Managing the Shadows (Star Wars Legacy - AK, After Krayt, Part 1)

Chapter 3: Retiring the Space Cowboy

As the ship disengaged from Hyperspace, Wayland began to appear. Even from a distance the state of the planet was quite evident. It was nearly entirely covered in dark, lifeless browns and grays. These dull colors were only broken apart by smatterings of dark reds that gave the appearance of wretched scabs and scars littering the planet's surface.

As the planet grew to roughly the size of his hand, however, Cade allowed himself a brief smile.

Even if it was only a quick respite, it did him good to see that the Green was still there. There, amidst all of the colors indicative of death and despair mocking his thwarted ambitions, was a roughly oval shaped area. From his vantage point it was perhaps only as large as a coin. Yet this spot, visible from space, was a canvas of lively greens and brilliant blues. Even while the rest of the planet was haunted by an air of darkness, the Green shouted its optimism, its hope, not just for the planet, but for the entire Galaxy to hear.

The importance of the planet as a symbol of rebirth, was not lost on the Galaxy's ruling governing body, the Galactic Federation Triumvirate. Above Wayland orbited a fleet of ships sent by direct orders of Gar Stazi, representing the Galactic Alliance Remnant. This fleet had been sent after Cade had issued a request to the Triumvirate through the New Jedi Order.

Cade knew too well that, even though the Sith government had been crushed, how much evil, chaos, and destruction, the overlooked Sith remnants could sew from the shadows. He vowed that they would not make his father's mistakes. No one came on or off of this planet without first registering in with the fleet's flagship overhead, A New Hope.

As the Mynock sent over their transponder codes a friendly voice lit up the coms.

"Ah Cade, glad to have you back."

"Ahnah! So good to hear your voice. You been taking good care of Syn while we've been out? Keeping him out of trouble?"

"I've been trying, but you know him and trouble, like tryna stay dry on Mon Calamari."

Blue laughed as Cade continued. "Hear you loud and clear! So Ahnah, we good for landing?"

"Should be fine, just give me one sec- Hold up, Cade."

The comm went silent.

"Um... Cade... I'm really sorry, but as a precautionary measure we have an Imperial Knight on board. He's scanning your vessel for dark side energy, and he says he senses a powerful dark side presence on your ship. He wants me to ask you if there's any chance you might've had a stowaway on your vessel."

Cade turned off the coms and looked at Blue, irritated.

Blue waited, "well, it's not her fault. That is the protocol."

"I know it's the protocol, I made it the crikking protocol!"

Cade knew that they were sensing Traya's presence. His only relief was that she wasn't in the cockpit to hear their suspicions directly.

Cade sighed. He flicked communications back on. "Tell him the source is Cade crikking Skywalker. If I had a stowaway Sith on board, he'd be as good as a dead Sith. I'm coming in."

"Cade, wait. I just need to confirm-"

Cade had had enough. "Confirm this. We're coming in for a landing. Skywalker out." Cade disengaged the comms and made a beeline for Wayland. He turned to Blue, "unbelievable..."

"Cade, she's just doing her job."

"Just following orders, eh? That's always done the galaxy great, hasn't it?"

"Cade, you can't seriously be mad that she doesn't trust you, of all people, to not be bringing trouble."

Cade turned around with a childish grin, "Fair enough, Blue, fair enough..." She waited to see if he'd call back to A New Hope. No such luck.