Dark Tide: Onslaught

by Michael A. Stackpole

  “I’m going to have you accompany Mara to Dantooine.”

  “Huh? What?” Anakin straightened up. His brows furrowed, and just for a second, Luke caught an angry expression that meant trouble whenever he’d seen it on Han Solo’s face. “But I thought I’d be out doing something . . . I thought . . .” The anger that had flashed over his face drained away with his words. “I understand.”

  Luke arched an eyebrow at him. “And what is it you understand?”

  “You don’t trust me.” Anakin looked down at his dust-smeared fingertips and whispered hoarsely, “You don’t trust me because I killed Chewbacca.”

  The mournful tone of the boy’s voice sent a shiver down Luke’s spine. Regret and hurt poured off Anakin, underscoring the turmoil he felt over the Wookiee’s death. Anakin has always wanted to be a hero, has always wanted to redeem his name, and suddenly finds himself drowning in a tragedy.

  “There is something you must understand, Anakin, first and foremost: You did not kill Chewbacca.” Luke walked over to his nephew and rested his hands on the boy’s shoulders. Using his thumbs, he tipped the boy’s face up until their gazes met. “The Yuuzhan Vong caused Sernpidal’s moon to come crashing down into the planet, not you. For you to accept blame for Chewbacca’s death absolves them of his murder and the murder of all those you couldn’t save. You can’t do that.”

  Anakin swallowed hard. “It sounds logical when you say it, but, in my heart, what I feel . . . What I see in my father’s eyes.”

  Luke lowered his face to a level with Anakin’s. “Don’t be reading something into your father’s eyes that isn’t there. He’s a good man, with a good heart. He’d never blame you for Chewie’s death.”

  The Jedi Master straightened up again. “Regardless of misunderstanding, I don’t know how you can think I don’t trust you. I am very specifically entrusting to you my wife, the person I hold most dear.”

  The boy frowned. “Are you sure it’s not the other way around?”

  “Ah, Anakin, do you think Mara would like an assignment baby-sitting an untrustworthy apprentice?”

  “Um, no.”

  “And do you think she’d give me an earful about it?”

  Corran laughed. “An earful would be getting off lightly.”

  Anakin smiled a little. “I guess she would, Uncle Luke.”

  “I may be adept in the ways of the Force, but there’s no Jedi ability that’ll take the sting out of the sharp side of her tongue.” Luke stepped back and gave Anakin a brave smile. “Mara needs some time to get her illness under control. Dantooine is a world teeming with life, so it’s full of the Force. I want her there to be able to recover, and I want you with her to help her out. If you’ll accept this mission, I’ll be very grateful.”

  Anakin hesitated for a moment then nodded. “Thanks for trusting me.”

  “I’ve never had any doubts about you, Anakin.” Luke winked at him. “You should go get your things together, then see to gathering the provisions you’ll need on Dantooine.”

  “Blasters and lightsabers included?”

  Luke nodded. “Lightsabers, of course. Blasters because I think you can use the work concentrating and focusing the Force. Target practice demands that sort of concentration.”

  Anakin’s smile broadened. “Besides, Aunt Mara wouldn’t be caught dead without a blaster.”

  “Only one?” Corran laughed. “Run heavy on the power packs, Anakin.”

  The youth clapped his hands together. “I’ll take good care of her, Uncle Luke, I really will. We’ll come back ready to do whatever we need to beat the Yuuzhan Vong.”

  “I’m sure of it.” Luke nodded to his nephew and watched the boy leave the room. He waited until he could sense Anakin’s presence descending in the turbolift, then turned his attention to Jacen. “Do you really think I’ve got some embarrassing duty planned for you?”

  “No, Uncle Luke, I’m just afraid I might embarrass you.”

  Luke turned and walked toward the table that had been behind him. He gave himself a moment to ponder Jacen’s words. He turned and leaned back against the table. “I suppose this conversation has been coming for a while, hasn’t it?”

  “Probably.” Jacen shrugged. “I’ve been thinking since the Yuuzhan Vong arrived, and since all the Jedi were here and talking.”

  “Sounds like this is a family talk.” Corran levered himself away from the room’s back wall. “I’ll return later.”

