Chapter Six

Often the prickly thorn produces tender roses.-- Ovid--
Latin Philosopher
Love alone is capable of uniting living beings in such a
way as to complete and fulfill them, for it alone takes them
and joins them by what is deepest in themselves. -- Pierre
de Chardin

The _Vengeance_ came out of hyperspace.  Kayro stood,
looking out the large observation window. The planet
Santruan was looming in front of them.  Mostly made of
water and thick forests, the planet twirled around its
small red sun quickly, making its complete rotation in less
than four months.  The small planet turned around in such a
way so that the north and south parts of the planet never
received sunlight.
  Behind him a sweet but hard voice with a beautiful accent
spoke up: "Admiral Inin, a man by the name of Eon, Grand Admiral
Eon, is trying to contact you."
  Kayro turned around and in front of him stood Nara
Thenard.  He looked at her sharply and brought himself to
his full height.  She did not even blink, she just watched
him, with her aqua colored eyes alight with a strange glow.
  "Good, I've been wanting to talk to him.  Tell him to come
to the Kanat system."
  "Yes, sir."
  Nara smoothly walked away with a catlike grace.  He
turned back around and looked back out the octagonal
window.
  "Lieutenant Yearned, take us to Regahn, put us in orbit
around it."
  The chief navigator nodded his head.  "Yes, sir."
  Slowly the Star Destroyer turned around halfway, and
began to move forward until they reached a larger planet,
Regahn, also known as the water planet.  The entire planet
was ninety-four percent water. The other six- percent was
small chains of mountains, located around the entire
planet. The _Vengeance_ entered orbit with the planet.
Now all Kayro had to do was wait for Eon and Darien.
  Kayro walked out of the bridge and to his office.  Once he
entered it, he walked over to a black leather chair, and sat
down in it.  The door to his office opened with a whooshing
sound, and Nara Thenard smoothly walked back into the
room.
  She calmly stood in front of him, standing straight with a
regal pose.  "Admiral, Grand Admiral Eon is leaving
immediately.  He will be here in twenty hours."
  "That's not very long."
  "He was still in the Granic System, which is not far away
from here."  She took her hand, and pushed some silver and
black strands back behind her shoulder.
  "I see.  Give me a description."
  Thenard waited for a moment before answering to gather
her thoughts.  "Grand Admiral Eon is fifty-two standard
years old.  He is thin, and tall, with light gray hair, and
brown eyes.
  "Before the Battle of Endor he served near the outer rim
territories, trying to keep control of the planet Hyne, which
had been forcefully put under the rule of the Empire.  He
was Captain of the Star Destroyer _Cringer_, until the
Admiral was killed in an uprising on the planet.
  "Eon immediately made himself the Admiral.  Around that
time the battle that to happen on Endor was in
the making.  He was called off his duties, and told to leave
right away for the moon.  He did leave, but not immediately.
After stalling two days, he finally did make it to Endor;
the battle had already been fought.
  "Knowing that the Emperor was dead, he made himself a
Grand Admiral, and returned back to the planet Hyne only
to find that they had killed all the guards and other Imperials
that were down there.  He left Hyne, and has been adding to
his forces, and attacking New Republic ships ever since."
  "Thank you Lieutenant for the," he paused for a moment,
and looked up at her, "debriefing."
  Nara let a small smile cross her lips, and then let it fade
again. "Thank you Admiral, sir."
  Kayro nodded and dismissed her.
  Nara smoothly made her way out of the large room that
Kayro called his office, and headed towards her private
room.
  It was a good thing that Karrde was paying her good
money.  This was not half as bad as she had thought it
would be.  Anyway, she did not have to have this job, but
she enjoyed being a spy, and she enjoyed working for
Karrde.
  Nara punched in a code, and her door slid open.  She
walked into her bare room and locked the door behind her.
It was time to contact Karrde.  Nara had been working for
Karrde for only five years, but during those five years she
had served him loyally.  This was the biggest mission he had
ever sent her on and as far as she knew, it could be her last.
If Kayro Inin found out that she were a spy,  he would kill
her.  It was as simple as that, and if she was killed, then her
son would grow up without parents.  She had a ten year old
son, Dennecr, who's father had died three years ago while
smuggling some shipments to one of Karrde's bases.  A
group of pirates had boarded the ship, and he had been
killed.  Dennecr was now doing the best he could working
for Karrde.  The only thing he could do was bring messages
to people, but that could easily be done with comm
equipment.  Talon Karrde was probably just trying to find
something for him to do until he was old enough to really
start working.  But, that was why she could not let Kayro
find out who she was.  She had a son back on base who was
waiting for her return.  Nara smiled as she pictured her
son's face.  She would come back to him soon, as soon as
she found out all the information Karrde needed.
  Ten minutes later, she was staring at a blank screen
waiting for Karrde to answer.  Soon his picture came up on
the screen.  Nara breathed a sigh of relief, and then smiled at
him.
  "Ah, Jenin. I'm glad to see that you are all right."
  "I have some good news for you."
  "Good, and that is the only reason you contacted me
right?"
  "Right."
  "Great, shoot."
  "Kayro is waiting to meet with a man named Eon, a Grand
Admiral.  He was a captain, but after the battle of Endor he
became Grand Admiral Eon. As far as I know he only had
one Star Destroyer. "
  Karrde frowned slightly for a moment, but quickly
regained his cool composure.  "Why are they meeting?"
  "I don't know, no one will tell me."
  "Do you know if Kayro has anything to do with the
destruction of Koretin?"
  "No, if he even does have more than one Star Destroyer,
he isn't telling me. This is the only ship that I know he has."
  "Forget about the destroyer, try to find out why he is
meeting with this Eon, and try to find out if he has any other
ships."
  "I'll do my best."
  "Which is good enough for me.  Be careful Jenin, and keep
up the acting."
  Jenin smiled at him. "Don't worry, sir."
  Karrde's picture vanished on the screen, and again it was
blank. Nara Jenin stood up, and looked into her mirror.
Time to be Nara Thenard.
  She unlocked her door, and stepped out.

