"I had only the best of intentions, my dear boy," Tyko blustered.
"I just wanted to help my brother to--"
"Help? You tried to trick my father into revealing himself, without
even knowing what he was hiding from. And you succeeded! If someone
other than Zekk had found him, my father could be dead right now."
"He's right," Zekk said. "I believe Bornan Thul is in hiding for a good
reason. I can tell you for certain that his life is in danger.
There were only two things he hired me for: to locate you"--this with an
accusing glance at Tyko--"and to send a message to his family."
Zekk reached into a pocket of his vest and pulled out a message packet.
He tossed it to Raynar, who, though surprised, easily caught it. "Now
I've fulfilled both parts of my job for him. If he's smart, Bornan Thul
won't come out of hiding again without expert protection."
"At least we know my father's not hurt," Raynar said. "Yet."
"It is also fortunate no one was hurt by coming to Mechis III," Tenel Ka
said pointedly.
"Not hurt much, at least," Jaina said, examining the burn on Zekk's arm.
She grinned at him and gave him another hug. "I'm glad you're here. At
least this time you didn't show up in the middle of a bounty hunter
attack, like you did at Alderaan!"
AS RAABA GUIDED her star skimmer toward Ryloth, she proudly shared
details about her adventures in procuring the syren fiber for her belt.
Then she added some history of the homeworld Nolaa Tarkona had reformed.
In the cramped Rising Star, Lowbacca and his sister Sirra listened with
interest.
Tarkona had chosen Ryloth as the headquarters of her ever-expanding
Diversity Alliance. With its slightly irregular shape, the planet was
tide-locked in orbit: one side always faced the sun, while the opposite
hemisphere remained perpetually in shadow.
This made the climate inhospitable, except for a narrow band of twilight
between the baking day and the freezing night.
In this thin habitable zone and on the cold side, the Twi'leks had dug
mountain warrens, honey-combing the rock with chambers and passages as
they mined the addictive mineral ryll, which was sometimes sold as
spice.
When Old Republic representatives had stumbled upon their world, many
Twi'leks chose to leave and see the vast galaxy. Some had been trained
as Jedi Knights, including the legendary Tott Doneeta, who had fought
during the great Sith War four thousand years ago. In recent times, the
lawyer and X-wing pilot Nawara Ven had been a talented member of Rogue
Squadron.
But not all Twi'leks were so revered, Raaba went on. The reviled
scientist administrator Tol Sivron had served the Empire by running a
hidden super-weapons lab. The traitorous Bib Fortuna had prof-ired from
the misery of his own species, selling Twi'lek women as
slaves--including Nolaa's beautiful half-sister Oola. The talented
dancers were in great demand among wealthy thugs such as Jabba the Hutt.
But Nolaa had done her best to quash that trade.
Raaba had no doubt that Nolaa Tarkona marked a new high point in the
history of her people. She had founded a political movement that would
achieve widespread social acceptance and equality for all alien Species.
The New Republic, with all of its sweet-sounding promises, would finally
be forced to live up to its commitments.
As he listened to Raaba's speech, Lowie rumbled uneasily. He had spent
a great deal of time with the
New Republic. Although he had observed some continuing difficulties,
most could be explained by ill-mannered individuals, not by any
overarching human policy of discrimination and repression.
Still, Raaba seemed so passionate about her new calling that Lowbacca
decided not to argue. He would hear with an open mind what her friends
had to say. His sister Sirra viewed this trip away from home as a great
adventure, and he did not want to ruin her enjoyment by making hasty
judgments about Raaba's beliefs.
As soon as the Rising Star entered orbit around Ryloth, a string of
defensive satellites sounded their alerts, demanding that Raaba identify
herself. A harsh voice forbade her to proceed until she had been
cleared or her skimmer would be destroyed instantly.
Unflustered, Raaba transmitted her identification code, furry fingers
dancing over the keypad. With Wookiee growls she announced herself as a
loyal member of the Diversity Alliance, bringing two new members to meet
Nolaa Tarkona. She was immediately authorized to enter the atmosphere
and approach the mountain stronghold. Raaba's dark lips peeled back in
a grin, exposing her fangs.
As the skimmer cruised toward the blackened crags, Lowie saw that all
entrances to the warrens had been covered and textured to be almost
indistinguishable from the rippling rock. Towering blast
doors in the naked cliffside ground open for the Rising Star.
Without hesitation, the chocolate-furred Wookiee barreled into the
passage, swooping down into the lower warrens. Sirra gave a squeal of
delight, and Lowie recalled his sister's own practice flying back at the
treetop city.
