Part 12 (1/2)
But Leia wasn't so easily convinced. ”Nice try, Wynn, but you can tell Chief Daala we didn't fall for it.”
Dorvan's brows came together. ”Fall for what?”
”Her bluff.” Leia leaned closer to the hololens, so that her face would be appearing to grow larger at the other end of the connection. ”You're as honest as bureaucrats come, Wynn. You'd never betray Daala like this.”
”And surely not for free.” Han leaned down beside Leia, then flashed one of his smirky half smiles. ”Like Leia said, nice try. You had me going there for a minute.”
Dorvan's face reddened. ”I am not not bluffing!” he said. ”And I would bluffing!” he said. ”And I would never never do this for money.” do this for money.”
”No?” Leia asked. ”Then why would you do it?”
”For the good of the Alliance, obviously!” Dorvan spat back. ”Or am I I the only one who thinks it would be a travesty for Chief Daala to drive the Jedi into disbanding?” the only one who thinks it would be a travesty for Chief Daala to drive the Jedi into disbanding?”
”Is that what she's trying to do?” Leia asked.
”It's certainly an outcome she's willing to accept, if necessary. But I do think she sincerely believes the Order should be brought under government control.” Dorvan licked his thin lips, then added, ”And frankly, considering recent events, I have to wonder if she might be right.”
”Then why talk to us?” Han demanded.
”Because even if Daala is right about that much, she's wrong about everything else,” Dorvan said. ”She thinks the Sith are no more than Jedi in dark robes, and that the only way to keep them from returning is to keep the Jedi under the government's thumb.”
”And you don't share that belief?” Leia asked.
”Would I be taking this kind of risk if I did?” Dorvan replied. ”There are dark things out there in the galaxy, Princess Leia. I understand that. And I also understand that it's a terrible mistake to confuse those dark things with the Jedi Knights who are trying to protect us from them.”
Leia considered this for a moment. ”Let's say I believe you for now-Daala is going to send for the Mandalorians. What is it that you want me to do do with this information?” with this information?”
”Use it, Princess Leia.” Dorvan's face grew smaller as he leaned away from his own holocam. ”Pa.s.s it along and use it.”
TEN MINUTES AFTER SIGNING OFF WITH D DORVAN, HAN AND L LEIA WERE in the apex of the Jedi Temple, stepping out of the turbolift into a white larmalstone foyer. To one side, a heavy blast door guarded the Situation Room, a state-of-the-art command center filled with tactical displays, HoloNet feeds, and enough comm stations to put the flags.h.i.+p of most GA fleets to shame. To the other side, a sealed security door protected the Grand Master's offices, which Kenth Hamner had only recently occupied. in the apex of the Jedi Temple, stepping out of the turbolift into a white larmalstone foyer. To one side, a heavy blast door guarded the Situation Room, a state-of-the-art command center filled with tactical displays, HoloNet feeds, and enough comm stations to put the flags.h.i.+p of most GA fleets to shame. To the other side, a sealed security door protected the Grand Master's offices, which Kenth Hamner had only recently occupied.
Rumor had it that Kenth had claimed the offices reluctantly-and only because it was too difficult to oversee the Order's affairs from his old Master's office on the floor below. But Han didn't buy that. Kenth's move was a pretty transparent attempt to a.s.sert his authority as Luke's replacement. And the attempt was bound to fail, because Luke couldn't couldn't be replaced. There was only one Luke Skywalker, and a Jedi Order without Luke at the helm just wasn't likely to stay an Order very long. be replaced. There was only one Luke Skywalker, and a Jedi Order without Luke at the helm just wasn't likely to stay an Order very long.
Directly opposite the turbolift stood the ornate double doors to the Council Chamber. Two apprentices were always a.s.signed to guard the entrance, but today they were being overseen by a tall, brown-haired Jedi Knight with a slender face and dark, piercing eyes. The mere presence of any Jedi Knight indicated the Masters didn't want to be disturbed; that the Jedi Knight was Jaden Korr told Han that someone-no doubt Kenth Hamner-didn't want to be disturbed by the Solos Solos in particular. in particular.
Han leaned close to Leia's ear and whispered, ”We should've brought Allana.”
”She'll be fine with Threepio and Artoo,” Leia said. ”Threepio's practically a nanny-droid himself, and we're not going to be more than a few minutes.”
Han shook his head. ”If they've been arguing this long, it might not be that easy to swing them our way.”
”Han, we agreed,” agreed,” Leia said. ”We didn't come here to discuss the arrest warrants.” Leia said. ”We didn't come here to discuss the arrest warrants.”
