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  1. In Memory of LAJ_FETT: Please share your remembrances and condolences HERE

Beyond - Legends Empire of the Hand (Post NJO: Jaina Solo, Jag) Completed 9/26/05!

Discussion in 'Fan Fiction- Before, Saga, and Beyond' started by YodaKenobi, Mar 4, 2005.

  1. YodaKenobi

    YodaKenobi Former TFN Books Staff star 6 VIP

    Registered:
    May 27, 2003
    Nother great one YodaKenobi! cant wait to get some more of this awesome story~!

    Thanks :) I'll be posting more in a bit.
     
  2. Morgoth_The_Enemy

    Morgoth_The_Enemy Jedi Youngling star 3

    Registered:
    Sep 10, 2003
    Whew! finally made it...

    excellent work as Usual Yodakenobi, I must say, the blue skinned red eyed villain from the first of your two posts I missed does sound rather familiar...wonder exactly what a chiss has in store for Jaina...
    I like the search you've got Jaina on but i must confess that i think shes walking into a trap, since she's a solo, she should do fine...I think. I also really liked the training scene with the remote, the stance you had her take as well as the mention of footwork in regards to the whole fighting technique (Claps loudly) well done (Darth Vader voice) Impressive, most impressive.
    Well, can't stop for long, too much uni work to do, I'll pop in to see if another post is up later in the week,for now, bye!

    Morgoth (Dark lordof hating University work)
     
  3. YodaKenobi

    YodaKenobi Former TFN Books Staff star 6 VIP

    Registered:
    May 27, 2003
    Morgoth: Whew! finally made it...
    excellent work as Usual Yodakenobi, I must say, the blue skinned red eyed villain from the first of your two posts I missed does sound rather familiar...wonder exactly what a chiss has in store for Jaina...


    I never said he was a villain ;) and thanks :D

    I like the search you've got Jaina on but i must confess that i think shes walking into a trap, since she's a solo, she should do fine...I think.

    More or less, yes :p

    I also really liked the training scene with the remote, the stance you had her take as well as the mention of footwork in regards to the whole fighting technique (Claps loudly) well done (Darth Vader voice) Impressive, most impressive.

    *takes a bow* :p Jaina's obviously a good fighter.

    Well, can't stop for long, too much uni work to do, I'll pop in to see if another post is up later in the week,for now, bye!

    Good luck, hope you can get some of that free time soon ;)

    Thanks for reading :)





    Okay, next post is long, I'm sorry :( [face_blush] There is a good place to stop about 3/5 the way through, but I found when I stopped it there, the chapter didn't make much sense and sort of sucked. If it makes you guys feel any better, the next 4 chapters at least will be much shorter.
     
  4. YodaKenobi

    YodaKenobi Former TFN Books Staff star 6 VIP

    Registered:
    May 27, 2003
    Chapter 4: Pirates of Ord Mantell

    Jaina had her lightsaber free and activated a half-second before Wrev did— fast enough for her to deflect the first blaster bolt that screamed through the smoking remains of the doorway. The lightsabers seemed to attract a flurry of fire from their unseen opponents, Wrev managing to send two red bolts back through the door with his cobalt blade. Debris and the smell of scorched atmosphere assaulted his senses; dust and rock hanging heavy in the air and making him choke when it was breathed in. The staccato of blasterfire continued, and the Jedi worked in tandem, deflecting every blast that made it through until the smoke cleared, revealing five beings with heavy blasters and a motley assortment of armor— bounty hunters.

    Wrev hadn't sensed them coming until just before the blast, too engrossed in getting information of Alema and the Lysekramani to notice the danger that was approaching he and Jaina. At first he had thought it Gazzo's attempt at an ambush, but that thought vanished as soon as he realized the destruction could have easily killed the Toydarian crime lord as well. The bounty hunters seemed as interested in killing Gazzo as they did the Jedi, and Wrev knew they couldn't let anything happen to the alien while he had vital information.

    But who were these warriors? Under orders from one of Gazzo's rivals most likely; perhaps this Ciezor Gazzo had mentioned— the one who had been harassing Gazzo's ships and possibly the person responsible for the slaughter on board the Lysekramani.

    A new thought entered Wrev's mind as he caught one bolt with a diagonal parry, then spun and deflected another that hit an enemy in his plated chest— These bounty hunters might have attacked Alema when she came to Ord Mantell in the same way. Perhaps they were responsible for her disappearance... He held back his fury, concentrating on intercepting the red flashes before they hit anyone.

    It was Jaina who gave up the defensive posture first, throwing herself in a Force-aided leap that landed her in between two of the mercenaries. In two graceful movements she shattered the barrel of one blaster pistol, then spun on her heal and took the arm of the second man off at the elbow. He went down howling in agony.

    Gazzo and his guards had overturned the sabacc table and were using it as a shield while they fired shots between the Jedi at the bounty hunters. Chi'tolow had taken a knee and was using some make of long-blaster to fire, a weapon not made for such close combat.

    One of the enemies advanced on Wrev, a Trandoshan from the looks with a red-visored helmet a size too small. Wrev swatted back a blast that hit the alien's free arm, before a quick spin brought the blue light back around in a rising slash that tore through his armor and opened flesh. Jaina was giving a similar treatment to the first bounty hunter she had disarmed, but had since pulled a vibroblade— his last mistake.

    The remaining attackers realized they had bitten off more than they could possibly chew and retreated, heading back through the casino and the doors leading outside.

    "They're Ciezor's goons!" Gazzo was shouting in his rough voice. "Don't let them escape!"

    Jaina didn't use the opportunity to negotiate— she had clearly already thought of what Wrev had and knew there was a good chance these mercenaries were somehow connected to Alema's disappearance. "Come on!" She shouted after Wrev, already running through the exterior lounge.

    Wrev chased after her, leaving a dazed Threepio lying next to the maimed bounty hunter in the mangled entrance to Gazzo's private room. He felt Chi'tolow following behind, moving quicker and more nimbly than he would have assumed the little being able. When they'd made it through the casino floor, considerably less cheery after such a violent attack, Wrev spotted the two Gamorrean guards they'd seen on the way in— dead. Jaina was already running through the sliding doors, while the older Jedi pushed himself to keep up with the bouncing flow of brunette hair.

    The chilled night air hit Wrev as he emerged from Corellian Luck, making his lungs ache as he sucked in breaths between strides, throat still burning from inhaling particles from the explosion. The whine of repulsors and screech of drives cut through the night, and he caught sight of the two remaining bounty hunters blasting away on a pair of swoop bikes, pedestrians diving out of their way as they flew down the entry steps, into the land traffic. Jaina was already rushing towards a line of parked swoops and mounted one, activating it and bringing it to life with a quick movement of her hands. She was shooting off before Wrev even reached an aged bike, longer than Jaina's, probably an old Imperial design but painted a rust color.

    By the time he activated the repulsorslift, Chi'tolow had reached the doors. "Wait!" The little alien rasped, voice too thin to really shout.

    Wrev was going to ignore him and hurry after Jaina, but he realized he may have already lost her and having someone with him who might know where Ciezor was would be a great help. "Hurry up then!"

    The Tunnisan got on the swoop behind Wrev with some effort, his short legs making it a difficult climb, before the Jedi pressed the foot pedals to activate the auxiliary power, then twisted the handlebars, thumbed a switch, and the turbothrusters flared. The kick of the thrusters was almost too much, nearly sending Wrev and Chi'tolow off the back of the bike. He did everything he could to stay on while the wind felt like it was whipping hard enough to tear the hair out of his scalp. Angling around the sea of bystanders, Wrev got onto the street and tried to follow the dim glow of Jaina's swoop drives off in the distance. The harsh air beating against his face forced him to view the stream of glowing signs on the Ord Mantell boulevard in a shimmering blur of tears, relying more on the Force than his eyesight to avoid colliding with some other vehicle or pedestrian.

    He tried to keep focused passed the stabilizer bars to the central repulsor pod and the gap centered between them, attempted to keep the light of Jaina's thrusters lined up. Angling the thruster nozzles and maneuvering flaps to swerve in and out of traffic, they were dashing past vehicles while oncoming land speeders whizzed by at such a speed that they were little more than a bolt of rushing light that was there a fraction of a second.

    It was obvious to Wrev why Jaina Solo had earned such an incredible reputation as a pilot and why Gazzo had wanted her to race in the Blockade Runners Derby, as he watched her continue to shrink in the distance. Very soon, he lost sight of her completely.





    At six hundred kilometers per hour, the human brain began to lose blood at an alarming rate. Jaina Solo, Jedi Knight, was no different. With her swoop open full-bore to close the distance between her and the fleeing bounty hunters, black spots began to speckle her vision in between the streams of light that lined the heavy traffic. The high-gees were beginning to starve her body of oxygen.

    A non-Jedi would have blacked-out by now— a non-Jedi would have crashed. Even the greatest pilots in the galaxy were hesitant to fly swoops— they were so fast, with no shields, no real restraints, and flew too low to the ground with the rider completely exposed. To push it to the limits either took a swooper touched with more than the bit of lunacy it took to mount the bike to begin with, or a natural born skill for flying, amplified by the Force.

