Chapter Ten
"Phelope is far enough away from the main portion of the cluster that it doesn't attract a lot of traffic, but close enough to receive the necessary security," Tenel Ka said, pointing to the light representing the planet on a large holographic map. "There's a facility already in place. I've had a team working on it quietly. Aside from living quarters and classrooms, there is an enclosed outdoor area for the children to play. I've had advanced security systems installed. Here's a data disc with all the information for Master Skywalker."
Jaina took the disc and said, "Thank you."
"What makes a planet-bound shelter better than the Maw?" Jag asked, leaning forward in his chair.
Jaina smirked at Tenel Ka as the young queen turned to answer him, "The Hapes Cluster has natural defenses that have worked to our advantage over the past several years. We've had a high success rate of repelling the Yuuzhan Vong that harass our borders. It helps that we have sheer numbers and the ruling family has not only been in my favor for years but my mother's as well. Master Skywalker informed me that Shelter has become too well-known. Phelope is not, and the structure includes a bunker. Hiding the Jedi students there keep them safe from view, as well as providing them some freedom they don't have at Shelter."
Jag nodded, "How do you intend to avoid a political disaster or attack? All it takes is one person to leak the location to the Vong."
"The structure is hidden from sight. Even if someone were to stumble upon it, he wouldn't be able to enter. DNA identification codes are needed to enter. There are also Force-enhanced security measures. The team who worked on it was cleared by me. My father supervised the construction. Only a few others know of the location, but they do not know why I have had it remodeled. If anyone asks, it's another safe house," Tenel Ka explained.
"Who installed the final security systems?"
"Talon Karrde."
"I'm convinced," Jaina commented, "but I'd like to see it myself."
"I assumed as much," Tenel Ka replied as she turned off the map. "I can show you the various entry points on the way."
Jag and Jaina followed Tenel Ka as she led them out of the room. They walked to her private hanger and boarded her shuttle. She told Jaina to pilot it. After Jaina programmed the microjump, Tenel Ka excused herself from the cockpit.
Jaina turned the pilot chair to face Jag after pulling the hyperspace lever He was sitting behind her. She crossed her arms and asked, "What do you think?"
"It's a viable solution," Jag stated. "She's covered all the basics. I won't be convinced until I see the security measures though."
"Me either, but I trust Tenel Ka," Jaina commented. She turned back to the console to examine the controls.
The console beeped. Their microjump was almost complete. Tenel Ka entered the cockpit and sat in the co-pilot's chair.
An hour and a half later, after Jag had scrutinized the security systems, he and Jaina walked hand-in-hand through the outdoor area in the center courtyard. A cobblestone walkway wound around the courtyard. A small fountain, which was surrounded by benches, sat in the middle.
"Ani would love this," Jaina commented, touching the trunk of a large tree that lined the path.
"What about Davin?" Jag asked. Jaina smiled sadly at him. There was so much he didn't know about their children. She squeezed his hand and responded, "Oh, he'll like it but he's your son, Jag. As long as there's an area he can play with his ships, he's happy."
Jag chuckled, "Where did you hear about that?"
"Oh, Cem told me about the many epic battles you two had as children. I think he used Davin as an excuse to bring them out again."
"What is Davin's favorite?" Jag asked as they continued down the path.
Jaina raised an eyebrow, "Guess."
"Clawcraft?"
"Of course. He wouldn't give the X-Wing a chance," Jaina said with a laugh.
"Smart kid," Jag said.
Jaina rolled her eyes. "Your mother always said he was too smart for his own good."
They continued through the courtyard. Jag stopped her when they approached a bench. He tugged on Jaina's hand and they sat down.
"We're due back on the base in five days," Jag stated, studying his hands.
"Yes. Uncle Luke wasn't sure how much time Tenel Ka would have to show us everything," Jaina responded, "Although I think Aunt Mara had something to do with the amount of time we were given."
"What else do we need to do here?" Jag asked.
