Star Wars_ Legacy of the Force 07_ Fury - Aaron Allston [16]
Seha glared at him. “Trust isn’t worth anything when it’s built on lies. Maybe I’m the stupidest girl you’ve ever met, but even I can figure that out.”
No one answered her immediately. Even Corran’s expression was more evaluative than angry, and Luke knew, both from experience and from what he felt through the Force, that Corran had been goading the girl professionally, his own display of emotion simulated.
Finally Cilghal broke the silence. “In fairness, after the Order broke ranks with Jacen and the Alliance at Kuat, when the Guard moved against the Temple to seize it, Seha helped destroy the computers. She carried out a complete set of records and led two Jedi Knights to safety through the undercity.”
Luke cleared his throat to catch Seha’s attention. “You can stay in the Order without going on this mission.”
A brief, uncertain smile flashed across Seha’s lips. “I can?”
“You can. You should. Jacen is…extraordinarily dangerous. If he sees you, he might devote only a single, negligent attack to you. Such an attack would distract a Jedi Master, hurt a Jedi Knight…and kill you.”
She swallowed. “Does anyone in the Order know the undercity approaches to Jacen’s offices?”
“Zekk, perhaps.”
She shook her head. “He doesn’t know it since the Vongforming. Since the rebuilding after the war. I’d better stay with the mission.”
“And keep your head down.”
“And keep my head down.”
Luke took a long breath, then looked around. “Will you all excuse me? Kyp, please escort Seha downstairs, then return to me in a few minutes.”
They all bowed and, grave-faced, withdrew, descending via the lift plate by which Seha had arrived.
Alone, Luke stood away from the ill-balanced tool rack, closing his eyes, immersing himself in the Force…looking for guidance.
His heart should have been the only guide he needed, with the Force offering the occasional nudge when things were unclear. But his heart had been burned beyond recognition when Mara had died, and what was left was in pieces, each piece suggesting a different course of action. Throw everything into the effort against Jacen. Hunt down Alema Rar and make her pay for killing Mara. The rot is too deep; the Jedi Order should withdraw and let the warring states fight their way to a finish; only then can rebuilding begin. This kill is mine. This kill is mine.
And the Force was silent. It seemed like forever since it had shown him any guidance about the bigger picture. All it offered him these days was guidance for immediate problems, the here and now. It had been that way since—for how long? Since Mara’s death at least. It could have begun before then.
Perhaps he could no longer read the Force. Perhaps it chose not to speak to him anymore.
And if that was true, he could not remain the Grand Master of the Order. He would lead the Jedi into ruin.
“Grand Master?”
Luke opened his eyes. Kyp stood before him. Luke had neither heard nor felt him coming.
Luke forced his thoughts back to the present. “You’ve been putting together the plan for this mission.”
“Yes.”
“Why is there some doubt as to who is going to lead it?”
Kyp hesitated a moment. “Masters Horn and Katarn have volunteered. I am also willing to lead it. But I haven’t assigned a mission leader yet…because I think you should lead it.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Please hear me out. There’s worry in the Order. It comes from not knowing where we’re going. The Jedi need you to show them. They need you to lead. A mission like this shows them your goals, your heart.”
If I lead this mission, I will strike at Jacen with hatred. One of us will die, and Ben will follow our mutual example and be lost to the dark side. Luke did not need the Force to show him the future to know that this was true.
He thought about it a long moment. “Here’s my decision. Master Katarn will lead this mission.