Chapter 18
'But if all you wanted was to see me and Cordell fight, why didn't you release Cordell from your control once I rendered him disabled with my Force lightning attack? Why take control of his very body and force him to do your bidding?' Denz asked Pan.
'Truthfully, it was because we believed the dark side to be stronger. A vast majority of our race had bet on Cordell's victory. Therefore, I made contact with only you in an attempt to level the playing field.'
'But instead I became too powerful for even you to control.' Denz finished.
'Yes. This posed a problem, for you see our race is one that values our secrecy, and because most of my species had expected Cordell to kill you, we did not see the harm in revealing one of our own to you, Denz Solo.'
'But now Cordell is aware of your existence as well.' Denz stated.
'Sadly, yes. He could have proved valuable as a future source of entertainment, but once he has killed you, I will have to order him to kill himself. Even as we speak I am regaining control of Cordell's body. It will no longer matter if you are inside his head or not.'
Denz sensed that he was not bluffing. 'Cordell! I don't know if you can still hear me, but if you can, please listen. Don't allow yourself to be controlled. Fight back. Use your abilities. I've always sensed that you've had them. You just never believed that you did. Well now you've seen what you can really do, so start using them the right way and not…'
Denz found himself abruptly pulled back into reality. His right arm was raised, holding one of his lightsabers ignited over his head to block the attack by the Pan-enslaved Cordell. Denz leaped backward and studied the emotionless expression on his cousin's face. He was unable to determine if his words had had any effect.
He could only hope that Cordell would regain control soon. Denz was out of ideas. He could not keep up his defensive strategy forever. He was bound to make a mistake eventually, and then it was all over.
Pan was playing on the fact that Denz did not want to kill Cordell. Even disabling Cordell had proven futile, as Pan could manipulate his body no matter what state it was in.
Come on, Cordell. You've got to take control!
Jyo gave Salah a high five when he reached where she stood over the dead vort's body. They smiled, but before either of them could speak, a strange feeling came over them. Their vision blurred, and the two closed their eyes and shook their heads to clear it. When they opened their eyes again, they found that they were no longer seeing what the other was seeing.
Neither one of them had felt the soul-meld disconnect, but now that it had, both Jyo and Salah suddenly felt exhausted.
"Boy! That melding stuff sure takes it out of you." Salah said as she plopped down on the ground.
Jyo remained standing but bent over to catch his breath. "It's a good thing…we finished them off…when we did. Or it might have cut out in the middle of things…and we would have been in trouble."
"Uh, we still might be." Salah was sitting near the top of the incline of the crater and was looking past Jyo, over the rim of the opposite side of the crater. Salah pointed past him as she spoke.
Cordell had heard Denz's final words before he was cut off. All this time he had despised Denz, and for what? Being better than he was?
How could I have been so childish? Blinding myself with feelings of loathing, I couldn't know I was being controlled……Well now I know! AND BOY AM I TICKED OFF!
Cordell could sense him. The creature that Denz had called Pan. Cordell somehow moved his subconscious to where Pan's mind resided…at least for the moment.
The creature was small and wore a cloak similar to that of a Jedi's. This enraged Cordell further. How dare you disgrace the Jedi by wearing their garments!
Pan had apparently not noticed Cordell's presence, as he seemed startled by Cordell's sudden outburst. Silence! Pan commanded. I am in control now!
That's where you're wrong. Cordell suddenly felt the familiar shape of a lightsaber in his hand…his lightsaber. The one he had painstakingly constructed back on Jedron. But also the one he had wielded against friends and loved ones. The one I will now use to rid myself of you; the wretched being that had enslaved my body! RELEASE ME!
With that Cordell activated the acid yellow blade and struck Pan down. The small creature shrieked and disappeared with a flash of light.
Denz had locked sabers with Cordell, but because of his injured rib, Denz was slowly losing the battle. Just as he was about to eject his second lightsaber out of the arm of his robe, activate it, and impale Cordell, Denz noticed that the blank expression had left his cousin's face. It was replaced with one of despair. Denz could also sense that Cordell's presence was strong in the Force; no longer the dull hum it had been.
