Jedi Bounty

8

Tenel Ka led the way through the dim and winding tunnels, her warrior senses alert, every muscle taut and ready. She was acutely aware of the danger they faced: anyone who noticed the companions would immediately recognize them as intruders in the realm of the Diversity Alliance.

Nolaa Tarkona would not tolerate the presence of humans.

Jacen clung close beside the warrior girl, and together they used their Jedi senses, casting out through the Force like a net for any glimmer of their friend Lowbacca.

Raynar struggled to keep up with Jaina, who hung back a bit, staying close to him in case he needed her help. He limped a little on his healing leg, but made no complaint. The little translator droid hovered between them at shoulder level, bobbing along as part of the expedition.

With whispering footsteps as quiet as spring leaves brushing together, the young Jedi Knights hurried down one long corridor to an intersection.

Tenel Ka paused, studied the adjacent corridors, and listened.

Finally, detecting a slight tingle of Lowie’s presence, she chose a corridor that led in that general direction. “This way.”

She touched her rancor-tooth lightsaber, fingering the carvings on its hilt. “If we are seen,” Tenel Ka said, “we should return to the Rock Dragon. We must use our lightsabers—the fight will be for our very lives.”

“I propose that we not allow ourselves to be seen in the first place,” Em Teedee said. “It would be entirely too dangerous.”

“Great suggestion,” Jacen said, rolling his eyes.

“Now why didn’t we think of that?”

They saw alcoves chopped out of the rock walls, and passages that plunged steeply down into deeper rock. The entire mountainous region of Ryloth was a tangled warren dug out by the Twi’leks over thousands of years. Many of the tunnels were now unused, the sites of battles in ancient clan wars.

In her training as a princess of Hapes, Tenel Ka had learned about many distinctive civilizations, including the Twi’leks. Short on resources and living space, the Twi’lek culture had developed into a violent and angry one. They had built several underground cities of linked caverns and tunnels, cramped hives for the various clan factions.

Since the Twi’leks could not easily spread out into the inhospitable territory of the frozen night side or the burning day side, they were forced either to dig new tunnels or to kill each other off and keep their population to a manageable level.

Nolaa had chosen isolated tunnels far from the cavern cities for her headquarters. From there she could direct space traffic and ryll mining operations. In her takeover she had disposed of the leaders of the most powerful clans. Now she controlled the planet through the ostensibly noble and peaceful rule of the Diversity Alliance—not to mention a carefully chosen assassination here or there when it became absolutely unavoidable.

Tenel Ka crept forward, using all senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell … and the Force. The air tasted of damp coolness and rock dust with a sour undertone of moss and fungus, and the faint metallic odor of minerals and old blood.

Tenel Ka motioned for the others to follow her as she hurried through an uncomfortably long stretch of corridor. She normally enjoyed running at full speed, but here she felt naked and exposed. Some guard might see them and sound the alarm at any moment. But she heard no movement, no footsteps, only a trickle of water that ran from a crack in the ceiling above.

Tenel Ka chose another dim tunnel and turned left. She had just turned again into a side passage when she heard the clomping of something large around a blind corner ahead. In fact, several somethings—or someones.

Jacen brought himself to a skidding halt, and she pushed him back the way they had come.

The young Jedi Knights scrambled for cover.

“In here, quick!” Jaina whispered, pointing to a small storage alcove. “We’ve got to hide.”

A tarpaulin just large enough to conceal them hung across the opening.

A bright blue triangle had been painted on the rock beside the opening; Tenel Ka did not recognize the symbol, but this was no time to speculate about what it might mean. Jaina drew the tarpaulin aside and tugged Raynar into the alcove. “What are you waiting for?”

They ducked inside, and Em Teedee barely managed to zip beneath the thick cloth before it dropped back into place. The four sat crouched in the shadows, holding their breath, listening intently.

Raynar looked pale and frightened, but ready to fight if necessary.

Jaina sat next to him, wearing a grim expression. Though the caves were cool, Tenel Ka could feel perspiration trickling down her back beneath her scant reptile armor.

With a clank and a shuffle, three hulking guards rounded the corner.

Their heavy footsteps pounded closer, accompanied by grunts and snuffling sounds.

Around the edge of the tarpaulin, Tenel Ka saw three squat Gamorrean guards stride by on patrol. The huge brutes seemed wary, their piggish eyes open for any intruders. The guard on the right stumbled and lurched into the one in the middle, who shoved him back. The Gamorreans snorted at each other, then continued plodding along.

Tenel Ka narrowed her granite-gray eyes and heaved a faint sigh of relief after the guards moved past the hidden alcove.

Jacen touched Tenel Ka’s arm and indicated the storeroom where they had taken refuge.

“Hey, look at this,” he whispered.

“Oh my!” Em Teedee brightened his optical sensors to help light up the shelves. “I daresay this is quite an impressive array of firepower!”

