momslilassassin | Han and Leia's apartment, Coruscant [that same evening]

The good news: Ben was getting a home-cooked meal for the first time in forever. The bad news: Aunt Leia was making her feared spiceloaf. He sat down on the comfortable white sofa in his aunt and uncle's living room, flipped the channel to the Perre Needmo Newshour, and reached down--well, less down now than over, Allana's pet nexu had gotten big since he'd been gone--to scratch Anji's ears.

Allana plopped down next to him and handed him a cup of hot cocoa. "It's traditional," she informed him solemnly.

"Traditions are important," he agreed, smiling. "Did you bring enough for Ender, too? He'll be here in a second."

She tilted her head, getting used to feeling Ender's presence through the Force. "More like a few minutes," she corrected, "but yeah, we've got plenty."

"We'll need it to choke down Aunt Leia's spiceloaf," he murmured under his breath. He was feeling the knots in his shoulders gradually start to unravel. For however brief a stop this was going to turn out to be, it was nice to be back home.

Ender	"Sorry I'm late," Ender said, ducking in the door. He'd been busy lately himself-- so busy he'd let a lot of things slip his mind. One day, he might learn to live from meal to meal like Ben did, but... well, not today.
Ben	Ben's face lit up. "Ho, kreetle," he said, taking in the minute changes in Ender since he'd seen him last, before the fruitless excursion to Korriban. "You're just in time for Aunt Leia's spiceloaf. You lucky, lucky man."
Ender	"I'd like to challenge her to beat Battle School food," Ender said dryly, but he crossed the remaining space with light steps and reached out to give Ben a hug.
Ben	Ben clung tightly, breathing in the Ender-ness of him for a moment. "Missed you," he whispered in his ear before pulling back. "Dad's got an interview in a little bit," he said. "Did Wynn tell you why?"
Ender	"The broad strokes," Ender murmured. "Sounds like you're going to have quite the goodbye tour..."
Ben	Ben sighed. "Yeah. My butt's starting to take the shape of the co-pilot's chair on the Shadow. Dad feels that it will send a unmistakable sign to the Senate that the Jedi aren't interested in ruling--ever--if we just don't live here any more. The Temple's just a thing."
Ender	"That, at least, isn't a bad idea," Ender said. He had a feeling, though, that Luke's decision wasn't entirely - or even predominantly - about the political ramifications. "It'll prevent a mess like this from happening again. Should've done it a long time ago, really."
Ben	Ben shifted closer to Allana on the sofa to make room for Ender and handed him his own cup of hot chocolate. "Plus it'd stop things like getting blocked into our own Temple by Mandos," he added.
Ender	"I wouldn't go that far," Ender said. "Never know where the Mandos are going to pop up." He sank down on the sofa with his hot chocolate, his thigh pressing not unpleasantly against Ben's.
Ben	"They are the annoying whack-a-moles of this galaxy," Ben agreed with a grin, brushing his free hand against Ender's knee. He had a lot of casual touching to catch up on. The music on the new channel changed, and Han and Leia wandered into the room just as the show began. "Good evening, gentlebeings, and welcome to tonight’s edition of The Perre Needmo Newshour," said Needmo. "We open our show tonight with an exclusive: a one-on-one interview with the Grand Master of the Jedi Order, Luke Skywalker. Welcome, Master Skywalker." Luke smiled. "Thank you. And you’re welcome to call me Luke. Before we continue, while I’ll be happy to answer your questions shortly, I need to tell you that I have chosen your show as a platform to make a very important announcement." Ben shifted forward on the sofa involuntarily.
Ender	Ender released a sigh, training his eyes on the screen. "How much media training has your father had?"
Ben	Ben looked confused by the question. "None that I'm aware of. Why?"
Ender	"The whole congenial Jedi Master co-opting the show act," Ender said. "Sorry. I've seen a lot of friends go on TV in my time."
Ben	"So is this a good thing?" Ben asked as Luke turned to address the cam.
Ender	"It's a little over the top," Ender said.
