HE'S ALIVE!
Sorry to everyone once again for the long delay. This is a long chapter, mostly romantic, but you'll get hints that Jacen's been planning things for a while. Things should start coming together soon, keep with me. As always, I look forward to your reviews, they kick me out of my stumps and keep me writing. Once again, thank you and enjoy.
One week later
Leia Organa Solo walked with trepidation. She had only had brief glimpses with her son since his arrival two weeks ago, and now she made her way to his apartments. She really didn't know what to expect. Certainly the hug he'd given her had been warm and loving, she could feel his love through the Force, but she was still uncertain about him. He'd been through so much, could he still be the son she'd lost?
Nervously, she stopped before his door. It was a multi-room apartment that the Alliance had given to Jacen. Nothing fancy, but usable.
Before she had a chance to ring for entrance, the door slid open and revealed Ganner Rhysode.
"Welcome, Madame Solo," he greeted with a genuine smile, "please come it. The Lord Slayer has been expecting you."
Leia stepped in and was amazed. The main room was empty except for a table, holomaps and blaze bugs hovered above it combined to show… something. Leia realized they could have been looking at anything, but as she stared, one of the Yuuzhan Vong warriors, Garagh she thought, turned off the holomap and the blaze bugs turned into a uniform gray color.
Garagh approached her, his face stony and determined. Leia suddenly felt a desire to run out, but she felt a wave of reassurance from Ganner, and saw the tall Jedi smiling brightly.
"Ambassador Solo," said Garagh in that rough voice of his, "you will surrender your weapons and all belongings to be searched. The Lord Slayer is not expecting you."
"I'm his mother," insisted Leia, trying to control the well of fear that standing this close to a Yuuzhan Vong warrior inspired in her.
"The God-Before-Us does not take well to surprise visitors," insisted Garagh, "surrender all that you carry or I will take it from you."
"Garagh," said a softly chiding voice, and Jacen then strode out of the other room, "you are a mighty warrior and a fine guardian, but you must learn to add some common sense to your thoughts. She is the mother of the khattazz al'Yun, the Avatar of the Gods. Even were she to enter here with an infidel blaster and a Jedi lightsaber, I would have nothing to fear from her. Come, Leia Solo, we will talk."
Jacen motioned for her to enter the other room, and then quickly followed, shutting the door behind them. Leia sat on the edge of the bed and watched as Jacen sat down next to her. Leia knew that no one else would see the pain and exhaustion in her son's eyes. He had become too good of an actor, or a diplomat.
"Sorry about that nerf-and-wookiee show back there, Mom," he apologized, "Garagh is still grappling with the concept of striving for peace. There are times I know he wants to just pull out his amphistaff and slay the other Jedi."
"How can you trust him?" Leia asked, amazed.
Jacen flashed her that crooked smile he'd inherited from his scoundrel of a father. "Trust, Mom, is always a matter of faith. I don't believe Garagh will betray me. Therefore I am able to trust him."
Leia took his larger, calloused hands in her own, then brought one hand up to stroke his cheek. This face was so different from the boy she'd known. There was no youthful roundness, only stony, rock-hard lines of manhood. There was the scar near his hairline, an amphistaff wound if Leia ever saw one, and two smaller scars, one at the corner of his left eye and the other just to the right of his nose. Then there was that scruffy, uneven beard that covered his face.
"I hate this beard," she commented with a smile.
"Yuuzhan Vong have very little care for their appearance," answered Jacen chuckling, "I never had a reason to shave."
Leia's eyes turned serious. "What happened, Jacen? How did you change so much?"
"The boy who was raised as Jacen Solo was killed while he hung in the Embrace of Pain," said Jacen calmly, "For all my life, Mom, people expected things. I was expected to be a great Jedi, a warrior, a pilot, whatever. I looked to you, and Dad, and Jaina, and Uncle Luke for examples of what I was supposed to do. But when I died, I was truly alone. I didn't have any of you to look to.
"That was the gift Vergere gave me. I had the chance to learn, and grow, and shape myself in the manner that I chose. I learned to be who I chose to be. Not who anyone expected me to be. And once we choose who we are, then you have the secret of power, because nothing can threaten you. You are as good a person as you can be, and nothing anyone can do will change that."
"That's what Vergere taught you?" asked Leia, astounded that the bird-creature could have taught that.
