Chapter 12 – The Trap is Sprung
Padmé was busy packing when Anakin returned from his meeting with the President. He stopped in the doorway to the bedroom, watching her with a faint smile. But there was a hint of sorrow around his eyes. Suspending her activity Padmé walked over to him and cocked her head to one side, studying him intently.
"What has happened now?" she asked at last.
"The Executor has entered New Republic space. I have set Needa's Second Fleet on her trail."
"How many ships does that tie up?"
"Not too many."
"And what will you be doing while I am busy on Ryloth?"
"Something useful, I hope," he answered with a wry smile.
"You will lead the navy again?"
"No. According to Mon Mothma it is my task to prevent any enemy fleet from getting into our territory. Beyond that I have no authority."
Padmé propped her hands on her hips. "How is that supposed to work?"
"Any way I can make it work, my love." Bending down to kiss her he sighed. "I wish Leia were back already," he announced once they had disengaged again. Suddenly his blue eyes lit up. "Piett has checked back in. Seems as if Raisa arrived just in time to get him out of trouble. He has aborted the mission on Obroa-skai."
"Then he is coming back to Coruscant?"
"No. I managed to convince Mon Mothma that he might be of use elsewhere." There was a hint of something there, the way he said it -
"Out with it, Anakin, where are you sending him?"
He hesitated briefly and his expression turned serious once more. "Bilbringi."
"Why there?"
"Because it is a busy planet and makes an excellent hide-out for wanted traitors."
Padmé's eyes widened. "You mean – "
"Yes. If Andorwyn and his cronies managed to escape they will seek refuge in New Republic space for a time. Leia hinted that they might be interested in forming an alliance and they will be given the chance to approach Piett there."
"Provided they really turn up on Bilbringi," she reminded him pensively.
"It doesn't really matter," Anakin replied, spreading his hands in an appeasing gesture. "They will come. They have no choice, if they want to survive."
His words struck a distant cord in her heart and she looked up at him quickly to see that he had also realized what he had said. For an instance his face turned very dark. "Anakin," she asked quietly, "what did he mean by that?" They both knew that she was referring to what news Telmann Page had brought of Roj Kell's plan.
Her husband kept silent for a long time, but finally he met her fearful gaze and stroked her cheek gently. "It is a challenge. Back on Korriban he promised that he would see the Sith rule, no matter what. He wanted me to rule. I refused that gracious offer."
"I remember," Padmé said softly, lowering her eyes in deep contemplation of the events of the past. Korriban had been a near-disaster for her family and she did not want it to be repeated. Under no circumstances. "But we defeated him in the end. And you withstood temptation."
"This time I might not have a choice - "
Reaching up quickly she pressed her fingers on his lips, silencing him. "Ssh! Never, ever say something like that again," she pleaded, concern and worry flaring in her mind. "It could get you killed yet."
"I know." He gently pushed her hand away. "But I must consider every option. Roj Kell always has his reasons for manipulating others, especially the Jedi and Sith. When he was here on Coruscant he confided in Master Yoda and me, told us that he wanted to achieve true balance. When you look at his past you will see that, too."
"Don't make him something he can never be," Padmé told her husband coldly.
"I am not. But I believe that so far he has led us with a gentle hand. His actions now prove that he is willing to risk wholesale destruction to achieve his goal."
"Gentle! That man is as gentle as a krayt dragon! He is poison to anyone around him! And don't tell me that his intentions are valiant! If he is so fond of destruction he will certainly not object to being destroyed himself!" She stopped, her chest heaving with ire, and saw the look in his eyes as he gazed down at her, aghast. Realization overcame her like a cold storm and she threw herself into his embrace with a a desperate wail. "This is what he made of me!" she sobbed, tears flowing freely. "What he will make of you and everyone if you let him!"
"Not if I can help it," Anakin told her very tenderly.
"You must find him," she whispered, her voice almost gone. "Please. Find him before he can bring even more harm to my family."
"I will, I promise," he said and began rocking her in his arms gently. "Our children will be safe. You will be safe."
For a long moment they stood like this, locked in their very own world of love and anguish. Then, heaving a deep, shuddering breath, Padmé broke away from him. Her limbs felt leaden, as if she had aged by a decade in the matter of a heart-beat. "I need to go," she explained. "Andarack is waiting for me." She felt so old.
