Chapter Two
Teamwork; Rescue Mission
Same Time, Inquisition Flagship Bane..
Laurana woke up in an all white room, the room she recognized from her Force vision the night she was taken on Utapau. As if on cue, the man in black armor emerged from a turbolock nearby. "You are very powerful, young lady. I have been searching for power such as yours for some time. He smirked, his yellow demonic eyes seeming to bore into Laurana's very soul.
"I have nothing to offer you! I have done nothing wrong, and you have kidnapped me!" Laurana snapped, the man only smirking in response.
"Maybe, but I am not above taking the chance you won't do something against my rule. However, if you join me, you shall have unlimited power and rule the galaxy by my side."
"Never!" Laughing, the man put his hand on Laurana's forehead, and she began to scream.
Two Weeks Later..
Laurana sat in her chambers, silently crying at what the Supreme Inquisitor had told her just hours ago..
The Supreme Inquisitor smirked as he saw Laurana in the Sith assassin gear he had told her to wear. "Laurana! I have called you here to send you on a.. Little reconnaissance mission." He told her. "I have had a vision of some Jedi," He said the word as if he was about to gag. "On Coruscant in two days. I want you to go, leaving immediately, and find them and kill them. That is your final task in your training. But, there is a catch. These Jedi know you." With that, he left her room as his words sunk in and made sense to her.
Now, as she finished her preparations, Laurana sighed. "Nick.. Sariana.. Please let it not be you.. Or Elliot. Anyone but Elliot." A tear escaped her eye and fell to the floor as she left the room for the shuttle bay.
Meanwhile, Library, Hidden Temple, Taivas..
Nick and Sariana were in the library, doing some research Master Jiang had asked them to do earlier in the week. Despite being there more than a year or two (Beckha and the younger Jedi respectively) more than Nick and the other three newcomers, Nick and Sariana had proven to be much quicker learners than their seniors, with Elliot and Corbyn slacking off a bit but still pretty on par. Beckha refused to be partnered with Corbyn for anything, stemming from their first day and whatever the two shared in a Force vision. Corbyn, however, wouldn't even tell his friends a vague summary, which startled Nick and Elliot knowing Corbyn was pretty brash about such things usually.
The two younger Jedi Palom and Porom Oryko had taken an instant liking to Nick, and were suddenly more behaved than they had been since Master Jiang began teaching them. Elliot had explained to the elder that Nick always had a gift with younger kids, they gravitated towards him because he actually got to know them. Back when they had been growing up at the orphanage, the younger kids listened to him more than the staff, so eventually Nick just took it upon himself to keep them in line if they were going to listen to his words and not the adults. It also helped Sariana realized that if Nick was good with the children, then Anakin's words that day had more merit than she had thought.
As for the two of them, despite not being afraid to talk to each other, they had avoided speaking of the kiss for a couple of days after it happened. Since then, they were usually seen together, studying or meditating or even sparring. Although, Sariana was jealous that Nick didn't have to use a training saber since he had his own. If they had a true moment of peace in their usually busy days the two teenagers would sneak a kiss here or there.
They heard a huff and Corbyn appeared around the corner of the nearest shelf, looking at them. "If I just sit around and do nothing about something I'm afraid to act on, does that make me a coward?" He asked them.
"Yeah, pretty much. My advice?" Nick replied, looking over the datapad in his hand. "Go do something about it, you pansy."
Corbyn laughed as Sariana tried to hide a giggle. "Alright, you're right. I'll be back if things turn south." That caused Nick to laugh as Miarlo left the room.
"Think it has to do with Beckha?" Sariana asked, her eyes glued to her own datapad.
"Oh, of course. There's no doubt." Nick said as he scrolled through the information on the datapad. "This is interesting. Look at this." He flipped the datapad so Sariana could see.
"Looks like something we should try in our next sparring session." Sariana replied, her tone suggestive as Nick shook his head at the more confident Sariana.
Corbyn sighed as he knocked on the door. A soft "Come in." Was heard as the door slid open and he instantly regretted going in as he saw Beckha lying on her cot upside down, her head close to the floor as she looked at him. She had a simple white shirt on that was, because of gravity, showing off her toned stomach and a pair of nightwear shorts.
She righted herself and sighed. "I really have nothing to say to you, Corbyn."
"Well I have something to say. I know we only just met that day, and somewhere in the next week, somehow we wind up hooking up, but it doesn't really bother me." Beckha gaped at him. "Hear me out. Master Jiang told us all to trust our visions, that they help shape who we are. If that's the case, then I think we should have talked about it that day. He also wants us older padawans to be able to work together, and I can't well work with someone that won't even acknowledge that I exist. I won't sit here and say some stupid bantha fodder like everyone thinks I would because I come from a wealthy family. I'm smarter than they think, and if both of us saw the same thing, then I expect you to swallow whatever makes you act like you're scared of the future and work with us, with me how the Master expects us to. We can't fight the Inquisition if we all can't work together." Without even waiting for a response, Corbyn left the room.
