Subject: [OTL]: (alt. Betsy/Star Wars) Fanged Butterfly 2: Knightcross 16/? (PG-15; imag From: Phil Hartman Date: Tue, 25 Mar 2008 03:49:09 +0000 wil-@earthling.net Fanged Butterfly Vol. 2: Knightcross Chapter 16 by Phil Hartman DISCLAIMER: Marvel's are Marvel's. LFL's are LFL's. Any original characters are mine. The rest belong to their owners/creators. No money is being made off of this. Please don't sue. WARNING: Violence, harsh language and graphic imagery. ------------------------------------------ 40 ABY: Galactic Alliance Guard flagship Ganner Rhysode, approaching Corellia: ------------------------------------------ Darth Caedus was not pleased. Shevu hadn't checked in other than to tell Tebut that Ben and Lekauf had reached Coruscant safely. Worse, Ben was ... hard to reach in the Force. It was almost as if the boy didn't trust Jacen anymore. #Then again, it's not ABOUT you, remember,# he reminded himself as the Ganner completed realspace reversion and contacted the GA blockade flagship, the Ocean. "Sir? We're ready to deploy the starfighter pickets in coordination with the Ocean," Captain Kral Nevil said, and Caedus nodded, reaching out ... "At your leave, Captain. I trust you and your counterpart have things well in hand. Just let me augment the sensors with a little ... extra awareness," Caedus offered. He sank into Sith battle meditation - a power he'd not attempted before. It could be used to drive one's foes into a frenzy, or one's troops to berzerker rage. Neither was particularly practical yet. It was wiser to focus on the overall enhanced perspective the meld granted the Sith Lord in charge of it. #Sith Lord ...# Jacen reflected. The very idea that he'd become a full Sith was ... surprisingly repugnant on the basest emotional level, if he was being honest. Caedus snorted contemptuously; Jacen shuddered. He wondered when the two identities were going to settle their constant warring. Maybe they already had. With that, Caedus sank into a sense of the overall field of combat ... ignoring most of the miniscule minds, focusing on the less-obvious threats ... THERE. "Captain. That freighter at 027-45-mark-3. Have the pickets bring it over for a search," Caedus ordered Nevil, pointing at a clunky old YT-class freighter heading for a checkpoint. A few XJ7s darted for the Corellian craft ... and what Caedus had sensed came out of hiding. A roil of armed craft executed a near-perfect microjump from seemingly nowhere, between the orbital stations and the blockade of GA craft. "SIR! Multiple contacts - Corellian warships, fighters, frigates - DESTROYERS! It's the fleet Intel found in the Kiris Cluster, sir!" Tebut gasped. "Dare I be so droll as to say `It's a trap?'" Niathal commed - she was back on Coruscant, but had a real-time link to the picket; Intel had expected some kind of Corellian thrust after Thrackan's slaying. "I'd never deny you the pleasure, ma'am. Captain! Weapons free, you have the comm! Flight deck, prepare my XJ7 - we'll have to fight them ship to ship!" Caedus ... cackled. The battle meditation had worked BEAUTIFULLY. But there was a time for cold analysis and the hot flame of battle. Sith used their anger ... And Caedus had MUCH to spread around. -------------------------------------------- Ossus: -------------------------------------------- She gasped, in the mid-afternoon temperate sun; someone's disturbed glee rolled across the Force - #Jacen. He's enjoying himself,# Jaina thought, shaking her head and reaching instinctively for her lightsaber. Which was sitting in Serpa's office. Formerly Kam's office. The GAG major had had the ... not decency, since he lacked that, but the etiquette not to evict the Solusars from their sleeping quarters, at least. The GAG squad - about 100 troops, most of whom were close in age to the older apprentices and who actually felt guilty about "guarding" the kids - were billeted in the cafeteria, with pickets sweeping the halls. Classes had been permitted to continue, even lightsaber training. "What IS a Jedi without a lightsaber, the public might ask? I know they're more than the weapon, but one does have to allow certain traditions to continue. Besides, training lightsabers cause burns, but nothing a well-trained soldier can't ignore long enough to shoot the wielder," Serpa had pointed out in his sickeningly icy manner, watching a training duel the day before. Jacen bothered Jaina. Serpa warped the Force, and he was more blind than a ysalamir. The Sword reminded herself to never again doubt her mother's horror stories about Tarkin. #Maybe Daala's nightmare offspring by the Grand Moff? It'd make a sick degree of sense ...