A.N. This chapter seems a bit rushed to me, but there is a pleasant surprise for some of you in the end.

Silence settled in the room. And what was there to say? People found themselves in a peculiar position. If they remained silent, that terrorist was going to kill them. If they responded...Between the Emperor's wrath and a death threat from the armed maniacs they would rather pick the last one. Still, Phantom's rage was a theory, even if an obvious one, but rampant terrorists were standing before the guests. The leader sighed and made a few shots in the air.

"I'm waiting!" He shouted.

No one said a word, so the man decided to change an approach. His eyes fell on Komand, and he grinned behind his closed helmet.

"Well, well, well. Good evening, Duchess. Your father sends his regards."

While Komand growled slightly, Valerie was confused. She did not have time to learn about the Imperial politics.

"Then you probably know what happens if you all but lay a finger on me," Komand smirked.

"Damn, you are right, girl. What am I supposed to do now?" The man tapped on his chin theatrically. Then in a blink he slapped her so hard that everyone heard it. "Ah yes, I just remembered that I don't care because they need my services. If he doesn't pay me, others will. I repeat. Where. Is. The brat."

"Like hell I'll tell you," Komand said through gritted teeth.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, you just have to make it complicated. You care about the girl, don't you? I can't help but wonder, though..." he pointed a blaster at the woman's head. "Alright, princess, come out and no one will be harmed. If you don't, your friend won't come out ali...AGH!"

The mercenary grabbed his leg in pain. He looked to the side and saw Dani with an angry pout on her face. The girl hadn't yet realized how strong she actually was, but nevertheless she hit the man's leg using all her strength, which was that of a champion boxer.

"Stay away from Komy!" She exclaimed.

Komand used the distraction to use the Force push. The man dropped his blaster and was thrown into the wall. His companions didn't know what to do, but Komand had enough time to hide the girl behind her. Suddenly the woman took out the lightsaber out of nowhere.

"Where have you kept this thing?!" Valerie asked.

"You really want to know that?" Komand deadpanned.

The mercenary got up on his feet. "Enough, kill those two and get me the girl," he ordered and took out a reserve blaster.

They opened fire, and the room was covered in multiple red, blue and green blasts. The guests screamed and lied on a ground, hoping that the terrorists won't touch them. And they weren't planning to. Komand deflected several shots back to their senders, flipped the nearest table and hid behind it, Valerie followed and did the same thing. Dani was clutching the yuth woman tightly in fear. How strange is behavior of small kids, one second they kick the terrorist and then fear those same terrorists. Komand couldn't fight with Dani in her arms, but she noticed that Valerie was unarmed. She saw the mercenary's blaster lying on the ground and pulled it into her hand.

"Catch!" Komand called and Valerie took the blaster.

"I've never killed anyone!" The dark skinned woman called.

"Then use the stun mode, there is a switch on the left side."

Valerie did as was told, before peaking outside and firing. Blue ring of energy hit one of the assailants, knocking him out. Valerie's hair got a burn from minor impact from the terrorists. They had to take cover as well now. Komand felt Dani shaking even more.

"Where is Daddy?" She cried and looked up at her with teary face.

"Shh, don't worry, baby girl," Komand said, stroking her hair and using her free hand to launch a far away table, knocking away the terrorists who tried to get around their cover. She felt a pang in both of her hearts at seeing the girl so scared.

"I think I know an answer for her question," Valerie interrupted with wide eyes, before they all heard a very loud and pronounced crack. "And it won't be pretty."

One of the terrorists got an idea. He took out a thermal detonator and prepared to lure them out of their hiding. But then, when he was about to throw it, something grabbed his arm and twisted it, snapping several bones in process. The man yelled in pain and dropped already activated grenade. The Emperor appeared out of nowhere, and his murderous look alone was enough to pierce them like a bullet and burn them down to ash. His crimson glowing eyes stared into their soul, and his white hair were now a raging inferno. Phantom caught the grenade and clenched his fist, absorbing the entire explosion.

The mercenaries didn't have any time to react, before being thrown into the air. But luckily for them, his list of torture was short enough. One move of his gloved fist, their spines were fractured in multiple places, and their necks were snapped in unnatural angles. All but one now lied dead on the ground. Their leader was still there, attempting to run. Phantom swiped his hand and he was pulled on the ground, right under the Emperor's white boot.

