Tarakus Deadmerit: Time Frame/CH. 13

CHAPTER THIRTEEN Coruscant

Mirandall cursed as he climbed up the ladder to Lumiya's apartment. "Why did she have to get a kriffin' penthouse, with just a ladder as access to it?" He muttered, a nasty expression painted on his face. "Hey, there's a turbolift access too, but unfortunately, I voted ladder, because there was a risk we might get caught if we just waltzed right in." Tarakus replied, just above Mirandall. Mirandall just gave Tarakus's tail a whack with a free hand, trying to maintain a death grip on the ladder. "Besides, do you forget who owns this building?" Tarakus added, reminding Mirandall that the GAG owned the building that Lumiya's apartment was in. "Are we there yet, Tarakus?" Mirandall complained. "Getting there. Only three more floors." Tarakus said, with some enthusiasm. "Oi. I'm getting real tired.  Do we have to take the ladder down?" "No. We'll take the turbolift down, and sneak out the back door." "Good. My arms are worn out."

Once the pair made it to Lumiya's apartment, which was the only residence on the top floor, Tarakus met up with the others, who had gone ahead of them. "Any luck so far?" Tarakus said to Wayne III, who had just come out to meet them. "None so far. I think we may have to use our Force Senses to find whatever it is we're looking for." "Go ahead and do it. None of the GAG downstairs are Force-sensitive." Tarakus said, looking behind him, as Mirandall struggled to get to the floor of the top floor. "What's wrong with you today, Mirandall?" "Just. . .lots. . .rungs. . ." was all Mirandall could manage to get out, before collapsing on the floor.

- - - - - - Slokana, Tristchana

Harlan paced in his office, looking out his office window, looking out upon the indoor courtyard. Shaking his head at what he had heard, he finally sat down, and stared at his advisor, his father. "Look, Dad, it's nice to have you back, and all, but I'm not sure I can believe what I'm hearing. Tarakus is back on Coruscant, searching for something that his wife left behind for him to find." "I know, son. But you have to trust me on this.  Moorshavin is planning to strike Coruscant first!" The argument, was over something that Harlan's father, Asuke Takanagamo, had overheard, while he was hiding on Curava. "Who told you that?" "I overheard it, in a backalley near the Citadel of the Dragon. Two Admirals were discussing, sneaking cloaked teams onto Coruscant, to meet with Darth Caedus.  I knew Moorshavin's been up to something, but I didn't know what it was!" "From what I gathered from Draco Minoris, the WSIR is planning to strike the Outer Rim first, following that up, with Moorshavin publicly marching through Coruscant, with one of his best legions, the 43rd, up to Darth Caedus's office, and announce a union between the GA and the WSIR. Anyway, no matter how you look at it, Father, the fact is, Moorshavin has to be stopped, before he causes too much trouble, for both galaxies." "I agree with you Harlan, but I don't see how it's possible!" "You're a pilot, right? Use the cloaking devices given to you, and do some intelligence work on Coruscant." Asuke gave Harlan a blunt, near traumatizing look. "Not that look again. As long as no one around here knows you're alive, I think you'll be safe, right?" Asuke shrugged his shoulders, and said, "I guess." "So, are you willing to risk your life again and gather some Intel, for us of Coruscant?" "Sure. For the Empire." "For the Empire."

- - - - - - Coruscant, Lumiya's apartment

As the group settled in for the night, in various rooms in Lumiya's apartment, Tarakus pulled out the holocron that He gave her, which she gave back to him. He played around with the device, using his fingers. "Oh, if only I knew what I was supposed to look for. Dear, I'm lost.  Show me some sign, anything that can point the way." He said, dolefully. He waited several more minutes, hoping that something would happen, but, to no avail. Nothing happened, leaving Tarakus near tears, wondering what he had done, to deserve what was happening to him. "Why? Why leave me in the dark?" He whispered over and over again, before falling asleep.