Chapter 2
His arm lay across from him on the table, cleaned of the spilled blood and disinfected thoroughly. It had been only a few days, by his last count since the Battle of Nickel One. Darth Caedus sat up, on his bed as the medical droid, named too-onebee-three, examined his stump. The wardroom in which he sat had only one patient, him. Across the hall of the Anakin Solo, Medical floor, other prisoners lay in their beds, some from the recent battle of Nickel One, GAG soldiers and stormtroopers, as well as a few prisoners-Mandalorians and Verpine, who were of course kept in more confined conditions and whose medical treatment, was both prelude, and part of the interrogation procedure. The droid had informed him his arm could be re-attached if he so desired, and not wishing a prosthetic Caedus had considered the option and had, with some internal debate agreed. However, he had decided, to forego the procedure for the moment, and return to Coruscant, Tahiri had informed him of Ben's capture, both through a short signal in the force, and through a recorded holo transmission. "I doubt Tahiri, has the necessary patience and ruthlessness to get what I need out of the boy, and to prevent any kriff ups, I will go and deal with the problem myself."
More concerning and demanding of reflection, was his sister's attempt on his life, and her death. So much for the Sword of the Jedi prophecy, Caedus had chided to himself. He had been there, fourteen years ago when Luke Skywalker had apparently in some sort of induced trance, had declared her the Sword of the Jedi, a weapon against darkness, and protector of the weak. "You will know no rest, but you will bring rest to others", Caedus recalled his uncle proclaiming. Didn't Yoda always say, in motion the future was?" Strange, Caedus thought. I was fooled. Luke Skywalker cast his form over her, and his illusion trick in the auditorium nearly allowed her to escape. How much else, had Luke Skywalker done? Can I trust my visions? Has my mind been twisted to his purpose? I need to get to Coruscant now, I will be able to reassess the situation safely there and recover without risk of Jedi attack…at least for a while anyway. I miss her, Caedus thought. I grieve for her. She was my sister; we shared a great bond through the force. I need to grieve, I need to mourn her, so as not to lose touch, to lose sight again. I loved her, and I will suffer the pain of her loss, her sacrifice, my sacrifice. Getting up from his contemplation, Darth Caedus walked slowly and methodically to the door, more than a little disturbed by his previous line of thought. "My lord, I highly recommend you don't leave the medical ward, I need to check for any risk of infections or dead tissue.
"Overridden" Caedus said sternly and impatiently, "I can take care of myself." The medical droid backed away and bent its mechanical head, "As you command, my lord".
The automatic door opened for him, and Caedus walked down the corridor, taking time to note the wounded men and women around him, on his left was an injured stormtrooper moaning constantly as medical droids tended to his burned and bleeding organs, to the poor man's left was a GAG private, who was under sedation, Private Max Akiran, the young man had fought ably and valiantly during the Battle of Nickel One, out of the corner of his eye, Caedus recalled him killing at least three Mandalorians with his blaster rifle, and slaying another in a brawling melee with the Mandalorian's own beskar knife. He had apparently sustained serious injuries in the process, peering through the curtain, Caedus observed cloth over his left eye, and a multiplicity of needles in his neck, torso, and all his limbs. His face was so purple, as to be almost black, and his stomach was cut wide open, with his sides thrashed terribly. I will have to give him a commendation, and a promotion I think, once this is all over. His bravery and self-sacrifice will serve as an example in my new empire. Walking furtherthrough the corridor, Caedus heard the cries of men and women, as medical droids rushed from room to room, many carrying medicines, or dispensing prescriptions, clanking on the hard-smooth floor as they did.
Making his way at last to the elevator, Caedus hit the button and the door opened promptly, and on the side of the door, Caedus typed in the code for the bridge level, and the elevator shot upwards, The moffs will no doubt, hew and cry as to children, given not a few of them are in body bags now. Cowardly men, for all their bluster and bravado, the Moffs were always keen to have someone else do the dying for them, they desired power, prestige, a revived empire, but they as a whole were not willing to fight for it themselves. Still…they were dangerous, and I can not risk any unexpected defections or last moment battle betrayals.
The elevator stopped, with a sudden thud, and he was on the bridge. The automatic durasteel enforced doors opened, and he stepped out with a reserved urgency, noticing the mods standing around the command consoles, and barking insults at the pilots sitting in their chairs.
Moffs Lecersen, Jowar, Rosset, and Rezer turned around, and approached him as a unified front. Stepping in front of his colleagues, Lecerscen spoke,
"Lord Caedus, the fleet has sustained heavy damage, but repairs are nearly finished, Admiral Bwua'tu pulled off a master stroke, with his quick thinking and of course his firepower." The implication of the praise was obvious, Lecerscen was implying Admiral Nek Bwua'tu not him, was responsible for the victory over the enemy at Nickel One. Caedus curled his lips and smiled,
"Admiral Bwua'tu has done a great service for the galactic alliance, his patriotism even in the face of homeworld's treason is most commendable." "As it stands, we have to focus on the future, the Jedi and their allies will strike again, and since we do not know their current location, we remain vulnerable so long as we remain here." The moffs remained still, but for small flexing of their fingers and twirling eye lids, their gaze straight but arcing downward. "Lost your nerve?" Moff Rezer snarled. The contempt in the man's voice obvious. Ignoring the provocation, Caedus continued "Coruscant is well fortified, we will lick our wounds there and assess the situation from a position of strength." The Moffs seemed to dither momentarily, unsure whether to suck up to his word, or challenge his mettle. Finally, Lecerscen spoke.
