Ahh, here we are again.  For continuity's sake, this story (which looks to be a big one, I hope) takes place shortly after the events of "Captured" (including the epilogue).

Some folks go looking for trouble, and some folks just seem to find it no matter what.

Disclaimer: Characters and associated details are property of Lucasfilm, Ltd. and are used for non-profit entertainment purposes only.

"WANDERING STAR"

by Eric R. Umali

Chapter 2 - “Artifact”

Leaving the Millenium Falcon behind her, Jaina touched the control handle of her EVA suit, letting a quick pulse go from her backpack thrusters.

“Closing in on it, about fifty meters to go,” she reported.

Inside the Falcon, the others were closely monitoring the operation.

The thrusters soon brought Jaina right up to the beacon.  It was roughly the same size as she, not counting the two-meter long antenna.  A few lights dotted it, and a single torn solar panel provided its power.

“Jacen was right,” she said, “it’s ancient.  It’s covered with micrometeorite hits… even some carbon scoring on parts.”  Jaina unstowed a large device.  “I’m attaching the magnet.”

The magnet clamped against the metal skin of the beacon.  “I’ve got it.”

In the cockpit, Han leaned towards the microphone.  “Good work, hon.  Remember to keep your thrust low as you get it to stop.”

“Got it, Dad.”

Carefully controlling her speed, now that she was attached to the higher mass of the beacon, Jaina slowly brought them both to a stop.  She slowly began moving back towards the Falcon, taking the opportunity to study the thing up close.

Soon, she noticed a few obscured characters.  Switching her grip on the magnet to her left hand, she began to wipe and scrape at the thin layer of material covering the words, allowing her to read them.

“Folks, I’ve found an identification panel.  It looks like a ship’s buoy from the… Wandering Star.  Ever heard of it?”

Everyone aboard the Falcon shrugged.  “Doesn’t ring any bells up here, Jaina.”

“Wait, I’ve got the registry tag…”

There was a long silence.  Han leaned again towards the microphone.  “Jaina, what is it?”

Jaina’s voice came back low with surprise.  “The prefix code– it’s ‘RSC’.”

Inside the cockpit, Jacen leaned towards the microphone.  “As in ‘Repbulic Star Cruiser’?  You mean that thing dates back to the Old Republic?”

Tenel Ka nodded.  “To the highest days of the Republic, judging by its appearance.”

Han closed his mouth against the words, but they were there.

I’ve got a bad feeling about this…

**********

A few days after taking on their mysterious cargo, the Millenium Falcon and its crew came to a graceful landing on a huge platform, floating kilometers above the long-abandoned ground of Coruscant, the Republic capitol world.  Long, crisscrossing lines of air taxis and shuttles and the steady stream of constantly landing or departing starships cluttered the night sky, just as they did in the day.

At one corner of the oblong platform, a large red-hulled diplomatic shuttle was already docked.  A small figure stood near the door, garbed in white, and a taller figure stood beside her, glinting gold in the Falcon’s landing lights.  They were flanked a pair of New Republic guards.

The battered, but famous Corellian freighter came to a gentle rest on the landing platform.  Its running lights dimmed, and a few jets of gas vented as its systems were shut down.  With a hiss of hydraulics, the landing ramp lowered.

By the time Han Solo had put a single foot down at the end of the ramp, his wife, Leia Organa Solo was there to greet him with a warm embrace.  As the rest of the crew emerged, they found the Republic’s President had a hug for all of them.  See Threepio greeted and was greeted just as warmly, something that never stopped surprising the protocol droid.

“So,” Leia began, now that the group was gathered together, “what brings you all here at this completely unreasonable time of night?”

“Your kids found themselves a real interesting relic in the middle of nowhere,” said Han.

“Why is that whenever trouble happens, they’re my kids?”

“It’s not trouble, Mom,” said Jacen.  “But you might want to give the folks at the Republic Museum a call in the morning.”

