Disclaimer: Star Wars belongs to Lucasfilm. Not me.
Star Wars: Shattered Dreams
Chapter three: "Revelations and Complications"
by Dave Ziegler
A harsh buzzing vibrated throughout Jaina's suite, urging her from a
restless slumber. The comfort sleep so often offered her was disturbingly
lacking that night, as dangerous scents wafted throughout her dreams. Jaina
paused momentarily before stumbling out from under the heated covers, a frown
creasing her face. She felt strange, almost as if she were missing
something, something vital. Then the moment of anxiety passed, and Jaina
laughed at herself for allowing th remnance of what was probably a bad
dream to throw her so thoroughly.
The comm station continued its incessant whining, driving Jaina to throw a
robe over her slight frame. Deftly brushing stray hairs away from her face,
she seated herself comfortably and answered her impatient caller.
A small monitor flared to life revealing the modest features of
Raynar Thul. The purplish lines under his eyes marked him as a man who, like
Jaina herself, was losing more than a fair amount of sleep. Further lines
creased his usually jovial face and his eyes seemed almost glazed. This was
not a memory of a dream, a teasing tickling phantom. This was real, and
something was wrong.
"What is it, Raynar?" Jaina asked quickly, dismissing all the usual
pleasantries so that she might find out what was bothering him. The
merchant visibly swallowed, a habit Jaina found rather melodramatic, and
began to impart his news.
"As you asked," Raynar started, "I began to look for information
regarding your mystery woman. It seems that this Gwynandra Salanon
spent sometime on Yavin IV."
"What!" Jaina leapt to her feet, knocking her impromptu seat aside.
"You mean at the academy?"
"According to Master Skywalker's records, she spent only a short while
there. Gwynandra had only limited abilities, but was able to master the
simple exercises and seemed to have an intuitive understanding of what
distressed others. In the middle of her training though, her parents
arrived and removed her from the academy. They apparently feared for
their daughter's safety after hearing rumors about the Second
Imperium's goal of destroying the Jedi Academy.
"Following her removal, there is a period of about two years where no
information regarding her activities is available. From what I've
been able to gather, however, it seems her parents flitted about from
system to system, making periodic stop overs on some of the more isolated
planets. I can only assume that she was with them the entire time."
Jaina pursed her lips, readily absorbing all the information Raynar was
offering her. "Do you have any idea what they did once they made
planet fall?" she asked. The small screen flickered for a moment, distorting
the image of Raynar rubbing his eyes vigorously, trying to work out
the fatigue that plagued them.
"Other than refueling, I would have to guess trading. Maybe selling
something that the more remote planets didn't yet have access to. Your guess
is as good as mine, Jaina. The records out there are not nearly as diligent,
if existent at all, as they are in the more heavily populated areas."
"So, what happened to our friend after her period of anonymity?" Jaina
inquired, pushing the subject forward.
"Now this is where it gets really interesting," Raynar offered. "It
seems that her mother and father, Banja and Garret Salanon, had Gwynandra
committed around the time they returned from the outer colonies."
"She was committed! For what?" Jaina's fingers twitched and skipped
over the hem of her robe. Both Tenel Ka and Lowie had felt something
strange, even wrong, when Gwyn had been in their presence, but
Jaina had never considered the possibility that she was insane.
Could the Force really detect mental instabilities, or was it something
else that Lowie and Tenel Ka had been picking up on? Intent to harm, perhaps?
No. Jacen would surely have been able to feel such a strong
emotion, had it been directed at him.
Jaina sighed heavily. There was no reason to try and rationalize this.
Her faith in her friends abilities had been proven right. There was
most definitely something wrong with Gwynandra Salanon.
"That particular piece of information has not yet made itself
available to me. Don't worry though, Jaina. I'll hunt it down." Raynar
tried to give her a reassuring smile, but Jaina could tell that
he was worried about the situation as much as she. The moment this
conversation concluded, Jaina determined, she would go and
check up on Jacen.
"What else can you tell me?"
"Not much," Raynar shrugged. "Only that Gwynandra spent about two years in the
institution before mysteriously disappearing from the complex. A standard
month after her vanishing act Garret and Banja Salanon were found dead inside
their ship, which was drifting through space. From what the authorities
could gather, both were shot at close range with a small blaster model,
and their ship was then shot into hyperspace without ever calculating a
safe route. Probably in the hopes that the ship would end up in a
deserted sector of space, the evidence lost forever. Unfortunately,
even with the recovery of the vessel and the bodies, no firm evidence
was produced to indicate who the murderer was."
Jaina's apprehension was feasting on every new bit of information
Raynar let out. This woman was, aside from being disturbed, apparently quite
capable of killing, and was now showing an unusual interest in Jacen.
"Keep digging, Raynar. I want to know why she was committed, how she escaped,
and what Miss Salanon has been doing since."
"Will do, Jaina." Raynar's eyes held a mist of seriousness as he
gazed out at her. "Be very careful, though. I would hate for Lusa and I
to have to bring the murderer of our dear friends to justice."
"Don't worry. If anyone's going to win this one, it will be
me," Jaina announced with false bravado. Nodding his acceptance of
her statement, Raynar Thul's image faded from the screen. Jaina quickly
stood, abandoned the comm station, and twisted herself out of the
downy robe she had donned.
She was going to grab Lowie, find Jacen and Tenel Ka, and
let them hear everything there was to know about Gwynandra Salanon.
* * *
Lowie grumbled in his sleep. Images of aliens and blaster fire skipping
about a pair of glowing blades like a chaotic swarm of insects invaded his slumber.
It seemed to run on forever; fighting, shooting, commotion wherever you dare look.
Then there was pain, calm, and finally nothing.
Lowie wrenched himself into awareness and instinctively grabbed for his lightsaber.
There had been something about that dream. It had the presense of prophecy.
Or hindsight.
The young wookie rose and quickly activated Em Teedee. He had to find Jaina.
