Chapter 23 full circle
The only way Corissa had been able to convince Ten that it was safe to sleep was to lay down with her. For a while, she babbled about the evil robots that her parents had told her would kidnap her if she misbehaved, and she wondered now if there was a connection to these Bloodhunter Droids. Though Corissa knew that many stories may have contained cournals of original truth, the seeds were far from being a tree of truth. And kid stories were often brutal and graffic in the kinds of horrors that awaited children. It took an hour, but Ten did finally drift. Unable to join her in sleep, Corissa got up and returned to the main living area of the cabin she had chosen. Jordeen was there, sitting on a couch near a window, staring out into space.
“Not going to sleep?” Corissa asked.
“Could you?” Jordeen asked.
Corissa shook her head and joined Jordeen at the couch. The coffee table held a transparent tea pot, cut from a clear crystal, which was sitting on top of a pedestal, made from the same crystal. A candle resided within the pedestal, heating the tea. Jordeen poured her a cup.
“Whoever lived in this suite had good taste,” Jordeen said.
“This was the Ambassador suite. This is my first time being in it,” Corissa said, accepting the cup. She held it in her palm, fingers up, and sipped.
“I’m surprised. My room was hardly a closet.”
Jordeen gave a faint smile.
“Freya still searching the ship for signs of life?”
“Yeah,” Corissa said.
“It’s a big ship. It should keep her busy.”
Jordeen agreed with that, but wanted to ask if Coirssa had alterior motives for running the Droid off. It was abig ship and lots of places for people to hide if someone really wanted to, so Freya could be busy for a long while.
“You want to talk about your days of service?” Jordeen offered.
“Nope,” Corissa said.
Jordeen returned to star gazing.
“I never thought I’d be back on this ship,” Corissa said.
Jordeen suppressed a bemused, knowing smile.
“I sensed there were some troubled memories for you,” she said, keeping her fix on the stars.
“Umph,” Corissa said.
“Understatement of the day. Do you believe in fate?”
“Sometimes,” Jordeen admitted.
“I think it’s complex. Like the physics thing, particles or waves. Maybe there’s fate and randomness simultaneously.”
“Or, because of the way our brain stores information in terms of our personal relationship to the experiences and knowledge sets, maybe it just seems like everything is personally unfolding in a specific direction,” Corissa said.
“Could be. And maybe when I died, that was just a brain malfunction. But during my ascension, I remember that everything that happens here is absolutely not personal. I still had a sense of I-ness, but that I wasn’t the ‘I’ that I am experiencing here and now,” Jordeen said.
From the other room, they heard Ten scream. They both got up and rushed to see what’s going on. Corissa sat on the bed and hugged her close.
“I’m here, Ten,” Coirssa said.
“I’m not leaving you.”
“No. They’re back!” Ten said.
Alarm klaxons began blaring. They could see no evidence of enemy ships from their vantage point, only stars, but it was a big ship, with lots of directions from which to come at them. Corissa picked up her comm.
“What’s going on?” Corissa asked.
“Four incoming ships,” came Trimmer’s voice.
“And our hyperdrive just went offline.”
“How could that be?! Everything was fine when I was down there last,” Corissa snapped.
“I don’t know! We haven’t been able to raise my people since it went offline,” Trimmer said.
“I’ll head down there as soon as I can,” Corissa said.
“Ten, I want you back in that pressure suit.”
“You’re not wearing one!” Ten said.
“Ten, I need to do a job, and I can only do that if I am not worried about your safety,” Corissa said.
“Then take me with you to the engine room,” Ten insisted.
Corissa got down on her knees, making herself eye level with Ten.
“No. There is obviously something wrong down there…”
Ten looked past her and Jordeen and screamed. A Bloodhunter had entered her room and was closing fast. It ignored Corissa and Ten, going directly for Jordeen. Jordeen retreated. Corissa put Ten behind her while going for her blaster. The Bloodhunter turned to the immediate threat, and with perfect precission and, surprisingly, exercising restraint, destroyed the blaster. It turned its attention back to Jordeen, raising an appendange tiped with a needle. Ten wanted to help but Corissa held her back. Preston appeared out of thin air, lightsaber bursting to life with resounding retort, and he dispatched the Droid.