# She nodded at Jag - Serpa had allowed them to search the surrounding woods for Zekk. He'd even been gratified ... to a degree ... at their offer to help. Jaina was more worried that her ex-boyfriend would get his brain blown out by a jumpy kid sniper. She sure as Sithspit wasn't searching for Zekk for Serpa's sake. "Tall and hairy decided to hide well," Jag said softly - Jaina didn't jump, since she had a constant sense of her husband, even if one-sided. He hid his discomfort very well. But Zekk ... Zekk bothered the ur-Emperor Fel on levels he never showed to anyone but Jaina. "Listen, you. I married YOU. Not Zekk, not Kyp, not Isolder. Who else has that infuriatingly attractive white stripe in their hair?" Jaina tried to tease - but Jag huffed, finally giving her a noncommittal smile. "GAHK. Does the kriffing start now, or later?" "ZEKK!" Jaina snapped - bloody KARK, he hadn't been this quiet in non-urban environments before! The tall, still-ebon-haired Jedi brushed leaves off of his brown robes - brown and green, almost a camoflague - before sitting on a rock and shrugging. "Fel. You look well. Short, but well," Zekk offered, as Jag leaned against a tree and stretched. Jaina fought her eyeroll with not much effort. "WILL you two stop karking around? Zekk, I chose Jag. I thought you and I parted on good terms?"Jaina offered - she could sense his emotions quite clearly. Ex-Joiners had that issue. Fortunately, despite the banter, Zekk DID seem to have grown up - the former hot lust for Jaina was ... a pleasant memory. Jaina quietly admitted it wasn't just pleasant for Zekk. But it was also a memory. She left his mind and held Jag's mock-bored stare, finally insisting, "He's not living in the past." "Very good. So what do we do with him? Hold hands and sing Undercity songs? Even I don't think the human skyscraper deserves to be given over to that cretin Serpa," Jag admitted. Zekk nodded with a degree of gratitude; it was about as far as they were going to get for a peace treaty - "COLONEL!" Serpa growled over the comlink, and Jaina reluctantly answered. "Ex-Colonel, Major, although it's kind of you to recall my past career. Empress, Your Majesty or Lady Fel all have nice rings," Jaina shot back - she really SHOULDN'T torment the nexu-kriffing creep, but ... Did she smell burning rubber? "SOMEONE stole the majority of ... GAHHH!" Serpa - SHRIEKED? Jaina motioned Jag and Zekk after her, following the scent of burning ... FEET? It got worse the closer they got to the front of the praxeum - nobody was hurt, and there was a degree of amusement coming from even the Jedi Masters ... The Guard troops were standing in their socks, trying not to laugh. And Serpa ... in bare, NASTY feet ... pointed, making little huffing noises. Jaina giggled like she hadn't since before Thrago, at the unsettling yet somehow fitting pile of flaming footwear sitting before the praxeum entrance. "SOMEONE STOLE ALL OUR SHOES!!!" Serpa howled, and finally, the kids broke down laughing - even some of the troops. Serpa seethed until Kam called, "Children, please. Show the major proper respect. The Guard ARE our guests?" "Thank you, Master Solusar. At least SOME Jedi have respect for ... unexpected visitors. Gorbit! Requisition new footwear! And Jedi Solo, if you MIGHT have any idea of what happened ...?" Serpa hissed, handing a datapad to his young blond male human aide - who looked revolted by Serpa's blithering. "I'll keep you in the loop, Major," Jaina mocked as she turned to watch the shoes burn. Jag slipped an arm around her, and it was strangely romantic ... cuddling by burning