Jaden and the others sat in a small alcove off the main conference room where Irudu was berating Carth, Kwyn, Bastila and Dustil over the vid screen. Carth and Kwyn just sat there occasionally rolling their eyes. Bastila was trying desperately to get a word in edgewise while Dustil fiddled with a data pad.
"Can you believe this Rancor's ass? 'Unconscionable insurrection'", Atton snorted, "Who talks like that?"
"Pompous senators from Onderon," Canderous replied. Jaden chuckled, her first of the day.
Morning had come all too soon and neither Carth nor Jaden had gotten much sleep. When he said hours, he was dead serious and while she felt loose, limber and more alive than ever, the total of two, off and on, hours sleep was beginning to weigh on her. He tried to be quiet when he got up for his call with Vice Admiral Dodonna, but try as he might, swearing when he ran into the desk in the other room, turned the considerate gesture a bit on its ear. Jaden knew she would have to put her feelings of exhilaration aside and face reality.
Carth was still having his two words - "Yes, Sir" or "No, Sir" - conversation when she left to speak with Queen Talia. He had smiled and winked at her, but his own reality was intruding on him as well and it showed. Jaden hadn't had time to ask him how it went, but based on his sullen mood, she had a pretty good idea. Well, he was sitting here and not in the brig, so that was good thing, right?
Jaden's talk with Talia had yielded very little. She was still heavily sedated and what information Talia did have was no help. She didn't know a Jedi named Tuluk and could think of no reason why Vaklu would do this, outside of just being a power grubbing demagogue. Jaden frowned at that and decided she would be no help.
From the medical bay, she went to the Ebon Hawk to check on repairs and speak with T3. "Just do it," she told the droid when it balked at hacking into the Sojourn's computer system. The droid protested the whole time, but was unable to find any other information on Tuluk then what they knew, in the Republic's database.
"What about the archives?"
"Deet?"
"Yes, the Jedi Archives." T3 went insane at the suggestion. "All right, all right, enough already!" Jaden said with her hands up, "I'll let Dustil handle it." She left the little droid muttering, trying to figure out why a pile of nuts and bolts cared enough that it would, quite simply, admonish her for sticking her nose where it didn't belong. "I think it's time for a memory wipe," she mumbled as she left the ship.
That had been a little over an hour ago and here she sat listening to the rantings of a senator who had no idea about when to shut-up. Atton grabbed his throat and began gasping, "Can't breathe, he's sucking the air from the galaxy!" Jaden reached over and smacked his gut, but she was smiling.
"Senator Irudu, on behalf of the Jedi Council, I can assure you we have no knowledge of this incident," Bastila finally managed to say.
"Oh please, your denial of any involvement in this situation is laughable. The Jedi and the Republic had full knowledge and their intention was clear. They have aligned themselves with the Mandalorians, an enemy of the Republic I'll remind you, to overthrow General Vaklu!" Irudu slammed his fist on the table. "I demand, Admiral, that you find the Ebon Hawk and its crew so they can be brought to justice!"
Carth tipped his head and looked to the left to find the 'crew' of the Ebon Hawk waving at him. Well, at least Atton and Jaden were waving. Canderous was frowning and Visas was shaking her head. He tipped his chin a little lower to hide his smile.
"Admiral!"
"What?" Carth shot his head up, "I already told you I would keep my eyes open for the Ebon Hawk and that this matter would be investigated."
"Admiral Onasi," the Vice Admiral scolded Carth's tone calmly. "Senator Irudu, you have my assurances that the Republic knew nothing," Irudu scoffed but Dodonna went on, "about this operation and certainly would not have ordered such a mission."
The bickering went on.
"Why does he persist?" Visas asked rubbing her temple.
"So, he can storm out and threaten that Onderon will leave the Republic because they and the Jedi are liars," Canderous answered.
"But to what end? Onderon's wildlife is vital to the recovery efforts of the Republic. He must know that the Republic Senate would never allow them to secede," Visas told him.
"Yeah, but breaking a few contracts would certainly stick it to the Republic," Atton interjected with sarcasm.
Jaden, who had been watching Carth, slowly turned her head and grinned at him. "That's it! You are brilliant, Captain Rand."
"I am?" He asked watching Jaden pull up to the table.
Jaden touched the screen in front of her and the monitor came to life. Displayed were a keyboard and a layout of the main conference room. The system was designed so that aides could communicate with the conference attendees simply by typing a message and pressing the key indicating the appropriate chair. The message would then appear on the correct screen. She typed in 'Stop the call' and pressed Carth's 'chair'.
