The Gateway

[Wookiee Jedi]

As Kirlocca moved around the station, trying to find a comm unit that would suite him, he found it extremely hard with a two year old attached to him. The young child he had rescued refused to let go of him. The kid just placed his head and face as close as he could to the Jedi master, expecting that his grip and the ability to 'hide' from danger would save him. Kirlocca really didn't mind protecting to child, let alone having him attached to his arm as he fought, but it was something else that made him worry about him. The force was whispering to him, telling him something that Kirlocca could not understand.

 

His thoughts were interrupted by the sight of a comm unit that was exactly what he needed. He walked up to it and moved the child to his other arm so that he could operate the unit.

 

"Attention, this is Jedi master Kirlocca. All civilians that are unable to defend themselves, including the wounded, report to the hanger bay. I repeat, all civilians that are unable to defend themselves are to report to the hanger bay."

 

Kirlocca turned to unit off and moved the child back to his other arm so that he could fight if needed. Kirlocca moved quickly, trying not to use to force as he moved, as to save that energy for something else. As it was, he was already faster then everyone else in the station. Kirlocca arrived in the hanger bay only to hear the sound of pattering feet of the civilians running behind him. A gold glimmer caught the Jedi master's eye. As he turned to face the driod, he barked at him, giving him an order to report to him and to give him aid when needed.

 

As the driod shuffled over, the civilians started to arrive. As they did, Kirlocca spoke up, barking at the now large growing crowd. As the driod realized that no one else understood the Wookiee, he began to translate what he was saying.

 

"The Jedi quest to all board the shuttle behind us, and he will take us to the alliance base..." The driod paused as Kirlocca barked and growled other phrases for him to translate. "He would also like to ask for a female to aid him with the child that he rescued...Oh my, I am sure that they don't need to hear the details of how you rescued him. I am fully sure that they know what's attacking them."

 

Kirlocca only rolled his eyes as the civilians began to board the shuttle. Kirlocca placed his other arm around the child, who was now, less afraid of what was going on around him, yet his grip still held Kirlocca's fur as if he would save him from all danger. He moved a paw through his hair and smiled at him as they were the last two to board the shuttle.

 

Kirlocca moved into the cockpit, with the child in arms. Kirlocca began to flight prep and slowly began to to place the crash webbing on, without forcing the kid to leave his arms. After a few moments, Kirlocca lifted off and raced off. Within seconds, the shuttle was in hyperspace.

[Cadio Sikaot]

Cadio's grimmaced at his comm. It had come back, the signal never being delivered to the Admiral. Something was wrong on Gala. Deciding they didn't have much time to waste, Cadio ordered his two men down at the hangar to make sure Tyrric didn't go anywhere before he got there. He walked briskly down to the hangar, pulling his blaster as he did so.

 

He arrived and noticed that one of his men was standing outside the transport, apparently viewing something, and the other was inside the transport. He approached the one outside, whispering while appearing to view the same item.

 

"Get him off the shuttle, now. Get everybody off the transport and we'll take him then."

 

The guard nodded then turned and entered the shuttle.

 

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are sorry for the inconvenice, but we are going to have to ask everyone to get off the shuttle for a few moments. we have discovered information that there may have been a bomb aboard this shuttle. Please exit quickly and quietly through the front entrance."

 

The guard hurried off the shuttle as a crowd of people hurled forward. Cadio spotted him coming out and motioned for him to keep his eyes open. When Tyrric finally exited the craft, Cadio ran over to him, or at least the man he though was Tyrric from the back. He spun him around and came face to face with a man that was in no way, shape, or form similar the Tyrric, especially in the face.

 

"I appoligize sir. I thought that you were a man we were looking for."

 

He called his guards over and began speaking in a rather loud manner as anger crept into his voice.

 

"He's gone. We'll never find him now. For all we know he was gone a long time ago. Sweep the suitcase again, if you find any prints, run them through the data base and see if you can come up with anything. Known afflilates, aliases, anything."

