Chapter 8

I took us up and out, setting coordinates for the only other intensely secret base I could find in the records, while Luke made up a meal. Once in hyperspace, I joined him in the back, leaving Artoo to monitor our progress.

As I sat, the craziness of the situation hit me. Just a few hours before, from that very chair, I had been plotting the death of the man now sat across from me and handing me a plate of food.

Don't get me wrong – I was still super pissed at him. But...I don't know. I guess I could understand it. Sort of. I had read all the different theologies and myths. Today's Jedi...well, the Jedi of most recent times anyway, were super-duper anti-dark. It was the worst thing they could imagine. And that's obviously the lesson Luke was given by whoever taught him.

Then there was the over-the-top evilness of Palpy... Yeah. I'd be a little freaked out too if I found out he was making super-charged copies of himself.

But going with a no-holds-barred, anything goes routine to ensure that that little Sithy plan failed seemed a little...dark to me. I can't love or hate or be sad or angry, but I can take advantage of a person's genetically twisted brain on the chance it might unleash the exact thing I'm trying to destroy...?

Seems a bit stupid.

So, I figured I'd pity him for his lack of intelligence instead of punishing him for it. Besides...he seemed to do enough of that on his own.

"So...what about you?"

My philosophical musings had been occupying my mind while he told me about all the fun of growing up on a moisture farm. Of course, as a good little Imp, I'd read the file on "Enemy #1" and knew most of it already. Just nodded and smiled in the appropriate spots, but apparently it was my turn to share...

"What about me?"

"Well...where did you grow up? What about your family?" He looked up from the caf he was mixing and caught what had to be an extremely dumbfounded look on my face. "Oh...no. I meant...before. You said something about street urchins...?"

"Ah. Right. Well...I don't actually remember too much. And there wasn't really much in my file in that regard. I was found on Corellia, possibly born there but it's unknown. Sold to the Empire at the age of, maybe, 5 or 6. I'd been snatched off the street by the guy that sold me, and he must've mentioned I was an orphan living on the streets to ensure nobody would be looking for me. That was a note in the entry log. That's all there is."

"Wow. And I thought living under my uncle's rule was tough. I'm...I'm sorry."

"You know, you keep saying that. It's my life, Je'daii. You apologizing for it isn't going to change what happened." I smirked. "But the sentiment is appreciated."

He returned the smile as I got up and gathered dishes and trash. The smile faded back to that ever present quizzical look before I could even open the trash receptacle.

"Why do you say it like that? 'Je'daii'?"

"You are also always asking questions..." The only response I got was the return of the smirk. I gave an exasperated sigh. "Geez...never thought I'd have to tell a Jedi the history of their own order..."

We whiled away the rest of the trip discussing histories and legends, until Artoo bweeped to let us know we were on final approach.

"All I'm saying is," I said as we made our way to the cockpit, "if you're going to start a school, start it fresh."

"Yeah, but why fix what's not broken?"

"Ha! Not broken, indeed. Why not take all the different philosophies and see what works for who first before you set the ground rules? A bit of balance can go a long way..." I slyly motioned to myself as the perfect example.

"I suppose it's possible. I mean, it's not like I was left with a whole lot of direction..."

The conversation faded as we came out of hyperspace and we got our first look at our next stop. A rather unimposing planet. A couple of moons.

And a rather thick ring of what appeared to be automated weapons stations.

"Are those what I think they are?" I asked, reaching for the shield controls.

"Looks like we're in the right place. What are the chances this place is still manned and those are still armed?"

An urgent screech from Artoo, quickly followed by a shot on both port and starboard, answered that question. That was subsequently followed by static on the comm.

"Unknown vessel, you have entered Imperial Remnant space without prior authorization. Identify yourself, or you will be fired upon again."

"Yeah," Luke sad as he started maneuvering away from the weapons stations, "I'd say high chance for both."

"I'd say he's not going to be so nice with the next shots." I checked shields and moved power back as we moved further ahead of the stations. "What the hell is the 'Imperial Remnant'?"

"Leftover factions of the Empire. The whole 'New Republic' thing seems to still be a work-in-progress."

"Fantastic. Well...plan?"

"Unknown vessel – this is your last warning."

Luke grinned as he flicked off the comm. "My turn to show off."

My stomach hit my throat as we suddenly dove, then it retreated all together with the next spiral up. Jibing and tacking, Luke treated the ship like a starfighter, as he danced around shot after shot.

"As impressed as I am with your flying, how does this get us on the planet?"

"Well...how about we crash?"

"What is it with you and death wishes? I would like to think there's more to this plan than that. Preferably – survival."

The grin got bigger. "How far can you stretch that super-power of yours?"

Okay...possibly less crazy. "Not this far. Maybe if we were closer to the planet. Best – within atmo. But it's not going to be very believable. I don't think the stations have that kind of range."

"I've got that part. You find us some place to crash...well...land."

I pulled up as much data Artoo and the ship could give me and managed to find a decent spot. It was a fair ways from the base, separated by just nasty terrain. Meant it would be a hike, but pretty much guaranteed no one would bother doing more than a flyover to be sure we crashed.

"Got it," I announced as I sent the coordinates to Luke's display.

"'Kay. Hold on."

"Hold on?" I didn't get much further than that before a shot hit and we were suddenly tail-spinning down to the surface. I swear – that damn fool Jedi actually let go of the controls for half the fall!

We landed – hard.

"Okay. What exactly did you want me to do again?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he rested a hand on my arm and pointed with the other towards a small speck in the sky. A speck that was growing bigger.

I nodded and closed my eyes, reaching out to find the flickering mind in that speck. And another, just behind. They were as amped up as the living ball of adrenaline sitting beside me. Apparently life on this little base was rather dull.

Silly boys...

I saw the image of the ship in both their minds. Took it and twisted it and made it glow. A huge explosion. Nothing could have survived. No way no how.

I barely heard the buzz as they flew over, my mind full of rising smoke and dimming flames. I let it continue until the flickers faded and thoughts of caf and showers and that cute comm officer took over.

That's when I finally registered the nails digging into my arm.

"Uh...Luke..." He continued staring blankly out the window. "Yo! Je'daii! Let go!" I yanked my arm, trying to get away from the clamp he had on it. He finally jerked back to the here-n-now and let go.

"Sorry... It was just... I could see it. Flames all around us. It was so...real." He'd turned to see me rubbing my arm, but had then gone right back to staring out the viewport.

"Well...it wasn't aimed at you," I said, taking in the look on his face. "Not intentionally..." He met my gaze then, and I quickly turned away. What was with me and this guy...? That was a thought for...later. Much later. "Anyway...guess we should leave. Sooner we get going, the sooner we can...leave," I finished lamely.

I got up and headed to the back before any other odd thoughts could pop up. Waiting at the exit, I watched as he gave instructions to his trusty astromech droid before joining me.

We made our way down the ramp and around to take in the damage. I'd got a glimpse from the Imps that had flown over, but then mentally blew the thing up, so... It didn't look terribly bad, but a bit more than I had guessed Luke had been shooting for.

Sure enough... "Must have misjudged the angle of that shot. This is about the amount I was thinking you should project, not for us to actually sustain."

"Can we fix it?" I asked, pretty sure I knew the answer.

"Not with what's onboard. Even Artoo's not that good." He knelt down to get a closer look. "We might be able to find some parts at the base. But the trick will be hiding it until then."

"I...might have an idea for that. But...you're not going to like it."