Entry 89

Our mini-reunion with Ben and Valla was short-lived. Valla was assigned a shipping run to complete and Ben had to go back to pick up his apprentice and report to his father. I was told the Jedi would arrive within days. My mother was excited about the news. I was expecting my father and Marcus to return since a compromise had been found, but I guess there are other details to iron out.


Entry 90

Damn, it is cold this week. To make matters worse, I realized that all of my heavy coats were either military or Jedi related. I didn't have a civilian parka, so I went over to my mother's quarters to see if I could borrow one of my father's coats until I could go shopping and get one for myself.

My mother greeted me at the door and hugged me enthusiastically. "I heard you and Zylie are trying to have a baby."

My brow rose in surprise. "Did Zylie tell you that?"

She shook her head. "No, Mara did. She called a week ago to see how your father and I were doing. She said Zylie told her." She looked at me expectantly. "It's true, isn't it?"

I couldn't hide my smile. "Yes," I gave my mom a cautionary expression as she gave out a shriek of happiness. "But don't go buying nursery furniture just yet. We just started trying. It may be weeks or months before we are successful."

"I'm sure I will be spoiling a new grandchild by the end of the year." She gestured for me to come inside as she closed the door behind me. My stomach rumbled at the mouthwatering aroma of my mother's cooking.

"What are you making?" I asked as I followed her to the kitchen.

"Stew, you can have some if you like." She turned away from me to stir a pot on the stove. It was then that I noticed a small tattoo peaking out from under her sleeveless tunic. Marcus had told me my mother got a tattoo with the initials of all of her kids and grandchildren on it, but I have never seen it myself. "Mom, can I see your tattoo."

"You haven't seen it?" She reached back and pulled the fabric to the side exposing the body art on her shoulder blade. "I don't know what possessed me to get it, but it seemed like a good idea at the time."

I stared at the tattoo slack jawed. It was a drawing of a rising sun with a winding road leading to the horizon. It was the same symbol seen on the emblem holding the cape onto the lightsaber carrying Void Jumper. "Mom, what's that symbol?"

She let go of her tunic and turned to face me. "It is the symbol of the National Religion, The Church of the Bright Path. I thought it would be good luck."

I shook my head in confusion. "No, I've seen the symbol of the church. It is a starburst pattern." I pointed to the tattoo. "Not this."

She continued to stir the stew while talking to me. "The starburst pattern is for leaders of the church and clergy. It is forbidden for anybody outside the church leadership to wear the starburst. Even Marcus couldn't wear the starburst symbol until he turned thirteen and officially became the leader of the church. Followers wear the rising sun and lighted path symbol. It's a bit metaphoric. The church is represented by the light, hence the starburst pattern. The light exposes the path to rightness. So followers wear the symbol of the enlightened path."

I guess she could see tell I was in shock. "What is going on? Why that face?"

"I've seen that symbol before. It was worn by a group of Void Jumpers attacking various slaving operations." I took in a deep breath and blew it out as my brain tried to decipher this mystery. I wish Ben was with me…he is much better at figuring out stuff.

My mother gave me a confused shrug of her shoulder. "I don't know anything about that. Somebody is attacking slavers? Do you think believers…people who serve the Bright Path are acting as vigilantes?"

My mother's words brought back a memory…something one of the slavers dumped on Dathomir commented about his attackers. He said one of the ship pilots was heard saying they 'will swerve to the right path'. The pilots had heavy rimworld accents…so now I am wondering if they actually said they 'will serve the Bright Path'. My father had worried about the zealotry of the Bright Path followers…maybe they have taken to right the wrongs of the galaxy by force. But…would a simple sub-cult of the state religion have the credits and resources to acquire Void Jumper armor or military jump ships? That is really doubtful.

"Mom, does Indupar have Void Jumpers? Dad once told me they were forming a unit but they weren't trained yet. Does Indupar have an active Void Jumper company?"

My mother thought about it. "I know Indupar has trained Void Jumpers, but I believe your father said it was a battalion."

"A battalion! Mom that's around three hundred men."

She nodded. "He did make a large purchase of Void Jumper Suits for the king."

I was shocked by the news. I pulled out a seat from the dining area and sat down heavily.

"What's wrong Talon?"

I looked up to her. "Mom, for months the Jedi have been running around the galaxy looking for the leader of a Void Jumper unit attacking various slaving operations. The leader carried a lightsaber and wore a cape held together at the shoulder by a emblem with the Bright Path image on it." I paused as I tried to wrap my head around the situation. "The media has been accusing the Jedi of snatching slaves from their masters and keeping them for themselves. We've been trying to figure out who has been attacking the slavers so we could clear our name." I shook my head in confusion. "Is the Indupar government involved? Is Marcus or Dad involved in this mess?"

"Talon, I don't know what you are talking about, but I do know your father wouldn't participate in anything unsavory."

I could tell my mother believed what she was saying, but that might just mean she wasn't privy to any damning information. "Mom, does dad own an amber lightsaber."

Her expression filled with worry. "Why do you ask?"