"Remember what I told you back on board the Wilde Karrde?" Anakin cupped her chin in his hand and turned her head to face him again. There was such strength in his blue eyes that she thought she might be crushed where she stood. She tried a smile and patted his chest affectionately.
"I do. I will be strong, my love. And I will be reasonable."
"That's all I can ask, I guess."
He kissed her once more, easing her anxiety and soothing her mind. His love, she found, was the most potent antidote against the dark side of her, and she knew that he felt the same way about her own affections. Leaning into his touch she let it fill her and felt the joy of it in every fiber of her being. Well, she mused, Andarack could wait for a few moments longer.
When Aves appeared at their tiny hide-out to summon them to Karrde's newly established base on Garqui Jix was very glad for the change of ambiente. Holstering his blasters he gave Mara a silent look that she returned tiredly. They had spent long days waiting for any news to come out of Nar Shadaa as to the exact date of the convoy's arrival. Long hours had passed with the two of them discussing several possibilities of getting into Byss, and their personalities had clashed more than once.
Mara left the small apartment ahead of him and as Jix followed he felt resignation overcome him gradually. When he had first met Mara he had thought that he had found a match for his own abilities. He had been fascinated by her temper and her looks, but ever since they had left Nar Shadaa after their less than thrilling 'vacation' he had a feeling that something was amiss in their relationship. Mara always suspected him of not taking her seriously, and in a way that was even true. Her training had been excellent, but she had not had a chance to gain much experience yet.
There had been some bad blood between them, and it was chafing at his confidence, because on one hand he knew he cared for her and wanted to please her, but on the other hand her sometimes very childish assumptions were getting on his nerves. She was not cocky, the way he had been at her age, she was desperately trying to achieve perfection, and she was trying too hard. Ever so often she would challenge him for no reason at all, just to prove to herself that she was no child, that she was a professional like him. Sometimes he thought that what she needed was to be on her own for a while, be her own master and find her own self-confidence and balance.
"Jix, don't dawdle!" Her voice was tinged with exasperation and displeasure, a mix he found very annoying. But he said nothing. Quickening his pace he caught up with her and fell in step beside her. Her emerald eyes were studying him intently, searching.
"I for one hope it is good news," he ventured at last in an effort to ease the tension between them.
"It doesn't matter. We have a mission to accomplish."
"Yes, very true."
Before long they had reached the house Karrde had claimed as his own, a non-descript building in a shabby neighborhood. The information broker was seated at his desk and a smile lit up his face when his guests stepped into the room.
"Any news on the convoy?" Mara asked without preamble and strode over to Karrde.
"As a matter of fact, yes. They have left Nar Shadaa on schedule, but that is not all. It seems as if the Empire has no interest in dealing with Yana Dar any longer. Apparently they have seized her property, arrested her employees."
"What about her?"
"Nothing certain. But the two of you should check up on recent events in Hutt Space and Imperial Space. Rumor has it that Grand Admiral Thrawn is attacking the New Republic."
"But you said that was Roganda Ismaren's plot, to make it look that way," Jix countered.
"Indeed. But this is official New Republic material."
"Could be just a ruse."
"I agree. The Empire has reestablished its protectorate on Ryloth. Unofficial sources claim that there was some sort of rebellion, but they are pretty vague about the details."
"Sounds pretty chaotic," the Corellian said with a smile.
"It does," Talon Karrde agreed. "And they have tightened security for the convoy."
"Meaning?"
"Originally a few traders were going to be allowed to come along to shave off a few hours transfer time of the goods, but now they have abandoned that plan and they'll check every single crate that comes on board."
"Damn," Mara hissed under her breath. "This is not good."
"So we will have to get aboard one of their ships somehow, hitch a ride," Jix mused aloud and she rounded on him furiously.
"Are you mad? From Garqui to Byss it is a two day trip. Plenty of time for them to track us down and space us!" Turning back to Karrde she bit her lower lip hard. "Say, is there any chance that we could get into Byss another way?"
"Security will be even tighter for independent ships who arrive at the planet than it will be for the convoy," Karrde explained. "I fear Jix' suggestion is the only plan that'll work."
Locked in hyperspace the convoy to Byss was enjoying a period of relative peace. Yana had given Abla her promise to agree to a cease-fire and he had accepted that promise, knowing that she would never break her word. It had bought her the liberty to wander around the ship at her leisure, and to visit with the second prisoner on board. Abla had no idea who he was, and Yana wondered at that. Tious Markhan seemed to know who he was, yet Abla, his trusted agent, did not. Very strange. For the moment, though, Abla's ignorance suited her just fine. Nodding at the two guards stationed in front of the captive's quarters she went into the bland room beyond. Roj Kell was standing at the viewport, staring out into the glowing starlines of hyperspace.
