Chapter 9
As Luke shut the door walked over to Shelley so he could wake her. He pulled the sheet down a little.
"Sweetheart, you need to get up, the Councilors want to start in a few hours, and I need to get something to eat, you sapped all my strength last night."
"Oh, right because it was only me that got into our lovemaking last night, you were even more into it than I was, I don't know if I'll be able to walk for a month unless its bow legged."
"Oh please, you were amazing last night, I think I'd die a happy man, after last night."
"Well let's not do that but I'm glad you enjoyed yourself as well. Come on I need a hot shower and food." He helped her up. After a boiling shower she dressed in a Fuchsia color gown. They walked to the mess, where everyone else was either eating or talking or typing on a pad about things the needed to talk about, most were doing all three. Only Ben noticed when they came in, smiled but turned red and looked down. Shelley looked at Luke silently asking what was with Ben.
"I think he may have heard us last night neither of us were very quite. Maybe next time we should put up a Force Bubble." Unbeknownst to them, Ben was walking over to them.
"Yes please do. I may know the very, very basics, but you two were kinda loud." He was looking at them. "I think maybe you and I need to talk about that I don't really understand what is involved in that type of relationship, and since I'm going to be married in a few months I'd like to understand." By the time he had finished he was red again.
"I believe you may be right." Luke said. "Well speak of this later."
"Yes, sir." He started eating
"Hello, sister."
"Brother, come sit talk to me."
They shared stories of their lives for almost 2 hours. She dismissed herself and walked back to the Shadow to gather a few things. Such as a right for a newly permoted Master Jedi, and a list of things that needed to be discussed before anything else was begun like speaking to Heads of States, battle plans.
She walked back toward the conference room where the High Council was meeting she started to feel dizzy and sick she looked and couldn't see a fresher only a door leading outside, she shot out the door, and threw up her breakfast, went to the door and tried to open it and it didn't open, she tried the Force that didn't work either. She was getting more dizzy by the second. She leaned against the wall and slide down it, she reach into her pocket looking for her commlink, she had left on the table, so she reached out with the Force to Luke pictured where she was and tried to get past the idea that she was stuck, and lost consciousness. She felt someone picking her up and carrying her inside and to the Council chambers.
"Master Cilghal, I saw her go outside and not come back in so I went to check on her, it looked like she threw up her breakfast." A voice she recognized but couldn't place.
"Thank Jag, she is still pretty weak. Would you do me a favor and get her some soda water from the fridge over there." That was Luke's voice.
"Here you go, I'll leave you to your work, good day."
"Here sweetheart, drink this. Come on wake up, you need to do this or we're going to start an I.V." Shelley's eyes flickered and then final opened them. She took the cup and drank fully.
"Thanks, who brought me here? Did you find me?"
"No sweetheart, I was coming right when Jag walked in, with you in his arms. Here are your things." He handed her, her little bag that had the few things in it.
"Thanks. I have all the things you requested, and Artoo should be here soon as well as 3PO."
"Thank you, Master Skywalker." He looked at the other Master's and a moment later 3PO and Artoo came in. "Are we ready to begin?"
All the Councilors nodded
"3PO are you ready to begin?"
"Yes Master Luke."
"Very good, to begin with, I'd like to tell you how happy I am about being with the Council once again. Now, first I'd like to begin with seats of this Council, I would like to add another chair for a Master and another for a Knight, and two seats when needed for 2 retired military."
"I think it will be good to have two to four more voices in all matters." Corran said
"Agreed."
"Alright, I would like to discuss who will take those seats, I would like for Leia and Jaina to be promoted and sit on this Council, anyone for?"
"Agreed."
"So if everyone will sign the right, we can summon them and begin. Any thoughts on which of the Knights should it be?"
Luke took the rights signed them and handed them, to Shelley.
"I vote for Ben, he will be the leader of the Order, he should know how the High Council works." Kenth said
"I agree." Was the call
"Alright, lets summon them." Luke pulled out his comm. "Leia, will you, Jaina and Ben come to the Council chambers, you're going to be a while."
