Title ~ Forceful Betrayals: Section 3
Author ~ Seyla Starrider
When I Wrote it ~ February 27, 2001
Why I Wrote it ~ Something to keep you and me busy while we wait for the big time authors to get finished with the new Star Wars books.
Contact ~ dpriser@aol.com
Note ~ Just as before, some of the chapters/parts are titles of songs that fit perfectly with that particular part. But they are also the titles of that chapter. Just incase you like to listen to songs that slid in with the story.
Note2 ~ An old character will be introduced in this fan-fiction to Jaina Solo. Remember, I haven't read the Young Jedi Knight Series so it might not be totally factual. Ok? Cool!
Spoilers ~ NONE THAT I KNOW OF!
Rating ~ PG
Thanks ~ I would like to thank not only George Lucas and friends for creating this vast universe, but to all my friends; especially to Jedi Knight Jorim who used his abilities in the cyber world to publish this on the internet, and to my Patriot-freak and BF, Hannah Martin for helping me through the times I got stuck during a part in the story.
Warning ~ Some of these characters in this fan fiction are the creations of George Lucas and the other authors that help him continue on the stories of these wonderful heroes and heroines. But I would like to take credit for the ones I created, which are listed below:
Seyla Starrider, Enoil Shai, Lydia Ebony, Zengi Fin'h, Seth Midori, Ian and Ae`lina Lopez.
Copyright 2000 of Sey:) ~ Story credit to the author. Credit of creating already known characters in Star Wars to George Lucas and friends.
Time ~ Well, right after Forceful Betrayals Chronicle 1, Section 2 of course. Description ~ By now you should know what's happening with everyone, but I'll give you an update if it has taken you a while to find this section.
Jaina Solo is in immediate danger, and there is nothing Jag Fel can do about it, or can he.
Because of his love for the girl, he decides to tell someone who can help him, but the decision doesn't come easily or is taken lightly, especially when it means that he might have to quit the Chiss Squadron.
Meanwhile, Sey and Jacen find the each other's affections towards one another.
But to make things all the more interesting, Mara Jade confronts an old friend that is all too ecstatic to see her again.
Read to see what happens!
Part one ~ Holdin' On and Stay True Songs by Stacie Orrico
"Hurry up!" Droma called out from the top of the ramp.
Jacen pushed Seyla onward, quickening her pace. She stumbled forward, almost landing on her face, but the Ryn caught her before she hit the ground.
To his amazement, Seyla didn't flinch from the alien's grasp. Most people would cringe at the strange creatures. The Ryn were often ridiculed because no one really knew his or her history or past. Jacen had no problem with them. To him everyone, whatever their race, history, background, whatever, should be treated equally as everyone else. Unfortunately most of the universe refused to listen to his idea.
Droma yelled at him. "Hey, Jacen! You coming aboard?"
Seyla was already in the ship. Regaining his senses, he raced up to the hatch.
Han Solo checked the hyperspace monitor, and then locked the Firelight onto autopilot, setting the alarm to go off once they were ready to pull out of hyperspace. Getting up from his seat, the man slipped out of the cockpit and into the central living area where the new passenger was.
There he found Droma and Jacen listening to a nice-looking and pretty girl. She had light skin, styled short hair of soft brown and light eyes of blue like Luke's. She was tall, probably the same height as his eldest son. She was dressed in an elegant full-length gown that touched the floor.
Still talking inventively to the other two, Han had to intervene the conversation. "So son, who's the lovely lady?"
Standing up from the couch, Jacen helped her up and introduced them. "Dad, this is Seyla Starrider; Sey this is my dad, Han Solo."
Han knew there was something troubling Sey when she squirmed at the word dad. He'd have to ask her about it sometime about it. Coming back into the present, the older Solo extended his hand and shook hers. "Nice to might you."
"You too, Mr. Solo."
Trying to lighten her mood, he said, "Please no Mr. Solo. It's the second time this week I've been called that. Han is fine, plus it doesn't make me sound so old."
They all laughed.
"Why in the gods did you do such a thing?" Tsavong yelled in fury at the guard, more formally known as Enoil Shai.
He hung suspended from the ceiling inside the Embrace of Pain. The animal mollusk's appendages gripped the beaten Yuuzhan Vong's wrists, ankles, and waist. Each time he dared to even flinch in agony, it would jerk and twist itself till Enoil couldn't hold in the tears and screams any longer.
"ANSWER ME NOW!"
But no matter what the Warmaster did or said to Enoil, didn't convince him talk. *Starrider, wherever you are, use the strange powers you possess and see I did not betray you. The God of Starrider, here my cries. Forgive my bloody past. Please, help me as you did Starrider. Help her see what's happening to me now. *
Another yank from the creature's limbs snapped his left tendon in his leg. The pain was more than he could bear, but Enoil knew he couldn't die, at least not until Starrider saw him.
Han and Jacen sat in the living room of the Firelight. Han was finishing up the last remains of his Corellian dish while his son and Droma played the old Holo board game. Clearly both were intent on the game, rarely speaking. Setting down his fork, he cleared his throat. "Well, I think you did a nice job, Jacen."
Still not taking his eyes off the game, the sixteen-year-old kept playing, apparently unnerved by his father's remark. "Nice job doing what?"
"Starrider. She really is quite beautiful." Han didn't worry about the brunette eavesdropping in on them. She had asked if there were any beds where she could rest. He had showed her to the guestroom where she collapsed willingly on the soft bed. She hadn't even bothered to slip under the covers.
Jacen obviously looked back at his father, and their eyes met. "What?"
"I'm with you father, Jacen. Quite a looker your girlfriend is," Droma replied.
Han had happened to be chewing another bite of his dinner and nearly choked on it from laughter. The Ryn was right about her; she did look decent, but coming from him was what shocked Han.
"Oh, come on you two, we're just friends."
He and Droma exchanged unimpressed glances.
Jacen turned to the Holo board and moved his piece. "I win." He snickered at his opponent. Standing up Jacen watched Droma's eyes study the game they had just been playing. "Hey, that's what happens when you don't pay attention. I'm going to go see if Sey is awake yet."
After Jacen was out of the room the Ryn's eyebrow went up. "You think it's wise to let your son go into the bedroom alone to check on the girl?" he questioned.
"You're talking about Jacen, here. He would never take advantage of anyone."
His friend raised his eyebrows in concern.
"Listen, I know I haven't been with my son lately, but I know him well enough that the thought wouldn't cross his mind."
"Ok."
Hanging by his arms and legs, Enoil's body seemed lifeless. His badly beaten and mangled body bled from open wounds inflicted by the whips and other animals lashed upon him by command of the Warmaster. His chest barely lifted as he struggled to get oxygen in his lungs.
"TELL ME NOW! WHY DID YOU FIRE THE PLASMA GUN?" boomed Tsavong Lah.
When Enoil didn't answer, he flicked his wrist ordering a priestess to strike him with the couffee, one of the advanced whip type animals that resembled a snake.
The blow cut deeply into his flesh, causing it to bleed profoundly down his chin dropping to the floor below. Enoil's cries filled the room. Once his pain decreased, he replied behind his teeth, "Torture me, kill me for all I care, but no matter what you do I will never break."
The room submerged in a tension, which could be cut through with a knife.
The Warmaster's eyes narrowed. "So be it." He then ordered to his aids, "Break him."
Flying her eyes open, Seyla shot up onto her hands on the bed. *Was that all a dream? It seemed so...so real. * Her chest was heaving hard. She could still hear Enoil's screams.
No, it wasn't a dream, or a nightmare. It was really happening. *Lord, grant Enoil your love. Save him from the evils that surround him. He's changed and...he needs you. * Tears flooded down her cheeks. Another friend persecuted by the Yuuzhan Vong. When would the death go away? The sorrow and grief?
A brief knock on the door startled her. She jerked her head up from her hands and saw Jacen standing in the doorway. A sense of worry slipped through the Force. Running to her he questioned, "What's wrong?"
Seyla tried to answer him, but couldn't talk. All she could do was hug her knees and weep. Death was lurking everywhere now days seizing her into a tunnel of darkness. She let out everything allowing herself to let go in front of the boy. Even if he didn't understand why she was crying, the pain had to be released or she would burst into anger, and fear.
She felt him sit next to her on the bed, wrapping his arms around her. Comforting her sorrows.
*Thanks Jacen. *
*Why are you crying? *
*I had a vision of the present. It was Enoil. He was the only Yuuzhan Vong I would count as a friend. *
*A friend? * He questioned skeptically.
Finally she was able to speak. "When I first was captured and brought into these galaxies, I was aboard a Yuuzhan Vong ship. I don't know what kind it was, but I had to witness the captives I had been kidnapped with, die horrible deaths before my eyes. It hurt to see fellow friends and total strangers fall in agony. I can still hear their screams; and of those who never could let out their agony they suffered, I remember vividly how they were murdered. The last so-called 'sacrifice' I had to see was one with a Yuuzhan Vong priest. He never did tell me his name, but I had to watch a group of species drop hopelessly to their knees as gas filled the room. They clutched their throats. The pagan began to explain happily what the gas was and how it worked. I wanted so much to yell at him to stop the horrid ritual, but there was no use. He wouldn't have listened to my words. Well, a light of some sort blinded the room. When it disappeared no one was in the circular area. I thought it was all part of the plan, but apparently it wasn't because the priest began throwing a fit. I was baffled by his behavior. 'Don't you realized what happened? Oh, of course you don't, you don't believe in the ways of the gods.' He sarcastically remarked.
"That was where I drew the line. I stood up for my faith and the persecuted ones too. 'There is only one true God, and He doesn't ask for the death of others to require blessings to give away. He gives away love, kindness, and help, only asking for a good deed here and there.' He ordered me to get the guard outside the door. When I came back in the room with the guard, the pagan told me to sit. I did as I was told. I asked him what the problem was and he told me what had happened wasn't part of the ceremony and 'the gods still hadn't had their fill of life yet.' I then told him he was crazy to believe in such nonsense. The guard struck me with one of the whip like creatures. I was then taken to my room."
She continued the story of how a stranger came into her room and healed her wound. When the door opened she found herself on the ground and the man had vanished, and how the same guard who whipped her rushed to her side. Seyla told Jacen everything about Enoil.
Everything that had happened over the past month hurt to think about, but she had to get the pain out.
Lastly she explained to him of her vision and where Enoil was.
"Persecuted?"
Seyla nodded. "Yes, he no longer upholds the Yuuzhan Vong religion. I just wish he didn't have to suffer. He was the one who got me out of the party, now he has to endure such torture." *Lord, please be with him. Don't let him die alone. *
"Sey, you don't have to worry about talking to your Lord aloud in front of me. I don't mind. Like I said before, I'd like to know more about this God of yours."
She turned her head, facing him. "You really would?"
"Yes."
"You wouldn't laugh at my beliefs or ridicule me? You really want to know about God?"
"Why would I ridicule you? "
Sey turned from his gaze. How could she tell him everything of her faith and not be? Many people, even her friends had mocked her faith. At the time though, they didn't know that they were make fun of her faith, but it still hurt to remember. It ached far more to think about how her father disregarded her feelings and told her to stop acting so sensitive. Realizing that she hadn't answered Jacen's question, she said quietly, "I don't know."
He could feel that she was grieving inside her soul about her past. Jacen wanted to press and ask her what part of her past was eating her, but knew she wouldn't tell him. At least not at this particular time.
Trying to cheer her up he said, "Hey, are you hungry? "
She nodded, still keeping her eyes to the ground. Gathering herself up she dusted off as many wrinkles from her flowing dress as she could.
Starrider must have noticed that her hair was a bit tangled when she asked, "Where's the..." she thought a moment trying to find the right word for what she was looking for. "Refresher?"
Jacen laughed and pointed towards the door behind the one he had come in.
Zen paced slowly back to his chambers. His mind was on Starrider and what she had really been doing.
She had performed treason; what was worse, she left him hanging on to so many unanswered questions. *How could she? Seyla made a commitment to me, and the Union, that she would marry me; then I find out so many thoughts running through her mind. She lied to me. *
Anger surged his thought as he contemplated on.
As he reached the door panel and keyed in the access code an idea came to him.
*She left at the spur of the moment, but there has to be some type of note or direction given to Starrider by the one who helped her escape. She surely couldn't have done it by herself. *
Walking in he took off his cloak and hung it on the coat rack as the door slid shut. Once it was completely closed, Zen raced into her room, searching all through the dresser drawers when finally he found what he was looking for.
Hidden underneath three books about the Old Sith teachings he had given her to read was a small crumpled piece of paper. Picking up the note, Zen moved to sit down on her bed and began to read.
Seyla Starrider~
I read the note you wrote me. I vow I'll come back for you. I will rescue you from this corrupted place. Hold on and have faith. It is only a matter of days before your back in my life. May your God make this rescue mission execute in which way you escape from Zengi's grasp.
Love your only friend,
Jacen Solo
Zen stared at the letter with the feeling of deception. Never before had the feeling enter his heart like it had at that very moment. When he had been searching through her mind the night before, he hadn't seen this part of her mind, at least the part that Jacen Solo had played in her life.
Revenge filled him. No matter what it took, he was going to kill Solo and capture Seyla. This time, once she was in his power, he'd torture her till her soul broke and she'd deny her faith in her so-called God.
Part two ~ Here in My Heart Song by Plus One
As she slowly sat up on the hard bed, Jaina felt soreness ache all throughout her body. Her side had especially added pain. She lifted her eyes open and discovered she was in a cell.
She squeezed her eyes shut trying to recollect her last moments in consciousness. A sudden burst of loneliness drowned her soul. *Jag? Where are you? *
"There is no point in using the Force, baby. No one can hear you through the barrier I have created around you. No one will ever be able to trace you, not even your almighty and powerful Uncle Luke."
A shiver made its way up her spine. The voice, which spoke to her, had the tone of craving something of her. It was the intent placed behind the words that frightened her. He longed for something, and Jaina had a pretty good idea what it might be, but the speculation seemed disgusting and sick.
Flipping her eyes open she saw a man, maybe in his twenties, stepped forward as the door hissed shut. Each step he took, he came closer to the wounded teen. His eyes glowed like the center of a fierce fire. His black hair was long enough to cover his ears and his body stature looked as if he had been toning up his muscles for a while. But the way he stared at her made the intensity of uneasiness thicken in the cell.
She didn't know what to do. Every bit of her Jedi training blanked. Self defense methods dissolved from her memory. What could she do?
The darkside flowed immensely from him. Chills of the other side of the Force touched her as if it were an invisible constant cold wind that encircled each of its blind followers.
He now stood directly in front of her. Only three feet of empty space kept them apart.
Something about his eyes seemed... *Empty. * The realization stunned her.
The man dropped down to her eye level. Jaina swallowed. "...Who are you?"
"Midori. Seth Midori." He narrowed his eyes. "You are afraid... of me?"
Jaina blinked back her surprise. "You are..."
"Force-sensitive," he interrupted. "Yes, I am. So why are you so afraid of me?" he pressed again.
"You don't need to ask me that question when you already know the answer."
He shrugged and innocently replied, "Just trying to make conversation."
She only squinted her eyes. "Where are you taking me?"
"To a place I like to call home."
"Why did you kidnap me? What use am I to you?"
A devious grin surpassed his face. "Oh, you have no idea how useful you are, my dear." Her eyes widened in annoyance, but he continued as if nothing was the matter. "In fact I can feel Jag right now, on the verge of leaving Coruscant just to find you. I can just see his face filling up with rage once he finds the Holo disk I left for him in his Chiss fighter. Any moment now he'll find it and slide it into his datapad to discover a recorded message I took the pleasure of speaking, while a pre-played Holo projection of his one and only love lying unconscious in a cell hovers above his machine."
Resentment bursted into her heart as she jumped off the bed to strangle him. She barely had hold of his neck as she screamed, "How dare you!" But she wasn't strong enough to even get close enough to pinch him.
His strong arms clutched her forearms. She still struggled to hurt him some way.
They wrestled to the ground, but it was no use, even with the power of the Force. Seth used his powerfully built body to throw her on her back and straddled her.
Still fighting to get out of his grasp she yelled, "Get off of..."
Tightening his grip on her he cut her off. "You try something like that again and I vow, I'll have no trouble in killing you too! Got it?" He waited for a response, but none came from her. Throwing her back into the floor, throttling her head down, he yelled loud enough to make it echo. "GOT IT?"
Tears came streaming down her face as she nodded in reply.
His breath came upon her angrily. He finally got off her after a minute of tension allowing fear to set into her.
Just before the cell barrier shut he called out to her. "By the way, you have just taken first step onto the dark path of the Force." A chilling laugh followed.
Jaina lay helplessly still on the floor covering her eyes with her hands trying to control her tears. *Mom, Dad, Uncle Luke... somebody hear me; help me. I'm so afraid. Don't let me die here alone. *
Sey came out of the refresher and slipped on her clothes. How she longed for her jeans and shirt, but she shouldn't complain.
*You're lucky you have clothes girl. *
She combed out her hair and pulled it back into a ponytail. Glancing into the mirror she smiled. Being clean and finally getting rid of the grimy make-up felt so good; like she was free. *I just wish if were so in life. *
With that, Sey proceeded into the central living area.
Upon entering the room she saw that only Han Solo, Jacen's father, sat at the table finishing up the last of his dinner. Besides him was his comlink. Across the table was another plate of food.
Han raised his head at her entrance. "Jacen left you some dinner. He's in the cockpit with Droma preparing to land on Coruscant."
Slipping into the seat where the dinner and drink were, Sey questioned, "We're almost there?"
"We're already in the atmosphere."
She nodded and made the sign of the cross praying for her food she was about to receive. After she was done with her prayer of thanks she began to eat.
"You're religious?"
Sey blinked back the surprise. That question was being asked a lot. Swallowing she answered him. "Well, I rather put it being faithful."
"Same thing."
"No it isn't!" She corrected. "Don't you know people or aliens who go to a worship lace but don't show or act how they believe once they have left the place?"
"Yeah, but what..."
Sey interrupted. "Those are religious beings. The ones who act out what they believe and trust in God are faithful."
Han didn't reply.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have raised my voice. I..."
"No, don't sweat it. Just be careful on what you tell others on Coruscant. There have been some reports of Yuuzhan Vong deflectors in the population. If they find out how strongly you believe in..."
"Don't worry about that. I've already have seen what type of tortures they can induce."
Curious, the father asked, "How so?"
Casting her eyes down she whispered. "They attacked my home world, Nrutas. They took captive a number of us. I had to see them all put to horrible deaths."
He nodded not wanting to touch the subject. Han could already see that mentioning that part of her past troubled her. Trying to change the topic he asked, "I'm just curious, but why did you stiffen at the name 'dad,' when Jacen was introducing me to you."
She stared at him. When she opened her mouth to speak nothing came out. Her lip was trembling. "I miss my family and friends. I never really realized how much I'd miss them till I was pulled away. There has never been such a hole in my soul like now. All I want to do, if it is even possible, is to tell them I love them and... and goodbye." With that, she took in a shaky breath and closed her eyes to shake away the memory, then began to eat her dinner.
Jag strolled quickly out of the semi. The Chiss had won, but it was only because Jaina wasn't on the Rogue Squadron targeting his every move and able to find a weakness that he somehow forgot to fix.
