Chapter 14 – Turning the Tide

Standing very still amidst the shadows Erinin did not even blink as he watched the small group ahead of him. Toss Halan, Anjuri and Min'da Sher, three of the mercenaries Yana Dar had provided with the ship, accompanied the Grand Admiral. There was no sign of the rest, but he knew that they too, had betrayed the plan. He had suspected that it might come to this, even before they had captured the Executor, but there had been no way for him to prevent it from happening short of eliminating every single one of them. Which would have left only him as Irek's guardian.

The atmosphere on the Super Star Destroyer's bridge had been charged and somewhat strained ever since Ord Mantell and so the bodyguard had taken to sleeping with his eyes open, which meant not at all. Therefore he had noticed Halan's men leaving. He had killed two of them already and would have killed them all, had he not felt that duty and caution required him to stay at Irek's side. The boy had been still asleep when he had left him, the task of keeping the giant ship under his control taxing the youth immensely. They were both exhausted and this mission was taking them nowhere.

And Erinin, despite his loyal heart, was losing his faith in the boy. He was almost certain now that Irek had no clue as to what he was doing, that he was acting purely emotional. A suggestion to return to Yaga Minor had ended in a frightening rant on Irek's part, full of madness and loss and despair. Erinin remembered it with dread.

"Why should I go back? Why?" The boy's blue eyes were blazing with suspicion and anger.

"Your mother – "

"My mother! She wants to use me! Only that! But I will not be her pawn any longer!"

"My lord, you need rest, and a goal we can reach. We do not have any loyal supporters on board and you are –"

"Incompetent?" Irek hissed. "I have a plan! I will conquer Coruscant and Thrawn will help me. He has no other choice. No choice," he repeated, his tone suddenly very pensive. "He is a cunning strategist. I know everything about him." Admiration was plain in the boy's voice, awe even, and a certain longing that frightened Erinin.

"He is only trying to convince you to let him return to Nirauan," the bodyguard reasoned.

"He is teaching me," Irek replied. "And I want to know everything ... "

"My lord, you will die for sure if you do not rest."

But Irek was not listening. "Magrody said I was a most adept student, but he would say that, wouldn't he? Mother believes I am destined for greatness, but that is only what she wants to believe. What do you believe, Erinin? My friend?" A soft chuckle rose from Irek's lips. "My only friend. What do you want from me?"

"I want to keep you safe."

"But I want to learn! I want to – "

"Conquer Coruscant?"

"No! Yes! I – " Irek stopped, his mouth clamping shut as a look of pure horror crossed his features. "I do not know," he admitted at last, "I do not know who I am, where I come from. I do not know why I am here. I feel so useless." His blue eyes turned toward his bodyguard and a profound sadness was mirrored in their depth. "Do you know an answer? Do you know where I belong?"

Haunted by those memories Erinin was taken by surprise when Anjuri came charging at him with a drawn-out howl, brandishing a blaster in one hand and a personal shield in the other. Behind him Thrawn and his companions were moving further away from the bridge. The bodyguard acted instinctively and managed to twist out of Anjuri's way before the shield could fry him. The other's face was a grim mask of determination, but sweat beaded his face, a telling sign of his nervousness.

Erinin recovered swiftly from the initial surprise and refocused his thoughts on the task at hand. His retreat had taken him back into the main corridor that led up to the bridge, a straight path that offered no shelter against stray blaster bolts. It was clear that Anjuri was no more than a distraction, which meant that Thrawn had a plan. Never an enjoyable prospect. The bodyguard had drawn his own blaster, but Anjuri, following his every move to block his path, was keeping the shield between them.

"Come now, what are you trying to accomplish?" Erinin asked at last, realizing that they had reached a stalemate. Anjuri did not dare lower the shield and therefore could not attack, and Erinin could not penetrate the shield at all. Suddenly the artificial field vanished and Anjuri started firing. The bodyguard, without any protection, managed to get off two blaster bolts before his attacker scoreed a hit. His right arm numb with pain Erinin dropped his own weapon and half-fell to the deck, but used his own body to shield his left hand from Anjuri's vision. His armor would deflect any blaster bolt aimed at his chest or abdomen, but Anjuri knew that too. Licking his lips nervously the man came closer, his shield still deactivated.

"I am really sorry about this," he said apologetically. Raising his blaster he took aim at Erinin's head. The moment he did exactly that the bodyguard's left hand whipped around and a dagger hit Anjuri squarely in the throat before he could shoot. As the surge of adrenalin faded from Erinin's blood-stream he heaved a deep breath and exhaled slowly. But then his mind froze in icy dread. Irek! Ignoring the searing pain in his arm he ran toward the meeting-room where he had left the boy. It was locked tight.

Grand Admiral Thrawn did not look up from his task when he noticed the quiet clanking of boots on the deck. He was directing Toss Halan through the master dataframe that was connected to the comm unit in the Executor's meditation room. Meant to serve the Dark Lord originally the chamber was secluded and severely furnished, but Thrawn had not changed anything about it. It was functional, and that was all that counted.

