“Jaina …” Jag hesitated, struggling for the words. “She thinks that any distraction now could be fatal to her then. That means enjoyment of any sort. Anything that would make her smile is the enemy. The thing is, she’s really a lot like her brother, before his change, and I don’t want her to cast off her humanity the way he has.” He offered Leia a brief smile of apology for those words. “I’m trying to find a way to tell her that if you sharpen a sword all the time, even when it’s not dull, by the time you need it there’s no metal left. It will break. But she’s not listening.”
Leia’s voice was low, concerned. “Have you used those exact words?”
“She doesn’t learn from words, Jedi Solo. She only learns from success. And failure.” Jag gave her a sympathetic look and walked out into the sunlight, metal case in hand.
Chapter 8
CORUSCANT, GALACTIC ALLIANCE GUARD BUILDING
Allana opened her eyes. In front of her was the corner of the bed she was lying on-a plain bed, its mattress very soft and comfortable but old-fashioned, not adjusting its shape to her as she moved. Beyond it was a bare brown wall, its simulated wood pattern hard to make out in the dim light of half-shadowed glow rods.
She didn’t know this place.
She rolled over to see the whole room, and there he was-seated in a chair by the bed, tall and handsome, wearing his black uniform, his eyes so bright and intent they almost frightened her.
But she shouldn’t be frightened of him. He was her mother’s friend.
She held out her arms. “Jacen.”
His face twitched a little when she called his name, but he came to her and held her. “Allana. You slept a long time.”
“Where am I?” Her voice was muffled against his shoulder.
He drew back to look at her again, and now his eyes were normal. “You’re on Coruscant.”
“Where’s Mommy?”
“She’s back on Hapes.”
Allana fidgeted, and, reluctance on his face, Jacen released her. “Why is she there and not here?”
“You don’t remember?”
She shook her head.
“Bad people came to your palace. They wanted to hurt you and your mother.”
“Like before.”
Jacen nodded. “They used coma gas, which puts people to sleep. Since you’re little, it put you to sleep for a long time. I had just arrived there for a visit. Your mother thought you’d be safer if you came home with me. That way, the bad people won’t know where you are.”
“Oh.” That made sense, but her mother had said that anyone Allana was going to be sent away with like that, even if there wasn’t time for a good-bye, would know the special words. And Jacen hadn’t said the special words yet. “Can I talk to Mommy on the holocomm?”
Jacen shook his head. “Not yet. The bad people could trace the transmission. Do you know what that means?”
Allana nodded. “Like following a trail of bread crumbs.”
“Exactly. That would lead them right here, which would undo all the good your mommy and I have done. So we’ll just have to stay hidden for a while. But I’m arranging to have all sorts of things brought here for you to play with. Toys and gadgets and musical instruments.”
“And friends?”
“Not yet. Soon, I hope. I’ll have a droid friend for you tomorrow.” He gave her another hug. “I’ve got to go, but I’ll be watching through that holocam.” He pointed straight up, but Allana could see nothing on the ceiling there. “So you’ll always be safe. Just call for me if you need anything.”
“All right.” She watched him leave, then lay down again.
And she wondered how long it would be before Jacen remembered the special words, and what she should do if he never said them.
CORUSCANT, BENEATH THE GALACTIC ALLIANCE GOVERNMENT DISTRICT
There were five of them, Jedi all, ranging in experience from a teenage girl to a graying veteran who had first seen action as a stormtrooper serving Palpatine’s Empire.
Valin Horn, son of Corran, breathed a sigh of relief that he was not at the low end of the age ranking. In his late twenties, he was, by a statistical accident that seemed to plague him, often paired with much older Jedi. Here Master Kyle Katarn was indeed his senior, by some forty-odd years. But the Falleen male, Thann Mithric, and the Bothan female, Kolir Hu’lya, were both his junior by several months. And the human girl leading them, Seha, was youngest of all.
Not that seniority mattered much on a mission like this. Valin was just pleased that he was getting old enough not to be at the bottom of every age sorting.
All five Jedi wore matte-black garments that covered them from neck to toes. The material, slick against abrasive surfaces like duracrete and metal drainage pipes, retained heat in cold surroundings like water but radiated it in warmer environments. The Jedi carried-and sometimes, as now, dragged or pushed-packs containing their lightsabers, robes that could be folded into very compact bundles, other weapons, and climbing equipment.