Asri could only stare at the unconscious Trazu in disbelief. No one had told her he was a runt and with this new knowledge she felt a since of kinship with him: he had no doubt been teased about his size throughout his life. Now she noticed the clothing he wore and knew what they meant. You went to the Dark side... She thought, worried. But as yourself or the spirit? Right now she knew it didn't matter, however the question of whether like her former masters will come looking for him will be in question.

"Asri..." She heard Silliss say, catching her attention. Beside him she saw Lavality, who looked a lot worse for wear then she did when she saw her last. "You did it....but, how did you know where it was?"

"I did some brain storming with Sha'tor Rissonik after you guys took off." She replied as she gently lifted Trazu up in his arms. She felt pain flare up all across her back due to the burns, but she ignored it. "We figured out that Hyossk was the most likely one to have taken the skull."

"Thank the gods you were right...." Silliss said, nodding with approval.

"Catch me..." A faint voice said suddenly. Silliss looked at Lavality to see her falling: he quickly caught her.

"We need to get her to medical...." Sillis said, picking her up.

"You're not the only one...." Asri said with a wince as another shot of pain hit her.

"Ok...just don't fall out as well alright? I can't carry all three of you...."

They met up with the medical team outside, Silliss handing Lavality over to them as he gave them an account of what happened. He also asked them to send word back to the Clan grounds about what happened, though he guessed Varcanna, due to her bond with her bother, already knew the outcome. Asri refused medical service, saying her injuries weren't serious enough to be treated right then. They did accept a ride back to the grounds through.

Silliss had been right about Varcanna, who was found pacing by the ruined gate waiting for their return. For once she didn't scowl at Asri as she took her brother from the albino's arms, her joy overcoming her hatred. By then Naosha had returned to the grounds as well and the whole family had surrounded Trazu, hugging him and holding him close, nevermind the fact he was still unconscious.

The initial outporing of affection was over as quickly as it started and Varcanna spirited Trazu away to the medical faculity to all him to awaken at his own pace. Asri watched it all with a sense of envy, wishing her family had been that supportive and loving toward her. Then her own injuries finally overwhelmed her and she collapsed, the cyborg Tiskus catching her as she fell. She too was then taken to the medical faculity.

"How are they?" Rissonik asked a couple hours later.

"Your son is still slumbering, with no indication of how long he will do so." The medic said. "We have made preparations to provide substance to him should his slumber become...excessive."

"I fear it may become excessive..." Rissonik said with a sigh. "He would sleep for hours after a controlled take over, which normally lasted not even an hour. Who knows how long..."

"As I said, we are prepared to keep him going and healthy for as long as necessary." The medic assured him.

"Good. And Asri?"

"She's been badly burned all along her dorsal side." The medic said. "Thankfully the worse is only 2nd degree. We have her in the bacta tank now and full recovery should be quick."

"She's a resilient one...that girl."

"Indeed she is Sha'tor, but we have found that her resilience is not completely...natural."

"How do you mean?"

In response the medic handed him a datapad. Rissonik's eyes widened in surprise when he read it. That explains a lot..... He thought as he handed the pad back to the medic.

"Quite amusing if you ask me..." The medic said idly. "If we could..."

"You will do nothing of the sort." Rissonik said sternly.

"But...sir."

"She now doubt had her reasons for not telling us about this before...if she even knew about it herself. It would be inapproprate to start expermenting with such technology without her knowledge. Therefore, unless I find out otherwise from Asri herself you are to forget you even saw this...understand?"

"A...aye Sha'tor."

Later that day there was a party celebrating the Trazu's freedom and the perminant banishment of the K'Satizitus. Such a joyous occassion it was they even invited those of the Sarevidivus Fleet to attend if they could, though the only one that truely would have understood what the party was for was in medic bay herself.

Even though they were missing the two most important individuals during the celebration: Asri and Trazu himself, it didn't dampen the mood of the party and for the first time members of the Clan truely relaxed and let go.

It was the end of an era for the Clan, one that had a powerful and dangerous spirit barely under it's control.

And the true beginning of a new era for the Trandoshan race itself.

Outside the clan grounds

Tzhali and his troops where still all aboard the shuttle's, the medical shuttle had already headed back to the medical frigate in orbit..

