Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order_ Dark Tide 01_ Onslaught - Michael A. Stackpole [21]
Like every father everywhere, Corran’s chest tightened as he watched his son try a task he knew the boy would fail. He wanted to step in, to save Valin from the disappointment, but held himself back. Learning the lesson might hurt his son, but learning how to handle disappointment was more valuable than being able to move all the rocks in the galaxy.
And, to Corran’s surprise, the small, ovoid rock began to move. It tottered on its base, then slowly flopped over on its side.
Corran whooped out loud. “Valin, that’s great! You moved it.”
“Dad?” The boy’s head whipped around, his long brown hair flicking sweat away. One lock pasted itself under his right eye. “I didn’t see you there.”
“No, you were concentrating. That was great.” Corran advanced into the clearing and helped his son up to his feet. “I mean, what you did, I could never—”
“Dad, it wasn’t what you think.”
“I know what I saw.”
Valin smiled and fingered the hair off his cheek. “Remember how you’ve talked about points of view?”
“Yes?”
“It’s a point-of-view thing.” Valin squatted down and waved his father down with him. “Look again.”
Corran studied the rock. The ground at its base was alive with small, purple insects. They were swarming up through the dirt and around the base of the stone. “I don’t get it. You set the rock on the entrance to one of their colonies?”
“No. I have been studying the garnants. They communicate through vibration and scent. I used the Force. I reached down and made them think there was a trail up. I made them think the rock was food. The first one marked it with food scent.” Valin shrugged sheepishly and pulled a small morsel of food from a pocket. “I have a reward for them, so it’s not like I’m forcing them to do anything.”
Corran frowned for a moment. Compelling the behavior of a sapient individual, especially if it was against the individual’s will and for the selfish benefit of the Jedi, undoubtedly would be of the dark side. Luring nonsapients into doing something natural didn’t fall into that class at all, especially when the task was harmless and they were paid back for their actions by something that would replace the energy they’d expended.
“It’s probably closer to the borderline with the dark side than you want to be playing with, but I’m very impressed.” Corran reached out and stroked his son’s head. “Communicating with another species isn’t easy.”
“Not really communicating, Dad.” Valin rolled his eyes. “They’re just bugs. I make them think a rock is food.”
“More than I could do at your age.”
“But you weren’t trained.”
“True enough.” Corran stood. “That notwithstanding, I’m very proud of you.”
“I’d like to make you prouder.” Valin stood and sighed heavily. “I’d been trying to move the rock with my mind for a while first. Then I decided to try that other way. I guess I’ll never be a powerful Jedi.”
Corran rested his hands on his son’s shoulders and touched his forehead to Valin’s. “There are those among the Jedi that view strength as how far you can move something, or how easily you can break something. The real strength of a Jedi comes from within, from his heart and mind. Some Jedi move rocks just to prove they can move them, but the strongest Jedi don’t see any reason to move rocks when that isn’t going to solve the immediate problem.”
His son sighed again and smiled. “So, what are you telling me, Dad?”
“He’s telling you, boy, that being weak is something you’ll learn to get used to, perhaps a handicap you’ll even get over.”
Corran’s head came up as he turned toward the voice. “Ganner!”
The other Jedi nodded solemnly. The man stood a full head taller than Corran. His broad shoulders tapered down to a narrow waist and hips, but the man’s body fairly rippled with muscle. Jet-black hair had been combed back to emphasize a widow’s peak. The mustache and goatee he wore combined with his handsome