When High Admiral Palleon entered the office Anakin Skywalker´s head snapped around sharply and those cool blue eyes narrowed for a millisecond before recognition flashed over their icy surface. Admiral Daala gave the newcomer a tiny smile and gestured towards the holoscreen, where the Bothan president of the New Republic was just now answering the journalist´s questions.
"What could have sparked this renewed hostility?" Turve Glat was asking. Borsk Fey´lya straightened his shoulders proudly:
"Obviously the Empire has come to realize that it´s glory days are over. My best guess is that they want to force the issue here. But rest assured that the New Republic government will do anything in it´s power to contain this threat."
"Do you mean that we are going to war again?"
"No, not at all. At least not yet."
"Will you try to establish contact with the Imperial government?"
But Anakin apparently had already heard everything he needed to and switched the screen off. Turning towards his staff he grimaced slightly and shook his head.
"Sir, I have checked the Fleet status and I am certain that this attack was phony," Palleon told him firmly.
"Of course it was. And what our little Bothan friend has just said makes it clear to me that he is part of this."
"What is going on, Anakin?" Daala had slipped around the desk to sit next to Palleon, and crossed her arms in front of her.
"Whoever is behind this wants to force our hand. You see, when I talked to Mon Mothma I told her, among other things, that two solutions for peace would be violent, one of it the very same Fey´lya claims to be the reason for this attack now. So he must know what was said between us in that meeting."
"But we cannot prove it."
"We do not have to. Fey´lya wants to force us into action? Well, he won´t be able to. Increase the border patrols, but give orders to not engage any New Republic vessel. The sole exception is a violation of our space."
"Yes, sir. I see."
"Exactly. If Fey´lya wants this confrontation so badly he will have to act himself. But he will not do that, he has said so too, and furthermore it would make him look bad. This poses the question: What kind of surprise is he hiding?"
"Do you have an idea?"
"Yes. Unfortunately I do." Looking into the distance Anakin kept silent for awhile.
"Anakin?"
"Hm?"
"What do you need us to do?"
"Palleon already has his orders. You are dismissed, High Admiral. And you, well, I would like you to keep an eye on Disra and his fellows. I do not want any more nasty surprises."
"As ordered."
When Daala and Palleon had left the office Anakin stared at his comm pensively. Finally he went to work, encrypting a very special code so it could not be traced at all. It took a few moments before there was a connection.
"Yes?" Talon Karrde´s voice sounded as smooth and cool as always.
"Talon, I need information about Black Sun´s activities, and everything you can get on Xixor. Mara told you he´s back?"
"She did. But first, let me propose a deal: I´ll track Xixor for you if you tell me what is going on between the Empire and the Republic."
"Nothing, absolutely nothing. And that´s how it will stay. At least for the moment. Get me that information and we´ll see further. So your dealings are safe for now. By the way, how did they act when they came back?"
"The usual, mostly, none of the obvious give-aways. But Mara seems to act a bit more friendly towards him."
"Good, that is at least something."
"Oh yes, and Mara is joining your son´s academy."
"Really? Fancy that."
"She says those Jedi need a bit more skill in fighting without a lightsaber or the Force."
"She is a clever one, isn´t she?"
"Yes. They deserve each other."
Anakin sat for a long time in his chair, staring out of the window, smiling. If anyone could anchor Luke´s feet on firmer ground now it was Mara. The boy had not liked what his father was asking of him, but she would understand and make him understand too. In many ways she was as much a Jedi as Luke was, although she was loath to admit is. But in the end she would come to realize her destiny too.
"You aren´t half enthusiastic about this, aren´t you?" Kyp said sourly and rubbed his shoulder, where Gantoris heel had left a red imprint, "That hurts." - "Well, you´ll just have to be faster then," Kam told him with a smile. He was overseeing their training exercises, while Mara did the same with Streen and Kirana Ti. "Gantoris just has to vent his frustration over having been defeated by a woman," he went on and grinned broadly over at the Dathomir witch. That way he missed the mischivous glance passing between the two students standing in front of him completely. When Gantoris punched him in the stomach playfully the look of surprise crossing Kam´s face triggered Tionne´s chiming laughter. She was sitting next to Master Skywalker on the terrace´s balustrade, both studying every report they had on the Gryssnyr. But right now the two of them were watching the three men. Grinning ruefully Kam evaded Kyp easily and pushed the youth into the elder student. But Gantoris was faster. He let Kyp run past him and attacked Kam again. This time their instructor was better prepared and blocked the underhand blow before returning it. "Time out!" Mara called suddenly. With one hand propped on her left hip she glanced at the three men with a look of faint amusement, "Let´s continue this later." Kirana Ti and Streen grinned at each other, then went over to sit on the balustrade. Kam gave Gantoris a sharp look and vowed to himself that he would not let the man from Eol Sha surprise him like this again.