    Fortunately, Jaina had a least one of these qualities as she blasted through the Ord Mantell traffic in pursuit of the would-be-assassins. Through tear-filled eyes she watched their burning thrusters brighten, nearly reaching them before they suddenly parted ways.

    They're smarter than I thought, Jaina grimaced as she was forced to make a decision. Which one would lead her back to Ciezor and possibly Alema? Whichever one she chose not to follow, most likely. The other would attempt to lose her in the city. They were forcing her to roll a one-sided chance cube and with Wrev having fallen far behind, it wasn't as if he could tail one of them.

    Jaina gritted her teeth and angled the maneuvering flaps to stay with the bounty hunter who'd turned left, hoping she could wear him down and he'd retreat back to Ciezor's in desperation, or she could overtake him and find out through interrogation.

    As soon as Jaina was committed to following him, the bounty hunter in her view suddenly jerked his swoop around one-hundred-and-forty degrees in a wide arc, forcing his way through another crowded street. She continued to gain on the fleeing assassin, dodging two oncoming speeders before swerving around a lumbering cargo cab, coming alongside her quarry.

    Faded and chipped crimson stripes decorated the dull reinforced armor that the human bounty hunter was garbed in. If it weren't for the deafening tunnel of wind passing by her ears, Jaina would have heard a hiss from between the man's teeth when he looked over his shoulder to see he hadn't been able to evade the Jedi.

    He drew his blaster and fired two quick shots, Jaina's Jedi reflexes enabling her to see the blasts coming. Leaning forward as much as possible, she smashed her body against the swoop to duck the first then shifted the controls to jinx around the second as she used one hand to try and free her lightsaber from her belt.

    A snap-hiss was barely audible in time to deflect the next volley from her enemy, as Jaina wielded the glowing lightsaber in her right hand, operating the swoop with her left. Again, she angled her maneuvering flaps to close the gap between the careening swoops, opposing stabilizer bars clashing against one another and nearly jolting both riders from their bikes. The lights of the nighttime-city decorated the dark armor of the warrior in gleaming streaks as they passed sprawling casinos and cantinas in fractions of a second, and he attempted to squeeze off another shot at point-blank range— he didn't.

    In a backhand swing, Jaina's searing blue lightsaber clipped the barrel of the blaster pistol and then tried to maim the scoundrel on the return. Quicker reflexes than she'd expected him to have, the bounty hunter let the disabled blaster fall from his grip as he jerked back from the swift, glaring blade, and then seized her wrist when she attempted to strike him, locking the weapon between the two fighters, their swoops mere inches apart.

    Jaina tried in vain to wrench her wrist free from her enemy's grip, but he was surprisingly strong, and Jaina was quickly losing control of her swoop as most of her attention was drawn to the fight. An impression through the Force warned her seconds before her swoop collided with the back of a landspeeder in a fiery explosion that probably killed those in the other vehicle. But by then, she had seized the bounty hunter's neck with her left hand and leapt from her swoop, before landing on her foe and his bike, jarring him out of his seat so that he was almost laying diagonally across the length of the bike. For a moment of dread, the swoop was not controled, still bellowing through traffic at an alarming rate. Jaina released the man's throat and groped for the left handlebar controls, decelerating as much as she could, trying to keep the swoop level and clear of vehicles so more innocent lives weren't being lost. The bounty hunter had released her lightsaber hand and attempted to dislodge her from the swoop by pushing on her right shoulder and getting his knees under her stomach, his right hand still holding onto the right control at an uncomfortable angle in a desperate effort to control the swoop.

    It could not fly this way for long.

    Jaina punched the man's helmeted-head with a great blow, the armor and the weight of the lightsaber clutched within her fist nearly breaking her hand as the knuckles slammed into the painted metal. The bounty hunter released his handlebar and the swoop hit the street, still traveling close to two hundred kilometers an hour.

    Sparks cascaded around them like some volcanic eruption, as the swoop skidded across the duracrete, the reinforced chassis surprisingly resilient, bathing them in golden fire. A three-hundred meter black scorch down the street marked the point where the swoop first touched down, to it's resting place where it collided with a street-cleaning droid.

    Jaina hovered over her opponent, his knees and arms no longer resisting her as her chest heaved with labored breaths, her long dark tresses hanging in front of her in a veil that encapsulated the helmet below her.

    He was still conscious.

    Crowds of people were gawking at them from the walkways as Jaina brought her lightsaber to the man's throat, still humming though she could barely hear it after the explosion in the casino and the swoop crashes.

    "Please, Jedi," the man pleaded, voice weak with Jaina's weight pressing him down into the wreck of the swoop. "I have no quarrel with you."





    "That way," Chi'tolow rasped, pointing his small four fingered hand, one claw drawing Wrev's attention to the street the alien wanted him to travel.

    "What?"

    "If they are Ciezor's cronies, Chi'tolow knows where they will go and where your friend will follow," he explained. "It's a short cut."

    "It's the wrong way!"

    "Trust Chi'tolow. He knows Ord Mantell well."

    Wrev's curses were drowned out by the thrusters as he followed the Tunnisan's directions. He could feel Jaina somewhere else in the city, and knew he was moving farther away from her. The path Chi'tolow chose was one of constant turns around the bases of Ord Mantell's spires, through narrow alleys, and a labyrinth of murky passages that they were fortunate enough to be traveling too fast to smell. At one point he thought he saw a blue-skinned being with glowing red eyes in a passing speeder. A Chiss? He thought, but didn't have time to dwell on why one of the reclusive aliens would be on Ord Mantell.

    They finally emerged back into traffic on a wide speeder way, and Wrev was ready to berate the little alien for getting them lost, when a single swoop carrying a black-armored rider passed feet in front of them.

    "Go, go!" Chi'tolow yelled frantically.

    Wrev angled the bike in pursuit of the swoop, whose rider didn't seemed to notice them yet. Suddenly their enemy ducked into a dark passage and vanished. Duct would have been the more appropriate term by Wrev's appraisal, as they followed the fleeing bounty hunter into a black winding path, so narrow one could not fly four swoops abreast without at least one slamming into the tunnel walls. Violet light panels lined the sidewalls, and around the circumference of each section of the circular duct every twenty meters. The result was hypnotic at such high speeds, and after a few seconds, Wrev was sure he and Chi'tolow would be little more than smeared hangings for the duct walls before they were through. It required his full concentration and the Force to feel the turns, dips, and sudden rises in the tunnel to keep from burying his swoop into some portion of the cylinder's insides.

    The orange thrusters of the bounty hunter's swoop were burning brightly and flashing through the duct with practiced skill. As Wrev closed the distance between them, red light lanced out from the darkness, it's trajectory dead-on for a head-shot. Fortunately, at these speeds, it fell short and behind them by meters, as Wrev was too focused on piloting his swoop through the tight space to sense the blaster bolts coming— he couldn't afford to do that any longer.

    His lightsaber snapped into existence, joining the purple panels in illuminating the tunnel as he attempted to sidle up on the escaping swoop. Chi'tolow had drawn his long-blaster and was taking measured shots while Wrev deflected each targeted blast from their enemy, red beams hitting the brilliant blue light and ricocheting off into the tunnel walls. Wrev fell into the Force, flying the swoop with one hand while using the other to protect he and Chi'tolow from the barrage of shots the bounty hunter was sending at them from over his shoulder.

    When they finally came along side him, the black-armored being suddenly jerked his swoop towards them in an attempt to smash them into the walls passing at nearly one-hundred-and-eleven meters per second. Wrev angled his repulsors and thrusters nozzles so his swoop was actually traveling along the left wall, handle bars at ninety-degree angles with the floor and ceiling to avoid the collision, still holding his lightsaber above his head to deflect three more shots from the being he could not make out in the darkness.

    It went on this way for what seemed like hours, but was in fact only a few minutes. The bounty hunter continued to try and force them into a crash and Wrev would swing his lightsaber at their foe when he got too close, while Chi'tolow continued to fail with his long-blaster. Finally, the tunnel came to a thirty-meter graduated rise, until it opened into the rough backcountry that covered the planet between gambling cities. A harsh dusty colored soil with dying yellow grasses and craggy rock formations were the scenery, looking more pleasant in the dark of night, with the stars shinning down brightly this far from the barrage of city lights. There were a few leafless trees, grown to twisted, hunched statures and lined by bushes the color of coco or raspberries.

    It took several moments for Wrev's vision to focus and not see the flashing violet lights of the tunnel, the bounty hunter opening up his thrusters and blasting over what was obviously familiar turf to him.

    "Quickly," Chi'tolow encouraged. "We mustn't let him escape."

    "Why?" Wrev asked, angling around a jagged looking rock that came up three meters from the ground. "If you know where he'll be going it won't matter when we get there."

    "You'll see," Chi'tolow maintained. Wrev didn't think it was a threat, but the alien's words did send a chill down his spine.

    He did see. After several minutes of roaring through Ord Mantell's wilderness, they came upon a large structure, durasteel rectangular form that turned into a light-blue dome, and surrounded by a thirty-meter high wall to keep out intruders. Several towers came out from the original structure, along with some from the gates that had white searchlights beaming out into the dark country.

    "Ciezor's base," Chi'tolow said from behind Wrev, his voice grown thinner from the exertion of riding for so long. "We must make it to the gates at the same time as our quarry— otherwise we will be shut out."