It took all of five minutes, when Leia, Jaina and Ben entered. They bowed. Luke stood and walked over to them.
"Leia Organa Solo confer on you the rank of Master Jedi the Jedi High Council has. Jaina Solo-Fel confer on you the rank of Master Jedi the Jedi High Council has." He handed them their rights, and bowed to them. "Welcome Master Jedi we have also added you both to the Jedi High Council." He motion for them to take their seats. "Ben Skywalker, you have been nominated to take the new chair for Jedi Knights only, Welcome to the Jedi High Council." He handed Ben a right of Council, he motioned for Ben to take his seat. "There will also be support Councilors when their needed, both must be retired Military officers. I nominate General Wedge Antilles."
"I agree." Came from everyone except for the newbie's.
"You don't agree or you didn't know you had to say it?"
"I didn't know." Ben answered, Jaina and Leia looked at each other. "I agree."
"Neither did we." Leia said. "We agree."
"I nominate General Han Solo." Shelley said
"Agreed." They said as one, Leia and Jaina were smiling.
"I will send out the request to General Antilles, and we can summon Han when the time comes for our battle planning." Shelley said quickly writing down the request to Wedge and handed it to Luke he nodded signed it and passed it down everyone signed it and passed it back to Shelley she entered the code, and C.C. it to the council members.
General Wedge Antilles,
You have been nominated for a seat on the Jedi High Council
as a retired military adviser. Please contact us with a acceptance or denial.
Thank you,
The Jedi High Council
Grand Master Luke Skywalker
Master Shelley Harris Skywalker
Master Saba Sebatyne
Master Cilghal
Master Kyp Durron
Master Corran Horn
Master Kenth Hamner
Master Kyle Katarn
Master Octa Ramis Durron
Master Kam Solusar
Master Tioone Solusar
Master Jaina Solo-Fel
Master Leia Organa Solo
Jedi Knight Ben Skywalker
"It's been sent." Shelley said after the beep.
"Thank you, Master Skywalker." She bowed her head.
"You're welcome, Grand Master." He also bowed his head. Ben, Jaina and Leia were looking at each other in confusion, 'Why are they being so formal.'
"Master Skywalker, why the formality?" Jaina asked
"Master Solo-Fel, we do this for a reason, it reminds us that we are all equals in this room, we'll do this most of the time but that's just out of habit." Her aunt said
"Thank you, Master Skywalker." Jaina responded as she had been instructed.
Shelley suddenly stood and ran out of the room, then Jaina got a whiff of something vile, and she too jumped and ran out of the room.
"Master Cilghal?"
"Morning sickness can be touched off by a smell."
"Well isn't that just lovely, Master Solo, I don't recall you being that way."
"I did at the beginning, Grand Master."
"Well, is there anything we can do for them, Master Cilghal?"
"I'm not sure if it gets to bad I can give them nutria-shots but the sickness its self is just going to have to run its course."
"Very well, because that is the third time since she woke that, Master Skywalker has thrown up."
"I will look in on her and Master Solo-Fel after the meeting, Grand Master."
They just talked for a few minute when a very sick looking Jaina and Shelley walked back into the room.
"Are you alright, Master Skywalker, Master Solo-Fel?"
"Just peachy." Shelley said sarcastically. "I apologies Grand Master, I did not mean to be rude."
"Its quite alright, I remember some amusing, hormonal outburst from my sister when she was pregnant with the twins, poor old Han never knew what he did to get her ire up." Shelley and Luke started laughing, recalling more than once they thought she'd finally blast Han and that would be the end of it.
"Hey, that's not very funny and it wasn't then either." Leia said in a mock outraged voice.
"Sure whatever you say Master Solo, I'm sure Han would give testimony otherwise. Now back to business. We need to decide what we are going to do with the Sith."
"First we need to decide where we are going to hid our children, it's obvious it would not be safe to return them to Shelter and we lost Eclipse in the Vong war. I elect Dagobah as a possible site for an underground facility, no one who is Force sensitive can sense another there, which is why Master Yoda chose it."
