Action, Adventure, Excitement, Part 6
                      Prologs - Roland and Morgan

Date: Fri, 3 Sep 1999 22:03:59 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: AAE SO: "We all wound up on Ta-tooine..."

On Fri, 03 Sep 1999 22:01:06 -0700
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007065

   As the X-Window closed behind them, Roland and Morgan stepped into
the whirling desert, the heat of the day blunted by their powers.
Roland concentrated, and his armor became the loose-fitting garb
appropriate to a character from Scheherazade's tales.

Morgan, using her "Philosopher's Stone" ring, altered her garb to
light-weight, simple tunic and mid-calf-length skirt. Over it, she
wore a typical Tatooine cloak, heavy enough to block the sun but
loose-weaved enough to allow cooling breezes through. On her belt, her
dagger-sized claymore hid in the folds of her clothing.

   Roland looked up, and smiled faintly. A silvery comet seemed to be
shooting out of the sky. ^A message from Sil, do you think?^

Morgan blinked for a moment, and looked into the distance. *Sil?*

   Sil laughed like tinkling chimes. *Don't look at me,* she sent,
slightly distracted. *I'm...er...busy.*
   Roland cleared his throat. *Ah. Got it. Thanks.*

Morgan looked down and snickered, grinning. *Gee. I wonder what
_she's_ up to?* she asked 'innocently.'

   ^As long as she's not 'up to' it in our bed,^ Roland replied
calmly, though he was already beginning to color. ^I don't even want
to _think_ about what a HIT Mark chain gun would do to flannel
sheets.^

Morgan laughed helplessly. ^The... comet?^ she sent, trying to get her
hunny back on track.

   Roland smiled in rare triumph. ^Be right back, hon. Have you ever
been to Tatooine before?^ Morgan shakes her head no. ^If Luke or Han
is in town, things should be...interesting. Holler if you want to
share a brawl or find something weirder than the Silver Jedi.^ Roland
positively flowed into the rising sand.

-

   Striding through the latest sandstorm as if untouchable - and to
something so basic, he was, thanks to his powers - Roland came to a
stop where he'd seen the strange sight come to ground. After an
encounter with a hungry bantha, his blood was racing and his heart
considerably lighter. A mystery of pure curiosity, this time; no
worlds at stake on his next decision. Just a simple adventure this
time, for the self-admitted purpose of seeing what had happened of
late in the New Republic. As he strode out of the storm, the winds
dying as if on cue behind him, he saw - a starship.
   And what a ship! Gleaming and light, as if poured from chrome and
quicksilver, it seemed to shimmer even when the light held still. He
stood there for a moment, just staring at it.
   A panel opened from the side, and a young man dressed in Jedi garb
strode out, a serious expression on his face as he headed straight
toward Roland.
   Roland smiled. [Heh. An apprentice, I'll wager, from the way his
face is scrunched up.] He waved carefully toward the youth, just to be
on the safe side. "Ho there, stranger."
   "'Ho there,' yourself," the Jedi replied sourly. "What business
does a lone wanderer have in the middle of a desert, when the sand is
vicious enough to tear the flesh from a human's bones?"
   "A _normal_ human, Jedi," Roland replied, his smile fading but
stubbornly clinging to his face. "And I'm sure you can guess why-"
   The young Jedi drew his brilliant blue lightsaber in one smooth
motion.
   "-then again, perhaps not." Nonplussed, Roland's smile vanished.
"Relax, kid. If I were going to do something to you, I would've done
it."
   The Jedi smiled almost pleasantly back at the Freelance Immortal.
"I am hardly concerned about one desert wanderer, no matter how
unusual. But I'm afraid I can't have you telling anyone where we are."
   Roland's smile returned, under much less benevolent circumstances.
"And that's your final word on the subject."
   The Jedi nodded. "I'm afraid it is."
   Roland's Power Ring flickered, and his Adamantium Mimbari pike
appeared in his hand, and extended into battle form, as smoothly as
his opponent's had. "That's too bad. I'm in no mood to be detained,
and in every mood for a fight."
   The Jedi's own expression never wavered. "The feeling, I assure
you, is mutual."
   [It's your bacta, kid,] Roland said, and with a howl both joyous
and feral, he leaped at his opponent, the pike a silvery blur in his
hands.
   The apprentice Jedi blocked every hyper-fast strike, though he was
clearly being taxed by the defense. Roland blinked. "You're good,
kid."
   "Better than you," he replied curtly, and began to prove himself
right, slowly countering with his own swift strikes. Roland parried,
much to the Jedi's surprise - how could any substance stand up to a
lightsaber? - but he was losing ground, if only by inches.
   "Maybe." Roland leaped back and gestured, and the Jedi was suddenly
engulfed in a miniature sandstorm. [Ye gods, that feels low - it's
just a TK version of sand in the face - but damn, it felt good to wipe
that smile off his face!] While the apprentice was a supremely skilled
swordsman, he was no match for Roland's mastery of kinetics, and was
forced to leap back himself, crouching near the entrance to the ship.
   "Ready to pack it in?" Roland asked, eyes flaring.
   The Jedi merely smiled again.
   Roland let out a mock-sigh and waded back in.

-

^Oh, aye, abandon me in a strange town,^ Morgan teased good-naturedly
as Roland left, getting only a laugh and a mental raspberry for her
troubles. She turned and entered the town, familiar with Tatooine if
only secondhand. Magickally 'scanning' for ripples in the Force (as
Roland was 'aiming' for the time after Luke's founding of the Jedi
Academy), she soon came across a powerful concentration nearby. [Maybe
Luke _is_ in town,] she thought with a private grin, moving toward the
source of the ripple.

The small group ahead of her was clearly the source of the power she'd
sensed, though despite the familiarity of the R2 unit with them, it
was obvious that none of them was Luke. Watching them quietly as a
sandy-haired boy disrupted a budding brawl between a strange creature
with it's hips where it's shoulders should have been (and vice-versa)
and a humanoid whose newly-sunburned hide was obviously meant for
damper climes, Morgan wondered what she'd stumbled onto. Only the boy
and a much older man-

"Grampa _Liam?_" she said softly, barely aware that she'd even spoken.

   The older man turned, more surprised than the situation merited -
and clearly understanding that the quiet outburst was directed at him.
Only the color of his robes and the sand in his hair gave him any
distinction from her grandfather - he was the spitting image of the
man who'd first trained her in Druidic lore so long ago.
   "I...no, I think not, young lady. Though I feel that your statement
has some merit, all the same. May I help you?" he asked, his demeanor
as serene as it had been throughout the altercation.

Morgan blinked, still at a loss for words. Gramp...No, this _Jedi_,
was _clearly_ experienced in the Force, but Luke's Academy hadn't been
open long enough to....

   "Um, if you want to help her, sir, we should probably get everyone
out of the street before the sandstorm hits. And I don't wanna get my
mom any madder than she's gonna be by bringing all of you home with
me," the youth in, waving them towards the edge of town.
   The young woman looked at their new companion dubiously. "I
suppose," she said politely, but coolly, "that introductions are in
order. My name is Padme'."
   "Qui-Gon," the older man added, bowing politely.

Morgan returned the bow. "Morgan Greywolf."

   "And meesa Jar-Jar Binks! How yousa doin'?" the amphibious creature
added gregariously.

"Fine," Morgan replied with a faint smile, suddenly reminded of one of
the leaders of Rob's 'Plush Brigade.'

   "And I'm Anakin Skywalker," the youth replied, in the innocent
seriousness universal to children. "Pleased to meet you." He tried to
mimic Qui-Gon's bow, doing a fair job of it.