Simultaneously, the pair deactivated their lightsabers and took a step back. Denz raised an eyebrow questioningly.
Cordell nodded. "He's gone. It's just me again."
Denz smirked. "And that's better how?"
Cordell tried to contain his laughter but failed. The two chuckled for a minute before turning and seeing the army of vorts on the other side of the crater. They sensed that Jyo and Salah were somewhere inside the crater, and did not hesitate as they dashed down the slope.
They found the pair standing, if not a little tired looking. Both Jyo and Salah shot Denz a look, but he nodded to say that Cordell was back to normal.
The obscene number of vorts was starting to pour into the crater; it looked like liquid into a bowl. Jyo, Salah, Cordell, and both of Denz's lightsabers came to life. The four stared defiantly into the face of certain death. All were tired and worn from previous bouts. Together they could probably take out the first couple hundred or so, but the thousands that followed would grind them into space dust.
Salah lightly smacked Denz in the back of the head.
He turned his head and asked. "What was that for."
"Parading around as that Trey Jint character and being positively infuriating." She grinned.
Denz did not respond.
"Hey, you had something to do with that gigantic explosion before you and Nayanll disappeared underground, right?"
Denz nodded once. "Yes. But I'm afraid I used up the last of my plasma mines on that bunch of vorts."
"Oh."
The group fell silent. Waiting in tense anticipation as the vort horde drew ever closer.
The first of the vorts was still a hundred yards away, when the group of young Jedi heard it. The Twilight Trekker streaked overhead and circled about as it reached the far end of the vort army.
Jyo zoomed in with his optical enhancers (finally thought of something that sounds better than glasses) to see that Kam had dropped two concussion bombs. The group could see their detonation in the distance.
Unfortunately, as Denz knew, the Twilight Trekkercame equipped with only two of the bombs, and while dropping them had indeed put a dent in the vorts' numbers, there were still far too many for the weary young Jedi to handle.
On the Twilight Trekker's next flyover it dropped what looked like a bunch of spare parts and other debris.
THOOM!
The sound was almost deafening as the pile of junk crushed dozens of vorts beneath its sheer weight. The group had retreated to the opposite side of the crater now so they could better see what was happening.
Jyo surprised everyone when he said. "Zeek is standing on top of the debris!"
Before anyone could respond, the pile of junk started to move. Faster and faster until it was just a storm of debris, and at the eye of that storm was Zeek. They could all sense him now.
The tornado started to move. Tearing through the bodies of some vorts, while scooping others up into its current before flinging them away like they were nothing.
The Twilight Trekker came to hover behind the four young Jedi, allowing Luke, Ben, Tay, and Din Holnt to disembark. The four Jedi, fresh from the sidelines, jumped in front of Jyo and the others; each activating their own lightsaber. More than one eyebrow was raised when Din activated his own weapon; the blade of which was about three times the size of a normal lightsaber. The extra length, however, seemed to make it fit well with the giant that wielded it.
As the eight Jedi engaged the front lines of the vort army, Kam took the Twilight Trekker to the fringes of the battlefield and used its laser cannons to mop up any stray vorts that had been scattered or thrown by Zeek's tornado.
Denz could sense that already the vorts' numbers had been cut to less than half, and he now felt confident that they would prevail. Just so long as there are no more unforeseen obstacles. He thought to himself. He did not know if it was just him, but it seemed strange that the Twi'lek Tay Norat'k was fighting alongside of them. The last Denz could remember of her was that startled little girl in the hospital room where he had recovered from his wound. And now that seemed so long ago. Denz could tell that she had changed, but he could also sense the underlying doubt that seemed ever present in her.
Knowing the others could look out for themselves alright, Denz made sure he watched Tay's back throughout the battle. The fighting slowly wore down and finally ended. While Luke, Ben, and Din mopped up the few remaining, though scattered vorts, Zeek and Tay helped the other, exhausted young Jedi onto the Twilight Trekker.
Cordell, Jyo and Salah devoured the rations they were given, but Denz merely stood off to the side staring at the open hatch. He seemed agitated.
