On To Mandalore

"Just show me where I need to get to work and we can start on that new body. I can't promise it'll come out looking like the perfect woman, but it'll definitely be as immortal as I am when it's complete. May take a good month, but I can get it done."

Turning off Liden's lightsaber, Jin'Lor tossed it back to her with a frown.

Liden caught it and returned it to her belt. "Come, I will show you your new labs." Liden led Jin'Lor out of the holding area. However she did not take him to any labs, instead she went to the bridge and once she was at the front viewport she glanced to one of the officers on deck and nodded to them.

"My Lady," the officer said with a nod. "We have two ships attempting to leave the planet."

"Leto..." the name escaped Liden's lips like smoke. "Prepare tractor beams. I want them alive."

---

“ Master I was in a forest and I saw Tal. She said she chose serenader herself. She also said that the two of you are in Unbalanced. Was it a vision or sumthing” she asked.

Confusion had set in and she looked around the ship and got up. “ how long was I lost in the forest. What is going on. she asked confused

The ship shuddered as the deflector shield absorbed the impact of a blaster shot. Mar looked to Serenity. "Nothing good. We can talk about your vision after we get out of this mess." Then he said under his breath: "If we get out of this mess."

Returning to the bridge of the Void Swift Mar watched Mira expertly dip and dive through a hail of blaster bolts. It seemed that the stealth system had, in fact, failed to keep them hidden. Mar cursed under his breath, this essentially clinched it. Next major ship dealer he encountered, he was turning in this broken bucket of bolts in for something more trustworthy.

"I think they're readying tractor beams." Mira said. "The fighters are trying to maneuver us towards the destroyers."

"Can we jump to hyperspace?" Mar asked.

"I'm open to where we'd be heading!" Mira said, annoyed.

Suddenly KC rolled in and began beeping wildly at Mar.

"What's your droid saying?"

"You're insane!" Mar said to KC. KC responded with a firm series of beeps then Mar rolled his eyes. "He says to plot a course to Mandalore, says it will help us help Ryze."

Mira frowned. "I don't know if Ryze can be helped..."

The ship shook again, which made it clear that there was no more time to argue.

"Plotting the course. Hang on everyone!" Mira banked right, aiming the Swift just above the horizon line of the planet in a spot clear of ships and in a brief moment the ship made the jump to hyperspace.

---

Liden watched the Void Swift make the jump. Her lips pursed with clear annoyance, but then returned to their usual small grin as the looked to Jin'Lor. "Oh well... We will have to find them. In the mean time. How about we take you to your new labs?" She looked to the officer who nodded.

"Prepare for the jump to hyperspace." The officer said.

The star destroyer was soon in hyperspace. Liden remained on the bridge for the entire jump which took two hours. When the ship dropped out, they were over a large water planet.

"Manaan." Liden said. "Back in the days of The Old Republic it was a major power due to it being the source of a healing substance known as kolto. However when bacta was created it soon fell out of favor and Manaan lost a lot of its economic structure. Now it's mainly a trade world and a sort of tourist destination. However, The Empire took the planet over to harvest kolto to try and supplement their bacta demands. The local selkath are loyal to The Empire and have provided us with various facilities... including an old underwater base that will be perfect for you, I believe..." Liden smirked. "Of course... you are fee to come and go as you please. I know you are a man who needs his freedom. The selkath will provide you whatever resources you need for your work. I will provide any that they cannot." She started towards the door and brushed her finger across Jin'Lor's cheek as she did. "Feel free to capitalize on my hospitality however you wish. But remember... what we do is important work..."

Liden left the bridge. The air growing less tense as she departed.

---

Mar sighed with relief as Mira charted a course to Mandalore.

"Mandalore is a very dangerous place," Mira said. "I've been there a few times. A planet of mercenaries and warmongers vying for control of a way of life that's been long dead even before the Empire."

"I know." Mar grimaced. "However, we have to help Ryze. If we can do that there, then we must."

"You feel bad for what you did to him." Mira noted.

Mar closed his eyes, shame flushed across his face. "I thought he was the monster... I was wrong... He's a victim... And I added to his pain."

"Hey, he was pretty convincing." Mira said. "He did things to me while under control of that AI... I didn't know that at the time but still... So don't beat yourself up so much." She put her hand on Mar's shoulder. He shrank away slightly, making her pause. Then she smiled warmly at him. "Chin up, we're making progress."

"I don't know... I'm a dark jedi trying to teach the ways of the light. Honestly Keran should be the master..."

"Hey, I've been with Keran for a long time, seen a lot of The Force through him. If it seemed fit to make you Serenity's master.... I won't question it."

Mar realized he should go speak to Serenity about her vision, it was clear it had troubled her. Mar thanked Mira, eliciting a smile from the twi'lek woman who returned to looking at readouts for the ship.

"Oh, and this ship is on the brink of falling apart." Mira said as she looked at the console. "I think you're gonna need a new ship here soon."

"Don't I know it. That stealth drive should've worked." Mar said painfully. The fact the ship was rattling and groaning as they flew through hyperspace only added to the unease and sad fact that the Void Swift was on its last legs.

"When we reach Mandalore I'll look to see if there are any dealers."

"Thank you Mira." Mar went back down to the living quarters and found Serenity with Ghost, Carla, and VT. Mar looked to his padawan with concern. "So... tell me about this vision you had."