Disclaimer - I will make no money from this epic. This universe and its many peoples belong to George Lucas and Lucas film.
Anna
Chapter 4 - Forces Foe
The Tie fighters attacked the shuttle bringing some extra Deegani staff to Coruscant.They seemed to come from nowhere They fired torpedoes, disabling the hyperdrive and injuring some of the crew. But with some evasion manouevres the Captain managed to limp into the nearest base and call for help.Leia was outraged and more determined than ever to see the treaty go through, promising safety to ships passing near the Empires', territory was no easy job. A shocked Antaara reassured her Captain and crew of the Republics promise to find out who had done this. Luke and his Rogue Squadron set off to patrol the troubled area in the Borderland Regions and the staff at the Imperial Palace returned to normal. Or nearly.
An unsurprised Maija Darklighter scanned the holo of the attack, dark eyes critically assembled the data and then cut most of what she had seen from her report. Her mouth firmed slightly. What she had just analysed confirmed in her own mind the notion that it had been very carefully staged to look like the real thing. The Tie fighters had let the shuttle go, they had not damaged it enough, and the Captain had been very conveniently distanced from a New Republic affiliated world. This was a scam, some Corellian Overdrive if you like.
She rose from her repulsor chair and casually left the office. Winter and Leia watched the slim figure attired in the Alliance grey tunic and trousers head towards General Madines' office clutching a data pad and disk in her hand. Not a hair was out of place and the expression on her face was that of a calm neutrality.
"She's a strange one ", remarked Winter her white hair flowing down her back, "but an excellent worker, you just never know what she is thinking".
Leia nodded absently and held out a sheaf of papers towards Qrax-Uit ."Helas, could you process these for me, please?"
The Omwati held out delicate blue hands for the data and set to work.
Maija buzzed Liutenant Pages' comlink once she was out of the inner office. She spoke in Bocce which the Lieutenant understood, but did not speak. " Sriat pnenuuig, Sir. I'll meet you in the gardens before I go on duty with Councillor Rivn."
The gardens were deserted Maija walked past the fountain and stood in relative contemplation of the beautiful surroundings.The air hummed with the buzz of some unnamed insect and the air was scented with the perfume of the Ghillien flower. Beautiful to look at but when picked released a poison which burned the skin unless gloves were worn. Page walked up behind her and she handed him the two disks. "one is the full report, the other is what the Senate will see, officially, if that meets with your approval? This is all just a little too convenient and too tidy."
"Are you sure you don't need backup on this Lieutenant?"
She shook her head "It's best this way, believe me. If things get too bad I'll holler, don't worry. The Skywalker twins will be fine. Mo chulean."
Page inclined his head and disappeared behind a yellow flowering shrub. He was excellent at his job, you never really noticed him. Maija definately felt that she stuck out like a sore thumb, more than ever.' Why did I ever agree to do this', Maija wondered,' although it is difficult to say no to a dead relative, even when he is sitting at the bottom of your bed.'
Maija had been assigned temporarily to Councillor Rivns staff and as such had a very good idea of their daily schedule. The two princesses were shuttled around Coruscant and Maija, often as not was on transport duty, as both factions had become used to her almost invisible, but reliable presence.In the evenings there was usually a high profile media event and dinner. Antaara was up to something and began her moves when no-one, not even Maija was ready.
The dark clad figure moved to the secret computer terminal. As a protegee of Lord Vader's Antaara had access to codes for the palace computers. The Dark Lord of the Sith was dead and gone, but Antaara had not forgotten him. Who would have thought that such a thing as sentiment would have brought him down, and by that measly looking Jedi, she spat the word out as if she had tasted something very unpleasant . Even if he was Vader's son it was difficult to imagine them being related. (She was not the first to underestimate the Jedi Skywalker.) She cleared her mind and returned to the task at hand. Firstly something nagged at the back of her brain. A muffled presence close by. She hadn't felt that since, oh years ago. If she could remember where and when she could deal with the problem. It was nothing tangible, just a feeling and Antaara trusted her own feelings.Looking at the hidden terminal she was able to access a good portion of material on secret New Republic Garrisons. No system had been able to withstand the Emperors' codes and finding the information on Republic bases in Imperial space was a childs' task. Four of the bases were attacked and destroyed the very next day.
