Ch. 15 Solo

       Ben, Leia and the Padawans watched from a window on the floor above the docking bay as the members of Lania's cult rounded up Jag and Comet Squadron. There was a woman standing near Lania. Ben couldn't see her face, but from her posture, she seemed very dejected. Ben reached out with the Force to try and get some sense of her. Then he gasped as he recognized the presence he felt.

It was Jaina.

Ben, mouth still open in horror turned slowly to look at Aunt Leia. He could tell from the look on her face that she had also reached out and recognized her daughter. Leia began trembling and she suddenly collapsed onto the floor.

Ben and the others gasped and started to tend to her. "Stay here," Ben commanded the other Padawans. "I'm gonna go ahead and find a way out. Stay here and protect her." The other Padawans nodded sadly as Ben stormed down the hall.

     Ben found a vault and surmised there must be another Padawan inside. A guard suddenly ran up to him brandishing an amphistaff. Ben kicked him in the face, knocking him unconscious. He probed the guard's mind and found the access code to this vault. He punched it in and watched as the vault opened. But instead of a Padawan imprisoned and surrounded by ysalamiri, he found the vault contained only a pedestal with a silvery orb balanced atop it. Ben slowly walked into the room, which was lit by a dim, blue light. He slowly stretched out and touched the orb.

Then he felt a jolt as his body lurched from what felt like an electric current. Everything was swallowed by darkness. Then, a figure emerged from the dark

***

      "Now, now Jaina. Remember the other part of our deal" said Lania. "You will get a chance to speak to your brother after we evacuate and go to a new base I've prepared on Myrkr." She smirked as Jaina flinched at the mention of the planet. "Oh, you want summon him there of all places?!" snarled Jaina through gritted teeth. "How do I even know you can summon him?"

     Lania laughed. You'll just have to trust me on that, Solo. But first we must leave before your other brother gets here." Jaina stared angrily at Lania and flinched again as one of Lania's henchmen kicked Jag.

***

      "It's okay, Ben. Don't be scared," said a kind voice. Ben could tell it was the voice of a teen, but for some reason, the voice echoed. Ben looked up and gasped. The teenaged boy standing in front of him was someone he'd heard a lot about his whole life. He had a blue aura about him now, but he was still recognizable, since Jacen had shown Ben this person's picture lots of times. After all, he was Jacen's brother.

      It was the ghost of Anakin Solo.

      Ben, wide-eyed, stuttered, "Y-You're…you're…" Anakin smiled and replied. "Yeah, I am." Ben finally managed to ask, "How did you appear?" Anakin replied, "The orb you just touched was an artifact that was hidden in a vault at the Jedi Temple during the days of the Old Republic. The ancient Jedi valued it because of its ability to summon the spirits of the dead. During Palpatine's Purge, it was stolen from the ruins of the Temple and presented to Palpatine, who stored it in Mount Tantiss on Wayland. However, when Thrawn raided the mountain, he apparently didn't find it. Although, our grandfather, Darth Vader once used to speak with his dead wife, but the Emperor found out and punished him for it.

   Anyway, while I'm here, I might as well reveal a few things to you that you'll need to know to fulfill your destiny."

Ben slowly nodded. "I'm listening," he replied.

***

       Tahiri shrieked and jumped out of her seat. "What is it?" asked Zekk, who was clearly surprised by her outburst. The battle was still raging around the Falcon, but Zekk hadn't felt anything urgent. Tahiri, wide-eyed, gasped, "I…I sense him…" "Who?" asked Zekk, a concerned expression on his face. Tahiri whispered, "Anakin…"