Author Notes- Another new chapter. This one isn't as exciting as the others, but it isn't important. I hope you all like it. And enhancements on the earlier chapters will be made very soon.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ben and Jaina strolled down the long hallway, which lead to the Council Chamber's entrance. As they were coming slightly closer to where the entrance was, they suddenly saw in the distance Han and Leia exiting out of the Chamber. They then began to proceed down the same hallway that Ben and Jaina were coming down. Judging from the rather displeased look on Han's face, both Ben and Jaina knew that he was definitely not happy about something.
As they approached the older couple, they finally began to hear what Han was telling Leia.
"I'm going to say it again." Said Han. "I do not like this plan one bit. And another thing-."
"Jaina, Ben." Leia said with a smile cutting Han off. "Good morning."
"Good morning." Ben and Jaina said one at a time as they stopped before Han and Leia. Jaina then added. "Hey, um, I saw you two come out of the Council Chamber. Did Uncle Luke by any chance tell you what this news of Orion is all about?"
"He did. It's definitely news that we've all been hoping for, that's for sure." Replied Leia.
"Really?" Ben said with a tone of interest. "So does this mean my brother has finally been found?"
"Luke will brief you both on the whole thing when you get to the Chamber." Said Han. "Right now, however. Me and Leia need to have a nice…LONG…talk."
Leia looked at Han then replied. "No matter what you say, my decision is going to be the same."
"Huh?" said Jaina.
"Oh, it's nothing." Leia said to Jaina. "Your father and I are just having a little disagreement on a certain issue. You'll probably hear the reason in Luke's briefing. But anyway…we'll see you both later on. Take care."
"Goodbye, Aunt Leia, Uncle Han." Ben said kindly.
"See you guys later." Jaina said with a smile.
Han and Leia smiled at the two then proceeded down the hallway. As Ben and Jaina started towards the Chamber's entrance, they could hear in the distance behind them Han tell Leia: 'I thought we retired from this sort of thing.'
Ben and Jaina, who were now both for sure that the news was that Orion had been found, approached the Council Chamber's entrance then immediately entered the large room. They walked down the pathway then looked ahead. They saw that every Council member was seated around the large, rectangular Council table talking with one another.
The two then stopped a few meters before the table and bowed. "Masters." Said Jaina.
The Council ceased their conversations and looked at Jaina and Ben. "Good, you two have arrived." Luke said politely with a serious expression on his face. "I know you're both probably anxious to know why we summoned you here. So I'll just get straight to the point and brief you both on what's going on."
"I think Ben and I pretty much know what this is all about." Replied Jaina. "Orion has been found, hasn't he?"
"Yes, he has. Surprisingly, though, we didn't find him on a low populated planet. Instead it appears that Kyp was right all along. Orion is in fact here on Mon Calamari. The probes spotted him last night near the Atroculus Trench. Which is where we believe he's currently hiding."
Ben and Jaina, who were both quite surprised by this news, briefly looked at each other then turned their gazes back to the Council.
"Well, this certainly is unexpected." Ben said as he folded his arms.
"You're telling me. I was sort of expecting him to be on a planet like Hoth or something." Jaina said to Ben. She then said to the Council. "So what's going to be our plan of action, masters? Are we going to waist no time and just go after him?"
"That's precisely our plan." Said Mara. "Because Orion leaves very little clues of his whereabouts. Opportunities like this don't come often."
"So we all have agreed, that something must be done about this as soon as possible. Which…brings us to the reason why we wanted to speak with you, Ben." Said Luke.
Ben saw a look of unease spread across his mother's face. Whatever it was his father, Luke, was about to tell him, Ben could clearly see that his mother wasn't too happy about it.
Luke looked straight at Ben then spoke. "This mission, my son, is most important. For as you probably know it may be one of our only chances to attempt to convince your brother of the truth. Like your mother said, opportunities like this are rare. So, for this mission, myself and a group of three Jedi will travel to the Trench and confront Orion." He paused for a second then continued. "Now, in this group of three will be your mother, your Aunt Leia; whom immediately volunteered as soon as I told her about this. And last but not least…you, my son."
"Me?" said Ben.
"If you're wondering why you were chosen. Even though I don't fully agree with this decision. It's because of you're…experience with Orion." Said Mara.
"Yeah, even though you're just an apprentice, Ben. You're still one of the only Jedi to have gone toe-to-toe with Orion and live to tell the tale." Said Kyp.
