Title: Jedi in the Underground II: Shadows in the Labyrinth
Fandom: Labyrinth
Rating: PG
Parts: 15
Disclaimer: I own nothing of labyrinth or star wars...all ideas save the
dark ysalimiri are those of lucas, henson, and EU authors. Cat belongs to
herself.
Summary: Jareth gets vindictive and screws up again. Things take a darker
turn.
Jedi In the Underground Episode II: Shadows in the Labyrinth
Ch. 1
Jareth lounged in his throne, bored as usual. There was simply nothing
to do....he had already terrified his minions and seduced enough
listians for one day...there had to be something he could do! Sighing,
he conjured a crystal and glanced into it. His bored expression quickly
took on a look that was much fiercer when he focused on the image. Two
of his listians were entering a movie theater, talking excitedly He
didn't even have to adjust the image to figure out which movie they
were going to; with those two, it would only be one film.
Star Wars.
His eyes narrowed as the image confirmed his suspicions...this was
just insane!!! He could understand the one's silly infatuation...but
the other....after the last time he had hoped she would've got it
through her head that nothing was as good as his realm!! His eyes
narrowed even more as he focused on a picture in a magazine she was
pointing to...a picture of him. His unworthy opponent, Skywalker...the
only thing that kept him from getting what he wanted.
Of course, Jareth was never one to stop when he came across an
obstacle, and at that precise moment a memory from his last encounter
with the Star Wars universe popped into his mind...Mara telling him
about another version of Skywalker...a version that wasn't so savory.
"Maybe I can convince you to leave him behind, once and for all," the
king whispered as a copy of Dark Empire appeared in his other hand. He
knew it was a risky gesture, after what had happened the last time and
all, but it was worth it. Hefting the crystal in his palm Jareth
concentrated on the image on the comic's cover...
"I wish....I wish...I wish Dark Luke would appear here, right now...."
"You called and I am here." Jareth blinked in surprise at the young
man that now stood before him...he looked exactly like the version he
had met earlier, but there was a shadowy aura about him...something of
a much darker intent.
"Good...I have a mission for you..."
"Well I have a mission of my own..." the dark Jedi replied, an amused
smile playing across his lips.
Not again!! "Now see here-" Jareth began, rising abruptly to confront
the other man. Luke merely raised a hand and the goblin king went
flying until he was pinned against the wall by an invisible force.
Skywalker strode up to the king and casually removed his lightsaber
from his belt.
"Maybe you didn't hear me...I have my own plans, and you're going to
help me," he said softly, running the edge of the handle against the
king's throat. Jareth's eyes widened and he paused to assess his
opponent....he was slightly shorter, dressed all in black with flowing
black cloak, his robotic arm now replaced with one that was obviously a
droid's. There was also a wild, dark cast to his eyes that was filled
with intent.
"What do you need me to do?" Jareth sighed, knowing that he couldn't
beat him by himself.
"Only to help me take up where Palpatine left off...you see,
Jareth...because my universe was here for so long, it was imprinted on
the Underground...it's only a matter of using the right spell to bring
it back..." Luke smiled as the king conjured and handed him a crystal.
"Good...I'll also need you to bring some reinforcements here...as well
as to help me with my plans to conquer earth."
"You'll never do it...earth has its own Jedi."
"Only one...and dealing with her won't be too much of a problem..."
Luke glared at the king who was now affecting an innocent look. "What
did you do?"
"What do you mean?" Jareth asked, then immediately winced as an
invisible hand clenched around his throat.
"I saw your hand move...you sent a warning, didn't you? No matter...I
know a way to take care of things...I'll merely use that as a way to
lure her here...and to destroy her. Oh, why so surprised, your
Majesty?" Luke spat out, rolling his eyes. "I have all that I need with
the dark side....and I have my own allies. Now then...it's time to get
to work," Luke said, turning swiftly and striding through the room and
down a corridor. The goblin king was suddenly released and he gasped as
he hit the floor. This wasn't exactly what he had planned....
**********************************************
"Man, that movie gets even better every time I see it!!!" I laughed,
opening the door of my house. "I don't know if I can stand to wait for
Episode Two!!!"
"I know, I know...but we'll just have to wait, I guess," Cat sighed,
following me inside.
"Yeah...but we can always catch up on the classics!" I said, my eyes
sparkling. "Come on!!!"
A while later we were sprawled out in front of the TV, totally
entranced by the original movies. I sighed slightly as the scene where
Luke watches the Tatooine sunset came on...man did I miss him...
"Helloooooo.....Selah? Hey, you alive!!!" Cat said, and a shower of
popcorn suddenly launched itself at my face.
"What What!!!?" I asked, coming out of my trance.
"Sorry to interrupt your drool-fest, but we need reinforcements!" she
laughed, pointing to the now-empty containers of junk food at our feet.
"Right...just a sec...I love this part..."
"You really have a thing for him, don't you?" she asked, grinning.
"Is it that obvious?"
"I think anyone and everyone who read Jedi in the Underground is aware
of it," she replied, smiling knowingly. "How you come up with that
stuff, I don't know..."
"Hey, some of the best works aren't fiction," I said, smiling
mysteriously.
"What?"
"Come on...you should see this..."
****************************
Cat gave a low whistle as I opened the door to my inner sanctum..yeah,
I guess I am pretty much a Star Wars freak...I have anything and
everything, or so it seems.
"Whoa....impressive...most impressive-"
"But you are not a Jedi yet..." I finished for her, grinning.
"Why in the world is your Luke Skywalker standup wearing an SW tie and
a safari helmet?"
"I don't know...my sister thought it looked good and I couldn't bear
to take them off," I replied, finding what I was looking for. "Here,
check this out," I said, tossing her a hardback book.
"Jedi in the Underground...but that's your story...how-" she stopped
in mid-sentence as I produced another, more convincing item from my
secret chest. "Oh....wow...." she managed, dropping the book as I
produced the lightsaber.
"It really is Kenobi's..." she murmured, turning it over in her hands.
"Can I?" I nodded.
"Just be careful..poking an eye out with that thing is the least of
your worries..." I said, smiling wryly. Nodding, she ignited the sword
and it came to life, humming softly.
"Oh my bantha fodder....this is amazing!!!"
"I know...isn't it cool?" I couldn't help replying.
"Can you call some of the characters...please?!"
"Well....I've never tried it...I guess I've been to chicken...besides,
I wouldn't want to abuse the spell or anything..."
"Aw, come on!"
I fumbled in my drawer for an extra crystal and held it up.
"Well....okay!! Uh...I wish the characters in my story were here, right
now.." I watched as the sphere disappeared in a flash of light, leaving
nothing behind in it's place. "Hey!! What's the matter?"
"You called, young one? So, we finally meet face to face..." I whirled
at the voice and stepped back to stand by Cat. In front of us stood a
dark, shadowy figure with indistinguishable features...a hood covered
his face, but judging by the voice it was male. The voice was distorted
enough so that I could recognize the words, but not the speaker. I had
heard of this trick before...Jedi used it as a communication technique,
but I'd never seen it done...
"Who...who are you?" I asked, clearing my mind.
"That is of no importance at the moment..."
"Where are all the Star Wars characters!?" Cat demanded, frowning.
"In the Underground...you see, Jareth mistakenly made another wish..."
I rolled my eyes. When would he ever learn!!
"So he wished back the emperor again to learn techniques of ruling?" I
asked.
"Something like that..." the figure replied, amused after a short
pause. "Do you care to try to rescue the Underground and your
planet...or will you just accept their fate.
"Yeah right...no, I'll fight for them both!" I replied, trying to
reach out to the other Jedi to identify him, but he was too far away.
"And I'm with you, too!" Cat added, flashing a lop-sided grin.
"I thought as much...you have thirteen hours to solve the new,
improved labyrinth before I start my takeover of the Underground, and
your planet..."
"What about the rest of the characters? What's the catch?" I asked,
suspicious.
"The catch is that the labyrinth now involves all the planets in the
Star Wars universe...you have to navigate certain areas in order to
even reach the Underground...and I will let you have help...you'll find
your friends waiting for you at the first destination..." he paused and
both Cat and I gasped as the landscape started to change. "You'll find
Solo, the princess, the Wookie, and the droids here and you will meet
up with others as you go along...I'll even give you the goblin king,
for I have no use for him anymore...I now have his magic," the figure
added, conjuring a crystal for emphasis.
"What...what about Luke?" Cat asked, looking at me.
"Oh...I must have forgot...he's in the Underground, at my castle..."
the figure said smugly. "The Underground looks so much nicer with
Coruscant's landscape, as I'm sure you'll see."
"Don't you dare hurt Luke-" I growled, then stopped myself. Getting
angry would only hinder me.
"You could save him right now if you turn to the dark side..."
"No way! I'll never turn...never."
"Very well...then I leave you to your quest..." With that, the figure
disappeared, leaving Cat and I in the middle of Mos Eisley, Tatooine.
Ch. 2
Catrina and I paused for a few moments, taking in the scenery. It was
exactly like in the movies...an enormous desert landscape with domed
buildings and seedy characters was spread before us.
"Are we...are we..." Cat managed, her eyes wide.
"Yep...if there's a bright center to the universe, we're on the planet
that it's farthest from," I replied, grinning. She rolled her eyes and
laughed.
"Ah, I see we've been reading the same travel brochures...hey, nice
duds," she added, nodding to my new clothes. I smiled slightly at the
black slacks, boots, and blouse I was now in.
"Gee, I must've been promoted; I've even got the robe!" I laughed upon
noticing the brown Jedi cloak that was draped over my frame. "Hey,
you're uniform isn't that bad, either."
"Thanks...got it from Smugglers R Us," she replied, grinning as she
posed in the smuggler's jumpsuit she was wearing, complete with belt
and blaster. "So, do we dare enter?" she asked, returning her attention
to the town.
"Mos Eisley spaceport...you will never find a more wretched hive of
scum and villainy," I quoted softly, then grinned. "Let's go."
"Yes!!" she approved, and we started off.
"But watch yourself...this place can be a little rough," I added.
"What did you do, bring your quote book with you!?" she asked, rolling
her eyes.
"But of course!"
***************************
"Oh wow," I murmured as we entered the cantina. "Well...if they're
here, this is as good a place to start looking as any."
"Hey!" We both turned at the gruff voice of. "We don't serve their
kind here!"
"Why not!!! We're just as good as anyone else!!" Cat shot back
immediately. I closed my eyes briefly, trying not to think about how
much attention we had just attracted as all eyes turned to regard us.
"The droids!!" Wuher the bartender shot back, and we turned around to
find two very familiar metallic beings behind us.
"Threepio! R2!!" I cried, slapping the protocol droid on the back. R2
gave an excited string of whistles and even the golden boy seemed to be
surprised.
"Oh my! Mistress Selah, whatever are you doing in this dreadful
place?"
"We're looking for Han and Leia...do you know where they are?" Cat
asked.
"Of course...they're in a booth in the back, along with Chewbacca...do
you mind if we wait outside, though; it might be for the best," he
said, his head twitching nervously to the side.
"Right, we'll meet you out there in a bit," I replied, and Cat and I
walked down the stairs.
"Whoa...this is unreal!" Cat whispered as we tried not to stare too
much at the other inhabitants. It was just like in the movie...there
was the Ithorian priest that had been banished from his homeland,
Muftak the Talz and Kabe the Chadra-fan, Labria the Devaronian, the two
female warriors that were posing as the Tonnika sisters...
"Whoa! Sorry there..." Cat muttered to an alien that had bumped into
her. It was only when he started yelling in Aqualish that I realized
how much trouble we were in.
"Oh brother...Cat, I think we've just met Ponda Baba." My suspicions
were confirmed when his partner in crime, Dr. Evazan, came forward to
translate.
"He doesn't like you..."
"And let me guess...you don't like us, either," Cat replied, rolling
her eyes.
"You just watch yourself...I have the death sentence on twelve
systems..."
"We'll be careful-" she replied, but yelped in surprise as she was
hurled backwards into a table by the hideous-looking alien.
"You'll be dead!!!" the good doctor replied as his friend pulled out
a nasty-looking rifle and aiming it at the girl.
"No blasters, no blasters!!" Wuher was yelling, right before he ducked
behind the bar.
Instantly, I reached out to the Force and reacted, igniting my
lightsaber and getting into a fighting stance. Everything moved too
fast, I was being led by something other than my own instincts...when I
opened my eyes again I stood above a wailing Aqualish that was missing
an arm.
"You okay?" I asked, yanking Cat to her feet.
"Yeah, you know me...just have to get friendly with the natives," she
sighed, standing up.
"RRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOWWWWRRRRRRFFFFFFF!!!!!"
Both our heads snapped up in recognition. "Chewie?!" I cried, then
laughed upon seeing the Wookie come forward. "Chewie!!" He lumbered
forward and immediately pulled me into a rib-cracking hug. "Whoa,
whoa!! I'd like to live to see the others!!" I gasped, then chuckled as
he released me. "It's great to see ya...but we've got a new
mission...where's Han and Leia...we need to talk. Oh, and this is Cat,"
I said, making the introductions. The two nodded in recognition and
Chewie immediately took us towards the back of the bar. Cat paused
briefly before pulling out two credits from her pocket and tossing them
to Wuher.
"Sorry bout the mess..." she called over her shoulder. "I've always
wanted to do that!!" she laughed quietly to me.
*************************************************
Dark Luke smiled as he sorted through all the data in Palpatine's
files on the computer in the Imperial Castle's library. This was all he
needed to know...this information, plus what he had learned from Jareth
about the sequel storylines via crystal would be just what he needed.