"You are back," he said softly, not bothering to turn to face her. Yana took no offense at that and plopped down on the single bunk unconcernedly.
"Maybe I am simply bored," she suggested.
He chuckled at that. "Is that so. And what do you want to talk about this time?"
"Irek Ismaren." Taking a deep breath the information broker waited for his reaction.
"Irek Ismaren? I have never heard the name."
"He is your son." There was no visible response, but Yana still felt herself shake with anticipation. For a long time silence reigned.
"My son?" Kell repeated softly at last. "That is impossible..." He turned his head to look at her.
"It is true." Yana gave a hesitant shrug. "Well, it is, to a certain degree."
Those pale eyes narrowed coldly. "What do you mean?"
"You see, your master was not a man to give up easily," the broker explained as he turned to face her completely.
"My master?"
"The late Emperor. My father."
"He was never my master."
"No?" Yana shrugged again. "Anyway, he was after something you, and only you possessed. Information." She savored each syllable of the word, tasting it with delight. "You know the power of knowledge intimately. Yet you did not realize that he succeeded in his endeavor."
"He did not."
"Ah, but here you are mistaken. On Byss your memory was flash-printed, and an expert team of scientists set to the task of decyphering and cataloguing it. A very talented slicer then developed a program that would be able to imitate your thought processes and evaluate a situation accordingly. He named that program Seeker. A fitting name, don't you think? A seeker of knowledge." Yana mused dreamily.
"Palpatine is dead. So it is of no use to him now."
"Fortunately, yes." She did not mention that it could still be of great use to her, and that she intended to make the most of this opportunity.
"What was that about a son?"
"Incidentially the boy is the result of a genetic experiment. A clone that combines Palpatine's strength in the Force with your mental capacities. Once the program was finished Palpatine would have taken over the boy's will."
"Too bad he did not live long enough."
"Are you certain of that?"
"What?"
"Are you certain he is truly dead?" Turning pleading eyes on him she felt her heart flutter with sudden dread. If it was true what she secretly suspected about Irek ...
A nasty smile appeared on the ancient Sith's lips. "Trust me on that," he hissed. "So, my dear student was proud and foolish enough not to surrender to his own inability to break my will. He sought another way. A clone." His voice had become a low growl. "That bastard!" Looking up again he met Yana's gaze coldly. "And you. If you think I'll break down in tears of joy over being presented with a long-lost son you are badly mistaken. I don't like anyone trying to manipulate me."
Yana barely managed to keep her smile in place. "But I need your help."
His tone turned even colder. "Do you now. Why?"
"Markhan wants to use me as a decoy, as Empress."
"What?"
"It is the logical step to take, but I fear that I will take my father's path and crave power too much. I do not want power. I do not want to be tempted like that." Her rambling confession came out in a rush, and she shivered at the very thought of becoming as vile a creature as Palpatine. It disgusted her to think of herself that way.
"And you come to me for help? I taught your father everything about deception and manipulation. How do you know that I would not advise you to take that power and rule?"
"I have studied history – "
"Oh, you have studied. And you truly believe that means you have understood?" His tone was incredibly harsh. "Your choices are somewhat limited, Yana Dar. You can try and escape, hide somewhere, rebuild your organization or whatever. Or you can use your knowledge, and I mean your own, to fight back. Power itself is not evil. It may corrupt, but that is up to you. You are in control of your own fate, Yana. That is what your father found hard to accept."
"I think you are wrong there. He was always in control of everything around him," Yana countered quietly.
"You think so? Power is a convenient excuse for trespassing the boundaries of true control. It is also a powerful catalyst for denial. Your father, Yana, was lost in the Dark Side in the end, and I know the Dark Side well. It is addictive and it deprives power of control. Instead it dominates what is left of your self and blinds you to reality. You say you do not want power – what is it you want, then?"
"Knowledge," she answered without hesitating at all and shied back at the look he gave her. Hunching her shoulders she asked, a bit testily: "Well, what was your motivation, if not gaining knowledge or power?"
"My motivation for what exactly?"
"All of this," she answered expansively. "Your life, your deeds, everything."