“Are any of you injured?” Preston asked.
“I’m fine,” Corissa said.
“Scared,” Jordeen said.
“I’m hungry,” Ten said.
“Great, everything’s normal,” Preston said.
“You’ve all got to hold on for five more minutes. Help is on the way. Escuse me, there’s another one on board.”
Preston disappeared before their eyes.
“Teach me that!” Ten said.
“You and me both,” Jordeen agreed.
The bedroom door opened and Corissa put Ten behind her. Freya arrived.
“Damn it, don’t do that!”
“I’m sorry, Master Corissa. May I serve you?” Freya asked.
“Yes, keep her safe. Ten, stay with Freya. That’s an order,” Corissa said. Ten saluted.
“Come on, Jordeen,” Corissa said.
“I might need you.”
♫♪►
The change in command had happened quietly, practically unnoticed as Alyth had called certain people in for a meeting, and they had been quietly shuffled off by her elite guard to a holding cell. Everyone on board, though, had noticed the extra guards at every post, as if they were on high alert and ready to go into battle. Preston and Daphne were on the bridge with her, watching the preparation to drop out of hyperspace. Preston seemed distant, distracted.
“You okay?” Daphne asked.
On realizing just how distracted Preston seemed, Daphne became more alert.
“We going to be a bit late,” Preston said.
“I want you both on the Immanence ASAP. And, I am sorry. I will explain soon.”
“Sorry for what?” Daphne asked.
“I’m not actually here,” Preston said, and disappeared with an upward twirling of smoke. Daphne was perplexed.
“I hope he teaches me that trick,” Alyth said.
They dropped out of hyperspace directly above the Immanence. Several Bloodhunter ships were destroyed by the unexpected arrival resulting in collisions. The remaining scattered to regroup. Alyth gave the order to go hot.
“Launch fighters. Disable the transports if you can, but make certain nothing leaves this area,” Alyth ordered.
“Harolds, have your angels meet me at the transport. Daphne, you coming?”
“Of course,” she answered.
♫♪►
After Alyth departed to secure a ship, Preston decided to practice a Force ability known as bi-location. Both Saints and Jedi’s had been known to be in two locations at once, but most people just assumed they were stories. He sent one doppleganger to retrieve Daphne, while he himself proceeded to Darth Torlin’s personal estate. It was there he found Torlin’s private ship, A Tie Hunter. Like the X-wing, its S-foils could pan out into attack mode. Preston felt like a kid in a candy shop. The only delay in taking the craft was that he couldn’t resist the urge to explore Torlin’s estate. Though he allowed the Force to draw him to things of interests, he did revel in some random ransacking, just because he had never had the chance to explore for sentient artificats growing up. The saddest thing he found was a handwritten journal, which he quickly browsed and surmised that at one time, Torlin might have been a Light Sith. There was an entry that read: “So, the old saying, when the student is ready, a Master will come. I met a guru today, who promised to include me in a ritual that would double my ability to connect with the Force. I am told it will be necessary to bring a Force sensitive friend, and intend to ask Tannika.” Preston closed the journal at that point. He would have to dive deeper to discover more, but he didn’t feel he had the time to give it the attention it deserved. As he explored the estate, piecing together a story based on abstract artifacts, he wondered if Torlin might have had a different life had the Jedi not fallen, or if he had an option to study a branch of metaphysics that wasn’t coerced by the Sith.
Preston chastised himself for such musings. Of course things might have been different if the Jedi hadn’t fallen, but that still didn’t mean Torlin himself would have wound up a force for good. Maybe he wouldn’t have been discovered early enough to be considered for Jedi training. Maybe he would have pursued his own interests regardless of being found. Maybe Kilmore would have still acquired him.
Preston held on to the book as he continued to explore. He found a container with Sith crystrals, which he couldn’t let go by. The next thing he intentionally set out to find was a pack to carry his loot. He found two Sith amulets, with no clue what they did; he was only certain they were imbued with Force properties. He puzzled over them, wondering if Force imbued objects were comparable to computer chip boards, but instead of micro-networks of wires channeling electrons, it was the Force. He put them in his bag to fathom later. In the box with the amulets, were six rings, made of material he couldn’t identify. He took them. He found an ornamental staff on the wall, which was clearly imbued with the Force. It didn’t fit in his bag, but he took it anyway. He found a safe and opened it. There were was a variety of coins and a number of data chips. He took the chips.
