Author's Note: By the Force! I still made it in time for Frozen Force Friday. I'm still here and going strong by all and any means. Dearest readers, thank you all so much for your patience with me as story production slows down. No matter the pace. No matter what. We keep moving forward to tell this story. Thanks for sticking with me.
Sincerely,
~ Michael
Chapter: 113 Next Stop, Paradise
"It takes strength to resist the dark side. Only the weak embrace it. But that weakness stems from an overwhelming, apathetic neglect."
Exhaustion on tired battlegrounds! The Outer Rim Sieges reach destructive standstills. With death tolls spiking to catastrophic levels, citizens across the galaxy have become desensitized to the conflict. Bills have passed, solidifying the final emergency powers for the Republic's Supreme Chancellor. Public opinion over the Jedi is as nonexistent as the war effort, for the most an average citizen can do is survive. People are desperate to tune out politics and make it through the day. Hope of the Clone War ending dwindles as diplomatic voices in the Senate are repeatedly drowned out. War crimes go unanswered and get swept under a patriotic rug. With no conclusion in sight, even the most loyal activists have turned to desperate measures. In the name of change, these few brave souls take matters into their own hands. Not for themselves, but for a better galaxy...
The rattling hisses and collective screams from the Yalbec hive still echoed in Anna Dellian's mind. Even as her eyes rolled in the darkness of her subconscious, she could see the carnage flashing around her. Scorched, severed limbs and splattering entrails spewing across the catacombs. As she regained consciousness, her slow breaths gathered into a collective gasp. Anna's eyes shot open and she was immediately met by dimly-lit, overhanging lights. There was a dampness to her darkened tresses and a lightness to her body that had her feeling like she'd never left the shower. Upon feeling the brisk sheets against her bare skin, she was quick to clasp them tighter. Anna's ensuing yelp was as involuntary as it was startling.
As she took in her quiet setting aboard the Legacy's secured medbay, Anna's shout had alerted someone from the adjacent room. The nearby ding had her clutching her covers tighter while a familiar face entered. "Anna?" Blazer worried. Within seconds, he recalled her state beneath the covers and immediately covered his eyes. "I-" he bumbled. "Left some...clothes for you there." Anna's eyes listed as Blazer blindly pointed to her nightstand. While the sergeant averted his gaze, she quickly dressed herself in the folded Republic tank top and sweatpants. While he listened to her shuffle through her garments, Blazer chose to speak up. "I heard you scream earlier," he explained. "Respectfully, I investigated when you didn't answer. That was when I found you-" Blazer sighed. "-passed out on the shower floor." The sergeant hung his head and slowly shook it. "I couldn't leave you there. I got you covered as soon as I could and-"
"Blazer," Anna interrupted. Her voice was calm, yet assertive enough to bring his eyes back to her. Clothed and recomposed at the edge of the bed, Anna said, "Thank you."
"Yeah," Blazer sighed and cautiously joined her. His bulky, warm presence brought a sense of comfort as they leaned against one another.
"What happened back there?" Anna croaked. "Everything feels like a loud...crazy blur. I'm sorry. I thought we had it under control and-"
"Hey," Blazer murmured. "We did. Clone Force 99 had other plans. Once all hell broke lose in that hive, everything we did was in the name of survival."
"Those Yalbec didn't have to die," Anna whispered and slowly shook her head. "I sound like my sister. Maybe she had a point to all of this. I just don't get it. We rescued Erso. Why would the Republic want more bloodshed? How the hell is that going to look in the reports?" Anna's brows furrowed at Blazer's hesitant response. "Oh no," she mumbled. "Blazer...how the hell are they spinning this?"
Her companion pinched the bridge of his broad and scarred nose. His short beard puffed with his frustrated huff. "They're reporting that...the Yalbec Queen attacked us. And that Wrecker severed her stinger in self defense. After doing so, it prompted the rest of the hive to want to mate with us, and we were forced to defend ours-"
"Are you kriffing kidding me?" was all Anna could blurt before her overwhelming nausea returned. The faulty lie despicably juxtaposed against memories of the actual massacre. The agonizing shouts and sharp crackles of blasterfire swirled together like torturous drills in her mind.
"Anna?" Blazer worried as she clasped her rapidly-beating chest.
"Watcher," she uttered. "I need to speak to her now."
"You should at least get something in your system before-"
"Now!" Anna growled. She clawed for her communicator, hoping it would've been placed on her nightstand. "Where's-" she panted. "I need-"
"Your gear's back in our crew quarters," Blazer answered calmly and tried to get her to recline.
"Then you call her," Anna intoned and lowered her voice. "Please."
The desperate sincerity in Anna's eyes had never let him down. Blazer obliged and hailed the Guardian on his vambrace. Each passing second stretched forever as Anna impatiently tugged at her locks. Her glare fell to the emerging holoprojection as Watcher spoke coldly. "General Dellian. This is most informal."
"Spare me," Anna scoffed.
Watcher's brows arced above her narrow glasses. "Excuse me?"
"I want answers," Anna uttered. "What the hell happened back on Yalbec Prime? That shootout in the hive didn't need to happen."
"If you're referring to the suppressed insurrection-" Watcher corrected. "-it most certainly did."
"We negotiated Galen Erso's safe return," Anna countered. "We could've walked him out of there with zero casualties! Captain Shaw-"
"Captain Shaw's injuries made him unfit to return to combat and he should've remained in a bacta tank," Watcher scolded. Her constant interruptions made Anna's blood boil. "You had orders."
"My squad followed the orders given," Anna assured. "Search and rescue. But you issued another set of orders." The young Dellian's eyes narrowed on Watcher's stern-faced hologram. "Didn't you?"
"Clone Force 99 had reported to me from the previous engagement," Watcher explained. "They said that you'd hesitated to follow through with the embassy defense."
"Kriffing-" Blazer grumbled as Anna quelled him with her hand.
"If they mean I ordered a ceasefire on retreating civilians and other non-threats-" Anna explained. "Then yes. If such was the case, I don't understand why you didn't follow up with me to verify. After everything we've been through, why would you just take their word for it?"
