Beyond - Legends REVOLUTION (NJO: Anakin Solo, Kyp Durron, Alema Rar, Others) Completed 9/24/03!

Chapter 9

After chasing the shamed one Eiia's signal through the city streets, above the ocean floor, for a quarter hour, Kyp felt both relief and trepidation when the signal stopped moving. While it probably meant the Yuuzhan Vong had reached whatever hideout they had on Mon Calamari, it also meant they could begin torturing Eiia, if she was still alive at all. Clighal was already comming GFI, letting them know the location, but also asking them to keep their distance. The four Jedi did not want any of the agents to get in their way, or fumble the rescue and get the shamed one killed.

"Where are they at Wrev?" Kyp asked.

The young Jedi looked at his datapad, "Ground floor, fourth building on the right."

Kyp felt his heart sink as they rounded the corner and saw how full the streets were with Mon Calamari citizens. The GFI had not done their job, and now innocenct’s could get killed if they got in the way.

"What should we do? Should we wait?" The Kyp inquired. Then he turned to the other Jedi Master, "Clighal?"

Kyp and Clighal did not have a lot in common, but he had come to respect the Mon Calamari's wisdom over the years. They had both been some of the first Jedi at Luke Skywalker's academy, and were the first to graduate to full Jedi, along with Kyp's friend, the late Dorsk 81.

"I'll do what I can to get the people out of harms way, you three will have to confront the Yuuzhan Vong without me."

Kyp had to agree. Clighal was the best suited for such a task, and was not as strong a combatant as Tesar or Wrev. It only made sense that she would be the one to clear the streets.

Clighal ran towards the crowds and the remaining Jedi continued on towards the building they believed to hold Yuuzhan Vong warriors.

"Sithpiss!" Wrev swore. "They're on the move again! They must have spotted us!"

"Perhaps, they have some sort of surveillance in the area," Tesar suggested. "A variation of a villip?"

"It doesn't matter now, " Kyp said as he broke into a dead run. "Where are they going now?"

"ummmm...headed for the left exit guys," Wrev said as he struggled to run and watch the screen of his datapad. "They're going to beat us."

Kyp let the force control his body and put it into his run. When they reached the crowds Clighal had not had time to move yet, he had to slow down and move through them.

"There!" Tesar said pointing to a group of people moving away from the suspect building. It was an apartment complex Kyp now noticed. The group was made up of eight large human men and three large human females. One of the females did not appear to be moving under her own power, and was practically being drug by two of the large males. When Kyp reached for the group with the force it felt as if nothing was there at all. The group seemed to see them as well and was moving quickly away into the crowds.

"We have to get these people out of the way; we'll never reach them!" Kyp said.

"This one has an idea," Tesar proclaimed while unhooking his lightsaber from his belt and hitting the activator. When the blade came to life a large portion of the people now surrounding the Jedi jumped back in fear and confusion.

"Lightsabers for crowd control?" Wrev asked.

"It works, right? Let's move. " Kyp ordered, igniting his own weapon.

As they ran the crowds jumped away from them in mass clearing a path towards the imposters, who were now violently pushing people out of their way. The Jedi continued to close the gap between themselves and the Yuuzhan Vong. Two of the disguised warriors broke off to challenge the Jedi and were met by Kyp and Wrev.

Kyp blocked the first strike but then went on the offensive with flurry of lightning fast slashes. The warrior could not keep up, and after a large slash across his chest, which tore off his ooglith masquer, he left a weak spot in his armor open. Kyp took advantage, thrusting his violet blade into the warrior's armpit and when the warrior hit the ground, Kyp turned to see that Wrev and Tesar had already dispatched the other warrior and were now pursuing the remaining eight. The two had a sizeable lead on Kyp, so he took off in hopes of catching up.

Then he saw two of the warriors turn around and pitch something at the Jedi. Wrev raised his blade to block it, and a large explosion followed. Explosive blorash jelly. Both Wrev and Tesar were down along with several other citizens who hadn't managed to get out of the Vong's path. Kyp slowed down when he got to the pair of Jedi.

"Go," he heard Tesar say, "We'll catch up."

Because of the smoke, Kyp couldn't see how bad the injuries were, but he had little choice to leave Wrev and Tesar in an attempt to save the shamed one. As he took off yet again, he could see Wrev and Tesar rising to their feet out of the corner of his eye.

Kyp reached out with the force and vaulted into the group of Yuuzhan Vong warriors. On his descent he severed the arm from the elbow of one of the warriors "escorting" the struggling female. Then he spun and took the head off the other, leaving four uninjured males and two females to face. Kyp adjusted those odds when he saw the warrior, whose arm he had just taken, draw his amphistaff.

The shamed one Eiia, no unrestrained, tried to exit the circle of Yuuzhan Vong warriors and received a stiff elbow to the side of her head from one of the females for her trouble. Eiia dropped to the ground instantly unconscious, if not worse.

Kyp didn't have time to worry about it as two large male warriors and the other female advanced on him. The warriors had amphistaffs and the female was carrying a blade known as a coufee. He turned his blade horizontally, up high and in front of himself to catch the two amphistaffs. However, this left his right side completely open to the female who lunged forward with her coufee.

Kyp's instinct was to pull the coufee from the Vong, but because the Yuuzhan Vong and their weapons did not exist in the force, this was impossible. Kyp was not stranger to improvisation though, and when she was inches away from striking him, he raised his right leg to kick the female in the stomach double her over. Another of the male warriors quickly filled her place.

Kyp blocked another blow from one of the two warriors in front of him and then ducked as the other took a large swing with his weapon. Kyp turned into a spin and caught the new warrior coming from his right across the elbows. As the warrior fell back, Kyp swung the other direction to cut through his throat.

His back now exposed to the two warriors he had been fighting, Kyp felt an amphistaff strike the back of his legs and what had to be the head of another amphistaff bite his left shoulder, pumping the deadly venom into him. The strike to his legs brought him down and the paralyzing venom kept him from getting up.

Kyp felt himself losing consciousness and did what he could to use the force to push the blood from he wound and hopefully the venom as well. He saw two more warriors approach him and he was now clearly surrounded by four, and unable to move. Using every drop of force strength he had left, he rolled over onto his back and raised his lightsaber to block a blow he knew must be coming.

Then a white light exploded from the warriors mouth and he groaned as he fell on the street next to Kyp, revealing Tesar, burned and bloodied, with his blade ignited and approaching the two warriors who had brought Kyp down. He then saw a blue flash from the corner of his right eye and knew that Wrev had just taken down the other warrior next to his head, who fell on Kyp.

The ailing Jedi Master saw very little of the rest of the fight, but he felt Clighal join the fray, and when the last remaining pair of warriors grabbed Eiia and tried to flee, the fight returned to his field of vision. Wrev caught the warriors from behind as he leapt in the air above them in a flip and spun one hundred and eighty degrees so he was facing the last enemy. The other one fell down when Wrev landed, his head no longer with his body. Kyp hadn't even see Wrev do that, but he must have slashed the warrior during that flip. Perhaps Wrev's reputation with a lightsaber was well deserved.

