Chapter XXII – The
Gathering Part II
“As you
can see I’m not dead yet,” Vaarn softly said as the
two men approached. “Who’s your friend?”
“Hello,
Vaarn. This is my colleague, Anakin Skywalker.”
“Skywalker, huh?” Vaarn managed as he coughed. “The
one that killed the Emperor?”
Anakin
nodded, he hadn’t realized he and Luke had become so
well known.
“Well,
anyone that killed that bastard is good in my eyes,”
Vaarn stated, full of animosity.
“Vaarn,”
Obi-Wan began, “are you strong enough to answer a
few questions?”
The
Clawdite slowly nodded, his lips cracking into a
small smile.
“Good,”
Obi-Wan replied. “You are an agent of Reynard
Sindre, are you not?”
“Yes.”
“What can
you tell me about the toxin?”
“MX-492
is another one of Reynard’s biological agents.”
Vaarn had to take a few breaths before continuing.
“Once a person is exposed, it won’t take much time
for them to die.”
Anakin
had to ask. “Is he obsessed with death?”
“It seems
like it. I believe…all of his…creations are…lethal,”
Vaarn agreed, although he was having difficulty
speaking.
“Does he
have an antidote?” Obi-Wan could see the Clawdite
was tiring and knew he had precious little time
left.
Vaarn
slowly nodded. “Yes. It’s in a secret location…apart
from his lab.” He stopped to ease his breathing. “He
trusts no one but I’ve…managed to circumvent…his
security…on occasion…a matter of survival you might
say.”
“Why are
you so willing to give us this information?” Anakin
queried. He knew there had to be some underlying
reason for such cooperation.
Vaarn
remained quiet for a few minutes. Neither Jedi could
be sure whether he was trying to gather strength to
talk or just ponder the question.
Finally,
he said, “I’ve had enough… I want my freedom.”
Both Jedi
found themselves perplexed by his answer but for
different reasons. Anakin’s initial thought was that
the Clawdite wanted a substantial amount of credits
and safe passage to some remote part of the galaxy.
However, Obi-Wan’s train of thought was considerably
opposite. His naïveté still managed to surprise
Anakin at times.
“You
can’t just leave his organization?”
Vaarn
tried to laugh but the pain got the better of him.
“No, Master Jedi Kenobi, it’s not that simple.”
“If it’s
anything like Jabba’s old ring it would mean death
for him to leave,” Anakin added.
“Yes,”
Vaarn agreed, “and in a way…that’s most…unpleasant.”
Obi-Wan
thoughtfully caressed his goatee. “Then that begs
the question of how we can compensate you for your
assistance.”
“Kill ‘em!”
Vaarn venomously countered.
__________________________________*****__________________________________
“That was
an interesting conversation,” Anakin quipped as they
traveled along in one of the white carriages that
were plentiful in Kuryn.
Both of
them had been silent as they left the medical
facility until Anakin made his comment. Obi-Wan
seemed to be deep in thought while his counterpart
took in the magnificent scenery.
As they
rode along, Anakin inhaled deeply the scents that
permeated his senses – the ocean breeze, various
plants and flowers, and the general feeling of
relaxation. He could easily picture himself and his
wife lying on the beach without a care in the
universe.
“I need
to bring Padmé here – she would love it.”
“Mmmhmm,”
Obi-Wan mumbled.
“You
alright?” Anakin asked with concern.
After a
moment, Obi-Wan said, “Yes. I’m just thinking.”
__________________________________*****__________________________________
Inside
the Celestial
Penthouse, a
meeting was taking place…
The two Jedi had returned from the hospital and
everyone had gathered to discuss what course of
action to take.
Bail Organa spoke up, “There is information I have
that has a direct bearing on this mission. However,
it is not intended for an open audience.”
“I
assume that means me,” Xar’ek snapped.
“And me?” Cela added.
“I
meant no offense, but this is a delicate situation,”
the Senator diplomatically replied.
Xar’ek cast a fiery glare at the Senator. “Now hold
on here! My daughter is comatose, her mother isn’t
much better, and you want to exclude me? No offense,
Organa but hell no!”
