Re: All In The Game

[LadyRaven]

Kai and Slyder grinned again as they looked at the menus. It all looked rather tasty. "I'll take the fried chicken." Kai said.
"I'll have the same." Slyder agreed, then he spotted Jenny and gave her a cautious look. He nudged Kai in the ribs and nodded his head discreetly at the commander. "Ay up." He offered quietly, "Squirt at four o'clock."
Kai turned on his stool and gave the same cautious smile. He begged her silently to disappear until they were done, but to Craven, he looked to be watching the young girl with something akin to caution. "Off with ya." He ordered, "Unless you wanna be playin' wit' us big fellas?" Once again, his eyes pleaded with Jenny to leave. Thankfully, she seemed to get the idea and turned about, leaving them alone again.
"Sweet, but not yet ripe." Kai offered to the cook. "Whatcha think?"
Slyder laughed at Kai's side and shook his head. "Jail bait, my friend." He said, "Jail bait."
"Only if she gets to tellin' someone." Kai said back, hating himself for talking about the girl that way.
Slyder shrugged his shoulders, "Fair point." He then looked at Craven again, "So how's about that chicken?" Just then, he checked his pocket and pulled out his ear node. "Bitch!" He scorned, "I can't even get a fucking meal without her demandin' summats!" He gave Kai a warned look and pushed the node in his ear. "Yes Boss." He said in a more polite manner. "Right on it." He then left the galley.
Kai sighed and shook his head. "One day, she'll make one too many demands." He said, mulling over the menu again. "That bounty startin' to look mighty fine."........

[Guest]

Craven listened to the two Diamond Dogs. In his mind he was thinking..... was there some decent amoung the Pirates and their Captain. Slyder did not seem to happy about getting a call from her. He left leaving Kai there who also didn't seem to happy. But Craven was cautious. He had been in a group of suspected rebels to try and learn something when Krell had rescued them. He had kept his mouth shut and his eyes open. He had been taken to Haven but had no idea of where it was. There were many astoriod fields in the empire. He had managed to get information out about Valis and the professor but had not been about where Haven was.

Then he found out about the sister ship of the Raven. He saw his chance to get away from the Haven and with the information in the ships computers he had been able to get the location of the Haven. He would remain cautious. There was to much at stake. So he only smiled and said. "Rough day eh. Give her a chance to get to know the ship. It is all new to everyone."

Jenny had looked at Kai and Slyder and had the feeling that they wanted her to leave, that they were up to something. She turned and left and went back up to the bridge. "Boss." she approached Serenity. I don't know how explain it, but...... I have a strange feeling..... A sence of cold and uneasyness about someone."

[LadyRaven]

So far, the guy wasn't biting and Kai began to wonder if this was the guy he was looking for. The list was short already and he was running out of time. It had to be someone aboard the Phoenix. "New ship has nothing to do with it, mate." Kai told him as he waited for his fried chicken. "Boss has taken many new ships over the years and never done this to us. Think about it. We're pirates. We rob a few people, maybe kill a few, get rich and retire somewhere nice and cozy like with plenty of entertainment. we used to do that, did damned well good off it too. Then Krell comes along and bam! We's suddenly fightin' the Empire!" Kai shook his head as though disappointed. "Now we're not pirates anymore, we're not gonna have the good life. We's rebels now, fightin' for good and all that shit. Don't get me wrong, Imperials are bastards, always have been, but we ain't never had too much trouble with 'em til now. And now she got that bug up her ass that we gotta get involved in it all. Gah!" He pushed the menu back at Craven. "Let the Empire deal with its own shit. I'll just take the bounty and go, ta." Anyone would think Kai was planning a mutiny, the way he was fussing right then.

"S'pose you'll be runnin' off now and bein' all loyal and shit with Boss?" he asked the cook, then his tone darkened, "Just be careful though. She has habit of bein' unhinged with people." And he left it at that, gauging the reaction carefully........

[Guest]

"No worries, no worries. I knows when to keep my mouth shut." the cook said. Ah so he thought this one was definitely getting fed up with the bitch. Well still he was out for their bounty as well as hers. He looked at his chrometor and knew the ship would be reaching Harcone shortly. He served up the chicken and made an excuse to leave the galley. "Enjoy your meal sir. You'll never have anything like it."

He made his way to the door and then down the corridor towards the shuttle bay. It was two decks down and to the aft of the ship. He wanted to make sure he was ready to get to the shuttle when all hell broke loose. He had food packs and some other stuff stored in a bin just inside the bay. He would make his move when Serenity made the anouncement for battle stations. Everyone would be running around and no one would notice him gettin into a shuttle. Tricky part would be opening the outer door. He hoped his computer program would work when he sent it a signal.

Jenny stood there waiting for Serenity to answer her. She seemed lost in though and Jenny wondered if she had heard her.

[LadyRaven]

Kai's chicken finally arrived and he smiled at the man. "Good man." He said, then made to tuck in. Craven made his excuses to leave and Kai nodded, shoveling a forkful of the meal into his mouth. He waited a few seconds until he was alone and then spat it back out again. Right on time, he thought. They were coming up to Harcone and Craven should have been clearing everything away so it would be safe, not making excuses to get away from his post. He nodded, convinced now he had the right man and quickly pulled the node out of his pocket. He placed it in his ear and tapped it twice. "Slyder." He said, then after a few seconds, he got a reply.
"Slyder here."
"It's Kai. We got him. Find out where he's going and follow him. Be discreet."
"Am I anything else?" Slyder replied coyly, then, "Eyeball. He's heading for the shuttle bay."
"Stay on him." Kai ordered, "I'll inform Serenity."
"Gotcha." Slyder said.

