Elzar winced as they walked past the desalination plant, which had been so close to complete. We should have finished the work before we celebrated, he thought dully. We tempted fate by toasting a project not yet done.

No, worse. We tempted the Nihil.

The cost had been Eiram’s safety, Starlight Beacon’s existence, and Stellan’s life.

Remorse threatened to swallow any resolve or concentration Elzar had when Avar stopped and made a gesture, one that drew all the other Jedi close.

“The desalination plant’s connection is only slightly off,” Avar said. Sunlight caught the jewel on her forehead, making it sparkle above her tear-reddened eyes. “We can put it back into place, if we all work together.”

The others’ smiles were fragile and uncertain—the kind of smiles that can surface in the face of tragedy. Elzar couldn’t manage one at all.

But the only way they could make up for their hubris, for all the lost lives, was to get back to work saving this planet.

The Jedi stood together at a promontory near the coastline, looking out over the water plant and the most heavily damaged area of the waterfront. Elzar felt sharply aware that they were being observed by dozens, even hundreds of citizens gathering near, but the other Jedi paid that no attention, so he attempted to do the same.

The desalination plant seemed more distant than it had only moments before. As one, the Jedi each held out an arm, pointing their hand toward the object of their plan. This wasn’t necessary—but many Jedi found that it helped to focus their efforts. Elzar reached out, too, and called upon the power within him, the one he distrusted but had to use for good, to prove that was still possible.

He found that power—but more important, he found the others.

It suffused every cell of Elzar’s body—the power of it—as he sensed the enormous effort coming from Avar, Bell, and all the rest, the purity of their goodwill, the tremendous energy they had found and shaped and wielded—

The surrounding crowds gasped with surprise and relief as the desalination plant’s connection slowly, slowly, shifted back into alignment, then settled in with an audible thunk. As one, the Jedi all exhaled…even Elzar.


Star Wars The High Republic The Fallen Star Chapter 35