All around them, shelves were piled high with blasters and laser rifles, thermal detonators and sonic grenades. The weapons were stacked haphazardly, stockpiled by the Diversity Alliance—just in case they should ever need them for an ultimate battle against their human enemies, no doubt.

Tenel Ka felt cold. Nolaa Tarkona was ready for an all-out war against the New Republic, even if she didn’t capture Bornan Thul.

Now, it was more important than ever that they escape—not just to get their friend Lowbacca to safety, but also to warn the New Republic about the enormity of the impending threat.

Tenel Ka considered taking weapons with them, but blasters and grenades weren’t the weapons of a Jedi. She believed she and her friends could get in and out without having to fight. She did, however, make a mental note of the blue triangle symbol that marked the arsenal’s location, just in case they were forced to fight their way back out.

The four companions slipped back into the corridor. They checked the tarpaulin to be sure it hung naturally, as it had before their arrival.

Then Tenel Ka and Jacen cast out with their minds again. The glimmer of the Wookiee’s presence seemed brighter now.

“That way?” Jacen said, pointing.

Tenel Ka nodded. “Come,” she said, creeping along a sloping downhill path. “We must find Lowbacca and leave again before it is too late…”

Raaba’s chocolate-brown fur bristled with pride as she led Sirrakuk down to the smallcraft bay, where personal ships belonging to the Diversity Alliance were reconditioned, upgraded, and sent out on missions.

Sirra wanted to take a look at the strange new vessel that had arrived attached to a robotic ore hauler. Raaba was happy to provide her with the access clearances. She felt great pleasure that her young Wookiee friend enjoyed the new things she had seen in the Diversity Alliance.

Lowbacca, on the other hand, seemed moody and distant, and Raaba was afraid she hadn’t managed to convince him of the logic in Nolaa Tarkona’s arguments. She couldn’t understand what was wrong with him, why he couldn’t see clear reason; if nothing else, his emotions should have persuaded him when he heard the heartbreaking tales of human cruelty to alien species!

But he had spent his last few years being brainwashed by humans. Raaba had her work cut out for her.

Today Adjutant Advisor Hovrak had taken Lowie down to the main computer center and assigned him the task of optimizing the inventory programming. While working with the computers, the lanky Wookiee had appeared somewhat happier, his mind preoccupied. That, Raaba thought, was at least a step in the right direction….

She and Sirra entered the smallcraft bay.

Raaba’s skimmer, the Rising Star, was in a reserved berth near the huge bay doors, ready for her to take off whenever she wished.

At the moment, though, Raaba’s highest priority was to ensure that Sirra and Lowie adapted well to the Diversity Alliance. The Twi’lek leader had made it clear how valuable she considered the new Wookiee recruits, particularly Lowbacca with his Jedi abilities. Raaba would not let her leader down.

Sirra stood in the bay, her eyes as bright as new credit chips when she saw the vehicles arrayed under the lights. She had shaved additional decorations on her shoulders and arms, and now the patches of hairless skin stood out in interesting contrast to her thick fur. She wore the unusual look at the wrists, neck, and ankles with a greater verve and imagination than she had before. Tufts of fur stood out in odd patchworks and curled designs.

Not satisfied with working in the computer factories like her parents, Lowie’s sister had undergone training on Kashyyyk to become a starship pilot. Sirra had dreams of her own, and Raaba intended to play on them.

The Diversity Alliance could fulfill those dreams as the New Republic could not. Sirra let out a yip of delight when she saw the mysterious salvaged ship.

Two Ugnaught mechanics briskly scoured the hull seams, cleaning away the carbon scoring and polishing up the old passenger cruiser. Sirra studied the craft, noting the lines and the Hapan design.

Raaba, though, froze as she recognized the Rock Dragon. She had seen this ship on Kuar, flown by Lowbacca and his friends—his human friends!

What was it doing here?

Her dark nostrils flared as she sucked in a deep breath. Something was terribly wrong. Raaba looked around the echoing cave chamber, past its bustling mechanics. Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the numerous tunnels where humans could hide. Spies? She unconsciously pushed her armbands tighter against her biceps. Human spies, creeping around in the private sanctuary of the Diversity Alliance!

Oblivious to Raaba’s tension, Sirra leaned forward to study the ship; she seemed eager to sit behind its controls. Raaba gestured for her to do as she wished, and Lowie’s sister sprinted toward the open passenger cruiser. With absolute fascination, she investigated the engines, the hull, the landing struts, before finally clambering inside.

Raaba held back, feeling her stomach knot.

What if Lowie’s friends had come to abduct him, to steal him away from his place in the Diversity Alliance? It would be a decidedly human thing to do. Humans were sore losers, she thought, unwilling to let aliens make their own choices.

Raaba hurried over to a communications console, switched to a private channel, and summoned Adjutant Advisor Hovrak. In the growling Wookiee language she rapidly told the angry wolfman of her suspicions.

