The Way of the Jedi Master
by
Kristyn K. Rose (Glittrstm@aol.com)
CHAPTER 1
Leia Organa-Solo squinted at the holo message in front of her.
The image shifted and shimmered as the New Republic's receptors
grappled with the transmission. They must be under some heavy fire,
Leia frowned.
"Military...rising against us.... Warlords attacking the
palace," the Princess Clekar was saying.
The yellow-skinned Drahavian struggled to keep her composure
under the pressure. Leia couldn't decide if her desperate voice
actually broke or if the poor transmission just made it sound that
way. It cleared for a moment.
"We are being overrun and cannot hold out much longer. Our
ground defenses are limited, but Commander Drahos...is holding them
with the remainder of our fleet." It began to lose focus again.
The Princess startled at a loud noise near her, panic washing
her face. "Please," she pleaded to Leia, "send any help that you can
spare. You are my only hope." Then the image wonked into oblivion.
"We've lost the signal," Colonel Derlin announced to her.
"What do you make of it?"
"It's highly unusual, considering the nature of Drahavians,"
she replied Drahavia. A small, peaceful world, known for its
intellectual assets, not military strength. They maintained a
military force only out of necessity.
"Send an escort frigate and three corvetttes ahead. If my
hunches are right, that should be plenty," she started, "General Solo
and I will organize a small command team just in case it's needed."
"You'll go personally?" the Colonel sounded surprised. He
doesn't understand, Leia thought.
"I'm afraid I know too well how she feels," Leia explained.
The phrase "my only hope" rang in her mind from long ago.
"Here we go again," Luke Skywalker said, patting Chewbacca on
the back as he boarded the Millennium Falcon. Artoo Detoo dutifully
trundled up the ramp behind him. As usual, the Wookiee and Han Solo
were still made last minute adjustments to the old ship.
Luke paused inside and took a deep breath. Some things never
change, he thought, inhaling the familiar smells of the battered ship.
Once again, he felt the flood of memories and emotions that he
connected with the vessel. Smiling, he ducked into the cockpit.
"What kind of mission is it this time?" Luke asked Leia. She
hadn't been very specific in the message on his comm unit.
"There really isn't one yet," she replied, "I just have a bad
feeling that this Princess is going to need rescuing, too."
"Well, that's what we're best at, isn't it?" Han said, with
his characteristic cocky smile.
"Let's get movin'," he said, dropping into the pilot's seat.
With a mighty roar of the engines, the ship darted off into the
awaiting starfield.
All of Leia's instincts proved correct.
Near the planet Drahavia, the New Republic battle group
dropped out of lightspeed. Commander Judian of the frigate Craylor
watched the two Drahavian cruisers crawl through space towards them.
"This must be the welcoming committee," he said to a nearby
lieutenant, "Hail them." He turned his back to the viewscreen.
Decking pitched beneath his feet, nearly knocking him to the
floor. "They're attacking us, sir!" yelled the lieutenant.
"Power up deflector shields," barked Commander Judian,
terribly embarrassed by his carelessness. "Return fire and warn the
other ships."
Their powerful turbolasers exploded on the smaller Drahavian
ships. Quickly, the opposing commander tendered his surrender amid
dozens of fires on board. Commander Judian directed the rest of the
New Republic group to handle the boarding and delivering of prisoners
to the planet's surface
"Damage report," he finally muttered.
The lieutenant listed a few minor problems that, by
themselves, would not have been serious. However, as a whole, they
meant the end of the Craylor's participation in this mission.
"Contact Coruscant about this skirmish and our return for
repairs. Request a replacement to be sent as soon as possible," he
sighed, "I'll file my report upon arrival."
He turned and marched from the bridge, leaving the lieutenant
to wonder if more than just the corvette needed repairs.
General Wedge Antilles' escort frigate replaced Commander
Judian's ailing one on the Drahavian mission. With their firepower
now intact, the New Republic routed the traitors' offworld forces
effortlessly.
"We are currently pounding their ground forces to drive them
from their stronghold," Wedge was explaining from his command post,
"We are not attempting specific strikes, though, because the Princess
is still inside."
"I knew it," Leia muttered to Luke over her shoulder. "Any
rescue plans?" she asked Wedge.
Wedge responded with a confident smile, "We do have three
Drahavians who know the structure very well. They are willing to lead
a rescue team, but we don't have one yet. Any ideas?" He knew Leia
too well.
"Where do we meet them," Leia sighed. She passed the
coordinates to Luke.
"Keep up what your doing until you get our signal. Then send
the X-Wings in to hit them until they surrender," she added before
signing off.
"Haven't I done this before?" Han said from behind them.
"`It's what we do best'," Leia mimicked.
Chewie and Artoo stayed with the Falcon, waiting for Han's
signal to pick up the rescue team. The trio of humans then ventured
into the sparse forest to meet with the Drahavians.
They had served as scouts for the now-torn military and knew
the old castle well. Once the monarchy's palace, the crumbling
fortress had sheltered many a fugitive in ages since.
Kolur, the apparent leader, drew a crude map in the dirt.
"Everything surrounds this big courtyard," he said, pointing to his
drawing. "A lot of secret doors and passageways can be accessed from
there."
"Would that make a good escape route, then? Our ship can set
down in the courtyard," Han asked.
Luke sensed the alien pause a moment too long. "Yeah, that's a
good plan," Kolur said.
Something's going on, Luke thought, but he couldn't seem to
read anything specific from the Drahavians. He glanced over their
weapons. Drahavian blastrifles were crude, with limited energy packs.
What energy they did have was deadly, as was their design. The butt
of the rifle splintered in sharp, jagges patterns, a lethal club in
any hand-to-hand fight.
"There's a small entrance that Princess Clekar's captors seem
to have ignored," Kolur continued, "Near that is a stairway. We'll
have to be extra cautious there because it's out in the open. Then,
we come to one of those passageways I told you about and we're there."
"Lead the way," Leia said, nodding to Kolur.
After the others went ahead, Luke grabbed Leia's arm. "Tell
Han to watch himself," he whispered, "Something is not right here."
Leia looked puzzled, but knew better than to question her
brother's instincts.
Luke strained his senses. The stairway reeked a deafening
silence.
One of the smaller aliens, named Dirat, was leading them up
the stairs. Han followed him closely, with Luke just behind him. Luke
could feel Leia, Kolur and Thkar, the third alien, just behind him.
He kept a firm grip on the handle of his lightsaber, ready to
ignite it in a moment. Luke noticed the Drahavians eyeing the slender
cylinder. He felt their curiosity and realized that they had never
before seen a lightsaber. For some reason, it made him feel a little
more secure.
Dirat paused, feeling along the wall near the head of the
stairs. He gave a small push, the wall quietly swung open, and he
gestured for them to follow inside.
Luke crossed the threshold into the darkened passageway,
placing his thumb on the lightsaber's ignition switch. Han and Leia
yelled at about the same time, as the aliens tried to grab their drawn
weapons.
The passageway lit up with the green glow from the lightsaber.
Dirat's chest exploded with a quick bolt from Han's blaster. Luke saw
the end of a blastrifle aimed at him and cut through it.
Kolur wrestled with Leia, an arm around her throat. Luke
brought his blade down hard, chopping at the large being. Gasping for
breath, Leia looked at Luke and her eyes went wide.
Before she could scream a warning, Thkar swung the butt of his
disabled rifle hard into Luke's spine. Luke yelled at the shock,
simultaneously engaging Jedi pain control techniques.
He swiveled his lightsaber around, severing Thkar's wrists
where they held his weapon ready for another strike. Han blasted the
alien before he could even react.
Luke closed his eyes, quickly setting his healing exercises to
work. He could feel rivers of warm blood flowing down his skin.
"Go ahead up this hall," Han directed his wife. "We'll get our
friends here out of the way." He watched her move along the wall,
until she was out of earshot.
"You o.k.?" he asked Luke, placing a hand on his back. "You
took a good one."
"It's alright," Luke said, straightening and tossing his cloak
back into place. "Let's get the path cleared." He pushed one of the
Drahavians into the shadows.
Han paused, feeling the moisture on his hand. "Luke, you're
bleeding..." he started, but Luke interupted.
"Han, I've taken care of it," he said feigning a smile, "just
don't let Leia know or it'll upset her."
Leia crept along the passageway of the decrepit building,
holding out her lamp and trying to remind herself of why she thought
she enjoyed these missions.
Cobwebs swept her face and stuck there. She tried to brush
them off, but only made the problem worse. No wonder this was a
secret passageway, she frowned. No one in their right mind would go
through this.
Coming to the end of the narrow hall, she stopped and waited
for Luke and Han to catch up with her. She knew Luke had taken quite
a blow when Thkar had clubbed him. He seems o.k. for now, she
thought, but I'll check it out on the ship.
She sighed. Luke had said that he sensed treachery among the
Drahavians
Now, Leia hoped their plan would still work. She listened to
the booming sound of the bombardment the stronghold was getting from
the Cruisers.
Han's hushed voice interupted her thoughts, "What's next?"
Luke ran up behind him.
"If we assume our information was correct," she emphasized,
"then the Princess is behind this door." Leia shut her eyes, reaching
out with her growing Force senses. "There is one female and
five...no, six male presences in there, mostly in the middle of the
room."
Luke nodded, smiling his approval to her. "They seem at ease,
considering they're under attack. I guess they know we're not
supposed to make it this far."
"We should be coming out through the back of the fireplace,"
Leia added, "if we can break through the seal around this door."
Han stepped around her, checking out the seal. "Let's hope it
hasn't been cold in there today," he joked. "Luke, can you do
anything with this?"
Leia noticed the blood on Han's hand.
"Yeah," Luke replied stepping to the door and concentrating on
moving it with the Force.
Leia spoke quietly to Han. "Who's is that?" she asked,
pointing to the blood.
He took a deep breath, knowing she would worry. "His," he
gestured to Luke.
Before she could ask, Luke said, "Get ready." With one great
push, he sent the door crashing in.
They rushed through a cloud of scattered ashes, startling the
Drahavian traitors. The Princess looked astonished and ducked her
head as one of her captors swung a large blastrifle over her.
Leia caught him with a blast to the shoulder, throwing him
backwards. Han battled with two more. One had circled behind Leia,
smashing her in the back of the head with a stone from the broken
door. She fell to the floor and he loomed over her to strike again.
Han blasted him, point blank.
Luke ignited his lightsaber and deflected the bolts that were
aimed at him, slicing through the blaster of a slow-moving Drahavian.
He raised one foot and kicked the dumbfounded alien into the wall,
unconscious.
Princess Clekar caught the Jedi's gaze and raised her bound
hands in the air. Luke flipped the end of his weapon, cutting her
bindings. He swung the blade around to catch an alien who was rushing
at him. The Princess lunged, grabbing the blaster of a fallen
Drahavian, and scrambled into the fireplace exit.
"Let's go!" Leia shouted as the chaos echoed away. The slow
alien began to move towards the door to sound the alarm, dodging the
last of Han's blaster fire as they disappeared down the passageway.
This time, Leia rushed past the cobwebs with barely a notice.
They brushed past the bodies of the scouts. Han yelled into his
comlink to Chewie, telling him to set down the Millennium Falcon in
the massive courtyard.
The stairway rang with the cries of Drahavians answering the
alarm call. The booming burst in at them from outside as Luke threw
open the hidden door in the wall and jumped the short distance to the
courtyard floor.
The Princess landed solidly behind him, with Han and Leia
coming right behind her. Chewie had just touched down, the ramp into
the ship slowly lowering as they ran.
A blast sizzled in front of Han, forcing him to the side. He
rolled to the ground, landing hard on his shoulder. A sharp pain
seized him, so he shifted the blaster to his other hand and returned
fire.
Han saw an alien fall from the elevated door, scrambled to his
feet and ran. He jumped up the ramp and it slowly closed. Leia
already occupied the copilot seat, helping Chewie lift off. Ground
fire pelted the Falcon's hull. Han sat down, bracing himself as the
ship thundered into space.
With the Princess safely transferred to a secure Drahavian
ship, the team could prepare for the short jump home. Leia spoke with
Wedge to finalize the arrangements for dealing with the aftermath of
the uprising.
"There's little cleanup for us to do here, Leia," he was
saying, "the Drahavians pretty much have it under control. The
surviving traitors will go through their justice system and be dealt
with properly, I have been assured. I contacted Lando Calrissian on
Kessel and he is sending over some worker droids to help with the
debris."
"Good," she answered. "Will we be receiving a delegation on
Coruscant?" she asked hopefully.
Wedge smiled, knowing she would be pleased, "That's the best
part. I have received official word that Drahavia will join the New
Republic. A delegation, including the Princess Clekar, is looking
forward to seeing you in two days."
Two days wasn't much time, but Leia was ecstatic. "Thank you,
General," she said with a wide grin, "We'll see you in a few days,
then. Hurry home."
They signed off and she swiveled her chair to the applause of
her husband and brother. Chewie barked his best Wookiee
congratulations and Artoo beeped excitedly.
"They may not be a great military influence," she said, "but
their intellectual development will be a great asset to advancing our
technology." She was returning to Coruscant with quite a feather in
her cap.
"Let's get home," Han said to Chewie, moving into the pilot's
seat. Leia followed Luke to the passenger area, grabbing a medic kit
on the way.
She tried to put an arm around him and he winced. "Let me
see," she ordered. Without looking at her, he dropped his cloak.
Bloodstained fabric hung from several vicious slashes in his shirt.
Leia grimaced sickly, imagining what the skin underneath must look like.
He gingerly pulled the shirt free as his sister cleaned the
dried blood away with some antiseptic. "Does it sting?" she asked,
but he shook his head. "It's just sore," he answered.
Getting a batter look at the gashes, the sight surprised Leia.
They looked as though they had already begun to heal.
As if reading her thoughts, Luke explained, "Healing
exercises. When I have a chance, I can start them without slowing
down much. If it's not bad, then I can do it without stopping at
all." He examined his ruined shirt, "This time was a little bad."
"Yeah," Leia teased, "you almost had me worried!" She tossed
him another shirt from Han's personal stash.
She grabbed a cold pack for her head and sat down. "I wish
you could teach me that one right now," she muttered.
Leia silently wondered why Luke couldn't fix all of his
troubles that way.
CHAPTER 2
Major Di'mar Halok sat in the stuffy conference room of the
Tatooine complex. He stood tall and distinguished. A middle-aged,
hauntingly handsome man, with an eerie smile.
He pretended to study the report in his hands, pursing his
lips. "Hmm... very interesting," he said often enough to keep the
cadet, sitting opposite him, shifting in her chair.
A nervous one, he thought. Good. This interview meant
something to her He put the report on the table in front of him and
studied the girl. She averted her eyes.
"Your report is good," he lied. He had depended on it being
awful. Her eyes brightened.
"However, I have seen a lot of `good' reports." Her face
clouded. He stood up and walked around the table, as if
contemplating. He had played this part so many times that it came
automaticly.
The Major sat on the edge of the table in front of her,
peering down at her. She shifted in her chair again.
"Tell me," he said in a low voice, "why I should choose you to
go to Coruscant for training?"
She was trying to think of an answer when he leaned down
closer. "Sometimes I just have a feeling about these things," he
added, "but how do I know that taking a chance on you would pay off?"
Her eyes swam pitifully, begging him. "Please, Major," she
said, "someday, somehow, I'd repay you."
He smiled his oily smile. "I'll remember that," he said as he
attached his approval code to her transfer.
Two days later, at a diplomatic dinner for the Drahavians, the
feeling hit Luke again.
This sensation had plagued him for quite some time. He
stretched out a little with the Force and scanned the other guests.
He knew it was useless; he had no one else to blame for the
disturbance.
It felt so odd, a restless feeling, tinged with terrible
loneliness. The sensation was not new to him, but rapidly becoming
stronger.
I've overcome loneliness before, he thought, so why is this so
different? It stirred inside of him, nagging. Besides, it felt
particularly irritating when it caught him in the middle of a large
crowd like this!
Luke tried to focus his attention on the lovely Drahavian
Princess that his sister, as an Ambassador, had so thoughtfully seated
next to him. Leia had been obviously concerned about him lately.
The Princess didn't seem to notice his distraction and
continued their mostly one-sided conversation. She seemed well-versed
in the history of the Jedi Knights and her practical approach to the
Jedi really was refreshing.
The Drahavians held the Jedi Knights in high regard, but
without the superstitious overtones that most races incorporated. He
knew that some even viewed him, a Jedi Master, as some sort of
religious fanatic. Major Di'mar Halok came to mind.
The Major sat several chairs down the table from Luke, often
regarding the Jedi Master with a glowering look from behind his hooded
features. Luke had easily detected his lust for the beautiful
Princess and tried to shelter her from the Major for most of the
evening. He could feel the ever-growing anger that Halok radiated,
but now this heavy mood began to overtake him.
Maybe I'm finally going crazy, Luke thought.
The large, ornate dining room in the Imperial Palace rang with
joyous conversation. A wide variety of languages sang together,
spilling from the mouths of the several different races represented at
the table, carrying the festive mood.
Luke noticed that Chewbacca had found a pair of fellow
Wookiees with whom to share his corner of the table. Their friendly
barks and yowles carried over the crowd. As if sensing his gaze,
Chewie turned to Luke and gave a low, almost mournful whine,
questioning.
Luke mustered a smile in return, shaking his head at his large
friend, dissipating the Wookiee's concerns. I must be more careful
about letting this show, he thought, knowing that Chewie must have
seen the heavy curtain fall over his mood.
He also knew that many of his friends, Chewie included, had
been concerned about him lately. For quite a long time, he had lost
touch of himself His formerly bright personality had changed into
something more dark and brooding. Then, the dangerous talons of death
had briefly touched him.
The ancient Sith Lord Exar Kun had nearly destroyed him. Luke
had awakened with a renewed sense of what was important in his life.
He learned to delicately balance his own distinct personality with the
authority and reverence commanded by a Jedi Master.
It had been a very hard road, and he still maintained the
powerful responsibility of his calling uppermost in his consciousness.
He glanced towards Leia and Han at the other end of the table.
They were engaged in light conversation with the Drahavian Military
Commander. Leia was so very delighted with the Drahavians decision to
join the New Republic.
Luke smiled as Han, his dear friend for the better part of two
decades, moved an arm around Leia. Luke knew that she only wanted her
brother to find the same kind of happiness that she enjoyed, but she
didn't seem to understand how difficult that was to actually
accomplish!
The Princess had apparently taken his smile as a sign to keep
talking, so she did. She really was quite impressive. He glanced up
at Wedge, whose hand rested lightly on that of Qwi Xux.
Qwi sat across from Princess Clekar, listening intently. Her
sweet voice laughed lightly in response to a comment the Princess
made. Luke admired Qwi's seemingly endless thirst for knowledge.
Wedge smiled, too, but he watched Luke's growing restlessness.
For a fleeting moment, Luke remembered the brief window in time when
he and Wedge had been just crack pilots in a Rebel X-Wing squadron.
It seemed like a lifetime ago.
The dark sensation washed over Luke again, and this time it
was too much He returned Wedge's gaze, pleading for help. Wedge
deftly directed the conversation towards a young officer sitting
silently next to the Princess. The young man was gaining a reputation
as an extremely adept weapons expert, and Luke knew that he been
trying to find a way to break into the conversation with the pretty
Drahavian.
Luke nodded his thanks to Wedge, then easily slipped away
behind the curtained exit to the balcony.
In the shadows, the small, cylindrical astromech droid R2-D2
let out a low, mournful tone towards his master. Luke heard him, but
didn't respond He breathed deeply of the cool Coruscant air, leaned on
a wall and stared into the sparkling blanket of lights. The balcony
was dimly lit, matching his mood.
Luke remembered the far away reference that Mother Rell of the
Dathomir witches had made to his wife and children. However, she had
also predicted that Prince Isolder of Hapes, now King, would die.
They had changed the course of history during that battle. He was
almost convinced that they had changed his own future, too.
His thoughts turned to his first mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
"Ben," he whispered to the air, "How did you do it? Living alone for
so long?"
Han felt Leia stiffen under his arm. He followed her gaze to
the dark figure sliding outside. He glanced at the empty chair beside
the Drahavian Princess and knew Luke was in for trouble.
Leia had been very proud of herself for maneuvering that
coveted seat for her eligible brother, but Luke was gone again. Leia
was constantly being approached by young women wanting an audience
with the Jedi Master, but Luke had yet to show any interest.
Leia had really hoped that the Princess would finally get his
attention. Han recognized the stern set to his wife's face and didn't
envy Luke a bit.
As Leia excused herself, Han reached to stop her, but his sore
shoulder stopped him short, sharply reminding him of his recent
injury.
As Han watched Leia leave, he was reminded of a similar scene
long ago, when Leia had followed Luke from an Ewok dwelling in the
trees. He had to smile; he had been jealous of Luke then, not yet
knowing that his two friends were actually twins! Now, Leia was
gaining strength in her own Force sensitivity and Han was beginning to
understand the mysterious legacy that had been passed on to his own
children.
Major Halok could hardly hide his contempt for the so-called
Jedi Master His evil appetite grew stronger as he watched Skywalker
keep the beautiful Princess from him.
Did the young man actually believe he could dominate the
Major? How could that lovely creature be so easily taken in by that
"Jedi" act?
Someday, he sneered to himself, my time will come and I will
show him who is the real power here....
Leia crossed her arms and watched her brooding brother through
a stern expression. "If you're not even going to try..." she started.
Luke turned and she saw his mild surprise. His thoughts had been so
inward that he hadn't noticed her approach.
She watched his cape settle around him, thinking of what a
grand figure he cut. She could hardly imagine this restless warrior
to be the same wide-eyed farm boy she had met so long ago.
"I'm sorry," he began, "It's not her, it's me. Something just
doesn't fit." She shook her head and leaned on the wall next to him.
She had heard him say those same words what seemed like a hundred
times before. She sighed, "I know. It's alright."
Luke said, "I don't know what I'm looking for, Leia. Maybe
it's impossible. Every Jedi Master I've known has been alone. Maybe
we are supposed to be alone."
"I find that hard to believe," she answered.
Luke paused, staring out to Imperial City once again. "Leia,
how did you know? I mean about Han?"
Leia stared back at him and was struck by the intensity in his
face. Most people believed that he had all the answers, admiring and
fearing him all at once.
Yet, here he stood, looking to her with such a simple
question. Funny part was that she didn't know what to say.
"Well, that's quite a question, kid," came Han's voice from
the shadows. He strolled to the wall. "That's like asking you to tell
me what the Force feels like. And I know that's not easy because
you've both tried!" He broke the heavy mood with his lopsided grin.
"Excuse me," rang See-Threepio's precise voice from the
doorway, his golden form managing to shine even in the dim light, "The
Drahavian delegation is preparing to depart. They do have the custom
of retiring quite early, you know." Leia nodded to 3PO, understanding
that he didn't mean to sound so obnoxious.
Besides, the protocol droid was right. Because Drahavian days
were short, the natives never wasted a moment of daylight with
sleeping, no matter where they were.
"We'll talk later," she said, giving Luke a quick hug. "C'mon
Artoo," Luke motioned to his small friend.
The farewells were easy enough, if a little formal for Luke's
liking. Again, he felt the heat of Major Halok's glare and made a
mental note to watch his back.
Before Luke slipped away again, he instructed Threepio to tell
Leia that he was retiring early, too. Leia would know soon enough
that it wasn't true, but he didn't want to encroach on any of the time
that she and Han had together. He was quickly realizing how precious
that time really was Luke also knew that the children would understand
if their uncle delayed playtime until the morning.
His body had begun to warn him that he hadn't properly mended
from this last adventure, so he headed for his private corner of the
world. Artoo followed dutifully behind again, humming softly to
himself.
CHAPTER 3
Princess Clekar of Drahavia appeared relaxed in the sunken
living room of her suite. Her deep magenta robe served to heighten
the brightness of her yellow skin.
She was surrounded by her ambassadors and ministers, each
giving their respective reports. They had been privy to much
information about the New Republic during the countless meetings and
tours that had been lavished upon them since their arrival two days
ago. Her advanced brain seemed to hum as she assimilated the details
of each report, along with her own observations.
"We seem to have the upper hand, so far, in the swiftness of
our own technological changes. They have remained unaware thus far,"
she interjected. She could allow her thoughts to wander some while
the greater part of her brain registered the information.
During the mostly feigned overthrow on Drahavia, they had
managed to hide the more significant military technology that they
possessed. The battle had served nicely to rid the dominating
Drahavian leaders of any dissenters with influence.
The only mistake had been to allow herself to be kidnapped by
those loyal to the dissenters. They had not understood why Clekar
wanted Drahavia to undertake such a massive bid for power. Fools, she
thought, with me at the helm, Drahavia could control the galaxy!
The Jedi almost knew, came the warning thought.
Clekar frowned. His impressions had been easily explained
with their premise of traitors in the Drahavian ranks. Skywalker had
been unable to isolate the source of the disturbances because of the
mysterious ability of more developed Drahavians to "hide" from the
Force and conceal their true intentions. Some, like Clekar, had
advanced to a such a level that they could project false impressions
through the Force.
Clekar decided to voice her concerns, through the rumble of
the heated discussion around her. The reports were completed, but the
ambassadors argued about minor points.
"The Jedi Master is a problem," she stated above the male
voices. They hushed.
Commander Drahos said, "We have no information about him, your
Highness, but we will work on uncovering weaknesses."
She considered this, then rose to her feet, magenta falling
around her. She recalled the memory of a man at dinner -- Major Halok,
possibly? -- who seemed to hold anything but love for the Jedi. "No,
Commander. Tomorrow I will handle this aspect in my own way," she
announced, sweeping towards her stateroom.
In the shadows of his own apartment, Major Halok sat staring
at an erotic holo that he had obtained through his various underground
connections. Although it was one of his personal favorites, he derived
no pleasure from it this time.
He sat preoccupied with his anger towards Skywalker. Halok
had rationalized his failure with the Drahavian Princess, convinced
that Skywalker had put her under the influence of some sort of Jedi
spell. How could a supposedly intelligent being be so easily duped by
that pretender? he thought. The incongruity of the two ideas would
never dawn on him.
The Major moved to the window, turning a cold back on the
holo, to survey his view of the female dormitories. That structure is
full of mindless females, all at my disposal, he thought with pride.
On recruiting missions for the training facility on Coruscant,
he had easily convinced dozens of otherwise failing female cadets that
they could come to Coruscant -- on his personal approval, of course.
They all pledged a heavy debt to him, one that he planned on
collecting as he saw fit.
Skywalker could not interfere with that, he smiled crookedly.
Someday, Major Halok thought, he'll be sorry for trifling with
me!
Leia gingerly shook out her long hair and began brushing
through the remnants of her braids.
She winced as the brush grated against the large swelling at
the base of her skull. "That still hurts?" Han asked and let go of
the boot that was stuck stubbornly on his foot. She nodded, watching
in the mirror as he crossed over to her and gently moved her hair
aside.
"That guy really whacked you a good one," he grumbled. He
retrieved a cold pack and broke it open for her. She held it on the
injury and watched him tackle the boot one last time.
Glancing at her Ambassador gown that hung on the wall beside
her, Leia thought about what Luke had said earlier.
There had been a time when she had thought she would be alone,
too.
Her gaze returned to Han and she remembered the suitors that
had come before him. Many of them had been promised to be "perfect
for her," the Princess of Alderaan. She smiled, thinking of how no
one on Alderaan would have chosen a rogue like Han as the Princess's
husband! Of course, it had taken a lot of time and bickering before
she realized that something about the two of them -- how had Luke put
it? -- just fit.
She sighed and put the cold pack aside as she climbed into
bed. Han had gone to check on their sleeping children one more time.
After the children's frightening abduction, Han and Leia had
decided to keep them close to Coruscant for their early education.
Winter tutored Jacen and Jaina now, with Luke giving them basic
lessons about their budding Force skills. While they had school,
Anakin would play with Threepio and Chewie, when he was available.
They had a busy day today and had been sleepy even before their
parents left for dinner.
While she waited for Han, she reached out to her brother once
again. She became a little concerned, realizing that Luke was further
away than just down the hall, in his own apartment. She spoke with
him briefly, but tried not to interfere too much. Luke remained a
very private person, even to her.
When Han joined her, she said, "You know, I wouldn't trade my
life with you for anything." He smiled at her sleepily and replied,
"I know."
As Luke stepped off of the lift that served the lower level
training facilities, he felt Leia touch his mind, softly. She really
did not try to intrude, but was worried because he wasn't in his
quarters. You've become such a mother Gundark! he thought back to
her, trying to lighten her worry.
If he wanted, he could stop her from entering at all, but he
didn't see any reason. Leia was only trying to help.
Before she withdrew, she gently reminded him of the Drahavian
tour of the new Strategic Planning Center that was scheduled for the
following afternoon. She wanted him along to help look over some of
the new staff and cadets that had arrived while they had been busy on
Drahavia.
Looking around, Luke noticed that most of the nearby faces
were unfamiliar to him. For now, their identities remained anonymous,
but he sensed that many of them already knew who he was. How well he
remembered being the new one, full of hopes and ambitions....
Sometimes he felt like that had been a different person altogether.
Then there were times, like now, when he still felt a lot like
that naive farm boy.
He allowed the security lock on the Jedi facility to scan his
left palm to identify him. The door hissed open and he turned to
Artoo. "Wait for me here," he told his metallic friend.
Luke stepped inside the boggy grounds. The computer
registered his entrance and he marvelled once again at how well the
bio-engineers had adhered to his specifications.
He thought a moment of Yavin 4 and what might be happening
there at the time. Kyp Durron had grown swiftly and, after facing
many difficult missions himself, had been the first of Luke's students
to acheive the status of Jedi Master. Luke had allowed him to take on
the training of this season's course of students, while Luke came to
Coruscant.
Luke had needed some time for his own meditations and to hone
his own skills to an even sharper edge. He had been drawn to
Coruscant. From here, he kept in contact with his former students,
now Jedi Knights on missions throughout the galaxy. His meditations
brought him closer to them, lending his advice when necessary.
Sometimes, he and Kyp discussed matters at the Jedi Academy during
those solitary times.
Upon his arrival, Luke had immediately seen a need to build a
private place for Jedi to train and meditate while on Coruscant. It
had to be a very different, somewhat unpredictable environment. It
had to be challenging, but within certain "safe" parameters.
At the time, he hadn't realized that he was creating such a
Dagobah-like environment. The only thing that hadn't been his idea
was the row of windows that bordered a long corridor that skirted the
facility. The bureaucrats had insisted on them and Luke had conceded
so that the project could be completed on schedule.
Let them have their "showcase," Luke thought. He didn't mind
it that much and had quickly grown accustomed to it.
Luke angled to an isolated corner where he knew he would not
be bothered Even Leia seemed to know to leave him alone here! This
was where he went to do his most intense meditation.
Breathing deeply of the damp air, the young Jedi Master
concentrated on healing his body. His thoughts became more organized
and his emotions calmed.
Luke found that Yavin 4 was peaceful tonight. Kyp had worked
the students exceptionally hard today after they had tried to play
some practical joke on him that involved jungle creatures in his
sleeping quarters.
Touching the minds of his other students, he felt a variety of
emotions, but nothing terribly unusual. Tionne's latest lead on
finding another Holocron had turned dry, so Luke tried to encourage
her and give some suggestions.
Then, his mind settled again on his own achings. Soon, he
felt that he was no longer alone.
"You have a serious matter before you, Luke," Ben Kenobi's
even voice came as a shock to Luke's senses. He had never expected to
hear that particular voice again, at least not in this world. Obi-Wan
Kenobi, as he was known as a Jedi, had said farewell to Luke long ago.
"Ben!" Luke exclaimed, "You said you couldn't contact me
again!"
Ben seated himself on a large outcropping of rock near him.
"Once in a while, the rules must be bent -- temporarily -- for a cause
greater than the world in which we live," he answered cryptically.
"Something has been troubling you lately, Luke," it was not an
observation, but a statement of fact.
Luke nodded. "I've had such a strange feeling lately, and I
can't shake it." He blew out his breath. "I had always assumed that a
Jedi Master was meant to live his life alone."
Ben nodded, but regarded him very seriously. "Throughout Jedi
history, the vast majority have remained alone. Very rarely is it
necessary to ask a Master bend that tradition, but it has happened.
Even then, many before you have chosen to remain alone because of the
danger the alternative presents. It involves putting not only
yourself, but also your chosen mate at great risk."
"Risk?" Luke repeated, with more than a little surprise
remaining in his voice.
"The risk comes in your resistance to the Dark Side. The
dependent nature of such a relationship opens a new front of battle
against evil."
"Am I being asked, Ben? Because I don't feel like I'm being
asked; it's more like driven! I've felt so empty, like a part of me
is missing. Ben, why me? What else do I have to offer? Why now?"
Ben laughed, "It is your insight that is prodding you. As for
those questions, only the future will provide the answers." Luke felt
discouraged
"You are a living example of how powerful a Jedi's offspring
can be," said Anakin Skywalker, his shimmering form emerging from the
shadows. Ben fell silent, allowing Anakin to pick up the discourse.
"But there was a long line before you. Your answers may not come for
many generations."
"It is a conscious decision that you must make and you must
understand all of the implications," continued Ben. "Once a Jedi
Master decides to search for a mate, he must be willing to alter his
very existence.
"If he finds her, they are to be joined in a sacred union that
actually joins their life forces," he laced his fingers together to
illustrate, "making them one in feeling, but individual in thought.
Your minds stay mostly private, but you share the essence of life.
"This is why the loss of a Master's mate is so devastating,
often destroying him or throwing him to the Dark Side. The dark
forces understand this and will try to use it."
Luke tried to memorize every word; he had not expected
anything of this magnitude.
"Finding your companion is another matter altogether," Anakin
began. Companion. Luke liked the sound of that word rather than
"mate," as Ben had said. The latter sounded too cold and distant.
His father explained, "In a Master's search, the Force takes
control. Your wife" -- Luke startled at the reality of that word --
"must be equally strong in the Force, son, whether she understands her
gift or not. There can only be one correct choice, though, and the
Force will reveal it to both of you for one, and only one, brief
moment."
"How will I know her?" Luke asked, feeling a little lost.
"To you, she will leave a distinctive signature in the Force,"
Anakin replied, "but only you can feel it. In this way, the search
itself is a test of your worthiness for this choice."
"This sounds really frightening," Luke remarked, shaking his
head.
Ben nodded. "The tests will be continual, Luke. Remember
that this union is to be sacred, Luke. You must keep your senses free
of, shall we say, `carnal corruptions'? And let there be no doubt
that the Dark Side will put strong temptations to you before you reach
the time of your union. Again, the Force will determine when you are
ready for that union."
Luke looked away from Ben's knowing stare. The intimate
reference had brought the naive farm boy very close to the surface
again. He felt suddenly uncomfortable. Ben rose to his feet and went
to join Anakin in the shadows.
Luke's father spoke one last time. "In making your decision,
son, I want you to know that through your companion, you will know the
most complete communion with another human being that is possible.
You must weigh that against the dangers."
Luke watched their images fade into the other world. A new
weight settled over his mind. He needed to meditate further, to
consider this new dilemma.
As he left, Luke absently patted Artoo's top and the little
droid glided after him, cooing. Still debating in his mind, he walked
through the series of corridors and lifts that led to his private
quarters. Could he deal with this emptiness for the rest of his life?
Was it even fair to ask another human being to put themselves at risk
for him?
All too soon, he was stepping into the guarded lift that went
to the exclusive upper level. He held up his hand to be scanned
again, coming to a final conclusion.
Once in his quarters, he changed his clothes and prepared to
sleep. Artoo had already shut down for the night.
For a long moment, Luke listened to the looming silence. He
closed his eyes, imagining a future of it. Well, he thought
decisively, that's that; Luke Skywalker just isn't meant to be alone.
As he closed his eyes, he reached out through the night and
let Leia know that all was well.
CHAPTER 4
At about the same time Anakin Skywalker's twins were born,
another life was brought into the world of another Jedi Knight.
Tarrlin Latuur and his wife Shela were overjoyed with the
birth of their daughter Kaiyana. Tarrlin knew early in his daughter's
life that she was extremely strong with the Force. What Kaiyana
thought was mere playtime was actually the beginnings of Jedi
training. She learned quickly.
In his meditations, he was given the knowledge that her
destiny would take her along a hard path, teaching her even harder
lessons. Each one would be crucial, preparing her for the important
place she could hold in the galaxy. He watched her levitate dinner
plates and, instead of scolding, he would simply say, "I love you,
Yana."
I haven't much time left with her, he thought sadly.
Finally, one day, as Tarrlin watched Shela showing their small
child her strengthening exercises, he felt a darkening of the Force.
He looked to Lodon 5's grey sky. Shela followed his gaze, worried.
He tried to reassure her, but she knew they were there.
The Empire has finally come for me, he thought.
The shuttle landed and the great, dark form descended to the
rough ground. The unsure footing didn't unsettle his stride. Darth
Vader was on the trail of his prey.
Tarrlin felt him coming. He held his wife closely, trying to
calm her grief. Shela gathered necessities into a small pack.
Kaiyana was frightened and confused.
The small child hugged her father's leg. "Why do we have to
go, Daddy? I want you to come, too."
Before he could explain, he felt the dark presence crossing
their small field. He scooped up his little girl, holding her for the
last time. He kissed her and whispered, "Always remember that I love
you and I'm with you, Yana."
"Teach her well," he said to her mother. He handed her to
Shela and sent them through the back door. He stepped through his
front doorway to meet his destiny.
Shela knew her husband would fight only long enough to give
them a chance to escape. She ran faster than she'd run in her life.
She wasn't sure if she ran from the danger behind them or from the
pain that pierced her heart.
Kaiyana was frightened. She had never before felt these
emotions from her parents. She clung to her mother's neck.
After quite some time, they stopped to rest near the cliffs.
Kaiyana snacked on some fruit and her mother watched the sky.
The distant sound of a ship's engines roared to them. Kaiyana
could see the small point of light streak through the atmosphere. Her
mother screamed at it.
Late that night, Kaiyana felt herself being settled down on
hard ground. She opened her eyes and saw they were in a cave. Shela
lay down beside her and began to cry.
Kaiyana felt her mother's hot tears falling on her own skin,
but fought her own swelling urge to cry. She calmed herself, just
like her father had shown her one day when she was having a tantrum.
She tried to calm her mother, too, with her small fledgling powers.
Looking back, Kaiyana was certain that her mother's madness
had begun that night.
In the morning, Shela announced that the cave was to be their
new home. She diligently taught her child how to survive in the
wilderness and how to live as part of it.
Kaiyana grew very strong in her Force skills. As she matured,
she began to assume more responsibility in their little family, until
one day she was the caretaker and protector.
Between her "spells" of madness, Shela taught Kaiyana how to
use her Force gifts to sense and gauge her enemies at a distance.
Soon, the girl could detect any intruders, while learning to read
their intentions and assess their available weaponry.
Later, she began to move their weapons for them, making them
fear the "Tchaikon" -- or enchanted women -- in the mountains. In one
of the many attacks the forest natives waged against their little
cave, she discovered that some allowed her to touch their minds and
she could turn them to her own will. Instinct warned her of the
danger in that power.
Years passed and the madness began to overtake Shela. She
spent long hours talking to people Kaiyana couldn't see, or she sat
humming in the back of the cave.
As her mother retreated further into madness, Kaiyana
developed a special relationship with the animals who shared their
environment with her. They were her only allies.
Sometimes, she still missed them.
Kaiyana was returning from an unsuccessful hunt when she saw a
figure on the cliff above their cave. She reached out to the intruder
with her sense.
It wasn't an intruder; it was Shela.
Experience had taught Kaiyana that she could read her mother's
thoughts, but that the madness would not let her touch Shela with the
Force in any other way. She watched helplessly as, in her mind, her
mother stepped into the arms of her father and, in reality, into the
chasm below.
Kaiyana sunk to the ground and cried.
She knew there would be no body to bury, her mother had told
her that was the way of a Jedi's death.
Remembering that day, Kaiyana thought how her mother's death
was mostly merciful, compared to the grief she had suffered in life.
Thus, at nineteen, Kaiyana braved civilization. She had been
raised to be honest and giving in her dealings. Knowing that others
did not always understand her gifts, she buried them.
In retrospect, she had buried them too deeply.
Kaiyana began looking for work, but she really wasn't sure
what she could do. Her experience living in the wilderness wasn't
exactly in demand. After several days, her food pack began to run low.
The storms would soon be returning to this region of Lodon 5, but she
had nowhere to stay. The looming blaster factory was her last option,
she realized with a sinking dread.
It will only be until I find something better, Kaiyana
promised herself. She walked into the factory and asked a vacant-faced
girl if she could see the hiring boss. The girl looked her up and
down and, wordlessly, ducked behind a door.
Kaiyana waited, wondering if the girl understood what she had
said. The pungent odor of melting metal and plasteel saturated the
air. Suddenly, the door flew open and a tall man faced Kaiyana.
"I need to work," she said feebly, taken off guard by the
blustery man.
"Don't they all," he replied, a bored expression sweeping his
face. He walked slowly around her. Kaiyana felt very self-conscious.
He poked at her arm.
"You seem solid enough," he finally said. He instructed the
quiet girl to outfit her for the assembly line and set her up in the
factory barracks.
"I'll summon you later for further instructions," he announced
to her, "learn your job well or you're out."
Days passed and the storms blew in. Kaiyana found that she
never had to leave the cover of the factory. The people who ran the
factory realized this; they kept the conditions inside just a shade
better than those outside.
The storms were especially violent this season, Kaiyana noted.
The other girls in her division didn't speak much, moving
through their daily tasks almost lifelessly. What has happened to
them? Kaiyana wondered. I'll get out of here right after the storms
pass, she promised again
The hiring boss didn't summon her for a few weeks, which
seemed very strange to her. She could find out little about him, just
that he demanded to be called only "Boss".
"What `further instructions' did he mean?" Kaiyana asked a
mousy girl one evening as the storms raged outside, "There doesn't
seem to be much more to learn about this job."
The girl wouldn't look her in the eye. "You'll see," was all
she muttered.
Finally, the summons came. She left her position on the line,
another girl stepping in to fill her place. She walked up the
decrepit stairs to Boss's office.
Entering the restricted corridor, Kaiyana felt the air clear.
It smelled clean, filtered. She felt sticky with factory grime. A
door slid open and she gingerly stepped inside.