"I agree, we will send out teams in a few days, Master Sebatyne is there a way to get a hold of the Barabel Knights?"
"No Grand Master, and if I go then I will have to stay for the hatching, It must be either you or Master Skywalker, they will listen and obey, they were taught to obey their leaders even at a time like this, a mother on the hand will have to stay."
Beeping came from Shelley's data pad.
"Very well if Shelley isn't better by the time this Council has finished, then I will go myself, if she is then I will send her and make preparations for building 'The Yoda safe house.' Or something along those lines." Luke looked at his wife who was reading her data pad. "Master Skywalker, do you like that name?"
"I'm sorry, I was reading the acceptance from General Antilles he is asking if he may bring his wife and youngest daughter with him?"
"Yes, we can trust them, will station Myri on the Venture like last time we had to fight." Shelley was nodding and typing, her pad beeped, she handed the pad to him.
"Agreed." Came from all.
General Wedge Antilles,
We are pleased you have agreed to accept the position,
we have offered you.
The Jedi High Council has agreed unanimously, for your
wife and child to join you at Kessel, we would like to assign Myri to
The Errant Venture, where she will be gathering Intel for us, as she has
before she will be under the watchful eye of Booster as before.
Please come to Kessel, we will see you soon.
The Jedi High Council.
Grand Master Luke Skywalker
Master Shelley Harris Skywalker
Master Saba Sebatyne
Master Cilghal
Master Kyp Durron
Master Corran Horn
Master Kenth Hamner
Master Kyle Katarn
Master Octa Ramis Durron
Master Kam Solusar
Master Tioone Solusar
Master Jaina Solo-Fel
Master Leia Organa Solo
Jedi Knight Ben Skywalker
"Grand Master, I think we need to take a recess, its lunch time and I'm feeling very ill at the moment and by the looks of Master Solo-Fel she is as well, there is a smell in this room that is making me feel very sick."
"Yes, let's take a recess, C-3PO will you please have this room aired out and cleaned, I think it would be best if we reconvened in 2 hours. Master Solo, please give this to Han." He handed the letter down everyone signed it, it was the letter for Han from the Council.
General Han Solo,
You have been nominated for a seat on the Jedi High Council
as a retired military advisers. Please contact us with a acceptance or denial.
Thank you,
The Jedi High Council
Grand Master Luke Skywalker
Master Shelley Harris Skywalker
Master Saba Sebatyne
Master Cilghal
Master Kyp Durron
Master Corran Horn
Master Kenth Hamner
Master Kyle Katarn
Master Octa Ramis Durron
Master Kam Solusar
Master Tioone Solusar
Master Jaina Solo-Fel
Master Leia Organa Solo
Jedi Knight Ben Skywalker
"Of course, Grand Master, It would be my pleasure." Leia said taking his letter in her hand.
"Councilors, The Guardian has just jumped in system, requesting permission for orbit stationing, and to see if Chief Daala could get in earlier then two days from now."
Luke walked over to the wall mounted comm station depressed a button.
"Give her orbit, but we are not ready to deal with government issues yet."
"I will let them know. Anything else you need?"
"No we are recessing for a few hours, a few of our Masters are feeling ill."
"Very well. I will send a cleaning crew, just give C-3PO order for them."
"Already done."
"Very well, good afternoon."
Luke turned and looked at the Council both Shelley and Jaina looked green.
"Let us take a recess, see you in a few hours." He walked over to Shelley, took her hand pulled her up and kissed her hand, rapped his arm around her, nodding to everyone else, and lead her out of the room. Han, Jag and Vestara were waiting outside in a couple of chairs, they stood when the Council doors opened, Leia, Jaina and Ben walked over to them showing them the new rights all three of them gave the other a hug, which got a raised eyebrow from Shelley and Luke when Vestara squealed and threw her arms around him. Leia gave Han his request letter, he smiled looked up at the Jedi High Council.
"It would be my honor." He said putting his hand on his chest and inclined her head.
"Very good. Thank you, were glad you agreed. I need to get Shelley to bed she isn't feeling well, and I think Jaina is in need of the same." Jaina looked very ill as well.
