When Jacen awoke from his marijuana-induced slumber, he checked his wrist chrono; it was time now.
He nudged Nom Anor awake. "Hey, it's time to go," he told the woozy Yuuzhan Vong.
"About time," Nom Anor muttered.
And with a wave of his hands, Jacen disappeared with his charge, and they just as quickly reappeared in a corridor in the Jedi Temple. A few apprentices and Knights who were passing by were startled not only at their sudden and inexplicable appearance, but also at the sight of a Yuuzhan Vong in their midst.
"Everyone, calm down," Jacen said as he waved his arms again, only to ward off any attacking Jedi instead of committing another Aing-Tii teleportation - which, of course, he wouldn't be able to do for another few hours, at least. "This Yuuzhan Vong is my prisoner. You have nothing to worry about."
Before anyone else could say or do anything in response, Mara appeared at the end of the hallway, facing Jacen and Nom Anor amidst the crowd. She briskly walked toward them, glaring at Nom Anor hatefully, while he did the same to her, albeit more fearfully.
"Jacen," she said, now shifting her attention to her nephew. "Will you be taking him to one of the Temple's cells?" She indicated Nom Anor with a nod but without looking at him.
"I will," Jacen answered. "But we still have to worry about the True Victory Party coming after him."
"Of course we do," Mara replied reluctantly. Her tone then became more objective. "We contacted DSF and let them know about the Orbital Control officer who sent you into that trap in the slum district." She was referring to the abbreviation for the Denon Security Force. "He was secretly a member of the TVP."
"I figured that," Jacen said. "Did they get anything out of him?"
"Only that he and his fellow party members want to kill Nom Anor to further wipe out the Yuuzhan Vong," Mara said. "So nothing unusual."
"He didn't say anything about the leadership?" Jacen asked. "Who sent those assassins after Nom Anor and me?"
"Not yet, anyway," Mara said. "We just sent Kyp down to help the interrogation process."
"Why would the Galactic Alliance help this party flourish?" Nom Anor asked, piping in. "The government has made its peace with my species. They should not be perpetuating the Bothans' genocidal hatred of my people after the war."
"Neither the GA nor the Jedi are doing that," Mara said, her angry tone barely restrained as she spoke to Nom Anor. "The TVP was outlawed by this government after the war ended; in case you didn't keep up, Bothawui's planetary government reluctantly but respectfully rescinded its vow of ar'krai against your kind, with Admiral Kre'fey having helped convince his people's government that maintaining this course was futile and unnecessary. These are just extremists who deny that this outlawing has ever happened."
"Well, that just makes me feel so much safer," Nom Anor replied sarcastically.
Mara's nostrils flared. "Do you have any idea-"
"Aunt Mara, Aunt Mara, calm down," Jacen said, interposing himself between his aunt and Nom Anor. "You don't wanna do this."
"Oh, but I do, Jacen, I do," she said, looking past her nephew's shoulder to glare at Nom Anor again. But then she looked back at Jacen and said, "Unfortunately, though, what I want goes against the principles of the Jedi. So get him out of my sight before I go against those principles and snap his neck."
Without saying a word, Jacen began leading Nom Anor down the corridor, past the confused and angry-looking Jedi, and headed for the turbolift that would take them down to the Temple's lower levels.
"You know, I have to ask," Nom Anor said as they headed down. "This teleportation technique of yours; since it comes from the Force, how can it affect me, someone who isn't connected with the Force?"
"It's somewhat complicated, but I'll try to explain the best I can," Jacen said. "You see, given my connection to your people, what with my Vong- uh, Yuuzhan Vongsense and the telepathic connection I established with the World Brain back on Coruscant, it sort of acts like a bridge between the Force and the people who've yet to achieve the Force back on Zonama Sekot."
"But I thought it was only like a switch, for you, between the Force and your abilities to perceive my people," Nom Anor pointed out as the doors opened before them.
"Well, like I said, it's a bit more complicated, but I can hazard a guess if you want," Jacen said as they stepped out to the cell block of the Temple.
"Hazard away," Nom Anor said as he was herded by Jacen.