For the first time in his life he really missed her.
Walking into the hanger bay where his ship had been parked, he thought solemnly, *Where are you Jaina? I miss you. Who did this to you? Why? Barely we figure out each of us likes the other and you have to go off and be kidnapped. *
Finally he reached his ship. Climbing the ladder, he looked into the cockpit. A plain silver Holo disk lay on his seat. He slowly grasped the round disk and crawled down the ladder.
Slumping to the ground he pulled out his datapad and slipped the disk in.
Part three ~ No You Song by ZOEgirl
Han Solo glanced back at Sey in concern. He was about to ask her if she was all right, when Jacen called him.
"Dad, could you come in here, the control tower has an emergency message for you."
The older man sighed and got up from his seat and went to the cockpit. As he entered, he saw Droma piloting and his son calmly telling the traffic control tower his father was coming. Stepping behind his son he laid his hand on his shoulder.
Tension seemed to lift up from the young man's shoulders. "I'll take it from here."
Jacen graciously stepped aside and sat in the co-pilot's seat, helping the Ryn to maneuver the ship.
Speaking clearly into the microphone, he called to them. "Hello control, this is Han Solo speaking, is there a problem?"
Static came through on the transmission but suddenly ceased as a male voice came through. "Mr. Solo there is a call for you. Says his name is Jag Fel. Would you like me to forward the communication link?"
At first Han could only leave his mouth hang open. Jag never before tried to get in contact with him. "Send it through," he replied worriedly.
"Han... it's me Jag Fel. Who's aboard with you?"
Pressing the button so he could talk, he answered, "Let's see, Droma, Jacen, me, oh and Seyla Starrider."
Astonishment came into his tone. "Is she that girl who Mara was referring too?"
"Yep."
"But how?"
"I'll enlighten you later. How's Leia?"
There was a slight pause before the man answered. "She is, I'm afraid, still in a coma. Mara and Luke are with her at the moment."
"So he did get back safely?"
"Yeah, along with the others. Some of them are in for medical treatment from the wounds they had received from the Yuuzhan Vong. Luke should be in that category, but he refuses to have any treatment while there are others are still in need of it."
"That's Luke for you."
The sixteen year old cleared his voice. And tried to tell him what he had found but the general stopped the conversation.
"Be down in a nanosecond, Jag."
Luke leaned over his comatose sister.
Her skin was white and her long narrow fingers were ice cold like they had been on Hoth's highest mountaintop. He massaged them so the circulation would restore itself back to normal.
There was nothing else he could really do about her. He wished that if he could just shake her, and she'd awaken, but that wasn't possible.
Nothing would awaken her. Her body had to wake itself up.
Calmly Luke whispered lowly to her, "Come on sis, wake up." It seemed hopeless. Leia might never recover again.
Jag was warmly greeted by Jacen and Han, and Droma came behind them and shook the boys hand formally. Sey didn't know exactly what to do. So she hung back behind the trio and hugged herself.
She was really on Coruscant. All sorts of aliens and people hustled about trying to get here to there and there to here. Being on a regular world that was focused on work reminded her of home.
Suddenly her concentration was broken by Han.
"And this here is Seyla Starrider."
Sey walked forward and gripped the teen's hand before her. "You must be Jag Fel. I would recognize from anywhere."
"I didn't know I was popular with the public." He questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Back on my home world, people who keep up to date on this part of the universe know a bit about you. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"As I to you."
Seyla coughed, covering her mouth with the other hand she waited till it subsided. It stung the back of her throat.
Han asked, "Are you alright?"
She nodded slowly. "Fine."
"Ok, let's go to the hospital then."
Once they entered the room where Leia was assigned, Han could no longer take it.
Rushing to her side, he took her hands and fell to the ground besides her bed. She couldn't leave him, not now.
Everything inside the deepest part of his soul feared the worst. His love for Leia was beyond all comprehension. Han had no idea how he could cope not having her around. He couldn't lose her along with Chewie.
*Please, who ever or what ever in this galaxy created everyone and everything don't let her leave. Do something; she is my whole life. I love her. Just please, wake her up... please. *
For the first time in his life, tears made there way down his cheeks profoundly.
"Han?" The voice weak, but the familiar one of the princess he had rescued so long ago.
Brushing off the tears that clouded his eyes, he saw Leia's dark auburn eyes looking warmly at him. Happiness swelled his heart. He got up off his knee and embraced his wife lovingly. Whispering into her ear he told her, "Princess, I love you. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't awaken. I don't know how I would have lived not to feel your warm lips against mine ever again. "
Her arms slowly wrapped themselves around his neck. "Oh, Han."
Part four ~ Don't Kiss Me Like This Song by Toby Keith
Sey watched as the two lovers clung to one another. Her soul longed to have something like they did one day.
A light tap on the shoulder brought her back into the present. Turning to the left side to see who was trying to get her attention, she saw Luke Skywalker point to the door. She got the idea.
Tugging on Jacen's hand she motioned to go out the door.
Once everyone, but Leia and Han, were out in the hallway Mara Jade silently shut the door as Luke stepped towards Sey and stated, "Thank you."
"For what?"
Mara strolled besides him. "For saving my husband's life. And my nephews."
"You're welcome, but you shouldn't thank me. It was God who did it all. I was only his instrument. He is the one who deserves the praise, not me."
The couple glanced at each other. "You're religious?" Luke questioned in curiosity.
She bit her lip, afraid she spoke too openly. Sey wasn't ashamed of her faith or her love for God, but she had to trend carefully and be cautious on how she told the Solo and Skywalker family. She didn't want to lose her only friends in the strange new galaxy just because they got the wrong idea of who she was. "In a way, but I am really just faithful and trusting in God and his plans for me."
Jacen stood behind her with a hand on her shoulder. His presence reassured her that he'd stick up for her if she had difficulties explaining.
"Well then, thank you God for your guidance and help," Jacen's uncle replied with such devotion and sincerity.
Sey didn't even have to ask her if he really meant it or was just being sarcastic. She knew that the Jedi Master would never mock anyone's religion, even the Yuuzhan Vong's. A sense of respect came from him towards her faith. Smiling she replied, "Thank you for not sneering. I've had that happen enough this past few weeks." She sighed. "There is something else that you three wanted of me. What is it?"
Luke turned to his wife to confirm what he was going to ask. "Since Han and Leia um... need some time alone together, Mara and I were wondering if you guys would like to go to eat somewhere, to relax and just take a break from the chaos, tonight?"
The teen girl looked at Jacen for help. "Sure. Jacen?"
"We'd love too."
"How about you Jag?" Mara asked concerned.
Jag cleared his throat. "Do you mind if I have a moment alone with you?"
Startled by the question Mara nodded in agreement. "Sure." Following him away from the group, the rather handsome guy faced her.
"If it isn't too much to ask, could you not go?"
"What?"
"It's this Holo disk I found. It's about Jaina."
Raising her eyebrows in suspicion she replied, "What are you thinking of doing Fel? I can see that wheel in your head turning. What's going on?"
Sighing he continued, "I... I have Force abilities."
Mara stood motionless, for the first time not knowing what to say.
"I was wondering if you could teach me how to control it so... so I could go rescue Jaina."
"Really? And how in the quasars did you think I'd be willing to help you?"
"Please, I can trust you."
"Let me guess... you don't want me to tell anyone, even Luke, about this, huh?"
"I was hoping that was part of the deal."
Crossing her arms she glared at him. "Jag, I don't think that this is wise. My niece can handle herself and..."
"No you don't understand, in this case she can't handle what she is facing."
"What are y..."
"Here, " Jag handed the older woman the disk. "Watch it once you get to your home. Then call me through the comlink and tell me your decision. Right now I've got a semi to catch."
The Jedi Master watched the boy jog to the elevator and jump in before it shut. She was a bit confused but stuffed the disk into her pocket and turned to the group. Luke was giving her a questioning look asking why he had left.
"Jag had a simulation to go to. He won't be able to make it. How about we drop Jacen and Sey at the Solo's apartment to freshen up, and we'll do the same. Then Luke, you can pick them up and come back for me at the house. You know how long it takes me to get ready."
Her husband smiled. "All right."
Luke stared skeptically at his wife. He had just come back from picking up Jacen and Sey, and had come to get Mara but he was shocked to find out what she told him. "Why don't you want to go? Are you feeling ok? Is the disease..."
"No, Luke." Mara spun around. "The disease isn't starting up again... I just need to talk with Jag. You three go on."
"Are you sure you're fine?"
"Yes. Now go before I decide to take back my word on not following out on Palpatine's plan on killing you."
The Jedi Master grinned. "Ok, ok. I'm leaving." Leaning over to his wife, he kissed her tenderly on the lips. Before the parted Mara put her hand behind her husband's neck and pulled him closer into the kiss.
A tingling sensation exploded throughout the both of them. The affection towards one another had only become stronger each passing moment they were together or apart.
Finally, they separated and gazed into each other's eyes intently. A ripple in the Force touched each of them; like it was going to be the last time they'd be able to see one another.
"You better get going." Mara whispered. "Jacen and Sey are probably thinking you've been captured by now."
As he walked to the door he casually remarked, "But I was, by you and you're love."
Part five ~ Let Me Know Song by JAKE
They were in the backseat of his uncle's speeder waiting for him. *Well, a bit more than waiting. * he added.
One second they were talking, the next Jacen found his lips against Sey's.
Pushing her back into the leather seat, he felt her fall back into the kiss as if taking in his love.
The sensation swelling up in his heart was one he never before felt. Then he knew, in some strange way, that this was the girl he wanted to spend eternity with. Lifting up off her lips he gently whispered, "You're not such a bad kisser."
"Hmmm." Pushing herself up closer to his face she kissed him lovingly. They parted and she smiled. "Neither are you."
"Are you ticklish?"
"Wh..." but before she was able to finish he began tickling her. "Jacen p...please! S...st...op!" She managed to get out, but went into a fit of giggles. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore, and used the Force to tickle him back.
"Hey! N...not fair!"
The two went on laughing in hysterics. Neither of them noticed the man watching them.
Suddenly, the two of them heard a forced cough, and it didn't come from either of them.
Jacen got off her, and Sey straightened up in her seat. He could feel heat generating up to his cheeks from the embarrassment of being caught. He knew who it was before he even looked up.
"What do you think you two were doing?"
Both he and Sey exchanged glances. Jacen knew he couldn't lie to his uncle. He'd see right through him. Both were still trying to keep down their giggling.
When they looked back at him, they were surprised that he didn't flare up at them.
Once he climbed in Jacen asked, "You aren't mad at us?"
"Mad?" His uncle glanced up in the review mirror to see who was behind him. "Why would I be mad?"
"Uh..."
"As long as you two don't do anything you'll regret, I'm ok with it. Besides it's your private life, and both of you know the difference between what's right and wrong. I trust you."
Surprisingly Sey spoke up. "You do? I...I mean, I know you do but..." she paused. "If my dad or mom was the one who caught me... well you can be sure I wouldn't be dating till I'm sixty."
"Do you want me to do that?"
"No! But for some odd reason I wished they were here to see it. I miss hearing them yelling at me for simple things. Though this wasn't something simple."
Silence stayed in the car for unending moments. Jacen inquired, "How many siblings do you have?"
Another laugh surpassed Sey's mouth. "Oh, sometimes it seems like a hundred, but I only have three younger brothers; one is two, the other six, and the third is going to be fourteen in three months. I'll be fifteen today." She let out quietly.
"Well then, I know exactly the place to go."
Walking into the karaoke restaurant in the amethyst dress she had barrowed from Jacen's mom, Sey's mind still hung on the kiss she and Jacen had shared. Even though her heart had slowed down considerably, her soul hadn't. She supposed it never would with Jacen as her friend.
*Boyfriend, * a hidden voice corrected.
*Stop shuffling through me thoughts, Jacen. I love you, but that doesn't mean I don't have the nerve to sock you one in the stomach. *
They sat down at a booth next to the stage where a young female humanoid sang an off pitch song in some foreign language Sey couldn't interpret. The interior design of the restaurant gave the illusion of being underneath the Calamarian seas. It's ceiling was painted to look like the customer was below the waves. The tables were made of coral and the seats were filled with water and glass marbles. One could even look at the top of the table was glass and underneath it was fish and other marine life swimming in it. The sight was one to behold.
She gasped as she tried to take in the scenery.
Luke must have heard and seen the awe and amazement in her eyes because he retorted, "I can see you have an interest in the sea."
Turning to answer the man she smiled. "I always found any aquatic life calming. Back... on Nrutas, my home planet, my family used to go to the beach on vacations. We went so often it was like a home away from home."
Just then their waiter came by and took their drink orders.
As he walked away, Sey saw a hint of something familiar in his eyes. She shook of the feeling once he came back. Trying to reassure herself that the feeling was nothing.
Setting down the drinks, he took out a datapad and asked, "So what can I get for you three?"
"Three of the specials," Luke answered.
"Oh, and a number seven for me and Sey." Jacen added.
"Got it. Go ahead after this gal on stage. I'll go put you're orders in." Just as he turned, the waiter gave Sey a wink.
Once he was out of earshot range, Luke commented on the event that just transpired. "Looks like our waiter has a thing for you, Sey. I'm not surprised, but I didn't realize how quickly you could get a guy to fall for you. It took Jacen a while before he fell," he laughed.
Putting her hands up on her face, she tried to hide her embarrassment. "Don't push it Skywalker. What just transpired has never happened to me before. Maybe to my friends, but never me."
"Really?"
"Yeah." She tried to change the subject. "Thanks again for taking us here."
The Jedi Master shrugged of the appreciation. "We all needed the break."
She nodded the remembered a thought and turned to Jacen. "What did you just order for the both of us, by the way?"
An evil-like grin surpassed her boyfriend's face. She turned to his uncle for help. "Why is he smiling like that? What plan is slinking around in that mind of his?"
Taking a sip of his water, Luke answered in a calm yet laughing voice, "He and you are going to sing a duet on stage."
"What?" She eyed Jacen with shock. "You didn't..." she searched his eyes. "You did. Jacen, I don't want to sing in front of all these strangers!"
He shrugged. "Hey, you won't be doing this alone. This is my birthday present to you."
"Thanks," Sey replied sarcastically. Picking up her hot chocolate, she asked to Jacen besides her, "So what are we singing?"
"Does the name '4whatever it takes' ring a bell?"
Laying down her cup she responded with a twirl of her head. She didn't think that that song would even reach the outskirts of her country on Nrutas.
A beeping came over the intercom.
He motioned her out of the booth. "Come on, we're up." They proceeded up on to the sand color stage. Each of them took a microphone. Leaning over to Sey he whispered, "You ready?"
"Nope."
He grinned, "Then lets get this show on the road." Pressing the button, he started up the music. Before them a Holo flickered and words scrolled before them, even though they knew the song by heart.
As they sang in perfect harmony, Jacen, for the first time, heard how beautiful Sey's voice was and fell in love with the soothing tone she sang.
In his masquer as a waiter, Kyp narrowed his eyes at the couple on stage. They sang with such passion and love for one another.
Glancing over behind him where the double swinging doors to the kitchen were, he say Fin'h eye Jacen and Sey with hate. His eyes looked as if they had so much fire and rage to kill, he could do it with his stare. Fin'h turned to Kyp and nodded at him to proceed.
Kyp used the Force to signal the other agents to warn the masquered Yuuzhan Vong warriors to ensue on the plan.
It was time for Starrider to break.
Just as they were about to finish the last words in the song, a hand grabbed Sey's waist pulling her back into the curtains. Another hand clamped around her mouth so that her screams would be muffled. She had dropped the microphone in fright. It clattered loudly to the ground.
Looking down at the hand that covered her mouth and side, she did her best not to panic. Its long bony -strong hands and razor sharp claw-like growths coming out of its knuckles were the ones of a Yuuzhan Vong.
Sey didn't try to struggle out of his grasp. There was no use in trying with those claws.
Quickly she skimmed over to where Jacen was.
Her blue eyes widened in fear. Two hideous Vong, easily twice as high as Jacen, gripped his arms tightly enough with their claws that blood slowly oozed off his skin, staining the stage ground.
Shifting her stare to the crowd she saw all of the customers frozen in terror by the weapons threatened at them by obviously agents of the Union.
She saw Luke. He was being held under the power of at least ten Yuuzhan Vong and Dark Agents.
A man came to her attention. He burst through the swinging doors wearing a simple cloak of black. The hood had been pulled forward to conceal his face. As he neared the top of the stage steps, he removed his hood.
A shiver spiraled down her back.
Fin'h approached her with the same devious smirk on his face as always. "Well, who do we have here?" He did the one sweep glance over her that had become a tradition each time they met. "Looks like... oh, a runaway."
*Jacen, whatever he does don't leave me. I love you. I won't let you go without me. Please don't... * but before she could finish Zen cut her off.
"Oh, my dear, why must you conjure up pleads of mercy when you know full well the only mercy you will receive will be... me."
Fury accelerated in her. She bit the hand of the Vong (the last thing in the universe that she wanted to even think about doing.) The creature moved its ugly hand down to her shoulder, digging its claw into her skin into the same puncture wounds Enoil had inflected on her.
The tender spots made her cringe but she wouldn't give into the pain.
"How dare you offer such a thing! I'd rather lose my life than take anything from you."
"That can be arranged, but I am going to offer it to you."
She glared at him. "What's the catch?"
"You."
"That's no offer."
Advancing on her so close he was in her face he said. "You will think so after." Out of nowhere, he snapped his fingers.
An agonizing scream came from Jacen. Then another. And another. And...
"STOP!" Sey cried as if he were hurting her too. "PLEASE STOP!"
Zen tilted his head. A scream echoed throughout the room. The sound of cracking bones broke the silence. But even as pain was inflicted, Jacen managed to yell out, "SEY DON'T GIVE INTO..." but his words were broken by the shear shock of the next blow.
The fifteen year old begged Zen to stop, but nothing seemed to work. "Please, Jacen hasn't done anything to deserve this. He..."
"He only assisted in your escape. He only was the brains of the whole thing. He deserves more than this, and he will receive the credit for what he has done. I guarantee you." The Union leader snapped his fingers and again the crackling of bones came ringing into her ears, sending her back into the Yuuzhan Vong that held her. Zen continued. "But I will stop... under a few conditions. One you give up your love for this weakling, and two ditch that crazy religion of yours and enter the true and only religion ever known to make life worth living."
Sey didn't know how to answer. If she said that she would give up everything she had ever known as her personal self, Jacen wouldn't have to suffer for her beliefs. But if she said no way, he'd only be put into horrible amounts of hurting most likely beyond comprehension.
Her head hurt to think, then she remembered what Jacen had told her before Luke had picked them up. "I feel like I have known God all my life, and if the time should ever transpire that you have to choose to or not to deny your faith... don't break and reject God. I'd die for you and God. Don't fret over my well being. I know you would do the same for me. I want to do the same for you, not cause I love you, but even if I rarely found God... His love and friendship is more than I could every imagine. It is something that has to be treasured. So don't feel twisted in the decision, if it you have to make it. Just promise me that you will not deny God's love."
"So what is it going to be?" Zen's order brought her back into reality.
She took in a deep breath. "I will never renounce my faith in God. He will not abandon me in times of despair and hopelessness."
