suitably_heroic | In Orbit Around Onderon, Tuesday Afternoon Fandom Time

Atton	"Well, this is Onderon," Atton said with a sigh as he put the Ebon Hawk into park. "Looks like there's a long line to get into Iziz Starport." Just what he needed. A hangover and a queue.
Kreia	Kreia stepped into the cockpit, her hands folded into her sleeves. "Something feels wrong here," she said. "A great disturbance here in orbit... and again on the planets below."
Atton	Atton had known Kreia for long enough now that he could parse that into something that actually made sense to their situation. "I guess this blockade is a symptom of larger problems on Onderon," he said.
Mira	"If they decide to do a cargo search, we're going to be in trouble," Mira said, frowning.
Atton	"Looks like we're about to find out," Atton muttered, staring out into the crowded expanse of space awaiting them. The console before him bleeped. "I'm receiving a message from a Colonel Tobin," he said. His fingers danced over the controls. "Patching it through now..." The good Colonel's voice had a kind of growl to it - a scratchiness. He didn't sound pleased. "The Ebon Hawk. I was told to expect your arrival. I don't know your business on Onderon, but it ends here." "... and that's the end of the message," Atton said, blinking. "Weir--"
Mira	The Ebon Hawk rocked hard under the force of a bolt that smashed into the rear, sending Mira crashing into the back wall.
Atton	Oh, space. Atton nearly broke the console getting the ship out of park, then hit the throttle as hard as he could. The ship flipped and danced through space, dodging most hits, but not all of them. "We've taken some hits!" he snapped. "We can try to fight back, or I can outrun them and hide on the jungle moon nearby. It's your choice!" He pushed the ship into a barrel roll to avoid the next barrage.
Meetra	"I'll man the turret," Meetra called, dashing through the hallways. She yanked herself up into the turret dome and began firing, taking out two ships in rapid succession.
Atton	It wasn't enough. A few more volleys managed to smash into the Ebon Hawk, sending Kreia sprawling. Atton snarled. "I can't keep us in one piece much longer!" he bellowed. "Sorry to spoil your fun, but we really have to land now!" He yanked on the controls, then reached forward, plotting a course towards the nearby moon as quickly as he could manage. The ship rocked as it hit the atmosphere at a terrible angle, but Atton could manage it - kept the ship stable as the various incoming-fire warning lights started blinking off one by one. He touched down on a horizontal slab of jungle, right between the trees; his console only gave off a little bit of smoke. He blew out a breath. "You know," he said, "Just once, I wish somebody would be happy to see us. But no, if it isn't weapons pointed at our heads, it's someone trying to blast us out of the sky!" He shook his head and sighed wistfully. "I miss the days when 'welcoming committee' used to mean something. Not being followed by blaster bolts."
Meetra	Meetra had heard this spiel a few times now, so she ignored it. "Where did we land?"
Atton	"Looks like one of the moons of Onderon. Not sure which one," Atton said, glancing outside. "I did pick up the remains of an old outpost near here. Maybe that's why there are so many clearings around - could be abandoned settlements."
Kreia	"There were no settlements," Kreia said. She righted herself gingerly. "Those clearings were most likely once craters - or crash sites."
Atton	"Crash sites?" Atton echoed, frowning.
Kreia	Kreia walked towards the window and glanced outside. "This is Dxun," she said decisively. "It's where the Mandalorians began their crusade against the Republic. The remains of whatever outposts you detected here are military ones." She looked towards Meetra. "We should be careful."
Atton	"This is where the Mandalorian Wars started?" Atton asked, sitting back. He had a better view from here. "It doesn't look like much of a battlefield."
Kreia	"Much is buried here," Kreia said quietly. "And much should remain buried."
Meetra	Meetra pinched her brow. Okay. First things first. "Can you fix the ship?"
Atton	"It's taken a little damage, nothing too serious," Atton said, as he redirected his attention to the various readings popping up on his screen. "I'm shutting down all unnecessary systems until we make repairs." He touched a few buttons. "It'll keep us from being a target."
Meetra	She nodded. "When can we leave?"
Atton	"Well, until the ship is repaired, we're not going anywhere," Atton reported. "Unless you can find another way to Onderon, we should sit tight for a while."
Kreia	Predictably, Kreia said, "The Force guided us here for a reason. There may be another route to Onderon ahead." She turned to Meetra. "We should explore our surroundings. There is... something here."
Atton	And there she went again, like clockwork. "'Something'?" Atton echoed. "Oh, there's something here all right - predators. Not small flipdarters, but big, mean, nasty predators."
Kreia	Ugh, the fool. "Nevertheless, we should explore," Kreia said, "and the nearby outpost would be as good a place as any to begin."
Meetra	Meetra nodded. "Then let's head to the outpost," she said. It seemed like their best bet.
Atton	"Well, if you go, be careful," Atton said, shrugging. "No telling what other ships were forced down in the battle."
Meetra	Meetra pursed her lips and nodded. "I'll get everyone ready," she said, and turned and walked further back into the ship.
Kreia	Kreia watched her go. Then she turned her attention back to the fool. "I have a feeling the ship will not be repaired until our business here is concluded," she said sharply. "Do I make myself clear?"
Atton	It was nice to be reminded that nothing he was doing here - nothing he had done - was actually of his own volition. (That was a lie. But Atton was nothing if not good at lying, especially to himself.) "Yeah," he said dryly. "I understand. What's so important about this place?"
Kreia	"This is where the Mandalorian Wars began," Kreia said. "She fought here once, and there are things here she must see."
Atton	Atton blinked. "She fought here?" he said. "Why didn't she say anything?"
Kreia	"Do you speak of all your battles?" Kreia asked him. She knew he didn't. In fact, of all the people aboard the ship, he was almost the least forthcoming. "Or are there some you wish to forget?"
Atton	... Yeah. Okay. She had a point. Atton looked at her. "...You know," he said. "I told her. I told her everything. I don't need to be doing this any more."
Kreia	Yes, she had sensed something. "And now you are free?" she said dryly.
Atton	"Yeah," Atton said, propping himself up. "So you know what, no more threats, no more of your 'requests'. You and me are done."
Kreia	He genuinely was a fool. "Did you ever think I truly held you?" Kreia asked, incredulously. "You are more of a fool than I thought. What truly held you was you - and let me show you why." She tilted her head. "That moment you decline to discuss even with your closest, back on your island... I once held the galaxy by the throat." Her mouth curved into a jagged smile. "As you once held her by the throat... and let her die slowly. Your emotion at that point is what you fear." And fear it strongly, he did. "I wielded power like you cannot imagine. Everything I saw was awash with possibilities, spreading outwards, touching everything else. I saw all of that, all that the Force is... and only when it was ripped from me did I truly see it." She tilted her head. "And I know what lies buried within you. That you hide with your desperate thoughts, your guilt, your lusts." Kreia's smile faded. "I can unlock that part of you any time I wish," she said. "It is a simple thing, the human mind. Once it feels something strongly, it becomes etched in the memory, the subconscious." Her voice hardened. "Shall I show you? That part of you that hungered to kill Jedi, that took pleasure from it? Or perhaps you will continue to listen to my counsel, and I shall ignore your pathetic attempts at freedom." This fool would never have freedom - not until he accepted that his actions were his own, his choices were his own. He would not be free until he ceased to blame her for his own steps towards the light; the changes in his own nature. "Now I will leave, murderer," she said, turning around. "I have nothing further to say to one such as you."