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"When all choices seem wrong, choose restraint."

~ Grand Master Yoda

Keris sighed as she stepped out of the gravity lift, sauntering into the dark meditation chamber where her master awaited. She loathed being apart from him for such long periods of time, but understood the necessity of it- and she was certain the news she would bring would garner his favor. No guards had followed her onto this level- she was fully aware that their presence was completely restricted. The chamber was for her master and herself, and the odd visitor who was summoned.

Her eyes traveled to the far end of the chamber where stood an ebon-armored figure, on the other side of an archaic-looking altar. She approached slowly, stopping once she was within earshot of him and bending a knee to him reverently. "I've returned, Master Locke," she stated softly, bowing her head.

The figure turned his head, a tall, white-furred wolfish alien with medium-length silver hair staring at her through narrowed, silver-blue eyes. "You've finished your assessment, then?" he asked quietly. She nodded. "How does she hold up?"

"She's unskilled, quick to anger, sloppy... and powerful," she cooed, her green eyes flicking up to the wolf. "The potential is there- though what the Jedi Praxeum is teaching those fools, I have no idea. But she has no idea what she could be capable of."

"And you left her alive?" Locke asked, now facing her directly. He knew of course that she had, but wished to remind her that nothing escape his attention.

"As you commanded, Master Locke," she assured him gently. "I left her a considerable wound to make sure she knows her place while she's here."

"Very good," he answered, nodding. "No doubt she'll provide a good potential candidate for us to convert." He stepped forward, black robes billowing as he approached the vixen. She shivered and the wolf sighed. "Yet again, student?"

The vixen blushed, bowing her head. "You know the effect you have on me," she whimpered.

Locke's face was impassive for a few moments, before breaking into an amused smirk- where once there had been coldness in his eyes was now warmth. "I know that full well, yes." He stepped forward, reaching down, lifting her muzzle and caressing her face. "When the Circle of Syn agreed to assign you as my apprentice, I was not prepared for the bond we would forge together. Although I won't deny that back when you were assigned to me, you struck me as little more than a Force-sensitive slut, eager to lay with anything that made your loins ache- and even now you make me wonder."

She shuddered. "That's not..."

"You think I didn't notice the attraction you felt for the feline you only just captured?" he questioned incredulously, trailing a thumb across her cheek. "Foolish student- you know me better than that. Even from up here, the ripples of your arousal were to me as perceivable as waves crashing against a cliff. If I didn't know any better I'd say you felt nothing for me, despite our intimacy, kit."

She looked away sadly. "Don't say that... you _do_know better..."

The wolf smiled, guiding her up to her feet. "You're right. I _do_know better, my love." He pulled the vixen into a deep kiss, holding her close as she slid her arms around his waist and returned the kiss. A purr vibrated through her as Locke rubbed her back, the vixen laying her head against his chest as she basked in his affections.

"Why do you tease me like that, Locke?" she pouted, nuzzling into his chest.

"To teach you to temper your affections by focusing it on me," he replied smoothly, letting her go and striding to the viewport, motioning the Amaran to his side. "Not that I mind your promiscuity, but it took me all of 3 years to breed you into a student of the Dark side. I don't expect that to come undone by a simple act of intimacy with another person- yet your affections can easily be used as a liability against us both."

"By our enemies?"

"And our allies," he added flatly. For a moment he was quiet, looking out into the field of stars beyond them. "If I must breed away the vulnerability that might take you from me, I will do it just to see you live."

Keris glanced to her master, hesitating to speak. "Do you think we're in danger from the Circle?"

Locke shook his head. "We're loyal. We do as they command. They have no reason to attack us."

"Then what do we need to fear from them?"

"Betrayal." His white eyes met the vixen's, and she knew he was about to impart wisdom. "The history of the Sith is littered with great power and great betrayal- strength garnered through training, skill, research and wisdom; weakness spawned of cowardice, subterfuge, backstabbing and politics. The Jedi Order's weakness is in its willing ignorance of some of the deepest secrets of the Force- the Sith's weakness, it's hunger for power consuming secrets and secret-keepers."

"The Rule of Two?" she inquired.

Locke snorted derisively. "Easily the most foolish philosophy the 'Sith' have tried to practice. 'One to embody power, the other to crave it,' it is said- yet all that happened was the slaughter of many capable Sith, and the loss of incredible knowledge over the ages over petty disputes of what constitutes true 'power'. All of it hanging on the act of betrayal- a practice that Sith have relied on for millenia." His eyes turned to the vixen. "If we expect to survive, to stay at each other's side, our trust in each other must be absolute." He put an arm around her waist, bringing her in close.

"And what about us...?" she asked, leaning into his neck and sighing contentedly.

Locke furrowed his brow. "Keris?"

"What if the Circle attempts to cut our bond? What if they try to divide us?"

