no longer caring if the Sith had it. Sim simply nodded, the anger on his face evident. At that moment she knew he would kill Brindon, kill all of them, and search the ship himself after they were dead. The big man was gasping from the pain, but was smart enough to be as still as he could be. One wrong move and Sim's light saber would indeed enter his heart, and kill him. Sim no longer really cared. He was not leaving without the cube. Them living or dying was not a concern. He was not intent on killing them. He just wanted the cube. The woman finally realized this, and relented. He could feel it. He pushed his will on her, and he could feel it. Luke gained his bearings and saw the precarious position his friend was in. He reached for his blasters, but the Sith looked back at him almost immediately. "No," he said to Luke, and Luke stopped. The light saber was pushed into Brindon's muscular chest, burning a hole just over his heart. Brindon was grimacing from the pain, but knew to be still. The Sith said nothing else to him, and instead turned his attention back to the ship, where Marcy'a was exiting with the cube. She looked defeated, something he had never seen on her face before. Marcy'a walked the cube over to the Sith, the blade of his light saber immediately going out as he received the cube. The tall Sith said nothing more as he put the strange item in a pouch under his black cloak. He then quietly turned, and left. The trio just watched him, the fight seeming to be gone from all of them, including the Sith.

"It's not so much that I can't die, it's more like who would want to kill someone so handsome." -Luke Minhre "I dont trust her," Marcy'a said as she exited her sleeping quarters into the lounge. She was in what she called her "comfy shorts", gray baggy shorts that went near to her knees, that once belonged to Brindon, along with a tighter white under shirt. "You don't trust anyone," Brindon pointed out with a chuckle, handing her a glass of wine. Marcy'a did not argue with that assessment of her, she knew it was very true. She also knew she did not have a reason to no longer trust Ria, Ria was in this up to her eyeballs as well. The only one not deeply involved now was Brindon, but she and Brindon were past the point of her telling Brindon it was not his business. That only caused the big guy hurt feelings, but never once steered his course from helping her out of a mess. The two sat silent in the lounge area, looking at the slight glow of the inactive com for a moment. Marcy'a was about to move closer to Sim when someone said.... "Knock knock," Sim said, banging on the wall as he came into view of he two humans sitting in the lounge area. Both looked to him, as if he was not really there. A wave of his light saber let them know he was quite real. "We can do this easy or hard, it makes me little difference," Sim began, letting that sink in a moment. "I want the cube, in my hand, no fuss, no muss. No one dies even. This entire problem is not really yours." "What are you talking about," the woman began, and Sim washed them in a wave of force, just enough to get their attention, and make them have to catch their breaths. "Again, I want the cube," Sim said, his anger starting to grow. He had to keep it in, not let it slip out for now. He could spend days searching an XS that belonged to a smuggler, just for one small hidden cargo slot. "Luke took it with him, he is trying to get it back to you," the man lied, bringing a frown to Sim's face. Marcy'a sighed to herself, Brindon could not lie well. In fact, he was terrible at it. It was not something the man ever practiced, and chances are, he didn't even lie as a child. Why he chose to speak up instead of letting her talk was beyond her, but what was done was done. The man, obviously a Sith, stood there just looking at them. He wore dark robes that parted at the waste to show black pants and high boots. He pulled back the hood and let it fall to his back, showing his long black hair. He had a black beard, light skin, and dark eyes. Marcy'a stood up, her hands raised slightly to show she had no ill intent. Either way, it did not change the look on the big Sith's face. He watched her, almost amused, if she was not mistaken. That started to get her mad, but she forced a smile anyway. "What he means is Luke was looking to find, well, probably you, to bring you back here and retrieve the cube," she said. The man looked her over a bit, and his face seemed to soften some. "Then I saved him the trouble," the man said, but he kept his light saber ignited. "I cannot get it for you, only he knows where it is, but I can call him on the com," she said, and pointed to the holoterminal. She leaned against the terminal, her fingers now manipulating a compartment with a small blaster in it. The light saber sang as the Sith moved faster than any man should. "I would not do that if I were you," he said, the saber pointing at her across the holoterminal. She was sure he knew what she was doing, until he lowered his weapon and and turned about, looking toward the entrance hatch. "I think it would be better to wait for him," the Sith said with confidence. Marcy'a was never nervous, but as the hatch opened and the grip of the blaster was in view, she knew she would never be able to say she was never nervous again. Sim