"This isn't your first variance in combat," Watcher explained as Anna tilted her head. "Despite your results, you've often strayed from direct orders. At times, it's even put you at ends with fellow Jedi Generals. So much so, that joint operations have had to be disbanded."
"If you're referring to what happened with General Skywalker-"
"It's in the past," Watcher asserted. "But the records hold up. The Republic needs consistent results, Dellian. An efficient machine can't put its trust in repeated risks. The Yalbec were never going to stop attacking the Republic presence on their planet. In order to continue our mining operations on their world, we would need to remind them of who was in charge."
"By murdering their queen and slaughtering their people?" Anna croaked.
"By crushing their rebellion," Watcher corrected. "They made their choices against the Republic, General Dellian. We simply reminded them of the consequences."
"And all it took was following through with a plan I wasn't even informed of," Anna realized. "This isn't even limited to Captain Shaw. My squad and I could've been killed in that hive too. But it wouldn't have mattered as long as Clone Force 99 knew the plan, right?"
Watcher took a deep breath. "I trusted that you all would adapt and overcome."
"Oh that is such-" Anna's face reddened as she dared to speak out against Watcher. "-banthacrap! Yes, I signed on to fight for you. Call me a soldier all you'd like. But what does it matter? After everything we've been through...Everything that my brothers and I have fought to protect this galaxy from...It's still worth nothing to you people."
"General-"
"I should've seen it coming," Anna continued. "When Elsa and I were injured on Bespin and you focused on Maul's capture instead. But I just kept giving you the benefit of the doubt. Even after the hyper-nukes, am I really just a number to you?"
"Oh grow up!" Watcher snapped, her voice crackling over the holocomm. "For all that you've been through and all you seek praise for, you sure are whining a lot. You think we all aren't numbers in this system? At least I have the consciousness to wake up and understand my place in it. I've been a number my entire life, working diligently to keep big-mouthed grunts like you in line so systems like this don't fall apart. And you have the audacity to call me and ask for special treatment? To bring such disrespect to your superior, who's given you nothing but opportunity in our chancellor's glorious Republic."
Anna angrily clenched her bedsheets. "I'm not asking for special treatment. I'm asking for trust."
"You get to know what we decide you get to know," Watcher retorted. "That's how it always has been. And frankly, your insubordination has tested my patience long enough."
Anna's nostrils flared as she asked, "What are you saying?"
Watcher beckoned an officer over and input several codes into a datapad. "Anna Dellian," she declared. "Your services on the battlefield are no longer required."
"What?" she gasped as Watcher kept talking over her.
"You and your squad of ARF troopers are to cease all special operations effective immediately." Anna's heart sank as her next breath fled with Watcher's decree. "You are being reassigned to live out the rest of your military service on Coruscant, protecting its people."
"You can't do this!" Anna snapped.
"Admiral Shang is being briefed as we speak," Watcher answered in an unwavering tone. "It's done. Seeing as this is likely the last time we'll ever speak...safe travels, Dellian."
Like Anna's hopes for a swift resolution, the transmission faded atop the bed. Flustered, she plopped against her pillow and peered up at the ceiling. Feeling the Legacy's thrusters igniting, Anna realized they were turning around. She closed her eyes and cursed beneath her breath as they were rerouted for the capital. Taking in the news himself, Blazer sank along her bedside and rested on the tiling.
They briefly sat in silence, contemplating the news as the Legacy rocketed into hyperspace. Bright blue streaks swirled across the bedside viewport as Anna whispered, "How did it come to this? How could I have-"
"No no no," Blazer growled. "Don't you go blaming yourself for a second." His beard quivered with frustration as he sat up. "I was calling this nonsense from all the way back in leadership training on Kamino. The only part I didn't factor in, was how the Jedi were being used just as much as us clones are. From Felucia, to Bespin, to blasted Teth...how many brothers have we lost? How many Jedi have you seen die? And at the end of the day, who gives a damn? Do you see Chancellor Palpatine crying about them when it doesn't justify another planetary invasion?"
"Kriff no," Anna sniffled from the bed.
"They turn numbers into killers and then send us to do their dirty work. And when they don't need us or we don't suit their needs, we just get discarded."
"What the hell are we even gonna be on Coruscant?" Anna questioned. "Mall cops? Janitors?"
"You're being too generous," Blazer scoffed before simmering down. "Maybe it's for the best. The Outer Rim Sieges are getting bloodier anyway."
"Oh please," Anna grumbled. "That's precisely why they need us. Numbers in a system." Anna grimaced by just repeating Watcher's loathsome words. "She just made the biggest mistake of her mind-numbing career. I hope she fries her eyes on those datascreens."
"No matter what we're headed into next-" Blazer huffed. "-we'll face it together." The sergeant reached for her bandaged hand and gave it a squeeze. "Still best friends, right?"
"From Kamino to Ilum," Anna answered. She rolled over against her pillow and found comfort in his presence. "I'll admit though," she said. "You really did sign up for a mess by teaming up with me. Had you been paired with my sister, 'insubordination' wouldn't even be a thought.
Deep breathing wasn't an option as Elsa Dellian prepared to commit insubordination against the Republic. Her shallow breaths propelled her forward as she scurried through the shadowy temple. Every second counted as the figures of the night appeared to follow her. Each statue's broad silhouette seemed to stretch in the moonlight, as if ancient Jedi ancestors were silently judging from above. Still, Elsa continued on her way and made for the youth dormitories.
Jedi Sentinels and non-Force sensitive guards patrolled their routes, thinking nothing of the dutiful Elsa Dellian. Using that status to her advantage, Elsa kept up her calm demeanor and approached Stel's room. Her heart sank when each swift knock went unanswered. She finally breathed a sigh of relief when a muffled shuffling echoed beyond the door. The locking mechanism chimed and Elsa quickly found herself peering down at her groggy Padawan. The Theelin's hair was a mess of tousled blue as he glanced up and rubbed his eyes.
"M-master?" he yawned. "What's going on-"
"We don't have much time," Elsa whispered and slipped into his room. She cautiously glanced over her shoulder before sealing the door behind.
Noticing her stressful gaze was enough to have Stel waking up. "Master Dellian," he gulped. "What's wrong?"
