By Moriah Organa
Rated: G
Summary: During a brief layover on his way from Dagobah to rendezvous with
the Rebel
Fleet Luke has a conversation with his Padawan Master.
Disclaimer: Luke and Artoo are Lucas'. Dai-Men is mine but heavily influenced
by Lucas.
As Luke approached his X-wing he could hear Artoo happily bleeping away.
To another droid
he presumed until he heard a familiar and very human laugh. He stopped
in his tracks, the
emotion ballooning in his chest bringing a sting of tears to his eyes.
He got himself back in
hand and ducked under the X-wing's nose to confront his visitor.
Dai-Men sat in his brown Jedi robe on a packing crate, listening with every
sign of interest
and comprehension to Artoo's electronic monologue.
Luke cut in. "You can understand him without a translator?"
"Not every bleep and whistle," the Master admitted, "but I get the gist."
smiled. "You two have
been having adventures."
"You could say that." Luke agreed ruefully, seating himself on a convenient
crate. "We finally
got Han back at least."
A deep breath. "Master, Master Yoda's dead." *still wining prizes for tact, Skywalker!*
But Dai-Men only nodded, unsurprised. "I know. He will always be with us."
"That's what Ben said."
The Master spread his hands with a glint of humor. "There you are then,
who should know
better than Obi-Wan?"
Luke smiled faintly in response, but it faded fast. "I thought you were
dead too." Dai-Men
looked his surprise and he continued. "Yoda told me I was the last of the
Jedi, I thought that
meant -" he didn't have to finish.
"I see." the Master said pensively. "Perhaps he just meant you were the
newest or youngest
Jedi. Or...there are other possibilities." He smiled. "It's not wise to
take a Master's sayings too
literally, Luke, their words don't always mean what they seem to."
"Tell me about it!" his Padawan snorted. Then, "You knew about my father."
it wasn't a
question.
Dai-Men nodded confirmation. "And didn't tell me."
"You didn't ask." the Master raised a hand to stop Luke's protest. "It
wasn't my place to
second guess Yoda and Obi-Wan. But if you had asked I would have told you
the truth."
The younger Jedi let out a breath. "I knew that. Maybe that's why I couldn't ask."
"I have never lied to one of my Padawans." Dai-Men said quietly. "Withheld
or evaded truths
when necessary, but never lied."
"Ben lied to me." Luke said bluntly. "Yes. But with a kind of truth."
"'From a certain point of view.'" Luke quoted bitterly.
"Don't judge him too harshly, Luke." the Master chided. "You've never had
a student, you don't
know the pain of losing one." the blue eyes went out of focus, remembering.
"I nearly lost Jayce to the Dark Side. He was able to turn back before
it was to late but - I
know how Obi-Wan feels.
"He really does think of Anakin as dead and Vader as a completely different
being." Dai-Men
sighed. "I feel that's a fallacy but it may be all that's kept him sane."
a wry smile. "And and an
Obi-Wan Kenobi running amuck with grief and guilt doesn't bear thinking
about."
"He said it was his fault." Luke said hesitantly. The Master shook his
head. "A teacher always
feels responsible for his student's failures." he said quietly. "But if
you're thinking Obi-Wan
somehow pushed your father to the Dark Side, no, that's not true. The choice
- and the blame
- are Anakin's alone."
Luke nodded acceptance. He'd never really believed Ben's self accusation.
"Master," he said,
"I can't do what Ben and Yoda want me to do. I can't kill my own father."
Dai-Men gazed steadily back at him, calm, unjudgemental. "Then what will
you do?" "I'm not
sure." Luke admitted helplessly. "If I could talk to him - there's still
good in him, if I could reach it
-"
"Obi-Wan tried that twenty-four years ago ? and failed." the Master pointed
out
dispassionately.
I know but -"
"Your father has given you little reason to love him." Dai-Men continued,
"He tortured your
sister and your friend. used them as bait to trap you and then cut off
your hand."
Luke bit his lip, looking down, that was all true. "He governs the Imperial
Fleet by force of
terror. Kills officers who fail or even displease him -"
"There is good in him!" Luke interupted, passionately. "I felt it when
I touched his mind on
Bespin. I feel it now."
"Then follow your feelings." Dai-Men said calmly. "And trust in the Force."
smiled as Luke
looked at him uncertainly. "For what it's worth, I agree with you. I too
felt Anakin Skywalker
still alive within that black armour." shook his head sadly. "We couldn't
reach him through all
the layers of guilt and anger but perhaps you -"
"You felt!" Luke interupted, "You've seen him?"
"A few weeks ago."
"I thought you promised Jayce you wouldn't challenge Vader!"
"I didn't challenge him. We talked to him."
Luke felt the familiar, welcome touch of his Master's mind on his. Sharing
images of what
Dai-Men had seen and sensed while in Vader's stronghold. He blinked free,
gave his Master
an incredulous look. "And the sabre fighting?"
"We had to get his attention." Dai-Men shrugged.
Luke shook his head despairingly. "Jayce is right, you are nuts!" double
take. "And what's this
'we'? I didn't see anybody with you."
"My father was with me." Dai-Men replied.
"You said your father was dead."
"So is Obi-Wan."
Luke winced. "Good point."
"You're going to join the fleet?" the Master asked, changing the subject.
His student nodded. "Something's brewing, I'm not sure what."
"The Alliance's final throw I think. Win or lose."
Dai-Men rose, and Luke with him. "The Emperor is building a new Death Star.
They say he's
going himself to inspect the work. My guess is the Alliance plans an ambush."
Luke nodded thoughtfully. "That would make sense." Looked up at his Master.
"Can they
succeed?"
He smiled. "The future is always uncertain, Luke."
His student made a face. "I know, concentrate on the moment. Feel the Living
Force." Turned
businesslike. "I've got to get back. I'm still an Alliance officer, maybe
I can help."
"I don't doubt it."
"But - what about my father?"
"He will come to you." Dai-Men looked down at his pupil, heavy brow knitted
above gentle,
concerned eyes. "He wants you badly. And so does the Emperor."
"I'll be careful." Luke promised.
"Be mindful." the Master corrected, laying a hand on his shoulder. "And
trust your instincts.
May the Force be with you." turned to go in a swirl of brown robes.
"Master!"
He turned back, the shadow of the X-wing falling over him.
"Where are you going."
"To Coruscant."
Luke's eyes flared wide. "What!"
"Don't worry," his Master replied, amused. "The Emperor won't be there.
Or Vader. They will
be waiting for you at Endor."
"But why?" Luke pleaded.
"To see to something that needs doing." reassuringly, "I won't be alone."
"Jayce?"
"And the others."
Luke let out a sigh. A man who could walk in and out of Darth Vader's fortress
unscathed
could take care of himself - but - "I don't want to lose you too, Master."
"I'll do my best to see you don't." Dai-Men promised.
"May the Force be with you." Luke said with fervor and resignation.
Dai-Men bowed slightly, accepting the blessing, and was gone.
Luke turned to his ship. "Come on Artoo, let's get back to the Fleet."
The holo-image rotated in the center of the main cabin like a glowing blue
wheel with a large
spherical hub and two rims. Dai-Men Jinn was a tall, lean shadow off to
one side his voice
brisk and businesslike.
"As you can see the redoubt has two defensive rings around a central core.
We need to hit
them at three points simultaneously, I recommend the power center, main
armory and hanger."
The three areas flashed red; power center on the outer ring, armory on
the inner and hanger
right in the middle of the hub.
Gef Aiton nodded to himself, Jinn knew what he was about all right. All
three targets were
vital yet widely separated. The Mandalorians would have to divide their
forces to defend
them.
"But how are you going to bypass the outer ring?" Lieutenant Nentres objected.
"I thought one of your tunnelers." Jinn replied. "Up from below or down
from above?" the
captain wanted to know.
"From above. You've gotten them used to traffice overhead, they might fail
to notice the
tunneler until it's too late."
"Agreed." Aiton nodded, ignoring his second's scandalized look. "And the hanger?"
"The Falcon will blast her way in." Jinn announced calmly.
"Say What?" the freighter's human captain started to his feet anything
but calmly while his
Wookiee co-pilot yowled a supporting protest.
Jinn didn't turn a hair. "I'm sorry, it has to be the Falcon. The Jinx is just too big."
"That'll be fine." Princess Leia cut in, giving the pair a stern look.
"The hanger's just where we
want to be."
The two pilots didn't look happy but they didn't argue any more.
Aiton hid a smile. Once he'd recognized her Highness it hadn't been hard
to guess who
'Lando', 'Luke' and the Wookiee were. He wondered idly where Han Solo had
gotten to, he
was supposed to be a regular member of the Princess' circle.
Jinn on the other hand was a complete mystery. Aiton was sure he'd never
heard his name
before or his companions', though the girl's seemed to ring a distant bell.
As did the long
brown robes they all wore like a uniform. Whoever he was Jinn had obviously
done this kind
of thing before which was reassuring. Aiton had no idea why the Rebel Alliance
had decided
to concern itself with Had Abaddon and frankly didn't much care. But Nentres
was a worrier.
"If headquarters ever finds out you've co-operated with the Rebs -"
"Headquarters wouldn't care if I sold Had Abaddon to the Hutts." Aiton had countered.
That was inarguable forcing the Lieutenant to shift ground. "What makes
you think *they* can
stand up to Mandalorians?"
"They got the Deathstar didn't they?" That had shut him up. Temporarily anyway.