“Xar’ek,” Obi-Wan tried to argue but found himself
cut short by another outburst from the disgruntled
Corellian.
“No, Obi-Wan! I have as much right to be here as you
do. Mara is my child after all!” Xar’ek fully
intended on emphasizing the word ‘my’ – not so much
to sting the Jedi Master but to remind him of his
rights. Then again, it could have been just to add
insult to injury…
“Please, stop bickering!” a young voice unexpectedly
rang out. “We all want to help, Xar’ek, not just
you,” Cela commented bitterly.
Placing his hands on his hips, Xar’ek took a deep
breath but remained silent.
“We just can’t take any chances that Reynard will
escape. He’s too dangerous,” Bail implored to
everyone around him.
“Who is this guy?” Han, who until now had been
silent, finally asked. “If I’m expected to use my
ship I think you better give me some details,
Senator.”
Bail’s
eyes slowly moved over each person,
as if silently scrutinizing every one of them. He
stopped for a moment and then began, “Reynard
Sindre…a wealthy scientist, brilliant, ruthless, and
obsessive. He has made a fortune creating and
selling various toxins to the highest bidder and
doesn’t concern himself about the consequences. Due
to his intervention, planetary wars have ended more
tragically and yet he remains safe in the confines
of the outer rim, until recently that is. His
arrogance has grown in epic proportions and he
thinks himself invincible. Our mission is to stop
him – by force if necessary.”
“I’ve heard of him – never had the pleasure of
meeting though,” Xar’ek pointed out.
“You’d want to?” Cela asked in surprise.
Xar’ek shrugged with indifference. “Maybe. People
like that can be interesting to talk to.”
Chewie groaned loudly.
“What?” Xar’ek asked, defensively. “I didn’t say I
agreed with the man! Besides, if he’s in the outer
rim how are you planning to nab him? That’s not
under the New Republic jurisdiction.”
Bail held his hands out in front of him and said,
“Please, let’s not argue. You’re correct about the
outer rim. However, Reynard is no longer there, he’s
now within New Republic space.”
“But that’s not reason enough to arrest him,” Xar’ek
argued.
“Unless his crimes were committed inside that
space,” Han offered.
Dropping his hands back to his sides the Senator
nodded his head and smiled.
Xar’ek now understood. “I see. He’s got this toxin
floating around… Got it,” he said with a smirk.
Bail turned toward Obi-Wan and said, “Sakoya and
Mara have been affected by Reynard’s toxin,
correct?”
“Not entirely,” the Jedi corrected. “Mara – most
assuredly. Sakoya wasn’t until she tried to heal
Mara, then she fell into a similar state. Whether or
not that is a result of the toxin I can’t be sure.”
A
man of deep thought, Bail Organa stood silent,
considering his options. He had worked out the
entire mission in his mind beforehand and now took
the opportunity to reassess all the puzzle pieces.
After a long period of silence, he looked directly
as Obi-Wan and asked, “Will this Clawdite give you a
map of Reynard’s headquarters?”
“Yes, I have no doubt he would provide it. He
harbors deep resentment of the man. I’m sure he’d
give us whatever information we asked for.”
“And what does he want in return? Immunity?” Bail
countered. “Our informant is unable to provide us
with a layout, claiming transmission security.”
“Simply put – Reynard’s death. However, immunity is
probably something he is hoping for.”
“Wait a minute, Senator!” Han bolted upright in his
chair. “You’re telling me you were planning on
invading this place blindly?” He was nearly
shouting.
“If we had too, yes. Although a droid would be
essential to tap into the computer network and
retrieve the diagram, we can’t bring one. Reynard
won’t let any droids inside, other than his own.”
Chewbacca roared and shook his head.
“What are you holding back?” Anakin felt compelled
to ask.
Bail Organa didn’t answer right away, as if he were
contemplating his words. He took a deep breath and
replied, “Our informant has arranged to have an
encrypted datapad in a specific location at an
appointed time. If we don’t rendezvous when we’re
supposed to…”
“Yes…?” Xar’ek pushed.
“We’ll be on our own.”
“Sounds like we are anyway,” Xar’ek snarled.
“I
assume the technical readout is on the datapad?”