 

Cadio stormed back to the command center, unhealthily mad. He gathered the rest of his team, leaving ten shuttles for the men staying behind to help with the relief effort, then headed back to the Victory's Head. Something was wrong at Gala and he intended to find out what it was.

 

Victory's Head and the Integrity laid in courses for Gala, then with a flicker of premotion, shot into hyperspace.

[Survivor's Foundation]

After many days of dragging the infected civilians on board the Esperanza for treatment of the so-called "Zombie Virus", numerous minor security breaches that gave the security forces on board the ship and nearly drove the science personnel to madness, and uncounted syringes later (at the end of the mission, they were all stuffed in a massive crate which was then incinerated in Corell), the Foundation's mission was complete. Although some of the victims of the virus were too badly wounded to be "revivified", as one of the scientists eloquently described the procedure, most of the men and women on board the station were soon cured.

 

Minor amputations were common, and quite a few of the afflicted later expressed an insatiable craving for rare meat once they were released.

 

Captain Vandro, staring at the latest reports with slightly bloodshot eyes and a few days' worth of stubble on his chin, made a note to himself to consider expanding the fleet. With the funds flowing in after the wake of the Gateway disaster, the Foundation could certainly afford to purchase a new ship to serve as a carrier and a secondary flagship. If they had learned anything over the past few months, it was that their resources could be stretched thin very readily.

 

And meanwhile, he put in an order for more of the Aegis-class environment suits to be produced, with some variations.

 

Their mission complete, the Esperanza shuttled a comparatively smaller number of men over to Gateway Station to assist in the rebuilding process, then jumped into hyperspace.

[Tares Vortex]

The space around the Gateway was nothing more than a shell of what it had been in years past. While the station itself maintained a healthy number of tourists and permanent dwellers, the traffic around the station was a mere fraction of the station's peak years. Before, the station had done decent business in repairing ships; transferring cargo; even providing a unique tourist destination for people wanting to see a city that had once occupied Munto Codru. Unfortunately, the damage done from SEED's Zombie Virus had done more than infect innocent inhabitants. The station's reputation was a major causality.

 

These days, the station was more of a detour stop for ships on long runs. Its dedicated inhabitants still utilize many of the station's luxury amenities, but they hardly attract new blood. More importantly, the station still remains the headquarters of the equally damaged Solaris Enterprises. Much like the station itself, Solaris Enterprises had seen better days. With the company's former CEO, Drake Vortex, having disappeared, control had fallen to the board of directors. Unfortunately, their own ability to deal with the fallout of Drake's departure and the SEED attack wasn't enough to keep the company afloat. Divisions had been closed; people fired.

 

Something had to be done.

 

Slipping back into real space, the aging YT-2000 freighter, Incursion slowly approached the massive station. After clearance was given, the ship slipped into one of the numerous small landing bays. Slowly the craft settled on the docking bay floor until the engines died down. Once the landing ramp had settled to the ground as well, a tall figure stepped out to meet a crowd of Solaris officials.

 

"Mr. Vortex, welcome back the Gateway. How was your journey?" One of the officials asked.

 

Tares took a moment to take in the familiar site before answering, "It was good."

 

An other, visibly nervous official stepped forward, "And what brings you back to the station?"

 

Grinning, Tares pointed over to the Solaris Enterprises logo painted on the docking bay's wall, "My company...."

[King Kheldar vos Correlli]

Another ship hails the Gateway Station- a rather sleek vessel bearing Corellian design elements, but something else. A channel rings up the station, and a somewhat familiar vissage appears on a comm screen, flanked on its left side by a golden protocol droid. The captain is dressed in a pearl grey doublet with matching pants, and sports a set of knowing brown eyes.

 

Kheldar vos Correlli requesting permission to dock at the station. I have business to discuss with Mr. Vortex if he's available.

[Tares Vortex]

The time since his arrival had been mostly uneventful. It wasn't totally establised how Tares would be taking over the company, given that several board members were somewhat resistant to the idea. Yet there was enough support on his side, including his controlling shares of stock in the company.

