Shards of Alderaan Page 5

  before, Zekk realized that the Jedi Master was right about the

  importance of fixing the Lightning Rod-collectively and personally. He

  found something healing about repairing the damage he had indirectly

  caused, something therapeutic about laboring with his friends, who did

  their best to accept him, despite occasional moments of awkwardness.

  While both Zekk and Peckhum were competent mechanics, Jaina was

  absolutely in her element. She dove into the task with gleeful

  enthusiasm, checking the cargo ship's hull integrity, pointing out

  blaster-damaged plates, running diagnostics, and issuing orders like a

  topnotch flight mechanic. Surprised and a bit amused, Peckhum let Jaina

  have free rein in directing the overall repair project of his cargo

  vessel. Seeing how masterful and confident she was, Zekk felt warm

  inside.

  Now, Jaina's muffled voice drifted out from under the navigational

  console as she wormed her way deeper into the tiny crawlspace. "Would

  someone please hand me some line clamps and the signal flux meter?" She

  waved a grimy hand, waiting for her tools.

  @wie, whose upper body was wedged into an overhead access hatch like

  some huge and awkward furry stowaway, responded with an unintelligible

  roar. Eager to help, Zekk retrieved Jain" instruments from the top of

  the cockpit panels.

  With a murmured thank-you, Jaina thumped around underneath the

  navigation console. "There," she said at last, "that ought to do it.

  Now try the hyperchart fimetion again."

  Zekk flicked a few switches and pressed a button. A holographic map of

  several recommended hyperspace routes shimmered in front of him. that's

  got it," he confirmed.

  "Seems to be working fine now."

  Jaina scrambled out from under the console. She shook back her straight

  brown hair and wiped her greasy palms on the front of her rumpled flight

  suit, leaving da@k handprints on the brown fabric-. "A few finishing

  touches, and this ship will be ready to fly again, better than ever."

  Zekk gave Jaina an uncertain smile as he offered her a hand so that she

  could stand up. 'I can't think of anyone I'd rather have beside me

  fixing this ship. I bet the Lightning Rod hasn't been in such good

  shape since Peckhum first got her. Hard to believe you started with

  nothing more than this battered hulk and a pfle of spare parts."

  Jaina bit her lower lip, and her cheeks flushed pink at the compliment.

  "It was all of us really, working together as a team . . . including

  you, Zekk."

  The young man nodded. He knew what she was hoping, but he couldn't

  stay. He couldn't change his mind. "I'll be leaving as soon as we're

  finished with the Lightning Rod," he said.

  "I know, I know,' Jaina said. "Have you decided yet where you'll go

  once you leave Yavin 4?"

  "I've got a lot of possibilities, I guess." He shrugged. "I asked

  Peckhum if he'd give me agit back to Coruscant. From there . . .

  who knows?"

  Jaina looked away. "Whenever you finally decide what to do with your

  life, I hope it includes us." Zekk wasn!t sure what to say. He couldiyt

  make any promises at this point. He could no longer be certain of who

  he was or what he might become. The silence stretched like a taut wire

  between them.

  'Come on,' Jaina said at last, breaking the tension and meeting his

  eyes, "let's go help Jacen and Tenel Ka finish patching the outer hull."

  Two days later, his bags packed with a few meager possessions, Zekk

  stood with his old friend and companion Peckhum, saying his goodbyes to

  the young Jedi knights before boarding the Lightning Rod.

  With one hand on Zekk's shoulder, Peckhum said, "This old ship's seen

  some hard use, boy-of course, so have you-but you'd never know it to

  look at 'er now. Like a brand-new transport, with a dozen years of

  service left in her."

  Zekk felt a warm tingle of pride at what he and his friends had

  accomplished. "It's like the Lightning Rod has a new life," he agreed.

  "Yep," old Peckhum said, looking with great seriousness at the young man

  beside him. He cleared his throat, as if he had to force the words past

  some internal blockage. "That's . . . why I want you to have her.

  Take her for your own, Zekk-the Lightning Rod is my gift to you."

  Jaina gasped. Lowie gave a curious rumble, and Em Teedee added, 'Oh,

  myt" Zekk blinked before shaking his head, not certain he'd heard right.

  "I couldn't.

  1-1 How would you make your living?"

  "Well," Peckhum said slowly, 'truth is, Chief of State Organa Solo has

  been after me to modernize a bit. Wants me to use some newfangled cargo

  ship the New Republic has. They got it for me a year or more ago,

  because I've been doing so much work for the Jedi academy. But you know

  me and new things, so I've been resisting the offer. Guess it's got

  some kind of improved guidance system, a code encryption

  whatchamacallit, and a bigger cargo hold.

  Gotta have more space now that there'll be more supplies to bring back

  and forth to Yavin 4, you know-what with all the new guardian systems

  and added troops stationed in orbit."

