Re: All In The Game

[Guest]

Krell returned Serenity's kiss with equal passion. When things got quiet and she stepped back from him she introduced the old man. A Jedi Master, now that would be something to put fear in the heart of the Emperor, and some of the high ranking imperial officers. So that was the man she had to go see.

Luke smiled as the young man piped up saying he would take care of the droid. "Be careful, he is a bit tempermental and has a mind of his own at times." he told Rat. As Rat lead Luke from the bridge he looked back at Krell. Yes a strong, good hearted man with a bit of rogue in him. And Serenity, reminded him of his sister Leia. She was just as sturbon, headstrong and adventurous as Leia. They would get along quite well. He knew his sister was still alive, like him enodowed with the force, and strong with it, giving both of them a longer life. Though she was not involved in the running of the Republic anymore, she kept tabs on things and in contact with Luke.

"So what is it that you wish to tell me." he asked Serenity, as he again took her into his arms and held her.

[LadyRaven]

Serenity nodded with a smile to Luke, then turned back to Krell. "It's private." She told him quietly, "Let's go to our rooms and I'll tell you there."
A few steamy cheers went up from the crew, but Serenity just stuck ehr tongue out at the them and grinned at Krell. "Come on." She told him, taking his hand. "Mac, you have the bridge."
"Aye aye, Captain." The old man replied with a grin.

Serenity led Krell quickly to their quarters and was happy to be back surrounded by her comforts. Within seconds of being in the room, her boots were tossed under the desk, her overcoat and gunbelt strewn across the desk. Then her waistcoat was dumped on the back of the chair. "Ahhh." She breathed, "That's better."

Comfortable again, Serenity turned back to Krell and smiled. "Well, I have a few bits of news for you." She offered, "Which would you like to hear first?".......

[Guest]

Krell let him be lead to their quarters aboard the Phoenix. The captain's quarters which was the same layout as his aboard the raven. Once there she begins removing clothes and weapons, till she was in a shirt and pair of pants. He already knew about their child, so he wondered what else she had to tell him.

"Well you pick, because I have no idea of what you have to tell me." he grinned as he pulled her to him holding her tightly. He didn't even know if it really mattered what she had to tell him. She was there and that was all that mattered to him. Together they were going to do what ever it took to make a better life for them and their child.

The professor hearing that a jedi master was aboard the Phoenix was extremely excited. He had to talk to him and arranged for a shuttle to take him over. With him he had an assortment of artifacts that he hoped Luke cold help him with.

[LadyRaven]

Serenity smiled and kissed Krell back lovingly. It was so wonderful to back with him again, even though their parting had only been for a week or two. After a few minutes enjoying his touch again, Serenity somehow managed to prise herself off and slump down on the bed. "Well." She began, "There's a few things I wanna tell you. First and foremost though, the baby is fine. I checked it on the data screen a few days ago and it's growing just fine. Looks a little like a tadpole right now, but the doctor told me that was normal growth." She smiled and leaned back on the bed before continuing.

"Secondly, it would seem that me and Jenny are the descendants of a marriage between the Jedi and the Sith. The Sith supposedly being the bad guys in all this. It turns out that I'm a dead ringer for the female one. By which I mean, I'm a mirror image of my mother, and my mother was a mirror image of the woman. So, that being the case, it's no wonder really why the Imperials have been so dead set on watching me die. Some old fart up there saw my face and got scared. It could be why Rahma was attacked so badly too. They wouldn't have known shit about us if my face hadn't been planted on so many wanted walls, ya know?"

Serenity chewed her lip a little, but then smiled again. "The old man already knew about me and Jenny and what little time we've spent with him, he told us much about who we are and whatnot, but more importantly, he started training us in the Jedi arts. Jenny has an amazing talent for throwing things at you from across the room and I'm learning how to control the cold snap I sometimes get and the tremors. Beyond that, it's basic swordsmanship and balance training. It turns out that our ancestry has taken care of pretty much all the physical stuff. It runs in the blood aparantly. So, so far, it's all good."

Serenity sat up again on the bed and put her hands together over her thighs, leaning on her elbows. "But there is a huge bad side to it." She continued. "Luke knew who and what we were and if he knew, then so did the Sith. They would have felt us the same way he did and it means they're gonna be on a serious hunt to find us. It means that this trip could turn in a totally different direction. The thing is, the Emperor and the Sith will also be looking for this planet now. Whatever weapon the prof thinks exists there, it would be a thousand times more dangerous in the hands of the Empire. If they get to us before we get to the weapon, we're gonna have our asses handed to us on platters. However, I do have something of a plan rolling around upstairs." She got up off the bed and started to pace.

"I was once told that the Diamond Dogs didn't start and end with the Jezzabel and my crew. The theory of my little band of pirates ended up spreading through the Outer Rims. That's probably why I was so wanted in the first place. Not that I liked it mind, a load of other pirates calling themselves Dogs. But, I'm thinking here that we might actually be able to use them. There's gotta be some old buchaneers around this quadrant that want in on the action, right?" She looked at Krell with something close to hope. "A cal to arms if things go tits up for us? Whatcha think?"......

[Guest]

Krell listened as she told him the history lesson. It seemed Jenny and Serenity were coming along quite well with their ability to use the force. If she was right about the Sith being able to pick up on her and Jenny then they would be on their way. He knew the Jedi had been a force to contend with, if the Sith had the same abilities and used them mercilessly then they were going to need all the help they could get.