Jacen flashed that crooked grin again. "It's not what the teacher teaches. It's what the student learns. Vergere taught me how to suffer. She taught me how to be confused. She taught me that the universe is painful, uncaring, and can hate you with all the power at it's disposal. What I learned is that you can meet the hatred of the universe with your own hatred, or with acceptance and love."
"Which did you choose?"
"Which do you think I chose?"
"I don't know," answered Leia honestly, "Jaina…"
"Jaina meets much of what she encounters with anger and hostility," finished Jacen, "her tendency is to lash out and destroy the source of the pain and hatred. But I learned it's kind of hard to destroy the universe. Pain is merely pain, nothing more. It can be the force that breaks you, or the power to make yourself unbreakable. I learned this. You learned this."
"Me?" echoed Leia.
"Of course. Your pain was watching Tarkin and grandfather destroy Alderaan," answered Jacen, "That kind of pain could have broken you, it could have made you fall to your knees and spill everything you knew about the Rebellion. But instead it hardened your resolve and fighting spirit. You had faced the worst pain you could imagine, and came out stronger for it."
Leia was speechless for a few moments as she absorbed all that Jacen had said. Jaina had told them what she'd felt when Jacen opened their twin bond; pain, fear, hatred, betrayal, loss. But underneath it all a current of calm strength, an unbreakable will. Leia nodded. Her boy had grown into an extraordinary man.
"Why did you join them, Jacen?" she asked, "Why didn't you come home sooner?"
"I had a choice to make," he answered, "I could become a great Jedi warrior, slay hundreds or thousands of warriors before dying myself, or I could make my sacrifice count for something. To be honest, I don't expect to survive this war, but I am determined to ensure that the galaxy is at peace before I permanently traverse the Paths of the Dead."
Leia burst into tears at Jacen's serious declaration and threw her arms around him. It took a few moments for her to feel her son return the embrace. She felt his strong arms hold her and Leia instantly felt so much more at peace. There had always been something about Jacen. Something that made people instantly comfortable.
"Now Mom," he said into her shoulder, "What was your real reason for coming over?"
Leia pulled out of the embrace with a smile, and was pleased to see that Jacen too was grinning.
"A mother can't come and visit her son, wanting to talk about the pain he's gone through?"
Jacen chuckled. "Most mothers would, but not you. You're as devious as anyone I've never known."
Sighing, Leia pulled out the bag she'd brought with her and handed it to Jacen. A slight grin was on his face as he looked inside.
"Clothes?"
"For tonight's gala," she replied, "I figured you didn't have any formal wear from the Yuuzhan Vong so I had Threepio digitally get your measurements. I do expect you to appear at least somewhat presentable."
"Mom, I'm 23 years old," said Jacen, with that crooked grin on his face, "I think it's a possibility that I might be able to dress myself."
Leia smiled and shook her head. "Not a chance, Jacen. You're your father's son, and he still needs me to dress him for these things. I think it's genetic, you were doomed from birth."
"Look, Mom, it's nice but…"
"Please?" she pleaded, trying to give him a sad face, "For your mother?"
Jacen grinned and sighed. Since when had his mother gotten so good at guilt-tripping him?
"All right, all right, I'll wear it. Politicians," he mumbled the last part under his breath.
Leia smiled. She'd heard the last part, as she was supposed to. As she looked at her son, she could see no trace of the boy she'd loved for nearly twenty years, all that was left was the hardness of a man who had been through the Corellian hells. Yet something of that boy remained in Jacen's eyes, in that crooked grin he'd inherited from his scoundrel father, in his easy humor.
Jacen glided to his feet and extended a hand to help her up. "It's getting late, you're going to need time to get ready for the ball. More time than I will, at least."
Leia took her son's hand and the two of them walked back into the sitting room. Jacen's face instantly went from a contented smile to a stony mask of seriousness. Leia was amazed at how much of an actor her son had become in five years.
In the far corner, Ganner was talking easily with Garagh and the other warrior. All three were instantly alert when they came into the room. The other occupant was Vergere, who watched them with half-closed eyes.
"Leia Solo," said Jacen imperiously, "I am glad you came, your insight is most refreshing. You may return to your rooms now. I would recommend, Leia Solo, that you advise your fellow Jedi infidels to bring their lightsabers with them tonight. Just as a precaution."
Leia looked at Jacen as though he'd suddenly grown a second head. Why should they bring their lightsabers? There will be thousands of guards at the Coral Palace. Before she could ask what he meant, Leia felt Ganner's hand on her arm and gently but firmly directed her out of the room.
