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_ "The most dangerous weapon in the galaxy is money, Captain." _

~Duchess Satine Kryze

“Kajex?"

“Good morning, sleepyhead," the wolf responded softly, nuzzling into Syrra's neck.

“Mmm... that feels incredible..." she purred, squeezing him a little tighter and enjoying the feel of his snuffling nose breathing into her fur. “How long have you been up?"

The wolf checked his timepiece briefly. “Probably thirty minutes. Didn't want to wake you too soon, we still have 4 hours of hyperspace before I have to cut to sublight propulsion- but long enough to do some thinking."

Syrra yawned, mewling as she bared her fangs for a brief moment before smiling and settling into the wolf's warm embrace. “You've been thinking about us, haven't you?"

“You're getting good at analyzing my head, kitten," Kajex responded encouragingly. “Yeah... I've been thinking about us. Mostly how things are going to work out."

“What do you mean?"

He grinned, sitting up. “Where should we get married? Back at the Praxeum, surrounded by Jedi; on this ship, surrounded by the pack- better yet, maybe back home on Ekibo?"

She smiled up at him, feeling a blush form in her cheeks as she was reminded, once again, of the happy fact that she was engaged to the person she loved so deeply. “That would be ideal... I want my mother to be there, and Uncle Aarn, too. They have the space and hands to accommodate whoever ends up attending. Talrik would be there, obviously- plus his mother and brother, if they'd like; we can transport them, right?"

“Not a problem, not after I get this ship outfitted," the wolf agreed. “And Locke, Keris and Miles would be there too- it'd be wrong not to invite my own brother to my wedding, wouldn't it? I'd want to bring in Retsa and her family, as well."

“Master Moarn, Garrett, Simetra..."

“Rei, Matthias, Jurah, Calyah, Markus and Olraa, obviously..."

“Maybe a couple of Jedi Masters who wouldn't mind attending, either?" Syrra suggested.

“Yeah..." There was a pause. Almost immediately, Syrra could tell something was wrong.

“... Kaj?"

He said nothing for a moment and she looked up at him, noticing a pained expression on his face. It was easy for her to guess what was bothering him, but she said nothing, waiting for him to speak.

“... The next time we're on Ekibo... it'll be for Markus' and Calyah's wedding," he pointed out. “It's..." he choked slightly, taking a moment to swallow. “It's been years since I've been to Bran and Kane's resting place. I... I wanna visit them when we're there. And... I want you to come with me."

Syrra hugged him tight, nodding. “Absolutely. You were there to comfort me when I grieved for my own father. I'll be there for you, too." She smiled as she drew back. “You'll want Locke to be there too, right?"

He nodded, looking a little better. “Yeah... I wish he could have known them, but at least you guys will be able to see the place were it all happened. It's... painful to be there, usually. Maybe this time it'll be different," he suggested hopefully, managing to smile.

“I'm sure it will," she answered confidently, snuggling into her fiancee's arms.

“Good morning, bro," Kajex offered cheerfully as he sauntered into the lounge, dressed and armed. He smiled as Locke opened his eyes and looked up, having just come out of a meditative trance. “Getting some last-minute practice in?" he asked, holding out a paw.

Locke nodded and took hold of Kajex, getting to his feet. “I've been clearing my mind out, like you've suggested. It does seem to take a lot of focus to shield my mind, I confess it leaves me feeling a little exhausted and nervous," he admitted with a sigh. “I find myself worrying that its just not going to be enough against Voyde."

“You're going to need to get over that," Kajex said firmly. “You need alotta willpower to shield your mind from manipulation- you need to be able to mentally force others to fuck off when they try. Voyde may be powerful, but he's not you. He took the quick and easy way to become powerful, while you're going the legit path to self-improvement." He smiled. “If nothing else, lemme be a sappy bastard and tell you that I believe in you, at least."

Locke smiled appreciatively, squeezing his twin's shoulder. “Thanks, Kaj." He gestured to the holotable, where Miles and Syrra were sitting and chatting. “Shall we go over the mission details with everybody?"

“As soon as Keris and Talrik get here, yeah."

“Coh-mihg'!" Keris sounded out as she came out of the hallways from the galley, a ration bar in her muzzle as she pulled on a light combat harness, Talrik trailing behind her as he slipped on his own. Once she snapped her gear in place, she bit into the bar and swallowed her piece. “Sorry, Kaj- wanted a bite to eat before we get down to it," she explained, brushing a couple of stray crumbs off her form-fitting coveralls.

“No big deal," Kajex assured her. “Got the datacard, Syrra?" He smiled as she slid it into the table, the display coming up immediately.

“Alright, so we're about 2 more hours away from Dakua. Mission seems fairly bare-bones at the moment, but given the nature of the mission that could change pretty quick." He gestured to the image of a pale, gangly-looking human. “Mel Wiyuk is one of the leading figures of a mining guild on Dakua, and he recently came across what appeared to be a substantial lode of phrikite in the jungle mountains of its northern continent." An image of the ore samples displayed, silvery and hard, as well as a map of the region they were headed to. “Hell of a monetary gain, so he started putting resources towards mining the immediate area for more, even though there wasn't much a natural reason for there to be phrikite in the area; the geology didn't match up. Didn't bother him, so he continued anyway. Later he found out he hadn't hit a lode of phrikite- he'd hit a cache."

Talrik frowned. “Storage facility?"

Kajex nodded. “Exactly. The container or room must have been destroyed or decomposed in the time it was underground, there wasn't a trace of it. But it didn't take more than a month of digging before they managed to penetrate a massive cave system beneath the jungle."

“Which is where they found these Sith ruins Master Skywalker mentioned," Locke said, “am I correct?"

