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Fifty or so meters above the lake, the Jedi were ushered into a kind of central control room, which looked out over the glinting water and was perhaps the purest example yet of the Wookiees’ ability to combine organic and high-tech elements. Console display screens and holoprojectors showed views of the landing platform, as well as loading operations in orbit.

There, their escorts exchanged muted growls and snorts, snuffs and rumbles, with two others, one of whom was certainly the tallest Wookiee Starstone had seen.

“This is Chewbacca,” Cudgel said, introducing the shorter of the pair, “and this is one of Kachirho’s war chiefs, Tarfful.”

Starstone introduced herself and the rest of the Jedi, then lowered herself onto a beautifully carved stool built for human-size beings. Similar stools were rushed into the room, along with soft seat cushions and plates of food.

While all this was going on, Tarfful and Chewbacca were being briefed by Lachichuk. Bronzium bands gathered the chieftain’s long hair into rope-thick tassels that fell to his belted waist. The shoulder straps of his baldric joined at an ornate pectoral. Chewbacca, whose black fur was cinnamon-tipped and nowhere near as long as Tarfful’s, wore a simple baldric Starstone thought might double as an ammunition bandolier.

When everyone was seated and the Wookiees had finished conversing, Cudgel said: “Chieftain Tarfful understands and applauds the courage you’ve shown in coming to Kashyyyk, but it grieves him to report that he has nothing but sad tidings for you.”

“They’re … dead?” Starstone asked.

“Master Vos was presumed killed by fire from a tank,” Cudgel explained, “Master Unduli by blasterfire.”

“And Master Yoda?” she asked quietly.

Tarfful and Chewbacca fell into a long conversation—almost a debate—before expressing themselves to Cudgel, whose eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“Apparently, Yoda escaped Kashyyyk in an evacuation pod. Chewbacca, here, says he carried Yoda on his shoulders to the pod.”

Starstone came to her feet, nearly tipping over a platter of food. “He’s alive?”

“He could be,” Cudgel said after a moment. “After the last of the clone troopers left, the Wookiees searched local space for the pod, but no distress-beacon transmissions were picked up.”

“Was the pod hyperspace-capable?”

Cudgel shook his head.

“But it could have been retrieved by a passing ship.”

The Wookiees conversed.

Cudgel listened attentively. “There’s a chance it was.”

Starstone looked at Tarfful. “What makes you think so?”

Cudgel ran his hand over his mouth. “Wookiee Senator Yarua reported that rumors circulating in the Senate claim Yoda led an attack on Emperor Palpatine in the Senate Rotunda itself.”

“And?”

“Same rumor has it he was killed.”

“Master Yoda doesn’t lose,” Siadem Forte said from his stool.

Cudgel returned a sympathetic nod. “Lots of us used to say that about the Jedi.”

Starstone broke the silence that descended on the control room. “If Master Yoda is alive, then there’s hope for all of us. He’ll find us before we find him.”

She felt renewed; hopeful once more.

“Tarfful asks what you plan to do now,” Cudgel said.

“I suppose we’ll continue our search,” Starstone said. “Master Kenobi was on Utapau, and has yet to be heard from.”

Tarfful issued what sounded like a sustained groan.

“He is honored to offer you safe haven on Kashyyyk, if you wish. The Wookiees can make it appear that you are valued customers.”

“You would do that for us?” Starstone asked Tarfful.

His response was plaintive.

“The Wookiees owe the Jedi a great debt,” Cudgel translated. “And debts are always honored.”

A signal sounded from one of the consoles, and Cudgel and the Wookiees gathered around an inset screen. The human’s expression was grave when he swung to the Jedi.

“An Imperial troop carrier is descending to the Kachirho platform.”

Starstone’s face lost color. “We shouldn’t have come here,” she said suddenly. “We’ve endangered all of you!”

By the time Cudgel returned to the landing platform the situation was already veering out of control. Blaster