"Name me one reason not to throw you into the nearest Black Hole," he whispered, as an animalistic growl escaped his throat.

"Uhm, I can give you information!"

"Wrong answer, I already have two informers," Danny said, before grabbing the man's collar and dissappearing with him.

When he reappeared, Phantom dusted his clothes from space dust. People stared in fear at the man, and were happy that they weren't the ones on receiving end of his terrific power.

"Daddy!"

The second he heard his little girl's voice, Danny's look turned back to normal this same second as he looked at Dani. The girl hugged his leg tightly, and Phantom kneeled and hugged her in response, tighter than ever before. To imagine what could happen, it terrified Danny to even think about that. Dani was crying and sobbing into his shoulder, leaving strands on his black clothing.

"Shh, sweetheart, Daddy is here, everything is alright," Danny said soothingly, purposely turning her away from dead bodies. "Show is over, everyone. Out!"

In other circumstances, the guests would have been insulted, but in this situation, they could understand. Poor father was all on nerves at the moment. Besides, they were only happy to get home, drink alcohol or/and eat antidepressants in industrial amounts. The room emptied itself in no time, leaving only Phantoms and close friends. Danny looked at Valerie and Komand.

"Where were you?" Komand asked.

"Nimot was indeed a loyalist. He lured me into the sharpshooter's line of sight. I had to beat him too, but it took longer than I anticipated. You better return home, Val, your Dad would flip otherwise."

"You are right. See you later."

As Valerie left the room, Danny attempted to get up, but Danielle held him in a strong grip, fearing to let go and still quietly sobbing. Older Phantom sighed sadly and scooped the girl in his arms. He gave Dani a kiss on the forehead and turned to leave, with Komand following behind. The woman felt an enormous amount of anger and hatred, covered by a sad expression of his face. And the silence between them was only interrupted by steady sounds of boots hitting the floor, echoing through massive, but empty corridors. This silence was becoming more and more unbearable.

"What's on your mind?" Komand asked.

"Isn't that obvious?" Phantom said grimly and raised his eyebrow as he looked at the apprentice.

"What you want, yes. What are you planning, on the other hand, is not."

"Most media are under my control. By next noon the entire Empire will know who they are secretly agitated to sympathize. I'll make sure that this attack will backfire extremely painfully for them. I don't care about Krell efficiency anymore, so we will just put a loyal directorate. If they will be efficient, that will be even better."

They walked to Danielle's room. It was big, twenty meters across, while Danny's was just behind the corridor's corner. Half of the room remained empty, since the girl hadn't yet formed her interests in her short life. It was painted in light blue colors, had a big window, currently hidden behind a curtain. There was a huge bed, which could fit an entire legion, and, as Dani had previously proven, was quite jumpy. The girl was quiet all the way, and just as quiet when her father was putting black pajamas with white stars on her. Phantom switched off the lights, and only a lava lamp was lighting the bed.

Danny put the girl on her bed, but when he turned away, he found that Dani was still holding his hand.

"Can you sleep with me, Daddy?" She asked. "I'm scared."

This request just physically couldn't be denied. "Alright," Danny sighed.

The girl was forgetting that her father didn't need sleep at all, but he still lied down next to her without taking off his clothes. Dani smiled thankfully and snuggled closer. Komand, who was all the while observing parental interaction, smiled slightly, too. Dani suddenly looked up from her father's chest.

"Hey, Komy, can you sleep here, too," She said innocently, causing Danny and Komand to blush.

"Uhm, I'm not sure..."

"Pleaaase," Dani pleaded.

Curse this adorableness. The woman lied down a bed, too, with Dani lying between two adults. The girl seemed very content now, and fell asleep with a cute smile on her face. Danny and Komand avoided eye contact with each other. However, what they couldn't deny is that it felt...nice. After a few minutes Phantom noticed that the others fell asleep. The main problem was that the only way for him to fall asleep as well was to knock himself out. He physically couldn't sleep.

When he saw that Dani was sleeping, he decided to use one peculiar ability. Such events could prove to be traumatic to her, and as a father, he couldn't allow it. If only he managed to erase that memory from her mind...he needed to be careful with that. Danny and cloosed his eyes and put a hand on her forehead. Concentrating, he managed to erase it, or so he supposed. He would have to wait till the morning to find out if it had really worked.

