Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order_ Dark Tide 02_ Ruin - Michael A. Stackpole [36]
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Once the Pulsar Skate came out of hyperspace and began its descent toward Vortex, Luke Skywalker could feel the peace of the Vors lapping against him like waves on a shore. He traveled from the lounge amidship in the long, slender freighter to the cockpit and smiled. Mara sat in the copilot chair, and R2-D2 had plugged himself into a restraining socket build behind her chair. Opposite him a green and white R2 droid had taken a similar position behind the pilot.
Mirax Terrik Horn, her long black hair gathered into a braid, turned and regarded Luke with a steady, brown-eyed gaze. “We made it. With Whistler and Artoo both doing nav plots, we shaved a good distance off that run.”
The droids tootled happily in unison.
The Jedi Master smiled. “Once again, I am happy you were willing to make this run for us.”
Mirax shrugged. “I regularly have Whistler monitor request traffic for courier runs. Anything with Jedi appended to it gets a high priority from me. Besides, with Corran off out there somewhere, my children at the academy, and my father doing whatever he’s doing, I’d just be sitting at home.”
Mara smiled. “Better doing something than just waiting.”
“Waiting is so boring.”
Luke raised an eyebrow. “I don’t seem to recall the word boring ever being applied to times when the two of you are running around together. In fact, I recall—”
Mara held a hand up. “We were exonerated.”
“And we could have been at your academy during those years instead of off on our adventures. Your students would have loved that distraction.” Mirax nodded. “Besides, the collateral damage was never really that bad.”
The Jedi Master smiled. “I think the Vors are rather particular when it comes to the issue of collateral damage.”
“Agreed. We’ve got a landing clearance at their primary Cathedral docking bay. After Admiral Ackbar and Leia’s unfortunate accident, the Vors established a two-kilometer no-fly zone around the Cathedral so no one else will plow a fighter into it.” Mirax turned back around to look out the viewport. “Atmosphere in fifteen seconds. Buckle in if you don’t want to get bounced around.”
“I’ll let the others know.” Luke turned and walked back up the corridor to the lounge, where Anakin and Chalco both sat. The two of them had played a game on the holotable, but ended up squabbling about the other cheating. This offended Anakin, who only partially accepted the explanation that the tables Chalco normally played on had had their code sliced so often that the only way to win was by cheating the other guy better.
“Since you were winning and I couldn’t cheat, I figured you had to be cheating,” he’d offered.
Luke smiled. “Strap in. We’re hitting atmosphere.”
Anakin complied with the order, but Chalco just gripped the arms of his chair with white-knuckled hands. Luke shook his head as he walked over to a bench seat and fastened restraining straps about himself. “Chalco, you don’t have to do everything the tough way.”
The heavyset man shrugged and almost bounced out of the seat as the Skate bucked. “I know you Jedi have power, but that’s not everything, you know. Us normal folks are capable, too.” As he spoke he jabbed a thumb in the center of his chest.
Another jolt shook the ship, and Chalco came half up out of the chair. Luke gathered the Force to settle him back down, but discovered Anakin had already managed it. And he did it so gently that I doubt Chalco knows he’s been helped. “Please, Chalco, just strap in.”
The man grumbled a little, but reached for the restraining straps. “Well, the ride is a bit bumpy. I mean, if you Jedi are going to strap in, can’t hurt, can it?”
Luke and Anakin shared a smile, then the Jedi Master shook his head. “Can’t hurt at all. When we get down, Mara and I will go see