As soon as the door closed behind her, Jacen turned to the others. "Is everything prepared?"
"The infidels are making final preparations," replied Vergere.
"Your warriors are ready for tonight," agreed Garagh, "They are eager for honorable battle."
"Announcing Colonel Jagged Fel and Colonel Jaina Solo-Fel!"
Tahiri watched as her two friends descended the grand staircase into the Coral Palace's main ballroom. Jag wore his formal Chiss military uniform while Jaina wore a dress cut similarly to Tahiri's, but in a pale blue as opposed to Tahiri's emerald green. She'd been chatting easily with Danni Quee. Between the two of them, they were attracting a fair share of male attention.
As Jag and Jaina finally made it down the stairs, Jaina sent her two friends a beaming smile. Jag was waylaid by his uncle, Wedge Antilles, and brought over towards a group of other senior officers.
Jaina took the opportunity to go over to Tahiri and Danni.
"Wow, Tahiri, so you can wear shoes!" teased Jaina.
The younger blond blushed as Danni laughed.
"Announcing Queen Mother Tenel Ka of the Hapes Consortium!"
The three ladies turned and looked up the stairs. Tenel Ka was resplendent in a magnificent gown that was a study in shades of lavender, her copper-colored hair was impeccably styled. She descended the stairs with effortless royal grace, something she'd learned in the years since becoming the queen of Hapes.
"Friend Jaina," she greeted.
"You make it look as though you do this all the time," she replied.
Tenel Ka shrugged. Even that seemed an eloquent gesture. "Since becoming queen I have had to deal with Hapan nobility. They have an unfortunate need to be constantly impressed by their ruler."
Jaina nodded in understanding. If Tenel Ka wasn't able to impress them every chance she got, then they would have no respect for her and start working against her, instead of against each other to gain her favor. For the moment, she was lucky to have their support.
"Jaina," began Tenel Ka, hesitating, something she almost never did, "I do not know how I can face Jacen. I do not know how I can tell him the news. How can I this, after what I did at the landing pad?"
Jaina laid a hand on her old friend's arm. "He'll be okay. You know Jacen, he always understands."
Tenel Ka nodded uncertainly as Tahiri and Danni came over.
"Hey, did Leia talk to the rest of you about bringing your lightsabers?" Danni asked the others. Although a disaster with a lightsaber, Saba had insisted that Danni carry one.
Tahiri smirked. "Yeah, she got me on the comlink about an hour ago. I didn't buy it, so I didn't bring."
"Me neither," agreed Jaina, "I think my brother's gotten a little paranoid."
"Even paranoids have enemies," commented Tenel Ka.
"Yeah, but can you imagine what Jacen will come dressed in?" sneered Tahiri, "He'll probably be just as scruffy as when he arrived. What do you think? Beard, robeskin, and amphistaffs anyone?"
"Announcing Jedi Jacen Solo!"
Every pair of eyes in the Coral Palace turned to the top of the staircase at the same moment. Jacen stood in the center of the staircase, looking nothing like the Slayer he'd arrived as nor as the boy he'd died as. Jacen had just shaved, and his hair was straight and tied back into a ponytail that hung down his back. He wore a pair of black pants, a dark maroon red shirt and royal blue jacket. He looked… heroic.
Behind him stood Ganner Rhysode and Garagh. The former wore a dark brown military-styled uniform, while the Yuuzhan Vong warrior wore formal, floor-length blood-red priestly robes. Together, the three of them slowly descended the staircase into the ballroom.
Tahiri found it hard to take her eyes off of Jacen. Although Anakin had been her first, and to-date only love, she had to admit that she'd never suspected Jacen could have become so handsome. Beneath the beard, unkempt hair, and the robeskin, it was impossible to have known. She swallowed as she saw Jacen turn right to her and toss a lazy wink.
People began breathing again as Jacen finally made it to the bottom of the staircase. Ganner and Garagh moved off to one side, keeping their distance from anyone else but maintaining an eye on Jacen.
Jacen, meanwhile, made a direct line to the four women.
"Jaina, Tahiri, Danni, your majesty," he greeted with a wide and friendly smile, "may I say that all of you are looking absolutely lovely? Queen Mother, might I have the honor of this dance with you?"
Tenel Ka hesitated once again, which made Jacen's eyes narrow, and suddenly there was a Hapan nobleman at Tenel Ka's side, who gripped her arm possessively.
"I am sorry, Jedi Solo, but that is quite impossible," he said haughtily.