On the bridge, Serenity had indeed been deep in thought when Jenny had first come to her. Eventually though, she broke from it and smiled at the girl. "Hey Kiddo." She offered warmly, then sat up straight in her chair again. "Don't worry yourself too much, Kid. Kai and Slyder are on a little fishing expedition for me." The girl gave her a confused look, but Serenity kept her smile and leaned forward. "There's someone on board that really doesn't want us to get where we're going and do what we're doing. The boys are fishing him out for me so we can deal with him the way we deal with traitors. If you trust your feelings, then you already know who it is, don't you."

It seemed that Jenny was just about to tell her when she felt her ear node buzzing in her pocket. She plugged it into her ear and tapped it. "Yes?" She asked.
"It's Craven." Came Kai's voice, "Slyder's tailing him down to the shuttle bay."
"Well done." Serenity said proudly, "We'll meet you down there."
"We?" Kai asked.
"Yes, we." Serenity said, then rang off and looked at Jenny seriously. "You're about to see first hand how the Diamond Dogs deal with traitors." She told the girl. "If this is truly the life you want Jenny, then you deserve to know what you need to be capable of." She took the girl by the arm and quickly led her down towards the shuttle bay. They spotted Reese on the way and Serenity quickly copped hold of him too, telling him the same thing she had told Jenny. "A pirate's life isn't all about raiding Imperials and rescuing the damsels." She explained, "Every once in a while, you gotta do something you might not like doing. Call this your test of faith, kids."

In the shuttle bay, Slyder kept his distance for a little while longer. Kai had let him know Serenity was on her way and when he saw her entering the bay, he came out of his corner and scratched the back of his head. "Hey Craven!" He called, "Going somewhere?" He stepped forward and tapped his nose. "Ya know, when we went through the crew list, the last person I expected to chase down here was you. But then, it's always the quiet ones, right?" He pulled out a blaster and aimed it at Craven. "Sorry mate, but you ain't leavin' us just yet. Boss wants a word first."
Kai arrived just after Serenity and the two new recruits and the five of them stood and stared at Craven....

[Guest]

A tratior. Someone that was out to get the crew killed and the ship destroyed. That was something Jenny did not like. Rage was building up in her. If it was the Cook that was the traitor, he was going to catch hell before he could do anything. Serenity took hold of her and Reese and took them with her. They met Kai on the way to the shuttle bay. When they got there Slyder emerged from his hiding place and called out to Craven, then pulled his blaster and aimed it at him.

Serenity was talking about doing things you didn't like. She didn't know about that. All she knew was that before her stood someone that would have caused the death of everyone on the ship and the ship itself. That she could not stand. The ship was now a part of her life and her. She felt as if it was family as well as the entire crew. She stode boldly up to Craven brought her foot up hard to catch him in the crotch. As he turned red in the face and his eyes bulged out some and he bent over holding himself, she let fly with a right hook that took him square int he jaw and sent him flying backwards. "Filthy bastard. Try to harm the crew and this ship........." Her hands were clenched, ready to hit him again as he lay there moaning on the floor of the shuttle bay.

[LadyRaven]

Serenity stood back and couldn't help but let her jaw hang open. "Well, I'll be buggered!" She breathed, "Now that's summats you don't see every day." Behind her, Reese was laughing and she could hear Kai laughing too. Slyder simply hissed as though he felt Craven's pain. Serenity then stepped forward and carefully moved Jenny back. She then stared down at Craven and smiled. "Now, as much as I wanted to do that myself, I think I rather enjoyed watching the kid do it on my behalf. Now." She wrangled the pain riddled man to his feet and slowly walked him to the airlock. "We don't like traitors very much around here." She told the man, "Most of all Imperial ones, so you can pretty much guess this is gonna be your last trip." She smiled almost warmly at Craven, then hit the pad for the inner door. Then, without warning, she pushed him in and shut the door again.

"Usually, the condemned get one last request. At least, that's what they say. The Diamond Dogs however, do things a little different." She said through the comm system to him. She then waved the children forward to make them watch what she was about to do. Kai and Slyder were already there, waiting for that moment. It had been a long time since Serenity had killed someone and they both figured she would need them afterward. She hated killing people. Even if they were Imperial. Reese was a little too short still to see properly out of the window, so Slyder picked him up and held him under his arms. They had to know and see what was required of them if they wanted this life. They'd all had to do it, even Rat.

Any time for pleading and bargaining was now over and Serenity firmed her jaw as she hit the pad for the outer door. It opened a crack, then a little more. Just enough to let all the air out, but keep Craven in the chamber. Reese tried to turn his head away, but Slyder tucked the boy into his chest and took hold of his chin. "You have to see Reese." he told the boy who had now started sniffling with tears. "This is how we deal with traitors. This is how it's always been. If you break now, then you don't belong here, understand?"
To Slyder's left, Kai placed his hands on Jenny's shoulders. "The same goes for you, Kiddo." He said softly to the girl, then looked down at her with sad eyes before looking to Serenity.

The Captain herself was stood stoic close to the door as she watched Craven gasp and choke. For just a second or two, she actually closed her eyes and shook her head. "When he's finally dead, leave him in there for the others to see." She said quietly, "If there's any other fish aboard this bird, I wanna know about it, understand?"
"Understood." Both men replied together.
All three then stood in eerie silence to watch Craven choke to death. Nothing could be said that would have place right now. Just he stifled down of a man dying beyond the glass......

