"Until Captain Tahiri had informed me of the identity of the Emperor, I was as clueless as you as to whom it was. Nor did I have any warning as to the coup being planned by my top officers and Moffs." Grand Admiral said sitting stiffly at the table in the Jedi Council Room.
Luke had thought that for a man that had just had his whole world fall apart, lost his Empire without firing a shot and was rescued by his former enemies, the Grand Admiral was holding up surprisingly well. Especially after the harrowing escape they experience getting away from Bastine.
"So you can offer us no useful information on how he was able to infiltrate the Empire at the highest levels," Belindi Kelenda, The Head of GA Intelligent Services and a member of the Jedi Council.
It had been at her requested; back up by Luke and Kyp after receiving Tahiri's initial report, that the Jedi Council should be the body to handle the continued crises in the Empire. Had this turned out to be anything but a Dark Jedi, Luke was sure that he and the many of those seated here today would not have been informed that the Grand Admiral's rescue or the events that transpired. Trust was still being sowed among the government after Vergere had destroyed an experimental batch of Alpha Red during the war and placing all the Jedi under a cloud of suspicion. Luke knew that one day the fruits of his labor to rebuild that trust would yield results; he just wish it would grow quicker at times.
"I believe the Grand Admiral had answered that question to the best of his abilities," High General Hestiv said from his seat next to Pellaeon.
"I wish to remind the General that we are only looking for possibilities here," Fyor Rodan said mildly. "I would like to know if this was a mistake on the part of the Admiral and his staff or if this Raynar Thul was able to pull of this coup using his Jedi powers and if so is he really that powerful."
"I understand your concerns," Pellaeon said laying a hand on General Hestiv arm to stop him from giving a reply. "Too be quite frank, I had never heard of this Thul until, again, Captain Tahiri's briefing, Senator Rodan. But if I may take a page out of our shared history, Emperor Palpatine was able to work behind the scenes for years before he was given the powers of absolute control, and quite legally if I may add. Without anyone, including the Jedi of the Old Republic, knowing what he was doing."
"That is a distinct point," Leia said from her seat next to Han, Cal had allowed them to attend given the past history they shared with Pellaeon which was on the whole far warmer then anyone else in government.
"I agree," Cal said looking grim.
"General, Captain; did you notice any of the same coordination that Palpatine was able to give to the Imperial troops?" Supreme Commander Admiral Jerrold asked Wedge and Tahiri, who sat together with the Wraiths and Elassar behind them. All the Wraiths looked very bored but attentive to the proceedings.
"No sir," Wedge said with Tahiri shaking her head in agreement with Wedge, "Col. Darklighter said that the reinforcement were badly deployed as were the placement of ground troops. Once we reached orbit the counterattack was much better placed but the arrive of the Grand Admiral's supporters again threw them in to disarray."
"I would hate to admit this to this body but since you have gone to such lengths to assist us, I am willing to share this information. I received word from the Right To Rule yesterday. Their post battle assessment of the troops they faced was unlike any they had faced during this crises. If they hadn't known, personally in most cases, who was in charge of defense of Bastine, they would have sworn it was run by cadets." Hestiv said looking like he bit into a sour lemon.
"That is hardly the assessment we have been receiving of other battle groups," Jerrold said in surprise.
"Exactly," Hestiv said, "we're not sure what it means."
"What about it Master Calghal," Kyp asked his fellow council member, 'could this be a sign of Thul's mental imbalance?"
"I was not able to take the time to exam Thul, Master Durron, as I was busy with other patients at the time," Luke felt a pain of regret. He had worked with Face in the past was hoping that he was able to fully recover from his injuries. "Captain Tahiri was the one who engaged in him combat and could give a better assessment of his condition."
"How about it Captain Tahiri, what was your impressions of Rayner Thul?" Luke asked formally, given the reception that Han, Leia and he received from her at the landing bay he felt it was too soon to expect her to trust them again. She was polite, courteous, and colder then Hoth. That was another rift he has hope to one day heal.
"He was not what I expected Master Skywalker," she responded in a business like manner. "He was much more powerful then what I was led to believe, he was fixated on his injuries and his current conditions as well as blaming the Solo twins and the others for his current condition. He also blamed the Solo Twins and the others for leaving him behind on the Worldship, due to their jealousy of his powers and who he was. He had no regard for anyone or anything except to kill me but his reasons had nothing to do with the Grand Admiral."
"Did he know about the other Jedi …" Luke was cut off by Tahiri's nodded.