Morgan's smile remained on her face only through an act of sheer
willpower as she stared at the boy. "...An-Anak-? Pleased to meet you,
Anakin." ^RO-LAAAND!^

-

   ^I'm kind of-^ ZARK KRAK ZKOW ^-busy at the moment, and you don't
'feel' like you're in combat,^ Roland sent back, leaping over his
opponent in a standard Jedi misdirection, which the apprentice parried
with the standard counter. ^Is this important?^

Morgan is saved from further conversation with the group in Mos Espa
by the approaching storm. ^That depends. I just met a _very_
experienced Jedi by the name of Qui-Gon...^ she paused briefly,
checking for any sign of recognition from Roland. Finding none, she
continued, "...and a young boy, practically _dripping_ with the Force,
named _Anakin_Skywalker._"

   ^And th-^ Roland began dryly, before the last two words sank in and
his train of thought derailed and crashed into a dynamite factory.
^Did you say ANAKIN SKYWALKER?!^ he blurted, distracted.
   His opponent, seeing the distraction and the ensuing opening,
swung...and was thrown back by the violent reaction of a lightsaber
with a PK forcefield.
   ^Glad I put that up,^ a tiny portion of what's left of Roland's
mind thought. ^Anakin _SKYWALKER?_ A young _boy?_^

^Aye, about...ten-ish,^ she replied with impressive calm. ^He's taking
us to his home for shelter from the sandstorm.^

   Roland leaped back, the pike vanishing and being replaced by a
Krull 'glaive.' "You're not...one of Luke's students, are you?" he
asked, adding on the link, ^I think I missed our intended
destination.^

^Oh, do you think?^ Morgan replied, dryer than the sandstorm.

   Roland sighed, and gave his duelling partner something new to play
with. Energy beams like those from a lightsaber sprang from the
glaive's five points in place of the usual blades, and the weapon flew
at the Jedi. ^There, that should keep him busy for a bit. Geez, we
need to go back and see if Lucas finally released Ep I.^

^Meanwhile...who are you dancing with?^ Morgan asked, her own train of
thought jumping tracks.

   ^Not a clue, dear, aside from that he's a Jedi-in-training.^ The
apprentice parried the glaive several times, leaping away from it, and
towards Roland. ^Oh, and he's _good._ Just a sec.^ Roland teleported
away, to near where the glaive was hovering in confusion, and called
it back to his hand. "Okay, look. Who are you, and why should I care
who finds you out here?"
   "My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi," the Jedi said, as Roland's heart shot
into his throat for a few beats, "and my master and I are on an
important mission, which is all _you_ should need to know."

^Curiouser and curiouser,^ Morgan mentally muttered. ^By the way,
Roland, it's a safe bet that I just _met_ his master.^

   Roland decided to roll the dice. "You mean the old man in the city,
Qui-Gon?" Obi-Wan paled slightly, and Roland knew that he'd struck
paydirt. "Look, I don't know what two Jedi want on a planet-sized sand
dune that won't be important for fifty-" He cut himself off. [Anakin
Skywalker. Anakin...sprocking...Skywalker. Do the sprocking _math,_
Roland.]

^Mm-hmmm,^ Morgan sent, mentally 'clearing her throat' at him. ^Ye
have the lad at something of a disadvantage, _Roland._^

   ^Ah,^ Roland replied brilliantly. "Now, if I may introduce myself."

^Ye've been takin' that Hawkeye correspondence course in social
skills, haven't ye?^ Morgan quipped lightly; she was glad that the
rising sandstorm masked her chuckles.

   ^Do you want me to do this or not?^ Roland sent with Seosaidh's
patented long-suffering sigh. "My name is Roland Phoenix, and I am a
visitor to this world, like yourself, I suspect." He closed his hand
around the glaive, and it vanished. "And my...companion...and I might
be able to help you. If you'll put that meat cleaver away and talk."

^You honey-tongued smooth-talker, you,^ Morgan quipped yet again.

   ^_You've_ never complained about my tongue before,^ Roland replied
dryly. He smiled at the sent kiss. Then he sighed in relief as
Obi-Wan, after studying the Freelance Immortal for a long moment,
deactivated his lightsaber. "Thanks. Care to rejoin the others?"
   "It's too long a walk, even with your strange Force shields,"
Obi-Wan replied, eyes narrow. "Besides, I should stay here."
   Roland reappeared next to Obi-Wan, who (to his credit) didn't try
to climb into the air, though he was clearly startled. "My powers may
be distantly related to the Force, but I am no Jedi. As for your
concerns about the ship, they're understandable...but I can return you
here in an eyeblink, along with reinforcements if necessary."
   Obi-Wan looks at Roland again, eyes more narrow than ever. "I
shouldn't trust you...but the Force knows more than I, and it
apparently does."
   Roland nods. "Let's be off, then. I suspect that we both have a lot
of questions."

   TBC...
=================================
Date: Sun, 12 Sep 1999 00:17:39 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE SO: "We all wound up on Ta-tooine..."

On Sat, 11 Sep 1999 23:38:09 -0700
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007111

   Babylon 5. 2259. Five years ago, subjective.

   "Phoenix!"
   Roland sighed and turned. "Mollari," he growled. The Centauri
approached him with fire in his eyes. [That's fine,] Roland thought
almost savagely. [I've got fire to spare, right back at you.]
   "I have a rib to pick with you," Londo said with a stern face.
   "Bone."
   "What-EVER. I thought I could trust you!"
   "The feeling was mutual. As, I suspect, it is now." Roland turned.
   Londo grabbed Roland's shoulder and spun him around again. "How
_dare_ you. Going to G'Kar. G'KAR!"
   "Well, what can I say," Roland hissed, "when I see an entire
species being double-teamed, backstabbed and enslaved, I get a little
riled. If you'll excuse me."
   "I most certainly will _not!_" Londo locked eyes with him. "What do
you care about the Narn, anyway? You've complained about them as
bitterly as I."
   "For becoming what they hated," Roland replied wearily. "You."
   Londo stepped back, stunned.
   "I didn't think you were like that," Roland continued. "I thought
you wanted to get away from the blood, from the past. I guess I was
wrong.
   "Humans have a saying, Mollari. 'Those who fail to learn from
history, are doomed to repeat it.' If you want to doom yourself,
that's fine. But I'm not letting you take the Narn people with you."
Roland tried to turn again, and again Londo grabbed his shoulder.
   "This does not _concern_ you, human! We are reclaiming our power -
our _destiny!_ If you-" Londo began.
   Roland's eyes flared open, his jaw went slack, and Londo Mollari,
the second most influential Centauri alive, flew into a wall and
stayed there. "Power? DESTINY?! You think you know them? I know more
about both than you _ever_ will, Mollari. I have the power to crack
this station in half, see the future, erase a man's mind...or change
the course of wars. Power is very dangerous, Londo..." Roland's tone
grew gentler. "...even moreso for the wielder than anyone else. Use
yours wisely. Less of it is in your control than you think. As for
destiny...she and I are very familiar with each other."
   Roland's eyes grew hard again, his voice as cold and implacable as
orbital steel. "You don't _want_ real Destiny, Mollari, trust me. I
have a Destiny. I've been running from it most of my life. I've
accepted it now...because that's the only way I can control it. You,
though...you think you know what your future holds. You don't know a
damn thing. I know about 'Mr. Morden,' and the things I know would
give you nightmares for the rest of your life...if I were allowed to
tell you." His eyes dart to one side, and a female form flickers at
the edge of his sight. "I know who his 'associates' are. And I know
how you're 'winning' this war...or rather, who's winning it for you."
He gestured impatiently, and Londo fell back to the ground, gasping
for air. "And I know one more thing. Where I come from, my people have
suffered from hatred and oppression. I understand G'Kar, Londo. I know
what will happen to billions of innocents if I don't stop you. And my
destiny...my Destiny...is _fighting_ that oppression. And you know
what? I'll never stop. NEVER. Not for Delenn...not for G'Kar...not
even for Sinclair...and certainly not for you." Roland turned away
again, and this time, Londo didn't touch him. Of course, he was still
busy standing...
   "Oh, one more thing, Londo." Roland looked over his shoulder one
last time. "Remember what I did to the raider ships who attacked the
'Good Fortune' last time I was here? I can do that to a capitol ship
as easily as I did to those fighters. Don't contact me again."
   Roland walked into the turbolift, and locked onto a shaken Londo's
eyes until the doors slid shut.