The wolf nuzzled her cheek. "I'll cut them all down before that happens, love."

Apart from the footfalls of an active patrol and the occasional echo of welding work from technicians at the far end of the hangar, the chamber was silent. If anyone had paid attention to the captured vessel in the middle of the hangar, they would have noticed the hissing of escaping air and the rapid beeping coming from the port side of the ship. 30 seconds later, an explosion rang out as a speeder-sized rocket fired out of the ship's escape pod bay and slammed into the corner of the hangar with a deafening explosion.

In a matter of seconds the hangar was abuzz with activity as voices rang out, high-pitched alarms squealing in response to structural damage and fire, orders being barked to soldiers as no fewer than 10 armed men surrounded the smoking remains of an escape pod- screams rent the air as injured personnel cried for help, reaching out to their comrades and being dragged to safety. The scene had occurred so quickly and unexpectedly, taking at least 3 lives, that nobody noticed a figure in a captain's longcoat slide out from the escape pod bay and onto the deck, creeping out of sight behind a row of cargo containers stacked against the nearest wall.

Kajex felt enough anger that he briefly considered running the corridors and shooting whatever was in sight- but he knew full well it was a strategy likely to get him killed, and as long as Syrra was alive he was intent on staying alive too. Her decision to protect him gave him the opportunity to repay the favor, and he was adamant on not screwing it up. He focused, trying to figure out how to progress. Finding her would be trivial, and breaking her out along with anyone else would likely be just as easy- and pointless, if he could not get the Rushin' Roulette out of the hangar. He breathed in, then out again, peeking out from his cover to see what was holding her in place- 4 magnetic clamps had secured her and suspended her more or less in midair, negating the need for the ship's landing-struts.

"Not a problem," he muttered.

Leaning back into the shadows he considered how to go about it, his mind feeling much clearer than it had when he'd still been raging with loss- the magnetic clamps would be easy to remove, but he also had to ensure the station didn't budge while he was working. It seemed clear now that these captors were using hyperdrive-mounted asteroids and ion weaponry in their scheme- and it was likely the station possessed a hyperdrive too, as the base had not showed up on scans when the_Roulette_ was still active.

Checking to see that the coast was clear, he sidestepped out of his cover, looking into an open doorway. Hoping desperately he could demonstrate enough skill to not be caught, he moved in.

"There had better be an exceptionally good reason why the station is currently alerting us to damage in the hangar." Steady as his voice may have been as he spoke into the comlink, Keris did not miss the dangerous glint of anger in her master's eyes.

A harried voice responded, nearly drowned out by the sounds of klaxxons and shouting troops. "An escape pod malfunction, my lord! The captured vessel ejected the vehicle into the corner of the hangar bay, we have taken 4 casualties!"

A pause hung as Locke's gaze shifted to Keris, who seemed to cringe back. "Did you order a thorough sweep of the vessel to detect life signs?" he asked his student.

The vixen stammered. "I did. The unit that escorted our new prisoner to the cells was to return to the vessel and gather technicians to oversee a scan of the ship."

"I see. Apparently someone forgot to do their job, then." Displeasure marked his features as he turned back to the communication device. "Here is what you are to do, Captain- you are to immediately station guards at every one of our shuttles and escape pods and ensure that anyone attempting to use either who are not authorized arrested on sight. Do not delay. Set your weapons to stun- whoever our saboteur is, I want them alive for interrogation. Contact Captain Holt, have him send a team into the captured vessel and extract any weapons or data you come across."

"Yes my lord!" The comm went silent.

Keris swallowed and looked down fearfully- Locked had turned to her. "Did you sense anyone else on the vessel besides the Jedi, love?" he questioned softly.

"N-no, I didn't."

He sighed, putting a paw on her shoulder. "Our saboteur may have had a way to shield themselves from us. No matter, we must ensure our Jedi pilot does not escape from her confines."

"Look, I know you probably have a family somewhere, and you're hoping with your last breath that they'll be fine without you- I get that," Kajex said quietly as he strangled a soldier from behind, frowning as the human struggled and choked, trying to get out from the wolf's grip. "But you're also holding my friend and her people captive, and the needs of the innocent outweigh yours." Feeling no better about it despite his words, he took a deep breath and twisted hard, a dull yet loud crack generating from the man's neck as he suddenly went still. Kajex sighed, putting a paw to his neck and hoping that he had made the death instant at the very least, nodding to himself as he felt no pulse- the trauma had been too great to survive.

"I'm sorry," he added moresely, closing the man's eyes and laying him out straight. His anger had abated, though his determination was no less.

He had managed to make it into the hyperdrive control room undetected, darting past cameras, tailing patrols from afar and slicing into repair access tunnels until he reached his destination. Luck seemed to have run out on him when a soldier had passed just as he had dropped from the ceiling, and the man's first impulse had been to aim his weapon and try to fire. It was too soon to be discovered, however, and Kajex needed the man's gear- faced with an abrupt decision, he had chosen to put the man's life down as quickly as possible. At the very least, the soldier had not managed to fired a shot, and so the wolf still had stealth on his side.

