The ironvine whistled through the air and impacted against the aged fungal wall with a dull "whumpf," the low noise of impact accompanied by a cloud of spores shaken loose by the force of the blow. Somewhere in the bright mushroom blooms overhead, a startled bird took wing and was quickly gone.
The tendrils in the shaman's eyepits waved softly with the effort of concentration. The ironvine looped itself slowly around a thin white plant stalk and with a sudden jerk pulled tight, splitting the plant in two. The other tribals watched intently.
"Not bad. A lot of strength in that first hit, but you lost focus too quickly. You might have gotten the second stormtrooper, but the third would have blasted you before you could recover." Stathas Dorn prowled restlessly around the outside of the group, moving in and out of the dark shadows cast by the towering mushrooms. Even the least trained of the Felucian adepts could feel the Force swirling around their master like a stormcloud.
What is it, Stathasdorn-honored? Why do you move so? Is danger close? The shaman growled in the guttural Felucian tongue, but the Force brought the meaning clear to Stathas' mind.
"No. Not close. Halfway across the galaxy." He could feel it, in the secret dark center of his heart. A distant call from a voice long sealed away, startling in clarity and strength. Time and distance and effort had never truly quieted it. "A confrontation... my old friends and students. And my Master."
The Felucians spoke to each other in a quiet buzz of apprehension. More than one long, rough face turned up toward the stars hidden by the jungle's canopy. Will you go to them, Stathasdorn-honored?
Dorn took a deep breath of the moist air. The smell of rot, sweet and musty and so familiar now, was a comfort. "No. I... it would not be wise for me to face my old Master. It would... it would not be wise."
You fear he would turn you back to the Darkness?
"Yes. No. Perhaps he could still turn me. Perhaps I would turn myself in the effort to destroy him utterly. In the end, it would make little difference. I can only hope that they succeed, but prepare for the possibility of their failure." The words had more edge than he had intended. Dorn felt the anger rising in him, a black tide whose power he had once been foolish enough to believe he commanded. He closed his eyes and took another breath. The anger was tinged with... fear? Desperation? But why? Dorn was as safe now as anything on Felucia could ever be, surrounded by his allies and students. What could he be afraid of?
Then he realized. The fear was not his. No more than was the anger.
His Master must truly be desperate, for his feelings to be so powerful and unguarded.
The currents of the Force around him ran thick with worry and confusion as the Felucians also began to sense the struggle taking place. The shaman began to sing to his people, old battle chants and prayers to focus their minds and wills. Dorn tuned it out, focused instead on the whispers of the Force as battle raged so very far away. Time passed in a blur as emotions dark and terrible raged through Dorn, so fast and chaotic that he could not say which were his and which were his Master's.
And then it was over. A short, sudden cry in his heart... a sharp blow that brought him to his knees on the lichen carpet... and then quiet. His Master's voice, gone. Its black place in his spirit filled only with the gentle whispers of Force.
The relief was enough to make him weep.
Stathasdorn-honored? What has happened? Have you been injured? Your eyepits leak fluid.
Dorn couldn't conceal his smile. "Somebody just did me a very big favor. It's one I intend to repay."
The shaman hunched his face down into his torso, a Felucian gesture of confusion. Repay? How?
"By finishing your training. Back to work!" Effortlessly, Dorn reached out with the Force and lifted the ironvine back into the Shaman's hand. The Force sang to him, as crystal clear and strong as it had ever been.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Zach's letter to Zane
[[2.6.22ABA_transmit.True]]
In this year after the seventh battle of Ruusan One Thousand and Four, on Firstday of Sevenmonth, I your friend Zach Ouichee mark and proclaim this record. I know you read my journals, so I write this in High Galactic for you.
It is wonderful to hear from you again! I know I've been gone longer than I intended. This old Consular cruiser is no Wayfarer, and I've been to the outermost edges of the Rim. I'm on my way home, though, at last. I kept going after Taryn departed, heading straight away from the Core. She journeyed back as she must, and I am glad for that time we had wandering; it did the both of us good. She is in my thoughts, and I am glad that Pel is near her.
Where is Jolee? Has anyone had word? Let us hope she finds peace. Talia and Pel, I am sure, are fulfilling every duty they can lay hands on. Are they well? I confess could not forsee their paths, and I am curious.
It was wearying to be so recognized, so preconceived, so focused upon. We have found some few dozens of Omwati refugees here and there, and you have probably met some of them by now. I spent as long as I could in the more established settlements, but the rim called me outwards.
I wandered into Mina on Dantooine while I was on my way to Muunilist, and she has found secrets and treasures. Most of them treasures are secrets, of course. We spoke long about the Force, amongst other things. I have found a new and potent technique. Go to the space between galactic arms, far away from any space lanes. Stock an exosuit with several hours of air, and maroon yourself with your ship set to come back in a day or two, and enter a trance. If you can do it properly, you can feel the Force more clearly than I had imagined. I have met someone named Qui-Gon in that deep trance. I wish I could introduce him to you.
Joy of joys! We may have a new and honored resident at one of our academies. Bowana has seedlings. Do not tell Rolana, for I would surprise her. Bowana says that groves can become force-sensitive. It is difficult to be patient, and I find myself constructing planters in my mind.
I have attached an account of the Battle of Yavin for your sister’s book. This is for you. Share it if you like, but I trust you will understand it better than most.
It was on that rocky planet in the Core that the Battle of Yavin starts, and it is there that my perspective diverges from the others'. We were all sick then, with the taint of the Dark Side, with the radiation, with the war, and with how close we were on Naboo to losing millions. I'll try to explain now what I couldn't explain then. Perhaps I cannot fully explain it now.