Beckha sat there, thinking about what Corbyn had said. He was right, she was scared for her future, but the fear wasn't from relationships, it was from not being able to control every outcome and save those she couldn't. Death and life were always in a delicate balance, and if you saved one person it only meant they would die soon after or another person would die in their stead. And, like most things in life, Beckha thought it wasn't fair. She couldn't save her parents from being killed, what's to say the next time someone close to her was in danger she wouldn't be able to save them?
Master Jiang knew of her fear, and all he told her was that fear lead to one falling to the Dark Side, and that she should trust in herself, her visions and the future, for visions were just glimpses into what could be, not always what will be. Corbyn's right. I have to talk to him. She sensed he was in the library with the rest of the students. Why is everyone together? Is something going on? Hurriedly getting dressed, she made her way to the library.
When she reached the library, Master Jiang turned and smiled. "Ah, good. That makes everyone. Now, Nick, your team is all here, you give them the situation."
Nick sighed. "Alright. Well, a friend of Elliot, Corbyn and mine has a job for us to perform, but the whole team is going for some 'field training' in our teamwork because we are still pretty lacking there. Also, Master Jiang will take the twins with him on a separate assignment to go and speak with Corbyn's father on Naboo, flying Corbyn's ship to further hide his identity. That means, Palom, Porom, you both behave and listen to whatever the Master tells you, or I will hear of it."
The young padawans stiffened, knowing Nick knew how to punish them for not listening when they should. Nodding, Nick smiled. "Good. Now, first we are going to Malastare to meet up with the client. After, I have some shopping to do down there," His eyes met Sariana's, the other teenager nodding. "And then we go to Tattooine to drop off one shipment, then Coruscant for another. We will be staying the night on Coruscant before coming back to resume training. Other mission parameters will be set when the time arises. That said, Seniors get ready for a trip." Master Jiang nodded, scattering the five older Jedi to pack while he lead the two twelve year olds to their rooms in the other residential wing.
A little under an hour later, Beckha arrived in the hangar and began walking up the ramp of the Centennial Eagle, not knowing that wasn't Nick's ship. A voice interrupted her ascent. "That's my ship. Nick's is the one that looks like a turtle." Said Corbyn as he climbed down the ramp. "I had to send the message to my father to expect Master Jiang and the twins on my ship." He explained.
"Oh." Beckha replied, following Corbyn to the Force Shadow. "Listen, Corbyn.."
"It's alright. We can talk later." Corbyn smiled, making his way to one side of the corridor they entered into. "You and Sariana are sleeping in the room on the other side. Nick figured we'd all be better off sleeping boys and girls style."
Beckha laughed nervously. "Yeah, he might have a point there. Alright, I guess I'll see you around then."
"Of course. There's not much to really see on this ship. Nick and Elliot do keep her running at maximum, though."
In the cockpit, Nick and Elliot were making sure everything was running correctly. "Alright, hyperdrive is primed, engine is heated enough and navicomputer is set to Pyrell's little yard. What did he want us for that's so urgent now?" Elliot asked as he checked the instruments.
"Well, we're delivering some Spice to Kuabba the Hutt and a few full containers of Droid CPU chips to a salvage yard on Coruscant."
"And which one was that favor he had for you to do when Corbyn tracked us down?"
"Salvage yard. Apparently, he told Kuabba I was his fastest client to deliver the Spice, and got twice the price he would have sold it for otherwise. We get half of that profit minus fifteen thousand credits for the materials he needed to create the cloaking engine."
"Sounds like some good, easy money. Can't go to the cantina in Mos Eisley though."
"Wouldn't even try. Those idiots would sell out their own crew or captains just to make an easy score. We'll stop by a club on Coruscant. That's always fun." He missed the look Elliot gave him, having a bad feeling that was going to be the setting his Force vision had taken place.
Malastare, Pyrell Salvage Farm, Fifteen Standard Hours Later..
Nick, Elliot and Corbyn stepped out of the ship, greeted by a trio of Jawas. "Pyrell is expecting us." Nick said as one Jawas nodded, leading them inside the sales area.
Once inside, the trio saw Pyrell the Zeltron emerge from under the counter. "Ah, my friends! So sorry to hear about your sister." He said to Nick as they shook hands.
"She's not dead, you prat. But thank you, nonetheless. Is everything ready to bring aboard the ship?"