There were things that surprised him. Torlin appreciated music. He had several instruments in a sitting room and a system that directed phenominal sound to a holographic projector center of the room. He was a clean freak. He liked ancient, hard cover tomes. Preston might have taken them all, but he couldn’t find one that had script that he could identify. He did take one, but it seemed random, as opposed to a Force selection. He amused himself with the idea that he may have taken one volume from an encyclopedia set, which would completely frustrate whoever inherited the remaining items.
With his stuff in the Tie Hunter, he gave one whistful look around, admiring the architecture and thinking this wouldn’t be a bad home, then climbed up and familiarized himself with the controls. He loved the ship, maybe even more than the previous Tie he owned. Thinking about the loss, though, was both sad and amusing. The ship was something Fixit had given him. Amusing, because it revealed an attachment. No. Sentiment. He reminded himself he was human. If he did keep the Hunter, he would have to get a pressurized suit tailored to his specs, but for this short flight up, he was confident he would be okay. Indeed, he was given a direct path to approach and land without even requiring confirmation. He arrived on the Star Destroyer ‘Kilmore,’ the flagship of Kilmore’s fleet. From there, he sent a text communication for the command staff to visit him in the hangar deck. He waited till they arrived before exiting the Hunter.
One of he officers drew a weapon. Using the Force, Preston took the weapon into his on hand and pointed it back at the individual who drew it.
“Anyone else want to play?” he asked. When no one volunteered, Preston continued.
“Good. My name is Preston G Waycaster and I have defeated Darth Torlin and Lord Kilmore in battle.”
No one was sure if he was joking or not, so, to prove his point, he did something Kilmore would do, and dropped them all to their knees. When he let go, they staggered forwards, but all remained prostrated.
“Sorry, I am not the harbinger of bad news, but of truth, whether the news is good or bad is a value laden judgement that reflects your bias, not the value of the messenger or message,” Preston offered.
“Clearly, I could take you and the ship and run you like the dogs that Kilmore trained you to be. Or, you can stand up and be counted like men. No, really, stand up. Please. I’m not going to kill you. Well, unless you try to kill me, and then, well the game is on.”
They stood. Only one asked.
“What are your wishes?” Most were still not sure what to make of the situation. Some were searching their mind for any lingering traces of Lord Kilmore. Some were wondering if this were some bizarre test to weed out those Kimore doubted.
“I’m glad you asked,” Preston said. As easily as manifesting a doppleganger, he created a holographic image of the Chiliad.
“This is a mobile, Droid operated, Bloodhunter, manufacturing plant. I intend to take this Star Destroyer and take out that ship. I would like your assistance in this endeavor, but I am not going to compel anyone at threat to self or their families to stay in service. For those who stay, the only reward will be the satisfaction of knowing you have saved the galaxy from the very real threat of an Armageddon like catastrophe that the Emperor put in place in the event that he died just to spite those who survived him. The intel I have suggest there are ten thousand Droid operated anti-matter bombs with hyperdrive in this system, waiting to be assigned targets. The mother ship, the Chiliad, has gathered enough raw materials to begin cloning itself, which means it will be at its most vulnerable.”
“There’s no way I am taking orders from a kid.”
“The ‘kid’ took your gun, Hosper. He dropped us all to our knees as if we were puppet Droids. If he defeated both Torlin and Kilmore together, then he has our ears.”
“Parlour tricks compared to Torlin. We can take this kid…”
Preston tossed the weapon back to Hosper. Hosper caught it, but hesitated. Preston closed both fists, squeezing them tight, waiting to see if Hosper would change his mind. The show down was on. Was Hosper willing to see if he could out draw the kid? He already had the weapon in his hand. All he had to do was point and shoot, at nearly point blank range. Hosper aimed and Preston opened his fists. Hosper collapsed into a brilliant ball of flame. When the light faded, a black diamond fell to the floor. The ‘clink’ could be heard across the hanger.
