Chapter Nine
If only one thing in all the universe could be said about Lando Calrissian it would be that no matter the circumstances, he always managed to look dashing. Even while his world was crashing down around him Lando still did his best to look good.
With his ever present cape and charming smile Lando walked into Princess Leia Organa Solo's private apartment.
"Hello Leia," the old pirate called out as he entered the living area to see the Princess reading a data pad.
"Lando," Leia beamed as she hauled herself out of her comfortable seat to greet he long time friend with a great hug, "It's good to see you again."
"Thank you," he replied still smiling but then became more serious, "Did you receive my message."
"Of course," she told him, matching his seriousness but with an added note of concern, "Are you sure this is what you want to do."
"Yes," Lando replied quietly, "The Vong took everything from me that wasn't tied down, and now that I've managed to rebuild yet again I'll be damned if I let the Magog do the same thing."
"All right then," Leia said, "Then lets go see Cal Omas."
The pair walked quietly through the halls of the new capital buildings, toward the offices of the Chief-of-State. The corridors were long and winding and very modern looking but also inviting, not at all like the pretentiousness of the Old Republic buildings or the austere and blockish style favoured by the Empire. This was the more relaxed but still very official style of the new Galactic Alliance.
A few windows looked out on the much changed planet scape of Coruscant, the world the Yuuzhan Vong had conquered and called Yuuzhan'tar. Much of the planet still had the feeling of the alien world and indeed a compromise was still being struck with the Vong's world brain which still occupied the home of the old Senate.
"I'm surprised to see so much work going into establishing the government here on Coruscant, I though the Alliance was going to headquartered on Denon for the next couple of decades," Lando commented.
"It will be," Leia told him, "But the Denonite government has been stalling for months on the construction of the Senate chambers. Mon Cal has been the provisional capital for so long now that a few more months won't hurt them.
"Cal has been working out of Coruscant along with the military staff primarily to establish the Galactic Alliance as the legitimate government for the galaxy. I think he plans to open the first session of next meeting to the Senate here to further that goal."
"Really," Lando replied, "I guess you have to show 'em who's in charge."
"How's the war going," Lando asked.
"Badly," Leia told him," The fleet is scattered across the galaxy hunting down smallish raiding parties of Magog ships, but with the fleet already hunting down left over Yuuzhan Vong ships, resources are tight."
A few moments later the pair arrived in Omas' spacious office, a single long window dominated the far wall looking out over the massive rebuilding efforts on the ancient Capital planet.
"Baron Calrissian," the Alliance Chief-of State welcomed former smuggler, Pirate and semi-respectable business man, "It is very agreeable to see you again."
"Thank you excellency," Lando replied taking the seat that Omas was indicating in front of his desk and Leia sat down beside him.
"Leia," Omas continued, "I understand your husband and brother have gone off on yet another little adventure."
"Yes they have Cal," Leia replied, "One we hope will end this new war quickly."
"Of course," Omas said looking at Calrissian, "A hero's work is never done I suppose."
"I think you have anticipated me, Excellency," Lando said flashing his famous smile, "I've come to request the reactivation of my commission."
"You hardly need come to me to make that request, Baron," Omas returned, "Any one of the Defense Command higher ups could easily have served that purpose."
"Yes sir," Lando replied, "but having the leader of the free worlds restoring your commission seemed like a much better idea."
"I see," Omas replied, "What about your War Droid production facilities? Who will run those while you're off saving the galaxy?"
"My wife, Tendra, is more than capable of running the family business, "Lando told him.
"Very well, General," Omas told him, "Consider your commission active.
"As it so happens I have the perfect mission for you. Tell me General Calrissian have you met Captain Dylan Hunt."
Rev Bem watched quietly as Harper put himself through the grueling challenges of Jedi training. He lifted one coarse furred and massively clawed hand to gently stroke his leathery chin.
Harper had been here at the Jedi Academy for several weeks now, and from all reports he had progressed rapidly through his training. It seemed that no matter how scattered Harper was during his regular routine, Jedi training managed to focus all of his mental resources.
The hard bitten Jedi Master Kam Solusar demanded nothing less from his newest apprentice. Master Solusar seemed to be concentrating most of his efforts on this young Jedi hopeful, even to the point of ignoring his other students. Under this watchful eye Harper seemed to have leaped ahead in his training and was fast becoming a powerful student.
"He pushes him too fast; too hard," a gentle female voice rang out almost before Rev could detect the faint flowery scent of the speaker.
"I agree," the Wayist Monk replied to bard Jedi.
"My husband is often very demanding on older students," Tionne told him, "But I have rarely seen him push so hard and for so long.
"I asked him about it the other day," she continued, "he told me that he feels a powerful sense of urgency in his training. The Force is nudging him forward, and Seamus has been taking well to the instruction."
