Ossus



The heart of the Rogue Jedi Order and the home of the famous Searthen "Gash" Jiren. A planet that had seen it's share of horrors from the the age-old destruction of the Cron Cluster to the more recent facing off against Thrawn and Xireon Jiren's devestating attacks. Even so, Ciscero could not help but admire the work of reconstruction that the inhabitants of the planet displayed so readily.


Perhaps not quite achieving it's lush wonders of ancient days, they did give the old glory days a run for their money.


He could see the reinforced defensive platforms strategically placed over Mim and Nerit with Adega Prime and Adega Besh shining brightly in the distance.


The Empire could say what they wanted about the Jedi Order being disbanded and scattered to the galactic winds but someone had forgotten to inform the Rogue Jedi Order of this supposed demise. Everywhere their influence was both seen and felt.


Despite the rest of the galaxy falling to the growing New Order, these people were certainly both confident and unconcerned. It showed as his craft was berthed within the starport of Aesthen City.


Even for a minion of the New Order, such living tugged at his heartstrings and it occurred to him that the Empire was ill-served ignoring Ossus as it did. But as he watched families go about their business the idea that Ysanne Isard would (and quite possibly could) fabricate her bogey-man accounts of this one-man-destroyer-of-the-Empire left a bad taste in his mouth.


Was the old woman capable?


Oh, most assuredly.


That she would do so would not suprise the Intelligence Agent in the least and the image of Imperator Star Destroyers raining down destruction in the Adega System left a hollow pit inside his own stomach.


But did she?


Were her worries about this Teverek Shal founded or was it merely smoke and mirrors to implant an idea in the mind of Ciscero, allowing him to go out and confirm fears that would become his own?


The loss of the Titan and her fleet would surely be some embarrassment to Kaine but not nearly enough to satisfy her if revenge on the Supreme Commander if that was her aim. How could he be sure that the engine room plate was not found in a trash heap on Tatooine?


But she also revealed Freedom's fate as well and would that not prove to be even more embarrassing for her?


No... in all likelihood, Isard had presented the facts as she understood them but even that begged the question: How well did Isard know the truth?


First things first!


To even begin to uncover the truth he had to start with Teverek Shal. Who was he and what was his claim to fame?


He looked up at the giant statue of Gash Jiren raising a defiant fist towards the sky. The workmanship was incredible, the cybernetic arm even glistening against the sunlight for added effect.


The pose was probably circa 36 I.E. (Imperial Era) during Thrawn's attack.


The statue stood in front of an even larger museum celebrating this fallen warrior of the Jedi and as Ciscero paid for his ticket and walked through the entrance he wondered if the curators would touch any on Gash Jiren being a Sith prior?


He was not sure what he would find (if anything) but one did not come to Ossus and not visit the greatest monument to Gash Jiren in the galaxy. More often than not, such seeming innocuous efforts paid off even if such payments were not immediate.



**


As the day wore on, Ciscero felt he knew Jiren about as intimately as any of the man's bedroom companions. Some of the stuff the staff was presenting told Ciscero that these crazies did not simply admire this friend of the people, Gash Jiren. No. These people acted as if the Jedi was their personal Lord and Savior.


No doubt if the man were still alive he would have probably kicked these welps out on their asses telling them to get real jobs.


And it was at that moment, as he was walking through a corridor highlighting the family of Searthen Jiren, that he stopped at a particular holopic.


There were several pictures he had seen of Gash and his relative, Evek Jiren, but he had passed them off as irrelevant. Most tributes to famous people had several wings dedicated to their family and the fact that the Jiren family was also royalty to Asthentians ensured tributes to several family members.


This holopic, though, was different. It was a little hazy as it seemed it was taken quickly in the moment. Evek Jiren was in conversation passing a familiar fountain. A landmark identifying JirenTech...


..but that was not important.


What was important was that this Evek Jiren seemed to be talking to another person who the caption at the bottom identified as...


"Teverek Shal, Assistant Project Leader"




Assistant to whom and for what project?

The Initial Strike


ENDGAME



"EVEK!!" came a shout that stirred the Research Director from the first restful sleep he had had in a while.


"What is it, Mek!" he growled out in honest anger. Mek Yek was the project's Droid and Scanning Implementor.


"The military scanners have detected an invasion fleet!!" the other gasped out before disappearing and Evek shot out of his quarters at light speed.


Upon reaching the Project Room he saw that Dr. Shal was arguing with several highly placed military personnel who were not at all happy that the Project had used valuable scanning time hindering the system's First Response Protocols.


"They are nearly ON TOP OF US!" shouted an Admiral of some sort and Evek winced when he saw the holo-images of the invading Imperial Fleet.


"We cannot do anything about that but to pull the sensors from the matrix before this new data was entered wastes our--."


"DO YOU NOT KNOW HOW TO READ SENSOR REPORTS? THE EMPIRE IS HERE! We are at war!!!" Another military man barked out. "We need our command and controls back and we need them now!"


Teverek turned towards Evek in near desperation and Jiren could tell the other man was afraid.


"I guess we know what your Jedi-sense was worried about.." he murmured under his breath before turning back to the military men. "Admirals... Generals. I am only the Assistant Project Leader. I must confer with my Project Leader before destroying weeks of work!"


"There's going to be more destroyed than work in a few minutes.." an Admiral growled.


Evek had heard enough. Even with Teverek's stalling until the Project Leader was summoned (and who also did not know they had continued the run the project against Gash's judgement before leaving for Naboo) he knew that the men were at their limit.


He steeled himself and took charge. "Admiral, I assume that our forces are scrambling and that defense systems are being charged?"


The military man stood a little straighter at the forceful Jiren's question and nodded crisply.


"Then a few more seconds will not matter. Teverek, enter the new data and be quick about it."


He could see the military men on the holoscreen unsuccessfully hiding the fists they were clenching but not willing (yet) to question a Jiren.


Especially not after Thrawn's attack at any rate.


Amazingly, in spite of everything, Evek stood calm. Perhaps that was enough to stay the military's hand just now.


"Uploading to the matrix now.." Dr. Werren, Mathematics Director, reported.


It was then that the blanket signal was received...


"Ossus. This is the Captain Zallan of the Imperial Star Destroyer Titan. You are ordered to surrender your planet or suffer the displeasure of the Empire. You have two minutes to respond."


A stake of fear stabbed into all of them.



This was no simulation.


This was real.


And in that instant, a moment of clarity seemed to descend upon Evek Jiren and he toggled the nearest transmitter button...


...before the Matrix even responded.


He knew. He did not know what, how or why as yet but he knew...


And with that knowledge came a certainty that was evident in his voice:


"This is Evek Jiren and you just made your biggest mistake! I am going to tell you to turn around this one time and go back to where you've come from. If you do not, you will all die."


The military men on the holonet and his own project crew stared at Evek as if he had just gone insane.


