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Chapter 21
Ossus
Anakah was dreading what was about to happen but she couldn't avoid it. She had to pack and she had to let her fiancé know where she was going. Marko had been almost relentless all day with staying by her side, which by late evening had driven her about crazy. Finally, she had to get away from him. So, while he was in the shower she left him a note informing him that she was taking a walk. Eventually her wandering led her to the garden and Zeth. She was glad that they were able to reconnect after all the years of her keeping him out. Even now with him somewhere in hyperspace traveling away from Ossus, she could feel his presence in the back of her mind. She never realized how much she had missed him. However, their confessions still laid heavy on her mind. What a hypocrite, she thought, I told him to follow his heart and yet I don't follow mine.
But how could she? She thought about the coming mission with a mix of hope and dread. What would she do if he confronted her again? Should she confront him? It was all so confusing. She had seen the way he looked at her earlier at the meeting. However, Valin had made sure all of his emotions were behind nearly impermeable walls, even those of grief for the Antilles sisters. She had barely picked up his surprise at the announcement. She supposed that he had to keep his feelings hidden away, especially any involving Anakah. Her father was empathic, as was Liam. Not to mention, his sibling bond with Jysella and then finally there was his father. She supposed the last thing either of them needed was for their emotions toward each other to be picked up by the wrong person. She herself had hidden her true feelings from Valin as well. However, besides the evesdroppers in the room, she had other reasons—she couldn't bear to be hurt if he rejected her.
She finally came to a stop at her hotel door. She could feel Marko's impatience from within. Who am I kidding? She thought, I belong to him. I promised to marry him. However, Zeth's voice echoed in her mind:
"Ana, that is the most ridiculous reason I've ever heard. First, Marko has to want kids for himself and not just for Danni Quee to give to Sekot. Second, do you realize what you are doing? To your self? To Marko? But most importantly to any children you may have? Ana, I know you will do whatever you want. But it's not just all you this time. It's a lot of people who could be hurt from this. And all that will come from this is a lot of pain. Trust me."
She had agreed with him, but she knew even if she didn't marry Marko people would be hurt. Marko for one. He had changed over the past few weeks and she began to wonder if he hadn't finally let himself love her. She honestly hoped not, because it would all be easier if he didn't love her romantically. However, besides the reason behind Zeth's statement, there was her friendship with Marko. He was her best friend and he had been there for her when she needed a friend, when she had felt all alone. She didn't want to be disloyal to his friendship even if she could never be more than that in marriage. She had promised him that she would be his wife and be mother to his children and she never backed out of a promise.
Nevertheless, she was willing to be unfaithful to that promise if Valin was willing to… She didn't even allow herself to complete the thought. Valin would never have an adulterous affair with her. He wasn't the type and besides, she had played the mistress enough times to know love was never the reason for the affair. It was all sexual gratification and never anything else. And she knew she'd only end up hurting him more than she already had done so. She would never truly be his.
She knew she was waiting too long to open the door, and so she took a deep breath and keyed the door. Marko was sitting cross legged in the middle of the bed in a simple meditation pose. She swallowed when he looked at her with an expression of suspicion in his vivid green eyes.
He came out of his pose and sat on the edge of the bed. He ran his hand though his hair and said, "I was beginning to wonder where you were. I thought you were only going out for a short walk."
She couldn't help but hear the distrust in his voice. She swallowed as she moved toward the closet that they both shared in the hotel room. "I've been called to go on a mission," she simply said as she hit the control to open the door. She grabbed her leather bag from the bottom of the closet.
Marko stood and moved out of her way as he watched her lay the bag on the bed and open it. As he spoke, she moved back to the open closet, "Called to a mission? It's 0200, what mission is that important that you'd be called out in the middle of the sleep cycle?"
She looked over her shoulder from the open closet, "I'm being sent to Corellia. General Wedge Antilles requested a team of Jedi investigators to come there and figure out what happened. Myri Dello has been murdered and the Chief of State and her husband are missing."
He stared at her incredulously, "I don't believe it. The Chief of State—missing? Myri Dello, she's the director of CorSec, isn't she?" He moved to sit beside Anakah's suitcase.
She looked at him as she folded a set of dark blue Jedi robes and placed them neatly into the case, "Yes. I don't know any details. But Dad promised General Antilles that we'd leave within an hour and that was nearly an hour and a half ago."