Anakin attentively inquired, although he already
knew the answer.
“Yes. That and other essential information,” Bail
answered.
“What are you proposing?” Han guardedly asked.
Bail Organa stared hard at Xar’ek and said, “A
diversion.”
__________________________________*****__________________________________
Sometime in the
afternoon
The atmosphere within Obi-Wan’s suite had grown in
magnitude as the discussion at hand became more
turbulent. Finally, the Jedi Master thought it would
be of everyone’s best interests to take advantage of
the pleasant weather Kuryn offered and suggested
they go out and enjoy it – with the exception of two
individuals, whom he needed for another task.
“I’ll show you around, Senator Organa. Kuryn is a
beautiful city,” Cela offered with a smile.
Xar’ek glanced over at Han and Chewie. “C’mon, I
think we can find some good gambling spots.”
Han nodded to Luke and asked, “So you’re not
coming?”
“Not right now,” Anakin answered for his son. “He’s
needed here.”
The smuggler shrugged with indifference. He knew he
had to win over his future father-in-law’s respect
and that would take some time. Arguing with him
wouldn’t exactly be prudent to his cause. “Fine.
Well, we’ll see you later.”
Once the others left the suite, Obi-Wan said to his
fellow Jedi, “I think we can help Sakoya. She’s
gained strength and we should be able to bring her
home.”
“And take care of Sidious once and for all,” Anakin
added.
“I’m ready,” Luke stated with conviction.
“Then I suggest we all get comfortable,” Obi-Wan
hinted, his eyes sparkling with optimism.
“A Jedi's strength
flows from the Force. Once you start down the dark
path, forever will it dominate your destiny.”
Luke slipped into his own meditative trance while
his father and uncle journeyed into a realm that was
only too familiar to the young Jedi. All his life he
had learned about the dark side of the Force and the
avoidance of it.
Unfortunately, he had experienced it through Emperor
Palpatine, which resulted in a lightsaber duel with
his father during the war with the Empire. He
clearly remembered that day and it tended to haunt
him on occasion as if to test the young Jedi
further….
“Stop, you coward! Face
me!” Luke shouted angrily.
Anakin slowly turned around
and faced his son – or rather the remnants of his
son. Luke’s appearance was the same but his face –
his face wore a mask of anger and hatred and his lip
curled upward into a sneer. The darkness pulsated
within his son and Anakin could vividly feel it.
Such a vile defilement of his son made him want to
weep, but he refused to give any outward indication
of his sorrow in the Sith’s presence. Calmly, he
greeted Luke. “Hello, my son.”
The crimson lightsaber met
cerulean in a deadly dance with neither opponent
giving quarter to the other. The agile Force users
leapt and somersaulted to keep up with one another.
As the battle progressed, the constant clashing of
blades transformed the throne room’s scenery into an
endless stream of laser light.
1
But there was no choice to make – Luke belonged to
the light side of the Force. He knew it and he found
endless reassurance within the serenity of the
mystical entity.
Luke visibly shuddered at the memory. He remembered
Anakin trying to break the bond the Emperor had
created and the fight that had ensued. It was a
painful memory, but a worthwhile one to remember for
the lesson it taught him.
I won’t walk that path
again, he
silently told himself.
__________________________________*****__________________________________
Long ago, when they were Master and Padawan, Obi-Wan
Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker had bonded – their minds
able to share thoughts and feelings – as all Jedi
do, but with a much more profound understanding.
This bond, never relinquished through the years, had
been but built stronger through various trials of
head and heart. Aware of this fact, the two Jedi
knew it would prove advantageous as they walked into
the very core of darkness.
As far as the eye could
see, were fields of green as the bright sun beat
down upon them. The fresh scent of spring filled
their noses while flocks of birds flew overhead.
“Doesn’t seem so bad,”
Anakin casually remarked.
“Your eyes can deceive
you, don’t trust them. Be conscious of where we
are.”
Anakin let his eyes
wander. “It reminds me so much of the relaxing sense
I get in my regular sessions.”
“This is hardly a
regular session,” Obi-Wan rebuked, arching one
eyebrow.
