Jedi Council Forums - (KotOR) Road to Mandalore. (Updated 10/03)

Jedi Council Forums » Fan Fiction » Before the Saga »

Post Reply | Active Topic Notification | Previous Active Topic | Next Active Topic

Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 - Previous | Next | Reload

Author	Topic: (KotOR) Road to Mandalore. (Updated 10/03)
Corran_Fett Registered: Jan '05	Date Posted: 1/26 5:02am Subject: RE: (KotOR) Road to Mandalore. (Updated 01/24)
	I just discovered this. I'll read it when the I get the time to, but in the meantime, do you want this added to the Mandalorian Stories Index? If so, just write me a PM and I'll add it to the list. We need all the Mando stories we can get. -----signature----- The other side of the NJO, featuring Mandalorians, Vong, and Peace Brigaders in a thrillride full of betrayal and intrigue... When Few Stood Against Many \| http://boards.theforce.net/b/b10477/25253415/ - http://corranfett.deviantart.com -
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Dar_manda Registered: Dec '07	Date Posted: 1/31 1:52pm Subject: RE: (KotOR) Road to Mandalore. (Updated 01/24)
	Ok, sorry it been so long. I'll update on Monday, ok? -----signature----- Padawan to Darth_Gangrenous Karen Traviss For MANDALORE!! No I'm not going to kill ya! I need a sprinkle you onion! - The Hitcher Proud Fan-fic Padawan to BrentusofGath.
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Dar_manda Registered: Dec '07	Date Posted: 2/7 3:52am Subject: RE: (KotOR) Road to Mandalore. (Updated 01/24)
	Ok, my apolgies for it's lateness. Lets rock!!!! Nice big juicy update for you! Out in the corridor the engineer Tural Remahn examined a panel. He was checking the main systems, again. The roaming electrical fault that plagued the Dar'manda was starting to get to him and he would have liked to finally nail it down. His obsession with finding it had led to him having stripped all of the main systems down twice already, only to find them in excellent shape for a starship the Dar'manda's age. He put it down to pilot mishandling. Kriag Donnae was, even he had to admit, an excellent, if unconventional pilot. He should have been training young hopefuls in the art of not crashing, not lounging in a backwater of the galaxy. Kriag had one major personality flaw however, a taste for sweet things and the evil drinks of every planet. If Tural had known the meaning of the ships name he would have smiled tightly and nodded, muttering that the ships chances had decreased several thousand fold with Kriag at the helm. The pair were friends of old, serving in the wars together; each had his scars, Tural was Telosian, Kriag a thorough-bred Coruscanti. The engineer stood up and stepped a pace to his left as Canderous egressed the door at speed, his back hitting the wall where Tural had been crouched a moment before. The tall thin man looked down his nose and past his moustache at the recumbent Mandalorian. “Canderous Ordo I presume?” he said primly, reminding Canderous of the droid in the cantina. “Depends who's asking.” “The Emperor of the Known Galaxy. Who else could possibly I be?” Tural said flatly. “I knew a man like you once.” Canderous said as he got to his feet. Tural raised an eyebrow. “He's dead now of course.” “War can do that to a man so I've heard.” “Me shooting him in the side of the head didn't help him much either.” Canderous dusted himself down. Tural smiled and extending a hand, said, “Tural Remahn of Telos at your service.” After staring at it with suspicion, Canderous took the offered hand, his firm grip bringing tears to the engineer's eyes. “Is there another way out of the medbay?” Canderous grinned evilly as Tural shook his head. “Good. I shall see you later Telosian.” “Don't break her, if you don't mind. It's difficult to extract payment from a dead employer,” Tural said as the Mandalorian strode back into the medbay. There was a yell, brief sounds of struggling and the sound of something unrepairable breaking. There followed total silence; Tural continued about his work for a full twenty minutes, before even considering that either of them might be seriously injured. “Nice feint,” Canderous said. He was leaning against the wall, a bottle of something resembling alcohol in the less bruised of his hands. Mallia was opposite him, her