Star Wars_ The Jedi Academy Trilogy 01_ Jedi Search - Kevin J. Anderson [121]
“Of course, Admiral. I’m sorry I haven’t been more attentive. Please send it to my personal network address, and I’ll get to it right away. I promise.”
Ackbar nodded his salmon-colored head. “Thank you, and I apologize again for the interruption. I’ll let you get back to work.”
When he signed off, Leia could do no more than sit with her eyes closed, hoping for a few moments of silence. In quiet times, though, she began to worry too much about Han.…
The door chime sounded. Leia almost screamed.
Mon Mothma stood at the doorway in her flowing white robes. “Hello, Leia. Do you mind if I come in?”
Leia stuttered, trying to regain her composure. “Uh, please!” Mon Mothma had never come visiting, never shown the slightest inclination to make any sort of social call. Though calm and quietly charismatic, the Chief of State had always distanced herself from anyone else.
During the early days of the Rebellion, Mon Mothma had sparred with Leia’s father Bail Organa on the floor of the Senate. Mon Mothma was a new senator then, a firebrand insisting on rapid and sweeping changes that dismayed the seasoned and cynical Bail Organa. Eventually, though, they joined forces to oppose Senator Palpatine in his quest to become President; when they failed and Palpatine proclaimed himself “Emperor,” Mon Mothma began to speak of open rebellion. A horrified Bail Organa had not seen the need until after the Ghorman Massacre, when he finally realized that the Republic he had served for so long was truly dead.
The death of Bail Organa and the destruction of Alderaan had affected Mon Mothma deeply. But she had never hinted that she wished to become friends with the daughter of her old rival. “What can I do for you, Mon Mothma?” Leia asked.
Mon Mothma looked around the private quarters, fixing her gaze on the sweeping landscapes of Alderaan mounted on the walls, the grasslands, the organic-looking tower cities, the underground settlements. The faintest sheen of tears seemed to film her eyes.
“I learned that your children are sick, and I wanted to offer my consolations.” She fixed a sharp gaze on Leia. “And I have also learned that Han and Chewbacca never returned from their Kessel mission. I wish you hadn’t tried to hide that from me. Is there anything I can do?”
Leia looked down. “No. Lando Calrissian and my brother Luke have already gone to see what they can find. I hope they bring back news soon.”
Mon Mothma nodded. “And I also wanted to commend you on the job you are doing. Or perhaps console you is the better word.”
Leia could not hide her surprise. “The reception for Ambassador Furgan was a disaster!”
Mon Mothma shrugged. “And do you think anyone could have performed better than you did? You did a perfectly adequate job with the Caridans. Some battles simply cannot be won. Given the Caridans’ potential for galactic mayhem, I think getting a drink thrown in my face is a relatively minor debacle.”
With a faint smile Leia had to admit that the Chief of State was right. “Now, if only I could find a place to house Luke’s Jedi academy, I’d feel like I’m making some progress through this whole morass.”
Mon Mothma smiled. “I’ve been thinking about that too, ever since Luke made his speech. I believe I have a suggestion.”
Leia’s dark eyes widened in surprise. “Please!”
Mon Mothma indicated the data terminal in Leia’s living chamber. “May I?”
Leia gestured for her to use the system. Though a lifelong politician, Mon Mothma set to work on the database; she was obviously no stranger to doing her own research.
When images of the new planet crystallized in the projection zone, Leia felt the tingle of excitement creep through her. The confident feeling that this was the right place grew in her heart. She wondered how she had overlooked something so obvious.
“Consider,” Mon Mothma said, smiling. “It has everything he could possibly need—privacy, good