Star Wars - Hand of Thrawn 2 - Vision of the Future

by Timothy Zahn

  "Sounds reasonable," Luke said. "Either on our own or under New Republic auspices. And we also have to decide what to do about the Hand of Thrawn."

  "My vote is that we leave them out of it," Mara said. "If they're not interested in talking to us, the last thing we want to do is try to force the issue."

  "What if Parck decides to talk to Bastion instead?" Luke asked.

  Mara shook her head. "I don't think he will. If he hasn't contacted them by now, it must mean he's picked up the news reports that the Thrawn sighting was a hoax and decided to go back to lying low."

  "He could also be plotting how to come after you for what you did to his hangar and ships," Luke warned.

  "I'm not worried about it," Mara said. "The ships themselves he can undoubtedly replace, and he ought to be grateful I stopped him from giving the Hand of Thrawn to Disra and Flim."

  She shrugged. "Besides, Fel did tell me to take my best shot."

  Luke smiled. "I doubt that was exactly what he had in mind."

  "I'm not responsible for what Baron Fel has in mind," Mara reminded him. "Seriously, I think if they do anything it'll be to try to recruit me again."

  "And, of course, wait for Thrawn to return."

  Mara thought about the dead clone floating in the flooded chamber. "That could take a while."

  "True," Luke said. "Still, I suppose that even if they get tired of waiting and contact Bastion, we have a treaty with the Empire now. Maybe ultimately we'll all head out to develop those regions together."

  Mara nodded. "And to face whatever's out there. That could be interesting."

  Luke nodded back, and for a few minutes they stood arm in arm looking out at the stars. An almost-vision floated before Mara's eyes, a vision of the future their futureand of what they would face together. Challenges, children, friends, enemies, allies, dangers, joys, sorrowsall of it swirled into a sort of living mosaic, fading away into the distance. A vision like she'd never seen before.

  But then, she'd never been a Jedi before. There were indeed going to be interesting challenges ahead.

  "But that's the future," Luke murmured, his breath warm on the side of her face. "This is the present."

  Mara pulled a little away from him. "And as head of the Jedi academy and brother of High Councilor Organa Solo you should at least put in an appearance at the ceremony?" she suggested.

  He gave her a wry look. "Yes, that's just about what I was going to say," he acknowledged. "I can see this is going to take some getting used to."

  "There's still time for you to back out," she pointed out.

  He kissed her warmly. "Not a chance," he said. "I'll see you later."

  Setting down his mug, he headed for the door. "Hang on a minute," Mara said, stepping away from the viewport and her tantalizingly brief vision of the future. As Luke had said, this was the present. The future would take care of itself. "I'll come with you."

  reg;, and Copyright 1999 by Lucasfilm Ltd.

  ISBN 0-553-10035-1