He had already dealt with Jareth's 'warning' and enlisted in some help
of his own...now, now he knew a way to get around earth's Jedi and
conquer a whole new galaxy.
"The body is contained, just like you wanted," a female voice from
behind him said softly. Turning in his chair, Luke threw a satisfied
smile to Callista, his new partner for this takeover, among other
things. The blond returned his smile, her grey eyes sparkling. That had
been a storyline well worth reading...once a spirit of a Jedi, she had
fallen in love with another version of Skywalker and inhabited one of
his student's bodies. But, her powers hadn't materialized with her, and
she could only access the dark powers of the Force, something that in
the stories had made her abandon Luke and try to find a life on her
own. He was just lucky he found her at the right moment...now she would
freely use her dark powers and rule at his side.
"Good...things are coming together nicely...soon, the Empire will be
strong again, and order will return to the galaxy. "I've just come
across someone who I think will be perfect to lead our navy..." he
added, conjuring a crystal
"But wasn't he killed the last time?" Callista asked, frowning.
"Yes...but that never stopped the Emperor, and this officer was every
bit as inventive and calculating...I just found where his clone was
hidden in Palpatine's old files...it's just a matter of bringing him
here," Luke said, then concentrated on the sphere in his palm.
. Within moments a tall, blue-skinned man with piercing red eyes and a
spotless admiral's uniform appeared before them.
"Grand Admiral Thrawn...welcome to Coruscant. I have a business
proposition for you..." Luke began, gesturing for the clone to take a
seat across from him. Neither the Emperor or the Grand Admiral had been
the type of person to let a little thing like death stop their glorious
reigns. "Picture, if you will, the rebirth of the Empire, the way it
was meant to be."
**************************************
The sun cast a twilight glow upon the interior of the council room in
the Jedi Temple, also on the Coruscant-ized Underground. Once, great
minds had gathered there to ensure the protection of the galaxy. Once,
the true guardians of the Force had conversed about how to preserve the
Republic. But that was before Palpatine had come into power...before
the great purge of the Jedi by the Galactic Empire. Now, the room stood
empty, its chairs that had once seated great Jedi sat vacant. No one
had been in that room for years, and no one was there now...or were
they?
Luke Skywalker blinked upon realizing he was now conscious, briefly
wondered how he had managed to stand if he had been unconscious, and
tried to remember what had happened in the past hour. He knew he had
been called by Selah, but something had prevented him from
responding...then he had been told to warn her by the goblin king, but
instead of finding her, he had found...
He wasn't even sure who it was. He knew it had to have been a Jedi,
but he was disguised. For some reason he had seemed familiar. There had
been a decidely dark presence about him, though, and Luke had tried to
escape, but he had done something....
Shaking his head slightly, he let himself take in his
surroundings...he recognized the room from history of the Jedi he had
collected, but why was he here? Turning, he let his eyes sweep over the
circle of chairs, and in the middle of the circle-
He faced it, unable to accept what he saw. It couldn't be. It was
impossible, wasn't it? Walking slowly to the slab that now lay in the
center of the ring, Luke's eyes widened as he recognized his own
flesh-and-blood image, laid out as if stone-cold dead! But he was here,
standing, thinking, living!! Slowly, still not able to grasp the
situation, he reached out a hand to touch his body, then caught his
breath at the sight of his hand. It wasn't flesh and blood...it was now
an iridescent blue, like when he had seen the spirits of Yoda and
Ben...
"What....what..."
"You must know of that sequel, Luke...you did read the plots in your
last adventure," a familiar voice said from behind him, and he whirled
around.
"Ben?!" he managed, shocked to see the spirit form of his old friend.
"Yes, Luke...it's me."
"Am I...?"
"Not in the way we are...you see, Jareth unleashed a new danger on the
Underground, earth, and our universe...a dark version of yourself.
Using information, he was able to take you by surprise and cast your
spirit out of your body with a Sith technique."
"As long as your body is in tact, you're still alive...but if they
destroy it..." Luke turned to see another man that now sat in a chair,
also in spirit-form. He recognized him instantly from his research:
Mace Windu.
"Is there anything I can do?" he asked hopefully.
"Defeated your dark self must be...then whole you will become,"
replied a gravelly, familiar voice.
"Master Yoda!" the Jedi exclaimed upon seeing his old master appear
in another chair. "But how can he be defeated if I'm like this?"
"Selah is now making another attempt to solve the labyrinth, along
with your friends," Ben replied, giving him a comforting smile. "If
anyone can confront him, it's her."
"She's competent...but if its a dark version of myself...does she know
who she's up against?" Luke asked, frowning as he remembered when she
had told him of a tale where he had willingly served the Emperor.
"Not yet," Yoda replied, frowning slightly.
"Can I help her...you've been able to find me on remote planets,
surely I could-"
"I'm afraid that's impossible," a new voice spoke up, and Luke and all
the Jedi of years past turned to regard the imposing figure of Dark
Luke.
The disembodied Skywalker immediately calmed himself, not letting the
surge of emotions he felt reach the surface. "You! You did this...but
you are mistaken. Nothing is impossible with the Force," Luke replied,
calmly staring at his double.
"It is now...you see, with Thrawn's ysalimiri, knowledge of the Force,
and a little magic, I've been able to come up with a new weapon and
containment unit. You're not going anywhere," he said, smiling cruely
as he held up a crystal. Inside was the image of the outside of the
council room, surrounded by salamander-like creatures with legs, but
that now had jet black skin and red glowing eyes. "These are my dark
ysalimiri...they only banish the light side of the Force, causing a
dark Jedi to become more powerful, and a light Jedi to become lost
because all they can find when they access the Force is fear and anger.
They will keep you in this room...although I think I'll let you watch
your friends' progress through this," he said thoughtfully, conjuring a
crystal and letting it float right beside Luke's spirit. "I'm sure you
won't want to miss anything, especially seeing how my ysalimiri will be
quite useful later on, I'm sure, " he said, smirking at his disembodied
double's reaction.
"No...you had better not harm her..." Luke replied, trying not to let
his anger boil up.
"And what will you do to stop me? You all might have been considered
great Jedi...but now you're trapped here and there is no hope for your
friends..." He sneered before continuing. "As for you're little Jedi,
she will be no match for me now, Skywalker...and soon you'll be a
distant memory," the Dark Luke chuckled before leaving, his footsteps
echoing for a long time as he treaded down the corridor
Ch.3
"So we have to solve the labyrinth again, huh?" Han asked, frowning as
we related our experiences thus far in the back booth of the Mos Eisley
Cantina.
"Theoretically...except now we have to go planet to planet, passing
different challenges instead of just a maze..." I sighed, recounting
the visitation from the Dark Jedi, whoever it had been.
"Right, we have thirteen hours to get to Imperial Castle on Coruscant,
er, the Underground, uh...whatever it is now," Cat sighed, her brow
furrowed as she tried to figure it all out. Her awe at meeting the key
players in the Rebellion had quickly given way to professional planning
once our problems had been put on the table.
"And he has Luke?" Leia asked, worry clear in her eyes. I nodded,
trying to push away the surge of grief that that look brought up in me.
"I know..." I whispered, reaching out to her with the Force briefly.
She returned the gesture, a rueful smile playing across her lips.
"Look, we'll get him back...everything'll work out...let's try and
keep a little optimism here!" Han interjected, a forced smile on his
face.
"Right...well, we won't gain anything by sitting here all day..." I
sighed, then slowly raised up as I noticed a swarm of right armor
coming into the cantina. "We better beat it...the locals invited some
friends..."
"And that's one thing we don't want to deal with right now...come on,
we'll take the back door and go to the Falcon," Han instructed, getting
up. Nodding, we followed suit and carefully snuck out the back door and
back into the Tatooine landscape.
********************************************
"Oh wow..." Cat murmured, gazing in loving awe at the Falcon. I
grinned...I had had much the same reaction when I first saw it, much to
Han's amusement. He had never received too much of an impressed
reaction from those who first saw his prized ship.
"She'll make point five past light speed," I chuckled, dragging her
towards the lowered landing ramp, then stopped as I saw who stood in
the entrance.
"Why you slimy, double-crossing, no-good swindler!! You've got a lot
of guts coming here," I snarled, glaring fiercely at the goblin king.
"Nice to see you too," he said dryly. "And you, as well, Catrina...I
must say I shouldn't be surprised to see you tagged along.." Cat just
rolled her eyes at him. He turned back to me, suddenly serious.
"Darling, let me explain-"
"Explain what!!!? You felt the need to bring the Emperor back for some
strange reason, and now you need our help to get your stupid kingdom
back!!" Cat shot back. "And now Luke's in danger because of you!!"
"I sent him to warn you...I can't help it if he was dealt with before
he reached you!!" Jareth defended himself.
"Still, why in blazes did you bring back the Emperor!!? You'll never
change, Jareth...you're still the same jealous, greedy, power-hungry,
immature person you've always been," I growled, shoving past him into
the Falcon. Chewbacca followed, growling softly as he passed the
monarch.
"But I didn't bring back the Emperor..." he whispered, frowning.
"What? Then who is it?" Leia asked, coming closer with Han.
"You don't want to know..." he said somberly.
"Listen Tight-boy, you got us into this mess; we deserve to know who
we're up against!" Han said impatiently.
Cat frowned as she noticed a rolled magazine tucked into the king's
waistband. What in the world was that?
"Hey!!" Jareth yelped in surprise as she yanked it out and unrolled it
to gaze at the cover.
"Oh, no...Jareth, please tell me you didn't..."
"I'm afraid so...you know how it is...boredom gives me stupid ideas
that sound so great at the time-"
"Did it ever occur to you to weigh the consequences!!!" she
practically yelled back.
"What? What is it!!!?" Leia asked, looking from one to the other.
"This," Cat said, grimacing as she handed the comic book to them. Both
Han and Leia's eyes widened in horror as they looked at the image that
graced the cover of Dark Empire.
"So that's what he meant when he said Luke was in his castle," Catrina
murmured, shaking her head.
"How are we going to be able to defeat him?" Leia asked in shock.
"He's my brother..."
"There they are!! Blast 'em!!!" The four turned in surprise as a group
of stormtroopers streamed into the hangar.
"Get to the ship!!" Han instructed, pulling out his blaster and
immediately taking shots at the armored targets. The other three
quickly did as they were told, and Han followed as soon as the ramp
began to close.
"Let's go, Chewie!!!" he bellowed and the Falcon rose into the air and
flew out of the hangar, into the Tatooine afternoon sky.
*********************************************
"Star Destroyers, two of them!" Leia called from the cockpit.
"Great...looks like they're trying to delay us, or worse," Han
muttered, dropping into the pilot's seat as Chewie worked the controls
from the copilot's chair.
"You concentrate on flying...we'll take care of them!" I immediately
said as TIE fighters poured out of one of the ships and screamed
towards us. "Come on, Cat!"
"You don't have to tell me twice!!" she replied, following me to the
laser cannon turrets. I climbed up the ladder to the top and she took
the bottom.
"Ready?" I asked when I had situated myself in the chair and placed
the comm unit on my head.
"Ready!" Cat replied through the earpiece.
"Here they come!" Leia shouted through the comm unit in the cockpit.
I pushed excitement out of my mind as a fighter raced past my vision;
I needed to be calm. I whirled my seat and weapon to track its path,
but it swung underneath the ship and opened fired.
"There coming in too fast!!" Cat complained from her station and I
grinned slightly. My reverie was interrupted as the ship quaked with
the impact of another hit.
"What are you two doing down there?!" an accented voice yelled.
"Shut up and let us handle it, J!!" Cat yelled back.
In the cockpit warning lights flickered and gears whined to compensate
for the damage being done.
"Oh my! This is too much!" Threepio complained, coming in with R2 from
where they had been waiting in the lounge.
Cat stared intensely into the black of space, waiting for the right
moment...her hands tensed as a fighter started to float into her
sights...not yet...not yet...now!! Her hands squeezed the cannon's
trigger and bolts of energy shot out to the TIE fighter, causing it to
explode with an impressive amount of energy.
"I got it..I got it!!" she laughed into my earpiece.
"Great...now don't get cocky!!" I teased, and she groaned in reply.
I turned my senses to another fighter that was starting to
flee...instinctively, I let the Force take control of my hands and the
trigger, ignoring the targeting computer altogether. When I blinked
again, the ship had blown up and crashed into a nearby ship, taking it
with it. I grinned slightly as Cat finished off the last one, right as
it tried to make its escape.
"We did it!!" Leia laughed into the speaker, and I climbed out of the
turret and made my way to where the others were waiting.
"Not bad," I said to Cat, grinning.
"You did pretty good yourself, great Jedi," she laughed, and we walked
into the lounge to sit next to Jareth and the droids.
"See, I told you we'd take care of it!" Cat said smugly.
"I was merely concerned that-"
"That if we got pulverized you wouldn't get your precious kingdom
back...well fine, we'll help if it'll shut you up! I've faced Palpatine
once, I can do it again," I muttered, walking away from the king,
trying not to give in to anger.
Cat started to say something, but paused at the warning look Jareth
flashed her.
"Not yet...she'll only get angrier and even more torn-up if you tell
her..." he sighed, and she nodded reluctantly.
"Well, where should we head next?" Leia asked, coming in to join us.
"There's so many possibilities..."
"Actually, sweetheart, I don't think we have a choice...the nav
computer is working on its own," Han called from the cockpit.
"What?" I asked, frowning.
"It seems the opposition has a very clear idea of where we're supposed
to go..." he answered grimly.
"Then all we can do is wait," Leia sighed, dropping into a chair
beside me.
"I don't suppose Glitter Boy has his magic this time?" the smuggler
asked.