Moments later he grabbed the soldier's belt and went through his pouches, letting out a sigh of relief as he found three variable concussion charges. Easy to set for physical damage if rigged correctly; timer only, he also noted, but also easy to rig for remote detonation. Taking out a comlink and his slicing equipment, he set to work.

Something was not right, Locke could sense. He stopped halfway down the passage. There was a loss, a twinge in the Force that signaled the passing of someone on the station- he had felt it when the explosion in the hangar had occurred, and it was there again.

Keris stopped, noticing her master had ceased to move only a few steps ahead. "Locke?"

The wolf said nothing for a moment, focusing- he could feel the faint outline of a being moving through the lower levels. Barely detectable, its presence was nevertheless unmistakable- a male. Strong; determined; filled with powerful emotions, barely concealing his rage and fear.

"... Keris. Find a patrol, go down to the prison cells and stand watch. Ensure none of the prisoners are allowed to escape. I'm heading down to the sub-levels- I believe I can sense the agent below." He started to move away from her, pausing after a few steps and turning to her, regarding her with a serious stare. "Be warned- few people can mask their presence from a trained Sith, yet this one is capable of doing so. Only those with strong mental conditioning could accomplish such stealth- meaning he is likely well-trained. He will not be easy to track- do not allow yourself to become ambushed."

She bowed. "I won't fail you." Without another word she sped off down a side hall, leaving the Sith Knight to himself.

Curiosity caused Locke to linger for a moment. What little he could sense from this man felt... familiar. A mind not unlike his own. Years of training and serving the Circle had resulted in him breaking into, infiltrating and supplanting the minds of all manner of beings, people of different species, yet this mind was like kin. No... an impossibility. There were none in the universe like him- the thirst for his origins had never been quenched, had died when he had been knighted by his masters.

Now he wondered if he had been wrong.

It was necessary for him to know, he realized, to see for himself. He strode forward through the corridor, now driven by a re-emerging thirst for answers and guided by the Force.

Whispers were being passed between the Trianii as they stared at the smallest among them in a trance. Some whispered of hope that she would free them- others spoke of doubt, that her inaction suggested she was resigned to their fate. Only Jurah and his daughter remained silent, casting sidelong glances at each other as they waited for her to hear what the Jedi could sense. 20 minutes in peaceful meditation had passed, and neither of them thought it wise to rouse her from it, believing that it would be to their detriment if they caused her to lose focus.

Syrra had spent most of that time simply watching her partner, her heart aching with sadness yet warm with joy as the knowledge that he was yet alive brought dulled her fears. The situation was grim, and she realized that if her end was coming soon, she would prefer having seen the wolf one last time, even if only through the Force. It was odd, however, as she kept her sights on him the entire time she paid attention- something about him seemed to be wreathed in a dull shadow, like a mist trying to obscure the glow she felt radiating from him, as if he had found a way to mask himself from others. But she could see him all the same, able to sense his fear and anger- and the stirrings of hope.

When he took the life of another being, those feelings mixed with guilt. Far from unsettling the Trianii, it brought Syrra comfort to know that he was not killing out of vengeance and was instead focusing on their rescue. Once he had moved on, Syrra turned her attention to the rest of the station, perceiving the vixen that had disarmed her approaching them with guards at her back- some distance away, another being she could only assume was her master was approaching where Kajex had just left, and a twinge of unease settled in her. She knew only she could perceive the mercenary clearly, though how she knew this was beyond her- perhaps the bond that she felt with him made it easier.

But now it seemed this being was capable of sensing Kajex too, though its moderate pace suggested it could not do so the way Syrra could. She redirected her attention to Keris- the Amaran was drawing closer. With a deep breath, the Trianii broke out of her trance and looked around- all eyes were on her.

Knowing that it was up to her to inspire hope among her people, she chose her words carefully yet honestly. "Keris is approaching with at least 8 armed guards," she stated softly, but clearly. They reacted as she expected they would, with agitation and soft cries of fear as the spoke to each other in their language. She held up a paw. "They're not here to kill us," she assured them. "Not any of you, anyway. I suspect they want to keep everyone else alive for questioning, as Jurah suggests. She may be here to kill me. But this may be our chance to escape- help is coming."

Jurah looked hopeful. "Your mate?"

Syrra flinched at the words, feeling flustered, but kept her voice steady. "He's my partner, actually- a skilled and noble mercenary with experience in rescuing people. He's also the captain of the ship I was on-board." She turned to the rest of the crew, speaking more confidently than she felt. "He managed to avoid detection and he's working on a plan to get us out."

