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"Although the Force can be used to create terrifying illusions, it is sometimes more satisfying to create actual creatures that are willing and eager to shred and devour one's enemies on command."

~ Emperor Palpatine

It was, to Yuda, a travesty to put up with his current nonsense. His training as a Sith had been grueling, painful, and very much enjoyable; it had granted him powers beyond the reckoning of mere mortals. Though his rank of Sith Knight had been recent, he had been deployed in the field for over a decade, using the dark side to cloud the minds of easily pliable Imperial fools, aiding the Inquisitorious by subverting the motivations and will of Remnant officers. By his reckoning, much of the power shunted into the efforts of the Empire Reborn faction had been by his own efforts, without the aid of his Master, Lady Tesque.

His first shame was when she acknowledged a brainless giant as her Knight, the brute named Ulfric. To have his genius and intellect passed up in favor of raw strength was inconceivable to the human. Not even the beast's first death was enough to convince Tesque to give him up, siphoning his spirit and reinserting it into a clone. It was only after the second and final death on Katarr that she was forced to name Yuda as Ulfric's successor.

His current irritation, however, stemmed from once again being forced to work with others. His cruel eyes traced up and down the rows of silent stormtroopers and Dark Acolytes, each of them helmeted, but all of them alert. As far as we was concerned not a single one of these scumbags were useful, much less necessary for the mission they were to undertake. With but a single thought, he could force the entire lot of them to draw their weapons and blow out their brains. A slight smirk grew upon his lips- the idea seemed very tempting.

A hiss behind him interrupted his thoughts, the quiet footsteps of Knight Snaire barely audible over the rumble of the transport's engines. "Alright, you lot, get ready- we're three minutes to landfall," she said loudly and clearly. Several troopers jumped in their seats, shaking themselves awake. "Remember the objectives and our mission- you will remain silent as we talk to our potential allies. While it's true that most of these Trianii tribals are beneath us, the faction we're meeting has much to offer and much to gain through an alliance. Any one of you that risks that alliance will be slaughtered immediately. Are we clear?"

"Yes, m'lady," they responded in unison.

The Twi'lek turned her eyes to Yuda, frowning at him. "And you- cut that out."

"What are you talking ab--"

"I could sense your violent thoughts, Yuda," she hissed with disdain, making sure to keep her voice between the two of them. "We need these men and women, not your arrogant internal bitching. If we are to make this work, you will have to work with them, whether you like it or not."

"Growing a heart for these useless tools?" Yuda sneered. "I need them less than I need the fish- and that's saying something."

"And Thresher needs you about as much as I do- which is to say not at all. Unlike you, however, I'm not stupid enough to believe my efforts alone will carry us to victory," she replied with a glower. "Voyde was clear on this- you're not to hamper us with your nonsense."

Though he would have made an attempt to backtalk the younger Sith Knight he was deprived of the opportunity as the ship was immediately buffeted by turbulence, followed by the pilot's voice bursting through the overhead speakers. "Making our descent into the atmosphere. Skies are clear, beacon is transmitting."

"Is the area properly mapped?" Snaire asked.

"Our contact came through, we have the landing site on our sensors."

"Then make haste. This planet's Ranger force may spot us if we linger."

It would have impressed any Imperial or Sith to see the pilot's approach as the vessel skimmed over the treetops with perhaps only a meter to spare, unless that Sith were Yuda. Yet even the human had to admit that the pilot had made good on the order to accelerate their landfall, coming rapidly to a stop before descending only two minutes later. The vessel's landing struts were audible through the hull as they drew from the 'neath; moments later, the ship shook violently and stopped altogether, its engines powering down.

The speakers crackled to life again. "We've arrived. Company present outside the landing pad, twenty contacts with slugthrowers. Keeping engines on standby in case of immediate withdrawal."

"On your feet, scum," the human Sith Knight snapped. They obeyed silently and quickly, getting to their feet as one and bringing their rifles up as Snaire strode past the ranks, activating the craft's assault ramp. A burst of wind blew through the hatch as beams of light poured into the vessel's troop hold, casting the Twi'lek Sith in an impressive silhouette as she walked down the ramp, Yuda following immediately.

Several high-powered mobile floodlights kept the area lit, the dark figures of over a dozen well-armed and well-armored felinoid fighters barely visible behind them. At the head of their ranks was a well-built and grizzled female, her pelt a deep black and her eyes a piercing, alert shade of violet. She alone stepped forward into the landing pad, unarmed save for a slim handle clipped to her belt- a weapon Yuda eyed with suspicion.

If Snaire had any reservations, she did not show it in her voice nor her stature, as she bowed her head politely. "Good evening, Commander Ai'Rah. We're glad you were able to receive us tonight."

The Trianii commander bowed in turn. "Lady Snaire. My agents in the Trianii Rangers gave us the orbital patrol timetables- this night was best," she informed her, eyeing the Sentinel-class landing craft with a doubtful expression. "I was expecting a vessel larger than this. The stock I've captured will need more room than I suspect your craft here possesses."

"All part of the plan," Snaire assured her with a charming smile. "If all goes well, we'll have the vessels we need."

Ai'Rah arched an eyebrow. "I should hope so. Keeping my operation here secret was not easy, and in the process I had to blind the matriarch's eyes in these woods. She had sent two patrols already- it will not be long before she sends her Jedi allies this way, I imagine."

"So you know of the Sentinel and his allies presence, then," Yuda pointed out.

The Ranger traitor folded her arms. "I've had eyes in the city, and I'm familiar with their recent exploits. I've heard of this 'Syrra,' and I expected she might be sent after me at some point or another, after learning she was operating in the system. And while I doubt she poses any real threat, her Jedi friends will undoubtedly present difficulties- all the more reason to get this stock off-planet by tonight, along with my troops and myself."

The words caused the human Knight's face to contort with disgust. "You? Come with us? And why should we be expected to bring primitive jungle rats into our ranks?" he spat. "The Imperial Remnant has no need of slugthrower-wielding beasts."

At that, several Trianii fighters raised their weapons, their fangs bared and deep rumbling growls pouring from their muzzles; several Dark Acolytes raised their blasters in response, ready to fire at a moment's notice. Yet Snaire merely chuckled at the reaction, while Ai'Rah sneered disdainfully at the human.

