At last the ebullience subsided slightly, and Luke motioned for everyone to take their seats. “Thank you for your welcome,” he said. “You’ve no idea how good it is to be home, at least for a while. I’ve missed you, and this Temple, so very much. I told Master Sebatyne, and I want to tell you all, that I commend you for your actions during my absence, hard and personally painful though some of those choices had to be. And I must warn you, there are difficult times ahead. But I know we will triumph.
“I believe you have all been caught up on what has transpired while Ben and I were traveling, thanks to Ben and Cilghal’s correspondence.” He smiled at the Mon Calamari, who inclined her head. “When my sentence was lifted, there was nothing stopping me from sending you all I knew about Abeloth, the Sith, and what we’ve learned about them during our travels.”
Luke hesitated, wondering how much he should say about one thing in particular. He didn’t want to discuss it in so formal a setting, but it was better to address it now than to have rumors, accurate or not, flying.
“We are bringing home a guest with us. You know about Vestara Khai, daughter of Sith Saber Gavar Khai. She has worked with Ben and me for a while now, initially reluctantly, but recently wholeheartedly. She has expressed interest in becoming a Jedi.”
Murmurs rippled through the room. “No disrespect intended, Master Luke, but are you certain her … conversion is genuine?” asked Katarn.
“She was attacked by her own father, who clearly intended to kill her,” Luke said. “She killed him defending herself. There’s nothing for her on her homeworld now. And,” he added, “she seems devoted to Ben, and he to her. She allowed herself to be open in the Force, and her desire is sincere.”
“How open?” asked Octa Ramis.
“Open enough so I sensed she was hiding nothing.”
“That’s good enough for me.”
The others nodded their agreement. Their trust in his abilities was humbling.
“So unless there are any questions,” continued Luke, “there are two matters of great import I’d like to address. Both involve how the Jedi Order is going to move forward, given the circumstances. Since Daala’s deposition, I have given a great deal of thought as to what our role should be, and I have come to a decision.”
Disciplined Masters that they were, everyone had settled down to listen intently once Luke had started speaking. All eyes were on him. Luke hoped that they would understand and agree with his decision, but he was prepared to make it an order if they didn’t.
“I firmly believe the Jedi should not be in charge of the Galactic Alliance. What you have done so far was necessary to keep order. But it’s time we move, and move quickly, to transition out of the government. And once we have done so—”
Luke took a deep breath, bracing himself for the inevitable protest.
“We leave Coruscant. Completely.”
“What?” The word came from so many throats at once that it was hard to pinpoint exactly who was talking.
“To what end?” asked Kyle Katarn.
“Leave the Temple? For good, you mean?” Kyp asked.
“This one will not leave!” Saba lashed her tail. Luke was surprised—earlier she had been almost dejected in her attitude. Now he did not need to use the Force to sense her determination and resentment.
He held up his hands and exuded calmness. “I will answer all your questions. This is not a decision I came to lightly.”
Luke knew that by opening with such a controversial subject, he had startled the Masters. Some of them were likely wondering if his recent confrontations with the Sith and with Abeloth had addled his wits.
Those who had stood resumed their seats, even Saba, and Luke continued. “There are several reasons for this. One—and this will soon be made public, not just to the Jedi Order but to everyone—is that we need to make it clear beyond the shadow of a doubt that the Jedi Order is not interested in politics. The coup was necessary, and you all handled it well. But from what I am hearing, things are piling up, and very little progress has been made. To mix metaphors, poor Wynn Dorvan’s hands are tied when they are already too full. He—or whomever is chosen to become not just acting Chief of State but the true, legitimate Chief of State of the Galactic Alliance—needs the ability to function without the Jedi or the Senate approving what he or she puts in their caf every morning. The new Chief needs to learn how to be not just part of a triumvirate, but a solitary leader who works cooperatively with separate branches of the government. And we—the Jedi—are not branches of the government. We are our own Order. And we need to demonstrate that we are.”