"Full Security Alert" rumbled Admiraal Ackbaar "we have a leak and it is happening here." The Calamarian shook his head.
Mon Mothma shook her head and looked worriedly at Madine."There was a break into the computer and somehow top secret data was retrieved it could only be a traitor in the palace, how else could the data have been accessed. I am to be in Falinse to see the survivors of the attack, I'm leaving in two hours, but I'd rather still be here. Leia will be in charge and I really wanted her to keep working with the visitors, and getting the wedding arrangements off the ground". Could this be the work of the Deeganis. Mon Mothma considered things, they had been attacked also and Councillor Rivn had been working night and day with New Republic staff to try and gain any information on the attacks. He had narrowed it down to some of the warring factions claiming to be the reborn Empire or some tactical mastermind hiding deep in Imperial space.
Mon Mothma didn't like Councillor Rivn, she remembered him from many years ago and had a disquieting sensation when he had stepped off the Deegani ship. Antaara on the other hand was charm itself, beauty and graciousness combined. I'm being swayed by the fears of the Kenobi child and there is probably nothing in it.
It was late and Maija was tired, the Deegani witch was up to something. There had been a barely suppressed excitement about her while they were at the fundraising benefit for orphaned children. The Princess had been dressed in a gown of ice blue, the exact shade of her fascinating eyes. Placed next to Commander Skywalker she had sparkled and laughed and had set out to charm the young Jedi. Leia dressed in a gown of gold vinesilk had looked on with a satisfied smirk. Only Maija had seemed to notice that the Commanders eyes frequently strayed to where Maija had been placed. The steady stare was unnerving. She had been wearing her one good dress of dark crimson silk from the Hapes Cluster - it really was getting aired this month. As was her bottle of painkillers.
They had then gone to the spaceport to bid farewell to Luke and Wedge who were flying on a reconnaisance mission. Leia and Antaara had gone to the security lounge to wait. Maija stayed in the shuttle as she was the official designated pilot, only to find Commander Skywalker loping towards her.
"I left my box of rations in the back", he grinned at her, his attractive face lighting up in a genuine smile."
She kept her eyes to the front and nodded shortly.
"Maija...?" it was a question.
She turned unwillingly to look at him . "When I come back, ....do you think we could meet sometime?"
She gaped at him, there was no other word for it. Absolutely speechless with amazement she sat and gawked.
The Jedi looked a little uneasy all of a sudden.
"I don't think it's a good idea Commander........., well perhaps" , Maija murmered softly changing her mind. "But Leia is setting you up with the Princess from Deegan and I will not jeopardise treaty plans."
Now it was Luke's turn to look stunned. He'd really no idea that he was part of the bait, or perhaps he had known but had closed his mind to what Leia was trying to do.
"Sir, You had better go" she entreated. "Please."
It was a rather thoughtful Commander that left with the rest of Rogue Flight and an even more silent Maija who shuttled the Princesses back to their respective quarters. Maija knew deep down that things weren't over yet.
She pulled on a dark hooded cloak, over a dark tunic and pants and waited outside the delegations quarters. Councillor Rivn left the apartment of Antaara , he looked very pleased with himself, his fat jowly face wreathed in smiles. From their point of view things were going very well indeed. Maija didn't like the man. He was mean to the ordinary Deeganis, a power hungry corrupt individual, but he was clever and teamed with the scheming Princess they made a formidable foe.
