Private Ignorance is Bliss

[Eloise Dinn]

The council chamber of the Vonnuvi Jedi Enclave was a far cry from the grandiosity of Coruscant or Naboo. Rectangular and windowless, the modest room held a single chair in each of its four corners. Any more councilors running the enclave would have been too many cooks in too small a kitchen.

Headmaster Amani Serys -Organa was technically absent, and had been ever since the fall of Alderaan to the Sith five years earlier. While she and the rest of the royal family remained in hiding, the Vonnuvi Council still communicated with her where necessary—though publicly they had no idea of her status or whereabouts. To keep up the charade, a new Headmaster needed to be declared, even if they held the position in name only.

The decision of who the decoy would be wasn't easy. This was not a role they could simply audition candidates for. It would have to be someone already in-the-know, with enough confidence to appear convincing and enough experience to not make a complete mess of things. It would help if they had no real interest in actually taking over as Headmaster, content to step aside when the day came that Amani could return. In the end, there was only one Jedi who fit the bill.

“You are on this council, and you will pose as our leader. But we do not grant you the rank of Headmaster, nor will you have the power and control that comes with true leadership.”

Standing at the center of the chamber, Eloise smirked and nodded. “I understand.” Of course they wouldn’t make her Headmaster. Nor did she want them to. It was a bitter enough pill to swallow that Amani couldn’t be there fully.

Eloise had quietly been knighted three years ago, in a private ceremony conducted remotely. While the other Councilors gathered in person, Amani appeared in hologram. Eloise had knelt before the projector as the ghostly blue image of her master hovered her lightsaber over her shoulders. It had been a long time coming, and she was more than ready. She just wished it could’ve happened under better circumstances.

Pretending to be the next Headmaster was much different. She was painting a target on her back. But someone had to do it, and who better than Amani’s own pupil?

A mock ritual was performed, the councilors each pledging their loyalty to the new head. Then a formal announcement was made, the message sent out to the other Jedi enclaves without pomp or circumstance. The Vonnuvi had a new Headmaster: Eloise Dinn.

Starlin Dinn​

 

[Starlin Dinn]

It had not been a clear cut journey from point a to point b, certainly it was not likely the route Starlin Rand had intended him to take, but eventually - after long weeks of travel - Leviathan finally came upon its destination.​

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Not a planet, as Starlin had been expecting, but a giant space station the likes of which the boy had never before seen. It put his jellyship to shame, dwarfing it as the ship automatically piloted closer and PL ran communications with the flight tower. ​

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Whatever other-Starlin had programmed in for PL to say, it proved enough to grant them entry, and as Leviathan met hangar bay Starlin could not help but pace the cockpit.​

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"You're sure this is where he said to come?" he asked the droid, who trilled its response in a manner closing in on frustration.​

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<Yes, Star-lin, this is where Star-lin pro-grammed me to bring you.>​

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"Well, I don't like it." With a huff, and the crossing of his arms, Starlin turned away from the viewing port and drew a series of increasingly rapid breaths. "How is this supposed to help me get home?"​

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Once docked PL sent out another transmission, requesting an audience with one Eloise Dinn.​

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In the aftermath of those words, Starlin stood in slack-jawed amazement.​

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He hadn't..? She wasn't..?​

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"Excuse me, what?"​

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Eloise Dinn ​

 

[Eloise Dinn]

Eloise knew the split second the Leviathan entered the star system. It hit her like a punch to the gut, knocking the air out of her lungs and leaving her gasping for breath. Panic filled her, an invisible hand tightening around her throat.

Daddy. He’s found me, and I’m not ready.

The possibility had entered her mind when she agreed to let them dub her Headmaster. She couldn’t exactly maintain a low profile anymore. But she expected the news would attract the attention of her mother, not her father. Mom was the one who actually gave a chit about her kids, after all.

Eloise searched the Force, trying to discern who exactly was aboard the Leviathan. Her panic was soon replaced by bewilderment. The presence she felt belonged to neither of her parents. It was…

“Star?”

---

By the time she arrived at the starport, security had already finished processing the Leviathan. Apparently the vessel was registered under Starlin Rand’s name, complete with matching credentials. Either the codes were stolen—and she sorely doubted her brother knew how to accomplish such a feat—or Master Rand himself had deliberately sent his namesake here.

The question was, why?

She was about to find out. Entering the hangar where her father’s ship was docked, she was momentarily staggered by the sight of it. All these years later, and it still filled her with dread. So many memories. Mostly good, but… well, every good thing she had of her family was overshadowed by the darkness they secretly reveled in.

A hiss of air pierced the silence. The Leviathan’s loading ramp began to descend. Slowly her feet began to move again, propelling her forward and toward this unexpected reunion with her past.

Inside, the Leviathan looked largely the same as it always had. She hovered in the entryway, peering either way down the hall. There was the cargo hold, the mess, the captain’s quarters. She could practically hear her mother, intoxicated and slurring: “you know, this is where you were conceived.”

I didn’t need to know that, Mom.

“One drunken night of passion was all it took. Then he was taken away, and I was left with you and your brother. Ugh, it was so hard for me, having to take care of two little babies all on my own… You’re lucky I didn’t end up hurting you. I could’ve taken the easy way out, but I didn’t…”

Eloise bared her teeth in a cringing snarl and turned away, marching straight to the cockpit. She was going to find out what Star wanted and get out of here.

Starlin Dinn​