Disclaimer – I own no part of these characters apart from Maija. Thanks to George Lucas for creating them. The force is eternally grateful
Chapter 7 - Forces Destiny
Transport duty was hell, Maija thought wearily, especially when you were existing on willpower alone. Dodging the Coruscant airborne traffic was never easy at the best of times. The wounds made by the blaster were not reacting like normal blaster wounds usually did. She thought that she was dying and was terrified, the pain was excruciating. I cannot burden my family with this and I have to see this thing through to the end. If it is my end - so be it. But she sensed her life force slipping away from herself and she was truly scared this time.
She had been living from day to day on that willpower and knocking herself out with sedatives so that she could sleep at night, but still, somehow the images formed in her tortured brain. She had even driven Commander Skywalker to several official functions and he hadn't spared her a second glance. not since she had scared him off with a mythical companion. Maija remembered witnessing the kiss in the courtyard and a strange feeling entered her stomach. But she knew that blocking out her own presence with the force was the only way to keep going without discovery. She wouldn't be able to prove that Antaara was the Empire's agent yet.
Luke had barely noticed who was piloting the Ambassadorial shuttle, nor did he care. For a supposedly calm Jedi he was fizzing. The immaculately attired staff that dealt with his sisters' daily schedule held no interest for him. She had said........ Bantha droppings.
Leia gave him a frosty look, she had heard the last comment through their force bond.
"Rather juvenile today Commander"
The Princess from Deegan had been subdued since she had taken the blaster burn on her upper arm. Maija noticed that she had taken to wearing long sleeved tunics.
Maija had planted a bugging device in the Princess's suite. It was a pre-clone wars device which had been discovered by Page's Special forces and often was overlooked during security sweeps. Antaara had grown careless or rattled and Maija had begun to compile a very incriminating dossier, including data from years past when they had been cadets at the Academy, although not in the same year group. But it was not enough. All the investigations into the assassination event had drawn complete blanks. No one had seen or heard anything; there was no sign of forced entry. Special forces had interviewed most of the staff in the building without alerting them to the real nature of the investigation. Maija had been apprehensive of her own interview until it was conducted by Page himself. Although even Page hadn't realised that Antaara was doing the work and that Maija had been injured badly. Her alibi of being on duty worked well. No one had realised that the office had been completely unattended for several hours on the evening of the shooting. It was supposed that because of the wedding, security was making sure that every thing would run smoothly.
Luke felt something gnawing at the edge of his consciousness. He felt a presence that he couldn't identify, couldn't decide if it was good or evil. He finished getting dressed in his best grey robe. Leia was depending on him today. He smiled , he was truly happy for her and Han even if it emphasised his own loneliness but was disturbed that his attacker hadn't been caught and his rescuer found, but pushed these matters aside, his shuttle would be collecting him within the hour.
Luke was late, the shuttle had taken him to the Aldereenian Embassy and not the Alderaanian. After a slight altercation with Threepio in the corridor he entered the room just in time to see Leia become the wife of his dearest friend. Glancing around with his Jedi senses he spotted the Deegani Princess. Luke suddenly felt a cold chill pass through his being. All at once he distrusted the beautiful ice-maiden, although nothing had really changed. He had avoided her since the kiss in the courtyard and had wondered why, if she was willing. A beautiful closed face with dark hair and dark eyes briefly insinuated themselves into his mind's eye. He looked for her and spotted the slim figure in her grey dress tunic standing stiffly to attention as part of the Royal Guard. Luke frowned, she was very pale.
The rest of the ceremony went without a hitch, Leia forgave him for his late arrival and he joined in with the revelry in the ballroom. Leia was incandescent, she glowed and Han had never looked so content and proud.
Luke took a few moments away from the celebrations to reflect on the days events when something began to scream in his mind.
"The pain, the pain....make ....it...stop...I can't hold on much longer.......I....can't",
The voice rose to a crescendo then sank to a moan. The force strong presence appeared and physically knocked Luke into a thicket of Alligan shrubs. Brushing off his cloak he took to his heels and belted into the ballroom. Leia looked alright, but shaken and the Deegani Princess panicked and somehow ugly. Which was strange on someone so beautiful.
"What happened ?", he asked urgently through the force.
"I don't know",answered Leia. "I heard a voice crying out in pain and then it was as if a wind passed through the room".
Luke was shaken "I was thrown to the ground almost as if something had exploded".He looked towards Han who frowned at them. "Go back to your husband dear and forget all about this it's not important", but in his heart he knew it was not nothing. He felt as if someone had taken a sledgehammer to his brain.
The force strong presence continued to scream to him, calling him as it grew. It's clamour reaching deafening proportions.He hurriedly made his way to where the dancing was taking place and located Maija standing with Helas and Faris. It was her, he realised. The feelings he had sensed over the last few months were about his sisters Aide, but this was different he realised. The girls presence in the force sang out to him. She was in deep trouble, was hurting. He excused himself into the group she was with and neatly detatched her from them with a sense of determination and urgency.. Helas looked on with slightly raised feathery blue brows as they disappeared out of the nearest balcony doors. The expression changed to one of concern and alarm when Helas realised that the Commander was supporting her friend and colleague's weight.
By the time Luke had her out in the open she had collapsed into his arms. The presence was so strong and was in desperate anguish. How could he have missed a force sensitive this strong. He'd had his suspicions, but she had been able to bury her feelings very deeply indeed. He picked up the fainting girl and carried her to a small office on the far side of the balcony. Her force sense was flickering, fading in and out as waves of pain swept over her. Luke opened the top buttons on her tunic and slid his hand over her heart, when he withdrew it he gasped silently. "Oh Maija ,Maija what have you been doing to yourself. His hand was red with blood.She was practically unconscious. He tried to share some of her pain with his Jedi skills.
"Commander......",the voice breathed weakly. "Give.... this....message..... cube ...to..,to...Lieutenant ......Page"she dropped the item into Luke's calloused bloodred palm.
"Is she alright ?", an oily voice broke into his thoughts.
"Yes Councillor Rivn. She has been suffering from a sickness virus for a few days, but was determined to attend and honour her Princess at her wedding. It's all been too much for her. Lady Winter did try and talk her into staying in bed and watching the ceremony on the holovid, but Leia inspires such devotion, that Maija wanted to be there in person.
The medical droid has suspended her from duties for the next few days. I believe the bug is doing the rounds". Luke wittered on, as if he hadn't a care in the world. At the mention of the word 'virus' and 'bug'. The portly Councillor quickly excused himself.
"Hold on Lieutenant, hold on", Luke murmured softly as he picked her up and carried her to his own quarters.
Luke laid her on his bed and sent a message to Leia through the force. Send a medical droid to my quarters, but tell no-one. He grabbed his comlink from the desk "Artoo, can you come to my quarters and could you dig up Maijas' files, and Artoo don't mention this to Threepio........ What do you mean she doesn't have files....of course she does, everyone does." Luke was beginning to get exasperated and a girls life was at risk. He tried to staunch the bleeding to no avail.
The door chimed softly and Luke let the medical droid in. "Commander Skywalker, this is highly irregular."He said in a dry metallic voice.
"It may be irregular, but it is also highly confidential. No one must know that the Lieutenant is undergoing treatment, or where she is.".
"I understand Sir", the droid replied.
