Chapter 20. A Family at War
Part 1. A Well Laid Trap
Coruscant
Han and Leia had been summoned to the office of the chief of State Lando Calrissian. Most of his administration had been marked by the war. It was hard to be an effective with leader with war raging throughout the galaxy and sith running all over the place doing who knows what. It had yet to be proven that Umbarans the new members of the Alliance were in league with the Sith Lords Gavar Kai, Lumiya, and Alema Rar.
"Han! Leia please come in!" He said when the doors swooshed open.
"We were surprised to get your call." Leia said.
Lando sighed, "I have a problem-The Noghri are leaving the Alliance." Leia tried to interrupt, but Lando stopped her, "Here the rest before you say anything. They have refused all diplomatic parties and envoys-They will only speak with you Leia."
"You know this is a trap!" Han says speaking up.
"It is a trap!" Luke said entering the office.
"Grandmaster-I'm sorry but this is a private meeting." Lando said.
"When it concerns my nephew it concerns the entire Jedi order." Luke said folding his arms.
Lando sighed, "How do you wish to handle it?"
"Send Leia and Han-but the I will go as well and follow in a Stealth-X, when Anakin reveals himself we will capture him and put an end to this."
What they didn't know was that Jacen was already on the planet of Honoghr as a bounty hunter-he was hiding his presence in the force from Anakin. The Noghri use to worship Darth Vader as a god and his death commandos were well known throughout the galaxy-now they follow his daughter Lady Vader as they sometimes call Leia. When Anakin came to Honoghr he convinced them that he was Darth Vader still alive and that he was displeased with the Noghri for joining the Alliance. The only way they could regain his favor is by leaving the Alliance and helping him to regain his daughter Lady Vader.
The Falcon landed on the platform and the Noghri Ambassador took the Solos and Threepio to a dinning hall. Almost reminiscent of the time on cloud city when Vader was waiting in the dinning hall with Boba Fett. Anakin was waiting for them at the table with a hundred Arquillion soldiers.
"Anakin-Its me-Your mother Leia!"
"I am Darth Vader-and you have been brought here to serve my Master's destiny Emperor Donovan. Take away their weapons!"
Leia ignited her lightsaber and cut down two Noghri and the arms of the Noghri trying to take Han. "Touch my husband again and die!"
"Your husband is nothing Jedi Leia-We only want you! Take them."
Before the soldiers could obey they fell to the floor unconscious, one guard still stood when the others fell. It was Jacen who removed his helm, ignited his lightsaber, and attacked Vader/Anakin. Leia leapt onto the table as they fought and ran across it with her lightsaber ignited. But before she reached them Vader unleashed a force wave that threw Leia and Han to the ground and blew out the walls. Leia slowly got up and was dumbfounded at Jacen. Not only did he block the attack but he was pulling in the wave that Vader had unleashed.
"I don't believe it..." She said aloud, ("Anakin has always been stronger than Jacen-where did this power come from?") She thought to herself. It was as if she was watching a holovid movie as the wave of energy retracted to Jacen's hand.
"You have become powerful-You too will make a wonderful addition for my master."
Jacen just smiled, "You say that as if I am going with you!" He grabbed Vader in the force and threw him across the room.
"Send them in now!" Vader demanded.
Several Arquillion Enforcers were force pushed threw the wall by Luke who was battling twelve Enforcers at once. The Grandmaster was surrounded and every time he killed or wounded one Enforcer another would take his place, but no matter what they did, they could subdue the Grandmaster of the Jedi Order.
("Your trap is falling apart Lord Vader retreat!") Donovan said via their link.
"Noghri! Destroy them all!" Vader said as several of them converged on Jacen.
"UNCLE!" Jacen screamed as thousands of Noghri troops entered the dining hall to give Vader time to escape. Luke jumped into the air flipped and landed in front of Vader blocking his path. Meanwhile Jacen expanded his mind using the true power of the force and placed every Noghri on the planet into a deep sleep. Luke looked at him as he faced off against his nephew who had assumed his father's persona. Luke fought him with one hand while he held the other behind his back. He had a syringe gun. When Luke spun into Vader he stabbed him in the neck with the syringe gun knocking him out and temporarily severing the link between him and Donovan. While the Noghri slept they placed Jacen on the falcon and took off.
Part 2. Anakin
Many thoughts and visions went through Anakin's mind as he was operated on at a medical facility on Coruscant. The operation took eight long hours and as with Peter Voles he lay in a coma for the next five days. When Anakin awoke, he awoke to the smiling faces of his family the Solos and the Skywalkers. His girlfriend Tahiri Veila was among them as well.
"Welcome back!" Leia said as the doting mother.
"Let the boy breath woman!" Han said jokingly.
"Anakin! I never would have thought!" Luke said speaking up, but he didn't finish the sentence as a part of him always blamed himself for sending Anakin in the first place. Sensing his thoughts Mara grabbed his arm and comforted him.
"What about Eryl and Besa did they make it?"
"They did!" Leia said.
"I remember everything that happened-with Donovan."
Leia took his hand, "We won't speak of that now-Just rest."
She stepped to the side so that Tahiri could come forward, "Hello stranger!"
He smiled, "Hello yourself!" She kissed him on the lips, "There is so much I want to tell you."
He hugged her again, "Lets give them some privacy." Mara said.