* * *
"Yes?"
Raynar frowned at the venomous female voice that poured through his speakers.
"What do you want?" the woman's voice hissed. Still grimacing, Raynar forced
himself to attach as pleasant an expression as he could muster to his face, then
stared up into the large projection of the Director of the Camden Institution.
"You are Sylia Chandra, Director of the Camden Institution?" Raynar
asked. The woman's graying hair was pulled into a tight bun that perched
atop her head and only served to further the image of a harsh school proctor.
Her face so fell that Raynar began to wonder if all the wrinkles lining her
face were a result of age or a constant frown.
"What kind of a question is that? You asked for the director, and
you have her. Now what do you want? I haven't all morning to sit and
converse."
"I'm Raynar Thul," he began, "and I was wondering if you
would be able to answer some questions for me about a former patient of yours.
I believe her name was Gwynandra Salanon."
"Yeah, a crackpot like all the rest," the woman spat. Raynar's lips twitched.
He was beginning to get the distinct impression that Director Chandra was not
going to be as cooperative as he had initially hoped.
"I was wondering if you might be able to tell me what her condition
was, and why her parents had her placed in your care?"
"What makes you think you can contact me asking questions like that?
We have a policy of confidentiality at this facility. I cannot hand such
privileged information out."
"Look, I am here on official business for the New Republic, the government.
Gwynandra Salanon is suspected in several crimes of extreme violence and we
hoped to learn the particulars of her condition before an attempt was made to
detain her. Now if you would only oblige." Raynar swept his hands forward.
"If you expect to get anywhere with that routine you can forget it.
Confidentiality still holds." Chandra nodded her aged head emphatically.
Raynar tried desperately not to scowl at the woman. He really did not have
this time to waste with her antics. Jaina needed all the information he could
get as soon as possible, not the tawdry excuses of some semi-retired psychiatrist.
"How would a discreet deposit of five thousand credits into your
retirement fund affect the sealed casket of confidentiality?" he queried.
"I don't appreciate your tone of voice young man, but," Chandra hesitated, "I never
really was one for rules and regulations. What is it you want to know?"
Raynar allowed an exultant sigh to slip. Finally. "Why did Gwynandra Salanon's
parents place her in Camden Institution?"
"Miss Salanon was becoming obsessive. They were worried about her health," Chandra
said.
"And what was she obsessing about, Director Chandra?"
"It became apparent that Miss Salanon had spent some time at Luke
Skywalker's Jedi Academy. It was there she witnessed a training accident
between two students using those weapons of theirs. One of the students, Gwynandra
says, lost the forefront of her left arm. Gwynandra seemed to believe that the boy
who had done this had reached some type of ascension. A pinnacle if you will.
"She also began to believe that because she was so devoted to him he would come using
this great power of his and rescue her from Camden. Then together they would live the
lives of royalty. Basking in each other's love and strength, I believe she put it."
The conversation was not heading in the direction Raynar had hoped.
"Do you consider her a danger to this boy?"
"Only if he rejects her, or treats her out of hand. The only other thing that might
set her off is if he professes to love someone else," Chandra stated.
The situation was quickly stacking itself against Jacen. Fanatics had a
terrible habit of wrecking havoc upon your world, distorting it so much
that in the end you could hardly recognize the life you now led as that
which you had taken for granted only a few minutes earlier. Raynar knew that
quite well. One had murdered his father.
"Has Gwynandra managed to track down and contact this person?"
"Yes," Raynar admitted.
"If I were in your position I'd take it upon myself to provide this boy with
some sort of warning. He might at least then be able to get off planet before
she becomes suspicious."
Raynar looked at the projection of Sylia Chandra with renewed interest.
"Developing some sense of compassion, Director?"
"Hardly," she wheezed. "I just charge extra for advice."
Raynar winced, then rolled his eyes. "Rest assured Director, he's in good hands.
The best, in fact," he reassured himself.
* * *
Jaina and Lowbacca caught up with one another, each heading toward the
other's suite. As they hurried through the brightly lit corridors of the
lodge, Jaina informed Lowie of her conversation with Raynar and everything he
had managed to discover. It was immediately agreed that the most prudent
course of action would be to find Jacen and Tenel Ka, and make sure that Jacen
was never alone. That or they could get off planet, but Jaina reasoned it
would be far more expeditious to wait for Gwynandra to try and do something
and then use their combined strength to help bring her down. Once she was
safely back in the institution they could take a little more time exploring
those questions that needed answers.
They arrived quickly at Jacen's door, but a sense of wrong almost immediately
struck Jaina. There was an aura of displacement about his room,
things were not as they should be. Jaina slapped the intiation switch on the
intercom for Jacen's suite.
"Jacen? Jacen are you in there?" Jaina toyed nervously with her
hair in anticipation of a response. "Lowie, go and check Tenel Ka's suite.
See if they're both in there." Lowie hurried down the stretch of hallway
that led to the entrance to the adjoining room.
Having lost her patience attempting to receive some form of a reply
through the intercom, Jaina decided to take advantage of the unique bond she
shared with her twin. She fought through the panic and immerced herself in
the force, using it to enhance her senses. Jacen wasn't in his room, but
there were echoes. Faint feelings of his presence there. He couldn't have
gone too long ago or they would have already diminished beyond the point
at which Jaina could detect them.
She then began to extend her search outwards: past the suite, past the
lodge, and out into the surrounding village. Jaina could feel him along the
roadside heading down to the beach, the area where he and Tenel Ka had sat
enjoying the early morning solitude. The further she went the stronger his
presence felt until finally... A frosted hand gripped Jaina's heart, wrenching
it, overwhelming her body and mind. She toppled backward only to be the
saved by the strong arms of Lowie, having just returned fruitless from his
search of Tenel Ka's suite.