"Stand down," she hissed, eyeing Yuda. "I'm personally not insulted, as only a fool would not know their own master's will. Your Circle saw fit to offer credits and transport for my men, and this invitation to me; in exchange for my stock, my knowledge, and my loyalty. And as it turns out, your Circle is also interested in my abilities."

"You think me a fool?!" Yuda snapped.

"Clearly, if you have to ask that which I've already answered," she countered with a smirk.

He moved swiftly, crossing the 15 feet between them in nearly the blink of an eye, his weapon in his hand and active, ready to strike down the Trianii. Rage and indignation made him reckless as he failed to notice Ai'Rah take a half-step back, her right paw snatching the handle at her side and igniting a violet blade from the end. The weapons met midway, caught in a saber lock with Yuda staring in disbelief at how easily and quickly she had intercepted the attack. He failed to notice her left fist in time, knuckles crashing into his jaw with enough force to send him flying back to where he'd been seconds earlier, his lightsaber clattering away.

The Acolytes trained their weapons on her, but Snaire raised her hand. "Enough," she said casually, smiling at Ai'Rah as the Trianii settled back into a combat stance, her lightsaber held at the ready. Despite the feline's readiness to defend herself, Snaire approached her, circling around the commander. "Impressive, kitten... did you build that weapon yourself?"

"I found it," she answered, though she did not lower it. "We Trianii are well-versed in melee combat- to a Force-sensitive, a lightsaber is not unlike a vibroblade."

"I assume you must have taught yourself to use Force-enhanced inertia for that solid left hook," Snaire said approvingly, sparing a glance at Yuda as he groaned and staggered back to his feet. "Though I'm not foolish enough to question the will of the Circle, I admit I had my doubts when Inquisitor Voyde commanded we bring you before him. I suppose I owe you an apology for underestimating you," she suggested, holding out her hand.

The Trianii stared at it for a few moments warily, before deactivating the weapon and taking it, shaking hands with the Twi'lek. "It is nothing. It is clear we've both much to learn from each other."

"Only too true," Snaire agreed.

"And how... do you expect to gain our trust?" Yuda growled, spitting blood from his mouth. "I've not yet heard your intentions, and you would not be the _first _Trianii to have failed their task."

Snaire sighed. "Could you, for just one hour, shut the hell up so we can allow this alliance to proceed?" she said irritably, but Ai'Rah shook her head.

"It's fine. I've time enough to humor this child," she said coldly. "I'll put it plainly, so a simpleton like you can understand- I'm sick of our matriarch's dictating our lives based on the will of their unseen gods. My troops feel similarly, but while they would rather gather their families and run beyond the fringes of our worlds, I would rather stand up and fight the system I despise. Your Imperial Remnant may not be perfect, but it is powerful enough to achieve what I desire. And as long as I have a grasp on the Force, I would seek out allies to help me understand it." She paused, glaring at Yuda for a few moments. "Bar those with egos larger than their potential."

Yuda rose again, ready to speak his mind, but Snaire intercepted him. "As much as I enjoy watching people put Yuda in his place, I'll grant him that he is exceptionally more powerful than you are, kitten," she warned Ai'Rah. "At least, for the time being. Best to leave it until you join our ranks in full and surpass his sorry ass. For now, we all stand to be better served if you show us the specimens you captured, then we can move to the next phase of our operation."

"Very well," Ai'Rah agreed, signaling her troops to stand down and speaking in her native tongue. "<Half of you remain here and watch their vessel, the rest will return with us to the outpost.> Follow me."

"You five, come with us," Snaire commanded, making a sweeping gesture to a select few Acolytes. "The rest of you remain and keep watch."

Though it was apparent that she would rather not have him around, Snaire said nothing when Yuda followed behind them, an aura of smoldering anger still lingering in the air. It was easy enough to ignore as Ai'Rah led the group deeper into the forest, away from the shelf of rock the transport had landed upon. The limited illumination of the night sky was rendered useless under the canopy above, though the use of torch-mounted weaponry kept the path ahead lit.

After minutes of climbing through the brush in silence, Ai'Rah began to speak. "To say that I 'captured' these beasts would not be completely accurate, as I'm sure you know. Your Sith predecessors left much on this planet for us to find, much of which the Jedi did nothing to displace."

"We're aware of a former Sith temple that was been converted to a Ranger outpost," Ai'Rah mentioned.

"There was nothing left after it was taken from the Kwapi Pirates, but they only ever used that site as a base of operations. We knew nothing of the Jedi or Sith presence on this planet- I only learned otherwise while patrolling the woods two years ago, when I found this." She stopped, gesturing a stretch of open area ahead.

Snaire and Yuda stepped up, their eyes falling upon an ancient ruin of obvious Sith origin- an angled archway leading toward a series of descending steps, carved from black stonework that was visible even in the low-light conditions they were in; indeed, it seemed to absorb all sources of light around them as they neared. The chill of the dark side was strong as they entered, Ai'Rah waving her paw and gesturing to a pair of cadets- they immediately stood guard at the top of the stairwell, while everyone else entered.

"As you can imagine," Ai'Rah continued as they descended, "releasing the creatures had been an accident. The nature of their long-term stasis was unknown to me at the time, but it was clear within moments that their hibernation did nothing to temper their moods. They attacked almost at once, killing all of my team in moments. They would have killed me as well, had desperation not brought out my latent connection to the Force at such a critical moment."

"It's not uncommon," Snaire remarked. "Adherents to the dark side of the Force learn quickly that fear, anger and hatred can be excellent motivators. You expressed your abilities in a moment of self-preservation. The question, then, is how you expressed it."

"I simply reached out to the creature and pleaded for it not to kill me. It stopped in an instant. The second of the beasts did not cease, however. I was fortunate enough to guess at what happened, pouring my hatred and grief for my dead comrades into ordering the specimen to attack and kill its brethren. It did so without hesitation or remorse, then obeyed my will to leave me alone."

"And you experimented, I suppose?" Snaire suggested as they reached the base of the stairs, leading into a vast mezzanine, illuminated by ghostly blue energy projections behind which were moving, highly-concealed figures.

