Star Wars: Fate Of The Jedi: Omen Part 17

Ben thought about the time he had spent on Ziost. At that point in his life, he had been solidly Jacen's creature, although a few doubts had begun to creep in around the edges. He had believed that the Force was a tool, like a lightsaber or a blaster. That it was what you did with it, how you manipulated it, that was important. That there was no real dark or light side, only a neutral side. Gray, if you will.

Or rainbow.

And yet-even as he first saw the planet, he had felt something malevolent about it. As if it was watching him, the way he was watching it. He remembered the voices, which spoke first in his dreams and then in his head, urging him to abandon the young girl who was accompanying him. To kill her, to-to eat her, in order to grow strong. And when those thoughts were on him, the girl, Kiara, recoiled from him. From the dark side growing within him.

And it was at that moment that Ben had wondered about his belief in the Force's neutrality. The malevolence he had sensed had come from nothing alive. It was the imprint of the Sith who had been there for so long; the echoes of their presence, their energy, even though they had long since physically left the world.

He realized that it was the dark side. And although it had taken him a long time to process that revelation, he had.

"I used to think of it like a tool, a weapon," he said. "A blaster isn't inherently evil. It can shoot a friend to betray him or an enemy to save a life. I thought of the Force that way. As neither good or evil, just kind of-gray."

Luke nodded. "I remember when I entered the cave on Dagobah. I sensed something wrong at once, even before I went in. It was so cold, so unsettling. I was-" He laughed slightly. "I was setting myself up for failure, is what I was doing. Yoda told me I wouldn't need my weapons, but I took them anyway. He warned me that a Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never attack, but when the image of Vader approached-I activated my lightsaber first. That's not what Jedi do. We protect and defend those who can't defend themselves. So I failed my first test on the whole light side-dark side thing pretty miserably."

Ben chuckled. "You know, it gives me hope that you screwed up so badly and so consistently as a kid, Dad."

"Watch it, son." Luke grinned.

"I-I think Jacen wanted it to be gray," Ben said slowly, speaking as he worked things out in his head.

"What do you mean?"

Ben suspected that Luke knew exactly what he meant, but wanted to hear him say it. He continued. "Jacen wanted a safe galaxy. That's something all right-thinking people want-a safe place to raise their kids, pursue their art or their pa.s.sions. It's not a bad ideal."

"No, it's not."

"But-Jacen wanted it too badly. Badly enough to do really evil things to get it. Badly enough to become Sith in order to get the power to make it happen."

"It's the cla.s.sic example of the end justifying the means," Luke said quietly. "You want something-even something that everyone agrees is a good thing-too desperately. And so you start eliminating obstacles to your success. And then in order to keep going, you've got to harden yourself to doing more and more things that are at odds with your core beliefs of what is right and wrong. Make it so that your goal is so important, you have to lie or betray or kill for it."

Luke paused. "I once asked Yoda if the dark side was stronger. He said no, but it was easier, more-"

" ... seductive," said Ben in his smoothest Lando Calrissian impression as he waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Luke laughed. "You know the story. But the lesson-which I failed miserably-was that you really do find only what you take with you. The dark side can't corrupt you unless you let it, let it use the anger, hatred, and aggression you already have."

"Or your wants," Ben said quietly, the humor fading. "That's what Jacen did."

"For a Jedi, there is no place for a rainbow Force," Luke said quietly. "There's no room for compromise. We walk the path of the light side, or we fall to the darkness. There's no gray area, Ben."

Ben sighed. "It sounds like a nice idea, but ... yeah. I saw what happened to Jacen, up close and personal. And I've felt the dark side on Ziost, just like you did on Dagobah. But Yoda was wrong about one thing."

"Oh? What's that?"

"It didn't dominate Vader's destiny. You pulled him back from the dark side, and when he died, he was one with the Force. And you pulled Mom back from it, too."

Luke smiled gently. "And Leia pulled me back, when I got too close. I think you did the same thing for Tahiri, Ben. You didn't just abandon her, even when she had done all the things she did to you."

