Chapter 3
From the Private Journal of Jedi Master Jacen Solo
=With comments by B. Wrarm, Jedi Librarian=
=Approximately 30 years after the Battle of Yavin, Several Months After the Yuuzhan Vong War Ended=
Well that sucked.
We boarded a derelict ship today and Womprat went and blew it up! That droid is so unpredictable!
The ship was a prison ship from the pre-Empire era. We actually found a Weequay Jedi Knight in it. Micar Cree. He seems to be a great guy. He told us some stories about living in the Jedi Order. Obviously he was put on ice during the Clone Wars, probably near the end. Micar said he learned from a Jedi Master named Mace Windu how to fight using some form of combat he created called "Vaapad." We've never heard of it, but he said it's pretty intense and he's even offered to teach it to us! I never expected when I set out on this journey that I'd come across a real, living Jedi Knight from the Old Republic. He couldn't believe that Palpatine is long gone. Odd that he doesn't want to meet Uncle Luke. I don't quite get it. But I'm sure it's a shock that he's woken up such a long time after everyone he knew was long gone. He'll be fine, in time.
We also came across a baby Vornskr. This little guy is amazing! They're so smart and playful at that age, and hardly vicious at all. I think I can tame him. Eriana somehow got him to respond to the name 'Astro' when she was yelling at Womprat, and now he doesn't respond to anything else. He's fiercely loyal to me, even when I'm not using my empathic abilities to communicate with him. I think he knows I saved him. He's fine around Eriana and doesn't seem to mind Womprat, but he's very wary around Micar.
=Distant shouting noises=
Uh, oh, it sounds like Eriana and Womprat are fighting again. I'd better sign off.
=End=
-! #$%^&*()
Jacen and Jaina spent the next few hours catching up on current – and not-so-current – events sitting on the roof of the Jedi Academy while watching the dark rumbling rain clouds that cancelled Jaina's lesson as they passed by at a distance. Sitting there reminded them both of their time training on Yavin IV, when they would sit at the top of the giant ziggurat in the lazy rainforest heat and watch the wildlife from a distance. During the five years Jacen had spent wandering the galaxy in search of the secrets of the Force, he had been out of touch from his family, leaving much to discover. Likewise, Jacen had many stories to tell about his travels with his companions: Eriana, an outcast Jensaari-turned-Jedi under his tutelage; Womprat, an assassin droid hiding in an astromech shell; and Astro, a Vornskr he had raised from a pup.
First, Jaina told him that their parents were on a diplomatic mission, likely to return in a couple weeks. The resource shortages across the galaxy had sparked some wildfires that the Republic could not keep up with, and several Jedi with strong diplomatic skills were asked to assist. Jaina went on to tell him about her initial disastrous attempts at trying to help rebuild various parts of the Republic, but how her lack of focus had caused mistakes to be made. She explained that after the war had finished she had a hard time adjusting to life without the constant threat of impending doom and having to fight her way out of it.
"Master Skywalker decided that my time would be best spent taking care of Ben," Jaina said, laughing softly. "You can imagine how that went!"
Jacen tried to picture his sister, war hero, ace starpilot, and, occasionally a self-centred snob, trying to care for a three-year-old. "It's a miracle either of you survived."
"You know it," She agreed. "I think it was Uncle Luke's attempt to send me over to the Dark Side."
She continued to ramble on about how she had grown quite attached to Ben, and how she started teaching at the academy. Eventually over the years she found teaching was her forte, and through teaching she had become the happier person he now sat beside.
While Jaina had rambled on about the past few years, she fixed the lightsaber, proving she could still fix anything, including completely alien technology. As payment she demanded to know how Jacen and Nelani knew each other, and an explanation behind the whole 'Darth Harla' act.
"Well," Jacen began. "It's a long story. Five years ago I had the opportunity to infiltrate a Sith camp that was trying to recruit people into their ranks. Well, they weren't real Sith, not like Palpatine or Vader. More like Dark Jedi who decided to call themselves Sith."
"Why's that?"
"Well, they didn't have any of the traditional Sith knowledge. The whole Sith Magic and the like. I think I know more about the Sith than they do, now that I think about it. Anyway, Nelani was one of the people they found potential in, and they more or less kidnapped her into joining them. They gave me her as an apprentice because I was just so amazingly spectacular at what I could do…"
Jaina slapped her brother's arm and mirrored his grin, but remained silent and allowed him to continue.
"…and I convinced her that her unease with Sith ideologies made her a perfect Jedi candidate. Together we planned our escape, and got my crew, Kyle Katarn, and Lowbacca out in the process. We even stole their command ship."
"Wait," Jaina said. "Uncle Luke took a bunch of Jedi on a mission several years ago to attack a suspected Sith base. He said they were badly trained, but fought to the death. Nobody ever found out how he knew about it. You're telling me you were at that camp? And Lowie and Master Katarn?"
"You got it," Jacen confirmed. "Shortly after we broke out, Uncle Luke went in and cleaned up. But you're telling me there wasn't any major resistance?" Jacen looked shocked, troubled, and anxious, all at once.
"No," Jaina said, and Jacen jumped up to run towards the nearest turboshaft. "Wait! Where are you going?"
"To warn Uncle Luke," Jacen called over his shoulder. "If I'm right, there's a Vaapad master on the loose, and he's training an army."
"Vaapad? What's that?" Jaina stopped running when she realized her brother had already disappeared and that neither the empty roof, nor his forgotten lightsaber, had any answers for her.
-! #$%^&*()
"…Given the relative weakness of our manufacturing capabilities right now, we just can't keep up with the demand for materials – raw or finished. Leia, please help the Velmorians understand that we are trying to get their needs met, but there are many planets in need. May the Force be with you."