Surprise and elation for the news could be heard throughout the cell, some Trianii embracing each other reassuringly as they discussed her news among themselves. Calya knelt beside the injured Trianii, checking her wound carefully. "What do you have intended, cub? We have no arms beyond our claws and your connection to the Force- and as formidable as that may be, our captors also possess that advantage."

Jurah growled defiantly. "They can only kill us, daughter. If our only means of being free of them is to be shot down trying to escape their shackles, then I will gladly give my life to be free- if my death means my brethren are offered a better chance, so much the better." There was a general murmur of assent, a look of determination on the faces of those Trianii who still remained, nodding in agreement. The elder feline turned his attention to the Padawan. "How do you feel, young one?"

Meditation had been a temporary refuge from the severe pain Syrra still felt- the bacta had not yet completed its work and no bandaging could be offered, but the painkiller had at least made the pain bearable. She moved, trying to get to her feet, hissing as the pain in her thigh flared again. "I can fight, but not effectively. If I could get a blaster that'd help, but any one of you would still be able to contribute better than I could. All I've got going for me is a handful of Jedi tricks and a few minutes to plan something out."

The elder feline helped her to stand. "That may be more than enough. Are they close?"

Syrra nodded, her breathing slightly strained. "I'd give it a few more minutes before they're here. But my friend is getting closer- he'll be here soon as well." She straightened, turning to the rest of the captives. "We need to look as if we aren't planning anything, so let's not group together. Is anyone here capable of hand-to-hand combat?" 5 paws raised in response. "I need you to keep near the door to rush them at the right moment. I counted at least 8 soldiers in addition to the Keris. We'll be outgunned and outnumbered- our best chance is working in tandem the moment they are least aware of it."

The combatants quickly organized among themselves while Jurah aided the Padawan in moving near the cell gate. She glanced at the elder Trianii, curious about his earlier remark. "Jurah... why did you assume that my partner was my mate? I'm not wearing a ear-band, ring or devotion beads."

He smiled softly in return. "As you meditated, you were smiling. I've seen that smile before- my daughter wore it when she returned the morning after her evening with this Markus you mentioned. It's not difficult to see this mercenary, whoever he is, is special to you."

Syrra's cheeks burned, but she found herself smiling again. "I'll have to let him know that."

"All security personnel, report to your commanders for reassignment. Detain any unauthorized persons and report them immediately."

A level and a half above the hyperdrive control room, crawling through a cramped, dusty access vent, a gray wolf snorted derisively. "Really? Waste time trying to give out patrol orders instead of actively searching around? This _has_to be an Imperial operation..." Dust stimulated his nose and he sneezed loudly, groaning as he rubbed his eyes and hoping that nobody had heard him as he continued to shuffle around, exiting from the vent beneath raised steel mesh flooring. The lighting was no better above it than it had been throughout, yet at least now he was able to see clearly he was in the right area. He held out a datapad, the screen showing the schematics of the station he had lifted from the control room's terminal. It was far bigger than he was expecting it to be, but not overly complex. Once he was completely sure he was on the correct level, he continued onwards.

Before long he paused, hearing a series of footsteps overhead. Curious, he peered through the catwalk above him and watched as a squad of soldiers marched in step behind an Amaran woman in dark, loose robes. His brow furrowed as he spotted the lightsaber hanging from her belt, growling softly- odds were it was she who had defeated and injured Syrra. By the looks of it, she was moving for the prison cells just as he was. Cursing to himself he started shuffling again, trying to keep up with the squad and their leader- their footfalls could still be heard.

They turned at a junction and Kajex waited until they seemed out of earshot before getting to his knees and pushing up against the flooring carefully, raising it up and climbing out carefully. Once he'd set the flooring back in place he crept quietly down the corridor, tailing the squad at a distance, straining to hear for any voices above the din their boots made as they clattered over the flooring. They turned another corner and he followed, closing the gap quietly until they stopped abruptly at the end of the hall. Glancing up he noticed a sign, Cell Block 1-A. He managed to prevent himself from cursing again- it was too much to hope for that Syrra would be in the first block he entered.

Almost too late, he noticed the patrol had started facing in his direction and he ducked into a nearby passageway, kneeling next to a terminal and peeking out from behind cover. Wishing he had thought to leave at least one concussion grenade for a situation like this, he checked his rifle, anger starting to rise in him again. They weren't moving- and now he could hear the vixen telling them they were all to stand guard at that cell. Knowing full well he was outnumbered, he took a deep breath, raising his rifle and starting to turn.

Kajex, no!

He froze.

Don't. Stay back...

He obeyed easily, elation running through him- there was no mistaking what he had felt. He nearly dropped to his knees as he felt an incredible sense of joy rush through him. A part of him feared he would never hear that voice again. He took a deep breath, looking around- he was certain she was not near him physically, but he had to be sure. She must be contacting him through--

The Force, yes... hard to maintain... knew you'd come back for me... so happy you're alive...

