Disclaimer: If I owned all these characters, they wouldn't be so screwed up as they are now. As it stands, the "Star Wars" crew is
property of George Lucas.
Rating: PG-13
Author's note: I haven't had much to work with lately, so I apologize for the long delay. If you really miss my writing, you can always
review other things I've written. And no, I have no shame.
RETURN TO SELF--Chapter 9
Leia waited impatiently in a conference room she had "borrowed" for the evening. The Jedi were doing their best to arrive on time, but
planet security had gotten much tighter since the Vong threats, and no one wanted to take any chances. Even Luke was having trouble
getting on and off the surface.
Her brother walked in then, the newly perpetual frown on his face. Nodding at those students, and former students, who called out to
him, Luke made his way to where his sister was standing. After a long hug, he sighed.
"Didn't this used to be easier? We'd get some ships, fly to a system, blow up the bad guys, and be home in time for supper. What
happened?"
Leia chuckled. "We've gotten older, Luke. It's not that easy anymore." She looked around the room. "Is this almost everyone?"
The Jedi Master nodded. "I just had to give clearance for Kyp and a few of his comrades to join us. You can imagine how happy
planetary security was to learn they'd be here."
Leia chuckled again.
Once Kyp and his friends arrived, Leia gestured for everyone to be seated. There were general murmurs of discontent and curiosity,
but everyone eventually quieted down when Luke took the podium. No matter how long one was away from the Academy, Master
Skywalker always deserved respect.
"Thank you all for coming," he said , his voice tense. "You all received word from Anakin or Jacen that we needed your help. I'm glad
to see you took my nephews' words seriously." He let out a sigh. "The Vong are asking for us all to surrender; you know that. The
Republic believes that is the best course of action. We are, apparently, dispensable."
The whole group began to shout out protests. Surprisingly enough, Leia noted, Kyp and his friends merely sat back and watched. Luke
waited a few more moments before gesturing for everyone to calm down.
"We cannot let that dissuade us from helping the Republic, however. We are her citizens; if she falls, we are all doomed." He received
a few nods of agreement, but everyone else remained skeptical or angry. "We know where the Vong are; they've made no attempt to
hide their whereabouts. It is time for us to act!"
"Master Skywalker, a question?"
Everyone turned towards the back of the room at the sound of Kyp's voice. He stood and bowed politely before speaking again. "Are
you saying that we should...attack the Vong?"
The group began to murmur again and Luke waited for silence. "A passive-aggressive attack, but yes Kyp, an attack nonetheless." He
waited until everyone settled before continuing to speak. "You were all chosen because you can fly, and you can shoot with accuracy.
If you agree to helping our cause, you will be given a data pad with your instructions." Several hands shot up to ask questions but Luke
waved them down. "Do not misunderstand, this is a group effort. But we will not announce the plans here. We need loyalty to the plan
before we tell you what you'll be doing."
One by one, everyone in the room stood up and walked forward for their assignments.
*****
Mara decided that, if she survived, she was going to give up her life as a Jedi and see if Talon would take her back. She watched,
amazed, at how quickly the other Force-sensitives had learned from Callista. With two leaders, the group now felt that they could act,
that they didn't have to die, forgotten, on a Vong ship. And if they did die, they knew it would be in helping to destroy a threat to the
galaxy that was bigger than the Empire had ever been.
There was a rustling sound from one wall, and a door suddenly opened. Beings scattered quickly, hoping to cover up their training activities by looking forlorn or sick. Three Vong entered the room, looking around with great interest. Every female was dragged
from where she was and lined up against a wall. Mara watched in surreal fascination as the first grabbed Callista, then herself.
*This is it,* she thought, standing tall. *They're going to make sure the Jedi cannot reproduce by shooting us all.* She exchanged a
nervous, but strong, glance with the gray-eyed Jedi on her right and prepared for the worst.
One by one, the women were examined. The Vong moved rather quickly down the line, pushing each woman back into the center of
the room when they were done. Callista was given the same treatment, but all three Vong stopped to look at Mara intently.
*This cannot be good.*
The three Vong spoke to each other in their native tongue. Although she did not understand, Mara could tell the discussion was heated.
Eventually, one of them grabbed her by the arm and began to drag her out of the room.
"What are you doing? Where are you taking me?" It was not hard to make her voice sound panicked and frightened; those emotions
were very real to her at that moment.
There was no response as they dragged her into the hallway and locked the other Jedi into their cell once more.
*****
Jaina stood in Wedge Antilles' office, waiting for him to stop talking on the com. She had been grateful the man had agreed to see her,
so she kept her patience while he attended to his own business.
