Chapter 8- Feelings and Entry
Dev felt the eddies in the Force as someone as strong as his mother could be felt, He hadn't thought of his mother in quite some time and this Force awareness came from four different directions, revealing it to be four different people. One felt quite young as younglings in the Force, as his mother had once told him, had a light, airy feel to them. One felt to be older and the last two felt, maybe, a little older than him. For a minute he thought maybe his mother hadn't died and had come back for him; something that was impossible.
His mother had been peaceful and Dev could feel the same peace that she had exuded. Dev felt tears come to his eyes. But, wait a minute. It wasn't his mother. So it had to be the enemy they had just fought. And on second reflection, the four Force sensitives were stronger than his mother. Even the younger one had more strength. Something about these Force sensitives made him think of home and the fact that three of them had concentrated on the drones his master had sent out. Dev reached out to one of the sensitives that was closer to his age and she seemed not to notice his mind trying to probe hers. She was decidedly female and her pain over the drones surprised him.
Dev pulled away from his probe, hoping to forget her as he pushed the repulsor cart down the corridor. Dev nearly knocked his cart over when a whistling filled the intercom. It was an emergency call to harness for reorienting. Dev strapped in, wishing his body was like his masters' as the harness slipped and was too big for his small frame. Dev had to wrap the harness around him a few times to secure it. Dev then thought of the chores he had left incomplete; pillows he might not have tied down and a cart out in the corridor. It was then Dev realized they were going back. Surely they hadn't lost the battle and were retreating? The gravity then slammed Dev's stomach, upsetting his equilibrium.
When the gravity righted itself, Dev opened his eyes as his roiling stomach settled back in it's proper place and he made his way dizzily out of his seat. "What's going on? I don't remember an emergency reorient since Cattamascar," the Ssi-ruuk next to him asked with a puzzled look on his reptilian face.
"We lost a cruiser. Nearly all the new drone fighters are gone. We're having to waste humans to protect our remaining ships. We must analyze the newcomers' tactics before going in again. This group is different. Different ship types, different command style," Sh'tk'ith, or Bluescale as everyone called the leader of the Ssi-ruuk, said in his calm voice that was disturbing this time as since they had suffered a loss, no normal being should have been this calm.
Command style? That was when it hit Dev. The four Force-sensitives he had felt. The emperor was dead. Dev had felt that, but this new fleet had Jedi in charge of them. It was either the older one he had felt or the one of the ones that felt closer to his age. It made sense. If Palpatine was dead, the Jedi would show themselves. But that was only a theory. Dev really should tell Bluescale his suspicions about the four Jedi, but that would mean telling him that he felt them and had felt the emperor dying. Dev then decided to say something. Bluescale walked past him. "I greet you, Elder-" Dev started to say. Bluescale turned his attention to Dev.
"What is amiss?" Bluescale asked, his sent tongues, licking the air. Bluescale could taste stress that any human was feeling.
Dev wasn't sure how to say anything about the four Jedi. "Such...tragedy, that many battle droids lost. Those poor humans- their new lives, their new happiness, was cut so short. Let me mourn for my...for other humans, Elder, How sad for them. How sad," Dev said, feeling surprised at how easily the lie slipped from his mouth.
Bluescale gave a contemplating sound. "Later then. After you have contemplated their deaths, return to me. I will renew you for happier service," Blue scale said, sounding like a benevolent parent, giving a child a treat for good behavior,
"Thank you, Elder. I must clean the corridor. Labor will give me time for thinking," Dev said and Bluescale waved him away. Dev felt guilty. He should have confessed to feeling Jedi, but like a coward, had chosen not to. Dev held his breath. Knowing Bluescale, Dev would be called back later to confess. Dev was sure of it.
Leia watched as she, Han, Chewbacca, and Threepio entered the atmosphere of Bakura. "Safe conduct to Salis D'aar, the capital city. Controllers will take you down," a technician who ran the space dock said over the intercom.
"Thank you," Han said, and flipping off the intercom.
Leia let out the breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. "So we can get to work," Leia said. Han shot her a look. "We have to decide what to do next," Leia said in answer to his unspoken question as she straightened one of her braids that circled her head.
"Right. Do we use this safe conduct and land on Bakura or not? They're in better shape now. This might be a good time to take our troops and get out," Han said.
Leia stared at the deck of the Falcon, contemplating what Han was saying. "That wasn't what I meant, but you're right. I can't help wondering if we'll be able to deal with the Imperials directly," Leia said.
"Child, aren't you feeling well?" Uncle Cail's voice came over the intercom. Leia felt a feeling of warmth and love from her adopted uncle, cousin, and brother and sister.
Leia cleared her throat as she thought of what to say to her uncle. "I'm uneasy, Uncle. Maybe I'm starting to think like Han. I don't feel quite right about this situation. I'm more nervous that usual," Leia admitted.
"Be mindful of your feelings, Leia. I know you don't want to admit it, but you have the Force in you," Uncle Cail said, his words like a gentle, but firm stroke to her face. It was much like he had when she and Lena were little. If they had fallen and skinned their knees, Uncle Cail would pick them up, settle them on his lap and stroke their faces tenderly with his large hands. But what he hadn't said was true. Leia was a Skywalker as much as Luke and Lena were.
"We're all nervous. Something's going on here besides what shows on the surface. We have to figure it out," Luke said.
Han looked out the viewport to where Uncle Cail, her cousin, brother, and sister were. "You sure, kid? It'd be a good time to head home," Han said, sounding a little nervous; a new sensation that Han rarely, if ever, felt.
"I'm sure. Leia, you and Uncle Talon are in charge of negotiations. Do you want to shuttle over and make a dignified landing in the Flurry?" Luke asked.
"Wait a minute. I'm not landing anything but the Falcon. I want this bucket planet-side, in case we need to make another fast getaway," Han protested before Leia could say anything.
"Another? What happened?" Lena asked.
"Later. What about the impression we'll create, landing in...well, think what the Falcon looks like if you don't know her," Leia said to Han.
Han gave her a sour look. He often hated to admit his ship looked like a garbage scow. "That's camouflage," Han said in a flat voice.
Leia spread out her hands in a reconciliatory gesture. "This will be the Bakuran Imperials' first impression of our group, Han. We want them as allies. Think in the long term," Leia said.
"First we have to survive the short term," Han said cryptically.
Lena cleared her throat over the intercom. "The Falcon won't fit in the Flurry's hangar bay. It's full," Lena said.
Leia looked at the ship and then turned back to the intercom. "Okay, Luke, Lena, Uncle Cail. Come on over. We'll land in the Falcon, but only if everybody dresses up," Leia said. Her uncle, cousin, and Lena had their Jedi robes and Luke had come up with his own style of Jedi robes. Leia hoped they sufficed.
"Well, I'm not-" Han started to say, clenching his fist.
"Except you, Captain. It's your bucket. You better look the part," Leia interrupted, her saccharine-sweet voice betraying the wicked glint of humor in her eyes. Han liked to tease her with her royal titles and he was being a nerf herder right now. Leia only hoped that he wouldn't mouth off to the Bakurans.
