Subject: [OTL]: (alt. Betsy/Star Wars) Fanged Butterfly 2: Knightcross 7/? (PG-15) From: Phil Hartman Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:36:41 +0000 will1@earthling.net Fanged Butterfly Vol. 2: Knightcross Chapter 7 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. ---------------------------------------------- 40 ABY: Dathomir: Singing Mountain Clan Fortress: ---------------------------------------------- The sun was coming up. Betsy hoped that was a good omen; she could sense Luke, Mara, Leia, Anakin and his lover Tahiri - and, a pleasant surprise, Jaina - approaching Dathomir. Jacen ... lurked. Betsy questioned inviting HIM to the party, but better to face him with a full house. She'd changed into borrowed rancor-hide pants and sleeveless shirt, her lightsaber bouncing against her hip when she sat to meditate after a light breakfast of local bread and fruit. #One of the best parts of traveling the galaxy is the variety of food. I never made much time to stop and enjoy the simple things back on Earth ... we were usually too busy running and fighting, or having emotional breakdowns,# Betsy thought bemusedly as she looked out on the fortress and the jungle beyond from Kirana Ti's porch. She'd accepted, finally, that Earth was beyond her reach. She'd never give up on the idea of going home - despair was of the dark side - but she had a family here who needed her as much as the X-Men. And she needed them. #The Skywalkers and Solos - yes, Jacen, even you. How many people would give their right hands to even MEET such legends, much less be accepted by them?# Betsy thought, still amazed at her fortune. She cracked an eyelid as Ben - now wearing baggy rancor-hide shorts and a vest, his lightsaber at his waist - sat beside her and assumed the traditional cross-legged meditation stance. "Uhm - may I join you?" the boy asked politely. "Always. You're being awfully quiet," Betsy teased, but Ben echoed her grin until he started to center himself. "Sorry. Just trying to shut out Jacen. He's not yelling anymore - I think he might've been scared he hurt me," Ben said, sounding like he was trying to rationalize his crazy cousin's behavior. Betsy clamped down her own frustration, but met Ben's fearful gaze when she sensed his pain at her doubt that Jacen could have any compassion left. "Ben. I know you want to help Jacen. But if he used the Force to kill a woman, and kept putting you into situations where you had to use violence, you can't keep making excuses for him," Betsy sighed. "I know. But we can't just assume he's evil. I thought, before we landed, that he was trying to corrupt me, but what if I'm wrong? There're good people in the Guard who follow the rules. They do their duty, and they watch out for me - they're my friends. They wouldn't work for Jacen if he was really corrupted," Ben insisted. Betsy could see a few faces bubbling in Ben's surface thoughts - a man in his late 20s named Shevu, with a brown buzzcut almost identical to Ben's red one, and a sandy-buzzcut young corporal named Lekauf had the warmest emotions linked with them. A grim-faced man named Girdun, with a "high and tight" black haircut, vaguely frightened Ben, though ... "They're also not Force-users. I know you've made friends, Ben, but remember what we talked about - you're not an adult yet. It's wonderful to be made a part of the group, but what if the group doesn't know where they're going?" Betsy asked. Ben blew out a long breath - his Padawan braid had curled around his neck and fluttered in the exhalation - before nodding with a sad look. "Jacen can fool people. I know ... and Captain Shevu was MAD when Jacen killed that Habuur lady," the boy agreed. "I think Captain Shevu deserves your trust. What about Girdun?" Betsy probed. Ben looked at her with a little frustration, but relaxed when Betsy added, "Sorry. You just latched onto those two and Lekauf - it's not easy to shield against you when we're this close. You're very strong in the Force." "Thanks ... I think. Captain Girdun's ex-Intelligence. He ... handled the interrogation for Habuur and her Corellian contacts until Jacen took over Habuur's ... questioning. Girdun ... he's pretty ... direct," Ben said, looking