He wished he could talk to her, say something in response that she could hear- that he was coming for her, that he'd get her and everyone else out even if it came at the cost of his life.

I know, she told him. Y_ou're a good 'wolf_'... But it won't come to that...

Which meant she had a plan. Despite the situation, Kajex found himself smiling- of course she had a plan. She was smart and far more capable than she gave herself credit for. He waited to hear what she had in mind.

I can see you... we're not far... need you to be ready to slice open door up ahead... Raise left paw if you're able to from your position...

Kajex nodded, looking around and immediately noticing the terminal next to him. If this prison block was like any other he'd sliced into before, then it would be a trivial task. He took a moment to briefly peek around the corner again, to ensure nobody was patrolling down the corridor. Once certain he felt around the bottom of the terminal, finding the access port- one jamming device and a few tense seconds later, he was in. The setup rudimentary and organized, possessed of nearly nothing in the way of anti-security measures- he could control the entire prison block from this terminal.

"...Yeah. Definitely Imperial Remnant." He raised his left paw, waiting for Syrra to 'speak' with him.

Okay... you'll know the signal... It'll be loud... When it happens, open the hatch...

He nodded to himself, taking another deep breath, prepared to open their cell door when it was time.

Kajex...?

He looked up.

... My name... it means "Sun and Sky".

With those words echoing in his mind, there was no fear anymore. He was prepared to lose, and prepared for loss. If he was going to die soon, he was at peace with dying having known the meaning of her name. He smiled, and got ready.

"Let's get it started, kitten."

Still holding her side and now wearing her bomber jacket, Syrra looking out of the cell, eyes falling upon a full squad of armed troops guarding both directions of the hall. Leaning in for a better view, she glanced at each of their belts, smirking as she saw what they carried.

"What's so funny, cunt?"

The Trianii's eyes flicked up to the vixen. She smiled dryly. "Having trouble out there, I take it?"

The Amaran glared. "Just an insect scuttling around our base- no doubt trying to rescue you." Sauntering to the cell door, Keris looked her directly in the eyes. "You lied, kitten, telling me you had nobody on board your ship. Did you think your one boyfriend, or whoever he is to you, possessed the ability to rescue you and your people? That he would be capable of fighting past a squad of trained soldiers, a Sith apprentice; and then after that, fight through the whole base towards a disabled vessel, assuming you could defeat my own master?"

Syrra nodded, still smiling as she closed her eyes and focused. "Sure- just as long as I give him exactly what he needs."

Keris narrowed her eyes. "And what might that be?"

There were a series of clicks along each troop's belt, followed by a multitude of beeping.

She opened her eyes, grinning. "A distraction."

It was impossible for Syrra to tell if any of the guards screamed or shouted as the corridor filled with a cacophony of explosions and blinding light- ducking behind the cell door and covering her ears had done little to spare her senses. Her ears rang from the deafening sounds, nerves jangled from the tremors the explosions caused, as every concussion grenade on their belts detonated at their sonic setting.

The cell door opened a moment later and all 5 Trianii who had volunteered rushed from their prisoner, roaring as they charged the stunned, fallen or disoriented captors. One of the soldiers had the presence of mind to raise his weapon and fire a single shot, scoring a hit in the midsection of one of the fighters- the Trianii dropped and did not get up.

The death of one of their own drove the rest of the fighters into a frenzy as they clawed, grappled and strangled the rest of the troops. Blaster fire could be heard at one end of the passage- two more troops fell to Kajex's sharpshooting. Keris was almost completely still, her eyes closed and a trickle of blood running from her nose- the Padawan could see her breathing shallowly, could sense that she was still alive. Before long, the fighters had dispatched all 8 of the troops, bleeding from various places and looking worse for wear- but otherwise still in fighting shape, though one of them tearfully knelt by the body of his brother and draped himself over it, howling in anguish.

Jurah and Calya rushed to the dead fighter's side, grief etched in their features. The rest of the prisoners followed, speaking in hushed, respectful tones as they watched. Through the crowd, Syrra could see Kajex as he slowed down from a running pace, a solemn look on his face as he realized one among the prisoners had fallen in the attack. She wanted to call out his name, to say something, but she found herself choking up as a pressure built in her chest, breathing suddenly becoming more difficult.

She didn't have to say anything. Soon enough, his eyes turned to her and widened as he started to shoulder through the knot of Trianii prisoners, tripping and falling to his knees in front of her. She reached out and leaned into his embrace, tears running down her face as relief rushed through her nerves. "I knew you wouldn't leave us behind," she choked, smiling tremulously.

"Are you kidding?" he asked, looking elated. "I can't protect you if I run away when you need me." He kissed her deeply, and she returned it, ignoring the pain in her side, ignoring that there were over a dozen other Trianii watching, some regarding the intimate scene with amusement, others with approval. Before too long they broke their kiss, the wolf helping her to her feet. "Where are you hurt?" he asked as he looked her over, eyes widening at her stab wound.

