Chapter Two

Admiral Daala, now in charge of the Republic Centurion battlecruiser The Sovereign, tilted her chin slightly as she addressed her employer. "Senator Amidala has filed with the Supreme Court to stop our offensive."

"It will not do her any good."

Daala gave a wary smile at the shimmering, small form of Prince Xizor as he stood in the center of the holo-projector. "There are Jedi heading into the Corporate Sector. They could cause us problems, then."

"I am already aware of this, Daala. The Jedi will not cause me any trouble. I have already inserted distractions into their tiny, easily manipulated minds."

"You have?" Daala asked, surprised. "How?"

"I have many spies in my circle, Daala. Do not think you are unique."

"I see," Daala said, gritting her teeth in annoyance as she watched Xizor preen in front of a hand-held mirror. The man was certainly vain.

"In fact," he added, "I am pleased the Senator's daughter is heading to Urdur. It makes this invasion even sweeter. Urdur is where you are to take your fleet, and once there, you will prevent anyone from fleeing the system as you destroy the planet, and everyone on it."

"What if the Supreme Court rules in Amidala's favor?"

Xizor laughed. "Do not worry, Daala. I have everything under control."

Coruscant

Corran Horn shoved a few supplies into a satchel, grumbling under this breath all the while. His roommate was a Jedi-in-training by the name of Kyle Katarn, originally from the agricultural moon of Sulon.

"Could you speak up?" Kyle asked, raising his eyebrows. "It's rude to talk soft enough that I can't understand what you're saying."

"I was saying," Corran said, spinning on his toes to face Kyle, "that Master Yoda is deliberately keeping me from Leia. I just know that if I could spend some serious one-on-one time with her she'd finally fall for me, but we're never alone. It's so frustrating."

"Luke was complaining to me about the same thing with Jade," Kyle said with a laugh.

"It's not the same thing," Corran said. "Mara actually seems to like Luke."

"And Leia doesn't like you?"

"Only as a friend. I want more than that."

"She's known you almost her entire life," Kyle pointed out. "She sees you almost like her brother. What you need to do is get her attention."

"How?"

"Well, if I were in your shoes, I'd make her jealous."

"I don't understand."

Kyle sighed, and repressed the urge to roll his eyes. "Find a different girl, Horn. Start flaunting another relationship."

"Really? You think that'd work?"

"Sure. If Leia sees you're not there at her beck and call, then you'll become more interesting to her. She'll notice you. Trust me."

Corran stroked his chin thoughtfully. "But who should I start showing an interest in? Mara?"

Kyle gave a barking laugh. "Oh, that's a great idea. You'll never have to see him again after trying to take his girl. After all, he's only Leia's twin brother.."

"Okay. I get it. So who should I ask out?"

"How about Shira? She's pretty."

"Shira Brie?"

"You know another Shira?"

"She seems… kind of prickly."

"So does Mara, but Luke likes her anyway. Besides, what difference does it make? You're only using her to get to Leia."

"Doesn't that seem wrong?"

"All is fair in love and war," Kyle remarked. "That's what I've heard, anyway."

"You're right," Corran said firmly. "As soon as I get back from the Corporate Sector, I'm going to hit on Shira."

"You won't be sorry."

Kyle walked up to Luke Nabierre in the corridor of the Jedi Temple, slapping him on his back. "I'm jealous."

"About what?"

"That you get to go on an actual mission," Kyle said with a sad sigh. "The rest of us are stuck here, practicing lightsaber techniques with remotes."

Luke gave a tired smile, shifting his satchel to his other hand. He was on his way to the flight hanger, and was worried about the time. Master Kenobi wouldn't be too happy if was late. "I wish I could be going with Mara."

Kyle shifted his eyes downward. "Yeah, well…I heard about that. Sorry it didn't work out."

"There will be other missions, I suppose."

"Missions? Oh, yeah. Missions. Right."

"Well, what are you talking about?" Luke asked, suddenly suspicious.

"Mara Jade."

"What about her?"

