Chapter 4. Ben's Decision

Ben was in conflict because Vestara had been missing ever since the graduation ceremony. Then there was the fact that his parents didn't want him involved in the situation at all. She had been missing for the past four days. So Ben decided to speak with his father. "Ben! Are you here as my son or my Padawan."

Ben sighs, "I don't know...maybe both. As I Padawan I need to know what is being done about Vestara? As your son I want to help Vestara."

"At what cost?"

"Vestara went to protect her father. She will die if I do nothing."

"Your mother could die as well!"

Ben sneers, "That is not fair!"

"And yet if you go after Vestara your mother will go after you." Luke stood up and walked around the desk. He places his hands on Ben's shoulders, "Ben for my sake. The sake of your mother please let this go. I know you love Vestara, but allow the Masters to deal with this situation."

"Its been ten years dad and Gavar Kai is still out there. Why not just go to Umbara in force we all know that is where he is hiding."

Luke smiles, "Like father like son!"

"And what does that mean?"

"We think alike. Anyway Lando has agreed to give the Jedi a fleet and we are going to Umbara in force. If the Umbarans don't cooperate we will blockade the planet until they give him up."

Ben left the office in high hopes but privately he held no hope for that course of action. Vestara would die to protect her father who would never surrender to the Jedi. He paused in the hall and stretched out in the force. He felt her on Umbara where she should be. Two days later Ben stood on the platform watching the Allied fleet take off. His mother had gone with the entire high council and 100 of the most powerful Jedi in the order.

A week later Ben receives a transmission from his cousin Anakin, "Ben!"

"Anakin where are you?"

"Umbara of course!"

"Is Vestara safe? Did you capture Gavar Kai? Is Vestara safe?"

Anakin sighs, looks to his left and says something then he looks at Ben. "Vestara is not on Umbara. Neither is his father or the Umbaran fleet."

"Where are they?" He asked nervously.

"We do not know! All we know is that they were here and now they are gone."

Ben just stared into distance, "Thanks for the update I will talk with later." Ben's mind started racing. Why hadn't his father or mother contacted him. There was something behind Anakin's call. Was he and Anakin planning on using him to find Gavar Kai. That is when Ben went into a trance and saw Darth Kai. It was Vestara and she had fallen to the dark side because Jacen had killed her father. He could not allow that. "I must find Vestara!" Ben said to himself. He opened himself up to the blood trace technique as he had placed blood on Vestara to keep track of her at all times. She was on...

Ben frowned at the holomap, "What are you doing on Hoth?" Was Gavar Kai and the Umbarans using the old Rebel Alliance base on the planet? "Only one way to find out!" Ben said out loud.

Umbara Orbit

Anakin walked through the ship he shared with Jacen to his quarters. Jacen was on his knees in mediation. "I don't like this!"

"Like what?" He asked with his eyes closed.

"The idea of using Ben as bate. If Mara or Luke find out they will have our heads."

"Ben isn't bate!" Jacen said in an authoritative tone of voice. "He will lead us to Gavar Kai. I told you that my visions were correct. Gavar Kai has my DNA and that of my daughter. He will clone us and then the galaxy will be in deep trouble."

"May be we should let Uncle Luke and the council in on our plans."

Jacen opened his eyes, "I don't trust my uncle or the Jedi Council. But if it will ease your conscious by all means tell them."

Anakin sighs, "I am your apprentice. I will follow your lead."

Jacen closed his eyes, "I appreciate that but you are free to come and go as you please and to do as you will. I don't want the others to think that I am influencing you in any way."