Chapter 28

I would like to thank my reviewers, those who added my story to their alerts and favorites, and to all anonymous readers.

Disclaimer: I don't own Star Wars or Prototype.

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"Statement: HK-47 is ready to serve, master."

"I'm going to explore your inner workings." Alex stated, and gestured for HK-47 to stand before him.

"Affirmative: If you believe your skills are up to the task, master, then I can certainly guide you through the process."

"Well, I do have some skill." Alex shrugged. "I did fix a toaster once."

"Horrified response: A… a toaster! I am not like a toaster!"

"Relax," Alex began, "I know what I'm doing."

The droids photoreceptors blinked several times before settling on an object to the side.

Alex shifted his gaze to the object and raised a brow. "Did you just look for the nearest blaster to shoot me with?"

"Innocent statement: Of course not, master. I just wanted to be sure where it was in case of an emergency."

"Right." Alex narrowed his eyes.

"Request: I only ask that you be oh so very careful, master. I am too valuable and well-crafted to perish at the hands of ineptitude."

"Are you implying I am inept?"

"Negatory: Err… no, master. You are not a droid, however, and therefore your skills are limited by the physical capabilities of your meatbag extremities. Or some such."

"Ha!" Canderous let slip out from across the room.

Alex sighed. "Just be quiet and let me work."

"No can do," Canderous smirked, "We'll arrive at Maanan any minute now. Voren wants you ready by then."

There were three worlds of interest in the Pyrshak system. First were the gas giant Navlaas, second were a planet called Pyr, which entirely consisted of molten rock. Lastly, there was their destination. Manaan was an aquatic planet, a perfect atmosphere for the native amphibious species called Selkath. As an aquatic species, the Selkath were skilled swimmers. They resembled anthropomorphic stingrays and had blue, pink, or green-colored skin, which is patterned for underwater camouflage, and cephalic lobes bracketed their mouths. The Selkath were similar to the Wookies by the fact that they also possess retractable, venom-tipped claws. The species were not part of the Republic or of the Empire, but instead opted to remain neutral in the war. Despite this fact, they held great diplomatic sway in the war because of one resource, Kolto. Kolto was a liquid known for its healing abilities and it was only be found naturally on the depths of Manaan.

The Aerith creaked as it pulled through the atmosphere towards Maanan's capital city, Ahto City. Alex stared out the transparisteel viewport, pressing his hand against the cool glass. The massive city floated atop the world-spanning ocean and utilized a buoyancy system that involved the massive city center. The city had a shell-shaped design, with a base that slopes down into the water.

It's a beautiful city, he thought.

When Alex arrived at the air lock he was greeted by the sight of Jolee telling a story from his more 'adventurous days'.

"The Council was never very happy with willful, brash Jolee Bindo, you see. " Jolee stroked his chin. "Even less so when I began my smuggling career."

"You were a smuggler?" Voren asked, and raised a brow.

Alex smirked; I have some more respect for you now, old man.

"Don't look at me like that, dammit!" Jolee adopted a pinched expression. "I wasn't always the wrinkled coot I am now, you know, I can still fight, too, so wipe off the smirk I see there. At the time the Ukatis system was interdicted by its own King. He preferred to keep his people starving and poor, all the better to oppress them. The Senate was trying to negotiate a peace, but they were getting nowhere as usual. I decided I was not going to wait. I found myself a ship and a partner and we began smuggling food and supplies to the Ukatis citizenry through the blockade."

"That must have been dangerous." Voren stated. "Where did you get the credits for all the supplies?"

"Wait a minute." Alex interrupted, and clenched his fist. "For your old age, you seem to lack wisdom." Before anyone could utter a response, he continued. "If you try to aid everyone that suffers in the galaxy, you will only weaken yourself… and weaken them. It is struggles, when fought and won on their own, that brings the strongest rewards. You need to recognize the value in letting them fight their own battles. Because if they triumph, they will be stronger for it."

Voren crossed his arms. "And if they fail what then? And what about the people that can't even fight?"

Alex shrugged.

"Survival of the fittest."

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In silence, they descended the loading ramp, and when the massive hangar doors parted, two arguing officers greeted them. One wore a three-colored attire commonly associated with the Republic, while the other wore a light gray uniform with a strap connecting from his left shoulder epaulet which went cross diagonal to a utility belt. Alex observed them with little interest.

"I'm warning you!" The Republic Officer shouted, "Don't push me, or you'll get just what you're asking for!"

His enemy smiled. "Try it. Just try it. I'd love to see you throw the first punch." He moved his arms to the side, leaving his front undefended. "And with all the cameras around the Selkath would be all over you inside of 30 seconds." He continued. "You break their laws, you pay the price, Republic scum. But I can see that you're not man enough to back up your words anyway."

The Sith Officer chuckled. "If you ever feel like relieving yourself of your worthless existence, feel free to come to our enclave here. We have many, many ways to fulfill your wish."

What an asshole, Alex thought as the Officer walked away.

Voren has chosen Jolee and Carth to accompany them for the time being, and they were in the process of getting directions from the Republic Officer.

No doubt, their only concern is finding the star map, Alex thought, my attention, however, is required elsewhere.

"I have some business in the city," Alex informed, "It will not take long. I'll met you at the Republic Enclave."

Voren nodded. "Don't take too long."

Voren let half a minute pass by before addressing his companions. "Carth, take Mission with you. You know what to do."

"Roger that," Carth smiled.