A desk stood before her, Boss was there, examining some
papers. He sat back as she entered and just stared at her. She knew
from the others not to speak first.
Looking away from his unnerving gaze, Kaiyana noticed that the
office was actually part of his private quarters. She waited.
"Do you want a shower?" he finally asked. The question wasn't
at all what she expected. Her confusion must have shown on her face.
Boss laughed, rising from his chair and walking to Kaiyana.
"You see, dear," she was sure he didn't know her name, "my talents are
so wasted here. I need some added distraction to keep me happy. When
I'm not happy," he ran his hands down her bare arms, "certain girls
tend to be tossed out of their jobs." And into the storms, she thought.
He moved an arm around her and steered her to his desk. "The
shower is optional, but I insist on this," he quickly produced what
she realized, too late, was a piece of medical equipment.
Kaiyana felt a hypostream pierce her arm and she jerked away.
She hoped that she had avoided being injected, but a strange sensation
began to overtake her. She felt weak, but her mind was aware. She
leaned heavily on the desk, battling her body.
"That's more like it," he breathed into her ear and helped her
collapse onto a nearby couch. She closed her eyes tight, trying to
regain control of her body. She felt a tugging at her sleeveless
workshirt and tried to move away.
"Fighting is useless, dear," his thick voice said. She opened
her eyes and saw that he was already disrobed. He kneeled on the
couch, pinning one of her legs against the back cushions. Fear began
to panic her and she strained to keep calm.
I must not have gotten a full dose, Kaiyana thought. Her
strength was returning, slowly. Hurry! her mind screamed at her body.
She tried to push him off of her.
"So you still need some convincing," he said, a chill in his
voice. He grabbed a vibroblade from behind him, restraining her by
the edge of her skirt. He stretched out across her, holding the blade
beside her face. He flicked the tip of it, slicing into her eyebrow.
"I think you get the message," he said.
His weight was suffocating her. She felt nauseous.
Kaiyana closed her eyes and concentrated on gaining strength.
She felt his hands move behind her hips and decided there was only one
way to get free. She gathered her strength, bringing her legs up
around him.
"Yes, that's a good girl," he panted, relaxing his grip on
her.
With all her might, she pressed her knees inward. The
crushing pressure forced his breath from him and he dropped the knife
in surprise. He hit her, but she didn't let go until he was yelling
with pain.
She shoved him to the floor and ran into the corridor,
grabbing his clothes on the way out. As she ran, she fumbled with her
clothing, her fingers still numb from the drug he'd given her.
Blood streamed into her eye from the gash in her eyebrow. She
heard him screaming at her from his office, but he couldn't come after
her until he had found more clothes to put on.
The door leading back into the factory was locked, but the
lock was old. Kaiyana stepped back, then threw herself at the door.
It gave way, almost sending her down the stairs.
She tried to run down the long series of steps, but her feet
were not coordinated yet. She threw his clothing over the rail to the
factory floor Then she followed them.
Dashing in and out among the equipment, she ran for the
barracks. She felt blood splashing onto her shirt. She hurdled the
bunks before hers and slid to the floor. The pack she had hidden
there quickly found her fingers. Kaiyana latched onto it, then paused
to wipe some blood from her eye with the hem of her skirt.
Boss's voice boomed through the barracks at her.
"I'll teach you," he screamed, guards flanking him. "It will
be out to the storms for you." They advanced towards her. She ran to
the end of the room.
Other girls stopped and stared, finally noticing her. Kaiyana
felt sad for them, knowing now what their lives were about.
A cold door pressed against her back. "Why don't I save you
the trouble," she sneered back at Boss. His expression changed to
astonishment as she dove out the door, into the building storm.
That night, Kaiyana found shelter with other outcasts under a
large bridge. No one asked about her injury, they just kept to
themselves.
The bridge kept the worst of the storm out, but morning
arrived with Kaiyana soaked to the bone. She couldn't be sure how
much of it was rain and how much was tears. She began to drift, a
feeling of hopelessness settling within her.
Repeatedly, the orphan was taken advantage of and abused by
every "friend" she found, mostly men. Soon, she didn't even bother to
care. She quickly began a spiraling path into oblivion, barely
noticing what happened to her.
At this point, Kaiyana's memories turned murky. Frightening
flashes that hinted at awful truths. Later, the few memories she had
would bring her nothing but regret. Kaiyana wandered aimlessly, lost
in a world that was terribly strange to her.
The years passed in a blur. Most of it was lost to her
conscious mind, mercifully. Then there came a sudden, bright and
clear memory.
Kaiyana had awakened on a rooftop, with no idea of how she had
gotten there. Her body ached from ... who knows what? Her beautiful
hair had been hacked off, leaving ragged edges at her shoulders.
Tears would have come, but she had lost the energy for crying
ages ago. She teetered precariously on the edge of the building,
fantasizing about her mother's end.
Then, her thoughts were split sharply by a soft voice.
"Yana," it said. She turned, falling to her knees as the image of her
father shone before her. The rough surface of the rooftop tore at her
skin, blood springing to the surface.
"Yana," her father said again, "you are more than this.
Remember your gift!" She was ashamed to realize that it had been long
forgotten, but she found it waiting within her.
He grabbed her attention, impressing her mind with details of
where to find charitable people, who would nurse her back to health.
"Follow them," her father said, "You need them and they will discover
that they need you.
"Your destinies are intertwined. Learn much, but stay alert
for the time when you must leave them. The Force will stir your
insight. The way will be opened. Be patient and it will guide you to
your true path." She squinted, trying to understand the cryptic
words.
He smiled sadly at her, wanting to tell her more, but simply
saying, "My darling daughter, follow my words. Your destiny is great;
much greater than this rooftop." Abruptly, she was alone on the hard
roof, the wind was turning cold and it began to rain.
He was gone, but each of his words rang in her ears. Blindly,
feebly, she followed them. When she found the small band of Rebel
soldiers, they looked dumbfounded at her appearance. Without
questioning her, they cared for her.
She slowly gained strength, both in her body and in her unique
talents. They were on the run or in hiding most of the time. She
helped defend her new friends as she had defended her mother,
rediscovering her abilities and gaining a place of respect -- and
affection.
She loved and trusted her new "family," but she never spoke of
her past. She felt a deep shame and anger, but most of all she was
afraid. She feared driving away the people for whom she cared so
deeply. She knew they loved her, but she couldn't risk testing that
love.
Eventually, Kaiyana's unit was assigned to Tatooine. The New
Republic were establishing a center for evaluating the many volunteers
that they had to handle since the fall of the Empire.
She worked mostly on a testing course, running the cadets --
as they were called by then -- through the deceptive terrain. It was
easy to misjudge Tatooine, which seemed ready to spring secret dangers
from around every corner.
Kaiyana could use her Force talents to get cadets out of
trouble, but nothing challenging. Then, a rumor came of a Jedi Master
with the New Republic leaders on Coruscant.
Her heart swelled! She knew it then, she felt it. She had to
find the Jedi Master! But how could she when she was stuck on
Tatooine? She loved her friends, but she knew destiny was calling her
elsewhere.
One day, while she was meditating on her problem, her comm
unit bleeped with a summons from the Tatooine Unit's Commanding
Officer. As she stood breathlessly in his office, he apologized for
being forced to separate her from her friends. The decision was for
the best, he went on. After all, her talents seemed to be most useful
in Strategic Planning. He would have to transfer her to Coruscant to
the new Strategic Planning Center.
Little did he know that he was actually serving as a vehicle
for a force greater than himself.
Now, at the end of another work day, Kaiyana shut down her
post in the Strategic Planning Center and signed out. Another day
gone and no sign of the Jedi Master, she thought sourly.
She seemed exceptionally tired. Maybe it was all the dumb
questions from some of the cadets today. "Do you know Cadet Bridger?
He's so cute. Can you introduce me?" or "Isn't General Solo
handsome?" or "How do you think the Ambassador gets her hair that
way?"
Dumb.
I'm too tired to walk back to the dorms, she thought, deciding
to take the repulsor tram that served the entire Complex. On the way
to the nearest tram stop, Kaiyana ducked into a small Moruchian market
booth.
The proprietor stepped up to her as she surveyed his goods.
He was trying to sell her some useless bauble, but she shook her head
at him.
"Juna fenga shey whak ischut, kleyal," she said, ordering some
Moruchian fruit and a small wedge of his cheese. He frowned,
retrieved her order. She paid him and turned back to the tram.
In the cool tram car, she relaxed and chewed on bits of the
sweet cheese She watched other parts of the darkening complex whizz by
and wondered if she would ever meet the Jedi Master.
In her room, she changed clothes and ate the rest of the tangy
fruit. She stored the cheese for breakfast and keyed in a code on the
sound system.
Her music filtered into the room. Kaiyana let it fill her,
becoming part of her calm. She dropped to a crouch to begin the
strengthening exercises that her mother had taught her so long ago.
Finally, exhausted, she climbed into her bunk. Her cadet
roommates would be back soon, she knew, so she dropped into an extra
deep sleep.
Kaiyana was jolted awake by a noise near the entrance to her
quarters. At first, she thought it was her roommates, but when she
checked her chronometer, she saw that it was well past the cadets'
curfew. Dropping from her bunk and grabbing her blaster in one silent
movement, she crept toward the door.
Because of the late hour, and seeing no need to alarm her
roommates yet, she ignored their bunks. They wouldn't be much help
anyway.
Instead of turning on a light, she stretched her Force sense.
There were two beings at the door, both female. Their minds were
foggy from the effects of some heady drink.
Kaiyana frowned. Probably drunk staffers at the wrong door.
Well, seeing her with a drawn blaster would probably scare them away
from making this mistake again.
With a flick of the Force, she opened the door and allowed the
light to play over the aimed blaster. A scream cut the air. A
Wookiee roared.
"Kaiyana!" Her roommates recovered in a rush to get the door
locked and the lights on. She shook her head, uncontrolled
blackish-red hair waving, and went to her bunk to replace her blaster.
She crossed her arms and turned back to the two girls.
They reeked. Priana, a small, snide human, squinted and
stumbled to the sink. Shika, the Wookiee, used the last of her energy
to sink onto her mattress.
"How did you sneak past the guard?" Kaiyana asked, then
thought about the answer, mumbling, "Nevermind." She climbed back
into her bed. Priana smiled devilishly at her with water running down
her face. She forgot to dry it before she fell into her own bed.
Kaiyana knew they deserved a tongue-lashing, but decided they
disliked her enough already. Before falling asleep, she stretched out
her senses one last time and turned the lights off.
"I hate it when you do that," came Priana's slurred voice from
the darkness. Shika let out an agreeing whine.
In the morning, Kaiyana let the water of the hot shower run
over her face. This was the only place she could enjoy any solitude!
When she had come to Coruscant, she had expected to find a
much more single-minded, intelligent crowd than what she now
encountered in the dormitories. Especially in the female dormitories,
she thought with a frown. Her roommates were more dense than a
Gundark's skull!
She remembered their excursion during the night. It burned
her that they seemed bothered by the training they were here to
receive, but they expressed quite an interest in anything male.
Kaiyana scrubbed at her feet and legs, noticing that the
callouses were disappearing, as was the angry sunburn she had almost
gotten use to on Tatooine.
As she dressed for her daily assignment in the Strategic
Planning Center, she tried to decide why her roommates didn't seem to
like her. Maybe it was because she let them know that she had a
purpose here. That probably did come across a little arrogant.
Maybe it was because her looks were not up to their standards.
Kaiyana specifically noted the scar that broke across her right
eyebrow. That was one of the many differences between them, she
thought. It was like the way they admired Ambassador Organa-Solo for
her beauty, and Kaiyana admired her for her remarkable endurance and
success over continual obstacles Besides, Kaiyana had never been sure
whether she herself was considered attractive or not, so she had
decided not to make it a priority at all in her life.
"Who needs the headaches?" she asked her reflection as she
checked her white uniform. She tied her hair behind her, some of it
managing to escape its bindings. Kaiyana never seemed to notice,
though, and set off towards her post.
It was quite a walk, winding through several sublevel
passageways in the recently-refurbished buildings that made up the New
Republic Complex. They would merge with the lower level training
facility of the main building, which was a short distance from the
Strategic Planning Center.
Every day, she glanced hopefully into the silent Jedi training
environment. Every day, her heart sank with disappointment when there
was no sign of the Jedi Master. She had been told that he was on the
mission to Drahavia, but she had trouble understanding why the wizened
old man she had constructed in her mind would be sent to such a heated
battle.
So here was her great adventure, she smirked, pushing open the
door to the lower level. Kaiyana had been here for weeks, waiting for
the Jedi Master to return from Drahavia. She messaged her friends on
Tatooine often, telling them that she knew something was going to
happen here. All the while, she kept her post faithfully, guiding the
cadets through the workings of the Strategic Planning Center.
She had a lot of work to do. The databanks were continually
being updated with information from the old Imperial mainframe. Every
day, New Republic experts were cracking the difficult codes of the
encrypted files left by the Empire, some by the Emperor himself.
Kaiyana used what spare time she had to study on her own. She
found the Emperor's files on the Jedi Knights and his struggle to hunt
and destroy every last champion of the noble order. Much of what she
learned was very painful for her and became the focus of her meditation.
She eventually found the whole process enlightening, helping
her to reconcile her feelings about much of her past. In a way, she
was also learning how to properly use her gift.
Once again, Kaiyana passed the Jedi training ground, giving
the windows a dutiful glance. She froze, a movement catching her eye.
Someone was in there!
She watched closely, hopefully. A man was moving fast through
the vines and trees, climbing and dropping. As he moved towards the
windows, his form became easier to see.
Kaiyana guessed that he was about her age. As he dropped from
a tree top, she could see his well-muscled torso. Well, he wasn't the
Jedi Master; he was too young for that, but he had to know something
about it! She chuckled, thinking of how different her roommates'
reaction would have been to the young man.
As Kaiyana watched him leap for another tree, she felt the
Force stir around her, as if whispering to her. Then, quickly, it was
gone, leaving a strange echo.
She tried to concentrate on the man again. If she saw his
face, she could find him later and get some answers. She looked to
the tree, but saw that he had faltered and was standing in the same
spot.
Breathing hard, he looked around him as if someone had called
his name. Finding no one, he continued.
It seemed as though the harder Kaiyana looked for his
features, the more murky they became. She could see his tousled
sandy-blonde hair moving in the breeze of the environment as he moved
away from her.
She saw some bruises and marks on his back from a recent
fight. He's really seen some action, she thought.
She furrowed her brow in frustration, knowing she was due in
the Center. I'll just have to try again later, she sighed, continuing
to her post.
Luke concentrated on breathing evenly, working easily through
refreshing techniques as he plunged through the training environment.
The boggy ground squished under his bare feet, the vines feeling cold
as they brushed against him.
Using levitation techniques to boost himself, Luke jumped to
the top of a gnarled tree. He grasped the rough bark briefly, then
jumped straight down, focusing on a solid, but silent, landing.
He ran a short distance, then repeated the exercise. Luckily,
he wasn't too far off the ground when he fell. Rolling from his back
to his feet, he paused, confused.
It was as if the Force had pulled out from under him. He felt
soft waves flow through him from his Force senses, and looked about
for the cause. Everything seemed normal.
Cautiously, Luke continued with his exercise, but he couldn't
concentrate. A strange feeling of anticipation -- or apprehension?
-- stayed with him. Luke glanced around the bog once again. There
was a movement at the windows, which wasn't unusual, but this time it
held Luke's attention.
He caught a glimpse of a young woman in white. As she turned
away, he saw a flash of dark hair behind her. His senses stirred, in
a way that reminded him of the first time he had seen the holo of Leia
on Tatooine.
I have to talk to her, he thought. He rushed to the door and
slid precariously across the hallway, quickly reminded that polished
floors and wet feet didn't mix.
As Luke struggled to stay upright, he saw the woman disappear
around the corner. "Wait!" he yelled, rubbing his feet quickly on his
pant legs. Then he stopped, watching the corner and trying to calm
his breathing and buzzing senses.
Kaiyana heard a yell and stopped. She took a step backwards
and looked to where she had just been.
Luke smiled as he saw her look back at him, "Me?" she asked.
He nodded and she turned to face him. "What is it?" she said,
puzzled.
Kaiyana tried to remember what it was she had wanted to ask
the handsome man, but it now escaped to her. The whispering in her
mind muddled it, blocking it out.
His grey-blue eyes held her gaze, but she felt a nervousness
about him. Luke tried to quiet his mind.
"I .. I just saw you here and...," he gave it up and walked
towards her.
"I'm Luke," he said, extending his hand.
She reached out, returning the handshake. "Kaiyana," she said
hesitantly. He looked a mess, damp with sweat and barefooted.
Luke felt her guard go up, suddenly aware of what a strange
picture he presented. "Listen," he said quickly, "would you like to
meet me sometime?"
Her look grew more uncertain.
"When I'm not like this?" he finished, indicating his soiled
clothing.
Kaiyana considered it, doubting. "Sure," she heard herself
say. "I'm free when the Center shuts down." He smiled and the
whispering in her head grew louder. "Good," Luke said and turning
back to his work. Kaiyana watched him go, wondering why her senses
felt so terribly odd.
Luke smiled as he walked through the bog. He thought how her
voice reminded him so much of Leia's, low and soft. An accent graced
her speech, giving it a musical lilt.
Noticing the time, he headed for a shower, a strange humming
growing in his senses, threatening to take over. How strange, he
thought, very unfamiliar and tried to focus on it, newly preoccupied.
CHAPTER 5
Leia saw Luke waiting for them near the conference room, his
cloak draped over his arm. He was deep in thought and had an odd
smile on his face.
She stretched her senses to him, feeling something different
from him, something new.
"What is it?" she asked. He looked down, the shy smile still
in place. He shook his head.
"Come on," she insisted, laughing at him. She hooked her arm
through his and guided him down the hall to where the Drahavian
delegation waited. "Tell me what's wrong."
He hurried to reassure her, "Nothing's wrong, Leia." Not yet,
he thought studying his senses as something breezed through his
awareness again. "I met this woman a little while ago," he explained
off-handedly, becoming distracted.
"You did?" Leia blurted out. She'd almost given up on ever
hearing him say those words.
Luke laughed at her. "Yeah, I did. I'll tell you about it
later," he looked around thoughtfully.
"I'm sensing something strange, but I can't seem to pinpoint
it." Luke frowned and started to put on his cloak. "It's beginning
to bother me."
"Can you work on it while we do the tour?"
Luke nodded and pulled up his hood. "Let's go."
Leia tried to keep her voice light and confident as she led
the Drahavian delegation through the Strategic Center. She pointed
out the highlights, stopping to ask the new staffers for help in
explaining some of the details. All the while, she kept an eye on
Luke.
Even Han sensed Luke's wariness. He shadowed his wife,
keeping a hand poised near his blaster at all times. Chewie flanked
the other side of the group. They all eyed Luke's hooded form.
He had become increasingly preoccupied. Leia sensed him
scanning the crowd around them with rare intensity. Was there danger
here? she wondered
Leia stretched her own senses a bit, but felt nothing out of
the ordinary. She caught Luke's gaze and mentally threw him a
question. He shook his head and returned to his search.
She was startled to realize that even Luke, a Jedi Master,
didn't know what was wrong. Her uneasiness swelled and she
instinctively moved closer to Han.
Major Halok frowned over technical reports concerning the
effort to restore the planet Dantooine. The Empire's renegade Admiral
Daala had marred the beautiful world in a "practice" attack that had
completely wiped-out refugees from Eol Sha. As he had suspected, it
was proving to be a costly project.
His office intercom bleeped to indicate that he had a visitor.
Halok's frown grew deeper; someone was ignoring the "Do Not Disturb"
alert on his intercom. He had set it specificly so that he couldn't
bothered with more diplomatic duties, like that miserable dinner with
the Drahavians the other night.
The intercom bleeped again. Without lifting his eyes from his
desk, the Major shouted an irritated "Enter!" at the intercom. He
heard the door slide open, then softly close.
"Am I disturbing you, Major?" a voice purred to him.
Startled, he jerked his head up to see Drahavia's lovely
Princess Clekar posed in his doorway. Her pale lavender hair was
pulled back, a deep purple wrap draped over her slender shoulders.
She was waiting for an answer.
Gaining his composure, Halok stood to greet the Princess. "Of
course not, your Highness," he smiled, "won't you make yourself
comfortable." He gestured to the chair nearest him.
Clekar took several gliding steps towards him, close enough so
that he could smell her spicy perfume. Then, she turned away from him
suddenly, apparently waiting for him to take her wrap.
He obliged, pleasantly surprised by the secret it had hidden.
The back of her otherwise modest dress plunged recklessly, revealing
the trail of yellow-green spots that snaked down her spine. Then the
dress abruptly reappeared, stopping the eye before the view became too
dangerous.
Princess Clekar dropped lightly into the chair, smiling like a
predator playing with her prey. Major Halok grinned to himself. You
won't find me that tame, my dear, he thought, repositioning himself
behind his desk.
"What brings you to my office, Princess? I don't remember
being on the tour route today," he asked, maintaining his sly smile.
"Exactly," she replied, keeping her gaze even with his, "I
seem to have a knack for finding the real, shall we say, `points of
interest' on my own." They each gave a knowing laugh.
"At the dinner the other night," she continued in her sweet
purr, "I got the feeling that you and I had a great deal to talk
about. It was unfortunate that you were not seated next to me,
instead of the Jedi eMaster." She paused.
"What was his name again?" she asked, leading Halok to speak
the name.
"Skywalker," he growled.
So, her suspicions were correct. At the first reference to
the Jedi, his face had twisted into a bitter scowl.
"You seemed to get along well with ... the magician," the
Major continued.
Yes, this would be easy, Clekar thought. She laughed,
"Flattering talk is simple to manufacture, Major, but I desire much
more." She held him with a smoldering gaze, adding, "And I suspect
the same of you."
Halok leaned closer to her, "Call me Di'mar," he said in a low
voice, "and you have read me well, Princess." He boldly ran a finger
down her arm She felt the warm sensation, but it stirred nothing in
her; she was merely employing the means necessary to accomplish her
goal.
She laced her fingers around the back of his neck, intently
holding his gaze. "I can see how much power a brilliant man like you,
Di'mar, should have," she saw a flare in his eyes.
She made a subtle change in her words. "Without the
distraction of a Jedi blocking the way, we could rule," she breathed.
Halok's eyes narrowed, but the flare burned brightly, "Again,
you are correct, Princess."
"Clekar," she purred.
I can't think, Kaiyana decided, shutting her eyes. She had
been staring at the computer screen, over the shoulder of Cadet
Bridger. I'm lucky that he doesn't need much help! she thought.
A strange feeling of anticipation had gripped her ever since
leaving the training level. She didn't think it had to do with the
young man; it reminded her more of the adrenaline rush she experienced
just before a fight. Pins and needles, she thought, nervously rocking
up on her toes.
The main floor of the Strategic Center was crowded, but
Kaiyana wondered how many were actually scheduled to be there. Most
of them just want to see Ambassador Organa-Solo's tour group in
person, she grinned, noticing a number of them just trying to look
busy.
She watched the group moving through the mezzanine, towards
the stairs to the main floor. The Drahavians' yellowish skin was
really quite lovely, she thought.
Kaiyana looked around the crowd again. Her mind was preparing
her for something, but what?
Was there a battle to be fought here? No, not unless.... She
reached out with her senses, finding the faint scent of treachery.
Was that it? With all these people, it was hard to tell. Could one
of them be an assassin?
She turned her attention back to the group. She recognized
them all, except the one in the brown cloak. His face was obscured by
a hood. There was a small tremor in the Force when she tried to touch
his mind, but it stirred something in her memory.
Luke was barely aware of descending the stairs. Something was
happening here.
We are passing these crowds too fast for me to be thorough, he
thought. Thankfully, they paused for another round of questions from
the Drahavians.
Luke concentrated on the beings who filled the main floor. A
faint, almost familiar, echo greeted him.
The echoing sensation was moving ahead, but it was hard to get
a lock on Luke felt drawn to it. He focused.
He tried to touch its mind. He read it to be a woman, human,
and ... it shut him out. Startled, he tried again. The sensation
surrounding this presence was still there, growing stronger, but her
mind was now closed to him.
Something buzzed in his memory.
Kaiyana felt someone trying to reach into her mind. With a
sharp intake of breath, she forced them out. She tried to return the
probe, following the echo he -- he? -- had left in her mind. It
tugged at her consciousness. Like the earlier sensation, it began to
swirl and whisper to her.
Kaiyana took a step forward, hearing her boot heel hit the
floor sharply, feeling eyes nearby swivel to her. As the tour group
moved past her station, the sensation began to overtake her, clouding
around the edges of her vision.
The whispering grew louder. Her mind tingled. The brown
cloak brushed her. Someone named the figure as the Jedi Master.
Normally, she would have been excited by that news, but her
consciousness was flooded by the Force.
Her father's voice rang something about the Force stirring her
insight, about her destiny. The man moved to the exit stairs.
Stop! her senses cried out. She began to sort out her
sensations. She recognized him. She understood why her father had
saved her.
Kaiyana's mind fell silent, emotion searing her senses. She
heard his name breathe past her parched lips, taking on a new meaning,
"Luke?"
Luke felt Leia prod him along their path, but he moved
unwillingly. He was finding something, something important.
He moved silently, concentrating on the humming sensation that
grasped at him, drawing him.
He almost feared it, but focused on it one last time as he set
his foot next to Leia's on the stair. Like a rolling wave, the
realization crashed through his senses. His mind thundered. Leia
stared at him with great concern. "Wait," he almost whispered.
Luke threw off his hood, whirling around in one movement.
Only one moment, his father had said. His gaze cut through the crowd
like a lightsaber. He knew who he was looking for. The name that
came to his mind brought with it a swelling of new peace.
"Yana," Luke answered, taking a step and holding out a hand to
her. The farm boy within him was trembling with a maelstrom of
emotions. The Jedi was calm, comprehending all.
Luke felt Kaiyana touch his hand, then step swiftly past it,
resting against his chest. He caught her tightly to him. He knew
little of her, but was sure at that moment that he held the universe
in his arms.
Han turned slowly to look at Leia, mouth gaping. He had one
eyebrow cocked in a puzzled expression. Chewbacca gave a confused
series of barks and yelps. Leia felt equally astonished, but years of
diplomatic work had taught her not to show it so blatantly. Actually,
she seemed to be the only one in the room not gaping!
Her mind reeled. This just was not like Luke! He and -- did
he say Yana? -- seemed to have forgotten the crowded room. She sensed
a strange feeling from him. What was happening here?
She noticed the Drahavians smiling at her. She realized that
she had to finish this tour, but her head was full of questions for
Luke. Leia returned the wide Drahavian smiles.
Leia gestured to Han and whispered, "Take them to our
quarters, and I'll try to be there soon." Han nodded. Chewbacca
followed.
Han touched his old friend's shoulder softly, muttering,
"Follow me, buddy." Luke followed, keeping a protective arm around
the young woman.
I've won, after all, Skywalker. Major Halok smiled slyly at
the thought
He watched the door slide closed behind Princess Clekar, the
subdued wrap again in place. Her dress had only hinted at what it
kept concealed, and he allowed his imagination to play over the
possibilities.
The Major tried to return his attention to the Dantooine
statistics, but his mind was invaded with visions of himself in
control, using the New Republic as he saw fit. The greatest military
power in the galaxy would be at his disposal. Women of all species
would clamor for his attentions. The meddlesome Jedi Master would be
gone.
Halok closed down his office, sealing the door behind him. I
can't waste time here, he thought, I have the most important conquest
of my life to plan.
He chuckled to himself, wondering whether he meant the
Princess Clekar or the fall of Luke Skywalker.
Silence filled Han's ears as the lift carried the foursome to
the upper level apartments.
Kaiyana tried to regain her composure, beginning to feel
slightly self-conscious. Still, she didn't want to step too far away
from Luke. At the moment, he was peace to her and she hadn't realized
how much she had missed that feeling.
Han watched his old friend and the strange young woman. Her
white uniform cut a stark contrast against Luke's black Jedi attire.
The pair acted as though they didn't need spoken words between them,
but Han felt a little uneasy in the silence.
He turned his gaze to Chewie and shrugged. Chewie gave a
quiet whine in agreement. Han was really relieved that it was school
hours and that Anakin would be at the playground with Threepio right
now.
The door to the Solos' apartment hissed open. "Make yourself
comfortable," Han said, gesturing to the living area. He ducked
around the corner to check the comm console. "Luke, you know where
everything is?"
"Yeah," Luke answered absently, as he removed his cloak. He
noticed Yana trying to wipe her eyes with the end of her sleeve. "Let
me get that," he offered and pulled at a corner of his cloak. She
seemed a little embarrassed to have been caught crying, but allowed
him to help anyway.
He gently wiped away the streaks on her face, saying quietly,
"It's all right, you know."
"I know better than you think," she replied. Her voice was
still as strong as he remembered.
Before she turned to sit down, Luke noticed a scar that arched
smoothly through one eyebrow. He made a mental note to ask her about
it. He had a growing list of questions forming in his mind,
compulsively wanting to ask them all at once.
Kaiyana added, "My father told me you were coming."
Han's voice cut the air, "So, have you two met before?" He
handed Kaiyana a tall glass of cool water. She hadn't remembered
asking for it, but suddenly realized that she really needed it.
Luke just laughed in reply and looked sheepishly at the floor,
as if he didn't know where to begin to answer Han.
Kaiyana swallowed, shook her head and said, "Not before today,
General Solo."
Han crooked a puzzled eyebrow, "Then why..." he began,
trailing off. "On second thought, I don't think I want to know the
answer to that. By the way, I think it's safe to drop the `General'
part. I've got a feeling you'll be around awhile," Han added. He was
beginning to understand that there was more to this lady than met the eye.
"Call me Han," he said, then gestured to the impatient Wookiee
over his shoulder, "and this is Chewbacca." Chewie whined his own
confused greeting to her.
She nodded to each of them, "It's nice to know you, Han and
Chewbacca. My name is Kaiyana Latuur. And thanks for the water."
She raised the empty glass slightly.
Leia came through the door like a storm and they all stood
instinctively "Luke," she was insisting, "I think you've got a story
to tell."
He took a breath to collect his thoughts, but she held up a
hand, "I'm sorry. Wait."
She turned to Kaiyana, "I'm not sure what's happening here,
but I think you should call me Leia." Kaiyana introduced herself
again, meeting Leia's intense gaze. She is strong with the Force,
too, Kaiyana sensed.
She glanced around her, taking in the scene. What am I doing
here? she thought. This can't really be happening!
"What has happened here is important," Luke was saying, very
serious now that he had decided what to say.
Leia felt a chill; the last time she had heard that tone in
Luke's voice, he had told her that she was his sister.
There was more to this turn of events than she had suspected.
Luke let his story unfold before them as it had for him. He
told of his vision of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, in the
context of the afternoon's events. Waves of surprise came through his
senses from Han and Leia, but the only such reaction he felt from
Kaiyana was when she realized that Leia was his twin.
He explained the decision that he had made. Then, carefully,
Luke laid the final decision at Kaiyana's feet. He looked hopefully
to her, sure that she understood all of the implications the decision
held.
She regarded him with a steady gaze, her blue-violet eyes
seeming to see into him. He felt an escalating nervousness from her
and his heart sank
"May I speak to Luke alone," she finally asked. Han and Leia
closed themselves in another room, and the air fell silent. Luke
tried to ignore the sound of his heart pounding in his ears.
"I've got to tell you something," Kaiyana said, biting at her
lip. She sighed, leaning forward.
"It's like this. I've basicly got a past that a Bantha
wouldn't claim. Some of it is so bad that I can't even remember it."
She looked away from his trusting face, "I can't even stand to
hear myself talk about it."
"You don't have to, you know," Luke offered and Kaiyana gave
him a puzzled look. He took her face in his hands and said, "Let me
have your mind."
She trusted him. Holding his gaze, she let her memories tell
her story, beginning with the cherished memories of her father.
Luke held his emotions in check, allowing the pictures that
the Force chose to show him to flow rapidly through his own mind.
Much of it racked him with pain for her, but he couldn't allow it to
show. She can't see me falter, he thought.
When it was over, Kaiyana held her face in her hands, trying
to hide her regret. Most of the memories she had, she hated. Kaiyana
often wished those pictures in her mind were of someone else.
"I'm sorry," Luke whispered to her. He stroked her shoulders,
trying to comfort her.
Gathering her wits again, she looked up and studied Luke.
Kaiyana was surprised to sense no change in his feelings towards her.
Luke smiled, "None of that can change what has happened for us, Yana."
"I have not allowed anyone to call me `Yana' since my father,"
she said pointedly. "You are the first exception." Suddenly, her
honest gaze hurt him.
Kaiyana's fresh peace turned to confusion when Luke walked
away from her "Now I'm the one with the secret," he said flatly. He
took a deep breath and let the words flow quickly.
"Anakin Skywalker, my father, was known by another name," he
paused, knowing how this could hurt them both, "Darth Vader."
He felt ripples of shock come from Kaiyana, but they slowed
and dissipated.
Luke turned quickly and saw the determined tilt to her chin.
"We're quite a pair, aren't we?" she replied with a grin.
CHAPTER 6
Major Halok drank absently from the glass of Ithorian spiced
wine he held lightly in his hand. He could see his vague reflection
in the window at which he stood. The apartment behind him was dark,
except for the light from the dining room, which crept into his
bedroom.
In that light, he could make out the faint form of the shapely
Drahavian resting in his bed. He should be resting, too, he thought with a
twisted smile, after their raucous evening.
First, he wanted to relish the plans they were setting into
motion.
The acquisition of the mainframe terminal for his office would
be easy enough; he had been encouraged to order one long ago. Then,
it would be a matter of accessing and studying the appropriate files.
Halok knew that the Emperor had extensive information coded
into the Empire's databanks about the Jedi Knights. More
specifically, information that the Emperor and Darth Vader had used to
destroy the Jedi Knights of the past.
Clekar would be instrumental in analyzing the information that
he uncovered in those files. Together, they would find a way to clear
their path to power, he thought with a renewed sense of strength.
He became aware of Clekar stirring and pulled free of the
loose robe he wore. He slid back into his bed before she was aware
that he'd been missing.
With an uncharacteristic bounce to her step, Kaiyana walked
back through the sublevel passages to the dormitories -- for the last
time.
Leia was sending some of her personal guards to Kaiyana's room
to move her things to the upper level. Luke had insisted that she
take an apartment with tighter security.
Kaiyana let a smile tug at her. When she had surprised her
roommates the night before, she couldn't have guessed that it would be
her last night there.
Had it only been last night? It seemed like ages ago. How
could her life have changed so drasticly in one day?
Kaiyana became aware of eyes following her as she made her way
up to her room. Either the Strategic Center had been even busier than
she had thought or rumors travelled fast.
She felt a twinge of self-consciousness, but fought it down.
This was the last time, she reminded herself.
On her corridor, she noticed a group of cadets chatting near
her door. She tried to duck in without being noticed, but failed
miserably.
"She's here!" someone called down the hall. Get ready for the
onslaught, Kaiyana told herself, rolling her eyes. She began to pack
her repulsor trunk. The guards would be there for it any minute.
The group of cadets blew in the door behind her, shattering
any illusions she may have had about making this quick and painless.
Their mouthpiece appeared to be her roommate Priana, her eyes
remarkably clear for someone with a hangover. Kaiyana also noted a
respectful silence coming from her other roommate and wondered about
the Wookiee.
The rest of the group projected a whirling spectrum of
emotions towards her.
"That was a pretty good performance today, Kaiyana," Priana
said, trying to be surly. Kaiyana gave her one steady "back off" gaze
and crossed to the closet.
A different, softer voice spoke up, trying a different
approach. "Really, Kaiyana, what was it all about?" Kaiyana sighed,
giving in somewhat.
"I really don't think you'd understand. Let's just say that
I've figured out what brought me here in the first place."
"And it has something to do with that guy," Priana asked, her
attitude beginning to soften. In fact, she actually looked like she
wanted to understand. It was as if putting a man in the picture had
gained Kaiyana some sort of acceptance!
"It has a lot to do with `that guy'." She heard a ripple of
giggles and chatter go through the group. One girl tugged her sleeve
and said, "I saw him. He's cute!"
Don't waste a sermon on this crowd, Kaiyana reminded herself.
She latched the trunk and looked for the guards. What was keeping
them?
"Where are you going?" Priana asked, as though she had just
noticed what Kaiyana had been doing. "I'm leaving the dorm. He wants
me on a level with tighter security." Why am I explaining? she
thought, then kicked herself for setting off another wave of
conversation. Priana's eyes narrowed with suspicion.
Another officer stepped out of the crowd. Kaiyana recognized
her from her shifts in Strategic Planning.
"Do you really have to leave?" she asked in a low voice, "you
know there aren't many of us here to keep these cadets on
the straight-and-narrow."
Kaiyana felt a pang of guilt, then looked at her own
roommates. "Do you really think we're making a dent?" she replied.
The woman looked around at the chattering girls. She shook
her head and sighed. "I guess I'll be seeing you around then," she
said, squeezing Kaiyana's arm and disappearing through the girls.
Kaiyana watched her go, sympathizing with her concern.
"Who's the guy, Kaiyana?" someone finally asked.
Kaiyana knew she was in a corner. They would all know sooner
or later, so she resigned herself to their reaction.
"Luke Skywalker. The Jedi Master," she said. She felt a
little silly, her senses thrilling to just the sound of his name.
As expected, the group broke into gasps and chatter at once.
Priana was quiet, but she sensed relief coming from the girl. How
strange, Kaiyana thought, who was she thinking of?
Her thoughts were interupted when a hush fell over the group.
Her doorway cleared and Leia appeared. She saw Kaiyana and laughed,
"My, you do know how to hold a crowd!" Kaiyana answered with only an
embarrassed smile.
Leia gestured for her guards to take the trunk. Kaiyana had
warned her that she had few possessions and had actually wanted to
bring it up herself. Leia had insisted on the guards. One of them
touched the button that engaged the repulsor field and they escorted
it smartly from the room.
Leia looked to Kaiyana, "Ready to go?"
"Yeah," she said, taking one last look around. "See ya'
girls," she added and held up a hand. Most of them just stared at her
blankly.
To her surprise, Shika stood, drew herself up to her full
height, and gave a respectful bow. Kaiyana returned the grand
gesture, then followed Leia down the corridor. Maybe she had made a
dent after all.
"I was wondering if you wanted to join us for our last dinner
with the Drahavian delegation tonight," Leia asked. "I know you've
had a long day, but it will be an early dinner."
"A diplomatic dinner?" Kaiyana started, stammering, "But I've
never.... And I don't have...." The high-security lift doors opened
and they stepped in. Leia was shaking her head and laughing again.
"Don't worry about it. It's not that big of a deal," she said
trying to put Kaiyana at ease. "Just say `yes' and I'll take care of
the rest.
"Besides," she gave Kaiyana a knowing grin, "I don't think
Luke will be worth anything if you're not there. Have you ever seen a
Jedi pout?"
Kaiyana had to laugh, even though she didn't know Luke that
well. She took a deep breath; this day was too incredible. "Yes,"
she finally agreed.
"Good," Leia smiled broadly, "you don't know how great it will
be to have another woman around."
Luke was brooding again.
Watching him, Han thought how the younger man's demeanor
reminded him of the way Luke had looked when he found out Han wasn't
going on the attack against the first Death Star.
Leia's right again, he thought, he's pretty mad about having
to be here. He had to admit, he would have felt the same way if he had
been through what Luke had that day.
He really felt happy for his brother-in-law, but a little
worried. He knew the Jedi could usually take care of himself, but
this would be a whole new thing for him. Han was sure that Luke had
no inkling of the wild ride he was facing. He tried to imagine Luke
with a family and had to smile again. Yeah, the kid had a whole new
life ahead of him. It would be great to see.
Luke felt like time moved at an excruciatingly slow pace. The
guests were still arriving and all Luke could think about was getting
out of there He was wasting time that he could be spending with
Kaiyana. He had so much to ask her, to know about her. Patience, he
reminded himself, thinking of his first meeting with Yoda.
He had touched Kaiyana through the Force only a moment before,
but she had only reassured him that they would see each other soon
enough. Not soon enough, he argued to himself, frowning again.
He tried to occupy himself by watching the other guests.
Tonight, he was seated next to Han and Leia, with the Drahavian
delegates around them. Down the table, Princess Clekar was next to
Major Halok, who was regarding Luke with an oily grin.
Through his senses, Luke felt a prideful wave coming from each
of them, and there was some sort of new connection between the pair.
In fact, they almost looked as though they were holding court at that
end of the table. It's none of my business, Luke thought, withdrawing
his attention from them. He turned back to Han and Leia.
Commander Drahos was trying to engage them in conversation
about the day's events. Leia knew she had impressed the Drahavians
with the new Strategic Planning Center, so Luke was surprised to hear
that it did not fill the Commander's questions.
"So, Leia, who is this young woman?" he was saying, "I mean,
to capture the attention of a Jedi Master...."
Leia's eyes strayed past him to the entrance. A smile lit her
face. "Would you like to ask her yourself, Commander?"
Luke felt a newly-familiar stirring and looked up hopefully.
Kaiyana was already watching him, waiting.
She looked so changed from that afternoon, as though someone
had breathed new life into her. Her gauzy gown flowed in thin layers
around her. Her shoulders and arms were mostly exposed, showing a
softness that barely told of the strength that he understood was there.
Leia had shown her how to take advantage of her otherwise
unruly hair. It was pulled back loosely, allowing long wisps to fall
around her face and shoulders. It seemed to take on new hues in the
dining hall lights. She smiled back at him and made her way to the
table.
"Excuse me," Luke said with a smile and went to meet her.
Leia felt very pleased! She had been afraid that surprising
Luke would be impossible, but he was so mad about being here without
Kaiyana that they had been able to mask her location from him.
The effect on Luke turned out exactly as Leia had imagined.
Jedi or not, some things remained the same.
Kaiyana had more social grace and poise than she had given
herself credit for. Leia felt in her own Force senses that Luke was
right, that a greater plan was in action. It made her worry some, but
right now she just wanted to enjoy seeing her brother happy again.
She also saw how Major Halok was having trouble keeping his
hands off of the Princess. That repulsed her. The Drahavians will be
gone in a day, she reassured herself.
