Chapter 5: Without the Approval of the Council if I Must.
Twelve sets of eyes were centered on Anakin Solo, yet he did not feel daunted by their stares, nor did he feel completely comfortable with them either. He had been encapsulated in the Yuuzhan Vong [i]oombassl[/i], a living equivalent of carbon freezing, when Uncle Luke had founded the New Order's High Council, and so was not accustomed to the way the governing body of the Jedi worked. He recognized several of the Jedi who sat on the High Council, but knew only Corran Horn and Kyp Durron well enough to gauge what their response would be. He felt that both Jedi Masters would understand Ben's plight, if not to the full extent that Anakin did. Ben's secret would have to be revealed for that, and the Solo family all agreed that this was not an option.
To either side of him stood Jacen and Jaina; behind him, his parents, Han and Leia, quietly lent their support. Although Han was not an actual member of the Jedi Order, he was often welcomed into the High Council, for not all those who sat on the Council could touch the Force. The room was circular, with floor to ceiling panels covering most of it, save for the entry way from the anteroom. The High Council sat in individualized chairs that formed an inner ring around the room, much like the old stories he had heard about legendary knights sitting at a round table, so that no one would be any more important then the other.
One chair that was in the direct center of the room and opposite from the entry doors was vacant, another memorial to the fact that Luke Skywalker was gone and that he could not be replaced. Luke had resigned from the High Council to spend more time with his son for training and otherwise. Of course, there had been little time before events had swept Ben and Anakin to Linnal, where the first strike against the Yuuzhan Vong to rile up undying resentment towards the members of this galaxy had taken place.
Anakin had been catapulted into a life that was changed beyond all his imagination, where the Yuuzhan Vong had become allies to the Republic, and the galaxy had aged and grown over fifteen years. The New Republic had settled down, the government stable with strong leadership from Chief of State Kuantin Tiv, and the firm basis of the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy. A far cry from the galaxy he could remember just a few months ago.
The changes weren't all external either. Anakin himself had changed in ways that he had yet to measure. He was more cautious then the seventeen-year- old had been, as if his mind now realized that he was no longer a child and had hastened to catch up with his body, leaving him feeling more often then not slightly off-kilter. Such an imbalance was dangerous inside a Jedi Knight, which he had been made upon his revival, and that too was a marked difference from the boy he had been less than a year ago.
As Anakin outlined the events of Ben's escape from the Temple, purposefully leaving out any details that might hint to Ben's abilities, the six non- Jedi members watched him with open objection. It struck Anakin now why Jacen had been so hesitant to bring this to the Council. There were certain things about the Jedi that could not be understood unless you yourself could touch the energy field. Some of the misunderstandings that he had with his father came from the same essence that now lead the non-Jedi to frown at Anakin's continuing story.
"So what you are saying, Jedi Solo, is that your apprentice left the Jedi Order, without provocation or permission, and kept you from stopping him?" the newest member of the High Council, Intoral Ller, a Senator from the planet Amppor III, a species which sported a round smooth head with barely a dimple of a nose and opening for a mouth, with eyes that stood on stalks that waved through the air, asked.
[i]Haven't you been listening?[/i] Anakin thought derisively, and instantly received a scowl from Jacen. He chose to ignore it. His brother had tried to be helpful with Ben, but that did not mean that everything between them was suddenly mended, and the continued admonishments that Jacen gave him did not help anything.
"Yes, Senator Ller. Ben is upset. He has just lost his father to the Sith, and feels that he is a danger to those around him if the Sith comes after him," which was partially true, if from a certain point of view.
"Are you sure that it was a Sith that struck Master Skywalker down?" Council Member Ller continued.
Anakin felt frustrated. How had his uncle managed to lead this Council of such a diverse group? Cocking a dark brown eyebrow, he asked, "Do you distrust Master Skywalker's word so easily? I would think that if he said it was Sith then that wouldn't be in question."
To either side of the vacant chair, Corran and Kyp nodded, they each had encountered the dead Sith Lord Exar Kun, and knew what havoc a Sith could raise. "Master Skywalker's word is above suspicion here," Kyp reminded the Council.
"What is it that you really want, Anakin?" Corran asked, trying to catch his eye. It was obvious that the Jedi Master was trying to tell him something, but Anakin could not figure out what.
Anakin sighed, grateful that they were finally coming to the point of this whole meeting. "That I be allowed to pursue Ben alone. Any involvement from the Order will make him feel even more caged in than he already is."
"Why would Ben feel caged, Anakin?" the Jedi Master Kyle Katarn asked.
That hit to close to the mark, and Anakin hurried to come up with an explanation. "Ben feels that he is in an unsolvable situation. If he stays here, the Sith will come for him and possibly endanger the lives of every Jedi in the Temple. If he leaves, he's out in the open, but at least it will keep the Temple safe."
Anakin's answer seemed to satisfy Katarn's curiosity, and Anakin breathed a sigh of relief.
But again, another Jedi entered into the conversation. This time Master Sebatyne, a Barabel Jedi that had suffered much loss during the first Yuuzhan Vong war. "Why do you suppose the Szith iz zo interezted in Ben?"
[i]That's the real trick isn't it[/i], Anakin thought. If he knew why this Lord Nefarion wanted Ben, it would be so much easier to thwart any attempt the man might make at capturing his cousin. But like the Sith himself, his intentions were cloaked in mystery.
"I couldn't say, Master Sebatyne. Ben is extraordinarily talented, and with the Skywalker heritage it wouldn't surprise me if we have become somewhat of an obsession for the Sith," Anakin answered off the top of his head. Again the Jedi side of the Council nodded, and the non- Jedis' frowns deepened.
Council Member Ller caught Anakin's attention with a gesture of his pincer hand. "Are you saying that Apprentice Skywalker's power makes him an object of desire for the Sith?"
"As would myself, my siblings, and my mother," Anakin countered, knowing where the Senator was heading with this.
"But the Sith you say is after Ben," Member Ller reminded.
"I don't presume to understand the workings of the Sith, Member Ller," Anakin retorted sharply. "Lord Nefarion said as much when he was dueling my uncle. Master Skywalker in turn asked that I watch after his son, it was his dying wish, one that I will not take lightly."
