Star Wars_ I, Jedi - Michael A. Stackpole [32]
“I will see to it that Whistler is taken care of.”
“Thanks.” The controls bucked a bit beneath my hands as we hit some turbulence coming down through the atmosphere. The jungle moon had fairly humid air which, if the documents I’d read were accurate, remained fairly stable except in the transition from day to night and vice versa, when cooling and warming took effect. I maintained control as we dropped down through a thin canopy of clouds.
Luke Skywalker appeared between us and pointed dead ahead. “There it is. Bring us down on this side.”
“As ordered.” I glanced over at him. “You want to strap in, sir?”
“As smooth a ride as you’re giving us?” He patted my shoulder. “I will if it will make you feel better.”
“No reason to have more variables in play than I really need.” I cut the throttle back and began to boost the power on the repulsorlift coils. “Stand by to retract wings on my mark, and lower landing gear.”
Ooryl leaned forward, his fingers poised to flip the appropriate switches. “As ordered.”
I watched the altimeter slowly scroll down and pulled the shuttle’s nose up in a slightly better glide path. The jungle’s thick foliage looked like mottled carpeting, with the occasional giant tree spiking upward. Further on the Great Temple, a squared off, pyramidal stone structure, loomed like an alien creature amid the greenery. I’d seen images of that structure for years—first in Imperial newsholos and later in every history of the victorious Rebellion ever made. It had looked impressive in the holograms, but never real and certainly not this majestic.
“Mark.” As Ooryl snapped the wing switches in the up position, I throttled back to ten percent of power and boosted the engine feed to the repulsorlift coils. The shuttle flew on easily and just missed clipping some trees as we came down in the clearing on the east side of the Temple. There, at the base, I saw a long, low opening of sufficient height that I could have tucked the shuttle on inside, but a landing zone had been laid out well clear of that area.
And back away from it had gathered the two dozen New Republic engineers that had been present preparing the Great Temple for its new role as the home of the Jedi academy. Ooryl would take them home, leaving Master Skywalker, two other recruits and me behind. Nine more recruits would be following us, making the first class at the academy an even dozen.
I set the shuttle down without so much as a bump and shot Ooryl a wink. “Haven’t lost my touch, but I’m going to miss flying.”
“I am Findsman. I will help you find your skill again, Keiran.” Ooryl turned his chair and bowed his head toward Luke. “Provided Master Skywalker would not object to Qrygg’s doing so.”
The Jedi Master gave Ooryl a broad smile. “You are welcome to hone his old skills as I hone his new ones.”
“Ooryl is honored.”
“Good, don’t want to lose my flight certification.” I flipped a switch and lowered the boarding ramp. Warm, moist air immediately jetted up into the shuttle. I hit my restraining strap release and stood. “Thanks, Ooryl. I’ll see you next time you come through.”
“Ooryl will be proud to have a Jedi Knight as a friend.”
“And wingman.”
“And wingman.”
The Gand settled into the pilot’s seat as I followed Luke back into the passenger compartment. Luke Skywalker was slightly taller than I was, but we had similar builds. The other two passengers towered over each of us. Brakiss stood a good fifteen centimeters taller than me, and Kam Solusar another ten centimeters above that. Brakiss had the slender build and sharp features of an aristocrat. If it weren’t for the haunted look in his blue eyes, and the way they sunk back a bit in his skull, I would have taken him for some planetary noble out for a lark in taking on the training.
Kam Solusar was really Brakiss’ antithesis,