The Rebel Faction

The asteroid field, recently created by a passing comet, was small enough for them to escape major damage, and big enough for them to escape the starhome.

Ren's piloting skills, combined with his mastery of the force aided him in plotting the Greyhawk's path through the field.

<font color=lime>"I'm picking up a new signal from the StarHome."

<font color=red>"Another fighter?"

<font color=lime>"Yes, but this one's different.There's something familiar here."


<font color=white>The little freighter strode deeper and deeper into the mouth of the asteroid field. Huge chunks of what was once a great comet now spiralled off in multiple directions, crashing and smashing together, pulverising each other into oblivion.

<font color=lime>"You know Vess, some say that the chances of successfully navigating an asteroid field are seven thousand, three hundred to one." <font color=white>He chuckled.

<font color=red>"Have you ever navigated through an asteroid field?"

<font color=lime>"Oh sure, a million times. . .well, maybe twice. No." <font color=white> He smiled again, giving Vessana some cheerful reasurrance, for what it was worth.


The console in front of Vess began to beep eratically.
<font color=red>"Ren, that fighter is gaining on us rapidly."

<font color=lime>"It's Kamon. He's too stubborn for his own good.Hopefully he won't get himself killed."

<font color=white>Ahead of the ship, two large chunks of the comet were converging on them.

<font color=lime>"I've got an idea. Scan those two asteroids ahead. What are they made of?"

<font color=white>Vess scrambled commands into the computer, while Ren gazed on in deep thought.

<font color=red>"Um . . oxygen . . .nitrogen and large amounts of tibanna gas."

<font color=lime>"Excellent. One my signal, release a batch of proton bombs from the rear bay."

<font color=white>Ren pushed forward on the throttle, taking the GreyHawk to her maximum speed, pushing her above and beyond her limits.

<font color=lime>"Just a little more speed."

<font color=white>The ship hurtled towards the immense asteroids ahead, the gap between them was closing fast.

<font color=lime>"Release the bombs!"

<font color=white>Shooting through between the giant masses of Ice, the greyhawk burst out onto the otherside, escaping with only a minor hull scrape. The proton bombs collided one by one with the asteroid, exploding in a massive firey flash of light.



Kamon winced under the visor of his flight helmet, then looked back on the explosion.

"Ren." He gasped. "no."

<font color=blue>"Come in Kamon." <font color=white>Crackled Dak over the comm. <font color=blue>"We're seeing an enormous explosion back here. What's happening?"

<font color=white>"R . . .Ren's gone."


Onboard the Starhome, Dakkon slumped back into his chair, his eyes locked onto the ball of fire that was rapidly fizzling out.

Dak gulped, ahgast at the events unfolding in front of him.


<font color=blue>"Scan for debris, escape pods, anything!!"

<font color=white>"Sir there's nothing left. If there was it wouldv'e been vapourised in the explosion."



Ren and Vess grabbed each other , hugging and cheering that they had escaped safely from what couldv'e been a rather grisly death.

<font color=lime>"Wait a minute. . . something's wrong." <font color=white>Said Ren, noticing an alarm light flashing.

<font color=lime>"It looks as though we got a little more cooked that I'd thought."

<font color=red>"What?"

<font color=lime>"The rear deflector is totally shot and the engines took quite a whack. We'll need to land and repair the ship. "

<font color=red>"Ren, no!" <font color=white>Insisted Vessana.

<font color=lime>"We can't repair it up here, it's too dangerous. We have to land.


Hmm." <font color=white>Grumbled Ren. <font color=lime>"Bonaden's too far away, besides, we won't be going back there any time soon.

The nearest planet is Roonadan.

Damn, it's far too crowded, they'd spot us in no time.

Wait, one of it's moons, it's rather devoid of technology, but habitable, That'll have to do.

It's a jungle moon, so we won't be noticed."


<font color=white>Placing a hand on Vessana's palm, he looked her in the face.

<font color=lime>"It's ok Vess, we're going to be ok. Trust me."

Jai had calmed down a great deal by now. The tears had stopped completly, the redness in her cheeks was washed away, and her composure had returned. The only thing that remained was a slight trembling she'd developed after the whole Vess fiasco.

She'd been holding her affections towards Kas deep down, buried so his force ability wouldn't be able to catch it. But...the way he looked at her, the soft worry in his voice, the way he moved, the way he sat, the way he even breathed...

No! No, Solo...don't think about it. He's my boss, he's my boss, he's my boss, he's my boss...Damn!

She been trying to push her feelings for him out of her mind, when it happened agian. Jai couldn't stand her mind being penetrated with these force links, and she was scared out of her wits that Kas had read her thoughts as he transferred his own....

"W..w-what are you trying to tell me, Kas? What do you mean?"

Kas was silent for a moment, thinking. This could hurt even more than what Vessana had said. Was it worth it? An idea floated across his field of thought. Why not just let her find out herself? Let her discover it. Yes, it was easier if you found out this kind of thing yourself, usually. It would be easier for him, certainly. The real question was, would it be easier for Jaina. Something told him that yes, it would be.