It is worth remembering that the Sith weren't always all monsters. When there were more, when they were a movement instead of a conspiracy, most of them were just confused and scared and hurt. It was only their elite who posed a threat to the galaxy, and it was only ever their titans who could touch the Force directly, as our masters can. What distinguishes those few, what defines a Sith Lord is a rejection of peace, of compromise. Consuming only makes them hunger more - a Sith Lord strives to make his core a pearl of greed or anger or simple want. That is their essence, that is their truest name. To learn their tongue is to have to learn that name. Do not learn it unless you are willing to learn something profane that you can never unlearn.
What we've oft seen from the Sith is a regular sort of evil. Anyone could do as much, perhaps not as well, but the same in kind. Conquest, murder, genocide, these are the crimes that for all their suffering and danger that most sapients could commit were they swept along with a great current. With attempted mastery of the Force and with their dedication, the Sith Lords can commit blasphemies that none others can.
I only realized it in that Alchemical temple in the core. The Emperor was the purest Sith, and he would commit violence against the very Living Force. Remember everything I have said about the Living Force, that joyous union of all things. Realize that the Emperor would have violated that union, not for any goal, but to feed the demon he had become. That temple was a wrought testament to that, and I am not sure the Living Force did not bid us cleanse it with fire.
That is what we walked into. I argued for bringing Anakin because I could not conceive of two such beasts living without killing each other, so he must be in some part a man. Anakin was no beast at all in the end, but had at his core a pearl of another sort. He was a Jedi Master and a loving father like Master Se’ol.
When we landed, I went to the children. That fight was my test that day and the closest I have ever come to the Dark Side. The Force knows what they mean to me and why I reach out to them each day. Peace be in their thoughts and Force be with them.
The fight against the Emperor was easier and harder than I had forseen. He had no cunning words for us or subtle tricks to cloud our minds. He simply had raw power and desperation, but he had those in plenty.
As you will no doubt be shocked to hear, I pressed on, using my saber. If Ataru can be attained when one recognizes the Force as an ally and accepts help and Juyo comes when one recognizes the Force as master and does as it bids, Vapaad is that certainty that we are already one with the Force. Words cannot teach it, but if you still intend to be a Master and a swordsman, you will know that with all your being.
For the rest of it, I played my smaller part. The facts of what happened are laid out, and I fell into a kind of meditation during the battle that makes me a poor witness. I have only one more insight: the Sith will be back. The Force has seen fit to tolerate their perversion for millennia and there is one who still knows their teachings. They rise from the ashes just as the Jedi do, and they will be back. Remember these things, and if you find truth pass it on when I am gone. They will be back.
The Force has seen fit to guide me towards some Miraluka at last. It has been so long and I have changed so much that I do not know if it will be a joy or an empty gesture. We had something, once, to give the Galaxy, and I would that the last of us did not have a life of blood and yearning to offer as a last story. Is that selfish? I do not know.
I do not mind telling you in confidence that it has been rather more thousands of years than I would prefer since I have felt a woman of Miraluk perceive me in my fullness.
At last, I have a small request. Please send a fast ship with several guns to the planet Dreau, just a few dozen parsecs spinward of Bespin. Dreau is a hiveworld where I found a Bothan claiming to know how to find dozens of Miraluka, and I found him enslaved in a pirate’s camp. I am leading many slaves through the undercity, but the pirates will find us soon and I risk terrible losses were I to confront them without air support. I have perhaps three weeks that we can hold out, after which I will have to strike.
Force willing, I will see you on Life Day. I miss you all and look forward to living simply as a friend and teacher. Give my love to those around you, and Force be with you, Zane. I am proud of you.
[[2.6.22ABA_transmit.False]]
In this year after the seventh battle of Ruusan One Thousand and Four, on Firstday of Sevenmonth, I your friend Zach Ouichee mark and proclaim this record. I know you read my journals, so I write this in High Galactic for you.
It is wonderful to hear from you again! I know I've been gone longer than I intended. This old Consular cruiser is no Wayfarer, and I've been to the outermost edges of the Rim. I'm on my way home, though, at last. I kept going after Taryn departed, heading straight away from the Core. She journeyed back as she must, and I am glad for that time we had wandering; it did the both of us good. She is in my thoughts, and I am glad that Pel is near her.
Where is Jolee? Has anyone had word? Let us hope she finds peace. Talia and Pel, I am sure, are fulfilling every duty they can lay hands on. Are they well? I confess could not forsee their paths, and I am curious.
It was wearying to be so recognized, so preconceived, so focused upon. We have found some few dozens of Omwati refugees here and there, and you have probably met some of them by now. I spent as long as I could in the more established settlements, but the rim called me outwards.
I wandered into Mina on Dantooine while I was on my way to Muunilist, and she has found secrets and treasures. Most of them treasures are secrets, of course. We spoke long about the Force, amongst other things. I have found a new and potent technique. Go to the space between galactic arms, far away from any space lanes. Stock an exosuit with several hours of air, and maroon yourself with your ship set to come back in a day or two, and enter a trance. If you can do it properly, you can feel the Force more clearly than I had imagined. I have met someone named Qui-Gon in that deep trance. I wish I could introduce him to you.
Joy of joys! We may have a new and honored resident at one of our academies. Bowana has seedlings. Do not tell Rolana, for I would surprise her. Bowana says that groves can become force-sensitive. It is difficult to be patient, and I find myself constructing planters in my mind.
