Unsolved Mystery: Season 4, Episode 4

Dark Alliances

Written by Justin W. Toner, Mina Skywalker, Spindoctor, and Shelbs

As Justin and Shelbs helped Mina back to her feet, the red vortex appeared once more, right in front of them.

"Oh, great!" said Shelbs. "More company!"

Jason Warren exited the vortex.

As soon as Justin saw who it was, he went into shock. His mouth hung open.

Mina asked, "What's wrong? Do you know this guy?"

Justin answered, but continued to stare at Jason. "That's Jason Warren...he's...he's my brother."

Mina was taken by surprise. He never said he even had a brother!

"I am touched, `Old Man,' you still remember your brother," said Jason.

"I could never forget you, Jason, for what you did and what you became--a servant of the Dark Side!"

"Wrong!! The Dark Side serves me! I serve no one! You are still the same Justin, still clinging to the feeble Shambala teachings, and your foolish Master."

Justin became even angrier. "Don't you EVER speak that way about Master Tain like that again! He tried to help you--I tried!--but you won't listen. The Dark Side will destroy you, Old Man!"

"Wrong again, brother! The Dark Side is the true Power of the Force! Soon you will see it's the truth. You will join with me and together we will rule the multiverse!" said Jason.

"Never! You tried to kill Tain! You broke our parents' hearts! But I still love you, Jason. Let go of the Dark Side, the hate!"

Jason looked at the timer and saw that he was out of time. "I see you need to be taught the truth, Old Man. This is not over; you will join me!" And with that he slid back to

Earth 113.

After he left Justin just collapsed to the ground. Mina knelt beside him.

"I failed him, Mina! I couldn't bring him back from the Dark Side! It's consumed him. It's been so long....since I have seen him... I....I"--but Justin couldn't finish, and began to cry.

Mina pulled him close, hugged him, kissed him on the forehead and said, "It's all right. It's not too late to save him. We have to try. You have to believe!"

Justin looked into her eyes. As always, she was right. Gosh, he loved her! He kissed her on the check and said, "What would I do without you?"

"I don't know, but let's get moving. We still have to find Lexie and W.A. WE will deal with Alex and Jason later."

Shelbs finally spoke up. "Yeah, let's get a move on. The Kromaggs are still coming."

Mina helped Justin up and the two of them held on to each other as they contiuned on. The battle was far from over.

Justin W Toner (God, I love Unsolved! It get better with every post. And, Mina, Alex is a real a***hole!)

-

Mina held on tightly to her beloved. They were both going through such trauma right now. Her with her ex-boyfriend. Him with his brother. Both agents of evil. Mina knew there was no chance or point in turning Alex. The son of Emperor Palpatine was a lost cause. But Jason was a different story. Mina could feel the conflict in him. He still loved his brother. Mina knew Justin would give his own life to save the soul of his brother. Mina could feel the tears streak down her cheeks.

Justin turned to her and said, "Don't cry, Mina. I hate to see you cry."

Justin gently wiped Mina's cheeks with his hand. Justin knew she hadn't stopped crying, but it didn't matter. He felt the dampness on his own cheeks. Shelbs heard the two from behind her. She kept on walking and let them fall behind. It was best to leave them to their own devices. Shelbs turned to the pair.

"I'll go ahead and find W.A. and Lexie. You two have a lot to sort out first."

Justin said, "We'll meet you guys at the Dominion in a while. We've got to take care of these guys first. You, W.A. and Lexie can handle the Mantas, can't you?"

Shelbs nodded. "Yeah. But the one thing we can't handle is the Dark users. You guys will have to take care of that. I better get going. Every minute counts."

Shelbs turned and went off on her own. Justin looked at Mina. Her tears persisted. Justin held her tightly. He pressed his lips against hers. He could taste the salt from her tears. But he could still taste the sweetness that lingered on her lips all the time. Justin thought of his brother.

Mina said, "He can be turned back to good. If Darth Vader could do it, Jason can."

Justin looked confused. He said, "Darth Vader? He was killed over thirty years ago for using the Dark Side."

Mina gripped Justin's hand tightly. She said, "Vader is my grandfather."

Justin was taken aback by this news. He hadn't known that. Mina continued: "He was never killed on my world--at least, not that way. He faced my father in a battle and revealed he was his father. In their next battle Vader killed Emperor Palpatine and turned to the Light Side. I'm sorry to say he died shortly after that."

