The Millennium Falcon and the Jade Shadow approached Coruscant on sublight speed, followed closely by two X – wings. The pilots, however, found it difficult to focus on the task at hand. The departure of Zonama Sekot broth the Yuuzhan Vong war to an end, but it would be long before the minds of most of the beings in the galaxy came to terms with the new reality.
- What's on your mind, Luke? – asked Mara through the Force, sensing that he is deeply disturbed – the departure of Zonama Sekot is no reason to brood.
- I hate politics – groaned Luke on the open channel – Just watch, in no time at all politicians will accuse the council of giving too much power to the jedi. Cal Omas offered to build us a new temple on Coruscant. I don't know – while the symbolism about restoring the galaxy is a good idea, accepting the offer may tie us to the Galactic Alliance in the long run, which is not a good idea.
-I agree – murmured Mara – but what can we do? With six of the masters in the High council, to situate permanently anywhere else will make us look ineffective, and I'm not putting through that crap again.
Luke sighted. Prior to the invasion, the jedi acted in an uncoordinated manner, with little to no communication even to the local New Republic authorities. As a result, the major public had grown weary of the seemingly random vigilante action of some jedi, whose actions sometimes delayed or worse, deepened the problems to solve. Luke hadn't forgotten the disaster at Rhomanool, where the hasty actions of Wurth Skidder wasted many months of diplomatic efforts by both the New Republic and the jedi and played strait into Nom Anor's mutilated hands. The formation of the High Council mostly solved the problem, but it was formed in times of war and was still unclear how well it would function during peace.
Lost in his thoughts, Luke almost didn't see the formation of large anomaly in the space straight in the course of the four spacecraft. It resembled the beginnings of the Emperor's Force storms. Luke reached with the Force, hoping to stop the highly destructive manifestation of the Dark Side from forming. Coruscant had suffered enough. It didn't need the shocks of a Force storm on top of the damage done by the raging battle and the rampage of the World Brain, driven to near insanity by the demented Supreme Overlord Shimrra. Luke felt the other jedi reaching as well. Big mistake.
As soon as the jedi touched the anomaly, it expanded, growing bigger and bigger with every touch. Worse, none of them was able to withdraw his or her mind off the thing and the X-wings flew straight to it, followed closely by the Jade Shadow. The Falcon kept its distance.
Jaina, Mara, Luke, please respond. Back out of that thing now, please. – Leia ran into the passenger compartment of the Falcon – Jacen, contact your sister now… - Seeing the empty look in her son's eyes, Leia cried – Han, whatever happened to them happened to Jacen too.
Han immediately switched his comlink, calling the fleet:
- This is Millennium Falcon. That thing has trapped the minds of Luke, Jacen, Jaina and Mara. Requesting immediate assistance from anyone in proximity to drag their hides out of there.
The response war immediate. Rebel Dream and Mon Mothma changed course ,as well as several smaller craft. Seveal X-wings also approached at full speed. Those were piloted by the veterans of the Rogue Squadron. A chiss clawcraft with the markings of the Twin Suns Squadron joined them. Listening to the comm chatter, Han picked up their plan:
-Ok, everyone, listen up. Our goal is to shoot down the sublight engines. Once that happens, Han can grab them with the Falcon's tractor beam and change their course.- that was Wedge.
The hair on Han's head rose up, but he realized that this was their best chance. The larger craft, which could safely drag the wayward craft to safety, were hesitant to approach the anomaly in space, not understanding its nature. At the moment, close enough were only the Falcon and the clawcraft, which the Solos recognized as Jagged Fell's. The two craft dove closer to the uncontrolled ships. As they approached firing range, in one final surge, the anomaly engulfed all five ships, shrank and disappeared. When it vanished, there was no trace of the five craft … or their remains.
When the anomaly was gone, so was its influence on the minds of the jedi. Which was a good thing, considering the fact that they entered a war zone. While they immediately recognized the world as Coruscant, however, even from this distance was clear that something weird had happened. The planet was missing the massive scars from Vongforming and war.
- OK. What the hell happened – was all Han was able to comm before a swarm of fighters attacked them. The jedi entered the Force Meld and the five ships started shooting back. Soon the numbers of their foes begun to diminish and they were able to talk through the Force:
-What are this ships? – asked Jaina – they're metal, but I don't sense pilotes. Utter astonishment flooded the Force Meld "It can't be " said Leia. "These are droid fighters. I've seen them in history holos. They were last used by the confederacy of independent system during the Clone Wars.
While the others were still digesting what Leia had said, Luke reached with the Force to the world below. Sure enough, it was there. Heavily cloaked, but unmistakable dark presence. With growing dread, he opened the comm and said:
- He is here.
- Who? – confused asked Han and Jag.
- Emperor Palpatine – answered Mara.
What the hell had happened?
a/n First fanfic. Please R&R