Tarakus Deadmerit: Time Frame/CH. 4

CHAPTER FOUR En route to M2X32905

Tarakus sat quietly at the helm of the Tepagastra Sandman as it plunged through hyperspace. He rubbed his face a lot, showing that he was getting tired, very quickly. Tu'verana walked in, holding a cup of caf in her right hand. She handed the cup to Tarakus. "Thanks, Tu'verana. We're just one step closer to finding your mother, dear." "Thank the Force, right?" "If it wasn't for that datacard, we probably would still be mulling about Coruscant." Tarakus said, taking a sip of caf. "Dad, I want to apologize for yelling at you in Bakura. It's just that I needed your help at the time, and. . ." "I wasn't around. I got that, Tu'verana.  I'm sorry.  You have to realize, though, you should've let me know as soon as you landed, that we had arrived.  This is partly your fault too." "Well, that's why I'm apologizing." "Look, Tu'vy, no being is perfect. If they were, I'd have feet of durasteel." "I always liked your analogies." Tu'verana smiled as she said her last remark, turned, and walked back to the gally. "That's one thing you can rely on, alright." Tarakus said, raising his cup, and taking a large gulp.

- - - - - - Anjanik City, Curava

Moorshavin Warbird paced around in his office. He rubbed his chin, something clearly on his mind. A young officer walked into the entryway. "Lord Warbird, We recieved a report from a scout team in Coruscant. Faulds and Korbescht have left their hotel with Tarakus Deadmerit." "Perfect. They don't know that I placed a tracking device in that datacard.  Have a team set up a trap at M2X32905, and make sure that Tarakus is brought back here to face his punishment.  My Uncle's death shall be avenged." "Yes, My Lord." The officer said, snapping to attention before exiting the room. Moorshavin just smiled and said, "Well, justice shall be served, very soon!"

- - - - - - M2X32905, near Bimmle

A Separatist saboteur sat at a table near the observation room, tossing a small object around with his hands. "There's something very unsettling about this place and all the Dark Force energy down there." He said, as another saboteur walked in. "Yeah, I know. This place actually gives me the creeps.  I can't believe that stangin' Sith half-droid lived here, and she's dead now." "What's the matter with you two?" A Separatist Sabertrooper said, stepping out of a dark corner, and to where the two saboteurs could see him. His armor was definitely remaniscent of Stormtrooper armor, because it was in fact that. "Oh, yeah? I haven't heard a word out of you since we arrived here.  What makes you so brave?" "Has it occurred to you, Rexton, that I have been trained in all aspects of the Force, including the Dark Side?" The first Saboteur, Rexton, shut up. "I just got orders from Lord Warbird, Tarakus Deadmerit's coming. Let's get this place set up.  Peluso, I want you to set up the security system, Rexton, have the troops placed at the kitchen, as my back up.  I want to deal with him, myself." The Sabertrooper barked, folding his arms together, leaning against one of the support beams. The saboteurs snapped to attention, and said, "Yes, sir!" The Sabertrooper removed his helmet and said to himself, "And now we wait."

- - - - - - Near M2X32905

Mirandall sat in the pilot's seat, with Tarakus as the first officer. They were talking, when Tarakus held up his claw. "Do you feel that?" He asked Mirandall. Mirandall nodded. "Separatist Sabertrooper. I thought Jaden Korr put all those guys out of commission at the end of Moorshavin's 12 Year Purge?" "Not the Sabertrooper Commandos. Moorshavin held them back as a reserve, and now he's released them.  They're setting up a trap somewhere." "A trap for who?!" Mirandall said, clearly confused by what Tarakus was saying. "ME!! Who do you think, fildruska?! The Dragon on the Asteroid?!  Moorshavin wanted you two to pick up that datacard.  He set us up." "All this, just to execute you for killing his uncle Phane?" "Yes. He's all bent on vengence.  Vengence that he'd never understand." Tarakus said, taking the controls from Mirandall. He wrenched the ship off course, and started flying erraticaly, to see if they would follow. "Why are you doing this?!" "If my thinking is right, they placed a tracking device in that datacard, and they're probably tracking that signal right now. The best thing to do right now, is to draw them out of wherever it is they are, and make them abandon whatever it is they're doing." "Are you sure that'll work?" "Trust me, Mirandall, I've done this, a lot longer than you have." "Ok."

- - - - - -

The Sabertrooper Commando held the datapad close to his face. "What in the name of the Force are they doing? All crews, abandon what ever you are doing.  Go after that ICT-1600 J Ship.  I want them all, and I want them all alive!" "Yes, Sir. Sir, will you be coming along?" "Duh! Of course I'm coming along.  I've got to, since I'm supervising this mission." The Separatists loaded into the ships they came in, and started pursuit of the Tepagastra Sandman. "Lord Warbird wants them all alive, especially Tarakus Deadmerit! Don't let them escape!" The trooper barked. The ships got very close, when suddenly, the Sandman dropped out of view. The Separatists, looking elsewhere, weren't aware that an asteroid had come across their path, and the first ship that collided with the asteroid, exploded on impact. The Commando in the second ship shook his head, as he watched the ship ahead of him was destroyed. "That kind of inattention is what gets you killed. Move it.  I'm flying." He said, forcing the pilot off. The commando used the turbolasers and destroyed several small asteroids that came across his path. He kept the Sandman in his sights. "I'm not letting you off the hook that easy, Tarakus. You will die at Moorshavin's hands!" The commando became so focused on getting Tarakus, that he lost sight of the ICT-1600 J for a moment. "What the blazes?!" The Commando said, astonished at how quickly he lost track of Tarakus.

- - - - - -

Tarakus came swooping in from behind the large shuttle that the Commando was flying, firing all his turbolasers at the shuttle. The shuttle didn't explode right away. "Hmm. . .they must have some sort of armor on that thing." Tarakus said. As he said that, he launched several DKON-36 missiles, anniahlating the shuttle. "You sandscales won't be getting me today! HA HA HA!" Tarakus rerouted the shuttle to the asteroid where his wife was supposed to be, at one time.