 

While settling into his guest set of quarters, Tares felt a presence in the Force he hadn't felt in a very long time. On the comm, one of the station's controllers called out, "Mr. Vortex, KVC is here to see you and is requesting permission to dock."

 

Tares smiled, "Let him aboard and send him my way...."

[King Kheldar vos Correlli]

Kheldar docks the Silk Road and steps out into the hangar of the Gateway, noting with critical eyes the repairs launched on the station following the aftermath of the SEED Organization's zombie attack. Shaking his head at the sheer waste that caused, Kheldar and Cyrion, his trust C-3.1 protocol droid make their way to see Tares.

 

Entering his office, Kheldar extends his hand in a hearty handshake. "Tares! It's been ages. Glad to see you're making a return." Flopping unceremoniously into a seat across from Tares, Kheldar's attitude seems relaxed, though his eyes bespeak a seriousness. "You've chosen a difficult time to return. I think the Empire's serious about its embargo. It's made things a pain in the ass and then some for me, let me tell you that. I'm a legitimate businessman with business and friends in both territories. I've been following the letter of the law to a T and had to divide up my holdings so they don't intersect and run afoul either side and making sure my taxes are paid. I've basically divided everything up into two self-sustaining mega-corporations so that they're more or less independent of even my control and in turn, the cross pressures of either the Empire or Republic. The Empire's been buying up arms left and right though so I've made up some costs- throw in a few more in Imperial bond purchases too, and yeah... Still, overall, it's been... messy and costly..." Kheldar shakes his head then rubs his temples. "But, such is life."

 

Clearing his throat, he looks around. "Glad to see this place back in business. It's neutral, I assume, and in turn that's rather valuable in this climate, assuming it's dedicated enough and small enough to walk that line carefully. I've had some luck in beefing up and redesigining stations and aiding security development doing contract work in the past, and I also happen to have quite a bit of money to invest into prospective ventures." His smile is friendly, though his eyes remain appraisiing, watching Tares' reactions with care. "Might that be something you're interested in? I'm just looking for a healthy return on my investments- no more, no less.

[Tares Vortex]

Tares smiled as Kheldar spoke of his business ventures with the Empire and New Republic. He had known of Kheldar's success over the years, somewhat surprising just how much he did following the law. Most businessmen had to turn to under the table sort of deals just to get a foot in the door. Even with the recent economic changes and the Imperial embargo, Tares knew the man's morals would be hard to break.

 

Tares took a moment to consider Kheldar's offer. "I have to say, it's absolutely tempting. Unfortunately, there isn't much to do with the station besides build a new strip bar to attract new customers. Despite their lack of smarts navigating the political ramifications of the SEED attack two years ago, the board of Solaris at least kept the station in shape. With the help of the Survivor's Foundation, they managed to take care of the physical damage. Obviously healing the damage to the reputation was a bit too much." He said with a sigh.

 

Before long, Tares let out a laugh as he stared out the window of his office. Most encounters such as this required a business tact that could make or break a deal. On the other hand, having that business tact was always his brother's specialty. "You know, if you're really looking for a new business venture, I may have something in mind. The fact is, the only reason I've returned is that the board has threatened sell off the company. Solaris Enterprises has been in my family in one form or another for a few generations. Now, with the attack two years ago, the civil war going on, and the fact that my brother has yet to reappear after he went awol... the board feels that the only way for the company to survive is to open it sell if off. Some want to sell the whole thing, others just downsize it to the point of there being nothing left. Obviously, I can't let that happen. I still have enough control over this company to give it a second chance."

 

"If you're interested, I could use some help with this. Drake and I always managed most business matters together. He had certain business strengths I lacked, and I had certain negotiation and perceptive skills he lacked. With him gone, it's going to be hard to make this successful. I'm still a Jedi at heart. Picking up the strengths he had will be too difficult. So if you're really interested in a new business venture, I can offer you an equal share of power in the reorganization of this company. It's obviously not on the same level as KVC Enterprises... but it should be more interesting than just keeping a space station afloat...."