"Given my time learning different techniques from different Force sects," Jacen explained, "and possibly because of the level of oneness I achieved during my fight against Onimi, I think I may have been able to expand my Force-senses so that they can, in a way, intertwine with my powers when it comes to your people. That, and the fact that your people still have a chance at reclaiming the Force back on Zonama. I remember, in the weeks after the war, that Uncle Luke and I sensed some flickers of a Force-presence in the likes of Harrar and Nas Choka because of what Sekot was doing."
"Hmm." That was all Nom Anor had said on that.
As Jacen guided the reluctant Nom Anor toward an empty cell, waved him in, and locked the door behind the Yuuzhan Vong, he couldn't help but wonder if the one-eyed alien's hatred of the Force was only because he couldn't achieve it. If it weren't for Jacen's lingering resentment against the alien, he would actually feel sorry for him, even with their time together in the slum district.
After he walked away and returned to the ground level of the Temple, he was met by Mara again.
"Have you been smoking marijuana, Jacen?" she asked. "With Nom Anor?"
Jacen froze. Like most, if not all, illegal drugs, marijuana wasn't a drug that most adults, particularly older ones like Mara, approved of.
"How did you know?" Jacen asked.
"I could smell it off both of you," she answered.
Oh, yeah, Jacen thought. Probably should have created a compound that could have gotten rid of the stink before I came here.
"I didn't want to bring it up because I could barely stand being around Nom Anor," Mara continued. "But now let's talk about it."
Inwardly, Jacen grimaced, prepared for a verbal beatdown from his aunt.
"Don't let your uncle, and definitely not your parents, find out about this," Mara finally said.
Jacen relaxed, albeit with some confusion. "What?"
"I've had some weed in my time, Jacen," Mara said. "And I know that unlike glitterstim or anything like that, it's not very harmful. It is quite relaxing, I'll agree. But I stopped that by the time I got together with your uncle; he and your parents, even your father for all he's done before he joined the Rebellion, are fairly strict. And I think your dad might kill you for doing weed, considering all the spice he's smuggled."
"So you won't tell Uncle Luke, or Mom and Dad?" Jacen asked.
"I won't," Mara said. "Your secret is safe with me. But keep in mind, if you get caught by any of them, you could take me down with you. So you owe me one."
"I thought it was two, since I destroyed the Shadow's turbolasers," Jacen pointed out.
"You saved your uncle from the venom in Shimrra's amphistaff," Mara countered. "So when you destroyed my turbolasers, we were even. Now you owe me one."
"What if I told you I wouldn't implicate you in keeping my secret?" Jacen asked.
"Your uncle and parents might still find out anyway," Mara said. "So you're not getting off that easy."
"I'll keep that in mind," Jacen said.
"By the way, why were you smoking weed with Nom Anor, of all people?" Mara asked.
"We needed to pass the time and relax from the Bothans hunting us," Jacen said. "It seemed as good an idea as any to make some and smoke it."
Mara's eyebrows lowered in confusion. "Wait, what do you mean make some? You communicated through our Force-connection that you and Nom Anor were hiding out in an abandoned apartment. What did you make it with? And in so short a time, too?"
"Hey, you pointed out that I saved Uncle Luke from Shimrra's amphistaff," Jacen said. "You think I didn't grow my abilities in making chemicals with the Force since then? I had five to six years to get better at it. It kills a lot of travel time, let me tell ya."
Mara was silent for a moment as she stared back at Jacen in stunned amazement. "Can you show me what you can do?"
Jacen shrugged. "What do you want me to make?"
"Umm..." Mara trailed off as she thought about it. "How about some blue milk?"
"I'll need to have a cup to hold the contents," Jacen pointed out.
"I can go get one," Mara said.
"No, allow me to make one first," Jacen said.
He then placed his hands before his chest and concentrated as he began to secrete specialized chemicals that came out through the sweat in his palms. Then, levitating those chemicals with the Force before him and Mara, they began to accumulate at such an accelerated rate that they formed a perfectly-sculpted glass container that Jacen picked from the air.
Next, with the hand not holding the glass, he placed his free palm over the entrance of the container and allowed more sweat to drip through, which gradually transformed into blue milk. It filled the glass about halfway to the top.
