Chapter 20

Coronet, Corellia

The Chief of State looked up from the latest message from her chief advisor when she heard the door of her study slide open. She frowned at her husband as he entered. They hadn't had a perfect marriage; in fact, she often wondered why Pader ever married her to begin with. In the early years they were happy and in love but soon after she won the Senate seat for Corellia, he began to change. He moved up the ranks of the Navy quickly and within ten years he had become an admiral. One of the biggest blows to her "fairytale" marriage happened when a close friend confided in Syal that she had seen Pader with another woman on Coruscant when he was supposed to be with his fleet. However, she never confronted him; instead, she had learned to look the other way concerning his unfaithfulness for the sake of her political career and by extension his. She was glad that they had never had any children who would be hurt by the sham marriage that appeared picture perfect to everyone else. After three miscarriages and two failed surgeries to correct a problem with her reproductive system early in their marriage, they had decided to stop trying to have a child. At first she blamed herself for the sham that her life had become, but eventually she realized that wasn't so. She never even let Pader know that she knew more about his secret life than she let on. She pretended that he made her happy and that she only needed him. As long as Pader continued to cover his tracks regarding his affairs, she would let him keep his mistresses.

He flung the edge of the expensive black cloak he wore over his shoulder and made his way to the drink dispenser. He never even acknowledged her as he began to pour himself a snifter of brandy. She stood and came around her desk and he finally turned to look at her. He swirled the amber liquid and said, "So, are those imbeciles on Coruscant keeping the galaxy together?"

She looked at him with disdain, "Where've you been? It's two in the morning. Have you been drinking again?" When he didn't answer but instead brought the glass to his lips, she turned away and moved across the study of their Coronet mansion as if she was intending to leave. She reached up to open the door but the distinctive sound of a blaster safety being released stopped her.

"Why does everyone think I'm drunk?" he quipped. "I've never been more sober in my life."

Syal slowly turned around and stared incredulously at him while he continued to sip the expensive Corellian brandy and aimed a blaster at her. "Pader?" she questioned in a small voice.

He tossed the rest of the liquor off and then simply tossed the glass to the side. It smashed into a thousand pieces as it hit the imported marble floor, the sound nearly deafening. Finally, he grinned sardonically and said in a condescending tone, "I think it's time to make some changes in that pathetic horde of rejects that the people of the galaxy fondly call their government. Don't you?"

His answer was only a pained look of bewilderment.

"I thought that would be your answer." He began to move toward her and she was suddenly fearful of his intention. She had never seen Pader act like this. She knew he on occasion had been known for his coldness and even cruelty as a commander, but this was beyond anything like that. He was now close enough to touch her and the pistol was pointed directly at her heart. "So, I've decided to take it upon myself to make those changes. You see, Syal, my dearest wife, you are one of the chief problems." He chuckled and added, "No pun intended."

Finally, she found her voice, "Wh—what are you going to do?"

He laughed again but there wasn't any humor in it, "That, my dear, is for you to find out. But first I must make sure my little CorSec diversion is working to plan." Then he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a piece of cloth. Before Syal had a chance to even think of moving he had her spun around and the cloth was being pulled tightly over her mouth to gag her.

Once she was silenced he grabbed her wrists and pulled them tightly behind her. Using a pair of binders, he cuffed her hands painfully behind her. Then he jabbed the nozzle of the blaster up under her chin. Into her ear he hissed, "We are going on a little trip." She looked at him, trying to overcome her fear as she did so, but when she saw the radical gleam in his hazel eyes she wondered if she was going to survive the night. He then gave her a push and simply said, "Move." Just then the comm at the desk began to beep. She wondered who would call her at this hour and when she saw the gleam turn fanatical she knew it wasn't good.

He practically pushed her out of the study and toward the back of the house. Suddenly, a cleaning droid came out of the kitchen door. It looked over at them and immediately Pader leveled the blaster at it. The green energy hit its head causing it to explode. Syal tried to scream but the gag was too tight and the sound came out a muffled whimper.

He pushed her past the blasted droid and they made their way to the entrance to the access tunnel that lead to the Barretts' private hangar. Suddenly, Pader's commlink beeped. He stopped and pushed Syal against the wall. He pulled the devise from a pocket and held the blaster up to point at a spot directly between her eyes. He grinned, "That would be concerning my diversion. One sound and you are dead. Understand?"

She frantically nodded and he opened the connection. "Barrett here."

Syal was surprised to hear her father's unusually watery voice on the other end. "Pader, I'm trying to reach Syal. Is she with you?"