He sat down on the bed next to Serenity and rubbed his Jaw. There was only one man he knew of that could possibly round up a small fleet of pirates and smugglers. That is if the man was still alive. He had said he was going to the New Republic to try his luck. "Well there is one man I can think of. Though I am not sure that he is still alive." He had shown Krell what the empire was really like. Had started him on the path that had now lead him to Serenity and a life that was worth fighting for. "I'll try to contact him. If he is still alive, he probably will be on Rubic V. That is where he said he was heading the last time I saw him."

[LadyRaven]

Serenity nodded quietly and gave a small smile. "Sounds like a plan." She offered. "If you get in touch with you guy and I get in touch with a few of mine, we might be able to pull something out of it. Doesn't hurt to try, I guess."

Then, after a few minutes of silence, Serenity got up and went to her pack. From it, she took out a data pad and passed it to Krell. "Thought you might wanna see this." She told him. "Like I said, it looks a bit like a tadpole right now, but it's definitely growing." She smiled warmly as she held out the data pad. "Here, take a look.".......

[Guest]

He took the data pad and grinned as she explained it all. It was just the begining image. In time it would grow and it would become more defined. "Well now to bad we cant tell what our child would be, boy or girl." he grinned. "What would you like our child to be?" he asked her. Being a man he would love to have a son, some one to teach things to. But he would not mind a girl either. She would be a hell raiser and one that would more then likely take after her mother, but with a bit of him to.

Krell then put the pad down and reached up and pulled her to him and kissed her deeply. "We have a few hours before we pass thorugh the cloak. You have any plans?" He asked her when he broke the kiss. His hands moved up and down her back and down to her ass, then up under her shirt feeling her warm soft skin under his hands.

[LadyRaven]

Serenity smiled warmly and kissed him back. It was such a good feeling to be back in his arms again, she thought. And as much as she would have loved to take him to bed for those few hours, Serenity had a more pressing matter. "As much as I would absolutely love to spend the next few hours... hmmm." She sighed, feeling his hands run up and down her bare back, "... having you crawling all over my skin, there's a few things we need to get done." She then grinned, "However, I've certainly got a few minutes spare before that.".....

[Guest]

"Things to do?" he raised a brow. What would she have to do when things were running smmothly. Mac had things well in hand and the crew was becoming a cohesive one. When she said she did have a few minutes to spare, he lifted her shirt up over her head and moved his hands over her warm and soft skin. Undoing her bra he dropped it down with the shirt on the floor. "A few minutes eh? Then I think we had best not waste them." he grinned and claimed her lips for a deep passionate kiss.

Luke got settled in to a cabin. He sighed The Raven was much larger then the Millunim Falcon but it had the same feel about her. He was not settled in long when a knock came at the door. He opened it and there was the Professor, case in hand that held some of the relics he had discovered that belonged to the ancient race. "Sorry to intrude but........well all my life I have researched the past, studied it. You are a Jedi Master, probably the last one that there is. Your training, your knowledge of the force might be able to help me with devices i have discovered that belong to the race that created the Jedi and the Sith." Luke looked at the old man and smiled. "I will see what I can do. Come in and show me what you have."

[LadyRaven]

Serenity grinned over his lips as she kissed him back. "Definitely not to be wasted." She replied and then tugged at his belt. Once that was undone, she grabbed at his shirt and pulled it off over his head in between kisses. Feeling her skin next to his again, Serenity was in heaven. She dug her nails into his chest and almost growled at him, then locked her hands behind his neck as she lifted herself up to wrap her legs around his back.

As Serenity kissed Krell again, the air around them began to cool. It quickly brought her out in goose bumps and she shivered with a grin. The cool air wafted past them a few more times, then seemed to disappear again. either there was a draft somewhere, or Serenity had gained much more control over it then before. The memory of that suddenly came to her and she began to laugh. "Remember when I destroyed the bathroom?" She asked with a giggle. "Ya think we can manage it again?" Now, there was a challenge worth the effort.

On the Bridge -

Mac sat comfortably in the Captain's chair as he went over some scanning reports. As he thought, there was nothing but space dust and a passing comet to show for it, but Serenity wouldn't have ordered this if she wasn't absolutely sure it needed to be done. He tapped the data pad for the next report and sighed deeply through his wrinkled lips. "Still nothing." He whispered then, as he put the pad down on his knees and rubbed the bridge of his nose. Just then, a small voice came from behind him and he turned around.

"What is it?"
A young lieutenant called Phelps peered over the top of his console. "I'm not exactly sure Sir." He replied as he wrinkled his nose.
Mac came over to him and looked at the screen. The blip was tiny to say the least. "What is that?" He asked, furrowing his brow.
"I don't know Sir." Phelps told him, "I only barely saw it. It's not a private ship and it isn't Imperial either. It's too small."
"Can you bring it up on the viewer?" Mac asked.
"I'll give it a go." Phelps replied as he tapped at his console. A few seconds later, the tiny object was on the main screen.
"Magnify." Mac said. The image got bigger. "Again." The image got bigger still.
"What the hell is that?" Slyder asked as he moved from his console, "It's tiny!"
Mac stared at the screen for a while longer. "It's definitely a ship of some kind, but I can't tell what type."
"Looks more like a land speeder to me." Slyder offered, "But how could it run out here?"
Just then, one of the navigation team stood up. A woman named Bria. "It looks like a Macro Nubien." She offered.
Mac spun around, "What's a Macro Nubien?"
Bria chewed her cheek and furrowed her brow. "It's a two or three person transport used on Naboo." She explained. "I saw one a few years ago, but the one I saw wasn't designed for space."
"What was it designed for?" Slyder questioned.
Bria turned her head to the man, "It was used to transport people through the planet's core. I don't really understand how one could be in space though. The techs would have a hellish time configuring the shields to operate. The shields are meant to deal with the high pressure of the water, not the opposite like in space."
Mac turned to look at the screen again. "Are you sure it's a Macro Nubien?"
Bria shrugged her shoulders. "The resemblance is there, sure, but.... I can't be totally sure Sir."

