will1@earthling.net Fanged Butterfly Vol. 2: Knightcross Chapter 21 by Phil Hartman DISCLAIMER: Marvel's are Marvel's. LFL's are LFL's. Any original characters are mine. The rest belong to their owners/creators. No money is being made off of this. Please don't sue. NOTE: Mature themes and graphic imagery ... And a tip of the hat to Tolkein ;) ----------------------------------------------- 40 ABY: Charbi Port Authority, Vulpter, Deep Core: ----------------------------------------------- OK, THIS hadn't been part of the mission profile. "What do you MEAN, no ships are available?" Luke asked - admittedly, Shevu had been busy distracting Cal Omas, and Lekauf had been trying to find a ride. But there wasn't one they could ... requisition, to use Iella Antilles' colorful phrasing. At least, none they could hotwire covertly, thanks to Darth Krayt's destruction of that hangar alerting the local authorities to the presence of a Jedi Master, his son, two GAG operatives and two treacherous chiefs of state. And given Vulpter's outlaw culture, nobody was willing to trade credits, services or trust to give the six refugees a ride, even without the port lockdown. Omas' guards were being held in VulSec custody after Shevu's discovery of a REAL mynock on Omas' shuttle. The find had touched off a lockdown of the spaceport to prevent the metal-eating creatures from spreading. Dur Gejjen's guards were in bacta, thanks to Ben. Luke wasn't angry with his kid - he was proud that Ben spared them. And Ben's combat skills were advanced to where the boy could attack knowing he could control himself. Jedi Masters weren't supposed to encourage martial force over negotiation, Luke admitted. But a small part of him was just as proud his kid could kick behind. Ben returned his dad's grin from where the boy sat, wrapped in Luke's cloak. The Force made a great way to share unspoken messages. Luke spared Cal Omas - handcuffed to Gejjen, in what the Jedi Master considered an appropriate punishment for them both - a disappointed look. Yes, Jacen needed to be taken out of power, but ASSASINATED? It made Luke even prouder of Ben that his son had spared Gejjen, and on top of that, had been able to gather evidence to seal Jacen's arrest. Whatever forces Krayt - A'Sharad Hett, and THAT was a surprise which troubled Luke greatly - could summon, Luke was going to be there for Ben from now on. Not even a new Sith War was going to stop that. First, they had to get off Vulpter, though - "... the portmaster still won't authorize any ships to clear the quarantine until they finish cleaning the mynocks off. And that could take days," Lekauf said, sparing Ben a worried look until the boy shrugged. "I'm OK, Jori. Well, better. Dad did something with the Force that keeps the pain away," Ben said; Luke was just grateful he COULD help his son. What Jacen had done ... Ben was his cousin, had looked up to him. And Jacen had all but Vongformed him - HAD, essentially, except for the scarring that would've taken Ben's nose, and the brain cell implants that would've stripped Ben of his memories, that would've made Ben ... other. The very idea of his son's mind being ... reshaped ... Luke had loved Jacen like a son. He still wanted to. But he wouldn't make the mistake of putting his wants ahead of his loved ones' needs again. Ben needed him. Mara needed him. Luke would be there for them, for as long as THEY needed. Kyle, Corran, Kyp, someone else could lead for a while. OK, maybe not Kyp. Durron had to learn to stop bringing Anzati women back to the Temple. Too many people thought Kyp was brain dead already. But then, General Skywalker of Mindor - Rogue Leader - Red 5 of Yavin - Wormie in his T-16 Skyhopper - anyone BUT Grand Master Skywalker - was going to kick Sith rear end. Once they got off Vulpter, that was. "... you guarantee this stuff'll kill mynocks and NOTHING else?" Luke heard, and he, Ben, Shevu and Lekauf peeked into the portmaster's office. "My friend, Mynock B Gone attacks ONLY the mynock and not another single lifeform! I've seen nusito pups