Phantom phased out of his daughter's grip, before soundlesly walking out of the room and getting to his cabinet. He didn't bother turning on the lights, bright white moon shone through the window, simply flopping on a chair. Phantom made a call through holocommunicator, and the room was covered in blue light.

"Your Highness!" The officer stood still and bowed.

"Where is the admiral?" Phantom asked.

"Sir, it's about midnight, her post shift is over. I can call for her, if you wish..."

"No, no, just pass my orders. Prepare Hyperion for departure at noon. I also need enough Gage-class ships to fit inside the First Legion. Inform the general about this, and tell him to prepare his troops for departure."

"Do you need more warships?"

"That's enough for our task. Ah, also I need the biggest construction ships to follow us. Complete your orders."

The officer bowed, before ending the call. Phantom leaned back in his chair. There was much work to be done.

By the morning, just as he planned, all media started massive campaign of mixing the loyalists with dirt. And those people were damn good at it. Besides, it wasn't much of an effort, no matter how noble they claim their intentions were, they still attacked a three years old girl, which was disgusting by itself. Phantom went through to...ask...his captives about their movements. Nimot died quickly, not everyone could stand several hundred bolts of electricity, Danny was the one who knew it too well.

The mercenary didn't crack that easily. Danny suspected he wasn't just payed to resist so strongly, there should have been some motivation. Sadly, Phantom didn't have much time for the job, his departure was coming soon, and he had to purchase some things, incognito, of course. Danny entered his daughter's bedroom when the sunlight was already peaking from behind closed curtains. Phantom sat on a chair near the bed, smiling at what he was seeing.

Dani was now cuddling near Komand, snuggled deeper in her chest. They looked so adorable together. Danny was disappointed that he had to break that peaceful scene.

"Hey, girls, time to wake up," He called playfully.

Komand groaned quietly, rubbing her eyes with a hand not under the still sleeping girl. "What time is it?" She asked.

"About ten am," Danny shrugged, getting up and walking to his daughter. "Good morning, Little Phantom, wake up," he gently whispered.

Dani hummed and shifted on her place. "Won't," she mumbled.

"You won't wake up?" Danny asked in amusement, as Komand chuckled.

The girl shook her head in negative, without opening her eyes. Danny sighed dramatically.

"I guess I'll have to keep a surprise to myself..."

Dani's eyes snapped open. "What is it?" She asked excitedly, getting into sitting position.

Phantom chuckled and gave the girl a morning hug. "Well, after...yesterday...I've decided we need a little rest. And I know just the planet for that. Nice beach and sea. Once you will be ready, we will go just there."

Dani got stars in her eyes, before she ran off to the bathroom for a morning ritual, pulling Danny after her. Komand meanwhile stared at him with dumbfounded expression. Phantom brushed the little girl's teeth and washed her face. When they returned to the room, Komand was still sitting there. Danny said Dani to pick the clothes she wanted, before sitting on a bed near his friend.

"Explain," Komand said.

"Explain what?" Phantom smirked teasingly. "That I want to spend some time with my daughter?"

"Right after she was almost..." She started angrily, but Phantom put a hand over her mouth.

"Don't remind her about that, and she will be fine. I have erased her memory about the assault," Danny whispered.

"Still, you said you are planning to destroy the loyalists."

Danny's smirk grew into a full blown grin. "Who said that one thing outweighs another? It's just a part of my plan, and Lehon just happened to be a gaia world. Why not enjoy it while we can?"

Komand sighed. "You are unbelievable."

"Sure am. Are you not coming?"

"I am, I'll go pack some things."

"Oh, so you DO want to rest on a seacoast," Danny smiled innocently, before a pillow flew into his face.

A few hours later Phantom made a portal for everyone to get on Hyperion. They settled into their rooms and Danny, leaving the girl in care of Komand, left to the bridge. There he was greeted by the crew and a cup of smoking Terran coffee. Oh, and HK.

"Query: Who are we going to kill today, Master?"

"And that's what I get instead of greeting," Danny deadpanned, making a sip of hot drink. "You are about to experience nostalgia, my dear friend. Have the coordinattes been set?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Then let's not waste time. Order the ships to commence a jump to Rakata Prime."

