Fate Of The Jedi_ Outcast Part 33

"I know. It ... it's upsetting that this is only serving to damage the Jedi in the eyes of the public. Valin-he would never have wanted that."

"Of course not," Cilghal soothed. "This is no way a reflection on your family, Jysella. It is simply a tragic and, temporarily I hope, an inexplicable event."

Cilghal sounded utterly earnest, and Jysella believed that the Mon Calamari healer meant every word. She knew that Cilghal was, to some degree, against the idea of Jedi having attachments. And yet she was still so kind and supportive to Jysella. It meant a lot.

Still ... She wished Master Skywalker were here. Although Luke had done everything he could to make sure the transition of power was smooth, the Jedi Order had been thrown into tumult upon his departure. She knew Master Kenth was doing his best in the thankless role of trying to make everyone happy, but also knew he wasn't succeeding. The last thing the Order needed was a nutso Jedi Knight running around claiming that people weren't who they were.

Jysella closed her eyes for a moment, feeling again the sickening pain as her adored big brother stared at her and demanded in a cold voice, "Where's my sister? Where is she? What have you done with her?"

And now he was encased in carbonite in a GA prison, unable to be with those who loved him, to even comprehend that those who loved him were trying to help him. Sympathetically feeling the cold that enshrouded Valin, Jysella wrapped slim arms around her own body and s.h.i.+vered slightly.

Oh, Valin. If only you could tell us what had happened ... why you looked at Mom and Dad and thought they weren't them. How could you not know us? Not know me? me?

Tears leaked past her closed lids, and she brushed them away angrily. Stop it, 'Sella Stop it, 'Sella, she told herself sternly. Grief and worry would not serve Valin, or the Order, now. Only calmness and knowledge would. She opened her eyes and reached for the discarded datapad.

"That looks like a very old record," she said, lifting her eyes to Cilghal. "Do you have any theories on-"

And felt the blood drain from her face.

The Mon Cal was apparently done with the old flimsi and now was intently studying the information on a datapad. Her large eyes were fastened on it, unblinking in her concentration. The alcove was quiet, save for soft voices talking and the sound of footfalls some distance away. All was as it was just a moment ago.

Except everything-everything-had been turned upside down.

Valin had been right. She saw it now ...

Jysella inhaled swiftly. It looked looked like Cilghal. Whoever had done this had not missed a detail. It even moved like the Mon Calamari healer. And it had certainly acted and sounded like her. But Jysella suddenly and sickly understood exactly what her brother had meant. like Cilghal. Whoever had done this had not missed a detail. It even moved like the Mon Calamari healer. And it had certainly acted and sounded like her. But Jysella suddenly and sickly understood exactly what her brother had meant.

The Not-Cilghal turned her head to regard Jysella, c.o.c.king her head curiously. "Jysella? What is it?"

"N-nothing. I ... you know what?" She gave a shaky laugh. "I think I may be too upset to help you out much," Jysella managed. She rose. She had to get away, and fast, before this doppelganger realized she was on to its deception. But where would she go? Who could she tell? If Valin had been right, then everyone except for her had been taken and replaced by their doubles. How could she not have seen this earlier? Oh, Valin, I'm sorry I didn't believe you- Oh, Valin, I'm sorry I didn't believe you- The imitation Cilghal looked fully away from the datapad she had been studying, turning her head slightly to fix Jysella with one huge, circular eye.

"You've held up very well indeed throughout all this, Jysella," the doppelganger said gently. "It's not surprising that you might now be finding you cannot carry it all. Do you wish to talk about this? Speaking one's worry and fears can be as healing as bacta tanks, in its own way."

The rough voice was warm and concerned. It only rattled Jysella more. Stang-whoever it was, they were good, they had mastered Cilghal's voice, her inflections, her movements. No wonder it had fooled so many for so long.

But Valin hadn't been fooled, although in his confusion he had mistaken his sister and parents for doppelgangers like the one before her now.

Oh, no ... what if he'd been right about Mom and- "I think I had just better go." One hand dropped casually to her waist, resting on the lightsaber hilt that was fastened there. As a full Jedi Knight, she was authorized to carry the weapon throughout the Temple except a very few restricted areas. She'd almost forgotten it this morning in her stress over Valin. Now she was tremendously glad she had gone back for it.

Cilghal's eye followed the gesture, and she got to her feet. She had her own weapon, of course, but made no move to take it. "Jysella, why don't you come with me and we'll-"

Terror shot through Jysella, and a sob escaped her. She stepped back, her hand gripping the lightsaber hilt so hard her knuckles whitened.

"Get away from me!" she screamed, her voice shaking.

"Jysella-" It reached out to her imploringly.

"I said get away away!"

Jysella drew the lightsaber in one hand and shoved the other in the false Cilghal's direction. The males in her family were unable to use telekinesis. Jysella was not so hampered, and she used that ability now. She put all her fear, all her focus, in the gesture, and Not-Cilghal was caught unawares as Jysella Force-shoved her back into a stack of data-pads.

She didn't pause to watch as Cilghal crashed into the stack. By then Jysella Horn, quite possibly the only real person left on the planet-maybe in the galaxy-except for her brother, was racing down the aisle toward the turbolift as fast as she could go.

Cilghal recovered quickly, using the Force to steady the stack and prevent it from toppling entirely. A few datapads clattered to the floor as she rose and reached for her comlink with one hand and her lightsaber in the other. She'd been utterly taken by surprise and mentally rebuked herself.

"Temple security, this is Master Cilghal," she said even as she began racing after the fleeing human. "Jedi Knight Jysella Horn is to be captured and retained. Do not harm her if at all possible. She is not herself. Notify Master Hamner immediately. Tell him-tell him we've got another one."

"Acknowledged," came a crisp, cool voice. Cilghal clicked the comlink off. Time enough for more details once Jysella was safely apprehended.

It was obvious what had happened. Like her brother, Jysella Horn had lost her reason. But unlike Valin, who had been irrationally angry, Jysella was pouring utter and abject fear into the Force. Whatever her mind might be telling her, it was terrifying her beyond anything Cilghal had experienced from a human before.

Compa.s.sion combined with a grim determination to prevent the frightened girl from harming anyone else lent the Mon Calamari speed. One way or another, they would stop her. After all, this was the Jedi Temple, and Jysella, although quite a capable Jedi Knight, was hardly unstoppable, even if fueled by insane fear.

Where could she possibly go?

About the Author

AARON ALLSTON is the New York Times New York Times bestselling author of the bestselling author of the Star Wars: Legacy of the Force Star Wars: Legacy of the Force novels novels Betrayal, Exile Betrayal, Exile, and Fury; Fury; the the Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines adventures adventures Rebel Dreams Rebel Dreams and and Rebel Stand; Rebel Stand; novels in the popular novels in the popular Star Wars Star Wars X-Wing series; and the Doc Sidhe novels, which combine 1930s-style hero-pulps with Celtic myth. He is also a longtime game designer and was recently inducted into the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design (AAGAD) Hall of Fame. He lives in Central Texas. X-Wing series; and the Doc Sidhe novels, which combine 1930s-style hero-pulps with Celtic myth. He is also a longtime game designer and was recently inducted into the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design (AAGAD) Hall of Fame. He lives in Central Texas.www.AaronAllston.com

Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Outcast is a work of fiction. Names, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fict.i.tiously. is a work of fiction. Names, places, and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fict.i.tiously.

By Aaron Allston

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