play around in piles of my product and walk away with nary a cough!" someone ... very familiar ... said. Ben and Luke traded slowly growing smiles, as the human portmaster finally sighed and said, "All right. For what I'm paying, this'd better work." The squat, grumpy man stomped out of the office, looked at Luke and said, "Salesman there'll give you a lift. His ship's the only verifiably clean one so far." With that, the portmaster tromped off toward a a pallet of garishly colored boxes of Mynock B Gone, and a swaggering figure walked out of the office whistling - then stopped, looking at Ben, then Luke, then the arrested chiefs of state, and Luke again. "Luke. Ben," Lando Calrissian said, looking at Ben with a little worry, then at Omas and Gejjen with MORE worry, and back at Luke with even MORE worry. "Lando. Thank the Force. We need a lift, please?" Luke asked. "Always. Mara told me you needed a ride ... the lockdown was just a good business opportunity. But ... why does Ben look like he's about to be cyborged? And do I get to charge extra for transporting fallen chiefs of state?" Lando asked, giving Ben a sincerely sympathetic look, then at Omas and Gejjen like he was figuring credits per light year. Ben blushed, but Luke said protectively, "NOBODY is going to hurt Ben any more. And you'll have to charge the GA for transporting -" "HEY!" Shevu yelled - Omas and Gejjen had made a break for it - and then pilots of all different kinds rushed the pallet of Mynock B Gone, and the Force filled with greed and desperation, shadowing the chiefs' mental signatures. "KRIFFIT! Lost them," Ben growled, blushing when Luke glanced at him, about to lecture him about language. No, Ben was right. This WAS frustrating. Luke centered himself in the Force, brushed Ben's forehead, and tried to push the boy's pain back. For now, that was all he could do for his son, and it hurt. #Time to do something about that,# Luke resolved. ----------------------------------------------- Endor: 10 days after the Battle of Corellia: ----------------------------------------------- They'd gathered from all corners of the galaxy - Knights who'd been on long distance missions, Masters on sabatticals, Padawans enjoying the woodlands and the lakes of the tranquil forest moon, and Force-blind allies like the Antilles and the Rogues. It was, Betsy thought approvingly, a fitting place for the first Jedi Grand Conclave in years. Better defended than Katarr had been, at least, from what Betsy had read in Tionne's transcriptions of the Great Holocron about Revan and Traya's era. Studying past Sith Wars might be VERY helpful now. "Niathal and G'sil are stabilizing the Senate; there's word of general elections in Coronet, so hopefully we'll hear news of an armistice soon. Assuming that vornskr Phenirr behaves himself," Leia said, walking with Betsy along a thicket of bushes. "Leia ... about Jacen," Betsy began - they hadn't spoken since Dathomir, and Leia HAD to be heartsick ... Leia sat beside Betsy on a log and smiled thinly. "It hurts. I won't lie. But he's not all evil, Betsy. Nobody who could father a child as sweet as Allana, who could keep her love even after she knows he's ... ill ... can be lost. I have to hold to that hope," she said. "You and Han watched over Allana during the ... confrontation in the Senate?" Betsy asked, smiling at a bright, giggling presence in the Force approaching. Allana, perched on Han's shoulders, waved, and he swept his granddaughter down safely to the ground while Threepio and Artoo followed. "Gramma! Miss Betsy! Grampa's showin' me Ewoks!" Allana called, running over to hug Leia as if the girl was any other child. She SHOULD have that chance, part of Betsy lamented. Instead of being caught between a Sith Lord and a grieving, duty-bound warrior queen as parents ... It wasn't Tenel Ka's fault, of course. Betsy thought the galaxy of her younger friend; love was no crime. And it wasn't like Betsy could claim objectivity in the love department ... not after ... The Force rippled - Luke had emerged from hyperspace, with