As soon as Ben left the medbay and turned to the direction he knew his father to be working - the engineering section - he found Nommy leaning against a wall in the corridor regarding him.
"Effective interrogation strategy," the Yuuzhan Vong commented sarcastically. "If you kept that up, I'm sure she would have told you what you wanted to know."
Ben rolled his eyes in annoyance and strode past Nommy to head for his father.
The young Jedi was surprised to see the Grand Master just standing in the corridor around the bend rather than working in the engineering section. Luke's gaze was stern as he stared back at his son, causing the latter to stop in his own tracks.
"What is it, Dad?"
"I felt Khai's emotions, Ben," Luke said, his tone displeased. "I've felt what you said and did to her in the medbay."
Ben grimaced. "Yeah, I know, it wasn't the best way to interrogate her-"
"Oh, it's not just that," Luke cut in. "You were unnecessarily cruel to her in a way that didn't forward your investigation. I would think Lon Shevu would have taught you better than that."
Ben's expression sunk. "I... I'm sorry, Dad..."
"Don't apologize to me," Luke said. "Apologize to her." He nodded his head back in the direction of the medbay.
Ben's eyes widened. "But she's-"
"I know who and what she is, Ben," Luke intoned. "And you will apologize to her."
Ben made an aside face, but he relented and nodded. "Yes, sir." He turned back in the direction of the medbay.
"Told you," Nommy said as Ben passed him again. The Jedi ignored the Yuuzhan Vong as he returned to where Khai was held captive.
"Ben, what is it?" Jacen asked as soon as the door to the medbay was open.
"Can you give me some time alone with the prisoner, Jacen?" Ben asked.
Jacen hesitated, but nodded before standing up and leaving the medbay.
Khai turned her head slightly to sneer at Ben. "What do you want?"
"I came to say I'm sorry for what I said to you," Ben said as he approached for tied-down form casually.
Khai made a confused look. "What?"
"I was wrong for being so mean to you," he said. "I guess, because you were a Sith, I thought-"
"What, that that's how we all live?" Khai spat. "Some of us have higher standards, Skywalker."
"I can see that now," Ben admitted. "Say, you wanna go for a walk?"
Khai looked even more confused now. "But your next shift doesn't start-"
"I know, I know," Ben interrupted. "But I'm sure my dad and Jacen will accept this."
.
Acting Jedi Grand Master Kenth Hamner, Master Cilghal, Jedi Knight Tekli, and the six Knights who fell to the Force psychosis that plagued their minds - the Horn siblings, Seff Hellin, Natua Wan, and the two most recent victims, Yaqeel Saav'etu and Bazel Warv - all stood in Chief of State Daala's office facing her. The woman herself was seated behind her desk, scrutinizing them all with that militant appraisal of hers.
"I'm glad to hear that this problem has been resolved, Master Hamner, Master Cilghal," Daala said with rigid formality and nothing more. "For a while there, after Jedi Wan here..." she inclined her head to indicate the female Falleen in the group on the other side of her desk "...wasn't brought into proper Galactic Alliance custody."
Hamner nodded. "And we thank you for your patience and generosity in maintaining diplomatic relationships with us, Chief Daala, even when these fine Knights had suffered this psychosis."
"Yes, it seems that my leniency to your Order came with a payoff," Daala commented before looking at the Mon Calamari. "Master Cilghal, may you inform me exactly how and why these Knights here were cured of their psychosis?"
"I can only offer you what I've felt in their Force auras and mental states, Chief Daala," Cilghal responded diplomatically. "Physically, there's been nothing wrong with them. And while we do not have any strong evidence that it was this Abeloth who had been controlling these Knights, we think that if it was her, then her influence had died off."
"And I'm to assume that Abeloth herself died?" Daala asked.
"It would be a reasonable assumption under the circumstances, yes," Cilghal replied.
"Then I take it that Grand Master Skywalker and his party were successful in neutralizing Abeloth," she said with a slight perfunctory smile. She looked back at Hamner, dropping back into her business face. "Speaking of which, Master Hamner, have you had contact with Master Skywalker since the psychosis was lifted from these Knights?"
Hamner shook his head regretfully. "Unfortunately, no. The last time I contacted Master Skywalker, he informed me that he and his party were going into the Maw, which, as you know, Chief Daala, is frankly impossible to establish any communications with."
Daala nodded in simple understanding. "Tell me, Master Hamner, you Jedi seem to have a lot of your trust in the Force, obviously. Do you know whether or not Master Skywalker would need help returning from the Maw?"
Hamner raised an eyebrow. "As a matter of fact, I have, Chief. Sometime after the Knights were cured, I sensed Master Skywalker reaching out to me through the Force. From what I understood with the contact I had with him then, I got the impression that he needed help. How did you know?"
Daala shrugged. "The Maw is a dangerous place. Wouldn't want the Grand Master of the Jedi Order to not find his way back, eh?"
"Indeed," Hamner agreed neutrally. "I suppose the death warrant will still be out on Jacen Solo and Nom Anor when they return to Coruscant?"
"If Master Skywalker professes that his nephew and his Yuuzhan Vong compatriot are still deserving of that fate, then yes, the death warrant will still be out on them when they return to this planet, Master Hamner," Daala answered. "Anyway, since you told me that you sensed Master Skywalker's call through the Force, I take it that you already have a rescue party sent to the Maw?"
Hamner nodded. "I have. I've tasked Jedi Leia Solo and her husband to pick up Master Skywalker and his party from the Maw."
"Excellent," Daala said. "Is there anything else you feel that you wish to inform me of, Master Hamner?"
The acting Grand Master shook his head. "No, Chief. That's really all I've got."
Daala spent a brief moment scrutinizing Hamner specifically before moving her sights along the other Jedi in the room. Barely a quarter of a minute later, she looked back at the acting Grand Master and nodded. "Very well. You are all dismissed."