Suddenly, the odd ship altered its course and began heading for them. Mac's face paled and he quickly downloaded the image into his data pad. He then pointed at Slyder. "Get us into that forcefield now!" He ordered, then hobbled off the bridge as fast as he could. "Ren!"......

[Guest]

Over on the Raven the same blip appeared on thier screens. Jenkins shook his head as he tried to identify the image as it was put up on the screen. "Nothing like it in the empire nor in the republic that anyone knows of. Well no space craft anyways. " The engineering officer Peters looked at it and came to the same conclusion as those on the bridge of the Phoenix. "Looks like one but there are differences. Think it could be what Serenity was talking about. That company that she said to expect?" Jenkins shook his head, "Not sure but if it is I don't want to be around here when it gets here."

A communicae from the Phoenix said they were makeing for the rift in the cloak at full power and Jenkins gave the order for the Raven to do the same. Once beyond the cloak they could close it and blind any one on the outside to their location. He didn't quite understand how the cloak worked, but he imagined what ever it was not only made one not see the planet but also caused them to move around it and not come close enough to feel its gravitational field.

Krell grinned as she locked her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. This freed his hands to come up and squeeze her firm tits as he moved them closer to the bed and he leanded down putting her on her back before undoing her pants. When she should release her legs from him he would pull her pants off and then drop his. He hoped that they would not be disturbed, not for a while anyways.

[LadyRaven]

Serenity happily and willingly removed her legs long enough for Krell to remove her jeans. It felt like weeks since she had been alone with him and couldn't wait. As he pulled at her, she too pulled at him, actually pulling a button or two from his shirt before she started pulling at her own, so eager to get rid of it. Seconds later, she was on him again. "You smell so good!" She breathed on his throat. Then, just as luck would have it, something niggled at the back of her skull.

In the midst of the frantic kissing and removal of clothing, Serenity had missed the initial shout down the corridor. It wasn't until someone banged on the door that she realized something was wrong. And it just so happened to be the most pleasurable point of entry too, so to speak.
"Ren!" The voice yelled, "Ren, open the door!"
Serenity ignored it at first, too wrapped up in feeling Krell inside her again, but the banging came again.
"Open the fucking door! There's a ship on an intercept course and it don't look friendly!" It was Mac and he sounded truly desperate to speak to her.

Down the corridor, Jenny had been packing her things away in her own room. She too had felt the presence, but had ignored it too. She was too wrapped up in trying to find a necklace her grandmother had given her. When she heard Mac shouting the odds, she immediately dropped everything and hung out of her doorway. There was a ship heading for them and by the sound of the chief's voice, it wasn't something to be light about. Instinctively, the girl grabbed up her light sabre and left her room.

Back in Serenity's room, the woman swore heavily and lifted her head off her pillow. Still keeping Krell locked in place with her legs, she growled, "Do you have a fucking death wish, old man?!".....

[Guest]

Krell was in the mood for some deep, hard loving and sex. It seemed Serenity was in the same mood. Both were tearing at each other's clothing trying to get everything off fast so they could. Even a few days apart had made them want each other with a desperate passion. He had finally gotten her pants off and as her legs were wrapped around him he moved his cock up inside her and claimed her lips for a deep and passionate kiss. He finally got her on the bed and was begining to move himself in and out of her. He too ignored the banging on the door and the voice outside. But then it came more insistant

He cursed as he finally understood what Mac was saying. The damned Sith ship that Serenity had warned them about was approaching. Damned inconsiderate bastards, had to show up just when him and Serenity was geting to enjoy each other. Serenity swore also and yeled out asking Mac if he had a death wish. "He yelled out "Give us a few minutes and we'll be right there, I promise."

Luke felt the presence, but it was not the lone sith apprentice. It was the master and the apprentice and others of the Sith Race. Those that did not use the force but like those of the republic and emprie, knew and had a respect for what the force could do. The appearance of the two ancestors of Serenity and Jenny and both of their short but intensen training must have been picked up by the Sith. He excused himself from the professor and immediately went to find Jenny and Serenity. He picked up on Serenity and what she was doing. He sighed and shook his head. When he reached Jenny and Mac he calmly took the old man by the arm. "Best let them finish. Serenity has much to learn about her abilities and she can do things with out knowing she has done it, especially when angery. " He lead Mac away from the door and back the way he had come. "They will both be with us shortly. Come Jenny there is much to do to prepare if indeed the Sith catch up to us before we can use the planet's cloaking device to shield us."