“But surely we can do so without leaving Coruscant,” said Octa.
“I don’t believe we can,” Luke said. “Not anymore. Remember how Daala focused on the Jedi. She respected us and our abilities, but she wanted to be able to direct them at her will. Saba—you decided to act against her, and against Kenth, who also tried to act within that kind of mind-set. You did the sort of thing Jedi need to do. We can’t risk being trapped in our own Temple again, held hostage by a government that wants to make us a tool in their arsenal. We need to be separate, so that the only conscience and mandates that dictate our actions are our own. And that can best be achieved by putting physical distance between us and the seat of government, at least for some time.”
“Even if it means leaving the Temple?” asked Kyp.
“No,” said Saba forcefully before Luke could even reply. “This one will not leave. Nor will the other Barabelz in the Temple.”
So that was why she had reacted so strongly. Luke had heard about the strange mystery involving the Barabel Jedi, who had sequestered themselves in the Temple. He knew better than to probe further. He trusted Saba to do nothing harmful to the Order or other Jedi, and besides, he would probably only anger her.
Luke considered for a moment. “The Barabels currently in the Temple will be permitted to remain for … as long as is necessary. But I must have your word, Master Sebatyne, that they will not interfere with the fledging government, and as soon as they can, they will join the other Jedi.”
Saba sissed. “Trust me, Master Skywalker. They have no wish to set foot outside the Temple—nor to let anyone in—for quite some time yet.”
“Also, they can serve even so,” he said. “They can be watchful of the Temple, and make sure that it is not violated. It is our home, even if we can no longer live here. For now, to emphasize our unity, the Jedi should leave together, but I would not deny any Jedi entrance to our own Temple. Infact, Tesar and Wilyem and any others staying behind could do me two favors, if they wouldn’t mind.”
Saba cocked her head. “That dependz on the nature of the favorz.”
“One—remove the guard-grates from the water supply mains.” He gave her a quick smile. “Every slicer knows you need to leave a backdoor.”
Saba sassed. “This is truth,” she said. “And the second?”
Luke sobered. “Ask them to undertake guardianship of the Temple. Protect it.”
Saba considered for a moment. “Yes,” she said finally. “That would not interfere with their … other activities. And if they are permitted to be undisturbed, this one will accompany the other Jedi.”
“Please give them my thanks,” he said. “Are we in agreement with all that I have presented?”
They considered, then all nodded. Luke could sense that they were grateful to again feel part of a group being led, rather than dictated to. “Good. We’ll return to some of the details of those decisions in a moment. They are, of necessity, to be made public. What I have to say next—will be for your ears only.”
Vestara was silent, following Ben and Jaina through the Temple as they approached the library. Most of what she had seen so far was turbolifts and corridors. Jaina had wanted to see Natua first thing, to thank her for her hard work, and had told Ben that he and Vestara were free to explore the Temple on their own after that.
After a few moments, Ben broke the uncomfortable silenc
e. “So what do you think?”
She turned to him. “It’s … quite large.”
“Jedi have been on Coruscant for a very long time,” Ben reminded her.
“Sith have been on Kesh for a very long time as well, and yet our Temple is much smaller.”
Ben filed that away for further inquiry later. “Well, once we’re done in the library, we can go anywhere you’d like. You had a chance to study the plans. What sounds interesting?”
Vestara, who had been closed and somewhat shy toward him since their arrival, suddenly melted. “Everything!” she said, sounding almost more like Allana than her normal cool, controlled self. He gave her an answering grin and squeezed her hand.
It was hand in hand that they entered the library. Ben braced himself for beings coming up to him and welcoming him back, but the library was hardly a hubbub of socializing, and what few beings were here seemed engrossed in their research.
Even, it seemed, Natua Wan, whom they finally found as Jaina peered behind several stacks of datapads.
“I commed you about seventeen times,” Jaina greeted her.