Ben, and Leia and Allana smiled at it. But Leia looked ... pained, and Allana gulped. "Ben's hurt," Allana whispered, letting Leia pick her up. The girl was insightful for 4, Betsy thought, following the Solos and the droids to the landing pad as the Lady Luck swept in for a landing ... Mara, Jaina, Anakin, Jag, Tahiri and most of the Jedi Council were on hand for the returning Skywalkers. Betsy squeezed Mara's shoulder, and the redhead managed a nod. /Something's not right. Ben's ... radiating low level pain. Tell me we did the right thing sparing Caedus,/ Mara sent, protectiveness, fear and relief fighting in her. ~We'll need Jacen before this is over, for some reason. He's hiding something more than his maneuvers with the Senate ...~ Betsy sent, using her telepathy instead of the Force. The Luck's hatch opened, and Mara ignored all protocol when she ran to hug Ben ... Whose hair was ... militarily buzzed short, and his body seemed ... more toned, beneath the cloak. Mara gasped, then, as Ben gave her a pleading look, but she just nodded, examining Ben's fingers, before looking at where Luke left the ship ... missing his right hand? #Bloody HELL. Something happened on Vulpter that we're going to regret,# Betsy feared. Lando was next, winking at Betsy, nodding at the Council, warmly greeting the Solos and Mara, then breaking into amused laughter when Han introduced Allana. The girl politely bowed, then ran to Ben, who managed a smile and picked her up. Betsy noticed that the boy's arms were bare ... with long, disturbing scars running the length of them. ~Ben?~ she called, as he whispered something to Allana and the girl's expression of worry lessened. ~Hey, Aunt Betsy ... I've got a lot to tell you ...~ Ben sent back, setting Allana down gently before hugging Leia, then Jaina and Anakin, and getting a little gentle ribbing from Han. Finally, the boy stood before Betsy, and smiled weakly. "Jacen ... I heard you stopped him. And I got evidence about how he attacked Aunt Cilghal," Ben said, too casually, nodding as Shevu and Lekauf disembarked and Luke introduced them around. "I can feel some kind of physical AND emotional injury coming from you. Ben, it's me ... and your blood family are here. You don't have to be brave all the time, remember?" Betsy asked. Ben teared up, not angrily but with gratitude, and hugged her. Betsy involuntarily winced when she felt claws lightly tapping her back, and Ben released her, gulping. "It ... can we talk after I see Aunt Cilghal?" Ben asked, but Betsy grabbed his hands ... then looked at Ben and remembered where she'd seen such claws before. "Ben, these are SLAYER CLAWS. WHAT did Jacen DO to you?" Betsy whispered. She'd had nightmares for weeks after the Liberation of Coruscant. Shimmrra, desperate to end the threat the Jedi's combat prowess posed to the Vong, had authorized a horrific fusion of Vong warrior and priest caste bioimplants in warriors. The resulting clawed, spiked, rapid healing monsters had almost thwarted even the Jedi invasion of Coruscant after Betsy and Jacen had slain Shimmrra. It was like Creed all over again, Betsy shuddered. Ben looked like he'd been gut punched, but Betsy radiated apology and carefully hugged him. "I'm sorry. I'm not trying to hurt you. I'm just shocked ... and afraid for you," she insisted. Through the hug, she could feel armor plates where there should be none, enhanced muscle ... and that Ben was naked beneath the cloak, or effectively naked. Ben's panic at rejection faded, and he leaned his head on Betsy's shoulder with a small sob. "I tried to convince Caedus ... Jasa ... that I was back on his side. He ... put me in the Embrace of Pain ... and shaped me. He was gonna kill Aunt Cilghal, Betsy," Ben breathed. Betsy Braddock suddenly felt what it must have been like for Anakin Skywalker to face the death of his mother. Ben gasped, giving Betsy a pleading look, as the other Force users present looked at the ex X-Man when she SNARLED. "THAT ... Mara, FORGET letting Tenel Ka subdue Caedus - get your knives," Betsy