Franknjoe: I must confess the image of Joe being like Coraan had me in stitches... I'm still not sure about this saga, the person I was going to write it for have not responded yet But yeah, I'm a Star Wars fan. If I were to write this, I would start again ... adding more details and the political background - like I did to Chapter one... And, I'm afraid Laura feature rather strongly here... this is not exactly a Frank and Joe only story...

Falke: Yes, Tahl was blinded in the JA series Media Daan. Died at Balog's hands. My AU for Tahl assumed she was never there for the JA series. It followed the original where Jinn and Tahl met at 8, became best friends, then diverged from there, assuming they had some missions together and fell in love, only to decide to put the Jedi code first...

Jedi

By Nomi

CHAPTER TWO

Noon, General Assembly Chamber

"Tahl?!"

Jedi Master Qui Gon Jinn was stunned to see Knight Tahl standing on the table where his Padawan stood. Tahl… his best friend since he was eight… They were knighted together, and for a moment considered a possible romantic relationship. But they finally decided to put aside their mutual attraction and continue serving the Jedi cause. Then on a solo mission almost twenty years ago, Tahl vanished. How the force did she ended up here? Jinn wondered. But enough of that, he would find out from her later what happened. Now, he had to get the Vice Chair and preferably the Earth Leaders out of here alive.

"Southwest corner, Jinn," Tahl repeated. "We need to get over there."

There must be a hidden exit there, Jinn concluded. And she's waiting for me to take the lead. That was when Jinn noted that Tahl's movements were a little awkward, as if she's out of practice. He realized whatever he wanted to do, he had better decide quickly. Tahl at her current shape would not be able to hold for long.

"Collapse the gallery," he said decisively his eyes flicking for the merest fraction of a second at the two giant pillars supporting that temporary construct, and the bulk of the droids underneath that structure. "But that means that we would not be able to provide cover…"

"Do it!" It was a firm and sure response from the Chief of Security. "We'll hold somehow."

Fenton was surprised that he was able to think clearly, given the shocking revelation from what he just witnessed. Laura a Jedi? And he never knew? And it seemed the Jedi Master knew her intimately too. The way Qui Gon Jinn looked at her, and the way the two of them covered instinctively for each other, the blue and green blades weaving effortlessly and flawlessly before them in tandem. But whatever questions he had could wait. First they had to get out of here alive.

"Careful, Laura," Fenton called out before sticking his hand out to fire a shot at the few human assassins left in the chamber. He had given up on the droids, letting the Jedi handle them. He noted with pride that his elder son, Frank, had that bit figured out too, and was aiming for the human gunmen. Joe was reasonably safe behind his brother, trying to staunch flow of blood from the injured Jedi.

Laura? Jinn spared another glance at the Chief of Security. There was something between the two of them, he could sense that now. Did Tahl choose to abandon the Jedi Code for that man? He could not help but wonder. Then he forcefully pushed those wayward thought aside, focusing on the immediate problem. Jinn threw Tahl a worried look. Would she be able to manage the counter strike with proper force and precision?

Laura Hardy knew what the Jedi Master was thinking. How could she not? They were best friends for over a decade; they worked together on several missions with their Masters as Padawans, and were knighted at about the same time. But, Knight Tahl was gone. She was gone for twenty years now… and in her place was a medical professional working her shifts at the local A & E. Yet, here she was, wielding the lightsaber she thought she'd never see again much less use, fighting side by side with a fellow Jedi. Not just any Jedi – Qui Gon Jinn. Of the ten thousand active Knights and Masters currently in service to the Temple, it had to be Jinn who was sent to play bodyguard to the Vice Chair, Laura sighed. Yoda would say: The Force works in mysterious ways. No, Yoda would say: In mysterious ways, the Force works. Bah! Yoda's twenty years too far away at the moment.

And Jinn was right, she was rusty. She fought, and when she could, direct the deflected laser bolts back onto the droids themselves. Those were rare hits for her now, whereas twenty years ago, it would have been a very different story. So she left Jinn to do the paring down the numbers bit, and simply focus on helping shield the people who were dependent on her at the moment. Like her husband and children. She could sense her husband's and children's shock and curiosity. She smiled as she noted they had not let the shock sent them into inaction. Frank and Joe were their father's sons after all, two chips off the old block. They kept their cool and helped where they could.