"And who are you to make that decision?" asked Jacen.
"My name is Droekle Tar'Velon, and the Queen Mother's first dance must be with her fiance. Me."
One eyebrow raised in surprise, and possibly amusement. "Engaged? Well, well. I was unaware of this development. My spies will have to be taught a lesson for failing to bring me news of this importance. I offer you my congratulations, Queen Mother. Perhaps it would be possible to have the second dance, so that I may properly offer my best wishes?"
"I'm afraid not," answered the Hapan nobleman, "the Queen Mother cannot dance with commoners."
Jacen turned to the nobleman and gave the man an icy cold smile. Were they on Yuuzhan'tar, Jacen knew that smile had more than once preceded sending someone to their death. Ahhh, sometimes he missed Yuuzhan'tar.
His eyes then turned to Tenel Ka. "Does this man speak for the Queen Mother of Hapes, or do you Tenel Ka?" Without waiting for an answer, Jacen then turned to the others. "Danni Quee, could I interest you in a dance?"
She immediately took his outstretched hand and Jacen led the two of them out to the dance floor, where Jacen smoothly brought them into the middle of the music among the other dancing couples.
"Well now, this is something I didn't expect," she commented smiling.
Jacen gave her one of his famous Solo grins. "What didn't you expect? That I can dance?"
"What else would I be talking about?" returned Danni, "Where did you learn to dance so well?"
"When you aunt enjoys dancing as much as Mara does and you are forced into so many formal balls and galas because you mother is the Chief-of-State for the New Republic, you pick up a few dance steps here and there," answered Jacen with a chuckle.
"Mara Jade knows how to dance?"
"That was one of her original covers when she was still with the Empire," he replied easily, "and as loathe to admit it as she is, Mara loves to dance. She simply does it in private. But when we were on Yavin, she made sure that Jaina, Anakin, and I could all hold our own on the dance floor. How did she put it? Oh yes. She wasn't going to have her niece and nephews embarrass her as much as her husband did. Of course, she's taught Uncle Luke a few dance steps since their marriage."
Danni brought her eyes up to meet Jacen's, running her hand against his freshly-shaven face. He gave her one of the kindest smiles she'd ever seen in her life.
"I can't tell you how good it is to have you back with us, Jacen," she said, "You can't imagine just how lonely everyone's been. We never realized how much a part of our lives you were until you were gone."
Jacen grinned. "Boy, Danni, I'll be burned if you don't make a guy feel missed. See, if I'd gotten this kind of love and respect before I was captured… well, I probably still would have been captured."
Danni almost groaned but Jacen pulled her closer and held her as they danced. Danni knew what she had told Jacen at the refugee camp, that anything between them didn't feel right, but at this moment, she knew that there was no safer place in the universe than wrapped in his arms.
All too soon, the song ended and they returned to the others. Without a word, Jacen grabbed his twin's arm and dragged Jaina out onto the dance floor.
"You know, if you're trying to make my husband jealous, it won't work," she joked, "he knows you're my brother."
"Yeah, but who says his eyes are telling his brain that it's me you're dancing with?" he asked, his eyes twinkling.
Jaina grew instantly serious. "You're not using the Force to…"
"Of course not," he said, shaking his head, "Sith, Jaina, you've gotten almost as bad with jokes as Tenel Ka. Whatever happened to your humor?"
"War burned it away," she answered sadly, "How is it that you still have yours?"
Jacen smiled. "The universe is a hard, painful, uncaring place. You can meet it fighting and angry, or you can meet it with love. If you do the latter, then you can remain who you are. There's so much pain in the universe that it can overwhelm you if you try to fight it. Accept the pain, meet that pain with all the goodness in your heart, and let the pain make you stronger."
Jaina was silent for a few moments as they continued dancing. Now about halfway through the dance, her eyes began to water.
"Hey there, sis," said Jacen softly, "No tears. You shouldn't ruin your make-up."
"I thought you were dead for so long," she whimpered, "Jacen, I almost went to the Dark Side. I hated the Yuuzhan Vong so much, I thought that going dark was worth it to destroy them."
"I know. I could feel it," replied Jacen, "Do you believe that I could think any less of you? You're my twin, Jaina, and I'll love you until the day we become one with the Force."
"How can you stand that pain? When you opened up our twin bond, I could feel the pain those monsters put you through. How did you ever survive?"
