Delusions of Grandeur

22

Jaina stood next to Zekk, desperately searching for the right words, as he stood on the boarding ramp of the Lightning Rod. She had to say something before he left.

“I’ll see you soon, I promise,” Zekk said. “But right now I’d better be on my way. Maybe I’ll even find Bornan Thul before IG-88 does. The least I can do is take him a message from Raynar.”

Jaina swallowed. “Remember, Zekk, we’re always willing to help you—to talk or listen, if you need us.”

“I know, Jaina.” He smiled at her, and before she knew it, she found herself caught up in a fierce hug, right there on the rooftop. She returned the hug for a long moment. Then Zekk backed into his ship, waving in farewell. “Maybe I’ll drop in to rescue you again sometime soon.”

“Unless I rescue you first,” Jaina countered. She stood with stinging eyes on the rooftop as he sealed the hatch of the old freighter. “Don’t fly through any black holes, Zekk,” she said in a hoarse whisper.

The Lightning Rod soared off into the sky, doubling back in a complex loop as Zekk showed off his flying prowess before taking the ship up into the atmosphere, and deep space.

Jacen sat frustrated in the comm center of Mechis III, while Em Teedee hovered and bobbed in the air over his shoulder, practicing with his new microrepulsorjets.

Tenel Ka entered and stood in the doorway, her hand on her hip as she waited for Jacen to finish. With a sigh, he swiveled to look at the warrior girl, and flashed her a smile.

“I’ve left three messages at Lowie’s home on Kashyyyk, but I haven’t gotten any response,” he said. “Lowie should be there, or at least his parents, or his sister Sirra. I sure hope nothing’s wrong.”

Tenel Ka’s face remained expressionless. “Lowbacca is a good fighter and a talented Jedi. I am certain he can take care of himself.”

“I do hope so,” Em Teedee interjected, “but there is still sufficient cause for concern.”

Jacen gave up his seat at the comm controls, since he knew Tenel Ka had been wanting to contact her parents in the Fountain Palace on Hapes. The warrior girl sat down and, even with only one hand, her fingers flew over the controls, setting up the hyperwave link.

“I am taking the added precaution of using the royal family’s encryption codes,” she told Jacen, and waited for an answer.

When Isolder and Teneniel Djo appeared onscreen, she told them about the Diversity Alliance, describing it as an antihuman conspiracy that masqueraded as a benevolent political movement. Her parents took Tenel Ka’s concern seriously and agreed to put their best counterconspiracy operatives into action; they would find out whatever they could about the group.

Privately, Tenel Ka hoped—no, Tenel Ka knew— that her grandmother would intercept this message and feel compelled to investigate the Diversity Alliance. With her own brand of ironic humor, the warrior girl asked her parents to convey her greetings to her father’s mother—realizing that Ta’a Chume would probably hear her words even before the communications link between Hapes and Mechis III was broken. Her grandmother would no doubt put her best spies to work immediately.

So much the better, Tenel Ka thought. The Diversity Alliance would find Ta’a Chume a formidable enemy.

As soon as Tenel Ka had ended the transmission, an override signal winked on the panel. Jacen rushed forward to accept the transmission. “Busy day,” he remarked.

“Oh my,” Em Teedee said, hovering over the panel, “according to the designators, that message is coming from Kashyyyk. I do hope it’s Master Lowbacca.”

Jacen was rewarded by the on-screen images of Lowie’s parents Mahraccor and Kallabow. “You’d better help translate, Em Teedee,” he said.

“At last, my primary function!” the little droid said. “I am fluent in over sixteen forms of communication, you know.”

After a brief greeting and message, Jacen learned from the slow Wookiee growls that Lowie was no longer on Kashyyyk, that he had left the planet days ago.

“What?” Jacen said. He and Tenel Ka exchanged a concerned glance. “Where did they go?”

He and Sirra had gone with Raaba to meet Nolaa Tarkona in person and learn more about the Diversity Alliance. Many other Wookiees had expressed a similar interest, after the fine speech Raaba had given.

“They have gone to the headquarters—on Ryloth?” Tenel Ka asked, and both older Wookiees nodded.

Jacen felt the blood drain from his face, but he forced a cheerful expression and thanked Kallabow and Mahraccor—no need to trouble them unnecessarily until he knew more.

“Dear me,” said Em Teedee from where he hovered just above Jacen’s right shoulder. “After what we’ve learned of the Diversity Alliance, I fear Master Lowbacca has fallen in with an unsavory lot. I do hope he’s safe.”

Jaina gave the little droid a sympathetic pat. “Don’t we all, Em Teedee,” she said. “Don’t we all.”

A trio of young Wookiees stood at a tunnel entrance that faced the cold night side of Ryloth. Together, they gazed up into the star-studded sky. Sparkling white glaciers and ice fields covered the rugged landscape beyond the twilight boundary. The chill wind was harsh enough that it penetrated even their thick pelts.

Chocolate-furred Raaba stood between Lowie and Sirra, an arm across each of their shoulders.

Lowie was glad he had found his old friend again and that Raaba and Sirra were reunited, but he often thought about his companions Jacen and Jaina and Tenel Ka. And he couldn’t break himself of the habit of touching the empty spot on his fiber belt where Em Teedee should have been clipped….

As if sensing the flow of his thoughts, Raaba spoke in firm and cheerful tones to reassure him.

He was among true friends now, she said. Lowie was where he belonged.

They watched the stars for a while, then went back into the winding tunnels.