Sins of the Fathers (Finished)

[erickson]

"What kind of information did they acquire?"

"We'll find out later." Timothy said, a blaster pistol in his hand, and the blue hue of a stun blast washing over Kathryn.

Kathryn went down, Timothy catching her as she fell.

*Vincent just shook his head* "You two scare me sometimes, but I know when extreme measures are necessary. I have a feeling that Andrew Calor is behind this, but it'll bear some research, perhaps I'll send Shakara or Linda to do some poking around"

"She needs to relax sometimes," Timothy said to Vincent, lifting Kathryn onto his shoulders. "Even if she sometimes fails to realize it."

[erickson]

----------------------------------------------
If she checked, Linda would realize that she had an open communication link from Vincent

But, engrossed in her workout against Shakira, it took her a while to hear its beep. It doesn't do to get distracted when you're sparring a Jedi Combatmaster - even when you're a Viper, with superior reflexes.

As she picked herself from the floor where she had been sent flying, Shakira said,"Linda, get that damn comm, please - it's been distracting me."

""Some distraction!" said Linda with a grin as she picked it up. "Linda here...."

Vincent's voiced seemed to carry a sense of urgency with it as he spoke "Master Knight, are you available to meet with me in a few minutes, I have a potential mission that I think could only be handled by someone of a Master's level. I don't even want your Apprentice involved in this. You'll find me in the tower, Master Spry over-

"Ok, Master Vincent. I'll be there in a few minutes." clicking off the comm, she picked up a towl and wiped the sweat off her face. Looking at Shakira, she said," Need to continue later, Sha', Vincent's got something."

After a fast show and hasty dressing, she found herself at the tower, mentally remarking to herself once again that it had to be in the blood - the Spry liking for towers as dwellings. She knocked on the door.

Vincent reached out with his senses and felt Linda's presence, still somewhat in combat mode and responded "It's open Master Knight, please come in" As she opened the door she could see Vincent standing towards the left corner looking very concerned, his age showing in the lines on his face "Thanks for coming on short notice, we may have some leads that have surfaced on Yavin. What do you know of it's current state?"

"Just that those so-called 'New Jedi' have a school there. Oh, and I heard a rumor that some of our Jedi kids were going there to talk to them - though I think that's stupid...."

"Yeah, wasn't authorized by the council either, but that's another matter. After I tell you what's on my mind you may not want to accept this mission. I sense something dark, something darker than anything we have faced. I believe that on Yavin there is a driving force behind the studies of these so called "New Jedi" Apparently Kate was forced to kill her own brother, now that reeks of something my father would have orchestrated if he were still alive. Which this time we know he is not, Gaeri stripped the force from him visage after he died and we saw his severed head. We have dispatched most of his pupils also, but there is one who remains, if you follow me on this."

"Andrew!" she hissed, frustration showing on her face. "Andrew and his pet Military lapdog, Crassulus. And little Kate.....and Thomas... THAT scenario is a familiar song. Has anyone told Ginnie? She and Thomas were an 'item' even if they did argue about the differences between Jedi and Jensaari."

"Not at the present, last I heard Ginnie was still undergoing her Defenders Trials with Alyssa somewhere on the outer rim. Master Calor doesn't defer to me as much now that she is married and a Master. Sad sometimes, but they grow older and move on."

"Anyways, I thought it best to summon you since you are the Senior Jensaarai Master. Are you willing to investigate this a little bit and see if you can get a confirmation that we are indeed dealing with Andrew and Crassius, or if it's Zarok, or even the vaunted Jedi Master Romero. There are plenty of plausible options, you and Master Hoyle are perfectly suited for this kind of work. In fact I'd even consider seeing if Master Kalit would go too. We are dealing with very powerful, very dangerous individuals at the present that we can ill afford to take too lightly."

"Then I'll make sure Alyssa knows, although Ginnie may know of his death already," she replied, referring to the bond that sometimes developed between people who loved each other.

[Quinn]

Linda got a message on her datapad, from Mikhail.

Grab some milk and eggs when you're out.

[erickson]

"OK," she messaged him back. "Nicolai has band practice tonight, make sure he's got something more than a fritter in his stomach when he leaves." She sighed, thinking of their youngest son. He was so determined to be ordinary

Walking across the landing field on the way home, she saw Alyssa's ship descending through the twilight. "Well, I won't have to message her to tell Ginnie," she thought, waiting on the ship.

