Tarakus Deadmerit: Time Frame/CH. 21

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE Terephon

Tarakus led the search party of DMC and BCC agents as they scoured the planet. As Tarakus held the crystal in his hand, he noticed, when he turned in a certain direction, the light and energy that the crystal gave off weakened. He motioned for Mirandall, and Tu'verana to follow him. As they went further along, the crystal's energy weakened further. By the time they reached a canyon, the energy didn't exist whatsoever. Tarakus said, "Ok. We start here.  Spread out and start your search." Getting affirmatives, Tarakus himself started searching. It only took a few minutes to find a pile of rocks, which seemed unnatural to the area. "Over here!" He shouted, signaling his search party to come to him. He said as they arrived, "Do you notice something out of place here?" Mirandall spoke out. "There's a rock pile, where there shouldn't be?" "That's right. Help me remove these rocks, so we can see what's there." Everyone started grabbing rocks and removing them from the pile. For about half an hour, they removed rock after rock, until Tarakus uncovered a corpse. He pulled it out. That's when he noticed a cauterized cut, suggesting that the person was missing their head. He dove into the remaining rocks, and scooped out a veiled head. Dread and guilt flushed over Tarakus's face, as he started to cry. They had dug up his wife. "No. . .no. . .why?!" Tarakus said, before burying his head and hers in his arms. The rest of his speech and cries were muffled by his arms. Mirandall, after several minutes, grabbed Tarakus by the shoulder, trying to calm the Dragon down. He whispered into Tarakus's ear, to comfort the Dragon. Tears streamed down Tarakus's cheeks as he took the body to a refrigeration unit in his ship. - - - - - -

"I didn't ask for a funeral. But I got one." Tarakus said, still sobbing a little. Tu'verana, he noticed, hardly showed any emotion at all, which disturbed him. Apparently, she hadn't taken the news as hard as he did. "Dad. We did what we could.  It's time to let go now." She said, as she sat down next to him. "How can you say that? She was your mother!" "I had a feeling that she was dead, long before we even started our search." "I shouldn't have left." Tarakus said, slamming a fist down on the table. "It was madness, all bitter madness. I don't understand why she had to stand up for him.  Look what happened to her, Tu'verana.  Your mother is dead as a result of her deed to create the next Sith Lord.  She meddled in the affairs of the Jedi, and it cost her, her life!  How could I be so stupid?!" Tu'verana cringed and actually moved back a few centimeters, startled by her father's sudden outburst. She watched his tail, which was starting to swing violently around. He was emotionally compromised. She had to stop him before he had a further breakdown. Quite suddenly, Tarakus was kissing the floor, with Tu'verana planting a foot on his back to pin him down. "I'm sorry to have to do this, Dad. But you are emotionally compromised.  Your tail is endangering everyone here, with you swinging it so violently." "Do what you must, Tu'verana, before I get out of control." Tarakus said, realizing that she was right, and that he needed to get his emotions in check. Tu'verana picked Tarakus up off the floor and moved him to the brig, and applied a leash on his tail. She gave him a regretful look as she shut the door.

- - - - - - Tristchana Pride Near Lorrd

While Harlan impatiently tapped his foot on the floor, Admiral Duskaldo paced the bridge at the command pit. "Your Highness, Admiral, we're picking up at least 95 cloaked vessels inside the blockade. They appear to be all sorts of classes of ships.  I think it's the 47th, Sir, Ma'am." "Good. Looks like Tarakus is returning from Terephon.  That'll help us big time, in turning the tide of this war." Harlan said, smiling at Admiral Duskaldo. "Sir, message from Tepagastra Sandman." "Patch it through." "Right away, sir." Tarakus's somber face appeared on the screen, his eyes red from some sort of agitation. "What's the matter, Tarakus? Is there anything I can do to help?" Tarakus shook his head. "She's dead, Harlan. A Jedi killed her." He held up Lumiya's head. Harlan cringed. "So sorry to hear that. In the meantime, I'm glad you've come.  Just in time to help us push these blasted sandscales out of the sky." Tarakus nodded, and assumed a rigid posture. "Very good, Your Highness. Let's finish this.  All vessels, decloak." "Acknowledged, Stenthis Deadmerit." Harlan said. "Decloak our fleets. Let's get this over with." Numerous ships decloaked, surprising the Separatist invaders.

- - - - - - Mortis Avenger

"My Lord, they're decloaking!" "WHAT!? Take evasive measures and unleash the starfighters, at once!  I'm not going down without a fight." Moorshavin replied, startled as three BCC frigates materialized off the port bow. The move had completely taken Moorshavin by surprise. "What are those BCC frigates doing here?" "I suppose, My Lord, they could be attached to the 47th Experimental Fleet, sir. Tarakus Deadmerit is here." The Admiral said, pointing to the Tepagastra Sandman, flying in front of the bridge.

- - - - - -

The battle ensued and continued for several hours, the Avenger taking numerous hits. As Moorshavin watched his fleet fall apart, he started contemplating retreat and withdrawl. He pulled out his comlink and contacted Darth Caedus. "Lord Caedus, it appears that I've been taken by surprise, as the BCC and the Tristchanian Empire has suddenly materialized here at Lorrd. I must pull out of the galaxy and return home.  I'm apparently unwanted here." Caedus nodded his head, and said, "Indeed, my friend. Indeed.  I hope that we can still communicate between galaxies.  It was nice to work with you while you were here.  May the Force be with you." "Yes, Caedus. May the Force be with you too.  Warbird Out." As Moorshavin put his comlink back in his pocket, he realized that he was truly outgunned and outnumbered. "Pull the fleet out of here! Plot a return course back to Curava, and make it fast!" "Aye, Sir!"