We cannot all be masters, nor all masters
Cannot be truly followed. …
In following him I follow but myself.
-Othello; Act I, Scene I
Previously on Fallen Anakin: "You know, nothing really seems to go right when I'm around you. I get shot, crash…" Anakin: "Tahiri? What's your status?" A mess of blond hair and a black jumpsuit came tumbling out of the cockpit onto the docking bay floor.
Jaina: "Unusual flirting tactic, insulting me."
Jag shrugged. "I don't have to flirt," he answered, now finally holding her gaze. "I already know you like me."
Jag: "When you told your mother… that you trust me. Did you mean it?"
Jaina: "Of course I did."
Jag nodded, seeming to accept that, but looked up from the table and asked, "How are you certain?"
Jaina: "If you're certain of something, it isn't really trust, is it? You have to make a conscious decision to believe in someone even if there's a chance you might get hurt."
Her words seemed to encourage him, and he said, "Then I guess I trust you, too." And Jaina didn't know why, but the moment felt very important to her.
Tahiri: "Oh, shut up."
After a few moments of motionlessness, Anakin turned around under her and half-sat up. Tahiri didn't really move, so she still straddled his waist. Another snide comment died on Tahiri's lips at the intense look in Anakin's eyes. She felt herself drowning in his blue eyes.
And then they were kissing urgently, their arms carelessly winding around each other. And their fate was sealed.
Tahiri: "I had to take cover to avoid being spotted. I'll be at the rendezvous point in approximately five minutes."
Anakin: "Be careful."
That was when Anakin realized he was afraid.
Anakin sighed in frustration and confusion, but the emotions could not gain supremacy over a deeper, stronger realization.
No. That was insane. He barely knew her. They had just gotten carried way, that was all. It was way too fast…
No, Anakin realized. I love her.
Against all logic, against all reason, Anakin felt himself smiling, almost weak with joy.
Anakin's first clue that something was wrong came in the form of a strong hand clamping over his mouth, and a lithe female form pressing against his back. Anakin had no chance to struggle before a spray hypo was pressed against his neck. His muffled sounds of protest ceased as the strength left his body and his vision darkened.
Jacen gasped in shock. "Tahiri?"
Han: "Where's Anakin?"
Twenty-Seven Years After the Battle of Endor
More than anything else, the reason Jaina Solo had survived as an agent of Alliance Intelligence for most of her adult life was that she had what some of her superiors described as a "sixth sense" for danger. She always knew when her cover was about to be blown, when a contact was leading her into a trap; she had even jumped out of the way of a blaster bolt fired by an unseen enemy.
It had never occurred to Jaina that such feats were, quite literally, impossible because they came so naturally to her. No one had bothered to point out to her that she was either a latent Jedi or the most naturally gifted agent of espionage in galactic history.
So it did not occur to her to question how she knew she was being lied to. Instead, she immediately began calculating the fastest, safest way to exit the cantina before she was (perhaps literally?) stabbed in the back.
The complication, of course, was that she was not alone. Though she would have preferred to handle this part of the mission by herself, Jag had insisted on being present. So they ended up in this cantina on Tralus. Nearly identical cantinas could be found in any spaceport in the civilized galaxy, but this one just so happened to be where she was meeting one of her numerous smuggling contacts. One who, until now, had shown no indication of betraying her.
Jaina finally gave up on waiting for Jag to pick up on her nonverbal cues, and stopped the Corellian smuggler in midsentence by placing her blaster pistol on the table. "This is a waste of time," she announced impatiently, but kept her voice low so as to not draw attention from the cantina's other patrons. "You're obviously stalling, so you might as well tell me how to avoid the stormtroopers you've called so I don't have to shoot you right now."
Jag was obviously shocked, but dutifully reached for his own blaster.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," the other woman informed Jag calmly, and then to Jaina, "and I'd just go ahead and put that away, young lady. It's not going to do you much good."
