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"On approach to Xocra III," Syrra informed the others over the com. "Weather system is drizzly, be prepared for a little bit of bumpiness on the way down."

"Got that, Syrra," a feminine voice said through her earpiece. "The councilman has his things gathered up, we're ready to disembark when you're ready."

The Trianii Jedi nodded, shooting a grin to the wolf on her left. "Kinda nice to have a relatively peaceful mission for a change, isn't it?"

"Heh, for sure," Kajex agreed, pulling back the throttle and easing the ship downwards into the green-tinted moon below them. "All that Sentinel training I put you through paid off in the end. I'm glad you were able to keep up with me after everything we've been through."

"I had the best teacher," she beamed back at him.

It was no secret to anybody aboard the _Gold Rush_that Kajex was something of a specialist when it came to mercy missions, having performed them since the time of the Jedi Purge; even before having an entire crew of seven on his ship, he had taken on such jobs by himself and generally come out on top. Working with the Jedi Order as a Sentinel had given him more frequent (if not nearly as lucrative) job opportunities, and with his packmates there to help they had also become significantly easier. While it was far from the first time Syrra had accompanied him on such operations, it was the first time he had allowed her to lead- a position which she had performed exceptionally well in. An entire cadre of thugs had kidnapped a councilman named Calep for ransom, hidden away in a forest fortress on a backwater planet along the edge of the Unknown Regions; and yet at no point was the alarm raised, nor a life taken, the councilman having been rescued almost without issue. Syrra's direction had resulted in a perfect extrication without anyone the wiser.

The wolf chuckled, a hint of pride on his features. "It helps that you were the best student." With a few taps on his console he set the ship to an automated descent, turning his seat to look to the white wolf seated behind Syrra. "Got a lock on their comm tower?"

"Signal is clear, they know we're coming," Locke confirmed. "But a bit more, too. Master Skywalker is hailing our comm and wants to speak with us after we've dropped off our charge."

"That's not much like him," Kajex remarked with an arched eyebrow. "He normally waits until we're back at the Praxeum before he assigns us something new. Did he say what he wanted?"

"Not specifically, but he emphasized said it might be of moderate urgency," Locke informed him with a slight frown. "It'd be best not to keep him waiting, we should finish up what's left here and then see what he wants. Hopefully it's nothing to do with the Black Tomb pack."

"I doubt it's about them, or else Master Moarn would be the one contacting us; but we'll get to Luke the moment we're able," the Sentinel agreed.

In minutes, the Gold Rush had penetrated the moon's atmosphere, patches of clouds jostling what might have otherwise been a smooth flight to the surface. All the while Kajex kept his eyes on long-range sensors, noting with slight dismay that there did not seem to be any orbital defense patrols around the planet, nor mid-altitude patrols. Though they'd been told the world was fairly spartan in terms of military presence, the wolf could see why the councilman's capture had been relatively easy to pull off. Making a note to bring it up upon disembarking, he shifted his focus towards the comm tower in the distance, a pillar of rock nearly a mile away; a pulsing red light was all the visual direction it offered to direct him towards his destination.

They reached what was clearly a rustic set of well-constructed landing pads, in the middle of a forest field; a small series of buildings surrounded the pads, forming a simple but well-populated starport. The wolf's eyes scanned the buildings, noticing a knot of humans approaching the landing pad he was setting down at. By the time his landing gear touched down, the group was halfway there.

"Welcoming committee?" Syrra guessed, breaking the wolf out of his distraction.

"Looks like," he agreed, noticing that a pair of humans were carrying a cargo container between them. He powered down the ship, getting to his feet and bringing a paw up to his headset. "Rook, we ready?"

"Old man Calep's got his things and I'm takin' him to the hatch," a voice chirped back at him. "We'll be outside."

He heard the ramp disengaging, and at the same moment the group of civilians rushed forward as one with looks of elation on their faces. Kajex managed a satisfied smile before turning from the cockpit and exiting, as he and Syrra crossed the length of the ship toward the hatch, where excited sounds and voices were filtering from. Once they reached the top of the ramp they were treated to the sight of several young people embracing the elderly councilman. The elder was gray-haired and gray-bearded, dressed in simple but well-tailored robes denoting his position; the woman and children who were holding him close were similarly-dressed, markedly different from the mob of folks of similar attire. Only a handful of them were clothed in a way that suggested they visited other worlds, and it was only these few who were armed with blasters.

The woman who still held to her husband turned her eyes to the wolf, a teary and grateful expression on her face. "Thank you so much, Jedi Masters," she choked out. "Thank you for bringing my husband, our leader, back safely. We... there were days we feared he would..." But she did not finish, shaking her head. "Thank you," she repeated.

"A sentiment we all share here," another elder said warmly, bowing to the crew. "I'm Elder Chesua, one of the other councilmen for this colony. It was I who sent the request to your Jedi Order for help- I'm pleased that it was carried out in such short order, we'd been worried sick."

"It was our pleasure and duty to help," Syrra told her kindly, as she and Kajex bowed to them. "Thankfully the thugs who took him weren't that bright, I doubt they even know they were visited and are missing their prisoner."

"I had my partner lead the mission this time, and you could hardly find anybody better to pull it off," the wolf said proudly, thumping his fiancee on the back with a satisfied chuff. "Councilman Calep was in good hands this entire time."

"I certainly felt that way, from the moment they broke into my cell," the elder sighed in relief. "These Jedi have been nothing but kind to me." He broke away from his family, facing the crew. "There is no way I can repay this debt to you, but if there is anything I can do or offer as payment for my safe return--"

"It won't be necessary," Syrra insisted firmly, shaking her head. "This is our duty, what we were trained to do." A throat cleared from behind her and Syrra's ear flicked, a wan smile on her muzzle. "Aside from Rook, of course, but she's already being paid. And it's not like she doesn't like helping."

"Bit light on action, if you ask me," the albino otter shrugged. "But I get why sneaking in was the smart decision. Glad to have helped all the same. Still, I might make a suggestion- get yourselves some security forces around here. We saw what those kark-suckers were packin' when we rescued your friend, and they aren't foolin' around."

"There aren't many mercenaries out here willing to take jobs from isolated settlements like ours," Chesua sighed. "Not ones that come cheap."

Kajex rubbed his chin a moment, turning to Talrik as they reached a group of buildings lined along a stone-paved road. "Could get a couple of Antarian Rangers here, maybe. If they can get you guys started on forming a militia, that could be a good start. What do you think, kit?"

"We can work out the details with Master Skywalker and Lieutenant Barnn," the fox said with a nod, "maybe even get a weapon donations going to help. If he sees the need, Master Skywalker might send a Jedi to oversee it, even."

"We'll have to talk to Master Skywalker as it is," the wolf reasoned, holding his paw out to Chesua. "I'll be sure to mention it to him."

"Thank you," the elder said gratefully, shaking the wolf's paw. "For now, please stay as long as you need- we'll have your ship refueled free of charge. It's the least we can do for a light in the darkness of the Unknown Regions."

