Chapter 8. Confrontation
While the Star Fire traveled through the Unknown Regions exploring new worlds and making contact with new species, Jaina Solo was coming out of hyperspace deep inside Vong Imperial space. She flew her Stealth-X towards the fourth planet of the Othar system.
As Jaina approached the planet the alarms went off and sneaker asked a question as he transmitted the code for the satellites. "And why are out here again?"
"My brother Anakin is here and I intend to find him."
"I thought your brother was dead."
"My mother and Tahiri used the force to alter time." Jaina smiled when her screen flashed three question marks.
"Time travel is a theory-and your mother should not be triffling with such things."
"The benefits outweigh the risks-" Jaina brought her stealth-x to the main square of the city. "Keep her warmed up-we may have to get out of here quickly."
After putting on an environment suit Jaina exits her Stealth-X. She walks up the street using the force to guide her steps through the dying coral like city. The Yurik Coral was dying everywhere and the other native alien Vong species that had been planted on the planet.
Jaina walked south through the dying city of Yurik Coral towards the main palace. She was guided by the force despite the smell of death surrounding the planet. Alliance officials were waiting for those planets inhabited by Vong bio-plants to die, then they could move in and remove the dead material. Othar was monitored by automated satellites for when this was done.
The streets were littered with dead vong. Some had just died were others were decomposing at a phenomenal rate. Jaina hated the Vong for the death they caused in the galaxy, and at the same time she respected them. The Yuuzhan Vong were warriors and for a warrior to be layed low by a bio-weapon. As a Jedi she respected all life and this was murder.
Ryle Norg deserves the death penalty. She thought to herself. Using her lightsaber Jaina cut a hole into the edifice. She made her way downstairs to the lower levels where a fifty by a one hundred and fifty foot chamber was. On the back wall there were ten pods, she ran across the room and checked each pod. Most of them were empty, but the ninth pod had a human inside, a human with a strong force aura. Jaina wiped the membrane like window ad gasped, because inside was her younger brother Anakin Solo. Her memories had been altered because of her mother and Tehiri's trip into the past, but she still retained memories from the other timeline. Anakin was supposed to be dead.
"Anakin-I have to get you out of there!" She thought to herself crying. Tahiri's plan had worked and Anakin was alive. The family would be reunited, the Solos and the Skywalkers. "Now all we have to do is convince Jacen to open up the lines of communication." Her thoughts were interrupted by three force auras entering the room.
Jaina spun around to find Donovan Leers and his apprentices entering the room.
Her hand fell to her lightsaber, "Jaina Solo-the sword of the Jedi-You know this planet is under quarantine. You are not suppose to be here."
"Donovan Leers-what are you doing here?" Jaina asked positioning herself in front of Anakin's pod.
"Master Donovan if you please-show some respect."
"I don't recall my uncle or any other member of the council granting you the rank of Jedi Master."
Donovan smiled, he and his apprentices were standing twenty-five feet from Jaina. "I don't need your uncle or his puppets on the council to grant me anything-As for why I am here-I am here to collect my new apprentice."
Jaina looked at Anakin in the pod, "My brother would never join you!"
He hunched his shoulders, "No not willingly-You see I know why he is alive and the force lead me here-So that he may help me reach my destiny."
Jaina sneered, "Does your destiny include breaking mass-murderers from prison or are you going to use that weakling to help you control my brother?"
"Very perceptive of you-You live up to your reputation."
Kindo stepped forward, "Enough talk master, lets kill her and be done with it!"
Jaina ignited her lightsaber as Kindo and Jaddock attacked her at the same time. The first thing she noticed about the two was that Kindo was a better fighter than his brother. The second thing she noticed was that they both fed off each other's attacks. They fouht as one and while she could handle them both at the same time there was Donovan who was more powerful than either of them. If Donovan intervened she would definitely lose, but he was watching them.
Jaina spun into Jaddock elbowing him in the head, she would have wounded him, but Kindo saved him a second time since the fight began. Jaina switched off her lightsaber and reignited it when slipping her blade under Kindo's. Then she pushed up and tried to sweep his legs, but Kindo raised his leg avoiding the attack. Kindo was only using half of his double blade.
Jaina charged him, but Kindo flipped over her head and they continued fighting. Jaddock rejoined the fight, but Jaina spun around Kindo and threw her hand out. She grabbed Jaddock in the force and threw him across the room. Jaddock flew pass Donovan and hit the wall. Enraged he look up to see Kindo holding his own against the seasoned legendary Jedi. Jaddock pointed a clawed hand at one of the pods on the wall and force threw it at Jaina. She did a flip kick and spun around cutting the pod in half. From the sitting position Jaddock leapt across the room at her. Jaina spun around at the last minute and blocked his attack.
Sensing Kindo coming up behind her Jaina flipped over Jaddock and as she was coming down she stuck her legs out and kicked Jaddock in the back. He went stumbling into Kindo and when she turned around they were wrapped up in each other on the floor. She used the force to disarm them, then she started twirling her lightsaber to finish them off.