A confused look crossed his face. "You'd rather listen to the screams of Jacen as he is tortured to death, than discard the blinded religion in which you follow?"
"I would never order my friend to his death or any pain. It is your burden that you are trying to manipulate as mine. I not only listen to the agonizing cries of my friend, but at the same time I'd feel his pain. Every instrument, every organic whip, every blow that is used upon his body, and soul I will be in tune with. I will feel it. You can do nothing to him without doing it to me." Her words ricocheted through out the room. Her voice convicted and strong. All fear and fright had rushed away from her. None came from Jacen. Now with God in his life, there was nothing to fear. Even death itself; cause He'd be there each moment of his torture.
Part six ~ 4whatever it takes Song by LaRue
Jacen never felt so sure in his life, so loved. All this time, Sey had been holding in her faith in God, the one thing that he needed in his life; the missing piece in of his heart. Now since Sey told him about God and His love for them, he felt whole. They talked about God back at his parents' apartment while waiting for his uncle to arrive.
*Sey, I love you. I have loved you before you told me about God, but now I thank you with all my soul. * Jacen thought to her.
During this time that he was confronting death face to face, it didn't scare him as it had before. A warm feeling of reassurance came from his spirit.
God was really with him. Everything Sey proclaimed to Fin'h was true. He was willing to die for God... for His love. He was willing to give up everything for Sey, but it went deeper than that.
"So you're saying Jacen Solo, son of Han and Leia Solo... is religious." There was a pause from Fin'h. Laughter followed immediately after. "I'm sorry, my dear, this is all hard to believe, in fact, it's impossible to believe."
"Nothing is impossible with God." Sey firmly stated.
Laughter rumbled out of the Union leader.
"Stop laughing at her." Jacen yelled out. "She is telling the truth. I do believe in God. He is what is keeping me strong. It's His spirit that redeems me each time I have fallen. He is so real. Right now, He surrounds us, protects us from breaking by the tortures you inflict on us."
Fin'h turned to Jacen then approached him with curiosity. "I knew you would drift to anything that sounds convincing. But now that I have seen it will my own eyes, I can see the total fool you truly are. I suppose that you 'believe' this God will save you from my power?"
"He'll save us all, but maybe not in the way we think."
"You speak of nothing but blasphemy!"
Suddenly a verse began to roll through his head. *Fear not, for I am with you. Be not afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and uphold you with My victorious right hand. * It came from Sey.
"You can claim it, but your words will never be true. God beams in the heart and souls of all of us. It is only..."
"SILENCE!" Fin'h's booming voice reverberated off the walls.
"We will not be silent!" Sey cried from behind him.
Just as soon as she had said the words, the man took his hand and scratch-slapped her across the face. Four cuts ran diagonally down her left side of her face. Scarlet blood trickled down her face.
"You DARE resent me again, I will do worse!"
Lifting her head up, Sey opened her eyes and glared at him. "Do it. I dare you." She watched him walk back and forth in front of her. Only then did she realize he didn't have the nerve to kill her. "You can't do it, can you? That's why you want to hurt my friend with the anger you hold for me, because you don't have the guts to murder me. You couldn't and wouldn't do it even if Tsavong Lah ordered you too." For the first time she caught Zen in his tracks. He was at loss of what to say. "You can only make it look like you want me dead, but when really you desire me alive and in your arms; wanted or not."
He snapped his fingers trying to make her forget her previous thoughts. But to his shock as the Solo teen went tumbling down to the ground in pain, Sey's knees buckled at the same time.
As the Yuuzhan Vong warrior beat Jacen's battered body the girl screamed in agony.
Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. "CEASE!"
At the command, the Vong stopped and backed away from Jacen. The cries lowered to hopeless moans of the pain. Tears were spilling out of Sey's eyes, and Jacen, to his surprised had red wet eyes the same.
Luke gapped at what he had just witnessed and heard. Everything revealed before him was washing up at him all too quickly.
Jacen and his spiritual self; the strange physical connection between the two; how much they loved each other...
His head spun, but everything seemed to fit. In an odd way, Luke understood what they were standing up for. That, in the right way, they would die and give up their lives for others. Their intentions were correct, not as the Yuuzhan Vong who believed they needed sacrifices to gain honor and strength from their non-existent gods.
"You can't win, Zen." Sey forced out of her mouth despite the pain.
Something in Luke sparked in him, regenerated his strength. He broke free from the group of warriors and dark agents guarding him. Pulling out his lightsaber he sliced down each of his opponents one by one.
Three left.
Each of them held either a plasma gun or a vibro axe.
The Jedi Master knew he couldn't take on every enemy in the room and began to back up to the swinging doors.
Just before they could do anything, Luke dashed into the kitchen, placing the lock on the door so they couldn't blast through the laser proof doors.
Jacen faintly heard commotion that someone was getting away. It couldn't have been Sey. She was directly across from him, on the floor from the pain that he had been imposed with.
Then he heard Fin'h yelling. "GET HIM! HE MUST NOT ESCAPE!"
Suddenly, the escapee's name registered in his head. Trying to encourage the man he called out through thought speak, *Hurry! Get out of here, Uncle Luke! Get help! *
As if reading his thought, Fin'h came over to him and kicked him fatally in the back. Sey screamed through their connection, but she didn't let it out of her mouth.
Before Jacen slipped into unconsciousness, the cunning and deceptive tone of the Union leader, "Nice try, Solo. But Durron won't fail me, just his old master."
Once he commended himself for the job well done, the hum of another blade came ringing into his ears.
Swinging around to block the blow behind him, Luke found himself against, "Kyp!"
Thunder lit his eyes like a green fire. As they fought in a duel, the man answered through his teeth, "Yes, it is me. Who else?"
"Why are you doing this?" Luke ordered as he parried another strike. "Don't you remember what we did for you? What Han did..."
Pushing his blade hard against his former Jedi Master's enough to make sweat droplets drip down his face, Kyp cut off Luke's sentence. "DON"T TELL ME WHAT THE OLD SMUGGLER DID FOR ME! I KNOW WHAT HE DID! I KNOW WHAT YOU ALL DID FOR ME!"
"Then why are you doing this?"
No answer came from the man. Instead he swung franticly at Luke's head only to miss and hit some pots and pans suspended from the ceiling onto the floor.
Luke sprinted away from the clatter. "Don't make the same mistake and kill out of rage without thinking. Your older brother would have lived if you hadn't acted out of anger. Stop before you make the same mistake."
Now Kyp no longer fought him. He fell to the ground in sadness and sorrow from the memory of killing his brother. "It was an accident. I wanted r... revenge at the Empire for what they did to my family; for murdering my parents before me, for taking my brother away, for putting me in the dark Kessel mines without..."
"Shhh..." Luke was at the man's side, knowing what was running through his head. By now both of them had shut down their lightsabers. "I am sorry for bringing up the past. It was the only way. You know revenge will only cause suffering to yourself, not to the others you intend on suffering. Don't repeat the same lesson you learned the hard way over again."
"I'm sorry."
"I forgive you, but now isn't the time to spend for apologies. They'll be through that door any minute. Do you know anyway out so we can get back to the Old Imperial Palace?"
Getting up, Kyp clipped his lightsaber to his belt and led Luke to the hidden exit. Then asked, "Why are we headed there?"
"For one, it's not safe here. Two, if the Yuuzhan Vong have invaded Coruscant, Mara is in danger of running into one that wants her dead."
"What she do to tick this one off so?" Kyp asked as they jumped into Luke's speeder.
"She survived a disease that was injected into her system."
"Is this Vong an executor?"
"I believe so. Why?"
"She's up against Nom Anor. We got to get to her before he does, he won't stop till her blood has stained his hands. I know a short cut to the Palace." Kyp instructed Luke.
Now that old wounds were tended to; it was time to keep new one's from starting. The first thing they needed to do was find Mara before it was too late.
Part seven ~ If You Didn't Love Me Anymore Song by Aurora
Jaina slowly and carefully got off the hard ground. She felt groggy and grimy.
A pain shot from her wound, releasing a whimper from her throat.
She mumbled under her breath. "Who ever created this crazy universe, if it is the Force or not, I don't care; just have mercy on me. Please, all I want to do is go back home to my family, to Jag."
Now unsteadily on her legs, she began to fall backwards onto the ground, but was caught by two muscular arms.
Her adrenaline rushed up as the man spoke. "Well, well, look who is take her first step." She accepted the helping hands resentfully, Jaina gently got back up on her feet with his help. "No thank you?"
Antipathy glowed out of her. She wasn't going to thank the man.
He shrugged, "No matter." She had no way to anticipate his next move, and was caught off guard when Midori swiftly whipped out a pair of restraint cuffs.
"Hey! I'm not going anywhere."
"You're right." He pushed her out of the cell and followed behind her. "You're not with this control unit in my hands. Try to escape and I'll press the button to send electric currents through you're b..."
"I know what it does. Don't explain it to me like I'm a foreigner." Jaina shot back angrily.
"Then shut up and follow."
Anakin was concealed in the shadows of Main Council room. Viqi Shesh had an announcement for the senators and representatives of the New Republic.
Even though Anakin and received permission to enter the chamber and listen in place of his mother, he still didn't feel safe.
The broadcast was just beginning as Senator Shesh approached the hover stand proud and confident, yet no emotion stretched on her face. Not even a half welcoming smile that the regular politicians produced.
Finally she spoke, silencing all the beings in the building. "Attention loyal representatives and devoted senators of the New Republic. I have assembled you all here under the most extreme circumstances. I am greatly sorry for all the inconvenience I have put you through to arrange this conference to be held, but in the matter of moments you will understand." She cleared her throat and continued. "I have received some quite deplorable news. Chief of State Borsk Fey'lya was found dead last night in his private quarters."
Murmurs of disbelief and skepticism hushed over the attendees. Doubt countered Anakin's mind as well. How could Fey'lya be dead?
His wonderments were intervened by Shesh's speech. "There is no indication of any foul play or suicide attempts as the autopsy shows. He died of natural causes, but the tests still haven't confirmed on what the cause was. We shall keep you informed on any new updates on his death. I understand that since the Council and all of Coruscant and Core worlds are under the most chaotic of times, the Inner Council has already voted on the matter of who will take Fey'lya's place." She nodded towards another member of the Inner that Anakin couldn't figure out who he was.
He stepped up and in his had he held a datapad. "The results of the vote for the new Chief of State have been cleared and taken over ten times to be sure no one fixed the vote. But majority wins, not that there was a minority. Please welcome your new Chief of State... Viqi Shesh."
Applause erupted throughout the building. Again Shesh spoke.
"Thank you. I am surprised that being one the Inner Council for a short while has most likely stirred everyone. I will be honest with you; I have no intention of leading you astray as former Fey'lya had done during his service to you. I vow that I will lend you all of my time to helping this government survive this war. And as my first proclamation as Chief of State, I'd like everyone to carry on with their involvement in the war, but ask you to work at a pace quicker than before, for I fear the worst of our times have only begun."
Again more clapping proceeded after she was finished.
Still uncertain about Shesh, Anakin strolled out of the shadows and down the hall before the entire congress came swarming out.
Anakin walked back to the apartment in utter silence. He had only visited with his insentient mother at night when everyone was asleep. He had received a message on his comlink, from his aunt and uncle, that she had awaken, but not to disturb her cause she was spending time with his father.
Pressing the airlock to the door, he slipped into the room and listened as the door hissed shut. A nagging feeling swept over him as he stepped further into the place he had just recently called home.
Shaking it off, the fourteen year old continued to the kitchen to grab a snack, but once more the sensation covered him, urging him to get out of there.
Cautiously Anakin exited out, and began to sprint to the hospital ward. Something was wrong. He needed to see his parents, and for some reason his mind told him unceasingly, "Before it's too late."
"Take the boy and lock him up in the ship. All of you clean this place up and continue as only if there was a malfunction with the food processor." Zen commanded.
Still sprawled on the stage, Sey did her best to stop crying. She had to be strong. Even with Jacen unconscious, she couldn't break down and give in. He was closer now. His angered breath steamed down her neck. "You think you're so smart; that you know exactly what's going on... well you're wrong. Senator Viqi Shesh has now gained control as Chief of State. It will only be a matter of time before we attack the entire world."
Starrider's blue eyes widened in fright.
*God help. *
Zen took his hand and tucked back a piece of her hair that had fallen in front of her face. His touch was one of fire yet one of ice. His fingers skimmed her soft cheek, leaving behind an invisible scar on her skin she knew would never fully heal.
"You'll become mine, but right now we're in the middle of a war. After we are finished, you and I can celebrate."
The man got off his knees and ordered something to the Yuuzhan Vong. The next thing she realized was the creature's hand lifting her off the floor and carrying her somewhere.
She couldn't move her body. The agony was still too immense and painful. There was no way she could struggle. She was their captive; Zen's captive.
Mara sat comfortably on her sofa as she watched Jag lift up some expensive vase, that Leia had given Luke and her for their wedding, using the Force.
The delicate porcelain piece of art hovered five feet above the ground. Jag watched intently as he raised the object higher in the air.
"Good," she encouraged. "Now turn it upside down, then back up again."
The Chiss pilot did as he was told. For the first time in her life, she saw a grin appear on his face, the vanish as quick as if had come. He brought down the vase gently on the glass coffee table. He slumped to the ground with a sigh. "I'm never going to find Jaina at this rate."
"Don't give up. You're doing great. Come on, now try to use a lightsaber."
This got his attention. "Are you serious?"
"As long as you don't fight in anger and fear, sure." She got up off the couch and went to retrieve the extra lightsaber in her and Luke's room. Pushing the white door open she glided to their dresser and grabbed it in the bottom drawer. Sliding the drawer closed, Mara was about to leave when a hand landed roughly on her shoulder.
She whirled around, ready to flick on the weapon and strike the intruder. Shock filled her when she got a look at whom it was.
"Ah, Mara Jade. So we met again, just as I have promised."
In one swift movement, she clicked the lightsaber on and moved back towards the door. "Get out of my home," she ordered.
The beast replied in its low unnatural voice. "I will, after I am finished with you." Unexpectedly, the creature pulled something foreign from behind him. "Now it's time for you to meet your end, Jade. For good."
At he words, the woman dashed out into the living room tossing Jag the saber, and pulling out her own. His confused expression was clear, but there was no time for explanations. "Time to go, Fel. NOW!"
He followed her with great speed and agility out of the apartment and down the stairs. *Luke, where are you. I never thought I'd be asking this of you but I need your help. We're coming down the stairs. *
Luke parked the speeder in front of the Old Imperial Palace and jumped out. A cry of help came into his head. It was from Mara.
She had already run into Nor Anor.
"Kyp, be prepared to fight. We'll met Mara and Jag at the bottom of the stairs."
The reformed Jedi Knight nodded.
Running into the building, the two saw them rushed down the stairs, skipping two at a time. Luke saw Jag held a lightsaber in his hand as well as his wife.
Mara caught a glimpse of her husband and relief submerged her. "Luke, h..."
She was cut off when out of nowhere, Nor Anor dropped to the ground before her. Raising his gruesome right hand, he scratched her, causing her to fall to the floor. Blood dripped off his hand. His evil eyes glowed with such hatred and vengeance, Luke felt engulfed by the emotions.
The Jedi Master scurried over to his wife. Kyp and Jag positioned themselves in front of the couple and geared up to battle the obsessed Yuuzhan Vong.
"Are you ok?" Luke asked her in concern. He saw that the back of her outfit had been shredded down her back, but was surprised to see no blood on her back.
"I'm fine, j...just get us out of here."
By now, Kyp and Jag were fighting the Vong, trying to keep it away from Mara. Luke helped his wife up. He grasped her hand tightly, and began to race to the back door of the building. Both of them could here the infuriated Yuuzhan Vong yelling at her.
"GET BACK HERE JADE! ARE YOU AFRIAD TO FACE YOUR DEATH?"
Luke knew it was a challenge, and Mara stopped at it. "Mara, you can't. Let's go! He'll kill you."
Again raged words came behind them. "YOU WOULD TURN DOWN A CHALLENGE TO YOUR OLD FRIEND?"
Her green eyes were jaded and lost.
"Mara, don't listen to him. We got to go. NOW!" He shook her back into her mind set. "MARA SNAP OUT OF IT!"
Without warning, her legs buckled underneath her. Before she hit the ground, he caught her. Using the Force to assist him, he ran with her in his arms. Kyp and Jag could take care of themselves. Right now Luke needed to her to safety and clean her wounds. *God, if you are real, don't let her die. *
Part eight ~ Count the Ways Song by whisperloud
Strolling into the room like the smuggler he once was, Han replied to his wife who was now dressed and ready to leave the hospital for good. "I just finished talking with the secretary. She says that you can leave 'whenever you feel as suitable.' I see you take now as the perfect time."
"Oh, Han I can't stand being here knowing someone else in a worse predicament, than I, could be receiving treatment. Besides, I don't think I could last another two minutes here. There are just too many unwanted memories."
"Hmmm... you didn't like last night?" he sounded wounded.
She smiled. "Of course I liked it. I loved it. We haven't had time together in such a long while. I missed you." Leia turned around and allowed the man she once called scoundrel to wrap his arms around her waist. She planted a passionate kiss on his lips. "Let's go home and enjoy the rest of the day. Ok?"
Han raised his eyebrows. "You sure you're my wife, cause I never knew her to skip out on her political duties for love?"
"Hey! Back then I couldn't just take off anytime I wanted. Now the council doesn't care wither I am or not. And I..."
"Shhh... you could never take a joke without defending yourself, could you?" With that, Han tenderly kissed her.
They parted and she laid her head on his chest and listened to his heart beating. "Sometimes I wonder why how both of us survived some of the things we've been through."
"But we've made it didn't we? No matter how low the odds are, we'll make it."
"Let's not push it. I don't want to lose you now that you're back." She pulled him closer savoring the moment together. "Don't leave me again, my scoundrel."
"I only follow my princess's bidding."
Sighing, he pushed her away from him far enough to look up into her eyes.
"You know what, back on the first Death Star I told your brother that I didn't know wither I was starting to hate you or starting to fall in love with you. Now I know the answer."
"And?"
"I think I was falling in love."
She shook her head. "I love you too. Let's get out of here."
Leia and Han walked out of the room and to the elevator. Just as the door was about to shut, they saw Anakin running towards them. Han put his hand on the door so the emergency sensor would keep the door from closing.
Their youngest son reached them beckoning them to get out of the elevator.
"Anakin? Where have you been?" Han questioned.
"The hospital wouldn't allow me admittance till visiting hours. I stayed by the door till they opened."
"ALL NIGHT?" his mother asked in shock.
"Not quite, just a few hours. It's 4:10 AM now."
His parents exchanged glances.
"Listen, mom there was this meeting last night with the councils. I went to see what has been up with it since it was called under an emergency, and....umm... I think you sit down."
"What's wrong?" she asked once they were seated.
"Borsk Fey'lya was found dead two nights ago in his private quarters. They say that he died of natural causes." All the blood drained from his mother's face. He continued. "Now Senator Viqi Shesh is the Chief of State."
Leia sat transfixed at what her son was trying to say. Fey'lya was gone. Now Shesh, a totally new senator to the Inner Council was the Chief of State. "I don't understand."