Kyp, seeing that Anakin's frustration was beginning to come through, decided to intercede before things got out of hand. "Does anyone have any answerable questions for Jedi Anakin?" That brought the High Council to silence; even Ller seemed chastened. "Then I would ask the Solo family to step outside and allow us to confer," Kyp said, with a bow in the direction of the Solos.
Once Anakin stepped out of the Council room, he let out his frustration. "That pompous, know-it-all, poodoo brained... Bantha," he said harshly under his breath. "Whoever let him on the Council must be a Tusken short of a tribe." He looked up to find all his family staring at him as though he himself had suddenly turned into one of the desert dwellers of Tatooine. "What?"
Han smiled one of the Solo crooked grins. "Now that's my boy," he claimed happily. Anakin couldn't help but smile back at him.
Leia gave them both a disapproving glare. "Senator Ller can be difficult, but it is just because he remembers what the Emperor did to the galaxy. And his viewpoint is exceptional."
"He's practically accusing your nephew of being in conspiracy with the Sith," Anakin argued. "How can you ignore that?"
"Because this is not the only time that I will be forced to work with the man, Anakin. He is difficult, but so are you on occasion," Leia said, with that twinkle in her eye that told him she was teasing... mostly.
The smile left Anakin's face as he turned to scrutinize his brother. "Is this why you were so worried about bringing it to the Council?"
Stroking his beard, Jacen nodded. "I've noticed them squeezing their hold on the Jedi since Uncle Luke's death. Mom's right, they don't want another Vader, and they're worried that you can't handle Ben."
"He's not a circus animal, Jacen," Anakin retorted, slightly stung by the assumption that he couldn't train his own cousin. "So if they do turn down my request, what will they do?"
"They'll most likely send out a group of their own picking to haul Ben back to the Temple. They want him to continue his training, they just want to keep their eyes on him at all times," Jacen answered.
"I'm his Master, his welfare depends on me," Anakin argued.
Jacen shook his head. "The Council supersedes that bond," he said, sounding as though he didn't totally agree with it.
"Not with me they don't." Anakin's gaze returned to Han. "Dad, I need a favor," Anakin said unexpectedly. "I need the [i]Falcon[/i]." He was asking a lot of his father, who treasured that ship and the many memories that were based upon it.
Han hesitated. "What are you planning, Anakin?"
"This is another one of your 'forgiveness is always easier then permission' operations, isn't it?" Jaina answered with a question, obviously remembering the time he went to rescue Tahiri on Yavin 4.
"We all agree that Ben is in trouble," Anakin said, receiving nods from the rest of the Solos. "Jacen, you saw him the other night. He's terrified out of his mind that he won't be able to change the future his visions show. Do you really think it would be good for him if a group of Jedi hoping to impress the Council go after him?"
Jacen didn't wait long to answer. "No, it would not."
"So we have to beat them to it," Anakin said.
Before they were signaled back into the Council room, Anakin outlined the plan that had been growing in his mind since he had exited the Council room. If the Council did turn his request down, and they needed to get to Ben before the other Jedi delegation, they would need something to distract the Council's puppets. With some heavy arguing on both sides, they finally came to a decision just as they were called back to face the Council. Together, the Solo family came to the center of the room.
One look at Corran and Kyp, and Anakin knew that his request had been thwarted by Senator Ller. Corran shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Anakin, you are new to the way things work in this Order, so I feel obligated to clarify something for you. In order for a request to be accepted, seventy percent of the Council must agree on it. Your request does not meet that amount."
"I see," Anakin answered simply, trying hard not to lash out at the Council, who were only doing what they thought was best. He thought if Senator Ller only knew Ben as well as he did that there would be no question of the true intent of the boy's heart.
Next to him, Jacen stiffened. "And what about Ben?"
"The Council will compile a group to track down Apprentice Skywalker, and bring him back to the Temple, where he can continue his training under the direction of Master Anakin," Kyp said, although with obvious trepidation. He did not like this any more than the Solos.
Senator Ller sat up in his seat. "Neither you, Master Anakin, nor any member of your family is to interfere with their progress in locating Apprentice Skywalker."
"May the Force be with you," Kyp said, by way of breaking up the session without further awkwardness.
As the Solos exited the Council room, each bowing in deference to the High Members, they split up, each knowing their part in the contingency plan to save Ben Skywalker.
[hr][/hr]
Corran waited for most of the day before going to see Anakin Solo in his lone dormitory. He did not want it to look overly conspicuous, and was careful that he was not spotted by anyone who might report his presence to another member of the Council. Lightly, he rapped his knuckles against Anakin's door, hoping the young Jedi was in his room at this time of day. He was rewarded a minute later when the door hissed open and Anakin looked confusedly at him.
"Corran, what's up?" he said, trying to sound casual, despite the fact that Corran could see from the scattered items on Anakin's bed that the younger Jedi was packing.
With another quick glance around the corridor, Corran asked, "Can I come in? There's something we need to discuss."
Suspicion colored Anakin's ice-blue eyes, but after a moment he opened the door further and let Corran in. As he suspected, Anakin was preparing to leave the Temple against the Council's orders, and Corran was relieved. He couldn't be angry with the way the Council had chosen, but he knew it was wrong, so he wanted to offer any assistance to Anakin that he could.
"Don't mind the mess. I'm still trying to get everything organized here," Anakin said, lamely explaining away the piles of tunics and leggings covering his bed.
"I know what you're doing Anakin," Corran announced without preamble. "I just don't quite understand why. There was something you were hiding from us in that Council room. Did it have anything to do with a vision Ben saw?"
If it had been possible, Anakin's chin would have hit the floor. "You know that Ben is a seer?"
Corran nodded. "Your uncle told me shortly after your return." When he saw the panic in Anakin's eyes he was quick to continue. "He swore me to secrecy, and I will keep my word as a Corellian. The Council will not find out about Ben's ability until you deem it so."