said, her FURY flaring - "NO!" Allana begged, and Betsy felt a flood of shame as the girl ran to her, tearful. "Allana ... I'm sorry. I ... he's your father. I ... Ben ..." Betsy breathed, as Mara walked to Ben and squeezed Betsy's hand. "Thank you. But Ben asked for ... mercy. And Allana ... we'll try to help your daddy," Mara said, trying to sound convincing as the girl hugged her legs. Ben hugged Mara, then walked to the Council, who were muttering worriedly amongst themselves. "Masters. May we ... speak in private? There's ... things I really don't feel comfortable ... showing everybody," Ben said, taking something from a pouch in his cloak. Betsy recognized the chilab, and glanced at Luke as the Grand Master radiated pride and worry. "I ... inserted this in my nose, at the cantina just before Master Cilghal was attacked. It's got proof of ... Darth Caedus attacking her, and ... what happened afterward, to me," Ben said softly, swallowing hard and handing the chilab to Cilghal. "We'll need to use the medical scanners to read this, but thank you, again, Ben. With the evidence Her Majesty already gathered, this should be enough for a trial in absentia. Caedus has been taken to Hapes for ... treatment," Cilghal said, smiling when Ben hugged her and looked at her with relief. "You're really OK?" Ben asked the Mon Cal, and she shrugged. "Getting there. Recovery is a long process. And you, young man, need an examination," Cilghal said, motioning Ben and Luke after her. "I'm not that young," Luke tried to joke, but Betsy could sense the weight of his concern as he let Mara smirk at his missing right hand. "Obviously, Farmboy. Otherwise you'd still have your hand. What happened, CorSec finally learn to shoot straight?" Mara joked. "Actually, a two-meter high ripoff of my father in yorik coral claiming to be A'Sharad Hett as a Sith Lord ambushed us," Luke said, becoming grim. "WHAT!?" the rest of the Council gasped. "Bloody HELL! That `Darth Shenbit' who tried to assassinate Caedus said her Master was after Ben on Vulpter!" Betsy spat. More Sith. NOT aligned with Jacen. "OK. What happened to that Rule of Two business?" Han asked, scratching his head. "And thiz one is NOT amuzed. `Darth Szhenbit?'" Saba hissed, as Betsy transmitted an image of the Barabel Sith to the Council. "Force preserve us ... more Sith. AND A Barabel Sith. The very idea ..." Octa Ramis whispered. "While we need to talk on where we go from here, there are two immediate destinations we have to head for. Tatooine, to verify whether A'Sharad Hett actually did try to kill me as a child; and ... Korriban," Luke said. But it wasn't a command, and he felt far more determined, focused than before, Betsy thought with approval. He was taking ACTION. "Betsy, once we've all rested, I'd like to ask you to lead the Tatooine team. Your clairsentient abilities rival those of the Kiffar, and we'll need a psychometric to dig out whether Darth Krayt's claim is true," Luke asked. "And Korriban?" Mara asked, looking at Luke with a definite "You're NOT going alone" expression. "Nine. Breaks down into three squads of three, provides redundancy and allows for watching each group's back," Luke said, looking at the Council and his family. He frowned and added, "I don't remember the way, though. We'll have to get the coordinates from the Archives." "You have my Bryar pistol," Kyle Katarn vowed. "And my dual phase lightsaber," Corran Horn agreed. "And my ... taras chi," Kyp Durron said, shaking an ugly beetle-like insect off of his sleeve. "The fates of more than the Jedi are riding on what lurks at Korriban. If it is the will of the Council, I ask that I be allowed to accompany you," Jag said, provoking an amused look from Jaina. "You'll have to freeze me in carbonite to keep me from Jag - sorry, Mara," Jaina said, as Mara winced. "Thisz one is coming too. `Darth Szhenbit,' INDEED," Saba hissed, amused again. "Anyway, you need Jedi of cunning on this sort of thing," Tahiri insisted, her hand shooting up. "Well, that makes you a lock, `Ri," Anakin said, grinning at