Edge of Victory, Book II: Rebirth: Star Wars Legends

Chapter One"You've had worse ideas, Luke," Mara Jade Skywalkerreluctantly admitted, nodding her head back so the sunlight fell on her face and her deep red-gold tressestrailed behind her. Posed that way, eyes closed, framed against the blue line of the sea, her beauty closedLuke's throat for a moment.Mara's green eyes opened, and she looked at him with asort of wistful fondness before arching a cynical brow."Getting all fatherly on me again?""No," he said softly. "Just thinking how ridiculouslylucky I am.""Hey. I'm the one with the hormone swings. You aren'ttrying to one-up me, are you?" But she took his handand gave it a squeeze. "Come on," she said. "Let's walk abit more.""You sure you're up to it?""What, you want to carry me? Of course I'm up to it. I'mpregnant, not hamstrung. You think it would be better forour kid if I spent all day lying around sucking on oorp?""I just thought you wanted to relax.""Absolutely. And this is relaxing. Us, all alone, on a beautifulisland. Well, sort of an island. Come on."The beach was warm beneath Luke's bare feet. He hadbeen reluctant to agree to going shoeless, but Mara had insistedthat's what one did on a beach. He found, to his surprise,that it reminded him pleasantly of his boyhood onTatooine. Back then, in the relative cool of early evening–one of those rare periods when both blazing suns werenearly set–sometimes he would take his shoes off and feelthe still-warm sand between his toes. Not when Uncle Owenwas looking, of course, because the old man would launchinto an explanation of what shoes were for in the first place,about the valuable moisture Luke was losing though hissoles.For an instant, he could almost hear his uncle's voice andsmell Aunt Beru's giju stew. He had an urge to put his shoesback on.Owen and Beru Lars had been the first personal casualtiesin Luke Skywalker's battle against the Empire. He wonderedif they had known why they died.He missed them. Anakin Skywalker may have been hisfather, but the Lars had been his parents."I wonder how Han and Leia are doing?" Mara wonderedaloud, interrupting his reverie."I'm sure they're fine. They've only been gone a fewdays.""I wonder if Jacen should have gone with them?""Why not? He's proven himself capable often enough.And they're his parents. Besides, with half the galaxy afterhim, it's better he stay on the move.""Right. I only meant it makes things worse for Jaina. It'shard on her, doing nothing, knowing her brother is outfighting the fight.""I know. But Rogue Squadron will probably call her uppretty soon.""Sure," Mara replied. "Sure they will." She sounded farfrom convinced."You don't think so?" Luke asked."No. I think they would like to, but her Jedi trainingmakes her too much of a political liability right now.""When did the Rogues ever care about politics? Hassomeone said this to you?""Not in so many words, but I hear things, and I'm trainedto listen to the words behind the words. I hope I'm wrong,for Jaina's sake."Her feelings brushed Luke in the Force, running a troubledharmony to her assertion."Mara," Luke said, "my love, while I'll believe youwhen you say picking up parasites on a strange beach isrelaxing–""Nonsense. This sand is as sterile as an isolation lab. It'sperfectly safe to walk barefoot. And you like the feel of it.""If you say so. But I forbid any more talk about politics,Jedi, the war, the Yuuzhan Vong, anything like that. We'reout here for you to relax, to forget all of that for a day or so.Just a day."She narrowed her eyes at him. "You're the one whothinks the whole universe will collapse unless you're thereto keep it spinning.""I'm not pregnant.""Say something like that again, and I'll make you wishyou were," she said, a bit sharply. "And by the way, if we dothis again, it's your turn.""We'll play sabacc for it," Luke responded, trying tokeep a straight face but failing. He kissed her, and she kissedhim back, hard.They continued along the strand, past a rambling standof crawling slii, all knotted roots and giant gauzy leaves.Waves were beginning to lap on the beach, as they hadn'tearlier, which meant they were on the bow side of the"island."It wasn't an island at all, of course, but a carefully landscapedpark atop a floating mass of polymer cells filled withinert gas. A hundred or so of them cruised the artificialwestern sea of Coruscant, pleasure craft built by rich merchantsduring the grand, high days of the Old Republic. TheEmperor had discouraged such frivolity, and most had beendocked for decades and fallen into disrepair. Still, manywere still in good enough shape to refurbish, and in theyouth of the New Republic, a few sharp businessmen hadpurchased some and made them commercial successes. Onesuch person, not surprisingly, had been Lando Calrissian, alongtime friend of Luke's. He had offered Luke use of thecraft whenever he wished it. It had taken Luke a long timeto call in the offer.He was glad he had done it–Mara seemed to be enjoyingit. But she was right, of course. With everything that washappening now, it was hard not to think of it as a wasteof time.But some feelings could not be trusted. Mara was showingnow, her belly gloriously rounded around their son, andshe was suffering from all of the physical discomforts anywoman did in that situation. Nothing in her training as anassassin, smuggler, or Jedi Knight had prepared her for thiscompromised state, and despite her obvious love for theirunborn child, Luke knew physical weakness grated on her.Her comment about Jaina might just as well have beenabout herself.And there were other worries, too, and a pocket paradisewasn't likely to help her forget them, but at least they couldtake a few deep breaths and pretend they