Subject: [OTL]: (alt. Betsy/Star Wars) Fanged Butterfly 2: Knightcross 20/? (R; violence From: Phil Hartman Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2008 19:15:35 +0000 wil-@earthling.net Fanged Butterfly Vol. 2: Knightcross Chapter 20 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: GRAPHIC violence, mature themes and imagery. ----------------------------------------------- 40 ABY: Endor, 9 days after the Battle of Corellia: ----------------------------------------------- "You're kriffing INSANE," her bedmate mumbled. Burbled, rather. He still had that bad habit. "Or did I just kriff YOU insane?" Betsy smirked - no, he was right, what she was proposing WAS risky. But then ... well, she'd seen what would come about if Jacen died. The Senate would be thrown into chaos, dozens - maybe hundreds - of systems flocking to the Confederacy. And the Sith would take advantage of the war. #MORE than two Sith ... many more,# Betsy realized, both still doubting and aghast at the idea of an ARMY of garishly-tattooed, red-lightsaber-wielding, darksiders sweeping the galaxy. Luke's Jedi barely numbered 1,000 at this point, and more than half of them were children. The actual number of Knights and Masters was dangerously low if a new Sith War was brewing, and Lumiya hadn't given any hint that she was running a second Sith ascension behind Jacen's back. That didn't mean the cyborg lacked a backup plan, Betsy realized. "The Jade Shadow's hyperdrive is the same as any other," her ... visitor said, stroking Betsy's bare back as he curled beside her - it felt ... good. Or maybe it was just a shared hunger to connect, amplified through the Force and her telepathy. So few people gave him a chance to do so, even after years of help and healing. He'd come so far. "Combined with the dovin basal, perhaps not. Mara has arguably the best navigation astromech to date onboard - Artoo's pulled off miracles before," Betsy said, standing and dressing quickly. This hadn't been a date. It'd been ... a lessening of burdens, a sharing of emotions Nobody could expect her to wait 15 years between such contacts. And - shavit, she STILL had a weakness for blondes. Besides, it was better SHE crawled over him than ... his previous associates. He looked up at her, longingly, and sighed, "Maybe I just want you to myself a bit longer." "You said `I.' Good boy. But I need to focus, now," Betsy replied. But she did lean over and kiss his forehead - he could be SO sensitive, and she hated leaving him alone. Between his few remaining scars and his ... unique issues, he gained more from these visits than she did, really. At least his hair had grown back in. "Then may the Force be with you," he said, smiling - that was better. "And with you," Betsy said, returning Raynar Thul's smile as she left his tent. ------------------------------------------------- Mara just raised an eyebrow as Betsy boarded the Shadow - she had that annoying knack for seeing through people. Fortunately, Mara also tended not to interrogate her friends unless lives were on the line. "Artoo's run the numbers - IF we push it, we can make Coruscant in a hour, using a warp vortex ricochet backdraft caused by triggering the dovin basal in hyperspace," Mara said, as if throwing necessity in the face of the laws of hyperspace physics was an everyday occurance. The droid warbled uncomfortably, but Betsy stroked his dome and said, "I trust you. You got us the evidence that Jacen had fallen - you shut down the Ganner's hyperdrive safely. You're stronger than you know." Artoo whistled a bit more merrily, and Betsy strapped in as Mara gave her a naughty grin and they lifted off. "What?" Betsy asked - it was like she was getting a "morning after" interrogation from Jean back at the mansion. It was still eerie, the resemblance. And Jean had always been far kinkier than most people believed. "Droids AND bugs?" Mara mused, ignoring Artoo's outraged squeal. "I BEG your pardon!" Betsy mock-huffed. "Well, cybernetic hands DO make things interesting," Mara purred. Betsy looked over at her friend, weighed the inference ... ... and decided there were things SHE didn't need to ask. Despite