I hope all of my loyal readers appreciate my fairly rapid update, in recompense for the previous chapter's long delay. To ChristyS, I appreciate your forgiveness, and Vaapad I only get a short time each day to write, so I will try to update every week or two. If I go a long time without an update, do not despair! I will not stop until this story is completed (god help me, I'm going to regret saying that, I just know it). Again, if this chapter seems a little rushed, I apologize, but I want to try and get as much out as I can before succumbing to writer's block again. Thanks your for your patience and your reviews, and please enjoy!
Two hours later
"My lord, if these Jeedai have planned an ambush for you then you cannot go out without the protection of your warriors!" insisted Garagh.
Jacen gave the head of his Slayers a kind smile. "I am grateful for your concern, my friend, but have I not already explained the futility of arguing with me? It was sometimes said that I had a head as thick as a vua'sa. I have explained my plans to you, Garagh, and I know these Jedi. I will be in no danger."
"But my Lord Slayer," insisted the warrior, "the Jeedai are dangerous opponents that cannot be underestimated. With their weapons…"
"Their blasters are no more dangerous than any other blaster I have faced as the God-I-Am," interrupted Jacen, "which means they will eventually have to put those aside for their lightsabers. They will have to close for hand-to-hand combat, and that my friend, is a range that I am exceedingly good at."
But Garagh wasn't about to give up so easily. The Lord Slayer's familiar, Vergere, had told him many times how stubborn their lord was, and Garagh hated getting it full in the face. Well, maybe stubbornness could be overcome with more stubbornness.
"My lord, if you insist on this course, please take a full squad of Slayers with you. If the Jeedai do attack they can protect you and kill them before you come to harm."
Jacen sighed and shook his head. "How many times must I tell you, Garagh? I do not want these Jedi killed. Their survival is integral to my plans. That is why I want my guard force to consist of shivering brenzlits who will die in the ambush. And if you fear my being caught by surprise, let me ask you when has that ever happened? Remember, my warrior, Ganner, is among the Jedi now, and he is just as concerned for my well-being as you are. He will warn me when they are getting ready to spring the trap, and I will be prepared. Do you understand this?"
Garagh grumbled under his breath. He hated hearing his lord's arguments a second time, because now that he'd gotten all of his protests out of the way, the Lord Slayer's plans made sense. Oh, he would have to take his lord to the floor one of these days and vent his frustration.
"I hear and obey, my lord," he muttered.
Jacen laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "Do not be so sullen, Fearsome One. I knew you would object to my plans in virtually every way. Why do you think I admitted you to my quarters alone? Now, who have you selected as my guards?"
Garagh suddenly fumed, knowing that his lord had expected his objections. It was dishonorable to have been so predictable. And yet, the Lord Slayer had been most gracious to keep this humiliation private. One more thing that Garagh owed to the God-Before-Him.
"I have selected Dahn and Savong as your guards, along with the two squads of ordinary warriors for your honor guard," he answered.
"Excellent," replied Jacen, "I appreciate your concern, Garagh, it helps demonstrate your loyalty to me. Do not fail to object to my plans when you think them foolish, at some point they may be and I will need your protests for me to see them as such. There is no shame or dishonor in being overly cautious for one you are sworn to protect. Now, prepare to get everyone in position."
This is perfect, thought Jaina.
The path that this Slayer had to take to get to the sacrifice would take him through this southern section of the Sacred Precinct. Here, the roadway became a valley, with the crushed remains of two buildings as large hills to either side. It was a natural ambush site. Jaina briefly wondered why it hadn't been used before.
About the only thing that concerned her was there were several places where someone could slip into the downlevels. Not that she was too worried about it, this Slayer seemed to spend all his time in the Citadel and with hordes of warriors, he'd probably get lost down there.
Jag was next to her, setting up his repeating blaster. Lowie was doing the same farther down the bend in the road, so that the two of them could be shooting from both sides. The rest of the team was scattered on the hills, blasters at the ready. Now they just had to wait.
Farther down the hill, Ganner and Kyp stood waiting. The former only had his lightsaber, and was looking forward to getting into battle with some of the warriors. Jaina had insisted on silence until the Slayer arrived.
At the turn, Ganner suddenly caught a glimpse of Jacen's entourage.
Everyone be ready, came Jaina's thought.
Ganner sought Jacen's mind through the Force, that nearly-invisible aura of his. Jacen, you're coming up on us, get ready.
What do you think, I'm blind? came the amused reply.
Well I hadn't realized you'd gained the ability to see through that duracrete hood of yours, Ganner shot back, grinning slightly.
Next to him, Kyp saw his old friend's grin and wondered how Ganner could be looking forward to this fight. He must have suffered in the Embrace of Pain more than any of them had thought.