The tunneler smashed through the outer plascrete shell then a ferroplas
ceiling to land with a
reverberating crash, nose down in the middle of the armory. The tunneler
itself pretty much
plugged the hole it'd made but a couple of troopers spayed sealant around
it to prevent
pressure loss. The main body dispersed to the cover of assorted crates
and lockers while the
special weapons team set up the heavy turbos.
The brown robes, looking incongruously human and vulnerable amidst the
white armor,
stayed near their leader who stayed near Aiton.
"Lt. Nentres, report." the captain said into his helmet comlink.
"We're in." his second responded. He was commanding the assault on the power center.
"Remember stay under cover, take no chances. All you got to do is keep them busy."
"Yeah, I know. I *was* at the briefing." Nentres snapped back.
His C.O. just grinned at the Lieutenant's by now traditional bad temper
and switched
frequencies. "Lando?"
"We're through." The Rebel reported over the crumpf of blaster fire. "And
the welcoming
commitee is pretty unhappy about it!"
"Good luck."
"Yeah, thanks." Lando snorted and clicked off. The armory doors and entire
front wall began
to glow a soft lambent orange.
"Here they come!" a trooper shouted, probably one of the most unnecessary
remarks in
military history, then the entire front of the room imploded.
Blaster fire streaked through the smoke and dust, blanketing fire with
no hits. As the air
cleared Aiton made out some eleven Mandalorians in staggered ranks. The
stormtroopers
returned fire with a will.
Blasting holes in walls and ceiling but splashing ineffectively off the
Mandalorian armor. Not
even the heavy turbo lasers seemed to affect them.
Aiton wasn't surprised. Mandalore immunity to conventional weaponry was
legendary. Still
the plan was working, they had split their forces as predicted. Suddenly
he felt Jinn's hand on
his shoulder. "Cease fire."
Aiton echoed the command, ignoring the snorts and grunts of protest from
his men. "Okay,
Jinn, your move."
The enemy had stopped firing when they did and stood there, menacing, waiting.
To Aiton's
disbelief Jinn calmly stepped out into the open followed by his team of
brown robes. They
formed a line facing the Mandalorian ranks; three men, a boy and a girl,
apparently unarmed.
Yet the enemy seemed - intimidated. One raised his rifle to fire only to
have it knocked aside
by the warrior next to him. Then, in almost perfect unison the Mandalorians
laid down their
blasters and drew palm sized, handle like devices that emitted a high,
shrill whine.
*What the-?* Aiton wondered. But before he could finish the thought five,
meter long bars of
light, two green and three blue, hissed into existence. Suddenly the pieces
fell together. *Jedi!*
Two bands of mythic warriors, neither of whom was supposed to exist any
longer, joined
battle. The Mandalorians' hand to hand weapon of choice was the sonic rapier,
a thin beam of
sculpted sound, not dissimilar to the lightsabre except that the blade
was effectively invisible.
Aiton quickly saw that their style of fighting also varied from the Jedi's.
The latter used the
edge of their weapon in strike and counterstrike. But the warriors preferred
the tip, thrusting
and parrying. Their armor too was resistant, if not invulnerable, to lightsabre.
Still, outnumbered though they were, the Jedi were more than holding their
own. In fact they
were winning! Somehow, magically, they seemed to know exactly where their
opponents
invisible blades were accurately anticipating their every move. The whirling
attacks the Jedi
seemed to prefer struck Aiton as pointless and dangerous until he realized
they were using
the momentum of their spins to slice into the super-hard armor.
Jinn was visibly the best of the lot. Fast, powerful and elegantly economical
using to the full
his advantages in height and reach. But the girl was a close second.
Kenobi, as in Obi-Wan Kenobi the Jedi General? Maybe she was a relative.
Certainly she was
a spectacular fighter. Small and lightly built she depended on her speed
and a truly incredible
agility. Seemed to dance circles around her opponents. The two other men
were less dazzling
but no less dangerous. Darklighter in particular had an icy precision,
a sort of focused
deadliness that Aiton would have hated to find himself on the wrong side
of. Naberrie was a
genuine surprise. His gawkiness vanished when he had a lightsabre in his
hand. His
movements became light and swift and his attacks had a calculated randomness
making them
hard to predict or counter.
Young Skywalker was a tyro by comparison with none of the grace or technique
exhibited by
his colleagues. But he was just as fast and the Mandalorians didn't seem
to be finding him any
easier to handle. Suddenly seven of the enemy were down and the four survivors
were
pounding away up the corridor, retreating!
Jinn turned on Darklighter. "How bad."
"A glancing blow," the other Jedi replied tightly. "arm's numb."
"Stay close to me." Jinn instructed. "Luke, stay with Mei-Qan."
"Yes, Master." no false pride there.
"We are going to pursue, aren't we?" Aiton asked, joining them.
"Yes" Jinn glanced at him with eyes at once distant and utterly focused,
as if he were getting
messages from some sense other than the conventional ones. "Keep behind
us, captain.
We've lost the advantage of suprise, they'll be ready for us now."
Life was full of little surprises but finding himself fighting shoulder
to shoulder with a bunch of
hardbacks was one hell of a twist. Crouching behind one of the Falcon's
landing struts Lando
felt his frustration mount as blaster fire just splashed off Mandalorian
armor.
"We're not even denting them!" he shouted to the Imp sergeant sharing his cover.
"What about your ships guns?" the other yelled back.
"No good. Dorsal and belly turrets, we couldn't even align them." the Falcon's
weaponry had
been designed for use in the three dimensions of outer space.
The sergeant's head turned sharply. "Rik! Tobit! hit dirt!"
Lando looked over in time to see two troopers tackle Chewy, all three falling
flat just as a ball
of plasma sizzled over them to impact on the Falcon's underside, sending
white hot bits of
reflector dish flying in all directions. He winced. *Han's gonna kill me
for that!*. Scrambled over
to see how Chewy was. One of the Imps was patting the Wookiee on the back.
"Sorry about
that, didn't have time to explain." "S'all right." Lando interpreted Chewy's
slightly abashed
growl. Looked around. "Where's Leia?" "She followed the advance team."
the other
stormtrooper replied, a grin evident in his voice. "Real little spitfire
isn't she?"
"You can say that again!" the gambler agreed with fervor.
Peering into the continuous fire ahead he could make out Leia and a clutch
of hardbacks
pinned down behind a stack of cargo crates. Took a bracing breath and ran
to join them. A
heartstopping dozen or so meters, bent almost double. Collapsed breathless
beside the
Princess.
"I don't see Slave I!" she shouted above the blaster impacts. Talk about
your one track minds!
"There are a dozen ships in here, Leia!" he yelled back. "Remember this
is a holding action.
Wait till the Jedi get here, then we'll find it."
"Jedi?" an incredulous hardback turned his expressionless helmet to them.
"You gotta be
kidding!" "I don't believe it either." Lando admitted, "But I'm serious."
"The Jedi are all dead!" another trooper protested. "Yeah, and so are these
guys." Lando
retorted, firing another useless burst at the Mandalorians.
"Cap'n," Nentres voice crackled over Aiton's helmet com. "the Mandalorians
just pulled out.
Should we pursue?"
"No! stay under cover, it could be a fient." But Aiton was willing to bet it wasn't.
He hurried to catch up with Jinn's long stride. "The Mandalorians have
abandoned the power
center." The Jedi nodded. "They've gone to join their comrades somewhere
ahead."
"We'll be at the junction tunnel to the outer ring in another two turns."
Skywalker contributed.
"They'll hit us there." Jinn agreed. "Fall back, captain."
Aiton obeyed. This was no time for false pride on his part either. He and
his men were
outclassed and everybody knew it.
There was no standoff this time. Jinn and his cohorts sailed right into
the Mandalorians not
even breaking stride.
The first fight had been a series of individual duels. This time the enemy
seemed to have a
strategy. After a moment Aiton realized they were trying to split the Jedi,
had suceeded in
driving a wedge between them with Jinn, Darklighter and Naberrie on one
side and the two
youngsters, Kenobi and Skywalker, on the other, forcing them into the branching
corridor to
the outer ring.
But it didn't seem to be doing the Mandalorians any good. Their number
had been halved in the
first minutes of the fight. Suddenly the remainder pulled back, but before
the Jedi could either
rejoin each other or reengage the enemy blast doors came down cutting the
three groups off
from each other.
Jinn crossed to the blast doors separating him from his two youngsters
in three long strides
and placed a strong, square hand flat against it. Stood a moment with head
bowed then
looked up at Aiton. "I've told Luke and Mei-Qan to join your men in the
power core. They'll make
their way to the hanger by an alternate route."
Told them? through a meter thick neutro-titanium door? Yet somehow Aiton
didn't feel inclined
to question it. "Right." he opened a channel. "Nentres, Skywalker and Kenobi
are on their way
to you. Don't blast them, okay?"
Jinn turned away to address himself to the next problem, getting through
the blast doors
blocking their way to the hub.
"We'll rendezvous at the hanger." Aiton continued. "Don't start anything
without us, it'll take a
while to burn our way through -"
Jinn and Naberrie simultaneously ignited their sabres and plunged the glowing
green blades
hilt deep into the doors. Aiton's jaw sagged as the metal began to glow
and run casting a red
light over the two Jedi's calm, intent faces.
"Cap'n? you still there?"
"Yeah.....maybe this won't take as long as I thought. Aiton out."