"Nothing. We have the information. Tenel Ka found me the detailed security schematics from Karrde to give to Aunt Mara."
"Do we have time to go to the Maw?" Jag asked, finally looking at her.
Jaina smiled softly at him. She caressed his cheek, "Yes."
"Jagged! Jaina!" Syal exclaimed as she opened the door. Jaina and Jag stood in the doorway, grinning. Syal threw her arms around both of them. "Come in. What are you doing here?"
"We finished up an assignment early," Jaina responded as Jag squeezed by her to enter the apartment.
"The kids are still sleeping," Syal said. It was early morning at Shelter.
Jag had already opened the door to the children's room. Jaina hissed at him to be quiet.
"I'm not going to wake them," he whispered. He knelt down next to Ani's bed. Her blanket had fallen off her. He picked it up and tucked it around her. He brushed her hair away from her face. Her eyes fluttered opened. Her brow furrowed, and then she squealed as she lunged at Jag.
"Daddy!"
Davin woke up at the noise. He grinned and rolled out of bed. He wormed his way onto Jag's lap, knocking him over so he was sitting on the floor. Davin threw his arms around his father. Ani looked up and saw Jaina in the doorway. She let go of Jag and ran to Jaina. Jaina scooped Ani up while Davin hugged her legs.
"Mama, I got a loose tooth, " Davin said, bouncing up and down. "Look, Daddy!"
"That's great, son," Jag told him. He let Davin lead him out of the room. Davin pulled him to the couch to sit.
"Do you have to go away again?" Davin asked as he settled next to Jag.
Jag hesitated a moment, and then answered, "Your mom and I have to leave in a couple days."
"To go fight those ugly Vong guys?"
Jag chuckled despite the situation, "Yes, to go fight those ugly Vong guys."
"Okay," Davin responded, giving Jag a serious look. "Did they get rid of Csilla?"
Jag's brow furrowed. His father had told him that the kids didn't know about Csilla's fate. "Where did you hear that?"
Davin gave Jag a guilty look, "Me and Ben were listening to Uncle Cem, Aunt Wyn and Tahiri."
"Davin," Jag scolded. "You do not listen to other people's conversations."
"Sorry, Daddy," he mumbled. His voice then dropped to a scared whisper, "Did they get rid of it?"
Jag ran a hand over his brow. He and Jaina had agreed with Soontir and Syal's decision to keep Davin and Ani in the dark about Csilla's fate, but he knew he couldn't lie to Davin. He would sense it. He took a deep breath before answering.
"Yes, Davin, it's gone."
"We can't go back?"
"No, we can't."
Davin's eyes filled with tears. "But where we going to live?"
Jag pulled him onto his lap. "We'll find a new place to live."
Davin looked at him fearfully, "What if they come here?"
Jag brushed the tears from Davin's cheeks. He fought down every helpless, nervous, fearful emotion he felt as he answered, "They won't find you here, I promise."
The answer was enough for Davin. He threw his arms around Jag's neck in obvious relief. Jag glanced up and saw Jaina across the room. He had no doubt that she'd heard the exchange. Their eyes met and the same thought seemed to pass between them.
They've scared our son.
Lightening carved bright lines in the sky. Thunder crashed through the air. Rain pelted the cobblestone walkways, creating large puddles. The lighting struck a dead tree. The dry wood erupted into flames, which quickly began to engulf the dying forest.
A lone being sat curled up in a cave. Dirty blond hair framed a bloody face. Her eyes were black, smoldering with fear and hatred. As the flames came closer, she straightened her body. She suddenly jumped up and pulled an ampistaff from behind her. Its razor sharp edge slashed through the flames as she charged forward. As she turned, coral growths seem to sprout from her back. She threw her head back in agony as she lurched forward into the fire. She dug her heels into the wet, muddy ground in protest. Her back arched against her will and she fell forward into the fire.
