Chapter Eleven: Bridging Gaps

The next day

Kam walked down the hallway to the Temple's main artifact room. He already knew who was there, so he breathed in and out as he approached. The door slid open as he walked up to it. "Tionne, I…" He trailed off as he saw her at the far end of the room, hovering over a holocron on a table. The older man walked over, eyes scrunched in confusion. "What are you doing?"

Tionne glanced up from her seat and over. "Oh… hi." She motioned to cube-shaped crystal in front of her. "I'm trying to figure out how to make our own holocron."

He looked down at it. "This is the one with Master Vodo-Siosk Baas, right? Do you think it'd have that information?" He rubbed his stubble-coated chin. "And why?"

The silver-haired Jedi shook her head, frowning. "Yes it is and I won't know until I look into it. And why not? We'll have to leave our own mark in Jedi history and lore, and these things are practically indestructible," she added, rapping it with her knuckles.

The older man nodded, crossing his arms. "A good idea, but that information's been lost for millennia."

Tionne shrugged. "Well, I still wanna see what can be done before we give up on it. Think of what knowledge we can leave behind," she finished, scratching her head. She suddenly locked eyes with Kam. "Listen, about-"

"-I'm sorry," Kam said, holding up his hand. "I should've remembered about your memory problem, and mocking it was wrong of me. And… I've been a bit too hard on you these past few months," he continued, extending his hand. "You're a true Jedi, Tionne."

Tionne sniffled a bit and wiped her eyes before accepting Kam's hand, pumping it twice. "Thank you," she whispered. She opened her mouth again, but hesitated before speaking again.

Kam's brow wrinkled as he picked up on her feelings. "Why?" he asked the unasked question. "I grew up in the Clone Wars, Tionne. Only the strong survived, the ruthless and the ones willing to push the boundaries as far as possible. There were some exceptions, but for the most part…" His voice trailed off as his eyes took on a distant gaze, almost looking back into the past.

He suddenly blinked and shook his head. "Sorry," he murmured. He motioned to the holocron. "It might be a good idea to call in the rest of us Jedi. We've all got skills we can contribute… I think."

Tionne nodded and smiled. "Excellent idea. And… apology accepted, Kam." She glanced back at the holocron. "I hope the information's in this one," she said before straightening up and looking at all the other holocrons in the room. "Otherwise… it might take a while?"


Kirana poked at the holocron. "Dorsk, what did you do on Khomm?"

Dorsk's yellow eyes blinked. "I worked in the cloning center, Kirana. Why?"

The Dathomirian warrior shrugged. "Oh, nothing. I was just wondering if you might have any skills to help us sift through information quickly." She crossed her arms and looked at all the crystal cubes and spheres on the various shelves. "Tionne, how do you think we can accomplish such a task?"

Mara waved her off from the side of the room. "Oh, be quiet. This shouldn't be too hard." She walked a few paces forward and turned around, letting her gaze sweep across the shelves and their contents. A low whistle escaped her lips. "I don't think I realized how much info's really here…"

Kyle's brow wrinkled. "What do you mean? They're just storage devices, right?" He picked one up and tossed it in the air, catching it and putting it back on the shelf. "Can't be too hard, right?"

Tionne shook her head, silvery mane flowing behind. "Each one contains possibly unlimited amounts of data. And it's not like the computers we're used to, either." She held out her hand and half-closed her eyes, telekinetically drawing one to her hand. "The gatekeepers decide if we're ready for the knowledge, and each one has access to different areas of Jedi lore to boot."

Dorsk walked up and down, looking at everything. "Did I ever tell anyone what I actually did at the center?" he asked.

Everyone looked at him. "Actually… no," Kam confessed. His right eyebrow quirked up. "What did you do?"

"Data processing," the clone answered, holding out his hand and touching the holocrons, letting a bit of the Force flow. One by one, the various cubes and spheres glowed, a ghostly figure appearing above each one. They all began speaking, voices overlapping and reaching forward from the ancient past.

"I am the gatekeeper Tott Doneeta, Twi'lek…"

"Welcome, young Jedi! I am…"

"If you are accessing this level of the holocron, then…"

Dorsk's eyes flickered back and forth as the various holograms spoke. "I wish to know how to build a holocron," he asked. "Do any of you have that knowledge?"

