Saga - Legends Change - Canon Characters & OCs multi-chapter AU

When is he not hard on himself? And this is the newer, improved model, after 4k+ years of innovation, this is Being-Hard-On-Oneself 101 in action.

The Farmboy gets it.

Lots have gone on in the galaxy since he last showed himself willing to take on troubles. But now that he's up to his neck in them, do you think he regrets that? ...




9.

Coruscant 4 ABY (11 days after the Battle of Endor) - Interrogation Cell

Iden took her datapad from her uniform jumper, activated a program that should scramble any listening or viewing devices in the interrogation room. Del was good with tech - if he said it would work, she was convinced - mostly - it would. Afterward, she slipped it back into her jumper. No need for the alliance to get hold of her pad.

Now the admiral's eyebrows rose higher than before. He looked diffident in her presence now. Maybe she'd really hurt him when she walked out. That had been her intention in the moment when she was angry and hurt herself. In fact, she'd intended to never see the man again. Time and urgency gave her the chance to regret that choice though. Gazing into his green eyes now, intense sorrow and loss hiding just beneath the surface - he could hide it from everyone, why wasn't he hiding it now? - she silently kicked herself for being so impetuous.

But, business came first. She leaned forward, seated across from him. "Naboo," she said quietly, imperfectly trusting the masking device despite what she'd just been thinking about Del.

At last Vek's brows reached what she suspected were their limit of height. "Operation Cinder?" he asked, then lowered one of them. Without waiting for her, he nodded. "Yes, that smells of Palpatine's fury all right." Now it was he who leaned forward. "But why tell me? Why not the Alliance?"

"You think they'll listen to me?" Iden asked, then shook her head.

"That young man always following you like a puppy dog, you could have him slip them the information on the sly, make them think they intercepted it." Vek had some sneakiness to him, all right. You had to be a strategist to become Grand Admiral.

However, the timetable made it more urgent. Iden balled her right hand into a fist, dropped it heavily to the table. "Sir, the Imperials are attacking Naboo in four days. There's no time for this. I need you to convince Ackbar and Skywalker to act. Now, sir."

"Four days." Vek leaned back in quiet contemplation.

It wasn't much time, and Iden once again kicked herself for wasting an entire day with her petty anger for Vek. She watched the gears spin in his mind. The mind that must be in there astonished and intimidated her. But, perhaps they thought at least somewhat alike. She saw the moment he'd decided on the best course of action.

With purpose, he rose from his seat, stalked over to the door, pounded once on it, then stood back, hands clasped behind his back. She'd learned that exact stance from him. Iden turned in her seat to regard him. His bearing, the confidence radiating from him was intoxicating. He was now certain - she herself was certain - that he had the grand strategy correct in his mind. She even noticed the slight nod of his head as the door opened.

Ackbar and the two Skywalkers entered, watched as Vek silently returned to his seat, regarded them with a knowing smirk. Intrigued, they came fully into the room, closed the door. "Yes?" asked the princess. "I take it this has something to do with what Commander Versio wanted to speak with you about?"

"Naboo is going to fall to Operation Cinder in four days unless something is done," Vek said.

"If this is some kind of threat-" Leia was suddenly red hot, lunging forward to... attack, perhaps, with her own two hands. Iden would tackle her before she got within a meter of the admiral.

"Easy, Leia," the other Skywalker said calmly. He turned to Vek. "I don't think we can raise a fleet in time to save the planet."

Ackbar was busy calculating. "We can get close," he said. "Let me see an exact time of the attack."

Reluctantly, Iden took the datapad from her jumper again, handed it to the admiral.

"And where did you obtain this information?" Leia was a little paranoid. "It could be a trick, draw us away from some other vital system."

Skywalker's face was... absent, his eyes hooded. Maybe he was looking into the Force? Iden couldn't tell, but slowly, his eyes opened. "It feels legitimate," he said at last. "There's an energy flowing in that direction, but it's... unfocused."

"Dig deeper," Vek said. "Let your mind visualize peaceful Naboo; let the peace seep into you. You can better see the dissonance that way, as little ripples that get more tightly formed the closer you get to its source."

Skywalker glanced only for a moment at Vek, then closed his eyes to presumably do as told. A slow smile breached his otherwise passive face. Iden thought he was handsome in a naïve farmboy sort of way. At last, he opened his eyes, nodded to Vek. "He's right."

Ackbar was done with his calculations. "We can't get anything assembled in that time," he growled. "Best I could come up with is a twelve hour late arrival."

"How many millions will be dead by then?" Leia complained. "There has to be something we can do."

"We're too scattered," Ackbar protested. "Hunting down Imperial scouts and spies and Star Destroyers." They kept arguing back and forth.

Into the chaos, Vek stood. "I can help," he said quietly. His commanding presence grabbed them from their fight, even where his voice had been mild. Iden admired that.

"You?" Leia scoffed. "You're a prisoner of the Alliance nee New Republic, Mr. Talis. You have no authority in this galaxy."

"Leia," Skywalker said again, his tone different from the last time. Again, the impetuous one quieted. The farmboy turned to Vek. "What are you offering, Mr. Talis?" Iden was getting annoyed again at that disregard for Vek's stature.

"I can get the Super Star Destroyer Presidium," Vek said confidently as he resumed his seat. Even Iden had lost track of where that venerable ship had gotten to, and she'd been free more recently than he. "And perhaps a few other surprises together, stall Fleet Admiral Rax at Naboo to give your forces time to arrive."

"The Presidium, eh?" Ackbar practically wet himself at the thought. "We've been hunting that ship for a week, thinking it had gone rogue."

Vek shook his head. "Just in hiding. Its Admiral is eager to get back at the Imperials, once I explained what was really going on in the Empire. And after he'd been treated for his injuries sustained at Endor."

"Ah, we'd suspected Piett managed to survive the crash into the second Death Star," Skywalker said.

"What do you need of us?" The princess still sounded suspicious, and she glared at Iden, maybe miffed that she'd dragged Her Highness into this mess and potential political shavit storm.

"Not far from here is a hidden Imperial communication center," Vek said. "I doubt your people have found it yet; no offense to your able soldiers, but it was well concealed in case of emergency. I will need access to make a few... discreet inquiries."

"This is preposterous," Ackbar said, looking to one Skywalker, then the other. "He could call a fleet down to Coruscant to rescue him."

Both Skywalkers looked thoughtful at that and Iden briefly wondered if they might refuse Vek. But then, from the corner of her eye, she watched Vek stand, confidence pouring from him. It made her want to believe anything that came out of his mouth. Intoxicating was the only word to describe it. They began to argue among themselves again.

"Stop," he commanded. Immediately, they did, turned to regard him as if at a superior. "This is about something greater than ego. Millions of people will die if you dither. I negotiated the surrender of rebel forces at Utapau and Taanab did I not? My word was given and honored, despite Lord Vader's insistence at the latter that the leaders be rounded up and executed. Is this the truth or is it not?"

Slowly, Ackbar nodded grudgingly. "You were known for your honesty during the entirety of the conflicts of late," he said as if stretching out the sentence would allow time for someone to refute him.

Vek bowed regally from the waist. "I give you my word that I will protect Naboo with the lives of former Imperials until your fleet arrives. I further promise that once my mission is complete, I will return to your captivity."

The three rebels conferred for a few moments. This time, Ackbar nodded first, and the others acquiesced. The male child of Vader turned first, stepped forward. "I'll go with you on the mission."

Vek bowed again, this time to him. "Then we should make haste, Master Jedi. Commander Versio, will you join us?"

Iden immediately sprang from her seat. "Try and stop me," she said, glancing Leia's way. "Inferno squadron could use some more fly time."



Coruscant - Imperial Communication Center

The Imperial officer in charge of the center was surprised to see Vek, but only for a moment. He'd assigned the weak minded, but loyal officer personally. "Now see here, I can't allow a traitor to give orders," he'd said.

"You want to defect," Vek said calmly, gazing placidly into his eyes.

"I... want to defect," the feckless officer said, his voice far away.

"You want to go with the nice soldiers and tell everything you know," Vek added, quietly ushering him toward the rebel soldiers behind him.

"I want to go with the nice soldiers and tell everything I know," he said and stepped forward as though in a dream. Skywalker smirked at Vek, but quickly hid the expression.

The lower officers in the center deferred quickly to Vek, granting him full access. He scratched out some codes on several flimsies, handed one to each of three comm officers. "Send this to these frequencies and give no further instructions," he commanded. "Tell me the replies word for word precisely."

To the fourth comm officer, he nodded gently. "May I have your seat, please?" It was polite, friendly even, but though phrased as a question, it was anything but. The officer found somewhere else to be in a hurry. Vek sat at the console, cracked his knuckles then made the most melodic sounds across the keyboard. "Now, hopefully I remembered that correctly," he said when he'd finished. He turned to see Iden gaping. When she saw him looking at her, she quickly scrunched up her face in a mock-angry grimace, then couldn't contain the grin which made her eyes sparkle.

"I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known. Don't know where it goes, but it's home to me and I walk alone," one of the comm officers said, her voice confused at the code she recited perfectly.

"Ah, that is one very palpable assent," Vek said happily. Well, as happily as he ever got.

A few moments, perhaps a minute passed in silence. A console beeped. "To sleep, perchance to dream. Aye, there's the rub; for in that sleep of death what dreams may come," a second comm officer repeated.

Vek beamed. "To be or not to be; that is the question," he said. By the looks on their faces, the rest of the room thought he was going mad. That was all right; he felt a little crazy at the moment. "It sounds better in the original Klingon, I know, but that's two confirmations."

Suddenly, the console at which he sat bleeped into life. A mechanical voice burped something in a computerized language, clearing the line with a special program designed to allow the next messages to be untraceable. After that, a friendly voice said, "Is that you, Vek Talis?"

"Commodore Ath'ey'ro, so good of you to call," Vek said, spinning his chair back to the console. He didn't miss Skywalker's gaping maw of a mouth as he spun. "How is the Rebel Alliance treating you?"

Her rasping laughter sounded all the more rheumy in the mid dominant mix of the radio. "You always did have nerve, Vek," she said. "It must be important if you're contacting me after all these years." He'd kicked her out the door as the Grand Army of the Republic was turning into the Imperial Army. He knew her heart wouldn't be in the Empire and he made a few discreet calls to place her in the fledgling group of rebels Bail Organa was assembling. He was proud of her for understanding the message and bolstering the rebels.

"Naboo. Cinder." It was all he believed he needed to say.

Now her jovial rasps turned into grunts. "Bastards," she said. "I have my capital ship and plenty of volunteers, but all the other ships in my group are scattered, hunting down your types. When?" Vek punched a few buttons, sending her the timetable. "Kriff it," she said angrily. "I can't get anyone back in time, but I can get there."

Leaning forward, Vek ran his tongue along the top of his teeth, fidgeted in his chair. "Do you remember... Firefly?"

Ath'ey'ro's rasp returned to at least somewhat of a happy note. "Do I remember Firefly? You bet your tight ass I do, Admiral," she said. "I'll see to it. Ath'ey'ro out."

"That was... disturbing," he heard Iden say.

He chuckled. "One more to go," he said and glanced at the last comm officer, who was just jotting down a message.

After she got off the call, she read it in a clear voice. "She eyes me like a Pisces when I am weak. I've been locked inside your Heart Shaped Box for a week. I've been drawn into your magnet, tar pit trap. I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black."

Being from another galaxy had its advantages. No one would possibly know what in the Sith hells those messages meant. But he remembered. "Now we have a shot at slowing Rax down," Vek said. He knew the enemy had a massive fleet with at least three Super Star Destroyers to his one, but it was a fighting chance to delay Rax for twelve hours. "Now to get to Naboo first to stall the good idiot Rax, er, I mean Admiral Rax. Yes, that's what I meant."

 

Yes, Vek is able to do something with his secret messages. Klingon and Firefly

 

At least there's one person with confidence.

One of the best movies, imho. The Undiscovered Country.

Hopefully the Klingons bring a battle fleet.




10.

Bridge of Presidium - 14.5 days after the Battle of Endor - Naboo System

Peace radiated from the planet behind them. Like Alderaan, poor, departed Alderaan, Naboo was a world where peace usually reigned. Violence wasn't unknown - where independent-minded sentients gathered, there was no place completely free of it - but it was rare.

