Won the Summer 2007 Best Romance Award on The Force. Net
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Title: The Path of Dreams (title has been changed from Dragon Call)
Rating: R (but mostly PG-13) see warning
Author: Flowerlady
Timeframe: Legacy Era
Dramatis Personae: (association is at time of introduction into the story)
Alema Rar, Twi'lek female, Sith Assassin
Alexandria Winger, human female, Jedi Knight
Allana Djo, human female, Hapan Princess
Allia Judday, human female, Lieutenant Rogue Squadron
Alema Rar, Twi'lek female, Sith Assassin
Ben Skywalker, human male, Jedi Apprentice
Booster Terrik, human male, Captain Errant Venture
Cha Niathal, Mon Calamari female, Chief of State GFFA
Corran Horn, human male, Jedi Master
Darth Krayt, human male, Sith Lord
Darth Troddeln, human male, Sith Lord
Dur Gejjen, human male, Head of State, Corellia
Gavin Darklighter, human male, Supreme Commander GA Defense Force
Han Solo, human male, General Corellian Defense Forces
Jacen Solo, human male, Jedi Master, Colonel Galactic Alliance Guard
Jagged Fel, human male, Imperial Admiral
Jaina Solo, human female, Jedi Knight, Major Rogue Squadron
Jysella Horn, human female, Jedi Apprentice
Kyp Durron, human male, Jedi Master
Leia Organa Solo, human female, Jedi Knight
Lon Shevu, human male, Major Galactic Alliance Guard
Luke Skywalker, human male, Grand Master of the Jedi
Lumiya, human/cyborg female, Lady of the Sith
Mara Jade Skywalker, human female, Jedi Master
Masen Krieg, human male, Admiral, Second Imperial Fleet
Mirax Horn, human female, Captain of the Pulsar Skate
Qing Niao (Vongerella), Yuuzhan Vong female, Sith Acolyte
Soontir Fel, human male, Imperal Baron, Advisor to the Moffs' Council
Syal Antilles, human female, Commander Corellian Defense Forces
Tahiri Veila, human female, Jedi Knight
Valin Horn, human male, Jedi Knight, Lieutenant Rogue Squadron
Wedge Antilles, human male, Admiral Corellian Defense Forces
Zane Skywalker, human child
Zekk, human male, Jedi Knight, Lt. Colonel Rogue Squadron
Possibly others that will be added as they are introduced
Genre: AU, Drama, Angst, Dark, Romance
Warnings: Uses personal and known Legacy speculation along with numerous spoilers from the Legacy of the Force book series and the Legacy Comic series. This story also will contain the consentual sexual relationship between a minor and an adult. (Ben age 15, Jysella age 19)
Disclaimer: The universe and the characters belong to George Lucas and/or the authors who created them. I can only lay a slight claim on the original characters and the plot bunnies that brought about this story.
Summary: After two years, the galaxy is still locked in civil war. Jacen Solo has achieved Sith Mastery and is using many pawns to garner as much power as he can. Ben Skywalker is a young Lieutenant in GAG and is apprenticed to Jedi Master Jacen Solo, esteemed Jedi Council member and an up and coming officer. Jysella Horn is finishing up her Apprenticeship with Mara Skywalker and is trying to come to terms with her feelings for her younger best friend. However, Love wins out and the two young lovers enter a relationship that is far from accepted by family and friends. Spurred by his love for Jysella, Ben will eventually make a decision that could destroy the Galaxy.
Meanwhile, Grand Admiral Jagged Fel is positioning himself to become the new Emperor of the Galactic Empire. Jaina Solo, her fiancé and Jedi partner, Zekk, and Valin Horn try to figure out where they belong as they face a fateful battle that will change all of their lives and the future of the Galaxy. While the fate of the Jedi falls on the shoulders of a pair of very unlikely compatriots.
The Path of Dreams
Book I: The Loss of Innocence
The terrain was rough, hot and dusty. Sand blew into his face, clogging his nose and eyes. The sand dunes rose before him as if they too were trying to foil his escape. The brutal double assault of the twin suns beat upon him mercilessly, their intense heat causing rivulets of sweat to run down his dusty forehead and into his eyes. He squinted against the relentless glare, making vision even more difficult. The boy's breathing was rapid and his heart pounded painfully against his ribs. It was agonizing to run like this, but he somehow knew that if he paused long enough to catch his breath, to wipe the sand and sweat from his eyes, or even to lick his parched sun cracked lips, the monster behind him would catch him.
He knew what the horrible thing was as it raced up one dune and leapt to another. He could sense it and its intent. It wanted to consume him. It wanted to become him. That thought made the boy run even faster, never wavering in his speed even though his muscles, lungs, and sunburned skin were begging him to slow down.
