Stygeon Prime: 18 BBY
"Shrouded Claw"
Manon

    Manon hovered around the prison until she saw a transport ship leave at last. She closed her eyes, seeking out Lesia's presence. She was on the shuttle. Manon opened her eyes and followed the ship. Exhaustion tugged at her mind, but she forced herself to remain focused.

    I must keep this ship invisible and I have to find out where they're taking her, Manon reminded herself. She wasn't willing to let the Empire take her new friend without a fight.

    Manon opened her comm channel. With a wave of her hand and a small chant, she was patched into the Imperial shuttle and could hear every word they said.

    "Set course for Nur. Lord Vader is having a special cell prepared for the Jedi."

    Manon leaned over the navicomputer and set the coordinates. She knit her brows. Nur is one of Mustafar's moons. Why would they take her there? She waited for the Imperial shuttle to jump to lightspeed.

    As soon as the ship disappeared, she dropped the illusion over the Shrouded Claw. Manon narrowed her eyes and activated the hyperdrive. She stood and paced the length of the ship, a multitude of thoughts heavy in her mind.

    "Once I know where they're taking her, I'll get a scan of the building," she decided. "I'll form a plan from there and return when I can. I will not let the Empire take her." Manon clicked her talons together in anticipation. "I have already lost many sisters. I won't lose another."

    Another thought surfaced. "I don't understand why she couldn't control her anger. Even with everything I taught her, she was still struggling." Manon pinched the bridge of her nose. "Those Mandalorians must have done a number on her head."

    She pulled herself out of her thoughts as the navicomputer began beeping. Manon ducked into the cockpit and deactivated the hyperdrive. She spread her hands, letting her magick flow free. A green glow tinged her vision as she cast the spell, hiding the ship from Imperial eyes.

    Nur appeared before her. An Imperial fleet blockaded the moon. She flew past it without issue. A water drenched view met her gaze. Amidst the waves stood a lone building. The Imperial shuttle was preparing to land.

    Manon raised a brow. There were no landing platforms in sight. Her eyes widened in surprise as a platform rose above the water. The shuttle touched down. A few stormtroopers made their way off the ship. Les was thrown over one's shoulder. They disappeared into the fortress and the shuttle departed. The platform sunk beneath the waves once again.

    Manon turned her attention to the welcoming committee. A towering man with a black cape greeted them first. Two people stood behind him, with circular blades strapped to their backs. Manon recognized them immediately.

    "Inquisitors," she growled. She had met one during her travels. It wasn't a pleasant memory. Manon bore a few scars from their fight. "This must be an Inquisitor Fortress." A few stormtroopers waited with them. She had never seen their particular division before. These stormtroopers wore black and carried electrostaffs of some kind.

    They entered the fortress shortly. Manon activated her scanner and circled above it. Her mouth dropped open, spying the size of it. The Fortress was built mainly underwater. There seemed to be a few entry points down there. She made a mental note of that. As soon as the scan was complete, she urged the Shrouded Claw away from the dark building.

    "Don't worry, Les," she whispered. "I'll be back. First, I need to find some friends of yours. If anyone can break into an Inquisitor Fortress, it's a Nightsister and a few Mandalorians." She set course for Corellia and activated the hyperdrive as soon as she cleared the Imperial blockade.

Corellia: 18 BBY
Clan Covert
Nakoa Sen

    Nakoa entered Ketei's chambers quietly. Oni followed him in. Ketei was slumped over a table, as if asleep. They crept towards her and Nakoa shook her shoulder gently. She lifted her head, then straightened.

    "Sorry. I suppose I was more tired than I thought," Ketei chuckled. "Do you need something?" She glanced between the two of them.

    "We're going to look for Les," Nakoa replied. "I want your help."

    Ketei tilted her head. "Even you, Oni?"

    Oni nodded. "It's partially my fault anyway. I'll do it for Nakoa."

    Nakoa smiled to himself. Ketei nodded shortly. "Of course I'll help. I need something to do anyway."

    "Thank you," Nakoa said. "You two can head back to the ship. We'll start looking there. I'll get Drystan and meet you later."

    "Drystan?" Ketei asked.

    "I'll explain on the way," Oni replied. Ketei nodded and followed her out of the room. Nakoa left shortly after them. He glanced around the covert. There was no sign of Drystan. He did spot Tilla, however.

    Nakoa made his way over to the young girl. Tilla," he called. She half turned as he approached. "Do you know where Drystan is?"

    "I think he's doing some target practice," Tilla said. "Are we training more?"

    "Maybe later. I need his help with something right now."

    "Ok." Tilla turned away and continued talking with the other foundlings.

    Nakoa headed to the practice room and poked his head inside. Drystan leveled his blaster with one hand and fired at a few targets. They fell from the force of the blast. "Good job." Nakoa entered the room.

    "Thanks." Drystan walked towards the blaster rack.

    "You might keep those for a bit," Nakoa said. "I need your help with something."

    Drystan tucked the blasters in his belt. "What are we doing?"

    "We're going after my Twi'lek friend. I need your tracking expertise."

    Drystan leaped and jabbed his fist into the air. "Finally! I was getting tired of sitting in the covert all day."

    Nakoa chuckled to himself. "I know the feeling." He helped Drystan put away the targets, before making their way out of the covert. Once they were in the streets, the two of them activated their jetpacks. In a matter of minutes, they were landing beside the Mythos. Oni and Ketei were already waiting for them.

