Chapter 18

"Master Skywalker told us to check into your contact and go back to Ossus! Why are you setting course for Nar Kreeta?"

Jacen spun the navigator's chair around to face his sister. "Master Skywalker asked us to…" He closed his eyes for a second, recalling the past. " 'To determine what the Mandalorian threat amounts to.' We have yet to do that."

"We know what the threat is!" Jaina exclaimed. "The majority of the Mandalorians have joined the Sith, and want to wipe us out. What more do we need to know?"

"And how many Mandalorians are 'the majority?' " Jacen asked reasonably. "What technology and resources do they possess? What are their manufacturing capabilities? What damage are they capable of? Of all people, why have they gone to the Sith for help? Or why did the Sith choose them when they have been historical enemies? Are there any others the Mandalorians are bringing with them against us? Why do they think they have a chance at beating us now of all times? Where are their operatives currently hiding? How much damage can they do to the Alliance?

"Until we can answer even half of these questions, we don't have a kriffin' clue what the threat 'amounts to,' Jaina. Further investigation is implied in his request."

Tired of arguing, Jaina collapsed in the co-pilot seat. "To think, seven years ago, you were telling me to be more responsible not fly off the handle."

Jacen stopped. A disastrous mission that nearly sent Jaina to darkness, and resulted in Jacen being kidnapped by the Yuuzhan Vong unintentionally came across the twin bond, but he could not tell who had sent it. Their younger brother was lost during that mission and Jaina had thought both her brothers were dead. Her recklessness was possibly the reason why the surviving Jedi escaped alive, and his conservative stubbornness, not to mention Anakin's sacrifice, was the reason the mission had succeeded. That mission still gave both siblings nightmares.

"I was trying to protect you – protect us – from things we couldn't handle or understand."

"And we can handle them now?" Jaina asked. The lack of edge in her voice indicated to Jacen that she knew he sensed her thoughts and that she was asking as a peer, not a nagging older sister or Jedi Master.

"I hope so," He turned to look at her, emotions from the memories showing in both their eyes. "I don't know anyone else who can, especially if the Council is bent on stopping us from doing anything every step of the way."

Jaina's eyes hardened at his attack on the Council, but he spoke before she could. "I know, I know. We should heed the advice of the Council. Jedi shouldn't be running around free without guidance, and I do admit that I'm a bit more headstrong than they'd like."

Jaina cocked her head with a sarcastic look, but her expression did soften.

"Okay, much more headstrong than they can handle. But sitting on our hands isn't going to remove the Sith threat."

"We could call Ossus on a secure line," Jaina suggested, getting back to the mission. "At least let them know what's on that datachip you found."

"Womprat's been working on it since he got on board. There seems to be some interference between here and Ossus," Jacen sighed and pointed to the navicomputer. "I've set a course to Kashyyyk. We have to go through that area anyways, and we won't be too far out of the way from Nar Kreeta. We could always pretend we were going to Ossus but wanted to drop in at Kashyyyk first to get the info in as soon as possible."

"When did you get so sneaky?" Jaina asked.

"It's something your dad taught me," Jacen replied with a wink, and turned back to his controls.

"Jacen," Jaina said softly after a moment's contemplation. "I want to know more about your training."

"What's that?" Jacen adjusted a few power settings on a control panel and started flipping through various display screens.

"You said that Yoda and the others are holding you back so you can't be more than a regular Jedi. I saw what you did back in the cantina. Not even Uncle Luke could do that. What exactly are they stopping you from doing?"

Jacen paused once he set the navicomputer to calculate the course, and turned to look at her.

"Well, it's more a measure of influence than anything, I suppose," Jacen said. "What they don't want is for Eriana or me to become another Palpatine, Vader, or Bane."

Jaina's blank expression stopped him from continuing.

"Bane was the first Sith in the line of Palpatine. He implemented the 'Rule of Two' and organized the apparent death of the Sith, turning it into a secret society that slowly worked it's way into what Palpatine became, finally able to destroy the Jedi."

"Ah."

"Yeah. So, as long as we're heeding someone else's guidance and not trying to take over planets or enslave the Wookiees again…"

Jaina laughed, but said nothing.

"I think I know where you're going with this," Jacen said. "They're obviously going to interfere if we start ripping planets in half, exploding stars, or working ourselves into a politically powerful position – as if I'd want to deal with politicians after what they did to Mom – but for the most part we can use our abilities as we believe they should be used."

"You can rip planets in half?" Jaina asked incredulously.

"Well, I did split a large asteroid once," Jacen said sheepishly. "But it was uninhabited and there were miners trapped in it. We saved them. And I tell you the planet it was orbiting enjoyed the most prosperous mining operation in their recorded history because it was easier and safer to get to the metal."

"Don't tell Uncle Lando that one," Jaina started playing with some controls on her side of the cockpit, still trying to imagine how one could break a planet in half, but a nagging thought arose.

"What about you trying to run the Jedi Council? Isn't that too influential?"

"I'm not trying to do that," Jacen said defensively. "I'm trying to get them to work in an open-minded way that can be respected, not as a bunch of fools in fancy robes. They need to think things through and trust each other as well as the Force. I have no interest in serving on the Council whatsoever. In fact, I think Uncle Luke should step down."

"Are you crazy?" Jaina half-shouted, half-laughed. "He's the only thing keeping them together!"

"My point exactly," Jacen said sombrely. "I fear what would happen if he took even a week's vacation."

Jaina sat back and stared out at the stars around them as Jacen went back to his displays.

"They're pretty smart," She finally said. "Yoda and the others."

