"Well, I-" Yfra blinked. "I simply responded to the distress call sent
out from Reef Fortress, of course." "Ah." The matriarch pointed her long
knobby finger and a smile curved her thin wrinkled lips.
"Aha! But no distress signal was sent. Your Bartokk assassins blew up
our power-generating station. We escaped. This is the first word that
has gotten out-butyou knew." The matriarch nodded confidently."Yes, you
knew."
Before Yfra could sputter another excuse, the guards came forward and
took her into custody.
"Oh, she'll be given a fair trial," the matriarch said, "but I think we
have more than enough proof-don't you, Tenel Ka?" She raised her
eyebrows.
"This is a fact," the young warrior woman replied. "And I believe I have
more than enough proof for something else, as well." She stood straight,
looking proudly into her grandmother's eyes.
"This adventure has shown me that I am fully recovered from my injuries.
I wish to return to Yavin 4."
^ TENEL KA SAT up and looked around with brief disorientation before she
remembered where she was. Letting her gray gaze skim across the ancient
stone walls, arched doorway, and modest sleeping pallet, she experienced
a sense of warmth and safety-and excitement.
it felt right to be back on Yavin 4, in her own student quarters in the
Great Temple. She sat back on her pallet and began practicing her new
skillbraiding her hair with one hand and her teeth.
Over the past weeks, the wrongness in her life had slowly dissolved,
beginning with her parents' safe return to Hapes. Having foiled an
attempt on their own lives by Ambassador Yfra's henchwomen, Teneniel Djo
and Isolder had hurried back to find their daughter and her grandmother
unharmed. They immediately sought out and purged the remaining
conspirators from the royal court, while Ambassador Yfra awaited trial.
To Tenel Ka's great surprise, neither of her parents had tried to talk
her into wearing a synthetic
^
arm or discontinuing her studies at the Jedi academy. In fact, when she
had expressed her desire to continue her training, her mother and father
had readily agreed, asking only that she stay to visit with them for a
few weeks before returning to Yavin 4.
"I believe you may become a stronger warrior than ever you imagined,"
Teneniel Djo said. "You have powerful legs, fast reflexes, and you still
have your better fighting arm. From what your grandmother tells us, your
wits have not been dulled, either."
"And I think you may teach many a future opponent that one cannot judge
a warrior's worth by her outward appearance," her father added, hugging
her. "Never be ashamed of what you are-or who you are."
When Luke Skywalker had returned in the Shadow Chaser to take Tenel Ka
and the other young Jedi Knights back to Yavin 4, there had been no
mistaking her parents' pride. Her mother's final whispered words still
echoed through her mind: "May the Force be with you."
Now, after a good night's rest in familiar quarters, Tenel Ka felt ready
to take her next step to recovery. She stood and stretched, delighting
in the well-controlled response of her muscles.
She spent the next few minutes ransacking her belongings until she had
collected the objects she needed. She found her remaining rancor-tooth
tro LIGHTSABERS
^ phy wrapped in its supple leather covering. She tucked it under the
stump of her severed arm-not a completely useless limb after all, she
noted with some satisfaction-while she searched for another item. When
at last she located the jewel-encrusted tiara from Hapes, which her
grandmother had insisted she take, she placed the two articles side by
side on a tiny worktable in the corner and studied them.
Both objects were symbols of who she was, of her upbringing. The
rancor's tooth came from Dathomir, a planet that was wild, untamed,
fierce, and proud. The tiara symbolized her Hapan inheritance: regal
bearing, refinement, power, wealth, and political shrewdness.
Tenel Ka had long believed that honoring one part of her heritage
implied that she must dishonor the other. Just as she had believed that
trusting in the Force implied a lack of trust in herself. Wincing at the
thought, she was compelled to acknowledge that she had actually gained
wisdom from the loss of her arm. She knew now that she had to use every
ability she possessed-including her talent with the Force-to become the
best possible Jedi.
But what of her heritage? she thought, picking up the rancor's tooth
and turning it over in her palm.
Hapes and Dathomir. Could she combine the best of both? She was, after
all, only one person.
Coming to a decision, she grasped the rancor tooth tightly, lifted it
over her head, and brought it smashing down on the glittering,
jewel-studded tiara. The delicate crown broke into pieces.
Tenel Ka hammered again and again until bits of precious metal and gems
I-ay strewn across the tiny table. , Yes, she decided. She was a product
of two worlds, and she would learn to blend the best of her mother's and
her father's. She laid down the rancor's tooth and reached for the other
items she had assembled.
