Chapter 4

When they entered the building a few children were playing on the floor, and the furry teacher with numerous tentacles was repairing a Lord Shimrra doll, which had been decapitated. She just managed to connect all the wires properly, and the doll's eyes began shining.
Probably if the supreme overlord of the Yuuzhan Vong could have predicted that the infidels would be making mechanical dolls impersonating him, he would have gotten a heart attack long before the actual end of the war.

One of the kids noticed the two Jedi, and ran to the teacher shouting:
''Mrs. Eezee, Mrs. Eezee, somebody has cooome!"

She put Lord Shimrra away and lifted her head.
When she recognized Mara Jade Skywalker she stiffened, and her eyes widened in fear.

Kyp noticed this reaction, and whispered to Mara:
''What have You done to her? She seems scared to death''.
Simultaneously he sent her a reassuring nudge through the Force. After a moment she visibly relaxed.

''Nothing'' Mara replied ''I just talked to her''.

'' I can imagine this was enough'' he said, remembering all the conversations he had ever had with Mara Jade. He could count on fingers of the one hand those that hadn't consisted of shouting and insulting each other. About 50 involved threats towards him. And once it even came from throwing invectives to throwing objects. -

It was shortly after Ben had been born. Kyp dropped by to discuss organizing a Jedi base with Master Skywalker, as he promised Jaina he would.
When he entered Skywalkers' apartment, Mara was about to change Ben's diaper. On seeing him she shouted, forbidding him to come closer (apparently for the fear of him infecting the baby with warts...), and attacked him with the used diaper. He intercepted the missile with the Force and threw it back... Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately...) he missed as well, because when the stinking bomb was just about to hit Mara square in the face, the door suddenly opened, letting Master Luke Skywalker in, and the load landed on his new Jedi robe...

Surprisingly enough it was Mara, who seemed more furious about the whole event than Luke, despite the fact that it was definitely not her who encountered a close contact of the third degree with a full diaper...Maybe she sewed that blasted robe herself Kyp thought.

Having all that in mind, Kyp decided it would be better if he dealt with the nervous kindergarten teacher.

''I'll do the talking. It should give a better result'' he informed Mara and strode towards the furry creature.

''Good afternoon Mrs. Eezee. I'm Jedi Master Kyp Durron and I'd like to ask You a few questions about Ben Sky...''

Before he had a chance to finish, Mrs. Eezee stammered:
''Kkkypp... Dd.. Durron?'' and fell to the ground.

''Well, that was indeed some result, Durron'' Mara drawled sarcastically. '' Apparently not everyone has forgotten about Carida, don't they?''

'' Look who's talking,'' Kyp scowled, simultaneously checking on the unconscious teacher ''a former Emperor's hand, a very noble person!''

'' At least I did my job quietly and didn't boast of it'' She looked him over '' In contrast to somebody else here, who not only blew up a couple of stars, but also shot recording capsules to tell the whole universe about his deeds!''

''I was young then...''

'' And stupid'' Mara finished for him. ''That last hasn't changed, by the way'' Kyp only scowled. '' Any ideas as to what we should do now, when you have so expertly dealt with our main witness?''

''Hey! Try to look at the bright side! I bet she would be less afraid of you now, so you can question her when she comes to. And in the meantime we can talk to the kids without her interrupting us''.

He turned to the now smaller group of children from various species that were looking at them with awareness. Probably the 'conversation' with the teacher had an impact on them too...

'' We want to ask you some question about Ben Skywalker'' he started. ''Can any of You tell us what he did today?''

Silence greeted his question.

''Some of You must be his friends'' he tried again. ''You must have talked to him and played with him today, right?''

The children whispered among each other. They heard also some stiffled giggles. Finally the kids pushed forward a boy about Ben's age, with dark, greasy hair falling into his eyes, and a frightened expression on his face.

Mara caught bits of the children's' whispering: ''...friend of that red-hair, clumsy...couldn't even ...canon-ball good...playing Jedi...deserve more beating...as usual saving the galaxy, hihi...'' and her eyes narrowed angrily.

'' Those little monsters have been mobbing Ben'' she hissed through clenched teeth. ''I'll show them...''

'' Cool down, Master Jade, they are only kids''

Mara took a breath and let it slowly out.
''I know'' she admitted after a while, though her voice still held a dangerous undertone '' but I won't let them hurt my son. I knew from the start that we shouldn't have let him go to a public kindergarten''.

''I was pretty surprised that you did at all. Whose idea was it? Luke's? I mean Master Skywalker's?''