"The Inner Council voted on who should fill in for Fey'lya. And Shesh won the majority."
"I still don't see how she could be a bad senator. She's a great..."
"She may be great at her job, but she is also deceptive. I have a funny feeling each time I am around her. I've talked about it with Aunt Mara, and she says she feels it too. Like she's around another Palpatine."
Luke opened his eyes and scanned over to the bed in which his wife lay in. She was wrapped warmly in two blankets. Her skin, he could, tell was turning back to its original color. Before her tone was ghostly white.
He got up from the chair and walked out of the room. He shut the door quietly, so not to wake Mara.
The aroma of cooking breakfast filled his nose.
Peering in the kitchen, Luke spotted Ae`lina scrambling some eggs in pan.
"Morning Luke. How's Mara doing?"
Running his fingers through his tangled sandy hair, the Jedi Master let out a sigh. "Still not awake, but her skin is now back to normal. Thanks again for letting us find refuge here."
"No problem. Ian left to go get a few things at the market."
He nodded in agreement, grateful for people such as Ian and Ae`lina Lopez. The young couple in their early twenties reminded him so much of his deceased Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. The two couples seemed the exact same, except for the generation they lived in.
"Now you get out of here. I have enough chaos of my messes. You get out of here so I won't trample you over."
"You sure you don't need help?"
"No...no, get out. Go on. Call your sister or something. I'm sure she is worrying crazy over you."
"Ok, ok. I'm going. When is Ian supposed to be back?"
"Soon, now get!"
Walking out of the kitchen, the Jedi Master went into the living room and called up his brother-in-law's com number.
The sharp blade slowly ran across her cheek and down her neck, scraping the skin enough to mean his seriousness. Its intense edge made her heart stop, paralyzed in fear. Even her thoughts ceased to continue.
She lay still on a table of some sort, to terrified to move. She had woken up just moments before, and discovered she couldn't move her legs and arms.
A band of some sort, tightened around her ankles and wrists each time she dared to move.
Zen hovered above her. "So, Starrider. I finally have you in my hands." The creature whispered in her ear. "My, the temptation for you is so demanding, but there will be time later. Only a day or two till our plan completes, and Coruscant will dissolve right under the power of the New Republic without their knowledge."
Somehow, she managed to reply. "You may grasp the world, but the true citizens will never break to the Yuuzhan Vong."
"Neither would you; but to me, you shall."
With that, Zen lifted the knife from her skin, and whirled out of the room leaving Sey to deal with her worries alone. For a split second she thought she caught a glimpse of something other than his knife in his hand, but he was gone before she could identify what it was.
Part nine~ The Call Song by Backstreet Boys
Nor Anor stepped into the spacious hypocritical office. Build out of medal and other non-macrobiotic items, all of the work area suggested that the female senator used only the basic horrifying instruments that were required for the political job she had obtained the day before.
The masquered alien proceeded inward in the office.
Without a noise, he went to the windowpane and stared out the window of which had a spectacular view of the city-world. He had grown accustom to such ways of life, living by the assistance of machines, which they called droids, and other mechanical devices created for easier living conditions.
Even the less costly apartment in which he had acquired to stay in while on the world, had more luxury services that one of the most highly paid rooms the Elite Yuuzhan Vong had.
His eyes watched polluting transports zigzag in every odd way to get to one place or another.
"Oh, you're here. I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner."
He turned around and saw the human dressed in formal attire. "My sources tell me you know where to find Mara Jade. Is this true?"
She raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Maybe. Why?"
"Let's just say she is needed at a certain ceremony."
Shesh strolled to her black glossy desk and pressed a button that made a Holo image appear over her desk. A listing of words and phrases appeared in the language they referred to as Basic.
Nor Anor could now read their writings. He was well educated and fluent in Basic, without the assistance of a translator.
The Yuuzhan Vong had found it most essential to learn the native dialogue, not only for more respect, but to check on wither or not the species were being loyal to them. It surprised the executor that not even the warmaster, Tsavong Lah, didn't require or use the method. The terse voice of Shesh broke his thoughts.
"Well, I see that you have already tried their home and failed. They defiantly wouldn't go to the Solo's apartment." Her eyes scanned the list of addresses and loyalties they had. "The only place they have is the Lopez family."
"Location?"
"7371 Kindle Avenue."
Han heard his comlink beeping. Pulling it out he answered it. "Han Solo speaking."
"Hey, Han."
"Luke. Anakin just told us that Shesh..." he went on and explained.
"I had a funny feeling she was faking it. How'd Leia take it?"
The ex-smuggler glanced at his wife. "Shocked a bit that there is another deceptive character in the picture again, besides that good." He paused a second. "I hear that worried tone in your voice again kid, what's wrong?"
"Is Leia in ear shot range? She needs to here this too."
Leia got up off the bench and talked into the link. "Luke?"
"Jacen and Sey are captives of the Union. There was an ambush at the restaurant. I merely escaped."
Panic flooded over her. "Where are the others?"
"Mara ran into Nor Anor. He's here; on Coruscant and this time he wants revenge for surviving his sickness he injected into her. We're staying with some friends. The last time I say Jag and Kyp was at our apartment complex fighting the Yuuzhan Vong. Mara's been out cold since then."
"Luke be careful," she warned in concern. "I'll warn everybody."
"Just try to warn as many as you can without Shesh finding out. Oh, and Anakin?"
The fourteen-year-old spoke into the comlink. "Yes?"
"Anakin, I need you to sneak into Shesh's office. There has to be some communicator in there that has a direct connection to a Yuuzhan Vong. I have a hunch that she isn't doing this alone."
Jag ran besides Kyp Durron to the hanger bays. They had been playing hide and seek with the Yuuzhan Vong executor for over a few hours, but he had stopped seeking them for a while now.
When they turned into the bay that held his fighter, Durron gestured to the ship. "You are going to jettison out of here?"
"Not for the reasons you may think. I have a plan... but I'm going to need your help. But it'll require you to come with me to a place where you can't tell Jedi Master Skywalker about. I can't even guarantee that we'll make it out alive, but I've got to try with or without you. So are you in or not?"
A glint of excitement of adventure twinkled in the older Jedi's eyes. "Bring it on."
Shesh stood erect in front of the entire governmental body of the New Republic, waiting for them to cease their chatter.
It was almost 6PM. A devious grin surpassed her face.
Clearing her throat she asked for everyone in the building to be quiet. "Welcome back everyone. I can tell from the results I have received, that all of you are making great progress. Well, I have wonderful news. After nearly a year of nothing but chaotic nerves and bloody warfare, I have to declare that our worries have ended."
Whispers fell over her audience. "I know that all of you are a bit confused by what I am trying to get across, so I'll invite Tsavong Lah to come out."
With that an ugly Yuuzhan Vong alien stepped out behind the curtains. His appearance didn't help much. His face was scarred horribly and bags hung from underneath his eyes.
Silence filled the whole auditorium.
"He means us no..." Suddenly a pain shot through her entire left arm. It felt as if it were on fire. The Chief of State spun around to find the Yuuzhan Vong holding something in its hand, but his whole figure, without warning, blurred.
The warmaster watched the young female human drop dead to the ground. Her frail body fall into a lifeless heap.
Eerily he beamed in satisfaction.
She had received her reward in assisting them: a quick but instant death.
He glanced out into the center building where all of the other representatives and senators of the wretched New Republic stood in fear, not knowing what to do. In the very back of the auditorium shadows began to crawl up the walls. It was on of the more skilled combat squads, surrounding all of the entrances so that none of the beings could escape alive.
A fire like glow perpetrated through his eyes. It was time for the pitiful infidels to pay for their crimes.
Nor Anor looked to his sides checking if anyone was following him.
Caution was something the executor had always excelled at, but the two Jedi that he had fought the night before had been able to slip away through his hands. This was something that the Yuuzhan Vong didn't allow to be settled without payment, but right now revenge on the legendary Mara Jade needed to be dealt with.
Turning a corner, Nor Anor spotted a quaint house. Plants and other organic shrubbery had been planted around the home. It pleased the Yuuzhan Vong that the owners of the place had at least taken the liberty to grow such things around their home. For that they would be spared.
Mara's eyes flew open from the haunting nightmare with a sudden shock that left her trembling.
Her arms flung to the other side of the bed reaching out to Luke, but when she did she couldn't feel him.
"Luke! Where are you?" She sprung from the bed and ran out of the unfamiliar room.
As she rushed out of the room, she crashed into someone. Without thinking she screamed and began to bang on the beings body. "LET ME GO! YOU CAN'T..."
"Mara! Calm down! Calm down, it's me, Luke."
His warm soothing arms embraced her, doing their best to calm her. Violent shivers ran up and down her spine. The taste of salty tears coming down her cheeks did no good in helping her forget the horrible dream.
Forcing the words out of her mouth, she whispered over and over. "He's here. Luke, he's here. He's..."
Luke had eased their way on the couch and held her reassuringly. Her grip was tight around his neck, but he managed to breathe. "Who's here?"
"Me."
The chilling response came from across the room.
Mara jolted out of his lap, and Luke jumped to her side with his lightsaber already pulled out, ready to defend any blow or blast leashed out by the Yuuzhan Vong.
A flash back of the fight from her dream exploded into her mind. Mara pulled her husband's shoulder in warning, and then mumbled into his ear. "Luke, don't fight him! It will not resolve anything but our early deaths."
"What are you afraid of Jade?" bellowed the Yuuzhan Vong.
A paralyzing shudder spiraled throughout her nerves. She began to shake her head trying to block out his voice but it only seemed to get louder in her head.
"Is it death? Your death. Or perhaps it is the knowledge that your love here won't make it out of this battle this time?" He paused momentarily. "I am right, huh? He will parish and you..."
"STOP! I WON"T LET YOU BREAK ME LIKE PALPATINE DID FOR SO MANY YEARS OF MY LIFE!" With tears still streaming down her face, a violet light appeared in her hands.
"Mara," the Jedi Master whispered to her. "I won't let you fight him. You w..."
"Don't tell me what to and not to do, Skywalker." She kept her hazy glare on Nor Anor as tears continued to trickle out of her eyes. "I've heard that I have become the only being in the universe that you consider as your match, is this true?"
"You keep your ears very well attuned to gossip, Jade. But yes, it is."
She nodded in acknowledgement, taking a step closer. "Really? I never though that I could have achieved such an honor."
"You did... but enough small talk. It's time you paid a permanent visit to the gods."
Suddenly the whole room was submersed in a thick and solid smoke that burned both her and Luke's lungs horribly.
Zengi slumped lazily down into the soft cushioned chair. He was in the back office of the former boss of the karaoke restaurant. He pulled out his comlink and dialed Shesh's number.
He needed to how the councils reaction towards the warmaster had turned out.
An irritating beeping sounded in his hearing. Tearing his attention from the villip, the creature's gaze shifted to the smooth wooden table where the beeping was coming from.
He turned back to his organic communicator. "I'll have to contact you later."
"Understood." The other Yuuzhan Vong threw his arm across his chest in salute.
Acknowledging the gesture, Tsavong Lah did the same motion in return, and then the organic communicator lurched back into its original shape.
Walking over to the small beeping machine, the Yuuzhan Vong pressed a tiny button on it. A voice transmission came threw, surprising him.
"Shesh? This is Fin'h. Are you there?"
Answering the idiotic human, Tsavong replied, "Fin'h. I never knew that you had a direct link to Shesh. If I had known, I wouldn't have given her reward in helping us so soon."
There was a long pause before an answer came back. "Tsavong?"
"Yes?"
"What did you do to Shesh?"
"She received her payment for her duties in assisting us, a few moments ago."
He cleared his throat. "You killed her?"
"Precisely as she asked in the agreement we obtained. It is very high honor to die by my hand."
"As it should be... but her? She had so much more ability to support our cause."
"She may have, but her views on way of life, were too different to risk. Is your team ready to attack?"
Fin'h swallowed. "Yes, and while we were waiting, I were able to capture Seyla Starrider."
The alien's brows went up. "So you did keep your word. Has she been broken?"
"That must wait till the end of the siege of this hideous planet."
"As long as she doesn't escape, the idea is fine."
"I also was able to grab hold of Jacen Solo, the Jedi Knight you wanted."
"You have him? How?"
"The gods provided the two to be particularly easy targets since both have a strange physical connection in the Force, which allows them to feel what each other feels. Meaning if one is whipped with a couffee, the other will feel the same blow."
"Interesting," the warmaster condoned.
"I am afraid that Skywalker, slipped out of our grasp, but I believe my apprentice has befriended him, only manipulating his mind, thinking he is on their side."
"Good. Since the main Jedi have been taken care of, I need you and your team to attack tonight."
"Yes, sir. May the gods be with you."
"And the Force be with you."
Part ten~ Stop Right There Song by ZOEgirl
Midori ordered her to sit down on a soft gray couch. As she felt her weight being supported by the seat, it seemed that her body began to sink inward, deeper into the couch.
Still cuffed, she leaned back into the cushioned seat.
The man stayed standing and pulled out a comlink from his pocket and began to talk into it. "Midori speaking. I have her."
A deep well-known voice answered back. "How hard was it to contain the little lady?"
"She was quiet a struggle once the drug wore off... but I think she had learned her lesson."
The male evilly laughed. "You have no idea who you were dealing with then. It will be nice to see her precious smile again." He spat. The other side of the line was abruptly cut off, leaving only static to be heard.
Jaina stared at Midori, in confusion. Who was that man? He sounded so... so familiar. Like she had known him from somewhere, but the memory registration wouldn't come through.
As if reading her mind, Midori countered, "Don't worry, Solo. You'll see your mysterious kidnapper. He won't let you wait long."
With that a buzzing came from the door. Midori went to open the door, as he did, an unsettling feeling in her stomach began to stir inside her.
Midori slide out the door, shutting it behind him, but Jaina wasn't paying attention to where he was going only to the menacing figure shrouded in a dark Jedi robe. The hood had been pulled forward so no facial features could be seen.
Sitting straight, Jaina didn't allow the intimidating appearance of the man chill her.
Without warning, the cuffs flew from her wrists, freeing her hands. The figure's hood flung back by his hand and revealed, "Zekk?"
His black hair was cut shorter than normal, but what sent a shiver down her spine was the greenness in his eyes. It seemed like they had gotten eerily haunting each time he stepped further on the path of the darkside. His ever so handsome smirk produced upon his face. "In person. So how is my pet?"
Rage steamed out of her. Getting to her feet she yelled back. "I AM NOT YOUR PET! What in the galaxies are you doing?"
Zekk lifted his hand and caressed his old girlfriend's cheek. She pulled away from the touch. And asked the question again. "I thought you would be happy to see me."
"Why should I be happy? You left the Academy without saying goodbye... and that was what? Two... three years ago?"
He shrugged. "I've been busy."
"Well, you haven't changed much." She replied while crossing her arms. An alarming realization spiraled into her soul. Her eyes widened. "Zekk, w...where... where are we?"
The man looked to the left then the right. "Looks like my personal quarters."
"Zekk..." she warned more irritated. Jaina knew he would listen to her, he always did back when they were younger at the Jedi Temple on Yavin 4.
"You're back with me." He reached out and touched her arm lovingly.
Shaking his hand off of her she screamed, "Zekk, stop it! Tell me, where we are?"
"Safe in the forests of Chandrila."
Taking a deep breath, trying to calm herself before blowing up in his face, she countered. "And my purpose being here with you is?" she twirled her hand a few times so he would tell her.
"Because I commanded it."
"What?"
"You are safe here. As long as you obey what I tell you to do...you will live."
Right then she changed from her calm sincere self to an anger woman who only wanted to be back in Jag's arms. "YOU AND I ARE OVER WITH! I LOVE SOMEONE ELSE NOW. SOMEONE WHO LOVES ME AND DOESN'T LEAVE AT THE SPURE OF THE MOMENT WITHOUT A WARNING FIRST! AND EVEN IF I WASN'T IN LOVE, I'M NOT A PLAY THING YOU CAN ORDER AROUND AT WHIM!"
Sighing, Zekk shrugged, and took her hands in his. "That's were you're wrong my dear."
"Excuse me?"
He leaned in closer to her face. "You are in my hands. I have the power to kill you or keep you alive."
"Zekk, what is going on? You've never been so demanding and never have ordered me to do anything I didn't want to do before."
"If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be alive right now."
She shook her head. "What are you talking about? You may work for Talon Karrde, but that doesn't mean..."
"I don't work for Karrde anymore." He watched her thin eyebrows furrow. "I am apart of the Peace Brigade now."
"No... no you can't be!" She tore from his grip, running to the other side of the room where the window was. Tears trickled down her cheeks. After all they had been through, he turned back to the darkside. After... spinning around she cried out, "WHY?" It was the only question that broke her heart.
He strolled over to comfort her, he hated to see her cry, but as he got near, she walked away from him.
"DON'T GET NEAR ME, Y...YOU TRAITOR! HOW COULD YOU? AFTER EVERYTHING I DID FOR YOU BACK AT THE ACADMEY... YOU PROMISED YOU WOULDN'T GO BACK! YOU VOWED TO ME!"
Zekk halted in mid-step, not concerned anymore about Jaina. "You're doing this to yourself."
"DOING WHAT? TELLING YOU WHAT YOU ARE REALLY DOING? OR SHOULD I SAY DID?" she yelled. Then mumbled, "Oh, Jag... where are you?"
At the sound of the name, Zekk grabbed her chin and lifted her face, forcefully. "Enough, girl! So what if what you are screaming about is true? You have no way to get back to your dear Jag. You're my property now!"
Throwing her harshly to the ground he stormed out of the room, leaving her sobbing.
"Zekk," she whispered once he was gone. "You're my friend, please stay in the light. I can't see nor feel you. Zekk, please... don't leave me. I'm not only begging for you to take me back home, but for you to come back too. Don't do this to me or... yourself. Please, please don't do this... please..."
Zekk listened to Jaina's cries through the bug he planted in the room.
Did he hear right? She wanted him back, and she still cared for him...even if just as a friend? Half of him wanted to run back and tell her yes he'll go back, but the other half scolded him to leave her with her own troubles and worries.
Finally he made up his mind and continued on his way. He had real power now; authority and control to use under the most potent species in the universe at the moment, the Yuuzhan Vong's supervision.
She had no right to question his ability.
For her lack of confidence in him, she would pay. As he walked out the security door into the green vegetation, he pondered on her punishment.
A bright ginger orange blossom caught his eye. He picked it from the bush it grew on.
His thoughts suddenly shifted to the old playful recollections both Jaina and he had shared the last moments on Yavin 4 they had together.
Her beautiful laughter filled his ears, her lovely smile of joy each time they saw each other, the...
Zekk shook the memories away from his mind. He couldn't let the past over come him.
He had real power once more. Why had he left the darkside last time?
Jaina.
The realization stunned him. There was only one way now; if Jaina wouldn't join the darkside, she'd have to die.
It pained him to think of it, but it was the only way to gain the full power of the darkside.
Before entering back into the organically produced building, he tossed the bud to the ground, staring at it till it turned an hideously ugly brown. *Everything must eventually die, * he thought sadly. *Besides, I don't need the witch. If she doesn't bond to the darkside, then she'll only be a nuisance and in the way. *
Continued in Forceful Betrayals Section 4!!!!
