[Legacy Of The Force] - 03(45)
“And Vergere?” Jacen asked. He needed to know that Lumiya wasn’t using him to get back at Luke; that he really was the only person who could bring an era of peace and order to the galaxy. “Her potential wasn’t limited.”
“Not in the way you mean. But could she ever win the confidence of any government?” Lumiya shook her head sadly. “She would always be tainted-at best suspected of being a Yuuzhan Vong agent, at worst of being a collaborator who helped them conquer so much.”
Jacen sighed. “I imagine that’s true.” He was still unsure whether Lumiya was telling the truth, but he could find nothing in her explanations to prove she wasn’t. “So that left me.”
“I wouldn’t say left” Lumiya replied. “You were clearly the best choice. Your reluctance to use Centerpoint against the Yuuzhan Vong demonstrated that you were capable of wielding great power responsibly. Your defeat of Tsavong Lah in personal combat proved you were not afraid to use great power when necessary. All that remained was for Vergere to recruit you.”
“Recruit me?” Jacen scoffed, thinking of his long imprisonment among the Yuuzhan Vong. “You mean capture, don’t you?”
“I mean both,” Lumiya said. “Your uncle would have interfered with your training, so we had to isolate you. Vergere returned to the Yuuzhan Vong and helped them capture you, then maneuvered herself into a position to oversee your imprisonment.”
“You mean my breaking,” Jacen corrected. He was beginning to realize just how intricately the two had planned his fate. What had seemed like accident and coincidence at the time had been part of a much larger strategy-a strategy that he still did not fully comprehend. “Let’s be honest. Vergere had to destroy what I was before she could turn me into what you needed.”
Lumiya inclined her head. “Great strength demands great sacrifice. I have always been honest with you about that.” She looked out the viewport and let her gaze linger on Hapes. “The question is: have you been honest witth me? Are you willing to sacrifice all you love for the greater good?”
Jacen’s stomach grew so hollow that he felt as if an air lock had opened inside him. Somehow, Lumiya knew. He started to demand how she had learned of the relationship … then realized that doing so would only reveal the depths of his feelings for Tenel Ka and Allana-and increase the likelihood that Lumiya would eventually demand their sacrifice in balance to his growing power.
He stepped to Lumiya’s side. ‘Tm growing weary of being asked how much I’ll sacrifice,” he said. “I’ve already proven…”
A soft chime sounded from a small screen in the corner of the ceiling, then Ben’s voice came out of the intercom speaker. “Special Agent Skywalker, sir. The packages have arrived.”
“They’re not packages, Ben,” Jacen said. “They’re our guests. Show them to their cabins and…”
“We would prefer to join you MOW.” Tenel Ka’s voice was less distinct than Ben’s, but still very recognizable. “We’ll freshen up later.”
“That wouid be fine, Your Majesty.” Jacen glanced over to find Lumiya studying him thoughtfully. “Will Ben be a satisfactory escort?”
“Quite,” Tenel Ka replied. “We will see you directly.”
The intercom crackled off, and a knowing twinkle came to Lumiya’s eyes. “No need to worry, Jacen-I know when my presence would be a problem.”
She went to the corner of the salon and touched her palm to a hidden pressure sensor. A meter-wide panel of wall popped forward and slid aside. She stepped through the opening into a narrow white corridor, then looked back over her shoulder. “When you need me, I’ll be in my cabin.”
“Good.” Jacen went to the intelligence station and began to study the data Lumiya had gathered on Tenel Ka’s nobles. “I’ll let you know what else the Queen Mother can tell us about these suspects.”
“I’m sure that will be very useful,” Lumiya said.
As soon as the wall pane! closed, Jacen summoned his Tendrando Arms security droid, SD-XX, and asked him to do a security sweep of the entire cabin. He did not really suspect Lumiya of planting an eavesdropping device, but he was not going to take any chances. Lumiya clearly knew too much about his relationship with Tenel Ka already, and he was determined to keep her from learning any more.
By the time Jacen finished reviewing the files Lumiya had pulled, SD-XX had completed his sweep and was standing next to the intelligence station. With thin armor and blue photoreceptors set in a black, skull-like face, he resembled a scaled-down version of his progenitor line-the mighty Tendrando Arms YVH battle droid.