Chapter II

On board the Reality in orbit of Yavin IV, 6:15 am local time

Ayja woke up slowly, and immediately sensed something wrong. A quiet hissing sound met Ayja's ears. He looked out one of the viewports that encircled the top bulge. The ship was spinning wildly in a rapidly deteriorating orbit. His eyes widened in alarm. He threw a pillow at Jaina's head, but she stayed fast asleep. Ayja walked urgently over to Jaina's bed and ripped the covers off. Jaina shifted but didn't wake.

"Time for the all out job," Ayja said to himself.

He gathered all the light his mind could muster, and jammed it into Jaina's mind.

She shot straight up in her bed and said, "I'm awake!!"

"We have a very large problem. Come with me," Ayja said in reply.

Jaina got out of bed and jogged to catch up to Ayja. He got into the small lift tube that went to the main deck. It dropped quickly and jolted to a stop. The door opened on the bottom bulge.

"We're going to have to use the Force to get ourselves up there," he said, pointing to the ceiling.

"I didn't do too well on that. It's at least five meters to up there."

"Well, here's your test." With that Ayja faded.

Jaina took a deep breath and concentrated. Three seconds later, she shimmered into the cockpit, where Ayja was already standing. He motioned to the pilot's chair. He then let his eyes drop half-shut and concentrated. Jaina felt his influence on the ship, and figured out her part. She grabbed the control stick and began the process of trying to get a stable orbit. Ayja did his best to keep the ship out of the atmosphere, but he was rapidly tiring. A low rumbling of air blasting the cockpit came no more than five minutes later. Sweat poured down Jaina's face as she stabilized the orbit.

"I need just about three more minutes!" she said.

"I'm not sure I can hold us up that long," Ayja replied, not for a second losing concentration.

Jaina felt the Force guide her movements. Two and a half minutes later, Jaina yelled, "Got it!"

Ayja released, breathing heavily.

"Computer," he said after he caught his breath. "Damage report."

"...fore thrusters, 27 % damage, aft thrusters, 86 % damage, outer hull breaches in sectors alpha, gamma, theta, pi, and omega, and thirty-seven pinpoint leaks in the upper and lower bulges." The computer finished the damage report thirty minutes later.

Deefour, who had joined Jaina and Ayja whistled and bleeped a suggestion.

"Good idea. Land and fix," Ayja said.

He walked to the pilot's chair and put the Reality in a long sweeping arc that put it right on the landing pad.

Ayja extended the ramp and started checking over the hull.

"Get two macrofusers, Jaina," Ayja said. "I'll get the plate durasteel."

Thirty-five minutes later, they had sealed most of the leaks when Ayja sensed a human coming toward them.

"Something coming," he whispered to Jaina. "Human."

"I guess it's Tenel Ka," Jaina replied. "She's always up early. While we're on topic, isn't it a bit strange that no one else is awake?"

"Agreed."

Tenel Ka emerged from the jungle, sweating, at his moment.

"I see that you are up early, Jaina," she said.

"Oh, come on," replied Jaina, smiling, "I don't wake up that late."

"Since we are on topic, it is odd that nobody else is awake, is it not?"

Ayja looked over at Jaina, who shrugged.

"Well," he said, "I didn't divert any attention to the Temple."

He opened himself to the Force and 'looked' at the Great Temple and whitened.

"Nobody's there."

"What do you mean 'nobody's there'!" Jaina yelled.

"Look for yourself."

Jaina whitened also.

"Houston, we have a problem," Ayja said.

Tenel Ka and Jaina looked at him questioningly.

"An old holovision show."

"I suggest we fix your ship as soon as possible and see if the defensive fleet has any clues," Tenel Ka said.

"That might take a while," Ayja said.

"Well, time is wasting," Jaina said. "Let's get to work."

It took just under six standard hours for the threesome to finish the work the Reality required.

"Is that everything, computer?" Ayja asked.

"Affirmative."

Ayja and Jaina cheered, and a rare smile quirked Tenel Ka's mouth.

Ayja walked to the cockpit, flanked by the two young Jedi Knights, and flicked in the repulsors. Soon the sublight engines kicked in, powering the medium freighter into orbit.

Soon the Reality caught up with the fleet. Or what was left of it. Huge chunks of debris floated through space as Ayja flipped, rolled, dove and climbed an aggressive course through the debris. Ayja clearly remembered at least three more Calamari Cruisers, and maybe a dozen or so more smaller ships. Ayja docked in the Calamari Cruiser fourth in command...because all the higher ups had been destroyed.

Ayja lowered the ramp and motioned for Jaina and Tenel Ka to precede him. Deefour trundled beside his master. A young human male greeted them.

"Lieutenant John Tanner!" Ayja said, obviously surprised to see the man. "Why are you here?"

"I have some good news and some bad news. If you would follow me to your quarters?" the Lieutenant asked.

Ayja motioned to the Jedi and Deefour to follow and continued on behind Tanner.

Five minutes later, the five, counting the droid, sat in Ayja's quarters.

