Jedi Bounty

1

Jacen Solo added another branch to the small campfire. He inhaled the jungle scents that mingled with the spicy smell of burning wood. Yavin was alive and wild and mysterious around them.

His twin sister Jaina stared pensively into the flames, while Tenel Ka, dressed in her usual lizardhide armor and boots, paced in restless circles around the small clearing. Raynar fidgeted beside Jacen, picking up twigs and tossing them into the embers. His moon-round face had a fretful, haunted look, as if he wasn’t at all enjoying their night out camping in the jungle.

Jacen leaned back and lay down with his hands behind his head.

Oblivious to the bits of forest debris that distributed themselves through his curly brown hair, he looked up into the star-filled sky and reached out with the Force.

He tried to sense small creatures hiding in the jungle around them, but tonight his usual ability eluded him. He sighed. Unfortunately, his Jedi senses picked up mostly his sister’s worry, Raynar’s anxiety, and Tenel Ka’s frustration.

“It’s just not the same without Lowie here,” Jaina said.

“I should certainly say not,” Em Teedee, the miniaturized translating droid, agreed. The little droid hovered with the newfound freedom of the microrepulsorjets he’d had installed on Mechis III. He followed just behind Tenel Ka as she made each restless circuit of the clearing.

Jacen gave up trying to sense small animals. “It’s been weeks since Lowie left. He hasn’t even tried to contact us.” He sat up and looked at his sister. “Hey, you don’t suppose Lowie decided to join the Diversity Alliance, do you?”

“I hope not. They’re the ones who put out a bounty on my father, after all,” Raynar answered before Jaina could speak. He clenched one hand around a fistful of twigs until they snapped. “I’ll bet there isn’t a bounty hunter in the whole sector who’s not trying to track down the infamous Bornan Thul and collect the reward Nolaa Tarkona offered.” A hint of bitterness infused his words.

Jaina bit her lower lip. Reflections of the flames danced in her brandybrown eyes. “Zekk’s out there with all those bounty hunters—but at least he’s on our side. He’s taking a pretty big risk, too. If the Diversity Alliance finds out he worked for your father and helped your uncle Tyko, Zekk could be in trouble.”

Jacen thought about their dark-haired friend. Zekk had been trained by the Shadow Academy to use the dark side of the Force but had turned away from it. Deciding to start a new life, he’d chosen to become a bounty hunter. With his piercing emerald eyes, excellent fighting skills, and knowledge of the Force, Zekk would be a formidable opponent to anyone who crossed him.

“Don’t worry about Zekk, Jaina. I have a feeling he can take care of himself. I’m more worried that Lowie might be pressured to stay on Ryloth and work for the Diversity Alliance. You heard what they did to Lusa.”

Jaina scowled. “Lowie’d never join a political group that despises humans. He’s our friend.”

Jacen tried to imagine the lanky Wookiee hating anyone simply because he’d been ordered to. The idea seemed ridiculous. “No, I can’t believe he’d go along with that. But why hasn’t he at least tried to send us a message?”

“Perhaps he has,” Tenel Ka said from the opposite side of the clearing. “He may have been unsuccessful.”

Jacen glanced up at the statuesque warrior girl as she broke into a trot. Her red-gold hair, half of which was caught up in Dathomiran warrior braids, flowed out behind her like the tail of a comet.

Em Teedee kept pace with her. “Surely you’re not suggesting that poor Master Lowbacca might have been prevented from making contact with us!” the translating droid wailed.

“It is possible. If so, he could also have been prevented from returning here,” Tenel Ka said.

Jaina groaned. “That would explain a lot—like why the communications center on Ryloth never lets us speak to Lowie when we get a connection through to them.”

“Hey, if Lowie’s in trouble, then I think we ought to do something about it,” Jacen said.

“Agreed,” Tenel Ka said, still jogging along the perimeter of the clearing.

Jaina shrugged. “No argument here. If we can’t talk to Lowie any other way, we’ll go to Ryloth in person.”

“Oh my! We could be doomed!” Em Teedee said. “But I would gladly sacrifice my last circuit if it would be of any help to Master Lowbacca. Indeed…,” the little droid continued bravely, “going to Ryloth may be an excellent opportunity for me to use my translating skills: I am fluent in over sixteen forms of communication, you know. Well, I suppose that’s all settled, then.”

“I guess you should count me in too,” Raynar added.

Jacen looked at Raynar. The lightly freckled youth with the spiky blond hair seemed tense and edgy. Raynar’s blue eyes followed Tenel Ka and Em Teedee around the circle. Around and around and around. “Do you really have to do that, Tenel Ka?” Raynar blurted out at last.

“The jungles are dangerous at night,” Tenel Ka replied without slowing.

Her voice was steady and she didn’t gasp or pant as she spoke. “Tionne advised us to post a watch. Therefore, I am ensuring the safety of our campsite by patrolling its perimeter.”

“I knew that,” Raynar said in exasperation.