"Knew about them, giggled insanely as he described what he did and promised the others will receive the same. From that and the very disturbed impressions I got through the Force is what led me to question his sanity."
"Luke," Wedge said speaking up, "he was tossing Force lighting around like he was plugged into a planetary generator. He was giving Tahiri quite a beating until I was able to get Calghal's light saber to her."
"Uh Captain Tahiri," Cal said leaning forward. "You are supposed to be immune to the Jedi or so I was lead to believe."
"Yes sir," Tahiri said looking uncomfortable under his stare. "It seems that my medical condition has taken a new turn, again."
"Oh by the cold," Elassar said from behind her, "I knew I should locked you away."
"We are going to need to understand this better Captain Tahiri," Cal said looking at Luke, "but right now is not the time."
"Agreed," Luke said mindful of the many ears in the room that shouldn't know about Tahiri's condition. "Captain Tahiri, did Rayner give you any hints as to his plans with the Empire."
"No, Master Skywalker, only his … desire … to …" Tahiri's voice trailed off as her gaze became locked at a point above Luke's head.
"Captain Tahiri?" Luke asked after checking behind him to make sure there wasn't something there. "Captain, are you alright?"
Tahiri didn't say a word, her eyes locked on something he couldn't see and then to his amazement she started shaking and crying, her eyes getting bigger as her blood drained from her face.
"Tahiri!" Luke said getting up from his seat and going over to her.
"NO!" she screamed out standing up in her seat and clutching at the side of her neck. Elassar and the Wraith medic grabbed her before she collapsed against the table, each asking her what was wrong. Luke kneeled down in front of her but her eyes were unfocused and she was mouthing one word, Rat. As suddenly as the attack come on her, she pushed off the table screaming in Yuuzhan Vong at Squeaky and ran out the door.
"Wait Tahiri," Luke called out after her as he and about half the room followed her out into the hallway. "Squeaky where is she going?"
Squeaky didn't answer; he just followed his now commanding officer down the hallway to the comm center of all places. When Luke caught up with the two, Tahiri had commandeered one of the comm units and was instructing Squeaky about something, still talking in Yuuzhan Vong.
"Tahiri what is wrong," Luke asked but was ignored by her.
"Captain Tahiri wishes that everyone remained silent until after this call," Squeaky finally said as Tahiri sat at the controls, eyes closed bring herself under control. "We have enable a split screen so you may observe the transmission but you must remain silent and out of view."
"Pushy droid," Luke heard Han murmur but everyone complied with her request.
Just before the call was answered Tahiri eyes popped open and she had a smile on her face while Squeaky stood directly behind her.
"Hello," the woman who answered asked. She was about Luke's age, perhaps a few years older, but Luke could see that she bear a resemblance to Ratnena, Tahiri's closest friend.
"Clear skies," Tahiri said with a bright smile and using a singsong voice that Luke never heard her use before, "I am looking for Lt. Bora, this is the number she said she could be reached while she was on leave."
"Yes, Ratnena is my daughter," the woman answered nervously. Behind the woman Luke could see a R2 unit roll up and began flashing one of its lights at the monitor. "May I ask who is calling?"
"This is her wing man, Sara Sandblaster, has she told you about me?"
"Why yes, Captain and I recognized you from the picture she showed me the first day she arrived."
"Astro!" Tahiri said, still acting like a happy girl then a serious squadron commander she has become. "I was hoping to speak with Ratnena, we miss her here and just wanted to see how she is doing on her leave."
"Oh she is not here right now," to Luke's untrained eye, Ratnena's mother seemed to be nervous and scared for some reason he could not see. "I could have her call you when she gets in."
"Naw," Tahiri said with a dismissive way of her hand as the droid rolled away, "I just called to see how she was doing. Spend some of my credits that are burning a hole in my pocket. Just tell her I said howdy and tell her to keep an eye on my droid." Tahiri leaned forward as if to share a secret with Ratnena's mother and gave her a wink, "those two can be quite a handful at times."
"No everything has been fine," the woman said going pale, "I will be sure to pass on the message. Now if you would excuse me."
"No problem, ma'am, clear skies!" Tahiri said happily, as soon as the screen shut off she sat as still as if she had been craved from rock. "Doc, briefing room three now."
"Yes ma'am, you guys heard the captain, let's move," the female medic said to the group of Wraiths.
"Chief of State, Supreme Commander, General, Charm Boy, could you join us please."