"Your report?" he asked softly, never averting his eyes from the complex patterns displayed on the screen before him.

"I have made contact with a squad and instructed them as per your orders. The commander is waiting for you," Min'da Sher explained a bit shakily.

"Excellent. The TIE pilots are on their way?"

"Yes."

"Here," pointing at the screen the Grand Admiral leaned forward ever so slightly. "That should suffice. Unfortunately this system cannot handle the emergency functions, else we'd be able to cut off the bridge entirely."

Toss Halan looked up at him with a frightened expression. "Then we are abandoning the ship?"

"No. That will not be necessary. If our little plan succeeds, and it looks as if it already has, Erinin will be on his own. The readings look promising."

Halan nodded miserably. "Yeah. If he didn't wake up too soon."

"He is exhausted. And he is not very good at much else than machinery."

"Lucky us," Halan breathed.

The Grand Admiral nodded encouragingly at the man as he stepped back. "Proceed. I will be with the troopers."

"Yes, sir. The headcomms are fully functional again."

"I know. Come," Thrawn ordered Min'da Sher. "We should not leave the commander waiting."

Following Sher briskly he pondered his decision on a counter-offensive again. But personal sentiments could not distract him now. Of course he had known the boy's mother, but that was no excuse not to eliminate a threat to his ship and troops if it became necessary. They had manipulated the meeting-room's temperature and air-conditioning unit and with any luck Irek would not even have noticed the sudden lack of oxygen and simply fallen unconscious. Thrawn did not doubt that by now Erinin had liquidated Anjuri and he was confident that the man would do everything in his power to get the boy to safety. For that eventuality they had to be prepared. There was the slight chance that Irek would wake up before his bodyguard got him out of the Executor's reach. What he would do then Thrawn did not even think about, because exactly that he was here to prevent.

"Sir!" A grey-clad officer saluted smartly as the Grand Admiral came into view. A squad of troopers stood to attention behind him. "Permission to welcome you back to active duty!"

"I never was off-duty, Lieutenant," Thrawn admonished the man mildly. "The TIE fighters are ready for launch?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Excellent. Now we only have to wait for our quarry to try to leave the ship."

Erinin was desperately trying to override the door mechanism and finally managed to short-circuit the lock. The door slid back and allowed him to enter. Darting into the meeting-room he found Irek slumped on the field-bed they had erected there for him, his face deadly pale and his breathing almost non-existent. By the time he had reached the boy's side the bodyguard had already registered the all too low oxygen level in the room, probably the reason for Irek's condition. Lifting his charge up with his left arm he slung his light body over his shoulders, precariously balanced, and began the dangerous trip toward one of the forward hangars.

If he could not wake Irek before they arrived there and Thrawn decided to attack they would both be dead. He shook his right arm wildly, impatient with the blistering wound that sent waves of pain up into his torso at intervalls and distracted him, but he took care not to lose his precious burden. Irek was stirrning weakly now, and then he came fully awake with a loud gasp. In an effort to struggle out of his bodyguard's grasp he kicked against Erinin's right shoulder and caused the older man to fall to his knees in agony. Crouching down at his side Irek gazed at him out of concerned eyes.

"You are hurt," he stated unnecessarily. Then he looked around and frowned. "What is going on?"

"We have been betrayed. Toss Halan and the others have teamed up with Thrawn," Erinin explained breathlessly, his head spinning.

Clenching his hands into tight fists Irek let out a low growl and straightened again, his blue eyes seemingly searching. "Betrayed?" he hissed viciously and a sharp laugh broke from his mouth. "They will die for this!" he screeched and Erinin shivered when he thought he could feel something pass through the corridor, a wave of incredible power that reverbrated from the walls in a low, deep hum. Arms spread wide the boy stood very still, his eyes closed and his face utterly relaxed. He's going to destroy the ship! Erinin thought in horror. That fool is actually going to shred the Executor to pieces around us!

Rising laboriously to his feet again he gathered his courage and spoke: "My lord, we have to leave." There was no reaction. "Irek, this is madness!" he tried, desperate now, He thought he could hear the ship's superstructure creak ominously under the assault. Never before had he been as afraid as he was now. Laying his left hand on the boy's shoulder he shook him gently. "Irek, don't be foolish."

"You dare!" the boy roared as he turned toward him and his focus shifted toward his bodyguard.

Picked up by an invisible force Erinin found himself flyng down the corridor and landed hard on the deck. He lay there, paralysed temporarily by the force of the impact, and watched Irek stalk toward him menacingly. His eyes widened ever so slightly, recognizing the madness in the young man's gaze and features. "Irek –" Suddenly blue lightning came careening at him, dancing through the air with deadly grace. Erinin screamed, as his world was drowned in darkness and pain.

