Past Redemption: Jaina's Quest
Chapter 11The Academy, and the New Republic, was on full alert.
It wasn't bad enough that seven Jedi students were missing; the fact that two of them were children of Leia Organa Solo increased the pucker factor by about ten.
On top of all that…the news that a Super Star Destroyer had been spotted in New Republic space was not to be taken lightly.
The New Republic Navy devoted all resources in the sector to finding the "Palpatine", which they had little information on. They believed it to be a re-flagging of another ship, and thus not a new one at all, but they did not know what it was previously named.
The Jedi, for their part, were also devoting all resources to finding the ship. It had been 24 standard hours since the distress signal had been reported to them, and they hadn't heard anything else from them.
Lando had arrived at the Academy to offer any help he could, and Luke was glad for all the help he could get.
Mathu spent the time in meditation. Having spent several months with Jaina, he was able to detect her presence, and distress, through the Force enough that he felt comfortable that he at least knew the vicinity that they had been captured…but there was a problem.
Not long after they had been captured, her presence in the Force disappeared.
Not due to death, he was certain of that…but something else.
After informing Luke of his knowledge of where they had been captured (but leaving the part about her disappearing out of their discussion), Luke wanted to relay the information to the Navy, but Mathu refused.
"I have to follow my instinct." He told Luke. "But I need a fast ship."
"I know just who to talk to." Luke grinned.
After Luke had introduced him to Lando, he had pulled Lando aside to talk with him in private.
"I need a fast fighter." He told Lando.
"I have a prototype in the cargo hold of my frigate." Lando told him. "A prototype of a design my people have been working on for the Navy. The fastest single person ship ever built."
"Fire power?" Mathu asked.
"Standard for a fighter." Lando replied. "With shields. It doesn't sacrifice anything for speed."
"You probably won't get it back in one piece." Mathu said flatly.
"I've come to expect that from the Jedi." Lando laughed. "But it's one of three prototypes…and letting you use it to rescue them will actually be beneficial in my attempt to sell it to the Navy."
Mathu laughed as Lando escorted him to his shuttle and, after talking to the Captain of his frigate, which was still in orbit, to let him know what was going on, ordered the shuttle pilot to transport Mathu to the frigate.
When the Captain met him in the frigate's docking bay to escort him to the fighter, Mathu had a few questions.
"I am assuming the fighter has an accessible database computer?" He asked.
"It does." The Captain affirmed as they approached the ship. "My tech here will give you a quick class on the unique features the ship offers."
"Thank you, Captain." Mathu smiled. "I will also need the blueprints for a Super Star Destroyer uploaded into the computer.
"Of course." The Captain told him. "The class will last about thirty minutes…by the time it is finished, the data you need will be uploaded."
"Thank you." Mathu replied, eager to get started.
Jaina was upset…but with herself.
The shuttle had been yanked from hyperspace by the Super Star Destroyer with an interdiction field. At first, she had been amused when they had used a tractor beam to drag the shuttle into the ship's docking bay…the Star Destroyer's crew was in for a big surprise when they tried to board a shuttle with seven Jedi.
However, it ended up being the Jedi who were surprised, even shocked, when they no longer felt the Force.
"You in there!" They heard from outside their boarding ramp. "We know you are Jedi…and we know what happens to Jedi when you are near ysalamiri…which we just happen to have out here with us. Lower the ramp and come out with your hands up, and no one will get shot."
"We still have our lightsabers." Jacen told Jaina.
"It's your call, Master."Farlo added.
Jaina considered her options.
"One last thing." The voice outside added. "Our weapons are not on stun."
Jaina looked at her friends, who patiently waited for instructions, and sighed.
"I won't risk it." She said as she pressed the button to lower the ramp. "They win this round."
After they had been disarmed, they were escorted to a detention level, and all placed in a single cell.
At first, this confused Jaina, who knew that the first thing that security forces across the galaxy did was to separate prisoners.
As she looked at the ysalamir that had been placed, in a protective barrier, in the center of the cell, she had a revelation.
"They only have the one." She said aloud.
Jacen gave her a curious look.
"They only have the one." She repeated, nodding towards the lizard.
