Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order_ Dark Tide 02_ Ruin - Michael A. Stackpole [131]
And my uncle is accepting that this is what must happen. Jacen had long known that the heroic mold in which Luke and Corran had cast themselves as Jedi was not to his liking. It seemed a poor fit, and that fit worsened as the Jedi bowed to political considerations. If we serve life and the Force, how can we let politics turn one of us, all of us away from that duty? We can’t! There has to be another way.
He sighed. I have to find that other way.
“Jacen.”
The young Jedi straightened. “Yes, Corran?”
“You’re idealistic, and that’s good. I know this doesn’t sit well with you. I can see that in your eyes. Yours, too, Ganner. I appreciate that, but I need the both of you to do something for me. Something I can’t do.”
Ganner nodded. “Name it.”
Corran looked at the both of them, and when his green-eyed gaze met Jacen’s eyes, the younger Jedi felt a jolt. “Some Jedi, like Kyp and Wurth, will take my leaving as a good sign. They’ll consider the sort of discussion we’ve had here just a display of weakness. When I leave, they’ll think they’ve won some sort of victory. No persuasion on your part will change their minds. It will just lower you in their estimation. It will make their plays for power that much more effective.”
He glanced at Luke. “You have to support Master Skywalker. If the Jedi aren’t together in opposing the Vong, Ithor will be just one more tragedy in what’s going to be a very long list.”
“I’ll do it.” Ganner smiled. “Thanks for providing me an example to follow.”
“Don’t follow it too closely, Ganner. Be yourself. Set an example for others.”
Corran shifted his gaze to Jacen. “What about you?”
Jacen started to open his mouth, then closed it. Thoughts and emotions ran rampant through him. He wanted to agree, but it meant committing himself to a direction he wasn’t certain was for him. A direction that will take me away from where I need to be. Yet, despite his ambivalence, he nodded. “I’ll do my best.”
“I’m sure that will be more than enough.” Corran straightened up, momentarily shaking off his weariness. “I’m sorry to abandon you. My ability to help . . . There are things I have to do. I just hope you are able to handle the Vong. If there ever comes a time when folks look forward to the return of the man who killed Ithor, well, we know that means the invasion is completely out of hand and things are truly beyond saving.”
Also by Michael A. Stackpole
WARRIOR: EN GARDE
WARRIOR: RIPOSTE
WARRIOR: COUPE
LETHAL HERITAGE
BLOOD LEGACY
LOST DESTINY
NATURAL SELECTION
ASSUMPTION OF RISK
BRED FOR WAR
MALICIOUS INTENT
GRAVE COVENANT
PRINCE OF HAVOC
DEMENTIA
A GATHERING EVIL
EVIL ASCENDING
EVIL TRIUMPHANT
ONCE A HERO
TALION: REVENANT
EYES OF SILVER
THE DARK GLORY WAR
A HERO BORN
AN ENEMY REBORN
WOLF AND RAVEN
STAR WARS: ROGUE SQUADRON
STAR WARS: WEDGE’S GAMBLE
STAR WARS: THE KRYTOS TRAP
STAR WARS: THE BACTA WAR
STAR WARS: ISARD’S REVENGE
STAR WARS: I, JEDI
STAR WARS: THE NEW JEDI ORDER: DARK TIDE I: ONSLAUGHT
The unforgettable Star Wars saga continues with The New Jedi Order adventures . . .
They had been living on the very edge of disaster for so very long, fighting battles, literally, for decades, running from bounty hunters and assassins. Even the first time Han and Leia had met, on the Death Star, of all places, and in the gallows of the place, to boot! So many times, it seemed, one or more of them should have died.
And yet, in a strange way, that close flirting with death had only made Han think them all the more invulnerable. They could dodge any blaster, or piggy-back on the side of an asteroid, or climb out a garbage chute, or . . .
But not anymore. Not now. The bubble of security was gone.
To Han Solo, the galaxy suddenly seemed a more dangerous place by far . . .
—from Vector Prime
Also in The New Jedi Order series
VECTOR PRIME
by R. A. Salvatore
Dark Tide I
ONSLAUGHT
by Michael