face damaged in several places. He knew he had broken ribs at least, possibly also some other internal, but as yet undisclosed, injuries. He drank deeply and tossed the bottle to her. She winced as some of the stuff caught in her wounds as she upended the bottle down her throat and coughed. “Too bad it's been tried before. You need to work on not broadcasting your intentions so clearly.” He inhaled raggedly, his shoulders shaking with the effort. She looked at him concernedly and hauled herself to her feet, staggering over to the intercom. “Kriag, I could do with some help down here.” She whispered. “Call Tural, he's down there already. I'm busy.” He settled more comfortably into the cockpit seat, adjusted his stomach over his belt and belched. “You disgust me Donnae. Deeply, extremely deeply.” “You're thinking of Manaan again aren't you?” He said scratching at his beard. “Yes, the deepest darkest depths of Manaan, the only place where your self-respect and dignity could hide.” She rolled her eyes as he laughed. “We've been through this before Mallia. You pay me to fly this sorry excuse for a starship, not to haul your lovers off the floor when you lose you temper with them.” She slid down the wall, hopelessly. “You, Kriag are a treacherous, whining, arrogant and utterly reprehensible man. Get your disease ridden, corpulent carcass down here, before I cut your salary and throw your entire stash out of the airlock.” She yelled. “I love it when you talk dirty captain.” She waited for a few minutes. Listening to Canderous' worsening breathing she began to meditate pulling the world in around herself, letting the Force wash away her pain. It's influence leaving her calm and collected. Kriag wandered in and poked Canderous with his foot, the only time he would have ever dared try it. The big man grabbed the unconscious Mandalorian by the front of his jacket and lifted him onto the nearest table, swinging his legs up roughly. “I'll leave you to it captain.” He said, bending down and picking up the bottle, he sampled it, and dropped it in her lap. “Have fun.” He laughed as he walked out, Tural looking down at him as he passed. “Disgraceful,” the engineer muttered. “Who me? Never, I have always been a pillar of strength and loyalty. A shining beacon of integrity, and moral rectitude.” Kriag contrived to look hurt. “Rectitude is close to the word I'd use to describe you. Although I'd be thinking more in the vernacular.” Tural flared his nostrils. “You might stand a better chance with her if you bathed more often. A person should be seen and not smelled.” “When I have five minutes of time not devoted to flying this bucket or sleeping I'll think about it.” Kriag leaned against the wall, smoothing the front of his uniform, stolen some months ago from an unsuspecting Czerka Corporation Employee, who would no doubt have been forced to explain the missing ship at great length, possibly between screams. The Republic had been a noble ideal to fly for in the war, but money was more useful in the long run, at least on a personal scale. So he had given up an opportunity to train the next generation of pilots in exchange for a profit and a good pension. Whenever he thought about it he tingled all over, and when he remembered Mallia's promise his heart always sank a little. He sometimes fervently wished that he had never set eyes on her. Tural was the nearest he had ever come to having a friend, but he knew the engineer cared for little but machines. That and all things explosive; Tural was a very strange man. Kriag had once seen him shoot a man for kicking a droid. One mission had involved a bombing run on dug in Mandalorians with Basilisks, Tural had actually cried at the thought of blowing up something that he considered so beautiful. His backing out at the last minute had left Kriag to both fly the ship and drop the bombs. It had not been easy and he had been very glad they had not been shot down. “Now would probably be as good an opportunity as any.” Tural continued his work unperturbed. Kriag yawned theatrically and turned away, heading for his cabin and bed. -----signature----- Padawan to Darth_Gangrenous Karen Traviss For MANDALORE!! No I'm not going to kill ya! I need a sprinkle you onion! - The Hitcher Proud Fan-fic Padawan to BrentusofGath.
