Destinies: Fury [completed]

[Pierce Tondry]

First James Prent had come careening into the room. She'd listened as he told her in a subdued voice about the loss of his son before speeding off again.

Then, the Jedi Council had arrived. They asked how he was, what he knew. Asked if he minded an investigative team coming by. Promised to find Jax. Figrin had been especially kind.

Other Jedi had trickled by after that, offering condolences. The phrase "If you need anything" had been repeated so many times, Pierce could likely have had ten female Jedi for sleeping companions that night.

The investigative team came and went. They told him nothing he didn't already know.

Now it was some time later. Pierce was alone in his son's bedroom, holding one of the stuffed toys Jax used to play with. Everyone who had come by, was gone.

The day he'd feared for two years was now over. Lilaena came, struck at his heart, and disappeared.

In spite of everything, Pierce felt strangely calm. The fear was gone- the mere idea had built up so much in his mind, it was hard to see anything else. Now that the situation was here, he could confront it.

But unfortunately, it meant other things were true; things he'd feared along with the possibility of losing Jax. That when the time came, the Jedi would be unprepared for this kind of crisis. That Pierce's trust in their ability to protect his family was misplaced. That the absolute faith in the teachings of the Jedi which had slowly built up over years inside Pierce was foolish.

It was also a painful reminder that acting in behalf of right and good did not render one invulnerable to those who did evil.

But those who did evil were not invulnerable themselves.

Pierce set the stuffed toy down, got up, and quietly went into his room.

Doesn't mean much.
It doesn't mean anything at all.
The life I've left behind me is a cold one.

I've crossed the last line from where I can't return.
Where every step I took in faith betrayed me.

Sweet surrender is all I have to give.

######

"No storm, Ed?"

"Oh, there'll be a storm, don't you worry. They just don't always show up right away. But this storm'll be back, and it'll be worse than anything you've ever seen."

[Figrin D'an]

The conference room adjacent to the Council chambers was empty and quiet, one of the few places in the entire complex that wasn't still in a cloud of tension and uncertainty. Everyone was on edge after what had happened, and there wasnt a soul in the building that wasn't thinking about Pierce's son, Jax, and wondering where he had been taken.

Having taken charge of the situation at the scene, Figrin had spent hours with the investigative team, talking with witnesses and examining any shred of evidence. Now, he simply wanted to read the complete report and digest everything it contained.

The investigators had managed to reconstruct the incident rather well. Three teams, stationed in different positions around the Jedi complex... one to create a distraction, one to grab the target, and one to serve as a decoy. It was flawlessly executed. Professionals with perfect timing. There was no way that the Jedi could have reacted quickly enough with the organization necessary to counter the operation. And, to add to the dismay, every member of each of the teams had gotten away clean. No arrests, no one to interrogate, and therefore, no solid leads on where to begin to look for the missing Jax Tondry. If Pierce was right, that it was Lilaena De'Ville who was responsible (and there was no reason to doubt that assertion), the Order could attempt to track her recent movements, but there was simply no guarentee of finding her. The Dark Jedi had proven to be elusive in the past, and given the precision of the kidnapping, Figrin had no doubt that she would have taken extensive precautions to cover her trail.

Pierce had been oddly quiet ever since learning of what had happened, enough to cause Figrin concern about his state of mind. Tondry was strong of will, but having a child taken was something that would create a strong swelling of emotion in even the strongest of minds. Having never had children of his own, Figrin could only imagine what the Jedi Knight was feeling. It didn't lessen the guilt he felt, though. The Jedi Complex was supposed to be a place of serenity, in which Jedi could feel safe. On this day, that belief had come crashing down upon them. Could the Jedi not protect their own within their own walls? Were they so blind and perceived as being so weak that their enemies were able to challenge them on their own ground and win?

Things would need to change. They had to. There was simply no other recourse. Complacency had become the status quo. No longer, however. The Dark Side would need to be sought out and defeated.

And it would start with finding Jax Tondry and Lilaena De'Ville, no matter what it took to do so.

[James Prent]

The holovision made for a colorful window into fantasy, but with the sound muted, the figures in front of her eyes failed to snap James out of her reverie. She felt shattered. If only she had a bit more control over these visions, she could have predicted Jax's kidnapping.

She should have been able to do something. She wanted to be able to do something.

James was unconsciously fiddling with her lightsaber hilt, it's rough-looking metal skin smooth against her right hand as she fumed. She turned her anger over in her mind just as often as she did the saber, until she sighed, and closed her eyes.

It wasn't your fault, James. Figrin had said that to her after she'd returned from her race to the Tondry's rooms. James tried to take that to heart. Certainly he was right, but it didn't feel correct, when she had had so many warning signs. But ultimately the blame rested on one person. Lilaena De'Ville, the name she'd finally wrested from Master D'an. Pierce wasn't up to talking to her about his ex-wife, and she'd never pried. James swallowed, willing her anger to wilt away.

Slowly, it did. Her visions made one thing clear. Jax would be in trouble, and she would fight the person who threatened him. Whether the cloaked figure of her dreams was De'Ville or not, James would be ready.

She was ready. The padawan stood up, extending her arm and igniting her lightsaber. The blue blade sliced through the air, and James spun it in a brilliant arc in front of her. She trusted her training, and her master. She'd learned much in the years she'd been with the Order - it seemed only yesterday Jax had celebrated his third birthday with her, and now he was already five. He wouldp be brought back. The Tondry family would be whole again. James turned off her saber, clipped it to her belt, and made her way towards the sparring rooms.

Mommy had come, but this was not the end.