"Of course. Oh, and where is the half-Zeltron you have in your group."
The three men looked at each other. Zeltrons were notoriously known for being able to sense any species by their emotional state, but this was still news to them. "We don't have a half-Zeltron with us. Not to our knowledge." Corbyn said.
"Really? Strange. I can feel one of my own kind on your ship, without a doubt. I also feel a human from Dantooine."
"He means Beckha, I'm pretty sure she's from Dantooine. So the Zeltron would be.."
"I knew something was up with Sariana," Elliot said, prompting Nick to glare at him. "She has a metabolism like yours, mister never gain an ounce. But she can also eat you under the table in one sitting."
Nick thought back to the feast they had a week earlier, realizing Sariana ate much more than he had. "So half-Zeltrons don't have the signature pink to red color?"
"Not usually, but they can be a bit more tan. I may have the percentage wrong, though. She could be a quarter Zeltron instead."
"That's interesting to ask of her later. In the meantime, when is Kuabba expecting us by?"
"Since you're the fastest one I got, I told him you'd be able to have it there by tomorrow morning, and you should. Your ship will be stocked up within the hour and its only a couple hours to Tattooine from here."
"Really making me have to rush things." Nick sighed, taking his comlink out. "Sariana, are you there? I need you in the shop, and bring Beckha too."
Moments later, Sariana and Beckha had entered the shop. "Good, there you both are. Girls, this is Pyrell, he's our client. Corbyn, Beckha has a short list of some minor components we need for the ship. Limit is fifty thousand credits, get what you can. Pyrell, I'll pay for it when I come back. Sariana, time to go shopping."
"Hey, what about me?" Elliot asked.
"Easy. Stay here and make sure those little scavengers don't do anything to our ship." Sighing, Elliot nodded and headed back to the ship.
As Nick and Sariana left the shop for the small market nearby, Corbyn and Beckha rummaged around in the back of the shop. "So, Corbyn.. You were right, what you said earlier."
"Nice to know I'm right sometimes. So, you're taking the chance we have to try to work together?" Beckha nodded as she plucked a circuit from the shelves of spare parts. "A heat reduction coil? In such good condition, too. That's one off the list.. Wait, why are we picking up droid parts?"
"Nick wants to upgrade the BB unit on the ship into a protocol droid. I looked and saw what he'd need so I wrote it all down so I could do the job while we travel."
"Wait, you know droid maintenance?" Beckha nodded. "That's so cool. I actually have an old protocol on my ship I've been trying to get working, but I can't tell what's still wrong. Maybe after we get back to Taivas you could take a look at him for me?"
Beckha smiled. "Sure. So, you're really not afraid about what happened between us in that Force vision?"
"Nah. I've always wanted to be a Jedi, my father told me stories Master Jiang had told him before the Inquisition took over, so being able to see glimpses is pretty cool. And, I think you're actually really good looking, so that vision actually made me glad, even though we were both freaked out about it."
"You aren't kidding. I wanted to strangle you right then because of how much it surprised me."
"I probably would have welcomed that too, being you and all." Corbyn winked at her, making Beckha giggle.
"Okay, so you're actually a nice guy. Still conceited because you're wealthy, I'm never changing that opinion." She stuck her tongue out at him.
"I'm hurt that you even think of me like that. Seeing as how I'm not really wealthy right now. For now, Nick is my boss for this team and as a job."
"And how did that happen?"
"My father cut off my inheritance until I can show him I can work and actually do something with my life. I trust Nick and I went and asked him if I could join his crew for some extra hands."
Beckha nodded as she picked several spare parts from the shelf she was currently looking on. "You guys do seem close."
"Well, the three of us have gotten into enough trouble together, usually because of me. Supposedly, Nick is still paying off the last band of pirates we crossed almost sixth months ago."
"I knew you were nothing but trouble." Beckha said playfully, shaking her head.
"That's not always a problem, though. Most women seem to enjoy trouble just as much as us guys hate getting into those messes." That made Beckha laugh as they continued finding the components they needed.
Some time later, the two were back on the Force Shadow, Beckha now tinkering with the blue and white BB astromech droid. "Pass me that wrench, would you? Poor little guy has a stuck bolt. He won't move with it jammed." Corbyn chuckled as he passed her the specified tool.
Nick and Sariana wallked into the little maintenance bay and smiled at the other two. "Good, you two aren't trying to stay away from the other like you have the plague. Or trying to kill each other. How's BB-T3 coming along?"
"Good. The protocol matrix might not run smoothly when you first start him up, but I can fix that back on Taivas. You need him for Tattooine?" Beckha asked.
