A Certain Point of View

[Halomek]

“Do you have any idea who I am, Master Jedi?”

Sylok Krim nodded a confirmation towards the heavyset man sitting at a desk across from him. Even though it was a rhetorical question, he answered anyway. “You’re Yamaran Makea, respected businessman and a pillar of the community here on Questal.” Sylok paused briefly as he pushed up his spectacles. “Or so you would like everyone to think. The reality is that you’ve been paying the police to look the other way while you abduct young women for your own sick pleasures before quietly disposing of their bodies when you’re finished.”

Yamaran arched an eyebrow, but showed no other visible reaction to the comment. “Is it customary for the Jedi Order to allow their members to get away with such vile slander? Where’s your evidence?”

“I need no evidence,” Sylok informed him calmly. “The lives you’ve taken and the grief you’ve caused to the friends and loved ones of those girls is all I need. I will clean up Questal one vile criminal at a time and it starts with you.”

Yamaran chuckled as he leaned back in his chair. “You’re taking me in? You have no authority and nothing to base it on! Even if this got to the courts, it would be thrown out as soon as the judge saw it. Do you really want to waste the taxpayers’ money like this?”

Sylok was silent for a moment. “No.”

The other man made a dismissive gesture. “Then kindly get the hell out of my office. Tell your masters that they’ll be hearing from my lawyers about this incident. You’ll never-”

Yamaran’s words were abruptly interrupted by the activation of Sylok’s lightsaber. The green blade’s hum seemed oppressively loud in the confines of the office. The portly man’s eyes went wide as he looked from the weapon back to Sylok. “Wha… What are you doing?”

“This is justice,” Sylok said to him. “You’re an evil man who has done many evil deeds. It is my duty as a Jedi Master to remove evil from the galaxy in all its forms.”

Yamaran got out of his chair and pushed it front of him as a makeshift barrier between him and the Jedi. “Are you insane?! Jedi don’t kill in cold blood!”

Sylok turned and with a gesture locked the doors to Yamaran’s office before once again facing the man. Another gesture tossed the desk and the chair out of the way, leaving nothing standing between Yamaran and him. “Jedi kill if the cause is virtuous.”

Then, before Yamaran could say another word, Sylok attacked. In a move almost too fast for the eye to follow, his lightsaber slashed forward and separated the businessman’s head from his neck. Sylok felt nothing – no remorse, no sorrow, no anger, no pleasure – as the body fell down in a heap.

The cloying scent of burned flesh barely registered with him as he returned his lightsaber to his belt and turned to leave, unlocking the doors and walking past the curious secretary on his way out. “I would highly suggest looking for another job, Ms. Vanden,” he said to her in passing. “I hope you’ll be a better judge of character next time.”

By the time Sylok had entered the turbolift, her scream could be heard echoing from the hallway…

[Halomek]

Sylok Krim had grown up on Questal and not much had changed since he’d left to train to be a Jedi. It was a planet gripped in the throes of organized crime. It had been that way while under the thrall of the Empire and it continued to be true while under the rule of the Republic. It wasn’t a cesspool like Nar Shaddaa or Atzerri, but one didn’t have to dig very far under the civilized veneer to find connections to various crimelords.

For example, a connection such as the governor of the capital city, Gralleenya - Jessa Mund, a portly woman who welcomed Sylok in like the two knew each other. “Master Krim,” she greeted the other with a smile that was as practiced as her handshake, “I’m so glad you were able to make it. Please come inside, we have much to talk about.”

Sylok nodded, but said nothing as he entered her office. The governor’s office was located high above the rest of the city in what used to be the Moff’s palace when the planet was under Imperial control. As such it shared the typical Imperial design aesthetic of being grandiose in size – so as to make those who entered it feel small. At twenty stories up, it had a grand view of the city spread around it through an enormous transparisteel window located behind the desk.

Jessa took a seat behind a desk that was slightly elevated so that no matter the stature of the occupant, she would always be looking down at whoever sat across from her. She gestured for him to have a seat, but Sylok remained standing. This seemed to put her off slightly, but she recovered quickly as she pulled out a bottle of Corellian brandy and poured herself a drink. She silently offered him some with a glance, but he declined this as well.

She sighed as she took a sip and then set the drink down in front of her. “They say we’re entering a new era of peace now that the War of Darkness is over,” she started. “I’ve heard that said before. They said it after GAIT was destroyed and they said it after Endor. They’re liars, Master Krim, every last one of them. In the end, the galaxy will end up in some new war and we’ll start the whole thing all over again. All one can do is look after our own until it dies down again. That’s what I try to do here on Questal, but now I’ve got some lunatic with a lightsaber running around and chopping up people left and right.”

“I’m familiar with the targets,” Sylok said to her. “Criminals all: drug dealers, rapists, child molesters, gang members, and criminal hitmen. Questal is better off without them.”

His answer gave the governor pause for a moment before she corrected him: “Citizens, Master Jedi, citizens. Whatever act of wrongdoing they may be suspected of, it’s up to the courts to decide their fate, not some vigilante. In other words, not you, Master Krim.”

Jessa raised an arm from underneath her desk to reveal that she was now holding a blaster pointed directly at him. “Yes, I know it’s you. You slipped up when you killed whatshisname but left the secretary alive. It must be either stupidity or arrogance that brought you here after that. You even let my guards take your lightsaber. I’ve seen your record and it’s quite impressive. I’ve even heard your battle skills compared favorably to Master Ward or Tulsar Leidias, but no Jedi can survive a point-blank shot from a blaster.”

She allowed herself a smug grin. “Now, if you want to be smart, I would highly suggest accepting an offer to work for me. Right now the public has no idea what you've been doing, but that can change real quick. On the other hand, I can make all of these murders disappear from the records so you won’t disgrace the Jedi Order. Oh, and of course there’s the added benefit where you remain alive.”

“Disgrace?” Sylok repeated her chosen word rhetorically, almost curiously. “I am the ideal Jedi. I don’t allow emotions to influence me. I simply bring justice to those that deserve it.” He pushed his glasses up with a finger. “You’re the only disgrace here, governor. You’ve been solidly in Hilsin Pertranik’s pocket for years. I let your guards take my lightsaber because it was the only way I could get close enough to you to confirm your guilt. Your mind is an open book to me.”

“Damn you!” she scowled. “Die you arrogant bastard!”

She fired her blaster several times, but counter to her earlier assertion about being at a fatal range for any Jedi, Sylok used his hands to deflect the blaster bolts away. He then used the Force to snap the wrist holding the weapon, causing Jessa to drop it involuntarily with a yell of pain.

The shots did not go unnoticed by the guards outside, but by then Sylok had already secured the doors. He ignored their attempts to get in the room. By the time they managed to get inside, it would already be far too late.

“Like the Jedi, politicians are supposed to serve the people,” he said to her as he raised the governor up with the Force. “Instead you allowed Hilsin Pertranik - the biggest crimelord on the planet - to influence your every action. You’re corrupt to your very core.”

He walked over to the transparisteel window and placed his palm on it. Moments later it shattered into hundreds of fragments. Through the Force, Jessa was moved from where she was being held inside the office to the air outside. The only thing keeping her from a freefall to the ground below was Sylok.

