Chapter Seventeen

Danni dropped a chunk of rock on the steel lab table with a clang. Telma looked up from her datapad, raising an eyebrow. The rock had sharp, jagged edges and was almost black in color. Tiny silver flecks of metal scattered the surface. The bottom of the rock was reddish-orange.

"Feel up to a new project?" Danni asked excitedly as she pushed her hair out of her face.

"What is that?"

"This," Danni said, voice dropping to a whisper, "Is a piece of Csilla."

Telma's eyes widened in shock. Last they had heard, the Chiss weren't allowing the Alliance or Empire's scientist to remove pieces of the planet. "How did you get that?"

Danni gestured to her office. She threw a cloth over the rock, and then led Telma inside. She sat down behind her desk. Telma took one of the chairs in front of it.

"It's imperative that you don't tell anyone else; the Alliance doesn't trust the Chiss scientists to give us any accurate information. This is a piece of the planet our team took, well stole, from the wreckage. If anyone asks, it's an asteroid," Danni explained.

"Of course," Telma responded. She truly enjoyed her work with Danni. Aside from their work with the slave seeds, she had helped Danni with jammers and weaponry experiments. When she wasn't helping Danni, she was working in the medical facility. "What are we looking for?"

"Anything Vong-like. Not only do we need to find out how the planet was destroyed, but why. I've got the research on some datacards. I'll make copies for you," Danni said. "First I'm running a sediment analysis."

"Should we put it in some kind of quarantine?" Telma asked. "If it is infected with some type of Vong-creature, couldn't it escape?"

"If whatever it is can survive in a vacuum, there's nothing we can do," Danni responded with a shrug. "Nothing happened during the transfer. It's not the way I would conduct the moving of something like this, but no one asked me."

Danni pressed a few keys on her data terminal, and then ejected a card. She handed it to Telma, "Here's everything I have."

"What do you want me to do?" Telma asked as she took the card and pocketed it.

"Would you mind running some scans? I need a cross reference image, too," she said. "We'll have to work on this at night. Do you have time?"

"Not a problem."

"Telma, do you do anything other than work?" Danni asked, head cocked to one side.

Telma chuckled, "Do you?"

"I guess not," Danni responded with a laugh. "When this war is over, I'm taking a long vacation."

"Great idea. Any suggestions?"

"Some tropical resort hidden away from the rest of the galaxy. Know of any?" Danni said as she stood from the desk.

"I'll keep my ears open," Telma responded.

"Sounds like a plan. Come on. The testing center should be empty by now. Let's go run that analysis," Danni snatched a tool packet from a shelf by her desk and walked out the door, Telma following.

"I'll make some caf," Telma offered. "I have a feeling we're going to be here awhile."

Danni gave her a dubious nod. She checked the lab for other occupants. Once she saw it was empty, she removed the cloth and began to work.

"No."

"Jedi Veila, scar removal is a simple procedure. If you will just-"

"I said no. I'll keep the scars," Tahiri insisted. She sat on the examination table with her arms crossed over her chest. Her eyebrows were narrowed in agitation. Her blonde hair was pinned away from her face. It was arranged artfully to hide the parts that were ruined in the fire.

"I understand that you want to keep the three on your forehead. I can work around those-"

"Are the scars going to cause any medical problems? No. My decision stands."

The medic looked agitated. He ran a weary hand over his brow as he responded, "If you insist, but I think it's a mistake."

Tahiri's glare darkened. The medic turned to his supply cabinet and dug out a tube of salve. He handed it to her. "Apply this three times a day to reduce irritation. Scratching open the healing skin will invite bacteria in."

Tahiri accepted the tube with a curt nod, "Thank you."

The medic left the room. Tahiri hopped off the table. She removed her hospital gown and threw it into the laundry bin. She dressed quickly and left the examination room. Jacen had been put in a bacta tank once they reached the medical center aboard the Errant Venture. Tahiri walked to the bacta room chamber. Three tanks were set up; all occupied. Jacen was in the first. Tahiri wasn't surprised to see Jaina sitting in a chair next to the tank.

"How's he doing?" Tahiri asked as she walked over to the tank.

"He's healing well," Jaina said.

"He wouldn't have been burned so bad if he hadn't have knocked me over," Tahiri commented, arms crossed over her chest.

Jaina glanced at Jacen's slowly bobbing body in the tank, and then back at Tahiri. "He would never let anything happen to you. Neither of us would."

Tahiri raised an eyebrow, "I don't need protecting."

"We know, but Anakin loved you," Jaina said quietly as she stood.

"Did he ask you…" Tahiri said, voice trailing off.

"He didn't have to," Jaina told her. "Would you mind sitting with him for a few minutes? Uncle Luke wanted to see me."

