The Backdrafts (Book 4)

[Akirapryde]

Words of Warning
Azgard Dreadnought Ka-riss-ah
In Route to the Outer Rim

Speaking with Biggs had awaken some strong emotions deep within Daz. Controlling them was easy enough yet still Daz hated the idea that he had them. His whole life had been about forcing emotions down and away. For Daz, it was one of the core ideals of being a Jedi that drove him and helped guide his life. Still Biggs had struck a nerve with him once more. Biggs had always had a way of getting under Daz's skin like that. It was just one more reason why Daz had deep feelings against Biggs. As he walked through the corridors of Carissa, he could feel the eyes of each Azgardian upon him. He knew they hated him and within this there was no doubt. He didn't care about their hatred for him, he didn't hold any respect for them as a culture. As he turned the corner he saw Ubaah walking up the corridor. "Greetings Ubaah" Daz said while controlling his emotions that Biggs had stirred. He pushed them deep down inside and forced them in to the dark corners of his mind and heart.

Ubaah nodded as he replied, “Daz.” There was a since of urgency in his mannerism and tone.

Daz paused his motion and stopped Ubaah, “I had something I have been meaning to talk to you about. Do you have a moment?”

Ubaah side stepped Daz, “not right now, Daz. I am working on something impotent.”

Daz tilted his head slightly, “maybe I can help?”

“No, its ship systems issues. It might be best for you to remain in your quarters” he said as he pointed towards Daz's room.

Daz looked down as Ubaah rushed passed to tend to what ever he was working on. He turned and watched Ubaah disappear down the corridor. His life and status had changed and Daz was starting to feel the affects of that change. He turned and continued to work his way pass the other crew members and slipped in to his room. He could hear the rushing of boots as he closed the air lock door, 'there is something going on' Daz thought. He knew that he was being kept in the dark as to what was going on. Daz leaned his body and head against the think air lock door. He heard the soft tone of his atmosphere exchanger. The tone told him that it was safe to remove his mask and goggles.

Carefully he removed his mask and goggles as he walked to his dresser. He paused with them in his hands as he took noticed to a simple note. He laid his things down and picked up the note. It was some kind of incoming letter that had been printed out for him to read. The date and time printed reflecting its transmission showed it had just arrived before he entered his room from some unknown source. He read it with skepticism.

“Daz, your sister is being moved as this letter is finding you. They are unaware that we know their plans. She is being moved to a research lab on the Azgard world of Keffer Prime. There they plan on removing her from the Carbinite and preforming a test on her. The Azgard labs on Keffer Prime used as a biological and chemical warfare research center. From what we have learned, they are looking to rescue the poison which is locked within her veins. What you do with this information is up to you. We have done our part, now you know. If she lives or dies, will be up to who you trust with this information."

Daz trembled at the thought of his sister dying by the hands of the Azgards. Already both of his parents had been murdered at the hands of Biggs Saar. Now his sister was going to meet a similar fate at the hands of the Azgards so they could have another weapon in their arsenal. He closed his eyes once more and drove back the emotions linked to these events. He calmed his heart and mind as he reached out with the force. He could her the echoes of the future deep in his mind, *“Daz, trust me.”* He could hear Visst's words echoing in his mind. Beyond his mind he could still hear his sister calling out to him right before he froze her in carbinite.

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Ubaah rushed in to the node room with a sense of purpose. “Captain, I am here, now what?”

“Commander Ubaah, you need to find the Sub-Node marked L19." He heard Natalie instruct over the comlink. It has been only a few hours since the virus had been discovered deep within Carissa's mainframe and it was already wreaking havoc throughout her systems. Shutting off power to systems, changing control settings and threatening Carissa's higher functions.

“Self Destruct System Activated” he heard Carissa echo throughout the ship and moments later he heard her voice echo once more, “Self Destruct System Deactivated”

“Don't worry about it Captain, I have already locked out all of the critical systems.” Ubaah heard Oktra explain over conference link. “The Bug can only have her make announcements like that” she further explained.

He rushed over to the Node and opened it up. The way Carissa was designed, no single Node held complete control over anything. And it was because of this design which is why they were able to protect so many systems from the bug. However it was also making it harder to find. It was able to kill the Jump Drive systems. Luckily Oktra had spotted the potential problem and dropped Carissa back in to normal space before the Jump Drive went completely off line. With each Node worked in tandem to control the entire mind that is Carissa, Natalie came up with an idea. They were attempting to reset the Nodes which were infected in hopes to try and kill the virus. It was a last ditch plan but Natalie was running out of time and ideas. Ogon, Natalie, Oktra and three other techs had each taken up positions throughout Carissa's higher function Nodes. “Okay, I got it open and am ready” Ubaah informed.

“Okay everyone, we have to reset the sub-systems one at a time but each at the same time. Each of you find the card marked, KBY035” Natalie explained calmly and smoothly. Once everyone checked in that they had the card identified, she continued, “Listen carefully, we have to get this right the first time. There are security measures in place that could be tripped. Some of them could result in death to us or death to Carissa. When I give the command, we have to each at the same time hit hit the reset button on the bottom of the card.”

The tension was very high and the stakes were even higher. The bug risked the entire ship and Natalie's last best idea could risk Carissa herself. However the bug had to be stopped at the very least. Resetting the nodes was the only way to corner the bug. Ogon didn't like it but he had few options. The bug had to be controlled. Had Oktra not spotted the bug when she did, they would be stuck in hyperspace. “Captain, I am tracking the bug incursion within MOG191” Carissa updated. Ogon was not sure what it meant but it was not good.