“Yeah, though there's no telling whether these ruins are Jedi or Sith-connected. There are no images showing what they look like, unfortunately, but..." he highlighted an addendum at the bottom of the report that was displayed, “... Master Skywalker noted that none of the Praxeum's holocrons had any information in this area, and Master Moarn had never heard of any Jedi temple within this region of space, either. Granted, this is Outer Rim territory, so that may not mean anything when you consider many Jedi Masters hid in the rim during both Purge periods; but you'd expect there to be some mention of it in some surviving Jedi records. There isn't. And if you add that phrikite caches were only ever kept by the Sith Empire, then it's most likely a Sith ruin. Master Skywalker wants us to investigate before it becomes dangerous for the locals." A series of nearby outposts dotted the map. “Two of these villages are well-populated and have a lot of civilians in the immediate area. We'll need to be on guard, especially if it turns out the Imperial Remnant have caught on to these ruins' existence."

He ended the display, the light flickering out rapidly. “That's it- any questions?"

Keris raised a paw. “What's the plan if it turns out the ruins turn out to be Jedi in nature?"

“We'll contact Master Skywalker immediately so he can call in archaeologists, select academics and New Republic Intel to survey the ruins- along with a selection of his students and a couple of Jedi Masters," the wolf added. “And if they turn out to be Sith ruins, the same thing applies- only they'll be sending a cruiser into the system just in case. Granted, Luke doesn't want to destroy ruins just because they happen to be Sith in nature- he may not want to put any of their teachings into practice, but..."

“Ignoring those practices could be deadly for the Order," Locke finished grimly. “Luke knows the power of the dark side, both in its allure and its destruction. He's wise to avoid it- and wiser still to study it. You can't make a decent shield if you don't know what assault you stand to face."

Syrra nodded. “Not that we should go out of our way to study these ruins too closely, mind you. For that reason," she suggested carefully, “it may be a good idea if only Kajex and I survey the ruins."

Keris frowned. “Hold on, Syrra- just because Locke and I are former Sith doesn't mean we can't handle it. If anything, you're more receptive to the dark because you haven't had to handle that training in the past."

Kajex raised a paw. “Alright, calm down you two. I think you both have a point, but it's not going to help foster trust, relegating those kind of tasks just based on how you were trained- I will, however, assign it based on experience." He glanced to his brother, who seemed to understand what he was thinking as he nodded. “Locke and I have the most experience here out of anybody, and Talrik won't be so easily affected since he's not Force-sensitive. It'll be us that'll investigate the ruins first, before we call the rest of you down to have a look at it- does that sound reasonable?"

The two women glanced at each other, looking a bit apologetic, before nodding. “Yeah... sorry, Keris," Syrra added.

“It's fine. Kajex is right, better let the instructors handle it first," she agreed. “What should we do while we're on the surface, though?"

“Question the civilians," Miles suggested. “Try and get a feel for what's going on in the area politically or socially. I've done on-planet patrols same as you, Syrra- it may not be our territory but there's no reason we shouldn't be able to pick up on any tips; and it'd give Keris a good demonstration on how to wheedle information from people."

“C'mon, you say that like I can't charm the pants out off people already," Keris scoffed.

“There's a difference between 'persuasion' and 'seduction', dear," Syrra replied with a smile.

The vixen rolled her eyes, but smiled back. “I suppose..."

When the crew had dispersed, Locke made for the training mat and knelt, summoning his unfinished lightsaber pike from the other side of the room with a sigh. There were so many things left to do before he could be expected to keep up with his brother, and having a weapon on him would be a first step in helping to face whatever danger lied ahead. He stared off to where Kajex had left, towards the cockpit, smiling to himself- his twin had done everything he could to make this transition as easy as possible, centering on affection and love that Locke had never known in his life. It was easy for the white wolf to cast aside whatever fears he had possessed about the task they faced, knowing Kajex trusted him and believed he would pull through.

He breathed in, returning his attention to the metal shaft in his paws- on several areas of the long, polished rod were leather grips, and it was one these grips that Locke held his weapon. With a short pause, he let the breath in and relaxed, eyes closing slowly as he allowed the Force to flow through him. All of his mind was focused towards channeling energy into the shaft, warmth growing in his paws as he poured his concentration into the unfinished weapon. Unconsciously, as if he had performed this many times in the past, his breathing and heart rate slowed to an exact pace, his chest rising and falling in a perfect rhythm, the thumping sound of blood rushing through his body echoing in his ears as the trance overtook him.

Before long, and with abruptness so subtle yet immediate it was as if the transition hadn't taken place, Locke felt the connection to the shaft, the coolness of its metal surface taking on his heat. Impossible though it seemed, he could feel a vibration of its own, a pulse that seemed to steady itself and match his heartbeat as he became one with it. Though his eyes remained closed, he could see and feel the shaft itself, the flaws along its surface, various shatterpoints throughout its length. He hadn't expected the weapon to be completely flawless, but he found it humorously easy to begin channeling his power towards reinforcing those points. The fractures were filled, made whole despite not being reforged, and the entire length seemed to hum positively from the attention. A glow that he knew could only be perceptible to him seemed to him seemed to issue from the shaft as he opened his eyes.

A final, deep breath, and he released himself, drawing away from the pole. A warm chill ran down his spine as he did so, yet the sensation was calming to him. Smiling to himself he regarded the unfinished weapon fondly. He had practiced cadences with it already, but it was not until now that the weapon felt... right, comfortable to hold in his paws.

It took him a few moments to realize he was not alone, Syrra staring at him curiously with her head cocked to the side. “Is everything okay? You've been there about an hour and a half, we were beginning to worry you were losing your nerve."

