Jedi under Siege

26

The morning after the great battle on Yavin 4 dawned cool and clear. Within hours, the bright sunlight dispensed with the lingering tatters of lacy mist that clung to the rubble-strewn base of the Great Temple and to the trees around it. Overhead, the giant orange planet Yavin filled much of the sky. Waiting with Lowie and Jacen on the landing field, Jaina marveled at the difference a night’s rest and a good meal could make on her perspective. After Luke, Tionne, Lando, and a couple of GemDiver engineers had determined that the lower two levels of the Great Temple were structurally sound, the remaining trainees and staff had made their way back into the pyramid, retrieving an ecstatic Artoo-Detoo, who had been waiting below. Admiral Ackbar’s transports had evacuated the most seriously injured students, while those with only minor wounds had been treated and returned to their own chambers in the temple.

Jaina felt fortunate—and a bit guilty—that she had emerged from the battles almost completely unscathed. She had a few cuts and bruises from where stones had hit her after the explosion, but that was all.

Jaina ran an appraising eye over her friend Lowbacca. His shoulder was back in position again, his arm supported by a wide cloth strap, his broken ribs wrapped. The Wookiee normally wore only his webbed belt made of syren plant fibers, so the sling and the thick white bandaging around his midriff seemed oddly out of place.

She heard a warble and bleep behind her, and turned to find Artoo and her uncle Luke coming across the landing field to join them. The Jedi Master’s face held a look of serenity and determination, but his eyes showed a glint of humor.

“I think I looked even worse than that,” Luke said without preamble, “after my encounter with the Wampa ice creature on Hoth.”

“Yes, but Lowie’s looking a lot better this morning,” Jaina agreed.

Luke chuckled. “Actually, I was referring to the Great Temple itself.”

Jaina turned to study the ancient Massassi pyramid. The topmost level had collapsed where the detonators had exploded, and part of the sides had slumped downward. The broken, jagged walls of the grand audience chamber could have been mistaken for crenellations atop the battlements of some ancient fortress.

“At first I thought we might have to move the academy to some other temple,” Luke said, “but now … I’m not sure we need to.”

“You mean we could rebuild it?” Jacen asked with a groan. “Great—more practice exercises, lifting rocks, balancing beams …”

Artoo-Detoo twittered and beeped, as if excited at the idea. Lowie rumbled thoughtfully, then growled in pain, holding his aching ribs.

“Yes,” Luke said. “In one way or another we’ve all been hurt through our encounters with the dark side. I think rebuilding the Great Temple might be a part of healing each of our wounds.”

“Like Zekk,” Jaina murmured, feeling her heart contract painfully. “He needs a lot of healing.”

“That reminds me, Uncle Luke,” Jacen said, “what will you do with the Dark Jedi trainees we captured?”

“Tionne and I are working with them. We’ll do our best to turn them back to the light side, but if it’s not possible …” He spread his hands. “I’ll have to discuss that with Leia, and—”

“Oh, Master Lowbacca, look!” Em Teedee interrupted from his clip at Lowie’s waist. Jaina noticed that the tiny droid’s speaker grille had been straightened and meticulously polished.

“Hey, they’re back,” Jacen cried.

Lando’s shuttle, with Lowie’s battered T-23 in tow, arrowed toward a corner of the landing field well away from the blaster-scarred hulk of the Lightning Rod.

Uttering a joyous howl, Lowie gave Em Teedee a grateful pat.

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Jaina asked as the shuttle and the T-23 touched down.

Jaina, Jacen, and Lowie hurried forward. By the time they reached it, the shuttle’s landing ramp had extended, and Lando Calrissian strode down it with Tenel Ka on his arm. Lando’s cape swirled behind him and he flashed his most charming grin. “Your friend here is quite a tough young lady,” he said approvingly.

“This is a fact,” she said, without the slightest trace of humor.

“I could have told you that,” Jacen said. “Did you find it?”

Tenel Ka nodded, a satisfied look on her face. She pulled her arm free, plucked something from her belt, and held it out to show Jacen. It was the rancor-tooth lightsaber that she had lost during her clash with Tamith Kai on the battle platform. “It was not as difficult to locate as I had feared,” she said. “Perhaps because I knew the rancor whose tooth this was, I was able to sense its location.”

Tenel Ka no longer appeared feverish, and Jaina was amused to note that the warrior girl had braided her red-gold hair carefully around her face so that her bandage looked like a primitive warband across her forehead.

“I’ve invited Tenel Ka to come and visit GemDiver Station, since she missed it last time,” Lando said. “We have some good bacta tanks there that’ll fix up that cut on her head no time. Lowbacca, looks like you could use a few days in one of our tanks, too.”

Lowie barked his acceptance and a thank-you.

“Oh, that would be exceedingly kind of you, Master Calrissian,” Em Teedee said. “Master Lowbacca is most anxious to complete his healing and begin repairs on his incapacitated vehicle.”

“His little skyhopper ain’t the only vehicle that’s incapacitated.”

Jaina jumped when Peckhum’s loud voice boomed out behind her.

“I know just what he means, though. The boy and I can’t wait to get started fixing the Lightning Rod. But I think Zekk is going to be laid-up here for a while recuperating.” Old Peckhum stood by the damaged Lightning Rod, one hand on Zekk’s shoulder, the other arm heavily bandaged.

Zekk’s face was as pale as the dressing that wound around the base of his skull. His eyes seemed curiously empty, his face expressionless. He did not meet Jaina’s gaze.

“I think you’ve got two more candidates for your bacta tank, Lando,” Jaina said. “Can Jacen and I go along with them, Uncle Luke?”

Artoo-Detoo twittered.

“Oh, indeed! That’s a marvelous idea,” Em Teedee said.

“We promise not to get kidnapped this time,” Jacen added with a lopsided Solo-style grin.

Luke chuckled. “All right, I think that would be good for all of you. You young Jedi Knights are stronger together. If you have some time away to heal, then you’ll come back ready to help us rebuild … ready for a new beginning.”

“Thanks, Uncle Luke,” Jaina said.

“Jacen, my friend,” Tenel Ka said. “Perhaps we had better leave soon. We do not want all of the injured students to come away with us and leave Master Skywalker here alone.”

Jacen gave Tenel Ka a quizzical look. “What do you mean?” he said. “Why would you worry about that?”

“Because,” Tenel Ka said solemnly, “a Jedi must have patients.”

Jacen blinked at her, uncertainty written on his face. Then a shy grin lit Tenel Ka’s face. It was the first time he had seen her smile so broadly.

“I don’t believe it … ,” Jacen began.

Jaina shook her head in wonder. “Sounded to me like she just told a joke.”

“This is a fact!” Jacen said.

Lowie chuffed with delight. Jaina giggled.

Soon the entire clearing rang with laughter.