Realizing that her anxieties were affecting his, Elsa took a deep breath and knelt to his level. "Nothing, Stel," she assured. "Nothing will be wrong if we take action." He raised his curious brows as she continued. "I can't keep hiding the truth from you. And whether I like it or not, my past is becoming part of your future. As Jedi, we are sworn to protect peace and justice. This doctrine extends far beyond the Republic or any government ordinance for that matter." Elsa sighed and rested her hands on Stel's shoulders. "We cannot call ourselves Jedi and then turn a blind eye to those who need our help most."
The boy's gentle gaze lit up. "Wait," he gasped. "Is this what I think it's about? Are we gonna help Aren? But I thought-"
Elsa's grip on his shoulders tightened. "Doing what's right won't always be what's accepted, Padawan. I understand that now more than ever. But-" Elsa swallowed hard. "Our actions won't be free of consequence. And beyond the dangers we will face, there will also be the likelihood of demotion...or even expulsion from the Jedi Order. Please know that I factored your position in all of this before-"
"Master," Stel interrupted. "I want to do this. I've wanted to. I'd rather do what's right and help people instead of sitting around knowing they need us."
Elsa wanted to double back. Her inner voice kept doubting Stel's affirmation and tried to dismiss it as a child's naivety. Instead, she looked into the Theelin's innocent eyes and chose to trust him. With a deep breath, Elsa uttered, "Alright then."
"So what's the plan?" her apprentice asked.
Elsa slowly raised a brow and peered out of Stel's window. She observed the senatorial dome in the distance and uttered, "Leave that to me."
Even a gushing, polished faucet was enough to warp Chieftain Ryder away from his current surroundings. When he closed his eyes and listened to the sink's running water, he imagined an ongoing stream instead. He visualized his homeworld's vast frontier and the frigid waters which glistened throughout the woodlands. Any hope of basking in that serenity altered when several knocks came to his door. Each bold bang sounded like the same explosions which had destroyed his enclave. Snapping himself free of the horrid thought, Ryder found himself back in the senatorial suite's bathroom. Brisk water trickled down his palms as he stepped away to dry them. The knocks returned, prompting Ryder to cross his room and make for the door. His pace quickened at the sound of Elsa's voice.
"Ryder?" she beckoned.
"What the?" the chieftain gasped and hurriedly tapped the wall-mounted access panel. The door hissed open, revealing his Jedi friends. "Elsa? What are you-"
"We don't have much time," she whispered while Stel inched up behind her. "We're getting you out of here. We're going back."
Ryder's heart sank with both fear and enthusiasm. "But I thought...Your Senate decreed that-" Elsa's grim stare was enough to have Ryder comprehending the risks. While he understood her willingness to help, he also respected her duty to the Republic and the Jedi Order. "Elsa," he murmured. "You don't have to do this. Couldn't you be expelled? Or even arrested for treason?" He glanced down at Stel. "What about your student?"
"This isn't about the powers we serve," Elsa affirmed as her Padawan stood tall. "This is about doing what's right. You let us worry about our fates. Now even as we speak, our window is closing."
"Right," Ryder concurred and offered Elsa a gentle nod. "Thanks...for never giving up on us."
She smiled softly before rushing into his room. Together, the Jedi helped Ryder quickly pack a bag of essentials. Once they were situated, Stel poked his head out into the vacant corridor. "We're clear!" he whispered sharply. Elsa and Ryder followed him out, remaining light on their feet.
"A transport is waiting for us at the east concourse," Elsa explained. "They can only linger so long before rousing suspicions."
Given the hour of the group's departure, the halls of the senatorial suites remained vacant...mostly. The trio had nearly made it out when a series of clanks echoed from around the corner. Elsa instinctually pushed Ryder and Stel back before peeking herself. A pair of blue-plated police droids were guiding a belligerent Gran back to his room. "Easy now, senator," one of the droids computed. The stench of alcohol traveled down the hall and had Elsa wrinkling her nose. The Gran put up a fuss, prolonging the police presence as they tried to get him back into his suite.
"That's our only way out," Elsa whispered.
"We're running out of time," Stel fretted.
"What do we do?" Ryder added to the knight's anxiety.
Elsa calmed herself with a steady breath and said, "We go through. We're just...walking. Keep your distance but don't look like you're trying to. Walk casual."
Elsa straightened her posture and led the way around the corner. She kept her gaze focused straight ahead while Ryder clenched his bag. Meanwhile, Stel's jitters were getting the best of him. The more he tried not to look at the police droids, the more his eyes wanted to sway towards them. His breaths quickened as they stepped in front of the droids.
Any form of relief was short-lived as one of the police said, "Hold on."
Elsa winced, yet forced a smile as she turned around. "Yes, officer?"
While one droid continued with the Gran, the other gestured to Stel. "That boy is shivering. Is...he alright?"
Before Stel could answer, Elsa spoke over him. "He's just a little under the weather. The life of a Jedi is very...taxing."
The droid's unblinking, emotionless face focused on Stel. "It could be the flu," it deduced. "My database indicates a spike in cases for our district."
"Thank you for your insight, officer." Elsa said before the belligerent Gran stole their attention once more. "Have a good night."
Elsa, Stel, and Ryder picked up the pace to make it downstairs. They darted for the lower levels and exited towards the east concourse. A Jedi corvette's broad hull contrasted against the building's sleek aesthetic. Once spotting his approaching passengers, the pilot flipped on his cockpit lights. Ryder paused, slowly recognizing Kristoff and Sven from what felt like a lifetime ago. He would've remained frozen had Elsa not ushered him onward. Once they boarded, Kristoff and Sven didn't waste a second to get them airborne.
As they traveled across the night sky, Ryder stepped towards the cockpit and stared at the flyers in disbelief. "Long time no see," Kristoff remarked while steering into a military lane. "Looks like it's us saving you this time, chieftain."
Ryder nodded respectfully. "And so it is."
Sven grunted as an incoming transmission beeped on the dashboard. "It's a holo," Kristoff realized and Elsa motioned for Ryder to hide in the hall.
"Put it through," she said.
A clone officer's face projected across the dashboard. "Jedi corvette," he declared. "What is your destination?"
"Star Destroyer Deliverance," Kristoff answered. "Transporting Jedi Knight Elsa Dellian and her Padawan."