“Let’s be reasonable about this!” she pleaded with him. “We can work something out!”

Sylok shook his head. “No, we can’t.”

Then he let her go.

He didn’t stay to watch her fall. There was still so much to do, and the first order of business was to retrieve his lightsaber from the guards banging on the door…

[Halomek]

Ossus

The clang of metal on metal signaled another strike that Kail blocked with his bo staff. He pushed back and forced his opponent to back off again. He would have smiled, but his people, the Lin, while resembling Humans in nearly every regard, lacked mouths. The Lin were instead natively telepathic. He knew his opponent, despite not being telepathic herself, had no trouble picking up his satisfaction thanks to the Force.

Sona Nevri was also not Human and was instead a Silserian, another species that by and large resembled baseline Humans. Silserians, however, as Kail had learned, rivaled the Hapans in being consistently gorgeous. With her soft skin, flowing hair, and supple features, Sona would look right at home in an ad for beauty products. Her people also had the ability to emit powerful pheromones that could be tailored to strongly influence others to do as they wished.

Not that she needed them. Kail was attracted to more than just her physical beauty; her mind appealed to him even more. All Sona’s pheromones did for him now was heighten certain pleasures.

Sona came at him again, but while she had done much to disguise the intent of her attacks since he had started teaching her Linshi Martial Arts, she still had much to learn. He sidestepped almost as soon as she started lunging and then, with a sweep of his staff, disarmed her before a jab at her feet caused her to trip and fall forward. Sona managed to turn it into a roll, but as soon as she turned back around she found herself facing the end of Kail’s staff.

{{You’re such a cheater,}} she teased him through a telepathic message. {{That’s not good behavior for a Jedi Knight.}}

{{Learning how to predict your opponent is not cheating,}} he rejoined as he moved to retrieve her sword. {{Besides, you should be pleased. I see improvement every day we spar. I’ve been practicing since childhood, but you’ve only been learning it for little under a year. Your progress in that time is very impressive.}}

{{Combat has always come naturally to me,}} Sona said as she stood and arched her back in a stretch. {{Master Janak has even remarked that he doesn’t think it’ll be much longer before I’m ready for the Trials.}}

{{I would not doubt it,}} Kail agreed as he clasped the sword. {{In fact, I-}}

Kail’s thoughts suddenly turned from words into feelings of surprise as a he felt a sharp jolt run up his arm. He let go of the sword like he had been bit and looked at Sona in shock.

Sona simply chuckled as she held out her hand and retrieved the weapon with the Force. {{I’m sorry, I’m so used to it by now that I didn’t think to warn you. The sword of Haldrin Mirmek can’t be wielded by just anyone. It must find you worthy first.}}

Kail rubbed his hand, but the effects of the jolt were already fading. {{I suppose I shouldn’t take that personally. I’ve sensed power in your sword before, but the exact nature of it has always been elusive. Who was this Haldrin Mirmek?}}

{{A legendary figure in Silserian history,}} Sona answered him as she sheathed the weapon. {{He was a powerful Sith Lord from another world who crashed on our planet. No warrior could defeat him, but before he could conquer my people, the women of the Khal'ver Tribe managed to seduce him instead. Haldrin eventually renounced his evil ways and sired many children during the remainder of his long life. That’s actually why Tone has those pointed ears and I don’t; she can trace her lineage back to him.}}

{{But, as I recall, both of you are from the Bol'zeri Tribe, not the Khal’ver.}}

{{Stories say that Haldrin lived for well over 200 years after renouncing his ways, and when I say he had a lot of children, I mean he had a lot of children. Haldrin didn’t stay with the Khal’ver his entire life either. He also made homes with other tribes.}}

Kail walked over and touched his forehead to hers – the Lin equivalent of a kiss. {{Perhaps he really did conquer your people, just not the way he intended.}}

Sona grinned as she ran a finger down his chest suggestively. {{I never thought of it like that. Why don’t we head back to our quarters and do some conquering of our own?}}

Kail was about to agree when his comlink started beeping. He sighed at the timing of it and checked the device. {{It’s a summons from Master Rekali. I need to go.}}

{{Tell him to call back in an hour.}}

Kail ‘kissed’ her one more time before heading towards the central temple. {{Duty comes before pleasure, you know that.}}

{{Well, you’d better make it quick.}}

{{I’ll make it up to you later,}} he promised. {{No one ever said the life of a Jedi Shadow was going to be easy.}}

[Beorht]

The Jedi Shadows had no office, no placards, no forwarding address. Instead, when a meeting like this was called, they met on a hilltop across the river from the Jedi Temple.

The temple graveyard.

Many Jedi were buried on their homeworlds. Ember and his friends had failed to recover others, leaving them as wandering atoms in a fire, or letting them float cold and alone in space. But from time to time, a Jedi would come home to Ossus and never leave again. The graveyard had only a few memorials, and Ember stood over the first two, thinking of his wife and son. More than most Jedi, the Shadows played with lives. Enough of the Shadows were young that he felt the reminder was necessary.

Back and forth now between Council duties and his new, unasked-for position as Lord Protector of the Anari Commonwealth, Ember couldn't escape a sense that he was being uprooted. These graves were his remaining roots.

Between sensationalist news agencies, Jedi sympathizers and the Shadows' information-gathering functions, he now had a picture of the events taking place on Questal. A Jedi born on that world, a Master named Sylok Krim, had apparently thrown the planetary governor out of a window to her death. A source in the governor's office -- a survivor -- had confirmed the governor's interest in a series of lightsabre murders. Apparently, Governor Jessa Mund had found her culprit. Tempted as he had been to label her a courageous investigator, Ember's source on Questal had confirmed Governor Mund's association with organized crime.

And so, when faced with the prospect of an overzealous Jedi working outside the law, standard procedure required a quick and focused Shadow investigation with an open mandate. This was not the first time that a Jedi had gone off the reservation or believed himself above the law -- even without the full power of the Dark Side being involved. Ember had taken stock of the locally available Shadows, with Boolon's help, and settled on a small but capable team. They were new to the Shadows, highly recommended by other Council members, and not lacking in field experience. And if they failed, Boolon could make the save. Old Boo always came through.

The problem, of course, was that the more the Ithorian pacifist was pushed into violent situations with much to lose, the farther his pacifism might erode. And if that happened, Boolon would have to redefine himself. Ithorians in that crisis often took radical, even unthinkable action. Momaw Nadon, when forced to kill a man, had then taken tissue samples, made two clones, and raised them as his own children.

Boolon had no cloning expertise. He could not be predicted.

It would be far, far better for all concerned if this Shadow team did the job quickly and without complication.

Ember waited by the graves.

[Halomek]

Kail entered the graveyard quietly and did his best to be respectful. Meeting in such a place unnerved him slightly, but not because he feared the spirits of the dead. Linshi funeral rites differed quite a bit from the typical practice of burying the deceased in the ground. They had no concept of graveyards as the majority of the galaxy knew them. Instead, the monks cremated their dead and shot the ashes into the Lin’La’Se Nebula to be closer to their god. In truth, Kail could think of nothing worse than to have his mortal remains interred and trapped underneath the ground on some planet far away.

But a large part of being a monk was to learn and better understand other cultures. That was the whole reason Kail had originally trained to be a Jedi – to get a better perception of what could be found outside of Lin’La’Se’s borders.