Captain Lorth Needa was watching the small red dot that represented the Executor on the Eisenhart's radar with utmost concentration. He had just received new instructions from Coruscant that had him set his fleet on red alert. Now they had begun a stealthy approach on the Super Star Destroyer, and the bridge crew's attention was focused solely on the giant ship's activities. If the Princess' information had been right things would get very interesting very soon.

"TIE fighter launch," Commander Shikay snapped suddenly and indeed, the radar showed smaller red dots that started swarming around the Executor.

"Get me visual," Needa ordered and waited for the image to dissolve onto the forward screen. "Is that a shuttle?"

"Yes. Assault class, heavy armor and weaponry."

"Of course."

"The TIEs are pursuing, sir. Shall I launch our own?"

"No. They are driving the shuttle toward us anyway. Activate the topedo launchers at the forward batteries and prepare a tractor beam to intercept them. Make that two," the Captain corrected immediately. "And hold more ready."

"Yes, sir." While Shikay quietly relayed the Captain's orders Needa rose from his seat to join the comm officer. "Can you open a channel to the Executor?"

"At once," the woman answered and swiftly set to work. "Emergency channel is open. You are on receive."

"This is Captain Needa of the New Republic Star Destroyer Eisenhart, If anyone can hear me, please respond." They waited for a few moments. Nothing happened. "Repeat, this is Captain Lorth Needa, commander of the Second Fleet of the New Republic – "

"We can hear you loud and clear, Captain," a smooth voice answered over the cackling of the comm channel. "Please allow us to bring our main systems online. How does the pursuit look from your point of view?"

"Grand Admiral," Needa said with a smile. "It is good to find you alive and well."

"Thank you, Captain. Your report?"

Realizing that the other ship currently operated without radar the Captain peered at the forward screen. "Your TIE squadrons are in firing range and now they are engaging the shuttle. Who is aboard, if I may ask? Irek Ismaren?"

"The very same. You have a lock on the ship?"

"Tractor beams are standing ready, as well as the forward batteries."

"Very good."

"The shuttle is accelerating. It will jump to hyperspace."

"Let him go."

"What?" Needa asked, aghast. "How can you let that boy get away?"

"He is of no importance whatsoever, not now. I have wasted too much time here already. What are your instructions from Coruscant?"

"We were to lend you a hand," the Captain answered glumly. "Sir, if that boy is running around free he might cause extensive damage."

"But he will not. He needs rest badly, and he has no plan. That is the problem, Captain. He is a tool, nothing more."

"Then the question is whether he will find a master in the near future or if he will continue to be a loose cannon."

"You are right, Captain. What he needs is guidance, but I fear that none of us can provide that. Where is his mother? Do you know?"

"She has been injured on Yaga Minor and is currently in New Republic custody."

"I see," Thrawn said pensively. "Once the Executor is fully functional again I will contact her. If you could send a few tech teams over here I would be very grateful."

"I will give the order at once."

"Thank you. Executor out."

The space-port of Kala'uun was bustling with stormtroopers and as Padmé and her small entourage were led toward a transport that would take them to the Seat of the Council she noticed that the soldiers would frequently isolate one of the Twi'lek walking about for a random control. Padmé suspected that this was merely a measure to keep the populace quiet and intimidated, but she certainly did not approve. They had arrived aboard a smaller New Republic cruiser and she was well aware of the fact that she was armed with little more than diplomatic immunity. It was a risky gamble Mon Mothma had initiated here, yet Padmé felt confident that they would manage to pull off that little ruse and get out of Ryloth again in one piece.

Walking quietly at her side was her aide, Anja, and the Noghri Andarack followed both women like a silent shadow. He drew some stares from the Imperial officers accompanying them, but none dared comment on the presence of a Noghri with a New Republic representative. The hatch to the heavily-armored transport popped open upon their approach and Padmé entered swiftly, trying to appear completely unconcerned. An elderly man welcomed her with a tight smile.

"Padmé Naberrie, a pleasure to have you with us. I am Commander Antham, interim governor of Ryloth," he began. "I so hope that the unfortunate business that leads you here can be resolved quickly and to our mutual satisfaction."

"The pleasure is all mine, Commander," Padmé answered coolly and wondered what textbook had yielded this flowery speech. The man was no diplomat, that much was apparent. "What business would that be? I cannot remember having given a reason for my visit."

His features froze in rigid surprise. "I - ah – assumed that the New Republic would not approve of the Empire's renewed interests in Ryloth – ah – that is, diplomatically put."

Nodding at him in acceptance of that ill-concealed lie Padmé indicated the slender woman to her left. "My aide, Anja Dumilor. My guard, Andarack clan Rim'kai." Her eyes never left the commander's face and she could easily identify the disapproval in his eyes, his anger, as he gazed at the silent Noghri.

