[Legacy Of The Force] - 04(80)

The last line read: Y-WING DIAGNOSTIC SUMMARY: ASSESSED DAMAGE PRECLUDES FUNCTIONING. COMMUNICATIONS ENDED. PROBABILITY 84% THAT Y-WING HAS BEEN TOTALLY DESTROYED.

Ben sank down to sit on the powdery snow cover on the forest floor. Faskus’s enemies had come back and destroyed his transportation, the only way he knew to get back offworld.

The files he had suggested that no one was sure of any sentient beings still left on Ziost. There might not be anyone to help him get offworld, ever .., and no one who cared about him knew he was here. He was going to die alone on Ziost.

He forced himself to stiffen up. Whether he died or not, lie had a mission to finish. And once it was done, he had a second mission, a personal one.

To punish the people who had tried to exile him on this lonely world.

CORUSCANT

JEDI TEMPLE, COUNCIL CHAMBER

They met in their circle of chairs-elegant stone seats, far short of thrones in lavishness, and not comfortable enough to encourage meetings that lasted for hours. The others - Mara, Corran, Kyle Katarn, Cilghal, Kyp Durron-waited for Luke to sit, a tradition they’d informally adopted and which he wished, just a bit, that they’d abandon.

When all were seated, Luke said, “Cilghal, I’d appreciate it if you’d take the role of taras-chi for this gathering.”

The Mon Cal Jedi Master blinked at him. Her protruding eyes made the action more impressive than it would be from a human. “I’m sorry, Grand Master. Take the role of what?”

Kyp made a tiny noise. It could have been a noncommittal grant. Luke glanced over to see that Kyp’s face was locked up with the effort not to laugh. Luke continued, ” Taras-chi. A tradition we haven’t observed recently. You find a challenge for any idea or proposition you think isn’t being adequately tested.”

“Ah,” Cilghal said. “Yes, of course.”

Kyp twitched just once, a final suppression of laughter, and then relaxed.

“We have several items to consider,” Luke said. “In no particular order … Though we have no restrictions on how many Jedi Masters there should be, the war has clearly taken up additional time from each Master, and the worsening of the war will probably take still more. This means the teaching will suffer. I propose, then, that we consider whether any senior Jedi Knights are suitable for advancement. We don’t need to debate candidates today, but you should all prepare lists of those you think are suitable.” Most of the Masters present nodded, all but Cilghal, who considered the question, her bulbous eyes elevated to different levels, but offered no objection.

“Second,” Luke continued, “as many of you know, Ben is missing. He may have run away to reach Jacen. He may have left on some personal mission to prove himself. He may …” It took him a moment to force the words out. “He may have been taken. Evidence Mara and I have uncovered suggests that he may have injured a woman who later died from her injuries … and that the woman’s mother was Lumiya.”

That drew some murmurs from Kyle, Corran, and Kyp. Cilghal was quick to ask, “Was this reason for Lumiya’s attack on Master Lobi?”

Luke nodded. “Presumably. Lobi was shadowing Ben. If Lumiya did something related to Ben-spoke with him, planted a tracer on him, and so forth-she would want to eliminate witnesses.”

“So,” Cilghal said, “this isn’t just a case of two Masters demonstrating excessive attachment to an apprentice. The situation could result in the deaths of more Jedi.”

Well done, Luke thought. Already a salvo launched at an accurately identified problem. “Correct.”

“But I must ask,” she continued, “whether you and the other Master Skywalker are dispassionate enough about Ben to make good decisions on this issue.”

Mara leaned forward as if to offer an angry reply. Luke glanced at her and, through their Forcebond, reached out with a touch of caution. Mara retained her pose but did not speak.

Luke answered, “I think so. In any case, Mara and I have very little to go on in terms of Ben’s disappearance. As of this morning, I have been unable to find Ben in the Force. Which could mean that he has learned to conceal himself; that he’s in a place, like Dagobah, where the Force characteristics of his surroundings mask his presence; or …” He didn’t finish that painful thought. “But to be sure, I call upon the Masters to speak up if ever you think we’re behaving inappropriately. I’ll be the first to admit that we need to rely on your more objective judgment on this matter.”

“And other matters of attachment, if I may,” Cilghal continued. “Master Horn, the issues with your family are resolved?”