Star Wars Character Cafe - Redemption Chapter 5

REDEMPTION

CHAPTER 5

Upon their arrival in the Sullest system, Flik discovered that Kaitlin was on board the medical frigate. After taking the plans to Admiral Ackbar and imparting the news that Palpatine would be overseeing the final construction of the new Death Star, Flik and Shiba went over to the Medical Frigate to see Kaitlin. Karli and her cameraman, Junel, accompanied them.

Out of the corner of her eye, Shiba caught the movement of Junel’s holocam. She turned to face him. “This is a place of healing. Turn that pile of Hutt slime off before I see the need to blast it. I don’t see why we couldn’t have had Ackbar throw them two into the brig until this thing is over, Flik.”

“As yet, they’ve not done anything to deserve imprisonment. Besides, they wouldn’t even be here if not for us,” Flik replied.

“I don’t trust them – they are Imperials, after all.

Flik regarded her with an amused expression. “Things aren’t always as they seem, Shiba. You of all people should know that.”

She almost accused him of going Jedi on her, but stopped herself when she remembered Karli and her cameraman.

“Still, they’d better keep that thing away from me - ” she warned.

A soft rumble of laughter mixed with a growl sounded behind her. “Your hunter’s blood flows as hot as it did the last time we met, Shiba Black.”

Shiba turned around and saw Flik’s brother. “I’ll take that as a compliment, I think. Where’s Dice?”

“Dice is gone,” Lak Sivrak replied, sadly. “She was killed as we escaped Hoth.”

“I am sorry to hear that, brother,” Flik said.

Lak informed them of Cresentina’s death and that of her child. The stress had just been too much for them both. Shiba, though saddened at the news, was relived that she wouldn’t have to inform the other woman of the manner of her husband’s death, and could only hope that the assault on the Death Star would go better.

***

Flik was in the mess hall aboard Home One, with Shiba, Kaitlin, Lak and much to his annoyance and everyone else’s, it seemed, Karli and Junel as well. The only advantage to having them following them around was that he could keep an eye on them and know that they weren’t intent on betraying the fleet. The children and Shivron had been given sanctuary on Sullest and Shiba had given him the contact details for her friend Nova on Corellia in case the worst happened at Endor. He had called the rest of the Ackley to meet them in the mess, and they were now waiting for them. Shiba had also changed clothes and was now wearing a black t-shirt and trousers, but the strain of the last few days was still etched on her face, as it was on them all.

Flik glanced across at Kaitlin – something was bothering her and had been since they arrived at Sullest. She’d hardly said two words to him since they’d met over on the medical frigate and he’d put part of it down to Cresentina’s death. He caught her eye and Kaitlin immediately looked down at her plate, as though it had suddenly become more interesting and he guessed that the thing bothering her was more than just Cresentina’s death. Shiba had finished her meal and asked if Flik had finished his. He indicated that he had and after collecting up their plates, she made herself scare and took Lak with her. The silence continued until Flik couldn’t stand it any longer and he was just on the verge of asking Kat what was on her mind, when she saved him the trouble.

“I know what you’ve been keeping from me,” she said, producing the holocron. She had worked out how to handle the thing without accidentally activating it. Flik snatched it from her open palm before anyone else saw it and secreted it away in the pocket of his jacket.

“Where did you get it?” he asked.

“Zak had it. When I touched it, I activated it somehow - ”

He reached across the table and put his claw to her lips to silence her. “We can’t talk about it here.” Flik indicated Karli and her cameraman. Even though they were not paying any attention to them and discussing whom their next victim should be on their interview list, he’d spotted their holocam on the periphery of his vision.

Kat nodded her understanding as Lak and Shiba rejoined them.

“So, what’s their story?” Lak asked.

“Oh, about how we picked up our personal paparazzi? That, Lak, is a long story.”

“And a rather amusing one, too,” Shiba added.

***

Flik and Shiba had just finished relating the story of how they picked up Karli and her cameraman, when the rest of the Ackley arrived. Lak thought that it would be prudent to leave while Flik discussed their plans with his people.

“So what do you want us for?” Zan asked.

“I suspect that the reason for fleet meeting here is to destroy the Death Star that Shiba got the plans for on Coruscant.”

“Just one problem with that, we were scheduled to be here anyway, fleaball,” Zan said.

