Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 05_ Allies - Christie Golden [9]
“Oh, Lando?” Ben looked pleased and amused. “We’re going to go to Kessel?”
Vestara was listening attentively, filing away everything. Luke didn’t care. He was not attempting to keep this information from anyone.
“Hopefully not to Kessel,” he replied to his son. “I’m hoping Lando can come join us. Meet us at the Maw so we can just head on in as soon as possible. I don’t want to delay any longer than we have to.” His voice became not hard, but determined. “The longer that being sits in her lair, the stronger she’ll become and the more harm she can do. We need to stop her as soon as possible, but we’ve got to make sure we’ve got every advantage.”
“Well,” Ben said, glancing at Vestara, “Why wouldn’t more reinforcements be a good idea? Lando doesn’t have an injunction against warning him not to associate with you. He’s not a Jedi. Why can’t he help?”
“I think once we reach Abeloth, all of us combined can take her,” Luke said. “All we really need is the Rockhound to get us there safely.”
Vestara’s brown eyes narrowed. “It seems foolish to me that you do not take advantage of your friend’s connections, Master Skywalker. If he will give us more ships for our endeavor, why not?”
“There might be a thousand food items on a table, but you do not need to eat them all in order to satisfy your hunger,” Luke replied. “Others might need to eat as well.”
“Or,” Vestara said, “you might decide to come back for seconds later. When you are hungry again.”
Ben grimaced and leapt up, striding purposefully toward the galley. “All this talk of food is making me hungry right now. Anyone want anything?”
“I’ll come help you,” Vestara said quickly, rising. The two moved out of the cockpit and down toward the galley.
“Oh? You like to cook?” Ben asked, grinning at her as they walked.
“No, I like to hunt,” Vestara replied. “I am very good with the parang. We also had trained hunting reptiles. Cooking meals is left to the servants.”
“I wouldn’t like to see what See-Threepio would do with preparing a meal. Appetizers are about all we trust him with.”
“Who is See-Threepio?”
Their voices grew fainter until at last Luke could not hear them. He sent a short message to Tendrando Arms, and a moment later he was smiling—despite the direness of the situation—at the miniature holographic form of Lando Calrissian. Even at only a third of a meter tall, Lando managed to look impressive. He was missing the hip-length cape and his silky red shirt looked a touch more casual than usual, but his boots gleamed and the black trousers had sharp creases that were even visible in miniature. Lando looked genuinely pleased to see him, and spread out his arms in a welcoming gesture.
“Hey, buddy, long time no see!” Lando said expansively. “I didn’t expect to hear anything from you till you proved that cranky biddy in charge of the GA wrong.”
Luke smothered a grin at hearing Admiral and Chief of State Natasi Daala referred to in such a manner. “I respect Chief of State Daala’s leadership qualities.”
“You gotta say that in case there are any eavesdropping devices, right?” Lando grinned, his eyes dancing.
“Maybe,” Luke deadpanned.
“Hear you’ve gone off on some kind of odyssey with your boy.”
“Something like that,” Luke said. “It’s good to see you, Lando, but this isn’t a social call. I’ve got a favor to ask.”
“For Luke Skywalker? Name it.”
“I’m in need of the Rockhound.”
Lando’s jet-black eyebrows shot up. “The Rockhound?” he echoed. “What makes you think I’ve still got that beat-up antique hanging around?”
“Because you have a nostalgic streak a thousand kilometers wide. Because the thing is one of only three ships made by the BramDorc Corporation known to exist. And because you never get rid of anything.”
Lando shrugged self-deprecatingly and chuckled. “I am what I am. You got me. Yeah, I’ve still got her. I take it you’ve got some asteroids you need moved?”
The Rockhound was a Colossus I Beta Series asteroid tug constructed by the now-defunct BramDorc Corporation.