The younger Jedi deflated in relief, and slumped onto his bed with evident exaggeration. "Since Linnal, Ben has been seeing visions of his older self. In them he has gone over to the Dark Side, and is ruling a mass of Yuuzhan Vong upon the top of the Temple. He left last night so that he could stop this vision from coming true, but if that does not work I'm afraid he'll go to extremes."
"Which explains why you want to beat the Council's team. They may push him to those extremes if he doesn't see any other choice," Corran put the pieces together. He had not been on Bellalt when the Master had been struck down, but his son, Valin, had been. Valin had explained the events as best to his knowledge, and the aftermath had been no more heartbreaking. After a valiant attempt to save his father, Ben had passed out, both from a head injury and an excessive use of the Force, and was nearly unreachable for the next standard day. It was the first time that Valin had ever spoken of Ben without sounding derisive or derogatory, and Corran had been relieved that his son had finally seen Ben in a different light.
"What can I do to help?" Corran asked. In his mind, Corran had never been able to repay the Master for his help in rescuing Mirax upon their first meeting so many years ago; if stopping Ben from being found by the Council group first was the pay back, he'd gladly offer it.
Anakin shook his head, however. "I don't want to get you involved in this, Corran. It doesn't do much good for the stability of the Order if one of its High Council Members goes against the wishes of the Council."
"They're not stable right now. I don't think anyone realized how much we depended on Luke's insight, Anakin. He could diffuse any disagreements within the Council so that we generally came out in a unanimous decision every time. Now that he's gone, we're like baby Calamarians on dry land," Corran explained. "This needs to be done."
Slowly a smile crept onto Anakin's face. "Some things never change, do they Corran. I'm still reckless and you're still backing me up."
"Not so reckless anymore, my friend," Corran countered with a return smile. "So what do you need of me?"
"Well, Jaina was going to do her best to lead the Council astray, but if we had another person zipping around the galaxy in the opposite direction as I am, it would make my job a whole lot easier," Anakin explained. "What's Valin up to these days?"
Corran caught on to Anakin's plan almost immediately. Although their coloring was very different, and facial features nothing alike, Valin and Ben were around the same height, easily dwarfed by Anakin's large frame. "He's been itching to get out of the Temple," Corran reported.
"I think I might be able to help him with that," Anakin assured the Jedi Master. He grew solemn though. "As much as I know this has to be done, I still don't like going behind the High Council's back."
"Give them time, Anakin. They need to find their footing just as much as you and Ben do," Corran said. "Just be grateful you don't have to deal with them on a daily basis," he joked.
"Force forbid," Anakin said with an exaggerated flair.
[hr][/hr]
It was late in Corsucant's night cycle when Anakin crept out of his dormitory and toward the berthed [i]Millenium Falcon[/i]. He had selected his Dad's ship because he wouldn't have to go through any of the Order's people to get clearance for take off. His mother had recorded her voice into Threepio, something she had done during the Thrawn campaign when the insane Jedi Master C'boath was after her and her unborn children, so that he could play it for Coruscant's traffic controller. Han and Leia had argued strongly to come along, but Anakin had won over with the fact that the less missing Solos the better. It wouldn't take long for the High Council to notice that Anakin had gone missing, especially when Jacen went in to teach his class in the morning.
Jaina had already gone out in her X-wing under the pretense that she had been called by Chief of State Tiv, which she had been thanks to a little communication with Chief Tiv. It was only a matter of time before the High Council figured out that Anakin had so deftly out-maneuvered them; perhaps he had been picking up a little of Ben's strategic mind, and Anakin hoped to find Ben and return in remarkable time.
It wasn't but a few minutes out that Anakin realized he was being followed, although the mind of his pursuer was doing a good job of shielding him out. Anakin searched his surroundings. He'd rather deal with his pursuer now than have to worry about them tracking him in his attempt to find Ben. Spotting an alcove that in the darkness looked like nothing more than the rest of the wall, Anakin stashed himself into it without quickening his pace. It was heartbeats later that he heard the sound of approaching bootsteps, then they came to a halt as his pursuer looked around confusedly for him. He could only see a thin outline in the lightless corridor, and determined that the being was human.
After a moment of deliberation, his pursuer started to move towards the alcove but passed it as Anakin held his breath. As soon as his pursuer passed the alcove completely, Anakin reached out and grabbed the being. Instantly his pursuer began to struggle and Anakin was surprised at the strength inside such a slight frame. The being was trying to throw Anakin off, but the Jedi Knight turned the force of his pursuer's attempt against the being and sent the slight frame flat on its back. Anakin was on his pursuer instantly, grabbing flailing arms and pinning them to the ground.
"Don't you know you shouldn't try to surprise a Jedi?" Anakin hissed.
The being stopped struggling. "Hello, Anakin," a soft ironic voice floated up to him, a voice that belonged to a petite girl with fire in her dark brown eyes.
"Analsa, what are you doing?" he asked, hastening to get off of her at the same time as helping her off the Temple stone.
He couldn't see the girl's face, but he imagined that it was screwed up in anger, if the tone of her voice was any indication. "I could ask you the same thing," she shot back. "Is it your custom to throw down anyone who you cross in the Temple?"
"It is when they're sneaking up on me," Anakin answered with just as much fire. At times it seemed Analsa knew all the right buttons to push inside of him.
"I wasn't sneaking up on you. I was trying to catch up to find out what in the galaxy you were doing," Analsa replied testily. "You haven't spoken to me since Bellalt, and now you're sneaking away in the middle of the night."
Anakin tried to keep his patience in check. He hadn't spoken with Analsa, that was true. He felt he needed to gain some distance with the girl, considering that she could have been killed on Bellalt, and had hoped that another Knight would take up her training. Unfortunately, that had not happened yet. It had been a mistake to take upon so much of her training to begin with, of course she would become attached to a teacher who focused on her so intensely. He had also felt obligated to distance himself because he was now Ben's Master and needed to center his energies on training his young cousin. Still, he had missed Analsa, and was glad to finally get to speak with her.
"Analsa, it wasn't anything personal, I've just been busy. But you should go back to your room. If anyone else were to catch you this late, the High Council would not be pleased," Anakin instructed. As much as he wished to speak with her and smooth out everything, he didn't have the time.
