Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 07_ Shards of Alderaan - Kevin J. Anderson [5]
The sunlight poured through a deep window slit in one wall. But where was the trickling sound coming from?
"Water," he said in a hoarse croak.
"Hey, you're awake," a familiar-sounding voice exclaimed. The grinning face of Jacen Solo appeared beside Zekk. "Did you ask for water? I've got some right here." He pressed a cup to Zekk's lips, and Zekk swallowed gratefully.
"Jaina put in the wall-fountain while you were unconscious," Jacen explained "This room didn't have running water, and she thought you might need it."
"Unconscious?" Zekk tried to push himself up to a sitting position.
"How long?"
"Whoa there," Jacen said, propping a cushion behind Zekk and pushing the young man back onto it. "Better not rush things, or you might have another relapse." Zekk found his head swimming and subsided onto the cushion. "Another relapse?
Jacen, where have I been?"
"You gave us all a pretty big scare, you know," Jacen said. 'We thought you were just fine after a day or two in the bacta tank on GemDiver Station, but when we got back here to Yavin 4, you collapsed.
You've been in a coma for days now. Uncle Luke says there are some injuries a bacta tank just can't heal." Jacen's brows drew together over his brandy-brown eyes, and he ran a hand through his tousled curls.
"Blaster bolts, for a while there we weren't sure you were going to make it."
The words brought an image flashing through Zekk's mind from the Shadow Academy's final battle with the Jedi acadthe Lightning Rod trailing smoke and flames. 'Peckhum?" he asked.
"Right over there." Jacen pointed to a corner of the room, where the old spacer sat dozing in a chair, grizzled chin propped on one fist.
"Hasn't left your side since the day you collapsed. Want me to wake him up?"
Zekk shook his head, a motion that made his temples throb. It was enough to know that his old friend was still alive and well.
"Let him sleep,' he rasped, then took another drink of cool, delicious water.
"I think you're really going to like it here at the Jedi academy, Zekk,"
Jacen said.
"Uncle Luke says you can stay and train with us, if you want to. We've all taken turns tending you: Jaina, Lowie-even Tenel Ka.
Of course, she's not quite sure she trusts you yet, but I think shell come around. I've been bringing my stump lizard along with me when I watch you. He and his mate found their way back to me after the explosion-I think they hid down in the hangar bay-so they must have good luck. Hey, I can't wait to tell everybody that you're awake and feeling better. Dyou think you could eat if I brought you some food?"
Zekk nodded uncertainly.
"Great, I'll go get you something," Jacen said. "And that reminds me of a joke. I'll tell it to you when I get back. Can you watch my stump lizard for me for a few minutes while I'm gone? Everything's going to be just fine now, Zekk. You'll see."
With that Jacen dashed out the door, leaving Zekk to stare after him wondering.
But he wasn't at all convinced that everything would be 'Just fine."
Ever again.
A SOFT RAIN fell outside the Jedi academy, so gentle that Tenel Ka hardly noticed it. Clothed only in her lizard hide outfit, she had long ago trained her body to endure variations in her envirorunent, refusing to let anything distract her from important matters. Focused on restoring the damaged practice courtyard beside the Great Temple, the warrior girl moved swiftly about her tasks.
Even without her left arm, Tenel Ka never assumed she should do less work than the others. The need to pull her own weight was too much a part of her personality for her to consider anything else.
Tenel Ka acknowledged that her pride had been a major cause of the lightsaber accident, and she had come to view the loss of her arm as a test of her mettle, a challenge to her persistence.
Tenel Ka had been an excellent gymnast, swimmer, and climber when she'd had both hands,