When Luke boarded the ship, Denz pulled him aside instantly. He told the Jedi Master everything about Pan and his species' special ability.
Luke nodded. "I will contact Jedron at once. A small group of Jedi will be assigned to maintain a mental barrier around the Jomes and the immediate area. I'll also instruct Tahiri to call back any of the younger Jedi out on missions at the moment."
Denz thanked the Jedi Master before saying that he needed some time to think and heading for one of the ship's living quarters.
Luke went immediately to the Holonet transmitter and contacted Jedron, relaying the information that Denz had given him.
An awkward silence was present as Jyo, Cordell and the other young Jedi relaxed in the lounge. All eyes were on Cordell, but no one said anything. Cordell could sense the hostility, as controlled as it was.
"Just say it." He sighed.
"What I don't understand is how you can just sit there, totally calm, when you killed Nayanll!" Salah burst out.
"And you never even said you were sorry or asked us to forgive you." Tay added.
"Denz had said that he forgave me, and implied that you would as well. I guess he was wrong."
"No, Cordell. We do forgive you. It's just…" Zeek started to say.
"We do?" Tay interrupted.
"I think you better stop speaking out of turn, Zeek." Salah scowled.
"Guys!" Jyo interjected. "Cool it."
No one else spoke. Zeek, Tay and Salah crossed their arms, and Cordell was looking, almost pleadingly at his brother.
Jyo took a deep breath, removed his glasses, rubbed his eyes, and replaced them. "We are all a bit tense after the entire ordeal here on Duro, but that does not mean we can let it out by making hurtful statements."
"But…"
Jyo held up a hand, and Salah withdrew her objection. "While your accusations are true, as Jedi we are not supposed to let such things govern our behavior. Remember, the Jedi Code states '…there is only peace'. And forgiveness is a huge step toward attaining that peace, that calm."
Jyo paused for a moment to let his words sink in. Tay and Salah really seemed to have been convinced by Jyo's argument. Then Jyo turned his attention to Cordell. "And how do you feel?" Was all he asked.
"How do I feel?" Cordell seemed baffled.
Jyo nodded.
"Well … horrible! I mean … I killed someone! How would you feel?"
"And yet you seem to hide this feeling very well. Why?"
Cordell shrugged. "I guess its because I already know that I'm forgiven. By Denz and Zeek at least. And they're the ones I hurt the most in my rampage."
"You do understand that there are going to be repercussions for you actions do you not?" Jyo asked.
Cordell nodded solemnly. "And I am ready to do whatever it takes to redeem myself."
Jyo nodded as if to say "that's that". He rose and left the room. Making his way deeper into the ship, he stopped in front of the room that Denz had chosen to occupy. He knocked lightly. The door swung open at his touch.
Denz was seated cross-legged on the bed, his eyes closed. He opened them, smiled and rose to embrace his cousin. Denz sat back down on the bed, and Jyo plopped down into a chair.
"So it's finally over." Jyo said.
"You mean the Cordell thing? Yeah, it's over. But this is much bigger than just Cordell." Denz repeated again what he knew of Pan and his species.
"But Master Luke it definitely going to take care of something like that. Why worry?" Jyo said when Denz had finished.
"Think about it. Pan said that his species had been here since before the Vong invasion, and yet no one had ever reported their existence."
"I think everyone was a little too preoccupied with the Vong trying to take over the galaxy to notice a new species. Plus, with their mental abilities they could have simply made everyone they came in contact with, forget them."
Denz shook his head. "That doesn't seem to fit with what Pan said about them liking their privacy. They don't seem like they would take uncalculated risks. That's the very reason they revealed themselves to me. They thought their secret would die with me."
"Wait, you aren't thinking about going out and looking for them yourself are you?"
Denz shrugged. "I don't know. It won't be a secret if I do, so you'll know if it ever comes to that."
Jyo nodded as he rose. He turned and left the room.
As he left, Denz was tempted to ask him about him and Salah, but decided it best just to see how things turned out. Denz sighed and let himself fall back into the Force. Everything seems at peace for the moment, but how long will that last?