Chapter 3
The Skywalker Homestead, Tatooine.
Ben Skywalker is confused. He knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that he loves her and he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. That is not what is confusing him. What confuses him is how exactly he should ask her to marry him.
Mediating labor disputes? This he can do.
Hunt down a Dark Jedi. This he can do.
Break a couple of the laws of nature. He can even do this.
He has faced the worst in both himself and others, and came out the other side, not necessarily whole and healthy, but alive and stronger.
So he has to wonder, what it is about asking this seemingly simple question that scares him so much.
Finally giving up on his meditations, Ben stands and goes looking for Jysella. He finds her with his sister; both of them sprawled on the floor, with bits of coloring wax and paper all around them. He stands there just watching, thinking how good of a mother she will make one day. He is admiring how her hair seems to bounce with every movement. And he is wondering if it smells like strawberries and honey today.
To be blunt, he is staring.
And she knows.
He watches her as she looks over her shoulder at him, a smile on her lips, and winks at him. He begins to walk into the room, when he hears his mother calling him. "Ben!"
Sighing, he calls out in turn "Yes mom?"
"Jaina needs to speak with you and Jysella."
As soon as those words are out of her mouth, Ben can feel his frustration start to mount. There is only one reason why Jaina would be trying to get a hold of them. She wants them to go do something.
Ben sits down in front of the holonet receiver, with Jysella leaning over his shoulder. He activates it, and there appears Jaina, dressed in her customary robes and veil. He can still feel some of the guilt at her being injured, and Jysella, always in tune with his feelings, leans her head against his, sending him strength.
"So, what mission do you have for us that no other Jedi is available for or can do, regardless of the fact that you promised us a two-month vacation?"
He watches as Jaina's lips curl into a slight smile. "Bitterness does not become you cousin."
"That's why I went on vacation cousin."
"I take it you have heard of the National Military Procurement and Nationalization Act?"
She pauses, obviously waiting for Ben to reply. Ben just stares at the image, being obvious that he has no intention to reply.
"Yes Jaina, we have." As she says this Jysella, gives Ben a pat on the head.
"Okay, well, over the past couple months, the Federation has been enforcing that law, and nationalizing various shipyards and munitions factories. A lot of groups and planets on the Outer and Mid Rims have been protesting these actions. There has been a lot of bloodshed over it actually."
"I still fail to see what you're wanting from us."
"Ben, please give me a chance to tell you. Anyways, Chief Omas believes that Adumar has illegally begun producing weapons and is selling them on the black market. He is worried that if he allows Adumar to get away with this, then other worlds will do the same. He has asked the Council to send a Jedi to Adumar, find out what they're hiding, and if possible stop them, or have them turn the facility over to the Federation. He specifically requested that you handle it."
"Is the Jedi Council taking orders from Omas now?"
"No. We just don't have anyone else to send. Between the wars, and Jacen, we now have more trained Jedi that are dead than we have padawans and knights all together."
"I don't think you understand Jaina, I need this vacation. There is something I have to do before I can return." Ben feels Jys' eyes on him, but he continues to stare at Jaina's image.
"I'm sorry Ben, but the Order needs you to do this. We really have no one else, and you're really the best one for the mission. I'm transmitting the pertinent information to you now. May the Force be with you"
Instead of answering, Ben jabs the disconnect button angrily, and gets up to pace in a vain attempt to burn off his frustration with the Council.
"Shavit! That manipulative little schutta. She knows that when she words a request that way I can't say no. She does it on purpose."
"Ben, it will be all right. We can continue our vacation after this mission."
"We shouldn't have to though."
"I know. What is it that you needed to do?"
"Well, I…Nothing. It's..nothing. It's just that I. Never mind, I'll do it after this mission."
Sitting back down, he downloads the file to his datapad, and opens it and begins to go over the information. He can feel her staring at him.
"Jella! Come color!"
"Coming Padmé. We've don't have to go just yet do we Ben?"
"No, we'll leave first thing in the morning."
"We won't be running late?"
"So what if we're late? What's the worst they can do? Expel us?"
She laughs, and for the first time since his mom had called him, Ben smiles. "I love you Jys."
"I know." With that and a laugh, Jysella walks into the other room.
Ben silently watches her as she walks from the room, and then turns back to his datapad.
When his dad walks in, Ben looks up at him, letting a scowl settle on his face, "You know Dad; it's your fault that I have this well-developed sense of responsibility that Jaina and the Council can take advantage of."
"I blame your mother."
Ben laughs, the final dredges of frustration and anger slipping away into the Force.
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The Corellian System.
The system is an unnatural system. Within it exists five habitable planets, all circling the single primary, only one of those five planets was actually formed there. The other object of note in this system is the Centerpoint Station. The ancient machine which archeologists theorize is responsible for the manufacture of the Corellian System.
