All around them, shelves were piled high with blasters and laser rifles, thermal detonators and sonic grenades. The weapons were stacked haphazardly, stockpiled by the Diversity Alliance—just in case they should ever need them for an ultimate battle against their human enemies, no doubt.
Tenel Ka felt cold. Nolaa Tarkona was ready for an all-out war against the New Republic, even if she didn’t capture Bornan Thul.
Now, it was more important than ever that they escape—not just to get their friend Lowbacca to safety, but also to warn the New Republic about the enormity of the impending threat.
Tenel Ka considered taking weapons with them, but blasters and grenades weren’t the weapons of a Jedi. She believed she and her friends could get in and out without having to fight. She did, however, make a mental note of the blue triangle symbol that marked the arsenal’s location, just in case they were forced to fight their way back out.
The four companions slipped back into the corridor. They checked the tarpaulin to be sure it hung naturally, as it had before their arrival.
Then Tenel Ka and Jacen cast out with their minds again. The glimmer of the Wookiee’s presence seemed brighter now.
“That way?” Jacen said, pointing.
Tenel Ka nodded. “Come,” she said, creeping along a sloping downhill path. “We must find Lowbacca and leave again before it is too late…”
Raaba’s chocolate-brown fur bristled with pride as she led Sirrakuk down to the smallcraft bay, where personal ships belonging to the Diversity Alliance were reconditioned, upgraded, and sent out on missions.
Sirra wanted to take a look at the strange new vessel that had arrived attached to a robotic ore hauler. Raaba was happy to provide her with the access clearances. She felt great pleasure that her young Wookiee friend enjoyed the new things she had seen in the Diversity Alliance.
Lowbacca, on the other hand, seemed moody and distant, and Raaba was afraid she hadn’t managed to convince him of the logic in Nolaa Tarkona’s arguments. She couldn’t understand what was wrong with him, why he couldn’t see clear reason; if nothing else, his emotions should have persuaded him when he heard the heartbreaking tales of human cruelty to alien species!
But he had spent his last few years being brainwashed by humans. Raaba had her work cut out for her.
Today Adjutant Advisor Hovrak had taken Lowie down to the main computer center and assigned him the task of optimizing the inventory programming. While working with the computers, the lanky Wookiee had appeared somewhat happier, his mind preoccupied. That, Raaba thought, was at least a step in the right direction….
She and Sirra entered the smallcraft bay.
Raaba’s skimmer, the Rising Star, was in a reserved berth near the huge bay doors, ready for her to take off whenever she wished.
At the moment, though, Raaba’s highest priority was to ensure that Sirra and Lowie adapted well to the Diversity Alliance. The Twi’lek leader had made it clear how valuable she considered the new Wookiee recruits, particularly Lowbacca with his Jedi abilities. Raaba would not let her leader down.
Sirra stood in the bay, her eyes as bright as new credit chips when she saw the vehicles arrayed under the lights. She had shaved additional decorations on her shoulders and arms, and now the patches of hairless skin stood out in interesting contrast to her thick fur. She wore the unusual look at the wrists, neck, and ankles with a greater verve and imagination than she had before. Tufts of fur stood out in odd patchworks and curled designs.
Not satisfied with working in the computer factories like her parents, Lowie’s sister had undergone training on Kashyyyk to become a starship pilot. Sirra had dreams of her own, and Raaba intended to play on them.
The Diversity Alliance could fulfill those dreams as the New Republic could not. Sirra let out a yip of delight when she saw the mysterious salvaged ship.
Two Ugnaught mechanics briskly scoured the hull seams, cleaning away the carbon scoring and polishing up the old passenger cruiser. Sirra studied the craft, noting the lines and the Hapan design.
Raaba, though, froze as she recognized the Rock Dragon. She had seen this ship on Kuar, flown by Lowbacca and his friends—his human friends!
What was it doing here?
Her dark nostrils flared as she sucked in a deep breath. Something was terribly wrong. Raaba looked around the echoing cave chamber, past its bustling mechanics. Her eyes narrowed as she scanned the numerous tunnels where humans could hide. Spies? She unconsciously pushed her armbands tighter against her biceps. Human spies, creeping around in the private sanctuary of the Diversity Alliance!
Oblivious to Raaba’s tension, Sirra leaned forward to study the ship; she seemed eager to sit behind its controls. Raaba gestured for her to do as she wished, and Lowie’s sister sprinted toward the open passenger cruiser. With absolute fascination, she investigated the engines, the hull, the landing struts, before finally clambering inside.
Raaba held back, feeling her stomach knot.
What if Lowie’s friends had come to abduct him, to steal him away from his place in the Diversity Alliance? It would be a decidedly human thing to do. Humans were sore losers, she thought, unwilling to let aliens make their own choices.
Raaba hurried over to a communications console, switched to a private channel, and summoned Adjutant Advisor Hovrak. In the growling Wookiee language she rapidly told the angry wolfman of her suspicions.
Hovrak snarled. “I knew there was something strange about that ship,” he said. “I must increase security. Raaba, join me in the main grotto, and we will send out search parties from there. Is Lowbacca still stationed in the computer center?”
She nodded, and Hovrak said, “Good, then we will concentrate our search in that area. If we can keep your friend distracted, perhaps he will not realize anything is happening. We can take care of this before it becomes a problem.”
Raaba clenched her powerful fists and her biceps bulged against her armbands. Lowie. The young Jedi Knights were undoubtedly looking for him.
Jaina led the way next, her senses tingling.
“Lowie’s close,” she said. “He’s just up here.”
“Be careful, Jaina,” Tenel Ka said.
“I’m careful,” she answered. Jaina paused at the corner to detect any alien Diversity Alliance soldiers in the next section of tunnel, but it too was empty. Eerily quiet. They had been incredibly lucky so far.
These catacombs seemed abandoned. When Nolaa Tarkona took control, she had slaughtered many Twi’leks who fought against her—and now this section of tunnels was indeed like a tomb.
The floor grew smoother, as if heavy footsteps had polished the rough-hewn stone. Ahead, Jaina saw several corridors that branched around the same central place, a large room with glassed-in walls and a support structure holding it up; heavy-duty recirculation fans fed in cooling air.
Computers and terminals filled the enclosed chamber—and there, flanked by a Sullustan and two polished hacker droids, sat Lowie!
“There he is!” Jaina said in a hoarse whisper.
“I’m certain he’ll be most pleased to see us,” Em Teedee said at her shoulder. “I simply do not know how he manages to get by without me.”
The gingerfurred Wookiee hunched over a terminal linked to a mainframe.
His lanky arms hung down as he studied a screen, deep in concentration.
He punched buttons on a keypad.
Symbols scrolled up past his eyes. Lowie nodded, then moved to a different terminal.
Before anyone could stop her, Jaina hurried out into the tunnel intersection. She would have to get Lowie’s attention, but it seemed impossible without also sounding an alarm.
Em Teedee swiveled in the air, his optical sensors glowing. “I’m certainly anxious to speak with Master Lowbacca again.”