Darklighter was standing, back to the doors, those chill pale eyes intent
on the corridor behind
them, lightsabre held at the ready in one hand. Obviously expecting trouble.
He was probably
right - surely the Mandalorians wouldn't depend on just the doors to stop
them. Aiton began
watching the corridor too, even so Darklighter spotted the threat seconds
before he did.
"Master, destroyers!"
In an instant the other two Jedi had whipped their lightsabres free of
the now gently glowing
doors and aligned themselves beside their comrade.
They rolled up like wheels, uncurled into a trio of faintly insectoid droids
and opened fire.
Instinctively the troopers hit the deck but the droids ignored them, concentrating
their fire on
the three Jedi - who stood in a row, lightsabres a blur as they deflected
the bolts back to
explode ineffectually against the droids' shields.
*So that's why the Mandalorians didn't shoot at them!* Aiton thought, enlightened,
as he
scrambled back to his feet.
"I think your turbo lasers might be of help here, captain." Jinn said calmly,
batting blaster bolts
like they were balf balls.
"Oh, sure. Sergeant, give them five rounds rapid."
It took two rounds to eliminate the shields and the other three to reduce
the droids to scrap.
Whereupon Jinn and his partner calmly resumed carving the blast doors like
they were day
old Bantha cheese. Darklighter resumed watching the corridor.
"What were those things?" Aiton asked him.
"The Droidekaas? Heavy duty combat droids, a bit outdated but not ineffective."
He could say that again.
"These are the first I've seen since the wars." Jinn put in. Aiton turned
to see that the two Jedi
had finished cutting a large circular hole in the blast doors but the metal
was still lambent,
radiating heat, it would be a minute or two before they could go through.
"Towards the end
the Mandalore were using them to augment their numbers."
"Are there likely to be more down here?"
"I don't doubt it." Jinn smiled. "But with your heavy lasers they shouldn't be a problem."
Aiton found himself grinning back. It was good to feel they weren't entirely useless after all.
*Luke, join the stormtroopers in the power core and make your way to the hanger from there.*
"Yes, Master" he responded out loud, though he knew Dai-Men wouldn't hear
him. Turned to
Chani. "You get that?"
She nodded. "Let's go."
The stormtrooper lieutenant was expecting them, having been alerted by
more mundane
means. "You can lead us to the hanger?" he asked Chani a little dubiously.
She smiled up at him. "No problem. Luke and I did the recce, we know this
place." Suddenly
she spun away, sabre igniting as she turned, to block an incoming blaster
bolt just in time.
A split second later Luke was at her side, helping ward off the sudden
barrage from the other
side of the core shaft and experiencing a distinct feeling of deja vu.
Behind them the
stormtroopers recovered from their astonishment and joined in, returning
fire.
Luke could deflect laser or blaster bolt just fine but he couldn't direct
the ricochets, not yet.
That would come with practice Master said but for now he had to be satisfied
with hitting
things at random. Still - Chani's precisely placed returns didn't seem
to be doing any more
good than the troopers' counter-barrage.
"They must have a shield generator!" Nentres snarled, frustrated.
"Agreed." Chani concurred calmly. "If we could get behind them -"
"I think I can arrange that." Luke grinned. Deja vu has it's uses. He borrowed
a grappling line
from a trooper and stood swinging it, trying to pick out a good anchor
point.
"You're not serious." Nentres told him. "They'll shoot you down as you cross."
"No they won't." Luke assured him absently. Threw, gave the line a tug,
it was secure, held
out an arm to Chani. "C'mon."
She hooked her lightsabre on her belt and wrapped her arms around his neck
just as Leia had
done all those years ago. He remembered her quick kiss 'for luck' and Chani
must have picked
the image out of his mind because she promptly followed suit, but this
was no chaste peck on
the cheek!
Those few stormtroopers who could spare the attention from the firefight
hooted
appreciatively. Ears burning Luke kicked off. They swung gracefully across
the abyss and
into a subhallway one level down from their attacker.
By that time he'd gotten his breath and some composure back. "What'd yo do that for?"
"Just establishing my claim." Chani replied sweetly.
He decided *not* to ask what she meant by that.
She glanced quickly around the little bay. "Let's take the shortcut."
Luke followed her gaze to an opening high in the wall. "Not again!"
Chani grinned wickedly. "What do you think ventilation shafts are for?"
Not Mandalorians, some weird kind of droid.
"Droidekaas!"
"What?" he looked down at his partner.
A sort of battle droid," she explained sotto voce, "you don't see them
much these days.
They've got shield generators."
"Then how do we stop them?"
Chani's answer was to step out of cover and address the two droids' backs.
"Excuse me, but
is this the way to the Ysalmi overpass?"
Huh?
The two insect-like machines wheeled around. Luke hastily stepped to her
side just as they
opened fire. Blaster bolts ricocheted off lightsabre blades and droid shields.
"It's a standoff!"
"Not quite." Chani took a step forward - and the droid facing her backed
off to maintain
maximum effective firing distance.
Enlightened Luke followed suit, as did his droid. He tossed a quick grin
at Chani, maybe she
wasn't crazy after all.
Step by step they edged the two droids backwards...through the portal and
onto the ledge,
then over. First one then the other went backward into the gulf still firing
as it fell.
"Ysalmi overpass?" Luke asked, watching them tumble down the shaft.
"A pedestrian way on Coruscant." Chani explained. "Just something my grandmother
used to
say when she wanted to draw attention to herself." She took out her comlink.
"Lieutenant?
where are you?"
"One level down from you." came the answer. "We crossed while you were
keeping those
whatever-they-weres busy. What the hell?" directed off link and with a
note of alarm.
"Everybody back! Kurtiz, hit the doors!"
Luke saw it coming too, a fireball zooming up from the depths of the core
shaft. Pulled Chani
clear of the doorway and down onto the deck.
Superheated air surged over them in the instant before the safety doors
slammed, containing
the explosion. Luke sat up coughing - choking on the smell of burnt wool
- and beat out the
sparks smouldering on his robe and hers.
"Lieutenant, are you all right down there?" Chani demanded of her comlink.
"A little singed," came the slightly shaky answer, "but otherwise okay.
No criticism intended,
ma-am, but those droids must have hit something important going down."
"And judging by the results I'd say the Mandalore haven't kept up their
safety systems." Both
she and Luke looked up as the lights flickered. "Uh-oh."
"Overload." Luke said, grimly. "It's going to blow."
"We'd better get out of here." Chani agreed.
"Master."
Dai-Men took out his comlink. "Yes, Mei-Qan."
"The main reactor's been damaged - I estimate we've got from five to fifteen
minutes before it
goes critical."
He came to a full stop, glared sternly down at the inoffensive comlink. "Mei-Qan Kenobi!"
"I didn't do it!" she protested, "it was a pair of droidekaas."
He closed his eyes. "Are you clear of the outer ring?"
"Yes. We've sealed blast doors behind us - the intact ones that is." a
little return dig at the
Master.
"That'll buy us some time." he said. "We'll be at the hanger soon."
"Meet you there."
Dai-Men returned the comlink to his belt shaking his head. *Just* like
'Rila, like Teacher like
Apprentice. "When we get to the hanger you and your men head directly for
the Falcon." He
instructed Captain Aiton. "We're running out of time."
Lando detected a shift in focus on the part of the enemy. Though now supported
by a half
dozen weird looking war-droids the Mandalorians were no longer trying to
drive the invaders
out but to get past them to their ships. He shook his head in wonder. Somehow
Jinn and his
crew had spooked them into retreat.
The main doors blew open and five brown robed forms came skirling through
like autumn
leaves in a gale. Lando had never seen a lightsabre before but had no difficulty
identifying the
glowing bars of light in the Jedi's hands. The Mandalorians spun around
and opened fire but -
unbelievably - the five brown robes *caught* the bolts with their sabres
and sent them right
back into the Warriors' teeth!
"I see it but I don't believe it!" a nearby hardback gasped.
"You and me both, brother!" Lando agreed fervently.
Leia tugged impatiently at his sleeve. "C'mon, Lando! this is our chance to get Han."
"Yeah, right." Lando scrambled up and followed the Princess and Chewy away
from the
melee.
No doubt about it the Mandalorians had panicked. Not that Aiton blamed
them. After warding
off the initial volley Jinn and the girl, Kenobi, cut their way into the
armored ranks, a pair of
whirlwinds with lightsabres, while the other three Jedi fended the droids'
fire away from the
troopers.
"We can take them out with the turbos!" Aiton shouted to Naberrie over the sizzle and boom.
The Jedi shook his head. "Don't bother, not worth the time. We can cover you to the ship."
Right. The whole place was set to blow any minute. "All units this is the
captain, Pull back and
make for the Falcon."
Leia led her little band straight as a crossbow bolt towards Slave 1 but
Fett was on an
interception course, also making for his ship. Saw them and opened fire.
Lando tackled the Princess, knowing there was no cover that this time Fett
was going to get
them - then a Jedi materialized in front of them warding off the blaster
bolts with his sabre.
"Luke!" Leia gasped with what was left of her breath.
"Luke?" Lando repeated in disbelief.
"Rowlff?" Chewy echoed, equally astonished.
But Luke it was, fielding Fett's barrage his blade flashing at an unbelievable
speed. It had been
an impressive sight from across the hanger, up close it was dazzling. Lando's
opinion of
young Skywalker revised upward.
