Myrkr

Jacen drifted back to consciousness, slowly becoming aware of his surroundings. He remained motionless, lying silent in bed, eyes closed, hiding the fact from all around him that he was awake. Just about every time he woke up somebody stunned or sedated him, and he needed time to think.

He listened to his sister and cousin Jaden talking, discussing his fate. It was good to hear his sister's voice. That meant Jaden's dad didn't ambush his family. And the fact that Jaden was in the room calming talking to Jaina also indicated Luke didn't have to kill Mark. Jacen wasn't sure how he misinterpreted the clues indicating his uncle was Sith, but obviously he was wrong…just like how his uncle was wrong about Jacen.

"Dad said Lumiya came for Jacen…she called him her apprentice." Jaden said softly.

Jacen could hear a soft sob from his sister. A sound that made his heart ache. "I don't understand any of this. He is such a good person. He cares so much for his family. He would do anything for them. I can't imagine him hurting Aunt Mara."

"Honestly, neither can I." Jaden commented.

"What's going to happen to him?" Jaina asked. Jacen could not see her face, but he knew she was crying by the sound of her sniffling and the strain in her voice.

"That's up to Uncle Luke," came Jaden's response. "Right now I am going to wait until he wakes up. Then I'll make sure he's not suffering any neurological damage from my Dad blasting him so many times, and then sedate him."

Jacen's sister let out a sound of disgust. "You can't keep him knocked out forever."

"I know. It's just until Uncle Luke gives me new orders." There was a pause. "I wish they'd call in Cilghal. I have somewhere I have to be."

"I'm sorry that my brother's situation is causing a crimp in your social life." Jaina's voice was icy.

"No, no, it's not like that Jania," Jaden said apologetically. "I planned on attending a medical seminar on High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology. I am considering specializing in human and xeno-pathology."

"Oh." Jacen heard his sister let out a heavy sigh. "Sorry Jaden. This has been tough for me. Jacen's my twin. We have a bond."

"Don't be sorry. You're right. I'm being selfish. Family comes first. The conference doesn't matter. Anyway, it'll probably be cancelled. My guess is most of the guest speakers will be called out to Hapes to investigate the epidemic."

That comment almost made Jacen jump out of bed and demand what was going on, but the threat of sedation kept him silent.

"What's going on there?"

"My information is from unofficial medical sources, doctor friends of mine and such, so I can't vouch for its veracity, but a few days ago a nasty epidemic broke out in the Royal Palace. Preliminary reports are sketchy, but I heard it's a virus that mimics influenza."

"What do you mean mimics?"

"The Hapan Center for Disease control has isolated the virus and they are fairly sure it is a manmade nanovirus. Since most victims are of Royal blood it was probably designed to attack people with a specific genetic code. In other words, it's a terrorist attack."

A sick, haunting feeling washed over Jacen. Was this from his nanovirus? Could this be his doing?

"Is Tenel Ka and her daughter alright?"

"Yes, I heard a report she's been off planet since an assassination attempt that occurred a couple weeks ago. This virus might be another attempt on her life. Perhaps the assassin didn't know she was off planet. Either Tenel Ka was the intended victim and the virus spread out of control or the Royal families in their entirety were the targets."

"Has anybody died?"

"Seven deaths so far, mainly the elderly, with about forty-nine others gravely ill and hospitalized. No names have been released though."

Jacen shuddered and his body started to tremble. He intended on killing one woman. The geneticist said only Ta'a Chume or possibly her siblings would be affected…not the entire royal family! The horror of his actions hit him hard—he was a mass murderer!

Even if he could hide his complicity he could never deal with the guilt. His life was over…really over. Once Tenel Ka found out she would cut him out of her life completely. Allana would never know the identity of her father.

He would probably be brought to Hapes, tried and executed. And what would this do to the Jedi? There had been anti-Jedi sediment on Hapes for generations. If Jacen was proven to be the person who set up this viral attack, the surviving Hapan royals would demand retribution. He wouldn't be surprised if the G.A. disbanded and exiled the Jedi…simply to pacify the Hapans. Then there were the Imperials. The geneticist was an Imperial. If the virus was traced to him, could that cause a rift in the peace treaty? Jacen knew Jaina was probably in love with her Imperial Commander. What would happen if she had to decide to either follow Jag to Bastion or stay in Alliance territory?

Jacen didn't care what happened to him anymore because his future was now forfeited. He had to pray to whatever gods exist that Lumiya wasn't identified as the person who released the virus…because the Jedi knew he was associated with the Dark Lady of the Sith. His Uncle Luke wasn't stupid. He would realize Jacen had a hand in this…and there was no way Luke would cover for him…not when we were talking about an international terrorist attack. He would go to the Senate and reveal Jacen's role in the attack...and then the Mynock scat would hit the fan.

He stifled a sob. He just wanted to help his family and in doing so he may end up causing a galactic war.

.

.

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Mark left the dayroom feeling frustrated. He really did not want to deal with this situation any further…it was too painful. Luke was here and he had Jacen, Lumiya was dead, he didn't need Mark anymore. All he wanted to do is go back to his wife and hold her. Maybe they could go on vacation while Luke sorted out this mess.

But he knew he couldn't. The Skywalker, Solo and Tantiss families were just that…family. He needed to stay put for now.

He stopped by the room where Jacen was being held. There he found Jaina and Jaden talking.

Mark poked his head into the room. "Is Jacen okay?"

"He's still out cold," Jaden replied.

Mark nodded. "Let Luke know when he's awake. He wants to talk to him."

"Can do."

Mark moved down to the hall where he ran into Talon as he was leaving the kitchen. He was chewing a ration bar and drinking some bottled water.

