Fate Of The Jedi: Ascension Part 22

She nodded. "I knew you would understand duty."

"Oh, I do. I also know that it's what you want."

"Jag, don't think for a minute I-"

He had taken her hand and pressed it to his heart, smiling at her. "I know you want to be with me. I want that, too. And we'll have that eventually ... or we won't. You don't just feel obligated to travel with the Jedi-you want to, just as much as you want to be with me. And all of that is okay."

She regarded him searchingly as he continued. "And frankly, after your parents' cryptic message, I am getting the distinct feeling I won't be lingering around Coruscant much longer, either. After this meeting, I suspect I'll be heading straight for Imperial s.p.a.ce. And I don't know what's waiting there for me any more than you know what's waiting for you."

"About that meeting," Jaina said, tension leaving her posture. "I was told that you're to join us for dinner tonight. They wanted to have sort of a going-away celebration for me. And it sounds like for you, too."

"Leia's staying behind then?"

"Just for a while. Dorvan asked her to and Luke agreed. Not so much because she's a Jedi, but because there are few people in the galaxy who have the kind of diplomatic and governmental experience she has."

"Dorvan is a wise man. I'm glad she's staying, for however long. He and the GA can only benefit. And I'll be there for dinner," Jag a.s.sured her. "Wherever ... there is. I never have learned where your family's safe house is."

"They won't be using it after tonight, so I guess they figured it didn't matter if you knew the location." Jaina grinned.

"I feel so honored," Jag said sarcastically, mitigating his tone with an answering smile.

"Either that," she said, draping her arms around his neck, "or they wanted to officially welcome you to the family. Maybe you finally got Dad's approval."

"Now, now," he chided, "don't shake my universe up too much."

The door was opened, not unexpectedly, by C-3PO. "Goodness gracious, how pleasant to see you again, Head of State Fel!" the droid enthused. "If only Master Luke and Master Ben were here, the entire family would be gathered together. It's been some time since that last occurred. I rather miss it."

"Good to see you again, too, Threepio," Jag said. R2-D2 toodled a happy-sounding welcome, as well. Jag started to reply when he was suddenly simultaneously charged by a madly purring young nexu and a beaming eight-year-old girl.

"Anji is happy to see you and so am I!" the little girl said. He mussed her black hair affectionately, then extended his hand to his future father-in-law.

"Glad you could join us tonight, kid," Han said. "Family's going to be going off in all kinds of directions tomorrow."

Jag was surprised at how good it felt to be included in the Solos' definition of family. "Indeed," he said, "and about that ...?" He let the question trail off and merely lifted his eyebrows in inquiry.

Han pressed a Corellian ale into Jag's hand and went to pour a gla.s.s of red wine for Jaina. "After dinner," he said. "In the meantime, I can't take all of this with me, so drink up."

"I don't think I've ever seen a safe house with such a well-stocked liquor cabinet," Jag commented. He sipped the ale and nodded appreciatively.

Han shot him the familiar lopsided grin that had, forty years earlier, won the heart of a Princess. "There are some things you just don't skimp on. For me, that means good alcohol, and good blasters."

"Which go together so well," said Jaina, rolling her eyes at her dad.

Leia came out of the kitchen and, with a smile and a quick kiss, accepted the gla.s.s of wine that Han had poured for her. "Dinner should be ready shortly. In the meantime," she said, sobering, "there's something very important you need to see."

Jag was instantly alert and focused. "What?" he asked.

With great seriousness, Leia said, "Amelia has taught Anji four new commands."

An hour later, after Anji had successfully stayed, savaged a stuffed eopie and then dropped it at a single word, and blocked Jag from getting up-all at a few hand signals from Allana-a pleasant visit ensued until it was the girl's bedtime. She was clearly disappointed at having to leave, but obeyed cheerfully, giving Jag a hug and heading for her room with the devoted nexu at her heels.

Jag eyed the table, a little confused. It was set for five. "I thought Amelia would be eating with us," he said.

"At this hour?" said Leia. "Oh, no. She'd be far too cranky in the morning. No"-she smiled a little-"someone else will be joining us."