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Blue_Lightsaber42 Registered: Dec '07	Date Posted: 2/7 4:13pm Subject: RE: (KotOR) Road to Mandalore. (Updated 02/07)
	Dun dun duuuuun... Now they're getting all beat up, what next? -----signature----- SSEoCDaC/PFEEoCDaC,BDTAT Twin Sun 17 Co-Founder of the Rebellion Proud Master of DarthAnakin101 and Ithonya from Trika-> //hug
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
BrentusofGath Registered: Aug '05	Date Posted: 2/7 8:21pm Subject: RE: (KotOR) Road to Mandalore. (Updated 02/07)
	Kriag wandered in and poked Canderous with his foot, the only time he would have ever dared try it. Smart. Canderous will break you six ways from Sunday. -----signature----- In time or so I'm told, I'm just another soul for sale, oh well Feel it in my bones when you break my back, break it just to watch me bend Why'd you have to go and Let it Die? -Foo Fighters http://conscienceoftheking.blogspot.com/
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
KELIA Title: Moderator: Fan Fiction Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 2/8 12:11pm Subject: RE: (KotOR) Road to Mandalore. (Updated 02/07) - Date Edited: 2/8 12:14pm (1 edits total) Edited By: KELIA
	I knew a man like you once.” Canderous said as he got to his feet. Tural raised an eyebrow. “He's dead now of course.” Perhaps Tural should pass that information along to Kraig the next time he gets the urge to poke Canderous anywhere Loved the humor Great update -----signature----- "Do or do not, there is no try." Master Yoda A Light In The Darkness: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28150602/p1/?8 Undue Circumstances: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28530583/p1/?10
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Dar_manda Registered: Dec '07	Date Posted: 2/11 11:39am Subject: RE: (KotOR) Road to Mandalore. (Updated 02/07)
	Poke me when you want some more folks. I have lots just waiting to go. -----signature----- Padawan to Darth_Gangrenous Karen Traviss For MANDALORE!! No I'm not going to kill ya! I need a sprinkle you onion! - The Hitcher Proud Fan-fic Padawan to BrentusofGath.
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Dar_manda Registered: Dec '07	Date Posted: 2/20 6:02am Subject: RE: (KotOR) Road to Mandalore. (Updated 02/07)
	Ok it's about to get weird. Have fun. Some days later Mallia stalked the corridors of the ship, restless and unsettled. She could not find anywhere to sit and meditate and a full cargo hold meant she could not practice her form either. She had rebuilt her lightsaber and they were both back where they should be. She wandered into the drive room and tucked herself into a gap. As it turned out Canderous got on well with the other two, and she felt a little left out. She could feel the hum of the drive vibrating through her body and she tucked herself up tight. Closing her eyes she reached out, expanding her awareness to sense the others and watch the ripples they made in the Force. Tural was fidgeting with a device, and Canderous was with him. Both seemed to her to be satisfied. Kriag was asleep, his dreams an eclectic whirl that she knew better than to read too closely. The one time she had looked closely, had made her want to lock her door at night. After a few hours at rest, she walked confidently back into the small room that served as both a lounge and Tural's sleeping quarters, she slept in the galley, Kriag had the other cabin and they were pretty sure Canderous slept in the hold. She knew that he had found the crate containing his armour and had hunted him down whilst he slept, to discover that he had buried himself in the cargo as deep as he could get. She had simply rearranged the manifests, checking through the supplies. “Who's winning?” She indicated the tactical hologram both men where staring at. “Me,” said Canderous, stretching himself and removing his feet from the only other seat in the room besides theirs. “I don't understand why you would sacrifice so much for so little gain.” Tural said. He was still as immaculate as the day she had first met him and Kriag. “For this.” Canderous' next move gutted Tural's fleet entirely. The engineer was left with two badly crippled ships and an awful lot of explaining to do, had he actually been an admiral. “Well, it's been distracting, but I must get on.” Tural nodded to Canderous, stood and glided out. “We need to talk,” she paused to drink. “About this Helmet. I need to know where it is.” Leaning