--

   [No escaping it,] Roland thought, shaking his head. [But maybe I
can control it.] He looked at young Anakin - Anakin Skywalker,
_Darth_Vader,_ for Light's sake - and just couldn't see the most
legendary villain of his time in the adorable, eager little moppet
before him. [And hopefully, help him control his. Light, he's just a
child...and a singularly kind-hearted one, at that.] He sighed
heavily. [The weight of worlds. It's never gone for long, but I hoped
at least for a short reprieve. At least maybe it will balance the
scales a little, if I can save this one boy...and a galaxy, with him.]
   Roland forced a smile...then didn't _have_ to force it, as he
watched Anakin and Jar-Jar experiment with the limits of a prehensile
tongue. He hardly heard the conversation going on around him. Absorbed
in the moment, he didn't notice Morgan watching him as he watched the
'natives' in turn...

^Hard to imagine that that little cutie is going to become a Sith
lord,^ Morgan sent, echoing Roland's thoughts. (OOC-M: If you have the
Phantom Menace soundtrack, "Anakin's Theme" is good background music
here :-)

   ^Not if _I_ can help it,^ Roland replied grimly. His tone
lightening somewhat, he added, ^I was expecting some dark, brooding
child with a _little_ potential for good, not this noble, gentle
innocent. He's...he's...I can't let that happen to him. I _won't._^

Morgan smiled, recognizing her husband's tone. ^Ro-laaand, what are
you up to?^

   ^'The same thing we do _every_ night, Pinky.'^ Roland replied, a
sly grin returning to his face. ^We're going to save the galaxy.^

^Again?^ Morgan sent lightly, her smile broadening.

   ^If Anakin is never corrupted by the Emperor, 'Darth Vader' will
never betray the Jedi, and Palpatine won't be able to take over the
Republic.^ Roland's smile faltered. ^Well, at least that's the plan.^

^You can't stop yourself, can you?^ Morgan laughed across the link.

   Roland sighed, gaining Qui-Gon's attention. ^I stopped trying to
fight my Destiny a long time ago, Morgan. Besides...^ he looked at
Anakin, who was showing off his new droid to Padme. ^...the day I
abandon a child in trouble is the day I eat my sword without
swallowing it.^ Anakin laughed as Qui-Gon snatched Jar-Jar's tongue
from mid-air. Roland sighed and went to help Shmi with the dishes.
   "...the Republic's anti-slavery laws-" Padme' continued from the
discussion around the table.
   "The Republic's laws have little force on the Outer Rim," Shmi
replied as calmly as she could. "We must survive as best as we can."
   "Slavery?" Roland and Morgan asked in unison as Shmi paused.
Roland's expression darkened and dim fire began to burn around his
eyes; Morgan just stared, stunned.

"Are you saying..." Morgan began hesitantly, "...you're slaves?"

   "We're _people,_" Anakin said vehemently (though without malice)
and crossed his arms.
   "She didn't mean any harm, Annie," Shmi said, laying a hand on his
shoulder. Anakin relaxed, slowly and a little reluctantly.

"Anakin, you are _absolutely_ right," Morgan replied quietly. "And
that is why my husband and I are so - _appalled_ by the very idea of
slavery."

   "I have some experience with the subject," Roland added, the
compressed Mimbari pike appearing in his hand as he looked at it
casually. "I make it my business to interfere with the...practice...
whenever I get the chance."
   "I understand your feelings, Roland, Morgan," Qui-Gon interjected
gently, "and rest assured I share them. But there is much at stake at
the moment, and now might not be the best time to be opposing the
Hutts. Once we return to Coruscant, we can no doubt gather support for
such an endeavor, but at the moment we must acquire the hyperdrive."
   "Besides," Anakin explained, "they put these electronic things in
slaves. They have bombs in them." Morgan looked even more horrified as
Annie continued without a care. "If you run away...BOOM!" He grinned.
"I've been trying to find a way around them. I haven't, yet, but I'm
sure that I will."

"Do you know where it is?" Morgan asked.

   Anakin shook his head. "Not yet - that's part of the thing about
them. Hey!" He grinned. "I'll bet a Jedi could find one!"
   Qui-Gon shrugged. "I'm not sure about that, Annie, and even if I
could, I certainly couldn't remove one under these condi-" Qui-Gon
stopped as he saw Roland and Morgan staring at each other with slowly
growing grins. "Morgan? Roland?"

"May I?" Morgan asked Shmi as she stood, walking towards Anakin.

   "No," Shmi said suddenly. "I will take the risk first."
   "MOM-!" Anakin blurted, suddenly concerned.

"It's okay, Annie," Morgan interrupted with a smile. "Right now I'm
just going to look for it." She turned back to Shmi. "I have certain -
abilities to sense living energies, much like the Force, but it...
functions...differently. I ought to be able to sense an inorganic
device within you."

   Shmi simply nodded.

Morgan stepped around Shmi, reaching out with her hands, eyes almost
closed, starting at the top of her head, and stopping at the base of
the neck in the back. "Bastards," she cursed.

   "Cortex bomb," Roland noted coldly, using his TK to push the water
off of his forearms. "Hard to remove, instantly lethal with a very
small charge, and a very effective deterrent for others when one is
used publicly." The flame around his eyes burns a little hotter. "Once
it's out, I think I can disarm it without setting off any tampering
sensors."

^Wouldn't it be safer for you to disarm it _before_ I remove it?^
Morgan asked.

   ^If I succeed,^ Roland replied. ^Failing to disarm it while it's
still in one of them would be...unpleasant.^

^oh.^ Morgan turned to Shmi. "We think we can remove it safely...but
there is a small risk, and it's your decision."

   Shmi looked at Anakin. "Decision? My son could be free within a few
days, if this works. There is no decision." She closed her eyes. "When
you are ready."

Morgan nodded and placed her fingertips at the base of Shmi's neck.
"This will feel...strange...but it shouldn't hurt." ^Roland? You
ready?^

   ^I was _born_ ready,^ he quipped, though his considerable control
over energy was already focused on Shmi.

Morgan concentrated, shutting out the knowledge that every eye in the
room was on her. Qui-Gon, for that matter, had walked around the table
and was watching the process from a discreet distance.

The living energies that Morgan controlled flowed from her fingers,
reshaping flesh and muscle, and slowly an opening formed at the back
of Shmi's neck. As promised, there was no pain. Soon, an ugly
tick-like device was unburied. ^Clear,^ she sent.

   Roland's eyes narrowed, and slowly, the tick's flesh-probes
withdrew from Shmi's cortex and the device floated out of her body. As
soon as it was clear, Morgan began to seal the opening she created,
and Roland concentrated on the bomb's telemetry. There was a long,
tense moment...
   "Got it." Roland sighed and relaxed in relief. "As far as the
receiver is concerned, everything is normal."

Morgan rested her hand lightly on Shmi's neck and leaned around to
look at her. Shmi's eyes opened, her expression mildly surprised. "Not
even a mark," Morgan smiled.

   Shmi blinked. "That's it? It's gone?"
   Roland held out his hand, and the rude device floated above it.
"Right here. I'll bury it outside, so if it ever gets set off for some
reason, it won't hurt anyone."
   Shmi stared briefly at the device that had been her 'leash.' "I
think...that would be good." She looked over at her son. "Would
you...?"
   Anakin looked up at Morgan eagerly. "All right!" He sat up straight
and closed his eyes, taking on the strangely dignified seriousness
only a pre-teen can muster.

Morgan stifled a chuckle, and they repeated the procedure flawlessly.
Soon, two of the ugly devices (Anakin's only differing slightly in
size) floated above Roland's hand.

   "Fascinating," Qui-Gon muttered. "I could definitely feel ripples
in the Force from both effects, but neither was what a Jedi would
truly call use of the Force, and each differed from the other in some
indefinable way."

"Different paradigms," Morgan replied.

   "We could go into it in greater depth later, if you like, Master
Qui-Gon," Roland added. "I myself would be curious to learn more about
the Jedi. I...haven't have the chance to learn much about them."
   Qui-Gon nodded. "Tonight then. Tomorrow is going to be a very busy
day."

   The next morning.
   Roland blinked at the twin sunlight. ^Light, Morgan, two suns. No
wonder this planet is mostly deser-^
   "Pardon me," Qui-Gon said, and Roland practically climbed into the
air. "My apologies. I didn't mean to startle you."
   "No, it's all right," Roland replied. "I was...um...lost in
thought, I suppose you could say."
   Qui-Gon nodded. "I suspected as much." He gave Roland a long look.
"You are not a Jedi, but it is clear that you possess powers much like
those afforded by knowledge of the Force." At Roland's quiet nod, he
continued. "I've been observing you since you arrived, as well. You
know something of the boy, it seems."
   Roland nodded again. "The future. Or I should say, _a_ future. Just
the presence of myself and my wife _might_ change things. Or it might
cause them. I don't know yet."
   "Master Yoda has often said, 'Always in motion is the future.' I do
not believe that anything is written in stone," Qui-Gon replied. "I am
familiar with a considerable amount of speculative fiction revolving
around time travel. Would it be unwise to tell me what you know?"
   Roland was quiet for a long time, watching Anakin through a window
tinkering with what looked like a racing boat attached by cables to
two giant cylinders. "I don't know. I'd like to wait, for now...what I
know of Anakin and your Padawan is from many years in the future. I
know nothing of his childhood."
   Qui-Gon nodded, gesturing to Roland to follow. Raising an eyebrow,
Roland did so. As they walked outside, they saw Anakin and his
friends, along with the two droids, working on the Racing Pod. A brief
flash of light flickered around Roland's eyes, and a few wires
connected inside the machine. Nearby, Morgan and Obi-Wan were talking
'shop' on the ins and outs of swordplay, and Padme was helping a
dazed-looking Jar-Jar stabilize.
   "I performed a midi-chlorian count on him last night," Qui-Gon
said.
   Roland blinked. "A what?"
   Qui-Gon gave him a confused look, then weighed him again.
Carefully. "Midi-chlorians are symbiotic life-forms within all living
things. We sense the Force through them. The greater the
concentration, the greater the potential." Qui-Gon's gaze flickered
from Roland to Anakin. "Anakin's are higher than any ever recorded."
   Roland frowned. "That explains a few things..." He shook his head.
"Listen, your group sounds like it's in serious trouble. What are you
doing with that...um..."
   "Racing Pod?" Qui-Gon asked with a gentle smile, explaining the
race and the bet in brief. "I have a plan to free the Skywalkers as
well, but that can wait. You are changing the subject."
   Roland smiled ruefully. "That transparent, huh?" He sighed. "I said
that it should wait until I'm more sure, but it's not easy."
   Qui-Gon stepped closer to Roland. "Shmi is inside."
   Roland lowered his head, eyes closed. ^Morgan?^

Morgan paused in the middle of an empty-handed sword stroke (OOC: If
you've ever watched two SCA fighters discussing shots without their
weapons in hand, you know what she and Obi-Wan looked like :-). ^I
think we can trust him, if he believes you. It doesn't _feel_ like us
being here will cause it, but then again, you have more experience
with time/demension hopping than I do. Just _don't_ let Annie's mother
hear about it!^

   ^It isn't a matter of trust, m'eudail...well, maybe. I don't want
to create any self-fulfilling prophecies. But our instincts agree, it
seems.^ Roland paused a moment. "Master Qui-Gon, may we touch minds?"
   Qui-Gon nodded with a curious look on his face. With Morgan on the
fringes of Roland's mind, he reached out telepathically...and made
contact.
   [Light. What a mind.] Roland took a moment to appreciate the
incredible discipline within the Jedi Master's thoughts, then began
opening his own mind. *Master Qui-Gon, in the world I've seen and
visited, Anakin Skywalker has long since been subsumed by a new
person...Darth Vader, Dark Lo-*
   *A Sith Lord,* Qui-Gon replied coolly, though Roland could feel the
concern flow through him in waves. *It was my impression - indeed, the
impression of the Jedi as a whole - that the Sith were no more. There
are fallen Jedi, but they do not possess the dark, terrible secrets of
the Sith.*
   *I'm afraid I know less about the Sith than you do,* Roland
replied. *Only that it was Vader's title, and that...I'm far more
powerful now than I was then, but I met Vader exactly once. He tossed
me around like a rag doll.* Roland shuddered. *Proverbially speaking.
I failed in my mission, and was lucky to escape alive.* He paused in
thought.

*Tell him the rest,* Morgan sent quietly.

   Roland sighed. *Yes. The rest.* He 'looked' at Qui-Gon as
flickering images appeared around them in the mindscape. *This, I know
a little more of, but still not much. When Anakin Skywalker became
Darth Vader, he betrayed the Jedi. With only two known exceptions,
they were hunted down and killed.* Obi-Wan's image, older translucent
over younger, flickered past, as did Yoda's. *And a corrupt senator
with Force powers of his own, apparently Vader's Master, turned the
Republic into the Galactic Empire and crushed freedom in the galaxy.
The Emperor - 'Palpatine,' if I remem-* Roland stopped, blinking, as
surprise flickered across Qui-Gon's face. *What?*
   *As you know, we are trying to save Naboo,* Qui-Gon explained. *We
are taking the Queen to Coruscant to inform the Senate of what is
transpiring there. Our contact is to be Naboo's own senator...Senator
Palpatine.*
   Roland paled. *Oh, Light. Ohhh Light. This explains...this explains
so much. Master Qui-Gon, we have a lot to talk about...*

TBC <EG>
=================================
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1999 00:05:02 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE SO: "We all wound up on Ta-tooine..."