Lowie laid Jaina gently against the wall, trying to give his
trembling friend all the support he could muster. Jaina clutched at his
furry arm, her eyes wide and unfocused. "I couldn't sense him Lowie. I
found shadows of Jacen, images," she gasped. "I followed them, but
then they stopped. Disappeared... almost... almost as if he were dead."
* * *
Jacen's head hurt. Tt pounded a relentless driving beat that forced
him into awareness and out of the imagined safety of slumber. He
blinked his eyes, trying to bring them into focus, and saw nothing.
A second attempt brought him no further success. Everything was black.
He groaned as the pain in his head redoubled, bringing with it a
cacophony of unwanted sensations. "Jacen my friend, is that you?" The voice
seemed to float up from just below him. Jacen shifted his head in that
direction, even though he knew he wouldn't be able to see her. He
recogized that voice though, it had sustained him through some of
the most difficult periods in his young life.
"That is you isn't? I mean your not just something I conjured up out
of my imagination for my own gratification?" Jacen almost thought he heard
her chuckle, but then decided it was probably just the effects of the stun
blast wearing off.
"I assure you, Jacen, that I am not an illusion," Tenel Ka replied.
"Well, that's something then." Jacen rolled his eyes around the
darkness, attempting to make out anything that might give them a clue as to
where they had been incarcerated. The pitch continued to greet his best
efforts though. "So, have you any idea where we are, Tenel Ka?"
"Only that we have been imprisoned in a large, empty facility."
"Really? And how did you figure that out?" Jacen struggled to move,
but was bound with his arms suspended over his head by some powerful
durasteel binders.
"The echoing of our voices would suggest that we are in a large
building, empty of anything to absorb the sound," Tenel Ka stated.
"That and the ysalamiri must be nearby, for I have been unable to use
the force." Jacen ceased his struggles and let his head hang in the direction
of Tenel Ka's voice.
"Yeah, I noticed that too. Whoever they are, they definitely intend
for us to stay for the long haul. They're also quite a well informed group.
I'd be willing to bet that we were the intended targets of that attack long
before it took place. If it had been just a random act then they wouldn't
have been carrying ysalamiri. Unless of course they get a lot of Jedi around
here, which I find rather doubtful."
"A well conceived evaluation, friend Jacen. The only question that
remains for us to answer now is that of who brought us here and why they
desired our presence."
"No, the only thing on our minds now should be how to get out. The
rest we can deal with later."
* * *
A dull glow fell over the body of Raynar Thul as he contemplated the
lastest developments in this distressing search. The light came from an
ancient Alderaanian lamp his mother had given him on the day he and Lusa had
married. Lusa jokingly reffered to it as "a giant candle" and in reality
that was what it was, but to Raynar it meant much more. It had been a
treasured possession of his father's before he had died, and for Raynar each
and every time he lit it he felt as if the soft glow it produced was
representative of his father's pride in him and all that he had
acccomplished. The lamp meant much to Raynar, it was a tie to his family and
heritage.
Gwynandra Salanon meant a lot to someone also. Enough that one
person would be foolish enough or brave enough, Raynar wasn't sure which term
was more applicable yet, that they would risk everything to free her from the
confines of the institution in which her parents had placed her. According
to Director Chandra, Gwyn had received a visit from the same man every
standard week for almost the entire time she had been a resident. The man
had claimed to be her uncle, although Director Chandra was dubious of the
proposed relation.
This uncle, Benjamin Salanon was the name he had given them, had been
with Gwynandra the day before her mysterious disappearance, and as the
Director swore that none of her staff were involved, it was pluasible that
this man could have had some interest in freeing her. The question that
taunted Raynar was "why do it?" Aside from familial loyalty, the son of
Bornan Thul could think of nothing else that would motivate such a blatantly
illegal act.
Raynar pulled himself out his reverie. The first order of business,
before he got too far formulating half baked theories, was to discover if
this Benjamin Salanon was in fact who he claimed to be. If it was confirmed,
then Raynar could begin the search for this man who could give them not only
information about Gwynandra Salanon, but could, if the situation demanded it,
be used to draw her into the open.
He turned to the holonet operations panel, not for the first time today,
and began to activate the rely which would connect him to Coruscant's database.
It wasn't long before Raynar was sifting through the immense
catalogue of birth records stored in the databanks of the capital of the New
Republic. He highlighted the Salanon family name and was promptly linked to
the desired page.
Raynar scanned the names until he located those of Gwynandra's
parents. "Banja and Garret Salanon. Child one. Name, Gwyanadra Salanon.
Hmm." Raynar rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "The man said that his name was
Benjamin Salanon, so I need to access the father's side of the family." A
few keystrokes later and Raynar had full view of the family line of Garret
Salanon.
"Let's see, Garret. Siblings ... one. A sister. Miss Salanon has a
paternal aunt but no uncle. Well now, that makes it a bit more interesting.
Whoever it was that helped her escape has something to hide. Of course, it
may only be their identity, but the way things keep getting worse and worse
I'm going to lean toward pessimism."
A new screen appeared bearing the familial information pertaining to
Banja Salanon. "Born Banja Meecron. That name sounds familiar." Raynar
paused for a moment and gazed thoughtfully at the screen. "I'm sure it
will come to me. Later perhaps. Now's the time to work. Banja,
daughter of Sylus and Anya. Siblings ... none." Raynar stopped. "Nieces
and Newphews? But if Banja doesn't have any siblings how can she have
nieces and nephews?"
The screen that moments earlier had been alive with information
suddenly froze, then fell into darkness. "What the..." Raynar punched
the controls of his communications console, attempting to re-establish a link
with the Coruscant mainframe, but to no avail. He slumped into a chair
consternation plainly written on his face.
Moments later a small message flashed across the dull surface of the
screen, indicating that the transmission had been cut off from the source.
"From the source, eh. That means Coruscant. Well, well, well. Whoever you
are, in your attempt to hinder you may have just helped me more than you can
imagine."
* * *
Suffice it to say, Chief of State Leia Organa-Solo was not pleased.