In the shadow of the darkness he saw Analsa's arms cross over her chest. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on." He had seen this same stubbornness on Bellalt, when he had tried to get her to stay with the troop carrier after she had already stowed aboard. There had been no defense against it then, and there was no defense against it now. Analsa made him realize more and more than ever just exactly what his father had meant when he said women were the impossible gender.
Sighing, he once again took his leave towards the Falcon, pulling Analsa along with him. "I'll tell you if you promise to go back to your room as soon as I finish."
"I'm not a child, Anakin. You can't treat me as one," she snapped, throwing his arm off her elbow at the same time. Bellalt had proven that she was far from a child, her skills in the midst of battle and the way the Force directed her had impressed him. She was younger than him, in a fashion, and he did feel the need to protect her as he did Ben, but she was not a child as Ben was. At twenty-one she was more than able to take care of herself. In fact, there was something in her eyes, when Anakin could see them, that gave off a sense of haunting that didn't belong with the rest of the young woman, making her seem older than she really was.
With the understanding that he would now have to take her along with him, Anakin started once again for his father's ship. "Ben has run away from the Temple. I'm going to retrieve him if I can."
"Well, then, I'm going with you," Analsa insisted.
Although Anakin had been keeping his distance, he had noted that Analsa had been even more observant of his cousin since Luke's death, despite the fact that Anakin had always gotten the impression that the young woman didn't care for his cousin. "I'd rather you didn't. You need to concentrate on your training."
"You can teach me on the way," Analsa retorted with confidence, obviously having already planned out everything. "I learn the best from you anyhow."
That buoyed Anakin's spirits, having not quite recovered from the fact that no one thought he could train Ben. Of course, his record wasn't exactly comforting at this point. "Alright, I'll allow it, under one condition."
There was enough moonlight coming from one of the windows to let him see her smile, casting her beautiful face into a ghostly shadow. "Name it?"
"You do exactly what I tell you when I tell you. Although this mission will not be dangerous, it could be for Ben," Anakin said, not a bit of humor in his voice. "I mean it, Analsa. If not, I'll sound the alarm and have half the Order on your hide."
A hand shot out at him, and she said, "Deal."
"Deal," Anakin reiterated, shaking the hand and catching a glimpse at his chrono in the process. "Now come on."
Together they made it to the [i]Falcon[/i] without any problems, but what they found there caused Anakin to sigh in defeat. [i]Does everyone know what I'm up to?[/i] he asked the Force.
"Cherrz, what are you doing here?" Anakin demanded, not caring to be diplomatic with the Yuuzhan Vong Jedi student. He and Analsa could pass as brother or sister, or if need be husband and wife, but he didn't know how often a Yuuzhan Vong traveled with Jedi around the galaxy. He didn't want to draw attention to him, especially if Ben was looking out for him, but he had a sinking feeling that he would now have a party of three rather than the solo mission he had planned on.
"Master Horn told me to wander over here tonight," Cherrz said, confused by Anakin's antagonistic tone.
[i]Blast it, Corran, what are you playing at?[/i] "Alright, everybody aboard." As Cherrz began to question, Anakin cut him off with a raised hand. "I'll explain everything on the [i]Falcon[/i]."
"What about Ben?" Cherrz asked.
"He's the reason we're taking off," Anakin answered, literally pushing the Yuuzhan Vong and Analsa up the ramp of the [i]Falcon[/i].
Once up, Anakin spotted Threepio, who was slumped in the gaming table's bank of cushions, most likely switched off by Han when he had brought old 'Golden Rod' in after the programming to allow the protocol droid to sound like Leia. Reaching back to the neck switch, Anakin powered the droid on. Golden light came form the previously darkened eye sockets, and Threepio's head cocked upward at him with the jerky motions of mechanicals. "Master Anakin, how wonderful it is to see you fully functioning again."
"Thanks, Threepio," Anakin said wryly. "Ready to become a famous Princess of Alderaan?"
"Oh, yes, Master Anakin," Threepio chimed. Suddenly, his head cocked past Anakin and was it the young Jedi's imagination or did the light in those photoreceptors brighten as if in surprise as Threepio spotted Dorsca Cherrz? "Oh."
"Don't worry, Threepio. He's on our side," Anakin assured the droid. Helping the protocol droid to his feet, he rushed them into the cockpit, where there was just enough seating for the three Jedi and the protocol droid. "Ben's trajectory is heading for the Rimma Trade Route, which is close to Naboo. I know he's been there before, so that will be the first stop," Anakin explained as he started the preflight sequence for the [i]Falcon[/i], making sure to do it in the new order Han had designated for security. If someone did it in the wrong order, Anakin knew from boyhood experience that the [i]Falcon[/i] would go into shut down and he'd be locked in for the better part of the night.
Analsa stiffened beside him. "Naboo?"
He suddenly remembered that was where Analsa had said she had been born, before her parents had immigrated to Bimmissari. "Yeah, is that a problem?"
"No, no problem. Why would there be a problem?" And the tone of her voice told Anakin that there was.
Still, he wasn't about to delve into her personal life, she was here as a favor to him, if in a weak sense, and he didn't want to be distracted by anything but finding Ben. There would be another time to discover Analsa's qualms with her home planet. "Strap in, everybody," he announced.
The Falcon's engines whirred to life, and Anakin smiled at the sense of home it brought to his mind. "Threepio, you ready?"
"Yes, Master Anakin," the droid piped in, this time sounding exactly like Anakin's mother.
Switching the comm system over to the Temple traffic control, which was also for the rest of Coruscant, Anakin motioned Threepio forward. "Yes, this is Jedi Organa Solo, my husband has made some repairs that must be adjusted in flight, and we will be breaking atmosphere during that time."
"Understood, Jedi Organa Solo, keep to your assigned flight path," the traffic controller ordered.
Anakin quickly switched it off, not wanting to give the controller any time to reconsider and check orders with the Council. [i]This is where the fun begins[/i], one of his father's favorite sayings came to mind.
"Coordinates set?" he questioned Analsa.
"It's now or never."
"Punch it."
With a burst of pseudomotion, the Falcon leapt into hyperspace.
