Alternate Start (ARCHIVE)

Chapter Seventeen: The Tip

Kaar felt confident at the familiar force of the punching bag. He glanced up to check on Satahl, who had made good progress in the past month. She was getting the hang of going through her katas to the beat of Vode An. At some point in the past couple weeks, Tup had picked up the wooden sword that Admiral Tedam had been using to train their quick moves, and Kaar had readily encouraged him to learn with Satahl. He smiled, "Remember Padawan! You must move to a swifter beat."

"Like dancing, right Master?" She paused mid kata, Tup freezing on the lyric they were at. "Yes! Exactly like dancing Padawan."

"General Sunna!"

Kaar looked up as Sparkler walked in. "Yes Commander?"
"Someone is on the comms sir. We're trying to trace it, but the signature is scrambled. He claims to have some information that he'll only give to you."

He glanced over at Satahl. "Padawan, keep doing your katas and meditate when you're finished. I'll be right back."

Kaar pulled on his tunics making sure his belt was secure as he followed Sparkler out into the hallway. He raised an eyebrow. "Growing a beard, Sparkler?"

The commander looked up, then lightly stroked his quickly growing beard, "Yeah, I figured you wouldn't mind sir. Does it look good?"

Kaar chuckled a little bit, plucking out a piece of glitter, "Well it matches the rest of your hair, at the very least." Sparkler glared a little, and Kaar chuckled, holding his hands up, "I'm kidding. It looks good Commander."

Sparkler opened the door for Kaar, and Sparkler narrowed his eyes, "Alright mystery man, I brought General Sunna."

"Good. Now leave us."

Sparkler glanced at Kaar, who sighed and nodded, making a few ARC signs.

I will signal for help.
Copy that.

Sparkler exited the room, and Kaar turned to face the cloaked hologram. He wore a mumuu mask, and Sparkler couldn't tell much about him. It was possible that the Kaleesh was also altering his holographic height. Kaar crossed his arms. "I assume you know who I am then?"

"General Kaar Sal Sunna. A Jedi Paladin, if I am not mistaken."
"You are not. And who are you?"
"Just call me Kummar."
"'Incubus'? Gods above, I don't want to know what earned you that name."
"...You don't."

Kaar sighs, tilting his head a bit, stroking his tusk curiously. "So, Kummar, what information could possibly be so important that you have to call me from my duties and can only tell me in particular?"

"Kamino."

The general's eyes widened slightly, though it was mostly hidden by his mask. Whoever this was knew about the upcoming Kamino raid. "What about Kamino?" He asked, playing dumb.

"The Separatists are going to raid it soon. It would permanently cripple the Republic. They plan to steal the genetic blueprint of the clones."

Kaar furrowed his brow, tail swishing. He sighed, "How do I know I can trust you?" He knew he could trust whoever this was. That plan was exactly what the Kamino raid was about. Whoever Kummar really was, he certainly knew what he was talking about.