Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 07_ Conviction - Aaron Allston [152]
Han made a less-than-appreciative noise. “What good is it for things to go well if you’re still sweating like a Gamorrean?”
Leia frowned, formulating a crushing reply, but was interrupted when her comlink vibrated. She pulled it out. Its tiny screen indicated that the message was from Javon Thewles, the priority high. A little flutter of worry circulated in Leia’s stomach as she answered. “Solo.”
Even though Leia pressed the comlink up against her ear, Javon’s voice was hard to make out over the crowd noise. “I’m sorry, Jedi Solo. We found C-3PO, and he’s headed your way, but Amelia has deliberately given us the slip. We don’t know why.”
Leia scanned the crowd before her, though there was no way she could have picked out Allana in these nighttime conditions. But she could see C-3PO, at the back of the crowd, working his way awkwardly forward, as though he wanted to join the Solos on the stage. “Could she have been grabbed?”
“I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure she broke away on purpose. I’ve got the entire squadron looking for her.”
“I’ll send some Alliance troops to join you and I’ll be right along. Solo out.” She pressed a series of buttons on her comlink, initiating a preset function.
Han had obviously heard her words, if not Javon’s. “Amelia?”
Leia briefly explained. Tenel Ka, leaning in, also heard.
Leia gave Allana’s mother a reassuring look. “Finding her is not going to be a problem. Her security detail doesn’t know it, but I can initiate a tracking function in her comlink. Getting data now.” She read the information on the tiny screen and frowned. “She’s out quite a way to the east. Beyond the camp boundaries. Moving slowly—she’s not vehicular.”
Han tapped his hip, making sure his holster was still filled. “Let’s get her.”
“No, Han, you get back to the Falcon. If it’s something strange, if we need air support, I want you ready to launch.”
Han nodded, kissed her, turned, and dropped carefully off the back of the stage.
Leia and Tenel Ka didn’t need words or Force techniques for Leia to know exactly what the Queen Mother was feeling. Tenel Ka wanted nothing more than to join them in the search. And that wasn’t possible: she couldn’t afford to be seen giving undue attention to the Solos’ adopted daughter.
Leia gave her a quick embrace, then followed her husband off the stage.
* * *
Bobbing up and down in the crowd, C-3PO saw Han and Leia depart. He wondered if he should follow. But no, the message from Princess Leia had been specific. He was to offer his translation services to Tenel Ka. And no wonder. Listening to the Klatooinians talking onstage and seeing the translations appear up on the monitor, he was appalled at the inaccuracies and linguistic liberties being displayed. Resolutely, he continued on, suffering outrageous bumpings and elbowings from the people in the crowd. Pride drove him on, pride that it was he who was being called on to save the day in the event of a translation emergency.
OUTSIDE CRYSTAL VALLEY, NAM CHORIOS
KANDRA STARED AT THE STILL-BLANK SCREEN OF HER DATAPAD AND swore. “This is not turning out to be useful. We get this Callista but no Abeloth, and then the signal cuts out. Not what Skywalker promised us. And now this.” Her gesture took in the town two kilometers ahead of them. It was mostly obscured by dust clouds, but the two of them could see a small Corporate Sector gunship circling above the town and yet another shuttle coming in for a landing. “Are you getting that?”
Beurth, his shoulder rig trained on the distant vehicles, grunted an assent, then added a few choice words.
“No, we shouldn’t have left when the signal cut out. We stay until we get something worth recording.”
“And what would that be?” The voice came from immediately behind them. It was a man’s voice, mellow and musical.
Both rolled and twisted to look.
Behind them stood a man in dark robes. He was young, fair of complexion, dark of hair, very handsome in a way that reminded Kandra of predatory birds.