worried. #Ah,# Betsy realized. "That was another reason - besides Jacen getting violent with Habuur - why you stepped in to save Habuur's other Corellian contact. Girdun's got a track record of hardlining his questions for prisoners, hmm?" Betsy asked. Ben closed his eyes and nodded. "Captain Girdun's ... cold. He's nice to me, but he's pretty harsh with prisoners. His methods are ..." he said, shivering. The boy smiled as he continued, "Captain Shevu's a lot nicer - always asks how I'm doing. I don't think he likes when I'm in danger, and he watches my back, like the other guys. And Jori - Corporal Lekauf - his grandpa worked for ... Vader. He looks up to Jacen, but Jori's my pal, too. He jokes with me, even if I'm higher rank." #And I feared you were being dragged into fascism ... shavit. Jacen isn't creating a galactic SS after all, or at least not one filled with mindless thugs. The Guard still needs close watch, but they DO have a purpose,# Betsy realized, when Ben let her examine more of his memories of his Guard work - Flashes of concentration at blaster drill, noting how similar it was to lightsaber drill, and pleasure at applause for a demonstration of `saber skills; the lockstep focus of marching cadence, and the effort of calisthenics, determination to keep up with the rest of the troops; the hum of a razor in the locker room as red locks fell to the floor, accompanied by approving backslaps and happiness at fitting in, as small black fatigues were awarded to the newest recruit; crude jokes and clinking of mugs in a tapcaf, and joy at being accepted by grownups - friends - who were genuinly glad to have their "kid Jedi" along ... The GAG were, by and large, a band of brothers - and they genuinely accepted Ben as one of the guys. It wasn't, itself, an evil organization, even if the work was harsh. It was just GRAY, and Jedi in charge of gray ops ... that was a bad combination. If something went wrong, the Order could get blamed for "Force-abuse," and that had led to Palpatine being able to scapegoat the old Order. #Unless you start your Jedi soldiers young,# Betsy reflected, looking at Ben as he tried to meditate. The boy had embraced military discipline - had gained strength and focus. He hadn't, however, become arrogant against civilians, as some soldiers did; just the opposite. Ben was trying to help protect innocents, and he was happy to find friends who didn't whisper "Son of Skywalker." #He hasn't lost his empathy yet,# Betsy realized - she knew she had to tread carefully with how she and the Skywalkers and Solos tried to separate Ben from Jacen. Mara would understand. She and Betsy had much in common, both coming from espionage and military backgrounds, and it had been Mara who'd backed the GAG to Galactic Alliance Chief of State Cal Omas. She'd also defended Jacen when the first Corellians had been interred, and that hadn't been easy on her relations with the rest of the Jedi Council, Betsy recalled. Luke ... Luke had been a soldier, but he had left that part of his Rebel days to focus on the Force side of the Order in rebuilding it. Pulling Ben out of the GAG might seem light-side, but it would be too abrupt. #Ben needs to know his family accepts and trusts him, as much as his GAG `brothers' do. He IS the kind of person we need dealing with insurgents, along with Shevus and Lekaufs and other decent sorts,# Betsy considered. The GAG wasn't a cancer-riddled organization. It just had a brain tumor - Jacen had to be excised. "Ben." The boy looked at Betsy, and she gave him a warm smile as she continued, "I'll back you up to your parents, whatever you decide about staying with the Guard. I hope I didn't jump down your throat before about your duties. I appreciate you trusting me with your memories." "Thanks. I just ... needed to TALK to someone - Jacen's been scary, you saw that. But I can't go back to the Academy. I can't leave my friends to fight alone. I should've stayed last night, talked to Captain Shevu or Jori," Ben sighed. "If they're your friends, they'll understand. And I can deal with Jacen," Betsy assured him. Ben looked terrified for a moment, but nodded. "Mom and Dad and Aunt Leia and Ani and Jaya are coming, too. Just please - don't take Jacen on