Read Online Hero's Trial: Agents of Chaos I by James Luceno - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: James Luceno
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only have come from the Yuuzhan Vong, Luke told himself. In the midst of an all-embracing conflict, he and Mara were waging their own private struggle.
“Was the memorial difficult?” Mara said, clearly eager to talk about something other than the state of her health.
Luke looked up and took a breath. “Not for Chewbacca’s immediate family. Wookiees are very accepting of death. But I am worried about Han.”
Mara frowned sympathetically. “Your sister might be Han’s soul mate, but Chewbacca was his first mate. It’s going to take time.”
“I didn’t help matters any. When I tried to suggest that he open himself up to the Force, he made a point of reminding me that he isn’t a Jedi.”
“Which is another reason he and Chewbacca were so close,” Mara said. “He’s surrounded on all sides.” She grew quiet, then surfaced from her thoughts and looked at Luke. “I was just remembering a time I saw your father hurl someone against a bulkhead for showing a lack of respect for the Force.”
“I don’t think that’s the right approach to take with Han,” Luke said wryly.
“But it’s exactly the approach the Jedi are expected to take with the Yuuzhan Vong.”
“Yes. By the same people who fear us taking over the galaxy or succumbing to the dark side.”
Mara smiled wanly. “Things haven’t exactly turned out as planned, have they? Even after the peace accord, I never doubted that we’d face challenges and go through the usual ups and downs. But I truly believed we’d be able to send any enemies of the New Republic running for cover. Now I’m not so sure.”
Luke nodded, wondering if Mara was referring obliquely to her own enemy. If so, her words suggested that she was losing confidence in her ability to prevail.
“Mon Mothma once asked me if I thought my students would eventually set themselves up as an elite priesthood or as a band of champions. Would the Jedi choose to insulate themselves or act in the service of those in need? Would we be a part of the citizenry or outside it?” He narrowed his eyes in recollection. “She envisioned Jedi who would be willing to get their hands dirty, Jedi in all walks of life—medicine, law, politics, and the military. She saw it as my duty to set an example, to become a genuine leader rather than a mere figurehead.”
“And she’d be the first to admit that her concerns were unfounded.”
“Would she? Obi-Wan and Yoda never talked about what the distant future held for me. Maybe if I hadn’t spent the past few years trying to learn how to overcome ysalamiri and tune my lightsaber to cleave cortosis ore, I’d know what course the Jedi should take now. It’s the dark side that calls constantly for aggression and revenge—even against the Yuuzhan Vong. The stronger you become, the more you’re tempted.” Luke gazed athis wife. “Maybe Jacen’s right about there being alternatives to fighting.”
“He certainly didn’t get that from his father.”
“His coming to it on his own makes it all the more significant. He thinks I’ve paid too much attention to the Force as power, at the expense of understanding a more unifying Force.”
“Jacen is still a young man.”
“He’s young, but he’s a deep thinker. What’s more, he’s right. I’ve always been more concerned with events in the here and now than the future. I don’t have the long view, so I miss the big picture. I’ve had a harder time fighting myself than I had fighting my clone.”
Luke stood up and moved to the window. “The Jedi have always been peacemakers. They’ve never been mercenaries. That’s why I’ve tried to protect our independence and keep us from swearing allegiance to the New Republic. We aren’t an arm of their military, and we never will be.”
Mara waited until she was certain he was finished. “You’re starting to sound like that Fallanassi woman who took you on a wild yunax chase looking for your mother.”
“Akanah Norand Pell,” Luke
“Was the memorial difficult?” Mara said, clearly eager to talk about something other than the state of her health.
Luke looked up and took a breath. “Not for Chewbacca’s immediate family. Wookiees are very accepting of death. But I am worried about Han.”
Mara frowned sympathetically. “Your sister might be Han’s soul mate, but Chewbacca was his first mate. It’s going to take time.”
“I didn’t help matters any. When I tried to suggest that he open himself up to the Force, he made a point of reminding me that he isn’t a Jedi.”
“Which is another reason he and Chewbacca were so close,” Mara said. “He’s surrounded on all sides.” She grew quiet, then surfaced from her thoughts and looked at Luke. “I was just remembering a time I saw your father hurl someone against a bulkhead for showing a lack of respect for the Force.”
“I don’t think that’s the right approach to take with Han,” Luke said wryly.
“But it’s exactly the approach the Jedi are expected to take with the Yuuzhan Vong.”
“Yes. By the same people who fear us taking over the galaxy or succumbing to the dark side.”
Mara smiled wanly. “Things haven’t exactly turned out as planned, have they? Even after the peace accord, I never doubted that we’d face challenges and go through the usual ups and downs. But I truly believed we’d be able to send any enemies of the New Republic running for cover. Now I’m not so sure.”
Luke nodded, wondering if Mara was referring obliquely to her own enemy. If so, her words suggested that she was losing confidence in her ability to prevail.
“Mon Mothma once asked me if I thought my students would eventually set themselves up as an elite priesthood or as a band of champions. Would the Jedi choose to insulate themselves or act in the service of those in need? Would we be a part of the citizenry or outside it?” He narrowed his eyes in recollection. “She envisioned Jedi who would be willing to get their hands dirty, Jedi in all walks of life—medicine, law, politics, and the military. She saw it as my duty to set an example, to become a genuine leader rather than a mere figurehead.”
“And she’d be the first to admit that her concerns were unfounded.”
“Would she? Obi-Wan and Yoda never talked about what the distant future held for me. Maybe if I hadn’t spent the past few years trying to learn how to overcome ysalamiri and tune my lightsaber to cleave cortosis ore, I’d know what course the Jedi should take now. It’s the dark side that calls constantly for aggression and revenge—even against the Yuuzhan Vong. The stronger you become, the more you’re tempted.” Luke gazed athis wife. “Maybe Jacen’s right about there being alternatives to fighting.”
“He certainly didn’t get that from his father.”
“His coming to it on his own makes it all the more significant. He thinks I’ve paid too much attention to the Force as power, at the expense of understanding a more unifying Force.”
“Jacen is still a young man.”
“He’s young, but he’s a deep thinker. What’s more, he’s right. I’ve always been more concerned with events in the here and now than the future. I don’t have the long view, so I miss the big picture. I’ve had a harder time fighting myself than I had fighting my clone.”
Luke stood up and moved to the window. “The Jedi have always been peacemakers. They’ve never been mercenaries. That’s why I’ve tried to protect our independence and keep us from swearing allegiance to the New Republic. We aren’t an arm of their military, and we never will be.”
Mara waited until she was certain he was finished. “You’re starting to sound like that Fallanassi woman who took you on a wild yunax chase looking for your mother.”
“Akanah Norand Pell,” Luke
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