Five minutes later a robed Antaara left the suite of rooms she had been allotted and made for the war rooms. Maija was not far behind her, the corridors were deserted only a cleaning droid busy hummed past them. Antaara darted into an alcove and pressed a section of Quartz moulding. There was a quiet swish and the princess disappeared. Maija's eyes widened slightly and felt her way along the carvings on the panel, pressed the same small sculpture and a door slid open only a few inches wide but it explained why Antaara was doing the dirty work as Janss Rivn would never fit into the aperture. She quickly sped down the dirty passageway and found herself in a small ante room, just on the other side of the war rooms. A small console was being tapped into. Maija closed her eyes, this was going to be so difficult. How to keep your identity secret yet use the small amount of force ability that you had to foil an Imperial plot, without being rumbled. She spun a line with the force and inexplicably to the spy from Deegan the computer short circuited sending a small shock through Antaaras' fingers. She spun on her heels and gazed into the darkness, a figure ran down the passage and disappeared into the murky gloom. Antaara cursed and gave chase, this was a force being, why couldn't she sense its' identity. The presence felt familiar but was keeping it's identity well hidden. She pulled her laser pistol from it's holster at her waist and aimed a careful shot into the rising dust. Suddenly the Palace Alarms screamed.
"Damn" this was not good she had to get to her rooms as Leia Organa would come to reassure her that all was well. She was annoyingly predictable. No time to worry about that just now and exited the passageway only to spot a harassed Leia heading in her direction."sithspawn" she swore and flattened herself into the wall. When Leia had passed Antaara made her way to her own quarters. Breathing a sigh of relief, she summoned her advisor.When chaos loomed and with confusion rampant it was easy to move undetected through the corridors. She waited a short while and joined the Inner council, so it looked as if she had come from her apartments.
"Is there anything I can do Leia?"she asked in her carefully dishevelled state.
"No Antaara, go and rest I'll see you tomorrow"
Antaara left the chamber and headed to her apartment where Rivn waited for her.
"We have been discovered, by chance possibly but this attempt to gain information failed. No matter what Gtrec expects, it is too dangerous to attempt to retrieve any more information for the time being. We have an enemy in the building"
Janss Rivns' eyes bulged slightly in his portly face. "Struath ( an old Deegani word meaning bother, or something similar) your Highness we have been more successful than we had hoped already. What we need now is Leia Organa and the Jedi's schedule. then we assess our options for the main event"
Antaara laughed softly." We will succeed . I have forseen it."
All the computers had briefly crashed, only for a few seconds, but it had been enough to cause chaos on Coruscant. Security scanned any holofootage that was available, but there was so many monitors and so many people that it was an almost impossible task.
Leia sent a call through the force to Luke "please come to Coruscant I need your Jedi skills and your strength. I've called Han too. Mon Mothma is away visiting survivors of the attacks on our bases. Admiral Ackbaar and I are in charge".
Two days later Luke returned and strode into the office of his sister. She was tired but overjoyed to see him. "when Han comes back things will be better"
"What's going on Leia?" Luke asked looking concerned. Leia explained about the attempted break into the computer system and the miles of holo they had sifted through to no avail. Maija ran the footage and Luke stretched out with the force.
"Stop!" he said "whatever we want will be in this section"
Maija swallowed nervously this was unexpected, there seemed to be a sort of bubble in the force and Commander Skywalker might be about to burst it.
Two figures in dark hooded robes passed the monitor which had been hidden inside the cleaning droid. C3PO remarked in his metallic voice. "Master Luke that happens to be the west corridor next to the war cabinet rooms"
Luke scanned the footage again, he had no idea of the figures' identity, but one was following the other and had somehow mananged to warn the first. He stopped the holo abruptly.
"there ", he pointed, don't you see it. The first figure disappeared into the wall"
Leia groaned "There were many hidden passages in the palace. I don't think that security discovered them all, and someone knows where one of them is."
Luke still watched the monitor as the second figure stopped and fumbled their way into the alcove, then they too disappeared. Were the two working together or not. Then there was the faint echo of blaster fire. Not - Luke decided
The security men found the secret passage, but no trace of the shadowy figures were found, the only evidence was the one placed on the holovid. Leia was almost frantic, they had to find out where the leak was coming from. The Deeganis were not happy and were threatening to leave. The New Republic Government was obviously not fit to rule. They were unhappy, as they felt their safety was being compromised and they had to guarantee the daughter of their ruling house protection.
Artoo had found the code used by the slicer - it was an old imperial code, but obviously still worked on any computer in the system. He beeped and whistled his way through a two octave range in Luke's ear." You are sure no-one came into the area who did not have the proper codes? "He asked the small rotund droid. Artoo swivelled his domed head and let out a shrill cacophony of sound.