did not trust the two, and knew they were lying, but the smuggler had to return sooner or later. He had moved the body of the woman called Ria to insure no one entering the hanger knew something was going on, until they ran into him. Of course the woman wanted to speak to the smuggler, she wanted him warned. The other, a well muscled man, was a terrible liar. Sim had no real intention of killing them, though if they stood in his way, it was a possibility all the same. That however was not the mission. Eliminating witnesses was not the mission. These two, and the smuggler, were not involved in the hijacking of the cargo. Luke was simply transporting the item and was almost killed during the hijacking. If they played their cards right, they would live to tell everyone how it is unwise to plot against the Empire and it's Emperor. "I have no intent....." Sim began, even as he sensed the blaster being removed from its hiding spot, and the woman moving to fire it. The Sith moved very fast for someone his size, causing Marcy'a to do something she never did from this range. She missed. Did he really dodge it? Brindon was not sure, but he began to move toward the Sith as well. Marcy'a continued to fire, causing the Sith to back up as he used his light saber to block the blasts. She aimed high, forcing him to keep his saber high, and Brindon went low, crashing into the Sith's mid section with his shoulder. The two rolled down the hall, near the exit. As the Sith tried to stand Brindon kicked him back, and once again tackled him, the two rolling down the entrance ramp, out of the XS, and into the hanger. The Sith gained his footing first, raising his saber for a strike, but Marcy'a struck with the blaster. She hit the Sith's hand directly, and the light saber flew from it. Sim began to seeth. How dare they strike at him. This was going through his mind even as they tumbled out of the ship. He probably could have used the force if he wasn't caught by such surprise. The man fighting him was trained, and struck him just right to keep him busy, while the threat of the woman with the blaster was still there. He raised his saber to strike, and felt the heat from the blaster hit his hand direct. If he had not been armored, he would have completely lost his hand. As it was he lost all feeling in it for a moment, and the saber flew from his hand, the hilt hitting the floor harmlessly, the blade no longer energized. Sim felt the rage build, and unleashed it as a powerful force blow, knocking the man from him and across the room. He did not follow the man's departure, instead he sent another force blow knocking the woman back, clear into the ship. When he looked around for his light saber, there stood a handsome man, holding his saber, the blade extended with the pale light of someone who was not force sensitive. "I prefer my blasters, but let's see how you like a taste of your own medicine," the smuggler said, then flashed a handsome smile.

A Hidden Smugglers Hanger, Tatooine Desert Sim was patient, much more so than others thought. Hours had passed while he watched the XS, the hatch closed tight. Sim did not know much about the ship, but he did know he would not be boarding unless someone opened the hatch. He tried to pass thoughts of stepping outside for a breath of fresh air to the occupants, but he was not well versed in mind control through the force, and quickly gave up, preferring to watch and wait. His only worry was that the ship would come to life, and the freighter would fly out of the hanger, leaving the Sith to have to find them again. Sim preferred the saber, up close and personal, to mind tricks. However, even in his limited ability to detect things, he could sense this cube was onboard this ship. It seethed hate and rage and vile. Sith wondered how the ones aboard dealt with it, but then they were probably not force sensitive. The Doras bounty hunter had did him well with information, and someone was willing to tell him where to find the XS belonging to the smuggler Luke Minhere. Of course the amount of credits paid did not hurt. Sim had wondered if No-bah Tah had kept some of the credits for himself, but it did not matter really. Here he was, looking at the XS that housed the strange cube his master wished. No-bah Tah was charged with leaving the planet, and never returning. Sim looked to the opening of the hanger, the large blast doors long gone. It was not a place to store anything, but it was a perfect place to hide. It was during this thought that he heard the pressure release of the XS hatch, and watched as the light from inside the ship spilled across the hanger floor. It was a human woman, and Sim right away recognized her as a target. She was the agent that failed, and judging from how free she was to walk about, had betrayed the Empire. From the darkness he watched her walk to the hanger doorway, oblivious to her danger. Even as he approached from behind, she did not hear him, she was lost in her thoughts. The only time she seemed aware she was not alone was when the dark red light saber came to life and cut through the air with it's signature sound. She still seemed unaware of what happened as her body fell into two separate pieces, her dead eyes gazing at the stars. Sim looked to the open hatch, the slightest of smiles forming on his lips.