HK's processor got an unexpected error. The droid approached his Master slowly.

"Confusion: Have I heard you correctly?"

"Yep."

"Query: And for what purpose?"

"To rebuild what you have destroyed four thousand years ago. Just imagine what will happen when we get the Star Forge in our disposal. To transform energy into the matter...we will become invincible."

"Nostalgic satement: I can tell. A lot of useless meatbags died that day. Query: But how are you planning to rebuild this piece of unknown technology?"

"Simple. Every construction has own blueprints. They must be somewhere on this planet. Why do you think I have brought you with me? You are the only here who has visited this planet before. Any ideas where to search?"

The droid looked on a distance, staring into blue abyss of hyperspace. "Uncertain statement: I cannot say for sure, we were occupied with another things. Trying to get off that cursed planet, for instance. Suggestion: There is one more or less cooperative tribe. We can beat out the answers from them."

Danny sighed. "That's what I hear from half protocol droid. Diplomacy isn't your thing. We will ASK them to share information."

"Advice: Don't let your ships get too close, their powerful tractor beams will crash your ships on the ground."

Phantom nodded. "We weren't planning on immediate approach to the planet. First we have to check the Star Forge itself. You are dismissed, we have a twelve hours way ahead of us."

The travel went peacefully. Danny was interrupted multiple times from playing with his baby girl. That was to be expected when he had departed without warning a little more than no one. It had own purpose. Phantom wanted the loyalists to think he backed down, while media were showing a video message he had left. Also, he had to respond to multiple complaints of traumatized officials. He payed for their healing and wounds from his treasury.

Yes, the Emperor's authority was undermined by that attack, especially on Terra. After all, he called himself an 'undisputed ruler'. Now it seemed like an active political struggle, and like rats they wanted to get off the sinking ship, in their opinion. Danny ordered to organize a few operations, like taking volunteers for free colonization, hereby fighting poverty, overpopulation and famines not only by lending humanitarian aid.

Phantom could use two paths, or both. It was either control over the powerful superweapon, or the most merciless crackdown in the Empire's history. The last thing won't meet any massive resistance, but Danny still would execute only those, whose involvement was unquestionable. That, along with many other things, took a lot of time. Dani was sad that her father was busy, but didn't say anything about it.

Older Phantom wondered where such humility came from. It had to come from Vlad's meddling, because Danny never was so obedient, even in young age. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, on the contrary, but the girl needed to gain self confidence, not just live in her father's shadow. Well, at least it meant that her teenage years should be easy.

And when the small fleet was about to exit the subdimension, Danny was on the bridge, sitting in his chair. Komand was standing by his side, and Dani was having a daily nap on his lap, leaning on Phantom's chest. Everyone kept glancing on the adorable scene and couldn't supress multiple smiles.

Soon Hyperion slowed down, and the room was filled incredibly bright sunlight. Why, because they were as close to the local star as possible.

"Run a deep scan of surroundings and try to find any savageable parts."

Despite the tiniest chance of finding anything, the crew completed his command. To everyone's, except Danny's, surprise, there were indeed pieces of debris floating around the sun. Small parts, big ones, and by simply summing their size, it was already at the very least twenty six miles in size. Phantom hummed, there weren't enough ships to contain all of them.

"Order construction teams to move all the parts they can find away from the star, and pile the ones which can fit inside their hangers. We will examine them later."

A few seconds afterwards, his order was passed. Then Danny ordered to run a scan of the entire system.

"Your Highness, we have found a planet of terrestrial class. It is fourth away from the star."

"Wonderful. Construction teams must remain here, others jump to that planet, bu stay on a big distance from it."

Astromechs started making calculations, and a few seconds later the results were inserted into navigation computer. The flight took no more than twenty minutes. When the fleet exited hyperspace, there was one small blue dot far on a distance. HK decided to insert his two cents.

"Statement: Taking a smaller ship is a suicide."

"What do you offer, then?"

"Explanation: We can run another scan to find the source of tractor beam. Then you can teleport right to the point and turn it off. And the locals' settlement is not far away."

Danny put a hand on his chin. "You heard him, men," he called.

One scan later, a massive source of energy was spotted on the lightened side of the planet. Phantom looked at the sleeping girl in his hands, before making a duplicate and handing the girl to him.

