CHAPTER FIVE
"Okay," Jast Kyjar muttered, breaking the silence that had followed Zerev's revelation. "That's great and all, and I really like the little presentation you gave us, but you still haven't answered my question: what are we gonna do?"
Zerev signaled Xilus to turn off the map and the Ortolan did so. The small sphere in his pudgy hand began to evaporate the miniature representation of the galaxy and all of the trillions of stars and planets were sucked back into the even smaller orb.
Turning back to Jast, Zerev said, "Well, clearly we have to stop the Glorians from rebuilding the Star Forge. How, exactly, is something we're still working on."
"I think they still owe more explanation," Durus said after reopening the shutters. "Such as why they're even here in the first place."
"I was going to get to that eventually," Zerev snapped, but Anakin could see the embarrassment of forgetfulness in the Siniteen's wrinkled face. "Anyway, to clear thing up for you...it's not exactly all of you that we need here on Mortis. We only needed Anakin Solo."
Jast and the others turned their eyes on the young Jedi, who raised his hands in a defensive manner. "I...I don't know what you're talking about. I'm nothing special..."
"Don't be modest!" Durus said. "You're the grandson of Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One! The Hero With No Fear! Knight of the Republic!"
"You forgot Dark Lord of the Sith," Anakin muttered.
The Zilkin's face fell slightly. "Oh, yeah. Well, hey, everyone reaches a point in their life which makes them wish they never got there in the first place, right?"
"I think I've gotten there long ago," murmured the stormtrooper Vex. The others ignored him.
"Either way," Zerev said, "you carry a great legacy, Anakin, and an even greater destiny awaits you."
"But before you can achieve that destiny," Animus added, "there are a few trials you must pass first."
"Trials?" Anakin asked.
The large man glared at him. "Are you a Jedi or just a living echo?"
Before he could respond, Animus was already heading out of the chamber. As he started to follow him, Anakin turned to look at his companions. While Sev, Jast, Lumpy, and the stormtroopers showed looks of support on their faces, Lysira's remained expressionless. As the doors started to close behind him, he could've sworn he saw a glint of emotion in her eyes.
What that emotion was, though, he could not tell.
* * *
"Good day, Captain Nix," the Anakin Skywalker lookalike said with a slight bow. "And Lieutenant Xemer. I am Kane Skywalker of the New Jedi Order."
Wallen visibly relaxed himself. "That explains the resemblance. My apologies, Master Jedi; for a moment, I had though Anakin Skywalker had returned from the dead."
Kane smiled. "Please, just call me Kane. And it could have been worse. I could have been the resurrected form of Darth Vader."
"Technically, you are," Wallen heard Xemer murmur.
Wallen mentally nodded. Nearly ten years ago, Kane Skywalker was a Sith Lord named Darth Nemesis, a clone of the legendary Chosen One created by Darth Vorath. During the Battle of Coruscant, Nemesis redeemed himself by helping Toah Jarsan and Luke Skywalker defeat Vorath and bring an end to the war. Afterward, Nemesis, having changed his name to Kane Skywalker, was accepted into the New Jedi Order, though his true origins were kept secret to anyone outside the Jedi Order and the Galactic Alliance, instead coming up with a cover story that he was a lost cousin or son of Luke.
"So," Kane said, "I take it you two are heading for Dromund Kaas."
"Yes," Wallen replied. "Care to give us some heads-ups before we go?"
"Eh, there's not much to watch out for," the Jedi said with a nonchalant shrug. "The youzusks enjoy the thrill of the hunt, so don't give them something they'll want badly. And the vine cats are always hungry..."
Xemer turned his head to Wallen, and even though the Kel Dor's eyes were concealed by his protective goggles, the creases around them already betrayed the fear he felt. In spite of this, however, he turned back to Kane and said, with a bare hint of sarcasm in his voice, "Sounds like a great vacation spot."
Kane shrugged again. "The Shawda Ubb might find the swamps welcoming, but it isn't any Glee Anselm. Especially when the swamp wampas get to you."
Once again, Xemer's antiox breath mask hid any apprehension Wallen knew he felt. "Sounds find to me."
Kane grinned. "Glad to hear it. Shall we head off now?"
"Sure," Wallen said, moving past his lieutenant to board the ship. "We might as well."
* * *
As the Alliance shuttle lifted up from the hangar and blasted off into Coruscant's daytime sky, a cloaked figure witnessed its ascent. Once it was gone, they brought out a small comlink and spoke into it.
"They've received the message. They're heading for Dromund Kaas now."
"Is the Skywalker with them?" came the response.
"Yes," the being said.
"Excellent. Perhaps there is still some hope for our plan to work. Now then, find the others."
"Yes, master." The being put away their comlink and headed for their ship, mapping out a route for the Adega system on their datapad.
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