                     *             *           *

   Captain Darien Stenner stood, and watched as the
_Evening Death_ came out of hyperspace right over the
planet Khomm.  This was going to be fun, maybe more than
the attack on Koretin.  These people did not have anything
to fight back with.
  Darien turned his back away from the view and faced a
slightly older man standing behind him.   "Haver, contact
Helm and tell them to send out three squadrons of TIE
fighters.  I want the blue, green, and red team."
  "Yes, sir."
  Darien watched the man walk away.  He smiled wryly.
Darien turned back to the viewport just in time to see three
squadrons of TIE fighters flying in perfect formation, break
up, and head towards the planet, with green laser beams
spitting out of them.
  In five minutes the _Evening Death_ would join in, and
then ten minutes after that, they would leave.  Darien had no
idea what Kayro was doing, no one knew what Kayro was
doing except Kayro himself.
  Most people were saying that he did not even have a plan,
but Darien knew Kayro. After all, he was his father.  Darien
grimaced.  His father . . . the father that long ago had
tricked him into ridding themselves of his sister -- causing
his mother's death.  Darien, of course, only regretted his
mother's sorry death.  He gladdened immediately from the
thought of his sister's dead body laying in some gutter.
  Darien took his mind away from those happy thoughts and
placed them back to Kayro who obviously had a plan; he
was going to do something.  After all, he had a legion of
battle droids stored up.  He had close to three hundred.
Kayro had to do something with those.  Kayro had told him
that the planets that he was attacking were the homes of
two soon-to-be Jedi Knights, even the cities were the right
ones.
  Darien knew that Kayro was going to attack the Jedi
Academy, but that was all.  When Kayro had explained the
plan to Darien all he had said was that they were going to be
doing hit and runs' on planets, important planets, New
Republic planets.
  That was all he had said.  That was all Darien needed.
  "Captain, five minutes have passed."  Haver stood beside
him.
  "Good, time for the _Evening Death_ to have some fun."
  Ten minutes later the _Evening Death_ entered
hyperspace, heading to the Kanat System.  They had hit
Khomm hard, and Stenner knew that soon the alien student
would be there, helping when and where he could.  Stenner
let a small, sly smile cross his lips.  As they had been
attacking Khomm, Darien had figured out the obvious thing.
Kayro's plan, if it was his plan, was simple.
  The Jedi Academy would soon be unprotected, unless
Skywalker stayed.  Though it was obvious that he would
end up having to go to Coruscant to help figure out what to
do about the attacks. The Academy would be helpless
against the TIE fighters and battle droids, just like the
students that would be left there.