And so when he spotted Master Rekali, Kail put his fist into an open palm, bowed dutifully to the Jedi Master before him, and tried to keep any stray thoughts about the wisdom of graveyards to himself. Having approached from the side, he keenly noted the names on the headstones before the Jedi Master.

“Reporting as ordered, Master Rekali,” he said as a telepathy translator in the shape of an armband converted his thoughts into audible speech. “If you require, I can come back and give you a little more time.”

[Beorht]

"No, thank you, Kail," said Ember, looking up from the graves. "I spend enough time here that the wound is pretty well scarred. There's not a lot of sensation in scar tissue. No, I often have the Shadows meet me here. That copse of trees there breaks line of sight with the landing fields and the Temple, there are always excuses to be in the wilderness, and...well, let's face it. Some of my younger Shadows need the reminder that their actions have consequences. From what I've heard, none of this particular team need that reminder, but I felt it wise to continue the tradition, such as it is. Some religious orders pray together at the beginning and end of each meeting, invoking their principle or their god. Our closest equivalent is meditation, and we often lack the time to meditate together, especially when Shadow business is involved. So coming here seems like an appropriate act of spiritual focus and grounding.

"I'm interested in your culture. The greeting you've offered, and the martial arts you're known for...similar cultural traits exist in that corner of the galaxy. Spyrta in the Unknown Regions is one example; the Jade Worlds are another, and your planets aren't far from either. I see more than a little similarity to some of their martial or monastic orders. One of these days, I'll sit down with a historian and try to figure out how your cultures developed -- in parallel, or from some kind of common origin. Either way, of course, that cultural similarity could be useful for bringing the Jade Empire's Patriots into line. After this mess is over, I may have assignments for you based on that. As a Shadow, you've been briefed on the Patriots' collusion with some of our own extremists. Ideologically, the raid on Near Indosa is quite similar to the situation you're about to face on a planet called Questal. The way you handle this problem will help determine my strategy in the long term. If you don't mind, I'll wait to lay out this particular problem, so I don't have to say it twice."

[Mir]

The blind man from Froswythe turned, looking at his fiance. The Force had deemed it worthy to take away his sight, in order to gift him with a type of sight that most beings would never be able to understand. Renato Farani saw through the Force, and as such, everything was far more radiant than it was to regular beings. The kaleidoscope of life was seen through unseen orbs, interpreting the data that the now milky, hazy, useless ones had done before. Cybernetics had been an option, but to Renato, keeping his dead eyes was a reminder. A reminder that damage and destruction could be caused with a simple stroke. Arksis Nan, a Twi'lek of the now broken Cult of Shadow, had done this to him, years before, during the Cult's attack on Onderon that had claimed the life of Faarel Blackthorne. Renato had adjusted, he had learned to deal with what had happened.

His vision rested on that of his fiance. Her beauty pulsed out to him through the Force as she hiked up the hill as well. A care free hand came up and sifted through long, black hair. Green eyes looked down at a weird collection of mushrooms that were growing. No matter how much she understood that this wasn't going to be like her home planet, Ossus baffled the second of the three Silserians in the Jedi Order, and the one most advanced, training wise. Silseris was a desert world, more arid than Tattooine. As it happened, every Silserian had something called a fixation. It was something that could easily distract them or something that baffled their mind and that interested them deeply. For Rhyana, the mother of Derek Muir's children, it was the color silver. For Sona Nevri, Tone Krellisk's cousin, it was flying. That was why she and Kail got along so well. For Tone Krellisk, fiance to Renato Farani, it was water.

For the former headmistress of the Onderon Temple, there was nothing more beautiful than to sit and marvel at the waterfalls that had been incorporated into the Temple on Ossus. Indeed, she spent many hours of her free time sitting in eye shot of them, watching or just relaxing in the soothing, at least to her, roar of the thousands of gallons of water that rushed over the falls.

She looked up and took the hand that was offered to her, with a smile. "Wonderful day outside."

"Yes, it is." Renato replied as they continued to walk.

They weren't a couple that needed to talk a lot. They loved simply being in others' presence. For Renato, no one that he had met, since he had gained his sight through the Force, glowed as brightly as Tone did. He still remembered the day that they'd met, he'd been walking through the Temple halls and she had been teaching a child an aspect of Force Push some levels above. The child had been successful, a testament to Tone's ability to teach, and her patience. The resulting push had thrown her over the edge of the landing, and she had been falling. Renato had caught her.

From that moment, he'd fallen in love.

The two Jedi padawans, both a stone’s throw of being knighted, entered the graveyard. Both had looks of reverence on their face, both felt the same way. They headed over to where Ember and Kail were, giving the Lin a greeting. Since Sona and Tone were cousins, they all knew each other and well.

“Master Rekali.” Renato said. “I hope the day finds you well. You asked us to meet with you?” He asked.

[Beorht]

"Yes," Ember said after an interminable pause. He had been, once more, lost in thought, as if whatever force or intelligence affected his actions had taken a brief vacation from reality. "Yes, I did. Thank you all for coming.

"There's a problem, and we don't know what it is. A Jedi Master named Sylok Krim has apparently killed the governor of his homeworld, Questal. It seems that he left a trail of bodies across the planet." Ember's mouth tightened. "Unfortunately, this sort of thing is becoming more and more of an issue in the Order. We need to show the Republic that we know we're accountable for our actions, and responsible to their laws when operating in their territory. And, more practically, we need to shut this down. Figure out why Master Krim is on a rampage. If he's justified, and if the situation requires it, help him, but keep it quiet. If he's turning to the Dark Side, close down the local shop, leave no ground for him to go to, and handle it if you can. This is a Jedi Master we're talking about. You have my number if things get rough, and Master Boolon Murr is on standby in one of the fastest ships we have. Here." He passed around hard-copy dossiers on Krim, the murdered governor, and the planet. "Burn after reading, use Force tricks to enhance your memory for the details. The name of the game is containment, whichever side you come down. Any questions?"

[Pryde]

"Just one," Keira Sage said as she came out into the open. The others turned to look at her, some with surprise in their eyes. How long had she been standing there? When did she even arrive? She felt the beginnings of a smirk growing at the edges of her lips but tried her best to bite down on it. Of course, that proved to be easier said than done. Keira did love to make an entrance, especially when that entrance showed off the skills she had been developing since her time spent on Coruscant ambushing Imperial patrols. She was well suited for the Shadows, her ability to conceal herself and track her targets was second only to Ember, as far as she knew.

"If we're to be held accountable for our actions then should not the Republic be held to the same?"

"If you're referring to Jessa Mund she is--,"

"A criminal," Keira interrupted him.

Ember cleared his throat, Keira always had a way of trying his patience. "Under investigation," he finished.

"I've already investigated her," Keira replied and Ember gave her a curious look. "A New Republic governor is killed and shortly after you call this meeting? Didn't take much to figure out what it was about. Seems to me this Sylok was justified in killing her. The Republic just seemed content to let her walk."