[King Kheldar vos Correlli]

Kheldar thinks carefully before answering. "It should be interesting," he concludes. "I've still got my own affairs to tend to, and I have to be careful about the line I'm going to walk, but I should be able to help out." He brings out his pocket organizer and taps in a few commands. "I'll have my attorneys draft up a contract for compensation, share ownership, and so on." A grin appears on Kheldar's face. "It's not about the money really. That's just a way of keeping score. The game's what matters and I'm interested in playing again." He taps his chin thoughtfully. "You might want to field a line with the Nargals. Their casino resort's been dead quiet of late, but she has some interesting contacts- at least if she's still active in the business field."

 

Kheldar leans back, and his organizer beeps once, showing a ready-made contract, modified for the terms Kheldar entered. It gave him a modest salary and a 35% controlling share run through a holding corporation in the Unknown Regions where KVC Enterprises did business, but was fairly rote otherwise. He passes the terms on to Tares. "Acceptable?"

[Tares Vortex]

Tares nodded, "Looks good. I'll make sure the company's attorney approves, and we should be set." He said. "And I'll also take your advice. It's been a while since I checked up on the Link Organization. I'd imagine they've been hit just as hard as the rest of us." He finished as he keyed in a note for his secretary to send the casino a comm.

 

Taking a brief pause, Tares keyed in a few buttons. On the far wall, a projector sparked to life. On the screen, the familiar list of blacklisted planets appeared, "There are still a few fine details about the reorganization to take care of, including coming up with a new name for this company. However, a new name and image isn't going to do any good until we've got a niche in the market again. So far, all of the previous markets Solaris Enterprises had a place in: medical, ship design/construction, base design, etc... have either cooled in demand, or phased us out. This embargo the emperor is enforcing won't make things easier."

 

"We unfortunately don't have the luxury of staying out of the civil war. Sooner or later, we're going to have to do business with both. As you've pointed out, walking that line isn't easy. The embargo will make it all the more difficult considering goods and trade are now effectively divided along the political lines. On the other hand, it's also created new demands on both sides." He finished as he keyed an other button.

 

On the screen, the names of Bespin and Manaan were highlighted. "The embargo has already affected stocks in tibanna gas and bacta. Bacta is going through the roof now that there is surplus on the Imperial side. But the Empire has effectively cut itself off from the largest source of naturally spun tibanna gas. Since its expensive to spin the stuff in its natural state, it's going to hit the Empire hard during war time. The same goes for bacta on the Republic side: the stuff is extremely hard and expensive to produce. Even the Republic's supply of kolto is limited due to Manaan being a frozen iceball."

 

"Effectively, there are potential markets for both now, both within each political organization, and outside. Getting cheap tibanna gas from Bespin is obviously out of the question with the embargo going on. However, Solaris R&D recently made some breakthroughs in terraforming technology. Until today there wasn't much of a use for it, but the guys down there think that the tech may be useful in getting other gas giant to become natural tibanna spinners. As far as bacta goes... it's also out of the question for getting it to the Republic side. But, the latest studies done on the Manaan surface suggests that the kolto is still there in the ice. Either mining or terraforming the planet may open up that supply again...."

[King Kheldar vos Correlli]

Kheldar hesitates a moment, then finally speaks up, addressing the most pressing issue first.

 

"I think I can schedule time to talk with the Emperor in person and negotiate a partial lift on the embargo. I think on specialized products like bacta, it's unlikely he'll lift it, but with some cold hard number crunching, I can probably get the market reopened for domestics and non-military related goods."

 

Kheldar taps his chin thoughtfully. "Manaan's in really, really bad shape thanks the the Night Cloak that was around it. It was frozen solid, which is no mean feat. The deepest oceans might still be salvageable. The planet's geothermal activity might still be enough to keep the deepest trenches active. It's a crapshoot, but..." he thinks. "if we could find a way to thaw the planet from both ends, get some cloning tech, and do that, we might be able to save the planet."