Joe's expression of wonderment at her actions softened the grim smile on her lips as she sent another bolt successfully into yet another droid. And she could sense Joe going 'woohoo! What a great hit, mom!' She sneaked a peek at her golden headed boy and saw him giving her a thumbs-up. His simple acceptance in who she was and his unquestioning faith in her ability to do whatever must be done next was a big booster to her confidence.

Laura took her time, calmly assessing the battlefield before her, taking in the positions of the droids, and that of the two key support pillars She shifted her stance just a tiny bit, sent two more deflected bolts into the ranks of the droids, turned to Jinn, gave him a most devilish grin and said: "Ready when you are, o' lord and master!"

That line told Jinn more than anything that Tahl's confident of completing the task. He chuckled at the memory of Tahl's fond habit of mimicking his own rather aloof and snobbish Master – Count Dooku. It was Tahl who always reminded him to just master the skills, and leave those cold aristocratic mannerisms to the 'old Lord Count'. He caught her eyes for the briefest moment, gave a curt nod.

"At the count of three," Jinn growled – for the benefit of the people he was shielding so they could be prepared to take cover, and also to make that run for the southwest corner.

Then together, as if they had never been apart, Jinn and Laura deflected the next dozen bolts together, their movements smooth and well synchronized, clearing a partial path to the pillars. Then Jinn leapt off the table, heading swiftly towards the further pillar.

Laura followed for a short distance, taking advantage of path Jinn carved out for her. Then she broke off and head towards her pillar. Her blue blade buzzed and flashed, cutting through the droids as if they were made of Styrofoam. She twirled round every other step to deflect the bolts being aimed at her back. She relaxed and let the Force guide her, and each swirl brought her ever closer to her target. Finally, she got the signal from Jinn. Laura took off at a run, jump onto a broken table, dodged a couple dozen bolts, used the table to propel her even higher, both her hands gripping the lightsaber tightly and firmly, raise high above her head. A second later, the buzzing blade cut into metal, slicing cleanly through.

The entire viewers gallery shook and slowly began its tortured descend towards the Chamber floor. It gained speed and momentum, and landed with a resounding crash, crushing most of the droids beneath it, and also blocking most of the entryways, preventing more droids and assassins from entering.

Fenton thought his heart was going to give out when he saw the entire viewers' gallery crashing and that Laura was underneath it. But somehow, she managed to make that ten feet leap from the pillar and landed just outside of the danger zone. He could see the Jedi Master, Jinn, appearing out of the dusty mess, making his way towards them cutting down a number of droids along the way.

His men were already slowly escorting the leaders towards the corner with the hidden door. It was a difficult task to say the least. The might be much less firepower coming at them now, but they were also moving away from their covers. Fenton knew a number of those men would die in the next few minutes, and their bodies would be used by their comrades as body shields. It was their job, but Fenton still felt sad for those men. Like him, they had wives and kids… He turned his attention to his sons, and hoped fervently that he could get them out of this alive. He hoped they would forgive him for putting the still surviving leaders' lives above theirs today. He had no choice this time, there were just too much at stake. That was why Frank and Joe were among the last carrying the injured Jedi between them. May Laura forgive him should anything happen to his sons.

"Dad, we have to get those leaders out of here alive," Frank suddenly said to him. "Otherwise we'll be facing a political disaster of galactic magnitude."

Frank was glad to some of the guilt left his Dad's face. He knew what his dad would be thinking; but he also knew they had no choice. In the current situation, only three lives mattered: The President, The Prime Minister, and the Vice Chair. The rest of them were expendable. Simple as that...

He returned his attention to Joe, and between them, helped to carry the young Jedi towards the southwest corner of the Chamber. It seemed the Jedi's starting to recover his senses. That was good – it would make escaping a little easier. Suddenly, the Jedi moved and gripped his arm in a painfully tight grip. He opened his mouth, but only the softest rattle came out of it. Frank leaned closer to listen…

"Get them back… get them back…now… NOW!" the young Jedi gritted out.

What the heck was he talking about? Frank wondered. They had to get out and there was a hidden exit there!

But Joe did not hesitate.

"Back off," Joe yelled. "NOW."

That was followed by two other shouts from Laura and Jinn.

The entire group up front froze, and just on time too. A large chunk of the ceiling had broken off and started its downward fall. It landed right on top of the hidden passage way, and killed two security officers who were too slow in getting away…

Fenton cursed.

While the collapsing gallery had taken most of the droids with it and closed down almost all the entry ways, the number of assassins still outnumbered them almost two to one. And Fenton could see that their enemy was already working to break down a number of the blocked doorways. He kept his expression passive as he directed his remaining men to construct makeshift shelters, and then to work on trying to clear the hidden passage way.

