CH22: Facing the news…
[song suggestion: Voicians: Stranger]
Groaning, Nelo woke up from his dreamless sleep. Much to his surprise, his eyes revealed that he was in a Republic Front Hospital, with stitches and bandages all over him, plus an I.V. poked into his left arm.
" Why do I have to waste away in such places so often?" he asked himself rhetorically, aloud.
As he lifted his torso up and shook his head, all that had happened suddenly came back to him: the solo scouting mission, the antenna jammer, the bomb, Darth Zannah, Inanna… falling down from 20 stories hand in hand with his dark princess… the fight that ensued between them.
Last thing that he could recall was how he was trying to break her Force Grip on his neck and a horrible pain in the chest-
Alarmed-the monitoring equipment beeping alertly- he checked his body for any missing limbs or grave wounds. He sighed when there were none. That must have been something of the Force then.
He couldn't explain why he seemed weaker than he had been a few years ago. Back then, he could have held his own against master Windu, but now he had trouble dueling Sith Apprentices. He dared not think what may happen, should he meet Count Dooku, a sith lord. He needed answers on his condition. He needed to access the Grand Jedi Library back on Coruscant as soon as possible. Maybe someone would help him, someone he could definitely trust, like master Erladin. But he was just a jedi knight and valuable info was restricted to those with the rank of master. Perhaps master Kenobi would look into this matter if Nelo would finally choose his words carefully.
The Jedi Order was still shocked by the 20 highly valuable knights and masters-Dooku among them- that had abandoned it in the recent years. Not to talk about a significant number of failed padawans-exiles, stripped of the Force or sent to farm worlds. Some of those just melted into anonymity. Others turned to other factions, like the Hutt Syndicate or the Separatists. Those are the reasons why the Order regarded everyone with a careful eye, on the lookout for any dissidence or rebellion. The punishment for sedition was death or live imprisonment. Other laws that he knew dictated that the accused be stripped of the Force and exiled into neutral systems.
He shuddered at the thought. It wouldn't happen to him; he was too dedicated to the ideals of the jedi: justice, mercy, understanding, helping others, self-sacrifice.
Craig entered into the room, followed by a medical droid that started listing the diagnostic.
" Sir, you have suffered multiple small fractures in the arms and legs, your heart pressure and neuro-activity were strained sometime ago, but now they seem to have normalized.
Conclusion: you are able to walk, eat, drink and breath without restriction, but I forbid you from rejoining any hostilities for the next two weeks!" the droid stated planely.
Craig set his helmet on the table to the side and sat on one of the plasteel crates in there.
"It's not that bad, sir, considering everything!" he laughed slightly.
Nelo showed him the middle finger, rolling himself to the side of the bed and stretching carefully.
" Yeah, sure! I'll be back in a week or so!" he grinned. "You can't keep me cooped up in those monotonous hospitals or in that temple after all those weeks of house arrest!" he rotated his head and started flexing his shoulders.
Craig's smile, however, faded, being replaced by seriousness.
" Commander, by all means, respect the medical order! You looked like crap when our avant-garde recovered you from enemy ground."
" Wait! Tell me, how did you ever find me? I was pretty off the charts, after all."
" Heh, adrenaline must be playin' on your memory, sir! You activated your own retriever, the spare one. One of Shark's pilots saw you, made a touchdown and picked you up. When you were brought to us, your armor was shattered, fried and you looked half-dead."
Hivaarr contemplated those words as he made an effort to stand. His legs nearly failed him, but he pushed himself forward, one foot at a time. The droid offered to help, but he turned it down, sending him to care for those that really needed help.
After a few more minutes, in which Nelo reaccustomed himself with walking, Craig informed him that senator Bail Organa, as well as the remaining officials on Christophsis wanted a televised interview with him so as to show the Galaxy that the Republic and the Jedi Order are joining hands in helping the poor, the weak and the defenseless. The poor padawan asked for an hour of peace, at least. Other than that, some new clothes to cover the bandages and make him look presentable.
The time passed and Nelo, together with captain Craig, were brought to the base of one of the still standing skyscrapers. There, a camera team was prepared with the CPNN planetary network providing everything for a galaxy wide transmission. Not far from that very spot were the HQ of the Clone Army, as well as the refugee camps. What a strategic choice!
