Jedi Bounty

22

Together, the Lightning Rod and the Rock Dragon sped upward out of Ryloth’s atmosphere.

As they flew, pursued now by Diversity Alliance ships, Zekk gained new admiration for Luke Skywalker. Even in an old-fashioned freighter like the Lightning Rod, the Jedi Master’s training as a fighter pilot was obvious.

Zekk was glad to witness the legendary skill of the X-wing pilot who had destroyed the first Death Star. Master Skywalker maneuvered the ship, expertly dodging quadlaser fire from their disorganized pursuers, while Zekk answered each attack with a volley of fire from the Lightning Rod’s weapons systems.

Zekk longed to leave the weapons controls to tend to Jaina’s injuries and reassure himself that she was all right. But that would have to wait until they got away from the Diversity Alliance.

“Hang on back there, we’re not out of this yet,” Zekk said. He tossed Lusa the Lightning Rod’s emergency medkit. The centaur girl was more than competent enough to care for the two patients until they could get to a real medical center.

Luke threw the Lightning Rod into a sideways spin just moments before laser cannon fire exploded behind them.

Beside them, the Rock Dragon pulled into a sharp loop and arced backward. Seconds later, Zekk saw explosions to the stern of the Lightning Rod on his viewscreens.

Aloud Wookiee bellow and a triumphant warble blasted from the comm system’s speakers. Em Teedee’s exclamation followed. “Oh, well done, Master Lowbacca, Mistress Sirrakuk!”

Zekk scanned the space around them for Diversity Alliance ships. “We’re all clear!”

Luke nodded. “Thanks for the assistance, Rock Dragon,” he said. “We’ve got Raynar and Jaina. Are the others with you?”

“Oh, yes, Master Luke. And more,” Em Teedee replied. “Master Jacen and Mistress Tenel Ka have brought along a guest—a Twi’lek gentleman. They assure us he’s a friend … or at least he is no friend of Nolaa Tarkona’s.”

Luke’s eyebrows raised in surprise. “A Twi’lek? I’ll have to trust their judgment on that. Anyway, it’s about time we got this team back together.”

A pair of jubilant Wookiee voices roared their agreement.

“I heartily concur, Master Luke,” Em Teedee said. In the background, Lowie barked a question. “Master Lowbacca wishes to inquire whether we should all rendezvous at Yavin 4?”

Zekk cast a worried glance back at Jaina and Raynar, assessing their injuries.

Lusa shook her head. “I’m not sure the jungle moon is a good idea. We’re going to need some full-fledged bacta tanks, I think.”

“Where we’re going, they’ve got some of the best,” Master Skywalker said. He leaned forward and spoke into the comm again. “Negative, Lowie. Sirra, Em Teedee, set your course for Coruscant. We’ll meet you on the private landing pad at the Imperial Palace.”

The reunion of the young Jedi Knights on Coruscant was joyous. But Jacen sensed that for Lowie, the triumph of their escape was bittersweet—since Raaba had remained with the Diversity Alliance.

Han, Leia, and Anakin Solo welcomed family and friends with a mixture of horror, relief, and reproach. They had a great many concerns, and Leia vowed to bring the full resources of the New Republic into play.

Lowie, Sirra, and Lusa spent a good deal of time in deep conversation with Master Skywalker, Chewbacca, Hah, and Leia, sharing what they had learned from the Diversity Alliance.

Jaina and Raynar, Jacen and Tenel Ka were hustled off to the medical center adjacent to the Imperial Palace. Now that the urgency of escape was behind them, healing the wounded took priority.

The young Jedi Knights finally had a chance to feel the full force of the damage their bodies had sustained. Zekk rarely left Jaina’s side.

Despite their various injuries, all of the young friends were reminded several times by their Jedi Master and the leader of the New Republic that their actions, though brave, had also been very foolish.

When Tenel Ka’s grandmother arrived unexpectedly, however, she did not reproach her granddaughter.

No one had sent the former queen word of Tenel Ka’s injuries or that she was being taken to Coruscant. Yet somehow she had known, and Jacen sensed that Ta’a Chume was secretly quite proud of what Tenel Ka had done.

Han and Leia, though proud of their children, still chided them hours after Jacen and Jaina’s return. Finally, Jaina had had enough of her parents’ censure. “But if we hadn’t gone to Ryloth,” she blurted out, “we’d never have learned that the Diversity Alliance was secretly plotting to wipe out all humans!”

Seeing the stricken look on his mother’s face, Jacen had the grace to feel ashamed for the turmoil they had put her through. He could well imagine how worried she must have been. “We’re sorry we didn’t trust you enough to tell you what we were doing, Mom,” he said as gently as he could. “But now we’ve told you everything we know, and there’s no one we trust more to decide where we go from here.”

His mother gave Jacen a grateful smile. “The Twi’lek you brought back with you—Kur—has been very helpful,” she said. “We’ve also learned a few things about the Diversity Alliance.”

“From the Bothan who tried to kill me?” Lusa said.

The Chief of State nodded. “I think the next step is to present what we’ve found out in a meeting of the New Republic Senate. So concentrate on getting well. Into the bacta tanks with all of you. I’m going to need your help when you’re a little stronger.”

Jacen looked around at his sister, Tenel Ka, Zekk, Raynar, and Lowie, who had Em Teedee clipped to his belt and Sirra close beside him.

“We’re already stronger,” he said. “Now that we’re together again.”

Lowie roared his support.

“Uncle Luke has always said we’re stronger together,” Jaina agreed.

“This is a fact,” Tenel Ka said.