The Sound of Silence (Rugs, Open)

[Cain]

With his collar turned up against the wind and sand, the newest Knight of the Sith Order approached what was an old, familiar sight. The Sith Temple, and Korriban itself for that matter, was every bit as uninviting as the first day he'd set foot upon it. Jack was used to it by now; the intolerable heat, the soul sucking wind and the vaccant corpses that shuffled to and fro between the Temple and the Valley of the Dark Lords. Three years was a long time, too long for Jack's taste. There was little more that he could accomplish with the Sith.

Upon entering the temple again Jack received no greeting. He moved with a barely perceptible limp, favoring his left side. The Initiates inside the Temple hurried passed in all directions, not even offering so much as a second look in his direction. Jack paused in the center of the Temple's grand entrance hall, folding his arms and observing his surroundings.

The smack of a hammar against a chisel rang off the walls. Workers crowded on a scaffolding were putting the finishing touches on a brand new pillar.

Jack couldn't hold back a smile.

The rest of the noise that filled the hall was being generated by the Initiates and Overseers. Hardly any of them spoke as they strutted past one another, no, the sound came from the surface thoughts clumsily spewed by each Sithling that scurried into Jack's range.

Imbeciles, all of them! I can't wait till they let me meet the Dark Overlord himself. I'll crush his skull! Then they'll respect me!

I hate this place. I hate the smell. I hate these people. I hate their faces. I hate the Overseers. I hate my sister. I hate myself. I hate this damned training. I hate this place.

He's cute, but not too bright. I bet just a little bit more skin would be all it'd take and he'd let his guard down...

I'm going to die here. I don't want to die! What did I do to deserve this? Why me!? I've got to escape. Somehow, I've got to get out! I'll go into the Valley tonight. I've got to get away!

Rook to A7. Pawn to C4. Queen to G8. Checkmate.

Jack focused his attention on the stream of chess movements coming from the mind of an inauspicious young initiate in muted red robes. She was moving swiftly toward the exit with her head down, her gaze fixed on her boots.

Jack shifted uncomfortably in place, leaning slightly to the left just in time to avoid having a rather heavy set Twi'lek male crash right into him. He pulled a bloodstripe from his duster as he eased back upright. Jack lit the cigarette, igniting his lightsaber with a loud snap and hum right in the middle of the busy thoroughfare.

No one flinched.

Jack's blood red blade let out a hiss, slipping back into the hilt. After a long drag Jack loosed a cloud of smoke into the crowd around him. Some of the Initates recoiled and coughed, but they seemed more confused than upset.

Jack paid them no mind. His attention was fixed squarely on the human female in the red robes. Something about her was familiar, though Jack couldn't decide where he'd seen her before. He considered following after her. The thought was fleeting. Her pace quickened as she passed beneath the arch to the temple stairs. When Jack took a step to follow, a sharp pain shot up from his rib cage. Jack's every muscle groaned in protest with even just the attempt at a hurried pursuit.

He was tired. Yawning loudly, Jack gradually reigned in his feelers through the Force. As soon as he did, Jack could feel their eyes on him again. The condescending stares of the other Sith.

Jack sighed and moved gingerly into the temple, grinding his used up cigarette butt into the base of the brand new duracrete pillar as he passed.

[Rugs]

Korriban’s arid sun, for once, found Nieraan Onin in a relatively good mood.

Perhaps it was because a few days had floated by without some disaster falling on his head—a rarity, these days, it seemed. Or perhaps it was the sparring bout he’d had earlier in the morning against an Epicanthix Knight who wielded her silver long-handled blade in a way he’d never quite seen before. That had been a tough fight — a rare pleasure for the Nieraan on the training grounds — though he’d eventually emerged the victor. Still, he’d have to track the woman down again in the future and challenger her to another round. He had a feeling she was a quick learner and quick learners made for good sparring partners.

Or perhaps it was any number of other things. But whatever the reason, he was satisfied as he strolled down the Temple’s dim corridors, jacket hanging open over a faded grey shirt and hands stuffed into his pockets. His hair was damp and he was freshly cleaned. He was sure Danica would be shocked, were she around to see.

But for now Nieraan was alone with his thoughts. They turned to the expanding war, to rumblings of looming Sith action against the Republic, though with the Empire constantly seeking to expand its footprint and hold on the Galaxy, those were never far away.

