Part 30 (2/2)

Luke glimpsed a dark curve tumbling toward him as the two women divided and moved to flank him, and he understood. These Sith wielded the Force like a third limb, using it as naturally as their own hands. While he was focused on their lightsabers, one of them had slipped her black parang out of its sheath and attacked.

Luke stopped spinning and blocked the parang, his lightsaber slicing it in two. The two Sith women leapt in to finish him. He turned his blaster pistol on the girl, driving her back with a flurry of bolts aimed low-then-high-then-low, too fast for her to block. One bolt skimmed off her helmet, then another burned through her boot, leaving her hopping as she vented smoke and vapor.

Then the older woman was on him again, slas.h.i.+ng first from one side, then the other with her scarlet blade, driving in close to pummel him from thigh to throat with knee, elbow, and helmet. Luke dropped his blaster pistol to wield his lightsaber with both hands, blocking left and parrying right, kicking at her knees and slamming at her throat with both forearms.

Through their vac suit armor, neither of them was taking much damage-but it would not be long before someone slipped, and when that happened, the end would come quickly. Luke continued to strike and counterstrike, his head starting to spin as his air scrubbers strained to keep pace with his exertions and the atmosphere bleeding from his gashed suit. The Sith woman fought like a shenbit, never letting up, never hesitating, never pausing. It was all Luke could do to stay between her and the wall, and he used the Force to keep her trapped in front of him, using her like a s.h.i.+eld to keep the girl from slipping around to attack his flanks.

How long ago the exit panel had opened beside him, Luke had no idea. All he knew was that over his helmet speaker, he heard Ben warning him that the Jade Shadow Jade Shadow was opening fire on s.h.i.+p. As the lift filled with bright blue strobing, he glanced toward the wall to keep his faceplate's blast-tinting from being activated by the was opening fire on s.h.i.+p. As the lift filled with bright blue strobing, he glanced toward the wall to keep his faceplate's blast-tinting from being activated by the Shadow's Shadow's big laser cannons. The Sith instinctively turned big laser cannons. The Sith instinctively turned toward toward the light to see what was happening. the light to see what was happening.

They realized their mistake the instant their faceplates darkened and leapt into a series of evasive tumbles. But even that tiny slip was too much in such a vicious combat, and Luke was in no condition to be merciful. He followed the older Sith out into the hangar, taking advantage of her momentary blindness to lop off pieces-first a leg, then a sword arm, and finally her helmet.

Expecting the ferocious girl to be on him the instant her faceplate cleared, Luke spun to meet her with a clearing sweep of his blade-and found her a full thirty meters away, floating above a dusty old Soro-Suub StarTripper that looked like it could have been the prototype for Lando's famous Lady Luck Lady Luck. Her partially darkened faceplate was turned toward the lift area, perhaps because she was searching for something she could use to continue her attack from a safe distance.

But she seemed to feel Luke's gaze and realize the odds had turned against her, and she slowly looked back toward him. It was impossible to see inside her faceplate from that distance, but Luke had the sense that she was watching him carefully, either adjusting a previous appraisal of him-or simply awaiting his next attack.

When Luke remained motionless, the girl ignited her lightsaber and raised it in salute. He acknowledged the gesture with a dip of his head. She held the salute for a moment longer, then deactivated her blade and did a backward Force flip, vanis.h.i.+ng from sight behind the dusty StarTripper.

Luke turned toward the hangar exit. Seeing no sign of any active vessel except the Shadow Shadow, he chinned the microphone toggle inside his helmet. ”Hey, Ben?”

The Shadow Shadow instantly swung around and started back into the hangar. instantly swung around and started back into the hangar. Then Then Ben's voice came over the comm channel. ”Dad, what's wrong? You don't sound so good.” Ben's voice came over the comm channel. ”Dad, what's wrong? You don't sound so good.”

”I'll survive,” Luke said, ”if you hurry.”

