Location: Naberrie Lake house on the planet Naboo.
"It's not good news!" Said Jaina, as she placed one hand on her lower back, providing much needed support for her growing belly.
The whole Skywalker/Solo clan, along with the Knights of balance, Vestara and Dena, were gathered around the large table in the third storey's dining hall. Lando lay on a couch in the hall's foyer not 20 feet away, but he might as well have been in another galaxy.
"Tionne was able to find only one reference to Veradun in the archives and it was in connection to a Darth Malgus... I've never heard of him before, but according to Tionne, Malgus was a nasty piece of work.
"Yes.. He was. "Confirmed Luke. "In fact I was the one who found the ancient Sith archives that documented his rampage of terror throughout the old republic."
"Ok? But how did this... Malgus, turn into ship?" Asked Ben.
Jaina answered:
"Well, Lando told us that Ship... Or Veradun... Or Malgus... Or whatever...This whole time it was a Sith Holocron!"
Vestara shook her head: "I've touched Sith Holocrons... I've felt them, through the force. Ship was different. He wasn't just an advanced recording. He left a wake in the force that only a living person could!"
Everyone couldn't help noticing that her helmet had not returned with her from Calrissian's lair. When she had knelt before Lando and put her life in his hands, she had in a sense been baptized in fire. She had freely and openly recognized her many transgressions, and had come to somewhat of a truce with her dark past.
She realized she could not outrun it, nor hide from it under a mask or a pseudonym. Shadree had served her purpose in leading Vestara as close to redemption as she would ever get. She was no longer a Sith, but the dark side would forever flow through her veins, as would the light...
Balance, in its purist form.
Jaina nodded in agreement at her observations: "These aren't your typical farm boy holocrons."
Luke raised an eyebrow at that.
"Sorry Uncle Luke... There is nothing wrong with farm boys..." Jaina quickly added.
Across the room from him, Dena shared the smallest of knowing grins with him. He slowly blinked his eyes at her in response.
"...My point is, this is holocronic technology on a level we have never dealt with before. And this... Malgus Holocron is not alone. Lando helped Malgus recover several others.
For Ben it started to make sense: "Those Sith Droids that attacked the Queen Mother on Bastion!"
Jaina nodded: "Yes! That was them."
Han was seated at the table with a glass of Corellian Whiskey in his hand. Up until this point in the conversation/briefing, he had been staring into the translucent golden liquid, with an intensity that suggested the solution to the galaxy's problems lay somewhere at the bottom of that particular glass.
But this part of the conversation dragged his attention away from his liquid hope and back on to his daughter's report.
It was this part of the briefing that made his blood boil:
"Problem is, those Sith Droids aren't droids any more! They're Living Breathing Sith!" He all but shouted.
At that moment, It took every ounce of his self restraint not to walk into the next room and fill Lando full of blaster bolts.
Yes! Lando had lost his family! Yes! Lando had alway seemed to get the short end of the stick!
But there was some things Han just couldn't swallow. Lando's little crusade had put his Granddaughter's life in danger! Ben had almost Died! Hell! He had almost lost Leia and Jaina... And... And the baby... BECAUSE OF THAT IDIOT!
"And they ain't alone!" He continued. Thanks to the wonderful technological advances of Tendrando Arms..." Each sentence dripped with sarcasm.
"... We can also expect those Sith to have an army of Yuuzhan Vong Biots as Sabre fodder... All thanks to Lando!"
"Han!" Leia said, harshly. "This isn't helping!"
To his welcomed surprise Jaina came to Han's defence:
"Mom! Dad kinda has a point! This is all partly Lando's fault!"
"HE WAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF! DON'T YOU GET THAT!" Leia yelled out in frustration. "As far as I'm concerned, he's just another victim!"
"VICTIM MY ASS!" Han said, matching her tone. "HIS DROIDS... almost..." His voice began to tremble under the gravity of what he had almost lost. "I just about lost you all..."
Thats when his voice, completely failed. Han had never been one to break down in to blubbering wails, nor erupt into loud sobs. It was more subtle yet no less powerful. On his face he wore a wince that bespoke the emotional toll such close calls took of him.
His eyes, although clinched shut, could not hold back that one stubborn tear, that made it through his walls and barriers.
The argument, which had been borne of frustration and anxiety, died as the two strong women that made up Han's very existence, silently walked over and embraced him. It was not an embrace of pity. Han was a man that had no use for pity, nor did he incite such feelings in others.
It was an embrace of support...Of unity... Of Love.
Everyone in the room knew that the last 50 years of galactic history would've been a lot different without him. They couldn't afford to loose him to despair.
After a moment, Luke walked over to the huddled group of Solos. He stood facing Han, and grabbing hold of both shoulders, he said to him :
"Thank you for rescuing Ben..." He paused and took a deep breath, and then continued. "You don't know how much that meant to me, Han."
Thats all Luke had to say. Han knew that Luke knew how he felt. He had just wanted someone to show acknowledgement for how screwed up the last few days had been, and Luke's words had accomplished that.
He continued: "Don't worry about Lando... I will take care of him."
Now Luke Skywalker was known the galaxy over for his patience and forbearance, but there had been a couple of rare occasions over the years, where Luke had... scared him. He hadn't done anything wrong. It's just, he knew how powerful Luke really was, and he knew how much Lando's betrayal against Ben had wounded him... And Luke's tone had sent a chill through the whole room.
"Take Care of Lando."