"Alright, alright Artoo, draw in your wheels" murmured Luke," I believe you."
"Master Luke". Threepio shuffled over to Luke stiffly. "This code was only in use by certain members of the military on Raithal and Carida. It was supposed to have been rendered obsolete, but it has been overlooked".
The Omwati secretary Leia had employed stopped and gazed at the young Jedi. "Sir, her Royal Highness is requesting your presence in the inner office.".He nodded absently and headed towards the door
Helas turned and walked towards the desk she shared with Maija, only to see her friend fast asleep with her head on her arms. Her pale blue face anxious she tapped her colleague gently. Maija awoke with a start and went for her blaster. Helas screamed shrilly, the sound piercing thruogh the atmosphere.
Feet pounded in from the inner office. Luke, Winter and Leia all arriving at once. Luke with his lightsaber drawn.
"What is going on?"Leia demanded.
Qrax-Uit put her arm round a shaky Maija. She was deathly white and apologising incoherently."I'm so sorry Helas, I'm so sorry, I'm just tired"
Helas turned to Luke. "I'm taking the Lieutenant to the Medcentre for a rest and a check up. She was up all of the past three nights, because of the intruders and then Councillor Rivn had work he needed done. She had to stay up all night to do it. " Helas turned an accusing stare on to Leia.
"What do you mean ?" asked the princess.
"Councillor Rivn is not someone I would like to be seconded to . He works his staff very hard. The uncomplaining ones like Maija end up with two full time jobs. Your Highness, Maija would do her utmost not to jeopardise any treaty negotiations"
"Helas! Just leave it please" Maija said wearily.
"What happened?",asked Luke shutting down his distinctive green blade with a hiss. He tried to pick up on Maija's feelings and felt nothing. He watched as the Omwati escorted the girl out soothingly.
Faris Mel'aya, the Bothan member of staff answered . "She fell asleep at her desk, when Helas tried to wake her up. The lieutenant reacted like a cornered animal. Very defensive. She has been looking tired recently but we know better than to show concern. He made his position clear. She has always been a bit prickly, but you tend to leave well alone. That one has keep out signs taller than a Ho Din on stilts". He rubbed his beard and his silvery grey fur ruffled slightly. "We are all nervous your highness, this is a testing time and only yesterday Governor Fel'ya said......."
"Thank you Faris", broke inWinter firmly, as she pondered on what Faris had said. "That one has keep out signs taller than a Ho Din on stilts".
Luke left the office and headed for the medicentre. This girl could be force sensitive, he was sure of it, but she could also be the probable spy. She wasn't there.He returned to Leias' office, as he did so he passed the delicate Omwati secretary.
"Helas - where is the Lieutenant?" Luke asked.
Oh Sir, she wouldn't go to the Medicentre. I've taken her to her quarters with strict instructions not to move for the rest of the day. We should really get Two-one -B to knock her out".
Luke smiled. He'd heard that saying before, just before he'd gone to Bakura."where is she based?"
"North wing on the twentieth level."
"Thanks Helas, I'll get someone to check on her later" he grinned and thought "But I'll check on her myself first".
Force Awareness - Chapter 5
Maija cursed at herself. How could she have been so stupid as to fall asleep at her desk. She stirred moodily at the meal she was cooking on the thermal hotplate - A traditional nerf stew with Tatooine spices. It would make her think of home if nothing elseand sometimes she really missed her family. She moved to the closet where she kept her traditional clothes and slipped out of her tunic uniform. Nude, she padded over the rug and selected a warm houserobe made of the softest bantha hair. It felt like home, the robe, and covered her from neck to foot in voluminous folds of dark green warmth.When she wore this she felt that she could be back on Tatooine in the desert dwelling belonging to her Aunt and Uncle. This was typical garb of the desert dweller at night. She had spent little time on Tatooine recently as it was still under Imperial control
Her door com chimed softly. Maija smiled, it would be Helas come to see if she was recovering. Her thoughts darkened. If she had been any closer to the edge she might have pulled the trigger and that was the really scary thing. I'll apologise profusely and she'll maybe forgive me. Force knows I would never harm a true member of the New republic. I suppose Helas is the closest to a friend I've got, and I don't know her particularly well. If I come through this I'll....
