Dark Legacy

by Djuva

With Yana Dar's death now official the Council has to move quickly to prevent a civil war on Byss and curb Naas Deron's excesses as he follows his call as Cor'dan.

12. Bakura

It was a boring trip to Bakura, and Jacen and Jaina Solo were poor company, Mahel had to admit. The twins were suspicious of him and careful around Luzaya Dan, and so both he and the princess found they were spending more time with one another than with their companions. Luzaya would watch him go through his exercises and in turn, as apprentice to the Cor'dan, led him through the prayers of death and rebirth. They did not talk much, letting their eyes speak instead. Yet they were very comfortable around one another, increasingly so. And as the days passed and they knelt before one another in prayer each artificial morning and evening, Mahel had ample opportunity to familiarise himself with the princess' delicate features. Her eyes would be closed in concentration, her lips moving softly as she spoke the words of worship for him, and, watching her in rapt fascination, Mahel would feel more and more entranced by her.

She was magical, he thought, a gentle magic, as opposed to Naas Deron's all-consuming dark presence. It was easy to follow her sermons, easy to follow her lessons. Her voice was a caress that smoothed the prayers into pure song, and for the first time since his Naming Day, Mahel understood what the Cor'dan truly was. A guide, a friend, a teacher and a shelter. His shelter. And on the third day of their voyage, he realised that she was feeling the same about him. He had exhausted himself in his latest exercise session, allowing himself no respite, no break at all. When at last he collapsed to the ground, his chest rising fast and his muscles aching fiercely, Luzaya crouched down beside him, smiling, holding a cup of water in her hands. He took it delicately, then drank slowly, as he had been taught.

The princess held his eyes all the time. "Why Bakura?" she asked at last.

Surprised, Mahel nearly choked on the clear liquid. Then, setting the bowl down beside him, he sat up, embarrassed. "A strategic decision," he explained. "Inspired by that little incident we had with Andarack."

"Ah! Andarack!" she exclaimed, rolling her eyes. "Am I glad that he did not come along too!"

Mahel laughed at her faked outrage, then shook his head, "But this was a lesson of value, Highness. We must bait the enemy to be able to recognise him."

"What if he traps us instead?" she asked, her pale blue eyes attentive. "What if something happens to me while I am in company of two Jedi? Will they not be blamed for failure of protecting me?"

"They might," Mahel confessed. "But we do know who has information of our being there with them. That narrows our choice of enemies somewhat."

"It is also very dangerous, in a political sense," she admonished him, and he froze when she reached out to touch his shoulder, an absent-minded expression on her face. "My mentor taught me to always be secure of one's enemies before laying a trap like that. You could trap yourself instead quite easily. I must be careful, Mahel. You heard Leia. The New Republic does not look kindly upon my mother's reign, and we should not give them reason to doubt her even more."

"I believe I am certain of who our enemies are," Mahel said then, remembering his meeting with the four Yuuzhan Vong who had shown him to his brother's body. "They will reveal themselves once goaded out."

"But how? How do we accomplish that?"

Mahel shrugged. "I will think of something," he told her, guiltily hoping she would not catch him on that lie.

He had already decided what he would do, what he needed to do to keep her safe and at teh same time expose the conspirators who were working against the Empire's leaders. But Mahel was pretty certain that the princess would disapprove of his plan. She was a proud woman, and headstrong. He was not at all sure whether she could truly appreciate the element of surprise his own device would gain them. For he had reasoned, correctly, as he assumed, that he could draw out their enemies and protect the princess in one single stroke. All that was required was for him to fake her abduction. The conspirators would panic, trying to find out what had gone wrong and who of their number had acted out of line. And Luzaya would be safe, and able to operate without any interference, neither on the Empire's part, nor on that of either the New Republic or the Council of Naboo. It was a well-conceived plan, the young warrior thought, and made all the more effective if kept secret even from Luzaya.

As it would turn out, he was terribly wrong about that.

Jacen Solo was not very surprised when, upon their arrival at Bakura, their ship, registered to the Council of Naboo, was received with all honors. A flight of TIE-fighters escorted them to the impressive bulk of the mighty New Republic Star Destroyer Freedom, and Jacen could see his sister's quiet excitement as she guided their ship into one of the destroyer's large landing bays. Settling the small vessel onto the shining deck, Jaina heaved an audible sigh of relief, then shot a rueful glance at her twin. Jacen flashed her a smile, then unhooked the flight harness and darted back to the passenger area, where Luzaya and Mahel were waiting expectantly.

"There was no trouble?" the princess asked, her eyes slightly widened, as if in worry.

Jacen performed gallant bow, then extended a hand toward her, offering assistance. "No trouble, Your Highness."

"Thank you," she replied, and took his hand with a smile. "I dare say, though, that there will be trouble once we disembark," she added softly, and threw a meaningful glance at the Yuuzhan Vong warrior who now stood beside her.

"No armour, I take it?" Mahel asked, wry amusement plain in his tone.

"Best not to provoke them," Luzaya agreed with her bodyguard.

"Then I shall go and set the droids to unload your luggage," the warrior replied, bowed briefly, then strode away.

