In the Mail(Tal)

[Vex]

Petty Officer Taern Slade watched the countdown on his navicomputer. Ice blue eyes flickered over the decreasing numbers before checking behind him once more to ensure that his package was still there. It hadn't moved from the last twelve times he'd checked it, but he couldn't help himself. This wasn't exactly a normal courier mission for the Naval courier.

No...this was something altogether different. It had been unusual enough when the young man had found himself summoned to the Jedi Temple. He'd met with a woman, a Jedi Master, who had in turn brought him another surprise. She had taken him to a fugitive...one of their own, bound within the safest, most secure depths of the vaunted place. the memory was still fresh in his mind, though he still wasn't certain how to take that meeting.

"Do you know why you are here, Petty Officer?" The dark eyed monster sitting across from him asked the question with a strange, chill peace that seemed completely at odds with the molten emotion in that ebony stare. Vex Praetor tilted his head, regarding the man.

Taern couldn't help but feel as though he was being looked through, with every secret of his soul being bared before the Dark Jedi. He knew all too well who the man. He'd watched the HoloNet when Major Borgonia had been broken out of prison. He'd also, more recently, watched with surprise when the news had broken that the same man had turned himself in and surrendered to the Jedi. It had seemed unreal...but it paled in comparison to how he felt now, sitting here.

"No, um, not really." There were two Knights standing by either side of the door with him.

Black eyes looked up to one of the guards behind him. The edge of that mask moved slightly from the smile beneath it, an expression that didn't make it to his eyes. "It seems we can help each other, Petty Officer. There is something I need to happen...and something you wish could happen..." When his words seemed to be confusing the man, Vex clarified. "Your daughter, I believe, is very ill."

Those words had the color draining from Taern's face and, forgetting himself, he pushed himself to his feet, hands gripping the table in a white-knuckle clench. "What? How do you know that? Are you trying to threaten me?" He looked back to the Jedi behind him, wondering how they could stand there silently after that.

Vex stood up slowly. He was shackled with Force Cuffs at the wrists and ankles, each set then connected together. Holding his hands up, he gestured to the man to return to his seat. Speaking firmly, he put a hint of compulsion into his words. "Sit down, Petty Officer... do not speak again until you fully understand."

Taern bristled, will fighting against that compulsion. Ultimately, he did sit down, but not until a long moment had passed. Cautiously, he spoke. "Fine...enlighten me."



He still didn't know what to make of the rest of the conversation or what had happened afterward. His reverie was broken, however, by the alarm letting him know it was almost time to drop out of hyperspace. As the counter reached zero, he manipulated the controls, bringing the small courier ship out of hyperspace. As the streaks of light turned back to pinpricks, he immediately raised shields and began scanning the radar and radio frequencies.

They were still at war, after all.

Fortunately, the only thing he found on his radar was what was supposed to be there. His IFF registered the Anthelion, his intended destination. Bringing up his communications system, he set the required encryption and hailed the ship using the priority courier band after pushing out his coded IFF designation and verification codes for them to validate that he was who he said he was.

"Anthelion, this is Naval Courier designation 'November Charlie Alpha Two Fife Niner Fower Oscar', requesting permission to dock. I am carrying a priority parcel for one Sihara Horula under Gamma Delta authorization with Temple caveats. I say again, this is Naval Courier designation 'November Charlie Alpha Two Fife Niner Fower, Oscar', requesting permission to dock. I am carrying a priority parcel for one Sihara Horula under Gamma Delta authorization with Temple caveats. Over."

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

All was quiet on the bridge of the hulking frigate…well, as quiet as it typically was, anyway. With the crew of the Screaming Star safely shuttled back to the surface of Bandomeer and the last of the repairs completed, Anthelion had continued its predestined trek along the hyperspace route in real space, only making short jumps between to check further along the route toward Imperial space for anything ‘amiss.’ It was during one of these real-space patrols that a message had been received, notifying the captain of the ship that a courier was on its way from the Jedi Temple.

She was not pleased with the information.

It had made the admiral chuckle his head off at her as she valiantly attempted to not say something she’d regret later.

…And so they’d stayed put near the trade world of Feriae Junction…waiting.

It was, actually, a good station for the frigate, so long as it remained on alert. The small bands of pirates that typically enjoyed haunting the merchants there were kept at bay for the time being, and it allowed the fighter pilots to get out and stretch their wings away from the simulators. They were able to patrol the area easily and chase off or break apart any unwanted activity as well as back up the local security forces. The feline captain was actually enjoying the temporary station as it allowed her crew to be overtly useful as well as give them all more time to acclimate to their new surroundings and each other.