"No, he has control over that, too," Jareth replied.
"That's what I was afraid of..." Han sighed.
"I know it's cliche...but I have a really bad feeling about this," Cat
murmured, and I echoed her worried expression as we were pulled into
hyperspace.
Ch. 4
Thrawn smiled as he took a seat in the captain's chair on the bridge
of the Chimaera. It was good to be back, even if he was a clone. Now,
business could go on as usual since there was a capable leader taking
control of the Empire. He knew Skywalker was the reason the Rebellion
had become so strong, and with him on the Empire's side, they couldn't
lose. Besides, there was that other Jedi as well, Callista. She had
proven to be most powerful, and that power increased with the use of
the new dark ysalimiri. Now all he had to do was find where the Rebels
were hiding out and destroy them. The new leader had explained that
before the goblin king's magic was taken from him, he had brought the
entire Rebellion back as a way to fight their efforts. It was a pity
for them that they were on the Yavin sector of the Underground, and the
Empire knew it.
"Captain Pellaeon?"
"We're ready, sir," the Captain replied, standing confidently at his
place on the bridge.
"Very well...tell the rest of the fleet to head to Yavin to begin the
attack..."
"Yes sir!" He watched as Pellaeon gave orders to the other Star
Destroyers and fighters that assembled their fleet. As the stars
blurred into star lines as the fleet made the jump to hyperspace,
Thrawn smiled again. It was definitely good to be back.
***********************************************************
I looked up as Han entered the lounge, a confused frown across his
face. "What is it?"
"Do we know where we are yet?" Cat asked.
"I don't know...the nav computer says that we're near Calamari and
Hoth-"
"But those planets aren't anywhere near each other!!" Leia finished.
"Is it a malfunction?" Cat asked, glancing at Threepio.
"I suppose R2 and I could talk to the computer," he said hesitantly.
"All right...Chewie, go plug in the professor and see what he can
figure out," Han relented, sighing as he sat next to Leia. I smiled
slightly as the droids were led away, Threepio complaining, as usual. I
glanced over at Han and Leia and smiled again at how they regarded each
other. One would never know that they had constantly fought to look at
them now...they made each other seem complete, almost. That thought
turned my smile into a depressed frown.
"Hey, kid...don't worry...we'll get him back," Han said, noticing my
expression. "It may not be easy, but we'll save him..." My eyebrows
furrowed as I noticed the look he threw at Leia, Cat, and J.
"Right, love...we're all in this together, and we'll rescue him,"
Jareth added, though it was a little bit forced.
"What is it?" I asked upon noticing their expressions...what did they
know that I didn't?
"Nothing...just the situation and all..." Cat immediately replied.
"Nothing...nothing...tra la la? Come on, what is it...what are you
hiding?" I asked. Just then, the droids and Chewie returned. I didn't
catch the look of relief Jareth gave the others.
"This is most confusing..sir, I'm afraid that everything appears
normal," Threepio said.
"Normal...listen Goldenrod...the readings I got were not normal!!" Han
replied, glaring at the droid.
"I could understand it if we were still in the Underground, but we..."
Jareth said, his voice trailing off.
"You don't suppose we still are, do you?" I asked, deigning to look at
Jareth.
"What do you mean?" Leia asked, frowning.
"Well, think of it...we have to solve the labyrinth...and magical,
mysterious things like this happen in the labyrinth...what if..."
"But the Dark Jedi said that the Underground was now Coruscant!" Cat
objected.
"What if he was just trying to throw us off track?" I asked, raising
an eyebrow. "What if all of this is the Underground, but also the Star
Wars universe!"
"That would mean that it would hold all the planets and things from
the books and movies..." Cat began.
"And have the magical properties of my realm!" Jareth finished,
triumphantly. "So this means you have to choose which system you want
to go to," he instructed Han.
"Are you sure...how do we know you're not taking a shot in the dark?"
the smuggler replied.
"Well, look at it this way...what choice have you got?" Jareth
replied. Man, I hated it when he used logic.
"He's right, Han...all right, which system?" Leia asked.
"Mon Calamari is much less dangerous," Threepio pointed out, and
Chewie roared his agreement.
"Yes, but things aren't always what they seem in the labyrinth," Leia
said, frowning. "I wonder if that's why we had to fight our way off
Tatooine...could that have been like the gates to the labyrinth?"
"Bingo...so to get past this first section, we've got to pick the one
that seems the hardest," I said, grinning. "Han, go set the nav
computer for the Hoth system."
"You sure?" he asked, his eyebrows raised.
"Positive," I replied, wishing I was as confident as I sounded.
Ch. 5
Luke gazed intensely into the crystal that hung in the Jedi Council
Room. In it were all the friends that he wished he could be with at
that moment. He knew it was tearing Leia up to realize their enemy was
him...she didn't even know that another version of him was in the
Underground at the moment. And Selah didn't even know who she would
have to face to save the Underground and earth. He pushed back sudden
pain at seeing her fall into a Jedi meditation, trying to reach out to
him. Gently he ran a fingertip across the crystal, wishing he could
return the gesture, but it was impossible with the ysalimiri right
outside.
She briefly opened her eyes, worry and frustration evident on her
features, before she calmed herself and tried again. Luke tried to
reach her, but it just wasn't going to be possible.
"Nothing...I can't feel him at all...that could be for a few different
reasons, though..." she sighed a few minutes later.
"Well...you can't give up hope," her friend Catrina replied.
"Believe me...I don't intend to," she answered before turning her
attention to other things.
Luke sighed again as he tore his gaze from the crystal. "How is she
supposed to beat this..." he asked quietly.
"With the Force...patience you must have...take time it will. But her
ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is," Yoda replied. "The Dark
Side will be defeated, but only in time."
"He's right, Luke...you can't expect things like this to happen
suddenly...look how long it took for the Emperor to be destroyed..."
Ben added, turning his attention to the suspended sphere.
"They're approaching the Hoth system," Mace Windu said softly,
throwing a look to Ki-Adi Mundi, who had also appeared some time ago.
"All we can do now is wait and watch," he replied softly.
"Stay strong, Selah...and remember that the Force is with
you...always," Luke whispered as he returned his gaze to the crystal,
hoping that it was the truth in this case.
******************************************************
"Do we land?" Han asked as he made his way to the cockpit. Pushing all
my worries away, I closed my eyes and concentrated.
"No...no, it would only be a delay tactic...a heard of Wampas await
down there and no help, at all...no, our destiny is with something
else near here..." I said softly, opening my eyes.
"RRROOOOWWWWRRR!!!" Han immediately turned to what his partner was
yelling.
"Not again," he muttered, running for the cockpit.
"What is it?" Cat asked, following, along with Leia, Jareth, and
myself.
"Asteroids!!"
"The Hoth asteroid belt...of course!!" I whispered.
"What?" Leia asked.
"Think about it...a choice had to be made, and it seems like we're
headed towards certain destruction-"
"And we are, indeed! Oh my!" Threepio added.
"You mean like the riddle with the doors and the oubliette?" Jareth
asked, ignoring the protocol droid's complaints.
"Exactly...we're on the right path...all we have to do is get past
this..."
"Oh, is that all!" Han said, rolling his eyes as he plunked into his
seat.
"Captain Solo, what are you doing!!? Don't you remember that the
possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is
approximately three thousand, seven hundred and twenty to one!!"
"Never tell me the odds!!" he yelled back, banking the ship as a large
hunk of rock flew straight towards us. Cursing softly, he continued to
weave the ship in and out of the asteroids of all sizes. All we could
do was watch, buckled in tightly, as he used every ounce of his being
to get us through. Suddenly, it seemed like the rocks started to come
at us at a faster speed, picking up the pace with each passing moment.
"Oh my!! We'll be pulverized!!" Threepio whined and I threw a
concerned glance to Han.
"This isn't going to do us any good if we get killed!" Jareth yelled
as a small piece of rock glanced off the ship.
"Should we stop?" I asked, biting my lip.
"And risk being eaten by a Titanic space slug? No way...besides, we're
almost out..." he murmured, banking the ship hard to the right as a
small asteroid narrowly missed hitting us. Abruptly, we reached clear
space and all of us breathed a sigh of relief.
"See, what I tell you! A piece of cake..." Han said, grinning. Cat,
Jareth, and I exchanged horrified looks.
"Don't everybody thank me at once," the scoundrel replied, rolling his
eyes.
"I really wish you wouldn't have said that..." I murmured, noticing
the new reading on the nav computer.
"Why, what is it?"
"Look..." I whispered, knowing that although it wasn't mentioned until
a sequel, he would have to know about it from his smuggling days.
"Oh, no..." Han groaned, reading what I was pointing to, then quickly
glancing up at the viewscreen.
"What? What's going on?" Leia asked, quickly looking at us.
"It's the Maw cluster..." Han and I answered at the same time, and Cat
inhaled sharply as she realized what we meant.
"The Maw? What's that?" Jareth asked, totally ignorant of the danger
that awaited us.
"A cluster of black holes and gasses...not exactly a vacation spot,"
Han said dryly, though by his grimace I knew he was dreading trying to
navigate the thing that we were fast-approaching.
"Han...in one of the sequels you managed to get through when a
prospective Jedi flew a ship through it..." I said carefully, not
wanting to sound arrogant or anything.
"You think you can do it?" the smuggler replied, not daring to take
his eyes off our destination. "With the other side playing magic tricks
and all, do you think it's possible?"
"Anything is possible with the Force," I whispered. "I'll do it...and
if I'm wrong..."
"Don't be wrong, Selah. Please don't be wrong!!" Cat replied.
"Right," I said, scooting into the pilot's seat which Han had vacated.
"Let's see here..." I murmured, studying the controls. Taking a deep
breath and letting half out, I reached out to the Force that I knew
would see us safely through. My hands flew over the controls with a
will of their own as I guided the Falcon into the Maw, hoping that I
could make it all the way...
***********************
Han and the others watched as the young woman slowly took the Falcon
into the black hole cluster. Saving the Underground, rescuing Luke,
defeating the Empire all depended on being able to navigate the Maw.
Practically on the edge of his seat, Han watched as Selah performed
maneuvers so delicate they were barely noticeable, and some that even
he wasn't crazy enough to try!
"Oh my! We're doomed!!" Threepio wailed.
"Shh! She needs to concentrate!" Leia replied sternly.
"I only hope Admiral Daala isn't in there," Cat said softly, and Han
threw her a curious glance.
"What?"
"Nothing...just something from a sequel."
"Then let's hope it's not here..." the smuggler replied, turning his
attention to the Jedi. Shaking his head, he could barely believe what
he was seeing. She was flying the ship with her eyes closed! He was
glad they had a Jedi on their side, otherwise, he doubted he would've
been able to fly through it. Hot gases swirled around them and every
now and then they would appear dangerously close to the edge of one of
the many black holes that were just waiting to tear his pride and joy
to pieces. The heat was intense, he knew...he didn't want to think
about what could happen to his beloved ship, not to mention the people
that were inside. He glanced over at where Chewie sat as still as
stone, not daring to disturb her.
"We're almost through..." she murmured, her eyes still closed as they
whooshed past a small island inside the Maw...almost as though it could
be used for some sort of hideout...
He turned as Cat let out a sigh of relief. "No Daala..." she said
quietly, and he caught just a hint of an amused smile playing over
Selah's lips. He turned back to look at the viewscreen, though he
really didn't want to. Suddenly, though, they were out.
"And that, Han, is why you never, ever, say that phrase again," Selah
said, taking deep breaths as she came out of her trance, beads of sweat
appearing on her brow.
"Right. Believe me, I won't, kid," he said, sighing in relief. "You
mind if I take over?"
"Not at all," she replied, letting him back into the pilot's seat.
"Where to now?" Leia asked as he studied the navicomputer.
"Endor or Honoghr," he replied, looking up at the princess.
"Honoghr...the Noghri seem dangerous, but they're great help," she
replied confidently. Nodding, he set the course and all let out sighs
of relief as the stars turned into starlines.
Ch. 6
"They made it through the Maw..." Callista reported to Luke, holding
up the crystal she was holding.
"Did you expect any less? They do have a Jedi with them," he replied,
frowning.
"She's stronger than I thought..."
"True, but no match for us. You don't have to be jealous," he added,
his eyes glistening as he glanced over at the blond. "We should
separate them, though...only then can we delay them long enough to
cause them to run out of time," Dark Luke said, glancing over at his
beloved in the Castle's throne room. "And only then do we have a chance
of turning the Jedi."
"She did resist the Emperor," Callista pointed out, frowning slightly.
"Yes, but the Emperor didn't have a personal connection with her...I
know between the two of us we can convert her," he said confidently.
"She will be turned, or she will be destroyed. But first things first;
we have to get her away from the others."
"What do you have in mind?" she asked, coming to stand beside his
throne.
"We'll lead them to Yavin...if they get caught in Thrawn's attack,
fine. If not...there are other ways to separate them..." he said,
smiling cruelly as he produced a crystal and focused.
"You wanted to see me?" a cold, metallic voice asked. Dark Luke looked
up and smiled at the bounty hunter that looked like a death machine. He
could tell Callista was grinning, as well.
"Yes, Fett...I believe I have a mission for you, one that you will be
well-paid for if you succeed."
********************************************************
I deeply breathed in the air of Honoghr as I walked down the landing
ramp. This version must have been from the Last Command, because parts
looked like they had been cleaned up from when the Empire had tried to
kill all plant life on the planet. Although much of the native
kholm-grass was the bioengineered breed from the Empire, besides the
brown and dying plantlife was the Clean Land: an area of vibrant green
khom-grass and flowing water. Inwardly I was relieved; if this was the
later version of the planet, then the Noghri would want to help us. I
turned as Cat approached, captivated by the landscape.