"Commander Drahos," Luke was saying, "May I present Miss
Kaiyana Latuur." The Drahavian Commander greeted her with a low bow
and introduced her to the rest of the delegation. Princess Clekar
appeared to stiffen towards her. Leia saw Kaiyana's eyes narrow a
bit, as if reading something from a distance, but she remained
cordial. Leia made a mental note to ask her about it later.
Luke led Kaiyana to the chair beside his own. Everyone
engaged in light conversation until well into the meal. Then, the
Commander asked Leia, "When will the wedding be? I am sure the
nuptials of a Jedi Master warrants a grand affair."
Leia stared at him; for once she had no ready answer. She
turned to Luke. Han was thinking that the Commander had made an
awfully big assumption, and was very interested to hear Luke's reply.
Kaiyana just looked as though she'd swallowed her tongue.
Luke smiled slightly, taking on an air of authority. "I am
afraid, Commander, that the marriage of a Jedi Master cannot be
planned so easily."
Blank stares answered him. He detected an especially confused
mind sitting next to him. He took her hand and continued.
"It is rare that a Jedi Master finds a companion," he said,
using his father's word. "When it does happen, the two must be strong
in their relationship and strong in the Force before their union can
be made. They will be tested, then the Force will choose the time of
the union."
Everyone around them was silent. He looked to Kaiyana. "So,
you see, Commander, we cannot plan such a thing."
"But you must have a wedding! So many planets and systems
will want to be represented in support of the New Republic and the New
Order of Jedi Knights. The diplomatic implications of such an event
are enormous," the Commander emphasized, spreading his arms wide.
Kaiyana thought he was getting much too upset.
Leia chose her words carefully. "When the union is official,
we will be in contact with you about," she paused, looking at Luke, "a
commemoration. We will work out the details soon." The Commander
seemed pacified and continued with his dinner.
Luke turned to Kaiyana, wondering if she had understood what
his words had meant for them personally. She took a deep breath and
let it out slowly, contemplating.
She definitely understands, he smiled, taking a sip of tangy
Opawani juice from his Hapan crystal beverage flute.
"Such a sticky thing, Master Skywalker," Halok's voice dripped
with sarcasm, "This wedding business, I mean."
All evening, Luke had felt as though the Major was trying to
taunt him, seeming to gloat on about something. Kaiyana had felt a
distinctly hostile sensation coming from the man, while the Drahavian
beside him had seemed exceptionally interested in every word that Luke
said.
"I haven't met your bride-to-be," Halok said, leering at
Kaiyana.
Luke introduced her to Major Halok, then indicated the
Drahavian. "This is Princess Clekar of Drahavia," he began, "I
discovered at the last dinner that she is quite knowledgeable about
the Jedi."
The pretty alien nodded, "Have you studied them, too?" she
asked Kaiyana
"My father was a Jedi, Princess, and I will be studying under
Luke soon."
"Nicely put," Halok muttered. Kaiyana was shocked by such a
brash comment, but no one else seemed to react. She let her temper
simmer quietly. She felt Luke touch her emotions, calming her.
"So you have the gift, too," the Princess continued. "Very
interesting," she added trailing off into thought. Kaiyana wondered
why the Princess found that so interesting.
The conversation swirled back into motion around the table.
Kaiyana sensed that what Luke had explained was travelling around the
room, from table to table. She quickly became uncomfortable, knowing
that she and Luke were the main topic of conversation.
She shut down her senses and returned her attention to the
talk at their table. Mostly, they were debating the usefulness of
various new and old technologies. Kaiyana marvelled at how Luke could
discuss almost any aspect of different classes of weaponry, especially
fighters. His knowledge was extensive, yet it seemed to come to him
easily.
Her thoughts were interupted by the Drahavian Commander,
rising to his feet. He announced, rather formally, that the time had
arrived for all Drahavians to retire. Kaiyana was surprised because
she knew it was still early in the evening. I have so much to learn,
she thought.
Later, as the farewell rituals were closing and the remaining
guests were still milling around, Major Halok approached her. Kaiyana
couldn't decide if he had been drinking too much wine or if he really
meant to walk that way.
She looked around, noticing that she was alone for the moment.
Well, she sighed to herself, I'll have to endure this one on my own.
"Retiring early, too, Major?" she asked, instantly knowing it
was the wrong thing to say. He leaned heavily into her, backing her
against a wall.
Kaiyana thought he had begun to pass out, but he said quietly.
"You know, Clekar leaves tomorrow," he drew a finger around her chin,
"Come see me and we could work on some `training' of our own."
She felt nauseous and put her hands up between them, pushing
him back. He didn't budge. "You don't believe me, kitten? Just ask
some of your cadet friends. They'll tell you that I know some tricks,
too."
That's it, Kaiyana thought, I'm through being polite. She
pulled one hand a few centimeters away from his rib cage, used the
Force to bolster her strength, and gave a crushing jab.
Halok reeled to the floor, clutching his side and gasping for
breath. The guests near them turned and stared.
"Oh, my," feigned Kaiyana, "I believe the Major has had a bit
too much wine." Guards quickly responded and removed Halok, his eyes
still swimming.
Han stepped from the crowd and grabbed Luke's arm, "Look."
Luke followed his worried stare to the far wall. A chill curled
around him.
Halok towered over Kaiyana, holding her to the wall. Luke
quickly began to move towards her, surprised that he hadn't felt her
fear. Then, he sensed the strange calm in her.
At that moment, Halok seemed to lose his balance, pitch
backwards and smack to the floor. He still looked dazed when the
guards helped him to his feet.
Luke touched Kaiyana's shoulder. She trembled with the
emotion she struggled to contain.
"Did you do that?" he asked, throwing a glance to the man
being led from the room. She nodded, adding, "You can probably guess
why." He did.
"What happened?!" Clekar shouted.
Halok turned from examining his bruised ribs. His eyes bore a
cold anger at her. "Don't ever raise your voice to me again," he
growled through snarling lips, "woman."
Clekar took a defiant step towards him, taking a deep breath
to repeat her question -- louder. Out of the corner of her eye, she
saw his hand fly up to strike her. She didn't flinch.
Her hand shot out to meet it, fingers clamping like restraints
around his wrist. As she spoke, she applied increasing pressure to
his weak human frame.
"If you even think of raising a hand to me," her voice fell
like icicles, "I will kill you."
He thought his arm would split under the pressure. She
released him just before his bones would have collapsed.
Clekar turned her back to him, collecting herself. She
proceeded as though the scene had never occurred.
They discussed their plans until their next rendezvous. Halok
was to scour the Emperor's files for all references to the destruction
of the Jedi Knights.
"I think Skywalker gave us a clue tonight," Clekar said, "Pay
careful attention to references concerning mates of Jedi Masters. And
see what you can find out about Miss Latuur." The Major thought
sourly about what he already knew.
Deep in the night, Clekar silently prepared to return to her
quarters. She paused to watch the sleeping man.
She thought how nice it would be if she could stay longer. I
could help with his research, she said to herself, and I've missed
having companionship for so long.
But he's just a human, her mind retorted, and merely the means
to an end.
She turned on her heel and slipped quietly back to her suite.
Han walked with Luke and Kaiyana down the corridor of the
upper level. As usual, pressing business called Leia away, but she
promised to be along soon.
"Something bothers me about Major Halok," Kaiyana was saying.
"Just `something'?" Han laughed. "I can probably name a dozen
things."
"No, really," she continued, seriously, "He told me to ask my
`cadets friends' about him. How does he know that I have cadet
friends? I thought he didn't know me at all."
"Maybe he just heard some rumors," Han offered. "You know,
that Strategic Planning place was awfully busy today. There's a lot
of talk going around." Kaiyana smiled and nodded, but he could see
that she didn't buy that answer.
The trio stopped at her door. Luke gave Han an expectant
look. Han took the hint.
"Goodnight," he said to Kaiyana, "hope you like your new
place." He pointed at Luke, "Come see me before you turn in, o.k.?"
Luke nodded and watched him disappear down the hall.
"He takes a cue very well," Kaiyana said, smiling. She felt
like schoolgirl; she'd never had a man walk her to her door before.
She felt some nervousness from Luke. Maybe he'd never done this
before, either.
"Han's a great guy," Luke said, looking at her hands as he
took them in his own. She noticed that his left hand felt rough, but
the right was not, and it puzzled her.
"He's like a brother to me," he was saying.
"Leia's already treating me like sister," she added, then
paused. "Luke, was it just me or did all that wedding talk feel a
little strange?"
He looked worried, "Why? Did it scare you? Yana, I don't
want you having any hesitations about this."
He was relieved to see her shaking her head, "No! No, nothing
like that! All I meant was that this morning I didn't even know you.
Now look at me! I can hardly believe that I'm the same person."
Luke laughed, "Remind me to tell you a story about a Tatooine
farm boy some time. Now," he gestured to her door, "you'd better get
some rest. We've got a lot of work to do tomorrow."
As the door closed behind her, Kaiyana realized that she'd
forgotten all about kissing him goodnight.
"Uncle Luke!" the kids cheered when Luke entered the
apartment. He gave them each a warm hug and then sent them back to
picking up their toys. Han had been trying to get them to finish the
task and look frazzled from the effort.
Threepio stood near the corner, offering little help. Han
turned to him with handfuls of small pajamas.
"Here," he said, shoving them at 3PO, "help them get ready for
bed so I can talk to Luke." As the droid tottered down the hall with
the children, Han called, "They can stay up until Leia gets home, but
let them pick the stories!"
He finally dropped down into a chair near Luke. "How does so
much energy fit into such small packages," he asked. Luke laughed;
the kids were a marvel to him, too.
Han's demeanor became serious all of a sudden. Luke sensed
his rising nervousness.
"Look," he started, "I just wanted to talk to you, you know,
man to man." He leaned forward. "I know that women haven't been,
well, a big part of your life, at least since I've known you. All I
mean is that you don't have much, um, experience," he paused, trying
to gather his thoughts, then he plunged in. "All I want to say is
don't rush anything. Don't let hormones take over. You've got plenty
of time to get to know her first."
Luke looked away bashfully; Han was more like a big brother
than he'd thought.
He reminded Han of what he'd said at dinner about being tested
before the Force union happens. Han nodded. "Well," Luke continued,
"that's one of the tests."
Han started laughing, "That makes a pretty good test! If Leia
and I had had to stick to that...well, let's just say we'd all be
doomed."
Leia walked in and saw the two of them laughing. "What are
you two talking about?" she asked suspiciously. Both of the men let
their expressions go blank, looked down. "Nothing," they mumbled in
unison.
That makes me feel a lot better, she thought sarcasticly.
Luke even seemed a little embarrassed. Leia just shook her head at
them.
"Well, I had something I wanted to say, anyway," she sat down
next to her brother. "Luke, are you sure about all of this?"
Luke looked stricken, "But Leia, I thought...."
"I don't mean that there's anything wrong with Kaiyana," she
interupted, "There's not. She's really special, Luke."
"Yeah, she's quite a match for you, buddy," Han agreed,
"especially after seeing how she handled Halok." Leia looked
confused, but decided she'd ask later.
"I'm just scared for you," she continued. "You said that this
is one more way for the Dark Side to get at you, and at Kaiyana, too.
It just seems like a pretty big thing to take on."
Luke thought before he answered. "I'd be lying if I told you
that it didn't scare me. It does. We will just have to be prepared."
Leia still looked worried. "I know it won't be easy; that's
why this kind of thing rarely happens," Luke tried to ease her
concern. "It's part of something that's bigger than all of us and it
will have an effect on generations after us."
As if on cue, the children invaded them for a round of
goodnight kisses. Jaina climbed into Luke's lap. "Tell us a story,
Uncle Luke!" she chimed.
"I think I can manage that," he laughed. Luke scooped her up
and stood, Jacen and little Anakin bolting to their room ahead of him.
Before going, he turned to Leia and Han one last time,
"Besides, after seeing what I could have with her, I can't imagine
living alone again."
The Drahavian shuttle waited on a landing pad in the dim
morning light. Priana peered from the shadows at the figures standing
near the little craft, but her eyes didn't recognize any of them as
the one she sought.
The lift door hissed open near her, so she squeezed deeper
into the dark corner. Then she heard the familiar voice.
She couldn't make out what he was saying, but she could see
that he held the yellowish form of a Drahavian in his arms. They
kissed and Priana's heart went cold.
The alien stepped out into the light of the pad and moved
towards the rest of the Drahavian delegation. She seems very
confident, Priana noted.
She continued to watch as Ambassador Organa-Solo said final
farewells to them. The shuttle doors closed and the craft began the
short journey to its home ship.
She waited for Organa-Solo to leave. Priana froze when the
Ambassador turned to face her dark corner.
"Who's there," she demanded.
Priana stepped forward, stammering, "I'm sorry, Madame. I
just took the wrong lift." She swallowed, trying to look embarrassed,
"I was hoping no one would notice."
Leia gestured for the girl to step onto the lift with her. I
know she's lying, but why? Leia wondered. "I guess everyone makes
mistakes," she simply said.
They remained silent until the lift stopped again. Leia felt
the girl's nervousness, like she was ready to bolt when the doors
opened.
And that was exactly what she did.
Di'mar Halok watched as the technicians installed the new
terminal in his office, realizing that he had a lot to learn about the
new system.
He had avoided the seminars about how to access all the new
information the system was carrying. It just had not seemed to apply
to him at the time.
Now, he stared blankly at the datapad in his hand. It
scrolled a seemingly endless series of instructions before his eyes.
I don't have time for this, he thought impatiently. I have
too much to do. I need someone who can show me what I need to know
and then leave me to my work. The last thing he needed was someone
asking questions about why he wanted to search the Emperor's files.
Suddenly, he remembered a small, round face and smiled. A
trusting face He turned to his comm unit and sent a message to the one
person who fit his plans perfectly.
"Very good! Let's rest for awhile," Luke yelled to Kaiyana.
They had spent the morning testing the Force skills that she had
already learned.
Luke had realized quickly that she was much more advanced than
any other pupil that had come to him. Amazingly, she had taken the
basic skills that her mother had taught her, developed them, and
completed much of the advanced work on her own. She had used every
fight she had been in as a chance to learn.
She also knew what was a proper source of strength and what
was not. This explained why he had felt only calm from her during her
confrontation with Major Halok.
He watched her finish her swing, high into the tree above him.
She jumped down, grabbing for the water container that he held out for
her, and tumbled to a soft patch of ground behind him.
She was breathing hard, exhausted. Her hair had pulled free
of its bindings again. She wore a brown shirt pulled over her white
uniform pants, covered with a mingling of dirt and sweat. All
together, she presented a stark contrast to the elegant woman of the
night before.
"I think we'll work on the refreshing and strengthening
exercises first," Luke said.
"No kidding," Kaiyana managed. She leaned back on the small
patch of grass and patted the spot next to her. Luke obliged, sitting
with his legs crossed.
"So tell me," she said, gulping the water, "what was that
story about the Tatooine farm boy you mentioned?"
Luke stared at her, then realized that she really hadn't heard
it before
"It reminds me a lot of what you were saying, about your life
changing so much in one day," he started, remembering.
"There was this boy who lived with his aunt and uncle, a
moisture farmer, on Tatooine. He was orphaned, with no memory of his
parents. He was a good pilot and was quite a dreamer," he paused.
Kaiyana was listening intently.
"His uncle had bought a pair of droids, but one of them ran
away. The next day, he and the other droid chased it and found an old
Jedi Master. The Jedi Master had known the boy's father -- also a
Jedi -- and asked him to go on a mission against the Empire with him.
"At first, he refused, but then he found his home in ruins and
his family dead at the hands of Imperial stormtroopers. They found a
smuggler to fly them on this mission, but got a little sidetracked
when they stumbled onto the Empire's first Death Star," he paused
again. Kaiyana showed no signs of recognition, so he continued.
"To make a long story short, they rescued a princess from the
Death Star, but the Jedi Master was killed, by Darth Vader. They
escaped, but the boy grieved for the Jedi Master, not understanding
that he stayed with him through the Force."
Kaiyana interupted, "All this was one day, right?"
Luke nodded, "And it's wasn't over yet. They rendezvoused
with the Rebel forces on Yavin 4 and he decided to fly with an X-wing
squadron in an attack against the Death Star. With some coaching from
the Jedi Master and using the Force, he launched the torpedoes that
destroyed the space station. He and the smuggler were the most
celebrated pilots of the battle," he concluded.
Kaiyana didn't suspect. "All in one day," she asked again.
"Are you sure that's a true story?"
Luke couldn't help laughing, "It sure is."
"What ever happened to him?" she asked innocently.
"Well, the story goes on and on from there and gets really
involved. Let's just say he's still with the princess and the
smuggler and that he became a Jedi Master himself," he paused and
looked down at his hands. "And that he found out Darth Vader was
really his father."
He heard Kaiyana draw in her breath. "It's you," she said
quietly.
She sat up to face him. He looked straight into her eyes and
nodded. "So the princess and the smuggler were Leia and Han?" He
nodded again.
"Leia and I were separated at birth to protect us from the
Emperor. We had known each other a long time before we found out the
truth."
"Did you ever have to face your father?" Kaiyana asked
seriously. She felt an emotional twinge from him.
"I did twice. The first time, he did this," he said holding
up his right hand. Then she understood. That hand felt smooth
because it was bionic; the synthetic skin didn't wear like human skin.
"The second time, I was able to turn the good in him away from
the Dark Side. The Emperor was going to kill me, so he sacrificed
himself to destroy the Emperor." Kaiyana had heard that Vader killed
the Emperor, but she hadn't known this part of the story.
She was filled with emotion towards Luke, heightened by what
she now knew he had been through.
"You are an amazing man, Luke Skywalker," she said in a low
voice, running her hand over his hair.
She marvelled at how comfortable she felt with Luke, like
she'd always known him.
An impulse hit Luke. He took her hand, pressing it to his
lips. Silently, he shifted, moving closer to her.
She allowed him to pull the tie from her damp hair, running
his fingers through the soft thickness of it. His hand cradled the
back of her neck and she looked up sharply to meet his gaze.
She could feel him trembling slightly as he carefully pulled
her towards him. He hesitated and she studied his face for a moment,
struck by the intensity that seemed to live in his eyes. He gathered
his courage again and she caught her breath with the sensation of his
lips gently onhers.
When they parted, she turned around, leaning back against his
chest.
They sat silently together, until the computer's timer
reminded them that it was time for work again.
Major Halok didn't find the return message on his comm unit
until late in the day.
He checked his chronometer, swearing. There wouldn't be time
for a meeting before he attended the conference that was scheduled for
that evening It would have to be a late meeting.
He returned the call. The girl was glad to meet him whenever
he pleased He smiled; that was how he liked it. The meeting was
arranged for late in the night.
It may take a little maneuvering, he thought, but I'll get all
the cooperation I need. The oily smile crossed his face again.
Leia frowned at the schematic holo that hovered in the air
above her. When would there be any peace?
It was beginning to look like what was left of Drahavia's
opposition was amassing forces on the far moon of the planet.
It was yet unclear what kind of weaponry they had, but it was
too soon to be much. Leia remembered how the New Republic's
bombardment had nearly wiped them out.
"Keep an eye on their progress," she told an officer at her
shoulder. "Also, alert any spies in that part of the galaxy and check
with the Smugglers' Alliance. Someone might be able to give us a
clue."
She keyed some information into a datapad. She had a lot to
remember for this evening's military conference.
She also needed more time to be with her children. Then, she
had to find some time to work with Luke again.
Leia sighed and turned to yet another schematic.
Han slouched in his chair. Another evening without Leia
seemed almost too much to handle.
He enjoyed his children, but sometimes he just needed adult
conversation Besides, if he had to play "Jedi vs. the Sandpeople" one
more time, he was sure he would never stand up straight again. He got
really tired of being the Bantha all the time!
Threepio was trying to get the three innocent little faces to
agree on what they wanted for dinner. Even his complex brain seemed
to be getting a little addled by the task. Chewie covered his ears
and groaned in the corner.
Above the din, Han heard the door chime. What now, he thought
grimly. For a moment, he hoped that Winter was returning from her
night off early, but she wouldn't be ringing the bell. When the door
hissed open, he was surprised to see Kaiyana.
"Hi," she said, looking past Han to the noise inside the
apartment, "I had a feeling you needed some help. Can I come in?"
"Definitely," he shouted above the ever-growing ruckus. The
kids were very unhappy with Threepio.
"May I?" she asked Threepio with a gesture towards the pouting
little faces.
"Please do, Mistress Kaiyana," he replied in his best
distressed voice, "but I'm afraid I've run through my entire menu
programming and they can't agree on a one."
"Kids," Han interjected, "this is your Aunt Kaiyana. She's,
uh, a friend of Uncle Luke's." They regarded her uncertainly.
He added, "She's going to be a Jedi, too." They all broke
into wide grins.
Kaiyana seized the opportunity, "Uncle Luke told me that each
one of you wants to be Jedi. Is that true?" She gave them a
skeptical look. Three little heads nodded eagerly.
"Well, I know a little secret," she whispered. They leaned
closer.
"A Jedi in training has special foods that he, or she,"
Kaiyana added nodding to Jaina, "has to eat. Who wants to try Jedi
crunch noodles?" A chorus of "I do! I do!" replied.
"How about some special Jarekian plants that help a Jedi get
strong?" She held up her arm, pulled up her sleeve, and showed a
muscle to emphasize. "Yeah!" the kids yelled.
"Threepio," she said to the astonished droid, "can you show me
where everything is?"
"Well, Threepio," Kaiyana chatted as she prepared dinner, "how
did you meet Luke?" She knew the answer, but thought she'd make
conversation anyhow.
"His uncle purchased Artoo and I from a band of Jawas," the
droid answered in his prissy voice. "Disgusting creatures they were,
too."
Kaiyana laughed.
"Little did I know the adventures I'd be dragged through," he
continued, sounding terribly distressed.
"If I may speak frankly, Miss Kaiyana," Threepio said, his
tone changing
"I expect you to, Threepio," she answered.
"I am so glad you are a part of our family now," Kaiyana was
impressed with the sincerity in his voice, "Master Luke has been so
depressed lately I know he's been quite lonely and we've all been so
concerned. You seem to have changed that for him, and I for one am
very grateful."
She turned to the droid. "Thank you, Threepio. That means a
lot to me." She handed him a couple of plates.
"I try to do my best," he replied.
Soon, each child was digging into a plate of what was actually
Jarekian baked noodles with vegetables, a recipe which 3PO discovered
was already in his programming.
"I can't believe my eyes," Han said to Kaiyana as they ate
their dinner. Chewie noisily agreed as he ate a large forkful of
vegetables. They really were quite tasty and Han hoped Threepio could
duplicate the meal.
Every once in awhile, the children would pause and look at
Kaiyana. She would dig into her food as heartily -- and messy -- as
they did. They would almost convulse with laughter. "I like Aunt
Yana, Daddy," Jacen said to Han, with a grin full of noodles.
"Have you been around kids before?" Han asked her.
She replied, a little sadly, "Not much, just the children of
my unitmates on Tatooine. Sometimes, I really miss them."
She looked at her plate, "That was the first time I ever felt
like I'd like to have kids of my own."
"I know what you mean," Han said honestly. "Before Leia, I
had really convinced myself that it wasn't a good idea for me."
He sensed that it wasn't a topic she wanted to go into much
more, probably in front of the children.
"Were you a pilot?" he asked, trying to change the subject.
She shook her head, swallowing, "I met up with a ground unit
in a city on Lodon 5. I was pretty messed up for awhile, but they
toted me along with them every time they moved. The Empire tried to
root them out a lot," she explained.
"When did you officially join the unit?"
"I'm not sure, really. When I got stronger, I started using
my talents again, helping out in fights. I became a sort of `early
warning system' as I redeveloped my senses. Then the Empire fell and
we were assigned to Tatooine." She pointed to his empty plate, "Do you
want some more?"
Han shook his head, suddenly realizing how much he'd eaten.
The children had cleaned their plates and were fidgeting. Chewie
yowled as Jacen playfully levitated his large plate away. Kaiyana's
plate was scooting slowly down the table, Jaina grinning at her.
"Chewie be Bantha," Anakin said, reaching his little arms
towards the Wookiee. Chewie gave a resigned barked and ushered the
children into the living area to play.
Han and Kaiyana went to sit near them while 3PO cleared the
dishes. "I really appreciate this," he said, "you saved my sanity
tonight."
Kaiyana laughed, "You've got a great family, Han."
"It's your family now, too," he reminded her.
She looked at him, almost startled. "I know. It's just so
hard to believe still," she paused.
"Han, what do you know about Major Halok and that Drahavian
Princess? I sensed something last night that's been bothering me."
"Personally, I think Halok is slime, but he has talent. He's
where he is because his military talent outweighs his disgusting
habits. He's also really good at keeping the numbers where the
bureaucrats want them."
"I think I know what `disgusting habits' you mean," she said,
her stomach still lurching at the thought of the previous night's
incident. "What was the Princess doing with him?"
Han thought. "I'm not sure I want to know about that," he
said, half-joking. "I guess there's no accounting for taste."
Kaiyana was still serious. "I noticed that she was pretty
much bored by all the military discussion around her last night, so
she either has little interest in that or she thinks she knows it
already. But when Luke spoke of things relating to the Jedi Knights,
she was keenly interested. I know she studies the Jedi Knights, but
this was awfully intense, like she was memorizing it."
"I don't really know much about her," Han answered, not sure
what to think, "but I do know that Halok doesn't believe in the Jedi
or the Force. He's made that clear before." Kaiyana seemed to file
that away somewhere in her mind.
She chewed on her lip, "I'll see what Luke picked up. Maybe
I'm just worrying too much."
She stood and stretched, "I'd better go turn in. Luke's
really putting me through my paces!" She hugged the children and said
her goodbyes.
Han noticed that he felt a little refreshed by her visit. He
crawled to the floor to add one more Bantha to the game.
CHAPTER 7
Luke hurriedly picked something from the food synthesizer.
After a few bites, he remembered why he never used the thing and
tossed it to the incinerator.
He had to contact the Jedi again tonight, but the conference
had run long and he was tired. He changed out of his day clothes and
eased himself into a meditation trance.
Mostly, everyone was doing the same. Tionne wasn't as
discouraged and had a found a few uncertain leads from Luke's
suggestions. The presence of one Jedi sent a tremor to the Master.
The man was angry, incensed over a pointless confrontation.
Luke pressed for details, but none were offerred. He reminded the
Jedi of role anger played in the Dark Side. The Jedi agreed and Luke
tried to help calm him. Luke let him sleep, feeling a touch of
uneasiness.
He contacted Kyp briefly, asking him to keep his senses open
to their distressed friend. Kyp reported on the students' progress
and asked after the well-being of Luke and his family.
Luke smiled, knowing Kyp had felt something different with
him. He happily told his friend about the recent turn of events. Kyp
was delighted, and anxious to meet Kaiyana. Luke promised a visit
soon and closed communication. Then he settled into his bed, calming
himself into slumber.
Deep in the night, he was jolted awake by a disturbance. He
had stopped having dreams long ago, so what could it have been?
He strained his hearing, but there was no sound. Had it been
something in the Force?
He concentrated, reaching out carefully to the rooms around
him. He felt it again, like a shock. There was something wrong in
the apartment next door.
Kaiyana.
Luke jumped from his bed, pulling on a pair of pants as he
ran. He could see flashes from her mind, but they seemed unreal. It
had to be a nightmare; a very powerful nightmare that she couldn't
seem to get away from. It felt very dark.
Using the Force, he opened her door. "No!" she screamed. The
dream had her mind in a vice. He ran to her bedroom, wondering if
their battle with the Dark Side had already begun.
She was curled up in the corner of her bed, against the wall,
sobbing. "Yana," he said from the doorway, but she only stiffened in
alarm.
He drew her chin up, looking into her eyes. "Yana," he
repeated until the fear cleared from her eyes and was replaced by
recognition. He tried to wipe the tears from her face, but she
started crying again in relief.
He climbed up next to her and gathered her in his arms. "It's
alright," he said, "it was a dream." He deliberately excluded the
word "just".
"But it was really horrible," she said, "and it wouldn't let
me out."
"Halok was leaning on me again, but I couldn't get free. Like
he blocked out the Force. I was on Lodon 5 again," her words
cascaded, thoughts coming in fragments that she struggled to put
together.
"This lightsaber came out of somewhere and cut him down. I
looked for you, but that Princess was standing there. She had the
lightsaber. She was laughing at me. She... she...," Kaiyana fought
the tears that threatened again, "She killed me, Luke. And all I
could see was you standing over me." Her words drove a chill through
Luke and ripped at his heart.
"You were so angry," she went on, "you turned dark and cold."
She drew a shaky breath. "Like Vader," she said carefully.
I've felt that fear myself, Luke thought.
He held her closer, resting his cheek on her damp hair. The
night clothes she wore felt damp and cold against his skin.
She poured out to him all the strange feelings she had sensed
from Major Halok and Princess Clekar. They had stirred some strong
fears in her, and Luke knew better than to take that lightly.
He reassured her that they would talk about it more the next
day. "It's important," Luke agreed, "but you must rest."
He leaned back against the pillow and touched her gently with
the Force. Slowly, Luke helped her calm her mind and slip into a
peaceful sleep.
As he felt sleep beginning to creep over him, he heard Leia's
voice in his mind.
Is everything alright?
Luke smiled sleepily; so, she had felt it, too. He told her
that it was and that he'd explain tomorrow. She withdrew, leaving him
alone with Kaiyana.
As he dozed off, he realized that Leia probably had no idea
where he was
Di'mar Halok checked his reflection one last time before
answering the door chime. "Enter," he called.
"Come in, my dear," he cooed to the slight figure in the
doorway. She stepped in cautiously.
Priana looked around. The apartment didn't seem to have
changed much, even the music he played was the same.
Di'mar smiled at her. "Do sit down while I pour our drinks.
Dinner will be ready soon."
She settled into the large, soft couch. It felt so familiar
to her, which pained her. He still had some explaining to do.
He was watching her. "I had almost forgotten how very lovely
you are," he said quietly.
"Let's talk about that," she jumped in. "Could it have been a
certain Princess who distorted your memory?" She felt a chill at her
own boldness.
Di'mar frowned to himself. He hated the bother of soothing
jealous feelings. He tried to look hurt and shocked.
"Priana, do you really think me so shallow?"
"But I saw you..." she started to protest.
He hung his head. "You don't understand know how it feels.
To be told to accommodate a new delegate's every whim," he lied, "and
then to have such demands put on you." He sat next to her on the
couch. "You don't know how I wished I were with you."
It worked. She moved closer to him. "I'm sorry. I didn't
mean it. I guess I was just ready to jump at you because I've had a
rough week." She kissed him lightly on the cheek, "Forgive me?"
He nodded and put his arm around her waist. "Lights," he said
and they dimmed. "I've missed you, kitten," he said into her reddish
hair, moving her deeper into the folds of the couch. She laughed and
they promptly forgot about dinner.
Later that night, as she dressed to return to the dormitories,
he cooed, "Why was your week so bad, dear?" She sighed and sat on the
edge of the bed.
"One of my roommates was moved to an upper level apartment,"
she paused, watching him. "I envy her, I guess. What a dream to have
a man sweep you up like that."
"You know I would if I could, darling," he lied again, "but I
just don't have that authorization."
"Anyhow," he added, "she must have attracted the attention of
a very powerful someone."
Priana nodded. "Yeah, it looks like Kaiyana Latuur is going
to end up `Kaiyana Skywalker'," she returned to brushing her hair into
place.
Halok's eyes narrowed. So that was where he had heard the
name before! Priana might be more valuable than he thought. "Will I
see you again soon?" she interupted.
"Of course," he started, then feigned, "Oh, drat! I forgot, I
have to learn that new system this week. I've put it off so long and
just let the work pile up." He mustered his best disappointed look.
Priana smiled. "That's great! I've been using that for weeks
now. I can show you how it works, and we'd be together more. It's
perfect!"
Di'mar smiled, "Of course! We'll start tomorrow. I'll see
you in the morning, dear." He yawned.
Priana kissed him and bounced off, letting herself out.
Just too easy, Halok thought smugly.
What happened to my pillow? Kaiyana thought as she began to
swim out of the depths of slumber. A strange sensation found her and
she felt Luke's voice rumble against her ear.
"Good morning," he said quietly. Kaiyana was too sleepy to be
startled. She smiled, enjoying his closeness. The morning light cast
soft shadows around her room. She looked up at him, then worry
creased her brow as she remembered what brought him there.
"Don't worry about it," he said, "we'll work on your
impressions later. They are obviously strong and must mean something."
She sat up, to his regret, saying, "You mean you don't think
I'm nuts?" He laughed.
"No, you are definitely not `nuts'. Just don't keep these
things to yourself anymore, o.k.? Or," he shifted his gaze between
the two of them, "people might start to talk."
Suddenly, she was aware of how she was dressed and gathered a
blanket around her.
"I'm sorry you had to do this," she said, averting her eyes.
"Don't be," he answered, standing. "I've gotta get going," he
said and headed for the door. Kaiyana followed, dragging the blanket
with her.
As the door opened, he turned back to her and brushed her lips
with a quick kiss, "I'll see you later, on the lower level." Then he
jogged to his door.
Kaiyana felt a little strange, realizing how many men would
have tried to take advantage of her situation. Not too many women
would have let him go so easily, either, she reminded herself.
Kaiyana sighed and set to the task of preparing for the day.
Leia had said goodbye to Winter and the twins at the door.
She stood watching them disappear down the corridor, skipping next to
her tall friend It delighted her to see them loving their lessons so
much. Anakin still slept peacefully in his room.
It was rare that she was still home to see them off in the
morning. The evening conference had run so late, though, that she had
decided to delay the start to her day.
She was about to go back inside to Han when she thought she
heard Luke's voice. She held her door open, watching.
She saw him at Kaiyana's door, apparently leaving. She felt
like a spy, but she couldn't tear away. Luke was dressed only in an
old pair of pants and Kaiyana was wrapped in a blanket.
She quickly shut the door when she heard his bare feet padding
down the corridor. It couldn't be what it looked like, Leia thought,
reassuring herself. Then she remembered this disturbance she had felt
during the night. Could Kaiyana actually be a threat to Luke?
"What is it?" Han asked her from behind.
"I think I need to visit Kaiyana this morning," she answered
flatly. She rushed off to get dressed, leaving Han to puzzle on his
own.
Halok waited impatiently in his office. Where was that girl?
he wondered, checking his chronometer again. He tried to restrain his
temper.
Finally, the intercom bleeped. "Enter," he said sharply.
Priana stepped in, "I'm sorry," she started, "I had
trouble..."
"Alright," he said waving an impatient hand, "let's get
started. I have a lot of work to do."
He ushered her into the chair at the terminal and bent over
her shoulder He quickly memorized each keystroke.
Finally, she asked, "What files will you need?"
"I need to research the old information in the Emperor's
files."
"That's the latest to be deciphered, so it will be at the
bottom of the list," she told him. On the screen, he saw the files he
needed. There sure were a lot of them.
"Thank you very much, Priana," he said quickly, moving her
from the chair, "you have helped a lot." He saw the shock on her face
and knew he had better correct it.
"I could still be doing research late tonight," he started,
putting his arms around her, "so why don't I call you tomorrow."
She seemed pacified. "You realize that this is very important
and covert research, so don't tell anyone that I've discussed it with
you," he paused to kiss her goodbye, "They wouldn't understand the
trust I have in you."
She smiled as the door closed.
He rushed to the terminal and began downloading information
for transfer to Drahavia.
Leia passed her hand over the door sensor to Kaiyana's rooms.
She heard the peaceful tone of the door chime inside and Kaiyana's
voice call, "Enter." The door slid open and music wafted out to her.
Kaiyana was in a corner of the living room, all of the
furniture pushed away from her. She was balancing on one foot,
stretching the other leg slowly up behind her. As Leia watched her
finish her exercises, she was amazed at the strength and control
Kaiyana displayed.
The music ended and Kaiyana turned to her. "This is a nice
surprise," she said cheerfully and pulled out a chair for each of
them. Leia noticed that she was barely breathing hard.
"What is that?" Leia asked, motioning towards where Kaiyana
had been working.
"Some strengthening exercises that I learned from my mother,"
she paused, remembering. "We used to do them together every morning.
I haven't been able to make it through them very well until I started
practicing the Jedi refreshing techniques with them."
"I bet Luke will get a kick out of that," Leia replied, then
continued boldly, "Speaking of Luke, I saw him this morning..."
Kaiyana was nodding, still smiling.
"...leaving here," Leia finished, letting the words hang in
the air. Kaiyana nodded for a moment longer, then froze, realizing
what the picture must have looked like.
"Oh, no. Don't think that, Leia. I wouldn't, I mean, we
wouldn't...didn't," she protested, caught somewhere between
embarrassment and anger.
"I'm not trying to be nosy, Kaiyana," Leia assured her, "I
just don't want anything to endanger my brother." She knew Kaiyana
would catch the underlying reference to the Dark Side.
"Neither do I," Kaiyana replied straight into Leia's eyes.
She wanted to be sure each of them understood the other. She sensed
that they did.
"He came here to save me last night, Leia."
"I felt the disturbance. What happened?"
Kaiyana started rubbing her temples, as though the memory hurt
her head. "I had a nightmare, but it was more than that. It wouldn't
let me go. It was terribly evil." She opened her eyes. "Luke is
going to help me sort it out today. In fact, I'd better get down there."
Kaiyana noticed that Leia was dressed in rough clothes rather
than her usual diplomatic robes. "Are you going, too?"
Leia nodded, "I decided that I needed to do some work of my
own this morning."
Luke was sitting up in a tree, meditating. He levitated Artoo
for fun while he waited for Kaiyana. The little droid cooed to
himself, now secure in his master's ability to keep him safely off the
marshy ground.
He heard the door open and sensed Kaiyana making her way
through the trees. Someone was with her. He focused on the other
presence and quickly identified Leia.
Luke gently lowered Artoo and jumped from the tree, landing in
front of the two women. "This is a nice surprise," he said, greeted
them.
"Leia stopped off to visit me, so we came down together,"
Kaiyana said, knowing that she really didn't need to explain.
"I guess she explained the trouble last night," Luke said to
Leia. Kaiyana was surprised.
"How did you know that she...," Kaiyana started, but Luke
cocked an eyebrow at her. She shook her head. "Nevermind," she said,
closing her eyes to gather her senses.
Leia took off her jacket. "What's first," she asked, hands on
her hips. Luke removed his jacket, too.
"Let's hit the course," he said, "Follow me."
Both women gave him a guarded look. "We are supposed to keep
up with you?" Kaiyana asked.
"Come on. I think you'll surprise yourselves." He climbed
back up into the tree, grabbed a vine and swung away from them.
"This should be fun," Leia said and reached for the tree.
Kaiyana sighed a reply. It was going to be a long day.
Clekar had not yet found the one piece of information she
needed, but she enthralled with what she was learning.
She began to wonder if the Drahavians' limited abilities to
manipulate the Force were a manifestation of what the Emperor called
the Dark Side. She thrilled at the idea.
I could actually be even more powerful than I thought, she
dreamed.
The Emperor detailed his techniques, the ones he taught to
Darth Vader. She wondered if she could use them. He also detailed
their discovery of Luke Skywalker and the efforts to pull him into
their realm.
He seems preoccupied with this one Jedi, she wondered. Then,
she found why.
She explored an early reference to an Anakin Skywalker. She
learned that he grew into the Dark Lord of Sith. She stopped. Could
this be? Was Luke the lost son of Vader?
She quickly scanned to other files in Drahavia's extensive
databanks. An intellectual center like Drahavia depended on having
any piece of information one could desire available at their
fingertips. She knew that somewhere they held hidden galactic birth
records, ones that had been supposedly lost during the last days of
the Old Republic.
Hours later she found the Skywalker records. She followed the
lineage to the name Anakin, the last entry being his children. Twins.
Her intricate mind raced. The Jedi Master had a twin?
Ambassador Organa-Solo had twins. Could it be just a coincidence?
She found the records of Bail Organa of Alderaan. Apparently,
his daughter, the Princess Leia, had been adopted. Clekar's eyes
narrowed. She knew her hunch was true.
This meant her plans had to be accelerated. The Jedi Master
had to be stopped before he could train his sister to be as powerful a
Jedi as he was. The dominant Skywalker line had to be crushed.
Her private transmission center bleeped. She touched the
control surface and a small holo of Di'mar Halok appeared.
"I have more information for you, love, but before I download
I have a little tidbit for you."
"Go ahead," she replied, preparing her computer for the file
transfer.
"A little...friend told me about her roommate, Kaiyana
Latuur." As Halok had suspected, the mention of the name grabbed her
attention.
He continued, "It seems that Latuur had come to Coruscant
seeking to join the Jedi Master. Her father was a Jedi Knight and she
may have already completed most of her training."
He let his words settle in with the inner workings of her
thoughts. "Convenient turn of fate for her, isn't it?" she finally
said sarcasticly.
"We may be together sooner than expected, my dear Di'mar," she
purred.
He smiled, saying, "Commencing download, love," and signed
off.
CHAPTER 8
Clekar laughed to herself. Her nimble fingers worked quickly
with the intricate parts. Her mind jumped over the detailed
descriptions she had memorized from the Emperor's files.
She had learned much about the Jedi today. After long hours
of study, she had finally found an entry -- actually a centuries old
story -- about a Jedi Master who had been asked to take a mate.
His lineage had culminated in Luke Skywalker's birth. Later
in their lives together, the woman had been murdered by the Master's
foes. The story said that he was left empty and grew reckless.
It didn't take long for him to fall to the Dark Side. The
planet he had protected was easily taken over by those who had
murdered his wife. He became an evil hermit, instead of the grand
champion he had been.
Clekar smiled again. If I cannot defeat the Jedi Master, then
I can destroy Latuur. The galaxy will be open to me, she thought,
reveling in the possibilities.
In her search, she discovered that in order to manipulate the
Force, even the slightest, you had to have some gift for it. She
recalled the Drahavian's unique "masking" gift.
Could I use these powers? she wondered. Then, she learned
what made the Emperor's side of the Force powerful.
She had also found the Emperor's description of building his
first lightsaber. She had stored it in her own memory.
With pride, she admired her own handiwork. "Soon I will have
the Jedi's weapon, too," she whispered, returning to her work.
Major Halok strode through the main floor of the Strategic
Planning Center. "You wanted to see me?" he asked the slight figure
in the grey flight suit.
"Yes, Major," Leia replied. "I want to get your feedback on
something."
She touched the control panel of a holo platform. The image
of Drahavia with its four moons flipped to life above them.