[LadyRaven]

After hearing Mac move away from the door, Serenity looked up at Krell and very nearly almost let him continue. However, as much as she wanted to carry on, she knew it could be fatal. With a grunt, she shuffled up the bed and away from her lover. "I'm gonna string those bastards to the damned hull for this." She cursed before swinging her legs around and off the bed. "So help me, I will." Stepping over her torn shirt and then discarded jeans, she moved to the comm system on the wall and thumped it quite hard.

"Bridge!" She demanded.
"Yes Captain." Slyder answered.
"Current speed."
"100,000kph, Captain."
"Double it." Serenity ordered. "I'll be there in a few minutes. Send someone to go fetch Jenny and Luke."
"Yes Captain." Slyder replied quickly.

Moving back to the bed, Serenity gave Krell a disappointed look. "I'm sorry lover." She told him, "But I will make it up to you. I promise." A quick smile and the woman was quickly getting dressed and then digging out a new shirt. A few minutes after that; boots on and ready, Serenity swung her door open. A quick look around and she spotted Luke and Jenny with Mac at the other end of the corridor. She back stepped a little and thumped the comm pad on the wall outside her door. "Luke and Jenny are already with me, Slyder." She said.
"Understood Boss." Slyder replied, a little more relaxed this time. "We should reach the planet in a few minutes now."
"Good." Serenity replied, then stepped back once more to look back into her quarters. She pointed at him and smiled. "You, me and a good couple of days without company." She told him. "Sound good?".....

[Guest]

Krell was not to happy about the whole thing. Just when he was about to hav an enjoyable time with his woman the damned Sith had to show up and make things miserable. He cursed again as Serenity got off him and got dressed. He had a a change of clothing there in her quarters , brought over some time ago. Grabbing his clothes he dressed also. He would have to get back to his ship once they got through the rift in the cloak. He had a couple surprises for the Sith Ship. If he under stood the use of the force one could sence danger, traps and the like. Also the Sith probably would be able to defend their ship against their laser weapons. But he had a very nasty surprise that might work if done right.

As Serenity moved into the corridor he was not to far behind. Her promise of a good time later was the only thing that caused him not to take his shuttle over to the Raven and turn the ship around to take on the Sith ship. But he headed back to the shuttle bay so he could take his back to the Raven and prepare everything.

"I feel their presnce master." the apprentice told his Master.

"Yes, and a Master Jedi as well." The Sith Lord opened his eyes and had a grim look on his face. "If that fool Palipatine had not kept us out we would have control of all the systems in the Republic and the Jedi would be no more." He turned to the captain of the ship. "Increase your speed to max. We do not wish to lose them." To the ship's crew the two ships ahead were just moving off. The Sith had not seen the rift, though they felt a disturbance in the force but could not determine what it was.

[LadyRaven]

Serenity caught up with Luke and Jenny and quickly nodded her head to the Jedi Master. To Jenny, she smiled and then checked the girl had her weapon. Serenity's, as always it seemed these days, had hers linked on her belt.
"Serenity?" Jenny asked cautiously.
"What is it Kiddo?"
"I can feel them." The girl said, "It's like they're touching me in my head."
Serenity nodded. She could feel it too. "I know." She replied, then looked to Luke. "I hope you can still fight, old man. We're gonna need all the guns we can muster for what's coming." Then, and without waiting for an answer, Serenity turned about and made for the bridge. It seemed that Krell had already left. It was probably a good thing, he had much to do on his own ship.

With Jenny and Luke on her heels, Serenity made up to the bridge and took her seat. "Captain on the bridge!" One crewman called and Serenity nodded to him.
"Right!" She said clearly, "The faster we get these birds into that force field, the sooner we can get out again. Slyder!" She turned in her chair. "Defence pattern Beta. Let's see if we can't lose these bastards in there."
"You got it Boss!" Slyder replied. "I'll send the pattern to the Raven to follow."
"Good pup." Serenity said back, then she turned to the weapons chief. "Giles!"
"Yes Captain." The stout man replied.
"Ready all weapons, and I mean all weapons." She ordered, "High tech, low tech, whatever we got to throw at that ship."
"Aye aye Captain." Giles replied.
Serenity then turned to her own console and tapped it to communicate with the engine room. "Rat!" She called.
"Uh, yeh?" The boy replied, "What's up Boss?"
"Rat, I need all the power you can get me." Serenity told him, "We got a transport heading our way and it isn't the friendly type. Whatever you got going on down there, I need every last drop of it."
"Shiny!" Rat called back, "I've been waiting to get these babies goin' without the old man on my ass."
"You'll have me on your ass, you don't get movin'!" Serenity ordered.
"Got it!" Rat called back again.

Serenity turned in her seat once again and grinned at Jenny. "Fly time Kiddo." She told the girl. "I need you on helm with me."
Jenny beamed with pride, "Sweet!" She pipped, then took her place.
Serenity looked then to Luke. "Take a seat, old man, and enjoy the ride." She told him with a smile. Another tap on the console and Serenity linked with the Raven. "Raven, this is Phoenix."
"Yes, Captain Diamond." Came a reply.
"Your navigation should have received a defence pattern. You probably know already, we have a tail. Do not engage it. I repeat: Do not engage. These guys ain't our friends."
"Understood Captain." The reply came again.
With a nod, Serenity looked to Jenny again as she tapped in the coordinates and then shared the controls with the girl. "Punch it." She said. Jenny did just that and the Phoenix shot forward into the force field.