Jaina was struck from behind by lightening from Donovan. "I can't let you do that!" Jaddock and Kindo stood up and joined their master as he showered Jaina with lightening. "Your part in this story is over-I can't allow you or anyone else to intervene in my destiny." Jaina would have been dead by now if it weren't for the force barrier she erected before the fight started, but her concentration was wavering.
Donovan, Jaddock, and Kindo all howled in surprise as they were grabbed in the force and thrown towards the pods. "That's enough Donovan!" The voice belonged to Jedi Master Kyp Durron. Gyrhon Ryu and Nowen Steel were with him.
"My old Master!" Donovan said standing up, "How did you find us?"
"I placed a homing device on you when you were in the council chambers with Deppa Heckard."
"Very clever Master Durron-but I am more powerful now than any Jedi in the galaxy-even more powerful than Luke Skywalker."
"Power corrupts Donovan-especially those who lack conviction and understanding-If you truly wish to reach your destiny let it go."
"Keep your words of wisdom I no longer need them-I am the Master now and I shall bring order to the galaxy."
"You sound like Palpatine before the Jedi learned he was a sith!" Nowen said.
"I have not fallen to the dark side-I have learned things about the force you never even dreamed off-Join me in the new order." Donovan extended his hand.
"Does that order include breaking mass murderers from prison." Kyp asked in disgust.
Donovan smiled, "I needed Ryle Norg and I could wait for the trial to be decided."
Kyp, ,Nowen, and Gyrhon drew their lightsabers, "I can't allow you to continue on this path-It will bring war to the galaxy."
"There is a peace to be had on the other side of war-Jaddock, Kindo destroy them!"
Jaddock ignited his lightsaber and attacked Ghyron, while Kindo ignited his double edge lightsaber and attacked Nowen. Ghyron rolled to the ground and came up on one knee slicing off Jaddock's left leg. When Kindo saw his brother go down he flipped over Nowen and ran towards Ghyron. He slid on his knees under Ghyron's attack and stopped by rasing his right foot. He twisted the top half of his body and stabbed Ghyron in the back.
"Ghyron-no!" Nowen screamed. He ran towards Kindo attacking him with all his might, but Kindo's skill with a double blade was almost master like. Kindo blocked with the right and spun around trying to slash Nowen in the side, but Nowen blocked and countered. Kindo flourished his weapon and disarmed him. He swept his feet from under him and was about to kill Nowen, but Jaina blocked his blade.
Jaina pushed his blade away and attacked her with a berserker rage she had learned from Bobba Fett in the other timeline. She blocked forward, then behind the back and cut his staff in half. Jaina kicked Kindo in the chest, but he flipped using the force to catch himself and landed on his feet. That is when Jaina was joined by Nowen.
'Come on I'll take the both of you on!" Kindo said still holding his the two pieces of his double blade. He fought Jaina with his left and Nowen with his right. He disarmed Nowen again and again Jaina saved his life from Kindo's blade.
While the three fought their two on one duel Kyp faced off against Donovan. "You could have become a great Jedi."
"I am a great Jedi-I am greater than any Jedi-You, the council of masters-even Skywalker." He extended his hands and unleashed force lightening on Kyp, but Kyp raised his right hand and closed his eyes. The lightening passed through his body as it phased out. Donovan ended the attack and smiled. "Impressive did you learn that from Skywalker?"
"I learned many things from Master Skywalker."
"Show me then!"
Donovan leapt twenty feet to where Kyp was and they started fighting. Donovan had learned some new fighting styles during his time among the Arquillions, but all his new power and skill was nothing to a Jedi Master like Kyp Durron. They locked swords and pushed against one another. They flourished their blades against one another and Kyp disarmed Donovan.
Donovan threw his hands out and force pushed Kyp into the wall. Then he pointed his hand at his lightsaber. It roled one foot leapt into the air and activated spinning around. It cut the Vong statue across the ankles and Donovan used the force to direct the statue to fall on Kyp.
"Master!" Nowen screamed when the statue fell.
Kindo used the distraction to kick Nowen in the gut and as Jaina rushed him Kindo leapt into the air flipped and landed next to Donovan. "Come Master together we can destroy these two."
They were getting ready to attack when Kyp leapt from behind the statue and stood on its side. "You have to do better than that Donovan if you want to kill me!"
Donovan sneered, "I have had enough of this foolishness! Send them in now!" He gave the orders into a wrist COM. The wall exploded and in marched fifty soldiers dressed in gold and black armor. "Kill them all!" Donovan ordered as he used the force to rip Anakin's pod from the wall.
"No!" Jaina screamed.
Kindo pointed his hand at Jaddock and used the force to drag him across the floor. Then he scopped him up and placed him over his shoulder. As they left the mysterious guards started shooting at Kyp, Jaina, and Nowen.
"Master-there are too many of them!" Nowen said.
"Focus Nowen-allow the force to guide your hands." They redirected and deflected blaster bolts back at the soldiers, but their armor was ray-shielded.
"Who in the hell has ray-shielded armor!" Jaina screamed.
"Hold them off!" Kyp repositioned himself behind Jaina and Nowen, then he dropped to one knee and pointed his hands at the ceiling. Using the force he pulled the ceiling down on the shoulders and killed them all.