She activated the door and raised her voice so that the visitor would hear her clearly through the thin walls into the small entrance hall. "Just come in,.... would you like food, I have enough for two?"
Her jaw dropped as Commander Skywalker sauntered into her small lounge (it suddenly was very claustrophobic) and said casually "That would be most kind, Lieutenant."
"What are you doing here?" she exclaimed horrified.Recovering quickly, she pulled the robe more securely around her slender form. "You shouldn't be here Sir, it's not right. The Princess will not be pleased. I thought you were Helas - come to check that I was actually resting". She pushed a slender hand through her hair. Lukes' blue gaze fastened on the shining mass. It was only the second time he had seen it unbound and it was beautiful. A womans hair unbound only for one mans eyes.
"Tut, tut, girl. I came to see if you'd recovered your faculties and managed to get some rest, and you cannot take back your offer of a home cooked meal to a poor starving farmboy".
"I'm going to sleep once I've eaten", she admitted rather shyly."You can share, if you would like to".
Maija almost groaned in horror. What was she doing. This was complete madness.
Luke nodded. "It is not madness Maija, it is a very kind offer and I find I am hungry"
She looked at him.
"I just picked up on what you were thinking, you didn't try to hide it"
"I don't know if I like my thoughts being open to others, Sir. It seems like an intrusion of privacy"
This girl was a real enigma, but he still couldn't decide if she was force strong or not. The stew she served him was good and hot with a particular flavouring that made him think of meals on Tatooine on his uncle Owen's farm. He suspected she might have some ability, but didn't know about it, or she did know and was worried about being discovered. The Empire had hunted down and killed many of his kind. Luke knew that his own father had been instrumental in the destruction of many Jedi.
He tried drawing her out, but when he left an hour later all the things he thought he had learned about her were trivial and he was no further forward than he had been at the start. Good diplomatic skills had been very much in evidence. One thing he had made his mind up about was the way she made him feel. He wanted to know her better. The Princess from Deegan wasn't in his head at all. Not even a flicker of interest could he summon for her legendary wit and beauty. As for wealth, what did Jedi knights care for that. No: Luke had never even thought about the scenario that Leia had dreamt up.
At the reception that evening when Luke made his appearance his sister noted with sudden interest that he had a new Jedi robe and tunic on of a soft grey fabric. He had gone straight to the royal party to pay his respects and another thing, Leia also noted. He was much earlier than he had ever been.
He left the daiis and headed into the throng of dancing couples and neatly detatched Maija from Gavin Darklighter. Gavin unperturbed returned to his Bothan girlfriend Asyr and Maija was left with the Commander. she refused to look in his direction and gazed stoically at her feet.
She didn't want to believe it but he had made straight for her. She risked a look towards the Princess from Alderaan, who was obvously not happy about this.
Winter frowned and turned to Leia. "He 's rather friendly with Maija don't you think?"
Leia searched for Antaara, but she was dancing in the arms of a very handsome Senator from Sluis Van. Antaara was already dancing so I suppose he didn't want to appear rude. Winter said nothing she had filed into her brain the fact that Maija had also been dancing and that hadn't stopped Luke.
"Why won't you look at me?" he asked. She was dressed in a simple black tunic, her hair severely braided and coiled on the top of her head
"Lieutenant", he used the force to persuade her and the head atop a slender neck lifted unwillingly. By the force, he thought . She was beautiful.
The music stopped and started and Luke kept her in his arms, that was where he wanted her to be.
Maija didn't want to move, and wonderful as this was it had to be stopped. "Sir, you really must dance with Princess Antaara. My boyfriend will be back soon...."
Luke felt an unreasoning sort of rage rise up in him, immediately bowed and left her. She stood still, nodded her own anger began to rise to match his. This was what she wanted, why was she now so annoyed.