When Kyp looked at Wrev he saw that he wasn't in much better shape then Tesar.

Wrev and the last warrior traded slashes and parries for a few moments. It was hard to focus on Wrev's blade because he was moving it so fast, never raising to a guard, always keeping his blade in motion. Then the warrior fell, and Kyp Durron slipped into blackness.

 

Chapter 10

Anakin Solo pulled the trigger of the blaster pistol and took another warrior down with a shot to the head. The depletion alarm sounded and he threw it at another Yuuzhan Vong warrior. As the warrior was knocked down, he leapt into the air, drawing his lightsaber and activating it as he landed at the grashal entrance. The normally brilliant blade paled in comparison to the bright aura that radiated from his every cell. Lightning danced off his body and crackled in the air around him. Anakin was the force. The force was Anakin.

He was completely fueled by the power of the lightside, and by his love for his companions.

Anakin slashed right and left, killing warriors with every other swing, but there were too many of them. Multiple amphistaffs pierced his body and he retreated, giving ground before everything became hazy.

He sliced and kicked with every bit of energy that was now consuming him, then threw a thermal detonator at the imposter Nom Anor and continued to fight. The warriors around him fell but more stormed forward.

A blow to the ribs dropped Anakin to his knees and he used the force to move the detonator out of Nom Anor's grasp so it would destroy the Voxyn tissue.

Then, he was gone.



And a small creature appeared. Feathery, with reverse articulated legs, the creatures menacing smile was adorned with whiskers. Was her smile one of joy or malice? Then, there was a loud humming noise.





Yuusung Saa awoke violently gasping for air as the sweat stung his fully opened eyes. He had to look at his hand to check if the infidel's lightsaber was still in it, and the humming inside his brain was even more powerful, beckoning him to travel too whatever was causing it.

He realized he still hadn't been able to breathe and concentrated on that. When oxygen finally filled his lungs it burned deep into his chest and several minutes went by before he could do anything but focus on his own breathing.

Yuusung Saa glanced around the once private hanger his group had set up camp in for the night. He was relieved that his panicked wake had not drawn the attention of the sleeping warriors.

The hanger was mostly durasteel and Yuuzhan Vong foliage with old mechanical devises strewn about. The sweet smell of the plant life mixed with the metallic smell to create an unusual odor, that he hadn’t gotten use to yet. A small starliner was crushed beyond repair by the sagging ceiling and a speeder was so tangled, it would take days to get it out from the foliage.

Was what he had seen a dream or a vision of the past? He remembered fighting the warriors in the grashal but what about the creature... He knew he had seen her before but he couldn't remember who it was. He couldn't remember how he knew it was a her.

The young warrior wiped the sweat from his brow and tried to organize his thoughts, make sense of his dream, but the constant hum made that impossible. He would have to do everything he could to ignore the noise and concentrate on Lord Shimrra's mission. Anything else out here could spread the infidel taint in him farther then it already had, and he would miss his chance at redemption.

The revelation that this planet had once been the infidel Anakin's home planet of Coruscant had occupied his thoughts for most of the previous day. He was ashamed to admit that it filled him with a strange sense of sadness and longing. He knew that these feelings were only symptoms of the infidel lies planted in his brain and not any real remorse over the loss of his childhood home. No, not his childhood home. Why should he care if the infidel's abominable planet was destroyed and shaped to serve the Yuuzhan Vong? He should be proud of this, not saddened.



The warriors and Yuusung Saa were back on their feet searching for the necessary parts again by dawn. Yuusung Saa felt more composed and focused then he had the previous day, and by noon he had nearly located all the pieces he would need to construct his lightsaber. Besides a few small devices that he was sure to find soon enough, all that he needed was a focusing crystal. A standard lightsaber could have up to three crystals that strengthened the blade and controlled other attributes like color.

Several hours passed without a notable find when Yuusung Saa began to plan where they should go next. To his amazement he realized that he had been steadily traveling west, towards the mysterious humming. Had he done this subconsciously? Was his yet another symptom of the infidel disease?

No, he would not fight this any longer. Whatever was calling to him must be confronted, and destroyed if necessary. He would not fear it. The warriors seemed not to care much where they went, even Commander Hul Choka rarely asked any questions about the routes they had taken from building to building.

"Commander Choka," Yuusung Saa addressed the large warrior. "Get everyone together, we're leaving the buildings and hiking farther west."

"Why?" Hul Choka asked suspiciously, sweat trickling around the horn in the center of his head.

"I am nearly finished scavenging for the infidels' metal abominations. All I need now are the crystals we spoke of earlier. I have a good feeling we will find those elsewhere," Yuusung Saa lied.

"Why? Why do you believe you will find these crystals west of here?" Hul Choka asked, even more suspicious then he had been seconds ago. Could Hul Choka know more than he let on? Did he know what was causing the humming noise and was he trying to keep Yuusung Saa from it?

"It's a premonition Commander, how could I explain this?" Yuusung Saa answered. He wondered what would happen if Hul Choka caught him in a lie.

The Yuuzhan Vong Commander looked him over skeptically. Then he shouted to the other warriors to fall in, and explained the change in plans.



After two days journey Yuusung Saa could feel the sound growing more intense, urging him forward. Hul Choka's questions became more frequent the closer the group got to Yuusung Saa's goal. There was little doubt in Yuusung Saa's mind that Hul Choka was afraid he would find something he wasn't suppose to and the Commander knew something he was not going to reveal.

"How much longer must we march towards nothing?" Hul Choka asked incredulously as they climbed another large hill covered by foliage. The warrior's face was covered in sweat, from the oppressive heat and the bright sun.

Yuusung Saa glared at him. “We are headed towards something; I have told you that I seek a focusing crystal. They only exist in certain areas, and I know what those areas look like. I believe we can find such a place this direction," Yuusung Saa answered, and hoping his half-truths wouldn't be deciphered for what they were.

"Tell me about these areas where the crystals exist?" The Yuuzhan Vong Commander asked. This type of interrogation had gone on for the last two days unabated. Hul Choka seemed desperate to catch him in some sort of lie.

"I will know it when I see it, "Yuusung Saa said, knowing it was best to say as little as possible. "More than that, I can not say."

"Cannot or will not, Yuusung Saa?" Hul Choka asked indignantly. He was challenging Yuusung Saa, baiting him into defending his honor. He would have to be tactful.

"Why does it worry you so Commander?" Yuusung Saa asked, dodging the question. "You're to help and protect me so that Lord Shimrra's plans can come to fruition, not question my judgment at every turn. What are you so afraid of?" He chastened.

