Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 06_ Vortex - Denning Troy [177]
Saba’s hand, so large it stretched across Leia’s entire back, tensed. “Yes, Chief Daala is too quiet. She is preparing something big.”
A knot of tension formed in Leia’s stomach. This was the bad part about all the Order’s successes. Daala was going to respond—she had to, and the less the Jedi heard about it, the more likely that response was to be something lethal and outrageous.
“And the Jedi have no idea what Daala is planning?” Leia asked.
Saba shook her head. “Not yet. This one is working on it.”
“In that case, have you given any thought to evacuating the Temple?” Leia replied. “The more clustered we remain—”
She was interrupted by the tremendous thump of Saba’s tail against the floor. “Abandon the nest?” she hissed, whirling on Leia. “Did this one train a snekket?”
Knowing better than to cringe away from a Barabel, Leia leaned back toward Saba and put some durasteel into her voice. “You know better than that, Master,” she said. “But it’s a tactical mistake to keep us bunched up inside. All it would take is one baradium missile to wipe out fifty percent of the Jedi Order.”
“Daala would do that?” Saba’s scales were lying flat against her cheeks—a sure sign that she felt threatened. “She would use a baradium missile on Coruscant?”
“We don’t know what Daala would do—that’s the point,” Leia replied. “She’s certainly done worse things in the past.”
Saba’s gaze grew thoughtful, and she leaned away from Leia. “You are right, Jedi Solo. We mustn’t let her strike first, not with the … with our Temple at risk.” She turned back toward the window, her heavy brow lowered in thought. “Thank you, Jedi Solo. You have been helpful.”
Leia recognized a dismissal when she heard one, but she made no move to leave. “Master Sebatyne, I didn’t mean to imply we should—”
“This one knowz what you mean,” Saba said. “And she has no intention of attacking Daala first.”
“But you’re not going to let her attack first, either?” Leia clarified. “If she tries, the Jedi will stop her?”
“No,” Saba clarified. “The Jedi will be quicker.”
Leia was silent for a moment, contemplating the simple elegance of Barabel diplomacy: don’t start the fight—win it.
“That’s a very fine line to walk,” Leia said. “To an outsider, it may not seem like there’s a line at all.”
“That is why we are Jedi and they are not,” Saba replied. “Because we are accustomed to fine lines.”
Realizing she had made her point, Leia inclined her head. “Very well, Master. Please let me know if I can be of assistance.”
Saba dismissed her with a nod, but as Leia turned to go, she added, “There is one thing, Jedi Solo. Has Head of State Fel broken orbit yet?”
“I don’t believe so,” Leia added. “Jaina was hoping to speak with him before he left.”
Saba nodded. “Good. Ask Jaina to suggest to Head of State Fel that he should remain awhile longer.”
“If you like. May I ask why?”
Saba cocked her head and studied Leia out of one eye. “This one thinkz you know why, Jedi Solo.”
“I suppose I do,” Leia said, nodding. It wasn’t a question of if Daala was going to attack, but how quickly—and in all probability, that meant Jag’s reasons for withdrawing from the negotiations were soon going to be a thing of the past. “I’ll ask Jaina to convince him to stick around for a few days.”
Leia waited until Saba dismissed her again, then stepped outside into the corridor, where Han was pacing back and forth, waiting. He took her arm and started toward the lift tube, obviously worried about being late.
“So?” he asked. “How was Saba?”
“Not good,” Leia admitted. “Maybe even a little scary. She’s not handling the Kenth thing very well.”
“Who is?” Han asked. “Even I’m feeling guilty about some of the things I said to him.”
“It’s more than just guilt—she seems to think it’s a failure of leadership.” They reached the lift