"And because of that very experience, we felt you would be quite helpful on this mission. And would give the group an extra advantage." Said Kyle.
"Well, I, uh." Replied Ben. It was not as if he wasn't pleased to have been chosen he just wasn't too thrilled about it either. He really did want to help his brother, but at the same time he didn't really want to fight him again either. Nevertheless, this was indeed a big chance for him to get his brother to turn to the Light. So he would do as the Council request and help. "All I can say is, masters, is that I am honored to have been chosen." He then looked directly at his father and said sincerely. "And I shall do my best under you and the group's wise leadership, father."
"That's good to hear, my son. And just so you'll know, we leave for the Trench later this evening. So make sure that when the time comes that you are well prepared. For this is indeed going to be a most dangerous mission." Said Luke.
"Yes, father, masters." Ben said with a bow.
Jaina, who had been silent for majority of the conversation, finally spoke. "Um, Masters of the Council. I understand why Ben was chosen. But may I ask why I, his master, wasn't picked to accompany him as well as my mother on this mission?"
"Well, in all honesty Jaina, you were originally planned to be in the group with Ben." Luke said calmly. "But earlier during our meeting, Kyp brought up several good points about the Academy's safety and security. So in the end, we felt it best that instead of having a large group going after Orion, we would have a group of four go after him. And while the group tends to Orion, you and the rest of our best knights remain here to protect the Academy."
"That does make sense, but what are we protecting it from? It's not as if Lumiya is here as well."
"We don't know that." Said Kyp. "Since the Dark side is clouding some of our senses including our ability to feel dark siders. She could easily be hiding here. For all we know, she could be lurking in the caves of Atroculus with Orion."
"Precisely." Said Corran. "And if she is indeed here with Orion, she will no doubt target the Academy. Although, of course, there is a fifty, fifty chance of her not being here, we're still not going to take any chances none the less."
"That is why, Jaina. We want you, Jacen, and the other knights to be extra alert today. Just in case something does happen." Said Tionne.
Jaina, who had a look of slight disappointment on her face, sighed then said. "Very well. Even though I'd prefer being by my mother and my cousin's side, I'll do as the Council wishes."
"Good." Said Luke. "And make sure to also tell Jacen all about this as soon as you meet up with him again. Me and the Council, however, will inform the rest of the knights later on."
"Alright. Well, I have a few important things that I want to over with Ben before he leaves today. So it's been a pleasure talking with you all."
"Likewise, Jaina." Said Luke. He then looked at Ben and said. "And it was good talking to you also, my son. I'll see you later this evening."
"See yah, father, masters." Ben said as he and Jaina gave a quick bow. Jaina and Ben then turned and made their way out of the Council Chamber.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After exiting the Council Chamber, Jaina and Ben immediately started down the left hallway. As they were making their way to the elevator, Ben looked over at his cousin and said. "I really do wish you could come on this mission, Jaina."
"Yeah, me too. But the Council insists that I remain here and help watch over the Academy. I doubt anything will happen, though. But, who knows." Said Jaina.
The two cousins approached the elevator then stopped before its doors. While they were waiting for the doors to open, Jaina folded her arms then looked at Ben with a serious expression on her face. "By the way, Ben. In the Council Chamber when they told you that you were chosen, I sensed a small conflict within you."
"Oh yeah." Ben said as he slowly turned his gaze to the ground. He then looked back up at his cousin and continued. "Well, you see, Jaina. The truth is even though I'm sort of glad to have been chosen. I'm also at the same time not too excited about this mission either. Mainly because it means that I'll have to face my brother again, which is something I'm not really looking forward to. But sadly…I sort of knew this day would come eventually. The thing is, though, is that now since I know the full truth as to why he is one with the Dark Side; it makes fighting him even more difficult. Because I know that behind those yellow eyes, behind that dark, menacing persona. Lays a man who just wanted the same thing that I have. A family. Sure he's committed many sins, but he's not at all evil. And that's exactly why I'm not so eager to fight him."
Jaina gave a nod of understanding then placed her hand on Ben's shoulder. "Your reasoning is perfectly understandable." Jaina said as the elevator doors opened up. She and Ben entered the elevator and then once the doors closed, Jaina continued. "But unfortunately because of his aggressive, attack first behavior, it seems that the only way to begin helping him is to fight and disarm him."