"Matrix has released Sensor command and controls.." their Programming Director, Horel Yyvezz commented and the military wasted no time.


"They are priming weapons for bombardment," someone off-screen said and one General whispered, "Mother of God!"


Evek's fear was squashed into a growing anger and he punched the toggle, "Your last warning..."


The Imperial Captain Zallan snarled back, "Be prepared to surrender, Jiren!"


At that moment, several columns of data scrolled across the main project screen and as Evek stared at the figures a slow grin began to spread.


The military leaders were preparing to order quick launches of all naval units whether prepared or not in some desperate bid to perhaps minimize the coming damage from the first strike. Perhaps allowing a return response large enough to hinder landings... or..or.. what?


The conclusions the matrix was still spilling out painted the picture and he saw the results of such desperate acts.


"Belay all military orders.." he ordered across the communications net as the matrix seized Command and Control functions from a foolish military mindset.


The reactions were instanteous with words of "treason", "traitor" and the like hurled at him.


Evek did not care. He saw some fighters were launching but he had stayed the Ossian response long enough that it no longer mattered.


Teverek stared at Evek in wonder as the Research Director looked over at him. "Sometimes the best action is to do nothing.." he said loudly enough for everyone to hear.


Two seconds later the attacking Imperial Fleet died, explosions ripping through their hulls reducing them to mere durasteel debris.


Everyone stared at the sensor readings and suddenly Evek felt the fear return. But it was a fear of him. Him!


He almost barked out laughing himself if he too was not gripped in another sort of fear.


A fear of the implications...


There is no fear..., he began the mantra and felt a calm.


A grin crept across Teverek's face. "Now, we are invulnerable!"


The rest of the Project crew suddenly shouted out cheers throwing papers in the air! The project was not only a resounding success but had just saved their collective asses from the might of the Empire. The Empire!


Evek's grin widened and he too joined in the impromptu celebration.


Gash is going to kill me!

ENDGAME: Moving Into Play




Jutraal System




The shuttle returned to the Galactus without incident.

“Prepare for departure. Once we have cleared Despayre’s gravity well, begin transmission to begin collecting the Jutraalian vessels assigned to our command. Once we have them, begin an exit vector from the system and set a course for Ralltiir.”


“Aye Sir.”




Kaine looked over the progress reports to see how close to projections the entire operation was when he stopped at a particular line: Black Order: ENDGAME-#854625, Naval Fleet Asset E-5486: Status Unknown


"Sir, Abolisher detachment has reported in and is ready for departure."


The General merely nodded and absently waved the crewman off lost in thought.


By now there sure must be some report, good or bad, on the Ossus operation. If the Rogue Jedi or Asthentian Fleet had interfered, we would have word of the failure? Could the fleet had walked into such a trap that not even message buoys or emergency probes would have been launched?


"Hyperspace Jump in 5...4..."


"Belay Jump Order!" interrupted Simon as he stood up from his command chair in contemplation. He had to bring a sizable fleet to Corulag by way of a world under the flag of the Vinda Corporation. While it was true that Mr. Vinda had given Kaine the much needed delay in attacking the Corporate Sector Authority thus undermining Tenloss and Cryonics Industries financial viability, he did not want the man putting on airs.


He had to be shown the might of the Empire. He had to come to accept New Order power as a given.


While Kaine's measure of the man told him that Vinda was not one to stab another in the back even if it was business, he felt the temptation itself should be removed.


But he did not require the Jutraalian Abolishers for that. They were siege ships.


If Jiren had somehow caught Captain Zallan and his fleet in such a way that they were destroyed in absolute communications blackout with no signal being sent.... even if that remote of remotest possibilities occured, what would Searthen Jiren do?


Kaine smiled.


He'd go for the throat!



"Open a channel to the Jutraalian vessels," he ordered and soon he was looking at the holographic representation of Chaddwick Fearson's man.


"Captain, I require your detachment to make a run to the Adega System with all possible haste. You are to use your warship's weapons to ensure no vessel, civilian or military, leaves Ossus. Keep the system under blockade until you hear from either myself or your Emperor."


The Captain nodded and Kaine left it at that. Fearsons had excellent drones. Any despot worth their weight in gold credits had excellent drones.


You'll get yours, Fearsons, soon enough. He put the so-called Emperor of the former Rogue Empire out of his mind as he looked ahead with excited anticipation.


Try it, Jiren! Try and stop me!

ENDGAME: THE DARK SIDE OF DEMOCRACY

The Hermes, Gash Jiren's classic carrier vessel, continued to move swiftly through hyperspace towards Naboo. On the bridge sat Gash Jiren and Kasien Treseda, silently watching the stars twist by in the blue spiral of lightspeed.






Ossus


After Action Briefing, Military Leaders and Project Heads



One Admiral slammed his fist down onto the table, "The Empire has initiated an act of war upon us and I say this calls for a direct retaliation!" He eyed the Project Team with a gleam as if to say they were his lucky draw in Sabacc.

Evek Jiren rubbed his eyes, clearly exhausted. "Admiral, where do you recommend the combined forces of Ossus and Asthentia strike? The location of Bastion is a mystery, their core-ward planets are veritable fortresses...their outer planets are so far away that a strike wouldn't register as a blip on their I-care-about-this-planet meter..."


The Admiral took on a crafty look, "But with your algorithm, you could let us know where to hit to do the most damage...yes?"


Horel Yyvezz, Programming Director, looked at the military men seated across from the Project Department Heads in shock. "Admiral, there is no way we can do that. The ethical imperative we must uphold, now more than ever, suggest such a course of actio-"


"Ethics!" A Major-General barked out. "We are at war! And if my eyes did not deceive me, we just wiped out an Imperial attack force by doing nothing but sitting on our bums!"


Both Evek and Teverek narrowed their eyes and inwardly groaned. Leave it to the damned military!


Evek whispered, "Then your eyes did deceive you, General. We did absolutely nothing! The Imperial force did not die by our hand..."


Teverek picked up, "And if we had launched our full array of defensive warships, they would be just as dead! In fact, several of our ships DID die because we could not stop their launch in time!"


A gray haired man in full military attire, clearly the leader of this military rabble of brass, spoke up for the first time just before another hothead underling tried to dismiss their losses.


"The men and women who died with the Imperials died in the line of duty and will be buried with full honors." His voice would hear no dissent nor equivocation from his side of the table. Then, turning to the scientists and to the member of the Jiren household, he asked, "If I understand correctly, then, you are saying that what happened this time cannot be repeated?"


Dr. Werren spoke up, "Well, yes and no."


Such a scientist answer... Evek thought. They won't understand that..