Locke blinked. The passage of time seemed to have escaped him as he had entered his trance, but he shook it off, nodding. “Yes, I'm fine- thank you, Syrra. I'm just preparing myself for the task ahead, that's all."

The Trianii nodded, glancing at the unfinished weapon. “I'm sure it'll be fine once it's done. Maybe they'll allow you to take some of the phrikite so you can use it for the shaft, when we're done. It'd be a pricey reward, and Jedi aren't really supposed to take rewards, but I don't think anyone would mind you putting it to good use," she said kindly.

He shook his head, still smiling. “That won't be necessary, I think. Perhaps you can help me?"

“Of course, anything," she assured him.

“Please activate your lightsaber, then," he asked her, holding the shaft out. “And put the blade to the shaft."

Syrra blinked, looking moderately confused. “Wait, but you're still working on it, right?"

The white wolf nodded pleasantly. “I am. I think it's nearly done, but I'll need you to test it, please."

The Trianii looked very hesitant at the idea, but did as she was asked, pulling her Jedi weapon from her belt and activating the deep sapphire energy blade. With a look of apprehension, she raised the weapon above the length of metal, glancing at Locke for a moment before following through and flicking the lightsaber downward, cutting at the exposed, bare shaft.

A crackle filled the lounge of the ship as Syrra's weapon failed to penetrate the shaft in any way, the Trianii's eyes widening in wonder as her weapon was stopped as easily as it would have been stopped by another lightsaber blade. Locke grinned. “Give it a strong slash, Padawan- I think it'll hold up."

Syrra glanced at him again, shrugging and smiling as she complied, raising her weapon high and bringing a heavy, two-handed blow down on the shaft itself. The impact knocked the short staff down, clattering against the deck loudly; but as Syrra pulled her weapon away to survey the damage, both she and Locke noticed there was none to be found. There were no scorch marks, no dent, not even a scratch to indicate that the weapon had suffered any wear or tear from a lightsaber strike. Satisfied with the test, Locke gestured to Syrra to deactivate her weapon, a wordless request that she quickly obeyed as she regarded Locke with an impressed expression.

“How...?"

“It's one of the oldest tricks in the history of the Force, Padawan," Locke explained as he stood the staff up next to him. “When the Jedi didn't have lightsabers or their protosabers, they had expertly forged weapons, often swords, that they imbued with the Force. It gave them incredible resilience, enough that they could easily clash against lightsabers without issue."

“That's pretty impressive," Kajex said, prompting both of them to look towards the hall to the hatch, where he was standing with a grin. “I feel like there's barely anything we need to teach you in order to help you become a Jedi, Locke- you've got abilities that'll definitely come in handy."

Locke smiled appreciatively. “I hope you're right- I'd like to know for myself that I'm capable of more than just doing another man's evil work; for my legacy to be some small measure of aid to the universe instead of more pain."

“Well, call it a gut feeling," Kajex replied positively, as he turned back to the cockpit, “but I'd bet credits you'll be proving it to yourself soon."

In many ways, Dakua reminded Kajex of the vast forests of Kurah from many months back- the world was thick with ancient trees without any real place to land among them, there was next to nothing within them that suggested a significant tech-level of civilization, and the ambient temperature outside was almost precisely the same. Even the circumstances weren't completely different- just as it had been Talrik's first mission with Kajex and Syrra back on Kurah, so it would be their first mission with the former Sith trio.

But in addition to the fact that the sun was a more general bright yellow as opposed to Kurah's blue, it was not the forests that they scanned to locate their destination- the planet's northern continent was also possessed of isolated settlements that nevertheless boasted a modest yet efficient level of technology. Even before they penetrated the atmosphere, Kajex's ship picked up signals that confirmed his was not the only one in the air, though as they passed by the nearly non-existent air-traffic it was apparent that his was probably the best-outfitted around. Thankfully it was not the largest vessel present, which granted the wolf a measure of comfort as he chatted with Coarser Outpost's control tower.

“And you're sure it'll hold my ship alright?" Kajex asked the air-traffic manager. “The Gold Rush is due for an inspection and upgrade as soon as our mission here is done, I just don't want to clip the hull and have to pay extra."

“You'll be fine, Captain Surnahm," the female voice on the other end assured him. “Pad 7 is a top-level landing platform, there's nothing to clip your ship against unless you deliberately come in too low. Just keep at your current bearings and it'll appear over the canopy in a few minutes."

“Copy that, thanks a bunch, Coarser CT," Kajex responded with a relieved sigh, cutting the transmission and relaxing in his seat.

“Bit nervous, brother?" Locke asked with an amused smile. The white wolf had finally gotten himself prepared, having donned a gray duster coat not unlike Kajex's black one, over a set of dark-blue sleeveless coveralls.

“Oh hush," the Sentinel replied good-naturedly. “I just want to make sure Kane's ship stays intact until I'm dead and it gets buried with me."

Syrra giggled. “Not going to pass it on to our children, if we find a way to have any?"

“Nope- I'm gonna outlive all of you guys so I don't have anybody to pass it on to, and then it'll become my casket when I bury it in the center of a planet at full-throttle. I'm gonna send myself off in style, kitten, just you watch," he claimed with a grin, to both his brother's and fiancee's chuckles.

Before long they had reached the starport, a massive, graystone spire nearly kilometer high, with no fewer than twenty light and medium landing pads jutting out from the sides. 4 large transport umbilical tunnels speared out from the midsection, two of them occupied. Coarser Outpost itself lay only a few miles away, it's bright lights apparent through the weather at the base of an enormous mountain, the surface slick with oncoming seasonal rain that fell in a drizzle, speckling the cockpit's viewport as Kajex brought the ship in close. Sure enough, a confirmation alert pinged on the ship's console, indicating they were cleared for landing. The wolf glanced at his co-pilot and she nodded wordlessly, getting up from her seat to tell Talrik, Keris and Miles to get ready, while Locke slid into the empty seat.