Only a small while ago Raynar had contacted her with an update on his search.
The implications of what he had said... disturbed her. If his connection,
one Leia had tried to re-engage herself during Raynar's call, had been
severed from Coruscant, that meant that someone who had access to the database
had to be responsible. Only high level New Republic officials and the
computer techs had that access.
Then having failed to fix the link for Raynar, Leia had tried to
follow up on the lead he had discovered, only to find all records of the
Salanon family had been erased. She immediately sent for Ghent, who was now
using his amazing skills to attmept to backtrack the culprit's movements
through the system and discover how he had managed to erase so much
information without setting off any of the automatic alarms, which would, in
the case of a violation, immediately sever contact between the user and the
mainframe and send a message to security bearing the user's identification
number and current point of access.
Even with Ghent's skills, though, it could take an indeterminable amount
of time to discover who had been behind the erasure. They needed another,
quicker, way of discovering who Banja Salanon's siblings were. In the end,
it had been decided that Dasney, Banja's planet of birth, would have, almost
assuredly, their own set of records that could be accessed to illuminate the shady
details. Now all she had to do was contact Anakin on Yavin IV, for both Leia
and Raynar believed him to be the best choice for the mission, and pray that
Jacen and Jaina could stay out of trouble for just a little longer.
* * *
"I want to see Administrator Mek now!," Jaina bellowed. Her fingers burrowed
into the palm of her hand eliciting a trace amount of blood. Jaina and Lowie
had made their way into the urban area of Candren V, which was as far away
from Shental as thought permitted, and entered the resort's administration
building hoping to speak to someone in authority, as Shental's security had
refused to initiate any type of search for Jacen or Tenel Ka. "This is a
large place," the officer had told them condescendingly. "Besides maybe they
don't want to be found," he had said with a knowing wink before leaving the
two Jedi.
Now they were here, just outside the administrator's office and they
were being pushed away. The protocol droid, who seemed to double as
administrator Mek's secretary, refused to grant Jaina and Lowie any chance
to meet with Mek as he was indisposed for the forseeable future. "I am
sorry Miss, but you will have to return at a later date. The Administrator
cannot see you at this time," the droid stated, its squeaky voice cracking
every third word.
Pent up anger and frustration were begining to distort Jaina's voice
as she retaliated wholeheartedly at the obstacle to her desires. "Listen to
me you amalgamation of second rate circuits. My brother and my friend are
missing, and I need your Administrator's help to find them. So let me see
him!"
The droid stared at her for a moment. "Have you considered alerting
security?" Jaina struggled to control her rapid breathing and flaring
emotions.
"Have I considered ... Lowie." Throughout the entire argument
Lowbacca had been quietly edging himself behind the dull finished droid.
Quickly igniting his lightsaber, Lowie allowed the blade to fall periously
close to the thick neck of the protocol droid. "Now, tell me which control
disengages the security lockout on the administrator's office, or Lowie may
just relax his grip," Jaina purred.
"Really, this is highly irregular. I have rights you know. You
cannot accost me like ..." A deep and guttural snarl issued from the very
bowels of Lowie's being. Two of his closest friends were in danger and any
Wookie of honor does not abandon his comrades to anything, much less
political formalities.
Suitably encouraged by Lowie's outburst, the droid quickly showed
Jaina the deactivation sequence. "Thank you," Jaina said. "Now go inside
the refresher unit."
The droid's static features seemed almost quizzical. "Why would I
want to go in the refresher? It is a human apparatus, I've no need for its
functions." A menacing look from Lowie was all that was needed to get the
uncooperative droid moving though. "You really should have that creature
incarcerated. Its a menace, growling and snarling like that," the
droid stammered whilst it shuffled across the reception area.
Once the droid had huddled inside, Lowie drove his lightsaber into the
locking mechanism, sealing the machine, and guaranteeing no further
interruptions.
"You know something Lowie, that was quite soothing." Jaina grinned
at her companion. "Come on, its time we finally got this Mr. Mek out
from behind the curtain."
Lowie and Jaina both stepped up to the earth-toned door that barred
them from the help they needed. A small sensor registered their presence, and
forced it smoothly into the wall. Jaina allowed a distinct sense of accomplishment
to overwhelm her upon entering the office. Maybe now they get some
assistance in finding Jacen and Tenel Ka. Then again, hope was like
a crystal vase. One pebble could shatter the entire illusion.
The decaying body of Mr. Mek lay propped in a fine nerf hide chair,
that under any other circumstances Jaina would have noted as being a fine
piece of furntiure. The foul stench eminating from the body caused Jaina to
wrinkle her nose in distaste and pull her sleeve over her face to keep from
gagging. The odor reminded her so much of the Carsden building. Of the
bodies.
Lowie knelt and examined the body, giving a few barks here and there
to sum up his thoughts. Jaina nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I'd say about
three days at the limit due to the declining state of the body. Quite a
nasty death. Near point blank blaster shot to the forehead. Is there
anything on him that might give an idea as to why he was killed?" Lowie ran
his paws quickly over the body and gave a negative bark. "Right, help me
check these data crystals. We might be able to find something useful on one
of them."
Jaina began to plug assorted crystals into the mainframe. Some were work
orders, others employee evaluation forms, but nothing that leant itself
to indicating that possibly this Gwynandra Salanon was not only a kidnapper
but a murderer also.
As she pulled yet another crystal from its slot Lowie chuffed a
question. Jaina frowned. "No, that wasn't anything useful. Just the late
Mr. Mek's bar bill. I'm beginning to think ..."
"Master Lowabaca, Mistress Jaina. I believe you should turn your
attention to the door," Em Teedee piped up.
"What is it? - Oh," Jaina whispered. Standing in the doorway, blasters raised,
were a squad of Shental security officers.
"Please don't make any sudden movements. I would hate to have to
order you to be shot," the commanding officer stated. "From this point
forward consider yourselves under arrest. For murder."
"We're doomed," Em Teedee wailed.