Standing up, and brushing the back of his pants off, Kas reached his hand down, and pulled Jai up. The distant hum had grown to a thrum. “Planetary shields are coming up Jai, something is happening.” His com went off again, this time with an ear splitting screech. Emergency signal. Pulling the small unit out of his pocket, Kas practically yelled into it. “What is going on up there!”. This generated a garbled response, from which he barely managed to discern “Hapens, Fighters, coming down now.”

“Ok, slow down son, slow down. Am I correct in assuming from your battered message that the Hapens are sending fighters down at the planet?” he doubted this was true, no commander would be so stupid, and the Happens were considered close friends of the Vinda Corporation. A new voice came on the com, this one much steadier, and calm from experience. The true story was relayed to Kas. “Ok, ok, I’m on my way. Mr. Vinda is not present on the planet now corporal, he is on Roonaden. I’m on my way to the main space port. Have a few vehicles ready to convey the Hapen dignitaries to HQ. Katta out.” Placing the com back in his pocket, Kas headed toward the Elevator, still holding Jaina by the hand. Once inside, he released her, and sent the elevator to the main floor. Nothing was said on during the trip, but Kas could feel Jai’s eyes on his back. “Poor kid. I know how you feel Jai… I really do.” ruthlessly suppressing a faded memory, Kas turned, and smiled at Jaina.

With a ping, the elevator doors opened, and the two exited. Once outside, Kas stopped, and reached into his pant pocket. Pulling out a data chip, he pressed it into Jaina’s hand. “Read this when you get to your apartment Jai. I have to go now, it appears that the Hapens tracked Ren and Vessana here. I’ll see you tomorrow, eight o-clock at my place, now that you know where it is.” With a wave, he slid into his speeder, left.

The message was uniform in nature, taking no undue notice from anyone who might have been monitering traffic to Jaina Corellia Han Solos personal datapad. And yet it bore a message that, to those who must only look, would be worth more than anything in the galaxy.

It was a song, a gentle beat of acoustic guitars and light drums with the occassional string ensemble interjecting. But the song was sung for the words to be heard.


The last line was spoken softly, intimately, the whisper of a lover echoing over the mind of the listener with quiet intensity. It was followed with a simple sentance.

"I'm just leaving a certain holiday planet you might remember. If you can spare the time to see me, i've left my location on our island.

You are my everything..."

To those who knew the man at the end of the voice, those who really truly knew him, would know that this was a desperate cry for help, resurrection and redemption. It escence it was a test by the true Lupercus, hoping to drag himself back from the abyss of his mind.

Jai watched Kas drive off and sighed loudly. She looked down at the datachip in her hand and shrugged. Whatever this was, it must be pretty important. She decided to go back to her apartment and check it out.

One they way back up in the lift, Jai couldn't stop thinking about Kas. She knew she shouldn't, but she couldn't help herself. Even after all she'd found out about Lupercus over the past few hours, she still felt guilty for having a crush on another man. Technically, and even emotionally, she was still Darksword's girl...even if he did embody all that she hated, she still loved him.

After the lift stopped with a jerk on her level, Jai strolled out of it and down to her room. As she was fumbling with her keys, the door, and the light switch, Jai's datapad went off saying that she had voicemail. Jai rolled her eyes at the little datapad's annoying electronic 'voice', and shut it off, tossing it onto the couch. She went to her room and prepared for bed, gently laying the datachip that Kas had given her onto her dresser. After changing into one of Lupercus' oversized dress shirt that he'd given her, Jai picked up the datachip and made her way to the living room.

She plopped down on the couch and sat her datapad in her lap, flipping on the HoloVid. HoloNet didn't have any interesting news, and the weather report wasn't much to talk about. Sports, as usual, bored her, and therefore she leaned forward and slipped Kas' datachip into her console. A few seconds later, Jai stared in horror and heated jealousy as pictures of Lupercus with dozens of different women came onto her HoloVid. There were pictures of Lup and many different women holding hands, making out, eating dinner, having drinks...and various other unmentionable circumstances. Jai's Solo blood boiled with angry, jealous, and unrestrained female rage.

"Why that good-for-nothing, low down, scum eating, pile of..." Jai stopped herself and decided to let it all out on him. She turned on her datapad that way she could get him on his and stopped short when the little pad beeped out that she still hadn't checked her voicemail. Ironically, it was from Prince Charming himself. "Ha! I shouldn't even read it.......but..." Her curiosity got the best of her, and Jai opened the message from Lupercus.

The message was opened, and the song played. Soft, sweet, and from the heart...and Jai fell for it hook, line, and sinker. She smiled and listened to it over and over, giggleing and blushing each time more and more. She hugged the datapad close and sighed dreamily, "Mmm, he does love me! Oooo, I knew it! I just knew it!"

Jai got up and ran to her room, shutting off the HoloVid and datapad as she did. She started packing right away, and all her sexy, fashionable clothes at that. All the doubt and hate was wiped from her mind, and all she could think about was leaveing first thing in the morning to be with her dear Lup...