Star Wars the Truce at Bakura - Kathy Tyers [95]
He glanced up at her, a new hope striking wildfire in his imagination. “Why were they arrested?”
“Governor Nereus found a DB projector,” said Gaeriel. “Sedition carries the death penalty, Luke. The city’s going crazy. You’ve got to get Princess Leia and Uncle Yeorg free.” She glanced around as if finally noticing her surroundings. “But what are you doing here alone? Didn’t I warn you?”
“Yes. I didn’t want to endanger anybody. I can protect myself, but you’d better not stay more than a few minutes.” He glanced around, half-expecting stormtrooper helmets at the windows. “Let’s have Artoo try to find your uncle. Can you interface the governmental mainframe from a public commnet?”
“I should be able to.”
Luke grabbed a bread knife off the nearest table. After two seconds of prying, Artoo’s restraining bolt popped free.
Gaeriel’s wide eyes looked scandalized. Trying to pacify her, he said, “Artoo, put Gaeriel on your recognize-and-obey program. And her friend Eppie Belden,” he added on impulse. “Okay?” Artoo tweeted up the scale, approving. “Good. Now see if you can find Prime Minister Captison.”
Artoo rolled toward the corner table.
“Not much good without translators, are they?” Gaeriel asked.
Luke followed Artoo. “I understood some of that. He’s an astromech droid—a pilot’s aide, I guess you’d call him—but you’d be surprised what he can handle groundside.” Luke glanced at the kitchen doors. The cooks were taking an awfully long time. “Han’s already gone looking for Leia,” he said.
“Luke …” Gaeriel clasped his arm just above the elbow. Warmth and determination flowed through that touch. “Come back when it’s over. Talk to me. There’s no time now, but we’ve got to—”
Luke tugged free. A vague sense of aggression arose in the kitchens. Almost instantly, it resolved into three distinctly alien presences and one that mystified him—human, but alien-scented. He covered his lightsaber with his right hand. What was that about not endangering other people?
And hadn’t he wished Gaeriel needed rescuing? He drew his blaster left-handed and flipped the grip toward her. “Can you shoot?” he murmured. “There are Ssi-ruuk in the building. I’m sorry I can’t help your uncle now. Take it,” he urged. She closed her hand around it uncertainly. “Have Artoo get word to the Flurry, up in orbit, and tell them what’s happening. Then find your uncle. Get out of here. Now.”
Fear throbbed out of her. “I’m not hiding behind Jedi abilities. I want to help the Rebellion.”
Exasperated, he stretched out a hand and steadied himself to use the Force on her. “No one else has any trouble letting me—”
The front and side doors blew open simultaneously. The muzzle of a heavy blaster rifle appeared through each one. Then a white-armored stormtrooper.
This time, Luke guessed they weren’t on his side. He seized Gaeriel’s shoulders and swept her behind him. The handful of Bakuran customers dove under tables.
Three Ssi-ruuk pushed through the kitchen door, large smooth-scaled creatures with long, muscular tails to balance massive upper bodies. Two of different sizes were glossy brown, one intense blue. The heads looked birdlike, with huge toothy beaks and all-black eyes. Each wore a shoulder bag slung across its body under one forelimb. They towered over the frightened service staff. Artoo froze in position beside the corner table.
Luke had to narrow his perception to keep Gaeriel’s revulsion from pulling him under. Cautiously, he stretched toward the aliens. Their feelings leaked into the Force, strengthening the dark side. He’d felt less hostility in Jabba the Hutt’s ravenous Rancor.
He held his lightsaber down at his side. “What do you want?” he asked, sweeping the Force against that hostility, probing for weaknesses.
A human in striped robes stepped around the counter after the aliens. “Fortunate one!” he hailed Luke, squinting. “You are the Jedi, Skywalker. I will translate for you.”
Luke recognized Dev Sibwarra from the hologram recording. He focused deep into the Force, drawing on all Yoda had taught him. He was at peace.