Chapter nine

She knew where the Domination fleet was. She had to tell the Republic...it was the only thought on her mind. The consequences don't matter. As long as I tell them. She slid out of her room on the Annihilation, to be stopped in the hallway by Iddyl Jun, who was leaning on the walls.
"Going somewhere, beautiful one?" He said, softly. He walked towards her, and she backed away.

"Only to find you, Iddyl," She answered, putting on her best smile. Iddyl's eyes narrowed.
"Because if you were doing something else, then I would have you killed for doing something else. You're not still loyal to the Republic, are you?" She shook her head quickly, clearing her thoughts.
"No, no, no...of course not! I'm loyal to you and you only." Iddyl Jun smiled, and went on his way. Adi stretched out with the Force, and after he left, she headed down the hall. It was a trait of hers that she could sense where anybody was at any time, so she felt safer than she looked.

Communications. She had found the room she was looking for. She slipped inside, and stopped at the sight of the people there. This would be easier than she had estimated; she used the Force to hide herself, so they wouldn't notice her. She seated herself at a terminal and began.

State communication code.

2-483-IBD-7

State authorisation code for communication with Rebels.

88-392-483

Access code granted. State message.

Emergency message to Master Luke Skywalker. This is Adi. I've found the Domination fleet. The coordinates are 3892-mark-2-FJ//D...please, I don't have much time. I've placed my life on the line to send this to you. Tell Ben I love him. I don't know how long I can last out before they realise what I've done.

She paused, thinking. She then continued.

The fleet is huge. I think that if you actually come here, then you can destroy it without damaging anything else. I know that it may seem idiotic to you that I went along with this, but I swear upon my mother's grave that this will have a positive impact. I miss and cherish you all.

That's enough, she thought. No need to go overboard. But she paused, and wrote one last thing.

You can reply to me within an hour on the code Y-24-CX.

She pressed a key to send, and then, to her satisfaction, it said, Message sent. She smiled, and headed back to her room, thankful that Iddyl Jun wasn't there.

Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë

"Master Skywalker, you should see this." The communications officer on Corescant gestured for Luke to come over to him. "What do you make of it? A trap?" Luke stared at the writing, and closed his eyes. He opened them a moment later.

One of those Jedi things, thought the officer.
"No, it's not a trap. The Domination fleet? What's she talking about?" The man shrugged.

"I've no idea, sir. Maybe it ties in with the Star Destroyer assaults?" Luke frowned.
"Hm. Call Ben here please...I think he should see this. Are we able to reply to the message?" The officer looked over the message, and stopped at the sight of the return code.

"Yes, sir. She's given a code." Luke leaned forwards.

"All right then...do you mind?" He said, gesturing to the seat. "I would like to do this one personally, David." The officer bobbed his head in respect to the Jedi Master, and Luke seated himself down. Ben rushed into the room.
"Father! Did she really send a message?" Luke held up a hand for silence, handing him a data pad.
"Here's the message, son. I'm going to reply to it." Ben looked over it anxiously.
"Adi...she's in the hands of the enemy? She's risking her life again! But why?" Luke put finger to his lips, and said, "Son, don't worry. She'll get out of it."

Greetings, Master Skywalker. Would you like to reply to the message?

Luke couldn't help smiling at the friendly computer. It then faded, and he wrote,

Yes, I would like to reply.

Acknowledged. Please state message content.

Adi, we know your position and we have the coordinates. We promise that we shall come as soon as possible to retrieve you, and, hopefully, to defeat the Domination Fleet. If you can send us more information on the fleet, it would be extremely useful. Keep safe. We miss you, Ben especially.
End of message?

Yes. Please send.

Message sending...Error. Query=?message?not-sent{Problem-unknown- message-blocked. Block-unknown?resistance-to-message-reply-system}

Luke gasped. Adi had just been found out. Ben rushed forwards.

"No...Father, we must go after her now!"

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At that moment, Iddyl Jun threw a bleeding Adi across the room, his personal guards around him beating her with their hard, cruel Force pikes.

"You...liar, you fiend! How dare you...how dare you pose as my friend. What did you do? What did you tell them?" Adi smiled through her bleeding face, defiance in her eyes.
"I told them everything! I told them where the Fleet was! Soon, they'll be destroyed, and I don't give a damn if we go with it!" He struck her himself, and she didn't flinch.

"You lie! You'll cause a pain to them all...they shall suffer! I will speak with the Commander myself...and he will have you put to death! I thought you had feelings for me." Adi shrugged.

"I didn't, did I?" Iddyl turned away, seething.
"I don't know what will happen...if I kill you, there is no satisfaction. I want you to be by my side, I want to be us again as we once were...why did you betray me?" He asked, almost pleadingly.
"Why did you kill A'lianne?" Adi retorted, eyes dancing with rebellion. Iddyl Jun swore, and hurled a Force pike at her. She jerked to the left, and avoided it just in time. It vibrated in the wall it had hit.