Hovrak snarled. “I knew there was something strange about that ship,” he said. “I must increase security. Raaba, join me in the main grotto, and we will send out search parties from there. Is Lowbacca still stationed in the computer center?”

She nodded, and Hovrak said, “Good, then we will concentrate our search in that area. If we can keep your friend distracted, perhaps he will not realize anything is happening. We can take care of this before it becomes a problem.”

Raaba clenched her powerful fists and her biceps bulged against her armbands. Lowie. The young Jedi Knights were undoubtedly looking for him.

Jaina led the way next, her senses tingling.

“Lowie’s close,” she said. “He’s just up here.”

“Be careful, Jaina,” Tenel Ka said.

“I’m careful,” she answered. Jaina paused at the corner to detect any alien Diversity Alliance soldiers in the next section of tunnel, but it too was empty. Eerily quiet. They had been incredibly lucky so far.

These catacombs seemed abandoned. When Nolaa Tarkona took control, she had slaughtered many Twi’leks who fought against her—and now this section of tunnels was indeed like a tomb.

The floor grew smoother, as if heavy footsteps had polished the rough-hewn stone. Ahead, Jaina saw several corridors that branched around the same central place, a large room with glassed-in walls and a support structure holding it up; heavy-duty recirculation fans fed in cooling air.

Computers and terminals filled the enclosed chamber—and there, flanked by a Sullustan and two polished hacker droids, sat Lowie!

“There he is!” Jaina said in a hoarse whisper.

“I’m certain he’ll be most pleased to see us,” Em Teedee said at her shoulder. “I simply do not know how he manages to get by without me.”

The gingerfurred Wookiee hunched over a terminal linked to a mainframe.

His lanky arms hung down as he studied a screen, deep in concentration.

He punched buttons on a keypad.

Symbols scrolled up past his eyes. Lowie nodded, then moved to a different terminal.

Before anyone could stop her, Jaina hurried out into the tunnel intersection. She would have to get Lowie’s attention, but it seemed impossible without also sounding an alarm.

Em Teedee swiveled in the air, his optical sensors glowing. “I’m certainly anxious to speak with Master Lowbacca again.”

Not wanting to be left behind, Raynar and Jacen accompanied Jaina, scurrying forward, keeping low. Tenel Ka hesitated, looking around in the dim tunnels instead of ahead. “We must be cautious.” Then she felt a cold shiver of warning up her spine.

Jaina spun around, also sensing it, just as Em Teedee let out a thin wail. “Oh dear, they’ve found us.”

Tenel Ka whirled to face a large group of one-eyed Abyssin armed with spiked clubs, a towering Trandoshan reptile, and a wolfman who appeared to be the leader. He grinned with triumph, showing off his fangs.

Tenel Ka grabbed for her lightsaber, but the alien soldiers already had their blasters drawn.

The wolfman barked a quiet order. “No lightsabers, Jedi Knights,” he said, “or we will cut you down where you stand. I am Hovrak, and every soldier here obeys my orders.”

An Abyssin reached up to snatch Em Teedee out of the air.

“Let me go, you brute! Be careful—you’ll scratch my casing.”

“No outbursts, no noise,” Hovrak warned. “You will come with us quietly.”

From another tunnel a second group of soldiers emerged. With them stood Raaba, chocolate fur bristling, red headband cinched around her head, and armlets pushed high on her biceps.

Jacen looked desperately at the Wookiee woman. His eyes pleaded.

“Hey, Raaba, tell them who we are! We just wanted to talk to Lowie.”

But the plea was wasted. Raaba glared at them.

In a smooth motion their captors swept them into a side catacomb, away from the computer center. Jaina drew a deep breath to shout for Lowie—but the Trandoshan clapped a rough reptilian hand across her mouth.

“Kill humans,” he gargled, as if in anticipation.

The monsters hauled the young Jedi Knights off as prisoners. The guards remained wary, keeping their blasters pressed against their sides.

The companions could never coordinate their Jedi powers all at the same time to divert so many blaster bolts.

Jaina swallowed hard. They would fight to escape—but now was not the time…

Back in the computer center, Lowie sensed a great uneasiness in the Force. He looked up from a difficult problem at his terminal, glanced around the computer center, and then darted his gaze out through the transparisteel walls into the shadowy corridors beyond.

Although the interior light caused quite a glare, and he could make out only a few details, he thought he saw a flicker of shadows, a movement of bodies disappearing into a corridor … but he could not be sure.

Once again he felt the heavy loneliness he had almost forgotten during his deep concentration.

He loved working with computers, and this programming problem was a great challenge. He stared out the windows for a long moment, but nothing reappeared. Then with a low sigh he sat back down at the keyboard and returned to work.

It was probably just his imagination. Lowie missed his friends terribly, and he must have been seeing only what he wanted to see.