"I only felt it after you mentioned it, intuition telling me you were right.

Don't worry, we should be there soon."

Time passed quickly as the two Rogues continued to discuss the potential problems that could be aflicting Ren. It was completely out of charactor for him to be acting in such a way.

Soon, the helmsman returned with a crisp salute.

"Your Majesty, we are five minutes from reversion."

Dakkon nodded, dismissing the man.

"Well Kamon, looks like the time for speculation is over. Lets find Ren."

<font color=CC3333>Vess melted into Ren's arms, his embrace chasing those nightmarish images from her mind. The wall she had built up in her mind to hold back those memories fell back into place and her heart hardened yet again, the tears drying on her cheek.

There was no time for weakness, not now. Not when they had a means to find Lupercus and bring this nightmare to an end.

After a moment she sat up again, wiping at the streaks on her face. She opened her mouth to speak when a sensation she had not felt in years filled her. Something familiar. Vess opened her mind to the sensation, trying to understand what it was she felt. Not only did she understand, but in her minds eye she saw the Starhome drop out of Hyperspace.

She was sensing Dakkon.

" We have to leave," her voice was urgent as she jumped to her feet.

<font color=lime>" What is it Vess?"</font> Ren was standing right beside her, his hands falling gently on her shoulders.

" He's here." She turned to face him, the anxiety showing on her face as she grabbed onto his arm. " Ren, we have to go. Now! Before Dakkon realizes I'm here!"

It's not true! It can't be true!

Solo ran hard and fast down the stairs of Kas' building and into the lobby of the complex. She broke through a crowd of people, knocking a few over and stumbled over a few more.

"Hey, watch where you're going, Kid!!!"

Normally, Jai would have turned around and punched the man in the face. Yet...She didn't want anyone to see the streams of tears slipping from her eyes and down her cheeks. She didn't want them to see the little dots of dampness on her shirt, or the droplets of warm saltiness drip off her chin and plop onto the ground.

They lie! Vess lied! It isn't true! I know it isn't true!

Jai let out an exasperated wail and fell to her knees in the middle of the sidewalk a few blocks from Kas’ building. Her hands went to her face and she leaned forward. Resting her forehead on the pavement, Solo sobbed. Her heart was breaking. Her funny, show-off boyfriend was a torturer, a kidnapper, and a cold-blooded killer...and all just for sport. The man she'd given herself to so willingly, so innocently.

Jai snapped out of her sobbing fit when a thought pricked her mind...


I should go to the fiftieth floor at VC headquarters. Yes, that’s what I should do. They won’t be able to follow me there.

She looked around frantically and scrambled to her feet, bolting off to Vinda Corp HeadQuarters. It took her about five minutes to reach the building, but when she did, she ran to the row of glittering, polished stainless durasteel liftdoors and hit all the button to go "UP". When one lift behind her finally opened, she practically fell inside it and slapped the button marker "Floor 50".

She curled up against the back wall of the lift, her chin resting on her knees. Her tears, which hadn't stopped but had slowed to a slow trickle, left little damp spots on her pants at the knees. It seemed like an eternity for the lift to reach the fiftieth floor, but when it did Jai slowly got to her feet and strolled out of the lift.

The doors slid shut behind her and Jai jumped with a high-pitched squeak. She rolled her eyes at her own foolish jumpiness and looked around. She'd never been on this floor before, and now she knew why. It was dark, but the light from the moon outside gave the place an eerie blueish glow. From the glow, she could see her surroundings. The whole floor, the whole, huge, seemingly endless level was a sea of cubicles, rows and rows and rows. Every ten rows or so there was a snack machine and a desk marked "Manager", but other than that, it was all the same, all perfectly boring, all very sterile.

Jai went to one of the windows and sat down in the high sill, letting her long legs dangle. She folded her arms across her chest and sighed sadly.

Why me?

Why you indeed. Kas sat in a cubicle, listening to Jaina’s occasional hiccupping sob, and the steady thump thump thump of her feet on the outside wall of the building. More than one person has asked that question Jai. Loud and clear, like a bell, Kas’ voice spoke directly into Jai’s head. There was no direction to look, for the sound seemed to come from everywhere. I asked that myself once. Why me? What did I do to deserve such a fate. The answer is not simple Jaina. We are the few. The few around which the galaxy wraps its self. Some of us have more influence than others, and thus, more pain. Often there is no escaping your destiny.