[Beorht]

"We're responsible for holding ourselves accountable. For example, right now that means finding Krim. For another example, it means I'm holding you accountable for being immature, arrogant and presumptuous, delighting in childish tricks and proving that you're not ready for the light touch this kind of fieldwork requires. And that's not even taking into account the political dimension. Use some common sense, girl. If Master Krim had simply arrested the governor, publicly, she would have been prosecuted. Period. There's a process, and then there's your way, which seems reminiscent of Anakin Skywalker. The bureaucracy and corruption of a democracy are better than arbitrary so-called justice. Not by much, but they are, and if you don't believe that you're half-way to the Dark Side. Kill the evildoers. Burn the witch." He shook his head. "It's like Daer'Gunn with PMS. If that's Krim's stance, you are to bring him in, because that's the sort of mindset that characterizes dictatorship, extremism, and above all, exceptionalism. You think you're above the law, and you don't have the security clearance to make those kinds of decisions. Neither did Master Krim. Find him, find out what's going on, and shut the hell up. If you'll excuse me, I have a war to run."

He walked away.

[Halomek]

The group was quiet for a moment as Ember made his departure. Kail had only heard stories about Keira Sage, and had often wondered if some of those tales about her thumbing her nose at authority had been exaggerated, but the woman before him now seemed to fit such stories perfectly. He wasn’t sure how well he was going to get along with her, but there was no denying that her skills could prove quite useful on the mission.

“It seems Master Rekali left before assigning us a task leader,” he spoke up. “As it appears Master Muur will only be utilized in case this proves to be too much for us, I think we need someone more immediate to handle the leadership decisions in case we disagree on something.” He looked over at the Silserian. “Tone, I think that person should be you. Out of all of us, you have the most experience being in a leadership role.”

[Mir]

Tone looked a little confused by this. "I..I don't think that I'm the right candidate, to be honest. You and Renato are knights, I'm still a padawan."

"Only in name." Renato said. "You ran the Temple on Onderon for months, you were the headmistress." He said. His gaze took in Keira Sage and a frown flitted over his features before it was smoothed out. "We both know that I'm not going to be opposed to you in charge." He added, with a lopsided grin, one that he had seemingly patented over the years.

"Well, then in that case, the first thing that we need to do, is acquire a ship." Tone said and looked at Kail. "Any thoughts, I'm volunteering you to be the pilot." She said. "I don't think any of us are as equipped as you to fulfill that role."

[Halomek]

“My starfighter was destroyed fighting above Arcanix,” Kail remarked, “but even if it hadn’t been, it wouldn’t have fit all of us, so we’ll need to acquire some form of transportation. I suppose the real question we need to answer first though is do we travel to Questal publically or in secret?”

[Mir]

"While I don't think it should be anything too overt, it shouldn't be anything very covert either. I don't think we need to announce to the New Republic that we're traveling there, but I don't think we need to use false identities or anything like that. There shouldn't be anything suspicious about four Jedi traveling through New Republic space." She said. Looking at the rest, Tone inquired, with more than just her words, but also her eyes and body language. "What do you all think?"

[Pryde]

"If we travel to the planet where the last murder took place we are already one step behind," Keira interjected, "The guy is targeting people with a bad rep, so instead of wasting our time going somewhere where we know he's not we should be putting together a list of possible targets."

"That could be a very long list," Renato replied, "And we have no way of knowing where to start."

Keira tossed the blind man a data chit which he somehow managed to catch. "We start with the governor," she said, "Jessa wasn't the only one to die, there were several others who had a run in with this Jedi. All of whom were connected to the governor in one capacity or another."

Tone looked at her skeptically, "How do you know all this?"

The Jedi Knight just shrugged, "The holonet is a wonderful tool if you know how to use it."

Of course she would never tell them that most of this information came from Mai Valentine who had up until recently been quite involved with the criminal underground. She was one of the top slicers in the galaxy, right up there with Garrett G. Granth and others. She was on the Republic's top most wanted list as well but after she decided to reform she took a posting at New Republic Intelligence instead. Now she puts her skills to use for the Republic, although she did occasionally help Keira out on the side. The two shared a common bond, the little eight year old Vrikan child that was currently being trained as a Jedi.

"I suggest we take a good long look at the Governor's social circle and see if there's anyone he missed. Chances are we'll find him there."

[Halomek]

Kail didn’t know anything about Questal except for what he had learned from the mission, so he had no way of debating Keira’s assessment. Instead he simply nodded. “Then it seems to me that we should travel publically. I admit that it looks bad for Master Krim, but we don’t know if there’s another cause behind these killings that we aren’t aware of yet. At the very least, if he runs from news of our arrival, we’ll know he’s strayed from the Jedi path then. As a Jedi Master, we owe him that much.”

He looked back to Tone. “I’ll acquire one of the temple’s transports from the quartermaster and have her ready to fly within the hour.” He paused briefly as a thought occurred to him. “I shouldn’t presume. It’s my thought that we should leave as soon as possible. Do you disagree?”

[Mir]

“Not at all.” Tone said, shaking her head. “I need to check on something and make a few arrangements, but it shouldn’t be too difficult.” She said. “We’ll meet up in the main hangar in two hours.” She added and then the group went their separate ways. Tone and Renato packed, quickly. There wasn’t much that they needed to take with them, and once that was done, Tone saw to her arrangements. It was simple enough, informing various masters and knights who’s classes that she provided aid to that she was headed off world for a little while. Nothing that was too pressing, the talks went quickly and within the time frame, they were in the hangar and waiting.

[Halomek]

Questal

The arrival of the Jedi on the planet was met with little fanfare, and in fact, even some hostility. Armed guards were stationed outside of the boarding ramp as well as a political aide. “Questal welcomes you, Jedi,” the aide said as they exited the starship. “I’m Kalan Ranal, aide to the lieutenant governor. He would meet with you himself, but he’s become excessively busy after one of your kind murdered Governor Mund. I sincerely hope you’re here to put an end to this lunatic’s reign of terror.”

OOC: Not much, but it gets us started again...

[Mir]

Tone considered before speaking. "It is indeed saddening to hear of what a member of the Jedi Order has done. Please, you have the Order's condolences and it's heartfelt apologies. We were not aware of what this man was conspiring to do until after his deeds had been committed and his actions have not been condoned by any member of the Council." She said. "I would inquire if there is a way that we can have what information you yourselves have gathered on the attacks, that we may conduct our investigation with a footing made sure with the excellent work that the New Republic is known for."

[Halomek]

“He hasn’t exactly been subtle,” Kalan answered her as he led the way into the city. “He didn’t even bother trying to hide from the security cameras when he went to city hall. You’re welcome to look through all that footage if you want, but I’ll be damned if that will help in any way. We’ve had our security forces scouring the planet for this madman and haven’t picked up any kind of a decent lead.”

“Curious,” Kail remarked to himself, though it caught Kalan’s attention. As such, the Jedi clarified. “From the reports I’ve read about what has been happening, it was already known that there was someone killing criminals with a lightsaber before Governor Mund met with Master Krim. Perhaps I’m wrong about this, but it seems strange that she would meet with the most likely suspect without any precautions.”

“She probably bought into the myth of the Jedi being the guardians of peace and justice,” Kalan remarked, “No doubt she thought the real culprit was some leftover from the Cult of Shadow or something. For the record, the Governor did have Krim give his lightsaber to one of her bodyguards for all the good it did her.” He laughed bitterly to himself. “Why does it seem like one stubbed toe is all it takes to turn your average Jedi into a psychopath?”