“Thank you for stating the obvious, Zan,” Flik said, trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice. “It looks like what Shiba picked up was a bonus anyway. Bothan spies uncovered that long before our recent trip to Coruscant. Anyway, that’s not the point of why we’re here.

“Cathos,” Flik continued, “I need you and Zan to keep an eye on our journalists over there. Make sure that they keep their noses out of things they shouldn’t be poking around in.”

That brought an audible groan from Zan.

“Is there a problem with that, Zan?” Flik said, giving him his angry wolf stare.

Zan glanced over at Karli and even though she looked a little rough around the edges, she still had the same charisma that she had on the holo. That more than the quiet threat in Flik’s glare convinced him he had no problem with it.

“No, no problem, Flik.”

“Be careful what you say to her,” Flik warned.

“Don’t worry – I’ll be with them all along,” Cathos reassured him and Zan looked like he was going to protest again, until he caught the gleam in Flik’s eye and decided it best to keep his grievances to himself.

“Shiba, you’ll be on the Medical Frigate?” it was more than a question an order and it annoyed the hell out of Zan – like how come she got a choice in what she was going to do? And from the way he asked her, Flik already knew the answer. That was –

“I cleared it a while back,” she replied.

“Good. Kat, you’ll co-pilot the Warrior with me and I want Sholinar to be on board too. The rest of you can take out the freighter we used to get to Coruscant. I suspect every ship will be needed.”

Just as he finished, their comlinks beeped and Flik checked his.

“They want us in the briefing room now,” he informed the others. “Cathos, Zan, your task begins now.”

***

As Flik was leaving the briefing room, he heard someone call his name. He turned and saw that it was Rivik, whom Shiba had helped escape back on Coruscant. Flik bid the Ackley to go on ahead.

Flik followed the younger Shistavanen into an empty room adjoining the corridor.

“This is probably not the best time to discuss this, Shirak,” Rivik said, using the name Flik’s father, Raqak had given him to use during the days of the Old Republic to hide his parentage when it had been forbidden for Jedi to marry. Only a few had ever known the truth – Flik’s parents, Master Naja, Lyet, his twin sister, (whom had never been trained at the Temple, even though she was Force sensitive, like her twin.), Auoura, Flik’s love, and those Archetypes whom Mizet, his mother, could trust with the truth. After the Battle of the Uvena System, when the Shistavanens had fought both the Republic and the Separatists, that secret had been uncovered, so Flik saw no reason not to use his true name. Its use had hidden him from Palpatine’s Jedi hunters. Kind of ironic, since Raqak had always used his Sivrak name, and so Flik should have been uncovered!

“I’ve not gone by that name for a long time,” Flik said.

“You are the heir of Mizet. Those still loyal to your mother have been searching for you for along time,” Rivik said.

“You are right, Rivik, this is not the best time to bring it up,” the disgraced Jedi replied.

“You know of the occupation that has taken hold of our home system for so long. Nidet and I thought that by finding you, we could take it back.”

“And who would you put in its place? I am a Jedi, I cannot rule, lest you want another Palpatine on your hands. Besides, you have been the guardian of our people through the long years of darkness while I have been absent. Even if I could rule, do you think that I would be accepted by them when I abandoned them?”
Like his absence from the Jedi Order during the purge and his inability to protect his family, not being there to fight against Palpatine’s occupation had been one of the things that he had felt guilt for over the years.

“I am sure you had your reasons to have been in hiding but - ”

“You are a better choice to lead our people than I, Rivik. I cannot return home and expect to put things right after all this time and then pick things up where my mother left off.”

“It’s not just about that. Even if the Alliance succeeds at Endor, it won’t be over for our people. I fear that my exile will have put the Uvena System in the hands of a corrupt archetype called Za and a Sith witch going by the name of Azet.”

A flicker of recognition sparked in Flik’s eyes.

“You know of her?” Rivik asked.

“Yes. I thought that she would have died in the Purge.”

A distant memory flashed through his mind of the Arena on Geonosis. Azet’s master had been unable to leave her behind when the Jedi had been called there, as she was only a child Padawan at the time. Flik remembered saving her life. Had that very action caused another Palpatine to emerge?

“But still, there is little that can be done for now. It will have to wait until after Endor.”

Rivik nodded his agreement and Flik existed the room. A little further down the corridor, he bumped into Shiba, who had decided to wait for him.

“Shouldn’t you be on the Medical Frigate by now?” Flik asked her.