"Does he know why the Force has been so insistent," Rev asked.
"No," Tionne admitted, "But Seamus has already surpassed many more advanced students. He is however still to adventuresome and lacks confidence, it limits him."
"I see," Rev replied.
"I almost forgot why I went looking for you," Tionne told him with slight embarrassment, "I located some files you might find interesting. A few very old texts on Jedi philosophy particularly concerning the nature of the Force."
Sitting cross-legged on the floor of his private quarters Harper was trying desperately to find the same focus he had that afternoon while training with Master Solusar.
A simple spanner lay on the floor in front of him, but no matter how hard he tried the ability to levitate it escaped him.
"Come on," Harper cried out in frustration, "I know I can do this."
"Do what exactly," a growling yet kind voice spoke quietly to him.
"Oh hey Rev," Harper replied dejected, "I'm having some problems, I just can't seem to focus when Master Kam isn't around."
Rev sat down beside him and pulled himself into the meditation position of the Wayists. When he was comfortable he looked at his young friend with his piercing Magog eyes.
"Let me tell you what I have decided about the Force, and the Divine," Rev said to him, "The Wayists believe that the Divine is in all things, that it touches all life and that all that exists springs from "Its' original purpose. The Jedi believe much the same thing.
"The Yuuzhan Vong were stripped along time ago from the use of the Force, they became a society separated from the Force. I believe the Magog may have a similar flaw to their creation. They were not stripped from the Force, but they were created in a way that is not consistent with the rest of the universe."
"What are you saying Rev," Harper asked with obvious confusion, "I am saying that the Magog are an Abomination. Harper, the Magog are not a natural part of this universe or any other, they do not belong."
"What about you Rev," Harper demanded, "You're a Wayist, a servant of the Divine, does that mean you're an Abomination too?"
"Yes," Rev replied, "But what I have learned about the Force and what it has taught me about the Divine is that no matter what the nature of our creation may be, the Divine still guides all things. We cannot escape the will of the Divine or the Force for they are one."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Harper declared, "And now I'm more confused than I was before."
"Than repeat after me," Rev told him, "My pain belongs to the Divine. It is like the air; it is like the water.
"My pain belongs to the Divine…," Harper repeated the chant that Rev had taught him so long ago. The simple words and their cleansing power filled him and brought his mind into sharp focus.
In front of him the spanner lifted from the floor and began to dance around the room.
The Millennium Falcon settled gently on the deck of the main hanger of the Jedi's hidden Academy. Many students had gathered to greet the famous and familiar vessel though few anticipated that Luke Skywalker would be the first to exit the ship.
"Master Skywalker," Kam called out with a rare broad smile, "Welcome back."
"Thank you Kam," Luke replied as the others aboard began to file down the ramp with Han himself taking up the rear.
"Corran; Captain Solo," Kam greeted, "It's good to see the two of you again."
"You to Kam," Han responded.
"Kam," Luke announced, "This is Yu Wang, formerly an engineer from the Commonwealth.."
"A pleasure," Kam replied.
"Is Mara not with you," Kam asked as he led the group through the corridors to the Skywalker's personal chambers
"No," Luke told him, "She has a few things to take care of back on Coruscant. She'll be a fee more days."
"Of course," Kam responded sensing Luke's dark mood by deciding to keep quiet on it for the moment.
"I was told my kids were around," Han said looking while peering down one of the side passages.
"They've gone down to Kessel," Kam told him, "We set up something of a mission on the planet to deal with some of the planets convict population.
"Even though the planet hasn't been a prison world for well over a decade, many governments still dump their criminals there."
"It was a prison for a very long time," Corran noted, "for hundreds, if not thousands of years, there are people out there that still don't know that the Old Republic fell, its not surprising world haven't got all the rest figured out yet."
A small bolt of lightning in the form of a very young child came roaring through the entrance to the Skywalker's home and planted itself firmly on Luke's leg.
"Daddy, Daddy," Ben Skywalker cried out in glee, so unlike the sometimes stiff old man for whom he was named.
Luke bent down and pried his young son from his leg and took him up in his arms.
"Hello, Ben," he said to his son as he gently tickled the boys belly. Tionne came running in a few moments behind the boy.
"Sorry Luke, he got away from me," she explained.
"It's ok Tionne," Luke told her then turned to address his son, "Go play in the other room Ben, daddy will be along shortly, okay."
The boy simply nodded and wiggled free of his father's grasp and ran off to play with some of his favourite toys with the Jedi bard in close pursuit.
"Luke, tell me what's going on," Kam asked quietly.
Luke nodded and began to explain to him what Wang had told them about Krell the Abyss and the Magog.
"I see," Kam said when Luke had finished, "and I think I understand something that has been troubling me."
"And what is that," Luke asked with genuine interest.
"I believe you need to take my apprentice Seamus Harper with you."