"Ayja, good news first," Tanner said. "The Twin Star Fleet is yours. The bad news is the viceroy your father appointed died three weeks ago."

"Oh," Ayja said, looking downcast.

"Ayja?" Jaina asked. "What is the Twin Star Fleet?"

"I cannot exactly tell. The last time I was aboard a Twin Star ship was when I had been carbon frozen through the War. I only got out a few years ago."

"So, will you go to the fleet and assume your command?"

"I guess," Ayja said. "Let's get to the Reality."

"The Reality?" Tanner questioned. "As in the real Reality?"

"Yes."

Fifteen minutes later, the five were strapped in. Ayja powered up the engines, and the Reality shot away from the cruiser.

"These are the coordinates," Jaina said from the copilot's seat. "Initiating jump sequence."

The Reality shot away into hyperspace.

Location Unknown, ?:?? local time

"Excellent. Excellent," The dark figure on the holopad commented.

The admiral watching the feed glowed.

"Bring the young Jedi and their masters to the designated rendezvous point."

"Yes, my lord. For the glory of the Second Imperium!"

Twin Star fleet in orbit of the planet Que'll Drema, 7:47 am Galactic Coordinated Time (GCT)

The Reality dropped out of hyperspace in the middle of a defensive sphere of A-Wings.

"Welcome home, Ayja," a young voice said. "Who are those extra passengers?"

"Some friends. Where do I land?"

"The Infinity. Straight ahead of you."

The Infinity was absolutely huge.

"128 klicks long," Jaina said from the sensor station. "There's a docking bay on the underbelly."

15 minutes later, the Reality set down on the deck of the Infinity. Tanner walked off, and 50 armed guards surrounded Ayja, Deefour, Jaina and Tenel Ka as they exited the ship. Ayja followed the guards to the bridge, which, incidentally, was located 50 kilometers away. The whole party got into one huge turbolift. Thirty-five minutes later, Ayja, his escorts, his droid, and the Jedi exited the lift and stepped into a huge room with about five levels. Jaina had been thinking something was wrong, and suddenly it came to her.

"Ayja, why is it so bright in here?" It sounded more like a command then a question.

"Every single ship in this fleet was custom built," a guard answered.

"Could we hurry this up?" Ayja asked. "We're sort of in the middle of a crisis here."

"Lieutenant Tanner told us all about it. All the information on the incident is in the main computer bank of the Reality."

After an hour and a half, every person in the fleet acknowledged Ayja's position as Admiral.

"Look, I'm sorry I have to leave, but a whole academy of missing Jedi is a crisis larger than a trade conference," Ayja argued.

"We need you," Admiral Harlk'ra, a Bothan, of the Imperator II Star Destroyer Nostalgic said. "You are the galaxy's best negotiator."

"Flattering won't work. I must leave. The eventual fate of the galaxy may very well rest on my shoulders." With that Ayja spun in a flurry of capes an walked out of the room.

"Very nice," Jaina commented.

"Please save it for some other time. Right now the Reality isn't ready. You round up Tenel Ka and Deefour, and I'll get the preflights done," Ayja said, his leadership instincts kicking in.

"Right."

Fifteen minutes later, Ayja, Jaina, Tenel Ka, and Deefour were strapped in.

"Jaina, if you would?" Ayja said.

"Thanks."

"Get ready back there," Ayja said over a comlink. "Jaina's taking us out."

Deefour twittered in alarm.

"Oh, come on, I'm not that bad, Deefour," Jaina said.

"This is a fact," Tenel Ka said. "Friend Jaina is quite a competent pilot."

The Reality lifted off the landing pad and flew out of the hangar.

"I'll take it from here," Ayja said. "I have our first destination all ready."

Over the comlink, Tenel Ka inquired, "Where is our first destination?"

"Tattoine," Ayja replied, heading for the hyperspace point.

Five minutes later, the Reality launched into hyperspace.

"Jaina, it seems all we need to do for a few days is watch the monitors and make sure we don't drop out on top of the Executor," Ayja said.

"Very funny," Jaina said. "But all three things that make that joke are dead."

"Well, I can think of two or three people who ought to know what happened."

"My mom, my dad, and Anakin."

"That's it. And hurry. Holocom calls are expensive, and I have to make two."

Jaina walked back to the lounge, stood in front of the holovision, and dialed her mother's com number.

"What happened?" Leia asked as soon as she appeared on the holovision. "I felt something was wrong."

"I'm on board Ayja Laetras'-"

"The teacher."

"That's him. I'm on his ship, and, I don't know how, but everybody in the Jedi Academy is missing except the obvious, Ayja and me, and the slightly less so, Tenel Ka."

"So, out of 205, there are three left?"

"We're on to something right now."

"So you're the only people looking for the arguably most important people in the entire New Republic?"

"For good reason," Ayja cut in. "If we have too many people looking, then they will think to cover their tracks more, thus making it only possible for a Jedi to look for them. Thus an incredible expense for no gain."

Even before Leia's head cocked, Jaina explained:"He's a merchant."