[Guest]

Jenny stood there and watched. Her eyes cold and full of hate for the man in the airlock. She watched as Serenity opened the outer door a little to let the air escape and watched Craven going crazy and gasping for air. She felt Kai's hand on her shoulder as he spoke to her. She just nodded and watched. Reese had been a bit sickened by what was happening, but he too understood that the man being executed had been a traitor one that would have killed him and everyone else. He settled down and watched, a bit in horror but he was learning that one had to do things that went against the grain at times. It was a horrible way to die but Reese clenched his jaw tight and watched and accepted it.

When it was over Jenny simply said. "He got what he deserved." she took one of Serenity's hands and looked up at her. She was a bit shorter then Serenity, but still growing. "As you said, we must do things we don't like at times. I can accept it." "Me too." Reese found his voice and said as he squirmed out of Slyder's grasp. He looked as if he was a bit green but he was holding his own now.

Both Slyder and Kai looked at Jenny then Serenity. They saw alot of Serenity in Jenny.

The Raven went into orbit about the mining planet. Though it had an atmospher it was probably pretty hot with all the volcanic activity around the planet. Where the mines were, there was not much activity going on, so it was a bit cooler but not much. Sensors located the buildings used to house the storm troopers and they were locked into the targeting computer as they decended into a low orbit and came up upon them. The Turbo blasters made short work of the buildings and then the shuttles took off to fly over the mines picking off the storm troopers in watch towers. They landed and several of the Raven's crew emerged to take out the remaining storm troopers.

Soon the shakles on the men and women's wrists and ankles were removed and everyone was gathered up and given food and water. Then they were shuttled up to the Raven. They would be housed in the lower cargo bay. Perhaps on the way out of the system they could drop them off on the farming planet and have them hidden somewhere on that world. "Make for Harcone" Krell told his pilot and navagator.

[LadyRaven]

Back on the bridge, Serenity made ready for the battle. Everyone was in their place and all were ready to face what was thrown at them. "Find me a nice spot for the attack." She ordered. Kai and Slyder were immediately tapping away on their consols.
"We can move into a low orbit around this moon." Kai offered, "It would give us a nice advantage in destroying a few of those satellites before they can get a clear shot."
Serenity nodded, "Make it happen." She said, "Slyder, I want all guns at the ready, every last one."
"Already there Boss." Slyder replied.
"Jenny, move us in slowly." Serenity ordered her pilot, "And don't get ahead of yourself. This has to be precise."
"Yes Boss." Jenny replied.

The Phoenix gradually moved around the moon and went into a low orbit. The first satellite slowly came into view. "Hold it." She breathed, "Hold it." She could feel Slyder's hand aching to unleash the guns. "Hold it." The satellite was in full view. "FIRE!!"
The satllite exploded in a cloud of orange and red, sending out a small shock wave that upset the other satellites' paths and it gave the Phoenix the perfect chance. Serenity didn't need to repeat the order as Slyder opened up a full volley of blaster and cannon fire on the defense system. He gave them everything they had and smiled as each in turn was obliterated. Meanwhile, Kai was seeking out the perfect landing spot for the ground assault. "Boss, there's a small landing pad just outside the main dock. We can attack the palace without problem. The garrison is on the other side and won't be able to get at us."
"Perfect." Serenity said, then looked to Jenny. "Ok Kiddo, take us in. Nice and easy. Slyder, make us a path."
"You got it Boss!"

The Phoenix landed smoothly on the pad and within seconds, Serenity, Kai and Slyder led a small team off the ship and into the palace. They met only a small resistance as the alarms blared overhead to bring the garrison of troops. They would never make it in time, at least not before Krell arrived. It didn't take long for the team to enter the main foyer of the palace and they found a small contingent of troops trying to take the Governor to safety. Serenity couldn't have thought it more perfect! Both sides traded shots. One of Serenity's team got hit in the shoulder, another in the chest, but most of the damage was done to the other side. By the time it faded, the Governor was left with only one guard and Serenity grinned as she made herself clear and stepped forward. "Drop it." She ordered. The guard did so, having no want to die. Slyder took the man away at gunpoint while Serenity put herself nose to nose with the aging Governor. "I'd like a few words with you." She told him.

In the main hall, Serenity sat with her feet up on the Governor's table. The Governor himself was in a real state in another chair. His face was bloodied and Kai had happily removed both the man's kneecaps. He was also missing three fingers, an ear and several teeth. It seemed their chat had been quite brutal.
"Please, just let me die!" The man begged, "Please! I can't take any more!"
"In due time." Serenity replied nonchalantly. "We're just waiting on someone else who wants a chat with you."
If the man hadn't already soiled himself, he would have done then.
Serenity smiled and took her boots off the table. She then leaned forward, placing her elbows on her knees and cracking her fingers. She smiled at Kai, who backed off, wiping his hands on the Governor's shirt. It was then tossed at his head, scraping past where his ear used to be and he howled in agony again.
"Before you die, I want you to do something." She offered.
"Anything, anything!" The Governor cried.
Serenity smiled again, "You're going to sign a document that frees the system from you and Montrose. Everything will be legal and above board. You will then order one of your lackies to take it to Montrose. The Empire will no longer control Harcone or its outlying planets. You will then put in a sub section that frees all the slaves obligated to you and Harcone will hand back all it has taken from them."
The Governor nodded as he sobbed.
"Good puppy." Serenity said, then sat back again and put her feet back on the table. She then looked to Kai. "Give the man something for his pain. Just enough until Krell gets here."
Kai nodded and quickly jabbed the man in the neck with a mild painkiller. It would take the edge off, but leave the Governor still very much alert and aware of his injuries.........