Betsy's silence, Mara rolled her eyes and said, "All right ... tell me he at least doesn't have that creepy mental echo of clattering mandibles anymore?" "If you MUST know - no, he doesn't. Raynar's come so far since the Swarm War, and nobody ever gives him a chance," Betsy said, deciding to play along. She grinned at Mara and asked, "Why me and not Leia?" Mara made a gagging noise and said, "You KNOW why. "It's bad enough that she knows how Luke kisses." ------------------------------------------------- Charbi Spaceport, Vulpter: ------------------------------------------------- It stank of sulfur, unwashed bodies and starship fuel, with a sky discolored by lingering smog. #A wretched hive of scum and villany?# Ben thought - he sometimes got weird flashes back to what Aunt Betsy called "the original trilogy," the ... movies, based on his Dad, Aunt Leia and Uncle Han's defeat of Palpatine, that she'd shared with Ben telepathically. He wished, more than anything, that this could be fiction. But he had a job to do. He was wrapped in a cloak, Force-discouraging people from looking too closely at him - the skin-camoflague would be saved once he got to the hangar bay where Omas and Gejjen were going to meet. It was unlikely Omas would recognize Ben ... at least, the Ben who existed now. He'd met the man before ... #Before I let Jacen kriffing splice me with half the galaxy's aliens,# Ben thought bitterly. The initial plan had been to use a projectile rifle. But His Freaky Lord Caedus - Ben wasn't QUITE so forgiving of "Jasa," not after hours of surgery and torture - wanted this to be a Sith initiation. That meant "Darth Paxis" had to make the kill up close and personal. Well, there was Sith and there was SITH, Ben decided. He'd lied - a Sith trait - to Jacen, to himself, to Girdun. SITH would be killing Gejjen. And Ben ... wasn't SITH. It was so karking lonely behind the mask, Ben hadn't been able to lie to Lon or Jori. But if he said anything out loud - or if he didn't concentrate on what memories the chilab picked up - it'd record that this was a sting operation of the most dangerous kind. Fortunately, his buddies - his REAL big brothers, he admitted with gratitude to them and sorrow for Jacen/Caedus - somehow understood. Even with the freakshow Ben's body had become, his heart wasn't in the kill. And neither Lon nor Jori were murderers - whatever Jacen said, killing Gejjen would be murder. That was why Jori was looking to pick up a fresh ride - theirs was intended to be dumped contaminated with Corellian dirt, crumbs, etc., to make it think the assassination was by Corellian fringe parties. And Lon was making sure that there was a distraction to keep Omas and his guards busy when Ben grabbed Gejjen. The boy just really hoped he'd be able to explain to the Jedi Council why he was coming to Endor with an effective prisoner of war, two GAG deserters, and his own body full of Vongtech. How he knew they were on Endor ... Ben had been trusting the Force this far. It was all that dulled the pain from the implants. It didn't help his shame at how much he'd deluded himself while he was in the Embrace. "Unmasking at midnight"? Kriff, he'd been loopy ... Taking a criminal into custody was Jedi. Or so Ben hoped. Jedi usually weren't naked, Vongformed living weapons with camo skin and an ability to skip using the `fresher. "... Lord Paxis. We have the target. 53-L. Confirm recording of exchange of services," Lon said in his best Shevu voice. Ben's gut clenched; the last phrase meant Lon had recorded that Omas and Gejjen had made a deal to take Jacen "out of play." Maybe even Niathal. Part of the boy wondered if he'd been part of the deal. Well, he was reshuffling THAT sabaac deck. Ben moved, finding 53-L - there was Lon, inputting an override code from the lockbreaker Intel had provided - "Mynock fibers have been detected on your ship - sirs, we need to check for contamination, please step this way," Lon said, drawing Omas and his two working-clothes-clad security goons out of the way. Gejjen looked understandably put out, while his two goons drew hold-out blasters and stood beside his table. Ben lost his