Chapter Sixteen

Warriors scurried around the largest shaper damatuk. Jacen and Tahiri crept through the living hallways as they made their way to the dhuryam. Jacen could sense the creature, and Tahiri had a rough estimate of the layout. The Vong they had encountered so far were overtaken easily. They had been lucky to avoid seeing any Shapers.

A shudder coursed through Tahiri as she recognized a particular portal. Through there was the chamber Mezhan Kwaad had tried to turn her into Riina. Tahiri could feel the part of her mind that belonged to Riina tremble with rage and fear. The pain of the Shaping rushed back to her. Memories of Anakin tried to drown her. Tahiri suppressed the emotions with extreme difficulty and pressed forward. She ignored Jacen's look of concern.

"It's through there," Tahiri told him, gesturing to a hallway.

"You were Shaped back there," Jacen stated as they hurried down the hallway. They arrived quickly at large, puckering portal.

Tahiri nodded and pressed her hand onto the fleshy nodule. The opening contracted, and then opened. A putrid odor wafted out, almost gagging Tahiri and Jacen. They slipped inside to find two Vong Warriors waiting for them. Tahiri ignited her lightsaber.

"I'll take them. Get the dhuryam!" she yelled and raced forward to meet the Vong. One ampistaff met her lightsaber while the other attempted to knock her off her feet. Tahiri managed to push the first back and moved to dodge the other. She swung her blade around to parry another strike, and attacked the two Warriors. She delved deeper into the Force. Her lightsaber finally met the flesh of the first Warrior and he dropped. The second, however, was still fighting. He loosened his ampistaff and it wrapped around her wrist. A coufee appeared in his other hand. Tahiri started to twist away-

When an emerald blade plunged through the Vong from behind. The Warrior's eyes blinked in shock as he fell, coufee clattering to the floor. The ampistaff slithered away from its fallen master.

"Thanks," Tahiri said to Jacen as she took her proffered hand and stood. She called her lightsaber back to her hand.

"He left an opening," Jacen said with a shrug.

"You should have killed it," Tahiri said, motioning to the corner where the ampistaff had gone.

"We'll be fine. I need your help," Jacen responded as they approached the dhuryam. "You see that protective coating? The lightsaber can't cut through it. Any ideas?"

Tahiri racked her brain for an idea. She looked around the chamber. Her eyes settled on the ampistaff curled up against the wall. She walked over and snatched it up, calling it to stiffen, glad that Jacen had ignored it. Her implanted memories knew how to use the weapon. Jacen watched her, understanding what she was doing and retrieved the other Warrior's weapon. The rigid spear-like staff sliced through the coating.

Jacen ignited his lightsaber and held it over the dhuryam, but did not drive it down. Tahiri looked at him with alarm, "Do it, Jacen. What are you waiting for?"

Jacen looked at her with a pained expression and she understood. Jacen had never spoken to anyone about all the details of his time with the Yuuzhan Vong, but he had mentioned to her that he had formed a partnership with one of the dhuryams and had murdered the others for it.

"Jacen, you have to kill it. You have to kill it to save everyone," Tahiri said gently. She climbed onto the ledge surrounded the dhruyam and stood next to him. She clamped one hand around the blade and rested the other on his shoulder. "Link to it. Take away some of its pain."

Jacen's eyes fluttered closed. Tahiri could feel him reach out to the organization apologetically. She gripped his hand with both of hers and helped him drive the blade down. The dhuryam began convulsing. Tahiri knocked Jacen backwards to the floor. His lightsaber landed beside him. Tears of pain poured from Jacen's half-closed eyes.

Tahiri clutched his hand, "Jacen. Jacen it's over. It's dead."

Jacen's eyes opened slowly. They focused on her, and then the room around him. He slowly stood up, snatching his lightsaber up and clipping it to his belt. Tahiri could sense him rapidly pulling his emotions inward.

"Let's go," Jacen said calmly as he approached the portal, "We better get out of here before Corran blows this to bits."

Tahiri sprung to her feet and followed him. Before exiting, she spared one last look at the burnt dhuryam.