Jacen's eyes snapped open. He was sitting in his room. He had been meditating when the vision occurred. He wiped his eyes as if to clean the image from his brain. He had felt a desperate struggle from the woman. She was fighting against the dark force controlling her. Jacen recognized the coral growths as the slave implants used specially for fighting.
He didn't know what the vision meant. He had long ago stopped trying to assume he understood his visions. He would create theories and guess, but was never sure. He had learned that lesson the hard way.
The stereotypical phrase "The future is always in motion" rang through Jacen's head. Visions could be triggered by an event, an action, a shift in the Force or just at random. Jacen associated this one with a multitude of triggers. He had been spending more time around the refugees. Danni told him about the work she and Telma were attempting to do with the slave seeds. He'd been talking more with Britna, who was still dazed from her capture. On top of everything, Jacen could still communicate with the World Brain on Yuuzhan'tar, although he did not need to. The World Brain had become a nuisance to the Yuuzhan Vong. It came up with various ideas to torment them, seeing the sabotage as fun.
Jacen rubbed at the large scar on his chest. As he closed his eyes, he could feel invisible tendrils of the slave seed twine their way around his ribs. He reached out and touched the World Brain. It reacted to him, recognizing his presence. A small smile appeared on his face. It was as if he was communing with an old ally, a friend.
His relationship with the World Brain was still a secret. He knew there would be a push for him to destroy Yuuzhan'tar if anyone found out.
Jacen slapped his palms on the floor and pushed himself up. He wasn't going to dwell on the vision. Understanding would come or it wouldn't. He walked past his bed and out the front door. He moved through the corridors, ignoring the sounds of life around the base. He focused on simply breathing in and out, but it didn't work. He could not shake the image of the blonde woman writhing in pain.
Han flinched as the whine of TIE fighter engines echoed through the chamber. He had never been able to be completely comfortable around anything Imperial. Leia gave him a small smile as they watched the fighters land. They weren't stationed at the base; they were merely passing through to refuel before heading to Imperial-controlled space.
"Pellaeon's new scientists are arriving this evening," Leia said, crossing her arms as she stared out of the transparisteel window.
"Another one?"
Leia nodded, "It's a competition. The Galactic Alliance is in charge of all research. The Empire and the Chiss both want to have the most technicians. Whoever has the most pull in the labs is the true controller of the labs."
"Politics," Han muttered.
Leia raised an eyebrow at him, "Surprised? At the moment, the Chiss have two more than the Empire."
"And us?"
"We have three less than the Empire, but Danni is in charge," Leia explained. "Two less, if you count Telma. She's been working with Danni."
"Telma? That Twi'lek that arrived with Jaina and Jag?"
"Yes," Leia responded with a nod.
The TIE pilots climbed out from their cockpits and marched to their commander. An official Han didn't know approached him and gave him a datacard with what Han assumed were instructions. The commander nodded, and then led his pilots from the hanger. Technicians began refueling the TIEs.
"The one who controls the labs controls new developments," Han pointed out.
"Yes. The Chiss and Imperial scientists send developments to their own home labs."
"Where they can use the information themselves."
"Exactly."
"Some alliance," Han scoffed.
"Are you surprised?" Leia responded.
"Of course not. Slimy Imperials and ice-cold Chiss acting exactly as predicated," Han stated. "And our daughter married right into them."
"Han," Leia scolded.
His response was interrupted by the Starflare breaking the magbarrier and entering the docking bay. They watched as the ramp lowered and Jaina and Jag slowly walked out. Jag raised the ramp and locked it. His arm went around her waist and they walked slowly out of the hanger.
"They went to Shelter," Han observed.
Leia nodded, brow furrowed and lips pursed in thought. Han waited for her to respond, but she instead turned to leave.
"What is it?" Han asked, grabbing her wrist.
"Something's wrong," she said, voice trailing off.
"With Jaina?"
"No," Leia said, finally meeting his eyes, "It's Ani."