Kajex glanced at him briefly. “... What about you, though? Are you a bit nervous?"

Locke said nothing for a moment. “Somewhat. Until Keris came into my life, I conducted my assignments alone. I never had to work with the burden of a team at my back, unless it was one I commanded from afar- even then, it wasn't often that I did so."

The Sentinel frowned. “You're worried we might slow you down too much?"

Locke shook his head. “Not at all. I'm worried I might let you down." He turned to his brother, looking apprehensive. “I meant what I've been saying this last month. I do love you, as close as one can love their sibling, even if it's one he only met recently in his life."

“Incestuously?" Kajex asked with a smile, drawing a laugh from his albino counterpart.

“Well, yes. But... I don't want to fail you. I don't want you to lose your life because I failed you. I feel the same about Syrra and Talrik- I don't want to fail them either." He swallowed. “How did you do it, Kajex?"

“Do what?"

“Function well enough to work with your fathers, having a family that loved you, knowing that it could be ended at any moment?"

Kajex hesitated. “... I didn't really focus on what would happen if Bran or Kane had died on me. Granted, it hurt in the end when they did, but while I focused on them being alive, I was much happier and worked much more efficiently." He sighed. “We're just gonna have to be prepared for the worst- to be ready to lose, to be ready for loss. And until that happens, we just fight with everything we've got- within reason." He paused as he brought the ship to a hovering halt above the platform, checking his instruments briefly before bringing the Gold Rush down over the platform and settling gently onto the concrete landing pad.

Locke made to get up, but Kajex grabbed his shoulder quickly and pulled him down. “Locke... I can't promise you that we'll make it out of every mission alive. Ever since my fathers died, I've had to live with the fear I might lose someone I care about. It happened with Rik, and it hurt pretty bad- but even though I lived with that fear, I didn't let it consume me. That ain't any way to live." He smiled. “So I'll tell you what- I'll do with you what I do with Syrra anytime we're about to head into potential danger."

“What's that?" Locke asked.

The Sentinel said nothing, pulling Locke into him and leaning forward. The white wolf remained silent as they brought their muzzles together in a kiss, holding each other close for a few moments before breaking away.

Kajex smiled. “If it's gotta be our last day alive with each other, at least leave the family behind with something to remember each other by."

Locke returned the smile. “I think it's a tradition I'll gladly take up."

“So anyway, Coarser Outpost's been here about thirty years, had plenty of contracts from the Republic and Empire to trade what the guild finds, in return for credits, obviously," the elderly human gentleman at the driver's seat of the speeder cart explained. “But ain't never had off-world visitors from either of them till today- though I guess technically Jedi aren't really Republic, if I remember right," he said uncertainly, scratching his bald and liver-spotted head.

“Yes and no," Syrra responded with a smile as she and Keris held the tarp over themselves and the driver with the Force. “The arrangement is complex, to be honest."

“Well, whatever that may be, y' got my thanks for being right kind lasses in keepin' me dry," he said appreciatively. “Most folks don't bother in this weather, but I guess havin' that magic Force stuff makes it a non-issue."

“It's no trouble at all," Keris assured him kindly on his other side. “And it's the least we could do for you getting us to the outpost comfortably, in this weather- you have our thanks."

What had initially started as a light drizzle as the crew of the Gold Rush exited the ship, had turned into a full-blown storm by the time they had reached the base of Coarser Outpost's starport spire- and it had done so with rapidity, transitioning into a deluge of rainfall within a full minute turbolift trip. The torrential downpour was such that many of the starport's current inhabitants were reticent to move on until the storm cleared up, which was reported to be hours from now- but with a job to do, and time potentially not on their side to do it, the six-member team had split up to find someone willing to put up with the weather and take them to the proper outpost.

Miles had managed to find an initially curmudgeon old man who would do it for a slightly unreasonable sum, but a combination of Syrra's kindness and Keris' flirtation had worn the cargo-hauler down to the price of a handful a credits. The end result was that all four male crewmembers were sitting in the back, exposed to the elements; still, Kajex felt rather comfortable in his longcoat, and Locke seemed to be holding up well; Miles seemed completely unaffected despite not wearing much more than heavy leather and armor pieces, smiling at the chatting women and old man; Talrik, however, seemed to be slightly miserable, his Ranger bomber jacket keeping him only slightly warm, but not completely dry.

Kajex smiled kindly at his best friend and surrogate younger brother. “C'mere kid, get between Locke and me." The fox looked up, glancing at Locke who merely smiled and nodded as he shifted a bit to the side. Looking grateful, he got up and quickly reseated himself between the two, flinching slightly as both wolves leaned in on either side to cover him, before purring a bit as they concentrated together, shielding themselves from the rain using the Force to mold a barrier above them.

“Will you be alright, lad?" Locke asked as he gave one of Talrik's ears a friendly scritch.

“Yeah, I'm just not used to wet weather. Didn't much like Abaat, either, to be honest."

Kajex grinned. “Because of the snow, or because I held you at blasterpoint?" he asked as he scritched the fox's other ear.

“More because of Ulfric, actually- but I'm not a fan of being wet and cold, either," he said, blowing into his paws to warm them.

“You want in on this?" Locke asked Miles, but the Miraluka shook his head, sighing pleasantly.