"When that fleet has an admiral down, they really don't want anyone to get near them," he noted as he saw more ship's come out of hyper-space and take up position's near the medical frigate.

"Sir, where receiving a message from the frigate." The shuttle comm officer said

He nodded. "Let me hear it"

~Commander... err... Tzhali.. sorry... the medic's here wanted me to inform you of Lavality's condition~

"How bad?"

He heard a sigh in the background.~Her injury's are extensive, I don't even understand how she can still be ALIVE....~

Tzhali just stared at the view screen

~She's got 2nd degree, 3rd degree and 1st degree burn's on different part's of her body, her left lung collasped some time before that Trandoshan handed her over. Her right lung is also in bad shape, her left kidney need's to be transplated and she need's surgury on her rib cage, 3 rib's where broken. Her left arm is pretty much gone, we'll have to replace it with a mechnical one. Her right arm will require some surgury to remove some debris that got itself lougged into the bone~, the comm officer on the other end stopped to catch his breath, he had said that all in one breath and was pretty much tired

He rubbed the back of his head. "Damn... your right.. she should be dead.. why isn't she..?"

~I have reason to believe it might be something... unnarual?~

Tzhali finally understood what Lavality meant when he caught her and her father one night several months before. "The Force..."

~It's small.. but I can't help but feel it's keeping her alive~

"Then she'll want to check with the Academy sometime after she wake's up," Tzhali said. "How long will it take?"

~We've already completed Surgury on her rib's, but everything else will take at least a few days~

He looked over his shoulder and back at the clan ground's, he wanted to inform them of her condition, seeing how she lended her assisstence, but he felt he wasn't the right person to inform them. He then looked back toward his shuttle and noticed a Trandoshan who was waiting, a sword in one hand and a blaster in the other. "Maskis"

The Trandoshan, a medium build and muscilen one, looked over at him. "Yes Captain?" he was his translator for the Trandoshan race, one of only a few who could understand his language and speak it

"If possible," He heard the sound's of some party going on inside. "I want to leave you planetside and wait for them to settle down a bit, don't ruin there fun, but-" he handed Maskis a datapad, detailing all of Lavality's injurys and the procedure's required to get her back into good health. "Give this to either Rissonik, Asri, Tiskus, or Naoshan.. but to no one else"

"Of course Captain," Maskis bowed and waited, he then watched as Tzhali boarded the shuttle and the shuttle took off, closely followed by a pair of X, B, and Y-Wing's. He then turned back toward the gate's, which where a little out of place thanks to Lavality's entrance a few hour's before, he could see the wreakage to the side, but then noticed something protruding from the ground, it looked like a jedi weapon.. but he had never seen one. "Maybe they'll know what this is," he put the weapon into his sachel and walked up to the guard, he honestly didn't know what to say, she he's been in the service of the Serendevis Fleet for most of his life, and this had been his first time back to Trandosha

He looked at the guard. "I'm not to good at these things." He said at himself, "If possible, I've like to know if I can possibly wait somewhere to speak with your leader," Maskis wondered if that was the correct thing to say

The guard, a seasoned K'Satikur warrior, looked him over, a questioning looking in his eyes. Even though he had just watched him speak with Tzhali and was obviously an ally, the warrior couldn't help but be a little suspicious. "Leave your weapons here and you may join the feistivities while you wait." The warrior finally said. "If it's an urgent matter, I believe the Sha'tor is currently in the medical faculity watching over his son."

Just then a Keshir approached the warrior, a small goblet in his claws. "Sir." He said. "Here is your share of the ashes of the fallen."

"Ah....Nasis and Ranik...may your spirits be welcomed by the Scorekeeper with open arms." The warrior took the goblet and then drained it's contents with a single gulp. "The memories of your great deeds will always live within me." Maskis looked a bit disgusted.

"You seem to have been away from home for far too long to look upon such ritual with disgust friend." The warrior remarked with a smirk, the small amount of alochol in the drink the ashes had been mixed it giving him a pleasent buzz, but not enough to impair his senses. "The ashes of the honorable warriors that have fallen in battle have always been consumed by the warriors and kin that remain behind. What better way to remember them then by forever carrying a part of them within you?" He explained. "These ashes were of the two K'Satikur that died attempting to protect Admiral Lavality from the K'Satizitus. Their sacrifice enabled Lavality to delay the spirit long enough for Lady Asri to destroy the anchor that kept the spirit locked within the Sha'tor's son. For them....no greater honor can possibly be given...."