Luke	Luke began speaking: "Over the last forty years, I have endeavored to build and manage the Jedi Order in accordance with our highest ideals: cooperation, peace, freedom, decent treatment for all beings. Recently, in my absence, the Jedi were faced with a terrible choice—disobey the Chief of State and risk having our very Temple attacked, or answer cries for help from beings struggling to free themselves from slavery. They chose to overthrow Daala’s government, and since that time the Jedi, including my sister, Leia Organa Solo—who was once Chief of State herself—have been working closely with Acting Chief of State Wynn Dorvan and the Senate. "Our goal is to completely transition the Jedi out of the government of the GA. After much deep thought and meditation on the subject, I have come to a decision. I have reached the conclusion that the Jedi can best serve the beings of this galaxy by becoming an Order that is independent of any and all political ties—by going even further than removing ourselves from the direct act of governance. While we support the Galactic Alliance, we will no longer be an official branch of it. And to that end, the Jedi will be departing Coruscant as soon as the transition of power is complete."
Ender	"Ah," Ender said, "He'll put deep thought and meditation into whether we need to save the whales, next."
Ben	Ben snorted and poked him. "The Hutts will think you mean them," he teased. On the screen, Needmo leaned forward slightly. "Luke, it’s my understanding that the public never did think that the coup’s purpose was for the Jedi to gain power. Daala’s policies were becoming increasingly harsh and militaristic, and it’s safe to say that she won no friends by bringing in the Mandalorians to enforce those policies. Polls indicate that the populace is content with the Jedi’s current level of participation. Are you sure this isn’t an overreaction? It’s possible that beings will feel the Jedi have abandoned them."
Ender	"He could have picked a more PR-friendly time to pull out," Ender noted. "But I don't think the Jedi are going to regret it in the long run."
Luke	"Not abandoned them," Luke emphasized. "Abandoned constrictions and restraints on our ability to help as we are called. Once the Jedi are autonomous, our ability to help those truly in need will actually be increased, not decreased." "Can you give me an example?" Neemo asked. "A perfect one is the recent slave revolts," Luke said. "Daala met those uprisings with force. The Jedi have gone to help with negotiations—-my sister Leia, for instance, has only recently returned from Klatooine. When the extremely peaceful Octusi were being ruthlessly suppressed, the Jedi stepped in to stop it."
Ender	"Both things you were doing while still laboring under the current regime," Ender noted, "But not a bad way to stir up goodwill."
Ben	Ben's lips quirked up. "When we want to do the right thing now, we won't get locked up inside our own Temple."
Ender	"True, but as I said, the timing could have been better," Ender noted. "The Jedi Order should have never gotten as tied up on Coruscant as it did."
Ben	Ben nodded. "Benefit of hindsight," he murmured. On the screen, Needmo asked, "Don’t you think that makes you a vigilante organization? Some would say, without constraints the Jedi would run amok." Luke smiled gently. "I think those who would say that are those who, like Daala, wanted the Jedi safely under their thumbs. The Order has been around for a long, long time. I think this new move is going to benefit everyone. Initial meetings with Wynn Dorvan and Senator Haydnat Treen are progressing very well. The Senate will move to elect an interim Chief of State, and I think we all know who that’s going to be." Ben turned to Ender and arched his eyebrows. "If it is Wynn Dorvan, then certainly no one could ask for a more meticulous Chief of State," said Needmo. "Though there was an incident not too long ago that showed a different side of the onetime chief of staff. Let’s take a look." The vidcams began to display the image, now engraved upon the mind of every Coruscanti citizen—and probably the vast majority of citizens of the entire Galactic Alliance—of Wynn Dorvan racing up the steps of the Temple. Ben's lips quirked up. "Your friend's going to be busy."
Ender	"He's already busy, the poor man," Ender muttered. "I can't see how having to keep up diplomatic relations with the Jedi is going to make the headache any worse at this point."
Ben	Ben reached out and gave Ender's hand a quick squeeze. "It should be one fewer headache for him when we're gone."
Ender	"He had been planning to retire last year," Ender said, snorting.
Ben	"Being Chief of State is a lot like--" Leia's snort behind him stopped Ben from finishing that particular bit of idiocy.
Ender	"Remember your audience, young Knight," Ender said, and gave him a cuff over the head that turned into a hair-ruffle.
Ben	Ben dropped his head briefly to rest on Ender's shoulder--he still wasn't entirely comfortable being that open with his relatives, even if most of the people in the room could read emotions--and then stuck his tongue out. "Yeah, yeah. Don't end up permanently recruited into the new government."
