Authors note:
Next week's chapter may be delayed due to some rethinking of one of the sub-plots of the overall storyline that worms its way back into this story. I hope to have all the issues sorted out before next Sunday/Monday, but right now I'm not making any promises. I'd rather edit before you all read it than later. Thanks to everyone posting reviews - they're very much appreciated. And here's 11...
Chapter 11
The scheduled meeting started twenty minutes late mostly due to continued arguments about Jacen's presence in the meeting and Eriana's display with Kyp the day before. Finally tired of the bickering, Jacen used the Force to muffle the voices of everyone present and project his own voice over the new found silence to request that they to stop doing the work of the Sith for them. He kept the Forced silence on them while Luke addressed the group, much to the dismay of many of the Council members.
"As you all know, we are here to discuss how we will proceed on our search for the Sith. After a brief discussion with the Jedi Council we have decided to break the galaxy into six parts as the focus of our search," Luke waved his hand, and a holographic representation of the galaxy appeared over the Council table while the lights dimmed.
Jacen stepped forward into the middle of the table and invoked noises of impatience and anger from the assembled Jedi. "Master, if I may, I have a different suggestion."
"Oh?" Luke asked inquisitively. He put on a good show, but he knew that Jacen had his own plan.
"As everyone here knows, Jedi have the ability to detect other Force users and disturbances in the Force," He started. "Why not use that ability to detect the Sith?"
Silence blanketed the room, so Jacen continued.
"You're obviously thinking something like 'Who has that kind of power to search an entire galaxy?' or 'That's impossible, who is this crazy nutter?'" Several chuckles broke out, but the room remained silent as he continued. "To answer the first question: Zonama Sekot and fifty Jedi ought to do it."
"What's the answer to the second question?" Someone who sounded very much like Corran Horn disguising his voice yelled out from the back, creating more laughs, and a smile broke on Luke and Jacen's faces. After the jest had left the room, a young master Jacen did not recognize asked "You're talking about that living planet, right?"
"Yes," Jacen responded, slightly annoyed that a friend of his was being referred to as 'that living planet.' "To us humanoids, we might be able to sense the presence of a Force user on a continent, or a planet if we're lucky. For Sekot, the galaxy is the relative size as a planet is to us. What I propose is that a group of us link with Sekot to search the galaxy for disruptions in the Force, or collections of Force users."
Several arguments broke out regarding the Sith being able to hide themselves and Jacen's sanity, but Jacen waved them off.
"At the end of the war, I was able to…" he struggled for the right words. "Reach a new level of awareness with the Force. Alone, it felt like the entire galaxy was mine to manipulate, to wield. With the help of Sekot, picking out a few Sith will be a cakewalk especially if they don't know we're looking. And only the Sith Masters might be troublesome to locate, but that's fine. We're not looking for a headcount: we're looking locations. Show me two Pada…Apprentices who can hide themselves from me in the Force, and I'll eat my lightsaber."
"Jazen, thiz iz crazy," Saba Seybatine commented. "Sekot may not have the control to do what you ask of her. Alzo, how would thiz affect thoze connected to her?"
"Well, presumably it could sever their connection to the Force by burning out all the midichlorians, but I can fix that," Jacen said dismissively. "But as for control, I was planning on doing the search myself. Using Sekot's power to boost my perceptions."
"Impossible!" Cilghal stood up abruptly. "Jacen, this is madness! The human brain can not handle that much information. You're talking about retaining a galaxy's worth of information. How could you possibly handle that? And sensory overload is only the beginning! That much raw power going through you would fry you just like it did twenty years ago to Dorsk 81! Don't forget, he only had a dozen Knights behind him, not fifty Jedi and a planet."
Murmurs of agreement broke out around the room. Jacen caught his sister's eye and saw a glint of fear.
What is she afraid of? Jacen wondered.
"I don't need to retain all the knowledge, just a little bit. A handful of planet names, maybe a few names or faces of the Sith. Spatial co-ordinates or landmarks. The vast majority of it would be forgotten faster than one of Aunt Mara's recipes out of sheer necessity. But, that's why I need more Jedi than just Eriana and myself. I need enough processing power to handle this information without getting damaged. As for pure power," Jacen paused. "Dorsk 81 was a great Jedi, but his training was limited. I think I know more than he did when it comes to using this much power.
"I do agree this plan is not without risks. However, I alone will be taking those risks, and everyone else will still be able to carry out whatever plan is determined in the rest of this meeting." Jacen turned to face Luke. "I have discussed this plan with Sekot through Danni, and Sekot is willing to go through with this. We believe our best chances are to move Sekot into the Core, and to have no less than fifty of the most Force-sensitive Jedi included. I have already prepared a list of fifty first choices, and fifty backups, based on the records in the Jedi archives and my own personal research around here. Of course, I would like to take only willing volunteers, but the more there are the better my chances of success will be." He floated a datapad across the table to Luke.