"In a manner of speaking," she acknowledged. "These ruins had little within, save a lightsaber I decided to keep for myself, and a few manuscripts through which I was able to learn the Sith Code. I gathered like-minded allies, began to control the beasts one at a time to learn my limitations. Then two at a time. It was not long before I could control six at once. Once I felt I was ready, I launched an assault on fringe outposts, blinding the matriarch's eyes and intercepting her Ranger scouting parties, then contacted your superiors."

"And just how did you manage that?" Yuda cut in skeptically.

"A former associate of mine was contacted by them first," Ai'Rah answered simply. "One tasked with an assassination job, which he failed. He is now dead, but your superiors will no doubt remember tasking him to eliminate a bothersome Jedi Knight. Knowing of my Force-sensitivity, he gave me contact details in the event that he succeeded, believing I could make good use of them. He and I shared similar ideals, though I questioned his methods." She stopped, gesturing to the first and largest of the cages. "I was quickly reminded of his offer when I learned the origin and nature of these beasts. I believed they would be of great interest to the Circle, even millennia later."

Snaire stepped forward, peering past the energy barrier and into the darkness beyond it. Her natural eyesight could not make out the shapes within, yet she could sense the undulating forms beyond, immense bestial strength contained in a massive body. Her influence reached into the cage, coaxing the creature forward just as one of the troops aimed their torches into the cage, bringing the beast into clear view. It stood twelve feet tall easily, its winged back hunched over while a pair of long, powerful necks, and a pair of horned, reptilian heads scanned the crowd before then, malice and distrust in their eyes. The sight was enough to make Snaire smile with satisfaction.

"Very good. Healthy, too," she remarked. "How many?"

"Twenty-four in all."

"We will pay the agreed sum of twenty thousand credits for each of them," the Twi'lek informed her. "And the other specimens?"

Ai'Rah folded her arms. "We've not yet agreed on a price. But if you feel they may be of any use, all twenty of them are still alive and in stasis. Five thousand each."

A few of the other Trianii shuffled uncomfortably at the words, catching Snaire's eye. "Your men disapprove?" The few dissenters said nothing, looking away with expressions of slight shame.

She gave the Twi'lek a troubled look. "We see it as the trafficking of sentient beings- all Trianii detest enslavement. But in times of conflict one must often sully their hands. Whatever they are, they are not Trianii; and if they were servants of the Sith, then I have no intention of foolishly stepping in between them and their current masters."

"A wise decision," Snaire replied with a satisfied nod. "Very well. If it's to assuage your consciences, we will pay four thousand each. 560 thousand for the entirety of what you're offering, in addition to transport for your men off-planet to go where they see fit."

"Deal," Ai'Rah agreed. "And now we are getting somewhere. What happens next?"

Snaire grinned. "Have your men work with mine to get these creatures prepared for transport. Yuda will remain here and keep them under control."

"The hell I wi--"

"He will, because the Circle will not suffer this operation failing due to his insubordination," Snaire warned in a louder voice, silencing the fuming human Sith Knight.

"And then?" Ai'Rah asked.

"We wait until morning. Then you show us your skill- and then... we create a distraction."

Meditation in the wilds always seemed to give Garrett a sense of calm while on Yavin 4. Having been assigned to the Inspired had been something of a letdown; tempering the joy of reaching knighthood and being able to hang out more with Syrra and her pack, with the reality that he would need to spend time on vessels, cut away from rich lush environments. Since stepping onto the surface and into the jungles of Pouma V's northen continent, he'd felt more liberated than he'd ever been while on the ship. The first day of hiking and checking the wildlife had given him a strong measure of inner peace, strengthened by the smell of healthy overgrowth, the sound of wildlife skittering around the trees or calling from the branches overhead.

It was the morning of their second day on the surface, and now the feeling was different. The air seemed to hold an unnatural chill. The smell had soured and gave off a stench of death. Though the sound of wildlife lingered, it was subdued, almost reluctant; even the insects seemed quieter. And a feeling within, a shadow of fear for what lingered beyond, seemed to grow with every step he took.

"You feel it too," a soft voice spoke, just as a warm hand slid into his. "The stifling sensation of a shadow at the edge." Garrett's eyes turned upon the face of his lover and former master, Simetra. Her black and silver-streaked hair framed the worried visage on her marble-white face, concern for her fellow knight in her pale blue eyes.

He nodded. "The dark side of the Force. It's not strong or directed, just... wild."

A rustle of leaves behind them cut him short, as three Trianii Rangers and two Antarian Rangers climbed out of the bushes, clad in woodland BDUs and light armor, blaster rifles held at the ready. Among them was black-haired, gray-pelted male with a Sinth-rank patch on his armor and a well-made shotgun in his paws- though most striking of all was his cybernetic left leg, which whirred quietly as he stepped forward.

"Is this the right direction, Roc'nir?" Garret asked politely.

"It is, Jedi Garret," Roc'nir replied with a nod. "A half mile left to go. Have you spotted any markings?"

The Alderaanian shook his head. "'Fraid not. The report said wild animals attacked, I just wish they'd held out long enough to give a description or a direction so I could spot signs. We might not know until we get there."

"All the same, we should move carefully," Simetra cautioned. "We feel the stirrings of the dark side in the same direction. That alone is cause for alarm."

"We shall have to take your word for it," Roc'nir said grimly. "Regardless of the dangers ahead, those people might need us; at the very least, their families deserve to know what happened."

They moved as a unit, moving swiftly but silently through the shadowy, dark green woods and making as little sound as possible. Even now, Garrett found himself amazed at how the Trianii made little noise despite their size, though it was fair to say the Antarian Rangers were doing a fine job keeping quiet. In the last thirty-six hours, the group had managed to move stealthily enough that they'd unwittingly stalked within hunting range of several herd beasts without being spotted (culminating in a hearty and well-cooked meal the previous evening). Yet even with these precautions- to say nothing of the considerable firepower they'd brought along- the human male couldn't shake the feeling of unease growing within him.

Ten minutes passed before they saw the chain-linked fence and outpost gate- the aura of fear spiked as they all stared at what remained of it.

