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“Good. I want to discuss our plan of action before we enter the Maw. Vestara, Ben, and I have all been to Sinkhole Station. I shared my report on what we found there with you.”

Luke had agonized over that, Ben knew. He didn’t want to share anything with the Sith, but if they were going to work together effectively as allies, they had to know what Luke and Ben knew about certain things. Sinkhole Station was on that list.

“Sinkhole Station was not in the best shape when we left it. Before we approach Abeloth’s world, I want to go to the station again. I believe we will find information there that will help us.”

“What kind of information?” Taalon was instantly alert.

“I’ll have a better idea when we’re there,” Luke said, deflecting the question. In truth, Ben knew, Luke didn’t think they’d find information. He wanted to see if there was any way he could effect repairs to the station, bring it back to its proper position. Because the more time passed, the more both Luke and Ben felt certain that Sinkhole Station played a vital role in keeping Abeloth where she currently was.

“Very cryptic of you, Master Skywalker. You’d have made a fine Sith.”

Luke took a deep breath, and Ben felt him harnessing the Force to chase away the tendrils of anger and worry, replacing those negative emotions with focus and calm. He would not rise to Taalon’s bait.

“We enter in the fan formation we agreed on,” Luke said. “The Jade Shadow and the Black Wave in the lead, the Rockhound in the center and above us all. Communication is going to be erratic at best and will vanish entirely the closer we get to Abeloth’s planet. Every ship has the flight path laid in. Negotiating the path through the twin black holes as we go toward Sinkhole Station will be tricky but doable, and much safer with the Rockhound standing by. If we get separated, every ship also has the rendezvous coordinates laid in. Once we begin our approach to the planet, we should all be on high alert. Abeloth may come at us with everything she’s got, or we might get lucky and take her unawares.”

Ben and Vestara exchanged glances. Vestara, who had actually met Abeloth, shook her head slowly. Neither of them thought that would happen, and they knew Luke didn’t either, but it was, technically, a possibility.

“We’ll regroup there and assess the situation, make the rest of our plans from that point on.”

“Agreed. The situation is constantly changing and unknowable, but we will adapt. We are Sith.”

“And we are Jedi. We know how to adapt as well. Jade Shadow out.”

The second the channel was closed Ben blurted out, “Dad—what happened on Klatooine? Where’s Jaina?”

Luke turned around to look at Vestara as he replied. “Your Sith friends decided to violate the technology-free zone of the Fountain. Moreover, they apparently used their lightsabers to hack off pieces of wintrium, though no one can find them. It seems that the Starstalker acted on its own, and the rest of the Sith very much regret the diplomatic incident. Which could, by the way, lead to the overthrowing of the Treaty of Vontor and the liberation of the Klatooinian people.”

Ben’s jaw dropped, and Vestara’s brown eyes widened. Ben thought about their conversation with Kelkad in the market, and the implication that some Klatooinians, at least, were not happy serving as their ancestors had. He wondered what was going on on Klatooine right now, and while he was glad at the thought of what was technically slavery coming to an end, he wasn’t naïve enough to think that it would be a peaceful termination. He hoped Kelkad would be okay, but supposed he would never know.

“I don’t believe that for a minute,” Luke was saying, “and I don’t think anyone here does either. As for Jaina, she came to report on the current situation back on Coruscant and to bring her vessel to the fight if it comes to that.”

Ben looked at the Maw, yawning ahead of them. He thought about tentacles, and cold, slithery need. His reaction was better than before, but he still could think of