I have attached an account of the Battle of Yavin for your sister’s book. This is for you. Share it if you like, but I trust you will understand it better than most.
It was on that rocky planet in the Core that the Battle of Yavin starts, and it is there that my perspective diverges from the others'. We were all sick then, with the taint of the Dark Side, with the radiation, with the war, and with how close we were on Naboo to losing millions. I'll try to explain now what I couldn't explain then. Perhaps I cannot fully explain it now.
It is worth remembering that the Sith weren't always all monsters. When there were more, when they were a movement instead of a conspiracy, most of them were just confused and scared and hurt. It was only their elite who posed a threat to the galaxy, and it was only ever their titans who could touch the Force directly, as our masters can. What distinguishes those few, what defines a Sith Lord is a rejection of peace, of compromise. Consuming only makes them hunger more - a Sith Lord strives to make his core a pearl of greed or anger or simple want. That is their essence, that is their truest name. To learn their tongue is to have to learn that name. Do not learn it unless you are willing to learn something profane that you can never unlearn.
What we've oft seen from the Sith is a regular sort of evil. Anyone could do as much, perhaps not as well, but the same in kind. Conquest, murder, genocide, these are the crimes that for all their suffering and danger that most sapients could commit were they swept along with a great current. With attempted mastery of the Force and with their dedication, the Sith Lords can commit blasphemies that none others can.
I only realized it in that Alchemical temple in the core. The Emperor was the purest Sith, and he would commit violence against the very Living Force. Remember everything I have said about the Living Force, that joyous union of all things. Realize that the Emperor would have violated that union, not for any goal, but to feed the demon he had become. That temple was a wrought testament to that, and I am not sure the Living Force did not bid us cleanse it with fire.
That is what we walked into. I argued for bringing Anakin because I could not conceive of two such beasts living without killing each other, so he must be in some part a man. Anakin was no beast at all in the end, but had at his core a pearl of another sort. He was a Jedi Master and a loving father like Master Se’ol.
When we landed, I went to the children. That fight was my test that day and the closest I have ever come to the Dark Side. The Force knows what they mean to me and why I reach out to them each day. Peace be in their thoughts and Force be with them.
The fight against the Emperor was easier and harder than I had forseen. He had no cunning words for us or subtle tricks to cloud our minds. He simply had raw power and desperation, but he had those in plenty.
As you will no doubt be shocked to hear, I pressed on, using my saber. If Ataru can be attained when one recognizes the Force as an ally and accepts help and Juyo comes when one recognizes the Force as master and does as it bids, Vapaad is that certainty that we are already one with the Force. Words cannot teach it, but if you still intend to be a Master and a swordsman, you will know that with all your being.
For the rest of it, I played my smaller part. The facts of what happened are laid out, and I fell into a kind of meditation during the battle that makes me a poor witness. I have only one more insight: the Sith will be back. The Force has seen fit to tolerate their perversion for millennia and there is one who still knows their teachings. They rise from the ashes just as the Jedi do, and they will be back. Remember these things, and if you find truth pass it on when I am gone. They will be back.
The Force has seen fit to guide me towards some Miraluka at last. It has been so long and I have changed so much that I do not know if it will be a joy or an empty gesture. We had something, once, to give the Galaxy, and I would that the last of us did not have a life of blood and yearning to offer as a last story. Is that selfish? I do not know.
I do not mind telling you in confidence that it has been rather more thousands of years than I would prefer since I have felt a woman of Miraluk perceive me in my fullness.
At last, I have a small request. Please send a fast ship with several guns to the planet Dreau, just a few dozen parsecs spinward of Bespin. Dreau is a hiveworld where I found a Bothan claiming to know how to find dozens of Miraluka, and I found him enslaved in a pirate’s camp. I am leading many slaves through the undercity, but the pirates will find us soon and I risk terrible losses were I to confront them without air support. I have perhaps three weeks that we can hold out, after which I will have to strike.
Force willing, I will see you on Life Day. I miss you all and look forward to living simply as a friend and teacher. Give my love to those around you, and Force be with you, Zane. I am proud of you.
[[2.6.22ABA_transmit.False]]
Monday, March 9, 2009
Letters between Dory and Jolee, part one
Dear Jolee,
I found out how to get ahold of you! Quan said that Draco said that Leia told him that you were on the Millennium Falcon and eventually I got them to give me the communication frequencies for the ship. Hope you don't mind. You kinda left us all of a sudden back on Yavin.
Anyway, just in case you really don't want to talk to me, I won't write much. I was just wondering if you could tell me what the Battle of Yavin was like from your perspective and what happened afterwords? We're all really curious where you went off to. We're taking bets on what you've been doing. Zane has this crazy story that you ran off with Odak Aan and have a baby with points on its head. I think he only tells it so much because it makes Quan's eye twitch. Draco thinks its funny though. His guess was that you were living the "high life" on Cloud City. Quan guessed you were on Naboo. I thought you were with Solo, and I was right! I win! Now I get first pick of rooms when the new temple is built. Unless you actually were doing one of the other things and I'm wrong.
Anyway, hope you don't mind that I wrote to you! Please write back.
<3 Dory
2 ABA, 5th month, 6th day.
_________________________________________
Dory-
Of course I don't mind that you wrote me. I know I pretty much fell off of the known galaxy after the Battle of Yavin. I'm glad you found me enough to send me a message though. I should try to see people more often. I honestly don't know why I don't. Maybe trying to pretend the years spent fighting the Empire didn't happen?