“Nah, I'm good. I love rainfall, personally, and the leather's keeping me dry. Feels refreshing to me; though with you guys having fur, it's probably less-pleasant." He stretched out. “Did you want those survey charges, boss?" he asked Kajex.

“Yeah, lemme see them." The wolf reached out and floated a bundle of inactive explosive charges, as Syrra and Keris glanced back to watch. Kajex noticed their expressions and explained. “I don't have any intention of blast-digging or destroying any part of the ruins while we're down there, but I don't want to go in unprepared, either. It took repeated strafing runs in an X-wing starfighter to reduce Exar Kun's temple to rubble, I just want something on-hand in case we need to seal an entrance."

“Oh, yer here for them ruins they found a month ago, are you?" the old man piped up. “Only a handful of people have been in to see them, yours truly included- I had to go down there to help them get a shipment of phrikite outta them caches they dug out. Still plenty of it down there they haven't gotten around to extracting, but only 'cuz they're worried them ruins might be dangerous."

“Have there been any incidents concerning those ruins?" Talrik asked.

“Well, no, not incidents really. Just a buncha bad feelings while people investigate them." He shuddered. “'s like that temple they got down there is all cold and dark. Lack of lighting isn't what gave off that vibe, it's just... unsettlin'. It's got a lot of freaky-lookin' statues and monoliths, and a couple of tombs, even."

Kajex glanced at Locke, whose expression seemed to indicate they were both thinking along the same lines. “Jedi typically don't venerate the dead with tombs. That's more of a Sith practice."

“Quite so," Locke agreed. “The Sith do it as a grand, egotistical send-off, buried with their own treasures. If you've lived long enough to become powerful enough, you are 'respected'- which means you at least get a box to rest in and a handful of traps that will eventually be overcome when others raid your tomb."

“So I guess that settles it- it's a Sith ruin, right?" Miles suggested.

“Let's not be hasty," Locke cautioned. “It could just be an old cultural tomb from a long-dead or early spacefaring civilization- though I'm worried you might be right," he added with a sigh.

The trip to the outpost became slightly drier as they left the stretch of bare land behind them and penetrated the jungle. What dimmed sunlight there had been overhead was doused almost immediately by the dense canopy above, though it appeared that years of use of the land had resulted in the forming of paths through the jungle, well-traversed soft ground passing beneath them as they ventured further. Rather than a shower of warm rainwater, they kept their eyes out for steadily pouring water leaking from the roof of the jungle, though Miles did lean out to get a bit into his hair.

Even as they neared the outpost, Kajex noticed there was very little in the way of traffic going to and from the starport. A couple of nervous-looking miners traveling on foot spared them only a frightened glance before scurrying away, causing him to frown in confusion. “There's no other problems with the ruins or outpost going on right now, is there?" he asked the elderly driver.

The driver grunted hesitantly, as if trying to decide how to phrase the situation delicately. “Guild Head Wiyuk is what you might call 'financially pragmatic'. He's made the guild alotta money in the past by bein' shrewd, driven, an' more than a li'l cutthroat. Oh not violent, ma'am," he assured Syrra as her eyes widened, “but there are more than a dozen other miners both in and out of the guild who don't much like him. I expect the only reason he's gon' let you check these ruins at all is 'cuz the rest of the guild forced him to."

“He has reservations concerning Jedi?" Keris asked.

“He has reservations concernin' everybody," the old man sighed. “If he had a couple thousand more credits, he'd be usin' them to hire more goons to protect his sorry hide- but he at least has the good sense to follow the guild's rules." He cleared his throat, pointing ahead through the edge of the treeline. “Look alive, youngins; there's yer outpost."

The rain had only let up slightly, and so what would have otherwise looked like a normal outpost in the middle of a jungle environment instead looked very ominous. It was by no means unimpressive, with well-built and maintained concrete and permacrete structures of various sizes, all built on sturdy durasteel and stone supports embedded deep in the earth. Nevertheless, the rain-slicked exteriors and precipitation-dimmed lighting, mixed with the wary if not unwelcoming glances of the few visible locals, gave all of them the impression that their arrival had been both expected and unwanted.

Locke's brow furrowed. “This place is slightly more cheerful than a Sith convocation," he observed quietly.

The old man grunted. “That'll be Wiyuk, mark my words. Probably had one of his 'pep talks' earlier. I mentioned he don't care for Jedi, right?"

Kajex raised an eyebrow. “I don't think you did."

“... Well, he don't care for Jedi."

The gray wolf smiled wryly. “Thanks. We'll keep that in mind."

“Are you sure you want to handle this, bro?" Kajex asked as he took a step back from the Guild Head Wiyuk's office door.

Locke nodded, gesturing to Talrik and Miles as he adjusted his staff to the magnetic-plate on the back of his chest harness. “If that elderly gentleman was correct about this leader possessing no love for Jedi, it might be best if only one of us deals with him- and no offense intended, but between the two of us I believe myself to be the better orator. Not that you don't have your moments dealing well with civilians casually, but this might require a bit more... conversational finesse."

The gray wolf smiled. “You're probably right. Just shoot me an alert with the Force if something comes up," he advised him as he took a seat in the dimly-lit receptionist area, Syrra and Keris doing the same.

The former Sith Knight, and now Jedi, smiled back for a moment before facing the door and clearing his throat, taking a moment to compose himself. Once he was sure he was ready, he raised his paw and rapped the hatch three times.

There was a few moments of silence. Then, an irritable grunt. “Get in here."

Taking one last glance to make sure Miles and Talrik were following, he opened the hatch and stepped in, his eyes falling on the guild leader.