He gazed at her for a long time, keeping very still. Finally he averted his eyes and turned to look out of the viewport. "I am what I am, Yana Dar, what I made of myself. A tool for the Force, a source of knowledge, a well of faith."
"Faith?"
"I am Cor'dan. The Force is my life and it is my goal to make others understand its complexity."
Yana stared up at him, her mind racing. She did not know much about the title of Cor'dan, beyond what it stood for. The Heart of Darkness. "If you wanted to spread the belief in the Force, why didn't you join the Jedi then?"
"The Jedi!" he bellowed. "Have you any idea? They never would have allowed any outsider to explore their mysteries. When you were considered too old you would not be allowed to learn even if you had a potential. What about those who did not have any conscious connection to the Force? They were held in awe of the Jedi's power. All they were supposed to give was gratitude. Is that what you call faith?"
"Admittedly it was a kind of elitist order," Yana conceded, her brow creasing in a pensive frown. "So you found your own belief?"
"Everything is part of the Force, Yana. Everything. There are no rules that tell you what to believe, you simply believe."
"That is like having faith in chaos and anarchy."
"Yes." The small smile tugging at his lips was positively mean. "Fascinating, isn't it?"
Tious Markhan was intently studying the small red dot that was approaching the planet rapidly, and he could still not believe who had announced his arrival. Admiral Voss Parck, Thrawn's staunchest and only supporter at the Imperial Court and the man who had shared the Grand Admiral's exile after that one's fall from grace. What did he want here on Byss and at this particular time? Did he perhaps have information on the Executor that could be of use? Was he here to ask assistance in freeing Thrawn?
"I suppose he will tell us anyway," Franzis Sarreti commented quietly and the Grand Admiral shot his aide a fleeting smile.
"You are reading my mind, Lieutenant, as always." It was a gentle warning and Sarreti recognized it as such. He paled visibly, his cool composure flustered for once. Good.
"Apologies, sir."
"Accepted. Now, would you please go and escort the Admiral to my office? Thank you."
Once the lieutenant had left Tious activated his comm and hailed Zi'Assime once more. The General had obviously expected the call and seemed resigned to his fate. "Sir?" he asked wearily.
"Tomas Piett has escaped your agents on Obroa-skai."
"Yes, sir."
"That is unfortunate. Major Olade will be happy to relieve you of command once he arrives at Yaga Minor. You will surrender to him and return to Byss."
"As ordered."
Markhan's eyes narrowed coldly. "You disappoint me, General."
"Sir?"
"Where is your spirit, man! You hold no responsibility for your agents' failure!" The hopeful smile that crept upon the other's face was stilled as the Grand Admiral continued: "However, I take the blame for giving you command in the first place. My trust in your abilities was misplaced, a remnant of what seems to be long past. You've had your share of glory, General. Perhaps it is time for you to step back and let others continue your work." He gave the other a pensive look. "You realize, don't you, that I am giving you one last chance to prove your worth to me."
"I am not sure, sir – "
"With the Princess on her way back to Coruscant chances are that the New Republic will call for retribution."
"The President specifically declared that there was no war between the Empire and the New Republic," Zi'Assime suggested, a frown creasing his forehead.
"How naive could you possibly be, General? I for one do not believe a single word of that little speech. They will attack, I am certain of that."
"Sir, I – "
"Do not understand?" A malicious smile appeared on Markhan's lips as he watched his second squirm under his scrutinizing gaze. "I thought so. Fact is that Zsinj held the Princess prisoner. But they will not make that distinction public, if they have any sense at all. You will present proof – "
"Zsinj is dead," the General reminded him and fell silent again at the Grand Admiral's withering glare.
"I am aware of that. What do you suggest would happen if an Imperial officer took the blame for this disaster? How credible would that be?" It was highly satisfying to see revelation dawn on Zi'Assime's face.
"I – see."
"Excellent. I knew there was still some fire left in you."
"My troops – "
"There are always casualties in a war, General, you should know that. You may die for the Empire or a coward. But die you will."
Zi'Assime bowed sharply and Tious deactivated the comm with a cold smile. Sacrificing a pawn became easier if the pawn in question proved to be a total failure as the General had. He would obey this last command, the Grand Admiral was certain of that, and take the blame for the disaster at Yaga Minor. His confession would avert an attack on Yaga Minor, regardless of any efforts the Princess might make in blaming a dead man. The masses so loved tragic heroes. And if a man admitted to such a hideous crime as treason, who would not condemn him? Of course, it would only buy them breathing space of a few weeks at the most, but that might be enough to make the changes necessary for the plan to still succeed.