Twelve sets of eyes were centered on Anakin Solo, yet he did not feel daunted by their stares, nor did he feel completely comfortable with them either. He had been encapsulated in the Yuuzhan Vong [i]oombassl[/i], a living equivalent of carbon freezing, when Uncle Luke had founded the New Order's High Council, and so was not accustomed to the way the governing body of the Jedi worked. He recognized several of the Jedi who sat on the High Council, but knew only Corran Horn and Kyp Durron well enough to gauge what their response would be. He felt that both Jedi Masters would understand Ben's plight, if not to the full extent that Anakin did. Ben's secret would have to be revealed for that, and the Solo family all agreed that this was not an option.
To either side of him stood Jacen and Jaina; behind him, his parents, Han and Leia, quietly lent their support. Although Han was not an actual member of the Jedi Order, he was often welcomed into the High Council, for not all those who sat on the Council could touch the Force. The room was circular, with floor to ceiling panels covering most of it, save for the entry way from the anteroom. The High Council sat in individualized chairs that formed an inner ring around the room, much like the old stories he had heard about legendary knights sitting at a round table, so that no one would be any more important then the other.
One chair that was in the direct center of the room and opposite from the entry doors was vacant, another memorial to the fact that Luke Skywalker was gone and that he could not be replaced. Luke had resigned from the High Council to spend more time with his son for training and otherwise. Of course, there had been little time before events had swept Ben and Anakin to Linnal, where the first strike against the Yuuzhan Vong to rile up undying resentment towards the members of this galaxy had taken place.
Anakin had been catapulted into a life that was changed beyond all his imagination, where the Yuuzhan Vong had become allies to the Republic, and the galaxy had aged and grown over fifteen years. The New Republic had settled down, the government stable with strong leadership from Chief of State Kuantin Tiv, and the firm basis of the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy. A far cry from the galaxy he could remember just a few months ago.
The changes weren't all external either. Anakin himself had changed in ways that he had yet to measure. He was more cautious then the seventeen-year- old had been, as if his mind now realized that he was no longer a child and had hastened to catch up with his body, leaving him feeling more often then not slightly off-kilter. Such an imbalance was dangerous inside a Jedi Knight, which he had been made upon his revival, and that too was a marked difference from the boy he had been less than a year ago.
As Anakin outlined the events of Ben's escape from the Temple, purposefully leaving out any details that might hint to Ben's abilities, the six non- Jedi members watched him with open objection. It struck Anakin now why Jacen had been so hesitant to bring this to the Council. There were certain things about the Jedi that could not be understood unless you yourself could touch the energy field. Some of the misunderstandings that he had with his father came from the same essence that now lead the non-Jedi to frown at Anakin's continuing story.
"So what you are saying, Jedi Solo, is that your apprentice left the Jedi Order, without provocation or permission, and kept you from stopping him?" the newest member of the High Council, Intoral Ller, a Senator from the planet Amppor III, a species which sported a round smooth head with barely a dimple of a nose and opening for a mouth, with eyes that stood on stalks that waved through the air, asked.
[i]Haven't you been listening?[/i] Anakin thought derisively, and instantly received a scowl from Jacen. He chose to ignore it. His brother had tried to be helpful with Ben, but that did not mean that everything between them was suddenly mended, and the continued admonishments that Jacen gave him did not help anything.
"Yes, Senator Ller. Ben is upset. He has just lost his father to the Sith, and feels that he is a danger to those around him if the Sith comes after him," which was partially true, if from a certain point of view.
"Are you sure that it was a Sith that struck Master Skywalker down?" Council Member Ller continued.
Anakin felt frustrated. How had his uncle managed to lead this Council of such a diverse group? Cocking a dark brown eyebrow, he asked, "Do you distrust Master Skywalker's word so easily? I would think that if he said it was Sith then that wouldn't be in question."
To either side of the vacant chair, Corran and Kyp nodded, they each had encountered the dead Sith Lord Exar Kun, and knew what havoc a Sith could raise. "Master Skywalker's word is above suspicion here," Kyp reminded the Council.
"What is it that you really want, Anakin?" Corran asked, trying to catch his eye. It was obvious that the Jedi Master was trying to tell him something, but Anakin could not figure out what.
Anakin sighed, grateful that they were finally coming to the point of this whole meeting. "That I be allowed to pursue Ben alone. Any involvement from the Order will make him feel even more caged in than he already is."
"Why would Ben feel caged, Anakin?" the Jedi Master Kyle Katarn asked.
That hit to close to the mark, and Anakin hurried to come up with an explanation. "Ben feels that he is in an unsolvable situation. If he stays here, the Sith will come for him and possibly endanger the lives of every Jedi in the Temple. If he leaves, he's out in the open, but at least it will keep the Temple safe."
Anakin's answer seemed to satisfy Katarn's curiosity, and Anakin breathed a sigh of relief.
But again, another Jedi entered into the conversation. This time Master Sebatyne, a Barabel Jedi that had suffered much loss during the first Yuuzhan Vong war. "Why do you suppose the Szith iz zo interezted in Ben?"
[i]That's the real trick isn't it[/i], Anakin thought. If he knew why this Lord Nefarion wanted Ben, it would be so much easier to thwart any attempt the man might make at capturing his cousin. But like the Sith himself, his intentions were cloaked in mystery.
"I couldn't say, Master Sebatyne. Ben is extraordinarily talented, and with the Skywalker heritage it wouldn't surprise me if we have become somewhat of an obsession for the Sith," Anakin answered off the top of his head. Again the Jedi side of the Council nodded, and the non- Jedis' frowns deepened.
Council Member Ller caught Anakin's attention with a gesture of his pincer hand. "Are you saying that Apprentice Skywalker's power makes him an object of desire for the Sith?"
"As would myself, my siblings, and my mother," Anakin countered, knowing where the Senator was heading with this.
"But the Sith you say is after Ben," Member Ller reminded.
"I don't presume to understand the workings of the Sith, Member Ller," Anakin retorted sharply. "Lord Nefarion said as much when he was dueling my uncle. Master Skywalker in turn asked that I watch after his son, it was his dying wish, one that I will not take lightly."