On Mon, 13 Sep 1999 23:51:00 -0700
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007120

   "Bad day, Watto?" Roland asked with a cool smile. Anakin had won
the podrace - and his freedom, thanks to Qui-Gon's bet - but Shmi
still 'belonged' to Watto. They _could_ just take her, now that the
implant had been removed, but it would cause the Jedi to gain unwanted
attention.
   "What do _you_ want, human?" Watto snarled.
   "Let's just say...I have an interest in the recent Skywalker
incident." After some research, finding a type of gemstone valuable to
the locals hadn't been difficult. His hand flickered, and he held out
one of jewels Morgan had created with her Power Ring. "My associates
have an interest in the boy. I have an interest in...my associates'
interests. And his mother might be useful. You understand?"
   Watto eyed the gemstone desperately. Quickly, he took out a small
scanner, examining it closely. Satisfied that it was genuine (which it
was), Watto pocketed the scanner and gazed at Roland through narrow
eyes. "The female is the only major capital I have left," he said.
"You'll have to make it worth my while."
   Roland's fingers flickered. A second gem appeared. A pause. A
third. A longer pause. A fourth. Watto began to sweat as the next
pause dragged on.
   "She can be useful to me," Roland added, a fifth gem appearing in
his hand. "But that usefulness has its limits." He smiled
sardonically. "How much did you lose on that last race, again?"
   Watto practically lunged for the gems. Roland closed his fist.
"DONE!" Watto blurted, pushing Shmi's 'contract' at Roland as he
grabbed at the fist. Roland sighed and released the gems as he took
the paper.
   "Watto." Roland returned the slitted gaze Watto had afforded him
earlier. "Don't even _think_ of trying anything funny. Even a Hutt
couldn't save you."
   Watto snorted a laugh. "Why should I 'try' anything? You just
bought that useless woman twice over!"
   Roland's gaze glittered as hard as the gems. "Useless to you,
maybe." Another handful of gems appeared in Roland's right hand as the
contract changed to read that Shmi owned herself in his left. Watto's
eyes bulged. "But a person is more valuable than all the rocks in the
world. Goodbye, Toydarian."

--

   Roland appeared with Shmi next to Qui-Gon and Anakin as Morgan
watched; the others were already aboard the ship.
   "You DID it!" Anakin shouted, hugging Roland as fast as he could so
he could practically pounce on his mother. Shmi laughed gently as she
stroked her son's hair. "You're going to come with us now, right Mom?"
   "Of course, Annie," Shmi said gently. "Thank you," she and Qui-Gon
added in unison, then looked at each other. Shmi blushed; Qui-Gon
merely smiled enigmatically.

^I know _that_ phenomenon,^ Morgan sent.

   ^Can't imagine from where,^ Roland quipped in response. "Believe
me, it was my pleasure, Ms. Skywalker, Master Qui-Gon. But we'd better
get moving. I don't want to teleport directly into the ship until that
hyperdrive's been tested, so we've still got a little bit of a walk
ahead."
   Qui-Gon nodded. "It is best that we be off, then."
   Roland concentrated, and the five faded from the Skywalkers'
apartment, appearing in the unforgiving Tatooine desert.
   "Did you get all of their things to the ship?" Roland asked
Qui-Gon.
   "Yes. I anticipated your success; the droid and their perso-DOWN!"
He grabbed Shmi and Anakin and hit the desert sands, as did Morgan,
while Roland leaped to one side. A hovercycle shot past bearing a
black-clad figure with a red-and-black face with a crown of spiky
horns. "Get them to the ship! Tell them to take off!" Qui-Gon ordered.

"I've got 'em," Morgan replied, taking the Skywalkers by the hands and
running toward the Naboo craft. ^Careful, hon. Those marking remind me
of Darth Kahless. Maybe he wasn't part Vader after all.^

   Roland nodded, rolling smoothly into a fighting stance as his
Ranger pike appeared and expanded in his hand. ^Thanks for the
warning, love. Don't think I'll be running into any light-bat'leths,
though.^ He concentrated, and the rapidly landing hoverbike suddenly
turned, theoretically dumping the mysterious attacker. Theory didn't
match with practice, however, as their assailant landed on his feet
and ignited a long-handled red lightsaber. "I don't believe we've had
the pleasure," Roland commented dryly.
   The black-clad figure's only response was a sinister smile and a
beckoning gesture. Roland frowned.
   "We haven't time for this, Roland. We must get to the ship,"
Qui-Gon noted.
   "You go," Roland replied, his eyes flickering to Morgan as she
loaded the Skywalkers onto the Naboo craft. "I'll catch up after I've
dealt with Darth Marceau here."
   "Maul," the Sith responded in a surprisingly soft, smooth voice.
   "Sith Lord," Qui-Gon said even more quietly. "And I thought that
you did not wish to risk a 'teleport' to the ship."
   "I'll risk it when it's just myself." Roland smiled coolly at Maul.
"I'm immortal."
   Darth Maul leapt at him, his returning smile clearly stating 'we'll
see about that.'

--

   "Master Qui-Gon said to take off!" Anakin blurted as he raced onto
the ship.
   Obi-Wan blinked at the incoming trio, then ran to the cockpit to
see what was happening. The moment he entered, his eyes locked on the
battle, where Maul was holding his own against both Qui-Gon and
Roland. As the pike spun like a blur in Roland's hand, Maul parried a
blow from Qui-Gon's saber and pointed the other end of his lightsaber
at Roland...and ignited it. Roland let out a little 'hk' and fell
back, clutching his chest. Padme gasped and Obi-Wan groaned in
sympathy.

"It's okay," Morgan said as she entered the cockpit. She smiled and
added, "He's had worse."

   ^Yeah, that anti-matter bomb _hurt._ But that shot was too close to
the heart for comfort,^ Roland sent as he rolled back and stood
shakily. The wound was sealing, albeit slowly. He spoke to Qui-Gon as
he received mental 'telemetry' from Morgan's battle with Darth
Kahless. The Jedi Master nodded back to him, and they both leapt to
the gangplank. Maul tried to follow, but TK pushes from both Qui-Gon
and Roland easily pushed the Sith away. Morgan, Annie and Obi-Wan ran
back to the hold, where Shmi was already examining the two.
   "What was it?" Obi-Wan asked.
   "A Sith Lord," Qui-Gon replied as Morgan helped Roland's wound
heal. "I wasn't entirely sure until the other end of his lightsaber
ignited, but I remember tales of such devices from the histories."
   "What are you gonna do about it?" Annie asked.
   "We shall be patient," Qui-Gon sighed. "We will inform the Jedi
Council when we can. In the meantime, we tend to our wounded..." he
continued, raising an eyebrow at Morgan's handiwork - the wound was
completely gone by then.

"He ruins more shirts that way," Morgan quipped.

   "...and prepare as best we can," he finished without missing a
beat.
   ^Morgan, how much was your grandfather like this guy?^ Roland
asked.

^Well, Grampa wasna quite so strait-laced, but otherwise, aye,^ Morgan
replied.

   ^Explains a lot,^ Roland sent with a kiss.

--

   Coruscant. The city-world.
   "We want to thank you for all your help," Queen Amidala said as the
group disembarked, "and I truly wish we did not need ask more of you.
But the knowledge you bring may help sway the Senate."
   "I would like to consult with the Jedi Council before revealing any
more than I have to Master Qui-Gon," Roland replied, "but any aid I
_can_ offer, Your Majesty, I will."
   "Thank you," Amidala replied. "There is our Senator, with
Chancellor Valorum."
   Roland nodded, and began to bow, when he stumbled, caught himself,
summoned his compressed pike, and banished it, all in a fraction of a
second. "Senator...Palpatine?"
   The Senator nodded, smiling with disconcerting sincerity. "Quite.
We are all grateful for your aid-" his gaze took in the Jedi as well
as the immortals- "in bringing Queen Amidala safely to Coruscant,
though as you might imagine I myself am especially relieved."
   "no doubt," Roland muttered under his breath. His eyes glittered
dangerously. Even more disconcertingly, he didn't 'sense' off...which
was logical; if a master of the Dark Side were on the Senate, he'd
have to be incredibly good at hiding it...

^Dooown, Roland...^ Morgan sent softly.