"So, having fun?" I asked, grinning.
"So far I've gotten in a bar fight, nearly got blasted by Star
Destroyers, pulverized by asteroids, and torn apart by a black hole
cluster. Are you kidding, this is great!!!" she replied and I had to
laugh. Only true Star Wars fans would consider what we'd been through
the adventure of a life time and not a million ways to possibly get
killed.
We both turned as R2 appeared and whistled at us to follow him.
Shrugging, we complied and walked the short distance from the Falcon to
the nearby city of Nystao. Silently, we entered the dukha, the large
cylindrical building with a cone-shaped roof around which all Noghri
village life revolves. Inside lay a single open room that featured the
high clan seat which is usually used by the dynast when he or she holds
audiences. This time, though, there was only a very familiar Noghri.
"Khabarakh!" I cried upon seeing the alien that was with our friends.
"Ah, I greet you Selah clan Specht. It is good to see you again," he
said, dropping Leia's hand which he had been using to identify her as
the Mal'ary'ush, the daughter and successor of Vader to the Noghri
people, to bow slightly to me. "The matriarch of my clan has decided
that I am to accompany you on your quest. You might need the skills of
a warrior to aid in the rescue of the Son of Vader." I solemnly
returned his bow.
"Thank you fellow warrior. I am pleased that you will be joining us.
Allow me to introduce a friend who is also coming with us. This is
Catrina clan Cedar," I said, gesturing to Cat who bowed in response.
"Ah, it is good to meet a friend of a fellow warrior. Come, let us be
on our way. The people of Nystao have been filling your starship with
supplies so that the journey may be continued safely. It is now time
continue our mission."
"I couldn't agree more," Han said, following the Noghri outside and to
the ship along with the rest of us. The being was only half my size,
yet moved with a grace and skill that no human could replicate.
Although the Noghri looked nightmarish, they were very good allies,
especially because of their hunting skills. They took their alliances
seriously, though, as well as their debt to the Skywalker family.
Honorable and dignified, they were one of my favorite species in the
Star Wars universe.
"And you remember Jareth, king of the goblins," Leia said as we met up
with Jareth who had been keeping watch over the Falcon.
Khabarakh gave a slight hiss of recognition that wasn't completely
friendly. "Indeed I do...is he to be trusted this time?" he mewed, his
eyes scanning Jareth warily.
"It looks that way," Han replied, throwing a lop-sided grin to a
scowling Jareth. "Old Tights here has learned his lesson," he chuckled,
pushing past him onto the Falcon. The Noghri perked up immediately when
he saw Chewie, who was doing repairs on board. The two were very good
friends and they immediately started talking in there native tongues as
soon as they saw each other.
"Where are we headed this time?" Cat asked as Han began to power up
the Falcon.
"I'm not sure...I'm not getting any strange readings from the nav
computer...what do you think?" he asked, turning in his chair to
address us.
"This is Rogue Leader to Millennium Falcon, repeat, this is Rogue
Leader to Millennium Falcon," a familiar voice squawked over the comm
unit.
"Wedge? What's up...what are you doing out here?" Han asked,
surprised.
"Don't know..one minute I'm on the base on Yavin, the next, I'm
here...we're in trouble, buddy...Thrawn is back."
"What? But he was killed by Rukh during our last expedition in the
labyrinth!" Leia exclaimed. Cat and I looked at each other, knowing
immediately what had happened.
"It's his clone...the Dark Jedi must have found it," Cat said grimly.
"His *what*?" Jareth asked, incredulous.
"Whatever it is, they're approaching the moon of Yavin with an
impressive fleet. We need help, Han, or the Alliance might not survive
this one."
"Right, we'll be there," Han said, immediately programming the nav
computer. "Guess we know our next destination," he muttered.
"Right..." I said slowly, walking into the lounge.
"What is it, love?" I whirled and glared at the goblin king.
"I'm still not talking to you."
"Do you think we can postpone this until everything's sorted out? What
is it?" he repeated, stepping in front of me and grasping my
shoulders, forcing me to look at him.
"Something just doesn't feel right about this...I don't know...it just
feels wrong."
"I'm sure you're just worried, that's all," he said softly, trying to
soothe me. I looked up into his mismatched eyes and softened slightly,
until I remembered that this whole mess was his fault.
"And why shouldn't I be?! Because the one I love is now a captive from
the Emperor or Dark Jedi or whatever, all because you got bored!!" I
knew not to give into hate; that was of the Dark Side, but I couldn't
help being angry with him. I sighed, realizing that even though I was a
Jedi, I still had a long ways to go.
"I'm sorry, all right? I can't help it, it's not-"
"Don't even say 'it's not my fault!' Because you know what, Jareth? It
is!" I snapped, stalking into the cockpit.
******************************************
Jareth silently watched the girl walk away, frustration and guilt
almost surfacing. He wouldn't allow it, though...he was still the king
and he had done what he had done for her own good! He couldn't help it
if she overreacted at everything he did! Sighing, he crossed his arms
and shook his head. "Impossible girl," he muttered before turning to
follow her into the cockpit.
**************************************************************
"Are they headed into a trap?" Luke asked, his gaze fixed onto the
crystal.
"Hard to tell, especially with the ysalimiri," Yoda murmured from his
seat.
"They've made it this far, though," Mace Windu pointed out. "That is
commendable."
"But she's giving into strong feelings," Kenobi sighed. "That is as
much of the battle as the physical aspect..."
"If only I could help her," Luke sighed, wishing for the thousandth
time that he could break free of the room. He had already tried,
though, and the ysalimiri were preventing any escape. He glanced over
at his body which looked as if it was in a peaceful slumber...the
slumber of death. If there was one thing that he had learned from the
labyrinth, it was that life definitely wasn't fair. But there wasn't
anything he could do about it at the moment, except watch, wondering in
vain what would happen.
"Learned patience, she has. She has unlearned what she has learned and
does not judge, but believes. Important are these, but control anger
she must, or else a servant of the Dark Side she could become," Yoda
said, his ears twitching slightly.
Luke glanced over at his old master, hoping he would say more, that he
knew what would happen. Yoda, though, was watching the crystal again,
like the other Jedi, waiting for an opportunity, a change, anything.
Ch. 7
I chewed my lip slightly as we approached the Yavin system...something
just didn't feel right about all of this. But if the Alliance was in
danger, we had to help.I watched from my standing position behind Han
as he slowly guided the ship to Yavin's farthest moon and made a
graceful landing among the trees next to the Massassi temple that had
served as a Rebel base.
"Doesn't look like Thrawn's gotten here yet," he muttered, working the
controls. "We might as well see what's going on."
We quietly made our way out of the ship and towards the gigantic
building. Even I couldn't hide my awe, and I had seen it before. Cat
looked like she was in absolute heaven, and Jareth....well, he must
have been reliving some bitter memories of how his castle had been
converted into the base the last time. At least then the structure of
the labyrinth had been left in tact...this time, only it's magic
survived, and I could tell J was not very happy about it.
"When I get my hands on that Jedi for doing all this to my
labyrinth..." he muttered, following the rest of us inside.
"Mon Mothma, Bel Iblis, I've brought more reinforcements," Wedge said,
leading us into the war room.
"Wonderful...Selah, it's good to see you again, and you as well,
Jareth. Maybe you can help us through this time..." the leader of the
Alliance said quietly, looking regal and stately as ever in her white
robes.
"We'll do our best...this is Catrina, a friend of mine who's willing
to help, as well," I said, nodding to Cat.
"Right, anything for the cause," she added and Mon Mothma nodded.
"If only we were at a different base...this is when I wish we were at
Coruscant, working from New Republic headquarters and not an outpost on
a remote planet," Bel Iblis sighed, running a hand through his hair.
Leia and Han just glanced at each other, and I had to remember that
they weren't from the same time period that Bel Iblis was.
"After the defeat of the Empire you set up base on Coruscant, making
it the center of New Republic government," I explained softly, and Leia
nodded.
"Do we know what we're dealing with?" Wedge asked, glancing at some of
the displays.
"Thrawn hasn't appeared yet, and we don't know what kind of firepower
we're dealing with this time," Mon Mothma sighed, and I could tell she
had been working overtime, as usual. "We have the Rogues, the command
ships, and Garm's fleet," she said, nodding to Bel Iblis, "but we won't
know how to react until we know what to expect."
"I think we're about to find out," Han murmured, his eyes widening as
he looked over one of the displays.
Looking over his shoulder, I caught my breath as a massive fleet began
to appear on the scopes. Reaching out to the Force, I could tell it
wasn't good. "It's Thrawn all right..." Leia was saying, using her own
Force skills.
"They've got the Chimaera, three other Star Destroyers, TIE fighters
and..." my eyes flicked open and I knew I looked pale.
"What, what is it?" Jareth asked somberly.
"A world devastator," I replied grimly.
"What?" Leia asked.
"It's not good, I can tell you that," Bel Iblis said softly. "It's
more lethal than a death star...World Devastators are huge, moving
factories that can rip up entire cities and use them for materials for
constructing fighters, computer parts, whatever the Empire needs.
They're practically indestructable with all the shields and TIE
squadrons they've got on board, as well."
"And the only way it's controlled is by a Master Control Signal, from
Byss, or Coruscant in this case," Cat added, glancing at me.
"Right..." I said, nodding.
"Then I think it's pretty safe to say that we're in trouble," Han
whispered, looking at the leader of the Alliance bleakly.
**********************************************
"Captain, bring the Chimaera out of hyperspace and tell the other
ships to do the same," Thrawn said from his chair on the bridge.
"Yes, Admiral." He watched as the other man carried out his orders.
Soon, soon the Alliance would be nothing more than a memory. He hated
to use the devastator, though...it was more the Emperor's style, not
his, but he wasn't about to go against Skywalker. Besides, if they
needed to act quickly, this was the best way to do it. Still...
"When the Rebels send out their ships, attack with the TIEs and Star
Destroyers...don't use the World Devastator until absolutely
necessary," he added to Pellaeon.
"But sir, isn't that controlled by Skywalker?"
"Not this time...he had other things to attend to, so the signal now
comes from our ship, Captain," Thrawn replied casually. "Now then,
let's start this little maneuver." He wasn't about to get worried by a
little operation like this. Sensing his confidence, Pellaeon stood
slightly straighter and met the Admiral's gaze.
"Yes, sir."
********************************************************
"Get to your ships! They're approaching!" Mon Mothma instructed over
the comm unit in the war room. Fighter pilots raced to their ships and
went to meet the command units that were already in place around the
moon.
"We'd better join them...the Falcon'll be able to do a lot of good,"
Han said, turning to leave.
"You go on without me," I automatically stated.
"What?" Leia asked, turning back.
"I feel something...the devastator signal...I think it may be coming
from someplace a lot closer than Coruscant. Maybe I can disarm it with
the Force."
"You sure, kid?" Han asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Yes, Mistress Selah, there is absolutely nothing wrong with fleeing!"
Threepio added.
"No, I've got to try...go on and I'll catch up in an X-wing or
something," I added, glancing over at Artoo as the little astromech
droid started beeping.
"He says that he'll stay with you," Threepio translated and I nodded.
"You sure you don't want me to stick around?" Cat asked.
"Yeah, go on. I'll be fine," I added upon seeing her worried
expression.
"All right..." she said, turning to follow the others.
"Good luck," Jareth called over his shoulder.
"And may the Force be with you," I replied before turning back to the
displays.
Ch. 8
"Prepare to make the jump to lightspeed on my mark," Admiral Ackbar
instructed from the command ship Home One.
"We copy, Admiral," Han replied from the Falcon as Chewie adjusted the
controls.
"What do you think about all this?" Cat asked from her seat behind
them.
"It's another battle with an Empire that refuses to die," Han said,
his attention focused on the controls.
"Still...Selah's right...something about this doesn't feel right,"
Leia added.
"What do you mean?" Jareth asked, glancing at the princess.
"This just seems all to sudden...as if there's another reason for all
this..." she murmured, stretching out with the Force. "I can't tell
what it is, though...I only hope she's able to get rid of that
devastator."
"I'll agree to that," Han muttered before taking the Millennium Falcon
into the jump to hyperspace.
***********************************************************
Thrawn waited patiently from the fleet's position. They had moved in
far enough, and now the rebels would come to them.
"Instructions, Admiral?" Pellaeon asked, pausing from the orders he
was giving to the crew.
"Now, Captain, we wait."
"But sir, if we wait then the rebels could gain the upper hand!"
"I seriously doubt it, Captain...besides, I have my orders from
Skywalker, himself...there is more to this offensive then meets the
eye."
"Yes, Admiral," Pellaeon replied before turning back to his duties,
hoping the genius knew what he was doing. He didn't doubt the Admiral
at all...but it was his clone, and clones could sometimes be known for
going insane without the proper maintenence. But still...it was Thrawn,
and Thrawn was always prepared for anything.
*********************************************************
"All wings report in," Wedge instructed from his X wing. He waited as
the Rogues checked in before instructing them to lock S foils in attack
position.
"All right, boys, let's go!" he replied before leading the Rogue
Squadron to attack the nearest Star Destroyer. TIEs came pouring out
and immediately engaged the X wings in combat.
Wedge bit his lip before going after the nearest fighter...he
certainly hoped everything would turn out all right. But with Skywalker
missing, it just wasn't the same. And he just couldn't shake the
feeling that everything was coming together too easily. "I've got a bad
feeling about this," he murmured before taking down the TIE easily.
*****************************************************
From my position in the war room I watched as Bel Iblis took his ship
out into the raging battle. TIEs and X-wings were going down, and both
Star Destroyers and Rebel ships were getting hit. But something still
seemed wrong...