A few hours later the Gold Rush was refueled and ready to launch, a crate of valuable trade goods settled in the cargo bay. Feeling Syrra had done an exemplary job leading the mission for once, he allowed her to be the one to perform the liftoff while the rest of the crew gathered in the lounge; Locke followed her, intending to contact the Jedi Praxeum. Usually utilized for entertainment in the form of holographic action simulators and card games, Kajex had rigged the table to also act as a holoprojector, linked into the ship's communication systems.

"Think Skywalker has something else lined up for us so soon?" Rook suggested, flopping into a seat lazily. "Hopefully it'll be something with a little more action in it, this last one was a snoozer. If I didn't like you guys so much I'd probably be looking for a way outta my contract with Syrra; no offense."

"You can always check in with the New Republic and see if they want help tracking down and eradicating Project: Blackwing ghouls from the Omega-Orr," Kajex suggested with a half-smile. "I'm sure they won't turn down one of the badasses that fought and survived that mission."

"Ugh, hard pass," Rook sighed. "Every time I think of them, I think of that gross smell in the reactor."

"Patching through, Kajex!" a voice from the cockpit shouted. "Should be coming up any minute now!"

"Gotcha, Locke," the wolf replied, getting to his feet as the table sprung to life. The ghostly, translucent image of a human male in black Jedi robes started to form before him. In seconds, the figure of Luke Skywalker was standing in the middle of the table, bearing a calm expression as he bowed to the wolf. "Sentinel Surnahm, it's good to see you and your pack are well."

"Likewise, Luke," Kajex replied with a bow of his own. "The mission was a success, we managed to rescue the elder without incident; no deaths or damages to report, Syrra had it handled perfectly."

"Excellent work, I'll be sure to note that when you file the report," the Jedi Master said, looking satisfied. "Can you give me a brief rundown of what happened?"

"The settlement was pressured by a local gang of pirates to provide resources for a protection racket," Keris answered. "They'd made several vague threats before kidnapping one of the settlement councilmen while he was en route to another colony to work out a trade deal. Kajex tracked their communications with the help of Rook's smuggler scrambler, leading us to another habitable world in the system. Syrra took charge, sliced their security to render them blind, while the rest of us got the old man out and back to the ship."

"Simple, but effective," Luke nodded. "Do you expect any retaliation?"

"They were pretty well-armed," Rook put in. "Dunno if they've got the balls, but they've got the tech to hurt a lot of people. Told the other councilman, what's-his-name, that he should hire a security force to keep their colony safe."

"We were going to suggest maybe sending a few Antarian Rangers to train up a militia," Talrik added. "If you could forward the idea to Captain Barnn, I'm sure he'd agree to it."

"An excellent idea, Ranger Lye," Luke replied. "I'll speak with him the next opportunity I'm able to- and I'll go one further by sending a Knight and Padawan to the colony. Maybe we can negotiate some deal with the New Republic to better keep an eye on the region, which brings me to my next point; I've another task for you."

Kajex's ears perked up at that. "Another? So soon?"

"You've more than lived up to my expectations as Jedi Knights, I'm proud of each of you- particularly as I didn't need a direct hand in you reaching your ranks." The Jedi Master hesitated, an apologetic expression painting his features. "That's why I must apologize for reach out to you with an extra bit of work I would like for you to perform. I'm sure you are all anxious to get back to the Inspired so you can continue to train the Black Tomb pack, especially you, Kajex; but as you're already near the Unknown Regions you're in a prime position to take on this task, and you're also one of the most experienced teams I have in dealing with unusual situations that many of my other Jedi are not used to."

Kajex glanced to the rest of the crew, eyes flicking to Locke and Syrra as they entered the lounge and bowed to Luke. While it was true he was eager to get back to the Black Tomb wolves to further their Jedi training, he did not feel any particular rush. "I'm sure you wouldn't have contacted us if you didn't think we were right for the job," the wolf reasoned. "If we're the closest to the situation, then it only makes sense to tap us for it. What do you need?"

"There have been reports of refugees coming to the New Republic from the Unknown Regions from at least a dozen planets. It's not a tremendous surge of displaced people, but the influx is enough that the Senate has expressed some concern that there is more going on in the region that we aren't aware about." He glanced to Miles. "As you're all no doubt aware, Grand Admiral Thrawn spent an inordinate amount of time in the Unknown Regions under Emperor Palpatine's orders. While we're still not completely sure what he accomplished in all that time, it's been theorized that he didn't leave the region completely unattended when he returned to the Imperial Remnant. We've yet to gain any viable information about whatever threat is causing this exodus, other than it has caused surface-side destruction on several planets and resulted in government coups. The NRI has suggested there may be a connection to Thrawn."

"With respect, I don't believe that for a moment," Miles said resolutely. The former stormtrooper folded his arms and turned to Kajex. "Enemy though he was to the New Republic, Thrawn was still a brilliant tactical leader who put a lot of emphasis on establishing order on the planets he conquered. Planet-side destruction, ruining cities, installing a government of their own, and causing people to leave the systems; that's the kind of thing you could reasonably expect from most of the Imperial Remnant- but that is categorically not Thrawn's style of leadership."

"How so?" Syrra asked. "Not that I'm doubting, but you served under him, you'd probably know best."

"If this were a plan Thrawn implemented, we wouldn't know about it until it was already too late- he'd have set up blockades and communication disruptions to prevent word getting out. Also, Thrawn was content to let people rule their world as long as they followed the rules of the Empire. He wouldn't have installed any replacement government, not when he could have convinced conquered world to be amenable to change. And I seriously doubt he would have allowed someone who would resort to that kind of style to lead any force under his command," he added.

"I'm inclined to agree," Locke nodded. "This is likely something completely different. With the Imperial Remnant on the other side of the galaxy, I feel like we can rule them out as well."

"In that case, it's all the more important that you go into the Unknown Regions proper and investigate what you can," Luke replied, a look of worry furrowing his brow. "I'd like you to take at least two weeks in the sector. Start with Terminus, it's a hub for traffic in and out of the Outer Rim and Unknown Regions. From there you should be able to pick up a lead. No matter what you find in those two weeks, return here afterward- sooner, if you've figured out what's behind all of this."

"Alright, Master Skywalker. We'll take today for a break, and start first thing tomorrow morning." Kajex looked to the rest of the crew, who gave silent nods in turn. "In the meantime, can you keep a close eye on the Black Tomb pack and let them know we'll be back as soon as we can?"

"I'll let them know personally," Master Skywalker said with a smile. "Good luck, and may the Force be with you all."

The trip to Terminus was short and uneventful, something Rook seemed ready to grouse about up until the point Miles started to keep her interests diverted to the ship's card table in the evenings. With no local Bounty Hunter's Guild outpost for her to draw info from, the otter's ability to contribute was diminished, leaving the rest of the crew to focus on finding leads. For a full three days the Jedi members of the pack, aided by Talrik's linguistic expertise, approached every venue, business, and local law enforcement post for information about the goings-on in the Unknown Regions. Having years of experience in investigative work, Kajex could tell there was an undertone of unrest in many people; in many ways it reminded him of the years leading up to the fall of the Republic and the rise of the Galactic Empire, save that there was little sense of unity or pushback. There was no organization in the Unknown Region; as populated as it was, it was mainly isolationist.

