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Missing Score, Coruscant Orbit

Cole was walking around the CIC, conducting general supervision, when his communications officer asked for his attention.

"We've got an incoming transmission from headquarters," Lieutenant Liono said. "They say its urgent."

Cole's antennae twitched, and he clicked his jaws together twice.

"" Cole ordered.

Cole turned on his heel and moved over to his command chair. He linked his comlink to his datapad, and his datapad to the command chair's COM receiver. He hooked the comlink up to his head, and waited for the signal to reach him. The transmission started immediately.

"Commander Cole Barranks, this is New Republic Defense Force Headquarters."

"" Cole replied. ""

"We've got a bit of a situation here, Commander," the officer on the end began. "A Force-user-- Jedi or Sith, we haven't been able to confirm-- tried to storm the Ambassadorial Habitation Pyramid. He wasn't carrying any ID on him, and he also surrendered quickly."

There was a pause for Cole to speak in. Too long of a break in transmission for it to be a delay in transceivers. He had nothing to say on the matter so far, so he simply replied with ""

"Ultimately, this isn't something that the NRDF can't handle on its own, but it's too small of an incident for the Chancellor and Chief of State to become involved," the officer continued. "The Chief of State has requested that you deal with it. Can you comply?"

That was a silly question to ask. A request coming from the Chancellor or the Chief of State was as good as an order to any Republic officer, and it was public knowledge that Cole was in charge of the First Battlegroup of the New Republic Defense Fleet, the home fleet. Cole was simply assigned to keeping watch over the immediate system, should any hostile targets approach. He wasn't a fleet commander anymore. After he'd lost that carrier during the retaking of Ossus, he'd been quietly relegated to a dead-end position over Coruscant. Cole guessed that the powers-that-be decided to retire their old warhorse, presuming him to have passed his prime.

"" Cole replied simply, giving away no undertones of his feelings just now. ""

"You will arrive at the Republic Judiciary Central Detention Center on star date..."

What was a Jedi doing on Coruscant these days? He doubted the Force-user they'd captured had been a Sith, because the Sith usually brought backup, and there was certainly nothing larger than a public transport that wasn't monitored and regulated through Coruscant's interstellar traffic. There would have been advance warning if Republic soldiers had captured a Sith. So, what was a Jedi doing storming the ambassadors' residency at Coruscant? Cole supposed that would be exactly what he'd found out when he questioned him.

"" Cole said, after the orders had finished.

"Very well, Commander," the officer on the other end said. "We'll see you dirtside."

Corruo - Bridge

"My lady,"
One of the bridge personel approached her as she stood before the viewport, looking out at the void of space. She knew the ship that just arrived had carried something interesting, as did she know that these imbeciles could not detect the excitement crawling through her presence at the power she felt coming from it.

"I know."

Her tone was harsh, yet carried a hint of delight. A tone of madness, as was the grin portrayed on her face.

For far too long nothing had even resembled a challenge in her conquest of the Sith Empire. Now, something fierce had shown itself, something powerful. Not once had she used her lightsaber against any opponent in the past five years, nor did she ever need to. It had been far too long ago since she last had to face her own mortality. It was an exciting thing to look forward to, and experience of which just the thought send shivers down her spine.

Slowly she went over the walkway towards the turbolift, reveling in the excitement of what waited below with every step. She had all kinds of questions eager to ask. Where did she come from? Did she come her to challenge Ensis for leadership over the Sith? Were there more?

Today was nearly as good as any day could ever be. The only thing that bothered was the fact that her apprentice seemed more interested in chasing after something in the ship than to seek out his Master after she had returned. Just what did he think he was doing?

Naboo Space/ Naboo Hanger, Naboo Farm

The trip had been uneventful and that was something Ronyo was truly grateful for. His time with the Sith prisoner had drained a considerable amount of energy from him, and while he had done his best to come off to all who saw him as in good health he had still been healing. Fortunately the time on Tython and the trip to Naboo had given him time to meditate and regain himself through the force. As the ship's computer came online Ronyo opened his eyes to see Omega looking at him. He could feel and understand what his canine companion was telling him thanks to their time together and Ronyo's ability to speak with animals through the force.

Standing up Ronyo moved from his quarters to the pilots seat and Omega took his usual spot in the co-pilots seat. Ronyo saw the lush planet before him and smiled as he knew what likely awaited him down on the surface, or at least he thought he did. With a few quick types Ronyo sent a landing clearance command to the Naboo Communication tower and received landing and docking coordinates soon after.