"Rumor has it that she's seeing Erling Tredway, but it's supposed to be a secret."

Luke staggered back, floored by this information. "She's never said anything at all to me about Tredway. Are you sure about that? "

"No. It's just a rumor going around. It might not be true. You know how rumors get started."

"Uh… I guess."

"Well, don't worry about it… too much. Have a safe trip." Kyle walked away, giving Luke a jaunty wave.

As he entered the hanger, Luke wondered where Mara was, and if he had time to track her down in order to give her a proper goodbye. Of course, he thought a bit belatedly, he should also say goodbye to his sister, and wish them both good fortune on their mission. Maybe he could even ask her about the Tredway rumor and they could both get a big laugh out of it before leaving for the Corporate Sector. It was during these musings that Shira Brie popped up from seemingly nowhere and threw her arms around a surprised Luke's neck, planting a lingering kiss on his lips just as he was headed toward his ship. "What are you doing?" he asked, trying to disengage her grip. Shira had always been a bit aloof toward him, so her sudden, amorous attention was rather mind-boggling.

"That was for luck," she purred. "Come back safely, okay? I'll miss you."

"Err, okay." She'll miss me? Since when? Luke thought before he finally managed to free himself, staggering backwards a few steps. Shira gave him a wink before turning away, swaying her hips as she left the hanger. After a few seconds of profound confusion, Luke turned and headed up the ramp and out of sight.

He never noticed that Mara was standing across the large space, watching the bizarre 'good-bye scene' unfold.

A few hours later, in a café.

"I'm not sure this is such a good plan, Shira," Kyle said, sipping his coco, while considering it was a bit too late to back out at this point.

"Of course it is," Shira snapped out, glaring at the Jedi sitting across from her in the booth. "I want Luke, and you want Leia. How else are we going to break Luke up with Mara, and make sure Leia and Corran never get together?"

He turned the cup in his hand. "I never knew you had a thing for Luke."

"Why would I tell you?"

"What if Corran's flirting with you really does make Leia jealous? It could drive her right into his arms instead of mine."

"It won't. You just have to make sure you play your cards right and make sure you're there to comfort her, tell her what a cad Horn is. She'll forget all about Horn once you've kissed her. And I have to play up Luke's insecurities with Jade."

"I still think we should've waiting until they got back from the Corporate Sector," Kyle said, his doubts creeping ever closer. "This could be a huge distraction for the mission."

"This mission isn't dangerous," Shira argued. "All they're going to do is ask a few questions and then come back to Coruscant. In the meantime, all those doubts you've planted in Luke's mind will be growing and growing…"

"I hope Tredway doesn't find out how we've used him in our plan," Kyle said worriedly. "For a Jedi, he's got a hot temper."

"Don't you worry about a thing," Shira said reassuringly. "I've got everything under control."

Leia approached their shiny frigate, smiling broadly at Mara Jade. "I just heard the Supreme Court ruled in Mother's favor. Our mission is now officially sanctioned by the Republic, not to mention we also have some extra time before Tarkin is permitted to launch a strike force. I wish Luke, Corran and Master Kenobi hadn't already left for Roonadan before we heard this news."

"Yeah, that'd been great," Mara muttered, looking up at the underside of the ship and intently studying the panel seams.

"What's the matter?" Leia asked, instantly sensing Mara's grim mood.

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

Mara turned her green-eyed gaze to stare at Leia. "If I told you why not, then you'd pretty much know why, wouldn't you?"

"So you don't trust me?"

Jedi Jade sighed. "All right. But don't get defensive, because this concerns your brother."

"Luke?"

"You have another brother?"

Leia pursed her lips in annoyance. "No."

"Right before he left, I saw him and Shira locking lips in a grand send-off."

"You're kidding!"

"Do I look like I'm kidding?" Mara snapped.

"Well, no. This is just so… unexpected. I never saw Luke and Shira hanging around together, other than when we're all in a group together. It makes about as much sense as what Katarn said to me."

"What did he say?"