Vek hurried - almost jogged - down a long corridor toward the main bridge. This ship is too big, he thought absently. If I walk, the tale will be over. He'd only just been given permission to come aboard; when he showed up in the system in an Imperial shuttle, there had been a bit of tension before acknowledgment codes were confirmed.

Turning, there was Admiral Piett, still looking half mummy, half man. He'd received some serious burns to the face and left side of the body in his escape from the Battle of Endor. The remnants of the Empire were hunting him, as if the outcome of that battle were entirely his fault.

"Grand Admiral," Piett said placidly, sticking out his hand. "It's good to see you again, sir." He glanced Skywalker's way, nodded peevishly to the Jedi Master who nodded back.

Vek clasped the outstretched hand, squeezed a bit. "It's been a strange fortnight, Admiral. Thank you for agreeing to assist." Piett was in command of the Presidium; Vek wouldn't try to tell him what to do with his own ship - not too much, anyway.

"Let's see what we have here," Piett said after the formalities were done. "On screen, Lieutenant," he added to one of the many officers sitting at a station.

Several large screens popped up in various locations - the bridge of the Presidium alone was bigger than the Ot Tel from stem to stern - showing thirteen Star Destroyers, the beautiful planet lighting up the background. Queen Sosha Soruna of Naboo had been warned, of course, that Imperial ships would be arriving so she didn't order her own meager forces to attack. Understandably, she'd been cautious in her reply, but having Princess Leia be the one who sent the original message helped make it all believable.

Piett turned from the screens, gathered Vek with a gentle nod of his head, stepped into a corner, away from the other officers. "Do you really think we can make a difference here, sir?" he asked.

"We have to, Admiral," Vek said. "The Emperor was insane, you see that now, yes?" He waited for the other officer to nod; though reluctant, once he began the motion it was definitive. Nodding in return, Vek said, "Good. Because it's only us standing in front of this beautiful planet filled with easy victims for Rax. It's like sticking a sign out that says, 'no weapons here': every nutcase with a popgun will be there. And you know Rax: he won't think twice about reducing the entire planet to ash." Piett nodded more vehemently at that.

"Besides," Vek said casually, "I have a few ideas and tricks up my sleeve."

Piett brightened a bit at that. "Very well, sir." Before he could say more, Vek noticed one of the Captains hovering. "Yes?" Piett asked, turning slightly.

"One of our comm buoys just pinged us, Admiral," the Captain said. "It's Rax's fleet. It's... larger than we'd anticipated." The Captain was a stolid officer with many years of service, yet he looked nervous and the Force chilled the air around him.

Uncharacteristically, Vek reached out, clasped him on the shoulder, stared deeply into the man's eyes. "We will do this, Captain," he said. "Naboo is depending on us to do our duty, even should it cost us the highest price. They are the reason armed forces are necessary."

The Captain - Verren, if Vek remembered correctly - suddenly became a centimeter or two taller; the Force around him warmed instantly. "Yes, sir," he said, spun on his heel and returned to his duties. Sending him a comforting jolt from the Force came in handy, even where words might have failed. It was good to have it as his ally again, even in a limited capacity.

"How much time?" Vek asked Piett.

The Admiral looked thoughtful for a moment before replying. "If our buoys have been activated, I'd say fifteen minutes."

Vek touched Piett's arm, too - physical contact had been strange all Vek's life; it was a serious moment indeed if he managed to engage in it - and searched the other officer's eyes. "Stand tall, Firmus, give me your best and we'll get through this, as will Naboo."

Piett beamed for a second, then turned serious again. "As you say, sir," he replied.

As they walked back to the command center, Skywalker sent Vek an approving nod. He hung back from the main gathering, but Vek sensed his presence stretching out to all corners of the bridge. There was the sense he trusted Vek - perhaps perfectly - to save Naboo.

Now if only I can believe it, Vek thought as he looked over his forces again. How many more deaths will I have on my hands? How much more blood will it take to wash my soul's stain from this galaxy? Thirteen Star Destroyers and the Presidium against a vast host. And he needed to delay Rax for twelve hours before Ackbar could arrive with a relieving force.

Nothing for it but to move forward, he thought with a heavy sigh, stabbed a finger out to an intercom button. "How are you proceeding, Commander?" he asked when he heard a bleep of acknowledgement.

"This is a little more than I'm used to, sir, but I'm getting along fine," Iden responded over the channel. "It's this arrogant son-of-a-schutta with the suddenly bloody nose here who thinks he's still in charge who isn't doing so well, sir."

Vek chuckled in spite of himself. "I have every confidence you have resolved the situation already, Commander. Ten minutes to inbound, so if you would be so kind..."

"Aye, sir, getting my pilots to their fighters and bombers," Iden replied, then cut the connection.

"As soon as practicable, we should authorize launches," Vek said and Piett nodded. "May I have a link up with all the vessels assembled here?" When the chief comm officer created the link, a holo-generator sent brilliant white light up in a circle. Vek stepped into it, hands gripped behind his back. If anyone noticed just how tightly he was wringing his own fingers, they didn't let on.

"Talis to fleet," he said, fighting to keep his voice level. "Behind you is Naboo. They can't defend themselves. Do not let anything Rax has get past you. You are the line that shall not be crossed. Do your duty to the citizens and your names will be exonerated of Palpatine's crimes. Stay focused, listen and respond to orders and all will be well. Talis out." He hadn't even identified himself as 'Grand Admiral'. They knew. That was all that was important.

"Sir, incoming vessels," someone at one of the many stations said.

Four Super Star Destroyers were first out of hyperspace. Dozens of Star Destroyers followed, and dozens more followed moments later, support ships and more Star Destroyers and heavy cruisers last to arrive. Vek heard a few sucked in breaths or softly muttered exclamations around the bridge. They didn't want to die. It was their duty, and he felt through the Force that not a woman or man on the Presidium intended to shirk their duty, but no one wanted to be the sacrifice. Except me, Vek thought bitterly. And yet, here I am. Again.

For a moment, Vek connected to the Ravager - Rax's ship - through the Force. Confusion reigned. The Unifying Force swung his attention to Piett in the next instant. "Admiral, hold your order to launch fighters, if you would," Vek said as he 'watched' Rax through the Force. He felt Skywalker trying to join the connection, helped the Jedi Master to do so.

"Holding, sir," Piett said when Vek turned his attention back to the here and now. "May I ask why?"

"There's uncertainty over there," Vek said. "Maybe I can stall them a bit. Hail them." He turned to Skywalker, the Jedi Master nodding slightly as he walked behind a bulkhead to hide from the viewscreen.

"As you wish, sir," Piett answered and nodded to the chief comm officer.

Gallius Rax was pale, dark haired. A confused look on his face as he answered the hail, it straightened when he saw Vek. "Grand Admiral? How did you manage to escape? I thought you'd turned traitor and gave yourself up?"

"Were you born this stupid, Gallius, or did you have to work at it?" Vek asked. As Grand Admiral, he'd had to take a hard line with Palpatine's lapdog on more than one occasion. He knew Palpatine had been grooming Rax for some secret task, but only discovered Operation Cinder weeks before the Emperor's death. The fact that Palpatine had hidden it from Vek was a sure sign Darth Sidious was targeting Vek's head at some point in the future.

Before the other man could even look shocked, Vek charged forward. "The rebel filth have infiltrated some of our covert intelligence stations and have been spreading false information since before Endor in an attempt to divide us. The former Emperor tasked you with Operation Cinder because he knew he could rely on you, but what good does it do us to follow his orders posthumously when the rebels gain the advantage by fostering distrust among us?"

Rax cocked his head to the side. "You always did see a few steps ahead, didn't you, Talis?"

"Not necessary to see far for this, Rax," Vek replied. "I've had agents re-infiltrate a few of our covert command centers and know this for certain. That's why I'm here; to let you know that I'm in charge now and Operation Cinder can be scrapped."

"Right," Rax said and scoffed aloud. "We'll just turn around and head back to Coruscant for a hero's welcome. The rebels will have scattered to the four winds by then, right?"

"I see," Vek said, shaking his head. "You were born this way, Rax. It does come naturally to you. Why would I be standing here if I wasn't the new Emperor? You and Sloane have been fighting amongst yourselves for the past week and can't see what's right in front of your faces."

At last, Rax looked thoughtful. He stepped back to confer with some of his officers. Vek didn't flinch, stared out at the other admiral as if knowing he would be obeyed in the next few minutes. In the Empire, he'd had to deal with hardheads like Rax. It wasn't normally in his nature, but he did it in order to stay on top, to keep funneling what he could to the rebellion.

There was the distinct possibility Rax would believe him. There was also the possibility that would make the lapdog even more likely to attack. If he could eliminate Vek, then he - in his own mind - would be that much closer to the throne. Palpatine was the one who commanded utter and total loyalty from the admirals. Even Vader had his detractors, including Vek from time to time - it had been funny to watch Vader try to Force choke a man who didn't need to breathe.

Of course, Rax had many more resources than Vek. When he stepped forward again, he looked smug. "I'll have to verify this, of course, Grand Admiral. Even if some of our covert stations have been compromised, I should be able to find confirmation somewhere."

"There, you can come up with a coherent thought, if you have enough others around to rub on for a spark," Vek said. "I have a few moments to spare while you seek confirmation." He didn't want to seem too eager to stick around for long, or Rax might smell something.

Rax turned back to his officers, nodded and they scattered. When he returned his attention to Vek, his head leaned a bit to the right. "Why do you care about stopping Cinder now? Maudlin for your own homeworld?"

"And if I am that's something you can remember to have a hold over me?" Though Vek knew that was exactly it, he shook his head. "Personally I have little use for Gungans and the weak fools who inhabit my old homeworld, as you put it. However, unlike the former Emperor, I don't think the slaughter of an entire planet ingratiates us to the people we're supposed to rule. There are more... individual means of intimidation to gain loyalty. Slaughter only adds to the rebel numbers. Hasn't that been made painfully clear yet by how numerous the rebels have become?"

"Maybe you have a point," Rax conceded. Perhaps he'd started to turn away from his master's dying wish. But then the Unifying Force jabbed Vek in the ribcage. Along with the loss of his internal functions, he'd almost completely lost the ability to feel physical pain, except through the Force.

One of the officers on the Ravager shouted something, to which Rax turned and replied, "On speakers."

==Repeat, this is Agent Zero for IMPTELCOM. Emergency action required. Vek Talis, former Grand Admiral of Imperial forces has defected to the Rebel Alliance. Do not approach. Terminate on sight.==

"Stellar," Vek said. Someone inside the Alliance was part of one of the numerous secret police of the former Empire. Calmly, Vek turned to Piett. "I think it's safe to say you can launch fighters now, Admiral," he said. He'd managed to delay Rax for twenty minutes, at any rate. Now it was time to get down to business.

~to be continued

 

Stalling Rax but what will happen next? Vek has to save Naboo

 

Thanks! At least one of us has confidence in him.

He does, doesn't he?



11.

Fighter Bay of Presidium - 14.5 days after the Battle of Endor - Naboo System

"Stay in tight formations and always, always watch out for your own team," Iden growled into her comm as her TIE Interceptor dropped from the bay. Vek had made her commander of all TIE forces for this battle. That was a lot of pressure. But it showed how much confidence he had in her abilities.

"Keep an eye on your sixes, and if any of your squadrons are in need, you know where to find me." She had six of the best flying aces behind her in her own flight, detached from the rest of the squadrons and wings. That way they could more easily find trouble spots and excise them like any good surgeon with a scalpel. She had Del and another six of the best in another strike force remaining near Vek's fleet to deal with any enemy bombers.

She had all her pilots activate their transponders and set them to an encrypted frequency only they knew, so friendly fire might be reduced. They were in TIE fighters, facing TIEs after all.

A swarm of TIEs launched from the enemy fleet. There were so many. Each Star Destroyer carried four Groups of fighters, two Groups of bombers with escorts and a Wing of supply and other auxiliary ships. Super Star Destroyers carried six times as many. And Rax had brought four Supers, one more than anticipated.

"Lieutenant Commander Meeko," Iden said into her comm.

"Aye, sir?" Del answered.

"Don't let anything through, Del," she said. "We're outnumbered a hundred to one out here; we can't let our Star Destroyers be taken out."