He was sure it wouldn’t be long before he was sent to do something to further aid in the effect, whether in leading battle or acting as a blade in the dark. And if it was, he had his own family matters that would surely draw him away.

No, not that, he told himself silently. The trio of sabers at his hip clanked sharply against each other as he rounded a corner. Not thinking about that today.

This particular corridor intersected with the main entrance on the way out to the training grounds. Nieraan didn’t have any particular business there, and his teaching was done for the day. But the sparring grounds were his domain, and even if he wasn’t actively involved, he liked to keep an eye on the goings on…

But those thoughts faded as he approached the intersection. He felt the presence before he saw the man attached to it, but it was one of the few that he knew well enough to pick up out of crowd of thousands, if he had to.

Nieraan grinned, showing the tips of his canines.

He merged into the wide entrance corridor, moving quietly, though he had no doubt his target knew he was there. As he neared Jack, he threw out a friendly punch to the shoulder and fell in beside him.

“Well, if it ain’t Makura, the newest Knight,” he said, flashing a grin. “Though I guess I’ll have to call you Jack know, since everyone else’ll be callin’ you Makura, eh?” He folded his arms over his chest, regarding the Knight from the corner of a yellow eye. “So how the hell have you been? Thought you mighta run off with that bottle of whiskey after the gala on Ziost.”

[Cain]

The shot in the arm stirred Jack from his mental tunnel-vision. He tilted his head over slightly, lowering an exasperated eye to his own shoulder. Of course Jack knew who was resposible. He didn't even need to glance in the Firrerreo's direction. Nieraan had launched into answering his own questions before Jack could even finish brushing off the sleeve of his duster. He was only able to catch the end of the other Sith's questioning.

“So how the hell have you been? Thought you mighta run off with that bottle of whiskey after the gala on Ziost.”

Jack glanced back toward the exit, still pondering where exactly he'd seen the girl in the red robes, "I've been keeping my mind occupied," he answered dryly, "And what of you?" Jack asked, finally turning his sleepy gaze to Nieraan, "Still have your day job teaching Sith Sunday school?" Jack laughed, or, what for Jack constituted a laugh. More of a self-satisfied snicker behind curled lips.

"It must be rewarding work," Jack mused, surveying the stragling Sith Initiates buzzing around the two of them, "molding the eager young minds of the Sith Order. Murderers, sadists, rapists... and whatever the hell that Honog creature's excuse was. Heroes, all..."

Jack's train of thought trailed off as he stretched out with the Force once more. After a long pause he straightened up, wearing a far more sedate expression. "They're all on borrowed time," Jack muttered, half to himself, "It would be a pity for you to waste any more of yours, Nieraan. Tell me, how long has it been since you've visited the Core?"

[Rugs]

Jack's response was about what Nieraan had come to expect from his years of knowing the fellow. Annoyed, exasperated. Jack. But he wasn't surprised at the little quip back - and Jack's smug snicker was almost more amusing than his words.

"Keeps me busy," he said, shrugging. "And you say that like we're morally-outstanding people ourselves... Jack." The name felt strange on his tongue. Habit demanded he call Jack 'Makura,' as he always had, yet personally-held tradition pushed him against the grain.

"Murder, torture, arson, kidnapping, any countless other things, given our backgrounds." Nieraan was vaguely aware Jack had some criminal roots, though he didn't know much beyond that. Whatever it was, there was a tenuous, at least, similarity in their backgrounds, as there were with most Sith, if someone bothered to look hard enough. "Just different ways to reach an end. And I don't need them to be heroes. I need them to kill or tie the enemy up long enough for someone who can. Someone's gotta hold the front lines for fragile people like you to do your thing, you know."

Nieraan glanced at the Initiates around them. Jack was right, in a sense. Many of them would be dead before the war's end. But Nieraan couldn't spare sympathy for that fact - life was a brutal thing. The weak would fall by the wayside, and the strong would continue on. It was no different than nature.

"You imply that I've been wasting mine," Nieraan said, slightly arching a brow. Regardless of Jack's approval, he'd carved himself out a nice position of power within the Sith Order. Training students was simply the first step that led to his current position, and something that allowed him to keep his skills sharp in between battles, missions or other business that pulled him from Korriban's arid face.

And with matters in his personal life changing so rapidly, well, he'd certainly been busy. "But it's been some time." He folded his arms across his chest and turned his eyes upward as he thought. He rarely had business in the Core, though Danica's continued business efforts and Cassius' meddling would surely change that. "Not since that trip to Metellos anyway."

