Entry 23

Thirty-six hours later I arrived on Indupar. I really hate doing long trips in the StealthX. Traveling on theVazy Princess has spoiled me. I'd left Kuat shortly after talking to my father. I didn't want to be near my Aunt and Uncle when the video of my son showed up on the holonet. I am certain they would have more questions for me concerning my father and the young king.

I got clearance to land and set my starfighter down in the Royal Palace docking bay. In the spaceport corridor I could see my parents. My mom was wearing a conservative blue dress while my father was decked out in his Indupar military dress uniform made out of dark blue Savva Silk and accessorized by a chest full of medals, gold trouser stripes, gold and silver aiguilettes, a dark purple Fourragère, braided cuffs and a gold waist belt that held his lightsaber and an ornate gold-plated blaster.

He looked so gaudy! Ha!

I powered down and popped the canopy. As I exited my ship my mother ran up and nearly tackled me with a fierce hug

"I've missed you so much," she cried happily. I was a bit surprised by her overly emotional embrace, but then I remembered she always got this way when someone in the family went into combat. It takes weeks for her anxiety to subside completely.

I gave my mother a hug and kiss and then broke away to give my father a hug. "I'm glad the Queen didn't banish you.

My dad embraced me and then stepped back as a big, bearded grin crossed his face. "I think she wanted to, but Marcus intervened on my behalf." He chuckled. "She'll get over it…eventually…maybe. Do you have luggage?"

I moved to the undercarriage of the StealthX and opened a small storage compartment. "Just my toiletries and a change of clothing." I raked my gaze across my dad's gold encrusted uniform. "I figured I could borrow some of your tamer outfits if I stay more than a day or two."

My dad looked down at his uniform and snickered. "Too much?"

"No," I said sarcastically. "You should have added some gold camouflage face paint, gold dental veneers, and an assortment of gold necklaces."

My dad guffawed as he wrapped an arm around my mother. "I'll have you know your mom thinks I look dashing in this uniform."

I made a face. "Enough said. I'd like to speak to the king if possible."

"Sure." My dad motioned for me to follow him. "He's expecting you."

Entry 24

My mother took my flight bag and disappeared down the hall saying she had to get started on dinner. I followed my dad to a large training room where he often instructs Marcus in self-defense and Jedi techniques. Usually it is empty other than Marcus and an aide or two, but today there were a dozen other people with the young king working out on the mats practicing martial art take downs and submission holds. I wasn't positive, but I believe they were learning K'tara. It is a fighting style used by the Alliance Special Forces and other combat units. It stresses stealth and the quick neutralization of the enemy. They performed various strikes and defensive postures while a tall human instructor wearing what looked like a looser version of a black special operations uniform screamed out instructions.

I glanced at my father. "Who are these people?"

My dad threw a thumb in Marcus' direction. "They're Indupar Knight recruits. They are all Force-sensitives to some degree."

I regarded the new apprentices. Most were teenagers, but there was at least one recruit in his thirties and two others looked younger than Marcus…possibly ten or eleven years old. I turned to my father. "How are you going to train a dozen apprentices?"

My father rocked back on his heels and sighed. "I can't. Well, I can for the initial instruction, but they're going to eventually need Masters and that I can't do. I've been talking to Jaina and Jacen about sending these recruits to their fully established Jedi Academies. Both are open to the prospect."

I looked back to the students. "Why not the Jedi Academy on Coruscant? I can understand the king not going there, but these other students could go. I am sure Uncle Luke would welcome them."

My dad shook his head. "We are not part of the Galactic Alliance. If I sent students to the Jedi Academy the Chief-of-State would probably insist that they swear allegiance to the GA or he would pressure the Indupar Crown Worlds to join the Alliance. That's why I am leaning toward sending them to train with Jaina and the Imperial Knights and not with Jacen. The Hapes Consortium has more independence than most worlds in the Alliance…but they are still in the Alliance. The Empire has more flexibility. Emperor Fel makes his own rules without bureaucrats breathing down his neck."

I had to laugh. "I never thought we would one day believe working with the Empire would be the better choice."

"True, but the decision hasn't been made yet." My dad raised a hand giving a signal to the instructor. The man nodded in acknowledgement before barking out orders for the group to halt training and to take a break. My dad and I walked up to Marcus who was sweating in his loose workout clothes. He smiled widely when he saw us but didn't break character. When in public he is always the king and I was simply a Jedi visitor.

"Jedi Tantiss, it is always an honor to have you visit."

I gave him a formal bow. "The honor is mine, your highness." The words came out polite and with the proper reverence accorded to a king, but deep inside I wanted to scold him for risking his life…but that would have to wait until we were out of the public view.

One of Marcus' aides handed him a towel that he used to wipe the sweat off his face and arms. "Please join me in my quarters. I look forward to catching up on news about your family and the Alliance."

We followed my son down the long winding halls leading to his personal quarters. Once behind closed doors we had the liberty to talk freely. "What the hell were you thinking?" I chastised Marcus. "You went into a war zone! What would've happened if you couldn't take down the generator? You would have been trapped inside the town with your army on the other side of the shield!"

Marcus grimaced a sour expression. "Dad, I already had this conversation with my military advisors, my generals, grandfather, grandma, my mother, and the queen mother."

I folded my arms across my chest, exasperated beyond words. "And what did all of those people tell you?"

Marcus looked down to the floor as a guilty blush crossed his face. "They told me exactly what you are preaching now. All I can say is, I made the decision as the ruler of the Indupar Crown Worlds and as a Seer. What I did was the correct decision."

I stared at him in annoyance, but what can I do? What's done is done. I walked over to his quarter's sitting area and flopped down on the couch. Marcus approached smiling sadly. "Sorry Dad. I didn't want to upset everybody, but it had to be done."

I looked up to him and sighed. "For the greater good, right?"

He nodded. "Yes."

I gave a defeated gesture. "What can I do? Nothing."

Marcus came and sat down next to me. "If it helps, I'll tell mom that you thoroughly chastised me."

I chuckled as I reached over and gave his shoulder a squeeze. "Just promise me you won't do something that dangerous again." I waited for his reply, but none came. I looked into his blue eyes and asked him again. "Promise me."

He looked away. "Dad, I can't make that promise."

"Why not?"

He shrugged. "The same reason why you can't make a similar promise to me. You are a Jedi Guardian. It is a dangerous job. My job can get just as dangerous."

My head dropped to the back cushions of the couch as I glanced over to my father standing off to the side. "Now I understand why mom forbade me from doing missions at a young age. It's terrifying seeing your child in harm's way."

Marcus smiled as he patted my knee. "Dad, don't worry. I don't foresee any more dangerous missions for me in the near future. I've made a huge purchase from Talon Karrde's shipping company and the Vazy Princess should be here in a few days. Meanwhile we get to spend some time together and we can discuss what I should do with the Stygium crystals."

I relaxed for the first time since I saw the vid of Marcus on Ec Pand. "That sounds great."