Nevertheless, the influx of travelers looking to leave the region had not gone unnoticed by the population of Terminus, though very little information came of it that was of any real use. Those on the run said little about why the left; few who saw them leave wanted to know why; and they were seldom around long enough to be asked by those who did wish to know. Talrik's ability to handle languages proved useful only to an extent, as the vast amount of alien species unknown to the New Republic limited him to those that understood and could speak trade languages; even the local Duros pilots had remarked that they found it difficult to communicate with so many different tongues.

Their perseverance paid off in the end; by the end of the fourth day, Kajex had returned to the group with a hurried pace, drawing the attention of the rest of the pack as they had settled down to dinner. "Finally stumbled on something," he said, tossing his satchel aside.

The rest of the pack perked up, forgetting their meals at once and pressuring the wolf with a flurry of questions spoken over each other. It was Syrra's voice that carried through. "We were wondering where you were. What did you manage to find?"

The Sentinel sighed and got into one of the empty seats. "Managed to talk to one of the workers at Terminus Alpha Station's orbital control tower. Most OCT and ACT workers aren't that nosy, but this lady seemed a bit concerned about a recent arrival that had been revisiting the station's terminals every day. She figured he would have moved on by now, but he hadn't; so I got her to point me his way, and as luck would have it he was able to speak Basic pretty well."

"Someone from one of the affected planets?" Locke asked.

"The most recently affected, in fact," he acknowledged. "Poor guy was waiting on his wife and kid, he was told they were going to be on the next transport after his. He was a government worker, low-level, but just high enough that he and his family were part of the planetary evacuation- though he described it as a political evacuation more than anything." He leaned back in his seat. "He didn't have many details, only that the higher-ups were getting 'replaced' by whatever was assaulting these worlds. There wasn't any major conflict. Near as he can tell, their governor was told to peacefully give control of his planet to this faction, but the terms were refused, and a fight broke out. In less than a week that same government and its security forces were routed by who-the-hell-knows-what, and the governor issued an evacuation, claiming they would be a government-in-exile."

"In less than a week?" Miles repeated, frowning. "That's... way too fast. A military force big enough to take total control of a planet through strength of arms is not something I'd ever categorize as 'small.' Not even Thrawn would be able to pull that off, if he were somehow forced into a full-fledged fight with limited resources. It would have taken more time."

"Did they say which planet it was?" Syrra pressed.

"A cryospheric moon name Relia, about half a sector away," the wolf answered. "Pretty cold year-round, but very habitable. No telling if we'd even be welcome there, but it might at least be worth investigating." The pack looked around to each other. "If nothing else," the wolf added, "this is a lead we can follow. We might risk missing something if we pass this up, and if there are people suffering as a result of this..."

"We shouldn't stand by then," Locke cut in. "The New Republic held back with Almania, and they suffered for it; these people don't have the New Republic, so that leaves us."

"I agree," Syrra said slowly, looking concerned. "But let's take it slow all the same. Hopefully when we get there, we'll have a better idea of what's going on."

By the time they were scheduled to drop out of hyperspace to their final destination, everyone had gotten into their positions on the ship, ready to come out swinging if it was somehow required. All three cannons on the Gold Rush were manned and ready, Locke was waiting on the communications terminal, and both Kajex and Syrra's grip on their controls were tight, prepared for the worst. The Sentinel took a moment to turn his eyes away from the blue tunnel of hyperspace, glancing at his co-pilot and trading a wordless acknowledgment that they were ready, before grabbing the handle and easing them out of lightspeed.

The ship lurched and the tunnel dissipated, transitioning into thousands of streaks of light, compressing into dots of far-off stars in the space of a heartbeat. A soft thud jostled the ship as it returned to realspace, sublight engines rumbling behind them as they put in work. Ahead, a white and green sphere could be seen against the backdrop of an ominous-looking gas giant of dark gray, with a yellow star casting light upon both.

"Yes, we're there now, kids," Kajex quipped.

"'Bout time, Dad," Rook snickered through their headsets. "Don't look like much there, can't imagine anyone goin' to the trouble of takin' it over."

"Just because we don't know for sure doesn't mean there isn't anything of value," Keris said.

"Picking up anything, Locke?" Kajex asked, turning in his seat.

The white wolf held up his paw, brow furrowed as he said nothing for a few seconds. "Two transmissions, different signal strengths. The first is an automated message coming from what seems to be the largest populated center on the planet, on the far side; it's just a looped communication, warning off-worlders not to interfere with the transition of the new government." He looked back at Kajex. "It doesn't say what their intentions are."

"I'm not seeing any orbital traffic in the area," Syrra told them, frowning at their sensors. "Nothing in low orbit or in the atmosphere, either. Sensors are picking up tech signs here and there, but nothing that would suggest a military deployment."

"What about the other transmission?" Kajex asked, turning his attention back to the planet. A feeling of uncertainty was bubbling in him.

"It's also looped, and seems to be coming from a less-powered point of origin; probably a single ship, it's pointing its signal off-planet. The feed is too weak, though, I don't-- wait." The white wolf tensed up, eyes widening. A few moments passed before he flicked a few switches and faced the Sentinel. "You'll want to hear this, Kajex."

A soft burst of static filled their headsets, white noise hissing a few moments followed by the tearing of the transmission, at this point anything but clean and clear. But after a few seconds the hissing died down, a male voice on the other end speaking in Basic.

"- injured, but have tended my wounds. My ship is wrecked, and I require assistance as soon as it can be rendered. Any--... off-world vessels that can hear this signal, do not attempt to alert the local government- they will retaliate viole--... they believe they are being resisted. If you cannot defend yourselves, do not attempt to come for me. This transmission will loop until--"

"I think that fills the criteria of someone who needs our help," Syrra cut in.

"And someone who knows what's going on," Kajex agreed, grabbing the flight yoke and angling the ship towards the planet. "Miles, get the gear ready; Talrik, Rook, stay on your guns until we make landfall, I don't want us to be caught holstered if somebody comes in with cannons blazing."

"Got it, Boss," the otter chirped.

"Got a lock on the signal's location?" the Sentinel asked.

"Feeding them to navigation now," Locke confirmed. "Looks like a series of canyons on the northern continent- it just hit twilight hours and there's a light blizzard, so it's going to be cold." He hesitated. "I can't get a_solid_ lock on the transmission's location, though, just a general area, maybe within a mile. We'll probably have to search on foot." He paused. "And split into groups."

Syrra hissed slightly at the words, and more than a few groans filtered through their headsets. It had only been a few weeks since their previous mission, on an infected Imperial ship crawling with reanimated dead- a situation that had left several of their number injured, and resulted in the loss of Syrra's right arm (now replaced with a cybernetic prosthetic). For Locke to suggest that they split into groups when at several points many of them had been separated was something that made even Kajex uneasy.