Jacen's mouth turned into a sad grin. "Vergere taught me a great deal about pain. Pain is not something that you can avoid, or run away from. Eventually you have to turn around and face it. Only then can you make yourself invincible."
Jaina looked into her brother's eyes, and saw those unfathomable depths, yet those depths were filled with compassion. She glanced over towards the side tables and saw Tenel Ka talking fiercely with the Hapan nobleman, Droekle, whom she was betrothed to.
"She loves you, Jacen," she said softly, then looked into his eyes, seeing only an infinite sadness, "She loves you more than you can possibly imagine. She told me that when we thought you were dead. Tenel Ka told me that she would live her life forever regretting that she never told you how she truly felt."
"I know she does," replied Jacen, "I know. I wish I'd known how I felt. I wish I'd gotten it through this block of duracrete that sustitutes for a skull."
"There's still time, Jace," his sister told him, "this marriage that got cooked up… it's her grandmother's doing. Ta'a Chume decided if she can't get Tenel Ka off the throne, then she was sure as heck going to decide who sat on the throne with her."
The song ended a few moments later, and Jacen replied to what his sister had said only with a knowing smile. The two of them went back to the others, where Jaina suddenly grabbed her husband and took him out to the dance floor. Jag looked to Jacen for help, but only got a sympathetic smile in response.
Tahiri almost laughed at the look of desperation on Jag's face. She knew he wasn't much of a dancer, especially when there were others watching. But the laugh died as soon as she realized that Jacen stood in front of her.
"You look beautiful tonight, Tahiri," he said, "I was hoping you might honor me with this dance."
Before she could respond, Jacen gently grasped her hand and pulled her out to the floor.
Tahiri was uncomfortable. This close, it was impossible to deny how handsome Jacen was, and worse, that she felt some connection to him. Perhaps it was only the fact that he was only other person in the galaxy who knew the Yuuzhan Vong in any way similar to hers.
"I can feel Riina Kwaad in you, Tahiri," he said suddenly, "Both of us can feel the Yuuzhan Vong in the Force. I think that's why, despite the anger and hatred I feel from you, I can also sense some bond between us unlike anything else."
"I hate you, Jacen," she muttered, "and not just because you lived when Anakin died. I wish it had been you. It should have been you who died for your ideals. But even worse than that is who you've become. You've embraced everything that was forced upon me. That's why I hate you. You've accepted all of this, and I'm just trying to figure out who I am."
"That's the question, isn't it?" he replied, "Who are we? What are we? That is a decision we have to make. We have to choose who we are. It's not something that anyone else can tell us. That's a decision only we can make. I have learned to combine the opposites within my own nature. Warrior and pacifist, slayer and healer, Jedi and Yuuzhan Vong. I've passed beyond those distinctions. They're merely words, half-truths, lies that describe how little we understand. I've been able to cut through the differences and make myself whole, and that's why you have to do. You have to square with both of your identities and find out what you are."
"Oh, and I suppose you know exactly what you are," said Tahiri snidely.
"Of course. I am Jacen Solo. What are you?"
Tahiri was silent for several moments as Jacen continued to lead them through the dance. She didn't know what she was. Was she really Tahiri? Or was she Riina Kwaad? The two personalities had finally merged years ago to create a whole new Tahiri, but she still didn't know what she should be. Was she a warrior for Domain Kwaad, or was she a Jedi? She went back to what Jacen had said. I am Jacen Solo.
She shook her head, wishing Anakin was with her. Everything made sense when he was around, there were no questions.
"Don't wish for what cannot be," said Jacen softly. Tahiri didn't even wonder if he'd been listening to her thoughts. She knew it had carried through their unique bond. "He would have wanted for you to live your life as a whole person, not as a fragment or bound to him."
Tahiri's eyes began to water at the memories of Anakin, and Jacen gently brushed them away. She leaned and rested her head against Jacen, feeling safe in his arms. There was an amazing difference between the brothers. In Anakin's arms, Tahiri had always felt as though he was ready to dive into action, that he was a coiled spring waiting to be released. Jacen, however, was like a calm pond. Anakin had been full of passion, Jacen was full of serenity. Tahiri thought it as dishonoring Anakin's memory, but she actually felt safer as Jacen held her.
"Anakin's last words to me were about you," whispered Jacen, as Tahiri lifted her head to look into his eyes, "He told me to kiss you for him. I think it's about time I carry out his last wish."