Well, you asked for my version of the Battle of Yavin, especially the aftermath, and a run down of what I've been doing since, correct? I don't know what to say about the battle. The entire experience was bizarre. Being on board the Executor, Vader being peacefully aboard the Wayfarer, fighting the Emperor. Actually, you know what the funny thing is? I can't even remember seeing the Emperor. I know he was there, I vaguely recall him speaking, and I especially remember getting hit by his lightning, but I don't remember ever really paying attention to him. I recall tumbling up to right in front of him and hitting his guards with a surge of Force energy, but then the rest of the battle I spent defending myself from Vader and the Stormtroopers. I suppose I'm guilty of not really focusing on the main objective of the mission. What can I say, I'm easily distracted.
I do, however, remember the honestly terrifying leap off of the top of the temple. I think I'd planned on hitting one of the steps on the way down, but I jumped from the top with a bit too much force (hurr hurr) and ended up landing on the ground of Yavin. And by ground I mean a bunch of trees. It took a bit to get unstuck from the tree and to the ground, and by the time I did I realized what Pel was doing. From there, it was mad dash to the Omwati compound, where a lot of energy was exerted to keep the Executor from killing everyone.
The image of the Executor crashed in the jungle of Yavin is one that will stay with me forever, though. In the immediate aftermath of the battle, I remember being a bit stunned. Ships were landing all around us, and more and more people joined the area right around the destroyed temple. Escape pods from the Executor were being picked up everywhere. Everything blurred together until late at night. The Omwati were playing music and everyone was on the ground, mingling, dancing, and having a good time. And then I felt the presence of my father. I walked to the very edge of the cleared area, and saw my father's Force ghost, standing next to Master Kenobi's. It was actually the first confirmation that he was dead, although we all assumed it. A few seconds later another Force ghost appeared, though I didn't realize who it was until I saw Luke and Leia a few yards away and realized it must have been Anakin Skywalker. The ghosts stuck around for only a few minutes, long enough to pass along messages of pride and thanks.
I never rejoined the party after that, I was too exhausted both physically and emotionally. The next day was chaotic. I remember the realization that I was wearing the totality of my possessions. It was overwhelming to realize that everything from my data pad of journal entries to Egon's tool box to all of my Life Day gifts were sitting under the wreckage of the Executor. It sounds so petty and shallow, but the rush of relief I felt when the Millennium Falcon landed and I realized that I had a change of clothes on board bordered on ridiculous. It's strange what seems to important in the aftermath of catastrophic events. I'm sure most people eventually realized that I left the next day, when the Millennium Falcon departed. People were already talking about taking back Alderaan once and for all and building a new academy there, and I confess I just didn't want to deal with it. Han offered me a spot on the Falcon as long as I wanted, and so I left.
If anyone wonders what happened to him, Odak An came with us. We dropped him off on Nar Shaddaa. I've run into him once or twice since then. I'm fairly certain that he hasn't taken up piracy again. Smuggling, yes. Possibly even bounty hunting, but I doubt he's become head of a pirate gang again. In the year since the battle I've been mostly on the Millennium Falcon. I've spent a few weeks with my family on Naboo, and they've highly encouraged me to settle there. I've also spent some time on Cloud City, and Tattooine, and pretty much every disreputable spaceport. Tell Zane he would have loved it. Let me know what you and everyone else has been up to. I still don't know if I have the fortitude to throw myself into the academy life again, let alone the continuing war effort. Life on the Falcon is easy, simple, and fun, and I'm being un-regretfully selfish.
~ Jolee
2 ABA, 5th month, 18th day.
________________________________
Dear Jolee,
Thanks for writing back! I hope you don't mind that I showed your letter to Zane and Quan. I needed to prove that I won the bet. Quan says that he was at least a little right, since you said you spent time on Naboo. He didn't think Draco was a little right though, even though Draco guessed Cloud City. Hold on, Quan said he wants to add something to this.
Jolee: you are running away again. Stop being an emotionally stunted idiot and get back here. -Quan
Er, sorry about that, Jolee. He's been cranky lately. He says its because he's tired of people moping. I'm not moping. Maybe he's talking about Zane. Zane doesn't like being here on Alderaan, and he wants to go help the fight in the Core. I think we should get the Academy set up. A lot of people are Force sensitive now. They think it has something to do with the destruction of the old temple on Yavin. I heard rumors that Yavin IV is dying. Like, all the life is just being sucked out of it. They said that an Ithorian herd ship is there trying to take samples of the life, so nothing dies out.
I've been good. The fight for Alderaan was pretty intense, especially at first. But then the Empire just kind of left the space around Alderaan, and the ones stuck on planet just surrendered. The Alliance high ups think maybe there is a power struggle going on in the Empire, and they're fighting with each other. So, we (me and Zane and Quan) have been here on Alderaan. Leia and Draco have been here too, since this is their planet. The others from the old academy come and go. Thank you for writing about the Battle of Yavin. I'm writing an account of the battle for the archives at the new Jedi temple we're building. It seems important. Anyway, there is a one year celebration of the Battle of Yavin here on Alderaan in two and a half months. You should come.
<3
Dory
2 ABA, 6th month, 2nd day
I found out how to get ahold of you! Quan said that Draco said that Leia told him that you were on the Millennium Falcon and eventually I got them to give me the communication frequencies for the ship. Hope you don't mind. You kinda left us all of a sudden back on Yavin.