''No, Leia's. But Luke agreed of course! She wanted it to be a sign for the citizens that the government and the Order don't isolate themselves from the rest of the society. That we all are equal. And to show that public institutions on Coruscant are safe'' she spat the last word with venom.

'' I'd say that was hypocritical of her'' Kyp remarked. ''After all her own children were very well protected during their childhood, and never attended any kindergarten or school, with the exception of the Jedi Academy. And I wouldn't say that the galaxy, or Coruscant for that matter, has become a less dangerous place since then''.

''Surprisingly enough, I wholly agree with You on this point, Durron'' Mara said with a slight irony in her voice ''Impossible.'' She shook her head in disbelief. ''Anyway, I think we should talk to that kid. Could you begin please? I feel like I need some more relaxing exercises, before I can deal with those children without doing them harm.''

Kyp nodded and crouched in front of the dark-haired boy, so that their eyes were at the same level. The kid watched him suspiciously.

''Hey kid'' Kyp smiled encouragingly '' What's your name?''

The boy hesitated. He looked over his shoulder, as if to beg the other kids for support but didn't find any. When he turned back Kyp noticed that a wisp of his hair over the left shoulder had been done into a tiny braid. Finally he answered in a quiet voice:
''Kith''

''Okay kid, I mean Kith. When did You see Ben Skywalker last?''

Kith looked Kyp over from head to toe, and shuddered. It looked as if he wanted to say something, but was afraid.

'' Don't be afraid Kith'' Kyp said reassuringly. ''If You want to talk with me in private'' other children were still watching them intently, and Kyp guessed it made the boy feel uneasy ''just tell me''.

There was no mistake- upon hearing this, the boy became even more scared.

''What's up kid?'' the Jedi master asked, worried.

''Are You...are You...'' he stammered, gulped, and gathered the courage ''Are You a... Sith Lord?''

''What?!'' a shocked Kyp exclaimed ,standing up.
The boy jumped back at this sudden movement.

''Why... what makes you think so?'' Kyp managed.
There were of course people who knew the face of the infamous Destroyer of Worlds, but this kid wasn't older than five. How could he possibly know about his, Kyp Durron's past, and recognize him? He got an irrational feeling that maybe he bore a brand on his forehead, marking him as a Sith for the eyes of the innocent.
It felt as if he got his entire, not so brilliant, past thrown right in the face. He won't be able to wash himself completely from the dirt of the Dark Side, no matter what he have done since or will ever do.

'' You wear a black robe'' he heard the boy say from behind the mist that shrouded his mind ''The Sith wear such robes, I've seen it on the HoloTV''

''What?!'' Kyp repeated, shocked again, but for different reasons. ''You mean you've seen it on the movie?!'' The boy nodded. ''And that's all?!''

''Y..yes..'' He looked at Kyp defiantly, though he was still trembling. '' I think that's enough. I won't tell you anything.''

''Wait a moment! Do You really think that if I were a Sith I would talk to you like this, instead of, say, extracting all the knowledge I need directly from Your mind? Or threatening You?''

'' The Sith are treacherous. You may be pretending not to be a Sith''.

''Is that also the knowledge You've got from that holo movie?''

''Yes.''

Mumbling something about the bad influence the HoloTV had on children and youth, Kyp rolled his eyes: How, in the name of Darth Moor, am I supposed to gain this boy's trust? Wait... Darth Moor? he cursed inwardly, realizing he subconsciously referred to a bit of knowledge from his Sith training. Emperor's Black Bones!...No, Sith! That wasn't any better! He made a face, cursing the fact that every second curse in the galaxy involved the Sith.

''Durron?''

He winced. He almost forgot that Mara had been witness to the whole conversation. She must have thought he got what he deserved, especially after her remark about people still remembering Carida. As if it was only Carida I blew up!... Though it's probably better not to remind everyone there were two other star systems I destroyed...
But when he looked at her face, he got surprised, since it expressed something almost akin to sympathy... Impossible! Mara 'die Durron' Jade?! He had his shields up, but maybe she picked up some of his initial shock and pain when this kid accused him of being a Sith.

''Leave it for now'' Mara continued. ''I think I'm a more suitable person to deal with it''.

Sympathy, indeed - false pity more likely he amended himself bitterly. She has a satisfaction of showing me she has an upper hand, that's all...

Meanwhile Mara turned to Kith and flashed a, in her opinion probably friendly, smile.

''You will tell me about Ben, won't You?''

The boy looked at her with the same attention he did before with Kyp. Then he said:
''My dad told me never to trust women with red hair.''

