Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 03_ The Lost Ones - Kevin J. Anderson [44]
"Oh, Zekk," Jacen said, shaking his head, "those are all lies designed to lure you into dropping your guard-"
"They are not lies!" Tamith Kai interrupted, her melodious voice holding the potential for deadliness. "We will keep our promises. You will all be given equal opportunities, without regard to your social status in the Rebel worlds. The Second Imperium won't judge who you are-only what you do for us."
"Zekk," Jacen cried, "how can you trust them? These are the people who kidnapped me and Jaina."
"Yes," Tamith Kai continued, "and we have learned our lesson. Highborn noble pups such as you are no more worthy of being Imperial Dark Jedi than any other student." Her violet eyes glared daggers at Tenel Ka.
"Zekk," Jacen whispered quickly, "this is your chance. Trust me on this: You're in great danger. You could escape now. Get away!"
But his formerly happy-go-lucky friend gave him a look that was somewhere between pity and a plea for understanding. Jacen thought he saw a glimpse of the deep sadness that touched the young man's heart.
Zekk said, "You don't understand, Jacen. You can't because you've always had too much. You've never wanted for anything. These people"-he gestured toward the evil Nightsister and her companions-"they're offering me something I never had in my old life. With them I have a chance to be someone."
"Not much of a chance, if they're the ones offering it," Jacen muttered.
Tenel Ka tensed, holding her hands at her utility belt, ready to draw a weapon.
One by one, each of the gang members stood and glared at the two young Jedi. The burly Norys and the other Lost Ones seemed to have been hypnotized, and Jacen wondered if Tamith Kai or the others were using some sort of Force trick to make them more susceptible to insidious suggestions.
Tenel Ka whispered, "Jacen, we must leave while we can still bring help."
Jacen tensed, ready to turn and run. He clicked on the comlink, hoping to signal Anakin and Threepio, but before he and Tenel Ka could sprint to the door, Vilas pulled out a blaster.
"We can't risk any more of your meddling," Garowyn said. "There's too much at stake."
Jacen and Tenel Ka managed to take a few running steps before stun bolts slammed into them from behind. They plunged headfirst into helpless unconsciousness.
18
BRAKISS SEALED THE locking mechanism on the door to his private office, changing the access code to make absolutely certain no one could disturb him. He wouldn't allow even Tamith Kai to eavesdrop on his special communications with the great Imperial Leader.
Brakiss always found inspiration on the walls of his Shadow Academy office, where the exploding stars, broken planets, and cascading glaciers reminded him of the fury locked within the universe. By using the dark side as his focus, Brakiss tapped into that incredible energy and used it for his own benefit, to help pave the way for the return of the Empire.
He set the glowpanels to low as he waited for the contact, checking his chronometer. Speaking with his ominously powerful leader filled Brakiss with both terror and awe, and he was forced to use a Jedi calming technique, though patience was very difficult.
The Great Leader of the Second Imperium had enormous burdens and responsibilities. He was frequently late for his scheduled communications-not that Brakiss would ever dare mention it. The Leader set his own schedule; Brakiss was merely the dutiful slave who knew his place in the grand scheme.
Just as the Rebels depended on the overestimated protection of their vaunted Jedi Knights, so the new Leader would have his own secret weapon: an army of Dark Jedi who could use the dark side of the Force to carve a broad place in history for the Second Imperium.
But Dark Jedi were notoriously dangerous and unstable, prone to delusions of grandeur. Realizing this risk, the