Hi, All...

Just a note to let everyone know that I've done it...I've reached the required NaNoWriMo word count of 50,000.

As of the night of 11/29 I've written 50,227 words...However, what made this more challenging was the fact that out of some crazy notion that I wanted to take you all along on the journey, I decided to post this as I wrote it. The goal of National Novel Writing Month isn't quality but quantity. However, because I am the anal sort and because I didn't want to write words just for the sake of writing but wanted to tell a story; I actually edited this before posting it, which none of my edited material ever made it to the final word count on NaNo. I always copied and pasted the draft into the plain text file each time after I edited it before posting it in the three sites where I'm posting this. So, each time I counted the words it was as you had read it.

And, not to sound conceded, which I'm desperately hoping I'm not, I personally think this has been one of the best stories I've written thus far. Besides the writing time required for this, I also have a ton of research time in it. The online SW encyclopedia web sites have all racked up the hits from me this month...and will continue to do so(I'm sure) as I continue to write this story.

Again, I'd like to thank you all for the wonderful support and encouragement through your comments and I hope that you continue to read and telling me what you think...

Response to the review I recieved:

Thank you!!!! You had a good theory too...but about Valin and Corran...I hope this chapter clears that up...No, Boba isn't in this...sorry, since you like him...However, I actually liked Bloodlines...Traavis could have done better but all in all I enjoyed it...And about Tempest...I'm hoping to get my copy tonight... but I will admit, I'm a bit worried...I'm not a Denning fan...

Now for the story...

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Chapter 14

Fifth Fleet Detention Center, Coruscant

They moved out from their hiding place and into position beside the two fast marching noncoms with one on either side. The transfer guards were dressed as Jaina and Zekk were in black and red armored uniform with full shielded helmet, however the Jedi didn't have their shields down. For their trick to work their voices couldn't be changed in any way. The one on the right, who from the rank markings on the forehead of his helmet out ranked the corporal, looked over at Zekk and said through his vocalizer, "Hey! Who are you?"

Zekk made a small gesture with his hand and simply said, "That is not important. We will take over from here." His words were heavily laced with the Force.

The sergeant nodded and repeated in a slight monotone, "No, it is not important. You will take over from here."

"Serge, what are you doing?" the corporal sounded alarmed. He turned to Jaina, who was walking beside him. "Who are you?"

She made a similar gesture with her hand as Zekk had and in a Force intoned voice responded, "You do not need to know. We are here to take over. You will leave your ship and then walk to the Jagged Edge and neither of you will return until tomorrow."

Zekk looked over at Jaina and she watched him raise his eyebrow at her. The Jagged Edge was a Lower Level dive known for its free flowing drink, unlimited spice and prostitution of several species and of both sexes. Oh, come on, at least they'll have a good time. Jaina sent to Zekk through their bond.

She heard in her head, Sure, if they aren't killed first.

As Jaina rolled her eyes, she sighed and added, "You will remove your uniforms before entering the Jagged Edge."

The guards were both under the Jedi's persuasion and together they repeated, "We do not need to know who you are. We will go to the Jagged Edge after removing our uniforms."

"Good." Zekk waved his hand, "You will not remember any of this. Now you may leave."

"Yes," and with that the two turned and headed back down the long corridor.

After they made the turn at the corner to head for the turbolift, Zekk turned to Jaina and said, "That was almost too easy."

Jaina grinned, "Just shows how simpleminded prison guards are."

"Yeah, well," Zekk returned his gaze down the hall as if half expecting the two to come to their senses and run back toward them with their blasters blazing. "That may be true but I still think it was way too easy."

Jaina started walking and Zekk fell into step beside her. "It's like that time when we were chasing those pirates before the Swarm War. Remember?"

Zekk snickered, "Yeah, now those three were really simpleminded."

"Yep, makes you wonder how Three-Eye got so powerful. Her subordinates were about as stupid as they come."

They shared a low chuckle, after which they closed their shields and opened the battle meld that they had with Valin as they continued their journey in silence.

Skywalker Apartment, Temple District, Coruscant

Jysella couldn't sleep. She had too much on her mind. One of the things she kept running through her thoughts was her visit with her brother. She regretted how she had left things with him. They had always been close and while she was with him she had barely said anything to him.

However, the thing that bothered her the most wasn't Valin's predicament, it was the news she received after returning to the Skywalkers'. She was scheduled to leave for Ossus in the morning with Mara and Luke. Originally it had been planned that she would return to Coruscant to be knighted in a ceremony which Ben and her parents could attend; however, those plans had been changed. Therefore, since Luke knighted all new Jedi, he would be going along, but Ben wouldn't be. Her parents were actually planning on leaving tonight for Ossus to spend some quiet time there after the ordeal they'd been through. Then after she passed a series of tests which they simply called the "trials" she would be sent on her first mission. Although the modern trials were vastly different from those of the Old Order, they still were difficult and required a certain proficiency of the Force.