Justin sighed deeply. He held Mina up to his chest. Mina's tears soaked up in Justin's shirt. She said, "Justin, promise me something."

Justin looked into Mina's eyes. Her voice, though quivering, was strong and sure.

"If you ever get seduced by the Dark Side, remember me."

Justin looked confused. Mina said, "During my father's first battle with Darth, when he found out the truth, Vader promised him power if he joined the Dark Side. My dad was tempted, but he remembered my mother, and their new son, my brother. He didn't turn because of his love for them."

Justin understood. He said, "Mina, my love for you will always keep me on the light side. Just promise me you'll be there for me. I need you."

Mina kissed Justin. She whispered, "I'm here right now. Don't worry, lover, I'll always be there for you."

Mina Skywalker

---

The noise from the blasting on Earth 113 causes Spindoctor to sit up with a start. He is in a small cell, not far from the blasting. One of the cell walls crumbles from the blasting and Spindoctor barely manages to crawl through to the outside of the compound. He is very weak and confused from the drugs that he has been constantly given since being brought here. The last thing he remembers is getting into his car at home, to drive to the office (Season Three). He is completely unaware that he had been replaced by an artificial facsimile, in the few seconds it took the garage door to open. Gathering his strength, he seeks concealment in a nearby forest of gigantic trees.

While wandering in the forest, he comes upon a Manta ship. As he approaches, he has to make his way around a large rock.

Just then something catches his eye, and he stoops to pick it up. It is Nekka's laptop computer.

"Nekka!" spindoctor says to himself. "So she's the one who rescued me! She piloted this ship here, and must be waiting inside. I'll have to see that she gets a nice pay raise when we get back."

spindoctor

--

Spindoctor goes inside the ship, but Nekka is nowhere to be found. spindoctor thinks for a moment, and guesses she must have been captured by the Kromaggs.

"Well, looks like I won't have to give her a raise after all," he said. "Well, better learn how to fly this thing if I want to get back home."

Spindoctor begins to study the ship using Nekka's laptop.

Meanwhile, on board the Kromagg Emperor's flagship, "The Conquest," at Earth 113, Jke'gad leads Alex Starkiller and Jason Warren down the twisting hallways of the giant ship. They stop in front of a large door.

"The Emperor's Throne Room," Jke'gad informs them, enters a secret code, and opens the door.

Inside a large command room staffed with several Kromagg soldiers and advisers to the Emperor, and atop a modest throne sat the Emperor of the Kromaggs himself!

"Welcome," he says to Alex and Jason. "The final phase of the invasion of this Earth is about to get under way. Commander Jke'gad, go and make the final preparations; we wish to be alone."

"As you wish, my Emperor," Jke'gad says as he exits the room.

Jason says, "Your Highness, we are ready to help guide your troops into battle. With Alex and I giving them abilities from the Dark Side, they will crush any opposition!"

"Excellent!" replied the Emperor. "And now I'll pay up on my end of the deal. As we speak, the Commander is setting your plan into motion, just as you asked."

Alex and Jason smiled. "Thank you," said Alex. "Soon we all shall have what we want."

With that the three of them erupted into evil laughter.

Justin and Mina hugged each other tight. Somehow, thought Justin, Mina and I shall bring my brother back from the Dark Side. Suddenly they heard a noise nearby.

"What was that?" Mina asked.

"Don't know," Justin replied. "But let's find out."

Hand in hand they crept up to the corner of an alley and peeked around the corner. They saw a Manta ship land and Kromagg soldiers get out.

"Oh, great," said Mina. "More company."

"Let's take these guys out!" said Justin, but as they prepared to attack, from behind them came a stun beam that knocked Justin to the ground.

"Justin!!" cried Mina. She checked him; he was out cold, but alive.

"Ah, Mina," said a voice behind her. "We meet again."

She turned to see Commander Jke'gad with a stun gun, and a funny creature attached to his back.

"JKE'GAD?!?! But . . . Justin killed you!!"

"That he did, but Alex and Jason were kind enough to bring me back. Now, my dear, you're coming with me!"

"Not likely, buster!" she said and reached out to the Force to grab his gun...but it wasn't there. The Force was gone! But how!?