She was busy, but in ways that she enjoyed…the gregarious Farghul part of her upbringing showing in subtle ways as she too learned about her crew (old and new faces alike) and their dynamics. The first bell of forenoon watch had just sounded across the intercom not ten minutes ago, Diana…the flashy little thing that she was…was flitting about Jost’s feet chatting happily with the zeltron pilot as he shifted in his seat. Dratted familiar…she couldn’t pester him while he was off duty? Still, it wasn’t as if they were doing much, especially not the pilots of their floating home, so a little chatting was…discretely ignored.

“Priority message coming through, Ma’am. We have a positive ID on the courier ship we’re expecting.”

Joy and rapture…a courier straight from the jedi to a former jedi. Holding up a hand, she keyed a well memorized code into her station panel and depressed a single button. ”Mr. Sharish…our courier has arrived. Will you please go and greet him in the hangar bay. Preferably with teeth and claws, but if you can’t manage that do feel free to be yourself.” While she wasn’t happy to have this package (she didn’t necessarily have anything against the courier himself) on her ship, she was going to at least try and make light of it.

Across the comm. a gruff chuckle could be heard and she could just imagine her old friend’s face. He knew how much this was bothering her and he’d given her a good long talking to the night the order to hold position had come. ”Aye, Ma’am…I’ll be sure to smile plenty and offer to shake his hand as per your orders.” It hadn’t been what she’d meant and he knew it, but she had left it open (vaguely) to interpretation. Either way it earned a mild chuckle and a shake of her head before she gave a short confirmation and clicked off the comm. Turning back to the acting com-officer, she nodded once.

“Naval Courier November Charlie Alpha Two Fife Niner Fower Oscar, permission to dock granted. We’ll have the bay open for you upon arrival. From there you will be escorted to your destination.”

---

He had been patrolling the halls when Zharra had called on him, so it didn’t take him overly long to get to the hangar bay. The ‘usuals’ were hanging around…the mechanics, a decent smattering of pilots, some of the off duty personnel…and then there was the small courier ship that was just hovering up into the bay from the void of space, the bay floor closing beneath it. Pausing just inside the door to the bay, the primarily white shistav waited calmly, hands behind his back, as the ship settled down…

[Vex]

“Naval Courier November Charlie Alpha Two Fife Niner Fower Oscar, permission to dock granted. We’ll have the bay open for you upon arrival. From there you will be escorted to your destination.”

Letting out a slow breath, Taern nodded. "Acknowledged, Anthelion, setting approach vector now. ETA...three minutes. Fife Niner Fower Oscar, out."

Tapping in the guidance into his systems, Taern followed the approach guidance until the frigate was looming overhead. This close, it all but swallowed up his small courier ship. It wasn't much larger than your average fighter...primarily designed for speed and rapid extraction from hostile situations. Countering his forward momentum, he adjusted his thrusters to lift him up into the waiting bay. Powering down his shields, he saw the momentary electric crackle as they died around him to nothing. A light movement of the control yoke had the ship moving sideways, away from the closing bay door and onto solid landing space. That deft touch allowed the ship to alight nimbly upon the flooring.

Competent hands moved through the post-flight checks and shutdown procedures for the ship without much in the way of conscious thought. He knew them the same way he knew how to breathe or tie his own shoes: it was just ingrained in him at that point. Hitting the cycle for the canopy, he unbuckled his seat webbing and stood up. Reaching around behind him, he picked up the sealed satchel and drew it over his shoulder before he turned to the side. As the dismount ladder was rolled up by a maintenance tech, he nodded his head in thanks and stepped onto it, climbing down.

A quick exchange and questioning of the tech had him pointed in the proper direction for the exit. Looking that way, he saw the intimidating Shistavenan waiting there for him. Moving that satchel around as though it was an unpleasant weight, he walked quickly toward that door. Noting the man's rank, he came to the position of attention and rendered a salute. "Petty Officer Taern Slade, Sir. I'm here to see Miss Sihara Horula. The sooner...the better." He glanced down at that locked and guarded and locked satchel. While he tried to school the anxiety that he felt, he knew that the sooner he could finish this errand...the better he would feel.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

The leather armor across his right shoulder, the shistav noticed, was laying uncomfortably against his neck. Something he corrected with an easy roll of that shoulder and a gentle tug from his left hand. As he waited, Roshgar Sharish smirked just slightly and chuckled to himself. How utterly out of place he must look to anyone he came across who wasn’t used to seeing him. While his rank and the symbol of the Republic navy were clearly emblazoned upon his light armor in several places, his rank bars pinned to his tunic, he certainly did stand out in his lack of proper uniform.

