Disclaimer: Star Wars is the property of George Lucas and Lucasfilm Ltd. No profit,
whatsoever, is being made from this work. It is by a fan, for the fans, so to speak. So, no
one sue me, okay? Thanks much.
STAR WARS: Shattered Dreams
Chapter 13: "Setting the Players"
by Dave Ziegler
The sky above the capital city of Coruscant was alive with activity. Shuttles, buses,
skiffs, cruisers, fighters: all manner of ships and transport wove through the smattering of
blue and white, busily seeking out their destinations. The sheer grandiosity of the movement
might have been enough to overwhelm a first timer to the planet, the gaping jaws of newly
appointed senators were often the butt of jokes from the more veteran of cabbies. But for
Anakin Solo it was simply a return to home. He had long since learnt to acclimate himself to
the never-ending hustle and bustle of the Republic's capital.
That wasn't to say he enjoyed it, of course.
Despite the fact that, up until the age of ten, he had lived with his mother and
father on this world, Anakin had never really liked it much. Certainly, he lived in a
spacious apartment, had access to most anything he wanted, and was generally respected
and revered by people he did not know for no other reason than his name was Solo, but he
was never happier than when sent to train at the Jedi academy on Yavin IV. There Anakin
found himself amongst a throng of activity, but it was entirely different. The jungle moon
writhed in a mass of greens and browns; earthly living colors that Anakin found spoke to
his heart much more than the lifeless greys and glass of the capital. There he worked for
what he needed and was only rewarded with respect he had earned himself.
When Anakin wanted to be alone, which happened to be quite often, he could simply
sink away into the jungle and only be found when he actually wished it. There wasn't much
of anywhere he could disappear to on the Capital. He was always closely monitored, for
constant fear of kidnapping, and getting most anywhere required the use of an airbus of some
sort, anyway. For Anakin, the capital felt entirely too much like a prison.
When he was young, and his imagination entirely too active, Anakin had also feared
the never-ending city would eat him alive. Nightmares would force him to see himself being
trapped within its girders and panels, and stripped of life. It happened slowly, the city
skinning him a piece at a time until finally Anakin was but a gouged husk, devoid of joy and
vitality.
The fact that they were the fantasies of a child mattered little. They had, at the
time, scared him to death and back again. They had amplified the fear inside the child that
his loneliness would continue, a cloak forever shutting him away from what he desired most.
And still, now, as an adult, somewhere inside himself, Anakin felt that fear lingering.
The yellow and silver of the Naboo starfighter glinted brightly in the sunlight as it
steadily descended through the intense traffic and neared its appointed landing platform. The
immense flat plane hung calmly in the sky, its repulsorlifts keeping up a constant measure of
support, and in a fine gust of exhaust, Anakin gently brought the fighter into contact with it.
Quickly unstrapping his harness, Anakin watched the canopy slip forward, then pulled
himself up and over the side of the ship. He landed easily on the balls of his feet and
motioned for Artoo to release himself from the interface socket.
"Come on, Artoo, come on," he urged his small companion. "The shuttle should be
arriving any time now. I don't think we need to worry about unloading anything either. You've
all the proof we need stored inside yourself, and, well, I can take care of our traitor friend."
The droid bleeped testily at Anakin as two large claws lowered him to the dull surface of
the landing platform.
"I'm not being arrogant," Anakin said, turning to defend himself from Artoo. "I know
this man has a lot of experience and could be formidable, but I'm a Jedi, Artoo. I can be
faster and stronger when needs be, and can neutralize a large portion of his offensive
capability quite simply. Trust me, a blaster won't do him much good."
Artoo bleeped in concerned aggravation.
"Fine, fine. Think what you like. I just want to get to mother and take care of
this as soon as possible. I don't think she would quite believe it coming from anyone else.
Oh, and Artoo, before you pass final judgment, you might want to consider one more thing. We
have surprise on our side."
Before the small droid had a chance to respond, a large, rectangular transport pulled
slowly up to the docking bridge of the platform. The fuselage was somewhat chipped and dented,
but still clearly bore the resplendent red and grey crest of the New Republic. The door hissed
quietly open, and Anakin, in his anxiousness, was about to run up to it, when something stopped
him.
Great, reverberating metallic thunks echoed out of the transport, reminding Anakin very
much of the deadly room he had been trapped in on Dasney. This time, though, impending columns
of thick metal would not trouble him. Instead, out of the transport rolled three loose balls
of gold and black limbs. They stopped in a line facing Anakin and each carefully unfolded
itself, revealing a three legged droid, resplendent with a pair of blaster canon on each arm.
A sphere of bluish haze sprang up around each, marking the droids as carrying mobile shield
generators.
Artoo had barely a moment to beep a self satisfied 'I told you so', before the droids
opened fire.
* * *
"Jacen!" Jaina Solo flew through the crowded cave passage and threw herself into
the arms of her brother. She pulled him to her tightly before quickly pushing him away and
running a keen eye over his personage. "Are you all right?" she questioned, taking note of
the various bruises and cuts that ran over his exposed flesh. "You look terrible."
Jacen chuckled lightly at his sister's concern, then ran a light finger over her own
battered face. "You think I look bad, Jaya? What happened to you? Lowie?" Jacen asked,
nodding in the direction of the tall wookie who had just entered the passage. "Haven't you
been looking after her?"
"I'm perfectly fine, Jacen. And leave Lowie alone. I can look after myself well
enough, thank you," she muttered, pushing him away. "These," and Jaina repeated Jacen's light
brush across her face, "were simply the result of a small problem we ran into while tracking
you down."
"Really?" Jacen's face radiated dubiousness. "That must have been a pretty large
small problem."
"Oh, shut up. It doesn't look to me like you've fared much better." Jaina crossed
her arms and purposely strode away from her brother. Her eyes traced the ground for a moment,
then returned to his, all traces of kidding gone. "Seriously Jacen, where is Tenel Ka? What
happened to her? Lowie and I heard you cry out.... the pain, it was tremendous." Jaina
paused a moment, forcing back any potential for tears. "I always thought that I would sense
it if something happened, that we were close enough as friends, but.... Jacen, is she dead?"
Jacen's back immediately stiffened, and he shook his head vigorously, fervently
denying his sister's speculation. "No. No, she is not dead. I was just scared for her,
Jaina. She was very close to a blast point, and then the ground gave out beneath me and I
couldn't help her.... I was frightened, that's all."
Jaina could understand her brother's wish to believe that Tenel Ka was all right and
waiting for them to come and rescue her, she knew he loved the young princess very much.
Perhaps with greater feeling than Jaina could claim she did anyone. Well, there was
Zekk. But Zekk had disappeared from her life many years ago, and Jaina didn't care very much
to revisit that part of her heart. She just wanted Jacen to make sure that he wasn't fooling
himself into being overly optimistic because of his feelings.
Yes, it was a very negative viewpoint, and she did hope with all her heart that her
friend was alive and well, but Jaina had learnt many things while with the NRI. The most
important was this: if life has the opportunity to kick you while you're down, it will do so
with the most unadulterated glee. Suffering was wound through existence to make sure you
treasured every moment you escaped it. Without such an equalizer, living would be pointless
and unfulfilling.