By this point, the honor guard was reaching the center of the bend.
Jaina's next thought was full of urgency and dark hope. Now!
The Jedi rose together and opened fire together. The Vong warriors stood in shock for a moment, but then the Slayer bellowed an order and they raced into the hills. Only two short warriors in red tunics stayed at his side.
Jaina took aim at the Slayer and opened fire for all she was worth. She could see Tahiri, Zekk, and Alema join her fire. She smiled darkly, but it instantly faded as the Slayer's hands flashed about faster than her eye could follow, absorbing every blaster bolt sent his way. Tahiri screamed and had to duck as one of the bolts was reflected back at her, missing her by centimeters.
Lowie, take out the Slayer, she ordered through the Force.
But even as the Wookiee shifted his fire from the warriors, the Slayer seemed to know exactly what was happening and stretched his hand. Lowie was suddenly flung back a meter and then the repeating blaster was ripped from its support tripod, hanging in midair. The Slayer's hand then swung about, and Jaina suddenly felt her own blaster ripped from her hand and saw Jag's repeating blaster tumble down the hill.
When she looked up, she saw that everyone's blaster was in the air. All Jaina could do was stare, unable to grasp that the mind that held their weapons was vastly stronger than her own and she could do nothing but watch as their blasters were crushed. She came back to her senses as she heard the familiar snap-hiss of a lightsaber and saw Ganner rise up and take down three of the warriors in the span of heartbeat.
Sithspawn, she thought, when did Ganner get so good with a saber?
Lightsabers were ignited among the rest of the Jedi team, and then they rushed forward. Jag still had his blaster pistol and kept his fire on the warrior's flanks, where they were vulnerable and where he didn't risk hitting any of his allies.
Jaina let her anger fill her as she cut down warriors one by one, not allowing anything to stand in her path to the Slayer. As she got a break, she saw that the Slayer was striding casually towards one of the entrances to the downlevels, with those two warriors still at his sides. He seemed to notice her gaze and turned to her, that black void where a face should have been was still shadowed by his hood. Suddenly, he beckoned for her to follow, and then vanished into the darkness.
A roar next to her and Jaina was suddenly staring down the business end of an amphistaff, but before she could move a sulfurous yellow lightsaber hewed the warrior's head, and a tall Jedi stood before her.
"Thanks Ganner, I owe you one."
Ganner grinned. "Don't mention it."
With a gruff nod, Jaina sprang away from the others, racing for the entrance to the downlevels, intent on following the Slayer, until someone grabbed her arm. Kyp.
"Jaina, what the kriff do you think you're doing?" he demanded as the others made their way through the remnants of the Vong warriors, "You can't go into the downlevels, it has to be a trap. He wouldn't have gone down there if he didn't think it was safe for himself."
"Maybe," she answered, "but that son of a Sith killed my twin brother, Kyp. I'm not going to stop chasing him until I have his head on a Force pike to wave about like a banner."
Jag started to follow her and the other Jedi when he felt a hand on his arm. Turning, he saw Ganner with a strange look on his face.
"Jag, do me a favor," said the big Jedi, "and keep your head down when we go in here. Everyone is going to assume you're a Jedi, and can take everything we can. I'm just saying, be careful."
"I appreciate your concern, Ganner," he said with a nod, and meaning it, "now I've gotta go catch up with my wife."
The area was dark, only the slight illumination provided by their lightsabers allowed the Jedi to avoid tripping over the debris scattered around them. Then they saw him, standing with his back to them under the glow of a single lamp.
"Welcome young Jedi, I have been expecting you," said the Slayer, "You no longer need your weapons, put them away."
A wave of serenity and calm rolled off of him at that point, an aura of trustworthiness, but also one that commanded obedience. Jag, untrained in the Force, immediately holstered his blaster without thinking. Even Tekli deactivated her lightsaber, but instantly snapped it back to life when she realized what she'd done. The other Jedi had to struggle against that overwhelming aura to stop themselves from obeying.
"Most impressive," congratulated the Slayer, "I knew that you had all grown powerful in the course of the war. But it is interesting to see how far you've progressed."
"Can it!" snapped Jaina, "How long do you think you could hide, huh? Once we found out about you, it was only a matter of time before we stopped you."
The Slayer laughed, and Zekk could feel the amusement roll through the Force. The Slayer himself was as blank a void as a Yuuzhan Vong, but there was something about that laugh, something familiar…
"My dear Jedi Jaina Solo," said the Slayer through the remains of his laughter, "do you think the Alliance and the Jedi so well prepared for me? Let me hazard a guess as to how long you have known of my existence. One month? Perhaps two? I have been here for nearly five years!"
"I'm sorry to hear that," came Jaina's retort, "you could have been a hero with the Alliance."