Raaba clearly knew where she was going. She easily followed a path of
lights that lit the curving rock walls like colonies of phosphorescent
creatures in a dark cave. Paying scant attention, she skimmed around
corners, apparently selecting appropriate passages by instinct alone.
Finally, they reached an underground docking area where supply ships,
passenger shuttles, and courier drones lay in various stages of
preparation.
Mixed groups of aliens bustled back and forth, carrying out the business
of the Diversity Alliance.
They scrutinized maps on electronic wallboards and hauled supplies to
storage grottoes. Droids moved about, alert for spies or sabotage from
enemies of the political movement and at the same time recording
everything for later victorious documentaries.
As the three Wookiees climbed out of the Rising Star, Lowie stretched
his lanky, ginger-furred arms and sniffed the air. His sensitive
nostrils detected volatile hyperdrive fuels and coolants, as well as the
body odors and pheromones from a host of different species.
Beside him, Raaba seemed proud to be an
integral part of such great work. She tugged on her glossy syren-fiber
belt, reveling in her newly acquired badge of honor.
A Shistavanen wolfman in an impressive military uniform marched up to
greet them. "Welcome back, Raabakyysh--we are pleased that you have
brought new recruits to us." He brushed his dark fur back and bowed,
baring his fangs in a gesture of respect. "i am Adjutant Advisor
Hovrak."
The wolfman made a deep bow toward Lowie and raised his eyebrows,
letting an interrogative growl escape his throat. "The fame of Lowbacca
and his work as a Jedi Knight reached our ears some time ago.
The Diversity Alliance welcomes you."
He gestured with one fiercely clawed hand. "Come.
Nolaa Tarkona will see you right away."
Inside her grand recei
ving chamber, Nolaa Tarkona stood from her massive
seat and smiled to show sharply filed teeth. Her tattooed head-tail
squirmed with pleasure. Lowie noted a glint from the optical sensor
implanted in the scarred stump of the other head-tail.
Raaba marched forward with Hovrak, while Lowie and Sirra remained
respectfully behind, waiting to be introduced. Lowie was impressed that
the political workers were making such a grand gesture to welcome them.
Surely, not all potential recruits received this kind of treatment?
Still, something about the Diversity Alliance made him uneasy. He
couldn't quite identify what it was . . . but he reassured himself by
thinking that Raaba would not have allowed herself to become involved in
anything unsavory.
"I am very pleased to have you among our members, my Wookiee friends,"
Tarkona said. Her voice was powerful, flowing with rich currents of
charisma. "Raabakyysh has been one of our most loyal supporters, and I
am sure that you will also do your species proud."
She strode across the dais, her black robes sweeping around her.
"I am especially honored to have a Jedi among us," Tarkona continued.
"The Diversity Alliance has great work to do, and you possess crucial
skills." She stepped down to floor level. Raaba smiled, her furry face
crinkling with pleasure.
"Raabakyysh tells me that you were also searching for Bornan Thul,
Lowbacca. I certainly hope he is found soon. He betrayed my trust in
him and . . . stole a precious treasure, a critical key to our work."
Tarkona's head-tail thrashed with agitation.
"Humans have always found our weak spots and exploited them, uncovering
whatever means the most to us--and then taking it! It was my own
foolishness to put my faith in a human in the first place."
As she paced the floor, her feet whispered against the polished stone.
"Not all humans are so unworthy , of course," she amended when she saw
Lowie bristle at the sweeping censure. Her tone was conciliatory.
"Some humans have even accepted our assignment to hunt down this
unworthy man who has so greatly wronged me. Of course, their reasons
are purely mercenary, rather than honorable--but the end result is all
that matters."
At that moment Corrsk, the Trandoshan, strode into the chamber, carrying
an electronic datapad and a sheaf of documents. He clearly meant to
deliver them to Nolaa Tarkona, but when the giant reptilian alien saw
the three Wookiees standing in the grotto, he stopped short.
Instinct drew his muscles taut, and he dropped the datapad to the floor.
Documents fluttered down as Corrsk raised his clawed hands to an attack
position. A simmering growl bubbled like a geyser out of his throat.
Outraged and betrayed, Lowie roared defensively at seeing the Wookiees'
natural enemy. Bristling, he stepped close to Sirra, so that he and his
sister could fight together. Trandoshan bounty hunters were famous for
killing Wookiees, and Lowie had no intention of losing his pelt.