"He came to see me, and was acting very weird about an hour ago." Leia scowled as she recalled their conversation. "He told me he was going to really miss me, and that I should be glad Master Yoda didn't put you and Corran together as a team because Corran has a thing for red-heads."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I don't have a clue," Leia admitted. "I'm pretty sure Kyle expected me to kiss him goodbye since he was leaning down and puckering up his lips, but I just shook his hand instead."

"I will never understand men."

On board the Consular-class shuttle The Dogger, Luke stared glumly out of the cockpit at the blur of stars. He didn't even hear as Corran entered the area, only to jump in surprise when Horn coughed and sat down in the co-pilot's chair. "You've been awfully quiet, Luke."

"I've been thinking."

"Does that hurt much?"

"Ha, ha. Not very funny."

Corran shrugged. "My comedy routine needs work."

Luke spun around in his seat, to face Corran. "Do you think Mara and Erling Tredway are an item?"

"Now who's trying to be funny?"

"No, I'm serious."

"Of course I don't think Mara and Erling are an item. Where did you hear that?"

"Kyle Katarn told me it's a rumor that's going around."

"If it's just a rumor, then he shouldn't be spreading it," Corran said sourly. "I don't like Katarn, much."

"Why?"

"I don't know… I just don't trust the guy. I don't like the way he looks at Leia."

Luke laughed. "So you're jealous?"

"Only if you're jealous of Tredway."

"Do you think Shira has a thing for me?" Luke asked.

"What?" Corran asked, confused at the unexpected question. "Why do would you think that?"

"Well, she kissed me goodbye, then told me she was going to miss me."

"A green-eyed red-head hanging on each arm, huh, Naberrie?"

"Still not funny, Horn."

"Sorry. This is all just so… odd."

"Yeah, I know. I'll never understand women."

"It can't be helped," Tarkin said, barely able to contain his rage as he addressed Xizor over their secure communications channel. "Even the President has to follow the order of the Supreme Court."

"The Jedi will report back, and inform the Senate there is no Sonic weapon. We cannot allow that to happen."

Tarkin threw his hands up. "What would you have me do?"

"Send your fleet to Urdur. Destroy the planet and you destroy the evidence, or the lack of evidence."

"Destroy an entire planet? It would take a fleet of Star Destroyers, and my commanders may not be too inclined to obey that order. They are still loyal to the laws of the Republic, unfortunately."

"The battle station that I have been financing and overseeing should be almost complete. It will make short work of Urdur."

"It's completed?" Tarkin asked, surprised. He knew the project that Xixor had required all those slaves to build was finally nearing completion but he had assumed the final project was still several years away.

"Ninety-eight percent complete. Enough that it will do what it was built to do."

Tarkin rubbed the back of his neck, grimacing. "Who should I put in charge of my battle station?"

"Send Admiral Daala to Despayre," Xizor ordered. "And it is not your battle station, Tarkin. I am the one that paid for it, and I am the one who made certain my slaves built it."

"I am well aware of that, Lord Xizor."

"Send just one Dreadnaught to orbit over Roonadan. You can always tell the Senate you are giving military support to the Jedi. It will also send a message to Prime Minister Limpan that we are deadly serious."

Tarkin nodded, knowing full well he couldn't win an argument with Xizor, although he was certain sending a Dreadnaught would escalate matters greatly. The Senate and the Supreme Court would be furious. But if the battle station was complete, what would that matter? No one would dare oppose him once the battle station was deployed. "I will send the Resolution, then. The man in command of that ship is General Crix Madine."

"Can he be trusted?"

"He was up for demotion a few years back, due to his inability to stop slave trafficking along the Corellian Trade Spine. Of course, since we needed those slaves, I used my influence to ensure he didn't lose his command. He owes me a thing or two."

"And you owe me, Tarkin," Xizor said with a feral grin. "You owe me everything."

Roonadan

The Dogger dropped out of hyperspace over the dusty world of Roonadan, and was immediately met by a Dreadnaught heavy cruiser with Corporate Sector markings, which was skillfully maneuvered to put itself between their ship and the planet.