Being one of the only (perhaps he was the only?) shistavanen in the military, his request to wear something that fit him more appropriately than a uniform had gone under no small amount of scrutiny. He was able to wear a uniform, certainly, but it tended to restrict his movement…the tests they’d put him through to ascertain the validity of his claims proving his point. Capable he was, but when in clothing that didn’t restrict him he was a force to be reckoned with…and so this new ‘uniform’ had been approved. A specific, and highly controlled and conservative, set of clothing had been designated as his work uniform. Dress uniform, however, would remain a uniform and that was that. Still, for any military officer or enlisted who didn’t know he had to imagine his appearance would be quite…unique…and he wondered how this courier might react.

His torn ear flicked gently as he watched the courier exit his ship, thickly furred tail drifting to each side once before stilling again. Pristine fur, almost a complete snowy white, tingled along his back as he felt his protective instincts come to the fore as ice blue eyes burned over the length of the man as he approached. An amiable man he may have been beneath everything, but this courier was in his territory now, and carrying something that had troubled his captain (and friend) greatly. Even if he felt she was wrong for why, he wasn’t going to simply ignore those worries. Black nose twitched swiftly as he scented out the man who stopped before him, saluting the lower ranking officer in return before nodding.

”Chief of Security Roshgar Sharish.” Without another word one large hand produced a scanner from his belt, fiery blue eyes turning from the man before him to the small machine before holding it out to Taern so that it was facing him. ”Palm scan and name.” As the scan was taken of the younger man’s hand the VR software went to work as well with the name. Two beeps and he pulled the scanner back, touching a button on the side. With verification coming up green that thick tail flicked and the scanner shut down and slipped back into a slot on his belt. ”Follow me.”

Turning he’d lead the way into the ship and toward one of the closest lifts, his ears swiveling forward and back as he listened to the crew they passed. Pausing at the lift he pressed the button to go up and waited, his other hand drifting to his comlink. ”Miss Horula, I’m bringing the courier now.” The doors dinged open and he allowed Taern in first, following closely behind and pressing the button for the correct floor as the doors slid shut with a hiss behind them.

”Yes, of course Mr. Sharish. I’m in my office. It’ll be unlocked when you get here.”

[Vex]

Focused on his own thoughts and the weight of the satchel at his side, Taern hadn't immediately noted the oddness of the uniform. He'd focused on the rank, which had been in the right space. In his neighborhood on Coruscant, there was a good melting pot of species. Seeing a Shistavanen itself wasn't all that surprising for him. Certainly, he hadn't seen any others in his work in the Navy, but he had met one or two in his life. As the man returned introductions, however, he managed to take in that uniform in better detail. It was...quite unusual...and whether intended or not, it made him look a bit more ominous and looming. Given how he looked naturally, he didn't really need to look more imposing.

Never the less, Taern tried not to let that bother him. The man seemed to be a good sort...stalwart and reliable. He couldn't say why he felt that way...just that he did. As Roshgar pulled out that pad, Taern nodded and lifted his hand, pressing his palm to it for the scan while speaking. "Petty Officer Taern Slade." Waiting, he was soon rewarded with a successful verification. Of course, he wasn't worried about that not going through, after all. He was who he said he was. They trusted him to do his work and carry his deliveries with due diligence and care, trusting that what he had was safe, handled properly, and would be brought to the proper recipient.

Unfortunately, he could only guarantee two of the three. He had no idea what was inside the container that he'd been given by Vex Praetor. For all he knew, it could be a weaponized form of the Rakghoul plague, set to disperse once opened by the unfortunate recipient. Given the originator of the package, he couldn't exactly rule that out of the equations either, especially considering who he was sending it to. It made no sense...why would this Dark Jedi, currently in the control of the Order, send a package to some former member of the Order? It just wasn't done. The fact that he didn't know and had very little reason to trust the reasons and machinations of the sender only amped his anxiety up tenfold. It was worse now that he was here, when it could affect someone other than himself.

He had no choice though. He kept telling himself that in his mind, vehemently willing it to be true.

I have no choice...I have no choice...

Distantly, he'd follow the directions of Roshgar, following him a half step behind and to the left to show deference to the man's rank. He stopped, waiting while the lift was called and the man made the comm connection with his intended recipient.

Surrounded by his concerns and his thoughts, he wasn't much of a conversationalist as he waited for their lift, or once they begun to ascend. Though he didn't know exactly when they were getting close to her office, he picked up his mantra again.