  'But you!ve had the Lightning Rod ever since I've known you, Peckhum,"

  Zekk said.

  A fond smile crossed the old mails grizzled face. "Yep, I'd had'era few

  years even before you stowed away aboard her. You were a bold scamp,

  all right, stowie away from ship to ship after that disaster wiped out

  your family and your colony on Ennth." Zekk remembered. "They wanted me

  to live in their refugee stations before finding me some sort of foster

  home."

  "Yep," Peckhum said. "And instead you found yourself a home with me."

  Zekk's throat tightened. 'You've done a lot for me over the years,

  Peckhum. I can't take your ship, too."

  "lib tell the truth, the Lightning Rod's more of a junk heap than

  anythinga menace to the galaxy, really. You'd be doin' me a favor to

  take 'er off my hands for me.

  ThaVs the only way I'll ever get around to using that new ship. We've

  all got to move up to bigger and better things, boy. Don't be so

  resistant to change."

  Despite his bold words, Zekk could see that old Peckhum was choked up at

  the thought of parting with the Lightning Rod.

  It was as if it were a part of him. Oh, well, Zekk thought, at least

  this way he'd have a piece of his friend wherever he went. A piece of

  home.

  "All right," he said. "I accept. But only if you're sure."

  "I'm sure . . . I'll miss you,' Peckhum said in a low voice. Then

  with a bit of bluster he added, "But I won't miss this old garbage scow,

  not for a minute." He kicked the boarding ramp. The toe of his boot

  clanged on the metal.

  The emotion of the moment nearly overwhelmed Zekk, but he pasted a

  crooked smile on his face. "I can always tell when you're lying,

  Peckhum," he said.

  Peckhum's face broke into a broad grin.

  "I never could fool you, boy. You and the Lightning Rod are two of the

  best friends I ever had. Take good care of each other."

  Lowie woofed softly a
few times. "Master Lowbacca wishes you safe

  travels,' Em Teedee translated.

  "Live well," Tenel Ka said. "And fight only the battles worth

  fighting."

  "We'll miss you, Zekk," Jacen said. "Don't forget to come back and

  visit us." 'You'll always have us as friends," Jaina said, but her voice

  came out in a whisper, hoarse with restrained emotion.

  "I'll miss you all," Zekk said.

  -----------------AS THE STORM system came through, a stiff breeze tore

  across the stubbly grass and weeds of the Great Temple's landing field.

  The construction scaffolding jiggled, making the balance precarious for

  the crew of New Republic construction workers shoring up rebuilt

  sections of wall.

  Now that the Lightning Rod had departed, the young Jedi Knights turned

  their efforts toward fixing Lowbacca's T-23

  skyhopper, which had been damaged by the Second Imperium's battle

  platform.

  While Jaina worked above, Lowie squatted beside the small craft,

  examining a rip in the engine compartment.

  The wind suddenly gusted around the partially open cockpit, tearing free

  a sheet of transparisteel Jaina was attempting to fasten into the front

  windows. Her mind had been wandering-as usual of late, to thoughts of

  Zekk-when she lost her grip, and she could do nothing to grab the

  transparisteel in time.

  Lowie howled in pain and surprise as the sheet thunked him on the head.

  'Oh, my," Em Teedee said. "I'm certainly glad that didn't strike me!

  My circuits could have been irreparably damaged." Jaina leaned over the

  T-23s canopy, startled and abashed. "Son-y, @wie."

  The young Wookiee rubbed the bump forming beneath the dark streak of fur

  on his head and gave a rumble of understanding. "Master Lowbacca

  assures me he has sustained no permanent injury," Em '&edee said.

  Jacen, who was cleaning the carbon scoring off one of the skyhopper's

  attitude fins, popped up, grinning. 'Bet you were thinking about Zekk

  again-weren't you, Jaina?

  I can't imagine anything else that could distract you from your favorite

  kind of work." Tenel Ka jumped down next to Lowie, landing with her feet

  spread, perfectly balanced. "I apologize. The error was mine, friend

  Lowbacca," she said. The warrior girl picked up the transparisteel

  patch and hefted it back to the top of the skyhopper.

  "Jaina requested my assistance, but I was not watching when that gust

  struck." "Hey, don't tell me you were thinking about Zekk, too," Jacen

  teased.

  Tenel Ka shook her head emphatically; her thick red-gold braids lashed

  and swirled in the wind. "No, not at the moment. However, I received a

  message from Hapes yesterday. I am anticipating . . .

  something from my parents and my grandmother."

  "What're you waiting for?" Jaina asked.

  Lowie added his own questioning growl.

  Jaina leaned down and tossed the lanky Wookiee a tube of metal cement.

  "Hey, I'll bet she's waiting for me to tell her a joke," Jacen said.

  "Isn't that right, Tenel Ka?"

  "This is a fact," Tenel Ka answered with a perfectly straight face.