Jacen watched him go, feeling thoughtful. There had been something between the princess and her guard, just briefly. Jealousy raised its ugly head from the depth of his heart then, but he squashed it brutally. Forcing a smile on his face, he escorted the princess to the exit hatch, where Jaina was already waiting for them.

"What kept you?" his sister demanded, then shook her head in disapproval, before she punched the release panel of the exit hatch with a little more force than necessary. "Let's go outside. They're already waiting."

'They', as Jacen found once he stepped down the landing ramp, Luzaya by his side, was a contingent of New Republic guards, and two officers clad in dark blue Navy uniforms. Both men were unfamiliar. One, the older, was white-haired, slender and obviously the Captain, judging by his insignia. The other, broad-shouldered and large, with receding blond hair and very blue eyes, bore no insignia at all, which was always suspicious, as Jacen had learned.

The Captain stepped forward, smiling, and extended his hand toward Jaina first.  "Welcome to Bakura, Miss Solo. I am Captain Teer Shikay, commander of the Freedom. Nice flying, out there."

Jacen's twin returned the greeting with grace, and grinned broadly at Shikay. "Captain, this was nothing. I did admire your flight's formation, though. Very nice."

Shikay laugh, then nodded at Jacen. "And this would be Jacen Solo, your twin. I am pleased to meet you too." There was a brief hand-shake, then the Captain moved on to Luzaya. "And who might you be, my lady?"

"I am Luzaya Dan, Captain," she replied, extending her hand gracefully to take his, a smile on her pretty face. "Ambassador on behalf of the Empress. Jaina and Jacen were so good as to take me along. I promise," she added, "that we won't be troubling you at all."

"Oh." For a moment, the elderly Captain looked perplexed. But then he found his composure again, and bowed deeply. "A very great honor, Your Highness, to have you on my ship." Straightening again, he gazed at the princess with a calculating look in his eyes. "As ambassador, you say? On what mission, if I may ask?"

"A diplomatic one, of course," Luzaya answered calmly. "What else?"

"Of course," Shikay echoed slowly. But Jacen saw that his attention was focused elsewhere, above Luzaya's head. Turning around, Jacen saw Mahel Sivaraya exiting the ship unconcernedly, ignoring everyone and coming to a stop at Jaina's side. Jacen could feel his sister's discomfort at having the Yuuzhan Vong so close, but she did not budge. "Another ambassador?" Shikay asked dryly, nodding toward Mahel.

"Mahel Sivaraya is my bodyguard, Captain," Luzaya explained. "Just that."

It occurred to Jacen only then that Luzaya had said nothing of her apprenticeship to Naas Deron. Mentioning the Cor'dan would probably not be a very good idea, he mused. He wondered why. 

"You are welcome, all of you," Teer Shikay announced, then motioned for them to follow. "I take it you will be having dinner with me?"

"A pleasure," Luzaya explained, then quickly moved forward to put some distance between herself and Jacen. Immediately, Mahel inserted himself between the princess and the young Jedi.

With a sour grunt and a scowl on his face, Jacen hurried after the pair, with Jaina joining him presently. "You don't have a chance, little brother," she whispered at him. "She's way out of your league."

"Let that be my worry," he shot back, angry. he ignored her grin and quietly followed their guide toward the forward deck. The as of yet nameless uniformed man, the blond one, was following them too. Jacen threw a suspicious glance over his shoulder, and saw the stranger frowning darkly. Was this frown caused by Luzaya's presence, or that of the Yuuzhan Vong? Jacen could not be certain. But he had a pretty good feeling that the reason for the man's obvious displeasure was either one or the other. Why that was so, was revealed in the prettily decorated dining room Teer Shikay led them to.

Once the door had closed behind them the Captain asked everyone to take a seat, before he introduced his uniformed companion. "I will make this brief, for we do not have much time, in truth. Counsellor Al'than'erudo has sent you to assist in our investigations of supposed terrorist activity here on Bakura," he continued, "but you will understand that I cannot give you full responsibility over this mission. The NRI has already dispatched Colonel Kattaran to lead those investigations. It falls to him to decide whether he can make use of your abilities or not."

He indicated the blond giant to his right, and suddenly Jacen remembered the name. Alowyn Kattaran had been a major in the Imperial Secret Service before and during the Yuuzhan Vong invasion. Obviously, he had decided that the Sith Empire was not deserving of his loyalty, despite Franzis Sarreti's continued reign beside the Empress. Interesting. Very interesting. Jacen resolved to keep a close watch over what the colonel said or did. This might become dangerous for Luzaya, after all.

Kattaran inclined his head briefly after the little speech delivered by Shikay, then looked straight at the princess. "I had not expected the Council to allow outsiders to join your mission. I dearly hope, Your Highness, that you will not be disappointed when I tell you that I must exclude you from the investigations. This is New Republic business."

"I understand, Colonel," Luzaya said, nodded gracefully. "As I have already told the Captain, we do not wish to interfere in your investigations."

"Then why are you here?" Kattaran asked bluntly. "A ploy designed by your sorcerer, this Deron?"

