Chapter 16

Ben lifts his head from the console, gingerly touching his head, feeling the large gash across his forehead. Looking over to Jysella, he sees her leaning back in her crash couch, and slowly stirring. He glances out the forward viewport, and nearly throws up due to the vertigo caused by the stars pivoting as the ship tumbles uncontrolled through space.

Closing his eyes for a second, he reaches out and starts the process to bring the engines back online. As he feels the familiar thrum of the engines coming on line, Ben opens his eyes back up, and stops their spin. A quick glance at one of the monitors shows they are still in a low orbit around Adumar.

"What happened?"

Ben looks at Jysella, as she turns to face him, and he winces as he sees the large bruise forming on her forehead. Then he notices her own wince as she looks at him.

"You don't look that good."

Ben laughs; it is a harsh bitter sound. "Exploding planets does that to me."

Jysella winces as she leans forward, and swings the Skate around so they can look at the planet. Neither of them knows what to say as they see the desolation, and dark clouds of ash caused by the explosion. Ben feels a deep stab of guilt. "This is my fault."

Jysella shakes her head slightly. "No, Argor started the fight in that room, the Adumari built the device. It's their fault."

But Ben doesn't reply, as he still knows deep in his heart that he is at fault. Finally Ben turns away, and activates the communications array, which immediately begins beeping for their attention. Ben flips a switch. "Jedi Horn or Jedi Skywalker, please respond. I repeat, Jedi Horn or Jedi Skywalker, please respond. Pulsar Skate, please respond."

"This is Skywalker, is this the Viscount?"

Ben smiles as he hears Gavin's voice. "Yes it is Jedi Skywalker. Is Jysella there with you and okay?"

"Yes Gavin, I'm here, though we both could use a check up by a medic, and the Skate needs to be given a once over."

"Okay, you're cleared for the Viscount's main hanger bay, report to the med-bay and then to me. Viscount out."

Ben flips the ship around, and heads towards the star defender, and then looks toward Jysella. "I thought you wanted to do the flying?"

Jysella smirks at him as she leans her head back, closing her eyes. "No, you make a good chauffeur when you're not trying to kill us both."

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Gavin watches as the two Jedi enter. He stands and walks over to Jysella who throws her arms around him, squeezing him tight she gives him a large hug. He releases her and leans against his desk. "I'm so happy that you both made it off Adumar. But do either of you know what happened?"

The two Jedi share a look, and Ben nods his head. "Yes. They were building explosives, and had built a planet-buster. Well there was a Dark Jedi there, and we had a fight in the room." Ben looks down at the floor at this point. "I kind of threw him against the planet-buster. Detonating it."

Gavin frowns for a second. "I guess that's what they get for building that type of weapon on their planet. I do have a communication from Jaina asking that one of you contact her as soon as possible, and the Pulsar Skate has been checked over, there's some cosmetic damage, but she's flight-worthy."

Jysella graces him with one of her big smiles. "Thanks for that Gavin."

"Not a problem Jysella. But do note that we are about to jump to the Corellian System."

"Why is that?"

"Because Wedge seceded."

Jysella gasps and Ben frowns, looking down at his hands. Then he looks back up at Gavin. "Please don't jump until we talk to the Jedi Council."

"We won't."

"Thanks"

Gavin nods, and then leads them over to a communications console. Ben slides into the seat and presses a few buttons. An image of Jaina appears on the screen. "Hello Jaina."

"Was your mission a success Ben?"

"Yes. Now, I'm going back on vacation."

"I'm sorry Ben, but I need you to return to Coruscant. As Gavin may have told you, Corellia has seceded, and we need all the Jedi for that."

"No, Jaina. I did this mission for you; I'm heading back to Dad's."

"Fine." Then the communications console switches off.

Ben clenches his fist, and grits his teeth, resisting the urge to punch the console in front of him. After a second, he closes his eyes and starts doing a breathing exercise. Jysella places her hand on Ben's shoulder as he looks up at her. "Why does she do that? Why does she keep trying to drag me back to Ossus, when I tell her over and over that I don't want to go?"

Jysella does not have an answer, and just mutely shakes her head.

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Cal Omas sits in his inner sanctum, reading the reports from Gavin Darklighter, concerning the destruction on Adumar. He looks up as someone enters his office, and smiles at his old friend Ka. Standing, he walks around the corner, and grasps the shorter man's hand.

"Thanks for coming, Ka."

"It is my pleasure, your excellency."

Cal returns to his seat, gesturing for Ka to sit down in front of him. "You were right, the Jedi were hesitant on sending assistance against Corellia."

Ka nods his head, his dark beard rustling against the coarse fabrics of his robes. "And you gave them the ultimatum."

"Yes, the Jedi Order now answers directly to me."

"They will not like it."

Cal's eyes flash in anger. "That is irrelevant. My Jedi will listen to my commands."

"And if they don't? If they decide to rebel against you and the Federation?"

Cal turns away and looks out the window behind his desk, staring at the streams of traffic that lights up Coruscant's skies.

"If they decide against me, then they will be dealt with."

"What is your plan?"

"I don't have one yet."

"If I might make a suggestion?"

Cal turns back to Ka, and nods his head. Ka begins to smile.