Star Wars_ The Jedi Academy Trilogy 02_ Dark Apprentice - Kevin J. Anderson [38]
He laughed. “It’s only a message cylinder,” he said. “Have them open it up—they’ll see. It’s where the log recorders are kept so vital data can be ejected if the Sun Crusher ever gets destroyed.”
But as alarms hammered through the air, and people inside the restricted hangar ran around in panic, the guards showed no interest in Kyp’s explanations. “You’d better leave now, young man. Immediately!” the sergeant said.
Shaking his head, part in amusement and part in annoyance, Kyp circled back up the long corridors, wondering how long it would take the supposed experts to figure it out.
Wedge Antilles watched with admiration as the beautiful and ethereal alien scientist, Qwi Xux, stepped forward and prepared to address the New Republic Assembly.
Qwi did not like to talk in front of an audience, and she had been nervous for days after setting up this speech. A solitary person, she had begun to confide in Wedge now that he spent most of his time as her official bodyguard and liaison. Wedge had encouraged her in every way, trying to calm her, insisting that she would do a wonderful job. He supported her belief that she could no longer ignore the Sun Crusher.
Qwi had looked at him gratefully. Her wide indigo eyes were in striking contrast to her pale, pale blue skin and the gemlike cap of pearlescent feathers that draped from her head down to her shoulders.
Now Qwi stared at Mon Mothma and the other ministers. She straightened her back, letting her thin arms hang at her sides. She spoke with a flutey voice that sounded like birdsong.
“Mon Mothma and esteemed representatives of the New Republic government,” Qwi said, “when I first came to you seeking sanctuary and bringing the Sun Crusher, you invited me to speak to you whenever I felt the need. Now I must tell you of my grave concerns. I will try to be brief, because you must come to a decision.”
Beside Wedge, the enormous form of Chewbacca rumbled a low growl of displeasure; but Wedge was impressed at how quiet and restrained the Wookiee had managed to hold himself. Chewbacca was not known for his ability to sit still.
Threepio spoke in a soft voice. “Calm down, Chewbacca. You’ll have a chance to speak soon enough. Are you quite certain you don’t want me to edit your words into more appropriate language? I am a protocol droid, you know, and I am familiar with the requirements.”
Chewie blatted a quiet but definite negative. Wedge shushed them both so he could hear Qwi as she spoke. Her musical voice didn’t falter, and Wedge felt a warm pride spreading in his chest.
“The Sun Crusher is the most formidable weapon ever devised,” Qwi said. “I know this better than anyone, because I designed it. It is an order of magnitude more dangerous than even the Death Star. It is no longer in the clutches of Imperial powers—but I’m concerned about what the New Republic intends. I have refused to divulge its workings for a reason, but you have kept it locked in your research bays for weeks, tinkering with it, studying it, trying to unlock its secrets. It will do you no good.”
She paused to take a long breath, and Wedge worried that she might lose her nerve. But Qwi straightened her slender form and spoke again. “I urge you to destroy the Sun Crusher. A weapon of such power should not be trusted in the hands of any government.”
Mon Mothma looked weak and weary as she gazed down at Qwi. Below and to her left, old General Jan Dodonna spoke up. “Dr. Xux, according to reports from our engineers, this weapon cannot be destroyed. The quantum armor makes it impossible for us even to dismantle it.”
“Then you must find some other way to dispose of the Sun Crusher,” Qwi said.
Sounding flustered, Senator Garm Bel-Iblis, Mon Mothma’s old nemesis, rose to his feet. “We cannot allow a weapon of such power to slip out of our grasp,” he said. “With the Sun Crusher, we have a tactical advantage available to none