Carth saw the screen flash in front of him and ignored it. She sent the message again. But being front and center, he couldn't very well answer her discreetly so he had no choice but ignore her again.
Jaden shot him a frustrated look. 'I think I know what he's doing', she typed and sent.
Casually Carth forward the message to Dustil and when he saw it, he gave his father a curious look. Carth glanced at him, before jumping back into the fray. When his screen flashed again, he frowned.
'What?'
'Raping and pillaging.'
Carth leaned back in the chair and gave the side room a quick stern look.
"We need to disrupt the signal from Coruscant," Jaden said looking at Visas.
"What's going on?" Atton asked in a whisper.
"Visas, can you, do it?"
"I don't believe I can from here without revealing our presence."
"Jaden?" Atton asked. Jaden ignored him and pulled out a personal comm-link. "T3, there's an oil bath in it if you can disrupt the signal from Coruscant."
"Dweet doo?"
"The one to the main conference room only."
"Jaden, what the hell are you doing?" Atton whispered harshly.
A few moments later, Irudu's voice cut off mid-rant and there was silence. Carth jumped from his chair. "Kwyn, send a message we lost the signal, but are working on getting it back." He turned to Jaden, "Explain."
"Mandalore doesn't mean anything to Vaklu," Jaden said quickly coming into the room.
"Hey!" Canderous growled.
"Sorry. Look, Vaklu knows the Republic will never let him secede. You really would launch an invasion. But, take away a few key contracts and he could cripple the restoration projects."
"Why would he do that?" Bastila demanded. When Jaden and the others had shown up for the call, she asked Carth if that was wise. After all, they were the reason for this mess to begin with. He absently told her it would be fine. Since it concerned all of them, they had a right to know what was being said.
"To cause unrest," Jaden said stepping closer to Canderous. "Many worlds are counting on the Republic and their restoration efforts. If the Republic can't help them then they would be forced to deal with Vaklu who could demand almost anything as payment."
"Including armies to back his secession plans," Visas added.
"Exactly. The Republic falters and Vaklu emerges as a strong leader who sympathizes with them. You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours," Jaden said with a sigh. Why didn't I see this?
"And Queen Talia?" Dustil asked from his chair as he watched the group.
"She was scheduled to be executed," Atton said. "If she's dead . . ."
"She can't hinder Vaklu's grand scheme," Canderous offered.
"This is insane!" Bastila said.
"Then Canderous?" Dustil asked ignoring Bastila's outrage.
"Simple revenge for the Mandalorian wars," Carth said giving Canderous a quick look.
"So, what do we do?" Kwyn asked.
"You do nothing!" Bastila snapped. "You have no proof of this insane theory."
"Inaction serves no purpose," Jaden snapped and the room fell silent. "Does it?" She added looking at Bastila. The implications of her statement pulsed through the silence. The Jedi's inaction during the Mandalorian War had cost millions of lives, including Carth's wife and only led to a more destructive conflict for the Jedi and the Republic.
"Admiral," Visas said breaking the tension in the room, "We must find the truth. If we are correct, Senator Irudu will not rest until his plan is in action."
"Yeah, and we all wind up with bounties on our head." Atton quipped.
Jaden and Carth exchanged looks then grinned. "You think he . . .." She asked not wanting to say Tuluk's name. They hadn't told Bastila of their suspicions about the Master Jedi, neither wanting to deal with the outburst that would cause. Carth only shrugged. "Could be. The pay is crappy."
"Would you mind cluing the rest of us in?" Atton asked with his hands on his hips.
Jaden gave him an impish grin. "You gonna to get rich being a Jedi?"
Atton snorted, "Why do you think I gamble. Wait a minute. You think he's in this for a bounty?"
"Who? What bounty?" Bastila asked becoming frustrated.
"Twice in one day. There's hope for you yet, Atton." Jaden gave him a smacking kiss on the lips.
"Signal's coming back," Kwyn stated quickly before Bastila could demand to know about whom they were talking.
"What are you going to do?" Visas asked as she began to head toward the small room.
"Try and call his bluff. That will solve one problem," Carth said then silently added; that leaves only Tuluk.
"We need time to investigate. The Council . . ."
"Bastila," Carth sighed, "we don't have that luxury. If Vaklu pulls even one contract, it could be detrimental to the restoration projects."