Nieraan looked at Jack from the corner of his eye. "Why?"

[Cain]

Jack smiled as Nieraan rattled off their combined rap sheet. There was no denying it; Jack was every bit the amoral, cold blooded murdering bastard that the vast majority of the Sith around him were. The difference? Well, as Nieraan continiued, it was the 'end'. Jack always had a clear picture of what the end was, and it had nothing to do with Korriban, or the ridiculous society of the Sith. He couldn't help but wonder if Nieraan felt the same. Onin had become comfortable on Korriban; a pseudo-Sith family and a day job at the academy.

Someone's gotta hold the front lines for fragile people like you to do your thing, you know.

Jack nodded, "Indeed."

"You imply that I've been wasting mine."

"I apologize if I implied that, I should have been clearer," Jack stopped, turning to face Nieraan. "You're wasting your time, old friend." Jack hesitated a moment, waiting until his reach with the Force had extended across the entire room before continuing.

"I won't pretend as if I care about the outcome of this war with the Republic. As you said, the Sith are just a way to reach an end. The real question is, what is that end? I've listened to all the voices of this academy, and one thing I can say with certainty is that there are very few with a shared idea of what this 'end' should be."

Jack's eyes scanned the crowd, the Initiates flowing past he and Nieraan, oblvious to their presence. "Not that it matters. The Sith have always climbed over top of one another, using the Order as a means of personal glory. There is nothing wrong with this, so long as we all understand that it is happening."

A chuckle interupted Jack's monologue. His gaze returned to Nieraan, "but we don't all understand, do we? Iniquitous is building his Empire on a foundation of murders, torturers, arsons, kidnapers.. Honogs... if only he'd take off that mask so I could see the look on his face." Jack paused as if collecting himself from his musings, "Korriban is a waste of time," he said, returning to the point of the matter. "Do you not see this?"

[Rugs]

Jack continued on, stating plainly that he believed Nieraan had, in fact, been wasting his time. The Firrerreo snorted softly and folded his arms over his chest. Still, despite his inclination to disagree, he listened to Jack as his friend spoke broadly about the Sith and their nature and end goals.

It was all well and good, and Nieraan understood what Jack was saying, even if he was waxing a bit too philosophical for the Firrerreo’s taste.

“Listen, Jack,” Nieraan said, glancing at his old friend as he himself leaned against a rough sandstone pillar. “You know me. I’m a man for action, not talk. What you say is fine and dandy and all, but what are you going to do?

“First time I met you, you electrocuted some bloke and tore down a pillar.” Nieraan motioned back down the way they’d come, to where the construction crew was putting the finishing touches the pillar to replace the one that’d been broken that day when they, two upstart Initiates, had called Iniquitous himself from his hidden depths within the Temple. “Just because you could.

“See you again on Metellos a while later and you talk of some plan, some idea to make something happen,” Nieraan hesitated, eyeing a knot of five or so Initiates that went hurrying past. Worry radiated from one of them, in the middle of the group, while white-hot fury steamed from the others. He lifted a brow, but paid little mind to them otherwise. “A few other things have happened since—Thila, the gala… all of that. But then, you vanish.

“And,” he went on, shrugging lazily, “in the time since, I carve out a place for myself that almost no one in the Galaxy can challenge. I do not care about this war, not in the way some of these Sith,” he motioned at the crowd, “do. But I’ve profited from it.”

Nieraan paused for a long moment, weighing Jack silently as he considered his next words. Things had changed in the time since they’d drifted along their separate ways. Some had not. They were both stronger now, and Nieraan didn’t doubt Jack’s ambition.

“Then you show back up again, like rain out of a clear blue sky,” he continued, mouth twisting wryly. “And come back with more talk. Talk’s fine for a time, Jack, but what are you going to do?”

Nieraan stood suddenly from the pillar with a laugh, running a hand through his jet black and blue hair. “Besides, you should know by now that philosophy bores me to tears.”

[Cain]

What are you going to do?

Nieraan repeated the question. Jack nodded slowly. It was as Jack had suspected... or feared perhaps. Nieraan had grown comfortable. Jack considered his options for a moment. Did he really care if Nieraan stayed on Korriban with the rest of the Sith? Or, more to the point, would he still have a need for Nieraan where he was going?