"Shields up?" Obi-Wan asked Luke, who was sitting in the co-pilot's seat.

"Of course."

"They have their weapons locked on us, and we're being hailed," Corran said, trying to keep his tone calm. He was currently acting as navigator, while checking the communication panel.

"Put them through," Obi-Wan ordered.

A male voice came over the speaker. "This is the Corporate Sector cruiser Independence. Cap… err, Admiral Han Solo here. State your name and your business over Roonadan."

"This is the Republic shuttle Dogger. My name is Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, and I am here with my two Jedi assistants, Corran Horn and Luke Naberrie. We have been requested by Senator Amidala of Naboo to conduct a meeting with Prime Minister Limpan regarding the charges that President Tarkin has leveled against the Corporate Sector."

There was a lengthy pause before the Admiral spoke again. "Prime Minister Limpan never told me about this meeting."

"Maybe the Prime Minister doesn't feel the need to inform his flunkies about his daily plans," Luke snipped.

"What…what did you just call me?"

Obi-Wan glared at Luke and made a slashing motion under his chin and quickly spoke into the comm panel, "I'm sorry to say that due to the circumstances, this information could not be made public."

"I ain't exactly what you'd call the 'public' here," Solo snapped, sounding very annoyed. "How would you like it if I'd blasted your tails back to Coruscant?"

"Oh, yeah?" Luke shouted into the comink. "Try and say that to our faces. We're Jedi Knights, you know."

"I don't care if you're the glitz band PuffyMan and the Cooterfish," Solo shouted back, his anger growing by second. "I haven't got authorization to let an enemy ship land!"

"What kind of Admiral are you, anyway?" Luke shot out. "The Corporate Sector must be desperate to fill up their military ranks if they hired you."

"WHAT?!"

"I am truly sorry, Admiral Solo," Obi-Wan interrupted, trying his best to be civilized since the situation had completely deteriorated into a shouting match. "We truly have come here trying to prevent a war. Please give us some courtesy and contact Prime Minister Limpan. I'm sure you will find that he is expecting us."

There was a few more moments of silence, then the Admiral replied, "I suppose I can do that. It's not like your ship can do much damage to mine, even if you are fancy Jedi Knights. Hang onto your lightsticks, and I'll contact the head honchos."

The comlink clicked off, and Corran started laughing. "Are you trying to get us killed, Naberrie?"

"The guy's a jerk."

"He's a jerk with a really, really big ship, though."

Obi-Wan nodded his agreement. "You must learn to be more diplomatic, Luke."

"Leia got more of the diplomat in her blood," Luke said. "I like to say what I think. It's less confusing that way."

The older Jedi could only sigh and shake his head in dismay while Luke strained to look past the large Dreadnaught. He noted the planet seemed similar in appearance to Tatooine, except for the fact that this planet's inhabitants had artificially created green spaces to make living there somewhat more bearable.

After a while, Luke said, "I wonder what's taking the jerk so long?"

"It takes time to go through layers of red-tape, Luke," Obi-Wan said.

Just then, the communication board gave a beep, and Corran opened up the channel.

"Apparently, I'm supposed to let you guys through. It'd be nice if someone had thought to let me know this ahead of time," Solo commented.

"Ha," Luke said smugly. "We told you so."

"We appreciate your courtesy, Admiral -." Obi-Wan never got to finish what he was saying, as another large Dreadnaught dropped out of hyperspace. This one was clearly marked as a Republic ship and it immediately started firing at Admiral Solo's ship.

Urdur

The frigate carrying Master Jedi Hal Horn and his two Jedi assistants Leia Naberrie and Mara Jade, entered orbit over the cold, blue planet of Urdur. They were not met with a war ship to block their progress, only a polite, automated voice requesting their identity.

Mara looked down at the readouts, showing the planet's life signs and temperature. "Who would want to live in this cold place?"

"More to the point, if this is the planet where this supposed Galactic Sonic weapon is being built, where is all the security?" Leia questioned.

