CHAPTER THREE
Much to everyone's relief, the Forge Seeker came out of hyperspace unscathed. Believing they had lost the Glorians for the time being, Captain Jaon and Rex began plotting out proper coordinates for their next destination, while Anakin and the others left the bridge.
While on his way back to his quarters, Anakin walked past the door to the five Exiles' room and stopped when he heard a loud shout. He almost ran into the room until he realized that the shout was less of despair and more of anger....
He stood there hesitantly for a while trying to fight against the urge to plant his ear against the door and listen in on whatever was going on inside. He knew it was wrong to eavesdrop... but since there was no one and nothing to stop him, he placed his ear on to the door.
"...One of us," he heard Zerev say. "I don't see why we can't accept him."
"He might be a Glorian spy," Animus growled. "He did say he was turned into this once the war was well under way."
"I understand your skepticism, Animus," Trek replied. "But doesn't the fact that I got you the Star Map's contents and freed your allies' friends ease your suspicions?"
"Not in the least," Animus said with a snarl. "You have every reason to betray us at the last minute."
"Reasons? At this point, Animus, I'd only betray you if you gave me a good reason to, purposely or not."
Even from outside the room, Anakin could feel Animus' anger boil. "What do you mean by that?"
"Looking back, my life with the Glorian Empire was a torturous experience," Trek said. "If you were to make my life here even worse, then I might reconsider my allegiance."
There was a pause, which was soon followed by another growl from Animus. "You are far too trusting of people, Zerev."
"In a war like this, do we have much choice?"
Before Animus could respond, Anakin let out a yell as the door seemed to vanish and he fell into the Exiles' room.
"Well, would you look at that," the Zilkin Exile known as Durus said. "An eavesdropper. How'd you figure that once out, Dah?"
Durus' Herglic partner responded with a mere grunt.
Rubbing his head after heaving hit it on the durasteel floor, Anakin looked up to see Animus scowling at him.
"And just what excuse could you possibly have for this intrusion?" the large man said.
"I... I heard you yell," Anakin stammered. "I thought something was wrong."
The scowl grew worse. "If something was, Solo, I can assure you that we would be more than capable of protecting ourselves."
Animus then grabbed Anakin by the shoulder and raised him up to his feet. "What did you overhear?"
Anakin glanced at Trek, whose golden eyes stared at him with curiosity. "I... heard that Trek is a Glorian."
"Was," the Jawa interjected. "Both physically and mentally, I am no longer a Glorian."
Anakin stared back at him in bewilderment. "Uh... come again?"
Trek turned to Zerev. "I take it you haven't told him about that."
Zerev sighed and glanced at Animus, who, after a moment's hesitation, gave him a curt nod.
"You see, Anakin," the Siniteen said. "We weren't always like... this."
He gestured to himself and the others. "Meaning... I wasn't always a Siniteen, Durus wasn't always a Zilkin... and Trek wasn't always a Jawa."
"You mean you were all Glorians?"
"We were once affiliated with the Glorian Empire, yes. However, contrary to popular belief, 'Glorian' is not the name of our species."
"Which is actually called...?" Anakin prompted.
Zerev seemed to hesitate briefly before speaking. "Have you heard of the Shi'ido?"
Anakin thought about it for a moment. "I might have heard of them."
"Well, that is what we are- or rather, were. And it is what the Glorians are."
"So, how did you become... this?"
"All six of us," Durus said, "as well as a few others, rebelled in some way against the Glorian Empire before the Invasion. Our souls were removed from our original bodies by these things called Syrens. We were then 'reincarnated' as a normal being trying to make its way in the galaxy."
"Hence our name," Auxilius said. "Exiles."
Anakin's mind reeled, trying to put together this new information. "What did you do to get exiled."
"Well," Zerev said, "I was once a scientist working under General Creno. I was exiled because Creno was, for lack of a better term, paranoid, thinking I would some day reach his rank. He had both me and my partner, Auxilius, exiled because of that."
"I held a commanding rank in the Glorian Empire," Durus said. "I was rivals with a fellow commander named Benag, who framed me for a strategic failure that he himself committed. I got exiled while Benag got the promotion he didn't deserve."
"My story is much the same," Trek said. "A few months ago, I was a general named Valkor tasked with attacking Agamar. I was quickly blinded by arrogance and was punished for it."
"What about Dah?" Anakin nodded at the Herglic who had detected him.
"Dah was a guard under General Starka's command," Durus said. "To be honest, I'm not exactly sure why he was exiled...."
Anakin turned to Animus. "And you?"
The large man looked down at him, his face devoid of expression. Anakin tried to read his emotions, but they were practically blocked by a wall.
Animus soon broke his gaze and turned to Zerev. "If you don't mind, I would like to keep my life... private."
Zerev nodded. "That is completely understandable."
To Anakin, he said, "So there you have it. That is who and what we are- and were- and how we knew about the Star Forge and everything."
Anakin slowly nodded, still feeling as if there was something left unanswered. "All right then... I guess I'll be leaving now."
"One last thing," Zerev said. "If you don't mind, we would prefer it if you kept this information between us."
Anakin nodded again. "You have my word."
With that, he moved out of the room, quickening his pace upon seeing Animus' glare....
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