cloak, his "new" skin not leaving any dead cells on it thanks to the sheerfiber weave, and flattened against the outer door - there. He was white plasteel, his lightsaber behind his back ... It was so STRANGE, being able to become basically invisible. But Ben had no time to reflect. He slipped into the hangar once Lon took Omas and his security detail around a corner, and waited ... Now. Tendons and muscles enhanced by vu'asa fibers cushioned the usual physical demands of a burst of speed fueled by the Force - The first CorSec goon shrieked when claws cut his gun from his hand, mangling the appendage and dropping his guard for the blatant punch behind it. Ben winced at the crack of the goon's breaking jaw - and that HE didn't feel ANY physical pain from the impact - - then he backspun, his left footspur shredding the other goon's gun, and Ben nerve-shocked the remaining guy's spine. He dropped, also with a bloody hand. Nothing bacta wouldn't fix, Ben justified ... And there was Gejjen, shocked - then ... LAUGHING. "Are you karking with me? A naked kid!? Solo's sicker than I thought if he warped you to off me," Gejjen spat. Then his eyes narrowed at the lightsaber in Ben's right hand, and bulged in terrified realization of which kid Jacen HAD sent. "Dur Gejjen. For conspiracy to commit murder, for - fermenting? - galactic war, and for being a Death-Star-sized motherkriffer, you're under arrest," Ben TRIED to growl. Of COURSE his voice broke right then. Hours of Vongforming hadn't accelerated Ben's puberty, even if he could elbow jerks and not bruise. "Wait - ARREST?" Gejjen asked, shocked. "You've got kids. Like my cousin Allana. I won't kill someone's father," Ben promised, grabbing Gejjen in a Force-grip. And then Ben was spun around, and HIS jaw dropped. "Do you have any idea how ... proud I am of you right now?" Luke Skywalker said, breaking into a tearful smile. "D - Da - DAD!?" Ben exclaimed - HOW - !? Luke quickly restrained Gejjen with handcuffs from his belt, and told the Corellian PM, "Please, don't try anything. My son needs me - you understand." And then Dad bear-hugged Ben, and everything was ... OK. Somehow, it was OK again. Ben couldn't take it - he started sobbing into Dad's shoulder - he'd come for him AGAIN. Even after ... "Shh. I had a vision you'd be here - that you'd need me. I'm not gonna ask why you're ... undressed, not until we get out of here. But I love you, I trust you, and I really AM proud of you," Dad said. "Dad ... I love you, too," Ben whispered. And then, of course, the far door exploded inward. ------------------------------------------------- Coruscant: Senate Building: ------------------------------------------------- Something was terribly, terribly ... wrong. It shouldn't be; Girdun had decrypted the damning conversation between Omas and Gejjen on Vulpter, sent it to G'vli G'sil's datapad and shocked the Coruscant Senator into removing himself from blocking Caedus and Niathal's steps into the COS office. Jointly. Caedus could appreciate two leaders running things. It was ... Sith in its rightness. But the Force was flickering with some bizarre vibration of light AND darkness around Ben - the boy obviously was having qualms being Darth Paxis. Caedus cursed inwardly as he sat in the Senate pod reserved for military personnel - the central spire, once reserved for the Supreme Chancellor, would remain empty until elections. By THAT point, Niathal would be ... subdued or dead. Caedus rather hoped she'd be flexible. He had stepped over too many corpses as it was. And he really hoped he wouldn't have to take the time to rewire Paxis' brain like he had the boy's body. That'd leave the lad a Hand, not a Sith. #Why not? You kriffed him over already,# Jacen Solo spat, revolted at what Caedus had done to poor Bennie. Caedus schutta-slapped Jacen into HIS cage - the roles were finally reversed - and felt the yellow-orange seeping into his irises as Niathal sat beside him. If she noticed it, she had the good grace not to say anything. No, Caedus wanted to keep her for a while. "How fascinating, the timing of this ... misstep by Cal," Niathal said, sighing as the Senate