"Naas Deron is no sorcerer," Luzaya replied somewhat stiffly, raising her chin in a haughty gesture. "He is one of our religious leaders, and Cor'dan, as I am certain you know."

"And your master. I also know that," the colonel shot back harshly. "He is trying to interfere. You cannot tell me he is not."

"Your accusations are very impolite, to say the least," the princess countered, very calm once more. "Yes, I am his apprentice, but I was sent by my mother, to see what can be done to mend the relations between the New Republic and our own realm."

"And what does she propose can be done at Bakura?" It was Jaina, who asked, and Jacen almost would have told her to be silent, had he not noticed the look on Mahel's face.

Luzaya hesitated, her confident expression faltering. "I -," she began, paused, a frown appearing on her forehead. Jacen winced at her embarrassment, despite his own curiosity as to what she would answer, or not answer.

"It is quite simple," Mahel Sivaraya said then, his voice measured and strong. "It is imperative for the Empire to know the mood of the New Republic's citizens before it makes a direct effort at improving relations to your nation. We would not want to embarrass your politicians by making an offer at an inopportune moment. The supposed terrorist threat at Bakura seemed most likely to yield a first inkling of what is going on in the New Republic."

"Not just a bodyguard, then," Teer Shikay murmured, loud enough to be heard all around the table.

"No," Kattaran added with a cold smile. "A spy, more likely. Know your enemy, is that not so?"

Mahel refused to rise to the bait, though, surprising Jacen even more. "Know your ally, more likely," the Yuuzhan Vong answered, a tentative smile on his face. "And as member of the NRI you will know what else has brought us here."

Kattaran gave a low snort. "The assassination attempts, of course. So the Empress sent her daughter abroad where she would be safer? To a planet that is supposedly threatened by terrorists?"

"That was my own choice," Luzaya injected hastily. "Not my mother's." She threw a pleading glance at Mahel. "If she finds out …" Trailing off, the princess, stared down at her plate, blushing ever so slightly.

Jacen saw pity flash in Shikay's eyes as he moved to break the embarrassed silence permeating the room. "Anyway," he began, in a ridiculously cheerful tone, "I do not believe we should begin these relations on such an aggressive basis. We would certainly appreciate honest information, if you are prepared to give it," he added, and gazed at Mahel expectantly.

"If we are prepared," the young warrior replied.

It became a very silent dinner, Jacen thought. And nothing had been resolved once the meal ended. Perhaps, though, Luzaya would be willing to talk to him later, and explain this mess.

After the dinner was finished, Luzaya did not meet Mahel's eye as they were both escorted to what would be her cabin on board the Freedom. She had been such a fool! She had believed she could handle this discussion with Shikay, but she had neither been aware of Alowyn Kattaran's knowledge nor been prepared for his hatred toward the Sith Empire and especially Naas Deron. It had come down to her bodyguard having to save her. And he had shown her clearly that she was not the diplomat or politician she had thought she could be. Chastised, she was trying not to let her shame show all too much. It was all right with Mahel, who never let his own emotions show in public, but she just knew hat Jacen and Jaina would be wondering about her intentions, and perhaps she would even lose their trust.

"Your Highness," the man who had brought them along said, stopping in front of a door. "This will be your quarters."

"Would it be possible for my bodyguard to stay here as well?" the princess asked, seeking confirmation with Mahel as she gazed at him. The Yuuzhan Vong nodded almost imperceptibly, and the navy officer nodded his agreement.

"Of course. That will not be a problem. I will have Mister Sivaraya's luggage brought up."

Thank you," Luzaya replied graciously, as the man keyed open the door and handed the key-card to her. "Will we be allowed to walk around the ship?" she added.

The soldier inclined his head again. "Certainly. We will tell you, if there is somewhere you ought not to be. If you wish to travel to Bakura, you can make arrangements with the first deck officer."

Mahel pushed past the man and entered the cabin first, already checking the quarters for any unusual items, Luzaya guessed. "Excellent," she told the officer, thanked him again, then walked in after her bodyguard and let the door close behind her. For a moment she stood like that, then took a deep breath and said, "Go ahead. Tell me that I am a fool. I know I've deserved it."

"A fool?" Mahel did not look at her, he was still busy checking the apartment. "No. No fool," he continued in a gentle tone. "Ignorant, perhaps. Naive. But you are here to learn, remember?"

Luzaya smiled. A few weeks ago he would never have dreamed of talking to her so boldly. He had learned too, she thought, and in a way she was responsible for that. He loved her, she knew that. And, in a way, she was very fond of him too. "Are you critising me?" she asked nevertheless, a challenge in her voice.

"Critisise you?" He turned his head then, a wry smile on his lips. "I do not believe this is worth a challenge. We can talk. As friends. You know that. And I did think it was ignorant and naive of you to raise the stakes so high without your having prepared your answers beforehand."

His tone was calm, but his words hurt her nevertheless. Luzaya rubbed a hand over her eyes, then grimaced disdainfully. With a heavy sigh, she settled into one of the soft chairs spread out through the cabin. "I know, I know," she whispered at last. "But I do not know what we can do here, really. And since it was your decision, perhaps you could tell me now. It's not as if you still had to uphold the illusion of being no more than my bodyguard."