"Jacen," Jaina began tentatively, "if you didn't see her afterwards, how can you be
sure?" Lowie barked his support of Jaina's supposition. He, like her, had experienced
too much to be blindly optimistic.
"Of course, I'm sure," Jacen snapped. "You think I would be sitting here waiting for
you to come and back me up if I thought she was in immediate danger or severely hurt?" Jacen
took a quick measure of the gazes his sister and friend were directing toward him. "You don't
believe me, do you? You think I'm fooling myself," he stated bitterly. "Jaina, I know you
were crushed when you gave up hope of Zekk returning from the unknown regions, but don't
project what you thought to be your mistake onto me."
It was Jaina's turn to stiffen, this time. Her face soured and she looked at her
sibling with a resentful shock. The expression seemed to cry out at the underhandedness of
his comment. "That was uncalled for," she replied coldly.
"No, it wasn't. I'm not hoping because I've nothing else left here, Jaina. I know
that Tenel Ka is alive and well, relatively speaking. Unlike your situation, I have proof."
"How's that, then?" she challenged. He couldn't possibly have proof, not if everything
happened the way he had said. One couldn't really check on or get a good enough look at
someone to form such an opinion if falling through a sinkhole at the time.
"Nyar told me she's all right," Jacen stated. "And I trust and respect his word.
After all, he did help me, and brought you both here."
"Nyar?" Jaina watched as her brother gestured to a large, yet seemingly elderly
creature that lay neatly upon the rocky floor. For the first time since getting into the
argument, Jaina actively remembered where she was and what was around her. The passage was
fairly large in terms of cave systems, lit by natural phosphorescence, and occupied by a great
throng of the short haired beasts that had attacked Lowie and herself in the grasslands. "You
mean the jumpers? They're intelligent? I thought you were exercising your Force powers, using
them to lead us."
"Of course, I'm intelligent, young female," Nyar said, sitting up on his haunches.
"Do you think I would have had the presence of mind to help you or your brother if I were no
more aware than that stone?" A greying paw flicked in the direction of a pile of loose rocks.
"I find it disturbing that you so easily dismiss that which is different from you. Is this a
habit of yours, or simply a special reaction in my case?"
Jaina's cheeks stained a warm red, as she felt the embarrassment of being chastised
like a small school girl run rampant through her body. "I didn't mean to insult or dismiss
you," she stumbled. "It is just that, when we first encountered beings like yourself on this
planet, the slight contact I was able to make with one revealed nothing more than an
overwhelming need to feed. There were no higher functions or thought to indicate
intelligence."
"Ah yes, I forgot for a moment. Forgive me," Nyar nodded his narrow head in rapid
dips and bobs. "I was there for that, you see. I drew those erring members of the pack
away from you once that I realized you were a Jedi."
"How is that possible?" Jaina wasn't sure whether she was quite ready to place all
her trust in this one pot. A smart player always held something back for the
next round. Her father had taught her that.
"Nyar and the rest of the jumpers are Force sensitive, Jaina," Jacen interjected.
"Allow me to explain, young one." Nyar ambled another step closer to Jaina and peered
up into her face with seemingly timeless eyes. The gaze trapped her, immediately locking her
to where she stood, her body oblivious to whatever she told it. "What you sensed in my
brethren was correct. The instinct for survival is but all that remains of them, now. A
very long time ago, myself and my companions crashed here, on this planet. The years of
isolation wore on my people, until finally, only I remembered the ways of old. And so, when
the situation necessitates it, I use our bond with nature to influence the others into doing
as I desire. That is how you were saved, and why my brethren do not consume you now."
"Oh," Jaina managed, momentarily stunned at such a revelation. A small shiver
quivered its way up her spine, a further reminder of what Nyar had just pointed out: she
was in a room full of predators. "Well," she began, clearing her throat and gathering herself
together, "thank you for helping us earlier and guarding us against the others now. I would
hate to be consumed by my newest friends."
"It is of little matter, young female. At my age, I do what I feel is right when I
can. Though, I think, perhaps, that you should prepare yourselves and move along. While I
am far from feeble, this kind of concerted effort will leave me very much drained, sometime
soon. As you said, I would hate for my new friends to be here when that happens." Nyar
managed a sad smile that made Jaina see him as more of a tired, old grandfather than an
elderly beast.
"Which means," Jacen said, "that we should start discussing how we plan to help
Tenel Ka."
"Right, Jacen. Right. Well, assuming everything is as you've described it, and she
is all right and able to move on her own, what else can you tell us about where you were being
held?" Jaina questioned him. "Because if we are going to mount a rescue, we need all the
information we can get."
Jacen rubbed his chin for a moment, his fingers gliding over the rough stubble that
had long since grown in because of his imprisonment. "We were taken to a complex of some
kind. I would say an old military facility. Tenel Ka and I were kept in the hangar bay,
I believe. In any case, it was very large and very empty with the exception of the section
of wall that she had us locked onto."
"She?" Jaina asked, already sure of the answer.
"A woman named Gwynandra. I bumped into her one day at Shental...."
"It's all right, Jacen," Jaina said, waving for him to continue with the briefing.
"I know all about Gwynandra Salanon."
Jacen looked at his sister for a moment, a question on the verge of his lips, but
then decided all explanations could be left for later. There were more pressing things to
attend to at the moment. "She seems to have a pretty large contingent of help. Possibly
hired guns that are mostly armed with blasters or some close quarters weapons. They have a
group of speeders rigged with a more impressive caliber canon, and some swoops."
Jaina nodded her head in understanding. "Yeah, Lowie and I have already had the
pleasure of meeting some of her swoop jockeys. What else?"
"Not much, really. They did, however, have some ysalamiri in the hangar. That's
why it took us so long to make a break for it in the first place."
Jaina frowned. Having ysalamiri around added a very serious dimension to whatever
plans they made. "That's going to make things entirely more difficult than I expected. Though
it does go along way to explaining why I could never find you through the Force."
Jacen allowed a brief grin to flash across his features. "Worried, were you?"
"Me? Worried about you?" Jaina pointed to herself in innocence. "Why would I? It's
not like this is the first time you've seemingly disappeared with death a hair's width behind
you."
"Okay. Okay. I get it, Jaya. No more falling off floating cities, wandering ravaged
worlds, or being abducted by crazed girls for me. You can put your mind at ease, as I'll never
be more than two steps behind you again."
"On second thought," Jaina teased, "I don't think anyone should have to handle that
much of you. I doubt they would survive the jokes."
Jacen grabbed at his chest and moaned theatrically. "Oh, she wounds me so. Balafel
thorns may be sharp, but nothing digs so deep as a Jaina Solo verbal barb."
"Seriously though, Jacen," Jaina began, a relaxed smile finally lighting her features.
"If she had ysalamiri, then there is no way we can let ourselves become exposed in that hangar
of yours. It would take away any advantage we have over their superior numbers."