 

"Tibaana gas is useful and possibly some exchange could be done in terms of gas for bacta. This all falls apart of course if one side makes a move and seizes planets held by the other, but it could help us make a profit, and possibly even benefit both sides before this is over. I'll probably be able to see the Emperor shortly. I don't know how that'll go, but he's a military man first and foremost, and in turn, that means he'll be reasonable.... I hope."

[Tares Vortex]

Tares nodded as he considered Kheldar's words. The two primary options in regards to the embargo were basically either run through it/get it partially lifted so the old trade lines could reopen, or find/create alternatives to the supplies or sources in question. Both options were worth exploring.

 

"Alright, if you can get an audience with the emperor to get a better sense of this embargo, as well as how negotiable it is, that will get us along on knowing what existing supply lines we can dive into. I'll get in touch with Zara or whoever is running the Golden Link these days, as well as try to get in touch with the New Republic. In the end, if we can get a better sense of whether the existing supply lines can be used, or if we'll have to create new ones through weird endeavors such as restoring Manaan, we'll be better off.

 

Tares stood up and stretched, "In the mean time, I'll review what assets Solaris has been left with. What's left of the terraforming R&D may be useful, as well as other small ventures the Board has failed to inform me about over the years...."

[King Kheldar vos Correlli]

Kheldar gives a nod. "I'll try to do what I can. I had some machines built a while back- a kind of reverse World Devistator that helped rebuild Kashyyyk after it was razed for the N-teenth time." He grimmaces at that. "Nothing for Manaan specifically, but I can possibly draft something."

 

Giving another handshake, Kheldar motions for Cyrion to follow him out and takes off in the Silk Road.

[Brina Thalin]

A reply to Mr. Vortex's communication came from the Link on a secure channel, inviting him warmly to the Golden Link Casino at his convenience, where he would be welcome to discuss his business proposition with Director Thalin.

[Tares Vortex]

After Kheldar left, Tares took care of a few more items of business before receiving the comm from Brina. Once everything was squared away, he proceeded to the Incursion and took off for the Golden Link Casino....

[King Kheldar vos Correlli]

Kheldar arrives at the Gateway Station, hailing Tares for permission to dock. Sobered up completely even without his detoxicant, the merchant prince nursed a small headache as a residual hangover from last night. Clutching his head in one hand, he is looking over his holdings from the previous night, trying to figure out what to do with them. Folding up his organizer, he concluded it could wait until after he brought the good news of the embargo's end to Tares.

 

****

 

((3 days later))

 

Kheldar, having boarded, drops off similar details as those given to Zara, avoiding mention of the bacta deal with Black Sun, also dedicing to let Zara and Brina bring news of their Thorpe take over. Bidding the station a farewell, Kheldar fires up the Silk Road and takes off into hyperspace.

[Tares Vortex]

It had been over three months since Tares's return to the Gateway and Solaris Enterprises. After his initial contact with KVC, Tares had spent the rest of the time brushing up on his business knowledge, and knowledge of the company's status/assets. All the while, he had come to realize why Drake had always ran the majority of the family's business. Business terms, legal loop holes, negotiation tactics... they were a far cry from the Jedi philosophies and force techniques Tares was used to. Even spending a few months reading up on such things only took him so far.

 

Through his minimal efforts, the company had stabilized itself. Several departments, factories, and other business assets had been sold off until the company itself was at a more manageable size. Whether it would ever grow back to its initial size and might was unforeseeable for the time being. At the very least, Tares could rest with the knowledge that its existence was at least safe for the time being.

 

His next course of action was up in the air. On one hand, he could continue to develop the company's business plans even further. With the galaxy in its current state of waning change, such a model might be outdated by the time the galaxy re-stabilized itself. On the other hand, Tares knew of some personal development he had long been putting aside.