Natua glanced up and did a double take. “Jaina!” she exclaimed. “Ben! Welcome back. I’m sorry … I had it turned off. I was completely lost in some research I’ve been doing.”
“So I see.” Jaina grinned.
Natua had risen to greet them, and now turned to Vestara. “You must be Vestara Khai,” she said. Ben winced inwardly at the caution she was exuding, both in the Force and through her species’ natural release of pheromones. “Master Luke tells me you wish to become a Jedi.”
Vestara nodded. “I do.” Her unguarded sincerity seemed to reassure Natua.
“I look forward to talking with you,” Natua said. “I didn’t know much about the Sith culture before I started doing research for you all. Now I find it fascinating.”
“I think I will like learning about Jedi,” Vestara offered. “Of course, I’ll tell you what I can to help.”
Jaina carefully moved a pile of ’pads from a chair and sat next to Natua. Ben and Vestara emulated her. “I wanted to come and thank you for all you’ve done,” Jaina said. “You’ve been extremely helpful.”
Natua grimaced a little. “Even if all you reached was a bunch of dead ends?”
“Even so. It’s hardly your fault the Sith have a lot of hidey-holes we need to investigate one by one.”
“Well,” she said, “the wild caranak chase just might be done. I was going to comm you myself shortly. I wanted to do a bit more research first, but since you’re here, you might as well know.”
“What have you found?” Jaina, Ben, and Vestara leaned forward eagerly.
“I’m not certain,” said Natua, “but … I might have found Ship.”
“What?” Jaina’s yelp was so loud that a few heads turned her way. Natua laughed. Ben, too, felt happy and excited, and didn’t care that the feeling largely flowed from the pheromones that Natua was emitting. He’d feel the same way regardless—if they really could find Ship.
“I know that we wanted to focus on known Sith worlds, going on the idea that if we knew about it, the Lost Tribe would as well,” Natua said. Ben could sense that despite her pleasure and enthusiasm, Natua was going to present things in an orderly fashion. “But one night, I decided to just randomly start reading about worlds we knew very little about, or that didn’t really play a significant role. One of these worlds is called Upekzar.”
She touched a datapad, and a display of a rather nondescript planet appeared. Ben, Jaina, and Vestara rose, peering over Natua’s shoulder.
“Upekzar has been mostly forgotten,” Natua continued. “By and large, this seems to be a pleasant and temperate planet. There are polar ice caps, rain forests, oceans, plains, mountains, forested areas—most climates are represented here. Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, the unpleasant spots are where we need to target our investigation.”
She pointed at the image on the datapad. There was a chain of islands and coastlines clustered in one part of the world. “See this ring here?” Natua drew a finger along the chain, starting near Upekzar’s south pole, going up through its equator, toward the north pole, and then down again. “The ancient Sith called this Circle of Visions. The rest of the planet went undeveloped while they focused all their attention on five specific sites along this circle.”
“Why was that area so special?” Vestara asked.
“The abundance of volcanoes,” Natua replied promptly.
“Yeah, that sounds about right for the Sith, jumping into volcanoes,” said Ben softly to Vestara, his voice playful. She shoved him, but she was smothering a smile.
“More specifically,” Natua continued, “they valued what the volcanoes left behind. Volcanic caves, caverns, tubes—all formed when lava continued to flow beneath a top layer that cooled faster, forming a crust. The Sith thought these caves significant, and when they ventured to explore them, many Sith suffered hallucinations.”
“From various fumes contained in the caves?” asked Jaina.
“No.” Natua shook her head, her fingers tapping on the console to call up another holographic image. It was a sort of insect, with six legs, a multisectioned body, antennae, and what looked like a two-pronged tail extension.
Ben’s eyes widened. “I know what that is,” he said solemnly.
Vestara glanced at him. “You do?”
He nodded. “It’s … a bug!”