*****

On the transport -

As the two ships suddenly seemed to disappear, a transmission came through for the two distinct passengers. It was a leading member of the high council. One that had not yet shown his identity to either Sith. He had however, been a valuable source of information and persuasion thus far. "Sith Master." His voice said in a coarse and husked tone. "I have acquired some information that may be of use to you. My source aboard the Phoenix has been able finally to give me the location of Haven and its residents. And he has informed me of certain things that have been going on between the captains. It would seem the little bitch and our ever beloved traitor have been busy. Diamond is with child. As you may imagine, this will not bode well. Regardless of what the Emperor thinks, I have plans of my own for that girl. Do what you wish with the others, but Diamond must be brought back alive, in good health... but without the baggage. Understood?" The hooded face then disappeared.

[Guest]

Once the two ships entered the rift in the cloak about the planet the device was shut down and the rift was closed. To the Sith ship, it seemed that the two ships just vanished. One of the officers aboard monitoring the ships called out to the captain. "Captain...... the two ships..... they just vanished." The captain moved quickly to the station and looked at the monitor and the readings.

"Impossible." he called out.

The Sith Lord and the apprentice suddenly were cut off from the feeling of the presence of Jenny, Serenity and Luke. The Sith lord brought his fist down hard on the arm of the chair he was sitting in. "Some how they have found away to cloak their ships as well as their ability to use the force. We must find out what this is. Captain!" he looked at the ships captain. "Stay on course and reach thier last position."

"Aye sir." the Captain said and took his command chair again.

But the cloak of the planet was subitly altering the course of the ship so it would not come close to the planet. To the ships sensors it was on course and when the ship arrived at the corridinates it was those that where the two ships disapeared. However it was not the real position.

When the rift in the cloak closed the two ships were in orbit about a planet that had not been there before. It had three large land masses and the rest was oceans. Krell was now on the bridge of the Raven and the view of the planet was on the view screen. He shook his head. Over on the Phoenix the professor was excited. He was on the bridge and was looking at Serenity. He was wanting to take a shuttle down to the surface of the planet.

[LadyRaven]

As the two ships exited the forcefield, a truly stunning sight was waiting for them. An entire planet gleamed at them through their view screens. The planet was at least twice the size of Naboo and just as beautiful. Sapphire blue oceans held three huge continents and there seemed to be not a cloud in the skies. Serenity stared at the awesomeness through her screen and couldn't help but feel a huge sense of safety and warmth fill her. "Now that is something really cool." She breathed. The planet was lit up like a gemstone in the forcefield and she couldn't help but wonder where the light source was coming from. She couldn't see a star anywhere. It was odd: But then, it wasn't like this entire mission hadn't been odd from the beginning. Behind her, Serenity could see the professor. The man was acting like he'd been infested with fleas! It made her smile, but she was still cautious.

"Giles?" Serenity asked, half turning her head towards the other man. "Any weapons or defences down there?"
Giles tapped a few buttons on his console. "Not that I can tell, Captain." He replied. "I'm not getting anything on the sensors, but the tech down there is far more advanced. I'd advise caution."
Serenity nodded and half turned her head to Jenny. "Send out a welcome message and put us in a low orbit. We don't wanna be sneaking up on these people."
"Yes Boss." Jenny replied.
Serenity then got out of her chair and smiled at the professor. "Alright, alright." She told the itching man, "We'll take a shuttle down there and see what's what." The professor was instantly heading for the shuttle bay. "Slyder, send the landing coordinates to the Raven and have them meet us there." Serenity ordered her second.
"Already done it Boss." Slyder replied, then got out of his chair. "Can I come with?"
"Sure." Serenity agreed, "The rest of you will keep scanning the forcefield and keep me informed of any changes. I wanna be able to get out of here again at some point. And keep a look out for that transport as well. I don't want it sneaking up my ass without dinner first, understood? Luke, you're with us." She got a resounding 'Yes Captain' back and left the bridge.

In the shuttle bay, the Jezzabel had been made ready. Serenity, Jenny, Slyder, Mac and the professor were ready to go. "I'm so excited!" Jenny exclaimed, "I can't wait to see what's down there!"
"Me too." Serenity agreed as she punched in the coordinates and got the ship going. "But don't get over eager. Just because it looks all sweetness and light from here, it don't mean it's like that on the ground." She looked around the bridge of the Jezzabel, "That goes for everyone. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for anything that don't look, sound, smell or feel right." She then tapped the comm link on her console. "Raven, this is the transport Jezzabel." She said, "We're heading for the surface now. Will be with you in about ten minutes."

Steering the ship towards the Eastern continent, Serenity took a deep breath and then let it out slowly. Even from here, she could definitely feel something down there. It felt like an old memory. The closer they got, the stronger the feeling got. On any normal day, Serenity would have mistaken it for returning home after a long stint, but this wasn't a normal day and Serenity knew she had never set a foot on this planet before. The upper troposphere didn't give half the resistance it should have done and once into the lower atmosphere, she felt no wind sheer on the controls and no turbulence from the displaced air around the engine vents. The whole flight was oddly smooth and uneventful. Touching her comm again, she opened the link to the Raven's shuttle. "Anyone over there feeling what I'm feeling?" She asked, "Coz I ain't feeling nothing in this atmosphere. No wind sheer, no turbulence. I can't even feel the gravitational pull. It's like I'm still in space. Are you guys getting this too?".......