Luke and Mara informed her that night that after the trials she would not be coming back to Coruscant. She would be knighted by Luke and then would be going directly to Krylon with Tahiri Veila to relieve the Jedi stationed there. The most disturbing thing though was that the assignment was for an indefinite period of time. She nearly cried when the Masters told her the news. They spun it to sound like a great opportunity but she knew the real reason behind the exile—her love for Ben and their disapproval of their relationship.

Although, the only parent that either one of them had admitted their feelings to had been Mirax, Jys realized the others knew as well. Besides, she and Ben didn't hide their affections, they openly held hands and she knew that they had been spending even more time together than they had before, which was nearly impossible. They talked constantly about what they'd do if separated, but Ben kept reinsuring her that Jacen promised that he'd do all that he could to prevent it from happening. Apparently, Jys thought bitterly, he didn't have enough power to convince Luke, Mara and Corran that she was needed more on Coruscant than on some backwater, two bit rock in the middle of nowhere.

Although, it crushed her to think about being away from him, she knew Ben would take the news just as hard. As she fingered the pendent at her bosom, she wondered how in the galaxy she was going to tell Ben that their worse fear had become reality. However, she knew she had to tell him before the morning. Ben wasn't going to be able to be present at her Knighting and she wanted more time with him than just the few hours they would be able to steal in the morning before she'd have to leave. Jysella wanted to be with him even if going to him in the middle of the night was probably the worst thing she could do.

She got out of bed and quickly dressed. Luke and Mara had already gone to bed; so, she left a flimsy note near the caff machine telling them that she couldn't sleep and had gone to the Temple to workout and then to meditate and would be back in the morning. She knew it was a lie and she knew that it was wrong to do so, but she needed to get away and the last thing she wanted her masters to know was that she was leaving to go spend the night with their son.

Fifth Fleet Detention Center, Coruscant

Valin laid down after Allia left and relished the wonderful feeling of being immersed in the Force again. He realized he couldn't openly look like he was meditating and that he had to appear to be lacking his sensitivity to the Force, but he still closed his eyes and reached out to feel the life around him. When he felt Zekk's gentle nudge, he opened the battle meld with his friends and was flooded with their reassurance.

He thought about Allia and her role in what was becoming a several person rescue attempt. He knew his mother must have been involved because of her warning earlier that afternoon. Though, he wouldn't have expected any of the others to come and help him; except maybe Jaina, because of her wavering. Of course, he thought, if Jaina was involved, Zekk wouldn't be far behind. Nevertheless, Allia's involvement did shock him a lot. He guessed her role was to get into the cell and warn him and to destroy his barrier to his access to the Force.

How she accomplished that feat was simple; she had used a small electronic transmitter to emit a high voltage shock into the yuumiri chamber. Although the creature fed on electricity, a single high voltage shock would kill the worm and thus end its ability to repel the Force. It was the only flaw the Vongformed animal had and the ease at which it could be killed could cause great damage for those trying to detain a powerful Force wieldier.

But what really surprised Valin was that Allia was able to smuggle in the transmitter. Somehow, he got the impression there was more to her than met the eye.

The door to his cell slid open bringing him out of his thoughts. Valin sat up on the edge of the bed to see the Centax 3 prison transfer guards move in. The taller one waited on the guard droid to eject the datachip he had inserted into a slot on the droid's chest. Valin could feel Zekk's concern when the droid seemed to be taking a long time to analyze the documentation on the chip.

Jaina moved in to stand before Valin and said through the vocalizer of the helmet she wore, "Turn around and put your hands behind your back, Mr. Horn."

Valin complied with the order and Jaina applied a pair of stun cuffs. Then they turned to look at Zekk who was still waiting on the chip to be returned. Valin reached out into the Force to see if he could sense anything, but he couldn't get a thing. He felt Jaina's spike of concern and wondered if she and Zekk were communicating through their personal bond which was deeper and more complex than the trio's battle meld.

Finally, the droid spit out the chip and in a tinny but authority ridden voice said, "The orders have been verified. Mr. Valin Horn is hereby turned over into your custody, Sergeant Mimmer and Corporal Kosen."

"Thank you, Guard YHV-712," Zekk nearly sighed relief as he said the droid's name.

Zekk then moved to stand on the other side of Valin. "Okay, Mr. Horn, let's get moving. It's a long way to where we're going." They then begin moving out of the cell. Valin was happy to finally be out of it, but he knew they had a long way to go before they were completely out of the rancor's den.