Luke flicked on his com again."Artoo have you located her files?"
The little astromech droid swivelled his domed head and beeped a reply. Luke sat down abruptly on a repulsor chair. Check again, she must have medrecords if nothing else. Are you sure Artoo....ok,....ok, I'm sorry I don't doubt you Artoo". The droid sent several indignant whistles down Lukes' comlink. He was going to have to say something to Artoo about his language.
She didn't exist, there was no record of her at all. This didn't look good. What had security been playing at.
Wedding or no wedding. He called to Leia through the force. I need you at my apartment. Now!
Five minutes later she arrived breathless, her white gown flowing as she ran and the rainbow gems from Gallinore in her hair winking in the subdued lighting outside Lukes' Coruscant Apartment.
He was waiting for her when she arrived and ushered her quickly through the portal.
"What is it? Han thinks I've gone to change ready for us to leave on honeymoon".
Luke took her through to the bedroom and gestured to Two-One-B ministering to a comatose patient.
What do you know about the Lieutenant ?"
"Maija...What happened? Luke she's not ....?"
"I don't know. I felt a great disturbance in the force.You felt it too. I followed the call and Maija collapsed in my arms as soon as I'd got her out of the hall. There was blood under her tunic. She's been shot. Some sort of blaster weapon, and it looks like it was several days ago....."he trailed off and Leia completed the thought.
"....when we were attacked by the robed figures".
"Do you know her full name and computer operating number?"Luke asked
"Yes of course I do, after all she has worked for me for nearly two years" Leia went to the computer terminal and typed in an access code to her personal department files.
"Thats strange"she mused. "There is no mention of anyone bearing that name in my files. In fact I don't know if Maija is her given name or her family one.Luke she's not in any of my databases". Leia had started to panic, her voice rose. "How can this be? She must be the spy or his contact. No-one can exist Luke in our world by not being in the data bases"
Luke felt very uneasy but something told him that Maija was no threat to them. Leia couldn't see it. "Call the military police, call security. She cannot get away with shooting us. You could have been killed.She must have been the one who found the locations for the bases that were destroyed".
"Leia Organa Solo you are not thinking you are reacting. A Jedi should be calm ,at peace.. I don't think she is our assassin, but she could be our lead to him. Now just calm down". It was almost a verbal slap in the face.
"Commander Skywalker. Princess Organa Solo", the medical droid interrupted quietly. "The patient needs bacta treatment or several weeks in a sedated trance. This is not the usual type of blaster wound and she has lost a dangerous amount of blood. I need to get her to a proper medical facility" The twins said in unison. "put her in the trance for now. The less people that know about this, the better."
"I don't want her thrashing about in a bacta tank in full view of any possible assassin. I think she is possibly force sensitive and if that is the case she has to be guarded, but not by security unless it is our own. I'm talking about myself, Wedge and the Rogues.
She's had some rudimentary training but is not strong enough to withstand Imperial threats, and she knows enough to make her a target herself. We'll move her sometime tomorrow - can she hold on until then?".
"I think so if I get her stabilized tonight, although you are taking a grave risk with the Lieutenants life"
Luke turned towards the figure on the bed. Her sense in the force wobbled dangerously. "No.....No! We cannot risk her life can you move her now?".
"Affirmative Commander", replied the droid.
Luke glanced at Leia. "Go and get ready to leave that should provide some cover for us, and send Wedge to me."
Leia wasn't entirely convinced, but decided to leave it in Luke's hands for the time being.
"You are certain Luke that she is innocent of this, aren't you?"
"Yes" he replied steadily - blue eyes never wavering in a tanned face. "Now go Madam Organa Solo and join your husband".
Leia turned to go, stopped, then said. "Luke, do be careful".
He nodded and sat down to wait for 2-1-B to finish stabilising the patient.
"It's alright Leia I'll be down in five minutes, once Wedge arrives. It would be very strange if I did not wish my sister well.".
LIGHT OF THE FORCE CHAPTER 8
The Wedding was over. Leia had gone with Han on the Falcon on a trip to the Hapan Cluster to visit Isolder and Tennennial Djo. It must be said that she had gone very unwillingly, what with all the problems, but Han had finally put his foot down.
Luke called a meeting between himself, Wedge, Lieutenant Page, Winter, Admiral Ackbar and Mon Mothma. He felt that there were things floating about that he didn't know and should have known.
"The Deegani Delegation left this morning, was there any word on treaty negotiations?"asked Winter.
Mon Mothma glanced at Page, then at Luke. He shifted in his seat. Tensions ebbed and flowed. Something was going on that he had no knowledge about, but others did. Mon Mothma spoke.
"The Princess and I have a consultative document worked out and the Deegani's have returned to consult their council and then it goes to the Deegani people".
Luke stretched out with the force towards the Chief of State. She was missing out something, being very close with her thoughts.
"What about our security problems? Has the spy been discovered?" asked Wedge. He was still gutted by the sights he had seen at Durros and Miocene.
Luke could have sworn that Mon Mothma looked guilty as well as upset, and strangely even the imperturbable Page looked momentarily disconcerted. "We have a link to the traitor, but not the traitor themselves. We have a very good idea who it is, but have not enough proof and in this case we do need more evidence.
"But people died", broke in Wedge. Two of our bases were flattened. We still cannot afford to lose men and equipment. We have been grossly negligent about our security and the security of our people. I'm not getting at you Page, or at General Cracken, but
it's not good enough."
The security officer nodded. "We have made mistakes, but we are dealing with top Imperial Agents here.There are no other excuses we can offer. We didn't really believe the source of most of our information".
"So you know who it is" stated Luke softly.
"Oh yes, I know who it is".
"Shouldn't I know especially when they are shooting at my sister and I?"asked Luke grimly.
Winter shuddered . "I knew the lieutenant was acting strangely of late but I never expected that she was the spy".
"She isn't" shot back Luke vehemently.
Mon Mothma looked blank . "Have I missed out on some incident?" she asked.
Luke glared at Winter.
"One of Leia's aides collapsed just after the wedding. She had been shot at close range, but had chosen not to reveal this or go for treatment. There was an attempted assassination on myself and Senator Organa-Solo three days ago, we were saved by an unknown figure who stepped in front of me and took the blast. I owe my life to that person.Winter and Leia think she is the spy. I do not. I think she saved our lives, because she knows who the threat is."
"But why didn't she tell anyone?" Wedge wondered.
Luke shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. At present she is unconscious under guard in the medicentre. So she is incapable of telling anyone, anything anyway."
Mon Mothma suddenly looked weary and almost knowing. "Which Lieutenant?"
Everyone tried to speak at once. Luke closed his eyes. What were they not telling him. Then he knew and he was furious. He got up and walked out leaving a stunned silence behind him. Resting his head against the cool marble walls he tried to calm his emotions. Was the Deegani Princess the agent ?. He had felt the coldness at her core but as she was proficient at masking her true feelings and he had been too distracted by other things he had missed vital information. Some Jedi I've turned out to be. The Princess Antaara must be a force adept, but one trained in the dark side. The only person who might know the truth apart from the Princess herself was the unconscious girl lying pale and still in the medicentre. Was the New Republic so desperate for credits that it would go against everything they professed to believe in.
Why hadn't Maija told him . What was she hiding and if she was indeed the traitor in the ranks, why did security let her get so close to Leia?