"By the gods," one of the Antarian Rangers whispered, as their eyes traced the thoroughly trashed and shredded fence. "What the hell did this?"

Feeling it would be better to err on the side of caution, Garrett approached with his lightsaber in hand, ready to activate at a moment's notice. The gate itself, a permacrete structure with durasteel doors large enough to permit a freight-speeder through, had been shattered on its left side, leaving the overhead arch collapsed along the dirt road leading towards the compound. Though the grounds approaching the three buildings up ahead were grassy, the Knight could clearly see deep gouges into the earth, as if some manner of claws had dug into the ground as its owner moved. Well-restrained fear slowed his pace as he saw three long claw marks etched deep into the side of the nearest building wall, a smear of dried blood emanating from within the same cuts.

Garrett winced. "I think whatever made that stain is dead." He looked within the immediate area. "Though we can't tell without a body. Still, that smear is at least three weeks old."

"Around the time we lost contact with this outpost," Roc'nir muttered, cursing quietly in his native tongue. "Well, we can't give up hope. You are Jedi, is it not true you can feel the aura of life with your abilities?"

"Sinth Roc'nir is right," Simetra agreed. "Calm yourself, and let us look for survivors."

Garrett nodded, drawing upon his training as he quieted his fear. With the full knowledge the lives might still hang in the balance, he reached out through the Force, wading past the shadow of death and the dark side in search for the light of light. The calmness turned into joy as he spotted the very light he was looking for in the closest building.

"Just ahead, we have five survivors!" Garrett informed them, jogging forward.

"Thank Ekibo," Roc'nir sighed in relief, following closely. They rounded the corner of the building, stopping short at the ruins of what must have been a hatch- ahead, the shattered remains of a false tree had crashed into the entrance, leaving a large enough gap for two men to enter. "The comms tower- no wonder we didn't get any word. Whatever did this was smart enough to identify the false tree, and strong enough to uproot it," he pointed out, as dirt clung to the constructed roots and exposed cables.

"Whatever did it, it's not here," Simetra assured them. "Nevertheless, we should move now before it comes back. Ranger Hermes, get ahold of Sentinel Surnahm or Knight Syrra, let them know we've reached the outpost and found survivors. Everyone else give him cover while Garrett, Roc'nir and I investigate."

"Yes ma'am," he responded, moving next to the fallen comms tower with a signal booster strapped to his back, as the Jedi and Trianii commander climbed past the wreckage into the building.

For whatever reason, the lighting in the building had failed, casting the interior into darkness which not even the dim outdoor lighting could help. Three lights sprang to life in moments; the olive-green blade of Garrett's lightsaber, the silver light of Simetra's weapon, and a mounted torch at the end of Roc'nir's scattergun, each illuminating the darkness. Several comfortable bunks lay nearby, well kept and untouched, while cub toys littered the floor- yet no sign of violence or recent habitation.

A thump sounded, causing all three to jump and turn in the direction of a heavily armored hatch, upon which a portion of the fallen tree had bashed against and pinned in place. Roc'nir was the first to reach it, calling out in his native tongue with a look of hope on his visage. A pause followed, then a barely audible, questioning mewl that caused the commander's face to break into that of relief.

"They're alive, the tree must have prevented them from escaping!" Roc'nir told them, trying to shoulder against the massive upper branches, until Simetra touched his shoulder.

"Please, allow us," she offered, stepping forward and swinging her blade through the upper part of the trunk, Garrett joining in moments later. Despite the use of sturdy construction materials, the false tree offered no resistance against their Jedi weapons, the structure groaning loudly as the overall weight was divided. Before long they'd carved the enormous end portion of the tree off, the shattered construct still leaning against the door.

With the task nearly done, both Jedi held their palms out, concentrating on the severed section and lifting it into the air, away from the door. Simetra glanced at Garrett and nodded, taking the huge piece of the comms tower to herself with a quiet groan and floating it out of the rubble, while he deactivated his blade and helped Roc'nir open the vault-like hatch.

The interior of the safety room was well-illuminated compared to the rest of the building, enough so that Garrett immediately spotted no fewer than five Trianii of varying age and builds, each with a look of joy as Roc'nir stepped into view. Three of the Trianii lunged forward and embraced the Ranger commander, chirping and mewling in their native tongue as the commander answered them quickly, though the remaining two settled for approaching Garrett with expressions of gratitude, bowing low.

The eldest of them, a gray-furred and bent male, held his paw out. "Thank you, human- we were wondering when support from the Trianii Rangers would come," he said in clear Basic. "I am Gheera, chief researcher of this outpost."

"I'm Garrett, a Knight of the Jedi Order," he replied politely while shaking the elder's hand. "Your matriarch requested aid from us, so we accompanied the patrol here. Sorry for being a couple of weeks late."

"Better late than never, though our rations were running short," Gheera sighed, leaning against the door. "I don't understand why the Rangers weren't sent sooner."

"They were," Simetra corrected him as she stepped forward, holding her hand out. "I'm Jedi Knight Simetra, also of the Jedi Order. And your matriarch sent two other teams to investigate the last two weeks. They evidently did not make it here, but nor did we find any sign of them south of here."

"Well no, you wouldn't," Gheera said grimly, eyes drawn to the shafts of light from outside, looking up into a hole in the canopy. "The beasts that assaulted us did so from the skies, and at least one continues to come back here every day. Two of our kin died attempting to fight them, my nephew included. They... simply did not stand a chance," he said hollowly.

"If these beasts keep returning, then it is best we do not linger," Simetra informed them, as Roc'nir started helping the survivors out of the vault. "We have a ship about a day's walk from here, with more than enough space for everybody. Are there any injured among you?"

"Just one," Roc'nir pointed out, gesturing to a cub with her arm in a sling, "but we can treat her as we move. Let's get everyone out into the clearing first and plot out our next move."

"What was it that attacked you?" Garrett asked, as he helped the elder Trianii over the rubble. "It had to have been something massive and dangerous to do so much damage so quickly- reports said you only had about three minutes of communications before the comm went dead, and only twenty seconds of recorded voice among it."

