Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 04_ Backlash - Aaron Allston [43]
Master Kenth Hamner asked the question that leapt to everyone’s mind. “Is there any chance that Prince Xizor is still alive?”
Korr’s hologram shrugged. “I’ve seen no evidence of it. Zero evidence. But if any piece of him survived, and some sort of Black Sun cultists got their hands on a cloning chamber …”
“Yes, yes.” Master Hamner seemed unimpressed with the theory. “Check it out, of course. Do you have all the resources you need?”
“For now.”
“Very good. Thank you, Jedi Korr. Temple out.”
Korr’s image wavered and disappeared.
Hamner turned back toward the main body of Jedi and picked out one by eye. “Jedi Saar. Do you have a report on your ongoing investigation?”
“I do.” Sothais Saar, the man who came forward at Hamner’s summons, was a Chev—outwardly human in appearance but albinoid. He was tall for a Chev, with blue eyes not commonly found in his species, but his heavy brow was characteristic of his kind. His hair, cut short, was black on top but lightened in an even manner farther down so that it was a light brown at his temples and down to the back of his neck. He wore dark robes that were stylishly cut by contrast with conservative Jedi tastes, and as he stepped out in front of the chairs to face Hamner, he hooked his thumbs in his belt like a backworld advocate ready to argue a case before a jury. “My task for the last several months has involved assembling a comprehensive report, as comprehensive as circumstances allow, on the subject of slavery as it is practiced in the galaxy, both officially in regions not controlled by the Galactic Alliance and unofficially within certain less regulated regions of the GA.” He spoke with the voice of an advocate or natural politician.
“I won’t bore this assembly with a recitation of numbers, but I will discuss trends. In regions such as Hutt-controlled space, slavery of members of sapient species continues unabated. And since, in the last several years, the Jedi Order has increasingly acknowledged its definition as a force benefiting the Old Republic and its successor states, our efforts to diminish slavery outside the Galactic Alliance have decreased in number and effectiveness. While we jockey with the GA government over issues related to use of GA resources outside GA borders, slave populations that once thought of the Jedi Order as their last hope now increasingly face the disappointing realization that they are being left to their own fates …”
Kyp tuned him out. Kyp was far from indifferent to the young Jedi’s cause; he’d been a slave miner himself decades ago, on Kessel. He would be happy to go anywhere and practice “aggressive negotiation” on slavers. He just wasn’t as interested in paying close attention to a speech that seemed less about informing the Jedi and more about irritating Kenth Hamner, who was in charge of the Order at this politically conservative time.
Kyp felt someone moving toward him. He looked up to find Jaina leaning against the back of his chair.
She pitched her voice as a whisper. “Xizor, huh? Why is it that dead enemies can’t be content to remain dead?”
Kyp shrugged. “I’ll ask Exar Kun the next time we’re out drinking together.”
“Funny man.”
“… full text of my report, titled An Inquiry on Surviving Slavery Practices in the Aftermath of the Second Galactic Civil War, is available in the Temple Archives. That’s the simple version; I’ll have the annotated and cross-indexed version available in about three weeks.”
Hamner’s voice was inexpressably weary. “Thank you, Jedi Saar, for your extravagant efforts on this cause. We certainly recommend that everyone acquire and familiarize themselves with your report.” He took another look around, spotted Kyp, and abruptly straightened. “This concludes the primary portion of this meeting. The continuation of this meeting is limited to Masters and those we have asked to remain behind.”
As one, the Jedi Knights and apprentices not among the invitees rose