Mark crooked a finger in his direction. "Talon, I need to talk to you…privately."

A concerned looked crossed the younger man's face. "What about?"

Mark jerked his thumb toward the front doors. "I just need to talk to you …outside."

"Okay," Talon said. "But I didn't do anything wrong. Don't believe a word that Jaden tells you."

Mark looked at him and frowned. "Jaden didn't say anything to me…what did you do wrong?"

Talon gave his most innocent look. "Like I said nothing."

As they moved outside to the warm afternoon air Mark glanced over to his son.

"So…," Mark said slowly. "I heard you are dating Zylie Karrde."

Talon looked at his father warily. "Yes we are…who told you?"

"Her father told me." Mark said matter-of-factly. "Karrde said you were on his ship a few days ago. I was just wondering why you didn't mention anything to me or your mother about it."

"I wasn't hiding the relationship, if that's what you're thinking. I happened to see her while on Coruscant a few months ago. She was happy to see me. We're old friends. She's on school break this week and asked me if I could give her a ride to her father's ship." He gave his father a questioning look. "Did Karrde say he didn't want me dating her?"

"It's not that," Mark said as he pointed to a low retaining wall. "Sit down, Talon."

Talon sat on the duracrete wall while his father stood and paced back and forth trying to collect his thoughts. "Talon, you were named after Zylie's father. He is one of my closest friends."

Talon gave his father a guarded look. "I know that Dad." He shifted on the wall nervously. "Do you have a problem with me dating Zylie?"

Mark blew out an exasperated breath. "No, I have a problem with you possibly breaking Talon's little girl's heart. I know your reputation as a womanizer."

Talon scoffed. "Dad, the holoNet sleemos make up ninety-five percent of the sordid stories they write about me."

Mark laughed. "Yes, I know. It's the other five percent I'm worried about."

Talon shook his head. "Dad, I'm not out breaking hearts."

Mark gave him a dubious smile. "You mean you haven't went through, let's see…" he paused to mentally count the number of dalliances his son was purported to have had recently. "Three or four relationships in the last year alone?"

Talon shook his head. "No, they weren't relationships. I made it quite clear to those women I didn't want any commitments. I'm not ready to settle down. I simply wanted some female company."

Mark scoffed. "That sounds like a kriff-call to me."

Talon laughed. "Of course it is, they're using me for my body." He gave his father a cocky grin that reminded Mark very much of Han Solo. "I almost never initiate contact with the women. They come up to me." He gestured his hand down his face and body. "I can't help it if I inherited the Skywalker good looks and your muscular build."

Mark rolled his eyes. "So then you told Zylie that she's just a Kriff buddy?"

Talon's posture stiffened and his eyes narrowed. "No I didn't tell her that, because it's not true," he said through gritted teeth. "Don't talk about her like that. She's a nice girl." He looked away and took a calming breath. "Dad, I really like her. She absolutely is not impressed that I am a Jedi. She sees me…me, not the Jedi robes, not the prestige of being a member of the Jedi Order." He paused for a moment. "She sees only me, Talon Tantiss. Dad, we're old friends that were reunited. I am not going to screw up this relationship." He hesitated for a moment. "In fact, we're not having sex."

Mark eyes widened in shock. "What! This must be serious." He then leaned forward and gave his son a withering glare. "I like the idea of you going slow, but you better not be seeing other women while dating Zylie…to satisfy those needs. That will hurt her just as much."

"No," Talon said sounding offended. "I wouldn't do that to her and I definitely wouldn't want to get on the bad side of her father."

Mark looked at his son warily. "Good, because Talon Karrde is not a man to be trifled with. He's the only person in the galaxy that I know of that has not only killed a Sith Lord, but he captured a Jedi Master. And he did it all without the Force. Just keep that in mind."

"I will Dad," Talon promised as he threw his hands up in a gesture of surrender. "Don't worry. I know if I hurt Zylie, her father and mother, the Wild Karrde crew, you, Mom, Aunt Mara and Uncle Luke will be in my face giving me what for in a nanosecond. This is probably the most dangerous undertaking in my life," he said with a nervous chuckle. He stood and walked up to Lumiya's sleek shuttle. "Is this Lumiya's?"

"It was hers. I am putting a salvage claim on it."

Talon ran a hand over the smooth metal exterior. "Dad, this ride is way too stylish for you." He gave his father a smirk. "You should give it to me."

Mark snorted. "No, you can have my Headhunter."

Talon broke out in laughter. "Dad why do you insist in calling that hunk of junk a Headhunter, it's not a Headhunter."

Mark became a bit irritated. "Okay, a modified Headhunter."

"Pffff," Talon made a noise of disbelief. "Just because you catabolized an old Headhunter and retrofit your wussy shuttle fuselage with the wings and engines from a Z-95, doesn't make it a modified Headhunter. It's a modified 'smashball-mom shuttle."

"Well, if you own it you can call it a modified shuttle, but to me it's a Headhunter." Mark looked over to his ship. "If you don't want my Headh…modified shuttle…maybe Jaden will."

"No, no, I'll take it, if you're giving it away."

Mark smirked. "I thought so."

The two men fell into a thinking pause as they admired the spaceships parked on the landing platform. Finally Talon broke the silence.

"So what's Uncle Luke going to do about Jacen?"

"He's going to contact the Solos and discuss the options. The police don't need to be involved if Mara doesn't want to press the issue. I know I don't want to talk to law enforcement. I think the Jedi Grand Master should be able to handle this. He can deprogram Jacen or whatever."

"Why do you think he got involved with Lumiya?"

Mark looked down at the ground and shook his head somberly. "Only Jacen can answer that now."