"Am I more? And if so, what am I? To you?" he asked, very bluntly.

Surprised, Luzaya raised her head to look up at him. He stood very straight, as if bracing for a blow, a reprimand. But he refused to let his anxiety show more than that. The princess wondered why he was raising this question now of all times. What was he planning that required him to know exactly where he stood with her?

Suspicious, Luzaya leaned forward in her seat, her pale eyes narrowed. "You call yourself my friend," she explained. "That includes confiding in one another, I suppose. I have done that, back on Naboo. Will you now confide in me what it is you are planning?"

"Not here." He shook his head. "Not now. But I believe you should pay a visit to the President of Bakura, or whatever they call their planetary leader here. A formal audience, if you will."

With a soft laugh, the princess leaned back in her chair again. "I do believe that Colonel Kattaran was right after all. Deron is still trying to guide me. Is that not so?" Mahel simply inclined his head, and remained like that until she said, "Please, spare me this ridiculous show. If you say I should make that visit, I will consider it."

"That is all I ask."

Jaina ignored her brother's frantic motions that were meant to shush her into silence as she confronted Alowyn Kattaran. The NRI colonel was patiently listening to her elaborating on the reasons of why he should take them along to join his investigations on Bakura's surface, but she could sense that he was fairly unimpressed by her account.

"Miss Solo," he interrupted her at last, "I am certain that you mean well, you and your brother both, but let's face it: the Council did not send you here to go into the action, but simply to show presence of the Council itself. You are simply not experienced enough."

Jaina flashed him a very thin smile. "Colonel, I am well aware of that. But we cannot gain more experience by sitting pretty and doing nothing. There must be some insignificant task you can give us," she insisted.

He shrugged. "Of course. First, I would advise you to pay a visit to the Bakuran president, to show the Council's good will. It is all show anyway. Until you're back, I'll try to find you something, all right?"

"Splendid!" Jaina gave an enthusiastic nod, then turned away and left, dragging her brother with her. "What a twerp," she hissed under her breath when she was certain Kattaran could no longer hear them.

"Why're you so anxious to go down on the surface anyway?" Jacen asked quietly, looking truly curious.

Jaina gave him a surprised look. "I thought you of all people would realise why. Luzaya and Mahel are going down, and I bet they are up to something. I want to know what that is. Besides, we are official ambassadors of the Council of Naboo," she added. "Kattaran is right. We'd best play that role if we are to accomplish anything at all."

She saw Jacen give a thoughtful nod, and together they made their way to their own ship, to prepare their visit to Bakura's capital. An appointment had to be made first, and as it turned out they were already being expected, much to Jaina's annoyance. She suspected that either Al'than'erudo or her grandfather had pre-arranged their meeting with the Bakuran president.

"I sure hope they won't be holding our hands all the way," she growled softly to herself, and Jacen laughed at her petulant expression.

"Don't think so, sister," he replied cheerfully. "I'm sure that whatever mess we happen to cause we can clear up ourselves. If it is not too bad."

Jaina pursed her lips thoughtfully. "You know," she said, "I got the feeling that a mess is what Al'than'erudo expects to come out of this mission."

"So, if anything happens we're innocent?" Jacen inquired with a dead-pan expression on his face.

"Let's hope it does mean exactly that. And now I believe we should prepare for that meeting. We don't have that much time left. Luzaya and Mahel have gone down already?" she continued conversationally.

But Jacen practically leaped out of his co-pilot's chair to lean toward the ship's comm lead, that now connected them to the Freedom's own information center. "Yep," he announced shortly thereafter, "They've left an hour ago."

"Then we should hurry, right?" Jaina asked, a smirk on her lips.

It was a couple of hours later that their ship was directed toward the landing pad. Jaina guided the ship down, while Jacen was hurriedly trying to find out where Luzaya and Mahel had berthed their ship. As it turned out, the two of them had come on one of the Freedom's shuttles, and that had returned after it had put its passengers down at their landing site. A military port, as Jacen announced to his sister in a somewhat stunned voice.

"A military port?" Jaina echoed her twin, frowning.

Why would they land there of all places? Was Teer Shikay trying to demonstrate that he was willing to contribute his share to the relations between the Sith Empire and the New Republic by providing protection for the princess? Or was he worried about a single Yuuzhan Vong warrior? Hardly that. Mahel Sivaraya was young, only a little older than Luzaya herself. What danger could he pose, all by himself?

"The port is north of our position," Jacen explained. "They'll have a long way to get to the city center."

Jaina settled the ship into its final position and began to power down the engines. "So we'll be there ahead of them?"

"Possibly." Unstrapping from his flight harness Jacen stood and wriggled out from the co-pilot's chair. "I'll go and have a peek outside," he announced, then vanished aft.

It was only a few moments later that Jaina heard the explosion.

"Jaina! Jaina!" Jacen came running back instantly, his face pale. "There's been an accident!" he called out to her, waving for her to join him. "I've got a very bad feeling about this!"

Together they made their way to the ship's lowered landing ramp, and Jaina could see soldiers scrambling from their posts. A number of them were coming toward the twins at a dead run, weapons held at the ready in a defensive position.