He felt a hand on his shoulder. "Luke", it was Wedge, brown eyes earnest. "I haven't
a clue what is going on, but these security people seem to like all these games. What gets stuck in my throat and yours is that innocent people get caught in the middle and
get hurt or killed".
The young Commander looked at his friend and sighed. Wedge was struck how dispirited Luke was, as if this matter hung heavy on his shoulders.
"Luke, despite what Page, Cracken and those other guys know - I still don't think even they could have prevented those bases from being targeted. It would have happened sooner or later. The Empire has been gathering information for a lot longer
than we have. What we have to do is to increase our security and make sure that it
doesn't happen again.
Luke nodded tiredly, "But Wedge - one of Leia's staff is probably dying because we were not fully appraised of the situation. It could have been Leia or the main target; me. Winter, Leia and I were not told that there was even a possible threat. She's obviously been working undercover, but for whom?. We have our usual bodyguards, but they were unaware of events and even Page is unclear on things. I sensed that from him, and he gives little away.
Wedge paled "Is it Maija?"
Luke nodded again "Yes".
"I didn't realise. I'm so sorry Luke".
The sandy haired man looked at his friend peculiarly.
"I got the feeling that you liked her very much", Wedge rushed on, a bit embarrassed. He'd remembered the introduction in the dingy tapcaf, "but I didn't realise it was her. I just saw the repulsor bed move her down to the medicentre. How badly is she hurt?"
Luke glanced down at his polished black knee boots. His very silence told Wedge that things for Maija were not good. Wedge cleared his throat awkwardly. "I'm sorry Luke
she's a great kid. Luke couldn't say how he really felt. He'd never been that successful in relationships and this one hadn't even begun, or had it. He spoke quickly to cover the awkwardness of his feelings.
"It seems to have been a new prototype blaster weapon. It was almost impossible to stop the bleeding and Two-One-B tells me there are complications. Anyway Leia thinks that Maija is the traitor and is just waiting for her to regain consciousness to arrest her and put her on trial." He sighed again. "Sorry Wedge. Leia is justifiably upset as we were the ones who were shot at, but I think Maija was the one who stepped in front of me and took the blasts that might have killed me. We just can't prove it until she regains consciousness, well I guess we can for I'm beginning to recognise her presence in the force. On a more scientific note the wounds she has sustained are in the chest and the lower abdomen and that tallies with the wounds recieved by my rescuer, not the assassin, who received minimal grazing. Possibly a wound to the upper arm."
"But Luke, Maija's been with the new Republic for years", offered Wedge, "joined
after Hoth I think Has certainly worked on quite a few of the rebel bases, mainly with Xen Xenon at the secret base on Bestine and has an impeccable service record." Luke filed this away for future reference. "Xen was not happy when she moved to Coruscant. She was one of his most able and trusted aides. But I cannot imagine her being a traitor or even an undercover spy. You never notice her in a crowd, she never drew attention to herself and didn't mix well with anyone. She cultivated this air of blandness. I often thought that she would have made a good spy, but that it was too exciting an occupation for her and that she was a born diplomatic aide. But Luke you should see her fly - man she's a natural - It doesn't add up.. I'm probably contradicting myself, but her very ordinary demeanor is unusual amongst our people. Occasionally she lets something slip."
"Maybe so, Wedge, but there are no data files on her in the computer systems. None, no information, nothing. She doesn't exist at all . No service records, impeccable or otherwise, no medical files, not even information that could been construed as being patently false. Leia blew a fuse when when she found out. We don't even have a surname for her. Why would someone loyal to the Alliance hide any trace of her existance".
"Luke, she is a very accomplished code encryptor and slicer, that was her main work with Xenon. It would be easy for her to remove data if she wanted to."
"But why Wedge, why?"
"I don't know friend. I don't know".
"How could security fail to find out data on her. There are no independent reports at all. And how could I fail to be aware of someone who has worked closely with my sister for two years."
Wedge wondered if it was the last statement that bothered the young Jedi most of all.
"But Luke, you've not been around Leia that much on Coruscant during the last two years; certainly not in the diplomatic centre".
"She's a force adept Wedge, and was able to hide it. She must have had some training. If she knows for sure who the spy is, she's in danger herself. A half-trained force sensitive. Wedge we've got to protect her. If the Empire finds out about her, she's in
mortal danger herself."
"Luke, do you believe she was the assassin?"
"No Wedge, of that I'm certain. I just can't work out how she fits into the pattern. She took the full brunt of the attack on me. How anyone could keep going for three days with those injuries must be very strong in the force. She has also been able to mask her presence from other force sensitives".
Wedge clapped his friend on the shoulder and left to take his share of the guard duty on the injured Lieutenant. It was time to relieve Corran Horn. Luke turned in the opposite direction and headed to the hangar bay. Artoo had been running checks on his X-wing. Luke knew the Rogues would be heading out towards the Hoth and Durros
systems. Several months ago the New Republic had retaken the small base on Hoth
from the Empire. It was used as an outpost nothing more, but there was a certain amount of activity in the area and it was increasing. He quickened his pace, he might also just have time to send a coded call to his sister. No matter what Leia may perhaps be thinking, Luke knew it was imperative that she follow his lead on this one. He still couldn't believe that the Deeganis were double-crossing the New Republic. Unless it was just the members of the delegation and the people believed that they were negotiating in good faith. By the force he was tired.
"Commander Skywalker".
Luke turned swiftly his hand going automatically to the hilt of his lightsaber. His artificial hand flexed, then relaxed. Wary blue eyes faced neutral grey.
"How can I help you Lieutenant Page?"
"I'm sure you have worked out in your own mind what you think is going on. We never underestimate your abilities Commander. But I need you to be patient. This is an order from General Cracken. Did the Lieutenant say anything at all before she collapsed?"
Luke thought hard. He remembered the invisible force that knocked him off his feet as if someone had slammed into his body, very hard. The wind that had left any sentient
force user breathless and shaken. Her voice screaming in pain in his mind and then his mad frenetic chase to reach her. His fingers closed around a small object in his pocket.
'The datacube'.
"No", he said.
Chapter 9 - Deeds and Misdeeds
The Ship glided majestically through the myriad stars and constellations that made up the galaxy. The Relentless Warrior was the jewel in the crown of the Deegani fleet and of course it was the personal transportation of the Crown Princess herself. She had often been referred to as her people's most lustrous gem. But Antaara was not happy, in fact she was boiling mad. Her mission had ultimately failed and a tide of dark side anger arose within her icy breast.
"Your Highness," a nervous aide approached her deferentially. Those who worked closely with her were aware she was not as gracious, or pleasant as she seemed in public. But she was a great ambassador for Deegan with her beauty and legendary wit and her people were honoured to serve.
"Yes", she spat angrily.
"We will shortly be coming out of Hyperspace. Councillor Rivn begs an audience with you and an incoming message from Admiral Joulwe is awaiting your convenience"
A hair ornament flung by the force hit the wall just inches from the head of the hapless aide who bowed low and muttering frightened platitudes backed out of her suite.
She hit her comlink. "Rivn....now." she demanded.
The door chimed and lifting a long manicured finger flicked the door switch with the force.
The portly Councillor rushed in breathlessly. "has the treatment on your arm been completed Your Highness?"