"Aye sir," Del answered in a strong voice. "So long as I'm alive, you'll have something to come home to, Commander."

That thought warmed her heart in more ways than one. They'd had an encounter the night before, on their way to Naboo. It felt good on so many levels. But it hadn't felt perfect. That, she told herself, would come with time. "And Del," she added softly. "Stay safe. I'm coming back to you, so you better be there."

"Same here, Commander," Del answered.

And then she was in among the first wave of the enemy. Her Interceptor was an advanced version of the TIE with more engine power and better maneuvering thrusters for tighter turns at speed. The weapons had also been upgraded. Typical for the Imperials, screens and life support had been siphoned of power to make these upgrades possible. Iden had been a little miffed, to tell it mildly, when she found out. To compensate, she had along with her a portable battery she'd modified to fit into the auxiliary power port.

She pulled back on her stick, hard, fired thrusters three and six, turned diagonally. As she turned, she gently squeezed the triggers. Bright red blaster bolts jutted from her weapons, scoring several hits on the nearest enemy, detaching one of its wings. The enemy began to spin, crashed into one of its companions.

No time for gloating, she jammed the stick forward, turned onto the tail of another enemy. Her wingmen, she knew, would be with her, attacking anything that got in their way. She'd hand selected these men and women with whom she'd flown or known others who'd flown with them. They were some of the best, as were the men and women she'd selected to watch Del's back.

"This is my element," she said absently. She squeezed the triggers again. Another enemy TIE disintegrated as she surged through the resulting explosion. But there were still so many enemies, their swarms looked like locusts in formation. "This is going to take some time."



Bridge of Presidium

Vek watched the fighter battle outside with rising regret. He was sending good pilots out there, with no support, to die. The enemy could easily put ten fighters on every one of his and still have plenty to spare. It was murder, pure and simple.

"Admiral," Vek called. Piett hurried up, one of the bandages on his face loose from all the moving he'd had to do lately. "I think we need to support our fighters, as they're trying to support us. We should move now and engage our foes at close range." Skywalker raised an eyebrow at that, but said nothing.

"Sir?" Piett went slightly pale. "We're outnumbered at least ten to one. We were meant to delay Rax, were we not? We can best do that, I believe, with an effective screen of fighters."

"Were our numbers closer to even, I would agree," Vek said. He felt one of his pilots become one with the Force, closed his eyes. It was only the first of many. "We won't have any fighters to screen us if we wait too long." He pointed to the strategic three dimensional map of the battle. "If we attack in this formation, we still keep our ships between Rax and Naboo, and we can possibly isolate and destroy part of his fleet." He would need Versio's support to accomplish that, and she already had a lot on her plate.

Piett studied the map, nodded slowly. "I'll send word to engineering, sir," he said and hurried to do so.

At the station where the three dimensional map hovered, Vek had a comm officer, assigned just to him. "Relay orders to the other ships," he told the officer. As his orders were obeyed, he took a few paces toward the tactical viewer — the main screens on the bridge. The Force guided his vision to several ships on the right side of Rax's fleet — the left side from Vek's point of view. Beside him, Skywalker strode up, looked from the viewer to Vek, back again.

"What is it?" the Jedi asked.

"I'm not sure yet," Vek said. In truth, he had an inkling, but he wasn't in the habit of sharing until he was more certain. He reached into his pocket, tapped his private comm. It had an algorithm on it that automatically encrypted every message he sent from it. He began typing and repeating a message into it as he gazed out at one of those enemy Star Destroyers.

When he finished, he returned to the comm officer. "Put me on with Commander Versio," he said and waited.

"Grand Admiral?" Iden asked.

"We're heading your way," Vek said. He tapped the console, sending a holo image to her fighter. "See what you think of this idea."

They heard weapons fire and the shearing of metal that was distant. Iden's breathing got shorter and heavier for a moment, then relaxed; she must have scored another hit. After a moment, her voice returned to the comm. "That's an interesting idea, sir. I'll coordinate it. Versio out."

"She's more than a competent officer," Skywalker said absently, though his gaze was focused on Vek.

At first, Vek didn't know exactly what he meant. After a moment, something in the way the young Jedi looked at him gave him a clue. "She is very important to me, Master Skywalker, but like a daughter, or in my case, a great-great granddaughter."

"All ahead full," Piett said. Vek approved. The faster they moved, the closer in they got with the enemy, the better. If the enemy ships farther away accidentally hit some of their allies while trying to hit Vek's fleet, so much the better.

The Presidium began to move. Inertial dampeners kicked in almost immediately, making it seem as though the Super Star Destroyer were only creeping along, but Vek knew it was heading forward fast as possible, somewhere around a third of light speed. He watched his three dimensional holo image. The thirteen Star Destroyers accompanying him quickly got into formation to keep up, taking partial refuge behind the much larger vessel and its screens.

"Gunning Captains, begin your calculations for rapid fire sequencing," he heard Piett say. Firmus was better than a mere competent officer. He was an officer who obeyed without question, but had just enough independent thought to adjust easily to changing circumstances. That was rare: often you had either pure sycophants who couldn't use the fresher without orders, or reckless mavericks who changed into danger headlong with no regard for the fellows who had to back them up.

After he explained that in whispers to Skywalker, the Commander smirked and whispered back, "I'm glad you selected him, then, Grand Admiral Talis."

Vek felt deference coming from Skywalker in that moment, decided his use of title wasn't flippant but calculated. The young Jedi was showing respect to what Vek was doing in the moment by calling him Grand Admiral, if not to the man himself. Though Vek noticed a slight shift in the Force when he looked at Skywalker. Was the young man starting to develop an... affection for him? In some way... perhaps.

There was a brief drain of power as in unison, most of the forward weapons of the Presidium opened fire. Their bolts surged forward at near light speed. The Star Destroyers along with him also started firing.

"Forward screens to full," Piett said a few moments later. "Flank screens to one quarter; keep our TIE fighter escort supported under our screens as well."

Yes, a fine officer, was Firmus.

Once more there was a drain of power. Sounds of absorption and reflection filled the air. The Presidium shook slightly. The enemy was firing as well. "Time," Vek said.

A computerized female voice answered, "Eleven hours to the Alliance, Grand Admiral."

"Stellar," Vek said. He glanced to the three dimensional image again, then threw up his hands in disgust. It wasn't the same as seeing the real battle. He grabbed the comm officer assigned to him by the back of his collar, nearly pulled him out of his seat. "You're with me," he said.

Vek and Skywalker, the comm officer in tow, went to the tactical viewer. He closed his eyes, hands clenched behind his back. It had been a hot minute, but he concentrated on the Force. He cracked open one eye, glanced at one of the enemy Star Destroyers. He closed the eye again, picturing the ship, digging down under the skin, down to the main power core. The Force wrapped itself around him like a knot.

Still seeing the image in his mind, his feet led him toward a console. Hands along the slick surface, inching, press a button here, a button there. The Force stole his hands, deftly directed his fingers. A proton torpedo launched from a bay. He watched it trail a burning wake, charged electrons thrown from the protonic core, a brilliant spectacle of fire and ice. Blue fingers of Force beckoned the torpedo, seduced it gently toward its goal.

As he opened his eyes, he watched the torpedo strike home on the enemy Star Destroyer. It had found a weak point in the screens, crashed down into a power generator. Systems shorted out on the ship, bringing down the screens. "Strike it now," Vek whispered to the tactical officer at the station. The officer stabbed more buttons. Turbo laser bolts slammed into the Star Destroyer, which began to turn away from the battle. A series of lasers struck it on the broadside. Quickly, the Star Destroyer began to break apart, power surging until it exploded amidships.

As fast as it arrived, the Force drained from him. His legs felt weak and nearly gave out from under him. Strong arms grabbed him, kept him from toppling. He glanced to his right to see Skywalker there, his hands helping steady him. "Thanks, Master Skywalker," he said, his voice weak in his ears.

"I wouldn't have believed it," Skywalker said.

Yoda must have had a hard time training you, then. He pushed that thought aside quickly.

Some of the enemy vessels were taking heavy damage. They eased backwards while more of Rax's fleet moved in to occupy the gaps. He had far more ships. Several of Rax's fleet broke off, headed toward Naboo.

Vek hurried back to the comm officer. "Call the Fury out of formation; tell Captain Ventress she's responsible for Naboo," Vek said. "And get her fighter support. I don't care if you have to take it away from us; she's got enough to worry about with those three Star Destroyers."

A moment later, the comm beeped. Asaaj Ventress appeared on the viewer. "I will give my life to protect the planet, Grand Admiral, in repayment to you," she said with a strong voice, bowing her head to Vek.

"I'd rather you didn't die in the attempt," Vek said. "I'm transferring four of our six fighter Groups to your command. That should help. Use them efficiently." He knew he was sending those pilots to their doom. Ventress had been through a lot, though, and was a survivor.

If he hadn't been on Christophsis hunting Count Dooku during the Clone Wars, he never would have discovered her. After her Master, Quinlan Vos failed to convert Dooku back to the light and was killed for his trouble, Vek, General Kit Fisto and two squads of clones managed to save the Dathomirian from Dooku's clutches. The Count no doubt had planned something terrible for her.

"Thank you, Grand Admiral. You are too kind to me." She bowed once again, turned to her comm officer, cut the connection.

"Can she succeed?" Skywalker asked.

"She must succeed," Vek said. Three Star Destroyers couldn't ravage the entire planet, but they could do serious damage to the large city centers, like Theed.

"You do realize you've made us more vulnerable, sir?" Piett asked.

"All we need is a few more hours," Vek said. "Computer? Time."

The computerized female voice answered, "Ten hours, thirty-six minutes to the Alliance, Grand Admiral." Vek felt his eyes roll back into his head.

More turbo lasers cut their way through the void. They were targeting the power regulator towers near the main bridge of the Presidium. The ship rocked as some of the energy penetrated the screens, struck mostly harmlessly into the hull. "More power to the frontal screens," Piett ordered. "Intensify forward batteries."

Rax wasn't stupid. His ships were targeting the Presidium more than the Star Destroyers. Bring down the big ship first — and Vek — and the others might scatter, or at least be easier targets.

Vek blinked. When his eyes opened, there was nothing but darkness. He looked left, right, then left again. That's unusual, he thought. A faint glow stole his attention. It grew brighter and focused into a shape. Eventually that shape took on a familiar form. "Nid yw dy amser eto, fy nghalon." Siwsan's form beckoned him toward her. "Byddwch ofalus, cariad."

It was only the two of them. Sounds and sights and signs of battle were absent. Specks of dust hung or floated in place. The air felt, not stagnant, but... absent, or suspended somehow.

"My time is not yet?" It was the first thing she'd said. Be careful, the second. "Am I in danger?"

"Bob amser mewn, perygl," she answered. Always in danger. She extended her hand, beckoned him with a forefinger. "Byddwch gyda mi yn faun, ond nid yn awr."

"Is that a promise?" Vek asked, but she didn't answer. You will be with me soon, but not now, was what she'd said. She kept drawing that ghostly forefinger toward herself, urging his feet forward.

He blinked again. It felt as though time pushed forward. He heard metal bending, felt a creak in the hull plating beneath him. Casually, he headed for the other side of the bridge. Absently, he grasped Skywalker by the arm, nearly pulled him along a few meters. Moments later, the bridge shook from an explosion. A bulkhead, loosened by the fighting came crashing down right where they'd been standing. Fortunately, it didn't do too much damage and the bridge held together.

Skywalker gaped, then turned to Vek. "How did you...?" He looked back to where they'd been standing. "I didn't feel the Force warn me."

Vek shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't either, Master Jedi," he said. "I have... a friend." There she was. Just a fleeting glimpse, she was gone when he tried to look directly at her. You're not stuck in the Temple then, at least, he thought, but she didn't answer. One more penance I must pay. So many.

 

Exciting action with Piett, Iden, Assaj and Vek trying to save Naboo.

 

Siwsan, Ventress, Piett... this battle has more surprises coming. Will they be enough to save picturesque Naboo? Who can say? I sure won't.

Thank you. More action to come as the battle continues. And more... drama.

Definitely more drama coming...




12.