alone," he pleaded. "Believe me, I know better than that. I'm just sorry I put you in the middle in this mess. I thought you needed to flee him, when you really just needed a shoulder to lean on," Betsy admitted. Ben managed a grin, then said, "I needed to `member I could trust my family, `sides Jasa. I won't forget." "That's my brave, bright nephew - ah. I think I sense ..." Betsy concentrated - a friendly, if surprised, Force-probe was reaching for them - Her comlink rang, and she pulled it out, before checking the encryption code, then said, "Braddock." "Betsy? I thought I felt your presence - you're with Ben?" Leia Organa-Solo said, warmth in her tone. "Yes. Actually, we were en route to Bimmiel on GAG business when we were ambushed. It's good to hear from you - Ben's safe. The Angel's Wing is being repaired, but we didn't want to leave after Ben called for help. We DO need to talk," Betsy said, as Ben struggled to stay calm. He gulped, then said, "A-Aunt Leia? I'm - I didn't mean to - I'm sorry -" "Oh, Ben. We're not mad at you. Please, don't be scared - we're in-system now, we're close. Whatever happened on those raids, I believe you were trying to do what you thought was right," Leia said, and Ben's Force mask broke into relief and gratitude as he teared up. "Thanks. That means - thanks," Ben sniffled, and Betsy ruffled his hair. "Hey, kid. Listen to your aunt, OK? You're still my favorite nephew," Han said, while a familiar Wookie growl of reassurance made Ben gulp back a grateful sob. "U-Uncle Han -" Ben mumbled, and Betsy felt Leia enfold Ben in the Force. He managed to stay composed, but the sense of relief and gratitude he gave off was almost tangible. "We'll be on Dathomir in the hour. Got your back, kid - Betts, take care, and watch out for Fett," Han warned. Ben looked up from where he'd been wiping his face, while Betsy asked, "Fett? What would HE want with us?" Leia's sigh was that of a wounded parent - Betsy could sense the Alderaanian princess's brief frustration with Jacen, and projected sympathy across the void which Leia accepted warmly. "Ailyn `Habuur' was actually Ailyn Vel, Fett's daughter. He and his granddaughter, Mirta Gev, have Vel's body now - Han and I retrieved it from Jacen last night. Force knows what Fett might do. We wanted Ben to be careful just in case Fett wanted to get at Jacen through him," Leia said. Ben went deathly pale, fresh guilt and horror spiking in him, and Betsy put an arm around him as she breathed, "Thanks for the warning." "Hang on a little longer, buddy - Betts, thanks for watching the kid. See you soon," Han said, and the channel closed. "Fett's DAUGHTER ... ? Aunt Betsy, I didn't KNOW -" Ben whispered, and she pulled him close as she closed her eyes. "Remember: Jacen killed Vel. Who was after your aunt and uncle, actually. I promise, though, I am NOT going to let Fett touch you," Betsy vowed. Now they had Fett to worry about. Han's seasonal nemesis, even if the Mand'alor didn't believe grudges were professional. Mandalorians still had a nasty habit of turning up at the worst moments for Jedi - "Master Braddock? Did I hear Princess Leia?" Betsy looked up as Tenel Ka walked out of the guest suite double doors, Allana - both clad in simple blue dresses - beside her with her tauntaun in her arms. The little girl sat down beside Ben and hugged him, saying, "It's OK, Ben." "Th-thanks, Allana," Ben said - far more familiarly than he had the day before, Betsy realized ... And then it hit her - Allana's facial structure - She smiled up at Tenel Ka and said, "Yes, Your Majesty. Han and Leia are an hour away - Ben asked his family to come and try to help him." Tenel Ka's facial expressions went through some interesting gymnastics, but her Force aura was ... lighter. As if a great weight was about to be lifted. "Leia Organa-Solo's Jacen's mommy," Allana said, looking from around Ben's side at Betsy with a smile. "Yes, she is," Betsy said, as Tenel Ka sat beside Allana and met Betsy's eyes, sharing a secret. Ben looked between the women, afraid until Tenel Ka said, "It's all right, Ben. This has been a secret for far too long ... "Grandparents deserve to know their grandchildren." ----------------------------------------------- Keldabe, Mandalore, Mandalorian