"They've had a long time to look at their own mistakes." The navicomputer beeped signalling its readiness, so Jacen activated the hyperdrive and joined her in staring out at the mottled blue view. "They know how the Sith got them, and they want to prevent it from happening again. They also knew that one leader for the Jedi wasn't enough. Even after the Jedi were wiped out, Obi-Wan and Yoda still counseled each other through Qui-Gon. Maybe it's a slower way of doing things, but reasoned action is always better than blindly jumping into it."

"Do you have any idea how many times you've contradicted yourself?" Jaina asked. "First you're saying they need to act; now you're saying they need to deliberate. Which one do you want? You can't have both."

Jacen smiled to himself. "It's all about balance and trust, Jaina. Once the Council learns to be less selfish and help others, they should be fine. They need to abandon petty internal politics and look at the bigger picture. Yes, it is important to have a strong foundation to support helping others out, but I think they're past that point. Now it's just building for the sake of building more than anything."

"How far should we go to help people out?" Jaina asked. "There are so many shades of grey its ridiculous. And what make you think you have all the answers?"

"The capacity for good or evil is in all beings," Jacen said. "Dark Side, Light Side…The Force doesn't have sides: People do. If I've learned anything, it's that. Most people who fall to darkness and say 'the Dark Side made them do it' are in denial that they have that darkness within themselves. Nothing made them do it, except themselves.

"And I never said I have all the answers, Jaina. I just…I go by my gut. I trust my instincts to do what's right, and when I can't do that…I think of you. You, mom, dad. Anakin. Uncle Luke. Lowie and Tenel Ka. I think of all the people I care about most, and I ask myself, 'What would they want me to do?' or 'What would they be proud of me to do?' It's served me well."

Jaina didn't quite know what to say to that, so she nodded softly as Jacen started a diagnostic on the power grid.

"You missed one," She suddenly said. "How much should we do to help out?"

A shadowmoth of a memory suddenly fluttered into Jacen's mind.

"Define 'help,'" He responded with a grin.

-! #$%^&*()

From the Private Journal of Jedi Master Jacen Solo

-With comments by B. Wrarm, Jedi Librarian-

-Approximately 35 years after the Battle of Yavin -

I always knew Jaina was stubborn and bossy, but I never thought I would see the day I would out-stubborn her. Our arguments have made me wonder if she has changed more, or if I have. I know what she'd say. I know what I'd say. But I think we both have answers neither of us would admit to anyone, even ourselves.

Yes, I will cryptically leave that analysis to your imagination. Aren't I a horrible journal writer?

-Pause-

I don't know why, but something feels amiss. The Force is telling me we cannot return to Ossus, but I don't know why. I don't sense danger in us going there, or what our purpose out here is. –Pause- I only sense that we will know, eventually.

I should get some rest. In a few hours we'll drop out of hyperspace and try contacting Ossus again. Hopefully they'll let us continue with the ideas Eriana and I came up with.

-Yawn-

Sleep sounds so nice right about now.

-End-

-! #$%^&*()

"That went well," Jacen said with enough bitter sarcasm for even Threepio to detect, shutting down the comm unit and staring at it silently.

"What do we do now?" Eriana asked.

"Return to Ossus, like the Council said," Jaina responded dutifully. "Jacen, it was a good idea, but it's not plausible. The Sith would recognize us immediately, and if they don't the Mandalorians would. We're not exactly unknown faces around the galaxy."

Jacen continued to sit in quiet contemplation, ignoring his sister.

"Looks like we don't have a choice, Jace," Eriana agreed.

"And it's not like we're being totally shut down," Jaina said in a reasonable tone. "They just want to deliberate a bit more before choosing a course of action."

Jacen nodded, but not to Jaina. "Yoda and the others are indifferent," Jacen said. "It's not a matter they particularly care about either way. I suppose a couple days on Ossus won't hurt."

"Great," Jaina said, turning to the navi-computer to start calculating the jump to Ossus.

"In the mean time, assuming the Council ignores us, what are our options?" Jacen asked.

"Sit around on Ossus for a few days before checking out the Mandos ourselves," Eriana suggested. "You're skilled enough to hide yourself from the Sith and disguise your face without them knowing, and they have no idea who I am."

"Plus we'll have the Mando armour we borrowed," Jacen agreed. "Know anywhere we could get voice modification implants, Jaina?"

"Wait," Jaina said, turning away from the navicomputer. "Shouldn't we at least give the Council a chance to decide on something? You're the one who just told me you'd prefer if they did things for a change."

Eriana smiled smartly and stared at Jacen, not offering a comment. Jacen regarded his sister.

"Well, I'm up for a game of sabbac if you'd like," Jacen suggested, "It is a bit of a journey to Ossus. Or we could…I don't know. Pass the time constructively and plan something?"

"Shall I get my apprentices?" Jaina asked bitterly, referring to their earlier argument.

"No," Jacen said shortly. "They're better off in their healing trances."

"Jacen, at least give the Council a chance before you condemn them," Jaina pleaded, dropping the bitterness. "They might surprise you."

"Okay," Jacen sighed; secretly glad to have one less weight burdening him. Maybe I am getting a little obsessive trying to help out. "We'll let the Council figure this one out."

"Thank you," Jaina's relief was obvious in her smile.

"But if they don't do anything in three days, we're heading out," Jacen indicated himself and Eriana. "We can't let this trail get too cold."

"Agreed," Jaina said, "And I'm going with you."

Jacen nodded, sensing that she believed it was the right thing to do.

"Now that that's settled," Jacen stood up and made his way to the door. "I'll be in the training room meditating if anyone needs me."