I have no choice...I have no choice...

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Taern didn’t need to be talkative for the snowy colored shistav to scent out the anxiety that clung to the man in barely perceptible hints of the ‘stress-scent’ in the man’s sweaty palms, the sound of his elevated heart rate, the way he was so careful to remain calm but treated his package with a mixture of protection and disgust…If it weren’t against regulations he might have inquired as to what the package was. Still, if it was a possible threat it was well within his rights to question…

For a moment longer he was silent, icy blue eyes studying the man beside him quietly, his torn ear twisted in his direction…listening. His parents had taught him to not jump to conclusions, but to listen and observe first. ”Don’t just go assuming things, pup. Listen with all your senses first…your nose, your ears, your eyes and your heart and mind. Then, and only then, should you speak. Question first, if you must, but always attempt to make an informed decision. Too often people jump to conclusions and it is the cause of much strife. Our family is here to help ease those tensions and that strife. Never forget that.”

Finally he would turn his eyes back to the lift display as it registered the levels they passed. A soft snort of air heralded his desire to speak only moments before his calm baritone rose up. ”You seem anxious for someone delivering a package from the temple…did you have difficulty reaching us because of it?” As the lift slowed to a stop and the doors slid open, he would step out and use one large hand to hold the door for the petty officer to follow, as well as allowing several others to jog down the hall to catch the same lift. With a nod to the trio of engineers as they slipped into the lift with a clamor of thanks, Roshgar would turn and motion for Taern to follow him once more as he padded down the still glistening hallway.

He knew he was prolonging things, but it would allow him more time to study the young man and his anxiety. If he could find the source of it, he would feel much more comfortable in taking him to Sihara. So…he took the ‘scenic’ route. Still there wouldn’t be much time, even going the way he planned, to try and sort things out.

[Vex]

When the door opened and Roshgar held the door open for him, he nodded his head in thanks and moved out the door to follow him. He was fortunate, in some aspects, in that he did not have to be stationed on a ship in the fleet. Though there were couriers stationed throughout the fleet in the event that a high-priority item needed to be carried, most were retained on Coruscant so that priority items could be quickly sent to the fleet, no matter what quadrant of the galaxy they were in. He had never had to get used to the twisted, maze-like corridors. Plus, his family had the light and life of Coruscant, not simply the simulations rooms and solariums of fleet ships.

When the Shistavanen spoke to him, pointing out that perceptive realization and his questions, Taern started slightly, sighing a bit. "There were no difficulties in the trip itself, Sir. In all honesty, it was quite uneventful. The manner of pickup, however..." he shook his head, trailing off. There was a shudder that ran through him. Revulsion, fear, who was to say, truly? Taern himself didn't even know. His jaw hardened. "I need help, too be honest. I only hope that Ms. Horula will be able to provide it." He looked up at Roshgar. He had no reason or desire to lie to the man. Something about him made Taern want to trust him. In this, however, he could not confide more and his expression made it evident while tinging it with regret.

In his mind, images of those dark, dangerous eyes still stared into him from across that table, surrounded by a cadaverously pale visage and dark hair. He felt himself being compelled forward by it. "Your daughter, I believe, is very ill.....Sit down, Petty Officer... do not speak again until you fully understand."

Turning his head away, his hand reached up, fingertips pressing against the front of his flight suit. Underneath it he could feel the small bump of that locket that rested there. Closing his eyes for a moment, he brought the image of his daughter to mind...seeing her smiling, energetic face and then a sadder, forlorn face with deep, sunken eyes. I have no choice...

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

“There were no difficulties in the trip itself, Sir. In all honesty, it was quite uneventful. The manner of pickup, however…”

One ear remained trained on the younger man as he spoke, and at the incomplete ending of his words keen eyes slid to the side to study him again. A slight nod was given, the fur around his neck and head ruffling and fluffing up gently with the motion. Softly his nails clicked against the deck as they walked, his paws given extra traction by leg armor (minimal as it was) strapped over his legs and around his paw-like feet. Long ago he’d learned the necessity for extra traction for him on smooth surfaces…like the metal decks of Anthelion. He wasn’t fond of sliding everywhere if he was in a hurry.

Roshgar, however, was in no hurry.

Calmly he padded along the hall, hands clasped behind his back, something he had unconsciously picked up from his father so many years back, as he continued to listen. When Taern looked up to him, the hefty bulk of the Chief of Security paused in his walk to turn and face the courier. The man’s posture and expression made his stance clear and so he didn’t bother asking anything further on that particular line. Still he didn’t move, gazing down at the man from glinting and almost flickering blue eyes.