Antaara turned on him a fulminating stare. "Somehow our intelligence was at fault. Someone knew that we were coming."
"But Your Highness, everyone on Coruscant knew that..........."
" Only force adepts with a gift for prophecy might have surmised our plans. Jedi Skywalker and the newly married Organa Solo are still very much alive and I would swear on the funeral pyre of Lord Vader that those weak incompetent .....".She spluttered testily. "Never guessed I meant them harm. They should both be dead. I have failed in my mission. I..... the top Imperial Graduate ever to come out of Raithal, all the more remarkable as few people realised on Deegan where and what I was studying. Most people see me as a piece of diplomatic fluff. Lord Vader recognised my true potential. I was more his protegee than that, ...that", she stopped and turned away from Janss. "Lord Vader would have been far more suitable to have as a parent than Zereon the completely innocuous. Instead he fathers those mealy mouthed twins without knowing it. Why bother at all. He could have saved the galaxy the trouble. Men and their urges......Hah!."
Rivn stared at the beautiful girl, completely baffled by her rantings.
"Your Highness ", he smoothed placatingly "The trip was not a complete failure, we gained valuable information on their working methods and were able to learn the whereabouts of some of their most secret bases. Remember our Squadrons successful raids on Durros and Miocene. Our leaders have been searching for such information for many months, even years and you achieved it within days. The Rebel fools still have no inkling that you were the instrument of their destruction and by biding your time you will be again".
"Maybe so; but Janss, someone knew who I was, who I really was and thus able to track my movements. I sensed a presence, but couldn't identify it. Someone from long ago. We checked all the personnel surrounding Organa and they all had rather boring military histories. I even accessed files on her bodyguards and undercover agents. Not one of them has disappeared, been replaced or been fatally wounded by an Imperial ZX3 Pryon Blaster. I hit the person with enough probes to kill a Jedi Knight. Very few people would even be able to stand. They'd be dead, or at one with the force, if our tests were correct.
I will have to meditate on this and perhaps the power of the darkside may give me some answers. It's strange however. Something is eluding me."
"Your Highness - the Admiral is awaiting your call. I'll leave you to do it in private. Before I do that, can I instruct your father on what we wish to do about the treaty negotiations?"
"Yes", Antaara almost purred. "Tell the old fool Zereon that we need to have a lot more discussion on this matter, as we feel the New Republic is not fully in control of things and perhaps we should also open up negotiations with the Empire".
"Very good, my Princess. I will do as you say". He gave a neat little formal bow and left her room. Something nagged at the back of his brain.
"Control put through a Holonet transmission to Admiral Joulwe in Chiaase City".
"Yes your Highness" answered the Captain on the bridge.
Antaara waited impatiently. She had plans for Joulwe, for he was to be the real route to her gaining galactic power and influence. He had been a member of a very minor noble family on Deegan. She had had a fondness for him, indeed he had been her first lover, when their affair had been discovered they had been separated. He had been sent to Carida and she had been sent to Raithal, although the general consensus was that she had been at a select finishing establishment. He had far more influential clout now than anyone had suspected, even more than a wealthy Crown Princess and she wanted him and would do almost anything for him. Gtrec Joulwe was her weak spot and she knew it.
Gavin Darklighter tried to make himself as inconspicuous as possible, which was rather difficult when you were six foot two in your stocking soles. Getting himself on board the Relentless Warrior had been fairly easy, apparently the Princess from Deegan went through staff almost as quick as Lord Vader had been reputed to do so. But not via the choking force hold, more a quick blaster shot to the nearest fatal point of the anatomy.
He had stood as long as he could in the corridor outside the suite of the Princess tapping information into a disconnected terminal. (He'd disconnected it himself some hours earlier) it would be nice to know where they were actually going. The deserting Imperial had been only too glad to hand over his I.D. to Gavin, who'd struck up an acquaintance with him. I must remember to answer to Fife Brekkin. Imperial Cadet in training on the Deegani Ship the Relentless Warrior. Fife had unofficially defected to the New Republic and Gavin happened to be the nearest of the Rogues to resemble him.
Back in his cramped cabin he surveyed his supposed possessions and quickly hid his Intelligence gathering gear out of sight. According to Luke and Wedge he had to tail the Princess for as long as he could without attracting attention to himself. He chuckled softly . He was a fairly seasoned campaigner these days, and could face unexpected situations with a great deal of aplomb. Unlike the time he had met his partner the beautiful Bothan - Asyr, when he'd nearly been killed. He'd been a raw kid, fresh off the desert sands of Tatooine in those days. Luke had been one of those too once, full of fire and idealism . Now he was all closed up and slightly withdrawn. This assassination attempt had woken him up from his apparent lethargy. Luke didn't want to involve many people as he felt that security had been compromised enough, so he'd asked Gavin, Wedge and Corran. Wedge was carrying an injury from a training exercise, which gave him a good excuse to remain behind when the Rogues left for the Hoth system and Corran had recently married and had been given lighter duties in lieu of a proper honeymoon.
Gavin was anxious to help because of his cousin. She lay pale and still under guard in the Coruscant Medicentre under suspicion of attempted murder. Luke however was totally convinced that she had saved his life and if she was in some sort of trouble he owed it to her to help. But Leia, at present on honeymoon in the Hapan Cluster refused to admit that her aide was innocent. Though she couldn't present a case to say that she was guilty either.
What bothered Leia was that Maija had worked for so long for her in very close proximity and Leia had been unaware that she hadn't been properly cleared by security and had committed an offense by tampering with data files. Leia hadn't been able to believe that someone could get so near to the leading members of the Alliance without being unmasked before now. Mon Mothma had supposedly recommended her. But Mon Mothma hadn't known who she was until fairly recently and certainly couldn't recall doing so. It was these scary lapses of security that had made Winter check every other employee and they all checked out . Winter had interviewed several of Mon Mothma's suggestions and Maija had been the best, the perfect aide. Winter's perfect memory suddenly realised there had been an electrical storm that day and data had been lost after the computers had crashed, they had been going to look at her records later. Winter realised that they never had. Having had Mon Mothma's recommendation had certainly helped it couldn't be denied and out of the chaos had come the girl's calming presence. Winter searched her memory and came to the disquieting conclusion that the word had neither been verbal or hand written, but printed.
Gavin could have helped by admitting their relationship, he supposed, but Maija had refused to entertain the idea; had barely acknowledged his presence as someone she had known. She seemed to have dropped the surname that she had been born with completely. Gavin had never heard it being used, but she was not even using the Darklighter part. Colleagues were unsure if Maija was her first name or her family name and because she didn't admit familiarity - no-one asked.
"Maybe I should have spilled the Exi beans, but then again, I suppose having the rather dangerous ancestry that she has would make anyone close mouthed to survive. I wish I knew what Maija was up to and why Luke was so interested. It's not as if she was force sensitive we would have known, surely. Or would I - I suppose you don't tell a teenage kid that his cousin is related to......"
He stretched out on the bunk "I might as well get some shut-eye until I go on shift. It's going to be difficult enough to be Fife Brekkin without knowing exactly what he did. around here".