Ender	"Trust me, I'd rather be doing anything else," Ender said. His eyes flicked to Leia. "No offense intended."
Leia	"None taken," Leia said with a little laugh. "It's not a job for everyone."
Ender	"I'll be a governor in two years," Ender mused. "That'll be enough of a pain in the ass for me, I think."
Leia	"That's right," Leia said with a warm smile as the news changed to commercial. "Feeling prepared?"
Ender	"As much as I can be," Ender admitted. "I've known about this for nearly three years now. I'm eager to go." He flashed her a slight smile. "But I'm open to advice." Need it, no. Open to it, yes.
Leia	"The two big ones you already know," Leia said, giving him another smile--the real one, not the polished political one she could wield as another weapon. "Trust yourself and surround yourself with good people. The rest is mostly paperwork."
Ender	Ender laughed softly. "Ah," he said, "So that explains the mountain of paper I get shoved at me whenever we go back to Eros Base - it's training."
Ben	"Or they really want you to take up origami," Ben teased.
Ender	"One thousand paper cranes," Ender mused. "I should be able to manage that."
Ben	"If you do, they get to live in Val's room on the ship," Ben declared.
Ender	"If I do that, and she has her own room, I imagine the next day you'll wake up in there, and Val will have claimed your bunk," Ender said.
Ben	"But they weren't my cranes!" Ben protested.
Ender	"Like she wouldn't know who encouraged it," Ender said, kicking gently at Ben's foot.
Ben	Ben missed the amused glance his aunt shot his uncle because he was too busy kicking Ender back. "Stop that."
Ender	"Go back to watching your father's clumsy attempts to woo the audience," Ender advised. "Rather than planning to paper my sister out of home."
Ben	"Half of the audience owns Luke Skywalker action figures," Ben said wryly. "He doesn't need to work that hard."
Ender	"I never said they were unsuccessful. Just clumsy," Ender said, shooting him a mildly amused look. "King of the goofs."
Ben	"Him or me?" Ben asked suspiciously as Han snorted. "Doesn't really matter," his uncle declared.
Ender	"What your uncle said," Ender said.
Ben	Ben poked him. "Not nice."
Ender	Ender ruffled his hair again in lieu of kissing him on the cheek. "Glad to have you back, too. Ingrate."

Luke	It took some time to get from the news studio back to the Solos' apartment, so Allana had been put to bed by the time Luke slipped through the doors, looking slightly tired. "Hello, family," he said with a small smile. "Is there any dinner left?"
Ender	"Luke," Ender greeted, glancing up from where he was seated. "I think there might be some--" awful, he supposed, was the word for it, "--spiceloaf left in the kitchen." He got up.
Luke	Luke looked a little amused. "Lots of it, I imagine," he said lightly, heading into the kitchen.
Ender	Ender followed him, his expression relaxed and his pace light. He knew his Jedi by now, and he didn't want to broadcast what he was about to do. "It's over there," he said, and shut the door.
Luke	"Thank you," Luke said, moving it neatly out of the way in order to find something, well, edible, to snack on. He pulled out some leftover nerf and glanced at Ender. "Is there something you need?"
Ender	"During one of the early battles of the Formic Wars," Ender said, picking up a plate under the guise of dealing with left-over dishes. "We encountered a fleet of Formic ships that seemed to be retreating. We chased them, but they just kept pulling back... drawing us in." He put the plate back down where it belonged. "Eventually, they had us surrounded. Clever tactics, if your enemy doesn't realize you're coming."
Luke	Luke's expression flickered briefly. "Interesting observation. Did you escape it?"
Ender	"We figured out what they were doing pretty quickly," Ender said mildly. "So we went straight into their trap, and sprung ours-- a weapon called the MD Device, the Little Doctor. It obliterated the entire Formic fleet with very limited casualties on our side."
Luke	"Well, if an enemy hadn't planned for you reacting to their initial salvo, they weren't much for strategy," Luke replied.
Ender	"The enemy hadn't planned for us having a weapon that set off chain reactions that wiped out everything they touched on the molecular level," Ender said mildly, "But that's not the point. In fact, it's a faulty comparison, because in our case, the only thing the Formics were risking was their own fleet."
