"Hey Arman how did it go?" Jarael asked the former smuggler when he sat down at her table in the taverna. He put his drink down and leaned forward. Anyone listening in wouldn't be a problem because of the horrendous music coming from the Gammorean band on stage.

"Me dunno. Boss let me wait in ship. Me only drivven. No listening." Jarael leaned back in the wornout sofa and took the taverna in with her senses. Something felt wrong. Very wrong. Was someone spying at their table? She couldn't find any prying eyes. Every bar patron was minding their own buisness.

"So he just went out to that research facility and did nothing?" Jarael was feeling a bit annoyed at the smuggler's lack of information.

"No missy. He met someone. To eavvyspedstas was dere. Boss looked kinda nervous first but afta he wassa silent un thinkin." Armand finished his drink and put the empty glass on the table. He was looking at Jarael. She was beautiful. Her long hair and dark features really enhanced her beauty. And she, being a strong and agile fighter, really turned Armand on.

"Hey what are you looking at Armand? My eyes are up here." Armand looked away and started to blush. Jarael just laughed at him. Damn it! Why did she always make him feel like a Imperial High School kid? Armand never went to school but he has beaten up a good number of the smarties to know how they were.

Jarael put her glass down, half full. "Well I'm off. I need to go to see Zayne and to get him to talk to me." "See you back at the ship later." Jarael stood up and strode out. A couple of patrons followed her with their eyes. No one went up and followed though. Armand leaned back and listened to the music. The band was really torturing their instrument in a song named "Hit of the Hut" or something. Armand's Gammorean wasn't that good. Long time since he had anything to do with the Huts and their pig guards. He reached for her glass on table.

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Jarael went to Zayne's private quarter in the ship. She knocked at the door. No answer but she could sense Zayne inside. Jarael took the decision and went in. Zayne was sitting their, pale, sweaty and stared into the wall.

"Hey are you okay?" Jarael stood at the doorstep, concerned.

Zayne looked up, his eyes empty and foreboding. They had taken on a slightly greyish colour. He fell down on the floor.

Jarael sprang forward and lifted him up. He was cold and wet.

"What is it? What has happened? Talk to me Zayne!" Jarael couldn't hide the fear in her voice.

Zayne looked up at Jarael. "Kit Fisto is dead. The Naboo Security Force has executed him. Killed him because he was a Jedi." Jarael couldn't find any emotions behind Zaynes words.

"But the Council wouldn't stand down after such an open attack? Right Zayne?" She looked at him sitting there in apathy.

"The Council? The lame-ass-full-of-cowards-Council!?" Zayne shot back at her. Jarael was startled by the coughing sound that followed from Zayne's outburst. But soon she realised it was a sick and cruel laughter.
Jarael released him.

"What is it? What's so damn funny?" She was starting to get angry with him. Angry and scared. Something wasn't right.

Zayne looked at Jarael. Suddenly there was a clarity in his eyes. They were almost ablaze. "The Council wouldn't do anything. They are locked up in the politics of the Imperial Senate. The deed will go unpunished! There is nothing we can put up against the roaming Siths!" Zaynes intense stare made Jarael look down into the floor.

"Just look at us Jarael! We are beeing chased for a crime we didn't do. We are being chased by the ones we once called masters and brothers! We are being chased by the very own Empire we once swore to protect. With enemies behind every corner. Siths, Jedis. Both of them breathing down our necks!" Zayne stood up suddenly. Flexed his tensed muscles and rolled his head.

"But not anymore Jarael. I have made arrangements so we wouldn't have to run anymore."

Jarael looked up and into Zaynes determined face. "What do you mean? What kind of arrangements?" She was suddenly cold and had a bad feeling about this.

"I can't tell you right now. You just have to trust me. It's all for the very best. Now please go. I have to meditate. Please tell the crew to get the ship up and running within two hours." To empathize what he just had said Zayne pointed to the door with his right hand.

Jarael saw him sitting down on the floor when she left the room. She was afraid and scared. But still she did what he had asked her to. She got the crew ready.

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Zayne sat down and started to relax. He could hear Jaraels footsteps going away from his chamber. He had alot to think about. He needed to make sure that he made the right decision. It was a big step for one with his upbringing. But still it felt like the only way. Like something he had known for a long time. When Darth Argos had made contact, Zayne willinly agreed to meet. After the last fight when the fury had come upon him, he had known that he was on the path leading to the Dark side. And that his former, so called, Masters had pushed him over there. He spat out the word. "Masters!" Well he would show them. He would show them for sure.