Ben struck a heroic pose as best he could in the flowform chair. "Jedi Skywalkers," he said melodramatically. "Practicing a fine family tradition of rescuing people from the dark side."

"Hey, there are worse family traditions."

"Like Aunt Leia's spiceloaf."

"You think the dark side is scary, you say that to her."

"I won't. I like my body intact, thank you very much."

THE JOURNEYS UPON WHICH THE AING-TII SENT LUKE AND BEN WERE fascinating. The Aing-Tii sometimes knew the precise location where an artifact would be. Other times, Luke and Ben were sent on missions based only on a "sensing" that something "might" be there. Traveling was much easier now that they had the Aing-Tii to help them plot jumps. Ben once asked if they could learn how to make the Jade Shadow jump the way the Sanhedrim vessels did, as they were now on a pilgrimage on behalf of the Aing-Tii.

Tadar'Ro shook his head. "Your vessel is without the Force," he said. "Ours ... are not."

"Are they organic, then?" Luke asked, thinking of the Yuuzhan Vong.

Tadar'Ro c.o.c.ked his head, considering. "Yes and no," he said finally. "They are of the Force, but they are not organic, not as you understand the word."

"More rainbow philosophy?" asked Ben.

"Indeed," said Tadar'Ro. The question could have been perceived as flippant, but Luke and apparently Tadar'Ro both knew that it wasn't intended as such. "Things are not just one thing or another. Not with us."

The artifacts they were sent to find were of all varieties. Sometimes they seemed to Luke and Ben to simply be exceptionally beautiful stones, crystals, or other natural formations. Other times they carefully brought back what was clearly a piece of advanced alien technology. Each time, the item was received in the same manner: with reverence. And most of the time, Luke and Ben, the ones who managed to obtain the item, were treated with grat.i.tude and courtesy.

Most of the time. Increasingly, though, Luke began to sense resentment from the Aing-Tii. He asked Tadar'Ro about it one afternoon.

Tadar'Ro seemed agitated. "It is not directed at you," he said finally. "The schism between the two factions-those who believe the Force guides us, while not directly shaping things, and those who believe the Prophet was a voice for Those Who Dwell Beyond the Veil-increases each day. More and more, each side swells with those who step from neutrality, from being comfortable with the not-knowing, to a firm stance. Fewer and fewer are staying open to all possibilities, as I am. We need to heal this rift, and soon."

"What can we do to help?" Luke asked.

"When you are ready, we will take you to the Embrace," Tadar'Ro said.

Beside Luke, Ben started violently at the word. Luke reached to squeeze his arm rea.s.suringly. For Ben, for a long while yet, the word Embrace would be followed by of Pain, and would produce an instant and visceral reaction. Tadar'Ro of course picked up on it.

"It is nothing of harm," he said rea.s.suringly. "It is simply our term for the site that contains the Relics. That ... embraces them lovingly, holds them safely."

Ben was calming down and nodded. "Sorry," he said. "So why can't Dad and I go to this ... Embrace ... and try to answer that question for you?"

"You are not yet ready to do such a thing," Tadar'Ro replied. "There are still things you must learn; things you must understand about us. Things that Jacen Solo and Jorj Car'das learned and understood, at least to some degree. Then I will lead you into the Embrace."

Luke knew what Tadar'Ro was talking about. He was not at all happy that Ben had asked to learn flow-walking, or that Tadar'Ro had agreed to teach it. For beings who had a multifaceted approach to the Force, even to physics itself, flow-walking was probably not that big a deal.

But for humans, it was something else entirely. Still, the situation was what it was.

"I know Ben is anxious to learn flow-walking from you, so I will leave you two to it," he said, rising and nodding respectfully at Tadar'Ro. Ben didn't meet his father's eyes, instead gazed straight at the Aing-Tii. He was still looking intently at him as Luke turned and walked back to the Jade Shadow.