"No, Huttese I can understand. No, his use will come later. But thank you for agreeing to work on the little guy. Elliot, prep for takeoff, its off to Tattooine."
"Affirmative, captain. Tattooine, arrival in approximately three to five hours. Please strap in for liftoff." Came Elliot's voice throughout the ship as Nick brought the bags from his and Sariana's shopping trip to her and Beckha's quarters. He figured whoever wasn't busy should get some rest before they hit Coruscant, and they shouldn't be too long on Tattooine if it all worked out easily.
Meanwhile, Theed, Naboo..
Master Jiang, Palom and Porom sat at the dining table with Riann Miarlo, Corbyn's father. "It really is good to see you again, Fyaruk. I was worried the purges would have done you in."
Jiang chuckled. "It is good to see you too, old friend. Did Corbyn relay that I was training him now?"
"No, I'm sure he didn't. Hopefully he isn't being too much trouble." Riann laughed.
"Not at all, he takes his training very seriously. Its usually these two with me that cause most of my trouble."
Riann looked at the young Jedi. "These two? Surely not. If they're so much trouble than why are so well behaved?"
"Well, I don't know if you know Corbyn's friend Nicklas Nekron, but he has got these two wrapped around his finger. And also his threats of punishment scare the twins."
"Last time, Nick had us stand on one hand balancing ourselves while levitating several large rocks to create a small solar system and made us stay like that for three days." Palom stated.
"And he told us that's the kind of training he'll have us do if we misbehave." Porom added, making the Nubian man chuckle.
"You both know that's the same training Luke Skywalker was given by Master Yoda in the days of the Empire. I admire Nick for figuring out that it can be used to keep the two of you in line. Now, Riann, as for why I've come."
Riann nodded. "Yes, I was wondering about that myself, Master Jedi."
"Well, as you now know, I am currently teaching any future Jedi. However, even if I had a hundred fully trained Jedi, it would not be enough to stop the Inquisition. But, Corbyn mentioned to me that you have several contacts within the Opposition. And I have a feeling we're going to need their forces. But, they are not easy to find."
"This is true, but necessary otherwise the Inquisition would destroy them before they were ready to strike. I can, however, arrange a meeting. We can even have it by hologram in my private study."
"That sounds most welcome. Would we be able to do it today?"
"I don't see why not. Let us retire to the study, then. Follow me, my friends." Riann got up and began walking out of the dining room, Jiang and the twins following close behind.
Entering the study, Riann closed the door and pressed a few buttons on the terminal on his desk. Suddenly, several hologram call were sent, being answered one by one until there was a ring of hologram images of various leaders throughout the galaxy. First was Dreeana Typhos, the formal queen of the people of Bespin, her elegant dress billowing out behind her. Next was a mild-mannered Dug (which surprised whoever met him) named Pakta Sebulba. Jiang was surprised more by the current leader of the normally pacifistic Zeltron people, or at least their lead senator Delen Karye.
Next was the military leader of Mon Calamari, Admiral Aptlay, his fish-like eyes looking straight at Jiang. The fifth member of the motley crew was Commander Adarian Zarr, current fleet master of the Chiss. Lastly was Gyrelia Hahn, current leader of the Zabrak of Iridonia.
"Senator Miarlo, why have you called us here today?" Asked Pakta Sebulba, his short forearms twitching about.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I have called you all here for a meeting of the utmost importance. The man standing here next to me and the two young teenagers are some of the few remaining Jedi left in our galaxy. Master Jiang, you have the floor." Riann motioned for Jiang to step forward.
Jiang bowed his head. "Esteemed members of our galaxy, my name is Fyaruk Jiang, current Grand Master of the Jedi Order, what is left of it. Currently, I have seven apprentices training day and night to be the best they can be, and each of them is powerful in the Force. The twins I have with me are the youngest, while the other five are all older, in their late teens. Currently, the older students are on their own mission, lead by one of my best students, a Corellian orphan named Nicklas Celondia Nekron." Dreeana narrowed her eyes at Jiang, recognizing the name.
"Excuse me, Master Jedi," She interrupted. "You said Nicklas is alive? What of his sister? Are my children safe?" Her questions surprised even Jiang.
"Wait, your majesty. You are Nicklas and Laurana's mother? Why didn't you ever go look for them?"
"Their father, bless his soul, took them to keep them safe. Subconsciously, both of them were already showing their ability to use the Force, and Laurana was only just an infant when last I saw them. When I heard Elias had been killed, I feared the worst and that they had died as well." Dreeana explained, a tear rolling down the hologram's cheek.