"A'lianne was a fool." Before Adi could speak, he turned to the guards. "Take her to the prisons...with ysmalari. Don't let anybody find her, tell no-one. Leave no records of where she is. Only tell me which cell she is in, and memorise it for yourself. If anybody asks, ignore them, and tell them it's by my orders. Don't let anybody see you, either. We can't take foolish risks!" They bowed to him, and grabbed her by the arms, dragging her away kicking and yelling after him.

"Iddyl, your time will come to an end, and in that time, you will suffer for your crimes! You'll remember, and regret! Yes, I may die, but I don't care anymore. As long as you pay. Farewell, Iddyl! My friends will find you! My lover will find you!"

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Ben felt a disturbance in the Force — pain lanced through his sides, his back. He opened his eyes, and sat upright in bed. Adi? He knew what was going on. They had found her out...and they were hurting her. Adi! Hang in there! I'm coming! He doubted that she had heard, but he knew that somehow or other, she knew what she was going through.

Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë

Iddyl thought hard about what he was going to do with the rebellious, traitorous Adi. He knew that somehow or other, she would escape, or die trying. She would become a martyr, a heroine, and he didn't want that. But...how would he prevent it? He stopped pacing, and remembered. The duel. If he would challenge her again...she would be too weak to fight, and he would defeat her. He closed his eyes, and stretched out with the Force. He knew which cell she was in.

He walked briskly through the Annihilation, his thoughts set on the cell. He felt the presence of ysmalari, and knew she was near. He removed the ysmalari coiled around frames by the doors, and opened it. She was sitting in the middle of the floor, arms wrapped around her knees. She didn't look up when he came, but she seemed to know why she had come.

"You know, Adi?" Her lips moved only slightly.
"I know."
"Then you will come?" There was a slight smile on her face.

"I'll come. And we'll end it. Dead or alive." Iddyl Jun grabbed her by the wrist, and she went with him willingly.

They took the Firebird undetected away from the Imperial lines, and headed for Dusk.

Dusk.

The end of the line.

Dusk.

The end of Time.

Dusk.

When the sun falls.

Dusk.

When we end it all.

The words rung in Adi's mind. She didn't know where the thoughts came from. They just came.

Dusk.

Will I survive?

Dusk.

Will this be the day I die?

Dusk.

Will I prove the vision right?

Dusk.

The question is, will I die tonight?

Iddyl Jun glanced at her, uncertain of her thoughts. They gave her anxiety away. What was she thinking? These strange words...what vision? Did she see herself die? Then it meant he would be victorious.
"Your thoughts are strange, Adi." Adi gave him a sideways smile.
"They're always strange to those who don't understand." He swore, and they appeared before Dusk.
"We're here. Upon reaching the chamber, we will end it." He wondered how someone could be so willing, so...easy about this sort of thing. She was going to her death, for Palpatine's sake. And she was willingly coming. How badly did she want to end her life?
"Not very badly," she said, suddenly. Damn! Thought Iddyl. I didn't put up a guard.
"Then why are you so willingly doing this?" She smiled again.
"Because in the end, you will realise who you are." Iddyl Jun rolled his eyes.
"I told you, there's point trying-"

"-Knowing that you fear the truth?" She interrupted. "I know how you are inside. And you won't admit it. Say nothing now, save it til the end."

The minutes passed quickly. Soon, they were standing either side of the abyss, facing each other. A silence was held between them, the only sound was their lightsabers being drawn.

"Let us begin," said Iddyl Jun.
"And let us end it," she replied. The silence was broken by the snap-hiss of a red and blue lightsaber.

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Admiral Ackbar had his Calamari Cruiser hover in front of the fleet. X-Wings, Y-Wings, B-Wings and other manners of ships, including a few from their smuggler friend Talon Karrde, zipped around the large, huge fleet that formed the Republic's battalion. Not only did Karrde's people join them, but a new race discovered, the Kru'tans, dark grey-blue humanoid military specialists, had a fleet of their own to add. The Empire had forced most of their people into slavery, and this was their chance to get them back. Han Solo and Lando Calrissian once again were united in the Millennium Falcon, Chewbacca, Jaina, and Jacen accompanying them. Luke, Anakin and Ben flew in their X-Wings, Mara following the Falcon in her ship, the Shrike, with Leia and Kyle aiding her. Threepio also arrived to view the battle.

Another father-and-son X-Wing team were Wedge Antilles and Daikann, and they stood in the same squadron as Luke and Ben. Ben was still mystified about how Daikann knew that day, but he didn't answer when questioned. A voice came over the radio of every pilot in the Republic, and it was that of Admiral Ackbar's.