secretary, a Rodian named Tworl Vazhd, introduced the Senator from Naboo. Then that IDIOT relic, Jar Jar Binks, got the floor - With ... TENEL KA - in full Dathomiri warrior dress, lightsaber at her hip - and her pet Senator D'Althaud beside the Gungan ... !? ---------------------------------------------- "Fellow delegates" - Jar Jar had had more than 50 years to get THAT right - "mesa be bringin' a petition for the immediate removal of Colonel Jacen Solo from active duty for immediate vote by thisa esteemed body." "And I respectfully second the motion, on behalf of the Hapes Consortium. With us is Her Majesty, the Queen Mother Tenel Ka Djo, to state her case for why Colonel Solo should be removed from power BEFORE his attempted coup d'etat can take place," Agroneli said, bowing to Tenel Ka as she stood. The entire Senate went deathly quiet - there hadn't been a grandstanding play like this since ... well, since a certain dispute between another Naboo Senator and a cranky Supreme Chancellor just before the Clone Wars. "Ladies and gentlebeings of the Senate. We thank you for the opportunity to address this body. We - I shall switch to the singular, to better reflect the record - have accumulated a body of evidence to demonstrate why Colonel Solo is a threat to the continuing health and functioning of this Galactic Alliance," Tenel Ka said. Jacen - no, CAEDUS, she reminded herself, any fool could see how much like Palpatine he looked, even if his heart was shattering in the Force - stared at her, his jaw dropping. Tenel Ka ignored her tears and activated the holoprojector in her pod, as she said, "We have clear evidence of Colonel Solo's unprovoked attack upon Jedi Master Mara Jade-Skywalker approximately 10 days ago." Artoo's records had been replicated and spread throughout the Jedi Order. There was no excepting Tenel Ka, despite her "official" retirement from Jedi status. She was more grateful than ever for Leia and Luke considering her family, even before they'd known Allana's parentage. The footage of the lightsaber duel - and the carbon-freezing that followed - caused gasps and muttered outrage throughout the chamber. Caedus' face was a mask of fury, but it only strengthened Tenel Ka's resolve - The holo winked out, followed by another - fresh from Endor, although Tenel Ka neglected to betray the Jedi. Cilghal, gray and exhausted. THAT provoked gasps and snarls of outrage, especially from the Mon Cal delegation. "Senators of the Galactic Alliance. Normally, I would decline speaking before you, but we are in a dire moment for our galaxy. Once, I was proud to count Jacen Solo among my friends," Cilghal said mournfully. "That was before he Force-choked me and forced young Ben Skywalker to become a hostage, in exchange for my survival. I do not speak for my own grievance; I fear for the life of a young man who risked his own to save me." "I KNEW IT!" the Mon Cal Senator, Hark Idrath, barked, drawing Caedus' now-paling gaze. "The rumors WERE right! No wonder the Jedi ran - betrayed by one of their own, who can blame them!" "As you can see, ladies and gentlebeings, Colonel Solo has attacked his family and friends. He has yet to account for the whereabouts or wellbeing of his own cousin. And he has slain at least one prisoner in custody, in addition to reaving the heart of the Jedi Temple ... and my own," Tenel Ka concluded, no longer hiding her tears. #Allana. Forgive me, my darling ... but your father is mad,# she sent, looking at ... Caedus. He was shaking with rage - and tears - "VOTE NOW!" the Mon Cals AND Quarren shouted - and that alone touched off a wave of demands for the vote. That was when Caedus finally stood - -------------------------------------------- - lightning around his fingers, ignoring Niathal's gasp of outrage. "HOW *DARE* YOU!?" Caedus ROARED - his one true love, the woman he'd die for, had BETRAYED him!? WITH JAR JAR *BINKS*!? "Mesa maken one mistake all them years ago with one Sith Lord, Jacen! Mesa NO gonna be lettin' that happen again!" Jar Jar shouted, and the Senate roared approval despite Caedus' wrath. He was being humiliated AGAIN - and then the door to his pod was carved