Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 02_ Omen - Christie Golden [90]
“What you’re seeing is footage from deep inside the Jedi Temple,” Tyrr’s voice said. “Seff Hellin, 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.
“I take it you didn’t,” he said mildly, turning back to the news broadcast. Another figure had come into view, blocking the cam for a moment. Then it moved out of the way, and turned to look back at Hellin.
Jaina Solo.
The scene cut back to Javis Tyrr, looking directly into the cam as if into the viewer’s eyes. “When I encountered Jedi Solo a few moments ago, I gave her an opportunity to explain the situation with Hellin, but she refused to grant me an interview. I can only conclude that everything surrounding this criminal has been done on the sly. Shame on you, Jaina Solo. Shame on the Jedi. You have done nothing to redeem yourself in the eyes of the public with this action.
“And Admiral Natasi Daala,” Tyrr said intently, “you are the leader of the Galactic Alliance. You were appointed such with every hope that you would keep us safe. And yet right under your nose, the Jedi are smuggling prisoners to safety and lying about it to you. Or … are they lying to you? Admiral, you owe us an explanation for your abandonment of—”
Daala shut it off.
“Admiral, my advice would be for you not to be overly hasty. Reports do indicate that Leia and Jaina Solo were able to—”
“Shut up Dorvan. Prep Security Team Alpha. And get me Kenth Hamner. Now.”
MASTERS’ COUNCIL, JEDI TEMPLE, CORUSCANT
The emergency meeting of the Jedi Masters was in an uproar.
Only a few had been able to attend in person. Most were simply appearing via hologram. The result was that often one party was unaware another was attempting to speak and they stepped on one another’s words.
“ … is absolutely what Jedi should be doing,” Corran Horn was saying. “Daala’s snatched every other one from us without so much as a by-your-leave and stuck them in carbonite. It’s about time we had one of our own, and if Han, Leia, and Jaina can get Wan to us, we’ll have another.”
“While I admit that I’m glad we have Hellin and hopefully now Wan—not least because that means they’re no longer in a place where they can harm innocents—we should have been informed of his capture,” Kyle Katarn chimed in. “Who knew about this?”
Hamner rubbed his temples. “Obviously Jedi Solo,” he said drily. “Who else?”
“I did, though not until after the fact,” said Cilghal. Hamner shot her a startled glance.
“Master Cilghal,” he said, “why did you not bring this to the Masters’ Council?”
The Mon Calamari did not seem in the least abashed. “Your job is a difficult one at present, and no one wished to add further complications to it. You are an honorable man, Master Hamner. No one wished for you to have to choose between supporting your Order and lying to Admiral Daala. It was simply easier this way.”
Hamner closed his eyes briefly. He’d expected that Jaina would take the words he had spoken to her exactly as she had. He’d expected that she would understand his tacit instruction—Go ahead and do what you need to do, but leave the Order officially out of it.
Wasn’t this, as Horn had said, exactly what Jedi were supposed to do? How could they figure out what was wrong with these young Jedi if they weren’t allowed to study and interact with them? The Order was responsible for Jedi actions; they should be permitted to retain the Jedi who had exhibited such distressing behavior.
“It was certainly easier when none of this was public,” he said acerbically. “Now I’m afraid this incident with that reporter has forced my hand. Daala has already contacted my offices. I have delayed speaking with her, but my sources tell me there is a security team en route