                        *                *              *

Serena opened her eyes, to see herself staring straight at
Kyp's boots.  Sweat dripped off of her forehead and her hair
hung down in small wet clumps.  She closed her eyes again
and ignored the headache that was forming.  She lifted her
left arm off the ground.
  Serena took a deep breath and pictured the gray, flat stone
in her mind.  She pictured it slowly rising off the ground and
hanging in the air with the other two.
  "So, Kyp, back already?"  Serena managed through
clenched teeth.
  "I've been gone a while.  I'm happy to see that you are this
strong.  You are concentrating very well."
  "Thanks." Serena said as she took another deep breath and
tried to concentrate on something else other than the
pounding in her head.
_Khomm . . . Hander . . . Anoat . . ._ Serena saw each
planet, each city, destroyed.  Bodies everywhere, huge
chunks of rock and durasteel littering the ground.  She
could feel him, his thoughts, his ships, the lasers shooting
out of the TIE fighters . . . the women, men and children
running, screaming, dying.  Serena could feel his happiness
at the deaths and pains of others.
  "Father," Serena whispered with a shaky voice.  Her legs
began to move backwards, and the three stones fell to the
ground.  Serena lost her balance and fell.
  Kyp got down on one knee.  "What happened, what did
you just say?"
  "I don't know, I didn't say anything."  Serena sat up
quickly.
  "Did you see something?" he questioned, not sure he
should believe her.
  "No, no I didn't.  I just loss my concentration again."
  Kyp frowned, and helped her up.  "All right.  You need to
work on keeping your concentration."
  "I know that," Serena said sourly.
  "You okay?" Kyp asked.  Serena had drastically changed
overnight.  Last night she had been an angel, today she was
practically a devil.
  "I don't see why you should care,"  Serena said angrily.
  Kyp held his hands up, as if he were surrendering.  "Sorry.
But, I don't believe you."
  "I just lost my concentration, leave it alone."
  "I heard you say something, Serena."  Kyp continued,
ignoring the anger that was rising in Serena.
  "I didn't say anything!"  Serena half-yelled with barely
restrained anger.  "Leave me alone about it!"
  Kyp narrowed his eyes.  "I'll leave you alone, but that
doesn't mean I believe you."
  Kyp and Serena walked back into the jungle.  After a few
minutes of complete silence, Kyp decided to say something.
"Serena, recite the Jedi Code for me."
  It had been three weeks, and Serena had been doing well in
her training, except for her concentration.  She kept losing it
and Kyp did not know why, but this certainly was not just
the third or fourth time.  At almost every exercise, rather it
be meditation or lifting stones, she could not keep her
concentration on it long enough.
  Serena nodded her head, sorry that she had not told Kyp
the truth.  "There is no emotion; there is peace "
  Kyp interrupted her.  "What do you think it means?"
  "Well, there is no anger, fear, aggression, hatred . . . there
is only peace.  We should not let our emotions get in the
way with our destiny." A thought flashed through Serena's
mind as she talked to Kyp, 'what is my father doing?' She
erased the thought from her mind, and continued.  "We
should be at peace with the galaxy, stay calm and passive."
  Kyp nodded his head, not having noticed the thought that
had passed through Serena's mind. "Go on."
  "There is no passion; there is serenity.  There is no
ignorance; there is knowledge."
  "What do you think about those, Rena?"
  "If you are in a relationship there should be no lust, or
intense emotion.  Like I said, emotions can get in the way of
your destiny.  Some emotions are good, but ones such as
passion and anger should be kept at bay.  You should not
believe that you know anything and everything, there is
always more to learn.  You should not be so naive to think
that nothing will ever go wrong."
  "Go on."
  "There is no death, " Serena paused for a moment, "there
is the Force."
  "And what do you think about that one?"
    Serena's words melted together into one long word.
"When I die, if I am a true Jedi, then I will be one with the
Force.  Kyp?"
  "Yeah?"
  "I'm just wondering, if you knew something that could
either help the New Republic if you told them, or maybe,
just maybe, destroy one of its strongest points, would you
tell someone what you knew?"
  "Yes, I am a Jedi.  It is my duty as one to protect the New
Republic with my life.  I am a guardian of freedom and
justice.  Soon, you will be also.  Why?"
  Serena shrugged, "Just wondering.  It was a hypothetical
question."
  Kyp frowned. "Oh."
  "Kyp?"
  "Yeah, Serena?"
  "How long does it usually take to become a Jedi Knight?"
  "I'm not sure, it depends on the person I guess."
  "Kyp?"
  "Yes?"
  "Am I Force sensitive?"
  "A little, why?"
  " Well, I heard that people who are Force sensitive have a
greater risk of turning to the dark side."
  "Yes, but there is always that risk, Rena.  If you are careful
it will not take you."
  "Kyp?"  Serena asked for the fourth time.
  Kyp stopped walking and looked down at Serena.  "Yes?"
  "Thanks."
  "For what?"
   Serena shrugged "I don't know, everything I guess. You
know, teaching me and introducing me to Shal, and being a
really good friend, because, you and Shal are the first true
friends that I've ever had."
  Kyp smiled, said,   "You're welcome."
  Kyp and Serena started walking again.  "What if I _do_turn to the
dark side?"
  "I will try with all my might to set you free."
  Serena smiled. "That's good enough."
  Serena chewed on her lip for a moment.  "Kyp?"
  "Why do you keep asking me questions?"
  "I'm just trying to make a conversation, anyway, I didn't
know that they bothered you."
   Kyp shook his head. "They don't."
  "Good, like I said; I'm just trying to make a conversation."
  "You must be doing a _lousy_ job, because Kyp _sure_
doesn't look interested."
  Serena and Kyp turned around and faced Shal'lyindraa.
Serena smiled.  "And I'm sure that you are the expert in
making conversations?"
  "Well, now that you mention it I am."  Shal'lyindraa
sashayed forward, smiling.  "Anyway, I have the latest
news.  It seems that Princess Leia left Mon Calamari this
morning, but she left behind Cilghal, and Nembany.  Cilghal
and Nembany are staying for about two months, maybe
longer.  The Inner Council will hold a meeting as soon as
Princess Leia returns.  They are worried that this will not be
the only attack."
_Khomm . . .Anoat . . . Hander . . ._ Serena's eyes widened
as another thought passed through her mind, 'that's gotta be
impossible, it can't happen, it will not.'  "Do they know
who it is yet?" she asked Shal'lyindraa.
  "No, but there are some rumors that Talon Karrde has
implanted a spy in the Star Destroyer.  Rumor has it that
Talon Karrde is keeping his knowledge to himself and not
telling the New Republic.  It is said that he will be at the
Inner Council's next meeting . . . but those are just rumors."
Shal'lyindraa shrugged and flipped her blonde hair.
  Serena pursed her lips.  What was he up, too? Serena
frowned.  She did not even know for sure if it was him
anyway, but that feeling, the old feeling she once had as a
young child was coming back.
  "Something wrong, Rena?" Kyp asked, looking down at
her.
  Serena shook her head, "No, nothing."
  Shal'lyindraa looked at the both of them.  "Where were
you two today?"
  "Serena was practicing."
  "Yeah, I was standing on my head, using one hand, and
lifting stones."  Serena said monotonously.  "Anyway, I
have nothing better to do with my life other than stand
upside down, right?"
  Kyp rolled his eyes.
  "All day?"  Shal'lyindraa asked.
  "Ever since the sun rose, until a few minutes ago."
  "Well, since the sun is about to set, I guess that you have
been doing that all day."  Shal'lyindraa remarked with a hint
of sarcasm.
  "Rena could have gone longer, she just lost her
concentration   again." Kyp frowned down at Serena. "I've
been telling her to work on it, but she won't listen to me."
  Serena folded her arms over her chest and gave Kyp a cold
stare.  "Hey, now, that made only six times."
  Kyp rolled his eyes. "Isn't that enough?"
  "Well, at least I'm doing it right.  Anyway . . . it just means
I'm trying too hard."
   "Sure, Serena, you better stop trying too hard, might just
kill yourself with all the work you're doing," Kyp bit out
sarcastically.
  Serena narrowed her eyes. "I'm probably doing better than
you ever will --"
   Kyp's mouth fell open slightly in surprise. "You'll never do
better than me, you'll never even come close."
  "Oh, yeah right. We'll just see who --"
"Hey you two, stop it!" Shal'lyindraa interrupted Serena.
  Kyp and Serena looked at Shal'lyindraa.  "There now, "
she smiled sweetly, " remember?  We are supposed to be on
top of the temple right now."
  Kyp raised his eyebrows. "Oh, yeah.  I forgot."
  Shal'lyindraa frowned.  "Well, now you remember, so
come on.  You two need to learn how to control your
tempers.  Stop arguing all the time!"