To Be Continued...
Star Wars: Shattered Dreams
Chapter three: "Revelations and Complications"
by Dave Ziegler
A harsh buzzing vibrated throughout Jaina's suite, urging her from a
restless slumber. The comfort sleep so often offered her was disturbingly
lacking that night, as dangerous scents wafted throughout her dreams. Jaina
paused momentarily before stumbling out from under the heated covers, a frown
creasing her face. She felt strange, almost as if she were missing
something, something vital. Then the moment of anxiety passed, and Jaina
laughed at herself for allowing th remnance of what was probably a bad
dream to throw her so thoroughly.
The comm station continued its incessant whining, driving Jaina to throw a
robe over her slight frame. Deftly brushing stray hairs away from her face,
she seated herself comfortably and answered her impatient caller.
A small monitor flared to life revealing the modest features of
Raynar Thul. The purplish lines under his eyes marked him as a man who, like
Jaina herself, was losing more than a fair amount of sleep. Further lines
creased his usually jovial face and his eyes seemed almost glazed. This was
not a memory of a dream, a teasing tickling phantom. This was real, and
something was wrong.
"What is it, Raynar?" Jaina asked quickly, dismissing all the usual
pleasantries so that she might find out what was bothering him. The
merchant visibly swallowed, a habit Jaina found rather melodramatic, and
began to impart his news.
"As you asked," Raynar started, "I began to look for information
regarding your mystery woman. It seems that this Gwynandra Salanon
spent sometime on Yavin IV."
"What!" Jaina leapt to her feet, knocking her impromptu seat aside.
"You mean at the academy?"
"According to Master Skywalker's records, she spent only a short while
there. Gwynandra had only limited abilities, but was able to master the
simple exercises and seemed to have an intuitive understanding of what
distressed others. In the middle of her training though, her parents
arrived and removed her from the academy. They apparently feared for
their daughter's safety after hearing rumors about the Second
Imperium's goal of destroying the Jedi Academy.
"Following her removal, there is a period of about two years where no
information regarding her activities is available. From what I've
been able to gather, however, it seems her parents flitted about from
system to system, making periodic stop overs on some of the more isolated
planets. I can only assume that she was with them the entire time."
Jaina pursed her lips, readily absorbing all the information Raynar was
offering her. "Do you have any idea what they did once they made
planet fall?" she asked. The small screen flickered for a moment, distorting
the image of Raynar rubbing his eyes vigorously, trying to work out
the fatigue that plagued them.
"Other than refueling, I would have to guess trading. Maybe selling
something that the more remote planets didn't yet have access to. Your guess
is as good as mine, Jaina. The records out there are not nearly as diligent,
if existent at all, as they are in the more heavily populated areas."
"So, what happened to our friend after her period of anonymity?" Jaina
inquired, pushing the subject forward.
"Now this is where it gets really interesting," Raynar offered. "It
seems that her mother and father, Banja and Garret Salanon, had Gwynandra
committed around the time they returned from the outer colonies."
"She was committed! For what?" Jaina's fingers twitched and skipped
over the hem of her robe. Both Tenel Ka and Lowie had felt something
strange, even wrong, when Gwyn had been in their presence, but
Jaina had never considered the possibility that she was insane.
Could the Force really detect mental instabilities, or was it something
else that Lowie and Tenel Ka had been picking up on? Intent to harm, perhaps?
No. Jacen would surely have been able to feel such a strong
emotion, had it been directed at him.
Jaina sighed heavily. There was no reason to try and rationalize this.
Her faith in her friends abilities had been proven right. There was
most definitely something wrong with Gwynandra Salanon.
"That particular piece of information has not yet made itself
available to me. Don't worry though, Jaina. I'll hunt it down." Raynar
tried to give her a reassuring smile, but Jaina could tell that
he was worried about the situation as much as she. The moment this
conversation concluded, Jaina determined, she would go and
check up on Jacen.
"What else can you tell me?"
"Not much," Raynar shrugged. "Only that Gwynandra spent about two years in the
institution before mysteriously disappearing from the complex. A standard
month after her vanishing act Garret and Banja Salanon were found dead inside
their ship, which was drifting through space. From what the authorities
could gather, both were shot at close range with a small blaster model,
and their ship was then shot into hyperspace without ever calculating a
safe route. Probably in the hopes that the ship would end up in a
deserted sector of space, the evidence lost forever. Unfortunately,
even with the recovery of the vessel and the bodies, no firm evidence
was produced to indicate who the murderer was."
Jaina's apprehension was feasting on every new bit of information
Raynar let out. This woman was, aside from being disturbed, apparently quite
capable of killing, and was now showing an unusual interest in Jacen.
"Keep digging, Raynar. I want to know why she was committed, how she escaped,
and what Miss Salanon has been doing since."
"Will do, Jaina." Raynar's eyes held a mist of seriousness as he
gazed out at her. "Be very careful, though. I would hate for Lusa and I
to have to bring the murderer of our dear friends to justice."
"Don't worry. If anyone's going to win this one, it will be
me," Jaina announced with false bravado. Nodding his acceptance of
her statement, Raynar Thul's image faded from the screen. Jaina quickly
stood, abandoned the comm station, and twisted herself out of the
downy robe she had donned.
She was going to grab Lowie, find Jacen and Tenel Ka, and
let them hear everything there was to know about Gwynandra Salanon.
* * *
Lowie grumbled in his sleep. Images of aliens and blaster fire skipping
about a pair of glowing blades like a chaotic swarm of insects invaded his slumber.
It seemed to run on forever; fighting, shooting, commotion wherever you dare look.
Then there was pain, calm, and finally nothing.
Lowie wrenched himself into awareness and instinctively grabbed for his lightsaber.
There had been something about that dream. It had the presense of prophecy.
Or hindsight.
The young wookie rose and quickly activated Em Teedee. He had to find Jaina.
* * *
"Yes?"