”Yeah, I know,” Han replied. ”But as long as we're here anyway, we might as well bring it up.”
Leia exhaled in exasperation, but Han had timed it just right: Before she could warn him against trying to undermine Kenth's authority, Jaden Korr stepped out to block their way.
”Jedi Solo,” Korr said. His eyes slid toward Han. ”Captain Solo. I'm sorry, but the Council has left strict instructions to prevent all interruptions.”
”And I'll bet they mentioned us by name,” Han said.
Korr smiled. ”As a matter of fact, Captain Solo, yes, they did.”
”And since we know that,” Leia said, ”you ”you know that we wouldn't be here unless the matter was vitally important.” know that we wouldn't be here unless the matter was vitally important.”
”Nevertheless, I have my orders,” Korr said. ”And I was specifically reminded how persuasive you two can be.”
”Yeah, but you're also a Jedi Knight,” Han said, ”and that means you're trained to follow your own initiative.”
”Of course.”
”Now is the time to do so, Jedi Korr,” Leia said. ”We've come into possession of some information the Masters need to hear-before they make their final decision about Barv and Yaqeel.” they make their final decision about Barv and Yaqeel.”
The resolve in Korr's face began to crack, but his piercing gaze remained fixed on Han-no doubt because he knew that it would be easier to read the truth of the a.s.sertion in Han's Force aura.
After a second, Korr sighed and looked away. ”Okay, I'll take a message inside-and I shouldn't even do that much. Grand Master Hamner said-”
”Grand Master Hamner?” Han erupted. ”Don't tell me the Hamner?” Han erupted. ”Don't tell me the Masters Masters are actually calling him that now?” are actually calling him that now?”
”Since about two hours ago, when Master Katarn came out during a break,” Korr said. ”He said it was time for the Masters to set a proper example for the rest of the Order.”
”I'll bet I know whose idea that that was,” Leia said, letting the acid drip into her voice. ”And he's being presumptuous.” was,” Leia said, letting the acid drip into her voice. ”And he's being presumptuous.”
Korr nodded, but said, ”Did I mention it's just temporary? Apparently, the Council feels Master Hamner might command a little more authority from ...well, you you, if the Masters show their support.”
”The Council Council feels that way?” Han shot Leia a worried glance. If Kenth could persuade the Masters to call him feels that way?” Han shot Leia a worried glance. If Kenth could persuade the Masters to call him Grand Grand anything, he probably had the votes to turn the sick Jedi over to Daala. ”Or anything, he probably had the votes to turn the sick Jedi over to Daala. ”Or Kenth Kenth does?” does?”
Korr shrugged uneasily. ”Does it matter?” He looked to Leia. ”You said you had some important information?”
Leia looked to Han, as though suggesting that he he relay the information, and Han knew that she had reached the same conclusion he had. The Solos really had to get inside that Chamber and set the Council straight. relay the information, and Han knew that she had reached the same conclusion he had. The Solos really had to get inside that Chamber and set the Council straight.
Han cast a meaningful glance at the two apprentices standing behind Korr, then nodded him toward one side of the foyer. Korr c.o.c.ked his brow, but followed. Han put an arm around the Jedi Knight's shoulder, then, being careful to keep him facing away from the door, leaned close.
”I can't tell you how, but we have this on good authority.” Han kept his voice nearly inaudible, so that Korr would have to concentrate on him instead of what was happening behind him. ”Chief Daala is getting ready to call in the Mandos.”
Korr's eyes widened. ”Mandalorians?” he gasped. ”Supercommandos?” ”Supercommandos?”
Han made a disparaging face. ”Come on,” he said. ”Those guys can't even agree on a color for their armor. There isn't anything super super about them.” about them.”
That actually drew a smile from the usually staid Jedi. ”Except maybe their ability to overheat Jedi jets.” He shook his head in disbelief. ”Is Daala trying trying to provoke us?” to provoke us?”
”I don't think so,” Han said. ”That old dame is just s.p.a.ce-crazy enough to think a few hundred tin suits might actually scare the Jedi.”
Korr snorted his opinion of that possibility-then heard the soft click of a latch opening. He spun toward the Council Chamber just in time to see Leia pus.h.i.+ng a door open, while the two apprentices-a human male and a Mon Calamari female-stood behind her, protesting that they weren't supposed to let her through the doors. Korr's mouth fell open in surprise, closed in anger, then finally broadened into an embarra.s.sed grimace. He turned to Han, only half scowling.
”I knew knew she was going to do that.” she was going to do that.”
Han slapped him on the shoulder. ”If you say so, Jaden.”