"Look near the furthest moon."
Halok peered at the looming image. A cluster of red dots hung
behind the moon, shielded from planetary view. "Do you think they
could rebuild their forces very soon?" Leia asked.
Halok ran through their normal procedure. "What is the word
through the `network'?" He asked, referring to information supplied
by spies and smugglers.
"Some Drahavians have been purchasing `unofficial' heavy
supplies and equipment, but it has been several months since any
trading has been done."
"I suppose they could have commissioned the work to be done
elsewhere, if they were building ships. No newly constructed ships
were reported during our battle with them," Halok led her. "If that's
the case, then they may be gathering their resources again. They sure
don't want to be seen by the planet."
Leia nodded. "It looks like a small force, but I wonder if
they'll need our help again."
Halok shrugged. "Have we asked?"
"Not yet. I wanted your input first," she sighed, "I had a
feeling something might be wrong there, but you are the voice of
reason here. I guess it was something else. I'll go ahead and put
some Cruisers on alert, just in case."
Major Halok turned and left Leia standing alone under the huge
holo. She gazed at it a moment more.
"Open a channel for me to Drahavia, Colonel."
Halok waited impatiently for Clekar's image to appear on his
screen.
"What?" he heard her say, irritation dripping from her voice.
"Hello, my dear," he said with his oily smile in place. "I
have some more information for you."
"I have no need for more files, Di'mar," she snapped, "I have
found what I needed."
"I'm not offering files, Princess," he sneered, showing his
distaste for her tone of voice. "I just came from an interesting
scene in Strategic Planning."
He grinned as her image became more attentive. That's more
like it, he thought.
He continued, "Organa-Solo has been studying a holo of your
planet, especially the ships near the far moon. She's planning on
sending Cruisers."
Clekar's face grew somber. "The time has come for action,
then. First, we must obliterate the trail of communications between
you to me."
A few minutes later, Halok turned away from the blank screen.
He briefly pondered the plans that buzzed in his mind.
I'll never get to sleep this way, he frowned. He turned to
the comm unit and keying in the code to summon Priana.
The young cadet sat mesmerized by the computer screen. The
War Room, adjoined to the Strategic Planning Center, was dark at this
hour, but the little screen bathed his front in its electronic glow.
He chewed on his lip, contemplating.
He and his classmates were only here to see how the War Room
operated. You never found important things on training runs like
this.
He had noticed a pattern of transmissions registering from the
Complex, not from Strategic Planning, to Drahavia. Without the
benefit of experience, he couldn't be sure if it was an noteworthy
irregularity.
I'll just leave a message for Colonel Derlin about it, he
decided. No reason to get in a hurry about a little detail, he
thought, but I don't want to ignore it either.
The message done, he continued with his exercises.
Kaiyana felt the tears stinging her eyes again.
"I've meditated on it, like you said," she was saying, "but I
keep coming back to the same feelings. I'm not getting anything
further."
"Tell me what you've got," Luke said intently.
"I must feel a great threat from Halok and the Princess," she
started. "Halok makes sense; he brought back some old experiences
that I've spent a lot of energy trying to forget. The Princess
doesn't fit, though. Drahavians are a peaceful people."
"Except for their recent troubles," Luke reminded her, "that's
what brought them here. Close your eyes and think of the Princess in
your dream. What do you feel from her?"
Kaiyana took a deep breath, focusing. "First, I'm relieved
because she saved me. Her face seems strange. I can't read her. I
don't know what she's going to do. All I feel is my fear. Why can't
I read her?" Her breathing became more rapid.
"Slow down, control," Luke coached softly. "Just let it play
in your mind." He watched her breathing become regular again, but she
trembled slightly. "Go on when you are ready."
Kaiyana licked her dry lips. "Your pain. I feel your pain.
I want to protect you from it, but I can't. All I can do is watch it
change you. I'm helpless."
Luke noticed that the trembling was dissipating. "I know it's
hard, but back up to the Princess again. That's where you are most
distressed." Suddenly, he felt that she had found something.
Kaiyana's eyes flew open. "A lightsaber. She has a
lightsaber," her voice vibrant with excitement. "That's it! She's
not supposed to have one because she knows nothing about it." Her
voice fell again, "So why does she have one?"
Luke puzzled. "You said you couldn't read her," he thought
aloud. "I once knew some creatures who created a bubble in the Force.
Is it like that?"
Kaiyana shook her head. "No. I can feel darkness with her in
the dream, I just don't know her intent. It's like she can keep it
from me."
"If that's true, it's dangerous to the Jedi. The lightsaber
being used by a non-Jedi may symbolize that kind of danger.
"I'll have to look into this further," he said, "In the
meantime, be cautious with Drahavians. And tell Leia if I don't get a
chance to."
He looked at Kaiyana with a measuring gaze. "I think it's
time we talked about lightsabers," he said, "It is the weapon of the
Jedi and..." Kaiyana held up a hand.
"I know," she interupted, "I have one."
Luke's eyes went wide. "But you haven't...." Memories of the
disfigured body of a misguided and overeager Jedi student flashed
through his mind
She went to her trunk, dug around inside and pulled out a
small bundle. Carefully unfolding the cloth, she gingerly removed a
well-used lightsaber.
"It was my father's," she explained, "he had given it to my
mother for protection, but she never used it. She wrapped it up and
gave it to me one day, telling me about how dangerous a weapon it can
be without the proper knowledge."
"So you've never used it," Luke concluded, examining the
cylinder's construction. He ignited it, watching the orange-yellow
blade carefully. It was very well-made, he decided.
"A lightsaber is to be used as an extension of your being in
the Force," Luke began, "as you feel the Force flowing around you, you
will know where and how to best use your blade. That's why calm is so
important."
He switched it off and handed it to her. "Try it," he said.
The orange light danced on her face. She closed her eyes and tried to
feel the blade as she moved it. The heft of it balanced comfortably
in her hand.
Luke could sense her confidence building already. He enjoyed
watching her discover the strength he already felt in her.
"It feels so familiar," she marveled. That's because of your
parents, he thought, you were taught well. Somehow, he knew, they had
understood her destiny.
"I'd better go," he said quietly. She switched off her
lightsaber and turned to him. "Already?"
He laughed, "Get some rest and save your strength for
tomorrow. No more dreams, either," Luke joked.
"By the way, thanks for helping me with that, Luke. I never
would have figured it out on my own."
He wrapped his arms around her waist. "You are stronger than
you know, Yana. Be careful." He leaned into her kiss, feeling his
pulse quicken.
"You gotta go," she said, tearing herself away.
They both knew in which dangerous waters not to tread.
CHAPTER 9
Clekar turned to the somber face on her screen.
"Commander Drahos," she said evenly, "is your crew assembled?"
"Yes, Your Highness," he answered, "all hands have volunteered
to stay on board."
Clekar gave him a proud smile. "Assure them that their
sacrifice, and yours Commander, will be regaled by Drahavians for
generations to come."
She saluted him smartly.
He bowed to her. "May the wisdom of Drahavia live forever."
Clekar sat in silence as the screen went blank. Slowly, she
stood and ignited the lightsaber she held in her grasp.
Her chilling laugh echoed through her rooms.
"Careful!"
Luke jumped out of the way as a tree branch landed where he
had been sitting. Kaiyana had avoided the remote, alright, but she
had severed the branch in her rush.
"Stay aware of your surroundings," he added, more calmly.
The remote was set on one of the more advanced settings and
was really giving her a workout. He felt Kaiyana calm herself,
keeping her eyes shut, controlling her adrenaline. She brought the
lightsaber up to face the remote again.
Luke watched her successfully deflect and dodge another rapid
series of bolts from the remote. Finally, it dashed behind her,
firing. She swung around, but was not quick enough.
Kaiyana dropped to the ground, rubbing her stinging shoulder.
"I'm tired," she breathed.
"I'm not surprised," he retorted, "cutting up trees is hard."
She threw a handful of grass at him.
"Next time, we'll put this together with the refreshing and
healing techniques. Then we'll get to the hard part," he added
seriously.
They heard the door open. "Hello," Leia called, coming
through the trees. She pulled off her jacket as she walked.
"Don't let me interrupt," she said, "I just got some time and
thought I'd come see you for awhile." She hugged her brother.
"What is it?" he asked, concerned.
"Has the Drahavian situation gotten worse?" Kaiyana inquired.
"Sort of," Leia sighed, stretching. "I talked to Princess
Clekar about it and she was going to come take a look at what we're
seeing."
"Will her ship be here soon?" Luke asked. Something moved in
his awareness.
"No," Leia replied, "I just got a message that Commander
Drahos is coming instead. Halok offered to escort him to Strategic
Planning for me. I guess I look as tired as I feel."
"But," she added, her voice trying to sound a little brighter,
"there's nothing like physical torture to refresh a person, right?"
Luke laughed, unhooking his lightsaber from his around his
waist. "Want to try this?" he asked Leia.
Leia's eyes widened, "Your lightsaber? Are you sure about
that?"
Kaiyana scrambled out of the way. Luke handed his weapon to
Leia. He reached out and grabbed the remote. Adjusting the settings
to her skills, he said, "Have more confidence in yourself, Leia."
She threw an unsure glance at Kaiyana, who just shrugged.
Igniting the blade gave her a thrill she'd never felt before. It felt
almost like a part of her.
Luke coached her as he had Kaiyana. He tossed the remote into
the air, calling, "Defend yourself. Don't attack."
Kaiyana watched as Leia deflected some of the bolts, then two
quick ones caught her in the hip. "Ow!" Leia yelped in surprise.
She looked at Kaiyana, "Does he do this to you?"
Kaiyana laughed. "Look out. It's coming back for more."
Steadily, Leia learned and improved. After some time, Luke
grabbed the remote again. Leia switched off the lightsaber and leaned
against a tree, exhausted. Kaiyana handed her the water.
Luke replaced his lightsaber at his side. "You've both done
really well today," he said, removing his outer shirt. "You reminded
me that I need to do some work, too."
He reset the remote and tossed it into the air again,
simultaneously retrieving the lightsaber.
Commander Drahos gazed through his viewscreen at the quiet
planet below.
The Ischtak's navigator drummed his long fingers, awaiting the
appropriate coordinates to clear Coruscant's energy shield.
An eerie silence hung over the bridge, with only the sounds of
machines to accompany each man's thoughts.
What we do here today will make our race the greatest in
history, Drahos thought. He swiveled his chair to face his crew.
Stony expressions of resolve met his gaze from every corner.
"I am proud of each of you," he said simply, as their mission
neared its culmination.
Leia sat beside Kaiyana and watched Luke with the remote. She
wished her concentration could be as intense as his. His mind, body
and weapon flowing together as one unit.
She let her senses drift to Kaiyana. She noted the intense
look in the other woman's eyes. She's stronger in this than I am, she
thought.
"Not stronger," said Kaiyana, "I've just been working at it
most of my life."
Leia was speechless. Kaiyana realized her mistake. "You
didn't say that out loud, did you?" she said, embarrassed.
"Leia, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to...."
"That's o.k. I just wish I could take you to some meetings
with me."
"Control, Yana," Luke interjected, reaching for another bolt.
He didn't miss a beat, Kaiyana noticed.
Leia sighed, "It's time I get back to the Center." Then, a
thought struck her. "Would you like to come?"
Kaiyana was surprised. "Well, Luke will be working here a
long time, I'd bet," she thought aloud. "Sure. I'd like to see it
from someplace other than my old post."
The women got up and put their jackets back on. They each
tried to straighten their long hair into place. Kaiyana smiled,
thinking how she and Leia were probably more alike than she first
thought.
"Have fun," Luke called.
Priana walked proudly beside Di'mar Halok. She tried to catch
as may eyes as possible, wanting everyone to guess that he was hers.
He had never before volunteered to accompany her to her class.
They strode into the Strategic Planning Center together. She looked
to him and saw that he was surveying the room.
"Well, this is where we're meeting today," she said to him,
loud enough for those standing nearby to hear. "Will I be seeing you
later tonight?"
She frowned. He barely seemed aware of her question.
Abruptly, he looked down at her.
"We'll have to see how the rest of the day goes, my dear.
I'll see if I can contact you later."
Priana smiled. She turned on her heel and joined a group of
her classmates. She watched him as he left.
Halok was scanning the floor of the Center. He frowned when
he didn't see the slight form he was looking for.
Then he saw her, coming in the opposite entrance. An evil
smile escaped him when he saw she was not alone.
Leia Organa-Solo was accompanied by Kaiyana Latuur herself.
What luck! Maybe they could kill two birds with one stone, as the
saying went.
Secretly, he signalled Commander Drahos that all was ready.
Leia saw Halok leaving through the opposite door.
"I guess there was no hurry after all," she said to Kaiyana,
pointing. "He's going to be late."
Kaiyana feigned a frown, "That's too bad. I was so looking
forward to seeing him again."
Leia laughed and nudged her, "Now be serious. You have an
image to protect now, as the betrothed of Master Skywalker. Come
here, let me show you something."
As they approached the holo platform, Colonel Derlin spoke to
Leia.
"Drahavian battleship Ischtak has just dropped out of
lightspeed and is ready to pass through our planetary shield, Leia."
"Good," answered Leia, "transmit the coordinates of the shield
window. Major Halok should be standing by on Platform 6 to receive
their shuttle."
Kaiyana's mind began to buzz. Wasn't there something to tell
Leia? Maybe Luke had already. What was it?
As Leia touched the platform's controls, Kaiyana felt a great
disturbance. Treachery. That was it! She grabbed Leia's arm
desperately.
"No! Luke said to be cautious with Drahavians. Don't let
them in!"
Luke heard the door open again. Busy place today, he thought.
He shut down the lightsaber and grabbed the remote.
Han's voice came to him through the trees. "Leia, are you
here?"
Luke called, "Over here."
Han picked his way through the muck and vegetation. "You
actually wanted it this way?" he asked, brushing at his clothes.
Luke laughed to himself. "Have you seen Leia?" Han asked.
"Yeah. She and Kaiyana just went over to meet with the
Drahavians," he saw Han's worried look. "What's up?"
"I don't know," Han ran a hand through his hair. "I just had
this feeling that she needed me. It's weird."
"Not to me," Luke said, with a short laugh. Even without the
Force, Han had pretty good instincts. "Wait a minute and I'll go over
there with you," Luke added, putting away the remote and grabbing his
shirt.
Then they heard the first explosion.
Kaiyana's warning was too late.
She and Leia were thrown to the floor as the building rocked
with the first blast. She heard Derlin's commanding voice say simply,
"The Ischtak is firing on us." He checked a display, "Planetary
defense batteries 3 and 5 are gone."
"What?!" Leia yelled in disbelief. "A ship that size
shouldn't have that kind of power!"
The ceiling above them began to crack and splinter as more
explosions thundered on them. Cadets were screaming. Kaiyana
remembered that batteries 3 and 5 defended the Central building.
"Leia, their after us. They are after this facility!"
Then the ceiling began to give way.
Luke and Han looked at each other. "What the...?" Han began,
but another explosion cut him off.
Luke's senses screamed. "The Drahavians. They are firing on
the Center"
Each man saw the other's heart leap into his throat. Without
another word, they ran to the corridor.
Han had no trouble hurdling the bog's obstacles. He and Luke
skidded into the hall and hit the main corridor at a dead run.
Luke stretched out to Leia and Kaiyana through the Force.
They were alright, so far. More explosions went off. Hang on, he
thought to them, we're coming.
Kaiyana and Leia dodged falling debris and ran for the cover
of the mezzanine overhang. Suddenly, Leia heard a horrible screeching
and saw part of the upper floor move. She stopped and yelled to
Kaiyana, but the noise drowned her voice.
Kaiyana, stop! she thought with all her might.
Kaiyana tried to stop so quickly that her momentum threw her
over a fallen terminal.
They watched helplessly as one-third of the mezzanine level
broke free of its supports. It crashed down mercilessly, scattering
sparks into the air. People and aliens clawed at anything to keep
from falling. Those who had already sought shelter there were
trapped. Leia looked away from the horror, hearing the chorus of
screams.
Kaiyana ran past, pulling Leia with her. They retreated to
the holo platform. It's our only cover, Kaiyana thought to her, hope
that it holds.
The explosions continued, raining stone and metal down at the
from all sides. The equipment from the fallen mezzanine erupted in a
gigantic firestorm.
Her senses flooded with anguish, Kaiyana screamed, allowing
her voice to carry her anger away with the rest of the noise. She
didn't dare open her eyes. She felt Leia's arm around her, trying to
comfort her amid all the destruction.
"We are closest to the mezzanine entry," Luke called to Han,
"this way." Han focused on the small door in the wall ahead of them.
He couldn't even identify the noise they heard next. It deafened them
and he saw Luke stop short, signalling him to wait.
The wall exploded into a tower of flames.
"No!" Luke yelled, as the heat washed over them. Han saw a
flash in his mind of the moment Ben Kenobi had been killed by Darth
Vader.
"Come on, kid," he commanded, "I know a maintenance lift that
goes to the main floor."
The explosions stopped. Kaiyana concentrated and discovered
no trace of the Drahavian vessel. Destroyed, she hoped.
She felt Leia loosen her hold and sit back. She opened her
eyes.
"It's over," Leia said. She pushed some debris out of their
way, "Ready?"
Kaiyana calmed herself. "Ready."
They crawled out from under the platform, straighten and
looked around. Like them, others were extricating themselves from the
rubble. Some were crying for help. Near the now-dwindling wall of
fire, there was an eerie stillness.
Kaiyana shut down her senses; too much suffering threatened to
flood in to her. She took a deep breath and turned to Leia. "Let's
get to work," she said with a wavering voice.
They picked their way through the carnage, searching for the
injured. Kaiyana found Colonel Derlin, not far from his post. She
tried to pull twisted metal off of him, but it was too slippery with
blood for her to get very far. Then she sensed that levitating it
would do him no good.
She sat near his head and tried to ease his pain through the
Force. He looked into her face briefly, then he was gone. She
snapped her face away and stumbled to the next body.
"Oh no," Leia was muttering. So many were dead. So many
faces she knew A voice reached through her consciousness, and she
answered the call for help. A cadet with a badly smashed leg, but she
could help him. She pulled off her jacket and began tearing strips
from it.
A man beckoned to Kaiyana. He had pulled a sharp rod from his
shoulder and had made it bleed terribly. She used a sleeve from her
jacket to tourniquet the blood flow. Then she combined pressure and
her fledgling healing abilities to try to stop the bleeding. It took
some time, but it worked.
"The medics should be here soon," she assured him. When she
stood, Kaiyana was stricken by the sight behind her.
Her old post was there, obliterated. Dead and dying cadets
lay everywhere. There must have been a class working here, she
thought.
She went to them, trying to find one she could help. She
quickly levitated some debris to the side.
There was Shika, the strong Wookiee body broken under the
rubble. Kaiyana began to shake.
She knew these faces. They had lived with her in the dorms.
Some had been there to question her about Luke. Memories flooded back
to her about each of the faces she saw.
Desperately, Kaiyana held each young body, trying to find some
life within. They were gone, all gone. She couldn't stop the tears,
so she just let them fall.
Han was relieved to find the lift still working. "Be ready,"
he said to Luke, "if this quits, we'll have to do some fancy
climbing." Luke nodded, breathing hard. Anxiety creased his young
face.
Suddenly, the lift jolted. The lights sputtered, fighting for
power, then gave out.
Han cursed and began pulling at the door. They managed to
open it easy enough, finding that they were only a few feet from the
floor.
A large piece of equipment, unidentifiable to both men, was
firmly wedged in the lift entrance, blocking their way. It spit
sparks from a dozen different gashes, hinting at the destruction that
awaited lay beyond.
"Stand back," Luke said and ignited his lightsaber. He sliced
the top of the machine away, sparks flying into the air. The smell of
burning wires and metal stung Han's airways.
"Be careful," Luke said, standing back, "But we should be able
to get through."
Han and Luke climbed through the smokey opening and dropped to
the floor For a moment, they stood rooted to the floor, struck
speechless. They couldn't have imagined the destruction they now saw
stretched before them.
The facility was unrecognizable. Han spotted a small form
hauling at the debris, and hurried to his wife.
As he reached her, she stopped pulling and put a trembling
hand over her eyes. "Gone," Leia said, "she's already gone." She
turned to Han, grief flushing her features.
"How could this happen, Han? I just don't...." Han swept her
into his arms, hushing her words.
She didn't cry. She couldn't yet. Her emotions felt frozen
in time, like they were too much to bare right now. Leia hated
feeling helpless. She clung to Han, wishing she could make it all
disappear.
Luke felt Kaiyana in his senses. Through the Force, he
meticulously monitored her emotions. She was overcome with grief and
horror, and anger; he had to find her fast. He remembered too well
what little he had seen in her memories of her mother's madness.
Kaiyana saw Luke from where she crouched among the dead
cadets. She stood quickly and stumbled to him. He saw that her white
uniform was soaked with blood, as were the ends of her hair. As
usual, she hadn't noticed.
Luke did a quick scan and discovered, to his great relief,
that the blood wasn't hers. He reached out to steady her, but she was
gesturing back to the smashed terminal. "Why?" she was saying. "Why
would they want to hurt them? They were young, a lot of living ahead
of them. How could they hurt them?"
Kaiyana's eyes pleaded for an answer, but he didn't have one.
"I don't know, Yana," he said honestly. He grabbed her bloody arms
and pulled her to him.
"Let it go," he said softly. Slowly, she relaxed and began
sobbing into his shoulder.
Chewie burst through a blocked entry with an army of medics.
He roared, searching for his friends. Han hailed him and led Leia
towards the new exit.
"Chewie," he yelled, "is this the only building hit?"
Chewbacca answered with a long series of barks and grunts,
assuring Han that his family was safe. Evidently, the Drahavian had
known exactly what he wanted.
"I'll contact the Princess from our place," Leia said to Han,
her voice weak. "Right now, I just want to be home."
Luke and Kaiyana followed close behind.
Priana stared up at one wall as the medics worked on her
pinned leg. There had been windows up there. She replayed over and
over in her mind what she had seen.
At the first explosion, she had looked up. Di'mar was there,
watching her. His gaze was strange, cold.
As the explosions came again, she had called to him. He had
stared at her. Then he walked away.
He deserted me, she thought. He used me. She felt cold with
hatred. This time he'll pay, she swore.
She screamed as hot pain tore through her thoughts, then
sedation delivered her into blackness.
CHAPTER 10
"Mission accomplished," Di'mar's oily voice said to Clekar
over their private extended-distance comlink, a secret gift from the
Princess before her departure.
"With any luck, it may have gone better than expected," he
added.
He could almost hear Clekar tilt her head, questioning, "What
do you mean?"
Di'mar smiled smugly, "As I left the facility, Organa-Solo was
entering the Center -- with Latuur."
Clekar laughed, delighted by the thought. "I suppose I should
be preparing for a communication from the New Republic soon," she
sighed. "When shall I expect you?"
"I have my private ship standing by," Halok responded. "In
the confusion here, no one will notice until it's too late."
Luke settled wearily into one of the soft chairs in Han and
Leia's living room. He closed his eyes and tried to energize himself
again.
"How did you do?" Han asked, easing into another chair. "I
finally got Leia tucked into a hot bath."
Luke was nodding, "Kaiyana needed that, too." He leaned
forward and rubbed his temples. "I told her to call me when she was
done."
Han stared into space. "What we saw was bad, kid. But I hate
to think what they had to see." He paused. "Leia told me Kaiyana had
a pretty serious nightmare."
Luke nodded again. "I'm not sure if it had much to do with
this, though The Dark Side knows when -- and how -- you are most
vulnerable. I think she was being tested while her defenses were
down, when she was tired."
"Then tonight's gonna be a doozy, buddy. You'll want to stick
close," Han advised.
Leia walked around the corner, brushing absently at her long,
wet hair. A soft white robe was wrapped tightly around her.
She stood next to Han, "I just don't get it. Why would a
Drahavian attack?"
"That battleship had to be rigged to pack that kind of
firepower. Maybe that's the `unofficial' equipment we were hearing
about," Han offered.
Luke stood stiffly. "I'd better go. Kaiyana's almost done."
"I'll get some answers when the communications system is
restored tomorrow," Leia sighed.
Luke put a hand under his sister's chin, holding her gaze.
"I'm so sorry this had to happen to you, Leia. Try to relax tonight,
let your mind heal." He gave her a swift kiss on the cheek and left.
Leia curled up next to Han in the oversized chair. They sat
in silence for a long time, absorbed in the comfort of their
closeness.
"I'm really glad Kaiyana and I were together," Leia finally
said quietly "I don't know how I would have done without her there."
Han gave a bittersweet smile, "You know, I heard her say the
same thing about you." Leia gave a weary sigh and drifted to sleep on
Han's shoulder.
Luke thought what a contrast Kaiyana's tattered red robe was
to Leia's fresh white one. Sitting on her sofa, she rubbed at her
hair with a towel She flipped her hair back, letting the damp mass
spill carelessly around her.
"Why don't I send this to the incinerator," Luke said
carefully, scooping up her bloodstained uniform.
"Please do," Kaiyana said, rubbing at her eyes. "Oh, Luke, I
can't even stand to look at it."
Luke quickly threw the clothes down the chute. "I'm sorry,
Yana. I wish I'd been there to help."
"I don't think there was anything you could've done. It all
happened so fast," her voice became quiet. "I do keep wondering what
would have been different if I had remembered to warn Leia sooner,"
she confessed.
Luke sat down behind her, massaging her tense shoulders.
"You'll only harm yourself by thinking that way."
"You know," she continued, "It was that feeling of treachery
that reminded me. At the last minute, I knew something was wrong. I
think the traitors run deeper in the Drahavian government than anyone
thought." Kaiyana's tension was growing and Luke felt it. He knew
she needed to stop thinking about it for tonight.
"Let's talk about something else, let your mind rest," Luke
said. Kaiyana shot him a doubtful look. "Concentrate on relaxing,"
he told her.
She shut her eyes and he felt her working through the Jedi
exercises. That's right, he told her. She relaxed, allowing herself
to lay back, resting her head in his lap.
He stroked her damp hair, finally asking, "How did you get
that scar?"
She chuckled, but kept her eyes closed. "That's a reminder of
the dangers of living without using my gifts. I had a close call with
a lecherous factory boss on Lodon 5."
She yawned. "He caught me with a vibroblade." She opened one
eye and cocked the split brow, "but I think I cracked a couple of his
ribs."
Luke laughed. Bruised and worn down, she still kept her
spirit.
"How about you?" she asked. Luke looked confused, so she
pointed to the now-faint lines of old injuries on the right side of
his face.
"Oh, that," he suddenly remembered. "Wampa got me on Hoth."
He noticed Kaiyana stifling a yawn.
"Let's get some rest," he said, reaching for the blanket and
pillow stacked neatly nearby. Kaiyana rose from the couch and
wandered sleepily to her room.
She paused at her doorway. "Thanks for taking care of me
tonight, Luke. I really didn't want to be alone."
He smiled, setting his boots aside, "I know. I couldn't let
you be alone."
Soon, the apartments were dark, sleep quickly finding each
resident.
Di'mar Halok waited impatiently in his rooms on Drahavia. The
apartment was austere, without the soft comforts of Coruscant. It
will do for now, he thought, dreaming of sharing the palace with Clekar.
Clekar, swept in the door without knocking. She crossed to
Di'mar, embracing him.
"Darling, I could hardly wait," she breathed.
Her spicy scent drifted to him and he forgot to be irritated
by her abrupt entrance.
"What's next?" he asked. Clekar turned from him to sit on the
sleeping pallet.
"Communications to Coruscant are still down, so I should hear
from them tomorrow," she began. Di'mar frowned; that wasn't what he
had meant. "I hope you were right about the...casualties, shall we
say. If we destroy Latuur, we destroy the Jedi Master."
He smiled and slid into place next to her. "And if they
managed to escape?" he asked, moving his hand through her long
lavender hair.
"I've learned much about the Jedi, Di'mar. I understand what
made the Emperor powerful," she paused. "Let me show you something."
She breezed away from his touch. Patience, he thought,
indulge her. Clekar reached beneath her robe and withdrew a small
cylinder. She gazed into his eyes and ignited the bright blade.
"Where did you get that?" he asked, suddenly intrigued. Pride
shone on her face, "I made it. Those files told me all about it."
"Can you use it?" he asked. Her eyes flared and she spun,
pointing the blue blade at his chest. She watched him, delighted with
the flash of fear on his face.
She flicked the end of the blade, deftly swiping the New
Republic insignia off of his uniform.
"You won't be needing that, my dear," she laughed, switching
off the weapon and tossing it aside.
Halok laughed with her, but inwardly he wondered exactly how
dangerous Clekar could be.
Kaiyana caught her breath, startled awake by a movement in her
room.
In the darkness, she made out a form leaning over her. Her
mind was foggy with exhaustion, making it hard for her focus.
"I'm sorry," Luke's voice said, "I didn't mean to wake you."
She felt him touch her hair lightly.
"What are you doing?" she said softly, sitting up. He moved
onto the edge of the bed, still facing her.
"I just wanted to see you, to watch you sleep," he said in a
low voice. Corny, but sweet, she thought.
He took one of her hands, pressing it into his bare chest.
His other hand swept behind her hair, pulling her closer to him.
Her heart almost skipped a beat. What had gotten into him?
She was still foggy, allowing her resistance to him to waver. If Luke
says it's right, it must be, a voice in her mind whispered, He's the
Jedi Master.
He lightly kissed her cheek, speaking gently to her. "I need
you, Kaiyana," he said, his mouth travelling down her neck.
Something in her mind began to buzz. He called me Kaiyana,
she thought, the fog beginning to lift.
She could feel his mouth near her throat, but she felt none of
the warm breath that should have been there.
She inhaled. The familiar, comforting scent of Luke's skin
was not there.
This was not Luke.
She slid a hand under the edge of her pillow, grasping the
lightsaber she hid there. Before she could switch on her blade,
Kaiyana saw a green glow rush through the doorway.
The man before her turned to see Luke approaching him, posed
for battle. Kaiyana saw her opportunity and sent a powerful kick at
his chest, filled with a desperate need to move him away from her.
The form shifted. Her foot slipped through the air,
contacting nothing.
The specter turned back to her, an evil laugh filling the air.
The shadow shifted into blackness and disappeared.
Luke and Kaiyana stared at the empty spot, then at each other.
Luke called the lights on, dim. The hum of hiss lightsaber filled the
stillness.
"That was too weird," Kaiyana finally said.
Luke shut down his weapon and took a deep breath. It felt so
odd to look into his own face like that.
"I'm not even going to ask what he wanted," Luke said, running
a hand through his hair, touseled with sleep. "I think I heard most
of it, anyhow"
"Are you o.k.?" he asked, leaning on the edge of her bed.
"Yeah. I think he messed with my mind, so I couldn't think
straight at first," she explained, "but I figured it out in time."
Luke examined the side of her neck for a moment. "What clued
you in," he asked.
"He called me `Kaiyana'. You don't do that when it's just
us."
She paused, trying to choose her words carefully. "Also, he
was awfully, um, `smooth'," she watched Luke's face, "and I don't
think you've ever, well, done that before."
Luke stopped and met her gaze. She saw him think about
getting defensive, then give it up.
He looked down at her hands, an embarrassed smile crossing his
face. "You're right, you know," he said quietly, "I mean, there were
girls, a long time ago, but I just never seemed to...."
Kaiyana put a finger over his lips, stopping him. "It doesn't
matter. You don't have anything to explain to me."
He smiled at her again and kissed her on the forehead.
"Neither do you," he said simply as he turned and went back to his
makeshift bed.
Kaiyana watched him go, a strange warmth replacing the guilt
that had begun to well up in her as he spoke. He must have felt it,
she thought, and it really doesn't matter to him.
She settled down to sleep again, keeping one hand on her
lightsaber all night.
Priana gritted her teeth against the pain. The medical droid
working near her tried to get her to take a dose of pain medication.
She refused again.
She heard voices in the hallway. Great. It was probably her
turn to talk to the trauma counselor. She had seen the woman making
rounds earlier The poor woman had her work cut out for her today.
A tall blonde woman walked in and smiled sympatheticly at her.
Priana tried to smile back, but her leg felt like it was on fire.
"Priana, I'm Dr. Xihanu. I want to speak with you about what
has happened."
Priana nodded. "I know," she managed. Dr. Xihanu checked her
chart. "Why don't you want the medication?" she asked.
Priana took a deep breath. "As soon as this is o.k.," she
said pointing angrily at her leg, "I am getting out of here. I have
things to do."
Dr. Xihanu sat down on the end of the bed. "The sooner you
relax, the sooner your body can concentrate on healing instead of
fighting the pain."
Priana thought. She made sense. "Alright, just don't knock
me out." The medical droid turned to her with the hypo and
administered the medication. Priana relaxed quickly.
"Now," continued the doctor, "we need to talk. Do you know
that your roommate Shika was killed in the attack?"
Priana nodded, wishing the medication had numbed that kind of
pain. "We have not been able to locate your other roommate,"
Dr. Xihanu continued, "Do you know where she might be?"
"She moved upstairs a couple of days ago. You'll have to ask
the Jedi Master about her." The doctor put down her charts.
"I think you are terribly angry, Priana." No kidding, the
cadet thought
"Why don't you tell me about it. Tell me what you saw
yesterday." Priana didn't answer immediately. She thought about how
much she should tell the doctor. The emotions swelled in her and she
decided to let it all go.
She told the doctor about the attack, the falling debris, the
screams of her classmates and about watching some of them die.
Then she told the doctor her most vivid memory, that of Halok
deserting her. She saw shock and concern cross the doctor's face as
she understood Priana's relationship with Halok.
"Priana, I must tell you that we haven't found Major Halok
yet. He may be one of the fatalities that hasn't been identified."
Priana let this sink in with her other emotions.
"Tell me what you think could help you work through this,"
Dr. Xihanu was saying.
Priana faced her, venom in her voice, "Let me go on any
missions against these Drahavians. They've got to pay, too."
CHAPTER 11
Luke awoke to light streaming in the windows of Kaiyana's
apartment. He usually liked to get going early in the morning, but
today seemed different. He felt unusually tired.
Quietly, he pulled on a fresh shirt and looked in Kaiyana's
doorway. She still slept soundly. He neatly replace the blanket and
pillow on the sofa, grabbed his boots and left.
In his sister's apartment, Leia handed him a hot cup of
Coruscant tea. He gratefully drank in the sweet herbs, allowing the
substance to rejuvenate some of his energy.
"I haven't been this tired for a long time," he remarked.
"You haven't had a day that bad in a long time," Han answered.
"Speaking of bad, how did last night go?"
"Most of it went well," he took a deep breath, "until some
dark force tried to attack Kaiyana again."
"What?!" Han and Leia blurted out, staring at him.
"With you there?" Leia added.
Luke took another drink. "Actually, it pretended to be me. I
thought something would happen because she was so tired and upset, but
this was strange."
"What happened?" Han asked.
Leia noticed that Luke seemed suddenly uncomfortable.
"Let's just say that it tried to fool her, but she's strong.
She figured it out before I could even get there. Our battle with the
Dark Side has definitely begun, I just don't know what to expect
next."
Han was going to ask for more details, but Leia cut him off.
"Is she alright?" Leia asked and put a hand on Han's shoulder.
Luke nodded, swallowing the last of his tea. "I think she's
waking up right now," he turned to go, then stopped. "Have you spoken
to Drahavia yet?"
"I got through to Princess Clekar. She said that she tried to
reach us when news got to her late last night, Leia said. "Evidently,
Drahos was working covertly with the traitors and took this on as a
suicide mission. He wanted to convince us to not interfere."
"I had a funny feeling," she added, "she seemed surprised that
it was me She also asked how you and Kaiyana were."
Luke nodded thoughtfully. He filed it away in his mind.
"She also fears that this means the traitors' forces are
planning another attack on the government," Leia continued. "She
requested what ground forces we can spare to sweep the wilderness that
borders the city."
"Not the fleet?" Luke questioned.
Leia shook her head. "She thinks they can handle that, but
they are low on ground troops." Luke nodded, digesting the information.
"Thanks," he said simply, jogging out to Kaiyana's room.
Di'mar Halok was allowed to move to some of the lower rooms in
the Drahavian palace. He felt more comfortable with the closer access
to Clekar.
He explored his cavernous apartment, delighting in the luxury
that surrounded him. There was a small hospitality bar in one corner
of the den. I wonder what Drahavians keep on hand to drink, he
thought.
He selected a short, round bottle of dark Drahavian ale. The
lid was stubborn, though, the rough edges cutting into his skin. He
began searching for an opener.
Di'mar pressed the sensor on one drawer and it slid open
quietly. He rummaged through the miscellaneous contents. Nothing.
He touched the sensor again and moved on to the next drawer.
The second drawer opened, but he heard a light thud as it
stopped. He reached into the back of the drawer, his fingers touching
a small box. On a hunch, he pressed on it.
A hidden door slid open beside him. The doorway was narrow
and the old door slid roughly. This hasn't been used in awhile, he
thought.
He stepped inside, noting the panel beside the door. Good, he
thought, it won't lock me in.
There was a table to one side. Di'mar ran a finger through
the dust. Very old. Then he saw the implements on the wall.
Examining the restraints, he wondered what this room could
possibly have been used for. More importantly, he thought, what will
I use it for?
He remembered the servant girls in the palace. An evil smile
crossed his face.
As he left the room and the old door creaked shut, he let his
mind wander to another time, on another planet. He fondly recalled a
dusty factory where the pretty workers had called him "Boss."
"What now," Leia frowned as her comm unit buzzed insistently.
She left Han to explain to their children why they had to
leave on another mission. Winter stood nearby, patiently waiting to
take charge.
"Can Aunt Yana stay here, too?" little Anakin's sweet voice
was saying.
The scene tore at her heart. Soon, she promised silently,
soon I'll have time with them again.
"I'm coming," she yelled to the comm unit. She ran to it and
pressed the key pad.
Wedge's face appeared on the screen. He looked concerned. A
housekeeping droid worked in the room behind him, but Leia didn't
recognize the apartment.
"Sorry to bother you Leia, but I found something that you need
to know about."
"It's alright. Go ahead."
"I decided to help with some of the `clean up' duties from
yesterday before we shipped out again. I came up here," he gestured
to the apartment, "to gather Colonel Derlin's personal things."
"I understand, Wedge. What did you find?"
"On his comm unit was a message from a cadet who worked in the
War Room night before last. He found a pattern of personal
transmissions to Drahavia from Coruscant. He didn't think it was
urgent, so he didn't leave the message in Strategic Planning," he
paused to allow the implications to sink in, "Interesting, isn't it?"
"Very," Leia replied, her mind working fast. "Wedge, find
that cadet. He worked a late shift, so he wouldn't have been caught
in the attack the next day. See what he remembers about the origin of
the transmissions and get him to go there to help investigate."
"Right away, Leia," he answered importantly. "I'll let you
know what happens."
Leia returned to her children, trying to enjoy as many
precious moments with them as possible before she was disturbed again.
"Why are they coming after me so hard?" Kaiyana asked.
Luke was helping her pack her gear for the mission to
Drahavia. Han and Leia had just decided to go because the New
Republic was low on uninjured leaders at the moment. Luke and Kaiyana
agreed, where the Solos went, they would go, too.
"It would be harder for the Dark Side to turn me," Luke
explained, answering her question, "because I've seen what it can do.
You haven't had that experience yet."
She cocked her eyebrow at the word "yet", but he didn't
notice.
"It also knows human vulnerabilities," he continued. "It
knows you've been working on controlling things like anger, hate,
fear. It feeds off of any, um, impulse that should otherwise be
controlled." He turned and looked at her to see if she had understood
his implication.
She had. "I see," Kaiyana said, then she changed the subject.
"Is this all I'll need?" she asked staring at her small pack.
Luke nodded. "Don't forget your lightsaber."
Wedge walked into the male dormitories, his stride long and
purposeful. He slowed as a pang of sadness touched him as he noticed
the small black shields placed on some of the doors.
The shields were meant as a tribute to cadets who had gone to
class the day before and never returned. Some entryways were draped
in black, indicating that none of the occupants survived the attack.
He stopped at a door that bore two of the shields. A weak
voice answered his knock and the door slid open.
A boy sat on a lower bunk. He snapped to attention when he
recognized his visitor.
"General Antilles!" His eyes were swollen with grief.
"Cadet Bridger. Please sit down," Wedge said. "I offer you
my heartfelt condolences."
The boy sat and bit his lip. "I can't believe their both
gone. They were my best friends," he paused, looking away. "I should
have been there. I traded Roger's night shift." He gestured to one of
the empty beds.
"There's a reason you survived," Wedge said gently. He put a
hand on the boy's shoulder. "I saw your message to Colonel Derlin.
You may have found a very important clue to this whole tragedy, but I
need more of your help."
The cadet brightened. "Anything," he said firmly.
Wedge pulled out a datapad showing a layout of the Complex,
very similar to the one the boy had been working with two nights
earlier.
"I want you to remember what you saw on your screen in the War
Room. Where were those transmissions originating?"
Bridger took the datapad in his hands, concentrating hard on
his memories. Step by step, he reconstructed his research from that
night.
"Here," he finally said, pointing, "definitely here."
Wedge clapped him on the back. "Great. Now, come with me and
we'll see what we can find."
Han closed up Leia's bag. He was always amazed at how light
she could travel. Unlike most of the women he'd known, Leia didn't
have any need for, what he called, `useless junk'.
"Are we set to go?" he asked her.
Leia sat by the window, biting at the ends of her fingers. "I
can't stand this much longer," she said.
Han stepped over their gear and went to her. "I know. It
gets harder every time."
He looked to see what she was watching. In the transparisteel
causeway below, he could make out Winter's tall form with Threepio's
gold shining near her, three little ones bouncing between them.
Han felt the same tug at his heart that Leia was experiencing.
"I'm always afraid that this isn't the safest place for them," he
confessed, keeping his voice low, "but I don't know where else to go."
Leia turned to him, her voice filled with a new resolve, "I
promise that we'll quit taking off like this. I'll delegate it
to...to... well, to somebody."
She went to the comm unit. "We can go as soon as I forward my
transmissions to the Falcon."
Di'mar Halok administered another hypo to the young girl and
sent her out his door. "That's a good girl," he whispered to her,
"you've served your people well."
He watched her wander down the hallway, oblivious to much of
what had just happened.
"What are you doing, Di'mar?" a voice from behind startled
him.
He turned, standing face-to-face with Clekar.
