The message was very clear. They had been taken. Quo read again the information. One million credits for their safe return, and no security involvement. He couldn’t just sit and wait for them to contact him. What he needed was someone who could trace this, and he knew just the person. His comm system cracked into life, a burst of static broke through the squelch as the power came on.

“Bentre Stahoes, personal,” he spoke into his computer interface, watching as the frequency scrolled to Ben’s personal channel. He waited for a reply, fingers beating a tattoo on the work surface in front of him.

“Ben here, go,” the Sith at the other end of the comm sounded narked, even angry, at being interrupted.

“Ben, I need your help, I’m sending something over,” his fingers keyed the required sequence to send the message information over to the Corellian, “find out where it was sent from, and when.”

“What’s the magic word?” Bentre chided, knowing that he would get a rise from the young Zabrak.

“Abracadabra!” Quo spat back, “Ben this is important, I need this yesterday” The sincerity in his voice, and the concern conveyed convinced Stahoes that Quo was definitely not messing about.

“Sorry,” he replied, “I’m on it. I’ll buzz you when I get something. Need anything?”

Quo was a little stunned by the genuineness betrayed in his brother Sith’s voice. “No mate, if I do I’ll shout.” With a click he terminated the conversation. He set the comms to alert his mobile unit when there was a message.

Wheeling he made his way towards his weapons locker. Taking out his lightsaber, his vibro sword, and his throwing knives he placed them into their respective positions on his belt. Reaching across he took down his cloak from the hangar and returned to the main area of his apartment. Picking up his access card from the work top he left, heading for the hangar to prep the Eenzaam, ensuring that she was ready for whatever was thrown in her direction. He checked that his weapons systems were charged along with the shields, and ensured that all the panels were secured before climbing aboard and setting all the systems to standby, no telling how much time he would have and he had to be sure that he could be airborne at a moments notice.

“Quo, come in,” Bentre’s resonant baritone come across the airwaves, “I have the info you require, sending it now”

A burst of data flooded across the pad that Quo held in his hands. Glancing through it he could see the thoroughness of Ben’s slicing, even going into the minutia that others would have missed, or not bothered to uncover. “Thanks Ben, I owe you one.” With one leap he was aboard his Tie Oppressor, setting the navicomp to Sepros, the jungle planet within the Orion System. The engine whine raised as Quo gunned the ship for maximum acceleration. With a flash and a sonic thud it was airborne in a steep climb, heading for space at maximum velocity.

--

The jungle was thick, tendrils of growth had all but covered all of the surface with shades of green, the sunlight coming down in bars through the canopy above. Quo reached out with his mind, seeking any life that was in the immediate vicinity. He moved with stealth, using the available cover. Bentre’s data had signified that the transmissions had come from this area, Quo guessed that it was a temporary unit set up just for one transmission, but the orbit of this planet meant that the last 37 hours had been in darkness, the light only finding this side within the last hour. He was hoping that whoever sent it was only just clearing up after themselves to move. Ben was the best slicer he knew, nobody could have found out where it originated any quicker.

Quo’s mind flickered, he knew they were still out there, and close. Concentrating on his connection to the living Force, strong here with the abundance of life, he pushed forward through the jungle zeroing in on his quarry. He could feel four life forms out there, and they were all congregated together, and it included the two younglings, Summer and Jo. He could see the undergrowth thinning up ahead, a small clearing opening up before him. Anyone watching would have seen him fade into the background, chameleon like, his form disappearing like a ghost.