"Couldn't we bring in Kyp or Corran?" Leia asked.

"Kyp Durron or Corran Horn?" Ayja replied.

"That's them," Jaina said.

"I guess that wouldn't hurt," Ayja said.

Jaina smiled, and just barely concealed a giggle. A commander in the Navy giving orders to the Chief of State.

"I'll get them briefed immediately." Leia cut the channel.

Ayja dialed a com number he had picked up at the Twin Star Fleet.

"Hello," a tired man said, not bothering to look up. "Twin Star Espionage, Sabotage, and Counterconspiricy division. You are on a secure encrypted channel."

"Hello. By the way, do you know who you are addressing?"

The man popped up, saluting. "Oh! Sorry, Admiral. I didn't-"

"Fine. Now, Captain, I need you to put spies and counterconspiricy agents into these areas-" Ayja hit a button labeled, 'Transmit Map' "-and have a platoon of saboteurs on standby. Preferably Force sensitive."

"Yes sir. I'll get them ready immediately."

"End transmission," Ayja said. "Call the Fountain Palace on Hapes, encryption code Zeta Nine Nine Four."

The image of the Hapan royal family, Teniel and Isolder Djo, appeared on the screen.

"Ayja! It's been a very long time," Isolder said. "How are things at the fleet?"

"Not wonderful, I'm afraid. Everyone at the Jedi Academy is missing," Ayja replied. Noting their surprised look, he said, "Except for me, your daughter, and Jaina Solo."

"Phew." Relief was visible on their faces. "So what do you want?"

"Just some action from the Hapan spynet," Ayja replied.

"No problem," Teniel replied. "Ending transmission."

"Not much to do for a while," Jaina commented.

"This is a fact."

"We also haven't eaten."

"This is also a fact."

"And what does everyone want?" Ayja questioned.

"Whatever culinary thing you can come up with. As long as it's spicy, meat and tasty. And a Correlian salad," Jaina said.

"That will be thirty-two fifty," Ayja joked.

"I would prefer a Hapan salad and an item off of the Hapan Royal Lunch menu," Tenel Ka said.

"How about a steak?" Ayja asked.

"That would be more dinner aligned."

"Bantha burger?"

"That would be to my liking," Tenel Ka replied.

Ayja walked off to the lift and whooshed down to the kitchen\dining area.

Thirty-five minutes later, the aroma of a Bantha steak and a Bantha burger wafted throughout the ship.

"Lunch is served," Ayja said over the intercom. "Come and get it!"

Jaina and Tenel Ka got to the lift as fast as possible. Jaina punched the button about a thousand times.

"Friend Jaina, you will not get us there any faster by hitting the button multiple times," Tenel Ka said.

Jaina relaxed.

The lift doors opened and the two young women walked to the table.

"Take a seat," Ayja said, emerging from the kitchen with three platters.

He set the platter with the steak in front of his seat, the platter with the Hapan salad and Bantha burger in front of Tenel Ka, and the platter with a Mynock stew in front of Jaina.

"Eat," Ayja said, picking up his knife and fork and slicing his steak.

The three Jedi dug into their meal. They had just finished when Deefour trundled into the room, twittering loudly.

"We're coming up on Tattoine. The hyperdrives are functioning better than I thought they would," Ayja said. "I have an auto-revert system, but the view is still great."

"Ok, let's go," Jaina said.

"I agree with Jaina," Tenel Ka said.

Five minutes later, Ayja, Deefour, Jaina, and Tenel Ka stood in the cockpit. The Reality dropped out of hyperspace over the brown crescent of Tattoine. Suddenly, the all too familiar whine of TIE engines filled the cockpit.

"Jaina, ventral guns. Ions only," Ayja said, already dashing for the lift.

A half minute later, he strapped himself in and began powering up his systems. The targeting screen powered up, and Ayja looked down for the enemies.

"Ayja, there's nothing there," Jaina said over the comlink.

"I noticed. But I feel someone out there," Ayja replied.

The Reality was hit with a barrage of lasers.

"Ok, I'm spooked now," Ayja said. "Feel the pilots and aim at them."

Ayja fired at what appeared to be empty space. A half-second later, an explosion of blue lightning lit up Ayja's targeting screens. Suddenly, four TIEs appeared on the sensor screen.

"We've got 'em now," said Jaina.

Ayja blasted away with his ion cannons and stopped another fighter cold. Jaina managed to blast one flying at maximum speed only a few meters away from the turret.

"Nice shot," Ayja said.

"Thanks."

Ayja brought his turret around and fried a TIE's circutry. The last fighter flew in front of the Reality. Big mistake. It was engulfed in a storm of turbolaser fire from the fixed front guns and exploded.

"Not bad, Tenel Ka," Ayja said.

"Phew," Jaina breathed. "Glad that's over."

"I've faced odds much worse than that," Ayja said. "You see, sometimes clients who are refused like to try and get back at my company, and the most direct way is me."

"I see," Jaina said.

"Well, Jaina, Tenel Ka, Deefour, strap in and we'll land."