"You always were a man of action," Jack responded finally. "That's probably what made you useful. You were going to be my enforcer. My sword arm. A sword doesn't ask why, a sword just kills. I could tell you what I plan to do, but that would just be more talk."

Jack stopped to reign in the Force once more while pulling another Bloodstripe from his jacket. He studied Nieraan's reaction to his words, drawing his lightsaber again, this time in plain view of the Sith around them and lit up. Activating his weapon drew some nasty glances from the other Initiates. Jack pretended not to notice, flicking the ashes from the end of his cigarette and blowing smoke into the air.

"You want me to show you what I plan to do?" Jack sucked in another breath of smoke, giving his lightsaber a spin before re-sheathing it. "Very well. I suppose this means you have a couple of choices at this point. You may observe what it is I will do here from Korriban, or you can come with me to Coruscant and see for yourself." Jack gave Nieraan something between a nod and a slight bow, "A pleasure, as always, old friend."

Jack stuck his Bloodstripe back on his lip and turned sharply toward the exit. Honestly, he wasn't sure how Nieraan would react. The old Nieraan would have followed him on any crazy errand, especially one as seemingly illconceived as a trip to the Republic capital. That was before. The Firrerreo was no longer a sure thing. The only reason to follow Jack at this point was morbid curiosity. Either way, Nieraan or no, Jack's path would lead him to Coruscant. There was just one more loose end to tie up before that.

[Rugs]

”You were going to be my enforcer. My sword arm. A sword doesn't ask why, a sword just kills. I could tell you what I plan to do, but that would just be more talk."

Nieraan’s brow furrowed. The almost jovial, friendly air he’d taken up vanished as his jaw tightened. So that’s how it is, eh, is it, Jack?

In truth, Nieraan didn’t mind being the muscle, as it were, of the duo. He was a brawler. Jack was not. Their individual strengths largely offset the other’s weaknesses, and that made them an incredibly potent team, when they worked together.

But if Jack’s assessment was what he thought Nieraan’s role was—that of the unthinking brute, he was sorely mistaken.

Still, Nieraan reined in his temper as his friend spoke, but he did not douse it. He knew Jack could thrive on ticking people off, but he didn't care. He might help Jack on whatever fool’s errand he was going to go running off on, but first the record needed to be set straight.

Jack said his goodbye and turned to leave. Nieraan stuck a hand out to grab the back of his friend's retreating jacket and dragged him back. It wasn’t particularly hard to do, given his advantage in size and strength. “Look, friend,” he allowed agitation to stress the word as he turned Jack around to face him, “if you want my help, you’re going to give me more than ‘Oh, Nieraan, you used to be so cool, but now you’re lame.'”

Nieraan relinquished his grip on Jack with a snort. “Especially if you’re going to Coruscant, so I can figure out how prepared I need to be to break your scrawny ass outta prison once this plan of yours backfires.

“Or if you want an unthinking sword, you can take one of them,” he motioned at on general flock of Initiates around them, “and we’ll all think of some nice things to say about you at your funeral.” He motioned for Jack to go on the direction he’d started on before Nieraan grabbed him, but intended to follow along. “That choice of what you want is up to you, friend, but if you want a moron to help you, you’ll have to take on this… errand alone or with someone else. And without the Nyoka..” Nieraan doubted Jack cared much about the latter, but he was fond of the ship they’d commandeered. He was also certain Jack’s at least basic desire for self-preservation would prevent the former from happening.

“Now, you’re obviously set on going to Coruscant,” Nieraan went on, voice lowered as he stuffed his hands in his coat pocket. “Ballsy, even for you. Why?”

[Cain]

Jack had hardly turned to leave when he felt the tug on his jacket, spinning him back around. He didn't need to hear what Nieraan would say. Jack knew what the answer would be.

"...if you want an unthinking sword, you can take one of them,and we’ll all think of some nice things to say about you at your funeral. That choice of what you want is up to you, friend, but if you want a moron to help you, you’ll have to take on this… errand alone or with someone else. And without the Nyoka..”

Jack anticipated that his taunts might sway Nieraan, but he still found himself a bit surprised by the passion it had stirred in the Firrerreo. "Why, Lord Aurelius, you don't like the idea of being my sword?" Jack began, tilting his head to the side and contorting his face to force a pout, "What's the matter? Insulted?