Anyway, just in case you really don't want to talk to me, I won't write much. I was just wondering if you could tell me what the Battle of Yavin was like from your perspective and what happened afterwords? We're all really curious where you went off to. We're taking bets on what you've been doing. Zane has this crazy story that you ran off with Odak Aan and have a baby with points on its head. I think he only tells it so much because it makes Quan's eye twitch. Draco thinks its funny though. His guess was that you were living the "high life" on Cloud City. Quan guessed you were on Naboo. I thought you were with Solo, and I was right! I win! Now I get first pick of rooms when the new temple is built. Unless you actually were doing one of the other things and I'm wrong.
Anyway, hope you don't mind that I wrote to you! Please write back.
<3 Dory
2 ABA, 5th month, 6th day.
_________________________________________
Dory-
Of course I don't mind that you wrote me. I know I pretty much fell off of the known galaxy after the Battle of Yavin. I'm glad you found me enough to send me a message though. I should try to see people more often. I honestly don't know why I don't. Maybe trying to pretend the years spent fighting the Empire didn't happen?
Well, you asked for my version of the Battle of Yavin, especially the aftermath, and a run down of what I've been doing since, correct? I don't know what to say about the battle. The entire experience was bizarre. Being on board the Executor, Vader being peacefully aboard the Wayfarer, fighting the Emperor. Actually, you know what the funny thing is? I can't even remember seeing the Emperor. I know he was there, I vaguely recall him speaking, and I especially remember getting hit by his lightning, but I don't remember ever really paying attention to him. I recall tumbling up to right in front of him and hitting his guards with a surge of Force energy, but then the rest of the battle I spent defending myself from Vader and the Stormtroopers. I suppose I'm guilty of not really focusing on the main objective of the mission. What can I say, I'm easily distracted.
I do, however, remember the honestly terrifying leap off of the top of the temple. I think I'd planned on hitting one of the steps on the way down, but I jumped from the top with a bit too much force (hurr hurr) and ended up landing on the ground of Yavin. And by ground I mean a bunch of trees. It took a bit to get unstuck from the tree and to the ground, and by the time I did I realized what Pel was doing. From there, it was mad dash to the Omwati compound, where a lot of energy was exerted to keep the Executor from killing everyone.
The image of the Executor crashed in the jungle of Yavin is one that will stay with me forever, though. In the immediate aftermath of the battle, I remember being a bit stunned. Ships were landing all around us, and more and more people joined the area right around the destroyed temple. Escape pods from the Executor were being picked up everywhere. Everything blurred together until late at night. The Omwati were playing music and everyone was on the ground, mingling, dancing, and having a good time. And then I felt the presence of my father. I walked to the very edge of the cleared area, and saw my father's Force ghost, standing next to Master Kenobi's. It was actually the first confirmation that he was dead, although we all assumed it. A few seconds later another Force ghost appeared, though I didn't realize who it was until I saw Luke and Leia a few yards away and realized it must have been Anakin Skywalker. The ghosts stuck around for only a few minutes, long enough to pass along messages of pride and thanks.
I never rejoined the party after that, I was too exhausted both physically and emotionally. The next day was chaotic. I remember the realization that I was wearing the totality of my possessions. It was overwhelming to realize that everything from my data pad of journal entries to Egon's tool box to all of my Life Day gifts were sitting under the wreckage of the Executor. It sounds so petty and shallow, but the rush of relief I felt when the Millennium Falcon landed and I realized that I had a change of clothes on board bordered on ridiculous. It's strange what seems to important in the aftermath of catastrophic events. I'm sure most people eventually realized that I left the next day, when the Millennium Falcon departed. People were already talking about taking back Alderaan once and for all and building a new academy there, and I confess I just didn't want to deal with it. Han offered me a spot on the Falcon as long as I wanted, and so I left.
If anyone wonders what happened to him, Odak An came with us. We dropped him off on Nar Shaddaa. I've run into him once or twice since then. I'm fairly certain that he hasn't taken up piracy again. Smuggling, yes. Possibly even bounty hunting, but I doubt he's become head of a pirate gang again. In the year since the battle I've been mostly on the Millennium Falcon. I've spent a few weeks with my family on Naboo, and they've highly encouraged me to settle there. I've also spent some time on Cloud City, and Tattooine, and pretty much every disreputable spaceport. Tell Zane he would have loved it. Let me know what you and everyone else has been up to. I still don't know if I have the fortitude to throw myself into the academy life again, let alone the continuing war effort. Life on the Falcon is easy, simple, and fun, and I'm being un-regretfully selfish.
~ Jolee
2 ABA, 5th month, 18th day.
________________________________
Dear Jolee,
Thanks for writing back! I hope you don't mind that I showed your letter to Zane and Quan. I needed to prove that I won the bet. Quan says that he was at least a little right, since you said you spent time on Naboo. He didn't think Draco was a little right though, even though Draco guessed Cloud City. Hold on, Quan said he wants to add something to this.
Jolee: you are running away again. Stop being an emotionally stunted idiot and get back here. -Quan
Er, sorry about that, Jolee. He's been cranky lately. He says its because he's tired of people moping. I'm not moping. Maybe he's talking about Zane. Zane doesn't like being here on Alderaan, and he wants to go help the fight in the Core. I think we should get the Academy set up. A lot of people are Force sensitive now. They think it has something to do with the destruction of the old temple on Yavin. I heard rumors that Yavin IV is dying. Like, all the life is just being sucked out of it. They said that an Ithorian herd ship is there trying to take samples of the life, so nothing dies out.