And yet, knowing time could be running short for whoever was calling for aid, he relented all the same, sighing with a nod. "I hate to say it, but I agree. If we want this done quickly, we're going to need to work fast. I'll find us a flat piece to land, and we'll divide up into groups of two; Rook is with me, Keris and Syrra, Locke and Talrik. Miles, I want you to hold down the ship and keep our comm lines boosted so we can keep track of each other. We'll give it three hours to look before coming back and spending the night, then giving it one more look before taking off."

"So soon?" Syrra asked.

"Unfortunately, yeah," the wolf replied, bracing himself as they breached the outer atmosphere and hit turbulence. "It's too much to hope for that our ship will go unnoticed. Let's not piss off this new government by overstaying a welcome they haven't even offered us."

An hour later, the Gold Rush was nestled in what had likely once been a canyon reservoir, long since frozen over. In any other situation Kajex would not have risked his ship, but it served as the best landing option available to the pack that could grant them close access to the canyon's entrance; the approximate source of the distress signal, while at the far end of the canyon, could not be reached given the unstable terrain. The closest outpost to them on the planet was some few hundred miles away, and as they had slipped through the atmosphere with relative silence they had not been hailed at any point.

Not that they hadn't taken reasonable precautions.

"Are we still safe on comms, Miles?" Kajex asked, pulling his jacket in closer to ward off the cold.

"Rook's smuggler scrambler is working, tri-layered encryption," the soldier confirmed, his voice crackling in the wolf's headset. "Nobody will hear this but us, especially if we keep transmission bursts under twenty seconds."

"Toldya my scrambler was awesome," the otter smirked, leaning on her polearm and giving the wolf a nod. On her brow was a head-mounted torch, the bright beam illuminating through the thick snow.

A sigh of relief- anything to keep them all hidden from unwanted eyes. "Good, I want us kept that way. Were you able to pinpoint the downed ship?"

"Still can't get a half-solid lock on it, sorry Boss. And we won't be able to get a clear readout of the canyon system until morning, but I can trigger the floodlights so you can see us on the way back. In any case, the canyon didn't seem to twist and turn; just keep heading east until you find something. Storm system looks like it's only going to get worse, so don't take too long- come back if you think you'll get snowed in."

"Copy that," the wolf shivered, glancing at the armored otter at his side and pushing forward. "Keep us updated."

"Don't worry 'bout him, Boss," Rook advised. "He's got it easier than us, he's got a place to hole up, and all the firepower he needs to hold off a battalion of stormtroopers. It's you that needs the protection, and that's why you got me."

"I'm fine, Rook, but Miles--"

"Is a trained soldier, love," she cut him off. "Everyone at your back is good to fight, you know that. Don't let the one mission where one of us lost a limb make you think different; you know Syrra doesn't mind."

"I... I know," Kajex sighed. "I'm just worried we'll finally meet something we can't handle on our own. But thanks, kid."

She gave him a genuine smile. "Your fiancee might've hired me to look after your butt, but that don't mean I don't care about you, either. We can handle ourselves, and with how we got surface-side, I seriously doubt we're gonna hit any trouble." She peered out into the darkness ahead, the headlamp giving them only minor visibility up to twenty feet ahead. "Apart from freezing our butts off in cold weather," she amended herself with a shiver. "I pity the poor bastard that got caught out here injured. Hopefully their ship is on fire so they have something warm to hang out near."

"I saw some thermal signatures down here, so they might have set up a shelter," the wolf reasoned, trying to speak above the blizzard. "Locke, Syrra, talk to me."

"We're here," the white wolf responded, keeping his torch forward through the flurry. "No signs yet. Our part of the canyon is dry, footing is fine, but keep your eyes open for patches of ice."

"And falling bits of snow from overhead," Talrik added with a whine, shaking out what was left of the snow clump that had landed over his ears. With a hiss he dug out a bit of ice out of his ear. "Dammit, that's cold."

"Will you be alright?" Locke asked with a smile, brushing a bit more snow off the younger man.

"Should be fine," the fox nodded, dusting off the last bit and following his partner down the canyon; a lamp strapped to his rifle gave additional illumination. "I should be asking you that, though. I'm glad I kept my thermal body glove from when I was a stormtrooper, but all you guys have are your robes and a couple of jackets."

"We'll be fine, Talrik," Syrra said through the headset. "The Force will keep us warm through this- and Rook is too hot-blooded to get frozen."

"Damn right I am!" the otter boasted through the comms.

The pair continued their trek, lights scanning the coarse, dark gray rocks around them. Before long, Talrik spoke, keeping his comm off. "So... what do you think, Locke? What could be causing trouble in these parts?"

"I'm curious why you'd ask me, kit," the wolf replied. "Not that the Empire hasn't had plans for the Unknown Regions before, but it's not something I'd know about."

"I meant more what you're feeling through the Force," the fox clarified, eyes flicking overhead, then back down straight ahead of them. "Are you getting any strong vibes? I figured you were connected enough that you'd know if something bad was on the horizon."

"There always is," Locke said quietly. "True peace is but a dream, there will always be some chaos somewhere. The best we can hope for is to bring balance where we can. And it's never a good idea to focus too much on the future; there's always a chance it could change, sometimes for the better." He glanced at the fox. "But if you want an opinion on what's happening_immediately_, then I'll be generous enough to say that I'm not worried about losing anyone today."

"So we're good then?" Talrik said with a hopeful look.

"I didn't say that, either," the wolf said cautiously, stopping and looking above them. "There's... something here. I don't know what or where it is, but I get the feeling something has been watching us."

Talrik stopped too, looking around them with his rifle held ready. "Hostile?"

"It doesn't feel hostile," Locke said, his brow furrowed. "But it feels... foreign."

The pair traded looks, and Locke was about to continue, to suggest they keep moving at a quicker pace- until the fox held up a paw, looking around them. For a few moments they said nothing, scanning the snow-filled air ahead of them.

Then, without warning, the snow seemed to cease altogether. The wind, which had been strong enough to howl softly through the echoing canyon walls, quieted to almost nothing. What had once been a flurry of ice was now reduced to a few snowflake fluttering gently to the canyon floor. The only sound now was from the two men breathing, the subtle shift in their position causing the snow to crunch beneath their boots, and a subtle, eerie moan that seemed to creep out from the surrounding darkness. The silence held between them, as chilling as the ambient air, each of them straining to hear what was ahead.

From seemingly nowhere a soft song filtered into their ears, each high-pitched note mournful and cold, piercing the frosty air. For several seconds the song held them in place, equal parts beautiful and sad, though not captivating enough that their eyes failed to focus around them. It ended as abruptly as it began, leaving them in cold silence again.

"... A flute?" Talrik whispered.

