Young Jedi Knights 8 - Diversity Alliance Page 2

  "Songs?" Nolaa said, allowing a frown to crease her forehead.

  "We need soldiers and fighters willing to die for our cause--not minstrels."

  "If I might point out, Esteemed Tarkona, the potential payoffs of dispersing propaganda.

  One song to the right audience in the right cantina in the right town could result in riots .... even the overthrow of a long-established human government. At -the very least, it will increase awareness of what the Diversity Alliance stands for."

  "Very well," Nolaa said, "just so long as these musicians don't demand excessive payment. What else?"

  We'Ve received a messenger from a sub-hive of the Bartokk species.

  They are renowned killers, assassins who travel together sharing a single mind. This sub-hive has sworn allegiance to the Diversity Alliance--and as you know, when one of them agrees, they all agree."

  Nolaa Tarkona tapped her daws together.

  "That's much better news. So, does this mean the entire Bartokk homeworld is ours? Is this sub-hive the legitimate government there?"

  "No, Esteemed Tarkona, but they will

  carry our message far and wide. In fact, as I understand their species, if this sub-hive assassinated key members in other sub-hives, they could absorb all those minds into an even larger swarm. Given a little time and a little ingenuity, our one sub-hive could subsume all other Bartokks and incorporate them into one giant fighting force that would be completely loyal to

  US."

  Now the Twflek woman smiled, showing her pointed teeth. "Very good, indeed. Governments operate by the will of the populace.

  We make our own legitimacy."

  "Yes," Hovrak snarled, "legitimacy. Payback time. By rights the galaxy should be

  OUrs."

  "Now, don't get greedy," Nolaa said. "At least not so soon. A few sectors at a time should be enough . . . for the moment."

  She twitched her head-tail, feeling .a tingle of sensation. "I just received word that a ship has docked at our underground facility.

  I believe it is Boba Fett, returned to us.

  Go and Bring him here. I wish to see what our bounty hunter has retrieved for me."

  Hovrak bared his teeth again, then spun about and padded out of the grotto.

  Putting her nervous energy to use, Nolaa reached out and selected a sharp durasteel file from the small obsidian pedestal beside her.

  She inserted the tool into her mouth and briskly filed her front teeth to maintain their pointed tips and razor-sharp edges. She received a delicious, forbidden thrill in doing so. Twi'lek female slaves traditionally had their teeth sanded flat to keep them from biting their masters.

  and only the vicious males had been allowed to flaunt their fangs.

  Until now.

  The degraded females found themselves powerless and sold into slavery, forced to serve or dance--mere objects to be beaten and sacrificed at the whim of their masters.

  Nolaa knew this all too well: her own half-sister had paid the ultimate price. But she had vowed to change all that. And, as she had proven many times before, Nolaa Tarkona was always true to her word ....

  When the helmeted Boba Fett marched alone into the grotto, Nolaa sat up with a stab of disappointment. Had he dared to come back to her empty-handed?

  Beside the bounty hunter, daws extended, Hovrak walked like a security escort. But

  20 Star Wars: Young Jedi Kni§hts

  Boba Fett exuded such self-confidence, even through his Mandalorian at=mor, that any idea of his following anyone was ludicrous.

  Nolaa admired him for that self-assurance and enigmatic charisma.

  Fett, however, did not concern himself with power or politics.

  Why he kept to him-self--hiring out only as a bounty hunter, when he could have been a great leader--was a mystery to her. Ah, well, she thought, every creature has different goals.

  "Where is Bornan Thul?" she demanded.

  "You contracted to bring him back to me, along with the navicomputer I paid for.

  Why have you returned here without your bounty? Surely you don't intend to report failure?"

  "A temporary setback," Fett said, his voice carefully neutral. "I encountered the children of Han Solo; they were unable to provide the information I required. I have other leads." He paused for a moment.

  "When hunting bounty, I can never be sure what I will find--it is not always what I set out to look for."

  More to the point, Nolaa's spies had reported that Jacen and Jaina Solo and their friends had actually foiled Fett out in the Alderaan rubble field, and he had fled in defeat. But she did not mention this.

  The bounty hunter knew he had failed thus far, and so did she.

  Nothing else mattered.

  "Make no mistake, Boba Fett," Nolaa said, "about the importance of this mission.

  I must have the cargo Bornan Thul stole. The future of the galaxy depends on it. Until today, I have let only a few other bounty hunters know of my interest--and I suspect some still intend to succeed where you failed. Now, however, you give me no choice but to announce this opportunity to bounty hunters far and wide."

  "Send out whomever you like, but I shall find Bornan Thul," Fett said. His brusque tone was not threatening, but simply confident.

  "I am the best. I will succeed. The others will fail."

  "Then next time bring me the bounty--not words," Nolaa said.

  When Fett turned without bidding her farewell, she raised her clawed hand and called after him to stop. "I have a question-something that intrigues me. I've heard about how Princess Leia Organa once wore a helmet as a disguise, passing herself off as the bounty hunter Boushh to infiltrate Jabba's palace. No one knew her identity until she was caught trying to free Han Solo. Tell me, Boba Fett: under that helmet, and behind your voice synthesizer, are you perhaps . . .. a female yourself?"