Raynar frowned at the venomous female voice that poured through his speakers.
"What do you want?" the woman's voice hissed. Still grimacing, Raynar forced
himself to attach as pleasant an expression as he could muster to his face, then
stared up into the large projection of the Director of the Camden Institution.
"You are Sylia Chandra, Director of the Camden Institution?" Raynar
asked. The woman's graying hair was pulled into a tight bun that perched
atop her head and only served to further the image of a harsh school proctor.
Her face so fell that Raynar began to wonder if all the wrinkles lining her
face were a result of age or a constant frown.
"What kind of a question is that? You asked for the director, and
you have her. Now what do you want? I haven't all morning to sit and
converse."
"I'm Raynar Thul," he began, "and I was wondering if you
would be able to answer some questions for me about a former patient of yours.
I believe her name was Gwynandra Salanon."
"Yeah, a crackpot like all the rest," the woman spat. Raynar's lips twitched.
He was beginning to get the distinct impression that Director Chandra was not
going to be as cooperative as he had initially hoped.
"I was wondering if you might be able to tell me what her condition
was, and why her parents had her placed in your care?"
"What makes you think you can contact me asking questions like that?
We have a policy of confidentiality at this facility. I cannot hand such
privileged information out."
"Look, I am here on official business for the New Republic, the government.
Gwynandra Salanon is suspected in several crimes of extreme violence and we
hoped to learn the particulars of her condition before an attempt was made to
detain her. Now if you would only oblige." Raynar swept his hands forward.
"If you expect to get anywhere with that routine you can forget it.
Confidentiality still holds." Chandra nodded her aged head emphatically.
Raynar tried desperately not to scowl at the woman. He really did not have
this time to waste with her antics. Jaina needed all the information he could
get as soon as possible, not the tawdry excuses of some semi-retired psychiatrist.
"How would a discreet deposit of five thousand credits into your
retirement fund affect the sealed casket of confidentiality?" he queried.
"I don't appreciate your tone of voice young man, but," Chandra hesitated, "I never
really was one for rules and regulations. What is it you want to know?"
Raynar allowed an exultant sigh to slip. Finally. "Why did Gwynandra Salanon's
parents place her in Camden Institution?"
"Miss Salanon was becoming obsessive. They were worried about her health," Chandra
said.
"And what was she obsessing about, Director Chandra?"
"It became apparent that Miss Salanon had spent some time at Luke
Skywalker's Jedi Academy. It was there she witnessed a training accident
between two students using those weapons of theirs. One of the students, Gwynandra
says, lost the forefront of her left arm. Gwynandra seemed to believe that the boy
who had done this had reached some type of ascension. A pinnacle if you will.
"She also began to believe that because she was so devoted to him he would come using
this great power of his and rescue her from Camden. Then together they would live the
lives of royalty. Basking in each other's love and strength, I believe she put it."
The conversation was not heading in the direction Raynar had hoped.
"Do you consider her a danger to this boy?"
"Only if he rejects her, or treats her out of hand. The only other thing that might
set her off is if he professes to love someone else," Chandra stated.
The situation was quickly stacking itself against Jacen. Fanatics had a
terrible habit of wrecking havoc upon your world, distorting it so much
that in the end you could hardly recognize the life you now led as that
which you had taken for granted only a few minutes earlier. Raynar knew that
quite well. One had murdered his father.
"Has Gwynandra managed to track down and contact this person?"
"Yes," Raynar admitted.
"If I were in your position I'd take it upon myself to provide this boy with
some sort of warning. He might at least then be able to get off planet before
she becomes suspicious."
Raynar looked at the projection of Sylia Chandra with renewed interest.
"Developing some sense of compassion, Director?"
"Hardly," she wheezed. "I just charge extra for advice."
Raynar winced, then rolled his eyes. "Rest assured Director, he's in good hands.
The best, in fact," he reassured himself.
* * *
Jaina and Lowbacca caught up with one another, each heading toward the
other's suite. As they hurried through the brightly lit corridors of the
lodge, Jaina informed Lowie of her conversation with Raynar and everything he
had managed to discover. It was immediately agreed that the most prudent
course of action would be to find Jacen and Tenel Ka, and make sure that Jacen
was never alone. That or they could get off planet, but Jaina reasoned it
would be far more expeditious to wait for Gwynandra to try and do something
and then use their combined strength to help bring her down. Once she was
safely back in the institution they could take a little more time exploring
those questions that needed answers.
They arrived quickly at Jacen's door, but a sense of wrong almost immediately
struck Jaina. There was an aura of displacement about his room,
things were not as they should be. Jaina slapped the intiation switch on the
intercom for Jacen's suite.
"Jacen? Jacen are you in there?" Jaina toyed nervously with her
hair in anticipation of a response. "Lowie, go and check Tenel Ka's suite.
See if they're both in there." Lowie hurried down the stretch of hallway
that led to the entrance to the adjoining room.
Having lost her patience attempting to receive some form of a reply
through the intercom, Jaina decided to take advantage of the unique bond she
shared with her twin. She fought through the panic and immerced herself in
the force, using it to enhance her senses. Jacen wasn't in his room, but
there were echoes. Faint feelings of his presence there. He couldn't have
gone too long ago or they would have already diminished beyond the point
at which Jaina could detect them.
She then began to extend her search outwards: past the suite, past the
lodge, and out into the surrounding village. Jaina could feel him along the
roadside heading down to the beach, the area where he and Tenel Ka had sat
enjoying the early morning solitude. The further she went the stronger his
presence felt until finally... A frosted hand gripped Jaina's heart, wrenching
it, overwhelming her body and mind. She toppled backward only to be the
saved by the strong arms of Lowie, having just returned fruitless from his
search of Tenel Ka's suite.
Lowie laid Jaina gently against the wall, trying to give his
trembling friend all the support he could muster. Jaina clutched at his
furry arm, her eyes wide and unfocused. "I couldn't sense him Lowie. I
found shadows of Jacen, images," she gasped. "I followed them, but
then they stopped. Disappeared... almost... almost as if he were dead."
