The Path of Dreams

~Chapter 11~
43 ABY, One Month Later

GA Defense Force Headquarters, Coruscant

“Lieutenant Horn, please stand.”

Valin looked like a common criminal, not an upstanding Jedi Knight who’s only of wrongdoing was disobeying an order and following his heart. He was dressed in a grey jumpsuit and was shackled when they brought him to and from the courtroom. Around his neck he wore a new invention called a yuumiri collar. The tiny Yuuzhan Vong creature within a chamber on a conventional metal collar had been shaped from ysalamiri DNA to repel the Force. Even Valin’s connection to the Force had been taken away from him.

Jaina couldn’t believe the charade that the government, the military and the media was making out of his trial for treason. Even her trial, which also had been played up to the media, hadn’t gained this much attention. To everyone who didn’t know the man Valin Horn was, he had become villain. In many beings’ eyes, Valin personified the terrorists who had attacked their government two months ago. In fact, Valin's trial had received so much media blitz that its sensationalistic twist outshined the New Year celebrations.

Zekk had tried to get the charges for insubordination dropped, but only ended up being accused of trying to play what was becoming known as the “Jedi card”, and reminded that he could be replaced, or charged for treason himself if his insistence continued. But what made Jaina increasingly upset was the lack of official support from the Jedi Council.


Corran had attended the trial and her uncle and aunt came on a few occasions of the three week long ordeal. Although, the only other Council member who attended was Jacen; he wasn’t attending as even a Jedi. He was among the military in attendance which included Darklighter, Cheb, Mazzi and several others. She distanced herself as far from her brother as possible and hadn’t even acknowledged him, but then, he hadn’t said anything to her either.

She turned her attention back to the front of the court where Valin Horn stood beside the JAG officer who had been appointed to represent him. Valin was known for his impassiveness throughout the trial. He answered the questions with so little emotion that she had heard that the media was dubbing him the “Jedi droid.” However to the Jedi in attendance, Valin was feeling anything but emotionless. He was a torrent of frustration, disbelief and growing anger. In fact, she and Zekk would have been concerned of him possibly giving into those emotions and touching the Dark Side, if he could have touched the Force.

Finally, the judge continued as he turned toward the jury, who was made up of twelve junior officers ranking from ensign to major, “peers” as they were called. The military had opted for a jury trial verse a trial by tribunal, as hers had been. Although a jury trial could be used for court-martials, they weren’t often and when they were it was because the being on trial had committed an act that was as much criminal as was against military code. Jaina scanned the faces of the beings that sat within the jury box and gently probed them. They all seemed intent, and they all seemed determined to deal with the “traitor”. She swallowed and thought that this wasn’t going to bode well for her friend.

“Members of the Jury have you reached a decision?” the tan Twi’lek judge asked.

A tall Chev major stood at attention and replied, “Yes, Your Honor, we have.”

He then handed the datachip over to a staff sergeant who turned it over to the retired general who was acting as the judge. Jaina glanced to the back of the courtroom where Valin’s family was standing and she wondered how this was affecting them. She knew from Valin that Mirax was very pro-Corellian, although she tried to remain as neutral as possible, but Corran and Jysella were as pro-GA as they came. She shook her head as she watched Mirax and Corran exchange concerned glances. Suddenly, Jaina wondered if the Horns were the next family to be ripped asunder by this damnable war.

“All rise,” Jaina stood at attention and sent her support to Valin through the Force. She knew the other Jedi in the room were too, save for Jacen. She couldn’t even get a read on his thoughts. It was like he had totally shut himself off from the Force, and almost as disturbingly, completely from her.

The judge inserted the chip into a reader and took a moment to read the findings. Then he looked at Valin and announced, “Jedi Knight and Lieutenant Valin Horn, this Court finds you guilty of insubordination, the reckless endangerment of the life of a fellow officer, and finally of treason against the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances.” The media in the court went wild and the judge began to beat his gavel on the amplification stone. Soon the courtroom became quiet again. “Mr. Horn, upon this verdict, this Court hereby sentences you to death by lethal injection.” Jaina was instantly bombarded with the despair from the Horns. The judge went on, “You will be held in the maximum security center of the military penal complex on Centax-3 until the time of execution.”

Jaina felt the surge from Valin but nothing registered on the Jedi’s face. She looked over at Zekk who met her gaze. In her head she heard, We have to do something.

Yeah, I know. She sent back and looked to the back of the courtroom. The only member of Valin’s family still standing there was his mother, who was as much bubbling cauldron of emotion as her son was; however Mirax Horn wasn’t trying to hide it. Anyone who looked at the still beautiful ex-smuggler could tell exactly what she was feeling and probably thinking. And all Jaina could think was that wasn’t a good thing.

