Entry 68

Zylie and I took an air taxi back to the Vazy Princess. She kept glancing over to me with a look of disapproval. When we finally were in the privacy of our own ship she put her hands on her hips and glared at me. "I am assuming your uncle could feel your panic in the Force. I'm not a Force user but I could sense your apprehension. Your reaction to your aunt and uncle was over the top. If anything you made them more suspicious of the Indupar monarchy."

I shrugged. "He'll just think I am over protective of my parents, not the Prince."

"Why don't you just tell Luke and Mara that Marcus is your son?"

I let out a controlled breath. "Because I promised Ema I wouldn't tell anybody else. If she discovered I went back on my word she could make it difficult for me to see my son. It's not like I can go the Indupar court system and petition for joint custody. I am at the mercy of the Queen and Ema. I won't risk losing my relationship with my son. Uncle Luke and my Aunt Mara don't have a need to know."

She blew out a breath while staring at the ceiling in thought. Finally she shook her head and conceded my point. "You're probably right. What are you going to do now?"

"I'm going to get on my transceiver, activate the cryptic scrambler, and call my father." I moved to my cabin where I had a private transceiver set up.

She followed behind me. "Do you want privacy?"

"I'm not going to say anything you don't already know…but maybe you should leave just in case Dad wants to keep his answer as secret as possible."

"Understandable." Zylie left the room as I punched in the transmission code for my family's residence. After a short while my mother's smiling face appeared. "Talon, how are you? Are you at your brother's house?"

"We're on the freighter right now mom. Can I talk to dad? The Grand Master requests that I speak to him."

My mother's brow rose. "The Grand Master? That sounds serious." She turned and called out. "Mark! Your son needs to talk to you."

Within a few seconds my father's red bearded face filled up the screen. "Hey, Talon. What's going on?"

"I guess the seers didn't tell you I was going to call," I said somewhat sarcastically. "Uncle Luke said the Chief-of-State has you on a watch list."

My dad grinned brightly. "I'm flattered. What did I do to get the attention of such an esteemed leader?"

"According to Uncle Luke, Mokk Streke now believes you are building an army of Force strong Void Jumpers to attack the Alliance."

My dad made a big booming laugh. "Where does he get these delusions? We are making a Void Jumper Army, but they are not Force users…I can guarantee you that."

"And they aren't preparing to attack the Alliance?" I added.

My father gave me a strange look. "The army is strictly for the defense of Indupar. If the Chief-of-State is foolish enough to attack us we will respond." He paused. "He's not planning on attacking us, is he?"

I shook my head.

"Good! Then there's no problem. I wouldn't worry about Streke. He's harmless. He doesn't have the brains to make a decision on his own."

"That's just it. He is working for someone."

My father's smile faltered. "Really? How do you know?"

"CorSec planted a bug in a hotel room and caught Streke talking to some masked man. The conversation reveals he's been helped into power by some organization that is very anti-Jedi. He was ordered to get the Jedi off of Coruscant."

"Really," my father said slowly. "Do they have any idea who this masked man is? Is it a political leader, a crime lord, a revolutionary?"

"I don't know. The man was masked and was using a voice modulator. Streke doesn't even know who his benefactor is. He thinks he's a bounty hunter."

"A bounty hunter?" My father looked impressed. "Maybe it's the legendary Boba Fett. I heard he was seen on Mandalore last year."

I rolled my eyes. "I hate those gossip holozines and their Boba Fett sightings. He died on Tatooine, but people don't want to believe a famous bounty hunter is gone. It's like that rumor that Xizor, the leader of the Black Sun, had his head frozen and his brain is now living in a jar attached to a BT-16 Spider droid's belly in what was once Jabba's Palace."

"That one I do believe," my father said with a chuckle. "Listen, why don't I get Marcus to invite Chief-of-State Streke to Indupar for the coronation. That should ease some of his fears."

I thought about it before nodding. "That may work. Thanks dad." I cocked my head to the side and looked at him questioningly. "Dad, Luke said he had asked you about this situation and and you refused to give him answers. Why was that?"

His lips curved into a dangerous smile. "He didn't say please."

"I didn't say please either."

He let out a short laugh. "I didn't like how he asked me. He's no longer my Grand Master. He should have had Mara call me."

"So she could say, 'Come on,'" I said with a laugh. It was a standing joke in my family that Aunt Mara could get my dad to do just about anything.

Dad grinned. "It works. It's such a convincing argument."

I stifled a smile. "Thanks dad. I'll let Uncle Luke know the Indupar monarchy will talk to Streke and get him off the Jedi's back."

"I'll make sure it happens." He closed his eyes and pulled in a deep breath. "You're mother is cooking my favorite meal and it smells ready." He opened his eyes and grinned. "Gotta go."

I turned off the transceiver and sat down on my bed. I hope this helps the situation, but then I thought of that rehearsal parade I watched a few months ago. There were tens of thousands of troops, armored speeders, ground-to-air lasers…I don't know if that's going to ease the Chief-of-State's fears or not.