"Is it me, or does that guy look like he aged fifty years since the end of the war?" Han asked.
"Cal's been under a lot of stress rebuilding the Alliance these last few years," Leia responded, shutting off the holo projector. "With the majority of the galaxy's manufacturing capabilities destroyed in the war…" Leia allowed her voice to drift off sadly.
"I know, I know," Han finished. "Everyone wants their mines or their factories or their processed goods now, nobody wants to wait, blah blah blah."
"And that's only what the holonews is reporting," Leia said. "It isn't widely known, but there is a massive power struggle in the Senate. Senators representing major construction planets that were destroyed are finding themselves in the uncomfortable and unfamiliar position of begging for facilities to be rebuilt so they can get themselves back to their former glory. On the other hand, those who can provide the resources don't see why they can't take the place of those planets. As a result, a black market for material is growing…"
"And the Republic wants us to stop it." Han finished, unsurprised by this insider information.
"Yes."
"Again."
"Yes."
"Does this ever get old for you?"
"Ten years ago," Leia sighed. "What also isn't well known is that several planets are threatening to leave the Alliance in protest. Velmor is one of them."
"I'll warm up the navicomp."
"Leia?" A soft voice came from behind. Leia turned to face her Jedi Master of four years, Tresina Lobi.
"Yes, Master Lobi?" Leia responded.
"It's time for us to continue with your lessons, if you're finished bickering, that is," Tresina said with a smile, and retreated from the Falcon's cockpit.
"Bickering?" Han asked. "That woman wouldn't know bickering if it slapped her across the face."
"Han, it's been four years," Leia said, rising out of her chair. "Are you ever going to get used to her being my Jedi Master?"
"No," Han grunted. "She hates me."
"No more than the rest of us, dear," Leia kissed him on the cheek. "And I still have much to learn. Let me know when we're there."
-! #$%^&*()
=From the Private Journal of Jedi Master Jacen Solo=
=With comments by B. Wrarm, Jedi Librarian=
=Approximately 30 years after the Battle of Yavin, Several Months After the Yuuzhan Vong War Ended=
This is going to sound weird. Last night after doing some Vaapad exercises with Micar I was meditating in the training area and...well...I heard voices. First there was this crackling laugh from one corner, and then I heard my name from another corner. It was a Coruscanti accent, which threw me off because nobody on the ship has that accent! I started looking around, and I heard two more voices. One was very familiar. Finally, this ghostly blue image appeared in front of me of this little guy no higher than my knee with long pointy ears and he introduced himself as Jedi Master Yoda! I know what you're thinking, and I did not have anything to drink that night! I could sense Womprat was powered down, and everyone else was sleeping so I knew it wasn't a holo image. Two others appeared, one who called himself Obi-Wan Kenobi, and finally... My grandfather. Yeah, Anakin Skywalker appeared to me, for the second time in less than a year.
=He sighs loudly and waits a moment before continuing.=
They told me that it was time to train me in the higher ways of the Force.
=He sounds bewildered= Yeah.
I thought the environmental systems were malfunctioning and I was hallucinating from oxygen deprivation, but they insisted it was real. They proved their powers with telekinesis and such. They also warned me that Micar isn't who he says he is, that he is a clone of former Jedi Master Sora Bulq, twisted by Palpatine and reserved as a potential Sith apprentice. I asked if I should stop learning from him, but they insisted I continue. They said they would guide me in mastering Vaapad without becoming corrupted as Sora was.
=He sounds very bewildered= Whoa.
Then they told me the creator of Vaapad was still alive, and told me where to find him.
That's the last time I skip dinner.
=End=
-! #$%^&*()
=From the Private Journal of Jedi Master Jacen Solo=
=With comments by B. Wrarm, Jedi Librarian=
=Approximately 35 years after the Battle of Yavin, 5 Years After the Yuuzhan Vong War Ended=
=His voice is very subdued and he speaks slowly, as if thinking about every word.=
Last night Yoda came to me while I was meditating. I could sense Qui-Gon was there too, but he didn't speak to me. I... =There is a long pause= I could sense their pride. They were proud of what I had accomplished these last five years. Proud of what they had accomplished, as well.
It was funny that they chose to come to me just when I was thinking of the first time we met; how bewildered and confused I was. I've learned a lot since then. Eriana and I both have. Masters Yoda, Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Mace, and grandfather – Anakin: They taught us stuff that no other Jedi could ever have known, and I am very grateful and humbled by the trust they have put in us.
=There is a full minute of silence with faint breathing, and then the sound of a deep breath being taken=
Yoda came to tell me that he was granting me the rank of Jedi Master.
I couldn't believe it. I still don't! Twenty five years old, and a Jedi Master. I told him I couldn't accept it, that I needed more training, but he pulled the =He imitates a cranky voice= "For eight hundred years have I trained Jedi" =End cranky voice= line for about the hundredth time. Before I could argue further, he told me to return to the Jedi immediately. He said I would understand after I arrive.
He also told me that I am to never, ever tell anyone that we were trained by them without permission. Especially Uncle Luke. He strictly forbade me from telling Uncle Luke.
=Extended silence=
They placed their trust in me, and I will not betray that trust.
=Another period of silence=
It'll take me a week to get to Ossus. I have already decided not to tell anyone of becoming a Jedi Master. I sense that the time may not be right and it might just make things more difficult. I don't know why Yoda decided to tell me this, why he couldn't wait. Eriana and I haven't cared about rank or anything in the time we have been out here together. We are who we are. What we're addressed as has no bearing on what we can do or who we are. But I do appreciate their show of confidence.
=End=