Delusions of Grandeur

by Kevin J. Anderson

  "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!"