his lover as he raised his hand also. Betsy slapped her forehead, lamenting that she'd ever shared THAT story with the Jedi Archives ... "Well, Krayt's armor WAS kind of gray and spiky," Luke said, shrugging as he, Mara and Ben followed Cilghal to the medlab, the Council close behind. "AAUGH!!!" ---------------------------------------------- They entered the medlab, Mom and Dad standing by the bed Ben sat on, Cilghal waiting patiently with a mediscanner as the Council gathered in an observation room a floor above. "Ben, are you SURE you're comfortable with the Council looking on?" Dad asked, but Ben just smiled weakly. "You have to show trust to earn it, Dad. You taught me that. And ... after ... Caedus Knighted me a Sith apprentice - Darth Paxis - you can't afford to blindly trust me. I hafta earn it back, I know," Ben said, standing and removing the cloak. Part of him wasn't ashamed anymore, of being naked. He still winced at the horrified gasps his altered body triggered. "Byss ..." Mom breathed, running a hand down Ben's left arm, examining the claws, then circling her boy ... but she wasn't rejecting Ben, he felt, and his relief and gratitude overwhelmed him as Mom hugged him. "Thank you for trusting us ... Sithspawn, I'm going to - Tenel Ka had BETTER crank that shock collar up to 11 ..." Mom whispered. What really, REALLY bugged Ben was that he felt ... a little OFFENDED at the Sithspawn comment. "The chilab ... Mother Ocean ..." Cilghal said, her large eyes watering when she examined a replay of the memories, transmitting them to the Council via holoprojector. Ben decided he could remember all too well. The Council's outrage and horror poured into the Force, but also a fierce protectiveness that warmed Ben; they might not be his blood parents, but they were nice people, caring. A lot of them had babysat him. And he had his real parents right here, supporting him ... supporting him despite what Jacen had made of him. #Caedus. Jasa. Why ...?# Ben asked, wondering if he'd ever have an answer to why his cousin, brother .... father figure ... had so BADLY betrayed him. Ben let Cilghal scan him, listening as she made noises, then let Ben sit on the medical bed and input the data into the medical scanner. A 3-D hologram of Ben's body, lifesized, appeared in thin air, and Cilghal shook her head as Mom and Dad moved to either side of Ben. "The ... extent of the ... shaping ... and it IS Vongtech, I regret ... is ... severe. Worse, the genetic adaptation of the materials indicates that there is ... extensive risk in surgical removal. It seems that the seed implants had to have come from stem cells of Vong tissue, to safely bond with Ben's body," Cilghal said. "But that kind of genetic material could only come from a Vong Master Shaper, right?" Kyp Durron asked. "Or a ... dhuryam ... MOTHERKRIFF!" Dad - BELLOWED?! Luke Skywalker didn't DO shocked fury, Ben worried. Dad hugged Ben fiercely, his shoulders shaking, as Mom looked on with growing fear and realization. "THAT ... The World Brain. Jacen ... he oversaw the start of Coruscant's Vongforming. If he linked with that thing mentally ... who knows what he learned ... how long he's planned to ... and I ... trusted him with you ..." Dad said, going pale ... "Dad! Dad, you didn't know! If you hate him - I meant what I said in the cantina, I don't want anyone else suffering for me! You CAN'T fall, PLEASE!" Ben begged. Part of Ben just wanted things to be OK. Another part was very, VERY scared that if his Dad fell ... Ben would follow, eagerly. The idea of being Darth Paxis, Son of the Dark Lord, Darth ... Whoever ... was really inviting ... at least Ben would be with a family ... But Ben shoved the shadows BACK. Part of the reason Dad had saved him on Vulpter was because Ben loved the REALITY of Luke Skywalker. Dad and Mom had tried not to make Ben feel like he had to be Luke Skywalker the Second, they'd tried to be honest ... and Ben really needed his Dad right now. Dad shook his head, centered himself ... and teared up, love and pride pouring from him into