Three dark heads turned to the hallway expectantly, and Jag followed their gaze.

A young woman, slender and golden-haired, stepped into the living room and smiled a bit uncertainly. "h.e.l.lo, Head of State Fel," said Tahiri Veila.

Blinking at her, Jag wordlessly turned to the Solos for an explanation.

"Sorry to spring this on you, but we thought this was the best way for all involved," Leia apologized. "She came to us for help."

Tahiri remained standing. "I had a chance to escape," she said. "Just disappear in the chaos of Daala's breakout. For a while, I did just that. I thought about going to Eramuth, but I realized I would put him in a terrible position if I did."

"So you went to the Solos," Jag said, a touch of anger in his voice.

"I know what you're thinking," Tahiri continued quietly. "I was found guilty in a court of law. I was sentenced to execution. And I'm running away from it. And viewed in a certain light, that's completely accurate. But ... I want to make things right, Jag. My death won't help anyone. It won't bring Gilad Pellaeon back, it won't repair any damage I've caused. It's legal ... but it's not just. I have many debts to repay, many errors to correct. And I want to do that."

"When she came to us with this, I had an idea," Leia said. "Technically, the crime was against a former Imperial admiral. Justice would best be served by having Tahiri tried in an Imperial court. And until such a time as that can be arranged, Tahiri has offered to begin making reparations by a.s.sisting the Empire."

"And these days," Jaina said, "that's you, honey."

Jag stared at all of them, then back at Tahiri. She gazed levelly back at him.

"I'll abide by whatever decision you make, Jag," Tahiri said quietly. "If you want me to turn myself in, I will. I'll sit in prison, and I'll have factions using me to advance their own agendas, and it will be a holojournalist's field day until the GA gets around to executing me. Or I can come with you, and serve you with my life. And when the dust settles, I'll get a fair Imperial trial for what I've done."

Despite the tension in the room, Han snorted. "Times sure have changed when Imperial trials are certain to be fairer than Galactic Alliance trials."

Leia shushed him with a gentle hand on his arm, her brown eyes watching Jag.

"This isn't a setup, Jag," Jaina said. "We've all agreed to abide by whatever you choose to do."

Jag leaned back against the sofa, thinking. There was a time when he'd have disbelieved Jaina, but he didn't. The situation-the safe house, Tahiri on the run-all of this necessitated the secrecy.

"I think now would be a good time for you to tell me where you and Han went for a few days," he said to Leia. "And elaborate just a tiny bit on the whole I'm-in-danger thing."

"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm starving," said Han. "Can we talk while we eat?"

"Just not with our mouths full," said Jaina.

Over a delicious, though slightly cool, meal of fried endwa, the orange gravy congealing slightly, chaka noodles, and steamed Ferroan spinach, the story unfolded.

Leia filled Jag, Jaina, and Tahiri in on everything that happened, from the initial strange message to the discovery of the Squibs, to the attack and, finally, the revelations. Jag's eating slowed and finally stopped altogether as he sat, food cooling and forgotten fork in hand, and listened.

"Squibs," he said.

"Squibs," Han confirmed.

"Who were working for me and the Imperial Remnant?"

"As.h.i.+k confirmed it," Leia said. "We didn't fill him in on the details. We wanted to tell you first."

"Do we know why Getelles's people were after him?" Jag asked. He seemed to notice the food for the first time in several minutes, and ate the bite on his fork. He didn't taste it.

"Unfortunately not," Leia said. "They're staying with us. Well, with some ... friends. You can talk to them if you'd like."

Jag raised an eyebrow, but Leia said nothing further. "Let me make certain I understand everything," he said calmly, putting the fork down. "Some Squibs you met years ago contacted you out of the blue. They just happen to be working for me, although I was unaware of it. They have information on where Daala is going, what she plans-which is targeting my job-and who she's working with and who she's planning on betraying. Said Squibs have done something to warrant Getelles's people trying to kill them, but we don't know for sure what that is. Have I gotten it all correct?"

"That sounds right." Han did not suffer from the lack of appet.i.te that now plagued Jag. Beside Jag, Jaina ate steadily, staying silent.

