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“I swear it,” Anakin replied. “If we ever get that close, that is. How long before reinforcements arrive?”

“Not long.”

“Well. Then we’re going about this all wrong. We’re just going to run into whatever ambush they have planned.”

“And we will walk through them.”

“Neither of us is made of neutronium,” Anakin observed.

“I will hide no more.”

“Hiding isn’t what I had in mind,” Anakin said. “Just a little change in tactics.”

“Explain.”

For answer, Anakin raised his lightsaber and sliced a hole in the low ceiling. “Do you need a boost up?” he asked.

Moments later, from the roof of the star-shaped compound, Anakin and Vua Rapuung watched warriors station themselves at the ground-level exits and entrances. Yavin was half-set, and it was darker now than it had been when they emerged from the succession pool, but Anakin knew the sun would be up soon.

“They will find our escape route quickly,” Rapuung said.

“I know. I don’t need long.” Once again, he reached out through the Force, searching for Tahiri. She was there, but her presence was still fitful, hard to pinpoint.

Tahiri. Hear me. I must find you.

The response was rejection.

Tahiri. You know me. You’re my best friend. Please.

This time he caught a faint hesitation and then something like a step in his direction. He saw a brief vision of coralskippers and larger Yuuzhan Vong ships he had no name for.

“Sithspawn!” he exclaimed. “They’re going to board a ship.”

Rapuung growled, deep in his throat. “No, they are not,” he said. “This way.”

They leapt down to the outside of the compound between the rays, far from any entrances, and slipped past the most lightly guarded exit, apparently without being noticed. Another hundred meters brought them to the ship compound.

Like its cousin, this damutek was a sprawling star with entrances and exits at the tips of the rays. Unlike it, its succession pool was covered, surfaced with something alien to provide parking space for Yuuzhan Vong ships. Tahiri and the group of warriors with her were walking up the ramp—or tongue, or whatever it was—of one of the larger ships. Perhaps fifty other Yuuzhan Vong went about various tasks in the compound. Most looked like Shamed Ones, though a few intendants were also at hand. Stifling a shout, Anakin threw himself into a run, Rapuung a silent shadow beside him.

When they were yet twenty meters from the ship, a cry went up. Three warriors guarding the ramp dropped to their knees and hurled thud bugs. Time slowed for Anakin as he ignited his blade and brought it up to deflect them.

Three snapped against the bright blade and arced off on divergent tangents as embers. None of them hit Anakin, but Rapuung grunted.

He didn’t slow, however. They hit the three guards like a thunder front and sprang up the landing ramp into another hail of thud bugs.

This time Anakin was not as fortunate. One of the things went through his thigh, and he dropped to one knee, blocking two more that would have opened his chest in unpleasant places. Rapuung yowled, twisted, and hit the ramp with a damp, meaty thud.

Anakin struggled to rise.

“Stop, Jeedai,” a cold voice said.

It was the commander. He stood next to Tahiri, with an amphistaff curled around her neck. His remaining three warriors gathered in front of him.

“Tahiri!” Anakin said.

“That isn’t my name,” Tahiri told him. “I am Riina Kwaad.”

“You’re Tahiri, my best friend,” Anakin said. “Whatever they’ve done to you, I know you remember me.”

“You may be a part of the infidel lies implanted in her,” one of the female shapers—the older one—said. “But you are no more than that.”

“Enough,” the commander snapped. “This is to no purpose. You, Jeedai. If you have come to rescue this one, you have failed. I will kill her where she stands if you continue to struggle.”

“Is this the vaunted courage of the Yuuzhan Vong?” Anakin asked. “Hiding behind a hostage?”

“You misunderstand. I know who you are. You are Anakin Solo, brother to Jacen Solo, he who is so much desired by Warmaster