    Wrev nodded, pushing the thrusters harder to make sure the bounty hunter couldn't evade them as he made his frantic push towards the safety behind Ciezor's walls. Again, he fired an old BlastTech at the Jedi from over his shoulder, the bolts coming nowhere near them in the assassin's panic. As they reached the wall, two large metal panels parted, allowing the black-clad figure entrance, and quickly began to close. Wrev pushed the swoop harder, coming through right before the gate slammed shut.

    "We made it," Chi'tolow said gleefully.

    There were several hundred meters of the same dead land inside the gates, between the wall and Ciezor's base, taller trees lined a dust-covered road that led to the structure and a landing ramp to the left.

    Suddenly a thick tree branch came swinging at Wrev from the side of the road as he continued his pursuit of the bounty hunter. He ducked and hit the air-brake, but at such a speed his swoop became unstable, hitting the ground hard and bucking Chi'tolow off the back, before colliding with another tree trunk and sending Wrev over the handle bars, hitting the ground hard on his back, meters away from the explosion his swoop caused.

    He rose gingerly on weary legs, quickly checking for injuries. He was surprised to find nothing fractured and only a few cuts a bruises, though he had a feeling it was only adrenaline that was keeping him from feeling the pain he would suffer the next morning. Wrev searched behind him, passed the burning swoop that had driven into the base of the tree, looking for what had swung at him so far back. Chi'tolow lay motionless a few meters away, a black lump in the dying grasses, and Wrev turned his gaze to scan the tree-line— when he saw it.

    Standing between the trees was a hulking creature that the Jedi Knight had only seen on dejarik boards. A thick lizard hide protected the beast that towered over Wrev, his shoulders as broad as his legs were long, while his scaly head was connected by a long, thick neck. Reptillian-yellow eyes were centered by a short snout, two small, pointy ears, and hideously sharp fangs incased in powerful jaws.

    A savrip.

    He barely had time to take it all in when he heard the engine of a swoop roaring back towards them, the bounty hunter he'd been chasing now keen on finishing him off inside the walls of his employer.

    Wrev stood his ground, reigniting his lightsaber as the swoop charged, taking strafing shots at him with his blaster pistol. Wrev quickly deflected them, then attempted to clip the front repulsor pod as the swoop passed, hoping to send it into a tailspin. The rider was too clever however, jerking away from the Jedi and the vivid blue light.

    What was he going to do? The Savrip was once again interested in him, howling and approaching from the distance as the swoop circled back, coming around for another pass at the lone man.

    Again the bounty hunter fired, and Wrev's arms and feet moved with blinding quickness to bat away the blasts that would hit him. Again he lunged for the swoop's repulsor pods— but it was a feint, a simple trick to control which direction the swoop would go. Wrev rolled under the passing swoop and came up in a crouch, turning and swinging his lightsaber in a tight arc at the passing vehicle, slicing through the power cell and fuel lines. The underside of the bike exploded, pitching the rider forward, landing motionless in the grass as fiery debris rained down on his black armor.

    By then, the savrip had reached Wrev and swatted at him with one of his massive hands. The Jedi leapt away from the large mantillian in a high flip, backing away and trying to regroup.

    Controlling and manipulating animals into obedience was one Jedi skill Wrev had a fair amount of success with, though he'd nowhere near mastered it the way Jacen Solo had. As Wrev attempted to temper the savrip's rage by sending calming waves and reassurance to it through the Force, he overlooked one crucial and obvious detail. The thick vest made of some animal hide that hung on his shoulders, tunic, and bronze-plated gauntlets and shin guards...

    The savrip was a sentient creature.

    This revelation came to Wrev as he reached out to the enraged being's mind, right before the savrip's giant fist came down on him.





    "Ah, I think he's coming to, Ciezor."

    The gruff voice was the first thing Wrev could distinguish over murmurs as his eyes fluttered open and he became aware of pain radiating through his entire body. The insides of his eyelids were still playing with the violet lightshow that had burned its way into his sight during the swoop chase through the tunnel.

    Leaning over him was a familiar figure in black armor, though his helmet was now gone revealing short black hair and three days worth of stubble speckling his jaw. The bounty hunter had a bacta patch over his left eye and his right arm was resting in a sling.

    A noise he now recognized as the savrip's native language told Wrev that the creature was nearby, though they'd moved him into the pirate's base somewhere. Lavender paint had been stripped from the walls in patterns from years of wear, and too-bright glow panels from above were blinding Wrev's waking eyes. He was on the cold ferracrete floor with his back against the rear wall, the leg of a table touching his left rib cage.

    "Up and Antilles, Jedi— we ain't got all day."

    Wrev was hoisted up by two pairs of hands above his elbows, when he realized that his hands were bound behind his back by stuncuffs. Attached to the hands pulling him to his feet were a Rodian and an Aqualish whose face was scarred with heavy burns.

    Surveying the room, Wrev counted the two goons, the bounty hunter, the savrip; who was holding onto a restrained Chi'tolow; and another being he couldn't make out around the broad mantillian. He was also suddenly very aware of a sharp pain in his right breast— where the savrip had struck him most likely. There was a cut along his hairline from the swoop crash, and the blood had run down his temple, drying to his face and hair.

    Stepping around the savrip was a tall woman dressed in black fatigues, her hair of the same color was pulled back into a tight, practical tail. Her eyebrows were thin and arched in the shape of Onderonian eagles wings, while her thin red lips hinted at someone who drew great joy through malice.

    She carried herself as someone who had been through some formal military training, and from behind her back, her gloved hands came around to show Wrev's lightsaber cradled there, almost lovingly.

    "Welcome, Jedi," she greeted, her voice heavily accented, vowels coming out too quickly or over emphasized. The corners of her mouth were slightly raised.

    "You're Ciezor?" Wrev asked.

    "You were expecting a man?" She asked, more amused.

    "I was expecting a Hutt... or something close."

    She ignored him, fingering the silver cylinder some more, before thumbing the activator, and watching the blue light explode from the emitter. "A beautiful weapon," she praised. "I've never seen one up close before."

    Give it back to me and I'll give you the closest view possible.

    "What is it you want with me?" Wrev asked, ignoring his impulse to threaten her.

    One eyebrow quirked. "Want with you? I believe it was you who came storming into our facility, yes?"

    "After we were attacked by your thugs."

    "I assure you, we have no interest in Jedi. The fact that you were there was purely coincidental."

    "You'll excuse me if I don't entirely believe you," Wrev replied. "It would be quite a coincidence for you to attempt an assassination on Gazzo within five minutes of our arrival."

    She shrugged, and deactivated the lightsaber, before tucking it into her belt. "Think what you will."

    "We were waiting for an opportunity," the injured bounty hunter said. "We didn't know you were Jedi, just guests who were absorbing most of the attention of Gazzo's security, allowing us an easy entrance into the casino."

    "All right then," Wrev allowed. "Then you may as well turn me lose... my friend as well."

    Ciezor grinned at Chi'tolow. "Nice try. We know Chi'tolow very well. He's made our operations here difficult at times. You've only known him a few hours... and most of that you spent unconscious.

    "As far as setting you free, I'm afraid I can't do that. In all likelihood Gazzo has paid you to try and kill me. And there is the matter of you and your Jedi partner killing or capturing four of my employees. Add that to the fact that we have a very solid policy regarding anyone who deals with Gazzo, and I'd say you have about a Jawa's chance in Hoth of getting out of here."

    "You're making a dangerous mistake," Wrev said evenly.

    She stepped closer to Wrev, noses only inches apart. "My mistakes are not likely to be one's you'll live to regret, Jedi."

    Suddenly the lights that were making Wrev's eyes ache vanished and the room was blanketed in darkness. The Aqualish let out a startled cry and the savrip roared angrily.

    "What's happening?" Asked the bounty hunter.

    "A Jedi trick, I think," Ciezor mused as she snatched a glowrod from her belt and the bounty hunter made a comm call to someone else in the base.

    "I'm not getting a response from the tower... or from anyone else!" He said in a panic.

    Wrev saw the first hint of uneasiness on the confident woman's face, her brow furrowing. "Hmm... Perhaps we have more company, no? Come, comrades. Let us see what the trouble is. Bring the prisoners. If they try anything, Gorr," she said, gesturing to the savrip, "you can practice removing skulls from vertebrae."

    They marched the prisoners out of the room, Ciezor's glowrod leading the way out onto a catwalk that hugged the walls, intersections crossing over to the opposite side. Over the guardrails was a depth Wrev couldn't gauge in the darkness, as if they were overlooking some bottomless void, but he could feel that they were at least a dozen floors above the ground.

    The bounty hunter was still trying to reach others in the base over his comlink with little success. "It's no use," he spat dejectedly. "I can't get anything but relay static on this thing."

    "Forget it," Ciezor replied. "Let's just get some of the panels back on so we can see what's going on."

    They traveled down the catwalk, Wrev picking up on the growing uncertainty of his captors while the sound of Chi'tolow's metallic breathing was all that could be heard in the long annex. They finally reached a power console attached to the wall and the Rodian left Wrev to the horrid-looking Aqualish and activated the sliding panel cover to reach the controls.