"I was just....I needed some...," he stammered, his mind a
blank for excuses.
Clekar frowned and swept past him. He took a deep breath and
followed her inside the apartment.
She spun around and dropped onto the sofa. "I received my
message from the New Republic," she said, gazing straight into his
eyes. "It came from Organa-Solo personally. Skywalker and his
bride-to-be are virtually unscathed."
Disappointment filled Halok. "I don't know how that happened.
How could they both escape?" he asked incredulously.
"I don't know. I've requested ground troops to protect us
from any `traitor attacks'. I have been informed that they are
already landing."
"Will the Jedi be among them?"
"I don't know. In any case, they are trapped. Once we have
our other ships outfitted like the Ischtak was, they will be unable to
escape."
"What about the fleet? As a mass, they could outmaneuver us."
"When we cut off their communications, they will be unable to
summon their fleet. By the time their ships decide to arrive, it will
be too late."
"We will have power," Halok finished for her.
Her face became serious. "By the way, did you destroy that
communication from the Smugglers' Alliance?"
He nodded an affirmative to her, adding a surprised, "Of
course." Then, he tried to remember what he had actually done with it
in his rush to leave.
She smiled and swept up from the couch. She brushed past him,
to the door. He noticed her finger the lightsaber at her side.
"Remember, Di'mar," she purred, "be careful not to make
yourself disposable."
"Here it is," Cadet Bridger said. The boy stood with Wedge
outside Major Halok's private office
"Are you sure?" Wedge asked, noting the name by the door.
"Positive."
Wedge keyed his security override and entered the office.
"I'll take a look around for anything unusual. Can you use that
thing?" he asked, pointing to the new terminal.
"That's what I do best," the boy said proudly.
"Great. Recover any records of transmitted files and their
destination."
Wedge opened drawers and cabinets, rummaging through official
papers mixed with hidden hordes of perverse publications. In his
hurry, he dropped one of the bizarre magazines. Gingerly, he picked
it up, holding it as though it were an infectious disease.
Something fell out and glided to the floor. Wedge dropped the
magazine and chased the paper. It was a hardcopy of a report from the
Smugglers' Alliance. It was addressed to Leia.
"Here it is, General," Bridger announced. He scrolled past a
long list of files and transmission dates. "There sure are a lot of
them."
Wedge peered from over his shoulder. "Tell me what you see."
"Well, the dates appear to be consistent with what I found the
other night, so we're in the right place," he started. "This is
strange. All of the files are from the Emperor's personal logs. All
seem to apply to the training and extermination of the Jedi Knights."
"Luke," Wedge said under his breath.
"They all went directly to Drahavia. Just a minute," he
pressed a few more keys. "Drat! I can't pin down the receiving
station."
"That's great, kid," Wedge congratulated the cadet. "You want
to call the Ambassador?"
Luke led Kaiyana to the Millennium Falcon. She looked at the
freighter, then back at him. "I don't know much about ships," she
said doubtfully, "but you're telling me this is safe?"
Luke started to reassure her, but Leia's voice came from
behind him.
"Be careful, Kaiyana. You're looking at Han's first love,"
she laughed.
Kaiyana gave her the same doubting look.
"Don't worry," Leia reassured her, "I felt the same way when I
first saw it. Now look at me." Leia ran up the ramp.
Luke heard the sounds of Han and Chewie's preflight check.
"All aboard," he said smiling.
Kaiyana helped settle their packs into the storage area and
strapped in for takeoff.
The short trip out the energy field went smoothly. Everyone
breathed a sigh of relief as lightspeed engaged.
Wedge slammed a fist into his palm.
"We'll just have to wait until they are out of lightspeed,
sir," Cadet Bridger said.
"Let's hope that gives them enough warning," Wedge said.
"Warning for what?"
"Somebody wants to hunt Jedi," Wedge began, "and three of the
people on that ship are prime targets."
Halok listened as Clekar spoke with her military.
"As far as we know, the Jedi Master has not arrived," her new
Commander said. "We do know there is at least one ship still in
transit."
"Good, Commander Thref," she replied, "notify me when the last
ship has arrived. Until you get my word, you are to treat them as
friendly troops"
The Commander signed off. She turned to face Halok.
"When I hear from them, we will begin jamming all offworld
communications. Then we can move in."
CHAPTER 12
The Falcon set down in a grove of gnarled trees. Leia, Han
and Luke had gone ahead to check in with the troops, leaving Kaiyana
and Chewie to unload the gear.
Kaiyana heard the onboard comm unit buzz. "Wait a minute!"
Kaiyana yelled down the ramp, "There's a message coming in." She
began keying for reception.
Chewie bellowed a summons from the ground out to where the
troops camped Responding, Leia hurried to the ship.
Wedge's face appeared on the screen. "Kaiyana, I've got
someone here with an important message for Leia."
A young face stepped forward. He looked nervous, then smiled.
"Hi, Kaiyana!" he blurted out.
She smiled, "Hello Bridger. I'm glad to see you doing well.
I believe you want the Ambassador, though, right?"
He nodded, "It's great to see you, Kaiyana. Take care." She
stepped aside and Leia took her place.
"You have a report for me, Cadet Bridger?"
"Yes, Ma'am. We traced the transmissions to Major Halok's
office. The computer said that they all went to Drahavia, but we
couldn't pin down the receiver. All of the files were from the
Emperor's logs on training and hunting the Jedi Knights."
Leia caught her breath. She saw Wedge hand him something.
"There was also this report hidden away," he continued. It
was addressed to you, from the Smugglers' Alliance. They were
reporting a massive shipment to some Drahavians of the same kind of
equipment that is now suspected to have boosted the Ischtak's
weapons."
Wedge stepped forward to speak, but the signal seemed to
waver. "I can't hear you," Leia yelled into the unit.
Wedge's face flickered on the screen, then disappeared.
"We've lost it," Kaiyana confirmed.
Leia turned around, contemplating. "I suppose Drahos could
have recruited Halok during their visit. That would explain how he
knew what to strike," she said, speaking her thoughts. "But why the
Jedi files?"
Kaiyana froze. "I know," she said icily, staring at the air.
Her impressions and her dream began to make sense.
"We're all in danger," she said. "Drahos didn't recruit
Halok; Clekar did."
The gravity of what Kaiyana said stung Leia.
"There are no traitors, at least not anymore," Leia began, a
lump of guilt forming in her chest. "That equipment is building the
Drahavian fleet"
Kaiyana was nodding, "And she has all the information she
needs to hunt Luke," she pointed at Leia, "and you and me."
Leia sprinted down the ramp, to the portable sensor station.
They were desperately trying to get a signal.
"Stop!" Leia ordered, "It's no use. What was the last thing
you saw?"
"Two ships headed to a point over us," the lieutenant replied.
"These are unarmed transports. We didn't expect to need the fleet
yet."
Leia nodded. "Break down the equipment and store it. We
won't need it for awhile."
Wedge stared at the blank screen helplessly.
"Well, we gave her all we could," he finally said to Bridger.
"What's next," the cadet asked, caught up in the excitement.
Wedge sighed, "We wait."
Bridger's face fell.
"It's all we can do, kid," Wedge laughed, "until they reach
the next clear transmission point. Then they can let us know if they
need the fleet."
He clutched the boy's shoulder, "You've done a great job.
Your friends would be proud."
I just wish I'd had the chance to tell them Halok is missing,
Wedge thought to himself.
Clekar put her arms around Di'mar Halok. "It's just a matter
of time, love," she purred.
Halok felt her press against him, but something in him had
changed. She no longer aroused his senses with the same excitement.
She intimidated him and he hated it.
"What now?" he asked, trying to avoid what he knew was
inevitable.
"Now, we just pick at them," she smiled. "They think they are
searching for the traitors. They will make the sweep of the
undefended area."
"And our troops will engage them in small numbers along the
way. The main body of them will fall into our trap here. Our army
will be waiting, as will the fleet," he said for her.
"But what about..." he started.
Clekar was already nodding. "I have ordered them to leave the
Jedi to me. I know how to deal with him," she purred proudly.
"Clekar," he said carefully, "I would like to go with some of
the troops, to see that no mistakes are made."
She stopped, considering, "I suppose that's a good idea, as
long as you are not gone too long from me."
He nodded and kissed her. I will have my way after all, he
thought.
Leia began assembling the troop commanders for a briefing of
the new developments. Kaiyana ran to find Luke.
"So your insight was right," he said thoughtfully, "The
Princess is a danger. Does Leia know?"
"She's calling a briefing right now," Kaiyana panted, still
trying to catch her breath.
Luke was very intense. "I'd better go hear what's said. You
stay here and calm down." She heard the slight chastising in his
voice. She watched him jog away.
"Hello, Kaiyana," came a voice from the trees. Kaiyana
twirled around and saw Priana standing in the shadows.
"Hi," she answered guardedly. There was an odd feeling coming
from the cadet. "I didn't know you were coming."
Priana stepped forward, still favoring her leg. "I have
special permission, you could say," she paused, "Did you know about
Shika?"
A flash of the brutal memory crossed Kaiyana's mind. "Yeah, I
saw her. I'm sorry, Priana."
Priana just nodded. "I'd better get back to my unit. I'll
see you around."
She disappeared silently through the trees.
Kaiyana shuddered. Keep an eye on her, her mind whispered,
something has gone wrong with her.
"Remember, they don't know we have this information," Leia
concluded.
"Why don't we call in the fleet?" someone asked.
"Communications are down for now," Han replied. "Besides, we
still need to take out their production site down here."
"Where is that?" another voice said.
Leia stepped forward. "We don't know for sure yet. Our best
guess is at the fleetyard near the palace."
Luke spoke up, "Remember, we're stuck for now. We'll have to
make the best out of the chance we're getting or we are lame targets."
Han concluded, "Keep sharp. We may encounter some ambushes on
the way to the palace."
They all stood, gathering around Han for the orders for their
individual units and the rendezvous point. Kaiyana had gone over them
all for strategic soundness.
Leia crossed over to Luke, noticing the worry that etched his
face.
"I've got a really bad feeling about this," he finally said,
"Especially you and Kaiyana. You are too vulnerable, considering the
information Clekar has."
Leia sat down on the log next to him. "It sounds like you and
Kaiyana are more at risk than I am. Clekar is threatened by the power
of a Jedi Master and one good way to get to him is to attack his
companion."
She paused, thinking, "or was that only after the union was
made."
Luke smiled. In all the commotion, he'd forgotten all about
the actual union. "It applies before, but is especially harmful
after," he answered
"Do you doubt that Kaiyana is strong?" she asked him
pointedly.
"No, not at all," he replied firmly. "She's one surprise
after another."
"Then stop worrying so much, or I'll start worrying about
you," she threatened. She hugged him and went to join Han.
I feel responsible for what happens, though, he thought to
himself.
The New Republic forces began to break camp, the units
preparing to head in their respective paths. Because of the danger of
ambushes, it was decided that the units would travel in pairs.
Luke requested that the original division of leadership be
scrapped and replanned. He wanted to keep his family together because
of the specific threat they faced. No one objected.
Their group headed for the low mountains nearby. With luck,
they could make it to the base of the mountains before the early
nightfall.
The terrain was not easy, but Han knew they had been on more
difficult planets. As they neared the mountains, the forest grew more
dense.
Sightings of wild animals filtered back to where Luke and
Kaiyana hiked.
"Fire on them only if you have to," Luke instructed one of the
soldiers. He felt a stirring from Kaiyana, but she said nothing.
Towards dusk, they reached the first ridge at the base of the
mountains. Luke scrambled to the top of a rocky outcropping and turned
to help Kaiyana up.
She was gaining her footing on the top when they heard a
scream and a blast from the front of the group.
Kaiyana looked worried. "Hurry," she said to Luke, moving
deftly through the rocks below them.
Luke found that he had to move a bit slower, amazed at her
speed. When he finally caught up to her, he could hardly believe his
eyes.
A young soldier lay against a tree, shaking. The back of the
tent pack he had been carrying was shredded beyond repair.
Luke assumed that the mangled blaster several feet away had
been the soldier's. Obviously, he had missed his mark and the target
had retaliated. Then he saw the target.
A huge bear-like animal stood across the small clearing from
them. It had four powerful legs, but was standing up on only two.
Near its chest were two smaller, almost arm-like legs, with blaster
bits still lodged in its tremendous claws. It roared with pain and
anger.
Then there was Kaiyana. She was in a half-crouched position
near the creature. Luke sensed no fear from her. The Force flowed
strongly between she and the animal.
Kaiyana was speaking in low reassuring tones, so low that Luke
couldn't hear her words. As he watched, he realized that she wasn't
using words at all. The sounds were almost like those that Chewie
used.
The animal began to answer her, at first only in roars. Luke
began to fear for Kaiyana's safety. All it would take was one mighty
paw....
The creature dropped to her four large legs, folding the other
two. The roars lowered, matching Kaiyana's voice. It lumbered slowly
towards her Kaiyana lowered her head and the animal sniffed her hair.
It sat back for a moment and Kaiyana looked back at it. Then,
the animal turned and hurried away.
The people around the clearing began to talk, the medics
rushed in to check the stunned soldier. Kaiyana shushed them,
watching where the creature had gone.
She stood slowly and turned to the front leader.
"She is trying to protect her den," Kaiyana pointed along the
path the animal took. "We mustn't go that way or stay here. She has
babies there and may frighten again."
The leader gave her an astounded look, but listened. Her tone
was clear and certain.
"She told me of a clearing one kilometer that way," she
pointed the opposite direction. "If we leave her be, she will not go
where she catches my scent."
Leia emerged from the trees. She took Kaiyana's arm.
"We'll lead the way," she said to the front leader, steering
Kaiyana with her to where Chewie, Luke and Han waited.
"How did you do all that?" Han blurted out.
Kaiyana drank from her canteen, feeling self-conscious. "When
I was growing up, I had to learn to make a lot of different friends.
It just happened that our only neighbors were animals. I've always
had a special relationship with them in the Force."
Luke and Leia stared at each other. Leia was shaking her head
in amazement. "`A surprise a minute'," she repeated back to Luke.
Chewie roared his praise of Kaiyana's gift and clapped her on
the back.
"Thanks," she smiled at him, rubbing his fur.
Priana marched, her temper brewing. She couldn't stop
thinking about the briefing earlier.
Halok the traitor, echoed through her mind.
He used me, she thought. He needed into the computer, so he
used me. Her blood boiled.
She remembered every detail of the morning Strategic Planning
was demolished.
He took me there. He knew I could die.
He knew my friends would die. He watched.
Priana wanted to scream out her anguish and hate. Instead,
she marched on, plotting what she would do to him if she ever found
him.
And she swore she would.
As dark closed in on them, the temperature began to drop.
"Now I know why Drahavians stay in at night," Han shivered,
pulling on his coat.
As they made camp in the clearing, Leia noticed a soldier
approaching their site.
"Excuse me, I don't mean to disturb you" he began, "but our
unit is short some tents because that creature destroyed one of our
packs. We are asking everyone who can to double up so that we have
enough shelter."
Leia looked at Luke. "I can go with Kaiyana," she offered.
Luke handed the soldier his tent pack and went to help Kaiyana with
hers.
"Looks like I bunk with Han tonight," he explained to her.
"What," she blinked, joking, "they don't trust us together?"
He laughed and checked the tent one more time. "Some tests
I'd rather not ask for," he said. "Goodnight, Yana. Sleep warm." He
kissed her quickly and went to the shelter he would share with Han.
A slight chill still bit the air as daylight broke over the
ridge.
The small band of Drahavians watched the New Republic troops
break camp below, the advance teams already beginning their patrol.
"We'll launch our attack from these rocks," their leader
announced. "Everyone find your cover."
The yellow aliens swiftly dissolved against the hues of the
rocky terrain.
Kaiyana shivered as she watched the soldiers pack up the last
heat unit. She hadn't slept much during the night, enjoying the smells
and sounds of the forest. She didn't feel that tired, but she
couldn't seem to throw off the night's chill.
She clasped her hands together, blowing her warm breath into
them to defrost her fingers. She wondered what time Drahavia decided
to heat up for the day.
"Try these," Leia said beside her, handing her a pair of brown
gloves. She noticed that Leia wore a similar pair.
"Thanks," she replied, slipping her fingers into the soft
material. It was thin, but warm. Her whole body seemed to benefit
from the extra cover.
"They issued them to us for the mission to Endor," Leia
explained, "I haven't used them before, but I kept them around just in
case."
Kaiyana still felt a little chill, but at least she could move
better now. She reached behind her and grabbed her pack.
"Have you seen Luke yet?" she asked Leia as they set off to
join the others.
"He went off into the trees this morning to do some
meditations," Leia replied, "He said he woke up with a weird feeling
today. I know he's been really checking on one of the Jedi, too."
Kaiyana felt a new urgency to find him. She reached out with
her senses, found that he was quite preoccupied and decided not to
bother him.
The women continued their short hike to where Han and Chewie
waited at the forest's edge.
Priana picked her way through an uneven path to the ridge
above. Looking around, she noticed that her comrades were having an
even harder time than she was.
"It's not great," she called to one of the men, "but this
looks like the best path up there."
A couple of other members of the team found similar, winding
routes. A runner was sent to communicate the information to the main
body of the group.
Priana sat and absently massaged her sore leg. I just want to
get to the palace, she thought. Why must we go so slowly?
She knew the answer was reasonable, but she didn't want to
accept it. Priana almost craved battle. I need my revenge! her heart
cried.
She saw the rest of the group making their way towards them,
up the slight incline. She recognized Kaiyana's hastily tied dark
hair. She was walking beside General Solo, deep in conversation.
Why has it been so easy for her? Priana thought angrily. I
should be the one mingling with the leaders, on the arm of a powerful
man.
A slight depression fell over her. No, she thought blackly, I
had to get the one who made all the promises, and told all the lies.
She looked at Kaiyana again, hate beginning to stir in her.
Why do you take what should rightfully be mine?
Chewie and Leia chose to ascend the path to Han's left. He
followed Kaiyana up the center path. More of their troops moved in
another steady line that branched to his right.
As his foot slipped off another loose rock, sending him
grappling for a handhold, he wondered why the Drahavians would decide
to live on such a disagreeable planet.
"Have you seen Luke yet?" Kaiyana called back to him.
"All he said was that he'd meet us at the ridge," he replied,
dodging some falling pebbles. "You know how he is when he's got
something on his mind."
I really don't, she thought, but she could imagine what Han
meant. She'd figured out that Luke had a basicly intense personality,
much like Leia
That's one thing Han and I have in common, she thought.
Another thought occurred to her.
She hauled herself up on a small ledge, grateful for the
chance to rest her arms for a moment.
"Han," she asked, as he struggled to pull up next to her,
"when we get back, do you think you could give me some piloting
lessons?"
He looked surprised, but nodded slowly. "Sure, but why not
ask Luke?"
"I don't know, it just occurred to me, that's all. He tends
to be awfully busy with conferences and such.
"I know how that is," Han grumbled.
"Besides," she added, "I'd love to learn on a ship like the
Falcon." Leia had told her some stories of the ship, giving her a new
respect for the vessel.
"Sure," he answered with a smile. I knew I liked this lady,
Han thought He looked at the path ahead of them. "Ready?" he asked.
Before Kaiyana could reply, a blast rocked the ledge. Han
drew his blaster. The soldiers on their right scrambled to what
little cover they could find. They were safe on the ledge for the
time being.
Kaiyana crouched, peering up to the rocks at the head of the
trail.
"Up there," she pointed, "about a dozen of them." She closed
her eyes, finding their minds unobstructed. "Each has a blastrifle.
That's all."
Two more blasts hit, this time closer.
"Where are Leia and Chewie?" Han asked.
Kaiyana took a moment and a blast sprayed pebbles near them.
"They found a little shelter, but their path is the least shielded.
It won't hold long."
Han grabbed his comlink, then remembered it was jammed. He
hollered to the nearest officers. "Return fire. There are twelve of
them, lightly armed. Divert attention from the far path."
"Luke's coming up on that path," she said, pointing to their
right.
Leia and Chewie were near a boulder when the firing began.
Leia could easily hide, but she saw that the Wookiee was
having a harder time concealing his massive body.
She felt Kaiyana touch her mind a moment before Han's orders
filtered through the network to them. They began to return fire.
From her position, Leia could see several of the aliens fall
quickly, a little overconfident with their hiding places. They were
mostly positioned over the center path, so sharpshooters on the
outlying areas could hit some of them with little trouble.
Chewie's powerful crossbow rang above her. Suddenly, top of
the boulder burst and the Wookiee roared. He sat heavily by Leia,
holding his great paw and cursing the Drahavians.
She checked the wound and saw that it wasn't bad, just enough
to keep him from using his crossbow very well.
Chewie looked at her and whined, the sound almost drowned by
the din of blaster fire. Leia considered pulling her own blaster, but
the firing was so concentrated around them that she knew she wouldn't
last long.
"I guess you're right," she said, patting Chewie's thick fur,
"We have to wait."
The last few Drahavians held them solidly from their rocky
perches. Luke felt Leia's slight fear, then Han and Chewie's
frustration.
Uh-oh, he thought, feeling Kaiyana's determination.
She knew he was there. If they'll let me in their minds for
just a moment, she thought.
No! Luke told her. They can shut you out too quickly.
It was too late. Kaiyana found her opening and took it.
She gave Han no warning that she was moving, leaving him
flabbergasted as she sprang from the cover of the ledge.
She grabbed the Drahavians' minds long enough to safely
scramble up the rest of the incline. Kaiyana concentrated, hurdling
the bodies of two fallen soldiers. The aliens were able to force her
out of their minds just before she reached the top of the ridge.
In the moment it took them to swivel their aim to her, she had
balanced on the unsteady ground and ignited her lightsaber.
Luke saw the Drahavians carelessly turn their attention to
her, giving Han a chance to order the troops to take them.
Kaiyana was catching the blasts from the rifles well, but Luke
wasn't sure how long she could hold them.
Hurry, he mentally shouted to Han.
Kaiyana dove to cover as troops swarmed over the top of the
ridge, bringing down the attackers.
"The firing stopped," Leia said to Chewie and peered out from
behind their boulder.
Chewie whined, the distinctive hum of a lightsaber finally
reaching their ears. Leia assumed that Luke had somehow overtaken the
Drahavians. A moment later, as the troops rushed the ridge, Leia was
struck to see Luke climbing swiftly up the incline.
It had to have been Kaiyana, Leia realized. She hoped that
the young woman's skills had been enough of a match for the
blastrifles.
As she topped the ridge, Luke rushed past her to where Kaiyana
had jumped behind the rocks. Han was already there, examining her
leg.
"Han," she was protesting, "it's just a scrape."
Satisfied that she wasn't injured, Han sat back and pointed at
her, as if to scold her recklessness. But he was speechless, unable
to muster enough anger to back up his words.
Kaiyana stared at Han, her look defiant. She felt his
confusion.
"Careful," he finally managed to say. Luke came up right
behind him.
Luke held out a hand and pulled her to her feet. "What
possessed you...," he started.
"I had to. Someone had to move them and I knew what to do."
She waited for his next question. Luke felt the surging of her
reckless, yet valiant, spirit.
He softened his voice. "They could have...."
"But they didn't," she finished again, softening her voice to
match his.
They held each other's stare, as if a silent battle were going
on between them.
Han patted Luke on the shoulder. "Give it up. She's right,"
he said before crossing over to Leia and Chewie.
"Later," Luke quietly said to Kaiyana. He began digging in
his pack. "I forgot to give this to you yesterday," he said,
producing a brown bundle.
Luke let the folds fall from his hands, placing the top edge
around Kaiyana's shoulders. It was a Jedi cloak, very much like the
one Luke often wore.
Kaiyana touched his hand on her shoulder. "Thanks," she said
simply. What he felt from her in the Force spoke volumes to him.
CHAPTER 13
The medics were finishing their work on Chewie's paw when Han
returned from where the one living Drahavian prisoner was being held.
"What casualties did we take?" Leia asked.
"It's not good," Han started, toying with an object in his
hand. "They took down three of us, plus a few minor scrapes."
Chewie roared a complaint, waving his paw in the air as the
medic packed up her kit.
"I know it hurts, you big baby," Han yelled back at him, "but
it's still minor!"
"What did you get from the prisoner?" Luke asked, standing.
Han gave a tight frown and handed Luke a thimble-shaped
object. "Just this," he sighed.
Luke examined it, understanding. "Poison," he said.
Kaiyana snapped to attention.
"Enough to bring down a rancor," Han added.
"He took it?" Kaiyana asked incredulously. "He killed
himself?"
Han nodded and Luke tossed the capsule back to him. "That's a
strong testimony to the consequences of failure here," Han said.
Kaiyana simply nodded her agreement.
"I'd guess it's less than two days travel to the palace," Han
said, scooping up his pack, "so we're real close to having our answers
anyway."
The rest of the day's hike was uneventful. Kaiyana followed
close behind Luke as they moved through the rocky hills. Finally, the
terrain broke onto the upper edge of a valley.
"We'll probably camp up here," Luke guessed, looking to the
darkening sky.
"And tackle that tomorrow," Kaiyana added surveying the
valley. They had covered a lot of ground and she was tired.
She noticed Luke was deep in thought again, staring at the
setting sun. He hadn't said much all day, silently contemplating
something.
"What is it?" she asked gently.
He startled, as if he'd forgotten she was there. "I don't
know," he confessed, frustration lacing his voice.
"I've been trying to pin it down all day," he explained, "but
it just gets stronger."
"Is it the Jedi you've been worrying about?" she asked.
"No," Luke sighed, "I'm still concerned about him, though.
He's going through a critical struggle right now."
Luke shook his head slowly, "But this is something else." He
fell silent again.
"Something's going to happen, but I can't see what," he said
quietly, so only Kaiyana could hear the defeat he felt.
Leia sensed Luke's new restlessness. Intuitively, she steered
Han to set up a campsite slightly away from the others.
Later, Han grimaced at the taste of his rations. "I don't
care what it says, this is definitely not for human consumption!"
Chewie objected, thinking his Wookiee rations were quite delicious.
His comment momentarily broke the intense stillness in their
camp. They each choked down their meal, resigned to the fact that
they had no other choice.
Luke finally stood. If I can't figure it out, he thought,
then at least I can try to find something else to do.
"I need a walk," he announced, "Anyone going with me?"
"I could use that," Han agreed, pulling Leia up with him.
Chewie shook his hairy head, deciding to turn in early.
Luke touched Kaiyana's shoulder, startling her from her own
reverie. "Yeah," she said absently. I feel it, too, she said to him
in her mind.
Leia watched them wander ahead, something about them pulling
at her senses.
"Let's stick close," Han muttered to her, "something's going
on." He nodded towards the path Luke and Kaiyana had just taken.
Luke walked in silence, holding to Kaiyana's hand lightly as
they followed a vague trail through the trees. The path was narrow
and they had to dodge several low branches that hung in their way.
He paused and looked back to be sure Han and Leia were able to
follow them. He started down the path again, then stopped.
Kaiyana tried to see if there was some obstruction ahead, but
her eyes were not adjusting well to the dark.
"We should go this way," Luke stated, veering off to a side
path. It broke onto a small clearing, with an astounding view of the
stars. A tiny creek trickled through one end, disappearing in the
dense forest on the other side.
Kaiyana shivered slightly in the cold breeze and pulled her
cloak tighter around her. Luke smiled and put an arm around her.
Han and Leia stumbled out into the open. They stood silently
together, awed by the velvety sky above them. To Leia, it felt as
though peace itself resided in this little spot in the forest.
As they moved up behind Luke and Kaiyana, Leia noticed a light
coming through the trees. It grew larger, but not really brighter.
Han stepped between Leia and the mysterious light, Luke
instinctively moving Kaiyana behind him. Kaiyana rested a hand on her
lightsaber.
There were now several lights and they began to take form.
Four separate beings stepped from the treeline.
Leia heard Kaiyana take in her breath sharply, a hand moving
to her mouth. Leia grabbed Han's arm. Their feet were rooted in
amazement. Han released his blaster, knowing there was no danger.
Each set of four stood facing each other, all somehow knowing
who the others were. The shimmering images of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin
Skywalker, Jedi Master Yoda, and Tarrlin Latuur stepped into full
view.
Luke swallowed hard, trying to find the words he wished to
speak. His father stepped forward.
"You have chosen your path, son," Anakin said.
"I have," Luke confirmed, beginning to understand his insight.
Kaiyana stepped forward, eyes riveted on her own father. "Are
you committed to following that path with him, Yana?" Tarrlin asked
his daughter.
"I am, father," she said with determination. Han was
surprised how strong their voices rang in the air. I couldn't find
mine if I had to, he thought.
He reached back and put is arm around Leia. He wasn't sure if
she shivered from the cold or from the wonders they were witnessing.
Obi-Wan came close to Luke and Kaiyana. "The time for your
union has come," he said bluntly. He motioned for the two of them to
kneel close to him.
He closed his eyes and placed a hand above each of them. A
golden light engulfed them and the wind stirred.
There was a faint ringing in the air. Han and Leia could not
hear the words that were spoken, but felt the Force pull around them.
Leia felt a change in her senses; she couldn't feel Luke and
Kaiyana separately anymore. It felt as though the entire world
surrounding them was participating.
The light faded and Luke and Kaiyana just stared at each
other, as though seeing each other for the first time.
"You have chosen a serious path from which there is no
deviation," Yoda spoke seriously. All eyes turned to his small form.
"To deny your destiny is to destroy part of the universe.
Remember," he pointed a spindly finger at each of them in turn, "like
Han and Leia, cradle the future in your hands you will."
The shimmering forms were silent for another moment. Then,
they vanished into the other world.
Leia, tears brimming her eyes, approached her brother as he
helped Kaiyana to her feet. Luke turned to her and she put her arms
around him wordlessly. He felt what she wanted him to know.
As did Kaiyana. Leia took her by the hand, saying only, "Now,
we really are sisters."
Han was speechless. He shook Luke's hand, pulling him into a
congratulatory embrace. Then, he hugged Kaiyana. "There's a whole
new life ahead of you two and I'm just glad I'm a part of it."
Han and Leia made their own way back to camp, leaving Luke and
Kaiyana to themselves.
"Are you o.k.?" Luke asked her, brushing a rebellious hair
from her face.
"I feel so different," she said, awed, "I could feel your
presence before, but now you're a part of mine. I don't have to try
to find you. I can feel everything you do."
He nodded. It was just like his father had told him. Luke
felt their life forces flowing together, no end and no beginning. He
felt strengthened and renewed.
The cold began to invade them, so they turned back to camp.
Leia curled up next to Han in their tent, listening to the
familiar sound of his breathing. They were exhausted, but Leia still
had thoughts to play out in her mind.
She watched Han sleeping. She had laid awake like this a
thousand times, but the comfort and security she felt just being close
to him never diminished.
This is what Luke has been longing for, she thought.
She closed her eyes, trying to recapture what had happened
that evening. The pictures were still vivid in her mind and she tried
to memorize every detail. Her father's image lingered in her senses.
Leia felt a twinge of sadness for the father she'd never known, and
the monster she had.
Still, she knew that evening under the stars would amaze her
until the end of her days. An enchanted moment in their history that
had touched each one of them forever. It would be a story they would
relish in retelling to generations to come.
She smiled, letting a rush of memories of her life with Luke
Skywalker flow through her mind. The dream-struck boy who had grown
into the wandering warrior.
From the beginning, Han Solo had been there; first, as a thorn
in her side, then as the love of her life.
The wondrous experience they shared tonight had been an
entirely new one for Han. She wondered what it meant that Han, a man
with supposedly no sensitivity to the Force, had been able to be a
part of it.
She listened to his breathing again and drifted into a
contented sleep.
A glance inside the tent told Luke that Han had already placed
Luke's things with Kaiyana's. He went to the heat unit and made some
unnecessary adjustments.
Kaiyana started to duck in the tent. "Are you ready to turn
in?" she asked, trying to make her voice sound casual.
"Yeah," he said over his shoulder, "after I get this set."
She knew he was just trying to give her some privacy. He
knows what I've been through, she thought as she changed clothes. He
won't push me.
Kaiyana looked at the two, widely-spaced bedrolls. Too much
tension, she decided. She pushed them together, smoothed out the
blankets, then crawled inside their warmth.
By the time Luke gathered enough courage to venture inside the
tent, Kaiyana was already dozing. He carefully laid aside his shirt
and gloves, then slipped in beside her.
Feeling his welcome warmth behind her, Kaiyana moved towards
Luke, nestling her back into him. She felt his pulse quicken, and a
slight nervousness moved in his senses.
It's alright, you know, she thought to him. Luke knew, but he
also knew of the many cruelties in her past.
He ran his hand up her arm, feeling her warm skin beneath the
fabric, and lightly kissed her shoulder. "It's enough just to be with
you right now," he said quietly. Kaiyana drifted easily to sleep in
his arms.
Luke's awareness stirred, poignantly reminded of the
synchronicity of the galaxy, as he felt his heart beating in perfect
rhythm with that of his dreaming bride.
In the silent moments before dawn, Halok surveyed the troops
as they prepared for the day. Speederbikes, acquired from the
scavengers who lived off the remains of the Empire, were given a last
maintenance check. Low-range repulsor skiffs were packed with
weaponry, some prepared to take on prisoners.
I'd forgotten how much I love to hunt, Halok thought. His
crooked grin cracked across his face.
"Move out!" came the call of the battalion leader.
Halok moved with the skiff as it lurched into motion.
"We have reports that one of the New Republic groups is
breaking camp just beyond the valley, sir. The Jedi are with them," a
soldier behind him reported.
The massive doors of the underground military facility yawned
open. A stream of movement began plunging through the new light.
"Short trip," he remarked, eager to begin.
Luke stopped to watch Kaiyana through the morning mist. She
was working through her strengthening exercises a short distance away,
trying to concentrate through the chattering of her teeth.
"How is everyone this morning?" Han yawned, stepping up behind
Luke.
"Good," Luke said, drinking down the last warm swallow from
his cup. He turned to pack it away and caught the look in Han's eye.
Han obviously had something he wanted to say.
"What?" Luke asked, feeling a rare seriousness from his
friend.
"Luke," Han finally said, "I just wanted to say that what
happened last night was, well, really something else." He saw Luke's
smile, promptly misinterpreting it.
"No really, I'm serious," his face changed, awe crossing it as
he remembered. "I've never seen...felt anything like it. Thanks for
letting me be there."
"You don't understand, Han," Luke said, equally serious, "you
let yourself experience it."
Han looked surprised, letting the meaning sink in. A slow
grin eased across his face. "I like that. You guys must be rubbing
off on me."
Kaiyana finished and Luke tossed her cloak to her. She
gratefully wrapped herself in it and pulled on her gloves.
Han clapped Luke on the shoulder. "Thanks, buddy," he said
and proudly set off to find Leia.
The camp began to move, heading into the valley.
Climbing to the valley floor was slow. As the troops
descended, they noticed the ground becoming more fertile, alive with
vegetation. The view was lovely, with a series of small waterfalls
carrying nourishing water through the lush trees.
They took a midday break near the water. The air was still
and humid, but the break was welcome.
Luke had Kaiyana practicing levitating techniques,
simultaneously giving a report on what animal life was watching them.
He had wanted her to practice with the remote again, but it
wouldn't work well with all the trees. He had visions of them all
trying to dodge falling limbs.
"...and there's a small, very curious, herbivore right above
Han," Kaiyana was saying, adding rocks to several stacks she had
behind her.
Han froze, looked up cautiously, and moved aside. Leia and
Luke laughed Luke felt Kaiyana expand her search.
Kaiyana felt the presences of the advance team, scaling the
valley wall. It seemed like easier going than the descent. She
stretched further.
The rocks rattled to the ground and Kaiyana reached for her
pack.
"What is it?" Leia asked.
Luke stood and looked to the opposite ridge. "They're
coming," he answered.
Han grabbed his comlink and it hissed at him. "We're still
being jammed," he yelled, cursing under his breath.
Han grabbed Leia and set off, calling to the troops. Luke and
Kaiyana went the opposite direction.
The word spread quickly and they prepared for battle. "Send a
runner to the advance team," Leia ordered.
"I'll go," Kaiyana answered, ducking into the trees.
Luke was helping to set up a gunner station when he felt an
inner tug. He quickly finished, then chased his senses.
Leia was headed for cover when she saw Luke run past. "Luke!"
she called, but he kept going.
He stopped short. Kaiyana was already back. "They're set,"
she breathed. The advance team had one small gunner station to defend
them if the Drahavians moved too fast.
And the Drahavians were moving very fast. Luke heard the
distant whine of speederbikes. He grabbed Kaiyana and ran back to the
troops. They found blasters and went for cover.
Luke tried to gauge the enemy's numbers and weaponry.
"Oh-no," he muttered.
"Can you get anything?" he asked Kaiyana. She squinted her
eyes shut with the effort.
"Nothing specific, except that one human is with them," she
replied, confirming his own readings.
"Halok," Luke said flatly. "And they must know we are here or
we'd be able to get more."
The whine grew louder and the gunners boomed into action.
The exchange was too short to really be called a battle. Leia
was surprised at how few Drahavians attacked them. They didn't fire
much, either. Almost like they were trying to avoid injuring very many
of us, she thought.
Like they want to take us alive, her mind whispered. Leia
remembered the Jedi files Wedge had told her about. If Kaiyana was
right, then they were trying to take the Jedi unharmed.
"Who are we missing?" she asked Commander Solias, the head
medic.
His face told her that he'd been dreading the question. "Most
of the advance team," he told her.
"I knew it," she said between her teeth. She whirled around
and almost ran into Han.
"Prisoners," she exclaimed at him, "They wanted prisoners."
"Who did they get?" Luke asked.
"They took most of the advance team," Solias repeated.
Kaiyana's mind snapped to Priana.
"I guess the rest of us put up a bigger fight than they
expected," Han said.
Chewie let loose with a long series of barks. "That's right,"
Han said, "They could return with better firepower."
Leia interjected, "We'll have to move more carefully, or
faster."
"Or they may just wait for us at the palace," Luke said. "We
can't very well bypass that now. Our people are probably in there."
"Halok was with them," Kaiyana said, remembering.
Han and Leia just stared at her. Chewie whined.
"Oh, great," Han said quietly, realizing how this hurt their
position.
"Then they know all our standard strategic guidelines," Leia
added, rubbing her forehead.
"There's more good news," Luke added, "We can't read them
through the Force. Somehow, they can mask their minds from us."
Leia stared at him, thinking. "Our safety is in numbers.
They still don't know that we know about their transmissions and the
smugglers' report" She paused. "We have to contact the fleet. We
have to let them know the situation and get some help up there." She
gestured to the sky.
Leia sighed, noticing the dimming light and the cold breeze.
"Let's reposition camp up the valley and call it a day. We'll
start early and solve some of this," Han suggested.
Priana waited with the other prisoners in the palace cell
block. She, like many of the others, was getting hungry, but refused
to eat what the Drahavians served. Her group had arrived to discover
other New Republic personnel already incarcerated.
A door clanged open at the end of the corridor. She pushed
her small body forward through the other prisoners, moving to a better
place to face her incarcerators.
I won't take this quietly, she resolved. All I need is one
good opening
Guards marched to the large cell, flanking none other than
Di'mar Halok himself. Hatred flared in her.
He looked through the group, pointing out some rather mousy
girls. The guards removed them to another cell. He surveyed the
people in her cell and she waited for his eyes to rest on her.
They did and narrowed. He stepped close to her.
"This is interesting, dear," he said in a low growl. "I
thought you were injured."
Her blood seemed to boil, venom leaping from her eyes. "I
know what you are," she said with a surprisingly strong voice, "and
I'll destroy you."
Without taking his eyes off her, Halok summoned a guard.
"Tomorrow," he began, "terminate this one."
He turned on his heel and marched back down the corridor. The
prisoners around her stared at Priana in shock.
We'll see who is terminated, she thought blackly.
The New Republic troops found a nicely sheltered spot near the
water to make camp. Once again, tents rose and rations were
distributed, with the normal complaints.
Leia used some of her calming exercises to get to sleep. Han
had no such luck. He tossed and turned for hours, turning their
troubles inside out and back again. Finally, he formulated some solid
ideas and was able to sleep.
Luke meditated, stretching out to locate the prisoners in the
Drahavian palace. Satisfied with the information he discovered, he
turned to the moonlit tent.
Again, Kaiyana was already under the blankets. He moved in
beside her and gently pulled another blanket over her shoulders.
"It's alright. I'm not asleep yet," she said, turning to face
him. He knew she had been preoccupied about the prisoners.
"Don't worry," he tried to reassure her, "I've been working on
it. Besides, Han says that rescues are what we do best."
She laughed, starting to relax. "That's fine with me as long
as it's someone else who needs rescuing."
Kaiyana brushed some stray hairs from his face with her
fingertips. She let her fingers come to rest on his cheek, tracing
his jaw. Luke responded to the slight pressure of her fingers, moving
to kiss her gently.
Her hand travelled behind his shoulder and down his arm,
caressing the power there that his gentle touch did not betray.
Luke's gaze held hers steadily. Taking his hand, she moved
his arm around her. She felt his trembling, and his unspoken
conflict.
It's alright, Kaiyana assured him again, don't be so nervous.
His eyes didn't flinch as she read the tender question from his
thoughts. Luke recalled some of her memories too well.
"I'm not afraid of you, Luke," she said softly, touched by his
concern, "I love you."
He knew she felt his relief, fears subsiding. He pulled her
to him. "I love you more than you know, Yana," Luke whispered to her.
Kaiyana took a brief moment and closed her eyes. She felt his
warm breath, inhaled the smell of his skin. This time, it was
undeniably Luke. His mouth found hers and, once again, they took up
the gauntlet of destiny.
CHAPTER 14
Just before dawn, Luke quietly dressed and prepared for the
day. He decided to let Kaiyana sleep a moment longer. He stopped,
watching her, wanting this moment to see him through the busy day
ahead.
You were so right, father, he thought, remembering Anakin's
words during his time of despair in the bog.
He ducked out of the tent and went to the water to wash up.
The air felt damp, but crisp.
"Isn't that a little cold?" Leia asked, approaching from their
tent.
"It's awfully cold," he said, drying his face and hair. She
laughed.
"I think I located the prison block at the palace," he said,
then saw Leia's puzzled expression. "All I had to do was look for a
group of non-Drahavian presences in the Force," he explained.
"Good," she said, thinking. "Han and Chewie went to salvage
that skiff we downed yesterday. If they can do something with it,
then we can cover a lot of ground today."
