Erk woke up after a surprisingly long nap. He sat up, then recalled everything moments earlier. "How are things going to work?" He said quietly to himself. 'Things seem to be changing; our plan may not work out the way we anticipated.' He thought about what the master said. 'He foresaw the attack? But... that would mean that he... then...'

...

'Oh poodoo. It's a setup!'

---

Ephraim sat with Rye, Erickson, Nikki, and Nicolette as they caught up. He sensed a disturbance in the force, said, "I'll be right back." and immediately retreated to his quarters. He sat down in the center of his room and closed his eyes.

- -

        Exar felt the same thing as he was following everyone back to base. He set his ship to auto pilot and closed his eyes. He and Ephraim felt a connection, then they opened their eyes. Exar found himself in Ephraim's room, and there he saw him. "This could be a really bad time. Did you get back already, or are you still on the Death Star? If you're still there, you could compromise your positi-"

"A bit of both."

"What does that mean?"

"It's hard to explain, and I have no time." Ephraim informed. "My master has the Republic backed into a corner."

"Your mast- would that be the silver stormtrooper?"

"Worse. He knows the attack is coming."

Exar took a moment and let that message sink in. "Tell me about him."

"You thought I'm the one who knows the most about the force around here? Well, Exar, I have news." Ephraim seemed to be starting to panic. "I've only scratched the surface. My master, is unbelievably powerful."

"I'll believe it when I see it."

"Pray that seeing it won't be the last thing you do. I witnessed my master bring a room of workers back to life."

'Who killed them?' Exar thought. He didn't dwell on the thought very long; he was too shocked at the news he just received. "He's there? At the weapon?"

"He is. Exar, I don't think we should go on with the attack."

"Well I haven't had any bad feelings about any preceedings thus far. And who knows, Aang might have a little more up his sleeve."

"Whatever you do, you won't beat him. He'll get into your head and destroy you from the inside. Slowly." The way Ephraim said it seemed scared, and that concerned Exar.

"Did he do something to you?"

Ephraim hesitated before answering.

---

        Rye was laughing at a funny experience his wife told him about, then it immediately died down. He sensed something dark going on. He turned his head towards the hallway leading to Ephraim's bedroom and slightly frowned. "Brother." Rye called. Erickson stopped laughing and acknowledged Rye. "Do you sense that?"

"Rye." Nicolette called. "Would, Ephraim, happen to be force-sensititve?"

"He always said he wasn't. And, I, never sensed any trace of it in him."

"Well we're all picking up a strong sense of the dark side around." Nikki said.

"I'll talk to him." Rye said, getting up and exiting the scene.

"How much do you know about Ephraim?" Nicolette asked Erickson.

"I too never knew of any force-sensitivity within him. He may have just opened up to it now, or maybe he's having a strong vision."

"I don't think so. We are planning an attack, and timing for something like this to happen- I think it may be more 'convenient' than we notice." Nicolette theorized.

"What makes you say that?"

Nikki answered this question. "I've sensed a massive disturbance in the force, like the dark side had a sudden rise in power."

"An imbalance. We think the sith have infiltrated us and are slowly working their way up to the top." Nicolette summarized.

"Observant, but possibly a bit of a step forward, but maybe not; are you saying we're outmatched?" Erickson wondered.

"Maybe. If we are victorious, then we will have a bigger chance at defeating the enemy."

---

Rye heard the conversation from the hallway. He leaned against the wall, contemplating the theory and possible outcomes. He looked up at Ephraim's door, walked over and knocked.

---

Ephraim heard the knock and broke the connection. He kept himself together as he let the door open. Rye stepped in, and he didn't have a very happy look on his face. "Rye?"

"Ephraim, everyone in the other room just sensed a dark radiance coming from you. We'd all like an explanation." He stated, pointint a finger at him.

"Are they right outside my door?"

"I'd like an explanation."