"Here, I am Yun-Yammka."
"Not anymore. We're going to put an end to you right here, right now," she said menacingly.
"That would be… unwise," said the Slayer, who finally turned around to face them and waved his hand.
Suddenly the area was flooded with light, and the Jedi team was forced to close their eyes in sudden pain. It took several moments for their vision to clear, but when it did, all they could do was gasp in horror, and a little bit of fear.
They were surrounded. At least twenty or thirty of the red-clothed warriors were around them, though most were clustered around the Slayer. But worse was the others. Almost two hundred Shamed Ones were there as well, all of them armed with blasters, thud bugs, and amphistaffs. Tahiri recognized among them the scouts who had led them to the Alliance resistance and those who had first brought them to the Prophet.
"You see Jedi," said the Slayer, "I am not without allies in the most remarkable places. Neither my warriors nor the heretics will allow any harm to come to the God-I-Am. Yet, I have no desire to kill you yet, Jedi. I brought you here because in these catacombs, these downlevels, Supreme Overlord Shimrra has no eyes or ears. The only spies down here are my own. To you, Jedi, I have an offer to make. I am willing to make a deal to end this interminable war between our two peoples, both of whom I feel loyalty towards. Alliance and Yuuzhan Vong."
Jaina looked around at the others. There was a great deal of hesitation, and even a bit of fear in their eyes. They had fallen into the Slayer's trap perfectly. Jaina knew he could have them all killed with but a wave of his hand, and those short warriors and the heretics would probably happily die for him. But this deal he wanted to make… could she make a deal with someone who everyone believed killed her brother. And just what was her brother's fate. Everyone here on Coruscant believed he was dead, as did she, but if this murderer could tell her the truth once and for all…
"First, tell me what happened to my twin brother," she managed to say without her voice breaking.
The Slayer was silent for a moment. "The boy you knew as Jacen Solo is dead."
There was dead silence among the Jedi for several moments, and a few of them lowered their heads in grief. Jaina felt tears welling up in the corners of her eyes. She had known Jacen was dead, known it with all the certainty she could without having seen his body. He wasn't in the Force, and there was nothing in her twin bond with him. Whenever she sought the familiar comfort of Jacen's spirit through the bond they'd shared since birth, she found… only silence, only emptiness, only lack.
But to hear it from the mouth of the one who had most likely killed Jacen, it was a whole different sabaac game.
I swear by the Force, Slayer, I will see you dead for killing Jacen, she silently swore to herself.
"There is a great deal more to the death of Jacen Solo than that," continued the Slayer, "but I will not share the details of it with you now. No, the details will only be spoken once, and to the entirety of the Skywalker and Solo families, with friends of Jacen Solo present, too, if they wish."
Lowbacca could stand it no longer. He'd been friends with Jacen ever since they'd arrived at the Jedi Temple on Yavin. The Wookiee considered him and Jaina to be a part of his honor family, and he would defend them as resolutely as he would his own brothers or sisters.
With a roar of Wookiee rage, Lowie leapt forward, igniting his lightsaber, ignoring the calls from Jaina and Zekk.
Three of the short warriors stepped forward, ready to meet the charging Wookiee. But the Slayer almost casually waved them back. When Lowie was only five meters away, the Slayer stretched out his hand.
A massive blast of purplish-white lighting leapt from hand and slammed into Lowie, throwing the Wookiee Jedi back over ten meters. Lowie's ginger fur was smoking as Zekk and Tekli ran to him, with the large Jedi moaning from the pain.
"Lowbacca," intoned the Slayer, "nephew of the mighty Chewbacca. I would recommend that you not do that again. The punishment for disobedience a second time would be… severe."
Jaina was barely holding her temper in check and almost pulled out her lightsaber again if Ganner hadn't stepped forward.
"All right, you've proven your point," said Ganner, "You mentioned some kind of deal, let us know what it is."
"The deal is thus. I shall have the Shamed Ones return you to your hidden coralcraft, the Trickster, I believe you call it. Once secure you will leave the planet. I have left instructions with Warmaster Nas Choka to permit you to leave without interference. You will then return to Mon Calamari, where I will arrive in two weeks time with a small contingent of my warriors. At that time, I will tell you all I know of the fate of Jacen Solo, and how I believe this war can be ended with further loss of life kept to a minimum, as I know you Jedi will be sympathetic to. I must warn you, Jedi Goddess Yun-Harla, that despite your moniker I am far more experienced in deceit and treachery than you are. If I suspect a trap, then my warriors will come in one fell swoop and destroy everything in their path. Do we have a deal?"
"You must think I'm an idiot," growled Jaina, "Do you really think I would ever have any kind of truce with the man who killed my twin! I will never deal with a Vong stooge like you!"