"I think I need to go lay down, also Jag I've already puked once since we we're summoned to the Council chambers, and twice this morning, before that." Jag was nodding and put his arm around her and lead the way to the quarters they had been assigned.
"Ben, why don't you go get some lunch, it looks like you have a attractive date." Luke said keeping his face calm and serene in his way that could be so annoying.
"Okay dad, we'll see you later." Ben waved put his arm around Vestara and headed toward the mess hall. All the Master's were looking at each other in mild surprise.
"I didn't know it would be that easy to make them get along."
"I don't know if it's good or not, I'm too young to have grandchildren." Shelley pressed her lips trying not to smile. And even more so when Leia smacked his arm, but couldn't hold it in and a snort came from her and all the rest of the Master's. "Ow, what was that for?" Shelley laughed she couldn't help it she shook her head.
"I'm too young to have grandchildren, Luke Skywalker I have an 8 year old granddaughter."
"So that's why you were laughing I said it wrong again?" he asked Shelley looking at her and she just nodded her head. "I'm sorry if it makes you feel any better I did correct myself last night, I said 'I'm too young to have grandchildren, wait no scratch that Ben is too young to have children.', isn't that what I said, wife? And don't make me embarrass you into telling the truth."
"Are you threatening me? Remember pregnant or not I can still kick your butt up one side and down the other before they can say Yuuzhan Vong." She gestured to the other Master who didn't even try to hide their amusement at the predicament Luke had gotten himself in, he didn't remember Mara being this bad.
"Um, I don't think a fight would be a good idea right now, do you?"
"Oh, I don't know see as you're the one that is threatening to embarrass me, when I could do the same to you." Then she felt very queasy and dizzy. "Okay for now only because I don't think puking on you would be very nice, but just remember this Luke, I still have tricks up my sleeve you have never even dreamed of."
"Oh, I do hope so." He said wagging his eyebrows up and down. And everyone laughed except Shelley, she merely waved her hand and sent him flying down the hall before he knew what happen or could counter it. She turned squared her shoulders and raised her chin and walked passed all the stupefied masters, toward the Shadow, tears streaming down her face, she couldn't believe he'd embarrassed her like that she'd given herself to him fully and that is what she get in return being made fun of. She was almost there when she felt his presence coming up behind her she hit the buttons on the hatch it opened, as she stepped in there was a beeping on her data pad in her hand, she continued down the hall until she got to her room open the door, sat on the bed, tears still streaming down her face. She opened the message on her data-pad.
Master Harris,
We are pleased to tell you, your vessel has been finished earlier than scheduled, please let us know when or if you'd like to come and get it, we understand you are doing some important work with the Jedi if you'd like we could have it brought to you, where ever you are.
Nubian ship yards.
Naboo.
She threw it on the bed slipped out of her shoes rolled on the bed and put herself into a healing trance as she felt Luke work up the courage to come and speak to her.
Luke wasn't quite sure what he'd done to be thrown down the hall, his sister told him to find her and apologize for being an idiot, he had almost caught up with her, when he felt what she was feeling, sadness, embarrassment and something he couldn't understand resentment at herself. And then it hit him like a ton of duracrete she had given herself to him and he had not only told everyone, but implied that it was as amazing as it, well it was, and could only get better. He followed her up the ramp, her data-pad beeped she just went down the hall into their room, and sat on the bed, he heard her hit some buttons, whatever she was reading got her a little excited and then it was gone, he had finally got the courage to speak to her when he felt her slip into a healing trance, he walked into the room tears were still coming down her face, he saw the data-pad on the bed he picked it up and read it, no wonder she was so excited her last personal vessel had been destroyed in an explosion at Shedu Maad, and since her Council position made her stay on Courasant for the most part, she never bothered getting another or at least that's what he had thought it looks like she had a ship custom made just for her, and one from Naboo at, he remembered about six months after the war ended she made several trips to Naboo, he'd always figured it had to do with her brother, not a ship. He walked over to her side of the bed with a cloth wiped her face, because it broke his heart to see her in tears, he decided to leave her alone for now and went back to the sitting room, this morning she had told motor he was allow access to anything he wanted, so he sat and decided to have a look at the ship.