~

Jysella wasn’t at all shocked about the verdict, but she was surprised by her father’s response. She watched as he gave her mother an apologetic look and then he walked out of the courtroom immediately following the sentencing. She felt his heartbreak concerning Valin, but she also felt his frustration toward him too. Valin and Corran had never been close and over the past ten years their relationship nearly became non-existent. She knew her father and brother loved each other, but they never were good at showing it. Jys always found that odd considering how close her father said he was to her grandfather Hal. Valin had always been too independent for her father; Mirax simply called it the Terrik in him. Maybe that is what drives Daddy so crazy, the thought that Valin takes after Booster Terrik more so than he does him.

She quickly gave her mother a concerned glance, but she didn’t even acknowledge Jys; she was too embittered at what had happened and too angry at her father. Jys swallowed and knew she needed to do something; she couldn’t let this rip her family apart like it had Ben’s. She followed her father and caught up with him as he was responding to the horde of reporters who couldn’t get inside the courtroom.

“I repeat, I have no comment on the situation,” Corran calmly replied as he tried to move past a Bith reporter.

“What will the Jedi Council do now that one of its Knights has been convicted of a crime, Master Horn? Is there any concern that Knight Horn will cause any problems, despite his severed connection to the Force?” Jys flinched at the thought of the device that took away ones connection to the Force disturbed her greatly. She had only been cut off from the Force once during a training session where ysalamiri had brought in. She shuddered at the memory of being “blind”.

Corran had the serene expression of a practiced Jedi Master as he looked at the reporter and calmly replied, “I am sorry, but I will not comment on this or any other questions concerning Jedi Knight Valin Horn. Now if you will excuse me.” He looked back at Jys and held out his arm to wrap around her shoulders to protect her as much as guide her through the throng.

Once they were outside and away from the front of the building, he removed his arm and turned to confront her. “You should have stayed with your mother.”

She looked up at him and countered, “I could say the same for you, Dad. What’s going on?”

Corran moved away from her and stepped over to look out over the durosteel railing. From where they were standing the construction droids that were working on the destroyed Senate building were visible through the hundreds of traffic lanes of one of the busiest freeways. Suddenly, over head a mag-lev train sped by, Jys watched it wondering if her father was going to answer her question.

Then he squared his shoulders and said, “Your mother wants me to get Valin out of this and she doesn’t understand why I can’t.” He turned and looked at her; suddenly she realized how much her father had aged since the start of this war. “Jysella, if I could do something Force knows that I would. But Valin chose this path. I understand why he did it. And I would have done the same thing if faced with the same choice, but I can’t get him out of this. He has to face the same consequences that I would have if it were me.”

She moved over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. He hugged her back and she said, “Daddy, we’ll be okay, won’t we?” She turned her face up to his and met his green eyes that were so much like her own. “Do you think Mom will try something? She’s pretty upset right now.”

Corran stroked her braided hair and forced a smile, “We’ll be fine, Jys. Your mother and I got through bad times before and we will get through this.” He kissed her forehead and she felt his reassurance, but somehow she knew he really wasn’t convinced of his own words. She could feel his grief as profoundly as she had felt her mother’s.

Then he winked at her and smiled, “And as for your mother trying something. I would be surprised if she didn’t. I just hope I can foil her plans before she ends up in prison beside your brother.”

Jys smiled at her father’s attempt at humor and said, “Of course, I wonder what Grandpa would say about that.”