Pader's lips twisted into a jeer but his voice betrayed nothing, it sounded concerned. Syal was shocked to find out that he was such an accomplished actor. "I'm sorry, Wedge, I'm not home. I was called out and am on way back. You can't reach her at home?"

"No." Wedge's voice nearly cracked. "Pader, something terrible has happened tonight." Syal felt her heart plummet as she heard the sorrow in the voice of the strongest man she knew.

Pader continued in his fake concerned tone while his expression and eyes told the truth of what he really was feeling, "Wedge, what happened?"

"It's Myri." Wedge's voice did crack as he said her sister's name. "She's been," she heard him swallow as if the next words were truly breaking his heart. And Syal suddenly knew what it was before he even said the words. "Myri's dead. She was shot earlier tonight."

"Wedge?" Pader's voice was all shock.

"Please," her father pleaded, "I can't talk about this now. Can you get Syal and come over to the house?"

"Of course, Wedge. We'll be right there."

"Iella is trying desperately to calm Chase down." Suddenly, Syal wondered if her beloved nephew was safe. "He apparently found her after she'd been murdered."

Syal stared at her husband, the only man she had ever loved, the one person she thought she could trust with her life if not sexually, the one person she thought she knew best despite all the heartache he'd caused her, and suddenly she knew the truth. She didn't know him at all. He had murdered her sister. She wanted to scream again, she wanted her father to hear her and know that his beloved son-in-law was a fraud, a cold blooded murder who had taken the life of his little girl.

But the cold warning of his piercing glare, and the index finger dangerously poised over the firing stud of the blaster stopped her. If she was killed too, it would only completely destroy her parents. She and their grandson was all they had left. She couldn't get herself killed because of her anger and fear, she had to figure out what this monster was up to and then, just maybe she could stop him. She let the impulse to scream slip away and upon her subtle relaxing, he grinned.

Into the commlink, "That's awful. I'll see you soon." Then he cut the contact.

He continued to sneer at her, "Very good. You checked yourself in time, my dear. It would have been just awful on your father if he'd had to listen to his other daughter get shot. And my little diversion would have died for nothing." Before she had a chance to respond in any way, he painfully grabbed her arm and pushed her toward the exit of the tunnel. The blaster firmly pressed to her back and over her heart.

Syal felt like she was going to be sick as they entered the hangar and saw that their private yacht was already prepped for flight. The yacht was the latest model from Naboo Technologies, the company that had once belonged to Pader's family; however, it was also heavily modified. It had a military grade weapons system and sensor package and was equipped with upgraded sublight engines and hyperdrive, making it extremely fast.

A human technician strolled down the opened ramp and looked up to see his employers arrive. Suddenly, utter astonishment registered on his face. Before the young man could do anything but stare, Pader moved the blaster from Syal's back and simply pointed it over her shoulder and fired. The tech didn't even have a chance to dive for cover. The green energy ray hit him squarely in the chest, sending him flying backwards to land on the ramp.

Pader jerked a surprised Syal ahead. Syal stopped to peer at the young man and saw that he was still breathing. She was glad, maybe he'd—

The sound and sight of another blaster shot startled her so badly she flinched and whimpered. When she looked back down at the technician, there was no mistaking it now. He was dead.

Pader pushed her forward gruffly, and snapped, "Keep moving." As she entered the hatch she watched as he unceremoniously pushed the body off the ramp to thump onto the hard durocrete of the hangar floor. She wondered if her fate would soon be the same.

Within minutes Syal found herself tied to the co-pilots chair, while Pader skillfully brought the yacht that she had christened Corellian Luck out of the hangar as the roof doors retracted. Once clear of the roof, he punched the Luck's throttle and pointed the nose to the heavens.

CorSec was so dismayed by their director's murder that Pader was immediately granted clearance from the planetary shields. Syal was so surprised that they wouldn't question the departure of the victim's only sister. Then it hit her, the transponder codes that came back over the comm weren't those of the Corellian Luck but of another ship. No one would even know she left Corellia until it was too late.

Finally, as they reached the end of the planet's gravity well, Pader looked over at her and met her shocked gaze. He smiled and pushed his russet hair off his forehead, "Soon my dear, you will meet your successor." She felt the tears burn her eyes, tears of betrayal, tears of grief, and tears of anguish as she stared into the face of the stranger who was her husband.

Pader simply went on, "And soon, the galaxy will belong to those who deserve to own it. Humans will rule and those squabbling alien imbeciles will remember that we are superior."