* * *
Jacen's head hurt. Tt pounded a relentless driving beat that forced
him into awareness and out of the imagined safety of slumber. He
blinked his eyes, trying to bring them into focus, and saw nothing.
A second attempt brought him no further success. Everything was black.
He groaned as the pain in his head redoubled, bringing with it a
cacophony of unwanted sensations. "Jacen my friend, is that you?" The voice
seemed to float up from just below him. Jacen shifted his head in that
direction, even though he knew he wouldn't be able to see her. He
recogized that voice though, it had sustained him through some of
the most difficult periods in his young life.
"That is you isn't? I mean your not just something I conjured up out
of my imagination for my own gratification?" Jacen almost thought he heard
her chuckle, but then decided it was probably just the effects of the stun
blast wearing off.
"I assure you, Jacen, that I am not an illusion," Tenel Ka replied.
"Well, that's something then." Jacen rolled his eyes around the
darkness, attempting to make out anything that might give them a clue as to
where they had been incarcerated. The pitch continued to greet his best
efforts though. "So, have you any idea where we are, Tenel Ka?"
"Only that we have been imprisoned in a large, empty facility."
"Really? And how did you figure that out?" Jacen struggled to move,
but was bound with his arms suspended over his head by some powerful
durasteel binders.
"The echoing of our voices would suggest that we are in a large
building, empty of anything to absorb the sound," Tenel Ka stated.
"That and the ysalamiri must be nearby, for I have been unable to use
the force." Jacen ceased his struggles and let his head hang in the direction
of Tenel Ka's voice.
"Yeah, I noticed that too. Whoever they are, they definitely intend
for us to stay for the long haul. They're also quite a well informed group.
I'd be willing to bet that we were the intended targets of that attack long
before it took place. If it had been just a random act then they wouldn't
have been carrying ysalamiri. Unless of course they get a lot of Jedi around
here, which I find rather doubtful."
"A well conceived evaluation, friend Jacen. The only question that
remains for us to answer now is that of who brought us here and why they
desired our presence."
"No, the only thing on our minds now should be how to get out. The
rest we can deal with later."
* * *
A dull glow fell over the body of Raynar Thul as he contemplated the
lastest developments in this distressing search. The light came from an
ancient Alderaanian lamp his mother had given him on the day he and Lusa had
married. Lusa jokingly reffered to it as "a giant candle" and in reality
that was what it was, but to Raynar it meant much more. It had been a
treasured possession of his father's before he had died, and for Raynar each
and every time he lit it he felt as if the soft glow it produced was
representative of his father's pride in him and all that he had
acccomplished. The lamp meant much to Raynar, it was a tie to his family and
heritage.
Gwynandra Salanon meant a lot to someone also. Enough that one
person would be foolish enough or brave enough, Raynar wasn't sure which term
was more applicable yet, that they would risk everything to free her from the
confines of the institution in which her parents had placed her. According
to Director Chandra, Gwyn had received a visit from the same man every
standard week for almost the entire time she had been a resident. The man
had claimed to be her uncle, although Director Chandra was dubious of the
proposed relation.
This uncle, Benjamin Salanon was the name he had given them, had been
with Gwynandra the day before her mysterious disappearance, and as the
Director swore that none of her staff were involved, it was pluasible that
this man could have had some interest in freeing her. The question that
taunted Raynar was "why do it?" Aside from familial loyalty, the son of
Bornan Thul could think of nothing else that would motivate such a blatantly
illegal act.
Raynar pulled himself out his reverie. The first order of business,
before he got too far formulating half baked theories, was to discover if
this Benjamin Salanon was in fact who he claimed to be. If it was confirmed,
then Raynar could begin the search for this man who could give them not only
information about Gwynandra Salanon, but could, if the situation demanded it,
be used to draw her into the open.
He turned to the holonet operations panel, not for the first time today,
and began to activate the rely which would connect him to Coruscant's database.
It wasn't long before Raynar was sifting through the immense
catalogue of birth records stored in the databanks of the capital of the New
Republic. He highlighted the Salanon family name and was promptly linked to
the desired page.
Raynar scanned the names until he located those of Gwynandra's
parents. "Banja and Garret Salanon. Child one. Name, Gwyanadra Salanon.
Hmm." Raynar rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "The man said that his name was
Benjamin Salanon, so I need to access the father's side of the family." A
few keystrokes later and Raynar had full view of the family line of Garret
Salanon.
"Let's see, Garret. Siblings ... one. A sister. Miss Salanon has a
paternal aunt but no uncle. Well now, that makes it a bit more interesting.
Whoever it was that helped her escape has something to hide. Of course, it
may only be their identity, but the way things keep getting worse and worse
I'm going to lean toward pessimism."
A new screen appeared bearing the familial information pertaining to
Banja Salanon. "Born Banja Meecron. That name sounds familiar." Raynar
paused for a moment and gazed thoughtfully at the screen. "I'm sure it
will come to me. Later perhaps. Now's the time to work. Banja,
daughter of Sylus and Anya. Siblings ... none." Raynar stopped. "Nieces
and Newphews? But if Banja doesn't have any siblings how can she have
nieces and nephews?"
The screen that moments earlier had been alive with information
suddenly froze, then fell into darkness. "What the..." Raynar punched
the controls of his communications console, attempting to re-establish a link
with the Coruscant mainframe, but to no avail. He slumped into a chair
consternation plainly written on his face.
Moments later a small message flashed across the dull surface of the
screen, indicating that the transmission had been cut off from the source.
"From the source, eh. That means Coruscant. Well, well, well. Whoever you
are, in your attempt to hinder you may have just helped me more than you can
imagine."
* * *
Suffice it to say, Chief of State Leia Organa-Solo was not pleased.
Only a small while ago Raynar had contacted her with an update on his search.
