Chapter Twenty-Three
Three days later, Tanyr was no closer to making up his mind about if he should tell Zylar the truth or not. On the one hand, as his partner she had a right to know. On the other, no one was supposed to know. A sharp mental Force prod from the girl whose safety was in question spurred him into action. "Zylar," he instructed, "If anything happens to me, I need you to contact Lyar Te'eth."
"Who's Lyar Te'eth?"
"She's… she's someone you can trust. Trust me."
Zylar nodded slowly, her black topknot swaying gently. "I see. How will I locate her?"
"Easy. She's the only cousin of Isolder that is allowed in the Palace. She's a bit of a shrew but easily the most important person at the palace. Teneniel thinks she runs the place, and so does her mother in law, but it's really Lyar. I'm assuming that Lyar doesn't want everyone else to know that though so she's keeping it hidden or something."
"Ta'a Chume doesn't rule Hapes??"
"Nope."
"But Teneniel is still a figure head?"
"Yup."
"How in the name of the Emperor did she pull that off?"
"Dunno, she's a little odd, but still sweet. You just have to avoid the prickles. Caution on dealing with her, if she decides she doesn't like you, you'll end up sitting in vibroblades."
"How'd she do that?"
"How's anyone supposed to know how a blonde does anything?"
"She's a blonde?"
"Look, Zy, trust me. She's the best!"
Zylar looked highly skeptical and Tanyr sighed, "Look, I have a holo of her somewhere around here. You really can trust her."
"So you keep on saying."
"I mean it," Tanyr looked around his room, spun around, then back. "Where the devil did I put that thing??"
"What thing? The holo?"
"Yes!" Tanyr announced, "I remember, the bunk!"
"I'm supposed to trust a blonde… Yeah right. You're nuts, Tanyr. Totally blooming nutters."
Tanyr was digging under his bunk already, his torso hidden by the large black comforter that dropped to the floor. "I heard that!" He wiggled out, "got it too."
Zylar caught the hard metal rectangle with one hand and gingerly pressed the rough metal button that flipped the holoprojection on. The picture was of Isolder, wearing a shirt surprisingly. He had his long hair tied up in a braid and he was laughing. Behind him a small built girl with a mischievous smile, fair hair and twinkling eyes was laughing also as she put small pink and yellow flowers in his hair. If that's the girl, I'm going to shoot Tanyr…
"-That's Lyar there." Tanyr said, pointing to her with a fond grin.
"You've got to be kidding me."
"Nope. Ain't she a cutie?"
"She has freckles." She sniffed jealously. Tanyr thinks she's cute?? she muttered inwardly, Well. We'll just see about that…
"Isolder and I are thinking about hooking her up with someone but we're not sure of who to do it with-"
Zylar tuned him out easily. At least she wasn't beautiful. But did she have to be so… engaging?? She should control herself, not drape herself over guys. It simply isn't done.
"-she thinks all guys are her older brothers and that makes romantic relationships kinda hard-"
And Lyar? What kind of a name is That??
"-But we have every confidence in her."
"I see." Zylar's voice was freezing and Tanyr froze; then she unfroze a smiled a bit. "How do I contact her?"
"Just go to Isolder and ask to speak to Tanyr's lil' sis."
"Little sister??"
"Kinda, she adopted me a few years back."
"I see."
-----
Teneniel felt echoes, rather like shock waves, of pain emanating from something at the back of her head. She waved a hand sharply to silence the ambassador of Hapes Twelve. Tenel Ka?...
------
Jaina felt… nothing. No pain, no rest, no heat, no cold. Just a quiet sense of existence that shook her to the core. Everything was grey and misty; dark forms with burning black eyes were intermingled with glowing white figures with despair etched in their faces as they all rose to the fore and then drifted away without a sound…
A darker form came closer cautiously, his eyes a glowing light blue rather then the black. "Jai-Jaina?"
"Yes?" Jaina asked calmly, her mind asleep.
The man closed his eyes in resignation, "You don't belong here," he whispered painfully. "Not now. Not yet. Your part isn't finished yet."
"My part? My part in what?"
"In the restoration."
