Beyond - Legends "Like The Deserts Miss The Rain" (DN AU, dark K/J) -- Updated 14 Jan 2016!!

Title: Like The Deserts Miss The Rain
Author: DantanaSkywalker
Timeframe: AU, post-NJO
Characters: Jaina Solo, Leia Solo, Anakin Solo, others
Genre: adventure, angst, romance
Keywords: character death, angst, romance
Summary: Alternate Universe. The galaxy is split between the Empire and the Republic. Jaina Solo must make a pact with a Sith Lord to stop the Empire's conquest of the rest of the galaxy.
Author Notes: I'm just playing in the world, I don't own it. Nothing's used with permission and anything weird is entirely the fault of my brain. Mucho, beaucoup thankies to EBrooklynW for all the help, especially with naming the Sith! Also, thanks to my beta, DarthIshtar.


[image=[url]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/dantanaskywalker/ltdmtr2.jpg][/url] [image=[url]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v629/dantanaskywalker/ltdmtr_romcov2.jpg][/url]


--Dramatis Personae--

The Jedi
Jaina Solo, Jedi Knight (female human)
Anakin Solo, Jedi Knight (male human)
Leia Organa Solo, Jedi Master (female human)
Zekk, Jedi Knight (male human)
Tenel Ka, Jedi Knight & Princess of Hapes (female human)
Kam Solusar, Jedi Master (male human)
Cilghal, Jedi Master (female Mon Calamari)

The Sith
Darth Rache, Sith Lord (male human)
Darth Reiniger, Sith apprentice (male human)
Zaliyn Penta (female Endesh)

The Empire
Empress Mara Jade (female human)
Gilad Pellaeon, Grand Admiral (male human)
Soontir Fel, Baron-Administrator (male human)
Jagged Fel, Colonel (male human)


People I've got down for PMs are:

Chilla
ccp
princess_melissa
Jade_Max
Lola64
Golden_Jedi
princess_of_naboo
Jaina_Solo_16
Darth_Intangable
JediBettyBug18
Durroness
SWpants666
dm1
skywalkerlover00
PRINCESSCAMBRIA
Lonewolf89
ZekksGoddess
Ceillean
Rosa-Belle
Alkibiades
SilverWolf77
Quivyr
Lanta
Jaina_Solo_Goddess
angry_bendu1
Smily-faced_Abi
star_writer24

(Please let me know if you're on this list by mistake, or if you'd like to be added.)

---

[I]I'm walking down your street again[/I]
[I]Past your door[/I]
[I]But you don't live there anymore[/I]
[I]It's years since you've been there[/I]
[I]And now you've disappeared somewhere[/I]
[I]Like outer space[/I]
[I]You've found some better place[/I]
[I]And I miss you[/I]
[I]Like the deserts miss the rain[/I]

[I]-- Everything But The Girl, "Missing"[/I]



[B]--Chapter One--[/B]

Yavin IV
34 ABY

The orb of the gas giant Yavin was sliding past the horizon when Jaina Solo strode into the audience chamber of the Great Temple. Her dark hair swung behind her in a braid that fell to her thighs. A lightsaber hung at her hip, its casing worn and scarred.

There were nine seats on the dias, the centre seat empty as it had been ever since she could remember. The other eight seats were filled; the Council was waiting for her.

"You are late, Knight Solo," Jedi Master Kam Solusar said. His face was lined, his hair white. He'd been a child at the time of the Purge, and was the oldest member of the Council. He sat to the immediate left of the empty chair, his sand-coloured robes draped around him.

Jaina bowed her head. "My apologies, Master Solusar. What does the council wish of me?"

Leia Organa Solo, seated to the right of the empty chair, leaned forward. Hers was the only chair not carved of stone; it was a repulsor-chair, made to allow her movement after the loss of the lower portion of her legs some years before. "We have received reports from the Republic," she began, "that the Empire is trying to expand its borders."

Jaina frowned. "They've already got most of the Core, from the Colonies to the Unknown Regions. That's at least half the galaxy. Why do they need to expand? They got Coruscant back."