"Then we'll have to do it on the quiet, won't we? To keep every one from being exposed,
only one of us should go into the hangar. The manacles can be manually unclasped, so the lack
of Force won't be a problem."
"That's assuming that the only problem you'll face inside will be manacles, Jacen."
Lowie roared his agreement of Jaina's assessment.
"The other two members of our party will just have to make sure they keep Gwyn and her
men busy enough for me to get in and get out unnoticed."
"Wait, wait. You? When did we decide that you would be the one to go in? Hell, when
did we decide that we were even using this plan?" Jaina's voice rose sharply, her sudden
displeasure racing through the climbing tone.
"It's the only way that makes sense, Jaina. Gwyn has my lightsaber and Tenel Ka's.
That makes me of little use on the defensive and lessens my impact on the distraction front.
Besides, didn't you and Lowie receive all sorts of covert training from the NRI? Keeping a
bunch of mercenaries busy for a few minutes should be simple."
"Sure, Jace, we'll just snap our fingers and make them all go away. I thought you said
they had speeders armed with light artillery. We're not just going to be able to swat fire
power like that away with our sabers. One mistake while we're trying to keep them guessing and
it would all be over."
"But Jaina, we need to...."
"Excuse me," Nyar stated, his quiet voice somehow cutting through the argument. "But
perhaps you will allow us to even out the numbers. Will that increase your chances of success?"
Both Jacen and Jaina looked at Nyar, then back at each other, smiles growing on their
faces. A solid plan began to form between the two.
* * *
"Captain Solo?"
Han turned from the two NRI agents he had been talking to inside the conference room
and found himself face to face with a young, blonde man, dressed in the most garishly colored
clothing he had ever seen in his life. He rolled his eyes upward, wondering how in the name of
creation security managed to let this kid into the room. It was, after all, the headquarters
for the search for his wife and a supposedly ultra secure area.
"Do you want something?" he asked, managing a slight nod in Chewie's direction, just in
case the kid decided not to leave without some convincing.
"I'm Raynar Thul and this is Elle Mathys," the boy stated while pointing toward an even
younger, black haired girl who stood behind him. Han couldn't help but feel confused, as the
boy looked expectantly at him.
"I'm not sure what you want, kid," he began, "but this is not the place to find it."
"Sir, we were sent to here to help you by Master Skywalker. You do remember signing
the petitions to allow our presence, don't you?" Raynar asked.
"You're the Jedi?" Han skeptically appraised both Raynar and Elle. "Great, the kid
sends me more kids. Leave it to him."
"I assure you, Captain, we are both very capable, and Master Skywalker has the utmost
confidence in us."
"Oh, well then, by all means, why don't you take over?" Han sardonically swept his
arms to encompass the entire conference room.
"Captain Solo, who are these children?" A middle aged man, sporting a greying beard
and hair, and dressed in a very crisp Republic uniform, stepped up to Raynar and Elle and
searched them with his eyes. His arms were folded neatly behind his back, and a rather
antiquated blaster was strapped at his hip. He had the all to palpable presence of a career
military officer, and a zealous one at that.
"General, these are the Jedi that Luke sent us to help with the search."
"Sir," Raynar said bowing smartly. Elle, who was feeling very unsure of herself,
quickly followed suit.
"He sent children? I knew there was a reason I was against this from the beginning,"
the general scoffed.
"Kids," Han muttered, not sure whether he was angry with himself for agreeing to Luke's
choice of Jedi or for having need of them in the first place, "this is General Terion, the
director of New Republic Intelligence."
"Well, now that the introductions are all over with, I would like to take Elle out to
confirm a theory of mine," Raynar said. "If you could just point out the offices and quarters
of one Senator Meecron to me, I would be happy to get out of your way."
"Senator Meecron?" General Terion asked, suddenly turning back towards the Jedi and
Han.
"Yes. He is the representative of Dasney."
"Why are you going to look at him?" Han asked, beating the general to it.
Raynar smiled. "Call it Jedi intuition."
Han sighed, realizing that by now he should be ready to accept anything a Jedi might
say or do without blinking. "Hey you, over there," he snapped, flagging down a spare
technician. "Get this kid the locations on those rooms. Chewie, check the power on your
bowcaster. We'll be going with them."
"You will, sir?" Elle managed to stutter. She would usually never shy from any
situation or any person, but this, this was just too much too fast.
"Yeah, we will. Between my wife, my brother-in-law, and my kids, you think I'm going
to ignore it when a Jedi comes up with something? Give me some credit, kid. I may be somewhat
skeptical, but I'm not stupid."
"Here you are, sir," the technician said, handing Han two sheets of plascard. "The
locations of both the senator's living quarters and offices are marked in red. Just follow
the designated path."
"Great," Han said, moving toward the door. "Let's get going then."
"Just a moment, Captain Solo," General Terion snapped, holding up his hand. "I would
like to accompany you with a few men. Just in case this does turn up some results."
"That's fine," Han called over his shoulder. "Grab whoever you need and meet us
outside." As he and Chewie shuffled Raynar and Elle out of the conference room, the General
beckoned to two of the NRI agents to follow. He fell in line behind them, being very careful
to replace a small, blinking remote to his pocket.
* * *
Anakin felt a shot of pain rip up his shoulder as he hit the tarmac of the landing
platform, midway through a tuck and roll. The first volley of shots from the destroyer droids
cut through the area where had just been standing and tore great smoking holes in the fuselage
of his starfighter. The smell of acrid smoke and burning electronics motivated Anakin to
forget the pain and find his feet, allowing him to snap his lightsaber from his belt and bring
the glowing blade to bear.
The first droid to turn and track him snapped a burst of fierce red shots, only to
find them sent back in its direction. Anakin grimaced as the reflected fire was easily
absorbed by the destroyer droid's shields. He obviously wasn't going to beat them that way.
He would have to find something a little more creative to deal with the situation. That was,
of course, assuming he lived long enough to think of anything. Landing platforms offered
nothing in the way of cover for one to hide behind and regroup. This would be a battle of
pure reflex and instinct.
Anakin only hoped he had what it took to win the contest.
Seeing that the other two droids had now followed their fellow and turned toward him,
Anakin took two quick steps and leaped for the nearest of his enemies. As he spun through the
air in a small ball, flashes of red and deep ominous cracks showered about his body. By the
time he had hit his feet, Anakin was fervently thanking whatever in the universe seemed to
protect you when you did something incredibly stupid.
The nearest destroyer droid spun on its claw-like feet, ready to take aim at the young
Jedi. Anakin twirled to its side, swiping at the droid, and causing the myriad of sparks to
erupt from where his lightsaber struck its shielding.
Ignoring the momentarily blinded droid to his left, Anakin thrust his hand out at the
farthest, catching it midsection with a Force push. The droid's knees seemed to bend and hold
for a moment, but then it crumpled and shot off the side of the platform, spiraling endlessly
toward the surface of Coruscant far below.
Anakin managed to duck a cloud of shots from the second droid, while taking another
slice at the first with his blade. He felt a quick snap of his wrist as the lightsaber bounced
off its shielding in another shower of futile pyrotechnics.