“What’s going on, Sivrak?” Shiba answered his question with one of her own, in the tone that she used when she knew that there was something bothering him but he wanted to keep it from her.

Flik wondered just how much he should tell her. “It’s just a minor problem that can wait until after the coming battle. Besides, it’s not something I want to discuss with so many people around.”

Shiba nodded. She would just have to accept that as his answer for now. Besides, she had ways of getting the truth out of him and it could wait until they were alone.

“Okay then, keep your little secrets,” Shiba said.

“You’ve still not answered my question.”

“We’re on the verge of heading into the biggest battle of our lives, possibly even in history, and you worry about where I should be. I thought you’d be happy that I wanted to spend a few moments with you before we have to split up again.”

Flik smiled at her. “Of course I’m glad. It’s just that what Rivik had to say rattled me, that’s all.”

Shiba slipped her hand in his and squeezed. “To tell you the truth, I can’t wait until this thing is over. It’s been a hellish few days, ever since we busted Shara out of that Imperial compound.”

Flik hugged her shoulders, wondering if it would ever be over. Just when you’d thought all the piranha beetles had been squashed flat, about ten more for everyone you killed seemed to emerge from the nest.

***

Flik transported Shiba over to the medical frigate using the Warrior. He would have liked to have her at his side in the coming battle, but as he must resume his role as a Jedi, she must resume hers as a healer. Still, as they parted from each other, he couldn’t help but feel like he was leaving apart of himself behind.

On his return to Home One, he found Kaitlin waiting for him. He descended the ramp and beckoned her to come up. “Where’s Sholinar?” Flik asked her.

“I asked him to come along later, that’s if you don’t mind,” Kat replied. “I thought we had stuff to talk about.”

Flik nodded. He’d wondered on the way back over how he’d get to talk to Kaitlin alone about the Jedi, but it seemed that Kat had solved that problem for him. Once they were both inside, Flik ordered Lobo to seal the ship, but let them know when Sholinar arrived.

“We’ll talk in the galley,” Flik said, and led the way, even though Kat knew perfectly well where it was.

Once they were seated, Flik looked across at her, wondering how to begin. Apart from revealing what he was to Shiba, he had kept his Jedi powers hidden for so long for his own protection and that of his mate and son, when they had been alive. He thought about how much he should tell her, but perhaps the knowledge of the confrontation he’d had with Tek would be too burdensome for now, and it would only lend weight to the old debate against Jedi having family – as if enough problems hadn’t been caused by that already! So he remembered that he’d not thanked her for saving the children.

“I’ve not thanked you yet for saving Zak and Jeana, and for getting my Lightsabre and the holocron out of there, especially the holocron. The Lightsabre I could have easily replaced, but the holocron is the only one of its kind; there are others, but out there, but they have been lost to us, and the holocron in my possession has teachings on it unique to that particular one. I thought it was in a secure compartment on board the Warrior – I couldn’t imagine how Zak got hold of it.”

“He has Jedi power, doesn’t he?”

Flik nodded. “He has. I sensed your Jedi power as soon as I met you. You can see why I have been cautious about telling you and coming forward with this – with the Jedi Purge, I’ve had to keep my powers a secret and protect anyone who I come across with them too. I had to be sure that you were ready to know the truth, though it seems events have conspired to bring it out into the open. I must apologise if you think I’ve tried to deceive you in anyway, as that has never been my intention.”

“The gatekeeper of the holocron, did you know him?”

“Her. Hisha was the teacher of my father, Raqak, and my own Master, Naja. I never met her because she left the Order before I was born, not because she had turned to the darkside, but because she wanted to take her own path. The old Order was too rigid at times, and I left it in turn because of that, but never abandoned being a Jedi and that’s how I managed to escape the Purge when so many others didn’t. My father was killed by Vader when he finally tracked him down and Naja died during the Clone Wars.”

“Master Sivrak, there is a Shistavanen outside the ship,” Lobo reported.

“Did he give a name?”

“Yes, Rivik. He said that you know him.”

Flik turned to Kat. “It looks like we’re going to have to cut this a little short, Kaitlin.” Addressing the AI, “Let him in.”

Lobo acknowledged the order and a minute later, Rivik was in the galley with them.

“I figured that you would need help, Sivrak, and it’s time for the Archetypes to fight at the side of the Heir of Mizet again.”