Jacen gently cupped her cheek with his hand, and delicately pressed his lips to her forehead. Tahiri closed her eyes as she imagined it was Anakin who held her close. As he pulled away, Tahiri looked at Jacen, tears filling her eyes.
"Thank you," she whispered.
The dance ended then, and the two of them returned to the others. As they approached, they could see Tenel Ka standing straight and proud. Droekle, the Hapan noble, stood off to one side, glaring at them.
"Friend Jacen," greeted Tenel Ka, "if you are still willing to share that dance, I have determined that the Queen Mother can dance with a commoner, especially if such a commoner is her oldest and best friend."
Jacen gave her a wide smile and offered his arm. "Your majesty, for you, there's always one more dance left in me."
As they began dancing, Jacen recognized the tune as a love song from an old Alderaanian opera. His mother used to love listening to it while she worked. He turned his attention back to Tenel Ka, reminding himself once again that there couldn't be any woman more beautiful in the whole galaxy.
Gently, she brushed her hand, her right hand, her new prosthetic hand across several of the scars on his face.
"They're nothing," he said softly, "just some lessons that I had to learn while I was with them."
Tenel Ka shook her head, grief marring her beauty. "What could they possibly have to teach you?"
"Is it what the teacher teaches?" he asked in reply, "Or what the studen learns? Vergere asked me that many times while I hung in the Embrace of Pain. What the student learns is vastly more important than anything that one can teach. Take our lightsaber accident, for example. What Uncle Luke taught us was how to wield the elegant weapon in combat. What I learned was that in battle you must always be in control, you must always be aware of what you're doing. Otherwise, there can be unforseen, and terrible consequences."
"You've grown, Jacen Solo," she told him, "wisdom suits you."
"And it seems that the life of a queen suits you," he replied kindly, "Marriage? I didn't take you as one to marry for politics. And what is it with this new hand of yours?"
Tenel Ka looked at the hand and grimaced. It looked no different than her other hand, and it felt the same sensations, from the warmth of Jacen's hand to the cool evening breezes of Hapes. But after years and years without a hand, it was taking a great deal of time to learn how to use a second hand again.
"This hand," she said slowly, "my advisors agreed that I must give the nobility and the people the image of a queen, a perfect woman. Battle scars were, how did they put it, inappropriate for the Queen Mother of Hapes. Now they have agreed that to quell some of my more outspoken critics, I must have a husband. My grandmother's machinations gave the honor to Droekle, but I care nothing for him. There is, however, one man that I love more than I ever could have dreamed, and wish beyond all hope that I could marry him."
"That must be one lucky man," said Jacen, his voice thick, "who is he?"
Tenel Ka favored him with a loving smile. "That would be you, Jacen Solo."
Through the Force, the two of them shared their love in ways that words never could have. Words would have been merely half-truths; lies. The Force… now that was everything.
"Sithspawn, I hope Tenel Ka and your brother don't go at it right on the dance floor," joked Tahiri as she looked at Jaina.
"Oh, I didn't need to hear that," responded Jaina, turning to thank Jag as he brought over drinks.
"That nobleman Droekle doesn't look too happy about the situation," commented Danni.
The three girls turned to the Hapan, whose eyes were staring holes into Jacen and Tenel Ka.
"We should keep an eye on him," agreed Tahiri, "Jacen'll need others to watch his back. Besides Ganner and the Vong warriors."
"Since when are you concerned about Jacen?" asked Jaina.
Tahiri shrugged. "Since I realized that he really is a good guy. And my hatred of him was just… childish. Tenel Ka's a lucky woman."
Off to one side, Ganner Rhysode and Garagh were keeping to themselves in the shadows. People glanced at the two of them, and then hurried away as the Supreme Commander of the khattaz al'Yun, the Avatar of God, glared at them.
Ganner chuckled. Over the last two weeks, he'd spent a great deal of time with Jacen's Slayers. He could understand why Jacen liked them so much. Ganner and Garagh had sparred several times over these weeks, lightsaber against amphistaff, and both found great respect in the other.
"You know, you are a terrifying warrior, Fearsome One," commented Ganner.
The warrior glanced at him. "The warriors of your Alliance are brenzlits. They fear death and pain. I do not understand how such great warriors as yourself and the Lord Slayer could have come from such cowards."
"Don't underestimate humans," suggested Ganner, "we an inventive people. And when a person's back is against the wall, you'd be amazed what they're capable of."
Garagh nodded, but was unconvinced. Ganner and the Lord Slayer were unlike any he had encountered on this infidel world. He looked over at the Lord Slayer, dancing with the queen of Hapes.