on the table she popped food into her mouth. “Mandalor.” Canderous looked at the ceiling as he spoke. She stared at him, chewing patiently. “Keldabe.” Her eyes bugged and she choked, hitting herself in the chest. “He must have been insane, how could he have gotten there, without anyone noticing? It's not exactly like gaining landing permission on Coruscant!” He shrugged, as though it would not be a problem and ran his fingers through his hair. It was part of the reason he had not yet moved to reclaim the Helmet, he had absolutely no idea where to start. “So all we have to do is walk into Keldabe, find the where Revan put the Helmet, take it without a fight, and get back off of the planet before we get discovered. Hmm, not the easiest thing I have ever attempted.” “Walk in the park. There are after all two of us.” One side of his mouth lifted in the closest thing she had seen to good humour from the man. “Against the rest of our people, and don't tell me you've faced worse.” She rested her head on her arms and shook a finger at him. “I know I can't make you believe me, even if I were telling the truth.” A light sparked in his eyes, as she looked up. “Really? Please do tell. I am deeply intrigued.” “There was a small matter a few years ago, we encountered some light resistance from people who still haven't seen sense. Called themselves the Republic, I believe you might have heard of them.” She laughed as he continued. “Like I said there are two of us.” “As if it makes a difference.” Mallia replied with a soft huff. “Yes it does.” He took a piece of bread from her plate, ignoring the slap on the back of his hand. “One of us is me.” “I know what we have to do.” She turned to the intercom. “Kriag, Tural, get in here.” Kriag leaned against the door frame shaking his head. Half an hour had passed and the three men had listened as she outlined her plan. “No, I'm not doing it!!” He said. “I'm rather attached to the ability to breathe; strangely enough it's become important over the years.” “Trouble is you don't look like you could ever be a bodyguard, except possibly to a Hutt. Although you'd be be more credible as a relation.” Canderous half smiled as he spoke. Kriag rolled his eyes before replying. “I'm not scared of you Mandalorian. If you are as tough as you say you are, how did you get beaten up by a woman? I seem to recall having to haul your unconscious self off of the floor.” “Well, you've just proved that you're stupid enough to try the plan Kriag.” Mallia said as Canderous bristled, poking him in the knee, hard. “Got another uniform in your cupboard?” “Yes, but it won't fit him. He's a shade taller than me for a start.” Kriag shifted his weight, he valued his own life almost as highly as his next pay-check, the two being mutually dependent. “Not much though. I'm a slightly different shape too.” “He isn't a problem, I have plans for him. Canderous, you can't show your face on Mandalor, not without causing difficulties. So you will stay silent, unless of course I speak to you.” Mallia waved a hand in his direction as Canderous opened his mouth to speak, and out of respect for her he shut it with an audible snap. “An Apprentice does not speak to their Master unless invited to do so.” “You want me to be a Sith Apprentice,” he said levelly. “That is one thing in this galaxy that will not happen. Whilst any sun is capable of rising on my body, I'm not pretending to be a Force user. When we get discovered...” “You mean if,” interrupted Kriag. Canderous took a deep breath and drummed the fingers of one hand on the tabletop. Mallia looked at him hard and he met her eyes, the short knife in his other hand resting on the seam of his trouser leg. She shook her head almost imperceptibly. “When we get discovered,” Canderous continued quietly. “I would prefer to be gone. We'll have to make it to Dxun, so we need to fly fast and not look back. This needs some more thinking through but as a rough idea it could work.” “If I might interject here?” Tural, silent until now, sat up straighter and primly stifled a yawn. “I need to rest if I am to be of any use to man or beast. You can all survive without the need for it apparently, but I am not a warrior, nor stimmed out of my tree. If you wish to continue this line of reasoning, please be so kind as to do it elsewhere.” -----signature----- Padawan to Darth_Gangrenous Karen Traviss For MANDALORE!! No I'm not going to kill ya! I need a sprinkle you onion! - The Hitcher Proud Fan-fic Padawan to BrentusofGath.