"Welcome to Ryloth," he managed, non-commitally. "Please, take your seats. We will proceed to our final destination immediately."

"Excellent. My business is indeed urgent. It seems that a member of our diplomatic corps has gone missing on Ryloth." She handed him the official sheet. "His name is Cesh Kendar."

Taking the flimsiplast Antham frowned. "A Twi'lek," he mused aloud, then looked up to meet Padmé's eyes again. "We will, of course, do our best to recover your man."

"That is most gracious of you. In the meantime I would like to interview the ruling council to confirm your interests in this sector. You understand."

"Certainly. But you will also realize that for the time being I am the ruling power on Ryloth."

She gave him a surprised look. "Really? Under what directive? Have there been uprisings or any sort of unrest? I was led to believe that your intentions were merely to reestablish the Empire's protectorate."

"That is indeed true," he answered smoothly, and Padmé felt strangely satisfied to find that he had not fallen for that trap. Perhaps he was smarter than she had thought. "Alas, a random investigation yielded information on a plot that would have led to the occupation of Ryloth by the Hutts."

"Is that so. Then Ryloth should be grateful for your intervention. Was that why your forces paid a brief visit to Nal Hutta and Nar Shadaa before coming here?"

"Yes."

"I see." Favoring the commander with another smile she indicated that for now this discussion was over. Instead she gazed pensively at her companions, idly speculating on her next move. Everything he had told her so far had been a lie, and she had a feeling that he was uncertain himself what his directive was. Anakin had discovered early on that there were differences within the Imperial command and Padmé wondered if the scheme on Ryloth had been simply abandoned for one reason or other. Perhaps something else had come up and proven to be more important.

That meant that Antham was doubly dangerous. He knew that she was a trained diplomat, and that he could not match her skills in that area. In the most unfortunate of cases he would decide her a liability. If Mon Mothma's suspicions were right his last orders had been to secure the situation on planet, no matter the cost. And Telmann Page had confirmed that there had been uprisings, and a plot initiated by Joral. But the Hutt was not on Markhan's side. On whose was he then? He had promised assistance to the New Republic, but he also did not want to alienate the Empire further. But had he kept quiet on Page's survival? If not, then Antham would know that she knew more than she pretended to. All the more reason to gather proof for the Empire's deeds as fast as possible and get out.

Roganda awoke slowly, and in a way she was grateful for it. This way she had enough time to come to terms with her new situation. Not that it had changed much on the overall scale. She was still a prisoner, and she did not doubt that the New Republic would also try to use her to control Irek. Tears started falling unbidden as worry overcame her again. Was he all right? Was he well? In hindsight her entire scheme seemed so – petty. It served no end other than her revenge, and she could not enjoy even that, for fear was eating her alive, fear for her child, and fear of the Grand Admiral's retribution, should he survive. The greatest fear though was to have unleashed something that not even she could control. The word failure hung heavily above her head, threatening to crush her.

"Roganda?" The warm voice was full of concern. Opening her eyes at last Roganda looked up into Leia's dark eyes and smiled. "You were crying," the Princess explained gently and reached out to hold her hand.

"Irek?" she asked hopefully, and her heart grew heavy when Leia averted her eyes all of a sudden and took to staring out of the room's viewport.

"He is alive. At least we assume he is."

"What happened?" Roganda found that she could hardly breathe, with her heart being crushed ever so slowly by sudden dread. She sat up abruptly and a dizzy spell made her head spin uncontrollably. Sinking back with a low groan she felt Leia's hand squeeze her own reassuringly.

"Grand Admiral Thrawn has regained control over the Executor. Irek has reportedly left the ship and escaped. We do not know where he will be headed, though."

"He will try to find me. If he is alive, he will find a way," Roganda murmured softly, conviction mixing with hope and faith.

"Yes, that is a reasonable assumption," the Princess agreed, her tone pensive. "But what will he do then?"

"I do not know...."

"Do you still hope to see him as his father's heir?"

"Never his heir," she breathed angrily. "The late Emperor was a sick man with a twisted mind. I would never have my son become his likeness. Never!"

"I understand."

"Tell me, did you never fear to become a reflection of your father?" Roganda asked suddenly, truly curious, but also strangely afraid.

"I would be honored if I could gain only half of his skills and strengths," Leia replied calmly.

"What about his weaknesses?"

"He taught me that the recognition of one's weakness comes before strength. Your master, I believe, thought himself invincible. And I fear Irek might believe the same of himself."

"He has such a fragile heart," Roganda whispered, more to herself than for the other woman's benefit. "He is so vulnerable. I have been a bad mother for him," she concluded with a loud sob. It was so true! She had given him no self-confidence, only doubts. "I am a bad mother," she repeated softly. Through a curtain of silent tears she saw Leia rise from her seat on Roganda's bed and the Princess let go of her hand gently.

"You must come to terms with your guilt first, Roganda," Leia explained. "Perhaps then you can find a way to reach him again. For his sake and for your own."