Bridge of Presidium - 10 hours to Ackbar's fleet

"Come on, dammit." Vek tapped his private comm unit harder, more rapidly. A significant part of Rax's fleet, the right flank, was just floating there in space. For all intents and purposes, they were staying neutral. However, the center and left flank were more than enough to destroy Vek's tiny — by comparison — fleet.

Ventress's ship, the Fury, was taking heavy fire from the three Star Destroyers attempting to get into orbit around Naboo. The rest of his ships were taking hits, though they were all still in the fight and giving it to Rax's fleet with spirit.

Vek stabbed his finger down onto a console. "Commander Versio, report."

A moment passed, but then the comm crackled to life. "Aye aye, sir?"

"Can you spare anything to assist the Fury?" He hated to ask because he knew she would say yes. What that would do to her attack was anyone's guess.

Another few moments passed. At last, the comm crackled back into life. "Dispatching three Flights your way, sir. Make the best of them."

"Aye, Commander." He quickly switched frequencies. "All incoming pilots, report back to the Presidium on the double." Another switch, another change of frequency. "Lieutenant Commander Meeko, report."

"Aye aye, sir?" Del Meeko lived up to his name most of the time. He seemed as though he'd rather avoid conflict, but when in the midst of it, he responded as any soldier might: all business.

"I need your assistance." Vek shifted from one foot to the other as he pondered everything around him. "We need to get bombers to the Fury to help Captain Ventress take out her enemies before they get the better of her. Pilots are incoming now and I need you to get them safely to their targets."

"Aye sir, I'll coordinate it," Meeko replied.

Curiously, Skywalker wasn't at his side. When he turned, he noticed the Jedi Master staring out the tactical viewer, his focus on the nearest Super Star Destroyer. "Thoughts, Master Jedi?" he asked.

Slowly, Skywalker tore his focus from the ship, turned his attention to Vek. An idea practically oozed from him. "Give me a cloaked shuttle. I think I can create a problem for that ship."

Vek gazed out at the vessel, back to the Jedi, a list of names speeding through his head. When he selected the one he wanted, he stabbed out at a button. "TK8675, to the bridge." He grabbed his private comm, tapped urgently a few more times. To one of his own cadre of comm officers, he said, "I need Versio again, if you please."

"Aye aye, sir." This time, Iden's voice came in short, sharp bursts. That may have been because Vek sensed she was in a little bit of trouble.

Sudden fright jarred him — an image through the Unifying Force — an enemy in her blind spot. "Pull up, now, Iden." It was a subtle faux-pax, slipping to her given name. Hopefully, no one would notice. It may have been the first time he'd used it since she was a little girl.

A few moments passed; he felt the tension in her ease. "Thank you, sir. What can I do for you?"

"I'm going to be asking a lot of you, Commander," he said. "I need an escort; we're going to send boarding parties to the Eliminator. Then maybe you'll pull back the bulk of your TIEs for defense, send out smaller parties for hit and run and bomber escorts?"

She hummed for a moment. "Aye aye, sir, we're getting battered out here. That's a sound strategy. Heading in for escort duty."

"TK8675 reporting as ordered, sir." When he turned, he saw the Assault Trooper Master Sergeant standing at attention.

Vek gathered the trooper by sight, led him toward the tactical viewer. "I have a personal assignment for you, Sergeant. You're going on a boarding party with Master Skywalker. Protect him with your life; he is your responsibility, soldier. Stay with him the entire time."

"Aye aye, sir." There was not a hint of regret in the trooper's voice for having to guard someone who was an enemy only days before.

Booted feet on the carpeted floor brought him to Firmus, watching the battle unfold at the tactical viewer. "Admiral, time for a boarding party."

Piett nodded. "I'm already seeing to it, sir," he said, then angled his head toward Skywalker. "When the Jedi Master asked about a ship, I thought you'd want to send more than one. I have twelve shuttles loading with Assault Troopers in bay Twenty-one as we speak."

"Good man, Piett," Vek said. The bridge shook. A console exploded, showering the area in sparks. A fire erupted from another console, burning the sorry woman who sat at it. Quickly, Vek grabbed her up and away from the flames, laid his hand against the charred flesh of her cheek, sent waves of Force to mend tendons, clear away burnt flesh, make way for the healing process to begin quickly. He felt Skywalker close off an area around the console to allow the oxygen to drain from it to smother the flames.

When he removed his hand from her face, the burns were already beginning to heal. "My apologies, you are likely to still have some scarring." Healers were coming up to take charge of her; damage crews were making hasty repairs.

Weakness grabbed him, shook him. He sagged against the console, heard the officer gasp, felt her hands go to his chest to help prop him up. Using the Force was draining when you practiced it frequently; it was harder when you didn't. He hadn't for long periods. He felt old, older than he'd felt in a long time. A similar feeling to low blood pressure made him feel faint.

"Sir, it looks like we have an incoming boarding party to deal with as well." Piett was by his side, as was Skywalker.

The Master looked distant. "There's a Force user in one of those shuttles. Another Hand of Palpatine. I could stay..." Clearly, he didn't want to. Instead, he reached into his robes, pulled out a second lightsaber. "I believe this is yours, Grand Admiral." His outstretched hand offered it to Vek.

Now that the feeling was passing, Vek stood up straight, silently thanked the woman who'd helped support him and placed his hand on the hilt. "You have my word that I shall give this back to you upon your return, Master Jedi."

"Good enough for me." Skywalker hurried to bay Twenty-one, TK8675 on his heels.

"Where is that boarding party going?" A surge from the Force filled him; he still had duty to perform.

"They're headed for bay Eighteen," someone said. Before he could leave the bridge, however, the same voice called, "Message incoming for you, sir."

"Work, work, work." He found the nearest comm console and accepted the incoming call. "Talis here."

"This is Commodore Ath'ey'ro... and Firefly, Grand Admiral."

"Oh, thank the Force." He turned to the tactical officer. "Get a lock on them and put them on screen." When the visual came up, Imperial officers across the bridge raised a cheer. One capital ship wasn't enough to cause such a fuss. However, one capital ship with a generous fleet of old mothballed Republic Guard frigates was.

"Concentrate on the center," Vek said. "Leave their right flank alone. And give them your extra surprise at your leisure, Commodore. Thank you for your assistance."

"Glad to be of help, sir; glad to be part of the team, one last time," Ath'ey'ro answered.

Vek hurried to bay Eighteen as fast as his feet would carry him.



Versio's fighter

Iden did a few laps of the Presidium, knocking down a few enemy bombers in the process. She'd left the rest of her strike team with the other fighters where they could be of better use protecting vulnerable points in their formations. Instead, she'd called a few second tier pilots to her into three distinct Flights to escort the troop shuttles.

For now, she was taking some 'me' time, casually picking off lone enemy ships. You know, for sport. When two fighters got on her tail, however, the fun was over. One of her maneuvering thrusters had been taken out by an errant shot. "Follow this, schuttas," she said, and made for the deck of the Presidium. Most of the hull looked smooth from a great distance, but nooks and crannies protruded here and there. She'd been skimming the surface of Star Destroyers for practice throughout her career.

"Time for a surprise," she said and took an unexpected turn, utilizing the extra power her battery backup allowed. Several giant pistons in a secondary power relay rose and fell in a rarely seen sector of the Presidium. If she'd timed it all right...

"Ha ha!" She whooped as one of the pistons came up as she flew over it. One of the TIEs chasing her erupted in a fireball. She pulled back on her stick and hit all but one of her functional thrusters at the same time. Her TIE did a controlled spin, taking away much of its forward momentum. When the other TIE sped past, she righted her craft, aimed and squeezed the triggers. The other enemy burst into flame and broke up.

Her console lit up with friendly blips. "Let's get this convoy to the Eliminator safely," she called to her fighters, then flew up to take the lead. She wondered if Del was all right. She hadn't heard anything from him since the battle began, but knew comm'ing him might not be the best idea. For a moment, she cast her sensors back toward Naboo. Fighters, bombers and one Star Destroyer were doing their best to battle three Star Destroyers of the enemy. She wondered how that had happened.

"Once we're done here, I'm dispatching you to help the Fury," she ordered the rest of the TIEs escorting the boarding parties. Something told her Del was there, taken away from his duty guarding the Presidium. She didn't know if that was the Force or simple intuition. And of course, she could have been wrong altogether.

A laser flashed in the viewer and her TIE rocked slightly. She'd been daydreaming. Quickly, she squeezed the triggers and an enemy vaporized in front of her. "Gotta get hold of myself," she said, shaking the cobwebs from her head. Del would take care of himself. She had to get this convoy to the Eliminator.

She watched as Vek's tiny forces continued to play havoc with a force ten times its size. There was now a rebel capital ship and a fleet of old frigates cutting a swathe through Rax's forces. This was why she'd admired the Grand Admiral. This was why she continued to believe in him. He couldn't be the same person who committed the massacre at Ot Tel. There had to be more to the story.



Bay Eighteen

Stormtroopers poured from a breach in the hull. Blaster bolts flew through the bay. Vek caught sight of a black robed figure, gesturing to the troopers to go this way, then that. "Seal off all exits and entrances to this entire sector," Vek told the Lieutenant Commander assigned to help him repel the invaders.

"You and you, come with me," she said, gathering more troopers to her by sight.

The young Force user looked up, over at Vek. His lightsaber was in his hands. Instead of ignite it, he scowled, reached out with the Force. Vek ducked behind the wall he'd been sheltering by. Why did he suddenly get the sinking feeling the young man wasn't alone?

Another Force user was nearby. The two connected like they were old friends, or...

"Stellar." Vek closed his eyes for a moment of mourning. Well, there was nothing for it but to go forward. The yellow blade shot from his hilt, its hum was familiar, soothing. He'd need to be soothed after this. With a last sigh — his lungs didn't really work, but the motion of breathing was automatic — he moved back into the fighter bay.

Two black robed figures loped along now, blades shading their faces with crimson.

They were linked, somehow, and better able to coordinate through the Force than any normal team. They were just children. What was it with Palpatine and kids? Vek thought savagely. Always calculating, Sidious was. A child's mind was easiest to warp, firstly, and secondly, a child's face was harder to condemn.

You're going to make me do this, you kriffing old sack of shavit. Vek's eye twitched. He nearly snarled at the thought of Palpatine and his machinations. May the Force devour your soul slowly for all eternity.

They both saw him at once. The other, he saw, was a girl. They were perhaps sixteen? They came on like thunder and lightning, he swiping and slashing with his saber, she fully charged with the Force, electricity crackling at her fingertips.

The boy used a modified form of Djem So, perhaps supplemented with Soresu. He used it well. How did Sidious squeeze more hours out of every day to train a plethora of Hands while still ruling the galaxy? Maybe he hadn't needed sleep, either.

The girl zipped and dodged Vek's attempts to slash at her, using her blade sparingly. She unleashed lighting as if she were a thunderstorm. It seemed to perturb her when she struck home that he never flinched. She was unlikely to have a clue that he couldn't feel pain, not of the physical kind, at any rate.

"Hit him with your saber, would you?" She seemed to be getting perturbed at her partner, too.

"Give this up; your Master is dead. He can no longer torment you," Vek said.

The girl screeched in rage, focused both hands worth of lightning at him. The very mention of Sidious — even without his name — brought pain, fear and obedience to the forefront of her mind. He caught the lightning in his blade, swiped it back at her partner who blocked most of it. An errant bolt caught him in the side, though, tossing him backward into some cargo crates.

She whirled, concern on her dark face. Vek caught her in a Force grip, raised her from the floor. Her blade dropped from trembling hands, the lightning dissipating harmlessly into the Force. "Stop. Think. Listen to the Force," Vek pleaded. "You have been abused. It doesn't mean you have to abuse others now."

When the young man — the boy — got up, fury blazing within, Vek tried to catch him as well. They both had plenty of raw power within them. No one said Sidious chose his victims poorly. Several Stormtroopers charged into the bay, Vek having already felt their presence in the Force: they were his soldiers. The boy snarled, twisted his blade with his wrist, charged them.

"No," Vek said, shaking his head. He knew he was overextending himself. Feebly, he reached out, tried to help divert blaster bolts. The kid deflected a few, skewered one trooper, then another. Vek saw the bolt with the kid's name on it, tried with all his might to stop it or divert it.