"How can you be sure?" Jacen asked.
"If they had more," Jaina reasoned. "we would have been split up."
"One or one hundred." Tenel-Ka pointed out. "We are still without our abilities."
Jaina nodded, but the knowledge just might come in handy.
After about an hour, the door opened and two Stormtroopers entered with weapons at the ready and stood on either side of it. Once they were in place, a human in a grey Imperial Officer's uniform entered and looked at each Jedi in turn.
"Who is the senior one among you?" He asked.
"I am." Jaina stepped forward. "What do you want with us?"
The man stared at her for a few seconds before replying.
"Come with me." He finally ordered. "You will be outside the range of the ysalamir…but, before you try anything foolish, remember that your friends are still in here…and they will be the ones to pay the price for your foolishness."
He turned and walked out.
Jaina looked around, then followed him.
Not long after exiting the detention cell, she left the range of the lizard, and relished the return of her Force awareness.
She followed the Officer to the end of the hallway, where an imposing figure dressed in black robes stood alone, waiting for them.
As she approached, she realized the figure was human.
When they stopped in front of him, he glared at her for several seconds before speaking.
"I am Darth Macht." He finally said. "You are Jaina Solo."
She simply nodded, even though it wasn't a question.
"Perhaps you are a different Jaina Solo than the one in the video on Targon V." He laughed. "That young lady really knew how to fight."
She just stared at him.
"The quiet type." He said. "Good…it will make your humiliation all the more satisfying."
"What do you want?" Jaina rudely asked.
"You will find out soon." Macht smiled as he replied. "I have big plans for you and your friends…you are going to start in motion a chain of events that will bring about the end of the blasphemy that is called the New Republic."
"I wouldn't bet on it." Jaina chuckled.
"It has already started." Macht laughed. "Soon, you and your friends will be taken to the bridge of this ship, and everything will be explained."
"Your plan will fail." Jaina told him matter of factly. "I will stop you."
"I do hope you will try." Macht smiled. "I am so looking forward to seeing the feisty girl in the video…and, as a special favor to you; I just might you the opportunity for you and your friends to survive this."
He flicked his wrist to the Officer standing next to her, who grabbed her arm and motioned her back down the hallway.
"If your purpose for this conversation was to get me nervous," she said over her shoulder, "you failed miserably."
"I think not, young Jedi." Macht laughed. "Why else would you even claim otherwise?"
The Officer chuckled and tightened his grip on Jaina's upper arm as they approached the cell.
After the Stormtroopers had exited and the door closed, everyone gathered around her.
"What happened?" Jacen asked.
"The stakes just got a whole lot higher." She declared and explained everything to them.
Jaina estimated that they were kept in the detention cell for two standard days, but they didn't get much sleep.
They tried to, but the lights were kept on the entire time, and it seemed that whenever someone would nod off, someone would beat on the outside of the door.
Apparently, the orders were to keep them awake.
During that time, they were only given one meal, a light breakfast, then the Officer from before entered, and Jaina noticed a lot more than two Stormtroopers behind him.
From what she could see, it seemed he was accompanied by an entire platoon.
"You are being moved." He told them without preamble. "Let's go."
One at a time, they approached the door and were handcuffed with their hands in front.
Once that was finished, they were escorted (with the ysalamir in the midst of them) by the platoon of troopers to the Star Destroyer's large bridge. There was a hastily assembled cage in the back corner, and they went through the reverse procedure that they had done when they left the cell…one at a time, the cuffs were taken off and they were placed in the cell, where the ysalamir, still in its protective case, had already been placed.
When that was finished, and the door was closed and locked, a human male wearing what Jaina knew to be an Imperial Captain's uniform walked over.
"Welcome to the "Palpatine", young Jedi." He told them, smiling. "I am Captain Grant, your host. I hope your stay thus far has been a pleasant one?"
"I thought Admirals were placed in charge of Super Star Destroyers." Kein, who, at thirteen, was the youngest Jedi present, rudely pointed out. "The Empire must be getting desperate."
"Ahhh, the ignorance of youth." Captain Grant smiled, unfazed. "So slow to learn, yet so quick to put their lack of knowledge on display for all to see."