The discreet beep of the surveillance camera mounted outside his office alerted him to the arrival of his aide, their visitors in tow. A Twi'lek bodyguard for the Admiral. Interesting. The door slid open to reveal the newcomers and Sarreti preceeded them into his superior's office quietly. Tious rose from his seat with a smile and came around the table to extend his hand in greeting. Voss Parck hesitated a fraction before taking that offer. Another interesting fact to remember. Did he believe he might not be welcome with his peers? If so, he had every reason to. After all, Thrawn had betrayed the Empire and that move made every one of his followers traitors, too. Yet the Admiral could be of use to Markhan still.
Schooling his features in a polite expression expression Tious said: "Admiral. It is a pleasure."
A cool smile appeared on the other's face and Tious remembered too late that Voss Parck was no fool and an excellent warrior. There was hardly anything that escaped his notice and not much that could surprise him.
"The pleasure is all mine," the Admiral replied. "But why Byss?"
"I suppose it comes as a shock to a man who has spent the past years in the wilderness of the Unknown Regions."
A faint look of puzzlement flickered across the other's face. "Yes. Indeed. And the reason?"
"tt is as convenient a place to have a base as any other," Markhan snapped.
"There are far more pleasant worlds, Grand Admiral, and this was Palpatine's secret center, after all."
The suggestion hung unspoken between them and Tious had an urge to simply have the man put away with, but he hesitated. "You are right, Admiral. The possibilities this planet's installations offer are enormous. You will understand that it is in the Empire's best interests to make use of them."
"Certainly. Please accept my apologies for assuming too much."
"By all means, they are accepted. And what brings you back here? The Grand Admiral?"
"You know, of course."
"Yes. Alas we have heard the news from Coruscant. I am very interested in hearing your side of the story. It is said that Grand Admiral Thrawn is bent on conquering the New Republic, but surely that would be a foolish endeavor to undertake even for him."
Voss Parck gave him a hard glance and a thin smile. "Indeed. Yet we assume that the Grand Admiral did not, in fact, order this attack."
"No?" Markhan's brows rose in faked surprise. "Please, Admiral, tell me more."
"The Admiral's crew reports no hostilities upon their arrival," the Chimaera's comm officer told his superior, who heaved a relieved sigh.
"That is good news, after all," Captain Palleon breathed aloud. "Now, if he can convince them that the threat we are facing concerns them too and weighs more than past treason, we are a lot closer to actually accomplishing anything." His expresson turned grim. "Which reminds me – Any reports filed by Master Chi'in?"
"None have arrived so far."
"None? He did not even check back in?"
"He did, sir. Two days ago."
"Yes, I remember. Thank you." His face darkened even more. "How long would it take, in your estimate, to gather the status reports from the field commanders?"
"Sir?"
"Never mind. It was a rethorical question. Hail the Ardana Ver at once." Palleon watched the comm installed into his command chair nervously. He knew exactly that it would never take Chi'in two days to gather information and relay it back to the base, especially not in a combat situation. Something was very wrong out there. He cursed himself for having relied too much on the Noghri's abilities and having paid more attention to securing the base than to his primary scout. Foolish, foolish!
"I have a signal, sir!"
"Put it through." Static greeted the Captain, but he thought he could make out a voice in there somewhere. It became more distinct after a few seconds. But it was no language that Palleon recognized. "Master Chi'in!" he called, just in case. There was a shriek and a crash that was almost loud enough to damage the Captain's ear drum.
"Sir, that sounded – "
"Bad. Someone smashed the comm, I believe. Which means the Ardana Ver has been captured. Try to establish contact with the forward bases."
"Sir, protocol – "
"To hell with protocol!" The officer was right, of course. Security was very tight for the Chiss forward bases, since any signal exchanged between Nirauan and the secret perimeter stations might give away their position. Which was why they had needed Chi'in to go out there in the first place.
"Sir?" Fear made the comm officer's voice tremble. "They do not answer."
"As I had feared. Chi'in was probably trying to get news back to us when they surprised him."
"What are we going to do now?"
"Try to hold out until we get reinforcements. Communications with Almashin is still possible, isn't it?"