“To be honest, most of you probably deserve execution, but again, I am offering you a chance to bring balance to your lives and the galaxy simultaneously,” Preston said.
“With or without you, I am taking this ship.”
“You’ll never get in close enough to take out the Chiliad’s hyperdrive systems,” Immerson said.
“I know. I was on one of the ships that were part of the construction detail. As soon as we drop out of hyperspace, it will spool up its drive, then bolt if we intrude too close.”
“I have transponder codes that it will recognize as friendly, another code to transmit so that one person can get passage to board, and I have this computer key to access the main frame once I am on the ship,” Preston said, showing a facsimle of the key. He was pretty sure a perfect clone of the key would be sufficient, well, at least sure enough to bet his life on it.
“Though I intend to board the Chiliad, your mission will be to destroy it. Whether I get off the ship alive or not is irrelevant. We will drop out of hyperspace here, you will maneuver close enough to extend a spacebridge, and as soon as I step onto that ship, you commence firing at the hyperdrive and then take out the main thursters.”
“What’s to keep those Droid bombs from attacking us?”
“Really? These aren’t small anti-matter bombs. These do enough damage to wipe out all life on your average size planet, so assuming one got through your batteries and sheilds, it would certainly destroy you, but it would also obliterate its mother. They are programmed to protect mother at all costs. So, as soon as you open up on mother, you launch every fighter you have, and you take out those bombs.”
“We will probably be boarded by Bloodhunters.”
“Oh, yeah,” Preston agreed.
“This is a suicide mission.”
“Probably,” Preston said.
“So, besides the codes, and your access key, what else do we have in our favor?”
“If I successfully access the mainframe, I hope to shut down all the Droids, so, you have a fifty fifty chance that this fight turns into a fish in a barrel shoot,” Preston said.
“And if our whole crew disembarks?”
“I intend to ram that ship and hope the self destruct feature is enough to put the Chiliad permanently out of commission,” Preston said.
“Look, I’m probably just this dumb kid who was raised in a cave by a Droid, who got lucky against a Sith Lord and his apprentice, who is going to go get himself killed. Or, I am sufficiently armed with the Force that I trust this will work out for the benefit of all. This is risky. And that’s why I am giving everyone a chance to bail. Update the crew of the mission parameters so they can make an informed decision, and if you aren’t going with me, you’d best be off my ship in one hour, because it is going to happen. And don’t even think about stopping me because, unlike Kilmore, I can and will drop the entire crew to their knees with one thought, simultaneously. I am that serious about this mission.”
♫♪►
Preston arrived on the Dragon’s Wake, picked up a tool, and began removing the restraining bolt attached to Fixit. An R2 unit approached him and whistled a sad salutation.
“Not your fault, my little friend,” Preston assured it. The whistled inquiry seemed uncertain.
“Oh, I am sure,” Preston said.
“But don’t worry. All beings have faulty programs that tend to take over at the most inappropriate times.”
The Droids question was short and decisive.
“Yes,” Preston laughed.
“Especially me. Just ask Fixit.”
The restraining bolt came free and the Fixit’s first words were: “It took you long enough.”
“I’m sorry, Master,” Preston said, hugging the Droid.
“I’ve been really distracted.”
“Females, no doubt,” Fixit complained.
“Yeah, I was not prepared for how distracting that can be,” Preston said. The R2 whistled a long retort.
“Your help would be most appreciated. Plug into the hyperdrive and change course,” Preston said, giving the Droid the coordinates.
“My friends will need a Fixit Droid, Master,” Preston said.
“Are you willing?”
“I am always ready to serve, son,” Fixit said.
“I look forward to seeing you in person soon. R2, as soon as you arrive, land on the Immanence,” Preston said.
Fixit laughed.
“Oh, the irony of the Force.”
Preston put a hand on his Droid.
“Fixit, just in case I don’t see you, I want to thank you for my life. Thank you for the love and guidance, but most of all, for your patience with me. I love you.”
“Preston, have you gotten yourself in trouble?” Fixit asked.
“No, it’s more like trouble has gotten into me,” Preston said.
“I’m about to face the enemy. I know where the Chiliad is and I’m going to destroy it.”