Space, Mid-Rim: ----------------------------------------------- "yub-Shak-Daht-omr." "Hmm." "Bah-Dok. Shky-wok-er." "HMM." "Ca-sha?" The sitting Mand'alor slipped a 1,000-credit chit across the table to the still-seething Ewok and replied, "Keep in touch." "Ah-dah," Tarfang said, grinning wickedly as Boba Fett looked over at a grey-armored young woman with cropped black hair - girl, really, chatting with other Mandalorian mercs at the bar. Mirta Gev looked at the departing Tarfang with mild amusement, before shrugging and taking the treacherous Galactic Alliance spy's seat. "A lead?" she asked her grandfather. Fett shrugged - his helmet was still on, it was rarely off, even sitting on his ancestral homeworld in a bar that doubled as the seat of what government the chaotic Mandalorians tolerated. "Colonel Solo's pet Skywalker is on Dathomir. With Braddock," the galaxy's deadliest bounty hunter said. Mirta's knuckles went white, but even at 18 she had the sense not to go darting to Slave I. "Braddock. That complicates things," Mirta muttered. Fett DID remove his helmet, revealing cropped greying hair and a jawline scarred from Sarlaac acid, before he pointed a finger at his recently-found granddaughter. "We do this MY way," he ordered. Mirta muttered "Shabuir" - a vaguely obscene word combining the Mando'a terms for backside and grandfather - before sighing. "You're getting soft in your old age," she complained. Fett's glare shut her down, but he admitted inwardly that he was morally adverse to harming a boy - even if, at 13, the Skywalker heir would've been an adult in Mandalorian society. "You try seeing your father get his head hacked off when you're 10. I don't kill kids," Fett warned in glacial tones. "And my mother got hers broken by that hut'uun Jacen Solo. Doesn't mean I'm going to vape the Skybratter, but if he can be bait ..." Mirta shot back just as coldly. "You want your mother's killer. So do I. Difference is, I want to do this RIGHT, and do it right by Mandalore. We take the boy unharmed, draw in Solo, and you repeat your three-hole-to-the-head trick from killing Thrackan. No messy Jetiise wrath for killing Luke Skywalker's son," Fett said, using the Mando'a word for Jedi. "Ah. So again, this is for Mandalore, not Mama. Not your daughter," Mirta accused, watching Fett put his helmet on. "Ailyn tried to kill ME more than once. She succeeded with a clone trooper pretending to be me. What I owe her has nothing to do with what you think I should feel," Fett said, once again glacial while he paid the tab and led Mirta to the starport. He didn't handle relationships well. Seeing his father slain by Mace Windu on Geonosis, had left Fett numb. Until Sintas Vel. Ailyn's mother. Fett's one true love. Then he'd left her and their infant daughter, to protect Sintas' good name after he'd killed his superior officer on the Mandalorian-run world of Concord Dawn. He'd shot Lenovar and accepted exile instead of dragging Sin through a trial that would've forced her to testify about the horror Lenovar put her through ... That had been decades ago. Ailyn had grown up very bitter - too weak a word for her hatred - against her father for abandoning her and her mother. Mirta had shown up a week ago, with the heart-of-fire necklace Fett had given Sintas as their wedding present. She'd tricked Fett into giving himself away so Ailyn - her mother - could finish him once and for all. That hadn't gone as anyone had planned. Ailyn had been picked up by the Galactic Alliance Guard during her trip to kill Han and Leia Solo for Thrackan Sal-Solo. And Jacen - Han's son, the son of the man who just kept getting in Fett's visor without meaning to - had brutalized Ailyn to death in a holding cell. A Jedi had once again taken someone of Fett's. A Jedi son of Han Solo was just a kick in the shebs. Again, Fett had lost a family member to uncommon cruelty. In the meantime, before Leia Solo had told Fett the news, Han, Fett and Mirta had turned the tables on Thrackan, killing the sleazy Corellian Diktat to try and avert the coming war between Corellia and the GA. Mirta had actually blown three blaster holes in Thrackan's skull - her technique was quite good, Fett