Jaina and Jag exchanged looks, and Jaina finally grew impatient and stood, knocking her chair back in the process as she leveled her blaster at the apparently-traitorous Corellian woman's chest. She had barely completed the motion when she heard the distinct sounds of weapons being drawn from every direction.
"Why don't we just go ahead and have ourselves a nice, calm conversation?" the woman suggested mildly. "Before the Imps actually happen into this establishment and wonder why we all have our weapons drawn?"
Reluctantly, Jaina holstered her weapon and held her hands visibly away from her body. "All right," she said, "you have my attention."
"As you've surmised, I was not entirely truthful with you about the purpose of this meeting; of course, that only seems fair, as you were not either. Based on your reaction, I take it you are in fact not a simple smuggler but rather an agent of the Alliance of Free Planets?"
"That would be a fair assessment," Jaina agreed.
"Looking to stir up some Corellian insurrection," she resumed.
Jaina nodded slowly.
"Well, then. I'm afraid I have some bad news, but also good news. You're a bit late; you might have forgotten that Corellia has been in open rebellion since before you were born. The insurrection is already well underway. The good news is, you've found us." She grinned roguishly. "Or, at least, the Tralus-bound portion of our merry band."
Jaina and Jag exchanged quick glances. "There's a well organized Corellian resistance already?" Jag asked. "Even with most of your leadership turned to ash on Corellia?"
"Well-organized is likely a matter of opinion," she answered with a shrug. "But now that we're all friendly, perhaps I might ask you your names, purpose, and even be so bold as to ask you a favor?"
Jag glanced at Jaina, who nodded before saying, "I'm Jaina Solo" – she was pleased at the woman's shocked intake of breath at the name – "this is Jagged Fel, and, as you had already surmised, we're here to make life for the occupying Imperials a living hell. Might I ask your name before you ask that favor?"
"You shall have both," the woman replied. "My name is Mirax Terrik Horn; my husband is the leader of what's left of the Corellian resistance."
There was a brief pause, and Jaina laughed in relief as she felt the tension evaporate from the room. "Well, it certainly seems like we can trust each other after all. What was that favor you needed?"
"Oh, nothing terribly difficult; and it actually fits in perfectly with your mission. We need to get the hell off this planet and back to the rest of the resistance. And if you're willing, we could use your help for the most important mission in the galaxy."
xxx
Fallen
Darth Starkiller; Sith Lord (male human from Tatooine)
General Han Solo; Supreme Allied Commander, Army (male human from Corellia)
Doctor Jacen Solo; Alliance Medical Officer (male human from Hapes)
Flight Officer Tahiri Veila; Rogue Two; Bounty Hunter (female human from Tatooine)
Agent Jaina Solo; Alliance Intelligence; captain, Millennium Falcon (female human from Hapes)
Commander Jagged Fel; 181st TIE Interceptor Squadron (male human from Corellia)
Mirax Terrik Horn; Corellian resistance; captain, Pulsar Skate (female human from Corellia)
xxx
Episode Two
Truly Followed
"So, she said she has no idea where he is?"
"None," Han confirmed. "She says he went missing about a standard day before we retrieved her."
"I see." Even over the holocomm, it was easy to tell Leia was skeptical of the girl's story. "So, essentially what you're telling me is that a member of the Bounty Hunter's Guild—"
"She hasn't admitted to that," Jacen quickly interjected. "As far as she knows, her cover hasn't been blown yet."
"So, a member of the Bounty Hunter's Guild," Leia continued, "just happened to be the only person present when our son went missing, and now she's determined to help us get him back… from the Bounty Hunter's Guild? Also keeping in mind she was only able to escape the planet by 'stealing' a TIE Fighter – from the Imperial base.."
"It's possible she was hired by the Empire to gather information or sabotage us in addition to capturing Anakin," Han speculated.
Jacen frowned and looked from one parent to the hologram of the other. "Or it's possible that she's telling the truth," he pointed out, shocked that neither of them even considered the possibility.
