Heya Admiral. We're on the IMV Vallinor and things a little strange. OK. They are a *LOT* strange. Things were a little hairy getting from the shuttle to this... ship. It's about a half mile long and almost deserted. Waith, an Ex-Imperial Marine, is in charge of security here. He's from the 58th. Yes. I said the 58th. It's an honor to be around him but he's just like the Imperial Marines from back home - all business.

We got here and got changed out of our dirty clothes. Of course, nothing fits me. The thing they gave me to wear is too tight in the butt and too loose in the chest. Obviously made for someone built like a "Y" and not with an hour glass shape.

We got a little bit of a briefing from Waith but not much. He just warned us that there was a saboteur on board and to be careful. I think he wants to wait until later to tell us any more.

Dev is out for now. He's in a tank. Bad smack to the head. It happened right after that whole torpedo thing.

OH! Admiral, you will never guess who owns this rust-bucket that saved our lives! The Marquis Anatoly DeLorik! Yes! The Ex-Senator from the Toridan system. It is such an honor to be on his ship. He even spoke to me. I saw him in the Commons. Wait until Dad hears about this!

End Log: 78135.134.19:25

Open Log: 78135.135.10:27

Hi Admiral. Things are starting to get weird. This morning, when Yahnna and I were going to a private meeting, I noticed that some of the crew that we saw weren't really working. They were acting. I'm not sure how I knew to look for it. I let Yahnna know and she watched for it, too. I ended up bringing it up in the security briefing.

I... for the strangest reason, I got the idea that maybe... the whole crew is the enemy. Yeah. I know that's silly. I don't know why I thought it. I just did. I'm keeping that thought to myself for the moment

The security briefing was very hush-hush. We were in the Medical bay with the door closed, locked and Waith was doing some sort of scrambler thing. I know that the Rebellion is paranoid but this seemed over the top. Of course, we did get set up on Paranoth. So, maybe it's not too paranoid.

Let's see who was there... Meric. He was looking better. Found out he's the CO for the Command crew. And Val, that cute pilot. He was in and out from that other head injury. He got better during the meeting. Waith, of course. Annison Six and Annison Seven. Yep. Clones and sisters but nothing alike. Six is a tough security woman. Seven is a nice, shy Cargo deck controller. There were more but I don't remember their names off hand.

In any case, this meeting. Wow. It was interesting. We're going to the Rim, practically... to do an under water escavation a possible... get this... *whispering* Jedi Temple. I'm not kidding. And I think that Val is connected to it somehow. Meric's eyes kept flicking over to him during the talk, especially when talking about the relatives of the Jedi on the planet.

*voice normal again* In any case, we have run of this HUGE mining vessel. We are supposed to figure out who the saboteur is and tell the Command crew. We can only trust those that were in that meeting.

Dev woke up during the meeting, too. He's looking better and feeling better. That's good. He's a good kid.

End Log: 78135.135.10:43

Open Log: 78135.135.16:04

Oh geez, Admiral! Someone tried to kill Annison Six and Yahnna! The blaster bolt caused the ore dust to explode, taking out a couple of the decks in the middle of the ship! I didn't see Yahnna during the crisis and Dev took off to help do damage repair. So, I went up to the bridge. Ended up at Waith's station for a while. I helped where I could. Unfortunately, it wasn't much. My talents lie elsewhere as you well know.

The Marquis came onto the bridge a few hours after the worst of the crisis was over. It was real tense. I could tell that none of the Command Crew like him very much. DeLorik politely but firmly reminded Meric that this ship was not his and to care for it better. It was really strange and unnecessary. I'm finding that the Marquis' reputation to be at odds with his demeanor.... And I don't know what it means.

*pause* *whispering*

But that wasn't the most interesting thing that happened. I still can't believe it. I really can't. Just after the Marquis left and everyone was busy, Val suddenly stood up and left the Bridge. I don't know why, but I felt I should follow him. ... I found him in the Communications center, just standing there, his arms stretched out. It was like he was listening for something with his whole body. He immediately stopped when he saw me and started a diagnostic.

I know he was watching me as I came in and looked around, asking some questions. Suddenly, I felt like I was back on the Senate floor at home, facing another Senator. I knew that we needed to speak and it had nothing to do with the Communications array that we were chatting about.

So, I walked up to him and sat down. He was looking right through ... no... into me. So, I simply said what was on my mind. "You're one of the relatives, aren't you?" He said. "Not a relative as such." Then all those little clues suddenly formed the picture I had been seeking. "You're a Jedi." I said.