“Preston, no…” Fixit began, but Preston had already dissipated into thin air. The R2’s whistling is what brought Fixit back into focus. It turned its main sensor to the small Droid.
“Hurry, little one. Maybe we have time to prevent him from doing something rash.”
The R2 was already plugged in. He executed the course change and locked out the controls. Jesser arrived shortly after, assumed that Fixit was still asleep and approached the R2.
“What the hell did you just do?” Jesser demanded.
The R2 answered with a nonchalant whistle that suggested it was unaware of doing anything, openly denying any culpability even though its hand was still literally in the cookie jar. Jesser put her hands on her hip, staring menacingly.
“Unlock the controls now,” she insisted.
Fixit administered a sedative and allowed Jesser to fall to the floor. The R2 made a kurt little noise. Orlov arrived shortly to determine what was taking so long.
“Hello, Orlov. We need to talk about your son, Preston,” Fixit offered.
♫♪►
The battle aboard the Immanence was now contained to the hangar deck, where Alyth, Daphne, Angels, and Myamar security fought side by side. Corissa and Nolasco arrived as the last Bloodhunter fell, then the two remaining groups aimed at each other. Alyth powered down her lightsaber and ordered the angels to lower their weapons. They obeyed. Daphne powered down her blade.
“Where is he?” Corissa demanded.
“We are not your enemies,” Alyth said. Corissa pointed her blaster at Daphne.
“Go ahead,” Daphne said, offering no resistance. Alyth stepped in between the two.
“Preston condoned her actions as necessary. I ask that you forgive her, just as Preston already has,” Alyth said.
“Yeah, well, then where is Preston?” Corissa demanded.
Preston arrived, a twirl of smoke condensing into his form, standing dead center of the two groups.
“I’m here, Corissa,” Preston announced.
“Please. These are my friends. They came to help.”
Nolasco lowered his weapon and the Myamar security followed suit. Corissa didn’t lower her weapon.
“You’re not here. This is some kind of phantom image or super hologram. Where are you really?” Corissa said.
“Daphne was correct. My presence here places you all in danger. I’m proceeding with my plan to end the threat,” Preston said.
“You need us,” Corissa said.
“Always. But I don’t want to put you at risk,” Preston said.
“We decide the risk. We, together, decide. This is a family and you can’t make arbitrary, unilateral moves without running it through a committee,” Corissa said. When she saw his tears, she holstered her new weapon.
“What? Why are you crying?”
“You called me family,” Preston said.
Corrissa stepped forward.
“Where are you?”
“Not yet,” Preston said.
“You will know soon enough. There’s a ship approaching. I’ve already cleared it to land.” He hugged Corrissa to her and whispered in her ear.
“I can’t be here to guide you in what happens next. I ask that you let go, Corissa. Trust in the Force. Trust that this is playing out the way it’s supposed to be.”
No matter how hard she squeezed, she couldn’t prevent Preston from dissipating. Angry, she steeled herself from crying, but it took Nolasco leading her to make room for the arriving Fury-class Tie Fighter. Alyth motioned her Angels to prepare for a battle with a Sith with just a wave of her hand. She invited Daphne to join her at the foot of the ramp. One man descended with his hands up to indicate surrender. They kept their lightsabers in hand, ready for duplicity.
“Dad?!” Alyth and Daphne both said simultaneously. They looked to each other and each echoed: “You know him?”
“Stop copying me!” Daphne said.
“How do you know him?”
“I’ve never met him. I’ve just seen holo-images of him and my mother together,” Alyth said.
“Me, too,” Daphne said.
Daphne and Alyth turned their attention back to Orlov. The intensity was almost unbearable. His hands were visibly shaking.
“I think I can explain…”
“You think you can explain not being around all my life?” Daphne demanded.
“Creating siblings I know nothing about?”
“I left money and Droids so I could keep in touch,” Orlov said.
“But, I don’t remember…”
“My mom gave your money and Droids to charity!” Daphne snapped.
“She wanted nothing to do with you!”
“I took my Droid apart and was unable to put it back together,” Alyth admitted.
Daphne looked at her as if she was an alien, but the only thing she could think to ask was: “You didn’t ask for help reassembling it?”