Anakin sat on the edge of his bed eating when the doors to his room opened and Jacen entered, "I was wondering when you would show up."
"There are some things I must tell you."
"I know about the time paradox!" Anakin said interrupting.
"Did they tell you about Darth Cadeus? Did they tell you that neither you or I are suppose to be alive?"
Anakin put his fork down, "Uncle Luke showed me everything-Even how mom and Tahiri traveled through time to save me." Jacen walked to the window and stared out over the permecrete jungle of Coruscant. Anakin got up and joined him. "You are my brother and I love you-You are not this Darth Cadeus."
Jacen looked at him, "And you are not Darth Vader."
"Good now that we have settled that-Tell me something-When I unleashed that forcewave how did you pull it back?"
Jacen smiled, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Try me!" Anakin replied with a begging expression on his face.
Jacen sighed, "Its what I believe now about the force and what I saw when I faced Onimi-The true lord of the Yuuzhan Vong. The force is everywhere and life creates it-It also creates life and yet the sith and the Jedi place limitations on it."
Anakin grunted, "I remember all our philisophical discussions about the force."
They both laughed, "Yeah and that time we had a lightsaber duel aboard the Falcon." Jacen Replied. "Uncle Luke caught us and we had to work double time to fix it before dad found out." Jacen grew serious again, "Anyway-I was fighting a Vong by the name of Onimi-He could feel the force-and he was using it to control Shrmnna-That is when I felt it-The true nature of the force-The force without limitations-We were taught that life creates the force and the force creates life-If so why do we place restrictions on it. The Jedi of the Old Republic didn't believe in marriage or attachments-Today Jedi are allowed to marry-All emotions can be controlled even anger and hatred-True darkness comes from within and how the force is used makes it dark not the force itself."
Anakin didn't reply right away, "You have grown wise-Are you going to share these beliefs with the rest of the Jedi?"
Jacen looked at Anakin. "No! They would see it as heresy and I-don't trust the Grandmaster-Especially after he pulled that stunt."
"I know about that as well." Anakin placed his hand on his shoulder, "Our Uncle loves you and he was doing what he thought was right to protect you."
Jacen shook his head, "He should have told me the truth."
Anakin sighed, "Well I would like to become your student and learn this new philosophy of yours."
"Is that wise-what about Tahiri?"
"If we are meant to be then we shall be-anyway I sense a great disturbance in the force-Someone has been manipulating certain events and I foresee that you will need my help before all this is done."
Jacen turned away, "I-I thank you for placing enough faith in me to become my apprentice." There was something else Jacen wanted to tell Anakin, but it wasn't time yet.
Anakin smiled, "Yeah now all I have to do is tell the Jedi Council."
A week later Anakin was standing before the Jedi Council. He told them everything he knew about the Arquillions, their society, and Donovan. Then he told them about his desire to be Jacen's apprentice. "Anakin! You are already Jedi Knight-Why would you want to apprentice yourself to someone who has left the order?" Cighal asked.
"Jacen is not the person you think he is?"
"And who do you think we see him as?" Kyp asks.
"As Darth Cadeus."
The council members exchanged glances, but this time Luke spoke up, "I cannot speak for the rest of the council, but I do not see Jacen as Darth Cadeus-It is my hope that given time he will rejoin the order. He like all of us have been given another chance-Whether we wanted that chance or not."
Mara stared at Anakin, "There is something else going on here-isn't there?"
Anakin just smiled, "I am not at liberty to say-If I must I will resign my commission since you have reinstated it."
"That will not be necessary!" Luke said vehemently.
"Of courze if you zee Jacen starting to zlip or to teach zomething that goez againzt the Jedi Code you will report it too uz!" Saba demanded.
"Master I am traveling with him back to the consortium."
Tahiri was waiting outside the Council Chambers with Han, Leia, and Jaina. "Finally!" Han said as Anakin exited the chamber.
"The Council is still in session, but they agreed to allow me to go and study under Jacen."
Leia grabbed his hands, "Son! Anakin is this what you truly want."
"Mother! I am not being coerced by Jacen in any way-I am thinking clearly with my own mind. Neither is Jacen falling towards the path of Darth Cadeus."
"That is reassuring because the galaxy would be up a hyperspace lane without a nav-computer if the two of you went dark." Han said jokingly, which caused Leia to punch him on the arm.
"I am going with you!" Tahiri said upruptly.
Anakin smiled and kissed her on the lips, "Of course you are!" Jaina was still sitting on the bench and had yet to say anything.
"Well big sis-You have been quiet."
She smiled and stood up, "Take care of yourself-I think I should go and see Jag."
Jedi Council Chamber
"I trust my husband!" Tenel Ka said to Luke via hologram.
"I know-but keep an eye on them." Luke pleaded.
She sighed, "I will inform him that you contacted me-We don't keep secrets from each other."
The transmission was ended and Luke didn't say anything but he had seen visions of Darth Cadeus in recent weeks. Was this the beginning of it Jacen teaching Anakin his new philosophy of the force. Luke knew of its existence, but Jacen had refused to share it with anyone else. He also wondered was it this Philosophy that lead Jacen down the path of Darth Cadeus to begin with. In the other time-line he and Ben went looking for the reasons Jacen fell to the Darkside and they found Abeloth. This line of thinking was confirming Luke's beliefs that there was another power in the galaxy greater than Abeloth.
("Skywalker!") A voice said crying out to him from the force.