Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 08_ Diversity Alliance - Kevin J. Anderson [12]
Jaina eyed the weapons appraisingly.
"I'd love to try them sometime. Dad always lets us practice with the guns in the Millennium Falcon."
Aryn's eyebrows went up. "Ah, yes, that doesn't surprise.me. Your father always was a bit of a rogue. I met him briefly, on Alderaan, when "
"You know Han Solo?" Raynat broke in, his eyes wide.
Aryn laughed. "Not really. It was decades ago, before I was married, and he visited Alderaan for a day. Of course, he was traveling under another name at the time.
We just happened to meet. Back then, I thought he was very handsome. He even tried to steal me from your father. Bornan was rather jealous."
Aryn's fine-boned face dimpled in a warm smile.
"Even though Han has been a respectable man for many years, I'm afraid Bornan may still harbor a bit of a grudge."
"Preparing to come out of hyperspace," the helmsman announced in a loud voice.
"Very well," Tyko said. "You, over there."
He pointed to a man in a security uniform near the navigational station.
"Begin plotting our next jump, just to be on the safe side."
"Kusk," the man replied. "We've been introduced several times."
Tyko blinked. "I beg your pardon?"
"Kusk, sir it's my name."
Uncle Tyko made a face as if he had bitten into a chunk of rancid Neff cheese.
"Very well--Kusk. I suggest you begin plotting our course immediately or we'll stuff you into an escape pod and shoot you toward the nearest inhabited system. Do I make myself dear?"
"Yes, sir," Kusk gritted between clenched teeth.
Jaina made a mental note never to cross Raynar's uncle Tyko. She wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of his anger.
Just then the scene in the viewports all around the bridge changed.
Starlines shortened from glowing streaks into specks of concentrated brilliance, and they were alone against the blackness of space.
Completely alone. Not a single ship from the fleet had made the jump with the Tradewyn.
No. Not alone. