Star Wars The Old Republic: The Jedi Crusader

CHAPTER 14 - DARVANNIS - SACRIFICE

Arriving back at the ship, they all took some time to calm themselves. Raptus' forces had taken a lot out of them – fatigue was understandable. Mara settled down and tuned in to the galactic news as she found herself immediately engrossed in a strange news story. An outer rim planet, Darvannis, had gone totally silent. While it was in neither Republic or Imperial space, both sides were monitoring it, with the Hutts reluctant to investigate what had happened to one of their hotspots for revenue and exploitation. Mara wasted no time in drawing conclusions, this was surely the work of Calphayus. She marched to the cockpit and set co-ordinates for Darvannis, before heading to the lounge, where she tried to catch up on some reading.

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"I must remind you both again that you are foolish to aid me without your shade forms. If either of you two fall here it is your own responsibility." Calphayus muttered to Styrak and Brontes.

"You worry too much. The shades hinder our power too greatly too. The Jedi has been able to defeat all of us thus far, Raptus gave his presence up to divert her from us. I'm sure he would have informed us of his success by now. We need our true power to get this right." Brontes said.

"Indeed. It shan't be long until she finds us here too. But she won't be ready for what we can do, assuming we are ready in time." Styrak assured.

"True enough, but the transition from shade to physical is tiring. I can tell neither of you are at full strength right now either." Calphayus noted.

"Then let us make haste." Brontes said. 

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Mara awoke, having fallen asleep. She felt a nudge in her side.

"Stop, she's awake!" Telum whispered, giggling.

"Nah, she's out like a brick. Trust me." Nico laughed quietly as he reached for a pen.

"What are you gonna do?" Telum asked.

"Makeover!" Nico whispered as he unsheathed the pen and put it close to Mara's face. His hand froze an inch from her upper lip. His plan to give Mara a moustache had failed. Mara opened her eyes to a guilty Nico as Telum hid under the table, trying to hide his involvement. She sat up as Nico was stood paralysed.

"What are you trying to do?" She asked, unimpressed.

"...Nothin." Nico played it off casually.

"Oh, really?" Mara laughed. She released Nico, much to his shock, who then fell on to Mara, their faces but inches from each other as Mara smirked at him. He blushed and smirked himself before Mara shoved him off and on to the floor. She then lowered her head under the table to find Telum, staring at her from under his blindfold in fear and joyful anticipation.

"Telum..." She teased him. He hid and pretended he couldn't see or hear her. She laughed to herself as Nico dusted himself off and sat beside her. Mara used the force to gently lift Telum out from under the table and sat him in-between Nico and herself. "Now, what were you two up to, hm?" She asked again.

Both Nico and Telum flashed guilty looks at each other, but neither said a word. She tried again. "What were you two up to? Come on. Tell me." Nico gulped and braced himself.

"Well... you were snoring so loud..." He started, but he was promptly cut off.

"No, I wasn't!" She protested.