[Guest]

The Raven arrived after The Phoenix had landed and taken the Governor. He swept the rest of the Palace area with his turbo blasters, wreaking havoc among the storm troopers trying to get to the Governor. The Palace Defence had actually hindered the storm troopers, shutting off corridors with thick metal doors. But they were making their way through and Krell was going to make sure they didn't.

From another base small fighters with bombs were lauched and were heading in the direction of the Phoenix. These could do alot of damage if they made it through. Krell met them with the ships smaller blasters designed to take on fighters. The imperials had learned their lesson well during the rebellion where the New Republic came out on top. Those huge ships never had anti fighter defences, except fighters of their own. In the long run all of them had been destroyed. They had been massive, very expensive to build and maintain and the crews were in the thousands. The Empire did not have that kind of resources these days.

The small fighters came on and fell one by one, exploding in a dazeling display. There would be more storm troopers on the way but by the time they arrived Krell and Serenity would be done with what they wanted to do. Krell set his ship down next to the Phoenix and with two men set out to find Serenity.

He found her, Kai, Slyder, and the Governor in the man's own lavish office. The man was a mess. Serenity had worked him over quite well. She had left him alive but had taken all the fun away from Krell. He had been looking forward to personally doing what she had done. He had wanted the satisfaction of feeling his fists pounding the, pigs face and body.

"So Lancar we meet again." Krell's voice was ice cold. The governor looked up his eyes went wide and he began trembling all over again. "Didn't think you would see me again did you." Krell had not expected to see Lancar there, but was glad it was him instead of some other imperial scum. "My mutiny failed against you because of that bastard Paul betraying me and the others. You still destroyed those three ships carrying civilians trying to escape the empire for a better life. Now it seems things have finally come back around and it is your turn." his voice was full of hate for the man, the two crew men with him had never seen him like this. His voice caused chills to run down their spines.

"No, please. I have done everything they have asked. Look, look, I have signed the papers to free this system."

"You know that paper is worthless. Montrose will return with a fleet of ships and make any that defy him suffer a hundred times more. The only way to free these people is to destroy you miserable empire." He moved up to the man and picked him up out of the chair and lifted him off the floor. "I have dreamed of this moment when we would meet again 'Captain'. Of having my fists make a bloody, broken mess of your body before I hung you for all to see. But I see that has already been done.

"Please kill me!" Lancar begged. Krell only stared at the man. "Not before you tell me what Montrose is up to." He lowered the man to his feet. "Why is he so intent on killing Serenity, and what does he know about the professor."

Lancar shook like a leaf, but talked. "He is planning to kill the emperor and take over the empire. He wants Serenity out of the way because she would make the Emperor's claim to the empire more binding if he married her and all opposition to him would cease. There is something about her bloodline, something that could help him in his plan to retake the old empire."

"You know more then you are telling me." Krell could see it in his eyes.

"Alright, alright." he nearly screamed in fear. "Long ago a Sith Lord and a Jedi Master met. At first they tried to kill each other, but then something happened. No one knows for sure. But the two fell in love. This was something that had never been. One of the light and the other of the dark, coming together to make them the Grey Jedi, able to use the light and dark powers of the force." he looked over at Serenity. "They were austracised by both sides and forced to run from both who wanted them dead. They fled out here to the furthest part of the Old Republic and disapeared. It was said that they were finally found and killed but that is only conjecture. But what is known is that they had two children. She is a decendent of one of those children."

"She could hold the key to the power of the universe. From what he has learned, the Jedi are no more in the Republic. The last died out in the final battles with the Empire. With her the emperor thinks he can reclaim the old empire. But Montrose doesn't want that nor does he want her to live to be a threat to him. He wants the Professor for the knowledge of the ancient race and any technology that they had that can help him in his plans."

Krell nodded and smiled. "I am not going to kill you. But you will die, a very slow death. I'm going to drop you off on the Mining World you have here in this system, only it will be in the most inhospitable part of the planet. You will die before anyone can find you, a very slow and agonizing death." he turned to his two crewmen. Take him away, secure him aboard the Raven."

Lancar screamed and begged for death then and there, but Krell would not grant him that. He looked over at Serenity. "Time to go." He helped her from the Governor's chair.

(how does that sound for her ancestry. Grins and what about the other child born of the two. Now who could be decended from that one)

[LadyRaven]

((woah, that's even more extreme than the royalty aspect of her heritage! go on then, who's the other one?))

While Krell and the Governor were having their 'chat', Serenity sat stone faced in the main chair. Her feet enver moved from the table, but as the story unfolded, it was clearly unnerving to her. Her legs tensed up and her face went almost clandestine white. She looked like one of the marble statues that adorned the palace columns. As more and more of her history was told, the room began to turn icy cold. She had thought it extreme that she had come from royalty, but to learn that not only was she royal, she was a descendant of a forbidden love between the Sith and the Jedi themselves, it seemed too far fetched to be real. And yet, it spilled from the Governor's mouth like a waterfall. Colder and colder the room turned until there was actual ice forming on the window behind Serenity. Things were about to turn very nasty. Then suddenly, it was over.

