1 Hyperspace?

Carth flies us away from the Star Forge as it falls into the Rakatan sun. Looking out of the viewport, I take one final glance at my past.

It was here that I gained power. Enough power to rival the Republic. And it is here that I save them.

The journey was long and difficult, but I have made my decision.

Even if I have no love for the Jedi after what they did to me, that does not mean I could allow the Star Forge to exist. The potential, the threat it contains, is too strong.

My thoughts are interrupted by Carth making a report. "Jumping to hyperspace. We'll meet the rest of the fleet at Corellia."

"Wait." I don't know why I speak, but I do. "I need to see it gone. Once it touches the sun, then you can make the jump."

The crew gathered behind us gives me confused looks. Well, other than HK. He doesn't really care unless he gets to shoot his guns at some point. Unfortunately for him, there probably won't be much chance for that anymore.

Afterall, after Yuthura and I worked together to slay Uthar, I managed to convince her to join the Republic.

Heh. It definitely took some 'convincing', but by the end of the night she was VERY enthusiastic about being with me.

I suddenly feel three sets of glares on my back that I pretend not to notice. I should expect not to get any rest tonight. Insatiable women.

I'm pulled from my thoughts once again as I see the first flame touch the factory. I shout at Carth, "Punch it!"

He does and the Ebon Hawk begins to race out of the system as the entire factory ignites.

But it seems like I miscalculated. The Star Forge ignites for faster than I think anyone expected. It's as if someone turned the intensity of the sun into overdrive.

But I have no more time to ponder it as the shockwave hits us. The Ebon Hawk shakes, and I hear the crew behind me banging into the walls and T3 beeping like crazy.

Damn, that droid has a modulator on him.

"Hold on everybody! Our coordinates have been scrambled, and I can't overwrite them!" Carth's voice is worried, but not panicked. Being thrown into near impossible situations has done wonders for everyone's nerves.

"Just make sure that we don't end up flying into a planet or a star!" I respond.

Before he can make a comeback, the ship lurches as we shoot off.

But this time is different.

Instead of the usual mass of blue associated with hyperspace travel, outside the viewports is an interconnected series of red and blue, as if they're fighting.

Unable to look away, I watch as the red is slowly overcome by the blue, but before it is completely overwhelmed, it stops. Slowly, the red grows deeper, darker. As it does, it slowly spreads. Not overpowering the blue, but permeating it.

Hiding from it, just under the surface. Eventually, once it has spread under everything, it strikes. Immediately the blue is gone, only a few pockets of it remain. But as time passes, those pockets are consumed as well. Now all that remains are small, dim pockets of blue in a sea of red.

Even those fade in time, until only a handful remain, so dim that it's a miracle I can even see them.

But then a new spark of blue ignites in the sea of red. It grows brighter, and as it does more blue begins to pop into existence around it. It quickly returns to its original state of battle, though the red is still stronger than the blue. But suddenly, the original blue that started the new battle shines.

It shines so brightly that the red is obliterated. No trace of it remains. For a good while, the blue remains, unchanging, unmoving.

Until suddenly, half of it disappears. It takes a few moments before I can understand what's happening. But when I do, a shiver runs down my spine. A darkness has appeared and devoured the blue, half of it gone in a single bite.

Before I can see more though, we exit hyperspace. With a lurch,the Ebon Hawk reenters normal space, and below us, a brown planet.

In the pilot seat is Carth, unconscious. Behind me I hear a few groans, but I can tell that other than the droids, most of the others are unconscious as well. The exceptions are Bastilla, and Canderous.

"What in the hell was that!?"

"Something... something dangerous."

I turn around and stare at my four conscious friends.

Canderous is slumped against the wall a hand on his head.

Bastilla is on her knees shivering, her face pale.

HK has his gun drawn, unsure of what happened but ready to fight if need be.

T3 is silent, examining those on the ground, trying to determine if the medpacs would help them recover.

Taking a shaky breath, I speak.

"That," I gulp, "was our next fight."