“Your sense of humor is almost as bad as Jacen’s was,” muttered Jaina. Ben smiled a little. He realized that he was starting to let Jacen Solo replace Darth Caedus in his mind—and in his heart. And he was glad of it. Of course, ever since Vestara had told him she wanted to become a Jedi and they had begun exploring what “relationship” meant, he’d felt happier and more confident than he had in a long, long time.
“What type of bug, Natua?” Jaina asked.
“It’s a variety of diplura. A type of hexapod, which is a …” Natua looked at the blank expressions around her and smiled a little. “… a bug. Variations of diplurans are found on almost all habitable worlds. It’s this particular species that is interesting. During various parts of its life cycle, it excretes a certain fluid rich with pheromones. These pheromones happen to be a powerful hallucinogen for some mammalian species. From what records survive, the hallucinations were terrifying.”
“And of course, the Sith believed it was the work of the dark side,” said Vestara.
“Was it? In part?” asked Ben.
Natua nodded. “Yes to both. At first, the Sith had no idea what was going on. Later, once they understood, they deemed the volcanic caves special places, and conducted initiations and other rites of passage without protection from the pheromones. The caves were, if not a dark-side nexus precisely, definitely a site in which the dark side flourished. Centuries of rituals imbued with the power of fear and anguish induced by the pheromones only strengthened that. Also—while the Sith did not live in the lava tubes, their interactions with the bugs became the foundation of their culture. They dwelled close to the five major places where they performed their Mysteries. Each settlement was located near an elaborate lava cave system that had a specific focus.”
She indicated various areas on the image as she spoke. “The one located here, near its south pole, was for Cold Rites—presumably focusing on tempering emotions, hardening hearts, and so on. The one on the equator, for Rites of Fire. This might be where the Sith focused on their anger and passions, how to use them to serve the dark side. However, I believe that this one here, in a very temperate zone—the one that hosted what was called the High Rites—might be the most significant area to explore. Only the highest-ranking Sith—the ones strongest in the Force—conducted rituals here. And correspondingly, the most powerful Sith on Upekzar lived only a few kilometers away from this cave system, in a city that lies in the shadow of a dormant volcano.”
She touched the screen, and a map of the area replaced the image of the planet.
&
nbsp; “Ben, you first found Ship on Ziost,” Natua said. “He was … docked, for a better word, below an abandoned citadel, in the ground. What remaining documents there are indicate that this site was ‘the nest of the future Sith.’ I thought it was a nursery or a school … until I saw this.”
She touched the ’pad again. The map disappeared, replaced by the image of an orange, pebbly-surfaced, too-familiar Ship. And even though everyone knew exactly why they were here, there was still a flicker of apprehension in the Force at the sight.
“While it’s highly doubtful this is the same Ship we seek, considering how long he seemed to have been on Ziost,” Natua continued, “it is definitely a Sith training vessel. It’s not too much of a stretch to believe that Ship might decide to return to a known ‘nest’ to ‘roost.’ ”
“So, it sounds like we’ll have two goals,” Jaina mused, thinking aloud. “We’ll explore the city to see if we can find a trace of Ship in its, uh, hangar, and we’ll investigate the nearby volcanic caves to search for other information that could help us if he’s not there. Natua, what do we know about the rites that were conducted in the lava tubes?”
“Unfortunately, nothing,” said Natua. “They were secret—only for the initiated. Once the Sith started using the diplurans, or rather the pheromones they produced, the records go silent on what actually transpired.” She sounded a bit frustrated that she could not provide answers. Ben realized that, like most of the formerly “mad Jedi,” Natua was trying to atone for the harm she had caused while under Abeloth’s influence. Jaina, too, obviously saw what was going on and squeezed Natua’s arm in a friendly fashion.
“Upekzar is a small and not very well-known bastion of the Sith to begin with,” Jaina said. “Add to that these … bugs … and secret rituals, and nobody’s going to find much information on them.”
Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Ascension Page 22