"Get back to the Falcon." Luke ordered.
"No!" Leia screamed, "Han -!"
Chewy roared his support.
"Leia, the reactor's gone critical - this place is going to go any minute.
"But -"
"If we're still here Han dies too. The carbonite won't protect him against a reactor blast!"
"We can catch Fett in space with the tractors, Princess." Lando argued.
Choking back sob of frustration Leia turned and ran for the Falcon. Chewy
and Lando chasing
after her.
Luke remained en-gard at their backs but Fett, seeing them retreat, ducked
hastily into his
ship. The thruster backwash fluttered Luke's robe and hair as Slave 1 lifted
off. Extinguishing
his lightsabre he headed back to the other Jedi.
Light fixtures and wall panels exploded in showers of sparks as power surges
overwhelmed
their circuits. The sound of larger explosions echoed through the open
hanger doors. Luke
joined his four companions as the Falcon lurched into the air heading for
the ceiling opening
along with five or so smaller craft carrying the remaining Mandalorians.
"Find a ship." Dai-Men ordered crisply.
"See anything that looks good?" Chani asked Luke.
He scanned the remaining vessels, spotted an adapted y-wing and grinned.
"Yeah, c'mon."
A spiderweb of firery lines traced themselves on the dark planetary surface
as the redoubt's
tunnels blew open. The hanger vomited flame and vapor and three small craft
riding the
wavefront of the explosion: An antiquated Y-Wing, even older A-Wing, and
could that really
be a Nubian V-Wing? Then the first shockwaves hit the Falcon and Lando
had all he could do
to hold her steady.
"Luke?" the Princess called frantically into the comlink, "Luke!"
"I'm here, don't worry, Leia." Skywalker's voice came back, calm and commanding.
"Lando,
you concentrate on Fett - we'll handle the rest of them."
"Whatever you say, Jedi." he acknowledged. No longer unwilling to let the
kid call the shots
after what he'd seen below. "Chewy - "
But the Wookiee had already picked Slave-1 out of the rabble of little
ships and was
accelerating towards her.
Strapped into a fighter cockpit Luke's Rebel command training kicked in
and he automatically
took charge. Not that the other Jedi objected, the Order had never put
much weight on
seniority and rank, and Luke was an experienced combat leader - and the
son of Anakin
Skywalker.
"Okay, let's start with the big one." he continued in his Rogue Leader
voice. Setting course for
a discoid vessel, about half the size of the Falcon and much sleeker except
for the weapons
spotting its hull. Obviously later additions to what had once been a yacht
or official transport.
"Raj, take the starboard, Master, the port." Luke directed. "And I'll go right down her middle."
This was the first time he'd flown combat since his training, the first
time he'd been able to use
the Force consciously, with knowledge, rather than by instinct. He was
suprised how much
of a difference it made. Now he could *see* where the enemy fire was going
to be. Had the
confidence to disregard the computer in favor of his 'feelings' and could
keep his emotions
from getting in the way.
It was also the first time he'd flown with other Jedi. They dove down on
the Mandalorian
transport in perfect formation, as if they'd flown together all their lives,
broke with perfect
timing to make their seperate attack runs. Luke'd always had problems coordinating
with his
gunners - they were never as fast as he was - but not Chani. It was like
they were two
halves of the same mind, seeing, sensing and reacting as one.
As Luke pulled up and began his turn he saw three of the four little ships
coming to the big
one's aid. Not Slave-1, he hoped that meant Lando'd got her - and Han -
then focused on the
moment.
"First things first. Concentrate on the transport."
He made a second run, this time passing under the belly of the ship, using
it as a shield
against its consorts. Noted with no real suprise, that Raj was a darn good
pilot. His ancient
V-Wing deliberately drew the big ship's fire, then at the last moment veered
out of the stream
of blaster bolts letting them pound the hell out of a blocky Mandalorian
fighter instead.
It was no suprise at all find his Master was equally skilled. Expertly
evading an attempted
inception by the two remaining little ships Dai-Men orbited the main target
and Jayce - acting
as his gunner - sent a couple of photons right down her drive exhaust.
Luke hastily peeled away as the ship blossomed into a cloud of radiant
particles. Saw the
surviving Mandalorians break and run. He'd never had much stomach for pursuing
a fleeing
foe but knew this pair could not be allowed to escape to train up more
of their kind and
accelerated after them.
Fett wasn't a bad pilot but Lando was better, staying tight on his tail
as the Bounty Hunter led
them on a wild chase through the outer planets of the Abbadon System. Trying
to lose them in
Abbadon Nine's mini-system of rings and moons. Then, when that failed,
in the colorful
methane-ammonia clouds of the gas giant Abbadon Ten. But Lando had spent
the last ten
years chasing claim-jumpers and gas pirates through the clouds of Bespin
- he knew all the
tricks.
Flushed out Fett made a straight run outsystem right into the Oort cloud.
The Falcon
tobaggoned through the cold comets and star debris, closing steadily.
Leia watched tensely as Slave-1 grew in their ports.
"Getting there.." Lando muttered, eyes on his gauges. "Okay, Chewy, now!"
The Wookiee hit the tractors, roared triumphantly as the indicator light flashed green.
"Got him!" Lando crowed.
Leia was just opening her mouth when, unbelievably, Slave-1 winked out
of normal space.
"What happened?"
"He jumped!" Lando reported, frantically searching his scanners.
Chewy roared an argument.
"I *know* it's impossible! Tell it to the computer."
"Could he have hit some kind of suicide switch?" Leia heard herself ask.
Lando shook his head. "No. It was a jump. Don't ask me how he did it with
a tractor on him. I'm
sorry, Leia, we've lost him."
Chewy moaned an agonized self reproach
"It's not your fault." Lando told him sharply. "You had him. We all saw it."
"That's right." Leia put in quickly. "You both did everything possible.
Fett just had one trick to
many up his sleeve."
Lando swivled to give her a concerned look. Royal control didn't fool him
for a minute. He
could see right through the calm princess to the despairing woman beneath.
"We haven't lost
yet, Leia. We still know where Fett's going."
"Tatooine." she smiled shakily, trying to reassure them both.
"Right. Back to plan A. No problem."
Lando was right. They *would* get Han back - she'd just have to be patient
a little longer that
was all. Leia let out a careful breath, willing her insides to unknot.
It was going to be all right. It
was. Luke had said so.
Making her way back to the main cabin Leia was stopped in her tracks by
all that massed
white armor. She had completely forgotten about the Imperials.
Captain Aiton, helmet off, pushed his way towards her. "Is this ship going
to hold still for a
while now?"
She flushed, distracted from her grief by embarrassment. "Yes. I apologize
for the ride, we
were trying to catch one of the Mandalorians. Are your men all right?"
"Luckily we're packed to tight to rattle." He replied. "We've got some
wounded from the fight
though, is there a sickbay on this - uh -"
"Tub." she finished for him. Good thing Han wasn't hearing this. "Her looks
are not the
Falcon's strong suit."
"I noticed."
As she led the way to the freighter's tiny aid station he said quietly.
"You didn't get your man
back?"
So he'd figured that much out. "No." she choked, fighting back tears.
"I'm sorry, Princess."
"It's not over yet." She said firmly. "We'll get him." They would. She could feel it.
It wasn't unti after they'd landed and the troopers'd marched off that
it dawned on her Aiton
had called her 'Princess'. Promptly forgot it again as Luke arrived for
a hasty council of war.
"Chewy and I'll head back to Tatooine." Lando told them.
Luke nodded. "You won't have any problems establishing yourself in Jabba's court?"
"Not a bit. He's always looking for more muscle."
Chewy, fairly well recovered now there was a promise of further action,
growled a mocking
comment.
"Yeah but Jabba knows you." Lando countered.
"And Fett knows *you*." Leia pointed out.
The gambler shook his head. "He'll never get a good look at me, I'll see
to that, Princess.
Besides I'll be an old hand by the time he shows up."
"But he's got a head start!"
"He won't go straight to Tatooine." Lando assured her. "Not after this
business. He'll lie low a
while, let the trail cool."
She looked at Luke. He nodded agreement. "Sounds right. Send for me as
soon as he
arrives."
"You got it."
Dai-Men smiled faintly as he scrolled through a draft of Aiton's report.
"Have you ever
considered a career in fiction writing, Captain?"
"Got to make things palatable for the brass." the other shrugged.
The Captain's office was barely big enough to hold them all; Aiton sat
behind his desk, his
lieutenant at his side. The Master, Mei-Qan and Leia occupied the three
guest chairs. Luke, Raj
and Jayce stood or leaned where they could, taking up almost all the floorspace.
"A shoot out between bounty hunter." Jayce said disapprovingly. "I'm not
sure I like being
called a bounty hunter."
"Never satisfied are you?" Mei-Qan asked, twisting her neck to look up
at him. "Pod-racer,
bounty hunter, nothing suits you. What do you want to be called?"
"A Jedi Knight." He replied.
"That wouldn't be wise just yet." The Master said, handing the reader back
to Aiton.
"Someday."
"I'm just glad you showed up when you did." the Captain told him. "We wouldn't
have stood a
chance against those guys alone. Thank you, Master Jinn - and you too,
your Highness."
"You're welcome." it took a few seconds for the other shoe to drop. "You
know who I am?
You recognized me?" Oddly enough she didn't feel at all alarmed, just suprised.
Nentres grinned. "Practically the whole command did."
