"The scientists still have no idea what is causing the interference out Zonama Sekot's way?" Cal Omas, the Chief of State for the G.F.F.A asked Luke while eating a meal prepared by his service droids. After a grueling day of wrangling with the Senate and other special interests groups that all seem to come out of the woodwork at the worst times. Briefings from the Military on the various staring matches being played out, a few hot spots that have developed into shooting matches, the fate of the Empire, the non-talking Chiss; both Luke and Cal felt that they had deserved a simple meal in private and undisturbed.
"They are still at a lost really," Luke said marveling that even at a simple dinner the topics of choice still had galactic consequences. "They tell me that there is no real reason for the hyper signal shouldn't come through loud and clear but you know as well as I do that it isn't the case."
"What about that listening post the Vong Free movement was building out past Reecee?"
"The military has occupied the station and are finishing up repairs on it," Luke said taking a sip of water, "it ran into the same problem that a lot of our outpost have since the war."
"Yes," Cal said with a sigh, "those drones are still popping up and eating any hypercomm transmission source all over the galaxy. We never did get a hard number on how many were bred and released before we retook Coruscant."
"Well, the good news is there are fewer and fewer attacks theses days."
"True," Cal said looking grim, "except every time we lose a station it just reinforces the belief that the Yuuzhan Vong were given too much at the end."
"I guess what happened out at Druckenwell hasn't improved the Senates mood any."
"I wish that herd of 'Ranges' would have stampede in the Senate Hall, instead of through the refugee camp." Cal said with a sad shake of his head, "then they could have done some good instead of killing hundreds of innocent people and injuring thousands."
"You would think that this incident would help charge the Senate into doing more for those systems still effected by the war," Luke said sadly.
"It is truly amazing that after everything you have done Luke that you could still be so idealistically about how the Senate works," Cal said with a small smile.
Before Luke could respond, one of Cal's assistants burst into the room and moved directly to the holo-tank, informing Cal that he needed to see this immediately. One the screen they saw a high-rise building coming into view with a news announcer talking off screen. It could have been on one of the many heavily populated planets found in the galaxy, it could have been but Luke just knew it had to be Kidriff 5 even before he read the feed on the bottom of the screen. The next question was, of course, just who was doing what and to whom. With Han, Leia and the Wraiths there it was even money as to who started whatever was happening to get it broadcasted through out the galaxy.
"As we have just reported," the male human voice said as the camera droid focused on a small group of people who were facing down two men, a dark skin woman, and the woman's child the older man was holding. Luke could see the small group was a mixture of Kidriff Security Forces and what must have been the Wraiths, since they were wearing combat armor and had two aliens in with them. "While the name of the young Jedi is still unknown; Action News 5 of Kidriff 5, your leading source of news, has learned that one of the men is none other then retired General Wedge Antilles! What such a famous general is doing working with our glorious forces is at this time unknown." The camera droid hovered close enough to get a clear shot of Wedge, a older man in Security Forces uniform and …
"What the Sith," Cal said standing up to get closer to the holo-tank, along with Luke. "What happened to her eyes!"
"I have no idea," Luke said honestly, he has never seen a human with eyes that glowed gold. Luke had briefly hoped it was a trick of lighting but new that was a false hope since Wedge's and the other man's eyes appeared to be normal.
"How old is this," Cal asked his aid but not taking his eyes of the screen.
"It is coming in live sir, through the holo-net."
"We just received word from Kidriff Security forces confirming that the two men being pursued is in fact Security Lt. B. Fern and Headmaster Yunder of the Kidriff Academy of High Education. Yunder has headed our most important center of learning for almost 20 years, which has produced some of our most important leaders in the military and economical arenas." A female voice said as the picture showed several military transports circling the building that they were on and Wedge and his group kept their weapons targeted on the two men. "We have also learned that both have been implicated in the trade and smuggling of Bliss here on Kidriff 5 and will also be charged with the death of G.F.F.A Agent Ratnena Bora …"
"Blaster!" Luke said pulling out his comm link and tried to raise Kyp.
"Agent Ratnena Bora, a native of our planet, was sent in undercover to discover and expose the Bliss trade which has ravaged our planet for so many months now."
"Uh oh," was all that Kyp could say once Luke raised him and told him what as happening.
"Get a hold of the hanger, whatever we have that can carry you and me get it ready."
"Right, you want me to grab any more help along the way."
"If you see them yes, but don't try to contact them. If we can get to Kidriff 5 soon enough we could contain this problem before she get to far out of control." After Kyp signed off, Luke returned his attentions to the screen.
"We understand that they are attempting a peaceful surrender of Yunder and Fern," the man's voice returning, "we still have no idea on who the Jedi is at this time."
"They better not either," Cal said in a low voice, "I don't need it known that my only Yuuzhan Vong Human Jedi is on Kidriff 5."
Once again, the camera looked Tahiri over, her face was blank except her glowing eyes and she stood rock still, she appeared more statue then person. The woman that was taken hostage was crying and struggling with the younger man as he kept her between him and the rest while the older man was holding the baby boy in such a way to discourage anyone from shooting him. Behind them, a military transport settled on the ground and two officers got out and moved away from the transport.