admitted - and they'd escaped CorSec, Corellian Security. Then Leia - one of the few decent Jedi Fett had ever met - had had to deliver the news. She'd been genuinely remorseful over Ailyn. Fett appreciated that. Jaina, who'd married the Fel kid, had made an honorable bounty hunter - she was a little soft, tried not to kill, but Fett respected a professional. Carnage was wasteful. Vader had understood that, despite the occasional dead naval officer. A little temper was expected in Sith. And Anakin Solo, Vader's namesake, had given his hut'uun older brother the one-digit salute, and he'd killed a lot of Vong. Mandalore had suffered from the Vong, so anyone who killed the crab-armor boys was all right. #Would've pegged the one named for Vader to be in my face more than Mystic Black Cape Boy,# Fett mused while he deactivated Slave I's security system. He let Mirta handle the pre-flight warmup, and nodded when she punched the coordinates for Dathomir into the navicomputer. Jedi had taken more of Fett's family than was bearable. But Jedi had also delivered his daughter's body to him. Fett figured he owed Leia her nephew's life. The Skywalker boy wasn't able to control his scumbag older cousin. And the boy's mother was an ex-Hand of Palpatine - nobody to make dini'la, or insane. He wouldn't cry any tears over planning to let his granddaughter put down the Princess' chakaar - corpse-robber - of an eldest son, though. ------------------------------------------------ Hydian Way Hyperlane, approaching Dathomir system black hole hyperspace anomaly: ------------------------------------------------ It was ... a little addictive, looking out over the bow of a Super Star Destroyer painted solid black. Jacen knew there were a few million tons of durasteel and sentience on the decks below, as the GAG's first flagship reverted to realspace for the course correction. Ben's Force-plea - heartbreaking - had been quite clear on their destination. But the illusion of floating in a tower, unsupported by a ship, through the vast night was somehow poetically Sith. #Careful. Power lust, anyone? Might as well grow a forehead furrow and cackle insanely,# Jacen thought wryly. He HAD looked a little gray-skinned lately ... Lumiya had warned him about putting himself before duty to pacifying the galaxy. That had been Palpatine's downfall, wallowing in and promoting depravity while hiding behind sanctimonious whining about bringing "peace" to the galaxy. Alderaan was the obvious answer to Sidious' lies. #Hut'uun,# Jacen thought, amused at picking a Mandalorian curse to describe the Emperor. But "coward" was as accurate a term for the shriveled Sith fiend as anything else. A politician to the end, Sidious had sent a Skywalker to do his dirty work. Cal Omas - a survivor of Alderaan, now a simpering excuse for a chief of state for the GA - had latched onto Jacen's offer to deal with internal threats with the GAG. #Some things never change. We still roll over and let our politician masters throw the stick ...# Well, THIS time, Jacen was the nek dog handler playing with the pups in the training yard - not a bad analogy. Most of the GAG was 25 and younger, with no real memory of the Empire but plenty of hatred for the chaos of the Vong War. They begged for a charismatic leader, a hero to shape and lead them ... someone like a war hero, similar to a Chosen One. Anakin Skywalker had killed Dooku. Jacen had killed the Vong Overlord Shimmra. The crowds had loved them. It all made perfect sense for him to lead the youth movement ... and when Omas' back was turned, the neks would bite. "Colonel, sir?" "Yes, Corporal," Jacen said, giving Jori Lekauf - whose grandfather had served with Vader - a kind smile. Lekauf was a loyal kid, barely out of the GA Academy, who'd wanted to follow in his grandsire's footsteps. Jacen was touched by the younger man's loyalty, and grateful to Lekauf for befriending Ben. Like Shevu, Jacen's chief of staff, Jori had helped Ben learn the ropes, and Ben had rapidly warmed to them. #Part of the reason we're out here with our new toy - Ben, please don't fear me ...