Lieutenant Page turned from the window to face the impassive young Commander of Rogue Squadron. "So you're telling me that you bent the truth as far as dealings with the patient is concerned. If General Cracken finds out about this Luke, your head could be on the block. What possessed you? The Lieutenant has been doing some undercover work for us, she also seems to have her own agenda, but she is loyal to the New Republic. Luke what were you playing at?" he exhaled slowly.
The young Jedi had hesitated a fraction too long when Page had asked him for information and the Intelligence operative had been suspicious. Han and Luke occasionally worked outside the NR guidelines and that often caused conflict, although Page had to admit it was usually for the best. But even he couldn't see what road the Rogue Squadron Commander was following.
"I was trying to find out about her own agenda but I hadn't realised she was working for the Intelligence Ops"
"Luke, she worked on Home One with Ackbar at Endor as one of his team. She's one of the best encryptors we have.We've checked her out as much as we can. I'm not totally happy about the disappearance of her data, or the fact that she has her own agenda, but I believe she did it to avoid detection from all sources" The grey eyes smiled briefly.
"All sources", repeated Luke thoughtfully.
Luke had returned to Rogue Squadron Headquarters with the data cube only to find it encrypted and in a language that resembled a version of Bocce. This was a language native to Tatooine. (Luke spoke it fairly well, but not when a demented computer programmer had garbled it.) With Wedge on his side and the dissatisfaction of a young Cadet on board the Relentless Warrior, Gavin had agreed to infiltrate the staff. He had only been at one function and had spent it arguing with Maija, (not that anyone knew that) and hadn't been near the Deegani hierarchy otherwise. He also resembled Fife Brekkin closely in size and colouring, so they sort of swapped.
Page had arrived not long after Gavin had departed to collect any info which Luke had 'forgotten' to reveal.
Luke rather shamefacedly handed over the cube.
"I'll tell you this much Commander" he rebuked him a mite sternly. "That data cube should only reveal the Deegani battle manoeuvres and the fake attack on their shuttle."
"You're wrong", stated Luke firmly. "I'm sorry I misled you, but she told me to give it to you as she lay bleeding in my arms. I want to know what is going on and I get the feeling that you guys won't fill me in on any info."
Page looked quizzically at the young Jedi. "Tell me what you think it contains then", he directed at Luke softly.
Luke closed his eyes "It contains background information on the Princess Antaara and highlights of her non-authorised movements around Imperial Centre. But it contains nothing on Maija and she has guarded her mind too closely for me to get into it. I may be wrong, but I also think that our beautiful blonde princess is not as pure and virtuous as we are led to believe. There is a dark coldness at her inner core I have felt it and I feel she is behind some of our recent problems".
Page nodded. The young man's insight never ceased to amaze Page and he had worked very closely with him over a number of years. I cannot tell you at the moment if you are correct, but without giving away too much in the way of state secrets I would think you have come pretty close.".
Luke smiled. He now had to confess the departure of Gavin on the Relentless Warrior. If he weren't too careful General Cracken would be calling for a court martial. He opened his mouth.
Page forestalled him. "I'm not a Jedi, nor do I have the force, but I do know that you've managed to get one of the Rogues onboard that ship. General Cracken almost had you arrested when he found out, as long as he doesn't interfere with the operative we already have there, he could be useful". With that final parting shot Page walked out of the briefing room and disappeared into the busy streets of Coruscant.
Luke blinked. How could he disappear so fast. Then he smiled ruefully at Page's parting shot. He'd thought he was so clever and the intelligence guys were one up on him all along. But now he had to try and see Maija. She was still living, but only just. Perhaps he needed to channel some extra Jedi strength. While she breathed there was hope and he owed her big.
The girl lay in the sterile environment of the medical centre. Silent and still she seemed to barely breathe. Her force sense was dangerously weak and Luke began to wonder if he was perhaps too late.
He pulled a repulsor chair close to her bed and grasped one of the thin white hands. He closed his eyes and opened himself to the power of the force. Channelling as much energy as he could into the motionless figure he tried to heal her with his own strength.
Helas crept into the medicentre. She didn't understand what was going on and had only been told that Maija had a virus, an infectious virus, which prevented her from having visitors. This did not add up, as Helas knew very few viral infections so dangerous that you had a permanent guard. Nor were there any which involved dressings and blood soaked bandages. If Maija was infectious we would all have been inoculated, Leia would have cancelled her honeymoon and Commander Skywalker would not be holding Maija's hand. She stared amazed as the two figures glowed and a bright sure light dazzled her eyes. The light shimmered and flickered as it moved from Luke to Maija.
It slowly dimmed, then faded and Luke sat drained as the medical droid checked the patient's vital signs.
"Commander", the soft mechanical voice intoned. "The patient has shown a marked improvement over the last half hour. It will be some time before I can safely let her return to full consciousness, but it looks as if we will not lose her. She may not remember what happened, so I wouldn't build up your hopes Sir".
Luke sat exhausted, blue eyes closed. That had not been easy. He felt that the girl had resisted him in his fight to make her heal, but he had prevailed. This was not the end of matters he could see things , shadows and a figure bathed in light. He turned as he sensed a timid presence behind him.
"It's allright Helas, come on in", Luke soothed just touching his voice with calming force tones.
"I'm sorry.... Excuse me.... I just...just wondered how Maija was...is...I… I... I'm sorry Sir."
Luke sent reassuring waves through the force and gestured towards the silent figure in the bed.
"Helas crept closer and shut her eyes quickly, a solitary tear slid down her soft blue skinned cheek. "She works so hard Commander, you wouldn't believe. She's got in the way of blasters before."
Luke lifted his head in surprise. "What do you mean?"
"The last time we visited Migavran, there was a sort of scuffle near Princess Leia's transport. I was sitting in the front and saw it all clearly, but Mai just jumped out in front of this alien holding a blaster. He looked at her strangely, as if in a dream and dropped the weapon into the ditch. Then two men came and grabbed the creature and took him away".
Luke focused in on The Omwati's thoughts and saw the scene as clear as if it was happening in front of him.
6 Months earlier
"Put away the blaster you mean no harm. The Princess is no threat to you and you are a good and loyal citizen"
Maija breathed deeply and calm flowed from her, she pressed a small button on her waist-band to summon the special undercover operatives. She smiled her relief as they took the dazed alien from in front of the NR Transport. With any luck the Princess wouldn't have noticed too much and she jumped back into the transport. A curious Leia asked what had happened.
"Nothing Your Highness, I think the good citizen had been imbibing rather much of the local beverage and he got in the way of the transport."
Leia frowned. She thought she felt malicious intent and her advanced danger sense prickled. But the face that Maija turned to the beautiful Alderaanian was serene and Leia felt no fear from the aide, just an acceptance of what had occurred.
"Your Highness - Security have taken the good citizen to er.. sober up in solitude" she grinned conspiratorially at Leia. The Princess smiled back in return.
Luke eyed Helas soberly as she gazed at him wide-eyed.
"I just forgot about it", she said. "That's funny because now I remember very clearly. Mai told me to forget it, so I did".
Luke opened his mouth and Helas tensed. His comlink beeped.
"Skywalker".
"Commander, there are problems in the Hoth system. There has been a distress signal from the New Republic Base. We need Rogue Squadron out there."
"I'm on my way. Skywalker out". He stood up and stared at Maija. "May the force give you strength". Brushing a hand down her soft cheek in farewell he raced from the room.