Silence fell over them as he asked, everyone eager to hear an answer. The elder shook his head before looking back up again, eyes lingering on the breach in the forest's canopy. "There were two of them. I don't know what manner of beast they were, I've never seen them before on this planet- and I was one of the first settlers to step foot on it after its liberation from the Kwapi Pirates, so I am familiar with most of the wildlife here. They were massive, at least as tall as four men, with red scales that seemed to shrug off the few blaster bolts my fallen kin fired at it, almost as if they were made of reinforced durasteel; two serpent-like heads at the end of elongated necks, with tremendous limbs that battered the gates down like they were nothing; and hooked claws that..." he paused, shuddering. "I'd rather not describe how easily they ended our kin."

With every word, Garrett's alarm grew- a glance in Simetra's direction was enough to tell him the elder's description rattled her as well. "Ranger Hermes- have you contacted Sentinel Surnahm yet?"

"I can't get a signal through," the dark-skinned Ranger answered. "This booster should still be in clear contact with the ship, but it looks as if we're being jammed."

Caution took hold of the Jedi Knight as he turned his eyes towards the low-light forest floor, peering into the depths. The dark side still lingered ahead, present and threatening, but almost as if it were waiting. "Someone might know that we're here. If that's the case we have to grab what we can and make for the ship. We'll need to get ahold of the Gold Rush as soon as we're able," Garrett told them before turning his attention back to Gheera. "Is there anything else you can tell us about these attacks? Were they being guided in any way?"

The elder Trianii paused, looking pensive. "I couldn't say for sure, but... before the tower went down we were still kept in constant communication with the other outposts- albeit with sporadic disruptions. The attacks seemed to happen simultaneously, as if coordinated to strike at the same time."

"The report didn't mention that," Simetra said, looking troubled.

"It wouldn't have, no- my nephew suspected a jamming signal was deployed, preventing clear communications from reaching Navio City. This deep in the forests I should think a minor jamming device wouldn't completely dampen a signal, but it would certainly disrupt a large part of it, as it did ours."

"A coordinated strike on multiple outposts, using wild beasts and jamming equipment," Simetra repeated with a troubled expression. "Far from a standard criminal plot, but it's enough evidence to suggest someone is out there for malevolent purposes. And the aura of the dark side still lingers ahead." After a few moments pause she turned to their Antarian Rangers. "Thoughts?" she asked Hermes.

The Ranger frowned, looking pensive. "A military-grade jammer could disrupt a comm tower as powerful as this one," he reasoned, gesturing to the fallen tree, "at least long enough for the tower to be destroyed. It'd also disrupt scanning, preventing orbital patrols from getting a fix on their location. They might have used whatever creatures to take out the towers afterward. The only question is what those beasts were."

"Which is why we need to contact Sentinel Kajex as soon as possible," Garret replied as he helped the last Trianii survivor over the rubble. "By the sound of it... we may be dealing with a battle hydra."

"What manner of beast is it?" one of the Trianii Rangers asked.

"A Sith creation," Simetra answered. "A warbeast designed by an ancient Sith lord. Without the influence of a darksider they are often harmless, shy and solitary; but when directed by a Force-sensitive with malevolent purposes, they are mercilessly lethal."

"What are your orders then, ma'am?"

She quickly looked over the group. "The survivors are top priority, but we also cannot ignore the danger ahead. I suggest splitting up- Garrett and I will take a few hands to move ahead and attempt to track and knock out whatever is disrupting communications, while the rest return to the ship for evacuation."

"I'll go with the survivors, in case we manage to get out of range enough to reach the Gold Rush," Ranger Hermes volunteered.

"As will the rest of my Rangers," Roc'nir added, pointing to a gold and black-speckled female. "Kora, you shall take command and lead our people to safety. Take three-minute stops every fifteen to allow the survivors to keep up, and use that time to allow Ranger Hermes to contact aid, if it is possible- I trust you all to keep my people safe. I will go with the Jedi and Antarian Rangers in the meantime."

"Yes sir," Kora said, pounding her chest in salute.

"Hold it," Garrett said, hand up. "... Do you hear that?"

Nobody moved or said a word, as the answer became quickly apparent. They heard nothing. Not a single creature stirred in the branches above; no insects sounded in the grass below. The stillness of the forest was haunting, terrifying in its own right, as if an unknown hand had snuffed out life while nobody was watching. A sudden spike of alarm stabbed into Garrett's senses, a feeling of horror and foreboding that was punctuated as sound returned, in the form of a sudden burst of rustling leaves among the trees.

"Go now!" he shouted, as he and Simetra activated their lightsabers- at that moment, the light shafts above disappeared, blotted out by the silhouette of a massive winged creature. The survivors shouted in fear, sprinting for the ruined gate just as the shadow descended and crashed into the ground, kicking up dust and soil as both Jedi and Roc'nir went flying through the air.

A well-timed roll allowed Garrett to return to his feet moments after hitting the ground, weapon held up and ready to defend himself. The moment his eyes fell upon the giant battle hydra his defenses lapsed, the human going numb as the beast reared back and issued a bestial roar from both its dragon-like heads. With his heart hammering, infused with fear and caution, the numbness failed to dissipate until the hydra spotted him and lunged forward with a charge and echoing bellow. Adrenaline brought life back to his legs as he lunged to the left and rolled through the dirt, a resounding crash breaking out as the beast's momentum carried it through the standing remains of the gate, reducing it to useless shards of debris. Beyond, the survivors and Trianii Rangers were scrambling away, not quite out of the reach of the beast.

Behind him he could hear Simetra calling out. "Eyes and nostrils; open fire!" Seconds later the crack of slugthrowers and blasters rang through the air, peppering the beast and drawing its attention away from the survivors as the shot burst against its hide, leaving smoking, rippled abrasions. It let out an angry roar and spun around, its spiked-tipped tails whipping through the air- Garrett had only half a second to duck as the deadly, weaponized appendage cracked the air above his head, before crashing against a nearby tree and stripping it of its bark.