The boy — the young man — dropped to the hull with a boneless thud. A searing hole hissed bloody steam, just below and to the left of his right eye. The girl screamed pure terror; it convulsed her body in a fit, but she focused it in the Force, managed to break free of Vek's grip. Her lightsaber forgotten, she charged, Force slick against her body.

"Hold fire!" Vek yelled at his troopers, calling the Force to himself for a quick surge of speed. The order didn't register in the remaining troopers' minds before they'd gotten off a few shots. Vek stretched out his hand... why couldn't he be just a little faster?

One of the blaster bolts struck the girl in the midsection, the other her left shoulder. She spun, toppled to the floor. Not finished, she began crawling toward her dead partner. Vek managed to block the last bolt with his hand, slid to the floor alongside her, feeling for the hit to her belly: the shoulder wound could wait for the Healers.

She sobbed uncontrollably as he worked to cauterize veins and arteries, separating each individual blood cell, forcing them back into capillaries. She struggled to wrap her arms around her partner, a flood of tears drowning the boy's vacant stare. When she noticed Vek's hands on her belly, she tried to claw them away. Her teeth came down on his arm, tore away some flesh.

"Peace, young one," Vek said placidly, trying to ease her tormented soul. From long abuse, she reflexively opened her mind to him as a servant to a master. What he saw... he didn't think any creature — even Sidious — could have been so sadistic. It didn't bear repeating what had been done to those twins.

And then he noticed it, deep in her belly. The wounds were healing, at least the physical ones.

"You don't understand." Her voice was a muddle: saliva, blood, tears and unbridled anguish making it hard to differentiate each word.

"Oh, but I do, child." He sent her wave after wave of calm, peace. It didn't come easily, after all, as he was tormented as well. Empathy, however, came directly from the Force and washed over her broken mind and body. Despite this, she continued to bristle at his touch as he mended her.

"Jendon," she said, her tear stained eyes cast down to the corpse in her arms. "Jendon," she said again, sadder, angrier at the same time. She hugged his body tightly to her, began rocking back and forth. Vek dug deep, saw the two of them, huddled together at night in their shared cage; the only support — the only love — they had was for each other. The embryo growing in her belly bore all the genetic markers, even absent the Force vision.

Sweet Force. Vek shook his head slowly. The world I came from had some sick, twisted minds. Sidious must have studied under every sadist in this galaxy, passed the course with flying colors; he could have taught Hitler and Stalin a class or three.

The Presidium rumbled, down deep in the deck, snapping him back to the present. He knew he needed to get back up to the bridge, but he was so very tired. Too many were counting on him. It was too much. He wanted to sit there on his butt, holding this tortured youth, trying to absorb some of the misery she felt. Instead, he gathered the Force to him, used his connection with her wounds to overwhelm her senses, sending her into a deep sleep. ==Rest, young one,== he told her through the Force. Without a proper master/padawan bond, it was more difficult. ==You deserve some measure of solace. The galaxy won't get any easier on you, I'm afraid. Sleep while you can.==

Once her red, puffy eyes slid shut and her breathing eased, he carefully extracted himself from her, stood up on weary legs. The remaining troopers gathered around. "Get her a Healer," Vek ordered. "And a counselor, too. Force knows she'll need one." He gazed down at her again, heaved a silent sigh and returned to his other duties.

 

Love how Vek saves that girl. And his comments about Sidious.

 

Poor Sidious. Everyone's out to get him. No one likes him.

I wonder why? Eureka! that must be it — they're all jealous of his wrinkled good looks!

You just might see that girl again. Yes, you just might. As to the battle, we're coming down to — perhaps — the last bit of it. As to Naboo... mwhahahahaha!



13.

Bridge of Presidium - 6.5 hours to Ackbar

Rax's right flank was beginning to fade into the background. The ships were still largely listless. Rax must be furious, Vek thought. Good. The left and center were still more than enough to deal with.

"Sir, look," one of the observing officers — how many were actually working? — pointed to the corner of the tactical viewscreen. One of the Super Star Destroyers — the one Skywalker went to — was showing signs of power loss. Vek's forces hadn't hit it that hard. The Jedi Master must have met with some success.

"Excellent," Vek said, then returned his attention to the center. Ath'ey'ro's second surprise had involved part of her fleet disgorging a second fleet of shuttles from the frigates' cargo bays. They acted as another couple of Groups of fighters, helping harass the enemy, though Vek hadn't expected them to be of much more use than that. Her ship, the Benediction, was getting battered. Bulkier and isolated, it was an easy target.

Vek grabbed his dedicated comm officer by the collar again. "Dispatch the Vengeance and Pugnacious to assist the Benediction," he ordered. Things were getting desperate. He was splitting his forces again, getting into dangerous territory, but there was little choice. In a group, even a small one, they stood a better chance. He'd selected two of his twelve remaining Star Destroyers that were in the best shape, having been shielded by the Presidium more than the others. The destroyers got moving in a tearing hurry. "Inform Ath'ey'ro that help is on the way," he added.

A supplementary tactical screen showed him an image from behind the Presidium. The Fury was still in the fight, blasting away at Rax's three Star Destroyers — no, make that two. Vek whooped uncharacteristically as one of the enemy ships began to break apart. Ventress had gotten into a good position, managing to face the enemy ships directly, keeping herself as small a target as possible while Del's fighters and bombers continued their assault. However, the Fury had multiple hull breaches and she was losing power in several sectors.

"Do we have any support ships to spare?" Vek asked.

"I can divert an EMRESUP frigate, sir," Piett said. The acronym described a brave ship and crew that helped shore up structural integrity in the midst of a firefight. They would also rescue lifepods jettisoned during combat.

"I'm sure Captain Ventress would appreciate that, Admiral."

Once again he found himself staring out at the right flank. He absently tapped the comm unit in his pocket. Almost immediately, a sound emanated from the device. It almost leaped out of his pocket; he stared at it as if it was the first time he'd ever laid eyes on one.

"Sir, Fleet Admiral Rax's right flank."

When Vek returned his attention to the viewer, his eyes went wide. A dozen Star Destroyers and more had begun moving. They were turning to — on — their comrades, opening fire. TIE fighters and bombers belched from their bays. Vek gripped his left fist with his right. "Yes," he said in a strong voice. "Yes!" he repeated a moment later when comm stations around the bridge began to light up with ships reporting in.

At last, the man he wanted to talk to appeared on the screen. A Togrutan — a rare thing, a non-human in a position of power in the Empire — appeared. His eyes focused in on Vek and he nodded. "I was fearful this was a test of loyalty. That it wasn't really you we were facing," he said.

"Took you long enough to make up your mind, Senior Captain," Vek said, mock anger in his voice. His grin betrayed the false anger, if his friend had been in any doubt. Tador Nyku had been at the academy when it transitioned into Imperial hands. Nyku was a fine cadet, devoted to his studies and an intelligent student. Vek refused to allow anti-alien bias to kick him out. He'd had the authority to make his opinion heard and Nyku had always appreciated the gesture.

Nyku chuckled, his headtails waggling jovially. "Once I confirmed Ath'ey'ro was really aboard that rebel ship, I knew you were the real deal, Grand Admiral," he said. "Only you could have gotten her to back you up. I'm not playing the loyal sycophant anymore to this aberration. Sorry it took me longer than anticipated: I needed to convince a few folks to join me. How else can we assist?"

"Can you send us fighters?" Vek asked immediately. "And one of your own to help the Fury and one for the Benediction? We seem to be a little outnumbered at the moment." An explosion rocked the Presidium. Lights flickered and power fluctuated. "And see if you can concentrate on one of those infernal Supers."

"You don't ask for a little," Nyku said, still chuckling. "Only you could have made so much out of so little for this long, Grand Admiral. I'll see what I can do. Nyku out." His face quickly vanished from the screen.

Piett was at his side, a grin warring with concern in his eyes. "You've done the impossible, sir," he said. "We've stalled them for six hours now."

"Six isn't twelve, Admiral," Vek said. "We have to hold out. What was that explosion I felt a moment ago?"

"One of our secondary power supplies took a direct hit," Piett said. "We're going to have a harder time keeping screens up."

Before Vek could answer, consoles shorted out. Sparks flew and the bridge went black for a moment before red emergency lights flickered on. "Sir, a power cascade has damaged systems, screens are down." Turbo lasers tore into the Presidium across every sector of the ship.

"Assign all Primary and Secondary Engineering teams to restoring power," Piett shouted at his officers. "We need all personnel on deck, all Damage Control teams to ready stations. All teams to forward batteries."

Vek thought about sticking his hand into the power auxiliary port, decided against it. He was already exhausted and the Presidium was a massive vessel. Hold on, Ath'ey'ro, he thought, looking out through the Force to the center of the battle. He didn't like what he was feeling.

"Sir, incoming message," the comm officer assigned to him said. "I've managed to grab a few packets of power to put it through."

Vek trotted over to the console. The screen lit up, the Chiss Commodore's red eyes aglow. "Hang on, Ath'ey'ro," Vek said. "I've got help on the way."

"It's too late for that, Vek," his friend said. Power consoles behind her exploded, frying a Sullustan and wounding several others. "My frigates are heading your way: take good care of them. I have one more duty to perform. Keep Naboo safe or I'll haunt you for the rest of your days." She broke the connection.

"Can you pull up a visual," Vek said and the comm officer nodded. He owed it to her to watch.

The Benediction was powering engines. Vek steepled his fingers, placed the tips up to his nose, watched, meditated on the Force, hoping — all the while knowing it impossible — to ease all those souls into a better place. More turbo lasers slammed into the ship, its screens gone. At last, the Benediction surged forward. She'd gotten in close with one of Rax's Super Star Destroyers. The capital ship slammed into it amidships, splintering the behemoth in two. Then the Benediction exploded and Vek sent a silent prayer to the Force. Rest, my old friend. With any luck I won't be far behind.

With frigates incoming, Vek stabbed out at a comm button. A few seconds went by and nothing. Vek jabbed the button, harder this time, frustration showing through the cracks. "Why won't this damned thing work?"

"Sir," the comm officer's eyes were wide and red with worry. "I'm not sure Commander Versio's TIE fighter is responding."

Silence gripped Vek. Indecision, panic. A lump formed in his throat. Not Iden, too. He felt the corner of his right eye begin to twitch. How much would this battle cost? How many people would have to die to make up for his mistakes? If he'd snapped out of his malaise when Windu came to see the Supreme Chancellor he might have stopped all this before it ever got started.

Secondary power returned a moment later. Screens went up across the Presidium. Officers cheered for a second before returning to their duties.

The comm crackled to life. "Sir," the officer said, his eyes wide again in a different way. "You should hear this," he said.

Vek could only nod absently. "This is Commander Versio checking in."

Now it was Vek's eyes that went wide. "Verify that," he commanded at once. The comm officer pressed a few buttons, nodded. Vek stabbed out to the flashing button. "Iden, tell me that's really you? What happened?"

Versio chuckled briefly. "Call it a swap," she said. "My TIE Interceptor was in need of vital repairs by the time I got to the intended target, so I left it with my compliments and took one of their regular TIEs. I'm working on getting the transponder fixed the way I like it, sir."

"We've got some incoming support," Vek said, relieved but returning to business. "I'm putting you in charge of the frigates. Use them like you would fighters. If their commanders give you any grief," his voice went hard here, "tell them to take it up with me."

Iden nearly guffawed over the comm. "As much as I'd love to hand them their bums, it would be even more satisfying to hear how you did it, sir. I'll get another coordinated assault together, see if we can take out another one of those Supers. Versio out."

"Sir, our ships can't hold out much longer," Piett said. He was everywhere at once. Exactly what a good officer needed to be. "The Alliance is still more than five hours away."

Vek hurried to the three dimensional holo of the entire battle. His forces were scattered. At first, that had worked as an advantage, hitting the larger host from multiple sides had kept him guessing. But Rax was tenacious and was snapping out of his initial confusion.

"The boarding party has returned. Only one ship," Piett said as Vek contemplated what to do next.

"Let's begin pulling the Presidium back toward the planet," Vek said. "We have one final shot to delay Rax." As the Admiral hurried to follow orders, Vek grabbed his personal comm. "Iden," he said quietly. "I have an idea, but I'm going to need you to provide the bigger ships with a fighter and bomber screen. I know you're scattered and battered, but can you do it?" He sent her a file.

Skywalker came up before Iden answered. Bowing at the waist, Vek handed over his lightsaber. "As promised, Master Jedi," he said cordially.