Chapter 10 - Changes
She awoke from a fuzzy sleep, her tongue felt like cardboard stuck to the roof of her mouth.
"She's coming round", the metallic voice intoned gently. A hand lifted her head from the pillow and the welcome sip of water passed between her parched lips. Her eyelids fluttered then closed, it was too bright, way too bright.
"Lieutenant" the voice droned carefully. The eyes opened again and tried to focus on the speaker. "How do you feel?"
She opened her mouth, but no sounds came out, she tried again and a faint whisper emerged.
"What time is it? I should be on duty", she tried to rise but lay back against the pillows as everything spun crazily.
"Lie still Lieutenant", another well modulated voice spoke just out of her range of vision. The girl tried to turn her head to focus in on the sound. The speaker moved towards the old-fashioned bed. and the girl saw a stately white haired woman come in to view as her eyes settled down. She looked a little bewildered and a touch of fear was visible in her face.
"I don't think I know why I'm here"
"Ssh Lieutenant, there is time. Just stay still and conserve your energy".
"You are lucky to be alive", the medical droid remarked "but the best thing for you to do right now is to sleep"
The girl in the bed barely felt the prick of the needle as she slid again into unconsciousness.
Two days later Winter walked into the medicentre to find Maija with them once more. She was still pale, but her eyes were bright and clear and she even smiled.
"Lieutenant you are looking much better" the tall Alderaanian smiled. "I'm sorry that we have to ask you this now, but can you tell us what happened and how you came to be in this situation".
The face that Maija turned to Winter was one of complete confusion and worry. "I can't remember. I just can't remember, not clearly."
"Commander Skywalker and the Princess were shot at. Their attacker and the person who saved them were both injured in the attack, but both disappeared. You are the only one to have appeared with any form of injury and have been our chief suspect."
"Is that the reason I'm under guard" her voice rose in disbelief. "I've been with the Alliance since just after Hoth, I'm loyal, I wouldn't do anything to harm the Princess. I'd protect her with my life" a note of panic and disbelief entered her voice as it quickened.
"Why did you remove the data from your files?"
"Why did I what?" she slumped back against her pillow. "I don't know what you're talking about, have I done something wrong. That's it, I refuse to answer any more questions my Lady unless I'm officially under arrest".
Winter shot a few more questions at the Lieutenant who closed her eyes and firmly shut the other woman out of her thoughts.
Wedge had been listening out of sight and tackled Winter fiercely about her attitude as she left the centre.
"You were a little hard there Winter. I've a directive from Mon Mothma. Lieutenant Maija has to be left alone. She's in the clear".
"What!" Winter exclaimed. "Has she been on the ewok berry juice or am I living in a parallel universe - don't answer that Wedge it wasn't a question."
"I think Winter she's been doing work for Page and therefore I would get ready to welcome her back to her desk. She's a good kid."
"But we cannot trust her. I cannot let her work so closely with the Princess and if the Deegani delegation come back to finalise the treaty. Maija was the one who was with the Princesses all the time and she was also alone with Commander Skywalker on several occasions".
"She was, eh? "Wedge grinned, eyebrows raised and brown eyes twinkling.
"She was the designated shuttle pilot for the Royal Parties. Princess Leia was hoping that the Deegani Princess and the Commander would how shall we say, hit it off and I think they were making good progress on that score".
"Bantha droppings" stuck in Wedge good-naturedly.
"You know I hate to hear that expression Wedge, even if Luke does use it" a new voice remarked behind them amusedly.
"Leia!" they exclaimed in unison.
"or should I say Madam Organa Solo" Wedge's friendly brown eyes shone.
Leia laughed. "We just got back, Han's gone to check some wiring on the Falcon, so I thought I'd check on the patient." Her brows rose in inquiry.
Wedge moved back, hands raised in surrender. "Go ahead, but you won't get anywhere, especially after Winter had finished with her. You'll be lucky if she even looks at you".
Leia looked askance at Winter, who looked down at the floor.
"I'd better go see then", she marched off, her small straight back clad in pale lemon and disappeared into the medicentre.
It had been six weeks since the wedding of Leia and Han and things hadn't changed much in the interim. Luke and the Rogues had flown to the Hoth system as the Imperials had increased their activities in the area. Wedge still nursing his injury to his ribs had been left behind to look after Maija.
Gavin had hoped jump ship when it had landed on Chiaase as he felt that he'd got far enough into Imperial held territory, without some sort of back-up. Chiaase City had been fascinating and rather unsettling. The natives had been mainly human and very much under the Imperial thumb; all those stormtroopers. Gavin heard whispers about an Imperial Mining Colony used for prisoners on another planet in the system. He'd worked out that he must have ended up very far in the outer rim territories, which meant that Tatooine couldn't be very far away.
While he'd been on the Relentless Warrior, he'd observed the Princess Antaara as closely as he could and was convinced she'd had some injury to her upper arm. He also thought he'd heard the sound of a lightsaber as well as blaster fire when some unfortunate soul had displeased her. Going into her quarters to remove the body he'd spotted her placing a cylindrical silver object on a shelf. One other thing, she was quite obsessed with the Imperial Commander of the Garrison on Chiaase. He was the power behind the Deegani throne.
All things considered, Gavin decided that returning to Coruscant was his first priority before he really got into trouble. He had felt that he wasn't alone on this trip as things kept appearing in his quarters like background on Brekkin and his general function on board ship. Two days ago a pass to the planet and some Imperial Credits, enough to get him off world were found. Bout time he acted on that advice. The Captain on the ship mentioned a refuelling stop at Tatooine. Talk about a welcome coincidence, it was just the tid-bit of information that he required.
Leia had got absolutely no-where with Maija, but had tried a little experiment. Luke was convinced the girl was force sensitive, so she tried a gentle mind probe and was firmly blocked. Luke was as ever correct on this matter and the girl had to be kept out of the Empire's hands. It was possible that if she had not been the attacker, the Empire were unaware of her existence, but they would find out. She had to be moved and soon.
She remembered something Wedge had mentioned. Bestine. The secret rebel base in the borderland region, where General Xenon had regretted the departure of his most trusted aide. Luke would be furious, but Leia wanted Maija out of the way until investigations had been completed to her own satisfaction. Although it might be dangerous to send her to so secret a facility, but as Wedge had stated she'd been there before and the base was obviously still in existence.
A hand snaked around her waist and she leant her head against her husband's strong shoulder. "Hey, Highnessness", the use of the old nickname brought a smile to her lips. "Can I interest you in a date?" he bent his head and kissed the side of her neck She shivered in his grasp and moaned softly. "Or can we just go home and go to bed?"
Leia turned in his arms and husked softly in his ear "Lets go home flyboy".
Maija left in the medicentre felt the ripple in the force as Leia and Han left the building. She felt so alone and so betrayed. "I should have realised that Antaara was too clever to be caught and now I'm the one who's in trouble. So I'm being transferred to Bestine, at least the General will be pleased to have me back, but how can I protect my charges when I'm thousands of light years away. She sat up wearily and brushed her hand across her eyes and was surprised when it came away wet.
Two weeks later she was back in uniform on the NR base on Bestine. There was a small building hidden in a secluded valley, but the main complex was underground. The Bestine station was one of the largest and was linked to a space station, which was situated fairly near an asteroid belt. There were a few small towns in and around the above ground complex, but Bestine was an isolated outpost and that was why the base was still undetected.