He couldn't believe the girl. Why was he so inexplicably cross . He pushed his artificial hand through his corn coloured hair, leaving it attractively rumpled. Antaara approached him with a winning smile and pulled him close, what was he doing anyway.Boyfriend, he had never seen her with anyone.
With a muffled oath he finished the rest of the dance and escorted Antaara back to Councillor Rivn.
Gavin Darklighter sighed . He had tried reasoning with her, asking for explanations and had now resorted to shouting in fairly articulate Bocce. She answered him in fluent Bocce by telling him that it was absolutely no business of his what was going on.
"You don't think it matters that the Lady Winter suspects that you are the Imperial Spy and I have been asked to follow you around for the next day or so until we fly out to the Hoth System, huh?"
Maija's face paled."But you won't will you ?"
"Maija I have to, what are you up to anyway and what has the Commander got to do with it? Was that an argument I witnessed in there", he jerked his head towards the reception room. "You cannot go around annoying Jedi Knights, it leads to the dark side apparently. He's the brother of one of the most powerful women in our world and friend of the rest of the Council. Even if he was Biggs' best friend on Tatooine. You're supposed to be a member of a diplomatic staff. Whatever you've just done to the Commander did not look particularly diplomatic. You could be removed from your duties and posted elsewhere. Then what do I tell Ken and Merdom - Hah?" He thrust his hand through his hair savagely. "at least I can keep an eye on you here".
Maija exploded "I don't need an eye kept on me. I've managed very well for the past few years on my own."
Gavin sighed and shook his head.
"Do you fancy the boss Mai?"
She blushed slightly,"don't you dare speculate in that direction Darklighter. That is none of my doing and I want to be kept well away from that well of Thrella. Anyway he's not interested in me. He's just curious", then rather shamefacedly she admitted the falling asleep at her desk incident.
Gavin stared in horror at his cousin. "You be careful young lady. I cannot explain to Mer and Ken how you landed up in a new republic penal colony or worse."
He looked at the closed stubborn little face.She was a few years younger than him and had been away at school for most of that period, so he had always felt he didn't know her. He'd hardly recognised her when he spotted her in Leia's entourage at a presentation ceremony and she had not encouraged the family connection. He wondered if she was working undercover. He only hoped it was for the right side.
Asyr strolled on to the darkened balcony to find Gavin waiting for her. She never noticed the lithe shadow that slipped off into the night leaving them alone.
Luke had wandered into the adjoining courtyard, a glass in his hand. he mused idly on the way of the force and the workings of things.
"Care for a drink.........Luke". The husky voice breathed into his ear. It was Antaara.
He smiled and turned to face her, accepting some more wine. They chatted lightly and desultorily about her home planet and laughed about something amusing she had seen on her travels as an envoy to her people.
The sky looked as if someone had thrown glittering gems up to the heavens and not a breath of wind ruffled the potted shrubs and other such foliage. Music from inside added atmosphere and when Antaara asked him to dance with her alone in the courtyard he accepted. She drew him closer and kissed him. Luke was stunned and kissed her back, letting her being flood his awareness, but at the centre of his being he knew there was something missing between them.He felt her sense wash over him and suddenly felt cold. He broke the kiss and moved away from her. He hadn't been sure what he had felt, but it hadn't been right. He turned his head towards the light that spilled from the windows of the palace. "Shall we return inside your Highness, it has become somewhat chilly".
The figure in the darkness watched them and stifled a small gasp of pain and fled imto the night.
Chapter 6 - Forces Chaos
The security had been increased, no-one moved without giving lengthy details of where exactly they had moved to. It was a beauracratic nightmare. Yet Leia and Han had decided to have their wedding sooner rather than later. After all it was six months since they had returned from Dathomir. Hans' injuries had long since healed and because of the trade delegation conference and the state visit from Deegan many of the important guests were on Coruscant anyway. Leia was glad it had been decided. They had the New republic councils blessing and a national holiday was announced on Coruscant so that people could watch the wedding on the holoproj. So began a round of general rejoicings more exhausting than there had been when the Deegani visit was at its height. There was only a week left before the princess left for the Hapani Sector.