"Wondering why the Force is gone? It's because of this!" He pointed to the thing on his back. "It’s called a ysalimri; they create bubbles that push the Force away! Courtesy of Justin's brother Jason!"

Before Mina could jump him, he blasted her and she fell to the ground next to Justin. The other Kromaggs come and picked Mina up.

"Take her aboard! Alex is waiting for her!"

They boarded the Manta Ship.

Justin began to wake up. He wondered how he got attacked like that; the Force would have warned him. Unless a ysalimri was nearby! He then realized Mina was gone!

He looked up to see her being carried aboard the ship!

"MINA!!" he cried.

He tried to get up, but it was too late; the ship was gone!

He cried, "Mina! MINA! Damn you, you Kromagg bastards!!" Jason and Alex had this planned all along! Forcing Justin to rescue her, so Justin would come to Jason!

"Don't worry, Mina, the others and I will rescue you."

With that he got up and ran to Find Shelbs, Lexie, and W.A.

Mina awakened to find herself in a holding cell aboard "The Conquest."

She realized that Justin wasn't here. Thank the Force, she thought. Justin and the others will come soon. She knew Justin would not rest until he found her.

She then noticed someone else was in the cell with her. "Who's there?" she called out.

"Your voice . . . Is that you, Mina?" said the figure.

With that Mina knew who it was.

"Nekka! Is that you?"

"Yes," she replied. "Looks like they got you too."

The only thing Mina could say was, "Can things get any worse?"

Justin W Toner (The plot thickens!)

--

Meanwhile....

As Shelbs crept around dodging Kromaggs, she looked behind bushes, garbage cans and in doorways.

Ugh, this is no good, she thought. '' I can't find W.A. and Lexie like this. I need to get above ground.''

Spotting a manta ship a little ways off, she decided to just go for it.

"I'll pick up the rest of the guys later."

When she got a little closer, she was shocked to see herself standing around with several Kromaggs.

"This can't be good."

She moved forward and hid behind some bushes so she could catch a few words.

One was saying, "Now is the time to put our plan into effect. We will soon squash this pathetic planet and kill all the puny humans." He turned to Shelbs2. "You must infiltrate the group and bring Justin to us."

"What about the girl?"

"She's been taken care of."

Shelbs let out a gasp and one of the Kromaggs turned in her direction.

Ducking, she begins scolding herself. "Stupid, stupid, you know better than that!"

It appeared as though the Kromagg hadn't seen her, but she was sure he had. She thought she noticed a smile.

"Nah, that's crazy! Unless W.A. or Lexie used the....nah, that's even crazier."

The hairs on her neck prickled and Shelbs moved aside in time to dodge the sharp object coming toward her head.

As she turned on her attacker, she gave him a nice, swift kick to the stomach. A karate chop to the back knocked him out cold.

Her cover blown, she ran as fast as she could toward the ship.

Shelbs

--

Mina sat in her cell, her knees tucked up into her chest. She took several deep breaths. Nekka was asleep in the corner of their cell. The Kromaggs had really done a good "interrogation" on her. The girl was scared out of her mind. Nobody had bothered Mina. She was just the bait to lure Justin there. Mina felt the sadness in her as she realized that their undying love for each other was being used for evil.

It was not the first time evil had tried to use love to destroy good. Her father had been lured to Cloud City to save her aunt, uncle and mother from Darth Vader. They had all come out alive. But Mina wasn't sure it would be the same here. Jason wanted Justin on the Dark Side. And wanted her dead. Jason knew, as well as Mina did, their love would keep Justin on the Light Side. But then there was Alex Starkiller.

It seemed Alex wanted Mina back. That's why he had called her "my love" back in the alley. Mina guessed that Alex would try and claim her as his, and kill Justin. Mina tried to slip into a trance to go into deeper thought. But it didn't work. Mina glaced in the corner and noticed ysalamiri in a cage. She would have to settle for sleep instead of a Jedi trance, her own power instead of Force-powered punches, and her own feelings instead of Force intuition (hanging around Corellias so much gave her the ability to sense "bad feelings" with the Force). Mina kept on thinking. She would have to think of a way to get rid of the ysalamiri later.