“Everyone stop!” called out Natalie, “No one do anything. Carissa remove your countermeasures!” The tension had just leaped up ten fold.

Carissa's voice however was as calm and ever, “I am unable to remove the countermeasures without Captain's Authorization. This would leave my high nodes completely exposed to the virus.”

Even before anyone could hear the Captain speak over the open links, Natalie cut in once more, “We don't have time to react, please trust me. We have to let it have access to this node. If not it will move on to a softer target. Please trust me!”

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Visst's conversation with Biggs was once more surprising. He had made a mistake in his first assessment of Biggs' cooping with Lysire's death. The man had pushed the pain down and not tried to face it. Jedi were never meant to be devote of feelings and emotions. They were to be in control of them and not controlled by them. Biggs had been attempting to deny the feelings he felt which was not healthy or wise. Getting Biggs to open up to these feelings was hard but not a task worth abandoning. It took the man just over an hour to open up during that time, the crisis on Carissa continued to unfold. Visst knew he could be of help but he also felt in his heart that Biggs needed his help more. So he elected to remain in the garden and talk with Biggs about Lysire and their relationship.

Visst had his thoughts about their relationship and how it grew. Though listening to Biggs talk about it opened his eyes to a new level of their relationship. Biggs had pulled Lysire down that dark path, then one day she surpassed him. Visst didn't feel it necessary to explain what he knew about this time in her life. She had choose to keep it from him in life, Visst would honor that. However, their love held them together. And through their love for each other, they clawed their way out of the shadows of darkness. Biggs blamed himself personally for what had happened to Lysire. This guilt weighed heavily on the young man. Biggs confided in Visst with a secret, Lysire made him promise that he would turn himself in to Visst and not run any longer. She had explained that this was important to Biggs' destiny to do this. She had this conversation with Biggs, on the trip to the graveyard. Biggs he made his promise to her.

Of all things that Visst learned, he learned that the pain and grief suffered by Biggs from his past and the loss of Lysire would have to be dealt with at some point by a professional. Visst didn't believe that Biggs was suicidal, yet there was just so much pain trapped within the man's heart. Visst left Biggs feeling somewhat better. However long time healing will have to come from a professional. Visst made a note to speak to Master Noor about this. Walking down the Corridor, Visst heard Carissa calling out that the self destruct system had been activated then deactivated. The crisis was growing and Visst could feel the tension of the ship. He saw a group of warriors rushing up to him and then pass him. They took up nearly the entire corridor and forces Visst off to the side. In the middle of the group he felt something or someone touch his robe. He didn't feel any threat by it but was unaware of who touched him.

He reached in to his pocket as he watched the warriors rush pass. He had an idea of maybe who did it but was not completely sure. He pulled out a hand written note.

“Master Visst, please forgive this informal means of communication. However things have gotten worse here. The Flail is planning to attack the Temple on Alderaan. From what I have learned, they plan to bomb the academy to lure members of both the Alderaan and Coruscant Council in to a trap. I don't have a time table on the plan but I do know that the Flail Cell has been reported to arrive on Alderaan in twelve hours. Please Master Visst, you have to do something to stop them.”

Visst looked at the time the original message was sent. It would appear to have traveled through a rather complex communication system. It had passed through five different hands before reaching him. According to the time it was sent, the cell was going to land on Alderaan in four hours. This might have been the break he was looking for. However, he also knew that if the note spoke the truth about what is happening on Coruscant then he had to move carefully. He took special note, to the fact that she didn't sign the letter. A shiver raced up his spin as he thought of what all of this could only mean. The Chancellor was on to her or even worse was behind the assassination attempt on her.

Sure, the assassination on Kelore was grand and the Chancellor was the first target. That much was to be expected. However Visst had studied the security holovids carefully. The first shot hit the Chancellor in the right shoulder. Clearly a luckily shot for the Chancellor as every security officer leaped in to action and pushed the Chancellor down in to cover. However, the second and third shot is what caught Visst's eye. The second shot hit Nabrina's own personal protector as he was leaping to knock her to the ground. The wound hit him in the small of his back. The third shot killed Senator Harasihe, from Alderaan. He was a close and personal friend of Nabrina's and a mentor to her within the Senate. Harasihe had been standing right behind Nabrina when the assassination took place. The rest of the shots Visst knew were just random shots in to the crowds. Five other Senators were wounded and two others were killed. However, had Nabrina's own Azgardian Bodyguard not reacted as fast as he did, she would have been added to those killed. He was in midair when he was hit. The shot would have hit her in the heart.

Visst was sure that the shooter didn't know that Nabrina's bodyguard was Azgardian. Luckily, the brave man had survived his wounds thanks to Master Noors and her healers. What Visst didn't understand was why did the Chancellor want to assassinate Nabrina. She had already removed herself from the Jedi Oversight committee, had supported his Rangers, and even withdrew from the race for Chancellor. What did he fear from her. Visst looked down at the note and sighed, 'What threat are you to him?' he thought as he closed his eyes. There was no doubt in his mind anymore, the Chancellor had to be removed from power. However, that had to wait till after the Chaos was dealt with. He nodded, “Your days in power are numbered” he said in a silent vow to himself.