Chapter 12 Cry Havoc. And let slip the dogs of war! -- Shakespeare -- Julius Caesar From childhood's hour I have not been as others were, I have not seen as others saw -- Alone --Edgar Allan Poe Serena slowly looked around herself and at the small group of people surrounding the white oval table. The large white room that they sat in was cold, and the air had a strong smell to it, which burned her throat. The strong smell that predominated the air in the vast room was obviously ammonia. The droids used it when cleaning the white floors and table. Across from Serena, sitting beside Shal'lyindraa, was someone who was not a member of the High Council, but Luke had wanted him to be at the meeting, General Wedge Antilles. His reunion with Shal'lyindraa had been a happy one. They had explained to her that during much of Shal'lyindraa's life with her smuggler guardian she had been taken care of by Wedge. She had spent her younger years, very young years, with Wedge on Corellia until she had moved to Tatooine with her adopted father Rubin. She had been quote ' the cutest little thing' to Wedge. He and his family had taken care of her when her guardian had gone on missions she could not attend. Shal'lyindraa had immediately hugged Wedge and showered him with kisses on his cheeks and forehead. Serena had rarely ever seen Shal'lyindraa so happy. Now looking at her, Serena could tell that her friend was as uncomfortable as she was. Sitting beside Shal'lyindraa's right was Kyp, who had a look of sadness etched across his face, but that was all. No nervousness, or any signs of being uncomfortable showed on his icy calm face. Sitting beside Kyp was an older Bothan who went by the name of Borsk Fey'lya. Serena immediately did not like the look of him, but she felt nothing that should alarm her. He was just another being out for power. Another Bothan out for power. Serena sat between Luke and a Mon Calamarian named Admiral Ackbar. Beside Ackbar sat the old, but still obviously alive and well active General Jan Dodonna. At the end of the table was the Corellian Garm Bel Iblis. Serena was honored to have met him, but would have rather met him on more favorable conditions. At the head of the table clad in a dark blue gown sat Chief of State Leia Organa Solo. She sat regally, her eyes studying everyone who sat at the white marble-like table carefully. She straightened up as she began to speak. "Thank you Miss Maldrin, Miss Ta'ao, and Kyp Durron, for joining us. I have been told that the information you three have is very important. In fact," Leia glanced at Luke unhappily, "it will surely lead us into another battle. We may need your help, even though I have been hoping desperately that it would not have to come to this." Serena watched Luke nod his head to Kyp. Kyp stood up stiffly and began to speak in a sepulchral tone. "I'm sure this can be said best if I put it bluntly: the Jedi Academy on Yavin Four has been attacked. One student was killed, and others sustained minor injuries. The main building in which we train was not touched, yet the land around it has been pretty much destroyed. There were obviously TIE fighters, but there were also battle droids." Kyp quickly, but without noise, sat back down. "Who attacked it?" Leia questioned. "The same warlord who attacked all the other planets with hit-and-run attacks." Ackbar answered. "But," the Mon Calamarian questioned in his grating voice, "where did these battle droids come from? They haven't been used since the Old Republic." "We don't know, but I'm sure we'll find out one day." Borsk sneered at Kyp's neutral remark and his cream colored fur rippled down the back of his neck. "We don't have forever to wait for the 'one day' when you will find out. We need to know now." "We'll find out soon enough, patience." Kyp said, maddeningly calm. "Patience? Some warlord has control of battle droids, I doubt what he sent against Yavin Four is all he has," argued the Bothan. "We'll deal with them. As I recall they were easily taken care of when Naboo was attacked by them." Kyp said. "That's because someone got a lucky shot at the control system, we don't even know where the control system is." Fe'lya continued to argue. "We should not be worrying about battle droids. I'm sure if we take care of this . . . this warlord, then all will be fine. The battle droids will have no one to follow, so they will easily be taken care of. Don't forget that our knowledge of such things has increased drastically. We can take care of them. Since three of my students destroyed ninety droids, I'm sure that all of my students could destroy the rest of them." Luke said, looking at each person sitting at the table as he