The clone glanced over at Elsa, who was concurring with the proceedings when a sudden sensation took over. A familiar, yet troubling presence reached Elsa from beyond her ship. It drew her to look leftward, where she glimpsed a Hammerhead cruiser flying in the opposite direction. The Legacy? Elsa thought as she let the feelings reach her. Anna?
"Something the matter, Knight Dellian?" the officer's voice crackled and snapped her back into the moment.
"No," Elsa assured. "I just have much on my mind regarding the 213th."
"Safe travels," the officer assured before ending his transmission.
Elsa dropped her smile with the fading hologram and glanced back out of the viewport. Anna couldn't have been heading back to Coruscant, she thought. She was needed for the Outer Rim Sieges. The eldest Dellian tried not to dwell on such thoughts as they approached her designated Venator.
"I'd join you if I could," Kristoff said while docking the corvette. "But if you find our family, please make sure the Trolls are alright." Sven nodded somberly as Elsa and the others departed. "And Elsa-" Kristoff added, making her glance over her shoulder. "May the Force be with you."
His words prompted her to smile before exiting his corvette. As Kristoff and Sven returned to Coruscant, Elsa and her remaining companions were left aboard the Deliverance. She'd never been so joyed to see Commander Frost, knowing he'd support her through any treacherous endeavor. "Elsa," the clone greeted as troopers formed up in the hangar. "We weren't expecting you. What's going on? What's the chieftain doing here?"
"We're going to Aren, Frost." Elsa explained. "This is how we help, Ryder. How we help everyone."
Frost didn't need an explanation. He knew how much Aren meant to Elsa and the legacy she carried on her shoulders. Without a second thought, he stood at attention and said, "I'm with you."
To everyone's surprise in the moment, Elsa impulsively hugged the commander. Knowing the amount of pressure on her actions, all she could do was whisper "Thank you" before turning her attention towards the nearest elevator. Elsa and Frost were of hive mind as Stel and Ryder followed them. For while she had the backing of the 213th, there was still another authority she needed to convince. And as they entered the command bridge, Admiral Taka was already prepared for a debate.
"Elsa," Taka began. "I'm not one for religiously following the HoloNews, but the last I checked...Chieftain Ryder was given asylum on Coruscant."
"You are correct," Elsa sighed.
"Then might I inquire as to why he is on my ship?" Taka fired swiftly.
Elsa could've chosen a more political approach, but she wanted to be real with Taka. She'd only ever wanted to show her true self, especially after witnessing the Senate's hypocrisy firsthand. "Because asylum for Chieftain Ryder is as much a death sentence as leaving him without aid." Keeping her tone low, yet assertive...Elsa stepped up to the admiral. "The Senate showed its true colors. They will not help Aren. But we-"
"Elsa-" Taka warned.
"We can, Admiral Taka. We are servants of the Republic. One of which stands in the name of liberty for all. Who do we really include within that all?"
Taka sighed as Elsa words weighed heavily upon her. "Don't think this is the first time I've witnessed such hypocrisy in the Republic. But I need not remind you of our positions. Not just in rank, but of where we stand in the Clone War itself. Elsa, every decision we make will have equal consequences."
"I understand that," Elsa assured. "My companions and I acknowledge those risks. But we have to try. Where else are we to go? To a tired battlefield with unsure motives? A disastrous locale to protect assets? Admiral, the chieftain's plea is exactly the call our Republic stands for. Not just in name, but as who we are as a people. Put aside our superiors for just a moment. Who do we want to be at the end of all this?"
Taka peered across her bridge, observing each crew member that she was responsible for. "I've spent my entire life striving to get here," she professed. "Doing as I was told...challenging the system where I could...always fighting the good fight." Taka returned her gaze to Elsa, laughing to herself as she did so. "And you know what I have to show for years of such a clean naval record? An annual handshake and holopic from high command. Which collectively lasts less than a minute and just takes up space in my files. That's it. After all of the stress and carnage I've witnessed in the line of duty, I get that. So I can stare at that collection of holopics late at night and try to tell myself I've been doing something worthwhile."
"All any of us want to do is actually make a difference," Elsa said.
"No matter our intentions-" Taka began. "-you need to consider the magnitude of this undertaking. If we do this...the Republic will never see us the same way again. We will be traitors committing insubordination. We are also one Star Destroyer...one unit against an entire planet of unknown discord. And respectfully, I am unsure how your non-lethal tactics will fare in such a hostile environment. So I pose this question to you even as you say otherwise." Taka stared deeply into Elsa's eyes with true and utter conviction. "Have you really acknowledged these risks?"
Elsa could sense the others staring at her and felt comfort in Stel taking her hand. Realizing that there was no turning back, she stood tall and answered, "Yes."
Taka's nostrils flared with her brief breath. Sealing their fates in that moment, she spun towards the frontmost viewport and declared, "Crew-" The officers on the bridge slowly turned their heads. For no matter what their morals were, every clone had been engineered to follow orders. Their actions hinged on Taka's words as she said, "Set coordinates for Aren. Prepare to make the jump to lightspeed."
It mattered not how many times Hans Westgard had appeared before the Jedi Council. For over the years, he'd only grown as disgusted with them as he'd become with himself. Their stern, unwavering judgements had turned into nothing more than a cold routine. Effortless, unwilling encouragement was to be expected. Neglect was second nature when facing his elders. One could even say he'd come to hate them. And as Hans stood encircled by the council in their grand spire, he felt as dead as the person he was lying about. Hanging his head and clearing his throat...he spoke up.
"I tried to stop her," he uttered. "Over and over again." While all gazes remained fixed on Hans, none was more focused than that of Master Yoda. The old Jedi narrowed his dark eyes as Hans continued. "But she was determined to find our masters and I could not abandon her to such a task alone." His tired eyes listed towards the seated hologram of Ki-Adi-Mundi. "We should've listened to Master Mundi. We were-" Hans choked up as an image of Rapunzel's frozen body haunted his memory. "-unprepared for the horrors of Mygeeto."
"Take this situation lightly, the council does not." Yoda declared as Hans' brows twitched. "Question why these matters were not brought before us, we do."