Before the older man could turn his frown into a glowering tower of rage at the non-answer, Evek stepped in with a sigh. "With all due respect, Sir, let me see if I can explain it in a way that all can come to understand the situation as it is:

For argument's sake, let us assume that in front of the attacking Imperial Fleet was a cloaked star. We could not see it and neither could the Imperial Fleet. And so, we both acted as if there was no star going about our intent to blow each other to bits. Along comes us, the project and with it, an algorithm that takes in all necessary information to extrapolate conclusions. And with this plethora of data being processed, more data than we could ever review and observe as humans, we are informed by the algorithm that there is a cloaked star before the attacking fleet. That is essentially what happened. So, do we allow our ships to be launched at the cloaked star as well or do we scream to hold our own ships back as the Imperials barrel on towards their doom? In fact, we did and they did.

Can the same thing happen again?" Evek shrugged, "Of course! The Imperials can run into the star once more but the chances of that are unlikely. However, we did not put the cloaked star there nor were we responsible for it in any way."


Another nondescript general frowned. "So you are saying there is a cloaked star in and around our planet?! I think the damage such a phenomena would do to Ossus and our detection of it would have been a forgone conclusion.."


Teverek coughed slightly, "No, General. There is no cloaked star. However, there was something that killed the fleet. Our algorithm gave us a high percent probability of what that something was and what it could do... and we advised a course of action based on that information."


An Admiral snapped his fingers, "That's why you wanted to hold onto the Sensor Net access."


Teverek nodded, "Exactly! The more information you have, the better informed the conclusion and the greater the probability of.."


The older man in charge cleared his throat cutting Teverek's explanation short. "Let me see if I understand, then." His own voice went down a few notches and the Project Team knew something was wrong. "You based our entire response, or non-response in this case, on a computer's conclusion? A conclusion based on probability. That there was probably a chance that there was something there that would stop the Imperial Fleet. And THAT probability was based on the supposition that the information collected by our Sensor Nets and other sources were, in fact, true."


Dr. Werren grimaced, "Well, that is technically correct. However--"


"A conclusion, doctor, is only as good as the data is factual. Is any of the data collected by this project of yours confirmed as factual?"


Teverek tried to rally, "Sir, the algorithm is set up to present us with informational anomalies to review if the data does not correlate. But current project budget constraints have caused us to ..circumvent even what should be proper procedures on the project in lieu of results."


"But, if you cannot be sure of the information, how can you be sure of the results?"


Teverek opened his mouth before Evek could stop him, "You just saw the results, Admiral! Can you discount their results!?"


Evek Jiren's heart pounded in his chest as the aging Commanding Admiral of Ossus' Armed Forces stared down at him with an accusatory glare. He had drawn the Project out into the open and now circled like a predator. "You placed our entire world at the mercy of a program's conclusions that could have been drawn from incorrect information?!"


"It worked," Teverek grumbled defensively which only incensed the older man further. Evek wanted to strike Dr. Shal.


"You guessed! You had no idea that whatever happened to the Imperial Fleet would actually happen! You had no confirmation of data, no idea that what your damned computers were spitting out was real or bantha-shit!"


"IT worked!" Dr. Shal continued stubbornly.


"Oh, NOW it did. But if your Project was oh so wonderful, then why are you all so hesitant about our dreaming up the practical military applications or implications?"


He went in for the kill. "Because there aren't any!"


And that was it. "Not with subjective data! You know that it worked once by the grace of the Force but to work again? Oh, your buttholes are puckered tight with that questions. Do you dare gamble again?"


The Project members were quiet.


"That you men gambled with your lives is one thing. But you didn't stop there. You gambled with the lives of our fighting forces. You gambled with the lives of all Ossians. That you gambled and won does not take away the irresponsible use of your project or the irresponsibility of those heading it up."


It was as if a final declaration of judgment had been rendered and the Project members found it the better part of valor to remain silent.


The old man stared angrily at them for a long moment before turning to Evek and, his eyes softening, he simply asked, "Gash did not agree to this, did he?" They could tell it pained the older man to even contemplate this about his friend, Searthen.


Evek's eyes looked down as a sense of shame overcame him.


"No.." he started. "Gash did not agree to this. In fact, his recommendation was to eventually shut the project down."



Albeit for different reasons!


The old man's eyes radiated a warmth, as if his convictions in the man were still valid. "I can appreciate the damage this admission causes to you and your project. You carry your family's legacy of fairness and honesty and am heartened to see it displayed so obviously in you."


Teverek eyed Evek with a bleak smile. They all knew what was coming now.


"I have no choice but to agree with Gash. You have one month of funding which I recommend you divide among yourselves and begin your search for other employment. This meeting and all data pertaining to it will be classified and filed.


In the meantime, it is my recommendation to continue our alert and push the fleet out farther to ensure interception of any other attacks that may or may not come. I want a picket and I want to know they are there before they are on top of us."


As the old soldier rambled on, Evek heard none of this.



Seems like you got your wish, Gash.

Always in motion is the future.



Even so, why is it that the motion always spirals downward?



The old Admiral's pickets had been a lifesaving action that detected the Rogue Empire's Abolishers. The Rogue Jedi Forces attacked the siege ships before they could get into position and lock away the Adega System from the rest of the galaxy.


The Battle of Adega, as it was locally known, was still being celebrated when the victorious Gash Jiren returned home. It was the crescendo in an orchestra of triumph and the people under the Rogue Jedi Order felt that they were masters of their own fate.


Nevermind they were locked away by galactic geography from the goings-on everywhere else. And everywhere else, the dark shroud of the Empire had fallen away to reveal a government hungry, willing and able to return to their former glory.


Evek Jiren watched darkly at the static-laden transmission from Imperial Center of the New Order's newest Regent, Daemon Hyfe...


“Today is a day of change. For the Empire, and indeed, for the galaxy."



Truer words were never spoken, thought Evek. While our Jedi Leaders were off adventuring on Naboo...


No, he could not fault Gash. The Sith had attacked and from what tales he had heard, the attack had been particularly viscious. Theed was ablaze and the Gungans were nearly decimated.


But that paled in significance to the Return of the Empire!


Didn't it?


No longer were they cowering in the Outer Rim.... Like us, Evek's mind interjected sarcastically.



How many died to drive Palpatine's government from that world? And after all the sacrifice, the heartache... they came back.



I wonder if the Project could have predicted the conquest of Coruscant? If so, we might have been able to do something..


Wait! The hyperlanes were cut! The Empire effectively severed the hyperlanes to the Core. Not for long but long enough to prevent reinforcements from coming to the aid of... of... Coruscant? The Core?



"...make known that the planet of Coruscant has been liberated by the Empire at long last, and that it will be re-named and hence-forth called by all beings, Imperial Center.

It has been many years since Imperial Center was last in the hands of those deserving of it… those willing to support and sustain this galactic focal point.

Under Imperial control, Coruscant will flourish and prosper. Let it be a shining beacon of hope for all the galaxy’s inhabitants today, and in the days ahead.