"Certainly, Captain," Cal said, he must be wondering what was going on as much as Luke was, "I would like Master Skywalker, Calghal, and the Solos to join us, if you don't mind?"
"As you wish sir," Tahiri said getting up and following the Wraiths out the door.
"Kyp, go back and keep our guest company," Luke said, Kyp nodded and headed in the opposite direction.
"Report!" Tahiri snapped out as soon as the door closed.
"Little Brother has reported that Lt. Bora has been missing for 3 days, 15 hours, and 46 minutes, she was engaged in a investigation of a Bliss source when she disappeared. Her parents had been reluctant to involve the Kidriff 5 security out of fear that their daughter has either returned to her earlier activities or that they will refuse to help find her due to her past associations. He has been unable to locate or make contact with her since she left their dwelling."
"Where was she going?"
"He did not know …"
"What do you mean he doesn't know?" She snapped.
"She would not inform him of her destination nor allow him to follow her, she had ordered him to remain at the dwelling until her return."
"Khapet!" Tahiri said leaning against the table and rubbing her forehead.
"Yes ma'am, Little Brother has filed several 'missing persons' reports but each one has disappeared from the computer system before any one could act on them. He is also sending a file to central command on all their activates until her disappearance."
"She is in trouble?" The one the called Hunter asked.
"Yes, bad trouble," Tahiri said rubbing her neck.
"Is that what happened to you in the briefing room?" Luke asked concern for his adopted family member.
"Came thought so strong that …" she trailed off and then stood up straight and faced the Supreme Commander. "Sir, one of mine is in trouble. I request permission to use the Tatooine Surprise, and with the help of Charm Boy and General Antilles, to go rescue her."
"Why those two," Cal asked her, watching her closely.
"The General can help in the cutting through the red tape and Charm Boy briefing earlier on Bliss will be an asset to Doc when we find her."
"You think she has been infected," Leia asked quietly.
"Yes ma'am," Tahiri answered quietly, while avoiding eye contact with her.
"Look Tahiri, Leia and I aren't doing anything and it will take forever by corvette. We'll take you by the Falcon if you want." Han said jumping in to the conversation.
"I can't ask you to do this sir," Tahiri responded stiffly.
"No problem, I don't mind flying out that way."
"This is a Wraith problem sir, I can not in good consciences allow you to risk your self."
"No problem, I flew with the Wraiths before, long before you were born."
"No offense Captain Solo, but that was a long time ago. I can not ask …"
"Fine because I'm not asking you; I am telling you." Han said in his normal diplomatic way. "If your friend is on this … stuff … you need to find her as quickly as possible right?"
"I agree," Cal said cutting of the argument brewing on Tahiri's face. Luke was amazed that even though she was not really related to any of the, she could look so much like a Solo/Skywalker when she get mad. "Leia can help you do the preliminary work until General Antilles and the other reach you. Time is short here Captain, you should use every tool available to you."
"I too wish to join you, Captain," Calghal said which surprised Luke a bit.
"Very well," Tahiri said, in a tone that suggested it wasn't alright but she would drop it. She then turned and saluted the two commanders and ask if they had a go.
"You have a 'Go' Captain and good luck," Cal and Jerrold said and then left the room.
"Very well, Snoop and Watcher; you are with me on the Falcon, Snoop and Junk Pile go get two copies of that file Dagger sent. One for each team, understood?"
"Uh ma'am," the one called Snoop said looking angry at something.
"Doc, you, General Antilles, Charm Boy, Master Calghal will pull up everything we have on Kidriff 5 and Bliss. Formulate a plan of attack for when you join us."
"Ma'am …" Snoop tried again.
"Yes ma'am," Doc said shooting a glare at Snoop.
"Hunter, get anything and everything you think we will need to launch a search and rescue operation. Assume heavy resistance on the part of the bad guys."
"Will do," Hunter said with a grin.
"Don't forget lots of explosive this time," the other human said.
"Maybe Socket," Tahiri said with a smile.
"Ma'am," Snoop said standing up and receiving glares from everyone on the Wraiths team and Doc was trying to get him to sit. Tahiri, however, was ignoring him.
"Captain Solo, how soon can you lift off?"
"Hour tops," Han said easily staring at Snoop, as was everyone.
"Master Skywalker, I need parts to build a light saber, I hate to ask but …"
"We have spare parts on the Falcon," Leia answered easily.
"Thank you," Tahiri looked at her team, "team one you have an hour, team two get off as soon as possible. Any questions?"
"Yea spoon bender …"
"HIGH!" Wedge said jumping up.