It was as if Master Skywalker had been reading his mind, for he jumped off his perch and strode over to the students. "This fighting practice certainly is a good exercise, but your opponent is not your enemy. Never ever. You must persuade him with your skills, not let your emotions rule your actions." - "Persuade them to die, huh?" Mara remarked sarcastically and Luke looked over at her with a smile. "If that is necessary," he replied, suddenly clapping his hands together twice to gain the whole assembly´s attention. "You have all done well in the past days and very soon now you will cease to be students and move on to be true Jedi Knights. Together we have accomplished a great thing: We have brought back the Jedi to this galaxy. Now let us see to it that they never vanish again. You know Coruscant´s current stance towards the Jedi and I believe that all of you feel that their view is wrong. It is. And they will come to realize this sooner or later. Until then I want to remind you that the Jedi protect and serve the people, not the government. And that is what we will do."
"Nice speech," Mara told him when the students were busying themselves with preparing dinner.
"Do you really think so?"
"A bit on the pathetic side perhaps, but still, quite nice. Why that comment about the Jedi serving the people?"
"It is a lesson I am learning now. Or part of it. About sacrifices."
"Sacrifices? What kind of lesson is that supposed to be? Sounds like your father."
"Doesn´t it?"
"So it was really him who told you that? Now listen here, Skywalker..."
"He´s dying."
"What?"
"That is strange. You are the first person I am telling this. I wonder why..."
"You didn´t even tell your sister?"
"In a way I feel that she would not understand. She has never been as close to Father as I have been."
"Wise woman."
"She is a Jedi. More so than I am, I think. That is why he taught me that lesson,not her."
"What do you mean?"
"Leia is harder than I am. And she sees Father the way he really is. I still have that image of Anakin Skywalker in my head I had when I was a boy. But he is not like that. He tells me that he would do anything to protect the people, even if he hurts me or Leia."
"Yeah, he told me something like that too."
"Did he? Why?"
"I thought he was going Darkside again, but now you are telling me that he´s dying. What does he want? That you are prepared to sacrifice him too?"
"He said I had to let go. I am not sure if he only meant the image I have of him or something else."
Mara´s green eyes flashed with a sudden understanding. Then her face softened just a little bit and she slapped Luke´s shoulder hard:
"You are on the right track. Keep thinking about it."
"What do you mean? You understand all this?"
"Yes."
"But you won´t tell me."
"Right."
"Okay."
"You give in too easily, Skywalker."
"Really?"
"Hm - hm. Come on, I think dinner is ready."
Luke shook his head as he stared after her. He could even see her shoulders shaking in a silent laughter. That woman was....special. In one moment she was full of scorn, the next she showed a caring for him that one would usually show a good friend and then again another one there was a sad wisdom about her that made his skin crawl. Luke did see her as a friend and thought she did the same with him, but in the last few weeks their shared concern about Anakin seemed to have brought them closer. I wonder....
"They set us up, didn´t they?" he asked her quietly, when they were seated next to each other, a bowlful of stew sitting before them.
"Who?" Mara´s green eyes did look surprised, but he could feel a certain level of anticipation in her.
"Karrde and Anakin, who else?"
"Yes. You may be right," she seemed startled for a second, then smiled broadly, "What do we do? Kill them both?" The two of them shared an easy laugh.
"Nah, that would be a bit drastic. Who knows, maybe they knew what they were doing."
"And maybe not," she smiled at him, "I think I´ll take a walk. Alone," she added when Luke opened his mouth to offer his company.With a frown he watched her walk away into the dark halls of the ruined palace.
Mara stood at the huge window of what had once been the throne room, looking down into the city´s main plaza. So much had changed since the fall of the Empire. Her life had been turned upside down and now she found herself at a crossroads. She liked being with Karrde´s organization but there was something missing. Something that had died with Palpatine. And she would never forgive Anakin Skywalker for that. He had broken the bond she had shared with the late Emperor. Whatever else he had been, he was all she´d had. Ever since she had not found a bond that deep, a relationship that close. She knew that Luke felt something similar. He was trying so hard to rebuild the Jedi and to erase his father´s legacy that he was completely missing the solution to all of his problems. Well, most of them. Anakin had realized that much earlier and had tried to tell him what he was doing wrong, but his teachings were cryptic, to say the least. Maybe a Sith could understand his words, or a trained diplomat like Leia, but Luke had had neither the upbringing nor the backgound of his father. Fortunately.