Coruscant, Imperial Center, will now serve as the Capital of the Galactic Empire."



His eyes widened. Corellia was the capital of the New Republic and now the Empire's focus will be...


He did not need the algorithm to show him that things were quickly adding up to a result of disasterous proportions.


"I feel it pertinent to place a deserving officer in command of all military forces in the Galactic Empire. And so it is with great pleasure that I announce that General Simon Kaine shall be promoted to the rank of Grand Marshall, and shall oversee all operations as highest-ranking officer in the galaxy, taking orders from myself only, Regent of The New Order."



The architect himself. I am sure of it!


Evek Jiren allowed himself a self-satisfied smirk. My algorithm stopped you cold, Kaine! What part did we play in your grand scheme?


But what good is our small victory against a man that now apparently controls the entire military might of the Empire?


A man in that position, in control of those resources... he could..


He's an Emperor in his own right!




"Troubling thoughts?" intruded a voice and Evek turned to see Gash Jiren staring at him, unshaven and grinning as if he had just stolen Regent Hyfe's latest starship.


"Gash!" Evek responded, glad to see his relative despite recent events. "I would have gone up to see you... you didn't have to leave your party.."


The elder Jiren held a palm up, "I don't mind getting away from suck-ups. Besides, I sensed enough gloom in here to sink a starcruiser."

The scientist part of Evek wanted to chide his elder relative on the impossibility of starcruisers sinking while the Jedi part of him wanted to warm up to the presence of the Jedi Master and settle in with peace of mind.


Then he stared at the speaking hologram and his features darkened.


Gash followed his gaze and raised his eyebrows in enlightenment, "Ahh... " With a flicker of his hand, the transmission abruptly ended and before Evek could react, he said, "Why do you worry about things you cannot do anything about, Evek?"


The younger Jiren had an answer ready, "Because I care."


The Jedi Master nodded soberly at the sentiment. "An arguement I can do nothing against. Things do seem to bode ill for those on Coruscant right now. But who knows.." and Gash caught himself but not before Evek caught on.


"We could know, Gash."


"You are not going to let up on this are you?"


"Gash, I know the algorithm has it's flaws and in some...maybe most... it cannot reliably work. But I would still like to continue the science and.." he grinned, "who knows? Maybe we'll get lucky?"


The Jedi Master looked sternly at his younger relative. "I'll authorize JirenTech to continue giving you and your group access..." He held up a finger, "But for the science only. NO application!"


Evek felt a rush of excitement run through him. He nearly grabbed Gash by the shoulders in joy when a thought.. a reminder, really.. brought him back to reality.


"Gash, there is something I should tell you. When you were on Naboo, the Empire sent an attack against us and I... I.."


"I know.." Gash interrupted folding his arms to lean against a wall. "What you did was reckless and irresponsible and could have gotten a great many people killed."


Evek lowered his head accepting the rebuke.


"Still, there are two things that are saving your bacon right now and allowing me to continue to grant your access.. 1. You were honest with me in attempting to tell me what happened. Jiren's are honest.. sometimes brutally so. You kept some faith with me so I can grant you some access."


Evek looked up, "And the second thing?"


Gash grinned, "Success. Your gamble paid off. You gamble big and lose, then heaven help you. You gamble big and win? Well, that deserves a drink, don't you think?"


Evek looked sheepish as he replied, "One would think that you would try to discourage gambling big altogether.."


Gash inclined his head before responding, "That comes with maturity."


Evek shook his head, "You have a point."









Endgame: Empire Forever


“That is all I have to say."









As it would turn out, the Imperial Military would do his speaking for him...

Ossus - Present Day



It was amazing what one could find on the public datanet in a free society. It seemed Dr. Teverek Shal was stripped of his honors not long after the fall of the New Republic. The article was short as all the news then was of Brel and his 'New Empire' holding the galaxy hostage with the Wrath Virus, no one seemed to take note of a nondescript man being stripped of his achievements. But there were those who cared.


Like the military tribunal that carried out the judgment, whose names were more prominent than the good Dr. Shal and one member of which was still alive and living nearby.


And so, he called to set up an interview posing as an off-world reporter. Managing a make-shift ID and adjusting his appearance to that of a former military man, buzz-cut and an overbearing glower to his complexion dressed in a neat and polished suit, he made his way over to the home of the former Supreme Admiral.


The old man and Ciscero sat drinking an herbal drink of some kind while swapping stories of war, glory and loss. The man had first announced that he did some checking into Ciscero's credentials as a reporter and found out he had served in the Battle of Bastion and in the fight against the Empire and Galactic Coalition and Outer Rim Sovereignty. Ciscero told some stories that he had picked up along the way as an agent of Imperial Intelligence embellishing a little here and there. His knowledge of Imperial designs impressed the old man who had seen his fair share of fighting and enemies in his day.


He helped give Ciscero a better impression of life during the Galactic Civil War and in the beginning days of the New Republic.


It was an account that the agent appreciated for personal nuances were things that could not be gleaned from a static, written account.


"So, is this going to be a story about Gash Jiren?" the old man finally asked after Ciscero finished his story.


Shifting slightly in his seat, he shook his head, "No. I am actually researching an associate of Evek Jiren."


"Ahhh.. Evek," the old man whispered wistfully. "A young hothead to be sure but an honest one. Wore his heart on his sleeve, if you know what I mean?"


Ciscero nodded, as if remembering such people himself. "I understand he went missing after the fall of the New Republic..."


The old man's eyes watered. "A lot of fine people went missing after that. The Battle of Bastion shattered and scattered people. We thought, for a long while, that Gash Jiren was dead. It's hard to fathom that now he really is since we have heard many such tales of his demise. It's hard to think that now he is gone."


"Do you think Evek is also dead?"


The old man shook his head, "Hard to say. The Jedi are a strange lot. Whether Rogue or True or Shadow or whatever prefix they add, they do things for their own reasons and all we can do is stand back and stare in confusion. My personal opinion leads me to think that the boy is dead. There is no way, Jedi in exile or whatnot, he would have missed the funeral of Gash Jiren."


"What about an associate of his, Teverek Shal?" Ciscero asked in curiousity.


"Teverek Shal?" the old man squinted as if trying to remember. "A lesson of bad fruit if ever there was one. The boy started out alright but I suppose with the pressures of the times, he sank further and further into the hole."


The retired man took a sip of his drink before continuing, "I guess a lot of boys felt the same pressure. You know, young, wanting to change the galaxy, having all these ideas but finding that not everything can be paid for by a government struggling... The New Republic falling, the rise of the Empire... darkness clouding even the most optimistic of people. People, especially the young, turn to other things to deal with life."


"I read an article indicating that the man's academic credentials were stripped." Ciscero asked.


