Kad's face was pale. He was so furious he could barely form words.
"How dare you accuse my father of this?"
"We have the holographic files," Obi-Wan
said. "And your father has a pouch full of
vertex. If you would only look..."
Vox Chun sat impassively during the
Jedi's denunciation. Now he rose and pointed a
shaking finger at them. "Liars and
thieves! Nothing has changed, my son."
"Are you so bent on destroying my family?"
Kad asked Obi-Wan hoarsely. "Do you
hate us so much?"
"It is not hate that brings me here,"
Obi-Wan said earnestly. "It is justice, and the
safety of those you have brought aboard
the BioCruiser. At any moment, Offworld
ships will be surrounding us."
"I assume this is your pilot," Kad said,
indicating Garen. "I am ordering you to leave
my vessel. You have intruded on my
peace for the last time. Go!" He shouted the last
word, his pale face suddenly suffused
with red.
Just then the announcement system on
Kad's console cracked to life. "Attention,
attention," claiming they received
a distress call. "We cannot trace the call. Please
advise."
Kad moved his head in increments, as
though it was painful for him. At last he locked
gazes with his father.
"You have done this?" he croaked.
Vox did not answer.
"Answer me!" His voice was suddenly full of strength.
Vox took a step forward toward his son.
"You can come with me. They will take care
of both of us, they promised—"
"No!" Kad covered his ears like a child
for a moment, then dropped his hands.
"You've betrayed me, you've betrayed
my cause—"
"Your cause," Vox corrected angrily.
"Did I have a choice in the matter? I am an old
man."
"Obviously, you have made sure that
your own nest is feathered," Kad said
scornfully.
"Didn't I give you everything you desired?
The finest quarters on the ship, the ability
to visit other worlds? You had a good
life here. You did not need money. Is greed so
ravenous?"
"It is not the money I want," Vox answered,
drawing his fine cape around him. "It is
power. You are right about only one
thing in this philosophy of yours, my son. The
galaxy is changing. Corruption is everywhere.
And I will not be left behind! You have
never understood that to be ruthless
is to win. I have powerful friends, I always have.
Yes, I would stop at nothing to get
what I want. I wanted justice twelve years ago. So
did you. If I arranged to sabotage
a few Jedi starfighters, what of it?"
Kad straightened his shoulders and fixed
his father with a steely gaze. "This ends
now. I will inform the Offworld ships
that the BioCruiser is not in danger. Then you
may choose a planet, and I will transport
you there. I will never see you again."
Vox appeared shaken by his son's cold
tone. I see I must agree." He strode from the
room without a backward glance.
Kad turned away from the Jedi for a
moment to compose himself. When he turned
back, his eyes were clear.
"I had no idea," he said.
"We know that," Obi-Wan told him.
Suddenly, the ship was rocked by an
explosion. Kad was thrown to the floor.
Obi-Wan and Garen planted their feet
and rode out the blast. Anakin staggered.
The comlink Den had given him signaled.
Obi-Wan activated it. Den's agitated voice
boomed out.
"Kern has sabotaged the ship! It's breaking apart!"