But for all the firepower they were leveling at it, the hydra seemed only enraged instead of injured. Its focus turned to the group of backpedaling Antarian Rangers, as they began breaking out in different directions. The twin heads swayed apart and snapped at them, narrowly missing stray limbs. Its attention divided, it could not prevent Simetra from lunging in and stabbing into the joint of its necks, the tough lightsaber-resistant hide unable to fully take the brunt of the attack as it pierced through shallowly. A screech rent the air, both necks coming together in an attempt to crush the Dathomiri Jedi; with an agile roll she escaped, narrowly dodging the pincer attack and sprinting away.

Despite the noise and carnage, one of the Antarian Rangers managed to reach Garrett, yelling over the noise as he helped him up. "Are you alright, sir!?"

"I'm fine!" he yelled back, getting up on unsteady feet. "Where are the survivors!?"

"They're clear, sir- it's on us to stop this big bastard!"

The fear seemed to evaporate upon hearing the civilians had gotten clear, such that he found it easier to think quickly, eyes drawn to the massive, ruined chunk of the comm tower that Simetra had removed. An inner peace within told him he would not achieve victory with his lightsaber; and almost automatically he deactivated the weapon and clipped it to his belt, jogging forward and calling upon the Force. A tremendous groan filled the air as he channeled his energy towards the debris, shutting off his rational mind and ignoring the reality of its tremendous weight; it shuddered, then floated off the ground some ten feet high.

The Ranger caught on quickly, calling out to the rest of the party just as Garrett poured his concentration behind the fake tree chunk. "Get clear!!!"

It flew through the air in a graceful arc, propelled forward by the human's willpower until it impacted against the battle hydra with a deafening crash, the beast and the debris rolling away and smashing against one of the few standing buildings left. The tremor it generated was enough to knock the Rangers off their feet, tumbling among the ruined rubble. A burst of dirt and dust filled the air, obscuring the scene as the thunderous echo of noise lingered in the area, until the vestiges of sound disappeared among the trees, leaving the living to linger in silence once again.

Hardly daring to believe he'd done the creature in, Garrett drew and activated his weapon again, its bright-green blade held forward as he cautiously approached the slowly dissipating cloud of dust. The remaining Rangers, Simetra, and Roc'nir converged on the dust cloud slowly, weapons held ready as visibility returned to the scene. The beast lay still on its side, one of its wings torn off while its forelimbs were splayed out and shattered. A steadily growing pool of blood had formed beneath it, seeping slowly into the soil.

Fear blinded Garrett to the reality of the scene before him; his warning came too late. "It's not dead," he choked out.

Before they could react, one of the hydra's heads swung around and snapped its jaws shut around Roc'nir's leg with a metallic crunch, the Trianii yowling as he was tripped up, dragged and thrown across the ground before it; at the same moment the second head lashed out, hissing and snapping at the Rangers as they attempted to reach the snagged fighter. The beast let out a ragged breath, malice and violence in its eyes as it bore down on the Trianii Ranger, jaws wide open.

But the Trianii commander had no intention of going down without a fight. Quick to react, he brought his shotgun up into the creature's throat with a snarl, unleashing burst after burst of durasteel buckshot into the hydra's gullet. The beast choked and gurgled as sinew was blown apart, until the back of its neck exploded with gore and metal, ending the creature's life just as Roc'nir fired his final shell; deprived of one head, the second's eyes rolled back in it's skull and went limp, thumping loudly into the ground. With a look of relief and exhaustion, the commander let out a loud sigh and laid back, panting as everyone converged on him swiftly.

Garrett was the first to reach him, pulling him away while sparing the dead hydra with a glance. "Get a medpack out, now!" he ordered.

"I'm fine," Roc'nir groaned, grabbing the human's arm and pulling himself up, wincing as he got back on his feet- his mechanical leg, though its outer shell was breached, appeared to have suffered no damage. "Damn thing went for the wrong foot, lucky for me- I don't think the Trianii Rangers would let me keep serving if I lost another leg."

"I'm sorry, that was my fault," Garrett sighed, wiping the sweat off his face, but Roc'nir waved it away, pulling shells off his bandolier and reloading his weapon.

"There's no need to apologize, honored knight. It's clear we're dealing with a situation nobody was prepared for, not even Jedi. We're going to need to get this called in- the elder mentioned two beasts, yet we've only dealt with one."

"And that was two beasts among who knows how many," Simetra added, "given multiple outposts being attacked at the same time by the same creatures. This still bears investigation- if a Sith pretender is not behind this, I'll be very much surprised."

"What are your orders, sir?" one of the Rangers asked.

"Same as before," Garrett answered. "Find out what's jamming communications and take it ou--"

He stopped short as a distance burst of noise echoed through the trees, faint but clear enough that everyone paused and turned in the same direction. The unmistakable sound of a ship's engines could be heard. With a troubled look, he turned to Roc'nir.

"You're sure there aren't any Ranger patrols in this area, right?"

"We're the only patrol here," the Trianii answered.

"We should treat the noise as it should be treated- a direction to follow," Simetra advised. "The dark side lies in the same direction."

"Then we'll follow your lead," Roc'nir said stoutly. "I may not be Jedi, but I will stand against any evil all the same."

"Before we do," Garrett said, "give me a few minutes- I need to contact Syrra and let them know what's going on."

"We have no communications with them," the Trianii commander reminded him, confused.

Garrett smiled, tapping his forehead with a forefinger. "Jedi have other ways of long-distance communication."

Miles away, nestled within the deeper and darker parts of the planet's forests, a Trianii female was slowly coming out of a deep meditation, her breathing even and paced as the last threads of connection she had spared were finally severed. A shiver tore through her spine as the sensation of pain and death seemed to course along her nerves, shaking her out of her trance. Her eyes flicked open, narrowing slightly as they attempted to get used to the shafts of sunlight piercing through the trees overhead.

She'd started her meditation next to the makeshift landing zone nearly an hour prior, using her connection to the Force to control the will of one of their captured specimens as a means of demonstrating her current abilities. Before she'd shifted into her trance, the Knight named Yuda had been coaxing yet another beast out of the holding pens and up into a cargo container; now the container was sealed, and instead of another hydra Yuda was now guiding several Dark Acolytes towards the ship with several coffin-like containers. Before her, Knight Snaire had her arms crossed, regarding the knelt Trianii with satisfaction. Even with the bright expression, Ai'Rah could not help but sigh in disappointment, shaking her head.

