Star Wars_ The Dark Lord Trilogy - James Luceno [391]
Bail didn’t respond immediately. Into the silence stepped Breha, holding Leia against her shoulder, and into Bail’s rattled mind came thoughts of Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Leia’s twin brother, Luke.
“All the more reason to keep hope hidden,” he said softly.
The Drunk Dancer was home, parked in the cold gloom, light-years from any inhabited systems. This far from the Core, HoloNet broadcasts were standard days, sometimes weeks, behind and always degraded, but clear enough just now for Starstone, Jula, and everyone else—Jedi and crew members alike—to identify the bodies of Iwo Kulka and Siadem Forte.
“… All the Jedi who took part in the battle were killed,” a correspondent was saying when Starstone asked Filli to mute the recorded feed. Everyone had already seen the original reports, which had since been embellished with exaggerations and outright lies.
Gazing around the cabin space at Jambe, Nam, Deran Nalual, and Klossi Anno, Starstone couldn’t help but think that the five of them made up what could be thought of as the final Jedi Council. With herself having called for the meeting, as master of ceremonies, without ever having passed the trials, let alone been dubbed a teacher.
But she could remember Shryne saying on Murkhana that the war was trial enough for anyone.
“What I’m about to say was already said by Master Shryne,” she began at last. “He warned us that by gathering together we would make ourselves a larger target for the Empire, and that we would end up drawing others into our predicament. We can’t risk fomenting another Kashyyyk. The Empire will have to come up with justifications that don’t rely on the presence of Jedi.
“Because there are no more Jedi.
“That much is clear to me now, and I’ll never forgive myself for not having had sense enough to recognize it sooner. Maybe then I wouldn’t have to think of what happened at Kashyyyk as further diminishing the legacy of the Jedi among those who never doubted that Palpatine betrayed us. But if we can’t be Jedi, we can at least continue to honor that legacy in our own way.”
Starstone looked at Chewbacca. “Just before we jumped from Kashyyyk, Chewbacca said that he believed he could be of greater help to his people from afar. I feel the same, and I know that some of you do, as well.”
She took a breath before continuing. “I’ve decided to remain aboard the Drunk Dancer with Jula, Filli, Archyr, and the rest of this mad crew.” She smiled weakly. “Chewbacca and Cudgel are also going to remain aboard for a time. Our priority will be to learn where so many of Chewbacca’s people were taken, and to help liberate them, if at all possible. I’m hoping that by finding them, we’ll also be able to learn why the Empire was so intent on invading Kashyyyk to begin with.
“Along the way …” Starstone shrugged. “Along the way we’re going to keep our eyes open for any Jedi survivors who surface on their own, or are forced into the open by Imperial spies. Not to repeat the mistakes we made at Kashyyyk, but to get them to safety. Gradually, other smugglers will spread word of what we’re doing, and of the safe routes we’ll establish, and maybe some Jedi will actually come looking for us.
“Beyond that, we’ll undermine the Empire at every opportunity, any way that we can.”
“We’re going to keep my son’s memory alive,” Jula said.
The cabin fell silent for a moment.
“I know this may sound like I’ve gone over to the enemy,” Jambe Lu said, “but I plan to sign up with a flight school somewhere, and try to finagle my way into one of the Imperial academies. Once inside, I’m going to foster whatever dissent I can.”
“We have something similar in mind,” Nam said, speaking for himself, Klossi Anno, and Deran Nalual. “But by getting ourselves attached to Imperial agricultural or construction projects, and engineering what flaws we can into the Empire’s designs.”
Starstone’s eyes brightened.
“I trust that all of you understand there can be no contact among us—ever again. That’s going to be the hardest part for me.” She sighed deeply. “I guess I’ve grown attached