"And what if . . ."
"I'm wrong." Jaden asked. Bastila shot her a stern look through narrowed eyes. Carth didn't need the Force to feel the animosity toward Jaden coming off Bastila. Stupid, stupid, stupid, he thought. Why didn't I see this before?
"Then we come up with something else," Atton quipped.
"I shouldn't need to remind you that caution is the wisest course of action!" Bastila went on.
"Then don't, Princess," Canderous muttered.
Carth pressed on his right temple, "This isn't solving anything," he turned to Dustil. "Send the Vice Admiral a coded message about our suspicions." Dustil nodded. Carth ran his hand over his face. "Let's get this done," he added tiredly.
Jaden went to him and touched his face. "Better?" she whispered. He nodded as the pounding subsided.
"I thought you couldn't heal me."
"Little things I can handle," she said with a small smile. "Watch him closely and use your connection to the Force. You'll know what to do." He gave her hand a quick squeeze then nodded to Kwyn.
"My apologies, Senator. We had a glitch on our end.
A new face had joined the meeting. Carth recognized Jedi Master Lyret from the council although they had never met, so he sat through a rehash of the accusations once again. Irudu found it necessary to berate Lyret when he mentioned it would take time, but the perpetrators would be brought to justice.
Carth hid his smile behind his hand when he saw Dodonna's startled reaction to the communiqué Dustil had sent. She looked at Irudu briefly before looking at Carth, who casually nodded.
A few moments later the word 'Queen?' showed up on Carth's screen. He casually took a stylus from the table, and when Irudu wasn't watching, tossed it into the other room before forwarding the message to Jaden.
'Ordered to be executed - not sure Irudu knew - thinks she's on Coruscant.' came across Carth's screen. He forwarded it to Dustil who sent it on. Dodonna frowned moments later. Irudu must have been paying better attention than Carth thought because he turned to Vice Admiral Dodonna and asked, "Am I keeping you from something," in a condescending sneer.
There was a reason Carth held the utmost respect for his commanding officer. She hadn't risen to the rank of Vice Admiral by being weak or playing the political games. Forn Dodonna gained her rank because she didn't put up with any BS . . . from anyone. "Senator Irudu, the Council and myself have told you, repeatedly, that we will investigate this matter. So, why don't we stop beating a dead Bantha and you tell us what you want."
"For starters, I want that man," he pointed at Carth, "to be severely reprimanded."
"Trust me, Admiral Onasi is already missing a good chunk of his ass. What else?" She asked. Carth winced at the reminder of their earlier conversation. It had taken the better part of an hour to explain what had been going on and his suspicions about Irudu and Master Tuluk. She still wasn't entirely convinced but agreed to let him handle it, for now.
'Can I make it better?' flashed on his screen and Carth had to cough to cover his laugh. He did, however, look at her and wink. From the corner of his eye, Carth saw Atton frown and mouth 'Icky'. He missed Bastila's frown.
"What I want Vice Admiral, is for those responsible to be apprehended and the prisoners returned to Onderon for punishment!"
Carth felt the tension in the room spike. 'He does know', showed up and Carth forwarded it on.
~~ Use the Force, ~~ whispered through his head
"Prisoners? As in more than one?" Carth asked.
Irudu adjusted his shoulders, "No, just that murdering Mandalore."
~~ Concentrate. Listen for his voice. ~~ Carth took a deep breath and focused his attention on Irudu. The other voices swirling in his head began to fade. It was odd to be able to recognize other's thoughts and emotions. Visas had never taught him how to do this, and quite frankly, when he began to hear the voices in his head, he blocked them out. There was boredom, Kwyn or Dustil, or both. Thoughts of conquest, Canderous, hyperspace routes, Atton, concern and emotional fear . . . suddenly Irudu came into focus and there was no doubt he was afraid. Carth could almost taste it, it was so strong. "No," he said slowly, "I don't think so. Who was the other prisoner, Irudu?" He asked.
"This is outrageous!" Irudu stood in a huff, sweat breaking out on his upper lip. "I will not stand for such treatment . . ."
~~ Calm . . . ~~
Carth closed his eyes, they were about to be exposed, their plans to secede were in danger of falling apart . . . ~~ Truth is what you seek. ~~
" . . . My government has been mistreated by the Republic and the Jedi Council in this matter and we demand the return of the prisoners taken. They are traitors to the sovereignty of Onderon!"
