Chapter 4

Adumar.

It is a planet of fierce emotions, and strong loyalties. Concepts espoused by the galaxy at large, the little thing such as respect for life, are still relatively new here. While the galaxy around them may hold Jedi in high esteem, on Adumar, if you are not a fighter pilot, you're just not worth that much.

The small man rushes from his office. He wears the customary Adumari blastsword, as well as the wide belt, and brimmed hat which have come back into fashion. His hair is long and dark, and his face clean shaven. He looks just what he is, a bureaucrat.

He is Cellanth de Olean, a simple man, a pilot for a number of years; he joined the Adumari Air Forces about two years after Adumar was admitted into the New Republic. He remembered the day when Cartann fell, though he was barely out of his childhood then.

Today is a special day for him; he is getting to meet the Perator of Adumar.

He enters the chambers of the Perator, and awaits acknowledgement.

"Ah, Cellanth my friend, I have a small task for you."

"Anything my Perator."

"We are to be visited by two Jedi. They seek information on some of our hidden manufacturing assets. It is up to you to discourage them from finding those assets, in any way possible."

The Perator lifts his hand towards a man standing in the corner, his cloak is pulled up, hiding a good portion of his features, but he is tall, and obviously human.

"This is one of my advisors, his name is Argor. He will be your point of contact and direction on all things relating to the Jedi. Now, you will put them up in the suite at the Hotel Cartanna, and invite them to the ball this evening. Do you understand?"

"Yes, my Perator."

"Good, the Jedi should be arriving soon. You are dismissed."

Cellanth scurries from the room, not noticing the smile that appears on Argor's lips.

The Pulsar Skate drops out of hyperspace, and swings into orbit around Adumar. At her helm Jysella, confidently controls the ship as she gets final clearance for landing. Ben is once more enjoying just watching Jysella as she deftly controls the Skate, maneuvering her to a soft landing in their specified spot.

As they walk down the ramp, they are met by some minor dignitary He is dressed in typical Adumari fashion, with flowing cloak, a large belt and a blastsword hanging at his hip.

He bows to the two young Jedi. "Master Jedi, you are both well come to Adumar. I am Cellanth de Olean, Under Minister of Foreign Affairs, and have been instructed by my Perator to be your guide and companion during your stay."

Ben frowns as Jysella speaks, "Thank you Under Minister. But our mission is one of fun, a vacation, so if you will direct us to a nearby hotel that will be all we need."

"A vacation, yes, but it is not every day that Adumar is visited by Jedi, especially ones as highly placed as the Jedi's Skywalker and Horn. The Perator merely wishes that you be well taken care of during your stay. And I cannot be against the will of my Perator."

"As you wish Under Minister, but please remember that Jysella and I are here for a vacation."

"Yes, a vacation, as you said, now if you'll follow me, I'll take you to the Hotel Cartanna."

With that, the man turns on his heel and begins walking towards the city; Ben, Jysella and Whistler follow closely behind. They finally arrive at the hotel; it seems dwarfed by the governmental buildings surrounding it, and is of a distinctly different architecture. A sheer faced building, where all the others they had seen held balconies on every floor.

Jysella's curiosity gets the better of her. "Under Minister, why are there no balconies on this building?"

"I never noticed. I will have to find that out for you."

Cellanth turns from the two Jedi, and then spins back to face them. "Oh! I almost forgot. My Perator has acquired the suite for you use during your stay."

Jysella, ever the diplomat, smiles at him as she takes the room keys. "Thank you Cellanth."

"Now, I'll take my leave of you, here is my comm number in case you have need of me, and the Perator wishes to invite you to a banquet that he is throwing at the palace tonight at 1900 hours."

"Is the concept of a vacation so foreign here?"

"I know - and am sorry Jedi Skywalker - but as I said, I am merely the hand piece of the Perator. I will arrive at 1830 to collect you. Confusion to your enemies."

Ben and Jysella watch as the man scurries away, a hurry to his step. Then turn and go inside the hotel.

They get into the lift, and are kissing as soon as the doors close.

Ben chuckles as she pushes him away and starts to straighten her hair and clothing again. "You're incorrigible!"

He leans in close, giving her his best Uncle Han grin and replies, "Part of my charm."

"Ben, I love you, but you're no Han Solo."

"Am I at least a run-of-the-mill Corellian?"

"Nope."

Ben sighs as Jysella giggles and leans in close. "But as I said, I love you."

The lift doors open, and the pair step off and go to their room.

They open the door to their suite, and Ben lets out a low whistle.

Jysella looks around the ornate room and says "Wonder what we did to deserve rooms like this?"

Ben laughs. "Didn't you hear the Under Minister; we're the 'highly-placed Jedi Skywalker and Horn.'"

Ben opens one of the doors. "I found the refresher. I think it's about the size of the Skate."