Mara's eyes widened. "Dorsk, I've got faith in you… but is there any way you'll be able to pay attention to that many voices at once?"

The clone glanced to her and shrugged theatrically. "No worse than working at a big corporation, I assure you." He turned back to the holocrons, focusing on their words and smiling. "Yes… I know which one." He looked down at the hologram of an old Twi'lek with scars on his face. "Please, Master Doneeta. We wish to preserve our knowledge…"


One week later

"… with the swearing-in of the new Chief of State. Leia Organa Solo will assume formal control tomorrow. Reaction has been mostly positive, but some-"

Kam reached over and flipped a switch. The main screen of the Academy's newly-refurbished communications console blinked off. The system, a holdover from the days of the Great Temple being the main Alliance headquarters, had been repaired, cleaned up and refitted with modern technology, giving the Jedi a link with Known Space.

Mara shook her head. "She's in hell," she commented. At everyone's stares, she groaned. "Oh, come on! Do any of you see Leia as a desk jockey?"

Silence reigned for a moment before Kirana Ti spoke up. "Like there's anyone else at the moment? Even with Cilghal's healing technique, Mon Mothma was too weak to resume her position. And really, who else would you trust? Some arrogant male like Garm Bel Iblis, or that semi-traitor Borsk Fey'lya?"

Tionne's brow wrinkled as she glanced at her friend from her seat near the back of the room. "Who's Borsk Fey'lya?"

"A Bothan senator," Mara supplied. Her eyes narrowed and her lips curled as memories flashed in her mind. "He's… not a nice guy, even by Bothan standards."

Tionne nodded, taking Mara for her word. "I see." She looked back at the console. "It was a good idea to take some time out and watch the news, Kam," she said. "We should do this every day."

Kam smiled at her. "Thanks. And you're right. We can't become isolated here on Yavin IV. If something happened, we'd be kriffed if we didn't know." He patted the durasteel side plating of the console and smiled. "It was… fun, working on it."

Mara barked a laugh. "Oh, Kam finally found love!" She clasped her hands together and batted her eyes at him, pouting her lips. "When's the wedding?"

Kam growled, but there was no bite behind his bark. "Don't you have to unpack that fusion furnace? Dorsk and Tionne have the blueprints all ready, after all."

Tionne rose from her chair, her knees popping a bit. "Even with both of us, it'll take time to go over the layout. And growing the crystals could take upwards of a month, not to mention getting the other parts." Her silver eyes glanced down at the floor. "Looks like we won't have it ready by the time Luke gets back…"

Mara snorted. "Oh, I don't think he'll be disappointed," she commented, reaching out and patting her friend on the shoulder. "We've probably gone farther than the post-Ruusan Order in this, and that's big."

Tionne's expression and mood brightened. "You're right. Thanks, Mara." She walked off to the turbolifts near the back of the room. "I'll go and see how he's doing."

A half-second later, Mara began walking. "Wait a sec, Tionne. I gotta get the furnace out like Kam said." She half-jogged over to Tionne, and the two entered one of the turbolift cars, the double-doors closing behind them.


Dorsk 81's head bobbed slightly as Mara and Tionne entered. "Good to see you," he said, reaching over, picking up a nutrient cube and popping it into his lipless mouth. He waved his hand over the various diagrams and tools laid out on the table in the artifact room. "I think we're all set."

A grunt attracted his attention. He looked over as Tionne and Mara lifted a large gray box. They set it down on the table with a thud, their arms trembling. "That was… heavy," Tionne panted, her arms aching. She rubbed her forearms and winced. "I used the Force, too!"

Mara stretched and her vertebrae popped. "So did I, Tionne." She plopped into a chair and groaned. "Pain is an illusion… that hurts really bad."

Dorsk walked over to the furnace and pulled down on a handle on the side, opening a door. He reached in and slid around several pieces inside, creating frameworks for the crystals to grow on. "We cannot go fast on this," he stated. "and if the crystal is flawed, we'll have to start over again."

Tionne sighed. "I know, Dorsk. I was the one who found out that little tidbit from Master Doneeta, remember?"