Four nobles, members of the government that had stayed, plus Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan, the commander of the planetary militias and three journalists.
Nothing too difficult…right?
The twi'lek journalist began her tirade:
" Hello everyone, and welcome to CPNN with your host Vaesy Tallia, broadcasting directly from the front lines, here at the outskirts of Christophsis's capital! Joining our previous discussion with our other guests tonight are Jedi Padawan and commander Nelo Hivaarr and clone captain XT1205, Craig, the Republic Army representatives here." She closed in on Nelo, practically shoving the microphone under his nose.
" Commander, allow me to thank you for your valiant efforts during the battle!" Senator Organa intervened, saving him from his public humiliation.
" Indeed, selfless jedi and brave warriors like you three here ( the noble pointed at the three military leaders) are what keeps the fire of our hopes for better times, for a good future!" another noble added.
" Commander..." the twi'lek tried to squeeze herself back in attention " would you please describe today's struggles? How was a young jedi- an apprentice…"
" Padawan!" Nelo corrected, looking her in the eyes.
"… padawan like you, appointed to lead a whole battle group and finally the entire force here?"
Nelo took a deep breath, but then scrunched his face in pain for a few moments. He still managed to answer.
" Normally, discussing was strategy and movement of troops is forbidden under martial law, so I will be short and direct: the fleet I was assigned to was close enough to provide support. After dispatching of an enemy reinforcement force, me and my company were sent to help the troops stationed here under master Kenobi and Knight Skywalker. We regrouped and repelled the attacks before launching a counteroffensive that ended up with the destruction of the main Separatist Army on Christophsis.
So as to answer your second question, my two jedi superiors were recalled to other, more sensitive fronts, while I was assigned here, with the peacekeeping and reconstruction efforts. Before you ask, I am qualified as such, despite my age!" he added with a slight smile and tinge of irony that left her fuming.
Craig chose this pause for his intervention.
" Good evening to you all! After the conclusion of the main engagement, the commander helped direct the search and rescue teams and the installment of temporary shelters for those that had lost their homes!"
Another one of the nobles- a secretary of state- raised himself and all cameras were on him in an instant.
" On behalf of our people, allow me to thank you for saving them! The camps are brimming with life, with hope, as more and more people are reunited with their loved ones! They may have lost their homes, but their lives will get a new beginning, thanks to all of you!" he sat down, bowing to the padawan and clone.
" Commander, are you feeling alright?"
Nelo shook his stray thoughts away and quickly answered.
"Yes, yes, it's just the fatigue catching up with me; no need to worry!"
The twi'lek had an unconvinced frown on her face, but she went on with her interviewing.
" Even so, you were not here to oversee the operation, commander! You yourself previously stated that you were qualified for this position, yet you let captain Craig in charge in your stead! This can be very confusing, but not surprising given how many young jedi like you…"
That did it! That cheeky reporter thought him to be an incompetent, a glory-hungring teen, a lucky bastard that neglected his duties! He, who faced death more often than missy here faced her caffa machine or her boss! Or a book on manners and diplomacy as well!
But she had the advantage of a camera, while he had the disadvantage of answering to many, many superiors.
" Excusie me miss, but have you been listening properly to what I've been saying?" he threw her a very serious and unforgiving glare.
The twi'lek was surprised for a few seconds, but then huffed, meeting his glare and giving off an uneasy smile to the camera.
"I have! As a true impartial journalist, it is my duty, key to my job and status!" she boasted proudly.
Craig and senator Organa were silently warning Nelo not to exaggerate; not to exceed the limits of decency.
"While what you do is a job, miss, what I have been doing for years is peacekeeping and conflict solving, countering evil and villainy like any fellow jedi is expected to! One cannot hope to keep the peace here if one annot be completely certain that the entire planet has escaped war. I do not endanger the lives of my subordinates needlessly when I can spare them the risks! On my next scouting mission you will be very welcome to see just how trechearous and violent war can be!" he raised his chin and eyebrows in challenge.
She backed down and managed to spew some sort of contextual, far fetched sort of apology, before going on with the rest of her questions.
Four days later, at the Jedi Temple.
In the chambers of the High Council, only a few masters were present: Shaak Ti, Ki Adi Mundi, Plo Koon, Mace Windu and Grandmaster Yoda. Obi Wan Kenobi, Saesee Tiin, Agen Kolar and Kit Fisto were present through holograms. Master Luminara could not be reached.