Once on planet Ronyo had rented a speeder capable of seating four and set out in the direction the force pulled him. Omega sat in the back seat on the passenger's side with his head leaning out the side and tongue out. At times Ronyo could swear he heard the Force Wolf yell "WHOOOO!" and he found a chuckle at his friends enjoyment. That since of joy was soon dashed as Ronyo began to feel emotions of anger, loss, and sadness coming in the direction he was being pulled. Omega also seemed to feel the emotion in the force and showed it by closing his muzzle and looking straight ahead.

Soon enough Ronyo pulled the speeder to a halt near what looked like a small farm. Things seemed relatively normal except for a scene outside the small house. Two individuals with another one laying in the grass. The two seem to be emanating strong emotions of regret and also love, but the strongest emotions come from the house just a few feet from the others. As Ronyo made his way to the house Omega seemed to be sniffing the air and looking about for any signs of trouble. The companion always had Ronyo's back and was always alert when things seemed ready to get problematic.

As Ronyo passed the three in the grass he recognized one of them with eyes going wide with surprise. He knew that face well, how could he forget the other member of that fateful mission to the Ghost Ship. Mina seemed different and in likely more ways than one especially with the other gentlemen holding her in a tight embrace. He could since the force about them but before he could say a word the strong emotions coming from the house seemed to speak up again. Ronyo passed by Mina and the others and offered a nod in recognition and held a hand up for Omega to stay and watch the three. He was not suspicious of the two but the third laying still below them and the strong emotions in the force spoke of something terrible have happening. If nothing else Omega would serve as a guardian for the two.

As Ronyo reached the doorway he looked in to see hair he had not thought to ever see again. Ronyo found himself not sure what to do at the current moment, for from the sound and by the force it appeared the woman he had once known had just lost something incredible dear to her heart. With nothing else really for the former Padawan to say he just simply said...

"Sam."

Alone, Sam spends more time meditating over her own words spoken to her padawan so long ago. Words of duty, life, but mostly death. She's been scarred by death so many times before that this should not be crippling, she knows this, but still she cannot find it in herself to leave poor, dead Warren's side.

It's not just his death that she mourns, it's her own. The life she had here is, for all intent and purpose of Isani Loren, gone. The woman that she had been was weak, naive, but oh-so peaceful. Now she is Sam again, and she doubts that we will ever know the happiness and love for life that she had here again.

Isani is not completely to blame, of course. The logical, wise, part of Sam is able to speak to the hurt and assure it that this is better. The life she had here was stagnant, though beautiful, and too fragile. Something would have happened eventually -- perhaps post traumatic stress, subconcious fear or pain, and her inability to harness or control her power in the Force could have caused more pain than today. But the words are heavy, and they fall silently on the floor behind her as she discards them selfishly the moment that they manifest.

This is her pain, her loss, her hurt, and she won't have it diminished by duty. She's had a lifetime of suffering silently while her station and honor paint a mask for her to wear for others.. but in this place Sam -- innocent, naive, flower-selling Sam -- deserves a moment.

Then Ronyo is there, and both Sams look up at him through tear-clouded sight. It's as if he has walked straight out of her memory, from the day that she taught him about death in her Sanctuary on Coruscant, and she takes a moment to stare openly. He says her name, and her head falls to her chest. Teal-colored hair veils her face as she speak, "I can't lift him by myself. I sent the others away... but I can't lift him by myself."

Corruo

Sephis approached the double doors at a frightening pace. They wouldn't open before he hit them. Thinking fast, Sephis thrust one arm forward, two fingers outstretched, and forced the doors to the side with two motions of his hand. The doors screeched open and Sephis came out onto the catwalk of the hangar. He jumped, letting his forward momentum carry him over the railing, and landed with a thud on the hangar floor, using the Force to soften the impact. With a snap-hiss, Sephis had his lightsaber out, blazing red, and held its long hilt with two hands.

Sephis glared at the destruction around him. There was a hole in the floor, recently made, telltale wisps of smoke billowing off of it. Easily two dozen officers and recruits, mostly dead, lying on the floor around the hangar. Some of them were no more than burnt carcasses.