This was getting him nowhere fast.
Of course, it could be worse, he was sure. Just how, though, Anakin wasn't.
He jammed his teeth into his lip, fighting back a cry, as he was too slow to dodge
all the blaster bolts this time, and one grazed the outside of his arm. A light trace of smoke
lifted from the sleeve of his tunic, but any blood had long since been cauterized by the heat
of the blast.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, Anakin managed to duck behind the first droid yet
again, keeping it pivoting in circles and taking himself out of the range of the other, who had
just skinned him. He flipped his lightsaber over and thrust the blade through the tarmac,
turning his arms in a wide fast circle. The first droid turned to blast him and promptly
fell through the now gaping crater that lay before it.
Anakin managed a slight grin before another cluster of blaster bolts drove him from
contemplation. Two down, one to go. Things were looking much better than they had only a
few moments ago.
For a time, Anakin was content to simply stalemate the droid, deflecting everything
back that it sent his way. Of course, he didn't have all day to sit and play with the
mechanical killer, and this back and fourth volley wasn't harming either of them. Anakin
used his lightsaber, the droid its shields. This had to end soon, though. It was obvious
to him that the traitor had known he was coming. Why else would three of these monstrosities
have been waiting for him? The more Anakin thought about this, the more anxious he felt about
finally getting to his mother and venting the information.
Breaking their deadlock, Anakin ducked to the side, away from the incoming blaster
bolts, and eyed the pieces of wreckage that lie next to his fighter. Relaxing himself, he
gathered some Force tendrils and allowed them to extend from his fingertips. The invisible
threads wrapped around the two largest hunks of twisted metal, then hurled them forward in a
blur of charred yellow and silver.
The first piece struck the droid's shields near its left shoulder and tipped it
unsteadily backwards, the rear pincer-like leg barely keeping the droid upright. The second,
taking full advantage of the destroyer's imbalance, struck it at the front knee and finalized
the droid's tumble. It landed on its thick spine, writhed for a moment, unable to get back on
its feet, then dropped its shields and contracted back into a ball.
Seeing his chance, Anakin threw himself forward, using the Force for an added burst of
speed, and swung his lightsaber threw the center of the metallic ball. For a moment nothing
happened, then a large creaking groan echoed from within the droid and various bits of metal
and wire began to fall to the tarmac, creating an almost artistic tangle of technology.
Anakin snapped his lightsaber off and allowed a moment's quiet breath to seep slowly
into his body. He then replaced the ancient weapon, and beckoned toward Artoo. "Come on," he
said, indicating the shuttle that had carried the droids, "there's our way to the palace."
Artoo beeped worriedly about his master's arm. Anakin, however, merely shrugged off
the droid's worries.
"Don't worry, Artoo. I'll have it taken care of later." Anakin's face suddenly
clouded for a moment. "I feel.... troubled, Artoo. There's something nipping at the heels
of my awareness, something elusive. It hasn't made itself known yet, but the tinges feel
wrong somehow." He stared out into the skyline for another few heartbeats before stepping
forward. "Come on," he muttered again, his voice once again locked in determination and
betraying no hint of prior unease.
* * *
"What's wrong? You don't feel like talking to me?" Gwynandra Salanon paced around
the bound Tenel Ka, glaring at her and trying desperately to elicit some type of response. So
far, she had been far less than successful. The girl would speak to her, though, oh yes. She
would eventually acknowledge that Gwyn was far her superior and much more deserving of Jacen.
"Look, you must know that remaining silent is pointless. You've already lost the
battle, girl. Jacen is mine. In fact, I'd say you never really had him." Gwyn looked closely
at Tenel Ka, but the warrior girl's bowed head reveled not so much as a flicker of an eyelid.
She was being entirely too irritating.
"Yes, that's right," Gwyn began again, determined to push Tenel Ka to the breaking
point. "It's true that you might have controlled him through his body for a time, but you
never actually had his heart. Just look at you. You cry harlot with every fiber of your
being." Gwyn saw the barest movement of Tenel Ka's eye. It had seemed to flash in her
direction.
Yes, that's it. Get angry with me; yell, scream, cry, and curse my name. And then,
when it is all over, you'll have finally realized what a shadow of a relationship you truly
had with him. You will realize the reason you were so easily riled was because the truth
could cut through any illusions you created for yourself.
"Look at your clothing," Gwyn jeered. "Two cuts of reptile hide, one barely enough
to cover your breasts, the other your crotch. It is disgusting, to flaunt yourself with such
abandon and seduce the innocent. Because, and you can trust me on this, had you ever acted
with any decency, Jacen would never have touched you. But, unfortunately, you broke him
rather easily with your outright seduction. I find that rather sad, that he could be so
quickly overwhelmed, but let's just attribute that to your obviously long tested skills,
no?"
*Yes!* Gwyn cheered to herself as Tenel Ka finally picked her head up and faced her.
*She must finally realize how pathetically inferior she really is* Adopting a polite smile,
Gwyn took a step back and gestured to Tenel Ka. "You want to say something?"
"You do not know me," Tenel Ka stated. "You do not know Jacen. You look at him,
at us, through a fog of fantasy that suits your emotional desperation. I do not
know how you came to choose him as your target, or why you have endlessly tortured him with
those dreams."
"Tortured!" Gwyn spat. "How the hell do you think he could be tortured by that! It
was his greatest moment, his ascendancy! It must give him pleasure beyond belief to be able
to feel it all so vividly again. That was the moment he became a Jedi, a man."
"You are wrong. Jacen is the first to admit that was the worst time of his life. It
was his weakest moment, our weakest moment. From that, though, we have forged something
powerful. Our bond will stand against anything, including yourself. The moment we achieved
that," Tenel Ka emphasized, "was the greatest triumph, our ascendancy. To know someone as we
know one another elevates the spirit and the heart to a plane which you will never grace."
A trickle of blood slipped down Gwyn's chin as she ground her lip between her teeth.
She stood for a moment, eye's blazing with unadulterated hatred, before speaking. When she
finally did, the chill in her voice rivaled the iciest planes on Hoth.
"You lie. I do know Jacen. I know him well enough to see that he would never
consciously chose someone like you to love."
"It is as I said," Tenel Ka said simply. "You see us through a fugue that shapes
situations and people to your needs. Hence, your absolute conviction regarding Jacen and
myself."
"It's not a lie!" Gwyn exploded. "You, you are mired in deceit and trickery." Gwyn
rounded Tenel Ka's prison, her body shaking more violently with every word. "I will not let
you muddle my perception with half truths, and I will not stand here and listen to you sully
Jacen by speaking of his love for you!"
* * *
As Gwyn stormed from the hangar, Tenel Ka felt a chill descend over her. It filled up
the cavernous building, rising from floor to ceiling, and sneaking into every crack. It swam
through the ysalamiri bubble and cut through her, straight to the bone.
The feeling put her every instinct as a warrior dancing in alert, and Tenel Ka knew,
finally, that there would be no negotiation now, no easy way out. The pieces had been put in
place; one queen light, one queen dark. The battle was about to begin.