Master Mace Windu was quick to concur with Yoda. "Not only did you and Knight Crin seek your masters without our clearance-" he began. "-but you also returned directly here without speaking to Master Mundi?"
Hans stiffened at the punctured hole in his alibi. "Master Mundi and his troops are still stationed on Mygeeto," Master Kit Fisto added. The Nautolan tilted his head with suspicion. "After you were attacked by droid forces and lost Knight Crin, why would you not return to Master Mundi? Why immediately flee to Coruscant?"
"Perhaps he wasn't even on Mygeeto," Mace added and Hans' knees weakened.
Growing defensive, Hans lashed out. "You're saying we were offworld when that happened? I-...I wouldn't make this up!"
"Then answer the questions, Westgard." Mace intoned. "Because the longer this story of yours drags out, the less sense it makes."
Hans felt like he hadn't even seen the masters blink. And while an exit door had always been present, it seemed like he'd been mentally sealed inside the chamber. Hans' heart pounded as he swallowed the rising lump in his throat. "It's true," he confessed. "I immediately came to Coruscant...because I was afraid. Because neither Rapunzel nor I had heeded the wise words of Master Mundi. We had been foolish, just as our masters before us. So no matter what crusade resided in any of their hearts, each found death. And I was left alone to bear the guilt." Hans' lower lip quivered as he sniffled. "As some of you know, Rapunzel and I grew up together. I would've followed her anywhere. And to see her die in my arms...broke me. I couldn't face anyone. Not even Master Mundi after he'd just warned us not to go into that warzone. So yes. I avoided him. But my heart is noble...and by the will of the Force I knew I'd have to tell you all what happened. So here I stand, speaking in the memory of Rapunzel. Who I know would be looking through the Netherworld of the Force if she could, and saying 'Hans...it's gonna be okay'."
There was a long and dreadful pause as Hans scrubbed his reddened eyes. Master Mundi would be the first to break the silence. "I did advise the knights not to travel onward," his hologram crackled. "Still they defied me in search of their masters. Though insubordinate, his findings have shown us the dark reality of our situation. And sadly at the cost of another young warrior."
"For our Order, grim times these have been." Yoda replied. "Deceased, three more Jedi are. A ceremony, we shall have in the coming weeks."
Mace kept glaring at Hans. "The question remains as to what we shall do with Knight Westgard."
"I am in grief," Hans pleaded. "I acknowledge my errors but please-"
"Insubordination is insubordination," Mace asserted. "And you are no stranger to defiance."
"It's not like you let me do anything around here anyway," Hans scoffed. "What more could you possibly take from me?"
"Regardless of intention," Yoda declared. "Reckless and dangerous your actions continue to be. Forfeit the title of Sentinel you will."
Hans' eyes widened. "What?" he uttered. "You can't do that. I-...That was my entire path as a Jedi. Years spent training to-"
"Then those years should've been taken into consideration when you made your latest choices," Mace murmured.
Hans' lip twitched as he staggered back. "What do I even have left at this point? I'm just a Jedi Knight? A knight of what? Where can I go? What can I achieve?"
"Decide what further to do with you, the council will." Yoda answered. "But no longer may you walk among the Jedi Sentinels. Dismissed, you are."
Hans gritted his teeth before furiously storming off. He didn't even humor the masters with a bow and continued on his way. Stowing his anger into a pair of clenched fists, he waited until he was alone in the elevator. His breaths were like raging hisses as the doors shut behind him. The elevator plunged from the Grand Spire, descending with his spiraling emotions until he could no longer contain them. Giving in to his emotion, Hans threw a punch at the elevator's bronze casing. The clamor irked his ears as a swelling pain surged across his knuckles. "Kriffing...shit," Hans growled and clenched his aching hand. Each of his recent experiences came upon him like a mental downpour. He could hear everyone from Gaston, to Elsa, and the Jedi Council berating him with their own agendas.
The thoughts became so overwhelming, that Hans was forced to claw at his temples and fall back against the elevator doors. They soon reached his designated floor and slid open, leading him to go tumbling out. As Hans struck the unwelcoming carpet with a thud, his comlink suddenly chimed. "Now what..." he groaned and slowly answered.
"Hey Hans," Anna greeted. "You at the temple?"
"Where else would I be?" he groused.
Ignoring his tone, Anna persisted. "I'm here too. It's a long story, but I'd love to see you."
Furrowing his brows, Hans paid little mind to the purpose of her arrival and focused on her presence. "My room...meet you there," he asserted and hung up.
Anna followed Hans' instructions and was quick to reach his dormitory. Upon arriving, the disgruntled Jedi hurriedly beckoned her inside. "You're not looking well," Anna remarked as she traversed his shadowy quarters. "I can relate. I've been relieved of duty in the Outer Rim. They've stationed me here on Coruscant until-"
"I'm no longer a Sentinel," Hans interrupted. His brash and abrupt tone caught Anna completely off guard. "I came to the council in pain...in grief. Over-" Hans froze up and glanced at Anna's worried expression. "Their response was to punish me. Me!"
Adjusting herself to meet his needs, Anna shook her head. "That's...terrible, Hans."
Hans paced towards his window, letting the moonlit shades cast streaked beams across his face. "They never cared about me. About any of us."
Anna sighed, "I believe the same is true for our Republic as well. I was on Yalbec Prime when it all went down. My own orders were ignored and-"
"Anna," Hans snapped and aggressively turned to her. While his face was somber, his body remained fervently distressed as he stomped over. "Anna...baby." He brought his hands to her face and caressed her cheeks to a firmly uncomfortable degree. "Look at me. I'm not okay. And I really need you to be here for me right now. Can we just-" Even Hans' sniffle felt abrasive. "-not make this about you for a change? Please?"
The young Dellian swallowed hard, and any frustration of her circumstances plummeted with that gulp. She looked into her lover's stressed gaze and caressed his face back. "Sure, Hans." Anna uttered. "What do you need?" she asked, just as Kristoff had once done for her.
Hans pressed his forehead to hers. "Let's just forget about all of this right now," he whispered. "I want to forget everything. I only want-" Hans glanced up stared deeply into Anna's eyes. "-you."