Serenity listened as Krell condemned his old captain to the life he had given the slaves on the mining planet. The chill dissipated slightly, but there still remained a sheen layer of ice on the windows and around the Governor's desk. Then Krell was before her, helping her up, but she didn't take his hand. Instead, she slowly stood up. "Yes." She said distantly, "Time to go." The thin ice crackled beneath her boots as Serenity moved steadily away from the desk. She seemed in somewhat of a daze, as though her mind was racing a million miles an hour, but a million miles away at the same time. One thing remained forefront in her mind however: Who was the other child? "I'll meet you at low orbit around the farthest moon." She said to Krell as she ambled away in her daydream, "The radiation will cover us from the Imperials for a while. I need to think on a few things." And then, just like that, she disappeared through the main doors.....

[Guest]

Krell felt the chill in the air and when he move to Serenity he seen the thin crust of ice. From what the Governor had told them it seemed that Serenity was decended from two of the most powerful races that had ever existed. If what the professor had told him was correct, the ancient race that had inhabited the Valaris system was responsible for the Sith and the Jedi. There fore Serenity was a direct decendent of the two of them. What the Governor called a Grey Jedi. Only she had not known that. But it seemed she was begining to exibit some of the powers that flowed through her family.

He wondered if Rahma or Valis had such powers. But if what he had learned when he had studied such things, it did not always get passed on to every member of the family. Serenity seemed to be in a daze as she left the room. What she had heard and had to understand was indeed a lot.

When she returned to the Phoenix, Jenny was there. She looked at Serenity. "Boss......Are you..... alright?" she asked when she saw how she?looked. Then she took a deep breath her eyes going wide. "What.......?" now she looked dazed as if she was being flooded with information.

Krell sighed and returned to the Raven and had the ship lift off. Before going he made a low orbit of the planet taking out every military base. He thought of destroying every city, but decided against it. They were all loyal imperials, living on the misery of less fortunate people. He was not going to stoop to their level though. When he was done, he rejoined the Phoenix in orbit about the farthest moon of the planet.

"Prepare a shuttle to deliver the Governor to the mining planet." he hit the intercom button to the shuttle bay. The two ships left orbit and headed back out of the system stopping at the Mining Planet just long enough to put the Governor down in one of the most inhospitable areas there was. Before long they were again making their way out of the system.

[LadyRaven]

Serenity remained in her somewhat dazed state for some time. When she had boarded the Phoenix, she ordered Kai to take charge for the time being and all but locked herself away in her quarters. The ship left orbit, following Krell to the mining planet and then out of the system. In her time alone, Serenity studied what family history she knew, putting in the new relative parts as she went. The system consol delivered back whatever it could find among the logs and old records downloaded earlier, but what she got was still very sketchy.

After two days of searching, Serenity finally gave up, having found literally nothing that she didn't already know now. She couldn't even find the names of the Sith and the Jedi that started her family line. It was as though someone had deliberately removed every trace of them from the universe. During her search, she had also studied the Emperor's history, finding out all she could. The idea of marrying the man was sickening, especially seeing as he was the ultimate cause of the suffering she had seen. However, all she had found were propaganda and here say, recorded by those that needed to remain on his good side.

The two days passed and eventually, she was interrupted. Kai had been doing his own research, mostly to find suitable planets to leave the miners on, safe places they could start new lives and be free. He came to her quarters with the list he had subsequently filtered for the best habitats.
Knocking twice, Kai entered and took a quick look around. At first, he couldn't see his captain. The room looked barely touched, save for a desk full of computer pads. The bed hadn't been slept in and the hydro packs left untouched. She hadn't eaten or slept since leaving Harcone. Then a small sound from the bathroom caught his attention and he knocked on that door.
"Go away." Came the reply, followed by a quiet wretching sound.
Kai, now more worried than ever, opened the door to find Serenity leaning over the sink with her head in her hands. "Serenity, are you OK?"
"I said, fuck off!" She snapped back, before turning her head back into the sink. She wretched again, but there was nothing in her system to bring up.
Kai dropped the computer pad on the side and entered the bathroom. "Ren, what's wrong with you?" He demanded, "Are you sick?" He pulled her away from the sink and checked her features. She looked pale and ghostly and her eyes were sunken and circled with dark lines.
"Leave me alone!" Serenity shouted, "I'm fine, just... ate something off is all."
Kai stuck his head out of the door and double checked. "The hydro packs haven't even been opened, Ren." He said back firmly, "And you haven't slept. What's going on? Is it because of what happened on Harcone?"
Serenity leaned against the wall and pulled her hair back. It looked as flat and lifeless as she did. She closed her eyes and shook her head. "It's nothing." She told him.
"Yeh right, and my bollocks are solid gold." Kai snapped, "I'm taking you to see the medic."
Serenity grabbed Kai's arm and gave him a warned look, "Do and I rip your golden bollocks right off your golden scrote."
Kai looked at Serenity's pale hand on his forearm, then back at her. "Then tell me." He said more quietly, "What's going on?"