To Be Continued...
whatsoever, is being made from this work. It is by a fan, for the fans, so to speak. So, no
one sue me, okay? Thanks much.
STAR WARS: Shattered Dreams
Chapter 13: "Setting the Players"
by Dave Ziegler
The sky above the capital city of Coruscant was alive with activity. Shuttles, buses,
skiffs, cruisers, fighters: all manner of ships and transport wove through the smattering of
blue and white, busily seeking out their destinations. The sheer grandiosity of the movement
might have been enough to overwhelm a first timer to the planet, the gaping jaws of newly
appointed senators were often the butt of jokes from the more veteran of cabbies. But for
Anakin Solo it was simply a return to home. He had long since learnt to acclimate himself to
the never-ending hustle and bustle of the Republic's capital.
That wasn't to say he enjoyed it, of course.
Despite the fact that, up until the age of ten, he had lived with his mother and
father on this world, Anakin had never really liked it much. Certainly, he lived in a
spacious apartment, had access to most anything he wanted, and was generally respected
and revered by people he did not know for no other reason than his name was Solo, but he
was never happier than when sent to train at the Jedi academy on Yavin IV. There Anakin
found himself amongst a throng of activity, but it was entirely different. The jungle moon
writhed in a mass of greens and browns; earthly living colors that Anakin found spoke to
his heart much more than the lifeless greys and glass of the capital. There he worked for
what he needed and was only rewarded with respect he had earned himself.
When Anakin wanted to be alone, which happened to be quite often, he could simply
sink away into the jungle and only be found when he actually wished it. There wasn't much
of anywhere he could disappear to on the Capital. He was always closely monitored, for
constant fear of kidnapping, and getting most anywhere required the use of an airbus of some
sort, anyway. For Anakin, the capital felt entirely too much like a prison.
When he was young, and his imagination entirely too active, Anakin had also feared
the never-ending city would eat him alive. Nightmares would force him to see himself being
trapped within its girders and panels, and stripped of life. It happened slowly, the city
skinning him a piece at a time until finally Anakin was but a gouged husk, devoid of joy and
vitality.
The fact that they were the fantasies of a child mattered little. They had, at the
time, scared him to death and back again. They had amplified the fear inside the child that
his loneliness would continue, a cloak forever shutting him away from what he desired most.
And still, now, as an adult, somewhere inside himself, Anakin felt that fear lingering.
The yellow and silver of the Naboo starfighter glinted brightly in the sunlight as it
steadily descended through the intense traffic and neared its appointed landing platform. The
immense flat plane hung calmly in the sky, its repulsorlifts keeping up a constant measure of
support, and in a fine gust of exhaust, Anakin gently brought the fighter into contact with it.
Quickly unstrapping his harness, Anakin watched the canopy slip forward, then pulled
himself up and over the side of the ship. He landed easily on the balls of his feet and
motioned for Artoo to release himself from the interface socket.
"Come on, Artoo, come on," he urged his small companion. "The shuttle should be
arriving any time now. I don't think we need to worry about unloading anything either. You've
all the proof we need stored inside yourself, and, well, I can take care of our traitor friend."
The droid bleeped testily at Anakin as two large claws lowered him to the dull surface of
the landing platform.
"I'm not being arrogant," Anakin said, turning to defend himself from Artoo. "I know
this man has a lot of experience and could be formidable, but I'm a Jedi, Artoo. I can be
faster and stronger when needs be, and can neutralize a large portion of his offensive
capability quite simply. Trust me, a blaster won't do him much good."
Artoo bleeped in concerned aggravation.
"Fine, fine. Think what you like. I just want to get to mother and take care of
this as soon as possible. I don't think she would quite believe it coming from anyone else.
Oh, and Artoo, before you pass final judgment, you might want to consider one more thing. We
have surprise on our side."
Before the small droid had a chance to respond, a large, rectangular transport pulled
slowly up to the docking bridge of the platform. The fuselage was somewhat chipped and dented,
but still clearly bore the resplendent red and grey crest of the New Republic. The door hissed
quietly open, and Anakin, in his anxiousness, was about to run up to it, when something stopped
him.
Great, reverberating metallic thunks echoed out of the transport, reminding Anakin very
much of the deadly room he had been trapped in on Dasney. This time, though, impending columns
of thick metal would not trouble him. Instead, out of the transport rolled three loose balls
of gold and black limbs. They stopped in a line facing Anakin and each carefully unfolded
itself, revealing a three legged droid, resplendent with a pair of blaster canon on each arm.
A sphere of bluish haze sprang up around each, marking the droids as carrying mobile shield
generators.
Artoo had barely a moment to beep a self satisfied 'I told you so', before the droids
opened fire.
* * *
"Jacen!" Jaina Solo flew through the crowded cave passage and threw herself into
the arms of her brother. She pulled him to her tightly before quickly pushing him away and
running a keen eye over his personage. "Are you all right?" she questioned, taking note of
the various bruises and cuts that ran over his exposed flesh. "You look terrible."
Jacen chuckled lightly at his sister's concern, then ran a light finger over her own
battered face. "You think I look bad, Jaya? What happened to you? Lowie?" Jacen asked,
nodding in the direction of the tall wookie who had just entered the passage. "Haven't you
been looking after her?"
"I'm perfectly fine, Jacen. And leave Lowie alone. I can look after myself well
enough, thank you," she muttered, pushing him away. "These," and Jaina repeated Jacen's light
brush across her face, "were simply the result of a small problem we ran into while tracking
you down."
"Really?" Jacen's face radiated dubiousness. "That must have been a pretty large
small problem."
"Oh, shut up. It doesn't look to me like you've fared much better." Jaina crossed
her arms and purposely strode away from her brother. Her eyes traced the ground for a moment,
then returned to his, all traces of kidding gone. "Seriously Jacen, where is Tenel Ka? What
happened to her? Lowie and I heard you cry out.... the pain, it was tremendous." Jaina
paused a moment, forcing back any potential for tears. "I always thought that I would sense
it if something happened, that we were close enough as friends, but.... Jacen, is she dead?"
Jacen's back immediately stiffened, and he shook his head vigorously, fervently
denying his sister's speculation. "No. No, she is not dead. I was just scared for her,
Jaina. She was very close to a blast point, and then the ground gave out beneath me and I
couldn't help her.... I was frightened, that's all."
Jaina could understand her brother's wish to believe that Tenel Ka was all right and
waiting for them to come and rescue her, she knew he loved the young princess very much.
Perhaps with greater feeling than Jaina could claim she did anyone. Well, there was
Zekk. But Zekk had disappeared from her life many years ago, and Jaina didn't care very much
to revisit that part of her heart. She just wanted Jacen to make sure that he wasn't fooling
himself into being overly optimistic because of his feelings.
Yes, it was a very negative viewpoint, and she did hope with all her heart that her
friend was alive and well, but Jaina had learnt many things while with the NRI. The most
important was this: if life has the opportunity to kick you while you're down, it will do so
with the most unadulterated glee. Suffering was wound through existence to make sure you
treasured every moment you escaped it. Without such an equalizer, living would be pointless
and unfulfilling.
