Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 06_ Vortex - Denning Troy [94]
“My apologies, Master Sebatyne. You’re right, of course.” He turned toward the Temple entrance. “Please convey my apologies to those aboard the shuttle. I’d better get on this right away.”
“On what, Grand Master?” Saba called. “The Council has not come to a decision.”
Hamner stopped and spun on his heel. “There’s no decision to come to, Master Sebatyne. I need to make Chief Daala understand what really happened—and I need to do it before she convinces herself otherwise.”
Saba shook her head. “This one does not believe so,” she said. “This one feelz the hand of the Force in what happened today. This one believes the time has come for us to act with our heartz.”
“With our hearts, Master Sebatyne?” Hamner echoed. “The Sixth Fleet is in orbit, with nothing to do but keep watch over us. A whole planetful of Sith is busy building war fleets to attack us. And you’re telling me you want us to throw our support behind a galaxy-wide slave revolt? Seriously?”
“Yes,” Saba replied. “Seriously. It is what the Force demandz of us.”
Hamner shook his head. “I’m sorry, Master Sebatyne, but that’s ridiculous.”
“Maybe to you,” Barratk’l said. The Yuzzem stepped to Saba’s side, a hulking wall of fur and fangs that stood a full head and a half taller than even a Barabel. “But maybe Master Sebatyne is not the only one who feels it, yes?”
Hamner turned toward Barratk’l wearily, his eyes filled with betrayal and disappointment. He was the one who had recommended that Master Barratk’l be recalled from her post on Nal Hutta and asked to join the Council. It was obvious from Hamner’s expression that he had expected her to repay the honor by remaining loyal to him. But that wasn’t how the Council worked. Masters were expected to speak their minds and vote their consciences, and it was clear, to Saba at least, that Barratk’l agreed with her.
Finally, Hamner said, “Barratk’l, the Yuzzem were enslaved under the Empire, so it’s only natural that you would want to help others escape. But these are hardly the circumstances—”
“Then what are the circumstances?” Cilghal asked, surprising even Saba. “The Mon Calamari were also enslaved by the Empire, and I can no longer stand by in good conscience while other species suffer the same fate.” She turned to Saba and nodded. “I feel it, too, Master Sebatyne. The Force is moving in this.”
Once Cilghal had voiced her feelings, Hamner looked to the other Masters and, finding no support in any of their faces, he merely shook his head in determination.
“I appreciate your honesty,” he said. “But when Grand Master Skywalker went into exile, he didn’t ask you to stand in while he was gone. He asked me, and I must do what I think is best.”
Hamner turned toward the door with an air of finality.
He had not even taken two steps before Han called out, “Tell them about the deal with Bwua’tu.”
Hamner stopped in his tracks and spun around, his eyes wide with outrage and surprise. “What?”
“I said, ‘Tell them about the deal with Bwua’tu.’ ”
Hamner clenched his jaw and balled his fists, obviously struggling to contain his anger.
Han looked him straight in the eye. “You can do it, or I can.”
Saba could tell by the way that Han’s pupils had opened that at least part of what he was saying was a bluff.
“Who knows?” Han continued. “They might even understand.”
Kyp and Kyle looked at each other, then Kyle stepped toward Hamner. “Understand what, Grand Master?”
Hamner glared blaster bolts at Han, but said, “Admiral Bwua’tu commed me during the siege. He wanted to make a deal.”
“And you didn’t tell us?” Corran asked, clearly outraged.
“He asked me to hold it in confidence,” Hamner replied. “He didn’t want