"You've been back for a few days," Jag said. "a.s.suming this is true-and I confess, I'm dubious-why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Because we needed to make sure it was true before coming to you with rumors or misinformation," Jaina said, unable to keep quiet any longer. "Mom and Dad wanted to check out their story. All parts of it. They needed to make sure the recording the Squibs gave them was genuine."

"And it is," Leia said.

"Don't feel bad," Han said. "I was surprised, too."

Jag leaned back in his chair, thinking.

"So," Jaina said, exchanging glances with Tahiri. "What are you going to do?"

"Have you told anyone else about this?" Jag asked Leia and Han.

"Not yet," Leia said. "We wanted you to know first. Dorvan does know that I've been following up leads on Daala's whereabouts, however."

"Thank you," Jag said. "Do you think he'll act on the knowledge?"

Leia hesitated. "He might," she said. "But frankly, it's chaos there right now. Dorvan's a cautious man. I think he would wait until there's more stability with this current government before he did anything. He'd certainly want to know more before committing GA resources toward extracting her. Though she's an escaped prisoner, she's under the protection of Moffs. Which makes it your business more than his."

"As.h.i.+k's confirmation of the Squibs' involvement on behalf of the Imperial Remnant goes a long way toward convincing me," Jag said. "Dorvan doesn't have anything comparable to go on. I agree with you-it should be his decision whether or not to act, not ours."

"So," said Jaina, "like I asked earlier ... what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to talk with your parents' little blue friends first," Jag said. "Depending on what I learn, I'm going after Daala. I have an escaped prisoner hiding in Imperial territory, protected by a Moff who is supposed to be loyal to me. It's my right to seek her out."

He didn't miss that Tahiri was very studiously not looking at him after the words escaped prisoner had been used twice in in as many minutes.

"I had a feeling I wouldn't be sticking around Coruscant after I got your message," Jag said to Leia and Han. He turned his head to regard Tahiri, gazing at her until she felt it and lifted her head. "You do know I have a very fine security detail, headed by As.h.i.+k."

"As.h.i.+k," said Tahiri, "isn't a Jedi."

"And you are?"

She hesitated.

"Well, that's the million-credit question, isn't it?" Jag said. "Are you a Jedi, Tahiri Veila?"

"I-would like to be again, yes. And I will serve you in that capacity, if you will take me with you."

"I tried my best to bring the Imperial Remnant formally into the GA. But it never happened. And because that never came to fruition, the Empire is a completely separate ent.i.ty, not bound by the laws of the Galactic Alliance. And therefore, as Head of State, until such time as a lawful court trial can be held-and I must say, it's looking like that won't be anytime soon, considering Daala is attempting to wrest control of the Empire-I hereby agree to take custody of you, Tahiri Veila. You will obey my orders to the letter, and not go haring off as if your last name were Solo."

"Hey," said two voices. Leia just chuckled.

"Basically, you're on parole," Jag continued as if he hadn't noticed. "Don't violate it."

Tahiri's eyes were suspiciously s.h.i.+ny. "I won't, sir."

"And don't call me sir. I'm Jag. And I'm also hungry. I've ignored this delicious meal for too long. Tomorrow, I want to meet your friends. But for tonight"-he squeezed Jaina's hands-"let's enjoy the rest of the evening as a family."

IT WAS, LUKE MUSED, NO DOUBT A SECURITY NIGHTMARE. ALL THREE members of the soon-to-be-dissolved triumvirate, the Jedi Grand Master, and a former Chief of State all gathered together in one place. Someone in a position of arranging this would be sweating profusely today. Luke thought that that unknown being should count him- or herself fortunate that Dorvan, like himself and Saba Sebatyne, was someone who did not particularly relish the spotlight. The ceremony would go relatively quickly.

"This one is relieved that this is the final duty she will be asked to perform as part of the triumvirate," Saba Sebatyne said. "This one is eager to be about more useful pursuitz."

