Mandalore Awaits

"You do know I have to get DNA from you in order for this to work, right? I can make a list of the equipment I need, but..." Jin'Lor explained before something she said earlier clicked. "Why do you want them?" He inquired, referring to the group that had escaped them.

Did she intend to get her hands on Ryze, after all?

Liden paused before exiting the bridge and flashed him a smile behind her black lips. "I will have a sample sent to you. Speak with my requisitions officer for anything else you need... Now..." She turned back and exited the bridge. "I must rest..."

Liden made her way to her chambers, a secluded section of the ship where a large tank of bacta was waiting for her. Removing the binding armor from her broken form she was quick to slip into the tank and forced herself into a trance to try and hold the immense wall of pain from her injuries and cybernetics at bay. Her skin was cracked and necrotic, black veins slithered through the pale skin. The top of her head was nothing but cybernetics over exposed brain. The bacta mix was quick to numb the pain as she immersed herself in it.

Hers was a life of constant agony, tempered by her iron will and the power of the Dark Side.

Her mind slipped into itself. Feeling The Force as it pricked at her mind with darkness. All she wanted was to end the pain. She could do it so easily, let her mind drift into oblivion. Truly let go and let the end come. But she couldn't. There was a job that needed to be done, and she was the only one who could do it.

If Jin'Lor could provide her a new body however... perhaps there was hope for her after all? A body free of the pain of all the... mistakes...

A part of her thought it was too good to be true.

"Mistress..." A soft voice came to her mind. The Ninth Sister had returned.

"Why have you disturbed me?" Liden responded.

"We have lost Leto and his companions... "

"It doesn't matter... They will make themselves known in due time. I feel The Force has put us in contact with them for a reason." Liden said, her mind straining to communicate with the Ninth Sister through The Force as she silently prayed for the bacta mixture to numb her to everything.

"Shall we send out bounty hunters?" Ninth Sister asked.

"Leto intends to disrupt our operations, we must be prepared. Send the bounty hunters. However tell them they are to capture them alive. No disintegrations..."

"As you wish, My Lady..." Ninth Sister bowed and then left Liden with her agonizing thoughts.

---

"Just so you know, Mar," She said over her shoulder. "VT is having fun eating part of your wall." With her robotic arm, Ghost pointed to said droid eating wires from an open panel in the wall. The little droid was squealing happily as said wires kept electrocuting him.

Mar rolled his eyes. "Blasted insane droid..." He seemed too preoccupied by Serenity.

“ I... I saw Tal master. How is that possible she said you and Master keren were unbalanced. She also said that she turned herself in” she looked at mar now. Her face a mask of confusion. “ what happened master, I used the dark side I should not be able to have lightside ability’s right.” She said

"Unbalanced?" Mar smirked. "Tal would know... It seems you were given a vision through the Force." He sighed. "Though whether it was Tal or some sort of incarnation of The Force... It doesn't matter, it is clear now that if we're to complete your training, Keran and I are going to need to find balance within ourselves." He smirked at Keran who was deep in thought at the revelations provided by Serenity's vision.

Keran looked to Serenity. "That's not how The Force works, my dear. Jedi try to focus on the light side of the force, not delving into the power the dark side tempts us with. However, no one is locked from the light for faltering. Tales of the Old Republic state as much. Such as the tale of Revan, The Prodigal Knight. Revan was a jedi who fought in the Mandalorian Wars, and fell to the dark side becoming Darth Revan and spreading pain and suffering across the galaxy.

"However, his apprentice, Darth Malak, attempted to kill Revan and he was subsequently recovered by The Jedi who were able to preserve his life at the expense of his memories. Revan eventually regained his memories but decided to return to the light and redeem himself. In doing so he saved the Old Republic and was hailed as a hero." He looked to Mar now. "No matter how lost we become in darkness, the light is always there to guide you back out of it."

Mar frowned and looked to Serenity. "The Force doesn't punish you for using the dark side. You punish yourself."

Meanwhile, up in the bridge. Mira regarded Ryze with a hint of suspicion. She knew he was at the mercy of an evil AI but she didn't want him snapping and doing something he didn't want to do.

"I'm going to have to stay on the ship when we get to Mandalore, just to let you know. I'm not exactly well liked..."

He did not want to mention there was quite a hefty price on his head for all the crimes the AI had forced him to do.

Mira nodded slowly. Sensing the guilt in his voice. "Hey, darlin'. It's fine. We're trying to help you get free of that thing. If need be we can disguise you. I am an expert of hiding my own identity. Comes with the job of being a con artist. I once convinced the Queen of Naboo that I was the Empress of Onderon." She chuckled. "Until the actual Empress showed up that is." She shrugged. "We've got you."

Then the console beeped, announcing they were nearing their destination. "Approaching Mandalore. You guys better get ready..."

The Void Swift came out of hyperspace and sputtered as the engines struggled to keep the ship moving. Mira had to do some fancy flying just to land the ship at the shipyard. Mandalore was a wreck of a planet. Once a beacon of civilization it was now reduced to a war-torn ruin. Outposts situated in the ruins of the old Mandalorian civilization housed various warring factions and mercenaries hired as various houses fought for control of territory.

Mira smirked. "No greater hive of scum and villainy. The Mandalorians claim to be honorable warriors but many of them are just thugs with matching outfits." She chuckled. "Glad Rowan wasn't here to hear me say that, he'd probably take offense. But in either case. If we can find your wife's true name it'll be here." She found herself smiling at Ryze. She looked away and began scanning the local channels for information.

Mar ascended the lift to the bridge and looked to Mira. "What's the situation, Mira?"

"Ship's basically on its last legs. I am scanning for ships dealers... I hope you have enough money for a new one..."

Mar shrugged. "We'll have to sell this one..."

"Doubt you'll get much, and if we sell this ship we may end up being stuck."

"We can worry about that later. We need to help Ryze first." Mar looked to Ryze. "Any idea where to begin?"