Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order 06_ Balance Point - Kathy Tyers [29]
His chin rested on her shoulder. He didn’t answer, but his arms tightened on her waist.
“All over the Rim, they’ve lost homes. Whole worlds. Closer in, they’re not thinking about anything but how to survive. What kind of life is that?”
She meant it as a rhetorical question, and he didn’t answer. You’ve learned, Skywalker! she thought wryly. Since he didn’t argue, she had to press on. “We’re Jedi.We protect life. That’s worthwhile, but it has nothing to do with the kind of life they live.”
“We can’t make choices for them. How long have you been telling me that?”
“Years. And I’m still right. But people who live in constant terror and grief—how much better are they, really, than the slaves sprouting coral all over their bodies?”
He simply tightened his arms around her middle, so again, she had to answer herself. “Better, of course,” she admitted. “They aren’t in agony. But don’t you ever wonder … or maybe you can tell me … what is the effect on the Force of all this violence and desperation? The threat of invasion brings out fear and anger. The dark side gets stronger. What counters it?”
“Little hopes,” Luke answered. “Little joys.”
Mara stared at the shrinking moon. “It’s like our situation,” she admitted, “but it’s everywhere.”
He raised one hand to stroke her shoulder.
Her head drooped. “Just preserving those who are alive feels like a dead end. But what choice do we have?”
“Only to go on serving, with every day we still have life in us.” Luke’s voice was softer than the dying moonlight. “To defend people who can’t defend themselves. To die for them, if we must. Like Chewie did.”
Mara leaned back against his chest. “I outlived the Empire,” she muttered. “The loss of my livelihood—a man I loved and served. I could outlive the New Republic. I love stability and ease … and you, incidentally.”
His hand tightened.
“But simply … staying alive isn’t everything. Don’t you see? We’re only trying … to prevent the subtraction of life.”
“You’ve added to mine, Mara,” he said softly, dryly. “Come get some rest.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
Crowded around a tracking screen in the hardened control shed, Jacen, Han, and the Ryn Piani watched a small blip grow on the tracking screen, while Randa sulked in a corner and Droma stared out the viewbubble. A tickling sensation finally thrust itself into the back of Jacen’s mind.
“It’s Jaina,” he confirmed.
Han crossed his arms, frowning. “How is she?”
Jacen examined the feeling. “Mad,” he concluded.
One of Thirty-two’s snakelike cofferdams was extended to the med runner. Jacen and Han stood at the foot of its landing ramp as the hatch opened. First off was a Mon Cal pilot, wearing the tri-circle insignia of the New Republic medical service. She had long, feminine webbed hands. “Captain Solo?”
Han stepped forward. “You’ve got my girl, I hope.” His voice echoed oddly inside the cofferdam.
“Her attendant’s helping her forward. Sign here, please.” The pilot thrust out a datapad.
“Nope,” Han said. “Not till I see her.”
Watching over his father’s shoulder, Jacen spotted a dark gray coverall, dark hair chopped surprisingly short, and his sister’s face, half covered by some kind of mask.
Jaina batted away her droid-attendant’s extended limb. “I can walk down a ramp. Hi, Dad. Hello, Jacen. Thanks for coming to pick up the pieces.”
She walked down, limping slightly. Han embraced her, rocking from foot to foot. Then Jacen slipped his arms around her shoulders. Until he knew more about her injuries, he didn’t want to squeeze.
“I’m not a skeleton leaf,” she growled, tightening her grip. Her fingers dug into his triceps.
“Here are your instructions.” The medical droid presented Han with a second datapad.
Jaina turned away. Two curved, darkened lenses hung from a soft headband, with several connectors alongside. Jacen hoped the meds hadn’t had to implant anything under her scalp to make the thing work.
“You can see well enough to recognize us,” he said. “That’s not bad.”
“I can tell you apart through the Force. What I see is shadows and darker shadows.