He let loose a soft sigh and rested a heavy hand on the shoulder unoccupied by the satchel. ”Miss Horula is a good woman, she will help you if she is able, but this situation is more…delicate…than you understand. Beyond that you know my primary duty to this ship and her crew, so you understand my position, Mr. Slade. While I am inclined to trust you, your anxiety about this delivery is making that difficult.” For a man who had said only a handful of words previously this was quite a mouth full. Taern, however, wouldn’t know how truly uncommon it was (over all) for the shistav to have said so much at one go.

Removing his hand, that lupine form would begin walking once more. It didn’t take much longer to reach the door…perhaps the span of a few more minutes. Stepping up to the door, he’d move through it and sweep the area visually, before smiling just slightly as the graceful form of the Togruta woman stood from one of the comfortable armchairs in her office. ”Miss Horula, Petty Officer Slade is here with the Temple package for you.”

”Mr. Sharish…good morning to you, and thank you. Please come in, Mr. Slade. I promise I won’t bite.”

The woman who greeted them was certainly no officer. She wore no uniform or rank, simply well fitting and easy to move in clothing. A few items about her were distinctly jedi…the boots, the belt which still held the jedi crest, the crystal that hung around her neck…but even then there wasn’t much tangible evidence that she had even once been a jedi. The room was decorated with framed drawings of tribal tattoos, ranging from the poorly drawn attempts of a child to more accurate and careful attempts, but other than those it was fairly spartan. A sword and scabbard was hung on the wall, within easy reach and access (not that she needed reach or ease of access to get it), but other than those few items on the walls, and a pillow or two and a woven throw blanket (that all looked very ethnic) there wasn’t much to look at. Even so, the room (like the woman herself) held a profound feeling of calm and comfort.

Clasping her hands in front of her, those golden green eyes looked over both men with a small smile, the easy happiness ebbing from her. If she was concerned, she certainly didn’t show it, even to a point where Roshgar could tell. ”So, Mr. Sharish, if everything’s in order, would you mind waiting outside?” Those lekku curled and flicked gently as she looked over to Roshgar, his ears perking in her direction as she spoke. She watched that nose twitch madly for a moment as they gazed at each other. A soft chuckle from Sihara and she shook her head slightly, waving the shistavanen off with a hand. ”Go, Roshgar…I appreciate your concern, but I’m a capable woman.” With a slight nod, the man padded out of the room to wait in the hall.

Turning back to Taern, she’d walk over and hold out a hand to him. ”Sihara Horula, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Slade, but I have a feeling that you feel somewhat differently on the matter…”

[Vex]

"When dealing with Force users, Chief, my father always believed that a little anxiety and caution was in order. While I do not hold the same hardline toward Force users and their powers that he did, I've never felt comfortable dealing with things that I can't comprehend, let along counter. Dealing with this package and the Temple has only reiterated the reasonings for that and unsettling my understandings all the more." Sighing, Taern lifted his hand and combed his fingers back through his short, regulation hair cut. "I understand your position, Sir. All I can say is that I am not a danger to this ship. I would hope that the Jedi would not allow me to bring anything of danger onto this ship...but...given everything, I hate to say that I'm not altogether certain about the package itself. Miss Horula would know better..."

Finally, it seemed, they had arrived at the appointed place and Roshgar radioed to let her know that they were there. As they stepped within, those pale eyes flicked around the room as well, taking in the whole of it in a few heartbeats. His shoulders relaxed slightly, rolling back a bit as he let the sense of the room inundate him.

Watching the interaction between the two of them, it wasn't difficult to realize that there was a lot of communication passing between the two of them...none of which involved speech. At last, it seemed, she chastized him gently and waylaid his concerns so that he left. Watching Roshgar leave, he'd turn back to her as she moved over and held out that hand. Shifting the weight of that satchel, he'd hold it in place with one hand while taking hers in the other. He gave her a firm shake before finally releaseing. At her words, he colored slightly, shaking his head. "It's not that, Ma'am. It is nice to make your acquaintance. It will be even more so if you can make me understand...make me feel better about what it is I've had to do."

Unbidden, the image of those black eyes and that masked visage came to mind, almost realistically vivid before him. Shivering a bit in, he'd attempt to shake it off by moving to the nearest flat surface. Unclipping the flap on the satchel, he'd revert to the consummate professional. The package was almost perfectly smooth durasteel. It was just under a meter in length, half a meter in width, and slightly less than that in depth. There was a barely perceptible seam that ran all the way around it. As he laid it down, a hand-sized panel could just be seen, which he pressed his hand to. This caused sub-surface LEDs to come to life. One final slot opened...a small disk became recessed and slid away, revealing a holo-transmitter that flashed to life. The visage of a protocol droid could be seen. "Please enter vocal authentication."