Then there was Jke'Gad, who wanted both of them dead. But why was he working for Jason and Alex? Mina could hardly think straight. She crawled into the opposite corner of her cell, as far away from the ysalamiri as she could.

Mina kept on asking herself if Justin was okay. It was scaring her to death. Did Jason get to him yet? Had he tried to come and rescue her? Mina had lost count of the hours she had been in the cell. Mina kept on thinking till she fell into a troubled sleep.

Mina woke up in a different place. It was lighter in the room, she could see. Mina looked at her clothes; instead of her flowered skirt (fans: what flowered skirt? She was wearing cut-off jeans before? Writers: Continuity? We don't need NO STINKIN' CONTINUITY! Just kidding.) she was wearing a black dress. She heard a voice behind her.

"I thought you would want a black dress for your time of mourning."

Mina turned and looked at Alex Starkiller. Mina stared coolly at him; it was no time to get stressed out.

"Who am I supposed to be mourning?"

Alex smiled at Mina.

"Your dearly departed darling, Justin Warren."

Mina's heart leaped into her throat when she heard Alex say this. Mina then remembered that Justin was only stunned.

"He was alive when I left him."

Alex put a hand on Mina's shoulder. She shrugged it off.

"I'm afraid Jke'Gad killed him when he tried to save you from the Kromaggs."

Mina looked at his face; she could tell right away he was lying. She nodded, but all the time was planning on how to at least knock Alex unconscious and getting out of there. Alex said, "Don't try to keep things from me, darling. With this around"--he picked up the ysalamiri's cage--"you can't keep a barrier around your mind from me."

Mina ran to the opposite end of the room and yelled, "Genius! You can't penetrate my mind with the Force with the ysalamiri around!"

Alex smiled and said, "But I can penetrate your mind with this."

Alex held up a small vile. It was a powerdy substance. Mina gasped.

"Glitterism."

Alex walked over to her and cornered her. He opened the vile. The glitterism would make it possible for him to read her thoughts without the Force. The most potent form of spice.

Mina smiled and said, "There's one thing you forgot, Alex."

He put the vile to his lips. He asked, "What?"

Mina slammed her knee into his crotch. He screamed in pain. Mina kicked her leg up and hit Alex square across the face. He staggered. Mina kicked him once more and he fell to the ground. He was still alive, but was out cold and would be hurting pretty bad when he woke up.

Mina smiled, moved the ysalamiri right next to his limp body and said, "You forgot I Jaina and I used to take Corellian kickboxing."

Mina looked at Alex's belt and saw her lightsaber was there. She grabbed it and clipped it to her own belt. She ran out of the room and down the hall. She stopped at an intersecting hall. She felt the cold barrel of a blaster on her head.

A voice said, "Hello, Skywalker. I am surprised. But now I know what my brother sees in a tenacious girl like you."

"Jason Warren."

Jason took the blaster back and clipped it to his belt. He said, "Come on, Skywalker. It's time to really fight somebody."

Mina stood, silent. Jason yelled, "Come on, little girl. Fight!"

Jason hit her hard. Mina put her hand over her left cheek. It was bleeding. Mina said, "I'm not going to fight you."

Jason kicked her in the stomach. Mina fell to the ground. She repeated, "I'm not going to fight you, Jason."

Jason was angry; Mina wasn't fighting. He yelled, "Fight, little girl, forget about your devotion to my brother. Fight!"

Jason stepped on her right arm. Mina could feel the bones crunch. The pain shot through her like a sandstorm on Tatooine. She took in a deep breath and endured the horrible pain. She calmed the pain with the Force. Jason kicked her again.

"Fight or die, Skywalker!"

Mina said, "Then I'll die."

Jason picked her up and threw her clear across the hall. Mina hit the metal wall. Mina could feel her chest nearly collapse as she hit the wall. Ribs broke; she couldn't breathe.

Jason came up to her and said, "You're lucky I need you alive, Skywalker. But wait. I shall get rid of you later."

Jason yelled to Jke'Gad, who was standing the shadow the whole time.

"Take Miss Skywalker to her cell. And take that kid Nekka and interrogate her again. She may be ready to talk."

Mina felt Jke'Gad pick her limp body up. But that's all she could remember as she finally gave into the pain and blacked out.

Mina Skywalker (Close to death, once again.)

--

Read Unsolved Mystery: Season 4, Episode 5