I've been good. The fight for Alderaan was pretty intense, especially at first. But then the Empire just kind of left the space around Alderaan, and the ones stuck on planet just surrendered. The Alliance high ups think maybe there is a power struggle going on in the Empire, and they're fighting with each other. So, we (me and Zane and Quan) have been here on Alderaan. Leia and Draco have been here too, since this is their planet. The others from the old academy come and go. Thank you for writing about the Battle of Yavin. I'm writing an account of the battle for the archives at the new Jedi temple we're building. It seems important. Anyway, there is a one year celebration of the Battle of Yavin here on Alderaan in two and a half months. You should come.
<3
Dory
2 ABA, 6th month, 2nd day
Saturday, March 7, 2009
FROM THE MEMORY BANKS OF IG-88 SHEILD GENERATOR FOR THE WAYFARER 22.7.1ABA_
[An astromech droid beeps at Taryn, who nods and picks up a fusion cutter and wipes away the feathers from her face and continues working on the small metal box in front of her]
I figured if I matched the radiation level to set a trigger reinforced by the electric current inherent in the lightening there could be a sort of Force Light Switch effect…no idea if it’ll actually work though…
[Taryn is interrupted by a few quick low beeps from the astromech droid; she scowls at it for a second]
Well of course it’s a bit crazy but I don’t see you coming up with any plans to stop the Emperor, unless you were going to roll in and talk him down with nothing but your shiny astromechanical charm? Or maybe you and Vader could have a circuit to circuit?
[A low tone from the astromech droid]
I didn’t think so. Anyway, what else am I supposed to do? I’ll protect my sedge in any way I can. They’ve finally got a home…I’ve finally got a home. I’ll be damned if he’s going to take this one from us too. I can’t throw star ships or duel with a saber like most of my friends can, so I’ll stick to where I’m better acquainted.
[The droid blares for a second and Taryn sets down the cutters, picks up one of the boxes and starts checking the wires and hooks it to crude looking target assassin droid dummy. Lights of all kinds start flashing at random on the dummy; Taryn watches for a moment and yanks a yellow wire from the small box. The lights all synchronize, flash three times, then go dark. Taryn nods and unhooks the box from the dummy.]
[A few more bleeps from the astromech droid]
Of course Talia isn’t force sensitive, but she doesn’t need to be. She affects the world in a very real, very physical, very precise way…generally with a large gun. She gets us to work beyond what we would normally think ourselves unable to do. I don’t know how she does it, but one word from her and things don’t seem quite so impossible.
[There are a few sparks while Taryn welds the sides of the box together, forming a rough casing. After a few moments checking the power calibrator against the information on her data pad she welds the top of the casing and sets it carefully on the floor next to a dozen or so like it.]
[the droid tones at her for a moment]
Meena manages her own way. She doesn’t fight so flashy as the rest do, but observes and in her patience is able to find and use the cracks she finds in the Empires walls against them. She’ll sneak in and fight from the heart of things.
Jolee takes a more direct approach with the force, quick to action and her very will of it succeeding causing it to be so. Both she and Luke work in a fluid motion together, using the flow and ebb of the battle to their advantage, near perfect in their ability to move as one. Even if Luke is a blind fool where his dad is concerned...
[Taryn looks for a moment at the target dummy thoughtfully before picking up a hydrospanner and removing the left hand of it. The astromech barks a few sharp tones at her]
Settle down, I’m just using it for a base…don’t know if this’ll work or not but every little bit right? And of course Zac is murder with a saber…doesn’t do the number on hordes of troopers like Jolee can, but when he fixes on a target it doesn’t have much longer for this ‘verse. He’ll defend those he takes as friend or family. As much as he helped me during his long sleep, I’m glad for his waking companionship. Even if it scared me to begin with…I’m glad he stuck around instead of leaving…I don’t know if I’dve stayed if he went…
[sing-song like tones from the droid cause Taryn to light purple against her normal blue skin]
I do not!
[a disbelieving tone and her cheeks flush a deep plum]
…shutup. What would you know? It’s not like I only like him for throwing Tarkin out a window…it started a bit there but its not li-
[the droid chitters, then seems to scold a bit]
Oh like he’d ever know. As strong as he is in the force and as fantastic he is at observing people’s behavior, opening their eyes to new ideas, and seeing things distant and future, he’s as clueless about things as any of us non force-ers in some things. He’s changed in the time I’ve known him, taken more responsibility to himself in the rebellion, and even if this ends today he’ll have so much he feels he needs to get done he’ll never even know…
[more sing-song chirps as the droid turns and moves to the doorway to the rest of the ship]
…take another move and I’ll strip you for parts with my mind.
[the droid stops]
I thought so.
[as the droid moves back to the Omwati it picks up the shield generator near the doorway and brings it to her, beeping questioningly]
I’ve honestly no idea. But I’ve gotta try, hope for the best and all that. I can’t throw lightening, but I can try to make it work for me…
[she looks at the pile of detonators in front of her, the droid letting out a long low whistle]
Well, here’s hoping that either this works, or failing all else, one of those do…. I cannot move the world around me as my companions can, but I can use my enemy’s affectations on it to my gain.