"Yes, sir. Do you want a channel to Syndic Bal'maw'narda?"
The Captain noticed that he was chewing his lips unconsciously, never a good idea for a man with a a moustache. He stopped himself, annoyed. "Hold that. The Morning Glory is still in sector seven, correct?"
"Yes. Skywalker and Sarin are flying out supplies."
"Hail them and summon them to the base. At once." Staring grimly at the viewport toward Nirauan he sent a fervent prayer to the Force. Admiral, whatever the price, just hurry!
Crouching in the protection of a thicket of round-leaved bushes that Chi'in was almost certain were not poisonous the Noghri warrior watched with a heavy heart as his ship was being demolished. The small yacht had served him well over the past year, especially in the hostile territories of the Unknown Regions and against exactly those aliens that were destroying her now. No time to mourn his loss, though. He could not simply sit here and wait for help to arrive that he had no chance of calling anyway. Not at this distance. There was only one thing he could do and that was to eliminate the threat to his life and take possession of one of the strange starfighters these beings used. Seven had followed him in on his headlong plunge, and more were descending even now.
He had embraced the Force fully to enhance his awareness of his surroundings beyond the natural limits of his hunters' instincts, and his senses told him that he was being watched. A quick count of the fighters compared with the number of beings clamouring around the Ardana Ver brought confirmation. There were seven vessels, but only four pilots. Assuming these were single craft he had three stalkers already on his trail. The Noghri's gaze dropped to the ground to examine it closely. Then he snatched up a tuft of dry, red grass, lifted it up and let it drop again to find out where the wind was coming from. The thin stalks drifted toward what remained of his ship and he nodded to himself in satisfaction. His sense of smell was excellent, and there was no such thing as an odorless creature. Even droids had a certain aroma. With the way the wind was blowing they would not be able to surprise him with an attack from the rear.
Just then the stench of something vaguely acid reached his nostrils, only a whisper, but it was enough warning. Throwing himself flat on his stomach Chi'in rolled around, facing the sky, just as a round shape flitted over his head. A bug of some sort. The Noghri jumped to his feet, aware of the fact that the thing had been thrown by someone who had somehow managed to evade his keen senses. For a second he wished that he had not decided to get rid of his lightsaber. But the regret lasted only for a heart-beat. The rustle of leaves brought his head around at the same time that the four beings who had previously busied themselves with his ship turned toward him and charged. Chi'in ignored them for now. They would not concern him for the next few seconds, but there was danger near-by, and it was ready to pounce on him at any moment.
Suddenly an entire swarm of bugs closed in on the Noghri, who did the only thing that came to his mind. He made a grab for the bushes and tore one free of the ground, trailing soil and loose roots as he used it like a club to fence off the bugs and catch them in the leaves and tiny branches. This very primitive cage not hold them all that long, but it got rid of one distraction that might otherwise have cost him precious time. Facing his attackers again Chi'in pulled one of his broad knives free from his belt and crouched in a defensive posture. The seven were complete now. The first creature came at him, howling a battle-cry and swinging a staff in his left hand. Chi'in thrust the knife at the assailant who obediently drifted out the blade's path, but the Noghri left nothing to chance. His opponent was easily twice as tall as himself and the wiry Sith Lord darted at him with no regard to the imminent danger. He was completely focused on his goal and that was to deliver a killing blow.
The knife barely scratched the warrior's armor, but then, Chi'in had never meant for it to do more. In a flash he held a second knife in his other hand and found the spot where the armor was softer to allow the warrior to bend at the waist. Ripping the blade along the other's hips the Noghri circled his opponent with a a snake-like grace and his first knife found a similar weak spot at the base of the warrior's spine. The alien dropped to his knees as Chi'in pulled his weapon free again. Propelled by the Force the Noghri jumped high, sent both knives flying into the air and landed heavily on the warrior's back, the impact driving the other further down. The Sith Lord's clawed hands gained hold of the enemy's jaw and with a strength that was both natural prowess and Force-enhanced twisted the alien's head back and broke his neck.
Only few seconds had passed and as Chi'in sommersaulted from the dead warrior's back he caught his knives in mid-flight, already homing in on his next target. The blow that took the wind out of his lungs came as a surprise, though, and another batted a knife from his hand. Someone reached for him and instinctively the Noghri raked sharp claws across the unseen attacker. His second knive was lost when he tried to penetrate the warrior's armor and failed.