Yuusung Saa quickly realized he had overstepped his bounds, challenging the seasoned Commander. Hul Choka glared at him and looked as if he might strike, but before he could they reached the top of the large hill they had been climbing, and the answer to Yuusung Saa's question was revealed in the horizon.

The largest Yuuzhan Vong city he had ever seen stretched in the distance as far as Yuusung Saa could see. He stared for a long time bathing in its beauty as the Yuuzhan Vong sun washed over it.

In the center of the sprawling city was a massive dome-- A worldship that had been planted into the planet. It was larger than a mountain and its rainbow wings lay across the sky above the city. There was little question of whom it belonged. It was Lord Shimrra's palace, and the city had to be Yuuzhan'tar. The Yuuzhan Vong had conquered Coruscant and shaped it into their glorious home world. This was what Hul Choka had wanted him to stay away from. Yuusung Saa wondered why, what possible damage could he cause by being here? Why stash him away in a small village like D'Ysuu?

“We cannot travel there, Yuusung Saa,” Hul Choka said flatly.

"Why? Under whose authority do you make such an order?" He snapped back.

"Supreme Overlord Shimrra's," Hul Choka snarled.

Yuusung Saa had suspected as much. "Did he not also order you to help me construct a lightsaber? " Yuusung Saa spat. He didn’t wait for an answer; “In order to do this we will need to enter Shimrra’s city.”

If Hul Choka was surprised that Yuusung Saa had identified the large dome for what it was, and who lived there, he didn't let on.

"Can you not find your abominable crystals elsewhere?"

"No."

"I cannot allow you to enter Lord Shimrra's Palace."

Yuusung Saa touched his hip and made sure his coufee was secured there. He would not go down without a fight. Then he reached out to get a lock on the origin of the mysterious humming, and was able to find it in the second largest dome in the city.

"That won't be necessary. I need to go there," he said as he pointed to the dome. It looked small in comparison with Shimrra's ship and palace, but was still massive. Yuusung Saa could tell it was actually an infidel construct that was covered in Yuuzhan Vong foliage, but his memory of the planet wasn't sharp enough to identify what building it had been, or even what district this had once been.

Hul choka scowled and Yuusung Saa cut him off before he could deny his request. "Unless you wish to displease Lord Shimrra by failing in your task?" He asked. "Do you know what that dome is for Commander?"

I do not," Hul Choka admitted. Yuusung Saa wasn't certain, but he thought the commander was lying.

"This is Yuuzhan'tar though?"

Hul Choka's jaw clenched and then released. "It is Yuusung Saa. You are very clever," he said. The last part sounded less like a compliment then it did a threat of some kind.

Yuusung Saa took a gamble and turned his back on the warrior, hiking towards the large dome. Hul Choka and his warriors would either follow him or strike him down. He was forcing the commander to break one of Shimrra's orders, and now Hul Choka would have to decide which was more important.

Yuusung Saa refused to glance over his shoulder at the warriors; he wanted to seem confident. After twenty-five paces he could hear the warriors following behind him, and after another ten, it became clear that they were not pursuing him to attack. Yuusung Saa had won this round, and now he would confront whatever had been calling to him in the city.



After walking down a long winding path covered with thorny outcroppings inside the Yuuzhan Vong city, they arrived at their destination. In front of the huge dome was a very large pile of debris, much of it was covered by moss and fungus, but it looked as if it had been a part of the dome at one time. The Yuuzhan Vong life was not covering the wreckage, but Yuusung Saa could tell it was more recent then the destruction of Coruscant, by how much of the infidel stone was exposed.

What Yuusung Saa found startling, was that the humming noise was pulling him to the wreckage and not inside the dome itself.

The vicinity had been deserted with the exception of three shamed ones who were behaving oddly. The trio had scurried away when they saw the warriors, making them more suspicious. Yuusung Saa had never seen shamed ones before, but these three seemed to behave in a fashion that he had not expected. They acted as though they were hiding something, or doing something forbidden. Had they not fled so quickly, he would have enjoyed discovering what that was.

There was something strange about the location, besides the incessant hum, something he felt in the force, if that was what it truly was, Yuusung Saa was still unsure. He had felt something similar before, but darker... No, that had been the infidel Anakin, Yuusung Saa had never felt anything like this. It was bizarre.

He pointed to an area and ordered the warriors to dig. Then he jumped in and started moving rocks himself. The only one who abstained from participating was Hul Choka, who seemed to be taking the role of supervisor.

With each moved stone, the humming became more intense. Yuusung Saa wasn't sure who or what was down there, but it was down deep, perhaps all the way to the bottom.



After several hours his hole was nearly dug towards his goal, whatever it was. He took a moment to wipe the sweat from his brow and as he moved the sun overhead caught something previously hidden under his shadow. Whatever it was gleamed of metal. He quickly moved two more rocks and saw what it was, a dusty metal cylinder. As his fingertips touch it, it sent a shock through his body, and when he lifted it the memories flowed into his brain unabated. It was a lightsaber. His... Anakin's lightsaber.

 

good post! Ooh, at the end there he called it his lightsaber...

 

thanks for reading, The_Jedi_Ambyr-Rose. More should be up tomorrow.

 

great! I'll be looking forward to it!

~Ambyr-Rose~

 

*gasps for breath* Not... fast... enough...*faints from exhaustion*

 

C'mon, Whitey. Get Up. Yoda wants it all to be up before TFP. So only 'bout a month left of running left.

 

*rubs_eyes* Whew, you are humming along, aren't you?

Too...much...information...to...process...

Good work though. I like how you are bringing it all together. Perhaps I'll have more comments after I let it digest.

 

Marvellous posts YK. I loved the transition from Kyp's battle to Anakin's - nice work. I also like the way you're developing Anakin's alter ego, showing how the lightsaber triggers his true persona. Lovely descriptions and great action, too.

 

*gasps for breath* Not... fast... enough...*faints from exhaustion*

going as fast as I can. Thanks Whitey.



C'mon, Whitey. Get Up. Yoda wants it all to be up before TFP. So only 'bout a month left of running left.

Yup, there are 16 chapters left, so If I average a chapter a day, it should be no problem. Thanks JOD!


Too...much...information...to...process...

Good work though. I like how you are bringing it all together. Perhaps I'll have more comments after I let it digest.

One says its too slow, the other too fast... Thanks Moff, sorry I'm posting so fast, but you can read it at your own leisure.

Marvellous posts YK. I loved the transition from Kyp's battle to Anakin's - nice work. I also like the way you're developing Anakin's alter ego, showing how the lightsaber triggers his true persona. Lovely descriptions and great action, too.

Thanks again Tahi. The transitons between chapters mirror each other a lot of the time, but it was mostly by accident. Even the opening sentence of the first two chapters.


Do you guys think I should name the chapters?


More coming today, I think.