And unfortunately she did understand, and furthermore, did care about Luke understanding it too. Luke Skywalker had so much wisdom and compassion and courage that she admired him for. And yet he did not know what to do with it. Sure, he did pass it on to his students, but that was not nearly as rewarding as sharing it with a partner. A mate. A lover. In the darkness Mara blushed furiously. They had set them up, no doubt. Curse their scheming hearts. And then she smiled and sighed. Maybe it was not such a bad thing after all.
General A´bath stood quietly on his flagship´s bridge. Out there, not too many clicks away, a small Imperial fleet was watching them across the invisible border. Just watching. The two fleets had been sitting like this for two days now and nothing had happened. For a moment the General hoped that nothing ever would. But that was just wishful thinking, he knew.
"Sir!"the tracking officer called. A´bath strode over to stand beside his station and looked over his shoulder, "They are moving."
"Yes, I can see that." And really, looking back out into the open he could see the Imperial ships turn around slowly and accelerate until they vanished into hyperspace. "Prepare for a surprise attack," the General ordered. And then they waited again.
Leia Organa Solo smiled at the Mon Calamari sitting across from her. Admiral Ackbar was an old friend of hers and she would be damned if she would let this unfortunate business gte in the way of that friendship. Hopefully he felt the same.
"No," she was just saying," I really have no idea where my father might be right now." Which was th simple truth. Who knew where Bastion was at all?
"Would you tell me if you knew?" Her smile deepened:
"Probably I would tell him that you are looking for him. What is the problem?"
"Well, the president is concerned. He thinks your father might harbor a grudge against him personally."
"He´s not far off the mark there." Ackbar laughed quietly:
"It is good to see you have recovered from these past trials," he told her gently, referring to the assassination attempt that had nearly cost her family´s lives. She nodded gravely:
"I appreciate your concern, but, as I have told the president before, I do not know where he is. And furthermore, we have more pressing problems. This Imperial attack concerns me."
"You are not the only one there. General A´bath just reported that the Imperial ships on border patrol seem to have been recalled. All of them."
"Do you think they might be planning an attack?"
"Who knows? But in any case we need to be prepared."
"I see."
But Leia was pretty sure that noone was as concerned as she was. The others did not know what she did. And this attack did not make sense at all. She had to find some means to contact her father, to clarify all this. And she sincerely hoped that he did not really mean to make his threat of war come true.
"When did those ships come in?" Anakin asked briskly as the live holo recording stopped suddenly. "They came in from the Unknown Regions five hours ago. Apparently they never did hail the planet or give a warning," High Admiral Palleon´s face was concerned, to say the least.
"This attack is intolerable, yes, but I daresay that this is not the least we´ve seen of them." Palleon eyed the Jedi Lord questioningly:
"You know them?"
"I know of them. Their people were once enslaved by the Sith and later the Jedi made good use of their ill feelings towards their former masters."
"Their military skills?"
"Unimportant. I would rather like to know where they got those ships from."
"Well, the ones we saw on the recording didn´t look particularly thrilling."
"Neither did the planet´s defense force´s performance."
"Yes."
"You have recalled the border patrol ships?"
"Of course."
"Then sent the rested troops out to this new front. They will attack again."
"But why?"
"To occupy us, of course. Unfortunately we cannot look away from our own people´s suffering. I want the outer perimeter guarded tightly. Now go, I have other business to attend to."
After the Imperial commander had left Anakin slumped into his chair. He was in a foul mood, to say the least. Xixor had not been idle and his allies had made their move. Defeating the Gryssnyr should not prove too difficult, but there was something else waiting for them here, something nasty. The ruse with the fake Imperial attack had not worked and Xixor had to have a back-up plan. His strategy was too easy to read though. While the Gryssnyr would occupy the Imperial Navy´s attention it needed only one explosive matter to bring the New Republic down on their backs. Fortunately they still had a few friends on Coruscant. Xixor had to know that too. Which meant that Leia still was in danger. Anakin smiled slowly. Maybe he would have to force the issue here.
Leia was more than surprised to see that she had received a message from Anakin when she came back from her meeting. Judging from the time her datapad needed to decode it Anakin had written the encryption code himself. She smiled to herself. Just like Luke her father loved to tinker with mechanics, although he was better at it than his son. Well, he was a lot older after all. * Urgent. Meet me at Vjun in five standard days. Take care. * was all the message read. Leia frowned at the lines, then deleted it. What was that supposed to mean? Obviously she was in danger, but why did he want her away from Coruscant?
"Anakin, the doctors say that this is not a good idea," Daala, half - running after him to keep up with his long legs, sounded most concerned. But Anakin chose to ignore that.