The call finally ended and Wedge looked up at her. He smiled and gestured towards a seat, which she declined, shaking her head.
"This won't take very long, sir but I...I have to ask you something."
Wedge, being the smart man that he was, smiled and nodded. "I always get a little scared when Solos and Skywalkers ask me for things.
What is it that you need? A leave of absence?"
She shook her head. "Actually, I need to steal a squadron of X-Wings, and wondered if that would be all right with you?"
The pilot started to laugh. Jaina was put off at first, but then realized he wasn't laughing at her maliciously; he actually did find the
request extremely amusing and probably not too surprising.
"Your mother came to me earlier suggesting the same thing. I didn't think she was serious, but I think you are." He wiped a tear from
his eye. "This is for Jedi matters I assume?"
"Republic matters by way of the Jedi, yes sir."
Wedge ran his hand along his chin for a moment, then turned on his computer screen. With a few button pushes, he brought up what
he was looking for and began to nod.
"I can conveniently 'forget' to assign a security task force to the docking bay at 0300 hours. You'll have thirty minutes to get the
fighters out of orbit." He looked up at her, an eyebrow raised. "Will that be enough time?"
Jaina nodded. "It will have to be, won't it?"
*****
Mara winced as another Vong slapped her against the face. Half-blinded from the beating, her whole body was numb. She couldn't
imagine, however, that there was much skin left on her body that wasn't bruised. With another lash of the whip, she let out her first
yelp of pain.
"Finally, she succumbs."
Mara turned towards the voice, but couldn't see anything. She struggled against the ropes, which only made her more lightheaded and
nautious. She sagged against the post they had her tied to.
The Jedi felt a hand touching her arms and facing, purposefully probing some of her deeper wounds. Mara whimpered, the only
reaction she could muster.
"Yes, when the Jeedai Master sees you, he will definitely lose heart."
*Luke!* How had they known who she was? Did they have Luke? She tried to reach out for him in the Force, but felt nothing. If he
was with Ryft that would make sense. If he was with the Vong, however, that would also make sense. Weakly, she reached out to
Callista and found that she could feel the woman with her mind. *Callista,* she projected through the pain, *they know who I am;
they're going to use me against Luke. Time is up.*
There wasn't a worded response, but Callista understood the gravity of what Mara had said.
As the whip fell against Mara's skin again, she gave into the pain and passed out.
property of George Lucas.
Rating: PG-13
Author's note: I haven't had much to work with lately, so I apologize for the long delay. If you really miss my writing, you can always
review other things I've written. And no, I have no shame.
RETURN TO SELF--Chapter 9
Leia waited impatiently in a conference room she had "borrowed" for the evening. The Jedi were doing their best to arrive on time, but
planet security had gotten much tighter since the Vong threats, and no one wanted to take any chances. Even Luke was having trouble
getting on and off the surface.
Her brother walked in then, the newly perpetual frown on his face. Nodding at those students, and former students, who called out to
him, Luke made his way to where his sister was standing. After a long hug, he sighed.
"Didn't this used to be easier? We'd get some ships, fly to a system, blow up the bad guys, and be home in time for supper. What
happened?"
Leia chuckled. "We've gotten older, Luke. It's not that easy anymore." She looked around the room. "Is this almost everyone?"
The Jedi Master nodded. "I just had to give clearance for Kyp and a few of his comrades to join us. You can imagine how happy
planetary security was to learn they'd be here."
Leia chuckled again.
Once Kyp and his friends arrived, Leia gestured for everyone to be seated. There were general murmurs of discontent and curiosity,
but everyone eventually quieted down when Luke took the podium. No matter how long one was away from the Academy, Master
Skywalker always deserved respect.
"Thank you all for coming," he said , his voice tense. "You all received word from Anakin or Jacen that we needed your help. I'm glad
to see you took my nephews' words seriously." He let out a sigh. "The Vong are asking for us all to surrender; you know that. The
Republic believes that is the best course of action. We are, apparently, dispensable."
The whole group began to shout out protests. Surprisingly enough, Leia noted, Kyp and his friends merely sat back and watched. Luke
waited a few more moments before gesturing for everyone to calm down.
"We cannot let that dissuade us from helping the Republic, however. We are her citizens; if she falls, we are all doomed." He received
a few nods of agreement, but everyone else remained skeptical or angry. "We know where the Vong are; they've made no attempt to
hide their whereabouts. It is time for us to act!"
"Master Skywalker, a question?"
Everyone turned towards the back of the room at the sound of Kyp's voice. He stood and bowed politely before speaking again. "Are
you saying that we should...attack the Vong?"