Luke	Luke leaned back against a counter and took a bite of his food. "What do you think I'm risking?"
Ender	"Coruscant," Ender said, shooting him a look. "Yes, what I expect you're planning right now, it'll draw out the Sith. It'll make them reckless. But they'll also stop pretending to be nice."
Luke	"Vestara aside, and she's very young, the Sith have never been nice," Luke said calmly. "I've planned for that."
Ender	"That's why I used the word 'pretending'," Ender said mildly. "Don't worry. I don't have any illusions you're going to change your mind. But whatever damage the Sith do because of this is on your head."
Luke	Luke nodded. "I know. I'd rather them come to one place where I can find them rather than spend the next fifty years scattering the Jedi around the galaxy and hoping to discover their home planet. As Ben pointed out not so long ago, the galaxy is a pretty big place."
Ender	"If they're smart, not all of them will come to Coruscant," Ender pointed out, "And none of them will reveal the location of their home planet. Meanwhile, you're putting Coruscant in danger, and banking on their arrogance to blind them from the truth."
Luke	"The Sith will send their leadership here," Luke said. "They can't help themselves. Power calls to them too strongly to leave such an apparent vacuum unexploited."
Ender	"Weren't the Sith starting to fracture last time we checked?" Ender said. "Besides, you have no idea what the situation on their home planet is - with the Jedi clustered together off-planet, they could easily organize a strike on your back while your attention is on Abeloth and Coruscant."
Luke	"The Sith breathe and conspire at roughly the same rate," Luke said. "It's a rare moment when they are united about anything. I'm not surprised that Vestara's father saw more of an advantage in joining Abeloth than in staying loyal to the Lost Tribe."
Ender	"You could have probably saved yourself some trouble by playing them out against each other," Ender said. He shook his head. "You're being an idiot," he said, "I'll be doing my best to help keep local casualties to a minimum."
Luke	Luke's eyebrows drew together. "An idiot," he repeated. He couldn't remember the last time someone told him that.
Ender	Well, there was a good reason why Ender hadn't started off with that. He'd have hated to knock out his audience before he could make his point. "An idiot," he agreed peaceably. "You've been playing cat-and-mouse with these Sith for too long. You're lucky they're overconfident."
Luke	"It's a defining characteristic of most Sith," Luke replied. "But you know that--you've seen some up close."
Ender	"They're arrogant, and they like to plot," Ender said mildly. "There ought to be one or two Sith who know how to make use of your assumptions. I'm just telling you to keep a Plan C, D and E in your pocket - and not to keep your people in the dark for too long, or they won't be able to adapt."
Luke	"All of the Masters know," Luke said evenly, "and Leia. And now you." He didn't sound entirely pleased by that last addition.
Ender	"Everyone needs to know, or they won't be able to act on this information. Your Masters can't be everywhere," Ender replied. His tone was equally even. "As for me, I'm no fool, and you are not the chessmaster you think you are."
Luke	"They'll know when they need to, and they don't need to know this second," Luke replied.
Ender	"Which is why I used the phrase 'as soon as possible'," Ender said. He shot Luke a look. "I thought about playing dumb about this for a while," he added. "Because god knows, you're not inclined to take my advice for it. I'm already taking your son away; I'm a discordant presence at best. But that's why you wouldn't have listened to me if I'd tried this subtly, either." He leaned onto the counter. "So if you won't take my advice for what it is," he said, "at least take it as a very politely-worded 'don't bring back my boyfriend dead, maimed, or marinating in guilt'."
Luke	Luke's jaw twitched. "Noted," he said, fighting to keep his voice controlled. He blew out a little breath. "You remind me a bit of Mara," he admitted. "The directness especially."
Ender	"I'm direct because I need to be right now," Ender said lightly, "and because clarity is important." He looked Luke in the eye. "But I'll take that as the compliment it is."
Luke	Luke met his eyes squarely. "Good. I don't particularly enjoy seeing Ben get hurt either, you know."
Ender	"Of course not," Ender said, his mouth molding into a tiny smile. "You're negligent, yes. Cruel, never."
Luke	Luke had not been expecting that at all. "Excuse me?"
Ender	"The Jedi Order is your child. It always has been," Ender said.