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Trika_Kenobi Registered: Nov '99	Date Posted: 2/20 8:40am Subject: RE: (KotOR) Road to Mandalore. (Updated 02/20)
	Dar_manda posted: "I'm rather attached to the ability to breathe; strangely enough it's become important over the years." Quite good reasoning, there, lol. I'm still around, too. Good update! I'm interested to see how this all plays out. -----signature----- "Once a Talon, always a Talon." Clear skies, sir. http://www.TalonIntelligenceSquadron.com proud oldbie master to full-fledged Trika-ized JCer -Kypster-
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Dar_manda Registered: Dec '07	Date Posted: 2/22 7:04am Subject: RE: (KotOR) Road to Mandalore. (Updated 02/20) - Date Edited: 2/28 5:24am (1 edits total) Edited By: Dar_manda
	Edit: Apparently so. -----signature----- Padawan to Darth_Gangrenous Karen Traviss For MANDALORE!! No I'm not going to kill ya! I need a sprinkle you onion! - The Hitcher Proud Fan-fic Padawan to BrentusofGath.
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
KELIA Title: Moderator: Fan Fiction Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 2/22 9:25am Subject: RE: (KotOR) Road to Mandalore. (Updated 02/20)
	So all we have to do is walk into Keldabe, find the where Revan put the Helmet, take it without a fight, and get back off of the planet before we get discovered Sounds reasonalbe to me I can't imagine Canderous being silent for very long... Great update -----signature----- "Do or do not, there is no try." Master Yoda A Light In The Darkness: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28150602/p1/?8 Undue Circumstances: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28530583/p1/?10
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
BrentusofGath Registered: Aug '05	Date Posted: 2/22 10:42pm Subject: RE: (KotOR) Road to Mandalore. (Updated 02/20)
	"Who's winning?" She indicated the tactical hologram both men where staring at. "Me," said Canderous Naturally. Who's going to dispute him? -----signature----- In time or so I'm told, I'm just another soul for sale, oh well Feel it in my bones when you break my back, break it just to watch me bend Why'd you have to go and Let it Die? -Foo Fighters http://conscienceoftheking.blogspot.com/
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
MsLanna Title: CR GSFF Central Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 2/28 3:51am Subject: RE: (KotOR) Road to Mandalore. (Updated 02/20)
	oooh, so they are making plans. that's always good, because oyu know how you wanted things to go while everything is working out completely different. “No, I'm not doing it!!” He said. “I'm rather attached to the ability to breathe; strangely enough it's become important over the years.” I can understand him. “An Apprentice does not speak to their Master unless invited to do so.” “You want me to be a Sith Apprentice,” he said levelly the plan sounds completely crazy. Of course, I love it. Can't wait to see Murphy joining the team and ruining the plans. -----signature----- Padawan owned by Corellian_Ale Master of CloneCaptainRex. Proud FanFic Master of Darth_Sathanos Why so serious? October 3rd - Ghent Day in the WNU!
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
Dar_manda Registered: Dec '07	Date Posted: 3/2 8:00am Subject: RE: (KotOR) Road to Mandalore. (Updated 02/20)
	Let's see what happens shall we? The Dar'manda was registered as a Czerka Corporation ship and Tural worked hard to maintain the illusion. Everything he had ever done would be put to the test when they entered Mandalorian space, so they stopped off for supplies and to deliver the cargo on a world called Che'trall. It was a fairly isolated planetary outpost currently in the process of being strip mined by Czerka. The main city was a conglomeration of recycled buildings, including an ore processing facility and a horribly outdated space port. The entire place reminded Canderous of the undercity of Taris and dressed entirely in black he both blended with, and stood out from. the crowd. It irked that he had to cover his face, but Mallia had been right to make him do it, the anonymity it afforded him was, he had to admit, a nice change. He swept around the city, following in Tural's footsteps, radiating a confident aura of intimidation, something he was well practised at. Mallia commented that he made a convincing Sith, despite being as she put it, as Force-sensitive as a brick. He could see the attraction of it all, but he felt it degraded his honour to not be who he was. In a culture that valued honesty, what he was about to do went against everything that he believed in. They had talked around in circles trying to find another way, but if one existed, it was beyond their reach. Mallia had procured the correct Czerka codes, Canderous had