"Komand, HK, follow me," original Danny said, getting up from his seat.

They stepped through the green portal he had created. Even though Danny couldn't pinpoint the exact location, it was still very close. At first both him and Komand were captivated by sight from their small hill. The landscape looked like a battlefield, filled with hundreds of craters. But instead of lifeless wasteland there was a lush green valley. Whatever battle had previously transpired there, it was long ago. On a distance was a seacoast, and what a coast it was. Pearly white sands, pure blue sea which will make Maldives jealous. If not for half sunken spaceships on a distance, it would have been perfect.

HK let out a metallic cough. "Impatient statement: Are you done watching?" He asked.

"Yeah, yeah," Komand said.

"Party pooper," Phantom grumbled. "Lead the way."

HK was not a useless meatbag, and his processor couldn't get old. Even if it was a few thousand years ago, he remembered the path perfectly. He wondered where rancors were, though. Then they heard a loud stomping as the ground beneath them started to rumble. Oh, that's where.

They turned around and faced the beast. It was twice their size, five meters tall, walking on two strong, but stubby legs. The beast had rough brown skin and hunched back. Its long hands reached its knees, and each of four fingers ended with razor sharp claws. Two black pupiless eyes stared beadily at them, as multiple snorts escaped from the holes on its flat noseless face. Usually rancors attacked on sight, but this one seemed confused at first.

"What is that thing?!" Komand whispered.

"Rancor," Danny explained. "What is he doing away from Dathomir is another question."

"Answer: Crash landing," HK added.

Rancor kept sniffing them from his place twenty meters away. HK was obviously not his interest, durasteel was not a sort of meat. Same went for Phantom, the young man was made purely of something which smelled grossly to it. Komand, on the other hand, smelled just like it preferred. Danny in turn didn't like how the beast looked at her. Before he could do anything, HK took initiative and fired from his rifle. Blaster bolt bounced off the beast, making it growl thunderously.

"Embarrassment: I've completely forgotten about that."

Rancor roared and stood on all fours, before running towards them on high speed. Phantom pushed away his companions, becoming intangible in the process. Rancor's clawed palm went through him. Komand jumped on her feet and turned on the lightsaber, while HK did the same and attempted to aim into unprotected parts. Phantom turned around and threw an ectoblast into its face. It hit the beast and it howled in pain. Protection or not, eyes couldn't have any armor.

Suddenly the rancor howled loudly, and the ground shook again, but much, much louder. Soon, a bigger rancor appeared from behind the hill, and that one was ten meters tall. The predator roared, and it sounded really angry.

"Looks like we have pissed off its mommy," Komand deadpanned.

"I heard rancors are very smart. Maybe if we just walk away..."

"Statement: You've already attacked her kid."

"Damn."

Now the family of predators attacked the group. Phantom immediately jumped high in the air, right on the mother's back, getting her undivided attention. She was trying to shake him, but Phantom remained intangible whenever her hand was about to hit him.

Komand rolled away from the kid, and HK, having a plan in his processor, wasn't in hurry. Playing into his hands, young rancor grabbed the droid and roared.

"Exclamation: Here is your breakfast, brat!" He exclaimed, throwing something right into the beast's mouth.

Rancor didn't even gulp, the object just fell down its throat. When it was about to smash HK at the ground, something rumbled inside its stomach. As a smoke came out of the beast's mouth, it moaned and fell on the ground, unclenching his hand. Komand, who was about to slash it, stared at the scene in front of her in confusion.

"What just happened?" She asked.

HK broke the dead beast's claw and got out of its grip. "Explanation: My old Master created this method to kill off these creatures. Their insides are not protected from grenades. Oh, I'm thrilled to imagine how its insides turned into morning porridge."

They heard another roar, remembering about Danny. Remaining rancor became even more ferocious. Phantom was still holding a spike on the beast's back. Seeing that the others were done, Phantom created an ice blade, harder than strongest metals of the galaxy and, with all his strength, he pierced the rancor's skull. Blood and brain liquid poured like a fountain, grossing the ghost out. The rancor fell on the ground. Danny jumped from the corpse and phased off the nasty liquids.

"Statement: That works, too."

"HALT!"