# Jacen worried ... "Sir, Grand Admiral Niathal requests you for a conference call with Chief of State Omas," the sandy-buzzcut Lekauf said. Jacen thanked the corporal and retired to his private office, then activated the holocomm. Cha Niathal, a female Mon Calamarian and figurative heiress to the tradition of Admiral Ackbar, was technically Jacen's superior officer. In truth, she was letting Jacen get all the credit for keeping the homefront safe, and letting him be the fall boy if things went down the exhaust port. Omas had been the first GA Chief of State, after Leia had refused to play politics. She'd wanted to focus on her Jedi skills after having her legendary reputation bruised by the manipulations of the Bothan COS Borsk Fey'lya during the Vong War. Jacen admired his mother for listening to the Force and savoring her time with his dad. Love was no crime. #Except for Sith,# the dark thing whispered. Niathal and the aged, portly Omas appeared, blue translucent ghosts atop his holoprojector. The coiled darkside thing in Jacen's subconscious hissed in anticipation of prey until he slapped it down - Omas wasn't some hoojib to be fed to a rabid nek. Yet. THAT particular nek needed ... infecting first. "Colonel. I assume your flagship's shakedown cruise is proceeding apace?" Niathal asked. "Right as Onderonian rain, Admiral. We're within an hour of Dathomir, and I'll be picking up Lieutenant Skywalker before we pay the blockade a visit. Nothing like leading from the front," Jacen said, glancing at Omas. "I still find it odd for the officer in charge of Coruscanti home security to be leading starfighter pickets. Wasn't your brother supposed to be doing that?" Omas asked. Jacen refused to rise to the bait. The media had made a Togorian furball out of Anakin's angry resignation from the GA Navy. Omas knew exactly why Jacen was out here. If the Jedi weren't going to do something about the Corellians spitting in the galaxy's eye, then Jacen Solo, Hero of Coruscant's Second Liberation - was going to slap Corellia's lips shut. "Deterrence isn't just a propaganda holoposter, Chief. I want your counterpart, Dur Gejjen, to sweat a little at the idea that I can be anywhere, stepping on naughty little Corellian toes," Jacen chuckled magnanimously. And what better weapon to squish little piggies than a big, bad new SSD named for the hero who'd sacrificed his life to let Jacen kill the Vong Overlord Shimmra? The Ganner Rhysode, after all, sported a boosted starfighter contingent and the most advanced hangars, medical facilities and turbolaser and ion cannon banks. #Awen't woo a BIG Staw Destoyaw, wes woo aww,# Jacen thought - then blinked at how ... MUSHY he was suddenly getting. Sith didn't do mushy. #I know why I'm getting sappy - a current in the Force, familiar ...# Jacen thought, suddenly fearful. "Chief, Admiral - I'm getting a general alert. I have to cut this short," Jacen begged off - just about begged. "Understood, Colonel. That close to Mandalore, one can't be too careful," Niathal said, sounding not quite mocking. Omas did look concerned, replying, "Safe travel, Colonel. And yes - do step on some Corellian toes. Maybe they'll concede more at the negotiation table." #Not if any more assassins show up, like at Kuat,# Jacen thought - had it really been six weeks since the the galaxy had plunged into madness AGAIN? #Since you shoved a lightsaber through Nelani Dinn,# his conscience snarked. Jacen let the darkside thing nibble on his conscience and switched off the com, then immersed himself in the Force. Ben reached back, wary but adoring, and Jacen tried not to be mad at the boy for dragging him out here. The old loyalty was there, shot through with a sorrow and determination to SAVE Jacen that touched his heart, and Ben lit up in response to Jacen's apologetic touch. And Betsy. Jacen greeted her with a polite, warm "handshake," which Betsy returned with equal greeting. #She obviously knows something's not ideal ...# Jacen realized, feeling around Dathomir's Force-aura ... And then Jacen gasped. #Allana ...!?# he realized, both touched and afraid when his little girl brushed his shields with happy anticipation - someone was coming to visit her on her vacation - And there was Tenel Ka, resolved and greeting - if wary. His true love was getting ready to reveal - #NO!