Chapter Four
Roonadan
A pretty, middle-aged woman was escorted into Admiral Solo's private meeting room, followed closely by a short green being wearing a brown robe and carrying a stick. He was a type of species Han had never seen before and since Han had been from one side of the galaxy to the other, this rather surprised him.
The woman stuck out her hand toward Han, shaking his hand with a firm grip. "I'm Senator Amidala. I demand to see my son."
"He's in the other room," Han replied, bristling a bit at her take-charge demeanor. "You'll see him after I've had a chance to ask you a few questions." He looked down at the diminutive creature standing beside her. "You didn't mention you had a co-pilot."
"You hardly gave me the opportunity, Admiral. This is Jedi Master Yoda," she said by way of introduction.
A much bigger surprise came when the green being ignored him completely and addressed Chewbacca, instead.
"Long time since each other we have seen, Chewbacca."
The Wookiee let loose with a loud, but pleased roar, replying he was happy to see 'Yoda' as well.
Han looked down at Yoda, then up at Chewie. "You two know each other?"
Chewie nodded. *A long time ago. During the Clone Wars.*
"Pleased as well to see you Obi-Wan was?" Yoda prodded, shifting his small form up into the human-sized chair.
Chewie shrugged. *He did not say.*
"Wait!" Han stammered out, after sorting out the way Yoda spoke. "You know Kenobi, too?"
*Yes.*
"And why didn't you tell me this little detail?"
*You didn't ask.*
"Funny, pal. Very funny."
"Admiral Solo, I must apologize for President Tarkin's actions," Padme said. "I understand your viewpoint. You've been attacked by a Republic vessel in your part of space, without any provocation on your part. Tarkin and the commander of the ship that did this will be held accountable for their rogue actions, I can promise you that. But Luke, Corran and Obi…. I mean, Jedi Kenobi came here to diffuse this situation, not make it worse."
"So why didn't you go along with them?"
"I stayed behind to file injunctions with the Supreme Court to stop Tarkin," Padme said. "Then, when I found out Tarkin defied their orders and sent a ship to Roonadan, I had to take direct action by coming myself." She turned on her full charm to the Corellian. "Please take us to speak to President Limpan? Millions of lives hang in the balance. We must work together to stop an all-out war between our governments."
Han sighed. "You're very persuasive, Senator Amidala. Sure you're not one of those mind-altering Jedi?"
"Need the Force, Senator Amidala does not," Yoda said firmly. "Feminine charms she has, instead."
"Yeah?" Han asked, raising an eyebrow. "She failed to pass any of those charms onto her off-spring."
"Know her daughter, do you?" Yoda asked.
"Daughter?" Han repeated, appalled, looking at Padme. "You have another kid?"
"Leia is not a 'kid,'" Padme said, starting to become annoyed.
"I was talking about your smart-mouthed boy, Luke. I've never met your daughter, and I hope I never do."
"That makes two of us," Padme said, miffed.
Mentally, Han Solo had to agree.
Urdur
Jessa spent the next several days flying Jedi Master Horn and Threepio around the domed cities, patiently allowing him to make frequent inspections. Hal Horn had decided they could accomplish more if they split up, so Mara and Leia were in their own speeder with Artoo, checking out the towns in the opposite direction.
It was during the second day at their third stop, in a small domed city named 'Cryptsun' that Leia and Mara were suddenly accosted by a young man.
"Hey!" he yelled, rushing up to them, grabbing Mara by her shoulders. "I've spent the past day on this Force-forsaken planet looking for someone in charge! You're Jedi, right? The brown robes? The lightsabers hanging from your waist? You Jedi can be so obvious sometimes."
The red-head stepped back, shaking out of his grasp and reached for her lightsaber, igniting the light purple blade. "You might want to reconsider that method of asking."
The man grinned. "What a wiz saber color. I have Mace Windu's actual lightsaber, and it's practically the same color. Yours is a bit lighter shade, though." He promptly turned it on, which caused Leia to add her yellow blade to the growing lightsaber display.
Both women took up defensive stances, alarmed at this turn of events. But by now it was the man's turn to look alarmed. "Hey, I don't want to fight you ladies. Although I'm pretty good at using these things, if I do say so myself. I've been practicing with sabers since I've been a little kid."
"Unless you're a Sith Lord, you don't stand much of a chance," Mara warned.
"Put down your weapon, and give up peacefully," Leia added.
"No… you don't understand," the man said as he turned off his lightsaber. "I've come here to warn you."