Before Locke could answer, a surge of alarm coursed through every nerve in his body. Eyes wide he lurched to the side and shouldered into Talrik, knocking the younger man to the ground with a yelp; at the same moment his paw caught the shaft of his lightsaber pike, swinging it around just in time to intercept and counter-slash a glowing blade of purple. Talrik hit the snow and slid a few feet, leaving Locke to rush in and ignite his weapon, the silver-blue blade illuminating the space around him and revealing his attacker.

In one gloved hand was an active lightsaber, held forward in a calm offensive stance with the point towards the wolf; he wore a bomber jacket of black and forest-green, military-style trousers. But the white wolf's eyes were focused on their face, in many ways no different from his own- a long, canine muzzle on a masculine face, wolfish ears, and a violet that matched the hue of his blade, almost subtle against their pitch black fur. In many ways he seemed so much alike the Kanj'Isha, the species Locke and his brother were a part of. What this figure lacked was familiarity- when it had been Locke meeting Kajex, the two had immediately recognized the other as kin, as members of the same species. With a distrustful glare, Locke raised his weapon, ready to fight and protect his pack.

He did not in any way recognize this wolf as one of his own.

There was no time to investigate further or ask him questions, as the black wolf crossed the distance between them with frightening speed. The white wolf's heart leapt as he met his foe, the shadow striking with unnatural strength and speed in his opening overhand blow; it took effort for Locke to weather it, paws rattling with the force of the hit as he blocked and pushed it away with a grunt. The figure moved in with confident footwork, weaving their blade around the Jedi Guardian in smooth, quick slashes that kept him on the back foot. He could only spare a glance at Talrik as the fox got to his knees.

"Call it in, we've got someone with a lightsaber here!" he shouted.

The wide-eyed fox nodded and started shouting into his headset, but Locke could spare no focus on what he was saying, trying to regain his footing to turn the tide against his assailant. The figure swung high and the wolf ducked, swinging the blunt end of his shaft into their leg and staggering them long enough for him to bash the midshaft against their chest, backing them up far enough for Locke to maintain his best range; but not quick enough that his enemy didn't plant a boot in his stomach, winding him briefly.

"You fight well," the black wolf said in calm, almost vaguely interested voice. "Or perhaps you've simply learned to kill well. Are you a warrior or a monster, I wonder- I suspect you wonder the same thing."

Locke's glare grew hot as he panted to regain his breath. "Neither. I'm a Jedi Guardian."

"A mere title- it does not tell me who you are." He breathed in, closing his eyes. "Pain... suffering... grief... no more will you bring. You _will_bow down."

"I pulled from the darkness, and was freed," Locke replied. "I will _never_bow to it again."

Before either of them could say another word, three blasts exploded from his left; he barely had enough time to see Talrik's blaster rifle send a three-burst barrage at their assailant. But with trained agility the black wolf turned and twisted his blast, catching all three bolts and sending them away, before reaching out with his free paw. With a yelp Talrik was pulled forward, his rifle flying out of his grip as he was sent face-first into the snow. He looked back up with a gasp, a thin layer of ice on his muzzle and brow, but shrunk back as the ebony wolf held his blade only inches from his nose.

"This one has no value in a fight like this, and bears deeper wounds than most soldiers know," he said. "You should release him before he gets himself killed- or runs out on you."

Sensing a lapse in attention Locke darted in, smacking the foe's blade away from the fox and allowing him to back up as the white wolf reentered the fray. The tide shifted as the Jedi Guardian fought, using a series of shallow cuts and jabs at the assailant's limbs, keeping them on the backfoot and striking hard and fast enough to give them no opportunity to counterattack. Every blow Locke performed, he would pull back fast enough to begin another before the other could retaliate. The black wolf backed up against a shadowed canyon wall, with no room to run- with a smooth exhale Locke lunged in and stabbed his pike forward, his well-aimed strike going directly for the ebony wolf's shoulder.

At the same moment, he disappeared.

Locke's eyes widened, watching as his silver-blue blade sank into the stone ahead and gouged into it. Where the strange wolf had once been, there was only shadow- and a pair of violet eyes peering back at the Guardian for a fraction of a second before they vanished without a trace. He stepped away, getting back into a defensive stance and turning to Talrik- the fox had stopped shouting into his headset, frozen into silence by the sight, his muzzle agape.

"Talrik... did you see that?" Locke asked slowly.

"I wish I hadn't, but yeah," the fox said in a hushed voice.

He turned to the fox. "The others- did you--"

"I can't," the fox cut him off. "Communications are disrupted, I don't know what's causing it. It can't be jamming, the Gold Rush is using two boosters to keep us connected."

"Then we need to get back to the rest of the pack and warn them," Locke said, helping the fox back up.

"Kajex?"

No answer.

Keris held off a few more seconds before trying again. "Locke, Talrik, do you read me?"

Silence.

The vixen looked up with a worried expression, hesitating to speak. Before she could, her feline partner cut her off. "If they were hurt or dead, we'd feel it," she said resolutely, her paw clenched around her lightsaber. "It sounds like our comm line is out, somehow."

"We can't stay here," Keris responded, getting to her knees. "Either push on or go back, but we need to contact them." Syrra nodded and followed suit, finding a dry spot in the canyon to get into a kneeling position. Almost as one, both women took in a deep breath, settling into meditation and reaching out with the Force.

The Trianii did not need to see her friend in order to feel her presence; and while a shadow seemed to blanket the area around them, shrouding their vision and senses, she could still feel the bond that tied her to her pack. Some distance away she could feel Kajex do the same thing, her fiancee touching her essence briefly before skirting away to look for his brother. He was, for the time being, safe and unharmed, a comfort to the feline's nerves. Yet she still felt the sting of conflict Locke had experienced, reaching out to him. Blinding as the shadow left her, she could still feel his warmth- he was alive.

Through the shadow, his voice rang out in her head."Defend yourself, Syrra!"

It almost felt as if both the Force and Locke had guided her reactions, the feline bowing her head quickly and blocking the lightsaber slash with her right paw. The purple blade clashed against her songsteel prosthetic and bounced away harmlessly, giving her the time to jump back up to her feet, Jedi weapon in hand. In one smooth motion she activated her blade and twisted, catching the enemy's attack and batting it away. A snap-hiss to her right drew her attention, the vixen rushing in to defend her friend and lover with a vicious slash.

The black wolf leaned back casually, the tip of the blade barely an inch from his nose as he backstepped calmly, deflecting Keris next two jabs before flourishing his blade and pointing it at each of them in turn. "The child who gave up nobility and responsibility for hedonism; and the hedonist attempting to be noble and responsible. Each trying to convince themselves of their path, each unable to justify it."

"Riddle-speak," Keris scoffed. "You're not the first person who thought they knew me and ended up with more than they bargained for."

"I'm sure those to whom you sold your body to valued you even less," the ebony wolf countered with a sneer. "You have no hope, you exist only to drag your 'friend' down with you."

Syrra held her head up defiantly. "I don't care who you are, or if you're a Kanj'Isha or not- never speak ill of my family again." She got into her Soresu guard position, peering directly at him. "What did you do to Locke and Talrik?"