spoke, his gaze halted at Kyp. Kyp gave him a questioning glance, not knowing how Luke knew of such things. Luke realized that Kyp still did not understand what things could be seen through meditation. The future, the past, and the present could all be spied upon through the Force. "Why weren't the stronger of the trainees able to protect the Academy?" Borsk Fey'lya asked, turning his eyes towards Kyp. "Because," Shal'lyindraa said, drawing Borsk's attention off Kyp. "Because all the stronger trainees were on their home planets. That was the plan anyway. The warlord would attack each home planet of each of the strongest students. Eventually all the stronger students and Master Skywalker were gone, leaving all the trainees who weren't very powerful in the Force, or the ones who hadn't had that much training." "What about the other three planets. No one at the Academy is from Unisosia, Tyaniac, or Clenicis," said Borsk, raising his eyebrows. "That was to make it harder for you to see the plan." Kyp said, slightly leaning back in his chair. And it had worked to confuse everyone. For as soon as those planets had been attacked, the pattern that had begun to form had vanished completely. No one had figured out anything until it was too late. "Clever warlord." Ackbar said, mostly to himself. "He's not a warlord," Serena said softly, speaking for the first time, "he's an admiral." Everyone at the table turned to her, surprised, as if they had not even noticed her until now. "What did you say, Serena?" Leia asked her. Serena watched Kyp slowly bring his eyes up to hers. "He's an admiral, Admiral Kayro Inin." Leia looked down at the data pad in front of her and pushed a few keys, studying the screen. "_How_ did you know that? _We_ did not even know that." Serena shifted uneasily in her seat. She turned away from Kyp's stare, and met Shal'lyindraa's, her big, blue eyes wide with surprise. Serena let her eyes drop from Shal'lyindraa's penetrating stare. After a moment of silence, Serena took a deep breath and looked straight into Leia's brown eyes. "I know because my last name isn't Maldrin. My last name is Inin. Kayro Inin is my father, and I know it's him, I know it." "How long have you known this, Miss Mal-Inin?" Borsk asked quietly. "Since," Serena paused, she was getting sick from the smell of ammonia. But, maybe it wasn't the smell that was making her sick. Maybe it was the guilt of not having told anyone sooner, or the knowledge that Fey'lya would have her head if he could. "Since the attack on Mon Calamari." Borsk Fey'lya stood up and slammed his fur covered hands onto the table. He half yelled at her, "You _knew_ since the attack on Mon Calamari? Why did you not tell anyone? Do you know how many lives you could have saved? Do you know how many innocent beings you _killed_?" "Please calm down, Councilor." Leia said calmly, noting Serena's young, pale face. Borsk slowly sat down, still staring at Serena mercilessly with his piercing violet eyes. "Now, Serena, do you know anything else?" "But, what about " Leia interrupted Fey'lya. "We'll worry about that later." Leia turned back to Serena. "Serena?" "Well, he has about four or five Star Destroyers . . . that's all I know." Leia sighed, "That information is better than nothing. So now, we know where he is located, and who and what we're up against . . ." Leia's voice became distant to Serena. 'One main computer, why is that bothering me so much?' When she had been taken off Carida, she had been on the Star Destroyer, _Evening Death_. Her father had been so proud of something, some new machine. Serena chewed on her lip, one main computer that ran all the droids . . . "That's it!" Serena said quickly standing up, her back ramrod straight. "What's it?" Antilles asked surprised, while everyone turned his or her attention back to Serena. "In the Star Destroyer, the _Evening Death_, there is a computer center. If the right code is placed in it, all the power in the other Star Destroyers can be drained out." Kayro had created a central computer -- since he only cared for himself and no one else -- and put it in his personal Star Destroyer. If the _Evening Death_ had been drained of all its power, but its power cells were still in tact, it could take all the power from the other Star Destroyers in his fleet. Then, with more power stolen from the other Star Destroyers Kayro could escape. Another way he could use it was if all the power in the shields of the _Evening Death_were gone, and if Kayro did not want to use the other power that he needed for the guns and hyperspace all he had to do was take the power away from another Star Destroyer and the shield power in the _Evening Death_ would be put up to maximum, leaving the other Star Destroyer helpless. "Well, that makes it a lot easier, all we have to do is destroy the Star Destroyer." Borsk said sarcastically, eyeing Serena suspiciously. "It's not that easy," Serena began, ignoring Fey'lya's sarcastic comment. She watched as the Bothan's cream colored hair bristled along his back. Serena remembered hearing about this Bothan once. He seemed to be an adviser to Mon Mothma. Two years ago, during the attacks of Grand Admiral Thrawn, the Bothan had ordered a retreat during one of the battles, trapping some of the greatest people of the Rebellion to their deaths. Yet, he had been granted a pardon and had once again taken up his place as member of the Inner Council. "If the computer is destroyed, it will not affect them, you have to put in the right code." Serena said persistently. "What about a virus?" Ackbar asked in his gravely tone. "It's _too_ hard. Trust me, it would take longer than four hours . . . You _have_ to put the right code in." "Well, all we have to do is get a code slicer, someone to hack into the computer files and dig it out." Ackbar commented slowly in a deep grating voice. "I can slice codes, and hack into files." Serena turned her surprised attention to Shal'lyindraa. "I could go," she said softly. "No, we have plenty of experienced --" Luke interrupted Borsk. "Let her go, she knows what she's talking about." Borsk gave Luke an icy stare. "This is not a practice battle field for you to send your trainees out on Skywalker. This is a battle for professionals _only_." "And my students are better than any professionals you have." Luke said nonchalantly. Borsk gave Luke an opened mouth stare, and turned to Leia. "I say, Leia, you refuse this insane excuse for Skywalker to test his Jedi!" Leia shook her head. "Luke is right, she would have the Force on her side." "You know," Serena began meekly, "I could get Shal'lyindraa into the Star Destroyer, and . . ." "No!" Borsk almost yelled. Serena knew already that if Borsk Fey'lya were a human, his face would be blood red from anger. The Bothan's pearly white teeth showed through his angry sneer. "No, Borsk, I want her to go, too." Luke stated calmly. "If it will make you happier, I can send Kyp." "And General Antilles." Leia finished. Leia nodded to each one of them as she spoke their names. "Serena, you will get them in, Shal'lyindraa, you will get the code, Kyp, and General Antilles can find Admiral Inin -- because he will be on the ship. I'm sure of it." Luke smiled at all the surprised faces at the table. This would work; it had to. He knew it would. Something inside of him had told him that Serena and Shal'lyindraa needed to go. Leia must have sensed it too. That was why she had been so quick to agree with himself. "What about Rogue Squadron?" Wedge Antilles asked. "I think we would all be thankful if Luke would agree to be the leader." Leia smiled at her twin brother. Luke nodded. "Sorry, Wedge, I guess this time Rogue Squadron will have to be without their favorite hero." Wedge opened up his hands. "Oh, no, go on ahead. I don't mind being with your little Jedi friends." He smiled at Shal'lyindraa. "Only, before we leave I would love it if you would explain one thing: why me?" Wedge walked out of the meeting room with Shal'lyindraa beside him. "I'm so glad you can come with us, Wedge." Wedge smiled down at the younger girl. "I am, too. I just want to know why I'm going with you." Shal'lyindraa shrugged. "Master Skywalker and Leia Solo decided through the Force." "Too bad I don't understand." "You really don't have to, I mean, knowing that you were needed is good enough for me, I don't really think I could explain everything to you anyway." "Don't bother trying. I don't think I'll ever understand the Force." Shal'lyindraa smiled sweetly. "It's great to see you again, it's been a really long time since I last saw you. I've tried so hard to get in touch with you, but it's really impossible." Wedge frowned for a moment. "I'm sorry." "Oh, it's okay. At least I finally get to be with you. I mean, I haven't seen you since I was, what: three or four?" Antilles nodded his head. "Yes, but I was able to keep in touch with you for a while." "Until I was fifteen, I believe." "Yes." Kyp ran up behind Shal'lyindraa and laid his hands on her shoulders. "Have you seen Han?" Wedge looked at the young boy out the corner of his eye.'How could someone so innocent looking and young become so evil?' He thought to himself, remembering when Kyp had been turned to the dark side. Though, he wasn't evil anymore. In fact Luke had told Wedge that Kyp was going to be one of the strongest Jedi Knights yet. Shal'lyindraa