not asked how, the missing officer bulletin that Tural received, the only necessary clue as to their source. On the whole he settled to his role, getting used to the sideways looks of the soldiery, who were extremely wary of him, unsure if he was about to kill one of them for his own twisted amusement. He had one of her lightsabers under his robe, along with his blasters and his armour. She had recommended that he wear it, it changed his body shape slightly, also adding an amount of practised grace, bred by familiarity. It helped that it was black and silver, on the occasions it showed under his robe, it did not look out of place on a Sith. Mallia roamed the halls restlessly, not concerned by the occasional need to pin an impertinent Czerka employee to a wall and throttle them. Canderous leant back and drank deeply, it was a downside to his disguise that whilst wearing it he could neither eat or drink. Another was the red fuzz over his vision, but he could tolerate that. The one thing that really annoyed him was the attitude of the women, it was a serious affront to him to have to tolerate the attention, and soon he would have to do something about it. Mallia stared through him whilst she peeled a fruit, her hands on either side of her face. Kriag was sulking with the ship, which meant he was still alive. Canderous sorted himself out, they had an appointment to keep in a section of the foundry complex, he suspected it was a trap and checked his dart launcher and crucially his rip-line. As entertaining as the fall had been, the subsequent wait testing his self-control, he had no wish for a repeat performance and he did not anticipate being rescued again. Tural steepled his fingers, sitting back from his disassembled vibro-blade, his outward disposition calm and relaxed, but it did not take a Jedi to sense his disquiet. He fiddled with the blade, there was a soft click as it came back together in his hands, it engaged with a hum, worked momentarily and then fell entirely apart. Tural's eyes narrowed at the pieces, and he walked out. Mallia looked away, her eyes meeting Canderous', he raised an eyebrow and shook his head. “That was unpleasant, nasty and back-stabbing. Possibly one of the best tricks I've seen for a while. Well done.” He said, pulling the red silk off of his head, smoothing it out and re-tying it over his eyes. “I have a strong and sneaking suspicion that Tural is not as normal men, he has to be very frustrated to let it all go. Aside from that, he's an extraordinarily useful man to have around.” She replied, picking up the pieces and assembling them, some parts she dropped replacing them with new ones. She flicked it on, walking to the centre of the room, she swung the blade in a wide arc. It stopped with a clang against Canderous' blade, they stared each other in the face for a full minute, before he shoved her away. She became a vague swirl of movement the blade flashing around her. He poked his blade into the floor leant on it, watching her, his sub-conscious calculating her next manoeuvre. He blocked with his left wrist as he stepped near her, his own sword sliding over her shoulder, a fraction of an inch from her throat. She smiled at him and her eyes flicked down to the blade. “I don't want to have to hurt you,” she said. “Again.” He shrugged and took the blade away, as he turned his back to her, she kicked the back of his knee and he collapsed, bringing the blade up over his body in a powerful arc but she was not where she should have been. She stretched out on the sofa, lounging comfortably, as though she had not moved. He sat up. “And you say Tural is not as normal men, I think you're nuts. Lets find him and go to this trap, I mean, meeting.” -----signature----- Padawan to Darth_Gangrenous Karen Traviss For MANDALORE!! No I'm not going to kill ya! I need a sprinkle you onion! - The Hitcher Proud Fan-fic Padawan to BrentusofGath.
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History
KELIA Title: Moderator: Fan Fiction Registered: Jul '05	Date Posted: 3/2 11:35am Subject: RE: (KotOR) Road to Mandalore. (Updated 03/02)
	the missing officer bulletin that Tural received, the only necessary clue as to their source. You'd think Canderous would start to realize Mallia is not one to trifle with I'm rather enjoying her putting him in his place...disturbing as that may be. Great update -----signature----- "Do or do not, there is no try." Master Yoda A Light In The Darkness: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28150602/p1/?8 Undue Circumstances: http://boards.theforce.net/the_saga/b10476/28530583/p1/?10
	Post Reply \| Quote Reply \| Active Topic Notification \| Private Message \| Post History

Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 - Previous | Next | Reload

Jedi Council Forums » Fan Fiction » Before the Saga »