 

Chapter 11

Corran Horn had spent enough time in bacta tanks to know what Kyp Durron was going through. He had also had more than his fair share of amphistaff wounds during the war with the Yuuzhan Vong, making him all the more sympathetic to Kyp's current situation.

The Jedi Master was suspended in a large bacta tank in an attempt to heal the wounds he had received on the Mon Cal streets three days ago. The amphistaff poison, which had worked its way into Kyp's blood, was particularly nasty, and was the main reason for Kyp still remaining in the medical station. His cuts and other wounds had healed days ago.

Wrev Caster and Tesar Sebatyne had been released from similar tanks the day before, and appeared fully healed from the burns they had incurred during the fight. According to the medical droid, Kyp would be joining them tomorrow.

Corran was surprised how relieved he had felt when the droid had informed him that Kyp would recover. He had never gotten along much with the younger Jedi, had never really understood him-- Maybe even wanted to see bad things happen to him at times. But since Borleias, Kyp had seemed like a changed man, one who had gained a more mature perspective and was a seasoned fighter in this war. Still, Corran sometimes got the feeling that Kyp was desperately trying to make up for his past mistakes by saving the galaxy, anyway he could.

Kyp's face was obscured by the breath mask and his long black hair, which was being pushed around by the streaming bubbles of bacta from the tank's pump. Corran wondered what he might be dreaming about while in his healing trance.

He glanced at the crono on the wall and realized he was going to be late. Corran's plate had been full since the "attack" on the Jedi Council. He had certainly been surprised when Dif Scaur had approached him and asked for his help in tracking down the Yuuzhan Vong cells on Mon Cal who were responsible for it and the attack in the security office. Scaur had wanted, or more likely was pressured by Cal Omas, to enlist the help of a Jedi Knight, and with Mara Jade Skywalker off planet, Corran's experience in the Corellian security force made him the next best choice. Even with the help of YVH droids and YV mouse droids, they were not having much success. It was possible that the entire cell had been eliminated in the fight three days ago, but Corran thought that doubtful.

The deaths of several security agents and the passing of the shamed one Eiia had turned the entire fiasco even more sour. Eiia had died the day before after hanging on for two days, from head trauma and many other wounds she had incurred during her short captivity with the Yuuzhan Vong spies. According to Scaur, Wrev Caster had been "extremely displeased" to hear the news. Corran had his doubts about Wrev... He glanced at the crono again; he really had to get going.

He left the med chamber at as quick a pace as he could without actually running. If he didn't hurry he would be late for the beginning of the meeting Kenth Hamner had called involving all the Jedi on Mon Cal, which was something Corran did not want to do. He knew nothing about why the meeting had been called and the last thing he wanted to do was miss out. The Jedi Council had been put on a short hiatus after the attack because of security concerns voiced by Dif Scaur, and more surprisingly President Cal Omas, and Commander Sein Sovv. Corran thought that Hamner's meeting was probably just a way for the Jedi to communicate, and coordinate in the absence of the council they had quickly become accustomed too.



Corran arrived at the auditorium just in time to see Kenth Hamner rise to address the Jedi. The room was small and well lit. It was normally used for scientific observation and held about one hundred people, making it easy to accommodate the twenty-some Jedi in attendance. Kenth stood in the center of the room that had rows of chairs to his right, left, and front. The rows only went three deep, with a slight raise leaving everyone with a good view, and still remaining at eye level.

Corran took a seat next to a couple of younger Jedi Knights he did not know very well. He spotted the Jedi masters scattered across the room as well as Wrev Caster seated with Alema Rar. He did not entirely trust Wrev and could not determine what the scowl on his face meant. Most likely it was because of Eiia's death, but Corran even had his doubts about that. The entire scenario reminded him too much of the Priestess Elan's supposed defection. The Yuuzhan Vong had made half-hearted attempts to re-capture her as well, but in this case, the defector had ended up dead; leaving only Wrev. Corran wondered if that was just a ploy to make him more believable as an asset. His own luck at finding leads on the Yuuzhan Vong cells made him even more suspicious.

The former Rogue Squadron pilot realized he hadn't listened to a word Kenth Hamner had said yet and tried to quite his brain, focusing on the proceedings.

"...And coordinate our actions in the absence of the official council," Kenth finished. Good. It was as Corran had expected, just a shuffle in the chain of command while the council was out.

"The first order of business is a request from Commander Sien Sovv," Hamner continued. "One of the small hyperspace routes we have been using for moving supplies has become unusable. The route we have designated 'Vanta'."

Corran knew that Vanta was a string of small jumps that led to some of the planets not controlled by the Yuuzhan Vong, and some that were. It was a little known route that took considerably longer, but was a favorite of smugglers and criminals before the war. Of course, the lowlifes who had frequented the route had a different, vulgar, name for it.

"We have lost three supply ships in as many weeks and any attempt to use probe droids has failed. We seem to lose contact with the droids in the Ombi'taer system, though we can't be sure."

Ombi'taer was both the name of the star and it's one habitable planet in the system. The planet was mostly water, but had a fair amount of mountainous terrain, and plains that would have made good farmland if the soil weren’t infertile. Most of the population lived in the few cities on the planet, and they were mostly the criminals who frequented the Vanta hyperspace route. Ombi'taer had no native sentients, and very little in the way of wild life, but it did have a small space station that orbited the planet.

"We have also received reports of many civilian vessels being lost in the route as well. Its suspected that the Yuuzhan Vong have taken over the planet, and are using dovin basal mines to destroy any traffic through the Vanta route. We hope that the supply and civilian ships were merely disabled, and did not meet the same fate as our probe droids," Hamner said, his face was stern.

“Ships surviving what damage the mines would do, would most likely be derelict or captured by the Yuuzhan Vong, but this is purely conjecture.”

"Sien Sovv has requested that we send a few Jedi to investigate, determine the fate of our supply ships, and Ombi'taer itself," Kenth said. Many Jedi rose to volunteer for the duty as Hamner finished his sentence. It was clearly not what the former colonel was asking for however, because he gestured that they should sit back down.

"That will not be necessary. A team has already been selected. I brought it up so we could discuss the mission and give the team whatever help we can, not to recruit volunteers," Hamner finished.

No one seemed to ask who had been selected which led Corran to believe they already knew. Had he been so busy that he'd missed news of this magnitude? “Umm...May I ask who has been selected for this mission?” Corran asked.

"Yes, Wrev Caster has accepted charge of the mission," Hamner announced, and Corran felt his stomach tie itself in knots.

"Caster is just re-acclimating himself with the order," Corran reasoned, "and he was badly injured only three days ago. Perhaps, we should think about selecting someone else." Corran made eye contact with Wrev; he wasn't angry but he looked confused.