"There weren't many young and pretty Imperial Senators." Aiton explained.
"Your image was
very popular with the troops."
"Especially the one in that low cut gown, leaning forward." Nentres added.
Leia winced. She remembered that shot. She'd meant to convey intensity
and commitment but
all anybody'd seen was her cleavage.
"I think I know the dress." Luke grinned.
She turned to glare at him but he just kept grinning until she finally smiled back.
"I'm glad Lando isn't here. He'd never let me live this down. Leia Organa
pin-up girl of the
Imperial Star Fleet!"
"Not just the Imperials." Luke admitted. "I've run across a few holos in Alliance barracks too."
"Oh great!" she groaned. "I'm never going to be able to take an inspection
again without
wondering what they've hidden away in their lockers."
"Try and take it as a compliment." Mei-Qan advised.
"I assure you our admiration is very respectful." Aiton soothed.
"For the most part." Nentres added.
"I just glad you were more interested in stopping the Mandalorians than
turning us in." Leia told
Aiton.
He turned serious. "The destruction of Alderaan opened a lot of eyes, Princess."
grimaced.
"But if you talk to much you end up posted somewhere like Had Abbadon.
And your family -"
"I know." She interupted. "I've heard about the special 'schools' and special
'housing' for Fleet
dependants."
"Then you understand why my men and I can't join you. Still, if there's
ever anything we can
do for the Alliance on Had Abbadon, we owe you one, Princess."
"I do understand." she assured him. "And thank you."
Chani and Raj left together in the the latter's battered old caravel painted
with gypsy signs,
something about some unfinished business. But not before Chani had given
Luke a very thorough
good-bye kiss, right in front of Leia. She tossed the gently steaming Princess
a grin and a "Don't
be greedy." then ran after her partner.
Luke, still slightly lambent about the ears, added an apologetic shrug
and quickly escaped to the
Jinx's cockpit. The Master and Jayce looked up from their pre-flight checks
to give him matched
looks of mild inquiry.
"Being a Jedi doesn't help much with women does it?" he asked ruefully.
Jayce grinned broadly. "Not in the least."
"Mei-Qan was subjected to a bad influence during her training." Dai-Men explained kindly.
"I'm going to tell Dom'na you said that." Jayce warned.
"Go right ahead. I've said as much to her more than once."
Luke wedged himself into a corner for take off and the jump to hyperspace.
Uncomfortable but
better than going back to the main cabin and facing Leia.
After the jump Jayce murmured something about seeing how their passenger
was doing and
vacated the copilot's-pilot's chair.
Luke fell into it gratefully. Hopefully Leia'd have cooled off by the time
they reached the Fleet. "We
were lucky to find somebody like Aiton in command." he observed, for the
sake of something to
say.
Dai-Men gave him a look of mild exasperation. "There's no such thing as
luck, young Padawan." he
scolded. "Nothing happens by chance. It was the Force that brought Captain
Aiton to Had
Abaddon, just as it brought us. Trust in the Force, Luke, and it will show
you the
way to accomplish anything."
Ben had said the same thing, and Yoda too in slightly different words.
But for the first time the
truth of it really sank home. It was as if the whole universe changed,
suddenly everything that'd
seemed random and meaningless stood revealed as part of a great unifying
pattern working
towards the single goal of balance and harmony.
That's what it meant to be mindful of the Living Force! to be aware of
how the patterns
intersected in the moment and of the possibilities they offered. He didn't
have to worry about how
to save Han. All he had to do was go to Tatooine and a way would present
itself.
"Trust in the Force." he whispered, dazzled. He wanted to laugh at himself,
or cry. How could he
have failed to see it all this time? It was so simple; let go of fear,
stop struggling, stop trying to
control and just feel the guidance of the Force.
Dai-Men smiled.
Absorbed in his new enlightenment Luke was barely conscious of the rest
of the trip. Not returning
to full awareness until Wedge hailed him as they crossed the Command ship's
hanger bay.
"Hey, Luke, long time no see." fell into step beside his C.O. with a polite
nod to the Princess and
curious glance at Jayce and the Master before resuming. "Look, boss, it's
not that we mind you
taking a little leave every now and again but this just disappearing on
us is getting kind of old."
"I'm sorry." It sounded pretty lame, was lame. "I'm going to resign my
commission, or at least my
command of Rogue Squadron." Luke said abruptly.
"Huh?" Wedge stared at him, appalled. "Hey, Luke, I didn't mean -"
"That's not necessary, Luke." Leia cut in. "Obi-Wan was a general you know.
There's no reason
why you can't be both an Alliance officer and a Jedi Knight." she looked
to the Master for support.
"That is for Luke to decide." Dai-Men said quietly.
He had decided. "Wedge is right, I've been neglecting my duty to the squadron
and that's not
going to change any time soon." Rescuing Han was first priority but after
that he had to return to
Dagobah as he'd promised, to finish the training and get a straight answer
to a straight question.
What he'd do then depended on what that answer was.
"Jedi Knight?" Wedge was saying in bewilderment. "Luke what's going on here?"
"It's kind of a long story." was the rueful answer.
He told it to the whole squadron, pilots, gunners, ground crew and all,
in the big briefing
room later that day.
They already knew about Ben, General Kenobi, and that his father had been
a Jedi Knight. Even
about Bespin - though not all of it. Luke told them the rest; about Yoda
and Master Dai-Men and
his training. It was received in slightly stunned silence. To these youngsters
the Jedi were a legend
of the Old Republic. The idea of somebody they knew, their own commander,
becoming one was
not just unlikely but unreal.
Luke didn't announce his intended resignation. Wedge had begged him not
to and he realized he
was right. The squadron had enough to absorb, leave it for another time.
"Don't rush into anything." Wedge said afterwards. "Think it over a while."
Luke shook his head a little sadly. All the time in the world wasn't going
to change what had to be.
"I must follow my destiny, Wedge, and it's leading me away from the squadron."
Away from
everything he'd known and been. *I'm even talking like a Jedi!* he thought,
realized the change he'd
foreseen when the Master had demanded his commitment to the Way had already
begun. He'd
seen it reflected in the people around him. In Leia's new faith in him
and Lando's surprising
deference. And now in the startled look Wedge gave him.
"I had an aunt who was a Jedi." his second offered, startling him in turn.
"My father's cousin really
but we always called her 'Aunt Jezra'. She died in the Purge of course
- I guess that's one of the
reasons I ended up a Rebel."
"I'm sorry."
Wedge shrugged, embarrassed. "I never knew her - she'd be old enough to
be my mother if she'd
lived. Hit my great aunt and uncle pretty hard though. She was only fifteen."
Jayce gave Luke a new sparring partner, one a little closer to his skill
level than the Master. Not
that he did any better against him.
"A real Jedi can still wipe the floor with me, even with one hand tied
behind his back." Luke
remarked ruefully at the end of one session.
Jayce curled his lips and a long red eyebrow. His arm wasn't literally
tied behind his back but
immobilized in a healing harness while the nerves damaged by a glancing
blow from a Mandalorian
rapier regenerated. "I've got a dozen years of practice on you." he reminded.
"Besides you're
going easy on me, afraid of hurting me accidentally."
Luke flushed. It was true, Jedi or no Jayce was still a wounded man and
Luke just couldn't bring
himself to go all out against him.
"And you might at that." the other continued. "You did okay against the Mandalore."
"I didn't take on three at once." Luke pointed out in turn.
Jayce grimaced. "That wasn't by choice I promise you. That's Master's style not mine."
"I'll never be that good." Luke said with conviction.
"Nor I." Jayce agreed promptly. "Master is the last and greatest of a long
line of powerful Jedi
sword masters. Mei-Qan may equal him someday - but then she is the granddaughter
of Obi-Wan
Kenobi."
"What is he waiting for?" Luke heard himself ask out of nowhere. *Where'd
that come from?* but
it was true. Master was waiting - but for what?
"No idea." Jayce replied, unsurprised. "He may not know himself yet. Or
maybe he's just not ready
to share." an ironic sideways smile. "Our Master has a secretive streak
a parsec wide."
That surprised Luke. He'd always considered Dai-Men exceptionally forthcoming
- as compared to
Ben and Yoda.
"And devious with it." Jayce continued, shaking his head.
"I've noticed a - creative use of language." Luke admitted. And got a laugh.
"That's certainly one way of putting it. Master never breaks a promise
but he's a genius at finding
loopholes. Be mindful of his exact words - and chose your own carefully!"
"You make it sound like he can't be trusted." Luke said uneasily.
"Master can be trusted to follow the will of the Force, against all reason,
in spite of all obstacles
and in defiance of all dangers." Jayce replied grimly. "Makes him
scarey as hell to work with. His
father was just the same, or so Master Hamilcar used to say. It got Qui-Gon
killed in the end. I'm
afraid someday it'll kill Dai-Men too."
Leia entered the communications center on business, saw Sylkie working
at a nearby station and
very nearly ducked out again. The Erewhon had pitched a fits when she heard
the full story of
what'd happened on Had Abbadon. Storming furiously and nearly incoherently
at Dai-Men, who'd
taken it with the braced calm of a man accustomed to such outbreaks, and
at the Princess too.
Ending finally in floods of tears and slammed doors.
*Don't be such a coward.* Leia told herself sternly. Squared her shoulders and marched over.
"Sylkie." the other looked up with red rimmed eyes. "I'm sorry, really I am."