"You surprise me. Most Sith make lying to one another an artform, but I'd assumed we had no need for such false pleasantries, you and I. I apologize if it comes as a blow to you, to find that I've not sought you out for your good looks and critical thinking skills. Should your ego need fluffing I would suggest you continue as you have, with them." Jack swept his arm out, mimicking Nieraan's motion toward the rest of the initiates.

"You know what this is." Jack said, waving his index finger between Nieraan and himself.

Jack's voice lowered, "As for Coruscant..." he paused, glancing over his shoulder, acutely aware of the other Sith around them, "this is not the place to discuss such things. If you're coming with me, I will tell you more once we're offworld."

Jack took a step backwards, this time motioning for Nieraan to go first rather than leaving him behind.

[Rugs]

(Happy bday <3)

Nieraan’s lips pressed to a thin line as Jack mocked his reaction. It was fine, the Firrerreo decided. Let Jack say what he would. He wouldn’t waste his breath arguing back for the respect he felt he deserved.

Because eventually, Jack would need someone to stop a bullet for him. My ego isn’t the one that needs addressing, he thought, shaking his head with a silent roll of the eyes. But better luck telling a spice addict to change his ways in favor of chocolate candies than telling a Sith their ego was out of check.

Though he supposed he was no different, at times.

“Oh yes,” Nieraan muttered, shouldering past Jack, “I know quite clearly.” He paused, glancing at Jack from a yellowed eye. Words, a reminder to Jack formed on the tip of his tongue, but he changed his mind, words unspoken.

They began to move and Jack spoke, voice hushed as Nieraan’s had been, against the prying ears of their fellow Sith. “Understandable enough,” Nieraan muttered. “I can meet you on the Nyoka, unless you’d rather meet at some other location” The words carried the implication of another world. “Though I can’t imagine you’ll go rushing directly off to the capital from here, anyway, so that shouldn’t be a problem.”

Nieraan glanced at Jack again, his irritation fading, but not forgotten. “Assuming, however, one stop leads to another, I have some things I need to gather before departing. When and where shall I meet you?”

[Cain]

Jack nodded, still facing forward even after Nieraan had shouldered past and behind him, "The Nyoka will do fine," he answered, adjusting his collar, "I'll meet you onboard at dusk. I have a few things to gather myself before we leave."

Jack moved toward the exit, neither waiting nor glancing back to make certain his conditions were fine with Nieraan. In his head Jack had already moved on and out the door, as always his thoughts moved faster than his feet. In this particular instance it was the initiate in the dusty red robes that perturbed him. The Force had tried to tell Jack something, though he couldn't be sure if this was an opportunity or a warning. In either case, he was determined to follow it.

Beyond the arch and grand staircase that led to the Sith Temple was the Valley of the Dark Lords. It was just after midday and Horuset hung high over the valley, baking its surface. Jack scowled and wiped the sweat from his brow. Despite the heat he still wore his duster, collar up. Favoring his left side, Jack hobbled across the sand between the towering stone colossi that flanked the tombs of the ancient Sith.

Within the valley itself, under the oppressive heat of Korriban's star, several groups of initiates trained. The overseers were fond of scheduling PT for their students at midday as a form of punishment, and indeed the sessions were grueling. The initiates drilling with their practice sabers in the sun struggled to muster the strength to strike their opponents while their masters observe and shout obsenities at them from the shade. Some managed, some did not. Jack stepped over more than a few lifeless bodies on the path to his destination.

Standing hunched over before the entrance to the tomb of Tulak Hord was an elderly overseer, so decrepit she might have even crawled up out of one of the graves. Her vulture like posture straightened upon the sight of Jack approaching.

"My Lord, Makura," she said through a false smile, "to what do we owe the pleasure? Inspecting the troops?"

"Something like that," Jack muttered, "and don't call me Lord Makura."

"Of course, my Lord, whatever you say."

Jack let out an audible groan, gnashing his teeth in an effort to resist snapping the old mummy's neck. The sound of her initiates emerging from the tomb stopped him. The first to step into the light was a well preportioned young human female in revealing black robes which were strategically cut to show off her midriff and cleavage. Her skin had been tanned, contrasting her silver blond curls. She was completely spotless without a speck of dust on her, unlike the initiates who followed after. One of the last two was a figure familiar to Jack, the girl in the red robes. She was helping the final initiate, a heavily beaten and bruised Twi'lek male, out of the tomb. Her fire red hair had been tied back into a ponytail and her icy blue eyes stared daggers into the back of the voluptuous iniate in front of her.