Taern rattled off a string of seemilngly random alpha-numeric phonetics. The LEDs blinked, going green and staying solid for a moment before turning to a flashing red. Taern moved to the side, looking to her. "In order to receive the package, I'll require you to place your palm against te sensor located on the top of the package, Miss Horula. Once the lights go green, you'll need to state your full name along with the following pass phrase: 'Death would be a release, but not until she is safe.'"

"He said you would understand. It makes no sense to me."

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

Serenely the woman studied him as he took her hand and shook it. Her own grip was not as firm as his, per se, but it had a sort of gentle strength to it…something that told about Sihara herself. A gentle smile formed along her grayish-rose tinted lips as her front lekku curled with her thoughts on his words. ”Well then, I hope that I will live up to expectations and be able to assist you. I would hate for this to be a poor meeting because I was proven inept.” A soft chuckle sounded, even as she caught more hints as to just who had sent this courier here.

The man was in captivity and still he harried others?

Oh Vex…what is it you want with me now, and what did you say or do to this poor man? Letting out a soft sigh, she lowered her head a bit and shook it with a flick of the tips of her lekku. Following behind Taern to the short glass table that was settled between several comfortable seats, she watched as he went about his work. A phantom burning and painful tightness along the scar on her chest was her reward for becoming lost to her own thoughts…thoughts of that night. So many things I could have done differently…I wonder if I would have, if given the chance. As Taern moved to the side and gave his instructions, she looked back to him, just as placid as ever.

“Once the lights go green, you’ll need to state your full name along with the following pass phrase: ‘Death would b a release, but not until she is safe.”

A soft chuckle and she closed her eyes, shaking her head once more, lowering it slightly once more with a tinkle of metal, teeth and shells that composed her headdress. The turu-grass woman smiled just a bit as the scene replayed itself in her memory, just as vivid as if it had happened yesterday.

“He said you would understand. It makes no sense to me.”

”Still playing your games, Vex? I wonder what piece it is you’re actually looking at.” She sighed and looked at Taern. ”It wasn’t meant to, Taern…I believe it was a message and a reminder to me. Though, if there is a deeper meaning to his message, I have yet to find out. Let’s just say that…Mr. Praetor and I have a rather…colorful…history. This phrase is a part of it...only now do I think I finally understand better why he said it.” Looking from Taern to the box, she blinked at it calmly, probing it gently through the force. It felt…

Those lekku curled and flicked once.

”I suppose it’s my move, isn’t it?” With a smile she looked back up at Taern. ”Well…shall we see what our mutual friend has sent me?” She looked, and sounded, rather cheery when she said that. Placing her hand on the sensor panel she waited for the appropriate green lights before speaking again.

”Sihara Horula, ‘Death would be a release, but not until she is safe.”

From my mouth to the force…let’s just hope he hasn’t dragged me farther in.

[Vex]

”It wasn’t meant to, Taern…I believe it was a message and a reminder to me. Though, if there is a deeper meaning to his message, I have yet to find out. Let’s just say that…Mr. Praetor and I have a rather…colorful…history. This phrase is a part of it...only now do I think I finally understand better why he said it.”

"I figured you knew him, Ma'am. I doubted that he would send a package to someone that he didn't know...but I wasn't sure about your history." He seemed to think for a moment, hanging at the end of a precipice as he attempted to make a leap of faith. "I...hope you can help me, Sihara. I, don't know if bringing this to you was the right choice...but I had no choice. I couldn't see any alternative." The conflict in him was reaching a zenith and he was about to reach out and stop her from opening that container when she pressed her hand to that panel and spoke the code phrase.

The lights on the surface flashed in scintillating colors before turning a rich blue and blacking out. The sound of a seal being released could be heard as small servos within pushed the two halves apart, creating a space and widening it.

When she'd reached out, probing that package within the Force, something had stirred and responded to that brush of her consciousness...recognizing it and probing her in return. As the two halves parted, the top portion began to rotate and cycle backward like a clam shell.

The top portion, within, could be seen to hold all the electronics and other mechanisms that kept the package secured. Including, it seemed, a system that would have destroyed anything within if anyone had attempted to open it by any means other than that which Sihara had done. It explained the rugged durasteel exterior.