****

Varcanna stood in the room, staring at the bacta tank Asri was currently floating in, conflicting emotions swirling in her head. The Akisi looked so helpless and vulnrable right now and she was tempted to tamper with the device so that great harm, if not death, would come to her.

Yet she freed Trazu... A thought invaded her head, knocking away her thoughts of killing the hated female.

Then she remembered how the kids, her nieces and nephew, practically flocked to this creature when she was first welcomed into the Clan. They all but had abandoned her as their guardian, their 'mother', replacing her with this freak. What does she have that I don't? She thought, a low growl eminating from her throat. She's not even related to them and still..... The thoughts of murder again started to fill her mind.

She returned Trazu to you. That throught reminded her, again banishing her thoughts of ill will toward the ablino female.

Other things of what good Asri had done for the Clan started invading her head. How she warned Rissonik of the Soverinty being under Hyossk's command. Helped Lavality fight off a trio of Bounty Hunters that had them pinned in the Council of Elder's building. Found and rescued Kysh and his sister. Slew Besk.

Besk.... She remembered that male, how he nearly blew her out of space a few months back. She had wanted to get that bastard back, but Asri took that from her. It amazed her still how she managed it. The fact Besk was Asri's father was even more so, for Varcanna knew Besk wouldn't have allowed an Akisi to live in a clutch he sired. Unbelieviable actually, which meant she had to be either lying about her parentage or...

She wasn't white to start with... She thought, rememberign how Asri kept claiming that very thing. But other then diesase, which was evident she didn't have, why would she turn white?

Everything these days was telling her not to hate her, but she remembered in school how it was grinded into her mind that they were evil and should be killed. Granted what the schools taught she found to not always to be reliable: she quickly learned the truth about the Wookiees, how they were just concerned about their planet and any action taken against the Trandoshans were just to defend themselves and their homeworld. That and other things, like how evil the Empire truly was, were discounted by what her mother told her and her own experiences in life. Everything was either proved to be true or not, save for the belief about Akisi.

Until now. Hense Varcanna's confusion.

What am I to believe? She thought, still staring up at Asri's floating form. What I've been taught as a youth or what I have been told by 'witnesses' as an adult?

Unable to decide, she shook her head and left the room to rejoin the fesitivies.

Maskia stared at the warrior. "I see." he said and then looked the other way. "I wasn't born on Trandosha, I was born in space on a Serendevis Fleet Colony," he then smiled, although slightly. "But our academy's did teach us much of our homeworld's," he opened his his cloak and placed several weapons on the table

A blaster, sword, pistol, another blaster, another pistol, a small knife, and then.... "I think I'll hold on to this, I need to ask someone in there if they can tell me who this belong's to," he held up the jedi weapon, although he truely didn't know it was that seeing how he's never seen a jedi before. Maskis took one look over his shoulder, "I wonder if my family ever made it to Trandosha..." he said and then walked into the building

He could hear it now, the festivity's that is, and looked around. He wanted to ask there clan leader first what the weapon was, but also give him the report on Lavality's condition. And it didn't take him long to find him, in the medical facility like the guard had said

Maskis didn't enter when he saw the trandoshan, he felt it would be rude to walk in unannouced, and beside's, he wasn't apart of there clan and thus could be seen as a threat and killed right off the bat, despite him being apart of the fleet, he already knew what happened to Lavality's former guardian, who was really a bounty hunter in disguise

...

"Sir, unknown hyper space signature approuching off the port bow," the sensor operator said as she tried to figure out who it was

Tzhali had just walked onto the bridge when three ship's came out of hyper space, along with a few x-wing's, the main ship was a YT-2400

"Now there's a sight I never thought I'd see," An officer on the bridge said. "It's marking match that of a smuggling ship used by the fleet"

Tzhali's eye brow rose at that comment. "Smuggling?"

"You really think where all innocent? The fleet has it's own operations, they smuggle people off of contested world's, and also smuggle in food and medical supply's to world's under illegal blockade.. blockade's that don't make sense, like blockading a world with NO military for example," the officer said. "This one here, according to the database, is a medical supply runner from the medical asteroid"

"I thought that asteroid was blown up?" Said Tzhali, who was now taking his seat

The officer nodded. "We have two, the other's located a little further away then this one, while the one that was blown up was more heavily defended. The second one is located in a nebula that seem's to scramble all sensor's, making it so that people can't find the asteroid, in fact, I've often seen ships fly right on PAST the asteroid and not even," the officer stopped to catch his breath. "But it's odd"

"What?"

