[Dark Nest] - 1(88)
After a time, Leia lowered the lights and told the medcomputer to alert her if anything changed in Saba’s status.
As Leia drew the privacy curtain across the medbay, she asked, “How about a nice mug of hot chocolate? We have some of Luke’s special supply on board.”
“Really? Hot chocolate!” Alema gasped. Always scarce, hot chocolate had become a true Hutt’s pleasure after the Yuuzhan Vong reshaped seven of the eight planets capable of growing the rare pods necessary to produce it. “What about your duties in the cockpit?”
“Don’t worry about that.” Leia took the Twi’lek’s arm and led her forward. The Falcon had just left Qoribu and was preparing to make its first jump to hyperspace, but Leia needed to find out what was really happening on Jwlio-and the sooner, the better. “Juun is filling in for me. Han’s growing fond of the little guy.”
Alema curled her lekku. “That’s not the impression I get from Han.”
Leia gave a knowing smile. “That’s because Han doesn’t realize it yet. ” They entered the main cabin. “Anyway, we have time. Have a seat.”
Leia took several white, thumb-sized seeds from a storage box and placed them in the galley multiprocessor. She set the controls to DRY AND POWDER, then turned, placed a fist on her hip, and began to study Alema with the same slightly interested, slightly preoccupied expression that she had been using to soften up her subjects since her days as a junior Senator in the Old Republic.
Leia should have known it wouldn’t work on Alema Rar. Lithe, beautiful, and averse to modest clothing, the Twi’lek was used to being stared at. She simply stared back, making Leia feel as though she were the one dressed only in a sideless chemise.
The multiprocessor chimed, allowing Leia to turn away gracefully. She added a lot of sweetener and a small amount of water, then set the controls to AGITATE AND HEAT.
“You have a complicated way of making hot-chocolate,” Alema noted. “Usually, it just comes out of the dispenser nozzle.”
“This is better,” Leia said, turning back toward the Twi’lek. “Trust me.”
“Of course,” Alema said. “Is there a reason not to?”
Leia began to wonder who was being interrogated here. She waited until it was time to add the milk, then instructed the multiprocessor to heat slowly and joined Alema at the table.
“Okay.” Leia assumed her best motherly tone and leaned in close. “So what is it?”
Alema frowned, but did not pull back. “What is what?”
“The reason you’re here,” Leia said. “We both know that Juun could have gotten the Falcon past Yoggoy.”
Finally, a glimmer of doubt showed in Alema’s face. Leia was tempted to probe her feelings through the Force, but suspected the Twi’lek would sense the intrusion and resent it.
Alema looked toward the multiprocessor. “Shouldn’t you check the hot chocolate?”
“The unit will chime.” Leia kept her gaze fixed on the Twi’lek’s face. “I saw how Jaina and Zekk reacted, Alema.”
“That doesn’t mean-“
“You three could barely start a sentence without someone else finishing it,” Leia said.
“It’s the meld.” Alema’s answer came a little too quickly. “We really baked ourselves on the voxyn mission.”
“That so?” Leia was far too experienced to miss the Twi’lek’s attempt to change the subject, but she decided to play along - for now. “When did you start using the battle-meld with Killiks?”
Alema looked genuinely confused. “We haven’t. What makes you think that? They’re not even Force-sensitive.”
“I know.” Leia gave her a motherly smile. “But there is a mental connection, especially with you. I saw it at the dance.”
Alema cast a hopeful look toward the multiprocessor, then seemed to realize that the bell would only delay the inevitable.
“Maybe there is,” she said. “It’s nothing you’re aware of. You start feeling like you belong, then you sort of… suddenly you just seem to have a larger mind.”
Leia began to wonder if there were any deprogrammers in the Galactic Alliance capable of handling eight Jedi.
“It’s hard to describe.” Alema must have sensed Leia’s thoughts in the Force, because her tone was defensive. “You’re aware of so much more. You see outside the nest when you’re inside, or inside when you’re outside. And what you feel-you feel everything.”
“I’ve heard glitterstim is a lot like that,” Leia commented dryly.
“This is even better,” Alema said. “You don’t get sick. It’s completely harmless.”