Tarakus Deadmerit: Holding the Right Cards/CH. 6

Chapter 6 Borleias

As Tarakus, and Tu'verana came aboard the Jade Shadow, Luke lifted his head up, to come face to face with the 3.54-meter giant, a distant descendent of the Vapthes Family line, given away by his irregular height. "Luke. It has to have been about thirty or so years since our last encounter." Tarakus said with a pained expression. Luke gave Tarakus a solemn look. "You're right about that, Tarakus. I still can't believe that you were married to Lumiya..." "Yes, Luke. It shouldn't be a surprise, especially after that Nagai invasion that happened just after the Battle of Endor.  I still can't believe that you disagreed with such union.  It's not like I suddenly aligned myself with Grand Moff Richon Barcünaveris or something like that, although Barcünaveris and I do go a ways back." "Indeed you two do. Still, I can't seem to ignore the consequences of what you did." "The past is the past, Luke. Let's try to get past our past actions for once.  Your Jedi are in a very precarious position.  The Dark Side entity known as Abeloth has been running rampant across your galaxy for the last few months.  I can't dismiss that fact, especially since our galaxies are bound to collide this year.  I don't want her loose in any of the regions belonging to my galaxy.  New territory for her, and I can't imagine what she could possibly do, if she were to encounter Moorshavin Warbird, and Curava." Luke put his head down for a moment, as if in thought, then nodded in agreement with Tarakus. "You're right about that, Tarakus. There's no knowing what she could do if she were to encounter Moorshavin, or Darth Gualtullo and Ludamigus for that matter." A disappointed expression flashed across Tarakus's face. "I took care of Ludamigus, 13 years ago, Luke. I sealed him in the Interdimensional Rift Zone.  Yes, Gualtullo, I worry about, since he is on the loose again." "You put Ludamigus away?" "I did, Luke. Like it or not, I put Ludamigus away.  He's not coming back anytime soon." A look of assurance came across Tarakus's face, followed closely by one of confidence.

- - - - - - Borleias

As Richon patiently waited, Harlan regarded the Imperial holding, below. "Say, Richon. Is that territory considered one of your holdings?" Richon turned towards the planet. "It is, Harlan. Fel foolishly gave it to me.  I've been playing him, just like other Moffs have been playing him, lately.  Taking advantage of an amateur ruler, with affection for a Jedi, is something that I excel at.  You should know that by now, Harlan.” Harlan shut up, after that remark, knowing that trying to converse with him would be hopeless. Two ships, coupled together by a docking ramp appeared. "That looks like the Sandman and the Shadow, docked together. Looks like Skywalker and Vapthes-Deadmerit are together." "My, how right you are, Harlan." Richon looked over at Harlan, with a bit of a sardonic expression on his face. Clearly, the Nam Chorios native didn't have time for messing around. "Signal the Shadow and the Sandman.  Richon said, keeping himself composed, despite his anger trying to reveal itself. - - - - - - Borleias

The Sandman's comm channel went off. Tu'verana, who was near the comm station, rolled her chair over to the station and activated the channel. "Richon, what can I do for you?" "Where's your father?" "He's with Luke Skywalker right now. Do you want him to return here and talk to you?" "No. That's not necessary.  I'll reach him through the Shadow.  Thank you anyway, Tu'verana." - - - - - - Jade Shadow, linked to the Tepagastra Sandman As Tarakus laid eyes on Vestara, he felt the Dark Side, just starting to fade from her aura. He put himself in his typical thoughtful gesture. "Say, Luke, since when did you pick up Sith hitchhikers?" "Oh, Vestara? We got her in Dathomir." Tarakus nodded his head very slowly. "Dathomir...hmm...an interesting place for a Sith." "Indeed. But, typical, since  there are a lot of Nightsisters there." "Nightsisters? Don't tell me you picked her up from a crop of those witches." "No. She came from..." "...Kesh." Tarakus finished the sentence. ''So, it was true about what they said about Plageius, checking in on that Sith colony after the Hyperspace War. He did come across the missing Omen tribe.'' The expression on Vestara's face went dark. "How did you know?" "A legend told by Darth Gualtullo, twenty-six years ago. Apparently, four years before Gualtullo's previous prison term, allowed Gualtullo to witness first hand, Darth Plageius's plight on Stenthis O'Connell Martin, back then, known as Darthis Cabriot, as he chased Plageius around the galaxies, both this one, and the Mudara Galaxy.  Finally, Martin pinned Plageius down around Kesh.  Gualtullo was with Plageius, and was actually Plageius's first apprentice, before being released on his own.  The two of them crash-landed on Kesh, encountering their lost Sith brethren.  It was a miracle that they managed to fix their ship and leave, while Martin's forces scoured the planet for them.  Four years after the incident, Gualtullo was imprisoned in his holocron, for the third time, to serve 80 years." Tarakus explained. Her curiosity grabbed, Vestara asked, "How long ago did this supposedly happen?" Tarakus, once again, assumed his thoughtful posture. "About 140 years ago. It's both true and legend.  O'Connell Martin is one of my most trusted right hand men, on the Ekatra High Council, and I trust that what he told of his accounts, were true.  He has never said much about the incident since that time.  Realize that he's over 2 billion years old." Vestara's jaw dropped. The comm channel bleeped to life, making Tarakus jump. "Dalcheverakusta! What was that?" Tarakus said, trying to recover. "Just our comm channel." Ben said, quiet the whole time. "Answer it. It's probably Richon." Tarakus said. A holoimage of Richon appeared on a holopad in front of him. "I had a feeling it was you trying to talk to me." Tarakus said to the Grand Moff, sporting his usual jumpsuit. "About time you answered. I've been trying to reach you for the last half hour." Tarakus looked at the Dragon for a second. "Have you now?" He said. "My great-grandfather has better manners than you, and he's a Devior! Anyway, what is it?" "We are ready to head to Coruscant. Let me do the talking, first, Tarakus.  Natasi and I go a ways back, you know." "Yes, I know. The Maw, at least sixty years.  I'm very familiar with you two.  Is Grage still around these days?" "Alexander? I haven't heard from him since those incidents about thirty years ago.  Even then, I knew that Prime was planning on turning against Ludamigus and Gualtullo." "Nice to know, Richon, since Prime is dead right now, and he's an inactive member of the Council. I have to thank you for reminding me of that." Richon smiled, then said, "Well, whenever you're ready. Just make sure not to take them with you." referring to Luke, Ben and Vestara. Tarakus flashed a smile, then replied, "Of course. I'll make it so."