The slim, swift craft settled on the field, shocks gently sighing as the repulsors were switched off. Quickly the ramp sighed down and the airlock opened.

[erickson]

Alyssa came quickly down the ramp to join Linda. There was no smile on the young woman's face, and Linda wondered what was wrong. "Where's Ginny? she asked. "Still asleep?"

It was an inside joke, as Ginnie had proved herself capable of sleeping ANYWHERE, once falling asleep strapped to a Rankor's back as a small child.

Alyssa's eyes sparked, and she made a small gesture with her mechanical arm. "No. She's dead. I brought her body back. Where's her parents, and Thomas?"

All Linda could do was stammer, "Thomas is dead......."

"Ah......" The exclamation had the sound of a puzzle solved.

"That explains it," said Alyssa. "I didn't know they were THAT close........... Ginnie just dropped on me, crossing a vine bridge. I thought ...... well, you know how afraid she was of heights. I always thought it was odd, her being the daughter of two pilots, but....."

"Thomas was captured, tortured, and Kate had to kill him," said Linda. "We lost the whole class - they decided to try and infiltrate Yavin."

"Yavin! That place is a deathtrap," said Alyssa. "What's so important on Yavin, anyway?"

"That's what Sha' and I are going to go and find out. I'd ask you along, but I think Master Spry has another task for you." She caught the look in the younger woman's eyes. "Don't worry, I'll come back. After all, I'll have a Jedi Battlemaster to protect me."

"Where is Kate? Does she need rescuing?" demanded Alyssa Linda stared at her, remembering how she had practically adopted the child after her own daughter had died before birth. "Kate's fine, she finally replied. "Made it off Yavin in the oldest ship I've seen in YEARS. There's a healer taking care of her right now. She's got some emotional issues."

Alyssa nodded. "I'l go see her after I go see Morris and Callista."

"Need some backup?" said Linda.

Alyssa stared at her adopted mother. "No, but thanks," she finally said, and hugged Linda. The tall cyborg held her just as tight, cutout chip firmly online. How do I tell her who Kate's Healer is she wondered. In the end, she decided to let Alyssa and Tomas sort it out. She decided to talk it over with Mikhael when she saw him - soon she hoped. She needed a Full-Power hug, and she needed to tell him about the mission she was going on. They were not married, but they kept no important secrets from one another.

[Morris Cutler]

*At 23 years old Ayla Cutler had worked long and hard to get to where she was, she had been recognized as a Jensaarai Defender 3 years ago, and had made a name for herself as a pilot also. Flying with her Master, Jensaarai Master Aidan Calor.*

*Typically when an older person takes on an Apprentice, they share that parent/child mentor bond. However for Ayla it had been different. She had been the product of an interesting relationship, and neither parent had really been too supportive of her decision to train as a Jensaarai, so it left her with a sense of longing. She had convinced herself that she was in love with Aidan Calor as she had started her teenage years.*

*She had embraced her training with a new vigor, and a new passion to prevail against the odds. When she had become a Defender she had finally stood there and knew both parents were proud of her, both had said so.*

*What had started as a teenage crush had developed in her own mind into something more. A feeling she never knew if Aidan reciprocated or not. Then 8 1/2 months ago IT had happened. They were celebrating the success of a mission and she had good-naturedly had a few drinks with the other pilots. When Aidan had arrived she had left with him, and then everything she had ever dreamed of happened. One Night of passion.*

*A month later, she realized that she was late and had paid a visit to a medic. Her sense in the force already told her that her suspicion was correct but she wanted a second opinion. A faint glimmer of hope that it wasn't to be. However the medic had confirmed it.*

*Now 8 1/2 months later she stood in front of the mirror and sighed. She had exerted a very strong force power to make people think she was normal so they wouldn't ground her, and now she had leave. Her father was dying and she needed to be with him before it was too late. The bulge in her belly was larger than she remembered it as she took one last glance in the mirror before boarding the shuttle to the hangar.*

*Once on the transport, she waited until it entered hyperspace and got settled in. Her last thought before she drifted off is, mother is going to kill me.*

[erickson]

With the transport making the short hop to Crustai, Alyssa had chosen not to fly her own ship, but to spend the time figuring out what to say to Ginnie's parents. So it was with surprise that she noticed that Ayla Cutler was on the ship. She had not expected to see her brother's former Apprentice at all, and was nerviously trying to figure out how to break the news, when she noticed something equally startling. Ayla was pregnant..... and was trying to mask it. Only it didn't work with Alyssa Calor, veteran of Gavin Spry's illusions.