"Your concerns are well founded Corran," Kenth said, "but Sien Sovv and I thought he would be ideal for his expertise in the Yuuzhan Vong field. He has spent longer behind enemy lines than anyone else, and will be the most likely to determine if the Vong are in control of the system, fastest." Then he added," I have discussed this with the other members of the council in private, and they all agreed. I tried to get in contact with you as well, but you've been...Busy."

"Yes, I understand. Thank you," Corran said as he sat back down. He saw Alema lean in very close to Wrev and Whisper something, her lips brushing his ear as they moved.

Hamner's reasoning was sound, but Corran wondered if maybe Sovv, and Hamner had the same suspicions of Wrev as he did and were using the mission as a way to test his loyalties.

"Alema Rar and Tesar Sebatyne have already volunteered to join Wrev," Hamner added.

Corran wished they had included on of the older Jedi, or a Jedi Master on the team. If only he could get away from his new security duties... Maybe he could tag along.

"Does anyone else have any questions or anything else they would like to add on the matter?" Kenth asked.

The discussion went on, but Corran found it hard to concentrate on the meeting. If Wrev was no longer loyal to the Jedi, at least two other Jedi Knights would be put in danger. He had to find a way to get on the mission. But how? He had made no progress in routing out the Yuuzhan Vong spy cells.

Before he knew it the gathering was concluded and the Jedi were headed for the exits. He scanned the room, looking for someone he could trust. If he couldn't go, perhaps he could convince someone else.... But who?

 

Chapter 12

The lightsaber in his hand felt as if a missing appendage had been reattached to Yuusung Saa. He turned it over in his hands, then tested the handgrip-- this had been important to him, to Anakin. He remembered building the weapon, and the countless hours he had spent training with it. He remembered using it in real combat, with lives hanging in the balance.

This had been his weapon. This had been his life. He remembered now why this powerful feeling felt slightly familiar. He had felt something similar in the cave on Dagobah, the cave his uncle Luke had faced a vision of Darth Vader in-- not his uncle, Anakin's. The force sometimes hung in places where something amazing had happened. Yuusung Saa didn't know what had caused the powerful force concentration on Dagobah, nor did he know what happened here, but it felt like a battle. A Jedi had died here, a Jedi he had known, but he couldn't quite remember whom.

He thought back, trying to remember when he had lost his lightsaber. When he had been hit in the ribs in the shaper's grashal, he had fallen and dropped it. Someone must have found it.

A memory of the feathery creature flashed into his mind. her? Had she been a Jedi? Had she died here? No, it didn't feel right.

His thumb hovered over the activation button, waiting to press it and bring the weapon to life, but something was holding him back. He didn't want to ignite it in front of the warriors.

"What is it?" Hul Choka asked. Yuusung Saa hadn't even noticed the commander peering over his shoulder.

"It's a lightsaber...A complete one."

"Why is it here?"

"I don't know."

"Then how did you know it was here?" Hul Choka pressed, clearly suspicious and angry.

"I don't know. Something-- I can't explain told me it would be here."

"The gods, perhaps?" Hul Choka offered.

"It would be foolish for me to think that the gods would talk to me," Yuusung Saa contended. "I wish to speak with Nen Yim."

"She wishes to see you as well, but I have orders to take you back to D'Ysuu first." Hul Choka replied.

"Why? I'm here, and so is she. Let's meet here," Yuusung Saa said, taking a shot. He hoped his assumption about Nen Yim being there was correct.

Hul Choka looked irritated and tired of arguing. "I will speak with my superior." He turned and took several paces away from Yuusung Saa, and then he activated his shoulder villip and began to speak. Yuusung Saa could not see whose face was on the villip, but he hoped whoever it was would allow the meeting.

After several minutes the villip inverted and Hul Choka turned back and strolled towards Yuusung Saa.

"It has been arranged, but we must be discreet."

"Of course," Yuusung Saa said. He wanted to ask why discretion was so important, but he had gotten what he wanted and didn't want to press his luck.



Yuusung Saa traveled the Yuuzhan'tar capital covered in a heavy black cloak of living material, surrounded by the five warriors and Hul Choka. The large cowl effectively covered his face, keeping him hidden from the other Yuuzhan Vong as they passed by. The city was not as glorious as Yuusung Saa had envisioned. Much of the plant growth and other living organisms appeared to be sick or dying, and in some places the stench was unbearable. Perhaps, these were the slums of the lower caste members; he did see quite a few shamed ones and lower intendants, but there were also some high caste members... What could be wrong?

As they turned a corner the smell of sewage got worse, and Yuusung Saa thought he might bring his last meal back up, but did not. He was a Yuuzhan Vong; to let such a thing affect him would be a sign of weakness. He reached inside his cloak and touched the lighsaber he had hidden i. The lambent inside the weapon was alive, waiting to be used once again. Yuusung Saa remembered that Anakin could use it to sense the Yuuzhan Vong, but he could not. He could not open himself up to the force that way; to do so might be disloyal to the gods.

What had drawn him to the wreckage where his lightsaber lay? Had it been the weapon itself? The infidel Jedi have a strong connection with the instrument, perhaps that was what he had felt. What had caused the humming, the Yuuzhan Vong lambent? Or the Jedi who had died there, somehow calling to him, perhaps the power of the Jedi's death had been it? No, it had to be the gods. How could his lighsaber have ended up there? It could only be the power of Yun-Yuuzhan that led him there, not the infidel magic. Though the force did exist, there was no denying the Yuuzhan Vong and Nen Yim had lied to him. But why?

They reached another corner and turned into an alley between two large shell structures and stopped about halfway at an intersection of a second alley.

"We wait now," Hul Choka said.

Yuusung Saa gave a small nod of understanding. He was looking forward to seeing Nen Yim; he had much he wanted to ask her. He hoped that Lord Shimrra would be pleased with he completion of his task, perhaps he would finally get his opportunity to prove himself, a chance for his revenge.

The alleys were wide and many lowly Yuuzhan Vong and shamed ones were traveling through them in all directions. Then at the opposite end of the alley a slim cloaked figure surrounded by three warriors began to walk towards Yuusung Saa.

The figure stepped in close to him and raised her head, so Yuusung Saa could see her face without her lowering her cowl. From the eyes he could tell that it was the shaper Nen Yim. Yuusung Saa had always thought she was a rather attractive female and young for a master.

"I have much to ask you Master Shaper," He started.

"It can wait Yuusung Saa; did you complete your task?" Nen Yim asked.

How did he answer that question?

"I don't know," Yuusung Saa said reluctantly.

"What does that mean," She asked, clearly puzzled.

"It means I have a lightsaber, but I did not shape it," he said. Yuusung Saa noticed a shamed one who was sorting trash, and an intendant passing by, glance at him when he said the word "lightsaber." The two quickly went back to their work.

"Let me see it," Nen Yim ordered him.

He removed the weapon from his cloak and presented it to Nen Yim. She carefully picked it up and held it in her hand, staring at it. Yuusung Saa didn't know if he was relieved to see she was not afraid of soiling herself with the abomination or if he was horrified by it.