  Serena closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the fresh
air that blew past her.  She looked across the tops of the
trees and the golden river, to the horizon.  The sun was a
bright pink, and was slowly sinking behind the tall trees and
mountains.  The sky seemed as if it were one large rainbow.
It was splashed with purple, blue, green, yellow, and other
colors as if a young child had thrown them delicately up
there.
  Kyp sat between her and Shal'lyindraa.  For the entire time
up there, neither of them had bothered to speak a word.
Serena smiled.  This was perfect; she tilted her head back.
Above her the sky was turning into a dark blue.  A few
bright stars began to appear.  The troubles of the day had
slowly begun to fade away, but the vision was still there, in
the back of her mind.
  Serena turned her attention back to the sunset.  The green,
pink, orange, and blue colors crashed together, making a
beautiful, soft glow that made the river look like a river of
paint.  For a moment a large shadow swept past them, and
then the sun and all its glory disappeared behind the
mountains.
   A colder wind blew past the trio forecasting the chill that
was soon to come, but neither of them moved.  Some
animal let out a long, eerie, high-pitched howl, which was
followed by a low moan.
  Serena shivered.  She recalled the huge beast that had
passed her and Kyp the night before.  The glowing red eyes
the huge claws that shone in the moonlight.  Kyp swept his
hand over hers, and laid it behind her back.  He leaned
closer to her.
  "This is so peaceful Kyp, I could stay up here forever,"
Serena whispered in his ear.
  Kyp did not answer back, but Serena did not expect him
to.  She had not been at the Academy for long, but already
she was sure she had created a close relationship with Kyp
and Shal'lyindraa.  It was strange, though, how everything
seemed to be working out.  First, she had met Han.  That
was practically impossible, but it had happened.  Serena
remembered when she had been waiting for Han above the
atmosphere of Tatooine, and had thought how
unfathomable it all was.  Right now her life was perfect, and
she would not want to change it for the galaxy.


  Jenin Thenard quickly, but smoothly, hurried to her room.
She had finally found out all the information Talon wanted.
Kayro might be a powerful man, but he was not as brilliant
as he let out to be.  Maybe now she could get out of here.
  Jenin opened her door, and quickly locked it.  She would
finally be able to leave this horrible place.  She could go
back to base and spend some quality time with her son.  She
had of course left the ten-year-old in the capable hands of
Talon where he was slowly learning how to become a
smuggler himself.
    Fifteen minutes later Talon was listening, and smiling.
"Talon, sir, I found out _everything_.  First, that Star
Destroyer is his.  It's under the control of a certain Captain
Stenner.  Next, Kayro has _three_ Star Destroyers,
counting this one . . ."

  Kayro leveled his blaster up to the young boy's head, and
he pulled the trigger.  Another life waisted because he had
decided to join the wrong group, and show up at the wrong
place at the wrong time.  The blast hit the boy straight
between the eyes.  The girl beside him screamed, Kayro
quickly moved the blaster over to her, and shot the side of
her head.  Her body went limp, and fell over.
  Kayro motioned for three of the stormtroopers to take the
bodies away.  He walked out of the room, and made his way
down the long hallway.  One more life was to be taken away
that day.  Only one more, but then tomorrow how many
more spies would be found?  Who knew, if Talon Karrde
were stupid enough he would be finding at least one or two
more . . .

    Jenin's eyes brightened for an instant, Talon would be so
proud of her.
  "Now, the best thing . . . I know all of Kayro's plans.  It's
very simple really."
  "You think so?"  a cold voice asked.
  Jenin stood up and turned around to see Kayro Inin
towering over her.  She gasped, as he pulled out his heavily
modified sporting blaster, and made sure it was set for kill.
  "But my dear Jenin, don't you think it will all work out in
the end?  As I have learned to understand, the most simplest
of plans are the ones that never fail."  Kayro pulled the
trigger, and sent a red laser beam straight through Jenin's
head.  She let out a short scream, and then fell over, her
skull shattered.
   Kayro Inin sat down in the chair, and smiled at the image
of Talon Karrde.  "Now, Karrde, I assure you that I have
also taken care of your other two spies.  If I were you, I
would not try to send anymore out here."
  Talon's face turned white.  "You killed them, too?"
  "Of course," Kayro said impassively.
  "But they were only teenagers."
  "Then maybe you will learn not to send boys and girls out
here to spy on me."
  Kayro lifted up the blaster and shot the screen. 'If only
that were Karrde's real head,' he mused.  Too bad about
Nara, no Jenin; she would have been the perfect assassin.
  Kayro shrugged it off, by tonight he would have forgotten
all about her.  People should start to learn that they should
never mess with him.  Who _would_ be next to learn such
an important lesson?