The blast doors hissed open with a piston, revealing a large fountain in the central area leading up to the main courtyard. Next to the door stood two security droids, from what Carth could discern they were equipped with the intent to restrain and incapacitate anyone that did not pay the docking fee needed to enter the city. Further ahead he was met with a circular pool of water at the center of the courtyard. This area was known as Ahto West Central and it was connected to all the other main areas of the city. Holoscreens with ads for dishes he had never heard of ran across the outer walls of the courtyard. Carth kept his face carefully schooled as he entered the courtyard. As was typical at a busy spaceport, thick crowds surrounded the courtyard and they showed him a variety of reactions to his presence. Many were merchants trying to sell the next thing you 'absolutely need' in your life right now. The Selkath, the inhabitants of this world, snapped smartly to attention, as if waiting for them to make a mistake. The Sith and Republic soldiers stared with little interest, most dismissing him entirely. They navigated quickly through the courtyard and continued west towards Ahto East Central. They were careful to stay in the background and not to draw attention to themselves.

From a distance, Carth observed his target walk inside the local Cantina.

Crap, he thought. "We'll need to stay out here and see where he goes."

"Come on Carth!" Mission said, rubbing her hands together. "Let's follow him inside and see who he is meeting. I do have a stealth field generator after all."

Carth grabbed her by the arm. "We'll be too exposed going in there. What we need to do is wait here and follow him when he leaves."

Mission gave a small nod while frowning. "Fine."

Carth and Mission stayed in the shadows and waited. Fifteen minutes passed and a small group of people exited the cantina, they observed the group and noticed that their target was not among them. Another half-hour passed by with several individuals entering and exiting the cantina, but not the one they were looking for.

"Okay fine, lets go in." Carth finally said. "I'm dying to get some dirt on this guy."

Mission smiled and pressed the activation button on her belt, with a sizzle she disappeared from view. She was careful not to touch anyone or anything as she moved around the cantina. After a slight hesitation, she squeezed herself onto one of the vacant seats at the bar. Smoke permeated the room, forcing her to adopt a squint as she kept the entrance in view. Holoscreens blared overhead, various Selkath slouched to either side of her, the collection of empty shot glassed, and beer mugs in front of them suggested career drinkers. Missions' line of sight circled the room but she could not find what she was looking for. Damn it! She carefully exited her seat and returned outside to a waiting Carth.

"So tell me, what did you find?" Carth leaned in, bending his head closer to her.

Missions' shoulder slumped down. "I couldn't see him. I… I think he left."

"What!" Carth said, "I'm sure he didn't walked out, I've stared at the entrance this whole time."

"Maybe he knew we were on to him and shapeshifted in to someone else?"

"That might be the case," Carth stroked his chin. "but there should have been no way for him to notice us. We were very careful."

"Anyway," Mission began, "Let's return to Voren with our findings."

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Good, Alex thought. They are leaving.

Carth is a good soldier and Mission is skilled at stealth with her stealth field generator, and he would not have noticed them if he did not have one advantage, namely thermal vision. Every being had a unique signature that could be discerned if he concentrated enough, and he had made sure to memorize the entire team when he first met them. Still, the thought that there was such mistrust that they felt the need to follow him was alarming.

Perhaps I need to play nice for a while, he thought.

Alex made sure to keep his current disguise of an elderly human man for a while longer, just to be on the safe side. He continued towards an alley behind the cantina and with a thought returned to his usual appearance. He did not have to wait long before his contact showed up.

"Ah Welcome, Alex Mercer." Hulas greeted. "I see you have come alone, this is good. I assume you are here to discuss the business of the Genoharadan."

"Rulan Prolik is dead." Alex stated.

"I must congratulate you. Rulan was no easy target." Hulas's snout twitched. "I will admit that you are not the first to be sent after him, though you are the only one to succeed."

Hulas felt a warm glow expanding throughout his body. "All the years of planning. Spying and digging to discover their identities, it was all worth it! With the death of Rulan, the Genoharadan are mine alone!"

"You used me to eliminate your rival." Alex's eyes widened.

"Poor, foolish Alex." Hulas smirked. "You had no idea the Rulan was one of the Overseers of the Genoharadan did you? In fact, he was the last."

"The overseers have always acted on secret, their true identities hidden from the guild and even each other to prevent one person from seizing control of the entire guild." Hulas gestured towards Alex. "But thanks to you, I am the only Overseer left. All the agents of the Genoharadan are mine to command!"

"Yeah, there's only one problem." Alex smirked under his hood. "I know what you've done."

"True, that's why I can't allow you to join the guild." Hulas stroked his snout. "I suppose I could try to have you eliminated, but I know of your skill in dispatching Rulan. I think it would be in both our interests if we were simply to part ways."

"I don't think so."

Hulas sighed. "I was afraid it would come to this. Very well, we will finish this. But the streets of Manaan are no place for this confrontation. Meet me in the Dune Sea, there we will engage in a ritual battle according to the customs of my guild."

Alex let him pass by before spinning on his heel and firmly planting his blade through Hulas' chest.

"You have no honor!" Hulas forced out, eyes widened as the blade turned into what seemed as a living entity. A living entity that was crawling its way over his entire body.

"What good is honor when you're dead?" Alex asked, in a smug tone. "Let me give you this parting gift. I knew about your plans from the start, you see, Rulan told me everything."

With a thought, Alex consumed him. The all too familiar rush of new memories assaulted his senses, countless names of agents and events were now at his disposal.

Alex let out an arrogant laugh. "We are shadow, darkness and night. We are less than a whisper or a thought. A fine motto indeed." Alex smirked under his hood. "Hulas and the other overseers truly did create something wonderful."

"I'll have to make sure to use it to its fullest in the days to come."

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AU

I had Alex give a lesson in this chapter similar to how Kreia used to lecture the player in Kotor 2, I always enjoyed Kreia as a character and would like to fit her in the story somehow. But that would only happen if/when part two is released. And that's going to be a while :)