The Last Jedi by Michael Reaves & Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff

Author:Michael Reaves & Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff [Reaves, Michael & Bohnhoff, Maya Kaathryn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Science Fiction
ISBN: 9780345511409
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2013-02-26T04:16:09+00:00

Twenty-Two

He had the dream in hyperspace en route to the Bothan system. It was different from previous dreams in that it did not begin in the chaos of Far Ranger’s ruined corridors. It began at the Jedi Temple on Coruscant, in the broad gallery that led to the great library. He was walking toward the huge, heavily carved doors, a wash of sunlight from the skylights laying a glowing, translucent carpet for his feet to tread.

He was aware that someone walked beside him, but when he turned to look, the figure—another senior Jedi Padawan in temple robes—was so bathed in sunlight that he couldn’t make out who it was. He wanted to speak, to prompt the other Jedi to speak so he would recognize him or her, but though he opened his mouth, no sound came out.

He kept walking, the other beside him, stride for stride. When they reached the library, he would be able to see the other’s face.

But they never reached the library. Behind them the broad corridor was shattered by a tremendous blast and filled with smoke and cries of alarm.

Jax was confused. Order 66 had been carried out at night, as had the operation that had resulted in Flame Night. What was this? When was this?

It didn’t matter. time didn’t matter. He had to fight.

He drew his lightsaber and turned toward the chaos, but a strong hand on his arm stopped him. He looked over at the robed figure beside him.

Green eyes met his.

“No,” Laranth said. “We keep going.” She strode toward the library.

Torn, he vacillated. What could be so important in the library that it should keep him from defending the Temple? They knew how this would end. They knew. The younglings and junior Padawans would all be killed. Anakin would murder them with his own hand.

“Jax,” Laranth said, “it isn’t time.”

He felt the heat of flames on his face, watched the corridor melt, heard the screams of the younglings.

“When, then?” he demanded. “When?”

“Time is a spiral,” Laranth said, and layered behind her voice was another voice, saying, Time is/was/will be a spiral.

The lightsaber was heavy and solid in his hand as he glanced, again, down the hall. Flames ran up the walls and dripped from the ceiling. The skylights were dark.

“Choice is loss—” the twinned voices said, and Jax screamed with frustration.

“Yes! Yes! I know! And indecision is all loss. I know that, too!”

“We have to go,” Laranth said.

“Go where? You weren’t there,” he realized. That seemed important suddenly. “You weren’t at the Temple when Order 66 was executed. You weren’t there!”

“You were there. Now I was, too.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Time,” she said, and he didn’t know whether she was telling him it was time to go, or that time had something to do with her witnessing the gutting of the Jedi Order. “Time,” she repeated, and turned from him again.

He glanced once more at the deteriorating hallway, then turned to follow Laranth.

She was gone.

Heart hammering, limbs chilled, Jax sprang after her. The grand library doors were falling shut.

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