"We all know that here, today, we are going to fight the last of Thrawn's people," He said, gruffly. "We will stop the Domination Fleet from spreading havoc around the galaxy. We will stop the Star Destroyers from raining death upon innocents. The people of all the planets who fell will be avenged. But this information of its location and size comes from one of the best — one who young Ben Skywalker stumbled upon not so long ago. Adi Dawn-Kin is still a prisoner, and, the Force forbids, if she falls, then we will fight the Imperial rebels to the last man. If the Force persists, then we will be victorious today! May the Force be with us all." He signed off, and he turned to one of his Calamari officers. "Give the word to go to hyperspace on my mark. 3...2...1..."

Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë Ë

The dancers did their dance of Death as they spun on the Temple floor, lightsabers clashing. They did most of it in silence, though Iddyl Jun threw in a word or two.
"How much do you love Ben, Adi?" He shouted, bringing his lightsaber down again and again.
"More than my heart can handle," she answered.
"Then why do you constantly do this? If you loved him, then you would not cause him pain by running off and risking your life."

"It's all for the good of the Republic."

"Did you not love me, once?"

"I loved the Iddyl Jun who was good and clean, the Iddyl Jun who would make me smile if I was unhappy, the Iddyl Jun who would count the stars and promise he would never turn to the dark side..." The same Iddyl Jun gave way to rage.
"I-never-promised-that!" He screamed, bringing his lightsaber down for every word spoken. Adi blocked each shot, and, as she backed towards the abyss, jumped aside, so his back would be to the large chasm. "You-are-a-slut! A-fiend! You-do-not-deserve-to-" Adi brought her lightsaber quickly to his neck, stopping it an inch away.
"-Live?" She finished for him. "When I spare your life so gratefully?" He sneered, and backed away.
"Since you went back to the light side, you are nothing but weak. We could've been together, as we once were, but we are not." She smiled.
"Oh, the old Iddyl still lives within me. But not this one. No, Ben replaces this one." Iddyl Jun screamed again, and, using his anger against her, for every word spoken gave a fierce blow. Adi merely laughed.

"Oh, Iddyl. You don't see? When we are both dead, you will turn in your grave knowing the Domination Fleet and your friend Damon will be defeated. We will die, yes, but I will still be triumphant. As we speak, the Alliance is coming with their own fleet, to stop the invaders. The end of the road lies here — here — Iddyl. Kill me, but it will be to no effect. My foster-father, Master Luke and Ben will come and finish you off. You will have nobody to stalk then." His eyes blazed.
"We will see...your friends will be crushed in the end."

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Commander Andrew Damon swore and cursed Iddyl Jun. He had brought that... that snake in, believing she was on his side. Then he was stupid enough to bring the Rebel to the Fleet, and didn't keep a weather eye on her. How could he trust a Jedi? She must've boggled the minds of those working in the Communications Room, so she could send word. But he didn't care. He cracked his knuckles, and smiled smugly. The Domination Fleet by far was larger than any of the Republic — no, the Rebellion.

Suddenly, alarm klaxons sounded on the Annihilation, alerting him to get back to the bridge. Upon arriving, his First Officer saluted, and said, "Sir, the Rebels are arriving. Shall we attack and board?" Damon shook his head.
"No, no. I want every single one of them destroyed. No survivors, so nobody will stand against us again." He smiled again. Their X-Wings would not last long against their TIE Advanced's. They were strong, sturdy ships, and-

"Sir! There's more than the Alliance, sir!" Andrew swore.
"What the hell do you mean?"

"The...there's a second fleet, sir! And various smuggler ships!" The Commander rolled his eyes.
"It doesn't matter. They're probably as weak as the Rebellion. Destroy them all!" The hundreds of Star Destroyers turned their attention to the incoming enemy. "Today," said Andrew, "The Rebellion will be crushed for once and for all! Attack!"

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"What are those?" Yelled Wedge Antilles over the comm. "They look like Vader's old ship! But...there're so many of em!" There was a deep chuckle from one of the Kru'tan pilots.

{No worries, General Antilles. I'll see to it.} The large, sleek form of the silver-black Kru'tan ship appeared in front of him, purple-blue bolts flying from the guns. The TIE Advanced exploded into a display of orange and red.
"Nice flying, J'aok," Praised Wedge, grinning. "But our objective is to keep em away from the cruisers. Then we have to get the Star Destroyers...but which one?" Luke's voice came over the comm.
"Wedge, that Super Star Destroyer. I...I can sense it. Adi was once there. That's the one. Red Squadron, follow my lead. Up to that Super Star Destroyer. We have to knock their shields out." He paused. "No, on second thoughts, Wedge and Daikann, take the rest of the squadron and keep the fighters off our back. We'll go...I have an idea. Anakin, Ben, put a Force bubble around yourself. Concentrate, as I've taught you. And fly up to the shield generators and do your worst!" Ben grinned.
"Copy, Red 2!" He said cheerfully. "Commander Damon, here we come!" There was a pause.
"Ben, how did you know his name?" Ben thought a moment.
"Adi must've told me when I didn't know it. C'mon!" The X-Wings glowed a slight pink, and sped upwards towards the huge symbol of death looming in space. There was a scream over the comm, and everybody waited to hear who it was.
"We just lost Red 7!" Yelled Wedge, unhappily. "Keep your wits about you! I don't want to lose any more!"