Pushing all of that out of my mind, though, I closed my eyes and
calmed myself, concentrating only on theWorld Devastator. I could see
it in my mind's eye, just waiting to go down to Yavin's surface and
start its destruction. But why was it waiting? Pushing my confusion
away, I concentrated on everything that made up the weapon, all the
people and droids that were in it, and everything about it. After much
inspection, I suddenly found something like an invisible leash that
was guiding it in its work. *That would be the signal...* I thought in
the back of my mind.
Now all I had to do was follow it to its source. Carefully, I traced
its path with the Force, hoping no one on the other side would catch on
to whatI was doing. Its leash went out into space and into the thick of
the battle. *Strange...that's bad strategy, especially for Thrawn,
putting the sender of the signal into battle...* My heart started to
beat faster as I realized it was coming from the Chimaera, itself. I
let the Force guide me into the computers, to where the signal was
originating. Carefully, I reached out with the Force to meet it, and
slowly reached into the the computer that I wanted, finding the code.
Slowly, carefully, I calmed myself again and with the Force deleted the
code that had signalled the Devastator to attack with the rest of the
fleet.
"What the-" I opened my eyes upon hearing Mon Mothma's voice. "The
Devastator...it's hanging there dead in space!"
"Good, then it worked," I said, breathing a sigh of relief and trying
to catch my breath. That little gesture had taken a lot out of me! For
some reason, though, I didn't feel any more relieved..I had expected
Thrawn to be ready with ysalimiri or something, not to just let himself
be beaten! There was more to this attack than met the eye...
"All ships, the Devastator is now inactive, repeat, the Devastator is
now inactive!" the leader spoke into the comm unit. Smiling, I turned
and headed to where an X-wing and R2 were waiting, knowing that for
now, there wasn't anything else I could do but join the rest.
*************************************************************
"Sir, the Devastator, we've lost connection with it!" Pellaeon said
suddenly. "Someone deleted the Master Signal!"
"Good...that is what we wanted."
"Sir?" the captain replied, gaping at the Admiral.
"Skywalker told me so, himself. Command the fleet to retreat,
Captain," Thrawn replied calmly.
"But sir-"
"Just do as I say, Pellaeon. Trust me, things are going just as we
want them to." Nodding silently, the officer turned to the comm unit
and gave the order to retreat, hoping for the thousandth time in that
hour that the admiral knew what he was doing.
*************************************************
"She's disabled the Devastator..." Dark Luke said suddenly, coming out
of his trance.
"Really? She's grown strong in the Force," Callista replied, raising a
delicate eyebrow.
"Just think of what could be accomplished when we turn her..." he
said, smiling smugly at the thought. "It's worth losing that Devastator
and the damage that's been done to our fleet...but I haven't forgotten
about that base...not at all. You sent the rest of the instructions to
the fleet?" he asked, smiling at the woman.
"Of course...and I put the next set of coordinates into the
Falcon...is all this testing of the girl really necessary? You know
she's strong, Luke."
"Yes, but this way we wear her out before the confrontation," he said
softly, extremely pleased. "She will join us...I have forseen it. Soon
the Rebellion will be crushed and young Specht will be one of us..."
"Of course...but I must go for awhile...someone has to be there to
meet Solo and the others," Callista replied, crossing over to where
Luke stood, gazing out a window of the palace.
"Yes...take the Executor," he replied, referring to the Super Star
Destroyer he had brought back from an untimely death. It had been
Vader's flagship, and now it was his and Callista's. "I'll keep our
young Jedi on her toes and you do what has to be done," he added,
turning to embrace his beloved.
"Of course," she chucked, kissing him before pulling back. "Of
course."
Ch. 9
Han looked out the viewscreen of the Falcon in total shock. "They're
retreating..." he said in amazement.
"What?!" Cat and Jareth yelled.
"That can't be right...they wouldn't just retreat after one of their
weapons was taken down.."
"It was their main means of destruction, though," Jareth pointed out.
"But still...what the-!" Han shouted, pointing to the nav computer.
Chewie barked in alarm as a new course was plotted and they were yanked
into hyperspace.
"Where are we going to now!?" Leia asked, and Chewie growled softly in
response.
"Bespin," Han translated, his brows furrowing.
"Oh, good, as long as it's a place filled with happy memories..." Leia
said, rolling her eyes.
"Do you think Lando will be there?" Cat asked, frowning.
"I have no idea..." Han sighed, shaking his head.
"This is all so confusing!!" Threepio added.
"Why all of this...I could understand trying to delay us, but why
split us up?" Jareth asked, staring out into the inky blackness of
space.
"Whatever the reason, it cannot be anything good," Khabarakh added,
startling the others. He had been so quiet, they had almost forgotten
he had been there. "But whatever happens, I will protect you and your
clan, Lady Vader," he said sternly to Leia and she mangaed to nod.
"Thank you, Khabarakh...I just hope there's someone to protect
Selah..." Leia sighed, reaching out with the Force. It didn't look
good...wherever she was, there was something very evil there with
her...
*************************************************************
I sighed as I headed towards the X-wing that Artoo was warming up.
Whatever was going on, I couldn't ignore the mission. All I had to do
know was go up and meet the Falcon-
I paused as I picked up something through the Force...something very
close, and very evil...
My eyes widened as the doors to the hangar slid open, revealing a
solitary, cloaked figure. I didn't even have to see who was underneath
to know who it was...after all, before this whole adventure started,
Cat and I had come from seeing the movie that both of us pretty much
had memorized. I waited, alert, as the Sith apprentice stared back at
me with red eyes that seemed to take in everything. Slowly, Darth Maul
removed his hood and cloak, exposing my newest test that I had to
face. Swallowing, I let my Jedi cloak slip from my body and land on the
floor, igniting the irridescent blue of my lightsaber's blade. He
responded by igniting first one side, then the other of his scarlet
lightsaber.
I calmed myself, knowing that although he was strong and very skilled,
so was I. Pushing the fear that threatened to take me over, I stepped
forward, and letting the Force flow through me, I met his blade with
mine. He gave a cross between a smile and a sneer, and swung his blade
around to try and slice me with its other side. I easily compensated
and jumped back, meeting his blade and pushing it away. Soon, I was
lost completely in the dance.
Parry, thrust, block...all my training came back to me as we battled
round the hangar. Maul lunged suddenly, and I instinctively jumped up,
did a forwards aerial summersault, and landed behind him, sweeping at
his feet with my saber. He jumped and flipped back, extending his arm
to push me into the wall with the Force. I let the impact hit me, but
instead of letting it knock me down, used the energy to flip back and
land on my feet. I knew the Force was with me...I couldn't have begun
to attempt any of those moves without it. I paced myself, knowing not
to attack...I mustn't, or else I would fall victim to the Dark Side.
**************************************************
"Who is that?" Luke's spirit asked, his eyes fixed on the image in the
crystal.
"Darth Maul...a worthy opponent if I ever had one..." Kenobi said
quietly, as if remembering a poignant memory. "He is a Sith, and very
dangerous...she is right to keep her anger under control."
"I don't understand...why is she being tested so much?" Luke asked,
frowning as Selah began to tire slightly.
"Dark Skywalker wants to turn her...he will wear her down until she
cannot face him," Mace Windu said somberly.
"That is why he has not made his identity known to her...he wants to
take her by surprise..." Ki-Adi Mundi stated.
"Tempt her into joining him, he will try," Yoda added, watching Ben
carefully as the duel continued on. The kind, noble Jedi was strangely
more introverted than usual as the two continued to fight.
*************************************
He charged suddenly, and I inhaled sharply, taken offguard just for a
moment. I couldn't keep this up much longer...could I? Calming myself
again, I took a deep breath and reached out for the Force, letting it
come to me, not the other way around. I knew better than to try and
force things like this. In the back of my mind, I could almost hear
Yoda's words. "Feel it you must. Feel the flow. Feel the Force around
you. Here, between you and me and that tree and that rock. Yes,
everywhere. Yes, even between the land and the ship!" That scene in the
second installment in the trilogy is one of my favorites, and I would
use it for guidance now.
Letting myself become open to its flow, I watched as Maul raced
forward, then jumped, swinging his saber down towards me. I immediately
dropped to the ground and pushed up with my sword and feet, sending him
hurtling away and deflecting his blow. He landed on his feet and stood
watching me, waiting for me to attack. I knew that if I did, it could
spell disaster...as Yoda wisely said, a Jedi uses the Force for
knowledge and defense, never to attack.
Maul began to pace like a caged tiger, eyeing me fiercely. I stared
back, not giving in. Raising up to kneel on one knee, I waited, closing
my eyes halfway to allow myself to become peaceful in a meditation
trance.
**************************************************
"Ben, what is it?" Luke asked, suddenly becoming mindful of how quiet
his former teacher had become.
"Just reliving a memory..." he whispered in reply, his eyes clouded
over.
"His master in battle was killed by this Sith," Yoda explained,
frowning. "A great loss it was, brought about many things it did.
Avenged him Obi-Wan did, but now Dark Skywalker has brought him back."
"I suppose I never expected to see that face again," Ben said weakly,
giving a soft smile to Luke to reassure the younger man.
"Does she stand a chance then?" Luke asked quietly, not wanting to
know. The last time he had felt this torn up was when he had been
tempted by the Emperor on the second death star...when he had been
forced to watch his friends almost get slaughtered in battle, but was
unable to do anything...Luke glanced over at Yoda, praying that maybe
something could be done.
"Always in motion is the future...know we cannot."
************************************************
I jumped up and immediately blocked the blow I knew would come.
Feeling the Force surge in me, I flung my sword up and split his
double-bladed saber at the handle. Hissing in anger, he tossed one
aside and continued the duel with his now-one-bladed sword. I raised my
sword up to meet his as he tried to smash it down on me, then using it
as a lever I pushed myself off it and away, turning round and back just
in time to meet his new attack. I tried to back up again, but I
suddenly realized he had backed me into an X-wing...I was trapped.
Fear surfaced briefly as I met his triumphant gaze, then I let the
Force return before my panic could take hold. He thrusted, and I jumped
back and up, landing on the nose of the fighter. Not stopping to let
him gain advantage, I paused only for a moment before leaping behind
him and slicing my sword in a broad, horizontal sweep as he just began
to turn around to meet me. His eyes widened in horror before his top
half fell clean away from the rest of him. Letting a huge breath of
relief escape me, I saluted the dead Sith before jogging to the X-wing
that waited for me outside by the temple.
Artoo whistled urgently as I climbed into the cockpit. "Sorry, I just
had some business to take care of," I replied, and he beeped in
response. "Let's go meet the Falcon!" I added, slipping on a flight
helmet before taking off. *That one's for you, Ben, whereever you
are...and for Qui-Gon,* I thought as the blue sky gave way to velvet
black, strewn with diamond stars.
*********************************************************
"My but you are strong," Dark Luke whispered as he watched the young
Jedi's image in the crystal he was holding. "But can you keep it up for
long? You will soon see that there are some that you are no match for,
Selah...and then, you will either join me, or die." He glanced up as he
felt a disturbance in the Force...Callista would be landing on Bespin
soon. Yes...things were going exactly as he had forseen them. Chuckling
softly, he squeezed the crystal sharply with his droid arm, crushing
the sphere into thousands of glistening shards before going to send his
commands to Thrawn.
Ch. 10
Mon Mothma stared in astonishment at the readouts she was receiving
from the battle...Thrawn had actually given up. But it had been too
easy...something wasn't right.
"We've got trouble!!" Bel Iblis's voice yelled from over the comm
unit, and her eyes widened as she saw what he meant. Thrawn's fleet
had merely been a distraction...for coming from the other side of the
gathered rebel forces was an Imperial fleet much larger than Thrawn's,
and she could tell that they meant business by the way they started
blasting fighters like there was no tomorrow. And there wouldn't be if
they didn't get out of there soon. Her mouth suddenly dry, she flicked
on her end of the comm unit.
"Prepare to evacuate...have all fighters get away once they can, then
meet at the rendezvous point." Snapping off the unit, she relayed
another order to evacuate to those that were still in the base before
hurrying to get to her own transport before the Imperials landed.
***********************************************************
I frowned as the Imperials suddenly appeared on our fleet's other
side.
"What's going on?!" Wedge shouted into my earpiece.
"Looks like Thrawn had some surprises left over, after all," I
remarked dryly. "Where's the Falcon?" I asked, frantically searching
for it on all my scopes..."Don't tell me it's been-"
"No, their nav computer was up to its old tricks...it looked like they
were headed towards Bespin, though," he added before shooting a TIE off
my tail.
"Thanks...you mind if I go?"
"Go ahead, we've been given the order to evacuate," he replied grimly.
"Right...good luck, and may the Force be with you," I said softly
before jumping to hyperspace.
After a short jump Artoo and I made it to a safe area; it was time to
decide just what I had to do. Reaching out with the Force, I focused
my attention on Bespin. Lando was there...and so was someone else,
someone that had taken him completely by surprise! "They're walking
into a trap," I whispered, opening my eyes. I started to punch in the
coordinates for the city in the clouds, then stopped.
"What should I do? We're running out of time!" I smiled slightly at
the astromech's reply that he wasn't sure, either.
I knew that if I went off to Bespin, I would be on my own...but all I
felt from Coruscant was darkness. Could it be a trick to keep me away
from the real destination? I knew my friends were in danger, but was it
up to me to save them? Luke had thought the same thing in the Empire
Strikes Back, and it had ended up the wrong choice. Was there even a
right choice in this situation? I knew that even though I was a Jedi,
my future was still clouded. I would mind what I had learned, for I
knew it would save me. I had to notice everything...everything. I
couldn't be reckless. Sighing deeply, I punched in the coordinates for
Coruscant and made the jump to lightspeed, hoping it was the right
decision.