Syal closed her eyes and let her chin fall to her chest. And finally she gave into the tears feeling totally defeated.

X

Ossus

Anakah made her way to her parent's apartment that they kept at the Academy and rang the bell. She was concerned for her friend. She and Cassie hadn't been really close growing up, but she still considered her a friend. Bail hadn't confided in her about his feeling about the youngest Horn, but she suspected them for some time.

Her mother opened the door and upon seeing her exclaimed, "Ana, what's the matter?"

She swallowed when she saw her father come up behind her mother. It was well mast midnight local time but it didn't appear that she had awakened them. "Mom, Dad, may I come in?"

"Of course," Kyp said and they moved out of the way to let her in. She then saw Ben sitting on the couch in the small sitting room. He stood as she moved through the door.

Once inside she said in response to their questioning looks, "I came to give you a message. Zeth and Bail left for the Fifth Fleet tonight."

Kyp furrowed his brow, "Because of his vision?"

She looked at her cousin who said, "I was with Bail in the meditation room when he had the vision. I came here after he left."

She nodded and then looked up at her father, "Yes, they left because of his vision."

Jaina sat heavily on a chair and sighed, "At least he didn't run off on some wild notion that he'd be able to stop her or rescue her. If he goes to the Fleet, he actually may have a chance to save her."

Kyp ran his hand through his hair and paced thoughtfully. Finally, he said, "We are over due for a report from Doran. I hope that he hasn't run into any problems. I wish Bail would have come to me first before leaving."

"Maybe we can catch them," Jaina said hopefully.

Kyp closed his eyes and reached out for his son and nephew. He shook his head then and opened his eyes. "They're gone already. We could call them to come back but I don't think that would serve any purpose but make Bail more anxious." Turning to look at her mother he added, "Jaina, you're right. At least he's not being totally hot headed about this."

She grinned, "It's a good thing he doesn't take after any of us in that respect."

Kyp grinned back and nodded but he didn't say anything. He just gazed at Jaina for a moment longer than needed and Anakah knew they were probably bantering through their bond. She smiled despite the gravity of the issues at hand and suddenly a pang of sorrow touched her heart. She lost the smile and quickly turned away.

Just then the comm unit in the corner began to beep. Kyp quickly moved to answer the call. "Durron."

"Master Durron," the operator responded. "We have a call coming in from Corellia for you."

Kyp straightened the bath robe he was wearing and hit the visual switch as he said, "Go ahead put it through."

"Yes, sir."

Then over the holoplate shimmered to life the figure of Wedge Antilles. "Wedge? What can I do for you?" Anakah knew that the old general wasn't calling to congratulate her father, they never got along. Also, Valin had told her Wedge very publicly supported Corran Horn's nomination. "I know you didn't call to congratulate me."

"Kyp, I—emmm," suddenly, the old man's voice seemed brittle.

Jaina came up beside Kyp and asked, concerned, "Wedge, what's going on?"

He looked through the cam on his end and over the vast distance, and Anakah realized his eyes were haunted. He finally said, "Jaina, I need your help. Someone murdered Myri and Syal's missing."

Everyone in the room said the word at the same time, "What?"

Wedge swallowed and went on to explain, "We didn't know about Syal until just before I called. I told the government that I'd contact the Jedi. And we're trying to keep the media out of it. But we need someone here immediately. I don't know how secure this connection is so I will not say too much, except I want your best Jedi detectives here now."

"Of course, Wedge," Kyp replied his voice heavy and his brow furrowed. "I will have a team there within hours. I'm sorry, Wedge. Myri was—"

Wedge looked away and nodded. Anakah then watched as the galactic hero wiped away his unabashed tears. Then he said, "Good. I'll send the coordinates." Then before the image severed, Wedge said, "Kyp, congratulations."

Kyp turned from the comm and said to Ben, "Call an emergency meeting of the Masters' Council."

Ben nodded and headed to the door but Kyp's voice stopped him, "Then I want you and Liam to come to the Council Chambers."

"Sure thing, Kyp—emm, I mean Master Durron," Ben said and disappeared out the door.

Jaina headed to the bedroom to no doubt change and Anakah said, "I'll let you go. I told Bail that I'd let his parents know that he left."

Kyp's voice stopped her, "That can wait until morning. Tenel Ka and Jacen can't do anything anyway. I want you at the meeting too. I'm sending you, Ben, Liam and Master Valin Horn to Corellia within the next hour."