   ^Don't worry, Morgan. Aside from the fact that the Jedi would be
honor-bound to defend him until we have proof...I don't know if I can
take him.^ He completed his bow. ^Yet. Should we split up...^ he sent,
the last in unison with Morgan. Both laughed along the link.

^I'll go with Her Majesty, you go with the Jedi?^ Morgan replied.

   ^You read my mind,^ Roland quipped. After brief consultation with
all parties involved, it was agreed, and Morgan left on the platform
with the Naboo delegation, while Roland walked off with the Jedi, the
Chancellor, and the Skywalkers.

--

   Later.

   Morgan stood quietly, as she had throughout the deliberations,
while Queen Amidala looked out from a balcony. Captain Panaka returned
with Senator Palpatine, after considerable deliberation in the Senate.
"Your Highness, Senator Palpatine has been nominated to succeed
Valorum as Supreme Chancellor."

^Roland, you might want to hear this,^ Morgan sent.

   ^Wh-?^ Roland replied cleverly, distracted. He waited outside the
Jedi chambers, as did Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, while the council tested
Anakin. ^The Council hasn't even bothered with me yet...what's up?^
   "I feel confident our 'situation' will create a strong sympathy
vote for us...I _will_ be Chancellor," Palpatine said, and Roland's
heart turned to ice as Morgan relayed.
   ^"Light help us,"^ Roland whispered. ^We don't have much time. I
don't suppose you can do anything to stall the Senate? From what I've
heard, they haven't acted this quickly on anything since the last
war.^

^Just a sec...Amidala wants to return to Naboo,^ Morgan added. ^_Now,_
rather than waiting for the Senate's decision.^

   ^Nass. I don't blame her, but...it looks like it's up to me, now.^
Roland's sigh is pushed out by the weight of a galaxy. ^I've _got_ to
convince the Council that something is rotten. Even if Palpatine is
somehow innocent - something I doubt more with each passing second -
his election is the first step towards Empire and billions of deaths.^
   "I pray you will bring sanity and compassion back to the Senate,"
Amidala concluded to Palpatine.
   ^oboy,^ Roland and Morgan thought in unison.
   ^The Council just opened the doors,^ Roland replied, noting wryly
that the doors seemed to be opening themselves...to anyone without his
level of kinetic control. ^I'll keep you informed.^
   TBC...
=================================
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 1999 01:34:23 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: Re: AAE SO: "We all wound up on Ta-tooine..."

On Mon, 20 Sep 1999 01:08:25 -0700
Morgan and/or Roland Said As CAoL Message # 00007126

   [Light be with me,] Roland thought quietly, every shield and mental
trick of calmness he could muster up to conceal his nervousness from
the Council. [I wasn't this bad against Malice on Epsilon III.] A
dozen Jedi, all staring at him, weighing, measuring, likely doubting
that he had anything worth listening to.
   It was up to him to convince them otherwise.
   "A decision, the Council has made," Yoda said. "But Qui-Gon says
that to you we should listen."
   "The boy already has great fear and anger, for all his potential,"
Mace Windu added. "He cannot be a Jedi."
   "Would you rather that he become a Sith?" Roland replied, surprised
at his own even tone. "This 'Darth Maul' character was a match for
Qui-Gon and myself, and rest assured that I am no pushover."
   "Oh, no?" A Jedi who looked like a refugee from Conehead smiled,
and Roland felt a kinetic wave. He frowned and turned it back on his
attacker, doubled. The Jedi was knocked from his seat and slid back.
   Yoda chuckled gently. "Earned that, you did, Ki-Adi-Mundi."
   The Jedi laughed as well. "So I did," he replied, taking his seat
again, once he put it back in place.
   "Strong you are in the Force, 'Roland,' but always in motion-" Yoda
began.
   "-is the future, I know," Roland finished, maintaining a grip
(barely) on his annoyance. "Master Yoda, I haven't just _seen_ your
future, I've been there. The Jedi had been slaughtered, with only
Obi-Wan and yourself surviving the purge. Palpatine was - will be -
the ruler of a Galactic Empire that will purge freedom and justice in
the galaxy. True, a rebellion will form, and evenually win, but only
after decades of struggle and loss. And Palpatine's student - his most
powerful weapon - will be that boy you so readily reject."
   "A Jedi he becomes, in the future you have been to, does he not?"
Yoda asked.
   Roland sighed and nodded.
   "Then how know you that the future you know, you do not create?"
   "I would have been recognized," Roland replied. "Master, if you
reject Anakin, even temporarily, it will weaken his connection to the
Light. He may know fear, and anger, but he can be taught to control,
even purge these things. I know you can do this, Master Yoda. In the
future I have been to, you taught his son - his _adult_ son - to
defeat the father and his master."
   Yoda looked thoughtful.
   "You know that he's right, Master Yoda," Qui-Gon added. "This is
the reason for your reluctance, and your instincts are as strong as
ever, but Anakin can be saved from the Dark Side. Whether Palpatine is
corrupt now or not, there _are_ Sith out there. We cannot allow young
Anakin to fall into their hands."
   Mace Windu cocked his head and looked at Roland. "You see no other
options, then?"
   "No others that Jedi would take," Roland replied darkly.
   "The Jedi Order has done what you imply," a council member of
Maul's race said softly, "early in its history."
   "And many of those early Jedi fell to the Dark Side," Windu replied
coolly. "We will _not_ consider Anakin's death as an option. Thus,
this visitor's points must be taken into account."
   "Please leave us," Yoda said, his request carrying the weight of a
command. "To the boy we must speak."
   "But-!" Roland began, and sighed. He bowed and left without another
word.

--

   Roland met Morgan and Amidala's entourage at her ship, around which
many creatures and droids were scurrying. "She's really doing it,
huh?"

"Yes. She feels her place is with her people," Morgan replied,
breathing deeply and looking around. "Can't say _I'm_ sorry to be
leaving."

   Roland smiled wryly. "I'm a technophile, and _I'm_ not sorry that
we're leaving. If this place were any more sterile, only the droids
could 'live' here." His smile vanished. "I'm not sure I got anywhere
with the Council, Morgan. We may have to stick around for a while."

"That's okay, I'm kind of looking forward to seeing Naboo," Morgan
chuckled. "Padme' was telling me about it. I was trying to explain
medieval Scotland to her at the same time. She seemed to have trouble
comprehending that the Senate has more people in it than my entire
clan."

   Roland smiled gently. "Heh. This galaxy can be so _big,_ sometimes.
Tatooine did seem to throw her, as well..." he trailed off.
   Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan and Anakin walked up. Roland's heart leapt into
his throat; they were all very serious.
   Then he saw Annie's face, and let out the breath he hadn't realized
he'd been holding. The boy was fighting a losing battle against a
smile that was trying to split his face in half, and Shmi walked
behind the group, beaming with so much pride that she could have lit
up the evening sky on her own.
   Anakin bowed to Roland as seriously as he could. "Master Yoda says
I'm going to be given the opportunity to train, sir. Either he or
Master Qui-Gon will be my teacher, depending on Obi-Wan's testing. He
said that you convinced the council to give me the chance." Finally
the boy couldn't hold it in any longer and slammed a hug into Roland
that nearly knocked the wind out of him. "Thank you."
   Roland almost melted in the boy's arms, and put his hand on
Anakin's head gently. "You're welcome, Annie." He looked back up,
puzzled. "But why...?"
   "-is he coming with us?" Obi-Wan smiled sardonically. "Master Yoda
says 'it's his destiny.' One does not argue with Master Yoda on such
things, no matter how ludicrous they might seem at face value. He is
almost never wrong." Obi-Wan's smile vanished, and his eyes flickered
to Annie briefly. "Almost."
   "Wesa goen HOME!" Jar-Jar blurted.
   Annie released Roland, much to his lungs' relief, and scurried back
to Qui-Gon's side. Qui-Gon began explaining midi-chlorians and the
rudiments of 'hearing' them to the lad as they boarded.
   ^Do you think I've done the right thing, Morgan?^ Roland sent as he
watched the others board the ship.