-----
The Doctors couldn't believe their eyes. According to the readouts, the Princess was perfectly normal and healthy. There wasn't even any scar tissue… They gave the orders to re-scan her. They had make absolutely certain.
"What'll happen if… if…" One of the newer doctors tried to explain his feelings, but trailed off as everyone in the room looked at him with fearful eyes.
"If the worst happens," one of the head doctors finally said painfully. "We'll die."
-----
Zekk was hiding in the armory, surrounded by blasters. Admittedly that probably wasn't the best place for him but it was the only place where he could reach the lock on the door that locked on the inside and not on the outside. Using one of the blasters to wield the door shut had taken him a little longer then he had suspected though and he had found it difficult to see anything past the pretty stars that spangled his sight. It had only lasted an hour though, and then he'd had to endure Mara's incessant pleading with him.
Huh.
Then she had wandered off muttering something about "Emperor's Highly Personal Top Secret Majorly Classified Code Black Stash". Zekk shrugged, then sighted down the barrel of an Enfield .303. The thing was ancient and actually used something called "bullets" rather then powerpacks. He shook his head, it couldn't hurt a fly! A bullet was just a piece of metal. You killed people with light, not things. He shook his head again and brought it back up to his shoulder. Sweet.
I'm Bond. James Bond. Agent double seven o-
Oh you are, are you?
Djai!
Sorry about this morning pal, I kinda needed to cover some tracks.
Hey, no biggie. It got me here, didn't it?
You do realize how vulnerable you are, right?
What does 'fun-ner-able' mean?
It means 'exposed'.
Exposed?
It's not a good thing – the less vulnerable you are, the less likely you are to being killed. The more vulnerable you are, the easier the bad guys have it for taking you down and out of the running.
Oh. I see. Look at this! Zekk moved right along and began to extol the virtues of the ancient breech-loading Enfield rifle, much to Djai's amusement.
-----
Artoo rolled through the palace cautiously. All the humanoids were gone and what few droids he saw turned and fled away before he could even finish his greeting. A soft depressed tottle expressed his anguish. His rollers were almost completely worn away and he needed to power up. Still, he pressed onwards bravely. After almost two hours of exhausting search, the small R2 unit had come to the irrevocable conclusion that Mara Jade had not taken him to Coruscant as the coordinates had said. And had instead had brought him to a secret Imperial hideout. And that meant that he was in enemy territory. His tiny electrical wielder was out in seconds as he snuck around the large buildings, ready to take on whatever came his way.
-----
Jer had finally given up on the futile attempt to re-stuff his pillows and had ringed for a maid to clean the mess up. It was actually rather amazing that she had, while everyone loved him, they all practically worshiped Taz. Tazmania. Except for his father, he favored Jer and Alianè, not that they were complaining mind you. Having ones Father side with you usually was not something you dreaded. Still, he would be working late and Jer's comm. lines had been limited to only incoming calls. His father never called home. Not even for his anniversary. If he remembered that was.
The small black, hand held comm. unit by his bed rang shrilly and he rolled his swivel chair over to it. It was on it's third ring when his hand slammed down on it hard. Bringing it to his ear, "Joran residence," he identified himself, "This is Jer speaking, who is this?"
"Jer? It's Jo, is a guy with a bionic eye there right now?"
"Dunno, I'm stuck in my room."
"Did Taz cut the power lines to the door again?"
"Surprisingly, no. She just told mom I beat her up with pillows, broke one of her fingernails, hurt her head, and generally destroyed my room so Mom blew up at me and grounded me. What fun."
Jo winced, "Sorry…"
"Wasn't your fault exactly."
"I know but still. Can't you slice your way into the security cameras to find out if he's there or not though?"
Jer sighed, then pinned the comm. unit to his shoulder with his cheek to free up his hands for his computer terminal. "Sure, I can try."
"Thanks Jer! You're the greatest! Call me once you find out, okay?"
"No can do," Jer informed her, his hands flying over the keys as his eyes scanned the pages of code for the right entry form. "Mom's blocked all out-going calls for me."
"What?? Oh not this again…"
"I know."
Jo sighed, exactly like her brother had. "Well… dang. This muddles things up."
"Jo, can't you just give up on Eire? This is really messing things up."