Neither Leia nor Mara dropped their guard down. "About what?" Leia asked.
"You have to evacuate this planet! The Death Star is coming!"
Mara's eyes narrowed. "What's a Death Star?"
"It doesn't sound good," Leia added.
"It's not, believe me," the man shouted, waving his arms in the air. "It's a huge space station. It can blow up entire planets!"
Mara sighed. ""That's not possible."
"It is!" the man insisted. "I've seen it with my own eyes. It blew up Despayre."
"Let's start from the beginning," Leia said, slightly lowering her weapon. "What's your name?"
"Artis Jinn," he replied, sticking out his hand for her to shake. "I'm originally from Coruscant, and I collect old lightsabers. But lately I've had to take on shipping freight to make ends meet, because lighsabers are getting harder and harder to find these days. I've even spent a lot of time looking on LandosList, but sometimes I wonder how authentic the ones posted there are. Probably a lot of forgeries. You don't happen to know where I could find some extras, do you?"
"No," Mara answered curtly. "What were you doing on Despayre?"
"Well, I wasn't on Despayre, or I'd be dead. Everyone that was on that planet is deader than a droid without a memory chip. I was on the Death Star when it blew. See, I'd been running supplies for Lord Xizor to build that station. I didn't have a clue what it was actually capable of doing until I saw it tested with my own two eyes. Then I got off that station as fast as I could, and it's amazing I got away. One of the flight deck attendants that I was having a drink with mentioned Xizor is taking the weapon to Urdur. I have to guess he probably wants to destroy it, or why would he come here? So I knew I had to come here to warn everyone, because it's something a Jedi would do and I really admire you guys…err… gals."
"That doesn't make any sense," Leia argued. "Why would this Lord Xizor want to destroy Urdur?"
Artis shrugged. "I didn't hang around to ask him. That Falleen has a nasty temper, or so I've been told. I haven't had the displeasure of actually meeting him in person."
"How long until the Death Star arrives?" Leia asked.
"Probably less than a day."
Both Mara and Leia could sense through the Force that this rather odd stranger was telling the truth. Or, at least what he believed to be the truth. He might very well simply be delusional, but the risk was too high to simply ignore him.
Leia pulled her comlink from her belt, keying in the code for Master Horn.
"That sounds terrible!" Threepio cried out in fear after listening to Leia's warning. "We need to depart Urdur, immediately!"
"I agree," Horn said.
"Do you have enough room on your shuttle for a few more? Jessa asked.
"Of course. It will be tight, but we can do it."
"Please do me a favor, and take Callian and Ryyplyn with you when you leave?"
Hal looked surprised at the request. "Surely you intend to evacuate as well?"
"Of course I do," Jessa assured him. "I have my own ship. But with my father gone, I will have to go to the government office and coordinate Urdur's evacuation. These people are my responsibility, and I can't simply take off, Jedi Horn."
"Perhaps I should stay behind and give you some assistance," Hal stated.
Jessa shook her head. "No. Get back to your ship. I'll get off in time. Trust me."
Jedi Horn nodded in agreement, although he felt a sense of dread permeating through the Force all the way down to his core. He knew there simply wasn't enough time, or ships, to evacuate the entire population in the short amount of time that was left. And Jessa Solo seemed like the sort of person that wouldn't leave until she was certain everyone was safely off-planet. He didn't see a good ending for this situation.
Capital city of Varlo on Roonadan
Han Solo hated waiting. And when it came to politicians, nobody was longer-winded than those types of beings. Prime Minister Releb Limpan was a Duros that loved the spotlight, and unlike many of this kind, simply loved to talk. The fact that the famous Senator Padme Amidala had bothered to travel all the way to the Corporate Sector to meet with him thrilled the Duros to no end. The only issue had been the fact that not one, but four Jedi Knights were accompanying the Senator to Roonadan. Like all politicians, Limpan had a suspicious nature and insisted on meeting only with Amidala and Jedi Master Kenobi as he didn't wish to have his 'mind altered' by too many Jedi in the meeting room at the same time. So it was probably a good thing that Amidala had decided to come, as it was apparent that a meeting with a multitude of Jedi wouldn't have been well received.
Han's father-in-law, Urdur's Governor Klaus 'Doc' Vandangante, had then strongly suggested that Han and Chewie 'escort' the remaining Jedi around Varlo to 'show them the sights.' In other words, he wanted Han to keep an eye on their Republic visitors, without making it look like he was keeping an eye on them. It wouldn't be polite to have CSA police escorting them around, would it? Doc had asked Han. It had taken all of Han's willpower not to reply that he didn't care about hurting the feelings of the Jedi. He did have to go home sooner or later and live with Jessa, after all….