"How did you get this?" Nen Yim asked, eyes not leaving the weapon.

"I found it."

Nen Yim looked up, "Where?"

"It was buried in a pile of rubble in front of a large dome east of here," Yuusung Saa answered. Before she could ask anymore questions he quickly explained how he had located the weapon.

"I think it was mine... Well, the infidel's, Anakin Solo's," he said. Although he spoke the name quietly, some of the traffic in the alley seemed to recognize it.

"That's a very strange coincidence Yuusung Saa. How do you explain this?" The shaper asked, clearly as suspicious as Hul Choka had been.

"I can't," he admitted. "When I was rescued from the infidels on Myrkr, what became of my lightsaber?"

Nen Yim shrugged. "You did not have it when I first saw you but that was several days after your rescue."

"Do you think this is the work of the gods then?" Yuusung Saa asked excitedly.

An almost imperceptible, condescending smirk crossed Nen Yim's mouth, and quickly disappeared. "Perhaps Yuusung Saa, Perhaps. Tell me how it works." She asked, turning her attention back to the lightsaber.

Yuusung Saa gave a brief description of the weapon and how it operated. Nen Yim seemed very interested and when he got to the part about the focusing crystal, he paused for a moment.

"This particular lightsaber is different... Well, all are unique, but this one more so. When Anakin damaged it on Yavin Four, he replaced the focusing crystal with a Yuuzhan Vong lambent."

Nen Yim's eyes grew in amazement, as did the few shamed ones and Yuuzhan Vong workers who appeared to be listening.

"You used Yuuzhan Vong life to shape this weapon?" She asked.

"Well...I did not, the infidel Anakin Solo did. I--"

"Do not apologize Yuusung Saa. You have the permission of the gods to use this. The fact that you used a living lambent will please them I think. It makes it a true Yuuzhan Vong weapon."

Yuusung Saa had never thought of it that way. It was as much a Yuuzhan Vong weapon as it was an infidel one. He had always assumed the gods would view it more the latter, but perhaps Nen Yim was correct.

He nodded at Nen Yim accepting her reasoning. He wanted to ask Nen Yim about the Ysalamiri in D'Ysuu, and about the force, but he couldn't. To do so would bring doubt to where his loyalties were, and Nen Yim and the warriors would never trust him. He would never get a chance at revenge. He could not doubt; he could not question. If they had kept things from him, and lied to him, he would have to accept it because they knew what was best. To question Lord Shimrra's orders was to question the gods themselves, and Yuusung Saa would never do that.

"We must go now Yuusung Saa, you have done well," Nen Yim praised and handed the lightsaber back to him. "Supreme Overlord Shimrra will be pleased."

Yuusung Saa took the weapon from her, then asked, "Where will we go?"

"To your new quarters. It is time for you to join the warriors. It is time for your revenge."

Satisfaction filled Yuusung Saa. Finally, he was no longer an outcast. He was in the gods' favor once again, and he would serve them with his life.

Nen Yim turned back the way she had entered and gestured for Yuusung Saa to follow her. The rest of the warriors followed as well, but Hul Choka turned to two of his warriors and said," Kill them," pointing to everyone in the alleyway intersection who had been listening.

What had they been discussing that was so secretive? Why bother killing a few shamed ones? Yuusung Saa kept walking but glanced over his shoulder to see the warriors advance on the bystanders. Several of them took off at a dead run, but at least two were not as fortunate. The warriors would catch the others and they would not get far, but Yuusung Saa felt partially like he wanted them to escape, to evade capture and a needless death. These were strange thoughts for a Yuuzhan Vong warrior.

When he emerged from the alley and turned the corner onto a wide street, he figured that the fate of the shamed ones was not his concern, and put it out of his mind. He had to focus on the task at hand.

 

That was great! Sowwie I'm so short on comments...I guess I'm a little out of it. I am sooooo tired. You know, AP Geography can do that to ya. In any case, this is wonderful!

~Ambyr-Rose~

zZzZzZz

 

I haven't read any of the New Jedi Order books yet but i'll do my best to read this, even if i get confused. Confused i may be but enjoying it i am.

 

That was great! Sowwie I'm so short on comments...I guess I'm a little out of it. I am sooooo tired. You know, AP Geography can do that to ya. In any case, this is wonderful!

Yeah, when I went to high school, which was like two years ago, my AP teachers didn't care if we even showed up for class. I only went to AP history about twice a week


I haven't read any of the New Jedi Order books yet but i'll do my best to read this, even if i get confused. Confused i may be but enjoying it i am.

LOL! this probably won't make a bit of sense then. I do give some back story, but it's normally just as a reminder, and serves as explainations for character's reasoning. I appreciate the effort though

I do recommend reading the NJO as soon as you can (Got to read so of the bantam stuff first though ) The first eight books are the best run in SW lit, IMO.

Thanks for reading ladies.

 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Up!

 

Omigosh - two posts to read! I'll read and review it asap.

Okay - I'm back. Some great lines in these chapters.

Still, Corran sometimes got the feeling that Kyp was desperately trying to make up for his past mistakes by saving the galaxy, anyway he could. Very perceptive that. Guilt is what drives alot of people.

I enjoyed the way you got right inside Corran's head and gave us his thought processes. You write him really well. I'm wondering what Alema's role in this is. Is she going to be the one Corran chooses to keep an eye on Wrev? Or are she and Wrev in cahoots? Whatever - it sounds like she's up to her old tricks again.

Ooh! keeping us guessing with Anakin aren't you. He's still very much under his shaped persona's control. Good work.

 

Thanks Tahi,

Alema's role in the story will be revealed shortly, and as for who Corran finds to watch Wrev, that will be in the next chapter

And Anakin is fully shaped It will take a lot to break that.

Thanks for the bump ambyr-rose


And here's a one word hint for the next chapter: X-Wings

It will be up today or tomorrow.

 

*pants* Finally... caught up... *drinks a huge glass of water*

All better... Anyway, wonderful posts, YodaKenobi. I love how you write Anakin, or should I say Yuusung Saa. He is very much controlled by his Anakin persona while at the same time his shaped persona is still very much in control. It makes for a lot of great conflict.

 

thanks Whitey, more coming in a couple minutes

 

Chapter 13

Kyp Durron finally gave up on getting some rest while in hyperspace. After countless space battles over the last three and a half years, the Jedi Master though he had perfected resting in transit. While many people would compare it to a coffin, he normally found the close, restrictive cockpit of his X-Wing to be conducive to sleep, but his mind was simply too busy now.

Perhaps it was for the best. When Kyp slept he often had nightmares about Carida, Dorsk 81, and Miko...And Exar Kun. Worst of all were his dreams of the Kessel spice mines. It was probably best that he didn’t sleep.