"What's happening?" Jaina called out, ignoring the blaster rifles.

"An attack on the princess' convoy," one of the guards informed them briskly. "We have no details as of yet."

"Luzaya!" Jacen exclaimed, and paled considerably. He tried to push past the guards surrounding them, but they held fast.

"Please, Jedi Solo, this is not the time for rash action. We are here to protect you," the man who had first addressed them explained.

Jacen gave him a withering glare. "Protect us? What from?"

"Colonel Kattaran's orders," the older man replied, and his expression made it clear that he would not say anything further on that matter.

"Do you mean you are to protect us from the colonel's orders, or that the colonel ordered you to protect us?" Jaina asked nevertheless, taking some delight in that minute cruelty.

The soldier was unfazed. "I am certain you know what I mean," he explained coolly. "If you would accompany us? The president is waiting for you."

"Now?" Jacen exclaimed, startled. "But if the princess has been hurt, we need to be there!"

"We will of course accompany you," Jaina cut in, almost angry at her brother for this all too emotional reaction. They had a mission, for Force's sake! The look her brother gave her was extremely cold, but she refused to be intimidated by that. She was the older sibling, after all. "Keeping the president waiting is the last thing on our mind. Am I right, Jacen?"

"Right," he growled, crossing his arms across his chest defiantly. Obviously this was his way of showing her that from now on the mission would be her mess, whatever happened.

"If that is settled," the soldier put in diplomatically. "Let's go."

Jacen was in a foul mood as he followed Jaina and the soldiers deeper into the main building. Who did she think she was? Ha! He was torn between righteous anger and worry over Luzaya. If she was hurt, they would surely bring her to the medical facilities of the governmental complex, or would they? And then, they might also take her to a military hospital, to ensure her safety. Or would they? His eyes were constantly searching the hallways, watching for any clue as to what might have happened. But no one they passed seemed the least agitated. Very reluctantly Jacen told himself that with Mahel by her side Luzaya had to fear very little. He never would have thought that he might be grateful for the Yuuzhan Vong's dutiful presence at the princess' side.

Yet he was also convinced that there was something not quite right about Sivaraya. Why had he insisted on going to Bakura with Luzaya? Jacen had a hard time already coming to terms with the fact that the heir to the Sith Empire was accompanied by a Yuuzhan Vong warrior. It did not make his uneasiness any better that he was probably not the only one feeling uneasy about the Yuuzhan Vong. He had heard the stories about the Yuuzhan Vong invasion twenty years ago, when the New Republic and the Empire had had to fight together to throw back the aggressors. And it had been a very close thing too. Even the tactical genius of Grand Admiral Thrawn had stood helpless in the face of the aliens' might. Still, Jacen was also aware of the fact that he had never heard the horror tales about the Yuuzhan Vong from his own family, even though his parents, his uncle and his grandparents had been in the midst of the terrible struggle.

But the newsgrids would forever repeat the documentaries about the Yuuzhan Vong invasion, their culture, and Jacen had watched on in fascination when he had been little. And even though he had also listened closely to what his mother and grandfather had told him of the history of this alien race, of their connection to the Sith, he still felt strangely afraid whenever he was around a Yuuzhan Vong. No, Mahel Sivaraya was not the first of his species he had met. But the most curious, admittedly. The young warrior had seemingly refused to have his skin and flesh redecorated by decorative and honorary scars. And had risked his elders' wrath for that, Jacen knew. Or perhaps times truly were changing, and the Yuuzhan Vong were finally adapting to the culture of the empire that had conquered their people. Conquered peacefully in the end, by non other than the Empress herself. No small part of Jacen's admiration for Luzaya derived from the fierce respect he had for her mother. Perhaps, in no such a small way, he had been influenced in that regard by the female role-models featured in his own family, from his grandmother downward.

In the depth of his heart Jacen knew that he wanted a woman who could equal his grandmother's strength, his mother's wisdom, and his sister's temper. Luzaya seemed to encompass all that. And he thought he knew her. Or thought he did. Which reminded him that they had to inform Yana Dar first of all. At once.

"Mahel!"

Waving her hand frantically in front of her face, Luzaya tried to disperse the thick smoke that hung heavily in the air around her. There had been a heavy impact of something against her speeder, and an explosion to follow. She had been thrown back into her seat quite brutally, and then she had blackened out for what had seemed just a moment. But when she had come to Mahel had been gone, and the speeder had been filled with black smoke. It was almost impossible to see and to breathe.

"Mahel!" she called again, more frantic now. With tears streaming from her burning eyes she clawed at the crash webbing that had prevented her from receiving more injury. As it was, she only felt a little dizzy. Which she was thankful for.

"I am here, I am here," she heard her bodyguard say then, softly, and something appeared out of the smoke, bearing some resemblance to the Yuuzhan Vong warrior. Apart from the nasty gashes slashed across the left side of his face and the blistered burn that oozed nasty-looking fluid down from the crown of his head.

"Oh my stars!" the princess exclaimed, truly shocked. Reaching up to touch his face she found her wrist taken into his hand firmly as he dragged her upright.