"They are unharmed- for now," he replied with a subtle growl, raising his weapon back up. "Linger and longer and that will change for all of you. Return to your ship and leave, and do not interfere- I will deal with you and your Jedi in due time."

The two women traded glances- the only thing it took for them to come to a silent agreement. As a pair they sprang forward and attacked, Syrra shifting her stance and leaping into the air, kicking off against the canyon wall with an overhead slash; the wolf battered the attack away, angling his weapon around and sweeping it to repel Keris' first stab, reverse-sweeping the second as he backed up. The sound of Syrra's boots crunching loudly into the snow was drowned out by the crash of her blade as she spun and struck at his back; he had, with tremendous speed, spun around and blocked the blow. Now he was caught in a pincer between them, rotating with expert footwork as he defended their attacks with what must have been decades of training; a mix of subtle dodges and a bulwark defense kept him standing as the seconds wore on.

Keris lunged and he sidestepped and spun, diverting her blade and catching her wrist with his free paw. From his new position he slammed the pommel of his weapon into her gut, doubling her over; a second bash to her forehead caused her to stagger back; a final spin and he raised his boot landing a roundhouse kick across her muzzle with enough power to drop any trained soldier. It was only her natural balance and training in Makashi that allowed her to spin with the blow, her boots digging into the snow as she slid back three meters, creating gouges in the snow. A trickle of boot leaked from her nose, and yet it was with a defiant, bloody spit that she signaled she was still able to fight.

In the seconds that followed he'd focused on Syrra, the Trianii now becoming a veritable dervish of light; her weapon cut through the air at lethal angles as she pressured his defenses, shifting low and high to cut at his ankles or slash at his head. A slash at her feet and she was in the air, bringing her blade down at his head. An overhead block and he thrust his palm out, sending her flying into the canyon wall. Her nerves sang with moderate pain as her back hit the stone, and by the time she landed on her feet he was on her, aiming slash at her thighs. With a heave she backstepped into the wall and planted her foot against the stone, kicking off it and lunging over the sweep gracefully, rolling through the snow and back to her feet, ready to charge at her foe again.

... Only to find him gone.

The Trianii stared at the spot he'd occupied when she last saw him, hoping it wasn't a trick of light. "Where...?"

"He vanished," Keris said, approaching the spot cautiously. "I saw it, it was like he just... faded into the shadows. I've learned a lot about Force illusions, I can see through anything Master Moarn shows me, but..."

Unwilling to deactivated her weapon, she turned to the vixen. "Sith technique?"

"If it is, I've never heard of it," the vixen replied grimly. "But he seemed to wait until he was near the shadows to do it." A slight growl escaped her muzzle. "I hate this... I feel like this bastard is toying with us; talking down to you and me and then acting like this wasn't a serious fight."

"We need to let Kajex know," Syrra responded, calming herself and calling on her Force bond with her fiancee. Within moments, she had latched on to Kajex's essence, mentally gripping to him tighter than normal.

"It's a black wolf attacking us, maybe a Kanj'Isha. Keris and I are okay, but be careful- he can strike and fade from the shadows."

"... Okay... then we might have a problem."

He turned his gaze upwards, frowning at the overhang of stone that millennia of waterflow and ice expansion had formed. Were it not for his lightsaber and both his and Rook's torches illuminating the immediate area, the news would have caused him to pull the both of them out of the hole; except that they had found their target, the charred remains of a small, one-man ship smashed against the end of the canyon.

"I'm a bit trapped here with Rook, but we found the ship. We're giving it one look-over before we leave. It wouldn't be right to pull back from helping an injured man just because of some thug with a lightsaber."

"I understand- just be careful, love."

The feline's concern sparked a warmth in him, and he smiled. _"I will. Get back to the ship, I'll see you soon."_He looked back up at Rook, the otter crouched next to the wreckage.

"What'd she say?" she asked.

"To keep from the shadows- whatever is attacking, it's able to phase through them somehow."

"Dammit... Sith are getting creepier with their techniques," she shuddered.

"I don't think it's a Sith we're dealing with," the wolf replied darkly, nodding to the damaged ship. "What do you think?"

"Looks like it burned out at least three days ago," Rook estimated, rubbing ash between her fingers and looking up. "But the transponder is still intact, and it looks like the signal is still runnin'. No blood, body, or sign of a scuffle, so I'd guess whoever is givin' us a hard time right now either chased the poor guy away- or more likely, this is a trap and we just fell into it."

"If it was a trap, why haven't they tried killing us yet?" Kajex wondered.

"Lotta reasons," she replied, getting to her feet. "You'd still have a price on your head to some people, and capturing a Jedi is still a mark of prestige." She shot him a serious look. "Syrra hired me as your bodyguard, so my job is to get your ass back to the Gold Rush. No time to linger and wait to see if I'm right."

"And miss all the action?" he mused with a slight smile. "I thought you wanted things to liven up a bit."

"I did- but this feels karkin' wrong right now, Boss," she said, shivering slightly. When she turned to look at him, it was with a slightly pleading expression he'd never seen from her before. "Look, if you ever tell anybody I said this I will deny it till you bury me- but... I'm actually a _little_spooked right now, savvy?"

The wolf's smile faded, and he nodded. "Alright, kid. If it's that bad, then you're right- we should get clear and back to the shi--"

He saw it out of the corner of his eye, a subtle shimmer of shadow in the darkness, barely discernible from the light of his Jedi weapon. There was no sound of a lightsaber activating, just the abrupt appearance of a violet blade slashing at him with enough force to make his arms buckle from the block. With a grunt the Sentinel shouldered into his assailant and pushed him away a few steps, far enough and long enough for him to see the black wolf in full.

If Rook was alarmed then she had hidden her shock by the time he saw her rush to his aid, a war cry snarling from her as she whipped her glaive around. A crack filled the canyon, reverberating violently as her lightsaber-resistant polearm slammed against the black wolf's blade. The blow was enough to make him grunt, pushing back against the otter to create space between them.

"The daughter who abandoned her father for another family; and the son who cannot let go of his fathers to focus on his new family," the black wolf muttered. "All falling short of their potential."

Rook's glare was lethal. "You... how did you--"

"I know many things, Mandalorian. You heart cannot hide the sins you carry, less so as you wear yours on your sleeve. But that shall be a secret to keep," he added, staring directly at Kajex. "It may make the betrayal your leader would feel that much deeper."

Kajex glared back at the ebony wolf. "Rook, I don't care one way or the other if you have something to hide. You saved my life, and I'm trusting in that." He held his lightsaber up. "You, though... you're not Kanj'Isha. You've attacked my family without reason. So I don't give a damn what you have to say about me or anyone else- beyond why you're attacking us."

"I am giving you a warning, whelp," the ebony wolf growled. "All of you would rather live in a illusion than in reality, remaining little more than weak cowards. Pain and suffering is what you leave behind. Leave this planet now. Run back to your Jedi Order and tell them to stay out of my affairs. I will deal with every last one of your order in due time."