"He is just a boy, just a child. He does not know how to take care of himself." She knew that her pleading would fall on deaf ears. If Irek posed a threat he would be eliminated. But the Princess surprised her when she countered:

"We will take this into consideration. Do not fear for his life. The New Republic has no intention of harming your son."

"Thank you," Rodanda whispered, meaning it with all her heart.

Turning toward the door Leia felt reluctant to leave the older woman alone, but she also realized that Roganda had to come to terms with herself, and needed to do it on her own. When she closed the door behind her she was surprised to find her father waiting in the hallway. Smiling up at him she fell in step with his long strides as he led her wordlessly toward his office, that he had reclaimed two days ago.

"Any news?" she asked at last and took a seat opposite from his desk.

"On Yaga Minor, yes," he explained and Leia suddenly realized how tired he looked.

"Father, what is it?"

"What is what?" he asked, suspicion plain in his eyes.

"You seem concerned, exhausted."

"Does it show?" He gave her a weak smile. "I guess I am getting old."

Leia shook her head vehemently. "You just need a break, that is all." Once the words had left her mouth she wished them back when she saw the expression on his face; hurt, betrayal and disappointment turned slowly into resignation. "Father, I didn't mean it that way," she tried, but he waved her into silence.

"No, no, you are right. I should not try to hold your hand all the time. You have proven already that you can take care of things on your own and take charge. I suppose the time comes for every father when he has to let go of his children." He sighed deeply. "Your mother has an easier time, I believe, because she had the opportunity to say goodbye even earlier. I had no idea that you even existed, and when I found you - " Stopping himself with a faraway look in his eyes he gave a low, wistful grunt. "Over the past days I realized that while my efforts yielded nearly no result you have fared far better. I am tired of these games, Leia. I find that I cannot summon the concentration, the focus, to think beyond the fact that I have already accomplished all that I wanted to accomplish in the first place." His hands reached over the table to hold hers and a warm light played in his blue eyes as he gazed at her. "My life's work is done, and yours is only beginning. I hope the burden I gave you to bear is not too heavy, or too difficult – "

"No." She shook her head again, accepting his confession with a heavy heart. "And I have many people to help me. I am not alone."

He gave her a pained glance. "You will find that you always are alone, once you assume the cloak of leadership. Your mother and I – in a way we could be alone together, if you understand what I mean."

"I do." For a moment doubt and confusion reigned in her mind. Would she be alone even while with Han? Would he understand and would he support her nevertheless? Would he accept her duties and not complain if she could not spend as much time with him as she wanted to? Guilt-ridden, she sought her father's eyes again. "I think I am afraid," she admitted quietly.

"My daughter afraid?" he exclaimed with faked incredulity that changed into a laugh almost immediately. "It is all right to be afraid, Leia, and I have no doubt that Han will comfort you if your fears become too much. He is a good man. He truly loves you, and that is the most precious gift, the strongest shield, you could ever wish for."

"Thank you," she replied, her voice thick with emotion, and squeezed his hands briefly before she took hers away again. "Now, what news on Yaga Minor?"

All business again he handed her a datacard, but she did not look at it, but waited for his explanation instead. "Apparently an Imperial renegade had seized control of the planet, seeking to play off the Empire and the New Republic against one another by holding you hostage."

"What? But that is – "

"Not true? I fear now it is. It is all over the newsgrids and I suppose people will accept it gladly."

"Who?"

"General Zi'Assime. He has been arrested by one Major Olade, apparently, and I do not doubt that the Empire will be quick to appease everyone by putting him on trial as soon as possible."

"He is making fools of us," Leia said quietly, realizing in an instant the true intent of what could only be another of Tious Markhan's schemes. "The man is good, no doubt about that."

"Unfortunately you are right. Our hands are bound in that matter, but whether the nobles really contact Piett or fall for Markhan's trap will be decided in the future."

"What trap?"

"He has promised them amnesty, recognizing that Zi'Assime put them under pressure."

"Did the General also take the blame for the Executor?"

"Yes."

Leia smiled grimly. "Roganda will not like this."

"On the contrary. She will be happy if no one ever mentions her connection to that unfortunate affair again." The comm installed in his desk came to life unexpectedly. "Yes?" he asked a bit testily and frowned at the display. "General Page, what can I do for you?" There was a long pause. "What?" Father exclaimed at last, then gave Leia a nod and disconnected the call. "Emergency session with General Page," he explained briskly and rose from his seat. "Apparently there have been some major developments in the Unknown Regions and within the Empire."

Voss Parck was seated on the chair inside the holo transmission field and waited patiently for the others to join their little meeting. The holo showed him a conference table and Telmann Page, who was restlessly pacing up and down the length of the table, looking nervous. Suddenly the door behind him chimed open to reveal the familiar faces of the Dark Lord and his daughter. Both took a seat and were joined swiftly by the Chief Security Advisor. Page nodded toward the Admiral and asked: "Please, could you repeat your report?"