  Jacen held a hand up. “No, wait. It is a family matter, but one for the entire Jedi family, not just us.”

  Corran looked at Luke. “Luke?”

  “Do stay. I suspect more than two perspectives will be useful here.” Luke looked over at his nephew. “What have you been thinking?”

  The youth sighed, and a certain amount of relief pulsed off him. “If this sounds harsh, I don’t mean it to be, but I’ve come to realize something pretty fundamental about the Jedi order. We’re all trained to use the Force to allow us to do things to keep the peace and stave off disaster. We do that because we’re following your teaching. You’re following the teaching of your masters, Uncle Luke, but they had to instruct you in those things you needed to defeat the Empire. They did a great job forging you into a weapon, and you even went beyond their training to do things they probably didn’t think you could.”

  The Jedi Master nodded. “I can accept that.”

  “Okay, the thing of it is that you were shaped as a weapon by Jedi Masters who were part of a tradition that had developed into peacekeepers. I get the feeling, though, that’s not how the Jedi began. I think the Jedi philosophy started as something that strengthened people within. The powers we manifest—I think those are all outgrowths of the internal strengthening, but a lot of those teachings were lost along the way. I mean, I feel the need for something inside.”

  With anguish on his face, Jacen looked at his uncle. “I’m not sure being a Jedi Knight is my calling in life. I’d really prefer it if you gave me no assignment at all.”

  Luke shifted his shoulders involuntarily as a twitch shot up his spine. “Wow, I’d not expected that.”

  Jacen glanced at the floor. “I’m sorry I disappointed you.”

  “No, it’s not that.” Luke frowned. “I was going to tell you that what you wanted didn’t matter right now because I need you. And as I was getting ready to say that, I heard Uncle Owen telling me the same thing, right before he died.”

  Jacen’s head came up. “Then you understand?”

  “Oh, very well.”

  “Then you’ll let me seek the answers I need?”

  “No.” Luke held his hands up quickly. “I mean, yes, you’ll be able to seek for your answers, but not as a replacement for an assignment. You have to remember that absolutely key to the Jedi philosophy is a respect for all life. For you to go off now means you’d be putting your life ahead of that of others, and that’s not good.”

  “But, Uncle Luke, you’ve always put yourself last. You—and Mom and Dad and everyone else—are always being pulled every which way.” He balled his fists and pounded them against his hips. “You don’t have the time to figure out what it is you need to do to develop yourself further in the Force. You’re always distracted.”

  Corran scratched at his throat. “You’ve got a point there, Jacen, but you’re assuming that only by going off like a hermit to contemplate the Force and your integration with it are you going to be able to get anywhere. That’s just not true.”

  “How do you know, Corran?” Jacen crossed his arms over his chest. “None of the Jedi alive today have had that chance. For all we know, Yoda spent the first three centuries of his life as a hermit. Maybe that’s what we need to do.”

  “Or, maybe, Jacen, that’s just one path to get where you want to go.” Corran pointed a finger at Luke. “Your uncle and I differed over paths to becoming a Jedi Knight, but we’re both here. And, sure, there might be distractions out there, but there are lessons learned from doing things and succeeding or fa
iling that aren’t easy to learn from tranquil consideration. You’re right, having time to consider them and their consequences is useful, but I find it hard to concentrate on introspection when folks out there are in trouble.”

  Luke nodded in agreement. “Corran’s point is well taken, Jacen. I do understand what you are saying, and I promise you that if you decide that your path is one of introspection, I won’t stand in your way.”

  The youth’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “There’s a catch.”

  “There is. I really do need you. I’ve saved the most dangerous mission in all this for myself, and I want you with me. Because you’ve dealt with the Yuuzhan Vong before, you have the experience I need. We’re taking Artoo and going back to Belkadan, to see what that Yuuzhan Vong agent was trying to create there. This is a very important mission, and I really do need you with me.”

  Corran snorted. “Great, I guess that leaves the aforementioned embarrassing mission for me.”

  Jacen glanced at him. “Trade you.”

