Star Wars_ I, Jedi - Michael A. Stackpole [35]
For the first time I actually felt the connection the new Rogues had to the heroes who had gone before.
I’m not certain at which point I veered off from Kam and Brakiss, but it was before they headed to the upper levels. I found myself alone on the ground level and in a small chamber built into the structure of the Temple itself. The engineers had set it up with a pair of cots and some lockers for gear, with blankets and sheets piled at the foot of the bed. I tossed my satchel on the bed and smiled. I couldn’t place why the room felt familiar or right, but it did.
“I thought I might find you here.”
I turned and saw Luke standing in the doorway. “Am I not supposed to be here?”
Luke held his hands up. “This room is perfect for you, believe me. It’s certainly better for you than any of those in the upper levels.” He gestured easily and one of the lockers slid silently fifty centimeters to the left. “Look down there, at the block three up from the floor.
I walked over and crouched down. Mildew and some lichen had grown over that block, creeping up from the ground, but I easily managed to brush it away. Sunk into the stone were letters and I smiled as I read aloud. “The Empire or Us—there is no compromise. Biggs Darklighter, Wedge Antilles, Jek Porkins.”
A boyish grin tugged at the corner of Luke’s mouth. “Back then the three of them bunked in here—I came late and had the room up above. We met here and swapped stories before we headed out—we were too excited to sleep. We all thought we would survive, despite the odds. I think their inscription was a hedge against death for them. If they didn’t survive, if the whole Rebellion died, at least there would be a record of their names.”
“But your success has guaranteed everyone knows those names, and yours as well. What you did here changed the course of life for billions.”
Luke lowered his hands and his cloak enfolded him in shadow. “What we will do here, now, will change the lives of billions.”
I straightened up and turned back toward him. “I want to apologize for my questions. You’re a Jedi Master and I’m here to learn. I did not mean to show you any disrespect.”
“No offense taken. Your questions were valid, but you based them on a life lived without the touch of the Force.” His grin broadened somewhat. “My Master, Yoda, thought me impatient and impossible to train. You fare much better in that regard. You do tend, by nature, to think too much and to be suspicious. This could be a problem. Suspicion raises walls, allows fear to grow. That can interfere with your ability to use the Force.”
I nodded. “Then, at the risk of making you worried about me even more, I need to ask you another question.”
“Please.”
“You mentioned that both Kam and Brakiss have experiences connected with the dark side. You didn’t bring the three of us in together with the intent of having me watch over them, did you?”
Luke adamantly shook his head. “Not at all.” His eyes hooded themselves in shadow, yet pinpoints of light seemed to sparkle at their centers. “During the time of the Emperor’s return, I, too, went over to the dark side. I did so for a variety of reasons, some of which seemed to make sense at the time, and many of which still cause me difficulty. What I experienced then has given me an understanding of the dark side which is vital to fight it. More importantly, the love of my sister and my friends drew me back. It redeemed me. Even the most foul victim of the dark side can be redeemed. By turning their backs on evil, Brakiss and Kam have already begun their journey into the light. I want to help them complete