shoe-light. "A shoe here, a shoe on Coruscant ... a shoe in the Corporate Sector ... we can light the boots of freedom from Outer Rim to Core," Jaina said, giving in to a giggle. "Yes, well. I suppose it WOULD take the Chiss too long to authorize shoe-burnings. And Csilla is rather cold." "Not everybody's shoes burn at the same rate. It's not a bad thing." "... why, Trickster. Are you implying MY boots need a good roasting?" "I was thinking some other part of your uniform." "GAHK. Tall and emo Jedi listening. And Padawans." "Sithspawn! TAKE the Padawans and find the GAG troops some decent sandals, Zekk." "Zekk, Cobbler Knight. There's no justice." ------------------------------------------------- Coruscant: Bothan Embassy: ------------------------------------------------- Lumiya waded through bloody fur - beskar-tipped whip strands left SUCH a mess - and checked the corpses. #One dead Bothan ambassador, Kersk Trey'lis: Check. You'd better be grateful, Caedus ...# she thought, checking her implanted datafeeds. The Corellian fleet had been drawn out in a desperate effort to fend off the Ganner Rhysode. It was a wasteful heap of Alliance expenditure, but it was smashing the secret fleet the Corellians had had in the Kiris Cluster ... #Angry Bothans: Check. Corellians shoved in a corner: Check.# She commed Fyor Rodan - not as the Dark Lady of the Sith, of course, but as a Kuati lady of questionable political alignment - and said in a husky voice, "President Rodan. This is Shequa of Fordlan." "Lady. I assume you're calling about that savage Jedi abomination tearing his way through Corellian space," Rodan, ever the power-hungry bigot, snarked back with a degree of respect. "HNE has excellent coverage, does it not? And there seems to have been an incident at the Bothan embassy on Coruscant, or so I hear," Lumiya said, slipping out through the sewers. Nasal filters made escapes so much more bearable. "Hmph. Terrible. One would think the ar'krai would distract our furred brethren. But with the Vong not in our backyard anymore - another Jedi failing - they do need someone to vent their frustrations on, don't they?" Rodan mused. "COS Omas is proving less and less able to deal with the situation. Kuat would look ... favorably, perhaps, upon worlds willing to discuss new economic ties if the Corellian Confederation were to look outside their own increasingly dire situation," "Shequa" purred. "Commenor would be wise to heed your advice, Lady. And I believe Adumar has no great love for Colonel Solo since the Damant Killers' embarrassment," Rodan observed. "Don't limit the invitations to obvious parties. If this is an economic argument, why not examine ... nontraditional suppliers?" Lumiya suggested. "You mean ... NAL HUTTA?" Rodan breathed, only surprised for an instant - a fatal one, had Lumiya had a knife at his throat. She was, of course, recording the entire secure conversation, so in a way, she did. "The Hutts suffered as badly as anyone else during the Vong War. They undoubtedly would invite aid if presented with proper etiquette, such as from a gentleman like yourself," Lumiya pointed out. "Quite the alignment of worlds. What about the Remnant or Hapes?" Rodan said, not betraying actual concern over the Imperials or Tenel Ka's people - just stating the tactical obvious. "Pellaeon withdrew behind his moat and raised Bastion's drawbridge over the offense the GAG represented. He's the most un-Imperial Imperial since that embarrassment Hethrir - Pellaeon understands duty, but he values individual rights along with service too greatly. And who wants Hapan frippery or knives at their throat?" Lumiya said, allowing a little of her own prejudices to fill the conversation. "Too true. That one-armed Force-using trollop of Solo's let her hand play too obviously - I hear Gejjen decided to hire someone specialized to deal with the girl princess," Rodan said with bored contempt. Lumiya's heart skipped a beat - #Girl? ALLANA? Jacen, you little - YOU HID HER FROM ME ...