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Yeah, Jacen is a real piece of work in this...

Chapter 12

The Battle Dragon Warrior Queen dropped out of hyperspace only to be immediately hailed by Bastion Control. Queen Mother Tenel Ka sat at her massive desk in her quarters and listened to the officer who eventually Control linked with the visiting ship and then replied, "Colonel, I am grieved to hear of the losses your government suffered. I was invited to Bastion by Moff Brissim. She will be greatly missed."

Tenel Ka was confused and, as the Queen Mother and as a Jedi Knight, she didn't like being confused. The officer had just informed her that a group of rogue Jedi had just bombed the government building, killing three Moffs and other officials and injuring countless others.

"Your Majesty, Admiral Pellaeon is due to arrive shortly. He has agreed to meet with you. Your escort will arrive upon the Warrior Queen shortly." The hologram of the older man said then smiled, "I believe you may already know him."

Tenel Ka's interest was piqued but she didn't allow it to show, "Sir, I know many beings."

The colonel lost his smile and responded as he bowed his head, "Of course, Queen Mother. Captain Jagged Fel will be your escort while you are on Bastion."

Jagged Fel! Tenel Ka nearly lost control on her facial expressions. She had heard that he was dead; that he was killed at Tenupe during the Swarm War, or so she had been told by Jaina. What in the galaxy was he doing on Bastion escorting the Remnant's most delicate guests around? And during what surely is one of Bastion's most tumultuous times? Oh, this story should be a good one!

However, aloud she said evenly, "We will prepare for Captain Fel's arrival then. Thank you, Colonel." And with that she severed the link and stood from the leather chair.

As she moved around the rich blackwood polished desk she found her path blocked by her head security advisor and one of her few trusted friends, Alrenna Rea. Tenel Ka could tell by the set of Alrenna's chin that she didn't agree with Tenel Ka's decision. Her measured words confirmed it, "Queen Mother, may I speak with you?"

Tenel Ka simply said matter-of-factly, "You disagree with my decision, Commander Rea?"

Alrenna never budged from her stance. "Yes, Your Majesty, I do. We should postpone this meeting until Bastion is more secure."

Tenel Ka was just as stubborn as the woman opposing her, one of her few, extremely few, childhood Hapan friends, "However, I was not given the option to postpone."

"That is true, but you as the visiting dignitary could have demanded it." Then she moved away from Tenel Ka and her posture, although still perfect, eased a bit. "May I speak freely?"

Tenel Ka all but smiled. She found it exhausting to play this game. But it was a game she had to play, just as she played so many others. Alrenna was the only person Tenel Ka really trusted within her government, besides her own father. She was the daughter of Teneniel Djo's lead Dathomiri royal guard and her Hapan husband. Thanks to the value the former queen had placed on her Dathomiri guards and the fact that her father came from a wealthy family, Alrenna was considered completely Hapan. And she was extremely loyal to both the queen and to Hapes; however, first and foremost, she was Tenel Ka's friend.

Tenel Ka sat down on the furred settee that was placed in a quiet nook of the Queen's Quarters. She indicated the overstuffed plush chair across from her with her hand. "Please, sit down, my friend."

Alrenna smiled and did just that. After a moment the younger woman gathered her thoughts and maybe her courage and began, "Tenel, this could be a trap. We both know that Jedi would never perform this horrendous act. The Moff that invited you here has been killed. We owe the Imperial Remnant nothing."

Tenel Ka gazed at her friend for a moment then said determinedly, "Alrenna, this is all fact, however, the Consortium can benefit greatly by more open trade with the people of the Remnant. Besides, you are forgetting that I am a Jedi. I feel that it is my duty to the Order not to shy away from this. In fact, if I postpone this summit, the very act could provide the attackers and the anti-Jedi faction in the Remnant enough ammunition to discredit the Jedi more."

"That's true, but—"

Tenel Ka smiled and interrupted her, "Friend Alrenna, I am not afraid for my safety. I am apprehensive for Allana and that is why the Chume'da will remain on the Warrior Queen. But for myself I have no worries. I have you," Tenel Ka's smile broadened causing her Royal Guard Commander to all but roll her eyes.