Tionne Solusar, seated next to her husband, spoke. "The Empire is merely biding its time until it can reclaim everything the Rebellion took from them. They've already taken advantage of our weakness once."

The young woman before them sighed. "I know. I fought at the Battle of Coruscant."

"You [I]led[/I] the Battl

 

Luke's dead?

Leia's in a hoverchair?

Where is Han??

Why do I get a BAD feeling about who this SITH LORD who KILLED LUKE is? *looks around for a certain Force-strong twin, that seems to be missing, yet everyone wants to bring into the Republic*

 

good post Dana can't wait to see more

 

First off, great start Dantana! I'd especially like to thank you for being the first to respond to our challenge (check the third page of the Extreme AU-er thread, or relevent thread in any time period board if you want more info, folks.). It's great to know it didn't go unheard, and even better to see this degree of subtlty used in implementing it.

 

PonyTricks - Luke's dead? shock shock

Yup.

Leia's in a hoverchair? shock shock

Yup.

Where is Han?? worried

You'll find out soon enough.

Why do I get a BAD feeling about who this SITH LORD who KILLED LUKE is? *looks around for a certain Force-strong twin, that seems to be missing, yet everyone wants to bring into the Republic* mischief

You'll see that soon, too.


cleveland1000 - good post Dana can't wait to see more

Thanks.


Saber_Girl_Jaina - First off, great start Dantana! I'd especially like to thank you for being the first to respond to our challenge (check the third page of the Extreme AU-er thread, or relevent thread in any time period board if you want more info, folks.). It's great to know it didn't go unheard, and even better to see this degree of subtlty used in implementing it.

Thank you. I've definitely had fun with what I've written so far with this, and I was really happy to see a challenge I actually felt like answering.



Dana

 

Healer_Leona - Oh my goodness, such a different world. Can't help but wonder what the Sith has up his sleeve? I can't believe he'd help save the Jedi without some plan already in mind.

Oh, he's definitely got something up his sleeve. We'll find out in the next couple chapters what at least part of it is.


Dana

 

Couldn't resist posting more.

---

[b]--Chapter Two--[/b]

Jaina didn't think she'd spent four consecutive days in the cockpit of an X-wing since she was twenty years old. It wasn't exactly comfortable, and she was looking forward to stopping [i]anywhere[/i] and having a shower, as well as sleeping horizontally. Decent food would be good, as well.

Rumour had it that Darth Rache didn't have any particular world as his base. Instead, he had a ship. A very big ship. A flying fortress as a testiment to his power. At least, that was what they'd heard in the last few systems they'd been in.

Jaina at least knew the name of the ship, which was something most didn't. She'd also once upon a time heard the voice of its commander, the shadowy Sith Lord with a reputation at least as large as Darth Vader's.

They'd made their way along the border for the last week, stopping just long enough at systems to inquire about Imperial activity and sightings of Rache's ship. A lot of beings imagined they'd seen the [i]Eradicator[/i], but she doubted that few actually had.

No one really knew what Darth Rache was up to. After a brief rampage against the Empire twenty years before, he'd virtually disappeared, popping up every few years in a big, flashy gesture--usually when he could embarrass either the Republic or the Empire the most, like saving the galaxy from the Vong--and then promptly vanish, once more, into the dark places between the stars.

The search had brought them here, to the Outer Rim, near the Bespin system. She had her theories as to why they were out this way, but again, they weren't things she voiced aloud.

Inquiries at Cloud City sent them further rimward. Jaina decided to try to sleep, hoping against hope they found nothing. But her gut feeling didn't agree with her head.

----------

A shudder and a bone-jarring wrench woke Jaina as the X-wings abruptly dropped out of hyperspace. The diagnostics were wailing. Jaina's fingers moved over the controls as she looked up to see why they'd been yanked out.

"Holy Force," she breathed.

Somehow, she hadn't remembered Rache's ship being quite so . . . large. Or scary. She'd seen it only once before, at the Battle of Coruscant eight years ago. Time had dimmed it in her mind.