"Jacen," Jaina began tentatively, "if you didn't see her afterwards, how can you be
sure?" Lowie barked his support of Jaina's supposition. He, like her, had experienced
too much to be blindly optimistic.
"Of course, I'm sure," Jacen snapped. "You think I would be sitting here waiting for
you to come and back me up if I thought she was in immediate danger or severely hurt?" Jacen
took a quick measure of the gazes his sister and friend were directing toward him. "You don't
believe me, do you? You think I'm fooling myself," he stated bitterly. "Jaina, I know you
were crushed when you gave up hope of Zekk returning from the unknown regions, but don't
project what you thought to be your mistake onto me."
It was Jaina's turn to stiffen, this time. Her face soured and she looked at her
sibling with a resentful shock. The expression seemed to cry out at the underhandedness of
his comment. "That was uncalled for," she replied coldly.
"No, it wasn't. I'm not hoping because I've nothing else left here, Jaina. I know
that Tenel Ka is alive and well, relatively speaking. Unlike your situation, I have proof."
"How's that, then?" she challenged. He couldn't possibly have proof, not if everything
happened the way he had said. One couldn't really check on or get a good enough look at
someone to form such an opinion if falling through a sinkhole at the time.
"Nyar told me she's all right," Jacen stated. "And I trust and respect his word.
After all, he did help me, and brought you both here."
"Nyar?" Jaina watched as her brother gestured to a large, yet seemingly elderly
creature that lay neatly upon the rocky floor. For the first time since getting into the
argument, Jaina actively remembered where she was and what was around her. The passage was
fairly large in terms of cave systems, lit by natural phosphorescence, and occupied by a great
throng of the short haired beasts that had attacked Lowie and herself in the grasslands. "You
mean the jumpers? They're intelligent? I thought you were exercising your Force powers, using
them to lead us."
"Of course, I'm intelligent, young female," Nyar said, sitting up on his haunches.
"Do you think I would have had the presence of mind to help you or your brother if I were no
more aware than that stone?" A greying paw flicked in the direction of a pile of loose rocks.
"I find it disturbing that you so easily dismiss that which is different from you. Is this a
habit of yours, or simply a special reaction in my case?"
Jaina's cheeks stained a warm red, as she felt the embarrassment of being chastised
like a small school girl run rampant through her body. "I didn't mean to insult or dismiss
you," she stumbled. "It is just that, when we first encountered beings like yourself on this
planet, the slight contact I was able to make with one revealed nothing more than an
overwhelming need to feed. There were no higher functions or thought to indicate
intelligence."
"Ah yes, I forgot for a moment. Forgive me," Nyar nodded his narrow head in rapid
dips and bobs. "I was there for that, you see. I drew those erring members of the pack
away from you once that I realized you were a Jedi."
"How is that possible?" Jaina wasn't sure whether she was quite ready to place all
her trust in this one pot. A smart player always held something back for the
next round. Her father had taught her that.
"Nyar and the rest of the jumpers are Force sensitive, Jaina," Jacen interjected.
"Allow me to explain, young one." Nyar ambled another step closer to Jaina and peered
up into her face with seemingly timeless eyes. The gaze trapped her, immediately locking her
to where she stood, her body oblivious to whatever she told it. "What you sensed in my
brethren was correct. The instinct for survival is but all that remains of them, now. A
very long time ago, myself and my companions crashed here, on this planet. The years of
isolation wore on my people, until finally, only I remembered the ways of old. And so, when
the situation necessitates it, I use our bond with nature to influence the others into doing
as I desire. That is how you were saved, and why my brethren do not consume you now."
"Oh," Jaina managed, momentarily stunned at such a revelation. A small shiver
quivered its way up her spine, a further reminder of what Nyar had just pointed out: she
was in a room full of predators. "Well," she began, clearing her throat and gathering herself
together, "thank you for helping us earlier and guarding us against the others now. I would
hate to be consumed by my newest friends."
"It is of little matter, young female. At my age, I do what I feel is right when I
can. Though, I think, perhaps, that you should prepare yourselves and move along. While I
am far from feeble, this kind of concerted effort will leave me very much drained, sometime
soon. As you said, I would hate for my new friends to be here when that happens." Nyar
managed a sad smile that made Jaina see him as more of a tired, old grandfather than an
elderly beast.
"Which means," Jacen said, "that we should start discussing how we plan to help
Tenel Ka."
"Right, Jacen. Right. Well, assuming everything is as you've described it, and she
is all right and able to move on her own, what else can you tell us about where you were being
held?" Jaina questioned him. "Because if we are going to mount a rescue, we need all the
information we can get."
Jacen rubbed his chin for a moment, his fingers gliding over the rough stubble that
had long since grown in because of his imprisonment. "We were taken to a complex of some
kind. I would say an old military facility. Tenel Ka and I were kept in the hangar bay,
I believe. In any case, it was very large and very empty with the exception of the section
of wall that she had us locked onto."
"She?" Jaina asked, already sure of the answer.
"A woman named Gwynandra. I bumped into her one day at Shental...."
"It's all right, Jacen," Jaina said, waving for him to continue with the briefing.
"I know all about Gwynandra Salanon."
Jacen looked at his sister for a moment, a question on the verge of his lips, but
then decided all explanations could be left for later. There were more pressing things to
attend to at the moment. "She seems to have a pretty large contingent of help. Possibly
hired guns that are mostly armed with blasters or some close quarters weapons. They have a
group of speeders rigged with a more impressive caliber canon, and some swoops."
Jaina nodded her head in understanding. "Yeah, Lowie and I have already had the
pleasure of meeting some of her swoop jockeys. What else?"
"Not much, really. They did, however, have some ysalamiri in the hangar. That's
why it took us so long to make a break for it in the first place."
Jaina frowned. Having ysalamiri around added a very serious dimension to whatever
plans they made. "That's going to make things entirely more difficult than I expected. Though
it does go along way to explaining why I could never find you through the Force."
Jacen allowed a brief grin to flash across his features. "Worried, were you?"
"Me? Worried about you?" Jaina pointed to herself in innocence. "Why would I? It's
not like this is the first time you've seemingly disappeared with death a hair's width behind
you."
"Okay. Okay. I get it, Jaya. No more falling off floating cities, wandering ravaged
worlds, or being abducted by crazed girls for me. You can put your mind at ease, as I'll never
be more than two steps behind you again."
"On second thought," Jaina teased, "I don't think anyone should have to handle that
much of you. I doubt they would survive the jokes."
Jacen grabbed at his chest and moaned theatrically. "Oh, she wounds me so. Balafel
thorns may be sharp, but nothing digs so deep as a Jaina Solo verbal barb."
"Seriously though, Jacen," Jaina began, a relaxed smile finally lighting her features.
"If she had ysalamiri, then there is no way we can let ourselves become exposed in that hangar
of yours. It would take away any advantage we have over their superior numbers."
"Then we'll have to do it on the quiet, won't we? To keep every one from being exposed,
only one of us should go into the hangar. The manacles can be manually unclasped, so the lack
of Force won't be a problem."