  Fett stared at her through the narrow black slit in his helmet.

  "I remove my helmet for no one," he said.

  But Nolaa would not be distracted. "For that matter," she said, "are you even human?

  Could you perhaps be one of the downtrodden alien species in this galaxy passing yourself off as a human?"

  "I remove my helmet for no one," he repeated, still giving her no answer.

  "A pity," Nolaa said. "You may go."

  Boba Fett departed with brisk steps, as if · incensed that she had given him leave to go when he would never have bothered to ask her permission.

  Nolaa sat back in her stone chair, bathed in the bloody red lights It was long past her rest period, but she decided to linger a while yet . . . perhaps much longer. Possibilities for the future continued to develop in her mind.

  MORNING MIST SETTLED on the grass-stubble clearing in front of the rebuilt Great Temple. Droplets of falling moisture clung to Tenel Ka's warrior braids and sparkled there like a fine spray of gems.

  Leaning against the damp hull of the Rock Dragon, she watched with mixed feelings as Jacen prepared to board the Shadow Chaser with Raynar and Master Skywalker.

  She knew Jacen would have preferred to fly beside her and she was proud of him for sacrificing his personal preferences to help Raynat, who needed the support of a friend right now. Tenel Ka understood the inner torment of being constantly in danger, constantly on guard. She could have requested to be included on the Shadow Chaser, but because the Rock Dragon was her ship, Tenel Ka felt duty-bound to remain with her crew--"Captain" Jaina, copilot Lowie, and backup navigator Em Teedee.

  Still, Tenel Ka would miss her friend during the trip to the rendezvous point with Raynar's family. She had come to rely on Jacen in an odd sort of way. Somehow, his clowning and joking reassured her that all was well with the galaxy . . . even when all was not well.

  Tenel Ka shook her head to clear it. Allowing her thoughts to dwell on such sentimentalism was unlike her.

  Jaina and Lowie chose that moment to emerge from the Rock Dragon behind her.

  Jaina, serious in her duties as captain of the ship, gave an immediate report. "Internal preflight checks are complete--inside's all ready to go. You done with the externals yet?"

  Tenel Ka gave a guilty start. She had allowed herself to become distracted! They were heading into a potentially dangerous situation, and she could not afford to let her mind wander. Wiping a sheen of rain from her forehead, she vowed not to let it happen again. "Ten more minutes."

  Jaina nodded, then a look of perplexity

  stole over her face. She bit her lower lip.

  "Am I forgetting anything?"

  Lowie pointed a ginger-furred arm toward the Shadow Chaser and gave a short bark.

  "Coordinates. Right," Jaina said. "We have to get the coordinates for our hyperspace jump from Uncle Luke and Raynar.

  Information came in about an hour ago by tight-beam encrypted transmission. Unregistered proprietary encryption. Raynar was the only one who knew how to decode it."

  Tenel Ka was surprised. Such precautions were commonly employed in communications between members of the Hapan royal family, but they were almost unheard of in the New Republic.

  While Lowie and Jaina went to consult with Master Skywalker and Raynar, Tenel Ka returned to her preflight check. Chiding herself for her temporary lack of diligence, she examined the rain-slick hull of the Rock Dragon as carefully as if she were preparing for a space battle--which, for all she knew, might just be the case.

  When Jacen poked his head around the side of the ship to see if she needed any help, Tenel Ka accepted gladly. She didn't actually require assistance, of course, but she welcomed his companionship.

  After they'd finished, Jacen said, "I, um. . . I put a little extra sealant on that blast scar Boba Fett gave us in the Alder-aan system." He ran a hand through his damp hair. "It looked a bit weak, and I didn't want you to take any chances." Jacen shrugged, perhaps embarrassed at showing his concern for her. "Hey, you can never tell when you're going to bump into another bounty hunter, you know?"

  Tenel Ka's cool gray eyes locked onto his.

  The Shadow Chaser's quantum armor would keep its passengers safe if they came under attack. Jacen knew he would be well protected, but he had no similar guarantee for his friends in the Rock Dragon. She did her best to reassure him.

  "Jacen, my friend, I am used to dealing with traitors, kidnappers, and assassins.

  The Hapan court is filled with them." One corner of her mouth quirked upward. "In fact, some of the most skilled ones are my relatives. I will not allow the Rock Dragon or anyone in her to come to harm."

  He nodded, then shrugged again. "I just

  like to know everyone's safe. I even made Tionne promise to take care of my gort egg while we're gone." Then, as if chagrined at having been caught worrying, Jacen said, "Hey, wanna hear a joke?"

  On the pretext of examining a stabilizer fin Tenel Ka ducked her head to hide her pleasure. If Jacen ever suspected that she actually enjoyed his jokes, he would really worry. When she had composed herself again, she looked up and raised an eyebrow at him. "Only if you do not require me to laugh."