    Wrev didn't sense her coming— but when the Rodian managed to switch on the glow panels, illuminating twenty meters of the catwalk they were on, there she was, wrapped around one of the support rails that ran the length of the walkway directly above them.

    Before the pirates even noticed her hiding there, Jaina released her hold on the rail, hanging just by the backs of her knees, and swinging her right arm in a tight arc, where a familiar column of light suddenly exploded, destroying the blaster pistol in the Aqualish's hand.

    "Jedi!" Ciezor cried, as Jaina, still relying on the strength of her legs to keep her head of dangling brunette hair from hitting the metal scaffolding, took the lightsaber and slammed it into the panel the Rodian was working on. The last thing Wrev saw as the lights began to flicker out and the Rodian jolted back from the electrical pop, was Jaina dropping from the rail onto the back of the mighty savrip.

    Wrev sprung into action, driving his shoulder into the Aqualish and knocking him into the wall, then reaching out with the Force to pull his lightsaber from Ciezor's belt. With his hands bound, he couldn't draw it to himself, and even Wrev wasn't foolish enough to attempt severing the binders by levitating the weapon and making a precise stroke. Instead, he used the Force to press the activator and sent it shooting at the face of the bounty hunter that was now taking pot-shots at Jaina with a familiar blaster pistol. Jaina was a flurry of blue light, spinning, slashing, and rotating, in the darkness.

    The bounty hunter dove away from Wrev's blade in fear, and Wrev heard the savrip yelp, knowing Jaina had found a way to bring him down when the thud reverberated through the durasteel panels of the catwalk floor.

    Letting his lightsaber fall to the floor, Wrev turned, and there in the light provided by the two weapons was Ciezor's sneering face. Her fist crashed into his midsection hard enough to double him over, Wrev crumpling and falling to his knees as the wind was knocked out of him. He didn't see what happened next, but felt Jaina's boot connect with the Aqualish's hideous face, then slam the pommel of her lightsaber into the head of the black-haired bounty hunter, her lightsaber flashing in all directions to pick off blaster bolts.

    In seconds, Ciezor was screaming for Jaina to stop and the emergency generator finally kicked in from the Jedi's sabotage, low-energy panels that lined the floor coming to life and dimly illuminating the entire compound.

    Ciezor was standing with the same military erectness, arms at her sides, defiant even in defeat. Jaina stood in front of her two arm's-lengths away, right shoulder extended, arm outstretched, and the tip of the blade held in her hand an inch from Ciezor's throat.

    Wrev struggled to his feet and got his first full view of the innards of the structure in the low-power lighting. Over the guardrails on the bottom floor were dozens of starfighters— most of them Uglies— some modified pleasure cruisers, and large freighters.

    A system of turbolifts and catwalks like the one they were standing surrounded the walls at different levels and led to sealed doors and other sections of the facility. Eleven levels up from their location, the network ended in a large domed ceiling, which would open to allow ships to land and take off.

    Chi'tolow's distorted breath again stood out, accompanied now by the hum of Jaina's lightsaber. "This isn't worth the hassle," Ciezor spat. "Take your friend and leave. I have no quarrel with the Jedi."

    "You have a funny way of showing it," Jaina glowered.

    "What have you done with my people?"

    "Put them out of commission. Don't worry, they'll come to after we've left," Jaina replied with a wry grin.

    "Then leave," Ciezor repeated bitterly.

    Jaina sliced through Wrev and Chi'tolow's stun cuffs. "What about your solid policy regarding people who deal with Gazzo?" Wrev asked, reaching out with the Force and bringing his silent lightsaber to rest in his palm.

    "If you wish to deal with Gazzo, you are fools. The Jedi order is not as honorable as it has been made out if you would associate with him. Now, I have said many times that I want no trouble from Jedi, please—"

    "We'll leave after you've answered our questions," Jaina interrupted, finally turning off her blade but keeping it in hand at her side. "Tell us about the Lysekramani."

    The pirate shrugged. "Nothing much to tell. One of Gazzo's ships— from what I hear, it crossed paths with a very vindictive foe."

    "You?"

    "I wish. But no, we had nothing to do with it."

    "Then who?" Wrev asked.

    "From the way that Toydarian does business, it could be anyone. Those crooks got what they deserved."

    "But you have been pirating Gazzo's vessels?"

    A snort came from Ciezor in response. "Pirating? More like reclaiming, my friend. Gazzo has been stealing from our cargo shipments for years. About four months ago he crossed the line, stealing an inventory that made up two-thirds of our annual profits. How could we survive? We had to get it back."

    "But you've stolen his ships, enslaved and even killed some of his people," Jaina protested.

    "Don't be naive. When he attacks our ore and spice shipments on the ground, do you not think he kills and kidnaps? It was either we start retrieving some of our resources, stop Gazzo from pushing us around, or starve."

    "Yes, I'm sure this is your first jaunt into the world of pirating," Wrev said, voice thick with sarcasm as he gestured around the compound.

    "I never said that. But if you Jedi are interested in justice, it was Gazzo that started this. Not me," Ciezor replied, folding her arms.

    "Then why attack us?" Jaina asked.

    "As I told your friend already, we were trying to hit Gazzo. We didn't know you were Jedi, just an opportunity."

    Jaina looked to Wrev and he nodded. "Any idea what the Lysekramani was carrying when she was attacked?"

    "Jewels and spice from what I've heard, but I guess her attackers weren't interested in that load."

    "You seem to know a lot for someone who wasn't involved," Wrev observed.

    "I take a special interest in all things that have to do with Gazzo. As I said, it looks like he has more enemies than me, which I can understand. Whoever attacked the Lysekramani was after vengeance, not goods... is that all?"

    "No. A Jedi was sent here recently— a Twi'lek— did she pay you a visit?"

    Ciezor shook her head, tight tail of hair almost unmoving. "If your friend came to Ord Mantell, she didn't make it this far."

    Wrev didn't sense any deception, and was actually relieved that Alema hadn't crossed paths with someone as treacherous as Ciezor.

    "Are we finished?"

    "No," Jaina said, eyes intense. Wrev looked at her for the first time since she arrived. She had a few scrapes and cuts on her face, one cheek smudged with grime and what looked like a small burn. The sleeve of her red jacket showed further symptoms of having been too close to an explosion— she looked as though she'd had almost as tough a time of it as he.

    "From here on out, you end your pirating of Gazzo's vessels," Jaina began. "No more thefts, no more slavery, no more murders. I also want you to release all the prisoners you've taken."

    Ciezor scoffed, her accent heavier as she became more agitated. "What about Gazzo? We're supposed to let him just steal from us and do nothing?"

    "We'll speak with Gazzo," Jaina assured. "If he is harassing your cargo loaders here, there are appropriate channels to go through. He's stolen from you, you've stolen from him— you're even."

    "I haven't even begun to make up for the losses that worm has caused us!"

    "You've taken at least six of his vessels from what we hear."

    "That is but a drop in the bucket," Ciezor said coldly.

    "Well just be glad that bucket isn't completely empty then," Jaina retorted.

    "And if I'm not?"

    "Then I'll come back and cut the bottom out," Jaina replied with a mischievous grin. "We'll be going now. Do not forget what I've said."

    "I won't soon forget this," Ciezor answered with a glare.

    Jaina motioned for Wrev and Chi'tolow and they started towards one of the turbolifts, leaving Ciezor standing on the catwalk with her four unconscious associates.

    "Thanks for coming to get me," Wrev said, a smile tugging at his lips.

    "That's twice I've had to save you in about two days," Jaina remarked.

    "Well, it's appreciated all the same."

    "I'd save your praise for now. We're not out of this yet."

    "What do you mean? How did you get here anyway, and what did you do to everyone it would take to run this place?"

    Jaina smiled. "I commandeered a speeder, flew here, found the control tower and locked down all the doors before I shut of the lights and jammed the comms. Which is why we need to hurry. It's been more than 10 minutes now and they're bound to find ways out of all these rooms, especially with Ciezor loose."

    "You think she won't let us escape when she realizes that?"

    "I don't want to risk it."

    The two Jedi, trailed by the little Tunnisan, reached the hanger floor, then traveled to the exterior landing pad where Jaina's speeder was parked, and three guards lay in a similar state as those Jaina had assailed on the catwalk. Wrev was impressed.

    Settling into the chrome plated airspeeder, Jaina fired up the repulsors before heading out through the backcountry towards the city to find Gazzo.
     
  5. Spike2002

    Spike2002 Former FF-UK RSA and Arena Manager star 6 VIP - Former Mod/RSA

    Registered:
    Feb 4, 2002
    Standing between the trees was a hulking creature that the Jedi Knight had only seen on dejarik boards. A thick lizard hide protected the beast that towered over Wrev, his shoulders as broad as his legs were long, while his scaly head was connected by a long, thick neck. Reptillian-yellow eyes were centered by a short snout, two small, pointy ears, and hideously sharp fangs incased in powerful jaws.

    A savrip.


    Sweet. A real life version of the winning monster as seen in Episode IV :D
     
  6. JAGSGURL15

    JAGSGURL15 Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 21, 2003
    another great post YodaKenobi! Keep it up!
     
