Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order_ Dark Tide 01_ Onslaught - Michael A. Stackpole [87]
Leia nodded and looked around. The main camp had been set up in a slight depression at the heart of a wide valley. “Doesn’t seem particularly defensible here, does it?”
“No, but sensor sweeps showed we can get water from fairly shallow wells. Folks will be needing to build shelters—nasty weather is rolling in from the north—so we can get them to dig some trenches, prepare some redoubts for defense, too. If the Vong are here, having the defenses will be good.”
“And if they aren’t, people will grumble about having to dig.”
“Mother, these people are terrified. Having them dig will give them something to do.” Jaina sighed. “Having the freighters here in the middle of the camp will provide temporary shelter, and their guns can cover people if we have to go up and vape some skips.”
Jaina’s casual use of the phrase vape some skips sent a shiver through Leia and made her regard her daughter differently. It felt to Leia almost as if she’d been looking at one holograph of her daughter, all pretty and prim and young, and then someone had switched it for this new image.
Jaina had a touch of dirt on her face, and salt rings from sweat marked her flight suit’s armpits. Her hair had been pulled back into a braid and lacked the sheen of clean hair. Leia could tell her daughter was tired, but there was an energy in her eyes that Leia recognized all too well. Her own father—her adopted father—had remarked on it in her eyes, when Leia became involved with the Rebellion.
She’s more grown than any parent wants to admit. Leia reached out to stroke her daughter’s cheek, but caught a flash of wariness in Jaina’s eyes. She shifted her hand to land on Jaina’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “That’s a good point, Jaina.”
Gavin nodded in agreement. “We might have to move them around a bit to provide the best in overlapping fields of fire, but they should be pretty effective in holding hostiles off.”
“Admiral Kre’fey is sending troopers down, and lots of weapons.” Leia shook her head slowly. “We probably won’t have any time to train the refugees.”
Her daughter raised a finger. “There have to be veterans of the Rebellion and even Imp service among them. We sort them out, have them help organize the camp, and we’ll make it more defensible.”
“That will work, too. The grasses here aren’t very tasty, but they will suffice for most folks.” Leia sighed. “That leaves only one other worry.”
Gavin frowned. “And that is?”
“Mara and Anakin are supposed to be here on Dantooine. A sweep of comm frequencies is negative for any activity.”
The pilot shrugged. “If she is here for rest, they might not have their comlinks on.”
“That occurred to me.” Leia shivered. “I can’t feel them with the Force, either. If they were dead, I’m sure I’d have felt that. Their being cut off like this, I don’t know. It’s not good, not good at all.”
Jaina covered Leia’s hand with her own. “Don’t worry, Mom. Mara’s pretty smart, and Anakin isn’t stupid. I’m sure they’re just fine.”
Leia looked at her closely. “Can you feel them with the Force?”
A pained expression passed over her face. “A little, yes, in fits and starts. Not enough to give me a direction, or I’d be out looking. It feels like Anakin, when he was a kid, playing hide-and-seek. When I get him, he’s strong.”
Leia sighed. “Let’s hope he remains strong, then.” And well hidden, especially if it’s the Yuuzhan Vong seeking him.
The thunder crack from above had faded just enough for Anakin to catch the whirring buzz of the Yuuzhan Vong weapon arcing in at him. He pulled his right shoulder back and twisted his face to the left. He felt the fist-size disk whirl past him, barely missing his cheek. It make a solid thud as it slammed into the bole of a tree.
A flash of lightning