Author's Note: I've added cover art to this story. The link can be found in my profile.

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Three Months Later, 45 ABY

Jaina was on edge; she hadn't slept well in three weeks. And this meeting wasn't going to help the situation. She forced a smile and bowed to the ambassador, wondering again why the Council had been invited to meet with Imperial Ambassador Joh Grich.

"Thank you for meeting with me today, Masters," the middle-aged man said as he reclaimed his large nerfhide chair at the head of the conference table.

As the Jedi sat at the same time around the large, glossy, greel wood table, Luke replied, "We are always happy to foster good will between the Jedi and the Empire. I'm grieved to hear about Grand Admiral Pelleaon. I hope he soon recovers to full health."

The Imperial sadly nodded. "Thank you, Master Skywalker. Unfortunately, the prognosis is not good."

"That's too bad," Kyp chimed in sincerely.

The Imperial looked at Kyp and Jaina was surprised to not feel the usual resentment in the man's gaze. "Yes, Master Durron, it is. Admiral Pelleaon has done a great deal for the Empire and for the GA in the past thirty years."

Several of the other Masters also commented on the old man's recent declining health. One week ago Gilad Pelleaon suffered a massive heart attack. Though it was a tremendous shock and he would be greatly missed, Pelleaon had all but left the daily workings of the government to the Moffs, among whom Ephim Sareti was the most influential. Some said that once Pelleaon passed, he would name himself Grand Moff and take up the role as head of state.

Before her mind had a chance to roam to the thoughts that have been keeping her awake at night and eating at her nerves during her waking hours, Ambassador Grich announced, "Masters, as you are well aware of, there are several students to the Jedi Academy from the Empire."

"Yes," Luke said cautiously as he pursed his lips, "we are always happy to have apprentices from all over the galaxy. The Jedi serve all people, not just the GA. Though we have sworn to protect the Galactic Alliance, we will not disregard the will of the Force." Then he smiled and added, "Besides, the Imperial Remnant is now part of the GA."

"Yes, the Empire is," said Grich as he tightly smiled. Jaina didn't miss the gentle reprehend for Luke's slip regarding the naming of the ambassador's government. Then he went on, "For which we have been thankful for, as the Jedi have worked with our own forces to combat the growing pirate gangs along our borders."

"There has been a growing pirate problem all over the galaxy, Ambassador," Jaina said quietly, and barely keeping her displeasure at being there from her tone of voice.

Luke glanced at her and she felt his gentle probe. The pirate threat was what was keeping her awake at night, Luke knew that. Zekk had left three months ago on a mission to investigate arms dealing and pirating in the Corporate Sector. They haven't heard from him or his apprentice for almost a month. Jaina was becoming increasingly more apprehensive by the day. It wasn't like Zekk to not contact her at least once a week, and worse, she wasn't able to connect with him mentally either.

Being here for a meeting with an overly confident, indignant Imperial was the last place she wanted to be. If it was up to her, she would be in the Corporate Sector right now finding out what happened to her husband. And every Master present knew this.

After a moment of strained silence, Grich forced another tense smile and said, "Yes, Master Solo, that is so very true." Then he looked at Luke again and his expression turned more genuine—well, as genuine as any politician's smile ever could be. "And in a way this is why I've asked you here. The Moff's Council and Admiral Pelleaon have asked me to pass along a proposal that would greatly benefit all of us in the years to come. However, I think I'll let a mutual acquaintance present it to you."

The tall, graying man moved to a side door of the richly wood paneled conference room. It slid open allowing an Imperial officer to enter that the Jedi had come to know over the years since the Vong War. His name was Mic A'Loc and he was a Stormtrooper major who belonged to the 501st. A'Loc had served briefly with Jag Fel's oldest brother, Chak, early in his career. Later, he fought the Vong at Bastion and other places in the Remnant. After the war, he met Master Kenth Hamner who convinced him to come to the newly opened Academy on Coruscant. He did, and stayed for a year, training off and on while stationed on planet with Supreme Commander Pelleaon. But he didn't actively join the Jedi Order, he couldn't; he was still part of the Imperial Military and joining the Jedi, or any other organization, was against the rules. However, Luke and Kenth made sure Mic continued his training by providing all the information they could to the younger man. Now, Mic's training and skills were probably on par with most of the young knights. When he would come to the Temple occasionally to visit his two sons who were enrolled there, he was known as the Imperial Jedi.

"I believe you all know Major A'Loc," Grich said as the men moved into the room.

Luke and Kenth stood and smiled in greeting to the dark-skinned man, who returned the greeting with a bow and a wide grin.