At the edge of the clearing he crouched, his eyes roving over the small encampment. He couldn’t see the children from this vantage point. Creeping slowly and deliberately he made his way towards the centre of the camp, between the two temporary accommodation structures. As he squatted between them the first of his quarry emerged from behind the largest. “Treemo, where are you?” he whispered, his hands clasped around an ancient blaster, scuffed and marked through battle. “In here, with the brats,” came his companions reply. Now Quo had them in his sights. A throwing knife took the former in the throat, the force of it propelling him backwards in an arc past the tree line. Quo rolled forward, his invisibility dropping as he rolled through the opening of the tented building, his saber igniting. As his feet found their grip on the forest floor his right hand flung the crimson blade towards his target, taking him just above the shoulders, the blade severing his head from his body. With a gesture the blade returned to his hand, his thumb triggering the off switch, with a flourish returning it to his belt. The children were wild eyed, the fear apparent on their innocent faces. Their mouths were gagged, their limbs secured together wrist to ankle. Whoever had tied them knew what they were doing. Quo bent, undoing their bonds with one of his throwing blades. Mentally he checked them over, they both looked fine.

A ‘snap hiss’ sound behind him alerted his senses to another lightsaber being ignited behind him. Bursting forwards he scooped the children up, one in each arm, crashing through the back of the fabric dwelling. Rolling as he entered the cover of the foliage he set them down, gesturing for them to remain silent, a nod signalling their ascension. A leap took him back to the centre of the camp, his blade igniting in his right hand, his vibroblade in his left, angled down and away from his body.

His sabre blade clashed into his opponents, the crimson light doubled by another scarlet one. Looking past the fizzling contact Quo saw a female Twi’lek, but this one was red skinned with black tattoos. Another Sith. How had he not felt her? Quo attacked with a flurry of strikes, beating the Twi’lek backwards, his eyes full of fury. Twisting away she mounted an attack of her own, her blade arcing around towards his torso, both hands and shoulders driving into the swing, her feet pirouetting on the spot. Quo met her blade with his vibro sword, deflecting the strike upwards as he bent his knees, the blade skimming just above his horns. His right hand struck like a cobra, the blade biting into the Twi’lek’s left abdomen, driving upwards and across, slicing the Sith in two.

Replacing his weapons he knelt next to her, looking down into red and gold eyes, a facsimile of his own. She was lying on her right hand side. Now Quo could see why he hadn’t felt her. Attached to her back was a Ysalamiri, cocooned in a reinforced dome on her pack.

“Why did you take them? Who sent you?” Quo barked at her. Already he could see the light fading from her eyes as the shock of her injuries set in. “Oh no you frelling don’t,” reaching down for his comms ”Quo Wing-Tzun to base, medivac needed, right now!” His order was shouted down the microphone.

“Stahoes here, ETA one minute. Couldn’t have you wandering about the system on your own,” a chuckle carried over the comm.

“I need this one alive, I need her to talk I will make her talk!” The anger was apparent, and warranted no argument.

“Coming in now big man, take it easy, she’ll live, stasis chamber is prepped and ready.” The was from the thrusters was already whipping the branches with its energy.

Quo returned to the place where he left the children. “Are you both OK?” He looked concerned, but the smile from both Summer and Jo eased his mind a little. Both of them threw their arms around him, small hands gripping tight around his neck.

“We’re fine now, Uncle Quo, now you’re here,” Summer said with a lilting voice, Jo nodded, a grin from ear to ear on his little face.

“Come on, let’s get you home and checked over.” Lifting them up he carried them to Stahoes ship, following the stasis chamber up the ramp.

“Can we have schnitzels?” Jo piped up

“Sure you can kid,” Bentre smiled as the met them at the top of the ramp, “as many as you can manage buddy”

Quo nodded at the Corellian words not necessary. The ramp hissed as it closed on them. Somebody will pay for this thought Quo, as did Bentre. You never mess with a Sith, or his family.

I walked into my rooms after a very long day of studying at the Shadow Academy libraries and later being beat up by my Master at the training hall. I was sore, had a killer headache and really felt old. Maybe accepting the offer to join the Brotherhood was a mistake. Lilith was fitting right in and had already made a name for herself as an outstanding student and as a healer.