Uttering a loud bellow Chi'in used his immense strength to free himself again and found five Zush'Jem confronting him. They had formed a loose circle around their prey and the Sith Lord saw his knives lying on the ground, out of his reach. Even if he called them to him through the Force he would still be too late. Lowering his hands the Noghri summoned the Force and built up a wall of hard air, ready to crush his enemies. He charged.
"He was lying."
Voss Parck looked up at his Sith bodyguard tiredly and nodded. "I know."
They were currently occupying the living-room of the severe quarters the Admiral had been assigned after his meeting with Tious Markhan, and Puket had discreetly swept the rooms for listening devices. The Twi'lek's lekkus were twitching impatiently, or perhaps nervously. It was hard to tell with her. Her face was fixed in a frown and she had been pacing their quarters restlessly for the past few minutes.
"We should leave now, Admiral," she spat all of a sudden. "He lied about Thrawn and he was not even taking your request concerning Nirauan seriously!"
"We have to keep on trying. If we fail Nirauan is lost, and the Chiss may be, too."
"The Grand Admiral is dead," Puket offered sarcastically. "And we are wasting our time with these fools while the base might be under attack. You are needed there!"
"Patience, my friend." When she had come to him, on their trip to Byss, her blue skin awfully pale and her eyes wide with shock to tell him that Cronn was dead he had felt a little bit of hope die in his heart. There was no doubt in his mind that the Falleen had laid down his life for Thrawn and he had to accept the possibility that the Grand Admiral had indeed shared his bodyguard's fate. With all that had happened so far it would not surprise him in the least. Suddenly the Twi'lek threw he head back, her body arched impossibly as she screamed. Parck froze in shock for a second, then leapt up from his seat to catch her when she collapsed bonelessy into his arms. "Puket! What is it?" he urged her. "What has happened?"
Raising her head slowly she looked at him out of dark eyes that held such grief as he had never seen before. "Chi'in," she whispered at last. "He is gone."
"Not Chi'in!" Nuron exclaimed, shaking her head in disbelief
Luke Skywalker confirmed the Zabrak's discovery with a mute nod. They had both felt a disturbance in the Force a few days earlier and both had concluded that the casualty had to have been Cronn. It had been saddening to realize that one of their own had passed on, probably along with the Grand Admiral. This, though, was devastating. Luke fought back his tears, but the grief that enveloped his heart would not be defeated. He could see the same emotion in Nuron's golden eyes, the same despair, and he extended his hands in silent offering. Wrapping her arms around him she hugged herself to him fiercely and he could sense her body shudder against his.
He kissed her forehead in a helpless attempt to console her even though he himself felt as if he was being torn apart. Chi'in had always been the strength and heart of their little group, the one who had kept his head in the Rebel Alliance's battle against Roj Kell, who had talked sense into a despairing Anakin on Coruscant. That he was gone now .... It seemed unbelievable. He noticed a movement out of the corner of his eyes and turned his head to look at Captain Palleon, who was standing in the doorway, worry creasing his brow.
"We have established a secure channel to Almashin," the man announced quietly. Luke nodded and disengaged from Nuron as gently as he could.
"It is all right," he told her soflty. "You don't have to come."
Her head came up and her fiery gaze burned through him with the power of Tatooine's suns. "I owe it to him," she retorted harshly and whirled around to face the Captain. "Is that not so?" she challenged and Palleon gave her a somewhat hurried nod.
"Of course. Please follow me."
Syndic Bal'maw'narda looked unpertubed by the news, to he young Jedi's great annoyance. He understood, of course, that the Noghri was an expendable asset to the Chiss, but to him he was a dear friend. At the Syndic's side Naas Deron was frowning into the distance absent-mindedly. Luke executed a small bow as he stepped into the holo's transmission field and a smile appeared on the aged Chiss' face.
"Ah, Master Sykwalker. You bring dire news from Nirauan, I hear."
Luke shot a startled glance at the Sith standing next to the Syndic and found confirmation there. "Yes, Syndic," he managed. "We cannot establish contact to the perimeter bases or Master Chi'in."
"Ambassador Deron says that his presence has – vanished."
Luke's heart skipped a beat and he threw the bulky human another look. Vanished? Of course, Deron had known Chi'in far longer than either Nuron or even Luke, and he was older and more experienced in the use of the Force, too, but surely -
"Tell me, Luke, what did you feel?" Deron asked bluntly, his dark eyes focusing on the younger man.
