Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order_ Dark Tide 01_ Onslaught - Michael A. Stackpole [86]
Darkness had fallen completely by his return, and his fire had been reduced to a glowing mound of ash-strewn coals. He grabbed the remaining vincha roots and entered Mara’s tent. She came awake instantly, then slumped back on the cot. “What is it?”
“The Yuuzhan Vong. They’re here.” He handed her a vincha root. “Here, chew this and let the juice run back down your throat. Local medicine, really good.”
Mara swiped her hands across her eyes, then looked at him. “You’re hurt.”
“It’s nothing, but we have to get out of here.” Anakin frowned. “I think the Yuuzhan Vong have been here since the start, scouting around. Maybe they’re the source of your weakness, I don’t know. Maybe their presence enhances things under their control, and your disease could be one of those things. You felt a link on Belkadan. Here, it is more subtle since you aren’t in direct contact with the Yuuzhan Vong or their things.”
Mara nodded. “That’s a trend I’d like to continue.”
“Me, too.” He sighed. “I killed two of them, but I took them by surprise. It was almost too easy, and that has me worried.”
Mara threw back her blanket and swung her legs off the cot. “That’s good. You should be worried. I have a feeling that dealing with the Yuuzhan Vong will never be that easy again.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Leia Organa Solo looked over at the organized chaos going on around her and wished for more organization and less chaos. The Ralroost and a handful of freighters had arrived at Dantooine and detected no Yuuzhan Vong ships in the system or having followed them. The freighters and the Ralroost’s shuttles began taking refugees down to an equatorial continent that had slender land bridges to the larger northern continent and the southern polar one. Lavender grasses stretched out as far as the eye could see, though the signs of human habitation were beginning to hide them.
The freighters had all picked up more people than they had supplies to sustain on a long run in toward the Core. Dantooine had been a good jump for getting them free of Dubrillion, but the routes back out of Dantooine were few and far between.
Leia sighed. If Tarkin had taken the bait, this world would have been destroyed, and then we’d not have had this haven to run to right now.
Her comlink trilled. “Organa Solo here. Go ahead.”
“Highness, the last group of refugees is coming down from the Ralroost. Now would be the time for you to return to the ship so we can make our run to the Core.” Admiral Kre’fey kept his voice low and even, with just the hint of a purr to it. “I know you thought this discussion closed, but I will have Masters to answer to on Coruscant.”
“And you think they’ll want me there telling them that I’d warned them?” Leia shook her head. “No thanks, Admiral. I’ll remain here with the others. You send us out help, and we’ll do just fine.”
“And if the Vong do follow us here?”
“Abandoning the refugees in that case will be worse.” She recalled that a previous group of refugees had been transplanted here, then wiped out by the Empire. Not a good omen. “Have a good trip. I’m sure Senator A’Kla will be of help to you.”
“He would if he were coming. He’s piloting down my command shuttle with the last group. I’m leaving you two companies of infantry and enough weapons to arm a number of the refugees.”
“I hope we won’t need it.”
“No more than I do, I think.”
“Speed to you, Admiral. May the Force be with you.”
“I’ll be back with help, soon.”
Leia switched off her comlink, then smiled as Gavin Darklighter came walking over, with Jaina trailing behind him. “Good afternoon, Colonel.”
“Highness. I’ve taken the liberty of appointing my newest flight officer as a liaison between the three squadrons we’ve got here and the civilian