Suddenly the group found themselves surrounded by a group of seven aliens. They had orange-yellowish skin, similar to that of a frog. Somewhere slim, somewhere rough. Their distinguishable trait were tall heads, twice taller than human ones. Their eyes were round, positioned on two short stalks on the left and right side of their heads. They were dressed in brown robes, which looked very primitive. Danny's eyes widened in shock. It couldn't be...

"I thought they are extinct," he whispered. Danny saw Komand reaching for the lightsaber, but stopped her with a look.

One of the aliens stepped forward. In his hands he was holding a seemingly usual spear.

"Outlanders, we agreed, you don't trespass our territory, we leave you alone," he said, hardly speaking Basic. And he didn't sound pleased.

Phantom decided to speak. "My apologies, I believe you have mistaken us for someone else. We came here with peaceful intentions, and our comrades are waiting for us on the orbit."

"You want turn off tractor beam," Rakata narrowed his eyes.

"Hear me out, please," Danny said, putting a hand on his chest. "Just let me speak with your leader."

The alien noticed two downed rancors. "Your prey is our. Then we go."

Komand choked down her laugh. That guy sounded so ridiculous.

"Of course," Danny said with a smile. "Take them."

Rakata started cutting pieces of meat from predators. Once they packed as much meat into bags, the aliens started going in direction of their settlement.

"So those are the natives you talked about?" Phantom asked the droid, receiving a nod.

"Affirmative: This meatbags have gone through regression. But they will tell you more, I believe."

"Why did they regress?" Komand asked curiously.

"When the Infinite Empire crumbled, Rakata started fighting with each other for power. I think now I know where those craters came from. Albert Einstein once said, 'I don't know what weapons will be used in the Third World War, but the Fourth would be waged with sticks and rocks.' A massive conflict is enough for them to return to tribal life. But I thought they have killed each other."

They walked silently after that. The group soon saw a settlement, which was one stone building. The front entrance was surrounded by a laser barrier. Hm, it wasn't a complete regression, after all. The Rakata made a call through the intercom, and received an order. He approached the group as the doors started sliding open.

"Elders agreed on your proposal. You follow."

Danny nodded and their guide went inside. The group followed through the corridors, catching eyes of multiple aliens. Understandable reaction. They were led inside an oval room, in its far end three Rakata were sitting on soft pillows. They weren't distinguishable from the others. The Elder in the center decided to speak.

"What brings you here, Outlanders?" He asked in clear Basic.

Phantom bowed slightly in respect. "Pardon our intrusion. We came here to..."

Another Elder raised his hand. "Muchitch told us why. We are asking why you need it?"

Danny decided to be truthful in this matter. "Our ships will crash down otherwise."

"What ships?" The Elders seemed to be on guard.

"We come in peace," Phantom said, bursting into laughter on the inside. He loved saying this. "We are just searching for ancient relic of your people. We were not aware that your race still lives."

"So if we weren't, you would have just defiled our ancestors' graves?" One of the Elders asked angrily.

"Lanok, you are forgetting WHO our ancestors were," the central Elder scolded his colleague. "Please, continue, Outlander. What exactly do you seek?"

After a moment, Danny answered. "The blueprints of the Star Forge."

The central Elder was the only one keeping a stoic expression. He silenced his angry colleagues by raising his hand. Seeing that they shut their mouths immediately, Danny guessed that he had a big authority.

"We have done this mistake before. We have told Lord Revan and Lord Malak how to use still operational station. They killed billions because we had believed them, even if Revan redeemed himself in the end. I see that you are accompanied by the droid who followed Revan generations ago. Is that just the same model or is it indeed him?"

"Affirmative: Yes, I was here back then."

The Elder nodded. "What affliction do you have to Revan, child?"

"Revan's spirit talked to me, and asked HK to follow me on my future travels. I'm simply a follower of his ways."

"If you follow his ways, why are you asking to teach you how to build a superweapon?"

"I'm an idealist. I wish eternal peace, but the others don't share my point of view. They seek to destroy the Empire I've worked so hard to create. You of all people should know how dangerous this region is. I've brought freedom and peace through the power of my army. But to do the same with the country ruling half of the Galaxy, we need an equal amount of industrial might."

The Elder's face remained neutral. "The Star Forge was everything we have sworn to abandon. It was not just a factory, and not a tool. It had own sentience, an evil and twisted one at that, just like its masters'. It stopped working when our connection to the Force was cut off, because the station was fueled by the Dark Side. It corrupted people who visited it, and turned its workers into mindless drones. Do you wish the same to happen again?"