“Are you kidding? My mother would have killed me for breaking the family Droid. I told her it malfunctioned and ran off,” Alyth said.
“Look,” Orlov pleaded.
“There’s obviously a lot to talk about, but it’s imperative that I speak to Preston. I have information that could save his life.”
“What’s he to you?” Daphne demanded.
“He’s my son,” Orlov said.
Two things saved Orlov when Daphne went to strike him down. One was Alyth’s blade blocked hers. The second thing was as Orlov stepped back, he stumbled on the ramp and fell on his ass and elbows. Angels raised their weapons, waiting for the word.
“Daphne!”Alyth insisted, the light of their blades painted on her face.
“Stand down.”
“You know what we’ve done?!” Daphne yelled.
“Oh, yeah, but this isn’t the solution. This is not his fault,” Alyth said.
“How the hell is this not his fault?!” Daphne demanded.
“If he had kept to one family, kept it intact, this wouldn’t be! My mother would not have gone into a life of crime to keep food on our table. We wouldn’t have…”
“Slept with our half brother. Got that. But we should have known,” Alyth said.
“We should have known? You’re making this my fault?!” Daphne said.
“We were drawn together by the Force, we loved inexplicably, we’ve had a sense knowing him all our lives, we should have known,” Alyth said.
“Further, no one forced you to break your vow of celibacy. That is on you.”
“I’m going to kill him!” Daphne said.
“You’re angry. Killing him will not ease your pain. I’ve been down this road and it only leads to more pain. Now, stand down,” Alyth said.
Daphne screamed, pushing harder into Alyth’s block, but when Alyth refused to retreat, Daphne eventually grew too weary to sustain her emotions. She turned off her lightsaber and tossed it to the ground. Alyth remained in a stance ready to defend Orlov. Daphne gave one last defiant look to Alyth, one last menacing look to her father, and then turned to walk away. She found her mother standing behind her.
“Mom?” Daphne asked, tears streaming down her face.
“Come here,” Keena said, putting her arms out.
“It’s a little late for comfort and guidance,” Daphne said, and stormed away.
Alyth powered down her lightsaber and stood out of her stance.
“Thank you,” Orlov said, standing.
“Don’t thank me. I didn’t spare you out of love or kindness,” Alyth said.
“What information do you have for Preston?”
“Preston is going to try and interface with the Chiliad to remove his name from a registry, but he is walking into a trap. The Bloodhunters don’t want him. They want his mother,” Orlov explained.
“Harolds, check out the Dragon’s Wake for more crew. Angels, take him into custody,” Alyth told her Angels.
Orlov seemed frighten as Troopers took him by the arms. Nolasco stepped up.
“Now, hold on a second,” Nolasco said.
“He’s my brother.”
“Nice. A family reunion,” Alyth said.
“That ship he arrived on belong to a Sith Lord. Its registry number marks it as belonging to the Immanene. Until we figure this out, I don’t advise letting him roam freely.”
“My brother served on this ship, so he probably stole the Dragon’s Wake. Let me take responsibility for him,” Nolasco said.
“He is going in the brig or I will kill him,” Corissa said, matter of factly. She held a blaster rifle she had retrieved from the corpse of a Storm Trooper.
Nolasco was surprised by Corissa’s stance, but he knew her well enough to know she meant business.
“You?!” Orlov asked.
“Brother, shoot her! She’s dangerous.”
“Shut up, Orlov,” Nolasco snapped.
“Maybe you should spend some time in the brig until we sort this out. It’s for your safety.”
“I helped you establish yourself, introduced you to your wife, got you a sweet paying job, and you’re going to lock me up?” Orlov asked.
“Yeah, Bro, for now,” Nolasco said. He nodded to the Angels to lead him away. He turned back to Corissa.
“You want to talk about it?”
Corissa simply walked away.
Alyth didn’t have anything to say to Nolasco, but was saved from trying by taking an incoming call from her ship. She pushed a button on her bracelit: “Admiral, you want to hear this.”
“Pipe it down to me,” Alyth said.
It was a mayday from the Kilmore.
“We have sustained heavy damage and casualties. Please, if anyone can hear us, we are in sev