^I think so,^ Morgan replied. ^Just the fact that it won't be Obi-Wan
training him is a change, and probably for the better from how he felt
about it after the fact.^

   ^Hmmph. I always wondered how Obi-Wan could have messed up that
kind of training. It makes more sense now...^ Roland chuckled as the
immortals joined the others.

--

   Naboo. Later.
   "Dere-sa nobody dere. Da Gungan city is deserted. Some kinda
fightin, I think," Jar-Jar reported.
   "Oh, bloody nass," Roland sighed.
   Jar-Jar's eyes bulged. "Yousa knowen da Boss? Hesa have bad
bombin?"
   Roland and Morgan both blinked (loudly) as Obi-Wan grinned.
"The...boss?"
   "The leader of the Gungans is known as 'Boss Nass,' Roland," Padme
explained.
   "Now _that's_ promising," Roland sighed as Morgan, dressed much
like the handmaidens, grinned in turn. "Where are they, Jar-Jar? Did
the droids find them?"
   "No...mesa no tink so. When in trouble, go to sacred place. Mesa
show you, come on, mesa show you."
   Quickly, they went through the jungle, to what looked like the
ruins of a Buddhist temple. Roland whistled.
   "I am Queen Amidala, of the Naboo...I come before you in peace."
   "Naboo biggen. Yousa bringen the mackinees." A mound of green flesh
topped with a frog-like head gazed down unamusedly at the small group.
"Yousa all bombad."
   ^This looks promising,^ Roland sent sourly. ^What happened to all
of Amidala's fire? She looks like her knees are about to reach
lightspeed.^

^Just keep watching,^ Morgan sent mysteriously.

   "We wish to form an alliance..." Amidala began uncertainly.
   "Your honor." Padme' stepped from the group, past Amidala and
towards Nass.
   "Whosa dis?" Nass boomed, eyes narrowing. Padme didn't falter.
   "_I_ am Queen Amidala. This is my decoy, my protection...my loyal
bodyguard." Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan exchanged astonished glances, Anakin's
jaw dropped, and Roland threw Morgan a shocked gaze as 'Padme'
continued. Morgan blinked innocently, folding her hands.
   ^You KNEW!^ Roland blurted mentally. Morgan simply nodded
beatifically as the real Amidala knelt before Boss Nass.
   "Our fate is in your hands," she said quietly. Soon, the entire
contingent was kneeling before Nass, save Roland, who discreetly
teleported away rather than bend knee to any 'man.'
   Boss Nass laughed. "Yousa no tinken yousa greater than the
Gungans...mesa _like_ this. Maybe wesa bein' friends."
   After the collective sigh of relief, the group got to work. There
was a droid army to scrap and a war to win.

--

   "Are you sure about this, Your Majesty?" Roland asked as the small
group of humans (and R2D2) approached the castle. "I still think I
should be going to deal with the control ship."
   "I appreciate your courage, sir," Amidala replied, "but everything
depends on capturing the Viceroy. If we have him, he can order a
hundred ships away. If he escapes, we can destroy a hundred ships and
it will not be enough."
   Roland frowned and nodded as the group prepared to enter the
hangar. He let his mind drift...
   "...have your approval to proceed, then, my lord?" Gunray asked.
   "Wipe them out...all of them," a dark voice intoned.
   "Oh Light," Roland gasped.
   "What?" Qui-Gon asked quietly.
   "Let's just say...I'm more certain about who holds Maul's leash
now," Roland replied, giving the Jedi a pointed look.
   Qui-Gon sighed. "I had hoped that in that, at least, there was
still time." He turned to Anakin as they prepared to begin their
assault. "Once we get inside, Annie, you find a safe place to hide and
stay there."
   "Sure. I don't want Mom to worry," Annie replied earnestly. Roland
merely smiled, having a sudden hunch just why Yoda sent him along.
   [The best pilot Obi-Wan ever knew...]
   Then the group charged in, and there was little time to think, even
as vulnerable as the battle droids were. One wave of his hand sent
dozens sprawling, shorted out, but dozens more poured forth to take
their place.
   "Get to your ships!" Amidala ordered, and the pilots ran. Annie
ended up in a cockpit, and Roland smiled briefly, until three
wheel-like machines rolled out, sprouted forcefields and powerful
blasters, and stalked forward. For all of a half-second, until Roland
crushed them inside their own deflectors. The group turned, in the
clear for the moment, and headed for the generator chamber. Amidala
pointed a remote control, and the door opened.
   On the other side was the Sith Lord. He ignited one side of his
strange lightsaber.
   "We'll handle this," Qui-Gon replied.
   "No, you two go with the Queen," Roland interjected. "Morgan and I
will take care of hornhead here."
   Qui-Gon's brow furrowed. "Are you certain?"
   Maul smiled ferally and ignited the other saber.

Morgan returned the gaze calmly as she drew her dagger, which soon
extended to claymore size.

   Roland smiled coolly back at him. "Trust me."

^And this one won't have Kahless' skills,^ Morgan sent.

   ^True, but he'll probably be more willing to rely on his force
tricks. He's plenty damn good all by himself, love.^ The staff
appeared in his hand, snapping out to full length.
   Qui-Gon nodded, and gestured to the Queen.
   "We'll go this way," Amidala said as evenly as she could, leading
the others down another corridor, away from the brewing battle.
   Maul leapt toward them, saber spinning in a deadly arc as he
charged. Roland and Morgan parted, allowing him to pass between them,
then the two attacked.
   Maul parried each one's every blow, and managed to attack in turn,
though they managed to parry as well. ^Light! Does he have bones? He
moves like a snake on speed!^ Roland's own staff blurred with
incredible speed of his own, and combined with Morgan's incredible
skill with her blade kept Maul on the defensive. He fell back to the
generator room, performing a Jedi leap up to a catwalk. Roland snapped
his staff shut, chuckled, and _flew_ up a few feet away. Maul's eyes
widened slightly as Roland tsked him, wagging his finger. Then he
threw out his hand, and a wave of force threw Maul back.
   Maul righted himself in midair and landed on another catwalk.
   Roland watched impassively, nonplussed - at least outwardly.
^Sprocking NA-GRIFE! Do you _believe_ this guy?^

^You know, I think the Klingon moves just slowed him down,^ Morgan
replied.

   ^Huh? Oh, you mean clone-boy from the Amalgamverse.^ Roland nodded
absently, watching Maul leap down to their original level, near some
containment fields. ^That guy was good too, but this turkey's a real
pain. Maybe I shouldn't have opened my big mouth.^ Maul held out a
hand and beckoned mockingly to Morgan.

^If nothing else, we're harder to kill than the Jedi.^ Morgan complied
almost gleefully, driving Maul back.

   ^Yeah, but Maul must've figured that out about me, at least,^
Roland sent as he flew down. ^That stab on Tatooine would've killed a
normal man-"GBLF!^" As Morgan drove Maul back into the chamber beyond
the energy fields, they closed, Roland flying too fast to avoid the
last one slamming right into him. He slammed to the ground just behind
it, wondering why all the colors looked different and 'up' didn't seem
to be in its usual direction.

^Roland, are you all right?^ Morgan sent quickly, trading blows with
Darth Maul in a fast, furious dance.

   ^ohHh...sUre, morGaN...be fIne in a miNUTe...^ Roland sent woozily,
staggering slowly towards upright.

