Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 04_ Lightsabers - Kevin J. Anderson [28]
Luke had no wish to influence Tenel Ka's decision about whether or not to return to Yavin; t at would have to be her choice, and hers alone. And certainly any competent medical droid could be trusted to tend Tenel Ka's physical wound. But she needed the warmth and support of friends in order to heal her emotional wounds and come to her own decision.
Luke smiled as he saw Lowbacca maneuver the T-23 skyhopper onto its pad in the hangar bay.
Those Jedi trainees needed to have their emotional wounds healed as well. He straightened and walked toward the T-23. "I think we'd better do a preflight check on the Shadow Chaser, Artoo. Let's get ready to fly."
Artoo warbled and beeped, asking a question.
"Yes," Luke Skywalker said. "I've made my decision."
From the moment her uncle announced he would take them to see Tenel Ka after all, adrenaline began to rush through Jaina's veins. She made a mad dash for her chambers, snatched a fresh jumpsuit, a Jedi robe, and a few other odds and ends, then stuffed them along with her lightsaber into a small flight duffel. By the time she raced back out of her quarters, down the echoing stone stairs and hallways, and out onto the landing pad, where their ship waited, she no longer had any idea what she had packed.
Jacen arrived ahead of her, running up the ramp of the sleek Shadow Chaser, a disordered pile of clean clothes tucked under one arm, his lightsaber under the other. Jaina didn't slow as she followed him up the ramp, marveling as she always did at the powerful ship and its glossy quantum armor. The ship had once been the finest craft created by the Second Imperium. After Master Luke Skywalker and Tenel Ka had used it to rescue the twins and Lowie from the Shadow Academy, the New Republic had given the Shadow Chaser to the Jedi Master for his own use.
^ Once Lowie had scrambled aboard with Em Teedee, his lightsaber clipped to the webbed belt at his waist, Luke instructed Artoo-Detoo to raise the boarding ramp, and the Shadow Chaser lifted off.
Jaina felt a thrill as the Shadow Chaser's repulsorlifts boosted them off the landing field; sublight engines kicked in, launching them away from the jungle moon. The last few minutes of rushed preparation were a blur in her mind, and she looked around for something else to speed them on their way.
Lowie rumbled a question from the navigation console, and Em Teedee answered, "No, I'm certain Master Luke doesn't need our assistance in plotting the most efficient route."
Her uncle smiled down at the Wookiee. "We'll be going to lightspeed in just a few minutes. Why don't you all try to relax, get some rest."
Jaina took a deep breath and watched the stars through the viewports-like glittering gems sinking in a depthless black sea-until each pinprick of light elongated into a starline and the Shadow Chaser made a smooth jump into hyperspace.
The three Jedi trainees found they were too excited to rest, though. They spent the remainder of the journey trying to distract themselves aboard the tiny ship. Jaina and Lowie were just about to remove an access panel to the rear thruster stabilizers to study how they worked when Luke announced their final approach to Tenel Ka's home planet.
The three friends rushed to the cockpit. As they took their seats behind the Jedi Master, Lowie squinted and scanned the star system around them.
When she saw his ginger-fuffed face register surprise, Jaina looked around, seeing no nearby planet that could have been Dathomir.
"That's odd," she said at last. "From the descriptions I've heard and the star charts I've studied, I could swear we were in the Hapes Cluster."
Her uncle swiveled in the pilot seat and met each pair of eyes in turn.
"We are in the Hapes system," Luke said gravely.
"It's time I explained to you that Tenel Ka is more than just a simple warrior from a backward planet."
BROAD-SHOULDERED