the Force again. "You ... you keep being you, OK? Whatever Jacen did to your body, you're still in there. I know you're hurt, you feel betrayed, but you're still a light. You make me so proud," Dad said, and Ben threw his arms around his Dad's neck. "Thanks," Ben said ... suddenly shivering with the realization of how EASILY he could rake his Dad's back with those claws - "AH!" Ben cried out, releasing his Dad, before looking at Cilghal and asking, "The implants - are they changing MY DNA, too!? I felt like ... I was HUNTING Dad, there!" "Well ... there does have to be fluid exchange, I - Force!" Cilghal exclaimed, as Ben turned about six different colors. "Camoflague effect ... I think Jacen played around with some ooglith genes, maybe vu'asa for the foot spurs. That creepy pouch is... probably straight Vong," Ben said, blushing. "Effective chastity belt," Mom tried to joke, but Ben and Dad looked at her with horror until she gave Ben a very un-Mara-Jade-like look of apology. "Just because he's too young for it doesn't mean that Ben shouldn't be ABLE to ... Force. This is worse than when Uncle Owen and I had `the talk,'" Luke groaned. Ben did worry, though; he'd been so used to not having to deal with excretion that he'd overlooked other ... functions while he'd tried to fool Jacen. "The pouch is an offshoot of the thong Anakin and other slaves on Yavin 4 were fitted with. In effect, it serves as a waste disposal mechanism and armor cup, while remaining flexible to allow for movement. The internal temperature remains about 97 degrees ... to avoid damage to sensitive tissues," Cilghal said. Ben was almost glad for the clinical detachment, but blushed again anyway. "It appears that the pouch SHOULD allow for ... mating ... but apparently, muscular contractions are required for retracting it and ... extension. But the exact mental sequence for triggering it seems to be evasive," Cilghal said with concern. "So, no accidental -" Mom asked, making Ben turn the color of a red giant - all over. "WE *GET* it, Mom, please. You don't have to worry about me kriffing around. Literally," Ben snapped; SHAVIT, this was getting old. He instantly regretted it, as his Mom got a VERY ugly look ... but her face fell in realization, and she hugged Ben. "Sorry. We ARE going to get Caedus to fix this," Mom said, but Ben blushed again - "Is `fix' the RIGHT term we wanna use?" Ben tried to joke, before Mom released him and he looked at Cilghal. "Aun - Master Cilghal, what about that ... impulse I felt, when I hugged Dad? It was like part of me wanted to ... attack him," Ben worried. "There are definite hormonal changes, no doubt ... testosterone levels are slightly elevated, but you're in puberty. That's not that abnormal. But there are areas of your brain firing oddly. The overall physical effect - enhanced musculature, speed, durability, internal and external armoring - is almost the same as that of a Slayer of the Vong, blended with an immature human,"Cilghal said, and Ben gulped. "Shavit ... Ben's that dangerous WITHOUT the Force? And he still wields IT, too?" Master Katarn asked. Mom gave Kyle a warning glare, as Dad said, "I trust Ben. He DIDN'T attack me, and if he can maintain the control he's shown ..." "then we want to offer him Knighthood," Uncle - Master - Corran said, and Ben gasped. "WHAT!?" Mom and Dad both blurted - and Ben was both amazed and ... embarrassed. "Hear us out, please. Ben saved the Temple on Coruscant, put himself at great risk to save Cilghal, endured ... unspeakable torture to win Caedus' trust, and STILL spared Gejjen, even after Ben had every reason to embrace the dark side," Master Kirana Ti said, a smile in her tone. "If those aren't Jedi Trials ... I don't want to KNOW what else he'd have to face," Kenth Hamner said, sounding ... guilty? "But you're his parents. And we recognize that Ben's been through hell. If you decide he's not ready ... or if he decides he's not ready ... we'll respect that. Ben, you HAVE earned Knighthood, or so we feel," Tresina Lobi said. Mom and Dad shared a