'Well. It's now or never.' He thought. "Believe it or not, I have actually been waiting to reveal this to you." He said, reaching under his cloak and pulling out a lightsaber hilt. "If you think I'm force-sensitive, then you'd be correct. I grew up with Exar in the training program he came from."

Rye's expression spoke for him. Ephraim was starting to have second thoughts, but there was no turning back at this point. He ignited the lightsaber, and the black beam flowed out, and the humming sound filled the room. Rye's expression only darkened.

"Let me explain further before a misunderstanding erupts something bad."

"Get to it, because something bad is going to erupt soon."

"Well don't do it in here, I just had this stuff cleaned."

Rye rolled his eyes and took out his lightsaber hilt.

        "Okay, I'm explaining." Ephraim said, starting to panic, and placing his retracted lightsaber back on his belt. Rye halted his action to let him speak. "I was never a servant of the dark side; I'm a double agent. I work for them, but I am loyal to the Republic." Rye raised an eyebrow. "There's a plan Exar and I have-"

"Exar's a part of this?" Rye asked rather loudly.

"He's not with the enemy." Ephraim reassured, throwing his hands up. "Believe me, he's innocent."

"What about that 'Mirtis' incident?"

"I had nothing to do with that."

"Why does he call himself that?"

"Uh..." Ephraim then looked confused. "I actually don't know. It was a nickname he was given in training. You could ask him about that."

"You injured them. You scarred our team. You single-handedly destroyed a fleet on Kamino. Mostly."

"I did, but I didn't."

"What?" Rye's face contorted into an expression of confusion and disgust. "Are you a clone or something?"

"No. If I was simply a clone, I wouldn't know things the real Ephraim knows."

Rye seemingly understood, but it was hard to tell. "Huh. Where's the real you?"

"On the Imperial superweapon."

...

"What... superweapon?" Rye asked slowly and intimidatingly.

"It's a new Death Star." Ephraim unenthusiastically answered in a heartbeat.

"Really?" Rye said with equal unenthusiasm.

"It's actually quite advance-" Ephraim paused for a dramatic moment.

"What?"

"I have to go. Believe me, all will be explained." Ephraim said, wrapping himself in a dark cloak and falling through the floor, disappearing in a puff of black smoke.

Rye stood there, completely stunned.

"Rye?" He heard Erickson behind him. He turned and faced the three of them with a face that told them everything.

---

        Exar heard a knock right before Ephraim broke the connection. Exar faced hyperspace as he snapped back to the present. He wondered about the master Ephraim told him about. Could the Republic and the Jedi stand a chance against this figure? If he is as powerful as he sounded, then the odds might just be against them. Exar felt doubtful at the moment, but still had faith that they could make it. But how could they? This master sounded like the most powerful being in existence, like a living incarnation of the dark side.

'Brought back to life?' He thought, slapping his forehead.

"Everything alright, Exar?" Viran asked.

Exar slowly removed his hand from his face and answered, "So far so good."

Then they arrived at Kashyyyk.

---

"Any word on why we're being summoned to Kashyyyk?" Naktam asked Sabby. The two and Jay were being escorted from Coruscant to Kashyyyk. For reasons unknown to them.

"We're going on a mission." Jay replied.

"How do you-" Becky asked.

"It's obvious. People of our talent; what else would they use us for?"

"I wouldn't say they're using us. Maybe we'll be registered with the Republic." Naktam guessed.

"Unlikely. No one has been 'registered' with the Republic for a long time. Whatever we'll be doing is most likely mission-related."

"Probably." Sabby agreed.

Jay looked around the shuttle. 'If they know of our talents-' The Republic shuttle landed on the platform, and an welcoming committee/escort greeted them. 'Then why do you feel an escort is necessary?'

They entered the main base on Kashyyyk, and were guided into the meeting room, where many people were gathered. People and aliens, fighters and pilots, beings of all kinds.

"Well whatever it is, it certainly isn't a party." Naktam said.