"Of course not, but knowing how exactly it worked, we will be able to research different ways of powering it. It can be either powered from both sides of the Force, or a peculiar element, which gains interesting properties in contact with it."

"Brothers, what are your decision on that matter?" The central Elder asked on their own language, unaware that Phantom understood them perfectly.

"We shall give them nothing, the Outlanders only bring cruelty and conflicts. Their wars will come to us eventually."

The main Elder nodded and turned to the last one. He rubbed his slim chin.

"Not necessarily, brother. If they wanted war with us, they would have just attacked and took the blueprints. So, we can dictate our terms."

"I can see your point," the main Elder said, "And I have an idea."

The Rakata looked at the group. "We, although reluctantly, agree on your request, but we have conditions of our own."

"Understandable, name them."

"First, we will give you the schematics, but the Star Forge must not enter this system. Second, you may examine this same blueprints, but do not build it until finding an acceptable power source. And the last thing, we want our planet to remain isolated and untouched. Untouched by any outlanders. Take them away from this world, I'm sure they won't be against it."

Danny tapped on the ground. He had spent a lot of time creating ectogenerators, along with IRB, and the progress was considerable. Still, it slowed down the process. But what choice did he have?

"May we at least build outer carcass? If we won't succeed, it shall be our problem, right?"

"How do we know you are not going to pull time until you build the entire station?"

"You may observe the construction," Danny said, as a deceiving plot grew in his mind.

The carcass was going to be built, but it shall remain as it is, while he commences a full blown construction in different system. He just couldn't waste any time.

The Rakata looked at each other, before discussing the matter. After a short while, the main Elder looked at Danny.

"We agree," he nodded, making the ghost beam at them.

"Great!" Danny stepped forward, but several spears were pointed at his throat. "Alright, handshake is not common around here," he raised his hands in surrender. HK and Komand snickered from their places.

"No, it is not. But we will be happy to invite you for a feast in honor of successful hunting season."

Phantom chuckled. "Well, traditions must be honored."

While the feast was being set up, Danny was shown to the secret room with an ancient computer. All data was kept there, but he wasn't allowed to copy it, they have given him a special device, a holocron, to which they had transmitted the information. They have warned him against trying to copy the blueprints. Meanwhile HK and Komand entered the Temple of the Ancients, where the tractor beam could be turned off.

Despite the Temple's half destroyed condition, HK still recognized the path he had walked all those years ago. Several times Komand had to clean up the road from debris using the Force. The droid seemed to move comparably tiny stones on purpose. They soon were on the balcony, surrounded by multiple columns. So much space for a small computer. When Komand approached it, she cursed slightly. This language was unknown to her. She heard a metallic chuckle behind her.

"Statement: I have knowledge of several of the offered languages."

"Just get to it, tin can."

HK decided to give payback later and approached the computer, tapping on several keys.

"How do you have this knowledge? I doubt it was downloaded into you."

"Cocky statement: In case you haven't noticed the language has changed."

Komand looked at the monitor, and the writings took different form.

"Explanation: I may not know why they would need to put such a function on computer with this purpose. It is translated to the Selkath' language, they were once Rakata slaves, and, unlike many, still exist. I know how to speak it. Here, done, we can return to the Master."

Komand nodded and turned to the exit. As they walked back to the settlement, the woman had informed the fleet about turned off tractor beam. It allowed them to come to the orbit. When they returned it was already a sunset. There were already noises coming from inside the settlement. When the group got inside, they were greeted by an unusual sight.

In a mess hall the aliens had gathered around the table, where they cheered for their champion. The Emperor was wrestling with a very buffed Rakata. The alien belonged to a different subspecie of the race, which granted him much bigger than average, by Rakatan standards, strength. He was more bulky than the others, and his head was horizontally positioned. Phantom didn't even pretend to have difficulties with his opponent. He yawned loudly.

"Oh, hey guys," Danny called once he saw them. "I've introduced them to arm wrestling."

He received no reaction. "Cheer for me, will you?!" Phantom shouted over the noise.

Komand clapped her hands slowly. "Go Danny," she said and Danny's face gained a non amused expression.

