“That doesn’t mean we are the Galactic Alliance’s servants,” Luke said.
“Master Skywalker, remember who Raynar Thul’s parents were. We know how money works.” Raynar stood. “You must bow to the needs of those who pay your bills-and, at the moment, the Galactic Alliance needs you to turn your back on what is right.”
“Right from whose viewpoint?” Luke countered, also standing. “Right and wrong, good and evil, light and dark-most of the time, they are illusions that prevent us from perceiving the greater reality. The Jedi have learned to distance themselves from these illusions, to seek the truth beneath the words. Let us go-“
“No.”
Raynar stepped toward Luke, and suddenly the dark presence returned, pressing against him, trying to push him toward the edge of the dais. Luke opened himself to the Force and pushed back, standing firm until Raynar came toe-to-toe with him, and they stood glaring into each other’s eyes, two strangers who had been, in another life, Master and pupil.
“We have heard about this new Force of yours,” Raynar said. “And we despair. The Jedi have grown blind to the dark side itself.”
“Not at all,” Luke said. “We have learned to see it more clearly than ever, to recognize that the dark side and the light side spring from the same well-inside us.”
“And which side is it that wishes to find Jaina and the other Jedi Knights?” Raynar asked. “The side that knows what is right? Or the side that serves the Galactic Alliance?”
“The side that the serves the will of the Force,” Luke answered. “Everywhere.”
“Then you will serve it best by leaving Jaina and the others to settle this,” Raynar said. He turned his back on Luke and started toward the steps. “As we said, you are welcome to stay on Yoggoy as long as you like.”
“I’ll bet,” Han said, going after him. “And when we get to be Joiners- “
“Thank you.” Leia grabbed Han’s arm and jerked him back. “We look forward to learning more about the Colony. After we have, perhaps we can discuss this further?”
Raynar stopped on the top step and glanced back, his scorched face tipped at a slight angle. “Perhaps, but you won’t change our mind, Princess. We know you too well.” His gaze shifted back to Luke. “We know you all too well.”
ELEVEN
Were it not for the golden gleam of C-3PO’s head-bobbing along through a forest of feathery antennae as he questioned their guide about the Colony languages-Leia would never have been able to tell which scarlet-headed insect they were following. The route back to the hangar was swarming with Kind, and at least half of them were Yoggoy, proud and bustling and identical in every way she could see to the guide that had been assigned to escort them.
The passage took a sharp bend, and Leia lost sight of C-3PO. Waving the others to follow, she started to walk faster.
“What’s the hurry?” Han said, catching her by the arm. “We could use a few minutes alone.”
“Alone?” Leia tipped her head at the steady stream of insects clattering past. “Take a look around!”
Han was careful to avoid doing as she suggested, but gave a little shudder anyway. “You know what I mean. Without Raynar’s spy listening in. I’ve got a plan.”
“Planz are good,” Saba agreed from the back of the group.
“But we don’t want to look suspicious,” Mara said. She waved the group forward again, and they set off with Leia and Han in the lead, Luke and Mara next, and Saba bringing up the rear. “Let’s keep moving while we talk. “
“I’m pretty sure I can talk Juun into giving us a copy of that list of nests on his datapad and any charts he does have on the Colony,” Han said. “Between that and your Jedi senses, it shouldn’t take us that long to figure out where Jaina and the others are. After all, Raynar practically told us where to look-a light-year or so from the frontier.”
“If he was being honest,” Mara said. “He was always clever, but now… we should be careful. This new Raynar is a lot more formidable than the kid we remember. I have a feeling he’s already ten steps ahead of us.”
“And that’s why we should accept his offer to stay on Yoggoy for a while,” Leia said. They rounded the bend in the corridor, and Leia spotted C-3PO’s golden head fifteen meters ahead - far enough away that no matter how good the guide’s ears were, it should be impossible to eavesdrop over the clicking and thrumming that filled the passage. “We need to learn as much about Raynar-and the Colony-as he knows about us.”