"That's assuming that the only problem you'll face inside will be manacles, Jacen."
Lowie roared his agreement of Jaina's assessment.
"The other two members of our party will just have to make sure they keep Gwyn and her
men busy enough for me to get in and get out unnoticed."
"Wait, wait. You? When did we decide that you would be the one to go in? Hell, when
did we decide that we were even using this plan?" Jaina's voice rose sharply, her sudden
displeasure racing through the climbing tone.
"It's the only way that makes sense, Jaina. Gwyn has my lightsaber and Tenel Ka's.
That makes me of little use on the defensive and lessens my impact on the distraction front.
Besides, didn't you and Lowie receive all sorts of covert training from the NRI? Keeping a
bunch of mercenaries busy for a few minutes should be simple."
"Sure, Jace, we'll just snap our fingers and make them all go away. I thought you said
they had speeders armed with light artillery. We're not just going to be able to swat fire
power like that away with our sabers. One mistake while we're trying to keep them guessing and
it would all be over."
"But Jaina, we need to...."
"Excuse me," Nyar stated, his quiet voice somehow cutting through the argument. "But
perhaps you will allow us to even out the numbers. Will that increase your chances of success?"
Both Jacen and Jaina looked at Nyar, then back at each other, smiles growing on their
faces. A solid plan began to form between the two.
* * *
"Captain Solo?"
Han turned from the two NRI agents he had been talking to inside the conference room
and found himself face to face with a young, blonde man, dressed in the most garishly colored
clothing he had ever seen in his life. He rolled his eyes upward, wondering how in the name of
creation security managed to let this kid into the room. It was, after all, the headquarters
for the search for his wife and a supposedly ultra secure area.
"Do you want something?" he asked, managing a slight nod in Chewie's direction, just in
case the kid decided not to leave without some convincing.
"I'm Raynar Thul and this is Elle Mathys," the boy stated while pointing toward an even
younger, black haired girl who stood behind him. Han couldn't help but feel confused, as the
boy looked expectantly at him.
"I'm not sure what you want, kid," he began, "but this is not the place to find it."
"Sir, we were sent to here to help you by Master Skywalker. You do remember signing
the petitions to allow our presence, don't you?" Raynar asked.
"You're the Jedi?" Han skeptically appraised both Raynar and Elle. "Great, the kid
sends me more kids. Leave it to him."
"I assure you, Captain, we are both very capable, and Master Skywalker has the utmost
confidence in us."
"Oh, well then, by all means, why don't you take over?" Han sardonically swept his
arms to encompass the entire conference room.
"Captain Solo, who are these children?" A middle aged man, sporting a greying beard
and hair, and dressed in a very crisp Republic uniform, stepped up to Raynar and Elle and
searched them with his eyes. His arms were folded neatly behind his back, and a rather
antiquated blaster was strapped at his hip. He had the all to palpable presence of a career
military officer, and a zealous one at that.
"General, these are the Jedi that Luke sent us to help with the search."
"Sir," Raynar said bowing smartly. Elle, who was feeling very unsure of herself,
quickly followed suit.
"He sent children? I knew there was a reason I was against this from the beginning,"
the general scoffed.
"Kids," Han muttered, not sure whether he was angry with himself for agreeing to Luke's
choice of Jedi or for having need of them in the first place, "this is General Terion, the
director of New Republic Intelligence."
"Well, now that the introductions are all over with, I would like to take Elle out to
confirm a theory of mine," Raynar said. "If you could just point out the offices and quarters
of one Senator Meecron to me, I would be happy to get out of your way."
"Senator Meecron?" General Terion asked, suddenly turning back towards the Jedi and
Han.
"Yes. He is the representative of Dasney."
"Why are you going to look at him?" Han asked, beating the general to it.
Raynar smiled. "Call it Jedi intuition."
Han sighed, realizing that by now he should be ready to accept anything a Jedi might
say or do without blinking. "Hey you, over there," he snapped, flagging down a spare
technician. "Get this kid the locations on those rooms. Chewie, check the power on your
bowcaster. We'll be going with them."
"You will, sir?" Elle managed to stutter. She would usually never shy from any
situation or any person, but this, this was just too much too fast.
"Yeah, we will. Between my wife, my brother-in-law, and my kids, you think I'm going
to ignore it when a Jedi comes up with something? Give me some credit, kid. I may be somewhat
skeptical, but I'm not stupid."
"Here you are, sir," the technician said, handing Han two sheets of plascard. "The
locations of both the senator's living quarters and offices are marked in red. Just follow
the designated path."
"Great," Han said, moving toward the door. "Let's get going then."
"Just a moment, Captain Solo," General Terion snapped, holding up his hand. "I would
like to accompany you with a few men. Just in case this does turn up some results."
"That's fine," Han called over his shoulder. "Grab whoever you need and meet us
outside." As he and Chewie shuffled Raynar and Elle out of the conference room, the General
beckoned to two of the NRI agents to follow. He fell in line behind them, being very careful
to replace a small, blinking remote to his pocket.
* * *
Anakin felt a shot of pain rip up his shoulder as he hit the tarmac of the landing
platform, midway through a tuck and roll. The first volley of shots from the destroyer droids
cut through the area where had just been standing and tore great smoking holes in the fuselage
of his starfighter. The smell of acrid smoke and burning electronics motivated Anakin to
forget the pain and find his feet, allowing him to snap his lightsaber from his belt and bring
the glowing blade to bear.
The first droid to turn and track him snapped a burst of fierce red shots, only to
find them sent back in its direction. Anakin grimaced as the reflected fire was easily
absorbed by the destroyer droid's shields. He obviously wasn't going to beat them that way.
He would have to find something a little more creative to deal with the situation. That was,
of course, assuming he lived long enough to think of anything. Landing platforms offered
nothing in the way of cover for one to hide behind and regroup. This would be a battle of
pure reflex and instinct.
Anakin only hoped he had what it took to win the contest.
Seeing that the other two droids had now followed their fellow and turned toward him,
Anakin took two quick steps and leaped for the nearest of his enemies. As he spun through the
air in a small ball, flashes of red and deep ominous cracks showered about his body. By the
time he had hit his feet, Anakin was fervently thanking whatever in the universe seemed to
protect you when you did something incredibly stupid.
The nearest destroyer droid spun on its claw-like feet, ready to take aim at the young
Jedi. Anakin twirled to its side, swiping at the droid, and causing the myriad of sparks to
erupt from where his lightsaber struck its shielding.
Ignoring the momentarily blinded droid to his left, Anakin thrust his hand out at the
farthest, catching it midsection with a Force push. The droid's knees seemed to bend and hold
for a moment, but then it crumpled and shot off the side of the platform, spiraling endlessly
toward the surface of Coruscant far below.
Anakin managed to duck a cloud of shots from the second droid, while taking another
slice at the first with his blade. He felt a quick snap of his wrist as the lightsaber bounced
off its shielding in another shower of futile pyrotechnics.
This was getting him nowhere fast.