"Dead. I was not prepared for how powerful an well-equipped these Jedi and Antarian Rangers are- I wasn't able to kill a single one of them."

"No matter," Snaire replied. "Battle hydras are meant to be controlled within close range. Forcing your will upon them from such a long distance is impressive. I think the Circle will be most fortunate to have you in our ranks, especially once we've put our other plans into action. And don't worry about the loss- I was expecting it to be killed as it is," she added, holding her hand out to the feline.

Ai'Rah arched an eyebrow in interest, taking her hand and getting to her feet. "After paying twenty thousand for it?"

"My dear, the Imperial Remnant may be a shadow of what it once was, but it possesses a considerable war chest to draw from- pocket change for a demonstration of your abilities is acceptable," the Twi'lek informed her. "As it is, we had plans to utilize the discoveries you made today- look overhead." She gestured to the canopy above.

Ai'Rah followed the Twi'lek's eyes, her own widening as another Imperial vessel briefly blocked the sunlight above and descended. Several Trianii soldiers scampered out of the way to make room in the field as it lowered, yet Ai'Rah quickly noticed that while the transport was yet another Sentinel-class shuttle, it bore a massive cargo container beneath. The rectangular module groaned slightly as the ship touched down and bore its weight on top; at the same moment, a hatch at the side of the vessel opened and two figures leapt out of the ship, then began approaching the two women. The first was a tall, imposing Karkarodon with a scar across his face and snout; the second, a much smaller Dark Acolyte wearing a featureless helmet and carrying a blaster rifle.

Ai'Rah smirked. "Amusing. I wasn't aware your Dark Acolytes came in fun-sized packages."

"Permission to blast this bitch to ash, my lord?" the Acolyte replied calmly with her rifle leveled at Ai'Rah, only to have the shark gently push it aside as the Trianii chuffed mockingly, unperturbed.

"Denied," he responded, though there was a trace of amusement in his features. "You are the one they call Ai'Rah, I presume?" She nodded. "I am Knight Thresher, commander of this operation. The Circle has told me you are to be treated as one of our own as we continue with our plans. Is the new recruit capable?" he asked Snaire.

"She checks out," the Twi'lek Sith Knight acknowledged. "She'll need plenty of training, but I see no reason why she shouldn't accompany us with the rest of the operation. As long as she stays in my company she should be able to mix things up."

"What do you have planned?" Ai'Rah asked, as Yuda directed the troops and the caskets they were hauling past them. Through the transparisteel viewport, she could obscured faces behind the frosted and fogged surface.

Thresher gestured to the transport. "A single battle hydra will be able to fit in the hold of our first dropship- I will need you aboard to keep it pacified. Our intention is to provide a distraction and keep the surface and orbital Ranger patrols busy, allowing us time and opportunity to get the rest of these creatures into the hands of the Circle. I assume you have no compunction towards taking the lives of some of your own people?"

Ai'Rah paused, looking back at a few of her soldiers- they looked away, shaking their heads. "My squad here does. That is why they won't be taking part in this fight. This transaction is for them- so I fully expect you to keep your word and see to it they are paid and transported into the Outer Rim safely," she added, jabbing a finger into the shark's chest.

Thresher nodded solemnly. "You have my word no harm will come to them."

Ai'Rah stared at him for a few moments, then sighed and looked away. "But you asked me if I had any reservations. I do not. My grievances are with my people and their culture- unlike my comrades here, however, I will gladly fight the system that turned their backs on us. And if that means allying with the Sith to gain that power, and fighting their enemies... then so be it."

"Very good," Thresher replied.

"With all that said, though, the Trianii Rangers are a force to be reckoned with, even for the Empire," Ai'Rah warned. "And allied with Jedi, they will be even more formidable."

At that, Thresher grinned, his sharp teeth displayed for Ai'Rah- the Trianii found the expression deeply unsettling, though she suppressed the urge to shudder as he lifted a finned hand to stop one of the troops guiding the last of the twenty caskets they'd found.

"You needn't worry about that," he assured her, as he wiped the viewport clear. "These Jedi will find themselves reticent to fight."

Ai'Rah's eyes narrowed at him for a moment, before following his gaze down to the face of the casket, into the wolfish face of its occupant.

"Compassion shall be their weakness."

"They're staring, you know," Kajex informed Syrra, a grin on his muzzle.

The Trianii Jedi squeezed his arm tighter, grinning back as they walked past the tents of Navio City's Ranger airfield. Many Trianii eyes turned to watch them walk by; some with smiles, others with disapproval, yet Syrra found she did not care in the slightest. "Let them. After a great night with my mate, I have no intention to hide my affections. Besides, these are probably going to be the last few moments I'll have to be affectionate with you, before we get back into the swing of training and doing work with the Rangers."

The wolf nodded, sighing wistfully. "True enough."

"Hey, cheer up- maybe today we'll get lucky and actually get some tangible results," she told him. "We're due to a lucky break at some point, right?"

The previous night had been nothing short of incredible. Several hours of passionate lovemaking in a soft bed with cool sheets had been nearly as enjoyable as the wolf being able to add 'Surnahm' to the end of his fiancee's name. The thought of the woman clinging to his arm more than willing to admit to taking his last name still brought a smile to his face every time he remembered- though now he wondered if Locke and Keris would try doing the same, an idea that the Sentinel had no objections to in the slightest. They were in high spirits by the time the two had left the establishment in freshly-cleaned robes, such that even reaching the Gold Rush wasn't enough to dampen their mood.

Locke was waiting for them at the base of the ramp, leaning against the hydraulics with a smile. "Had a pleasant evening?"

"Pretty damn good one," Kajex acknowledged. "Got some talking done, spent some time alone. How was your evening?"

"Very good- Rexxis and the rest spent a few hours looking around, but I was happy to see them spend a few minutes helping a few people where they could, before coming back home. Hope you don't mind, but Keris and I decided to use your bed while you were away."

"Nah, it's fine," the Sentinel assured him as they climbed up the ramp. "Anything else of interest happen while we were gone?"

"We did come across some information while we were mingling with the locals at the pub we found," Locke added. "About Ai'Rah."