Author ~ Seyla Starrider
When I Wrote it ~ February 27, 2001
Why I Wrote it ~ Something to keep you and me busy while we wait for the big time authors to get finished with the new Star Wars books.
Contact ~ dpriser@aol.com
Note ~ Just as before, some of the chapters/parts are titles of songs that fit perfectly with that particular part. But they are also the titles of that chapter. Just incase you like to listen to songs that slid in with the story.
Note2 ~ An old character will be introduced in this fan-fiction to Jaina Solo. Remember, I haven't read the Young Jedi Knight Series so it might not be totally factual. Ok? Cool!
Spoilers ~ NONE THAT I KNOW OF!
Rating ~ PG
Thanks ~ I would like to thank not only George Lucas and friends for creating this vast universe, but to all my friends; especially to Jedi Knight Jorim who used his abilities in the cyber world to publish this on the internet, and to my Patriot-freak and BF, Hannah Martin for helping me through the times I got stuck during a part in the story.
Warning ~ Some of these characters in this fan fiction are the creations of George Lucas and the other authors that help him continue on the stories of these wonderful heroes and heroines. But I would like to take credit for the ones I created, which are listed below:
Seyla Starrider, Enoil Shai, Lydia Ebony, Zengi Fin'h, Seth Midori, Ian and Ae`lina Lopez.
Copyright 2000 of Sey:) ~ Story credit to the author. Credit of creating already known characters in Star Wars to George Lucas and friends.
Time ~ Well, right after Forceful Betrayals Chronicle 1, Section 2 of course. Description ~ By now you should know what's happening with everyone, but I'll give you an update if it has taken you a while to find this section.
Jaina Solo is in immediate danger, and there is nothing Jag Fel can do about it, or can he.
Because of his love for the girl, he decides to tell someone who can help him, but the decision doesn't come easily or is taken lightly, especially when it means that he might have to quit the Chiss Squadron.
Meanwhile, Sey and Jacen find the each other's affections towards one another.
But to make things all the more interesting, Mara Jade confronts an old friend that is all too ecstatic to see her again.
Read to see what happens!
Part one ~ Holdin' On and Stay True Songs by Stacie Orrico
"Hurry up!" Droma called out from the top of the ramp.
Jacen pushed Seyla onward, quickening her pace. She stumbled forward, almost landing on her face, but the Ryn caught her before she hit the ground.
To his amazement, Seyla didn't flinch from the alien's grasp. Most people would cringe at the strange creatures. The Ryn were often ridiculed because no one really knew his or her history or past. Jacen had no problem with them. To him everyone, whatever their race, history, background, whatever, should be treated equally as everyone else. Unfortunately most of the universe refused to listen to his idea.
Droma yelled at him. "Hey, Jacen! You coming aboard?"
Seyla was already in the ship. Regaining his senses, he raced up to the hatch.
Han Solo checked the hyperspace monitor, and then locked the Firelight onto autopilot, setting the alarm to go off once they were ready to pull out of hyperspace. Getting up from his seat, the man slipped out of the cockpit and into the central living area where the new passenger was.
There he found Droma and Jacen listening to a nice-looking and pretty girl. She had light skin, styled short hair of soft brown and light eyes of blue like Luke's. She was tall, probably the same height as his eldest son. She was dressed in an elegant full-length gown that touched the floor.
Still talking inventively to the other two, Han had to intervene the conversation. "So son, who's the lovely lady?"
Standing up from the couch, Jacen helped her up and introduced them. "Dad, this is Seyla Starrider; Sey this is my dad, Han Solo."
Han knew there was something troubling Sey when she squirmed at the word dad. He'd have to ask her about it sometime about it. Coming back into the present, the older Solo extended his hand and shook hers. "Nice to might you."
"You too, Mr. Solo."
Trying to lighten her mood, he said, "Please no Mr. Solo. It's the second time this week I've been called that. Han is fine, plus it doesn't make me sound so old."
They all laughed.
"Why in the gods did you do such a thing?" Tsavong yelled in fury at the guard, more formally known as Enoil Shai.
He hung suspended from the ceiling inside the Embrace of Pain. The animal mollusk's appendages gripped the beaten Yuuzhan Vong's wrists, ankles, and waist. Each time he dared to even flinch in agony, it would jerk and twist itself till Enoil couldn't hold in the tears and screams any longer.
"ANSWER ME NOW!"
But no matter what the Warmaster did or said to Enoil, didn't convince him talk. *Starrider, wherever you are, use the strange powers you possess and see I did not betray you. The God of Starrider, here my cries. Forgive my bloody past. Please, help me as you did Starrider. Help her see what's happening to me now. *
Another yank from the creature's limbs snapped his left tendon in his leg. The pain was more than he could bear, but Enoil knew he couldn't die, at least not until Starrider saw him.
Han and Jacen sat in the living room of the Firelight. Han was finishing up the last remains of his Corellian dish while his son and Droma played the old Holo board game. Clearly both were intent on the game, rarely speaking. Setting down his fork, he cleared his throat. "Well, I think you did a nice job, Jacen."
Still not taking his eyes off the game, the sixteen-year-old kept playing, apparently unnerved by his father's remark. "Nice job doing what?"
"Starrider. She really is quite beautiful." Han didn't worry about the brunette eavesdropping in on them. She had asked if there were any beds where she could rest. He had showed her to the guestroom where she collapsed willingly on the soft bed. She hadn't even bothered to slip under the covers.
Jacen obviously looked back at his father, and their eyes met. "What?"
"I'm with you father, Jacen. Quite a looker your girlfriend is," Droma replied.
Han had happened to be chewing another bite of his dinner and nearly choked on it from laughter. The Ryn was right about her; she did look decent, but coming from him was what shocked Han.
"Oh, come on you two, we're just friends."
He and Droma exchanged unimpressed glances.
Jacen turned to the Holo board and moved his piece. "I win." He snickered at his opponent. Standing up Jacen watched Droma's eyes study the game they had just been playing. "Hey, that's what happens when you don't pay attention. I'm going to go see if Sey is awake yet."
After Jacen was out of the room the Ryn's eyebrow went up. "You think it's wise to let your son go into the bedroom alone to check on the girl?" he questioned.
"You're talking about Jacen, here. He would never take advantage of anyone."
His friend raised his eyebrows in concern.
"Listen, I know I haven't been with my son lately, but I know him well enough that the thought wouldn't cross his mind."
"Ok."
Hanging by his arms and legs, Enoil's body seemed lifeless. His badly beaten and mangled body bled from open wounds inflicted by the whips and other animals lashed upon him by command of the Warmaster. His chest barely lifted as he struggled to get oxygen in his lungs.
"TELL ME NOW! WHY DID YOU FIRE THE PLASMA GUN?" boomed Tsavong Lah.
When Enoil didn't answer, he flicked his wrist ordering a priestess to strike him with the couffee, one of the advanced whip type animals that resembled a snake.
The blow cut deeply into his flesh, causing it to bleed profoundly down his chin dropping to the floor below. Enoil's cries filled the room. Once his pain decreased, he replied behind his teeth, "Torture me, kill me for all I care, but no matter what you do I will never break."
The room submerged in a tension, which could be cut through with a knife.
The Warmaster's eyes narrowed. "So be it." He then ordered to his aids, "Break him."
Flying her eyes open, Seyla shot up onto her hands on the bed. *Was that all a dream? It seemed so...so real. * Her chest was heaving hard. She could still hear Enoil's screams.
No, it wasn't a dream, or a nightmare. It was really happening. *Lord, grant Enoil your love. Save him from the evils that surround him. He's changed and...he needs you. * Tears flooded down her cheeks. Another friend persecuted by the Yuuzhan Vong. When would the death go away? The sorrow and grief?
A brief knock on the door startled her. She jerked her head up from her hands and saw Jacen standing in the doorway. A sense of worry slipped through the Force. Running to her he questioned, "What's wrong?"
Seyla tried to answer him, but couldn't talk. All she could do was hug her knees and weep. Death was lurking everywhere now days seizing her into a tunnel of darkness. She let out everything allowing herself to let go in front of the boy. Even if he didn't understand why she was crying, the pain had to be released or she would burst into anger, and fear.
She felt him sit next to her on the bed, wrapping his arms around her. Comforting her sorrows.
*Thanks Jacen. *
*Why are you crying? *
*I had a vision of the present. It was Enoil. He was the only Yuuzhan Vong I would count as a friend. *
*A friend? * He questioned skeptically.
Finally she was able to speak. "When I first was captured and brought into these galaxies, I was aboard a Yuuzhan Vong ship. I don't know what kind it was, but I had to witness the captives I had been kidnapped with, die horrible deaths before my eyes. It hurt to see fellow friends and total strangers fall in agony. I can still hear their screams; and of those who never could let out their agony they suffered, I remember vividly how they were murdered. The last so-called 'sacrifice' I had to see was one with a Yuuzhan Vong priest. He never did tell me his name, but I had to watch a group of species drop hopelessly to their knees as gas filled the room. They clutched their throats. The pagan began to explain happily what the gas was and how it worked. I wanted so much to yell at him to stop the horrid ritual, but there was no use. He wouldn't have listened to my words. Well, a light of some sort blinded the room. When it disappeared no one was in the circular area. I thought it was all part of the plan, but apparently it wasn't because the priest began throwing a fit. I was baffled by his behavior. 'Don't you realized what happened? Oh, of course you don't, you don't believe in the ways of the gods.' He sarcastically remarked.
"That was where I drew the line. I stood up for my faith and the persecuted ones too. 'There is only one true God, and He doesn't ask for the death of others to require blessings to give away. He gives away love, kindness, and help, only asking for a good deed here and there.' He ordered me to get the guard outside the door. When I came back in the room with the guard, the pagan told me to sit. I did as I was told. I asked him what the problem was and he told me what had happened wasn't part of the ceremony and 'the gods still hadn't had their fill of life yet.' I then told him he was crazy to believe in such nonsense. The guard struck me with one of the whip like creatures. I was then taken to my room."
She continued the story of how a stranger came into her room and healed her wound. When the door opened she found herself on the ground and the man had vanished, and how the same guard who whipped her rushed to her side. Seyla told Jacen everything about Enoil.
Everything that had happened over the past month hurt to think about, but she had to get the pain out.
Lastly she explained to him of her vision and where Enoil was.
"Persecuted?"
Seyla nodded. "Yes, he no longer upholds the Yuuzhan Vong religion. I just wish he didn't have to suffer. He was the one who got me out of the party, now he has to endure such torture." *Lord, please be with him. Don't let him die alone. *
"Sey, you don't have to worry about talking to your Lord aloud in front of me. I don't mind. Like I said before, I'd like to know more about this God of yours."
She turned her head, facing him. "You really would?"
"Yes."
"You wouldn't laugh at my beliefs or ridicule me? You really want to know about God?"
"Why would I ridicule you? "
Sey turned from his gaze. How could she tell him everything of her faith and not be? Many people, even her friends had mocked her faith. At the time though, they didn't know that they were make fun of her faith, but it still hurt to remember. It ached far more to think about how her father disregarded her feelings and told her to stop acting so sensitive. Realizing that she hadn't answered Jacen's question, she said quietly, "I don't know."
He could feel that she was grieving inside her soul about her past. Jacen wanted to press and ask her what part of her past was eating her, but knew she wouldn't tell him. At least not at this particular time.
Trying to cheer her up he said, "Hey, are you hungry? "
She nodded, still keeping her eyes to the ground. Gathering herself up she dusted off as many wrinkles from her flowing dress as she could.
Starrider must have noticed that her hair was a bit tangled when she asked, "Where's the..." she thought a moment trying to find the right word for what she was looking for. "Refresher?"
Jacen laughed and pointed towards the door behind the one he had come in.
Zen paced slowly back to his chambers. His mind was on Starrider and what she had really been doing.
She had performed treason; what was worse, she left him hanging on to so many unanswered questions. *How could she? Seyla made a commitment to me, and the Union, that she would marry me; then I find out so many thoughts running through her mind. She lied to me. *
Anger surged his thought as he contemplated on.
As he reached the door panel and keyed in the access code an idea came to him.
*She left at the spur of the moment, but there has to be some type of note or direction given to Starrider by the one who helped her escape. She surely couldn't have done it by herself. *
Walking in he took off his cloak and hung it on the coat rack as the door slid shut. Once it was completely closed, Zen raced into her room, searching all through the dresser drawers when finally he found what he was looking for.
Hidden underneath three books about the Old Sith teachings he had given her to read was a small crumpled piece of paper. Picking up the note, Zen moved to sit down on her bed and began to read.
Seyla Starrider~
I read the note you wrote me. I vow I'll come back for you. I will rescue you from this corrupted place. Hold on and have faith. It is only a matter of days before your back in my life. May your God make this rescue mission execute in which way you escape from Zengi's grasp.
Love your only friend,
Jacen Solo
Zen stared at the letter with the feeling of deception. Never before had the feeling enter his heart like it had at that very moment. When he had been searching through her mind the night before, he hadn't seen this part of her mind, at least the part that Jacen Solo had played in her life.
Revenge filled him. No matter what it took, he was going to kill Solo and capture Seyla. This time, once she was in his power, he'd torture her till her soul broke and she'd deny her faith in her so-called God.
Part two ~ Here in My Heart Song by Plus One
As she slowly sat up on the hard bed, Jaina felt soreness ache all throughout her body. Her side had especially added pain. She lifted her eyes open and discovered she was in a cell.
She squeezed her eyes shut trying to recollect her last moments in consciousness. A sudden burst of loneliness drowned her soul. *Jag? Where are you? *
"There is no point in using the Force, baby. No one can hear you through the barrier I have created around you. No one will ever be able to trace you, not even your almighty and powerful Uncle Luke."
A shiver made its way up her spine. The voice, which spoke to her, had the tone of craving something of her. It was the intent placed behind the words that frightened her. He longed for something, and Jaina had a pretty good idea what it might be, but the speculation seemed disgusting and sick.
Flipping her eyes open she saw a man, maybe in his twenties, stepped forward as the door hissed shut. Each step he took, he came closer to the wounded teen. His eyes glowed like the center of a fierce fire. His black hair was long enough to cover his ears and his body stature looked as if he had been toning up his muscles for a while. But the way he stared at her made the intensity of uneasiness thicken in the cell.
She didn't know what to do. Every bit of her Jedi training blanked. Self defense methods dissolved from her memory. What could she do?
The darkside flowed immensely from him. Chills of the other side of the Force touched her as if it were an invisible constant cold wind that encircled each of its blind followers.
He now stood directly in front of her. Only three feet of empty space kept them apart.
Something about his eyes seemed... *Empty. * The realization stunned her.
The man dropped down to her eye level. Jaina swallowed. "...Who are you?"
"Midori. Seth Midori." He narrowed his eyes. "You are afraid... of me?"
Jaina blinked back her surprise. "You are..."
"Force-sensitive," he interrupted. "Yes, I am. So why are you so afraid of me?" he pressed again.
"You don't need to ask me that question when you already know the answer."
He shrugged and innocently replied, "Just trying to make conversation."
She only squinted her eyes. "Where are you taking me?"
"To a place I like to call home."
"Why did you kidnap me? What use am I to you?"
A devious grin surpassed his face. "Oh, you have no idea how useful you are, my dear." Her eyes widened in annoyance, but he continued as if nothing was the matter. "In fact I can feel Jag right now, on the verge of leaving Coruscant just to find you. I can just see his face filling up with rage once he finds the Holo disk I left for him in his Chiss fighter. Any moment now he'll find it and slide it into his datapad to discover a recorded message I took the pleasure of speaking, while a pre-played Holo projection of his one and only love lying unconscious in a cell hovers above his machine."
Resentment bursted into her heart as she jumped off the bed to strangle him. She barely had hold of his neck as she screamed, "How dare you!" But she wasn't strong enough to even get close enough to pinch him.
His strong arms clutched her forearms. She still struggled to hurt him some way.
They wrestled to the ground, but it was no use, even with the power of the Force. Seth used his powerfully built body to throw her on her back and straddled her.
Still fighting to get out of his grasp she yelled, "Get off of..."
Tightening his grip on her he cut her off. "You try something like that again and I vow, I'll have no trouble in killing you too! Got it?" He waited for a response, but none came from her. Throwing her back into the floor, throttling her head down, he yelled loud enough to make it echo. "GOT IT?"
Tears came streaming down her face as she nodded in reply.
His breath came upon her angrily. He finally got off her after a minute of tension allowing fear to set into her.
Just before the cell barrier shut he called out to her. "By the way, you have just taken first step onto the dark path of the Force." A chilling laugh followed.
Jaina lay helplessly still on the floor covering her eyes with her hands trying to control her tears. *Mom, Dad, Uncle Luke... somebody hear me; help me. I'm so afraid. Don't let me die here alone. *
Sey came out of the refresher and slipped on her clothes. How she longed for her jeans and shirt, but she shouldn't complain.
*You're lucky you have clothes girl. *
She combed out her hair and pulled it back into a ponytail. Glancing into the mirror she smiled. Being clean and finally getting rid of the grimy make-up felt so good; like she was free. *I just wish if were so in life. *
With that, Sey proceeded into the central living area.
Upon entering the room she saw that only Han Solo, Jacen's father, sat at the table finishing up the last of his dinner. Besides him was his comlink. Across the table was another plate of food.
Han raised his head at her entrance. "Jacen left you some dinner. He's in the cockpit with Droma preparing to land on Coruscant."
Slipping into the seat where the dinner and drink were, Sey questioned, "We're almost there?"
"We're already in the atmosphere."
She nodded and made the sign of the cross praying for her food she was about to receive. After she was done with her prayer of thanks she began to eat.
"You're religious?"
Sey blinked back the surprise. That question was being asked a lot. Swallowing she answered him. "Well, I rather put it being faithful."
"Same thing."
"No it isn't!" She corrected. "Don't you know people or aliens who go to a worship lace but don't show or act how they believe once they have left the place?"
"Yeah, but what..."
Sey interrupted. "Those are religious beings. The ones who act out what they believe and trust in God are faithful."
Han didn't reply.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have raised my voice. I..."
"No, don't sweat it. Just be careful on what you tell others on Coruscant. There have been some reports of Yuuzhan Vong deflectors in the population. If they find out how strongly you believe in..."
"Don't worry about that. I've already have seen what type of tortures they can induce."
Curious, the father asked, "How so?"
Casting her eyes down she whispered. "They attacked my home world, Nrutas. They took captive a number of us. I had to see them all put to horrible deaths."
He nodded not wanting to touch the subject. Han could already see that mentioning that part of her past troubled her. Trying to change the topic he asked, "I'm just curious, but why did you stiffen at the name 'dad,' when Jacen was introducing me to you."
She stared at him. When she opened her mouth to speak nothing came out. Her lip was trembling. "I miss my family and friends. I never really realized how much I'd miss them till I was pulled away. There has never been such a hole in my soul like now. All I want to do, if it is even possible, is to tell them I love them and... and goodbye." With that, she took in a shaky breath and closed her eyes to shake away the memory, then began to eat her dinner.
Jag strolled quickly out of the semi. The Chiss had won, but it was only because Jaina wasn't on the Rogue Squadron targeting his every move and able to find a weakness that he somehow forgot to fix.
For the first time in his life he really missed her.