Jurah stepped forward. "Captain Surnahm, I presume? Your, er, _partner_suffered a lightsaber wound to the lower chest, and a minor cut to her outer left thigh- painful, but not lethal. I administered bacta to the wounds, it has not yet had time to heal fully."

"I'll be fine," the Padawan insisted. "We can't stay here, Kajex- that woman there referred to herself as a Sith apprentice, and she also spoke of her master. That master is going to notice she's been knocked out," she stated grimly as she started waving her paw to get everyone's attention- the fallen Trianii hung limp in the arms of his older brother, the larger Trianii refusing to leave him behind.

"Alright everyone, I know the odds look long and I know you wish to grieve- but if we don't hurry, his sacrifice will have been in vain. Pick up whatever weapons you can- hers as well," she added. Kajex passed out the weapons he had brought along while a few others quickly confiscated their enemies weapons- one of them retrieved Keris' lightsaber and handed it to her. She looked it over, scowling as she hefted it- it felt somehow alien to her paw. "This feels wrong, but better in my hands than hers..."

"Do we take her with?" Kajex asked, looking as if he'd like nothing better than to leave her dead. The Trianii noticed his expression and shook her head, putting a paw to his shoulder soothingly.

"No- better to leave her behind where her master can find her. We kill her and he'll be pissed, and that's not the kind of thing you want a Sith to be."

"Alright, then follow me," the wolf motioned to everyone, handing Syrra his datapad as he took point. "Schematics are uploaded on here, we're going to head back to the hangar."

"Do we have a means of escaping the station?" the Trianii asked, supported by Jurah as she struggled to keep up.

Kajex nodded. "We're taking the _Roulette_out of here."

"But I thought it was disabled," Syrra stated, confused. "Up ahead and right," she added, keeping her eyes on datapad.

"It was, but one of the niftier tricks the ship possesses is an auto-repair function- completely silent, tricks a lot of scanners. An ion pulse like the one we experienced won't cause physical damage to the ship's hardware, it should be done around now."

"And what of the rest of the station's troops?" Calya asked.

"Right now they're too busy guarding every other escape pod and shuttle," Kajex answered, stopping at a junction. "Near as I can tell, this mobile facility is lightly-manned, probably why the Remnant had to send a couple of Sith to bolster their ranks. I didn't see any starfighters either, so this place probably relies mostly on static defenses- nothing the _Roulette_can't outmaneuver."

"They'll still be guarding her," Syrra pointed out.

Kajex glanced back, grinning as he withdrew a comlink from his belt. "True. But just like my ship, I also have a few tricks up my sleeves."

Locke stared dourly at the corpse he had come across. His killer had at least possessed enough decency to shut the man's eyes and lay him in a respectful resting position- but it did not escape the Sith Knight's notice that some of his equipment was missing. He had not been laid out with his weapons, and his concussion charges were missing. The albino wolf closed his eyes, searching out with his his mind to find their intruder. A twinge of irritation furrowed his brow- the saboteur was exceptionally hard to track.

Suddenly he doubled over, snarling in pain as he perceived a flash of bright light and explosive force, the effect forcing him to his knees. He gasped, breathing raggedly as worry overtook him- his apprentice had been attacked. He reached out to her, trying to assess her condition, but she was unresponsive. Panic nearly set in as he realized she had been compromised, was vulnerable. He should not have left her alone, should not have strayed from her side.

"... Focus, Locke..." He growled, trying to calm himself. She was not dead- not yet, though he sensed the men around her were dying one by one, attacked by what appeared to be the prisoners. The scene became clearer- somehow they had found a way out, had managed to turn the odds in their favor. And among them, Locke could finally see the agent that had eluded him as he pulled away from embracing the Trianii Jedi. His panic turned to wonder, to curiosity and bewilderment, as he finally perceived the form and face of Keris' attacker.

He was a wolf, like himself. Gray in color, possessing gold eyes and black hair, but there was no mistaking it- he was of the same race. A race he had never known, had never discovered in his years of searching throughout the known universe- but he was still kin. Armed and dressed not unlike many human smugglers, he bore no marks or flair to symbolize anything of whatever culture they belonged to, except perhaps the small, simple jeweled amulet around his neck. No patches on his coat indicated his affiliations or loyalties- he seemed almost... apart from the universe Locke knew.

And yet, his very presence answered the only question Locke cared about at that moment- he was not the only one of his kind in the universe.

A nearby explosion tore him out of his focus, one close enough that it threw him across the room and slamming into the far wall. Locke snarled again, this time as he was wracked with physical pain from the tremendous impact, sliding down to his side. A pause, then a deep cough as he expectorated harshly and spat blood. Grimacing, he returned to his feet, eyes drifting up ahead where the hyperdrive control console had been turned into scrap. As much pain as he was experiencing, the Sith Knight could not help but admire the saboteur's ingenuity, as he spotted the remains of a communications device smoking in the debris.