"Because the leader of the anti-slavery operation carried an amber lightsaber, along with wearing an emblem of the Bright Path. Also an assassination attempt occurred against the Chief-of-State and that person had an amber lightsaber." I paused before asking her again. "Mom, does dad have an amber lightsaber?"

She looked exceedingly uncomfortable as she answered. "He does, all of the Indupar Knights have amber lightsabers. Senior Military Officers in the King's Armed Forces also wear them as a symbol of rank…even if they're non-Force-users. The Amber color represents the rising sun lighting up the Bright Path.

I felt like I was going to vomit. What was my father involved in? "Mom, something is going on involving Void Jumpers attacking slavers, people with lightsabers attacking the Hapan Royals, two attempts on the Chief-of-State's life by lightsaber wielding attackers and then there is the mystery of the mimetic suited man."

When I said that last sentence I felt a spike of panic from my mother.

I looked up to her wide-eyed. "Mom, does dad have a Mimetic suit?"

"Ummmm," she said softly. "Is that the suit that can make you invisible?"

"Yes," I said as I slowly stood.

My mom didn't answer but glanced toward her bedroom.

"Shavit!" I swore under my breath as I moved to my mother's bedroom.

She followed on my heels. "Talon, I don't think your father would like you digging around in our closet."

I turned to her, anger seeping into my voice as I stood in her doorway. "I bet he wouldn't. He's been lying to me for months! I've talked to him about the Vong Void Jumpers and the man in the mimetic suit and he pretended to know nothing or he gets mad at me for asking questions…accusing me for spying for Uncle Luke. He knew I wasn't spying for the Grand Master; he was getting angry to shut me up, to get me to stop asking questions. Now I wonder what else he knows and why is he doing the things he's doing?" I pulled in a deep breath as I tried to control my breathing. "The Jedi believe the man in the mimetic suit is a Sith. That he is controlling the Chief-of-State." I lost my voice for a moment as I tried to regain control of my emotions. "Mom, what is dad up to…is he working for…"

I couldn't finish my sentence before my mom answered. "A Sith? You want to know if your father is working for a Sith or is a Sith?" She shook her head. "Talon, you know your father better than that."

"No, that's not what I was going to ask. I want to know if he is working for Marcus or the Seers?"

My mother looked down at the floor. "Your father is a good man. He would never do anything to hurt anybody."

I let out a caustic laugh, "Mom, if I remember correctly, when he contacted you all yellow-Sithy-eyed on his way to Myrkr you were crying and all worried about what he was going to do. You were afraid he was going to kill Jacen."

"That's only because Jacen tried to kill Mara. Jacen was dangerous." She crossed her arms and glowered at me. "Do you also remember when he was attacked by that Sith sphere thing in Imperial Space and was confused and waving a lightsaber? It was me who went inside his hospital room to calm him down. I don't fear your father, and neither should you."

"I don't fear my father, but Dad is up to something…something that he has been hiding from his family."

Her eyes narrowed either in disappointment or anger. "I am sure whatever you think is going on is not what it seems."

I walked over to my parent's closet. "There is one way to find out. I just have to use my psychometric powers and I will know the truth."

I gave a yelp when my mother grabbed my earlobe and dragged me away from her closet. "You are not going to invade our privacy, Talon. If you have questions for your father, you ask him yourself."

"Owww," I allowed my mother to pull me away from the closet so she didn't rip my ear off. I was absolutely shocked at her response. During all the time I was growing up she never once laid a hand on me. She was always so mellow and loving. There is obviously something in the closet she doesn't want me to see. "Okay, just let go of my ear." When she released me I scowled as my hand went up to massage my throbbing earlobe. "Why are you protecting him? What has he done?"

My mother let out a scathing laugh. "I know nothing about slaves or the mimetic man you referred to." She pointed to the closet. "I am safeguarding my privacy." She turned a nice shade of red as she paused in thought. "Did you know mimetic suits are water resistant?"

My brow rose in confusion. "Yes, I am aware. What does that have to do with anything?"

My mother folded her arms across her chest as she stared at the floor. "Your father thought it would be funny to put the suit on and scare me while I was in the shower."

I closed my eyes trying not to picture my what my mother was describing.

"See," she said while pointing an accusing finger at me. "You don't even want to think about that and I know you definitely don't want to use your postcog powers to actually see it!"

"Ugh, mom, that's disturbing." I motioned to her closet. "Is there anything in there that I can touch without having to endure therapy for the rest of my life?"

She tried to suppress a smile. "Doubtful."

I shuddered as I leaned against the wall. "So you can confirm he does have a mimetic suit and an amber lightsaber. This can't be a coincidence. He has to be involved in the anti-slaving operations and/or wanting the Jedi off of Coruscant."

She leaned against the wall next to me and looked away. "I do know your dad needs to do something on Coruscant and he doesn't want the Jedi involved."

"What is he going to do?" I asked my mother pointedly.

"I don't know Talon. I only know as much as I do because I overheard your dad talking to Tobar the High Seer." She turned and put a hand on my shoulder. "Talon, your dad's a good man. He wouldn't do anything bad."

I nodded slowly, hoping she was right. "I'm going to take Dad's shuttle to Coruscant. I need to find out what's going on."

I wasn't sure what my dad was up to, but I am determined to find out.