X

Outer Fringes of the Corellian System, Star Destroyer Trepidation

He had never felt so useless or so frustrated in all of his life. And he had his experiences of being frustrated. Doran Tainer wasn't a powerful Jedi. He, in fact, had just enough Force-sensitivity to become a Jedi but that was about it. He only became a Master because he worked very hard at it and by incorporating as much knowledge and skill into his abilities as he relied on the Force. He never could project himself far and even though he had tried to sense his wife and daughter he knew that he couldn't so he didn't try. Now it would have been impossible to try. He was restrained with a Yuumiri collar and couldn't sense anything. He never thought he could have felt anymore helpless if he'd had his eyes blinded.

He was also concerned about Cassie. He couldn't sense her and he knew that she couldn't sense him. He only hoped the Sith wasn't trying to turn his niece to Darkness. However, he knew that was a very real possibility. Cassie had a great deal of unresolved grief still in her heart. Grief that the Sith could very well turn into hate and anger.

Then there was the Fels he hadn't seen them either since the day he and Cassie had been captured.

And again he wondered what the Sith was up to.

X

He looked over at her and grinned insidiously, "Welcome to your new home, wife dear."

Syal watched as he expertly brought the sleek Corellian Luck into the hangar bay of the Victory-class Star Destroyer. But she was still gagged and couldn't respond to him. She felt fear and a real concern that Pader was completely insane. Suddenly, the comm crackled to life and after he hit the switch a commanding female voice came over it. Syal Antilles could feel the coldness in that voice.

"Admiral Barrett, I hope you have our visitor with you."

Pader cleared his throat, "Yes, Milady. She is with me. The distraction on Corellia will only confuse them for so long. We had better get out of here. But I'm sure my dear father-in-law has called in his friends the Jedi by know too."

Pader looked over at Syal and suddenly she felt her heart shatter even more than it already was. She knew just who the distraction was. He grinned again when the voice said, "Yes, everything has gone to plan so far. Bring her here. Do you think you can handle that?" Syal was surprised to hear the condensation in the other's voice.

He lost the grin and scowled, "Of course, Milady."

He then turned to her and stood up after releasing the crash webbing. Still scowling, he silently removed Syal's and pointed the blaster at her. "Move."

The doors slid open and Syal found herself staring into the darkness that glowed with a reddish light. Then before a large floor to ceiling viewport stood a figure that was cloaked in an elegant black cape. Slowly the figure turned and Syal caught her breath when she saw the lightsaber clipped onto her belt. But what shocked Syal more was that she knew her.

"Lina Doglan."

The woman laughed but it held no mirth, in fact the sound made Syal shiver. "I am when it serves my purposes. But I prefer to be addressed as Lady Erida, the Dark Lady of the Sith."

Syal gasped, incredulously, "Sith?"

Erida laughed again and deliberately moved down the steps from the dais she had been standing on. Once before the arrivals she elaborated, "Yes. Sith. My Master had been Lumiya. I'm sure you have heard of her."

Syal simply nodded her head still not believing this. "Yes. Of course. But I thought she was dead."

Again that cold laugh, "Oh, she is quite dead." The stylishly dressed woman moved to the drink dispenser. After pouring a drink of what looked like Naboo lavender wine, she turned back toward Pader. "I've received news from Naboo."

"And?"

She smiled, "Naboo is ours. The queen is finally dead."

Syal felt her chest tighten with more grief as she thought about her niece by marriage, Padmé Barrett. Then she had a second surprise when Pader moved forward and moved to the dispenser as well and said callously, "Then I shall finally drink to her demise. I was beginning to think she lived a charmed life."

Syal stared at her husband with an open mouth as she watched him pour a glass of Naboo wine. Then Erida said in a mockingly apologetic tone, "Oh, I'm sorry, Chief Barrett, would you prefer a drink also. Naboo's finest. However, I've never been much for Corellian beverages."

She watched as Pader swirled the lavender wine within his glass and then said, "I think she's fine, Milady. Syal, being Corellian, never had much taste for the wine from our home."

Finally, Erida motioned for her to sit and Syal obeyed feeling her stomach sink even further. She never knew Pader noticed that about her taste. Then the Sith continued explaining her connection with Lumiya. "Lady Lumiya was a fine Master. She practically raised me. However, I needed to fulfill my destiny and to become the Master, as is Sith custom. Are you aware of the custom?"

She looked from Erida to Pader than back again, "Emm…I think it's called—" she shook her head she was still in too much shock to think of what it was called, "something to do with two?"