Serenity left the bathroom and went into the living area where she flopped down on a short sofa and leaned back. "I've been feeling like this since before we hit Harcone." She offered. "I've been off my food, feeling sick, constantly tired and just generally really low."
Kai lifted an eyebrow, "Could you have picked up a bug in Haven?"
Serenity shook her head, "No." She said, "No bug."
"What about Krell?" Kai asked, "I've never seen him go through decon (decontamination), maybe he gave you something?"
Serenity laughed emptily, "Yeh, he gave me something alright, but it won't make him sick like this."
Kai sat down next to his captain and put his elbows on his knees. "If you're sick, Ren, you really need to see the medic." He said, "And if Krell is the one gave it to you, then he needs be checked too, in case he gives it someone else."
Serenity shook her head real quick, "Hell no!" She choked, "No, no, no, no, no, no. He can't know about this."
Kai shook his head and chewed his lip. "He's gotta know if you're sick, Ren. He could be infectious for 'verse's sake!"
"Kai, you're not getting the point." She said, "He's not infectious, and neither am I. It's not a disease that he's given me. Trust me, PMS won't even come close to this."
The penny finally dropped and Kai all but leapt from the seat, "Oh hell no!" He cried, "But.... you did use..... didn't you?"
Serenity closed her eyes and put her head back on the backrest. She all but confirmed everything Kai was thinking.
Kai took a deep breath, then sat down again, "Then he's really gotta know, Ren." He said, "And I really mean that."
Serenity shook her head, "The second he finds out, this mission is over, understand?" She replied, "And I get sent back to Haven, wrapped in cotton wool and then pandered over for the rest of my days. Thanks, but I'll pass. When we've finished here, then I'll tell him. You let slip before that point and I personally put your face through the floor."
Kai shook his head, "Fair enough, but the second we get back to Haven, you gotta tell him. Promise me Ren."
Serenity shook her head. "And just for saying's sake."
"Yes I know." Kai said, "This is between you, me and these four walls. I get it."
"Good puppy. Now scoot, so I can get some sleep."

[Guest]

For two days he had heard nothing from Serenity. His communications to the Phoenix was answered by Kai or Slyder. They had no idea of what she was doing. All they could tell him was she had sequestered herself in her quarters. He was worried about her and planned on the next stop to give the hyperdrive engines a rest to go over and see her. They had decided to take the people they had rescued from the mining planet to another system on the way. There was one that was a Jungle world. It was a bit savage but with weapons and some supplies, they could set up a small colony there and survive until they were able to return and help them out.

Jenny, ever sence Serenity had arrived back on the ship had been getting wierd feelings. On the first sleep period, she dreamed of a man she had never saw. He was an elderly man with greying hair. He wore black robes and carried a septer of gold incrusted with jewels. He was torturing a man, in the remenits of an Imperial Officer's uniform. "You allowed them to escape, you told them I was aware of their plans." The mans body jerked as the man in black robes gave a signal and another moved a lever on a consol.

When she awoke she was sweating and breathing heard. Then again on the bridge while at the helm she had waking vision of another Elderly Man, one in an Imperial Admiral's uniform walking through the wreackage of the palace on Harcone. He did not look happy at all. He had a snarl on his lips as he pounded a fist on the desk of the former Governor. A slight smile touched her lips at this. She could not understand what was happening. She had not been there when the governor had told Krell and Serenity what he knew. But she just knew that the man was Montrose and he had just found out that Serenity had a brand new ship and it and the Raven had paid the system a visit.

Her eyes went wide again a short time after the vision faded. She felt Serenity's misery. She took a deep breath as she felt her wretch. Then it was as if she could hear the her voice and that of Kai's. Again a smile crept to her lips when she heard what condition her Captain was in. She would go down after her shift and talk to Serenity.

[LadyRaven]

Another half a day was spent in hyperspace before the safe system came up. Following the Raven's lead, the Phoenix dropped into normal space and took up a position in a low orbit while the survivors were flown down to the planet's surface. Serenity spent the time in her quarters sleeping, but it was not the peaceful time she had been hoping for. The whole time, she was plagued by nightmares. She dreamed of dark shadows and agony, anguish and desperation. It bombarded her, flashing images of torture that made her feel even more sick. Then she was dreaming about herself being tortured. She watched as an Imperial General degraded and violated her and then most horrific of all, she watched as he tore her baby from her, killing it in the most painful way. At that point, Serenity woke up screaming, her hands clutched about her stomach and her skin covered in a cold sweat. Tears streamed down her face and she couldn't help but sob hysterically into her pillow.

Serenity managed to calm herself just as she heard her clock strike the hour of shift change. She took several deep breaths and rubbed the sweat from her face with both hands. She felt awful. On getting out of the bed, her stomach turned over and she ran for the bathroom. Once finished, a look in the mirror told her just how awful she felt. She looked just as bad. At least this wouldn't last for too long, she thought. Then, she had a feeling someone was about to risk knocking on her door. Serenity furrowed her brow, somehow knowing who it was. She went to the door and opened it just as Jenny was about to knock.

"Not now, Kiddo." She said quickly, "I'm really not up to dealing with you today."
Jenny simply smiled and wandered into Serenity's room. "When are you gonna tell him?" She asked distantly.
Serenity scowled and quickly copped hold of the young girl. She knew Kai hadn't said anything, he wouldn't dare without her full permission. So how did she know? Ever since the girl had taken her position, Serenity had felt something odd about her. And not just because of the sheer amount of natural talent Jenny exhibited. "That's none of your business." She snapped, "And you're gonna keep your mouth shut, savvy? Now, do you have a purpose in being here, or are you just fishing?"......

[Guest]

Jenny was surrprised by Serenity grabbing her. But she knew that it was because of her body going nuts due to the little one growing within her. Her mother had told her about it, the sickness and everything. So she knew that Serenity was going through a period of hell at the moment. Jenny just smiled and placed a hand on Serenity's arm. "I know when to keep my mouth shut Boss. When asked why she was there her face had a puzzled look on it.