"It's not your fault, Princess." the little Erewhon said resignedly. "I
shouldn't have blamed you. It
was Dai-Men, as usual."
"He's - uh - misled you before?"
The wide, nearly lipless mouth curled up in a wan smile. "All the time.
He's very good at it. He
doesn't *lie* mind, just leaves out a few salient facts." the mouth curled
down. "And I never seem
to ask the right questions."
"He doesn't want to worry you." Leia comforted.
Sylkie shook her head. "He doesn't want to listen to me yell at him twice.
Though I might just as
well be talking to a rock for all the good it does."
"He's a Jedi Knight." Leia offered gently. "He has a duty. And he can certainly take care of himself!"
Another fiercer shake of the head. "You don't know, you can't even imagine
the crazy things he's
done! I know we're nothing but trouble for him - Xhosa's always getting
stuck in things and I talk
to much - but as long as he has us to look after he's *got* to be
a *little* cautious. Let him go
off on his own and he'll get himself killed, I know he will!" angrily blotted
overflowing eyes with the
end of her sari.
"From what I've seen Dai-Men Jinn would take an awful lot of killing."
Leia answered. "In fact I don't
think anybody short of the Emperor himself could manage it."
"He said once he'd never risk facing the Emperor, he knew his limitations." Sylkie admitted sniffling.
"Well there you are," Leia grinned bracingly. "He's safe then isn't he?"
and got a reluctant, watery
smile in return.
She walked the Master's small companion back to her quarters. Unsurprisingly
they found Dai-Men
and his two apprentices in the lounge. The Master, apparently sensing a
change in atmosphere,
got up and came over to them. Dropping on one knee in order to get
eye to eye with Sylkie.
"Am I forgiven then?"
"As always." the Erewhon said resignedly.
He smiled gently. "You've said yourself you'd rather be angry afterwards
than have to worry
beforehand."
"But I do worry." she told him. "All the time."
"Don't. Trust in the Force, Little One, it guides and guards us all."
"Very comforting!" was the scornful reply. "And where was the Force when
all the other Jedi
died?" Leia winced and Sylkie bit her lip instantly regretful.
"Its ways are not always easy to understand." the Master conceded, serenity
unruffled. Reminded
her as he rose, "You don't like it when I try to protect you and Xhosa."
"That's different, *we* don't go looking for trouble!" Sylkie fired back
and flounced off to her
room, honor satisfied.
"She's got you there." Jayce grinned as the door shut behind her.
The Master gave him a that-will-do look, turned to Leia. "Won't you join us, your Highness?"
"Thank you." she sat down beside Luke on the sofa and Dai-Men resumed the
chair opposite.
"There is something I've been meaning to ask you. I've heard you talk about
the 'Living' and the
'Unifying' Force several times. I always thought there was just one Force?"
"There is but it has more than one aspect." the Master explained. "The
Unifying Force is the great
pattern that unites past and future."
Luke, listening, nodded involuntarily remembering his moment of enlightenment aboard the Jinx.
"The Living Force concerns itself with the moment, with the smaller patterns
of the present."
Dai-Men continued. "Jedi tend to lean towards one aspect or the other."
smiled at Jayce.
"Followers of the Unifying Force are very focused on their path.
Sometimes too much so, blinding
themselves to alternatives."
"Living Force Jedi, on the other hand, tend to be distractible, to diffuse
their focus and take on too
many projects at once." Jayce responded pointedly.
"Both have their strengths and weaknesses," the Master agreed, amused,
"and serve the Force in
their different ways." to Luke. "It's important to be open to both aspects
of the Force even if you
find yourself favoring one above the other."
"You're a Living Force Jedi." Luke said.
Dai-Men nodded. "As was my father before me." a sigh. "Our way was not
always respected by
the Order. We were often considered irresponsible, even dangerous, because
we acted on the
impulse of the moment."
"That's Luke all over." Leia declared. "Forward planning is not his strong suit!"
"Hey, things always worked out in the end didn't they?" he shot back.
"Spoken like a true follower of the Living Force." Jayce said drily.
*He's right.* Luke thought, not really surprised. *I guess that's why I
find Dai-Men so much easier
to understand than Yoda.*
Leia's comlink beeped for attention. "Your Highness? you're needed in the
small conference room,
ma'am, for an emergency council session."
"Why?" she asked apprehensively. "What's happened?"
"There's been a miners' revolt on Kessel, Princess. They're asking for Alliance support."
Luke looked at his Master, caught the slight relaxation, not quite a sigh.
*That's it, that's what
he's been waiting for.* glanced questioningly at Jayce who gave an
almost imperceptible shrug in
reply. He evidently knew no more than Luke himself what their Master might
be up to.
"We'll accompany you if we may, Princess." Dai-Men said rising with her.
"I think I can clarify
matters."
"Certainly, Master Jinn." she responded, slightly puzzled.
The other councillors were already assembled in the the little conference
room when Leia arrived with her
escorts. The three other civilians representing Rebel systems; Mon Mothma
of Chandrilla, Char Borres of
Ganita Cluster and Jian-Wan Genbu of the Ancient Core planet of Ophuchi.
And the four Military
representatives; Admiral Ackbar representing Mon Cal and commanding the
Fleet, General Colton
commanding the ground forces and General Madine sitting next to Jon Gordun,
the unobtrusive Human
who headed the Bothan Intelligence network.
Mon Mothma gave the Princess a startled and disapproving look as the Master,
Jayce and Luke formed a
triangle at the foot of the conference table and Leia took her seat. Then
the chief councillor's expression
changed, eyes widening and lips parting slightly as she stared at Dai-Men.
"Jedi Jinn?"
Leia shot a startled look at her superior as the Master bowed, smiling mostly with his eyes. "Senator."
"Jedi?" Ackbar croaked questioningly. "The Jedi were destroyed by the Emperor."
"Not quite all of us." Dai-Men answered calmly. "There is myself, Jayce
Darklighter," nodded to his left,
"Luke Skywalker," another nod to his right, "and the two I left on Kessel."
"So you're responsible for this revolt?" Madine said, leaning foreward.
"My companions are." the Master corrected. "May I see the message you received?
"Of course." Mon Mothma nodded to an aid and a holographic image formed
on the table, facing the
three Jedi.
It was staticky with a tendency to blur and double but clear enough to
see the sender was a tall, athletic
woman with short brown hair dressed in Jedi tunic and breeches.
"This is Jezra Antilles speaking for the miners of Kessel." she introduced
herself. "We have successfully
risen against the Imperial managers and secured control of the mines. But
we can hold this position only a
limited time without help. We need supplies and weapons -" the image turned
her head as though listening
to somebody out of picture, seemed to smile. "And we can offer payment
in Spice. The Empire has
refused the governor reinforcements so a relief force will face only the
usual defenses. The Smuggler's
Run should be passable. The Spice is the source of much of the Emperor's
wealth depriving him of it can
only help your cause. Kessel out."
The image broke up, vanished.
"I volunteer Rogue squadron for the mission." Luke said promptly.
"Thank you, commander, but we haven't decided if there's going to be a
mission yet." General Colton
snapped. To Mon Mothma, "I don't like it, we'd be sending our people right
into one of the Empire's most
heavily guarded strongholds. How do we know this message is genuine?"
"I can vouch for Jedinara Antilles." Dai-Men said calmly.
"And I vouch for Jedi Jinn." Mon Mothma added quickly, soft voice firm,
a hint of unaccustomed color in
her pale face.
If Leia didn't know better she'd have sworn the Chief Councillor was blushing.
"If there are still Jedi living why haven't they made themselves known
to us before this?" Ackbar wanted
to know. "Why haven't they joined us."
"After Condawn?" Jian-Wan asked quietly.
Leia felt her own cheeks burn, gripped the arms of her chair tightly. Her
fellow councillors registered
similar discomfort, all but Genbu. The Jedi themselves seemed unmoved though
she thought she caught of
flicker of uncertainty from Luke, as if he hadn't quite got the reference.
"She's right." Madine said at last breaking the embarrassed silence. "Cutting
off the the Emperor's Spice
revenues would go a long way towards destabilizing his regime."
"Which makes it well worth doing." Leia agreed.
"We'll only be risking one squadron." Luke pointed out quietly.
"Our best squadron." said Ackbar.
"It will take the best to make the Kessel Run." said the Master.
Mon Mothma dismissed the three Jedi while the council debated.
"What was all that about Condawn?" Luke asked as they settled themselves
on chairs in the anteroom.
He'd heard of the battle, the last stand of an abortive Jedi rebellion
at the beginning of the Imperial era,
but had no idea why its name should get such a reaction out of the council.
"When the Jedi realized the Emperor was a Sith Lord we tried to raise the
people against him." Dai-Men
explained. "But only three systems joined us; Ophuchi, Aquilae and Andikaar.
The rest, including Ganita
Cluster, Chandrilla and Alderaan, sided with the Empire and sent ships
and men against us at Condawn."
"*Alderaan* sided with the Empire?" Luke asked incredulously.
"At the time they thought it was the right thing to do." the Master spread
his hands. "To most of the
Galaxy the Sith were an ancient legend. We had no proof, I can't blame
the worlds for not believing us."
*That's why they all looked so guilty.* Luke thought. *If they'd backed
the Jedi twenty years ago they'd
have ended the Empire then - And Alderaan would never have been destroyed.
Poor Leia!*
"Were you there?" he asked his Master.
"Yes." in a tone that made it clear this was one story he wasn't prepared to tell.