She turned and went to the closet again. She had packed two sets of robes. She then pulled out a jumpsuit plus she would have the one she was wearing. She looked over the other articles of clothing and sighed. The rest were all of the things she had taken to Naboo with her, and not really suitable for this type of mission. As her hand brushed over the gauzy fabric of a pale yellow blouse she closed her eyes and remembered that first incredible night with Valin. She remembered every detail of how he unbuttoned the blouse to how he paused before removing it due to his uncertainty of what they were doing.
She felt Marko's sudden curiosity and she knew he sensed something from her. "So, you said 'team', who else is going?"
She pushed the memory from her mind and turned; she quickly folded and placed the jumpsuit into the case. "Oh, Ben, Liam, Val—I mean Master Horn and Hope Tainer." She said with ease. She didn't know what was bothering her regarding Marko. He didn't even know about Valin. But then why do I sense jealousy from him?
"Valin's going?" she actually was taken aback by his tone. Suddenly, he stood and pulled her into his arms. He gazed into her eyes and she was fearful of the intensity she saw there. Marko never had been jealous before. "Anakah—Angel, I was hoping that we could get married in the next few days."
She felt like he had just kicked her, "Marko, I told you that I wanted to wait for a while. What's the rush?" she tried to be as lighthearted as possible, forcing a grin. "You go from never wanting to get married to wanting it now all in the span of three weeks."
Marko continued to hold her and gaze into her eyes, finally he said, his voice deadly calm, "I finally realized what you mean to me, Angel. I won't ever let you go." His words and their intensity caused her to shudder with fear as to their underlying meaning. Sweet Force, her heart screamed, he can't be in love with me! But suddenly he seemed to lose the passion and smiled, "I should come along. You could always use a partner."
She tried to keep the panic from her face and voice as well as from leaking into the Force, "But I thought you needed to take your mother back to Zonama Sekot." She pulled away from him and moved to the small dresser that held her undergarments.
He swallowed and replied, "I'm sure she wouldn't mind if one of the older Apprentices took her back. She would understand."
Anakah laid the small-clothes in beside the outer wear and turned to him. "I'm not sure the Council would—"
He took her into his arms again and smiled but she thought she felt desperation from him. However, his voice revealed nothing, "Angel, why wouldn't they approve? I'm not scheduled to be anywhere and Mom can easily be taken care of. I want to be with you." He leaned in and captured her lips with his in a passionate kiss. When it was over he pulled back and smiled, "I can't get enough of you."
She didn't know what to do. Her heart was screaming at her to keep him from coming, but the reality was that she had no excuse to keep him here. Finally, she swallowed and said, "Okay. But you have to get packed. And dressed. We're leaving in fifteen minutes."
He grinned and quickly kissed her nose. "You pack for me and I'll get dressed."
As he moved from her she responded meekly, which she knew as totally out of character for her, "Okay." She turned away from his puzzled gaze and simply pulled his old leather bag out of the closet.
In her heart she felt the stab of pain. Maybe this is what the Force wants for me. And then again maybe it's best that he is along. I'm to be his wife and shouldn't even be entertaining thoughts of seducing another man.
As she pulled one of his robes out of the small space, her hand brushed the yellow blouse again. Without a second thought she pulled it and the flared black pants that she wore with it out and quickly folded them and placed them in her case. Then she even more quickly finished packing Marko's things.
X
Unknown Regions
The last acknowledging comm click sounded and Cherith lifted her Phantom-X off the flight deck of the Han Solo and once the Rogues got the green they flew through the containment field and out to speed toward the bombarding enemy. Less than an hour ago an entire fleet of Dro'godda ships came out of hyperspace before them and attacked. The Fifth Fleet hadn't met this much force from the pirates before and it was disconcerting that they had this much fire power. Not to mention the fact that nearly all of the first fighter squads called out were suffering heavy damage due to the fact that the enemy was cloaked.
Gabe's voice came over the comm, "Cloak as soon as we clear the Han Solo."
She clicked her acknowledge and began to key the sequence that would fire up the cloaking device. Once finished she took a deep breath. She had never been afraid of battle, but this time she was terrified. She thought about the tiny baby within her and hoped that they would survive this. She hadn't told anyone about the pregnancy and the only one other than herself who knew as the medic. Gabe still was concerned about her, but she assured him that she had come down with a virus and that she would be alright.
Suddenly, as the cloaked squadron came around the bow of the Star Destroyer all thought was consumed by their mission—hit and take out as many of the pirate's heavily armed and dangerously modified freighters that they could while avoiding being vaporized by enemy fire.
Her only hope was that she would survive long enough to tell Zeth that he was going to be a father.
X
The two Phantom-X's came out of hyperspace and immediately their astromechs filled their pilots' intercoms with squeals of warning. However, the Jedi sensed the danger a moment before the astromechs' sensors did.
Zeth pulled hard to starboard while Bail went port just in time to avoid colliding with a freighter that was moving across the point that they had come out of hyperspace. The Jedi went into to a sweeping dive and came together again below their initial position and blow the freighter. The gunners of the ship attempted to track them but even without being cloaked the Phantom-X's were difficult to see. Zeth watched his scanner as it came to life with red and blue symbols, the red being the enemy and the blue the ships of the Fifth—at least the ones not cloaked. The cloaked starfighters were not detectable by sensors but he could feel them. He quickly called to his R-9 droid, " Sparks, what the kriff did we come out in?"
The dutiful little droid sent a string of whistles and beeps back to him. Zeth glanced up at the translation in his heads-up display. "I know it's a battle, bucket head. Where the vape are we? And can you determine the damage to the Fifth?"
Within moments the Zeth's display showed they had come out of hyperspace behind the massive firepower that was attacking the ships of the Fifth with the Han Solo, Gilad Pellaeon, and the Memory taking the brunt of it. The Memory was nearly destroyed and gone were the Resolute and the Sien Sovv. The battle was not going well for the Fifth.
His comm came to life and he heard his cousin's voice, "Nice reception, Cuz. I think they may have missed you."
Zeth was studying the ships and reaching out into the Force as sudden panic filled him. Was Charith in that furball? He knew that she would be. He tried to reach for her but there was too much interference and he couldn't discern her Force signature. He could feel the fighters out there even if his sensors couldn't pick them up. Occasionally as he looked out in the battle, he could see the bright flashes of starfighters exploding and he could feel life wink out. He could feel the desperation and fear of the pilots on both sides. But it was the overwhelming shock and utter confusion on the part of the beings of the Fifth and the determination of the pirates that startled him more. Finally, he keyed his mike, "Bail, they didn't know this was coming. There's too much confusion out there. Cloak and I'll call the Han Solo and find out what the stang is going on."
Bail simply answered with a click and a few seconds later his ship disappeared from Zeth's scope as he knew his ship did from his cousin's, but they were close enough that he could still visually make out his ship's fuzzy outline beside him. Cloaking made a ship completely invisible to sensors but it could still be seen visually for as far as hundred meters away through the distortion created around the ship. Suddenly, his secondary beacon sensor began to signal and his sensor became alive with the fighters of the GA that he could only sense a moment ago. This would allow the ships to fight in close without danger of being hit by friendly fire. Only ships with the same codes could be seen and the codes were randomized every few seconds and only worked when a ship was cloaked under the same codes.
Hold on Charith, he thought as he keyed the Star Destroyer named for his grandfather.
X
The entire Command Deck shook as the forward shields took yet another barrage of turboblaster fire from an old Imperial-class Star Destroyer that had been identified as the Embrace of Pain. Jag was certain the Yuuzhan Vong would have been furious if they had known that a Star Destroyer had been named for something they thought as a religious symbol.
"Admiral Fel, we have a damage report from the Memory," Jag turned his gaze from the view port to the Bothan lieutenant and then moved to look at his monitor. Jag hated that the hundred or so large ships under his command were being out-fought by a bunch of renegade pirates. The Memory was the latest to be lost, her hull breached in more than a dozen places and her proud crew was abandoning the cruiser from escape pads. That was the third ship lost, Resolute and the Sien Sovv were slagged as well. Suddenly, Jag read the next section and looked back at the golden Bothan, whose fur rippled under the Admiral's penetrating gaze. "They are targeting the life boats?"
The lieutenant flattened his ears and said, "Yes, Sir." Jag felt his anger rise. He despised the type of scum that disregarded the most basic rules of battle. The escape pods were defenseless. The chances of surviving the cross fire or derbies were high enough without being intentionally fired at.
However before Jag could even form a plan as to help the survivors from the Memory or the other ships that were lost, another barrage hit the forward shields. Jag nearly lost his balance as the Han Solo shuddered and lights dimmed from the attack while alarms screamed. The shields were weakening and if they took another shot like that they were as good as dead.
A loud female irritated voice sounded and Jag identified it as the Captain of the Han Solo Hethr Nurr, "Kill the alarms! Damage report."