"I don't understand what is happening to me. I have been having some weird feelings lately. I had a strange dream of a man in black robes torturing an imperial officer and saying something about letting them get away and I knew he was talking about you. Then while on duty I had a waking dream of an Admiral, I know it was Admiral Montrose even though I have never seen him. He was on Harcone in the governor's office. He did not look very pleased." She looked up at Serenity, "I know these are not just dreams or my imagination. I could feel their anger, just as I could sence your discomfort and I could even hear you and Kai talking. That is how I know about what is happening. What is going on with me? Is this a good thing or something not good?"

[LadyRaven]

Serenity lifted an eyebrow and let the girl go again. She spoke of weird feelings and dreams, sensing what people felt and hearing conversations that were going on no where near her. She suddenly felt as though Jenny was her younger self come back to haunt her. It made her uneasy at first, but as she thought more about it, Serenity seemed to catch onto an idea. She led the girl to the sofa and sat her down. "OK, first and foremost." She said carefully, "What you've just told me, you don't ever repeat to anyone else, understand?" Jenny creased her brow, but nodded. "There's enough weirdness on this ship already with me." She sighed and sat back.

"When I was a little younger than you, I started having weird dreams and feelings." Serenity began. "Dad and Rahma used to get real freaked out at first. I used to be able to know when they were coming or what they were about to tell me. The dreams were the worst, especially when I hit puberty. I used to dream about men dressed in black, torturing people and then I'd recognize some of them when they came to the space ports. It used to terrify me sometimes, but eventually, I got used to it and learned how to deal with them. As I grew up though, things seemed to get sharper and clearer. I could anticipate my Captain to a fault and it used to annoy the hell out of him. Used to freak the crew out sometimes too. But for some reason, the Captain used to listen to me when I had a bad feeling. Oddly enough, more than once, it saved our lives." Serenity stared at Jenny, knowing somehow that every last word was familiar to the girl. "So, when I became Captain, I put those feelings and knowings to good use. It isn't 100% accurate though and there's been a number of times when I've had my ass handed to me. Most recently by Krell himself." She laughed quietly, "I never once had a feeling about him and I couldn't anticipate him at all. To be honest, he frightened the hell out of me. So, you see, it doesn't work with everyone. Doesn't work so much with Kai either, but like Krell, he's incredibly strong minded."

"So you know what's happening to me then?" Jenny asked.
Serenity shook her head, "I haven't the faintest idea, Kiddo." She replied, "Only that I'm going through it too and it has something to do with my past. Or rather, our collective pasts and the Jedi Order. I'm trying to figure it, but so far, I've come up with nothing I don't already know. What I do understand though is that it's something rare and dangerous in the wrong hands. That's why you've got to keep quiet about it. Look what's happened to me. I have pretty much the entire Empire and even the Emperor himself chasing after me because of it and so far, they believe I'm the only one with this gift. The last thing I would want is you coming up on their radar too. Do you understand?".....

[Guest]

Jenny nodded her head to answer Serenity's question. It seemed that the two of them had more in common then either of them had thought. As Jenny got up to leave, another vision appeared in her mind and also Serenity's. It was as if they were traveling through space with out a ship but only alot faster then hyperspace. Then it slowed as it came to a system some where in the New Republic. There was a huge planet that had several moons. One of these moons was habitable. It was a world covered in dense jungle. Here poking out of the trees and vines were a number of large pyramids. On top of one sat an elderly man dressed in black tunic, breaches, and boots. At his side he wore a light saber.

"To Yaven you must come. Train you must." came the thoughts of the old man. "The force will guide you." Then the vision was gone and Jenny staggered a bit and sat back down on the couch. When her mind stopped spinning she looked at Serenity.

Krell had finished his rounds of inspecting the various sections of the ship and then took a shuttle over to the Phoenix. The freed slaves now were on their new planet and had enough supplies and weapons to keep them in good order. Upon arriving he made his way directly to Serenity's quarters. Rat again was able to spot him and get a message to Serenity to prepare her for his arrival.

[LadyRaven]

Serenity took a deep breath as the vision came and then went again. Her head spun a little, but she was getting used to that. Her head was spinning almost constantly these days. Carefully, she processed the information given and closed her eyes for a moment to remember the details. At her side, she felt Jenny flop down again. She knew the girl had been given the same vision. Then, after a moment of silence, Serenity and Jenny locked eyes and at the very same second, they both said, "Yaven."

Seconds later, Serenity heard Rat's voice over the comm. Krell was on his way. With a jolt, Serenity leapt off the sofa and raced for the bathroom to make herself look a little less ghostly. Half way through, she poked her head around the doorway. "Go get some rest Kiddo." She ordered, "And remember, not a word to anyone." Jenny nodded and left. Serenity quickly dragged a brush through her hair, had a wash and brushed her teeth, then put on some clean clothes. After that, she raced about the room, tidying up a little, but not too much, then made some fresh coffee. While it was brewing, she grabbed some of the hydro packs and hid them away to make it look as though she had been eating. Then, with everything looking as it should, Serenity sat down at her desk again and started going over some pads, bringing up information on various things relating to their mission. She had to look like she'd been working. But her mind soon turned to Yaven and she cleared one of the pads to look up the information on it.

She knew Krell was about to knock on the door and quietly called out to him, "It's open."......

[Guest]

Yaven: A gas giant planet orbiting the star Yavier. Has four moons of which one habitable, Yaven. A Jungle Moon, or planet. Has the size of a regular planet. Was once inhabited by a primative race that built elaborate temples to gods that had desended from the sky and gave them knowledge. Race disappeared long before the Old Republic was formed. Was used during the Rebellion as a Rebel Base. Site of the destruction of the Death Star. Was all that came up on her screen.