It was very late. The figure was making for Leia's office. Maija had been working in the outer office when she sensed an evil presence through the force. "sithspawn", she muttered crossly. She switched off all the lumas and waited silently in the dark and put up as many force barriers as she could to mask her presence from the intruder. The door slid open and a hooded person made for a pile of data cards lying on the top of one of the desks."Those data cards are no use to her ,they just have access codes to the docking bay and the hangar for Commander Skywa........", her eyes widened suddenly and the taste of real fear entered her mouth. Grabbing her black hooded cloak she raced from the office.
Luke landed the ship and pulled off his helmet. Artoo beeped reassuringly at him. "I know Artoo, but that wasn't your fault the lateral stabiliser cut loose. I checked it . It shouldn't have happened", he jumped from the X-wing and made his way towards the exit. There would be no point going to see anyone at this hour, all good citizens of the New republic would be asleep, and this was the Solo private hangar so no techs were floating around at this hour. The Millennium Falcon gleamed dully in the half light, apparently abbandoned for the evening. Not even an over-enthusiastic tech when you want company, he smiled tiredly and thought of Chewbacca.Chewie was on Kashyyk with his family, but was expected any day . There wasn't a Wampas chance on Coruscant that Chewie would miss Hans wedding.
The feeling of danger came upon him instantly as a shot whistled past his head. He ignited his lightsaber and felt the force flow through him, another shot whistled close by him. That was too close. As he turned he felt a presence come behind him. Leia had come to meet him after all. "NO - stay back", he shouted the warning. When he looked again the mysterious assailant said in a voice masked by a modulator. "Prepare to die Jedi"
Luke winced in anticipation of agony as the assassin pumped several rounds into his....another robed figure had come from nowhere had stepped in front of Luke and had calmly taken the shots.Lifted his own weapon and had fired once, the shot grazed the assassins arm which made his next shot spatter uselessly above Leia's head.
"He's getting away", she shouted as the assailant made a run for it, clutching a seared shoulder. The smell of blaster fire and charred flesh hung in the air like a cloud on Coruscant did. The Skywalker twins followed the running figure from the hangar bay, dodging ghostly X-Wings and shuttle craft and various bits of metal junk ,only to round the corner and find.........nothing. Luke stretched out with the force he sensed......nothing. With their shared force link strong the pair of them searched again for a fleeing presence. Luke spoke to Leias mind. 'Come on we have a dead body to identify, or someone very badly wounded'.
She nodded and turned into the hangar to find.......nothing.
"Luke come quickly", she screamed through the force. He dashed to where she stood thinking that the assassin had returned. He stopped - it wasn't possible, it was not possible. The second robed figure had taken several shots to the abdomen and upper torso. By rights they should be dead or dying.He heard Yoda's voice in his ear."All things are possible, and some are not what they seem"
"How badly hurt was the assassin?" asked Leia as they pondered on the events of the evening. "I'm not sure" he answered. Our mysterious rescuer got a shot at him but was distracted by being shot at himself".
Leia shook her head. The security in this area was or should be second to none. Yet too many things were going wrong. There had to be a spy in the camp.
"Tell security to look out for someone requiring bacta treatment for blaster wounds to the stomach, chest and arm. Then we will find our attacker and our rescuer." Luke sounded very much like the strong commander he was.
"The thing is Leia, one will possibly lead us to the other".
Leia grasped what her brother was getting at. "these must be the two figures caught on holovid after the sabotage".
"Yup, one of them was obviously tailing the other one.But Leia", she stopped walking and turned to face him. "let's keep this as quiet as we can for now, we have enough problems without leaking this to the general populace. What I cannot quite understand is, why I was unable to sense the assassin or our rescuer. There were no Ysalamiri around, I always feel blind somehow and yet we both sensed danger".
"Only at the very last second. Something screamed in my mind don't move or all will be lost and I froze."
"We are looking for force sensitives, possibly weak ones with specially trained skills".
"I think you're right Luke. I'll tell Winter and of course Han. I'll also mention it to General Cracken. He may have some theories".
"What made you come down to the hangar at this hour Leia".