"No matter," he said sternly, and gently lifted her up in his arms. "We gotta leave quickly."

Luzaya was too dazed to think clearly, or she would have questioned him earlier. Why would he not wait for rescue to arrive? The smoke receded as they left the wrecked speeder, and the princess noticed a few motionless bodies lying in a half-circle around the wreckage. "Oh," she said, but managed no more. Mahel carried her into the thicket at the edge of the road, and she remembered now that they had been on their way from the military port to the city center. She took a deep breath, grateful for the fresh air after the stinging smoke. They were in the outskirts of the city now, she thought.

"Calm now," she heard her bodyguard whisper, and she wondered briefly about his secrecy. "Don't say a word."

Luzaya felt herself being settled down onto soft, cool grass. Self-consciously she raised a hand to touch her cheek and found her skin to be alarmingly hot. Shocked, she thought she might have received severe burns. She imagined herself, hideously disfigured, and started crying again. Instantly, Mahel was beside her again.

"Are you hurt badly?" he asked concernedly, and Luzaya felt her temper rise.

"Why are you asking now?" she hissed viciously. "What happened anyway?"

"Not what I had planned," he murmured, chastened. "It was an ambush."

With horrifying clarity Luzaya recalled the corpses she had seen spread out around the destroyed speeder and her bodyguard's strange behaviour. "Mahel," she said, breathless. "What happened?"

"I told you we needed to give us a chance to move in secret," he reported quickly. "I had planned on faking your kidnapping, but this proves that I would have been too late anyway."

She propped herself up on her elbows, frowning at him. "We've been attacked. Is that what you are saying?"

"Indeed."

"Oh my stars!" Luzaya closed her eyes and settled back again. "This is a nightmare!"

Mahel seemed unfazed. "No, not at all. We only have to take the opportunity and disappear."

"They'll be looking for us," she retorted sourly. "And we'll be without the New Republic's protection. Mahel, I hate to say this, but this is not the best plan you could have conceived."

"You wanted to learn something of life," he replied coolly. "This is your chance, princess."

Taken aback by his tone, Luzaya sat up quickly, and groaned. And now she had a headache too! "This is not funny!" she called out, truly angry now.

"I didn't say it was," the Yuuzhan Vong told her calmly. Can you walk? We have to move on."

"You killed those people out there?" she asked, hesitating to take his offered hand.

He stared at her, uncomprehending. "Of course. They were attacking us."

"And where is the balance in that?" she demanded, referring to their shared faith.

Mahel threw her a quick grin. "I have my own spirit guardian with me. I am certain you will tell me," he replied good-naturedly. "And now we should be leaving."

"Where will we be going?"

"I have an idea," he assured her, and Luzaya felt that what he rather should have said was: I have no idea. As it was, she would be proven right about that.

Mahel felt slightly worried about the obvious suspicion Luzaya harbored toward his plan. He had to admit to himself that she was right in some regards. The decision to withdraw from New Republic protection would make them more vulnerable, even though it would also give them more freedom of movement. If they could retain their anonymity. Which, admittedly, was a little hard in his own case. The Yuuzhan Vong citizens of the Sith Empire rarely travelled beyond the borders of their realm and therefore his presence would certainly draw attention. As he trotted ahead, keeping to the shadows of the pretty back alleys of the city's outskirts, he mused about what to do. There was still time to go back, to pretend that they had escaped on their own. Mahel would report that he had removed the princess from the site of destruction to ensure her safety. They would question his motives, but he knew that their ignorance toward his people's culture would prevent them from questioning too closely. But if they returned with this story to back them up, their enemies would be warned and move more cautiously. That Mahel wanted to prevent. He did not want their foes to retreat even further into the shadows. It was hard enough to draw them out as it was. Now he had a lead, and could move more swiftly while they believed both Luzaya and him dead. But he to get on their trail now, at once, before Bakuran security and New Republic troops made a mess of the investigations.

"Mahel!" He stopped, turned his head to gaze at the princess. She was catching up to him, huffing with indignation and exhaustion. Self-consciously she wiped a strand of sweaty, soot-covered blonde hair from her forehead. Her blue eyes were sparkling. Once she had reached his side she propped her hands on her hips and cocked her head in a challenging gesture.  "Where are we going?"

"There's a small port I intend to use as base of operations. We need to secure a vessel to be able to leave too," he explained, bracing himself for what he needed to tell her next. "And I need you to make certain we have that transport. I am Yuuzhan Vong," he continued, "and you can move unknown, while I will always stand out."

For a moment she remained in shocked silence. "A well thought out plan," she offered then, ironically, and began walking again, shaking her head. "And that is what you propose for us to do?"

"We need to investigate this incident now, at once," Mahel urged her. "And I am here to protect you."

Luzaya threw him a questioning glance. "You believe that will be enough? You are a reasonable person, Mahel. You are an adept fighter, I am sure. But you are alone. I will not be able to help you fight."

Crestfallen, Mahel gazed at her, realizing that he had underestimated her courage badly. She must have noticed his dejected expression, for suddenly she was with him again, her hand lying gently on his arm. "I do not require you to fight," he said at last, "all I want is for you to support our quest. I thought you wanted this. I thought you wanted to find out who tried to kill your father."