Mara snorted. "I think that was more for me, Tionne."

The pale-skinned humanoid blushed. "Sorry," she mumbled.

The clone shrugged. "No problem." He closed the door and pulled down on a lever, sealing it. He then opened a few hatches on top and poured various chemicals into the holes. Dorsk then stepped back and looked over at his friends. "Tionne, this was your idea. Would you do the honors?"

Tionne smiled and stood, but paused. Her eyes half-closed as she reached out with the Force. "I will, but only when everyone's here." She glanced to the door and was rewarded when, two minutes later, the rest of the Jedi entered. "This is when we make our mark in history," she said to them.

Kyle smiled and crossed his arms. "This should be fun," he said.

Tionne reached out and pressed a button on the furnace. The power system came on and it hummed. Within seconds, the furnace heated up and pinged. Status lights came on and the entire machine vibrated slightly.

Brakiss walked over and knelt down, looking through the pane of transparisteel on the door. "Luke will be happy at this," he said. "Although one wonders if he'll know what to do with it."

Tionne glanced at him. "What do you mean? Of course he'll know what to do with it!" Her eyes suddenly narrowed. "Why wouldn't he?"

Brakiss straightened up and noted the stares coming from everyone. "I mean no disrespect to him, Tionne. It's just… he's not the most eloquent person in Known Space."

Mara stepped over and grabbed Brakiss by the shoulder, spinning him around so she could lock eyes with him. "Actions speak louder than words, Brakiss. He might not have much style, but he's got substance."

Brakiss took a step back, but bumped into Tionne. He turned and swallowed as he felt her glare on him. "I-I didn't mean anything bad by it!' he exclaimed, holding up both hands.

Tionne smiled at him, her eyes and aura in the Force betraying her feelings. "So what did you mean by it?" she asked, hands clenched.

A fine sheen of sweat broke out on Brakiss' smooth scalp, but he was saved from responding when Kam cleared his throat, attracting everyone's attention. "Maybe we should get back to training. Luke and Kyp will be back tomorrow, and we shouldn't get behind. The galaxy needs Jedi."

Murmurs of agreement were heard and felt as the Jedi left the room. Tionne lingered for a bit, her eyes glancing to the ceiling. Don't be late, she thought, her mind focusing on the bond she shared with Luke. I miss you too much already.


The Next Day

An aging freighter descended through the sky to touch down at the landing field, the repulsors bouncing it a bit before it settled. The main hatch slid open, squeaking and sticking slightly.

Luke walked down the main ramp and noted Tionne, Kam and Kyle waiting him. He hugged Tionne and kissed her before shaking Kyle and Kam's hands. "Anything new?"

"We've started construction on a holocron for our Order," Kam reported. "It was Tionne's idea, and a damned good one at that."

Luke glanced at the two before smiling. "Yes, yes it is." He reached out and took her hand in his. "I see you two have buried the vibro-blade."

Kam smiled slightly and stepped back slightly. "It was a long time coming." He motioned to the Temple. "Dorsk is tending to the fusion furnaces at the moment. Brakiss is using my saber for drone practice."

"And I'm eager to see my apprentice," Mara said as she emerged from the Temple's entrance and hopped down the stairs, a few at a time. She speed-walked up to the old freighter and looked it over. "Kyp… feels different." She turned back to Luke. "What happened?"

Luke waved his hand at the freighter. "He should tell you himself, Mara."

Kyp walked off the ship, holding his hand over his eyes to block out the glare. His eyes no longer held the twinkle of youth, nor did they possess the mania they did after coming back from the brink. "Hey," he said a bit weakly.

Mara looked him over as he stiffly walked over to her. "Kyp, what happened to you?"

"It's a long, painful story-emphasis on painful," he quipped. He then looked up at the Temple. "The Sun Crusher is no more, thank the Force."

Luke placed a hand on Kyp's shoulder. "He nearly sacrificed himself to destroy it, along with a prototype Death Star."

Kyle's mouth hung open slightly. "I'm sorry, a what?"

Kyp sighed. "I'll explain later. It's quite a story."

Mara placed a hand on his shoulder, letting some of her strength flow through the contact. "First, you need rest," she said, walking him back to the Great Temple.