"Ah, glad you could make it." Exar piped up, Ephraim beside him.

"What is it that's happening?" Sabby asked.

"We're going to attack the enemy's superweapon." Ephraim said with a slightly downcast expression.

"Called it." Jay said.

"I bet you did." Exar replied. "Anyway, the Governor and his wife will be laying out the plan for us, shortly. We're currently waiting to make sure everyone is present and accounted for."

"What now then?" Naktam asked.

"We might as well pick buddies. I heard that teams might be involved." Ephraim said.

Exar frowned. He didn't hear anything about that. We're just blowing up a Death Star, 'Why are we going to need teams?' He then asked, "Really? What for?"

"We'll find out."

---

Bennar was feeling off at the moment, and Calista was trying to comfort him. "I really don't think I can focus enough to go over the plan; much less lead the attack. That sith has severely messed up my mind, and I need time to recover." Bennar explained.

"Try focusing on what calms you."

"I've tried everything my mind could come up with, and nothing has change-" He stopped short and fell to the floor.

"Bennar!" Calista dropped to her knees and shook him. But he was unresponsive. She checked his pulse, and felt his heartbeat. He was still alive, but to her, it just seemed as though he passed out. 'Force-related happenings were never my speciality, but I'm betting he's having a vision.' She got up and let him have his privacy. When she exited, Vustine and Bree were there.

"How's he doing?" Vustine asked.

"It's... probably best we leave him alone. He's going through a bit in his head."

"I could probably make something of it; I've dealt with this sort of thing before." Vustine said.

"Good to know. We'll see about that later." Then they headed to the briefing room.

'Was it a vision?'

Yes it was.

---

Exar met up with Ephraim before the meeting started. "What are we going to do about your master? If he knows the attack is coming, then should we cancel the attack?"

"No. Goodness, no. Our lives may be at stake, but I now realize trillions more will be doomed if we don't go through with this."

Exar nodded, then looked down. He continued shaking his head, while looking all around him at the people who were about to sacrifice their lives. He looked back at Ephraim, then desperately requested, "Tell me we have a backup plan."

Ephraim's gaze diverted beside Exar, thinking about what they could possibly do to prevent the master from destroying all they knew to be good. "All we can do is... hope the force will be ever in our favor."

        Then Calista, Bree, and Vustine stepped up to the front of the room, behind the hologram table. "Attention!" Calista shouted, turning every head her way. Most of them rubbed their ears. 'I ought to keep the Senate voice down. ' "Keep your attention to the hologram as we demonstrate the plan." She opened a hologram, and there was a TIE station stationed on a moon. They all saw mainly TIE/ni Enforcers all parked in lines, and a few Imperial shuttles behind them. "A low-key source has informed us that the only way to infiltrate the superweapon is with an Imperial shuttle, or fighter. We are appointing Ephraim and Exar's new friends to the mission to retrieve a few vehicles."

---

Sabby, Jay, and Naktam spotted the base from yards away. Dressed in stealth suits,

((This isn't the design for males. It's the same kind of suit, just more masculine.))

-they dashed towards the base, hiding in the shadows. They hid behind a wing of one of the fighters and gathered.

"I've observed the patrol and have a plan." Sabby said quietly.

"You hadn't before?" Jay and Naktam asked at the same time with equally hushed tones.

"Ha ha! No. Jay and I will simply board one of the shuttles and take off. The shuttle isn't scheduled for takeoff anytime soon, so they'll start firing at us."

"What then? Jay gonna zap them with lightning?" Naktam asked.

"Only if absolutely necessary. If and when they start firing at us, Naki, you're going to distract them."

"And draw their fire towards me?" Naktam asked.

"Yeah."

...

"Okay I'm good with that."

"So: board the shuttle, fly the shuttle, get fired at, Naki distracts them." Jay reviewed. "But you know they're smarter than that, right? They won't divert all fire from us."

"You of all people could figure something out." Sabby said, patting Jay's shoulder.

