Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order_ Dark Tide 01_ Onslaught - Michael A. Stackpole [60]
“And the other type of people, they try to be the opposite of someone?”
“Right, and the problem with that strategy is simple: There are a million ways to be unlike someone, and the potential for disaster is unlimited because instead of choosing a path and adjusting it to make it right for you and the circumstances, you push all that away.” Danni gave Jaina’s arm a squeeze. “You may not want to be your mother, you may ache for the day when you won’t be seen as her daughter, but that doesn’t mean your mother doesn’t have a lot of admirable qualities that you might want to embrace.”
Jaina nodded, letting Danni’s words bounce around inside her mind for a bit. She knew she was both disappointed and relieved by her mother’s failure to learn more about the Force. Being a Jedi already gave her a piece of identity that her mother didn’t have. And, in being a pilot, she did seem to have picked up one of her father’s better traits. And Mom’s commitment to the causes that catch her up is certainly admirable. Her relentlessness and willfulness, while annoying to me, are good traits, too.
Jaina shot Danni a sidelong glance. “So, this wisdom thing, that kicks in when, about seventeen or eighteen?”
“Maybe, with a good role model.”
“Good. I guess I can take my pick from some of the best.” Jaina smiled. “I may not know who I am, but I think you’ve pointed me to a good path for finding out.”
“It’s the least I can do for half the team that saved me from the Yuuzhan Vong.”
The two of them stopped as they rounded a corner and came upon a crowd of people gathered before a government food storehouse. Armed security troops stood at the doorway. A couple of frantic clerks beseeched the people to disperse. They announced they were waiting for a shipment of supplies and would be setting up local relief centers in neighborhoods. They said no one would be getting food directly from the storehouse, but the sentiment voiced by some in the crowd supported the idea that the troops and bureaucrats wanted to keep the food only for themselves.
Danni shivered. “These people—there’s such need.”
Jaina slowly opened herself to the Force and felt the desire and urgency pouring off the crowd. She abruptly turned Danni around and headed back toward the spaceport. “I know you’re Force-sensitive. I should have steered you clear of here.”
“Did you feel it, Jaina?”
“I did, when I opened myself to it. I’d shut some of it out just because it hurt so much, which is why I didn’t skirt this place.”
“You can do that? You can shut things out?” Danni frowned. “I mean, I thought the Force was vital for the Jedi.”
“The Force is vital for everyone, but negative emotions are the bane of the Jedi Knight. Too much of that can frustrate you, lead you to despair and rash acts that are of the dark side.” Jaina stretched her senses out and located the distant spark that was her mother. “I can show you how to screen a lot of the negative stuff and teach you a few more of the simple telekinesis exercises, but first I want to find my mother. She ought to have a clue as to how desperate things are getting here.”
“You’re right. Thanks for getting me out of there.”
“No problem.” Jaina gave her a quick nod. “That’s for calibrating my compass. Now that I’ve got a better idea where I’m going, perhaps I can actually get there.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The University of Agamar students had been very resourceful in dealing with the conditions they discovered on Bimmiel, Corran decided. Once the sand started to fly, they developed broad, flat footgear that could be buckled to the bottom of boots, expanding the size of a walker’s footprint. It distributed enough of the walker’s weight that he didn’t sink into the sand. A second iteration of the design included a compartment beneath the heel that could be filled with the dead-slashrat scent—referred to, rather accurately, as stink—so slashrats wouldn’t track folks out scouting around.
The sandgales picked up