Kail shook his head. “I can’t say. Most of my background is that of the Linshi Monks, not the Jedi Order.”

Kalan crooked an eyebrow. “The Linshi Monks? Never head of them, but if they’re anything like the Jedi, I’m sure I don’t like them very much.”

That seemed to give Kail pause for a moment. “Yes... perhaps we should save any further questions until after we have a chance to review the footage.”

[Pryde]

The group barely made it ten feet from the spaceport before they heard a sudden voice calling to them. "Hey, guys," a girl cried out and they all stopped to look. Kail's eyes followed the sound to a young girl he knew by name only. It was her appearance that gave it away, that tell-tale dark hair and bright green eyes. It was Felicity Sage and if he didn't know any better he would swear she was waiting for them.

"You guys sure took your time getting here," she said, hopping down from the four foot wall she had been sitting on and hurrying over to them.

"Felicity--," Tone began in surprise.

"Why are you here," Kail finished for her.

Felicity dusted off her robes and shrugged at them non-chalantly. "I heard my cousin was coming here. Where is she?"

The others looked around and for the first time since arriving they realized that Keira wasn't with them. Somehow the Jedi had slipped off on her own.

"Who is this? One of yours," Kalan asked, looking at Felicity with a note of disapproval in his eyes.

Kail nodded, "Yes, but she is not part of the investigation."

"Investigation," Felicity asked, her ears perked up and her eyes brightened, "Wait, are you on a secret mission? Hold on, let me get my stuff, I'm coming too!"

"Wait--," Kail tried to call after her but the girl had already run back to the wall to grab her lightsaber and a small shoulder bag she carried with her.

Tone let out a light chuckle and they all turned to look at her. "I heard about this one from Jana," she said, "You're going to have a really hard time telling her no."

**********

Keira Sage had wandered from the spaceport into the less savory parts of town. She knew the others were intent on visiting the crime scene and reviewing the footage but she doubted they would find anything helpful there. Investigating a murder that had already happened would get them nowhere. What they needed to do was figure out who Krim's next target would be and Keira had a feeling she'd have a better chance of figuring that out if she talked to the right people.

The authorities were on top of this investigation with the usual thoroughness and dedication she'd come to expect of the New Republic but they were consistently one step behind. What she needed to do was find someone trying to stay one step ahead and the best person to ask would be the same type of person Krim might target. Criminals with reason to fear for their lives typically had resources and authority (or rather lack thereof) to do what was necessary to keep those lives.

The trick was getting them to cooperate without getting killed and now standing outside of an abandoned building in the seedier parts of town she wondered how she might do that. She knew she was being watched, had known for some time now. Two little kids playing tag by the side of the street, a man reading a newspaper, the handyman fixing a broken window, they were all spies for the criminal syndicate.

That they hadn't confronted her yet concerned her, either they were unaware a Jedi was mercilessly killing their kind or they preferred to wait until she had ventured deeper into their territory before striking. Though, of course there was a third option. It was possible the syndicate had been informed well enough to know that the perpetrator was a man and that he had thus far acted alone. It was this third choice she had been counting on and after squaring her shoulders she raised her fist and pounded on the cold, steel door...

[Halomek]

The whine of blasterfire echoed all around Sylok Krim, but none of it touched him as he moved through the deadly blaze like some otherwordly dancer. What little might have actually hit him was deflected away with a seemingly graceful sweep of his lightsaber. The underworld thugs attacking him were not professional killers, though he had no doubt many of them would have liked to believe otherwise. They were merely men and women that had no reservations about taking another life and there was a difference in that distinction.

Sylok had faced true killers before and these beings before him were sad imitations of the real thing. Perhaps with enough experience and practice they could become what they so desired to emulate, but Sylok was not about to allow them such a future. They had no future anymore. He made a point of not sparing a single one of them. No amount of pleading or bargaining on their part would persuade him otherwise. They had chosen to sign on under the hire of Hilsin Pertranik and they would face justice at the end of his lightsaber because of it.

Soon it was over. The warehouse where the fighting had taken place was awash in the stink of ozone and death. It barely registered with Sylok as he moved towards his objective. This warehouse was supposed to be a safehouse for Pertranik and the information Sylok had been able to gather indicated that the biggest crimelord on Questal had sequestered himself here in fear of dying like so many of his criminal brethren.

It didn’t take Sylok long to find a thick durasteel door hidden behind a large stack of packing crates. His lightsaber blade squealed and squelched as it burned through the metal door and slowly but surely cut an opening through the barrier. After an application of the Force to remove the core, Sylok stepped into the opening into a darkened room which suddenly lit up at his approach. There was nothing in the room except for a single ysalamiri on a nutrient frame and a holographic emitter that activated as Sylok entered the room and cut the Force-nulling animal in two.

The image was a lifesized hologram of Pertranik. He was a solidly built Human, with short dark cropped hair and a well-defined chin. Currently his features were twisted in a mocking smile as he looked upon Sylok. “Do you have any idea how hard it was to get my hands on one of those things?” He then shrugged indifferently. “No matter. It was worth it to lure you here.”

A solid metal wall slammed behind Sylok from some hidden spot in the ceiling, trapping the Jedi Master in the room. Pertranik laughed. “You’ve been a annoyance, Jedi. No... I’ll do you one better actually... you’ve been a real pain. It’ll take some time to fix all the damages you caused to my organization, but while you were off cutting up my associates and reintroducing our dear former governor to to the concept of gravity, I’ve been preparing for you. That wall behind you is laced with phrik, so you’ll find getting out will be much more difficult than getting in. I wouldn’t worry though since you won’t be around long enough for it to matter. I’ve had this whole building packed with explosives. Once this place goes up, there won’t be enough left of you to fill an ashtray.”

Sylok barely paid any heed to Pertranik’s boasting. He had been far more concerned with finding a way out of the trap. Sylok firmly believed that every problem had a solution if one simply applied enough thought to it and he proved himself right again by finding his solution.

It was about this time that Pertranik noticed that he was being ignored. “What’s the matter, Jedi? Too proud to say anything in your last moments?! I beat you! Admit it!”

Sylok finally turned his attention to Pertranik. “You’ve done nothing of the sort. Your cowardice is the flaw that has undone your own trap.”

“What are you talking about?” he demanded. “You’re dead and you know it!” The hologram revealed a remote detonation trigger in his hand. “I press this button and you’re just a sad stain on history!”

Sylok pushed his glasses up. “Then press it and prove me wrong.”

“Happy to oblige,” Pertranik growled as he pressed the button. “Goodbye, Jedi!”

Nothing happened.

Pertranik’s smug expression faded into anger as he tried pressing the button over and over again with no luck. He looked back at Sylok with barely contained rage. “What did you do?! How?”

“It’s just as I said, your cowardice was your undoing,” Sylok explained. “Those explosives won’t detonate if they’re not given a signal and I’ve disabled their receivers with the Force. If you had actually been here, you might have been able to do something about that. You can’t stop justice, Pertranik, and I will make sure you pay for your long list of crimes with your life.”

