Sacrifice

"I don't know which way I'll jump when the time comes," Ben said.

"Nobody does. But I'll try to do what's right for the majority."

Jacen's smile was utterly luminous for a moment, but then it faded as if he'd recalled something awful. His Force presence vanished for a few seconds and then returned. That was weird, Ben thought: Jacen was standing right next to him, so what was he hiding from?

"Can you teach me to do that?" Ben asked. "Hide in the Force?"

Jacen seemed shaken. "Why?"

"Because Lumiya is trying to kill me. I thought it might come in handy." And for avoiding Mom and Dad sometimes. Yes, it would be handy.

"Mom says she's got evidence that I killed—that Lumiya thinks I killed her daughter. I don't remember a thing about what happened on that asteroid, Jacen, but maybe it doesn't matter, because Lumiya believes it, and I bet she was behind what happened on Ziost."

Jacen's face was carefully blank. Ben couldn't tell what he was thinking now, not even from the Force.

"Yes, why not?" Jacen said. His voice was softer, almost hesitant.

"Don't you worry about Lumiya. She's not up to killing you."

"When can we start?"

"It's very simple."

"Yeah," Ben said dubiously.

"No, it is. The principle is simple—it's the practice that's hard.