"Want it?" he offered to his aunt.
Mara took the glass from her nephew and drank the cool, sweet liquid in two gulps.
"It's delicious!" Mara said in surprise. "Tastes just like the stuff your Uncle Luke says comes straight from Tatooine."
"It certainly saves money when I want some," Jacen said with a grin.
"Jacen, this... This is Master-level use of the Force," Mara said. "You've certainly come a long way from what Vergere taught you."
"I'm flattered," Jacen said modestly.
"No, Jacen, don't just wave this away," Mara said. "With an ability like this, you could become a Master in the Council!"
"Oh, no, I wouldn't wanna become a Master, Aunt Mara," Jacen said. "That would require me to take some level of responsibility for the whole of the Jedi Order. No, I want to continue my own quest to further my knowledge and abilities of the Force. And occasionally help others like you and Raynar on the side."
"Jacen, with power like this," Mara said as she waved to the cup, "you have to adopt a great amount of responsibility for the Jedi! You could be one of its most powerful members! You were the one who helped the Order adopt the Unifying Force, after all. Whether you become a Master or not, you still bear responsibility for the Jedi."
Jacen looked at his feet before looking back up at his aunt meekly. "But Uncle Luke said that all Jedi had to pursue what they think is best for them. I don't think being a Master will be best for me. I don't want this, Aunt Mara. You, Uncle Luke, and the other Masters on the Council; you're all doing a great job of running the Order, even if you have your doubts about the Unifying Force."
"Then maybe you can help vanquish those doubts, Jacen," Mara said. "If you have a place on the Masters' Council, you can show us, and by extension the rest of the Order, how we can better implement the Unifying Force in our decisions; how we can better balance the inner light and darkness that exists inside of all of us. You made a good argument to me, I'll say, so why don't you continue that for all of us?"
Jacen made a wry expression. "Maybe if I think you, Uncle Luke, and the others aren't doing what's best for the Order. But so far, you're all doing well."
"So far, maybe," Mara agreed. "But like you said, we still have our doubts about it. We may go back to the Living Force theory that was folly to follow."
"It wasn't complete folly," Jacen said. "It had its flaws like everything else. Even the Unifying Force has its flaws; after all, as you and Uncle Luke argued, not every Jedi will be able to keep the inner light and darkness balanced inside. Perhaps that will be the downfall of this Order one day, just as the Living Force was to Yoda's."
Mara sighed. "Well, if you ever want a position, I'll recommend you to your uncle. I'm sure he'll approve of you."
"Thanks, Aunt Mara, although I don't think it'll be necessary."
Before Mara could respond, her commlink beeped. She answered it. "Skywalker here."
"Mara, it's Kyp. I got a lead out of the TVP Orbital Control officer; I know where to find their primary base here on Denon."
"Where?" Mara asked.
.
On the opposite side of Denon, a grand firefight was being waged. All throughout the industrial block that they inhabited, the True Victory Party Bothans defended their main base with atmospheric combat vessels and turbolasers that were mounted on the roofs of the buildings they hid out in. Against them, a large contingent of DSF officers hid behind the buildings and obstacles that were opposite of the TVP's base block all around, firing back from their ground defensive positions and their armored and armed police hovercruisers.
It wasn't long into the battle when the Jade Shadow, still missing its turbolaser banks, flew into the battle with Kyp's Dozen in the back, though not as invisible given the daytime conditions that their StealthXs flew in.
In the Shadow's cockpit, Jacen sat in the copilot seat as Mara piloted her ship down toward the confrontation.
"I can get there from here," Jacen said once the ship got into a certain range. "I'll get their leader."
"How do you know if Trusk Fey'lya is here?" Mara asked. Fey'lya was the estranged nephew of Borsk Fey'lya, and who Kyp told Jacen and Mara was the leader of the TVP. "You don't know what he feels like through the Force."
"And there you were commending me on my abilities," Jacen said.
Mara looked at him in confusion, but didn't ask for her nephew to elaborate as he closed his eyes in concentration, whatever he was doing, Mara thought, she thought it'd be best if she didn't interrupt it, especially if it would help catch Fey'lya.