He accepted it with a nod of his head, slipped it back into his robes. TK8675 stood to rigid attention. "Well done, Sergeant," Vek said. "I shall have to put a commendation in your file. Who else returned with you?" He saw the trooper had sustained a few wounds.

"Just us, sir," the Sergeant replied.

"Very well," Vek said sadly. "Thank you, Sergeant."

"It was a pleasure, sir," TK8675 replied. "I always looked up to you, sir."

"Another penance I must pay." It was a mumble, half muttered.

"Sir?"

"Never mind, Sergeant. Dismissed." When the trooper departed the bridge, Vek checked his comm. Iden replied a moment later with an affirmative.

Vek strode toward the center of the immense room. He hated being the focus of so many. Nevertheless, he had his duty. "Attention," he called, using his full voice to be heard in every corner. All eyes swung to him. "You've all been working hard. I appreciate you. Each and every one of you. Take a moment, give yourselves a pat on the back. We have one more hurdle to overcome, though, and I have every confidence that, with your support, we will triumph."

"We're ready to move, sir," Piett said.

"Put me on with all allies," Vek said, nodding to his comm officer. The holo projector engulfed him once more in brilliant white light. "Attention," he said again. "All forces regroup behind the Presidium. Our ship will provide cover. You will have thirty minutes to perform vital repairs. Then I will have new orders to get us through. That is all. Talis out."

The Presidium was already moving to Vek's designated coordinates. All allied vessels began moving as well. More turbo lasers slammed into the hull. More systems shorted out on the bridge. A terrific explosion shook the entire vessel, followed by minor eruptions all across her surface. Lights dimmed again, then went out. Red once again bathed the crew. That can't have been good.

Piett scurried from one station to the next, barking orders and haranguing officers. When he returned to Vek's side, his face was grim. "One of our main power couplings has been destroyed, sir," he said. "We can raise a few screens over vital systems, but we don't have the power to shield the entire ship, let alone the entire fleet."

Vek steepled his fingers, stared through the admiral, down into the power core. Decision washed over him. "Master Skywalker, would you mind accompanying me?" he asked calmly. When the Jedi nodded, he addressed Piett. "You are in command, Admiral. Leave Versio to her task, I request. Once our allies have had thirty minutes to make repairs, disperse them as you see fit."

"What are you going to do, sir?" Piett seemed confused.

"I'm going to get screens back up to full, of course," Vek said. Quickly, he and Skywalker hurried from the bridge. They went to the main power supply. Two large conductors rose up into the high ceilinged bay. "Help me wrap this silver wire around that conductor, if you please, Master Skywalker," Vek said. He turned to the engineering officer there. "Get that lift up to where the capacitor should be," he ordered.

Thick silver wire wrapped around the conductor. He watched Skywalker on the other side. With the Force he communed, quietly sealing off his cerebellum and spinal cord from the rest of his body. Right now, Rax would be coordinating a last push on the Presidium so he could get on with the business of murdering millions on the planet below, simply because a dead guy told him to do so.

==Sir, the Fury is adrift, but intact== a voice - his personal comm officer - chimed in from the bridge. ==Captain Ventress reports her enemies defeated, but her ship is effectively dead in space, life support the only functioning system.==

"Tell her she has thirty minutes for vital repairs and to get back into the fight," Vek commanded. The Dathomirian would comply if she had to fix things with her own two hands.

Vek climbed into the lift toward the power junction, the opposite end of the silver wire he'd wrapped around the conductor entwined around his wrist. If Skywalker didn't know what he was up to by this time, he played that close to his vest. The Jedi was ascending a separate lift, the other wire in his hands.

Vek accepted the end of the wire with a nod of his head. Casually, he said, "The human body is a fine conductor of electricity, in case you were unaware, Master Jedi." He wrapped the other wire around his other wrist as Skywalker descended in the lift.

"On my mark, send power to the screens," Vek commanded the engineering officer. "Full power, never mind weapons or engines. This is our last stand. And then go and make certain you have a capacitor to fill in... once I'm no longer sufficient." He didn't know what would really happen; he'd absorbed a lot of electricity in his various escapades in the past. But this was a whole different scale.

"Sir, you can't possibly-"

"Shut up and activate screens," Vek growled. His conscious mind couldn't process what happened next. Brilliant yellow light consumed him. He saw Siwsan, Jinn, Anakin, Vizif — his old master — and a thousand other souls he'd interacted with across the millennia.

And then he saw no more.

"Ti sydd yma, fy nghalon."

























"You are here, my heart."

 

AWW Vek is doing all to save them but will he survive and get back into the fight?

 

Can he? I don't know, Earlybird, he seems pretty indisposed. Maybe it'll be the Iden show after that post... But probably not!

FrAG-iness aside, I don't think anyone could anticipate what's going to happen in the next few chapters.

Gee, I don't know...

Thanks, Master. Years ago, a friend introduced me to the brilliant idea of one word titles. Trying to select the best single word for a story title, a ship title, whatever. The English language is filled with amazing words, many of which go ignored. Ours is one of the few that has such a diversity of nuanced words. I try my best to flavor my steaming piles of fanfic as much as possible - helps cut through the bitter taste of sarcasm and snark.

On that note... Chapter 14 below! Only a few more to go and then this story, sadly, will be over. But I have another one waiting in the wings. I know what you're thinking...




14.

Coruscant - 4 ABY (17 days after the Battle of Endor) - Interrogation Cell

Slowly, Vek's eyes opened. Lumpy bed, medical couch type. Cross grid, cheap ceiling. Odor of desperation and mass produced disinfectant agent. He hrumphed, startling the two people in the room with him, one on either side of the bed. "Back to my cell, eh?" he asked.

A hand came down over his right, squeezed a little. Iden's slender face appeared in his view, eyes red and a little puffy. She rubbed the side of her index finger across her nose. Had she been... crying? She squeezed his hand again. "I didn't believe them when they told me what you'd done. Sir. But then I saw... your body." She smacked him on the chest, a growl piercing her lips. "Don't do that to me again. I thought you were dead."

"A little crispy fried, eh?" Vek asked, then snorted. It faintly hurt to snort. Iden smacked him on the chest again for his troubles.

Skywalker was on the other side of the bed. "I had a feeling we weren't rid of you yet, Grand Admiral." He sounded glad to have Vek back. "How are you feeling?"

"Like a roast left in the oven just a little too long." He extracted his hand from Iden's, sat up in the bed, swung his feet out to the side. His body creaked, popped. Ah, it only took four thousand years, but I'm old again, he thought, not for the first time. "No doubt you want more of my tale, Master Skywalker," he said.

"If you wouldn't mind, sir," Skywalker said.

"'Sir', is it?" Vek asked as his right eyebrow climbed. "What brought that on?"

"Your performance saving Naboo," the Jedi said. "Your gambit paid off, by the way. The power coupling you created allowed full screens to protect what was left of your fleet. Repairs were made and Commander Versio created several spearheads of fighters to pierce Admiral Rax's defenses."

"Admiral Ackbar's fleet arrived a little early," Iden added. "Rax made a run for it."

"How did everyone fare?" Vek asked tentatively.

"Most of your ships survived," Skywalker said. "Ventress didn't make it, though." He looked sad, though he had little idea just what hell she'd been through in her life. "She couldn't get enough repairs done in time, so she used her ship as Commodore Ath'ey'ro had."

"Her scars were well earned, Master Jedi," Vek said. "At Count Dooku's hands thrice. Once as his apprentice and twice as his victim. She knew what she was doing."

"She saved Tador Nyku's ship in the process," Iden said.

They all sat back down at the table with the rigid chairs. After the lumpy bed, Vek almost felt comfortable. "Why didn't you stop Palpatine, Grand Admiral? Before he turned my father, I mean." Skywalker looked like a child then, wondering why everyone was calling his papa a bad man.

"You must understand, Master Skywalker, Sidious was skillfully sly," Vek said, trying to put into words what the fiend had been capable of. "He fooled everyone, just as I had. The Jedi had no idea until it was too late they had a Sith Lord right in their midst. And it was Palpatine himself who had to tell them."



Supreme Chancellor's Office - 19BBY

The Clone Wars were officially at an end. That didn't mean there weren't still forces in the field. Grand Admiral Talis was feeling old. He'd ostensibly been in overall command of the entire Grand Army of the Republic, though the Jedi seemed determined to undermine him at nearly every turn. The Supreme Chancellor had had to enforce Vek's authority on more than one occasion. The Jedi were the generals, Vek's officers the admirals and captains of the ships that brought them hither and yon.

There were still sizable Confederate fleets near Toola and Xagobah, not to mention heavy fighting on Felucia and Mygeeto. Vek wished he was in the field, however, not stuck in an office. Of course, he had good officers out there, along with many Jedi to lead the land battles.

In his hands were the latest reports on the fighting. He strode toward the office of the Supreme Chancellor and stopped. Four Jedi Masters, all from the Council, were headed for the same office. "May I help you, Masters Jedi?" Vek asked, suspicion not far from the surface of his conscious mind.

"Never mind, Grand Admiral," Master Windu said. "Don't interfere if you know what's good for you. We're here on Jedi business."

"Oh, really?" Vek asked, his datapad suddenly forgotten. He steepled his fingertips as they turned away from him, watched them as they flowed into the Chancellor's office. Could one of them be the Sith Lord Vek had been sensing for some time? All the Jedi had seemed on edge lately, as if they were the victims of some cosmic joke, partly aware that it was being played on them, but ignorant of who did the playing.

Despite their warning, he followed them. As the door slid open, the Supreme Chancellor ignited a red lightsaber, leaped in a swirling attack, skewered two Masters instantly. Vek fell back into the corner of the entryway, shocked into inaction. Palpatine, that wet blanket of a simpering simpleton... a Sith Lord? It didn't seem possible, but then Master Fisto went down and it was just Palpatine and Windu.

Absently, Vek's hand slid down to his saber. Consciously, when he noticed it, he pulled the hand back, fast. He was so out of practice against another Force user that he only would have gotten in Windu's way. Plus, knowing what he did of the irascible Jedi, he thought Mace might have gutted him for the sport of it — even knowing Vek was trying to help him.

Instead, he watched and gaped. Palpatine seemed to be stymied in his attack against Windu, but... what was Vek sensing? He dug deeper, watched the Supreme Chancellor more carefully, burrowed down through his defenses. For every floor Vek drilled through, Palpatine had five more laid beneath him. What was going on in the deepest depths?

At last, Palpatine was startled from his fight, turned and growled at Vek. But the Admiral had at last gotten to the truth. The Chancellor was sending a faint call through the Force... to himself? Curiouser and curiouser. At what is he playing?

Windu knocked the Supreme Chancellor to the floor after the window shattered. Palpatine scuttled backward like a crab, terror playing on his face, but...

Knight Skywalker hurried into the room and Vek... saw him through the Force for the first time. Palpatine, you sneaky old bastard. You created Anakin... from yourself. That's how you could keep manipulating the poor kid without anyone the wiser.

If he could somehow disrupt the connection, if even for a moment, it might help. He closed his eyes, tried to tear down Skywalker's defenses. Windu was talking about not leaving the Chancellor alive. Vek caught a flash of Padmé dying in childbirth — Anakin's children — a vision put there on purpose. And there was another presence, trying to be heard above the cacophony. Qui-Gon Jinn wasn't having any better luck than Vek was. It was all happening so fast.

For the first time, though, Jinn and Vek became aware of the other. And then it was too late. Anakin buried himself beneath the fear, pulling a dark blanket over his head to escape the pain. His saber sliced through Windu's wrist. Palpatine struck out with his lightning, suddenly no longer the feeble old man he'd tried to portray only moments before.

==Be very careful, Vek,== the ghost that was Qui-Gon Jinn whispered across the Force. ==I know why you lied to me, I understand. Palpatine won't. But you must do what you can to help; I know you won't turn to the Dark Side.==

What do you know? Vek's thoughts were bitter, even to himself.

==I've had someone to learn about you from, on this side== Jinn said.

==Fy nghalon==

I'm jealous, savagely jealous, Jinn, Vek thought even more bitterly. He was stuck in this crude matter while Jinn was cavorting with his long lost love.