 

During his time away from not only the Jedi Order, but any Force related activity, he had slowly felt his connection with the Force diminish. He could still use the Force, but not at the same level as during the height of his Jedi career. That experience of constantly living with the Force had been absent. In many ways, Tares wasn't even sure how it had occurred. Most Jedi, even if they leave the order, rarely experienced such a loss. Most of the time, such rifts occurred simply because the force user himself created a barrier between him and the Force. While developing his skills, Tares would often temporarily create such a barrier in order to practice his skills without the aid of the Force. In combat, he needed to ensure that even the loss of the Force wouldn't diminish his ability to fight effectively.

 

Whether such a barrier remained now, or something more damaging had caused the rift, Tares knew it was time to reclaim some connection with the Force. While he didn't have a concrete plan, he did know of a place to start. Often, when anyone ever had lost something, the best place to look was in the past. With that, Tares boarded his ship and left....

[Tares Vortex]

The stars gently slid by out the glass of the viewport. The various ships coming in, out, and around the station floated like little glowing specs of dust that accumulated around the various docking stations and transport lanes. Life seemed normal, felt normal. In his mind, he called this retirement: his reward for a life of service to the Force and the innocent. Granted, most Jedi stuck around until the Force took them into its energetic embrace, but he had always been a different sort of Jedi. Never truly light, never truly dark, never really anything in between. He was human. He accepted his needs and his desires. He knew of the necessity to accept them. Denying them would only result in something unfavorable.

 

Unfortunately, this self-imposed sentence of retirement had become something unfavorable as well. Life had become mundane. The old rush he felt remembered when wielding a lightsaber or using the Force was absent. The Force itself was not absent. His abilities were rusty, but not completely gone. For the most part, the main issue was his lack of activity or connection with life outside of the station. After years of dealing with various business assets and company fires, his company's affairs were in order. The station was doing well for its little corner of the galaxy. Everything felt stable and settled, which left him with an empty feeling. It wasn't a need for excitement or adrenaline. It was a need for something more: a feeling of doing something important in the galaxy. Making a difference once more: doing something good again. He had trained as a Jedi years ago; trained several padawans who became great Jedi in their own right. Back in the day, he and the other Jedi were making a different.

 

Now, he sat at his desk staring out the window. His feet propped up on a flat surface, he swiveled the chair back and forth in silent contemplation. Or perhaps it was mere surface contemplation. No depth. Just mindless thought. A retiree's form of meditation. An old Jedi, an old business man, an old friend; Tares merely sat. Deep down he knew something had to change. The Force was stirring once more. Something was calling to him, requiring his presence. It was a subtle feeling: no major presence or pull. And yet, it was growing in importance. Tares knew that change was in the air.

 

Days Later....

 

"Why wasn't I notified of this last week?" Tares asked as he sat staring at a datapad before him.

 

His secretary nervously shifted as he contemplated his rely, "The system didn't mark the transaction as suspicious until yesterday, sir. My apologies."

 

"There is no need to be sorry." Tares replied, "On the surface, there would appear to be very little to be suspicious about. I wonder why someone would be going through all this trouble just to hide some auction bids."

 

Tares' eyes scanned over the datapad with long intent. The pad presented a summary of several business transaction that had been executed on his company's dime. Most of the transactions were auction bids on items of varying purpose and value. The majority of the bids were failures, but a few had been successful in purchasing a number of random items. Tares flipped through the list of successful bids, trying to find any indication of some rhyme or reason. After a few moments of looking, one item caught his eye and memory.

 

The item lot was made up of a pair of silver etched bracers. The bracers gleaned in the artificial light of the holographic recording. The metal seemed recently shined and new again. The size of each bracer was smaller than what was considered typical for most humanoids. The former wearer's wrists would have had to been slender compared to most. Besides the typical features of the bracers, one property grabbed Tares' attention. The symbols etched all along the bracers seemed rather familiar to Tares. He couldn't place his finger on them, but he knew that he had seen those symbols in his past dealings. The destination of delivery marked on the winning bid was also of curiosity to Tares. The destination was marked as Hoth; for one of the last outlying outposts still in service of the surface of the moon.

 

"Cancel all of my appointments for the day. I want to personally explore this mystery." Tares said as he rose from his chair. "Get my ship ready for departure."