Returning to his feet unsteadily, he brought his own communicator to his muzzle. "Captain Holt, this is Knight Locke, respond."

"Yes, my lord?"

"I need a status report on our hyperdrive system- it appears to have suffered damage," he dictated dryly.

"It is completely disabled, sire- we cannot interface with it from station control. Only direct interaction with the console-"

"The console is destroyed, Captain." Anger seethed through him as his head cleared from the disorientation. "We are likely stuck here. What of the prisoners?"

"Your apprentice led a single squad to guard the prison block- they reached the prisoners but they have not reported in since."

"And the captured vessel?"

"A team has already scoured the ship for weaponry and found nothing. The ship's computer remains offline. Several empty cargo containers were found. The ship was almost completely bare, save for a small box in the crew quarters."

"Contents?"

"A small gem."

Locke grimaced, bracing himself against a wall. It had all the trappings of a Jedi transport; none at all. "Order that team to guard the vessel at all costs. Chances are they will attempt to use one of our shuttles, but we must take no chances." He paused, wincing as he struggled to remain upright. "Have small patrols sweep the corridors between the hangar and prisoner block- do not have them engage. If they spot any prisoners, they are to report their location to you immediately."

"Yes my lord."

"One other thing, Captain. If you should come across a non-Trianii male who looks much like me, I want him captured. If he is otherwise... there will be consequences." Strength was returning to the canid's legs, and he exited the hyperdrive control room, staggering every few steps.

"Understood, sire. What about you?"

"I shall be in the hangar. This situation appears to necessitate my undivided attention."

A pair of gold eyes peeked from around a corner, spotting a 3-man patrol down a well-lit hall. "How much farther, kitten?"

Syrra held up the datapad, her breathing labored as the wound in her chest burned. "If this is near droid maintenance... we're close. 250 meters. Up to the right, then the 3rdleft next, then it's a straight shot into the hangar."

The fur on Kajex's neck bristled- the captors were on alert. It would be very surprising if they did not shoot to kill. "They have small patrols moving around. We got lucky making it _this_far without being spotted, but we're probably in for a fight from now on." He turned to the other Trianii- 12 of them were armed with weapons liberated from the fallen squad and the pistols and rifles he had brought from the ship. "Anyone of you a decent shot?"

One of the armed felines, a large female with a tiger-like pelt, raised a paw. "I served with the Trianii Rangers for 20 years. My aim is true."

"Good, because I'm still a little spotty when it comes to long-range engagements. When I step out, you follow me- we're going to get as close as we can manage. Everyone who is armed, when I call out you rush ahead, make for the 3rd corridor on the left side and put fire down on any patrols you see- Syrra, go with them, you'll need to guide them to the ship."

"Kajex... be careful," she responded softly, worry in her eyes. "I kept you safe for a reason, you come back to me."

He nodded. "We'll be alright, kitten, I promise." Leaning out around the corner he watched carefully as the patrol made its rounds in the opposite direction. "Alright, quietly."

Despite towering over the wolf, the Trianii veteran crept silently behind him as they started tailing the sentries, reaching the 3rdhallway after a few moments before dropping to a prone sharpshooter position, peering through the scope. "Let me know when you have a bead on them...?"

"Olraa," she responded deeply as she knelt and took aim. "I've got the closest one on the left, Captain."

He waited until he had the rightmost guard secured in his reticle. "Light 'em up, Olraa."

They fired simultaneously, two red lances of light cutting through the air and slamming against the backs of the sentries, sending them flying. The last man turned abruptly in surprise, raising a comlink to his face- he never uttered a word, Olraa putting a blaster bolt between his eyes.

"Book it, people!" Kajex yelled. "Olraa stay with me, we need to make sure to cover both sides till everyone is clear!" He ran past the group, sparing a glance at his injured lover as she limped with them and taking crouched position on the side opposite of Olraa, lifting his rifle just as another patrol rounded a corner at the far end of the passage. Sharp cracks filled the air as he fired wildly, forcing them to take cover.

A paw squeezed his shoulder. "We are clear, Captain- we must move!"

Squeezing off a few more shots (and putting down one of the troops) he got to his feet and followed, ducking into the corridor moments after a 2nd squad showed up and fired at him. Two more armed Trianii were waiting for him, backing up slowly as they provided rear cover for everyone, Olraa joining moments later and suppressing their pursuers with concentrated fire.

Syrra's voice rang out. "Blast door ahead, move it and I can close it on them!" The three Trianii and one wolf covering the rear began to sprint- a shot rang out and Olraa roared, collapsing to her knees, a severe wound having crippled her leg.

