Rogue Knights

Chapter 9

By: Princess Raye Fire

Luke stood in the room that used to be the Yavin base's control room. It had been the only room where there was a comm unit powerful enough for inter-planetary conversations.

Tionne stood beside her Master as the image of a broad-shouldered man with gray-and-white close cut hair, his left eye was a burning red optical replacement and his right was normal brown.

"This is Booster Terrik. How can I help you, Jedi Skywalker?"

"I need to speak with Wedge Antilles."

"What makes you think he's here?"

"Come now, a Force-ally never reveals his secrets." Luke smiled.

Booster laughed. "Sure. I'll see if I can scrounge him up somewhere."

The man's image fussed out and the Rogue Squadron emblem appeared on the screen. A moment later Wedge took the emblem's place. His face looked old and the look in his eyes was worried, bordering scared.

"Wedge." Luke was alarmed by his friends appearance as much as the waves of anger and sadness he was emitting. "I got the feeling you might need me."

"Yeah." Wedge gave him a small smile. "Can you get us on to Coruscant within the week, with no questions?"

"No questions from me, or outside?"

"Outside."

"Where do you need to go?"

"The Jedi Council Building. It's a temple on Coruscant."

"Where!?"

A Bothan with gray, white, and silver schemed Camouflage fur. "I'm Youry Kel'ech." Luke could hear Tionne gasp, a surprised sound.

"Our leader, Cassandra Nightwalker," He could see Tionne's mouth drop at the name. "Was possessed and turned into Iceheart's personal slave. That's why the Bacta War hasn't gotten very far. We have a lead on a way to get her back. We'll fill you in when you get here, with a transport."

Youry looked down and then back up. "What's the biggest number of people you can get in without suspicion?"

"If I can talk to the Provisional Council I might be able to get in a great number. How many do you need?"

Youry began ticking off names on his fingers. "Myself, En-Jay, Alern, Cylar, at least. That's a Power-base, Historian, Healer, and Warrior -respectively. The a few Rogues might want to come. Let's say. Wedge, Inyri, Gavin, and Illea. Those are the people that have had the most direct contact with Cassandra."

Youry looked at Luke. "That's 8 plus what ever you want to bring."

Tionne spoke up. "Master Luke, I would like to go with you. It would be wonderful to spend time with Knights from the Old Republic."

"What makes you think we're from the Old Republic?" Youry asked.

Tionne looked abashed. "When we we're setting up the Academy we looked up all the old Knights on record. We found a group called the Rogue Knights. They had gone Missing In Action so we marked off their bloodlines as those we could find descendants of. I had been Enthralled be the stories pf their bravery and skill…"

Luke looked at Wedge. "Why didn't you bring them here, or tell the senate about them?"

Youry stepped up to Wedge and touched the man's shoulder. Wedge took the signal and left. "We asked him not to, at least until we got a little perspective. Besides he's been having a hard time while Cassandra was gone." Youry said it like it explained Wedge's separated behavior.

Luke let it go. "I'll have to at least tell the Provisional Council if you want to get that many people into Coruscant without any media. Once I talk to them I can send my friend, Han, to pick you up in his ship the Millennium Falcon, it's the fastest ship any where…"

"Fine, fine, will we have to meet with them?"

"Some time before you leave, yeah. They might even want to be there when you free Cassandra, at least Mon Montha, Leia Organa, and Borsk Fey'lya.

"Borsk Fey'lya. A Bothan?"

"Yes."

"Fine." the bothan waved it away, literally moving his hand back and forth like her could clear it. "Agreed. The other's might want to go back with you. Alern and a woman have expressed interest in your Academy. If you can through in a place for Shahara I'll allow them to tell you of the Old Ways and I will try to persuade Cassandra in releasing them from their service vow to her. Agreed?"

Luke nodded. "I see what I can do. If it works you'll be talking to Han Solo be the end of the week. Good bye."

Youry put his right fist over his heart and gave a ½ bow. "Same to you, Jedi Skywalker." The connection broke.

Luke looked at Tionne. "You might to pack a few things, we'll be gone a while."

*~*~*~* 5 days later*~*~*~*

Wedge watched with an anticipatory grin as the Millennium Falcon flew into view. Luke had come through for them once again.

Youry , En-Jay, Alern, Cylar, Shahara, Wedge, Inyri, Gavin, and Illea were all going to bust Cassandra out of her Crystal Prison.

Wedge was going to get her back and he couldn't wait.

As soon as the Falcon's landing Gear was down with its main hatch opening the 9 of them began walking toward the Ship.

Han and Chewbacca walked down the ramp to meet them. Wedge dropped his Duffel bag and hugged his friend.

Han whispered in his ear. "Why don't we let them get settled in while you show Chewy and me somewhere where we can get some food?"

"Alright." Wedge let go of his friend. "You guys get settled in, we're going to the Flarestar. No taking off without us. Understood?"

They all nodded as they filed into the ship. The Pilot Trio walked off toward the café. They sat down in a corner booth, ordered and sat waiting for there food.

"You wanna tell us what so special about these people that Leia and Luke drug me and Chewy outta bed 2 nights ago at 2 in the morning?"

Wedge thought about it. He didn't know what kind of deal Youry and Luke had made so he didn't know how much he could let slip.

"Did you notice anything…different about those people?"

"Who? Your pilots? What do you mean?"

"The cylindrical objects hooked to their belts?"

Han's eyes widened. "No. You mean their… Uh-uh. They should be at the Acaemy if they were. I mean. Their Jedi!?"

Wedge nodded. "The reason for the secrecy is that they don't want revealed, just yet. I mean think about it. They are Jedi fighting the Bacta War. People would think we're still working with the Republic."

"So, why are you going to Coruscant?"

"One of them, their leader, Cassy, Was captured and possessed by a Sith. Something has happened and we have a chance to get her back. But for some reason we need to go to Coruscant to do so." Wedge held up a hand to stall comment. "Before you ask why, I don't know. They didn't give me a direct answer. At least not one that made sense to me."

Han finished his food and rose. "Well, lets get this mess over with. This is something I have to see."

They left and the Falcon was gone before too much attention was given to it.

*~*~*~* 2 days later *~*~*~*

Four, 5 person speeders pulled up as the Falcon landed. While the Falcon went through its post-flight checks one person climbed out of the cockpit of each speeder and left.

When those four were gone the landing ramp on the Falcon went down and five people climbed out of two speeders.

They stood at the foot of the ramp in hooded robes while 9 figures, also in hooded robes, walked down.

They all piled into the speeders and speed away.