[Guest]

On the Raven's bridge, Krell stood by his command chair and watched as they approached the planet. It was a beautiful site but he knew better then to take chances. Some things looked all nice and innocent one second and was trying to kill you the next. Krell noticed the how well lit everything was within the force field. "Can anyone get a lock on where that light source is coming from?" he asked, then he turned looked around the bridge, "What are sensors picking up from the planet surface?"

Atmosphere normal sir, Breathable, getting warm temps from all over the planet except the polar regions which has ice caps that are miles deep. The seas are teaming with sea life of unknown species and there are indications of animal life on the continets. Some are quite large sir." One of the crew spoke up. "Getting readings of large cities on all three continents but no human or humanoid life forms at all. Also getting a very powerful energy signature near the planet's core. Sir it is massive and looks to encircle the entire core."

Well something had to be powering the force field and that had to be something that was very powerful. Also to move an entire planet would require a massive power and engine as well. When he got the message about Serenity and the professor heading down to the surface he shook his head and was about to have a message sent back to wait. That was when the crewman spoke again. "Sir getting indications of power readings in the cities. Looks like we may have activated something."

He was on his way to the shuttle bay, "Security detail to the shuttle bay." he spoke into his wrist com. "I want a squad of fully armored and armed men ready to leave in five minutes!" He had no idea of what might be happening, but if power was coming on in the cities below then he was not taking any chances.

Luke took a seat on the bridge of the Jezzabell. It reminded him so much of the Millenum Falcon. As they left the Phoenix he could feel the power coming on in the cities. He felt the life in the seas and the animals that roamed the land masses. "The continent we are approaching is covered mostly in Jungle." he told Serenity, There are large predator animals that roam it, so landing in the jungle is not advised. There is a city a couple degrees to your right. It appears that light and cooling has been activated throughout the city. Suddenly the Jessabel shook, as a powerful tractor beam ensnared it and began drawing it in the direction of the city. As the shuttle from the Raven approached, it to was caught in a tractor beam and was drawn to the city.

The city was huge, laid out in a perfect circle with tall spires of soft colored metal. A high wall surrounded the entire city that kept the jungle out. The two crafts were drawn down to what appeared to be docking bays. Once both were on the ground the tractor beams vanished. Krell didn't like it. Once they were on the ground he had his squad of men out of the shuttle and in a perimater about both ships. There was no sounds, and the air was still. He waited for Serenity and the others to emerge from the Jezzabell.

[LadyRaven]

As Serenity brought the Jezzabel closer to the planet's surface, both she and Jenny felt something strange. It was strange enough that it unnerved the Captain. "Jenny?" She asked cautiously, "Turn us around." She looked at the girl carefully, "Nice and smooth."
"Yes Captain." Jenny replied, but no sooner had she began turning the drive system, a tractor beam locked onto them and started dragging them down. "She won't budge!" The girl yelped.
Serenity could do nothing more than let go of the controls. "Then I guess we're landing." She replied calmly before turning her head around to Slyder. "Every weapon you can carry, if you please Slyder." She offered. She then watched the hybrid bury nearly a dozen weapons in his clothing. "Good pup."
"As always Boss." Slyder replied smoothly, "I'm never without some back-up."

The ride down was relatively smooth, though not half as much as the atmospheric entry. Serenity felt confident enough to leave the bridge mid flight and make her way to the bay doors. Jenny was close behind her and Slyder brought up the rear. Luke and the professor were kept safe in the middle of the crew.

The Jezzabel landed with little more than rattle and soon enough, Serenity heard the docking clamps lock on. The ship and her crew were going nowhere. "Ready all weapons." Serenity ordered, "Think carefully, but don't hesitate. I don't want a blood bath without them taking the first shot." After that, with a nod from her team, Serenity lowered the bay doors and looked out into what could only be described as the most magnificent city that ever lived. About fifty feet away, the Raven's shuttle had also been brought down and both ships were surrounded by Krell's team. They weren't taking any chances either.

With a quick step, Serenity moved to Krell and carefully started looking around for their supposed hosts. "No atmospheric turbulence, no wind sheer, no gravitational pull." She began, "And that's before I bring up the question of the light source. Please tell me you know something more than me right now?" It was clear the woman was seriously unnerved by all this, and not just because of the odd welcome, but also the general feeling she had of the place. The feeling of warmth and home was getting stronger, but Serenity couldn't bring herself to put her sabre away. Although not activated, she held it out ready to do just that at the first signs of danger. And yet, there seemed to be none. Then something caught her attention. "Krell?" She asked, "Is that what I think it is?"

About half a mile away stood a tall building of what looked like pale cream stone or metal. It gleamed in the light, but the detail on the building could still be seen. In amongst what Serenity was looking at, windows were dotted at varied degrees and angles across the massive wall. The building itself clearly stood more than 600 storeys from the ground and yet, it felt as cosy and comfortable as the smallest cabin. However, it wasn't the windows, or the building that Serenity couldn't help staring at. What the woman had fixated on was a pattern that seemed to be inlaid into the workmanship. Jenny saw it too and stood almost in shock next to her distant relative. The wall showed a pack of dogs or wolves entwined within the scale of a large diamond or other gemstone. The familiarity of it became much more clear when Serenity lifted up the hilt of her sabre and turned it slightly to the left. "This can't be possible." She breathed as she looked between the two engravings. They were a perfect match in every way, right down to the tiniest glimmer of detail. Jenny held up hers also and turned it to the left. It did not match that way, but when she turned it to the right, it did match. With the slightest adjustment, Serenity was able to see a perfect alignment between the building and the two sabres. Serenity was able to see a complete and sequential pattern. "This is too fucking weird to think about." Serenity said as she looked to Krell.......