Luke shifted ground. "Why was Ophuchi different?"
"It's the origin world of the Jedi." was the matter-of-fact answer.
Luke wondered why he was so suprised. The Order had to have come from somewhere
after all. "Ben -
Obi-Wan - was Ophuchian." he said, remembering something Jian-Wan had told
him.
"So am I, by derivation." said the Master. "Though my family's been Jedi for six generations now."
"What about Aquilae?" Luke knew the name. The system was a member of the
Alliance but because of its
location, on the opposite side of the Core, its White Legions operated
independently of the Main Fleet.
"The Aquilar have always had a great esteem for the Jedi." Dai-Men answered.
"They think we're hero-saints." Jayce put in ironically.
But the Master shook his head. "That's an exaggeration. Their religious
beliefs simply incline them to have
a greater respect and understanding of the Way than is common."
"And Andikaar?" that name wasn't familiar.
"Is the homeworld of Altor Starrider." Dai-Men answered, as if that explained everything.
"Who?"
The other two Jedi looked at him in astonishment. Luke shrugged, embarrassed.
"I'm not awfully good at
history."
"Altor Starrider led the first war against the Sith." Dai-Men told him.
"I'm surprised Yoda or Obi-Wan
never mentioned him?"
"We had a lot of ground to cover." Luke half apologized. "Uh, did you say *first* war?"
"It's quite a long story." the Master demurred.
"I think we'll have time." Jayce said drily, glancing at the conference room door.
Dai-Men smiled faintly. "I think you're right. Very well -" and began.
It was fascinating. The first Sith Lord had been a fallen Jedi, a great
Master who'd studied too deeply the
ways of the Dark Side and been devoured. His friends and colleagues though
horrified hadn't been able to
bring themselves to destroy him, hoping they could somehow turn him back.
But instead he escaped
from his prison and founded the Sith Order. Dedicated to universal
domination and the destruction of
the Jedi.
The early Sith had been few but terribly powerful gathering worlds under
their rule with frightening ease.
It had seemed the Republic was doomed and its Jedi defenders with
it.
Altor Starrider had been an untried apprentice Jedi on what was then a
remote colony world but he'd
succeeded where those older and stronger had failed. He had kept the Sith
from taking Andikaar. His
Rangers, warriors trained in the Jedi arts, had proved a match for the
Siths' Dark Servants and Altor
himself had killed their leader.
Abruptly Luke realized he had heard this story before - years ago as a
child. He could almost see himself
sitting beside Chani on the sandy floor of Ben's hut listening raptly as
his first Teacher told it in almost the
same words.
The war had lasted for generations. Although Altor, like Darth Sith, had
lived far beyond the normal
human span he hadn't survived to see the end. He'd fathered nine sons by
three different wives only to
see the six eldest die before him. It was Loran, the seventh son, who succeeded
him. Loran who led a
force of Jedi and Rangers into the Sith's last citadel and struck down
the incredibly aged Master of the
Order, ending the first war.
Luke shivered. Ben's description of that final battle had given him nightmares
for a week, Uncle Owen had
been furious. But it wasn't the memory of those nightmares or the grisly
details of the story that made
him shiver now but another moment of enlightenment.
The parallel between Altor Starrider and what little Luke had been told
about his father Anakin Skywalker
were dazzlingly obvious - both exceptionally powerful Jedi arising on backwater
worlds to combat the
threat of the Sith. But his father was dead - or worse - and Yoda, Ben,
even Dai-Men expected *him*
Luke Skywalker to step into his place as Loran had stepped into Altor's.
*I can't do it,* he thought in a moment of blinding panic. *I can't destroy
the Emperor! Maybe father was
special but I'm not.*
The Master had stopped speaking, was looking at him steadily, kindly but
quite inexorably. *All things are
possible with the Force.* Luke heard him say in mind voice, or perhaps
just memory. *Trust in it and it will
show you the way.*
The panic ebbed, breathing slowed, frantically pounding heart calmed. *Lifting
an X-Wing is no harder than
lifting a rock.* he reminded himself. *I don't have to be special, the
Force will guide me.*
He saw Jayce watching him too, with as much sympathy as he'd ever seen
on that ironic, raptor sharp
face. So he knew too. Probably they all did. Luke wondered what Chani thought
of it.
"Obviously that wasn't the end." he said aloud.
His Master gave him an approving smile and continued. He had time to outline
the second and third Sith
Wars and explain why there were never more than two before the conference
room door finally opened.
Leia watched the three Jedi come in and arrange themselves at the foot
of the conference table. The
Master and Jayce in traditional robes, Luke in Alliance uniform but wearing
the same serene expression
free of anticipation or concern. Nor did he betray any sign of relief when
Mon Mothma told him his offer
of Rogue Squadron was accepted but simply bowed acknowledgment.
"Master Jinn," she continued, Leia having brought her up to date on Dai-Men's
current status. "You
understand we have little to spare but we will send what we can to your
allies on Kessel."
It was the Master's turn to bow. "Thank you, senator."
It was crystal clear, at least to Leia, that Mon Mothma'd had a more than
professional respect for
Master Jinn all those years ago. Not that she blamed her! Leia tried to
imagine Dai-Men at twenty with
results that made even her heart beat faster. No she didn't blame Mon Mothma
at *all*.
"It is a very small reparation for the betrayal at Condawn." she was saying.
"You did as you thought was right." Dai-Men answered gently. "You just didn't have all the facts."
"You mean we refused to believe them." Mon Mothma responded almost harshly.
"I - we - failed in faith.
We should have trusted the Jedi."
"The Emperor is a master of lies. We too were deceived by him for far too long." he consoled.
"And we have all paid the price." she said.
Leia bit the inside of her lip, fighting to maintain her councillor's face.
Her father and the other veterans of
Alderaan had never forgiven themselves for their part in the slaughter
at Condawn. Alderaan had given up
her armaments to avoid ever again using them in a wrong cause - and left
herself easy prey for the
Death Star. They had paid the highest price of all for trusting in the
Emperor.
Sylkie was not a happy Erehwon. "Going away *again*!" she said outraged, ready to storm.
"K-k-k-kkkkkkk-k-ruk! Said 'we'." Xhosa interrupted, taking the wind out of her sails.
She looked at him uncertainly. Then up at the Master.
Dai-Men smiled down at her. "I'm going to need my crew - if you'll come."
Wedge welcomed their new assignment with enthusiasm. He was sick to death
of inventing make-work to
keep the squadron sharp and maybe some action would straighten Luke out
too, make him give up this
notion of resigning. Still he was somewhat taken aback when the boss briefed
him on just what the
mission was. After the Death Star no target could intimidate him but even
Wedge had to admit Kessel
was a tough one.
The Spice planet was defended by a formidable maze of natural and man-made
hazards including an
asteroid belt, mine fields, plasma storms, hyperspace traps, at least two
singularities and automated
battle satellites. Still if smugglers could do it so could Rogue Squadron.
But as for the transport they
were supposed to escort - an ancient, ungainly, bulbous thing far
to large for the hangers connected to
the capital ship by passenger tube.
"Luke there's no way that behemoth is going to make it through the Run." he protested.
"She already has, three times." a deep, soft voice countered.
They turned from the port to see the tall, bearded Jedi watching them,
his eyes alit with amusement. "The
Jinx is far faster and more maneuverable than she looks."
"Like the Falcon." Luke reminded.
"But it's so - big!" Wedge said helplessly.
"An advantage." the Master assured him, stepping to the port to look out
affectionately at his
unappetizing vessel. "Not only will she carry the supplies but we'll have
room for at least six standard
fighters."
"I thought we'd take Y-Wings instead of our usual ships," Luke put in, "for the extra firepower."
"And to keep the kids from splashing themselves on a rock or mine." Wedge
guessed. Some of those
'kids' were actually older than the two of them but not in flight time
which was what counted.
Luke grinned a little. "Yeah," he agreed, "but that's not the way I'm going to put it at the briefing."
'Course not. The smarter ones might figure it out for themselves but there
was no need to rub their
noses in it.
Wedge snuck a cautious look at the Master. Damn. A real, live Jedi Knight
complete with brown robe and
lightsabre. Very tall and very still, hands tucked in sleeves surrounded
by an almost tangible aura of
serenity.
"This is gonna be one interesting trip." he muttered.
Luke followed the Master down a cargo tube linking the Jinx to the Fleet
Command ship, past a file of Rebel
troopers with empty cargo sledges going the other way.
They emerged into a spacious loading bay with more Rebel troopers entering
through another port with loaded
sledges. Two meter tall pinheaded utility droids unloaded the supplies
placing the containers on flatbed cars
running along a rail looping through the compartment.
Sylkie presided over operations from a tall stool, electronic manifest
in hand and a silver chromed protocol
droid at her side. One of the cargo loaders stumbled, dropping the container
it was carrying heavily onto a
flatbed.
"Hey, careful there!"
The droid turned toward Sylkie and emitted a stream of sharp bleeps.
"8D16 says he is very sorry and it won't happen again." the protocol droid
interpreted in a mellifluous feminine
voice.
The Erehwon gave her a look of open skepticism. Luke silently agreed. If
that was an apology he was a
Jawa.
"Sylkie is our cargo officer." Dai-Men explained.
"On the rare occasions we *have* a cargo." she grumbled. "Much less get paid for it!"
