[Dark Nest] - 1(110)

“We can even arrange employment for their parents on Ossus-some are assistant trainers here at the academy,” Mara said. “And we encourage students to develop at their own pace. So when Ben is ready, his natural capabilities will allow him to establish himself very quickly.”

“I have no doubt.” Formbi turned back to the training grounds, looking past the Woodoos to where the Rontos were practicing telekinesis by smashing giant bean bags against each other. “But I’m sure you didn’t summon me here to discuss Jedi training techniques.”

“As a matter of fact, we did,” Luke said. They had also asked Soontir Fel to come, but he had politely declined, explaining it would not do for anyone on the Defense Fleet general staff to consort with Ascendancy enemies. “We want you to understand what goes into the training of a modern Jedi.”

“Hoping to impress me so much that I’ll persuade the Ruling Circle to let you handle the Qoribu problem?” Formbi asked.

“Precisely,” Mara said. “And it was an invitation, not a summons.”

“Funny,” Formbi said. “Your message mentioned the Brask Oto.”

“That’s right,” Luke said. The Brask Oto was a Chiss battle station he and Mara had saved during an earlier trip into Ascendancy territory. “We wanted you to know it was authentic.”

Formbi smiled. “As I said-a summons. We Chiss always repay debts of honor.” He waved a hand toward the interior of the training complex. “Please, impress me.”

Luke led the way across the running track to the slidewalk that circled the inner fields, then heard an alarmed whistle behind them. He glanced back to find R2-D2 traversing a banked turn, one tread off the ground and perilously close to tipping over.

“Your droid seems rather intoxicated,” Formbi observed.

“A memory fault is playing havoc with his systems.” Luke reached out in the Force and carried R2-D2 over to the slidewalk. “I don’t want it repaired until we find a way to extract some information stored on the chip.”

Formbi watched with an amused expression as the droid settled onto the slidewalk behind him. “And this information is so valuable you must keep the droid with you at all times?”

Luke thought for a moment, then said, “Yes.” The truth was that R2-D2 kept scheduling himself for a chip replacement, so Luke had decided to keep him nearby until the Galactic Alliance’s best slicer, Zakarisz Ghent, arrived to bypass the security program protecting the memory chip. “It could solve a very old mystery for us.”

“Then I wish you luck,” Formbi said. He pointed to a circle of twelve-year-olds-Banthas-sitting cross-legged around a single happy-looking nerf, waving their fingers and sending the contented beast waddling back and forth among them. “What in space are they doing?”

“Mind tag,” Mara explained. “It’s how they develop their persuasive abilities.”

Formbi gave her a sharp look. “I trust that’s not how you intend to persuade me?”

“The technique only works on the weak-minded,” Luke said.

“And no Jedi would ever consider a Chiss Aristocra to be weak-minded.”

“Good,” he said. “I was given to believe Jedi Knights are rarely fools.”

“We generally try to train that out before anyone becomes a Jedi Knight, yes,” Mara said.

“Then why do you insist on involving yourselves at Qoribu?” Formbi’s voice was casual, as though it were only an idle question. “The conflict is of no concern to the Galactic Alliance.”

“The Jedi serve the Force.” Luke was keeping an eye on R2-D2, making sure he did not wander off. “Our concerns reach well beyond the Galactic Alliance.”

Formbi’s gaze grew hard. “Into the Ascendancy?”

“Into the Colony, at least,” Luke said.

Formbi looked away, focusing his attention on a group of fourteen-year-olds who were using their lightsabers to bat live blaster bolts back and forth. These students had no nickname; once students built their first lightsabers, they were known simply as apprentices.

“You understand nothing about the Colony,” Formbi said, almost absently. “If you did, you would leave it to us.”

“We understand that what you’re doing at Qoribu comes close to violating Chiss law,” Mara said. “Unless the Ascendancy has bent from a thousand years of tradition?”

“A lot has changed in the Ascendancy.” Formbi’s voice grew resigned. “But not that. It remains unlawful for the Chiss to be the aggressor people.”

“I’ve always admired that about the Ascendancy,” Luke said.