The holographic image of Mel Wiyuk that was included in the mission dossier, had failed to capture any modicum of unpleasantness that currently occupied the thin lines and pointed features of the human currently sitting at the expensive, dark-wood desk. It was not merely that his graying brown hair seemed slightly frazzled, or that he possessed patchy stubble, or that his cool green eyes seemed to be filled with nothing but contempt for anything or anyone he looked at; but there also seemed to be a scent in the air of stale drink, and a thin veneer of what looked like grease on the surface of his skin. In many ways, Wiyuk reminded Locke of Inquisitor Voyde- he even had the same aura of hatred radiating from him that Locke did not care for.

But despite his own personal reservations, the albino wolf did the polite thing and bowed respectfully. “Good afternoon, Guild Head Wiyuk. My name is Locke Surnahm, I've come on behalf of the Jedi Order, at the request of your mining guild- it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Wiyuk said nothing, peering at the white-wolf intently as if to size him up. Locke allowed a few moments of this silence to persist before continuing.

“These are my non-Jedi associates- on my left is Talrik Lye, an expertly trained Antarian Ranger," he explained, glancing at the fox as he bowed and smiled uncertainly. “On my right is Miles Lohess, an ex-soldier and gun-for-hire." Miles also bowed, though Locke could sense a coolness from his former aide-de-camp- it seemed the Miraluka didn't care much for Wiyuk either.

Once again, Wiyuk said nothing, glancing to either man on his back as he reclined in his executive chair. A longer period of silence persisted, the sound of rainfall and the soft, distant rumble of thunder making up the only noises. Without bothering to get up or greet them in any capacity, he gestured to the three seats in front of his desk. Without question, Locke stepped forward and took the middle seat as Talrik and Miles took one to either side of him. Wiyuk bent to the side and put a bottle of exceptionally hard Coruscanti liquor on the table, then placed four drinking glasses on the table.

“Drink?" the human grunted.

“Thank you kindly," Locke answered, watching as he poured into each glass before shifting them towards his visitors. Adamant to keep the level of civility high, Locke took his glass without a word, waiting until the human had taken a drink before imbibing. The liquor burned pleasantly, but the taste was rather bitter- a brief glance to either man seemed to indicate Talrik and Miles found the flavor less-than-appealing, as well.

It was another few moments before Wiyuk spoke again- but this time he was not content with a single word. “My... associates, insisted that you be brought here to investigate the recently uncovered ruins. I've several times tried to overturn the decision- we don't need no off-world governments nosin' into our business, tellin' us what we can or can't dig up," he grunted clearly. “Not even Jedi."

“I can appreciate your reservations," Locke assured him. “Which is why I'm to inform you that the claim, and any monetary losses you might sustain from our investigation, would be fully covered by New Republic Intelligence- depending on what exactly it is you've found. In the interest of safety, howev--"

“Safety," Wiyuk spat derisively. “I've been minin' forty years now, since I was fifteen. Ain't nobody got himself a nice score by playin' safe. You wanna get the motherlode? You better be willing to upend a mountain to get it, and strong enough to hold it up while you fish it out." He paused, glaring at the white wolf. “But I'm a reasonable man. I follow the rules, and the rules say if the decision has stuck, I'm to make sure it's the decision is carried out. Just don't think that because you got invited here that I'll stand for any loss of credits. I'm already eight weeks behind schedule getting these ruins up and outta that hole so I can penetrate the rest of the phrikite caches- that kind of time puts a dent in my wallet."

“We don't intend to take up an inordinate amount of time," Locke responded, frowning. “As long as you're aware that these ruins might require a thorough sweep. This planet may not be a part of Republic space, but your associates have still agreed to abide to the Republic's terms depending on what the ruins consist of- the phrikite cache is still yours, no matter how you look at it. If the ruins are safe to excavate, NRI will compensate you for your losses and purchase the claim from you for the guild's price as soon as they've surveyed the ruins for themselves."

Wiyuk gave him a hard look. “We ain't had any interest in the Republic, before or after the Empire. What makes you think we'd give a damn about your credits or deals?"

Locke raised an eyebrow. “If you weren't, your guild would not have contacted us in the first place. Credits are credits, no matter where you get them."

“Ha!" The human's laugh was coarse and unpleasant, like a jeering scavenger bird cackling at a dying animal. “That's what everyone else in the guild thinks, but I know better. Credits are like bait on the end of a fishing line- you get a big enough wad, you can pull some big fish outta the water, and with strong arms like the Republic's, that's a lot of 'fish' from the Guild. Once you pay for your shit, I don't expect you Jedi or the Republic to just up and leave, and not bother us anymore- I fully expect you to stick around and meddle in affairs that you aren't wanted in."

The Jedi narrowed his eyes, regarding the human critically. “Perhaps that will happen- perhaps it won't. But the influx of credits and increased Republic protection doesn't interest you?"

Wiyuk scoffed. “Protection from what? Working independently has garnered us all the credits we could've ever wanted, letting us set ore prices on our own. And we get buyers frequently, from Nemoidians and Hutt cartels and all manner of organizations that want what we have. And those credits give us precisely the protection we need from nosy offworld bastards- y'think the guild doesn't have its own fleet?"

Locke wasn't quite sure he could believe what he was hearing- though it was exceptionally difficult to hold himself back from commenting when Wiyuk mentioned selling to Hutt cartels. A part of him wondered if the office they were sitting in now constituted the only world Wiyuk ever really considered with any serious thought, and now that the thought occurred to him it was easy to see the hints- the glasses they drank from seemed to be made from fine crystal; the Coruscanti liquor was from an upper-class manufacturer; a few pricey portraits hung from the stone walls; a collection of various, valuable collectibles lined the shelves off to their side, held in eye-catching containers of professional artisan designs. Perhaps to Wiyuk, there was nothing beyond this office to care about.