"Grab her and run, I'll hold them off!" Kajex shouted, unloading on the troops that were slowly advancing on them. One of the troops shouted and there was a lull in their return fire- the wolf barely had time to dodge as they fired stun rings at him, leaving him confused. Why would they be hesitant on killing him, of all people? Keeping low he returned fire, scoring another hit and dropping another attacker. Glancing back he saw everyone had made it past the blast door and he turned and sprinted, keeping his head down as more stun-rings splashed against the walls next to him.

As soon as he was past, Syrra closed the barrier, slicing the control panel apart with her borrowed lightsaber. Both of them stopped short, seeing the rest of the prisoners had stopped, some with their weapons raised, a few of the growling threateningly as others cringed- ahead of them, stationed directly in front of the Rushin' Roulette, was an entire row of armed soldiers, 30 in all, their weapons raised and ready to fire.

"Lower your weapons," a clear voice demanded. "Do as I say, and you will not be fired on- I may even let you leave this station alive, if you give me what I want." The speaker was nowhere to be seen, and Kajex suspected he was speaking from behind the firing line, out of sight. There was silence as the Trianii looked to each other, then to Syrra, who nodded.

"Keep your paws on those weapons- we may still need to fight."

"Brave of you, Padawan," the voice said warmly. "You speak as if you were a capable leader- and you must be, to have gotten this far."

Kajex glanced as Syrra, who limped forward defiantly, the borrowed lightsaber still active as she spoke. "If you mean to work out a trade, to let my brethren go in return for my compliance..."

"Syrra, no! I just got you out, I'm not going to give you back to them!"

A chuckle echoed through the hangar. "Touching. To be sure, it's very noble of you to offer your own personal freedom in exchange for the prisoners. I'm sure your Jedi masters would be proud of such a sacrifice." There was a brief pause. "But as tempting as that offer is, I'm not looking to take you captive- not anymore. I'll even forgive the moderate damage you inflicted on my student- after all, I'm aware she treated you rather harshly, and fair is fair."

Syrra glowered. Kajex still could not see where the origin of the voice was. "What do you want then?" the Trianii growled.

"Your saboteur. The one who damaged our hyperdrive and aided in your escape. I want him to step forward, so that I may get a good look at him."

"And gun him down?" Syrra snarled angrily.

"You have my word that no harm will come to your friend- though he will obviously not be leaving this station immediately."

"The word of a Sith lord, as you might imagine, means very little to me," she spat.

"Sith_Knight_," the voice corrected her politely. "Lower your weapons, men! Let them see my honest intentions. I wish only to speak with him." The troops did as he said, blasters held away from the prisoners. "Now... be so kind as to step forward, my furtive friend."

Frowning, Kajex started to move to the front. Syrra caught his arm. "No, wait!" she hissed, looking frightened. "Don't do this, Kajex."

The wolf sadly shook his head. "We're not getting out of here unless we give him what he wants. If it's me..."

"Kaj--"

He put a paw to her lips gently. "You read it in my mind, Syrra. If it comes at the cost of my life... I'd gladly give it to save you- because you'd do the same for me." He smiled, putting a paw on her shoulder comfortingly and squeezing. "I'll be alright. I promise." He returned his attention to the firing line, stepping forward past the prisoners- some of them looked apprehensive, as if uncomfortable with these demands. A few even voiced their concern to him as he passed.

He stood in front of the prisoners, hesitating a fraction of a second before walking out into the open, stopping halfway between them and the row of armed soldiers. He looked around, trying to find the speaker. "Alright. I'm out here, standing out in the open like a jackass. So... are you going to stop hiding and show yourself, or were you planning to open fire anytime soon?"

There was silence for a few moments before the voice spoke again. "What is your name?"

None of the men making up the firing line had moved their lips, Kajex noted. Feeling there was no point in lying and no issue in being honest, he responded. "I'm Kajex Surnahm, a freelance mercenary and captain of the Rushin' Roulette. Now... how about you cut the bullshit and actually show yourself? I feel a bit exposed out here."

Movement behind the soldiers drew his attention, a figure in black moving in the shadow of Kajex's ship. 2 troopers stood at attention and shifted out of the way, creating a gap. Silence hung in the hangar, save for the footfalls of heavy boots on the deck.

The Sith Knight stepped through the gap and out of the shadows, revealing himself.

Kajex's eyes widened the moment he saw him, muzzle hanging open in shock. It was another wolf- white-furred, possessing silver-blue eyes, adorned in black armor and a lightsaber strapped to his hip. He closed his eyes, re-opened them- the albino wolf was still there. And aside from those stark differences, despite never having met another of his kind, Kajex knew instinctively that he was looking at kin.

A member of his own species.

The albino wolf smiled warmly. "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance, Captain Surnahm- or Kajex, if you'll allow me. I am Knight Locke... and I believe there are things we should discuss."