Walking into the hanger bay where his ship had been parked, he thought solemnly, *Where are you Jaina? I miss you. Who did this to you? Why? Barely we figure out each of us likes the other and you have to go off and be kidnapped. *
Finally he reached his ship. Climbing the ladder, he looked into the cockpit. A plain silver Holo disk lay on his seat. He slowly grasped the round disk and crawled down the ladder.
Slumping to the ground he pulled out his datapad and slipped the disk in.
Part three ~ No You Song by ZOEgirl
Han Solo glanced back at Sey in concern. He was about to ask her if she was all right, when Jacen called him.
"Dad, could you come in here, the control tower has an emergency message for you."
The older man sighed and got up from his seat and went to the cockpit. As he entered, he saw Droma piloting and his son calmly telling the traffic control tower his father was coming. Stepping behind his son he laid his hand on his shoulder.
Tension seemed to lift up from the young man's shoulders. "I'll take it from here."
Jacen graciously stepped aside and sat in the co-pilot's seat, helping the Ryn to maneuver the ship.
Speaking clearly into the microphone, he called to them. "Hello control, this is Han Solo speaking, is there a problem?"
Static came through on the transmission but suddenly ceased as a male voice came through. "Mr. Solo there is a call for you. Says his name is Jag Fel. Would you like me to forward the communication link?"
At first Han could only leave his mouth hang open. Jag never before tried to get in contact with him. "Send it through," he replied worriedly.
"Han... it's me Jag Fel. Who's aboard with you?"
Pressing the button so he could talk, he answered, "Let's see, Droma, Jacen, me, oh and Seyla Starrider."
Astonishment came into his tone. "Is she that girl who Mara was referring too?"
"Yep."
"But how?"
"I'll enlighten you later. How's Leia?"
There was a slight pause before the man answered. "She is, I'm afraid, still in a coma. Mara and Luke are with her at the moment."
"So he did get back safely?"
"Yeah, along with the others. Some of them are in for medical treatment from the wounds they had received from the Yuuzhan Vong. Luke should be in that category, but he refuses to have any treatment while there are others are still in need of it."
"That's Luke for you."
The sixteen year old cleared his voice. And tried to tell him what he had found but the general stopped the conversation.
"Be down in a nanosecond, Jag."
Luke leaned over his comatose sister.
Her skin was white and her long narrow fingers were ice cold like they had been on Hoth's highest mountaintop. He massaged them so the circulation would restore itself back to normal.
There was nothing else he could really do about her. He wished that if he could just shake her, and she'd awaken, but that wasn't possible.
Nothing would awaken her. Her body had to wake itself up.
Calmly Luke whispered lowly to her, "Come on sis, wake up." It seemed hopeless. Leia might never recover again.
Jag was warmly greeted by Jacen and Han, and Droma came behind them and shook the boys hand formally. Sey didn't know exactly what to do. So she hung back behind the trio and hugged herself.
She was really on Coruscant. All sorts of aliens and people hustled about trying to get here to there and there to here. Being on a regular world that was focused on work reminded her of home.
Suddenly her concentration was broken by Han.
"And this here is Seyla Starrider."
Sey walked forward and gripped the teen's hand before her. "You must be Jag Fel. I would recognize from anywhere."
"I didn't know I was popular with the public." He questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Back on my home world, people who keep up to date on this part of the universe know a bit about you. It's a pleasure to meet you."
"As I to you."
Seyla coughed, covering her mouth with the other hand she waited till it subsided. It stung the back of her throat.
Han asked, "Are you alright?"
She nodded slowly. "Fine."
"Ok, let's go to the hospital then."
Once they entered the room where Leia was assigned, Han could no longer take it.
Rushing to her side, he took her hands and fell to the ground besides her bed. She couldn't leave him, not now.
Everything inside the deepest part of his soul feared the worst. His love for Leia was beyond all comprehension. Han had no idea how he could cope not having her around. He couldn't lose her along with Chewie.
*Please, who ever or what ever in this galaxy created everyone and everything don't let her leave. Do something; she is my whole life. I love her. Just please, wake her up... please. *
For the first time in his life, tears made there way down his cheeks profoundly.
"Han?" The voice weak, but the familiar one of the princess he had rescued so long ago.
Brushing off the tears that clouded his eyes, he saw Leia's dark auburn eyes looking warmly at him. Happiness swelled his heart. He got up off his knee and embraced his wife lovingly. Whispering into her ear he told her, "Princess, I love you. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't awaken. I don't know how I would have lived not to feel your warm lips against mine ever again. "
Her arms slowly wrapped themselves around his neck. "Oh, Han."
Part four ~ Don't Kiss Me Like This Song by Toby Keith
Sey watched as the two lovers clung to one another. Her soul longed to have something like they did one day.
A light tap on the shoulder brought her back into the present. Turning to the left side to see who was trying to get her attention, she saw Luke Skywalker point to the door. She got the idea.
Tugging on Jacen's hand she motioned to go out the door.
Once everyone, but Leia and Han, were out in the hallway Mara Jade silently shut the door as Luke stepped towards Sey and stated, "Thank you."
"For what?"
Mara strolled besides him. "For saving my husband's life. And my nephews."
"You're welcome, but you shouldn't thank me. It was God who did it all. I was only his instrument. He is the one who deserves the praise, not me."
The couple glanced at each other. "You're religious?" Luke questioned in curiosity.
She bit her lip, afraid she spoke too openly. Sey wasn't ashamed of her faith or her love for God, but she had to trend carefully and be cautious on how she told the Solo and Skywalker family. She didn't want to lose her only friends in the strange new galaxy just because they got the wrong idea of who she was. "In a way, but I am really just faithful and trusting in God and his plans for me."
Jacen stood behind her with a hand on her shoulder. His presence reassured her that he'd stick up for her if she had difficulties explaining.
"Well then, thank you God for your guidance and help," Jacen's uncle replied with such devotion and sincerity.
Sey didn't even have to ask her if he really meant it or was just being sarcastic. She knew that the Jedi Master would never mock anyone's religion, even the Yuuzhan Vong's. A sense of respect came from him towards her faith. Smiling she replied, "Thank you for not sneering. I've had that happen enough this past few weeks." She sighed. "There is something else that you three wanted of me. What is it?"
Luke turned to his wife to confirm what he was going to ask. "Since Han and Leia um... need some time alone together, Mara and I were wondering if you guys would like to go to eat somewhere, to relax and just take a break from the chaos, tonight?"
The teen girl looked at Jacen for help. "Sure. Jacen?"
"We'd love too."
"How about you Jag?" Mara asked concerned.
Jag cleared his throat. "Do you mind if I have a moment alone with you?"
Startled by the question Mara nodded in agreement. "Sure." Following him away from the group, the rather handsome guy faced her.
"If it isn't too much to ask, could you not go?"
"What?"
"It's this Holo disk I found. It's about Jaina."
Raising her eyebrows in suspicion she replied, "What are you thinking of doing Fel? I can see that wheel in your head turning. What's going on?"
Sighing he continued, "I... I have Force abilities."
Mara stood motionless, for the first time not knowing what to say.
"I was wondering if you could teach me how to control it so... so I could go rescue Jaina."
"Really? And how in the quasars did you think I'd be willing to help you?"
"Please, I can trust you."
"Let me guess... you don't want me to tell anyone, even Luke, about this, huh?"
"I was hoping that was part of the deal."
Crossing her arms she glared at him. "Jag, I don't think that this is wise. My niece can handle herself and..."
"No you don't understand, in this case she can't handle what she is facing."
"What are y..."
"Here, " Jag handed the older woman the disk. "Watch it once you get to your home. Then call me through the comlink and tell me your decision. Right now I've got a semi to catch."
The Jedi Master watched the boy jog to the elevator and jump in before it shut. She was a bit confused but stuffed the disk into her pocket and turned to the group. Luke was giving her a questioning look asking why he had left.
"Jag had a simulation to go to. He won't be able to make it. How about we drop Jacen and Sey at the Solo's apartment to freshen up, and we'll do the same. Then Luke, you can pick them up and come back for me at the house. You know how long it takes me to get ready."
Her husband smiled. "All right."
Luke stared skeptically at his wife. He had just come back from picking up Jacen and Sey, and had come to get Mara but he was shocked to find out what she told him. "Why don't you want to go? Are you feeling ok? Is the disease..."
"No, Luke." Mara spun around. "The disease isn't starting up again... I just need to talk with Jag. You three go on."
"Are you sure you're fine?"
"Yes. Now go before I decide to take back my word on not following out on Palpatine's plan on killing you."
The Jedi Master grinned. "Ok, ok. I'm leaving." Leaning over to his wife, he kissed her tenderly on the lips. Before the parted Mara put her hand behind her husband's neck and pulled him closer into the kiss.
A tingling sensation exploded throughout the both of them. The affection towards one another had only become stronger each passing moment they were together or apart.
Finally, they separated and gazed into each other's eyes intently. A ripple in the Force touched each of them; like it was going to be the last time they'd be able to see one another.
"You better get going." Mara whispered. "Jacen and Sey are probably thinking you've been captured by now."
As he walked to the door he casually remarked, "But I was, by you and you're love."
Part five ~ Let Me Know Song by JAKE
They were in the backseat of his uncle's speeder waiting for him. *Well, a bit more than waiting. * he added.
One second they were talking, the next Jacen found his lips against Sey's.
Pushing her back into the leather seat, he felt her fall back into the kiss as if taking in his love.
The sensation swelling up in his heart was one he never before felt. Then he knew, in some strange way, that this was the girl he wanted to spend eternity with. Lifting up off her lips he gently whispered, "You're not such a bad kisser."
"Hmmm." Pushing herself up closer to his face she kissed him lovingly. They parted and she smiled. "Neither are you."
"Are you ticklish?"
"Wh..." but before she was able to finish he began tickling her. "Jacen p...please! S...st...op!" She managed to get out, but went into a fit of giggles. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore, and used the Force to tickle him back.
"Hey! N...not fair!"
The two went on laughing in hysterics. Neither of them noticed the man watching them.
Suddenly, the two of them heard a forced cough, and it didn't come from either of them.
Jacen got off her, and Sey straightened up in her seat. He could feel heat generating up to his cheeks from the embarrassment of being caught. He knew who it was before he even looked up.
"What do you think you two were doing?"
Both he and Sey exchanged glances. Jacen knew he couldn't lie to his uncle. He'd see right through him. Both were still trying to keep down their giggling.
When they looked back at him, they were surprised that he didn't flare up at them.
Once he climbed in Jacen asked, "You aren't mad at us?"
"Mad?" His uncle glanced up in the review mirror to see who was behind him. "Why would I be mad?"
"Uh..."
"As long as you two don't do anything you'll regret, I'm ok with it. Besides it's your private life, and both of you know the difference between what's right and wrong. I trust you."
Surprisingly Sey spoke up. "You do? I...I mean, I know you do but..." she paused. "If my dad or mom was the one who caught me... well you can be sure I wouldn't be dating till I'm sixty."
"Do you want me to do that?"
"No! But for some odd reason I wished they were here to see it. I miss hearing them yelling at me for simple things. Though this wasn't something simple."
Silence stayed in the car for unending moments. Jacen inquired, "How many siblings do you have?"
Another laugh surpassed Sey's mouth. "Oh, sometimes it seems like a hundred, but I only have three younger brothers; one is two, the other six, and the third is going to be fourteen in three months. I'll be fifteen today." She let out quietly.
"Well then, I know exactly the place to go."
Walking into the karaoke restaurant in the amethyst dress she had barrowed from Jacen's mom, Sey's mind still hung on the kiss she and Jacen had shared. Even though her heart had slowed down considerably, her soul hadn't. She supposed it never would with Jacen as her friend.
*Boyfriend, * a hidden voice corrected.
*Stop shuffling through me thoughts, Jacen. I love you, but that doesn't mean I don't have the nerve to sock you one in the stomach. *
They sat down at a booth next to the stage where a young female humanoid sang an off pitch song in some foreign language Sey couldn't interpret. The interior design of the restaurant gave the illusion of being underneath the Calamarian seas. It's ceiling was painted to look like the customer was below the waves. The tables were made of coral and the seats were filled with water and glass marbles. One could even look at the top of the table was glass and underneath it was fish and other marine life swimming in it. The sight was one to behold.
She gasped as she tried to take in the scenery.
Luke must have heard and seen the awe and amazement in her eyes because he retorted, "I can see you have an interest in the sea."
Turning to answer the man she smiled. "I always found any aquatic life calming. Back... on Nrutas, my home planet, my family used to go to the beach on vacations. We went so often it was like a home away from home."
Just then their waiter came by and took their drink orders.
As he walked away, Sey saw a hint of something familiar in his eyes. She shook of the feeling once he came back. Trying to reassure herself that the feeling was nothing.
Setting down the drinks, he took out a datapad and asked, "So what can I get for you three?"
"Three of the specials," Luke answered.
"Oh, and a number seven for me and Sey." Jacen added.
"Got it. Go ahead after this gal on stage. I'll go put you're orders in." Just as he turned, the waiter gave Sey a wink.
Once he was out of earshot range, Luke commented on the event that just transpired. "Looks like our waiter has a thing for you, Sey. I'm not surprised, but I didn't realize how quickly you could get a guy to fall for you. It took Jacen a while before he fell," he laughed.
Putting her hands up on her face, she tried to hide her embarrassment. "Don't push it Skywalker. What just transpired has never happened to me before. Maybe to my friends, but never me."
"Really?"
"Yeah." She tried to change the subject. "Thanks again for taking us here."
The Jedi Master shrugged of the appreciation. "We all needed the break."
She nodded the remembered a thought and turned to Jacen. "What did you just order for the both of us, by the way?"
An evil-like grin surpassed her boyfriend's face. She turned to his uncle for help. "Why is he smiling like that? What plan is slinking around in that mind of his?"
Taking a sip of his water, Luke answered in a calm yet laughing voice, "He and you are going to sing a duet on stage."
"What?" She eyed Jacen with shock. "You didn't..." she searched his eyes. "You did. Jacen, I don't want to sing in front of all these strangers!"
He shrugged. "Hey, you won't be doing this alone. This is my birthday present to you."
"Thanks," Sey replied sarcastically. Picking up her hot chocolate, she asked to Jacen besides her, "So what are we singing?"
"Does the name '4whatever it takes' ring a bell?"
Laying down her cup she responded with a twirl of her head. She didn't think that that song would even reach the outskirts of her country on Nrutas.
A beeping came over the intercom.
He motioned her out of the booth. "Come on, we're up." They proceeded up on to the sand color stage. Each of them took a microphone. Leaning over to Sey he whispered, "You ready?"
"Nope."
He grinned, "Then lets get this show on the road." Pressing the button, he started up the music. Before them a Holo flickered and words scrolled before them, even though they knew the song by heart.
As they sang in perfect harmony, Jacen, for the first time, heard how beautiful Sey's voice was and fell in love with the soothing tone she sang.
In his masquer as a waiter, Kyp narrowed his eyes at the couple on stage. They sang with such passion and love for one another.
Glancing over behind him where the double swinging doors to the kitchen were, he say Fin'h eye Jacen and Sey with hate. His eyes looked as if they had so much fire and rage to kill, he could do it with his stare. Fin'h turned to Kyp and nodded at him to proceed.
Kyp used the Force to signal the other agents to warn the masquered Yuuzhan Vong warriors to ensue on the plan.
It was time for Starrider to break.
Just as they were about to finish the last words in the song, a hand grabbed Sey's waist pulling her back into the curtains. Another hand clamped around her mouth so that her screams would be muffled. She had dropped the microphone in fright. It clattered loudly to the ground.
Looking down at the hand that covered her mouth and side, she did her best not to panic. Its long bony -strong hands and razor sharp claw-like growths coming out of its knuckles were the ones of a Yuuzhan Vong.
Sey didn't try to struggle out of his grasp. There was no use in trying with those claws.
Quickly she skimmed over to where Jacen was.
Her blue eyes widened in fear. Two hideous Vong, easily twice as high as Jacen, gripped his arms tightly enough with their claws that blood slowly oozed off his skin, staining the stage ground.
Shifting her stare to the crowd she saw all of the customers frozen in terror by the weapons threatened at them by obviously agents of the Union.
She saw Luke. He was being held under the power of at least ten Yuuzhan Vong and Dark Agents.
A man came to her attention. He burst through the swinging doors wearing a simple cloak of black. The hood had been pulled forward to conceal his face. As he neared the top of the stage steps, he removed his hood.
A shiver spiraled down her back.
Fin'h approached her with the same devious smirk on his face as always. "Well, who do we have here?" He did the one sweep glance over her that had become a tradition each time they met. "Looks like... oh, a runaway."
*Jacen, whatever he does don't leave me. I love you. I won't let you go without me. Please don't... * but before she could finish Zen cut her off.
"Oh, my dear, why must you conjure up pleads of mercy when you know full well the only mercy you will receive will be... me."
Fury accelerated in her. She bit the hand of the Vong (the last thing in the universe that she wanted to even think about doing.) The creature moved its ugly hand down to her shoulder, digging its claw into her skin into the same puncture wounds Enoil had inflected on her.
The tender spots made her cringe but she wouldn't give into the pain.
"How dare you offer such a thing! I'd rather lose my life than take anything from you."
"That can be arranged, but I am going to offer it to you."
She glared at him. "What's the catch?"
"You."
"That's no offer."
Advancing on her so close he was in her face he said. "You will think so after." Out of nowhere, he snapped his fingers.
An agonizing scream came from Jacen. Then another. And another. And...
"STOP!" Sey cried as if he were hurting her too. "PLEASE STOP!"
Zen tilted his head. A scream echoed throughout the room. The sound of cracking bones broke the silence. But even as pain was inflicted, Jacen managed to yell out, "SEY DON'T GIVE INTO..." but his words were broken by the shear shock of the next blow.
The fifteen year old begged Zen to stop, but nothing seemed to work. "Please, Jacen hasn't done anything to deserve this. He..."
"He only assisted in your escape. He only was the brains of the whole thing. He deserves more than this, and he will receive the credit for what he has done. I guarantee you." The Union leader snapped his fingers and again the crackling of bones came ringing into her ears, sending her back into the Yuuzhan Vong that held her. Zen continued. "But I will stop... under a few conditions. One you give up your love for this weakling, and two ditch that crazy religion of yours and enter the true and only religion ever known to make life worth living."
Sey didn't know how to answer. If she said that she would give up everything she had ever known as her personal self, Jacen wouldn't have to suffer for her beliefs. But if she said no way, he'd only be put into horrible amounts of hurting most likely beyond comprehension.
Her head hurt to think, then she remembered what Jacen had told her before Luke had picked them up. "I feel like I have known God all my life, and if the time should ever transpire that you have to choose to or not to deny your faith... don't break and reject God. I'd die for you and God. Don't fret over my well being. I know you would do the same for me. I want to do the same for you, not cause I love you, but even if I rarely found God... His love and friendship is more than I could every imagine. It is something that has to be treasured. So don't feel twisted in the decision, if it you have to make it. Just promise me that you will not deny God's love."
"So what is it going to be?" Zen's order brought her back into reality.
She took in a deep breath. "I will never renounce my faith in God. He will not abandon me in times of despair and hopelessness."