She gave a helpless shrug. "Yes, of course," the princess replied. "But can't you see how difficult this is for me? I have no experience, and the New Republic officials do not truly respect my authority. You've heard Captain Shikay and this Colonel Kattaran. They think I'm a spy! That Deron is behind our mission!"

"He is. In a sense," Mahel confessed then, sensing that her confusion at her situation needed to be eased.

Luzaya stared at him, speechless. "What?" A frown marred her forehead then. "You mean that he was behind your assignment as my bodyguard? I know that. But that is all! He only wants to keep me safe!"

"He wanted you to leave Byss."

"Why?" she asked. "Why would he want that? My mother sent me away! Or are you suggesting that she did so on Deron's orders?"

"Not orders. A request," Mahel corrected her. "I thought about this when Andarack clan Rim'kai put us through that little test of his. He wanted to bait whoever was after your father. Deron is doing the same. I even believe that he is in league with the Council in that regard."

"You want to make me distrust anyone, am I right?" she accused him. "You want me to trust you alone."

"I want you to trust the Cor'dan. He knows what is going on, I think. He is your guardian spirit, just as you are mine," he told her, trying a smile.

But Luzaya almost exploded at that faithful comment. "What! My guardian spirit? That man? Hah! He does not even care for what I feel! Why should he want to protect me?"

"Sh!" Mahel cautioned her. They had reached a more populated neighbourhood now, and Mahel was anxious about being discovered. "I cannot accompany you further. I have to find another way to follow."

"A-ha!" Luzaya exclaimed. "Now you refuse to protect me!"

Mahel replied, "Don't be ridiculous, please." A mistake. A terrible, terrible mistake.

Luzaya's bright blue eyes turned very cold, and for a moment she resembled her mother more than ever. She took a step back, away from him, and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Ridiculous?" she said, her tone icy. "I am ridiculous? You were the one with the grandiose plan, Mahel Sivaraya. You are my short-sighted bodyguard. You insist on rejecting the New Republic's help. But without me. Do what you want," she declared at last. "I am going back."

For a moment he was stunned.

Luzaya stalked away into the street, deliberately seeking the open to prevent Mahel from following her. The young Yuuzhan Vong warrior hesitated. What to do? Scanning the rooftops he saw that he would have little chance of using the roofs to hide his presence. He needed to take a more circuitous route. Which was when he ran into trouble.

Slipping into the darkness of the alleyway that ran behind the port he had selected for their base, Mahel was totally surprised when a stun blast hit his left side and momentarily confused his nervous system. Then something hit his left arm, and the force of the impact whirled him around brutally. The next thing he knew was that two arms locked about his torso, pinning his own arms to his sides. A human male, by the smell of him. Mahel felt a little amused by the fact that his attacker was frantically trying to hang on, obviously too short to keep his feet on the ground. But then, with surprising alacrity, the man wrapped his legs around Mahel's calves, trying to topple him over. Hampered in his movements, the Yuuzhan Vong warrior fell to his knees, but rolled around on his back, eliciting a curse from his yet unseen attacker. Without any hesitation whatsoever Mahel rammed his right elbow into the man's soft neck, then rose to his feet in a semi-crouch, ready to strike again. His opponent seemed momentarily dazed, and his left hand was locked protectively around his own neck. Blue eyes bulging, he shook a mane of graying dark brown hair, then sat back on his haunches, apparently deciding that it was not worth the effort to fight any longer.

Mahel stood up and frowned at the human suspiciously. The man had no weapons he could see. But he'd had a blaster, hadn't he? Where was it? "Who are you?" the young Yuuzhan Vong demanded.

"You're good," the stranger said instead of answering the question. "Quick reflexes, too."

"Tell me who you are," Mahel growled, his patience leaving him. He could not let himself be stalled! He could not risk exposure at this point of time, and he had to get back to the princess at once!

The man's lined face crinkled around his eyes and mouth when he smiled, giving him an almost mischievous look. "I think I know what you feel right now," he declared. "But unfortunately I cannot just let you go like that."

Mahel recoiled as the human whipped his left hand behind his back, and at the same time extended his right arm and blinded the young warrior with a glow-light he had concealed in his right palm. Mahel threw his arms over his face in a defensive gesture, hunching his shoulders ever so slightly. He could hear the human approach fast, sensing a weakness in his opponent. But then the Yuuzhan Vong flung his long limbs apart again, catching the man full across the chest. His body smacked into the wall unceremoniously, and Mahel could sense the human's muscles go slack as he fell to the hard ground. Quickly, the warrior crouched above his prey and flipped out his ID reader. This particular piece had been uploaded with the latest data from the Yun-Harla sect's databases. If this human was known, his identity would no longer remain a secret once the reader had drawn blood. But Mahel did not get quite that far. Too late he noticed the slight vibration of the permacrete beneath his feet, before something cool and hard was shoved against the base of his neck.

"Put your face in the dust, Vong," a female voice ordered harshly. "And drop that thing, whatever it is." She pressed the weapon harder into his flesh to emphasize her demand.

