Star Wars: The Jedi Chronicles:Enter The Shadows (Books 1-4)

Star Wars: The Jedi Chronicles: Shadow Sith Part 3: Planet Jumping

Chapter One

The Lie and The Plan

Aria has just spent her night attempting to kill Censes. She failed in her attempt and was beaten badly. Censes implanted a new crystal into Aria’s arm and she stole her old one back from Shain. Now a spy for Censes, she is doing everything she can to slow the group down. The young Jedi have been waiting for half an hour for Aria to show and some are getting worried.

Jacklinea: Shouldn’t she be here by now?

Andrew: Isn’t she usually one of the first to show up to a meeting?

Eve: Computer, locate Aria Rymeris.

Computer: Aria Rymeris is in the hanger bay.

Shain: (remembering the conversation after their fight) She’s going after Censes!

The group runs as fast as they can to the hanger. There, they see Aria crawling out of her ship. She is badly bruised and cut up.

Eve: Aria! (rushes over to be her crutch)

Shain: (healing her) You went off and fought Censes by yourself, didn’t you? After I told you that you couldn’t take him.

Aria: Shut up! If you say anything, so help me, I’ll...

She spits on his feet. Everyone is surprised and Shain is a little ticked.

Shain: What the heck!?

Dudley: (with a surprised look on his face) Whoa...

Willie grabs Shain and pulls him over to the side.

Willie: Shain, she was just tortured and beaten. You can’t take offence at anything she says right now - she doesn't mean it.

Shain: But she--

Willie: She didn't listen to you. You know what, maybe she would be more willing to listen to you if you’d never left. Believe it or not, we’ve all lost trust. Now she’s in pain, so you need to be patient and understanding. I shouldn’t have to tell you that.

Shain drops his head. Aria walks by with her head hung low and a secret smirk on her face. They head to the conference room... all except Shain, who is in his room, feeling bad about himself. Aria is in the medical bay.

Cassandra: Are you ok? What did he do to you?

Aria: He took over my mind and pulled me toward him, then released me once I got there. My guess is it was pure spite for how well we’re doing. I attacked him and he did this to me. I hate to say this... but he’s better than any of us, even Shain or Josh. He sent me back as an example for those of you who want to try the same thing. (groans) I’m such an idiot!

Anthony: Come on, now, Aria; don’t beat yourself up.

Andrew: An old, wise green dude once said “Fear is path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering.”

Aria: Exactly! That’s just how it...I know that already. Why didn’t I just... Ugh, I walked right into his little trap.

Willie: It’s a trap!

The group laughs, except Jacklinea. Aria fakes a laugh and Cassandra smiles just a bit.

Josh S.: Well, I suppose we should get Shain and be on our way.

Willie: I suggest you give him a bit more time on his own. Just tell Cassie where you want Sugar Cube (meaning Shain) and she can tell him.

Cassandra: (timidly) Cassandra, please?

Josh S.: Alright; Anthony, you’re going after Carl. Andrew, you got Elena. Jacob and Jordan, you two got Benjamin. Cassie, you and Shain have Nathan I. Eve and Jacklinea, you can get Sarah. Dudley, you’re going to fight Joel.

Dudley: What does Joel control?

Anthony: Joel controls fusion, which basically means he can make things explode.

Dudley: (jealous) Aww... What if he blows me up?

Jordan: Booooom!

Jordin: Hopefully, he won’t do that. Just stay out of the way of his blast and you’ll be fine.

Aria: (to Josh S.) What about you and I?

Josh S.: You are staying behind for recovery. You limped here after Shain healed you.

Aria: (very pleased but trying not to act like it) Well, if I have to. But I want to get back out there soon.

Josh S.: I am going into round two with Paul, Michael and Elizabeth.

Andrew: You can’t take all three of them, on your own with just you and Jordin.

Josh S. By the Force, we’ll be able to do this.

Shain: It’s gonna take a little more then the Force to take that base. (everyone looks at Shain who is leaning against the doorway arms crossed) Wait till we can get the everyone together and storm that group, and then we’ll find Cody.

Willie: Yeah, I don’t think it’s a good idea to go in against those three, just you and a padawan. No offence, Jordin.

Jordin: (waves his hand) None taken.

Andrew: What about Shain’s little brother, Josh?

Shain: Think battle strategy. Nathan Ingram would be best to take him.

Anthony: What about Joel? Fusion against amped force?

Josh S.: Nah, we can take ‘m, bro. But if you want, you can stop by and help us out. Shain, you and Cassandra are going to Mustafar to pick up Nathan.

Shain: You want me to go face someone who controls lava?!

Aria: (patronizing) I thought your lightsaber allowed you to control water.

Shain: There is no water on Mustafar!

Aria: (snorts) For the planet to exist, there has to be water.

Shain: Not if the whole dang thing is lava and lava rock!

Anthony: Actually, it’s zero percent water and thirty-five percent lava.

Josh S.: I’ve been studying Mustafar’s water intake. They have tankers going in and out of ports all day everyday. Between you and Cassandra, you guys can borrow two for your saber, and then Cassandra can keep bringing you ships.

Shain: Ok.

Josh S.: Any questions? (he pauses for a moment) Good. We leave immediately, Aria, get some sleep.

Aria: I will.

Josh S.: Alright, let’s move out.

The group head to their ships and take off their separate ways.