X

An hour later, Tenel Ka and her contingent of Royal Guards and the Warrior Queen's captain were standing in the Queen's private hangar watching the Lambda-class shuttle land. Tenel Ka was excited to see her old acquaintance again. She had first met the Imperial officer over a decade ago on Hapes after the Yuuzhan Vong defeated the New Republic at Coruscant. She had then given him command of the secretly rebuilt Hapan Fleet in order to save Hapes. Even today, Hapan history has treated Jagged Fel with honor and respect, she mused.

Jagged Fel was dressed in the dark grey dress uniform of an Imperial Captain as he approached Tenel Ka. He smiled slightly and bowed deeply at the waist. "Queen Mother, it is an honor to see you again, however, I do wish the circumstances were better," he said in that slightly clipped and accented voice that came from him growing up among the Chiss.

She returned Jag's smile and replied, surprising both him and her guards when she placed her arm around his in an extremely familiar gesture, "Likewise, Captain Fel. Please, allow me to show you around while we get reacquainted." She was dying to hear his story.

X

The trip to Bastion was tense to say the least. The only one who didn't understand the sudden tension was Jacen. But he sure felt it and it made him nearly crazy with pangs of jealousy, because he had a strong feeling that he knew what had transpired last night.

Ben returned extremely late from his dinner date with Jysella. Jacen had spent the time while his girlfriend and his Apprentice were out on a date, trying to ignore the fact that Ben would be trying very hard to win Jysella. In fact, Jacen rarely saw the young man take such care in his appearance than he had last night. Which really only made Jacen wonder what Jysella had chosen to wear. He had eventually pushed the disturbing thoughts away enough to prepare for the mission to Bastion.

Then Ben didn't return when Jacen expected him to. Worse, Jys didn't answer her commlink either. Jacen had considered reaching out into the Force to find them, but he backed out of it. Truly afraid as to what he would find. He honestly didn't know what he'd do if he discovered them together, feeling emotions that they shouldn't be feeling. Finally, Ben returned, his clothes smelling of deathstick smoke and lum on his breath. And a scowl that told Jacen that approaching his cousin just then would be akin to waking a sleeping Sith.

Now, as Jacen looked over at his more than slightly irritated co-pilot, he couldn't help but wonder what did happen between him and Jysella. Jacen reasoned that he could have figured Jysella had told Ben about her and Jacen by the way Ben was acting; if she hadn't been avoiding Jacen too. He could sense that something wasn't just quite right with her, that she felt almost guilty, but she kept her shields tight around her not allowing him in. However, it was that guilty feeling that was driving him crazy. Jys wouldn't be feeling guilty if she had only told Ben that could be nothing between them because she was in love with Jacen.

Suddenly, the proximity alarm buzzed and Jacen watched the counter as it went down to zero. Then he pulled the lever to disengage the hyperdrive. Immediately, he was hailed by Bastion Control.

Ben reached over and activated the comm, while Jacen put the shuttle into a holding pattern in the high obit of the fortress capitol planet of what was left of the Empire. After the officer spoke, Ben calmly answered, "This is shuttle Blue Nebula asking for landing instructions. Jedi Master Jacen Solo, Jedi Knight Jysella Horn and Jedi Apprentice Ben Skywalker on board. We are expected by Jedi Masters Luke and Mara Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa Solo."

After a moment the Control officer came back on, "Very well, you check out. Follow your current flight. Transmitting landing instructions."

"Got them, Blue Nebula out." Ben then went to work setting the course that was sent to them.

Jacen watched his cousin for a moment and then hit the throttle a bit to move them in the direction of the planet's night side. As they crossed the line between night and day, Jacen gasped as he looked out of the viewport; for before him sat five Hapan Battle Dragons and he instantly recognized the one in the middle as the Warrior Queen.

Tenel Ka—Kriff!! I forgot about her trade summit!

Now what was he going to do.

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