Of course, it could be worse, he was sure. Just how, though, Anakin wasn't.
He jammed his teeth into his lip, fighting back a cry, as he was too slow to dodge
all the blaster bolts this time, and one grazed the outside of his arm. A light trace of smoke
lifted from the sleeve of his tunic, but any blood had long since been cauterized by the heat
of the blast.
Gritting his teeth against the pain, Anakin managed to duck behind the first droid yet
again, keeping it pivoting in circles and taking himself out of the range of the other, who had
just skinned him. He flipped his lightsaber over and thrust the blade through the tarmac,
turning his arms in a wide fast circle. The first droid turned to blast him and promptly
fell through the now gaping crater that lay before it.
Anakin managed a slight grin before another cluster of blaster bolts drove him from
contemplation. Two down, one to go. Things were looking much better than they had only a
few moments ago.
For a time, Anakin was content to simply stalemate the droid, deflecting everything
back that it sent his way. Of course, he didn't have all day to sit and play with the
mechanical killer, and this back and fourth volley wasn't harming either of them. Anakin
used his lightsaber, the droid its shields. This had to end soon, though. It was obvious
to him that the traitor had known he was coming. Why else would three of these monstrosities
have been waiting for him? The more Anakin thought about this, the more anxious he felt about
finally getting to his mother and venting the information.
Breaking their deadlock, Anakin ducked to the side, away from the incoming blaster
bolts, and eyed the pieces of wreckage that lie next to his fighter. Relaxing himself, he
gathered some Force tendrils and allowed them to extend from his fingertips. The invisible
threads wrapped around the two largest hunks of twisted metal, then hurled them forward in a
blur of charred yellow and silver.
The first piece struck the droid's shields near its left shoulder and tipped it
unsteadily backwards, the rear pincer-like leg barely keeping the droid upright. The second,
taking full advantage of the destroyer's imbalance, struck it at the front knee and finalized
the droid's tumble. It landed on its thick spine, writhed for a moment, unable to get back on
its feet, then dropped its shields and contracted back into a ball.
Seeing his chance, Anakin threw himself forward, using the Force for an added burst of
speed, and swung his lightsaber threw the center of the metallic ball. For a moment nothing
happened, then a large creaking groan echoed from within the droid and various bits of metal
and wire began to fall to the tarmac, creating an almost artistic tangle of technology.
Anakin snapped his lightsaber off and allowed a moment's quiet breath to seep slowly
into his body. He then replaced the ancient weapon, and beckoned toward Artoo. "Come on," he
said, indicating the shuttle that had carried the droids, "there's our way to the palace."
Artoo beeped worriedly about his master's arm. Anakin, however, merely shrugged off
the droid's worries.
"Don't worry, Artoo. I'll have it taken care of later." Anakin's face suddenly
clouded for a moment. "I feel.... troubled, Artoo. There's something nipping at the heels
of my awareness, something elusive. It hasn't made itself known yet, but the tinges feel
wrong somehow." He stared out into the skyline for another few heartbeats before stepping
forward. "Come on," he muttered again, his voice once again locked in determination and
betraying no hint of prior unease.
* * *
"What's wrong? You don't feel like talking to me?" Gwynandra Salanon paced around
the bound Tenel Ka, glaring at her and trying desperately to elicit some type of response. So
far, she had been far less than successful. The girl would speak to her, though, oh yes. She
would eventually acknowledge that Gwyn was far her superior and much more deserving of Jacen.
"Look, you must know that remaining silent is pointless. You've already lost the
battle, girl. Jacen is mine. In fact, I'd say you never really had him." Gwyn looked closely
at Tenel Ka, but the warrior girl's bowed head reveled not so much as a flicker of an eyelid.
She was being entirely too irritating.
"Yes, that's right," Gwyn began again, determined to push Tenel Ka to the breaking
point. "It's true that you might have controlled him through his body for a time, but you
never actually had his heart. Just look at you. You cry harlot with every fiber of your
being." Gwyn saw the barest movement of Tenel Ka's eye. It had seemed to flash in her
direction.
Yes, that's it. Get angry with me; yell, scream, cry, and curse my name. And then,
when it is all over, you'll have finally realized what a shadow of a relationship you truly
had with him. You will realize the reason you were so easily riled was because the truth
could cut through any illusions you created for yourself.
"Look at your clothing," Gwyn jeered. "Two cuts of reptile hide, one barely enough
to cover your breasts, the other your crotch. It is disgusting, to flaunt yourself with such
abandon and seduce the innocent. Because, and you can trust me on this, had you ever acted
with any decency, Jacen would never have touched you. But, unfortunately, you broke him
rather easily with your outright seduction. I find that rather sad, that he could be so
quickly overwhelmed, but let's just attribute that to your obviously long tested skills,
no?"
*Yes!* Gwyn cheered to herself as Tenel Ka finally picked her head up and faced her.
*She must finally realize how pathetically inferior she really is* Adopting a polite smile,
Gwyn took a step back and gestured to Tenel Ka. "You want to say something?"
"You do not know me," Tenel Ka stated. "You do not know Jacen. You look at him,
at us, through a fog of fantasy that suits your emotional desperation. I do not
know how you came to choose him as your target, or why you have endlessly tortured him with
those dreams."
"Tortured!" Gwyn spat. "How the hell do you think he could be tortured by that! It
was his greatest moment, his ascendancy! It must give him pleasure beyond belief to be able
to feel it all so vividly again. That was the moment he became a Jedi, a man."
"You are wrong. Jacen is the first to admit that was the worst time of his life. It
was his weakest moment, our weakest moment. From that, though, we have forged something
powerful. Our bond will stand against anything, including yourself. The moment we achieved
that," Tenel Ka emphasized, "was the greatest triumph, our ascendancy. To know someone as we
know one another elevates the spirit and the heart to a plane which you will never grace."
A trickle of blood slipped down Gwyn's chin as she ground her lip between her teeth.
She stood for a moment, eye's blazing with unadulterated hatred, before speaking. When she
finally did, the chill in her voice rivaled the iciest planes on Hoth.
"You lie. I do know Jacen. I know him well enough to see that he would never
consciously chose someone like you to love."
"It is as I said," Tenel Ka said simply. "You see us through a fugue that shapes
situations and people to your needs. Hence, your absolute conviction regarding Jacen and
myself."
"It's not a lie!" Gwyn exploded. "You, you are mired in deceit and trickery." Gwyn
rounded Tenel Ka's prison, her body shaking more violently with every word. "I will not let
you muddle my perception with half truths, and I will not stand here and listen to you sully
Jacen by speaking of his love for you!"
* * *
As Gwyn stormed from the hangar, Tenel Ka felt a chill descend over her. It filled up
the cavernous building, rising from floor to ceiling, and sneaking into every crack. It swam
through the ysalamiri bubble and cut through her, straight to the bone.
The feeling put her every instinct as a warrior dancing in alert, and Tenel Ka knew,
finally, that there would be no negotiation now, no easy way out. The pieces had been put in
place; one queen light, one queen dark. The battle was about to begin.
To Be Continued...