Chapter 1
42 ABY
Public Landing Strip 156EP, Coruscant
He licked his dry lips and looked over at the older man beside him. Major Shevu was kneeling down beside the young Jedi and looking out over the barrier of old plasteel packing cartons that was their only cover from the enemy. Ben looked back at the scene and swallowed anxiously. He hadn't slept well the night before and after eighteen hours of chaos that led to staking out the holed up terrorists inside the old Corellian freighter, which wasn't all that different from his uncle's ship the Milennium Falcon, he was beginning to feel exhausted.
The Galactic Alliance Guard, GAG, was deployed after a group of Corellians and Bothans sabotaged the main city computer system of Eastport, which affected many of the government operations of the city-planet. Eastport was one of the most populated and influential areas of Coruscant. Many of the galaxy's leaders resided in this area. With the central computer down, power to over ten million beings was lost. The systems that controlled sewer and water were also shut down, as was communications. While that in itself halted a major portion of the population, it was only a cover for the terrorist to perform their most sinister of deeds. The explosion of three crude baradium bombs near the Senate Building shocked the planet to a standstill and set the galaxy reeling. Nearly five thousand people lost their lives and another four thousand were injured in the explosion, including some of the most important people in the galaxy, especially Chief of State Cal Omas.
Now the GAG was watching the ship that was believed to be the getaway vehicle for the thugs responsible for this horrendous action. Several teams were set up all over the public landing strip to watch the ship and were waiting for orders from their commander, Colonel Jacen Solo. The war between the Galactic Alliance and Corellia had been brutal since the first opening shots, but this had to be the worst action so far against the civilian populace of Coruscant. Since those opening shots two years ago, Corellia had been receiving increased support from other governments, who also felt the Galactic Alliance government was becoming too much like that of the Empire. Corellia's main allies were the Bothans and the Imperial Remnant, but they also received support from Hapes, Kuat, and many other planets who didn't like sanctions placed on the right to have their own militaries.
Ben and his partner, Major Lon Shevu, were at the closest vantage point to the ship, about 130 meters away. Lon looked over at his young partner and whispered, "Getting anything?"
Ben turned his attention back to the older military man. Shevu had originally been selected as Jacen Solo's second-in-command, which he still was, but the one-time Coruscant Security officer had taken a special liking to the Colonel's young apprentice. Ben swallowed again and shook his head. He had a special knack for feeling out bad situations. Lon had long ago learned to trust the boy's intuitions. That trust had saved his life more than once.
"No," Ben whispered in response as he turned back to watching the ship. He could feel the three humans and two Bothans. It was estimated that there had been more involved, but they had most likely perished in the blast.
Ben knew Lon was still watching him. He could feel the older man's concern, as well as the murderous intent of those on the ship. Finally, he said quietly, so only Ben could hear, "Not sleeping again?"
Ben swallowed and looked down at his hands, which were folded before him, and shook his head. "No" was his one word answer.
Lon looked away from the boy and nodded his head once, then after a moment of looking out over the permacrete tarmac he asked, "Have you talked to the Colonel about this?"
Ben just shook his black helmeted head.
Lon sighed and looked back at him, "You should. This has been going on for months now. Every time something happens, you have that dream. I'm no expert on the Jedi, but if you ask me that seems to be a Jedi thing. If nothing else, I wish you'd tell me what it is about."
Ben turned his sapphire gaze and looked the major in the eye. He was nearly at eye level with him and suddenly Ben wondered when he had gotten so tall. At age fifteen he was as tall as his father and Lon. He took a deep breath and glanced back at the rest of the team, scattered close by. Ben noticed a few intently watching him and Shevu. Meeting Lon's deep, brown-eyed gaze again he shook his head, "I'll talk to Jac…Master Solo when we get back to headquarters."
Lon smiled at Ben and patted him on the shoulder. "Good. Maybe he'll be able to help. If not, then you always have your dad."
Ben cringed inwardly at the mention of his father. He always felt that he never measured up to the Grand Master of the Jedi. All he ever seemed to get done with his parents was fight, usually over his involvement in GAG. Since Ben's introduction to the police unit that was as much military as it was security force, he had become an asset to the peacekeepers' success. However, his parents didn't see it that way. They had fought long and hard with Jacen over Ben's involvement in something as dangerous as staking out terrorists and breaking down doors of possible innocents. Even though Ben more than once pointed out that what he was embarking in wasn't any more dangerous than infiltrating a Yuuzhan Vong voxyn lab, which his cousins and several of their classmates did at an age not much older than him, they still argued. Of course, Luke always had the same counterargument, which Ben never listened to; he didn't want to hear about the near failure that the raid was or that he lost one of his cousins in it. That wasn't the point.