"Certainly. Lord Skywalker, Princess, a pleasure to find you well. I am Admiral Voss Parck, of Nirauan. General Page has assured me that the Grand Admiral is alive and in command of the Executor again, which is certainly good news, but I have something for you that might be even better."

"Don't forget the bad news," Page growled softly, but Voss Parck chose to ignore that comment for the time being.

"The good news is, that Tious Markhan's star is fading. Apparently his aide, Lieutenant Franzis Sarreti, has planned a coup that involves Yana Dar. I strongly assume that he wants the lady to become Empress and thus reunite the Empire."

"In what way would that news be good?" the Princess asked sternly and frowned.

"Sarreti is much more open-minded than Markhan. A diplomat and politician, if you will. He recognizes the signs of the times and I for one believe that he might even manage to push through fundamental reforms." His mood darkened just a bit. "He is also prepared to grant the Chiss support in their struggle."

"Yes," Skywalker said with a nod, "the invasion."

"General Page informed me that we have Roj Kell to thank for this nasty surprise."

"He's always good for one," the Dark Lord agreed with a smile, "And the bad news?"

"First, Sarreti's position is far from secured, and second, Roj Kell is coming here, to Byss."

"You assume that he had a hand in those happenings?"

Voss Parck shrugged. "I do not put it past him. My information is incomplete as of yet, but that will change in the next few days. I have also contacted Captain Palleon, who was left in charge of Nirauan. Apparently renewed attacks on the base are imminent."

"What about Chi'in?"

That was a surprise. "You know?" the Admiral asked.

"Not the details. I was hoping to gain those from you," Skywalker countered coolly.

"We assume that the invaders have attacked our perimeter forts successfully. Chi'in was supposed to gather information out there and we believe he was surprised by the aggressors. You son - " he swallowed hard at the look the Dark Lord gave him, as if the other man was anticipating where this news would lead. "Your son volunteered for a recon mission into that area."

"What!" It was the Princess, who shot up from her seat, outrage marring her beautiful face. "You let him run after Chi'in, who knew far better what he was getting himself into and still failed?"

"Princess," Parck answered smoothly, finding it easier to deal with her than Skywalker himself, "he is a Jedi Knight and he has been briefed in depth on the dangers he and his companion are facing."

"Hold on," the Dark Lord said suddenly and held up a hand as if to emphasize his words. He seemed to be preoccupied with something, and suddenly a mirthless smile appeared on his lips. "Oh, very clever. Very clever indeed," he said, not caring to explain that cryptic comment further. "You say Kell is coming to Byss. Well, General Page's report left his intentions toward the Empire unclear, so I want you to contact him and ascertain that. Yana Dar is no ally of Tious Markhan and you will do everything you can to help Sarreti's scheme to succeed."

"That is quite a lot to ask," Parck countered weakly.

"I trust in your abilities, Admiral. As for the New Republic's response to the threat at Nirauan... Give me three days and I will have the answer for you."

Voss Parck gave him a grim nod. Three days. That was a long time, a very long time, during which a lot of things could happen. "I will do my best," he promised.

"Father, what did you mean by that 'clever' comment?" Leia demanded as he rose from his seat and turned to leave. Looking back over his shoulder he gave her a blank stare.

"Leia, it is just an idea. I will have to analyse this further," he explained calmly.

"What idea?"

"Not now, okay?" he asked her gently. "You should inform Mon Mothma on Sarreti's plot."

She frowned at that. "I do not like that one at all. He wants to reestablish the Empire. And Yana as Empress!"

"You said she is an adept diplomat. Perhaps she will do well."

"As Empress?"

"Not every Empire is an evil one," Anakin reminded her with a smile. "Give her a chance."

And with that he whirled away again and walked out of the door. He was too agitated to think of anything else than what Parck had said about the Unknown Regions. He has been briefed in depth on the dangers he and his companion will be facing. So Nuron was accompanying Luke, which was certainly no suprise. But that was not the point. The Unknown Regions were perhaps the most dangerous section in space there was, and the Chiss were the one race that, despite its philosophy of non-aggressve warfare, managed to control those threats, if sometimes only by a hairbreadth.

If Kell had truly lured those invaders into an attack he could have chosen a much easier to conquer terrain. But by leading them nose-first into the Unknown Regions he had given the Chiss both the problem and the solution. It seemed clear to Anakin that the old man's plan was a complex one that went deeper than was apparent at first sight. He wanted to strengthen both the New Republic and the Chiss, and perhaps even the Empire.

Leia had told him of her encounter with the ancient Sith and his long-dead lover, the Jedi Master Belana Jen, and he had been puzzled by the message. In his plans for the future Kell had seemingly excluded the Dark Lord completely from the overall scheme. With a slight shiver Anakin remembered Kell's outburst a year or so ago, when he had claimed that there was no future for either the Sith or the Jedi. Master Yoda had confided in Anakin that he feared that this statement was only all too true, and now, with Leia taking over and succeeding where her father had failed, he realized that the foundation for a new order would not be laid by him.