Besides which, yesterday the young Jedi named Luke Naberrie had insulted his private ship, his pride and joy, a YT-1300 Corellian freighter, the Millennium Falcon. The kid had the nerve to call his ship 'a piece of junk'! The only reason Han had decided to take everyone to his ship was that the group asking to go planetside had now grown to five 'guests' so the Falcon was the only logical alternative, as Senator Amidala's shuttle was too small for so many people and Han hated flying CSA shuttles. In fact, he hated all shuttles. They were slow, clunky and poorly shielded, which would be a very, very bad thing if another Republic Dreadnaught decided to make an unexpected appearance. The one good thing that had occurred with the arrival of Senator Amidala was that she had been able to restrain her son's snarky comments by one disapproving, motherly glare in his direction.
Now, however, Amidala wasn't present as the strange group sat in a dockside café, eating lunch. Chewie was busy conversing with Yoda, while Corran and Luke whispered back and forth between themselves. Han felt like the odd-man out. And for some reason, that bothered him.
Urdur
Hal Horn and Threepio arrived back at the Solo house, and were met at the door by Artoo, Leia and Mara. Leia was holding the baby Callian, and Mara was looking rather grim.
"Where is Ryyplyn?" Horn asked, looking past them into the house.
"She told us to take Callian and get off the planet. She was going to make certain that Jessa didn't wait too long before leaving."
Hal gave a sigh. "Wookiees are wonderfully loyal. Sometimes, too loyal. I hope they don't wait too long."
"I hope we haven't waited too long," Mara said. "Let's get to our shuttle."
"I must concur completely," Threepio said, shuffling toward the exit. "Don't be too slow, Artoo. We wouldn't want to leave you behind."
It didn't take them long to arrive at the spaceport, and were shocked at the sight that awaited them. Beings of all species were running around in a panic, desperately looking for a way off-planet. Ships were lifting off without waiting for clearance. They hurried to their ship, relieved to see it was still there, although it appeared that someone had tried to force the outer control panel off its side. Hal punched in the code, and the door slid upward while the ramp lowered. They cringed as a large explosion sounded in the distance, and then looked toward the sound. In the distant sky, black smoke billowed like an approaching storm, although they knew it was the remains of two ships that had collided.
"Hurry," Horn prodded the two women up the ramp.
"HEY! WAIT!" a voice screamed from across the dock.
They turned to watch a young man running in their direction. "Jedi Leia! Jedi Mara! I just knew I'd find you here!"
"Artis?" Mara asked in surprise. "I thought you were heading back to your own ship?"
Panting, he came to a stop in front of the group. "My ship was stolen! Can you believe that? I don't have a way off and the Death Star is going to be here in a few minutes!"
"This is Artis Jinn," Mara informed Horn. "He's the man that warned us about the battle station."
Hal noted the three lightsabers hanging from the man's waist, but decided to put off that question until later. "How did you know where to find us?"
Artis shrugged. "I don't know… sometimes I just sense those things. It's weird."
"Or maybe you followed us from Coruscant and knew where we were docked," Mara said suspiciously.
"No, I'm not a spy for Tarkin," Artis replied, offended. "I told you the truth earlier."
"I didn't accuse you of being a spy."
"You were thinking it," Artis said. "I can tell."
"Well, we can't leave him behind," Horn said. "We've got the room, and we don't have time to discuss this in a committee."
"We're not a committee!" Leia protested as she hurried up the ramp behind Master Horn.
Death Star, dropping out of hyperspace over Urdur
"There is our target," Xizor said as he observed the cold planet in the distance.
"There sure is a lot of traffic leaving," Admiral Daala noted as she looked at the readouts.
"The Corellian freighter that took off without authorization gave them warning," Xizor said, turning to Captain Needa. "That is the only explanation."
"Maybe not," Needa said, growing pale. "There might be another reason."
"And that reason would be?"
"I… err… I'm not sure." Needa lowered his head. "Allowing the ship to depart was an error, and I take full responsibility. I apologize."
Xizor pulled out a flame blaster, and casually pulled the trigger. Long seconds later, a screaming Needa was reduced to a pile of ashes. "Apology accepted, Captain Needa." He addressed a silent Daala. "Order this station to destroy Urdur."