"As for the backup plan," Jacen continued without pause. "I believe it wise to focus our search on the Unknown Regions first, as there are many pockets that are uncharted even by the Chiss. I suggest those with good relations with both factions of the Chiss, like maybe both Master Skywalkers, Saba, and Danni Quee, should try to make contact with them to see if the Ascendancy has noticed anything out of the ordinary. At the same time, search teams of six Jedi should continue the search to planets, and areas that might contain planets.
"Next, the Core should be searched, as the stars can make things difficult to locate in there. I came across some maps that should help. Wild Space, and the various arms of the galaxy should be searched out after the core, again in teams of six or more…"
"Jacen," Luke interrupted. "This is a discussion, not a dictation."
"True," Jacen admitted. "But nobody seems to object so far."
He continued on for another ten minutes laying out a general search pattern, then the Jedi Council agreed to allow Jacen to pursue his idea with Zonama Sekot, dependant on volunteer willingness. After a few suggestions to modify Jacen's plan, he left for a brief time to contact Danni on the surface of Zonama. When Jacen returned, the Jedi Masters were dismissed and the Council alone was in session to determine who would be searching where. He found Jaina and Corran Horn discussing the contents of a data pad in the small courtyard just outside the Council Chamber.
"Why would he want…Oh, hi Jacen!" Jaina seemed slightly embarrassed at her brother's sudden appearance.
"Hey Jacen," Corran greeted Jacen with a slap on the back.
Jacen merely nodded to them and said, "To answer your question, I want Master Skywalker, Eriana, and you two here on Ossus so the students are well protected. And on a side note, I want everyone to stop thinking I made these plans over a case of Whyren's Reserve and glitterstim. It took Eriana, Womprat, and I the better part of a week to map out a course of action we felt comfortable bringing before the Council."
"Ouch," Corran said. "Y'know, it wouldn't hurt if you were a bit nicer about it, Jacen."
Jacen nodded in thought for a moment and said, "Yes, it probably wouldn't, but we won't have time for 'nice' when the Sith are in orbit asking us to courier them our scalps. Personally, I'd prefer to deal with them somewhere away from the hundred or so kids running around here."
"A week?" Jaina asked after a moment of thought. "You just found out about the Sith two days ago!"
"Time is…" Jacen's careful answer was cut off.
"And how, exactly, do you expect to 'deal' with these so-called Sith, Jedi Solo?" A voice interrupted from behind Jacen, causing him to wince. He didn't have to see the face to know it was Waxarn Kel, a Jedi Knight who nearly died in the Vong war and was left with a scarred reminder on half his body. A strong advocate of using lethal force against opponents, he was often morally opposed to Jacen's more passive ideologies. Several bitter arguments broke out during the Vong war between Jacen and Kel about the proper way to deal with the Vong. It always irked Kel that Jacen was right at the end of the war, though Jacen did not care. It was more Kel's insistence that Jacen was wrong that annoyed him more than anything.
"I was thinking of buying them off with the Council's holdings in Fizzy Pop shares, and converting them to Foundationism with the request for penance dependant on their hierarchical rank," Jacen said as seriously as he could. Jaina and Corran were quiet behind him, but he could sense them both stifling snickers. "But I'd settle for a lifetime promise of never touching the Force again, and getting my boots polished once a year."
"Now, Jedi Solo," Kel said in a condescending manner, "That's no way to talk to a Jedi Master, now is it?"
"If I were talking to a Jedi Master, it wouldn't be," Jacen looked him square in the eye. "But you…"
He let his words drift off, turning back to his sister.
"Want to get some lightsaber practice in?"
"Sure!" Jaina said, glad to find a reason to get Jacen away from Kel. Dislike of him seemed to run in the family. "Master Horn, would you care to join us?"
"You can count on it," Corran said, visibly relieved. Perhaps dislike of Kel was a Corellian thing. He spotted Kyle Katarn across the courtyard talking to Jaden Korr. "Hey, Kyle. KYLE! MASTER KATARN! Saber practice."
"I'll be there," Kyle called back, signalling with a thumbs up.
The Corellians left Kel behind to stew in his maltreatment.
"He wasn't actually promoted, was he?" Jacen asked when they were out of earshot. "That guy's so vicious he could make Palpatine blush."