Hal smiled as he entered their ships code into the responder, then sent the reply to the planet's flight controller. "The air is perfectly breathable, and while the gravity is a bit on the light side, the beings that live on this planet have built several enclosed, climate controlled cities. Not too unlike the underwater Gungan cities on Naboo. We should be perfectly comfortable while we do our investigation. Although, I do agree with you, Jedi Leia. If this were the home to some secret, super weapon we should be seeing a bit more paranoia over our unexpected arrival."

"Where are we going to land?" Mara questioned.

"I've requested a landing in the largest dome," Hal replied, glancing down at the control panel. "We've been given permission and a landing dock location."

"I sure hope we aren't walking into a trap," Mara said. "I hate traps."

Death Star

Orbiting over Despayre

Inside the enormous hanger, Admiral Daala bowed her head in respect as the Falleen exited his shuttle and swaggered in her direction.

"Lord Xizor," Daala said, keeping her head down, "I was not expecting you to come on this mission."

"Surely you didn't think I'd miss the inaugural flight of my magnificent battle station," Xizor replied, putting his long, sharp fingernail under Daala's chin and forcing her to look in his face. "I've heard the troops are referring to this as the Death Star. I like the sound of that. It has a pleasant ring to it."

"Yes, Lord Xizor." She felt a shiver run down her spine, aware of his pheromones pulsating in her direction, unable to stop her body from responding to them.

"I've hired only the best to run it, you know. The best engineers. The best pilots and navigators. The best fighter pilots."

"I've noticed that most of them are Clone Troopers," Daala said, her voice thick. "Cloning is illegal."

Xizor laughed. "So is slavery, but without slaves this station would never have been built in such a short amount of time, and within financial possibility. Do you honestly believe that creating clones to man this vessel would bother me in the slightest?"

"No, Your Lordship."

He turned his gaze to the ceiling and spun around on his toes, looking over everything that could be seen from their vantage point. "What do you think of my masterpiece, Admiral?"

"It seems… rather ostentatious."

"It is. It truly is," Xizor replied, pleased. "Now, you will escort me to my personal suite and I will demonstrate my ostentatious talents to you in private as we travel to Urdur."

Daala's eyes widened. "Lord Xizor… I'm not certain we should…"

"I am," he interrupted tightly. "Why do you think I wanted a female in command? Are you questioning my authority on my… Death Star?"

"Never, my Lord."

He smiled, pleased at her capitulation.

Coruscant

Senator Amidala rushed into the classroom, ignoring the startled looks from the small group of younglings as they tore their attention away from Master Yoda's instructions.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Master Yoda," Padme said breathlessly. "I have to speak to you."

Yoda nodded, waving at the students. "Lunch time, it is. Eat you must." He waited until the children had left before turning to look up at Padme. "Important, this must be."

"I've heard from my sources that Tarkin has sent a Dreadnaught to Roonadan. He's planning on attacking the Corporate Sector, with or without Supreme Court approval."

"Foolish he is. Impeachment this will cause for him."

"He has something up his sleeve, Master Yoda. I have to go to Roonadan and speak directly to Prime Minister Limpan or he's going to think I was aware of Tarkin's plan."

"And worried you are about Luke and Obi-Wan."

Padme flushed. "Of course. Luke is my son, and Obi-Wan is my friend. I tried to warn them, but they must be still traveling through hyperspace. Either that… or I'm already too late." She shut her eyes, unable to think too long about losing the two men in her life that she loved so deeply.

Yoda sighed. "Love Obi-Wan, you do."

"How can you tell?" she asked, shocked at his observation. "Are you using the Force?"

"No, no…" Yoda clucked in disgust. "Unnecessary is it to use the Force to sense when humans are in love with each other."

"Each… other?"

"Loves you, Obi-Wan does, as well. I cannot seem to stop this emotion called love, try as I might."

"Will you go with me to Roonadan?"

"If I say no, then go without me you will, am I correct?"

"Yes."

"Then go to Roonadan we shall, although no good shall come of it."

Padme gave a wide smile. "Thank you, Master Yoda."

"Thank me now you do. Hate me later you might."