[Legacy Of The Force] - 02(91)

Luke stood up and watched from the window with Omas. “And what about these people, Jacen? You’ve cracked down on the Corellians. What about all the non-Corellians I see down there?”

Mara gave Jacen a careful, don’t-take-the-bait look. He could feel the tension between her and Luke, and he knew it was more about Ben than about politics or personal rights. “If any other national group or species threatens the security of Coruscant or the Alliance, then I’ll deal with that, too.”

“Within the law.”

“Yes, within the law. I realize you don’t approve of my methods, but someone has to carry out the damage limitation.”

“We’ve had a dozen terrorist incidents in a few weeks,” Luke said. “I’m sorry that lives have been lost, but we need to get that in perspective when it comes to how we treat billions.”

That got Omas’s attention. He turned from the window. “I invite you to tell the Coruscant public that, Master Skywalker. The fact that they won’t see it that way is why terrorism is always so effective. And the Senate doesn’t see it that way, either. The Security and Intelligence Council now has full emergency powers to take operational decisions on the handling of public safety.”

Luke stood his ground. Jacen had thought he was indecisive and afraid of banging heads together, but when he did take a stand, he was adamant. It was just a pity that he took a position on the wrong issues.

“I’m still uncomfortable with the armed forces being used against civilians.”

“Define a civilian with a blaster who doesn’t like the government, then,” said Jacen.

“The legitimate government has taken the decision.” Luke’s tone was even and controlled. “I’m just dissenting, and as the members of the Jedi council aren’t the elected representatives of the people, then an opinion is all that it is.”

Niathal was watching the exchange with faint interest. “This is an exquisite ethical argument, but right now I’m more concerned with stopping Corellia repairing an orbital weapon that was capable of taking out the Yuuzhan Vong and that will, if brought back online, ruin the Alliance’s entire day.”

Omas almost twitched. The power play was luminous in its visibility. “What would you prefer to do, Admiral? We failed to destroy it last time.”

“We can reduce a planet to molten slag from orbit. Let’s not rule out the possibility of needing to do that to Centerpoint-even if it would be best preserved to defend the Alliance.”

“It’s populated,” said Luke.

“So are warships.”

Omas interrupted, looking at his chrono. “I don’t think this takes us any farther forward. I have a delegation from the Corporate Sector Authority coming to see me soon.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder at the protest still going on below, which had turned ugly now as far as Jacen could see. CSF officers had waded in with batons, and the telltale cloud of white gas from a recently fired dispersal canister drifted on the air, clearing a space as protesters scattered. “Don’t be surprised if we see the planetary allegiances going on down there reflected on the blockade line.”

Jacen took the unspoken instruction to leave, and Niathal followed him. As Niathal peeled off to go to her state office, Luke caught Jacen’s arm-just a brief touch, nothing more. But Jacen sensed him flinch as if he’d had an electric shock.

“Have you got five minutes, Jacen?” Luke indicated a side room.

Jacen smiled. “Ah, we all fall into corporate euphemisms fast, don’t we?”

“Sorry?”

“It’s code for ‘Come in here and let me read you the riot act,’ isn’t it?”

“It’s code for ‘We want to talk to you about Ben, in private.’ “

Jacen inclined his head politely and suppressed his detectable feelings further so that he presented quiet bewilderment to Luke and Mara. The doors of the side room closed behind them.

“Where is Ben?” Luke asked.

“Captain Shevu is keeping an eye on him at the barracks.”

Mara spoke for the first time. She’d been uncharacteristically silent in Omas’s office. It was a sure sign something was wrong, because Mara always had a view, even if it didn’t match Luke’s-especially if it didn’t match Luke’s.

“Jacen, Luke’s worried about Ben going on these raids with you.”

“He’s perfectly safe. Safer than when you sent him to attack Centerpoint with me.”

“Actually, it’s not his physical well-being that concerns me the most,” said Luke. “I’m worried that instead of being taught to use his Force skills for good, he’s using them to bust down doors and round up civilians.”