Before them stood jedi knight Krav Erladin, his face more than a bit sullen and disturbed as he awaited their answer.
" I really don't know if I should praise him of curse him!" he covered his face in confusion and hopelessness.
" Who had the bright idea of authorizing journalists to the front lines?" asked master Obi Wan. " They're bad news if not kept in line!"
The other ones nodded in agreement.
" But that is beyond the point, I am afraid!" master Shaak Ti interjected, her voice sterner than usual. "Master Yoda brought us some very disturbing news about your padawan, Krav!" she looked at the zabrak knight with a mixture of sympathy and pity for his bad choice and bad luck for a disciple.
" He made contact with a sith entity he described as Darth Zannah, the one thousand year dead dark lady!" Erladin confirmed grimly.
The atmosphere was tense. No one dared say anything for a full two minutes, while they thought how to deal with this. It was outrageous, incredible, tragic, but above all, very, very dangerous. It was as if they had a ticking time bomb amidst them; risks unimaginable. And history proved that such events were catastrophal to the Order and the Republic.
They exchanged even more disturbed glances with each other. This was getting out of control. A padawan with that much power, who subconsciously uses dark-sided techniques without someone teaching him and was now speaking to long dead ancient terrors…preposterous. Outrageous. Overly perilous. Coruscant and the Temple may not be safe from such an influence…
" So what did he do? How did he react?" master Plo asked. He needed more details to come to a decision.
" As the vision brought him to Korriban, he was attacked by the native beasts. He also couldn't use the Force or draw any weapon. After a time and a few nigh hopeless battles, one of the beasts transformed itself into Darth Zannah, trying to tempt him to the Dark Side, which he refused. She then reacted violently and Nelo used the Jedi Code to chase away his vision, thus waking up…shaken!"
" I find it laudible that he managed to overcome this, but what worries me beyond anything else is the apparition!" Ki-Adi Mundi spoke.
" Not only that, but this child seems to be constantly tempted by the Dark Side, one way or another!" Shaak Ti noted. " We cannot let this continue. Nor can we use the collar again, for it will slowly destroy him and it has not worked so far!"
" We shouldn't act too rashly, why being unaware of all the details. We still do not know the cause of all this- of why he, of all jedi, is being faced with such challenges." Obi Wan provided, to which the others had to reluctantly agree. "We have to stand by our holy principles at any time, at any cost, not allow ourselves to become prey of our own fears and unrest!" he added.
" I propose we keep him under surveillance, until further notice!" Plo Koon proposed. The others nodded.
" Then assign him here, to Coruscanti Planetary Security, CORSEC. Have him close, but also giving him purpose while we come up with a solution!" Obi Wan concluded.
" Agreed!" (Plo Koon)
"Aye!" ( Kit Fisto)
" Neh!" (Windu)
" Neh!" (Shaak Ti)
"Neh!" (Saeesee Tiin)
" Agreed!" (Agen Kolar)
" Agree, I do! (Yoda)
" 5-3 simple majority. Motion passes! We will proceed then! Meeting adjourned!"
Nelo had found out about this decision and was a bit afraid of the consequences. His master had withheld the more grave sounding information from him, but nonetheless, the news didn't make him any happier.
Another jedi knight whom he could not remember took over his job one week after the Battle of Christophsis was concluded. A shuttle had taken him to Coruscant in two days time and he stood before the Council, that explained to him his new job.
He would work with master Tera Sinube, a very street smart old colesian jedi master whom Nelo remembered that he trained younglings and padawans but was actually their best detective and connoisseur of the capital planet's underlevels and crime rings. He would be aided by a number of clones of his choosing, while the rest of his battalion would be stationed here to complete the army troop rotation schedule.
Not too bad, considering everything else. He would get a full fledged laugh in the face from Anakin's obnoxious new padawan, whom he finally accepted. And that was the least of his worries.
Inanna…
He couldn't stop thinking about her. She could have kidnapped him, strangled him (which she did, but not to death), stab him in the heart or taken him to Count Dooku. However, the dark acolyte did no such thing. From what Craig told him, he deduced that it was her who activated the retrieval.
Those thoughts bothered him after the evening meal and to his room. His bed was as good as place as any to lie down and meditate on everything that had happened.