"Then tell them that I do know what is best for me, and for them too. They will understand."
"But I won´t." Incredulous, he stopped and turned to look at her:
"Daala, I thought we had already talked about this. I cannot just let others dictate the rules for this game."
"But, your illness - ."
"I know, but that doesn´t matter now. I will see this through, either way."
"Then I cannot change your mind?"
"I am sorry, Daala. You are needed here."
"I need you here," she countered and kissed his lips gently. He smiled and pulled her closer, embracing her tightly.
"I have to go," he whispered into her soft copper-coloured hair, "Take care."
Standing in the hallway outside their chambers, Daala watched him leave with a frown marring her face. Of course she understood the necessity of this mission, but why did he have to do everything by himself? He trusted her, she knew, but noone else apart it seemed.
Talon Karrde looked pretty smug. He had just received the confirmation that their quarry had swallowed the bait. Whole, it seemed. He had been tracking Xixor and his gang for a few weeks now and the information he passed on to Anakin Skywalker was most interesting. And working this closely with the Jedi Lord had put a whole new perspective on the man. And Karrde had but to admire him for keeping his head in a crisis like the one he had to master. But then, running an organization like his own was very similar to that. A constant fight against ever-changing situations. You only had to keep ahead of the race.
"Master Skywalker!" Luke looked up from where he had been meditating in the warm morning sun when he heard Tionne´s excited voice call him. Jumping to his feet lightly he went to meet her. "Your sister is on the comm."
"Leia, what has happened?" Her chocolate eyes reflected her warm smile.
"Nothing. I just wanted to talk to you. I have thought about that question you asked me last time."
"And?"
"If I had no, really no other choice I would do my best to save the people."
"I knew it."
"Did it help?"
"Yes, very much. Leia, is this call encoded?"
"Of course, why?"
"Leia, there is something I need to tell you. About father."
"What is it?" he cloud hear the sudden fear in her voice.
"He is...he is dying, Leia. Palpatine poisoned him back on Byss."
"But he said he had healed himself."
"Would you want to appear vulnerable in front of your enemies?"
"No, I guess not. Since when do you know?"
"Since he brought me back on Yavin."
"Why did you not tell me before?"
"You´ve had other problems."
"I guess you are right. I am on my way to meet him at Vjun. Han is with me. And the children. They are really looking forward to seeing their grandfather again."
"I am sorry."
"You needn´t be, brother."
"Leia, do you realize that we will have to work together to help him?"
"I do. And I will do anything I can."
"Thank you."
"May the Force be with you."
The single star destroyer hung in space over Vjun, waiting. On the bridge, Anakin Skywalker was immersed in the Force, concentrating on hyperspace. If he hadn´t been dead wrong a fleet of ships would appear very soon. "Sir, we are ready," the captain announced quietly. "Good, good. Keep it that way. On my mark." There they were, forty ships, mid-sized, but still dangerous. Ready to pounce. "Mark," Anakin called suddenly and the star destroyer accelerated , vanishing just seconds before two fleets entered the system and clashed violently.
"What the hell is going on!" Han Solo yelled when the Millenium Falcon just missed hitting a Corellian Corvette head-on. "Where do all these ships come from?" Leia, strapped into the rec couch with the children, frowned. She could find no trace of her father in the Force, nothing at all. "A trap?" Han called over the head-comm she wore. "Yes," she answered," But for who?"
"I do not know what you mean," Xixor said coolly as he faced the New Republic president via holocomm. The Bothan´s fur ruffled in indignation and fury:
"You do not know? We had information that Leia Organa Solo was going to meet her father on Vjun and then my troops got shot at by your allies."
"My allies were merely pursuing their prey, President."
"Are you sure that there is no other game going on here? One that by chance has slipped your mind?"
"You think you have been betrayed?"
"The very same. And I´ve had enough of your scheme."
"Afraid for your career? I am warning you. If you back out now I will destroy you."
"Believe me, Prince Xixor. I want that Sith dead as much as you do. But I also carry the responsibility for the New Republic."
"Then we are still agreed."
"We are. For now."
When the lone star destroyer dropped out of hyperspace to join the fleet guarding the front Anakin Skywalker smiled to himself. "Report status."
"Sir, we are expecting a new attack in about six hours."
"Is that information confirmed?"
"Yes sir, confirmed by our scoutships."
"Very good. I will take command of the fleet for the next battle."
"It will be a pleasure, sir."
"Oh yes. It will."
Leaning back in his seat he closed his eyes for a moment, then suddenly rose and strode up to the captain.