Kam shook his head as he watched them go. "That should be one hell of a tale." he turned back to Luke and opened his mouth, but stopped as he saw Luke and Tionne staring into each other's eyes. He half-closed his eyes and reached out to the freighter with the Force, detecting familiar and unfamiliar life aboard. "Come on out, Han! Your ship's fine."

Han walked down the main ramp, arms crossed. "I wasn't thinking of the Falcon, really!"

Kyle snorted. "Yeah, and Wookiees are bald."

"Very funny," Han said as he walked up to the pair. "There's cargo aboard," he said, pointing his thumb at the fuselage. "I think the old guy onboard is gonna need help with it."

Kyle nodded and stepped around Han, walking up to the aft cargo ramp as it lowered. He let out a whistle as the ramp's gears groaned and squeaked, the hydraulics hissing. "They don't make them like this anymore-thank the Force."

"Hey!" a voice from inside the cargo bay said. An older man walked down right up to Kyle and jabbed a gloved finger at the Jedi, coming close but not quite touching his flak vest. "The Lightning Rod may be old, but she's gotten me through more scrapes than any other ship would've!"

Kyle's hands shot up and he took a half-step back. "Whoa, whoa! Sorry, old man! I take it back!"

The old man's scowl turned into a smile as his hand opened up. "Well, in that case, never mind. Oh, the name's not 'old man', either. It's Peckhum."

Kyle nodded and grasped the proffered hand, pumping it twice. "Nice to meet you." He turned his head and looked inside the cargo bay at various containers strapped down to the deck plating or bulkheads. "Need some help?"

Peckhum turned and looked in, scratching his head. "I will, thanks." He let go of Kyle's hand and walked up the ramp, leading the Jedi inside. "Now, be careful with some of these containers…"

Kam chuckled lightly as he observed Kyle and Peckhum. He turned back and saw Luke and Tionne still standing together, whispering to each other. "Hey, Kyle, need some help?" he abruptly shouted.


"I missed you," Tionne said. A smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she regarded Luke. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she felt fatigue throughout his body. "What happened?"

"Admiral Daala showed up with her final star destroyer," he said. "There was a fight in the Maw Installation with a Death Star prototype. Kyp almost sacrificed himself to destroy it and had to spend a week in a bacta tank to heal." He glanced up at the ancient ziggurat and narrowed his eyes slightly. "His body's healed, but I'm worried about his actions during the fight."

Tionne turned and followed his gaze up the stone walls, eventually stepping back to Luke's side. "You think he's still suicidal," she stated.

Luke rubbed his chin with his free hand. "No… that's not it. He's past that phase now. Although redemption and atonement will weigh heavily on him, perhaps for the rest of his life. He's fundamentally a good man, so his actions while under Kun's thrall will weigh heavily on his mind."

Tionne sighed. "He deserves better." She suddenly glanced back at Luke. "What? What is it?" she asked, feeling something from him.

Luke paused. "Tionne… I feel it might be time, now. Time to go out and search for where you come from." He stepped around and tilted his head down slightly to lock eyes with her. "I know you need this."

Tionne swallowed and fought down the rising blush from her cheeks. She sighed and glanced away. "You're right. I do need this." She let go of Luke's hand and hugged herself, eyes half-closing. "But… what if in the end, it turns out I'm not really Tionne?"

"What if it turns out you really are Tionne?" he teasingly argued. His grin fell away and his eyes narrowed slightly. "Tionne, I believe in you, but you also have to believe in yourself."

Tionne paused at his words. He's right… as if he could ever be wrong. She suddenly shook her head. "I'll… believe in myself, Luke. So, where do we start, Exis Station?"

Luke nodded. "The only place I can think of, really. Unless…"

"No flashes of insight," Tionne confirmed, a sad smile on her face. She glanced to the Lightning Rod and scratched her head. "Wait, what are we gonna use to fly there? Your X-wing might be a bit too crowded," she teased.

The Jedi Master's face pinked a bit and his eyes shifted. "Yeah, too… crowded," he muttered, rocking a bit on his heels. "I returned that old freighter I used to originally fly to Exis Station. And Han needs the Falcon to get home to his family."

