Star Wars_ Coruscant Nights 01_ Jedi Twilight - Michael Reaves [110]
Xizor got to his feet, the shock on his face transmuting to anger. Jax held out his hand, and the lightsaber flew from where Xizor had dropped it into his grasp. As he activated it, he summoned the lightwhip with his left hand.
Behind him, he heard Den Dhur say, “That’s what I call a comeback.”
Jax understood what had happened. In the acceptance of his impending death, he had returned to the level of serenity needed to be one with the Force. It had not been a matter of him losing his connection to the Force; it had been a matter of the Force choosing him once more as a vessel.
Xizor’s skin begin to shift, back to a warm shade of orange, and Jax guessed the Falleen was activating his pheromones. Jax gestured, felt the Force threads around him expand, driving the air currents back toward Xizor. The prince’s expression turned to one of surprise.
“Yield,” Jax said. Xizor had no choice; Jax had both weapons, and the Force.
Xizor laughed.
He leapt, covering the distance between them easily. The movement was fast, very fast. He flew toward Jax feetfirst, almost taking him completely by surprise. Even with his reawakened connection with the Force, it was hard to divine Xizor’s purpose. The prince’s mind was powerful, capable of concealing his intentions until the last second before he took action. His reflexes were far faster than those of a human, and his muscles strong enough to propel him almost as far as the Force could propel Jax. The Jedi dodged, then turned quickly, whip and blade both ready to kill, if need be.
Xizor’s insane, he thought. He has no hope of victory now, he—
The Falleen landed nimbly on both feet, and Jax realized his intent—a moment too late. Lying on the floor nearby was Nick Rostu’s body—and, within Xizor’s reach, the major’s blaster. Xizor scooped it up, whirled, and fired at Jax all in one smooth motion.
Jax blocked the bolt with his lightsaber. The glare of the two colliding energy fields was over almost instantly, but in that instant the scion of House Sizhran had vanished into the darkness of the corridor.
Jax felt no urge to follow. Prince Xizor was out of the picture; now he had to find 10-4TO and make sure the data were intact. He turned and started for the broken window where the droid had fallen.
Abruptly he experienced a sudden tingle that vibrated the lines of the Force—a plangent throb telling him that a new player was approaching the blasted landscape of the Factory District. Someone extremely strong in the Force—stronger than he’d ever encountered before. It could mean only one thing:
Darth Vader was coming.
forty-four
Jax felt himself grow cold with dread. He felt another tremor in the Force, a warmer, friendly one, and realized, even before he looked to confirm it, that Laranth was awake. He saw from her expression that she had also felt the vibration in the Force. She might not be able to identify it as quickly or as assuredly as he had, but she knew it was bad news.
“Stand up,” he said to Den and Laranth, crossing to them. He brought his lightsaber in a quick, short chop, severing the forcecuffs binding Laranth. He was ready for the energy backlash that shorted out both cuffs and blade this time, and so it only drove him back a few steps instead of hurling him to the floor. It still packed a considerable punch, however. Laranth staggered back, then recovered, rubbing her arms.
“Ow,” she said.
“Sorry,” Jax replied. “Xizor had the only key, and I don’t think he could be persuaded to give it up, even if we could find him.”
He relit his lightsaber and turned toward Den. “Your turn.”
“Hey, wait a minute,” the Sullustan said. “Let’s not be hasty. I’m sure there’s another way to—whoa!”
The clash of the two fields knocked Den on his backside. He rose slowly, giving Jax a glare. “If I ever get a byline again, you, my