Star Wars - 282 - New Jedi Order 07 - Edge of Victory 01 - Conquest by J. Gregory Keyes

Author:J. Gregory Keyes [Keyes, J. Gregory]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, General, Science Fiction, Space Opera, Adventure, Life on Other Planets, Star Wars Fiction, Skywalker; Luke (Fictitious Character), Solo; Anakin (Fictitious Character)
ISBN: 9780345428646
Google: MrAdOHgvhSQC
Amazon: 0345428641
Publisher: Del Ray
Published: 2001-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The young Jeedai fell, her body gripped with convul-sions. A strangled cry filled the vivarium.

"Interesting," Mezhan Kwaad said, watching the re-action. "Do you see, Adept Yim, that—"

"I fail to see what interests you, Master Mezhan Kwaad," a voice said from behind. Nen Yim turned and immediately supplicated. An-other master had just entered the vivarium, one so in-credibly ancient the signs of his domain were entirely obscured. His headdress was a fragile, cloudlike mass, and both hands were those of a master. Both of his eyes had been replaced by yellow maa'its. He was accompa-nied by an adept aide.

"Master Yal Phaath," Mezhan Kwaad said. "How good to see you, Ancient."

"Answer me, Mezhan Kwaad. What so interests you about this creature's agony? She is an infidel and cannot embrace the pain. There is no surprise in that and noth-ing interesting in it."

"It is interesting because the provoker spineray causing her pain has been designed to do so selectively," Mezhan Kwaad replied, "one nerve array at a time. What we have just seen is a reflex unknown in Yuuzhan Vong. We may now confidently map a part of the human nervous system that has no counterpart in our own."

"And this is of what use?" Yal Phaath asked.

"We cannot shape what we do not know," Mezhan Kwaad answered. "This species is new to us."

"It strains the protocol," the older master said. "What can be discovered that is not codified already?"

"But, Master," Nen Yim said, supplicating as she did so. "Surely in a new species—" She broke off when the master flicked the gaze of his maa'its toward her.

"Are all of your adepts so insolent?" he asked dryly.

"I should hope not," Mezhan Kwaad said stiffly.

Yal Phaath turned back to Nen Yim. His headdress writhed slightly in the air, turning a pale blue.

"Adept, if knowledge is not to be found in the archives and sacred memories, what then does a shaper do?"

Fear glittered in Nen Yim's nerves. What could he see, with those strange eyes? The maa'its probed the hidden regions of the spectrum, of course, and the domain of the microscopic, but did they peer farther yet, into the sins crouched beneath her skull? She contracted the tendrils of her headdress into a ball, a deep supplication. "We pe-tition the Supreme Overlord, Master, that he might ask of the gods."

"Correct. There are no new species, Adept. All life comes from the blood and flesh and bone of Yun-Yuuzhan. He knows them all. Knowledge cannot be created; that is the stuff of heresy. If the gods do not grant us knowledge, it is for good reason, and to seek further is an attempt to steal from them."

"Yes, Master Yal Phaath."

"I suspect this is not your fault, Adept. It is your own master who uses the provoker spineray so. You are sus-ceptible to her influences."

Mezhan Kwaad smiled gently. "The protocol of Tsong specifies the use of the provoker in just such a manner."

" I am aware of that. But you strain the intent of that protocol. Not to breaking, perhaps.

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