“Ugh—Please, Jyssie, the situation is already bad enough. Let’s keep Booster as far away as possible. I can’t deal with two Terriks at once; your mother will keep me busy enough as it is.” Jysella and he shared a smile, but the wait of the verdict that would eventually take her bother’s life weighed heavily on them. The father and daughter found comfort in holding each other while they waited for Mirax outside.

~~~

Zekk/Solo Temporary Quarters, Fifth Fleet Base, Coruscant

“Ahhh...Get that, Zekk,” she mumbled, pulling her pillow over her head as another buzz came from the door chime. “Who the kriff could that be?”

Zekk flipped the bedside lamp on and sat up. He ran his hand through his long black hair and groaned as he stood up, “0200. This had better be important.”

“Well, whoever it is should be vaped on the spot,” Jaina grumbled from where she was laying on her stomach with the pillow over her head.

Zekk shook his head and chuckled as he leaned over and smacked her backside—hard. “Zekk!” She threw the pillow at him as he began to move away from the bed. He easily dodged it and, with a flick of his finger, touched the Force to send it back at her. She caught it as she sat up and openly glared at him. “You know, that wasn’t very nice.”

The buzzer sounded again and he called out, “I’m coming.” Then he turned back to her and snickered as he pulled on his robe. Jaina had to admit he was very handsome as he gloated, “Maybe not, but that’s what you get for being bossy, Goddess.”

“Zekk, I’m going to get you for that.” Jaina growled and narrowed her eyes at her future husband. He knew that she absolutely hated it when he referred to her by the old name she was forced to use while pretending to be the Trickster Goddess of the Yuuzhan Vong during the war.

He turned at the door and winked, “I’ll be looking forward to it.”

She grinned as she heard in her head, I love you.

You better, nerfherder.

Zekk opened the door and suddenly, the good humor was replaced with trepidation. Allia Judday looked at Zekk and quietly said, “I’m sorry, Colonel Zekk. Major Solo. But may I come in?”

Zekk moved away to let the young woman in. As the door slid shut he glanced at Jaina and then back to Allia, “What’s up?”

She swallowed and Jaina could tell she was extremely nervous and upset. Jaina, who had gotten out of bed and donned her own robe, moved to stand beside Zekk. She gestured to the only chair in the small quarters, “Please, Lieutenant, have a seat.”

Allia looked nervously at the chair and then decided that she would sit. After she sat, Zekk and Jaina sat on the side of their bed. Finally, the pilot, who reluctantly was instrumental in the case against Valin, looked up at them and announced, “First, I want you to understand that I didn’t want this to happen to Lieutenant Horn. Secondly, I wanted to tell you that I’m leaving the service.”

Jaina and Zekk both stared at her, but it was Jaina who asked, “Why? We both know that the prosecution was pretty tough on you. Trust me, Allia, I’ve been forced to participate in more than one trial. I know how they can twist your words.”

Allia rubbed her hands on her thighs before elaborating, “Thanks. But the reason I’m leaving is because I’m going home. I’m from Eriadu.”

Zekk, remembering something, narrowed his eyes and said, “Wait. Your records state that you were from Corulag.”

She smiled and nodded, “Yes. But that is not exactly true. My name isn’t really Judday either.”

“What?” both Jaina and Zekk said at the same time.

She grinned, “I think one reason Syal Antilles and I got along so well when we flew together was because we both were trying to hide our real identities. She became Lysa Dunter to hide the fact the Wedge Antilles was her father. And I became Allia Judday to hide the fact that I come from a famous family as well.”

“Okay, we’re more than a little intrigued,” Jaina admitted, “which considering we’re Jedi isn’t an easy task.”

Allia stood up and turned away for a moment. “My mother’s family is an old one and had been instrumental in the history of Eriadu and of the Empire,” she glanced back at Jaina and gave her a crocked grin, “and ironically my father has written a lot of the history of the New Republic and the GA.”

Jaina stared at her for a moment, and then pointedly asked, “You aren’t a Tarkin, are you?”

Allia turned to face her, smiled and responded, “Close. My mother is one—Rivoche Tarkin to be exact. My father is historian Voren Na’al. My real name is Allia Tarkin-Na’al and I’m their youngest daughter. Judday was the name of a childhood friend who taught me how to fly. When I joined the military academy, I took her name to prevent the complications that being from famous parents can cause, particularly with a name as infamous as Tarkin.”

Jaina raised a dark brow. Allia laughed and said, “Oh, well, I suppose you know all about that.”

“Yeah, you could say that I do,” Jaina dryly replied.

Zekk shook his head and then said, “Okay. So, you aren’t who you really say you are. Now can you please enlighten us as to why telling us this at two in the morning was so important?”

Allia smiled and returned to her seat. As she tucked her auburn hair behind her ears she leaned forward and said, “I’m coming to you because I get the feeling that you don’t like what’s happened to Val Horn any more than I do.”

Jaina cautiously said, “What would give you that impression? But even if we did, why would we tell you? You just admitted to lying about who you really are.”

“Okay,” Allia took a deep breath and straightened, “I suppose I’d have a hard time believing me too, considering my mom was one of the best spies the Rebel Alliance had. But trust me on this, please. I know you aren’t happy with the way the war is going and I know how you Jedi stick together. None of us want to see Val get executed for this.”

“Not necessarily. The Council didn’t support Valin,” Jaina countered ignoring the first part of Allia’s comment.

Allia wasn’t deterred and Jania reached out to probe the woman to determine her motive for coming to them and relating such a fantastic story. To Jaina’s surprise, all she got was sincerity and genuine feelings for Valin, not love, but a kinship that seemed odd for all the longer they had known each other.

Zekk must have come to the same conclusion, the former bounty hunter leaned forward and inquired, “Okay, Allia, we will admit that we aren’t happy with what occurred the other day. But as your commanding officer, I’m not sure you should be telling me this.”

Allia looked from Zekk to Jaina, and then took a deep breath. “I realize I’m taking a big risk on coming to you, but I’m following my gut on this. I don’t think you will turn me in.”

Jaina glanced at Zekk, and then turned her intense gaze on Allia. “Okay, we’ll admit that we are not completely thrilled with how things are going concerning Valin or the war.”

She smiled and her grey eyes flicked between them, taking a deep breath she blurted, “I have an idea of how we can get Valin out.”

Both Jaina and Zekk were shocked for the second time. Jaina grinned lopsidedly and quipped, “You know, you have to stop surprising us like this because Zekk and I have a reputation to uphold. You’ve shocked Jedi twice in one night. Not bad.”

Allia grinned back and went on, ignoring Jaina’s remark, “As I said I’m Eriaduan, and since we are now at war with the GA, I want to go home. However before I do, I want to help Valin, not because he saved me from being court-martialed—” suddenly, she became sad as she looked down at her hands, after a moment she added quietly, “—but because he deserves the chance at love that I will never have.”