"Major, it's good to see you again," Kenth said as he shook his hand.

"Thank you, Master Hamner. It's a pleasure to see you again as well," A'Loc said in his slightly accented voice. He was born and raised in the mountains of Bastion.

Jaina wondered, as the other Masters did, what a Stormtrooper major would be doing at the meeting, but she had a feeling that they all were about to find out. Grich instructed him to take the last remaining seat at the conference table. After he was seated, A'Loc surprised them all by saying, "Masters, I was asked by Ambassador Grich to discuss plans that I have presented to Moff Sareti and Admiral Pelleaon before his unfortunate recent illness. I know that he was hoping that he too could be here to discuss this with you."

"You're making some of us nervous, Major," Kyp said and Jaina wondered how much of it was a joke and how much was truth.

Mic smiled his infectious grin and said, "I'm sure I am, Master Durron." Then he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Jaina felt him pull the Force to him, and even she had to admit, it was slightly disconcerting to see someone in an Imperial uniform do that. But his next words were even more so. "Masters, counting my sons, there are fifteen Jedi students who are citizens of the Empire that attend either the Academy here or at Ossus. I, for one, can relate to the hardship that presents at times for my wife and I. We can't always be here as much as we'd like, though we have much more opportunity to visit than some of the other families do. However, that isn't the only reason I'm making this proposal, I've discovered twenty others who could be trained as Jedi."

"So, are you now recruiting for us?" Kyle snickered; he never cared much for A'Loc. The former Imperial Strormtrooper didn't trust A'Loc and considered him a spy. Jaina had only met him a few times, but always found him reasonably amicable.

Mic met Kyle's snicker with a smirk of his own. "Yes, in a way, I am, Master Katarn." Then addressing them all he went on, "In two months I'm retiring early from active service. I'll have twenty-five years in, but I'm not planning on retreating to the Sartinaynian Mountains anytime soon. I want to start my second career; I'm officially joining the Jedi Order." At the Masters' collective surprise that only another Force-user could have sensed, he grinned and said, "Well, I'd like to, if you'll have me."

Luke smiled and replied for the group, "Of course, you would be welcome, Major. But what does this have to do with this proposal from Admiral Pelleaon?"

Mic took another deep breath and then said, "I would like to open a Jedi academy on Bastion to train students like my sons and others, like the twenty that I discovered."

Jaina wasn't sure she heard him correctly. She, Kyp, Corran and Kyle all said at the same time, "What?"

Mic looked from one Master to another; when he got to Luke, he paused and held the Grand Masters gaze. "This proposal isn't all that odd. Master Horn has a small academy on Corellia and Master Kirana Ti has one on Dothamir. Fifteen of the twenty Force-sensitives that I've found are adults. They have families and have lives in the Empire."

"Then they should remain living those lives," Kyle said dismissively. "We train very few adults these days."

"But there is no reason why adults can't be trained, correct? In fact, most of us here have been trained as adults."

Kyp shrugged and quipped, "There is a reason for that, you know."

The novelty of the meeting soon wore off, and she found herself thinking about Zekk once more. She was worried about him and didn't like the ebbs in the Force. She reached out for him, and again, felt nothing. She knew he wasn't dead, she'd have known that. But there was only one explanation that made any sense as to why she couldn't tap into their bond, no matter how many lightyears separated them—ysalamiri—which worried even more.

"We will have to discuss this in detail with the rest of the Council before any decision can be reached, of course," Luke announced and stood, and she knew that the meeting was about over, which she was grateful.

The ambassador and the rest of them stood as well, she felt like dashing out of the room. The Force was getting more chaotic in the space in her mind where Zekk usually was. She knew something was happening and she hated not knowing what.

As they were about to exit the conference room with everyone saying their good-byes, she felt it. Like a blast from a pointblank blaster in the heart, the pain ripped through her, bringing her to her knees and a scream from her lips.

"Zekk!"

I love you…Jaina…I'm sorry.

"Jaina, what's wrong?" Luke asked as he kneeled down beside her, wrapping his arm around her slender, trembling shoulders.

She frantically shook her head. She reached out into the Force again searching for her best friend, the man she loved, her lover and finding only emptiness. She turned tear-filled, aching eyes to her uncle and sobbed. In that one glance, Luke understood. He pulled her shuddering body to his chest and held her as she gasped, "He's gone. Zekk…he's…dead."

-- TBC--


You know, I hated having to write that ending...

I really liked Zekk in this...

The next part will be a vignette that will show what happened to Zekk...Unlike the rest of this story, it will be told from Zekk's POV and not really be part of the story, because what he finds out will die with him.

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Thanks for reading...