Then, selecting the f' inest jewels from her Hapan tiara, she began to
build her new lightsaber.
Brilliant morning sunlight played across the top of the Great Temple and
filtered through Tenel Ka's partially braided hair to form a red-gold
nimbus around her. Jacen stood about a meter away, facing her, a gentle
breeze ruffling his unruly brown curls.
His face was filled with apprehension.
"You sure you want to do this?" he asked.
"Yes," she said simply, though she felt an uncertain fluttering in the
pit of her stomach.
"Well, I'm not sure I can go through with it," he said in a low voice.
"You? But why-"
"Blaster bolts! The last time we did this, I ended up - - ." Jacen's
voice trailed off and he looked significantly at what remained of her
arm.
LIGHTSABERS
^
"Ah," Tenel Ka said. "Aha."
"So I'm asking you if you're sure," Jacen said, "because I'm not."
Gray eyes searched brandy-brown while Tenel Ka considered this. Her
throat was tight with unaccustomed emotion when she finally spoke.
"Jacen, my friend, I know of no better way to show that I trust you . .
. that I do not blame you for what happened."
Jacen's face was solemn as he nodded his acceptance. "Thank you." He let
his eyes fall half shut and took a deep breath.
Tenel Ka did the same, feeling the Force flow into her, through her. Her
muscles tautened-not with fear, but with a delicious anticipatory
tension.
Reaching for the rancor's tooth clipped to her belt, Tenel Ka held it
steady in front of her and pressed the power stud.
A blade of sizzling energy sprang from the ivory hilt, glowing a rich
turquoise, produced by the rainbow gems she had installed from her
tiara. A heartbeat later, Jacen's emerald lightsaber hummed to life.
As if in slow
motion, the two friends raised their blades until they
hovered at eye level, just centimeters apart. With a crackle of
discharged energy, their lightsabers touched once. Then again.
Hesitantly at first, Tenel Ka thrust with her turquoise blade, and Jacen
parried with a barely perceptible nod.
The Force flowed between them, around them, and soon they were moving in
ancient patterns and rhythms, as in a well-rehearsed exercise routine,
an intricate dance. Somehow both of them knew that neither would come to
any harm.
Their eyes locked, while the silent music that accompanied their
movements built to a crescendo, then began to fade. But their confidence
in each other did not wane as their movements slowed.
They stood still at last, lightsabers barely touching, a look of
amazement on both of their faces.
Jacen opened his mouth as if to speak, but no sound came out.
A moment later, an ear-shattering roar split the air as Lowbacca and
Jaina ran across the rooftop to greet them.
Jaina laughed. "I agree with Lowie: it's good to see you holding a
lightsaber again, Tenel Ka. For a while I was worried that you thought
you were too different from us, that you couldn't be our friend
anymore."
"Perhaps for a while I did," Tenel Ka said. "But I have learned that
differences can be positive, that they can be blended together to form a
stronger whole."
"We are pretty different," Jacen pointed out.
Jaina switched on her amethyst energy blade with a snap-hiss. "But we're
all going to be Jedi Knights."
Lowbacca ignited his lightsaber as well. Its shaft glowed a molten
bronze.
LIGHTSABERS
^
"Stronger together," Tenel Ka said, raising her turquoise lightsaber
high over her head.
Lowbacca lifted his lightsaber to touch hers.
"Yes, stronger together," Jacen and Jaina said in unison, crossing their
glowing blades with the other two.
The four lightsabers blazed into the morning light.
The bestselling saga continues . . .
STAR WARSO
YOUNG JEDI KNIGHTS
DARkEsT KNiqhT
The twins and Lc>wbacca are off to the Wookiee's home planet of
Kashyyyk, where Lowie's younger sister, Sirrakuk, is about to undergo
the terrifying Wookiee rite of passage. The ceremony is difficult and
dangerous, and Lowie wants to help her in any way he can.
Meanwhile, the Dark Jedi student Zek as en given his own rite of
passage: to lead a raid on the great Wookiee computer center on
Kashyyyk. Finally, he will fulfill his awesome potential. Finally, he
will become the Second Imperium's Darkest Knight. But first he must face
his old friends Jacen and jaina, once and for all . . .
Turn the page for a special preview of the next book in the STAR WARS:
YOUNG JEDI KNIGHTS series:
Darkest Knight Coming in June from Boulevard Books!
THE SCREAMING SOUNDS of TIE fighters rippling through the atmosphere of
Kashyyyk sent a chill of primal fear down Jacen's spine. He knew the
distinctive howl was only the exhaust from the powerful engines, but the
Imperial ship designers must have delighted in the hellish noise, which
was sure to strike fear into the enemies of the Empire.