The implications of what he had said... disturbed her. If his connection,
one Leia had tried to re-engage herself during Raynar's call, had been
severed from Coruscant, that meant that someone who had access to the database
had to be responsible. Only high level New Republic officials and the
computer techs had that access.
Then having failed to fix the link for Raynar, Leia had tried to
follow up on the lead he had discovered, only to find all records of the
Salanon family had been erased. She immediately sent for Ghent, who was now
using his amazing skills to attmept to backtrack the culprit's movements
through the system and discover how he had managed to erase so much
information without setting off any of the automatic alarms, which would, in
the case of a violation, immediately sever contact between the user and the
mainframe and send a message to security bearing the user's identification
number and current point of access.
Even with Ghent's skills, though, it could take an indeterminable amount
of time to discover who had been behind the erasure. They needed another,
quicker, way of discovering who Banja Salanon's siblings were. In the end,
it had been decided that Dasney, Banja's planet of birth, would have, almost
assuredly, their own set of records that could be accessed to illuminate the shady
details. Now all she had to do was contact Anakin on Yavin IV, for both Leia
and Raynar believed him to be the best choice for the mission, and pray that
Jacen and Jaina could stay out of trouble for just a little longer.
* * *
"I want to see Administrator Mek now!," Jaina bellowed. Her fingers burrowed
into the palm of her hand eliciting a trace amount of blood. Jaina and Lowie
had made their way into the urban area of Candren V, which was as far away
from Shental as thought permitted, and entered the resort's administration
building hoping to speak to someone in authority, as Shental's security had
refused to initiate any type of search for Jacen or Tenel Ka. "This is a
large place," the officer had told them condescendingly. "Besides maybe they
don't want to be found," he had said with a knowing wink before leaving the
two Jedi.
Now they were here, just outside the administrator's office and they
were being pushed away. The protocol droid, who seemed to double as
administrator Mek's secretary, refused to grant Jaina and Lowie any chance
to meet with Mek as he was indisposed for the forseeable future. "I am
sorry Miss, but you will have to return at a later date. The Administrator
cannot see you at this time," the droid stated, its squeaky voice cracking
every third word.
Pent up anger and frustration were begining to distort Jaina's voice
as she retaliated wholeheartedly at the obstacle to her desires. "Listen to
me you amalgamation of second rate circuits. My brother and my friend are
missing, and I need your Administrator's help to find them. So let me see
him!"
The droid stared at her for a moment. "Have you considered alerting
security?" Jaina struggled to control her rapid breathing and flaring
emotions.
"Have I considered ... Lowie." Throughout the entire argument
Lowbacca had been quietly edging himself behind the dull finished droid.
Quickly igniting his lightsaber, Lowie allowed the blade to fall periously
close to the thick neck of the protocol droid. "Now, tell me which control
disengages the security lockout on the administrator's office, or Lowie may
just relax his grip," Jaina purred.
"Really, this is highly irregular. I have rights you know. You
cannot accost me like ..." A deep and guttural snarl issued from the very
bowels of Lowie's being. Two of his closest friends were in danger and any
Wookie of honor does not abandon his comrades to anything, much less
political formalities.
Suitably encouraged by Lowie's outburst, the droid quickly showed
Jaina the deactivation sequence. "Thank you," Jaina said. "Now go inside
the refresher unit."
The droid's static features seemed almost quizzical. "Why would I
want to go in the refresher? It is a human apparatus, I've no need for its
functions." A menacing look from Lowie was all that was needed to get the
uncooperative droid moving though. "You really should have that creature
incarcerated. Its a menace, growling and snarling like that," the
droid stammered whilst it shuffled across the reception area.
Once the droid had huddled inside, Lowie drove his lightsaber into the
locking mechanism, sealing the machine, and guaranteeing no further
interruptions.
"You know something Lowie, that was quite soothing." Jaina grinned
at her companion. "Come on, its time we finally got this Mr. Mek out
from behind the curtain."
Lowie and Jaina both stepped up to the earth-toned door that barred
them from the help they needed. A small sensor registered their presence, and
forced it smoothly into the wall. Jaina allowed a distinct sense of accomplishment
to overwhelm her upon entering the office. Maybe now they get some
assistance in finding Jacen and Tenel Ka. Then again, hope was like
a crystal vase. One pebble could shatter the entire illusion.
The decaying body of Mr. Mek lay propped in a fine nerf hide chair,
that under any other circumstances Jaina would have noted as being a fine
piece of furntiure. The foul stench eminating from the body caused Jaina to
wrinkle her nose in distaste and pull her sleeve over her face to keep from
gagging. The odor reminded her so much of the Carsden building. Of the
bodies.
Lowie knelt and examined the body, giving a few barks here and there
to sum up his thoughts. Jaina nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I'd say about
three days at the limit due to the declining state of the body. Quite a
nasty death. Near point blank blaster shot to the forehead. Is there
anything on him that might give an idea as to why he was killed?" Lowie ran
his paws quickly over the body and gave a negative bark. "Right, help me
check these data crystals. We might be able to find something useful on one
of them."
Jaina began to plug assorted crystals into the mainframe. Some were work
orders, others employee evaluation forms, but nothing that leant itself
to indicating that possibly this Gwynandra Salanon was not only a kidnapper
but a murderer also.
As she pulled yet another crystal from its slot Lowie chuffed a
question. Jaina frowned. "No, that wasn't anything useful. Just the late
Mr. Mek's bar bill. I'm beginning to think ..."
"Master Lowabaca, Mistress Jaina. I believe you should turn your
attention to the door," Em Teedee piped up.
"What is it? - Oh," Jaina whispered. Standing in the doorway, blasters raised,
were a squad of Shental security officers.
"Please don't make any sudden movements. I would hate to have to
order you to be shot," the commanding officer stated. "From this point
forward consider yourselves under arrest. For murder."
"We're doomed," Em Teedee wailed.
To Be Continued...
