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“You’ve got it.” Dyon gave Ben an irritated look. “You’re getting a lot for your five credits.”

“I’ve got another five aboard Jade Shadow. It’s all yours.”

“Thanks.”

Tasander looked across the assembled Bright Suns. “We’ll get you a couple of speeder bikes. Leave them at the spaceport and we will reclaim them when we can.”

Luke moved to Tasander and Kaminne, took the shoulder of each. “Thank you. And—if I didn’t say it before—congratulations.”

Kaminne smiled. “Thank you. And you will always have a place among us, whether as a Jedi exile or a guest. You and Ben and Dyon are Bright Suns, if you wish to be.”

Luke smiled. “We’ll take all the friends we can get.”

While Kaminne and Tasander made arrangements, the offworlders sent back to the hill camp for their gear.

Halliava disappeared. Ben assumed it was forever, but she returned a few minutes later with her pack and her weapons. Hesitant, she approached Luke. “Take me with you.”

He gave her a look of genuine surprise.

“Take me to the stars so that I may find the Sith and kill them. And free my sisters.”

“That’s not our mission, Halliava.” Luke sighed. “But I won’t stand in the way of anyone who wants to do harm to the Sith. If you survive long enough to make your way to the spaceport, you can find a way to get offworld. If you can get offworld, perhaps you can learn enough about the Sith to find them.”

Stone-faced, she turned and disappeared once more into the woods.

Tasander and Kaminne returned a few minutes later. Tasander held two datacards, which he handed to Luke. “Access codes for two speeder bikes, Drola’s and his brother Tulu’s. They’ll get you to the spaceport.”

“Thank you.”

“And this—” Kaminne held up a rolled animal hide bound with a thong. “—is for you, Ben, since your father cannot take it.”

Ben took it from her. “What is it?”

“A—what is it you call it?” Kaminne turned to her husband.

“A deed.” Tasander jerked his thumb over his shoulder. “To the hill. For the Jedi Order. I think you should build a new school here. So now there’s a piece of land you can use, right here in Bright Sun territory, if you want it.”

“Thank you.” Ben tucked the deed into his belt. “Hey, Dad, I’ve got my landlord job back.”

GALACTIC EMPIRE EMBASSY, CORUSCANT

Flanked by white-armored troopers, Moff Lecersen was conducted into Head of State Fel’s temporary office. He affected unconcern as he looked around, noting that the damage from Senator Treen’s failed assassination attempt had been repaired.

Jagged Fel sat behind the desk. Its dark woods and synthetic surfaces were well suited to his dark hair and brooding manner.

Fel gestured at a chair. “Have a seat.”

“Thank you.” Lecersen kept an open, unsuspecting expression on his face, but inwardly his stomach began to flare up. Had Fel already discovered his complicity in the restaurant attack? Had Lecersen’s operatives been so clumsy?

“I want to talk to you about the other night’s attempt on my life.”

Lecersen’s heart sank, but he kept his sabacc face on. Bluff, bluff, always bluff. “A most unfortunate event. It’s miraculous that you escaped unhurt. I’ve seen the recordings of Javis Tyrr’s broadcast.”

“Yes … While I’m certain that enhanced security measures will keep me safe, the two recent attempts have served to remind me of my own mortality. And the fact that if I were to fall to an assassin’s blaster, what would result would be a power vacuum. A struggle for power now, at a time when we can least afford it, as we negotiate for the Empire’s union with the Galactic Alliance.”

Lecersen nodded. This didn’t sound like an accusation. Perhaps he’d squeaked through after all.

“So I’m asking who, if I were to die, you would support as the next Head of State.”

Lecersen felt the wind leave him. Himself, of course, the answer was himself and no one but.

And yet if he offered that as an answer, would Fel then suspect him of being the instigator of the assassination attempts? On the other hand, if Lecersen offered another name, would Fel back that individual