Jag spun and waited for the Bothan lieutenant to report on the Han Solo's damage. There had been a hull breach in one of the lower levels below the Command Salon. He waited for her to bite off the orders to seal the sector and to move personnel, then he called out to her in a cold tone that he knew came from being around the Chiss to long but he really didn't care, "Captain Nurr, please move the Han Solo to a position that we can really do some damage but not become the damage. I really would like to live through today."
Nurr turned and glared at Jag and curtly replied, "As you wish, Sir." Jag knew he overstepped his bounds but he really was getting irritated. Nurr was a very capable commander but she was sometimes too stubborn for her own good. Besides, the Han Solo wasn't doing any good here. They had to move back and regroup then they could begin firing on enemy again. As much as Jag didn't want to admit defeat either, he knew he wasn't going to do anyone any good blown to his component molecules.
Come on Cem, where are you? Jag thought of his brother, who was coming to their aid with his Chiss taskforce, as he watched the battle outside.
"Captain, Admiral," called the young human ensign called from the comm station. Once the two officers turned to peer expectantly at him, he swallowed and announced, "Receiving a call on a Jedi encrypted frequency."
Both Jag and Nurr moved to the station. "Put it through, Ensign," Nurr commanded.
The young man nodded and turned back to his controls. "Yes, Sir."
A moment later there was a static burst and then the Coruscanti accented voice announced, "This is Jedi Knight and GA Lieutenant Zeth Durron. It appears that you've run into some trouble."
Jag smiled despite the gravity of the battle. The boy was as arrogant as his parents. "Lieutenant Durron this is Admiral Fel. Please tell me that you have a whole squadron of Jedi with you."
"That bad?" There was a pause than the Jedi, who Jag had a feeling meant a great deal to his daughter, went on, "Unfortunately I don't. But I'm not alone. I have Knight Bail Solo-Djo with me."
Jag looked up at Nurr as a plan formulated in his mind. After a moment he commanded, "Durron, are you cloaked?"
"Yes, we are positioned at the edge of the battle behind the enemy. They don't know we're here. When we came out of hyperspace a freighter took a pop shot at us but we scattered and they lost us."
Jag let one of his rare grins come to his lips. He hoped the Solo luck that his ship's namesake had was hereditary, because those two boys would need it, "Good, here's what I want you to do…"
X
Hyperspace, Aboard Trepidation
Syal stared at the woman; she was still in shock regarding everything that had occurred in the past few hours. How could this be happening to me? was the question that repeated in her head. Then she realized she hadn't been paying attention to what was being said.
"It's rather simple I think," Erida said as she sat in the throne like chair. "All you have to do is contact Coruscant and plead that due to your overwhelming grief over your sister you feel that you are no longer competent to run the government. In the meantime, the new leader of Naboo…,"
Suddenly Syal felt cold as Erida looked over at Pader, who was standing beside Syal. She shuddered and gaped, "You're taking control of Naboo?"
Pader laughed, "Of course, eventually. But not immediately. The new leader will appear to be elected and will serve our purposes by appointing a new Senator."
Erida then picked up where he had let off, "Once Naboo has a new Senator, I can be nominated."
Syal shook her head, "No, the Senate must choose a fellow Senator." Syal then let out a choked snicker, "You can't be nominated. You are not a Senator."
Erida only s miled, but her eyes were so cold Syal shivered. "Who do you think will be the new Senator of my humble home world and sector, Chief Barrett?"
Syal choked and could only stare at her. Then the Sith stood and moved toward the still kneeling Chiss and the two Apprentices. She bitterly s miled at Cleven but her words were for Syal, "You see, my darling, if you choose not to cooperate, I will have no choice but begin executing my prisoners." She looked back at Syal, "First, Commander Mif'lori'nuruodo-Fel, secondly, Jedi Master Tainer and then Captain Fel." She moved to stand before Syal and in a venomous voice, "And finally, you. You will be found on some remote rock with a suicide note that will admit to the cold-blooded murder of your sister. I will be a member of the Senate and I will still be elected your successor."
Suddenly, Cleven's voice called out, "Syal, don't do it. I know that—" But whatever else he was going to say was cut short by the sound of a lightsaber igniting and replaced with screams of fear and shock as they watched Erida ruthlessly slice through the neck of his bride.
"NO!! Florin," Cleven screamed again in his native language as her body fell over to land beside him and her head rolled to lay staring unseeingly into her husband's face. The ruby eyes already dull. Syal's young Chiss cousin sobbed in astonished pain, " Florin…no…no…no…!"