"Yes, M'Lord," Daala quickly replied. She turned to the man sitting at the weapons station. "Turn on the targeting reactors."
"Yes, Admiral," the Clone Trooper responded. "It is now charging, and should be ready to fire as soon as we are clear of the moon."
"There it is," Artis pointed at the Death Star as they flew away from the planet's atmosphere.
"It's huge," Mara said, her green eyes widening with shock.
"I told you I wasn't lying."
Horn looked at his control panel. "Hundreds of ships are still leaving the surface."
"And thousands more ships will never make it off in time," Leia added sadly.
Hal entered the coordinates for the jump into hyperspace, pulling their ship a safe distance from Urdur, far away from the Death Star's approach. They could only watch as an enormous red beam shot out from the battle station in multiple locations and coalesced into one large laser, and then shot toward the planet, which instantly exploded.
All the Jedi gasped in horror, feeling the simultaneous deaths of millions of beings. "I hope Jessa and Ryyplyn made it off in time," Mara whispered.
Leia was holding Callian in her arms. The child that had been so happy and gurgling moments earlier, suddenly started screaming as though she was in terrible, awful agony. Through the Force, the little girl knew the truth. Tears started flowing from Leia's eyes. "She didn't."
Onboard the Jedi shuttle, hidden past the debris field of Urdur
It had taken Leia quite a while to calm the year old child, but she was finally sleeping. While Hal was busy trying desperately to establish communications with Kenobi's shuttle the Dogger - and not having any success - Artis was busy discussing lightsaber techniques with Mara Jade.
Up until now, Mara hadn't really looked closely at Artis. With his blue-green eyes and long blond hair tied back in a pony-tail, he was rather striking. Besides, he seemed totally smitten with her, and after having her ego bruised by watching Luke say his passionate good-bye to Shira Brie, she started to think Artis might make a decent catch. Inwardly, she cringed over that idea. According to Master Yoda, Jedi – even young Jedi – weren't supposed to be focused on the opposite sex. It had also occurred to Mara that Artis seemed to show a great deal of potential in the Force. He seemed to have to ability to sense things around him, and the fact he'd been able to locate her and Leia, the only two Jedi in that particular city, helped back up her belief.
"Would you consider coming to Coruscant with us when this mission is over?" Mara asked Artis. "I'd like to have your midichlorins tested."
"Um, I guess," Artis replied, pleased she was asking. "I'm originally from that system. Can I ask what a midi… midi…"
"Midichlorin. It's a Force-sensitive life-form that lives within all beings. Having a high count shows how Force-sensitive you are."
"So you think I have the potential to become a real Jedi Knight?"
"It's a possibility."
"WIZ!" Without thinking, Artis leaned forward and kissed Mara on her lips, then pulled back. "Sorry. Sometimes I get carried away and do things without thinking."
"It's alright," Mara replied, her lips tingling from the unexpected touch. "You're a good kisser, Jinn. Better than Luke Naberrie, even."
"Wiz!"
Leia sat down in the co-pilot's chair. "Any luck raising the Dogger yet, Master Horn?"
"No, and I haven't been able to contact your mother or Master Yoda on Coruscant, either. The Dogger appears to have its comm panel turned off, but the messages I'm sending to Coruscant appear to be blocked, which is very odd."
"Are we heading back to Coruscant?"
"No, I think we should go to Roonadan," Horn replied. "I'm getting a strange feeling we are going to be needed there."
"Master Horn?"
Hal turned in his seat to face Leia. "Yes?"
"I'm a full-fledged Jedi now, and I want to keep Callian as my future padawan."
The Jedi Master blinked in surprise. "Jedi Leia…. the child is not an orphan. She has a father, and a grandfather."
"They'll think she's dead."
Hal was shocked. "Leia! What are you saying? That we should simply kidnap Callian from her rightful family because she's Force-sensitive?"
"But isn't that what Jedi have been doing for generations already?"
"No! We ask the family for permission."
"Now we ask," Leia argued. "And because of my mother, families are no longer torn apart. But before the Emperor's purge, the Jedi Masters didn't ask. They took the younglings."
"That's not true. They were always asked."
Leia looked highly skeptical. "Asked? Or coerced?"
Hal didn't quite know what to say. Technically, Leia was right. Seldom was a Force-sensitive youngling left with his or her parents. The Jedi knew how to strongly persuade even the most reluctant family into giving up their off-spring for the 'good of the galaxy and the future of the Jedi Knights' as was the oft-repeated phrase. "Allowing Callian's family to believe she died on Urdur would be cruel."