It appeared to have once been a Super-class Star Destroyer, but twenty years of modification had changed it into something even more sinister. It almost looked like parts of a Hapan Battle Dragon had been attached to the sides toward the back of the ship, like wings.

She'd been an unwilling guest of the Shadow Academy as a teenager; it looked like Rache had appropriated it and attached it to his ship, the spiky ring-shaped structure forming a hump on the top of the Destroyer through which the control tower of the Destroyer rose. The whole thing was massive and intimidating, bristling with weaponry, the outer hull painted black.

At first, Jaina thought that Rache had taken the gravity-well generator from an Interdictor-class Destroyer and attached it in front of the ring, but at second glance, she realised the entire Interdictor had been welded to the ship below it.

This was what had pulled them out, and Jaina could see why people had been frightened when they'd spoken of it. Of course, the fleet around it wasn't shabby, either. Jaina had no idea what make the ships were, but they were at least the size of Imperial Star Destroyers.

"You think he's compensating for anything?" Anakin asked laconically.

Jaina laughed. "Possibly."

She opened a channel to hail. "[i]Eradicator[/i], this is Jaina Solo of the Republic, requesting contact."

Only a moment passed before a voice crackled over the comm. "Republic fighters, stand down and wait for escort."

She switched over to the private channel. "You think they were expecting us?"

"We've only been asking at every system if anyone's seen them; Rache was bound to get word two Jedi were looking for him. He's probably very curious."

"Great." Jaina knew her brother was right, as he usually was.

A watery planet hung

 

ooooo Very nice job Dana, can't wait to read the next chapter. and wow, that is one screwy sounding ship. You'd think with such a style for star fighters he'd have more taste in uniform, tsk tsk.

 

Ooooooooooh you've got me interested in this one -- yes I'm posting on Beyond Your eyes aren't deceiving you -- or are they?

Great to see you posting again!

 

Would the empire have sent Jag? Hmm. I know you're not a J/J shipper, so hmmmmm..

 

I'm telling you folks, read the challenge if you want to know what's going on.[/shameless plug]

 

Oye... I have a few suspicions about this.... And they involve Captain Cardboard and Kyp.... and I wanna know where the heck is Jacen!

Love the fic so far, btw.

 

Awsome start! I can't wait to see where this one is going.

 

Wait Wait Wait, hold up. Just a moment.

Tenel Ka and Zekk? The rest I can handle. But Tenel Ka and Zekk? I'd really like to see how you put them together, that seems like such an odd pairing.

Great story, can't wait for more!

 

cleveland1000 - ooooo Very nice job Dana, can't wait to read the next chapter. and wow, that is one screwy sounding ship. You'd think with such a style for star fighters he'd have more taste in uniform, tsk tsk.

I don't think he worries much about the particular style as long as they're black.


Layren - Ooooooooooh you've got me interested in this one -- yes I'm posting on Beyond tongue Your eyes aren't deceiving you -- or are they? tongue

LOL!

Great to see you posting again!

Thanks.


SpiritofEowyn - Would the empire have sent Jag? Hmm. I know you're not a J/J shipper, so hmmmmm..

We'll find out soon.


Saber_Girl_Jaina - I'm telling you folks, read the challenge if you want to know what's going on.[/shameless plug]

Hmm . . . Maybe, and maybe not. This story's rather complicated.


CodeName_Targeter - Oye... I have a few suspicions about this.... And they involve Captain Cardboard and Kyp.... and I wanna know where the heck is Jacen!

We'll see soon. I know, I know, I'm being cryptic and annoying.

Love the fic so far, btw. tongue happy

Thanks!


princess_melissa - Awsome start! I can't wait to see where this one is going.

Thank you.


AvenKiel - Wait Wait Wait, hold up. Just a moment.
Tenel Ka and Zekk? The rest I can handle. But Tenel Ka and Zekk? I'd really like to see how you put them together, that seems like such an odd pairing.

Well, they're not going to be in the early part of this, maybe more towards the end of it . . . but it will be explained. I think.

Great story, can't wait for more!

Thanks. More coming right up.


Dana

 

And the games begin . . .