# It was a fatal oversight on Lumiya's part - she'd known Jacen felt too deeply for Ben Skywalker, but he also had a blood-child? "I ... see. And Gejjen hired a ... cleaner?" Lumiya asked. "Someone specially suited to dealing with Jedi. I almost feel for the child, but ... well, we can look at Skywalker's arrogance to see how Jedi dynasties play out, yes? Bad form, especially for the Hapans," Rodan said. "Quite so. Maybe you could accelerate your stance on aligning with Coronet? I really must take my leave," Lumiya said. "Then, I look forward to our next conversation, Lady. Safe travel," Rodan said, and the link closed. Lumiya reached the access tunnel for her safehouse, then risked reaching for Jacen/Caedus - the disjunction was troubling, the last thing the Sith needed was a multiple-personality Dark Lord - in the Force. She was a little disappointed at his exultation as he overloaded the shields of a Corellian frigate - yes, there was a place for Sith rage, but it was so .. unbecoming this early in the game. [WHAT,] Jacen snarked back empathically. [Rodan is approaching Coronet, Bothawui, Adumar and the Hutts about expanding the war. And ... Gejjen appears to have hired a Force-sensitive to kill the Hapan Chume'da,] Lumiya sent. If Caedus had been in the heat of combat before, his unbridled wrath almost knocked Lumiya to her knees. [THAT - !? FINE. The fool wants to target Allana, he dies. And I know who to send to do it - you'll appreciate the choice, I'm sure. The war expansion will play into my efforts to deal with Omas, also,] Caedus sent. Lumiya rolled her eyes - he was seriously going to send Ben Skywalker to assassinate the Corellian Prime Minister. An almost-14-year-old. The very thought was absurdist. Like Tao had been for Lumiya's long-departed Master. [Either he succeeds, and proves you're wrong, or he dies, and you'll be able to laugh at my expense. Either way, this childish argument ends,] Caedus pointed out, surprisingly chilling. [I applaud your ... handling of resources,] Lumiya admitted - perhaps the Dark Lord DID have a better feel for proper Sith apprentices than she'd allowed. [I'm so glad you approve. Now, if you would ... Ossus is becoming a joke. The Jedi are going to feel empowered. Once I have Omas by the throat, I intend to do the same to the Order. Half-trained children and old fools are one thing; the Temple on Coruscant, however, is a threat,] Caedus warned. Lumiya concentrated - he couldn't mean a PURGE. [Not yet. I'm not ready to provoke the Jedi any further than I have. But you certainly can't allow the likes of the Skywalkers, Katarn or Durron to run around if this is a SITH-run galaxy,] Caedus observed. [And yet, you intend to send Ben Skywalker to deal with Gejjen in the equivalent of a vengeance killing. Mara WILL have her Sith-skin blanket and rancor snacks if you rush this,] Lumiya mocked. [That depends on whether Mara is alive when Ben pulls the trigger. Remember, I activated several pawns of my own?] Caedus reminded her. He dismissed her annoyingly, and Lumiya's eyes narrowed. She was willing to die for the Sith ideal. Jacen Solo was on the brink of becoming as close to the Sith'ari as the Order had ever seen. The part of the cyborg that was still Shira Brie wished Caedus wasn't biting off more than he could chew. She wanted to live a little longer and make sure a SMART Dark Lord was about to ascend. --------------------------------------------- Galactic City, Coruscant: --------------------------------------------- As far as the doorman knew, young "Lars Antilles" was a cousin of Captain Shevu's, visiting the big city from quaint little Agamar. The brown hair dye, Agamari Threshers short-shirt, and baggy pants gave no indication of the usually sleek-uniformed and red-buzzed GAG officer hiding beneath them. For once in almost three days, Ben Skywalker managed to feel ... safe. #I still miss Mom and Dad, and Aunt Leia, Uncle Han, Aunt Betsy an' everybody else,# Ben fretted - Shevu had let him crash on the sofa, which was really comfortable. A few other changes of clean clothes - Ben wasn't sure where Shevu and Lekauf had gotten them, nor was he going to ask - were piled in Ben's backpack, with his lightsaber. He'd retracted his Force-aura as tightly