"Who?" Master Lyret asked as he covertly studied Admiral Onasi. Master Vandar had mentioned in passing that Carth Onasi could use the Force, before he left for the Sojourn and it was quite clear to him, at least, that that was what he was doing. When he tried to reach out himself, he found a wall that nearly slammed him back in his chair.
"Mandalore and Queen Talia! Who else do you think I mean?" Irudu shouted and sweat began to trickle down his temple.
~~ Well done. ~~ Carth released his breath and slumped in the chair. He looked over at Jaden who smiled and gave him thumbs up. When he looked back at the screen he noticed Bastila was watching him with a narrowed look.
Irudu, realizing his error started for the door but found his way blocked by two security guards. "What is the meaning of this?" He demanded. "Out of my way!"
"Senator Irudu," Dodonna began, "I believe you know very well what the meaning of this is. Confine him to his quarters."
"On what charges, Vice Admiral?"
"False imprisonment? Torture?"
"Being a Sith," Carth added casually as he flexed his shoulders to release some of the tension.
"What!" Echoed in various voices.
Dodonna held up her hand for silence. "Get him out of here."
Master Lyret was the first to break the silence that had fallen on both rooms. "How did you know he was Sith? I am sitting here and felt nothing from him."
Carth shrugged, "The Sith are known to be on Onderon. That, and he wasn't very diplomatic for a diplomat," he added with a frown. Probably shouldn't have blurted that out.
"The dark side . . ."
"Grows stronger," Jaden said coming in to the room, "the ability to mask its presence will make detecting it difficult."
"But Admiral Onasi can?" Lyret scoffed, uncomfortable with the fact that what the striking woman said was true.
Jaden went to stand by his chair. "You'd be amazed by what Admiral Onasi can do." Carth reached over and gave her knee a quick clasp.
"And you would be?" Lyret asked.
Jaden tipped her head to the side and gave the older man a patient look. "You surprise me Master Lyret. You know who I am." Lyret had the grace to look chagrined. Jaden went on, "The Ebon Hawk is my ship." She ignored the curious look from Bastila.
Dodonna, not understanding what had just transpired between the woman and Master Lyret, went on to explain, "The crew of the Ebon Hawk, along with Admiral Onasi, rescued Mandalore and Queen Talia from Vaklu's prison in Iziz." Curious, she thought, she had never seen a Jedi show such deference for another who was an outsider.
"Where is Master Vandar?" Lyret asked politely. More people began to give Jaden odd looks. Atton was pleased as punch she was having that effect on Lyret. Show those stuffed robes a thing or two, he thought.
"In his quarters," Bastila explained slowly turning to the vid screen, "there are . . . circumstances that must be observed while Jaden is onboard the Sojourn."
"That's a different discussion. Do you have the files from the prison proving the queen was scheduled to be executed?" Dodonna asked.
"Not exactly," Carth inwardly cringed at his superior officer's raised brow.
"They were uploaded into my T3 unit," Jaden told her, "I'll be sure they are retrieved."
"Very well. Nicely done Admiral. When we spoke this morning I had my doubts but once again you have come through for the Republic."
"Yea poster boy!" Atton mumbled as he played with one of the stylus.
"Thank you, Sir," Carth said glancing at Atton. "I'll get my report and the files," he said looking at Jaden who nodded, "to you shortly."
When the screen went blank, Kwyn sat back. "We sat through all this . . . fracking crap and you have files?" he asked laughing as he threw his hands up in the air.
"No," Carth chuckled, "she doesn't."
"Sure about that?" Jaden asked innocently.
"Well, let's see. You were shot, under fire and dealing with the queen. Hacking into the Iziz database would take time. I was there, remember?"
Jaden patted his shoulder and said in a patronizing tone, "And you did a fine job relaying the information from T3."
"Gee wiz, teach, thanks!" Carth told her with a snort. "So his super duper sensors picked up the soldiers. That still doesn't tell us how you downloaded the files."
"Ah, geez," Atton uttered before he doubled over in laughter, "Uploaded, Onasi. Way uploaded."
"What are you talking about?" Bastila asked as she gave an uncertain look at Atton who was still chuckling and shaking his head.
"Some pretty amazing Sith technology," Jaden answered as she sat on the arm of Carth's chair. He frowned and let his shoulder slump when it finally came to him.
"His 'special shields'," he said.
"Not only do they protect the Ebon Hawk, but they also protect T3 from catching a . . . virus."