“Would this fleet be enough to repel the Imperial Remnant?" Miles asked abruptly, his voice skeptical.

Wiyuk chuckled. “The Imperial Remnant got their asses kicked by a group of ragtag freedom fighters in ancient starships, and they ain't recovered since. Why would Dakua's organized, top-of-the-line fleet need to worry about the Empire? Besides, we don't have what they want, they got a whole sector of planets to get ore from."

“That's where you're potentially wrong," Talrik piped up. “These ruins of yours could easily be Sith in origin."

“Oooo, 'Sith'!" Wiyuk said in a mocking voice. “Please... I don't believe in your bantha-shit 'Force' magic, and I ain't afraid of cockamamie ancient religions and superstitious nonsense meant to scare lesser men. All you need to repel any kind of evil is to take a blaster and shoot it in the face until it stops movin'."

“You miss my friend's point," Locke continued, picking up Talrik's argument. “If the Imperial Remnant garners any hint that these ruins exist, and if it turns out that they are Sith ruins, they will send others to assess the ruins and do what they can to take it from you. And I assure you, they are not above hurting others to do it. Not even the most stalwart planetary defense force would repel them without significant loss of life."

Wiyuk glared. “Now it just sounds like you're making threats."

“No, I'm giving you a warning. This is not an issue you should take lightly, Guild Head." He pointed to himself. “I've seen the Sith at work before, and now that I'm working as a Jedi, I need to express a concern for every life here based on what I know and have experienced firsthand. If you have indeed found a Sith ruin, the potential losses sustained here could amount to more than just finances."

“Yeah?" Wiyuk sneered. “Well ain't that noble of you." He paused, looking the wolf over. “But I suppose there's no harm in letting you and your team give the place a look, anyhow. If you're gonna be thorough, bravin' these 'dangerous' ruins, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't be... compensated, for your help."

“... Meaning...?"

“Well," Wiyuk said, leaning forward and refilling the wolf's glass, “I'm sure your task would be expedited if you were to have an... incentive, to conduct your investigation quickly. Not like I can force the rest of the guild to conform to the way things should be run. But when it comes to phrikite... well, that's an ore you don't wanna hang onto for too long. Always alotta buyers, alotta people who want or need it. Useful stuff- mix it with just about anything and it'll disperse electricity, or..." he paused, glancing at Locke's unfinished lightsaber shaft, “... repel lightsabers." He refilled his own glass, raising it and then knocking it back in one go before regarding Locke with a grin. “Could be useful to a fella like you."

The white wolf stared at him. “No doubt."

“And it's not like I couldn't handle letting some of it go, if it were to be put to a good use... aiding a 'noble cause' and all that," he added, arching an eyebrow at the albino canine.

The white wolf said nothing for a few moments, once again unable to believe what he was hearing. Once he'd internally formed an opinion of the man sitting before him, he sighed and got to his feet. “No."

Wiyuk frowned. “'No?'"

“I will not be bribed, sir," he informed the guild head as Miles and Talrik stood as well. “You underestimate my abilities and my needs by offering me a petty reward, and you insult my integrity by assuming I would be convinced to be lax in my duties and disregard the well-being of other sentients here." He took in a breath and let it out, calming himself despite his anger towards the man. “I am a Jedi. And if you don't know what that means, then I'll offer you some advice for dealing with them in the future- never seek to bribe someone to whom the Force provides."

Wiyuk glared at him, leaning back in his seat. “Right... so what happens now?"

“Believe me," Locke responded coolly, “I'm not particularly interested in remaining in your company for any longer than we need to. But our investigation will take place, and it may very well be expedited if we conclude immediately that we're dealing with Sith ruins. So to that end, we will begin starting tomorrow morning- the sooner we go in, the sooner we can be out of your hair so you can start finding buyers for your phrikite."

“I'll want a liaison to remain here," Wiyuk said abruptly. “I ain't goin' in with you, but I'll want regular reports of what's going on down there."

“You'll get it," he assured him bluntly. “My brother Kajex, our Ranger Talrik Lye, and I will all investigate the ruins- our apprentices will remain on the surface with Miles to convey any reports back to you, as well as investigate the immediate area for signs of Sith corruption. In the meantime, we would appreciate any reports on whatever occurs here."

The man shook his head. “That's on you. You're doing your job, don't expect us to provide aid for something we ain't getting' paid for, much less something we're paying you to do."

Locke sighed. “Very well... if you must be so difficult, then at least be so kind as to offer us reasonable lodging at an affordable price. I would also appreciate you allowing our Padawans to stay at the outpost while we investigate."

“Fair enough," Wiyuk said. “If that's all then...?"

The wolf shook his head. “That's all we have to speak of, I'm afraid." He managed a forced smile. “We'll see ourselves out, then. Thank you kindly for the drinks."

Wiyuk said nothing until Locke was about to exit. “A shame, really. You'd figure a Jedi'd be wise enough to know what matters in life."

Locke paused at the door, looking up and seeing his brother stare at him curiously. Now a genuine smile did appear on Locke's muzzle, as he turned back to Wiyuk.

“Most didn't. And neither, it seems, do you. But at least I know better."

The local inn was not particularly extravagant, but Kajex was used to bare-bones living and found the setting fairly comfortable, all things considered. And despite the fact that Wiyuk had turned out to be a credit-grubbing bastard who had tried to bribe his own sibling, the elderly female inn-keeper was not so selfish and had seen to it they were as comfortable as could be.

“This is your room, gentlemen," the aged Twi'lek female said kindly, opening the door for them and gesturing them inside. “Your stay includes both breakfast and dinner at 700 and 1900 hours, respectively- we do pretty well with both, and there's always plenty enough for second helpings, if you want it."

