The Path of Dreams

~Chapter 9~

Detention Block, Mon Mothma

The door slid open and the MP behind him gave Valin a hard shove into the cell. The one who had taken his weapons snickered, apparently becoming braver since then, “Welcome to your new home, Jedi traitor.”

Valin could have easily fought back but he didn’t, he knew it wouldn’t help him. He easily regained his balanced and took a deep calming breath. He didn’t even turn around as the cell door slid shut. All that really mattered to him was that Syal was okay. She had been retrieved by the Imperials and taken back to what was probably the Intrepid. He realized that it would have been better for him if he would have gone with her. He would have been held for questioning—no doubt, but he wouldn’t be facing what he was now. Treason, these days, was seen as worse than murder in the eyes of many. Even if he didn’t know where his loyalty was, at least he’d be alive to figure it out. He’d be alive with Syal.

Fighting the feeling of despair, he shuffled to the only furniture in the small room, and sat heavily on the edge of the shelf-like narrow cot. As he stared at the closed white metal door, he sighed. Even with his inability of telekinesis he knew he could easily escape the cell; however, he knew it would be difficult to get far without harming someone, and he really didn’t what to do that—at least not yet.

Laying down on the firm surface of the cot, Valin folded his arms under his head and closed his eyes to meditate. He felt angry at the war and at those who promoted it, he was concerned and filled with sorrow over Syal, and finally he was frustrated that this was happening to him. He needed to find calm and to let go of his negative feelings. As he fell into his meditation he suddenly felt his father reach for him and then later his sister. He didn’t want them to worry about him. He was aware that the Jedi Council would have been notified of his arrest immediately and, sure enough, it had been.

He sent his love back to them and his reassurance that he was alright, then he pulled out of the contact. He fell further into the Force and reached for Syal. He couldn’t really find her within the vastness, but he really didn’t expect that he would have been able to. She was probably unconscious still or the time and distance between them prevented him to connect with the bond they had formed. The Fifth Fleet would be hundreds, possibly thousands of light-years away from Bothawui by now. Though, he suspected she was still unconscious because their bond was similar to the one that his parents shared, and he knew his father could sense his mother over long distances.

Eventually, his meditation did quiet his emotions and allowed him to float along its beautiful currents. Soon he found himself staring at a vast field of yellow and red Coronet poppies.

He recognized the gently rolling Blue Mist Mountains in the distance and smiled. He had been here many times before, both with the Antilles family and with his own on vacations while on break from the Academy when he was younger. The place was Rebellion Wildlife Reserve on the southern continent of Corellia. He looked around and was surprised to see a small girl, not more than two run toward him. Her light brown hair was pulled up into pigtails, similar to how his sister always wore hers when she was younger, and they flapped in the breeze as she ran. Valin noticed that she was being chased by a grey and white spotted dog that barked as it tried to playfully catch the toy Ewok she was grasping in her small chubby hand. Valin gasped as she ran past him squealing, “Daddy!” with glee. Then he caught sight of her bright blue eyes, Syal’s eyes. Suddenly, he heard another sweetly familiar voice call to him. “Val, you better come here or you’ll miss this.”

Valin turned around, and was stunned when he saw Syal. She was older with her dark blond hair longer and pulled over her right shoulder but, nevertheless, amazingly beautiful in the mid-day sunlight as she sat on a blanket that was spread out over the wildflowers. She gazed down at an infant she cradled in her arms, and her face was full of joy and love. She looked up at him, smiled and opened her mouth to speak, but he couldn’t hear her words. Just as he was about to ask her to repeat them, the field of poppies swirled around him and took the scene away.

He jerked awake and sat up. He run his hands through his thick, dark brown hair and scratched his scalp as he wondered how long he’d been in his trance. It wasn’t unusual for him to be out for days when he fell into a deep enough meditation. After a moment he realized, that at most, it must have only been a few hours. As he took a deep breath, he remembered the details of his vision. Letting a small smile touch his lips, Valin comprehended what he had been given the privilege to see—the future—a possible future for him and Syal. And if there was a possible future, there was also hope.

“Always be leery of visions, Valin, because the future is always in motion,” he heard the whispery voice of his Master, Devaronian Jedi Cheklev, in his head.