Tionne held up a hand. "And I wouldn't ask him to delay that. Those kids need their father and he needs toe be with them." She paused and placed her hands on her hips, her jaw tilting down. "You know, I don't think an X-wing and Z-95 headhunter are enough ships for a Jedi Order. How did the old Order do it?"

"Not a clue," Luke admitted. He sighed before chuckling. "A Jedi Master and his girlfriend can't get off planet. I'm not sure if this is irony, poetic justice or we can't see the forest for the Ewoks. What do you think?"

Tionne shrugged. "Maybe we should ask Han if he's got any suggestions? Or simply buy a small ship of our own?"

Luke glanced back over his shoulder as his brother-in-law walked up. "Good idea." He turned around fully. "Heading out?"

Han nodded. "I just gotta do a preflight and yeah, back to Coruscant." He glanced at the two. "What?"

"Han," Tionne began. "Any chance you could get us a line on a starship?" she asked, bouncing slightly on her heels.

Han arched an eyebrow. "A ship?" he asked, spreading his arms wide. "You two?"

Luke nodded. "The only ships we have right at the moment are starfighters, which would be a bit cramped for a trip back to Exis Station."

Han's gaze drifted to the Falcon. "You know-"

"We're not taking you away from your family either," Tionne stated, eyes narrowing slightly.

Han waved her off. "Who said anything about me staying behind? Lando's on Coruscant right now, Luke, finalizing his deals with Talon and the Smuggler's Alliance. I can shoot him a message to have him stay on planet and hook you up with something."

Luke and Tionne exchanged a glance. "I've never been to Coruscant," Tionne admitted. She rubbed her chin. "Actually, I've never been anywhere besides Exis Station and Yavin IV." She nodded to Han and grinned. "Okay, let's go!"

Han held up a hand. "Not so fast, kid. Gotta do a quick preflight check first, then we can take off. And I bet Luke's got some last-minute things to take care of too around here."

Luke scratched the back of his head. "Yeah… might be a good idea for me to talk with everyone else first, now that I think about it." He turned and kissed Tionne lightly on the lips before walking off to the Lightning Rod, shouting, "Kam, Kyle…"

Han chuckled and shook his head as he and Tionne observed him running off. "He's always had a weakness for a pretty face." He turned back to Tionne and motioned to the Falcon. "The preflight checks will go a lot quicker if I've got help."

Tionne nodded and took a step forward, but stopped. "Wait, what are preflight checks?"


"… Now take a look at the engines nozzles and maneuvering vanes. How do they look? Any loose joints or corrosion?"

Tionne stood under the aft end of the Falcon, her head craning up at the inert engines of the freighter. "No," she said, shaking her head. "The engines look to be in working order." Her eyes wandered over the rest of the pitted, scarred and rusting ventral hull plating. "Although the rest…"

Han waved her off with one hand and motioned to the ventral surface of his beloved freighter with the other. "All window dressing, Tionne. Enemies see a decrepit freighter and think easy pickings. It also gives the old girl character." He reached over and patted one of the landing struts, but yelped when gas blew from one of the joints.

Tionne half-closed her eyes and telekinetically latched onto him, dragging him away from the whitish plume. "Lovely character," she said, tilting her head down slightly. "You might wanna look into giving the Falcon an overhaul, Han. What about Jacen, Jaina and Anakin?"

Han opened his mouth, but closed it and looked over the pits and scars. "You've got a… point," he admitted. He rubbed his hands on his trousers and sighed. "Yeah, a good point." He shook his head as he led Tionne out from underneath and into the sunlight. Han held his hand over his eyes for a moment and looked around, finally stopping. "Hey, kid!" he shouted, waving.

Luke waved back as he walked from the Great Temple. He had a small duffel bag slung over his shoulder and his robe was cinched around his body, hood up and concealing his still-boyish features. "All set," he said, walking up to Tionne and taking her hand. "Are you?"

Tionne nodded. "I've got almost everything I own on the Falcon already." She swallowed and glanced at the freighter. "What am I gonna find?"

"Yourself," Luke said. He nodded at Han and smiled. "Thanks for the lift to Coruscant."