Luke	"Ben is my child," Luke said a little testily.
Ender	"We've already had this conversation," Ender said. He was calm; he didn't see a reason not to be. "And you're angry at me because with all of this going on, you haven't exactly had the time to parse what he's doing." He did not say, you remind me rather a lot of your father right now.
Luke	Good call on that, Ender. "I haven't exactly had time, period," Luke replied. "Ben understands."
Ender	"He understands," Ender agreed. "He always does, doesn't he?"
Luke	Luke sensed a trap in this. "Well, yes," he said. "Ben's empathy is one of his strengths."
Ender	"He understood when he was young and the Order screamed for you," Ender said. "And he understood when he was older and it still screamed. He understood so well; he understood you could only deal with one screaming child at a time, so it was better for him to go quiet. Stay quiet. Even now, with me, a safe could land on his feet and I'd still need a crowbar to pry his mouth open."
Luke	Luke looked pained to hear that, but he could feel the truth in it as well. "He's important too." The excuse was hollow to his ears.
Ender	"I know, and I wouldn't doubt your love for your son for a second," Ender said, and he meant it - he really did. "You were terribly busy for a long time, and I'm sure the crises seemed like they'd never come to an end. I sympathize. But Ben took a lesson from that - that in any given interaction, he'd always be the least important person in the room. That his feelings didn't matter because someone else always had bigger problems than his."
Luke	Luke looked a little heartbroken at that as he thought back. Eighteen years of Ben's life...and almost half of them had been full of wars and assorted crises, and problems that were a lot louder than his son. "Oh."
Ender	"But like I said, we've already had this conversation," Ender said, as gently as he felt he could. "I just want him to come out alive and undamaged, that's all. And I wish the same for as many of you and your people as you can manage."
Luke	Luke was back on firmer footing here--he'd mostly left Ben to Mara and he felt her lack most keenly when Ender pointed out his own failings regarding his son--and he nodded firmly. "We have maybe a thousand Jedi and no idea what the Keshiri population is. A planet can be a thousand, ten thousand, a million...I'm not squandering my people."
Ender	"You might regardless," Ender said. "Let's hope the Force is on your side. You're going to need it."

Ender	Ender wasn't looking forward to this-- and not just for the obvious reasons. But the truth was he'd been preparing for just this eventuality for the past year or so. His people were in place. His contacts had been laid. He had, thanks to Jane, a more than passable knowledge of what laid in store. He'd been tempted - briefly - to blow the lid on Luke's operation, but the fact of the matter was that, as stupid as it was, letting the information slip would have even more damaging effects than just letting Luke take off. Who knew - with the Sith in the open, they might even be inclined to make more (and, knowing them, more elaborate) mistakes that he could capitalize on. And then there was this. "Ho, Ben," he said, ducking into the room.
Ben	Ben was finishing up his packing, which was basically checking his lightsaber's charge and tossing another robe into his bag. "Ho, Ender," he said, some of the tension he was feeling showing in his eyes.
Ender	Ender shut the door behind him. It went with a quiet click. A moment later, he came up beside Ben, and threw a brief glance down into his bag. He touched Ben's wrist. "Don't get them too dirty," he said lightly.
Ben	Ben moved his hand to link his fingers through Ender's. "I'll do my best," he promised. "The last two Sith planets have been disgusting with humidity, and this one has a bunch of volcanoes. I'm starting to wonder about their ability to pick out decent real estate."
Ender	"You should have let me know in advance," Ender said. "Might have been able to get you some marine armor - easier to clean."
Ben	Ben flashed him a quick grin. "I leave the armor to Tony. You're okay staying behind? Aunt Leia says you're welcome at their place for as long as you'd like."
Ender	Ender shot him a wry look. "I'd just be a tagalong kid if I came with you," he pointed out. "Let's face it. My place is not on the Jedi front lines."
Ben	"I know," Ben said softly, squeezing his fingers before letting go. "We're taking most of the Order with us on this trip. Maybe Abeloth will die and stay dead this time."
Ender	"At least Luke has learned his lesson about the wonders of numerical superiority," Ender said dryly. Then he half-turned, and reached up to touch Ben's cheek. "It won't be much longer," he said.