were on some distant,uninhabited world, rather than in the thick of thebiggest mess since before the Empire had been defeated.No, strike that. The Empire had threatened to extinguishliberty and freedom, to bring the dark side of the Force toascendance. The enemy they faced now threatened extinctionin a much more literal and ubiquitous sense.So Luke walked with his wife as evening fell, pretendingnot to be thinking of these things, knowing she could feel hewas anyway."What will we name him?" Mara asked at last. The sunhad vanished in a lens on the horizon, and now Coruscantbegan to shatter the illusion of pristine nature. The distantshores glowed in a solid mass, and the sky remained deepred on the horizons. Only near zenith did it resemble thenight sky of most moonless planets, but even there was abaroque embroidery of light as aircars and starships followedtheir carefully assigned paths, some coming home,some going home, some merely arriving at another port.A million little lights, each with a story, each a spark ofsignificance in the Force that flowed from them, aroundthem, through them.No illusion, here. All was nature. All was beauty, if youhad eyes willing to see it."I don't know." He sighed. "I don't even know where tostart.""It's just a name," she said."You would think. But everyone seems to believe it's important.Since we went public with the news, you wouldn'tbelieve how many suggestions I've gotten, and from thestrangest places."Mara stopped walking, and her face reflected a suddenprofound astonishment. "You're afraid," she said.He nodded. "I guess I am. I guess I don't think it's 'just aname,' not when it comes to people like us. Look at Anakin.Leia named him after our father, a gesture to the person thatbecame Darth Vader, as a recognition that he overcame thedark side and died a good man. It was her reconciliationwith him, and a sign to the galaxy that the scars of warcould heal. That we could forgive and move on. But forAnakin, it's been a trial. When he was little, he alwaysfeared he would walk the same dark path his grandfatherdid. It was just a name, but it was a real burden to place onhis shoulders. It may be years before we learn the full consequencesof that decision.""For all that I admire your sister, she is a politician, andshe thinks like one. That's been good for the galaxy, not sogood for her children.""Exactly," Luke said reluctantly. "And whether I like itor not, Mara, because of who we are, our child will inheritpart of our burden. I'm just afraid of placing an extra oneon his shoulders. Suppose I named him Obi-Wan, as asalute to my old Master? Would he think that means I wanthim to grow up to be a Jedi? Would he think he had to liveup to Ben's reputation? Would he feel his choices in lifeconstrained?""I see you've thought a lot about this.""I guess I have.""Notice how quickly this takes us back to the things yousaid we weren't supposed to talk about?""Oh. Right.""Luke, this is who we are," Mara said, stroking hisshoulder lightly. "We can't deny it, even alone on an island."She dipped her foot in the wavelets lapping onto thebeach. Luke closed his eyes and felt the wind on his face."Maybe not," he admitted."And so what?" Mara said, playfully kicking a littlewater on the cuff of his pants. But then her face grew seriousagain. "There is one very important thing I want tosay, now, before another second passes," she informed him."What's that?""I'm really hungry. Really, really hungry. If I don't eatright away, I'm going to salt you in seawater and gobbleyou up.""You'd be dissapointed," Luke said. "It's freshwater.Come on. The pavilion isn't far. There should be foodwaiting."Luke and Mara ate outside at a table of polished yellowSelonian marble while the blossoms around them chimed aquiet music and released fragrances to complement eachcourse. Luke felt ridiculously pampered and a little guilty,but managed to relax somewhat into the mood.But the mood was broken during the intermezzo, whenthe pavilion's protocol droid interrupted them."Master Skywalker," it said, "an aircar is approachingand requesting admittance through the security perimeter.""You have the signal?""Most assuredly.""Transfer to the holostation on the table.""As you wish, sir."A hologram of a man's face appeared above the remainsof their meal. It was human, very long, with aristocraticfeatures."Kenth Hamner," Luke said, a sense of forebodingpricking up his scalp. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"The retired colonel smiled briefly. "Nothing important.Just a visit from an old friend. May I come aboard?"That's what his words said. His expression, somehow,conveyed something altogether different."Of course. Link to the ship's computer, and it will landyou somewhere appropriate. I hope you like grilled nylog.""One of my favorites. I'll see you soon."A few moments later, Hamner appeared from one of theseveral trails leading to the pavilion, accompanied by thedroid."You two make me wish I was young again," Hamnersaid, smiling, looking them over."We're not so young, and you're not so old," Marareplied.Hamner offered her a short bow from the waist. "Mara,you're looking lovely as ever. And my deepest congratulationson your upcoming event.""Thank you, Kenth," Mara returned graciously."Have a seat," Luke said. "May I have the droid bringyou something?""A cold drink of a mildly stimulating beverage perhaps?Surprise me."Luke sent the droid off with those rather vague instructionsand then turned to Hamner, who was now seated."You didn't come here just to congratulate us, did you?"Hamner nodded sadly. "No. I came to give you a heads-up.Borsk Fey'lya has managed to secure an order for yourarrest. The warrant will be served about six standard hoursfrom now."