Both Frank and Joe were trying to get the young Jedi to stop moving so that he would not aggravate his wound any further. But the young man just refused their ministrations.

"Master Jinn can easily move that piece of rock… if someone else can take over the defense," Obi Wan panted out. "Help me! That black pouch around my waist!"

Joe carefully removed the pouch and opened it. There was something soft and squishy in it. He passed it over to the Jedi, who took it with his uninjured arm and started applying it straight onto his wound.

"It's Bacta," Obi Wan said. "Helps with the healing…"

Obi Wan focused his mind and tried to do some minor force-healing. But his injuries were just too severe. He still have problem standing steady… Master, I can't take over, he told his master via the Master-Padawan training bond. And that chunk of rock's too big and heavy for me to lift alone…

"Stang! Sithpit!" Jinn spat out and went through another successive list of swear words in multiple languages.

Laura's heart sank as she realized what that meant. Unlike the podium area, where there were at least some forms of natural shelter from the firepower, here in the southwest corner, they were sitting ducks. Someone had to take over so Jinn could work on that debris blocking their escape route…

Her eyes landed on her sons… why not? It suddenly occurred to her. And it's only for a few minutes…

"Joe! Get over here!" Easier for the one who just jump into action without asking too many questions – no time for user manuals at this point in time.

Jinn sent her a curious glance as a blond headed boy started to make his way towards them.

"My son, Joe. Joe, Jinn," Laura introduced rather candidly, given the severity of the situation they were in. "Jinn, Joe –"

Jinn scrutinized the lad for a moment. Tahl expected him to hand over his lightsaber to that boy? Totally untrained boy?! By the Force, was he even force-sensitive?!

"-and the best batsman on the school baseball team. My older son's a great pitcher, and they practiced well together." Laura continued, knowing humors the only way to get through to Jinn now. That man's a maverick, surely he could see now is the time to break some rules? He broke plenty on his own as far as she knew and remembered.

"Hey son… care to bat a few balls with mom?" She asked Joe and was glad to see those blue orbs sparkling with excitement.

Two simultaneous explosions, and a new batch of droids pouring in from two previously blocked doorways convinced Jinn to just trust in Tahl… and the Force too, Jinn added as an afterthought.

Joe was almost trembling with excitement – he was about to get his hands on one of those sabers! And he's going to be using it to pretend he's playing baseball! The whole idea tickled him immensely. His poor dad and brother did not look too amused, sadly for them. Neither did the Jedi Master before him, it seemed. Joe gulped and swallowed his nervousness as the man's eyes set on him.

"This is not a game!" The Jedi Master snapped before handing over his saber most reluctantly.

Oooh, the saber's so light, almost weightless… Joe thought, as he took his stance and prepared to bat his first bolt. He caught it squarely with the luminous green blade, but was totally unprepared for the force behind that blast. It took him off balance, and the deflected bolt went wild, hitting the ceiling right above them, sending more shards of cement raining down on them.

"Careful!" Master Jinn snapped again at him, and then relented after a fierce glare from Tahl, and killing looks from a dark haired teen and the Chief of Security. "That's okay for your first try…" he added most reluctantly.

"Good one!" The other young Jedi called out. "Just keep on at it!"

"Very good, Joe. Just relaxed and let your gut instinct tells you where to hit next…" his mom told him encouragingly.

"Great hit, Joe," Frank shouted out. "Try for the droids next time? Those were just fast balls, easy, bro…"

Joe smiled. Frank knew just the thing to say to spur him on. He did just that, batting the bolts back from whence it came from. He even managed to hit down some droids on the way.

Master Jinn turned his attention to the huge chunk of rock lying right across their escape path and started to focus on it. Slowly, he force-lifted it and moved it away. He could feel his padawan helping him lift up that thing… and together, the master and padawan team threw the rock into the approaching droids.

"Out! Now! Hurry!" Jinn shouted at the others, as he retrieved his weapon from the boy. He felt better once that deadly weapon was back in his hands.

He and Tahl played rear guard as the others made their way out using the secret passage way. After everyone left, they jumped down the narrow steps and followed. Halfway through the tunnel, Jinn turned around and slashed repeatedly at the ceiling until it collapsed, trapping their pursuers on the other side. Then he turned and raced after the others.

And soon, he would have the answers he needed from Tahl.

Further down the tunnel, Fenton was thinking similar thoughts. Soon, he would have the answers he needed from Laura.