as he could, adding a layer of the Quy'tek Meditations Jacen had taught him. For now, Ben was about as well-hidden as he could be. Normally, he'd have lightsaber drill this time of day, or after he'd joined the Guard, calisthenics. Shevu had gone back to the office to explain the sudden disappearance of the young lieutenant as "undercover duty," and Ben could exercise quietly. He peeled off his shirt and shoes, setting them aside before slipping off the baggy pants - they didn't allow much freedom of movement - and started doing pushups in his shorts and socks. Of course, THAT was when the door slid open, and Ben looked up at a pretty young woman with blonde hair in a ponytail, her mouth open in surprise. "Oh. You must be - Lars," she said, wearing a GalactiSend uniform. "I'm Shula Palasj, Lon's girlfriend." "Ah. Hello - sorry about the -" Ben babbled - stang, he hadn't been THIS embarrassed since Dathomir. At least there, half-bare males were considered socally acceptable among total strangers. The door closed, and Shula set her purse down, then smiled kindly before adding, "Don't get up. I visited Lon at the Guard gym a few weeks back, and half the guys were wearing exercise wear skimpier than what you have on. Boxers are at least modest." "You're very kind," Ben said, hoping he wasn't blushing - karkit. "And you're very polite. Guess Agamari aren't as backwards as they say - the fridge is yours, I usually eat at that little Ithorian health spot down the lane. Lon and his fruit-breadsticks ... he THINKS he's getting real nutrition," Shula said, letting Ben lose himself in his pushups. He completed 20, using a calming technique to keep from blushing again, and rested for a moment as Shula sat in the main chair. "Care if I check HNE? One of the girls at work has a boyfriend on the blockade, and she said there was some real fighting," Shula asked. "Sure - want some water?" Ben asked, and Shula nodded. He absently Force-pulled two bottles from the refrigerator, then cursed inwardly at his slip - he couldn't BE a Jedi if he was going to hide. And Shula's eyebrows rose, until Ben decided if he could trust the captain ... "Shula - my real name is -" Ben began. "Ben Skywalker. Lon thinks the world of you. I SWEAR, nobody'll know you're here. You saved his life - sorry, I swore if I ever met you, I wouldn't gush. You really are taller than I expected," Shula rambled, accepting a bottle of water as Ben sat on the couch with his own beverage. Shula really was nice, and Ben almost wasn't embarrassed anymore. The holoscreen came on, and Ben's eyes narrowed - it was a space battle, with Corellia in the background. "- reports are that more than a dozen previously secret Corellian heavy cruisers and close to 1,000 starfighters were destroyed in the police action by Colonel Solo's forces. The colonel led the counterstrike personally, and is credited with at least one dreadnought kill. The battle has been condemned by governments as far-spread as Adumar, Nal Hutta, Commenor and Fondor," the HNE spokeswoman, a Zeltron, said. "Oh ... all those lives," Shula said, tearing up, and Ben shared her grief - they might be strangers, but they'd been someone's children. He knew how fortunate he was, and he felt a new pang of guilt for having helped separate families. #Jasa. I can't keep making excuses for you. If we were just taking out terrorists, the GAG would be OK, but we're thugs,# Ben realized, listening. "In related news, it's reported that a new amendment to the Legislative and Regulations Statute Amendment has been proposed, which would devolve -" the holoscreen continued, until Shula flipped the channel and Ben blinked - *Jori Lekauf, aboard a shuttle* *Mom, confronting Jacen* *Green and purple lightsabers in a dark place* "Ben?" He shook himself out of the Force-vision, blushing when he found himself dribbling water, and gave Shula an apologetic look. "Sorry - it's a ... bad habit," he said, trying to keep the conversation light. Shula didn't seem Force-sensitive, but she was a woman. The look she gave Ben made him realize that he was lying, but she didn't push it, either. "Guests