What did that really mean? Everyone in the inwardly asked that question. But that would have to wait. They had a battle to prepare for.
After everyone had gained some semblance of composure, Jaina walked back to the centre of the room, and continued with the briefing, discussing, among other things, possible battle locations on Naboo, the expected contingent of Jedi knights, and more intel on their enemy.
Slowly and quietly, Dena made her way across the room over toward Luke. Halfway, she made the mistake of making eye contact with Tarihri who gave her "the look" in return. Dena couldn't help rolling her eyes in response, although the edge of her lips cracked the smallest of grins. If only the blush that had suddenly coloured her cheeks was nearly as subtle.
"She knows." Dena thought to herself. "Oh well! Maybe that means she we'll be less likely to engage me in the dreaded girl talk... or maybe... Oh Kark!... more girl talk..."
She made it to Luke's side, and without looking at him, she whispered: "Did it occur to you that you could solve this problem just by... just... You Know... Poof? Getting out of here?
Without turning to look at her, he quietly replied: "I can't."
Momentarily loosing her composure she loudly inquired: "AND WHY THE HELL NOT?
A few of those gathered, quickly looked over toward Luke and Dena, but their attention was just as quickly recaptured by Jaina's briefing.
Again she started, more quietly: "I don't get it! No Luke Skywalker... No battle!"
He closed his eyes and let out a sigh: " Do you really think that this Sith army is going to just show up, realize I'm not there, pack up and head home?" There was a pause and then he continued.
"You don't know this Malgus. He isn't like any Sith that has ever lived! He doesn't believe in tactics or logistics or reason. If I'm not here he will simple crush Naboo, because he can...My place... Is here!"
"BUT YOU..." she caught herself and lowered her voice: "... But you can't wield the force as a weapon... not anymore. Luke, if you stay.,.?"
That is when he turned his head toward her:
"That's... Not exactly true. You see, Malgus is not just another Darkside user. He is Conflict itself. He is the very embodiment of Imbalance itself. I may no longer be able to participate in the battle between light and Dark, but Blance..." He let out out tired chuckle: "... That's kinda my thing now Dena...
I must stay... I have to lead this fight. One way or another Malgus must be destroyed... For Good!"
That's when she turned to meet his gaze: "What do you mean one way or another?"
Realization struck her like a proton torpedo:
"No! No! You can't put me through that again!"
She didn't need to be force sensitive to read the conflict that was painted on his face. His tone was slightly defensive when he replied:
"I may not have a choice. That vision I saw... If I don't stop this Monster... I know it will come true. I cant allow that!"
"If you die, then the balance will die again!" She countered
He gave a slight shake of his head: "No it won't."
With that he discreetly took her hand and lead her out of the dining room.
The two of them made their way to his room. Or rather, what was left of it. In the corner, covered by an assortment of debris, he found IT. A small wooden box. He blew away the film of dust that stubbornly clung to its top. He then unlatched and opened the lid, after which he placed the wooden crate on the ground.
With his left hand, he used the force to levitate the object that had been stored inside: Qui-Gon's Holocron.
She watched on as the Holocron rose to eye level and then just hung in the air right in front of him. He then stretched out both palms to either side of the glowing blue cube. The Device began to spin, slowly at first, but then gaining speed. As it spun faster and faster the glow intensified. Luke's face began to similarly glow blue. In Fact, a blue beam of energy began to reach out from his face and actually make contact with the Holocron. The connection lasted 10 seconds... Then 30... Then after a minute, it was over.
The Holocron slowed to a standstill and then gently descended back into its wooden box. Luke, although slightly tired looking, didn't seem to be dramatically affected by the experience.
"He's getting stronger... Better at this..."
She thought inwardly.
He knelt down and picked up the box and handed it to Dena.
"You are this order's only hope now..."
She just stared back...speechless, so he elaborated:
"On Exocron, I discovered my true purpose... the order's true mission. Things have moved to quickly, though, and I haven't had the time record my findings or tell them to anyone else.
This is the first holocron I ever encountered. It has guided me straight and true..." He grabbed hold of both of her shoulders and looked at her with a grave seriousness:
"I have just transferred all my knowledge of the force and how to maintain the balance, into here. I want you to take it and leave Naboo..." He didn't give her an opportunity to interrupt with protestations:
"If anything happens to me I need you to keep this safe. Some in the Jedi order will be called to its knowledge. Use this to guide them to the balance... They will keep this new order alive. Dena, you see how much the Galaxy needs this... Balance can never be silenced again!"
At any other time up till this point, she would have stubbornly refused to leave his side. But their relationship had undergone a metamorphosis. She had become less selfish...Less desperate about possessing him, and more content with owning the intangible piece of him that would always be hers: The memory of Luke, would always reside in her heart, warming her soul on the darkest of nights, giving her the strength and fortitude to endure his absence, whether it be temporary or... Permanent.
"I wont fail you." Was her only reply. She sealed her final words to him with a kiss and then, she headed toward the mansion's hanger.
There she would find a speeder bike which would take her all the way to Theed's Spaceport and, with the force's blessing, she would be off to parts unknown. The balance would survive.
After Dena left his room, Luke made his way to the foyer where Lando had been convalescing.
Lando's eyes opened briefly to reveal a dark shadow standing in the doorway facing him. For the first time in hours, his mind was jolted back to clarity. Acute fear had a funny way of doing that. Ben had almost died, and Lando healthily shared the blame for that!
Lando's day of reckoning had finally arrived!