Maija divided her time between the space station and the underground complex working as one of General Camus 'Xen' Xenon's personal aide officers. He was delighted to have her back and on his team once more. Xenon was an intensely energetic individual of about fifty with blue eyes and a shock of wiry grey hair that bristled with vitality. A superb military tactician he had been in charge on Bestine for many years, had served in the clone wars with Bail Organa and Obi Wan Kenobi. A keen sense of humour and a genuinely caring attitude towards his personnel made him an extremely popular officer. However there was enough of the killer instinct in him to make for an extremely dangerous adversary.
Xen had been briefed on the situation regarding the most junior of his aides and as he had pithily remarked to Leia and Winter, "What a load of arrant nonsense". But he had to deal with the security worry and he did keep a close eye on security when Maija was around, but she never warranted the extra checking.
Xen was worried about her, she had retreated into herself, closed and silent, not the open friendly and talented girl he had known two years ago.
"Leia Organa Solo what have you done to my girl" he muttered softly. It was obvious that she had not had a chance to fully recover before they'd sent her to the furthest point of the galaxy. She was pushing herself to the limit and collapsed exhausted on her bunk at the end of each shift.
The dreams had started again and as she began each day pain in every part of her body made it such a struggle. She lay in her cabin the darkness stifling any energy from her. Maija reached deep within her own body to find that there were foreign objects implanted and beginning to move. Unknown to Maija the ZX3 Pryon Blaster implanted tiny probes into the body, which after a period of time started to move, and interfered with the body's internal workings. So if it didn't kill you the first time round there was a time bomb inside of you ticking away.
General Xenon watched Maija Darklighter work herself into the ground.(She'd forgotten to remove her info from the Bestine data banks). Maija seemed - hurt and angry. For all of her considerable ability, she was barely more than a child. Imperial trained that stood out a mile to those who were also trained that way, but no way was she a traitor or a spy. Well she had been a spy, but for the alliance. He remembered Lieutenant Page delivering a small figure to him not long after the battle of Hoth. She'd fitted into his retinue and eventually had become one of his most valued staff. Occasionally a request had come from the Special Operatives and she would side-step Bestine for some project or another, but she always returned until the transfer to Coruscant had happened.
Maija was hurt and angry, she felt that she'd saved the lives of the Princess and the Commander and had been rewarded by banishment. Also nagging feelings of being apart from the presence of Commander Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight and hero of the rebellion were tugging at an area deep inside of her. Feelings she has no right to have and must ignore.
Why was the room spinning, she felt really peculiar and with a strange little sigh crumpled to the deck.
She came round in the Medbay on board the Space Station to find General Xenon glaring at her from beneath bushy grey eyebrows. She pushed herself up in the bed. This is getting to be a habit.
"Maija Darklighter, whatever you've been up to. I don't want to know. The hierarchy on Coruscant have no bearing on my decision I'll take the flak from that if and when they find out. I'm sending you home to recover, you're not fit for service. Are you listening girl?"
She nodded white-faced. Her glorious dark eyes lifeless and sunken.
"Have you relatives living?" He didn't wait for the startled nod but swept on in full flow. "Well, I suggest you go home to wherever it is you come from and get yourself well. The medic tells me you have some sort of problem with the remains of a blaster embedded in your person. He's removed as many as he can for the time being, but you will need further treatment. We've sent them to a lab for tests as they don't look like the normal effects you would receive from a blaster. Some new Imperial prototype we think. Burgess he motioned to the graffin Medic is putting you in the Bacta tank so you are well enough to leave and when you are well come back and serve the new Republic again."
"But General do you trust me to go" she whispered "Because other people do not and my family live in the outer rim territories; deep in Imperial held space".
"Child, I know you better than I think you do yourself. If I'd had a daughter I would have liked her to be like you, although I'm not sure about the force skills".
Her head shot up and the tears that had formed ran down petal soft cheeks and panic entered her gaze. His hand patted her cheek and deftly brushed away her tears.
"Do they all know?"
"No Lieutenant. I've always suspected but it's now in your notes, well the only ones that came from Coruscant. You haven't been fiddling with the main computer again have you?"
She shrunk down in the bed.
"Ahh...... - You know that's against the New Republic Laws young lady. Now rest, you need to conserve your energy for your journey home".
Maija lay down and closed her eyes. Yes, she thought gratefully, I'll go home.
Chapter 11 -
Luke breezed into the palace on Coruscant, Jedi robes flapping and his blue eyes happy. Man it was good to be away from Hoth, the chill there enters your soul after a while and the cold seeps into your bones. He'd been flying escorts for transport ships bringing supplies to Hoth and Durros and things had gone on a lot longer than they were supposed to. A couple of the transports had been hit and it was difficult to work out if it had been some of the Warlords or the Empire working up to another campaign.
"How ya doin' kid" the cheerful shout echoed down the long corridor.
"Han, Chewie" he yelled. "No, Chewie put me down, you big furry oaf. My arms are just fine in their sockets thank you very much".
The big Wookiee barked happily at the young Jedi and Han ruffled his sandy head. "Now look what you've done Solo. I think I combed it earlier." Luke grumbled affably. "Where's Leia?" he looked around for his sister. "I hope you've been treating her ok, now that you're an old married couple.
"She'll be along shortly, some paperwork at the centre is holding her up. But we've missed you Junior. No-one needed gettin' out of a few tight situations, it's been almost boring"
Luke raised his eyebrows as Han gave his famous lop-sided grin. "Hey kid, I said almost".
"You'd better not say that in front of your wife General Solo, she's very good with a blaster and wields a lightsaber proficiently. Seriously though Han, you're looking well and content."
"I know kid. I am" Chewie snuffled as Han got caught in a daydream and his brother-in-law looked on enviously.
"Hey you old pirate snap out a that mushy stuff. You've an image to protect"
Han lifted a shoulder, slightly embarrassed as Chewie snickered.
"How's Lieutenant Maija?" asked Luke. This was one of the things he really wanted to know about.
"Last I heard" commented Han "she had been transferred to a base in the Borderlands, for her own safety".
Luke opened and shut his mouth, this was not quite as he'd planned. Was Leia actually going to tell him they'd moved her he wondered or was he to forget about her. Not that he'd romantic interests in the girl. She was force strong and needed to be trained in the light so she could take a place in the galaxy as a Jedi. Half-trained Jedis were dangerous to have running around He tuned in to the fact that Han was saying something.
"Leia and Winter tried to cross examine the girl, but apparently she remembered little and then Winter upset her and she wouldn't speak at all. Next thing Page and Mon Mothma send a directive saying that she's clear and had to be left alone. Leia was as mad as a yuzzum without food. So she's been moved for her own safety. And to stop Leia from throttling her." He shrugged his shoulders, as long as the Lieutenant was not a threat to Leia or Han's family in general, he let it be.
"Anyway kid, what about you and the beautiful girl from Deegan. Are you seeing her when she comes back. Seemed like you two hit it off pretty well. She's sure easy on the eye and I think she took quite a shine to the local Jedi Knight."
Luke scratched his chin thoughtfully. Maija had said something similar to him, and Leia had certainly been pushing them together, it just hadn't quite registered properly until now.