Kyp's wounds were still healing and he had a bit of bacta sickness, that came from spending to much time in the tank, but his nauseousness was not the problem. Kyp was worried about the mission, not a feeling he was used to.

Corran Horn had asked him to do this, and despite the fact that Kyp had a feeling he was far from the first one that Horn had tried to rope into it, he had accepted. Someone had to keep an eye on Wrev Caster. Kyp had agreed with Corran, that the whole situation stank of the "Priestess Elan disaster," and that there was more going on than met the eye.

Besides, this group could use him. With the exception of Tesar, the squad was not made up of great pilots. While both were Jedi and therefore, far better pilots than the vast majority of other beings, Alema had only limited experience in an X-Wing, and there was a reason Wrev was better known for his saber skills than his flying.

Kyp had been put in charge of the mission when he went to Sien Sovv asking to join, and was anxious to get the whole thing over with. They were to exit hyperspace just before the point where the probe droids had been lost, and travel the rest of the distance on sublights in hopes that they wouldn't run into the dovin basal mines they suspected might be there.

Kyp had some experience in the Ombi'taer system. In the year before the Yuuzhan Vong invasion, Kyp had spent much of his time going after smugglers and criminals, and his chases sometimes lead him there. He actually felt a bit of nostalgia about those days. Traveling with his "Dozen and Two Avengers," before the galaxy was changed forever. Before his apprentice Miko was killed...

His memories of Ombi'taer were not fond. The planet was a hole. Ombi'taer was almost dead and it was populated by criminals of all sorts. The only thing he could imagine worse was the Yuuzhan Vong had taken it over.

Kyp's X-Wing came out of hyperspace as planned and he activated his comm.

"This is Jedi One, report in squad," he said.

"Scales, standing by."

"Saber, standing by."

"Dancer, standing by."

Kyp had thought it silly to use call signs with just four pilots, who, with the exception of Wrev and himself, had very different voices, so he had chosen the generic "Jedi One." The one in his title also made it clear that he was in charge. Scales was Tesar, Wrev Saber, and Alema Dancer, respectively.

"Okay, we'll cruise in on sublights from here, but be prepared to shut down your drives if we see them first," Kyp ordered.

The plan, if the Yuuzhan Vong were in the system, was to shut everything down and hope that their enemies didn't catch the ion trails. Then activate their sensors, get readings, and make a quick jump out before the Yuuzhan Vong could attack. Hopefully their sensors would gather the necessary information for the military to attack the system at a later date, but four Jedi were certainly not going to go at it alone.

Three hours later, the sun and planet, Ombi'taer, were both in visual range.

"Shut them down, Jedi," Kyp commed. They would communicate on short-range comm transmissions, and leave only short-range sensors active. Hopefully that would tip them off to an ambush.

“I don’t see anything,” said a voice over the comm. Kyp recognized it as Alema’s.

"We're on the darkside of the planet Dancer, you wouldn't see anything," Kyp answered. "We'll let our momentum carry us around to a better vantage point.“

It didn't take long for the small planet to reveal more of its star from the distant X-Wings. Although it was too impossible to see, Kyp knew the planet was slowly spinning, making a revolution around the sun.

"Let's do a quick sensor sweep," Kyp ordered.

Three double comm clicks came over confirming the others had heard him.

Kyp glanced at his displays. "Are you guys seeing this?"

"No known Yuuzhan Vong craft," Wrev answered.

The X-Wing sensors had been refined since the war began so they could now identify many Yuuzhan Vong craft. Before, they would identify them as asteroids of space debris rather than enemies.

"Yes, but several craft from our galaxy," Alema said. "Not close enough to check if those are our supply ships though."

"This one thinks we should get a closer look," Tesar suggested.

"Let's hold on that, Scales," Kyp said. "Shut down sensors again."

Three more comm clicks came over in acknowledgement.

"I'm going to try something... Just sit tight."

Kyp did his best to relax himself and reached out with the force towards the planet, and out to the ships on the other side. He searched for living beings anywhere he could. There were some on the planet, but he couldn't get a read on them... And the ships as well. He felt something, but what was it?

“There are living beings on the planet and the ships, but something is wrong," Kyp informed.

"Yeah," Wrev said. Kyp was surprised the other Jedi had picked up on what he was doing, but he probably shouldn't have been.

"I feel something. Like..."

"Fear," Alema said.

"There must be Yuuzhan Vong here," Wrev stated.

"I'm inclined to agree," Kyp admitted. "So, do we go in and get a better look, or do we jump out now and inform Sien Sovv?"

"This one thinks we should verify that the enemy is here," Tesar's raspy voice said over the comm.

"Let's go see what we can do," Alema said excitedly. "We can send a transmission to Sovv now, and start a surprise attack."

Kyp found Alema troubling much of the time. Although she seemed slightly calmer, she had never recovered from her sister's death, and had wanted vengeance against the Yuuzhan Vong for a long time. Every so often, she stepped away from being rational, and made bizarre statements like this. What could four Jedi do against a possible fleet of Yuuzhan Vong? Maybe take out as many coralskippers as possible before getting them killed. He would have to keep an eye on Alema as well.

“I wouldn’t feel right about leaving these people if they’re in trouble,” Wrev added.” What do you think, Jedi One?"

Kyp weighed what the others said. He didn't want to leave these passengers either, and there mission was to verify that the Yuuzhan Vong were in the system. But, the odds were not in there favor and the fact that there was a whole line of ships just sitting outside Ombi'taer's orbit, but no real traffic was probably enough to confirm that the system had been seized by their enemies.

The old Kyp Durron would have went in guns blazing but it felt wrong now. The force was telling him to leave, he could feel it.

"Copy, we're leaving," Kyp said. "Turn on your long-range sensors and we'll get full readings before we jump out."

One double comm click followed by two more a full second later came in acknowledgment of Kyp's orders.

Kyp turned on his systems in full, and felt as if he had ejected from his fighter. His sensor readings showed more coralskippers than he could count and they were surrounding the four X-Wings while closing fast. There were also at least three frigates and a pair of larger craft that his sensors couldn't classify.

"Sithspawn!" Alema screamed.

“Everyone, jump now!” Kyp yelled.” No time to calculate, just jump!"

"Negative, Jedi One," Alema said more calm than before. “One of those craft appears to be a Yuuzhan Vong interdictor; we’re stuck.”

"We can't surrender," Wrev stated.

"I don't think they're going to give us that option, Saber," Kyp said. "Form up on me folks, we're going to charge right through them, and try to jump from the other side of the planet."

"Copy," Wrev said. Alema and Tesar clicked their comms.

Kyp hit his thrusters hard and was thrown back into his seat. He quickly checked to make sure the others were with him as he began the maneuver. The green eyed Jedi Master pushed his fighter into a large arc, shooting downwards towards the approaching coralskippers, then turned halfway into a barrel roll and switched his S-foils to attack position. The sense of electricity that always filled him when he entered battle began to permeate his being as he launched two proton torpedoes and fired his laser cannons at the fray of rock shaped fighters. The first torpedo was swallowed up in the void produced by one of the coralskipper's dovin basals, but the second destroyed it and hobbled another.