also get free advice at Chez Shevu. My tip for the day: Try to get some rest. You're too young to have to have the galaxy on your shoulders," Shula said, getting up and giving Ben a kiss on the cheek before she entered the bedroom. He wished he could believe her. But at least some of what was going on was his fault. He had to try and help preventing things from getting worse. #I have to figure out what that vision meant. And I have to have a plan in case Jacen ... finds me,# Ben worried. Whatever he did, Ben was NOT going to endanger Shevu, Shula or anyone else. He already had two people dead because of him, and Ailyn Vel still on his conscience. Ben might not be an adult, but by the Force, he WAS going to be a man about facing Jacen. He just wished he knew what his dad would do, and started thinking. ---------------------------------------------- Agamar: ---------------------------------------------- Betsy was NOT a happy mutant Jedi. The landing hadn't been that soft; the Angel's Wing was sinking in mud thicker than a bantha blanket, and N4-EL had had to retreat to a rock cave. That left her and K'urod to retreat to a farm, as ships with vague, but malevolent, intent on finding Jedi flew overhead through a rainstorm. Worse, it was the dead of night, and their only shelter was a haystack. #'Luminous beings are we.' Hmph. Yoda likely never had to hide in muddy hay on a backward agriplanet hunted by Jedi-hating thugs,# Betsy grumbled. She centered herself in the Force, then glanced at where K'urod was a dark outline in the haystack beside her, calmly meditating. #You always manage to deal with the problem, don't you, K'ur?# Betsy thought with a flicker of happiness. At least it was rain. And dirt. And straw. #After Rhen Var, I learned to appreciate anything NON-ICY ...# ********************************* 29 ABY: Rhen Var, near tomb of Nomi Sunrider: ---------------------------------------------- Well, the Council had warned Betsy it was cold. #Bloody never listen, though, do I? I pack furs, I concentrate on biofeedback, and the blasted iceball is STILL frigid,# Betsy thought - she was well-dressed against the wind, as was K'urod, but the hike from the safe landing zone tore at them nevertheless. "K'urod, I reviewed the files on Nomi, how critical she was in bringing Ulic Qel-Droma to heel - but what about your studies? Can we expect traps? Something Force-based?" Betsy asked the Zabrak boy. K'urod adjusted his windgoggles and nodded. "You are insightful, Master. I fear some static variant of the Sunrider technique - not a true severance from the Force, but possibly a short-term blockage. If combined with a pitfall or crushing walls, we may need to rely on our lightsabers or non-Jedi skills," he said, sounding ... worried. Betsy looked at him, then at a distant temple - the Order hadn't been able to spare a true guard on the ancient Jedi site since the Vong War had erupted - and back at K'urod. "Your lightsaber skills are adequate," she said, trying to be both truthful and supportive. K'urod sighed - a volume of emotion for the boy - and let his Force-mask slip. "You are trying to comfort me, when you don't even like me," he said, that teenaged truthfulness spearing Betsy. "... I'm sorry. I shouldn't take my prejudices out on you. I DO like you, K'urod - you're a good person, a good student," Betsy began, trying to smile. She let her guilt and remorse show as she continued, "But ... the tale of Darth Maul is a frightful one, one that I never believed true. To be in a reality where Maul DID live ... many Zabraks are decent, noble souls. You're among them. And I'm not being fair." K'urod lit up a little, but added, "Master Tionne says you're reckless, but you care." "Master Tionne is extremely wise. I AM reckless - but not when I'm entrusted with another life. And I do care. I promise to protect you, and to do better," Betsy swore. "And I'll protect you - Master Braddock," K'urod vowed, letting Betsy shake his hand. "Master Betsy, if you wish. Formality is fine and good, but you need to loosen up," Betsy teased, leading K'urod on. The boy reminded her of ... #SCOTT? The stiffness is there, but ... even Scott wasn't as repressed. Force, I miss Earth ...