"Captain Fulan," the man gave him a nod, "See to it that I am informed when the next wave hits home."
"Of course, sir."
Leaving the bridge, Anakin moved quickly towards his ship quarters, nearly breaking into a run. His eyes darkened when he hit the door controls and the moment it had closed behind him he slid to the floor, panting with exhaution. This was bad, really bad. His mind swam, thoughts unfocused and then he was drifting into the darkness, unconscious.
A few hours later the door comm woke him up. "Lord Skywalker, your presence is required on the bridge," a young voice said very loudly. Apparently the man had repeated the same sentence for some time now and was getting annoyed. Anakin shook his head and scrambled to his feet, swaying slightly. He opened the door and followed the officer wordlessly.
"My lord, they are nearly within firing range," Captain Fulan welcomed his commander, a hint of reproval in his voice for the delay. Anakin merely nodded and let his body drop into the command chair. "Give me an outlay," he ordered, his voice barely audible, then bent forward to study the enemy formation and his own fleet´s through blurred eyes. He sighed. "Let´s do this."
"President Fey´lya, this new threat certainly poses a great danger for us," Leia Organa Solo was just saying. "In what way, if I may ask?"
"In what way? Our scoutships, Admiral Ackbar tells us, have found evidence of fighting at the border to the Unknown Regions."
"These are not our borders, Councilor, they do not concern us."
"Don´t they? President Fey´lya, the presence of New Republic ships at Vjun was a direct violation of Imperial space. The fact that we do not have a fleet of star destroyers on our doorsteps tells me that this threat is grave indeed." The collective gasp of the Senate audience nearly made her smile. But she had to play this to the end: "And if the Empire cannot contain that threat they will have no choice but to retreat. Into New Republic space. I do not need to draw you a picture of what would happen then."
Sitting back into her chair she folded her hands elegantly and waited for Fey´lya´s reply. To her surprise it was the Bith senator who spoke next:
"If what Councilor Organa Solo has just told us is indeed true we will have to do something. I do not want to see the New Republic turned into a warzone again."
"I assure you that this whole affair is being exagerated. Nevertheless the Defense Council will meet on this," Fey´lya put in smoothly, his violet eyes staring murder at Leia. "For now, this session is adjourned."
Anakin Skywalker was standing on the bridge of the Star Destroyer Hydra, his blue eyes burning with anger.
Out there against the background of the stars the last remnants of a recent space battle hung like discarded leftovers, sad and drifting. The wrecks of ships, their metal bellies ripped open and their lights dimmed forever. It was not a pretty sight. Only now could he fully comprehend what had happened. The recent events had gone by so fast that there never had been time to think, only to act. He had started a war. Again. And this time he simply could not afford to lose.
"Lord Skywalker," an earnest voice called out from the bridge entry. "What is it, Captain?" Anakin asked, as he turned sharply to face the man. "We have a call for you, it´s your son."
"I will take it here, thank you." Seating himself in the black bridge command chair, facing the holo comm, he waited patiently, until Luke´s image flashed into existence before him.
"Greetings, Father," the young Jedi Master began, "I have urgent news for you."
"Good news?" Anakin sighed hopefully, but his son shook his head, smiling
apologetically:
"No, unfortunately not. The Senate will not sanction any support for your troops, and General Bel Iblis is almost ready to simply take his ships and join you. The rest of the military big wigs agree with him. But since the New Republic is officially and technically at war with the Empire, they can do nothing to help."
"Any more good news?"
"One more thing: The president has formally called on the Jedi to take up their place as guardians again."
"That is indeed good news, son. Who will lead the negotiations on your behalf? Leia?"
"Yes. Leia is the best for the job since the Senate trusts her most. The talks will be difficult, but then, nothing´s ever easy. Which reminds me. How are your efforts going? Any successes?"
"It is too early for that. But I do know very definitely that without some support we will not stand long against a renewed attack, especially if they have more ships with them than last time."
"When did the last wave come in?"
"30 hours ago. Our losses were minimal and we wiped them out whole."
"I had not expected anything less of your troops."
"We are not invincible. You should know that. But," and here the elder Skywalker smiled," no need to tell the President. We would not survive fighting on two hot fronts."
"I understand. Good luck. And I´ll keep you posted on the happenings on Coruscant."
"Thank you. Tell your sister that I love her."
"Take care."
"I´ll try."
He broke the connection with a smile on his lips. It was good hearing from Luke, although the news had not been much of a surprise. So, they would be on their own in this. And if he had judged the enemy right, their next target would be the heart of resistance against their invasion efforts. "Helmsman!" Anakin called to the lower bridge, " Set course for Bastion immediately."