Thal-ion felt Alethea land the ship so smoothly that there was little jolting when the ship did so.  Even as this registered to him; the young Jedi continued to watch Lieutenant Commander Dumas as he stirred himself to coming awake.  Though Thal-ion's face was wiped smooth of emotion; deep inside he was massively concerned over finding an Alliance officer possibly being involved...willingly or otherwise.  When he heard Alethea greet him; a very brief smile crossed his face.<br/><br/>"Nothing yet," he said quietly as his eyes continued to gaze upon the semi-conscious officer.  Another moan escaped the man's lips before his eyes blinked open...at first slowly, and then more rapidly as if taking in his new surroundings.  Thal-ion remained perfectly still...watching...his lightsaber still resting in his lap with his right hand lightly touching it.<br/><br/>The man began to look around startled by his change of scenery, and took in both of the new people now before him...one standing...one sitting.  In both instances, Thal-ion noticed he was quick to take in threats...weapons and such, and Ander's eyes widened when he took in the lightsaber held in Thal-ion's lap.<br/><br/>"Jedi?" the officer whispered in a questioning tone.  There was a hint of hope to his voice, but fear as well was laced in his tone.  "Does Skywalker know?" Ander added.<br/><br/>Thal-ion turned briefly to Alethea and then back to Ander.  "Yes, we are Jedi from Master Skywalker's academy on Ossus.  As for what our Master knows...that is another matter.  We heard your distress call, and came to rescue you.  Perhaps you could tell us what happened to you," the young Sentinel suggested.<br/><br/>Ander glanced from one Jedi to the other and back to Thal-ion.  He pursed his lips...licking them as he began to think of what to say.  It was clear there was much tell, but Ander seemed to wonder where to begin.  Confusion crossed his face...and pain...both of which he seemed to try and shake off as he sat up.  Still he said nothing...as if it was difficult for him to organize his thoughts.<br/><br/>Thal-ion exchanged a look with Alethea that conveyed his concern.  Though he had not her gift with telepathy and reading people in the Force; even so he could tell this man's thoughts were a jumbled mess.  Whatever had happened to him on the station had been traumatic.  He thought back to the briefing from Master Skywalker...of the reports concerning madness that had claimed those who had come near this area.  It occurred to him that such might be partly the problem with Ander.<br/><br/>Finally, the officer spoke again, though his words were halting and broken up, "Madness...she is completely mad.  Project Backstab unstable...too dangerous...insanity......!  Crimson....death.......failure......too much power....death, change, tricked.....lost...we are all lost!" Ander's words became more and more desperate and fearful as he spoke...his voice growing louder.  Thal-ion's brow furrowed as he listened to what Ander was saying, but the emotional turmoil he felt coming from the man was more than enough to convey a strong sense of peril for everyone.<br/><br/>When he had said the word crimson; it sprang to Thal-ion's mind a woman tall and lithe wearing a skin tight body suit as red as blood, and in her hands were a pair of lightsabers with crimson blades...her hair as red as her blades.  The woman's skin was pale, and her dark blue eyes held death and obsession in them.<br/><br/>Thal-ion blinked the vision away, and again glanced at Alethea...the concern now plain on his face.  Ander, however, simply huddled himself and began rocking back and forth in an attempt to comfort himself.  He closed his eyes in pain and whimpered with fear.