look, and Dad said, "Well ... he's 14. A very mature 14, but still ..." "I killed people at 14, and that didn't make ME a Sith apprentice. But if I'd had Ben's self-control, I wouldn't have been a Hand, either," Mom said, sounding doubtful. Dad put gentle hands on Ben's shoulders and said, "You're still very young, but very mature. If you think you can handle this ... I'd still pair you with another, older Knight, at least for a few years." Ben thought - hard - and finally said, "I'm not sure I'm ready ..." He needed to know what the implants were doing to his inner nature. What was Ben and was was Vong wasn't quite so clear anymore. "I have to ... have to test my ... skills. Not like with Gejjen - he was ... like a nerf," Ben said, part of him ... anticipating a hunt. The dark side wasn't so far away, he feared. "You need someone with a hunter's reflexes and experiences. Not a warrior like Master Katarn - he's the equivalent of sending a Death Star to swat an X-Wing - but someone who's used to stalking and then striking," Dad pondered. He, Mom AND Ben all shared a look, and smiled. --------------------------------------------- "Are you BLOODY MAD!?" had been her first response. Betsy was AGHAST at the idea of dueling her effective godson - but she HAD promised she'd help Ben ... They stood in a clearing away from the rest of the Jedi encampment, the Council off to one side, the Solos - minus Allana, for her safety - with Tahiri, Jag, and Chewie off to the other. Han and Leia had looked horrified when they first saw Ben minus the cloak; Anakin, haunted; Jaina and Jag, regretful but comforting. Tahiri had looked at Ben with a disturbing sort of evaluation, then hugged him and offered, "Talk to me afterwards?" Fortunately, everyone had at least recognized Ben was still IN there. The Force was useful for that. Betsy evaluated Ben's altered ... newfound? ... form with a critical eye; the boy was practically hairless, with that damned pouch negating a need for garb. At least Ben's scalp hair had grown back as red fuzz ... His gangliness had been filled out by muscle, but not grotesquely so, and he was a bit taller. He might yet exceed Luke in height, in time. The claws, and the foot spurs - and now toe talons, albeit subtle - were ... very reminiscent of the Vong. But it was Ben's heart, his Force-presence, that both comforted and worried Betsy. That compassion of his was still there, his love and his desire to protect others. But there was a dangerous amount of repressed anger, grief at what he'd become, and fear over what he might be turning into. Jacen's shadowmoth garbage from when Betsy and Ganner had first confronted him on Yuuzhan'tar now made a frightful degree of sense ... Ben bowed to Betsy, then said, "Are you OK?" "If you are. Real `sabers, no holding back, we're agreed?" she asked - no shame in the boy stepping back from this. He NEEDED genetic surgery and healing. But Cilghal's evaluation was that Ben ... for better or worse ... was Vongformed, probably permanently. What it meant for Jacen/Caedus ... Betsy hoped Tenel Ka had found a really nasty whip. They ignited her lightsabers; single blade, no Jar'kai, since Ben wasn't used to more than one blade ... but maybe he didn't NEED to be. Hers was purple ... Ben had kept his red one. Betsy's precognition shivered at the idea of Vong Sith ... "Begin," Katarn, the Council's Battlemaster, said. And two blades collided - but CLAWS, hand and foot, whirled; Ben was using ALL his skills, his body as a lethal whirlwind. Betsy was both impressed and horrified - mostly by the boy's focus in the Force - his sudden GRIN - This wasn't a Mandalorian red haze or Sith fury. She was prey ... and she didn't like being considered such. And Ben pulled back, horrified, as he realized what he'd felt - had projected - had ENJOYED. "I ..." he whispered, tearing up, shutting down his blade. "I think ... I need ... to see ..." "Caedus," Betsy breathed, hugging the terrified boy. "You must face Caedus, one last time." ------------------------------------------------- tbc ...