***************************************************************
Han, Leia, C-3PO, Catrina, Chewie, and Jareth slowly exited the Falcon
and stepped onto the platform on Cloud City. Leia frowned...nothing
felt right here. Maybe it was just memories, but still...
She glanced over at Han and found he was deep in thought, as well.
"Lando," Cat said quietly as a familiar figure dressed in elegant
clothes and cape appeared in the doorway to the complex. She briefly
wondered which version it would be.
"Lando! Good to see ya...what are you doing here?" Han asked, forcing
a lop-sided grin as they walked over to meet the other man.
"Believe me, Han, it wasn't my choice," he said very softly. Louder,
he said, "Good to see you, too, ya old pirate! And you brought the
princess! And Tights, what a surprise!!" Jareth glared, causing
Calrissian to laugh. "How you doing Chewbacca?" the gambler called to
the Wookie that rumbled some reply. "Well, well...what have we here?"
he asked, raising his eyebrows and putting on a charming smile as he
noticed Catrina. Leia had to smile at Jareth's reaction...he just
couldn't get used to not being the most influential male in the group!
"Catrina," the girl replied, flashing a smile of her own as the
gambler suavely kissed her hand. Her eyes widened in surprise, though,
as she caught a glimpse of white armor behind him...
"Get down!!" Cat yelled, yanking her blaster free and putting holes in
three stormtroopers. Chewbacca roared and started using the troopers
for target practice with his bowcaster. Han cursed and pulled his own
weapon free, as did Leia. It was only when she saw that Lando didn't
have a weapon that she grew suspiscious, until she realized he had his
hands on his head and a slightly panicky expression on his face.
"Lando, what's going on!?" she called, ducking a blaster bolt that
came sizzling her way.
"Put down your weapons or your friend dies!" a smooth female voice
stated suddenly. Leia's eyes widened as a tall, blond, beautiful woman
that was dressed all in black, including a black cloak, came out from
behind the doorway and easily yanked Calrissian back with the Force.
Putting the handle of her lightsaber to his throat, she addressed the
group again.
"You can do this the easy way, or make it harder on your friend...it's
your choice, but I would be honored if you would join us," she added,
smiling cruelly.
"Who...who are you?!" Han asked, carefully placing his blaster on the
ground. Leia and Cat did the same, as did Chewie with his bowcaster,
and watched in amazement as the woman called them to her with the
Force, then allowed stormtroopers to collect them.
"Callista," Cat nodded, her eyes narrowed to slits.
"Ah, so you've heard of me."
"I've read the books, yes...and I always figured you'd turn...you were
desperate to find some connection with the Force."
"I couldn't have Luke until I did-"
"That was your excuse! You just wanted power! Dark Luke might have
brought you here, but you're in it as much for your gain as you are for
him!"
"Very good...so you do know me," the woman replied, tossing her blond
hair with a flick of her head. "But I'd be careful...after all, you're
friend is all alone..." she added, sneering.
"Don't you dare hurt Selah!" Han bellowed, and Chewbacca roared his
agreement.
"You...if you touch one hair on her head I'll-" Callista made a small
hand gesture and Jareth's sentence was interrupted as he struggled to
catch his breath. "That's not your decision, Glitter Brain," she said,
smirking. "As of now, you are all prisoners of the Empire...and I would
just hate for you to not enjoy some of our facilities," she said, a
delighted expression lighting up her features as she unclenched her
fist, setting Jareth free and gasping for breath. Nodding, she turned
and walked down the hall, the stormtroopers surrounding them and making
them follow the Dark Jedi.
"I'm sorry, Han...I know you probably don't believe me, but it really
isn't my
fault-" Lando said, but was cut off by the former smuggler.
"Hey, I know...you wouldn't have come back here by your own free
will...but why do they need you back here, anyway?"
"I don't know...and I don't know if I want to know," the other
scoundrel sighed, walking along with the others.
********************************************************
Ch. 11
Cat groaned and leaned against the wall of the prison cell she had
been thrown into. "They didn't even ask me any questions," she said,
grinning weakly at Han, Chewie, Threepio, and Lando.
"That seems to be standard Imperial procedure these days," Lando
agreed, rubbing his head from where he had been 'accidently' hit by the
butt of a stormtrooper's gun. Everyone looked up as Leia was pushed
into the room, followed shortly by Jareth. Cat's eyes widened and she
struggled to conceal a grin as she took in the king's appearance. His
hair was completely mussed, he was bruised, and his tights had seen
much better days.
"What in the Empire happened to you, Tight Boy?" Han asked, a smile
emerging on his features, even though it was clear it was painful for
him to laugh.
"Vibroblade...tights...I'm going to turn all those miserable armored
freaks into goblins when this is all over!!" he finally managed,
sinking down onto a cot.
"Why are they doing this?" Leia asked softly.
"To lure Selah here instead of Coruscant, probably...but she knows
better!!" Catrina deduced, frowning at the soreness that seemed to
pulse through her entire body.
"True, she does, but I will make her come," a new voice said and all
looked up as Callista entered the room. "I have been monitoring your
suffering closely and making sure she knows of it through the
Force...she will come," the Dark Jedi replied confidently.
"How can you be sure?!" Cat spat back, wishing she could take the
woman by surprise...she'd give her something to make her want to stop
using the Force, all right!
"Because, soon she'll be getting an image that she can't very well
ignore," Callista replied, licking her lips. "Come." Stormtroopers
entered the room then, and yanking them to their feet, proceeded to
drag the rebels out the door and down the hall.
********************************************************
I gritted my teeth as I felt my friends' suffering through the
Force...their pain was overwhelming and impossible to ignore. Someone
was mocking me...someone was doing their very best to make me suffer.
"Artoo?" I asked, knowing if it came down to it, I would need the
little droid's help very badly. "If you see me trying to plot a course
for Bespin, take over. We can't go there, no matter what," I
instructed, and he gave a low, affirmative whistle. Sighing, I settled
in to wait for the remainder of the trip to Coruscant, trying to
meditate in order to prepare myself for whatever unknown challenge I
still had to face.
**********************************************************
Han inhaled sharply as they reached their destination...the
carbon-freezing chamber. It all brought back so many memories that he
wanted badly to forget. The pig-like Ugnaughts quickly prepared the
chamber for use, lowering a network of pipes into the hole and
hammering the carbonite hoses into place. After lifting a heavy,
coffin-like container onto the platform, they scurried off. Only then
did he see who waited with Callista.
"Fett..." he snarled, his eyes narrowing upon seeing the bounty
hunter.
"Greetings Solo...so we meet again," he stated cooly. "Lucky for you I
have a more valuable prize to collect."
"What are you talking about?" Leia asked, linking protective arms
around Han's.
"I'm talking about the goblin king..."
"What?" Lando asked, startled.
"WHAT?!" Jareth yelled, completely shocked.
"Grand Admiral Thrawn will pay very well for a mythical being encased
in carbonite...a true piece of art, he called it," Fett replied,
regarding Jareth calmly. "But what if he's damaged...he's worth a lot
to me."
"We can test it first...on you," Callista replied, pointing a steady
figure to Catrina.
"You can't! It's never been done on someone that young...you don't
know how her body will react!!" Lando angrily replied, hurrying to
where Callista stood, only to be held back by two stormtroopers.
"Then it's high time we found out," the Dark Jedi sneered. "It will be
a most wonderful image to send to your friend...perhaps it will finally
drive her to the breaking point." Catrina could only stand there in
quiet horror and fascination as she was quickly cuffed by
stormtroopers.
"No!" the gambler cried again in panic. Chewbacca let out an outraged
roar before grabbing the soldier nearest him and throwing him off the
platform. Immediately the others responded, aiming their weapons at the
hairy beast...
"Chewie, stop it!! It's okay...I'll be all right," Cat said firmly,
walking over to squeeze his massive paws. Wookie and human stared into
each other's eyes for a few moments, an understanding passing between
them. Sighing, she turned to Leia and Han.
"Kid...I-"
"Han, it's okay, we'll get out of this, somehow. Keep well...and don't
just sit there on your rear...you'd better try and rescue me!" she
kidded, forcing a grin.
"We will...stay strong," he replied, and gripped her in a strong hug.
Leia squeezed her hand gently.
"The Force will be with you..."
"I know," replied, grinning at Threepio.
"Oh dear, oh dear!" he was mumbling.
"Yeah, I know...I feel the same way. Chin up, huh? I'll be fine...I'll
be well protected, if I survive the freezing process," she quoted,
sombering only a little as the droid gave a metallic version of a sigh.
"Thanks for at least trying to help me, Lando," Catrina said quietly
as she faced the scoundrel. He smiled softly and raised a gentle hand
to brush against her cheek.
"Hang on...we'll come after you, I promise." She nodded silently
before finally turning to the goblin king.
"This really isn't fair...you shouldn't have to go through this...not
alone," he said bitterly.
"That is a thought...Fett, has there ever been a double
carbon-freezing?" Callista asked, raising her eyebrows at the bounty
hunter.
"No...Thrawn would pay much more for that...a masterpiece of king and
subject encased in carbonite...a moment frozen in time," he replied
thoughtfully, or as thoughtfully as he could.
"All right, then...put them both in," Callista replied, grinning at
the two prisoners, her grey eyes blazing with an uncanny inner flame.
"What?! I didn't mean-" Jareth was cut off as he was immediately
cuffed and both were led to the hydraulic platform. He quieted
automatically, wanting to preserve something of his dignity if he was
going to face potential death. The Ugnaughts raced over and bound both
to the deck so they couldn't get away. Jareth and Cat stood there,
helpless, gazing over to their friends for one last time. Chewie was
shaking his head mournfully, occassional bellows escaping his lips.
Threepio was watching the entire process with interest. Han looked like
he was reliving his entire experience, and Leia with him. Lando looked
on, his face etched into an expression of deep sorrow and regret. They
might have had their grievances with the king, but none of them would
wish this fate on either of the two.
Chewbacca gave a final howl of farewell as the platform slowly started
to hum with life and sink into the floor. Cat and Jareth exchanged a
final glance before the king spoke the emotion that was foremost on
both of their minds.
"When I get my hands on that Dark Luke...he's going to pay!!"
"I know," she replied solemnly.
Suddenly, firey liquid poured down into the pit, causing the
on-lookers to turn away in horror and sorrow. Everything was an
explosion of sparks and steam for a few moments before it solidified
and an enormous pair of metal tongs was lowered and pulled up the dual
statue. The figures it held had human shapes, but not all their
features were completely evident, but their last expressions were
frozen onto their faces. The rest was rocky and undefined like an
unfinished statue. A few Ugnaughts approached the bodies and shoved it
over, causing it to fall into a coffin-shaped container with a loud
metallic clang. An electronic monitoring device was then attached
before they stepped away.
"Check it, Calrissian," Callista ordered, and slowly Lando stepped up
to regard the two that were frozen in a moment of time. Looking over
the temperature gauges, he gave a sigh of relief. "They're both
alive...and in perfect hibernation," he added, glancing over at the
rest of his friends, whose faces echoed the relief he felt.
"They're all yours, Fett," Callista said, nodding to the bounty
hunter. Stretching out to the Dark Side of the Force, she frowned. "She
still isn't giving in! She's still heading to Coruscant!!
"You can't stop her," Leia said firmly.
"Oh no? Watch me. Take them to my ship and we will go to Coruscant to
help Luke in his pursuit of a new Dark Jedi," she ordered, stalking out
of the room. The remaining comrads didn't even have time to look at
each other before they were dragged after the Dark Jedi.
Ch. 12
I briefly squeezed my eyes shut and forced myself to continue on the
plotted course. The image of Cat and Jareth being encased in carbonite
was almost too much. Seeing there expressions in my mind's
eye...feeling the sudden firey chill as the liquid poured down around
them...it was way too much, even for a Jedi. What was worse was the
realization that it was all my fault, because I had had to stay behind!
I had made the right choice though, hadn't I? Sometimes things like
this had to happen...at least that's what I kept telling myself.
Pushing my grief away, I knew I couldn't think about it, I couldn't let
it lure me away from the mission. True, I had let my friends suffer,
but I valued all they had fought for. I would continue on to Coruscant.
I momentarily wondered who the Dark Jedi's accomplice was, and why
they were taking such a delight in testing and tormenting me. I
couldn't let those thoughts rule me, either, so I switched over to
autopilot and sunk into a meditative trance to prepare for the
confrontation, knowing that it would take everything I had and then
some.
*****************************************************************
"The Falcon is now safe outside the castle, Luke," Callista said,
smiling slightly upon entering the castle throne room.
"Good...and the prisoners?" he asked, returning her smile as she came
to embrace him before answering.
"They're being taken care of...they'll be transported soon so that any
leftover rebels won't know where to find them."
"Excellent...has Fett taken the two encased in carbonite to Thrawn?"
"Yes...they are now a permanent addition of his art collection," she
replied, smiling at the memory. "She resisted the temptation, though."
"I know, but we have surprise on our side. She will not be able to
resist much longer. And if she does...she will be destroyed."
************************************************************
"She's coming...did she make the right choice?" Luke's spirit asked,
turning away from the images that had filled the crystal. Images of
pain and suffering from both parts of the separated group...it was too
hard to watch and not be able to reach out to them, to her.
"Hard to tell it is...know for sure we cannot," Yoda replied, his lips
curling down into a troubled frown.
"We'll find out shortly, though...she's almost here," Mace Windu
observed, his chin resting on his hands, his elbows on his knees.
