[Hand Of Thrawn] - 01(12)

But only when it was necessary, and only to accomplish some great and noble goal. His power in the Force had saved his life numerous times, and Han’s life, and the lives of countless others. In none of those instances had he had any other choice.

And yet…

Luke stared out the canopy at the distant stars. And yet there was Obi-Wan Kenobi, his first teacher in the Force. A powerful Jedi, who’d nevertheless allowed himself to be cut down on the first Death Star rather than sweep Vader and the stormtroopers away with a wave of his, hand.

And there was Yoda, who had surely had as deep an understanding of the Force as anyone in recent history. If Luke’s own current level of knowledge was any indication, Yoda could surely have defeated the Emperor all by himself. Yet he’d chosen instead to leave that task to Luke and the Rebel Alliance.

And there was Callista. A woman he’d loved … who had run away from him because his power had somehow intimidated and frightened her.

“Look, Luke, it might not mean anything,” Han’s voice came into his thoughts. “You know how alien minds work sometimes.”

“Yes,” Luke murmured. But it was clearly not something to be dismissed out of hand. It was a question he needed to study, and to meditate on, and to discuss with his family and closest friends.

He shuddered, that horrifying vision of a laughing Emperor flickering across his memory. And he’d better do it fast.

But as Han had said, one crisis at a time. Pulling up the X-wing’s nose, he eased into escort formation beside the transports and headed in.





CHAPTER


3


For a long moment Leia Organa Solo just stood there, the restless breezes of the Wayland forest rustling through her hair, staring at the gold-colored protocol droid twitching nervously in front of her. There were, she reflected distantly, very few things in the galaxy anymore that could shock her speechless. Han Solo, her husband and father of her three children, was apparently still one of them. “He did what? “

It was a rhetorical question, of course. Possibly a way of confirming to herself that her voice still functioned. C-3P0 either didn’t realize that or else didn’t want to risk guessing wrong. “He and Chewbacca have gone to Iphigin, Your Highness,” the droid repeated, his voice miserable. “Several hours ago, shortly after you left on your tour. I tried to stop them, but he wouldn’t listen. Please don’t deactivate me.”

Leia took a careful breath, stretching out to the Force to calm herself-apparently, she looked angrier than she actually was-and tried to think. Han would be on Iphigin by now, probably already engaged in a dialogue with the Diamalan and Ishori delegations. She could have her honor guard fly her there in one of their ships, calling ahead and telling Han to declare a recess until she arrived. The children she could leave here; the rest of the Noghri could look after them until she and Han returned. Alter natively, she could get in touch with President Gavrisom and have him send someone else out there to take over. But either approach would make Han’s effort an obvious and embarrassing false start, hardly the sort of thing that would bolster the already low opinion the Diamala had of New Republic capabilities. In fact, depending on how seriously the Diamala chose to take it, it could easily make things worse than if she just left Han alone.

Besides, he was a hero of the Rebellion, and both the Diamala and Ishori appreciated that sort of thing. And after years of watching her handle this sort of negotiation, he must surely have picked up a trick or two.

“Oh-one other thing,” Threepio spoke up hesitantly. “Captain Solo also made one other call before he and Chewbacca left. I believe it was to Master Luke.”

Leia smiled wryly, her first real smile since Threepio had broken the news. She should have guessed that Han hadn’t just rushed in on this thing alone. He’d conned Luke into going with him.

Threepio was still standing there looking nervous. “It’s all right, Threepio,” she soothed him. “Once Han gets an idea in his head, there’s no stopping him. He and Luke should be able to handle things.”

The droid seemed to wilt with relief. “Thank you, Your Highness,” he murmured.

Leia turned away from him and looked back across the clearing. Her youngest son, Anakin, was crouched down beside one of the slender airspeeders the group had just arrived in, and even at this distance she could hear the mix of seriousness and excitement in the eight-year-old’s voice as he discussed the finer points of design with the Noghri pilot. Standing a little way to one side beside the Mobquet speeder bikes that had flown escort for them, the twins Jacen and Jaina were watching with the air of st ressed patience that came naturally of being a whole year and a half older and wiser than their younger brother. Grouped around the children and vehicles were the short gray figures of their Noghri escort, the bulk of their attention directed outward. Even here at the edge of a Noghri settlement, they were continually on the alert for danger. Beyond them, rising above the forest, Leia could see the top of Mount Tantiss.