Suddenly, Ben's danger sense was piqued and he immediately turned his attention to the YT-1300 freighter. At the same time, his built-in comlink came alive with Jacen's commanding voice. "Teams stay alert. Deploy in twenty seconds, starting now."
Shevu acknowledged with a click of his comlink. Ben could hear the chorus of acknowledging clicks from the other seven leaders. Shevu turned to the rest of the eight-man squad. "Beta Team get primed and ready. You heard the boss."
Ben knew Lon was watching his overhead display, which would be tied in with Jacen's, as were all the other team leaders. "On my mark. Five. Four. Three. Two. One. Mark!"
Ben leapt over the packing crates and saw the other teams leap out of their hiding places at the same time. His ignited his lightsaber a nanosecond before Jacen did as he came out with Alpha team on the opposite side of the strip. Despite the situation, Ben felt an odd sense of joy in the fact that his reflexes were becoming faster than his Master's.
However, the young Jedi didn't have time to congratulate himself too long, because the ship began to fire its turret laser guns at one of the charging teams.
The sudden explosion shook the repulsor-supported landing pad and knocked four of his team to the floor, including Lon. Ben used the Force to remain standing and immediately his senses thrummed in the Force. He felt the winking out of the life forces of the eight Guardsman who were at the receiving end of the blast, but he tried not to think of them or the families they would leave behind. He didn't want to think about Malik's new baby and the holos he was showing off just yesterday or Jakson's bragging about how his son was the best pilot in the GA Navy or the shy smiles seventeen-year-old Milli Offree would flash him when she didn't think he was looking. Instead, he tried to focus his strength on building an energy field around himself and his seven comrades. He may have been the youngest member in the GAG, but everyone respected Ben for his skill and his intelligence, and he wasn't about to let another group of his friends be blasted away. He lifted his sapphire blade and spread his feet apart, bracing himself against any possible onslaught. As he concentrated, he could feel Jacen doing a similar thing: pulling the Force in and expanding it outward, but Ben could also feel his Master's growing anger and, hate which seemed to intensify and crackle around the Jedi Master.
Then it happened. Ben stared wide-eyed as the green laser beam came his way. He felt the delight of the Bothan in the turret and immediately gave in and let the pang of hatred and anger fuel his grip on the Force. He felt Jacen's approval but quickly focused completely on the laser. He held his hilt with both hands and turned his head away from the growing green ball of light. He had only one thing on his mind: he was going to end this here and now.
The beam crashed into Ben's blade and nearly knocked him off his feet, but he stayed firm and felt a thrill as the laser beam, which was powerful enough to blow a starfighter into molecules, was being caught and deflected by his lightsaber and his command on the Force. However, that jubilation didn't completely manifest itself until Shevu shoved him hard to the ground and screamed, "Get down!" as the ship exploded.
Presidential Mansion, Coronet, Corellia
Dur Gejjen, Head of State of Corellia and Five Worlds Prime Minister, reread the report and finally let a small smile tug at his lips. Even though he wasn't nearly convinced at the methods that had been implemented, he was pleased with the results. Then he looked up at the beautiful woman sitting elegantly before him. Brisha Syo was dressed as she always was when she came to him: form-fitting jumpsuit and veiled face. Her green eyes were alive with a fire he couldn't quite discern, but despite this he knew that he could trust her. She had, after all, proven herself very useful.
"Prime Minister, as you can see the plan has gone accordingly. The Chief of State is dead, Coruscant is in shambles, and all those hired to carry out the plan are dead, just as I promised." Her tone was silky and Gejjen felt himself become lulled by it.
He looked away from those piercing eyes to scan the report one last time before he hit the delete key. He wanted no evidence to tie him to the terrorists who had assassinated the leader of the GFFA. Finally, he sighed and looked back up at his informant. "Yes, you did promise and you were successful, and now the GA has an incompetent fool as their Chief of State. Cha Niathal will seek revenge now, which can only alienate more systems. I assume the false identifications were planted?"
Syo's eyes smiled and Gejjen wished he could see the rest of her face. "Of course. Colonel Solo will uncover the information probably today, and by tomorrow every Adumari, Commenoran and Eriaduan citizen living on Coruscant will find themselves subjected to the same treatment that Corellians and Bothans have."
Gejjen stood, moved over to look out over the expanse of lawn and folded his arms over his chest thoughtfully. Finally, he turned his attention back to his guest. "I don't like Solo's involvement in this. I wish there was a way to rid us of him as well. My fear is that now that Niathal is in charge, she will do the unthinkable and put her favorite Darth Vader impersonator in charge of the military."
