Star Wars_ I, Jedi - Michael A. Stackpole [98]
While the other students took charge of the twins and helped Terpfen recover from his journey, I caught up with her in the Great Temple. “Councilor Organa Solo, I need to speak with you.”
“Make it brief. I’m heading out as soon as I can get my stuff together.”
I hit the button for the turbolift. “You can’t go with Terpfen. He’s a known traitor.”
She preceded me into the lift. “I can handle myself on that count.”
“Despite the assurances that Ambassador Cilghal gave you that we can protect your twins, you can’t leave them here.”
Her brown eyes sparked dangerously. “So, what, I load them into a fighter with a known traitor and take them off to a world where Imperial assassins are going to be trying to kill them?”
“No, but leaving them here, where a four-thousand-year-old Dark Lord of the Sith is turning apprentices into puppets isn’t much of a choice, either.” I shook my head. “You don’t know any of us. How can you trust all of us with your kids?”
“I can’t trust all of you.” She poked a finger square in my chest. “I’m trusting you.”
“What?”
Her expression sharpened as the lift doors opened and she started down the hall to her room. “When my husband left here, he said I could trust you. Not an easy man to earn trust from, my husband. That got me wondering and you’d be surprised what the president of the New Republic can learn when she’s curious and has got a HoloNet connection. The fact that my brother picked you to be here counts a lot in your favor, but the rest of your record doesn’t hurt at all. I think my children are safe with Corran Horn.”
“Look, since you know who I am, let me fly you to Mon Calamari. I’m a hot hand with a fighter. I can help when you get to Anoth.”
She shook her head. “Can’t do it—and that’s because I do know who you are. I know that if you wanted to be my chauffeur, you’d not have come to me privately. You want something else, and I’m willing to bet that something else means you’re going to be staying here. Let me have it.”
I nodded as she started shoving clothes into a satchel. “First, I think the apprentices who are vulnerable to Exar Kun are those who have had some brush with the dark side in the past. Streen once asked me about something I considered minor, but it might be the vector in for Exar Kun. Can’t confirm that about Gantoris or Kyp, but it would make sense since those who have fallen once can more easily be lured back to old paths of behavior.”
Leia paused for a moment. “That would put Kam at risk.”
“He’s pretty tough, but, yes, there’s a chance.” I glanced down. “Streen remains a risk. Can’t pinpoint any others, though Brakiss has an Imperial background that would make him prey.”
“Right. What else?”
“We have a basic problem if we’re going to figure out a way to deal with Exar Kun. If we exclude everyone who is suspect, he could know something is afoot because of that fact.”
“And he could use any paranoia that develops as a way into those who aren’t yet tainted.” She zipped up her bag. “So is there a solution to this problem, or do we evac Yavin?”
“With Kyp running around in an invincible ship? No way. We’re all that can stand between him and his returning with a way to move Exar Kun off this ball.”
“Evac is out. The problem still stands then.” She watched a smile grow on my face. “I hate it when a Corellian smiles like that. Usually means Han’s about to lose the Falcon to Lando in some sabacc game.”
“Well, it’s Exar Kun’s chance to lose this time, because he overplayed his hand.” My smile broadened. “Your brother identified an ability in me, one to project thoughts into