"Your babbling aside, we're not leaving until you tell us where the pilot to that ship is," Kajex growled back. "I'm sure it wasn't you, you don't sound like the guy in the transmission."

"Why should you care of their welfare, so far from your temple- or of any life that might be saved here?"

"Call it professional compassion," Kajex answered. "Now cut the bullshit and either speak up, or throw down."

"Still eager for a fight, then Sentinel? You were right," the black wolf replied coldly, raising his weapon. "You_do_ have a problem."

As a pair, the Sentinel and Mandalorian approached their ebony assailant cautiously; he stood between them and the way back, cutting them off from escape. It was Kajex who charged in first, weaving his blade through the air with a mastery of the Jedi blade, cultivated over twenty years. The ebony wolf met the assault with his own, his brow furrowed as the pair drew even in their swordplay. The shadowed wolf thrust his palm out, kicking up snow and ice behind the Sentinel, but failing to push him back as Kajex anticipated the assault and dug in; with a pause in the battle now lingering, Rook made her move and darted in.

She struck from the other side, her glaive slashing dangerously through the air at the wolf's torso and head. His defenses held strong, and in the middle of the assault he pushed the otter back with another palm thrust; but while she did fly back with her weapon torn from her paws, she had twisted through the air and landed smoothly on her stomach with her pistol out and a wrist launcher aimed at the black wolf. She squeezed off a barrage of shots and kept him on the backfoot, unable to approach; and with her prone to the ground he could not send back her shots easily. As she continued to fire, her gauntlet shot off a burst over his shoulder, a small disc-shaped device embedding into the wall.

"Kajex, head down!" she barked out, dropping her pistol and slapping a trigger on her wrist with it. The Sentinel backed away and covered his face, just as the ebony wolf turned to see the explosive she had planted behind him.

A deafening burst and a blinding light filled the area around them, amplified by the tighter spaces of the canyon walls to the extent that Kajex's synapses seemed to scream with pain. He staggered back, waiting until the light around him seemed to dim before turning back with his weapon readied. A chill ran through him as he realized the black wolf was nowhere to be seen; in his place was a still brightly-lit flashbang explosive, its remnants giving off enough illumination to brighten the area where he'd been.

Kajex glanced to the otter. "Lights on?"

"You said he was phasing through the shadows," she recalled, getting to her feet. "No shadows, no escape- though he probably scarpered before the thing went off."

The wolf turned his gave back to the footprints left behind by their attacker, edging closer with his weapon still held at the ready. No trace of the ebony wolf remained, and no attack came even as he stood mere feet from the spot.

"See?" the otter said confidently. "Took care of it."

The moment she said it, a feeling not unlike an ice-cold knife being jammed in his heart overwhelmed the Sentinel. He whirled around to face Rook, eyes widening in horror as the black wolf seemed to manifest out of the shadow the otter was casting against the flashbang. He had no time to speak as the wolf raised his fist and brought it against the back of the unaware otter's head; she squeaked, eyes bulging for a moment as she went completely limp, hitting the snow and remaining completely inert. In an instant he could feel the loss of consciousness, the pack bond he'd forged between himself and the otter becoming numb- enough to know she was not dead.

It didn't matter. A white hot fury blazed in him, displacing the frozen feeling in his chest. He didn't wait to trade words with the foe, dashing towards him and renewing his assault twofold. The black wolf fought back, matching his intensity as they traded hits, their cadences sending ear-splitting cracks throughout the canyon. Little by little, however, the Sentinel was winning out, spurred on by the desire to defeat the beast that had assaulted his family and injured a close friend.

"You draw closer to the darkness," the ebon wolf goaded, backing away. "And for what? Beasts, traitors, murderers, liars, or whores?"

"Shut up!" Kajex snarled, battering against the black wolf's guard.

"Keep going, whelp," the shadow continued, and now Kajex could see a dark grin on his muzzle. "And we shall see in the end what you are."

"I can tell you right now- I'm pissed off!" the Sentinel roared, slashing at his head.

The Sentinel's swing was too wild, his balance compromised and leaving him completely open. All the black wolf need was a blast of telekinetic energy buffeted against the Sentinel's chest and tossed him into the opposite canyon wall with bone-crunching force. Kajex gasped as a searing hot pain lanced in his chest, followed by the dull sound of a rib breaking and his lightsaber clattering several feet away. A yelp rang out into the air as he fell to the floor, the pain running through his body and sapping him of his strength, even as the shadow approached.

"No... you are defeated," the black wolf sneered, raising his weapon and holding it over the knelt Sentinel- his boot stepped upon the Sentinel's weapon, keeping it in place. "And as I told your brother... you will bow. If you are the best this galaxy can throw at me, then all should hastened to obey."

"Go to hell," the Sentinel growled back weakly, glaring up at him.

"Someone of your talent and skill could have been so much better, had you focused it on the right things," the black wolf muttered, shaking his head as he stooped to pick up the weapon. "No matter- you'll no longer be needing this."

"That is not yours to take."

It was a new voice, one Kajex had only recently heard, and one that caused him to jerk in surprise as he spotted a new figure standing more than a dozen feet away. The black wolf froze for a moment, then drew his paw away from the Sentinel's weapon and stood back up to face the newcomer.

A gray wolf of similar build and height held a steady gaze at the shadow with cool blue eyes, features painted with disappointment. He wore a jacket of silver blue trousers, both stained with was seemed to be dried blood, and in his right paw was an inactive lightsaber. He depressed a button and a shaft of lethal blue light shot out from the hilt, casting cold illumination around him. He spoke, his voice calm and clear. "Whatever point you're trying to make, it's not sticking, Bezalel. It's me you wanted, after all."

The ebony wolf's ears pinned back in agitation. "It was the best way to draw you out, Maichail," he replied, flourishing his weapon and charging his gray counterpart. "You're here now, after all!"

He opened with an upward sweep of his paw, blasting snow and dirt into the air to hide his first strike, but Maichail was ready for him. Bezalel's wide sweep crashed against the gray wolf's blade, knocked aside by a firm swing; Maichail twisted and a lunged, aiming for the heart, only to miss his mark as Bezalel swept the stab aside. Two feints from the gray wolf and Bezalel slashed wildly, halting Maichail's approach and bringing the fight back on even terms. They charged in again, their vicious attacks tearing through the air and threatening to rend the other apart; only for their defenses to hold tight.

Kajex watched as the two met in combat, violet and blue blades clashing in rapid succession. His brow furrowed as they swung and slashed, their footwork steady and refined. It was unlike any lightsaber style he'd seen, in the old Jedi Order or in the Jedi Praxeum; alien and foreign, though unquestionably effective, it was like watching two storms clashing and melding together in a jar- seemingly chaotic visually, but in truth ordered and inexorable in approach. There was virtually no difference in the styles they were using, methodical and deadly in angle and speed, an even match between them. Where they differed from the wolf was in their demeanor, with little emotion between them as they fought. There was no anger or fear on Maichail's face.