"That can be arranged," she answered, reaching beyond his suffering. Anna slid her hand up Hans' neck and raked her fingers through his hair. With a single pull, she brought Hans into a breathy kiss and swept him into the moment.
Giving into his passions, Hans dropped his hands to her hips. It wasn't long before Anna was lunging up, straddling atop Hans' lap as he carried her to the bed. His frustrations manifested into a powerful toss as he sent Anna into the pillows. By the time she recovered, Hans' warm lips were already smothering her neck with kisses. Anna's moans deepened as she matched his intensity, clawing at his robes in a desperate attempt to undo them. The Jedi's pent up frustrations had culminated into a fit of animalistic passion as they rolled against the blankets. Boots were unbuckled and kicked to the floor. Firm hands rigorously tugged at tabards until they could grip at bare skin. There was no peace, only emotion. Blissful ignorance thrived in the face of knowledge. Serenity was nonexistent amid such unbridled passion. For Anna and Hans created chaos where there had been harmony. Embracing the Force as their power and using death as their excuse. Hans had indeed forgotten everything. Even if the effects were temporary.
"You have to trust a system to betray it. If they aren't helping you, why help them? Hans, none of what you're doing will ever matter. You will never become a Jedi Master. The council will never see you as the powerful man you could be. Wake up!"
Master Gaston's voice was like a nightmarish venom plaguing Hans' dreams. He gasped awake and found himself in a frigid sweat. The nightly stillness of his room was as chilling as it was calming. As Hans caught his breath, he came to terms with his surroundings. The distinct heaviness on his chest was nothing more than Anna, fast asleep against him. His toned arm still gripped her bare and freckled back. He possessively tightened his grip on her as Gaston's voice returned.
"Because when the Republic does tear itself to pieces, we will need a place to thrive. A place beyond the politics where Jedi are already being persecuted. Aren is in a constant struggle for power, Hans. This is fertile ground for people like us to seize control."
"What of Anna?" Hans had asked.
"Test the waters. See if she's even worthy. And if not...Let her burn with the rest. It's eat or be eaten, Hans. And only the strong shall survive."
Hans' heart raced just recalling the vivid memory. He didn't even know how to start a conversation like that with Anna, let alone get her to agree." He glanced down at her blissfully unaware and slumbering self. She looked as peaceful as she did beautiful in his embrace. The Jedi Order was falling apart, but Anna still had her loyalties. Hans hadn't even given her the chance to explain what'd happened in the Outer Rim. In truth, he wasn't even sure if he cared. More so, he only needed to know if she'd he willing to leave the Order with him. To start over on Aren and 'rule as a god' as Gaston explained. Just fathoming trying to persuade her had Hans tensing up until a sudden call came to his comlink.
Concerned about it waking Anna, Hans swung his free arm over and answered it after the first chime. To his relief, his lover hadn't budged. "Yeah?" he grumbled. Any form of grogginess drained as soon as a familiar voice made its way through.
"Hans," Celenia spoke up and the Jedi's blood ran cold. "We need to talk."
"No we don't," he swiftly answered, anger rising within.
"Yes we do!" the Twi'lek snapped. "Or I'll keep calling!"
Her voice came through loud enough to make Anna briefly stir. Hans bit back a gasp and cautiously slid out of bed. Leaving Anna to cuddle a pillow, Hans put his pants on and kept his voice hushed. "Are you out of your damn mind?" he whispered sharply into the comlink. "I told you to never call me again!"
"That is not your choice to make," Celenia countered. "You can't just decide to be done with me. Not after everything. Not after just...using me like some toy. I love you, Hans."
"You don't even know what that means," Hans hissed into the comlink.
"You're with her, aren't you?" the Twi'lek asked. Hans' silence was enough of an answer. "The other Jedi from the HoloNews. The one who answered my call when I checked on you. I was just your other woman."
Hans glanced back to make sure Anna was still asleep. Once his fear was quelled, he took a deep breath and continued the call. "Now you listen to me-" was all he could say before she cut him off.
"No," Celenia asserted. "It's time for you to listen, Jedi. You barged into my home afraid to be expelled? I'll make you get expelled. Because if you don't do as I say now, I'll expose you to everyone."
"You're lying," Hans muttered.
"Try me," Celenia doubled down. "I'll go to the HoloNews stations. Plenty of them are starving for more content and scandal against your Order these days. I'll make sure all of Coruscant knows what you and I have been doing. Especially this Jedi-"
"Stop!" Hans blurted at an accidentally loud volume. He reeled his emotions back in and growled at his comlink. "What do you want?" he asked. "Credits?"
"You," Celenia answered. "You're going to gather whatever credits you do have access to and then meet me at my apartment. Come alone. I've already written an entire datafile on our...adventures together. Step out of line, and I'll send it straight to the Coruscant Rose."
"Alright," Hans huffed. "Just...give me two hours to-"
"One," Celenia intoned. "Thirty minutes to get what you need. Another thirty to get here. Stars know you've gotten to my place even faster when you wanted something from me." Hans' body stiffened as Celenia reaffirmed her demands. "One hour, Hans."
The call ended as he barely had time to process it. The sheets shifted behind as Anna yawned, "Babe? Everything okay?"
Hans spun to meet her and quickly scrubbed the sweat from his brow. "Oh yeah," he assured. "Keep sleeping."
"I think I've slept plenty," Anna huffed while stretching beneath the covers. "How about we uncap a bottle of-"
"Maybe later," Hans mumbled while quickly stuffing a Republic-issue backpack.
Anna raised a suspicious brow. "Seriously, Hans. What's going on? What was that call about?"
"I'll handle it," Hans persisted while avoiding all eye contact. "Like I said, everything's okay."
"Because that's believable," Anna scoffed. "Come on," she urged. "You're always talking about making more things about you. So what's wrong-"
"Everything is fine, damn it!" Hans barked, a great darkness taking over his emerald stare. "What part of that is so hard for you to understand? Trust me for once, will you? I'll be back." Hans stormed out of his room and let the doors his shut behind him.
"Love you too," Anna lamented while shaking her head.