At that, both Syrra and Kajex shared interested glances, the Trianii speaking up as they followed Locke. "New leads?"

Locke shook his head. "Not exactly, I'm afraid, but one of the Rangers at the pub told us he once served in the same squad she did. He mentioned she made several remarks through her career that could be construed as agnostic where it concerns their gods. Their commander didn't have any objections, they apparently didn't mind."

"Not all Trianii Ranger sinths mind agnosticism so much," Syrra acknowledged, waving to Kentoh, Rexxis and Mica as they entered; meanwhile, Keris was overseeing the 'Rah twins, the wolf siblings blindfolded as they focused on their training exercise: sorting the ship's crates of colored pebbles. "Mine certainly didn't, as long as I stuck to my patrol routes and did my job. Not every Ranger believes in the Trianii pantheon, and the Rangers don't force them to- as long as you're ready to fight and die for our people, you're good."

"Well, that's where it gets interesting," Locke continued as they all took a seat at the lounge table. "The Ranger we talked to told us she had an unusual knack for prediction, enough so that her contributions on the battlefield garnered her a sinth post, with the Rangers allowing her to choose where to operate. She chose here, citing the religious freedoms and Ranger autonomy she expected, then later filed complaints when she realized the local barracks and matriarch were working together."

"Must have been a skilled tactician," Rexxis suggested.

Locke shook his head, looking hesitant. "Actually... the Rangers under her command believe she was Force-sensitive. They felt it accounted for her strength, reflexes and uncanny luck."

"We're just everywhere these days, aren't we?" So'Rah piped up with a grin.

"Green pebble, handsome," Keris pointed out. "Don't get too distracted- focus."

"Whoops- alright, I got it," he replied, blushing at the comment.

"Master Luke believes the growing number of Force-sensitives is just an effect of the Force trying to maintain balance years after the Jedi Purge," Syrra suggested. "And there have always been Force-sensitives in the Wild Space regions, out of sight from the Republic- even hiding under my nose," she added dully- nobody made a point to mention Matriarch Bast.

"There's no way to know for sure unless we encounter her directly, or get her blood samples and test them; but either way, let's not underestimate her," Locke suggested.

"Does this mean we'll have to kill her if she's fallen to the dark side?" Kentoh asked.

Kajex flinched at the question, shaking his head. "I hope not, pup. Even if she happens to be a servant of the dark side, that's not a good enough reason to suggest taking her life as the only option."

"Haven't the Jedi and Sith been doing that for millennia, though?" Rexxis asked skeptically.

"Well yeah, sure; if you want to go about the ancient days of dangerous Sith Lords wreaking havoc across the galaxy, and well-meaning but extremist Jedi who wanted to meet violence with violence," the Sentinel answered, crossing his arms and arching an eyebrow. "But you seem to be forgetting my own brother was a servant of the Sith, too. And at no point did I ever consider taking his life."

"Which I'm glad for, even if I forced your hand into nearly doing it," Locke intoned.

"And it'd do you good to remember that when you guys came out of hibernation, you were also under the influence of the dark side," Kajex added- the point caused both Kentoh and Rexxis to cringe in shame. "I'd rather meet an enemy and convince them to see the light, than close their eyes forever and rob them of the chance to see it."

"I apologize, Kajex," Rexxis sighed. "I admit I didn't see it that way."

"It's fine, Rex," the wolf assured him gently. "And obviously, you guys have the right to defend yourselves. Sometimes that does mean you have to be prepared to take a life. At the same time, that's not a license to dictate who should or shouldn't live. If you can afford to spare a life, you should."

"I agree- and I'd personally like a chance to talk to Ai'Rah before the Rangers sentence her," Syrra intoned. "Especially if she is Force-sensitive. Maybe we can convince her to work her punishment off through Jedi servi..."

She trailed off very suddenly, her passive expression turning into one of confusion and then fear. Alarm sang through Kajex's nerves as she suddenly swayed on the spot, nearly falling over before the wolf darted in with inhuman reflexes and caught her, kneeling and letting her lean on him as fear began to set in. She seemed stare off into the distance, breathing hard and clutching to his arms while trembling. Locke stepped in and knelt beside them both, yet she did not react to his presence in any way.

"Whoa- Syrra, what's wrong!?" he yelped.

The 'Rah twins jumped at the change in atmosphere, tearing off their blindfolds. "What just happened? Is she okay?" So'Rah asked anxiously.

"I dunno, she just fell over- hon? Kitten, can you hear me?!" Kajex shouted.

The Trianii jumped, flinching in the wolf's arms and panting. "H-holy shit," she gasped, sounding as if she'd run a one-minute mile without stopping. "That was messed up..."

Relief washed over the wolf at the sound of her voice. "What happened?" he asked, supporting her.

The Trianii squeezed her eyes shut, groaning. "It was... Garrett. He was trying to contact me through the Force and I wasn't ready for it. I didn't get all that he was trying to convey to me, it was so weird... it's like I could barely understand what he was trying to tell me, not at all like when I speak to you guys."

"We have a bond with each other," Locke informed her, squeezing her shoulder comfortingly. "We know each other well enough, trust each other that speaking through the Force comes naturally. Garrett, while being a good friend, doesn't share as strong a bond. What were you able to understand?"

She paused, her brow furrowed as she struggled to concentrate. "... Battle hydras," she finally murmured, sitting up. "The outposts were attacked by battle hydras. He can't tell us over comms due to a jamming signal in the forest. He and Simetra feel that the dark side is at work... maybe even the Imperial Remnant."

"Not good," Kajex muttered. "We'd better let the Rangers and Ja'Murah know. Where's Pakka?"

"He's up at the barracks, consulting with the surface pyorn," Locke told him.

"Talrik and Rook?"

"Out at the shooting range."

"What about--"

But there was no need for him to finish the sentence as a pair of heavy boot crashed up the ramp; moments later, Miles Lohess appeared at the entrance to the lounge, breathing hard and bearing an expression of grim fear. Behind him, the frightened yells and shouts of Trianii civilians and Rangers could be heard.

"You guys need to get out here, quick! A Star Destroyer just showed up in low orbit!"