Entry 21

Zylie and I didn't leave our quarters until the next day when her dad came to get the animals. I said my goodbyes to Kriffer. The little guy whimpered, cried and then gave a heartbreaking mournful howl as he was taken off our ship and transferred to the Wild Karrde. Hopefully he will put given a nice home.

Force! I can't believe I am getting all choked up about a stupid vornskr.

Zylie was disappointed that her parents couldn't stay more than a few hours, but they were paid extra to deliver the animals as early as possible. It's probably for the best. Kriffer can sense Jedi. Vornskrs hunt through the Force and he had to sense I was nearby. Once he is away from Force-users he will probably be less distressed. I hope.

Entry 22

We all had dinner with the royal family today. The last time I saw Jaina was at my wedding and since that time she has given birth to her second son, Thorne. I remember cringing when I heard that name. On its own it is a fine surname…but his brother is named after his father. So if you called the two boys you would be yelling, "Jagged, Thorne!" It's sounds like you are warning somebody to watch out for a razorburr bush.

Both Valla and Zylie were gushing over the infant…especially Valla. She brought the chubby cheeked baby over to Ben and said, "Isn't he so cute?! Don't you want one?" Ben appeared a little panicked and mumbled something about, "We'll talk about it later."

Zylie did the same thing to me, but with different results. I said, "Yes, I would love a baby with you. In fact, a whole bunch of them. Let's move to Indupar to be near my parents and we can make enough kids to form a smashball team."

Hearing that, my father, who was sitting across the table, raised his drinking glass in a salute. "Here, here! You're mother would be thrilled to babysit grandbabies."

Ha! That got Zylie backing down right away. It's not like I haven't mentioned settling down to be near my son and starting a family of our own. As Zylie returned the baby to a nanny, Emperor Fel turned to address Ben and me.

"I've seen some news reports about those alleged slave masters on Dathomir. According to the Coruscanti World News the Jedi have been invading the Slave Syndicate and stealing their property. Rumor has it the Jedi are forming a slave army to attack the Galactic Alliance Senate and assassinate the Chief-of-State."

I laughed so hard I almost choked on my food. "The Coruscanti World News reports rubbish. I should know…I've been the focus of many of their slanderous news reports."

"You mean you didn't sell you man-seed to the Corellia Institute of Assisted Reproduction so they can make a clone army of Jedi warriors?" Jaina said nonchalantly without so much as looking up from her dinner plate.

"Is that a real story?" When Jaina nodded, I groaned and shook my head. "No, I didn't. I also don't suffer from Formicophilia or any other weird fetish that they claim." I could feel my cheeks heat up. I was really glad their oldest son wasn't at the dinner table with us.

Jaina chuckled under her breath. "I don't believe the rumors, but I would worry about what is being said about the Jedi. It used to be the anti-Jedi sentiment was restricted to the less-than-reliable media groups, but now some of the mainstream news organizations are picking up the stories. The reported slaves masters on Dathomir are telling anyone willing to listen that the Jedi were the ones who kidnapped them from their headquarters, hauled off their slaves to parts unknown and then dumped them off on Dathomir where they were met by three Jedi who subjected them to excruciating mind probes."

I sat forward in my seat. "Jaina, you know that's a lie."

"We both know it's a lie," Jag said pointedly. "It's the public you need to be concerned with. The Grand Master needs to quell these rumors. The general population is easily swayed by propaganda."

"So you think that's what it is," Ben chimed in. "Propaganda? Disinformation with the express purpose of discrediting the Jedi Order?"

"And possibly initiated from within the government," Jag commented. "We've been monitoring chatter over the Galactic Alliance secure communications. It has become progressively more negative toward the Order. Just because you know it is all bantha skat doesn't mean the common people don't believe it."

"Our operatives on Hapes have also reported anti-Force rhetoric," Jaina interjected.

"Wait," I said with a wave of my hand. "The Empire spies on the Galactic Alliance and the Hapan government…on your own brother?"

Jaina made a dismissive gesture. "I spy on the Hapan government because most of the surviving royals appear intent on killing the Queen, my brother and my two nieces."

That made sense.

"Do you have the same problem?" Ben asked.

Jag shook his head. "I control the media." He grinned. "Therefore they love me, my beautiful Force-strong wife and children."

I would laugh if Jag weren't so damn serious. I guess it is good to be emperor.

"Tenel Ka has to deal with the other royals," Jaina explained. "If she muzzles reporters the lesser royals will spin the story so it looks like she is hiding something. It is simply easier to let the deceptive stories get out to the public and then disprove them. We don't have other royal families we need to tiptoe around."

"Speaking of Hapan Royals," Jag said while staring at my father. "Jacen told me the Queen had requested an audience to your young apprentice, but King Marcus has denied all requests. Why is that?"

I looked to my father, wondering why he didn't tell me about this.

My father frowned as he put down his knife and fork. "Emperor Fel, I think you know why the King does not wish to meet with Jacen, Tenel Ka or the princesses."

That caught my attention. I know exactly why he wants to avoid Jedi or former Jedi…because they could sense he is my son. Why would the Emperor know this?

I glanced over to Ben who looked just as confused. My father sat back in his chair and glowered at Fel. "You and I both know they want to meet King Marcus because is a royal male close to Allana's age and they are looking to arrange a marriage."

"What!" I shouted in surprise.

"Don't be so shocked, Talon," Jaina said softly. "In royal families these things are arranged years in advance. He is a Force-strong male of Royal descent and someone who probably won't seek to assassinate the princess weeks after a wedding…like most Hapan royal males would. I think they would make a cute couple."

"That is disturbing," I replied before I could censor myself. Allana and Marcus were cousins, but I quickly remembered the Fels didn't know that. I hope they didn't get suspicious at my outburst.

"They wouldn't be consummating the marriage until they were adults," Jaina pointed out.

"Talon doesn't like to hear about people's lives bartered away like they were chattel…even if they are royalty. You have to remember he just got back from investigating a slaving operation. He is a bit sensitive," my dad explained, trying to excuse my obvious disgust. He looked to me, "By-the-way, why do you think the slave masters are trying to pin the blame for their capture on the Jedi. The Order wasn't involved, was it?"

My dad was changing the subject and I was thankful for that.

"No, the Jedi only got involved when somebody dumped them off on Dathomir, but the slavers claimed they were captured by void jumpers and one of them had a lightsaber."

My dad's eyes went wide. "A lightsaber. Who was it?"

Ben shook his head. "Nobody knows, but we do know it's not a Jedi Void Jumper because he was shorter than our troopers. He was reportedly average height."

My father looked shaken.

"What's wrong Dad?"

He used his napkin to wipe his mouth before standing. "I…I need to talk to the Grand Master about this. The Emperor and Empress are correct. This propaganda against the Jedi needs to be curtailed immediately, especially if somebody is out there impersonating somebody from within the Jedi Order."

Ben started to stand. "Do you want me to accompany you when you talk to my father?"

Dad waved him off. "No, you, Talon and your wives should enjoy your meal and each others company. After I talk to your father I'm going to contact Kira. I've been away from my wife a bit too long. I think it is time that I make arrangements to return home."

My father excused himself and left the dining room at a fast past. It would be nice to see my father and uncle Luke working together on something. After that fiasco on Myrkr with Darth Jacen, things hadn't been the same between the two.

Hopefully this means the Vazy Princess will be hired to return him to Indupar. I would like to see my son and my mother. It has been too long.