"What's a VT-2400 doing out here?" The officer asked

...

Maskis continued to wait, although something was bothering him, he felt like the clan was still in danger somehow but he just couldn't put his finger on what was nagging at him so much

Rissonik was sitting by Trazu's bed, watching his son's slow, rythmic breathing as he slept. He and Naosha had been taking turns watching over him, wanting to ensure the face of a family member was the first thing he saw when he awakened, if he ever awakened.

The doctors has assured him it was really just a sleep like state his son was in, not a full blown coma, but still Rissonik worried. From what Silliss described, Trazu's annoucement of his freedom seemed so full of relief that there was a chance Trazu may be content to allow himself to join the ancestors. Since he had been 'missing' for nearly three years who knows what he may have done, especially as a Dark Jedi. How did he feel about the evil deeds he had no doubt committed while under the influence of the spirit? He certainly had time to think about it while the spirit had control over his body and if the old Trazu they knew resurfaced during that time he no doubt had a lot of regrets and it was those regrets that made Rissonik worried.

Quilt wasn't something he ever handled well.... Rissonik reminded himself, hoping that his quilt wouldn't be so overwhelming they would lose him again: this time permenantly. He knew Trazu will need a lot of support from this family to get through the emotional turmoil that was sure to follow when he awakened and this time they weren't going to let him run away from it.

He also knew that criminal charges will no doubt be brought against him for whatever crimes he committed while a Dark Jedi and during the period the spirit had full control. The tricky part will be convincing the investigators that Trazu's actions hadn't been completely of his own free will, thus couldn't really be held to blame. Of course...that depended on said investigators beliefs in the supernatural: many Trandoshans, for instance, even believed in the Force.

Rissonik wasn't sure what made him aware of Maskis waiting outside, but something prompted him to look his way. At first he felt angry: who would disturb him during an obvious personal matter? But his anger lessened significately when he spotted the symbols of the Sarendivus Fleet on his clothing, realizing it had to be something of importance. With one last glance at his son, he rose from his seat and left the room. The lad had to have been thinking about something, as he jumped when Rissonik spoke.

"What is it? Word from the Fleet?" He asked.

Maskis jumped at the sudden sight, he stared at the Trandoshan almost forgetting his own manners, he bowed. “Forgive me for interrupting,” he said

He handed the trandoshan a report from the fleet, detailing Lavality’s own injuries, but also detailing what the command structure had chosen for her: That she was to head to the Jedi Order where they believe she should live out the rest of her childhood, away from the blood shed, away from the wars, and she would be safer because a Bounty Hunter wouldn’t dare trespass on sacred ground, not without very good reason: or so he hoped

Maskis didn’t look at the trandoshan laying on the bed, he already had a feeling he knew who it was, and despite the injuries that that trandoshan dealt to his commanding officer, he had already been told that it wasn’t of his own free will, which is why his anger was more pointed toward another direction, perhaps his family for letting it happen? Or maybe something else.. either way he didn’t have the guts to actually say it out loud, he was, after all, a messenger from the fleet and the fleet and the trandoshan’s have been getting along just fine without his antic’s

…

“A YT-2400…..” Tzhali said and stared at the ship, the X-wing’s hovered near it, but he could tell it’s pilots where ready to fire on a moments notice

~This is YT-2400, Resonance, to wookiee fleet~

Hmmm? Tzhali muzzed at the words, so they knew who he was.. now what would they do?

~We have medical supplies for the medical frigate, we where told they needed them for a certain patient~

He nodded and just made a gesture; the transport toward slightly away from the three republic destroyer’s then headed toward the medical frigate. But that other officer still wore that worried look

“What’s wrong?” Tzhali asked

She tapped her finger on the console. “A ‘certain’ patient? How do they know that Lavality is on that medical frigate?”

