Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 03_ The Lost Ones - Kevin J. Anderson [37]
Jaina felt a wash of indignant defensiveness on the young man's behalf.
"You know Zekk would've brought it to you if he could."
Peckhum looked back at her with a mixture of surprise and amusement. "I won't argue with that," he said, "but I can't keep my mirror station running unless something gets fixed, pronto."
Lowie spoke through Em Teedee as the three other companions sat restlessly in the open area of Han and Leia's living quarters. "Oh, indeed," the miniature translating droid said. "That's a fine idea." Em Teedee's tinny voice caused the other young Jedi Knights to sit up straighter and look at Lowie. "Why, it doesn't even sound very dangerous."
"What doesn't?" Jaina asked.
"Master Lowbacca suggests that perhaps he and you, Mistress Jaina, along with his uncle Chewbacca-if we can convince him-might accompany Master Peckhum up to his mirror station to see if we can effect temporary repairs."
"That's a kind offer," Peckhum said, "but I don't see how much you could do without a new central multitasking unit."
Jacen snorted. "I can't remember the last time Jaina wasn't able to whip up some kind of solution. She could probably fix the whole place using nothing but her imagination."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Jaina growled at her brother. Then, knowing what Zekk would have done, she sighed in resignation and smiled at Peckhum. "He's right, you know. I'm sure we can repair enough subsystems to keep you going until we find Zekk. So what are we waiting for?"
"But why should you want to do that?" Peck hum asked.
"You need the help, don't you?" Jaina asked, momentarily confused. She didn't want to admit that Zekk was the real reason she was doing this.
"Besides," she rushed on, "we've been having trouble mapping debris paths in certain areas. Maybe we'll get a better perspective from orbit.
Meanwhile, Jacen, Tenel Ka, Anakin, and Threepio can keep searching for Zekk down here in the places you suggest."
"All right," Peckhum said. "You've got me convinced, but will your parents agree to it?"
Lowie growled a comment. "Master Lowbacca is confident that he can use his powers of persuasion to convince his uncle Chewbacca to accompany us into orbit," Em Teedee said.
Jaina's eyes lit with confident enthusiasm. "If you can do that, Lowie, just leave my parents to me."
Jacen half-closed his eyes, reached out with the Force, and listened for any sign of Zekk in the deserted building. But he heard only the hollow echo of their footsteps as he and Tenel Ka walked through the gloomy corridor.
He clicked on his comlink. "Hey Anakin-it's Jacen"
"Go ahead," his younger brother answered, transmitting from another building.
"Heading into section seven on the map. Nothing to report so far."
"Okay," Anakin said. In the background, Jacen heard Threepio say in a dismayed voice, "I certainly hope we can locate Master Zekk soon. I'm sure I would much rather be at home than inspecting such... unsavory places!"
"I hope we find him soon, too," Jacen said, then clicked off and followed Tenel Ka down the empty hall on the seventy-ninth level of the crumbling building.
The floor was littered with old cartons, canisters, bits of plasteel, and other items too broken-down to be scavenged. Some dry leaves were scattered about as well-though how leaves had come to be in this building, nearly a kilometer below the upper greenhouse levels, Jacen had no idea.
A thin, icy breeze whistled through a crack in the wall, skittering the dead leaves across the floor. The breeze did nothing to dispel the odors of mildew and decay that hung around the old structure, but it did send a chill of apprehension up Jacen's spine. He let his eyes fall half closed again in concentration as he walked slowly along.
Suddenly, something light and warm touched his arm. Jacen's eyes flew open. Tenel Ka's hand rested on the sleeve of his jumpsuit. "I thought you might stumble," she said, pointing