==She's told me much that is good about you, Vek,== Jinn said through the Force. ==Continue to do what is right; you must for Anakin's unborn children.==

Anakin fell to one knee before the distorted face of Palpatine. The Supreme Chancellor didn't bother looking at Vek. The menace heavy in the air told him what he needed to do. This abomination had to be stopped, but at this point it could only be done slowly, and from the inside. Vek hurried over, knelt before Palpatine, just behind and to the left of Skywalker. He kept himself closed off, though Palpatine tried harder than the Jedi had to burrow through his defenses.

Skywalker seemed in a daze or trance. Palpatine muttered something about Order Sixty-six. What in the Sith hells is Order Sixty-six? Vek had never authored anything like it. That sneaky old... Got to clear the thoughts, Vek, lest Old Crepe face get through and find it. Immediately, his mind went blank — blanker than normal.

Jedi across the galaxy went down, one by one to the clone troopers. Vek was glad the other two were watching the vids, so they missed him close his eyes in honor of the fallen. Yoda will survive, Vek thought. Now, whom can I get in touch with who would have a line on the diminutive master?

After Palpatine came up with Skywalker's Sith name and ordered his apprentice to slaughter the Temple — the poor Younglings — Vek carefully approached the new... Emperor? He bowed regally at the waist. "With your Imperial Highness's permission, I should see to the troops."

Without looking up from his desk, Palpatine — Sidious — said, "You sought to see through me, Grand Admiral." The words, as cold as ice, slid down Vek's back. "We will be monitoring your allegiances closely."

It's a good thing I can't feel the cold like I used to. Formally bowing at the waist again, he said, "Your Highness, on a rare occasion the Force speaks to one of my lineage; it was entirely involuntary and I stand behind the order which you will create."

It was only later that he managed to catch up with Bail Organa, after the senator's narrow escape from clone troopers at the Temple. "He can't order such slaughter, the Senate won't stand for it," Bail had complained, in denial of the carnage he'd just seen with his own eyes.

"Senator," Vek said. "If you go off half-cocked, the Emperor will flay you alive and any hope at restoring peace and sanity gets put off for half a dozen generations. Anyone looking closely at history should be able to see that."

Organa wasn't a stupid man. He paused, took a few deep breaths. "You're right," he said at last. "Now is the time to gather allies in the shadows. I should attend the Chancellor's session or I might be missed. Perhaps Senator Amidala will be there." Padmé had her own demons — or Sith — to deal with, but Vek didn't remark on that.

Sometime later, Vek was still trying to locate Master Yoda, when a curious Force wave hit him. A terrible battle was taking place between two powerful Force users. Or had taken place. It seemed to be over, with one of them fleeing. When one of his proximity comms went off, he quickly requisitioned a speeder, located Senator Organa heading back to the Senate. He hailed the senator, climbed aboard his transport.

"How may I assist, Grand Admiral?" He was newly cautious, perhaps wondering if Vek was going to retract his earlier statements and side with the Emperor.

"It is I who may assist, if you are heading to rescue Master Yoda?" Vek asked. Organa kept flying, either resigned to be captured or assisted by the Grand Admiral. And when Yoda hopped down into the speeder, Vek allowed the diminutive form to access to his inner self. "My apologies for deceiving you, Master Yoda," he said.

"Understand, I do, your reasoning," Yoda said, sounding unperturbed. "The question now, yes, is what to do from here?"



Coruscant - 4 ABY (17 days after the Battle of Endor) - Interrogation Cell

Princess Leia had once again joined the party along with Ackbar and a concerned Mon Mothma. The titular head of the Rebellion gave off the aura of someone trying to protect her followers from a bad influence. As compassionate and empathetic as she was known to be, she had an unfavorable opinion of Vek.

"You're saying you were vital to the formation of the Rebellion," she asked now. While there was no outright disbelief in her voice, it was clear she found his story dubious. A politician to the end, she was clever, all right.

"Master Yoda's ghost confirmed it to me," Commander Skywalker said. "Grand Admiral Talis procured military grade weapons from Mygeeto and Kamino that helped not only Senator Organa's branch of the rebellion, but some of the other early factions." It wasn't as well known, but at first, the rebellion wasn't a singular entity, but many, often working in opposition. It was the Mon Mothma's and Organa's of the galaxy who brought the Rebel Alliance into being.

"A pity Bail is no longer with us, nor is Master Yoda to confirm this," Mon Mothma said, practical as ever.

"I need a few moments alone with the Grand Admiral." All eyes turned to Iden Versio. She'd stood aloof from the rest. Now, she resonated with purpose. "There's something I need to say to an old family friend that doesn't concern anything going on here."

 

I have finally caught up to where you are now, Vek Talis, and I am loving this story. LOVED your reference to Spaceballs back there!

You said there will be some Crossover at the end.--REALLY looking forward to that part. This whole fanfic should be made into a live action Visions-branded Disney + Series. That's how good and descriptive it is. Loved the Second Battle of Naboo-it was one of the best space battles I have seen in fiction, and I read a lot of Michael Stackpole's X-Wing Series. That battle ranks right up there with THOSE written space battles- and that's saying a lot. More MORE MORE!!!!!

 

Palpatine and Anakin. Great to see what Vek discovers about them

 

I hope Ventress really survived though we only think she's dead. Her death is known to have been retconned at least twice, after all....

 

Haha, thanks. Comparing my character with President Scroob definitely had its drawbacks, as I certainly pictured Vek with his head on backwards. Except he doesn't have such a big butt as Mr. Scroob. at least, not that he knows of.

Hopefully you will know the crossover and/or won't be disappointed.

Thank you. I appreciate the kind words. More is here.

Thank you. Always good to have you along, earlybird.

Such a big body count lining up. And yes, it's safe to say Vek is very tired. Don't admirals get vacations too? Maybe not. And Iden is kind of leaning that way, but in a different direction. You'll see.

Sadly, as far as this story is concerned, she is dead. But she will live on and on in other peoples' stories and beyond.



15.

Coruscant - 4 ABY (17 days after the Battle of Endor) - Interrogation Cell

Even Mon Mothma was impressed with the authority Versio pulled to herself. The former Senator turned rebel leader nodded to the TIE Commander. She gathered the others by sight and headed for the door. Skywalker glanced at Vek, turned and followed as well. Mothma's presence was hard to ignore.

When the door shut behind the entourage, Vek turned to Iden, Iden to Vek. For a moment, time stood still. Iden saw the Grand Admiral as Uncle Vek again. He hadn't come to their home often, but when he did, he swept in like a force. And he was there more often some years than her own father. All the anger she'd had for whoever perpetrated the Massacre melted away. Somehow, she knew he was innocent, and yet it didn't even matter. They were going to blame him for it and she wouldn't hold it against him.

"Uncle Vek," she said, then stopped herself, feeling foolish. He stepped toward her, took her hand for only a moment.

"It's all right, my friend," he said quietly. "No judgements here. You are going to go far in the New Republic."

She allowed herself to giggle like a little girl. "Did the Force tell you that?"

"No," he said, staring down into her eyes, his head slightly shaking from side to side. "Your incredible spirit, skill and intelligence tells me that."

She tried to answer, felt herself get choked up. Her gaze fell away to the floor and she cleared her throat. He returned to his seat. He'd had a hard time standing still for... well, thousands of years, she realized, since he was the same person.

"I wanted to say," she said when she was able to focus. "I wanted to say that whatever happened all those years ago, I for-"

"No." It was a sharp sound. He stood, glared at her. Anger poured from him, not directly at her, but he was filled with it. He zipped past her, banged loudly on the door several times. Iden's head spun; what was he doing? He'd caught her off guard with his sudden vitriol.

Skywalker, Leia, Mon Mothma and several Rebel soldiers came in after a few moments. They closed the door and waited. Vek stood, hands clasped behind his back.

"I know what you want to hear." Vek specifically eyed Mon Mothma. "I would ask a question of my friend here, first, though." Mothma bowed her head to him and Vek turned to Iden. "Commander, have you ever witnessed me give an order I was unwilling to follow?"

Iden didn't like the way this conversation was going. Still, she spoke the truth in a loud voice, "You would never issue a command you wouldn't follow, sir."

His nod was... grateful. He fixed his chilling stare on Mon Mothma, who was perhaps the only person in the galaxy, other than the Skywalkers, who didn't flinch from it. The room suddenly became fifteen degrees cooler. Into the chill, he said, "The Emperor was unhappy with the people of Vardos failing in their quotas to supply the Empire with money and bodies to fuel it.

"He told me in no uncertain terms that if I didn't find a way to... motivate the citizenry, my head would be on the chopping block." The silence in the room thundered in Iden's ears. "And then, there was an uprising in one of the leading cities. I had to act fast. I not only gave the order for the Massacre of Ot Tel, but I gladly participated in it with my own lightsaber. I slaughtered thousands of the inhabitants so I could continue to aid the growing rebellion in my own way. It would have been cowardly for me to shirk my duties to the citizens if I could so callously order their deaths and not stain my own hands with their blood."

Iden took a rough gulp, as her throat had dried up. Mon Mothma gaped. The Princess scowled and the Jedi's jaw hung from his skull. The titular head of the Rebellion quickly recovered, swept her robes up around her and rushed from the room, the soldiers in tow.

Slowly, the others departed one by one, Luke Skywalker the last to go, leaving Iden alone once again with 'Uncle Vek'. Her aunt and cousin's ghosts filled her up, but they were made of love, not hate. They'd known Vek, too. This time, instead of turn her back on him, she stepped forward, tried to grab him in a hug. He tried to sidestep it, but she was prepared, knowing his reticence for human contact. For once, she outthought the Grand Admiral, wrapped her arms around him, buried her head in his chest. After a few moments, she felt him ease, then his arms came around her, squeezed her until she feared he'd smother her.

"I forgive you," she whispered as she held him in her arms and squeezed.

"You have no idea what you're saying." She heard the roughness in his voice, gazed up in enough time to see him finish drying the tears from his eyes, trying to pretend he'd never shed them.

She stood up on tiptoes, barely higher than the tip of his nose, looked him squarely in the eyes. "I forgive you," she said, louder. "So do my aunt and my cousin." She stepped backwards to the door. "I have to go see about a few things." She lied; her comm unit was buzzing in her pocket and she felt — intuition — that it was important. "I'll see you as I can," she promised. He stared rigidly forward, nodded with the authority of an Admiral, though she knew he was anything but in that moment.

"This better be good, Del," she said as she hurried from the corridors of the prison. Now that Vek had confessed, whether he was innocent or not, the Alliance could do whatever they wanted with him. She wanted to do what she could to see that they didn't try to make an example of him. Whatever else he'd done to aid the Emperor, he'd also aided the rebellion. That had to count for something.

"I've been infiltrating Imperial archives," Del said happily. "You're going to want to see what I've uncovered. How are things there?"

"Grand Admiral Talis admitted to ordering and participating in the Massacre." Iden's voice sounded heavy in her own ears.

There was a long pause and the sound of Del... sighing. "I wish he hadn't done that, Commander," he said at last. "Do you think there's anyone within the Alliance you might be able to get to help in his defense?"

"He confessed," Iden said, a little grumpy that he hadn't really listened. Men were like that from time to time. "There's no more chance for defense. They'll take him right to sentencing."

"All right," Del said, unperturbed. "Any chance there's anyone who respects him enough after what he did for Naboo to help at his sentencing?"

Now Iden felt foolish. Del hadn't been the one not listening. She was thoughtful for a few moments. "Maybe. What do you have?" Her comm beeped, filling her datapad with some irrefutably official documents. "Hmmm," Iden said as she looked at them. "That sanctimonious bastard," she heard herself say, glancing back in the direction of Vek's cell.

The thoughts spinning in her head took her in a certain direction. When she knocked on a door, for the first time in a long time, she was unsure of herself — worried for what would happen. The door opened. "May I enter? I have something to show you and I hope you will be willing to listen and help me." The person inside acquiesced. Iden stepped inside.



Interrogation cell

At last the Unifying Force completely broke its long silence. Vek sat there in the wake of what he'd said and how everything had changed. He had the sense that a long road was nearing its end. Grateful, he breathed deeply, more freely than he had in ages. No one who hadn't lived unnaturally long could understand how miserable it was. He loved Iden Versio. He'd loved so much, so many, only to watch them wither and die. He didn't want that to happen ever again.