The Millennium Falcon wasn't having much trouble. With the Shrike bringing up the rear, they didn't get much fire from the back. And, with the Kru'tan ships covering them, the enemy were occupied. Seeing a Y-Wing in danger, they sped over to help it, drawing the fire away. An A-Wing zipped over them, and a B-Wing exploded under them.

"Are we winning?" Said Lando, almost cheerfully. "I can't tell!" Han chuckled, Chewie grunting.
"I'm as confused as you are, ol' buddy," he replied, firing at another TIE. "But I'm worried bout those TIE Advanced things..." Jaina and Jacen grinned.
"Don't worry, Dad..."

"...Our good pals, the Kru'tans..."

"...Are takin' good care..."

"...of em." Han winced.

"Kids, do not do that! It scares the hell outta me!" Yelled Han Solo, shaking his head. He fastened his strong hands on the controls again and steered the ship upwards, downwards, into a corkscrew roll. They confused the enemy, and spiralled towards the Super Star Destroyer, Annihilation. They watched the three lone X-Wings spiral towards it, lasers blasting. The huge turbolaser blasts bounced harmlessly off their Force bubbles, and Jaina and Jacen whooped.

"Yeah, that's our kid-brother and cousin! Go Uncle Luke!" They cheered. "Dad, we've an idea. If they can do it, we can too. Trust us. C'mon, it's easy." The Wookie groaned, unsure. "Don't worry, Chewie! We're strong enough. Relax." Han shook his head.

"You kids are just like your Uncle when he was your age...fine then. Let's give it a shot...Lando, brace yourself!" Lando rolled his eyes.
"Geez, buddy. I can take care of myself you know — whoa!" He grabbed onto the seat, and did brace himself. "Okay, okay. Point taken!" Han laughed, and piled on speed.
"Right, let's shoot that wampa straight to Hell. Hang on, son — here I come!" The Millennium Falcon sped ahead, zipping in and out of the jaws of Death.

"Stars, Mara...d'you really think they'll be okay out there?" Mara grinned, and answered blithely.
"Of course! These are the children of the Jedi, remember." Kyle nodded, almost sadly.
"You got that right..." Leia put a hand on his shoulder.
"If you're thinking about Adi, she's probably all right, knowing her. Don't worry." See-Threepio put in his point.
"Yes, Master Katarn. I believe that she's perfectly capable of handling herself. She is also an excellent Jedi after what I know of her. Do not fret, Master Katarn. She will pull through in the end." Kyle stared in the direction of Dusk.
"I sure hope so."

Luke felt adrenaline rushing through his bloodstream. He grinned, knowing that this was what he did best — apart from his Jedi traits. He loved the sensation, being on the edge of danger, dealing with Death — it was an awesome feeling. He sped up his X-Wing, relying on the Force to protect him. The large shield spheres were in full view. He smiled fiendishly.
"Here's to you, Thrawn!" Yelled Luke, letting fly Proton Torpedoes. He fired one, two, three, four...then came his lasers. The Millennium Falcon came after him, firing. There was an explosion — the shields were almost down! He cheered. "You next, kids! C'mon, up an' at em!" Ben whooped, firing at the second while Anakin followed. There was another explosion.

"Commander, shields are down! Those X-Wings are invincible, sir! We can't destroy it!" Stammered the engineering officer, panicking. "What're we going to do?" Damon gritted his teeth. What had gone wrong? He had so much power — yet the pathetic Rebel fleet was defeating him.
"We're going to last until the end. Concentrate your firepower on that cursed Calamari Cruiser! Follow!" The man gulped.
"Yes, sir!"

Mara danced around the Shrike, supporting her son and husband.
"They did it, they did it! Your husband, my husband, your son, my son!" She hugged Leia fiercely, buffeting Threepio.
"Oh, my! It looks as if it's attacking Admiral Ackbar! They haven't given up yet!" Mara grinned fiercely.
"Oh, they can handle it. Now what, Kyle? Should we go to her?" Kyle smiled.

"Yes...let's go to Adi. Ben too."

Damon stared at the failing systems on his ship. He sighed, and shook his head. What a fool he had been, so hungry for power. And now...he had it...and lost it. The hull was now 15 %...14 %...he gave another sigh, and saluted.

"Sorry, Admiral," he murmured, to the dead Thrawn. "I have failed."

And, in an instant, the Annihilation exploded.