A confused look crossed his face. "You'd rather listen to the screams of Jacen as he is tortured to death, than discard the blinded religion in which you follow?"
"I would never order my friend to his death or any pain. It is your burden that you are trying to manipulate as mine. I not only listen to the agonizing cries of my friend, but at the same time I'd feel his pain. Every instrument, every organic whip, every blow that is used upon his body, and soul I will be in tune with. I will feel it. You can do nothing to him without doing it to me." Her words ricocheted through out the room. Her voice convicted and strong. All fear and fright had rushed away from her. None came from Jacen. Now with God in his life, there was nothing to fear. Even death itself; cause He'd be there each moment of his torture.
Part six ~ 4whatever it takes Song by LaRue
Jacen never felt so sure in his life, so loved. All this time, Sey had been holding in her faith in God, the one thing that he needed in his life; the missing piece in of his heart. Now since Sey told him about God and His love for them, he felt whole. They talked about God back at his parents' apartment while waiting for his uncle to arrive.
*Sey, I love you. I have loved you before you told me about God, but now I thank you with all my soul. * Jacen thought to her.
During this time that he was confronting death face to face, it didn't scare him as it had before. A warm feeling of reassurance came from his spirit.
God was really with him. Everything Sey proclaimed to Fin'h was true. He was willing to die for God... for His love. He was willing to give up everything for Sey, but it went deeper than that.
"So you're saying Jacen Solo, son of Han and Leia Solo... is religious." There was a pause from Fin'h. Laughter followed immediately after. "I'm sorry, my dear, this is all hard to believe, in fact, it's impossible to believe."
"Nothing is impossible with God." Sey firmly stated.
Laughter rumbled out of the Union leader.
"Stop laughing at her." Jacen yelled out. "She is telling the truth. I do believe in God. He is what is keeping me strong. It's His spirit that redeems me each time I have fallen. He is so real. Right now, He surrounds us, protects us from breaking by the tortures you inflict on us."
Fin'h turned to Jacen then approached him with curiosity. "I knew you would drift to anything that sounds convincing. But now that I have seen it will my own eyes, I can see the total fool you truly are. I suppose that you 'believe' this God will save you from my power?"
"He'll save us all, but maybe not in the way we think."
"You speak of nothing but blasphemy!"
Suddenly a verse began to roll through his head. *Fear not, for I am with you. Be not afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and uphold you with My victorious right hand. * It came from Sey.
"You can claim it, but your words will never be true. God beams in the heart and souls of all of us. It is only..."
"SILENCE!" Fin'h's booming voice reverberated off the walls.
"We will not be silent!" Sey cried from behind him.
Just as soon as she had said the words, the man took his hand and scratch-slapped her across the face. Four cuts ran diagonally down her left side of her face. Scarlet blood trickled down her face.
"You DARE resent me again, I will do worse!"
Lifting her head up, Sey opened her eyes and glared at him. "Do it. I dare you." She watched him walk back and forth in front of her. Only then did she realize he didn't have the nerve to kill her. "You can't do it, can you? That's why you want to hurt my friend with the anger you hold for me, because you don't have the guts to murder me. You couldn't and wouldn't do it even if Tsavong Lah ordered you too." For the first time she caught Zen in his tracks. He was at loss of what to say. "You can only make it look like you want me dead, but when really you desire me alive and in your arms; wanted or not."
He snapped his fingers trying to make her forget her previous thoughts. But to his shock as the Solo teen went tumbling down to the ground in pain, Sey's knees buckled at the same time.
As the Yuuzhan Vong warrior beat Jacen's battered body the girl screamed in agony.
Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. "CEASE!"
At the command, the Vong stopped and backed away from Jacen. The cries lowered to hopeless moans of the pain. Tears were spilling out of Sey's eyes, and Jacen, to his surprised had red wet eyes the same.
Luke gapped at what he had just witnessed and heard. Everything revealed before him was washing up at him all too quickly.
Jacen and his spiritual self; the strange physical connection between the two; how much they loved each other...
His head spun, but everything seemed to fit. In an odd way, Luke understood what they were standing up for. That, in the right way, they would die and give up their lives for others. Their intentions were correct, not as the Yuuzhan Vong who believed they needed sacrifices to gain honor and strength from their non-existent gods.
"You can't win, Zen." Sey forced out of her mouth despite the pain.
Something in Luke sparked in him, regenerated his strength. He broke free from the group of warriors and dark agents guarding him. Pulling out his lightsaber he sliced down each of his opponents one by one.
Three left.
Each of them held either a plasma gun or a vibro axe.
The Jedi Master knew he couldn't take on every enemy in the room and began to back up to the swinging doors.
Just before they could do anything, Luke dashed into the kitchen, placing the lock on the door so they couldn't blast through the laser proof doors.
Jacen faintly heard commotion that someone was getting away. It couldn't have been Sey. She was directly across from him, on the floor from the pain that he had been imposed with.
Then he heard Fin'h yelling. "GET HIM! HE MUST NOT ESCAPE!"
Suddenly, the escapee's name registered in his head. Trying to encourage the man he called out through thought speak, *Hurry! Get out of here, Uncle Luke! Get help! *
As if reading his thought, Fin'h came over to him and kicked him fatally in the back. Sey screamed through their connection, but she didn't let it out of her mouth.
Before Jacen slipped into unconsciousness, the cunning and deceptive tone of the Union leader, "Nice try, Solo. But Durron won't fail me, just his old master."
Once he commended himself for the job well done, the hum of another blade came ringing into his ears.
Swinging around to block the blow behind him, Luke found himself against, "Kyp!"
Thunder lit his eyes like a green fire. As they fought in a duel, the man answered through his teeth, "Yes, it is me. Who else?"
"Why are you doing this?" Luke ordered as he parried another strike. "Don't you remember what we did for you? What Han did..."
Pushing his blade hard against his former Jedi Master's enough to make sweat droplets drip down his face, Kyp cut off Luke's sentence. "DON"T TELL ME WHAT THE OLD SMUGGLER DID FOR ME! I KNOW WHAT HE DID! I KNOW WHAT YOU ALL DID FOR ME!"
"Then why are you doing this?"
No answer came from the man. Instead he swung franticly at Luke's head only to miss and hit some pots and pans suspended from the ceiling onto the floor.
Luke sprinted away from the clatter. "Don't make the same mistake and kill out of rage without thinking. Your older brother would have lived if you hadn't acted out of anger. Stop before you make the same mistake."
Now Kyp no longer fought him. He fell to the ground in sadness and sorrow from the memory of killing his brother. "It was an accident. I wanted r... revenge at the Empire for what they did to my family; for murdering my parents before me, for taking my brother away, for putting me in the dark Kessel mines without..."
"Shhh..." Luke was at the man's side, knowing what was running through his head. By now both of them had shut down their lightsabers. "I am sorry for bringing up the past. It was the only way. You know revenge will only cause suffering to yourself, not to the others you intend on suffering. Don't repeat the same lesson you learned the hard way over again."
"I'm sorry."
"I forgive you, but now isn't the time to spend for apologies. They'll be through that door any minute. Do you know anyway out so we can get back to the Old Imperial Palace?"
Getting up, Kyp clipped his lightsaber to his belt and led Luke to the hidden exit. Then asked, "Why are we headed there?"
"For one, it's not safe here. Two, if the Yuuzhan Vong have invaded Coruscant, Mara is in danger of running into one that wants her dead."
"What she do to tick this one off so?" Kyp asked as they jumped into Luke's speeder.
"She survived a disease that was injected into her system."
"Is this Vong an executor?"
"I believe so. Why?"
"She's up against Nom Anor. We got to get to her before he does, he won't stop till her blood has stained his hands. I know a short cut to the Palace." Kyp instructed Luke.
Now that old wounds were tended to; it was time to keep new one's from starting. The first thing they needed to do was find Mara before it was too late.
Part seven ~ If You Didn't Love Me Anymore Song by Aurora
Jaina slowly and carefully got off the hard ground. She felt groggy and grimy.
A pain shot from her wound, releasing a whimper from her throat.
She mumbled under her breath. "Who ever created this crazy universe, if it is the Force or not, I don't care; just have mercy on me. Please, all I want to do is go back home to my family, to Jag."
Now unsteadily on her legs, she began to fall backwards onto the ground, but was caught by two muscular arms.
Her adrenaline rushed up as the man spoke. "Well, well, look who is take her first step." She accepted the helping hands resentfully, Jaina gently got back up on her feet with his help. "No thank you?"
Antipathy glowed out of her. She wasn't going to thank the man.
He shrugged, "No matter." She had no way to anticipate his next move, and was caught off guard when Midori swiftly whipped out a pair of restraint cuffs.
"Hey! I'm not going anywhere."
"You're right." He pushed her out of the cell and followed behind her. "You're not with this control unit in my hands. Try to escape and I'll press the button to send electric currents through you're b..."
"I know what it does. Don't explain it to me like I'm a foreigner." Jaina shot back angrily.
"Then shut up and follow."
Anakin was concealed in the shadows of Main Council room. Viqi Shesh had an announcement for the senators and representatives of the New Republic.
Even though Anakin and received permission to enter the chamber and listen in place of his mother, he still didn't feel safe.
The broadcast was just beginning as Senator Shesh approached the hover stand proud and confident, yet no emotion stretched on her face. Not even a half welcoming smile that the regular politicians produced.
Finally she spoke, silencing all the beings in the building. "Attention loyal representatives and devoted senators of the New Republic. I have assembled you all here under the most extreme circumstances. I am greatly sorry for all the inconvenience I have put you through to arrange this conference to be held, but in the matter of moments you will understand." She cleared her throat and continued. "I have received some quite deplorable news. Chief of State Borsk Fey'lya was found dead last night in his private quarters."
Murmurs of disbelief and skepticism hushed over the attendees. Doubt countered Anakin's mind as well. How could Fey'lya be dead?
His wonderments were intervened by Shesh's speech. "There is no indication of any foul play or suicide attempts as the autopsy shows. He died of natural causes, but the tests still haven't confirmed on what the cause was. We shall keep you informed on any new updates on his death. I understand that since the Council and all of Coruscant and Core worlds are under the most chaotic of times, the Inner Council has already voted on the matter of who will take Fey'lya's place." She nodded towards another member of the Inner that Anakin couldn't figure out who he was.
He stepped up and in his had he held a datapad. "The results of the vote for the new Chief of State have been cleared and taken over ten times to be sure no one fixed the vote. But majority wins, not that there was a minority. Please welcome your new Chief of State... Viqi Shesh."
Applause erupted throughout the building. Again Shesh spoke.
"Thank you. I am surprised that being one the Inner Council for a short while has most likely stirred everyone. I will be honest with you; I have no intention of leading you astray as former Fey'lya had done during his service to you. I vow that I will lend you all of my time to helping this government survive this war. And as my first proclamation as Chief of State, I'd like everyone to carry on with their involvement in the war, but ask you to work at a pace quicker than before, for I fear the worst of our times have only begun."
Again more clapping proceeded after she was finished.
Still uncertain about Shesh, Anakin strolled out of the shadows and down the hall before the entire congress came swarming out.
Anakin walked back to the apartment in utter silence. He had only visited with his insentient mother at night when everyone was asleep. He had received a message on his comlink, from his aunt and uncle, that she had awaken, but not to disturb her cause she was spending time with his father.
Pressing the airlock to the door, he slipped into the room and listened as the door hissed shut. A nagging feeling swept over him as he stepped further into the place he had just recently called home.
Shaking it off, the fourteen year old continued to the kitchen to grab a snack, but once more the sensation covered him, urging him to get out of there.
Cautiously Anakin exited out, and began to sprint to the hospital ward. Something was wrong. He needed to see his parents, and for some reason his mind told him unceasingly, "Before it's too late."
"Take the boy and lock him up in the ship. All of you clean this place up and continue as only if there was a malfunction with the food processor." Zen commanded.
Still sprawled on the stage, Sey did her best to stop crying. She had to be strong. Even with Jacen unconscious, she couldn't break down and give in. He was closer now. His angered breath steamed down her neck. "You think you're so smart; that you know exactly what's going on... well you're wrong. Senator Viqi Shesh has now gained control as Chief of State. It will only be a matter of time before we attack the entire world."
Starrider's blue eyes widened in fright.
*God help. *
Zen took his hand and tucked back a piece of her hair that had fallen in front of her face. His touch was one of fire yet one of ice. His fingers skimmed her soft cheek, leaving behind an invisible scar on her skin she knew would never fully heal.
"You'll become mine, but right now we're in the middle of a war. After we are finished, you and I can celebrate."
The man got off his knees and ordered something to the Yuuzhan Vong. The next thing she realized was the creature's hand lifting her off the floor and carrying her somewhere.
She couldn't move her body. The agony was still too immense and painful. There was no way she could struggle. She was their captive; Zen's captive.
Mara sat comfortably on her sofa as she watched Jag lift up some expensive vase, that Leia had given Luke and her for their wedding, using the Force.
The delicate porcelain piece of art hovered five feet above the ground. Jag watched intently as he raised the object higher in the air.
"Good," she encouraged. "Now turn it upside down, then back up again."
The Chiss pilot did as he was told. For the first time in her life, she saw a grin appear on his face, the vanish as quick as if had come. He brought down the vase gently on the glass coffee table. He slumped to the ground with a sigh. "I'm never going to find Jaina at this rate."
"Don't give up. You're doing great. Come on, now try to use a lightsaber."
This got his attention. "Are you serious?"
"As long as you don't fight in anger and fear, sure." She got up off the couch and went to retrieve the extra lightsaber in her and Luke's room. Pushing the white door open she glided to their dresser and grabbed it in the bottom drawer. Sliding the drawer closed, Mara was about to leave when a hand landed roughly on her shoulder.
She whirled around, ready to flick on the weapon and strike the intruder. Shock filled her when she got a look at whom it was.
"Ah, Mara Jade. So we met again, just as I have promised."
In one swift movement, she clicked the lightsaber on and moved back towards the door. "Get out of my home," she ordered.
The beast replied in its low unnatural voice. "I will, after I am finished with you." Unexpectedly, the creature pulled something foreign from behind him. "Now it's time for you to meet your end, Jade. For good."
At he words, the woman dashed out into the living room tossing Jag the saber, and pulling out her own. His confused expression was clear, but there was no time for explanations. "Time to go, Fel. NOW!"
He followed her with great speed and agility out of the apartment and down the stairs. *Luke, where are you. I never thought I'd be asking this of you but I need your help. We're coming down the stairs. *
Luke parked the speeder in front of the Old Imperial Palace and jumped out. A cry of help came into his head. It was from Mara.
She had already run into Nor Anor.
"Kyp, be prepared to fight. We'll met Mara and Jag at the bottom of the stairs."
The reformed Jedi Knight nodded.
Running into the building, the two saw them rushed down the stairs, skipping two at a time. Luke saw Jag held a lightsaber in his hand as well as his wife.
Mara caught a glimpse of her husband and relief submerged her. "Luke, h..."
She was cut off when out of nowhere, Nor Anor dropped to the ground before her. Raising his gruesome right hand, he scratched her, causing her to fall to the floor. Blood dripped off his hand. His evil eyes glowed with such hatred and vengeance, Luke felt engulfed by the emotions.
The Jedi Master scurried over to his wife. Kyp and Jag positioned themselves in front of the couple and geared up to battle the obsessed Yuuzhan Vong.
"Are you ok?" Luke asked her in concern. He saw that the back of her outfit had been shredded down her back, but was surprised to see no blood on her back.
"I'm fine, j...just get us out of here."
By now, Kyp and Jag were fighting the Vong, trying to keep it away from Mara. Luke helped his wife up. He grasped her hand tightly, and began to race to the back door of the building. Both of them could here the infuriated Yuuzhan Vong yelling at her.
"GET BACK HERE JADE! ARE YOU AFRIAD TO FACE YOUR DEATH?"
Luke knew it was a challenge, and Mara stopped at it. "Mara, you can't. Let's go! He'll kill you."
Again raged words came behind them. "YOU WOULD TURN DOWN A CHALLENGE TO YOUR OLD FRIEND?"
Her green eyes were jaded and lost.
"Mara, don't listen to him. We got to go. NOW!" He shook her back into her mind set. "MARA SNAP OUT OF IT!"
Without warning, her legs buckled underneath her. Before she hit the ground, he caught her. Using the Force to assist him, he ran with her in his arms. Kyp and Jag could take care of themselves. Right now Luke needed to her to safety and clean her wounds. *God, if you are real, don't let her die. *
Part eight ~ Count the Ways Song by whisperloud
Strolling into the room like the smuggler he once was, Han replied to his wife who was now dressed and ready to leave the hospital for good. "I just finished talking with the secretary. She says that you can leave 'whenever you feel as suitable.' I see you take now as the perfect time."
"Oh, Han I can't stand being here knowing someone else in a worse predicament, than I, could be receiving treatment. Besides, I don't think I could last another two minutes here. There are just too many unwanted memories."
"Hmmm... you didn't like last night?" he sounded wounded.
She smiled. "Of course I liked it. I loved it. We haven't had time together in such a long while. I missed you." Leia turned around and allowed the man she once called scoundrel to wrap his arms around her waist. She planted a passionate kiss on his lips. "Let's go home and enjoy the rest of the day. Ok?"
Han raised his eyebrows. "You sure you're my wife, cause I never knew her to skip out on her political duties for love?"
"Hey! Back then I couldn't just take off anytime I wanted. Now the council doesn't care wither I am or not. And I..."
"Shhh... you could never take a joke without defending yourself, could you?" With that, Han tenderly kissed her.
They parted and she laid her head on his chest and listened to his heart beating. "Sometimes I wonder why how both of us survived some of the things we've been through."
"But we've made it didn't we? No matter how low the odds are, we'll make it."
"Let's not push it. I don't want to lose you now that you're back." She pulled him closer savoring the moment together. "Don't leave me again, my scoundrel."
"I only follow my princess's bidding."
Sighing, he pushed her away from him far enough to look up into her eyes.
"You know what, back on the first Death Star I told your brother that I didn't know wither I was starting to hate you or starting to fall in love with you. Now I know the answer."
"And?"
"I think I was falling in love."
She shook her head. "I love you too. Let's get out of here."
Leia and Han walked out of the room and to the elevator. Just as the door was about to shut, they saw Anakin running towards them. Han put his hand on the door so the emergency sensor would keep the door from closing.
Their youngest son reached them beckoning them to get out of the elevator.
"Anakin? Where have you been?" Han questioned.
"The hospital wouldn't allow me admittance till visiting hours. I stayed by the door till they opened."
"ALL NIGHT?" his mother asked in shock.
"Not quite, just a few hours. It's 4:10 AM now."
His parents exchanged glances.
"Listen, mom there was this meeting last night with the councils. I went to see what has been up with it since it was called under an emergency, and....umm... I think you sit down."
"What's wrong?" she asked once they were seated.
"Borsk Fey'lya was found dead two nights ago in his private quarters. They say that he died of natural causes." All the blood drained from his mother's face. He continued. "Now Senator Viqi Shesh is the Chief of State."
Leia sat transfixed at what her son was trying to say. Fey'lya was gone. Now Shesh, a totally new senator to the Inner Council was the Chief of State. "I don't understand."