But Kajex did not miss the pain in his eyes.

The positioning shifted, Maichail's back towards Kajex, and the Sentinel winced; a long gash had torn through his jacket and into his back, deep enough that Kajex knew it could only hamper his ability to fight. As if to confirm it, the fog puffing from the new wolf's muzzle was larger and coming more frequently, and as the seconds wore on the Sentinel could even hear Maichail panting, his body straining to keep up. Droplets of blood stained the snow around them, tracking in one direction as Bezalel drove the gray wolf back.

Knowing he had very little time before the fight got worse, Kajex poured his focus into dulling his senses, fighting through the hot pain stabbing him in his left side as he staggered his way towards Rook, taking only a moment to recollect his lightsaber. Neither of the foreign canines reacted to his movement, still immersed in their vicious battle; by now, each had landed grazing blows on the other, shallow burns on their legs and arms that did nothing to lessen their energy. The Sentinel reached his Selonian partner, steeling himself for the worst as he brought his paw to her neck and searched for a pulse.

It was gentle- but it was there.

He'd only just grabbed the otter beneath the arms, hoping to summon the strength to pull her to safety, when Maichail managed to score a slash just above Bezalel's brow, drawing a snarl of pain from him. Almost at once the shadow that had dulled the Sentinel's senses lifted, revealing that his pack was hurrying through the canyon to reach where he was. It was only now that Kajex realized he'd been suppressed the entire time, and now he could feel his pack invading his head.

"We're on our way, Kajex!" Syrra shouted through their bond. "Just hang on!"

He would have responded, but the flow of the fight was shifting again and as the Sentinel started dragging Rook away he witnessed the apex of the struggle, as Bezalel pushed the gray wolf back with a flurry of bladework. With what looked like one last burst of energy, Maichail pushed in and slashed low, aiming for the black wolf's legs- by the time his blade sliced through the snow and ice, Bezalel was in the air, bringing his leg around and landing a boot across Maichail's temple. The gray wolf yelped, flying back several feet and hitting the ground hard; Bezalel stood tall, chin raised with an expression of contempt on his features.

"You should not have interfered, Maichail," he said coldly, approaching the groaning fighter with lightsaber raised.

The Sentinel stopped short, gritting his teeth and realizing what he was about to risk with his next action. With a breath to steel himself he dropped Rook and drew his lightsaber, his body screaming with pain as he forced his body to move past its natural limits. His boots kicked off the frozen stone as he launched himself forward with a burst of speed, snarling in both pain and as a challenge to draw Bezalel's attention. The black wolf turned, angling his saber around and slashing as Kajex leapt into the air.

The Sentinel drew short, falling fast and rolling beneath the first attack; the second came and he counter-struck, their weapons glancing away. Bezalel twisted with the hit, bringing his lightsaber around in an overhead strike, just as the Sentinel spun and dropped to one knee and raised his weapon to defend- with his left.

Too fast to react to and too late to avoid it, Bezalel could do nothing as Kajex, with his back facing him, drew a second lightsaber from his hip, igniting it and piercing the black wolf's thigh with the weapon.

For several seconds the scene remained still, Kajex still gasping for air as he struggled to ignore the agony in his side. Bezalel did not make a sound, but there was a curious silence between the two as their weapons hummed. With expert finesse and control, Kajex did not shift the weapon still impaled in his leg; but after a few moments he switched it off, just as Bezalel deactivated his and limped back a few steps. Kajex got back to his feet and turned to face his injured foe; there was a hint of a smile on the black wolf's muzzle, his back to the shade.

"I suppose I shall have to deal with all of this another time, then."

"Running away?" Kajex said coldly.

"Your pack approaches," Bezalel noted. "They are fortunate I did not see fit to cut them down earlier. At any other time, this would result in your entire pack's death- but I can recognize when the odds have changed."

"This isn't over," the Sentinel said, stepping forward- and halting as his side burned. He bit back a groan and spoke. "We... have a mission."

"I'm sure you do- but while my job is not yet concluded, this exchange is certainly over. You scored a hit, earned from a combination of skill and desperation. Take your victory, whelp; and take this one with you," he added with a scoff, gesturing to Maichail, who was passed out. "Return to your Jedi Praxeum, and warn them just as I have warned you- interference will result in your deaths."

Without a word more, Bezalel took another step back and faded into the shadows, his violet eyes lingering for a fraction of a moment before they also faded from sight.

Kajex stood in silence for several seconds, staring at the spot where the ebony wolf had vanished, before deactivating his lightsaber and dropping to his knees, panting hard as pain and fatigue washed over him. His senses overwhelmed with his heartbeat pounding in his ears, he almost didn't hear the rest of his pack approaching.

"I found them!" Syrra called back, racing to the wolf's side and kneeling beside him. "Kajex, are you--"

"I'm... I'll be fine," he managed to tell her. "Think I... got a broken rib."

The Trianii winced, turning to see the still unconscious otter. "What about Rook, is she--"

"She's alive," he acknowledged. "That attacker, Bezalel, got a cheap shot in, at the back of her skull. I don't..."

"Is this him?" she asked, peering at the unconscious wolf.

"No, that's... I don't know who or what he is," Kajex said slowly, finally getting his breathing under control. "But he's... not Kanj'Isha."

"How can you tell?"

"We just can," Locke said, coming up behind her and staring at the strange, wounded wolf. "Some might mistake you for a Farghul or a Cathar, but as a Trianii you can sense and see the differences between either, while others not of your species wouldn't. In that same way, we can tell he's not a Kanj'Isha. He's something completely different- and he's not the one who attacked us."

"Where is the one who did?" Keris pressed irritably, a dark bruise shining on her snout. "I want another shot at him, preferably with my boot on his face."

"He's gone- took off after I stabbed his leg," Kajex said dully. "Told me to take this guy and go back to the Jedi Praxeum."

"We should go--"

"Back to the Praxeum," Kajex said firmly, cutting Keris off. A tense silence followed- the tone he used brooked no argument. Hard as the decision would have been at any other time and in any other situation, the pieces were starting to click, and Kajex did not like the picture he was seeing. "We just got jumped by somebody with an immense amount of power. They were using the Force, but something else as well, something I've never sensed before; and they fought using a style I've never encountered in all my years as a Jedi and a mercenary. He knew things, suggested things about me that he should have had no idea about." He looked up at his pack. "And I assume he did the same to all of you."

It was not a question, yet the implication caused them to react differently- Keris' knuckle cracked as they gripped her weapon, while Talrik cringed. Syrra peered at the strange wolf.

"What about him?" she asked. "What do we do?"

"Take him with, like Bezalel said," Kajex said wearily, getting to his feet with the Trianii's help. "He's our best chance at finding answers."

"Like where they come from, for starters," Talrik suggested.

"No... it's clear they aren't from around here," Kajex said darkly. "Or this galaxy, even."

"What?"

He turned to face the pack, his face grim.

"I'm pretty sure they're from beyond the Anomaly."