^I'm not sure how many of those I've got,^ Morgan replied, Maul's
strange fighting style beginning to take its toll on her.

   ^err...'poRt Out, tHEn,^ Roland sent, managing to get up on one
knee. ^he's not going anywhere right now.^

^Honey, I can handle this,^ Morgan sent. [I think,] she added to
herself as she just barely managed to parry a blow aimed at her heart.
[At least this guy doesn't seem inclined to go for the head.] She spun
her blade in a devastating arc, driving Maul back for a moment, but
the double-headed lightsaber defied her normal fighting style, and a
parry-riposte combination impossible for a normal weapon pushed her
blade down on one side and thrust through her abdomen with the other.
"ow," she whispered, and dropped to her knees, falling to one side, as
Maul pulled the 'blade' out with a satisfied air.

   "NO! MORGAN!" Roland screamed, all fogginess gone, and he 'ported
to her side, a blast of power throwing Maul back as he scanned her
desperately.

^I'm...^ Morgan began.

   ^Stay down,^ Roland sent, his mind split in a half-dozen directions
with seemingly little effort. He leapt at Maul, his own weapon a
spinning blur, as a skintightforcefield snapped into place around him,
bolts of energy flew from his eyes, and his own healing powers flowed
through Morgan.
   Maul still managed to parry Roland's every blow, but the Freelance
Immortal's ferocity combined with his newfound skill and confidence in
melee kept the Sith on the defensive. The force bolts didn't hurt
Roland's cause, either. "You just made a BIG mistake, Sith," Roland
snarled.
   Maul grunted and leapt up and back. He clung to the wall, squatting
at an odd angle as he weighed Roland anew.
   "Still don't talk much, do you?" Roland asked coldly. The palace
shuddered slightly, and they all felt a ripple in the Force. Maul
snarled as Roland smiled humorlessly. "That felt like your boss just
lost, jigsaw-face. Care to give up?"
   Maul leapt higher, vanishing into a sudden blast of steam.
   "Guess not," Roland spat, then appeared (literally) at Morgan's
side. "Honey? Morgan, love, are you still with me?" Three destroyer
droids rolled towards them; metal screamed as Roland casually
compressed them to the size of marbles.

^you're not gettin' rid o' me...that easily,^ Morgan sent weakly.

   Roland let out a sigh of relief. ^I know that you're immortal,
love, but a Sith with a lightsaber...I was worried.^ He looked up.
^I'm still worried, a bit, but unless I miss my guess our
makeup-challenged friend is making a strategic withdrawal.^ He gently
slid an arm around her back, carefully cradling her. He smiled gently.
^You can handle it, can you?^

^I kept him busy for you, didn't I?^ she replied with a chuckle. He
chuckled back, reluctantly at first, but before long both were
laughing heartily.

--

   Epilogue.
   "Did you lose this?" Obi-Wan asked as Roland and Morgan caught up
with the others. A rather bedraggled, semi-conscious Darth Maul was
cuffed before the Jedi apprentice. Roland smiled and shook his head.
   "Yeah, thanks. Nice work, Kenobi. Think they'll let you cut off
that braid now?" Roland wisecracked.
   "Now, Viceroy, you are going back to the Senate and explain all of
this," Amidala was saying at about the same time.
   "I think you can kiss your trade franchise goodbye," Panaka added
coolly.
   Shmi was hugging her son. "That was very dangerous, young man," she
said with as much sternness as a shaking, relieved mother could
muster.
   "But Mom, Master Qui-Gon _told_ me to stay in the cockpit," Annie
objected. Shmi looked at Qui-Gon, a mixture of happiness and annoyance
in her gaze, and the wise and venerable Jedi Master smiled sheepishly
and shrugged.
   A spaceship had landed nearby, and out of it came Jedi Masters Yoda
and Mace Windu...and Supreme Chancellor Palpatine. Roland's eyes
narrowed, but he said nothing else.
   "Done well, you have," Yoda nodded. "Contain the Sith, this will."
   "Ma'am," Anakin interjected, tugging on Morgan's sleeve and looking
at her abdomen, "are you all right?"

"Hmm?" Morgan looked down. The wound was gone, but there was a neat
circular burn mark in the outfit she wore that showed off her
bellybutton nicely. "Oh! Um, yes, I'm fine, Annie," she replied as
Roland suppressed a chuckle.

   "Er, what do you mean, 'contain,' Master Yoda?" Roland asked,
desperately trying to change the subject as Morgan glared at him.
   "Always two, there are," Yoda explained, "no more...no less. A
master, and an apprentice."
   "That so?" Roland smiled broadly at Maul. "Maul my friend, you're
going to live a long and healthy life in a cell somewhere."
   Maul snorted at Roland. "Believe as you wish."
   "It speaks!" Roland replied with fake shock. Morgan laughed.
"Believe this, crayola-boy. You're going to be buried in the deepest
pit in the farthest corner of the galaxy, and you're _staying_ there."
   Maul merely smiled his feral smile at Roland as he was dragged
away. There was, notably, no exchange of word or glare between Maul
and Palpatine.
   "Master Yoda, who will train Anakin now?" Roland asked, shaking off
his concern.
   "Confer on Obi-Wan Kenobi, the level of Jedi Knight, the Council
does," Yoda replied. "A new Padawan, Qui-Gon may now take. Strongly
suspect, I do, that make Anakin Skywalker his apprentice, he will."
Yoda looked at the Skywalkers with Qui-Gon. "Watch his progress
carefully, I will, but his destiny has changed, I suspect." He patted
Roland's thigh. "Well you have done."
   Roland bowed deeply to Yoda. "Thank you...Master." He straightened
and looked at Morgan. "I think, then, that we should be going." He
knelt down next to Yoda for a moment. "One more thing, Master Yoda,"
he whispered. "Palpatine is Supreme Chancellor now because of all
this. I don't trust him."
   Yoda nodded. "Suspect him, the Council does. Have proof, the
Council does not. Yet there is no fear, for the Force is with us."
Yoda bowed back to Roland. "May the Force be with you."
   Roland nodded back. "And you." He rose as Morgan joined him. He
smiled at the gleeful Annie, who was still trying to be Jedi-serious
and not quite pulling it off. ^I don't know how much has changed,
Morgan...but I think Annie's going to be all right.^ Annie smiled
broadly at the immortals and waved; Roland waved gently back. ^I think
that's all that really matters this time.^
   Morgan just hugged her husband as they faded away from Naboo.

--

   Earth-9.
   Defender watched Mega-VIPER One fall from the sky, slamming into
the water of the harbor. "They never learn, do they?"
   "Nope," Quantum replied, leaning casually on Obsidian's massive
shoulder. "Comes with the bad-guy territory is my guess. Good thing
you came back when you did, though. Ol' KC was putting some heavy
pressure on us. What took you so long?"
   Defender smiled. "Vacation." Quantum nodded as if that explained
everything; Obsidian just looked puzzled. "Look, can you five handle
cleanup? Solitaire and I have a few other things to take care of."
   "Sure thing, big D, but what do you need to do?" she asked.
   He looked at Solitaire and grinned. "We need a vacation to recover
from the vacation."
   Quantum laughed. "Got it. Get lost. If you're actually going to get
some down time, far be it from me to stop you." She paused. "Big D."
   Defender looked at her quizzically.
   "Good to have you back."
   Defender smiled. "Good to be back, Quantum."

Solitaire wrapped her arms around Defender's shoulders. ^Roland? Let's
go home.^

   ^Sounds good to me,^ he sent back with a smile.
   *pop*

   FIN
=================================