Anakin disregarded the
comment. “Now we just need to find Sakoya.”
“Leave that to me.”
__________________________________*****__________________________________
Mara lay against a
large tree, her eyes closed, and one hand wrapped
around the hilt of her lightsaber. One and then
another followed by more of the once green, luscious
leaves drifted down upon her legs, their color
mutating dark brown as they fell. The life that had
once flowed through the plant now laid withered and
dead all around her. She carelessly pushed the dead
foliage off her and then frowned as the sun that had
been warming her body slowly disappeared behind dark
clouds, the light of day began to darken, and then
the sky unleashed its fury.
The rain poured down
upon her but Mara didn’t care.
Not far away, Sakoya
appeared from out of nowhere right into the middle
of the storm and espied her daughter beneath the
tree. She could sense the darkness all around the
young woman – a shield worthy of the aggression she
carried within.
But the elongated
crippling fingers of darkness sensed Sakoya too and
it wanted her soul to dance in the recesses of its
shell. It could smell her blood and the vitality
surging through her body. The darkness was ravenous
and demanded more to sate its appetite than Mara had
provided. The vast ghost like fingers stretched out
toward its new victim, determined to devour her…
Sakoya froze. She could
see the apparition creeping toward her, paralyzing
her in place. Fear surged through her and a cold
sweat formed on her brow in spite of her rain soaked
skin. Her body demanded she run but she couldn’t
heed it. It was as if death was tracking her and she
couldn’t evade it any longer.
Closer.
Closer.
A misty fingertip
traced the Jedi’s cheek, the ethereal nail leaving a
bloody trail wherever it touched. It made its way
downward...past her face, down her chest and stopped
at her stomach. There the fingers outstretched and
caressed her…
And without warning
plunged inside her body.
“Noooo,” Sakoya
shrieked as she found her voice. “No, you’ll not
take my child! NOOOOOO!” she violently screamed.
A cackle so
disturbingly malevolent resounded in her mind,
thumped in her ears, and surrounded her body.
“MARA!” Sakoya
screamed.
Mara glanced around the
tree and witnessed the desecration, her eyes glazed
over as if she were entranced.
“MARA!” Sakoya
repeated.
Her daughter turned
back around, enveloped in her own dream.
Sakoya could feel the
penetration of another soul into her womb and she
desperately sought to fend it off. “This is MY
child,” she growled between clenched teeth. “And
you’ll not be reborn through me!”
Tapping into a surge of
energy she didn’t realize she possessed, or perhaps
it was the aggressive nature of a mother determined
to protect her child, Sakoya managed to grab the
ghastly hand and rip it from her body.
“You have subverted one
child already, you’ll not have this one too!” Sakoya
exclaimed resolutely.
Undeterred, the hand
reached for her again, determined to overtake the
Jedi’s defenses and claim the unborn child.
Sakoya again made a
grab for the hand and was shocked as her hands
passed right through. There was nothing to grasp –
nothing to stop what was happening.
“BY THE LIGHT OF THE
FORCE – HELP ME!” she screamed at the top of her
lungs while desperately trying to grasp the entity
that had entered her body once more.
A brilliant flash of
light flared, its white-silver rays enveloped the
Jedi and intensified in its brilliance. In the span
of a heartbeat, Sakoya dropped to her knees while
the ghastly hand fled from her body.
She had triumphed –
this time.
She gently placed a
hand on her stomach and sensed her child through the
Force. “You’re alright,” she gasped. “Thank the
Force,” she managed between deep breaths. Suddenly
she felt it, a pinprick of recognition in her mind
and it was gaining momentum. “Mon aimé? Please…”
“Sakoya!” Obi-Wan
shouted as he felt a spasm of pain in his chest.
Anakin reached out to
steady his friend. “You alright? Is she hurt?”
Anakin could see by the look on his old mentor’s
face that not all was well.
*I’m here, mon aimé,
help me find you,* he beseeched through their mental
bond.
*Think…of
me…you’ll…find me,* she mentally replied.
Obi-Wan closed his eyes
and concentrated on his wife.
Shortly thereafter,
both of the Jedi Masters vanished.
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Alliance Ch18
&
Alliance Ch19
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