Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order 05_ Agents of Chaos 02_ Jedi Eclipse - James Luceno [8]
“I promised I would get everyone offworld,” he told Leia sullenly. “I failed them.” He shook his head. “I failed them.”
Leia caressed his shoulder in a comforting way. “Awarded the Medal of Honor at the Battle of Kashyyyk, cited for exemplary service during the Yevethan crisis, former member of the Senate Advisory Council to the chief of state …” Leia stopped and smiled. “Save your recriminations for the Yuuzhan Vong, Envoy. You did more than anyone thought possible.”
She moved on, listening in on scraps of conversation, mostly devoted to the uncertain future, rumors about the horrors of the refugee camps, or criticisms of the New Republic government and military. She was happy to see that the Ryn had found space for themselves, until she realized that they had been banished to a dark corner of the hold, and that no one, of any species, had deigned to sit within a meter of them.
Leia was forced to take a meandering route to them, in and through and sometimes over family groups and others. She addressed the female Ryn who held the child.
“When you were boarding, I heard someone mention the name Droma. Is that a common name among your species? I ask only because I happen to know a Ryn named Droma—slightly, at any rate.”
“My nephew,” the only male among them answered. “We haven’t seen him since the Yuuzhan Vong attacked Ord Mantell. Droma’s sister was one of those you … who chose to remain behind on Gyndine.” He gestured to the infant. “The child is hers.”
“Oh, no,” Leia said, more to herself. She took a breath and straightened. “I know where your nephew is.”
“He’s safe then?”
“After a fashion. He’s with my husband. They’re searching for all of you.”
“Ah, sweet irony,” the male said. “And now we’re further divided.”
“As soon as we reach Ralltiir, I’ll try to reach my husband.”
“Thank you, Princess Leia,” the one named Melisma said, catching her completely by surprise.
“Ambassador,” she corrected.
They all smiled. “To the Ryn,” the male said, “you will forever remain a princess.”
The comment warmed and chilled her at once. The Ryn wouldn’t have been on Gyndine in the first place if Leia had not relocated them there from Bilbringi. And what of the six she had been forced to leave behind to face imprisonment or death? Was she princess or deserter in the eyes of Droma’s sister? The flattering comment had sounded sincere, but it might have been more sweet irony.
Leia was heading for the bridge when the transport sounded general quarters. By the time she reached the command center, the ship was already being jarred by concussive explosions that tested the mettle of the shields.
“Ambassador Organa Solo,” Commander Ilanka said from his swivel-mounted chair, as violent light flashed outside the curved viewport. “Glad to have you aboard. It’s my understanding that you were last to board the evacuation ship.”
“How much trouble are we in?” she asked, ignoring the sarcasm.
“I’d classify our situation as desperate verging on hopeless. Other than that, we’re in fine shape.”
“Do we have jump capability?”
“Navicomputer’s working on coordinates,” the navigator said from her console.
“Coralskippers in pursuit,” an enlisted-rating added.
Leia glanced at the target-assessment screen, which displayed twenty or more arrowhead shapes, closing fast on the ship. She turned to look out on Gyndine, and again she thought about the thousands she had been forced to abandon to fate. Then it suddenly occurred to her that she hadn’t seen Wurth Skidder aboard the shuttle or during her passage through the transport. She was about to page him over the comm when the evac craft’s flight officer stepped onto the bridge. He remembered Skidder, along with Leia’s orders.
“But when you told me to make sure they got aboard, I thought you were referring to the mother and child, not their rescuer.” He showed Leia a docile look. “I apologize, Ambassador, but he didn’t have the slightest interest in coming aboard.