Silently she walked up behind the younger woman. "Do your parents know they're getting a grandchild soon?" she quietly asked.

[Morris Cutler]

*Startled Ayla turned sharply when she heard Alyssa's voice. Stammering she spoke

"I..I..No not yet, How the hell do you know. Ah nevermind, you spent your whole life dealing with Gavin Spry and his illusionary powers. No my mother is going kill me if she finds out. Not even your brother knows."

*She turned around nervous energy rolling off of her like a tidal wave.*

"You won't tell my mother will you?"

[erickson]

Thrown off guard, Alyssa replied, "My brother? Aidan? Oh GODS, child, the last thing I'm going to do is tell your mother. She's been trained Jedi - even though she refuses to act as one, and I'm not sure whether outraged Jedi or outraged Mother would take precedence. No, I won't tell her, nor your father, but I AM going to take a piece out of Aidan when I catch up with him. I have......"

She was interrupted by Ayla. "Good, because there's one other thing you need to know. I'm on my way home because Father is dying. Mother sent for us, did you bring Ginny along?"

Alyssa went momentarily white, then shook her head. "No, that's why I'm going to Crustai. Ginnie died during her Knight's test. I'm bringing her body home."

Ayla stared at the woman her parents had entrusted with her baby sister. "What did you DO to her!" she exclaimed.

"Nothing. She died when Thomas did."

Shaken by the further bad news, Ayla could only stare silently in shock. "I'm sorry....." said Alyssa helplessly.

******************************************************

Thoughts whirled, focused on unspeakable horror, only to meet a warm, comforting barrier.

It's OK, rest now

.....but it's not OK..... he's dead - and I killed him

He is at peace, and out of his pain.It's ok, rest now

The whirling thoughts rested.............

[erickson]

"Did Nicolai get to his practice?" Linda said as she came in the door. Mik noted that she had a mental shield around her thoughts, but she had a worry-wrinkle on her forehead.

Mikhail sipped at his tanna, looking up at his girl. "Yes, and he got dinner in him too."

"Thank you," she said, relieved. "any of the kids at home?"

She walked over and started rubbing his broad, bearlike shoulders

"Nope," he said, "Sean and Shane are out with their friends, Sam is with her boyfriend, Jean is at a sleepover, Jennifer is at the library, and Nickolai is at band practice."

His shoulders rolled subconciously, and he twisted his neck. "How'd your talk go?"

"Uuh, well" she said, stalling. "Can I have a Full Hug, please,dear?"

In that, Mikhail pulled Linda around, onto his lap, and held her there quite firmly.

She held onto him with her full Viper strength for a few minutes, her head buried in his shoulder.

"What's wrong? Vincent do something? Again?" asked Mik, scratching at Linda's head.

"No," she said, her face still muffled in his shoulder. "We heard from the Jedi kids." They're all dead, except Kate. And I don' know the details, but she had to kill Thomas."

"They were on Yavin...."

"Oh no..." Mikhail muttered, understanding the implications. "How're Kathryn and Timothy taking this?"

"Didn't have a chance to find out. I was working out with Sha', and Vincent summoned me. Then Alyssa landed, about the time I got out of that....and..."

"It's not your fault, could not be, and never will be." Mikhail held Linda tight. "Sixtus is gonna be right pissed though, I know it..."

"It's worse, dear. Ginnie's dead. She died at the same time Thomas did....." Linda offered

"Dear, by the sounds of it, Kate is the only one who got back."

"She is. But what I don't understand is - Ginnie was NOT with them - she was with Alyssa on her trials. Do the Sith have some new way of killing our kids at a distance?" Linda looked like thios was a new, frightening thought to her.

"I don't think so." Mikhail slowly running his hand through her hair. "Possibly the two were linked, so deeply that when one felt pain, the other did so. And when Thomas died..."

"Ginnie did, too. Alyssa said she'd been looking ill before she died. Alyssa just thought it was Ginnie's fear of heights."

Mikhail sighed. "It was the will of the Force, that one. I don't envy the one to tell Morris that."

'Yes, especially as bad-off as he's been lately. I offered to go with her, but Alyssa is going to do so by herself."