"Something is already figured out." Jay replied.

"Well let's go then." Naktam pushed along.

"Stay here and wait for the signal." Sabby told Naktam as she and Jay ran along the edges of the base. They hid behind the TIE closest to the shuttle.

        Jay used the force to open the shuttle door. "Let's go now!" They ran towards the shuttle. Troopers noticed and started blasting at them. Sabby and Jay ignited their lightsabers and, without looking, blocked the bolts that darted at them. They luckily only had to block a few before they boarded the shuttle and closed the ramp door.

        Naktam watched the gunplay commence. The tower gun started firing; the shuttle was holding. 'How do I distract them without being a sitting mynock?' He then looked at one of the TIEs; he snapped with both hands, then pointed at them, and said, "Yes." he sped and jumped up on one. He opened up the cockpit and jumped in. He quickly activated it and hovered above the ground. He fired back at the tower gun, and the control room.

Security TIE Flats appeared in sight soon. "Oh Karabast!" Naktam yelled, pulling away from the base to dispose of the incomers.

"I'm going to be taking care of some company." Naktam said through the pre-made comm system.

"Take your time. We've only sustained minor damage. Now that the tower gun is gone, we're good to go."

"They actually have weapons on these?" Naktam heard Jay say.

"Okay. Mind a little help?" Sabby asked.

"Don't mind at all." Naktam replied, blasting two of the Flats down.

The shuttle followed the security squad and quickly disposed of them. They then flew off to meet the others at the rendezvous point.

"That was easier than I expected." Naktam said.

"Seemed a little too easy to me." Jay said. Then he felt something wrong. He frowned, then turned towards the back of the engine. He gasped, then threw Kaiyah and himself out the window. As they fell, they saw the shuttle explode above them.

Naktam panicked slightly, then swerved down, hoping to catch them.

---

"Exar Sunrider, here, knows a thing or two about how the enemy fights." Calista said, gesturing to Exar. "He formed a backup plan in case things go awry."

"I've called in a favor, and they're willing to lend a helping hand." Exar said.

---

But then the gray and red Delta-class T-3c shuttle came along, and they were caught just in time. Ephraim and Exar used the force to pull them in.

"Glad this backup plan worked." Ephraim said.

"Well even if we didn't get the shuttle, we'd still have the TIE." Anson said, coming down the ladder. "Name's Anson Tomas. You can call me that or 'The Tinkerer.' "

"Wait. Was the TIE rigged?" Exar asked.

...

"I don't sense anything." Jay said.

"How can you sense if there's a bomb in a ship?" Anson asked.

Jay held up a couple fingers, then from each finger, came a small bolt of lightning, touching each finger. "Anything mechanical, or electrical, is my speciality. Lightning is preferably and more specifically my thing."

"Well... I didn't see any lightning; but out of your fingers, what were those? Sparkles?"

"He's not going to blast lightning in the ship. By the way, did any of you manage to nab any schedules for the TIE squad?" Exar asked.

"There's one on the TIE. The TIEs they use there are for newbies, so they make sure the pilots are able to keep track of what they're supposed to do." Jay replied.

"That's good to know."

"Coming up to the rendezvous point!" Juntah shouted from the cockpit.

They landed the shuttle on a platform, and everyone exited the shuttle.

"The shuttle looked really familiar; I didn't get a good look at it." Jay said, turning to the shuttle.

"Me neither." Sabby did the same.

They observed the T-3c. It looked similar to the shuttle they had, except the cockpit was more triangular, and bigger. And it was painted in red and gray.

"That's not regulation." Sabby said.

"I kinda like it." Jay replied.

"Guys, let's go. We have a battle to win." Ephraim said.

---

"When we get the shuttle, we'll use that to infiltrate the superweapon and lower its shields. After that, the plan should be simple. Blow it up the same way we always do it." Calista finished. "Canyon run."

---

Bennar was listening in on the plan.

"They're not going to win." He said.