"Anakin!" Jaina said running for the exit the soldiers made.
"Jaina wait!" Kyp yelled, but she ignored him, "Nowen go with her." As he ran off behind Jaina Kyp went over to Ghyron's lifeless body and closed his huge eyes. "You are one with the force now my son. Be at peace."
When Jaina got outside, the Eclipse was just lifting off. "Oh no you don't!" Jaina pointed her hand at the Eclipse and grabbed in the force. its momentum slowed and she started pulling it down. Nowen ran up to her and was dumbfounded by her strength in the force. He raised his hand and added his power to hers.
"Master!" Kindo said aboard the Eclipse.
"I know Jaina Solo is strong in the force." The pilot was going crazy trying to find the cause of the Eclipse's lack of momentum. "Fire up the rear turbo cannons.
Jaina had to release her grip and ignited her lightsaber to block the bolts. Nowen used his agility to block the attack. As the Eclipse escaped the planet a tear slid down Jaina's cheek.
"I'm going after them." She declared.
"Jaina wait! By the time you reach your ship they will be long gone." Kyp said running up to them.
"I have to try-maybe I can lock onto them with the force-they have my brother."
"I know-but maybe they left a clew behind or maybe we can identify the soldiers who attacked us. At any rate we should involve the council sense Donovan has gone rogue."
Jaina sighed, "Okay-Master Durron we will do things your way for now."
They searched the rubble and pulled three bodies from the rubble of the ceiling. "I have never seen that type of symbol before." Nowen said.
"Neither have I." Jaina admitted.
"Maybe Cighal knows." They sent a message to Coruscant for Cighal and her image was projected by sneaker.
"I ran the symbol through the archives-It looks like a variant of the Mandalorian symbol-This may have originated from the Unknown Regions."
Kyp sighed looking at Jaina then he returned his attention to Cighal. "Contact Leia and Han-Cighal. Have them meet us on Coruscant-there are things we need to tell them."
Coruscant-Nine days after Anakin was taken:
The Millennium Falcon crossed over into the night of the metropolis wide planet of the city skyline. It leveled off and headed strait for the Jedi Temple. When they arrived they were met by Tekli and brought immediately to the council chambers.
"What's going on?" Han asked, because when they arrived Saba Jaina, Jacen, Kyp, and Nowen were waiting.
"We have newz about Anakin or at leazt Jedi Jaina haz newz." Saba said.
Jaina cleared her throat and told her parents about her vision and how she was able to track Anakin to a planet in the old Vong Imperial territory. "I found Anakin, but Donovan Leers showed up. I defeated his apprentices, but Donovan struck me from behind." She sighed at the look on her parents face. "If it weren't for Master Durron I may have died."
Leia was teary eyed, "How could you not tell us."
"The same way you didn't tell me about this pow-wow!" Tahiri said bursting into the council chamber.
"Thiz doez not concern you Jedi Veila." Saba said in anger.
"It was my idea to do what we did to save Anakin-How dare you!" Leia had to step in between Saba and Tahiri was so angry that she didn't realize she was facing off against a Barabel, even if she was a Jedi.
"Master Saba with all due respect Tahiri is right, even if she is being disrespectful." Leia placed a hand on Tahiri's shoulder, "You weren't excluded I didn't know what was going on until I got here." Then Leia turned to Jaina. "We are family and you should not have kept this from me!'
"I sorry." They hugged.
Han looked at Kyp, "Why would this Donovan Leers take our son?"
Kyp sighed running a hand through his hair, "I have a theory-whatever he is planning he thinks it will succeed with Anakin at his side. He will be able to control your son with Ryle Norg-He is one of the top leading minds in Vong bio-tech."
"There is also the Centerpoint Station." Tahiri said speaking up, "If Donovan has a way to make war on the Republic-What better way to hold the galaxy hostage then with one of the most powerful weapons in the galaxy?"
"Thiz one needz to let Mazter Zkywalker know what iz happening." Saba turned towards Kyp, "You will take lead on Donovan-Jaina you muzt let Mazter Durron know everything you find."
"We could look into that ship he purchased." Han said, "Find out who sold Donovan the Eclipse."
"While you are doing that Tahiri and I will have a talk with Capital President Rekard of Terroth-Donovan did help free the slaves of Terroth."
"Nowen and I can investigate Dantooine-It is where Donovan found and trained his apprentices."
"Very good then all of you ztay in contact." Saba said. They all left the council chamber while Saba contacted Luke to let him now what was happening with the rest of his family and Donovan Leers.
As they discussed Leia and Han went to learn who sold the Eclipse to Donovan Leers. They sought out Talon Karde who informed them of an old employee named Una Prith an Ithorian who sold ships and stole them back from their customers. Then he would resell the ship, their investigation brought them to Narshadda where they found Una Prith dead.
Kyp and Nowen walked into trap on Dantooine, Donovan had hired Mercenaries and they used Ysalamari against them. But the Mercenaries were being tracked by Jaden Korr and he rescued Kyp and Nowen from the Mercs.