“Well, Master,” with a sly grin, he whispered back to the empty cell with a new sense of determination and purpose, “that is one vision I have every intention seeing come true.” He then let out a breath and sat back against the bulkhead and thought, Now, if I can only figure out how in the nine Hells of Corellia I’m going to get out of this mess.


~~~

Council Chambers Jedi Temple, Coruscant

“I believe that this Council should desistance itself from Knight Valin Horn,” Jacen Solo commented from his position next to Kyle Katarn regarding the discussion of what the Jedi’s position concerning the charges Valin Horn faced. Jacen saw this latest development as just one more way of dividing the Council. Knowing it was still a sore subject, he went on to add, “We don’t need another fiasco like the one that occurred when Jaina was court-martialed and the Jedi Council became involved in a matter that should have remained totally military. In my opinion, Valin’s treason is far worse.”

“We don’t need or you don’t need?” Kyp Durron asked sardonically as he sat back in his chair. Jacen returned the remark with a slight smirk. Sometimes Jacen couldn’t believe it had been Kyp who first recommended him to be promoted to Master. For that he supposed he should be thankful, however the Jedi Master proved himself to be as much an irritation to Jacen as Luke was.

“Master Durron, I am concerned about the direction the Jedi Order is taking,” Jacen said as innocently as possible. “We haven’t necessarily been a favorite among the Senate lately.”

Kyp snorted, “That circus the other day could have fooled me.”

“Master Durron,” Jacen smiled and calmly said, “we’ve discussed my dual status as an officer of the Military and as a Master on this Council. My decisions are not influenced by either nor are my opinions.”

Kenth Hamner looked between the two fellow Masters and then glanced apologetically at an unusually stoic Corran Horn. Finally, he said, “I have to agree with Master Solo regarding the position we take concerning Knight Horn’s court-martial. This Council is already feeling enough pressure from those in the Senate who believe it was our doing that Cal Omas restricted the power the Galactic Alliance Guard had in discovering potential threats.”

Jacen smiled as Tresina Lobi slowly nodded and said in her normally reserved fashion, “I too feel that the Jedi are losing credibility among those in power. This is the third Knight to become rogue.” She scanned the others with her unreadable black eyes until she came to stop on Jacen. “I’m afraid that Knight Leia Solo set a precedent when we as a Council didn’t rescind her title of Jedi Knight when she chose to side with the Insurgents.”

Jacen appeared to be ready to say something but before he could, Luke jumped in, as he had predicted. Jacen inwardly smiled, he knew that his mother’s knighthood meant a great deal to the Grand Master and her decision to side with the Corellians continued to upset him. “I’ll make the ultimate decision on who maintains the title of Jedi Knight. Leia has more than earned her title and she will keep it as will Fondorian Jessi Chivel.” Luke then looked at Corran, “And Valin Horn will also remain a Knight. His charges stem from is actions as an active member of the military and do not reflect on his performance as a Jedi Knight. In fact, one could argue that he did what is expected from a Jedi Knight. I think it is important to stand behind him through his trial. Despite the backlash we may have seen concerning our disagreement in this, Jedi Knights serve the Force and therefore his refusal to follow an order to save a life should be commended and has nothing to do with his supposed act of treason.” Jacen didn’t miss the hardness in Luke’s gaze as it fell onto him. “Just as this Council decided concerning Jaina Solo’s refusal to carry out a direct order.”

“I will agree with your assessment that Jedi serve the Force, Master Skywalker. However when we as Jedi chose to join the military, we also serve the GFFA, which includes following orders. Or as an officer, it means giving orders that may seem at odds with our teachings as Jedi but may be in the best interest for the GA,” Jacen said as regrettably as he could muster.

“However getting back to the rogues keeping their status as Jedi,” Tresina Lobi said. “I see that as damaging to us as an Order. I disagree with Master Skywalker, if they have pledged loyalty to the Insurgents,” Lobi countered, “and betrayed the GFFA, they have betrayed the Jedi Order.”

“Why do you think that, Tresina? The Jedi have an obligation to the galaxy not just to the GFFA,” Kyp Durron reiterated. “Last time I checked a star chart Corellia was still in the borders of the galaxy.”

“Master Durron,” the tall Chev openly glared at him, “we are not supported by the galaxy and you know it. Only the GFFA—”

Jacen watched as Kyp raised a brow and snickered interrupting her tirade, “Ahhh…so the HoloNet is correct. The Jedi will only help those with the largest creditchit. I was under the impression we weren’t swayed by money.”

“That is not what I meant and you know it!” Jacen was actually surprised and amused by the Chev’s passion.

“Masters,” Luke’s deadly calm voice stalled whatever Kyp’s response would have been.

Instead, he mumbled, “Sorry, Masters.”

Lobi continued to glare at him and then said clearly as she bowed her head in apology, “Please forgive me.”

Luke looked from one to the other than firmly said, “We should not be fighting among ourselves. As for the Council’s position on Valin Horn’s—“

“Master Skywalker, may I interrupt?” Corran Horn looked broken. Jacen knew he and Valin hadn’t always seen eye to eye, particularly over Valin’s doomed romance with Sannah. However as he watched the Corellian, Jacen could sense his confusion and bewilderment over this situation, and Jacen began to wonder if he was losing one of his supporters.

“Go ahead Master Horn.”

Corran took a deep breath and looked from Master to Master. Finally, he lowered his gaze to his folded hands and quietly said, “I just wanted to say that I personally feel my son has done what he believes is right and I can’t honestly fault him for that.” He looked up and concluded, “I would have done the same thing under the circumstances. However I agree with Masters Solo, Hamner and Lobi, the less involvement the Jedi Council has in the actions taken by the military leadership the better. Valin disobeyed his superiors and has declared himself a traitor. Being a former officer in the military, I understand the need for discipline and the need to punish those who don’t follow orders.
And we all know that treason cannot be tolerated, no matter how well intentioned.” Then he straightened and went on to add after a moment, “But Valin is my son and I cannot turn my back on him and will personally continue to support him.”