The sound of Kas’ voice drifted off, as if blown by the wind. He stood, and slowly stepped out of the small cubicle he had been in. Twelve steps, and he was right behind the sorrowful girl. She didn’t look up. “I am sorry that I allowed Vessana to be alone with you Jai. I should have know better.” The blue light filtered everywhere, early night on Bonaden was a beautiful thing indeed. Slowly crouching next to Jaina, Kas looked right at her, and said nothing. She didn’t turn her head, didn’t say a word. Not bothering to probe and see what was troubleing her, Kas sat his back against the window sill, and sat down. Pulling his knees up to his chin, he looked down a hall of cubicles, as Jai looked over Bonaden.

His com vibrated, and he ignored it. He already knew what it was. Dignitaries from Hapes. They could wait at his offices for a while; he would give Ren and Vessana a little time to leave, unnoticed.

Kamon nodded.

"I'm going in alone Dakkon. He obviously was avoiding you on Hapes. He might not talk if you are there."

He looked out the viewport as the stars reverted into natural form instead of the extreme white ight of hyperspace.

"I don't want to scare him off. You understand don't you?"

5 minutes and a speeder ride later, the greyhawk was in sight.

<font color=lime>"I can sense Dakkon . . .and he's not alone, Kamon is with him."

<font color=white>The Jedi Master urged Vessana aboard the ship as he turned back taking one last look back at the Bonaden night sky, now aglow with lanes of traffic.

<font color=lime>"Once we breach the atmosphere, we'll head for the system's astroid belt. I'm confident that we can find a place to hide there. My only worry is if Kas has given us clearence to leave. If not we'll soon find out."

<font color=white>Bonaden's planetary traffic was all carefully monitored, if they were to breach thier protocol it would mean breaking the law, something the Bonaden athourities didn't take lightly too.

<font color=lime>"It's now or never." Said Ren, firing up the ships engines and taking her up into orbit.


<font color=white>Breaking out of the atmoshpere, the clouds and gases of the upper ionishpere cleared away from the viewport and were replaced by the pokadot vastness of space.

....................................


Kamon could sense his fellow Jedi as intensly as ever.

"He's here." said Kamon.

"Master Jedi!" Said one of the crew who was looking at the blinking blue light coming from his console. "There's a small freighter breaking orbit of Bonaden now sir, scans indicate it's the Master Janggar's ship."

Both Dak and Kamon's eyes lit up at the confirmation of the ships identity.

"Hail him!" Shouted Dakkon, staring intently at the viewscreen.

"No response sir."

"Open a channel to him.


Ren, Ren this is Dakkon, your friend, whatever you're involved in, we can talk about it, whatever it is, all I want you to know is I'm here, you don't need to hide anything from me."

..........

In the cockpit of the GreyHawk, Vess' eyes stared long and hard at the loudspeaker. Hearing her former husband's voice again was sure to set off something deep inside her. She didnt need that now.

Ren shut off the speaker, and put turned the engines to full throttle.

.........

"Sir, he's increasing speed."

Kamon's eyes narrowed in confusion. "He's trying to run?"

"Helm, lay in a pursuit course, but don't go as fast as to scare him off.

Something's very wrong.

"I wouldn't say that Kamon."

As the Greyhawk increased speed Dakkon watched, a sense of forboding descending upon his thoughts.

"Captain, launch a squad of Miy'Tils and Hetrinars. Ion Cannons only, Mag Pulse missiles if possible. Hurry!"

He closed his eyes as the Captain agreed and gave the order. The missiles were rapidly installed and the supremely fast ships took off after the YT2400. He cast he senses around and then...

THERE!

His eyes snapped open again, his mind sensing something familiar, something that he had lost, but he couldn't place it.

"Somethings wrong. Captain, track them incase they jump to hyperspace. I want to know where they are going."

Jai remained quiet for some time, mainly from her attempts to stop crying. She wiped the tears from her eyes and cheeks and managed to stop her heaving sobs. It became very quiet, besides the occasional sigh from either one of them. Finally, Solo could take no more and broke the silence...

"Why are you here, Kas? Shouldn't you be with Vess and Ren? Brewing up more ways to ruin my day...not to mention my life."

From his questioning glance, Jai assumed she'd have to elaborate, "Ya know...Lupercus was the first guy I've really liked, and who really liked me back...I...thought. Neither one of us are the marriage-type...but...we had a good thing going and I figured it would last. But now? Knowing what I know?"

She paused and sighed heavily. She turned her gaze downwards and fidgeted with the hem of her shirt as if it was a nervous habit. This movement of her head caused locks of brown hair to fall forwards and brush along her cheeks. This way Kas couldn't see the pain in her eyes, the hurt on her features. "One part of me wants to kill him for all he's done...but something...inside me...something funny..."