Tzhali brought his claw up to his face, then thought about it. She had a point, NO ONE in the fleet had even gotten WORD of this except for the brass and the military, and not even those on the medical frigate knew she was the Admiral of the fleet, primarily because she never wore anything to ID her as such a person, but that began to worry him. “Hail that transport”

An officer nodded and did just that, but got no response, instead the transport sped up, it’s escort’s moving away and actually on an intercept course: for the frigate’s own escorts

“Sir!” Yelled an officer

Tzhali nodded. “I know, damn, ANOTHER bounty hunter?! This is getting REAL REAL REAL OLD!” he yelled but his own ships where to far away

He watched as the transport came toward the frigate, but suddenly stopped. It was as if something unknown force had stopped it in mid space, but in fact, it was a few well placed Ion Blast’s by the frigate’s B-wing escort’s that had taken it out. For a second it just floated there, then suddenly it exploded, still to far to do any real damage to frigate, but close to it’s own escort’s to take them out

…

Maskis waited, before finally speaking up. “I’m sure you’ve read what the brass decided for our commander, Lavality, what they would like to know is if the clan has any plan’s to have any of there warriors head to the Order anytime soon, and if so, if Lavality could accompany them.. we have no free transport’s, as most as being used to resupply what’s left the fleet, while others are being used for trade between your world and others,” he stopped himself to take a breather. “They also believe that the bounty on her head rose between the times she made herself appear and now… they believe the appearance of a trandoshan warrior will make most bounty hunters think twice,” he turned away. Personally I think the fleet just wants to USE them, but they have a point.. trandoshan’s are fearsome warriors and most bounty hunters don’t even DARE take them on, even when they have the bounties

Rissonik read the data pads contents, frowning slightly at the information. It was a miracle she was even alive according to the contents, especially after getting tore up by the K’Satizitus. Thankfully, the heads of the Fleet understood that Trazu hadn’t exactly been in control of his body, so they weren’t going to be putting criminal charges on him or otherwise demand his head on a platter.

That’s going to be a pissed off Wookiee…. He thought as he read the info containing the command restructuring the Fleet was going to do, remembering how he had reacted to the last promotion. “Going to the Order eh?” Rissonik responded after Maskis finished speaking. “I have a grandson there, but I am uncertain if we will be making any visits in the near future ourselves. Certainly…“ He stole a glance back toward his son. “My son would want to see him when he awakens, however I do not know when that will be. Either way, arranging transport and escort for Miss Lavality won’t be a problem.” Briefly he wondered if it was a mistake to mention he had a grandson at the Academy, but decided he could trust this male. “Just let us know when you’ll need it.”

As he handed Maskis back the data pad, he noticed the odd weapon on Maskis’ belt. He knew it had to be a lightsaber, but it also could tell this male wasn’t Jedi material. He pointed it out and Maskis quickly explained where he found it and that he had been hoping he would know who it belonged to.

“Only those trained in the Force uses a Lightsaber.” Rissonik explained. “My son has one and we did recover that, therefore the one you found can’t be his.” There was a brief pause as Rissonik thought over the possibilities. “Ah, I bet you that belongs to Miss Lavality. She did crash her ship in the location you found it and with the news she’s going to the Academy it would make logical sense.”

After Maskis gave his thanks and took his leave, Rissonik returned to his son’s bedside.

Was it him…or did he just move?

***

He was standing a field of tall yellow grass, the sky a beautiful shade of blue with playful wisps of clouds moving through it. The place was both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time, but that didn’t matter to him, the sun warm and soothing and there was light kiss of a warm breeze on his green scaled hide . Close by, he could hear the faint trickle of a nearby stream and the songs of birds singing their melodies. He closed his eyes and relished it for all it’s worth.

There was another presence here in this paradise, one warm and loving, one he, at first, didn’t remember. But then heard her voice caress his mind with it’s sweetness and he remembered.

He remembered the playfulness of her pale gold eyes. The beauty of her yellow ochre scales gleaming in the light. The warmth of her body wrapped around his as they cuddled. The sweetness of her musk following where ever she went. He sensed all these things and it felt as real as it did in life. He didn’t want to leave this place, he didn’t want it to end.. He wanted to remain forever in the embrace of a the love he had lost.

But then things seemed to cool and the presence pulled away. He cried out in alarm, fearing losing her again, his arms reaching out, searching for her warmth. Yet that presence remained out of his grasp.