Jacen gave a lopsided grin. “We know you offered to take the first watch, Tenel Ka. I think Raynar was just wondering why you’re practically running. If you wear yourself out, you’ll be too tired to fight against any real threat.”

Tenel Ka raised an eyebrow skeptically. “I have found that when I combine physical exercise with my other duties, I am able to think more clearly. It is also an excellent way to release tension.”

Jaina chuckled. “In that case, maybe we could all use a good run.”

Just as his sister spoke, Jacen sensed it: something out in the jungle watching them. Tenel Ka noticed it too, for she stopped dead in her tracks.

Em Teedee narrowly avoided colliding with her shoulder. A split second later the warrior girl dove to the ground and rolled as a snarling, fang-filled ball of fur sprang through the air where she had been standing.

Jacen and Jaina were both on their feet, lightsabers in hand, before the furry creature touched the ground. “It’s a rakhmar,” Jacen yelled. “Probably looking for a quick meal.”

The meter-long beast sprang into the air again, a dynamo of black-swirled fur and snapping teeth. This time, it struck at the only person who had no weapon. ˘

“Raynar, look out!” Jaina cried, leaping after the vicious creature, but Raynar was already moving to dodge the sweeping claws. He launched himself forward, narrowly missing the campfire.

Menacing yellow eyes glittered in the firelight.

The rakhmar overshot its target and grazed Raynar’s leg with its razorsharp rear claws.

The jungle predator spun around as Raynar snatched a burning branch from the fire, ready to defend himself. The rakhmar crouched on its back legs, muscles coiled, ready to lunge again.

Raynar held his torch high. A strong arm yanked him backward just as the predator sprang—and a pair of lightsabers slashed past him in a parallel glare of emerald green and electric violet.

The energy blades sliced the vicious rakhmar into three even pieces that fell to the ground with wet thumps.

With their lightsabers still blazing, Jacen and Jaina inspected the clearing for any other would-be predators.

“I do not believe you will need this,” Tenel Ka said, taking the firebrand from Raynar and tossing it back into the campfire. “Your instincts and reactions were commendable.”

“Oh, yes. Excellently well done, everyone!” Em Teedee’s silver oval floated over to Raynar. “I scarcely had time to be frightened although I do believe Master Raynar has sustained some injury.”

“It’s not too bad.” Raynar pulled aside his brown Jedi robe to examine the thigh where the rakhmar had clawed it. Dark blood ran from a pair of gashes just below his right hip.

Jaina knelt beside Raynar and examined the leg. “What do you think?” she asked her brother.

Jacen winced. It looked worse than he had expected. “I think we shouldn’t have walked all the way here. Maybe we should’ve borrowed Lowie’s T-23 instead. It’s a long hike back to the Great Temple.”

Tenel Ka pressed her hand against the wounds to slow the bleeding.

“Raynar should not walk with this injury,” she agreed. “We must bind the leg.”

By the light of the campfire, Jaina tore strips of cloth from the bottom of Raynar’s Jedi robe.

Em Teedee brightened his optical sensors to provide lighting from above while Jaina and Tenel Ka bandaged Raynar’s thigh. Unperturbed by all the blood, Tenel Ka wiped her hand on the ground.

“I think I’ll be able to walk now,” Raynar said bravely, though his voice wavered. When Jacen and Jaina helped him stand, however, all color drained from his face and his knees buckled.

Jacen caught him before he fell.

“Dear me! Perhaps Master Raynar would be better advised to rest while one of us returns to the Jedi academy to summon assistance,” Em Teedee said. “I believe I would make an appropriate messenger. Therefore, I volunteer to serve in that capacity.”

But before the little droid had even finished speaking, Jacen heard something approaching through the jungle. “We’ve got company,” he said.

Tenel Ka had already assumed a fighting stance, lightsaber drawn, before they identified the sound as hoofbeats.

“Lusa?” Raynar murmured. “Is it Lusa?”

At first Jacen thought his friend must be delirious, but he quickly discovered that Raynar was right. Her rich cinnamon hair and mane flying, Lusa galloped out of the trees. Only when she reached the center of the clearing did she come to an abrupt stop.

In the firelight, sweat glistened on the centaur girl’s bare torso and flanks. Her face seemed to go almost as pale as Raynar’s when she looked at him. “You’re hurt!” she gasped.

Color flooded into Raynar’s face. “Yeah, I … noticed.”

“Hey, how’d you find us?” Jacen asked.

Still looking at Raynar with concern, Lusa answered distractedly. “Before you left Raynar gave me a general idea of where you would be camping. When I got the message, I just headed this direction and hoped to find you.”

“Message? What message?” Jaina asked.

“Oh.” Lusa stamped a hoof. Her eyes sought out Tenel Ka. “I believe you have a grandmother who used to be queen of the Hapes Cluster?”

“This is a fact,” Tenel Ka said.

