Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order 09_ Edge of Victory 02_ Rebirth - J. Gregory Keyes [21]
“I still don’t understand the problem.”
“The problem is, the substance somehow does not recognize true fetal development as a part of the normal functioning of a human body. It thus tries to make adjustments to the developmental process, treating the child almost as it would an illness. In turn, Mara’s natural immune system resists and rejects such modifications. Over time, the residue of this conflict has built up enough to cause toxic shock. According to her cellular history, this buildup began with the pregnancy, and only now reached dangerous levels.”
“I was taking the real tears in the first months,” Mara said.
“Precisely,” the healer concurred. “The very qualities that allow the tears to remit your illness are a danger to your fetus.”
“But my child is well?”
“I cannot feel that the child has yet suffered any damage from the process,” Cilghal answered.
“I believe Jedi Cilghal to be correct,” Oolos said.
“But Mara’s in her final month,” Luke said. “If it took eight months for the toxins to build up—”
“She has reached tolerance saturation,” Oolos said. “Her body will flush those chemicals over the course of years, but in the next month she will remain at the danger level. It is unlikely that mere stress will provoke another attack, but a single taste of the tears could bring on a much more violent reaction than that she experienced today.”
“Is there any way to flush these poisons artificially?” Mara asked.
“Yes.”
“Without risk to my child?”
The Ho’Din scientist lowered the spines on his head. “No. The risk would be measurable.”
“Well, let’s add this to the ‘what I already knew’ category,” Mara said. “I’ll stop taking the tears until our son is born. Then I’ll start taking them again.”
“We could induce delivery now,” Cilghal said.
Mara frowned. “That feels wrong. Cilghal, do you really recommend that?”
“I do,” Oolos said.
Cilghal seemed reluctant. “I don’t recommend it,” she said at last. “Logically, it is the thing to do, and yet when I look down that path, I see deep shadows.”
“And if I carry to term, without taking the tears?”
“Shadows there, too, and pain—but also hope.”
Mara sat up and turned her gaze to Luke. “We ready to go?” she asked.
“I—Mara—”
“Don’t even start. Our baby is healthy, and he’ll stay healthy, I promise you that. We’ll get through this, no matter where we are. We have to go. Let’s go.”
“May I accompany you?” Cilghal asked.
“Of course,” Mara replied.
“Sadly, I cannot make the same offer,” Oolos told them. “My responsibilities to my patients and the New Republic are too great to set aside. I wish I could convince you to remain near, but I surmise I cannot. I wish you only the best, the four of you. I will do what I can to improve the substance, based upon what I know. It would be prudent for you to check with me from time to time.”
“Thank you,” Luke told the healer. “Thanks for everything.”
Jaina rolled her X-wing into the night-shadow of Coruscant, reveling in the feel of the stick in her hand, the shifting crush of acceleration. She felt like shouting out loud, and did. It was good to fly again! This was the best she had felt in a long time.
For months she had been forced out of the cockpit by damaged eyes, and even after they were healed, Rogue Squadron had shown a marked reluctance to recall her. It had unfolded to her gradually, sickeningly, that given her Jedi status and her involvement in the rescue at Yavin 4, they really didn’t want her back. She had gone from being their golden child to their ugly little liability. Only today Colonel Darklighter—the very man who had asked her to join the squadron—had suggested she extend her leave of absence indefinitely.
She didn’t care right now. Coruscant was rushing below, a universe of stars turned inside