"Now, Sylkie, we had a paying charter just last month. We can't have run
out of credits quite yet - and we'll
get a load of Spice out of this trip."
"If we survive it!"
"You wanted to come." He shot back and steered Luke through a hatchway.
The cargo section of the Jinx consisted of three open decks of stacked
hexagonal holds in a web of bare
metal struts and beams linked by grilled catwalks and cagelike lifts. Loaded
flatbeds trundled along rails on
their way to the holds.
Luke followed the Master sternward. "You really carry cargo?"
Got a slidelong look from under knit brows. "That's how I make my living.
I'm not a desert hermit, Luke, I need
credit to run the Jinx."
"Yeah - but Spice smuggling?"
"Spice has licit uses. I don't sell to the likes of Jabba the Hutt."
A massive machine casing dotted with circuit boards caught Luke's eye and
he stopped for a better look. "An
Ion turbine?"
"Part of the Jinx's starboard maneuevering engine." Dai-Men explained.
Smiled down at him, "We've made a
few modifications over the years."
Luke tried to hide his skepticism. It would take a *lot* of modifications
to make this behemoth combat worthy.
He reminded himself to have faith.
The Master, reading his Padawan's mind with his usual accuracy, hid a smile.
A tiny personnel lift, barely big enough for the two of them, gave onto
a gantry overlooking a hanger bay
almost as big as the one on the flagship. The aged A-Wing from Had Abaddon
was parked at the far end
between an Imperial Shuttle and a TIE fighter?
Luke blinked, took another look. Yes, it *was* one of the Empire's elite
X-1 fighters with hyperdrive and
cruiser rated shielding. Looked incredulously up at his Master. "Where
-?"
"Hok system. It's a long story."
"I'll bet!"
A green R-2 unit was plugged into the hanger control's main console. A
red chromed 3PO droid sitting next to
it stood up as they entered.
"Artoo-Deenine, Jay Threepio, this is Jedi Skywalker."
*Jedi* Skywalker! It gave Luke a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach,
like the first time somebody'd called
him 'commander'.
"Are we ready to bring the Y-wings onboard?" Dai-Men continued.
"All set, Master." Jay Threepio had an Outer Rim twang quite unlike Cee
Threepio's fussy Core Worlds'
accent. The R-2 unit bleeped briskly. "Engaging containment field and opening
outer doors, now."
"Rogue Leader to Rogue Two," Luke said into his comlink, "bring them on in, Wedge."
The six Y-wings fit easily with a bit to spare. Climbing down the gantry
ladder to the hanger floor Luke found
his second, helmet under arm, staring at the TIE.
"That can't be an X-1!"
"Sure looks like it to me."
"How'd he get it?"
Luke shrugged. "He says it's a long story."
By now the other pilots had gathered round. "You think he'd mind if I had
a look?" Dix wanted to know, fingers
working as if already taking system boards apart.
"Just be sure to put it back together again." Luke warned.
"'Course I will....wouldn't mind a look at that A-wing either..." he moved
towards the ships as if drawn by some
magnetic force.
"Keep an eye on him, Cind." Wedge ordered.
Dix's wingmate grinned and hurried after the obsessed mechanic.
"I guess we'll camp in here with the ships." Wedge continued to Luke.
"If you like." the pilots jumped, stared at Dai-Men somehow magically materialized
among them. "But I think
you'll find the living quarters more comfortable."
Luke laughed. "Master, there's no way we're going to fit twelve pilots into those little cabins."
Dai-Men looked at him in mild surprise. "I didn't mean the flight deck.
The Jinx was a Neimoidian trader the
crew quarters are scaled for the Drones who worked the ship. The Merchants'
quarters are rather larger.
His Master, Luke reflected, had a genius for understatement. The elevator
doors opened onto a compartment
easily twice the size of the entire flight deck with gracefully vaulted
ceiling and panoramic ports on either
side. Empty except for a sculpture made up of gently rotating interlocking
rings in the center of a deck
covered with some kind of springy, gray glistening matting.
"We use this as a training room." Dai-Men explained. Led them through a
pair of double doors. "This is the
main hold."
It was as large as the first compartment, fitted out with a galley, banks
of storage lockers and a long table
surrounded by mismatched chairs. A sunken area in a corner looked to be
a holo theatre.
Yet another pair of doors led to a wide corridor with more doors, two to
a side, opening off it. The Master
opened the first on the left and led them into a cabin about a third the
size of the main hold with the
ubiquitious panoramic ports in one wall and a workbench against another.
Simply furnished with two tables,
four chairs, and four computer terminals. Two sleeping cabins opened off
it, each with two bunks and two
lockers. A fourth room was sandwiched between them. Smaller with dark grey
walls, ceiling and floor and a
single large port. Furnished only with a strip of matting and a low table.
It took Luke a minute to realize what it
must be. A meditation room of course. The quarters had been designed for
Jedi. But they'd do fine for Rogue
squadron..
"I thought you said you'd traveled on this ship before."
"I have, Wedge, but I never saw any of this." Luke looked reproachfully at his Master.
Who looked innocently back. "There was no need. We usually spend short jumps entirely on the flight deck."
It took a some time to move everybody up from the hanger. Dix had to be
forcibly dragged away from the TIE.
Wes, Alph and Wald managed to lose themselves in the cargo levels. And
half the squadron kept running
back down for things they'd forgotten but finally everybody was secure
in their new quarters leaving Luke and
Wedge free to go looking for the Master, trailed by Artoo Detoo.
They looked in his quarters, the first suite on the right. The main room
was furnished like the others but
crowded with bales and boxes, strange artifacts and bits of disassembled
machinery. Luke, remembering
Ben's immaculate but equally cluttered hermitage, wondered if all Jedi
Masters were packrats by nature.
The doors of the two sleeping cabins stood open. One spartanly bare, the
other luxurious with diaphanous
curtains and silk cushions. Wasn't hard to guess who that belonged to.
Xhosa, Luke recalled, had fitted out a
supply hold on B deck for himself. Presumably even these quarters seemed
a little cramped to the three
meter tall insectoid.
After a minute's hesitation Luke knocked at the closed door of the meditation
room. There was no answer but
he gave in to curiousity and opened it anyway.
Dai-Men's table held two lightsabres, a dried flower, a metal jar with
a gold seal on the lid, three pieces of
broken crystal and a massive gemstone ring, far to large for a human hand.
He sensed each object had a
meaning - and no doubt a long story attached to it.
Returning to the main room Luke found Wedge and Artoo had been joined by
the silver protocol droid. "Jedi
Skywalker? I am TC-20, interspecies etiquette and protocol, at your service.
Master Jinn requests your
presence, and that of Lieutenant Antilles, on the command bridge."
Going through yet another pair of double doors on the other side of the
training room Luke found himself
facing a ninety degree arc of convex ports with the tall, rounded backs
of four throne like chairs silhouetted
against them.
"Ah, there you are."
Turned to see Jayce working at the consoles covering the back wall. "I
see what you mean about Master
keeping things to himself!"
Thin lips curled. "The Jinx is the least of it."
Luke rolled his eyes. "I used to like surprises." and followed Teecee Twenty forward.
The 'thrones' turned out to be control chairs, wide arms inset with switches
and buttons and glittering
indicator lights. Dai-Men was seated in the center left with Sylkie curled
up in the chair beyond him. He
glanced up. "Have a seat.
The chairs had been scaled for beings the Master's height giving Luke the
choice of perching on the edge or
letting his feet dangle. He elected to follow Sylkie's example and sit
cross legged. Wedge prefered to stand,
leaning against the back of Luke's chair.
The four thrones overlooked a curving work pit. Xhosa was stretched out
prone on a long couch, his four
hands tapping busily away on three consoles at once. Jay Threepio sat at
another station with Artoo Deenine
beside him.
Artoo Detoo bleeped excitedly at the sight of the other astro-droid and
whisked down the access ramp to join
him. The two of them whistled and chirped away like old friends.
Luke grinned and turned his attention to a black and white R-4 unit standing
between his throne and the
Master's and plugged into both.
"This is Arfor-Geethree." Dai-Men introduced. "Jedi Skywalker and Lieutenant Antilles."
The droid buzzed and bleeped.
"How do you do." Tecee translated. "I am very pleased to meet you both
as your pilots have substantially
reduced the odds against us."
"And what are the odds?" Wedge asked with a do-I-want-to-hear-this? look on his face.
"One in fifty against."
He rolled his eyes at Luke.
"We've faced worse." The Death Star for example.
Another comment from Arfor interpreted by Tecee. "Master Dai-Men has been
successful against similar odds
with a regularity that defies statistical probability."
Luke was sure he detected a note of disapproval there.
"The Force has been with us," the Master said serenely, "it is with us still."
An electronic rasberry from Arfor translated into "The Force does not compute."
"I know." Dai-Men replied, much amused. Obviously an old argument and one he thoroughly enjoyed.
Jayce came forward to take the fourth chair. "All systems online, ready at your order."
The Master palmed a control. "Jinx to Fleet Control, ready for departure."
"Very well, Master Jedi." Mon Mothma's soft voice answered. "May the Force be with you."
Dai-Men's eyes crinkled into a smile. "That's supposed to be my line, Senator."
What sounded like a giggle, if you could imagine Mon Mothma giggling, followed
a clearing of the throat. "I've
been told there's no such thing as luck."
The Master's smile deepened. "Only the Will of the Force." he agreed. "We'll
report in when we land on Kessel.
Jinx out."
