Bondmates and Soulmates
Chapter 5: Destiny's Conspiracy
"When I hear somebody sigh, 'Life is hard,' I am always tempted to ask, 'Compared to what?'" -Sydney J. Harris
Hapes
Zekk and Trenio had gotten the children settled on the ship by the time Tahiri had returned. She went immediately to find Zekk. She found him in the galley handing the princess a bowl. She tapped his shoulder. "We need to talk." She sent to him.
He helped the child to a chair then motioned to the hallway. "Let's find someplace a little more private." He suggested. They walked down the hall toward the bridge. There was a small meeting room off to one side that they entered.
"Why didn't you tell me he was here?" She asked there was a hint of heat to her voice.
Zekk just shrugged his shoulders. "It didn't seem important."
"Not important. This could still blow into a galactic incident. She wasn't thinking clearly and let it slip that he had visited." She saw his eyes widen in understanding. "There is nothing we can do about that now, do you know if he got back on yet?"
"No."
"Looks like I'll have to do this the hard way…"
Chiss Space
The pilot brought the transport out of hyperspace. "There she is." He said to no one. He was looking at the planet on the view screen. It was a brown rocky place that looked like it should be devoid of life. But it wasn't and he knew it. For the first time in weeks he felt like he'd come home. The euphoric feeling he got as his mind merged with those on the planet let him know that he'd been away too long.
"Reversion in five seconds Admiral." Came the voice of the Ops technition to his right. That did not please Jag very well. It let him know that his time to gather his thoughts had ended and now he had to be serious.
"Thank you Chi'panri'lrilth." He stated blandly. He really hadn't wanted to leave his fiance but duty was duty. It just happened to be the worst possible situation that they could be in. Being in two separate systems, two different sets of rules. But he would see what he could do about that once he found out what was so important that they called him back from a "diplomatic" vacation.
They never saw the ships coming. The battle cruiser was suddenly swarmed by hundreds of tiny black wedges. By the time the claw craft were scrambled, it was too late for the Destil'amrra'Imtep. The ship was no more than a burning husk.
Coruscant
Jaina woke in a cold sweat. Something wasn't right. She scanned the apartment but found nothing amiss. Then she felt down those mental pathways connecting her to her family. Uncle Luke and Aunt Mara were half the world away sleeping contentedly. Ben was up but not into any trouble, yet. Dad and Mom had long since fell asleep. And Jacen, she was glad she wasn't him right now.
So what was it that had woke her so suddenly? Then it hit her like a one ton duracrete block. Jag. Something had happened to him. She was out of bed instantly and over to the comm.
Hapes
Jacen had just made it inside the ramp before he felt it. There was something here that did not belong. It was after someone. The presence was small so he figured that no one else had picked up on it yet. Had just begun to trace its whereabouts when Tahiri stepped into his path.
"Of all the irrisponseable, bantha-brained things to do Jacen Solo." She started. Then she noted that he was tuning her out. She stopped to figure out what he was so intent on as he took off running. She didn't know what it was he sensed but she followed.
He skidded to a halt in front of the door to Aris' room. Just as she drew breath to ask him what it was she heard his voice in her mind. "Listen."
She closed her eyes and did so. Listening with Force enhanced hearing. There was the calm breathing of the sleeping child. The subtle ticking of the hull plating as it was cooled in space, Zekk had launched. It was a sound slightly softer than that which she heard. Carefully kept in time with the cooling plates to further hide it. "Whatever it is it is in the vents." She whispered for no reason.
She keyed the override for the lock. Jacen was through the door in an instant, Sabre ignited. All Tahiri saw was a boiling blue-black mass that was instantly vaporized as it exited the vent. Not a single one escaped Jacen's blade. She smiled wistfully. It was times like these that he reminded her of Anakin.
He heard her quiet sigh as he deactivated his lightsaber. "What is it Tahiri?" He asked as he turned.
The eyes of the child on the bed caught her attention. "Nothing Master Solo. Aris you go back to sleep now, there's nothing wrong." She thanked the Force that the girl had her blue eyes hooded again before Jacen had the chance to see them. She ushered the older Jedi out of the child's room. "Do not think that this gets you off the hook for this stunt. Tenel let it slip that you had been there." She stated as they walked toward the galley. "This is the first time that I have seen you act so rashly Jacen. The funny thing is that I don't even want to know the why behind it. I just hope that this does not come back to haunt the Order."
"It won't." he assured her. "At least not this time." He mumbled as they entered the galley and started getting food. He still had this niggling feeling that he'd be breaking Tenel's decree at least once more. But he'd cross that bridge when he got to it.