"And they are already here, as well," Mundi added, frowning at the
image of the prisoners being forced into the huge castle.
"I only wish there was something I could do!" Luke said, feeling a tug
at his heart as the image of the young Jedi appeared again in the globe
and back at his shell of a body. Again, he reached out to the Force,
ignoring the Dark Side that was abundant because of the ysalimiri.
Nothing...it was impossible at the moment. Sighing, he dropped into a
seat and waited, his mind screaming with all the possibilities which
could occur.
******************************************************************
"Wait here," I said softly to Artoo, who was not very happy with the
command. He obeyed, and stayed in the X-wing socket, whistling softly.
Chuckling slightly, I dropped onto the duracrete pavement and silently
walked up to the castle entrance. I had no idea where to go from here.
Thankfully, a blaster bolt came whizzing at my head, otherwise I might
have wasted more time contemplating. Instinctively I whipped out my
lightsaber and deflected it easily. The stormtrooper wasn't about to
give up, though, and he continued to fire shots even as he retreated.
Following him into the building, I figured he'd probably lead me to
where I needed to be.
"SELAH!!!" I turned as Leia's scream reached my ears, dodging the
bolts that more stormtroopers began to fire.
"IT'S A TRAP!!!" One of the white-armored annoyances grabbed her by
the shoulders and started to drag her down the hall...
"THE DARK JEDI IS L-" she was suddenly dragged away before she could
finish the sentence. I turned as I felt a presence, one that wasn't
completely familiar, but one that I knew I would come across still the
same.
"You aren't the Jedi I'm here to face," I said softly as I turned
around to face the hooded knight.
"True, I am only one of them." Dropping the hood back, I caught my
breath as Callista's face appeared and struggled to contain my anger.
She was not one of my favorite characters...far from it. I had always
seen her actions as selfish, not for the reasons she claimed she acted
for. She had shown no emotion towards the struggle she put Luke through
when she left him in the books, and she showed only apathy now. "But
you will face me...or do you fear me?"
"I fear nothing with the Force," I answered, and watched as she
shedded her robe and ignited a ruby-colored blade. Silently, I ignited
my brilliant blue one and crossed it with hers, reaching out to the
Force to guide me. Briefly, I recalled the words of the wise Jedi
knight whose lightsaber I now used as my own. *Use the Force only for
knowledge and for defense, not as a weapon. They lead the way to the
dark side.* I waited, staring into Callista's grey eyes, knowing she'd
tire of waiting sooner or later. I was right, and suddenly she swung
her blade out and around, a cross sweep that was one of her trademark
moves. I easily deflected it, knowing it was coming, then started to
thrust, using the Force as my ally-
And suddenly it was gone. Callista grinned at me, bringing her sword
up and smashing it towards my skull, hard. I rolled, the blade barely
missing me. The unsteady move caused me to drop my saber, though, and
it flicked off and rolled a few feet away.
She was having no trouble using the Force...why had it suddenly left
me? My eyes wide, I tried to call the sword into my palm...nothing.
Nothing at all.
"You must use the Dark Side now, young one...the light side is
destroyed."
"No...it cannot be. You lie," I answered, rolling back as she attacked
again, landing right next to my sword. Picking it up, I deflected her
red blade right as it threatened to reach me, but we both knew it had
been a lucky blow.
"Don't you want to take revenge for your friends...don't you want to
save Luke....you only have a little time left," she purred, moving
swiftly and easily. I fumbled slightly as I struggled to keep up with
her attacks, knowing I couldn't stay here much longer.
"Whatever you're up to...you're not going to succeed!" I replied, not
letting my fear and anger reach me, although it was such a temptation.
"Impressive...you still remain strong with your weakling ways, even
though I have already won."
"Won you have not...and you'll find I'm full of surprises!" I replied,
imitating the speech of one great Jedi Master and quoting another.
"Is that so...then how come you cannot defeat me?" she asked, her lips
curving down in a sneer. "There is much Luke didn't teach you...come
with me and I will teach you all you need to know about the Force..."
"I will not be turned...you'll just have to kill me," I replied,
staring into her eyes calmly.
"That won't be necessary," she murmured, then raised her hand to push
me back with the Force. Unable to stop it, I shouted in surprise as I
flew back and down the flight of steps I had used to reach her in the
first place. Groaning, I quickly pushed the pain out of my mind and
looked up right as Callista jumped down and landed at my feet. "Only
your anger and hatred can destroy me...use it," she taunted, holding
the point of her sword directly at my face. Slowly, I raised up only a
few inches and ignited the sword that I had landed on, swinging it at
her feet. Startled, she jumped back, taking her blade away.
"I'll never join you...and I won't fight you anymore," I answered,
getting to my feet and backing away. Something seemed to be calling me
somewhere else, and I followed the instinctive message out the door and
into the Imperial City, looking to go anywhere but there. It wasn't her
I was supposed to face, anyway. She was only trying to delay me. I had
to save Luke, and I had only a little time left in which to do it.
***********************************************************
Callista calmly watched Selah leave, headed toward what she thought
was safety. "True...you won't fight me anymore...soon, you will join
me," she whispered, pleased with how long she had managed to delay the
other woman. True, she was stronger than she liked to admit, but she
had been weakened by the dark ysalimiri. It was only a matter of time,
literally. Turning, she went to oversee the transportation of the
prisoners to where they'd never be found by rebel sympathizers.
Ch. 13
I raced down the street as the call grew stronger..something was
calling me to it, and I assumed it would be the Dark Jedi that had
started me on this mission. I was puzzled about the disappearance of
the Force, though...here in the streets it seemed to have returned!
Surely I wasn't losing my touch! I didn't even think that was possible!
I stopped as the call stopped and I found myself outside the Jedi
Temple. *Okay...if this is where I need to be...* I started to take my
lightsaber from my belt, but stopped myself, knowing that if I did that
I would be presuming too much. Slowly I walked up the steps and entered
the seemingly empty building.
"So...you have discovered my delay tactics and have finally come to
meet me face-to-face. Good...I have been looking forward to this for a
long time, young Specht. A long time."
"I bet you have," I murmured, trying to figure out where the voice was
coming from. The Dark Jedi was using a technique that amplified and
echoed his voice, so I would have no idea where it was coming from.
Calming myself, I reached out to the Force, only to discover there was
nothing there.
"You see, your light side is vanquished...there is only one way to
defeat me now. You must join the Dark Side," he stated, suddenly
appearing to my side. I turned quickly, almost giving in to the
temptation to grab my sword, but I stopped, and tried to control my
breathing, instead. There was something familiar about the Dark Jedi,
what it was I could not place.
"There is nothing you can say or do that will make me join the Dark
Side! I'm here to save Luke and save him I will!" I replied, staying
still. I could almost feel his amusement as he slowly reached a droid's
arm up and pulled back his hood...
My breath caught in my throat and I could feel my eyes widen as a very
familiar figure appeared underneath the cloak. "Luke?" I asked
quietly, feeling everything inside me start to crumble. He had said
Luke was in his castle...he never said which version it was. "No...no,
it *can't* be!" I said, slightly louder as I backed up, shaking my
head. I whirled around as he suddenly appeared behind me, and it took
me a moment to remember that he now had Jareth's magic.
"Selah..." he whispered, with his own voice this time, almost
tenderly. His eyes searched my face and seemed to search into my soul
as he slowly raised his human hand to run a finger down my cheek.
"There is no escape. Don't make me destroy you...that's the last thing
I want to do. You are strong with the Force...so strong. Now...now you
must learn to use the Dark Side. Join me, and we will rule the galaxy
together..."
"Oh Luke..." I managed, weakening slightly as he ran his fingertips
over my temple. I looked at him, and suddenly realized that he wasn't
the man I was completely in love with. This was the Dark Luke from the
Dark Empire series...not the Luke I knew. I carefully took in his face,
his eyes that were intent on drawing me in, the triumphant smile that
just barely registered over his features. I glanced down at his frame,
now covered in black body armor and robes, just like Vader. His droid's
arm twitched slightly, and looking back into his eyes, I knew what I
had to do.
"I refuse. I will not join the Dark Side...you can send Callista to
make me jealous, you can try to tempt me, yourself, but there is
nothing you can do to make me join." The smile on his face slowly gave
way to fierce anger, and abruptly his mechanical arm drew up and and
met my face, hard, knocking me to the floor. Shocked, I looked up into
a stranger's eyes.
"Fool...your light side no longer exists," he growled, gesturing to a
piece of metal equipment that lay on the floor. Instantly it came up
and fell on my legs, causing me to cry out in pain. "I have banished it
with my new breed of dark ysalimiri. I only offered you the chance to
join us for the good of the Empire...you are nothing to me. Why do you
think I chose Callista to rule by my side?" he asked, coming closer as
I struggled to sit up. He gestured, causing a piece of piping to rip
out of the wall and knock me back to the floor. "Because you are
nothing to me...how you could possibly think I could love you I have no
idea...but you are worthless to the Empire and to me!" he snarled,
sending a long-neglected crate hurtling to meet my shoulders, forcing
me to lie prostrate before him. Slowly, my chin was raised up by his
lightsaber handle and my eyes met his. I shuddered slightly at his
amused grin. "You may have been a Jedi...but now you will die," he
murmured, and I knew he was going to turn the thing on. Rolling quickly
with a new-found courage and strength, I carefully leaped to my feet,
ignoring the pain raging throughout my body, both emotional and
physical.
I turned and faced him again, wincing as a tear cascaded down my
cheek. Raising my chin slightly, I struggled to maintain any dignity.
"I don't expect you to love me...but there is someone who does. I will
not turn...even if you have to kill me, I'm taking you with me," I
stated solemnly before heading towards the stairs that I felt an even
darker force emanating from. His dark ysalimiri would be somewhere, and
I had to destroy them. Getting up the stairs was a whole other story,
though...I was limping slightly from the blows and I was exhausted.
Glancing over my shoulder, I half expected Dark Luke to be on my heels,
but no one was there. Shrugging, I figured when he really wanted to
finish me off, he'd do it. At that moment I had larger things to attend
to.
*************************************************
"She's coming..." Luke said softly, shocked at how much she'd been put
through.
"But she has to destroy the Dark Skywalker," Mace Windu reminded.
"In time he will be..." Yoda said softly, shaking his head.
"I fear she's been put through too much today to get rid of him now,"
Kenobi stated, his eyes meeting Luke's.
"Isn't there anything we can do?"
"We cannot interfere..and the dark ysalimiri prevent us from making
ourselves known to her. Even if she enters, she won't be able to see
us; all she'll see is the body," Ki-Adi-Mundi replied softly, looking
as defeated as Luke felt. All of the spirits turned their eyes to the
door as footsteps began echo from outside.
"She's here," Luke whispered, hoping they could both take this
meeting. The doors shuddered slightly before slowly being pushed open,
and a lone weary-looking figure slowly walked in.
*************************************
Slowly I entered the Jedi Council room, ignoring the ysalimiri that
were surrounding the outside for the time-being. Something was urging
me inside. I couldn't stay long, though. The creatures may be
peacefull, but they were strong in the Dark Side, forcing me to feel
things that I wanted no part of. I let my eyes adjust to the twilight
lighting of the room, taking in the autumnal-decorated chambers that
was so familiar from the movie. Slowly my eyes fell on what was in the
center of the ring of twelve seats.
"Oh no..." I whispered, coming closer, though I wanted to run away.
"No...no...No...NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!" The words
tore out of me of their own free will. I couldn't grasp it...there was
Luke, my Luke, lying lifeless on a slab of stone. It couldn't be...it
just couldn't.
Breaking free of my shocked trance, I quickly reached his side,
grasping his hand in my own. It was ice-cold and just as lifeless as
the rest of him. "Luke," I sobbed, running my hand through his hair.
"Oh, Luke...what happened to you?!"
"I killed him." The twisted version of Luke's voice echoed through the
chamber, and glancing up I found that he was standing on the other side
of Luke's lifeless body. Slowly, chimes began to echo through the room.
"You are beaten, as is Skywalker. He has breathed his last," he said
simply, a satisfied smirk playing across his features.
"No....that's not true!! That's impossible!!" I shrieked, shaking my
head, trying to find the Force, but only finding fear, anger, hate, and
evil. "NOOOOO!!!! No!" I yelled until I was hoarse, finally breaking
down into a sobbing fit, leaning my face down to rest against Luke's
chest. No heartbeat, no breath came to my ears. Nothing.
When Dark Luke spoke again his voice was much more controlled, almost
understanding, but I knew better than to trust him. It seemed to pour
over my wounds, trying to make me give in to temptation. "Search your
feelings...you know it to be true." Confused, I shook my head against
the fallen Jedi's lifeless form.
"Selah, you can destroy me...I have forseen it. It is your destiny,
but first you must learn the way of the Dark Side. Only then can you
destroy me." His words were a whirlwind in my brain...was he telling
the truth? Was everything finally lost for good? Was everything I had
fought for, everything I had tried to become, no more than a lie? My
breath came in muffled gasps, and I struggled to block him out of my
mind, but he was too strong and I was too weakened.
I couldn't believe it...I tried to tell myself that the Dark Luke was
lying, but I couldn't feel anything except the Dark Side. If he was
telling the truth, though...why had I been lied to? Why had Luke had to
be killed? *WHY?!* my mind screamed, and I shook my head in an effort
to clear my mind. Looking up, I met Dark Luke's gaze steadily as my
mind came to a sudden realization. Whatever I had to do...I couldn't
let myself become an agent of evil.
