Tarakus Deadmerit: Time Frame/CH. 1

CHAPTER ONE 40 ABY Tepagastra

A Fazabian Fa'neir Dragon paced nervously about his office. He muttered to himself as his tail dragged along the floor, leaving a wear trail. Clearly he had been doing this for a while. There was mounting concern on his face, as he continued his paceing. A comlink sat on his desk, active. He was waiting for a call from someone. Sure enough, a call came to him, but not the call that he expected.

"Stenthis Deadmerit, come in. This is Piastall, over." "Piastall, I'm here. Did you find her, my good friend?" "I'm sorry to say, but we didn't, Tarakus. We're trying our hardest, though.  Don't worry.  I'm sure she'll turn up eventually." The Dragon, Tarakus, fumed over the statement for a moment.

"Piastall, that wasn't the news I was looking for. I certainly do hope you realize that." Tarakus said, his identifyer scars, slowly turning whiter and whiter, with each passing moment of anxiety. "I know. I was kind of hoping for good news myself, but so far, I've had no luck.  It's just like looking for a Tristmyollan Mermaid in an ocean.  Nothing has shown up yet." Piastell said, clearly as frustrated and distraught as Tarakus. "Do what you can, Piastall. If it comes down to it, my daughter and I will join the search.  My wife has got to be around somewhere."

"I know, Tarakus. Mirandall could have a lead on her location right now.  We're checking it out.  Perhaps something might come out of it." "I hope so, Piastall. I hope so.  Deadmerit out." "Faulds out." With that, the conversation ended, with Tarakus's hopes dashed once again.

- - - - - - Kilanika, Tepagastra The female Dragon looked around the square, flashing her beautiful purple dress and robes. She muttered, "Where are you, Father?! You told me to meet you here."

Her father did show up, in his beaten Black Commander Corps tunic. She got a hopeful look in her eyes for a moment.

"Well, Dad?" The dragon asked her father.

"I'm sorry Tu'verana. Piastall and Mirandall came up empty, once again.  No sign of your mother anywhere.  Come on, let's take a walk."

Tarakus and Tu'verana walked through the square and into a busy market. People passing them by on the street said, "Afternoon, Mr. Governor." Tarakus just waved at them, putting on his best politician's smile. After walking for a bit, Tarakus and Tu'verana ducked into a side street, where no one would see them.

"Listen, Tu'verana, We're going to have to start going out and finding Mom, ourselves. But, first, I need to make a stop at my friendly neighborhood Tristchanian Imperial trading outpost.  Let's head to our ship."

"We're not taking the Warmonger Solstice this time?"

"It's too big, and easily noticeable. Force knows if Prime's been resurrected again.  I wouldn't be surprised if he was, either.  We're going to have to take our ICT-1600 J class ship."

"That thing, Dad?! Really?!" Tu'verana protested, clearly disgusted with that ship, the Tepagastra Sandman.

"Yeah, that thing! It'll do just fine for us." Tarakus said, grabbing his daughter by her arms.

"Listen, Tu'verana, it's just the two of us. We'll go out, find Mirandall and Piastall, pick them up, and continue our search for Mom.  Simple as that.  I know how much you hate that grease bucket, but we'll do with just that thing, ok?"

Tu'verana sighed for a moment, and wrenched herself from her father's grip. With heavy reluctance, Tu'verana let out another sigh, and said, "Alright. But you owe me a bottle of Pine Scotch, ok, Dad?" Tarakus laughed and shook his head. "Ok. What is it with you and Pine Scotch anyway?" He said, in reply to his daughter's reluctant agreement.

- - - - - - Tristchana Space The smaller ICT-1600 J class cruiser easily cruised through space, hardly a problem present. The Tepagastra Sandman, Tarakus's pride and joy, next to the Warmonger Solstice, was said to be one of the fastest ships of that class, when Tarakus modified it. Currently, Tarakus and his daughter, Tu'verana were heading for Tristchana to see Harlan Takanagamo, Prince of the Tristchanian Empire, and eventual successor to his grandfather, Jeramiah Tolkano.

