Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 02_ Omen - Christie Golden [34]
Leia and Jaina exchanged glances. Hamner waited. Jaina frowned and looked down, and Leia sighed.
“That’s … another ability that Jacen had that most Jedi don’t,” Leia said. “You’re certain she flow-walked?”
“I am,” Cilghal said gently. “Both the evidence and what I felt in the Force confirm it.”
Hamner turned to Corran. “Master Horn, I’ve no wish to cast aspersions, but in light of the evidence—”
Corran, who had been listening with increasing emotion, now spoke. “You don’t even have to say it. Of course Mirax and I will come in for a thorough medical examination. Don’t you think that was the first thing that popped into our minds when we were told about Jysella? Whether this sickness was something she or I had passed along to them?”
“Thank you, Master Horn,” Cilghal said gratefully. “The more information we have, the better. Currently, I confess, no one has any idea what might be causing this tragedy. I must eliminate what possibilities I can.” She turned to Hamner. “Master Hamner, I and a team must be permitted to examine Jysella. It is vital to our investigation into what is causing this.”
Corran laughed, a short, harsh bark. “Good luck with that, Cilghal,” he said. “Mirax and I aren’t even being permitted to see her.”
“What?” The single word erupted from several throats. Some of the Masters literally rose from their seats. Saba Sebatyne hissed.
Hamner held up a calming hand. “That’s utterly inexcusable, Corran, and I’ll make a formal request that you and your wife be allowed to see your daughter before she is put in carbonite. I’ll be seeing Chief of State Daala in three days and—”
“Three days?”
“I am endeavoring to persuade her that this is a matter that requires her immediate attention.”
“She shouldn’t keep you waiting for three hours, let alone—” Kyp burst out.
“Master Hamner.” The voice was feminine, cool, reasonable, and it cut through the raised voices and tension in the room like a vibroblade through cheese. After all these years, Leia Organa Solo still had what it took to draw the attention of a room full of people.
“If I may—my husband and I have been allowed to act as go-betweens before. With your permission, I would like to contact Chief of State Daala and speak with her on this subject. She is a grandmother herself. I’m convinced that she’s not as callous as this action would indicate.”
It wouldn’t do to have Leia undermining his efforts. Hamner thought for a moment before responding. “While I am grateful for your offer, I think that the Order needs to speak with a united voice.”
“You misunderstand,” Leia corrected him gently. “I do not intend to speak with the authorization of the Order, merely as myself. This would not be in the place of your meeting with her, but in addition to it.”
Hamner pressed his lips together. He liked and respected Leia, and she had certainly been able to help out the Order on more than one occasion. It would be foolish and, worse, arrogant to refuse her help now.
“Then of course. Thank you. So,” he resumed, mentally ticking things off, “I will endeavor to speed up my meeting with Chief of State Daala. At that meeting, I will request that Cilghal and any team she chooses to accompany her be permitted access to Jysella Horn before she is encased in carbonite, and also that her parents be allowed to visit her. Any information that the GA has obtained on her during their initial examination is to be shared with the Order, and we will, of course, do likewise in the spirit of cooperation. Master Horn and his wife, Mirax, will report immediately following this meeting to the medcenter for whatever tests Cilghal deems necessary. The Horn children’s maternal grandfather, Booster Terrik, will also need to—”
“No.”
The single word, blunt and stubborn, caused Master Hamner to blink.
“I beg your pardon, Master Horn?”
“No. Mirax and I are not going to report immediately after this