open, as - "OH, SHAVIT! YOU TWO *AGAIN*!?" Caedus snarled. "Well, I'm SO sorry, your Sithly Jackassanapes, but since Her Majesty and the good Senator outlined your pile of bull-nerf-shavit, YES, us two!" Betsy snapped, swinging her lightsaber to guard position. Mara just pulled a pair of knives from her boots, grinning wickedly. "Betts says we need you alive. In what condition is up to you. Give me Ben, you might even walk out of here," Mara said, WAY too calmly. Caedus just HOWLED, his lightsaber igniting as he lunged at Betsy - She'd started all this. SHE'D stolen Ben, set Luke and Mara after him, uncovered Nelani's death - "I'LL *KILL* YOU!!!" Caedus RAGED - he'd never been so powerful, he drove her back with every stroke - "Thisz one thinkz NOT." "NOW what!?" Betsy, Mara AND Niathal asked - and a red-and-black-scaled Barabel with a red lightsaber, black cloak and yellow-orange eyes climbed up from underneath the pod. "Another ... Sith ... ?" Jacen squeaked - --------------------------------------------- It would be bloody hilarious, if it weren't so badly timed. Betsy countered Jacen's - Caedus' - poorly-made downstroke, weaving and dodging as the ... Barabel SITH ... came at them - and yowled when Mara slashed the alien's arms, spinning past with her knives. "You szhall NOT stop Darth Szhenbit from her duty! CAEDUSZ MUSZT DIE!" the Barabel roared, and Caedus parried Betsy before turning with a lightning-outlined hand - Which went flying as a rancor-tooth lightsaber took the arm it was attached to, and Tenel Ka dropped into the pod with a dark glare as Caedus stammered. "There. We are a matched set, lover," Tenel Ka growled, slamming her unlit lightsaber into the side of Caedus' head. He finally dropped, leaving ...Darth Shenbit facing three focused Jedi women. Darth SHENBIT? Darth Kwannon sounded less absurd by the moment. The Senate went berzerk, screaming for security, but the "Dark Saba" hissed in perverse amusement. "The Szkywalker hatchling will szoon be oursz, mindwalker. He will make a deliciousz addition to the darkszide," Shenbit taunted. "NEVER!" Mara snarled, igniting her lightsaber. "The mother. How waszted you are, Hand, in the longfang Szkywalker'sz neszt," Shenbit hissed, perching on the pod's edge - "Maybe thisz one will szee if the son isz asz enduring asz the father in the neszt... ?" "Do NOT sully Ben or Master Luke's honor with your twisted lusts, Sith FIEND!" Shenbit screeched as that rancor-tooth lightsaber plunged through her tail, pinning her to the pod floor as Tenel Ka landed on the Sith Barabel's back. "My apologies, Masters, but I could not allow this ... thing to taint either Skywalker man's reputation a moment longer," Tenel Ka said, bowing as the Senate roared approval and Betsy grabbed Shenbit's `saber. "Well, I might take exception at calling Ben a man yet, but thanks, Your Majesty. Now - Darth Shenboots. TALK. WHERE IS MY SON?" Mara snarled, her knives back out. "Vulpter. He wasz to kill Gejjen, but he isz too szoft-hearted - my Maszter will break him, little houszewife," Shenbit spat - Then she shuddered, despite a flare of healing energies from Tenel Ka, and died. "Suicide programming?" Betsy worried. "Or Master Jade-Skywalker's reputation," Niathal said, looking askance at the unconscious Jacen. "If I might, Admiral, I will take the ... Dark Lord into custody. He has much to answer for, and I believe the Masters will wish to leave for Vulpter," Tenel Ka said, returning Betsy and Mara's hugs. "Thanks, Tenel - LUKE!?" Mara - gasped - And Betsy suddenly feared it was too late. ----------------------------------------------- Vulpter: Charbi Spaceport: ----------------------------------------------- Luke had waited, usually meditating but occasionally offering assistance with repairs or healings, until he'd sensed Ben arrive. That Cal Omas and Dur Gejjen had gotten there first had just been troubling, but Luke had thought it some kind of sign of hope for peace. He'd been even more hopeful when Ben had arrived - sad, hurt, but not truly dark - and had waited to see how things would play out. Ben had been both ... stunning in his combat prowess, and wonderful in