Pertranik threw the detonator away in a fit. “This isn’t over, Jedi! I won’t be beaten by the likes of you! I swear that I’ll see you destroyed!”

Then the transmission cut out.

Sylok was already working on a way out of the room and barely paid heed to Pertranik’s absence...

***

Sylok ended up cutting through the ceiling to get out of the room, which had been less shielded by necessity for the holographic transmission to make it through without interference. The Jedi Master would have chalked that up to a flaw in Pertranik’s character, namely the need to boast, but had he been able to detonate the explosives like he had planned, it would hardly have mattered. For all its flaws, the trap had been well executed and Sylok mentally upped his estimate of the crimelord. He would be more careful in dealing with Pertranik in the future.

He left the warehouse and walked down a few blocks before turning to face the building again. Even though it had been a trap, it was still tainted by crime and Sylok would not allow a single edifice of Questal’s problems to remain standing. With a wave of his hand, he triggered the dormant explosives and watched the building go up in a tremendous fireball. Doubtless the authorities would be here soon to extinguish the blaze, but he suspected it would also bring the others he had sensed arrive on the planet. Perhaps the Jedi Order was finally recognizing his work here and had sent others to help put an end to Questal’s problems.

He would find out when they arrived...

[Pryde]

An explosion, and it was close. Keira stopped in mid motion, just as her hand began to fall against the door. She turned to look in the direction the explosion had come from. Could it be him? There was only one way to find out.

The young Jedi took off at a sprint, running down the road and nearly barreling through a group of unfortunate people. When she arrived at the scene there was no sign of who had caused it, but the fires were still raging. Standing perfectly still she closed her eyes and stretched out feelings through the Force.

If you're here, show yourself, she thought, trying to pinpoint the renegade Jedi amongst all the chaos and confusion...

[Halomek]

Sylok didn’t try to hide from the the girl’s senses. As far as he was concerned, he had nothing to hide from. While he avoided the Questal authorities, that was more of a matter of necessity. Trying to take on the planetary security forces directly would be troublesome, made more so by the fact that while many of them were corrupt, many others were not. Dealing justice to those who were guilty and sparing the innocent was not something he could guarantee in pitched battle.

The Jedi, however, were different. If anyone would be able to see the truth of what he was doing, it would be them.

He led the Jedi girl away until they were in a secluded alley and a fair distance away from the crowds. It was then that he revealed himself. He was somewhat surprised by her youth, but then again it seemed as if the many of the more mature Jedi had a habit of staying close to Ossus unless there was some event that threatened the entire galaxy. As such, issues like Questal were allowed to fester, but seeing more Jedi here gave him hope that perhaps that flaw with the Order was changing.

More than that, he recognized this Jedi and even knew of some of her exploits. “Keira Sage,” he said by way of greeting. “Considering your troubled past with the Jedi Order, I find it interesting that the council would send you. What is the purpose of your group’s visit to Questal?”

[Pryde]

Keira had a feeling Sylok was leading her somewhere but given his penchant to only attack those who were corrupt she doubted his intention was to bait her into a trap. "That depends entirely on you," she said, turning around to face the man. "Your latest exploits are kind of giving the Jedi a bad name."

Sylok seemed indignant. "The Jedi give themselves a bad name, hiding in their temples and allowing such corruption to fester."

"No arguments here," Keira admitted, "Some people just aren't deserving of mercy."

"Then why have you come?"

Keira shrugged. "The Council's at a bit of a loss as to what should be done with you. They don't seem to be a fan of your--methods."

"And you?"

"I could care less. As far as I'm concerned a bunch of scumbags got what they deserved, but," she added, half turning away from him with one hand resting on the hilt of her lightsaber, "they did order me to bring you in. I don't suppose you'll come quietly."

[Halomek]

Sylok pushed up his glasses with a finger thoughtfully, but made no move for his own lightsaber. “I assume the other Jedi who arrived are here for the same purpose. Sadly, it does not surprise me that the leadership of the Jedi Order are too hidebound to understand what I’m doing, though I had hoped otherwise when I recognized you.”

Keira eyed him curiously. “What do you mean?”

“You said it yourself,” he explained. “You have no problem with what I’m doing. You’re only here because you were ordered to come and bring me in.” He shook his head. “I know of you because you sparked my interest long before I decided to clean up Questal. I know from your record that you aren’t one to let rules get in the way of justice. When the Empire retook Coruscant, you even stayed longer than anyone to help protect its citizens. Such actions are to be admired; a pity the Jedi Council has never seemed able to look past the many rules you’ve broken in the name of justice and recognize your deeds. Your blind loyalty to them now is... unfortunate.”

Sylok finally placed a hand on his lightsaber. “I won’t allow my work here on Questal to be stopped, even by my fellow Jedi. I will defend myself if you are intent on interfering, though I see no need for conflict between the two of us.”

[Pryde]

Keira stared hard at him for a moment then finally took her hand off her lightsaber. "Fine," she said, then she nodded to a point somewhere behind him, "go."

Sylok watched her carefully, "You're letting me go?"

The other Jedi shrugged. "What can I say? My heart isn't in it."

"It doesn't have to end here," he told her, "Questal is drowning, you could help me save it."

Keira shook her head. "Your war, not mine."

Sylok gave her a disapproving look and Keira waved it away with one hand. "Coruscant was years ago," she said, "I'm not exactly the same person I was back then. I may not always follow the rules but lately I don't feel much like breaking them, either."

She turned her back to him and started to walk away but stopped in mid-stride. "I should warn you, though," she said suddenly, speaking without turning around, "I felt my cousin's presence when we landed. If you know me then you know her and you know she'll never give up no matter how strong you think you are. If she gets hurt," she continued, half turning to give him a scathing look, "I'll personally see to it that you pay for every scratch you inflict on her."

Then she left without another word, leaving Sylok alone in an abandoned alley...

[Mir]

The explosion was far away enough that the Kail, Renato, and Tone didn't immediately spring into action, but it did make more than one of them feel that they were going to have to hit the ground running in this endeavor. Tone looked at the man that had greeted them. "I should assume that that doesn't happen too often here. I don't recall seeing the phrase 'random explosions' in the travel brochure."

Kalan shook his head, a grimace coming over his face. "No. Definitively not."

Renato nodded as they started walking. "I think in this situation, we should assume that it has something to do with the Jedi that we're looking for. Shall we take a look at what happened?" He asked.

"I'll...I'll arrange a speeder." Kalan said.

[Halomek]

When the Jedi arrived, the firefighters were already there attempting to get the blaze under control. Planetary security had created a perimeter to keep the crowds out and to search for the rogue Jedi Master if he still happened to be nearby, but with dusk starting to creep over the sky and the growing crowd of onlookers that had gathered to watch the commotion, such searching was a futile effort.

For the Jedi, however, it was different.

With the Force, Kail could sense that Sylok Krim was still lurking just outside of the periphery of the action. Considering how apparently deliberate Krim’s actions had been so far, Kail could only assume that the Jedi Master was making himself known to them on purpose. Meeting the eyes of his companions, Kail saw that they had sensed him as well. Without a word, they gathered in a relatively secluded spot to discuss what should be done.