"Then let her. If something happens, she knows where to go. She's over here often enough."
\
Linda smiled slightly. "I think it's the Tanna tea - or the advice you gave her about handling her then-boyfriend. Poor kid never knew what hit him...."

"That poor kid wasn't treating her right." Mikhail told her. "But enough of that. What did Vincent want?"

"I forgot the eggs and milk," she said simultaneously.

"Since you're here, you can tell me what happened."

She squirmed, obviously not knowing how to start telling her lover.

"Take your time." Mikhail reassured her, kissing her gently on her temple.

"Well....He wants me, and Shakira, and Kalit to do a recon of Yavin. He thinks Andrew Calor and Crassulus might be involved."

"I can understand on him wanting you to go, but why Kalit? Besides, he's Jedi, and Kathryn made it clear to Vincent on who orders who around." Mik's brow furrowed slightly in thought.

"Kalit.....because he's a sneaky little bastard. And I don't know how functional Kathryn is right now, although I'd bet that TImothy is steady as a rock."

"And while she is, Vincent is taking the initiative." Mikhail growled. "Not even consulting the Jedi on Yavin..."

"Want me to go kick him in the hind end - again - dear, as a Jensaari Master? Or do you, as a Jedi Master, want that privledge yourself?"

"You might want to tell him that it'd be a good idea to tell the Jedi what he's doing, lest we get pissy about him not telling us in the first place." Mikhail said, thoughtfully.

"And don't you take command of the Free Jedi if she's out of order?"

"She's not out of order, and no I don't. I'm not a Master, don't want to be, thank you.

[Morris Cutler]

OOC Note: I said I would consider seeing if Kalit wanted to go, which means to me at least go through proper channels first .

[Morris Cutler]

*Vincent after meeting with Linda sent a query over to Timothy asking whether or not Kalit was available, and if the Jedi Order could spare him.*

*He enclosed details of the proposed mission, including the names of the other Master's going, and what they hoped to accomplish.

OOC: And now I've consulted with the Order even though I was going to anyways .

[erickson]

Kathryn was sitting up in a darkened room, holding her stunner-headached head in her hands when she got the message.

"Please tell Vincent.....I want to talk this through before anyone goes," she said. "Ask him if we can meet in oh, say, about 6 hours."

After the messenger left, she went into meditation, deliberately calming herself and pulling from her inner resources only. She had to think of the Order and others. She could not afford to continue upset over her children.

She stopped, unfolding, and walked out of the room, down the hall to where her daughter lay under Tomas' care. Slowly, steeling herself against the shock, she hugged Kate.

I love you, Honey. It isn't your fault. You did what you could. I still love you," she carefully sent, holding her child, wishing as a mother that it had never happened to her daughter, her child.Get better, OK?

She felt and heard a sleepy, I love you, Mom and felt a weak hug, then the girl went back to her deeper sleep.

Straightening, she looked at the boy she knew in her heart to be Astrid and Jeff's son. "Thank you," she said. "Please......don't lose her." She noticed he held Kate's hand monitoring her as he sat by her. Giving him a hug, she then turned, and left the room, outwardly again the calm, wise woman who now ran the Jedi.

[erickson]

Ayla remained silent for the duration of the trip and kept herself very tightly closed off. Her fingers fidgeted nervously with the computer console at her seat as she waited for the shuttle to make it's final approach. Inside she was a jumble of emotions, fear, frustration, but above all doubt seemed to be the biggest emotion she faced.

Alyssa, sitting next to her, reached inward to her calm center, and remembered to breath deeply and relaxedly. She felt Ayla's doubt, and reached over, hugging her. "Don't worry," she said. "I'll lend strength to your illusion, so that your parents aren't hurt. I'd advise telling your dad somehow, though, or you'll regret it forever. If it comes to it, I can handle your Mom's reaction - let her flash her anger at me, if necessary. You keep calm, Ayla, for your son's sake."

And I am gonna so kill Aiden for this, she thought to herself, tightly shielded. Selfish, mechanically minded idiot - didn't he THINK of this? Did he even ASK her if she might be pregnant? This may kill Morris on the spot, if he gets hit with it

[Morris Cutler]

*Dalton had been surveying the other medical facilities on the ship about the time he saw Kathryn walking out of the room prepared for her daughter. Reaching out towards her he caught a sense of peace from her and decided to make his approach.*

"Master Qixonis, how is she, everything is going to be alright I think, I can feel it. How are you holding up. Timothy filling his role as a stalwart rock all too well I'd imagine."