The bottom was padded and seemingly smooth, cradling around one small, pyramidal shaped object: a violet and silver holocron. Glowing slightly, it reacted more strongly to her presence than it had before, a hologram flickering to life.

Taern gasped. Black eyes looked back at them from a leonine face largely covered by that signature rebreather. Those eyes glanced to Taern before the gatekeeper focused on Sihara. "Ah, Sihara....it is good to see you again. You are looking...well. It is good to see that my faith in Mr. Slade has not been ill placed."

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

”I’m sure there will be plenty of time for me to expl—“ Her words trailed off as the item in the box had brushed her consciousness in return…the dark sensation that was Vex garnering her attention. Those golden-green eyes flickered back to the package as it worked itself open. A calm sort of intensity and focus seemed to radiate about her as it opened fully, the final object (nestled securely in the bottom of the box) visible only a moment later. Well…wasn’t he a man just full of surprises?

Taern, however, gasped…be it from surprise, fear, or both.

”Calm yourself, Taern…he can’t bite. This is a holocron.” Her eye moved from Taern back to the holographic image as she radiated calm for the poor man beside her. He needed a bit of it if he was going to make it through this without a heart attack. Reaching out, she carefully picked up the crystalline device and settled it in the palm of one of her hands. ”Well, Mr. Praetor, I see you’re still finding ways around your imprisonment to go and make house calls.” She smirked a bit. ”Though I admit, this is a rather creative and time consuming method you’ve chosen.

Yes, Taern was quite dutiful in his task…though you seem to have put him through no small amount of stress…and that, as I’m sure you’re aware, does not please me.”

It was a shame she’d have a far more difficult time in gaining the ability to tell this to the man himself instead of a gatekeeper for a holocron, but it was the thought that counted. One of these days she’d tell him herself. She sighed a moment and shook her head. ”I do need to thank you still, however, for saving my life…be it because of outside factors or your own impetus.” She chuckled lightly at that. ”Eventually I’ll make it around to tell you so.” Turning back to Taern, she motioned to the seats (a few fairly comfortable looking armchairs) settled around the table they stood beside.

”Have a seat, Taern…I believe I have some explaining and question answering to do…and…it may be wise for you to see some of what you’ve brought me.” With a smile to him, she moved to a seat and settled down in it, resting the holocron down in the center of the table. For a long moment she sat quietly, filtering through her thoughts to try and divine the proper point to start at. Should she begin with Mr. Slade or the holocron? Should she satisfy her own curiosity or his? Well, I suppose that if I begin to answer some of my own questions there may be answers to his. Though that still left her with explaining her own history with Vex which may very well end up being necessary for him to understand some of the things the holocron may divulge. Finally she spoke.

”One moment, gatekeeper, while I explain a bit of our…past…to Taern. It may help him understand a bit more clearly whatever knowledge it is you’re carrying.” With that she’d look to the man who had (hopefully) found himself a seat. ”Let me first assure you, Taern, that bringing me this holocron, in and of itself, was not a bad choice. No one aboard this ship, to my knowledge, other than the first officer could access any information within it.” She gave a brief glance to Vex’s holographic image and smirked a bit. ”Therefore the ability of Mr. Praetor to possibly corrupt an unwitting listener is extremely minimal.” She said it teasingly, but the almost imperceptible quiver of her lekku said it wasn’t all teasing.

”While I’m not yet aware of the circumstances surrounding this delivery as far as you’re concerned, Taern, the package itself is of little danger. Now…” She settled back in her seat slightly and watched the courier through calm eyes.

”I’ll give you as brief a history as possible.

When I was still only a padawan I worked with the healers in the Temple at times. One day a padawan not much older than myself was brought in, horribly wounded and kept alive by his master having put him into Morichro…a sort of…force based stasis, I suppose you could call it. His name was Enery Winsliyn…you may have heard that name as being the one assumed by Vex when he assisted in Miss Borgonia’s escape. Anyway, for hours we all worked to try and heal him, to save his life, myself included. He did live, but only just and he ended up being fitted with a respirator, among other things. I did not see him again after that for quite a few years…not until Miss Borgonia’s escape when I…felt...him, or traces of him anyway.

My partner and I were then sent, with my padawan, to hunt down Vex and Aunna. After several months of searching our paths crossed on Corellia. Vex and I confronted one another there and that was when I recognized the man I’d helped save so many years back.”