Ben	Ben tipped his head into Ender's. "If this thing is done or not, I am once our ship's ready," he replied softly.
Ender	"I know," Ender said. He kissed Ben gently. "Of course, with the time difference, it's likely this thing will be done sooner than the ship is."
Ben	Ben wrapped his fingers through Ender's hair and pulled him closer. "Probably. Doesn't mean I won't miss you."
Ender	"I wouldn't dream of saying so," Ender said, sliding his arms around Ben's waist. "Good hunting," he added quietly.
Ben	Ben closed his eyes and hugged Ender tightly. "No getting chewed on by things like Korriban," he promised softly. "The only things to find there are bugs and volcanoes." And possibly Ship, and Abeloth, maybe some Sith...
Ender	"And the Sith," Ender filled in, agreeing with the narrative, "and Abeloth. But I know you. The worst I have to worry about is you losing a hand." He knew better than that - he knew the turnover in Ben's family. But it wouldn't do to express any doubt right now, and he hardly underestimated Ben's abilities.
Ben	Ben kissed him between the eyes. "I'll be careful. Besides, I'll probably be on Vestara babysitting duty, which means I'll be as far from anything interesting as Dad can put us."
Ender	"Unless Vestara intends to get interesting," Ender said. "She might not be part of the Sith establishment any more, but she's not a Jedi either."
Ben	"I don't think she has the slightest idea what to be right now," Ben said, not without sympathy.
Ender	"That makes her unpredictable," Ender murmured, "But also someone worth reaching out to. Just be on your guard both ways."
Ben	"Always," Ben said. "The only person I trust to watch my back is you."
Ender	"That's not really a ringing endorsement of your fellow Jedi."
Ben	Ben shrugged his shoulders. "I don't fight with them. I fight with Dad or Jaina." Ben had been a little isolated.
Ender	Ender kissed him again. "When this is over, let's find you some people to work beside." Friends. He was hoping Ben would make them on Shakespeare.
Ben	Ben nipped at his lower lip. "When this is over, take me where I don't need to fight again."
Ender	"I will," Ender said quietly. "I promise you that."
Ben	"May the Force be with you," Ben murmured in his ear before leaning in for another kiss. "I'll be in touch."
Ender	Ender smiled at him, then let go. "Just don't miss the ship," he said. "Whatever else happens, I'll be there, waiting on you."
Ben	For a second, Ben's eyes gave away just how tough this goodbye was for him, but he covered it quickly with a smile. "Don't pine, kreetle."
Ender	"Only for the allotment of time agreed upon in our relationship agreement," Ender said, touching Ben's hand one last time. He added, quieter: "I love you, Ben. Don't do anything stupid."
Ben	Ben chewed on his lower lip, then nodded. "I know," he murmured back, falling onto family shorthand, before sending a pulse of affection through the Force toward him. It was better to show than tell, right?
Ender	Ender quirked a small smile at the by-now familiar feeling, even if it bounced gently off his self-loathing in some of the deepest reaches of his being. He took a step back. "Good luck with the packing," he said. "It seems complicated."
Ben	"Very," Ben said wryly. He glanced at his chrono. "And I'm due in three minutes. Good thing I don't care much about matching." He grabbed the bag and headed for the door, reaching out to snag Ender's hand and give it a quick squeeze as he left. He didn't know why this goodbye was hitting him this hard, and it was irritating him slightly. The mission was another wild nerf hunt, more than likely, and even if the organization of Jedi was leaving the planet, it wasn't like individual ones would be permanently barred from Coruscant. There was no reason to feel like he was leaving forever.
Ender	Ender threw him a smile as he went out the door. Then his expression dimmed. "Jane?" he murmured. "Please don't start brooding at me like a lovesick calf," Jane requested. "I don't think I'll be able to bear it." He took a deep breath, then shook his head. "There's no time for brooding or pining or general despondency," he said. "There's too much to do." He spoke soft instructions into the Bluetooth, wandering around the room as he did. "Done," Jane replied an instant later. "So riddle me this - why didn't you tell him?" "Because he wouldn't have gone with Luke if I did," Ender said quietly, "And that could have ended very badly for him." "And this won't?" "That's in Dink's hands now," Ender said, "And I trust those a damn sight better than I do Luke's."