They met with Kelbourn and his team at the mercenary camp where his ancestor had served Mandalore the Preserver on Dxun itself, as had been appointed.  If Sith were still roaming the moon, there was no need to broadcast the location of the new Mandalorian camp.  That was assuming there was a new camp on Onderon’s moon.
‘Are you all right?’ Knarf whispered to Shadie.
‘I’m fine,’ she replied dryly.  ‘I’m…just a little anxious.’
Shadie felt in turmoil actually.  The Jedi code versus the new sensations Knarf had made her experience, added to everything else going on at the moment, caused her much confusion.  Was it wrong because it went against the Jedi code? Or was it right because it felt so good?  The sweet taste of Knarf’s lips was still on hers.  Oh, he really could kiss well.
Shadie banished the thought and tried to use a Jedi calming technique for her shaking body.  She’d barely eaten at all since the previous night; her stomach was causing her as much torment as her mind.
‘It seems I have troubled your soul,’ Knarf said to Shadie.
‘No, you haven’t, Agent Knarf.  My soul was already troubled before you entered my life.  My emotions don’t revolve around you.’
‘And now I fear I’ve upset you.’
‘Perhaps we should discuss this later.’
Shadie cursed herself for replying so dryly to Knarf.  He’d only been kind, receptive of her emotions, and he truly made her smile.
They followed their guide into the abandoned warehouse where sat the rest of the Mandalorian team.  At the head of the conference table sat Kelbourn the Fifth.
It was difficult to read Mandalorians.  It was easier through the Force, but with their faces completely hidden behind their helmets, it was rather disconcerting and distracting.
‘I am told you are searching your former Sith Master, Mando Jedi,’ said Kelbourn.
‘I am.’
‘So how can the Mandalorians help you?’
‘You are mercenaries, spies, bounty hunters.  You have certain resources and skills…’
‘And why should the Mandalorians help you, Jedi?’ interrupted another Mandalorian.
‘The man I hunt, the Sith Lord I hunt, came to your planet, on Mandalore, killed my parents, Mandalorians, and kidnapped me, all because I was Force-sensitive.  And he did this in the hopes to forge me into the perfect Sith pupil.  I never knew my parents, I was but a toddler.  But if any of you did…’ she probed the room and found her quarry and looked him straight in the eyes, or helmet’s eyes, ‘…now’s your chance to exact revenge.’
The Mandalorian stirred, so did his female warrior friend sitting next to him.
‘Have a seat,’ said Kelbourn.
The Jedi and their friend sat down.  Kelbourn hit a switch and a three-dimensional projection of the Sith sphere appeared.
‘What do we know of this Sith ship?’ asked Kelbourn.

Continue reading Chapter Three.

Start reading from the beginning of Story 1.

Brenum and Agent Knarf were tinkering at the control console, while Trylia and Shadie were looking on, checking things on other consoles.
‘So if a power is of the dark side, why do Jedi use it?’
‘It’s not the power but how you use it that determines whether it’s light or dark, Agent Knarf.’
‘I think you shouldn’t be so rude, Brenum,’ said Trylia.  ‘Our guest is helping you fix the hyperdrive.’
‘I just think it’s fascinating,’ replied Knarf.  ‘It’s a whole other universe to tackle.’
‘What?’ asked Brenum cynically.
Shadie snorkelled.  She had to hand it to the man; he certainly had a way with words.  It had been several days since they had begun repairing the ship, and he always knew when to say something to make her smile, it seemed.  She looked up from her datapad.  Agent Knarf’s glasses were dusty, but his brown eyes still pierced within her soul.
‘When you say universe, what exactly do you mean?’ she asked.
‘Well,’ said Knarf, ‘there are things, projects or aspects of life, that in themselves are too detailed and complicated, and each need a different approach.  So it’s like a whole different universe.’
‘Fascinating!’ Shadie replied, probing with the Force.  There was an energy about this Knarf fellow.
‘What’s so fascinating about him comparing a project to a universe?’ complained Brenum.  ‘We use the Force.’
‘And that’s a whole other universe I have yet to comprehend.  Perhaps one of you could enlighten me.’
Shadie’s heart skipped a beat.  Why had he looked up at her while saying that?  Something in his tone…  Trylia interrupted her thoughts.
‘You know, Knarf, the Force is something not all Jedi understand fully,’ Trylia had said it looking at Brenum.  ‘We listen to it, are attuned to it, feel it, use it.  Why the light and dark?  Some like to believe they can coexist.’
‘But one must be careful,’ replied Shadie.  ‘To forfeit serenity and surrender to passion can become very dangerous.’
‘Uhm, I like danger, me,’ said Knarf.
‘The Jedi also have the rule of no attachments,’ continued Shadie.
‘But how come you still go by your Sith name, Shadie?  Why, you are a universe as well.  Your story fascinates me, although…’
A trill came from the cockpit.  Everyone looked up.
‘Proximity alarms…’
Trylia stood from her crouched position and head for the cockpit first.
‘Incoming vessel, unknown make,’ she said as everyone followed her in.

Continue reading Chapter Two.

Start reading from the beginning of Story 1.