Kyp, seeing that Anakin's frustration was beginning to come through, decided to intercede before things got out of hand. "Does anyone have any answerable questions for Jedi Anakin?" That brought the High Council to silence; even Ller seemed chastened. "Then I would ask the Solo family to step outside and allow us to confer," Kyp said, with a bow in the direction of the Solos.
Once Anakin stepped out of the Council room, he let out his frustration. "That pompous, know-it-all, poodoo brained... Bantha," he said harshly under his breath. "Whoever let him on the Council must be a Tusken short of a tribe." He looked up to find all his family staring at him as though he himself had suddenly turned into one of the desert dwellers of Tatooine. "What?"
Han smiled one of the Solo crooked grins. "Now that's my boy," he claimed happily. Anakin couldn't help but smile back at him.
Leia gave them both a disapproving glare. "Senator Ller can be difficult, but it is just because he remembers what the Emperor did to the galaxy. And his viewpoint is exceptional."
"He's practically accusing your nephew of being in conspiracy with the Sith," Anakin argued. "How can you ignore that?"
"Because this is not the only time that I will be forced to work with the man, Anakin. He is difficult, but so are you on occasion," Leia said, with that twinkle in her eye that told him she was teasing... mostly.
The smile left Anakin's face as he turned to scrutinize his brother. "Is this why you were so worried about bringing it to the Council?"
Stroking his beard, Jacen nodded. "I've noticed them squeezing their hold on the Jedi since Uncle Luke's death. Mom's right, they don't want another Vader, and they're worried that you can't handle Ben."
"He's not a circus animal, Jacen," Anakin retorted, slightly stung by the assumption that he couldn't train his own cousin. "So if they do turn down my request, what will they do?"
"They'll most likely send out a group of their own picking to haul Ben back to the Temple. They want him to continue his training, they just want to keep their eyes on him at all times," Jacen answered.
"I'm his Master, his welfare depends on me," Anakin argued.
Jacen shook his head. "The Council supersedes that bond," he said, sounding as though he didn't totally agree with it.
"Not with me they don't." Anakin's gaze returned to Han. "Dad, I need a favor," Anakin said unexpectedly. "I need the [i]Falcon[/i]." He was asking a lot of his father, who treasured that ship and the many memories that were based upon it.
Han hesitated. "What are you planning, Anakin?"
"This is another one of your 'forgiveness is always easier then permission' operations, isn't it?" Jaina answered with a question, obviously remembering the time he went to rescue Tahiri on Yavin 4.
"We all agree that Ben is in trouble," Anakin said, receiving nods from the rest of the Solos. "Jacen, you saw him the other night. He's terrified out of his mind that he won't be able to change the future his visions show. Do you really think it would be good for him if a group of Jedi hoping to impress the Council go after him?"
Jacen didn't wait long to answer. "No, it would not."
"So we have to beat them to it," Anakin said.
Before they were signaled back into the Council room, Anakin outlined the plan that had been growing in his mind since he had exited the Council room. If the Council did turn his request down, and they needed to get to Ben before the other Jedi delegation, they would need something to distract the Council's puppets. With some heavy arguing on both sides, they finally came to a decision just as they were called back to face the Council. Together, the Solo family came to the center of the room.
One look at Corran and Kyp, and Anakin knew that his request had been thwarted by Senator Ller. Corran shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Anakin, you are new to the way things work in this Order, so I feel obligated to clarify something for you. In order for a request to be accepted, seventy percent of the Council must agree on it. Your request does not meet that amount."
"I see," Anakin answered simply, trying hard not to lash out at the Council, who were only doing what they thought was best. He thought if Senator Ller only knew Ben as well as he did that there would be no question of the true intent of the boy's heart.
Next to him, Jacen stiffened. "And what about Ben?"
"The Council will compile a group to track down Apprentice Skywalker, and bring him back to the Temple, where he can continue his training under the direction of Master Anakin," Kyp said, although with obvious trepidation. He did not like this any more than the Solos.
Senator Ller sat up in his seat. "Neither you, Master Anakin, nor any member of your family is to interfere with their progress in locating Apprentice Skywalker."
"May the Force be with you," Kyp said, by way of breaking up the session without further awkwardness.
As the Solos exited the Council room, each bowing in deference to the High Members, they split up, each knowing their part in the contingency plan to save Ben Skywalker.
[hr][/hr]
Corran waited for most of the day before going to see Anakin Solo in his lone dormitory. He did not want it to look overly conspicuous, and was careful that he was not spotted by anyone who might report his presence to another member of the Council. Lightly, he rapped his knuckles against Anakin's door, hoping the young Jedi was in his room at this time of day. He was rewarded a minute later when the door hissed open and Anakin looked confusedly at him.
"Corran, what's up?" he said, trying to sound casual, despite the fact that Corran could see from the scattered items on Anakin's bed that the younger Jedi was packing.
With another quick glance around the corridor, Corran asked, "Can I come in? There's something we need to discuss."
Suspicion colored Anakin's ice-blue eyes, but after a moment he opened the door further and let Corran in. As he suspected, Anakin was preparing to leave the Temple against the Council's orders, and Corran was relieved. He couldn't be angry with the way the Council had chosen, but he knew it was wrong, so he wanted to offer any assistance to Anakin that he could.
"Don't mind the mess. I'm still trying to get everything organized here," Anakin said, lamely explaining away the piles of tunics and leggings covering his bed.
"I know what you're doing Anakin," Corran announced without preamble. "I just don't quite understand why. There was something you were hiding from us in that Council room. Did it have anything to do with a vision Ben saw?"
If it had been possible, Anakin's chin would have hit the floor. "You know that Ben is a seer?"
Corran nodded. "Your uncle told me shortly after your return." When he saw the panic in Anakin's eyes he was quick to continue. "He swore me to secrecy, and I will keep my word as a Corellian. The Council will not find out about Ben's ability until you deem it so."
