CHAPTER TWO
"Fascinating, isn't it?"
Jacen Solo glanced at Jaden Korr's Z-95 Headhunter as it flew alongside his own X-wing fighter as they both left M'haeli.
"I suppose," Jacen replied. "You seem to be more interested in it than I am."
Jaden chuckled. "I guess you're right. It's just that...I feel like there's more to my past than I remember."
Jacen raised an eyebrow at the sound of this. "What do you mean?"
"Well, the earliest memory I have is being a small kid- no younger than three, I think- living with my uncle and building my first lightsaber. I never knew my parents...they died in a speeder accident when I was very young."
"But what makes you think there's more to you than just that?" Jacen asked.
There was a moment's pause before Jaden replied. "When I spoke with the Dark Jedi on Dromund Kaas, after my mission to Taris...when they were trying to sway me to their side, they made it sound like I had a greater destiny than I knew."
"They always use that approach," Jacen said. "You don't believe them, do you?"
"I don't know," Jaden murmured. "I feel like the Force is telling me that there's a puzzle piece missing...and that I have to find it."
"Well, if that's what the Force is telling you, then no one can stop you. I can handle my journey solo."
Jaden chuckled again. "Did you intend to make that pun?"
"What pun?"
"Never mind. May the Force be with you, Jace."
"Likewise. And don't call me 'Jace.'"
Jaden's laugh was the last thing he heard before the Headhunter jumped into hyperspace. Now alone in space, Jacen viewed his navigation board and set a course for his next destination.
-Several years ago-
"How is everything going, Zerev?" the General asks.
The Glorian scientist looks up from his work to see his superior enter the room.
"Er, quite well, sir," Zerev replies. "I have devised another strategy for your forces."
"It better be an improvement over your last one," the general mutters. "You were lucky that I was in a good enough mood to let you off."
Zerev refrains from gulping. "I'm sure it will be to your satisfaction."
He hands the written-out plan to the General, who begins to review it, his expression never changing as he reads.
Finally, he says, "This is quite impressive."
Zerev gives a humble nod. "Thank you, sir."
"Too impressive."
His expression turns into a confused one. "What do you mean...?"
The General stares at him and his emerald eyes seem to have a hint of sorrow.
"You are a brilliant mind, Zerev. Sometimes too much for your own good."
Zerev begins to stutter. "I...don't understand."
The General gestures to the room's entrance and Zerev stares wide-eyed as he watches what steps in.
"I am sorry," the General says, "but you must understand why the Emperor established the system we have followed for so long...."
Zerev watches in terror as the syren slowly enters.
"No one can outsmart him, out of fear that he will be overthrown."
The syren closes in on him, leaning for the fatal kiss.
"And we all know that there is no other command but his own."
-Present-
"Hey, wanna be roommates?"
Zerev broke his gaze away from the viewport he had been looking out of to see the Sullustan trooper named Sev Nep, whom he and the other Exiles had met on Mortis.
"I beg your pardon?" Zerev asked.
"I need a roommate," Sev said. "Everyone else has found theirs, except that annoying Rybet. So what do you say?"
"I'm afraid not," the Siniteen replied. "I am already sharing a room with my fellow Exiles."
Sev's face fell. "Oh. All right, then. I'll go ask someone else."
"I'm surprised that you would even consider sharing a room with me," Zerev said as the Sullustan was about to leave. "Back on Mortis, you seemed...bored by my...babble."
The trooper smiled. "Nah, that was mostly Jast. Besides, anyone's better than that...Cyclops person."
Zerev chuckled. "Well, at least someone appreciates my presence."
Sev raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"
The Siniteen waved a dismissive hand. "It's nothing. There I go again...babbling as always."
He returned his attention back to the hallway viewport. "Always babbling...."
* * *
"The Imperial fleets are coming out of hyperspace," the captain of the Trucemaker informed Admiral Gavin Darklighter. "We should be reading to jump soon."
Gavin nodded. "Have you set a course for the Tatooine system?"
The captain nodded. "Second Fleet will be heading for Manaan and Third for Dantooine. Then we'll regroup at the boarder."
"Very good. Let's hope the three maps will give us what we need."
"That's all we can do, sir. Hope for the best."
Gavin snorted out a laugh. "You sound like a Jedi. And we've got plenty of those on board."
Activating a comm panel at the bridge's controls, he said, "Are you ready to move, Obtrexta Fleet?"
"Certainly, Admiral Darklighter."
"Then let's make the jump."
* * *
Observant eyes watched through a telescope as the fleets left the Coruscant system. If his calculations were correct, his agent would have laid the trap by now. Those on board the Trucemaker would not suspect a thing until they left Tatooine, and by then it would be too late.
He had overheard that the Grand Master was heading for Dromund Kaas to speak with the Revanchist in person. His mouth watered at the idea of two very important people being together at the same place. They would be taken care of easily.
He took a glance at his wrist-mounted chronometer. He had other business to attend to, but he would eventually get to the two Jedi leaders.
The Watcher's plan required it.
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