She shook her head slightly and shrugged, seeing that night once more. What happened there, the details of it, were not overly important just yet…perhaps they wouldn’t be, for Taern anyway, but who was to say. Either way, at this juncture he didn’t need everything, just the overview. ”In his attempt to protect the woman so she could get away he lured me in with a false victory…then proceeded to kill me. Or nearly kill me, anyway…I don’t know what he did, or what happened to change his mind, but he somehow managed to bring me back from the brink of death, allowing me to survive long enough for help to arrive. It was…a painful experience, yet here I am.” She smiled a little, almost wryly. ”A life for a life, I suppose…but that’s about the long and short of it.”

[Vex]

"Guests are still allowed the chance to communicate, Sihara. After all, the Order has never been anything less than humane whenever possible." The holograph smiled behind that mask, shrugging slightly at her words. "It appears that I've had more than a small amount of free time cleared up on my schedule for the recent past and some of the forseeable future. It was good to find something to pass the time." The image rolled its eyes a bit at her words, waving them off. "Your...vexation...is based on perception. Perhaps you should understand more before making accusations. Clearly, you could be quite correct about my actions, given my track record. You may even be right."

The gatekeeper waited quietly while the holocron was picked up and carried over. Taern followed suit, still eyeing that item with some level of dubious suspicion, despite her reassurances. At her words of gratitude, the small image shrugged a bit. "It isn't hard to find me, Sihara, though it is still hardly necessary. It was simply a return of the favor you gave to me."

At her direction, Taern sat down opposite her, looking at the small geometric object and then back up to her repeatedly. At her words, he nodded. Perhaps it would be better to understand more of what had transpired between her and the Dark Jedi and, in turn, understand more about what had happened between the man and himself.

When she spoke to the gatekeeper again, it nodded and shrugged, the holograph flickering out as it went back into a sort of stasis so that she could go about relating her story. Taern listened intently while she spoke, giving him the basis of their history together. It gave him a clearer picture of how the man had come to be what he was now...especially when linked with with what he'd heard from the HoloNet. "I've always found it hard to understand and accept the Force...but I don't understand how such coincidences in meetings could happen so otherwise." He shook his head.

The holocron flickered to life and Vex's visage came back to life. "In all honesty, it truly did not need to get to that point in the first place, Miss Horula. Despite your understandable misgivings about my sincerity, I did truly intend to allow you and the Padawan to leave unmolested. Fighting with you left her more vulnerable and, therefore, undesirable. As for how I came to save you...it's a very rare skill...but one that I've found myself quite a natural with. Perhaps you've heard of Force Resuscitation. It's something I rarely use...there's rarely something that causes me to feel strongly enough to want to use."

At that, Taern focused heavily on the gatekeeper. "Force Resuscitation? But if you can do that...why wouldn't you? You can save so many, help so much...you coul-..."

The hologram held up a hand. "Using the Force isn't a cure-all, boy. Nor should it be. Some things are incontrovertible. Some things aren't. Sihara can speak as much to that as I can. Sometimes...when you seek to fix something...you only make things worse. It is like any other tool. Improperly used, it can cause great pain...unexpected and unwanted pain on those that matter." That tone seemed almost ruefully introspective.

[Talau the Ever-Lurking]

The reappearance of the gatekeeper in response to Taern was…unexpected, and his words to her bordering on annoying. Maybe he would have left them alone, but she couldn’t have done the same. Even looking back she would have only done some things differently, mainly regarding Makiro. The tips of those lekku curled just slightly as she fought the urge to throw a shawl over the crystal. ”Yes, I have heard rumors of it, but only that…I can’t say I looked into the skill at all,” she replied simply after it had finished speaking to Taern again. ”Now if you wouldn’t mind, I’ll call you when I need you. I do remember asking for some quiet from you, Gatekeeper.”

With that she pulled the shawl that was hanging from the back of her chair. One slim hand dangled it over the crystalline device like the Sword of Damocles for a moment before dropping it with an almost satisfied little smirk once the cloth had covered the holocron fully. Turning her eyes back to Taern she smiled fully and sat back once again, seeming quite pleased. She seemed to reign in her amusement at sassing the gatekeeper and covering it, then shrugged slightly. ”Sometimes it’s the little things in life…”

”Now, Taern, you know some of the history between myself and Mr. Praetor, but I don’t yet have a good grasp on how you fit into this puzzle, or how you…became…a part of it at all. So, if you wouldn’t mind telling me about your own experience with our dear Mr. Praetor?” Honestly, she doubted that Taern’s involvement in this delivery was entirely coincidental, but she still had too few pieces of the puzzle to say one way or another. First Mr. Slade’s account of the situation, and then some questions for the holocron…hopefully by that time I’ll have a solid idea of just what is going on.

She certainly hoped so, at least.