Inside the hangar bay Qorl and a regiment of stormtroopers worked to unload the precious cargo they had stolen from the Rebel cruiser Adamant. Brakiss came in leading Zekk, who stared at all the ships stationed at the Shadow Academy.
“I wish I could show you our finest small ship, the Shadow Chaser,” Brakiss said with a look of regret, “but Luke Skywalker took it when he charged in here to capture our trainees Jacen, Jaina, and Lowbacca.”
Zekk scowled, but refrained from telling Brakiss that it served the Shadow Academy right, since they had kidnapped the three young Jedi first, for their own ends. He looked away.
Up in the control room overlooking the cavernous docking bay, the black-haired Tamith Kai stood watching the activities through slitted violet eyes. Beside her were two dark allies from Dathomir, Vilas and Garowyn. Zekk flinched, his lips curling downward in anger as he noted that these were the ones who had stunned him and taken him from Imperial City.
“Pay them no mind,” Brakiss said with a dismissive gesture. “They’re jealous because of the attention I’m paying you.”
Zekk felt a surprising flood of warmth and wondered if the comment was true, or just something Brakiss had said to make him feel more special.
One of the stormtroopers stopped in front of them and saluted. “I have an update for you, sir,” he said to Brakiss. “Our repairs on the upper docking tower are almost complete. We should have it fully functional in two days.”
“Good,” Brakiss said, looking relieved. He explained to Zekk, “I still find it difficult to believe that a Rebel supply shuttle could have been so unfortunately clumsy as to smash right into the cloaked Shadow Academy! These Rebels cause damage even when they’re not looking!”
Qorl hefted one of the small weapons cores from a sealed crate. Zekk guessed from the melted, blackened craters around the control panel that the stormtroopers must have used blasters to break the cyberlocks. The hyperdrive core was long and cylindrical, with yellows and oranges pulsing through translucent tubes where condensed spin-sealed tibanna gas had been charged to power the drives.
“These are fine new models, Lord Brakiss,” the old TIE pilot said. “We can use them to power our weapons systems, or we can convert more of our fighters to lightspeed attack vessels, like my own former TIE fighter.”
Brakiss nodded. “We must let our leader make that decision, but he will be greatly pleased to see this new increase in our military capabilities. Be careful with those components, though,” he said sternly. “Make sure that not a single one gets damaged. We cannot afford to squander resources in the Second Imperium’s quest to regain its rightful power.”
Qorl nodded and turned away.
“You see, Zekk,” Brakiss said, knitting his pale eyebrows together, “we are truly the underdogs in this struggle. Although our movement is small and somewhat hopeless—we know we’re right. We are forced to fight for what is ours against a blundering New Republic that continually seeks to rewrite history and force its chaotic ways upon us all.
“We believe that can only lead to galactic anarchy, with everyone following their own ways, invading one another’s territories, disturbing people, neither caring nor respecting the rule of order.”
Zekk placed his hands on his leather-clad hips. “Okay, but what about freedom? I like being able to do what I want to do.”
“We believe in freedom in the Second Imperium—truly we do,” Brakiss said with great sincerity. “But there’s a point at which too much freedom causes damage. The races of the galaxy need a road map, a framework of order and control, so they can go about their business and not destroy the dreams of others in their own pursuits.
“You are independent, Zekk. You know what you’re doing. But think about all those aimless people displaced by the changes in the galaxy, beings who have nowhere to go, no dreams to follow, no goals … and no one to tell them what to do. You can help to change that.”
Zekk wanted to disagree, wanted to refute Brakiss’s words, but he couldn’t think of anything to say. He clamped his lips together. Even if he couldn’t come up with any good arguments against what Brakiss said, he refused to agree openly.
“No need to give me your answer yet,” Brakiss said in a patient voice. Then he withdrew the flare stick from the pocket of his robe. “Take as long as you need to think about what I’ve said. Ill show you back to your quarters now.”
He handed the flare stick to Zekk, who took it eagerly.
“Spend some time playing with this, if you’d like.” Brakiss smiled. “And then we’ll talk again.”
15
Jaina spread her hands in confusion as Peckhum began to describe some of the places where Zekk might have gone. They could spend months combing the underworld of Coruscant, even years, and still never find the dark-haired boy—especially if Zekk didn’t want to be found.
“Hang on a second,” she interrupted. “Aren’t you going to be with us during the search?”
Peckhum shook his head. “New emergency schedule, thanks to that Imperial attack on the Adamant. I have to go right back up to the mirror station tomorrow. Thing is, I’m not sure how to keep the systems running without some major repairs. Now even my comm units are down. Fat lot of good I’d be if Coruscant Central calls a red alert. I sure wish I’d gotten that replacement multitasking unit Zekk promised.”
Jaina felt a wash of indignant defensiveness on the young man’s behalf. “You know Zekk would’ve brought it to you if he could.”
Peckhum looked back at her with a mixture of surprise and amusement. “I won’t argue with that,” he said, “but I can’t keep my mirror station running unless something gets fixed—pronto.”
Lowie spoke through Em Teedee as the three other companions sat restlessly in the open area of Han and Leia’s living quarters. “Oh, indeed,” the miniature translating droid said. “That’s a fine idea.” Em Teedee’s tinny voice caused the other young Jedi Knights to sit up straighter and look at Lowie. “Why, it doesn’t even sound very dangerous.”
“What doesn’t?” Jaina asked.
“Master Lowbacca suggests that perhaps he and you, Mistress Jaina, along with his uncle Chewbacca—if we can convince him—might accompany Master Peckhum up to his mirror station to see if we can effect temporary repairs.”
“That’s a kind offer,” Peckhum said, “but I don’t see how much you could do without a new central multitasking unit.”
Jacen snorted. “I can’t remember the last time Jaina wasn’t able to whip up some kind of solution. She could probably fix the whole place using nothing but her imagination.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Jaina growled at her brother. Then, knowing what Zekk would have done, she sighed in resignation and smiled at Peckhum. “He’s right, you know. I’m sure we can repair enough subsystems to keep you going until we find Zekk. So what are we waiting for?”
“But why should you want to do that?” Peckhum asked.
“You need the help, don’t you?” Jaina asked, momentarily confused. She didn’t want to admit that Zekk was the real reason she was doing this. “Besides,” she rushed on, “we’ve been having trouble mapping debris paths in certain areas. Maybe we’ll get a better perspective from orbit. Meanwhile, Jacen, Tenel Ka, Anakin, and Threepio can keep searching for Zekk down here in the places you suggest.”
“All right,” Peckhum said. “You’ve got me convinced, but will your parents agree to it?”
Lowie growled a comment. “Master Lowbacca is confident that he can use his powers of persuasion to convince his uncle Chewbacca to accompany us into orbit,” Em Teedee said.