*Things are becoming far too heated for my liking.* Bentre glared down at the dossiers and intelligence reports that had been delivered to him. Most had been delivered via datapads. He had dissected their contents, and had scribbled hundreds of notes upon flimsiplast sheets. Those sheets littered his desk, only adding to the chaos boiling within him.

The news of Vexatus’s *prophecy* and Marcus’s *vision* was all too well known and discussed amongst the Clan. Members of Naga Sadow were choosing who to hedge their bets with. Even in his own Battleteam a few members had declared their support strongly for Locke. *They were quite vocal in their opinions. I am sure they felt quite* brave *as they stood beside the Consul.*

The Assassin knew that duty would call him to side with Locke as well. He just couldn’t bring himself to do it. Vexatus had appeared suddenly, and while he was not sure that Locke’s denouncement was incorrect, he had a very sour feeling in his gut there was more below the surface of events.

There was a disturbance in the Force. It had conjured visions similar to those he had faced in the sunken temple. It had conjured images of the Twi’lek girl- which were painful enough on their own- and the visage of his brother. *Gods help me,* the words fell silently from his lips as tears trickled down his face. He couldn’t stand to face that again.

He wiped a stray tear from his cheek, and picked up the latest intelligence report. *I have to keep my mind busy. Eventually I will have to announce my support for Kiriyu. For now I need to know where my people stand. His eyes scanned the screen with an apathetic disinterest. Despite the gravity of the situation, his mind was many systems away on Corellia. If he ever came upon some free time, he would have to return home to visit his parents. He had been away from home for far too long. Once the Clan was settled again he would make that trip.

*So, Jades had chosen to support the Consul. That is to be expected. And Lexiconus is-* His eyes widened as he reread the notes on the Zelosian Techweaver. *That can’t be right.* With a grunt, Bentre flung the datapad across the office, throwing himself from his chair without pausing to watch it hit.

“**Lexiconus Aurelius!**” his voice bellowed out as he bounded down the hallway. The Corellian could feel the blood pounding in his head as he made his way toward the Warrior’s room. Rosie came around a corner, oblivious to the Knight’s intentions. Just before he bowled her over, however, she managed to duck through a door into a side room with a surprised yelp.

He should have cared, but somehow he didn’t in the heat of the moment. Angry steps brought the Human to a closed doorway. Clenching a fist he began to beat on it savagely. After a few moment the door was flung open with an unceremonious crash. The Assassin had managed to knock something over inside the room in his haste. He glared from the door but his comrade was no where in sight.

“Bentre,” the meek voice of Rosie came from behind him. His face twisted into a visage akin to an angry wolf Stahoes turned to regard her. She did not shirk away though. “Lex left this morning.”

“He-” the Obelisk shook his head. *There is no time to deal with this right now.* Reaching inside his robes, he pulled out his battered commlink. His voice hoarse from yelling, he coughed before he spoke into the device. “Daedric, I want you to meet me in my office in five minutes. We have an unfortunate circumstance to deal with.”