Authors: Troy Denning
“Right.” Ben rolled his eyes. “Shouldn’t we get out of here? If a security droid catches us in here, this place is gonna be dust.”
“It’s all right,” Jacen said. “The Queen Mother invited us.”
“Then how come you used your memory rub on the guards?” Ben asked. “And why do you keep Force-flashing the surveillance cams?”
“Her message asked me to come in secret,” Jacen explained.
“Asked
you
?” Ben furrowed his brow for a moment. “Does she know
I’m
coming?”
“I’m sure she has sensed your presence by now,” Jacen said. Spies were so pervasive in the Hapes Cluster that Tenel Ka had asked him not to acknowledge her message, so there had been no opportunity to warn her that he would have to bring Ben along. They were supposed to be on a camping trip to Endor, and a sudden change in plans would have aroused suspicion. “But I know Tenel Ka will be happy to see you.”
“Great.” Ben cast a longing glance toward the security door behind them. “I’ll be the one the security droid blasts.”
A motherly voice spoke from the next room. “And why would I do that?”
A large droid with the cherubic face and padded, synth-skin chest of a Tendrando Arms Defender Droid—similar to the one who guarded Ben when he was not with Jacen or his parents—stepped into the room. Her massive frame and systems-packed limbs were still close enough to the YVH war droids from which she had been adapted to give her an intimidating appearance.
“Have you been causing any trouble?”
“Not me.” Ben glanced up at Jacen. “This was
his
idea.”
“Good, then we’ll get along just fine.” The corners of the droid’s mouth rose into a mechanical smile, then she turned her photoreceptors on Jacen. “Jedi Solo, welcome. I am DeDe One-one-A, a Tendrando Arms Defender—”
“Thank you, I’m familiar with your model,” Jacen said. “What I don’t understand is what Queen Tenel Ka needs with a child protection droid.”
The smile vanished from DD-11A’s synthskin face. “You don’t?” She stepped aside and waved him forward. “Perhaps I should let the Queen Mother explain. She is expecting you in her dressing chamber.”
The droid led them into an extravagant bedchamber dominated by a huge bed covered by a crown-shaped canopy. Around it were more couches, armchairs, and writing desks than ten queens could use. Again, the chamber smelled of cleanser and polish, and there was no indentation to suggest that the bed, pillows, or chairs had ever been used.
“Creepier and creepier,” Ben said.
“Just be ready.” Until Jacen knew what was causing the cold knot between his shoulder blades, he would have preferred
to leave Ben somewhere safe—except he had no idea where ‘safe’ might be, or even if they were the ones in danger. That was the trouble with danger sense—it was just so blasted vague. “You remember that emergency escape I taught you?”
“The Force trick you said to keep really …” Ben fell silent and glanced at DD-11A, then his voice grew more subdued. “Yeah, I remember.”
DD-11A stopped and swiveled her head around to stare down at Ben. “The Force trick that Jedi Solo said to keep really
what
, Ben?”
Ben’s gaze slid away. “Nothing.”
The corners of DD-11A’s mouth drooped. “Are you keeping secrets, Ben?”
“I’m
trying
to,” Ben admitted. “Jacen said—”
“No harm, Ben,” Jacen interrupted. Defender Droids were programmed to be suspicious of children’s secrets, and this particular Force trick was not one he cared to have investigated. He faced DD-11A. “The secrecy is a security precaution. The trick’s effectiveness would be compromised if its nature was revealed.”
DD-11A fixed her photoreceptors on Jacen for a moment, then extended a telescoping arm and took Ben by the shoulder. “Why don’t you wait here with me, Ben? The Queen Mother wishes to see Jedi Solo alone first.” The droid turned to Jacen, then pointed her other arm toward the far side of the chamber. “Through that door.”
Jacen did not start toward the door. “I’d rather keep Ben with me.”
“The Queen Mother wishes to speak to you alone first.” DD-11A made a shooing motion with her hand. “Go on. We’ll come along in few minutes.”
When the cold knot between Jacen’s shoulder blades did
not seem to grow any larger, he nodded reluctantly. “Leave the doors open between us,” he said. “And Ben—”
“I know what to do,” Ben said. “Go on.”
“Okay,” Jacen said. “But mind your manners. Remember, you’re in a queen’s private chambers.”
Jacen went through the door into a third room, this one much smaller and less opulent than the first two. One end was filled with shelves and clothing racks, mostly empty, and furnished with full-length mirrors, unused vanities, and overstuffed dressing couches. The other end held a simple sleeping pallet, of the kind Tenel Ka had preferred since her days at the Jedi academy, and a night table containing a chrono and reading lamp.
