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Finally Rastur became aware of Zekk, his eyes lighting up with a glimmer of welcome. "We're glad you've come home, Zekk-now, more than ever, we could use your help. Your people need you."

For the next few days, Zekk worked harder than he ever had in his life, filling the Lightning Rod's cargo holds to capacity and flying up to the refugee stations in orbit. He got to know some of the supply runners as well as several of the colonists.

Many claimed to remember him as a child; others didn't, but welcomed him anyway.

Despite the impending disaster and devastation, everyone on Ennth seemed willing to pull together as a team for a common goal, salvaging what they could from their homes and their lives, fleeing to safety before the groundquakes and volcanoes and tidal waves destroyed everything.

Many people died in the rush, some through carelessness, others through accidents. A few older colonists even dropped from sheer exhaustion, left behind to be buried by the violent upheaval of their adopted world.

In the frantic command center, Rastur never seemed to sleep, directing hundreds of shuttle flights, deciding which shipments had to go first, which colonists would be stationed on which refugee station. Shinnan did her best to assist him, taking care of the people, listening to complaints and suggestions... somehow managing to hold it all together.

One day later that week, lightning struck across the landscape like turbolaser bolts, blasting sand and lava rock. The winds picked up, making it dffficult for the last cargo ships to take off safely. With his long dark hair tied in a ponytail to keep it out of the way, Zekk remained behind to dismantle the remaining computers from the command center, haphazardly packing them into the last few battered crates, then hauling all nonessential components away.

Rastur turned from his central post, his expression even grimmer than his usual perpetual frown. "We've just lost Heartland Settlement to lava," he said. 'A chain of volcanoes ripped it to pieces and incinerated the remaining structures. Luckily the last flights had already taken off. No casualties. Minimal loss of equipment." The other workers in the command center set up a ragged cheer. "We're all finished here at Another Hopetown, Rastur," Shinnan said. "All that remains is to pack up our own quarters and possessions."

"All right, I'm glad we left that until last.

Everything else is taken care of, so I'll be able to sleep better at night,' he said, "once we get off the surface and up to the refugee stations."

Shinnan stepped to the doorway of the command center. Zekk followed her, ready to offer his help, though his arms and legs felt ready to drop off.

Utterly exhausted, he still felt exhilarated by how much they had accomplished despite seemingly impossible odds. Though they had suffered casualties, Ennth had been successfully evacuated.

Then the groundquake struck.

Not just a tremor like those he had experienced hundreds of times in the last few days-the seismic shock felt as if a Super Star Destroyer had crashed down on the planet, slamming into the world's crust like a giant mallet. The remaining computer stands inside the command center fell over. Other buildings surrounding the near-deserted square swayed and rocked.

One of the tall statues toppled and smashed on the cobblestones.

While Zekk held the door frame and fought for balance, Shinnan sprinted across the open square. Bobbing and weaving, she headed directly toward the low stone structures that had served as living quarters for the evacuation personnel.

"Shinnan, no!" Zekk cried. He whirled to look at Rastur. "Where is she going?"

"To our home-to rescue some things she needs."

Zekk raced after her, feeling a powerful dread grow within him. He wondered if it was just his imagination... or an echo of premonition through. the Force. He had been avoiding using his Jedi powers since the Shadow Academy's defeat, afraid he would be too tempted to make use of the dark side again.

But now he definitely sensed the