Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 07_ Shards of Alderaan - Kevin J. Anderson [14]
SEVERAL DAYS LATER, from where he stood, Zekk could see no more than Jaina's jumpsuited legs sticking out from beneath the navigational console in the cockpit of the Lightning Rod. The stained brown fabric of her comfortable uniform provided a subtle contrast to the tarnished metal plates and lubricant-smeared components scattered around the floor.
After delivering his bad news about Raynar's missing father, Han Solo had departed, heading home to Coruscant. He and Chewbacca had promised to return as soon as they could.
In the meantime, Jaina had vowed to help old Peckhum fix his battered ship, which had been severely damaged during the Second Imperium's attack. The past few days of working with old Peckhum, Jaina, Jacen, Lowie, and Tenel Ka were some of the happiest times Zekk could remember.
At first Zekk had felt guilty for taking the oung Jedi trainees away from rebuilding the Great Temple-since all that horrendous damage had been his fault-but Master Skywalker himself had given his blessing to restoring the Lightning Rod to working condition.
"I can't think of any team more competent to repair Peckhum's ship," Luke had said to them. "Leia is sending another crew of New Republic engineers, and I have plenty of students to work on the Great Temple in the meantime. Besides, I have a sense that getting this old shuttle in flying condition will turn out to be very important in ways you can't imagine."
As the companions tinkered not only with systems damaged in the Imperial attack, but with old components that should have been replaced years before, Zekk realized that the Jedi Master was right about the importance of fixing the Lightning Rod-collectively and personally. He found something healing about repairing the damage he had indirectly caused, something therapeutic about laboring with his friends, who did their best to accept him, despite occasional moments of awkwardness.
While both Zekk and Peckhum were competent mechanics, Jaina was absolutely in her element. She dove into the task with gleeful enthusiasm, checking the cargo ship's hull integrity, pointing out blaster-damaged plates, running diagnostics, and issuing orders like a topnotch flight mechanic. Surprised and a bit amused, Peckhum let Jaina have free rein in directing the overall repair project of his cargo vessel. Seeing how masterful and confident she was, Zekk felt warm inside.
Now, Jaina's muffled voice drifted out from under the navigational console as she wormed her way deeper into the tiny crawlspace. "Would someone please hand me some line clamps and the signal flux meter?" She waved a grimy hand, waiting for her tools.
@wie, whose upper body was wedged into an overhead access hatch like some huge and awkward furry stowaway, responded with an unintelligible roar.
Eager to help, Zekk retrieved Jain" instruments from the top of the cockpit panels.
With a murmured thank-you, Jaina thumped around underneath the navigation console. "There," she said at last, "that ought to do it.
Now try the hyperchart fimetion again."
Zekk flicked a few switches and pressed a button. A holographic map of several recommended hyperspace routes shimmered in front of him. that's got it," he confirmed.
"Seems to be working fine now."
Jaina scrambled out from under the console. She shook back her straight brown hair and wiped her greasy palms on the front of her rumpled flight suit, leaving da@k handprints on the brown fabric-. "A few finishing touches, and this ship will be ready to fly again, better than ever."
Zekk gave Jaina an uncertain smile as he offered her a hand so that she could stand up. 'I can't think of anyone I'd rather have beside me fixing this ship. I bet the Lightning Rod hasn't been in such good shape since Peckhum first got her. Hard to believe