"Well, Nick is doing fine, but I'm afraid Laurana is in the hands of the Supreme Inquisitor. I tried to rescue her and Nick both when I found them on Utapau as Nick had been searching for his sister for twelve years. Since she had been kidnapped and sold to slavers on Utapau." The look of rage at what her children had gone through without her in their lives was apparent to everyone present. "That was two weeks ago. Nicklas, being an accomplished and- according to what him and his friends have told me- respected pilot and occasional smuggler, is with his team on their way to Malastare to pick up some shipments to deliver to Kuabba the Hutt on Tattooine and a droid salvage yard on Coruscant before making their way back to training. However, each of my older students have told me that on Coruscant, there is a chance Laurana will also appear. But, that is not the true reason why I called to speak to you all.
"My real reason is to ask you all for your help, the Opposition's help, in aiding our new Jedi in taking down the Inquisition. I ask a lot, but without the combined military force of the Opposition and the Jedi whose numbers shall grow in the coming months, the Supreme Inquisitor will win in the end. Nicklas has seen a vision where he is aboard a new breed of Death Star, one which will once activated, wipe out every flame of life in our entire galaxy, trying to stop it from the control console. So I ask again: will the Opposition stand with the Jedi?"
"Bespin will stand with the Jedi," Dreeana said with determination. "And I will ensure my daughter is saved from that madman,"
Adarian gave the military salute, bringing his fist to his chest. "The Chiss stand with you, and will offer protection for that barren world we know you call home."
"I will need further persuasion, but will consider your proposal." Pakta Sebulba said. "As bad as galaxy-wide extinction sounds, there is no proof this weapon is even being commissioned."
Delen Karye nodded. "I agree with Pakta about this. Until we have more proof, I am sorry to say the Zeltrons must stay otherwise neutral with this situation."
Admiral Aptlay made a gurgling sound. "Excuse me. I would feel ashamed at refusing to help, for my great-great grandfather Ackbar would never refuse to help those who need it. Mon Calamari and its ships fight with the Jedi."
Gyrelia cleared her throat. "We Zabrak are always up for a good fight, and to make up for the evil deeds done by the Zabrak known as Darth Maul, we shall lend our aid to the Jedi as well. I assume Naboo already agrees to help Master Jiang and his disciples?" She asked Riann.
The Nubian nodded. "Of course. Naboo has always been a friend and ally to the Jedi, despite Palpatine's machinations in bringing about the Empire's rise."
Master Jiang nodded, bowing again. "I thank you for your time and consideration. If anyone must get in touch, I will receive coded transmissions by way of Corbyn Miarlo's ship the Centennial Eagle, bounced to us by Admiral Zarr, if he would be so kind."
"It will be done. I will personally make sure they reach you. I must go, I have another meeting to get to." The Chiss said before his hologram disappeared.
Soon, the other Opposition powers left the holo-meeting, all except for Dreeana. "When are my children to be together on Coruscant?" She asked.
"I do not know about Laurana, but Nicklas and the rest of his team are supposed to stay there overnight tomorrow after they make their trip to Mos Eisley. Why? What do you plan to do, your Majesty?"
"I plan to break Garruf Jarell's hold on my daughter, and make sure she gets back to your academy unharmed. I will not lose my children to the evil of the Inquisition and the Sith like I did my husband." She looked to the side, in her own chambers. "Colonel Calrissian, ready my ship with a batallion of undercover troops. We're going to Coruscant." Turning back, she wiped a tear away. "Thank you, Fyaruk, for informing me of my children. I failed them once already, and I will not let that happen again. Good day." Her hologram disappeared, leaving only Jiang, Riann and the twins.
"I must say, old friend, that went better than I expected."
Jiang nodded. "Yes, but I fear events have now been altered. I have never heard of Dreeana being such a warrior before."
"Her children are in their own form of danger, and any mother has that instinct to do whatever they can to make sure they are safe. If you had had a child, you would feel the same I think." Fyaruk chuckled as they left the study to discuss other matters.
The Next Day, Outer Rim, Aboard the Force Shadow..
Nick sat cross-legged in the upper lounge, meditating as per the routine he had taken back on Taivas. His meeting with the Hutt had gone as he expected, with the small alteration that Kuabba himself had been there to greet him in Mos Eisley. Nick took a breath and called for the Force to give him focus on the next few days. The reason being that on Tattooine, he felt a shift in the Force, and he would rather be ready for anything that could happen. The Force answered his call, bringing him into a vision.
Nick sat at a table in the club the group had decided to stop into to avoid unwanted attention. He saw Elliot talking to a girl at the bar as if he knew her, and it took Nick mere moments to realize it was his sister. I'll let Elliot try to get her home with us first, He thought. If that doesn't work, I'll see what I can do. Suddenly, Nick gaped at his best friend as Elliot and Laurana first had a standoff before he kissed her. Unfortunately, Laurana didn't take that too well and bolted out of the club.