                  *                *              *


  It was growing closer to night and Tionne stopped
following Guy as soon as they reached the end of the
clearing surrounding the Great Temple.  Guy noticed and
turned around to her.  In the setting sun it was hard to tell
what expression he wore.
  "Come on, Tionne," he said, with an air of excitement
about him, a childish excitement.
  "It's almost night, Guy."
  "So?"
  "Exana's in the temple alone."
  "She's training with Dorsk.  Come on!"
  "Why?" Tionne asked.
  Guy walked back to where she stood and took her pale
hand in his.  "I just want to look at a temple I saw
yesterday."
  Tionne shook her head and her silver bangs fell into her
eyes.  "No.  Master Skywalker said to never go inside the
other temples."
  "I'm not going _in_ it.  I'm just going to study it from a
safe distance.  Come on."
  Tionne looked back at the Great Temple, and then looked
out into the darkening jungle; she then looked up at Guy.
"Fine," she mumbled.
  "Great,"  Guy let go of Tionne's hand and motioned her to
follow him.
  As soon as they entered the jungle Tionne felt
uncomfortable.  You never knew what roamed the jungles
at night.  Whatever kind of animals were out at night could
not be that dangerous because Tionne knew of Kyp's
nightly outings, but this was totally different.  Kyp never
went to study the temples.
  "You know," Guy said as they climbed over the roots of
trees that protruded from the ground, "I saw this temple
yesterday.  It felt and looked pretty safe to me.  I don't
know what everyone's worry is about these temples but --"
  "Exar Kun,"  Tionne interrupted.
  Guy was silent for a moment, probably trying to recall the
name from all the stories Tionne had told him.  "I see,"  he
said softly.
  "He's gone now.  We destroyed him, and a man named
Keiran Halcyon destroyed his temple."
  "That's good."
  "Yes."
  "Think the temple I found belongs to any Dark Jedi from a
thousand years ago?"
  "I hope not, and if it does . . . let's just hope he or she isn't
as powerful as Exar Kun."
  Guy shook his head, Tionne was just able to make out the
movement in the gloom.  "I doubt it does, Tionne . . .
What's that?"
  "What?"
  Guy pointed ahead of them, and Tionne saw a black thing
move towards them.  It was dark, tall, two legged . . . it was
a man.  Tionne chuckled softly, slightly sensing Kyp's
presence.  "It's Kyp Durron."
  Tionne walked ahead of Guy and then ran to Kyp who was
heading towards her and Guy.  "Hi Kyp,"  Tionne said as
she turned around and walked by him.
  "Hey, Tionne.  What are you doing out here?"  Kyp asked,
feigning innocence.
  "Guy found a temple that he wanted me to look at with
him."
  Kyp stopped walking and turned to Tionne.  They were far
enough away from Guy so he could not hear what they said
if they spoke soft enough.  "There aren't any temples near
here if you're going out this way, Tionne."
  Tionne looked back at Guy who was waiting for her a few
meters away.  "What?"
   "Seems you've been tricked into following your boyfriend
out here alone at night."  Kyp said laughing.
  "Oh, my."
  "Sometimes, Tionne, you seem to be so naive.  I don't
mean that in a mean way, but it seems Guy is using it to his
advantage."  Kyp patted Tionne on the shoulder, and left
her standing in the middle of the thin trail leading through
the jungle.
  When Kyp passed Guy, he nodded his head, smiling.  He
had talked to Guy earlier and told him which path to take
that would lead him to nowhere.  Kyp had wondered why
he had wanted to know, but now seeing Guy with Tionne he
understood.  Kyp chuckled to himself as he headed back to
the Great Temple and bed.

                   *            *            *

  About six hours ago Kyp, Shal'lyindraa, and Serena had
left the top of the temple.  Serena had not been hungry, so
she had told Kyp she would go back to her room and
meditate.  She had meditated for several hours, and when
she had finally opened her eyes, the temple had been silent,
that meant everyone was in bed, asleep.  However, Serena
could not sleep.  What she had seen and felt earlier that day
had not left her mind.  Yet, as soon as she was able to even
slightly forget the vision of the destroyed cities, her mother
had come into her mind.  Now, for the past hour all Serena
could think about was her mother.
  Serena never had found out and probably never would find
out if her mother were dead or still alive.  Serena wondered
what kind of story her father had conjured up.  Somehow he
had made her mother believe that she were dead, but how?
Serena tried, but could not get the question out of her head.

  Serena stood up from her bed.  A cool night breeze
progressed through her small stone room.  It hit her face,
and dried up what thin traces her tears had left on her
cheeks.  The sun had set hours ago, and it was past
midnight.  Kyp was probably asleep in bed, but she still had
to go to him.  He was the only person she could tell.  He
was the only person who could understand.