He could see it clearly before his inner eye, with his daughter forming the bridge between the order and the interests of the New Republic, his son as the heart of the group and Nuron the blade. It was true what he had told Leia: his work was done. In a way it was a depressing truth, and yet, with his children continuing his legacy he was secure in the knowledge that it would last. That was, he reflected with a slight shock, if Nuron and Luke did not perish in the Unknown Regions. Hurrying toward his office with his heart hammering in his chest, he tried to keep calm and not panic. Hopefully the two of them were all right.

Mara Jade was frowning at her companion's back fiercely. She felt uncomfortable with his plan and had told him so a few times on their way here, but Jix had insisted that the easiest way to get onto the transport to Byss would be to pose as workers. So they had hijacked a ship that was bringing supplies up to the Star Destroyer in orbit, the convoy's flagship, she assumed, and they were closing in on their target fast. That Jix was piloting the ship was another sore point, as if he did not trust her to keep her head in a crisis. It was annoying her no end that he treated her like a child ever so often, and although she recognized his greater experience she still hated his off-hand, typically Corellian comments.

"Relax," he told her without looking around, anticipating her mood.

"Relax?" Mara hissed, glad to be given an opportunity to lash out at him and vent her anger. "This will be a disaster, Jix."

"Your plan wasn't any better than mine, you know?"

"Less dangerous, that is for certain. A lot of ships get into Byss, and I know the proper codes," she insisted.

"If they were smart they changed those as fast as they could. They know what side you're on now. Remember what happened on Vjun? What if your code activates another nasty surprise like that?"

"We already found out that it was propably a hacker who was responsible for that," Mara countered sullenly. "You just want to get on board because you think Yana Dar might also be there."

"She could help us."

"She gave us this assignment in the first place," Mara reminded him coldly.

"But things have changed. You heard what Karrde said about Ryloth and Nar Shadaa."

"So what? You wanna waltz into her cabin amd ask her for permission to come along?" She stared at him, incredulous, but he only shrugged and tried a tentative smile.

"It's worth a try."

The planet Garqui spun slowly on its axis as the hours passed by, and Yana was idly speculating on her half-brother's fate. If Abla was to be believed Erinin would have handled their escape with ease. According to the slicer the man was about the best guardian one could wish for, an excellent fighter and a smart one.

Three agents. She grimaced at the very thought. Three agents had been dispatched by the late Emperor on three different assignments that were all closely linked. One, Erinin, had been commanded to guard Irek at all costs, so Palpatine would have that vessel ready and waiting once the time had come. A second, Abla, had been assigned to oversee her own progress, to gently manipulate her into the trap the third had laid out for her. A trap that would only have been activated once it became clear that Irek was a tool without master, a dangerous weapon out of control. Now that he had proven to be useless he had to be eliminated. Those were her father's orders. Yana was quivering with silent rage at that command, that proved yet again what a monster had sired her.

Abla had confessed that until a year and a half ago he had had no idea that he had been working with one of the other agents for years without ever realizing it, while serving Markhan. That other was Franzis Sarreti, the Grand Admiral's personal aide. Once Abla had discovered that there were more agents, he had done his best to uncover the third's identity and had found him by chance through Yana's dealings with Roganda Ismaren.

She was still angry at him for having kept his mission secret, but she knew herself well enough to realize that she would not have allowed that plan to succeed, had she been aware of it. And despite his reassurances Abla was still loyal to his Emperor. On the other hand he admired her greatly, believing that she was extraordinarily talented and clever, and his fervent faith in her abilities was mellowing her resolve not to trust him again quite effectively. Yana did not even know whether Abla meant it or if that was just part of his scheme to direct her on the course her father had laid out for her. It was confusing her and that was something she did not appreciate in herself at all.

Struck by a sudden thought she rose from her seat and frowned. If she went to talk with Roj Kell again she took a great risk in telling him too much. After their last meeting she had not dared visit him again, fearing that he might get back at her for her weak attempt at manipulating him into helping her. But days had passed since then and perhaps his temper had cooled again. From what she had witnessed on Byss Yana was certain that there had been no love lost between her father and his mentor, so there was still a reasonable chance that he would assist her to some extent at least.

She walked over to the door and keyed it open, then made her way down the corridor slowly, listening to the sound of her heels clicking on the polished deck. Suddenly the wailing of an alarm siren rose over the steady background hum of the ship's engines and startled her. A few moments later four security guards came pounding toward her. One of them gave her a suspicious frown and stopped in front of her.

"Please return to your cabin," he told her sternly and nodded toward the room she'd just left.

"What is going on?" Yana asked, ignoring the others.