"Han my friend, you're way off on that one. I'll just say that I don't think our philosophies on life coincide."
Han looked at his friend; the face in front of him closed suddenly. 'A good sabacc face' he thought. His intuition told him that Luke had thought about something unpleasant. With Luke it was kind a simple. If he didn't want you to know, it was normally unpleasant or some Jedi thing and he adopted a blank expression. If it was good news he was the boy Han had loved like a brother for years.
"Look Han, Chewie, I'll see you later at the apartment, I've a few things I need to check up on." With a swirl of his black cloak he swivelled on his heels and left in a hurry, leaving the Correllian and the Wookiee staring after him.
"Did we miss something. He seemed rather put out about the possibility of having a girlfriend. Chewie he needs to settle down with a wife and get himself some Jedi kids. You know pal, I'm planning on doing that myself and I'm well on schedule."
"Admiral Ackbar I need time to go and look for some information on Jedi History", Luke earnestly entreated the Calamarian. "Wedge is more than capable of taking on the Rogues. Eventually when I have the Jedi Academy up and running properly I cannot do that and fly with the squadron on a permanent basis. I've been going through some of the reader discs we found on Dathomir and they've hinted at a couple of places to look. I need to go". He filled his senses with the strength of the force and projected it towards Ackbar.
"If you are set on this course Commander I have to let you go. The New Republic needs the Jedi to rise again and you are the only one able to make this happen. I'll grant you a leave of absence with the understanding that if things get really bad I can call you back into active duty. You have many skills Commander and have been part of our greatest triumphs, but I can see you also have a duty to rebuild the Jedi Order."
"Thank you Admiral. It goes without saying that I'll be there if the New Republic needs me in whatever capacity I can manage."
A remarkable young man thought the Admiral as the Jedi left determination etched on his handsome features.
Luke and his sister rarely fell out, but when she wouldn't tell him the location of Lieutenant Maija he nearly lost it and left the Solos apartment after barely half an hour. He cut the force link he shared with his sister and went to his own rooms to sulk.
Leia was equally incensed when she learned of Luke's plans to go hunting Jedi records and turn the Rogues back to Wedge. He had been doing this before and she had agreed on the importance of the Jedi rising again, but had given it up temporarily when the Empire had caused trouble again. It was the fact that he hadn't told her he was planning this and the Skywalker twins had shared most things since they'd discovered each other on the first death star.
Winter and Leia had decided that Maija needed time away from the main events and Leia wanted her away from Luke. Yes she wanted him to marry and have a family, but one of her choosing. Leia wouldn't have liked this picture of herself if she'd really thought about it. Anyway, Luke had never noticed the younger girl's existence before now. It was probably a Jedi thing and if she was innocent and force sensitive, Luke could train her in the tradition of the Jedi one day.
Gavin walked into the Rogue Squadrons Headquarters to a stunned silence. "Well - what are you looking at?" He asked belligerently.
Corran whistled at him. "Someone got out of the repulsor couch on the wrong side this morning".
"Couldn't you have let us know you were coming, we might have baked or decorated" threw in Hobbie.
"Alright boys, let the guy in".
At Wedge's words the Rogues welcomed Gavin back with shouts and yells. Asyr, his Bothan girlfriend just smiled with relief. It was at least two standard months since she had seen him. The worst thing was always not knowing if he was alive or dead.
"I've been to see General Cracken and Lieutenant Page and I wonder if Imperial torture might be easier to go through than their debriefing. I can't say too much just now, but the Deegani delegation team are playing a double game.
Luke strode in, face set and determined. "I'm taking leave of absence for a while to hunt for information on the Jedi. Wedge is promoted to Commander and Tycho and Corran to Captain." A general murmur ran round the room. Luke was an inspirational Commander, but they all knew where his real duty lay and it came as no surprise. His face relaxed and he looked round the room. "you know I hate to let you guys get all the glory, but I have to pass on what I've learned as a Jedi and I've put it off for too long. If you ever need an extra pilot I'll fly with you. May the force be with you".
He swallowed, clapped Wedge and Corran on the shoulder and nodded in Tycho's direction.
Luke motioned for Gavin to come outside. "Did you find out what we suspected?"
Gavin nodded. "Their security is pretty tight, but we ended up well into Imperial held territory. From the charts that I was permitted to see, we were in the outer rim sector, probably in the Knosp system. The Princess and her advisor are not playing straight with the Deegani people, she is heavily involved with the Commander of the local Garrison, and Luke," he stared hard at the young Jedi. "She carries a lightsaber".
Luke leant against the wall as all breath rushed out of him. He thought hard for a moment then gestured the younger man to continue.
"I managed to jump ship after we left the system, we stopped at Tatooine for refueling and that was after several days in hyperspace"
"That far into Imperial held space" Luke quipped.
Gavin grinned and went on "The next stop would have been at Deegan itself and I couldn't risk that. She was as mad as fire about something and spent a lot of time training in a sort of military gym facility on board the ship. She's one fit lady. Unfortunately I didn't get to go planetside with the Royal party. I'd to go with the other crewmembers, but she arranged to meet an Admiral Joulwe. Page and Cracken have looked him up and he's also from Deegan. Trained at Carida and has had an exemplary military career, although he was removed from Deegan under some sort of cloud."
"Maybe he has some sort of hold over Antaara and is blackmailing her" Luke thought aloud.
"He's certainly got something on her, because she was screaming down her comlink at the crew until he came on the holo, then it was sweetness and light and we were all banished, even Councillor Rivn only stayed a few minutes. Now there's a loathsome individual. There is something about him that makes my skin crawl, although he's done nothing to warrant such a feeling. Some of the female members of the crew avoided him like the plague and so did some of the younger men."
Luke nodded absent mindedly and turned to go, then stopped "What is it ?"
"Sith, I hate it when you do that, well um, it's really about my cousin".
"Cousin?"
"Well, sort of, and my aunt and uncle on Tatooine. Do you remember Merdom and Kendra?"
The young Commander dipped his head.
"Ken and Mer kind a brought Biggs up when his mother died and Uncle Huff was too busy trying to ease his grief and make money. Biggs and Huff never got on that well...too similar in some ways. With all that's happened I'm worried about them, especially with recent events. It could hit Aunt Ken real hard. Mon Mothma's given me this plaque in honour of Bigg's contribution to the Alliance and ultimately the New Republic. It would be a great honour if you would deliver it. Tatooine still being under Imperial rule hasn't heard much about things I gather. Mos Eisley has been cut off from the local populace. They're practically barred from it. Spacers fly in and out without seeing any of the locals. I saw Uncle Huff briefly, but not my own parents and we didn't speak as I was supposed to be Cadet Brekkin at that point. My parents will get the news that I'm still alive, but I get the impression that there is a real military crackdown."
"Sure Gavin, I'll do that for you when I'm in the area. I'll be sneaking in the back way with any luck. I'm not planning to go anywhere near Mos Eisley. I've to check some books of Ben's."
Luke needed peace away from the New Republic and all the daily problems of the continuing struggle. His plan was to go to Miocene, Ossus and an unnamed planet in the Anoat system and finally to Tatooine. He would live in Ben's house, which was far from any settlement. Ben had lived near the edge of the Dune Sea, a hermit like existence while he waited for Luke to grow up and the shifting patterns in the force to take shape.