~~~

Skywalker Apartment, Temple District, Coruscant

He impatiently shuffled his feet as he buzzed the door bell for the third time. Finally, he heard her irritated call, “I’m coming! For Force’s sake. Ben!”

He grinned at her exasperation lopsidedly as he hooked his thumbs in his belt and watched the door slide open. She stood inside the door, her hands on hips and stamped her foot. He laughed and she said, “Ben Skywalker, for the sake of the galaxy, why didn’t you just come in? This is your home more than it’s mine.”

He continued to grin as he leaned forward, “And miss the chance to see you so riled up. Never.”

She huffed and turned away moving a few steps into the living room. Ben stepped over the threshold and before Jysella could move too far, he reached out and grabbed her around her waist, spinning her around to land against his chest.

“Ben!” She laughed, but before she had the chance to say anything else, he leaned down and captured her lips in a sweet kiss that was full of both passion and innocence.

Jysella easily slipped her arms around him and clung to him allowing the kiss to deepen. However all too soon for them, the need for air caused them to part. They were breathless and, as he leaned his forehead against hers, he gazed deeply into her beautiful green eyes and lost himself. Finding his voice, he whispered, “Jys, I love you so much. Please promise me that you will never stop loving me.”

She smiled and reached up to lay her hand over the still red scar on his cheek. “I promise to love you forever and beyond,” she whispered back.

He smiled and murmured into her ear, “Do you promise on your heart?”

He let his hand move from her waist to the curve of her hip. He felt her shudder as his lips and hot breath tickled her ear. She breathlessly responded, “On my heart.” Then she captured his lips again and kissed him. Ben let her control the kiss, exploring his mouth and deepening the kiss. She pulled him closer and he was very aware of what she was doing to him. He nearly broke the kiss in his embarrassment, but then he sensed something from her, something that managed to send his new found desire spiraling. Suddenly, he realized she felt the same way for him.

As she pulled away, Ben noticed how lovely she looked with her face flushed and her lips swollen. He swallowed hard and tried to keep the blush from his own face as he finally got himself under some semblance of control again. Then he said in a voice still edged with passion, “I came over to ask if you—ahhh—wanted to spar with me.”

She grinned and her eyes were bright with mischief as deadpanned, “I thought we already did.”

He knew his face was turning redder, and she laughed as she pecked him on the cheek. “Yeah, I’ll spar with you. Your mom wanted me to practice with some remotes anyway. But I’d rather practice with you, even if you’ll probably beat me anyway.”

He grinned crookedly and shrugged, saying, “Who knows. You might just beat me this time. I’m still pretty weak from being blown up and my swim in the tank.”

She looked at him skeptically over her shoulder as she moved away to grab her carry all bag from a hook near the door. “Weak, huh?”

“Yeah, weak.” After pausing, he pouted and added, “Weak as a new born whisperkit.”

She turned back to him and laughed, “Well, kitty let’s go. Maybe we can catch lunch afterward. The Market Cross serves salm soup today. ”

He wrinkled his nose as he followed her out the door. “Yuck! I don’t know how you eat that, Jys.”

She looked up at him and shrugged. “How do you even know that you don’t like it? You’ve never tried it.”

He shook his head and blatantly stated, “And I never will. I’m not desperate enough to eat entrails of some Naboo bird.”

She glared at him and exclaimed, “Salm are not entrails!”

“Well, they are part of the digestive system. Sounds like entrails to me.”

“Oh! You are impossible!” she huffed. Then she laughed and took off running down the hall to beat him to the lift at the end.

“Jys!” Laughing, he simply shook his head and followed her down the hallway. He was lucky enough to hop into the lift before the door would have closed on him if he hadn’t used the Force to hold it open.