Krell saw Jenny walking down the corridor as he made his way to Serenity's quarters. She smiled and said hi and continued on with a grin as if she was up to something. He just shook his head and just as he was about to knock on the door, Serenity called out it was open. He opened the door and walked in. It seemed that ever since she learned about her family's past she was becoming a bit more in tune with the powers she had inhirated. She was at her small desk looking through computer files.

He gave her a warm smile and then asked. "What has gotten you so occupied that Kai and everyone else would not disturb you? All they said was that you had sequestered yourself in your quarters." He knew that she had been hit hard by all the information that they had gotten from the Governor. He had figured that she was trying to sort things out about it all. He moved up behind her and bent over to kiss her cheek. "I have missed you." he whispered in her ear.

[LadyRaven]

Serenity turned her head to Krell with half a smile. She shrugged her shoulders at his comment and lifted up some of the computer pads. "Something and nothing." She told him. "I've been doing some research on what eh Governor told us, but there's very little in the archives to tell me anything that I don't already know." She tossed them down again and sighed. "It seems, the closer I get, the more walls go up around the answers." She rubbed her face with her palms and stood up from the desk. The kiss was nice and all, but she didn't want him to get so close that he could smell the staleness around her. Not that it mattered. The desk alone was proof she had been working hard.

"I've missed you too." She told him, facing him briefly before she moved to refresh her coffee mug. "You want some? Real go-go juice this stuff today." She took the mug back to the desk and sat down again. "So, how did the transfer go?" She asked, "All the survivors, I mean. Are they gonna be OK down there while we're trippnig off?"....

[Guest]

"Everything is good with them." he told her then poured himself some coffee. He sat down on the edge of the desk. He could see she looked a bit haggard but said nothing. Sipping his coffee he looked at the information she had found. Indeed it was sketchy. "There are only two places that I know of that would have any information." he told her. "One is on Imperalis, the Emperor's planet here in the empire. It is at a University and only certain students have access to the archives there. I was able to study some of them, but didn't go to deep into the subject, as the Emperor like his predessor has tried to surpress all informaiton."

He looked down at her smiling, "And no I don't think we will be stopping there for a visit." It would not be as easy as Harcone was. "The second is in the New Republic on Crosuant. From my brief study, I found that the Jedi Order had their main headquarters there. It had a vast storage facility with information on many things especially the Jedi themselves. Perhaps there, if we can get into the place we might be able to access the computers and find out something." he picked up one of the pads and turned it on and saw the information about Yavin. He raised a brow and looked at her. "What is this?"

Jenny now in her quarters laid on her bed. It was the first time she had an entire place to herself. She had to share a place with her little sister back on Haven and before that when they were on a planet she could even remember the name of. It felt good to have her own place. As she lay there she thought of the vision that Serenity and her had shared. She wondered who the old man was. She senced he was friendly and ment them no harm. Even though he was old enough to be her granfather, he had a handsome face, though it seemed to be a bit sad.

[LadyRaven]

Serenity listened as he told her about somewhere they might find information. The idea of going to Imperialis was suicide and she actually laughed at that one. The second was Corusant. She had heard stories about this planet before. It was the hub of the Old Republic. The old senate used to hold sessions there among other things and she had heard that the entire planet had been turned into one huge city. She didn't know about the Jedi Temple there though and she lifted her pale brow. "A vast storage place, you say?" She inquired. Now that was worth visiting.... if they could get inside. "Might be worth a try." Then he picked up the pad with the information on Yavin.

"What is this?"

Serenity quickly took the pad back, "Oh, nothing." She said quietly, "Just a little personal research is all. I heard the Death Star was destroyed in orbit there. I was told there might be some work out that way in the near future, so I've been looking it up, seeing what's worth my curiosity." She turned the pad off and shoved it into a drawer by her right knee. "I thought I might take the kid with me, Jenny. A little scouting mission all her own. It'll give me and her some one-on-one time. You don't mind, do you?"....

[Guest]

Krell was no fool, she was up to something. Yavin was in the New Republic. Why she would want to go there was something he wanted to know, but he was not going to ask her. He loved her, but knew that each of them had their own little things they didn't want to tell each other quite yet. "Once we find this world the professor is talking about, I don't see no problem in that. The Jezzebel would be just the ship to do that in. Small enough not to raise the suspsions of the Republic's space navey." It seemed she had taken the girl under her wing. It was not a bad thing. The kid could learn alot from Serenity.

"So what would you like to do for the time that we are here. "No imperial ships to play with, and no imperials themselves to deal with." he again moved behind her as she sat in her chair and put his hands on her shoulders rubbing them and then bent down and kissed her neck and moved up to her jawline and cheek and then finally to her lips.

[LadyRaven]

Serenity gave a deep sigh and leaned back in the chair as he rubbed her shoulders, then kissed her neck. It felt so good, very relaxing. Then his lips moved around her jaw, then he kissed her lips. She kissed him back tenderly. "Hmmm, no Imperials at all to bother us." She mused, then smiled, "Time for a nice hot shower then and some relaxation, I think. Care to join me?"

Slowly, she move from the chair and kicked off her boots. After that, she shed her jeans, then her shirt, then underwear and went into the bathroom. After a few seconds, a cloud of hot steam poured from the room. Serenity stepped into the shower cubicle and put her head under the jets. It was blistering hot and absolutely heavenly.....

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