Pader lifted his glass of purple colored wine in a mock salute, smirking, "Wonderful answer, dear. I'm so glad our current Chief of State has such a keen knowledge of history."

She scowled at him and then looked back Erida. Getting some of her shock and fear tamped down she said, confidently, "The Rule of Two. So you killed Lumiya to take her place?"

Erida smiled, "Yes."

"Is that what you intend to do with me?" Syal bored into her electric blue eyes. "Kill me and take my place?"

Erida chuckled and stood up. "I won't be killing you yet." Then she moved back up the steps to the black desk that sat to the left of the massive viewport. Syal noticed that they had entered hyperspace sometime after they entered the chamber. She watched the blue swirling and felt her spirits sink even further. She was brought out of her thoughts by Erida's commanding voice as she spoke into the comm, "Bring the prisoners to my quarters."

Syal heard a slightly familiar female voice respond, "As you wish, Master."

Then Erida regained her seat and raised a dark auburn eyebrow. "You are about to have a family reunion, Chief Barrett. One in which you will determine their fates."

Syal stared at her, "What—what do you mean?"

She grinned and simply said, "You are about to name me as your successor, Chief Barrett."

Syal shook her head, "I can't name my own successor. Only the Senate can do that."

"Ahh…but my dear, after tonight, I will have enough votes in that den of rancors to receive the votes. I need you to appoint me."

"I will not do it!" Syal went to stand and suddenly felt the tightness in her throat. She reached for the invisible grip with both hands.

"Erida! Enough. We need her. I told you she has a weakness for family, she will do as you want."

Then she felt the release of the Force grip on her neck and fell back into the chair gasping for air.

Just then the doors to the chambers slid open and Erida stood again, "My Apprentices, please bring them forward."

With a feeling of dread, Syal turned and let out an astonished gasp as she watched Cassie Horn shove Cleven and Florin Fel toward them so hard that the proud Chiss fell to their knees. Syal met her cousin's confused and surprised violet eyes but her attention was drawn back to Cassie when the daughter of her childhood friend bowed her head and said, "Is there anything else, Master?"

Erida smiled an evil smirk, "No, my dear, that will be all."

"As you wish, Master."

Then she noticed the other girl, who wasn't looking at her but glaring with such an intense hatred at Pader it seemed to crackle in the air, and Syal was blindsided again. The girl looked too much like her husband not to be related to him.

But it was his words that confirmed it as he held his empty glass in the air, "Hello, daughter. I see you still feel the same sentiment towards your dear father as before."

This time Syal's heart simply turned to dust. She never even registered the girl's indignant response.

X

Naboo

Padmé Barrett, Queen Violetta of Naboo, quickly moved down the secret corridor between her chambers to the State dinning room. Something terrifyingly awful had just occurred. Her royal bodyguard, Stefané had been assassinated by poison dart.

After the Unity Celebration attempt on her life several weeks ago, Violetta resorted to using a page out of her Great-great-great Aunt Padmé Amidala's history book. She surrounded herself with look-a-like handmaids.

The Jedi had wanted to send another team to Naboo, but she declined. She felt that by hiding behind the Jedi had weakened her standing with her own people. Naboo had always been something of an isolationist government since the days after the Clone Wars. The fact that the monster Palpatine call Naboo home and its pro-Imperial monarchs had made Naboo distrustful of the Jedi, even after all this time. But she had other reasons too. She knew that as long as the Jedi were present the criminals may not strike again. She wanted to catch these murderous traitors and get to the bottom if what was going on. However, she never considered this.

The only one of her advisors who knew the truth was her Minister of State, Phlin Josté and only two of her most trusted guards knew of the deception. It had been Josté who suggested that Violetta make use of doubles when her immediate responses or decisions were not required, such as all public appearances, state dinners and even meetings of the Planetary Senate.

Stefané had been the double that was sent when she would be required to speak. The young girl was actually two years older than Padmé but she could very well pass as Padmé's twin when she was dressed in the traditional face paints and headdresses. However, it was Stefané's voice that was most important—she sounded identical to Padmé.

"Milady! Please, stop. You will be in danger if you enter the dinning room!"

She heard a guard shout but she didn't stop her speed. She rounded the last corner and reached for the control panel to begin entering the code to open the secret panel.