THE SHADOWS OF EVENING WERE STRETCHING OUT WHEN BEN FINALLY came back. He was excited by what he had learned, but was doing what he could to conceal that excitement. He was silent as he rattled around in the galley for a bit, finally emerging with a plate piled high with food.

"I'm a little later than usual," he said. "I figured you'd already eaten."

Luke nodded and turned to pause the holographic journal entry he'd been perusing. "I did. How is it going?"

Ben filled his mouth with food so he wouldn't have to reply instantly.

"Okay," he said finally, then took another large bite.

Luke sighed. "Care to elaborate?"

"Not really. I mean, I know you don't like it, Dad, so what's the point?"

"I think it'd be interesting to hear how it is being taught from the original source," Luke said, keeping his voice mild.

Ben shrugged. "Kind of what you'd expect from the Aing-Tii. All rainbowy."

Luke felt a pang of sorrow at the new wariness his son displayed. He knew that it was a direct consequence of his disapproval, but what was he to do? What was any father to do when he saw his son doing something that was unnecessary and perhaps very dangerous? He couldn't just pretend that it was all fine, and Ben knew it, and for the first time on this journey together, Luke could feel the old rift between them opening again.

He took a deep breath. "Ben ... do you understand why I don't approve of this?"

"Of course I do," Ben said, snapping a little. "You believe it's dangerous, that it'll hurt me somehow. That it's wrong to try to meddle with the past or future."

"I do believe it will hurt you, but not the way you think," Luke said, searching for the words.

Ben eyed him, still wary but also curious. Luke took a moment to gather the words, hoping they were the right ones.

"It's an empty promise, Ben. Full of hopes and wishes, but in the end, it's just ashes and disillusionment. Yes, you can see those who have died, but you can't change what happens to them. And yes, you can see the future-even alter it to a small degree if you're skilled enough-but you can't be sure you're doing the right thing. The very wanting that is prompting you to do this is what's started many down the path to the dark side."

"What do you know about what I want?" Ben snapped. "You never even asked why I wanted to do it!"

Luke blinked, realizing his son was right. "I'm sorry," he said. "I a.s.sumed-"

"You shouldn't."

"You're right. I shouldn't make a.s.sumptions. I thought you wanted to go back in time to see Mom again ... or to find out when Jacen started to go wrong. So that you might be able to change things."

A sudden bright flush on his son's cheeks told Luke that he had hit the mark. The silence that suddenly descended was painfully awkward. Luke waited a moment, but Ben said nothing, didn't even continue to eat.

"Ben ... I'm just a father wanting to spare his son pain, that's all. And I knew that's why you wanted to learn the technique because-well, because it's what I would have wanted to do at your age."

"I'm sick of being my age," Ben said coldly. He shoved the food away from him with a sharp, violent gesture and rose. "I guess I'm not hungry after all."

Luke watched him stalk off toward his cabin, his heart aching. Everything he had said was true, but in the state Ben was in, he couldn't or wouldn't listen. He would have to figure all this out on his own.

And Luke would be there when he did.

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF OF STATE,.

SENATE BUILDING, CORUSCANT.

DESHA LOR GASPED AND HER HAND FLEW TO HER MOUTH.

Wynn Dorvan stood, hands loosely clasped behind his back, his face inscrutable as he, Desha, and Daala watched the shocking events unfolding on the holonews. They were in Daala's office, the decor of which was crisply white and scrupulously clean. Daala was a meticulous and precise woman, and of the Empire, and both these attributes of hers were on display here to anyone who cared to look.

"It's madness, absolute chaos," Javis Tyrr was saying, peering earnestly into the cam. "Whereas only a short while ago the Coruscant Livestock Exchange and Exhibition was a safe, fun-filled way to while away an afternoon, now it has become a site of carnage and terror."

Daala's face was strained, her green eyes fastened on the unfolding events. This was not the first time news had revolved around something as seemingly innocuous as the Exchange and Exhibition. Plenty of times in the past a creature or two-or three or four-had broken loose to stampede about for a while before it was brought down by crack security teams. Or sometimes the less-than-savory dealings unofficially conducted in back rooms went awry. But even Dorvan was surprised to see this.