IN THE PALATIAL SUITE CALLED SIMPLY T THE P PRESIDENTIAL BY THE hyperattentive staff of the stately Corusca on Fellows.h.i.+p, everything was done on a grandiose scale. Jaina was lounging next to Jag on a hover-sofa that could have seated an entire fighter squadron hyperattentive staff of the stately Corusca on Fellows.h.i.+p, everything was done on a grandiose scale. Jaina was lounging next to Jag on a hover-sofa that could have seated an entire fighter squadron with with support staff. Her feet were propped on a table the size of a small landing platform, and she was watching a vidscreen that would have no problem showing life-sized images of a StealthX. Currently, the screen was filled with the wrinkled, Wookiee-sized snout of Perre Needmo, snuffling up and down as his giant gray lips read the news. support staff. Her feet were propped on a table the size of a small landing platform, and she was watching a vidscreen that would have no problem showing life-sized images of a StealthX. Currently, the screen was filled with the wrinkled, Wookiee-sized snout of Perre Needmo, snuffling up and down as his giant gray lips read the news.

”...remains uncertain who fired on the Millennium Falcon,” Millennium Falcon,” the Chevin was reporting. ”Galactic Alliance military spokesbeings categorically deny responsibility. However, the detonation was witnessed by thousands of civilian sensor operators. And several Chas.e.x fighter craft from the the Chevin was reporting. ”Galactic Alliance military spokesbeings categorically deny responsibility. However, the detonation was witnessed by thousands of civilian sensor operators. And several Chas.e.x fighter craft from the Nargi Nargi-cla.s.s pursuit frigate Fast Death Fast Death were in the vicinity at the time. Chief Daala's office has declined to comment.” were in the vicinity at the time. Chief Daala's office has declined to comment.”

Jaina muted the sound, then smiled over at Jag. ”I'm beginning to see why Dad enjoys this guy so much,” she said. ”He has a way of getting to the truth despite the cover-ups.”

Jag allowed himself a rare smile. ”Or at least a version that your father finds palatable.” He paused, then asked, ”Were there any casualties?”

Jaina shook her head. ”Not on our side, at least,” she said. ”The Falcon Falcon and the and the Gizer Gut Gizer Gut made their rendezvous as scheduled. They ought to be leaving for the Transitory Mists anytime now.” made their rendezvous as scheduled. They ought to be leaving for the Transitory Mists anytime now.”

”Good.” Jag's expression was one of relief, but his Force aura remained troubled. ”Then you've actually heard from your father?”

Jaina shook her head. ”No, the message was from Mom.” She poked him playfully in the ribs. ”But don't worry. Dad will come around.”

Jag looked doubtful, but before Jaina could rea.s.sure him, the suite's resident valet droid whirred into the room on his repulsorlift.

”Please forgive the intrusion, Head of State Fel,” the droid said. ”Our staff has just received advance notice about Javis Tyrr Presents Javis Tyrr Presents. There will be a news item concerning you and Jedi Solo, and I a.s.sumed you would want to see it.”

Jaina closed her eyes and groaned, ”What now?” ”What now?”

”I'm sorry, Jedi Solo.” Taking Jaina's question for a request, the droid used its built-in controls to switch programs. ”I'm afraid we weren't given details regarding the content.”

An instant later the handsome face of Javis Tyrr-obviously cosmetically enhanced-appeared on the vidwall, three times as large as life.

”... now for another Javis Tyrr exclusive,” he was saying, flas.h.i.+ng his too-white teeth.

An image of Jaina and Jag, seated in the backseat of Jag's crumpled limousine, appeared on the vidwall. Jaina immediately had a sinking feeling, and she felt Jag's entire being tense.

”Here's a little clip of what pa.s.ses between everyone's favorite couple when they have a little alone time,” Tyrr continued. ”How do we do it? I can't tell you that that, my friends, but I can can say you're going to find this little say you're going to find this little gem gem very interesting.” very interesting.”

The image drew in for a close-up of Jaina frowning as she demanded to know what Jag was trying to hide from her.

On the couch in the hotel suite, Jaina turned to face Jag. ”I don't know what to say,” she began. ”I'm so-”

”Hold on,” Jag said, turning to the valet droid. ”VeeTen, will you please turn that off?”

The vidwall went instantly blank. ”Of course, sir.”