    "Did you see which way she went after we took off?" Nakoa asked, turning towards Oni.

    Oni thought for a minute. "I think she was heading towards the closest marketplace."

    "We should start there," Drys piped up. "We can ask the vendors if they remember seeing her. Someone might know where she went."

    Nakoa nodded and they began walking towards that particular street. Ketei fell in step with him after a moment. "You and Oni made up?"

    "We're working on it. She apologized for some things she'd said to me. I never expected her to help with this, though."

    "Well, like I said, maybe she feels more guilty about it all than she lets on."

    "Maybe." Nakoa sighed. "I just hope Les will talk to me when we find her."

    "What will you do if she doesn't?"

    "Honestly, I don't know. I guess I'll have to respect that."

    Ketei put a comforting hand on his shoulder. She gave him a small nod. He managed half a smile, even though she couldn't see it. They reached the marketplace and split up.

    Nakoa stopped by an old man, selling spare droid parts. "What do you want?" The man asked, giving him an unimpressed stare.

    "I was wondering if you've seen a..."

    "I ain't no security camera," the man snapped. "If you're not gonna buy anything, then beat it."

    Nakoa leaned towards the man and tilted his head. He said nothing, letting his demeanor work its magic. The man averted his gaze and began moving some droid parts. He glanced at Nakoa again.

    "Did you see a white female Twi'lek go by about a week ago?" Nakoa asked.

    "A week? You expect me to remember something like that when it happened nearly a week ago?" The man rolled his eyes. Nakoa crossed his arms. "Ok, ok. She was talking to the baker lady." He pointed towards an old woman, sitting at a booth.

    "Thanks." Nakoa left the man alone and searched out Drystan. He waved a hand and the foundling chased after him.

    The old woman lifted her gaze as they approached. She narrowed her eyes briefly, then plastered a smile across her features. "Sticky bun?" She held up a pastry.

    "No thanks," Nakoa replied. "We're here for information."

    "I don't know how much help I can be."

    "Did you speak with a white female Twi'lek almost a week ago?"

    The woman tapped a finger on her chin. "I don't recall meeting anyone like that."

    "Don't bother lying. Someone confirmed seeing her with you," Nakoa growled. "We're looking for her."

    "I can tell," the woman scoffed. "Why should I tell you? Most Mandalorians are bounty hunters these days."

    "She's a friend of mine," Nakoa replied.

    "When I saw her, she looked like she didn't have a friend in the world."

    "Where did she go?" Nakoa prompted. Drystan had disappeared from sight. The old woman didn't seem to have noticed.

    "I don't know."

    "I need to speak with her."

    "I can't help you." The woman crossed her arms. Nakoa mimicked the gesture.

    "Nakoa," Drystan shouted. He appeared behind the woman, holding an outfit. Nakoa recognized it immediately, even though it looked freshly cleaned.

    "Hey, where did you get that?" The woman snatched the outfit away from him.

    "Why would Lesia come to you?" Nakoa demanded.

    "Survivors help one another," she replied.

    Nakoa started a bit. "You're a Jedi too?" He whispered.

    Drystan froze. "Wait, you're looking for a..." Nakoa shook his head and Drys fell silent.

    "Please," Nakoa began again. "I have to find her."

    "What makes you think she wants to be found? When I saw her, she was drenched in mud and could barely walk. If you're the one who abandoned her like that, I'd say you should just leave now."

    "I am the one who left her like that," Nakoa replied. "But I have to try to make things right. Please." He squeezed his eyes shut.

    The woman was silent for a moment. At last, she spoke. "Your feelings for her are strong. I sense regret and pain. Surrounding it all, I sense love." Nakoa swallowed. "She asked me to find her a pilot. I don't know where she went, but I know where you can find him," the woman sighed. "He's off world now, but I can take you to him when he returns."

    "Thank you," Nakoa whispered in relief.

    "I must warn you, though. She was carrying much darkness and anger. She is a danger to herself right now, which makes her a danger to you as well."

    "I don't care. Come to my ship when the pilot gets here. We use Docking Bay 26."

    The woman nodded. Nakoa turned and walked away. Drystan followed him wordlessly. Stars, I hope she's ok, Nakoa thought.

Nur: 18 BBY
Fortress Inquisitorius
Lesia Mirri

    Les blinked her eyes open to see a dark cell. She was strapped to a vertical table. Two open panels jutted from the sides of it. Electrodes lined the panels. Les swallowed, her mouth dry.

    Her head and body ached, an after effect of the stun ray. Her mind felt clouded. A terrible darkness seemed to surround her. Les cast her senses out, ignoring the pain it caused. All around her was agony and anger.

    Les drew her senses back in as someone in another cell began screaming. Her cell door hissed open and mechanical breathing filled the room. It thundered in her brain. Darth Vader stood before her.

    "Where am I?" Les rasped.

    "Hell," he replied with a deep, terrifying voice. "One you will not escape from."

    Les attempted to hide the shudders that wracked her body. The Dark Lord stepped closer to her. He reached a hand towards her head. Lesia's eyes widened as a foreign presence gripped her mind.

    She gritted her teeth, struggling to push him out. Les jerked against her bindings to no avail. She turned her face away from Vader's hand. A choked sob escaped her lips. Vader withdrew his power at last.

    "She will not last long," he said. His cape billowed like a sea of death as he left the room. The door hissed shut and two people approached her. Les could do nothing as they closed the panels over her body.