Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 07_ Shards of Alderaan - Kevin J. Anderson [21]
Jacen headed to where Tenel Ka worked quickly and methodically, clad only in her hzard-hide armor, a pair of boots, and a tool belt. "Hey, Tenel Ka. How do you tell the difference between a rancor?" he asked brightly.
Tenel Ka turned her cool gray eyes toward him and raised an eyebrow. "I believe that one of its legs are both the same."
Jacen blinked in surprise. "You've heard that one before?"
'Yes." Tenel Ka did not stop working.
"Please hold this. Thank you. Yourjoke is a well-known piece of non-sequitur humor from my mother's clan on Dathomir. Most people don't understand it-even fewer find it funny."
Jacen slapped his forehead. "I should have known. Anyway, Raynar said you wanted to see me."
"Ah. Aha." She gestured toward a metallic ho x fastened near the ceiling.
"I had hoped you could convince the creature to leave the power transformer housing before it comes to harm, or before it causes any damage to the circuitry."
'Hey, that's great, Tenel Ka. I think you're really starting to understand how I feel about animals and why I like to collect pets."
"Perhaps," she said. Then in a drier voice she added, "I also had no wish to disassemble and reassemble the transformer housing."
Jacen felt himself flush. Well, at least she had asked for his help, which was rare enough for Tenel Ka.
Jacen rolled a portable piece of lightweight scaffolding against the wall, locked it into place, then clambered up to where the uninvited reptilian guest had hidden. Placing his palm under a hole in the transformer housing, Jacen sent enticing thoughts to the creature inside.
Warm. Safe. Warm. Food.
He concentrated, adding reassurance and calm thoughts, tempting the creature.
In less than a minute, a spotted thyrsl slithered out and curled happily on Jacen's palm. Long and flexible, the thyrsl looked like a skinny snake with twelve tiny legs.
"You just crawled in there for the heat, didn't you?" Jacen crooned, cupping it in his hand. "Don't worry, I'll take you someplace that's nice and warm." He turned, holding on to the scaffolding with his free hand, careful to maintain his balance. Out of the corner of his eye, Jacen caught a flash of brightly colored robes.
"I just got a message that a ship's coming down to the landing clearing, on final approach," Raynar said. "It's the Millennium Falcon returning from Coruscant."
Jacen was just clambering down to the next level of the scaffolding.
"Hey, Dad didn't tell us he was coming back again so soon-" He loosened his hold f or only a moment, but his balance was off. Trying to protect the thyrsl from harm, he tumbled backward toward the floor-only to be caught on a cushion of air just centimeters before he hit the flagstones.
Jacen touched down lightly and breathed a sigh of relief.
He raised his head to see Tenel Ka and Raynar standing together, locked in concentration.
Concern was written all over the Alderaan boy's flushed face. He swirled the sleeves of his colored robes. "Sorry I distracted you, Jacen. Are you all right?Tenel Ka stretched out her arm and helped Jacen to his feet.
'It takes a good deal of practice,' she said, 'to climb with only one hand."
'No kidding," Jacen said. He held up his other hand to show her the thyrsl. "At least we're both safe and sound," he added, a bit sheepishly.
Once again, he had bumbled in front of Tenel Ka! There didn't seem to be any easy way to impress her.
Jaina and Lowie had rushed over in response to Raynar's announcement.
After seeing that her brother was all right despite the mishap, Jaina grinned mischievously at him. "Nice maneuver, laser brain."
Lowie gave an urf of laughter.
'Ib cover his embarrassment, Jacen turned to Raynar. 'Hey, let's go meet Dad and see if he's heard anything about your father."
The other boy perked up, showing sudden, intense interest.
Jacen cradled the thyrsl as they all ran out of the communications center. Along the way, he would find a warm spot