Leia looked around, searching. "Are you going to wake
Kaiyana?" she asked.
Luke started to answer, then smiled. "I don't have to."
Leia turned and saw Kaiyana stretching as she emerged from the
tent. "I'm going to see what the verdict is from Han. See you over
there," Leia said. She jogged into the forest, calling a quick, "Good
Morning," to Kaiyana.
Kaiyana waved and went to the water's edge. She took a deep
drink of the sweet water and splashed her face. Luke tossed the small
towel to her, "Here. Before you freeze."
She sat next to him on a large rock, rubbing at her face with
the damp towel. He put his arm around her and she sleepily allowed
him to pull her to his shoulder.
"How are you this morning?" he asked, keeping his voice low,
"You're going to be cold without your cloak."
Kaiyana smiled contentedly, "No, I won't. I'm doing just fine
today." She pulled him into a strong kiss, as if needing to remind
him of the night they'd shared. Luke responded hungrily, each of them
thrilled by the deep new passion they had kindled.
"Luke!" Han called from a distance. Luke sighed.
"Better go," Kaiyana told him, "We've got quite a day ahead of
us."
She watched him reluctantly run off into the trees. She let
herself sink to the ground, putting her face in her hands.
Underneath the peace she felt that morning was a kind of ache.
Something was changing in her senses, and it seemed to pull at her
strength.
Kaiyana sat for a moment longer, trying to work through some
of the exercises Luke had taught her. She began to feel a little
better, so she set to the chore of breaking camp.
"I think we can get it done if we have three sets of hands
working on it," Han told Luke. Chewie was already elbow-deep in
repairs.
"And yours are the only ones I trust," Han added.
He opened a panel in the skiff and tossed Luke a small tool.
"Do you think this will make as many runs as we'll need?" Luke
asked.
"I think so," Han replied, straining at a stubborn cover at
the back of the skiff, "but just barely."
The sun climbed steadily over the horizon. Work progressed
well on the skiff. As it neared completion, Leia decided to organize
a new advance team.
She spotted Kaiyana. The young woman was sitting cross-legged
near the repair site, absently pulling at the grass. She might want
to go, Leia thought, and the first couple of teams could use her
skills. Besides, she seemed to like being in the thick of things.
"Are you interested in going?" Leia asked her.
Kaiyana considered it for a long moment. "I don't think so,"
she answered, "not yet."
Luke was surprised. "Are you sure?" he asked. "I won't be
too far behind you."
"I'll go with the next one," she offered to Leia, knowing her
skills were needed. Leia nodded and continued gathering her team.
Luke took a long look at Kaiyana. "Are you doing alright?" he
carefully asked. He didn't feel anything wrong with her, except some
tiredness.
Still, she seemed distracted. Kaiyana got up and went to him.
"I'm fine," she sighed. "What can I help with?"
"Nothing here," Luke said, sealing the panel cover.
With a bang of the large cover, Han stood. "I think that's
it," he announced.
"I'll go with Leia in this first run," Han continued.
"Chewie, keep with Kaiyana and the second group."
Kaiyana started to protest, but changed her mind. Luke would
be coming with the third group.
They distributed the pack load evenly among the groups. A
gunner would come with every other team, starting with Leia's.
Something in Luke lurched. A rising uneasiness spread through
him when he thought about not going with Kaiyana. She's fine, he told
himself, she's strong. I'm just worrying too much, he thought. Deep
down, he could only hope that he was right.
Priana hadn't slept at all the previous night. Her hatred
kept her pumped full of adrenaline as she thought of what she wanted
to do to Di'mar Halok.
Just before lunchtime, one of the other members of the advance
team came to her. "Priana, stop," she said, picking up one of the girl's
hands. Priana stared at her blankly.
The woman frowned. "Look," she said, showing her the raw and
bleeding ends of her fingers. Priana hardly knew them as her own; she
didn't feel any pain and she had no memory of chewing at them.
"They'll be fine," she mumbled curtly to the woman, yanking
her hand back.
The loud scrape of the corridor entry sounded. The woman
looked at Priana with sympathy in her eyes.
"Here they come," she said.
"Good," Priana replied firmly and stood to meet them.
The two guards stood before the security lock. "Move into the
lock," they ordered her. She stepped in and heard the protective
field energize behind her. The one in front of her deactivated and
they pulled her through.
As they marched her to the corridor door, several of the other
prisoners noticed that Priana never looked back.
Clekar studied Di'mar Halok. She sensed that he was up to
something, but didn't know what.
"Really, Darling," he was saying, "I only sought to make an
example out of her. She was causing quite a bit of trouble down
there. She had to be terminated."
Causing trouble for us or for you? Clekar pondered. No
matter, she decided. At this point, Halok was merely a temporary toy
for her.
"Is the rest of the fleet almost ready?" she asked him,
shifting the subject to more important matters.
"The first three Ultra Destroyers are already in orbit," he
announced proudly, "The rest are either ready and waiting or are being
fitted today."
"Were we able to fit them all with the turboconductors?" she
asked. The smugglers they had dealt with had assured her that she had
a plentiful supply of equipment. If they had lied, she would make them
pay dearly, once she had acheived her ultimate goal.
Halok laughed and leaned over her desk towards her. "Each of
your ships, my dear, could blow away half a planet on a practice run,"
he growled.
"Good," she purred back.
"They should be waiting in launch position in the hangar
before nightfall," he continued. "I wish I could see their faces when
we spring our little surprise."
Clekar allowed herself to fantasize about the view inside the
new underground hangar, filled to capacity with her mighty ships. On
the outside, their military facility appeared so deceptively small.
"Yes, Di'mar," she said, "I wish I could see that, too."
Leia was actually enjoying the breeze that blew around her on
board the swiftly-moving skiff. The ride wasn't even close to being
the smoothest she had ever had, but they covered an impressive amount
of territory.
"We're coming up on the rendezvous point," Han yelled over the
noise of the skiff. In the distance, Leia could make out the palace
against the backdrop of the city. She knew the small military
facility was less than a kilometer before the palace from their
position.
"I don't see the rest of our people yet," Han yelled to her as
the skiff began to slow.
"Their routes were shorter," she answered, "so they should be
arriving soon."
The equipment was hastily unloaded and the skiff returned for
the next team. Leia sought out the communications officer and had him
set up their equipment.
"Try everything you know," she ordered, "We've got to get word
to the fleet."
She watched Han help position the first gunner for the day's
defenses. She nervously patroled their new position, bursting with
anticipation.
The sound of the skiff reached her ears, bringing a feeling of
relief with it. She wouldn't feel better until all their people were
together again.
"Leia," called the communications officer as he jogged towards
her, "It's no good. We can't get a thing through."
She sighed and nodded to him. "Thank you, Captain," she
replied, "I'll have to try something else." She remembered how she
had known to rescue Luke on Bespin years ago.
Leia watched the skiff descend, packs already being thrown off
to the waiting soldiers. Kaiyana jumped down with them and Leia
grabbed her arm.
"You've got to help me," Leia said, sounding almost desperate.
She felt Kaiyana's senses spring to action.
"Anything, Leia," she replied.
"We have to contact the fleet ourselves," she explained,
hurriedly pulling Kaiyana to a quiet place in the forest.
Wedge stared at the broken image on his comm unit. Why does
the reception have to be so bad? he thought, irritated.
"I'm terribly sorry I can't help you, General," said the
Drahavian on the screen. He sounded mildly irritated, too. "As I've
told you, we don't expect to hear from your people until tomorrow at
the soonest."
"I suppose that will have to do," Wedge said, giving in, "but
they are to contact me immediately. Got it?"
"I will see to it," the alien said blandly, signing off.
Wedge paced his office. He was uncomfortable in the formal
setting, anyhow, but the tension was worse today. I should have heard
from Han by now, his mind grated again. Had the traitors already
attacked them? Did they need him to bring ships now or would that be
a diplomatic disaster?
Wedge turned to the large window in his office wall. The
fleet maintenance bays were as busy as usual. He gazed at a nearby
X-wing that was getting an engine overhaul. Reminiscences darted
through his mind about the talented youngster from Tatooine who had
climbed into that cockpit so many years before. Luke's gallant spirit
had changed the tide for the Rebellion that day. Just knowing the
remarkable young man had changed Wedge, too.
Thoughts of a disaster on Drahavia bit at him. He worried for
his friends. He tried to think, but his head hurt from the effort.
Finally, he sat down on his soft chair and tried to relax.
"I can't get through," Leia said with her eyes shut tightly.
She pushed down her anxiety again, knowing that it would only interfere.
Kaiyana sat next to her. "Let me see," she said. She took a
deep breath, concentrating.
"He's agitated about something," Kaiyana said in a few
moments. "I'll try to calm him. You keep talking."
Wedge leaned his head back, suddenly feeling a need to calm
down and rest. Then, his head snapped up and his eyes went wide.
Had he dozed and dreamed the sound? The room was quiet and
still. I know I heard Leia's voice, he thought.
Wedge, her voice said again, you must listen to me. We need
your help!
He hadn't imagined it. Luke had once told him that he had
heard the voice of his teacher, Ben Kenobi, during his historic run
against the first Death Star. If Wedge had learned anything from
Luke, it was that nothing is impossible.
Following her words, he relaxed and received the strangest
communication of his life.
"Wait here," the guards barked to Priana as they paused by the
control booth. She glanced at a nearby terminal. What I need to know
is right there, she thought.
Priana bit her lip, trying to find an excuse to move closer to
the panel Her guards' demeanor with her made it plain that they didn't
consider her a threat, probably because of her small size.
A pair of large aliens were coming towards her, laughing and
talking as they went. One of them was gesturing wildly, graphicly
retelling some story. Priana stuck her foot out a fraction, allowing
the large Drahavian to skim her toes.
She cried in pain, turning dramaticly. She crumpled to the
floor and faked a hurt foot. The guards rushed to her, helping her
up.
"Can you stand?" one asked dryly.
"I think so," she whined and leaned her head near the terminal
screen. "Just let me rest a bit and I should be able to walk with
you."
They left her alone, turning back to their conversation with
an attractive controller. They're not giving me a second thought, she
smiled.
With the tip of one finger, she selected the screen she
needed. Two more keystrokes and she found Halok's name. Very
careless, she thought, taking note of his security code for palace
access.
One keystroke and she was done.
"Are you ready yet?" the alien's voice startled her. She
turned to him and studied his bored face. He had no idea what she'd
just done.
They proceeded to a small skiff that lifted them over the
trees. A short trip later, they flew inside the military facility.
They set down just as some larger skiffs sailed past them towards the
forest.
"Got it," Leia smiled broadly. Overjoyed, she hugged Kaiyana.
"Thank you so much," Leia laughed to her, "I couldn't have
done that without you."
"Glad I could help," Kaiyana smiled back. Leia noticed a
tired look in her eyes.
"Is something wrong?" Leia asked.
"I don't know," Kaiyana answered, trying to sound unconcerned.
"I've just felt out of sorts today."
"Maybe Luke can help," Leia offered, pointing to the sky as
the sound of another skiff whined overhead.
Kaiyana's face creased and she snatched up her lightsaber.
"That's not Luke."
"Leia!" Han bellowed as he spotted the incoming Drahavians.
Worried, he looked to the forest where the two women had gone.
The gunner moved into action. Han fired on anything that he
could get a shot at. Once again, they didn't seem to return much
fire. No more prisoners, Han thought fervently.
Speederbikes came at Leia and Kaiyana from the surrounding
trees. Kaiyana ignited her lightsaber, deflecting the shots that were
fired at them.
Leia crouched, firing at the Drahavians as fast as she could.
"Get their stabilizers!" she yelled to Kaiyana.
She heard the saber take a broad stroke and a speederbike
corkscrewed into a grouping of trees behind them. Leia heard a laser
sizzle near her and Kaiyana yelped.
Turning to Kaiyana, she saw her stance mostly unchanged, but
she was shaking out her right arm.
"I'm o.k.," Kaiyana yelled, catching more blasts on the
glowing blade. "Run get help," she said.
Leia yelled back, "What about...."
"Don't worry about that," Kaiyana snapped, "If I turn my back,
we're gone. Run!" A flurry of bolts sizzled into her lightsaber and
she almost lost her balance.
Leia knew Kaiyana was right. The Drahavians were
concentrating on the strange weapon this woman had, but she couldn't
hold out forever.
She ran towards Han's position, ducking and dodging the blasts
that seared the trees around her. She met some troops near the gunner
station.
"Reinforcements needed to Kaiyana's position, straight that
way," she ordered, pointing. "Hurry!"
She couldn't miss the look of relief on Han's face when he saw
her. She ducked behind the cover and rested. Then, the attack ended
as quickly as it began. The sound of skiffs and speederbikes echoed
away from them, back towards the palace.
Another whine came to them, from behind. The third group,
Leia remembered. After hearing the commotion, Luke would be worried,
Leia knew. She turned to look for Kaiyana and her reinforcements.
The soldiers were emerging from the woods. Leia's heart
seemed to halt and she felt a frightening chill. Kaiyana wasn't with
them.
I hate speederbikes, Kaiyana thought, feverishly trying to
catch her breath. The wind had been knocked out of her when this
Drahavian veered in behind her and snatched her up. She had been so
startled that she dropped her lightsaber.
Regaining her focus, she wildly fought her attacker's firm
grip.
"If you don't stop," he yelled at her, "you'll become a
permanent part of one of these trees."
Reluctantly, she stopped. She knew that wouldn't help anyone.
What if they're going to kill me anyhow? she thought. At
least she stood a chance out here. She elbowed him hard.
"You asked for it," she heard him say. He shifted and brought
a crashing blow against her with his heavily armored fist. Kaiyana
felt the hard, painful blow smash into the side of her head.
She tried desperately to reach out to Luke before the
blackness robbed her of her senses.
Priana marched with the guards deeper into the hangar. She
was both amazed and angered by the sight she beheld.
The place was a flurry of activity. The small upper level of
the facility opened over an awesome underground hangar. What she
could see was tremendous, larger than anything she'd ever imagined,
but she couldn't see the end of it.
The floor was filled with Destroyers, each with crews working
around it. Looking up, she could see where the roof could curl back to
launch its massive secret out into the unsuspecting world.
Her temper almost exploded, understanding the Drahavians plan.
It won't happen, she swore, I can't let this happen.
The guards steered her down a lengthy corridor, to a small
room.
"You'll wait here," one told her, "We'll send the guys on
termination duty to come get you." They started to leave.
"I'm gonna be sick," Priana groaned, doubling over.
"Hey," said the one, "don't be doing that. This isn't
anything to be afraid of. I mean, you won't even know what hit you."
Great comfort, she thought sarcasticly. He moved closer to her.
In an instant, Priana whirled, catching him in the nose with
the point of her elbow. The sickening sound told her that he died
instantly, the bones of his nose piercing his brain.
The other one gaped in shock, fumbling for his rifle. Too
slow, she thought. Her foot caught him in the throat, collapsing his
airway.
She grabbed the first one's finger and pressed it to the
sensor catch on her restraints. They snapped open.
Now what, she thought, peering into the hallway. She needed a
uniform that would hide the fact that her skin was not yellow.
After a few minutes, she spotted someone in a dark, shielded
suit. They must work in laser repairs, she thought. No one else was
in the hall.
"Hey," she called in a hoarse voice, "Can you help me in
here?"
The figure paused, then headed towards her. "What is it?" the
irritated voice said, rounding the corner. She swung the guard's
rifle as the alien stepped in the room. He didn't even have time to
react before the jagged edge struck him just beneath the back of his
helmet.
"Where is she?" Luke asked Leia, looking slightly panicked as
he jumped clear of the slowing skiff. His eyes bore into hers. He
knows, Leia thought.
He saw her hesitate to answer. "She can't be," he whispered,
more to himself than to her. Luke moved past her quickly, heading at
a dead run for the place where he sensed Kaiyana had been.
"Luke!" Leia called after him, but he didn't slow.
"Come on," Han motioned to Leia and Chewie and followed Luke.
Leia's heart broke for her brother. He was crouched by a
tree, reaching for something in the brush.
"Look," he said, turning to them. In his hands, he held
Kaiyana's lightsaber. Chewie let out a loud, mournful bellow.
Luke leaned against the tree, closing his eyes. Panic etched
his face. "I can't get her to answer me," he said through his teeth.
"She's not...," Han started, fearing the worst.
Luke's eyes flew open, searing. "No," he answered in a low,
hoarse voice. Leia had never heard him sound like that. Han was
shocked speechless
Leia went to Luke. "Hey, now," she said, marvelling that she
even had to say this to the Jedi Master, "calm down. You can't help
her like this."
Luke took a shaky breath. "I'm sorry, Han," he said, sounding
more like himself. "That wasn't meant for you. I just flared when I
thought of what I would do if they hurt her."
"It's o.k., kid," Han said, "I think I understand. I'll see
about getting the troops gathered a little faster."
"Thanks," Leia said, glad that he fully understood the urgency
this brought on them. Luke sank to the ground next to the tree.
"I can't live without her, Leia," he said simply, but it tore
at her heart.
She knelt next to him, putting comforting arms around his
shoulders. "Don't think that way," she said, "we'll get to her soon."
She wasn't sure how much that really reassured him. Besides,
she was scared, too. Not only for Kaiyana's sake, but also for Luke's
vulnerability. Jedi Master or not, he had just shown her how quickly
he could step towards the Dark Side.
CHAPTER 15
Priana did her best to hide the carnage in the small room as
she left. At least this area doesn't get much traffic, she thought.
She had to concentrate on walking right because the ends of the
oversized pants were tucked under her feet inside the large boots.
Looking out to the Destroyers, she noticed others dressed like
her milling around. She located a lift and travelled down to the
massive lower level.
She stepped off of the lift, awed once again. This place
looks even more impressive from here, she thought. She felt amazed
and terrified all at once.
Get out! her instincts screamed. Beneath the black helmet,
Priana shut her eyes tight. A picture of her dear friend Shika took
shape in her mind. She let the anger and hate renew her resolve.
She considered catching a nearby skiff, but decided to wait
for a more crowded one. Blend in with the crowd, she reminded
herself. Take your time and you'll find what you are looking for.
Leia had been right; the other troops hadn't been far behind.
The skiff had made it through all of their personnel with runs to
spare. It was holding up long enough to help move the other groups.
As long as it's someone else who needs rescuing, her voice
echoed to him Luke closed his eyes once again, mentally crying out to
Kaiyana. No answer. He studied her presence.
He knew she had to be unconscious because he sensed no
particular emotion. He detected some pain along the side of her
skull. There was another problem associated with that, but Luke
couldn't identify it yet.
Leia saw him coming through the woods towards camp. She
sensed that he didn't have much more news for them about Kaiyana. She
hated to see him so tortured.
Luke grabbed a canteen near her and leaned against a large
tree. Wordlessly, he drank from it and closed his eyes. He looks
exhausted already, Leia thought.
"Did you find out anything?" she asked.
He slowly shook his head. "I know that she's not responding
because she's knocked out. She also has some kind of head injury, but
I can't isolate it."
"At least she's still alright," Leia offered. He nodded and
replaced the canteen.
The now-familiar whine of the skiff grew louder, then changed
and gave out. They heard trees crunching underneath it as it went
down. Chewie's frustrated roar reverberated through the trees. Soon,
Han emerged from the woods.
"That's it for the skiff," he confirmed. "They're unloading
it now."
"How many groups were left?" Luke asked.
"Only a couple," Han said, encouraged, "so our work held on
pretty well."
Leia thought. "We can go ahead and plan out a strategy and
wait for them to catch up," she decided.
Han nodded. "We've got to start moving."
Priana leaped on the back of a crowded skiff. Everyone was
intensely silent and she felt a air of urgency in the hangar.
"Tonight," she heard a voice near her complaining, "I can't
believe we've got to have this ready tonight."
"None of that," said a more commanding voice towards the front
of the skiff. "You know your job."
The rest of the trip whizzed by in silence. They slowed near
the bay of an especially busy Destroyer. Most of the passengers
stepped off, so Priana decided to follow them.
She drifted up the scaffolding with the others, climbing near
the forward gun batteries. Small silver and black boxes were arranged
around each short turret. Crawlspaces were open, accessing the inner
workings.
From where she stood, Priana could see that only one turret
seemed near completion, with no stacks around it. The cover to the
crawlspace was still propped open.
One of the aliens from the skiff, an apparent leader,
approached another who stood near an unfinished turret.
"Where are we on this?" he asked.
"Well, it's going faster today," Priana heard a female voice
this time. "We still have a few defective conductors," she said,
pointing to some scattered boxes at Priana's feet.
"More overheating?" the first one asked. The female nodded.
"The Princess will eat those smugglers for lunch. Just one of
those too close to a power source and we've had it," the first
Drahavian commented.
The female continued. "Now, we just need someone to check and
seal that one," she turned to the upper turret, the same one that had
seemed finished to Priana.
"You!" barked the first one to Priana, "take care of that
turret. Be sure you seal it up tight."
They turned back to their discussion, ignoring Priana. She
glanced around, then tucked a few of the boxes into her oversized
suit.
Climbing into the turret, she peered down the darkened
crawlway. If she remembered her weapons class clearly enough, then
the power source for the major gunnery should be down there. She felt
her way along in the dark.
She was about to turn back and try another route when she
heard a humming to her left. Crouching, she felt a narrow space along
the floor and slid into it.
It's so handy to be small, she thought smugly. The metal
pressed against her face as she moved and the humming grew louder.
This has to be it, Priana thought, the noise is too loud to be
anything else. One at a time, she brought the boxes close to her
eyes, studying the controls. She moved the switches to maximum power,
shoving the conductors away from her arm's reach.
Priana set all of the conductors she had carried and scrambled
out. Her skin felt slick with sweat from the enclosed space.
The cadet moved towards the dim light of the hangar, trying to
calm her pounding heart. She pulled herself out of the opening and
began sealing the cover. The adrenaline rushing through her body made
her hands shake.
"Hey!" yelled a voice behind her. She whirled, prepared for
battle. They might take me down, she thought, but they won't find
what I've done.
"Hurry up with that!" he barked again. He pointed to the
remaining boxes, "and take these back to Equipment Supply. They'll
know what to do with them."
"Yes, sir," Priana replied, trying to make her voice sound
deeper.
He marched away and she finished the cover hastily. Gathering
the boxes on a repulsor platform, she made her way to a returning
skiff.
Kaiyana began to stir, moaning. She pressed her hands against
her head as a sharp pain seized her. A door slid open nearby and she
heard someone announce, "She's waking, sir."
Kaiyana tried to open her eyes, but no light came in. She
felt with her fingers to see if there was something over her face.
There wasn't. She was blind.
Kaiyana winced with the throbbing at the side of her head.
The hair near the injured spot was moist with blood. That must have
done it, she thought.
She noticed that she could manage a shadow in her mind of the
room around her through the Force. No details, just enough to keep
her from running into things.
"Luke," she whispered into her senses, "I can't...."
The door ground open and a form stepped inside, flanked by two
more. Kaiyana weakly tried to lift herself to her feet.
"Move her to the restraints," the first form ordered. The two
others grabbed her arms and tossed her against the wall. She felt
cold metal bands snap around her wrists.
The two moved back through the creaky door. The one stared at
her.
"Jedi Latuur," said his oily voice, "where are those great
powers Master Skywalker has given you?"
Kaiyana decided that the question to too riddled with
falsehoods to even argue.
"Do I know you?" she asked dryly.
"Doesn't my face look familiar?" he taunted.
"Maybe it would, if I could see it," she snapped, patience
waning.
"What are you talking about?" he said, irritated. He passed a
hand over her eyes, noticing that they didn't flinch. "Are you blind?
How interesting."
"Well, then," he continued, "maybe this will remind you."
Something rammed her hard in the ribs.
Kaiyana almost choked on a scream, as much out of surprise as
pain. Be more alert, she chastised herself.
"Nice to see you again, Halok," she grimaced.
He laughed. "Did your Jedi powers tell you that, Kaiyana?"
Han had been right; this guy really had a problem with Jedi.
"Where am I?" she asked.
"In the Drahavian palace, in my private dungeon," he sneered.
He stepped close to her, whispering, "No one will ever find you here."
"We'll have to continue this delightful visit later, dear," he
said, turning away. "I have another meeting to attend."
As he stepped through the old door, she heard him order the
guards to stay in position until his return.
Kaiyana relaxed as much as she could. Her head and ribs
throbbed, and her arms were getting sore. She tried some of the
healing exercises she knew, but the pain distracted her. Why didn't I
learn this better? she angrily asked herself.
"Luke," she pleaded out loud, "I need your help."
Priana followed the flow of other repulsor platforms to a
large opening in the wall. The Equipment Manager looked at her and at
her load.
"Not more faulty conductors?!" he exclaimed, exasperated. She
nodded.
"I can't store them here anymore," he told her. "Catch a
skiff to the palace storage facility. They'll hold them there."
She went in the direction he had gestured. She looked for an
opening to the outside, where a skiff station might be. A hallway
crossed her path ahead and she paused.
A skiff narrowly zoomed past her to land nearby. To her
relief, the hallway had been an underground passage.
"Load up," called the pilot. Priana followed the other
passengers.
The skiff shot down the long passage, lights flipping past
them. It skimmed to a stop amid more activity. An officer stepped
forwards to meet Priana.
"I bet I know where these go," he sniffed. "I've got a dozen
like them. I'll take it from here."
Again, Priana just nodded. She turned smoothly and followed
the flowing mass of Drahavians into the palace.
Inside, she ducked into a quiet corridor. Priana paused to
catch her breath. I can't believe I got here so easily! she thought.
In a doorway, she stripped off the stifling suit. Her uniform
underneath was soaked with perspiration and she had no shoes.
Priana stuffed the black uniform into its helmet and crammed
it into an incinerator chute. The door nearest her slid open and she
startled.
"I didn't mean to scare you," said a gentle voice. Priana
stared into a human face.
"You must be the new servant girl," the woman asked. "Follow
me." She grabbed Priana's arm and insistently pulled her into the
room. She was led through a buzzing crush of human and Drahavian
girls, in skimpy costumes, to a small private dressing room.
The woman sealed the door behind them. "Everyone has been
alerted to your presence," she said in a hushed voice, "Right now,
they are searching the grounds."
Priana was astonished. She hadn't heard an alarm, but
obviously someone had found the mess in the execution block.
"Why are you telling me this?" she finally asked.
The woman smiled sadly, looking at the floor. "Each of those
girls out there is a prisoner here for some reason or another," she
explained. "I'm sure yours is equally unjust to the rest of ours."
She turned to a wardrobe cabinet. "You'll have to wear one of
these," she said, pulling an outfit down. As Priana changed clothes,
the woman disposed of her uniform down another chute.
"What is your name?" Priana asked.
"I am Gresella. I came here to study Drahavian culture and
got trapped in it."
"I can't hide a weapon in this," Priana remarked, studying the
flattering, but flimsy, clothing.
"You already have," Gresella told her. She bent to Priana's
ornate slippers, pulling at the side. A thin needle slid free.
"Poison," she explained, "You have two. And you'll want to
wear this." She placed a light veil over Priana's face, disguising her.
"Now, you can come and go around the palace without attracting
much attention," Gresella told her, "but if you are caught, I'll have
to deny ever seeing you."
"I understand," Priana answered, "Thank you."
She slipped out a back door and disappeared through a dark
corridor.
Wedge impatiently awaited final clearance from the Coruscant
controllers The fleet was assembled and prepared for battle.
The only ships left behind were those necessary for planetary
defense. Wedge wasn't taking any chances on sending an insufficient
force this time.
He pondered the possibility of Drahavia developing a
superfleet this quickly. They'll be having some troubles, anyway, he
thought.
He hoped their smuggler allies had come through for him on
those faulty conductors.
Wedge looked out at Coruscant one more time, feeling a tugging
at his heart. He missed Qwi already. He heard someone approaching
him on the command bridge, drawing him from his brief reverie.
"We have clearance, General," the lieutenant announced.
"Hold here for the others to be ready," General Antilles
answered. "We'll hit lightspeed on my mark. Warn the others to be
prepared for battle immediately upon arrival in Drahavian space."
The New Republic troops moved into position, bordering the
expansive grounds of the Drahavian Military Facility. Han ordered
them to rest until just before nightfall, when they would attack the
small facility before it closed for the night.
Because of the nature of Drahavian nights, the aliens tended
to assume that no one would move in the dark.
They're defenses should be down, Han thought, if my
impressions from Commander Drahos had been correct. Those diplomatic
dinners had turned out to be worth something after all.
"Come on, Chewie," he joked to his furry friend, "let's catch
some of those rations before the rush hits."
Leia was digging out their ration packs. Luke sat nearby,
making a feeble attempt to rest. Han had noticed his expression
growing more haggard as the day wore on.
Leia handed Han his pack. He pointed to Luke, silently
questioning.
"Nothing yet," she said, "all we know is that she's still
alive."
Han began to open his pack. Luke jerked awake, staring.
"Take it easy," Han started to say, but he noticed that the
Jedi wasn't paying any attention to him.
"I'm here," Luke said under his breath. He leaned back and
closed his eyes, whispering to himself.
Chewie gave them a curious bark. "Can you hear what he's
saying?" Leia asked quietly. Han shook his head.
Luke pulled completely inward, relief flooding through him at
the sound of Kaiyana's voice.
She was scared, blinded by the blow to her head. He tried to
take some of the pain on himself, to ease her torment.
Her attention was diverted to something else, a person in the
room. He felt her rising frustration.
Luke's own body jolted with the painful blow to Kaiyana's
ribs. He knew who had struck her as soon as she did.
Halok had her.
Luke had an impression of a dungeon, probably in the palace
itself. Kaiyana was restrained and exhausted.
I need you, she cried to him. He wanted so badly just to run
to her.
All he could do was help her deal with the pain she felt,
hoping to clear her mind somewhat.
Luke opened his eyes and jumped to his feet. Leia, Han and
Chewie were staring wide-eyed at him.
"Halok has her," he said, stumbling over his rushing thoughts
and feelings. "Whoever hit her in the head did it enough damage to
blind her."
"I'll tell the medics to be prepared when we find her," Leia
said, attempting to add some optimism to Luke's mood. She tried to
suppress her own concern.
Han noticed that Luke's eyes still looked harried. He went to
him and grasped his shoulder. "Hang in there, kid. It's not long now
before we're there."
Chewbacca reached from behind the young man and hugged him,
trying to comfort him. Luke patted his massive arm absently and
nodded.
"He'd better not hurt her just because he hates me," he added
in a voice husky with stress and heartfelt resolve.
Kaiyana heard the door move again, a feeling of dread sweeping
her. Defiantly, she lifted her chin towards the shadow in her mind.
He won't see me giving in, she swore.
Halok approached her again. "Glad to see you decided to
accept our hospitality," he laughed. "We have plans for you, my
dear."
Kaiyana stayed silent, struggling to keep her strength afloat.
Her body had just bypassed hunger and gone straight to sick, but she
fought it.
She turned her face away from the stench of his breath.
"Where is your boyfriend? Couldn't he join us this evening?"
Evening, Kaiyana noted, I was out longer than I realized.
Then, she felt another thought cross her mind, her mouth saying it
before she could stop it.
"Husband," she muttered through cracked lips. Her exhaustion
had made her careless.
"What?" he sneered, his eyes narrowing. She knew that he'd
heard her correctly.
Kaiyana brought her chin up and tried to speak clearly, as if
to a child, "You said `boyfriend'. Luke Skywalker is my husband."
He slapped her hard. "Never speak that name again."
Kaiyana's head swam and she fought for consciousness. Her
temper boiled to overflowing. She tasted blood in her mouth.
Angry, she pulled at the restraints, but they only cut into
her wrists. She couldn't even get enough leverage to raise her legs
for a good kick.
Halok turned back to her, regaining his composure. "So you've
married the magician. The Princess will love to hear that." He
stepped close to her again, pressing her into the wall, just like in
her dream. The trapped feeling made her panic, breath coming in short
gasps.
"Before I tell her, I'd like to show you a few of those tricks
I told you about," he leered, stirring a dreaded memory.
Priana spotted Halok strutting down a corridor at a very quick
pace. Discreetly, she followed him.
He entered what she decided had to be his private apartment.
She crept to the door and heard the strange creaking of another door
inside.
Thin walls on Drahavia, she thought, hearing him order guards
to stay at their posts. She heard the creaking door again.
She straightened her costume and touched the control panel.
Instead of ringing the door chime, it opened the door for her.
Stepping in, Priana saw that the apartment was empty, except
for two guards posted near a small bar. A secret exit? she wondered.
She walked to the guards, trying to appear demure.
"I was sent for Major Halok," she said quietly.
They didn't bat an eye. "Wait here," one said curtly, "He'll
be done shortly." Obviously, they were accustomed to a similar
routine. Her temper bloomed again.
Priana glanced around for something in which to conceal her
devious movements. She spied a panel on the wall and moved closer to
it. As she had guessed, it was a sound system for the apartment.
The writing on the control surfaces was foreign to her. I
have to look like I know what I'm doing, Priana reminded herself. She
picked a prominent symbol and pressed it.
Music played softly through the sound surfaces. It was an
exotic sounding tune, very rhythmic. It's not loud enough, Priana
frowned. She looked at the controls again.
Pressing another symbol, the sound changed to an obnoxious
whine of voices in a heated discussion. The guards sighed their
irritation. Priana chose another nearby control and the music
returned. The guards relaxed. Good, she smiled.
She let her finger wander to another symbol. This time it was
right. The music surged through the rooms.
Priana was sure that anyone standing at the door could hear
it. She hoped that Halok couldn't inside the mysterious room.
Slowly, Priana let the music fill her, moving her of its own
volition. She turned, keeping her eyes on the guards. Once, she had
seen a Twi'lek woman dance her famous hypnotic dance. Priana worked
to duplicate the effect.
I hope a Drahavian's libido is as active as a human man's, she
thought, spinning so that she stopped right before the guards. She
looked in their eyes and saw that it was. I'm halfway there, she
smiled.
Priana let her hands travel seductively down her swaying
curves. As the tone of the music dropped low, so did she. Carefully,
she rested her hands beside her slippered feet.
The music swelled. Priana pulled at the poison needles,
ripping them from their delicate confinement. The guards started to
move as she lunged for them. Their cries of alarm were cut short by
the shock of tiny, lethal needles stabbing into their throats.
The poison worked almost instantly and the guards slid noisily
to the floor. Cooly, Priana grabbed a blastrifle and began searching
for the door control.
Wedge tensed as the New Republic fleet dropped out of
lightspeed. Three Star Destroyers awaited them, as he had suspected,
although he was surprised by the small number.
The lead ship opened fire immediately, catching one of the
cruisers off guard momentarily. Only two blasts later, pieces of the
ship were scattering through space.
Wedge heard his crew gasp. "All ships, send as much power as
you can to your forward deflector shields," he barked. "Remember, we
outnumber them!"
"Break into your battle groups," he continued through the
whooping of battle sirens. "Hit them with everything you've got!
Launch fighters to take out those gun batteries."
His ship began firing on the Drahavians lead ship,
relentlessly. Wedge hoped it would be enough.
"Make every shot count!" he yelled to his gunners.
It was obvious that the Drahavians were inexperienced in
battle. The fighters would be able confuse their targetting priority
long enough for the combined assault to do some critical damage.
Fighters swarmed around the great ships like biting insects.
Some of their less powerful turbolasers lashed out to swipe at them,
small explosions dotting Wedge's viewscreen. Each one gnawed at him.
Under the pressure, few of their megablasts hit their mark.
One ship concentrated so much on chasing the fighters that it actually
did damage to another careless Drahavian Destroyer.
Wedge's eyes narrowed as his military mind went to work.
These Drahavians had to be relying on sheer power to make up for their
lack of skill.
That could have been the New Republic's advantage, if the
Drahavians were slow learners. However, by reputation, they weren't.
Jostled, Wedge held a rail for balance as his ship rocked with
one successful blast.
"Shields are wavering," came a report.
Inside the Drahavian hangar, the floor literally thundered
with activity The evening deadline was approaching and a tremendous
amount of work still needed to be done.
Deep within one of the waiting Destroyers, a new enemy brewed.
Small boxes heated, their silver skin burning brightly. Their
combined heat began to upset the delicate balance of the large energy
core.
Clekar waited impatiently in her palace suite. She wanted the
work done now. She wanted to know that her plans were running
smoothly, but she received no such assurances.
The Drahavian on the small screen beside her extolled another
sorry report.
"We should make the deadline," he said, "but we'll fall a
little short of having conductors for all the ships."
Clekar spoke quietly, containing her rage. "After this
assault, I'll take care of our smuggler friends. They'll never cheat
a Drahavian again."
"Continue your work," she ordered, "and let me know the moment
it's completed."
She paced, contemplating how to handle the smugglers. Clekar
stopped suddenly, listening. Had she felt a tremor under her feet?
There it was again, stronger.
Her communications screen flickered as though someone had
tried to contact her, failing. The vibration grew into a rumble.
Explosions shattered the atmosphere. Clekar raced to her door on
unsteady feet, towards the thundering sound.
An officer met her from the opposite direction. "Turn back,
Your Highness," he yelled. "The hangar is exploding!" The palace
boomed as another Destroyer succumbed to the massive chain reaction.
Clekar screamed with anger. Her advanced brain understood
already. Halok had not destroyed the report. The smugglers had
turned traitor. Someone had used the information against her precious
fleet.
Incensed beyond reason, she ran for his quarters.
Halok bent to Kaiyana's feet, roughly grabbing each of her
heels.
"Sorry, dear," he said, as she felt restraints bite around her
ankles, "I learned the hard way not to leave any loose ends, shall we
say."
A bolt like lightning struck Kaiyana's mind, laying open her
most sensitive memories. With a chill of horror, Kaiyana placed him
in her past. A word tore out her mouth before she could stop it.
"Boss," she choked.
Halok whirled to her, stung by the name. He studied her,
pressing a finger to her scarred brow. She tried to recoil from his
touch, seething with fear.
"You," he growled with rage, "Do you know what you cost me?"
His voice rang loudly through the chamber. Loud enough that he didn't
hear the commotion beyond the door.
He was shaking with anger. Kaiyana didn't sense the fist
coming at her until it collided with the already injured spot on her
skull. She thought her head would rupture with pain.
Halok grabbed her hair and twisted it, pulling her towards
him. "You cost me a very profitable setup. It took ages for me to
climb to a position like that again," he screamed.
Kaiyana wasn't sure if she actually heard an explosion or if
something in her head had finally broken loose with his last yank.
Halok froze. The ground seemed to move.
Halok wanted to investigate, but he was still angry. He
clubbed her again, with the other fist, then released her.
Kaiyana felt nauseous. Her head swam and her thoughts slipped
away from her. Not again, she thought, as she tried to fight the
oblivion that threatened to envelope her mind.
She failed.
In the woods, the New Republic troops prepared to rush the
borders of the Drahavian hangar. Han raised his arm to give the
signal.
A hand shot out and halted him. "Wait," Luke said, staring to
the hangar.
Rumbling reached them, quaking through the ground like a
stampede. Han recognized the sound of rolling explosions. The din
grew and Chewbacca roared.
Suddenly the top blew off of the hangar. Fire and smoke
catapulted into the sky. Han felt as though they were sitting inside
a sublight engine.
"What the...," Leia started.
"I don't know, but our job just got easier," Han said. He
flipped his comlink on. It worked.
"Get the palace," he ordered and they moved swiftly.
Luke paused and tried to summon Kaiyana. There was no longer
a response Her mind was so muddled that he couldn't sort it out long
enough to see what was wrong. Pain was all-consuming.
Another New Republic battleship exploded. Wedge shouted an
expletive. He was outraged, frustrated by their apparent
helplessness.
"What?," he said impatiently, whirling on the lieutenant who
was striding towards him.
"They wish to submit their surrender," the man said flatly.
Wedge blinked at him dumbly.
"Look," responded the lieutenant, pointing.
A fireball rose from the planet's surface. It had to be their
base, but Wedge couldn't imagine what could have possibly set off that
kind of destruction.
"Accept it and contact the others," Wedge said incredulously.
He turned back to the scene below and wondered about his
friends.
"I told you I'd make you pay," said a voice behind Halok. He
turned quickly.
Priana crouched with a blastrifle trained directly on him,
unflinching.
He was speechless, no excuses coming to mind. He saw his
guards sprawled behind her. Something moved.
Priana didn't see it. She fired once, hitting him in the leg.
"I'll destroy you piece by piece," she swore icily. Halok
knew it wasn't open for discussion.
Suddenly, a blue glow charged through the doorway. Priana
whirled, but the lightsaber caught her cleanly in the throat. She
fell instantly, dead.
"Clekar, darling," Halok breathed, "You couldn't have timed
that better. I...."
She wasn't listening. She didn't even lower the lightsaber.
"You incompetent fool," she hissed, lunging.
"Wait a minute," he protested, realizing her intent, "You
can't do this. You need me."
She rushed the blade towards him. He dodged, but his blasted
leg slowed him. The hot blade ran him through before he could regain
his balance.
More guards rushed in behind her. "Your Highness, they're
storming the palace," one informed her. She walked calmly to the
outer wall. She swung the lightsaber, cutting their escape.
She turned to the battered figure at the wall, not sure if the
woman was dead or alive. One of Di'mar's demented amusements, no
doubt, Clekar thought. In her anger, the Princess failed to recognize
the vulnerable Jedi apprentice.
She considered putting the wretched woman out of her misery,
but decided it wasn't worth the effort. Clekar unfastened the
restraints swiftly. The woman crumpled to the floor, in a defeated
heap. "Poor idiot," she spat.
"Stay with me," she commanded the guards and escaped through
the new exit.
Leia ordered the communications station set up outside the
palace. She needed to transmit to the fleet immediately.
She raced inside with Han and Chewbacca after the first wave
of troops. Luke wasn't far behind.
It wasn't hard to take the palace; everything was already in
confusion because of the exploding hangar. There's quite a story
here, Leia thought, I hope we can unravel it.
"Luke said to look for a dungeon," Han called to her, running
along the lower level. Some soldiers were already searching the
rooms, taking prisoners to replace the New Republic personnel in the
cell block.
Leia stretched her senses down the corridor. Not here, she
thought. She raced to the next corner and tried again.
"This way," she called to Han. She saw Luke skid around the
previous corner, following her at a breakneck speed.
He knows she's there, Leia realized. Han grabbed the medic
leader and ran to where Leia was pointing. Chewbacca joined them.