Sirra growled, also ready to fight with tooth and claw--but Raaba
intervened, holding up her dark brown arms to prevent them from doing
anything foolish. She cinched her red headband tighter, and her biceps
bulged, holding her metal armlets in place.
"Corrsk, control yourself! Enough posturing," Tarkona said impatiently.
"Raabakyysh, thank you for deflecting this battle." She turned to Lowie
and Sirra. "Perhaps the concept has not yet sunk in, but here in the
Diversity Alliance we've put aside our differences.
Ancient rivalries and blood feuds are erased. We agree to surrender
interracial hatreds to focus on the most pernicious enemy, our most
important foes: humans everywhere. Wookiees and Trandoshans can only
triumph if they fight side by side as comrades. We must!"
Shamefaced, the Trandoshan lowered his clawed hands and retrieved 'the
items he had dropped.
Lowie and Sirra watched the reptilian predator cautiously as he slunk
forward to place the datapad and documents on the table beside Tarkona's
chair.
Without a word, Corrsk vanished down a long dim tunnel.
Only then did Lowie allow himself to relax.
Raaba chuffed with laughter, treating the entire incident as a joke.
Lowie didn't find the experience terribly amusing, but he vowed to do
his best to accept other species and to fit in with the ways of the
Diversity Alliance.
2O
THE ASSAULT ON Mechis III came with such sudden force and devastation
that Jacen could hardly believe only one bounty hunter was responsible.
The attacking vessel pummeled its way through the atmosphere, throwing
off sonic booms like obscuring veils. The ship thundered overhead,
crashing through the roiling clouds, pausing only briefly to loose a
volley of concussion torpedoes.
Smokestacks crumbled, dropping like felled trees.
Secondary detonations ignited combustible gases that rose from the
industrial sections in an inferno that blasted through the underground
tunnels. A line of factory buildings toppled in a devastating chain
reaction as the spreading shock front ripped out their foundations.
Alarms screeched through the administration building.
Lights flashed, sirens wailed.
Tyko Thul ran to the diagnostic screens inside his
office. His skin had gone a pasty gray, and his eyes widened in terror.
Beside him stood Raynar, his simple Jedi robes contrasting with his
uncle's garish display of noble heritage.
The young Jedi Knights scrambled to defensive positions. Tenel Ka took
her place beside Jacen, cool and ready to fight, her hand on the hilt of
her lightsaber. Even in the midst of such confusion, it made Jacen glad
to see how quickly the warrior girl came over to fight next to him.
"Why bother with all the sirens?" Jaina said, pressing her palms to her
temples. "The whole planet's automated. Do droids care about that
stufF" Jacen looked out the window across the smoky landscape.
Another building erupted into flames.
"Good thing there aren't any people out there."
"But think of all the droids!" Em Teedee wailed.
"They're doomed!"
Zekk stood near Jaina with his arms crossed over his chest. He squinted
into the soot-stained sky as the attacker swung around for another
furious pass.
A cargo-load of concussion bombs dropped again, blowing up another
thermal exhaust port. Zekk's face turned grim as he recognized the
ship. "That's Dengar," he said. "How did he know to come here?"
Targeting rooftop-cannons tracked Dengar across the sky and fired long
blasts of crackling blue ion
bolts or sharp green turbolasers. But the cybemetically enhanced bounty
hunter reacted too quickly--flying, dodging, skipping left and right.
The clumsy automated defensive systems could not keep up.
A gruff voice came over the citywide intercom system, echoing from a
thousand amplification speakers. "This is Dengar. I know the bounty
hunter Zekk is down there--I have followed him here to the hiding place
of Bornan Thul."
"Why does e
verybody make that assumption?"
Zekk said.
"I intend to cause much more damage unless you surrender my bounty."
After a pause, Dengar's deep voice continued, "Further negotiation is .
. . not acceptable."
An army of scurrying machines spread out through the factory city.
Fire-response droids and disaster-mitigation crews pumped
flame-suppressant chemicals onto the burning wreckage. Salvage crews
set to work cleaning up portions of the assembly lines and strove to
keep them running at all costs.
Dengar's ship cruised overhead, banked, then came back toward the
administration building. With calculated malice, he dropped another
bomb directly onto a droid fire-response fleet, obliterating them.
Tyko gazed around in confusion and horror.
"What are we going to do?"
Tenel Ka turned toward him skeptically. "First we must know if you
staged this attack. The timing would appear somewhat . . .
convenient. Is this a new hoax--like your assassin droids on Kuar?"
"Certainly not!" Tyko looked at her, the picture of appalled innocence.
"My dear girl, that terrorist is destroying my factories!"
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