She trailed off, unsure of what to say, as if something kept her from saying it...

"He won't let me hate him....There's something about him that...I...."

She gave up and scoffed, a typical Solo coverup when one didn't know what to say.

It had been a normal day at the Bonaden space regulation station. A few hundred personal ships requesting clearance, an odd dozen merchant vessels coming to port, nothing out of the ordinary really. The only gossip worthy topic was the special clearance given to a common freighter. The order had come from the top, the very top. Orders for a certain freighter, called the Greyhawk, to be given clearance at any time it was requested. Not that unusual, it happened now and then. Only a few people discussed the slight oddity, because, well, what could you do? The order came from the top. Population safety was out the window when the up-and-ups came into play. The Head traffic controller estimated that 90% of high officials didn’t know jack about anything but bribery, and the other 10% only knew whom to sleep with. Of course, it was his personal opinion, and you weren’t to spread it around.

“We have incoming hyperspace signals sir, unscheduled. Confirmation requested from forward post twenty-two… confirmation received. Large ship sir.” The Head traffic controller nodded, and ordered a few transports to be ready to convey any noted dignitaries who were on an un-announced visit. He liked his post, and didn’t want to be demoted for forgetfulness. Five minutes later, the Hapen Starhome reverted to real space. Things happened rather quickly after that. “Vessel is confirmed to be the Hapen Starhome” Another voice piped up from the other end of the room “Sir, that Greyhawk has just requested clearance to leave orbit and enter hyperspace. Destination not specified. Should I give permission?” The traffic controller waved his hand in assent. The permission had already been given. “Sir! The Starhome is attempting to contact the Greyhawk… Greyhawk not responding… Greyhawk increasing speed. Starhome is giving pursuit… Greyhawk fleeing… Holy… Sir! Starhome is ejecting fighters!. The Head traffic controller was no fool. The owner of the Greyhawk had done something bad to the Hapens, and there was about to be a bloodbath on the doorstep of VC’s home planet. He initiated emergency contingency three. Full planetary shields, planetary defenses preparing to come on line, a com message sent to Mr. Vinda, and each of his cabinet members, as well as a living messenger to each. They had a situation on their hands.

“Give me full com channel access in their area” Access was granted in ten seconds, and the traffic controller spoke into a mic. “Starhome, you are hereby ordered to stand down in your pursuit of the Greyhawk… repeate, Starhome, you are hereby ordered to stand down in your pursuit of the Greyhawk. Call your fighters in now Starhome, repeat, Call your fighters in now. Acknowledge.”






“I’m sorry Jai, I really am. I didn’t set out to hurt you, honest.” Kas then commenced to tell the story of Ren’s arrival, and what they needed. “…and now Ren and Vessana are probably leaving, to find her children. Lupercus deceived you Jai, like he has hundreds of other people. He does it daily, it’s not hard for him. And you, you were so enchanted by him. I was there the day you two met you know. Handsome Hapen, come to sweep you away…” There was a pause in the conversation. The city was beginning to light up, electric lights glowing from almost half the windows. A distant rumble began to build, soft, yet powerful. Should I tell her the rest? Or should she ask it herself…

Once again Kas opened himself to the force, ever so slightly. Almost immediately he closed the connection, the fear of the memories driving his haste. But the deed was done, the thought planted. Ask it Jai, ask me if he is involved with anyone else... ask... ask...

<font color=CC3333>She had sensed him, had felt him before he had even dropped out of hyperspace, but the reality that Dakkon was actually there didn't register until she had heard his voice. The deep, resonating tones cut through her heart like a knife and the desire to answer him was overwhelming.

Ren cut off the transmition and she took a steadying breath as she sat in the copilot's chair next to Ren. " How long until we reach the asteroid belt?"

<font color=lime>"Not long."</font>

" The Starhome is too big, it won't be able to follow us inside."

<font color=Lime>"No, but those fighters will be."</font> Ren said grimly as he watched the fighters deploy. He raised the Greyhawk's sheild and pushed the thottle forward, taking the freighter to its maximum speed.

" Can we loose them?"

<font color=lime>"We may be able to slow them down a little in the asteroid belt, but there's no way we can lose them. We'll have to make a jump as soon as we clear the otherside of the belt."</font>

" Perave," Vess said suddenly, her fingers flying aver the keyboard of the Nav computer. " That was the system that Mr. Katta's agents were able to track Lupercus to. It's the only lead we've got now."

Ren nodded, and the Greyhawk burst into the asteroid belt. <font color=lime>" Get those coordinates uploaded to the Hyperdrive engine. The second we're clear of the asteroids we've got to make the jump."</font>