Saba, Luke, and Leia stood together near the main entrance, awaiting their cue to process forward. Saba and Luke were clad in traditional Master's robes. Leia, knowing what the public expected of her after more than forty years of partic.i.p.ating in politics, wore a formal, full-length overdress with slashed sleeves to show the dark brown under-dress. Her hair, though much grayer than that of the youthful Princess she had once been, was meticulously styled and threaded through with gold. She wore little makeup-she did not need much, and she was proud of the wrinkles she had acc.u.mulated over the years. Each had been bought at the cost of pain, or given as the gift of laughter.

"I wish I could go with you," she said to them. Normally Jaina and Han would be standing with them, but Jaina was in the hangar preparing her s.h.i.+p for departure, and her father, fiance, and niece were keeping her company.

"I would enjoy running around the galaxy chasing down Abeloth with you," Luke said, smiling at her. "But we both know you will help more here. This fledgling government is going to need you."

Mindful of the listening ears of their Jedi escorts, they said nothing more. Luke knew Leia's comments were merely wistful longings, and that she more than agreed with his decision to ask her to stay behind. She, too, had a job to do.

Luke, Leia, and Saba would walk from the Temple to the platform specially erected in Fellows.h.i.+p Plaza for the occasion. Dorvan and Treen would approach from the Justice Center. Jedi Seha Dorvald had a small device in her ear and was monitoring the activity. She turned and gestured to them.

"It's time," Luke said. He offered Leia his arm, and she took it, gliding forward as smoothly as if she were not wearing heels to give her a few extra centimeters of height. Saba followed.

Together the three Jedi made their way across a plaza crowded with well-wishers. Luke had expected some hecklers, but he was pleasantly startled to see mostly happy faces in the throng. Either the populace of Coruscant was largely content with the direction their government was going, or else the GAS had managed to corral all those who approved of the situation and steer them up front.

Dorvan was clad as he was every day, in a muted business tunic, though perhaps this one was just a shade more formal. Behind him, waving and smiling at the crowd, was Senator Haydnat Treen. She managed to wear what Luke would ordinarily consider garish colors and make them look stylish. As the three Jedi and the two politicians greeted one another, Luke couldn't think how much nicer Leia looked, in the more subdued tones and cla.s.sic style. Fortunately, he was not here to render a verdict on the latest fas.h.i.+on.

There was a brief flurry of handshaking and smiles were exchanged, and then Dorvan, Saba, and Treen stepped forward. Since Treen was the most comfortable with public speaking, it had been decided that she would deliver the speech.

"Beings of the Galactic Alliance," she began. "Today is an extremely significant day for all of us. Today, we say a fond farewell to the Jedi. Grand Master Luke Skywalker"-she turned to nod at him-"Master Saba Sebatyne, Wynn Dorvan, and I all believe that this step is for the best-for both organizations. They have served the Galactic Alliance well, their final duty as an official branch of the GA being to relieve us of a difficult and frankly inappropriate leader, and to work with former Chief of Staff Wynn Dorvan and me to steer us through a most challenging time. With their departure, the unusual but effective triumvirate must perforce be dissolved."

She smiled brightly. "Impressive a body as the GA is, even it cannot have a triumvirate with only two members!" There was some mild chuckling from the crowd, and Treen continued. "Within the next few days, as the law requires, the Senate will be holding an emergency session to elect an interim Chief of State until such time as we can arrange to have a proper and legally binding election.

"And now, I turn the podium over to our dear friend, Jedi Grand Master Luke Skywalker."

Luke smiled at her and stepped up to the podium, looking out over the crowd for a moment before beginning to speak.

"For millennia, Coruscant has been the home to the Jedi," Luke said. "The decision to leave it, and our beloved Temple, was not an easy one. Jedi exist to help, to serve, but that help and service cannot be confined to any single species, creed, or political a.s.sociation. By formally allying with the Galactic Alliance, with the best of intentions, we found ourselves overly bound to it. So-we are now separate ent.i.ties, but we remain the best of friends. I am completely confident in the GA's ability to handle any crisis that comes its way. I am sure the Senate will give you a fine interim Chief of State."

And now, the moment had come. He looked out at the thronged Fellows.h.i.+p Plaza, back at the Temple, and smiled softly.

"I will miss you, and Coruscant, but my heart is easy with this choice. Farewell-and may the Force be with you."