"The Jedi Council believed it important to take into consideration all viewpoints when selecting Masters," Corran said dutifully. He was careful not to flavour his words with any emotion. "And he's not too bad with a lightsaber," He finished thoughtfully.
"Lightsaber mastery alone does not make a Jedi," Jacen shook his head. "Whoever got that impression into their head needs a new one."
"Says the person who tried getting away from him through a duel with his sister," Jaina elbowed him lightly in the arm.
"At least I don't sleep with my lightsaber."
"I thought that was the first rule for a Jedi," Corran interrupted. "Always sleep with your blade nearby. Preferably under your pillow."
"Yes, Corran, under your pillow," Jacen glanced back at Kel, "Not under your sheets."
-! #$%^&*()
"Leia! Over here! Quick!"
Leia looked away from her inspection of the Falcon's landing gear in her pre-flight checklist and saw a hooded figure behind another ship's landing strut nearby. Her mind still reeling from the brief meeting with Los Othrul, she found herself easily distracted from the inspection. A quick wave of its hand urged her to come over. She sent a message through the Force to Tresina inside the Falcon and cautiously approached the hooded man with her hand near her lightsaber.
"Los?" Leia asked when she recognized the face.
"Shh!" Los Othrul whispered to her. "I have to talk quickly. I didn't have a choice. They've been muscling me into it for years, forcing me to make things worse. I couldn't help it!"
"Help what?" Leia touched his shoulder and applied the Force to him, trying to calm the man down.
"The Mandalorians!" Los replied. "They want to break up the Galactic Alliance by creating dislike of the Jedi. They want to use Velmor as a catalyst, so they sent us the convoy as a bribe. They're allied with the..."
Los reached to his throat, gasping for air while Leia looked around frantically trying to figure out what was happening.
"The S...Si..."
Los Othrul's eyes bulged one last time before his lifeless body fell to the ground.
"It is a shame he had to be so brave," A menacing, yet familiar, voice came from inside the ship above Leia. The image of Jacen ferociously beating Luke appeared in her head again as a hooded figure dropped out of an access hatch and ignited a red lightsaber. She stumbled back at the memory, shaking her head as if to fling it away. "And a greater shame for you that he told you. We did not expect our puppet to be so bold."
Leia pushed the image aside and focusing on the threat with great effort and drew her lightsaber. She could sense Tresina nearby waiting for an opportunity to come to her student's aid, so she started backing away from the lightsaber-wielding man towards the Falcon.
"Who are you?" Leia called, trying to keep the assassin interested. The voice was so familiar, but different. Much deeper and calmer than she remembered it.
"You know who I am," The man replied. "I am Sith. Once you are dead, even that will not matter to you."
Why is Han always right? Leia thought.
The Sith leapt forward with a Force enhanced jump and Leia jumped high in a backward summersault to land on top of the Falcon's right cargo prong. Barely pausing, the Sith jumped after her, cowl falling down and revealing the face of Zeeal Antillies. He spun into a combination of attacks meant to throw Leia off guard and overpower her, but she deflected them and backwards to the other prong, binding their blades on his last strike over the gap between the ship's mandibles.
Zeeal sneered at her over the cross in their blades. "The Jedi's days are numbered, and this pitiful Galactic Alliance will soon fall to the Sith!"
"Maybe," Leia conceited. "But not today."
A deafening shockwave tore between Leia and Zeeal as Zeeal's arms and lightsaber disappeared in a flash of light. Leia and Zeeal collapsed away from each other to the hull of the Falcon, Zeeal staring in shock at the partially cauterized stumps of his arms.
"Don't you dare bleed on my ship, you traitorous scum!" Han shouted from the ascending top-hatch elevator, blaster in hand. He fired a warning shot at Zeeal's head that glanced off the thick hull plating. "Off!"
The blaster bolt jarred Zeeal to his senses, making him suddenly realize the danger he was in. He spun in a Force-assisted roll until he fell off the edge of the Falcon's prong, then sprung up over the wall of the landing pad in a single bound.
"Twitchy little guy," Han remarked. "Never liked him. Are we going after him?"
"I will," Tresina appeared behind Han. "You two must leave immediately."
"Master, we can't leave you here," Leia protested. "We stand a better chance of stopping him together."
"I will be fine, Leia," Tresina assured her. "I do not intend on confronting him, only following. You must go. You are far too recognizable to stay and someone must report on this new threat."
She walked to the edge of the Falcon. "I will be in touch. May the Force be with you."
"Hey, T," Han called.
Curiously, Tresina looked at him over her shoulder, wondering what criticism he might offer.
"Nice shot."
She smiled slightly before jumping over the wall in pursuit of Zeeal.