Star Wars the Truce at Bakura - Kathy Tyers [14]
But Dev had escaped death on both counts. The Ssi-ruuvi scouts found him huddling in an eroded ravine. Fascinated by the giant lizards with round black eyes, the undersize ten-year-old had taken their food and affection. They’d shipped him back to Lwhekk, where he had lived for five years. Eventually, he learned why they hadn’t enteched him. His uncanny mental abilities would make him an ideal scout for approaching other human systems. They also allowed him to calm entechment subjects. He wished he remembered what he’d said or done that revealed his talent.
He’d taught the Ssi-ruuk all he knew about humankind, from mind-set and customs to clothing (including shoes, which amused them). Already he’d helped them take several human outposts. Bakura would be the key world … and they were winning! Soon, the Bakuran Imperials would run out of fighting ships and the Ssi-ruuk could approach Bakura’s population centers. A dozen P’w’eck landing craft carried paralysis canisters, ready to drop.
Over a standard hailing frequency, Dev had already announced to Bakurans the good news of their impending release from human limitations. Master Firwirrung said it was only normal that they resisted. Unlike Ssi-ruuk, humans feared the unknown. Entechment was a change from which there was no returning to report.
Dev yawned mightily. His masters would protect him from the Empire, and some day reward him. Firwirrung had promised to stand beside him and lower the catchment arc himself.
Dreamily, Dev stroked his throat. The IVs would go … here. And here. Some day, some day.
He covered his head with his arms and slept.
CHAPTER
3
Star streaks shrank on Luke’s triangular forward viewscreen as the Flurry and her seven escorts dropped out of hyperspace. Once he’d checked deflector shields, he swung his chair to get the master computer’s insystem status report, while Captain Manchisco’s communications officer scanned standard Imperial hailing frequencies. Luke felt better, so long as he moved slowly.
Scanners showed eight planets, none at the spot in its orbit where Alliance MasterNav had projected. Now he was glad Manchisco had overruled his impatience, planned cautiously, and dropped out of lightspeed in the outer system. She shot him a meaningful look. He touched one eyebrow in salute, then nodded at the Duro navigator, who blinked his huge red eyes and gargled unintelligibly.
“He says you’re welcome,” translated Manchisco.
Half a dozen blistered ovoids clustered around the system’s third world, surrounded on his screens by a virtual sandstorm of small fighters. They all gleamed red for “threat,” but they maneuvered crazily on the screen, breaking formation and regrouping, approaching and fleeing. Obviously they weren’t all on the same side. He glanced at General Dodonna’s brainchild, the Battle Analysis Computer. He’d agreed to bring along a BAC prototype, and now he needed data to run it.
“Looks like a party, Junior,” came Han’s voice from the speaker at his elbow.
“I’m with you,” Luke answered. “We’re hailing the Imperials now. No sense—”
“Sir,” interrupted the communications man.
“Hang on.” Luke swiveled away from Han’s speaker and got a leg cramp for his trouble. He was almost healed. “Did you raise someone?”
The young, broad-shouldered Virgillian pointed at a blinking green light on his console. Someone had given the go-ahead to transmit. Luke cleared his throat. Before they left Endor, Leia had offered a list of things he might say. They just weren’t his style.
Besides, he wouldn’t be dealing with a diplomat or a politician. This was an embattled commander who could spare only seconds for each decision. “Imperial Navy,” Luke said, “this is an Alliance battle group. We have the white flag out for you. Looks like you’re in need. Would you accept our help, as between fellow humans?” Sure, there were aliens among the rebels besides Chewbacca and Manchisco’s Duro navigator.