Syal had no idea if anything else was said, because her heart and her mind couldn't take any more. She let the comforting darkness cover her eyes and she fell to the floor.
X
Ossus
Grandmaster Kyp Durron stood at the center of the semi-circle of Masters and stared disbelievingly at the young woman whose image was floating over the holoplate of the holocomm. Oddly, she reminded him a great deal of his niece, Allana. Her long russet hair hung loose and her brown eyes shined with intelligence and determination.
He listened and his mind was trying to grasp what was happening. If none of it was so serious he would wonder if the Fates were playing some cruel joke on him. He had been only Grandmaster of the Jedi for less than twenty-four standard hours and the galaxy was becoming unraveled.
Finally, he responded to the young queen's recounting of the attempted assassination, "The Jedi Council will of course send a team of Jedi Knights with a Master as soon as possible to protect and investigate the attempt, Your Majesty."
She nodded and then added, "If I may be so bold, Grandmaster Durron," Kyp nodded and she went on in that affected speech every monarch of Naboo took on, "I would like to request that only one Jedi be sent."
"Only one?" Jaina asked before Kyp had the chance.
The young queen looked at her and nodded, "Yes, Master Durron." Then she looked back to Kyp and said, "I would like you to send Knight Marko Quee."
Kyp was even more surprised, if that was possible. Marko had just left with Anakah. He hadn't wanted to allow his involvement and Kyp could tell Valin for some reason was very against it, but in the end he had no reason not to let him participate. He swallowed and opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by Jaina.
"Of course, Queen Violetta. Unfortunately, he has just dispatched on a mission to Corellia, but as soon as his team hits the ground we will send him to Naboo. Alone, if that is what you wish."
Several of the Masters looked at Jaina with surprise, but if the Queen saw any of it she didn't bring attention to it. Instead she nodded once and said, "Thank you, Masters. I have yet to make the announcement that I am indeed not dead, but I will be doing so within the next few hours. My Minister of State has informed me that my corrupt cousin Marten Berairee has already voiced his desire to be elected. He has wanted this Office for a long time. However, what surprises me is his sudden support, especially of the financial type."
Corran Horn spoke up for the first time, asking, "Hasn't he been brought up on charges of extortion?"
Her expression took on one of disgust. "Yes. That is correct, Master Horn. However, his father, who is my father's brother, eventually got the charges dropped. Marten is very well connected."
Corran looked puzzled and then stroked his white goatee, as was his habit when he was thoughtful. Finally, the oldest of the Masters asked, "Do you think this cousin of yours had anything to due with your assassination attempts? Someone is going to a lot of trouble to get rid of you."
She stared at Horn incredulously for a moment and Kyp thought, Oh, great, Horn. Way to go, insult the Queen of Naboo. And they accuse me of not having any diplomatic skill. But then her lovely face broke into a wry s mile, "That, Master Horn, is exactly what I think and that is why a single unknown Jedi would be better than an entire team." Then she went on to present the Council with her plan.
After the secure transmission ended, the Masters discussed the events and tried to come up with some sort of plan. It was decided that the Council had to move back to the Temple on Coruscant as soon as possible. He and Jaina along with three other Masters would leave within the next few hours. The other four would leave Ossus once the first group was safely on Coruscant. Jysella would remain on Ossus. Kyp felt that with everything that was going on and the growing Darkness he felt it would be prudent to be cautious.
Kyp rubbed his face with both hands as he watched the morning sun come up over the rocky outcroppings on the horizon. He was tired. He had been too excited to sleep the night before the announcement of Grandmaster and he hadn't slept at all the past night.
He felt her presence come up behind him and when she laid her hand on his shoulder he looked down at her and s miled. "I have a notion to tell Luke that I decided that I don't what to do this. I'm beginning to think that someone is having a very hardy laugh at my expense."
She s miled and assured him, "You are doing fine. I'm proud of you, Grandmaster."
"Thanks." He moved to face her and pulled her into his arms and gently kissed her. S miling he inquired, "Why did you do that with Marko?"
She shrugged, "I don't want him and Ana together. I don't know why, but I have a feeling, I guess."
He raised an eyebrow in question.
She snickered, "Okay, I think the queen of Naboo is interested in our future son-in-law."
"Really?"
"Yes, really." She moved her arms around his neck and went on, smiling. "And I personally would do anything to prevent ever having to refer to Marko as my son-in-law. He just isn't right for Ana."
He laughed and kissed her nose, "Well, you have my vote on that one."
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