  7. JDH3

    JDH3 Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Mar 27, 2003
    Wow, some intense action in this post! :D

    A non-Jedi would have blacked-out by now? a non-Jedi would have crashed. Even the greatest pilots in the galaxy were hesitant to fly swoops? they were so fast, with no shields, no real restraints, and flew too low to the ground with the rider completely exposed. To push it to the limits either took a swooper touched with more than the bit of lunacy it took to mount the bike to begin with, or a natural born skill for flying, amplified by the Force.

    Very :cool: Gotta love seeing the Skywalker/Solo flying genes in actions. :D

    "Please, Jedi," the man pleaded, voice weak with Jaina's weight pressing him down into the wreck of the swoop. "I have no quarrel with you."

    Timing is everything, or so they say. :p

    "It's the wrong way!"

    "Trust Chi'tolow. He knows Ord Mantell well."


    Shades of Obi-Wan and Anakin in AOTC. o_O :D

    Great swoop chases! :cool: Jaina?s was particularly fun, especially the fight at the conclusion of it.

    The savrip was a sentient creature.

    This revelation came to Wrev as he reached out to the enraged being's mind, right before the savrip's giant fist came down on him


    [face_laugh] [face_laugh]

    "Up and Antilles, Jedi? we ain't got all day."

    [face_laugh] Clever, my friend. Very clever. =D=

    "My mistakes are not likely to be one's you'll live to regret, Jedi.

    Oh, I like her! [face_devil]

    Awesome post, YK. :)


    JD.
     
  8. zettazofia

    zettazofia Jedi Master star 2

    Registered:
    Apr 12, 2004
    Wow, excellent description of the fight(s) and chase scenes. Kept me on the edge of my seat, and of course left me bummed when it was over. :)
    Liked Jaina being bossy and telling Ciezor that her game with Gazzo was over, and her rescuing Wrev again.
    As always, I look forward to the next installment.
    -Zetta
     
  9. FORCEBlLADE

    FORCEBlLADE Jedi Grand Master star 3

    Registered:
    Mar 2, 2003
    Pretty awsome fight on the swoop bike; I don't think they've even had those in the books.
     
  10. YodaKenobi

    YodaKenobi Former TFN Books Staff star 6 VIP

    Registered:
    May 27, 2003
    Spike: Sweet. A real life version of the winning monster as seen in Episode IV

    Yup :D And their native to Ord Mantell. Thanks essential guide to planets! :p




    JG15: another great post YodaKenobi! Keep it up!

    Thanks :) I'll try :p




    JDH3: Wow, some intense action in this post!

    I wasn't all that thrilled with it, but I'm glad you liked it :D


    Very Gotta love seeing the Skywalker/Solo flying genes in actions.

    Yes, it'd be nice to have them... and a swoop :cool:

    Timing is everything, or so they say.

    Yeah, they always want to talk it out when they're getting their butts kicked :p

    Shades of Obi-Wan and Anakin in AOTC.

    Yeah, if Anakin was a tiny alien with pointy ears and a breathing device... well, he gets one of those.

    Great swoop chases! Jaina?s was particularly fun, especially the fight at the conclusion of it.

    Thanks :) Jaina is cool :cool:

    " [face_laugh] [face_laugh] "

    It could have happened to anyone!

    Clever, my friend. Very clever.

    *takes a bow*

    Oh, I like her!

    Me too. I think I'm going to try and work her into some future fics [face_thinking]

    Awesome post, YK.

    Thanks again :D




    zetta: Wow, excellent description of the fight(s) and chase scenes. Kept me on the edge of my seat, and of course left me bummed when it was over.

    Aww, that's too bad :p I'll try and think up some more action for the rest of the fic [face_thinking]

    Liked Jaina being bossy and telling Ciezor that her game with Gazzo was over, and her rescuing Wrev again.

    Jaina is clearly in control... for now [face_mischief]

    As always, I look forward to the next installment.

    I'm glad, and thanks for reading :)



    FB: Pretty awsome fight on the swoop bike; I don't think they've even had those in the books.

    I think there was a swoop fight/chase in Shadows of the Empire, but that might be the only one [face_thinking]

    And thanks :D
     
  11. JDH3

    JDH3 Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Mar 27, 2003
    I wasn't all that thrilled with it, but I'm glad you liked it

    Ack! You?re starting to sound like me talking about my action sequences. :p

    It could have happened to anyone!

    Part of what made it so funny for me was this...

    Gasping for air, Obi-Wan stood up and turned, only to have his face meet a large, furry right hand, and then all went dark.

    The above is from a fight scene in What I Know, my Clone Wars ?fic. Not the same kind of fight, but as you can tell, I enjoy moments like Wrev?s. ;) [face_devil]


    JD.
     
  12. Pelranius

    Pelranius Jedi Master star 5

    Registered:
    Apr 25, 2003
    NOW that's the way all Jedi/fringe encounters should be handled....

    Wow!
     
  13. SilSolo

    SilSolo Jedi Knight star 5

    Registered:
    Mar 5, 2004
    Harsh, nice and a little corrupt.
     
  14. YodaKenobi

    YodaKenobi Former TFN Books Staff star 6 VIP

    Registered:
    May 27, 2003
    JD: Ack! You?re starting to sound like me talking about my action sequences.

    :p You're rubbing off on me in a negative way!

    Part of what made it so funny for me was this...

    I know, I was being silly 8-}

    Gasping for air, Obi-Wan stood up and turned, only to have his face meet a large, furry right hand, and then all went dark.
    The above is from a fight scene in What I Know, my Clone Wars ?fic. Not the same kind of fight, but as you can tell, I enjoy moments like Wrev?s.


    Wouldn't be the first time :p I need to start reading more clone wars, saga age fics. There's only one I'ver really read (Thwarted Fate series by Reihla_RS77_leia-n, I think you read it too) and it is really good.



    Pelranius: NOW that's the way all Jedi/fringe encounters should be handled....
    Wow!


    Thanks :) I'm glad you enjoyed it.



    Sil: Harsh, nice and a little corrupt.

    I'm not really sure how to respond to that, but thanks for reading :p
     
  15. TahiriSoloFan

    TahiriSoloFan Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    May 20, 2003
    Yoda : That was a long post, but it read well and easily, so I wouldn't worry about it. It flowed very well.

    Way to go Jaina! :cool: =D= Nothing like a little girl power!

    What exactly happened to poor old Threepio? [face_worried] Has he gone and lost limbs again? ;)

     
  16. YodaKenobi

    YodaKenobi Former TFN Books Staff star 6 VIP

    Registered:
    May 27, 2003
    TSF: Yoda : That was a long post, but it read well and easily, so I wouldn't worry about it. It flowed very well.

    Whew! I'm glad it didn't drag on, I thought it did :p

    Way to go Jaina! Nothing like a little girl power!

    :D Jaina has a lot.

    What exactly happened to poor old Threepio? Has he gone and lost limbs again? [face_winks]

    Something close I'm afraid :( Don't worry, I promise he will be in working order... or as close Threepio gets, in the next post :)

    Thanks!
     
  17. YodaKenobi

    YodaKenobi Former TFN Books Staff star 6 VIP

    Registered:
    May 27, 2003
    New post on Monday... or something :p The next one is probably my favorite so far, and nothing really happens in it [face_thinking]
     
  18. Thrawn McEwok

    Thrawn McEwok Co-Author: Essential Guide to Warfare star 6 VIP

    Registered:
    May 9, 2000
    YK: whoops, forgot I hadn't replied to this yet! :eek: :p

    **Has no idea who's on which side, or who's telling the truth any more**

    Still enjoying, though! :D

    - The Imperial Ewok
     
  19. YodaKenobi

    YodaKenobi Former TFN Books Staff star 6 VIP

    Registered:
    May 27, 2003
    whoops, forgot I hadn't replied to this yet!
    **Has no idea who's on which side, or who's telling the truth any more**


    Everyone is lying except Wrev. Even Jaina. [face_shhh]

    Still enjoying, though!

    Thanks :) Hope it's not too confusing.



    Updated the dramatis with a bunch of Chiss characters :p
     
  20. Whitey

    Whitey Jedi Master star 6

    Registered:
    Jan 26, 2003
    A white boy is never late... nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to. :p

    Okay, next post is long, I'm sorry

    Master Kenobi, you dissapoint me. Surely you can do shorter. [face_mischief]

    Great action! And I really like Ciezor. The spelling reminds me of the correct pronunciation of Xizor (Shee-zor), actually.

    "Up and Antilles, Jedi? we ain't got all day."

    [face_laugh] He doesn't happen to have a Dutch accent, does he? :p
     
  21. YodaKenobi

    YodaKenobi Former TFN Books Staff star 6 VIP

    Registered:
    May 27, 2003
    Whitey: A white boy is never late... nor is he early. He arrives precisely when he means to.

    :p you're not late.

    Master Kenobi, you dissapoint me. Surely you can do shorter.

    Well, at least Master Yoda speaks highly of me.

    Great action! And I really like Ciezor. The spelling reminds me of the correct pronunciation of Xizor (Shee-zor), actually.

    Yeah, she's a pirate so I was playing around with the word "seize" and "seizer". It seemed to make sense since she steals ships, but I wasn't actually thinking of Xizor (though the spelling did remind me of him too.)

    He doesn't happen to have a Dutch accent, does he?

    No?