Tarakus smiled as the purple, snow-covered planet came into view. "Tu'verana, come take a look." Tarakus called into the back of the cruiser. Tu'verana scampered out of the back, sporting her BCC Colonial's uniform. She took a look at Tristchana, and said, "Wow. That's the prettiest planet I've ever seen.  Is this Tristchana?" Tarakus laughed and said, "Yes, my dear. That is Tristchana." A crackle came from one of the comlink channels. "This is Tristchana Traffic Control. Incoming ICT-1600 J, please identify yourself, and the people aboard." "Tristchana Traffic Control, this is the Tepagastra Sandman, Governor Tarakus Deadmerit of Tepagastra speaking, along with my daughter, Tu'verana Deadmerit. We are here to see Prince Harlan Takanagamo." "Please hold, while we verify this information." There were several moments of silence, before the controller came back on. "Tepagastra Sandman, we have confirmation of your purpose here on Tristchana. You are clear to land at the Royal Spaceport in Slokana, Pad 12." "Thank you, Control. Sandman Out." Tarakus switched the comlink off, and pushed the Tepagastra Sandman into the planet's atmosphere. "Fasten your safety belt, Tu'verana, this landing is going to be a little rough, coming through the atmosphere." Tarakus said to his daughter, while taking the ship in.

The ride through the atmosphere proved to be very turbulent, as they flew through a snowstorm. The Sandman landed safely on the pad, with a clear view of the palace.

"Be very careful, Tu'verana. There are some WSIR agents still operating within Slokana.  We're a pretty popular family with those guys, especially with the outstanding bounty that they placed on my head.  Stick close to me." Tarakus said, with a highly alarming tone in his voice. Tu'verana nodded.

- - - - - - Slokana, Tristchana

They walked over to the Royal Palace, wearing heavy coats, as the snow continued to come down. Tarakus found the hidden control panel, and opened the large gateway.

Standing behind the gate, waiting to greet them was a fairly short Dragon, sporting a Royal Blue Winter Coat, and a few scars on his face.

"Hey, Harlan. Nice to see you again." Tarakus said to the dragon. "What happened this time, Tarakus? Did you lose a case of Pine Scotch, or what?" Harlan replied. "My wife's missing. I was kinda hoping you could give me an idea as to her whereabouts." "Last I heard, Lumiya was on her way to Lorrd or Coruscant to tie up a few loose ends or something. That's the last I heard from her." "Coruscant?! Why would she have loose ends to tie up on. . .Coruscant. . .?  I thought she might've been passed all that.  I really did."

"Have you heard anything from Piastall, lately?" Harlan asked as he ushered the two shivering Dragons in. "Nothing, once again. He said that Mirandall was working an another possible lead.  I just hope it's not another dead end, like all the other ones have been, lately." "I wouldn't worry about it too much, Tarakus. I know how much she loves you, and your daughter.  She wouldn't abandon either of you, like this.  I'm confident that she'll show up eventually.  Just keep your eyes peeled." Harlan said with confidence in his voice. "I sure wish I had your confidence. We're actually meeting up with the two of them, in that galaxy, to continue our search." Tarakus said, taking his coat off and hanging it up at the lobby to Harlan's office. "Well, if you two do assist those two, just be careful. I'm hearing reports of Darth Caedus's men operating in the area, as well as some WSIR and Draco Minoris Militia men tailing them.  Watch your backs." Harlan warned, tossing his coat over his chair, and pouring each of them a glass of Pine Scotch.

"So, other than not hearing from your wife, and searching for her, what else have you two been up to, lately?" Harlan asked, trying to change the subject.

"Well, we've been trying to track down some of Moorshavin Warbird's black market trade routes that he's been using to smuggle supplies into Curava with. We did manage to find a few of them, but the blasted sandscale's got so many of them, we can't shut them all down.  It's just impossible." Tarakus replied.

"Yeah, I know what you mean. Listen, I'll help the BCC locate and shut down all of Moorshavin's trade routes.  With your great-grandfather currently away on an exploratory mission, we've been kinda hurtin'.  Kiro's dang good at what he does, without him, we're just limping along, like an injured lizard."

"Thanks for the offer. I think we'll accept it." Tarakus said, some relief appearing in his eyes.