“Lil? I am home ma love. What do ye want for dinn-“ I stopped an looked around. Something felt _off_. I could not place it, but something… I dropped my training gear and books and unhooked my saber from my belt. Calming myself, I slowly searched our rooms looking for anything that was amiss. Nothing, they were empty. I went back and grabbed up my gear where I had dropped it and went to the kitchenette muttering to myself. It was then, while I was getting myself a drink, that I noticed the holocom light blinking. Still trying to shake off the odd feeling something was amiss, I thumbed the activation switch. I popped the cap on my cider fully expecting Lilith to be messaging me that she would be late for dinner. No surprise her Master had her slaving away at the Shadow Academy and she had not been home on time for the past 10 days.

The static of the holocom made me turn and look at the unit and stopped cold when I saw who had left me the message. That miserable Twi’lek Ch’Cadick had the gall to call me again.

“—anos, I have t—ken Lil—th with me back to D-s—un. She isn’t h–rt and I wi— send h— back when she h—heal--- ----st—r Th---lan.” The image jittered and shifted because of the distance and the scrambler on the device. “I had ho—d to avoid thi- if y-- would have he-ped me befo---. By t-e –ay, the sec-rity whe—re you are at is a joke. Ju—t lik- th--- scrambler on the holo was able t- trac—you e—ly. Nice apar--ment you have." Screaming in rage, I smashed the holocom against the wall causing it to short out in a shower of sparks. I lashed out in anger I punched the refrigerator door leaving an imprint of my fist deep in the metal. Seeing red as I looked at my broken knuckles as they bled and started swelling, I fell to my knees and wept in frustration.

Fifteen minutes later I was in the medical ward with my hand healing rapidly in a kolto tank. I had a droid bring me holocom so I could contact my Master. When he answered, he could see the medical staff behind me moving about. “Janos? Why are you contacting me from the medical facilities, I trust you weren’t injured to badly during our sparring.”

“Nae Master, I broke ma hand punching the refrigerator in ma rooms. I need your permission ta go off planet an track down a piece o stinking filth that has kidnapped Lilith.”

“Wait, you punche—who would kidnap Lilith and more to the point. HOW did someone kidnap Lilith? Are they in the Brotherhood, from another house or clan?”

I removed my now healed hand from the gel and flexed the fingers to see if they would be a problem. They were sore but would be fine in the time it took me to get to Dosuun. “A former Padawan I trained with back on Dosuun, a Twi’lek named Ch’Cadick, managed ta sneak on planet an take her from our rooms! He somehow tracked me here, slipped through the security, which he says is a joke by the way, and, and HE TOOK HER! He took her to Dosuun ta heal Jedi Master Thuallan” I started to get angry again at the situation. “So ah’ll be a need'n ta goo an faind her an get hair back from thair!” I yelled my accent coming out thicker than usual, as it often did when I had lost my cool.

My Master smiled at my anger and an evil glint appeared in his eye. “Janos you have my permission to take the first shuttle off planet and to where you need to go. I will make the arrangements and speak with Atra and Darkblade. We will monitor your journey and assist where we can. I want you to promise me something though. When you find this Twi’lek, and this Jedi, if he lives. Kill them.”

“With pleasure my Master, with pleasure.”

Within a few hours I had packed and made my way to the spaceport to catch the outbound shuttle. Settling into my seat I began to meditate, forcing my mind to revel in the death that I was going to be bringing. Within moments, I was deep in a trance.

I transferred from shuttle to ship and back again quite a few times before I made it to the wild space and the Dosuun System. I hid aboard a cargo shuttle heading down to the planet and waited in the hold, using the Force to cloak myself from everyone on the ship. When we landed I waited until the right moment and made my way off ship.

I got my bearings and realized I was about a day’s journey from where I needed to be. Looking about I spied a speeder that would do nicely for getting me to where I needed to go. Waiting until dark I made my way to it and stole it, heading into the jungle. I traveled for hours, skirting communities and the numerous First Order outposts that had sprung up in the years since I had been there. Only resting when I needed to, I made my way to the small commune hidden deep in the forests.