Mahel did not take long to find that he really had no choice. Carefully, he set the ID reader down beside him, where it was promptly crushed beneath the woman's boot heel. He winced at that senseless execution of life, even if it had been only a primitive life-form.

"Get down," the woman said again. "Now. Or do you need help? I could shoot you right here and now."

"Do that and you are dead. Both of you," a new voice announced very calmly.

Mahel gasped aloud, totally surprised by that voice. It was Luzaya! What was the princess doing here? And where had she gotten a weapon from? Torn between joy and bewilderment, he remained kneeling on the ground even when the pressure against the back of his neck had been released.

"This is none of your business – ," the woman who had captured him snarled, turning to face the princess. Mahel made his move instantly. Whirling around, he made a grab for her legs, bearing her to the ground with him.

"Mahel! Mahel, let her go!" Luzaya screamed then, sounding almost hysteric, and suddenly Mahel found his arms grabbed by two sets of female hands, and quickly released his quarry again. Confused, he retreated a bit, and threw a stern glance down at his charge. Luzaya was holding the other woman in a close embrace, a concerned look on her pretty face. The stranger was an older human woman, dressed all in figure-hugging black, and rubbing her forehead with the palm of her left hand angrily. Her red hair had been fashioned into a bun at the base of her neck, and her emerald green eyes were throwing furious sparks as she continued gazing at Mahel.

"Aunt Mara," the princess whispered, "are you all right?"

"I am pretty much all right," the woman named Mara replied gruffly, but her features were softening somewhat as she turned her head to look at Luzaya. "It's Jix who got in the way of that brute. Are you two together?"

Luzaya seemed to blush, but it was hard to tell in the shadows of the alley. "He's my bodyguard;" she explained quietly. But then her pale eyes turned on Mahel, their megawatt gaze drilling into him like a thermal detonator. "What in Sith's hells were you thinking!" she demanded, furious. "These are friends!"

"Really?" It was curiously easy to regain his composure in the face of her foolish righteousness. "They did not introduce themselves as such," Mahel explained dryly.

Saying nothing, she compressed her full lips into a tight line, much to the Yuuzhan Vong's regret, and hurried over to where the man still lay unmoving. "He's unconscious," the princess announced then. "Mahel, you idiot!" Raising her chin haughtily, she threw him a withering glare. "These are Mara Jade and Wrenga Jixton. They've been friends of my family for ages."

"A fact that was not known to me, and which still does not explain why they are here and why they attacked me like this," Mahel reasoned calmly.

"Did Mother send you?" Luzaya asked, suddenly seeming suspicious, as she addressed Mara Jade again.

The red-haired woman shook her head, her eyes never leaving the human male. "No, she did not. Han wanted to know what was going on with your father, and sent us to investigate a bit."

Han? Mahel felt a shiver run down his back. What was Han Solo doing on Bakura? Had the Council of Naboo betrayed them too?

Mara Jade must have noticed his shock, for she gave him a wry smile and rose along with Luzaya. "Not Han Solo," she said, as if reading his mind. "I was referring to His Revered Highness, the Chiss Emperor Ja'han'mandana."

"The Chiss?" Mahel felt his jaw drop.

"Yes," Mara Jade said dismissively, then returned her attention to Luzaya. "And what about you, Luzaya? Why are you here?"

"A diplomatic mission," the princess explained, but her face fell when she realized how foolish that sounded right then and there. "No, we are here to investigate too. There's been hints that the conspiracy originates in the New Republic."

"Is that so," Jade replied. "Then why are you on a backwater world like Bakura?"

"It was a more convenient staging area for a vanishing coup such as this one," Mahel explained. "Which is where we should part," he added meaningfully, nodding at Luzaya.

She gave him a thoughtful look, then studied the unconscious man lying beside Mahel again. "No. We can trust them," she said. "We must trust them, Mahel. They can help us, and they won't betray us. "

"So sure about that?" he challenged both women.

Luzaya stuck her chin out. "Very. And now you will pick up Jix and come with us. I am sure Mara has a ship somewhere close by. We can take that one. Right, Aunt Mara?"

"Right. And if I may suggest, we should go straight to Coruscant," the older woman suggested.

"What?" Mahel snarled. "Are you mad? I am trying to draw her out of the line of fire, if you haven't noticed!"

Mara Jade returned his gaze coolly. "You do not know Yana Dar half as well as I do," she told him, "and not half as much of politics. This will spark trouble. Big trouble. Better to be at the center of it than caught in the middle of the storm. Come along, you two. Don't forget my husband, if you will," she added. "Poor Jix. This has to be the first time in years that someone managed to defeat him in single combat. He'll be so furious when he wakes up."

"I hope I haven't hurt him too badly," Mahel mumbled, feeling apologetic all of a sudden.

Mara Jade threw him a wide grin. "Don't worry. He's always had a thick head."

Before he bent down to hoist the unconscious human up, Mahel saw Luzaya stand very still, her face a study of concern. A moment later she asked, "What do you mean, Aunt Mara? What trouble? What do you know of my mother that I don't?

"She is her father's daughter, Luzaya. Always remember that."

TBC