Conquest: Edge of Victory I Read Online Free PDF Page A

interrupted.
    “Yes,” Anakin agreed. “The Jedi academy!”
    “But they’re just kids!” Jaina said.
    “Have you noticed that makes any difference to the Yuuzhan Vong, or to the Peace Brigade, for that matter?” Jacen asked. “Besides, Anakin’s only sixteen, and he’s killed more Yuuzhan Vong in hand-to-hand combat than any of us. The Yuuzhan Vong know that.”
    “What about the illusion the Jedi have been maintaining around Yavin Four? That’s been keeping strangers away.”
    “Not since almost all of the Jedi Knights have left,” Anakin said. “They’ve either come to Coruscant to this meeting, or gone off to try to help comrades who’ve disappeared. Last I heard, only the students Kam and Tionne are left, with maybe Streen, and Master Ikrit. They might not be strong enough. Where did Uncle Luke go? We should talk to him about this, right away. It may already be too late.”
    “That’s a good call, Anakin,” Jacen admitted.
    “Thanks.”
    What Anakin didn’t mention to his siblings was howhe had awakened in the night, heart thrumming, gripped by a nameless dread. And though he couldn’t remember the dream that had torn him from sleep, one image had remained with him: the blond hair and green eyes of Tahiri, his best friend.
    And Tahiri was at the academy.

CHAPTER TWO
    Luke Skywalker sank into a chair in his study, ran his hand across his brow, and stared out at the night, or what passed for it on Coruscant, the hundred shades of nightglow, shimmering lanes of aircars and transports, bright-studded skyhook tethers lancing toward the unseeable stars. How many thousands of years had passed since anyone had seen a star in the night sky of this city world?
    On Tatooine the stars had been hard, glittering promises to a boy who wanted more from life than to be a moisture farmer. They had been everything, and yearning toward them was the seed of everything Luke had become. Now, at the heart of the galaxy he had fought so long to save, he couldn’t even see them.
    Something drifted in the Force, an embrace waiting to happen. Waiting for permission to happen.
    “Come in, Mara,” he said, rising.
    “Stay there,” his wife answered. “I’ll join you.”
    She settled into the chair next to him and took his hand. He felt her touch move closer, and found himself flinching away.
    “Hey, Skywalker,” she said. “It’s not like I’m here to kill you.”
    “That’s a comforting thing to say.”
    “Yeah?” Her voice took on an edge. “Don’t think it hasn’t occurred to me. Like when I couldn’t hold down breakfast, or when I take one of these twenty-minutelightspeed tours of every emotion I’ve ever had plus a few that I never knew really existed—and then start over. When my ankles start ballooning up like a Gamorrean boar’s and I’m well on my way to Hutthood, I’d advise any responsible parties to start watching their backs.”
    “Hey, wait a minute. I don’t recall the two of us conspiring in this matter. I was just as surprised as you. Besides, your last plan to kill me started this whole thing, pregnancy included. Keep it up, and we’ll be ahead of Han and Leia in no time.”
    Mara clucked. “Darling,” she said in disingenuous tones. “I love you, you are my life and my light. If you ever do this to me again, I will vape you where you stand.” She squeezed his hand fondly.
    “As I was saying,” Luke said. “How can I please you, sweetheart?”
    “Tell me what’s wrong.”
    He shrugged and turned his face back to the cityscape. “The Jedi, of course. We’re breaking apart. First the galaxy turns against us, then we turn against each other.”
    “It’s too bad I didn’t take care of Kyp years ago,” Mara said.
    “Don’t even joke about that. And it isn’t Kyp’s fault—ultimately it’s mine. You explained as much to me once, remember?”
    “I remember setting you straight about a few things. That doesn’t make Kyp right now.”
    “No, he isn’t right. But