Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order 05_ Agents of Chaos 02_ Jedi Eclipse - James Luceno [100]
The instrument-filled chamber did hold several humans, a Selonian, two Verpine, and a Duros, but in spite of the diversity, the curious mix of robed Jedi, Drall, and bullet-headed droid brought activity to an abrupt halt and caused all heads to turn. Since arriving onstation, Anakin had grown accustomed to being the focus of intense scrutiny, but the gray-haired man who muscled his way through the control room crowd set him back on his heels. With the beard that Han had been growing the last time Anakin saw him, the man looked more like Han than Han himself—if a few centimeters taller and more thickly built.
“You’re Jacen, and you’re Anakin,” he said, pointing to each in turn. Mostly to Anakin, he added, “You don’t remember me, do you? I’m hurt. I’ll bet that even your droid remembers.”
“You were responsible for confining Master Ebrihim and Masters Anakin and Jacen within a force field on Drall,” Q9 supplied. “Whereas I was responsible for releasing them.”
The man planted his hands on his hips and laughed heartily. “I’d forgotten all about that.”
“You’re Thrackan Sal-Solo,” Anakin said at last, “Dad’s first cousin.”
Thrackan made his face long. “And your cousin, as well, boys.”
“You not only took us hostage,” Jacen said, “you forced our father to fight a Selonian female—just for your amusement.”
Thrackan spread his hands in a placating gesture. “Han and I have a long history. He probably never told you about the time he beat the stuffing out of me when we were kids. You might say that I was just paying him back. But, you’re right, it was wrong of me to do what I did. Sometimes when you’ve been remembering an injustice for years and years, revenge begins to get the best of you.”
Thrackan’s eyes narrowed. “It took me the better part of eight years in Dorthus Tal prison on Sacorria to realize that, but I have realized it, and I’m a changed man as a result.” He gestured broadly. “That’s the only reason I’m here on Centerpoint. As part of my rehabilitation, the powers that be felt that I could demonstrate my newly attained self-awareness by pitching in—by offering my technical expertise in service to the cause. By standing shoulder to shoulder with the New Republic against the Yuuzhan Vong.”
He snorted a self-deprecating laugh. “Of course, you two wouldn’t know how the past can plague a person. You’re Jedi. You’re not subject to the banal emotions that trouble ordinary folks. Anger, hatred, guilt, the desire for retribution … such things mean nothing to you. Why, even the Yuuzhan Vong have simply failed to see the error of their ways and can probably be brought over to the side of the Force. Am I right? Otherwise you’d be shoulder to shoulder with us in the trenches, ready to fight—ready to spill whatever amount of Corellian blood that runs in your veins.”
“We’re here to help,” Anakin said firmly.
“Are you now?” Thrackan shook his head in amusement. “It’s a marvelous irony that it took a galactic war to reunite the old gang”—he motioned to one of the humans and the Selonian—“and to bring you boys back to the station you originally helped to shut down.” Again his glance favored Anakin. “I have you to thank personally for banishing our illusions of a free and independent Corellia. But, tell me, do you still think we were wrong to make a grab for freedom?”
“Your methods were wrong,” Jacen said before Anakin could respond.
Thrackan waved his hand. “Methods. You realize, of course, that the New Republic has essentially abandoned Corellia since the crisis. And knowing Ebrihim”—he regarded the Drall with obvious distaste—“I’m sure you’ve been apprised of Coruscant’s plan to use Corellia as a battleground.