Syo only continued to smile as she gazed upon Dur and purred, "Don't worry about Jacen Solo. I'm sure he will be kept busy, but I do not feel as you do about his success equating advancement in the GA military. You need to remember that he was essentially demoted when he tried to have his sister court-martialed. You overestimate Solo's abilities."
Gejjen turned to her and grinned. "I never over- or underestimate anyone, Miss Syo. If I did, I wouldn't be Corellia's Head of State and the Five Worlds Prime Minister."
Suddenly, before anything else could be said, a chime emitted from Gejjen's desk. He moved back across the room and hit the receive key. "Yes?"
The tinny voice of the secretary droid came across the speaker. "Prime Minster, Admirals Fel and Antilles are here for their appointment."
Annoyance creased his brow as he looked up at Syo. "Thank you, Esspeio. Tell them that I will be out for them in a few moments."
"Yes, sir, as you wish."
Gejjen stood and quickly said, "You cannot be seen here." Then he moved and opened a panel in the far wall. After pressing a button a hidden door opened up, revealing a dimly lit corridor beyond. Syo took the cue and stood up. Gejjen turned to her and instructed hastily, "Take this to the end and it will come out near the fence at the other side of the grounds."
Her green eyes smiled again and she nodded once. Without a word, she moved into the secret passageway and Gejjen closed the door. Taking a deep breath, he quickly headed to the main door of his office. He knew that he couldn't keep the Imperial Admiral or his Corellian uncle waiting for long. They were here to discuss their next move against the military of the GA and he was sure they would want to discuss yesterday's attack on Coruscant. Taking another deep breath and donning an authoritative but pleasant expression, he opened the door.
---
The wooden panel slid closed and she moved down the dimly lit corridor. She didn't need to listen to the conversation the Prime Minster and his military leaders were having. She knew that they were going to discuss a counterattack on Bothawui. Instead, she followed the darkened tunnel to the edge of the grounds and escaped as she had been instructed by Gejjen. She then pulled the Force around her and Force flashed any electronic devices that she came across to mask her presence. She did the same to the minds of the passers-by, stealing seconds from their minds. No one would ever know she had set foot on the planet. It was important that she keep her self-proclaimed mission to herself for a while longer. She knew if her Master discovered her activities she'd forfeit her life. It actually amazed her that the Sith Lord allowed her to live at all. However, since she was alive it was her duty to make sure he became all that his destiny demanded of him.
She had been willing to concede her role as Master, because she knew that Lord Troddeln was far more powerful than she could ever be. She had chosen aptly when she had approached the young Jedi to complete the training her acquaintance Vergere had began all those years before. And within the past two years Jacen Solo had proven himself as the first true Sith Master since Palpatine. However, Lumiya felt he was faltering; he was stuck in a position that would never be able to give him the power to bring order to the galaxy. The war was basically a standoff, the Confederation content to not really attack only defend and the GA not forcing the situation by attacking the defenders.
Of course, there were still battles, but nothing decisive and nothing really important. Even if the GA lost Bothawui in the coming battle, it wouldn't really harm the GA. The Bothans weren't conquered, they weren't contributing to the GA and her recent trip to the world had proven that they were more militant now than before, and only wasted a great deal of GA resources by keeping the planet, resources that the GA couldn't afford to waste. Since the GA attacked and occupied Bothawui a year ago, the GA had lost important planets like Bespin and Roche, which had been lost only a few months ago. These planets the GA couldn't really afford to lose but they weren't seen as overly important by the imbeciles in the Senate or the military. The Bothans were seen as true enemies because the planet was one of the first early Insurgents that was defeated and taken back. Keeping Bothawui was more politic than strategic, even Darth Troddeln accepted that.
Even the seemingly endless terrorism had become all but non-existent on Coruscant, mainly because Colonel Jacen Solo, commander of the Galactic Alliance Guard, was so successful. However, with success came complacency ; the public and the government alike began to become too comfortable and with that comfort came questions as to why Jacen Solo still held so much control.
Although, Jacen's popularity was still strong among the average Coruscanti, there were those who felt that he held too much power, especially Chief of State Omas and the Jedi, despite him being considered a Jedi Master and on the Jedi Council.
The Dark Lady of the Sith smiled as she used the Force to unlock her skiff. She would be leaving Corellia; her work was done here for now. The devastating attack on the GA that she had orchestrated would not only be enough to set in motion events that would bring power to her Master, but would help fuel the anger and hate in the young boy who she truly took pleasure in seeing taking the Dark path. It was time for the Sith to bring order to the galaxy, and to do that Darth Troddeln needed to formally claim his Apprentice.
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