"Our lord seems on rather intimate terms with this one," he said, "Can she be trusted to be so close to the Lord Slayer?"
Ganner glanced over at Jacen and Tenel Ka, and smiled. "Oh yeah. We can trust her. Those two have been in love since they were… well, crechlings, I guess you'd call them. She will never attempt to harm the Lord Slayer. Perhaps, if the Force is kind, they will have a chance at a peaceful future together."
"Peace," whispered Garagh, "I find myself wishing for it, though I know not what it is. Perhaps it is the sensation we felt on Zonoma Sekot."
"Was it a comforting feeling?" asked Ganner, "Did you feel that if you never fought another battle ever again, you'd be content?"
Garagh nodded slowly.
"That's peace, my friend."
Garagh nodded again. "Then the Lord Slayer is right once again. Peace is worth every struggle, everything we have done is worth it to feel that way for all one's life. It is, strange. But I will die to achieve peace."
"Hopefully Jacen can figure out a way for us all to have peace without dying," commented Ganner.
"If there is any in this galaxy who can do it, it will be the Lord Slayer," said Garagh confidently, "Our Lord will bring us all peace."
Tash Breny'yla had certainly lived up to his side of the bargain, Griest knew. He had brought nearly a hundred men and women with him, and every one of them had entered the palace undetected. They knew their targets. The most critical was Jacen Solo. A prize would be Cal Omas.
Griest's scouts checked the next series of hallways, then sent back a clear signal. He and others followed, getting ever-closer to the main ballroom, where Breny'yla had said they'd be.
He knew that the rest of the galaxy considered Jacen Solo to be a great hero, but before they were all killed or captured, Griest knew that they would denounce him as a heartless traitor.
Tenel Ka had gone back to Droekle in one of the far corners and was having heated words with him while Jacen looked on from a distance. He knew Tenel Ka could handle herself whether in a lightsaber duel or with words. As he watched, Jacen sipped carefully at his drink. It was almost time…
"You know she loves you," said Jag quietly.
Jacen turned to the black-haired pilot.
"She was really broken up after coming back from Myrkr," he continued, "so I guess now the question is, what do you plan to do about that?"
Just a few seconds more…
"Well I guess the first thing I'm going to do is make sure she survives this fight," replied Jacen.
Jag's eyes narrowed instantly. "What fight?"
"You'll see in a moment."
Before Jag could say anything else, a pair of doors were suddenly blasted off their hinges and dozens of people surged out. A second set of doors followed the first and more people streamed into the the ballroom. They were all armed.
One of them, an attractive man in middle age suddenly pointed to Jacen.
"There he is! Jacen Solo is a traitor to the Alliance! Your time to die has come for the crimes you've committed!"
All eyes turned to Jacen, but he only smiled as Ganner and Garagh came up to him, the former igniting his lightsaber and the latter unfurling a long amphistaff.
"I only have one thing to say to that," said Jacen, "since there is no way we can avoid this fight. Rrush'hok ichnar vinim'hok! Die well, brave warriors!"
Blasters were raised at Jacen, but in that instant, five of the thugs suddenly drew amphistaffs, slicing through the others near them, and their faces began peeling away, revealing Jacen's other Slayers beneath ooglith masquers.
"Kill him!" ordered Griest.
Blasters fired across the ballroom. Ganner bounced shots away with his lightsaber as Garagh rushed forward to engage in honorable combat, dodging past the shots of the thugs.
Jacen merely raised his hands, blocking the blaster bolts with his palms as people screamed and were diving for cover.
Luke, Mara, and Leia had brought their lightsaber, and Han had managed to hide his blaster beneath his jacket and began returning fire. There was little need. Jacen was blocking the blaster bolts and redirecting many of them to hit the thugs, killing them.
Two thugs attacked him in hand-to-hand, but Jacen met the first with a rapid knife strike to the man's throat, and the second man's momentum carried him right into Jacen throw. By the time his backside slammed into the ground, Jacen's arm was already around his throat, and then Jacen snapped his neck.
Jacen looked up. His Slayers were already taking a beating, but not one of them was showing any signs of slowing down. Off to one side, Droekle had his back to a wall and his hands up, but Tenel Ka, even without a lightsaber, was still fighting the thugs. Suddenly, one of them got the drop on her and clubbed her over the head.
Jacen's vision immediately went red.