''What?!''

''He said they were trickish and treacherous '' he added.

''But I am Ben's mother! And a Jedi! ''

Kith seemed to digest this information for a second or two.

''But You've come with him'' He pointed at Kyp ''And he's probably a Sith.''

''I had no other choice!'' she shouted ''I hate him!''

''Then you cannot be a Jedi!'' the horrible child stated triumphantly. '' A Jedi doesn't feel hatred! Ben has told me it'' he added with pride. ''I think You are a Sith too''.

Kyp couldn't help himself and chuckled maliciously.
If the sight could kill, the glare Mara shot him would have burnt him on the spot.
He laughed harder.

''What about the clothes?'' he asked Kith, still shaking with laughter. '' She doesn't have a black robe.''

The kid narrowed his eyes.
''She may be in cover up'' he said cautiously .

Mara's face was now nearly as red as her hair. She turned vehemently on the heel and hurried towards the exit.

''It's enough!'' she growled '' We won't learn anything here! It's time to apply my plan.''

Kyp shrugged and followed her.

Suddenly he felt somebody pull on the edge of his Sith-looking Jedi robe. He looked down and saw a tiny girl of some humanoid race, with a pale face, big dark eyes and golden hair with cinnamon stripes.

''Yes, little one?'' he said wearily, as the girl took a step back the moment he put his eyes directly on her.

''I've seen Ben'' she whispered so quietly he could barely understand. ''A dark man came and took him''.

Kyp felt excitement at her first words, but as she continued, the cold fear crept up his spine.
A dark man? He remembered that night on Yavin IV when he first saw an ink-black phantom of Exar Kun. And the following nights when the ancient Lord initiated him in the Sith teachings.
He managed to quail both feelings and knelt in front of the girl.

''Would you, please, tell me about it?'' he asked softly.

The girl nodded. ''I'll show you'' She looked at him with those big, black eyes, and added barely audibly: '' You are not a Sith''.

Kyp let out a breath, feeling an overwhelming relief.

''No, I'm not. Thank You'' he whispered.

xxx

"Durron! What takes you so long?!" Both Kyp and the girl winced at Mara's angry words. The other Jedi Master was already by the door.

"Wait Master Jade!" he replied. "We've found our witness!" He smiled at the girl encouragingly. " Don't worry. Mara is not that bad as she looks. At least not to other persons than me..."

The little girl's eyes widened, but before she could ask why, Mara joined them.
Her excitement was evident, but to Kyp's surprise, she addressed the girl mildly.

"You've seen what happened to my son? Cause I am his mother, really" she assured.

"Yes. He reminds you...a little"

Mara smiled wryly.
"Yeah, I know. He looks mostly like his father. Except the hair."

"That's why we called him Burning Ben once" the girl explained cheerfully. Mara tightened her mouth but didn't say anything, though Kyp could feel the surge of fury within her. "But since he's started to build those model starfighters we've been calling him Ben the Builder. I think he even likes it." she added after a quick glance at Mara's face.

Mara didn't seem convinced, but decided to drop the subject for the time being.

"So, can You show us the place You saw Ben and the dark man... eh...what's Your name actually?" Kyp asked.

The girl stirred uncomfortably.

"She won't tell you Durron, she's a Firrerreo" Mara drawled. " For them names are sacred, and they don't reveal them easily to strangers. I would think that a Jedi Master should know it."

Kyp tried not to blush, but in vain. He knew he wasn't all-knowing, but hated it when Mara Jade caught him on the slightest incompetence. He was more than sure she would tell Luke about it, suggesting him removing Kyp from the Council as the one not worthy being on it...

He suspected that if it was up to her to decide, the Council would consist of only three persons: her, Master Luke Skywalker, and Corran Horn.
And if that ever happened, he was sure they would throw him out of the Order or at least send him on a mission to Hoth to survey ice-cream production - or something equally interesting.

If it was up to him to pick out three Council members, he would choose Master Skywalker of course (after all he was the most experienced master among them, founder of the Academy, galactic hero etc. etc.), himself (as a counterpart), and Cilghal - to prevent too much quarreling between him and Luke...

For the time being the Council was larger though, and in spite of the fact that he didn't have many supporters there, he was happy he was on it, and could express his opinions about the Jedi Order and it's role.

