Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 05_ Allies - Christie Golden [122]
Up ahead loomed the twin black holes, looking, as Ben had described, uncomfortably like eyes. Ben was in the pilot’s seat, and Luke made no move to take his place. He’d done a fine job taking them through this once before; Luke had confidence Ben could do so a second time.
“All the caranaks in a row?” Luke asked.
“All present and accounted for. We’re a little ahead of the flock, and judging by the Rockhound’s pace she’s going to drop a bit behind in case there are stragglers.”
Luke nodded. “Take her in, son.”
Ben closed his eyes for a moment, breathing steadily. His instruments were practically useless for this maneuver, and the Force would be a much more reliable guide. Vestara leaned forward in her seat expectantly.
Ben swore softly. “Stang. It’s not there. Never thought I’d be happy to say I didn’t feel that tentacle, but it’s not there.”
“What do you mean?” Luke asked.
Ben’s blue eyes flickered to Vestara. Luke felt him weighing the merits of explaining or staying silent. Ben chose to speak. Luke approved; at this juncture, the more information they shared, the better. At least about this.
“I used the Force to bring the Jade Shadow between the black holes through Stable Zone One. To Sinkhole Station. I felt a weird dark tentacle thing reaching out to me. I recognized it from when I’d lived in the Maw before, as a kid. It was needy. It wanted to find me—keep me safe, with it. And instead of shutting down, I kind of used it as a rope to guide the Shadow in.”
“And it’s not there now,” Luke said, nodding. “She doesn’t want us to sense her. I’m not surprised that she’s able to hide herself in the Force so well, as powerful as she is.”
“Well, it doesn’t make my job any easier,” said Ben. “I can try, but I have to tell you, Dad, I don’t feel at all certain about navigating the Shadow, let alone guiding the way for the whole fleet.”
“That’s understandable,” Luke said. “Let me take the helm.”
“I can get us there,” Vestara said abruptly, surprising them both. “I know the way.”
Luke and Ben exchanged glances. “You got to Dathomir on a rickety vessel,” Luke said, “but I don’t think you can handle this.”
“Perhaps I’m not as skilled as Ben or you, but good enough. I learn fast.”
“Learn fast?” Ben said, instantly alert. Luke was, too—did she mean she hadn’t had much training? But she had shut down and had now turned to the console.
“You are very strong in the Force, Master Luke.”
“Thank you.”
“It is not a compliment to accurately assess one’s en—allies,” Vestara said. “You stand the best chance of getting us there in one piece. I ask to be allowed to plot the course and copilot.”
“Fair enough,” Luke said, slipping into the pilot’s seat. Vestara threw him a quick glance, as if reading his thoughts, then sat beside Luke. Her fingers, long and elegant, flew over the console deftly, as if she were playing an instrument, and her smooth brow furrowed in concentration.
“Here,” she said. “This is …” Her voice trailed off.
Luke had to fight to keep his shock from registering strongly in the Force. The star map she called up was exactly what he had seen at Sinkhole Station, when he had entered the room with the white cabinets and seen several holographic representatives of other places, the station itself, and what seemed to be a complete map of the entire Maw cluster.
There had been a crescent-shaped gap on the map. When Luke had touched it, an outline had appeared of a long crack in the shell of black holes. And it was into this void, this crescent, that Vestara was taking them. He and Ben had come this way, but not so far as to see this. In the center of the crescent was a pinpoint of brightness—a blue star.
Except it had changed since the last time Luke had seen it displayed at Sinkhole Station. And apparently, judging from her reaction, it had changed since Vestara had seen it. The crescent had been a sliver, like a