Ben sighed. "Yeah, that does appear to be the case. It's just too bad there's no other way."
Jaina smirked. "Well, I doubt with his current state of mind that he'd gladly sit down for a cup of caf and talk the whole thing out peacefully."
Ben laughed a little. "Point." He said as the elevator stopped.
They exited the elevator then immediately began walking down the right hallway. While they were walking, Jaina said to Ben. "But there is one thing that does concern me about this mission."
"What is it?"
"The fact that we still don't seem to have any solid evidence to show Orion that Lumiya is lying to him."
"That had me concerned too. But, I guess, we'll just have to hope that my father and the Council comes up with someway to prove the truth to my brother."
"Hmm. I don't know. I'd still feel a lot more at ease if I knew for sure that we had some real solid proof on our side."
They came to the end of the hall then turned right and proceeded down the next hallway, which lead to the Great Hall. As they were coming closer to the Great Hall, they saw walking straight towards them the female Chadra-fan Jedi healer and scout, Tekli.
Tekli, who was trained by the Jedi Master healer, Cilghal, was a very talented, friendly, and kind-hearted Jedi. Like her master, she didn't really get involved in combat like most of the Jedi. But her amazing skill and knowledge with medicine as well as her strong determination to help others easily makes up for her of combat. She loves helping so much, that she even became a part time scout, which meant that whenever there was a problem or a possible danger on the continent, she and another Jedi scout would do their best to locate it. But even though she was a part time scout, Tekli spent most of her time working with medicine and also training her apprentice, Esmerelda Kahn, the 17-year-old sister of Auron Kahn.
Jaina and Ben smiled as Tekli approached them. "Tekli." Jaina said as she and Ben stopped in their tracks.
Tekli returned their smile then stopped and said in her usual kind tone. "Jaina, Ben. How's it going?"
"Oh, just fine. We actually just came from a meeting at the Council Chamber." Said Jaina.
"Ah. So you both know about what's going on with the Orion situation then."
"Yep. And Ben and I just wanted to say thanks. Without you're help, no one probably would've found Orion."
"Oh, no need for thanks. The probes did most of the work. I just turned them on and told them what to do."
"But still, that's all part of being a scout; being able to use that security equipment to perfection. Which means you're now not also just an excellent healer, Tekli. But also an excellent scout." Said Ben.
"I'm glad you think so." Tekli replied with a kind smile. "But I got to tell you, though. Working with all that scouting and security equipment is a lot harder and more difficult than working with medicine. And speaking of medicine, I have to get up to the Medical Lab and start my session with Esmerelda."
"Wait, Tekli. Before you head off, I need to tell you something real quick." Said Jaina.
"What is it?" replied Tekli.
"I know the Council will probably inform you about this later. But since I am here with you, I minus will tell you." Jaina paused then immediately continued. "The Council wants every Jedi in the Academy to be on full alert today…more so than the previous days. They believe that there might be a plot to destroy the Academy."
"With Lumiya freely on the loose, anything is possible." Cilghal folded arms then continued. "I'll do as the Council says and be extra alert. And I'll also make sure to tell Cilghal and Esmerelda to do the same when I get up to the lab."
"Good. The more Jedi who are prepared, the better." Said Jaina.
"By the way, since you two did have a meeting with the Council. Did they tell you what they intend to do about Orion?" asked Tekli.
"Yeah, they did." Said Ben. "Basically what's going to happen is, is that later this evening, my parents, my Aunt Leia, and myself are going to travel to the Atroculus Trench and confront Orion."
"You, Ben. Are going?" Tekli replied with a hint of worry in her voice.
"Yep. Apparently the Council felt I could help out on the mission."
"Well, I certainly hope for the best. And I pray that you all will return safely."
Ben smiled. "Thanks. Hopefully, before tomorrow dawns, my brother's soul will be freed from the clutches of the Dark Side."
"Yeah, hopefully. I know for sure that every Jedi including myself will be hoping for the same thing."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Tekli smiled and gave a nod. She then realized the time and decided to bid farewell to Ben and Jaina. "Well, I better get going now. Me and Esmerelda's session starts in less than five minutes."
"Alright. See yah, Tekli." Said Jaina.
"Yeah, so long, Tekli. It was great talking with you." Said Ben.
"Likewise, Ben. Goodbye, you two." Replied Tekli. She then strolled past Jaina and Ben and made her way down the hall.