[a few more beeps as Taryn picks up the fusion cutter again and starts to take the generator apart]
…you’re right…a little more of a sophisticated wiring for this one…
[Taryn reaches toward the view of the holo-vid before it goes dead]
[An astromech droid beeps at Taryn, who nods and picks up a fusion cutter and wipes away the feathers from her face and continues working on the small metal box in front of her]
I figured if I matched the radiation level to set a trigger reinforced by the electric current inherent in the lightening there could be a sort of Force Light Switch effect…no idea if it’ll actually work though…
[Taryn is interrupted by a few quick low beeps from the astromech droid; she scowls at it for a second]
Well of course it’s a bit crazy but I don’t see you coming up with any plans to stop the Emperor, unless you were going to roll in and talk him down with nothing but your shiny astromechanical charm? Or maybe you and Vader could have a circuit to circuit?
[A low tone from the astromech droid]
I didn’t think so. Anyway, what else am I supposed to do? I’ll protect my sedge in any way I can. They’ve finally got a home…I’ve finally got a home. I’ll be damned if he’s going to take this one from us too. I can’t throw star ships or duel with a saber like most of my friends can, so I’ll stick to where I’m better acquainted.
[The droid blares for a second and Taryn sets down the cutters, picks up one of the boxes and starts checking the wires and hooks it to crude looking target assassin droid dummy. Lights of all kinds start flashing at random on the dummy; Taryn watches for a moment and yanks a yellow wire from the small box. The lights all synchronize, flash three times, then go dark. Taryn nods and unhooks the box from the dummy.]
[A few more bleeps from the astromech droid]
Of course Talia isn’t force sensitive, but she doesn’t need to be. She affects the world in a very real, very physical, very precise way…generally with a large gun. She gets us to work beyond what we would normally think ourselves unable to do. I don’t know how she does it, but one word from her and things don’t seem quite so impossible.
[There are a few sparks while Taryn welds the sides of the box together, forming a rough casing. After a few moments checking the power calibrator against the information on her data pad she welds the top of the casing and sets it carefully on the floor next to a dozen or so like it.]
[the droid tones at her for a moment]
Meena manages her own way. She doesn’t fight so flashy as the rest do, but observes and in her patience is able to find and use the cracks she finds in the Empires walls against them. She’ll sneak in and fight from the heart of things.
Jolee takes a more direct approach with the force, quick to action and her very will of it succeeding causing it to be so. Both she and Luke work in a fluid motion together, using the flow and ebb of the battle to their advantage, near perfect in their ability to move as one. Even if Luke is a blind fool where his dad is concerned...
[Taryn looks for a moment at the target dummy thoughtfully before picking up a hydrospanner and removing the left hand of it. The astromech barks a few sharp tones at her]
Settle down, I’m just using it for a base…don’t know if this’ll work or not but every little bit right? And of course Zac is murder with a saber…doesn’t do the number on hordes of troopers like Jolee can, but when he fixes on a target it doesn’t have much longer for this ‘verse. He’ll defend those he takes as friend or family. As much as he helped me during his long sleep, I’m glad for his waking companionship. Even if it scared me to begin with…I’m glad he stuck around instead of leaving…I don’t know if I’dve stayed if he went…
[sing-song like tones from the droid cause Taryn to light purple against her normal blue skin]
I do not!
[a disbelieving tone and her cheeks flush a deep plum]
…shutup. What would you know? It’s not like I only like him for throwing Tarkin out a window…it started a bit there but its not li-
[the droid chitters, then seems to scold a bit]
Oh like he’d ever know. As strong as he is in the force and as fantastic he is at observing people’s behavior, opening their eyes to new ideas, and seeing things distant and future, he’s as clueless about things as any of us non force-ers in some things. He’s changed in the time I’ve known him, taken more responsibility to himself in the rebellion, and even if this ends today he’ll have so much he feels he needs to get done he’ll never even know…
[more sing-song chirps as the droid turns and moves to the doorway to the rest of the ship]
…take another move and I’ll strip you for parts with my mind.
[the droid stops]
I thought so.
[as the droid moves back to the Omwati it picks up the shield generator near the doorway and brings it to her, beeping questioningly]
I’ve honestly no idea. But I’ve gotta try, hope for the best and all that. I can’t throw lightening, but I can try to make it work for me…
[she looks at the pile of detonators in front of her, the droid letting out a long low whistle]
Well, here’s hoping that either this works, or failing all else, one of those do…. I cannot move the world around me as my companions can, but I can use my enemy’s affectations on it to my gain.
[a few more beeps as Taryn picks up the fusion cutter again and starts to take the generator apart]
…you’re right…a little more of a sophisticated wiring for this one…
[Taryn reaches toward the view of the holo-vid before it goes dead]
IMPERIAL SECURITY BUREAU DEFECTION CASE STUDY - TALIA RENN (EXECUTIVE SUMMARY)
Talia Renn (Lt. 1st Class, AWOL) is a prominent member - possibly even leader (intelligence is vague on this point) - of an infamous terrorist cell composed primarily of self-styled "Jedi." Her sudden and dramatic betrayal of the Imperial Navy despite a spotless service record rivals that of Crix Madine (Commander, AWOL) in prominence, and has been successfully exploited by Rebel Alliance propagandists.
The practical difficulties of apprehending or terminating a heavily armed and dangerous criminal with intimate knowledge of Imperial technology and procedures are a matter for Imperial Intelligence and the Imperial Military, and are outside the scope of this report. The COMPNOR Select Committee has tasked the ISB with examining the possible causes of Renn's defection in the interest of preventing further treason and designing suitable counter-propaganda. This document is a summary of the full report.
EARLY LIFE
Renn was born on 5:7:3 on Brentaal IV to Paldamar and Melina Renn of House Renn, one of the Brentaal Houses that dominate the planetary economy.
As the eldest[1] daughter of a wealthy family, Renn could have been expected to enjoy a life of quiet luxury in preparation for marriage into another prominent family.
