Corran nodded. “All Jedi except those helping the Alliance armed forces in intelligence gathering are off Corellia, as is my wife. Though she may divorce me, since I left without kissing her good-bye.”
Cilghal did not offer the statement that had predicated her questions. Jedi should abandon attachment. It had been a basic tenet of Jedi philosophy in the Old Republic era and earlier times. Luke had, as an experiment across die years, relaxed it, describing to his students its role in Jedi history but not insisting that it be observed by the modern Jedi generations. Having himself chosen a life with; I wife and child, he could hardly rule that out for others, and these days many were formally married and often raised their own children, with varying degrees of proper Jedi detachment: He had to admit that in such cases-even in his own-true detachment could at times be nearly impossible.
Cilghal was unlikely to offer that criticism, because she had never indicated that she believed in the absolute merit of the old tradition. But she was obviously taking her role as taras-chi very seriously.
“Also on my agenda,” Luke said, “an update on Leia. You’ve all been patient and forward looking in allowing her to remain with Han. And I continue to think this serves both the interests of the Jedi order and the Galactic Alliance in allowing us to keep an eye on other perspectives, and on facts not otherwise available to us. Mara and I did see her during our visit to Corellian space. I wanted to put forth the idea that we continue to do so, and offer her no censure for apparently being opposed to Alliance goals … even when the Alliance continues to insist on punitive measures.”
This time it was Kyle Katarn who brought up the likelihood of argument. Lightly bearded, a few years older than Luke, he actually looked a touch younger because he had not picked up as impressive a collection of facial scars. “You’re certain that your attachment to your sister doesn’t influence the way you’re handling the issue?”
Luke nodded. “Unlike the situation with my son, I’m at ease with this issue, comfortable with all my decisions.”
“The Galactic Alliance has valid points on this matter,” Katarn said. “Not necessarily a durasteel-clad case, but valid points. They’re not asking us to bring her to justice in chains. But if the Jedi order supports the Alliance, and a Jedi Knight is actively supporting the enemy, their contention is that the Jedi Knight in question should be expelled from the order.”
“Maybe we should,” Mara said. “Once a fair trial has proven that she has aided the enemy. It hasn’t been proven yet. Her presence with Han at several events has been noted, yes. But not even Tenel Ka, the intended victim of their alleged assassination attempt, believes them to be guilty of it.”
“And,” Kyp added, “there’s the question of whether t hey can get a fair trial in the current environment.”
Katarn waved their comments away. “Considering it dispassionately,” he said, “what would it change if Leia Solo were expelled from the order? She’d continue to stay with I Han, continue to provide you with crucial information - she wouldn’t stop being your sister, after all-and we could readmit her once the trial ruled for her innocence.”
“Thereby making the Alliance government happy,” Luke said. “But would it be right, Master Katarn? Expelling her for taking the initiative and investigating things she sees that no one else does? Which one of us hasn’t done that?” No one raised a hand, and he continued, “Are you really advocating that, or are you assuming Cilghal’s role as honored debate opponent for a moment?”
Katarn smiled, flashing white teeth. “Does it matter? The proposal has merit, or lacks merit, on its own, regardless of whether I believe in it.”
“He’s right,” Cilghal said. “We need to analyze the proposal on its own merit, and the Grand Master’s response to it likewise.”
“Well, here’s my response,” Luke said. “If we strip Leia of her Jedi Knighthood because of allegations, and in so doing prevent the Alliance from visiting penalties on us, penalties that could reduce our effectiveness, then we’d be doing a small wrong to prevent a potential larger wrong. But it’s not the mission of the Jedi order to do evil. Our job is to identify things that are wrong and get in their way. Even when it costs us our resources, or happiness, and our lives. That’s what I propose we do here.”
Katarn nodded as if pleased with the answer. He turned to Corran. “Master Horn, I notice you haven’t been saying much.”
Corran had been sitting with his brow furrowed for most of the discussion. Now he nodded. “I was under the impression that the taras-chi was some sort of bug on Kessel. Booster said they tasted like muck dripping from a badly maintained engine.”