Chapter 13

Location: Jedi Council Chambers on Shedu Maad

The room was sparsely populated with actual beings. The only Masters there in person were Masters Horn, Cilghal, and Jaina. All others present were there in holo form. The Majority of the Council were in transit to Coruscant for the funeral of Tendra and Lando jr, which had by now become a de facto state function.

Lando's family had done so much for the rebels, the New Republic, and the current Galactic Alliance. The Jedi order had also greatly benefited from its long standing relationship with the Calrissians. In acknowledgment of this, the majority of the Jedi counsel including Grand Master Sebatyne would be in attendance. A Master or two had to stay on Shedu to oversee the base. Also staying behind was the investigation team who were already showing their support and respect for Lando's loss by getting to the bottom of what happened.

Nevertheless all those unable to attend the funeral would be there in holo form. Then there was Luke. Luke of course would have left for Coruscant to be by Lando's side where he belonged whether or not he was already helping out with the investigation, however part of his absence was because of his injuries suffered in Hutt space. After all his wounds although not life threatening were still quite substantial. The two blaster bolts, not only bled through past his layer of armour into his chest, but some fragments of the breast plate had not completely stood up to the force of the impact. These fragments were blasted loose and embedded themselves in his chest. Thankfully his ribs prevented any injuries to his heart or lungs, but it did nothing to help his "slow to heal" injury he had received from Abeloth's tentacles.

As serious as that was Luke would have still found a way to be there for his friend. No it was the "request" from the Jedi Council that he remain at base that kept him grounded. To be fair it wasn't the whole council that wanted him base bound. Saba, Kyle and Kyp had no problem with Luke having the full freedom of movement due any Master. However the rest had expressed their worries quite clearly, so the dissenters had acquiesced with the quorum.

In fact half of this meeting would be dedicated to setting a course of action on what to do next with Luke (or conversely: without Luke).

It was Cilghal who voiced her concerns first: "I am extremely disturbed by the composite symptoms being displayed. His personality changes, his mood changes, his visions, and his injuries. In Particular I think his injuries are a wake up call."

Kyp was quick to counter (of course he was) with: "So? From all accounts Luke fought one hell of a fight, and he and the team got what they came for. Did you expect him to come back without a scratch?"

Jaina was next: "But Kyp, the point is: It wasn't necessary! This was an investigation not some pivotal battle of good vs evil. They could have snuck on the station and got what they needed. It just seems ...overly reckless... Ok it sounds like somthing you or I would do ten years ago, but it's just not like Uncle Luke."

Cilghal bobbed her head in agreement with Jaina's assessment. "And then there was the incident with his lightsaber. The rest of the team, who witnessed what happened, weren't sure if it was a malfunction or if it was ... intentional. Unfortunately all this brings into question his state of mind.

Put it all together and it point towards a clinical disregard for himself and possibly others, which again is not consistent with the Luke we know. Such apathy strongly suggests depression. As much as it pains me I don't want him to leave the base until we can get to the root cause."

Jaina cleared her throat and then said in a voice that betrayed her perceived guilt at the words she was about to say: "Uncle... Master Skywalker told me something in confidence and I wouldn't normally betray that... ever! But in light of everything I... ok...here it is: Luke told me that the last time he was "Beyond Shadows" right after he defeated Abeloth.. he... he tried to kill himself. He said he was ready to die "Beyond Shadows, but Mara, or a version of her, wouldn't let him, and dragged him back to the living."

Everyone was digesting the implications of what Jaina had just revealed.

Cilghal bobbed her head in a convincing facsimile of a human nod. "Knowing this, I would say the Diagnosis is complete: He has been through so much physically and emotionally and he has not as completely over Mara's death as we previously thought. He is in a depressed state and needs care and to be monitored."

There were murmurs around the table. And then Corran chimed in: "I agree that we should try to keep him out of the field for now, but there is the matter of these... Visions of his. I don't think we should be so quick to dismiss them. Just think about it: Luke sees himself on Kesh and Vestara is featured in those same visions, and now we have evidence that Vestara is involved in the shuttle tragedy? That can't be a coincidence. I think if we play our cards right we can get those responsible for the crime and maybe get a serious lead on Kesh."

It was the Grand Master's turn to speak: "What do we know about Vestara Khai'z involvement?"

Corran reverted back to full CorSec Mode: "So far we have been able to piece together the following facts: Vestara obtained the ore charge that killed Chance and Tendra, from the pirate base. As far as we know, she was the last person to have it, so there is a strong possibility, she is our killer. She and the pirates seemed to be getting orders from someone on Coruscant. We Also know from Tendrando Arms Corporate records that this particular shuttle was new and had never left Coruscant before this, So I believe that the Sabatoge happened on Coruscant."

"Isnt it conceivable that the charge could have been placed aboard at Foundry when Lando debarked for his mine there?"

Master Octa Ramis asked.

Corran answered :"We've ruled that possibility out.

Firstly: Tendra never left the cockpit the all of five minutes that the ship was in the docking bay at the Foundry facility. Secondly: No one came aboard the shuttle in those five minutes.

We can also say with near certainty that the charge was put in place on Coruscant on the same day they left."

All the other Masters gave him the "and you know this how?" look, so he continued: "You see, the timer on a VOC has a maximum option of only twelve hours. I think its clear: The device was planted on Coruscant. Add that to the fact that Vestara's Holo links the mastermind behind this to Coruscant, I think we need to continue this investigation on Coruscant. Me and the rest of the team (minus Luke of course) will be heading to Coruscant in the next twelve hours. Oh, and there's one more thing. Thanks to that holo of Vestara, we have a voice sample. I got Dena to pass that on to GA Security with a request to intercept any communication on Coruscant with her voice. It may lead us to both her and her boss."

Across the table Jaina said: "With Master Skywalker staying here on Shedu, I would like to fill his spot on the investigation."

This was followed by nods of agreement across the room. After a few more exchanges of ideas, the meeting came to an end. This reality of The Jedi council meeting without Luke was still strange and new, but all of them had been taught well by Luke: The Jedi was more than one man. It was no longer a newborn eopie, that needed constant care and help to stand. It was mature, self sustaining, and now... It had work to do.