Carth spoke as he scratched his head. "T3 wasn't using the sensors to pick up the soldiers. T3 was hacked into the Iziz database."
"Sith technology?" Bastila asked worriedly as she seemed ready to pounce on Jaden.
"Souvenirs," Jaden shrugged as she leaned an elbow on Carth's shoulder.
"But couldn't Zared use that same technology against us?" Dustil asked as he watched the others. Jaden folded her arms across her chest and looked at Atton with a smug smile.
Jaden said he would one day understand why T3 and the Ebon Hawk were tied together and it looked like that day was here. "Not as long as you don't turn the little trash compactor off," he answered with a sheepish look.
"But T3 cannot connect to the whole Republic network," Bastila snapped as she shifted in the chair. This was getting out of control. Jaden just admitted she had Sith technology and no one seemed to be upset about it.
"No, but he can connect to the Sojourn when it's damaged so that when the ship connects to the network on Coruscant . . ." Jaden trailed off recognizing the look in Bastila's eyes.
"Sweetheart . . ." Carth sighed and looked up at her.
Jaden pursed her lips together, "It's a simple patch, Onasi."
"And now she has access to the Republic database. The Sith could have access for all we know!" Bastila said standing up, her hand near her saber.
Jaden snapped her head around and looked at the insulting woman, "I don't need a computer database to know what the hell is going on in the galaxy."
Carth closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "That's enough. Both of you."
The two women stared at each other for several moments oblivious to the fact that Atton and Visas came to stand beside Jaden. "I'll be on the Ebon Hawk," she said backing down.
"We'll come with you," Visas said.
"Yeah, I can check with Mira about recent bounties."
Carth had called her 'sweetheart' with such affectionate resignation; her heart had twisted. Just as Bastila's heart twisted yesterday when Carth and Jaden exited the ship with their arms around each other, looking like they didn't have a care in the world.
Bastila was the one who stood by him when Revan left and again when Jaden had abandoned him a year ago only to return with some foolish story about being the light side point in the galaxy and that the Exile was now leading the True Sith. She claimed to be a Force Embodier and that the Valley of the Jedi was home. Both were a legend, nothing more. Vandar and Lyret were acting as if Jaden were the Force itself. Bastila didn't doubt that Jaden needed to be balanced. She had heard about what Carth had done to her when he found out Revan was dead. Jaden had killed Revan, but she hadn't stuck around long enough for the Jedi to investigate.
Giving Carth the ability to use the Force, disappearing for a year, her attitude toward the Jedi and having access to Sith technology. Bastila was beginning to believe Master Tuluk. Jaden had to have done something to Carth, Dustil and the others to make them believe she was anything but a Sith. Carth was vulnerable and Bastila was afraid Jaden was using him; using all of them.
"You've been a dear friend, Bastila, but you're moving closer to a line . . ." He trailed off. "Insulting Jaden does nothing to help the situation," Carth said quietly from his chair at the head of the table.
"I am trying to save the Republic from this newest threat. A threat that seems to have grown stronger since Jaden's return," she told him.
Carth's shoulders tensed. "A threat that compelled Revan to leave eight years ago," he said softly. "A threat that the Exile also felt compelled to face."
"And he returns a Sith Lord to once again wreak havoc with the Republic!"
"He's after the Valley of the Jedi," he spit out trying to control the venom behind his tone.
"It's a legend!" She snapped. "A child's tale, yet you believe it. You believe what she tells you."
"I've no reason to doubt her. Why do you?" He asked.
Because I love you, she thought, I don't want to lose you. "Because I believe she has her own agenda. Revan returned to warn you, but Jaden murdered her before she could tell you about it. She mysteriously bonds with you, giving you the ability to use the Force. Then she disappears only to return with Sith technology! Now, she claims, that you inadvertently returned her power through a link. And wants to do it again? She's draining your life, Carth and that is a dark side power." Bastila said passionately as she came to his side. "You cannot allow this to go on any longer. Jaden is a threat to you, to all of us, and to the Republic. Please Carth, you must send her away or lock her up. Let the Jedi Council deal with her." Bastila took his hand and went down on one knee. "I don't want to see you hurt," she whispered.
Bastila's emotions shone clearly in her eyes as Carth studied her. How could I have been so blind, he thought.