"It's a much easier explanation of why she came back," Han admitted. "Though, again, she doesn't realize her cover has been blown."
"She had to at least consider it as a possibility."
"There's no point in speculation at this point," Leia interjected. "We'll have a full inquiry into the matter, as soon as we've dealt with… other concerns. Speaking of which…?"
"No, not yet," Han answered his wife's unspoken question. "I'll tell him when we're through."
"Unfortuantely that's right now," Leia informed him apologetically. "I have a staff meeting and another priority subspace transmissions waiting for me. Last official word: General Solo, please proceed to the rendezvous point with all due speed. I will rejoin you just as soon as the full council meeting is resolved."
"As ordered," Han acknowledged, and with that formality concluded they were once again family rather than Alliance officials.
"I love you both," Leia said before reluctantly ending the transmission.
After a moment's contemplation Jacen asked, "A full council meeting?"
"Yeah," his dad answered, his tone betraying his characteristic exasperation with politics. "It shouldn't be too big of a deal, but she's going to be out of contact for a few days."
Jacen nodded. "Well, I'm sure it'll turn out alright."
"I hope so," Han answered, without an equivalent amount of confidence. "One thing I'm not so sure is going to turn out alright is this situation with Anakin. I don't think we have time to let the judicial system sort this out like your mother suggests."
"The president," Jacen corrected. "And orders, not suggests."
Han smirked at his son, "Well, I've always found forgiveness easier to come by than permission, haven't you?"
"What are you suggesting?" Jacen asked.
"You… you know, do your thing."
"'Do my thing'?" Jacen repeated, not comprehending.
"Well, let's face it, son. You've always had a way with people; like your mother's way with people, you understand, not mine."
The compliment caught Jacen by surprise, and he really did want to help find his brother. He just wasn't sure he really had the talent his father thought he had, and said so.
"Well, if you don't get anything out of her, we're no worse off than we are now. We don't exactly have anything to lose."
"Good point," Jacen conceded. "But you do realize I believe her, right?"
Han shrugged. "She doesn't have to be lying to have useful information. And if she's not lying, she should be more than happy to offer that information; especially someone who believes her and might help her clear her name."
"All right. I'll go ahead and talk to her."
"Thank you. And Jacen; there's something else."
Jacen paused, halfway out of his seat, and the look in his father's eyes told him he needed to sit. "What is it?"
"Over the next few days, you might start hearing talk about your mother being Darth Vader's daughter, and Darth Starkiller's sister. Some of her critics have already started calling her Lady Vader."
Jacen snorted incredulously and started to leave again. "I think I can handle that. What happened? The rumor mills run out of—?"
Jacen stopped when he realized his father wasn't laughing. Either this was more serious than he thought, or… no, that was unthinkable. "What?" he demanded in shock. "You're not saying—"
His father appeared barely in control of his emotions when he continued, "Remember when I told you about your uncle Luke?" The words seemed to require incredible effort from him. "Well. I left a few things out."
xxx
At that very moment, Darth Starkiller was kneeling before a massive holo image of his father, the Galactic Emperor in deed if not in title, Darth Vader. "What is thy bidding, my master?" he asked with his head bowed respectfully.
"I sense the operation on Corellia has met with success," Lord Vader said, as though the destruction of the planet were a trifling errand.
"Yes," Starkiller confirmed. "No one escaped the planet's destruction, and we have established a blockade around the remaining four planets."
"Good. No engagements with the Rebels?"
"None, my master. They did not enter the system."
"Yes," Vader answered, his voice suddenly dangerous. "Yet Admiral Thrawn informs me they were within striking distance."
"He is mistaken," Starkiller answered quickly, knowing he must not betray any doubt in his own decision if he was to convince his father he was not motivated by compassion. "The Rebels were at the very edge of the system, barely in sensor range. They would have jumped away as soon as we moved to intercept them."
