Dark Force Rising | Chapter 20 | The Lost Holocron

The Lost Holocron

Chapter 20 of Star Wars: Dark Force Rising (1992) (EU: 9 ABY) by Timothy Zahn.

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## The Story So Far ##

As the last of the Jedi and the first of the New Order, Luke is overwhelmed with the responsibility upon his shoulders. He faces expectations from the New Republic, the various peoples of the galaxy, and himself, under the shadow of the mythology of the Jedi. His sister is pregnant with twins, and so far his difficulties teaching her do not bode well for his future niece and nephew.

C’baoth is the clone of a long-dead Jedi Master in the days of the Old Republic. He made a deal with Thrawn to assist the Empire in their military operations in exchange for the delivery of Force sensitives. During a skirmish over Nkllon, C’baoth contacts Luke, urging him to seek him out; unaware of C’baoth’s true nature, Luke heeds the beckon but many setbacks delayed their meeting.

Mara Jade is an ex-Imperial operative with a grudge against Skywalker; her Imperial career was tied entirely to the Emperor, and with his assassination her entire life crumbled. After years of struggle, she integrated with Karrde’s smuggling organisation, becoming his protege after six months.

Luke and Mara’s worlds collide on Myrkr where they have to work together to avoid Imperial detection. She revealed to him her previous life as the Emperor’s Hand and her deep-seated animosity for him.

For having helped Skywalker escape the Imperials, Karrde’s organisation must evade the Empire. Mara is intercepted and is taken to negotiate with Thrawn. She divulges that Karrde holds information about the location of a long-lost Katana Fleet. Thrawn tricks Mara into bringing the Empire down on Karrde’s head, resulting in his capture. Thrawn offers Mara a position in his new Empire, but she is perturbed that Karrde might believe her to have betrayed him. She feigns a pledge of loyalty to Thrawn, but leaves to seek Skywalker to help free Karrde.

After many incidents, Luke arrives on Jormark. On his way, he has encountered new expectations and responsibilities for a Jedi. C’baoth is not the exemplary Jedi that he would have hoped to find, but nevertheless submits himself to this seemingly senile Jedi’s teachings.

## Chapter 20 ##

C’baoth and Luke give their council to the people of Jormark. C’baoth is dissatisfied with Luke’s progress under his tutelage; they have some fundamental differences in point of view. C’baoth sees the universe as jealous and unwelcoming, while Luke has felt respected and hopeful. C’baoth seems suddenly overcome with exhaustion and sends Luke to retire for the evening.

Mara awakes from her recurring nightmare of the Emperor’s final moments as she exits hyperspace. During Mara’s approach from orbit, she experiences an eerily similar sense of exhaustion herself. Remembering her flight trainer’s warnings against inattention and fatigue, she chides her own carelessness.

Or is it her carelessness?

As she approaches her ysalamir at the back of the craft and finds herself beyond C’baoth’s influence. On her final approach, her ship is pelted by rocks. Her repulsorlift is knocked out and the skipray plummets to the ground.

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