The group began to murmur again and Luke waited for silence. "A passive-aggressive attack, but yes Kyp, an attack nonetheless." He
waited until everyone settled before continuing to speak. "You were all chosen because you can fly, and you can shoot with accuracy.
If you agree to helping our cause, you will be given a data pad with your instructions." Several hands shot up to ask questions but Luke
waved them down. "Do not misunderstand, this is a group effort. But we will not announce the plans here. We need loyalty to the plan
before we tell you what you'll be doing."
One by one, everyone in the room stood up and walked forward for their assignments.
*****
Mara decided that, if she survived, she was going to give up her life as a Jedi and see if Talon would take her back. She watched,
amazed, at how quickly the other Force-sensitives had learned from Callista. With two leaders, the group now felt that they could act,
that they didn't have to die, forgotten, on a Vong ship. And if they did die, they knew it would be in helping to destroy a threat to the
galaxy that was bigger than the Empire had ever been.
There was a rustling sound from one wall, and a door suddenly opened. Beings scattered quickly, hoping to cover up their training activities by looking forlorn or sick. Three Vong entered the room, looking around with great interest. Every female was dragged
from where she was and lined up against a wall. Mara watched in surreal fascination as the first grabbed Callista, then herself.
*This is it,* she thought, standing tall. *They're going to make sure the Jedi cannot reproduce by shooting us all.* She exchanged a
nervous, but strong, glance with the gray-eyed Jedi on her right and prepared for the worst.
One by one, the women were examined. The Vong moved rather quickly down the line, pushing each woman back into the center of
the room when they were done. Callista was given the same treatment, but all three Vong stopped to look at Mara intently.
*This cannot be good.*
The three Vong spoke to each other in their native tongue. Although she did not understand, Mara could tell the discussion was heated.
Eventually, one of them grabbed her by the arm and began to drag her out of the room.
"What are you doing? Where are you taking me?" It was not hard to make her voice sound panicked and frightened; those emotions
were very real to her at that moment.
There was no response as they dragged her into the hallway and locked the other Jedi into their cell once more.
*****
Jaina stood in Wedge Antilles' office, waiting for him to stop talking on the com. She had been grateful the man had agreed to see her,
so she kept her patience while he attended to his own business.
The call finally ended and Wedge looked up at her. He smiled and gestured towards a seat, which she declined, shaking her head.
"This won't take very long, sir but I...I have to ask you something."
Wedge, being the smart man that he was, smiled and nodded. "I always get a little scared when Solos and Skywalkers ask me for things.
What is it that you need? A leave of absence?"
She shook her head. "Actually, I need to steal a squadron of X-Wings, and wondered if that would be all right with you?"
The pilot started to laugh. Jaina was put off at first, but then realized he wasn't laughing at her maliciously; he actually did find the
request extremely amusing and probably not too surprising.
"Your mother came to me earlier suggesting the same thing. I didn't think she was serious, but I think you are." He wiped a tear from
his eye. "This is for Jedi matters I assume?"
"Republic matters by way of the Jedi, yes sir."
Wedge ran his hand along his chin for a moment, then turned on his computer screen. With a few button pushes, he brought up what
he was looking for and began to nod.
"I can conveniently 'forget' to assign a security task force to the docking bay at 0300 hours. You'll have thirty minutes to get the
fighters out of orbit." He looked up at her, an eyebrow raised. "Will that be enough time?"
Jaina nodded. "It will have to be, won't it?"
*****
Mara winced as another Vong slapped her against the face. Half-blinded from the beating, her whole body was numb. She couldn't
imagine, however, that there was much skin left on her body that wasn't bruised. With another lash of the whip, she let out her first
yelp of pain.
"Finally, she succumbs."
Mara turned towards the voice, but couldn't see anything. She struggled against the ropes, which only made her more lightheaded and
nautious. She sagged against the post they had her tied to.
The Jedi felt a hand touching her arms and facing, purposefully probing some of her deeper wounds. Mara whimpered, the only
reaction she could muster.
"Yes, when the Jeedai Master sees you, he will definitely lose heart."
*Luke!* How had they known who she was? Did they have Luke? She tried to reach out for him in the Force, but felt nothing. If he
was with Ryft that would make sense. If he was with the Vong, however, that would also make sense. Weakly, she reached out to
Callista and found that she could feel the woman with her mind. *Callista,* she projected through the pain, *they know who I am;
they're going to use me against Luke. Time is up.*
There wasn't a worded response, but Callista understood the gravity of what Mara had said.
As the whip fell against Mara's skin again, she gave into the pain and passed out.