However the peace and prosperity of Brentaal IV was severely disrupted during the Clone Wars. Renn's academy admissions essay states that the chaos of this period of her childhood made her appreciative of the order and stability the New Order would bring.
Eleven years old at the time of the Declaration of a New Order, an adolescent Renn was a dedicated participant in early SAGEd and SAGRec programs - graduating at top of her class and becoming captain of her Wegsphere team.
According to Renn's academy admissions essay, her decision to pursue a military career, despite the objections of her parents[2] and her own Non-huMan status, was inspired by an encounter in which an Imperial Customs squad led by Officer Dalea Trovin rescued Renn and her companions from a gang of smugglers they had stumbled across in an ill-advised trip through a questionable area of Votrad. This encounter with a female officer led Renn to believe that the military was a viable path for her.
ACADEMY YEARS
As Non-huMan guidelines were more lax in years past with respect to non-aliens, Paldamar Renn was able to leverage his business connections to have Talia's application reviewed by admissions officers at The Academy of Carida. The officers felt that her extremely high mental and physical test scores, as well as her impressive determination, outweighed the potential for disruption that her presence would bring.
In retrospect, perhaps it is during her years at the Academy that the first glimmers of Renn's contrarian tendencies can be seen. While outwardly dutiful and exceeding all performance targets, Renn demonstrated clear dissatisfaction with military culture and was widely considered "difficult" in social situations, which limited her opportunities for promotion. She also insisted on entering the Imperial Navy Command Officer School against the recommendation of her advisors. While tactically brilliant, Renn's deficient interpersonal skills and lack of sensitivity to cultural concerns rendered her unsuitable for significant command positions.
Finally, and potentially most damning, was her (presumably romantic) relationship with another high-performing-yet-troublesome cadet, Tyber Zann. While a thorough investigation officially cleared her of any involvement in Zann's alleged criminal activities, the cloud that followed Zann out of the academy cast a shadow over her as well.
SERVICE
Given her reputation at the Academy, assigning Renn proved difficult as most commanding officers were unwilling to take her on. She was eventually picked up by Captain Pamil Tavick, himself at a career dead-end, relegated by choice to patrolling Outer Rim trade routes instead of taking on more prestigious expansion and pacification assignments.
For roughly a decade, Renn served under Tavick, efficiently executing anti-piracy, anti-smuggling, and search-and-rescue operations, as well as several crackdowns on unregulated slave trade. Despite her obvious personality problems (for example, she was markedly hostile toward Stormtrooper units when circumstances dictated that they work together), Tavick promoted her to Lieutenant 1st Class, though she continued to place herself on the front line out of a misguided desire to "lead from the front." (Yet another example of prideful nonconformity?) While unorthodox, her career was of not deemed worthy of attention until an operation on Volik.
TREASON
While the details of the operation are classified at the highest level, we do know that Renn expressed confusion regarding the application of Surface Operations Training Doctrine to the disposition of civilian prisoners during a Priority 0 pacification operation. While she did ultimately give the termination order, she failed to supervise the operation - a telling violation of Doctrine that was (irresponsibly, as later events would prove) overlooked in light of her subsequent role in the capture of several Jedi cultists.
Shortly after Lord Vader's execution of Captain Tavick for unspecified misconduct, Renn, who had never been known to disobey orders or shirk duty, freed the Jedi cultists that she herself had helped capture, and left with them in an audacious and highly destructive manner that would characterize her future activities with her new associates.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Renn's defection sets a dangerous example for those with delusional moral superiority complexes, who may believe that their judgment supercedes Imperial policy. However, if presented in the proper context, her story can instead be used as a cautionary tale to reinforce the tenets of the New Order.
- Renn's admittance to Carida proved an ill-advised exception to Non-huMan guidelines. Her inability to conform to expected social norms despite her high test scores demonstrates that such exceptions are prohibitively disruptive. We recommend that such exceptions no longer be permitted.
- Captain Tavick's long-term assignment to certain types of operations allowed those under his command to develop certain expectations regarding their duties. It is likely that Renn felt entitled to pick and choose the sorts of missions that she would undertake. We recommend exposing all military personnel to expansion and pacification operations on a regular basis so as to ensure greater familiarity with all aspects of Surface Operations Training Doctrine.
- Renn's defection immediately followed her order to terminate civilian prisoners on Volik and the execution of her superior officer by Lord Vader. While many traitors (See: Crix Madine, Han Solo, etc.) believe that they are somehow "above" certain actions necessary to maintain the security of our Empire, we believe Renn's case to be a classically female display of emotional weakness. We recommend subtlety in pushing this explanation in light of certain realities at our rival organization.
- Jedi are known to possess the dangerous ability to influence the minds of others. It is possible, even likely, that Renn has been brainwashed. A successful live capture and Re-Education would be a public relations coup and expose the Jedi for what they are. Unfortunately, the Imperial Military has deemed Renn a high-risk target and is likely to favor termination over apprehension except under impossibly ideal circumstances.
FOOTNOTES
[1] - Perhaps ironically, her younger sister Treena was the one flagged as "at-risk for seditious activities" by her SAGEd supervisors. She has since been conscripted into the Imperial Propaganda Bureau as part of her Re-Education program.
[2] - Renn's parents were themselves apolitical until their recent participation in an intensive Re-Education program (arranged in lieu of termination or imprisonment as part of an agreement with the Brentaal Houses). They have since become vocal supporters of the New Order and are counted among our most important donors.
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