The old man nodded, "I was there. The boy's gambling problem had grown too much. We could no longer ignore it or cover it up. Which is a shame because he was such a brilliant doctor. I guess the loss of Evek drove him into a self destructive lifestyle. He owed so much money that he could not catch up and we did not need that distraction around for the next generation of upcoming hopefuls."


"He and Evek were friends?"


"They were inseparable and ready to take on the galaxy. It was a conceit that Gash allowed. JirenTech was their playpen."


"I was out at the Hall this afternoon and saw a picture of Evek and Teverek. The caption said they both worked on a project together."


The old man shook his head, "That damned project of theirs. They worked on various technologies for JirenTech but it was always this one damned Project that they identified with. Actually, carried too far. But if you were in our circles and talking about either one and mentioned 'the project' everyone would know what you are talking about."


Ciscero felt his blood quicken without outwardly expressing excitement.


"What was the nature of the project?" he asked bluntly. Then, deferring, "If it's not classified or a state secret." He chuckled good-naturedly, "I don't want to be shot as a spy or something.."


The old man's chuckle nearly became a cough. "It was classified to keep those foolish boys from playing with it but Gash still let them. I guess he hoped they would grow out of it. I think Evek might have gotten the message but Teverek was a stubborn one. At least I hope Evek got the message and found some meaning in his life."


Ciscero remarked, "Sounds like Evek needed the love of a good woman." and the retired man raised his hot cup of brew answering, "Truer words were never spoken!"


The Imperial Intelligence agent oftentimes wondered about the crushing loneliness that afflicted the numerous enemies working against the Empire. Azrael Zell and Simon Kaine, who were the epitome of evil to others, definitely had no trouble sleeping. In contrast, Ciscero often saw Jedi or other such ones working for the 'forces of good' drunk in a bar, fighting with ruffians for no apparent reason other than being pissed off at no one in particular and yet at the entire galaxy in general.


After a few moments of sipping their drinks in contemplation the old man broke the silence, "It's always when things seem bleak that the young turn to unconventional or outlandish answers. The promise of knowing the future ... and knowing it in such a way that you could perhaps change it? That is heady stuff for a young man or woman to wrap their minds around. Especially when the science behind it is, on the surface, valid."


Ciscero sat back allowing his incredulous look to show. "Are you saying they found a way to foretell the future?"


The old man leaned back having finished his drink. "Imagine, a galaxy were one could know something before it happened? I admit, it was an ambitious project taking a single idea and running wild with it, but ...damn my mother's sith-sewn knickers, if the possibilities presented to us were not addicting indeed."


"Well," Ciscero remarked, his head pounding ..no screaming!, "It must not have worked. Otherwise, Ossus would be the center of the galaxy right now."


The old man leveled his eyes at Ciscero, "What makes you think we're not?"


Then he barked out a laugh. "I don't know. It was always too damned subjective and it was a problem that plagued Evek and Teverek forever. But I tell you right now, years ago, when an Imperial attack fleet came straight at us, I thought we were dead. They had caught us flatfooted and unprepared. But I swear to you, we would be singing to the Imperial March right now if it was not for the project."


Ciscero let his skepticism show. "If you were caught flatfooted, how great could this project have been?"


"Son, the project was in it's infancy stage then. And so yes, it did not alert us to the attack. But I tell you honestly, the project halted our own ingrained responses and saved our collective behinds by showing us how to respond to this threat."


"And this Imperial Fleet was destroyed?"


"Completely." the old man slapped his knee. "The thing is, that fleet would have been dead either way. But our project-inspired reactions ensured that we had forces ready to meet Chaddwick Fearson's Abolishers following up that attack. Why Fearson's sent weapons our way, I don't know...but I tell you, they never made it home."


"And so Ossus was saved.." Ciscero concluded with nothing short of awe in his voice. That is what Kaine did with Fearson's Abolishers!


"And so Ossus was saved." the old man agreed.

Ossus - Present Day


"Teverek Shal," grunted the alien before Ciscero, seated opposite it in what loosely passed as a restaurant in the seedier district of the city. The name the Intelligence Agent brought up nearly brought the creature to disastrous levels of indigestion. As it was, gaseous bubbles formed on its lips as the caretaker of the restaurant attempted to speak.


"A man who, along with his Jedi friend, wanted to save the galaxy." mused. Then his gargle-like voice darkened, "And who, incidentally owes me half a million credits."


Ciscero raised an eyebrow, "You financed his gambling addiction?"


The alien took on a surprised look and started guffawing spraying spit every which way. The agent hid his disgust.


"Shal did not gamble. That was the trumped up reason the Tribunal gave to revoke his credentials. They did not like him using alternate means of funding for his project when priorities for JirenTech changed. That year after the fall of Coruscant was especially hard with Empire's expansion and the Wrath Virus."


The alien scratched it's bulbous stomach, "But hard times do not allow you skip out on those that you owe money too! I am an honest businessman!"


In Ciscero's estimation, if someone had to proclaim they were something to others, then chances are, they really weren't.


He frowned, "I am surprised by the deceit. Teverek's friend was a Jedi."


The alien snorted in derision and scratched his stomach. "Jeedai.." he sneered through mucous bubbles. "They may treat the Jeedai like living gods on the planet but not Oloh! Jeedai that do not pay are scum like everyone else. They get no free ride!"


"Then why did you let Teverek get away with such debt? Were the Jedi protecting him?" Ciscero asked. If he knew the undercity types on Imperial Center, they would burn down a district to get at someone who owed them half a million credits.


The caretaker named Oloh nearly blew out a mucous bubble on Ciscero in outrage. "Oloh didn't let scum Shal get away!"


"The Jedi protected him?"


The alien suddenly shrugged, at a loss for words (amazingly enough). "I don't know." Ciscero blinked in annoyance at the alien's constant changing from first person to third person. "Oloh send many people to Shal to encourage payment. Shal just laughed at me when I told him Oloh send bad men. He said they would never touch him. Every person Oloh sent to collect died."


The Intelligence Agent's eyes narrowed. This account was uncomfortably familiar with Isard's account of the agents being sent to get Teverek. Apparently, she learned enough to feel this was worth investigating and the more her people failed, the more her interest rose. At least enough to send Ciscero.


The alien burped and continued, "Soon, no one want to collect for Oloh. So no more people Oloh sends."


"Then why did Shal leave Ossus?" he asked.


The alien's eyes narrowed into slits and his large mouth stretched across his face in what could only be a smile. The mucous bubbles became smaller and Ciscero hoped he would suddenly shake his head like a fat Gungan. He'd have to kill the restaurant caretaker on principle.

"Debtor had to leave because Oloh is smart." A pudgy finger tapped the narrow part of his head that presumably carried it's brain. "I get the law to collect for me."


The Intelligence Agent barked out a laugh in appreciation and reached down, grasping a plastic cup filled with some sort of liquid beverage, noting that the dishwashers at the place were less attentive than they should have been in their task. He took a large gulp and wiped his mouth.