Han waved him off. "It's three you owe me, now." And with that, he walked around to the side and up the main loading ramp, disappearing inside.

Tionne and Luke followed, but stopped as the other students emerged and ran down the temple steps, feet barely touching the smooth stone as they ran to the pair. "Be safe, sister!" Kirana Ti called out.

"Make sure you come back," Mara said. "Us girls have to stick together, after all."

Streen held up a gloved hand and waved slowly while Brakiss tossed her a salute. Kyp stood there, hands in his pockets, but he locked eyes with Tionne for a moment before nodding. Dorsk 81 also waved, his lipless mouth curled in a smile.

Tionne blinked a few times as moisture stung her eyes. "I'll be back," she called out. "With or without answers, I'll be back." And with that, she and Luke boarded the Falcon.

The main ramp quickly retracted into the hull and the outer hatch closed, sealing itself with a hiss. The ion engines glowed as the ship rumbled, lifting off slightly. The landing gear retracted and the Falcon pivoted on its axis, thrusters flaring as it shot out of the atmosphere and disappearing.

Mara shook her head. "She'll be all right,' she said. "She's got Luke with her, after all."

Brakiss merely sighed. "Mara, you of all people should know how the past has a peculiar way of-OW!" He winced and swatted behind his ear. "Did you have to do that?" he growled, flashing ice-blue eyes at Mara.

"Yes, I did."


Han checked the hyperdrive, kicking the side of a console and uttering a stream of Hutt curses. "Okay, all set," he finally said. He swiveled around in the pilot's chair and flashed a roguish grin at Luke in the copilot's chair and Tionne at one of the aft stations. "Lando's waiting for us and has a ship for you two."

Luke nodded and smiled. "Good old Lando." He turned to Tionne. "You'll like him," he said, chuckling. "He's a bit of a… smooth operator, though."

Tionne shrugged. "It'll be nice to meet more of your friends." Her gaze drifted to the viewport. "Let's do it."


Arkania

A console beeped, disturbing the scientist. He hurried from one of the tables along the wall to a central computer unit. Solid-white eyes looked over a holographic readout and long, clawed fingers stabbed at a keyboard. "This isn't right," he mumbled. "Why is the experiment moving?"

He pressed another button and a holo-projector in the middle of the room sprang to life. A tiny dot moved from a shimmering image of a solar system before disappearing. Arrows branched out from where it disappeared, most of them flowing to another solar system, labeled 'Coruscant'.

A scowl crossed the long, lean face of the scientist. He held up his arm and pressed a button on an armored gauntlet encircling his wrist. "I need you, " he growled out.

Two minutes later, a door opened and a man stepped into the room, armored and armed. His silvery eyes darted about as he took in every part of the room. "What do you want, Norrick?" he asked, lips twitching.

The scientist, Norrick, turned to the new arrival. "The experiment is moving, Talon. I feel this is a lost cause. Terminate her and anyone she's associated with."

Talon grinned, showing filed and fanged teeth. "Ten million credits," he said, holding up his hand and rubbing his thumb across two fingers.

Norrick's mouth turned down and he pressed another button. "That mere pittance?" He pressed a series of buttons on the gauntlet. "Done. Now, go."

Talon bowed, his right arm grabbing a shaft strapped to his back and sliding it off. He pressed a button on it and two blades popped out of either end. "Little sister, I'm going to kill you," he chanted as he whirled about and exited, leaving Norrick alone.


Dathomir

Kir Kanos looked up, eyes squinting. His helmet was cradled in his left arm while his right clutched his staff. With one motion, he slipped the helmet on, gaskets auto-sealing with mild chinks. His boots crunched in the sand as he approached his personal ship, a modified skipray blastboat named Justice. He clambered up onto the starboard stabilizer mounted on the primary hull, the main hatch sliding open with the press of a button.

The imperial guardsman settled into the cockpit a moment later, the hatch sealing up. The single ion engine flared to life and the Justice lifted off the ground, the aft wings rotating around to flight mode before the blastboat left the atmosphere.

Kanos was silent as he inputted coordinates into the hyperdrive, but one thought coursed through his mind. Luke Skywalker, for crimes against the Empire and for killing Emperor Palpatine, I sentence you to death!