**************************************************
Luke looked on as Selah tried to ride out her inner struggle, but the
Dark Side was being very persuasive. He quickly walked over to kneel
beside her, to get her attention, but she couldn't see him. All she
could see was his body and his evil twin that still held her eyes with
his own.
"Selah...I'm here, within you," he whispered, reaching an arm out to
pull her to him. It went straight through her, though, and she noticed
nothing. Luke seemed to fall apart with her as he tried to tell her it
was all right, as he tried to reassure her that the Light Side was
stronger, but none of his words could reach her. He finally stepped
back to watch as she sniffled slightly and stood, blinking the tears
away, her mind made up about something.
"I'm sorry I failed you..." she whispered, stroking the face of his
shell. "I've let down my friends, I've let you down...and there's
nothing more I can do...he's won...it's been thirteen hours and there's
nothing more I can do. I'm sorry...please, wherever you are, forgive
me...and may the Force be with you if it cannot be with me. But he
won't have me...I won't let myself be turned, even if it means taking
drastic measures," she sighed before bending down to gently press her
lips against those of his body's face. He felt his heartstrings tug at
the gesture...he longed to hold her, to reassure her, but it was
impossible.
His dark twin smiled smugly as if he could foresee what was about to
take place. Whatever he saw, it was not something very pleasant for
Selah, or for the real Luke.
"Maybe we'll be together soon...at any rate, always know that I love
you..." she whispered, standing. Luke's eyes widened slightly as she
slowly took her lightsaber from her belt.
"That's right...if you will not join, take the other way out...it is
the only way to end this battle; it is the only way to escape," Dark
Luke whispered, his words a quiet hiss as his eyes hungrily devoured
each action she took.
"Ben...what's she doing?" Luke asked softly, turning to find that the
other Jedis had risen in alarm.
"The answer this is not...defeat him she must, another time!" Yoda
replied, his voice raising slightly as she slowly turned the safe end
away from her, pressing the other end against her middle.
"We cannot let this happen!" Mundi said sharply and Mace nodded in
agreement.
"But what can be done?" the senior Jedi asked hopelessly.
"The crystal...do you think?" Luke asked, focusing on the globe
floating in front of him. He reached out for it, concentrating on
making his hand solid enough to grasp it. His fingers slowly closed
around the cool sphere and he brought it down from its suspended place.
"What should I wish?" he asked, his heartrate quickening as she
mentally prepared herself for what was to come.
"There is one who she will listen to...one who will know what to do.
He was not a member of the council or your teacher, that is why he
isn't here right now. But he has been watching her, I know, and he'll
know what to do," Kenobi said softly, looking to Yoda.
"Yes...him it will be. Guide her he must. Call him," he instructed his
old student.
Obi-Wan Kenobi walked over to Luke and gently placed his hand over the
younger man's, focusing on the crystal. "I wish...I wish..."
***********************************************
Slowly, I felt my breathing ease and my muscles relax. I was ready.
Ignoring the Dark Jedi that stood before me, I opened my eyes to look
one last time at the one I loved so much, then slid my fingers over the
button to ignite the sword-
I gasped in total surprise as a strong hand suddenly lurched the
lightsaber away from my grip, causing me to turn towards him from the
impact. I shouted in alarm as it was forced out of my fingers, but
quickly quieted as I recognized the figure. We stood a few feet away,
regarding each other for a few moments. I couldn't tell what he thought
of me, since I still couldn't feel the light side, but I was in total
awe. He looked as the others had, like the actor, but much more
genuine. But there was a reasurring energy that seemed to radiate from
him, that seemed to comfort me suddenly. Slowly, I calmed myself and
tried to speak.
"Qui-Gon Jin," I slowly whispered, and he nodded, coming towards me.
"But how-"
"It's not a trick...Luke and Obi-Wan wished me here, to help you," he
said softly, taking another step closer. "There isn't much time-"
"But how, Luke's-"
"He's only been displaced from his body...we've got to get you out of
here if there's to be any hope of saving him."
"But then the Dark Luke could destroy his body!" I practically
shrieked, knocking his hand away as he reached out to me. I glanced
over at the Dark Luke to find him in a slight trance...maybe that was
part of the wish.
"He won't do it; he needs him to lure you here. If you want to save
your friends and Luke, you have to trust me. You won't gain anything
but maybe losing yourself to the Dark Side if you stay here. This
battle must continue on another day, when you are stronger," he said
softly, his eyes holding mine. "You must be mindful of the future-"
"But shouldn't you not be mindful of the future at the expense of the
moment?" I asked, remembering his words at the beginning of Episode
One.
"In this case, I think it's all right...come on!" he urged, reaching
out an open hand. "Selah, there's nothing more you can do right
now...what you were about to do...you can't save anyone like that.
Please, you need to trust me." Slowly, I took a step forward, and
figuring I had nothing to lose, placed my hand in his. He relaxed
visibly, a sigh of relief going through his entire, incredibly tall
frame. "Let's be off, then...Dark Luke will only stay like that for a
short time...we have to use that to our advantage." Nodding, I followed
as he quickly led me out the door and down the stairs.
**************************************************
Ch. 14
"Thank you," Luke sighed, sitting down as he watched the two leave.
"Thank Qui-Gon...he's the one that managed to stop her," Ben
whispered, smiling slightly as he watched his old master leave the
room.
"Now stands a chance she does..." Yoda sighed, relaxing slightly.
"And all we have to do is wait until the next time," Mace Windu said
quietly, knowing that although that was all they had to do, it would
not be easy.
"Right...wait," Luke echoed. *And worry about how she's doing,* he
thought, glancing briefly at his own body.
*********************************************************
Dark Luke blinked suddenly, shaking his head to try and clear it.
Something had happened, and it wasn't through the Force! Immediately he
noticed that the crystal that once hung in the center of the circle had
vanished and the Jedi spirits were much too passive. "What did you
do?!" he snarled, glaring at his twin.
"We merely gave her a little confidence," Skywalker replied, gazing at
him calmly. Dark Luke narrowed his eyes, his hands working in and out
of fists. He wanted so badly to kill him...but he needed him as bait.
He forced a calm smile, even though he wanted to scream with rage.
"Well, then...I suppose we'll just see who finds her first...your
side, or the Empire," he stated before leaving the room to instruct all
troops to surround the castle and the temple.
*************************************************************
"Hurry! We need to get to a ship!" Qui-Gon shouted, pulling me down
the street.
"I saw the Falcon near the castle! We can use it...but what about
Artoo?"
"He is a helpful droid...I'll call him," he replied, and mometarily he
reached out with the Force to let the little droid know where to go.
"The Force is back...the ysalimiri's range must not extend out here!"
I observed, and he nodded. We stopped short as stormtrooper flooded out
onto the streets, blasters at the ready.
"Stop right there!" one shouted, and immediately the Jedi master
responded by extending his hand and sending five of them flying.
"Can I trust you with this thing?" he asked me, holding out my
lightsaber.
"Yes...I'll never think of that as an answer again...I won't let the
Dark Side get to me," I answered, and gladly accepted the weapon from
him. Blaster bolts streamed towards us and I gladly reached out to the
Force to deflect them with my weapon. Qui-Gon did the same, with a
grace and ease that astounded me. I couldn't let myself dwell on
watching him, though, because I needed to be helping our progress to
the ship. As soon as part of the street was cleared, we rushed on
towards the castle.
******************************************************
"Stop right there!" the soldier guarding the ship bellowed, then
yelled in confusion as his blaster was yanked away. Dropping it to the
ground, I quickly approached him.
"We aren't the ones you're looking for," I quietly said, waving my
hand in front of his helmet.
"You aren't the ones we're looking for."
"We don't need to stay here."
"You don't need to stay here."
"Take your droid and go," I said, glancing over to where Artoo waited
by the Falcon.
"Take your droid and go."
"Move along," I couldn't help adding.
"Move along...move along," the stormtrooper replied, waving his hand
for emphasis.
"Very good...you've learned well," Qui-Gon acknowledged, following me
into the ship. I raced into the cockpit and sat down at the controls,
only vaguely hearing the Jedi and the astromech droid greet each other.
Soon, we were rocketing into space, but were presented with another
problem.
"The Executor," I said softly, shaking my head as the Super Star
Destroyer appeared on the screen. "This ship's been through enough as
it is...we need to make repairs...we can only outrun them for so long,"
I said grimly. "And even then, the Empire won't rest until they've
found us."
"That is a problem," Qui-Gon said, frowning slightly. Artoo rolled
into the room, bleeping with excitement. Coming over to me, he opened
his hidden compartment. My eyes widened as I saw what was
inside...three crystals.
"But how-"
"Jareth put them there before you split up...he wanted you to have a
way out," a quiet voice mewed. Startled, we both turned with
lightsabers at the ready towards the voice.
"Khabarakh! But how-"
"I hid in the smuggling compartments...Han clan Solo and the
Mal'ary'ush wanted you to have someone to guide you if you could get to
this ship. I am at your service, my fellow warrior. Together, we will
rescue the others." I nodded at his solemn speech, regarding the small
being dressed in the brown cloak with the nightmarish face peacefully.
He would be a great help. I sighed, lowering my face in shame as I
remembered how angry I'd been at Jareth...it hadn't accomplished
anything, and here he'd done all he could to help me.
"Thank you...your services and this magic is welcome...we can
definitely use them," I murmured.
"Any ideas?" Qui-Gon asked, snapping my mind back to the situation at
hand. I glanced back at the screen and the Super Star Destroyer that
was rapidly filling it.
"We shouldn't waste them...but we can't just wish the others free...we
really need to get the Imps off our back..." my voice trailed off as an
idea sparked in my mind. The Jedi raised his eyebrows as I told him my
plan.
"It's risky..."
"True," I replied.
"And presents us with many more problems..." Khabarakh added.
"Yes."
"And is definitely different than anything I've ever attempted...much
more hazardous, the Jedi Master added, his brows furrowed in
contemplation.
"Well?"
"Well, I suggest you hurry up and wish," he said, throwing me a soft
smile. Nodding, I held up one crystal before my face.
"I wish..."
*******************************************************
Dark Luke watched intently as the Falcon tried to flee...he would not
let them escape!!
"Maximize all fire power...don't even bother trying to catch them in
the tractor beam!" he barked to the admiral on duty. He nodded, rushing
to comply.
Everyone was surprised as the ship suddenly turned around and began to
rush towards them.
"They're moving to attack position...shields up!!"
"Fire on my word," Dark Luke said suddenly.
"My lord-"
"Do it!" he snapped, looking over his shoulder. "Now!" He watched in
satisfaction as the scarlet bolts of energy met the exhausted ship
head-on, turning it into nothing more than a blazing ball of rubble.
The shields easily deflected it and soon the wreckage was nothing more
than a drifting shell. Silently, he reached out through the Force.
Nothing. Smiling, he turned to where the admiral stood waiting.
"Very good, Admiral...very good, indeed." Now things were as they
should be.
Ch. 15
The real Millennium Falcon flew off in the opposite direction, far
away from the Executor. No one noticed, though...they were too much in
awe of the decoy they had just destroyed.
"We're far enough away," Qui-Gon said, nodding slightly. We both let
the walls that we had put up to keep Dark Luke from finding us down,
breathing a sigh of relief.
Khabarakh sat in the copilot's seat, working the controls with ease as
we made our escape. My eyes were brought back to the man sitting beside
me and I winced as he cleaned a large cut on my arm; one of many
wounds I had been given that day. I wondered how I had let myself and
my friends get into this mess...he would never have let something like
this happen! How could I call myself a Jedi when I let a situation like
this get out of control! He must have sensed my thoughts because he
gently reached out with the Force to reassure me. Sighing, I met his
gaze, then looked away.
"I was such a fool...I was so stupid to think I could've won in
thirteen hours."
"You must unlearn what you have learned, even in a situation like
this," he agreed quietly. "But what happened to your friends isn't your
fault...there really wasn't anything you could have done. It was the
way things had to go for now..."
"I know..." I sighed, leaning back into the pilot's seat, my gaze
transfixed by the stars.
"We'll get them back...Luke sent me to help you...he doesn't want
anything to happen to you," he added, and I felt my eyes start to burn
at that name.
"And the droid and I will do our part, as well, Selah clan Specht.
That I promise you," Khabarakh added softly and Artoo beeped in
agreement.
"I'm not going to sit by and wait...I'm going to do all I can to get
them back...all of them," I added, glancing over at the other Jedi. He
nodded and I smiled slightly as he removed his cloak and draped it
around my shoulders.
"I wouldn't expect a Jedi to do any less," he said softly, wrapping an
arm around my shoulders and reaching out to me through the Force in a
gesture of comfort. I gladly accepted it, and laid my head on his
shoulder. From the first time I had seen the new movie I had been drawn
to the character, not just for the obvious reasons, but because he
reminded me of sort of a father figure...someone that I would love to
have as a teacher or a relative. Now, he automatically played the part,
taking me under his wing as he had Obi-Wan for his Padawan. He knew
about my past and I knew much about his from the movie and books I had
read. He knew I wouldn't betray him like his first apprentice, Xanatos,
and I knew he would stay with me and help me through.
I let my thoughts wander to Luke and the others, knowing that although
the future was very uncertain, one thing was for sure: I was going to
come after them, no matter what. I glanced down as Artoo scooted behind
us, whistling softly.
"I've set the course for Tatooine," Khabarakh finally said, breaking
the silence. I nodded, and Qui-Gon and I took our seats before he
pulled the hyperdrive lever. As the stars blurred into starlines, I
couldn't help wonder about what the future would bring.
"No matter what, the Force will be with us," the Jedi said softly,
squeezing my hand. I turned and gave him a grateful smile, turning my
attention back to the moment for the time-being.
"I know...I know."
***************************************************
The End