Surely public sentiment would turn against him. Despite saving Naboo, undoubtedly an idea cooked up by Iden and that man of hers to make Vek seem a hero, this revelation would sour everything good he'd ever done. And it wasn't even a lie... from a certain point of view.

"You're taking my lines a bit out of context, aren't you, Vek?"

Vek scowled at the ghost that materialized before him. "I hardly think so, Kenobi." He raised a hairy brow. "Why show up now?"

"Because we're worried for you." That was Jinn. One of the most persistently annoying Force ghosts Vek had ever met. "You have no idea if what you seek is worse than what you have."

Vek glared at him, but soon he found himself staring at the floor as the third ghost arrived. "They don't understand, my love." Siwsan's voice was quiet, thoughtful. "It is different for we who are detached from our origins."

"I want to hold you," Vek whispered, his head hung low, but his eyes now drawn to her.

"We all want what we can't have."

"There is wisdom in her words." That was Jinn.

"There always is," Vek replied, not taking his gaze off her transparent form. "Maybe what will happen will at least be... different. Maybe, just maybe, the torment I receive in the next existence will be of a different nature. Shake things up a bit, so to speak."

"Shall I take a page from your own book?" Kenobi looked transparent. When Vek turned his way, the Force ghost rolled his eyes back into his head.

"Stellar. Sarcasm from a ghost."

"We can't aid you at your sentencing," Jinn said.

"Who's asking?" Vek shrugged his shoulders. "I may end up in a similar position. With my luck, I will, but I want to take the chance that I could find something better. Like oblivion, or an eternity with the one I love." He stared into Siwsan who gazed lovingly back at him.

"Your allies aren't going to sit idly and watch you try and destroy yourself," Kenobi said. "Right now, Commander Versio seeks out the child of Anakin for assistance."

Vek scoffed. "We'll see how that works out. Iden will get used to me not being around. She's a strong person."

"You will get what you wish," Siwsan said as she began to fade. "And when the universe is satisfied, we will be together again, for a little while."

What that was supposed to mean: 'when the universe is satisfied'? Her words chilled Vek more than anything any Sith ever born could dream up in a million years. Still, there was no going back now. Whatever would be would be. The Unifying Force showed him that there was at last an end. That would do... for the now.

 

Now what will happen to Vek and Siwsan?

 

I'm filled with curiosity now.

 

All will be revealed in the last two posts. At least, some of it, anyway. The rest will be left up to the imagination.

The crossover is coming soon, as is Vek's final fate.



16.

Coruscant - 4 ABY (27 days after the Battle of Endor) - Military Courtroom

A gavel banged. All eyes went to the Mon Calamari seated in the middle of a trio. A human and a Togrutan flanked Admiral Ackbar. Vek was surprised — and disappointed — they hadn't recruited General Solo to be on the military tribunal. It certainly would have made things more... expedient. As it was, Vek recognized both other members of the board that would — hopefully — hand down the harshest sentence.

That is was a military tribunal gave him hope. Mon Mothma, for her seeming loathing of him, would never prescribe death as a penalty. Nor would Princess Leia — despite her earlier declaration that she wanted his head.

Vek recognized the bearded Jan Dodonna — he'd been an Imperial officer at one time, but had slipped away when the Empire's deeds became unpalatable. The other judge was also quite familiar to Vek. Ahsoka Tano was trying to hide after Order 66 was given. Vek knew she could be of much better use to the galaxy in the Rebellion, urging Bail Organa to locate her on the moon where she'd taken refuge. Whether the Togrutan knew that or not, he was glad to see her looking so hale.

"This tribunal will come to order," Ackbar said and banged the gavel once more, for officiousness' sake, of course. "Since former Grand Admiral Talis has already confessed to the heinous crimes at the Vardosian city of Ot Tel, this tribunal's focus will be on his sentencing. Does Mr. Talis have representation?"

Vek knew Iden's hackles would be rising at that: she'd wanted to insist on providing him with some kind of leech – er, mouthpiece – er, advocate. Instead, he rose from his seat, waited till all eyes were on him, and said in a clear voice, "I have chosen not to have representation, esteemed Admirals, for the sake of expediency." He retook his seat, enjoying the silence in the room.

When they'd led him into the chambers, he'd seen Iden, Del sitting beside her. There were more than a few people he recognized, former Admiral Piett towards the back by the entrance, several of his officers around him. It was dumb of the rebels to allow so many former Imperials to see this tribunal in person: they could have had some kind of plan to rescue him. Fortunately, there didn't seem to be much plotting going on.

The children of Anakin sat at the prosecution's table, naturally. Generals Solo and Calrissian were there, too, a couple of rows back, as was the big Wookiee, Chewbacca, Vek supposed his name was.

Before the court could even get settled, Leia stood. "May I approach, sirs?" Her voice was formal, calm and collected.

Vek immediately smelled a rat. He turned around in his seat; Iden glared at him from those hazel eyes and then smirked. She had something up the sleeves of her jumpers, all right. "I object." His voice was feeble even to his own ears; he knew the likely outcome already.

Ackbar glanced at him only for a moment before nodding to the princess who bounded forward. They spoke in hushed tones, the Mon Calamari clearly disliking what he was hearing. Tano gazed at Vek, then back to the Princess, while Dodonna's face remained... empty, for lack of a better word.

Once more, Vek turned to regard Iden. While he knew her motives came from a place of love, he couldn't help but wonder if she wanted him alive more for herself than what was good for the galaxy at large. As expected, Del Meeko wouldn't even try to meet his stare, but Iden gave it back with more to spare.

"You're not leaving me without a fight." Her voice was a whisper, and she'd leaned back before Admiral Tano could do more than look her way.

Stellar. Vek returned his attention to the proceedings. At last, Leia stepped back, turned to him. "It was brought to my attention that there might be some... extenuating circumstances in your case." Her eyes briefly sought out Iden and Vek knew exactly what must have transpired.

"Once again, I most strenuously object." Vek stood this time. "I have already confessed. I am responsible for the Massacre of Ot Tel. With due respect, Admirals, it is no longer within your jurisdiction to consider 'extenuating circumstances' or anything else that might get in the way of justice. Can the galaxy not have peace after all that has transpired? Your duties are clear; the truth has already been spoken, now it is to the meat and matter of resolution that you must bend your wills."

"Are you done now?" Ahsoka Tano eyed him through slits. When he couldn't think of anything more to add, she continued. "You're trying awfully hard to get us to ignore what Her Highness wants us to pay attention to. I know how your mind works, Grand Admiral, if not to what depth and width. I'm willing to grant a little leeway, if only to see how much we can make you squirm."

Bloody hell, she's good. Vek turned to retake his seat. There was Iden, absolutely giddy with delight. Kindred spirits, he added as he sat slowly and properly — he wouldn't give them the satisfaction of dropping into his seat.

Leia made a grand gesture with her arms. "May we clear the room?" Immediately, the military policemen of the Rebels opened the doors. Most everyone began filing out, some grumbling protests that fell on deaf ears. Del left, as did Solo and Calrissian, Iden remaining in her seat, as did Master Skywalker. Was he in on it, too? Even the prosecution — a cute redheaded Alliance officer — left. When the military policemen approached Iden, she gazed right through them as if to show their level of importance to her. One of them tried to get her to rise; Vek hid a grin.

Before Iden escalated the incident to 'uncomfortable' for the poor soldier, Leia raised a hand. "It's all right; she needs to remain." The soldier nodded, spun formally on her heel and left the room, closing the doors behind her.

Tano eyed Leia through slits. "I'm very curious as to what you intend to show us, Princess Leia." Only seven of them remained in the room.

"It was Commander Versio who brought this to my attention," Leia said. At her words, Iden stood and strode forward, sending Vek a veiled look that dared him to object. "I made sure to have General Madine's wetwork techs, as well as several rafts of Alliance non-military technical experts verify it first. We may have all been duped by Grand Admiral Talis."

Vek dropped his gaze to the floor; he was deflated as he knew to what they must be referring. Stupid, stupid fools, he thought angrily. Can't you just leave the past buried? Can't you allow the wounds to begin to heal? Palpatine can't possibly pay for anything anymore, not after he blew up into a billion pieces in that shaft, so someone has to serve.

"How do you mean, duped?" Admiral Dodonna was finally paying attention. Who woke him up?

Leia linked her datapad with the computer in the room. The lights dimmed and images appeared on the screen. It was Vek in his office, a simpering piece of scum — his second in command — before his desk.

"Sir, the Emperor has given the order. Ot Tel must pay for Vardos falling behind on its quotas and fostering rebellion. The Empire needs the men and matériel to fight the rebels. The people of this pathetic planet have let the Emperor down, and so the Emperor will have his revenge. Just as the Emperor had his revenge placing you in this position for your failure."

Everyone turned to regard Vek who tried to disappear into his chair. It was shortly after he'd 'failed' to destroy the fledgling Antarian Rebellion — not long after other factions from Chandrila to Alderaan had formed the larger Rebel Alliance — at the Battle of Mimban. Ath'ey'ro, his Chiss friend had been organizing rebel support in the Antar, Gyndine and Mimban systems. They had a small fleet, and he and then Captain Ozzel devised a plan to allow the rebels to escape when Ozzel jumped out of lightspeed too close to Mimban, alerting the planet's defense systems.

Ozzel, who once again obeyed Vek and aided the Rebellion one last time, dying at Vader's hands in orbit of Hoth. Just another penance I must pay.

The image began to move again. "The Emperor has ordered me to begin the attack on the citizens of Ot Tel if you refused. I have done so, but I have great respect for your legacy, sir, and I shall have it officially logged as your order." The officer did a fine about face and stalked from the room.

Vek wandered over to the window of his office to watch the carnage unfold. He stood there, looking out the windows, hands clasped behind his back.

"Computer, end image," Leia said. The lights came up in the room. "He stood there the entire time, the record shows, never participating in the slaughter. It wasn't even his order, it came directly from Palpatine. We have confirmed this in several ways. There is no doubt. The images we uncovered showing the Grand Admiral, lightsaber in hand, running through the streets were fabricated. There can be no doubt of that, either."

Damned redundant data backup droids. Vek thoughts left a bitter taste in his mouth. I erased that footage. It's all that sonuvaschutta Meeko's doing, I'll bet. He had to think quickly. The tribunal looked at him, then back to Leia.

A thought occurred to him. He stood, pulled magnetism from the atmosphere to him through the Force.

Leia cleared her throat. "As a representative of the New Republic," she began, "I wish to submit a plea of clemency on behalf of–"

The lights in the room dimmed, then went out. Fire suppression systems activated, then immediately fell silent, as there was no true threat. A magnetic pulse surged around the room. Leia's datapad blurped, instantly gave up the ghost, as did the main computer. The machines were built to withstand magnetic interference. Normal magnetic interference, at least. Master Skywalker was the first to look at Vek, nothing short of surprise on his youthful face.

Into that pervasive darkness stepped Vek. One light remained functional, illuminating the floor just in front of him — I planned it that way, yes, that's what happened. He stepped into the dim circle of light and all eyes bore into him.

"The data you've stolen from history is gone now," he promised Leia. "Palpatine inflicted grievous wounds on every corner of the galaxy. He's not here to pay for his many perverse abuses, like all those innocent children he moulded into murderers, just for starters.

"I went along, turning a blind eye because I needed to help foster the Rebellion. This does not remove my culpability for the actions of Palpatine. I was the third most powerful individual in the Empire. The blood of all those... those–" for the first time in forever, his voice broke, nothing he could do to still it. "Those children, is on my–" The room spun, or was it Vek?

He fell forward, the strength in his legs leaving him. Arms grabbed him. There was Iden, sweet Iden on one arm, Master Skywalker on the other. When the lights came back on, it was like a new sun had suddenly burst into being. He got the sense that Master Vandar, from the Old Republic, was there, somehow, and his old Master, Vizif Krat, as well, though there were no Force ghosts.

Fy nghalon...

Okay, maybe one Force ghost. Siwsan formed before him. Skywalker gaped when he saw her. "Looks like I don't have to wait for a military tribunal," Vek said weakly, barely able to chuckle at his own words.

"He needs a healer," Iden yelled before Vek passed out.

 

Great chapter with the tribunal and Leia showing the evidence.
What will happen to Vek?