# Jacen snarled - at the edge of his awareness, closer to Dathomir than he'd expected - His parents - his mother, wary but still not hating him, while his father, still bitter toward Jacen over Fett's daughter, flew beside her, ever bonded. They were about to learn the truth, for some reason Tenel Ka was resolved to tell them that Allana was their granddaughter - why NOW? And how had Ben and Betsy ended up with Tenel Ka and Allana? The Force had a very sick sense of timing, Jacen fumed. He also sensed Luke and Mara - the backlash of FURY from his aunt was enough to make Jacen stumble back into his seat. She felt betrayed. He'd have to be careful. And Anakin and Tahiri. Fluff and fluffer. But even fluff could poison with its sweetness. And ... cold steel, ringing as it was drawn from its scabbard, a lightsaber blade appearing from the sheath instead of forged metal. #Oh, Force help me ...# Jacen prayed. JAINA. She wasn't hot with fury. That was a BAD sign, Jacen reminded himself fearfully. She was deadliest when she was making a cold kill. It was a Skywalker/Solo family reunion, with surprise relatives tossed in. At least they'd adore Allana. Jacen didn't fear his family attacking his little girl. But it did smell of an attempted intervention. Especially if Jaina and Jag were coming. They usually haunted Ossus to deliberately avoid him. #All roads lead to Dathomir ...# the darkside thing chuckled guturally. It was a poor joke. Dathomir was near the Hydian but not right on it - the Sith-haunted world wasn't the usual vacation spot this far in the galactic "east." Ben's agonized plea had obviously shattered the clan's walls against each other. Jacen shielded, retracting his Force presence. They knew he was close - no need to advertise more than necessary. "Sir?" the watch comlink rang. Jacen was actually glad of the distraction. "Solo here, Watch. Proceed," he sighed. "Sir, we've received a report from the Keldabe listening post. Slave I was confirmed outbound by Mandalore Traffic Control 1.5 standard hours ago. Multiple trajectory plots show a greater than 75 percent chance it was heading for Dathomir," the watch officer said nervously. "Thank you - Lieutenant Tebut? Jacen tried to recall, she was loyal and competent and that alone mattered - "Ensign, sir, but thank you for the promotion," Tebut tried to joke. "Consider those lieutenant's bars literal, Tebut. I applaud initiative," Jacen said, managing warmth - And realization lit a nova of horror in his gut. "Tebut, this is Solo - did you say DATHOMIR!?" Jacen almost SCREAMED into the com - Fett. Near Allana. After Jacen had killed Fett's daughter. "Y-yessir. Shall I call Captain Nevil?" Tebut squeaked. "Please, Lieutenant. And my apologies," Jacen extended - Tebut was just the messenger. He got enough comparisons to Vader without threatening his crew. "Colonel?" Kral Nevil, the Quarren captain of the Ganner, called in his mumbling version of Basic - being aquatic beings from Mon Cal, with mouth tentacles and descended from squid, Quarren didn't tend to speak the galactic common tongue easily. "Captain, how soon can we skirt that black hole? I have reason to believe that the Mand'alor is about to place the Hapan Chume'da at extreme risk," Jacen asked, letting a Jedi meditation technique focus him. This was no time for darkside blindness into bloodrage. "Sir, an attack on the effective president of Mandalore would -" Nevil began. "I DID NOT SAY ATTACK, CAPTAIN," Jacen snarled - did nobody LISTEN, his daughter was in mortal danger! He calmed down and added, "Sorry, Captain - I understand the diplomatic risk. I merely wish to extend our aid to Her Hapan Majesty Tenel Ka. I remember Fett's issues with me." "... understood, sir. We're nearly clear of the mass shadow now. Jump in 30 seconds," Nevil said, not sounding convinced. Everybody was remembering that Jacen had once been Tenel Ka's Academy friend ... a child of Skywalker, wooing a noble warrior queen. Those Anakin Skywalker comparisons were getting eerie. [Ben, Allana ... Tenel ... I'm coming ...] The stars turned to blue streaks, and Jacen steeled himself. Vader had dealt with Fett, also. #Maybe I should practice that Force choke ...# ------------------------------------------------- tbc ...