Was their repeated contact, their forbidden love that was causing all this? He didn't have any idea, but what he could surely tell was that they were meant for each other. That moment when they jumped out of the building and joined their hands and powers… it was painful, but they did it and became so much more for a minute there. A balance of the Force, almost, if not completely, unheard of.
One of them will have to finally cede and join the other, it would seem. It would either be him leaving the jedi or her leaving the sith and separatists. Neither of them was intent on doing that, which was problematic. Sometimes very so.
But that Sith Lord… where did she come from? He didn't have any contact with places bathed in the Dark Side, nor did he possess or come into contact with any such artifacts. So far as his knowledge went, the only other possibility was him having an ancestor related to Darth Zannah. He would ask his parents for any hints, without worrying them with such details and would search genealogical archives. He had to find an answer to his Force energy being so impeded by ever more uncontrollable factors.
Serenno, capital of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, four days after Inanna's successful retreat…
" I see you've arrived, my pupil! I was worried that the Republic would box you in on the planet, but you rose up to the challenge! Congratulations!" he clapped his hands.
Inanna bowed her covered head, while the other three dark acolytes present sneered. The two Chiss, Vandalor and Sev'rance Tann, plus Assajj Ventress.
The first two were mad that Count Dooku would commend her for her minuscule success, while they managed to rout a whole Republic Fleet and kill the padawan of master Echuu Shen-Jon in the process. They only got a couple of nods and a rather pathetic "good work" out of him.
On the other side, Assajj Ventress had real reasons to be mad. She failed to keep Jabba the Hutt's son from Skywalker and his new pet togruta. That led to the Hutt Syndicate declaring open support for the Republic Army, allowing them to use that part of space for troop and supply movement to the Outer Rim and back. Unacceptable!
" My apprentices, we have to work harder and strike fear into the hearts of our enemies! I have a few plans in which each of you, with your individually special skills, would find a way to come on top and show the Republic that we do not make idle threats! Now go! You will receive your plans later!"
As they all left the meeting room, the sith lord put his hand on Inanna's shoulder, stopping her.
" Although your progress is remarkable, Inanna, I cannot help but notice that you are in an emotional distress as of late. Is there something I should know about?" he asked with a soft voice, almost as if he cared, which she knew for sure he didn't.
" Just my revolt at us losing ground against those pacifist hypocrites, master!" she sneered back, hoping to avoid his keen perception.
" True, true, we have had set-backs; all of us, even you!" he patted her shoulder. " Next time, make sure to bring back any padawans you capture. Especially those that appear on the news!" he smiled viciously at her, as she turned and watched him increduosly.
" W…what? How can you possibly mean…" she stammered, but he stopped her by gently taking her mask off and watching her yellow eyes intently.
" I KNOW you! Something in you changed ever since Geonosis! I couldn't put my finger on it, but now, with the footage that my one surviving commando droid sent me…" he trailed off, moving his thumb over her cheek… " I know for sure that you have taken an interest in a little special someone. Nelo Hivaarr!" he raised his voice and showed her the pictures in succession.
For the first time in a while, Inanna felt true fear striking at her heart and soul.
" Love!" he almost spit the word out. "Is a double edged sword, one used in the past to turn sith into jedi and jedi into sith- it goes two ways. Now, I will forgive this indiscretion and allow you to carry on, but remember this: either you bring him to our side and I will allow this…sentimentalism between you, as long as you two would be still useful to me, or…" he trailed off, lifting the datapad with Nelo's shaken body and her hovering over him with her face inches away from his…." He will die! A padawan that powerful cannot hinder our plans and should you ever do so, well, I like you, but you are not completely irreplaceable, Inanna!" he went silent, letting the words sink in.
It hurt. She was afraid for the both of them. Yet… now that she thought about it, it could work. IF she manages to convince him, to show him that the Jedi disrespect him and his efforts and fear his powers, she will have him next to her, after all this time. No more stupid feuds with stupid fellow acolytes. With him, she would be next to invincible, as the union of their powers showed her.
She bowed down and left, having to think about a plan, despite a part of her uselessly shouting warnings.
Author's note:
Credits where they are due: LucasArts and Voicians.
Thanks for the reviews. The roles that they will play will be revealed, there is more at stake in this war than all the sides realize, as old ancient enemies are not far away.
As always, any suggestion or advice is much appreciated!
Bye!