“Well, she’s wreaking havoc with the protective forces stationed in orbit. She asked for Master Skywalker, and when she found out he wasn’t here she demanded to see you immediately. Tionne told her that you were out, and the New Republic forces wanted to detain her ship while they ran a background check, but your grandmother wouldn’t listen. She must have intimidated the guards somehow, because she’ll be at the landing field in half an hour.”

Jacen chuckled. “That sounds like Ta’a Chume all right.”

Tenel quirked an eyebrow at him. “It would seem we all have business back at the Jedi academy.” She turned her cool gray eyes back toward Lusa. “Raynar requires immediate medical attention. He should not walk.”

“I … I could carry him,” Lusa said. She sounded rather uncertain.

Jacen knew the idea must have been difficult for the centaur girl. For years the Diversity Alliance had taught her to loathe humans. She was just beginning to unlearn her distaste for physical contact with them.

“I couldn’t ask you to—,” Raynar began.

“You do not need to ask,” Lusa interrupted. She folded her legs to kneel beside him, then spoke gently. “I am … offering.”

Jacen breathed a sigh of relief.

“Well then,” Jaina said, “what are we waiting for?”

It took the companions nearly two hours to get back through the jungles to the Jedi academy.

Jaina and Lusa took Raynar into the Great Temple so that the medical droids could examine him, while Tenel Ka and Jacen headed directly toward the landing field.

An armored Hapan vessel hovered overhead. A couple of New Republic guardian ships had apparently accompanied it down from orbit, and the guards stood awkwardly on the stubbly grass, gazing up at the cruiser.

At Tenel Ka and Jacen’s approach, the ship finally descended onto the field. When the exit hatch opened, two dozen armored Hapan soldiers scrambled down the ramp and arrayed themselves around the vessel to form a barrier against anyone who might try to come close to the former Queen of Hapes. Only then did Ta’a Chume herself appear. The aristocratic old woman glided down the ramp, waved an imperious hand to summon her granddaughter and Jacen, and disappeared again into the ship.

Jacen felt nervous as he and Tenel Ka walked toward the ring of guards, who parted to let them pass. The warrior girl led the way into the ship without hesitation.

In the centermost chamber, Ta’a Chume waited for them. She perched regally on a repulsorbench, looking every centimeter the queen that she had once been.

Tenel Ka stopped directly in front of her grandmother.

“I assume you have brought information about the Diversity Alliance,” she said without preamble.

Ta’a Chume sighed. “Such a beautiful child. And such a shame about the loss of your arm in that lightsaber accident. If you would only reconsider about that prosthetic limb…”

Jacen saw Tenel Ka stiffen. “Grandmother, you did not come to Yavin to discuss my arm.”

Jacen was surprised that the former queen did not seem offended by her granddaughter’s abrupt answer, and instead merely shrugged and smiled faintly. “No, but you can’t blame a grandmother for trying. I did some research for you….”

Tenel Ka nodded. “What have you learned about Nolaa Tarkona?”

Her grandmother’s smile grew warmer. “Your instincts about the Diversity Alliance are quite correct. It’s more than a simple political movement. The conspiracies and intrigues are almost worthy of the Hapan government.”

Tenel Ka scowled. This was not good news.

Jacen leaned forward to hear what Ta’a Chume would say next.

“My spies have only begun to uncover a particular truth that the Diversity Alliance hides, even from some of its most dedicated followers. But first, let me warn you: although they preach unity and equality for all alien species, the Alliance itself is as intolerant, in its way, as the Empire ever was. I’d even venture to say that the Diversity Alliance was founded more on hatred of humans than on the ideal of unity.”

“Yeah, we kind of got that impression, too,” Jacen said.

Tenel Ka’s grandmother glanced at him and continued. “You probably know that the Diversity Alliance’s headquarLers are on Ryloth, homeworld of the Twi’lek race.”

Tenel Ka nodded impatiently. “Yes, their leader is a Twi’lek. It was only logical that she would base her headquarters—”

“But what you don’t know,” Ta’a Chume interrupted, “is that all of the profits from ryll spice—the most lucrative of all Ryloth’s exports—have for the past two years been siphoned off to fund the Diversity Alliance.”

Jacen listened with interest. His father, Han Solo, had told him about his adventures with glitterstim spice from the planet Kessel, but Jacen knew relatively little about ryll.

“And,” Ta’a Chume went on, “those profits have built the Diversity Alliance into a formidable power indeed. The funds have been used to purchase weapons-both legal and illegal—to hire bounty hunters to track down enemies, and to hire assassins to ensure the silence of … former friends.”

Jacen gave a low whistle.

The erstwhile queen’s expression turned frosty.

“Apparently, this Nolaa Tarkona is rather more tolerant of her enemies than she is of friends who decide to go their own way. Leaving the Diversity Alliance is a dangerous proposition. That is what we have learned so far, but I think we’ll find there is much more.” Jacen and Tenel Ka exchanged worried glances.

“Your information is most useful,” Tenel Ka said. “We may need to do further research. Thank you, Grandmother.”

“We’d better have a talk with Lusa,” Jacen said.