The younger Jedi deflated in relief, and slumped onto his bed with evident exaggeration. "Since Linnal, Ben has been seeing visions of his older self. In them he has gone over to the Dark Side, and is ruling a mass of Yuuzhan Vong upon the top of the Temple. He left last night so that he could stop this vision from coming true, but if that does not work I'm afraid he'll go to extremes."
"Which explains why you want to beat the Council's team. They may push him to those extremes if he doesn't see any other choice," Corran put the pieces together. He had not been on Bellalt when the Master had been struck down, but his son, Valin, had been. Valin had explained the events as best to his knowledge, and the aftermath had been no more heartbreaking. After a valiant attempt to save his father, Ben had passed out, both from a head injury and an excessive use of the Force, and was nearly unreachable for the next standard day. It was the first time that Valin had ever spoken of Ben without sounding derisive or derogatory, and Corran had been relieved that his son had finally seen Ben in a different light.
"What can I do to help?" Corran asked. In his mind, Corran had never been able to repay the Master for his help in rescuing Mirax upon their first meeting so many years ago; if stopping Ben from being found by the Council group first was the pay back, he'd gladly offer it.
Anakin shook his head, however. "I don't want to get you involved in this, Corran. It doesn't do much good for the stability of the Order if one of its High Council Members goes against the wishes of the Council."
"They're not stable right now. I don't think anyone realized how much we depended on Luke's insight, Anakin. He could diffuse any disagreements within the Council so that we generally came out in a unanimous decision every time. Now that he's gone, we're like baby Calamarians on dry land," Corran explained. "This needs to be done."
Slowly a smile crept onto Anakin's face. "Some things never change, do they Corran. I'm still reckless and you're still backing me up."
"Not so reckless anymore, my friend," Corran countered with a return smile. "So what do you need of me?"
"Well, Jaina was going to do her best to lead the Council astray, but if we had another person zipping around the galaxy in the opposite direction as I am, it would make my job a whole lot easier," Anakin explained. "What's Valin up to these days?"
Corran caught on to Anakin's plan almost immediately. Although their coloring was very different, and facial features nothing alike, Valin and Ben were around the same height, easily dwarfed by Anakin's large frame. "He's been itching to get out of the Temple," Corran reported.
"I think I might be able to help him with that," Anakin assured the Jedi Master. He grew solemn though. "As much as I know this has to be done, I still don't like going behind the High Council's back."
"Give them time, Anakin. They need to find their footing just as much as you and Ben do," Corran said. "Just be grateful you don't have to deal with them on a daily basis," he joked.
"Force forbid," Anakin said with an exaggerated flair.
[hr][/hr]
It was late in Corsucant's night cycle when Anakin crept out of his dormitory and toward the berthed [i]Millenium Falcon[/i]. He had selected his Dad's ship because he wouldn't have to go through any of the Order's people to get clearance for take off. His mother had recorded her voice into Threepio, something she had done during the Thrawn campaign when the insane Jedi Master C'boath was after her and her unborn children, so that he could play it for Coruscant's traffic controller. Han and Leia had argued strongly to come along, but Anakin had won over with the fact that the less missing Solos the better. It wouldn't take long for the High Council to notice that Anakin had gone missing, especially when Jacen went in to teach his class in the morning.
Jaina had already gone out in her X-wing under the pretense that she had been called by Chief of State Tiv, which she had been thanks to a little communication with Chief Tiv. It was only a matter of time before the High Council figured out that Anakin had so deftly out-maneuvered them; perhaps he had been picking up a little of Ben's strategic mind, and Anakin hoped to find Ben and return in remarkable time.
It wasn't but a few minutes out that Anakin realized he was being followed, although the mind of his pursuer was doing a good job of shielding him out. Anakin searched his surroundings. He'd rather deal with his pursuer now than have to worry about them tracking him in his attempt to find Ben. Spotting an alcove that in the darkness looked like nothing more than the rest of the wall, Anakin stashed himself into it without quickening his pace. It was heartbeats later that he heard the sound of approaching bootsteps, then they came to a halt as his pursuer looked around confusedly for him. He could only see a thin outline in the lightless corridor, and determined that the being was human.
After a moment of deliberation, his pursuer started to move towards the alcove but passed it as Anakin held his breath. As soon as his pursuer passed the alcove completely, Anakin reached out and grabbed the being. Instantly his pursuer began to struggle and Anakin was surprised at the strength inside such a slight frame. The being was trying to throw Anakin off, but the Jedi Knight turned the force of his pursuer's attempt against the being and sent the slight frame flat on its back. Anakin was on his pursuer instantly, grabbing flailing arms and pinning them to the ground.
"Don't you know you shouldn't try to surprise a Jedi?" Anakin hissed.
The being stopped struggling. "Hello, Anakin," a soft ironic voice floated up to him, a voice that belonged to a petite girl with fire in her dark brown eyes.
"Analsa, what are you doing?" he asked, hastening to get off of her at the same time as helping her off the Temple stone.
He couldn't see the girl's face, but he imagined that it was screwed up in anger, if the tone of her voice was any indication. "I could ask you the same thing," she shot back. "Is it your custom to throw down anyone who you cross in the Temple?"
"It is when they're sneaking up on me," Anakin answered with just as much fire. At times it seemed Analsa knew all the right buttons to push inside of him.
"I wasn't sneaking up on you. I was trying to catch up to find out what in the galaxy you were doing," Analsa replied testily. "You haven't spoken to me since Bellalt, and now you're sneaking away in the middle of the night."
Anakin tried to keep his patience in check. He hadn't spoken with Analsa, that was true. He felt he needed to gain some distance with the girl, considering that she could have been killed on Bellalt, and had hoped that another Knight would take up her training. Unfortunately, that had not happened yet. It had been a mistake to take upon so much of her training to begin with, of course she would become attached to a teacher who focused on her so intensely. He had also felt obligated to distance himself because he was now Ben's Master and needed to center his energies on training his young cousin. Still, he had missed Analsa, and was glad to finally get to speak with her.
"Analsa, it wasn't anything personal, I've just been busy. But you should go back to your room. If anyone else were to catch you this late, the High Council would not be pleased," Anakin instructed. As much as he wished to speak with her and smooth out everything, he didn't have the time.