"I received the call a few moments ago and took the liberty of sending out some special teams from the GA," he said to Daala, who nodded absently, her gaze still riveted.

The cam pulled back to show the main floor as Tyrr continued to narrate. "What you're seeing are empty corrals that should be filled with herd animals. Someone has deliberately sabotaged the gates and set dozens of creatures loose to stampede among the populace. The source of-"

The cam moved so suddenly, Dorvan felt a hint of nausea. And then he saw why. A Falleen, her skin reddened as she exuded hormones, was bringing a lightsaber down upon another gate, this one containing rontos. The animals, skittish in urban areas under the best of circ.u.mstances, were terrified, rearing and snorting. As they dived for freedom, the Jedi, for it could only be a Jedi, leapt clear, then darted away.

"A Jedi?" said Desha, disbelieving. "But a Jedi would never put civilians in harm's way like this!"

"These days they would," Daala said grimly, her lips pressed together in a thin, furious line. "And have."

"It's a Jedi!" Javis Tyrr was crying, echoing their words. "Another Jedi, sworn to protect, has clearly gone insane! Who knows how many innocents will die here, terrorized, trampled or gored to death? When will this stop?"

The cam swung around to a close-up of the back of a woman's head. Her hair was long, dark, and pulled back in a ponytail. Suddenly the woman turned.

"You!"

"That's Jaina Solo," Desha Lor said, her eyes wide as the Jedi strode up to the cam and covered it with her hand. "What's she doing there?"

"She, her parents, and her adopted sister were attending the exhibition," Dorvan said. When Desha stared at him, he answered her unspoken question. "While we do not exactly follow her or other notable personages around, the GA does take care to know exactly where such personages are at all times. You'll soon learn about this. And I'll be putting you in charge of such operations." The Twi'lek looked uncomfortable with the idea, but said nothing.

Meanwhile, despite the vibroblades Jaina was metaphorically shooting at him, Tyrr wasn't giving up. He continued to speak. "Jaina Solo, can you verify that Jedi Natua Wan-"

Dorvan tuned out the rest, instead listening to a message from his earpiece comlink. He turned to Daala. "Admiral, there's worse going on in the Dangerous Animal Hall. I have reports of injuries and a possible fatality."

"Oh, no!" Desha looked stunned and shocked, and again Dorvan wondered if anyone could really be this innocent.

Dorvan directed his gaze back to the holonews. Javis Tyrr had moved away from covering the current crisis; apparently he had switched to a second holocam; the image was not as clear as before. Dorvan was willing to bet a month's wages that Jaina had damaged it somehow. The fact that Tyrr had a backup cam indicated that this sort of thing must happen a lot to a holojournalist.

" ... exclusive footage," Tyrr was saying. "Natua Wan's murderous rampage is not the first example of a Jedi harming the public. Nor is it likely to be the last. And yet the Jedi continue to operate without restrictions. While Valin and Jysella Horn are safely encased in carbonite, Natua Wan is still on the loose. And so, we thought, was another rogue Jedi-Seff h.e.l.lin."

What he saw next shocked even Wynn Dorvan.

It was Seff h.e.l.lin, captured, raging at nothing, and then collapsing on a comfortable-looking flowform couch. The cam pulled back to reveal what looked like a pleasant apartment complete with tables and chairs and what appeared to be a state-of-the-art holographic center.

"What you're seeing is footage from deep inside the Jedi Temple," Tyrr's voice said. "Seff h.e.l.lin, murderer, has apparently been captured by the Jedi and held in a prison that looks like a luxury apartment."

"Admiral, did you know about-" Dorvan turned. Daala was livid. Her face was white with anger, a vein pulsed in her forehead, and she looked as if she were about to snap the datapad in half. It was obvious she was exercising every ounce of her formidable control.