The plan seemed to work smoothly enough, their shuttle lifting off into hyperspace with enough gear and food to help several Alliance squadrons make it through several weeks of field work. Yerbol knew that the supply convoys were transporting important supplies, but to see the sheer size of resources being stolen by these Faceless was troubling. What were these "Faceless" planning? Anarchy? Destruction of the Qyaari through brute force? Somehow forming teams of their own to strike at various Alliance strongholds? All of the above? The amount of doom filled scenarios that floated through his head made the Champion even more eager to eliminate this threat as soon as possible. While the Alliance was reaching a point of stabilization through Saresh and Won's combined efforts, there was still a lot of unrest across the galaxy. Pressing on the right nerves could prompt mass panic and chaos from the general public. 

These thoughts and many others floated through his mind as the shuttle entered hyperspace. Yerbol plopped onto the floor of the spacecraft, legs crossing, back resting against a bare wall as his eyes closed in preparation for meditation. Before he could slip into a trance-like state, Ari asked Voldon for any advice, prompting Yerbol's eyes to open and follow up on the question:
"Ari and I both. We've faced off against a number of threats before, but this just...feels different. Any idea why we're feeling so jumpy?" Voldon grunted in agreement with their shared feelings, taking a seat on a nearby crate. 
"You should be jumpy. Manus has the most brilliant mind I know. Cunning, tactful, always ahead of his opponent..." He shook his head, a remorseful chuckle crawling out of his throat. 
"Manus and I were trained by Masters who frequently collaborated, which meant we were in contact with each other quite frequently. We became Knights together and quickly pushed into service with the Republic soon after. His mind gravitated towards more strategic matters and I was much more prone to cutting someone down rather than trying to figure out how to disable his armor's shielding." Something like sorrow crept into the Elder's voice as he carried on: 
"We were successful on so many operations together that when our opportunity to strike at the Emperor together, we took it. He guided our entire effort from Coruscant. It was so flawless, made it look so easy. We took down the most powerful Sith in the known galaxy and Manus had me on a shuttle fleeing the Emperor's temple within two hours of our arrival. In a word, he was magnificent...until a couple of months before Bracknell made his move. Manus had become more erratic in his behavior, disappearing for days on end from his post on Tython with no explanation as to where he had gone. When Bracknell decided to initiate his purge, I tried to find Manus, looked for him everywhere. That's why you found Kira and I on Nar Shaddaa. Manus gravitated towards old wisdom, ancient knowledge, that kind of thing. The temple ruins on Nar Shaddaa was one of my last hopes for finding him." He snorted a derisive laugh.
"To think that he turned to this..." He cast a steely glance at the Champions.
"If Manus appears, you will stand down. I have to talk with him first. See what his reasoning is behind this 'Faceless' nonsense is and hopefully put a stop to him. Hopefully Jean hasn't corrupted him." 
"Did he and Jea-"
"No." 
"Bu-"
"No." Taking the hint, Yerbol closed his eyes once more, telling his partner through their bond:

[i]Looks like Jean Soto is a touchy subject for almost everyone we meet. Wonder why for Voldon, though?[/i]

He cast a mystified glance at his partner, then for a third and final time decided on meditating, but not before he asked:

[i]Feel like sharing your meditation session? Wouldn't mind a partner.[/i]

_________

Mutual meditation had become a common practice, but the strength of their relationship seemed to make it even more rewarding than before. Their minds, which were once very closed off to each other, were practically open books, allowing both of them to draw on the other's strengths and "sync" their "energies" together(this subject has been one they've been studying through old Sith holos from Quensu and consulting with the Elders, hence the "buzzwords"). Currently they were taking a breather, Yerbol telling her about a time that he had almost stumbled into the Chamber of Secrets on Tython because he was trying to find a dog that had run into the ruins just outside the Chamber when they felt the shuttle rock violently. Coming out of the trance, Yerbol could hear the pilot shout:
"Three bogies incoming! Six, nine and three o clock positions!" The shuttle shuddered as the pilot proclaimed:
"Shielding hit! Staying stable at...eighty five percent!" 
"Get us on the ground somewhere! We need them exposed!" 
"Gonna be bumpy!" The pilot swore profusely as she glanced at her instrument panel, weaving around a burst of turret fire from another shuttle before she shouted:
"Got Kashyyyk in view! Emergency landing in progress!" Voldon commanded the Champions:
"Help me get a shield around the shuttle, NOW! We have to make it to planet-side!" Bracing against a weapons crate, Yerbol threw his hands upward, focusing on the exterior of the ship as he channeled the Force with the other two Force users. A blueish green sphere surrounded the craft as it descended rapidly towards the Wookie homeworld. 
"HOW LONG TILL IMPACT?!" 
"SOON!" Was all the pilot could scream as the thick tops of Woshyr trees greeted the incoming shuttle, the craft managing to squeeze into a minute gap in between two trees before screeching further down. 
"BRAKES, BRAKES!" The pilot slammed on the panel in front of her, engines slowing, but not fast enough for a smooth landing. The shuttle bounced off the forest floor a few times as it rocketed forward, coming to a halt by way of slamming into the base of yet another Woshyr tree. The impact knocked Yerbol over the crate and onto his back, head connecting with the metal floor of the shuttle. It took a few moments, but the Qyaari managed to eek out:
"Everyone....ok?"