the mercy he'd shown Gejjen. Luke wasn't sure he could've extended the same to Jacen after he'd seen the extent of the biomods Ben had suffered. THEN that dark - nexus - Luke had foreseen arriving, all the way back on Jabiim, finally made its move. That it had cloaked itself as well as it had before springing the trap meant a Sith Lord. That it wasn't Jacen ... meant bad trouble. "Ben, get Gejjen OUT of here! I'll hold off -" Luke ordered - hating that he was sending his son away NOW of all times - Something bipedal, gray and towering, with spikes and a red blade, lunged between them with Master level speed - and Luke barely blocked a crimson lightsaber strike toward his midsection, as Ben cried out. One Sith and one blue cybernetic eye, beneath a horned helmet of ... yorik coral? ... glared at Luke. "SKYWALKER. ANOTHER Skywalker ... ALWAYS Skywalkers," the Sith Lord snarled, pushing Luke back. "We're full of surprises, Darth -?" Luke quipped. "Krayt," the being rasped. Tatooine. Somehow, it ALWAYS came back to Tatooine. Luke's Force-push didn't exactly surprise the Dark Lord, but it did separate them. Ben admirably pulled Gejjen away, but the Sith clenched his fingers - and Ben SCREAMED. Gejjen dropped as Ben spasmed - something about the Vong implants, Luke feared, lunging - His son was being tortured. Again. NOT happening. But neither was what Luke expected, as the Sith blocked him with one red blade - and another, from seemingly nowhere, cleft Luke's cybernetic right hand at the wrist. "Ghrn -" Luke admitted - but that was all. He'd dealt with losing hands before. His SON was still in this thing's range. Until a whipcord-fast footspike slashed Krayt along the ankle, provoking a bellow of pain, and Ben got to his feet, wielding - OK, that red saber wasn't good. But Luke could sense his boy was fighting down his fear, focusing on his love and trying to protect him ... "Pain? PAIN? I got operated on without coma gas or tranquarrest, you big Sith JERK! And worse, you HURT MY DAD!" Ben yelled - The Sith Lord roared when a wrecking-ball of Force - no other real term for it - threw him back toward the crushed rear door, cracking his helmet in half. "First round to you, Son and Grandson of Vader," the Sith Lord said, coughing while his helmet fell to the ground. And Luke RECOGNIZED that face - the tattoos - from the Great Holocron ... "... A'SHARAD HETT ... !?" Luke blurted. "You have NO idea what is coming, Skywalker. You escaped me as a toddler on the sands of our homeworld. Your offspring WILL bow to me, and your skin will decorate my throne room," Krayt - Hett, a Jedi of the Old Republic, believed lost - spat. And he was gone despite his bulk, as Ben moaned, "Dad ... sorry ..." "NO - Ben, you did as well as you could!" Luke pleaded, letting Ben lean on him - his boy had kept pace with him, at least. "Thanks. But ... what now?" Ben asked - and then, THEN, security forces swarmed the hangar. "Uh ... Corellian Prime Minister in the dirt here!?" Gejjen yelped, but Shevu just hauled him to his feet, and Luke wrapped his cloak around Ben. "Now, we go home for a while. We rest, we talk ... and we'll be a FAMILY," Luke promised, as his son hugged him. Of course, they had to talk their way out of this first ... --------------------------------------------- "WHAT are you ... people ... doing here!?" the portmaster demanded - Ben found it pretty stupid that the guy was angry about a hangar getting destroyed. Nobody was dead. Didn't that count for something? "HEY! Mister! This is a Galactic Alliance Guard investigation - I've got the recording right here!" Ben shot back, grunting at the pain as he detached the chilab from his sinus and dropped it into his palm, then handed it to Dad. Dad looked at it, then smiled - "You recorded -?" he asked. "Aunt Cilghal getting choked, my torture, the assassination order ... I thought it should go to you and Mom in case I ..." Ben trailed off, shaking again - everything he'd gone through HIT him - "I think," Dad said, hugging Ben again, "this should go to the authorities. "Not every day my kid helps smack around two Sith." -------------------------------------------- tbc ...