They disappeared into the apartment and Leia decided to wait for Luke.
Chewbacca roared. Leia caught Luke's arm as he started to
slip past. He met her gaze for a moment, caught somewhere between
elation and panic. She released him.
They entered the apartment and Luke turned to a small doorway
inside. Han met him there, blocking his path.
"Luke," he said evenly, looking straight into the Jedi
Master's eyes, "I'm warning you, it's bad in there."
Han waited for Luke to take a deep breath and nod back to him.
Then, he stepped aside.
Leia looked into Han's face. "She's not...gone, is she?" Han
shook his head. "But it's a good thing Halok is already dead," he
added, surprising Leia with the raw emotion behind his words.
A cold breeze drifted in from the opening in the wall. Halok
and a young woman lay dead inside the door. The sickening, acrid
smell of seared flesh still hung in the air.
The medic was speaking into a comlink, summoning help to
remove Kaiyana to a temporary hospital. Luke barely noticed the two
bodies he stepped around. His eyes locked on the broken form against
the other wall.
He rushed to her, kneeling beside her. Luke's breath came in
short bursts, as though his heart was being pulled through his throat.
"Yana," he whispered to her, carefully stroking her hair as it
stirred in the cold breeze. Chewie moaned behind him.
"How soon can they get here?" Luke asked the medic.
"They are on their way now, sir," he answered. "We've set up
the hospital a few rooms down from here."
"Good," Luke said, nodding distractedly. Kaiyana stirred and
began to cough, blood from her mouth choking her.
"Water," Luke called and turned to catch a canteen from Han.
He carefully rolled his cloak under her head and helped her sip the
water.
As she stirred, the tremors of pain he felt from her became
excruciating Kaiyana groaned and tried to open her eyes. It pained
him further to find that they were still sightless.
Luke grabbed her hand, holding tightly. "What," she tried to
start, but pain seized her. The medic team arrived with a repulsor
gurney.
"Don't try to talk," he told her gently, "We've got you now.
You'll be just fine."
They lifted her onto the gurney. "Let me get the examination
started," the medic was saying, "and I'll let you know what she
needs."
Leia put her arm around Luke as he watched the gurney
disappear.
"How are you doing now?" Leia asked.
Luke stared, not really seeing. "I don't want to know what
happened here," he said gravely. "Something very dark was here and
now she's out there." He gestured to the opening, knowing that they
had to find Princess Clekar.
"You're not going to fight her," Han said, "are you?"
Luke turned and looked at them both. "Not unless she
threatens Kaiyana again."
They silently walked from the room, letting the soldiers
remove the bodies of the traitor and the day's secret heroine.
CHAPTER 16
"Now that's a hole," Wedge whistled, looking over what had
been the hangar. The bottom of it was littered with the smoldering
remains of the Drahavian fleet.
"You can say that again," Lando Calrissian agreed, awed by the
sight. He had taken a break from his busy schedule at the Kessel
spice mines to visit with his old friends. More of his worker droids
helped scour the bottom of the blackened pit.
"I can't believe they almost pulled it off," Leia said,
unsettled by the whole matter. She had looked forward to sleeping
inside the palace the night before, but she had been tormented by
guilty dreams. She'd trusted Clekar blindly, never expecting such
deception.
"Be sure and find a great job for Cadet Bridger when you get
back," Leia added towards Wedge. She spotted Han and Chewbacca coming
around the rim of the enormous crater. The trio turned towards them,
Lando's cape billowing in the dying wind.
"How's Kaiyana?" Lando asked as they strolled. Han had filled
him in on the new twists in Luke's life when he had arrived.
"The medics haven't completed the in-depth exam of her yet,"
Leia explained, "They're waiting for her to be fully conscious."
"What happened to her?" Wedge asked, looking at the fresh
morning sun.
"Evidently, she got here already physically exhausted by the
speederbike trip. That guy caused the injury that blinded her."
"Is it permanent?" Lando interjected.
Leia shook her head. "It'll be corrected once they isolate it
and restimulate the injured area."
"Like a mental jump-start," Han added, hearing their
conversation. He motioned to the crater. "This is much bigger than
anything I've ever seen We're really lucky something went wrong here."
Leia nodded. They all headed back to the palace.
"So what's taking so long with Kaiyana?" Wedge asked, picking
up the conversation again.
"She had a couple more bashes to her head by the time we got
here. It takes awhile to treat multiple injuries when so many are
priority," Leia explained. "Halok did it," she added.
Lando grimaced. "Poor girl," he said.
"How's Luke holding up?" Wedge asked, concerned about his good
friend.
Han laughed. "Controlled, you could say. He's worried, but
stable because he has her back." He hugged Leia to him as they
walked.
Han looked to the palace entryway and saw Luke jogging towards
them. Lando suddenly remembered the first time he'd met Luke. The
young Jedi, battered by Darth Vader, was clinging to an antenna
beneath Cloud City. He'd wondered why this one boy had caused such a
stir; now he understood perfectly.
"The team leaders are assembled in the main conference room,"
Luke announced. "They're ready to organize salvage and search
groups." He reached out and shook Lando's hand enthusiasticly.
"It's great to see you, Lando," he smiled.
"You, too," Lando replied, "I hear there's a great lady you've
kept hidden from me. When are you going to let me get a word with
her?"
Luke laughed. "As soon as she's up and around again, I'd be
happy to introduce you."
"Sounds like she stays out of trouble as well as you do, ol'
buddy," Wedge joked. Luke took his hand in a friendly grip.
"Of course," he replied, shrugging, "Is my X-wing holding up,
o.k.?" Wedge nodded, laughing.
"Any change on Kaiyana?" Leia asked.
"Not yet," Luke answered, the familiar optimism creeping back
into his voice, "She should be conscious again late this afternoon.
They'll try to finish the scans then."
"Well, let's get started," Leia said, marching purposefully
into the entry. The men and Chewbacca followed her.
Luke pulled at Han's sleeve. "I'll catch you in a minute," he
said.
Han laughed, "Sure, buddy. Take your time."
Luke entered the quiet rooms that served as the temporary
hospital. Two-Onebee medical droids worked patiently at their posts,
tending the injured.
Kaiyana was isolated in an oxygen-filled field. He watched
her, feeling her breathing settle into a regular pattern at last. He
didn't stretch his senses too far, for fear of disturbing her.
Again, he noted the bruises on her face and arms, knowing
there were plenty that he couldn't see. Each one frightened him,
reminding him that they were indeed vulnerable. It could have been
worse, he thought.
He longed to touch her, as though he couldn't feel safe again
until he had. Patience, he reminded himself, she'll be alright soon.
Luke turned from the room, vanishing into the dark corridor.
The meeting broke up quickly. It had been a simple matter to
divide the work among the New republic teams.
Most of the manpower was devoted to the salvage and cleanup
efforts surrounding the burnt-out hangar. Even with their numbers, it
would take some time to sift through the huge crater for clues,
especially since the base of it wasn't even cool yet.
The remaining forces set up shifts at the palace and worked in
small search parties to find Princess Clekar. Crimes committed
against the New Republic and the treatment of some of the prisoners
had qualified the Drahavian for status as a dangerous fugitive.
Luke knew she would still be searching for them, too. He felt
her dark presence out there, but she masked her mind from him.
They had enough time to begin some preliminary searches before
nightfall Luke, Han, Leia and Chewie all volunteered to go. Wedge
stayed to supervise the initial salvage crews. Lando made the rounds
one last time, promising to return to meet Kaiyana soon.
Luke and Han went with a team to scale the nearby
mountainside. It seemed too obvious of a hiding place to Han, but he
understood the need to look everywhere.
Leia and Chewie headed down with a crew into the outlying
regions of the city. They searched warehouses, broken down buildings
and abandoned homes.
"Anything?" Han called to Luke as his brother-in-law descended
from a rocky outcropping.
"Do rethasnakes and frahghogs count?" Luke joked. Han was
relieved to see him in a better humor this evening.
"Let's pack it in," Han said in the dimming light. He raised
the comlink and ordered everyone back to the palace.
"The other crews are probably back, anyhow," Luke agreed and
headed down the long path that meandered back to their palace base.
Kaiyana awoke with a deep fear seizing her. Where am I? she
wondered. What happened to me?
She tried to look around, but saw only black. She rubbed her
eyes and tried again. I must be blind, she realized.
Sitting up in bed, she felt along her body. Good, nothing
missing. She swung her legs to the side and stood carefully.
That's funny, she thought, seeing the shadows in her mind that
faintly outlined her surroundings.
She tested it, sidestepping a small sanitizer droid that
passed by. She smiled, then felt the soreness in her face. She tried
to remember how it had happened, but nothing came. Then, she tried to
remember where she was. Nothing.
Desperately, she fought for some memory. She found small
flashes, terrifying ones. Ones that filled her with fear and hate.
Among them, she found no clue as to who she was.
"Are you ready to commence testing?" said a metallic voice
near her. A metal arm prodded her to the bed.
She recoiled. What kind of place was this? What testing did
the droid mean?
Fear surged through her, her basic flight instinct overruling
reason. She pushed the droid away and turned to where the shadows in
her head told her a door should be. They didn't fail her; it was
there.
She jumped out into a big corridor. Commotion brewed behind
her. I've got to get out, she thought.
She ran as fast as she could through the halls, discovering a
great deal of power in her limbs, even though they ached. People
passed her, but she couldn't tell who they were or how they reacted to
her. Voices were calling to her from behind, but she couldn't make out
what they said.
She spotted two great doors. Pushing on them mightily, she
moved them apart enough for her to slip through.
The air was cold outside. She pulled her collar up around her
neck and ran again. Her feet were bare, but she didn't dare stop with
the rush still going on behind her.
A short time later, the yelling stopped. She slowed,
listening. She decided to walk, not sure what to do next. The air
was so cold.
"Get in here before you freeze to death, dear!" called a
cackly female voice not far from her. She moved towards it, studying
the faint picture in her mind. The sound came from a stooped figure.
Several other forms were there, scattered. They seemed to be under
some kind of bridge.
Bridges. She remembered something about bridges. She had
slept there. Was this the person she was?
"Here," said the voice again, "wrap your feet in these." The
woman pressed some rags into her hand. They smelled of old fuel.
The figures were huddled around large, flat bins with fires in
them. She felt her way through tying the rags, carefully covering her
raw skin.
"You're new here," the woman said, "Are you blind, dear?"
The younger woman nodded. "What is your name?" the woman
asked. I don't know, thought the blind woman, but she strained to
find one. One word popped into her head.
"Solo," she replied finally.
"How appropriate," the woman laughed, "I'm Ytaaf. Welcome to
our home. We haven't anything to eat, but you can crash here with us
for the night At least it's warm."
She took Solo by the wrist and led her deeper under the
bridge. Surrounded by the other fires, she felt very comfortable.
Her body was weary and she needed some rest.
"You are welcome to sleep back here," Ytaaf told her, "but be
gone before the Tagon brothers awake in the morning." She pointed to
some dark figures sleeping drunkenly in the corner.
The woman fetched an old tarp that would serve as a blanket
and watched the new woman close her eyes.
Snatches of conversation drifted to her weary mind.
"What do you think the New Republic will do with us?" one
voice asked.
"They have to retaliate for what the Princess did to
Coruscant," another answered.
"Maybe blowing up the military was just the beginning,"
someone offered.
"I'll bet this becomes a work planet, with a prison on it," a
small female voice said.
One argued, "Why would they harm us? We didn't have anything
to do with what the Princess did."
"I heard that she killed the Jedi Master's wife," said
someone, everyone gasped.
"That'll do it," someone concluded.
The speculations continued. The woman under the old tarp
turned to her garbled thoughts. She still didn't recognize any of the
pictures in her head.
She thought of what had just been said. How sad for that man,
the Jedi Master, she thought. I wonder if I've loved anyone? She
searched her broken memories again.
There was one faded picture of a young man, sweaty and
barefooted, in a cropped shirt. His smile calmed her, brought her
peace. She latched onto it and surrendered to the tendrils of sleep.
Luke and Han returned with their group as darkness fell. Leia
could see them joking with each other. Luke was laughing. It
wrenched at her heart.
"Hi, sweetheart," Han called, jogging towards her. Luke
started to follow Han, then stopped. He studied her look, the
carefree smile deserting him.
Leia saw his blue eyes turn almost hollow with anxiety. Don't
look at me like that, Luke, her thoughts begged him. This is going to
be hard enough to tell you.
Han followed her gaze to Luke. His smile failed, too. She
touched his arm and he followed her to where Luke stood frozen.
Luke stretched his senses to his sister, then retreated,
actually taking a step backwards. He felt her disturbance and it
frightened him to his very core. I don't want to know, he thought,
and began slowly shaking his head.
"No," he was whispering as Leia grasped his arms, trying to
physically holding his attention.
Han felt a chill in him that wasn't coming from the frigid
Drahavian air
"They don't know what happened," Leia was explaining to Luke.
He gritted his teeth and turned his face away from her.
"She woke up and bolted," Leia plunged on, her words coming
fast. "She didn't respond to anything they said, other than to run.
It's possible that her injuries may have taken her memory along with
her sight. The men lost her outside the palace gates."
Luke felt as though he'd been crushed in a rancor's claw.
Leia felt his entire presence aching for Kaiyana. She pulled him into
a comforting embrace. Han put a supportive arm around him, words
feeling useless.
Luke wanted to sob, but the aching choked it away. He
trembled with grief, feeling as though he'd never get a chance to hold
Kaiyana again. Their two nights together would have to see him
through the rest of his life A void formed in the pit of his stomach.
"Don't think that way," Leia said, looking into his
tear-rimmed eyes. She didn't even realize that she'd just reached
into his mind.
"We will find her again," she articulated with a hefty
resolve.
Leia was relieved that Luke had agreed to stay with her and
Han. He can't be by himself right now, she thought, and I need to be
the one to watch him.
Han had gone to see if he could divert some search parties to
Kaiyana's disappearance. Leia sat quietly while Luke paced near a
window.
He looked like a caged animal. Every once in a while, he
would stop and look out at the city below.
The acute restlessness, which before had only worried Leia,
now simply frightened her. He had always wandered in his
restlessness, searching, but it had been controlled. Kaiyana had
satisfied that restlessness, answering some sort of call for him.
Now, it was back and he was panicked. Leia knew that if
Kaiyana were to come to any harm, Luke would be devastated. Worse
than that, she thought, he would be destroyed.
Already, his voice was husky and his look was haggard. She
wanted to reassure him, but she had found that impossible. I wish I
could do more, she thought to him.
Luke turned and stared blankly at her. He sat, exhausted, on
the sofa opposite her. He put his face in his hands, rubbing his
eyes.
"What am I going to do, Leia?" he asked, sounding desperately
lost. "My life is out there, wandering the streets. I can't even
narrow it down to one street."
"Can you contact her?" she offered, knowing it was a feeble
question.
"I can feel her alive, but I can't get through the confusion
in her mind," he said, frustrated. "It won't let her hear me and it
won't tell me where she is. It's so muddled that I can't even get any
clues."
Leia sensed that he needed to sleep, or else he'd completely
lose control. It was up to her to keep him sane.
"Stop," she ordered him. Luke was startled by her tone. She
went to him and grabbed his boot, pulling it off. "You are going to
sleep," she informed him.
"I can't," he protested, but she jerked his other boot off.
"Leia, really...." A pillow and blanket hit him in the face.
"You can either use those techniques you are always teaching
me," she said firmly, "or I can call the medics for a sedative."
She knew he hated sedatives. "O.K.," he agreed reluctantly,
"I'll try."
"Do or do not," she quipped, "There is no try."
Luke was still staring at her as she shut down the lights.
CHAPTER 17
The morning light spread over the blind woman. However,
without her sight, it didn't stir her.
Through her tormented fog, she heard feet shuffling near her.
"What's this," said a man's voice. The tarp jerked away.
Another voice laughed.
She jumped to a crouch, preparing to do battle. Just the
sound of their voices stirred a sick feeling in her.
"We've had an overnight guest," said the second voice.
Something swooped at her from behind. She tried to turn on it, but
her aching body was too slow.
A thin arm circled her waist and jerked her upward. The sharp
stench of old liquor enveloped her. The Tagon brothers, she
remembered, too late.
The shadows in her mind showed someone stepping close to her.
"I don't think she sees us," said the first one. "Too bad," he grimly
added.
A hand grabbed her throat and another dug into her shoulder.
A pain gripped her head and she clamped her jaw against it.
The fingers at her shoulder ripped her sleeve free. The man
behind her laughed. She grabbed onto his arm.
Quickly, she brought her legs up and slammed them into the man
in front of her. His brother tried to restrain her, but she leaned
down and bit hard into his arm.
He shook her free and doubled over, his injured arm clutched
to him. She spat his blood from her mouth and brought a knee up,
slamming it into his face.
The first one came at her again. He was clumsy, still feeling
the effects of the previous night's drunken spree. She allowed him to
ram his own head into the wall behind her.
Again, she ran. She didn't know where, but she ran long and
hard. Finally, her body slowed and the woman collapsed by a large
building. She had worked her way deep into the city, the sound of
industry everywhere.
Industry, she thought, factories. Maybe she knew how to work
in a factory. She had another vague picture of an assembly line.
That had to be it.
She found the door into the building. The air smelled clean
and cool inside. Must be the front office, she decided.
A small Drahavian woman looked at the bizarre human who had
entered the office. She probably wanted work, the alien thought, she
just had the wrong door.
"I assume you need to see the hiring boss," she said, bored.
"I'll be right back." She moved from her desk to a door at the back
of the office.
The word "boss" echoed in the woman's head. The alien opened
the door and the pungent odor of melting metal and plasteel stung her.
A vivid, horrible flash of a man with a vibroblade cut through
her mind. She screamed and stumbled back to the door.
The startled, but dull-witted, Drahavian watched her flee back
outside. She shrugged and returned to her work.
Luke waited impatiently for Han to finish briefing the search
teams. He pointed to a map, asking the team leaders to choose
quadrants.
"We'll take that one," Luke blurted to him, pointing. Han was
surprised, but quickly divided the other teams. They broke and headed
for their areas.
"Alright, hot shot," Han said to Luke, "Why this one for us?"
"I've been thinking," he explained, "If she only has a few
memories, she may pull towards what she has known before."
"I don't get it," Leia confessed. "That's the industrial
district."
Luke nodded. "One of her most vivid memories was of working
at a blaster factory on Lodon 5."
Han was surprised; she hadn't seemed the type. "Let's go
then," he said, letting Luke lead.
They started at the main gates and went straight down the
street ahead of them. If she was panicking and in full flight, Luke
thought, then she probably didn't make many turns.
The buildings grew dirtier, more decrepit. Luke paused,
trying to feel something of her there. He only felt the beggar woman
who was passing them on the street.
"Are you sure she would have wandered into this?" Leia asked,
indicating the filthy, run-down buildings.
"Remember," Han said gently, "she's blind. She wouldn't know
what this was."
The beggar woman moved back to them, quickly. "You seek a
blind woman?" she asked, rheumy eyes trained on Luke. Luke blinked at
her, excitement growing.
"Yes," he answered her, "It's very important. You'll be
rewarded."
She spat, "You can't buy me." Luke felt the defensiveness in
her. "Why do you want her? Why would a Jedi Master hunt for a poor
street woman?"
Leia and Han were startled. How had she known Luke? Luke
didn't miss a beat.
"She's my wife," he said quietly, in his roughened voice.
"She's hurt. Her memory is gone."
The woman gaped, "The Jedi Master's wife?! I apologize for my
abruptness, Master Skywalker. I didn't realize ... that poor little
thing...."
Luke cut her off. "Please, where is she?"
"I'm not sure now, but she slept under the bridge with us.
Come, I'll show you where."
They followed her around an isolated corner to a sheltered
area beneath a low bridge. The night fires were silent. Two men lay
on the ground, slaughtered.
The old woman gasped. Han ran forward and examined the
bodies. "Blasted," he announced, "but I don't think Kaiyana was
armed."
Luke searched the area with his senses. She had certainly
been here, but she wasn't even close now. She had probably run from
these two thugs. He knew they had been alive when she left, so he kept
searching.
"Who would have done this?" the woman said quietly. She had
no love for the men, but street dwellers had not been attacked in a
long time.
"Clekar," Luke said, opening his eyes. "Her guards have been
here. They're after Kaiyana."
The woman turned to Luke, understanding the new urgency. "She
must have gone that way," she said pointing, "or you would have seen
her by now. By the way, she gave her name as `Solo'."
Luke smiled, turning to Leia. Kaiyana was remembering
something. "Thank you," Luke said earnestly to the woman, "Could you
to bring her to the nearest New Republic soldiers you can find if she
comes back?"
The woman nodded. "Now, be off," she said, "Your bride can't
be too far ahead."
They ran down the street, Luke feeling encouraged to have
found something so soon, but worried for her safety.
She wandered the streets again. All she heard was the
pounding of factories and it frightened her.
Then another sound tickled her ears. Was that music? She
turned, following the sound.
Smells wafted to her. Food was cooking somewhere. Her
stomach growled. The music was getting louder. Now, she heard a man's
voice singing with the tune. She didn't know the language.
He stopped. "Can I help you?" he drawled. She tried to
decide where he was, but couldn't locate a shadow.
"Where are you?" she called back, uncertain.
Libou stared at the woman, then realized that she must be
blind. He climbed down his ladder and faced her. "Right here," he
said, softening his voice a little.
The woman stepped closer, keeping her arms crossed in front of
her. She was a mess. Filthy, with a bruised face, rags on her feet,
and one sleeve, he noted. The gal was either really tough or really
clumsy.
"Do you need some help?" he asked, ruffling his dark purple
hair. She began to shake, frustration and confusion overtaking her.
"Yes," she said weakly and began to cry. Crying just made her
mad. He guided her to the step behind his house, sat her down and let
her cry.
"What's your name?" he asked. She raised her head.
"That's the trouble," she confessed. "I really don't know who
I am. I can't tell you anything about myself."
He felt the emotion in her voice. She was for real.
"Well, I can't answer any of that for you, but I can give you
a place to stay," he looked up the nearest set of stairs. "Rwane!" he
called.
"You'll have to earn your keep, though," he continued to
explain. "I could use another hand in my club." He didn't know what
a blind woman could do, but he just had to help this one.
She nodded, then heard another set of feet coming towards
them. "What is it?" a woman's voice asked. Rwane saw the human
beside Libou and cocked her head. "Who is this?"
"You would have to ask the hard question first," Libou told
her. He explained the story, adding, "and we've got to help her. She
has nowhere else to go."
Rwane sighed, "You call the shots." She took the blind woman
by the hand, leading her up the stairs. She stopped and turned back
to Libou. "Can I ask what we will be calling her?"
He thought for a moment, a far off memory gelling in his mind.
"Shela. Call her Shela. She reminds me of a woman I transported to
Lodon 5 a long time ago."
Shela smiled, "I like that." Rwane led her to the upper
rooms, to a refreshing bath and a clean set of clothes.
"You know, you are the second person today to ask me about
that one," the bored woman at the desk told Han.
Luke stiffened. "Who else was here?" Han asked.
"A couple of burly guys," she shrugged. "Natives," she added
pointedly.
"And what did you tell them?" Leia said, losing patience.
"Just what I told you. She came in. I went to get the boss.
She freaked and ran. I didn't see which way."
"Thank you," Luke announced, ushering Leia and Han from the
office.
"What now?" Han asked. Luke closed his eyes, stretching his
senses. He felt the residual echoes of her flight, her fear. Her
confusion made it dissipate too soon. There was no clear trail to
follow.
"I don't get why she ran," Leia said.
"Anything could have set her off," Luke answered,
thoughtfully, "A word, a smell...anything could trigger a memory. She
has a lot of bad ones to run from, too."
Han stretched, feeling suddenly weary. "We'll have to do this
the old fashioned way. Door to door."
Leia surveyed the dozens of factories around them. A touch of
hopelessness set in.
This could take days.
"Libou has a soft spot for the wayward," Rwane was saying from
the closet. "But don't let that fool you. He's very shrewd."
She emerged from the closet, holding up a rust-colored skirt
and a bright yellow shirt. The full skirt had too much fabric to be
flattering on the Drahavian and the shirt's color didn't go well
against her own yellow skin. Maybe she can work with it, Rwane
thought.
"Try these on," she said, pressing the clothes into the blind
woman's hand. Shela had just emerged from the bath, her thick hair
still very wet.
"Does he do this often?" Shela asked from behind the dressing
screen.
"Not often. Only when he feels it's important," Rwane
answered. "He has great instincts about people."
Shela stepped from behind the screen. "Is this how you got
here?" she asked innocently. Rwane gave her an even stare. You have
good instincts, too, she thought.
"Yeah. That's how I got here," she said, "Now let me see
you."
Rwane's limbs were much longer than Shela's, but the woman had
pushed the sleeves up and the skirt settled just above her ankles.
"Well?" Shela asked, self-consciously.
"It works," Rwane concluded, "You look a lot better. Let me
find some shoes for you, then we'll tackle that hair."
Shela sat on the bed and pulled at the short boots Rwane
tossed to her. The Drahavian retrieved a thick brush. "Ow!" Shela
yelped, her tangled hair yanking on her sore head.
"Sorry," Rwane said, "We don't get many modern conveniences
down here. A sonic wavecomb would really make this easier."
"Hey," Shela said in a surprised voice, "I think I've used one
of those! I don't think I liked it."
Rwane laughed. "What things can you remember? I mean, if you
don't mind me asking."
"I don't mind. I need to see what I can come up with.
There's a lot of pictures, but I don't know what to make of them."
Shela took a deep breath, closing her eyes. "There are some
that are just too scary for me to try to make sense of. All I can say
about those is that there is a factory and some storms."
"That's interesting," Rwane commented, "Sounds like Lodon 5.
Libou spend a lot of time there on a freighter. We'll ask him. What
else?"
"I see a desert, two suns. I'm high up on a rock, studying a
bunch of people in uniforms. They're running, through something like
a canyon. It feels military."
"Could be Tatooine. I've been there once, but I don't know
what's going on there now. That's still a long way from Drahavia."
"Is that where I am?" Shela asked, "No one has told me."
"Sure thing. We're kind of in limbo right now, government
wise. There was a big explosion the other day that wiped out the
military facility. The New Republic has taken over for now," Rwane
explained. "What else you got?"
"A lot of flashes of faces," she sighed, "but one really
sticks to me."
"I'll bet it's a man," Rwane laughed.
Shela looked surprised. "It is. He's a mess, but he has this
smile. There's a feeling that comes with him. Peace...strength...."
She let her voice trail off.
"What's the matter?" Rwane asked. She put the brush aside and
sat next to her new friend. Shela's hair was arranged into a damp
braid.
"That memory makes me so sad, Rwane. He meant a lot to me,
I'm sure. Now, I've lost him along with everything else."
"Libou and I are going to help you figure out all of this,"
Rwane said, patting her hand. "Maybe if we concentrate on finding
that guy, we'll get some answers."
"We'd better get downstairs," Rwane added, standing. "Libou
needs to find something for you to do."
Han marched towards the prison block with the leader of the
interrogation team.
"We have six guards and a servant girl," Commander Fledgelok
was saying. "Five of the men are down here and one is with the medics.
He's the one who told us so much. He thought he was dying." He
laughed.
"Do we know where Clekar is?" Han asked seriously.
"No, but we know that she only has two guards now. They are
probably the ones you've heard about in the city."
The prison entry opened for them. "One warning, General," the
Commander said, "The girl is really belligerent."
Han looked at the cell. A small girl stood at the bars,
defiance glaring at him.
Han didn't even have to speak. The girl let her rage fly at
him.
"I told her about your Jedi woman," she sneered at him.
"Princess Clekar will find her. She'll punish you and your precious
Jedi Master."
Han just looked at her. He turned on his heel and left,
knowing that, otherwise, he'd lose his temper.
Where are you, Kaiyana? his thoughts screamed, hoping he found
the answer before the Drahavians did.
Rwane turned an astonished look to Libou. Shela hadn't
spilled a drop.
Shela crossed back to them through the main floor of the club.
A tray of glasses balanced on her hands as she navigated the usual
maze of tables A few patrons had already filtered in and she dodged
them deftly, too.
"If you are blind," Libou asked as Shela set down the tray,
"how can you do that?"
Shela shook her head. "I don't know. I see this shadow in my
mind of what's around me. So far, it hasn't been wrong."
"I still don't think you want me mixing drinks," she joked,
trying to break the uncomfortable pause.
"She can sing, too," Rwane said. Shela looked startled. "I
heard her in the bath. What was that song? It was nice."
"I made it up," she shrugged shyly. "I keep hearing this tune
in my head, so I just let my feelings take care of the words."
"We'll try you on the floor tonight and see how it goes,"
Libou said abruptly, "It gets pretty hairy when the place is full."
"Why don't you go to the apartment and rest," he told her,
"Rwane will come get you when it gets busy."
He watched her disappear through the door that led to the
stairs.
"There's a story here," he said seriously to Rwane. "I've
known blind people before and not one of them could do that." He
gestured to the tables.
"She told me about a military-type memory she has of a planet
that sounds like Tatooine," Rwane offered, keeping her voice low.
"Did you notice anything about her clothes?"
Libou shook his head. "It was like the New Republic uniforms
I've seen around lately," she continued. "And she sure has seen some
action, what with the marks on her face. I know she hasn't been one
to sit around a lot, either. That lady has some hefty muscles."
Rwane stopped, seeing Libou deep in thought. "Tatooine has a
New Republic training facility now," he muttered. "Somebody's going
to be looking for this one."
The band had arrived and was warming up. The noise drowned
out any further talk about the mysterious lady upstairs.
Luke stared out the window again. "Haven't you memorized all
those lights by now?" Leia asked through the darkness.
He managed a smile for her. She put an arm around
him. "Anything new?" she yawned.
He shook his head. "I still can't get through. I don't think
she remembers her Force skills, either."
"Are you going back to sleep anytime soon?" she asked,
stifling another yawn.
"I don't know," Luke said honestly.
"Luke, you've got to rest," Leia scolded.
"I'll try again soon," he reassured her. "Go back to bed
before Han misses you."
Leia kissed her brother's cheek and returned to the bedroom.
Luke turned back to the window, trying to contain the desperate
hopelessness he felt.
He wiped away the wet trails on his face that the darkness had
hidden from his sister.
Down the hall, Chewbacca was restless. The Drahavian nights
were too long for him. He had to find something to do.
Quietly, he lumbered through the great halls towards the exit.
There had to be someplace to go.
Outside, the air was biting, but his thick coat insulated his
body. The streets were still, but his sensitive hearing picked out
faint sounds in the distance.
The walk was long and cold. The Wookiee began to think his
ears had fooled him, until he saw the glowing sign.
"The Blue Wampa," it read in blinking blue light. The
nightclub's doors were shut tight against the cold, but Chewbacca
could still hear the sounds of voices and music.
A few of the customers let their gaze linger on him. They
didn't see Wookiees often. Some of the patrons danced, some sat
alone, and some revelled together in loud groups. The music reminded
him of Jabba's Palace band, but it wasn't bad.
The large Drahavian behind the bar smiled at him. "Hello,
friend," he called above the noise, "What can I get for you?"
Chewbacca barked an order, the man nodded. "We'll get it to
you in a minute. Have a seat."
Chewbacca found a table near the bar that would accommodate
his large frame. He watched the patrons with mild curiosity.
A large mug slid in front of him. He pulled some Drahavian
tokens from his pouch and slid them onto the table. The waitress bent
closer to him.
"Would you mind handing that to me?" she yelled. "I'm having
trouble getting them from the table."
He took them up, complaining quietly. He put them in the
human's hand and froze.
Her eyes stared sightlessly and her face was slightly swollen,
but he'd know her anywhere. It was Kaiyana, but she didn't know him.
"Thank you," she smiled. As she turned away, he noted the
unruly hair escaping from the thick braid. He started to gulp his
drink and watched after her.
She leaned on the bar, talking to another waitress. The woman
left and Kaiyana stood alone for a moment. A male Drahavian
approached her from behind. Chewie could see that he was drunk. He
started to stand, to go to her defense.
The man put both arms around her, nuzzling into her neck.
Chewbacca thought he heard a shrieking, "No!" carry over the crowd
sounds.
The great Wookiee moved towards her. Then, he saw her arms
come up and grasp the back of the man's collar. In a flurry of
motion, she flipped him over her and he hit the floor -- hard.
Wild-eyed, she pressed a foot against his throat.
That had to be Kaiyana.
The bartender pulled her off of him, ordering the man to leave
and turning the gaping customers back to the entertainment.
She didn't move her hands away from the sides of her head, as
if she were in great pain. The other waitress steered her to a door
behind the bar.
Chewbacca turned and rushed out to the street. It would be
morning soon and he couldn't wait to tell Han what he'd seen, deciding
that Luke didn't need to know until they were positive.
Han watched Chewbacca come in the apartment and look around
cautiously. He gave a quick bark.
"Luke's outside, meditating or whatever it is he does," Han
answered, "Why?"
The Wookiee let a out a long string of whines. Han sat up
quickly, almost dropping the maps he held, "What? Where?"
"Is it Kaiyana?" Leia asked. Chewie was talking too fast for
her to understand.
The Wookiee continued with a longer series of growls and
barks.
"A club, near the industrial district," Han translated. "She
was waitressing?" Han asked incredulously. He had a lot of trouble
imagining that.
Chewie grunted and barked some more, then laughed to himself.
"Yeah, that does sound like her," Han laughed. He turned to Leia,
"Some guy tried to latch onto her and she took him down." If this was
Kaiyana, then Luke didn't have to worry about her being too vulnerable.
Han tossed the maps aside and stood. "Let's check it out," he
said, strapping on his holster. "Should we tell Luke yet?"
"No," Leia said sharply, "If it's not her, he'd only feel
worse. He won't come back for awhile, anyhow."
The trio moved purposefully through the corridors.
Libou was behind his establishment again, making minor
repairs, when he heard the footsteps.
He turned from his work and saw the two burly Drahavians
coming towards him. His instincts prickled.
"Can I help you boys?" he called, coming down to meet them.
They tried to look past him and through the open doorways. One of
them wore a strange helmet, but he decided it best not to ask.
"You run this place?" one asked.
"Sure do," Libou replied, "but we're not open until just
before dusk." He really wanted these guys out of there.
"We're looking for somebody, a missing New Republic soldier,"
the one with the helmet said.
"So you're with the New Republic?" Libou asked, trying not to
sound suspicious.
One grinned. "You could say we're just trying to help them
out."
"What does this soldier look like?" Libou asked, carefully
avoiding the word "she".
"Female human with long dark hair. She had received some head
injuries recently and may be blind," the first one said. Their eyes
moved up towards a movement from the apartment.
Not now, Shela! Libou's wanted to yell to her. She skipped
down the stairs, delivering a bucket to Libou. He had trouble keeping
amazement from crossing his face.
"Here's that paint you needed," she said, her eyes skimmed
over the visitors and she went inside a door behind Libou.
"Is she blind?" the helmetted one asked, suspicious.
Libou laughed, "Do you think she could have come down those
stairs like that without her sight? Besides, how long could I stay in
business if I hired blind waitresses?"
They seemed satisfied, not even asking about the bruises on
her face.
"Thanks for your help," the first one said. They started back
down the narrow street.
Libou watched them, then stared up to the apartment window,
giving Rwane a knowing look.
"Anything yet?" hissed Princess Clekar, late that afternoon.
She was bored, anxious for the news she so strongly desired. Her
guards returned with their daily report of the tedious search.
They could see she was impatient, so they began with their
only lead. "We stopped at a club and saw a woman who could be her,"
one started, "but we're not sure if she's blind."
Clekar sat and considered a moment. "Let me see," she barked.
The second one removed his helmet. It concealed a small
recording/projection unit. He set it before her and pressed the keys.
A holo flashed to life in front of them, playing back the
strange human from the nightclub. It winked off and the guards stared
at their Princess.
"That could be her," she purred, standing.
"Go rest, my servants. It's time we wrapped up this hunt.
It's time for the Jedi to fall."
Han and Leia rushed to keep up with Chewie's gargantuan steps.
He swept them through the streets, turning down a small, alley-like
offshoot.
It was lined with residences that were actually part of the
businesses to which they were attached. At the end, a lumbering
Drahavian worked at repairs on his home. A tall female alien sat near
him.
"Excuse me," Han called, "Could we talk to you folks a
minute."
The two exchanged glances. "Sure," the man replied and the
woman disappeared inside the building. Han stepped up to him, Leia
and Chewie flanking him.
He shook the Drahavian's hand. "My name is Han Solo and this
is my wife Leia. This is Chewbacca," he said, gesturing to each of
them in turn. "We're with the New Republic. Can we ask you some
questions?"
The alien regarded them seriously for a moment. "Sure. I
remember him from last night," he said pointing at Chewie. "You can
call me Libou, but can I ask for some I.D. before you start talking?"
He studied Han's identification. "Alright, I believe you," he
said, "I'm sorry, but there were two guys here this morning who, I
have reason to believe, lied about who they were."
Leia was alarmed. She hoped the Drahavians had not gotten any
answers here.
"Are you looking for someone, too?" Libou asked pointedly.
"Yeah," Han said, taken a little off guard, "A young woman.
Her name is Kaiyana. She's got dark hair and a scar above her eye.
She might have some bruises and she's probably blind."
"The problem is," Leia interjected, "that she has lost her
memory, too."
"What do you want her for?" Libou asked carefully.
"She is my brother's wife," Leia said quietly, "They had only
been married a couple of days when she was taken prisoner in the
palace."
"They messed her up pretty good," Han finished for her, "and
all of her injuries haven't been treated yet."
Libou stared at them each again, thinking. I hope my
instincts don't fail me now, he thought.
"Let me show you something," he beckoned them to follow him to
the door of the club. "Watch," he said.
Leia looked inside and saw Kaiyana. She almost called to her,
but Han restrained her with a gentle hand.
The tall alien, Rwane, had her practicing among the tables
again. They watched her step easily around several obstacles, finally
reaching the bar. Rwane patted her on the back and sent her to clean
the bandstand.
As she swept, she began to sing. It was a haunting tune,
drifting over them like a sweet breeze. Her confused emotions floated
on it to their consciousness, touching them. Leia sensed that they
were hearing the sound of Kaiyana's Force feelings trying to break
through.
Han turned and looked at Libou, questioning. "She started
that singing business last night," he explained, "Brought the whole
place to a standstill. It really gets ahold of you, doesn't it?"
Leia nodded. "That's her," she said to Libou, "Does she
remember anything?"
A female voice near them answered. "Not much," Rwane said,
"Most of what she has is frightening to her. The only memory that
really preoccupies her is of a man. She says she misses him, even
though she doesn't know who he is."
"Luke," Han nodded, echoing Leia's thought. Leia reached in
her pocket, retrieving a delicate holocard. Touching the keypad, a
small image of Luke appeared.
The candid moment had been captured at her wedding, but Luke
didn't even know she had it. She passed it over to the Drahavians.
Rwane studied it. "Yeah," she nodded thoughtfully, "That's
the way she describes him." She handed it back to Leia.
"Hey, can you tell me how she does that?" Libou asked,
gesturing to the window, "Navigating the tables like that."
Leia smiled. "She's very gifted in using the Force. She may
not remember it, but she's using it."
"Do you want her to go with you now?" Rwane asked, trying now
to sound worried.
Leia shook her head. If they approached her now, they might
only make her run again. She has a strong memory of Luke, she
thought, he should be the one to handle this.
"I want to bring my brother here later," Leia answered. "This
will be a lot easier if we can get her memory going again. He'll know
what to do."
The Drahavians looked skeptical. "He's a Jedi Master," she
added, trying to reassure them.
Libou's mouth dropped open, speechless. Rwane pointed inside.
"She's the one we've heard about?" she exclaimed, "Master Skywalker's
wife?"
Leia laughed and nodded. It never failed to amaze her how
much impact Luke had on people he'd never even met. They'd never know
him the way she did.
"Just keep her here," Han said, "and don't let her know
anything is up. We don't want her to bolt again."
"Thank you," Leia added, shaking their hands. "You don't know
the service you've done us."
The trio quickly moved back up the narrow street, leaving the
two aliens with their precious charge.
CHAPTER 18
Chewie stepped out of the palace entry. He squinted in the
fading light and began waving his great paw at a figure standing at
the crater's rim.
Luke turned, hearing Chewie's beckoning roar. He waved back,
watched the salvage teams a moment longer, then walked up to the
Wookiee.
"What's wrong, big guy?" he asked, confused. There was no
alarm in Chewbacca's voice, but there was a sense of urgency about
him.
Chewbacca barked and whined, motioning Luke to follow him.
They hurried to Han and Leia's apartment.
When he stepped through the door, Luke noticed that Leia had
changed from her uniform into a flowing dress.
"Going somewhere?" Luke asked.
"There's a club in the industrial district we're going to
try," Han answered, trying to make his voice sound casual. "Want to
join us?"
Luke sensed that he wasn't getting the whole story. "What's
going on here?" he said suspiciously.
"Chewbacca went to this place last night," Leia said,
straightening her skirt, "He saw something he said we might be
interested in."
Leia felt him pluck a picture from her mind. His faced
changed instantly.
"Kaiyana," he said excitedly, "You've seen Kaiyana."
Han nodded, "Yeah, buddy," he answered, "But hold on. We've
got to be careful with this."
Leia touched Luke's arm, trying to slow down his racing mind.
"She doesn't remember much, Luke," she said, "except for you."
He looked straight into her eyes. "Really?" he said, as Leia
felt relief flooding through his presence.
She nodded. "The woman said it was vague, but she dwells on a
memory of you a lot," Leia told him, "Also, I think her Force skills
are trying to break through, but she isn't recognizing it."
"We didn't say anything to her," Han added, "We wanted you to
try to get through to her first. By the way, Clekar's men have been
snooping around there, too."
"Do they know she's there?" Luke asked.
"I don't think so," Han said. He offered Leia his arm.
"Shall we?"
Leia told Luke about the rest of their meeting with Libou
while they made their way through the darkening streets. They hurried
to where the flashing blue sign greeted another night's guests.
Shela noticed that her new friends were keeping a very close
eye on her. They're just worried about me, she thought, lightly
touching the tender spots around her face.
Her mood had been a little melancholy this afternoon. Sorting
out her memories was beginning to wear on her. The bittersweet images
of that one particular man had been especially intense today, causing
strong pangs of sadness in her. Emotion hung around her like a great
cloud. She found it very difficult to shake.
