[Legacy Of The Force] - 03(23)

“It’s not a matter of control.” There was just a hint of hostility in Jacen’s voice. “Ben is my cousin. I care about him very much.”

Lumiya studied Jacen from behind her veil, then said, “Caring is fine-as long as you don’t let it stand in your way.”

“There’s a difference between letting something stand in your way and destroying it needlessly,” Jacen countered. “I’m beginning to think maybe I should send him back to his father.”

Lumiya’s voice grew as alarmed as it did disapproving. “Why would you do a foolish thing like that?”

“To complete his training,” Jacen said. “I’m having trouble finding the time to do it myself, and that leaves him vulnerable. You saw how he tried to manipulate me into feeding his ego.”

“I did, and that kind of weakness will make him a servant to his emotions,” Lumiya said. “It will also make him your servant, if you use it wisely.”

“That’s not what I want for my cousin,” Jacen said, sounding slightly disgusted.

“What you want doesn’t matter!” Lumiya retorted. “What you need does-and you need an apprentice.”

“I need an assistant,’” Jacen countered. “And there are several Jedi Knights who would serve me better and require less time from me-Tahiri Veila, for example.”

“Tahiri is not a descendant of Anakin Skywalker,” Lumiya replied. “She does not have Ben’s potential, and she will not serve you as well in the long run.”

Jacen remained silent for a long time, then finally asked, “Don’t you mean serve yow?”

“It’s the same thing,” Lumiya replied quickly. “We serve one cause-though I am having doubts about you, Jacen. You seem more committed to your friends and family than you do to our mission.”

“If that means protecting them from needless harm, then yes, I am,” Jacen said. “We’re supposed to be doing this for the good of the galaxy-and the galaxy includes my friends and family.”

“Of course it does, Jacen. I don’t mean to imply that it doesn’t.” Though Lumiya’s words were conciliatory, her voice remained stern and demanding. “But the galaxy is bigger than your family. You must be willing to sacrifice what you care about to a greater purpose.”

“I’ve already proved that I’m willing to do that,” Jacen said coldly. “I’m proving it every day.”

“Indeed you are.” Lumiya’s voice softened, and she took Jacen’s elbow in her hand. “All I’m saying is that we need to keep Ben near; I don’t know how yet, but I have a sense that he will prove the key to our success.”

Jacen considered this for a moment, then let out his breath and nodded. “Okay-for now. But the minute I begin to suspect that you’re only using him to get even with Uncle Luke…”

“You won’t, because I’m not,” Lumiya said. “Everything I do, I do to bring peace and justice to the galaxy.”

Alema’s admiration for the woman was growing by the moment; Jacen Solo wasn’t easy to deceive, and she was using Jacen’s own idealism to destroy him and his family. Delightful.

Lumiya glanced up and down the walkway, no doubt reaching out in the Force to make certain no one had wandered into the area while they were talking, then asked, “Why did you want to see me here?”

“Because I didn’t have time to go to your apartment,” Jacen said.

Alema glanced back to the other side of the hedge. Lobi had dropped into a crouch and was running a feed line from the antenna to a recording rod on her belt. Now Alema began to feel less awestruck by the Balance than betrayed by it. Since her failed attack on Jacen, she had spent her time spying on him and Lumiya, and it had slowly dawned on her that just as Luke was losing Ben to what he feared most, Jacen was becoming what Leia hated most: a Sith Lord.

But if Lobi revealed that to Luke now, Jacen’s training would never be completed. Luke would hunt Lumiya down and kill her, Leia would redeem her son through her love, and the Solos would live happily ever after. And where was the Balance in that? Jacen recaptured Alema’s attention with an angry rebuttal to something she had missed.

“I don’t have time to be that careful tonight. Niathal is about to give me my own Star Destroyer.” His voice grew calmer, yet also more cold and demanding, “I was supposed to meet her five minutes ago, but I need you to take care of something for me. Now.”

“What is it?” Lumiya asked. Her tone made clear that she wasn’t agreeing to anything. “And you might try asking in a civil manner.”