Nick got up and followed her out, stopping her with the Force. "Laurana, stop and talk to me."
Laurana turned around, and Nick saw tears as he motioned for her to follow him into the nearest alley. Once there, Nick embraced his sister. "Jeez, sis, we've been worried sick about you."
She sniffed. "I know, Saria told me, and so did Elliot.. He told me he loved me, Nick!"
"I know. He truly does, Laurana. Why are you being so stubborn about coming back with us?" He asked her.
"Because I can't! The Supreme Inquisitor, he gets inside your head, and once he does you can't stop his control." Nick laughed at that. "And why the hell are you laughing about that?!" She scowled.
"Because that's total bantha fodder. Listen to me, sis. One of the first things our Master told us was to trust ourselves and our friends. I know I haven't been able to help you as we grew up worlds away from each other, but I'm going to help you. You just have to listen to me right now, alright?"
Laurana obviously looked conflicted, but nodded. "Alright, Nick. I trust you."
"You better, little sister. Now, in order to stop that madman from getting inside your head, you need to close your mind to him. Simple as that. All you need is to believe in yourself. You, me, Sariana, even Elliot. We're all much more powerful than the Supreme Inquisitor thinks we are. You just gotta have faith." Laurana nodded. "Now will you please come back with us? None of us will let you get hurt or controlled. Especially Elliot."
"Alright," She agreed, slight hesitation in her voice. "But there is one little problem."
"I know. The ten Inquisition troops that have been blatantly following you around." Laurana looked at him, surprised. "We all knew you would be here on Coruscant when we were. They can't stop five determined Jedi from taking you out of their hands." Suddenly, an Inquisition shock trooper appeared, the blaster rifle in their hands discharging shots that blew past the siblings.
As Nick's hand went to his lightsaber, ready to draw, there was another shot before the trooper fell to the ground, a smoking hole in the middle of their back and a man dressed in civilian clothes nodded at them. "Nicklas and Laurana Nekron?" He asked, to which both teenagers nodded, confused. "Your mother is expecting you. Follow me, before any more Inquisition troops come." Looking at each other, the siblings ran after the man, Nick contacting Elliot and the others by comlink.
Nick's eyes shot open, the vision visibly shocking him to his core. Mother? He thought as he went to join the rest of the young Jedi, unsure if his getting through to Laurana was really the best course of action.
Entering the cockpit, the other four turned to him and noticed the odd expression on his face. "You okay, bro?" Elliot asked.
"Yeah, pretty good actually. Although Laurana should have slapped you," Elliot's eyes widened, as he hadn't told Nick about the kiss. "I just had a Force vision. While we're on Coruscant, we are getting her back. But, there has also been a new development. For now, let's just get this shipment over with. Beckha, do you need anything else for T3?"
"Maybe. I'll go double check. Do you want me to make sure your repair droids are all functioning right?"
"Shit, yes please. Be mindful of the orange one, he tends to start smoking."
"Gotcha." Beckha got out of her seat and went down to the cargo bay where Nick kept the droids.
As Nick sat down in the now unoccupied seat, he saw Elliot open his mouth. "Don't. I get why you did it, and I think things need to go that way if Laurana is going to come back with us. Just wish you'd have told me about your actions."
"And what? Have you kill me for making a move? I don't think so."
"I wouldn't kill you. Make you my bitch next time we spar, probably, but not kill." Elliot shook his head and turned back to the controls.
Meanwhile, Inquisition Shuttle Maja..
Laurana had just experienced the same Force vision as Nick, and remembering his words she tried to close her mind off to those around her. After a few moments, she felt a foreign force push itself away from her, and she found that she could think more clearly than she had the past two weeks or so since Utapau. Nick, I'm coming. Please just be on Coruscant. She thought, ignoring the revelation about their mother.
Aboard the Bane..
Garruf Jarell felt his influence ebb away from Laurana and he cursed, sending several objects in his quarters flying into the walls. "Grier!" He called out, being answered by one of the thirteen High Knights entering the room.
"Yes, my liege?"
"Go to Coruscant and make sure young Laurana does not leave the planet unless it is on our shuttle. She is too powerful for the Inquisition to lose."
"Right away, lord." Grier hurried out of the room to depart.
Coruscant, Several Hours Later..
Nick shook hands with the Toydarian that ran the salvage yard. "My associates will receive the payment, minus whatever fees for the parts they bring for purchase. Don't be cheap, Uddo. Pyrell expects the full payment otherwise, and I'm not giving him the half he claimed while taking credits out of my cut, understood?"