"Oh no," Elassar said covering his eyes as if he didn't want to see what was about to happen.
Tahiri for her part just narrowed her eyes and stood very still, "That is it High, I have had it with you and your prejudices. As soon as we have rescued my friend you are no longer a Wraith, however since I need your skills to save her life …"
"You can't kick me out …"
"Shut up!" Tahiri snapped out and going around the table to his side, while she was yelling at him the whole way. Even thought she was much smaller then him Snoop begin to back peddle away from her, Tahiri followed him step by step. "I can and I will, do you understand meat maggot! You wouldn't even be allowed to come now except I need you to save a Wraith! The life of a Wraith is more important then your consent bickering with me about being a Jedi and all Jedi in general! The life of a fellow Wraith is more important the any thing else in the galaxy! Do you understand?" Snoop hit the wall and Tahiri still didn't let up on him.
"Ma'am I …"
"Shut up, maggot! You talk too much but never listen to anyone but you had better listen now! When a Wraith is in trouble, we are all in trouble! When a Wraith is hurt, we are all in pain! When a Wraith dies, a part of us all die with that Wraith! In order to avoid those alternatives we operate as a team, to protect and support each other, we bury our own ideas and become a member of the finest team in the galaxy! That is why we re so successful, so deadly and why if you mess with one you have better be ready to face us all!"
"Ma'am I just thought …"
"Shut up! You can't think, you are not authorized to think! All you do is receive orders from those above you and then follow them as they are given! Do you understand?"
"Ma'am I …" Snoop had slide down to the floor to get away from Tahiri but she kept her face millimeters away from his face.
"Shut up! A golden rule in this outfit is that we never, ever leave a Wraith behind! We will fight through the 9 levels of hell to save a Wraith! There is not a single person in this squad that wouldn't gladly die to save your worthless hide and that includes Rat! And she wouldn't do it for me or because I order her too but because she knows what it means to be a Wraith! Now she needs your help, I need your help to save her, do you understand?"
"Ma'am I …" he was near tears.
"Shut up! Now go get those files and get your gear and get your rear on the Falcon in one hour, understand?"
"Yes ma'am!"
"And High," Tahiri said backing up from him and crossing her arms. "Don't let your irrational fears interfere with your job. You will be better off urinating in the face of the gods then to screw up this mission just to get revenge on me, do you understand that!"
"Yes ma'am!"
"Go," she said in a low tone, as he fled the room she turned to the other Wraiths, "you know what to do get moving we have a Wraith to save." The others practically killed each other running out of the room. "Captain Solo, I'll see you on the pad in one hour." She saluted and left the room.
"Yes ma'am," Han said sounding as befuddled as Luke felt and Leia looked, all three looked at each other with confused looks on their faces.
"Are you sure she is adopted," Elassar said looking at all three of them in turn.
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Tahiri worked quietly in the main hold of the Falcon as they raced through dark space to reach Kidriff 5. She had never experienced anything like what happened yesterday at the briefing. She could read Rat if she was near by or in the same room but never across the galaxy like she had yesterday. Anakin Solo and Tahiri Veila could have felt each other over that long of a distance but they had both been Jedi and best friends for years before it developed that deeply. Even during that mission in which Anakin Solo died, they were still in close contact with her and near by, which is why she felt everything happening to him. It wasn't like that yesterday, it was so real. It felt as real as the light saber that she was building felt to her. The sharp smell of fear, the tangy taste of failure, for failing Tahiri and her family, and the red hot feel of RAGE, against HIM, all coming to her through the Force in that one instant in time.
I better have Captain Solo look at this in the morning I can't afford any mistakes, she thought as she placed the crystal. She also needed to get a handle on her anger. She didn't know who he was, yet, but she knew he was hurting Rat. She had to prepare herself for the worst, she couldn't afford to let her anger get the better of her. She could not fall to the dark side. She will find him, she will bring him to justices but she could not allow herself to be the judge and jury. Protecting Rat was good, bring him to justice was very good; torturing him for what he did to Rat, bad.
Tahiri closed up the light saber and leaned back in the seat. Mrs. Solo had finally went to sleep, she had been standing there, hidden in the shadows, for twenty minutes watching her, trying to decided if she should intrude or leave. Tahiri never let her know that she knew that she was standing there. Now, although, she went to sleep and Tahiri could relax.
Hang on Rat, Tahiri sent out through the Force, with tears running freely down her face, Hang on I am coming Rat, hang on.
