Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order 08_ Edge of Victory 01_ Conquest - J. Gregory Keyes [20]
“Scurrying,” Ikrit said. “As if we’re running about.”
“Right. Of course, they won’t see anything, if they get close, but their instruments will tell them we’re all over the place.”
“They will see also,” Ikrit said. “Come.”
The Great Temple was a ziggurat with three giant steps. The old command center was on the second tier. The ancient structure had five openings that led out to the flat, paved surface that was the roof of the lowest tier. Anakin and Ikrit made their way to the one that faced the landing clearing and peeked out.
Beyond the vague distortion of the energy shield, Anakin saw five ships settled in the clearing. Two were already disgorging armed Peace Brigaders.
“I hope they go for this,” Anakin said. “I hope they believe. If they start a search for Kam, Tionne, and the kids now, they might find them.”
“They will believe,” Ikrit assured him. “They will believe the children are here because they want to, and because they are weak. Do not worry, Anakin. As I said, a warrior I may not be, but the Force is not weak with me.”
“I’m sorry, Master Ikrit,” Anakin said. “I should not doubt you.”
“Then do not doubt my words. Search your feelings, every day. Keep careful watch. The worst monsters are not those from without.” Then the Master closed his eyes, humming faintly to himself. Anakin felt a surge in the Force as Ikrit’s will went out to touch the beings below, to nudge their credulity over the edge.
Anakin lifted a remote comm unit and keyed into the outdoor speakers.
“You are trespassing on the grounds of the Jedi academy,” he said. “Please leave immediately.”
At the sound of his amplified voice, some of the Peace Brigaders dived for cover. A moment later, the exterior speakers of one of the ships boomed on.
“You inside the temple,” the voice said. “This is Lieutenant Kot Murno of the Peace Brigade. We have been empowered to take control of this facility.”
“On whose authority?”
“The Alliance of Twelve.”
“Never heard of it,” Anakin replied. “Whoever they are, they don’t have any jurisdiction over this system.”
“They do now,” Murno answered. “We are their authority. Surrender, and you won’t be harmed.”
“Really? You don’t think that the Yuuzhan Vong will harm the children you’ve come to kidnap when you hand them over to them?”
There was a pause this time before Murno answered. “It is the price of peace,” he said. “I regret it, but it is the case. Weighed against what the Yuuzhan Vong could do to every inhabited world in this galaxy, a handful of Jedi isn’t much to ask. You brought this disaster upon us. You must pay the price.”
“You’re blaming the Yuuzhan Vong invasion on the Jedi?” Anakin asked incredulously.
“Jedi have provoked this war at every stage, hoping to use it as a way to embellish their own power. Your plans for the domination of this galaxy have long been known. This time, your tactics have reverse-throttled on you.”
“That’s the biggest trough of bantha fodder I’ve ever heard anyone spit up in my life,” Anakin said. “You are cowards and traitors. You want us? Come and get us.”
He fired his blaster through the narrow window and ducked as return fire heat-spalled the ancient stone. Particle shields like the one he had erected did nothing to stop energy blasts. The thick jungle air filled with the hiss and whine of blasters as the fire expanded to other parts of the temple complex.
“What are they shooting at up there?” Anakin wondered aloud.
“Ghosts of mist and madness,” Ikrit told him.
“They don’t notice no one is shooting back?”
“Not yet. They believe they see the bolts of energy weapons.”
“How long can you keep that up?”
“Longer if the occasional bolt is real.”
“Got you,” Anakin said, leaning around the door frame. Aiming carefully, using the Force, he blew a blaster rifle out