"I have no details for you, ma'am, and I am busy. Please proceed to your quarters. Now."

He laid a hand on the handle of his blaster pointedly and Yana backed away with a soothing gesture, but silently vowed to herself to contact Abla and find out what was going on. Once back inside her cabin she immediately called up the slicer's comm code, and he answered the call promptly.

"Your sense of timing is not the best today," he said in low tones and Yana understood that he could not talk right now without betraying his position to the yet ignorant captain of the ship. Disconnecting the call again she stared off into the distance pensively and tried to get a read through the Force. There was excitement and determination, a sense of focus, but not much else. Where they being attacked? She doubted it. Then a knock at the door made her frown. Could Abla have come over to tell her what was happening? Wishing for any weapon at all she stalked over to the door and called up a visual of the unexpected visitor. Her eyebrows rose in surprise, but then she opened the door and bade the man to come inside.

"I must confess I had expected someone else," she told Wrenga Jixton sweetly, "but I suppose that this answers the question of why there's such a commotion going on out there. Sit down." He plopped down on a chair, eyeing her warily, while she went over to the small kitchenette and prepared two glasses of Corellian brandy. When she turned back to face him again she forced a smile on her lips. "I assume that you do not have the holocron yet?"

"Are you kidding me? Do you know how difficult it is to get into Byss?"

"As a matter of fact, I do." Handing him his glass Yana looked down at him pensively. He looked kinda cute with that frown on his forehead. "Where is Jade?"

"We were separated."

Yana nodded to herself thoughtfully. "Then I will not be able to help her. You, sweet-heart, will stay in here until we reach Byss. Then we'll find a way to smuggle you off board and you will get the holocron and bring it to the Dark Lord."

"What about you?"

No questions as to her change of plan. So he had never meant to deliver the holocron to her in the first place. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she took a step closer to him. "You are in no position to ask questions, Wrenga Jixton. You and I had a deal."

"The Princess is safely back on Coruscant," he countered calmly. "As far as I am concerned that ends the deal."

Yana gave him an appraising smile. "So you kept in contact with your employer. Excellent."

"Not quite. Talon Karrde was so good as to lend us a hand."

"Karrde," she repeated softly. "Why is it that he is always a step ahead of me? That man is a nuisance if I ever saw one."

Jix smiled at her leisurely. "Perhaps it's a matter of experience and connections. You have the wrong ones, it seems."

"Have a care, my dear," Yana threatened coldly. "I know you are good, but some things require more than brute force and a knack for getting out of traps."

He shrugged easily and leaned back in the chair unconcernedly. "I don't know. If you'd be working with Markhan you wouldn't have invited me in in the first place, so I assume your own scheme is still up and running."

"Perhaps." Pursing her lips in silent calculation Yana took a sip of the brandy and smiled. "And perhaps you can still help me."

"Drop your weapons!"

She hesitated only for a moment, but Mara knew that she was caught. Straightening from her half-crouch she let her blaster fall to the deck with regret and raised her hands ever so slightly. The five stormtroopers who had cornered her did not relax at all, on the contrary, they seemed to tense even more.

"Search her!" the obvious leader of the quintet snapped at the man to his left and that one carefully slung his rifle over his back and approached her cautiously. If she could grab his weapon and use his body as shield – The sound of boots clanking over the deck seemed to gain an echo, but then another man rounded the corner and Mara found her mouth hanging open.

"Good work," Abla Othana told the troopers and strode briskly toward Mara, snatching up her blaster before he straightened and met her eyes again. "She is not as dangerous as you seem to think her to be. She's a green bird, that's all," he added, almost too low to hear and Mara gasped aloud.

A green bird? That was an identification code used by the Emperor's closest agents, one she had been taught herself early on. Her master had told her several times that she would never, under no circumstances, meet another of her kind. They were not told the identities of their fellow agents, or their assignments. Of course, by now the entire galaxy knew that she had been an Imperial agent, but that Abla Othana would turn out to be another was indeed a surprise. Did Yana know? And did the troopers?

She shot Othana a hard glare, but he merely smiled and turned away, her blaster tucked behind his belt. "I will question her later. Bring her to detention."

As she was being led away Mara was feverishly trying to bring all the bits and pieces of the puzzle in place. Yana wanted the holocron. Abla worked for Yana. Abla the very high-ranking Imperial Special Agent. Abla was obviously no prisoner, and, assuming that Yana was indeed on this ship and under arrest, that meant that Abla had betrayed her. Knowing who was in charge of Byss Mara could guess easily that Othana had been working for Tious Markhan all along. Which meant that Markhan had known that she and Jix were coming to Byss. They would have run head-long into that trap! But why had Abla revealed his rank to her? Was it a warning to keep quiet? Was he playing a double-game with both Yana and Markhan? Well, he had promised to question her and she would certainly make good use of that opportunity of a quiet get-together to gain some answers herself.

TBC