---

[b]--Chapter Three--[/b]

Jaina and Anakin turned back to face their host. Rache was watching their reactions, but turned back to the Imperial after a moment.

"Continue, Colonel Fel," the Sith said.

Jaina jerked slightly, remembering the young soldier she'd met at Ithor. She'd felt a brief attraction at seventeen, but that had been years ago. And there was definitely no attraction now; the man who stood before her was too hard and grim. Even Rache was more attractive.

"As I was saying, my lord, the Empire offers a stipend of five million Imperial credits per standard year in exchange for your services . . ."

Jaina tuned him out and focused instead on the man who slouched on the throne. He didn't [i]look[/i] like a Sith. She'd been expecting him to look, well . . . like the one standing next to him. Or Emperor Palpatine. She hadn't been expecting a fashionably dressed man in his late thirties who looked bored at Fel's speech.

In fact, the man didn't look very dangerous at all. He looked about as dangerous as Ganner Rhysode, whom she'd dated for a brief period at the age of nineteen. Of course, Ganner had had the misfortunee to hook up with Alema Rar and from Jaina had heard last, had a half-Twi'lek daughter named Mimi.

Rache was looking at her, and noticed her smile. "Something amusing, Knight Solo? Or do you have a better offer than the one the Empire has put forth?"

Fel was glaring at her. Jaina decided to ignore him. She should have been paying attention to what the Empire was dangling in front of Rache, because she had no idea if the offer the Republic had told her to make was better or not.

"Ten million Republic credits per standard year," she said. "As well as access to Republic technology for your fleet. Also, the total expunging of your record as pertaining to all crimes against the Republic."

Rache stared at her. "Formal pardoning for the lives I've taken? The Republic must really want my assistance."

Fel stepped forward, into Rache's line of sight. "My lord, the Empress would, naturally, overlook all records kept by the Republic once she has control of their portion of the gal-"

He stopped suddenly, and his pale green eyes widened. One hand went up to his throat.

Rache stood up, focused on Fel now. "You speak out of turn, Colonel," he said.

Fel nodded vigourously, but as he couldn't breathe, he couldn't speak. Rache released his hold and Fel staggered.

"My apologies, my lord-"

A gloved hand whipped out and struck Fel across the face. As the Imperial staggered back, Rache stretched out the fingers of the hand he'd just hit the man with. Dark tendrils of electricity flickered out and surrounded Fel. The man screamed and fell to the floor, writhing as Rache electrocuted him.

After a few moments, Rache apparently tired of that and lowered his hand. He savagely kicked Fel in the stomach.

Then, ever mercurial, the Sith Lord turned to Jaina. She forced herself not to take that instinctive step back, forced herself to stand her ground as he approached.

His eyes, she saw, were a deep green, with little flecks of brown in them. They were gorgeous eyes, heavily lashed. He was smiling now, faintly, as he looked at her.

Rache raised his hand. Jaina barely contained a flinch. His smile deepened.

A black-gloved finger trailed down her cheek. Jaina tried hard not to shiver. The Sith Lord's eyes were strangely warm as he gazed at her. She got the distinct impression he was seeing quite a bit.

Rache spun away and stalked over to the holographic map, his cape billowing behind him. "The Empire offers me wealth. I have that. Power. I have that, too. The Republic offers me pardons for my sins, on top of wealth, but no power."

He sounded amused, though it wasn't reflected on his face. He'd only smiled once since they'd entered the room, and that was when he'd been close to Jaina. "The Empire would turn me into a puppet. I've met Jade, delightful woman on occasion, but she would want me as an icon, a figurehead. A post-modern Darth

 

Rache is KYP! And his apprentice is JACEN!! BUT WHERE IS HANNY-BEAR???

 

I'm not confirming or denying anything. You just have to wait and see.


Dana

 

Ooh very nice Dana!

These Darth Rache and Darth Reiniger intrigue me.

Hmmm...Reiniger, I have an idea.

Great story, can't wait to see more!

 

Kick Jacen's rear! Woo! Err.. yeah.