shook her head at Kyp's question. "I don't know, I haven't seen him since yesterday." Wedge said, "He left early this morning with Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian." "Where?" Kyp asked, letting go of Shal'lyindraa's shoulder and turning to look at Wedge, as if he hadn't noticed he was standing with Shal'lyindraa until now. "I don't know. I don't know if anyone knows." Kyp raised his eyebrows. "Oh. Well, thanks anyway." Kyp was about to turn around, when Shal'lyindraa stopped him and grabbed his arm. "Kyp, are you gonna go talk to Sere?" Kyp nodded. Shal'lyindraa whispered fiercely. "Kyp, I'm afraid I don't understand why you aren't surprised about what she just said." "I've known for a while. She told me back at the Academy." Kyp whispered back. "Why didn't anyone tell me?" Kyp shrugged. "I don't know, but just be thankful she decided to tell everyone." Shal'lyindraa released her grip on Kyp's upper arm and shooed him off. "Fine, I'll talk to her about it later." Shal'lyindraa and Wedge began to walk again. They took a turbolift down to the nearest tapcafe, known as the Sun's Edge. Inside it was brightly lit with gold and orange lights. There was little smoke in the air and very little populace. They walked to the back of the room and sat in a small round booth. Sitting down Wedge dismissed the serving droid for the moment. He leaned back and rested his head against the wall behind him. He pushed some brown hair out of his eyes. "So, how's Rubin?" "Fine, at least I think he's fine. When I left for the Academy he had promised me that he was going to retire, but I somehow doubt he did." Wedge laughed. "He never was the one for giving up a job." Shal'lyindraa smiled brightly. "No, he wasn't." "It's strange how you've gotten mixed up in all this." "Yes, I agree. It's rather nice, though. No boredom in my life." "Yes. So, tell me, how did you meet this Serena?" "It's a long story which starts all the way back on Tatooine when I was looking for Rubin." Shal'lyindraa warned Wedge as she watched the serving droid approach them. "We have plenty of time my dear, after all, tomorrow, we might not come back." "You know better than that, Wedge." Wedge smiled, "You're right, I do. But, then, being too optimistic is bad for the soul. I think the Empire learned that too late." The 3PO droid came up to their table. "But we still have some time, so go on, shoot." Serena closed her eyes against the gray-blue sky. Against the tall black buildings that surrounded the Imperial Palace. Against the flying ships that consisted mostly of transports carrying important and unimportant beings. Against the wind that was picking up speed. That had been it: her vision. Everyone had been staring at her. Everyone. Now that it was over it wasn't that bad. They knew. Tomorrow they would be going off to attack Kayro. They would destroy him, utterly, and _she_ would be his death. _She_ would kill him. For her mother she would kill him; for all the innocent beings' souls he had stolen, she would kill him. Serena opened her eyes. The sky was now a dark gray and the wind was picking up more speed and force as the seconds ticked by. It looked like rain again. A bad omen, maybe. Kyp walked up behind Serena and put his hands on her shoulders. He let them slide down to her stomach. He pulled her to him, holding her. "Hey, Rena." "Hey. When are we leaving?" She asked, leaning up against him. "Tomorrow morning." "Ready?" Serena asked Kyp, squeezing her eyes shut harder than before. Rain began to softly fall around the two. Neither bothered to walk inside. "Are you?" "Yes, Kyp. I am." "Then I am, too." "We'll get him, Kyp. He'll pay for what he's done. I'll make him pay." Serena opened her eyes and the rain fell faster until it poured down, soaking them. Drops of water fell into Serena's eyes. She blinked them away. Kyp nodded. "I'm sure you will." he said, this time seriousness filled his voice with morose. The rain fell down even harder. Kyp did not move; Serena did not move. Kyp held Serena tighter. Serena lifted her face up to the sky as rain poured down around her and Kyp. Kyp kissed her cheek; kissed the rain drops rolling down her cheeks. They were tears. * * * Kayro stormed past the bridge crew and stood up on the bridge overlooked by the forward viewport. His face burned with anger and hatred against Eon and the New Republic. Somehow the New Republic had found out he had been hiding out in the Kanat system. But, of course, it wasn't just that which made him so mad . . . so _angry_. They also knew how many ships he had. Now they knew exactly what they were up against -- who they were up against. Kayro knew it wasn't Karrde who had told them. Karrde would not have dared, the man did not want anymore of his precious spies to be killed. 