  Serena took a deep breath and knocked on Kyp's door.
She quickly went through one of the calming techniques he
had recently taught her.  Serena could hear her heart
pounding against her chest.  Telling him her past would not
be easy; she had never told anyone about it.  She had
nothing to lose, except if Kyp told Luke.  But, she trusted
Kyp enough to know he would not, at least, not without
letting her know.
  The door opened, and Kyp looked down at her.  He was
only wearing his pants, and Serena could tell that he had
been asleep.  If she had not been so serious, she would have
laughed at his disorderly hair.
  Kyp rubbed his hands over his eyes, and brushed his hair
down with his fingers.  He let a small smile cross his lips.
"You're still up?  It's a little late, Sere."
  "Well, I need to talk to you," she said uneasily.
  Kyp looked at her for a brief moment, and then motioned
her in his room.  He studied her troubled face and tight jaw.
Kyp touched her cheek cautiously, and Serena pulled away.
  He pulled up the covers on his bed, and they sat down on
it.
  "So, what you want to tell me must be important,"  Kyp
figured out loud.
  Serena took a deep breath, and closed her eyes.  "I guess
that depends, " she opened them, "on whether you think it is
or not."
  Kyp looked at her, concerned.  "Are you okay, Rena?"
Her face seemed to be turning paler by the second.
  Serena smiled wanly at him. "I'm fine, I'll be even better
once I tell you this."
  "All right, I'm listening."
  "I don't know _why_ I'm telling you this, but I have to tell
someone, "Serena blushed slightly, " and since I feel closer
to you more than anyone else here, I'm going to tell you.  I
also trust you well enough to know that you will not tell
_anyone_ what I'm going to tell you."
  Kyp watched Serena intently.  He could tell that she was
nervous, but maybe what she was about to tell him _was_
consequential.  Kyp folded his hands in his lap, he was so
tired, but he had to listen -- this had to be important --but
why did she choose the middle of the night to tell him?
Serena looked up at the cracking ceiling of the temple and
then back down into her lap.  She took a deep breath as she
began to speak.  "My real name is Serena Inin.  When I was
eight the Emperor made my father an Admiral.  My father is
Admiral Kayro Inin.
  "When I was young, I don't remember how old I was, he
sent me to Carida.  They treated me pretty well, I didn't do
much but I did enough to keep me in shape and make me
dangerous even though I was very young.  They trained me
well enough so that when I finally left I continued in my
training by myself, always practicing and always making
myself tougher and stronger."
  Carida was a planet   now destroyed by Kyp Durron
that had once housed thousands upon thousands of Imperial
ships and stormtroopers.  Men were trained there to become
usable machines of the Empire.  Most men during training
died, and only the toughest survived.  The toughest seemed
to amount to millions of disposable men used by the
Empire, and dying for the Empire.  Dying in vain.
  For a quick moment Kyp wondered if Serena had ever met
Zeth.  The moment passed hurriedly, and again he was
listening to Serena talking.
  Serena continued, "When I was thirteen he came back and
made it so," Serena's lower lip began to tremble, "he made it
so I couldn't have children. I don't know why.  I really
believe he couldn't stand them, but . . ."Serena's voice
trailed off.  After a short moment of silence, she began to
speak again.
  "When I was thirteen my father also took me off of Carida.
He took me back to my home -- my real home, but I don't
call it home, I never did.  It's some planet near Coruscant
called Granber.  Back then, the laws of the land were
whatever you owned when you died would be given to your
eldest child.  I was the eldest child.  I had a brother who
was one year younger than me, and he and I had gotten
along well until I had left for Carida, we had loved each
other so much.  Of course, when I returned my father was
with the Empire and my brother had changed drastically.
He was cold and dark, he was truly an Imperial.  I did not
let it bother me, on Carida I had been taught to not care.
My mother was as wonderful and beautiful as ever.  Belle
was her name.  I loved her so, she was the only one I loved
after my brother changed.
  "Now, I told you my brother changed drastically, triple
that and you have my father.  Father was so cruel and mean,
he hated me.  Why, I don't know.  But, I think I've pretty
much figured it out.  I was a girl, and the Emperor of
course, taught all his men to despise women, for they were
only good for child bearing and showing off their beauty to
other men.  My father did not want me to inherit all his
wealth.  He was wealthy, too.  Back then I was young and
did not know anything -- I'm not much older, but I think I
understand things much better.  The Emperor must have
given the entire city we lived in to father, I don't know why,
though!"  Serena's voice raised as she finished her sentence.
Serena quickly lowered her voice back to a half-whisper.
"It doesn't matter why.  My father was rich beyond your
wildest dreams, Kyp.  We had a huge house, castle
practically.  Everything shown and gleamed white and pearl!
It was beautiful, and it helped to soften me up for the next
year.  I lived happily with my servant friends and mother,
the only time I did not enjoy living in that heaven was when
I were around Father or my brother.  They hated me so . . .
loathed me.
  "Well, on Granber as I told you when the father of the
house dies the oldest child gets all the land and money and
servants.  At the eldest child's fourteenth birthday, he or she
is given a will-like document, promising him or her all the
things the father owns.  Since we were so rich, and it was
supposed to be a joyful occasion my mother and father,
together, planned a huge party . . . a ball.  My father and
brother told mother in their sweetest voices that they would
take me to a planet -- I forget the name -- where they sold
the loveliest jewerly and the loveliest clothes.  It had
belonged to the Empire, but after the Emporer died and
Coruscant was taken over when I was thirteen by the New
Republic, the planet immediately joined the New Republic.
It should have only taken a little more than half a day to the