"We have just learned that Yunder has agreed to release the young boy in exchange for transportation. The man on the spot, Inspector Smith, has agreed with this demand. We here at Action News 5 of Kidriff 5, your first and best source of news, applauded this move since the safety of innocent citizen must be override any other concerns."
"So true," the female's voice said as the camera showed the younger man pulling the woman in to the transport with him. "After all, our government has our best interest in mind at all times."
"It appears that Yunder is saying something, can we get audio for one minute," The male said as was replaced by the sound of a crying child and shouts from the security forces for him to release the child.
"Jedi, you want this. Very well, I am a man of my word after all, I shall release this child."
"By the Creator! He just tossed … now the Jedi has just leapt over the edge of the building to catch the child! You saw it here live, Yunder has just tossed a baby boy off a building to his death and the Jedi leapt after it!"
Luke tuned out their voices as he watched horrified as the camera droid raced to keep Tahiri and the young boy, whom she had in her arms, plumed to their deaths. He could see by her facial expression that she was trying to use the Force to slow their rate of decent but it wasn't going to be enough. Appearing in the view of the droid was a military transport, also making a headlong dive attempting to reach the two.
"They have 4572 meters till they hit bottom, we here at Action News 5 of Kidriff 5, will of course stay with this story till its conclusion."
A side door opened on the transport and a young human female, dressed similarly to Tahiri except for the harness that she was wearing shouted out something to Tahiri. Due to the noise of the rushing wind and possibly the decision to limit the audio feed, Luke was unable to hear her. Tahiri waved showing she heard the other woman, the other woman then jumped out of the transport and landed on Tahiri's back.
"Cathy Littlefoot you insane …" Cal said as he leaned closer to the screen.
Unlike Tahiri, this Cathy had a line attached to her harness.
"3000 meters …"
Both girls struggled to hold on to each other, the child and get some kind of harness around Tahiri. A couple times, they had started to drifted apart and had to desperately clutch at each other not to be pulled apart as they fell.
"2000 meters …"
"As far as we know, no one has ever attempted this kind of maneuver before," the male voice said, "And you will only see it here, live, on Action News 5 of Kidriff 5, your first and only source of news."
"900 meters …" the awe voice of the woman said. The two women were able to get the harness on partially when they past the 600-meter mark. At the three hundred mark, they seemed to be having trouble with the legs and Tahiri tried to pass the child off but Cathy just kept working at the harness.
"100 hundred meter," the woman seemed to whisper the countdown, while Cathy and Tahiri raced to attach the last buckles. "50 meters, oh by the Creator they aren't going to make it!" At thirty meters, Cathy yelled something into a comm link, at twenty meters the line went taunt as the transport attempted to level out. At ten meters all three falling people was no longer vertical but started to go horizontal, the last picture the droid sent as it slammed into the street below was the transport leveled off and at 10 meters with the girls being pulled in.
"That was un -beeping- believable!" The male said as Luke heard a woman crying and mumbling something.
"You can't say that we are live!" Another male voice snapped at the first male.
"I don't -beeping- care, did you see that! By the Creator, that was un -beeping- believable!"
"I need a drink," Cal said turning off the holo-tank, "could you please go monitor that for awhile." He asked his aid as he headed to the small cabinet that he held his small stash of alcohol. "Can I get you one Luke?"
"Please," Luke said numbly as he tried to comprehend what he had just seen. While the language was crude, the commentary was very accurate in his wording. Although Luke rarely drank anything-stronger then caf, he felt the need for a drink right now.
"Could you answer me one question, Luke," Cal asked giving Luke a small glass of whiskey, while knocking back a large one for himself.
"If I can Cal," Luke said sipping his; Cal first made himself another drink before asking the question.
"Are you sure she is adopted?"
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"Will you stop asking me that!" Han said as he tried to restart his heart.
"Hey no problem general sir," Elassar said holding his hands up as if to ward of an attack, but his grin made it hard to take him serious.
Han turned back to the controls thinking how she did fit in the family so well, not Luke and Leia, Mara, Jaina and Jacen, heck not even Anakin while he was alive, made his heart stop like she just did! Jumping off a building! What was she thinking!
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Cathy tried to slow down her heart and her shaking as she removed the harness, she couldn't believe she just did that! Even with the congratulations from the three other officers in the back of the transport and the wailing of the child, seem to make it hard for her to believe that she had just successfully snatched two people out of thin air! As they were falling to their messy and bloody deaths! They never told me this would happen at the recruiter's station when I first joined!
"Ma'am, the general's compliments and his congratulations on a job well done," the co pilot said leaning back in her seat.
Cathy could only nod, knowing that she could never speak without her face breaking open while she was grinning as she was. Holy Bantha, I actually did that and lived!
"Yes Doc, thank you for both of us," Tahiri said sitting down across from her. Captain Tahiri was still holding the child in her arms and rocking it slightly, the child was still crying but seemed to be calming down a bit. He is probably tired poor little fellow. Cathy thought as she reached over to brush backs some of his hair. Tahiri, meanwhile, turned her attention to the co-pilot, "do they know where he is heading?"