"Thank you," she whispered and ducked out of the room. She made it halfway down the path when the damatuk shook. Jacen threw himself on top of her as darkness overcame her.

The Yuuzhan Vong Warrior's foot collided with Jaina's shoulder, knocking her to the ground. She rolled back to her feet, slicing through his kneecap. She thrust her blade into the Warrior's armpit, killing him. She ran forward, violet blade crackling. Thud bugs began to rain over the terrain. One clipped her in the shoulder. Another connected with her knee, causing her to trip sideways onto a set of stairs. She slid down them and crashed a large chunk of stone.

Jaina looked up and froze. Staring at her was the likeness of Yun-Yammka, the Slayer. Jaina was suddenly assaulted with images of the worldship over Myrkr. She shook her head, trying to dispel the memories of the Slave Pens were.

No, she told herself. She had a job to do. It wasn't the time to dwell on her brother's death. She gritted her teeth and forced herself to look away from the statue. She stood up and climbed back up the stairs. She could see Kyp waiting for her.

"You okay?" he asked as he ducked out of the path of a thud bug.

"Fine," Jaina responded, slicing one of the offending creatures in half. Its burning pieces rolled down the stairs.

"There's one more skip, out by that temple," Kyp told her. "Let's go blow it up."

"How did we miss that one?" Jaina asked as they ran down the stairs. Jaina avoided looking at the statue as they passed. Before Jaina and Kyp had landed, they had blasted the Vong's landing field, destroying their ships.

"The pilot's probably in there," Jaina stated as she pulled a thermal detonator out of her pocket.

"I'll take him. You plant the charges," he said. She extinguished her lightsaber and clipped it to her belt. She took several charges from Kyp. She waited for him to slip aboard the ship; the fact that no other Vong were around surprised her. She then began attaching detonators to the ship and arming them. Kyp had ten minutes.

He ran down the ramp two minutes later. "Problems?" she asked.

"Nope. Let's get out of here," he said as they ran away from the ship and past the temple.

"Now where?" Jaina asked, surveying the surroundings.

"Looks like they could use some help taking down the damatucks. Got any detonators left?"

"Of course," Jaina responded with a grin. She held up one. "Let's have some fun."

-
Being a grandfather was one of Han's favorite roles, and he had held many stations in his life. Luke had asked him and Leia to stay at Phelope while several of the Jedi were taking Yavin IV. He was currently sitting on a stone bench while Davin, Ani and Ben chased four other children around the garden.

Davin raced passed him. Han was amazed by the boy. Davin had mastered each Force technique he was taught. He attacked his lessons like his father: with determination and efficiency. He had a fierce protective streak that covered his mother and sister. He loved flying and ships. Han had never been able to convince Davin that Republic ships were better than Chiss and Imperial ones. At least Ani was on his side.

Ani was a princess. She saw the good in everyone and everything. She enjoyed animals, but not to the extent as Jacen had. She always found a way to cheer people up. It was as if she instinctively knew what someone needed, which she probably did. When she ran through the garden towards him, Han had a vision of Jaina as a girl. Her laugh was Jaina's. For a moment, Han could see Jaina racing over to him, grease smudged on her face. Ani would never have grease on her; she wasn't interested in fixing ships.

When Jaina had told Han that she was having a baby, he had been ecstatic. He knew his daughter would be a fantastic mother, and even admitted that Jag would be a good father. When Jag first placed Davin in Han's arms, his heart swelled. Han had been reminded of his children as newborns.

Han secretly wished that after the war was over that Jaina and Jag would have more children. He knew better than to admit it to them.

"Come along, children," Leia called as she entered the courtyard. The children gathered around her.

"Where are we going, Aunt Leia?" Ben asked.

"Master Tionne has moved your lesson to this afternoon," Leia explained. "You will be joining the other students."

Several of the children groaned. With the absence of several Jedi, many lessons had been cancelled. Leia clapped her hands to quiet the children. Jysella appeared next to her, "Follow me."

The children shuffled after Jysella. Leia walked over and sat next to Han. He wrapped an arm around her, bringing her head to his shoulder.