"The Inner Council voted on who should fill in for Fey'lya. And Shesh won the majority."
"I still don't see how she could be a bad senator. She's a great..."
"She may be great at her job, but she is also deceptive. I have a funny feeling each time I am around her. I've talked about it with Aunt Mara, and she says she feels it too. Like she's around another Palpatine."
Luke opened his eyes and scanned over to the bed in which his wife lay in. She was wrapped warmly in two blankets. Her skin, he could, tell was turning back to its original color. Before her tone was ghostly white.
He got up from the chair and walked out of the room. He shut the door quietly, so not to wake Mara.
The aroma of cooking breakfast filled his nose.
Peering in the kitchen, Luke spotted Ae`lina scrambling some eggs in pan.
"Morning Luke. How's Mara doing?"
Running his fingers through his tangled sandy hair, the Jedi Master let out a sigh. "Still not awake, but her skin is now back to normal. Thanks again for letting us find refuge here."
"No problem. Ian left to go get a few things at the market."
He nodded in agreement, grateful for people such as Ian and Ae`lina Lopez. The young couple in their early twenties reminded him so much of his deceased Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. The two couples seemed the exact same, except for the generation they lived in.
"Now you get out of here. I have enough chaos of my messes. You get out of here so I won't trample you over."
"You sure you don't need help?"
"No...no, get out. Go on. Call your sister or something. I'm sure she is worrying crazy over you."
"Ok, ok. I'm going. When is Ian supposed to be back?"
"Soon, now get!"
Walking out of the kitchen, the Jedi Master went into the living room and called up his brother-in-law's com number.
The sharp blade slowly ran across her cheek and down her neck, scraping the skin enough to mean his seriousness. Its intense edge made her heart stop, paralyzed in fear. Even her thoughts ceased to continue.
She lay still on a table of some sort, to terrified to move. She had woken up just moments before, and discovered she couldn't move her legs and arms.
A band of some sort, tightened around her ankles and wrists each time she dared to move.
Zen hovered above her. "So, Starrider. I finally have you in my hands." The creature whispered in her ear. "My, the temptation for you is so demanding, but there will be time later. Only a day or two till our plan completes, and Coruscant will dissolve right under the power of the New Republic without their knowledge."
Somehow, she managed to reply. "You may grasp the world, but the true citizens will never break to the Yuuzhan Vong."
"Neither would you; but to me, you shall."
With that, Zen lifted the knife from her skin, and whirled out of the room leaving Sey to deal with her worries alone. For a split second she thought she caught a glimpse of something other than his knife in his hand, but he was gone before she could identify what it was.
Part nine~ The Call Song by Backstreet Boys
Nor Anor stepped into the spacious hypocritical office. Build out of medal and other non-macrobiotic items, all of the work area suggested that the female senator used only the basic horrifying instruments that were required for the political job she had obtained the day before.
The masquered alien proceeded inward in the office.
Without a noise, he went to the windowpane and stared out the window of which had a spectacular view of the city-world. He had grown accustom to such ways of life, living by the assistance of machines, which they called droids, and other mechanical devices created for easier living conditions.
Even the less costly apartment in which he had acquired to stay in while on the world, had more luxury services that one of the most highly paid rooms the Elite Yuuzhan Vong had.
His eyes watched polluting transports zigzag in every odd way to get to one place or another.
"Oh, you're here. I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner."
He turned around and saw the human dressed in formal attire. "My sources tell me you know where to find Mara Jade. Is this true?"
She raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Maybe. Why?"
"Let's just say she is needed at a certain ceremony."
Shesh strolled to her black glossy desk and pressed a button that made a Holo image appear over her desk. A listing of words and phrases appeared in the language they referred to as Basic.
Nor Anor could now read their writings. He was well educated and fluent in Basic, without the assistance of a translator.
The Yuuzhan Vong had found it most essential to learn the native dialogue, not only for more respect, but to check on wither or not the species were being loyal to them. It surprised the executor that not even the warmaster, Tsavong Lah, didn't require or use the method. The terse voice of Shesh broke his thoughts.
"Well, I see that you have already tried their home and failed. They defiantly wouldn't go to the Solo's apartment." Her eyes scanned the list of addresses and loyalties they had. "The only place they have is the Lopez family."
"Location?"
"7371 Kindle Avenue."
Han heard his comlink beeping. Pulling it out he answered it. "Han Solo speaking."
"Hey, Han."
"Luke. Anakin just told us that Shesh..." he went on and explained.
"I had a funny feeling she was faking it. How'd Leia take it?"
The ex-smuggler glanced at his wife. "Shocked a bit that there is another deceptive character in the picture again, besides that good." He paused a second. "I hear that worried tone in your voice again kid, what's wrong?"
"Is Leia in ear shot range? She needs to here this too."
Leia got up off the bench and talked into the link. "Luke?"
"Jacen and Sey are captives of the Union. There was an ambush at the restaurant. I merely escaped."
Panic flooded over her. "Where are the others?"
"Mara ran into Nor Anor. He's here; on Coruscant and this time he wants revenge for surviving his sickness he injected into her. We're staying with some friends. The last time I say Jag and Kyp was at our apartment complex fighting the Yuuzhan Vong. Mara's been out cold since then."
"Luke be careful," she warned in concern. "I'll warn everybody."
"Just try to warn as many as you can without Shesh finding out. Oh, and Anakin?"
The fourteen-year-old spoke into the comlink. "Yes?"
"Anakin, I need you to sneak into Shesh's office. There has to be some communicator in there that has a direct connection to a Yuuzhan Vong. I have a hunch that she isn't doing this alone."
Jag ran besides Kyp Durron to the hanger bays. They had been playing hide and seek with the Yuuzhan Vong executor for over a few hours, but he had stopped seeking them for a while now.
When they turned into the bay that held his fighter, Durron gestured to the ship. "You are going to jettison out of here?"
"Not for the reasons you may think. I have a plan... but I'm going to need your help. But it'll require you to come with me to a place where you can't tell Jedi Master Skywalker about. I can't even guarantee that we'll make it out alive, but I've got to try with or without you. So are you in or not?"
A glint of excitement of adventure twinkled in the older Jedi's eyes. "Bring it on."
Shesh stood erect in front of the entire governmental body of the New Republic, waiting for them to cease their chatter.
It was almost 6PM. A devious grin surpassed her face.
Clearing her throat she asked for everyone in the building to be quiet. "Welcome back everyone. I can tell from the results I have received, that all of you are making great progress. Well, I have wonderful news. After nearly a year of nothing but chaotic nerves and bloody warfare, I have to declare that our worries have ended."
Whispers fell over her audience. "I know that all of you are a bit confused by what I am trying to get across, so I'll invite Tsavong Lah to come out."
With that an ugly Yuuzhan Vong alien stepped out behind the curtains. His appearance didn't help much. His face was scarred horribly and bags hung from underneath his eyes.
Silence filled the whole auditorium.
"He means us no..." Suddenly a pain shot through her entire left arm. It felt as if it were on fire. The Chief of State spun around to find the Yuuzhan Vong holding something in its hand, but his whole figure, without warning, blurred.
The warmaster watched the young female human drop dead to the ground. Her frail body fall into a lifeless heap.
Eerily he beamed in satisfaction.
She had received her reward in assisting them: a quick but instant death.
He glanced out into the center building where all of the other representatives and senators of the wretched New Republic stood in fear, not knowing what to do. In the very back of the auditorium shadows began to crawl up the walls. It was on of the more skilled combat squads, surrounding all of the entrances so that none of the beings could escape alive.
A fire like glow perpetrated through his eyes. It was time for the pitiful infidels to pay for their crimes.
Nor Anor looked to his sides checking if anyone was following him.
Caution was something the executor had always excelled at, but the two Jedi that he had fought the night before had been able to slip away through his hands. This was something that the Yuuzhan Vong didn't allow to be settled without payment, but right now revenge on the legendary Mara Jade needed to be dealt with.
Turning a corner, Nor Anor spotted a quaint house. Plants and other organic shrubbery had been planted around the home. It pleased the Yuuzhan Vong that the owners of the place had at least taken the liberty to grow such things around their home. For that they would be spared.
Mara's eyes flew open from the haunting nightmare with a sudden shock that left her trembling.
Her arms flung to the other side of the bed reaching out to Luke, but when she did she couldn't feel him.
"Luke! Where are you?" She sprung from the bed and ran out of the unfamiliar room.
As she rushed out of the room, she crashed into someone. Without thinking she screamed and began to bang on the beings body. "LET ME GO! YOU CAN'T..."
"Mara! Calm down! Calm down, it's me, Luke."
His warm soothing arms embraced her, doing their best to calm her. Violent shivers ran up and down her spine. The taste of salty tears coming down her cheeks did no good in helping her forget the horrible dream.
Forcing the words out of her mouth, she whispered over and over. "He's here. Luke, he's here. He's..."
Luke had eased their way on the couch and held her reassuringly. Her grip was tight around his neck, but he managed to breathe. "Who's here?"
"Me."
The chilling response came from across the room.
Mara jolted out of his lap, and Luke jumped to her side with his lightsaber already pulled out, ready to defend any blow or blast leashed out by the Yuuzhan Vong.
A flash back of the fight from her dream exploded into her mind. Mara pulled her husband's shoulder in warning, and then mumbled into his ear. "Luke, don't fight him! It will not resolve anything but our early deaths."
"What are you afraid of Jade?" bellowed the Yuuzhan Vong.
A paralyzing shudder spiraled throughout her nerves. She began to shake her head trying to block out his voice but it only seemed to get louder in her head.
"Is it death? Your death. Or perhaps it is the knowledge that your love here won't make it out of this battle this time?" He paused momentarily. "I am right, huh? He will parish and you..."
"STOP! I WON"T LET YOU BREAK ME LIKE PALPATINE DID FOR SO MANY YEARS OF MY LIFE!" With tears still streaming down her face, a violet light appeared in her hands.
"Mara," the Jedi Master whispered to her. "I won't let you fight him. You w..."
"Don't tell me what to and not to do, Skywalker." She kept her hazy glare on Nor Anor as tears continued to trickle out of her eyes. "I've heard that I have become the only being in the universe that you consider as your match, is this true?"
"You keep your ears very well attuned to gossip, Jade. But yes, it is."
She nodded in acknowledgement, taking a step closer. "Really? I never though that I could have achieved such an honor."
"You did... but enough small talk. It's time you paid a permanent visit to the gods."
Suddenly the whole room was submersed in a thick and solid smoke that burned both her and Luke's lungs horribly.
Zengi slumped lazily down into the soft cushioned chair. He was in the back office of the former boss of the karaoke restaurant. He pulled out his comlink and dialed Shesh's number.
He needed to how the councils reaction towards the warmaster had turned out.
An irritating beeping sounded in his hearing. Tearing his attention from the villip, the creature's gaze shifted to the smooth wooden table where the beeping was coming from.
He turned back to his organic communicator. "I'll have to contact you later."
"Understood." The other Yuuzhan Vong threw his arm across his chest in salute.
Acknowledging the gesture, Tsavong Lah did the same motion in return, and then the organic communicator lurched back into its original shape.
Walking over to the small beeping machine, the Yuuzhan Vong pressed a tiny button on it. A voice transmission came threw, surprising him.
"Shesh? This is Fin'h. Are you there?"
Answering the idiotic human, Tsavong replied, "Fin'h. I never knew that you had a direct link to Shesh. If I had known, I wouldn't have given her reward in helping us so soon."
There was a long pause before an answer came back. "Tsavong?"
"Yes?"
"What did you do to Shesh?"
"She received her payment for her duties in assisting us, a few moments ago."
He cleared his throat. "You killed her?"
"Precisely as she asked in the agreement we obtained. It is very high honor to die by my hand."
"As it should be... but her? She had so much more ability to support our cause."
"She may have, but her views on way of life, were too different to risk. Is your team ready to attack?"
Fin'h swallowed. "Yes, and while we were waiting, I were able to capture Seyla Starrider."
The alien's brows went up. "So you did keep your word. Has she been broken?"
"That must wait till the end of the siege of this hideous planet."
"As long as she doesn't escape, the idea is fine."
"I also was able to grab hold of Jacen Solo, the Jedi Knight you wanted."
"You have him? How?"
"The gods provided the two to be particularly easy targets since both have a strange physical connection in the Force, which allows them to feel what each other feels. Meaning if one is whipped with a couffee, the other will feel the same blow."
"Interesting," the warmaster condoned.
"I am afraid that Skywalker, slipped out of our grasp, but I believe my apprentice has befriended him, only manipulating his mind, thinking he is on their side."
"Good. Since the main Jedi have been taken care of, I need you and your team to attack tonight."
"Yes, sir. May the gods be with you."
"And the Force be with you."
Part ten~ Stop Right There Song by ZOEgirl
Midori ordered her to sit down on a soft gray couch. As she felt her weight being supported by the seat, it seemed that her body began to sink inward, deeper into the couch.
Still cuffed, she leaned back into the cushioned seat.
The man stayed standing and pulled out a comlink from his pocket and began to talk into it. "Midori speaking. I have her."
A deep well-known voice answered back. "How hard was it to contain the little lady?"
"She was quiet a struggle once the drug wore off... but I think she had learned her lesson."
The male evilly laughed. "You have no idea who you were dealing with then. It will be nice to see her precious smile again." He spat. The other side of the line was abruptly cut off, leaving only static to be heard.
Jaina stared at Midori, in confusion. Who was that man? He sounded so... so familiar. Like she had known him from somewhere, but the memory registration wouldn't come through.
As if reading her mind, Midori countered, "Don't worry, Solo. You'll see your mysterious kidnapper. He won't let you wait long."
With that a buzzing came from the door. Midori went to open the door, as he did, an unsettling feeling in her stomach began to stir inside her.
Midori slide out the door, shutting it behind him, but Jaina wasn't paying attention to where he was going only to the menacing figure shrouded in a dark Jedi robe. The hood had been pulled forward so no facial features could be seen.
Sitting straight, Jaina didn't allow the intimidating appearance of the man chill her.
Without warning, the cuffs flew from her wrists, freeing her hands. The figure's hood flung back by his hand and revealed, "Zekk?"
His black hair was cut shorter than normal, but what sent a shiver down her spine was the greenness in his eyes. It seemed like they had gotten eerily haunting each time he stepped further on the path of the darkside. His ever so handsome smirk produced upon his face. "In person. So how is my pet?"
Rage steamed out of her. Getting to her feet she yelled back. "I AM NOT YOUR PET! What in the galaxies are you doing?"
Zekk lifted his hand and caressed his old girlfriend's cheek. She pulled away from the touch. And asked the question again. "I thought you would be happy to see me."
"Why should I be happy? You left the Academy without saying goodbye... and that was what? Two... three years ago?"
He shrugged. "I've been busy."
"Well, you haven't changed much." She replied while crossing her arms. An alarming realization spiraled into her soul. Her eyes widened. "Zekk, w...where... where are we?"
The man looked to the left then the right. "Looks like my personal quarters."
"Zekk..." she warned more irritated. Jaina knew he would listen to her, he always did back when they were younger at the Jedi Temple on Yavin 4.
"You're back with me." He reached out and touched her arm lovingly.
Shaking his hand off of her she screamed, "Zekk, stop it! Tell me, where we are?"
"Safe in the forests of Chandrila."
Taking a deep breath, trying to calm herself before blowing up in his face, she countered. "And my purpose being here with you is?" she twirled her hand a few times so he would tell her.
"Because I commanded it."
"What?"
"You are safe here. As long as you obey what I tell you to do...you will live."
Right then she changed from her calm sincere self to an anger woman who only wanted to be back in Jag's arms. "YOU AND I ARE OVER WITH! I LOVE SOMEONE ELSE NOW. SOMEONE WHO LOVES ME AND DOESN'T LEAVE AT THE SPURE OF THE MOMENT WITHOUT A WARNING FIRST! AND EVEN IF I WASN'T IN LOVE, I'M NOT A PLAY THING YOU CAN ORDER AROUND AT WHIM!"
Sighing, Zekk shrugged, and took her hands in his. "That's were you're wrong my dear."
"Excuse me?"
He leaned in closer to her face. "You are in my hands. I have the power to kill you or keep you alive."
"Zekk, what is going on? You've never been so demanding and never have ordered me to do anything I didn't want to do before."
"If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't be alive right now."
She shook her head. "What are you talking about? You may work for Talon Karrde, but that doesn't mean..."
"I don't work for Karrde anymore." He watched her thin eyebrows furrow. "I am apart of the Peace Brigade now."
"No... no you can't be!" She tore from his grip, running to the other side of the room where the window was. Tears trickled down her cheeks. After all they had been through, he turned back to the darkside. After... spinning around she cried out, "WHY?" It was the only question that broke her heart.
He strolled over to comfort her, he hated to see her cry, but as he got near, she walked away from him.
"DON'T GET NEAR ME, Y...YOU TRAITOR! HOW COULD YOU? AFTER EVERYTHING I DID FOR YOU BACK AT THE ACADMEY... YOU PROMISED YOU WOULDN'T GO BACK! YOU VOWED TO ME!"
Zekk halted in mid-step, not concerned anymore about Jaina. "You're doing this to yourself."
"DOING WHAT? TELLING YOU WHAT YOU ARE REALLY DOING? OR SHOULD I SAY DID?" she yelled. Then mumbled, "Oh, Jag... where are you?"
At the sound of the name, Zekk grabbed her chin and lifted her face, forcefully. "Enough, girl! So what if what you are screaming about is true? You have no way to get back to your dear Jag. You're my property now!"
Throwing her harshly to the ground he stormed out of the room, leaving her sobbing.
"Zekk," she whispered once he was gone. "You're my friend, please stay in the light. I can't see nor feel you. Zekk, please... don't leave me. I'm not only begging for you to take me back home, but for you to come back too. Don't do this to me or... yourself. Please, please don't do this... please..."
Zekk listened to Jaina's cries through the bug he planted in the room.
Did he hear right? She wanted him back, and she still cared for him...even if just as a friend? Half of him wanted to run back and tell her yes he'll go back, but the other half scolded him to leave her with her own troubles and worries.
Finally he made up his mind and continued on his way. He had real power now; authority and control to use under the most potent species in the universe at the moment, the Yuuzhan Vong's supervision.
She had no right to question his ability.
For her lack of confidence in him, she would pay. As he walked out the security door into the green vegetation, he pondered on her punishment.
A bright ginger orange blossom caught his eye. He picked it from the bush it grew on.
His thoughts suddenly shifted to the old playful recollections both Jaina and he had shared the last moments on Yavin 4 they had together.
Her beautiful laughter filled his ears, her lovely smile of joy each time they saw each other, the...
Zekk shook the memories away from his mind. He couldn't let the past over come him.
He had real power once more. Why had he left the darkside last time?
Jaina.
The realization stunned him. There was only one way now; if Jaina wouldn't join the darkside, she'd have to die.
It pained him to think of it, but it was the only way to gain the full power of the darkside.
Before entering back into the organically produced building, he tossed the bud to the ground, staring at it till it turned an hideously ugly brown. *Everything must eventually die, * he thought sadly. *Besides, I don't need the witch. If she doesn't bond to the darkside, then she'll only be a nuisance and in the way. *
Continued in Forceful Betrayals Section 4!!!!