~It’s not your time…~ He heard her say. ~They need you.~

Then she was gone completely and the world around him became dull, almost cold. He knew what it was: reality, and it was trying to reclaim him. Now he remembered the pain, the regret, of his deeds in life and that he had to face them. He didn’t want to face them and he tried to run away, but the world around him continued to change. The grass disappearing, the bird songs fading, and sky becoming increasingly dark only to start to turn white. He fought it with all his might, the power of his will starting to change things back to the way they were.

~Do not abandon that I have given my life for again…~ He heard her say suddenly, harshly.

Realization hit them then. To will himself to really die now would only cause more pain and suffering on those he would leave behind. He was needed, not only so he could take his father’s place but as a father to his children as well.

His children…

How much have they suffered not knowing who he was? Only having a fleeting memory of him greeting them at their hatching? Would they even know him for who he was? Would they forgive him for running away? No, he could not abandon them now, no matter what the consequences he may face for his past deeds.

~I will always be with you…~ He heard her say as the sky now was almost unbearably white. ~Trazu…~

Then that white dulled, the shapes of hospital ceiling tiles forming with the occasional glare of a light among them. He could hear the faint beeping of monitoring equipment and the light comfortable warmth of the hospital blanket draped over him.

“Trazu?” He heard a familiar voice say and he turned his head toward the sound, to be greeted by the face of his father.

“Father.” He said softly, offering him a small smile. His father smiled broadly, then without warning embraced him.

“Father!” Trazu exclaimed in surprise, feeling the heat of a blush rush to his cheeks. “Please you’re embarrassing me!”

Yet he couldn’t resist hugging him back.

He was home.

The trip back to space was full of excitement, apperently everyone had been either promoted, or given new assignment's some of the people on the shuttle talked about how they'd been reassigned to destroyer's, others having been chosen to pilot X-wing's

He had his own reassignment as well, and read off the datapad. "Reassignment to protect Lavality from here on end, until she reachs the academy and is there for releaved by a Jedi Master," he re-read the order then smiled slightly. "It'll be awhile before she's up and out, although it also mentions that she's already out of the Bacta Tank... which I find very hard to believe" he looked away from the pad

...

Lavality stared out the window. "What the hell give's the brass the right to take my position away," she poutted and glared at her doctor

"Well... with the recent height in Bounty Hunter activity they felt it was about time you took your leave from the fleet, albiet temporary." The doctor said, although nervously

She turned away from him, that look on her face was one that most children had when they where pissed. "Fine.... I'll seek out the order like they instructed, but I still doubt it'll lead anywhere"

"These reports speak otherwise, you made a lightsabre back on the medical asteroid, that's not normal, and most normal people.... hmm... race's? either way.. most normal can't do that," The doctor tried to find the right words to use, even though he was talking to a girl who had been taught some of the most complex words, he was, after all, still speaking to a little girl

She nodded and got off the bed, she looked at her right arm. "He had messed me up that bad..."

"The bone's in your right arm where shattered, most of the damage was done when you crash landed, I'm guessing you just didn't notice the pain.." Said the doctor as he showed her the scan. "We had to reconstruct your arm, it should be ok"

"You TRYING to make me into another luke?" She death glared him

he stopped. "Um... of course not ma'am... your female after all....."

Lavality smiled. "And don't you forget that"

She was told that it would be a week or two before she'd be allowed to leave the frigate, the doctor's wanted to make sure she was fit. Although the report's she had been given did tell her one thing: Tzhali got a promotion, and she didn't want to be around him when he received word. She took one last glance out the window, "Then... in one week... I'll be out and on my way to Naboo..." she smiled then the smile broadened. "Looks like I'll be going back to the life that my mother wanted, the life that she felt I lost when our father was killed," a tear came down her eye. "I will make my family proud..."

With that, she turned back toward the doctor then nodded. "Lets get underway then" she finally said

Meanwhile, in a captains quarters somewhere

A crash was heard as something slammed into the wall. "WHO THE HELL DO THEY THINK THEY ARE?!" came a roar from a wookiee

"Please sir! Calm down!" Said a councilor

Another crash, another broken table, another dislocated droid arm flew through the air. "They could've just ASKED me first!" he yelled again and threw the remains of the droid at the councilor, who ducked just in time

Several minute's later Tzhali walked out of his quarters, the councilor on the ground. "He... has anger management problems..."