    But I think I gave Ciezor a Russian accent, because I made her say "comrades" a couple times :p



    New post on the way... Jag's first appearance and stuff ;)
     
  22. Morgoth_The_Enemy

    Morgoth_The_Enemy Jedi Youngling star 3

    Registered:
    Sep 10, 2003
    Arghhh! Accursed DRL made me miss a post yet again!

    Ah well, at least I eventually made it to the party. once more, an excellent post YodaKenobi, I really enjoyed seeing Jainas' flying skills being utilised to their full potential, when she was still piloting as she was beginning to black out was great, you described the sensation of the blackout well.
    Ciezor seems to be a little annoyed with Jaina or is that an understatement?
    I can't wait to see what you do next!

    *Morgoth sits himself down and grabs some doritos and dip, waiting for the next post*

    Morgoth (Dark Lord of something or other, I'm not really too sure anymore)
     
  23. Magnuskn

    Magnuskn Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jul 14, 2002
    Hey, happy easter, everybody! :)

    Excellent chapter, YK. I can´t wait for the next ones, hope they´ll include more of Wrev teasing Jaina. :p

    Magnus
     
  24. YodaKenobi

    YodaKenobi Former TFN Books Staff star 6 VIP

    Registered:
    May 27, 2003
    Morgoth: Arghhh! Accursed DRL made me miss a post yet again!

    Meh, you're still on time, I think :p

    Ah well, at least I eventually made it to the party. once more, an excellent post YodaKenobi, I really enjoyed seeing Jainas' flying skills being utilised to their full potential, when she was still piloting as she was beginning to black out was great, you described the sensation of the blackout well.

    Thanks, it comes from my own tragic experience on a swoop :(

    Ciezor seems to be a little annoyed with Jaina or is that an understatement?

    Yes, I think that's fair to say 8-}

    I can't wait to see what you do next!

    No waiting required, new post is on the way!

    *Morgoth sits himself down and grabs some doritos and dip, waiting for the next post*

    emmm... Doritos =P~

    Morgoth (Dark Lord of something or other, I'm not really too sure anymore)

    [face_laugh]



    Magnuskn: Hey, happy easter, everybody!

    Thanks :)

    That reminds me that I forgot to wish a HAPPY EASTER to everyone, as well [face_blush] :) :D

    Excellent chapter, YK. I can´t wait for the next ones, hope they´ll include more of Wrev teasing Jaina. :p

    [face_laugh] That's actually all this next chapter is [face_laugh]

    Thanks for reading :)




    Disclaimer: The following post was approved by LadyPadme, and is in no way meant to be an endoresment of, or glamorization of, the use of drugs... especially death sticks!


    Gah, I hate putting a new post at the bottom of a page :( Kudos to anyone who gets the small literary reference (and it's a clue!) in this chapter.
     
  25. YodaKenobi

    YodaKenobi Former TFN Books Staff star 6 VIP

    Registered:
    May 27, 2003
    Chapter 5: Coming Clean

    They stopped briefly on the way back to Corellian Luck to repair wounds. Having Wrev treat the burn on her cheek was a little close for comfort, but she couldn't do it all that well by herself. The only consolation to Jaina for appling a bacta patch to the massive bruise on Wrev's chest was knowing it would smart when it was removed and took some hair with it.

    Chi'tolow might have had a minor concussion, but refused treatment from either Jedi, almost as adamantly as he refused to be taken to one of Ord Mantell's medical facilities.

    "Tunnisans are natural healers," Chi'tolow explained

    "Where are you from?" Wrev asked as Jaina piloted the speeder with much more care than she had a swoop, hours before.

    "He cannot say. It breaks the oath of his people." Jaina was growing accustomed to the little being's incessant reference to himself in the third person. "Tunnisans live underground. Live simply. Until they were forced out."

    "How?"

    "War," Chi'tolow explained. "Now they seek credits in hopes of providing, any way they can. In hopes they can someday find a new world with a warm climate and soft soil..."

    Chi'tolow's story would have seemed more melancholy if it hadn't been told through the metallic device attached to his face, making him sound like an ailing droid. Neither Jaina nor Wrev asked the alien what war had driven the Tunnisans from their homeworld.

    They arrived at the Corellian Luck, the scene much different at dawn than it had been when they'd left last night. With the sun rising in the backdrop, Ord Mantell security forces were taking holo recordings of the crime scene, removing the bodies of the dead, and interviewing the casino's patrons.

    "This place has certainly changed since the Vong War," Jaina whispered to Wrev as they left the speeder and made their way up the entrance stairs. "My dad use to describe it as some lawless wasteland— now look at it. An investigation into these murders, a legitimate security force—"

    "We don't know how legitimate they are," Wrev reminded.

    "What do you mean?"

    "The male is right," Chi'tolow interjected. "Many on the security force are corrupt, though most genuinely want to enforce laws, I believe. But this world is still run by the crime lords. That will not change."

    "I suppose, but my mother seemed to think Ord Mantell was making strides as well," Jaina argued. "She was here for a meeting about the refugee situation before the Yuuzhan Vong attacked. The Ord Mantell government wasn't being helpful, but it seemed like something more than a shield for all the criminals here."

    The discussion ceased as they reached the entrance. "Sorry, no one's allowed in," A security officer informed, putting a hand up that made it clear they should halt and turn back.

    Wrev explained that he was a Jedi Knight, that he had witnessed the attack and that they should go see Ciezor. Jaina was glad he didn't mention her by name, or tell the officer she was a Jedi, as enough people on the planet seemed to know she was the daughter of Han Solo all ready.

    "Ciezor, huh? That's what Gazzo said, but we couldn't get much out of him."

    "We would like to speak with Gazzo," Wrev said. "He has our droid, and perhaps we can find out more from him that could be of use to you."

    The man looked uncertain, but relented. "I suppose. You Jedi are supposed to be good at that kind of stuff... you didn't help us beat back the Vong though, a lot of people hate you here. But I never stopped believing in the Jedi. I'll see if I can get you in."

    Security forces escorted them through the casino, around the restricted crime scene, and down into a hidden basement. Gazzo had moved for his private room into a durasteel bunker, his guards and the two spiced-up dancers still with him, along with C-3PO, who appeared to be in working order.

    "Thank the stars!" Threepio exclaimed. "I knew you'd come back for me! You wouldn't believe what I've been through. First this Weequay attempted to reassemble me, but he got it all wrong. Then one of the security people helped, but he only wanted to interview me about what I saw! Then a technician wanted to examine my memory core—"

    "Threepio, you might want to pause or you'll burn out your vocoder," Jaina cautioned. "We'll have plenty of time to hear about your adventures in uneventfullness later. Right now, we need to speak with Gazzo."

    "Yes, of course."

    "But I am glad you're okay," she added, patting the stiff droid on the shoulder.

    The bunker was a far cry from the elegant room they had met Gazzo in earlier, with nothing but bare, windowless, metal walls, a few chairs, and a plain metal table that was built into the floor. Gazzo was sitting at the table, his three-fingered hands holding his head in devastation at the night he'd had.

    "You've returned, eh?" The Toydarian announced, far less cheery than he had been. "I hope you got that witch Ciezor. She is going to cost me a fortune! Because of all this security attention, Ord Mantell is going to slap so many anti-smuggling fines on me... there's even talk of criminal charges! Can you believe it? Ciezor tries to kill me and I'm going to get sent to a penal colony!"

    Gazzo gestured to a drunken Er'Kit next to him. "This is my attorney. Best in the system," Gazzo bragged. The Er'Kit made no acknowledgment, clearly in his own inebriated haze.

    "We came to an agreement with Ciezor," Jaina replied. "She will not be a problem any longer."

    "An agreement? You let her live?"

    "We're Jedi Knights," Wrev informed, "not mercenaries."

    "Then what guarantees do I have that she won't send more assassins after me, eh?"

    "The same guarantee she has that you won't be targeting her cargo shipments," Jaina said flatly. "It ends now."

    The Toydarian didn't look convinced, just sneered at the Jedi.

    "And you can forget about the Blockade Runners Derby," she continued. "We've done enough for you."

    "Now how about telling us about Alema Rar," Wrev suggested.

    "Who?"

    "The blue Twi'lek who came to visit you about a month ago... the Jedi."

    Gazzo seemed to brighten up. "Ah, yes, I remember her. Stunning. She would make a good dancer, eh? I told her so."

    "I'm sure she was flattered," Wrev said dryly. "What did she ask you about?"

    "The same thing you wanted, Jedi. Questions about the Lysekramani and all... if you see her, tell her my offer is still good. She could make a lot of money here."

    "Sure. It will be the first thing I tell her."

    "Might have some competition though, eh? She's a very popular Twi'lek."

    "What do you mean?" Wrev asked.

    "You're not the first to come asking about her," Gazzo laughed.

    "Who else?"

    "Another blue-skin."

    "A Twi'lek?"

    "No, no. The red-eyes."

    "A Chiss?"

    "Yes," Gazzo said, as if the name of the alien race had been something his mind had been searching for some time. "A Chiss."

    Jaina felt a chill run up her spine, remembering Jag's message and how she'd ignored it. Ona-Rem's insistence that the Chiss were somehow involved with the Lysekramani and then Talon Karrde's assertion that the Chiss were preparing for something... and now Alema, somehow tied into it all. And poor Jag...