Leia stood up and looked down at Master Horn, her face showing determination. "I'll never give her up, Master Horn. She's my child now and she'll be far better off with me than with some worthless ex-smuggler." With those words, she left the cockpit.
Coruscant
Death Star, over Coruscant
President Tarkin took the podium in his new throne room aboard the Space Station, smiling benevolently at the holo-cam. This speech, the most important of his life, would be shown throughout the Republic as well as the Corporate Sector.
"Thank you for your attention on such short notice," Tarkin said. "I will try to make this short and to the point." He turned slightly and pointed upward as a holographic image of the Death Star appeared over his head. "This is my newest weapon. It is a battle station so powerful it can destroy entire planets with a single blast."
He waited for a moment, knowing his words needed time to sink in to the citizens and the Senate that was watching and listening on the planet below, as well as the rest of the known galaxy. "In fact, it has already demonstrated its power on our sworn enemy, the Corporate Sector, and it has destroyed the planet of Urdur which was building its own super weapon, the Galactic Sonic weapon that I warned you gentle beings about some time earlier. We no longer have that to worry about, and with the completion of this weapon, we will never have to worry about any threat, ever again."
He smiled without humor. "So much so, that the Jedi Knights are also now useless and defunct. I have issued an Executive Order outlawing the Jedi Order, and anyone that uses the Force or lightsaber weapons in the future will be considered an enemy of the State. Since the Jedi Order is now disbanded, all Jedi must renounce the Jedi Order and declare their allegiance to me, or they will be arrested as rebels and terrorists. Any system that defies this order and shelters these terrorists will run the risk of annihilation."
"I am also disbanding the Senate, as they have also outlived their usefulness, and I will be appointing Governors to preside over individual systems, as these governors will act on my behalf rather in their own selfish interests."
Tarkin lifted his arms. "Rejoice, citizens of the Monarchy of Falleen! You no longer need to live under the yoke of fear… whether that fear is of some mystical being that wields power you don't possess, or the fear of some as yet unknown, advancing, malevolent race, intent on devouring and destroying our galaxy. The former President of the Republic, and now your ruler, King Tarkin has spoken!"
And then the holo-viewers went dark, and the citizens of the galaxy never saw what happened next in the throne room of the Death Star,
Tarkin dropped to his knees before Lord Xizor, kissing his boots as Xizor sneered down at the human in contempt. "You did well, Tarkin," Xizor said. "My puppet served me well, so I shall allow you to continue to live."
"Thank you, Master Xizor," Tarkin mumbled, his face pressed against the cold, hard floor.
Roonadan
The entire group of Jedi, plus Padme, Han, Chewie, Doc and Prime Minister Releb Limpan had gathered together to watch Tarkin's speech.
When the speech concluded, Senator Padme held her hand to her throat, her face ashen. "This cannot be happening again."
"You warned them," Obi-Wan said, shaking his head. "They didn't listen."
"I have failed in my duties as Prime Minister," Limpan stated, his eyes downcast. "I must resign in disgrace."
"My wife and child were on Urdur," Han whispered, unable to comprehend what he'd just heard. "I have to go there."
Padme shut her eyes. "My daughter was on a mission with two other Jedi on Urdur."
Han whipped his head around toward her. "Mission?"
"My sister was on a fact-finding mission, to disprove Tarkin's allegations that the Corporate Sector was building a super weapon," Luke said defensively. "Mara was there, too."
"And my father," Corran added. "He can't be dead. I'd feel it… I know I'd feel his death."
"Sense their deaths, I did not, as well," Yoda agreed. "Safe, they must be."
"I'm going to Urdur," Han repeated. "My wife and child might be stranded off-planet, in a disabled ship."
"That isn't too likely," Doc said, shaking his head. "We should wait here. Jessa will come to Roonadan immediately, if she made it off in time."
"They made it off!" Han yelled. "They might still be in danger!"
*Han…* Chewie started to say, before Han interrupted.
"Stay here, then! I don't need your help!" He stalked off, and Chewie dutifully followed his distraught friend.
Doc waited until Han had left the room before saying, "Jessa would have not abandoned the beings on Urdur. She was far too responsible. She would have waited until the last person was safely off-planet before leaving."
"It's highly unlikely that more than a small percentage had the means or the time to leave Urdur before it was destroyed," Padme said.
"I know that," Doc replied sadly, tears now flowing freely down his face. "And so does Han. He just isn't ready to face the horrible truth yet."