The little Firrerreo girl took him by the hand, and dragged him towards the exit. He came back to reality, and decided he would have plenty of time to think about the other things later.

xxx

It became colder outside. The playground was situated under a dome of transparisteel, so the gusts of wind that blew among the Coruscant skyscrapers didn't reach there, but the temperature was close to the natural one. Still - it was much warmer than before the Vong invasion, which was probably the only positive aspect of it. (For those who liked warmth of course.)

The sun was setting behind the skyline of the capital city, and long shadows fell across the square.
Firrerreo girl pointed at the dark corner in the far end of the playground:

"Over there" she whispered. " We stood here, and played canon-ball, but Ben wasn't with us. I looked there, and saw him and a dark man in a robe."

"How did he look like?"

"He wore a dark robe. And was very tall."

"Taller than Kyp?"

The girl looked at the younger Jedi confused.
"I...I don't know. He stood there.. and I stood here... But he was much, much taller than Ben."

Kyp sighed. That wasn't much of an information. It meant only that this 'dark man' was an adult.

"What about his face, eyes, hair?" Mara inquired.

"I don't know, he had a hood on. I'm sorry.." she apologized.

"It's not your fault. And you've already helped us a lot." Mara assured her. " Did you see what he did with Ben then?"

The girl shook her head apologetically "No" she whispered. " I ...just...turned back then... and played with the others. I almost forgot about it, but then you came and asked..."

Mara and Kyp exchanged worried looks.
Apparently the dark man played mind tricks on the girl, and probably on the rest of the children too.

Suddenly Mara remembered her first conversation with the teacher, and how confused she was when she discovered Ben wasn't in the kindergarten. Maybe she didn't realize it, because somebody had erased the memory from her mind?

Immediately she thought about a certain person who knew how to do such things, but although she had a really bad opinion about Kyp Durron, she didn't suspect him of kidnapping Ben, and then pretending to not know anything, and even help her to look for him ...

"Let's go look at the place" she commanded.

There was already deep shadow over the very spot, which made both Mara and Kyp feel uncomfortable. Mara ignited her lightsaber, and in its pale blue light they searched the ground for any traces the kidnapper could have left. But there was only grass.

Mara closed her eyes, trying to feel Ben's emotions from earlier that day, concerning this place and the meeting with the dark man.

"Shavit!" she murmured after a while. " I don't feel him any better here than in the kindergarten as a whole. Do You? " she asked Kyp who was also concentrating.

"No" he gasped opening his eyes.

"But we should be able to feel some emotions!" Mara's voice grew desperate. " Force, he's got kidnapped from this place! He must have been scared! Shouldn't there be any trace of it in the Force?!"

"The Sith are able to conceal such emotions, as well as their presence in the Force" Kyp said quietly.

''Oh, and how do You know it?'' Mara asked ironically.

" Exar Kun told me."

"What a credible source of information!"

"Hey, we don't talk about Exar's credibility in general, and as far as the Dark Side of the Force is concerned, I'd say he was a credible source."

"Do I say he wasn't? Besides it was a rhetorical question. After all You were a Sith yourself."

"Jade!" he growled "You just had to say this, didn't you?"

"What? The truth hurts? " she started. Then she noticed the expression of fear and disbelief on the Firrerreo girl's face. Sithspit! I didn't want to frighten her! "Listen, little one, he's no longer a Sith. He ceased to be long before you were born."

"I know" she answered, and to Mara's surprise reached up and to take Kyp's hand. Kyp himself seemed even more astonished. " He's good."

Good? Not the most appropriate word to describe Kyp Durron. Or maybe... he isn't nice, but nice and good aren't the same. And he's definitely not evil. Annoying is the word. Troublemaker. A rogue Jedi - but still a Jedi, not a Sith.
Stang! What the kriff am I doing?! Pondering if Kyp Durron is a good man?!

"Whatever. If this kidnapper was a Sith or an another Dark Side user, we're in trouble. We must get Ben back, and do it quickly. Before he turns him to the Dark Side" Mara shivered, thinking about Luke and his father, Darth Vader.

"I agree, but first we must make sure it was really a Dark Side user. I mean: could this dark man be anyone else? Somebody Ben knew, and wouldn't be afraid of?"

"Not likely. Luke, Corran, and other masters are away. Same with Jacen. And Han, Talon, and other our friends don't wear Jedi robes."

"Is that everybody?"

"Yes. We don't have so many close friends that Ben is familiar with. Besides: why would they take him from the kindergarten without telling me?"

"You're right. It doesn't make sense. I guess I just wanted to find an explanation that didn't involve any Dark Jedi or Sith" he sighed. "Our next step?"