"I spoke with Syal. Cem completed his application to join the Alliance fighter pilot training program."

Han snorted, "Soontir will be thrilled."

Han took one of her hands in his. He ran her thumb over the back of her hand. "Sense anything?"

Han felt Leia shrug against him, "Nothing concrete."

"Think they'll succeed?"

"I don't know," Leia said quietly. "I hope so."

When Luke had told him what he had planned, Han called him crazy. He wasn't surprised though; Luke always came up with hair-brained schemes. Of course, Han could be accused of that. The difference , Han felt, was that his usually worked.

Well, most of the time.

Hot ash and smoke were the first scents to enter Tahiri's conscious. Next, she felt burning. Her eyes shot open. She could see orange flames. She frantically tried to stand up, but there was a weight on her legs.

"Jacen!" she screamed. She shook him, "Wake up! You have to wake up!"

Jacen lifted his head, blinking in confusion, "Where-" he coughed. "Where are we?"

"Yavin IV. We have to get out of here," she said quickly. Jacen's eyes snapped open and widened as he saw the fire. She pulled Jacen to his feet.

"There," he pointed to a smoke-filled hallway. "It looks like that is our only way out."

"Hold your breath," Tahiri said. She gripped Jacen's hand. It was difficult to see. They plunged forward through the smoke, relying on the Force to bring some oxygen to their lungs. The two Jedi helped each other through the burning damatuk. Jacen tripped, and Tahiri pulled him up. Tahiri grew dizzy and Jacen lent her strength. They pushed through the smoke until they reached the end of the hallway. There was no clear doorway or window. The two used their lightsabers to cut their way out of the hallway. Flames licked over the wall. They fell through the cut opening just as the wall collapsed into the fire.

Tahiri and Jacen fell to the wet ground. They rolled away from the burning structure. When they stood, Kam and Luke were nearby with a group of slaves. To the side Tahiri could see Mara, Kyle Katarn, Alema Rar and Octa Ramis surrounded a group of prisoners. They looked to be Shapers.

"You're hurt," Kam said to her. Tahiri's hand moved to touch her cheek, but Kam intercepted her. "Don't touch it. You're badly burnt. Both of you."

Tahiri look at Jacen. His shirt was in tatters, allowing her to see that his back was covered in deep, burns. Blisters covered his arms and legs. His hair was signed. Her own face hurt, but the rest of her felt okay. She then remembered Jacen throwing himself on top of her. She would have to ask him about that later.

"What happened?" Jacen asked his uncle.

While Kam, Jacen and Tahiri had been on their assignment, the rest of the Jedi attacked the compound from various angles. Mara and Octa's teams had captured many of the Shapers while Luke and the rest of the Jedi fought the Warriors. The slaves had taken down two smaller damatuks, and their dormitories. After destroying the first, their slave seeds had reacted so harshly, they had difficultly continuing. The death of the dhuryam had finally allowed them to complete their objective.

Booster Terrik had arrived in the rearmed Errant Venture to finish off the remainders of the small Vong fleet. Tahiri could see X-Wings off in the distance. Terrik would stay in-system, watching for reinforcements. There was a chance the Vong would come back to reclaim Yavin IV, but Luke believed it to be slim. As merely a Shaper planet, it offered no real value. Corran was positive no vessels escaped, but they had no way of knowing if someone had called through a villip.

The fire had occurred when a Vong coralskipper plunged from the sky into the damatuk. Whether it was intentional or not, the Jedi did not know.

"Jacen!" Jaina screamed as she ran forward. "What happened?"

"I'll be okay, Jaina," he said, wincing. His sister's eyes flickered to Tahiri. "Come here, both of you. There is a shuttle taking the wounded to the Venture."

"I'm fine, Jaina," Jacen insisted.

"You have third-degree burns on your back. You are probably in shock or close to it," Jaina said firmly. She snatched Jacen's hand and began to drag him to a nearby shuttle. Tahiri exchanged an amused look with Luke and Kam, and then followed Jaina. Before she boarded the shuttle, she looked out on the wreckage. One day, this would be her home again, she promised.

One day.