    I need your help, he'd said...

    She felt Wrev's eyes on her, clearly having caught the surge of emotion from her and she did her best to put up some barriers between them so he couldn't intrude.

    "And what did the Chiss want?" Wrev asked, turning back to Gazzo.

    "Just to know whether the Twi'lek had been here and where she was going. He was only a couple hours behind her. I told him I didn't know where she was headed and he left. Nothing special except that we don't get a lot of Chiss out here, eh? A serious looking sentient."

    "It was our understanding that you had regular dealings with the Chiss?" Jaina asked, regaining her composure.

    "Deal with the Chiss? No one deals with the Chiss, I think. You've heard wrong, Solo."

    "Then where was the Lysekramani headed, if not the Unknown Regions?"

    Gazzo grimaced. "Eh... it was headed beyond the Rim, but not to deal with the Chiss."

    "Then who?"

    "I can't say."

    Jaina was getting agitated, her jaw clenching. "If you tell us we might be able to find who attacked your ship. It doesn't appear that it was Ciezor."

    Gazzo sighed. Then his uneven eyes sharpened and he pointed one stumpy finger at Jaina. "Alright, but if I tell you this, you can't go running to the authorities with it, okay? I've got enough trouble."

    "Agreed," Jaina said.

    "Okay, I've got my attorney here as a witness if you're lying," Gazzo said, gesturing to the Er'Kit who was now sound asleep on the floor under the table. "The Lysekramani wasn't moving diamonds or spice, as you seem to have figured out. That was the cover incase it got busted. We were selling information to a client in the Unknown Regions. An Imperial named Stencil."

    "An Imperial?" Wrev asked. "In the Unknown Regions? The Empire is our ally now.”

    "Yes!" Gazzo said. "Which is why I figured there was little harm, eh? They still spy and collect information just like I'm sure the Federation does the Remnant."

    Jaina thought that much was true, but what would an Imperial be doing out past the Rim? "What kind of information, Gazzo?" She asked, eyes turned to ice.

    The Toydarian looked increasingly uncomfortable. "Nothing terribly important..."

    "Gazzo?"

    "He was interested in almost anything," Gazzo admitted. "From the locations of certain fleets at the moment to history that we could get from the New Republic achieves. We've dealt with him many times over the last year and never had any trouble."

    "Where would you meet him?" Wrev questioned.

    "Different places. Always."

    "How did you contact him?"

    "I didn't. He contacted me the first time and that's the way it went on. I find it's best not to ask too many questions of the person generously transferring me credits," Gazzo replied, rubbing his fingers together as his little wings seemed to flutter a bit quicker at the thought of wealth.

    "How do you know this Stencil is an Imperial then?"Jaina observed.

    The Toydarian scratched his chin. "I guess I can't be sure, but he wears an Imperial Uniform and he claimed to be a part of the Imperial Remnant. I've never met him, so I can't be sure that he even really exists and that it's not some fake on the holocom. It's always different people who meet us for the exchange... but they certainly look like Imperials."

    Jaina and Wrev exchanged glances again, his eyes lingering on hers longer than she would have liked, and was forced to look away.

    "I think that will be all, Gazzo," she said. "As long as you understand that you are no longer to engage any of Ciezor's forces, or steal her shipments. And if you have anything that belongs to her, you should return it."

    "You should mind your own business, Solo."

    "I'm serious. If I find out you have continued your thefts, I will contact the GFS and tell them about your new venture into information exchange. You will be easily prosecuted under our new laws for treason."

    The Security of Military Information Act passed during the Yuuzhan Vong War made it a crime of high treason to pass any military secrets to possible enemies, especially those outside the known galaxy. Because Gazzo's Stencil was meeting him in the Unknown Regions, he would easily fall under the law's penalty and be subject to life imprisonment.

    This thought was clearly dawning on Gazzo, his lips arching in a sneer. "Fine, you win. But what am I going to do for money, eh? I've already lost so much because of Ciezor and this Lysekramani business. Now Ord Mantell security is going to slap me with every fine they can think of. What am I going to do?"

    "Get a job."

    Jaina felt no sympathy for the crime lord who had stolen and murdered so much. He should be thankful he wasn't already in prison. She stormed out of the cramped bunker with Wrev and Threepio following behind her, before moving up the stairs to the casino's main floor.

    "Jedi," said a thin voice from behind. She turned to see Chi'tolow hurrying after them. “I came to tell you that what Gazzo said is true as far as I know... about everything.”

    "Thanks," Wrev replied. "We were fairly certain it was as well, but it's nice to have your reassurance."

    "I wish you luck, Jedi," Chi'tolow said with a bow, "in finding your friend."

    Jaina and Wrev both offered the same sentiment to the Tunnisan in finding a new world for his people, before the diminutive bounty hunter turned and waddled back to his master.

    The Jedi left the Corellian Luck and started back towards the spaceport and the waiting Millennium Falcon. Ord Mantell in the morning was a much different sight than it had been the night before. Most signs were off, and those that were still flashing were barely noticeable in the daylight, while the streets seemed almost deserted by the hung-over masses who had just gotten into bed. The bright sun was murder on Jaina's eyes after a full day without sleep while her body was coming off of the endorphin-high of the long swoop chase and fight at Ciezor's.

    "It would seem that the Empire is involved," C-3PO said, obviously dying for some conversation. "I had hoped our interaction with the Remnant would be more pleasant after the Battle of Coruscant."

    "It would appear so," Wrev replied. "Or at least someone posing as an Imperial is involved."

    "You're missing the obvious problem though," Jaina interrupted, taking a step around a beggar whom had fallen asleep in the middle of the walkway. "If Gazzo is telling the truth, the information on the Lysekramani wasn't really worth the murders. Meaning either Gazzo is lying, or we are once again without a motive."

    "Unless someone wanted to stop the information flow between Gazzo and Stencil," Wrev suggested.

    "Who? Ciezor?"

    Wrev shook his head. "No, you spoke with her. She does hate Gazzo, perhaps even enough to do something like that, but she honestly hadn't. I was thinking more of our blue friends."

    Jaina's jaw clenched, hoping Wrev would jump on to some other subject, but knowing he wouldn't. "I think I saw one by the way," he continued. "During the Swoop chase, in a passing speeder."

    "Really?"

    "That is quite a coincidence," C-3PO added. "There was a male Chiss in the space port when we landed."

    The two Jedi stared at Threepio, Jaina's mouth parting to say something, but found she couldn't form words as her mind raced to the find an explanation other than the obvious one.

    "We're being followed," Wrev said, dashing Jaina's hopes. "The Chiss are far too reclusive to keep turning up this way. Following us— following Alema."

    "You're probably right," Jaina responded, brooding. "So what do we do now?"

    Wrev stopped and turned to Jaina. "We start by you coming clean."





    "Jaina," Jagged Fel's message began, the blue-hued image of the Chiss commander looked as grim as she'd ever seen him. "Please excuse the suddenness of this message, and the urgency it conveys, as I know it's been too long since our last contact and I do not wish to impose on you... but I'm afraid the situation has become dire and you're the only one I can trust.

    "I promised myself I would wait for you to contact me... but this cannot wait," he continued, shaking his head. "Things are in motion now that can't be stopped— there is grave danger, Jaina.

    "I don't mean to be cryptic, but there is so little I can say over this comm relay, and what I've said already is enough to have the red stripes removed from my uniform. You must come here as soon as possible. I'm encoding the coordinates and the safest routes to take in this message."

    Jag had circles under his eyes, but the years of military training kept him from showing more than a few aesthetic signs of his tiredness. "Please, you must come... Jaina, I need your help."

    The holovid ended and Jag's face disappeared from the screen, and Jaina was left staring at it blankly. Wrev blew out a sigh and leaned back in the Falcon's copilot seat, before turning to her. "And you didn't respond to it?"

    "No," Jaina admitted. "I wasn't sure how... I wasn't sure what—"

    "Because of the personal parts," Wrev suggested.

    "Yes."

    "Is there anything I should know about this?"

    "No."

    He was all business again, scratching his chin as he considered Jagged Fel's words, and probably her reaction to it. Jaina was silently praying he wouldn't ask any questions about her relationship with Jag. "Well I think it's pretty clear that he is in trouble... of some kind."

    "So is Alema," Jaina argued. "So what should we do?"

    Wrev pulled up the coordinates Jag had sent along with his message. "We go to see Commander Fel, of course."

    "What? Why?" Jaina asked. She had this nagging feeling that Jag's message was an attempt just to get her to come and see him, when she really wasn't ready for it, and didn't know how she would deal with the embarrassment of having Wrev along... or maybe of having Wrev there to watch Jag make a fool of himself.

    But then, that wasn't like Jag at all...

    "It's the only course that makes sense," Wrev explained. "Every point is leading us to the Unknown Regions and specifically, the Chiss. Belorne and Ona-Rem were lying, but they wanted us to go to the Unknown Regions and suggested Gazzo was dealing with the Chiss. Karrde said that the Chiss were worked up over something. A Chiss was looking for Alema on Ord Mantell and at least one was following us there as well. Then there's an Imperial who was dealing with Gazzo— Stencil— if we believe what Ona-Rem and Karrde told us about the Chiss using intermediaries, then that could be what Stencil is."