Just Beyond the Coruscant System

The old Imperial-class Star Destroyer reverted to real space and hid in the shadow of the Coruscant sun. The captain knew it wouldn't bode well for those on the planet if he was spotted. There the famous ship (or infamous, depending on one's perspective) would wait for its cargo to take it home.

General Solo's Private Office, Fifty-first Infantry Headquarters, Coruscant

Jacen read the report again and cursed his luck. Jag Fel had been named successor to Pellaeon. He supposed he should have guessed as much when Fel showed up on the scene two years ago as head of the Imperial Fleet that allied with Corellia. His sister's old boyfriend was proving to be quite the pain in his backside. Now that he was the Grand Admiral, he wondered what the former Chiss would do.

He didn't underestimate Fel's cunning and skill as a leader as he did Dur Gejjen. The imbecile in charge of the Corellian government could easily be taken care of. But Fel was another matter, because what worried Troddeln more than anything was the same reason he kept Gejjen around. The demise of the Insurgent leadership would create power vacuum among the worlds that were in alliance with Corellia. Of course, the strongest leader and most likely to succeed in that vacuum was now Jagged Fel, and Darth Troddeln definitely didn't want the Insurgents to become part of the Imperial Remnant. The last thing the Sith Lord, who was trying to rebuild the galaxy to fit his vision, wanted was for the Empire to become a major power again.

Troddeln turned the datapad off and sat back in his nerfhide chair. He had to find away to prevent that from happening, but he needed it to appear to the GA that Gejjen and Fel were the ones tipping the scales of the war.

Suddenly, Troddeln knew exactly what to do. An evil sneer passed over his face as he pulled his comlink. He called his apartment and left a message for Ben that he would be gone for the next two days. Then he contacted the office of Admiral Darklighter, informing the droid that answered the comm that he had an urgent issue that demanded his attention. He dodged the military protocol droid's insistent questions by simply explaining that he was personally following a lead for the GAG.

With the necessary calls done, he stood and picked up the datapad and headed for the hangar. Less than an hour later found him in his X-wing and heading for the asteroid near Bimmiel where he first met the woman who brought him to his destiny. He had known for sometime that Lumiya had been trying to play both sides of the war; however, she wasn't as skilled as her Master had been. Troddeln had every intention of using her connection to Gejjen to do what he wanted done.

It was time to give the Corellians exactly what they wanted—Centerpoint Station back in operation.

Public Hangar 22WP, Westport, Coruscant

Valin let Jaina and Zekk lead him through the detention center and to the ship had brought the real transfer guards to Coruscant. However, before they could finally leave the heavily guarded center, Zekk had to supply the datachip to the exit guard, a Bith, who took an agonizing amount of time to confirm and sign off on the transfer of Valin to the Centax 3 guards. Finally, the Bith had handed the chip back to Zekk who pocketed it and tossed the Fifth Fleet noncom a sloppy salute.

They came to the boxy transport ship and Valin noticed a group of reporters near the landing strip entrance. Although, a group of guard YHV guard droids were holding them back, they shouted questions at Valin nonetheless. He felt Jaina's concern but she didn't show any of it when gently pushed Valin in the back and said with authority, "Get in there, Jedi."

Valin stepped into the transport and watched as Jaina and Zekk followed. Zekk pushed the control at the door and it slid closed. After the reassuring thud of the seal catching, Zekk and Jaina pulled off their helmets.

Jaina grinned at Valin and said as he turned around to allow her to remove the stun cuffs, "Hello, Val, you really didn't think we'd let you go to prison for doing what was right, did you?"

He rubbed his wrists and turned to face her again. Grinning he replied, "Well, I have to admit that thought had crossed my mind more than once."

Jaina hugged her younger friend and snickered, "Trust me, Val. If we didn't get you out someone else would have, but that could have gotten a little more messy."

He laughed and sat down on the acceleration couch. He began to strap himself in as Zekk moved over with transceiver. "Here, even with that thing dead in there, I don't think you want to go where you're going with it around your neck."

Valin gave Zekk a lopsided grin, "Nope, the sooner I get rid of this thing the better." He then twisted the collar around to allow Zekk to hold the transceiver's end to the sensitive button that held the collar closed. Zekk punched in a code they had bought, and the collar fell open into Valin's waiting hand. He then promptly threw it into a corner of the hold, he never saw where it landed.

While Zekk removed the collar from Valin, Jaina moved to the cockpit and got the ship ready for takeoff. After a few moments they were lifting off the durocrete strip and heading for what appeared to be orbit.

"Will we be taking this crate to where we're going?" Valin asked Zekk after a moment.

Zekk grinned from where he was strapped in on the opposite side of the cabin, "No, we are heading for Westport."