Coruscant's vibrant city lights streaked across Hans' airspeeder windscreen. His stern visage was unchanging as he clenched the vehicle's controls. Every ascension...each skylane switch was done in a trancelike state. Even the echo of passing speeders was nothing more than muffled jargon for him to ignore. Many a time had he taken such a route to the Uscru District. The hour had been just as late into the night, only he'd often been drunk or lonely out of his mind. He'd been yearning for a warm body to touch his...to make him feel something. Anything. Now, Hans wasn't sure what he felt. He loathed the threat Celenia held over him and the history they shared. The great 'what if' was like a pendulum swinging closer to strike a fatal blow against him. He never thought he'd have to see her nightclub again, and yet there he was.
Hans parked his speeder in the back alley where he'd always tried to remain discreet. Instead of having to travel up the fire escape, he was surprised to find Celenia meeting him this time. Her curved silhouette was shrouded in a taut raincoat, just as a drizzle was starting to pickup. The Twi'lek's pale lekku snaked out from under her hood as she boldly stepped towards the vehicle. Somber and grim, Hans exited to meet her. He slammed the speeder door shut with extra force in an attempt to startle her, but Celenia was just as stern as he was.
"Hans," she spoke up, the rain pattering against her hood.
The Jedi barely budged, letting the brisk droplets dampen his auburn locks. "You wanted me," he murmured. "Here I am."
Celenia slowly shook her head. "What happened to you?" she asked, her lips tightening through his silence. "Answer me!"
"What?" Hans snapped. "What do you want from me?"
"Answers!" she fired back. "You were so...warm and inviting. Then you just shut me out. Was it something I did?"
Hans averted his gaze and frustratedly tugged at his tabards. "I don't know...Life happened okay?"
"It is that other Jedi, isn't it?" Celenia asked as Hans' nostrils flared. "What's she got that I don't? Fancy tricks? I actually love you-"
"You don't know what love is!" Hans bellowed, the rain striking his face.
Celenia shuddered briefly, but had grown accustomed to his childlike outbursts. "And you do?" she retorted until his shoulders relaxed. "Hans, it's not too late for us." She motioned towards a duffle bag by her feet. "We can start over."
Hans scoffed. "What the hell are you going on about? You think we just get to pick a time and place to reset our lives? That the past doesn't catch up with us?"
"Every day...every moment is a chance to start over," Celenia implored. "Hans, I don't care what you've done. I care about who you want to be now. Leave it all behind. Run away with me." Feeling bold enough, Celenia lunged at Hans and gripped his forearms. "Let's run away and never look back! We get to the starport...board a ship to the Outer Rim and disappear."
"You're delusional," Hans continued. "The Outer Rim is under siege, Celenia."
"Not all of it," she persisted. "Dantooine. It's remote. I've looked into it. Heard dancers and passing spacers talk about it." Closing her eyes, Celenia let her mind wander beyond the cold and filthy Coruscant streets. "It's filled with vast, open fields. Rolling hills and farmlands as far as the eye can see. No brutal war...no blustering politics. A paradise." As Celenia opened her eyes, she returned to her frigid reality. Her gaze softened as she chose to focus on Hans. "Don't waste this chance," she pleaded.
In that moment, Hans looked back into Celenia's eyes. He fought to see more than what he'd always seen. Searching beyond the lover he'd visited many a night, he sought the chance she spoke of. He imagined leaving the Jedi Order and never looking back. The ensuing silence of abandoning every communication device. No law to tell him right from wrong. No one to berate him for never being good enough. And within that brief instant of clarity, Hans squeezed Celenia's arms back. "Get in," he urged. "Let's go."
Joy overwhelmed her before she'd even obliged. The Twi'lek impulsively pulled him into a kiss, caring little for the rain pouring down their faces. She stuffed her bag in the back and sealed herself into the passenger seat with Hans. From the moment he turned the speeder back on, Coruscant's rainfall became a torrential downpour. As droplets bombarded the windscreen, Celenia happily took Hans' hand. He glanced over at her in the passenger seat as she smiled. There was a spark of true hope in her eyes as she whispered, "Next stop, paradise."
Hans clung to her words as they took off into the night. Even with the windshield wipers on maximum power, the rain was atrocious. Passing speeders became watery blurs of light darting across the windows. Still Celenia reclined, putting her faith and trust in the Jedi at her side. "I love you," she told him. "You don't have to say it back, but I want you to know how I feel. How I think I've always felt."
The rain kept picking up and Hans glanced at his rearview mirror. Although unblinking, his gaze remained lost in Celenia's words. She loved him, and he couldn't fathom how nor why. He partly wondered if she was even telling the truth. She wouldn't be the first person to promise him an escape from the chaos of his life. The downpour intensified to overwhelming levels, causing several airspeeders to swerve and honk alarmingly. Celenia gasped when a sleek vehicle nearly sideswiped them. Realizing he'd need to pull over in the storm, Hans activated their speeder's warning signal and dove for an exit lane. His heart raced as multiple Coruscanti had the same idea, resulting in a vehicular pileup amid the storm. A metallic collision echoed beyond the rain and had drivers hovering to a halt. Unwilling to deal with such rising chaos, Hans took a detour towards a duracrete archway.
Their windshield was soon freed of the rain as they traveled into a dark industrial tunnel. With nothing more than the speeder's headlights to guide them, Hans landed next to a grated platform. Celenia didn't mind the delay and understood Hans wanting to calm himself in the storm. Gently caressing his arm, she had no idea where his mind was wondering off to.
As Hans stared into the tunnel's shadowy void, the echo of falling rain dulled his senses. He let his mind dip into the paradise Celenia imagined and saw himself on a quiet hill. He was leaning against a rickety, yet humble porch overlooking Dantoonie's fields. And as he basked in the peaceful sight, Celenia would be at his side. She'd snuggle against him, gazing up with all of the love and admiration she claimed to have. And for those brief few moments...all would be tranquil. But Celenia's touch would grow cold as the once soothing breeze whisked Hans elsewhere. The winds would remind him of a far more frigid world. The likes of which carried deeds he couldn't scrub his conscience of. Whenever those feelings hit, his mind would return to Aren and he'd see Rapunzel all over again. The outstretched hand of her frozen body would still be clawing for his nonexistent aid...haunting him. Her memory would only be the beginning, as he'd think of Gaston and the fateful pact he'd sealed by knowing his secret. Hans thought of Anna, and how she'd never stop searching for him if he disappeared. The mental whirlwind culminated into a final conclusion. Of which was enough to have Hans shortening his breaths.