Admiral, I'm not ashamed to say that I was scared out of my mind. I didn't know if he was going to kill me or hug me or what. He looked at me and nodded and then said... I'll never, ever forget it. He said, "The Force is Strong in you." I thought I was going to pass out. I really did. I had goose bumps. That's when he closed and locked the Communications center so we could talk.

"You really are a Jedi?" I asked. He said "Yes. I am." And at the same time, in my head, he said "And you can be one, too." Oh man.... I just don't know what to think. I. Me. I could be a Jedi. A thing of Myth and Legend....

He asked me not to tell anyone. So, I'm not. I'm still trying to get over having met one.

End Log: 78135.135.16:31

Open Log: 78135.135.16:54

I just had a talk with Dev and Yahnna. It's the weirdest thing. Dev says that the whole crew isn't acting a normal crew. No one is gossiping or talking about the explosion. They aren't talking about anything interesting. Now, I -know- the best place to get gossip is the servants and crew. Something's not right here. Not at all.

Yahnna took off to talk to someone. Dev is headed out to talk to Waith. I think that I need to talk to Val again. This idea of mine... It's just too surreal to be real. And Val's the only one I know who can confirm it. Maybe.

End Log: 78135.135.17:01

Open Log: 78135.137.09:37

Oh, Admiral. Oh, God. We are so screwed. I can't believe it. It's not possible but, I saw it. With my own eyes. I... I'm scared but, I've a oddly upbeat feeling. Maybe that's my hang over. I'll start at the beginning.

Remember when I was telling you about seeing Val about an outlandish idea? Well, fortunately, sorta, it was too outlandish. OK. In the Communications center, Val said that someone had the ability to erase psychic impressions. It was something like being a... um... Jedi.... and using the Force. So, that means that there are two of them on board and one used the explosion as a cover to send a message...

So, I was thinking, that if there was another one on board, it was possible that they might be controlling the crew. Val was a little concerned about this, so we went out to test it. It turned out that Val couldn't get anything off of the person we passed. He freaked, calling the whole Command crew to the bridge.

At the same time, Dev and Yahnna had been talking to Waith. Dev hit it on the head. The crew were droids, made to look human. It was confirmed. Meric looked like someone slapped him in the face with a wet fish.

We went into overdrive. Apparently, being paranoid, Meric and the rest hid their ship, the IFC Iridium Rose, in an unused section of the ship. That was a very good idea. They headed there with Waith, Yahnna, Dev and me headed to the hyperdrive to blow it up. I was still upset at the implication that the Marquis was behind the sabotage all along.

We get there and are headed out and then we saw him. A dark figure at the other end of the hall. And he had a lightsaber. As soon as I saw it, I -knew- deep down that it was DeLorik. I don't know how I knew. Waith, Yahnna and Dev started firing on this guy and nothing was hitting him. Nothing.

Take all the myths and legends you've ever heard about the Jedi and their Jedi powers. Now, give those abilities to someone who is hell-bent on your destruction. That's what we were facing. He *survived* a plasma explosion at ground zero! Waith ended up taking him on as the rest of us escaped not 10 seconds before the hyperdrives exploded.

Dev, Yahnna and I raced back to the Iridium Rose. On the way, Dev showed his mettle by taking out all of the droid-humans we ran into on the way. Just as we got to the Iridium Rose, I heard Waith fighting with DeLorik. He was totally on the defensive. I never thought I'd see one of the 58th like that.

We got Waith in and shut out DeLorik for just long enough. I swear, he's not human. We took off, blowing our way out of the mining ship, barely escaping with most of us hurt and exhausted. I know DeLorik should be dead. I know it. No normal person could have survived it.... but he isn't normal. Somehow, I know he's still alive... out there... somewhere.

I tried to sense him. Don't laugh. It actually worked... well, sorta. I was actually able to sense Val. Now that I've had time to think about it, it would have been a bad thing to touch the Marquis. That would have met that he could have touched me, too. I need to tell my father about this. That the Marquis isn't the man we all thought he was.

Once we were all safe and knew it, we all got very drunk... very, very drunk.

End Log: 78135.137.10:11

Open Log: 78135.137.10:24

Admiral, what would you do if someone told you that you could become a Jedi? I don't know what to do. I'm a Senator. I'm the Duke's daughter. I have responsibilities and duties to my people, my family... my planet...

... And I would give it all up if that's what it meant to become a Jedi.

My eyes have been opened to something. I can't turn back now.

End Log: 78135.137.10:28

(c) 1999 - Eden Blackthorn