'Eon, it must be Eon. That traitor; let them come.' Kayro let out his breath and willed himself to calm down. It would be fine. He would not run from them again. He could beat them. Even if they destroyed the _Evening Death_ he would still have his other Star Destroyers. 'And with all the ships they have they could probably destroy my ship. Even if my Star Destroyers don't make it to save my ship I'll be able to get out.' Kayro grimaced and looked below him at the planetDeneratin. The only thing was that he _was_ going to let them destroy was the 'Evening Death.' It would hurt; he knew it would, but the after affects would be good. It would all be worth it, he would make it be worth it. "Stenner!" Kayro yelled. Quickly, but smoothly, the young black haired and black eyed man walked up to him. "Yes, sir?" Darien asked placidly. "The Republic knows of our location. We shall prepare for an attack immediately. I have a plan, also." "Yes, sir." Stenner calmly waited for Kayro to continue, showing no surprise or care to what he was saying. "When the ships come out of hyperspace we will not turn our shields on. We will fire a few shots, let them hit the ship a few times. Then we'll turn the shields on to maximum power, kill all power cells except the ones for the shields, and let ourselves slowly fall to Deneratin. Hopefully, by keeping the shields up until the _Evening Death_ hits Deneratin, it will give us enough time to get out, and will keep the New Republic ships from destroying it." Stenner looked at Kayro, all color drained from his face. "Si -- sir? You want to kill the power cells, destroy the _Evening Death_? Sir! This is one of the last remaining Star Destroyers in the galaxy, there are not that many left. Sir, the _Vengeance_ and _Hunter_ will arrive here in a few days --." Kayro frowned. "Which is exactly the time when the New Republic's forces will be arriving." Kayro shrugged it off. "No problem. Just get a few squadrons ready and some escape pods. Also, get my personal ship ready. You and I will be leaving in it in a few days time." "Yes, sir. You have thought this over?" Stenner asked, leaning slightly over towards Kayro and whispered. "Are you sure you want this ship destroyed?" He asked, fear and worry leaking into his voice. "Yes, I have thought it over, Captain. I have made my plans. Trust me, the Emperor did not make me an Admiral for nothing." 'And if he hadn't been killed, if the Empire were still alive, I'd be more than just an Admiral by now,' he thought angrily to himself. "But, sir . . . I advise against this." Kayro turned to Stenner angrily. "You will give that order, Captain." "Sir, how can I possibly give that order?" "You will give that order, Captain." Kayro repeated himself, his voice cold as ice and as soft as the wind. Darien backed up as if to walk away, then he quickly straightened himself up to his full height and met Kayro straight in the eyes. "How can I give that order. This is a Star Destroyer. Do you know how many are left?" "Stand down, Captain. I am warning you for your own sake." "Sir . . ." "You will give that order, Captain. And I will tell you now that you had better pray to the stars that you live to see this ship destroyed." Stenner stepped back slowly, finally giving up. "As you wish. Oh, and sir?" "Yes?" Kayro asked calm once again, even though the anger still burned like fire in his cold eyes. "Dain and his son, you owe them fourteen thousand credits, sir." Kayro raised his eyebrows. "I do?" "Yes sir. They gave you the location of the Ta'ao's." "Yes, I remember now. We'll pay him back, when this is over. You will go personally." Stenner gave Kayro a confused look. "Yes, sir." Darien turned on his heels and strode past the bridge crew who was busy doing their work, acting as if they had heard nothing. Though, by their expressions most of them had heard everything and in a few hours half the people in the ship would know. Kayro watched Darien's black cape disappear. He turned back to the viewport. There was about to be a battle. Maybe a short battle, but a battle. Kayro would loose this one, or that would certainly be what the New Republican's thoughts were going to be centered on. His loss, and their gain. They would be wrong of course. They were always wrong. Kayro balled his hands into fists. He needed to vent his anger, yet it would be a worthless cause. He would be anything but happy for a long time. He would just have to wait for his daughter to come to him. For, she would. She would come, and she would fall. 'Exactly like the New Republic. It has come, and it _will_ fall.'