"Honey?" Celenia worried.
I will never be free, Hans realized to himself. I will never be happy. I will never be alone, not even in my own thoughts. And I...will never be loved.
As his anxieties heightened, Hans stepped out of the speeder and stormed off. "Hans!" Celenia gasped and dashed after him. Using the vehicle's headlights to light his way ahead, Hans halted at a series of rusted railing. The sound of surging waters had him glancing over to see several massive water silos. Each was connected to a series of pumps filtering water levels throughout the city. Hans clenched the railing and peered into the circular expanse of water below. His somber reflection was a dim and musty distortion under the speeder's headlights. Hans' scowl only deepened as Celenia spoke up again. "What's going on?" she asked. "Talk to me. Hans?"
His trembling hands slowly unraveled from the decrepit railing. Taking a gentle breath, Hans turned and moved his calloused palms to her waist. Although worried for him, Celenia took a moment to find comfort in his touch again. Looking into his troubled eyes, she brought her hands to meet his. The kindly concern on her face faltered when she felt a distinct pinch against her hips. Wincing, Celenia soon felt Hans' knuckles jutting upward as his grip on her tightened. "H-Hans?" she uttered through a wobbling smile. "That hurts. Let go-"
Without relinquishing his grip, Hans twisted back towards the railing. Celenia yelped, feeling her boots scrape off of the duracrete. By the time she'd comprehended them clanging against the rails, she was already submerged in the tepid waters below. Shock over being thrown in took hold as she rapidly broke the surface. "Koochu!" Celenia cursed in Huttese. Her pale, soaked brows narrowed on Hans' deadpanned expression. "What are you-" All Hans had to do was raise a hand for her to widen her eyes. For in those moments, all of Celenia's feelings crumbled to pieces. And as a genuine, heart-stopping fear took hold, she realized the man she loved was no more...or never even was. Desperation took hold as her treading increased. "No," she croaked, the ripples splashing against her face. "Please. Hans don't do this. Please-"
Hans pressed his hand down, using the Force to drag Celenia beneath the silo's dark depths. Her initial, upward lunge was met with sheer pressure. She couldn't even get her arms up beyond the unseen blast of energy pushing her deeper into the silo. Hans might as well have had his hand on Celenia himself, using the Force like a ghostly limb to hold her under. He just stood there, watching her shadowy figure flail in his cold snare.
Despite her watery entrapment, it felt as though a fire had been ignited within Celenia's chest. Her head shot upward and her muffled, desperate gasp was met by a gulp of water. Her body convulsed as desperate breaths manifested into several bubbles climbing upward. Each popped against the surface, forming ripples against Hans' distorted reflection. As Celenia's eyes darkened, she noticed a brief glint beyond the watery chaos. A pair of yellow eyes would be Celenia's last view before all fell to nothingness.
The bubbles concluded their deathly tune and the surface quieted once more. Hans lowered his hand and stared into the murky abyss. Having remained idle for long enough, his airspeeder's headlights powered off and left him to stand in the darkness. The yellow flicker slowly left his eyes and they slowly returned to their emerald hue.
"This wasn't just to feel stronger, it was to be stronger. To be myself. When I killed my father, I enjoyed it. It was empowering. I didn't have to hear him blather on about his garbage anymore. Putting me down just like Gaston and the others. And by killing him...well...he'll never bother me again. Don't you see? Even as Jedi, we've been pulling our punches. How many sleemos get by just because doctrine tells us not to give in. Not to give in to what? Our true potential? We can manipulate objects with our minds. How many people can kriffing do that? And yet the Order keeps chains on our ankles, keeping us from ever fully flying. We are so much more powerful than anyone says we are. Who are they to tell us? If we wanted to, we could rule the damn galaxy. Make things the way we want them to be."
Hans' own words kept him frozen in the shadows. Only the cacophonous crackle of lightning could briefly light his back. Numbed to the act he'd committed, Hans stepped away from the silo and quietly returned to his airspeeder. He removed Celenia's duffle bag from the backseat and sifted through in search of a datafile. As his fingers grazed such a portable object, Hans took it upon himself to immediately drop the device and stomp it to pieces. Leaving the crushed remnants to clatter in the darkness, Hans hobbled back into his vehicle and took off into the night.
No amount of lighter rain could taper the ferocious effects of thunder and lightning overhead. Even in a bustling city like Coruscant. As Hans flew back to the Jedi Temple, a distinct chime came to his comlink. Gently activating it, he raised the volume as Anna immediately started talking.
"Hans," she spoke up over the rain. "I know you've got a lot going on. I know you're not okay. But you've gotta talk to me. You can't just go scrambling off in a huff like that. We're a team!"
"Yeah," Hans mumbled, still reeling from his actions. "You're...right."
"So if there's something you'd like to tell me-" Anna continued. "Do it now. Because I can't read your mind. I want to help you, babe. But you have to say what's on your mind."
As Hans dipped into another skylane, an air traffic light switched to its blood red hue. And while Hans was safe within his airspeeder, the traffic light's bulb coated all of Hans' face in an ominous crimson. "I-" Hans began, initially choking. As he embraced his emotions under the intensifying, scarlet light...Hans finally responded. "I...love you," he professed.
Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading this week's installment of "The Frozen Force!" Folks I cannot thank you enough for sticking this out with me. For those of you who have personally reached out to check on me, I want you to know that I appreciate you all for the extra love. Do not be fooled by social media highlight reels. This is an incredibly difficult time for me. I'm actually in the process of getting diagnosed for clinical depression just to get a piece of my life back. My goal is to get the next chapter to you in two weeks. But should anything happen, check for a review update on this fanfic. Thank you all so much! I do want to pose this question to you.
Would you rather the story go on a complete hiatus until I get a better handle on my life? Or would you rather get a chapter whenever you can? I've just never been the type of author to update with just one chapter after long periods of time and I worry. So I'd rather ask you all! Your feedback is greatly appreciated moving forward. Thank you!
May the Force be with you all,
Michael