"Jer, can't you just give up on me? It's really making things hard."
"I can't do that! You're my sister!"
"And Eire is like my little sister!"
"She can't be that bad."
"I mean like a replacement one, you little…" Jo trailed off in a teasing menacing voice.
Jer laughed. "Okay, okay, okay I'll stop."
"Thank you."
"But couldn't you at least tell Mom?"
"Tell her what?"
"About Eire."
"But she's already so convinced that it's a boy that I keep sneaking off to see, it'd be a real cryin' shame to disprove that belief, don't you think?" Jo asked coyly.
Jer shook his head as he started reviewing all of the pictures that the security cameras were rolling. "Uh… I think I've got him, Jo. Is he spikey hair that's grey at the edges with a red eye and ratty clothes kinda like what Han Solo wears?"
"Uh… I think so, Ms. Shada?"
"Yes, that's Booster," Jer heard someone say distractedly in the background.
"Yeah, that's him."
"Who's Shada?"
"She's the lady who saved Eire an' me."
"Bring her on home with you, mom'll want to throw a big party for her."
"Right-o bro."
"Listen, I think I have to go now."
"Kay, see ya later Jer."
"Later Jo."
-------
This is absolutely horrible! He's learned to tune us out!
I can't believe it! Damn that–"
Another one of the Voices leapt at him, one hand clamping over his mouth to stem the stream of words. We don't know that for sure! And hold your tongue! This is a child's mind!
And he knows more swear words then I do. the first one commented, chagrined.
I know, we have got to talk to Djai about that.
I don't think Djai will listen. He's always hated us.
Not all of us, he never hated his twin.
True.
Think someone should tell him that she's still alive?
After what he's taught Zekk? Absolutely not!
He needs to concentrate on Zekk, not his sister.
I still think someone shou–
Well we don't and we won't and that's final and no you may not defy us and yes you may keep your mouth shut for the rest of the day after you thank me for my wonderful kindness to you and no you may not argue with me.
All that in one breath, The one who was not arguing said in an admiring tone.
I know, I pride myself on my extensive lung capacity.
Hmph
Oh stop pouting!
Oh please do, it's not like this is the first time you've lost in a fight against me.
Hmph
Well "hmph" to you too then. Hmph.
I say, that was a bit strong now!
Here we go again…
I object to that statement!
And I as well!!
Not this!!
Good sir, it seems our views correspond, shall we not join forces and CRUSH the one who dares to be exasperated with us?
Quite so, dear chap. Shall we?
I'm afraid my rapier was confiscated a time and a half ago.
And mine as well…
But! They haven't confiscated my fists and feet!
Quite right! Chaaaaaaaaaaarge!!!
Chaaaaaaaaaarge
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
------
Javen felt like a whirlwind had swept through his heart and carried most of it off. No matter how much he wailed though, he could undo any of the damage, couldn't help Tenel Ka ever again. She was hurt, yes she had inflicted the pain on herself, but he knew that if it hadn't been for him, she would still be alive…
-------
Across the galaxy, spread far and few in between, the seven of the Numbers froze, and seven identical faces turned to face the direction of Hapes. They had to work fast.
------
Del Ray walked up the boarding ramp in a slight state of shock. I can't believe they sent their personal shuttle out to get me! This is sooo cool! I'll bet that they don't do this for ev-
"Doctor Spectra?" a cool voice asked, "Please hurry, there isn't much time."
Del Ray blinked, "I'm sorry?"
"I will repeat myself, Hurry. Time is wasting. You, get her bags, Captain? Get us out of here."
Del Ray shook her head as her bags were taken away by a scurrying boy and a brisk woman dressed in a captain's uniform stalked off to the helm. "I'm sorry… but I don't follow."
"It's painfully simple," the cool voice continued, hidden by a halfway open door. "We need to hurry. We're going to be spending over twelve hours in hyperspace and that's going to cost us dearly."
"Why? I thought I was being called on for advice-"
"Oh, make no mistake, that's the only reason you were called up. However, the situation has… changed, shall we say, and now we need you for your knife. Not your brain. Good day, doctor."
-------
Del Ray… someone you can hate. Trust me on this one. Hating her is what I made her for.