The alien's eyes opened with glee signaling someone behind Ciscero to add the beverage to a bill he had yet to see.


"That... that is very smart." the agent allowed. "But how did you establish the legality of your cause?"


The creature's stomach jiggled with laughter. "Because I had Teverek sign a note that the funds I gave to him were for his project funding. Project is legitimate and so Shal's debt to me is legitimate."


Ciscero grinned a predatorial grin. "I spoke to someone on the Tribunal who told me that the Project was classified. How could you know what project to link the money too for a civilian court?"


Oloh, basking in his own cleverness, suddenly farted. The smell of the exchange seemed to be the same as the steaming plate of whatever food was placed before them at the start of the meeting. It looked like some sort of pasta with a thick, brown sauce covering it. "Project details classified. Not Project name. Teverek Shal is linked to Evek Jiren. Evek Jiren is linked to Gash Jiren. Teverek and Evek are linked to JirenTech. Gash Jiren is head of JirenTech. Project is linked to scientific address made by Gash Jiren. Leading the research for this scientific project is D31. This is public record." The alien made a slight wheezing sound that made his next words seem sly, "If you know where to look."


"I have never heard of D31 in connection with this Project. In fact, I don't even know where it is now." Ciscero mused.


"Do not need droid." Oloh laid his coup-de-grace on the subject. "Also on public record is D31's colleagues in this project: Evek Jiren and Teverek Shal."


Ciscero leaned back in honest appreciation. Never underestimate a lender intent on getting his money back.


"How can you be sure the projects are one and the same?" he pointed out.


"Knowing something before it happens. Future-telling. What more does Oloh need?"


Ciscero had to admit, the alien had a point.


Now it came down to business.


"I would like that public record." he stated flatly.


The bubbles stopped forming on Oloh's lips and he thoughtfully scratched at his stomach. "Oloh can do this." he confirmed.


Then his lips parted revealing brown teeth, "For a price."


Never underestimate a lender intent on getting his money back, indeed!

The Past


Transitions: A Change of Season...


The New Republic, suddenly splintered by the destruction of its fleet and the devastating effects of the Wrath virus on the galactic economy, dissolved in a flurry of political word battle. Its worlds were once again independant. Not even the combined might of Leia Organa Solo and Gash Jiren could hold the dying democracy together.







The Fall


Corellia, Last meeting of the New Republic, Session 64245...




"...the fact of the matter is, the Empire is dying. The Battle of Bastion simply took too much of their armed forces--"


"Master Jiren, I am sure that from where you stand, as virtual King of Asthentia, leader of the Rogue Jedi Order.. you see these things as mere minor points. However, I must confess, the New Republic as well has been dealt a fatal blow."


"How so?" Leia Organa Solo asked in clear confusion. "The Empire leads it's worlds about with fear. Without the might of it's starships and fleets, where is the fear? If we moved now.."


"What?" came a demand. "What could the New Republic do? We like to think that the Imperial blockade did not affect us but dammit, we have starving people! We have used up about all our resources.."


"The blockade has been broken!" Gash Jiren shouted out. "We rally now to consolidate our mandate, before the Empire can rearm, the New Republic could.."


"Do what?" came a sneer. "Shout platitudes at the Empire as they boil our oceans and glass our cities from orbit?"


"With what?" Leia asked confused. "As Master Jiren was saying before being interrupted by fear-mongering individuals, the Empire is laid bare. With nothing in their arsenal, how will they be able to stop worlds from fleeing? Whatever the Empire has left is bound for Coruscant to consolidate their hold on that world."


"You think those worlds want to flee? After Wrath? Coruscant is a mere two parsecs away and we talk about doing what? You think the New Order will not be able to spare one Star Destroyer to smash us here?"


"You think we can't stop a single Star Destroyer?" asked Gash sarcastically.


Another voice spoke up. "I am sure we can stop a Star Destroyer. But what about twenty?"


"Prove to me that the Empire has even that much?" shot back Master Jiren.


"I don't have too." the voice replied. "I am talking about capacity. We all know the size of the Empire and the might of their production capabilities. All Tilaric Brel did was eliminate most of their forces on hand right now. What about those 'in production'? What about those being launched tomorrow?"


"The Empire is as crippled now as they will ever be. They will need officers and crewmen for those ships. Those production facilities will need to accept payment for said ships. Or those worlds may look to their own welfare and use the ships themselves." Master Organa Solo brought out. "If we aggressively use our negotiating resources, we may take advantage and perhaps purchase those ships ourselves."


Gash turned to Master Organa Solo. "That's a damned good idea, Leia." he murmured.


"Seth Vinda has rubbed off on Capricians.." she whispered back.


"..and Capricians have rubbed off on you." finished Gash, trying to listen to the continuing arguments.


"The Mon Calamari, who have been supporters of the Republic and the Civil War have turned to their own salvation. They have started talks with other worlds for the formation of a Coalition! Now I tell you, if they are thinking the New Republic is a lost cause.."


Gash stood up again, pounding his fist on the podium before him. "The Calamarians are organizing the Outer Rim! We might even take a gamble and strike Coruscant from here. We may push the Imperials back to Bastion!"


"And what? Move the capital from Corellia to Coruscant? Do you dislike us so much that you wish to absolve your association with us? It is rumored that JirenTech has been investing heavily in Csilla and the scuttlebutt is that you are preparing it to be a second Capital should Corellia fall."


"You shouldn't listen to scuttlebutt.." Jiren remarked which angered the representative who was speaking.


"Is it true?" the man demanded and Jiren shrugged.


"During our battles with the Empire, we began aiding the Chiss in reclaiming their planet. There was speculation about Csilla acting as a secondary Capital at one point, but nothing recently. Bringing the issue back to the fore, we should really consider what Master Solo has suggested about using our strengths, negotiation, in winning over some worlds that may be wavering in their support of the Empire. Without their fleet.."


"Whose absence we have only your word on.." someone else interrupted.


"What are you suggesting, sir? That I am lying?"


"I am saying that Grand Marshall Kaine took Coruscant out from under us and underestimating him again may prove disastrous.."


"I was at Bastion!" Jiren announced in a hard voice. "I know what I am speaking about."


"Was Kaine?"


"No."


"Then where is he? Where is his fleet?"


"Probably and hopefully in hell! Where a lot of people would like to see him now!" answered Jiren back hotly.


"Once Imperial production is organized the Empire will not only outproduce us, they will outpace us in quality and technology. By making a move now, we are setting ourselves up for their hammerfall once they do come. And believe me, the Empire will come."


"Did the Empire pay for your election?" Jiren shot back in anger, standing. "I can see that this meeting is going nowhere. Your minds are all on the fear of what could happen ignoring the facts of what is happening. We have a singular opportunity here and you are all just pissing it away."


"Gash," Leia implored.