Twin amphistaff blades suddenly shot out over his fists, having been hidden in the same place he always kept them. Jacen Solo waded into the thick of the battle.
Six thugs attacked, but Jacen spun and twirled about, keeping his amphistaffs in constant motion. The first had his throat opened by a slash. The second two were each impaled through the heart. The third and fourth were opened from hip to shoulder as Jacen sliced across their chests. The fifth simply died where he stood as Jacen used the Force to crush his heart, and the last man tried to run, but Jacen grabbed him by the shoulder and stabbed him through the back.
The others watched the slaughter, for that's what it was. The attacking thugs were no match for Jacen, Ganner, and six Slayers. As Jaina watched, all she could remember were the words from the man on Coruscant, who had seen Jacen fight on the seedship: All he did was walk, and kill.
She could see he'd been right.
As Danni watched Ganner and Garagh fight their way to Jacen's side, she could have sworn that at one point Jacen was laughing.
Suddenly, Tahiri noticed that one group of thugs had broken off from the fight and were looking through the people who were daring to watch from the sidelines. She noticed that they stopped looked as they spotted Cal Omas, and their weapons raised.
"Look out!" she screamed.
Four blasters opened fire on Cal Omas at once. But in the space of an eyeblink, one of the Yuuzhan Vong stood in front of the Chief of State. The four blaster bolts burned a hole through the warrior, but even as he fell back, the Slayer threw two razor bugs and then his amphistaff through the air, killing three of the four thugs.
From across the room, Jacen yelled out the warrior's name, although Tahiri didn't catch it. A single bolt of purplish-white lightning erupted from Jacen's hand, and arced across the room, detonating in the thug's back and sending him flying. He didn't move after that.
Griest couldn't imagine how his plan could have fallen apart so completely. How could five Yuuzhan Vong have infiltrated his group so easily? How could the traitor have been so well-prepared for this? How?
As he and his last few survivors made their way to the doors, he saw copper hair and knew he would need a hostage. He grabbed the beautiful, but unconscious woman and held her in front of him like a shield.
The last of the others with him died from razor bugs and a thrown coufee knife.
"Stay back!" he screamed, holding a vibro-knife to the unconscious woman's throat.
"Tenel Ka!" cried the traitor.
"Queen Mother!" called another man, a coward who had stood against the wall.
"You let me out of here," Griest said to the traitor, eying the Yuuzhan Vong and the one Jedi who even now closed in on him, "You keep your men back or I'll slice this beauty's throat open, you hear me!"
Jacen gave the Yuuzhan Vong some order in their language, and every one of stopped in their tracks, but kept their weapons ready. Tenel Ka began to stir in his grasp and suddenly woke up, but stopped struggling as she felt the vibro-knife against her throat.
"As long as your friends don't do anything stupid you should have no trouble living through this," said Griest.
"Look, whoever you are, just let her go and we'll give you anything you want," said Droekle, "you can go free, get a ship, and leave the planet unmolested, anything you want. Just don't hurt her!"
But Griest wasn't listening to him, he eyes were solely on the traitor, Jacen Solo. He was laughing.
"What are you laughing about?"
"Tenel Ka, you wanna hear a joke?" asked Jacen, "What do you call a person who uses you as a hostage?"
"I don't know, friend Jacen."
"Dead," he answered seriously.
Tenel Ka nodded once, then threw her head back into Griest's face. Her hands grabbed his knife-arm, pulling the blade away from her throat. As she twisted his arm around she threw a solid punch into his lower ribs.
Jacen was there in a heartbeat, his hand wrapping around Griest's throat and lifting him into the air.
"Please, please I beg you. Mercy, please," pleaded Griest, realizing at this moment that he didn't want to die.
"Mercy?" echoed Jacen, nodding, "Very well, I can be merciful. You will not go into the Embrace of Pain."
Jacen slowly lowered the man back to the ground, but before either of them said another word, Jacen sliced his throat open with his amphistaff.
"You will not harm anyone ever again," whispered Jacen.
He turned to Tenel Ka, who was looking at him. Not with fear or revulsion, as he'd feared, but with compassion, understanding, and boundless love. As his amphistaffs curled back into their customary position, Jacen tenderly hugged Tenel.
"My Lord Slayer?" said Garagh, "What do we do with the frew surviving brenzlits?"
"Send them to the gods. Recover Savong's body, and we will treat his bones with high honor for saving the life of the Chief of State. Come with me, Jedi, we have to talk about now."