"Yes, Nick, I understand. It is good to see you again. I have something you might like, if you'd like to see." Uddo had done business with Nick before, and the one time he tried shorting Nick, it had not ended well for the Toydarian.
"Not today, Uddo. Got some other business to attend to. Save it, I'll stop by the next time I'm in the system or Pyrell has another shipment for you that I can bring." Uddo nodded as Nick turned to leave, then called out. "Meet up at the Jar-Jar Lounge!"
"Got it." Came Beckha and Corbyn's voices from elsewhere in the salvage shop before Nick met Sariana outside.
He sighed. "You okay, Nick?"
"Yeah, Saria. Just got a feeling something is going to go wrong, but I really hope not." Sariana nodded as the two made their way toward the club Laurana would find them at, where Elliot was already situated.
Elsewhere, Laurana took a deep breath as she exited the shuttle, unaware of the second ship coming after her. At the same time in another docking bay of the spaceport, the C90 Corvette Cloud Hopper was landing. As the landing ramp descended, Dreeana Typhos emerged dressed in civilian clothes along with her guards. "Find them, but only if Nicklas and Laurana are together." Nodding, the guards dispersed into the underbelly of Coruscant, where teenagers usually would be found.
Jar-Jar Lounge, An Hour Later..
Outside the club, Sariana sat on a catwalk, looking out at the massive cityscape. She looked as Laurana Nekron sat next to her, smiling. "Hey, sis. I figured you'd be enjoying the new view." She said, joining her.
"Its about time. I thought you weren't even going to show, really. Nick has a feeling things are going to go south while we're here." Sariana replied.
"From what I saw, it just might. There are some troopers coming, trying to make sure I go back to the Supreme Inquisitor. I'm not going. I had a vision, and Nick helped me figure out a way to break the hold he had over my mind."
"Thank god. All of us have seen bits of today, so its been weighing on us heavily. Especially the two you don't know yet."
"And let me guess. You saw this particular scene, but with different conversation."
"Mostly," Sariana laughed. "Thank you for listening to Nick. There are things none of us bring up that we see. Usually you being on their side and tearing our motley family apart."
"I know. That's going to change, though," Laurana spied the alley from her vision earlier. "I'm going to try and stick to whatever else happens, so keep your eye on that alley," She pointed it out. "If things go as planned, an Inquisition trooper will show up, and then someone else helps us. When we leave, follow us all alright?"
"Of course. Just be careful, Laura."
Laurana gave her a thumbs up before getting up and entering the club. She saw Elliot leaning over the bar and sat in the stool next to him. "Hey, Elliot."
Elliot glanced over while almost choking on the drink in his hand. "Laurana! Damnit, even though we all expected you, that doesn't mean scare me."
"Why not? Seeing you surprised is pretty cute." The dim light in the club caused the blush that adorned her face to go unnoticed.
Elliot didn't really know how to respond to that, staying silent until Laurana stood up, causing Elliot to back away, glancing at Nick laughing at his reaction from his seat next to the entrance. "What's wrong, Elliot? Cat got your tongue?"
"Why are you..?" Elliot started to ask before he sighed. "Alright, fine. You want me to say something? Laurana Jade Nekron, I've been in love with you since we were kids, and seeing you now, it amazes me just how damn beautiful you've become." Elliot was surprised when Laurana kissed him in response.
"Thank you." She whispered, winking before taking off outside, stopping just inside the door. "Stop laughing and come on. There's still something we need to do." She muttered as she left with Nick feet behind her.
This time, Laurana lead Nick into the alley before turning. "Enjoy the show?"
Nick grinned. "Yeah, I did. Still wish you would have slapped him."
Laurana gaped at him. "You're mean."
"You're my little sister. Even if it's Elliot, I'm still gonna be protective of you. Nothing is goinhb to change that."
"Not even dating my best friend?" It surprised Nick that Laurana even had knowledge of any of that. "You have your ways, I have mine. So, I've seen you, Elliot and Saria. What about the other two Sariana mentioned?"
Nick scratched the back of his head. "Come to think of it, I have no idea. I left them shopping for droid parts back at the salvage yard ten blocks away."
Meanwhile..
The Inquisition trooper stood in front of Corbyn, with Beckha several feet behind him. The trooper had a blaster rifle in his hand, pointed at Corbyn. "Where are your friends?!" He demanded of them.
"Far away from you. Come on, Corbyn, we can take him." Beckha said, motioning to draw her lightsaber.
The trooper saw this and shot at Beckha. "No!" Corbyn said, using the Force to bring Beckha to his side while his other han went to the pistol in his belt, drawing it faster than the trooper expected as a single discharged energy bolt rocketed its way through the Inquisition trooper's helmet. "No one harms my friends while I can help it."
