Chapter IV By Matthew Hardy “Luke, Luke” said a female voice, “You awake master?” “Huh, Sorry,” said Luke realizing he was laying on the center of the Jedi Council chamber’s floor. “Force vision?” Asked Master Clighal. “What was it? You just collapsed on the floor mid-sentence Master.” Luke sat up slowly trying to recall what he’d seen and where he was. “What were we talking about?” Asked Luke. “The situation with Duro Master.” Said Master Kanan. “Oh right, I’m sorry. Please forgive me for scaring you if I did when I collapsed. I saw a vision of a battle and the galaxy’s disk in the background. A Jedi was fighting then fell tossing his lit lightsaber to another Jedi. The other failed to catch it and the disk of the galaxy plunged into darkness.” Explained Luke. “Hmm” said Tionne on a hologram watching the meeting with Kam on Yavin 4. “It would seem the galaxy’s Balance Point is teetering towards darkness. Our losses continue to mount. Billions of lives have been lost, millions enslaved, several species in the galaxy have even gone extinct since the Yuuzhan Vong arrived.” She stated. “The fate of Duro may be the final tipping point. If we fail to protect it then there’s no telling how long it will take them to mount an invasion of: Kuat, Corellia, maybe Coruscant itself.” Said Master Hammer. “And we have lost the support of Lord Vile. He’s withdrawing his fleet to Sith held territory. Unless Thrakin Sal-Solo is arrested for his involvement with the Centerpoint disaster at Fondor they will no longer support the Triumvirate.” Added Luke. “Thrakin is no friend to the Republic. He’d more likely help the Vong than us, if it could gain him more power.” Said Kypp. “What did General’s Iblis and Antilles say they could do to stop him?” “About all they could do was stage a military coup to remove him, but it will take time to gather support to do so.” Said Luke. “Last thing we need is a Civil War around Corellia while this war with the Yuuzhan Vong still rages on unchecked.” “But we need more help. The Hutt’s territory has been attacked and devastated as well.” Said Master Hammer. “And the Hapian fleet is returning to their territory for the time being. I doubt they’d be battle ready again for several months.” Said Kam. “What about Paelleon or Mara Jade’s Empire of the Hand. Could they help us defend Duro?” Asked Kanan. “Our list of allies grows thin,” replied Clighal gravely. “I don’t think we have a choice, we need all the help we can get.” Said Kanan. “Luke you better turn on that farmboy charm and convince her to help us again,” Laughed Kypp. “Oh, Shut up Kypp,” snapped Luke. The council rolled with laughter. “He’s right Master Luke.” Said Master Hammer. “Alright, I will talk with her.” Replied Luke. “Council is dismissed, May the Force be with us.” Luke proceeded out of the council chamber and went to the temple’s communications room. He wished Leia was here to help. She was the expert on convincing people to help, not him. He activated the communicator to reach Mara Jade. A few minutes later her image appeared. “Skywalker, you may dispense with the pleasantries. What galaxy wide disaster do you need my help with now?” Said Mara. “You knew I’d call.” Said Luke. “I felt the Force shift greatly along with the disaster at Fondor. You’re not the only one who can sense that you know.” She replied “Look I know we have our differences, but we are at the breaking point. The galaxy seems to be growing more and more in darkness every day. We have to stop the Yuuzhan Vong before it is too late. For the greater good we must stand together now. I ask you to help us…no I beg you to help us. Our fate is in your hands.” Said Luke. “Wow a Skywalker reduced to groveling. Never thought I’d see the day. You must truly be desperate.” Laughed Mara. “In a word yes.” Replied Luke. “Whether you join us that is up to you, but I will be at Duro. If you agree. Join me there.” “I’ll think about it Skywalker.” Said Mara. “Thank you” said Luke. She nodded and the transmission faded out. Luke went to the temple’s hanger bay. Kypp was there working on his stealth X fighter with Ganner. “And where are you off to?” Asked Kypp sitting up watching him. “Duro, don’t wait up for me.” Replied Luke. “Hold down the fort while I’m gone” he instructed Kypp. “Enjoy your date, don’t stay out too late,” laughed Kypp. “Yes Mother.” Said Luke laughing as he climbed into his Stealth-X. “Fire up the engines Artoo.” He instructed his Astromech. The droid chirped happily and the engines flared to life. Luke lifted off and out of the hanger bay. “Set Coordinates for Duro Artoo.” Said Luke. The droid whistled his reply and the coordinates displayed on his control panel. Luke piloted the fighter through Coruscant’s busy traffic lanes and got clearance from the system controllers to leave. He pulled the fighters hyperspace lever and streaked out bound for Duro. On Duro, Kira was beyond bored. Even meditation couldn’t help her pass the time waiting for Leia and Domahall to return. She would have known if they ran into trouble by now sensing them through the Force. She slowly got off the bed she’d been laying on and stretched out with the Force slowly walking around the room she was in. There was: a corner table, a night stand, and a couple chairs but nothing more. There was about ten or twelve feet of open space in the center of the room. Easily enough space for her to ignite her lightsaber and practice with a seeker remote. It was a perfect opportunity to practice now without sight and rely on her other senses. She could hear the seeker as it hissed every time it moved up and down, side to side around her. It fired a bolt aimed at her neck which she sensed and blocked. It hovered around firing a multi shot salvo at her left and right sides. She responded quickly parrying all four shots in succession. The seeker picked up speed firing more randomly around her and often with multi shot salvos. Kira was up to the challenge creating the Circle of Protection technique deflecting each shot and conserving her energy. She worked with the seeker for how long, she really didn’t know. She faintly heard the door to her quarters hiss open. She stretched out with the Force finding the familiar presences of Chewie, Leia and Domahall entering. She ignored them and continued her exercise deflecting five shots from the seeker. “Move your feet,” she heard Leia say to her watching. The seeker was joined by a second that Leia activated. “A little more challenge I think,” she said. Kira stretched out with the Force locating the second seeker floating on her right side and her seeker behind her now. The one behind shot forcing her to use a difficult back parry and she spun to her left to avoid the shots fired from the new seeker. She continued combating the two seekers for several minutes. Nothing touched her. Her blade was quick and fluid, smoothly batting away the shots from all sides. “Very impressive Kira.” Said Leia deactivating the remotes. “Good job.” Kira deactivated her weapon. “How’d the search go?” she asked. “We didn’t find him” replied Domahall. “That’s not good. I’m guessing he knows we’re on to him by now and is hiding.” Said Kira. “Wise analysis.” Said Leia. “My guess would be his next move would be to sabotage the gateway dome in some way. He does that and the workers and refugees would be exposed to the toxic atmosphere on the surface.” Said Kira. “We thought of that and we’re posting additional security around the perimeter of camp and having teams inspect the dome’s structure for damage.” Said Leia. “That is what I’d do as well.” Agreed Kira. “I hate to say it but we need to let him make the next move. That way he exposes himself and we can catch him.” Said Kira. “Risky strategy…but I agree.” Said Domahall. “As do I.” replied Leia. Nom Anor made his move the next day releasing moths to eat away at the dome’s structure. It was subtle and it would take time for them to eat through it, but that was fine. Once the Jeedii discovered what he was up to it would be too late to stop him. He could then go capture the young Jeedii Kira as instructed by Warmaster Lah. Glory and power would be his…if he was successful. He quietly exited the dome slipping past the security guards to set up his next plan that would deal with Duro’s floating cities. He grinned menacingly as he piloted his modified frigate Ksstarr through Duro’s atmosphere undetected by traffic control around the planet. He activated his ships auto drive and jumped out of the system.
Posted on: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 01:00:27 +0000
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