"Before I came to the Temple I alarmed the police, and security forces in the spaceports, so that the kidnapper shouldn't be able to leave the planet."

"But if he is a Sith or a dark Jedi..."

"I know, I'll comm them, and inform them that he's probably a Force user."

"It may be too late. It's been a couple of hours since Ben disappeared."

''Do you think I don't realize that?!'' Mara shouted, and Kyp could see how desperate she was, and how much it must have cost her to stay calm and think clearly. "We must hope they're still on Coruscant. That's why You'll take the fastest speeder You can find, and look for him. Search every inch of that planet if necessary. And now come here!" She grabbed his arm, and dragged him close to her. When she pulled his head so that their foreheads were touching, he winced, and tried to free himself, but Mara held him firmly.

"Don't move. Now, take what you need from my memories about Ben, and get quickly out of my head. And don't you dare touch anything else!" she warned.

"Poking around in your mind is the last thing I'm dreaming about." he assured her and shivered It must be a terrible place. After all Master Skywalker hasn't changed so much without a reason after having bonded with her. "Now, relax. Let your feelings and memories concerning Ben come to the surface."

"Relax. Relax!" she snarled. " It's easy for you to say! Last time you did this, You erased half of the Qwi Xux's memories!"

"Don't worry, I've learned a lot since."

"I hope it doesn't mean you'll erase all of my memories." she murmured nervously, wondering if that whole operation was a good idea... and if Luke couldn't start to use the same aftershave as Kyp Durron, since it definitely smelled better... What the Sith am I thinking about?!... "Hurry up!"

Kyp was nervous too. After all it was Mara Jade! - standing closer to him than he would ever wished... It was definitely scary.

He cautiously directed Force tendrils to her mind. At first, he met a layer of mistrust, mixed with the anger and embarrassment at being so close to him, and some detached thoughts about his scent. (I haven't well forgotten to use antiperspirant?) Behind it lay Mara's memories about Ben, the pattern of his force signature, and her feelings for him...

He withdrew quickly, as they became too personal, and stepped back. Mara's eyes snapped open.

"You have it?"

"Yes. I do'' he said slowly, watching her.
The short contact allowed him to get a glimpse at the side of Mara Jade he'd never seen before. He could hardly believe the emotions he sensed belonged to the same person he'd only known as a severe Jedi Master, hardened warrior, former Emperor's Hand, and personal opponent. Mara Jade as a delicate woman, and a loving mother? Of course, on a non-emotional level he knew that this side of her existed, only that she'd never shown it to him. Maybe one day this will change...

Mara watched him suspiciously, her eyes narrowed.
"So stop glaring at me and get to work" she growled.

...to the worse he finished his own thought dryly.

"What about You?" he asked aloud.

"Even if this 'dark man' is able to play tricks with memory, he cannot control everyone on Coruscant. There are too many people, and someone must have seen him and Ben."

"Unless he put him in some kind of a luggage-container ..."

"Stop it! And don't interrupt me! I'll go to the TV Republic. They have a program called 'Anybody seen? Anybody knows?', where people show holos of their missing family members, and ask for help to find them. It's been transmitted to all the planets of the Galactic Alliance, so even if the kidnapper left Coruscant, the entire galaxy would be looking for him!"

"I doubt if so many people watch this program" Kyp said cautiously "It's very late at night, after that series 'Knights of the Old Republic: Jedi vs. Sith' (The main source of knowledge about the Sith and their attire nowadays he thought sarcastically.) "And I don't think it's a good idea that You appear on that program as Mara Jade Skywalker. I'm sure there will be a lot of rumors, and some people may even pretend they know something about Ben just to become famous and meet the wife of Luke Skywalker."

Mara made a face.
"You may be right. I'll prepare some characterization and appear under a false name. Nobody will even know that the boy they are looking for is Ben Skywalker." She threw a quick glance at the entrance to the kindergarten building, which had just opened showing a very unsettled Mrs. Eezee '' We'd better go. Once again thank You for Your help" she said to the Firrerreo girl.

"And may the Force be with You." Kyp added, smiling at her mysteriously.

The girl opened her mouth when the meaning of the last sentence and the smile finally hit her, but the two Jedi were already gone.

xxx

Ben Skywalker was tired, extremely tired, and sleepy. His legs felt heavy like lead, while the stomach resembled a vacuum. He hadn't eaten for many hours now, so it sucked. And rumbled. He was so hungry now, that he got a headache and nausea.

He felt like crying.

He looked at the man clothed in the black robes, who was towering over him, and said pleadingly:

"I want to go home..."

-