  “No, you won’t.” Luke reached down and clutched the edge of the table. “You wouldn’t like the assignment I’m giving him, and given what you’ve told me, you’re really not suited to it. The Belkadan mission, however, is one you’re perfect for.”

  Jacen’s face closed for a second, then he nodded, but stiffly. “I’ll go along with you for now, but I have such mixed feelings. I’m afraid I’ll be no help to anyone.”

  “Fair enough.”

  The youth bowed his head. “If you will permit me, Uncle Luke, I’ll leave you two to discuss Corran’s mission.”

  “No, wait, listen to what you almost asked to do.”

  Corran rolled his eyes. “This is going to be worse than I thought.”

  Luke laughed. “Okay, so yours is the second most dangerous mission. Out on the Rim there’s a system designated MZX33291 by Imperial surveyors. It has a pulsar in the area that disrupts communications from the only habitable world in the system. The Empire had made the planet off-limits to everyone for reasons that are unclear. There is some evidence that they had xenoarchaeological teams out there, but no trace of what they might have discovered.”

  “Okay. You think the Yuuzhan Vong are there?”

  “I don’t know.” Luke shrugged. “The University of Agamar uncovered the records concerning the fifth world there, which they’ve named Bimmiel after the Imperial survey team leader. About three months ago they sent a xenoarch survey team out as part of a for-credit course. No one has heard from them, which isn’t wholly unexpected. We were sent word by the university administrators, who thought, if we had Jedi in the area, we could swing by and make sure everything was okay.”

  The Corellian smiled. “They think our budget for interstellar travel is bigger than theirs?”

  “Something like that. I also think they believe Jedi will be better in the rescuing department than students they might send out.” Luke sighed. “Initial reports from the team indicated the climate had changed from that seen by the Imperial surveyors. The students arrived during the stormy season there. It’s pretty severe.”

  Corran nodded. “Bad weather doesn’t sound that dangerous.”

  “I want you to take Ganner Rhysode with you. He’ll be your partner.”

  The Corellian hissed. “That trade offer still good, Jacen?”

  “If it’s any consolation, Corran, Ganner was no more in favor of this pairing than you were when I told him what he’d be doing.” Luke gave his friend a simple smile. “Look, if there is nothing going on out there, then the mission should be simple. You get in, you locate the university’s people and evacuate them.”

  “Ganner could do that by himself.”

  “He could, but if the Yuuzhan Vong are there, I think he’d be likely to launch into them, and that would leave the folks he came to save in a very bad position. You’re in charge, and he will obey you, albeit rather reluctantly.”

  Jacen smiled at Corran. “Besides, Corran, you have to admit that your lacking telekinetic abilities does put you at a bit of a disadvantage.”

  “Sure. I can’t move a rock with my mind, but, boy, can I make that rock think it’s been moved.” He sighed. “Ganner is pretty good with TK. Makes sense to include him. And things could have been worse. You could have paired me with Kyp.”

  “I’d not be so cruel to either of you.”

  “Hey, I’m not that bad.” Corran arched an eyebrow at Luke. “Or are you thinking this is one of those from-a-certain-point-of-view things?”

  “See, all that training did pay off.” The Jedi Master nodded. “This is also a chance, Corran, to show Ganner that Kyp’s approach to the Force isn’t the only way to do things.”

  “Got it.” Corran smiled. “Well, may the Force be with all of us, I guess.”

  “Yes, please.” Luke nodded solemnly. “You know, I like the fact that the Jedi are the galaxy’s first line of defense, but what I’m dreading here is that the Yuuzhan Vong will show us how very weak a line that is.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  Corran Horn found Valin in a small clearing in the Yavin 4 jungle. The boy sat on the ground cross-legged, with his hands on his knees. He stared intently forward, concentrating on a small rock a meter in front of him. Sweat beaded up on his brow and threatened to trickle down into his hazel eyes.

  Immeasurable pride and anguish roiled around in Corran’s heart as he watched his son. The Horn-Halcyon line of Jedi Knights was notorious for its lack of telekinetic abilities. Corran still recalled his complete frustration with trying to move objects through the Force. Except under extreme circumstances, when he’d used the Force to contain energy that would have hurt others, he couldn’t so much as tickle drool from a Hutt’s lips, much less move a rock.