"I don't know Luke. I was about to go to sleep when I seemed to hear a voice in my head saying 'Luke is back go and meet him, he'll welcome you".
"I don't like it Leia. Without a doubt we're looking for force sensitives".
"Whats going on here?", the suspicious voice interrupted the brother and sister.
"Han!", Leia exclaimed and ran to his arms thankfully. She felt rather shaken for some reason. Luke was so controlled these days he rarely let anyone through his guard.
Han shut his eyes in disbelief. How could an assassin get so close to the Princess in the heart of Imperial Centre . "I'm going to be staying as close to you as your skin Highnessness", he joked, but the glance that his hazel eyes gave Luke held a grim purpose. "Kid!"
Luke stopped pacing the floor. "You be more careful
The young Jedi smiled Han always made him feel eighteen again, when in reality he often felt a hundred.
"I'll be alright, you take good care of my sister".
Luke embraced his sister and they returned to the wing of the palace that housed them.Leia to the suite she shared unofficially with Han, and Luke to his rather lonely one a floor below.
Maija had never felt such pain, never. She was dying she had felt it as the shots had pumped into her body. When Antaara had made a run for it Maija had hidden in the Falcon. It had an adequate medstation. She pulled out a pack of synth flesh and a stim shot pack.Once she administered the pain killers she bound her wounds and started to try a litle force healing on herself. But it only worked a little.
She awoke several hours later, cramped and stiff with sleeping on the Falcons medical bunk to the sound of a ship firing up. Cautiously she peered out of the cockpit window to see the Deegani shuttle lifting off in a tearing hurry. "Gamorr" she exhaled shakily, it hurt so much just to even breathe. There was nothing she could do to stop the evil princess right at this moment. Obi-Wan hadn't said that she would even survive the attack. It was possible she still wouldn't. The princess had to have her wound treated and it couldn't be done on Coruscant, so a meeting on board the Relentless Warrior which orbited Coruscant waiting for the visitors to move on.It was time to move, they would really suspect her if Han caught her on his precious ship. He wasn't to know that she had sliced the access codes to the Falcon aeons ago. I wasn't one of the Empire's most promising code breakers for nothing.
She stopped as a wave of dizziness hit her. Gritting her teeth she covered herself with her cloak and slipped into the shadows around the edge of the bay. Nobody would think to look for her here as they suspected she was long gone. She moved along the corridors stealthily moving from shadow to shadow, stopping when the pain gripped her. Eventually she came to the main thoroughfare in the Imperial palace and it was already busy with people going to their workstations in various areas of the building. She assumed a confident air and made her way to her desk in Leias suite of offices. Maija knew she was strong, but hoped she was strong enough to fool Winter.
When Winter arrived Maija casually finished off what she was doing. "That's my shift over and done with and I'm so tired I could assume the sleep pattern of an Abhu. (A species that slept twice the length of a standard human pattern).It was very quiet last night, the only thing I wondered about was - Did you move the data cards for the private hangar bay? Because I can't seem to find them and I have to deliver a new medpack to the Falcon".
Winter smiled at her " I'll have a look and if I find them I'll deliver the medpack. Is that it?" she asked and Maija nodded.
"Go on have some rest you look tired. I hate nightshift myself, but I guess someone has to do it and a rota system is fairest".
Maija grinned tiredly and stiffly made her way to the portal. "I think I've done something to my back, it must have been the way I was sitting"
Winter laughed and bade her get some rest. As yet she was not aware of the attack on Princess Leia and Commander Skywalker.
Maija barely made it to her quarters before she collapsed. Pulling out the medpack she had pilfered from the Falcon she redressed her wounds. The sight of the injuries almost made her faint, the smell of her own charred flesh and the unbearable pain.A home patching up experience was no cure for what she had taken from short range blast wounds. Maija needed a bacta tank and quickly or death might the victor in this battle. Taking a sedative she settled down on her sleeping pallet. She had two standard days to get back onto the day shift routine and if unconscious was the only way, well may the force will it so. She lay down weakly and began to sob brokenly until the sedative took effect and darkness claimed her.