[Guest]

Krell was walking around the perimiter he had his men make and looking out at the city. It was beautiful, magnificent, of such design that pleased the eye yet was functional as well. A slight breeze began blowing filling the air with the scent of the jungle flowers that he had seen on the way down. No one was there to greet them, nor to try and take them prisoner. It was quiet, way to quiet for him. He saw the tall building at the center of the city. It was massive and had to be the seat of power for the city or the planet. They were brought there for a reason, they had to be.

Then he heard Serenity and moved over to her and Jenny. He listened to them and then looked at the building and then their light sabers. He finally saw the patterns and swore. "Damn. Well I guess the professor was right." he looked over at the professor and then Luke. "Well what do you have to say Jedi?" he asked.

Luke looked around and found himself feeling much as Serenity and Jenny. He felt as if he was home. The warmth and the feeling of being safe. He knew what the place was. This is the home of the Ancients. The ones that gave the Jedi and Sith their powers, the ability to use the force. This is one of their cities. No one has seen them for millinums. All that was in the archives of the Jedi were that The Ancients were the creators of the Jedi and Sith orders. Both were to protect and advise the young and growing star systems that were moving out into space. But something happened, something that caused them to disapear. There is no knowledge of what it was but speculation was that in their quest to help the galaxcy they awoke an evil that threatened to consume all that inhabited it."

He looked around the city. "From what the professor tells me, the astoroid belt that you have your haven in is the remains of one of the inhabitable planets of their solar system. This must be the other one. It is also assumed that they stripped and destroyed every trace of them on the worlds that they had colonized. But I think the old emperor found some of their technology. That was how he created the star destroyers, the death star and other great weapons. This place could house many more. But where are the Ancients?"

"Well only one way to find out I think. We have to go to that building. I have a feeling that the ansewers lie there." Krell said. Then he turned to his men. Guard the ships." He drew his blasters and looked at the others. "Time to go exploring, Yes?" he began walking in the direction that the building was in, taking the lead.

[LadyRaven]

Serenity moved forward with Krell as the team moved towards the main building. She made sure to keep up front with him, there was no way she was letting him have all the fun. Once again, Jenny stayed just behind Serenity with Slyder bringing up the back end and Luke and the professor in the middle. The closer they got to the building, the bigger it seemed to be. 600 storeys began to look like 1,000. Serenity kept a close watch on everything she could. "Is it just me, or are we being watched somehow?" She asked cautiously. But it seemed clear that no-one was around.

The half mile was covered quickly and soon enough, Serenity stood before a very grand looking doorway. Against the cream metallic walls, dark wood seemed to soak up the light. The doors stood a 100ft if they were an inch and each door comprised of a single piece of wood. "Whatever tree these came from, it must be huge!" She breathed. About half way up, another emblem shone down at them. It was made from similar material as the walls. All in all, the sight was truly striking. One problem though, Serenity couldn't see any way in. The door had no handle to speak of and there was no way they could move such a mass of wood on their own. "How do you think we get in?" She asked......

[Guest]

Krell looked up at the doors as they made it to the building. The shear mass of the two wooden doors made one thing clear, they were heavy and probably needed some sort of mechanism to open. He examined the door and the seam between the two were so thin it was hardly visable. There was no other way in and no way to climb the walls. "Well besides blowing them with explosives or blaster fire." He pointed one of his blasters at the door but Luke placed his hands on his hand and shook his head.

"I doubt that even a blaster could even dent those doors." he ran a hand over them, closing his eyes. Then he opened them and looked at Serenity and Jenny. "Come both of you and lay your hands upon the doors." He had a feeling and if it was right only they could open the doors and gain entrance to the building. They were the decendents of Sith and Jedi and that might be the key. "Think of it opening for you." he told them He then stepped back

[LadyRaven]

Serenity looked to Jenny, then Jenny looked back. Just think of it opening, Luke had told them. Serenity looked up and down the door, taking in the massiveness of it and lifted an eyebrow. "Whatever you say Old Man." She replied, but her hand went to the wood any way and so did Jenny's. Both closed their eyes and imagined the door opening for them. Then they imagined some more, and then more. Nothing happened. Serenity opened her eyes again and stepped back from the door. She shook her head and ran her tongue over her teeth before saying, "This thing ain't opening that way."

After a few minutes in thought, Serenity took out her saber again. She looked it over, turning it around in her hands before looking at the door again. At her side, Jenny looked up at her. "Whatcha thinkin'?"
"Not sure." Serenity replied with a furrowed brow. "I get the feeling....."
"What feeling?" Jenny asked.
Again, Serenity shook her head, then cocked it to one side as she approached the giant doorway once more. Saber in hand, Serenity placed that hand, heel down on the wood, then gently tapped the metal of the saber against it as though she was thinking of another option. Just then, something deep inside the door clicked.