  "Buzz buzz," he said, then waited expectantly.

  After a moment, she realized the response he wanted. "Ah--who is there?"

  "Dismay."

  "Dismay who?"

  "Dismay not seem funny to you, but I'm hoping you'll at least smile."

  Tenel Ka nodded judiciously. "Perhaps I will laugh later, my friend Jacen." The absurdity of his humor amazed her. Even more amazing was the fact that the joke had put her at ease again. She closed her eyes, let out a slow breath, and savored the refreshing mist falling from above.

  "Hey, you two," Jaina yelled from around the side of the ship, "Coordinates are in.

  Uncle Luke is locking Artoo down in the astromech station. What are we waiting for?"

  Tenel Ka opened her eyes. Jacen gave her hand a brief squeeze.

  "See you at the rendezvous point," he said.

  "This is a fact," Tenel Ka agreed, and Jacen dashed across the damp grass to the Shadow Chaser.

  For once, compared with the other passenger, Jacen felt more than competent to serve as copilot of a starship. Leaning' forward from his seat behind them in the cockpit, Raynat hovered anxiously between Jacen and Master Skywalker, eyeing the control panels as if to ensure that Jacen wouldn't make a mistake.

  Jacen tried to calm the young man. He even sent subtle, soothing thoughts, as he might to a frightened animal. But once they left Yavin 4, Raynar's agitation in, creased minute by minute. By the time the Shadow Chaser made its jump to hyperspace, Jacen felt edgy himself.

  Even the normally patient Master Sky walker turned with a strained smile and said, "I can take it from here, Jacen. Why don't you two go in the back and practice a few Jedi relaxation exercises? I'll call you when we're ready to make our rendezvous with the fleet."

  "I'm not sure I can relax," Raynar said.

  But when Jacen unbuckled his crash webbing and headed back toward the crew compartment, the other young man obediently followed.

  Before Jacen could leave the cockpit, however, Raynat turned back.

  "Master Sky-walker, are you sure you have the coordinates right?"

  "I programmed them in myself from your notes when you decoded the transmission," Luke said, and when Raynar seemed about to ask for more details, he added, "Jaina and Lowbacca confirmed coordinates for both the Shadow Chaser and the Rock Dragon. We're fine."

  The answer appeared to satisfy Raynar, who finally let Jacen lead him into the back. Jacen took a deep breath, held it for a few heartbeats, and slowly released it.

  Then, to break the tension, he said, "I guess you're pretty scared."

  Raynar sat down, shoulders hunched over, and stared at the deckplates. "How would you feel if somebody in your family was missing and maybe even dead?"

  From the astromech station, Artoo-Detoo whistled a mournful note.

  Jacen gave a humorless laugh. "Believe it or not, that situation isn't completely uncommon in my family. I know how you feel."

  Raynat looked up at Jacen. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth! "Yeah, I guess you do at that."

  An hour later when Luke called them back to the cockpit, both boys were more relaxed. Raynat even attempted a joke or two. Jacen already knew the punch lines, but he laughed anyway because it was so funny to hear the normally pompous boy working so hard to use humor. The kid wasn't too bad, Jacen decided, but he needed a little. work on his timing and delivery.

  As soon as they buckled themselves into their seats, Raynar began to show signs of nervousness again. "Why don't you tell Uncle Luke your joke, Raynat?" Jacen said.

  "The one about the Neff herder and the purple rancor?"

  "Maybe later," Luke said. "We're just about there. Okay . . .

  now," he said, nodding to Jacen.

  Jacen leaned forward and disengaged the hyperdrive. The starlines shortened abruptly and resolved themselves into a million twinkling lights in the blackness of space.

  Empty space, without any merchant ships anywhere in sight.

  Jacen blinked in surprise. "Where are they?" He asked.. "What happened to the fleet?"

  Luke Skywalker looked at the control panel, perplexed. "These are the coordinates they gave me."

  "They're gone," Raynat said in a gloomy voice. "The fleet has left without me."

  Jacen adjusted the volume controls as the cockpit speaker crackled to life. "Shadow Chaser, this is Rock Dragon," Jaina's voice said.

  "Kinda lonely out here. Weren't we expecting company?"

  "Still waiting to make contact," Jacen answered. "Uncle Luke says " From the comm speaker a new female voice cut through his transmission. "Shadow Chaser and Rock Dragon, please broadcast confirmation of your identities."

  At Luke's nod, Jacen complied. They waited. "Identities confirmed," the voice said at last. "This is the Tryst. I am prepared to take you--" "Where is my mother? Where is the fleet?" Raynar cut in. "They were supposed to meet us here. What have you done with them?"

  "Ah, would that be Master Raynar Thul?"

  the voice answered. "This is your second cousin, Captain Dro Prack, of the security shuttle Tryst assigned to the Tradew'yn. Now if you'll all be so kind as to slave your navigational computers to mine, we can be on our way to rendezvous with the fleet."

  "Um, shuttle Tryst?" Jaina's voice came over the speaker. "We were under the impression that this was the rendezvous point."