Corellia itself is a simple world, much like any other. It has cities and farms, honest people, and those who enjoy breaking the law. There are nicer places to live in this galaxy, but there are plenty of places much, much worse.
The other thing of importance about Corellia, is that it is home to some of the galaxy's greatest heroes. Han Solo, Wedge Antilles, Corran Horn, and Garm Bel Ibis, all came from Corellia. They fought in the Galactic Civil War and the Vong War. They are heroes beloved by the citizens of Corellia, and by the galaxy at large.
So much so, that the Corellian's even elected Wedge Antilles Diktat.
It was a position that he truly did not want.
What Wedge Antilles wanted was to live on a small farm on the outskirts of Coronet, and watch his children and grandchildren grow. Every day that he walks into the Corellian Governmental Complex, he wonders just how it was that Rostek Horn talked him into running and accepting the position of Diktat.
That confusion has only grown worse since the passing and implementation of the Military Procurement and Nationalization Act.
Wedge Antilles hates that particular law. The government he fought for was one of personal freedom, one where if someone built a business up from scratch, that business belonged to that person, not the government.
Today, Wedge Antilles is going to throw down the other gauntlet. For weeks now, Federation forces have been moving throughout the galaxy, compelling planets and businesses to cede their holdings to the Federation. Today, Wedge Antilles is going to attempt to put an end to that.
He walks into the Corellian Governmental Complex. It is a towering building, not as stylized or pretty as the Jedi Temple, but large just the same. Within its walls is the Corellian Congress, the legislative body for the entire system.
And it is Wedge's destination this morning.
He walks into the Congressional Chambers, his robes of state giving him a dignity and an air of confidence that he does not truly feel. He walks up the steps to the lectern slowly, stately, a heavy look on his face which matches the one in his heart. With each step he takes, the Congress and those reporters, and the civilian audience grows quieter. When he reaches the lectern, silence reigns.
Then Wedge breaks it.
"Friends, colleagues, fellow Corellians, forty years ago, I helped overthrow a tyrannical government. It was a government that happily took whatever it wanted, slaughtered those it saw fit, and had no concept of justice or mercy. It was the rule of might.
"What replaced it, while it had troubles of its own, believed in the sanctity of life. Believed in the sanctity of liberty, and had a fundamental concept that every being in this galaxy had the right to pursue happiness as it saw fit.
"What I fought for, believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that what a being created, belonged to that being. A cobbler that makes shoes, those shoes belong to the cobbler until the cobbler sells them. The farmer that grows food owns that food until it is time to sell it at the market. The company that makes anything belongs to that company, until the time it determines to sell that product.
"That is the government I fought for. Those are the rights that every being and business in this galaxy should have. Those are the rights I fought for.
"Twenty-seven days ago, Chief Omas signed into law the Military Procurement and Nationalization Act. This law called for the seizure of businesses and manufacturing concerns galaxy-wide. It is a bureaucratic nightmare, and socialization on the scale not seen since the fall of the Empire.
"Twenty days ago, a Federation Defense Fleet task force moved against Gynndine, demanding that their Shipyards be turned over to the Federation. When Gynndine inevitably refused to do so, Federation forces took over the planet by force. Seven thousand, four hundred and thirty two men, women and children were killed during that assault. Another ten thousand, seven hundred and three sentient beings of all ages were injured.
"All of this, just so the Federation can control the manufacture of starships.
"I am here this morning, to inform you, the members of the Corellian Congress, and all citizens of the Corellian System, that I have sent a message to the Galactic Senate. Within this message, I gave a deadline of ten days for the revocation of the Military Procurement and Nationalization Act or the Corellian System would secede from the Federation.
"Yesterday at noon, Coruscant time, marked day ten. I come before you, to announce my intentions to withdraw our membership within, and sever diplomatic ties with, the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances.
"Effective immediately, The Corellian System is an independent state."
With those final words, Wedge turns from the lectern and begins to descend the stairs, as chaos erupts within the chambers.
Wedge arrives at his office, and enters, belatedly noticing another person within. He pulls his blaster just as the person at the desk flips a light on.
"You know you almost got shot don't you?"
Han Solo leans forwards and smirks. "That's half of the fun. Course, you're the one that has Omas' shorts in a twist."
"Why's that?"
"Simple, he can't let Correllia secede. It sets a bad precedent."
Wedge walks over to his bar; band pours himself a glass of Whyrren's Reserve, offering Han one as well.
"Political advice?"
"Actually this comes from Leia. Apparently, a little birdie told her about your letter to the Senate, so she sent me out here to warn you, or try to stop you, something like that."
"A little late for the stopping."
"Sorry kid, I happen to agree with you. What Omas is doing is wrong."
"Even if it puts you in opposition to your wife and Jaina?
"You're in the same boat."
With this, Wedge grimaces. "Remind me."