"Milady, you mustn't do this," the male guard came up beside her and without fear of what would happen to him he grabbed her arm, pulling her hand away before she could enter the code. She spun to glare at him, but when she saw the pain in his brown eyes she held her reprimand. He swallowed and let go of her forearm, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but if you go in there and the assassin is still there, you will be in danger." Then he glanced away, "And Stefané would have died for nothing."

Suddenly, she understood. She reached out and laid her small hand on his upper arm. Looking into his eyes she whispered, "I'm sorry, Bendel. I was only thinking of myself and my grief. She was my friend."

He averted his eyes, "I know, Milady."

Padmé swallowed hard, "But she was your wife. I'm so sorry."

He accepted her apology with a nod and then met her brown-eyed gaze with his own, "If I may speak frankly, Milady?"

"Of course, Bendel," she said and pulled her hand away.

"Your Majesty, I think you should let them think you are dead and call in the Jedi again to help figure out who this is."

She stared at him. What he was suggesting would mean for her stepping down from the throne, from the government she loved and strived to make better. However, in a way he was making sense, but she could not do it. If those seeking to have her assassinated thought her dead, then they would be able to accomplish whatever it was they needed her out of the way to accomplish. Her answer was a firmly spoken, "No. I cannot do that. That would be the coward's way out. I have to figure out who wants me dead so badly." At the look of resignation and regret in his eyes she went on, "However, I do agree with you on this. I need the Jedi again." As she looked back at the secret panel door, a memory came flittering to her mind, a memory of golden blond shoulder length hair and the greenest eyes she had ever seen—the memory of Jedi Marko Quee.

X

Ossus

Valin sat down at his customary chair between his sister and his father at the conference room table used by the Council when then assembled at the Ossus Academy. It was late and he was concerned but it had very little to do with the emergency meeting, for which he still didn't know the reason. He felt something amiss with Cassie. He hadn't reached out to her since coming back to Ossus and when he tried earlier that night while meditating, he felt nothing but a coldness and he was quickly blocked from her presence.

He knew she still was dealing with Tahiri's death, but she seemed to have forgiven him for what she felt as his inability to save her mother. She had been extremely concerned for him after the bombing. He had felt her love and concern wash over him more than once, but then it stopped. And now this from her. Was she upset that he hadn't tried to connect with her before? He wondered. He couldn't blame her if she was; he had been wallowing in self-pity again and neglected his children. Terrik was too caught up in newly wedded bliss to notice, but Cassie obviously did and was angry at him. He hadn't started drinking again, but he was angry and upset that he let Anakah Durron get to him like she did. Although, the pain he felt over Anakah wasn't no where near as brutal as the pain of losing Tahiri had been; nevertheless, it hurt him that she was willing to live a lie with another man—a man who didn't love her.

Even though he had told Marko that he'd fight for her, he wasn't sure that he had the strength to. He loved Anakah, but did she really love him?

He had avoided her during the announcement of the Grand Master and the celebration that followed. She seemed content to stay by her fiancé's side and Marko hardly let her out of his sight. It was enough to let him know that whatever Anakah felt for him, it wasn't enough to break her ties with Marko.

Suddenly, the door to the conference room opened and Kyp and Jaina Durron stepped through. Just as he stood with his fellow Masters of the Council to greet the new Grand Master at his first official meeting, Valin noticed those following the Durron Masters in.

He met Anakah's blue eyes and felt as if his world was about to come crashing down on him. Kyp's words broke through the dark thoughts.

"I have just received word that Corellian Security Director Myri Antilles Dello has been murdered in her apartment tonight Corellian time." Valin was shocked and as Kyp paused to let those present absorb the news; he got the impression that wasn't all. Kyp's next words confirmed it, "Also, Admiral Pader Barrett and Chief of State Syal Barrett have disappeared." Suddenly, all eight members of the Council, who had been called to the meeting, began asking questions at once. Kyp raised his hand and shook his head, "Please, Members of the Council," finally, the clatter stopped. "I do not know more than that. I called this Council to inform you of what I know and to let you know General Wedge Antilles requested a team of investigators to be sent to Corellia."

Kyp paused again and then went on, "I recommend that we send, Masters Valin Horn and Ben Skywalker, along with their apprentices Liam Durron and Hope Tainer and Knight Anakah Durron."

Valin felt his heart thump against his chest. Syal and Myri had been as close as cousins to him growing up, but it wasn't just the grief of losing a dear friend, it was the thought of going on a mission with Anakah. He met her eyes and suddenly, his world didn't come crashing down on him. Instead, he knew this was his chance to prove to her that he still loved her and just maybe he would have a chance to win her heart.

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