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Ben is sitting in the common room of their suite. Fidgeting. Glancing at the chrono, he calls out once more,

"Jys are you ready yet? The Under Minister will be here in moments."

Then she steps out of her room. She's wearing a strapless, black dress that adheres to her form, with a slit up the thigh, and a simple diamond chocker pendant around her neck. Her hair is curled, with some piled on top of her head, and the rest cascading down her back. A smile begins to tug at the corner of her lips.

For his part, Ben stares.

Her smile dazzles him, as she walks closer to him. "You're staring Ben."

"Uh-huh."

"Are you going to stop?"

"Uh-huh."

"When?"

By this time, she's standing right in front of him, a small smile crosses her lips, as his eyes darts down and then back up to her face.

"Uhm, never?"

She laughs slightly, as the chime announcing a guest goes off, startling Ben.

Jysella walks over and opens the door, allowing Under Minister de Olean to enter. He performs a sort of half-bow and smiles at her. "Jedi Horn, you surely art a vision this evening."

"Thank you Under Minister."

"Now, if you both will follow me, I will escort you to the ball."

Ben's head shoots around at that. "Ball? I thought you said banquet?"

"My apologies Jedi Skywalker, in the excitement of meeting the two of you, I may have misspoken earlier today. It is definitely a ball."

"Great. A dance."

Jysella turns towards Ben, mischief sparkling in her eyes. "Am I such a horrible dance partner?"

Ben's reply is cut off by a cough from the Under Minister. "My apologies Master Jedi, but if we are to not be late, then it would be best if we left for the ball now."

Jysella shoots Ben a smirk. "No apologies needed Under Minister, we're right behind you."

They walk up to the palace, and the de Olean turns towards Ben and Jysella. "This is where I must leave you. You will be announced, and expected to pay your respects to the Perator. I am at your convenience if you have need of anything.

Ben watches as the man walks off, and then turns to Jysella, does a half-bow and offers her his arm. "So Master Jedi, shall I escort you to the dance?"

She smiles at him as she takes his arm. "Only if you promise to not step on my feet this time."

"Hey, I know how to dance."

"Keep telling yourself that Skywalker."

As they enter the room, the porter stands and bellows. "Announcing the Pilot and Jedi Knight Jysella Horn, escorted by Jedi Knight Ben Skywalker!"

The pair stands at the top of the stairs for a moment, as those already gathered stop and turn to stare.
As they begin to walk down the steps, Ben whispers, "Why this is comfortable."

Jysella suppresses a giggle and whispers a reply. "Hush Ben. You'll get us in trouble."

"You think that'll get us expelled from this?"

The pair reaches the floor and conversation picks up once more. They thread their way through the crowds until they come face to face with the Perator of Adumar. Ben looks at the man, and frowns slightly. He appears to be about forty standard years old, with black hair and blue eyes set in an aristocratic face. He can hear Jysella beside him talking.

"Thank you for the invitation to this ball Perator, but we're really just trying to spend a few days enjoying various worlds without all the pomp and circumstance our position usually requires."

"Ah, yes, de Olean did say that your visit was for mere play. A vacation if memory serves. I still would be remiss if I did not extend the hospitalities of Adumar to two of the Federation's Jedi. After all, Jedi are always well come to visit our lovely and peaceful planet."

Ben speaks up at this. "And we are immensely grateful for your hospitality Perator; the rooms you provided are wonderful. Thank you."

"It was nothing Jedi Skywalker, now, please, enjoy the festivities. If you have need of anything, do not hesitate to contact de Olean."

Jysella graces him with her smile. "We shall Perator."

They both give the Perator a slight bow, and wander off to dance.

The Perator watches them for a moment, and then beckons for his advisor to come closer. "Argor, what do you know of these two?"

"Not much, my Perator. Stories tell that the two of them were involved in the slaughter of Jedi about three years ago. How and why was never really explained. What is known is that Jedi Skywalker was left without a Master, Jedi Horn without parents, and that Jedi Skywalker's parents suddenly retired from the Council and more or less disappeared from galactic politics."

"Do you truly believe that these two pose threat to my manufacturing concerns?"

"Of that I have no doubt. If they were sent here to out those facilities, then they will probably do so. These two are some of the more meddlesome of the Jedi. They have a habit of finding their way into places that they are not wanted. To make matters worse, since Jedi Horn is the only surviving grandchild of Booster Terrik, most of the Fringe refuses to fight against her. They figure going peacefully is a better solution than facing Terrik's wrath if one of them hurts or kills her."

"Do we have some of the Fringe on-planet that would not be against….disciplining Jedi Horn?"

"I believe we have some."

"Good. I want them both dealt with."

With a wave of the hand, the Perator dismisses Agnor, and misses entirely the cold, calculating smile that appears on his face.