"Yes ma'am, they have narrowed down the places he is probably heading to thanks to some records one of your team members found at the Bora's place."
"Very good, could you please head in that direction?"
"Already on the way ma'am," the pilot said with a snort, "the general figured you would want to join him."
"Very good, I do wish to have word with Mr. Yunder," Tahiri said neither her voice nor face showing any emotion.
"Don't worry about that ma'am," the pilot said as he maneuver the transport through the traffic.
"He is not getting off planet," the co-pilot said in a determined voice as the others in the back agreed loudly with her.
"We also have to get this young man back to his mother," Tahiri said looking down at the child who was starting to fall asleep in her arms. Then she let an expression cross her face, the first since they found Ratnena, and said "I think his diaper needs changed."
Cathy snorted out a laugh, "he is not the only one who needs changed!" Alive, I am alive!
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"Looks like your agent was correct, he is heading toward hanger on that building," Smith said to General Antilles.
"Right, Wraiths lock and load, stun only; we still need to do a S & R before we grab Yunder." Smith saw the males nod as the General pulled out his comm link. "Tatooine Surprise are you air borne yet?"
"Affirmative lead, we are about 15 minutes to your position."
"Good, Falcon and you will assist the locals in keeping any ship from entering or existing that hanger."
"Yes sir," the voice from the corvette said along with Solo. Smith had asked after the crazy Jedi was rescued if they still needed that thing that the general sent Solo after but only got a small shake in response. Smith was secretly relieved that the general had changed his mind, the whole world now knew what kind of monster Yunder was and he needed every available man on station to make sure he doesn't escape. This was one bust that became very personal for him, as the news from the warehouse came in about the amount of Bliss they found there, the information they were finding on Ratnena's computer, and now for tossing a child off a building. However, most of all for the horrible abuse they committed against Ratnena, that act itself was making this personal for him no matter what else they had done. It kind of surprise him that he discovered just how much her death hurt, yes she was a criminal, yes she was a thief but she also changed and made her life better. She did what so few ever did, she cleaned herself up and made something of her life to be proud of and he had to admire that in her!
Now that Yunder cut her life short and he will pay for it, he will stand trial and he will suffer for the pain he caused to the planet and to poor Ratnena. He owed her that much for all that she had done.
"There, they have to cross that sky bridge to get to the hanger," Smith said as the transport landed roughly on the roof. He contacted his own people as the one called Hunter landed better then Yunder had. Already, Yunder and Fern had pulled out the hysterical woman from the car and was dragging her across the bridge.
"Lets go," Antilles said popping the hatch; Smith saw that he was the first out and leading the charge. No wonder he can lead anyone, he ask no one to do what he himself won't do, Smith thought as he jumped out after Snoop and Snip.
"Smith to all units, we are engaged! Land next to our transports and bring up the rear. Air borne, contain any and all ships in the hanger." Smith yelled into his comm link as Yunder and Fern returned fire with the Wraiths. They were about half way across when five droids burst from the hanger and began to lay down a killing field.
"Where are all these YVH droids coming from," Socket yelled out as they all hit the deck.
"Pull back and get better cover, Kwaad!" Antilles yelled over the noise as he laid down some return fire; stun setting forgotten as the droids advance on their positions.
As Smith warned the others behind them about the new threat and helping to shoot at the droids, he could see Fern, still holding the woman, and Yunder standing there. They were both watching the scene with identical smiles on their faces.
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"I do love those droids," Darren said chuckling as he watched the five YVH droids push the Wraiths back across the bridge. Nice to know the Creator is on my side today!
"I told you we would make it," Fern said as he pushed the now useless, bawling female to the ground.
Darren really wished she would shut up; odds were her child was just a commoner anyways and would never amount to anything. The way she was carrying on, you would think that he had killed someone special.
"Gentlemen," the female captain said walking over to them, "we should leave now. The Millennium Falcon, that corvette, and air patrols are getting closer."
"I did wish to stay and enjoy the entertainment but you are correct, Captain." Yunder said as he and Fern turned towards the waiting freighter.
"New target acquired," all five droids said at the same time, "Yuuzhan Vong approaching."
"What …" Fern said as they all three turned back to the bridge. Then Yunder heard something that made his bowels empty into his undergarments.
"Do-ro'ik vong pratte!"
"No, no she is dead," Fern whispered out as the droids all concentrated their impressive fire at the other end of the sky bridge. Yunder saw that it was indeed that annoying girl and she was very much alive! Her face, expressionless and her eyes locked on them, she began to battle her way to their end of the bridge!
"We have to go now!" Yunder said as he ran full speed at the ship, the captain, for her part, was screaming for her crew to lift off as she beat him to the ship. Behind him, he heard Fern scream out that she had to be dead. When he reached the base of the ramp, he stopped long enough to look back at Fern. He was also firing into the sky bridge screaming over and over that she was dead. Saving his own skin, Darren didn't even try to convince him to leave the girl and get on the ship. Sealing the hatch, Darren also knew he just sealed Fern's fate.