"Of course," Tahiri said quietly as Jaina slipped out the door. Tahiri sank down in the now-empty chair. Tahiri was touched by what Jaina had said. Tahiri had put Anakin to rest long ago, but a part of her would always hold on to him him. He was her first love, the man who had saved her from the Vong. He'd been her best friend.

The hardest part about putting Anakin to rest had been the what-ifs. Tahiri had been plagued for years by thoughts of the future robbed of her. She knew that they would have stayed together. They would have worked together during Jedi missions, just like Luke and Mara. He would have helped her overcome her problems with Riina and she would have given him the support he needed to be a leader.

Tahiri smiled softly to herself as she whispered, "You'll never stop looking out for me, will you?"

Tahiri wasn't expecting an answer, but she knew that if one had come, it would have been a no.

Zekk had had years of practice with stubborn women. He had learned the hard way that Solo women could not be reasoned with when they believed they were right. This trait had been passed on to Jaina's daughter.

Ani stood in front of him with her arms crossed over her chest. She glared at him, pale green eyes narrowed. "Don't. Want. To."

"Ani, everyone else has completed the exercise," Zekk said patiently. He had taken over a class of younglings while many of the other instructors were on Yavin IV.

"Not doing it right," she ground out.

Zekk looked at her perplexed, "What do you mean?"

"You're not doing it right," she said carefully.

Zekk stared at the girl. The children were working on basic telekinesis. They were supposed to arrange printed blocks so they made a picture. He couldn't think of a possible way he was doing the exercise wrong. He had helped younglings through it for years.

Zekk looked over at the younger Jedi trainee, Dex. The older trainees had been given various tasks to do while their teachers were away. Dex was in charge of escorting the youngest students that day. "Dex, take everyone else to Tionne's class, please."

Dex bowed his head and gathered up the seven other younglings, which included Davin and Ben. The two boys refused to join him, however. They stood protectively on either side of Ani, an action that did not surprise Zekk in the least. The two boys always backed up Ani, regardless of if she was right or not.

"Davin, Ben, go with Dex. I need to talk to Ani," Zekk instructed.

"Ani, just do what he says," Ben hissed as he walked away from her. Ben usually caved in first when Ani was being difficult.

"Davin," Zekk said warningly. "Now."

Davin glared at him, "No."

Zekk groaned. Both Solo and Fel stubbornness was coming out now, from both children. He pinched the bridge of his nose. Behavioral problems were common among most of the children, especially the younger ones, who had been separated from their families in trying circumstances. "Davin, Ani, your parents told you both to listen to your teachers."

"They're too busy to call," Ani said, lower lip trembling slightly.

"And don't say they are doing important stuff," Davin snapped in a tone that was pure Jagged Fel. "We know that."

Zekk didn't have a response. He simply wasn't good with young children. He'd wanted to go to Yavin IV, but Luke thought he would be more useful here. Right now, fighting Vong seemed easier. He prayed that Leia, Han or Syal would walk into the training room right then.

No such luck. "Okay, Ani. How about you tell me what I'm doing wrong?" Zekk asked as he tried to remember how Tionne said to handle difficult situations.

"You didn't do it right," she said. "Mama has me take them apart first."

Zekk closed his eyes. This wasn't the first time Ani had refused to do something that was similar to an activity Jaina had her do. It had been increasing over the past month. Usually Tahiri was nearby to help the girl, but Zekk was on his own this time.

"Ani, there are different ways to do this lesson. It works just as well as your mom's way," Zekk said in an attempt to reason with the four-year-old.

Ani shook her head. Zekk did not want to argue with her. He was content with just letting the girl have her way, but he knew he would never hear the end of it from Tionne. He tried another avenue. "Davin and Ben did the exercise."

"Is something wrong?" Tionne's voice called from the doorway. Zekk turned to her gratefully. He gestured to Ani, who still hadn't moved. Tionne gave him a small nod and stepped forward.

"Ani, can you show me how your mother does this?" Tionne asked gently. She knelt next to the girl.

Ani looked at Davin for assurance, and then said, "Okay."

She sat down on the floor and began rearranging the blocks. Zekk watched as Tionne followed Ani's directions. Both she and Davin had visibly relaxed. Once the exercise was complete, Tionne rested a hand on Ani's small shoulder, "Thank you for showing me that, Ani. Would you like to help me with our next lesson?"

"Can I?" she asked excitedly.

"Yes, but first I need both of you to apologize to Jedi Zekk for giving him a hard time," Tionne said firmly.

"Sorry, Master Zekk," the two children said solemnly, and then grabbed Tionne's outstretched hands as they left the room.

Zekk shook his head as he started to clean up the area. He didn't know how something so simple could sway her opinion. He never understood children. The next time there was a mission, he was going to push to go. Training the future of the Jedi was proving to be more of a challenge than he thought.