In the hustling fabrication facility, alarms rang out from platform
loudspeakers in a loud cacophony.
Growling, barking announcements hammered through the air. Wookiee
workers ran in all directions, activating security systems or evacuating
the area.
TIE bombers streaked low over the treetops, dropping proton explosives
that set the dense network of branches aflame. Dark gray smoke billowed
from burning leaves.
"We must help defend against this threat," Tenel Ka said, looking from
side to side for some weapon substantial enough to use against the
invading fighters.
Her face wore a stony expression of determination.
Siffa and Lowic both howled in rage at seeing the destruction of the
tree dwellings. The spindly Tour Droid spun its boxy head around,
despite its numerous optical sensors. "Do not panic. Have no fear," it
said in
^ DARKEST KNIGHT
^ a tinny voice. "This must be a drill. No attack has been scheduled for
today."
"Schedule or not, we're definitely under attack!"
Jacen said.
The Tour Droid continued to issue calming messages, though its thoughts
were obviously scrambled.
"We have nothing to fear. Kashyyyk has numerous satellite defenses. No
enemy ships can approach this facility. We have sophisticated defense
mechanisms, including powerful perimeter guns. They should begin firing
any moment now."
At Lowie's waist, Em Teedee piped up in a scornful tone. "You silly Tour
Droid, switch on your optical sensors! Can't you see this is a crisis
situation?
Hmmmf!" The miniaturized droid's optical sensors blinked as he muttered
a depreciating comment about clumsy public-relations models.
"Didn't the Tour Droid mention perimeter guns?"
Tenel Ka said, her slate-gray eyes flashing. "Perhaps we can use them
against these enemies."
Siffa roared, gesturing with her long hairy arm to show that she knew
the way.
"What a splendid idea," Em Teedee said. "I do hope we aren't blown to
bits before we can implement Mistress Tenel Ka's plan. Oh my."
"As my sister would say," Jacen said, "what are we waiting for?"
While the Tour Droid bleated its empty reassurances, Jacen, Tenel Ka,
and the two young Wookiees barged past him into the main platforms of
the fabrication complex.
Sirra led them down an open-air corridor amid the din of explosions and
the crackling shrieks of laser blasts. They reached a network of
pulley-driven vines, 222 Star Wars: Young ledi Knights rapidly moving
ropelike lifts that yanked them to a higher level. Sirra grabbed one
vine, tucked her foot into a loop, and the rope sprang upward, drawing
her toward the higher platforms. Lowie did the same.
Jacen followed suit, looking down to watch Tenel Ka, who had no problem
whatsoever. She wrapped her arm around the vine and stepped into a loop.
Within seconds, they were all whisked to the upper platform at the outer
perimeter of the complex.
Because of their quick reaction, the companions reached the defensive
guns before most of the Wookiee defenders. Jacen saw unattended ion
cannons with spherical power sources and needlelike barrels aimed toward
the sky-but his eyes lit upon a pair of old-model quad-laser cannons,
exactly like those used in the Millennium Falcon's gun wells.
"There," Jacen said, "we can use those. They're powered up and ready to
go." He raced over to the nearest emplacement. Tenel Ka gruffly agreed
and stationed herself behind one of the other weapons.
The two Wookiees chattered to each other. Em Teedee called, "Master
Jacen! Master Lowbacca and Mistress Sirrakuk have decided to use the
computers to determine where the breakdown in the facility's defensive
systems occurred. Perhaps they can r
epair it and prevent further
Imperial fighters from getting through. Oh, I do hope they're
successful."
"They'll do their best," Jacen said, grabbing the quad-laser's targeting
controls. He sank down into the voluminous seat in front of the
quad-laser cannon.
Reaching out to the widely spread controls designed for a large Wookiee
body, he realigned the targeting circle and felt the energy thrum
through the firing sticks in his fingers.
DARKEST KNIGHT
^ Imperial fighters continued to howl overhead, launching strikes
against the Wookiee residential districts and targeting the outer
platforms of the computer complex, but leaving the central facilities
relatively untouched . . . though thrown into complete chaos.
A glance to Jacen's left told him that Tenel Ka had positioned herself
and was ready. Gripping the firing stick with her right hand, she
familiarized herself with the weapon's control systems. In seconds her
eyes began to track the enemy fighters overhead.
Three tall Wookiees charged onto the defensive platform and took up
positions at the ion cannons, glancing curiously at the two humans,
Lightsabers Page 18