The Queen Mother herself was through the
next
door, leaning over a small baby crib in what was plainly a nursery. Her red hair hung over one shoulder in a loose fall, and she was dressed in a simple green robe with nursing flaps over both sides of her chest. When she sensed Jacen studying her, she looked up and smiled.
“You cannot see anything from there, Jacen. Come in.” Tenel Ka was as beautiful as ever—perhaps even more so. Her complexion was rosy and luminous, and her gray eyes were sparkling with joy. “I have someone to introduce you to.”
“So I see.” It was all Jacen could do to hide his disappointment. Though he had long known that Tenel Ka’s position would require her to take a Hapan husband, this was hardly the way he had expected her to break the news. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” Tenel Ka motioned him over. “Come along, Jacen. She won’t bite.”
Jacen went to the crib, where a round-faced newborn lay cooing and blowing milk bubbles at Tenel Ka. With hair so thin and downy that it still lacked color and a face more
wrinkled than an Ugnaught’s, she did not really look like anyone. But when the infant turned to squint up at Jacen, Jacen experienced such a shock of connection that he forgot himself and reached down to touch the child on the chest.
“Go ahead and pick her up, Jacen.” Tenel Ka’s voice was nearly cracking with excitement. “You do know how to hold a newborn, don’t you?”
Jacen was too stunned to answer. He could feel in the Force—and in his heart—that the girl was his, but he could not understand
how
. The child could be no more than a week old, but it had been more than a year since he had even
seen
Tenel Ka.
“Here, let me show you.” Tenel Ka slipped her one arm under the baby, cradling the head in her hand, then smoothly scooped the infant up. “Just keep a firm hold, and always support her neck.”
Finally, Jacen tore his gaze away from the baby. “How?” he asked. “It’s been twelve months—”
“The Force, Jacen.” Tenel Ka slipped the baby into Jacen’s arms. She groaned a couple of times, then returned to cooing. “I slowed things down. Life will be dangerous enough for our daughter without my nobles knowing
you
are the father.”
“
You’re
a father?” Ben’s voice came from the doorway behind Jacen. “Astral!”
Jacen turned around, his daughter cradled in his arms, and frowned at Ben. “I thought you were waiting in the Royal Bedchamber with DeDe.”
“You told DeDe you wanted to keep me with you,” Ben countered. “You
asked
if I knew what to do.”
“I meant if there was trouble, Ben.”
“Oh.” Ben came closer. “I thought you meant trip her circuit breaker.”
“No.” Jacen sighed, then turned to Tenel Ka. “Allow me to present Ben Skywalker, Your Majesty.”
Ben took his cue and bowed deeply. “Sorry about your droid. I’ll turn her back on if you want.”
“In a minute, Ben,” Tenel Ka said. “But first, stand up and let me have a look at you. I haven’t seen you since you were a baby yourself.”
Ben straightened himself and stood there looking nervous while Tenel Ka nodded approvingly.
“I apologize for bringing him unannounced,” Jacen said. “But your message said to come immediately, and we were supposed to be on a camping trip while Luke and Mara are in the Utegetu Nebula.”
“Jacen’s my Master,” Ben said proudly.
Tenel Ka cocked her brow. “In my day, apprentices did not address their Masters by their first names.”
“It’s an informal arrangement,” Jacen said. Now was not the time to explain the complicated dynamics of the situation—that while Mara disapproved of much of the Force-lore Jacen had gathered on his five-year journey of discovery, she was truly grateful to him for coaxing Ben out of his long withdrawal from the Force. “I’m working with Ben while he explores his relationship with the Force.”
Tenel Ka’s eyes flashed with curiosity, but she did not ask the question Jacen knew to be on her mind: why Ben was not exploring that relationship at the Jedi academy like other young Force-adepts.
“So far, I’m the only one Ben feels comfortable using the Force around,” Jacen said, answering the unspoken question. He looked at Ben. “But I’m sure that will change once he realizes that the Force is our friend.”
“Don’t hold your breath,” Ben replied. “I’m not interested in all that kid stuff.”
“Perhaps one day.” Tenel Ka smiled at Ben. “Until then, you’re a very lucky young man. You could not ask for a better guide.”
“Thanks,” Ben said. “And congratulations on the baby. Wait until Uncle Han and Aunt Leia hear—they’ll go nova!”