Entry 69

The next day we went to visit Zylie's parents, Zara and Talon Karrde. As we entered their ship, Zara gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Talon did his normal slap on my back. "How's my namesake doing?"

"I'm doing great."

He gave me a hard look. "I hope you are taking good care of my little girl."

"I am." I turned and gave Zylie a wink. "And if I didn't I'm sure I would find a vornskr at my throat."

Zylie's eyes widened when I mentioned her pet. "Daddy, how is Princess?" She looked around her father's ship trying to locate the animal. Damn, I was hoping she would forget about the creature and we could take off without it. Ha!

"She's in the cargo hold. Chin's been taking care of her and Zorn." He motioned a hand toward the cargo bay. "Zorn is the name of my new pup."

"Oh, I want to see her." Zylie started walking down the hallway to the cargo area. Her dad caught up and slowed her down.

"Wait. Let me introduce you. Zorn is not fully trained yet."

I just about rolled my eyes. That is all I need is a half-trained vornskr to ruin my afternoon. I followed behind Zylie and her father. My mother-in-law fell in step next to me. "Princess is fine, Talon." She reassured me…like I was worried about the animal that threatens to bite my groin on a regular basis.

I gave Zara a fake smile. "I'm sure she's in good hands."

Karrde opened the cargo door and I could tell there was a problem. His eyes went wide as he screamed, "No Zorn!"

Now, I am not a fan of Princess, but there is no way in the world I want Zylie to witness her pet getting harmed. I ran to the cargo area fully expecting to see Princess getting mauled by a half trained vornskr. I pulled the lightsaber off my belt just in case I had to fight off the animal. What I found was worse than I imagined. Zorn and Princess were having sex!

Karrde hesitated for only a second before he ran and grabbed a water hose used to clean the cargo bay. He turned on the spigot and sprayed a stream of water at his lustful male vornskr. "Damn that Chin. I told him to make sure they were put in separate kennels!"

I put my lightsaber away knowing Zylie wouldn't approve of me using the weapon to separate the two.

Karrde kept spraying water on his overheated pet while swearing under his breath. I couldn't help but laugh. Damn, that Zorn looks like he's been without a female for some time. He was really going at it. Princess didn't appear too upset over the male's affections. Zylie on the other hand looked horrified. I imagine that's the look a parent would have if they walked in on their young daughter having sex with a heavily tattooed swoop gang member. She turned to me and said, "Do something Talon!"

I raised my hands in a gesture of bewilderment. "What can I do?"

"Pull them apart!"

"I don't think so." I shook my head. "Zorn will bite my arms off!"

"With the Force!" She threw her hands wide. "Now!"

"Okay, okay!" I reached out with the Force and tried to gently separate the two. This resulted in an ear-piercing screech from Princess. Either they were stuck or she didn't want to be pulled apart. I stopped and gave Zylie a sheepish expression. "I'm afraid of hurting them. Why don't we just let them finish?" I pointed to the door. "Maybe we should give these two lovers some privacy."

Zylie glowered at me. "Princess is not spayed." She looked to her father. "Is Zorn neutered?"

Karrde was still spraying water on the animals that appeared oblivious to his efforts. "Does it look like he's neutered? No, I was going to breed him."

I was going to make a joke about him getting his wish, but then I realized…I was probably going to have a pregnant vornskr when I departed Coruscant. "Stang!" I was ready to make a second attempt to pry them apart with the Force when both animals let out a deep gravely howl. Zorn dismounted, shook the water off his coarse fur before flopping down in a corner of the cargo hold to nap. I don't blame him. Those were some impressive moves!

Karrde shut off the faucet and dropped the hose on the deck. "Damn that Chin!"

Zylie ran up to Princess and threw her arms around the animal's neck, giving her a hug. Our Vornskr didn't look upset…in fact she looked more chipper than I have seen her in months. She looked up to me panting, her tongue lolling out of her mouth. I swear that vornskr was smirking at me.

"I'm sure it'll be fine, Zylie," Her father said as he knelt down next to his daughter. "What are the chances that she conceived after one breeding experience?"

I suppressed a groan. With my luck there was a one hundred percent chance. "Maybe we should leave Princess here with you," I offered. "You have more experience with vornskrs than we do." Zylie gave me a deadly look. "Just in case she's pregnant," I explained.

She stood and glared at me. "I've been around vornskrs all my life. I can handle this, Talon."

I sighed while giving her a forced smile. "Yes Dear."

Karrde laughed as he guided Princess into her cage and locked it. "It'll be alright, Talon. If she's pregnant I'll take the litter off your hands. I have buyers lined up for the animals."

"Thanks." I turned back to Zylie and gave her a sickly sweet smile. "I guess that means I only have to deal with a moody pregnant female for the next few months."

Karrde laughed as ushered us out of the cargo hold. "That reminds me…when are you going to make me a grandfather."

ARRGGHHHH!