Locke bowed to their host politely. “You have our thanks, ma'am- we look forward to it."

The Twi'lek blushed. “Well, aren't you a gentleman- are all Jedi as polite as you?"

“Nah, my twin brother just likes pretty ladies," Kajex joked, squeezing his shoulder.

“Which makes you the roguish and charming twin, I imagine," the innkeeper chuckled. “Well, if you or your students need anything, don't hesitate to pop on downstairs and let me know- or just ask one of the cleaners for L'Mia, and they'll get to me quick."

“We'll let you know," Locke assured her. As soon as she left, he took a look around- each room had two large beds capable of supporting two people. He glanced at his sibling. “We'll work out bed arrangements later, yeah?"

“I call one to myself," Miles said as he sauntered past them, tossing his equipment bag to the floor and taking a seat in one of the room's wooden chairs. “I toss and turn too much, anyhow."

“Fair enough," Kajex responded, grabbing a towel from a nearby closet and drying his hair out. “So... what's your take on this place, bro?"

Locke sighed, sitting on the edge of one of the beds. “I confess I'm worried Wiyuk might make things difficult for us," he admitted. “When I was still with the Circle of Syn, I knew of a couple of Inquisitors who were valued for their business and financial acumen. Among them was Inquisitor Dette, who had a penchant for finery. Never much cared for him, far too foppish and arrogant, though he was a brilliant practitioner of Form II, Makashi."

Kajex frowned. “That's a bit archaic, isn't it? Granted, Count Dooku was known for being a master of its study back in my day, but I always used to associate its practice with elitism- I guess some things don't change. What does that have to do with Wiyuk, though?"

“He reminds me of Dette, to be frank," Locke explained. “He's far too obsessed with his comfortable surroundings to be of any real use to those around him, and is only truly valued for his ability to discern high prices accurately- and he's arrogant enough to believe that his priorities are shared by anyone else with a good mind. If it benefits him he'll throw the dog a bone, so to speak."

Miles snorted derisively. “Seen plenty of those kinds of dickheads in the Empire," he stated. “I'll be sure to keep an eye on him while I'm on the surface with Syrra and Keris. A guy like that has to have more than a few detractors, I'll ask around and see what's new concerning him." He yawned. “Part of me worries that I'm not gonna see much action on this one, if you don't mind my saying so- it's always a bit more fun when we're fighting for our lives."

Kajex shuddered and sat next to the white wolf. “The last few times we've done that, we've had a big-ass Sith Knight trying to fuck us with a double-sided lightsaber dildo of death. I could do with a little less action in my life." He paused, then chuckled. "... Holy shit, did I really just say that? But I'm an engaged man now, so I'd like to survive until Syrra and I tie the knot."

Locke chuckled. “Don't worry, I'll keep you alive till then, mark my words."

Months ago, another man had been kneeling in the center of the room- one whom Inquisitor Voyde had seen significant promise in. That student was lost. Perhaps not dead, but there would be time and opportunity to rectify that mistake. There was little sense dwelling on failures, not when those failures had yielded substantial reward. Voyde's eyes lingered on the living weapon in the center, before flicking to either side of him. six others stood with him, forming a circle that surrounded the hooded figure kneeling before them.

“In the last year, our operations have experienced numerous gains and setbacks. Those that have failed us have been lost- and good riddance," Voyde intoned harshly. “Knight Ulfric's mindlessness and penchant for wanton destruction resulted in his own death. Knight Locke's betrayal, meanwhile, will not go unpunished."

“You have been raised to be a weapon against the Jedi," a female voice hissed softly. Voyde glanced at the red-skinned Zeltron to his left. Inquisitor Tesque's gaze was piercing, critical- but regarded the figure before them with restrained approval. “You shall be the dagger that both delivers the poison in their veins, and later peels their miserable pelts from their bodies. You will show this Kajex and his allies how much one can suffer before they yearn for death. And you will start by intercepting them at Dakua, tonight."

“Your mission is twofold," Voyde murmured, frowning at Tesque. “There will be a ruin there, that they will investigate. If our records are correct, you will find a weapon to aid you in extinguishing their lives. But the body it is interred with holds the prize we need. Above all else, it must be delivered to us. Kill Kajex, Locke or any of his allies if you are able- but not at the risk of the mission." He regarded the figure. “My associate here forgets that we have alternative plans in motion that will be useful in dispatching these animals."

“They will pay, Voyde," Tesque growled. “Ulfric was my finest creation, and he is now lost to me because of them."

“If he was your finest creation," a male voice across from them said with a sigh, “he would not have been so easily killed. My apprentice here is more than up to the task, and the safeguard for his own life has been constructed." Voyde's eyes fell on a well-groomed blonde man opposite from where he was standing. Inquisitor Dette smirked. “Don't get me wrong, old man- you taught Locke exceptionally well, and his defection is completely not your fault, other than failing to gauge his loyalties. But he will be hard pressed to cut down my own student, I assure you."

Voyde ignored the insult easily. “Ulfric's inept handling of the situation had resulted in the loss of valuable assets to our cause. We cannot afford to squander men and women we will need later. You must strike with precision rather than raw power. You training in Makashi reflects what is necessary." He paused. “Rise."

The Sith Knight stood, pulling his hood away with clawed fins and revealing his smooth-snouted, gray-skinned face and deep, black eyes. The shark-like Karkarodon gazed at Voyde obediently, remaining deathly still.

“Do you understand what is expected of you, Knight Thresher?"

The shark smiled widely, revealing many rows of sharp teeth.

“Yes, my masters."