Star Wars_ Darksaber - Kevin J. Anderson [38]
“It was,” she said. “I’d better be on my way before it wears off.”
Luke laughed. “Why don’t you stay for a few more hours at least? We’ll be gathering the trainees in the mess hall for an evening meal. You need something better than stale ration bars.”
Mara acquiesced far more easily than Luke had expected. “All right,” she said. “Just a quick meal, then I’m out of here.”
Callista sat alone, picking at her meal next to the empty spot where Luke normally ate—but he had gone off to set up quarters for two new potential Jedi who had arrived on a New Republic transport.
With mixed feelings of detachment and frustration, Callista stared at the other Jedi trainees in the narrow stone hall, the weakest of whom had powers greater than she could command … at the moment. It was painful to watch them grow in strength as they played with their Force abilities. She was denied that, though she tried and tried. She was blind and deaf to the Force.
“Hey, mind if I sit here?” Mara Jade said, wearing her trim flight uniform and holding a tray of stew mixed with greens.
Callista barely nodded, and Mara plopped into the chair, setting her tray on the polished table. She picked up a thick bread wafer and poked around in her stew. “Better than packaged rations, I suppose, but I can tell you don’t have a gourmet droid working here.” Mara’s bright eyes flashed. “So, you’re Skywalker’s new lady?” she asked.
Callista wished she could read the emotions behind Mara Jade’s visage. The other woman was good at masking her expressions, and Callista didn’t know what to make of their conversation.
Though their bodies were similar in age, Callista had been born decades before Mara Jade. Her own powers were gone now, but she had been a Jedi Knight whose abilities surpassed anything that Mara could manage. She had heard of past connections between Mara Jade and Luke—and she decided it would be best if she took the initiative. “Yes I am,” she answered. “And you must be Mara Jade. I’ve heard about you.”
When Mara nodded briskly, Callista raised her eyebrows. “I also heard hints that you might have been interested in Luke yourself at one time.”
Mara frowned again in distaste at her stew, but took a large mouthful. She swallowed, took a drink, and finally let loose a short laugh. “Who told you I was ever interested in Luke Skywalker? When I first met him, the thing I wanted most in the universe was to kill him. I thought that way for a long time.…” She shrugged. “Sometimes it still seems like a good idea to me.” Mara took another bite and chewed slowly. “Not a great basis for a long-term relationship, you think?”
Callista shook her head. “No, I suppose not.” Even without her Jedi powers, Callista wasn’t sure she believed Mara’s answer. “Aren’t you with Lando Calrissian? I heard something about you two being a hot item.”
“Calrissian? You’ve got to be kidding!” Mara actually blushed and turned away to take another drink before she could cough on her quickly swallowed mouthful. “We’re still good business partners in a very profitable operation at the spice mines of Kessel right now—but I think Calrissian was more interested in chasing me than in winning me … which is fine as far as I’m concerned.”
Mara wiped the corners of her mouth. “Well, good to meet you.” She stood up, smoothing out the wrinkles in her flight suit. “Give Skywalker my regards. I’ve got to be heading out. Just stopped by to drop off a message.”
Mara left without so much as a nod of acknowledgment to the other Jedi trainees, while Callista wondered about her mysterious message.
CORUSCANT
CHAPTER 12
Leaving the Jedi praxeum behind, Luke took Callista with him to Coruscant where Luke had set up a private audience with his sister. He quickly met with Leia and delivered the information Mara Jade had brought. Added to what they had already learned at the ruins of Jabba’s palace, the rumors of a Hutt secret plan grew more threatening. Leia had already reinforced her network of spies, hoping to gather more hints and details.
In the ornate presidential