The other Jedi shifted uncomfortably as several of the heretics and red-clad warriors shifted their stances and held their weapons in a more ready position. They were worried that this Slayer might just order an attack in any case.
"Jedi Jaina Solo, tell me, do your feelings of rage outweigh the potential to end the war?" asked the Slayer, "Do you think that an endless spiral of destruction is the dream Jacen had? Is that what you think Anakin died for?"
Jaina choked back a sob at the mention of her little brother's name. His loss was just as powerful as Jacen's. She could remember that moment as vividly as if it had just happened. The amphistaff spearing through him while Ganner and Tesar pulled her away. Jacen had grabbed a hold of Tahiri. Her last sight of Anakin was as he'd fallen weakly to his knees before falling to the ground.
She was furious. At her brothers for dying, at herself for constantly remembering them, and at the Slayer for bringing them up. But this Vong flunky had her outmaneuvered yet again.
"Fine," she breathed, "I'll do what I can with my family. However, I can't guarantee any cooperation from Alliance command. They want you dead almost as badly as I do."
The Slayer chuckled darkly and motioned to one of the Shamed Ones. That one came forward slowly and laid a datatape at Jaina's feet.
"That tape details an imminent attack by the Yuuzhan Vong against the hyperspace relay station of Esphandia," explained the Slayer, "It gives the number and type of Yuuzhan Vong vessels as well as the identity of the traitor within the station's personnel. You know of course, what would happen if Esphandia were to be destroyed?"
"It's the only working relay station to the Unknown Regions," gasped Jag, "if it gets destroyed, the entirety of Chiss space will be completely cut off from the rest of the galaxy!"
"Precisely, young Jag Fel," congratulated the Slayer, "at which time, the forces of Domain Val will be free to fall upon the Chiss without fear of reprisal by your Alliance or the old Empire. If I meet with yourself and others on Mon Calamari, I might be persuaded to divulge more information to the Alliance. Any objections?"
The Slayer stood still for several moments, that shadowed void where his face should have been stared into each of the Jedi in turn. Everyone squirmed under that gaze and lowered their eyes, unable to match the aura of pure power that seemed to radiate, not through the Force, but through some other means. For even as they withered under his gaze, they were still unable to sense him through the Force.
When no one spoke, the Slayer seemed to nod in satisfaction. "Good. Then I will leave you to return to your ship. On a direct path you should reach it by tomorrow evening. Do not try to go back on the deal, otherwise I will have you killed. But for now, you will excuse me, I am running late to oversee a grand sacrifice."
With that, the Slayer gave them a mocking bow and vanished into the shadows, followed by his warriors, until the Jedi were left alone with the heretics.
Several hours later, Jacen returned to the sanctuary of the Citadel, mentally and emotionally exhausted. He couldn't believe how tired he was. He hadn't been this tired since Vergere had shown him how to replace his need for sleep with meditation.
Vergere was waiting for him. "How did your encounter go, Jacen Solo?"
"As expected," he replied with a sigh, "we have two weeks before we are expected on Mon Calamari. Are my other plans underway?"
"They are, Jacen Solo," she replied, "Supreme Overlord Shimrra demanded an update on your plot to convert the Jedi."
Jacen sighed again. He was so blasted tired. Tonight he would sleep, not meditate.
"Tell the Supreme Overlord that the infidels are floundering in their weakness and the failure of their religion in the face of the power of the True Gods. Inform him that they flee to their corrupted society seeking the safety of their lies, but I will break their serenity and deliver to them the Light of the Truth. But for now Vergere, I need to rest."
The Fosh nodded, her headcrest splaying a light tinge of blue that he'd come to recognize as sympathy and turned away, leaving him alone in the Citadel's corridors.
He was tired of plotting, tired of betrayal, and tired of lying. Having to face Jaina and restrain himself from wrapping her in a Wookiee-hug had been worse than he'd expected. And how could he have brought up Anakin during their meeting? Sithspawn, what had he been thinking? His voice had nearly cracked when he mentioned his little brother's name.
Without thinking, his tormented mind stretched across the vastness of space to Sekot, to whom he poured his confusion, his heartache, and his pain. Sekot accept those feelings gladly, responding with a sense of strength and comfort. As Jacen soaked in that comfort, he found his resolve and determination revitalized. He sent back to Sekot how much he owed the planet.
Do you know what it is I crave? asked Sekot.
Peace, long life, a clear conscience? Jacen sent through the Force.
All of those are necessary for a good life, replied Sekot, then with a twinge of sadness added, and all of them come at a price.
That's what you want then, he sent back, understanding Sekot's nature, to pay the price and earn a good life?
I think that is what we all want, isn't it Jacen Solo?
Jacen smiled as he entered his quarters. Yes it is Sekot. That is all someone can wish for.