“He’s waiting for us,” Kail summed up, “but if we move towards him with planetary security in tow, he may vanish before we reach him. I propose that one of us stays here to maintain a presence with Kalan while the rest of us slip away and confront Master Krim. Three of us should be adequate to subdue him if he decides not to account for his actions.”

[Halomek]

With Tone electing to stay behind to maintain a Jedi presence for Kalan and distract him from the fact that the other Jedi were elsewhere, Kail, Renato, and Felicity left to confront Sylok. They found him waiting inside another warehouse and standing in plain sight for the three Jedi. His hands were clasped behind his back in a non-threatening manner, but Kail had no doubt the Jedi Master could switch to a combat pose in a second if so required.

“Master Krim,” Kail said to him as they approached. “The Jedi Council requires your presence on Ossus to account for your actions here. We’re to escort you back.”

“Indeed?” Sylok asked rhetorically. “I have no wish to return to Ossus right now. You may return to the Jedi Council and inform them that I will make the trip back after my work here is done.”

Kail steeled himself for combat, as did his companions. He didn’t think simply asking would work, but it had to be tried. Now things were about to get difficult. “Do you intend to kill more people, Master Krim?”

Sylok nodded. “Of course. Questal is still ridden with corruption. Justice must be enforced.”

Kail grabbed his bo staff and held it defensively. “I’m afraid we can’t allow that. I had wished for you to come peacefully, but if you won’t return with us on your own volition, we will subdue you if we must.”

Sylok looked around him and saw that the other Jedi had clasped their weapons, though the lightsabers of Renato and Felecity remained off for the moment in perhaps a last desperate hope that their opponent would see reason. Such hopes were dashed as soon as Sylok grabbed his lightsaber and brought it to life. “You may try, but I won’t allow anyone to stop my work here. Make your move.”

[Mir]

"Why do you kill?" Renato asked. "Why does the act of killing solve the problem? I'm sorry, Master Krim, for the question, since it seems that we're so primed to fight. But when Arksis Nan, a former lord of the Cult of Shadow, robbed me of my sight in the Cult's attack on Onderon, he inadvertently gave me another gift. My vision is aided through the Force. This allows me to see things in a much different light than most others. I see the people you've killed but I also see the lives that you've affected, both positively and negatively. You affect many around you, and not all for the better."

[Halomek]

Sylok had no personal quam against the Jedi arrayed against him and so kept his lightsaber ready in a defensive position. He turned to the blind Jedi, though he kept his senses trained on the others. “Then your vision is limited, young Jedi. I’ve done far more to bring good here than any possible negative repercussions. You may not realize this, but Questal wasn’t always such a haven for corruption. It used to be a quiet agricultuiral planet before the arrival of Moff Bandor and the Empire. Bandor was a sadist and he systematically destroyed all that was good about this world for his own personal satisifaction. By the time the Alliance finally apprehended Bandor, the damage had been done. His people were entrenched in every level of government. His righthand man, the former Planetary Governor, Hilsin Pertranik, escaped justice and has been secretly running the planet ever since from behind the scenes.”

“Surely this is not the way to do it,” Kail interjected. “Find evidence of his misdeeds, bring it before the courts, give them the right to due process.”

Sylok pushed up his glasses. “It’s been attempted before. You think I’m the only one to notice the problems on Questal? Everything the Republic has tried to clean up the planet has been stymied and shut down. They’re restrained by the very same system Pertranik is so adept at manipulating. I am not. The Republic’s presence here is a farce that I will fix by the time my work is done. I warn you again not to interfere, I have no wish to fight Jedi, but I won’t allow you to get in the way of justice.”

[Pryde]

Felicity was at a bit of a loss here. She knew a little bit about what was going on, the others had filled her in as much as possible, but she didn’t know everything. She didn’t know Sylok, who he was or what had motivated him to this life, but what she did know was that his methods went against everything the Jedi Code stood for. So as he stood there justifying himself in front of them she could feel her hands tightening around the hilt of her saberstaff.

“This isn’t justice,” she blurted out, “It’s murder!”

“No,” Sylok responded sharply, “murder is turning a blind eye to the corruption that is festering on Questal.”

“Well, we’re here now and we see what’s happening. Let us help you bring justice to Questal, but the killing has to stop. It’s against the Jedi Code,” Felicity pleaded with him.

[Halomek]

“There are many interpretations of the Jedi Code, Felicity Sage,” Sylok countered. “You might be interested to know the original code is quite a bit simpler than the one taught to you today. It is as follows: Emotion, yet peace. Ignorance, yet knowledge. Passion, yet serenity. Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet the Force. The first Jedi did not fear taking a life when it meant protecting the weak and innocent from evil. I am doing the same. I take no pleasure in the task and my mind is utterly at peace with my actions.”

Kail could sense that what Sylok said was true, at least about his being at peace. He could sense nothing in the man’s presence that would suggest a fall to the Dark Side. It was possible that the Jedi Master was simply adept at hiding it, but Kail found he had doubts about that theory. Sylok Krim did not strike him as a man who hid things. In fact, here he was, espousing on his self-appointed mission without any attempt to hide his actions or his intentions.

“There will be no swaying you, will there?” Kail asked him as he tightened his grip on his bo staff. “You’re going to force us to go through with this.”

“The only ones forcing a confrontation are you,” Sylok answered him. “I have no wish to fight any of you, but I will not leave until I’m done here.”

Kail sighed deeply before nodding. “Then you leave us no choice, Master Krim. Perhaps the Jedi back on Ossus can reason with you.”

Swinging his staff, Kail rushed in hoping to at least take the Jedi Master by surprise by the sudden attack, but Sylok was not startled at all and easily countered his efforts. The Linshi Monk kept up his lightning fast attempts only to be unexpectedly frustrated at every turn. Linshi Martial Arts focused heavily on learning to read an opponent’s thoughts and movements, but Sylok was proving to be more skilled than Kail might have guessed. The Jedi Master had no emotional tells that Kail could sense and his economy of movement was impressive. With just the barest shifts in his posture, Sylok was able to block and counter Kail’s moves.

Then, almost before Kail had a chance to realize it, he saw Sylok’s outstretched hand reach past his defenses and felt a massive blast from the Force throw him and roll him across the floor. Kail ended it by rolling onto one knee and facing his opponent again, but Sylok had not moved to follow up on the attack. The Jedi Master simply eyed the other two Jedi. “It seems wisdom would dictate that the three of you return to Ossus. The Jedi Council should never have sent you.”

[Pryde]

Felicity ignited her saberstaff in response completely intent on offering a verbal retort but even before she could utter the words lingering in her thoughts she felt her body stiffen and unable to move. “Wha--,” she started to say when she felt a familiar presence.

“Stand down, cousin, this was never your mission,” Keira said as she emerged from a nearby shadow.

“Keira,” Felicity said in surprise, “what are you doing?”

“What I have to,” she said and then she turned to the others. “Sylok is right,” she told them, “The Council should never have sent us. I mean, why are we even here? To arrest a man for doing his job? A job we’re sworn to do? It doesn’t make sense.”

“It isn’t right,” Renato said, “Merciless killing leads only to the dark side.”

“Is what the Council has told you,” Keira interrupted, “but where is the proof?”

Felicity couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Her cousin was taking the side of a criminal, a rogue Jedi. “I don’t believe you,” she said, “You were sent here to stop him and now you want to help him?”