It was quiet, very quiet. Many of the buildings showed signs of neglect and the grounds where I spent my youth training were overgrown in some places. I let the Force guide me as I reached out and sensed where my love was. I could feel her Force in a far building along with my enemy and a very, very weak feeling. I stood up and shucked off my cloak then removed my saber from my belt.

“Ch’Cadick!” I bellowed, “It’s time for you to die along with the rest of the miserable Lightsiders here!” I strode forward out of the woods onto the grounds. “I will raise this place and bury you in an unmarked grave for what you have done!” Igniting my Lightsaber, I slowly and purposely walked forward. An adolescent rushed towards me yelling a battle cry and waiving a practice saber over his head. Without a thought I parried his wild blow and cleft his arm from his body. Screaming in agony, he rolled about until I killed him. I looked up and grinned at the horrified look on Ch’Cadick’s face. “It is your turn next my friend.” I mocked.

Ch’Cadick ignited his lightsaber and the blade was a brilliant blue. I raised my indigo purple blade in salute and charged him. The clash and arcing of the blade brought Lilith to the door. I could see she had a black eye and fat lip. she also looked very tired. My eyesight turned red at the thought of this alien laying his hands on my wife. Slashing with all my might, I forced him back towards the door. He countered and with the grace of one who has trained for years he leapt away and positioned himself for another attack. “You can’t beat me Janos.” He said. “I trained under Master Thuallan after you fled, and I learned what you never could learn. How to focus and control my anger. Now I am a Jedi Knight and you still wear the sash of a Padawan!”

“Aye lad, a Padawan ah may be but ye will never be my equal, Jedi or no.” I countered, stepping towards him again. “Ah have the love o’ a good woman, an a master that has been teaching me ta use my emotions an ma anger ta fight with.” I snarled reaching forward towards him with my left hand; I blasted a bolt of lighting at him. Caught unaware he barely blocked the bolt with his lightsaber. Drawing inward, I looked him in the eyes and sent a crushing blow of terror into him. His eyes widened as his fears took hold of him. Using the opening, I gripped my saber with both hands and I stabbed forward. The indigo blade pierced his left shoulder causing him to drop his saber. Holding the hilt of the saber against his shoulder with my left hand, the blade sizzling with his blood, I reached down to my belt and drew forth a corroded and beat up vibroknife. “Do ye recognize this lad? I killed our master with it. Right in the heart no less.”

“And that’s what you will do to me now, stab me in the heart too?” The now panicked Twi’lek asked. Fear and tears were in his eyes. For a moment, I hesitated, thinking that he no reason to die. Then I thought of Lilith and his taking her.

“Nay Jedi filth, this!” I stabbed the blade just above his groin and drew it upwards eviscerating him. I looked him in the eye as his guts and blood splashed down over my legs and boots. Then pushing the blade further in I cut out his beating heart.

Turning off my saber, I let his corpse fall among his entrails. I turned and saw my wife recoil in horror at my gore-covered appearance and the red of my normally blue-grey eyes. “Stand aside wife, Ah have me orders.” I growled and stepped towards the door.

“Janos, _JANOS_! Stop! He’s dying, he’ll be dead very soon.” My wife sobbed, “Please, stop! You don’t need to do this. I, I, I couldn’t save him, it’s to late.” I watched as she curled inward sobbing at her inability to save someone. I knew it was her greatest fear.

“Lass I love ye, but Master Stahoes has given me an order. Now step aside an let me finish ma work here.” I said gently pushing her aside. I entered the darkened room and went to the figure lying on the bed. The Jedi Knight lay dead; his hands limply grasping the saber I had seen so often him flourish with gusto and grace. I felt my eyes tear up and could not understand why. After everything that had happened between us, the fighting, the yelling, all of the grief he gave me trying to make me into a Jedi. I found I couldn’t hate him “Goodbye..Ma, Master.” I whispered tears streaming from my eyes. Lilith came up beside me and we watched as the body dissolved into shimmering, sparkling light.