"Pain. A blinding light. Then - nothing. The same as with Cronn," he insisted.
"Really? When Cronn died we felt his passing, his joining the Force. At least I did." The Sith Lord gave the young Jedi a questioning frown. Luke nodded at last and relief poured through his heart at lightspeed.
"You are right," he breathed.
Naas Deron smiled at him and nodded in empathy. "I understand your reaction, Luke. But you know Chi'in. He is tough. I suppose he is only unconscious. Don't write him off too soon. The grave news Syndic Bal'maw'narda was referring to concerns the base."
"Sir?" Luke was somewhat startled by the man's breach of protocol by speaking ahead of the Syndic and, judging by the Chiss' expression, he suspected that Deron would be in deep trouble once this conversation was over.
"You understand, of course, that it is vital for us to know the enemy's strength," Syndic Bal'maw'narda explained solemnly. "Someone has to bring that information back to us and Captain Palleon is committed to protecting Nirauan. Commander Al'than'erudo has been deployed on that mission and I wanted to ask if you are willing to join him. You and Nuron Sarin."
This time the young Jedi did not even hesitate. "Yes, sir!"
Lightyears away Belana Jen was watching her companion intently. He was deep in contemplative meditation, his features utterly relaxed, but the Jedi Master doubted that he felt so calm inside. The passion with which Palpatine had obviously pursued his dream of immortality and omniscience had surprised not only him, that much was certain. She knew that it had shaken her to the bone. Yet Kell was the only one who could possibly fathom the entire scope of the scheme and his silence forbore nothing good. Suddenly his eyes snapped open, pools of pale green light that gazed at her with profound sadness.
"Did you come to a conclusion?" Belana asked softly and slipped off her perch on the single bunk to join him on the deck.
He nodded. "I think so."
"And?"
"He was a few steps ahead of me, it would seem."
The Jedi Master gasped aloud, staring at him in surprise. "How?" she managed at last.
"Think about it. You have a boy who could shake the pillars of this galaxy, a ready vessel waiting to be used. Why did he hesitate for so long? Why did he not take him much earlier?"
"He was lacking something," Belana hazarded.
"The program Yana was talking about, yes. So there was a realistic chance that its development would take a while longer and he knew that his enemies were not idle either."
"You are trying to tell me that he forsaw his possible demise and planned ahead to turn defeat into victory?"
Roj Kell snorted softly and appraised her with a disdainful glance. "Not victory. That he could not have achieved then. But what more potent legacy to give this ungrateful galaxy than chaos and death? And who better to wield the sword of vengeance than the Dark Lord of the Sith? His prized apprentice, the errant knight."
"Where do you come in then?" she asked quietly, feeling a shiver run down her spine.
"I would have been the catalyst, as I always was. Grand Admiral Thrawn rightly observed that wherever there was a fundamental change in the orders of Dark or Light I stood at the center of it. And I have fallen right for his trap."
"What do you mean, exactly? What trap?"
"He knew my tactics well enough to assume that, should I survive, I would try to bring about change once more. At any time I made myself the object of resentment and hatred, allowing my opponents to measure their darkness against my own. Most fell prey to their innate weakness and perished. Of those who confronted me only five withstood, you, Hagen Dycos, Kane Jinn, Master Yoda and Anakin Skywalker. All of you saw the light at the heart of darkness and you, my love, made me see it too." Here he gave her a fond smile that she returned readily.
"Then you made your own choices," Belana reasoned quietly.
"I did." His face darkened once more. "Until now."
"Until now? Why? What has changed?"
A wry smile appeared on his lips. "I have a son, Belana. A son who embodies everything I hate and despise. Can you imagine what I would have done a year ago at hearing that news?"
Belana shuddered at the very thought. "Yes, I think I can. But what about Yana?"
He shrugged. "I am not sure. Another back-up plan, I suppose. But don't you think it suspicious that he let her have control over the program? Perhaps he sought to trap
her with knowledge."
"She does not seem very eager to take her father's place."
"Understandable, don't you think?" He asked lightly but then, all of a sudden, his face twisted in a feral snarl and his pale eyes were blazing.
"What is it?"
"They are back," he announced, gnashing his teeth as he rose. " We can only hope that the New Republic responds in time." He let out a shuddering breath. "I have prepared them as best as I could. Now only one task remains before they will have to face the darkness once more."
TBC