most, so we left a day before the ball to search me out a
proper dress, for my father and brother had convinced
mother that I was a princess, and you could not find
anything good enough for a princess on Granber.   We left,
and I wasn't too smart back then, but I knew enough to
know that after seven hours of hyperspace we weren't
going to the right planet.  I confronted father and he locked
me up in a small room in his personal ship, where my
brother guarded the door, and when he spoke to me it was
only to say cruel and harsh words.  I threatened to tell on
him to mother when we returned to Granber, but he told me
I would never be returning.  Finally, after days of traveling
in hyperspace, we landed on a planet that my father called
Corellia.  He left me there, Kyp.  He just left me, and my
brother did nothing to help.  He just smiled wickedly and
said that when father died everything would now be his."
  Kyp's wide eyes suddenly narrowed into blue-black slits.
That, then was the explanation of Serena's failure to let
loose around people, to express her feelings.  It was a spell
that she had fallen into as soon as she had been thrown onto
Corellia with nothing.  Maybe she had fallen into the spell a
long time before her fourteenth birthday.  Maybe the day
that she had set foot on Carida she had lost all hope in ever
being loved and therefore decided to never show or feel
love.  Or any emotion at that.
  Kyp could not imagine what she had gone through on
Carida, of course they had gone easy on her; she was just a
child.  Kyp had no reasonable explanation of why someone
could be so cruel and unrefined as to send a child to a place
like Carida.  The younger the teenagers, the easier they
were to train to become killing machines.  But, Serena
hadn't been a teenager, she had been a child.  Of course
they had gone easy on her, but obviously not too easy.
Serena was tough and able to take care of herself.  She had
gotten at least that much off of Carida.  Another obvious
trait that she had required was the one of the Ice Queen.  Of
how to be cold and indifferent to everyone.  Of how to
show no feelings even though her insides were boiling over
with emotion.  Kyp knew from -- however brief the glances
-- that the Serena who was sarcastic, cold, and uncaring was
not the real Serena.  She acted as cold as ice, but every now
and then he was able to see the innocent school girl inside
her.  This Ice Queen was actually a Sun Goddess in
disguise.  What people saw --excluding himself and
Shal'lyindraa to some degree --was a fake outer shell that
Serena used to protect herself from other people's love,
friendship, kindness, happiness, sadness, and depression; all
emotions.  All Kyp had to do was break through that shell
of ice --however thick it may be.
  "He left me on Corellia with his personal ship named
_Morning Death_.  I renamed it _Corellian Sunrise _that
very same day.  I left Corellia soon afterwards; I was scared
that he would come back for me. I left for Tatooine.  I
guessed that was one of the last places he would look for
me.  I would have returned home, but he said that if he ever
saw me again, he would kill me."
  Anger flashed in Serena's eyes and then quickly melted
away. "That's about it.  Except, I know that was my father
attacking Koretin.  I don't know for sure, but I just have
this feeling that it is him. Koretin will not be the only place
he attacks; there will be others.  And, it may look like he's
just attacking planets at random, but he's not. There has to
be a plan behind it all."
  Kyp looked at Serena, trying to hide the shock from his
face.  Trying to remain calm. "So what you're saying is that
our present Imperial, with the Star Destroyer, is your
father?"
  "Yes."
  "I don't know what to say," Kyp mumbled.  Kyp had
wondered ever since Serena had come to the Academy with
Han who she really was, but he never would have guessed
that she was the daughter of some sadistic Imperial.
  Serena quickly stood up and pushed her hair out of her
eyes. "Then don't say anything," she said with a hint of
anger and sadness to her voice.   She walked towards the
door.
  "Wait, Serena." Kyp stood up and walked to her.  He
looked down at her, "Why don't you tell Master
Skywalker? He could help "
  "I don't need help, Kyp, " Serena argued, "and I'm not
going to tell anyone else, you aren't either," she ended with
her voice a whisper.
  Kyp could tell Serena was frustrated, and she was about to
cry. "I'm not going to tell anyone if you don't want me to
but it could help the New Republic . . ." his voice trailed off
as he caught sight of her wavering eyes.
  Serena looked down at the floor.  "I don't even know why
I told _you_."
  Kyp lifted Serena's face up, "I'm glad you told me."
  A single tear ran down Serena's cheek and she blinked the
rest away. Kyp put his arm around Serena's waist, and
brought her closer to him.  He lifted her face higher, as he
slightly bent down.
  "Kyp, I --we can't let this happen," she whispered, but did
not try to pull away.
  "Don't be afraid," Kyp whispered back, "just let me kiss
you . . . once."
  Kyp brushed his lips gently across Serena's.  She did not
pull away from him.  Kyp smiled, as Serena wrapped her
arm around his neck and brought herself up against him.
Kyp slipped his other arm around her waist. He kissed
Serena delicately, afraid that at any second she might pull
away from him.
  Kyp knew Serena was surprised at their actions, but he
was even more surprised.  He had been careful to stay away
from most people, afraid that what had happened to his
family would happen to them.  But, since his friendship with
Han, Dorsk 81, then Shal'lyindraa and Serena, he had
learned that without friends he could not live.  The four had
become an important part of his life, especially Han who
was like a father to Kyp.  Now Serena was an important
part of his life, and hopefully she would stay important.
Kyp knew that the future that lay ahead of him was possibly
a bright one, for he would be surrounded with his four
friends, Dorsk 81, Han, Serena, and Shal'lyindraa --unless
his future took them away from him, much like it took away
his family.  That thought had been lingering in his mind for
the past few days, and he knew for the rest of his life that
same thought would stay with him . . . until he died.