"Cheers: Smash this useless pile of meat, Master!"

"Thanks a lot," he said, looking at Komand and making the woman smirk.

"You are welcome."

Phantom decided that it's best for him to pretend to lose, just so his new friends won't be sore after a defeat. So, pretending to start having hard effort, he slowly let the opponent defeat him. As Danny's gloved hand touched the table, the Rakata roared in victorious cheers. Phantom put a hand on his chest dramatically and tilted his head towards the orange skinned woman.

"That's because I didn't get enough rooting," he whispered.

"Question: How could you?" HK looked at Komand as well.

"Oh, you'll get over it, crybabies," Komand rolled her eyes but chuckled.

The following evening went unusual. While HK got in a few brawls and broke a few bones, Danny and Komand watched an interesting showcase of the locals' culture. They were the only outlanders to ever witness their ceremonial dances and music. Questionable entertainment, considering that it included splashing drinks into the guests' faces during the last dance. Danny had a suspicion that that thing won't be washed away easily.

After that, because of different circumstances, the two got separated. When Komand noticed that, she started searching for her friend. After a good while of searching, she found him outside. Danny was standing on an edge of the hill, staring at the night ocean, surprisingly clear of debris.

"What are you doing here?" Komand asked, coming closer to him.

"I needed a break from all that noise," Danny answered, without looking to the side, but putting hands behind his back. The last thing was becoming a habit.

A silence settled between them, before he spoke again.

"I haven't thanked you."

"For what?" She asked in confusion.

Danny turned his neon gaze at her. Komand had admitted long ago how captivating those eyes were, and now they shone with warmth. "For keeping my daughter safe."

"There was also Valerie," Komand said humbly.

"But she is not here, right?"

This topic reminded the woman about Valerie's words from the day before. And it hit her, they were alone, and nobody was there to interrupt.

Danny sighed. "Komy, may we talk about something?"

"Uhm, yes."

"Tell me honestly, do you have any...feelings towards me? Like, more than just friendly."

Komand's hearts panged. It was either now or never. "Yes, I like you. A lot," was everything she managed to say.

"That's what I feared," Danny muttered.

"Why?" Komand whispered as her heart sank.

"Komand, you seek an affection of walking corpse. It's just...wrong. But if only that. I'm immortal, no matter who you point at, I'll outlive everyone, my afterlife is eternal!" He exclaimed, letting out his frustration. "I can't let myself to form any affections. Losing someone I care about yet again, I might lose it."

"So, you don't care about me," Komand muttered and looked away.

"Th-that's not what I meant!"

"Then what?!" She exclaimed. "You yourself said so! Like if you don't worry at all that I die!"

Danny grabbed her shoulders, preventing her from leaving. "I do care for you, Komy, I am concerned each time you have to fight. I'm afraid to lose you, because I DO have feelings for you. And it doesn't help to ease my worries."

"Then what's the point? Do you want to suffer by keeping everything inside and then suffer even more, regretting what you haven't done when you could?" Komand put a hand on his cheek. "I don't care what you are, and no one has to know about that. Why not enjoy it while we still can?"

Danny seemed uneasy. Of course he was, a confidence in his decision evaporated quickly. It had taken him a lot of time to gain this same confidence, and now it was nothing but a gust of air. It took only a few seconds. Phantom sighed, looking into her purple orbs, which looked back at him, shining with a hopeful expression. Danny slowly moved a hand on the back of her head, gently getting under her hair. He smiled slightly down at her.

"Well, for once I can allow myself a drastic decision," he said.

Before Komand could process what he had said, Danny lowered his head and crushed his lips on hers. Her eyes widened in surprise, and her hearts started beating faster. It felt like fireworks went off in her mouth, and even though she couldn't deny it felt heavenly, she pulled away slightly and panted for breath.

"What was that?" She asked.

Danny smiled. "A kiss."

"So that's how humans do that," Komand mumbled, before smiling brightly and wrapping her arms around his neck. "I'm not against it."

They kissed again, hugging each other closely, pulling away only when Komand was out of air again. Suddenly Danny chuckled.

"I've just remembered," he mumbled, taking a step back and outstretching his hand. "I still owe you a dance, duchess."

Komand gave a small, but happy smile and took his hand.

A.N. *Throws a bouquet* Sorry to those who expected something else.