Star Wars_ Rebel Force 01_ Target - Alex Wheeler [47]
Elad was exactly the kind of man they needed in the Rebellion: Smart, brave, loyal.
Like Han could be, she thought sadly. If he ever stops running from who he really is.
"I don't know," Elad said. "I'm pretty used to going it alone. The idea of being part of something again…" He shook his head. "Letting people into your life always seems like a good idea at the start. But it can end…badly."
Leia knew what he was referring to. Her heart clenched. "Just think about it," she said softly, putting a hand on his shoulder. "You can't lock yourself away from the world forever." She hadn't touched him since the first day they'd spoken. Since then, she had barely trusted herself to speak to him. She hadn't wanted to risk opening herself up again.
Whenever she looked in his eyes, all she could see was the pain of her own losses reflected back at her. But now, for the first time, she didn't look away. "You're better off for having known your wife and your child," she said hesitantly, unsure of whether she was crossing an invisible line. "The time you shared with them is worth suffering the pain of their absence."
Elad jerked away from her. "You can't know that."
"I can," Leia drew a deep, shuddering breath. Maybe it was time to take her own advice. She'd kept her feelings—her pain—locked up for so long. Maybe just saying the words out loud, just telling someone about what she had lost, maybe that would help salve the wound. "I can know, because…because of Alderaan."
Her voice caught on the word.
Elad's expression didn't change. It was as if he'd known this moment would arrive. "Do you want to talk about it?"
She had already decided on her answer, but was surprised to find how deeply she meant it. "Yes."
X-7 confirmed that his encrypted communication line was secure, then activated the transmission. The others were all in the main hold, so there was no risk anyone would overhear.
"I've gained the trust of the Rebels," he informed the Commander. It was a relief to drop the hearty heroism of the Elad persona and relax into the blankness of his true self.
"The goal is close at hand."
"Excellent," the Commander replied. "I expect you to secure the information about our target as soon as possible. Time is of the essence."
"I may already have a lead."
"Keep me informed," the Commander said, and signed off.
X-7 decided to join the others in the main hold. No need to sequester himself anymore, now that their leader had accepted him.
More than accepted him, he thought with cool pleasure. Sought comfort in him.
Friendship. He had done well in his formulation of the Tobin Elad identity. As predicted, the wounded, noble warrior was exactly the person Leia wanted in her life. Even if she hadn't realized it until "Elad" appeared.
These humans were all so trusting, X-7 thought in disgust. So eager to believe in what they saw on the surface. They believed in the bond that drew them together. They thought it made them strong. And maybe it did. But their secrets kept them apart.
And that made them weak.
They may have fancied themselves as cautious, but it was a joke. They looked at X-7
and saw what they wanted to see—what he wanted them to see.
For Han, he would be a brother in arms. The bounty had been a nice touch, X-7
thought, congratulating himself on constructing such a thorough false identity. Kenuun had done him a true service by digging into "Elad's" records. There could surely be no faster way of gaining Han's trust.
For Leia, he would be her equal, the bold warrior as committed to the fight as she was.
He would be what she wished Han Solo could be—a secret she hid even from herself.
But there were no secrets from X-7.
For Luke? For Luke, he would be a confidante, the one man who believed he would achieve his Jedi destiny.
And this was no act: X-7 believed. He had seen Luke pilot that Podracer—he knew what the boy was capable of. And if Luke was his target, well…a Jedi Knight would make a formidable adversary. But by his own admission, Luke was no Jedi. Not yet.
X-7 stood silently at the edge of the main