Star Wars_ Millennium Falcon - James Luceno [84]
Jadak nodded and smiled. “If things work out, kid, that song of yours is going to take a week to sing.”
Poste grinned. “The old-timer who taught it to me called it a mnemonic.”
“Your code phrase is ‘Restore Republic honor to the galaxy.’ Our ally is expecting you. The phrase we've provided you is a mnemonic aid she will need to carry out her part of the mission. The Envoy will handle the rest of it.”
Jadak extended his trembling hands to Poste. “You have a datapad in there?”
“I'LL MAKE A DEAL WITH YOU,” LEIA SAID. “YOU AND MUZZLE CAN stay in here for the entire trip to Coruscant. But you have to promise that when we get there you won't shut yourself inside your room.”
“Muzzle, too?” Allana said, holding the simian hand puppet up to her shoulder.
Leia nodded. “Muzzle also has to promise.”
Allana frowned and turned aside to confer quietly with the toy.
The Millennium Falcon was in hyperspace, and Allana was in low spirits. She had been distant ever since Taris, sitting on her bunk in the principal cabin with the puppet, perhaps telling Muzzle all she wouldn't say to Leia or Han.
Leia eased into the cabin and sat down opposite her, putting an arm around Allana's shoulders. “What do you say?”
“Muzzle says he doesn't want to stay in here for the whole trip.”
“What about you?”
“I don't want to, either.”
Leia smiled. “That's good, because Grandpa and I miss having your company.” She took a moment. “You seem a little sad. Is anything wrong?”
Allana shook her head.
“We still haven't talked about what happened during the pet show.”
She averted Leia's gaze. “It's not that.”
“What, then?”
“I'm just sad our adventure is over.”
“You mean because we haven't learned who owned the Falcon before Vistal Purn?”
Allana nodded. “Grandpa said it's a dead end.”
“He said that he was pretty sure we'd be able to learn something from the Ortolan who owned the circus—Dax Doogun.”
Allana looked at her. “That's what he told me. But I heard him tell you it was a dead end.”
Leia kept a straight face. Han had said as much. It concerned her that Allana would eavesdrop on a private conversation, but she decided not to make an issue of it.
“It's been a great adventure so far, hasn't it?”
“Sort of.”
“You haven't had any fun?”
“I guess.”
Leia moved closer to her. “Allana, can we talk a little bit about what happened on Taris? If you don't feel like talking now we can do it some other time, but I think it would help if we discussed it.”
“What do you want to talk about?”
“Well, let's start with those beings who tricked you into following the squall.”
“I hate them.”
Leia fell silent for a moment. “They tricked you and took you because they wanted to force Grandpa to do something.”
“What?”
“They wanted him to make Uncle Lando send them some war droids.”
“Why?”
“I guess they had some bad plans.”
Allana's brows beetled and she lowered her chin.
“Do you remember what you said when you ran away from Seff?” When Allana didn't respond, Leia said: “You said ‘Jacen.’”
“I know what I said.”
“Why do think you said your father's name?”
Allana gave her head a firm shake.
Leia thought for a moment. Could she get to the bottom of this without leading her too much? Should she drop the matter for the time being?
I can't, she told herself.
“When those bad beings took you, did it make you think of when Jacen took you from your mom?”
“No,” she snapped. “Seff made me think of Jacen.”
Leia had already guessed as much. Still, she said: “Jacen didn't look like Seff, or even sound like him.”
“Not like that, Grandma. I felt him in the Force like I felt Jacen.”
Leia recalled the storm she felt in the Force before she spied Seff. It troubled her that Allana had picked up on Seff's raw power.
“Jacen made me afraid,” Allana said suddenly. “And then Seff made me afraid in the same way.”
Leia took hold of Allana's hands. “In what way, honey?