When Jacen flashed open his eyes, he looked at his aunt and explained, "Okay, I know where he is now. He's deep in that building there." He pointed in the direction of the central building below.
"How do you know?" Mara asked.
"Simple," Jacen said. "I was around Borsk Fey'lya enough to get a good enough read on his Force-presence. His nephew's presence feels similar only in terms of biology. Lucky enough they're related, because if not, we'd have a harder time looking for the TVP's leader."
"So I guess there are some things that even the great Jacen Solo can't do, after all," Mara said with a grin.
"Eh, even if they weren't related," Jacen said, "I would have just gone and looked for him in there the old-fashioned way, just by looking for anyone who looked like him."
"Makes sense to me," Mara said as Jacen unbuckled his safety harness and headed to the back of the Shadow.
Once he reached the boarding ramp, it lowered thanks to Mara activating it. And with his lightsaber in hand and active, Jacen leaped out and began a controlled descent down toward the central TVP building. He angled himself to avoid all of the ships and vehicles - TVP and DSF alike - and their respective projectiles from hitting him. Partway through his descent, he was fired upon by the Bothans manning the three roof-mounted turbolasers there; with some Force-aid, he used his lightsaber to bat the lasers back down upon the weapons, blowing them into oblivion. The three Bothans, who tried to run away once they saw the lasers coming back, were fried from the proximity of the explosions.
When Jacen was meters away from the roof, he extended both hands out and downward and unleashed a Force-wave that blew a chunk of roof down through the building. He continued to use it to punch through all of the lower levels until it reached the basement. Then, when he landed in the basement, he cushioned his landing with the Force that the impact sent a giant wave that blew everything in the room he was now in all around, leaving the place a total mess.
Jacen then stood up from his crouch and looked around at the downed and stunned Bothans, which included Trusk Fey'lya at the other end of the room. Not a single one of them had died in his descent.
Which was just fine for him.
When the Bothans all recovered, and Fey'lya was the first to stand up and spot Jacen, he pointed at the Jedi and hollered, "Kill that Vong-lover!"
And just like that, Jacen began whirling his green blade at a super-fast rate to deflect all the laser bolts back at their shooters and weapons. This technique, Jacen remembered, was a lightsaber form he learned from the Force-users of Haruun Kal called Vaapad, a technique that had been created by the legendary Jedi Master Mace Windu of the Clone Wars himself. While not originally created on Haruun Kal, the Force-sensitive native inhabitants would later learn the technique following the Clone Wars and the death of Master Windu, along with the fall of Yoda's Order.
And it took a great deal in Jacen to temper the inner darkness in him - something that Vaapad was dangerously known for implementing - with his inner light; he did this by making sure that none of the Bothans in the room would die.
Instead, almost all of the TVP members had ended up with destroyed blasters and serious laser and lightsaber wounds, none of which were immediately life-threatening or included any dismemberment. In the end, Jacen made sure that the wounds they suffered could be easily treated in the span of a few hours via a prison hospital.
When Jacen ceased his use of Vaapad then, there was only one TVP member he had to face: its leader, Trusk Fey'lya.
The brown-furred Bothan, who bore a very close resemblance to his late uncle, growled at Jacen before he leveled his blaster up at the Jedi Knight. But before he could fire, Jacen used the Force to pull the gun out of Fey'lya's hand and slashed his lightsaber through it, letting the two blaster pieces clatter to the floor harmlessly.
Fey'lya then let out a primal scream that was more in keeping with the animals that his species evolved from than that of a humanoid. "How could you dare defend any member of a species that tortured you, never mind led to the death of my great uncle, Solo?!"
"Because I feel that it's the right thing to do, and I have also learned a great deal from them, Fey'lya. When you're in prison, you should learn to let go of your hatred of the Yuuzhan Vong. Otherwise, you will live a life full of immense sorrow and intense pain."
Instead of replying with words, Fey'lya roared again and rushed Jacen, careless of the still-blazing lightsaber that the Jedi held in his hand. But Jacen deactivated his weapon, promptly hooked it back on his belt, and made a super-fast punch against Fey'lya's snout that quickly knocked the Bothan unconscious.