"Westport? What are we going to do in Westport?" Valin asked incredulously. The longer they remained on Coruscant the better the chance of detection.

Zekk thought about it a moment then said, "Well, our ride is in Westport, for one thing. Secondly, Allia is waiting there for us."

Valin nodded but his expression became curious. He leaned forward and inquired, "About Allia, why'd she help me? I mean she and I were wingmates, sure, but that was only for a short time. And what she did went beyond being wingmates."

Zekk laughed and scratched his chin, "Oh where do I begin concerning Allia."

"How about the beginning," Valin smiled but said dryly, "I get the feeling this is a long story."

Zekk snickered again, "Yep, you could say that. It seems Allia isn't who she says she is."

"What do you mean?"

"Do the names Tarkin and Na'al mean anything to you?"

"As in the Rebellion spy and the historian?"

"Yep, that is exactly who I mean," Zekk then went on to explain to Valin the story Allia had told him and Jaina the week before.

They arrived at the small public hangar that was primarily occupied by business beings but at this late hour was virtually empty. After Jaina shut the ship down, Zekk open the hatch and Valin nearly gasped. Before them sat a ship that was probably as familiar to him as the Millennium Falcon was to Jaina. He looked at Jaina and she smiled, "Your mom insisted on this, Valin."

"But if she's gone the same time as they discover my escape she will be under suspicion," Valin challenged. "No, I won't endanger my mother."

"Actually, they have an alibi," Zekk calmly replied.

Valin turned to stare puzzled at Zekk, "They?"

Jaina grabbed his arm and grinned, "Come on, you'll see."

Valin let Jaina guide him to the Pulsar Skate and up the short ramp into the familiarly comforting main hold. There Allia came forward and Valin hugged his friend. He raised an eyebrow when he saw that she was dressed in a nondescript flight suit and her hair was back to its natural auburn. "What happened to Judy?"

She grinned back and shrugged, "Judy? I don't know what you're talking about. Maybe that thing they had on you addled your brain some."

"Emm—Who knows it may have. That thing was worse than being in the cage. But, if you ever run into her, let her know that she has my graditude."

"I'll do that." She winked, smiled and moved to sit down on the acceleration couch beside Zekk and Jaina. They then began to strap themselves in.

Valin looked around the hold one more time and then heard the repulsars whine to life. "I'm going up to the cockpit with Mom. She'll need a co-pilot."

The door slid open and as Valin stepped through he was truly shocked by the second person he saw at the controls in the co-pilot's chair beside his mother.

Jedi Master Corran Horn turned to look over his shoulder and gave Valin a slightly crocked grin.

"Dad?"

Corran stood and met Valin's gaze. "Son, I know we haven't always seen eye to eye. But I want you to know that I really do think you did the right thing. I—emmm—" he glanced away and looked down at Mirax, she gave him a small smile and he nodded as he turned back to Valin. In a stronger voice his father continued, "I'm sorry for not publicly backing you."

Valin let out a breath, "I guess I was a little hard on you too, Dad. If I'd been in your place, I may have done the same thing."

"No," the older man shook his head, "Valin. I forgot what really comes first in a man's life. My father had always been there for me, up until the day he died in my arms. I haven't always been there for you or your sister." Corran swallowed hard and added, "I put duty before my love for my family too many times."

Valin could feel his father's serenity and regret through the Force and suddenly he realized that he also felt his love. Valin stepped forward, as Mirax lifted the old Baudo-class yacht out of the hangar, and he stepped into his father's embrace.

Mirax looked up at them and grinned through the tears that sparkled in her eyes, "You two had better sit down and strap in, because when I punch this baby you'll end up splattered on the bulkhead if you don't."

Valin and Corran both nervously chuckled at Mirax's attempt at levity as they heeded her words. Corran reclaimed the co-pilot's seat and Valin sat in behind his mother in the never used navigator's chair. As he finished strapping in, he looked through the view port to watch as Mirax skillfully weaved her way through the never ending streams of traffic to head into Coruscant's orbit. "So, where we going? I'm assuming we aren't going to Corellia."

Mirax looked over at Corran and said, "You, Jaina, Zekk and Allia will be. We'll be going to Ossus for your sister's knighting. But first we need to drop you off at your ride there."

Then Valin felt as much as saw the pained expression on Corran's face and he knew it wasn't the thought of Jysella's Knighthood that caused it. Valin snickered and wasn't at all surprised as he asked, "Granddad?"

Corran turned to Valin, shrugged and dryly responded, "Desperate times call for desperate means."

Valin slapped his knee and laughed heartedly as he sat back into his chair. "Well, if Errant Venture and Booster Terrik are involved, desperate isn't the word."

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