Kyp continued to shoot stutterfire at another skip, then powered his cannons up and turned it to fire and dust. More explosions filled the black of space as his wingmates used similar tactics. They had clearly caught them by surprise with this desperate, head-on attack, but he knew it would not last.

The skips began to fire molten rock at the X-Wings as Kyp cut his strafing run short and switched to evasive maneuvers, dodging the projectiles. Some of the plasma hit, but bounced off his shields harmlessly. Through the force he felt Tesar take a large hit to his Wing, but his shields held as well. The cold-blooded Barabel appeared to be unflappable to Kyp, and he envied his calm.

Kyp pulled out of his dive and sent his fighter spiraling around a trio of skips before they could unleashed another volley at him. Almost through, he thought.

Four skips spread out evenly blocked his path to the planet, and there was no way around them. Kyp launched another proton torpedo and began firing at one of the skips. Instinctively his wing mates targeted the others and began firing as well. When the torpedo impacted the dovin basals were overloaded and the voids could no longer intercept the X-Wings lasers; all four exploded.

"All right, Jedi. Move power to your rear shields and put everything else into your ion drives. We've got to get out of here." Kyp commed. A trio of double clicks came over the comm in confirmation.

The skips were faster than X-Wings when their dovin basals were not being used as shields, and Kyp had his doubts about being able to out run the Yuuzhan Vong fleet.

As they neared Ombi'taer, Kyp tried to brush the atmosphere of the planet in an effort to build momentum and slingshot his craft around the other side, where they would be out of the Yuuzhan Vong interdictor field. The skips had regrouped and were closing fast on the X-Wings.

Finally the captured ships came into Kyp's view and he was reminded of a horrid memory. He had seen the Yuuzhan Vong use ships like this before, as hostages at Talfaglio. The Jedi had been able to save the refugee ships there, but as he looked at the long line of craft, he knew that the four Jedi could not possibly rescue them all. He was able to spot two of the missing supply ships, the sun gleaming off their metal hulls.

The already bright space so close to the star turned to fire as the pursuing skips were in range and launched their molten projectiles. Kyp's R2 unit let out a long squeal as he took several hits to the stern, but the droid remained operational.

"Alright, lets try a jump while we still can!" Kyp commed.

"No can do, Jedi One. Look!" Alema shouted.

Kyp checked his scensors. The interdictor had gone around the other side of the planet and was now coming around to face them.

"We've got to take the interdictor down," Wrev said excitedly. "It's the only way we're getting out of this system!"

Kyp knew he was right, but even if they managed to destroy the interdictor, it wouldn't guarantee an escape as they were once again, effectively surrounded.

"Copy, Saber. Let loose with everything you have, Jedi," Kyp stressed. "If the craft is using its dovin basals to project an interdictor field, it can't use them as shields."

The Yuuzhan Vong were aware of this as well of course, and the skips, who had traveled with the interdictor to intercept the X-Wings, began to surround it in a defensive formation while the pursuing skips continued to fire at the X-Wings' stern.

Kyp kept most of the power in his rear shields and hoped they would hold while he sprayed laser fire, in an attempt to take the protecting skips out. His laser fire vanished in the small black holes of the skip’s dovin basals before he let a full powered salvo launch. Two of the shots were swallowed up as well, but two were not.

Another skip exploded as well, Wrev's doing Kyp thought.

The skips kept coming and all around them the burning rocks were raining down on the X-Wings. It was only a matter of time before their shields gave out.

"Fire on the interdictor!" Kyp yelled. There were no double comm clicks this time, and no need for them. Kyp launched two proton torpedoes and to his chagrin they were intercepted by the ships voids, as were two from one of the fighters behind him. Seeing Alema's proton torpedoes were on the way, Kyp started laying down fire to keep the frigates dovin basals busy. Wrev and Tesar followed his lead and began to fire full powered quads while their shields took increased damage from the skips.

Alema's torpedoes made contact, and after the explosion, the interdictor began to vent atmosphere and Yuuzhan Vong bodies.

"I got it!" Alema yelled, sounding more surprised than confident.

"Okay, lets make a run through the skips and try to jump--" Kyp stopped, as from his cockpit, he watched a large skip projectile impact Alema's X-Wing. A small explosion followed and still being so close to Ombi'taer without being able to use her thrusters, the X-Wing was pulled in by the planet's gravity.

"Alema!" Wrev's voice came over the comm.

"I'm...I'm alright," her voice was shaky, as her normally icy demeanor in combat had been shattered. "My drives are out. I can't control it! I'm going down!"

Wrev and Tesar both headed towards her injured craft in an attempt to take out the skips closing on Alema. Kyp wondered if they should go after Alema or make a run for it to alert Sien Sovv and the military of the Yuuzhan Vong occupation, but it appeared Tesar and Wrev had already made the decision. They couldn't leave Alema, so Kyp joined the two fighters. He watched Wrev's X-Wing corkscrew into battle and fire on an approaching skip while Tesar launched another torpedo at his own target. Kyp tried to stay with Alema and fire at anything closing on them.

As they broke the atmosphere it became clear that Alema's fighter was falling to fast for her to survive the crash.

Help me, Kyp sent out to his fellow Jedi as he reached with the force to slow the falling X-Wing. He felt all three join him, Alema was fighting for her life.

It felt impossible, trying to grab on to something with so much velocity. Kyp persisted and he eventually felt the X-Wing slow, almost imperceptibly. It wouldn't be enough though; Alema would not survive this.

As the ground raced up at them, Kyp commed in as calm a voice as he could, "Alema, hit the repulsors!"

Her X-Wing pushed up into the air in the opposite direction, effectively killing her downward momentum. However, their still was a large distance between her X-Wing and the ground, large enough to build velocity again and kill her.

Kyp felt the force a second time, as did the others in an attempt to slow the fighter, which was once again plunging towards the surface. With less momentum the Jedi were able to slow it more, but not by much. Will it be enough to save her?

Then Alema Rar's X-Wing hit the ground on the planet Ombi'taer.

 

Forgot to edit the title


I'm now at the offical half-way point everyone! 13 chapters to go.

 

Great post, there, YodaKenobi! It's so detailed and interesting.

~Ambyr-Rose~

 

Excellent post.

Nice action. You seem to have a knack for writing it.

And do missions in Star Wars EVER go as planned?

 

Thanks ambyr-rose and whitey

Nice action. You seem to have a knack for writing it.

Their really isn't any romance in this one so I had to fill it with something

And do missions in Star Wars EVER go as planned?

Nope, that's where the conflict comes in


If I get a post up today, it will be a very short one.