"I'm glad I have work to do," she told Rwane, "It helps keep
my mind off of it."
"Don't worry," the woman winked, "Something will break soon."
"How can you be so sure?" Shela asked her, pessimism seeping
into her voice.
Rwane leaned on the bar, her voice serious. "There's a rhyme
and reason to the universe," she said pointedly, "It places each of us
where we belong. You do not belong here, Shela."
She smoothed the human's rebellious hair. "You are much
greater than this. You'll see," she added. She hefted a tray of
drinks to her shoulder and turned back to her work.
Something in Rwane's words struck a familiar chord in her
mind. She tried to grab it before it disappeared into the void, but
it only served to deepen her melancholy.
Another tray was ready for Shela to take to the many waiting
customers. She lifted it and delivered it to her station.
The heat conductors must be working overtime, she thought,
avoiding the large grating in the floor. She wiped her brow again and
turned her face towards a blast of cold air that blew in with another
customer.
A man visiting with Libou stared at her. "That was quite a
tune last night," he called to her. Many around her nodded their
agreement.
She was embarrassed by the attention. She hadn't wanted to
end up on the bandstand the night before. It had all started when she
had asked one of the musicians if he knew the song that she had been
hearing in her head all day.
"Would you want to regale us again?" the man asked. More
agreements followed him.
So, they wanted more. She didn't want to let them have it.
All she had were the feelings that brewed inside of her. To sing of
that seemed too personal for this group of strangers. She kept
shaking her head.
"It might make you feel better," Rwane said at her shoulder.
She sighed. "Alright," she agreed hesitantly, "but remember
that you asked for it."
The crowd let her pass towards the bandstand, some unfamiliar
hands patting her on the back. She hated that.
Someone helped her up to the stage and she settled on one of
the band's stools. Concentrating on her inward feelings, she just let
the music flow. She felt her voice vibrating through her chest.
It carried with it those bittersweet memories and all the
longing that went with them. Rwane had been right; it did feel good
to express it. She was barely aware of the room growing quiet around
her.
Han entered the club first, Leia on his arm, Luke and Chewie
close behind. Libou saw them and gestured to an empty table,
presumably in Kaiyana's station. Everyone's attention seemed to be
directed towards the stage, from which a mesmerizing melody was floating.
Luke broke off from the group and drifted towards the crowd.
His heart pounded. He knew that voice. It was the low, strong sound
that had become his sustenance.
The words began to reach him, gripping his heart. She sang of
a precious love, of having it slip through your fingers and of the
empty longing left in its wake. It was a melody for him and he felt
it as strongly as she did.
Luke looked to Leia. She was sitting with Han, a smile
lighting her eyes. Cold wind from the door rustled his hair, but he
ignored it. The song was telling of a dream of rediscovery and
homecoming. Luke slipped in with the edge of the crowd as her song
faded. There was a moment's silence, followed by an uproar of
applause.
She looked uncomfortable, making her way back to the bar.
Kaiyana passed close to Luke. She hesitated, furrowed her
brow and turned towards him, as though sensing his presence. A tall
waitress pulled her to the bar, breaking her concentration.
The crowd dissipated, returning to their normal activity.
Luke moved carefully towards Libou, stepping up behind Kaiyana.
"Someone's here," she was saying to Libou and Rwane, "I could
feel him there...." She realized that the two were not paying
attention to her. She became aware of a presence behind her, and
whipped around to face him.
He took her trembling hands between his own. "Do you know me,
Yana?" Luke asked steadily. His voice sent soft explosions through
her mind.
He knew her answer and that more was coming to her. Luke felt
her mind beginning to clear.
"Please tell me he's...," Kaiyana began.
"He certainly is, sweetie," Rwane finished for her, smiling.
Luke moved a hand to her face, helping her sort the memories
faster. She started laughing, giddy with the freedom she felt as her
inner prison melted away. "My name is Kaiyana," she burst out to
Libou and Rwane. "And this is Luke," she introduced them.
"I really appreciate all you've done for her," Luke said to
the pair.
"Well, we knew there was something special about this one,"
Libou winked Rwane nodded.
No one had noticed the regal Drahavian with her two guards
entering the club. They noticed the scene at the bar and turned
towards it. In the moment it took Han to recognize them, the guards
had dropped to firing position, blasters drawn.
"You don't know how right you are," Luke was answering,
hugging Kaiyana to him.
She stiffened in his arms and cried in pain. A large blaster
wound burned into the back of her shoulder.
He saw the guards and drew his lightsaber. With the other
arm, he scooped her up to the bar. "Take her," he barked to Libou.
He caught two more bolts on his blade.
Han shot at the one guard, wounding him slightly as he moved.
Luke brought his saber up, advancing steadily towards the other.
The first guard ran into the crowd. Rwane tried to stop him,
but he smacked her to the ground, unconscious. Han and Chewie pursued
him. Leia circled around to help head him off.
They chased him through the darkened streets, trying
desperately to ignore the deepening cold. The alien disappeared
around a far corner. The trio came around after him, and stopped,
facing two doorways.
"Go get help," Han said to Leia, knowing she was the least
prepared for the cold. "We'll split up and find him."
He tossed her his comlink and she ran back up the street. Han
and Chewie each grabbed a door handle.
"Ready?"
The club was erupting in chaos and Luke worried for the safety
of the bystanders. A stray blast exploded on the heating grate,
opening a chasm in the floor. The conductor below glowed with intense
heat.
Suddenly, Luke felt a dark blur rushing at his back.
Instinctively, he spun quickly towards it, his lightsaber catching
Clekar's blade as she swung it towards him.
He thought of Kaiyana's dream. Clekar's lightsaber had been
more than symbolism. It was real, and very dangerous.
The guard behind him fired quickly, the bolt ripping into
Luke's calf. He faltered, trying to control the pain. Clekar
laughed, evil filling the air.
"Let me have this one," Clekar shouted to the guard. He
hurdled the bar, bursting through the door where Libou had taken
Kaiyana. He saw them at the head of the stairs, Libou helping Kaiyana
towards the doorway.
"Stay here," Libou told Kaiyana, sitting her down. He ran
down the steps, meeting the guard head on. Libou threw his great body
at the alien, cracking the blaster. They traded devastating punches
at each other, the guard struggling for a little space to break free.
Libou assumed that he would bolt for Kaiyana, so he defended
the narrow path to her. The guard suddenly lunged to the side,
grabbed the crippled blaster and smashed Libou over the head with it.
He stepped over Libou's unconscious body and ran up the stairs
to where Kaiyana was scrambling for the door.
Han heard Chewie's yowling next door in the abandoned
buildings. He rushed back through his door and in through Chewie's.
He followed the bellowing to another door that the alien had
apparently used as a hiding place. Chewie's full weight was pushed
against it, pinning the guard.
"Great, Chewie!" Han exclaimed, scooping up the blastrifle the
Drahavian had dropped in his surprise. He took Chewie's comlink and
thumbed it on.
"We got him," he said to Leia, "Send the boys in."
"On their way," she answered, businesslike. "Meet me at the
club."
Han switched it off. "Think you can handle him for now?" he
asked the Wookiee. Chewie barked an affirmative.
Han pointed in the Drahavian's squashed face. "I wouldn't
make him mad, if I were you," he threatened. The alien looked
terror-stricken as he was left alone with the furry beast.
Clekar's blows were unrelenting. She knew Luke was
momentarily weakened and took advantage of the opening it gave her.
Luke was having trouble working on his injury and defending
himself against her zealous attacks. He felt her hate and anger
rushing at him.
He tried to lunge back at her, but his leg wouldn't hold
prolonged pressure. The air sizzled around them, their blades
crackling and popping with each collision.
Clekar seemed to delight in every blow. Luke gritted his
teeth and lunged again, dodging her blade.
His saber cut into her shoulder, but it didn't slow her. Luke
felt her anger so great now that it was overruling her body's
responses to pain. She was out of control and aiming her hate at him.
He felt heat swell up behind him. The heating grate, he
remembered. The gaping hole stretched behind Luke, Clekar pushing him
towards it. She wanted to fry him alive.
The guard caught Kaiyana. She kicked viciously at him and he
yowled in pain. With renewed anger, he backhanded Kaiyana, sending
her tumbling down the stairs.
She painfully lifted herself from the floor next to Libou,
feeling blood running from a gash in the back of her head. She saw
the guard lumbering down the stairs towards her.
I can see him! she thought excitedly. Her vision looked like
a kaleidoscope twisting around her, but it was clearing slowly.
She stumbled to her feet and rushed back through the door.
The guard burst through after her. Kaiyana glanced around desperately
for a weapon.
Something near the dance floor caught her eye. It was her
lightsaber. She reached towards it, the Force sending it swiftly into
her outstretched hand.
Kaiyana ignited the familiar blade and brought it down hard on
the Drahavian. He dropped to the floor. She quickly hauled herself
over the bar, hurrying to Luke's aid.
She stopped, a movement behind the bar catching her attention.
An instant too late, she realized that the Drahavian was still alive
and had found Libou's hidden blaster. With his last breath, he raised
it and fired.
Kaiyana didn't have time to move. The blast caught her hard
in the upper right side of her chest, throwing her violently off her
feet.
Han and Leia rounded the corner at the same time. They
started to rush at Clekar.
"Don't!" Luke yelled. "Stay clear of her."
She took another hard swipe at him, forcing his weight to his
injured leg. It buckled beneath him, bringing him to the edge of the
hole in the grating.
Leia covered her face with her hands, petrified with fear for
her brother. Han wanted to shoot, but he would risk knocking Luke off
balance and into the heat below. He watched helplessly, waiting for
an opening.
Pain racked Kaiyana's body. She couldn't breath well and
couldn't lift her right arm. Something deep in her wrenched and tore.
Her head throbbed. She struggled to hang on to consciousness, to
life.
Feebly, she opened her eyes and saw Luke. Her senses
screamed. Clekar's evil seemed everywhere.
Mustering every last bit of strength in her body, she dragged
herself to her knees. She picked up her lightsaber with her left hand,
ignited it and held her breath.
Pain tore through her as she lunged to her feet. If I can
just keep my legs under me long enough to get there, she thought. Her
vision blurred and she threatened to black out.
Gathering her strength one last time, she threw it all into
one broad stroke. The effort made her scream with pain and forced her
to her knees.
Clekar felt a searing pain across her back, screaming like a
wild animal She twirled, blade high, to catch the culprit. Luke dove
away from the edge.
"He's clear!" Leia yelled, but Clekar spun quickly and dodged
Han's blaster bolt. Hate seared from her eyes towards Kaiyana. She's
hurt bad, Han thought, seeing Kaiyana clutch at her stomach with her
only useful hand
Luke looked up from where he had rolled. In a flash, he saw
Clekar kick cruelly at Kaiyana, knocking her to the floor. She raised
her saber above his wife, laughing wildly.
"No!" his voice rumbled from deep within his chest. The sound
froze everyone it touched, including Clekar. The evil Princess stared
as he jumped to his feet and ran at her, lightsaber ready to take her
down.
Luke fought expertly, driving back the startled Drahavian.
She hardly noticed the heat looming behind her. Luke saw her eyes
widen with panic as she stepped back and felt no solidness beneath
her. The red glow flared and Clekar's dying scream echoed through the
streets.
From behind Han and Leia, medic teams swarmed into the club,
surrounding the injured.
"Stay with Luke," Leia ordered Han, "Keep him away from
Kaiyana for a minute." She knew Kaiyana was critical and it scared
her.
Leia leaned over the medics, their emergency equipment
buzzing. "What's her status?" she asked.
The man shook his head. "I'm sorry, Leia. She's too far
gone. We can't do anything for her."
Han met Leia's eyes. He went cold, understanding her hollow
stare. Luke was fighting the medics, who were trying to make him take
the weight off of his leg.
"I've got to see my wife," he was insisting. He shook them
off, but Han stepped in front of him.
"No, kid," he said gently, "You don't want to."
Luke looked shocked, not wanting to hear Han's inference.
"No, Han," he said firmly. His dry voice had turned rough from battle
and renewed pain.
He tried to move past his old friend, but Han held him firmly.
"She's gone, Luke. They can't help her," he insisted.
Tears were rimming the Jedi's eyes. "We haven't come this far
to have it end like this," Luke said louder, his voice breaking. "I
have to try."
Han held his pleading gaze a moment longer, then he stepped
aside. "Move back," Leia ordered the medics. They watched, not sure
whether to be saddened or amazed by the Jedi's actions.
Luke rushed to Kaiyana's head, cradling her in his crossed
legs. "It's alright," he whispered, as much to himself as to her.
Her blood soaked into his pant legs, stinging his own injury. Luke
grappled with the tide of grief and desperation that threatened his
concentration. He laid trembling hands on Kaiyana's head and closed
his eyes.
Calmly, he searched her presence for life. He knew it was
there because his own still felt intact. He found a distant glimmer
and latched onto it.
Here comes the hard part, he thought, taking a deep breath.
He felt his own life force surge through her. Luke imagined it
nourishing her, feeding her own fading energy. He worked with it,
maintaining the energy flow until he collapsed with the effort.
He fell back, completely spent. Once again, the medics rushed
in. Leia moved to Luke's side, but Han stood rooted. He concentrated
on the medic's voice.
After checking his instruments, the man announced, "Her vitals
are faint, but at least they're there. Let's move her fast." Han
inwardly cheered. A repulsor gurney appeared and they wrapped her in
thermal blankets for the frigid trip to the palace.
Han knelt by Luke. "You did it, buddy," he smiled.
Luke laughed weakly, but he felt overjoyed. "You just need
more faith," he managed, smiling. He let his head drop back,
surrendering to a welcome rest.
Kaiyana felt the cool sheets surrounding her. Did I dream
that? she wondered, thinking of the last several days. She tried to
sit up, her foggy mind believing that it was time for her morning
exercises.
Pains seized her from parts of her body she would have sworn
she had never used. Her stomach cramped and her head swam. She
hadn't even made it off the pillow.
Opening her eyes, Kaiyana allowed her vision to focus at its
own slow pace. No dream, she thought, recalling what a bacta tank
looked like from the inside. She was in a temporary hospital. The
Too-Onebee droid swung towards her with a cup of water. Even he was a
good sight after having been deprived of that precious sense.
"Good to see you, Mistress Skywalker," his gravely voice
rattled to her. She smiled slightly at the sound of her new name, but
even that hurt. He tried to help her sip from the cup.
"Let me," she forced her dry throat to croak. Gotta start
somewhere, she thought. The pain in Kaiyana's right arm was too much
to brave. She concentrated, raising her left hand. Her hand shook,
but she drained the blessed little cup.
"Please be careful," the droid tried to scold her, "Your
wounds are still quite serious. Rest."
He dimmed the lights. Kaiyana wanted to tell him she was
hungry, but it seemed too much of a chore to even attempt.
Flashes of the last couple of days played through her mind.
She let them run through unhindered, detaching her emotions somewhat.
When she relived the blackness that had consumed her after she struck
Clekar, a strong aching clinched at her heart.
The details were already beginning to fade, as though the
experience was slowly withdrawing from her. In the blackness, she had
been aware of her life force draining away. Then, something jerked at
her, ripping a piece of her away.
She had seen his faint image in the Force, returning to the
other world to wait for another chance at life. Kaiyana had known him
instantly.
Her child. A boy the future awaited. He was to be mighty in
the Force, created by she and Luke, in the covenant that bonded them
for eternity.
Kaiyana squeezed her eyes tightly shut, tears escaping and
flowing to the pillow. She couldn't see his face clearly anymore, but
she felt his words.
I will come again, mother, he had whispered to her in a
child's sweet voice, when the time is right.
Then he had been pulled away from her. She had felt his void
filled by Luke's life force, breathing life back into her broken body.
Now, she let herself cry, for the life that the Dark Side had
violently stolen from her and Luke. For only the second time in her
entire life, Kaiyana cried herself to sleep.
Luke waited with Han, Leia and Chewbacca in his apartment.
Luke was anxious, longing for news of Kaiyana. If I weren't so tired,
he thought, I'd pace. That would drive Leia crazy, he thought
glancing at his sister.
Leia stood with Han by the window, gazing at the same lights
Luke had studied so intently for the last couple of nights. Chewbacca
cleaned his bowcaster.
"What is taking so long?" Leia asked impatiently. As soon as
she said it, she realized the awful implication.
Han jumped to the rescue, "I'm sure she's alright," he
soothed. Luke looked at him and nodded absently. He picked at the
uncomfortable bandage around his leg.
The door slid open and Commander Solias stepped in, holding a
datapad. Luke stood quickly.
Han's eyes caught on the smears of blood on the Commander's
light-colored medic uniform. He felt sick inside.
Solias smiled at Luke's anxious eyes. "She's fine, son," he
said easily, stepping up and putting a hand on Luke's shoulder. "It
was a close one, but she'll be fine."
The whole room seemed to breath a sigh of relief. Chewie gave
a happy howl. Luke laughed thankfully. "You don't know how great
those words sound right now, Commander," he smiled.
Solias remained serious. "I'm afraid there's still some bad
news, Luke," he said. The room fell uncomfortably silent.
"I'm afraid she suffered a miscarriage," he continued, "The
pregnancy was too young to survive the stress her body was under."
Luke's face went blank. A baby? he thought, incredulously.
Air choked in his throat.
I should have known, he told himself. That's what had been
bothering her the morning she was captured. Her force sense had begun
to register the new life.
So, the Dark Side had its victory anyhow.
"Oh, no," he groaned quietly. He closed his eyes tightly
against the sudden grief, pushing his fingers into his hair. As he
dropped into his chair again, he heard Leia's voice break the stunned
silence.
"What?" she exclaimed. Chewie moaned, seeing his friend's
pain.
"You didn't know, then," Solias carefully concluded.
"There wasn't enough time," Han tried to explain. Leia went
to Luke, as much to gauge his reaction as to comfort him.
He snapped his head up to the Commander. "Can I see her?" he
asked, eyes red.
"Sure," Solias said, "We want to watch her tonight, but she
can go with you tomorrow." Luke started for the door.
"I'm really sorry, Luke," Solias added, "I think you ought to
know that almost anyone else couldn't have pulled through this."
Luke nodded, half-smiling, "I know."
CHAPTER 19
The temporary hospital was dim, as the long night hours ticked
by. The faint whir of droids and equipment broke the stillness, bacta
tanks bubbling softly in separate corners.
Kaiyana looked terrible.
Luke saw her differently, though, basking in the comforting
feel of her life force flow with his again. To him, she was the
sweetest sight in the galaxy.
"Should I wake her, Master Skywalker?" Too-Onebee warbled.
Luke shook his head adamantly.
"Don't disturb her," he instructed, "I can wait."
He watched her, recalling again how she had slept the morning
after they had first made love. He was grateful that he had stored
that tender image in his mind so carefully. It had sustained him
through many despairing, lonesome hours during her absence.
His chest tightened as he remembered their lost child. Luke
swore that he would not allow another of their offspring to ever be
endangered like that again.
Kaiyana stirred, moaning her discomfort. Still, she felt as
though she might actually be able to move better this time. She
tried, raising her hand to where she felt Luke's presence.
"Come 'ere," she managed, her fingers searching for him. She
needed to feel his solidness, to know that they were really together
again.
Luke laughed at her tenacity, relieved that her trauma hadn't
changed her attitude. As if to confirm his thoughts, Kaiyana hooked
her fingers tightly into his shirt, pulling him to sit next to her.
She didn't relax her grip until he took her hand himself.
"I'm a mess, huh?" she asked, her voice staying quiet.
"Yeah," Luke answered, "but you're gonna be just fine."
She nodded, smiling, "I guess you're stuck with me."
"Hey," he scolded playfully, smoothing her hair, "you're not
getting out of this deal that easily."
Kaiyana's face turned grave. "Luke," she squeezed his hand,
"There's a problem. Something awful happened." Emotion quaked her
voice, "I'm so sorry, I didn't know...."
"Stop," Luke hushed to her. He stroked her face to wipe a
tear away, feeling his own break the surface.
"They already told me, Yana. Please don't blame yourself," he
soothed. Luke struggled for the right words to calm her tears and ease
the guilt he felt within her.
"I should have known, too," he admitted quietly, looking away
from her, "I never dreamed that the first time...." He felt her warm
trembling hand on his cheek, and turned back to face her.
"I understand," she said firmly, forcing her tears to cease.
He studied her and knew that she really did.
Slowly, Luke eased his arms around her. Kaiyana held onto him
with what little energy she had. "The Dark Side got the better of us
this time," he whispered to her, "but I swear to you, Yana, I'll never
let you suffer like this again." Something about that promise
frightened her.
He felt her strength beginning to wane, even though she
resisted it. "You'd better rest," he told her pointedly, settling the
blanket back around her, "You're too brave for your own good."
"I just don't like all this sleeping business," she
complained. He kissed her gently and turned to go.
As he was leaving, Kaiyana called softly to him once more.
"Luke, don't worry," she told him confidently, "there will be
another one." Her hand moved lightly over her abdomen.
"He told me so," she added. Luke felt a wave of quiet
assurance pass over him, consoling him. He wanted to question her,
but sensed that she would tell him the whole story when she was ready.
Luke went back to her bedside and kissed her again, grateful
for her words. Kaiyana faded quickly to sleep.
As they swooped down to a landing platform, Kaiyana stared
absently at the construction that was going up around the demolished
Strategic Planning Center. The painful memories the sight brought
back to her were an almost welcome respite from the nervousness that
had consumed her as they neared Coruscant.
Kaiyana felt uncertain about their homecoming. Never before
had she been the center of attention and she wasn't sure how to handle
it.
"You'll feel uncomfortable at first," Leia advised her, "but
it'll grow on you."
"Like a fungus," Kaiyana quipped back.
Leia laughed. "Just try to be yourself," she said, then
thought of Han, "and keep from stepping on too many toes."
Artoo Detoo greeted them enthusiasticly, bleeping and chirping
his excitement as they entered Luke's apartment.
"Thanks, Artoo," Luke said, patting the droid on the top of
his shiny dome. "Can you go open Kaiyana's apartment for me? I'll be
there in a minute. Transfer any messages over to my communications
console." The droid whistled again and set off down the hall.
Luke's comm unit was already full of well-wishing messages.
Apparently, the news of their union had spread like wildfire. There
was one message of condolence, from the only other person who knew of
the couple's loss -- Master Kyp Durron.
Kaiyana was still a little weak, so Luke wanted to see her
safely settled into her new home before he tried to accomplish
anything else.
"I'm fine," she insisted one more time. He looked skeptical.
"I'll rest," she promised.
"I'll go get your things from the other apartment," Luke told
her, "I want you to feel at home."
Kaiyana smiled. "I do feel at home," she assured him,
"Besides, I have only one trunk."
When he had gone, she decided to have a look around. She
wandered the rooms, lightly touching things as she passed them.
Kaiyana drank in the feeling of the place through her senses; it was
vibrant with Luke's presence.
She paused, staring at a simple, but beautiful, lasergraph of
Tatooine's twin suns. There's so much we don't know about each other,
she marvelled. Luke's gentle voice interupted her thoughts.
"Are you alright?" he asked for the hundredth time, but this
time his tone felt different.
Kaiyana smiled at his sweet, worried look and sat down. "Tell
me more about your life," she asked him, settling into her new-found
haven.
Kaiyana gained strength swiftly, given a seemingly endless
supply of time and reasons to practice all of those Jedi healing
techniques. Luke helped all that he could, knowing the lessons were
very painful for her. She worked hard, often exhausting herself,
anxious to be back in peak form and frustrated that she wasn't.
The children hadn't even begun to stir when Han heard Leia
leaving their apartment. He started to curse her diplomatic duties
when he remembered that this was to be a special day for them. He
smiled; Leia was off to check on the last few preparations for the
Skywalkers' reception that night.
Guests from all parts of the New Republic's domain had been
arriving for most of the week. Hospitality facilities in Imperial
City were overflowing with well-wishers. Luke and Kaiyana had
practically gone into hiding during the last couple of days, just to
save their sanity.
Han didn't blame them a bit. He remembered what it had been
like for him and Leia, especially after Threepio had convinced
everyone that Han was a king. Besides, he also recalled the
delightful discoveries of new love, the desire to be absorbed in
nothing but each other.
Down the hall, another apartment was gradually filling with
the grey light of the breaking day. Luke slowly awakened and groaned,
realizing that even he didn't get up this early.
He slid a gentle hand to touch Kaiyana. Each morning, Luke
was newly amazed at the great comfort he felt just waking beside her.
Suddenly, even before his hand reached through the cold spot next to
him, he knew she wasn't in the bed.
In a momentary panic, Luke sat up and franticly searched his
senses for his wife. He breathed easy, finding her in the next room.
Luke fell back down on the pillow and covered his face with his hands.
"Don't panic," Kaiyana said from the door, "I was just doing
my exercises."
"My souvenir from Drahavia," Luke's muffled voice said through
his hands Kaiyana went to him and pulled at his arms.
"See?" she said, peeking through his fingers, "I'm here and
I'm just fine."
Luke noticed that she had dug out one of his desert tunics
from the closet to wear this morning. He'd never seen the old thing
look like that before! His eyes couldn't help but trace her feminine
form until she disappeared into their dressing room.
"What possessed you to get up so early?" Luke yawned, sitting
up again. He could hear her banging around, rummaging for something.
"Leia's got a busy day mapped out for me," Kaiyana's voice was
getting closer again. She stopped in front of him, reaching to tousel
his hair lovingly. "Or have you forgotten what today is?"
He squinted his eyes shut. "Oh, yeah," Luke remembered, "the
reception." He moved his fingers through his hair in a futile attempt
to settle it into place.
Kaiyana was nodding. "I wanted to put in some time on the
lower level before I went to meet Leia," she looked around again.
"Have you seen my uniform pants?"
Luke let a sly grin escape. "No," he said, his voice still
rough with sleep, "but I like what you already have on." He grasped
at the loose end of the belt she had knotted around her waist and
pulled.
Kaiyana stumbled into him, laughing. She was a little
surprised at Luke's uncharacteristic boldness; his words had sounded
more like something she would say.
She kissed him, drawn into his irresistable playfulness. Stop
it, she silently warned Luke, I'm going to be late. He mentally
laughed, ignoring her, so Kaiyana tried, unsuccessfully, to extricate
the belt from his grip.
Finally, she slapped at his hand. "Naughty," she scolded,
smiling. She went back to the main room, returning triumphantly with
the worn-out pants. Kaiyana grabbed a shirt from the closet and was
gone again into the dressing room.
Luke swung out of bed, thinking of all the things he had on
his schedule that day. He smiled; it would be a great evening. He
was looking forward to the reception, and especially his surprise for
Kaiyana.
She breezed by again, trying to bind her hair. "See you
later," Kaiyana said, giving him a hurried kiss as she ran off.
Luke watched after her, secretly proud of her dedication to
her training He knew it was gruelling for her right now. He quickly
dressed and headed for the landing platforms.
Leia stood in the expansive ballroom of the Imperial Palace.
Crews worked in every corner, diligently cleaning and decorating for
the evening's festivities. Her hands rested on her hips, watching a
crew on the ornate stage set up the repulsor stands for the orchestra.
Even though Leia was at the opposite end of the room, the
acoustics were so perfect that she could hear every shuffle from the
stage.
It was a good distraction for her as she waited for the
security coordinator to finish pouring over the numerous diagrams with
the reception coordinator. Leia bit nervously at her lip.
She hated having to worry about security at such an event, but
Clekar had planted a deep fear in her that she would never forget.
Leia had almost lost the New Republic, not to mention her twin
brother and her new sister-in-law, to treachery once. She wasn't
about to take any risks.
She checked her chronometer. She had to find Kaiyana in two
standard hours.
Out the shuttle's viewport, Kyp saw two forms waiting on the
landing platform. It seemed to him that the shuttle couldn't land
fast enough.
Han saw the ramp slowly lower from the bulky shuttle. Even
before it came to a full rest, Kyp's robed figure burst out of the
ship. He sprinted to Han, catching the man in a warm embrace.
Han remembered fondly how Luke had been at that age. Their
bond was much the same.
Kyp regained his composure as the Jedi students began filing
from the shuttle. "Master Skywalker," he said to his mentor, bowing
slightly, "I'd like to present our current Jedi class."
"It's nice to see you all again," Luke greeted them,
struggling to suppress a proud smile. Indeed, he felt their strength.
"We will be able to talk more later," he continued, "First,
I'd like you to get settled in your quarters. General Solo will
orient you."
Han ushered them along, but Luke caught Kyp's sleeve. "Wait a
minute," he told the younger Jedi Master, "I have someone I'd like you
to meet."
Kaiyana was mostly happy with the way her morning practice was
going, considering her condition. It was nearing time to meet Leia
and she had only had a couple of problems.
She had finally hit a good rhythm with her environment and was
swinging through the bog smoothly. Kaiyana held tight to a vine,
sailing to another tree. Since Luke wasn't around to scold her, she
decided to push her body a little further.
Kaiyana boosted herself to stretech for a distant branch. She
gripped it and released the vine with perfect timing. Then, at the
last millisecond, she realized that the branch was more slick than it
had appeared. Her fingers dug into it, but her momentum carried her
straight through.
She crashed to the ground with a hard thud on her backside.
Painfully, Kaiyana rolled to her side.
"And there she is," Luke's voice was saying, beginning to
laugh. Kaiyana looked up and saw a younger man in Jedi robes standing
beside him.
"Beautiful entrance," Luke quipped. He grasped her hand,
helping her ease to her feet. "You couldn't have timed that better,
my love," he said, "Are you alright?"
"Only slightly bruised," she retorted, "It'll blend in with
the rest."
"It is a great pleasure to meet you, Mistress Skywalker," the
young man beamed at her, "I am Kyp Durron, Jedi Master."
"Please call me Kaiyana," she replied, recovering, "And excuse
my appearance." She made a sweeping gesture across her soiled
clothing.
"No problem. I understand Luke didn't look much different
when you first met." Kaiyana cocked an eyebrow at Luke's sheepish
grin. What else have you two talked about? she thought to him.
"I don't mean to run off," she said to them, "but I've got to
meet Leia soon. I'll see you tonight, Kyp?"
He nodded and she sprinted towards the showers.
"Very strong," Kyp commented as Kaiyana departed, "I've never
felt anything like it." Luke nodded, wondering how their combined
presence in the Force must have felt to the young Jedi Master.
"Quite a match, Luke," Kyp said confidently, "I hope I'm
around to see your children become Jedi."
Having given the Jedi students a quick tour of the Complex,
Han paced nervously in the hall outside his own door. Where are they?
he thought impatiently. If Leia catches me here, she'll know
something's up. Han knew he couldn't hide anything from her.
Laughter broke out to him as the lift doors opened. Han
peered down the corridor, then started jogging silently towards the
sound.
"Han!" Kyp exclaimed, surprised to see his friend. "I thought
you were going to meet Tionne's shuttle?"
"I did," Han hissed, keeping his voice low, "She got here
early and Leia's got Kaiyana in our apartment. I had to catch you
before you went waltzing in there."
"So, Tionne's at our place?" Luke asked, feeling a presence in
his quarters.
Han nodded. "Yeah," he said, "I told Leia I was going to get
my uniform fitted. I'll go pick it up and meet you in there."
He ducked into the lift. Luke and Kyp turned and loped down
the hall. As the door slipped open, they could see Tionne seated on a
sofa, something draped across her lap.
"Master Skywalker! Kyp!" she beamed instantly. Her silvery
hair swirled behind her as she stood to greet them. In her hand, she
held the desert tunic Kaiyana had worn that morning.
"I was trying to get some impressions of your bride," Tionne
explained with a smile. "This garment held some very strong ones."
"What did you find?" Luke quizzed her. He almost afraid to
ask, knowing what he'd thought of the tunic on Kaiyana.
"Mostly, that you are indeed fortunate to have someone who
loves you so deeply," she smiled, "as is she."
Luke returned her pleased expression. "Thanks for doing this
for me, Tionne," he added.
Tionne looked shocked. "After everything you've done for me,
Master Skywalker, it's the least I can do. I can hardly wait to get
cracking on those Drahavian databanks you told me about. A lot of
vital information has been downloaded there."
As Tionne visited with Kyp for a moment, Luke allowed his
memory to return to a night in a meeting hall in the Great Temple on
Yavin 4. Tionne had played a beautiful ballad for Luke and his Jedi
students, although the scene had ended much less pleasantly than this
one.
"Would you like to hear what I've come up with from the melody
you gave me, Master Skywalker?" she asked.
Luke nodded anxiously. He had also provided her with some of
his deepest, innermost thoughts and feelings to help her compose the
new ballad.
"Then we'll go see the orchestral coordinator about tonight,"
he added.
Tionne raised her unusual stringed instrument. The
now-familiar tune lilting from her fingertips. Her voice had grown
stronger and sweeter.
Luke smiled, recognizing in her words his own emotions. Yes,
he thought happily, that's how I feel. That's how I see Kaiyana, and
myself. Tionne had matched his mental images perfectly.
The music faded, but Luke's pride in Tionne did not. She
looked to him, feeling in her senses what Luke hadn't found the words
to express.
"Perfect," he said quietly, "It will live in our family
throughout the ages, as all great ballads should."
Kyp held a wondering gaze on Luke, quietly digesting what he
had just learned about this formerly concealed facet to his teacher's
personality.
"But I've already had a shower," Kaiyana protested, pulling
Leia's white robe tightly around her.
"This is different," Leia explained. She touched the base of
a bluish flask to the water that cascaded into the deep bathing basin.
A river of luxurious foam spread over the surface.
Leia herself didn't use the heavenly relaxant often because
her busy schedule didn't allow for too many such luxuries. But this
was a very special night for Kaiyana and Leia was determined that she
would get the royal treatment.
"Smell," Leia told her, holding out the flask to her
sister-in-law. Kaiyana cautiously sniffed, raising her eyebrows.
"Nice," she trilled, taking the flask for another whiff.
"It is a mixture of dragonberry honey and Ithorian forest
mint. You'll love it," Leia promised. Kaiyana eyed the bubbly water
uncertainly.
"After what you've been through," Leia argued, "you deserve to
indulge yourself." She gently pushed Kaiyana towards the basin and
stepped discreetly around the corner.
Kaiyana shrugged off the fluffy robe and slipped through the
luscious layer of foam, into the warm water. Something beneath her
squeeked.
"Does this come with the bath?" she joked, calling Leia back.
Leia laughed at the pliable bath toy, in the shape of an Ewok, that
Kaiyana held in one sudsy hand.
"The kids' contribution," she laughed, tossing it into a toy
bin, "No extra charge."
Kaiyana leaned back and closed her eyes, relaxing already.
This really was nice, she had to admit.
She felt the warmth of the water drinking into her skin, the
mint soothing her sore muscles, except for where a faint numbness
lingered in the scars left by the Drahavians' blasters. The medics
had applied some synthetic skin to minimize the scars, but Kaiyana
knew that most of the marks would always be there.
"Now, let's tackle that hair," Leia said, seating herself
behind the tub She pulled the combs that held Kaiyana's hair pulled
back, letting the mass tumble over the edge of the basin.
Han yanked at the neck of his stiff New Republic uniform.
"I hope you know I don't wear this thing for just anybody,
kid," he hollered to where Luke was dressing in the next room.
Kyp laughed at him. "I guess we know why the Jedi don't have
uniforms, right Han?"
Luke stepped out of his room, unbalanced while he still
polished one tall, black boot. His clothing wasn't much different
from his usual dark attire, except for the contrasting grey cloth that
fastened down his chest. The outfit was more tailored, black fabric
conforming to his every move perfectly.
Why can't mine fit like that? Han frowned, never realizing
that it actually did.
Luke quickly pulled on the boot and stood, nervously facing
his friends. "Well?" he asked, straightening his gloves.
"You'll knock her out," Kyp said, smiling at the apprehension
he felt in the brave Jedi Master.
Outside the ballroom, Luke contained an urge to pace. Han
stood next to him, still fidgeting.
Kyp had already entered, joining his students. Chewbacca
waited at the door. Lovely music wafted to them through the grand
entryway, mingled with the tinkling chatter of delighted guests.
"Hey, kid," Han said, nudging Luke. The younger man turned
and saw his wife and his sister gliding towards them. Their image in
the long corridor impressing him as one from a dream.
Han just stared at Leia, struck yet again by the stunning
beauty he had married. She never ceased to amaze him.
Luke felt as though his heart would burst. On Drahavia, he
had nearly lost Kaiyana. Now, he tried to burn every detail of her
radiant image into his memory, to carry this picture with him through
eternity.
A pearlescent gown loosely caressed her smooth curves. Leia
had told him that the designer tried to talk her into a closer-fitting
dress, but Kaiyana had flatly refused. It just wasn't her.
The one she wore exposed only the edges of her collarbone,
curving delicately from the points of her shoulders. It barely
covered her fresh scars. The skirt tuliped down, the feathery layers
flowing lightly around her ankles as she quickened her step towards
him. Silver cords appeared to lace together the two full braids
behind her.
Leia exchanged happy smiles with Han. The two men had never
looked more heroic to her. A fond memory crossed her mind as she
noticed the rebellious flip to Luke's hair at his collar, just as it
had been the day she met him. She leaned towards Kaiyana.
"They sure look handsome," Leia prompted her. Kaiyana had
already noticed, her heart swelling as Luke stepped up to meet them.
Han held his arm out to Leia. She looped hers through and
hugged him to her. His eyes never left her.
"You look incredible," Han said to her, still amazed.
"Thank you," she responded, beaming, "And your uniform looks
perfect." Han couldn't decide if he liked the compliment or not.
Leia turned back to the other couple. Kaiyana's arms were
snaked around Luke's waist and he was whispering something to her, a
lazy smile drifting across her lips.
"Ready?" Leia asked. Luke pulled Kaiyana's arm through his
and nodded, still smiling.
Han and Leia stepped through the doors. Chewie let a loud
bellow resonate through the ballroom, calling the guests to attention.
As Leia spoke her short introduction speech, Luke watched
Kaiyana take a slow, deep breath.
"Nervous?" he asked softly.
"Not exactly," she replied, "Self-conscious. I don't know
about having everyone looking at me."
"Why not?" he said, straight into her eyes, "Tonight, you are
the pride of the New Republic."
Kaiyana had no time to be stunned. The sound of Leia's voice
swelled in her ears, announcing them. Tarrlin Latuur's daughter
officially stepped into her destiny.
Thunderous applause roared through the large chamber. A pair
of Drahavians stood at the foot of the grand staircase, watching the
descent of the guests of honor.
Kaiyana spotted them and rushed down the last few steps.
"Libou! Rwane!" she exclaimed in surprise. "I am so glad you could
be here." She held each of them in a grateful embrace. The
enchanting music from the orchestra was filling the room again.
Han and Leia quickly slipped over to a table where Winter sat
with their children. They looked adorable in their formal clothing,
but it was already late and they were fighting sleep.
"I wanna dance with Daddy," Jaina pouted, holding her arms up
to Han. Leia's heart melted as Han scooped up his daughter and
stepped onto the dance floor. Bedtime could wait for this, she smiled
to Winter.
Luke and Kaiyana promised to have dinner with their Drahavian
friends before the pair returned to their home planet. Then, they
moved through the numerous other greetings and congratulations.
Kaiyana was impressed by the outpouring of love she felt from
those whose lives Luke had touched even briefly. She sensed that Luke
returned their sentiments genuinely.
The clues he gave her about his acquaintences teased her
curiosity. "See that man," Luke whispered once, pointing to the
dashing King of Hapes, "Leia almost married him."
He laughed at her shocked expression. "And the Queen...," he
continued, but let his voice drop.
"Nevermind," he said sheepishly, "that's another story."
You've got a lot of stories to tell after this, she thought.
Luke straightened, watching something on the orchestral stage.
He nodded. Kaiyana saw a silver-haired woman stepping up to address
the crowd.
"I have a surprise for you," Luke said, with a knowing smile.
He steered her towards the now-open dance floor. Suspicion creeped
over Kaiyana as they emerged from the edge of the crowd.
"Cherished guests," Tionne was saying, "A few days ago, Master
Skywalker enlisted my aid in composing a gift for his new bride."
Kaiyana thought she could almost hear Luke's heart pounding beside her.
Leia looked at Han, questioning. He tried to stifle a smile,
but she knew it was there. How had he managed to keep this a secret
from her? He was terribly proud of himself.
Tionne continued, "The resulting piece is a true expression of
the intense bond between them and of his everlasting devotion to her."
She paused, mother-of-pearl eyes scanning the audience.
Glittering, her eyes rested on Kaiyana. "Mistress Skywalker,"
she addressed Kaiyana with a slight bow, "My name is Tionne. Your
husband instructed me on Yavin 4. I hope this music speaks to you as
it is intended, from the depths of Luke's soul to yours."
The delicate sound of strings caressed the hall, slowly
merging with other, stronger-toned instruments. Kaiyana drew in her
breath, recognizing the melody; it was the one she had been singing in
the Drahavian nightclub when Luke found her.
"How did you...?" Kaiyana started, searching his face for
answers to all the questions that flooded her.
Luke placed a finger over her lips, quieting her. "Come on,"
he said, tugging her towards the vacant floor. Luke calmed her
nervousness, and his, and pulled her close to him. He inhaled deeply
of her deliciously spiced scent, savoring this almost magical moment.
Kaiyana let him guide her through the easy flow of the music
as she listened to Tionne's crystal voice.
The lyrics told of a restless spirit roaming the galaxy,
finally colliding with another star-crossed life.
Leia crossed her arms and stared at her brother, seeing him as
she never had before. "I didn't know he had it in him," she marvelled
to Han.
Leia was stunned again when Han took her hand and followed
Luke's lead. She was too overwhelmed to argue.
At the moment, Han was very proud of his brother-in-law. He
held Leia to him, allowing the music to move them, too. Other couples
were drawn out onto the floor, forming a silent, whirling ocean.
Tionne's ballad flowed, describing the thrill and bliss of
discovery, struck harshly by the piercing fear of loss.
Intricate turns of phrases expressed the timelessness of their
communion, as part of the innerworkings of the entire galaxy. It
reminded them all of the undeniable rhyme and reason of the Force.
Kaiyana laid her head gently on Luke's shoulder, deeply
touched by the beauty of his unique gift. She felt him nestle his
cheek against her and she closed her eyes.
She couldn't imagine their lives ever being troubled again.
(
geocities.com/hollywood)