In the shadow of the darkness he saw Analsa's arms cross over her chest. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on." He had seen this same stubbornness on Bellalt, when he had tried to get her to stay with the troop carrier after she had already stowed aboard. There had been no defense against it then, and there was no defense against it now. Analsa made him realize more and more than ever just exactly what his father had meant when he said women were the impossible gender.
Sighing, he once again took his leave towards the Falcon, pulling Analsa along with him. "I'll tell you if you promise to go back to your room as soon as I finish."
"I'm not a child, Anakin. You can't treat me as one," she snapped, throwing his arm off her elbow at the same time. Bellalt had proven that she was far from a child, her skills in the midst of battle and the way the Force directed her had impressed him. She was younger than him, in a fashion, and he did feel the need to protect her as he did Ben, but she was not a child as Ben was. At twenty-one she was more than able to take care of herself. In fact, there was something in her eyes, when Anakin could see them, that gave off a sense of haunting that didn't belong with the rest of the young woman, making her seem older than she really was.
With the understanding that he would now have to take her along with him, Anakin started once again for his father's ship. "Ben has run away from the Temple. I'm going to retrieve him if I can."
"Well, then, I'm going with you," Analsa insisted.
Although Anakin had been keeping his distance, he had noted that Analsa had been even more observant of his cousin since Luke's death, despite the fact that Anakin had always gotten the impression that the young woman didn't care for his cousin. "I'd rather you didn't. You need to concentrate on your training."
"You can teach me on the way," Analsa retorted with confidence, obviously having already planned out everything. "I learn the best from you anyhow."
That buoyed Anakin's spirits, having not quite recovered from the fact that no one thought he could train Ben. Of course, his record wasn't exactly comforting at this point. "Alright, I'll allow it, under one condition."
There was enough moonlight coming from one of the windows to let him see her smile, casting her beautiful face into a ghostly shadow. "Name it?"
"You do exactly what I tell you when I tell you. Although this mission will not be dangerous, it could be for Ben," Anakin said, not a bit of humor in his voice. "I mean it, Analsa. If not, I'll sound the alarm and have half the Order on your hide."
A hand shot out at him, and she said, "Deal."
"Deal," Anakin reiterated, shaking the hand and catching a glimpse at his chrono in the process. "Now come on."
Together they made it to the [i]Falcon[/i] without any problems, but what they found there caused Anakin to sigh in defeat. [i]Does everyone know what I'm up to?[/i] he asked the Force.
"Cherrz, what are you doing here?" Anakin demanded, not caring to be diplomatic with the Yuuzhan Vong Jedi student. He and Analsa could pass as brother or sister, or if need be husband and wife, but he didn't know how often a Yuuzhan Vong traveled with Jedi around the galaxy. He didn't want to draw attention to him, especially if Ben was looking out for him, but he had a sinking feeling that he would now have a party of three rather than the solo mission he had planned on.
"Master Horn told me to wander over here tonight," Cherrz said, confused by Anakin's antagonistic tone.
[i]Blast it, Corran, what are you playing at?[/i] "Alright, everybody aboard." As Cherrz began to question, Anakin cut him off with a raised hand. "I'll explain everything on the [i]Falcon[/i]."
"What about Ben?" Cherrz asked.
"He's the reason we're taking off," Anakin answered, literally pushing the Yuuzhan Vong and Analsa up the ramp of the [i]Falcon[/i].
Once up, Anakin spotted Threepio, who was slumped in the gaming table's bank of cushions, most likely switched off by Han when he had brought old 'Golden Rod' in after the programming to allow the protocol droid to sound like Leia. Reaching back to the neck switch, Anakin powered the droid on. Golden light came form the previously darkened eye sockets, and Threepio's head cocked upward at him with the jerky motions of mechanicals. "Master Anakin, how wonderful it is to see you fully functioning again."
"Thanks, Threepio," Anakin said wryly. "Ready to become a famous Princess of Alderaan?"
"Oh, yes, Master Anakin," Threepio chimed. Suddenly, his head cocked past Anakin and was it the young Jedi's imagination or did the light in those photoreceptors brighten as if in surprise as Threepio spotted Dorsca Cherrz? "Oh."
"Don't worry, Threepio. He's on our side," Anakin assured the droid. Helping the protocol droid to his feet, he rushed them into the cockpit, where there was just enough seating for the three Jedi and the protocol droid. "Ben's trajectory is heading for the Rimma Trade Route, which is close to Naboo. I know he's been there before, so that will be the first stop," Anakin explained as he started the preflight sequence for the [i]Falcon[/i], making sure to do it in the new order Han had designated for security. If someone did it in the wrong order, Anakin knew from boyhood experience that the [i]Falcon[/i] would go into shut down and he'd be locked in for the better part of the night.
Analsa stiffened beside him. "Naboo?"
He suddenly remembered that was where Analsa had said she had been born, before her parents had immigrated to Bimmissari. "Yeah, is that a problem?"
"No, no problem. Why would there be a problem?" And the tone of her voice told Anakin that there was.
Still, he wasn't about to delve into her personal life, she was here as a favor to him, if in a weak sense, and he didn't want to be distracted by anything but finding Ben. There would be another time to discover Analsa's qualms with her home planet. "Strap in, everybody," he announced.
The Falcon's engines whirred to life, and Anakin smiled at the sense of home it brought to his mind. "Threepio, you ready?"
"Yes, Master Anakin," the droid piped in, this time sounding exactly like Anakin's mother.
Switching the comm system over to the Temple traffic control, which was also for the rest of Coruscant, Anakin motioned Threepio forward. "Yes, this is Jedi Organa Solo, my husband has made some repairs that must be adjusted in flight, and we will be breaking atmosphere during that time."
"Understood, Jedi Organa Solo, keep to your assigned flight path," the traffic controller ordered.
Anakin quickly switched it off, not wanting to give the controller any time to reconsider and check orders with the Council. [i]This is where the fun begins[/i], one of his father's favorite sayings came to mind.
"Coordinates set?" he questioned Analsa.
"It's now or never."
"Punch it."
With a burst of pseudomotion, the Falcon leapt into hyperspace.