  That Valin would try so hard to move the rock impressed Corran. Valin already had surpassed his father’s expectations. Though only eleven years old, he already stood shoulder-height to Corran and clearly was going to take after his grandfathers in terms of size. His dark hair and hazel eyes were a compromise between his parents’ coloration, while his features were more Mirax, with hints of Corran’s own mother in there, too. It’s good he doesn’t take after Booster Terrik in that aspect.

  Like every father everywhere, Corran’s chest tightened as he watched his son try a task he knew the boy would fail. He wanted to step in, to save Valin from the disappointment, but held himself back. Learning the lesson might hurt his son, but learning how to handle disappointment was more valuable than being able to move all the rocks in the galaxy.

  And, to Corran’s surprise, the small, ovoid rock began to move. It tottered on its base, then slowly flopped over on its side.

  Corran whooped out loud. “Valin, that’s great! You moved it.”

  “Dad?” The boy’s head whipped around, his long brown hair flicking sweat away. One lock pasted itself under his right eye. “I didn’t see you there.”

  “No, you were concentrating. That was great.” Corran advanced into the clearing and helped his son up to his feet. “I mean, what you did, I could never—”

  “Dad, it wasn’t what you think.”

  “I know what I saw.”

  Valin smiled and fingered the hair off his cheek. “Remember how you’ve talked about points of view?”

  “Yes?”

  “It’s a point-of-view thing.” Valin squatted down and waved his father down with him. “Look again.”

  Corran studied the rock. The ground at its base was alive with small, purple insects. They were swarming up through the dirt and around the base of the stone. “I don’t get it. You set the rock on the entrance to one of their colonies?”

  “No. I have been studying the garnants. They communicate through vibration and scent. I used the Force. I reached down and made them think there was a trail up. I made them think the rock was food. The first one marked it with food scent.” Valin shrugged sheepishly and pulled a small morsel of food from a pocket. “I have a reward for them, so it’s not like I’m forc
ing them to do anything.”

  Corran frowned for a moment. Compelling the behavior of a sapient individual, especially if it was against the individual’s will and for the selfish benefit of the Jedi, undoubtedly would be of the dark side. Luring nonsapients into doing something natural didn’t fall into that class at all, especially when the task was harmless and they were paid back for their actions by something that would replace the energy they’d expended.

  “It’s probably closer to the borderline with the dark side than you want to be playing with, but I’m very impressed.” Corran reached out and stroked his son’s head. “Communicating with another species isn’t easy.”

  “Not really communicating, Dad.” Valin rolled his eyes. “They’re just bugs. I make them think a rock is food.”

  “More than I could do at your age.”

  “But you weren’t trained.”

  “True enough.” Corran stood. “That notwithstanding, I’m very proud of you.”

  “I’d like to make you prouder.” Valin stood and sighed heavily. “I’d been trying to move the rock with my mind for a while first. Then I decided to try that other way. I guess I’ll never be a powerful Jedi.”

  Corran rested his hands on his son’s shoulders and touched his forehead to Valin’s. “There are those among the Jedi that view strength as how far you can move something, or how easily you can break something. The real strength of a Jedi comes from within, from his heart and mind. Some Jedi move rocks just to prove they can move them, but the strongest Jedi don’t see any reason to move rocks when that isn’t going to solve the immediate problem.”

  His son sighed again and smiled. “So, what are you telling me, Dad?”

  “He’s telling you, boy, that being weak is something you’ll learn to get used to, perhaps a handicap you’ll even get over.”

  Corran’s head came up as he turned toward the voice. “Ganner!”

  The other Jedi nodded solemnly. The man stood a full head taller than Corran. His broad shoulders tapered down to a narrow waist and hips, but the man’s body fairly rippled with muscle. Jet-black hair had been combed back to emphasize a widow’s peak. The mustache and goatee he wore combined with his handsome features and piercing blue eyes to give him the sort of rakish good looks that easily made the man the object of admiring glances. The midnight blue and black Jedi robes he wore set him apart from the jungle and gave him the bearing of a government official.