"Leia," Gash sighed. "The Jedi have fought the battles of these people. When that wasn't enough, the Jedi lead them. Now they are questioning even that. The Jedi cannot make a stupid person wise."


"They aren't stupid, Gash. They are scared."


"Fear leads to the darkside." Jedi Master Jiren shot back. He waved his arm over the Hall. "Look at all the empty chairs, Leia. They're afraid to come to Corellia with the Empire on Coruscant. They've already written off the Core. With that kind of leadership and representation, who needs enemies?"


Jiren sighed, "Face it, Leia. Go back to Naboo or Capricia. It's over."







Ossus


"It's over." Evek Jiren remarked as Teverek came walking up with the latest figures. He looked up annoyed.


"You sound so sure." He flipped through the his results. "I haven't gotten that far yet in the figures for a comprehensive result. Are you sure?"


"A tremor in the Force." Evek replied, his voice distant.


Teverek was momentarily taken aback. "I found the error in the data that lead to the erroneous conclusions before. According to the algorithm, the Wrath Virus should be completely wiped out with the following distribution of the cures here, here and here."


Evek did not really look at where Teverek was pointing. "You know, Tev. We've been on this project a long time and still, we are playing catch-up with information entries and inputs. By the time we correlate and confirm the data, time has moved us beyond the point where any conclusion could have been meaningful."


"It worked with the Imperial attack," Teverak answered defensively. "Don't you lose heart, Evek! Not you! It has been shown and proven that the system can work."


"The system is supposed to work!" Evek answered back hotly. "It does work! But it was designed for smaller applications. We took the formula and augmented it for something far more ambitious and with far more reaching consequences. And the larger the application, the greater the need for more data, the greater amount of information is being processed and the greater the chance for corruption. All these variables work off each other so that the larger the process, the greater the chance of a cascading failure."


"I know!" Teverek barked back. Then softly, "I know. I thought we might be able to beat the system with greater processing power, better machines..."


Evek's chuckle held an edge of despair. "Even with an astrodroid's processing power, even with a ship full of the droids, we would not nearly have enough."


They walked out onto the steps of their facility staring at the twilight falling of the sun. Tired men who took the time to sit down and wallow in their self made pit of hopelessness.



"What's over?" Teverek suddenly asked as Evek was staring at the horizon.


"What?"


"What's over? You said before that 'its over'. I just wondered what exactly you meant."


"Oh..." Evek continued to stare out. "The New Republic."


"Oh..." Teverek whispered.


They sat there for a few moments until a thought came to Teverek.


"How do you know these things?"


"Huh?"


"I've been thinking. How do you know these things that are going to happen?"


Evek smiled weakly. "Visions in for Force."


He held up his hands. "They just come to me."


Teverek's thoughts raced and he turned to his friend, "But the Force does more than that too, yes? It let's you know when harm is to befall you? You get a sense when things just aren't right? Yes?"



Now it was Evek's turn to frown. "Well, yes, in a way. But.."


"Just hear me out!" Teverek suddenly and excitedly yelled causing Evek to frown.


"What's going on--"


"The Force! It knows things we do not. It has it's own information gathering approaches, whatever they are. Suppose all the data we collect, rather than being processed for one set to confirm another set or for some correlation....what if... what if all that data could be funneled through to one with the Force?"


"What?" Evek's frown deepened. "The Force does not--."


"Listen to me! If you are presented with a truth and a lie, will you be able to determine which is which? Or can the Force not tell you?"


Evek looked at his friend. "Sometimes. There are still factors involved that.."


"I am sure, I am sure.." Teverek placated. "But knowing whether something is true or false, whether there is honesty or fabrication behind something.."


"The Force does reveal such things.." Evek agreed. "But for such truths to be revealed, a lot is determined by the character of the force user."


Teverek grinned and put his arm around Evek. "How does your character fare my friend?"

Ossus - Present Day



Ciscero sat at an eatery watching the habits of people, animals and a life in general that did not know they were under the scrutiny of Imperial Intelligence.


Or, perhaps they knew but just did not give a damn.


It was a thought that perhaps scored truer to the mark for these people that Gash Jiren had fought for and fought with for so long.


So, Teverek and Evek develop a science that allows them to foretell the future to an extent. The larger the fortune, the greater the breakdown.

The thought seemed reasonable enough. It was always easier to gather information in a smaller setting and when you play on a galactic stage, forget conventional means of information gathering.

No information gathering system is perfect.

Politicians and leaders thought the information gathered by intelligence was easily plucked out of the air but the fools rarely realized that there were systems in place for the collection, sorting, reviewing, and judging of raw data. Cyphers had to be updated, maintained... Distance..space itself also became a factor for even if the information was collected quickly, sorted at lightning speed, reviewed to be flawless and judged without the need for conference, the mere ability to act is thrown against the obstacles of time and space. By the time you got anywhere to do anything about the decision by the powers-that-be, you could arrive at your destination already too late.

Ciscero had been on operations where leaders feared the rebellions of subjects only to arrive and find that the would-be rebellion had burned itself out before ever arriving. Or, that the rebellion had succeeded and were more interested in keeping their newfound power than making an enemy of the all-powerful Empire.

People were people after all.

He bit into his light lunch not caring so much for the spicing on the meat. Local fares were usually a matter of taste, anyway. The food was sustaining despite his disinterest and the beverage more than made up for it.

The story of Teverek Shal was not necessarily a unique one. Nor did it really explain why Director Isard felt that the man was the most dangerous in the galaxy.

Unless his system worked. He bit down on a spice seed and frowned. All of the accounts so far suggested that the man was a failure... His project was a failure, his finances sunk him into ruin and he fled Ossus.

A man who tried to step out of the shadow of the Jiren and had failed.

Or did he?

The man made no personal benefit from this project. But that was not necessarily the point of the project. Most would look to a fortune-telling ability as a way for personal advancement. A way to make personal gain.

But what gain had Teverek made?

Did the lack of gain necessarily discount the success of the project?

He smiled at the thought knowing the self deception he nearly allowed himself to fall for.

Isard's words rang in his mind like a clarion call...





Each one met with failure.


The words of the restaurant owner and loan shark, Oloh, entered his consciousness...





Teverek even laughed at Oloh's threats! Did that sound like a man at the end of his rope? Did that sound like a man beset by failure after failure with his project?


"The bastard made it work somehow." Ciscero murmured. According to the retired Admiral, the project was reactionary. He knew in advance what course to take (if he had a course to take) to avoid the pitfalls and obstacles thrown at him no matter what they were or who they were from.


How he solved the subjective issue became irrelevant. The point was he had. Perhaps that was why he stayed on Ossus for so long.


Make your dealings local and lessen the chances of corrupted data.


Why leave Ossus at all then?


He finished his drink watching a family attempt to feed the birds flocking around them.