“I want to help you, cousin,” Keira answered, much to Felicity’s surprise, “I know how that brain of yours works and I know you’ll never give up on this, so before Sylok kills you--,” she left the rest hanging in the air.

Felicity felt her shoulders sag a bit and her eyes droop. “You always underestimate me, Keira,” she said quietly, “I’m stronger than you think.”

Then out of nowhere Felicity summoned a strong burst of energy that sent Keira and the others reeling, breaking her free of Keira’s grasp. Launching herself forward she lunged at Sylok, her saberstaff raised and ready to strike but Keira was there to meet her. Her violet saber crackled against Keira’s orange one and the two Jedi stood there locked in a struggle before Felicity pulled herself away and struck at Keira with a series of jabs and feints. Meanwhile, Kail was back on his feet and he and Renato both closed on Sylok…

[Mir]

Yet again the Sage family was making a mess of things.

Renato couldn’t afford to take the time to deal with this predicament. He’d have to let the two little children fight and hopefully after this, put them in a time out. Or send them back to Ossus. Here were two knights that were to duel a master, one who had a list of accolades to properly back up his credentials. This was to be difficult. A myriad of colors were arrayed around him. Renato saw Krim in a blue that was darker than the oceans of Mon Calamari, but lighter than the ink that his mother had used teaching him his letters on Froswythe. No emotion. No attachment, other than to duty. A similar feeling in the Force as the bright, white hot yellow-white of Kail. Kail’s emotion wasn’t rash or reckless, like the brilliant, proud purple hues of slight differentiation of the two Sages, but wrapped up in his sense of duty, of honor.

Kail’s color was due to his sense of obligation, his sense of duty. That was something that Renato could understand. Lightning crackled around Kail as the Lin Monk moved forward again.

And then it splintered, it webbed.

Hundreds of frames appeared, all having the outline of Kail, moving throughout the area that this fight called home. The blue of Krim exploded, into a murky cloud of blue, like that ink from Froswythe dropped into a basin of the water from Mon Calamari, made clear by lack of depth. Renato wasn’t one hundred percent sure of what he was seeing, but slowly the forms made sense. Quickly frames faded away, and then he saw the lightning arc of Kail intersect with the murky cloud of Krim.

His Force Sight showed him the possibilities. It didn’t predict the future, it showed him the possible futures. Renato had no way of knowing indeed what Kail would do, where he would go, but he could see everything that he could do. A helping hindrance to say the least.

The lightsaber lifted up, the familiar hum the closest sound to his ears, overpowering the crackle of Felicity and Keira Sage. He dove into the cloud of blue, no choice but to make battle with the Jedi Master. A beam of green emerged from the cloud, which suddenly, violently convalesced into the form of the man. They connected, struck, parried, blocked, jabbed. A number of words to describe action that could kill in a split second. Then in seemingly the same amount of time, it was over. The man of blue flowed back into a cloud, and Renato backed up.

Strength, skill, surpassing his own.

[Pryde]

"Get out of my way, Keira," Felicity said as her saber once again clashed against her cousin's. Felicity didn't want to fight her cousin at all but Keira was making it hard on her. Every time Felicity created some kind of diversion to break away from Keira and attack Sylok the former would always manage to intercede.

"Stop being such a child, Felicity, I'm trying to save you."

"I don't need to be saved, I can handle him!"

"How," Keira demanded, "He's a Jedi Master and you're a Jedi Padawan. How exactly do you plan to stop him?"

Felicity took a step back, her guard lowered a bit but she was not backing down. "I'll find a way."

"No," Keira shouted, "you won't. You keep pushing on this he will kill you."

"I don't care," Felicity shouted back, "It's what I'm supposed to do. If I die I'll die defending the Republic!"

Keira surprised her then when she suddenly reached out and smacked Felicity across the cheek. The younger girl was stunned and held her bruised cheek in surprised shock. "Don't you ever say that," Keira said sharply, "You're a sixteen year old girl. You should be climbing trees and talking about boys not throwing your life away in some pointless battle."

"It's not pointless," Felicity whispered, "It's who we are."

Keira raised her hand again and Felicity flinched, closing her eyes but the blow never fell. Keira balled her hand into a fist and held it there for a moment before closing her eyes and turning away. If there was one thing about her cousin she could never understand it was Felicity's strong sense of duty. She often broke the rules, heading out on missions she was not ordered to undertake, but she did it because she was doing what she felt was right.

Felicity embodied all the ideals of the Jedi and then some, even more so than Kalja Leidias. She could never turn a blind eye to someone in need and her naivety often got her into trouble. Keira was certain that if she left her alone she would eventually get herself killed. It was just a matter of time.

"Will you not let me go," Felicity asked, pleading this time.

Keira raised her lightsaber and shook her head. "I'm sorry, Felicity, I cannot."

Felicity gave her cousin a disappointed look before feinting to the left then sprinting to the right as fast as the Force could carry her. She made a bee line straight toward Sylok but Keira intercepted her again and their battle was joined once more...

[Halomek]

The fight was not going well for Kail. Sylok Krim was hardly slowed by the inclusion of Renato in the fight. He seemed to easily anticipate their moves and have a counter all prepared to deal with it. Even if Felicity wasn’t currently engaged in a fight with her cousin, Kail was having his doubts that her inclusion, or even both of them, would make a difference in the long run. “He’s better than us,” Kail thought to himself with a dreaded realization. “He’s got us analyzed and figured out. He knows our strengths and weaknesses.”

And unfortunately Sylok’s thoughts were not distracting him like they were with Kail. After delivering a kick to Renato’s midsection, the Jedi Master slipped inside Kail’s defenses again and knocked his staff out of his hands before catching it and delivering a blow to the Linshi Monk’s face. Kail fell to the ground with a little shock at how easily Sylok was besting him and found himself staring at the end of his bo staff. Renato was being held at bay with Sylok’s lightsaber pointed at him. The other Jedi was down on one knee, getting his breath back after having it knocked out of him by the Jedi Master’s kick.

“Enough,” Sylok declared in an even voice. “This fight is pointless. You’ve been beaten and if this continues for much longer, I can’t guarantee that you’ll survive it without serious injury. Yield now.”

It went against Kail’s nature to admit defeat when he had a clear duty to perform, but the practical side of his mind knew that Sylok was right. He closed his eyes in regret. “Then I yield, Master Krim. Everyone stand down, we can’t win this fight.”

[Mir]

Renato understood the difference between being persistent and being stubborn. He could be persistent in this situation, but he could not afford to be headstrong. The most obvious reason was because that he was engaged to be married. He didn’t live just for himself anymore. The man nodded and extinguished his lightsaber. “I concur. A formidable foe, Master Krim.”

The blind man rose and settled himself at his full height. “I would entertain a question with you. It seems as though you do not seek out intense amounts of public awareness in your mission. You don’t seem to use the public news networks to your advantage. I would inquire as to why.”

[Halomek]

“I require no recognition for my work here,” Sylok said to him, “and even if I felt the inclination to make the general public aware of my actions, the media would not be an option. They can only see what those in power wish them to see and so are easily manipulated. If even my fellow Jedi can’t see the necessity of what I’m doing, what hope should I hold for those without access to the Force?”