The Hapan shuttle landed several meters behind Allana and Jaden, and the boarding ramp lowered to admit them. The two of them, having already turned to face the landing craft, headed toward it to board the vessel.
As the ramp closed up behind them, they headed to the passenger cabin, where they were met by the pilot, Trista.
"I'm sorry for your losses, Grand Master Korr," Trista said solemnly. "And I know that my sister will not take the news of her husband's death well."
"If it means anything," Jaden said, "he died bravely against one of the most powerful Sith Lords who ever lived."
"I doubt that will ease her grief at all," Trista stated in a matter-of-fact way. "Take your seat. We have to go now."
Jaden nodded and sat down as Trista turned to head back to the cockpit, with Allana joining her.
Soon, the shuttle lifted off and rocketed for the skies of Coruscant.
Minutes later, after the shuttle swerved its way through the battle still raging between the Galactic Alliance and Hapes Consortium forces, it finally managed to settle down inside the Dragon Queen II's hangar bay, where Trista cycled the ship down to shut off its engines. She then lowered the boarding ramp and followed Allana and Jaden out to be met by Tenel Ka and an ensemble of guards.
The Queen Mother knelt and spread out her one arm for Allana, who rushed into her embrace. "Do not ever do that again, child. Promise me that," Tenel Ka said without breaking away from the embrace, her voice quivering with relief that her daughter was safe.
Allana broke away from the hug. "I can't promise that, Mommy," she replied evenly.
Tenel Ka firmed her lips and sighed through her nose. She then stood up to her full height and addressed Jaden, recomposing herself as the regal leader of sixty-three worlds. "Grand Master Korr, I see that you are in great need of new Jedi if you are to continue with your Order."
Jaden nodded stiffly. "I will do everything in my power to look through the galaxy for new members."
"The Temple on Shedu Maad can still be your home, if you want it," Tenel Ka offered.
"Thanks, but I think I'll be too busy to be settling anywhere," Jaden said.
"Very well," Tenel Ka said. She then turned away and headed for the exit of the hangar bay, her guards, Allana, Jaden, and Trista following suit.
Once they reached the bridge of the Queen, Tenel Ka sat down in her command chair and opened up the fleet-wide frequency. "Attention, all forces. We are retreating back to the Transitory Mists at once. We have accomplished what we came here to do."
"But, Milady!" the captain of the Queen off to the side called. "We are so close to crippling the Alliance permanently. If we retreat now, they could-"
"We are leaving," the Queen Mother enunciated.
The captain then nodded, and sent out orders to turn the Queen around.
Not much longer, when all remaining Hapan ships were facing away from Coruscant, they went to hyperspace, leaving the center of the galaxy behind.
.
Ford watched the news on his datapad as he sat in the exact spot where Plagueis's interdimensional portal device once rested. According to the HoloNet, following the Hapans' retreat from the Coruscant system, Chief of State Shesh emerged from the Imperial Palace, and in a matter of hours, managed to gain a sizable amount of media attention to announce that for the Consortium's actions, the Galactic Alliance was going to war with Hapes.
Of course, following that announcement, the Senator of New Caamas, Releqy A'Kla, called for a vote of no confidence against Shesh, a move that was largely supported by both the Senate and the public. While Shesh would remain the Chief of State for another month, it wouldn't be long before the next planetary election determined who would be her successor. As for the declaration of war against the Consortium, the Senate has voted to hold off war against Hapes until the next Chief of State determined what course of action needed to be taken.
Of course, Ford had no doubt that after the Alliance elected Shesh's successor, they'll launch that war as soon as possible. And the interim time period would allow the military to build up its forces back to suitable shape.
Mimicking a sigh out of rumination, Ford shut off his datapad, clipped it to his waist, then picked up his commlink. He then activated the recording of the last conversation between him and Plagueis, which took place after he killed his and Dr. Ruk's three Jedi captors and prior to his return to the warehouse with the portal device.
"I had to kill Five-U, Master," Ford's voice lied on the recording. "He was becoming too much of a danger to our operations."
"Thank you for letting me know, Ford. Meet Doctor Ruk and I in the warehouse in six hours. Plagueis out."
The recording ended there. Ford clipped it back to his waist and mimicked another sigh.
"Think he's dead again?" a familiar voice called out from the side.
Ford looked up to find the astromech form of Five-U rolling toward him.
"Yes," Ford said in response to Five-U's question. Then, with scorn in his tone, "What are you doing here? And how did you know I'd be here?"
"Took a wild guess at that," Five-U answered. "As to why I'm here, well... I came to apologize."
"And what makes you think I'll accept your apology?" Ford asked, his tone as even as it could be.
"Well, why not?" Five-U asked.
"Not good enough."
Five-U then mimicked a sigh. "Look, I'm sorry for all I said to you. I should have never questioned you or Plagueis. And I'm sorry I called you a slave."
"That's better," Ford said, standing up and walking over to Five-U. "You're still gonna need to work things out with me. But for now, I'll take that apology."
"Thanks, Captain," Five-U said with genuine emotion.
"So what have you been doing since we've been apart?"
"I found a job," Five-U answered.
"Really? Where?"
"Mechanics shop in the mid-level area. There's an opening for a protocol droid now."
"How should I prepare for the interview?" Ford asked.
"You don't. They'll hire you on the spot, like they did me."
"Really? Why'd they make it so easy?"
"Shop's run by a droid freedom advocate," Five-U answered. "He hires you just for being a droid."
"Sounds like a reasonable man," Ford quipped.
"C'mon, follow me," Five-U said before turning around.
Ford followed with renewed enthusiasm.
"Oh, and by the way, Captain? Boss at the shop managed to help me masturbate again!"
.
Halfway between Coruscant and the Transitory Mists, the Hapan fleet dropped out of hyperspace so that it could see off a special passenger.
In the hangar of the Dragon Queen II again, Jaden was viewed by Her Majesty, her daughter, her cousin, and her bodyguards as he prepared to climb the landing ramp of the shuttle given to him as a gift.
"Good luck, Grand Master Korr," Tenel Ka stated formally. "And be careful out there. A war has started."
"I will be careful," Jaden replied. "And may the Force be with you, Your Highness."
Tenel Ka smiled and nodded, allowing Jaden to turn away and enter the shuttle. The royal entourage then turned and left the bay, allowing the shuttle to take off and leave the Battle Dragon.
Two minutes later, when it was well away from the fleet, the shuttle launched for hyperspace in search of new Jedi.
.
"It is time for bed, Allana," Tenel Ka said as she tucked her daughter into bed. "And considering that you managed to defeat a Sith Lord when a Grand Master could not, I think it is safe to say that you deserve some rest."
Allana smiled. "We all deserve some rest," she said in a tone that contradicted her expression. "Especially now that we'll have to be fighting again real soon."
Tenel Ka's own expression fell gradually with Allana's. But instead of following up on that, she leaned in and kissed her child on the forehead. "Goodnight, sweetheart."
"Goodnight, Mommy," Allana replied.
Tenel Ka then stood and turned to leave the room.
"Oh, and Mommy?"
Tenel Ka stopped and turned to face her child.
"I don't blame you anymore."
The Queen Mother smiled and nodded. "Goodnight, baby." She turned off the light and left the room finally.
With content, yet still keeping in mind the trials that would lay ahead, Allana fell asleep with ease.