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I frowned at her. “But the Headhunter …”

“Could have been stolen from him and used by someone else.”

“Your caution is good, Cilghal, but Kyp’s being here isn’t that hard a conclusion to draw.” Kam walked over to the edge of the pyramid, looked down at the landing pad, then grunted. “Think Kyp is still hiding on this rock?”

Streen shook his head. “I can’t hear Kyp.”

“I’d like to hope that means he’s dead, but I don’t believe it.” I glanced at Kam. “You’re wondering how he got off this rock if he left the fighter behind.”

“Yes, and the only other ride in the system, unless we missed his coming with allies in the middle of the night, is the Sun Crusher.” His hands contracted into fists. “Kyp knew how to make it work.”

Tionne shivered. “Could he have been powerful enough to recall it from the heart of the gas giant?”

Streen crouched down and plucked from the Temple’s roof a small stone that scintillated brilliantly in the dawning sun. “Corusca gem. The only place in the universe they are formed is in Yavin’s heart. It could have been lodged in the hatch assembly and fallen off when Kyp entered the Sun Crusher.”

I groaned. “Not the news I wanted to hear.”

Cilghal raised a hand. “Corusca gems can be found here on Yavin, and we have no way of knowing how long that piece of one has been here. More importantly, we have no way of knowing if the Sun Crusher is still in the gas giant or not. Again, you’re reaching conclusions on the most circumstantial of evidence.”

“I can see why you were a diplomat, Ambassador.” I sighed heavily. “Okay, look, we have to take this in steps. First thing, we get Master Skywalker down and out of the elements.”

Tionne smiled. “We should place him in the Grand Audience Chamber.”

I winced. “Won’t that be like having him lie in state? He isn’t dead.”

Her smile contracted. “I was just thinking that he liked the chamber and the acoustics are good for singing and it was the site of a great victory celebration.”

Kam came around behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. “Good thinking, Tionne. There’s room enough there that we can all gather around and listen to you singing. We want him to feel he’s still part of our community.” Kam looked past her at me and raised an eyebrow.

“Right, exactly. You’re thinking a lot more quickly today than I am, Tionne.” I glanced at the Mon Calamari. “Ambassador, you’ve got a talent for healing. Will you monitor Master Skywalker and let us know what we need to help him? Our medical supplies are limited here.…”

“I can see to his initial care, yes. We should certainly get a full medical team out here as fast as possible, however.” Cilghal slowly blinked her eyes. “We must also notify the New Republic and Councilor Organa Solo that something has happened to her brother.”

Brakiss added, “And let them know Kyp Durron has the Sun Crusher. With his hatred for remnants of the Empire, there is no telling what he will do with a weapon of that power.”

I cut off Cilghal’s protest of Brakiss’ remarks. “At the very least we need to get a survey team out here that can check to see if the Sun Crusher is still in the gas giant or not.”

Kirana Ti crouched and mopped sweat from Luke’s brow with the hem of her Jedi robe. “We should also make certain Master Skywalker is never alone. He should always have an honor guard with him.”

Dorsk 81 looked at her with horror on his face. “You think Master Skywalker is still in jeopardy?”

I cleared my throat. “We can’t discount that possibility. Kyp may have wanted him dead and held back at the last moment, for reasons we can’t begin to plot. He might return to finish the job.” Or the dark man might try. “Having someone with Master Skywalker also makes sense on the medical front, in case there is a change.”

The Mon Calamari nodded. “We should get him inside now. He is stable enough to move, I believe.”

“Good. I’ll get on the HoloNet and speak to Coruscant to start notification going. Ambassador, I’d like you to later speak with Councilor Organa Solo. You