    "Fine, assuming the Chiss are our point of interest now— why go see Jag? The coordinates he sent us are deep in Chiss space and he probably knows nothing about this."

    Wrev shrugged. "Even if he didn't, it's likely he would help us. We're going to need a friend amongst the Chiss either way to help us in the investigation. It isn't as if they're going to allow us to roam around their territory."

    Jaina sighed, blowing some of the brown strands of hair forward with her breath that had fallen in her face. She couldn't tell if Wrev was enjoying this, knowing that this might be humiliating for her... was he that cruel? But no, even if he was, he was also right. Going to see Jag was the next obvious step.

    “I would quite like to see Commander Fel again,” Threepio added from behind. "He was always very nice to me, despite not having much experience with droids. Also, he has this sort of charisma about him... he reminds me a bit of myself."

    Jaina rolled her eyes. "Okay," she conceded. "I'll punch it into the nav computer and we'll be off."

    Wrev exited the cockpit with Threepio and Jaina was left alone with the prospect of seeing Jag again in less than ideal circumstances.



    After an hour of watching hyperspace wrap the transparisteel viewport of the ship's cockpit in it's swirling embrace, Jaina found that she actually needed to talk to someone— about anything. Anything to take her mind off Jag and the heart-wrenching pain it was going to cause to see him again. Even if it meant speaking with Wrev.

    She made her way back to the forward hold where Threepio's voice could be heard in the corridor, talking at length in his prissy tone about narcissistic R2 units. Wrev was leaned back in the couch, his feet up on the dejarik table with a death stick in his mouth, filling the compartment with the familiar smell of low-quality cantinas. She didn't know where he'd got them, probably somewhere on Ord Mantell when she wasn't looking. Add another to the increasing list of Wrev's annoying habits.

    The need for companionship suddenly evaporated as she took the scene in and was replaced by the desire to start a fight. She didn't really even care what Wrev was doing to his body, just that she knew an argument would erase the fright of seeing Jag for a little while.

    "That's a really disgusting habit," Jaina remarked as she entered the hold, striding over a few feet in front of the table and laying her arms across her chest.

    Wrev shrugged, removing the multi-colored cylinder and allowing more smoke to escape from his mouth and nostrils. "Okay."

    It wasn't unheard of for some Jedi to fall under the spell of certain substances during times of war, when they were sent on never-ending journeys alone. Izal Waz was famously a spice addict, a very dangerous thing for an Arcona, and the drug her father used to smuggle was a much more addictive substance than ixetal cilona in death sticks.

    "There's no smoking in my ship," Jaina pressed, hoping he would take the bait and fight back. He could see that's what she wanted, she noticed the glint in his eyes as the smoke passed over them.

    "Your ship?" He snorted. "That's not the first time you've referred to it that way. I think you mean your dad's ship."

    Jaina shrugged, feeling her anger build. "What's your point?" She could feel that Wrev thought she was spoiled. That she was a brat who didn't deserve to be the daughter of an Alderaanian Princess who became Chief of State and a renowned War Hero... or the niece of the most celebrated Jedi Master of all time.

    He saw her as a prim snob who was groomed to be a great pilot and a Jedi Knight rather than having earned it. And it killed her that he didn't just say it.

    My point, is that you are a spoiled brat who is more worried about smoke and her boyfriend than the actual mission we're undertaking.

    That's what he should say, what he wants to say. But Wrev said nothing, continuing to smoke.

    Jaina tried another approach, allowing him an opening. "You're angry that I didn't tell you about the message from Jag?"

    Wrev just shrugged again. She wanted him to care. The apathy was irritating. I'm not crazy about it, he would say. It's extremely hypocritical for you to say first thing out that we should share information, all the while you're sitting on the biggest clue we've got.

    Jaina stiffened her stomach in knots. "Well the message was none of your business—"

    Wrev stood up, only a foot from Jaina. She thought he would blow smoke in her face, but instead his lower lip hung out a bit and it up and to the side away from both of them, more in his own eye than anything. C-3PO's bright photoreceptors somehow managed to radiate shock as he looked from her to Wrev in despair at the coming confrontation, remaining silent for once, which was in his best interest.

    He should be telling her how he was the senior Jedi of this operation, and that the ship was therefore under his command. Wrev was twenty-seven, nearly twenty-eight, making him more than five years her senior, regardless of her superior talents in the Force.

    Still, he said nothing, a smile forming around the thin cylinder that he'd placed back between his lips, knowing that he'd be giving her what she wanted to say what they were both thinking. Jaina snatched the death stick from him, finally a bit of surprise showing in Wrev's eyes. "I've saved your life twice now, which means you can't waste it on these. You owe me your life," She said, tossing the death stick into the trash receptacle and almost laughing at the idea of Wrev honoring a Wookiee style life-debt.

    Jaina turned back to Wrev, to see a full smile on his face— that same annoying grin that had been driving her mad since she'd let him aboard. She wanted to wipe it off his face. Wanted to strike him. Pound him until all the stress of being locked in the freighter with him and going to Chiss space was gone. How she would have relished seeing the look on his face when her fist connected with his jaw— seeing the surprise more than the pain. The shock of knowing he had drastically underestimated the brat and that for all his measured glances at her, he knew nothing.

    But she didn't. And he continued to grin. Jaina's jaw clenched, seething, before she turned and stormed back to the cockpit. As she departed she heard Threepio's voice again. "Some people are taking a more militant approach to anti-smoking throughout the galaxy."



    Jaina returned from the cockpit a short time later, relieved to see Wrev had left the hold and Threepio was there alone. Now if she could only make it to her bunk without seeing him...

    "Oh, hello," the droid greeted when he saw her.

    "Hey, Threepio. Where's Wrev?"

    The golden droid looked thoughtful. "I'm not sure where he's gone."

    Jaina nodded and started to depart, but Threepio continued. "I do hope you and Master Caster will be able to overcome your differences for the sake of the mission. I do know the strain of being forced to work with someone who is less than helpful, and often times aggravating, but if I might say so, those sometimes make the best teams."

    Jaina ignored the droid's philosophizing. "Master Caster?" Jaina laughed, her first real giggling laughter in she didn't know how long. C-3PO appeared ignorant of what amused her so much. "It rhymes, Threepio," she said, laughing again. "What a horrible name. I almost look forward to the day Wrev is made a Jedi Master and he'll be referred to that way by everyone."

    "Oh, I see," C-3PO replied. "I can see how that would be embarrassing for a human. Perhaps I should address him as Master Wrev from now on."

    Jaina shook her head and waved a hand as she continued to giggle. "No, no. Master Caster will do fine. Just make sure I'm present when you call him that for the first time."

    Again Threepio seemed oblivious to Jaina's amusement. "Of course."

    Jaina exited the hold and made her way to the dormitory, feeling much better for the short exchange with the droid who had raised her nearly as much as either of her parents.

    This feeling, however, vanished almost as quickly when she entered the dormitory and found Wrev sound asleep in her bunk. This was the first time either of them had really had a chance for real rest since she picked him up, and until now he'd been napping in the forward hold, curled in the couch around the dejarik board.

    Jaina was infuriated, and stomped towards the bunk before roughly shaking Wrev's shoulder to rouse him. "What? What is it," he asked, his eyes remaining shut.

    "What are you doing in my bed?" Jaina asked in disbelief.

    Wrev rolled over on his side away from her, making a groaning noise. "It was the only one with any sheets on it."

    "That should have been the hint that it was mine," she growled.

    Wrev turned back over, his eyes half opening but then quickly closing again, as if he'd considered waking but thought better of it when he saw Jaina's angry face. "I thought maybe you made it up for me."

    "Why would I do that?"

    Wrev half shrugged. "I thought you were being nice."

    Jaina began to honestly wonder if she might murder Wrev Caster. "There are sheets in compartments under the bunks attached to each bulkhead in the dormitory. Get out of my bed and make your own."

    He didn't respond for a moment, as if he'd fallen asleep again. "Come on Jaina, let's compromise. There's plenty of room in this bed for both of us—"

    That was where Wrev was cut off. Jaina had seized one naked foot and ankle sticking out from under a blanket and yanked the Jedi out of her bed, pulling him onto the deck where he landed on his backside with a thud. A little cry of pain and mostly shock accompanied the action before Wrev was sprawled across the deck, and Jaina only enjoyed the look of surprise on the man's face a moment, before flopping down in the now vacant bunk, and pulling the blankets over her.

    "Force, Jaina!," Wrev cried. "You could have split my head open!"

    Jaina had rolled over on her side now, facing the bulkhead so her back was to Wrev, pretending to have fallen fast asleep and ignoring the elder Jedi. She could feel Wrev standing over her, probably glaring or considering whether he should try to take the bunk back, before finally leaving the dormitory and Jaina to rest.

    The bed was still warm, and Jaina could smell Wrev on her pillowcases. Finally, as annoying as that was, she drifted off to sleep.

    She dreamed a familiar dream, of a great conflict between Jedi. Once again she was standing alone, facing the opponent she loved, with another she cared for laying between them in agony, having met his end on the blade of her enemy's lightsaber. She still couldn't tell where she was, but this time, Jaina was able to make out one of the faces.

    By the time she woke, however, it had been forgotten.