Fortunately either Starkiller's argument was more convincing than he thought, or his father was more credulous than normal because of the victory. Either way, he continued, "Very well. Instruct the Grand Admiral to maintain one Star Destroyer in orbit of each planet; the rest of the fleet is to deploy to their original assignments."
"Do you think that is wise, master?"
"You question me?" Vader asked dangerously.
"No," Starkiller assured him.
"Good," his father replied, satisfied. "I can assure you the Rebels will find themselves quite unable to mount an offensive at present. Governor Shesh should see to that."
Ah, of course. Plans within plans within plans. But, Starkiller had to admit, he really didn't understand where his father was going with this one. "And the Executor?" he asked, changing topics.
"You may proceed as you see fit," Vader answered dismissively. "Return to Coruscant if you need; if not, continue on your present mission."
His present mission, of course, was rounding up young Force sensitives. Vader had no idea – or, at least, Starkiller hoped he had no idea – how much success that mission had actually met. "As you wish, my master."
Starkiller was playing a very dangerous game indeed; and he still didn't know how he intended to end it when the time came.
xxx
Jacen was not in his usual, forgiving mood. The news his father had just given him was still swirling through his head, confusing him. He still remembered his father's words about his uncle, "Everything I ever told you about him is true. He was the bravest, best man I ever knew."
If everything he had been told about his uncle was true, the monster who was now second in command of the evil Galactic Empire no longer resembled that man in the slightest. So, Jacen realized, it could have happened to anyone. He even wondered if he himself could become corrupt under the right circumstances, though it seemed patently ridiculous.
So Jacen was not in his usual, forgiving mood as he sat across from Tahiri in the interrogation room. His questions were more direct, less sympathetic than they might have otherwise been.
"Look," Tahiri said, sounding exasperated. "As I've told every other officer who has come in here to debrief me, you need to let me go. I can find him."
"You seem to want to find him pretty bad," Jacen noted. "Bad enough to tell the truth?"
"I've told you everything I—"
"Are you currently a member of the Bounty Hunter's Guild?"
Tahiri opened her mouth to answer with a reflexive no, but hesitated just long enough to render such a protestation useless. "How'd you find out?" she asked instead.
"An Imperial defector gave you up to prove he was trustworthy; it wasn't all that hard to confirm his story. Turns out you even used your real name. Rather careless of you, don't you think?"
Tahiri shook her head. "It was my first assignment; I didn't have a record yet, so there was no reason it should have been a problem. And it's tradition for Bounty Hunters to use their real name on their first mission, even if it's undercover." She smirked. "Your people let me join the most elite fighter squadron in the Alliance, and I flew with them for almost a month. Were it not for an Imperial officer's tip, you would've let me continue to fly with them. Rather careless of you, don't you think?"
Ordinarily Jacen would have laughed, but instead he asked, "Can you give me any information that will help us rescue Anakin?"
"Absolutely," Tahiri answered. "But the information would be useless to you. You need someone who can actually get into the Bounty Hunter's Guild. Someone like, I don't know… me. And we don't exactly have a surplus of time."
Jacen sighed and stood to signal the end of this interview. "I believe you, Tahiri. I do. But you have to realize that's not going to happen. You're going to be formally placed under arrest pending a judicial hearing."
"Then you have to break me out," Tahiri persisted. "We're running out of time. Once the guild turns him over, it'll be too late."
"Who ordered the contract?" Jacen asked, already knowing and dreading the answer.
Tahiri confirmed Jacen's fear. "It's an Imperial contract. The order came from Darth Starkiller himself."
It took all of Jacen's self control not to curse aloud. "I think you're telling the truth, Tahiri. I do. But I have just one last question: why didn't you complete the contract? And why do you want to help my brother so badly?"
Tahiri smiled sadly. "Isn't it obvious? I'm in love with him."
Yes. Jacen could see she was telling the truth. Many things could be faked; loving someone with every fiber of your being? That was impossible to fake.
"I'll do everything in my power to get you out of here," Jacen promised her, "official or otherwise. And we're going to save him. I swear it."