"Hey! I'm not through with you yet!" The girl in red shouted, setting the Twi'lek down against a rock.

"Ariana, seriously?" The blond groaned. "Are you and that gross boyfriend of yours still alive?" She placed a hand on her hip and whipped her head back around to glare over her shoulder at the comparitively frumpy girl behind her. Ariana was covered in a thin layer of dirt and dust from head to toe.

"No thanks to you!," Ariana snapped back, "You nearly got us both killed in there, Suura!"

"Uh, yeah," Suura said, rolling her eyes, "That was kinda my plan."

"Silence!" the old overseer hissed, "Were you able to kill the Tuk'ata mother?"

"Hmph! Of course," Suura giggled, "and I would have done it way faster if worm-head here hadn't gone and hurt his leg."

"You stabbed him in the leg and left him for the Tuk'ata! I barely was able to pull him out of there with all his limbs!"

Suura shrugged, "You're the one that insisted on dragging him through that whole damn tomb. Disgusting aliens and their fugly girlfriends aren't my problem."

"I'm about to make it your problem," Ariana said, stepping forward.

"Enough!" The Overseer shouted, "Fall in line. You're all in the presence of a Sith Lord."

Jack sighed and shook his head, "I'm not-"

"This is Lord Makura. He has graced you vermin with the unfathomable generosity of considering to train you as his apprentice."

Suura perked up, leaning forward and squeezing her arms in toward her body, "Hi~ I'm Suura. It's a pleasure to meet you!" 

Jack grunted, walking past Suura toward the girl in red who was helping her Twi'lek friend back to his feet. "You." Jack said.

Ariana froze like a kath hound caught in headlights, "Me?"

"Show some respect!" The Overseer corrected, "You are addressing a real Sith, something a filthy rodent like you will never be!"

Jack frowned sharply at the sound of the Overseer's voice. He ignored her and continued. "What's your name?"

"Ariana Quick."

Jack paused a moment, inspecting the initiate. She was dirty, loud, and had already displayed weakness in fawning over the clearly inferior Twi'lek initiate. Still, Jack couldn't shake the feeling that this was what the Force intended.

"Return to the temple and pack your things. You're coming with me."

"Whaaaat!?" Suura exclaimed, "That flat freakshow!?"

"My Lord," the Overseer interjected, placing a bony hand on Jack's shoulder, "This one isn't ready. She'd make better food for the beasts in the tombs than an apprentice. Surely you'd rather have a look at some other, more seasoned candidates before making a decision."

Jack flashed an angry eye at the hand on his shoulder, then up at the old woman. "I want this one," he said with a restrained calm, "and if you call me Lord or touch me again, I'll hang you from the ceiling of the public refresher by your innards."

The old Overseer's jaw dropped and she quickly drew back her hand.

Jack glanced back at Ariana. "Don't be late."

[Rugs]

[Shoooort transition post whoo]

Nieraan looked down at Korriban from aboard the Nyoka. He sat at the edge of the ship’s main gathering area, on a raised, circular walkway that surrounded the main floor. It formed a neat ring around the central holographic projector, which, for the moment, displayed a giant, detailed image of the dusty world below, with Dreshdae and the Sith Temple markled as little blips of interest.

He leaned back further in his chair, with no real concern about overextending the repulsors as he propped his foot lazily up near one of the broad, rectangular viewports. They were open now, offering a sweeping view of the space beyond, but would close, covered in armored panels if conflict arose.

And where is Makura? he mulled, growing bored of waiting. He’d not been on the Nyoka long. True to his word, he’d stopped by his quarters to pick up some of his equipment. He’d stopped by Danica’s living space as well, but she was gone, likely off carousing with Renata as she enjoyed doing. He left her a note instead, just saying that he’d be gone. It lacked in details, but she understood, by this point, that sometimes he could not say where he was going — especially with the threat of someone snooping around her room. Still, he’d keep contact with her as best he could. If he could.

“Aurellius, a shuttle is approaching,” one of the crew members said over the ship’s speakers. Her name escaped Nieraan, but she was trustworthy. Their entire small crew was — both he and Jack had made certain of that fact. The map shifted, rotating Korriban and enlarging the planet as it zoomed in on the Nyoka’s little speck of space. A blue blip arced steadily from the surface to the ship.

“Make sure it’s him, and let ‘im aboard,” Nieraan said casually.

“Bout time we got this thing going.”