"Motor will you show me Shelley's new ship, on the vid screen all the custom thing she had done to it as well?"
Beep. And it appeared on the screen.
A purple ship with slick lines. And then there was a virtual tour of her ship.
A sitting room with a couch and chairs, vid display, a fully stocked kitchen/dining room. Then it showed a flight deck up front was the pilots seat, then the co-pilots seat that said it could be transfered so it was the pilots seat instead, navigators chair, and two more seats against the wall, two wall connection for an R-2 unit then it started down the hallway, one bedroom labeled Ben's opened it had a big bed in blues and silvers, a design etched into the headboard of a blue/red lightsaber crossed, it also had its own fresher, closets and dressers. The next with bunk beds one side obviously for a girl and the other for a boy, next an amazing Master bedroom, a huge bed in two-tone purple, lightsabers crossed purple and green, a huge closet and fresher, dressers. Next another room there were four more bunks beds their own small closets, dressers. In the hall was another fresher. Then it showed the weapon systems all were force active but could also be turned on by none Force user if the need arose and state of the art returned fire weapon system, tractor beams, hyper drive went .6 pass light speed, it had like all of Shelley and Mara's ships, auto-pilot and remote beacon, there was an equipment hold and the fighter hold a small hatch that lead down into a chamber so someone didn't have to deal with hard vacuum of space, before it cycled through, there was room for 3 stealth X-Wings, 4 if it were just regular X-Wings. He was pretty sure she had, had some sort of vision, because of the very specific additions, like the red/blue blades he thought about Ben and Vestara, purple/green blades and Shelley and Luke, a room specifically for boy/girl twins so it played off of each other. And what looked like a room for more children maybe theirs or Ben's and Vestara's or both.
"WOW." Luke turned toward the sound and found Han and Jag walking in with Ben. "Nice Dad, are you getting a new ship?"
"No it seems your Mom had this built." Han was looking at the specs and whistled.
"Really, this says Ben's room." He was pointing at the picture of his room.
"Yes. And if you look at the head board what does it make you think?"
"That Mom had just designed it, in the past few days. Blue/Red sabers would be Vestara and I the first time we fought… Oh my God, she knew something before didn't she, maybe not specific, but she knew something and she never told us?"
"I would have to say yes look at the next room." Ben looked at the next room, a look of shock passed over his face, he turned to look at his dad. "She did know something." They felt her come out of her Healing Trance. "She just came out of her healing trance." He whispered to his uncle and Jag. They heard 'Kriff.' And her gathering her thing as she ran past she was brushing her hair and threw it on the counter started braiding it as she ran down the ramp. Ben looked down at his Chrono. "Oh, Kriff. We're going to be late, that's why she didn't senses us." Luke also looked at his Chrono.
"Yes that or she was so mad at me she refused to." Luke had never seen his son's head snap up so fast.
"What did you do? Why would she be mad?"
"Let's just say your old man implied something and her being pregnant over reacted and sort of sent him flying down the hall."
"What did you imply?" Ben demanded
"She said something about having tricks up her sleeve, and I said something like I hope so, and the next thing I knew I was flying down the hall with just one wave of her hand."
"Why would you do something like that? I know I don't understand that type of relationship, but dad she was a virgin and she gave herself wholly to you, holding nothing back, I know I felt it in the Force when she broke all connections she was nervous but she still did it, why would you do something like that." Jag and Han we're trying very hard to hide their shock and amusement at least from their faces, but in the Force it was ablaze.
"I didn't mean to, I wasn't trying to imply that, but I guess that's how she took it." He picked up her data-pad. "Come on we are going to be late." He stood. "Please don't tell anyone about what you have just heard okay." He looked at Han and Jag. "She would be mortified and even more embarrassed then I made her earlier today."
Ben and Luke were almost to the conference room when they sensed someone coming up behind them. They turned, and Luke was ready to start cussing up a storm.