~~ Man clings to what he sees as comfort in times of turmoil; family, routine, friends are there as anchors. Because of this, often man does not see how changes in emotions can happen when he repeatedly turns to that comfort, to that anchor out of habit. ~~
~~ Or he refuses to because it would only cause more turmoil. ~~
~~ A wise assessment. ~~
~~ The reason the Jedi frown on emotional attachment. Turmoil can lead to the dark side. Will she fall again? ~~ He asked knowing how easy it could be to take a couple of steps toward darkness to get what you wanted most.
~~ You must tell her the truth. ~~
~~ Will she? ~~ Carth demanded silently.
~~ Tell her the truth. ~~
Carth let go of Bastila's hand and stood. He walked to the window before he spoke. "Revan didn't return to warn me about any threat. She returned to manipulate me into helping her find the Valley of the Jedi for the Exile."
"Carth . . ."
"Jaden did kill Revan, but only after Jaden revealed that she knew about their plan. Revan attacked her and Jaden . . . defended herself," he said remembering the holovid.
"What are you talking about?"
"What else was there?" He asked with a sigh. "Yeah, there is no bond, at least not through the Force. Jaden restored my life by giving me part of her power. She left, partly because I hurt her, but mostly to stop the Exile from coming after me in case he thought I had killed Revan."
"Carth . . ."
"I imagine she picked up the Sith technology when she joined the Sith."
Bastila hurried over to him and took his arm. Her eyes were wild with fear. "Do you even know what you're saying? By the Force, what has she done to you?"
Carth looked over into her dark violet eyes. They were filled with concern and fear and he felt a pang of guilt for never realizing the depth of her feelings for him. "She's protected me. She's given me a second chance at life."
"You just admitted she is a Sith!" Bastila went over to the comm unit but found her wrist in a strong grip.
"Revan's plan had killed me. I wasn't critically injured I was dead! Jaden was there to protect me from Revan," he snapped as he shoved her arm away from the unit.
"What are you talking about?" She asked rubbing her wrist. Bastila hadn't seen Carth this angry since he found out about Revan and it frightened her.
"All the scheming and lies of the Jedi Council to find the Star Forge were for nothing, Bastila. Darth Revan was never redeemed. She was a Sith all along. She only went after Malak for revenge for daring to betray her," he told her through clenched teeth.
"I don't believe you. I was bonded to her. I would have known!"
"You fell to the dark side!" He shouted in her face. Bastila shook her head in horrified denial but Carth wasn't done. "Jaden knew all about their plan because she was in the room with them on the Sith home world. She had been sent by the Midiclorians to find out what she could about the threat to the galaxy. They had it all, Bastila. Military strength, tactics, Jedi numbers. They were looking for the Valley of the Jedi."
Bastila shook her head in disbelief as she wrapped her arms around her middle.
"Jaden knew the Exile would learn of Revan's death and assume it was me. Since he was coming for her anyway, she needed to hide. Jaden needed time to locate the keys to the Valley, find a way to slow the Exile down, so she gave me some of her power. . . Midiclorians," he said waving a hand. "Jaden restored my life, but in doing so, she has weakened her ability to face the Exile. If Force Joining gives her back what she needs to keep the galaxy from plunging into darkness, don't doubt that I won't do it," he told her with such anger and bitterness.
"How do you know she isn't lying to you about Revan, about the Sith?" Bastila asked desperately.
Carth sighed some of his tension away. "You just don't give up, do you," he stated.
"Not when someone I care about is in danger," she snapped. This was not going the way she wanted it to. Carth refused to see that he was being manipulated.
"I saw it Bastila and I relived Revan's attack on Jaden."
"I don't doubt that Jaden is powerful, but it was a mind trick, Carth, nothing more."
Carth grabbed the collar of his shirt and yanked it over his head. "Are these scars from Force Lightning a mind trick?" He asked thumping his chest. Bastila cringed away from the spidery welts that still looked red and angry across his chest. "It's hard to mind trick an assassination order for my son. Jaden gave Zared one of the keys so he wouldn't go after Dustil or the Sojourn."
"I'll admit it's an elaborate plot . . ."
Carth growled his frustration as he pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes. "You're letting your feelings for me cloud your judgment."
"I could say the same to you," Bastila yelled while willing back her tears. She was dying a quiet death in that conference room.
Carth studied her for a moment then shook his head sadly. "We're done here," he said as he pulled the shirt over his head and picked up his jacket to leave.
"Carth, please!" She pleaded.
He paused, ignoring her tone. "I won't discuss this any further. You're . . . standing on that line."