She shakes her head, then removes her reading glasses and rubs the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache begin to make itself known. She folds up her glasses and puts them in her jacket pocket.

"So if youre not spying on me, or here to kill me, then youre here to rescue me? Kind of escaping with help?"

He nods and she shakes her head again and gets up, pacing her small cell.

"Whoa, this is deep. Do you know why the Dark Alliance even wants me? I havent done anything to them. I am of no use to them. Why even bother with me?"

He pointed at her bulging belly.

"They want your child."

He gave her a sad look.

"The control of a child born to a Jedi would be astronomical for them. The Dark Alliance is already a very strong terrorist organization. The Republic has been having trouble keeping up with them because they move around so much. They never seem to stay in one place."

He shifted in his seat.

"If they possesed a child with Force capabilities they could mold it into the leader of their forces that they have wanted. Consider it tainting your child."

He shrugged.

"They also thought they could get money out of this. But that wont happen. Corona's too thick headed."

Now very pissed off by all this, Mikuri could feel her rage building up, and her struggle to control it.

"And thats whats gonna get her killed one day. If she harms my child in any way, whether or not it is still inside me, she will die by my hands.

And if they want Damien so badly, they will have to kill me first. And that, they wont risk, not until hes born. To kill me before hes born will be to kill him, and if they want him as badly as you say they do, they wont be willing to risk it."

She paces more, her anger builiding more and more with each step.

"They dont even know if Damien possesses Force powers. Hell, neither do I or his father. He just may be a normal Daemun without any Force abilities at all. I have siblings like that, so he may have come out like that. And if he is, what will they do to him then?

Kill him?"

"Yes."

She was very pissed off by what was happening. He could see it in her eyes and the way she was acting. He felt a lot of sympathy for her. Perhaps that was why he had contacted the Republic about the situation and where they were going.

"Don't worry about them killing you. If they attempt to induce your labor I will make every move to stop them for scientific reasons. I was a doctor before so they will listen."

He stood up and looked at her.

"The Republic has been contacted about your plight and about where the Dark Alliance is headed. We should be able to get you out of here and soon."

She was starting to relax, but not much, given the situation and what was going on and going to happen.

"Good. I hope its real soon, because I sense Damien will be making his appearance not too long after, in a day or so it seems."

She stops and looks at him, her eyes narrowed in wonder.

"What is your plan for getting me outta here? And where exactly are we headed?"

"We're headed for Delta One. A planet in the unknown regions."

He looked at her.

"The republic should have an interdiction field set up well before that so they can snag us. They'll take out this ships escort and that the shields down on this one before boarding. Corona will likely get away in her rpivate ship and report back to the Dark Alliance. I will have to go with her."

He took a few steps back towards the exit.

"The Republic will probably have to assist you with labor and as such, your child will be born a Republic citizen as well as a Daemun citizen. He and you will be welcome on the Republic worlds. Your husband still isn't."

He stopped at the door.

"I must go. Be prepared for their arrival however."

"Alright. I will be."

She continues her pacing. She knew why her husband was not yet welcome, but was surprised she and Damien will be welcome.

"Thank you, Admiral."

She wets her lips and speaks again.

"How can I be sure this isnt some setup on Corona's part to get leverage or something on me?"

Then, it hits her. Corona will likely get away in her rpivate ship and report back to the Dark Alliance. I will have to go with her. he had said.

"Youre...not coming with me? To make sure I get home okay?"

"There's another lower level spy that you will meet soon enough that will go with you."

He stopped before opening the door.

"I may never see you again. I may never make it out of the Alliance alive. They may already know I am a spy. I don't know. But the Republic holds nothing aginst you or your children. They only dislike your husband. And Prince Vondiranach will personally be leading the fleet that comes for you."

He started to open the door.

"Good day, Mrs. Raktus."

He slipped from the room.

She sits down and leans forwards as much as her stomach will allow, placing her head in her hands.

That was a stupid question, Jade. Of course he cant come with you. If they dont know hes a spy yet, they will if he comes with, and then they will kill him.

But why is Prince Vondiranach coming to save me? Not that I am arguing with it. I want outta here for the sake of keeping Damien safe. But what does he have to gain by saving me? she thinks to herself silently, making sure no one can hear her thoughts.

Corona sat smiling in her command chair on the bridge. She achieved a great victory this day. The Alliance would be pleased with her capture of the pregnant Jade Raktus. They would award her the Commodore rank. Then she would be able to take a more advanced way of destroying governments.

Suddenly, the ship was yanked from hyperspace and warning Klaxons sounded. They were surrounded by a Republic fleet and they were severely outnumbered. Her ships sister ship was already a floating hulk as it had been destroyed minutes ealrier because of the distance between their jumps. She glared in horror then stood up.

"Evasive actions. Shields up. Weapons fire."

She headed out of the bridge and ran right into Mikuri.

"Admiral Mikuri you must come with me."

"What's going on Admiral Corona?"

"Republic warfleet. We've been compromised."

"I see. Where are we going?"

"My ship. We're leaving."

"What about Mrs. Raktus?"

"No time."

They went ot the hangar and boarded her ship. A few minutes later they slipped out of the hangar and headed away from the Republic ships. They jumped to hypserspace and Corona lived on to fight another day.



Kamon looked out the viewport of the command ship he was using. The floating hulk of the now dead Dark Alliance interdictor floated in front of them. The other Interdictor was firing on the war fleet that had engaged it. The shields went down and fighters took out all the weapons systems.

"Admiral Delrain you have command."

"Yes, sir."

He left and headed for the hangar where a boarding party waited for him. THe ship took off along with many others and headed for the Interdictor. They were all ready for battle and even the youngest of them new the Alliance was very deadly.



Ensign Piotr ran from his station and headed for the hangar where the first boarding party would arrive and the Prince would be waiting for him. Piotr had the cell block number that Jade Raktus was in and he knew Kamon would need it.

"Hope he doesn't get blasted on the way over."