Beckha looked up at Corbyn, her eyes wide as the event processed in her mind. "Corbyn.. Thank you."
"I had to. I may not know you as well as I'd like to, yet, I'm not going to give up the chance to."
"Oh, shut up and kiss me." Beckha giggled as Corbyn obliged her request.
Back with Nick and Laurana, the mystery man had just come and killed the Inquisition trooper from their visions. As they started following him out of the alley, Nick nudged the dead body. "You know, for people who exterminated Jedi, these guys are surprisingly easy to take out."
"Nick, stop playing around. We have to go." Laurana urged him.
"I know, I'm coming." He took his comlink out of his pocket. "Elliot, get Corbyn and Beckha and get the ship in the air. Cloak and await further instructions. And watch out for the remaining Inquisition troops."
"On my way. Keep her safe, Nick."
"Like you have to tell me. See you when I see you."
The mystery man took out his own comlink. "The packages are rn route. Get the ship ready to leave as soon as we've arrived." There was a beep from the other end before he put it away.
Several minutes later, the three of them reached the spaceport when Laurana froze and began flying backwards. "Not this time!" Nick said as he used the Force to pull Laurana back to him as a man in different armor appeared. Nick pushed his sister behind him. "Go, get on the ship. We got this." Laurana had to remember that Sariana was supposed to follow them and was nearby. Nodding, she turned and ran towards the mystery man, leaving Nick with the Inquisition soldier. "So, you're obviously not Tierra, so you must be one of the other thirteen High Knights. You're not getting Laurana back." He said, activating his lightsaber.
"You children think you're so tough," The man spat, rushing Nick as crimson collided with silver. "I am Grier of the High Knights, and a fledgeling like you has no chance beating me by yourself."
Nick smirked as he pushed Grier back with the Force before flipping a switch on the lightsaber. "I'm not a child," He announced as he flicked his lightsaber, the blade extending and bending like a whip as it clipped Grier's hand, cracking the gauntlet he wore as his own lightsaber dropped to the ground. "And who said I was alone?"
Before Grier could answer, Sariana had used the Force to jump down from a ledge twenty feet up and had cut across the Knight's arm, severing a nerve at the vulnerable spot at the joint with the cerulean blue lightsaber she had gotten back on Malastare. It had called out to her from a shelf in their market, so Nick had grabbed it for her, knowing it was important if it called out to her. "Agh!" Grunted Grier. "You little bastards! I am one of the High Knights!"
"So? There are twelve more of you who are probably more powerful anyway." Nick whipped his lightsaber around, lashing out and encircling Grier's neck. "This is a message to your boss telling him not to fuck with my family." And with a simple pull, the blade tightened and curled in on itself, finally cutting the High Knight's head from his body, rolling across the ground.
Sariana smiled as she deactivated her lightsaber. "That's a neat trick. How did you figure that out?"
"There's a button on the side of my saber, well a switch. Honestly, I was going to make every move up as I went, but it seemed easier to just run with it. Is the.. Nope, they took off. Elliot? Is the ship still on the ground?"
"Yeah, hurry up since I guess you missed the other ride."
"On our way." He nodded to Sariana as the duo ran to the dock where the Force Shadow was waiting.
As they boarded, Elliot called over the ships coms. "We're being hailed by that C90. They say they're awaiting us and that we have clearance to dock."
"Do it. I have a feeling Master Jiang had something to do with this." Nick replied as him and Sariana joined Elliot, Corbyn and Beckha in the cockpit as the ship took off quickly, docking in the capital ship's hangar bay only minutes later.
The five walked down the loading ramp and were greeted by several men including the one that had saved Nick and Laurana, Laurana herself who had run to latch onto both Nick and Elliot, and a woman that literally screamed royalty despite being dressed as just any civilian anywhere. The woman walked up to Nick and held his shoulders, looking him up and down. "You look just like your father."
Nick knew then exactly who this woman was, or was supposed to be. "Mother?" She nodded, tears in her eyes and suddenly, his world went black as Nick slipped into unconsciousness.
A/N: Chapter Two complete. Now, I know at this point I've already fucked up the timeline I previously set up, but why not use a vision to alter your decisions, right? I gave them the knowledge to change the course of time in their favor. But, the Supernova Cannon is still happening. Any other snippet may or may not be thrown out the window like my sanity lmfao. Also, I've noticed that for a five day to week old story of mine, I'm getting a nice number of views but no criticism. Please, I welcome any opinions and even suggestions. Plus I would enjoy some character submissions. Until next chapter, may the Force be with you all.