  Serena rested her head against Kyp's chest trying to make
herself pull away, she closed her eyes listening to his
pounding heart beat up against his hard chest quickly.
Badump, badump, badump.  His heart beat seemed to
quicken every few seconds.   Badump, badump, badump.
   Serena closed her eyes.  She did not want to be this close
to anyone.  She could not let herself fall in love with Kyp.
But, her feelings were telling her to stay.  Serena closed her
eyes.  Kyp had told her to always go by her feelings, but
maybe this was the one time she should not.
  Kyp put his hand on her cheek and looked at her. Serena
opened her eyes, and looked at him for a brief moment, then
she shut her eyes again, afraid of losing herself in those dark
eyes of his. Kyp kissed her neck and tried to kiss her again,
but she put her head down against his chest.  Thoughts of
what she wanted to do --stay with Kyp kiss him again and
again-- and thoughts of what she should do --run out of the
room and leave the Academy never looking back --whirled
through her head like a tornado.
  Badump, badump, badump . . . badump, badump . . .
  A knock came at the door. Serena pulled herself quickly
out of the embrace.
  Kyp walked towards the door and slowly opened it.
"Master Skywalker?"  Kyp asked, just a little angry that he
had been interrupted.  He had sensed the mixed emotions
inside of Serena, and he had hoped to help her through her
uncertainties.  For the god's sake, she had wanted to run!
He had hoped to help her find the love he knew she felt for
him.  But, Luke Skywalker had decided to pay him a visit.
By the next morning Serena could be gone, unless somehow
he was able to talk to her.  But, Kyp knew he would not be.
Luke would send Serena politely out of the room, and Kyp
would wake in the morning either with an empty room next
to his or a beautiful girl waiting to talk things through with
him.
  "Kyp," Luke nodded his head.  He looked around Kyp's
shoulder and saw Serena.  "I was wondering if I could
speak with you, alone?"
  "Yes, Master Skywalker."
  Serena stepped past them, blushing fiercely, and walked
out of the room.  Kyp watched her back with sad eyes,
wondering if he would ever see her again.
   Luke closed the door behind him. "Kyp, this will only take
a moment. I need to talk to you about Serena.  I've noticed
that you and she have become very close.  That is good, but
I want to warn you -- "
  "Warn me, about what? Master Skywalker I want you to
know that --"
  "That you are still just a boy, a lot of things you don't
understand, and there are a lot of things that you don't
know.  In fact, Serena is a good example.  You don't know
anything about her, You also don't realize that once she
gets hold of Talon Karrde, she will be gone."  Luke said
patiently.
  "Look," Kyp continued angrily, "I know more about
Serena than you'll ever know. And when she leaves . . . I'll
deal with it.  I'll just flow with whatever happens. I'll stay
focused by accepting whatever happens."
  "Kyp, you don't understand.  Denying the existence of a
truth will not change it; denying the presence of a tree in the
middle of a path will not annul it, " Luke said calmly. "It's
not that easy to let go of someone you love.  I know from
experience."
  "Whoever said I was in love with her?"
  "Kyp --"
  Kyp walked to the door, and opened it. "I'm not, okay?
Why should you care anyway? I might just be a teenager,
but I do believe that I'm smart enough to take care of my
own problems, Luke."
  Kyp walked out of the room, and slammed the door shut.
He took the turbolift to the top of the temple. He slowly
stepped outside, sensing the presence of someone else.
Along with the presence of another man came a gust of cold
wind.  Very cold wind.  Even though it was humid during
the day, the nights on Yavin Four were anything but warm,
especially atop the temple.  Kyp wondered silently why
anyone would be on top of the temple at this hour.
  "Han? What are you doing up here?"  Kyp asked as he
neared the form sitting on the right side of the squared off
temple top.
  "Waiting for you, kid."
  "You're leaving tomorrow?"  Kyp asked, watching as a
small white cloud formed when he talked.  Chill bumps
covered his arms and chest as he shivered.  Kyp, using the
Force, pushed away the cold.  He was not as warm as he
could have been, but right now he was not worried too
much about the cold and he certainly was not worried about
how much he could concentrate to use the Force to make
him warm.  His mind was on too many things, the top one
being Han's departure and Serena's thoughts on departure.
  "Yep."
  "Oh."
  Kyp sat beside Han. He took a deep breath of the crisp air.
He looked up at the sky, then at the stretch of land before
him.  There were tall trees as far as the eye could see.  At
one point, the trees broke apart.  Kyp could see the
moonlight shining on the river, making it look like a river of
melted silver instead of water.
  "How did you know that I would be up here?" Kyp asked
after a moment of silence.
  "Well, since I knew that Luke was going to talk to you
about Serena, I figured that you would get mad and come
up here.  I guess I know you well enough so that I knew
you'd come here."
  "How did you know that Master Skywalker was going to
talk to me?"
  "He and I talked about it."
  Kyp frowned. "I don't see why Master Skywalker should
even care about my relationship with Serena."
  "Kyp, you're Luke's student, he cares about you and
worries about you."
  "He shouldn't."
  "He does."
  "So what if Rena and I are more than friends? Anyway I
don't know if we are or not."
  "You need to be careful."
  "I have been, and I will be.  Han, I've never fallen in love
before, I never even thought that I would. I'm lonely, Han. I
have friends, but that's all. I need someone else; someone to
fill the place in my heart that left when my parents and
brother died."
  Han patted Kyp's shoulder, and stood up. "I hope she's the
right one for you, Kyp."
  "She is Han.  I know she is." 'I've loved her since the first
time I saw her.  She's the one for me.'
  "Oh, and Kyp?"
  "Yeah, Han?"
  "Put a shirt on before you get sick."
  Kyp smiled. "All right, dad."

e-mail@ misato101@aol.com
er...merde...i apologize for kyp's attitude. he should be more dour etc. um. oh-well. i've
learned.
xoxo
jess