Perhaps he had no choice? Perhaps, in order to preserve whatever it was he had built, Teverek had no option open to him according to the project.


Perhaps Oloh's surprising legal move forced Teverek's hand and he reacted the only way he could.


He drew out a data crystal and stared at it for a while wondering just what sort of hydrospanner it would throw into his theories.


The one glaring thought remaining firm in his mind. If Teverek is not on Ossus, he is removed from his comfort zone. His method and systems for gathering the data required for his project to work. He would be most vulnerable now!


Until he gets set up somewhere else.

Ciscero found himself with two tasks:

1. Concretely identify the threat level of Teverek and his Project.
2. Find out where Teverek had gone.

The Past




"The galaxy as we know it..as we would like it to be is gone." Evek Jiren stated flatly.


Teverek Shal stood up from his hunched position going over yet another set of algorithms. The project funding had run out meaning that the other departments attached to the Project had been phased out, consolidated and ultimately put under the review of Evek and Dr. Shal.


"The algorithm seems to agree.." Shal groaned, rubbing the pain felt in his lower back. "I just don't understand how the Empire can experience two civil wars... one ending in a liberation of the galaxy and the other the imprisoning of the galaxy."


Evek rubbed his eyes allowing the feeling to return to his legs. It seemed like days since he had walked over and planted himself in his chair to review the latest probability results.


"Different impetus. Different catalysts. Different affected factors." the Jedi sighed. "The first civil war had two groups fighting but for the most part, the rest of the galaxy simply was carried along for the ride. The costs of actual fighting were paid by the Rebel Alliance. This second civil war directly affected the rest of the galaxy. The fear factor surged out of control overriding cultural and ideological leanings."


Teverek let a report fall to the ground. "We cannot compensate can we?"


"The end result of the first civil war left forces, left resources available that could be self-sustaining and if the Project had been around then, could have really stabilize the galaxy and keep the Empire contained out on the Rim. Perhaps a series of crisis after the Black Fleet incident helped to come about that would have strengthened the New Republic rather than undermine it. But after Wrath, there are no resources to tap into. We have planets now under the pressure of guilt for joining the New Empire to save themselves and those outraged enough to glass the others at having not compromised yet paying a high cost in lives to Tilaric Brel. No trust, no New Republic and hope."


Dr. Shal smiled weakly. "There is always hope. There is the Coalition Alternative."


"We do not know enough about the Azguard to really introduce them as a variable. Is their image of democracy the same as ours? Is is another veil covering personal agendas?" Evek tried to lift himself out of the chair but simply slumped back down. "I am so tired... Leia and Gash's proposal on Corellia would have been the best action possible to stem the darkness and keep the Empire pinned.

Now, there is nothing that unitedly will stand against it."



"There is always the Jedi?" Teverek brought up hopefully.


Evek merely shook his head. "Cloudy that future is."


Teverek, overcome with exhaustion, sat back down on the floor and fell backwards looking at the room's ceiling.


"Then that is it," he finally said. "We've carried the torch for this Project against all odds and naysayers like Gash and the Admiralty. And in the end, they are proved right.. The Project is a lost cause.."


Evek Jiren's eyes blazed defiantly at the admission of defeat. "It's like having the solution to everything in the palm of your hands but you just can't make a fist and grab it."


The Jedi stood up, staggering a little. "You know, if we put our own Project into the algorithm I wonder what the equations would suggest."


"That it's pointless.." grumbled Teverek and Evek chuckled without much mirth, tired as he was.


"How much have you borrowed from Oloh?" the Jedi suddenly asked.


Teverek thought for a moment. "About 50,000 credits. How the hell we are going to pay him back is beyond me."


"We will need about half a million credits.." Evek said absently and Teverek sat up staring at his friend.


"We going on vacation to Oseon?"


Evek did not hear him. "We've been going about this backwards." he said, almost to himself. "We wait and wait for data to arrive from other places that gives us a rudimentary idea of what is happening and where this galaxy is headed but not really enough to act upon."


"That has always been our bane, Evek. Especially when the equations are so damned large."


"What if we can compensate?"


Teverek's interest was grabbed despite his fatigue. "How?"


"By entering our actions into the equation. What if we act! And then enter that information into the algorithm making the equations progressive rather than reactionary?"


"There is still a problem with the reliability of the data itself.. Your contribution as a Jedi has been phenomenal but let's be honest, you can only review so fast. You can only get a sense of so much... Now, if we had hundreds of people just like you.."


"I have an idea. It's dangerous. It will either make us or break us and is the riskiest gamble we will ever have made. Teverek, if you agree to this, and if it works, not only will the Project reach as far as it could ever go, we will be in a position to reshape this galaxy back to the ideals we so cherish. We can bring liberty and freedom back!"


Teverek's eyes narrowed. "I just have to go out on a limb with a debt to a loan-shark for half a million credits?"


Evek looked severe. "Teverek, if this works, the success of the Project, the success of the galaxy will rest in your hands."


"With me in the hands of a loan-shark named Oloh."


Evek waved his hands, "Forget about Oloh. The Project will protect you.."


"It hasn't been doing a good job so far.." Teverek complained.


"Because we cannot meet it's needs. And now, I think I've figured out a way we can."


"What is the money for?" Teverek asked suspiciously.


And Evek told him..




*


"You are insane!" Teverek shouted. "I will not do it! I canno--"


"Whether by my hand, the Empire's hand or other such despot, WE ALL WILL DIE! THIS GALAXY WILL BLEED UNTIL THERE IS NOTHING LEFT!" Evek shouted back. "As hard and as fast as Gash Jiren fights to push back the darkness, he's but one man! And one man cannot make a whole hell of a lot of difference. Not as things are!"


Teverek stared at his friend. "Evek, we've been on this project too long...We've felt the weight of the galaxy on our shoulders because of this Project. We've sacrificed so much to it that perhaps we've lost sight of something. You say one man cannot make a difference. But we are only two? How can two men succeed where one cannot? What difference does one more really make?"


Evek's eyes narrowed slightly frowning at his words being used against him. "Tev, if you want to leave the Project, you can. If you want to go start a family before yet another Imperial battlefleet renders them to ash, then go. Enjoy the time you have left. I .. I cannot."


The Jedi lowered his head. "I just..." He paused as if in thought. "We started this, Tev, you and I. And we have sacrificed the most. This is the last leap and I am asking you for a little faith, I guess. Have faith that this will work.


Tev, my friend. Take this leap with me. One more... one last time."



Teverek stood there watching Evek hold out his hand. After a moment, his hand clasped Evek's and he felt as if some sort of weight just lifted. The feeling that the finish line was just in sight was stronger now more than ever.


Evek Jiren suddenly began to pace. "Now, this is what we need to do..." he turned. "Have you ever heard of the Utropollus star system?"


Teverek shook his head and Jiren began talking again.


There is no going back after this...