Kick Kyp Jaina!
This feels phantom of the opera -ish to me.

 

EVIL! You are so evil. No way. Oh my... no way. My head hurts. Gah. I--I need to lie down. Or take an advil.

And maybe sometime later I can untangle my brain enough to reply intelligently.

 

Well, the name's meaning could possibly be a large clue . . .

Hmm . . . You probably know that I'm an Erik/Christine 'shipper . . .

Hey, I haven't been called "EEEEEVVVVIIILLL!!!!!" for nothing.


Dana

 

A date with the Devil . . .

---

[b]--Chapter Four--[/b]

Anakin was right. It got worse. The dress was practically indecent. She was tempted to call it intimate wear rather than formal. Then again, that was probably Rache's intention in the first place. Well, if he thought she was just going to give in, he was in for a big surprise.

The dress was floor-length, but there was a slit up the front of the skirt, almost high enough to void any point in a skirt. The sides were virtually non-existant, leaving her bare from underarm to hip. The neckline plunged in a deep drape to her navel, barely covering essentials, and the back was so low that the skirt began at the lower part of the small of her back. The straps were incredibly thin across the shoulders. There was no way to wear any undergarments with it, and she was very conscious of that fact as she stepped out of the refresher.

Anakin's blue eyes nearly fell out of his head. "You are [i]not[/i] wearing that!"

Jaina eyed it from [i]her[/i] perspective and said, "I'm not sure if this [i]counts[/i] as wearing it."

She unbraided her hair and the dark waves fell to mid-thigh, covering her back. It helped a bit, but came far short of pleasing Anakin. "That's a little better," he said. "But I still think Mom would have a fit."

"Mom isn't here," his sister said. "And if anyone knows the necessity of drastic measures, it would be her."

"She'd still hate it."

"Yes, she would." Jaina looked at her reflection and snorted. "Nice to know he thinks I can pull off one of these ridiculous things."

"He's not thinking of [i]you[/i] pulling it off," Anakin said caustically.

She flushed. "I'd be more comfortable in a flightsuit."

"No doubt. I'd be more comfortable with you in a flightsuit, too, Jaya. I can't believe I'm letting you do this."

Jaina glanced around. "I'm forgetting something . . ."

"Your clothes, perhaps? You [i]did[/i] notice there's no place for your lightsaber in that, right?"

----------

An underling came to fetch Jaina that evening. She had a cloak on over the dress and felt much better, but dreaded when the cloak came off, as it inevitably would. Since she was practically naked, she decided the best defense was a good offense. Attitude sometimes worked just as well as armor.

She was guided to a doorway somewhere at the top of the ship. The doors were large and black and forbidding. Jaina's courage wavered as she found herself standing alone before them. For several moments, she wondered what she should do. Should she knock? Just walk in?

Before she could decide, the doors swung open, seemingly on their own. She drew a deep breath and walked in. The door closed behind her with a heavy clang. Jaina didn't notice because she was too busy gaping at her surroundings.

A large fireplace, of white marble veined in black, dominated one wall. There was a real fire burning in it. The room was floored in the same marble. The furniture was black and overstuffed. An ebony table stood in front of the fire; it was small and intimately set.

There was a curtained alcove off to her left, the drapery a deep red. The bed was probably back there, and if her quarters were any indication, it was big. And soft.

Jaina found herself blushing at the image, and cursed her wayward thoughts.

"Well, you've certainly got the colour coordination down," Jaina said to the figure seated at the table.

Rache rose from his chair. He was, this time, dressed in deceptive simplicity: black leggings, a dark green shirt left open to expose his muscled chest, which was lightly dusted with black hair. He had bare feet, and his hair was loose to curl on his shoulders. He stalked over, no other word for it, and took her cloak. His hands were bare this time, his fingers warm on her skin, lingering in a manner she thought quite unnecessary.

The shirt matches his eyes, she thought as he stepped back around to study her.

"Lovely," he murmured.

"Enjoy the view, because that's all you're getting," she snapped.

"Don't challenge me, Jaina," he purr

 

But--but--ahhhh!

::Faints::