With a quick step, Serenity moved back and looked up again. The penny dropped. "Jenny, do what I just did then." She said, "Tap the door with your saber."
With a shrug, "OK." Jenny said and copied what Serenity had done on the door. Nothing happened at first, but then the girl remembered that when she had last held the weapon up to the building, she'd had to turn it the other way slightly. Turning her hand over slightly to the right, Jenny tapped the door again. Finally, something clicked. "It worked!" The girl exclaimed before moving back quickly to stand with Serenity. After a few seconds then, Jenny stopped a small crease beginning to form at the main seam in the door. She, and Serenity seconds later, stepped back some more.

From deep inside the wood, probably the same spot that clicked for Serenity and Jenny, something deep and aged growled with inertia, then creaked, then shuddered. The small crease became larger and started moving towards the party. As they stepped back, the doors began to part company down the middle. 100ft high and what was looking like a good few meters thick, the doors slowly opened. Cream coloured dust fell from ancient hinges at the walls while more seemed to fall from the top of the doorway, gathered up over the probable thousands of years the doors had been sealed. Inch by inch, the doors parted, showing more of the expert workmanship that had gone into their creation. The edges of the doors were a jigsaw of tightly packed layers and sub-layers of wood, entwined and knotted together as though the doors themselves had actually been grown, not manufactured. Each individual layer of wood held a slightly different shade of brown, from light tan to almost black and everything in between. Finally, as the depth of the doors finally parted, a single line of vision was allowed between the doors.

A vast foyer greeted the party behind the doors, surrounding what could only be described as an enormous atrium, or perhaps an open courtyard in the middle. The place was filled with natural light, yet there seemed to be no windows on this floor. The smell of exotic fruits and flowers filled the air, mingled with odd birdsong and other strange sounds. The place smelled and sounded more like a jungle than a citadel structure. Everything around the center comprised of white marble, or what looked like white marble. Walls, floors and ceilings, if they could be seen, were covered in carvings that had been painted in soft shades of gray and silver. And yet, the place still felt as cozy and comfortable as any homestead cottage.

And just then, through the sounds of birds and other creatures, a whisper began to echo. The language was ancient, but then tone was welcoming and safe. Serenity looked around carefully before moving. Every fiber of her being told her to go inside, to make herself at home, but her paranoid mind told her to hang back and stay with Krell. Jenny on the other hand, couldn't wait to get inside and quickly moved forward....

[Guest]

Krell stood back as he watched what Luke was doing and then what Serenity and Jenny were doing. It was obvious from what Luke had told the two that both of them being decended from the Sith and Jedi, made them the only ones able to open the doors. Their first attempt didn't seem to work. Luke had told them to think of the door opening but there seemed to be something missing and it looked as if Serenity figured it out. Soon the massive doors were moving and moving outward. He could hear the strain of the hinges, old, dusty, and unused for thousands of years.

Serenity moved back to him as the doors opened, but Jenny was eager to enter and see what lay beyond. As the young girl entered, she could hear the sound of birds and other animals. Lights, dimmed by a thick coating of dust came on and the vibration of the lights shook the dust from them, and illuminated the vast foyer of the building. Thought there were trees growing, they were neatly trimmed and taken care of. Strange birds flew through the air and up higher out into the air of the planet. With in the foliage, one could tell there was movement of animals, some large and some small. Krell moved forward his blaster at the ready, incase something threatened them.

Jenny looked around in awe. The place was huge and beautiful. She felt as if she was welcome there and as if it was home. The voice that Serenity and Jenny as well as Luke heard was warm and friendly, yet it seemed far away, untill Jenny came to a metal platform in the floor. Then a shimmering began that formed in to a holographic figure of a man. He looked human but had slanted eyes, large pointed ears and golden eyes. "Welcome children of the Sith and Jedi." it began. It seemed to become deep in thought and then it smiled and looked at Jenny and Serenity. "I am Zal Tan of the Ori oni. It has been five thousand years since live person has walked these streets, and this path."

"An interactive computer artificial inteligence." Krell mumbled.

"Yes, but more then that." the immage spoke to Krell. This computer is an organic one that had my brain tissue ingrained within it's core. I am sure all of you have questions and I shall try to answer them for you but first perhaps an explaination is in order. Long have we waited for your coming. Please make yourself comfortable." Comfortable chairs rose from the ground for them to sit in.

"Long ago the Ori oni discovered the elements that bound the universe together, what was to be called the force. We mastered its use and wished to give this knowledge to those worlds that had flegling civilizations to aid them in their development. It was our intention that they use this gift for the betterment of their races, but we did not forsee the evil that was coming. That was coming from within ourselves." he looked over the assembled. "We found that deep within some of our own minds lay a great evil that came forth. Something within us began to turn our minds to desires that were contrary to what we started off with."

"Some of us were able to fight these desires but others were consumed by them. Those that could not over come them wished to conqure these new worlds and created the Sith Lords to aid them in their conquests. To counter them we created the Jedi order. I will not bore you with the many mistakes that were made but we finally realized that we had to end the conflict we began. In a battle with our sister world, it was destroyed and we decided to leave that part of the galaxcy and come here to keep from interfering with the other races of this galaxcy. Many of us perished in that final battle. But we did not wish to leave the other races to be constantly at each other using the force as a weapon. "

Our final act before leaving was to arrange the merger of the Sith and Jedi. We knew it would take time and once that occured that it would be possible for the two to come together and work together." he looked at Jenny and Serenity, "You two are the product of that gamble and all here has been programed for only those like you."

[Sponsored content]