The pilots climbed from their simulator pods and stood in a formal line until their commander dismissed them. Cem Fel waited quietly to the side of the room. He had arrived the day before from Phelope to join the Alliance military. Unlike his siblings, he had never been a member of the Chiss military. He'd trained with Jaina while she was on Csilla and assisted her when needed, which helped him to pass the first round of tests the training program offered. He was trying to bypass the entire regiment. He'd logged enough training hours with Jaina; he just had to pass the rest of the examinations.

"What's Master Durron going to think when he sees what you've done to his squadron?" Cem asked as he stepped further into the room. Jag had mentioned to him yesterday that he'd implemented new disciplinary techniques since Kyp had left.

Jag glanced over to him, "He'll get over it. What are you doing here?"

"I finished my flight exercises early," he replied. He glanced over as another squadron entered the chamber. He didn't recognize any of the members. They paid no attention to the two brothers as they climbed into the pods.

"You busy?" Cem asked, shoving his hands in his pockets.

Jag ejected a disc from the terminal and tucked it into his pocket. He turned to face Cem and said, "I have about four and a half minutes."

"I'll walk with you," Cem replied and they left the chamber. "Where are you headed?"

"I'm meeting Telma and Danni," Jag responded.

"Oh yeah, your Twi'lek friend," Cem said.

"Yes."

"Did you listen to the messages I brought?"

"Yes."

Cem's brow furrowed. His brother had never been particularly talkative, but now he seemed even more reserved. He knew his brother was worried about Jaina and the kids. He also was concerned about what Cem had told him about Ani's refusal to cooperate. "What's going on, Jag?"

"Follow me," Jag said after a moment. "You need to see something."

Jag led Cem through the hallways and down two flights of stairs to an unmarked closed door. Cem could see bright lights illuminating other parts of the hallway. From a glance, it looked like a lab.

Jag typed in a code and then said something into his comm. The wall panel slid open and they slipped inside. The room was small. A long metal table sat against the back wall. A large, clear cube sat on a stand on the left wall. Computer terminals lined the other wall.

"What did you find?" Jag asked the blond woman sitting at one of the terminals. She eyed Cem, and Jag introduced him quickly. "That's my brother, Cem. He won't say anything."

"When I cut the rock apart, I found this strange lichen-like creature. We ran some tests on it, and its molecular structure is similar to the other pieces of Vong technology we've encountered," Danni explained as she pointed to a small sample on the table. "Did you get the Chiss reports?"

"Yes," Jag told her. Cem looked shocked as his brother pulled a datapad from his pocket. At a glance, he could see the security marks on the top of the document. Cem may not have been a member of the Chiss military, but he recognized the various markings. He'd seen them many times. He didn't know how his brother had managed to obtain the files, but he knew they were stolen. Jag handed it to Danni, who scanned it. Cem was surprised that his brother had not only taken the information but gave it up freely.

"This is extremely detailed. It says here they found the creature and made the connections, but haven't figured what it does," she said after looking over it.

Danni and Jag looked up as Telma entered the room. She smiled in greeting, and then placed a metal case on the table.

"I have a surgery scheduled in thirty minutes," she said breathlessly, "but I finished recording the similarities between that lichen and coral implants."

"Thanks,"Danni responded. She, Telma and Jag then began to discuss some type of poison. Cem wandered over to one of the computer terminals. It was playing a loop of footage from a Csillian satellite. His eyes narrowed as he noticed two spots on both the eastern and western hemispheres. They looked to be symmetrical in size and distance. The darkening spots looked almost like depressions. It reminded Cem of a conversation he had had with Jaina years ago.

"Sernpidal," Cem mumbled, and then turned to face the others. "It's like that thing that pulled the moon down at Serpindal."

Danni's eyes widened. "That would make sense. Jag said he saw two ships fly to either side of the planet right before it broke apart."

Danni rushed over to the display. She keyed in a few commands to pull up the recording of the planet's destruction. She manipulated the images so they lay on top of each other. The ships disappeared over the depressions.

Danni sucked in air, "Those ships did something to activate the creature. I need to review the satellite recordings to see if something was dropped."

"Could someone have planted those before the Vong attacked?" Telma asked.

"Jag, can you pull landing records?" Danni asked, and then frowned. "What's wrong?"

Jag eyes face was pale and drawn. He looked to Telma, "Telma, do you remember when the Shapers inserted those blue implants into us? The ones everyone had trouble with?"

She nodded, hand moving slowly to her left forearm. "Adel heard the Adepts saying that they had to find a way to hibernate a dovin basal. They must have found a way to trigger it."

"That's why we were in Csillian space. As a Shaper transport, it didn't have to put up much of a fight. Two dovin basals could have been ejected in some kind of pod. We know the Vong had such a thing. It would only take one warrior in each to pilot it to the right spot. The pods would look like debris, easy to miss," Jag said with disbelief. "They knew if they had captives, we wouldn't be blown from the sky."

"But why Csilla?" Danni asked.

"I don't know," Jag mumbled. He looked at Cem, and then Telma."But I think we're the link."