**********

Late the next day, the extended family was gathered behind a wide, curved window, in a room located deep within the massive Republic Museum complex.  Within the carefully controlled environment of the white room beyond the window, a quartet of technicians had painstakingly cleaned the lost beacon, and were now carefully opening its shell.

Watching with rapt attention, the group barely noticed the entrance of the Museum’s curator, Sian Gello.  Gello held up a data pad.  “Madame President, I have the information you asked for.”

They turned as one.  “What have you found out, Mister Gello?” asked Leia.

“First, allow me to reiterate just how high an honor it is to have yourself and your reknowned clan here at the Museum.  And thank you for bringing such a remarkable archaeological find.”

“Did you trace the ship?” asked Han, restraining his impatience.

The curator straightened the spectacles that were clipped to the bridge of his long proboscis, and consulted the pad.  “It took quite a while to find it.  Based on what’s left of the ship’s registration number we have searched through the records.  It seems the initial supposition was correct: the Wandering Star was a Republic Cruiser last seen one thousand, two hundred fifty-three years ago.”

Jaina’s eyes widened.  “Twelve hundred years ago?  How could the beacon still be functioning?”

“Our technicians believe that the buoy was caught by a strong solar wind, in whatever system in which it was launched.”

Jacen stepped closer.  “Was there any information about who was on the Wandering Star, or where it was going?”

Gello shifted his weight as he turned to the young man.  “Unfortunately, no.”  He paused.  “Well, that’s not precisely right.  There was no flight plan filed, as apparently the ship was in a great hurry when it left.  But, we do know two things: one, the Wandering Star lifted off from Coruscant, which was its base of operations, and…”  He looked up at them.

“Well what are you waiting for?” said Jaina.  “Tell us.”

“And two, the ship was registered with the Republic Navy, and was attached to the Jedi Council.”

Every being in the room with a jaw let it drop.

Han took a step closer, nearly towering over the Curator.  “You’re saying that it was a Jedi ship?”

“It seems that way, sir, yes,” answered Gello, adjusting his glasses once more.

Tenel Ka nodded thoughtfully.  “That would certainly explain the words ‘Sith enclave’ in the message fragment.”

Now it was the Curator’s turn to be surprised.  “I’m sorry, young lady, but did you say the beacon’s message mentioned the Sith?”

“This is correct.  You know of the Sith?”

“Studying Jedi lore and history is something of a hobby of mine.  Has been for many years, in fact– even during the Empire when it was illegal.”  He shuffled a bit again.  “Tell me more of what you heard.”

“It wasn’t much,” Jacen answered.  “What we got was mostly static, but we made out a few words, including ‘Sith enclave.’  The Jedi were mentioned, but we thought they might have simply been aboard when whatever happened… happened.”

There was a tap at the window, and the group turned to find the technicians closing up the beacon’s covering.  On a small table lay a relatively untouched rectangular device.

“Curator Gello,” said the tinny voice over the intercom, “we’ve been able to extract the buoy’s main processor unit.”

“Excellent.  Secure it in stasis and bring it to the computer archives section.”  The technician inside nodded, then turned away.  Gello turned back to the group.  “Our computer experts will try to reactivate the processor, and then access the memory banks.  It will be an involved process, so I suggest retiring.  We will be sure to let you know as soon as we have anything.”

Before anyone could object, Leia nodded in assent.  “That will be fine, Curator Gello.  Thank you so much for your help.”

Gello nodded to each of them as they headed for the door.  To the young Jedi, he added, “Perhaps some time you could share some of what you’ve learned of Jedi history in your studies?”

“I don’t see why we can’t now,” said Jacen, turning back.

Tenel Ka lightly grasped his arm.  “Unfortunately, Jacen, you and I have something more pressing to do right now.”

“What’s that?”

Jacen thought he caught the hint of a smile on her lips as she replied, “We have to explain to my grandmother why we are going to be late.”

“Terrific.”

TO BE CONTINUED…