Tenel Ka furrowed her brow. “Ben, you mustn’t tell anyone.”
“I mustn’t?” Ben looked confused. “Why not? Aren’t you guys married?”
“No, but that isn’t why. The situation is …” Tenel Ka looked to Jacen for help. “… complicated.”
“We
are
in love,” Jacen said. “We always have been.”
“Fact,” Tenel Ka said. “That is all that matters.”
“But you’re not married—and you had a baby!” Ben’s eyes were wide and gleeful. “You guys are gonna be in
so
much trouble!”
Tenel Ka’s voice grew stern. “Ben, you must keep this secret. The baby’s life will depend on it.”
Ben frowned, and the cold knot between Jacen’s shoulder blades began to creep down his spine. Even Tenel Ka seemed to be growing pale.
“Ben can keep a secret,” Jacen said. “But I think it’s time to reactivate DeDe. Ben—”
“On my way.” Ben turned and ran for the door.
“Bring her here,” Tenel Ka called after him. “And tell her to arm all systems.”
The baby began to mewl in Jacen’s arms. He took a moment to forge a conscious link to Ben’s Force presence, then slipped the child back to Tenel Ka.
“Is this why you asked me to come?” he asked.
“It is why I asked you to come
now
,” Tenel Ka corrected. “This feeling has been growing worse for a week.”
“And the baby is—”
“A week old.”
Jacen’s chest began to tighten with anger. “At least we know what they’re after. Any idea who—”
“Jacen, I have kept myself in seclusion for months,” Tenel Ka said. “And most of my nobles have guessed why. The list of suspects includes every family who has reason to believe the child does not carry their blood.”
“Oh.” Jacen had forgotten—if he had ever really understood—just how lonely and perilous Tenel Ka’s life really was. “So that would include—”
“All of them,” Tenel Ka finished.
“Well, at least it’s simple,” Jacen said. “And I suppose
who
really doesn’t matter at the moment.”
“Correct,” Tenel Ka agreed. “First we defend.”
Jacen sensed a sudden confusion in Ben’s presence, then saw him coming through the queen’s dressing room with DD-11A close on his heels. There was nothing chasing them, but a muffled scurrying sound was arising behind them.
“Insect infestation!” DD-11A reported. “My sensors show a large swarm in the ceiling, advancing toward the nursery.”
The baby began to cry in earnest, and Jacen pulled his lightsaber off his utility belt.
“Jacen, it’s okay!” Ben cried. “It’s Gorog!”
“Gorog?” Jacen began to still himself inside, trying to calm his anger so he could focus on the ripples he felt in the Force. “Are you sure?”
Ben entered the nursery and stopped. “Yeah.”
“Who is Gorog?” Tenel Ka asked. The scurrying sound was drawing closer. “And what is he doing in my vents?”
“They,” Jacen corrected. He found a set of ripples that seemed to be coming from a cold void in the Force and
knew Ben was right. “
Gorog
is the Killik name for the Dark Nest.”
“The Dark Nest?” Tenel Ka used the Force to depress a wall button, then turned to Ben. “Why is it okay to have the Dark Nest in my air vents?”
“They’re not
in
your vents.” Ben’s eyes were fixed on the ceiling above the closing door. “Your vents are shielded and lined with security lasers.”
Jacen’s heart sank. For Ben to know so much about the insects’ entry route suggested that even after a year apart, he remained sensitive to Gorog’s collective mind—and perilously close to becoming a Joiner.
“Very well.” Tenel Ka began to rock the baby gently, and her crying faded back to mewling. “What is the Dark Nest doing in my
ceiling
?”
“They have a contract.” Ben furrowed his brow for a moment, then turned to Jacen. “I don’t understand. They want to—”
“I know, Ben,” Jacen said. “We won’t allow it.”
The scurrying noise stopped outside the nursery door, still in the ceiling, then rapidly built to a gnawing sound. Ben stared up toward the sound, his face pinched into a mask of fear and conflict.
“You can’t!” He seemed to be speaking to the insects. “She’s only a little kid!”
The gnawing grew louder, and the indecision suddenly vanished from Ben’s expression. “They’re almost through.” He rushed to the rear of the nursery, though there was no exit there that Jacen could see, and began to pull at the sides of a tall shelving cabinet. “We have to get her out, now!”
“Ben, calm down.” Jacen began to study the floor, reaching into the Force to see if there was anyone in the room below them. “Losing your head—”
“Ben, how do you know about the escape tunnel?” Tenel Ka interrupted. “Did you find it through the Force?”