# Betsy reflected. She shook her head, then smiled as K'urod kept pace with her through the snow, and said, "Do you know much of my past? I've not exactly shared ..." "There are ... many ... stories told in the creche and the praxeum," K'urod said, almost blushing. "Some claim you are the child of a Zeltron and Master Katarn, with your purple hair and your battlefury ..." ******************************** #Force, the boy makes me laugh - the MAN,# Betsy corrected herself, wiping her eyes at the memory. "Ah. The Katarn story. Always humorous," K'urod said in his usual deadpan, as Betsy snickered. "You know how many angry comlink messages THAT fable got me from Jan Ors?" Betsy asked, shaking her head. K'urod's eyes narrowed, and he almost smiled as he asked, "And ... Ganner?" Betsy felt a chill. More than a decade, and she still ... "His memory deserves to be left alone. Whatever happened between the two of us ... also deserves to be left alone," Betsy asked, amethyst eyes meeting K'urod's brown ones. The Knight nodded, and Betsy smiled at his silent vow. "But yes ... he deserves better than to be Jacen's propaganda tool," Betsy lamented. "And I intend to make sure the colonel gets that CLEAR." ---------------------------------------------- Queen Mother's Palace, Hapes, Hapes Consortium: ---------------------------------------------- Tenel Ka brushed her hair - some might consider using the Force as a hairbrush manipulator to be trivial, but it was a focusing exercise. She'd spurned the Hapan disdain for "flaws" after she'd lost her arm in that long-ago lightsaber duel, and was insistent that she use all of her skills. The spread of the war was at hand. The Heritage Council - nobles who had never really approved of having anything to do with the rest of the galaxy, and certainly NOT with a Jedi dynasty, which was now an open secret - were clamoring for a new tack, to join with the rumored Confederation. Tenel Ka recalled holos of another queen on an idyllic world, decades earlier, wooed by a Jedi as she faced a monumental choice of whether or not to oppose the coming night. She had a child, now. So had Jacen's grandmother. Tenel Ka wondered if Padme Amidala had felt safer with her children beneath her heart. #But I am not alone. Han and Leia adore Allana, and Jaina and Anakin do also ...# Tenel Ka thought, smiling - perhaps together, they could rescue - There was a scream, and she grabbed her lightsaber. Something ... Force-shielded, had killed a nearby guard - one of the hidden ones - ---------------------------------------------- The intruder was so shockingly - bald, with a red topknot and chalk-white skin, that Leia almost didn't recognize her before she could ignite her own blade. Allana hid behind Chewie, who had immediately added the girl to his life-debt upon meeting her, and Han was ... well, somewhere. Leia stood between - Aurra Sing? Was that even POSSIBLE? - and her granddaughter, as the intruder's eyes narrowed. "The daughter of Anakin Skywalker," the attacker purred, her lightsaber in a pensive stance. "Please don't tell me you're here to share stories of podracing. I know you were at my father's race ... and now you're here," Leia said, recalling Saba Sebatyne's instructions: Let the living Force guide you - Something that sounded like a sick Utapauan lizard howled across the garden, distracting Aurra long enough for Leia to disarm the Dark Jedi - - and a series of stun bolts dropped the intruder, as Han and Threepio peeked out from behind a statue. "I say! That was a most surprising tactic, Captain Solo," Threepio almost gushed, while Han helped Leia bind Sing. "Hey, worked for Kenobi, right? Krayt dragon call," Han told Leia, grinning that disarming grin. "Maybe a sick krayt dragon - it's all right, Your Majesty. Han shot first," Leia told Tenel Ka as the younger woman hugged Allana. "Fact. We are grateful - Knight Organa-Solo," Tenel Ka said, both relieved and icily angry. "Now, we must learn who SENT this assassin ..." ----------------------------------------------- tbc ...