”Now, please excuse us,” Jag said. ”And inform the staff that I won't be needing to see any more of Javis Tyrr's reports.”

”Very good, sir.” The valet droid tipped its body forward in a bow, then added, ”If I did something to upset you or Jedi Solo, you have my deepest apologies.”

”We'll be fine,” Jag said. ”Thank you.”

As the droid whirred out of the room, Jaina let her chin drop. ”Jag, I am so sorry,” she said. ”Tyrr must have been downloading data from that parasite droid the whole time he was walking down-”

”Jaina, stop.” He slipped a finger beneath her chin and coaxed her into raising it. ”You didn't put the spy in my limo, and it's going to be okay.”

”Okay? How can you think How can you think that that is going to be okay?” Jaina pointed at the vidwall. ”If you had ever been a Jedi young one at Shelter, I would think you were going barvy, too!” is going to be okay?” Jaina pointed at the vidwall. ”If you had ever been a Jedi young one at Shelter, I would think you were going barvy, too!”

Jag appeared completely unruffled. ”It's not a problem. We're We're going to be okay.” He fluttered a dismissive hand toward the vidwall. going to be okay.” He fluttered a dismissive hand toward the vidwall. ”That ”That is just politics. And I'm not going to let a little thing like politics come between us.” is just politics. And I'm not going to let a little thing like politics come between us.”

He pulled her closer and kissed her gently, then added, ”I'm not going to let anything anything come between us.” come between us.”

Jaina's eyes remained open. ”Promise?” she asked.

Jag nodded. ”I promise.”

”Well, then.” Jaina closed her eyes and leaned forward to kiss him. ”I promise, too.”

LYING UNCONSCIOUS IN THE S SHADOW'S MEDBAY, LUKE S SKYWALKER looked more dead than alive. He was only half bathed and still stained with blood. But the wounds would heal, Ben knew, and the strength would return after a few good meals. What Ben looked more dead than alive. He was only half bathed and still stained with blood. But the wounds would heal, Ben knew, and the strength would return after a few good meals. What Ben wasn't wasn't so sure about was the always hopeful spirit. When he did the math, he realized his father had spent so sure about was the always hopeful spirit. When he did the math, he realized his father had spent weeks weeks beyond shadows. And that didn't seem like an experience beyond shadows. And that didn't seem like an experience anyone anyone could recover from quickly-maybe not ever. could recover from quickly-maybe not ever.

Ben had spent only a few days beyond shadows himself, and the brief visit still weighed on him like a sack of rocks on a three-kilometer swim. It wasn't all bad, of course. He had been happy to meet Anakin in the Lake of Apparitions, and deeply grateful for the chance to speak with his mother one last time. And with every fiber of his being, he intended to honor the promises he had made to her.

But as for seeing Jacen ...how sad it had been to discover him so alone and so lost-not bitter, but completely aware of the monster he had become. Jacen understood the harm he had caused so many, the anguish he had inflicted on the ones who had loved him most. And the thing that really got to Ben-the thing Ben knew would bother him for the rest of his life-was how accepting accepting Jacen had been of it all. Jacen had seemed almost Jacen had been of it all. Jacen had seemed almost smug smug about it, as though all of the suffering he had inflicted on himself and others had been the necessary cost of pursuing some far greater end. about it, as though all of the suffering he had inflicted on himself and others had been the necessary cost of pursuing some far greater end.

And yet ...it had been Jacen Jacen who had finally scared Ben back to his senses, who had finally saved both Skywalkers by convincing them they could go no farther without losing all they had come to save. There was a deeper truth buried in there somewhere, Ben realized, but it would probably remain forever just beyond his grasp. who had finally scared Ben back to his senses, who had finally saved both Skywalkers by convincing them they could go no farther without losing all they had come to save. There was a deeper truth buried in there somewhere, Ben realized, but it would probably remain forever just beyond his grasp.

Ben sensed a stirring in the Force, and he glanced down to find his father's blue eyes studying him intently.

”I wish you wouldn't do that, Dad,” Ben said. ”It's kind of creepy.”

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