"I concur, my Lord we need to return to safer territory." Again, the implication obvious, and again, Caedus ignored the provocation. "The fleet will be ready to jump to hyperspace in less than five standard hours."
The trip back to the Jedi caravan at Shedu Maad was a silent one. Leia had cried all her tears for a week, into Han's shoulder, into the dashboard. Into her bunk.
I lost her, I failed her. Why did I agree to let Luke send her on this damned mission? She had been so…confident, so willing to do what had been unthinkable, but what needed to be done. Han vacillated between a white-hot rage, having crushed at least three buttons on the Falcon's board, marginal controls thankfully, and a deep silent sadness. His face red with impotent anger and wet with tears. It had been a silent trip, barring a few words, "please", "thank you", "Han", "Leia".
And now they were docked on the Loyal Dragon. A Hapan battle dragon with the Jedi coalition, loaned from Queen Mother Tenel Ka. The door of the falcon opened, with its characteristic sound of steam and pistons. Leia and Han walked off the falcon, holding each other. Hapan soldiers, Jedi knights, and other personnel looked in their direction, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and concern.
In the distance of the hangar, a figure ran in their direction…hard.
"Han, Leia!" Corran shouted, his face and beard flush with concern.
"Jaina, I felt her passing…" Corran said, Leia nodded, "I felt it, Caedus killed her" "She failed, Corran". "I don't know what will happen now." Han turned to her, and said, "I know what's going to happen, Luke is going to hunt down Jacen, he's going to hunt him down and he's going to make him pay, he's going to send him to the nine hells, I should have sent him there myself the day he was born."
Leia turned and whimpered a bit, she had heard similar harsh remarks from Han regarding their son before, but she could not bring up the will to say anything, even in agreement.
"The rest of the council sensed it as well, Grandmaster Skywalker has not left his meditation, he refuses food, or sleep." "Do you want to see him?" "Yes." Leia replied, firmly and simply. The three of them, then went to the elevator on the Loyal Dragon and hit the code to go to the bottom of the ship.
It was a quick trip, and the lower floor was more dimly lit, spacious with rooms separated by wide areas. And a communal area in the center. Kyp Durron greeted the trio when they left, "his expression was one of immense sadness, his hair was greying all the faster" Leia seemed to notice. He didn't speak, but Leia could sense through the force he was barely holding himself together, he had forged a bond with her daughter in the darkest days of the Vong War, and had forestalled her descent into the dark side, "He must hurting deeply",
"Master Skywalker has been informed of your arrival; he will be here soon". Kyp left the three, and then Corran spoke, "I'm sorry I need to speak to Cilghal", and excused himself, heading back to the elevator.
At the end of the hall, a figure in dark robes approached "Han, Leia I'm so sorry." Luke said, he looked like he had aged a decade, and while he was hiding his emotions in the force, Leia could sense a maelstrom, deep despair, an iron resolve, and frighteningly, a nigh implacable hate, that made her very being chill. "Jaina died, Luke." "She died on your orders". "I know Leia, I know." "I felt her death in the force, her pain, and her confusion." "You sent all my children to die", Han said, his fists stiffening, "you killed them all", "Jacen and Anakin died above Myrkr, and Jaina died fighting the monster in Jacen's body". "All this Jedi business, what has it brought but disaster for my family!" Han was red hot furious now, and Leia had reacted quickly before he said something he regretted, "Han, you're not thinking straight, go rest now".
Leia said, infusing her voice with force enhanced persuasion. Stuttering for a moment, Han complied and left, turning chairs over in anger as he did. She didn't like doing that, using the force to overpower her husband, but it had to be done, it had to be done. "Thank you, Leia". Luke said relieved he did not have to face down an angry Han Solo. "Jaina fought him, I projected an illusion of myself over her, and it broke, Caedus knew he was fighting her, so I had to cast an illusion of myself elsewhere, so as to distract him". "I hoped his fear of me, would allow her to escape…or strike a killing blow." "Apparently Darth Caedus did not lose his nerve, like I had foreseen he would." Luke gritted his teeth, and held back his obvious tears, "the fault lies with me, not Jaina". "Was, was, she does not ready for this?" Luke remained silent for a moment, and then responded, "No I think was, Caedus proved less predictable than I had hoped." "As you know, she had no hope of fighting him on her own, I couldn't fool Caedus when it was most needed". "I failed, not her." Leia breathed in slowly and wiped her face "What will you do now", she asked her voice forced with to be strong and not to quiver. "I will destroy Darth Caedus, one way or another".