  "But in addition to your joke, I have been waiting for a . . .

  delivery."

  "What is it?" Jaina asked.

  "Don't tell me," Jacen said. "Uncle Luke has asked for some rancors

  from Dathomir to help with the rebuilding project. Thatd be great,

  wouldn't it? I always wanted to see one up close." Then he paused, as

  if considering whether he really meant it.

  "Well . . ."

  "I believe," Tenel Ka said, nodding toward a pair of ships that had just

  appeared on the jungle horizon, "this is the delivery I have been

  expecting."

  Lowie and Jaina scrambled to get a better look. A strong wind caught at

  the Wookiee's ginger fur, making it flutter in tufts like dozens of tiny

  pennants. The two ships were approaching carefully because of the

  unpredictable gusts and crosswinds.

  Jaina studied the design of the craft approaching them. They look

  vaguely Hapan, but not a design rm familiar with."

  Jacen groaned. "This isn't one of those diplomatic visits, is it? No

  offense, Tenel Ka, but if you're expecting one of your grandmother's

  associates, I think I'd prefer to clean the kitchens for a while. I

  hope Ambassador Yfra isn't out of prison already!" 'If this were one of

  my grandmother's diplomatic associates,' Tenel Ka answered wryly,

  "perhaps I would join you at the cleaning chores. But I am expecting a

  gift."

  Jaina had met Tenel Ka's parents, the rulers of the Hapes Cluster, when

  she and the other young Jedi Knights had gone there after Tenel Ka's

  lightsaber accident.

  Although Isolder and Teneniel Djo were as protective of their daughter

  as any parents, they had strongly supported Tenel Ka's wish to become a

  Jedi Knight.

  'At first I refused to consider their offer of such an extravagant

  gift," the warrior girl went on, "but they were concerned for my safety

  after our battle with the Shadow Academy. In the end I agreed; only my

  pride had caused me to resist in the first place." She quirked an

  eyebrow. "My grandmother is now hoping I will reconsider accepting a

  prosthetic arm."

  The repulsoijets of the two approaching craft set up cross breezes that

  sent everyone's hair flying wildly about their faces.

  "I told no one about this gift except Master Skywalker," Tenel Ka said.

  "I had hoped to surprise you. Especially Jaina."

  Jaina tried to push her wind-blown brown hair away from her face, but it

  was no use.

  "Well, okay," she said. "Surprise me."

  Tenel Ka blinked her cool gray eyes.

  Then she raised her arm and pointed at one of the midsized Hapan ships

  that had just settled on the landing field.

  "My parents have sent me the Rock Dragon. It is a ship of my own."

  Jaina's mouth dropped open and she found herself at a loss for words.

  'Hey, that's great, Tenel Ka,' her brother said, rushing forward to look

  over the new ship. Lowie bellowed in delight and ran after him.

  Jaina stood motionless, still thunderstruck. For years she had wanted

  her own ship; she had even tried to fix up the crashed TIE fighter

  they'd found in the jungle. On their last visit home, she had presented

  a list of carefully reasoned arguments to her mother. After all, if she

  and Jacen were old enough to fight with lightsabers, couldn't they be

  trusted with a small shuttle? Leia had promised to consider the idea,

  but preferred that the twins wait until they turned at least sixteen to

  have their own interstellar craft.

  Her father had merely shrugged. "I know better than to argue with your

  mom when it comes to protecting you kids." He had flashed one of his

  lopsided grins and spread his arms in an expressive gesture. "Hey, if

  it were up to me Each time Han came to see his children, though, he

  brought some sort of machinery for Jaina to work on-an old hyperdrive

  unit, a field flux stabilizer, a refurbished antenna dish, a mode

  variance inhibitor.

  She figured it was her father's version of a compromise-or maybe an

&
nbsp; apology.

  Tenel Ka must have sensed some of Jaina's conflicting emotions. The

  warrior girl frowned. 'You are not . . . angry? Angry that I have

  my own ship?" Her gray eyes looked into Jaina's. "I had hoped to ask

  you for a favor."

  Jaina's gaze dropped, and she bit her lower lip. Was she angry? Lowie

  had his T-23, and now Tenel Ka had a ship for her personal use. But the

  warrior girl was one of her best friends, and she couldn't begrudge

  Tenel Ka this piece of good fortune.

  Feeling guilty over her own pettiness, Jaina shook her head. "Just a

  bit jealous, I guess."

  'In that case, perhaps the favor is not fair to you. I had no great

  wish to own a ship, though for my parents' sake it was right to accept

  it. I had hoped that-should the need arise-Jacen and I could provide

  communications, weaponry, and navigational support, if you and @wbacca

  would consent to serve as pilot and copilot . . . ?

  And chief mechanics, of course."

  Jaina's head snapped back up and she gave a whoop of delight nearly as

  loud as the howling of the wind as the storm continued to build.

  "Then you will consider my request?"