Sephis' gaze finally crept onto what must have been the source of the dark presence, about 50 meters away from him, closer to the center of the hangar. The intensity of it was starting to give Sephis a headache. It-- a woman with long hair-- was facing away from Sephis, speaking to somebody else that Sephis could not see, past her. Who was she? Who was she to attack the Sith Empire like this? With such a dark presence in the Force, how in the hell did the Empire not know about her?

"Do you honestly dare assault the Sith Empire?" Sephis called out to the woman. "What anger and insanity has possessed you? You've asked for your own execution in doing this."

Sephis' tone was not exclamatory, inflammatory or anything of the like. It was calm and inquiring, with just a touch of condescension. He was as curious to find out what was going here as he was eager to get this presence off of this ship.

Naboo Space/ Naboo Hanger, Naboo Farm

It's hard to understand just what went on here that could cause all of this. So much pain and sadness it was almost overwhelming with the force giving those emotions even more power. Although at the moment of seeing his former master look at him with eyes clouded by tears nothing in the force was stronger than that look. Those where tears Ronyo understood and had shed himself while he had been on Tython all those years ago. The day Alpha and the Terentatek had fought and died by his side against the abominable Technobeasts.

Ronyo did not say anything, for nothing could or needed to be said at that moment. Sam-El saying she could not lift someone was not a simple idea, for likely there was not many as strong of powerful as the teary eyed teal headed woman in front of Ronyo. The Jedi Master moved to the woman's side and looked over the man laying on the floor. That floor shimmers with a crimson gloss and it is all too obvious what fate came to the man, although the who and why are not. Ronyo places a hand on Sam-El's shoulder for a brief moment to give small comfort and show he will help. Leaning down Ronyo placed a hand gently behind the fallen man's head and one under his legs. The emerald armor Ronyo wore around his arms and hands now shimmered with the man's life essence and for a moment the Jedi does speak if only to keep his former master from having to cover her hands with the man's blood.

"I can carry him Sam, you lead the way and I will follow as always."

[ Naboo ]

"I don't know that there is anything we can do," Mina admits, much to her reluctance. Sam's grief is Sam's own, and though Mina aches to soothe her pain -- both Mina, and the strange new part of her that yearns for the former Grandmaster -- she knows that it is not within her power. With Kennero, it is different; there is a part of Mina in Kennero and he in her that allows them to comfort each other and share with each other to a degree that is not possible with others. It is a love so deep Mina is unsure if she really understands it -- she knows she would do anything for her Falleen prince, but also knows it runs deeper than even that.

(It is the thing that Isani underestimated when she threatened Mina's life to make Kennero back down, something Mina suspects the Sith once understood but lost. Mina knows she will not have Isani's composure, however cold and twisted it is, if she ever loses Kennero.)

When Kennero steps back to apologize to her, Mina takes his hand and squeezes it. "I know," she tells him simply, and with those words and a look he is forgiven.

Because she does know -- Kennero calls it selfishness, but Mina knows there was something more that stayed his tongue. She understands that if he had shared with Mina his suspicions that his master still lived, it would be giving his tiny hope too much voice; if he had spoken his suspicion aloud, it would have made that hope all the greater, and his grief if Isani were truly dead would have cut anew. As it were... Mina sighed, pushing the thought away.

"We should return to Coruscant. Grandmaster Ronyo can help Sam more than we can," Mina suggests, and her reasoning is truly selfish. She doesn't want to be parted from Kennero, not now of all moments, and not for anything. She came to close to losing Kennero today.

[ Ithor, Tafanda Bay ]

Rikka rolls to the side when Daesha releases her grip, connecting with a chair painfully and grimacing at both that and the Twi'lek's headbutt. At least she's dodged the blasterfire; launching herself to her feet, Rikka takes her cue from Isani, whose blade is lit and washing the floor at her feet in blood red light, and ignites her own blade. The knight whips it before her, bringing it into high guard.

She stalks forward, drawing on the Force in case she needs to use it and fully intent of burning Daesha from nose to navel with the tip of her lightsaber when she hears the cold command -- there are other words as well, but this one is laden with a light Force Suggestion so as to ensure Rikka hears it.

"Rikka," Isani calls.

"Coming, coming," Rikka replies with cheerful, mock-insolence. She uses a Force Push that will hopefully distract Daesha and spins to the side to join Isani, waiting for the Sith Master to push her way through Eccen's darkside creatures instead of crossing his make-shift barrier before they Force Travel away.