"What do you want with us?" Jaina asked.
"I do not want anything with you." He smiled. "Darth Macht, on the other hand, has big plans for you…though he has chosen not to share all of them with me." His smile grew larger. "I am so looking forward to seeing what they are."
"Speaking of your Sith wannabe in residence," Jaina said sarcastically, "when will he choose to grace us with his presence?"
Captain Grant smile disappeared. "Soon enough." He replied coldly. "And, if I were you, I would not be in such a hurry to see him."
They didn't have long to wait.
Darth Macht strode onto the bridge with his hands crossed in front of him, though hidden by his robes.
He gave the Jedi a contemptuous glance, then turned to Captain Grant.
"Have all the items I requested been arranged?" He asked the Officer.
"They have, my Lord." Captain Grant replied. "The news crew will be on sight shortly."
Darth Macht nodded and turned to the Jedi, ensuring that he stayed beyond the range of the ysalamir.
"You are about to become, quite possibly, the most famous Jedi in history." He told them.
"By ridding the galaxy of you?" Jaina shot back.
Macht just chuckled, then cocked his head.
"You know what?" He smiled. "I think I just might let you attempt it…thank you for the idea."
"Now's as good a time as any." Jaina said.
"Feisty." Macht smiled. "I like that…but no. First, you will be paraded in front of a news camera for the entire galaxy to see. We will let every sentient being know that the Jedi are no match for the Empire. Then…I was just going to have all of you gunned down. But instead, I think I will defeat all of you, one by one, in a lightsaber duel. I do believe that course of action would be more…satisfying."
"I go first." Jaina told him, smiling.
"But of course." Macht smiled back. "I would not have it any other way. And believe me…I am so looking forward to it."
"So am I." Jaina told him.
A short time later, the news crew arrived and set up with a view of the Jedi.
"Citizens of the galaxy." Darth Macht began as soon as they were broadcasting. "Both the Empire and the rogue "New Republic", Allow me to introduce myself…I am Darth Macht, heir to the legacy of Emperor Palpatine and Lord Darth Vader, and I come before you today to herald in a new era. Effective today, the Empire will begin regaining control over its breakaway territories. Lest you think you can refuse this, I present to you the best that the "New Republic" has to offer in the way of defense…these Jedi."
He gestured to the group, and the camera zoomed in on them.
"The Jedi," Macht continued, "who were so easily captured by our forces…completely without a fight."
As he spoke, Macht noticed the Officer who had escorted Jaina to him (Lieutenant Jennings, the ship's Executive Officer), enter through the bridge doors and approach Captain Grant with a nervous look on his face.
Captain Grant listened as Lt. Jennings whispered in his ear, then gave Jennings orders, and Jennings nodded and left the bridge in a hurry.
After Jennings left, Captain Grant looked at Darth Macht like he was anxious to tell him something.
"What is it, Captain?" Macht interrupted his presentation.
Captain Grant walked over to Macht and whispered in his ear…too low for the camera's microphone to pick up, the operator however, sensing something good was brewing, swung the camera to show them.
"We have an issue." Captain Grant told Macht. "Apparently, a ship has just crashed into our docking bay…the pilot of which ejected before impact, and is heading this way."
"Who is it?" Macht asked him.
Before replying, Grant looked at the seven Jedi locked in the cage.
"One of them." He said. "The one with the orange lightsaber.
"What were your orders to Jennings?" Macht asked.
"To kill him." Grant said simply. "At all costs."
Macht thought for a few seconds.
"Can you find him on the security camera?" He finally asked.
"I'm sure we can." Grant replied. "What do you have in mind?"
"A special gift for our viewers." He smiled, and turned back to the camera as Grant made the appropriate orders find the intruder on camera and show it on the large viewer.
"My friends," Macht told the camera, "it seems we have a special treat for you today. Not only do you get to witness the death of seven Jedi students…you will also be able to witness the death of one of their Masters." He turned to look Jaina in the eye. "The one with the orange lightsaber. You will undoubtedly recognize him as the one in the famous video who stood by and watched that one defeating her three opponents."
He nodded towards Jaina, who stared back at him without emotion.
To be continued
7