~~~

Antilles Quarters, Corellian Dreadnaught Revenger, Corellian Orbit

The room was darkened while Syal lay on the narrow bed and hugged a pillow close. She pressed the replay button on the holoviewer remote and watched the scene again. Her heart ached each time she saw it, but out of some cruel morbidity she couldn’t stop. She wiped another tear from her cheek as she heard the words that would seal the fate of the man she loved:

“Jedi Knight and Lieutenant Valin Horn, this Court finds you guilty of insubordination, the reckless endangerment of the life of a fellow officer, and finally of treason against the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances. Mr. Horn, upon this verdict, this Court hereby sentences you to death by lethal injection. You will be held in the maximum security center of the military penal complex on Centax-3 until the time of execution.”

As the scene flashed from the Twi’lek judge to pan in on Valin, she paused the scene. As she stared at him she whispered, “Valin. Why did this have to happen to us?”

Suddenly, the viewer was turned off and she looked up to see her father standing beside it, concern etching his face. She hadn’t even realized that he had entered the room. As he turned on the lights, he quietly said, “Syal, you have to stop this. It’s been a week since the trial and all you’ve done is sit in here and replay this farce.”

“Dad, he’s going to die because of me. ” Syal Antilles sobbed and wiped at her eyes. She had never been one to cry. She had always been strong, but she couldn’t believe what was happening to her and to the people she loved.

Wedge sat down beside her on the narrow bed she had occupied for the past week. She had recovered well from some minor injuries that she had suffered when she went EV, and was soon flying again after the Corellian and Imperial forces pulled out of the Bothan Sector, leaving it to the Admiral Kre’fey. However when Syal learned about the charges against Valin and that it had been him who shot her, Wedge removed her from active flight status. Then she fainted when she watched the trial on the HoloNet in the recreation center of the Revenger, after which Wedge insisted she be quartered with him on the flagship.

The media coverage from the trial of Valin Horn was pirated and played repeatedly throughout Corellia and among the Confederate forces. While the Coruscanti media made him out to just short of being the worst of Jedi villains, the Corellian media was proclaiming him a hero. Of course, when it came out that the daughter of Supreme Commander Wedge Antilles and Jedi Knight Valin Horn were romantically involved, the Corellian HoloNet used that to play up the sensationalism of an already dramatic event.

Wedge took her into his arms and rubbed her back like he used to when she was little. “Syal,” he murmured, “I wish I knew what to do. Trust me, sweetheart, if there was something I could do I would.”

She turned her face up to him and sniffed, “I know, Daddy. But why isn’t the Jedi doing anything? I hate that even his own family deserted him.”

Wedge looked away and she could tell he was wondering the same thing. Finally, he quietly replied, “I’m sure they haven’t deserted him.” He looked at her again and went on, “I know Mirax wouldn’t have and, although Corran has changed over the years, I know he wouldn’t have either. Luke Skywalker knows that it would be worse for Jedi if they got caught up in this. It’s political and it stinks worse than rancor breath, but the Jedi can’t get involved.”

“I don’t care about the Jedi, Dad.” She pulled out of his embrace and became defiant, “I care about Valin. I love him, Dad. And I know that he loves me. I—I was hoping that someday we would—that we’d be together…” she broke down again and fell into her father’s comforting embrace. She had never felt so helpless before in her entire life. “All I want is for this war to be over and things to go back to the way they were,” she sobbed.

Wedge held her close and wistfully whispered into her blond hair, “Me too, baby. Me too.”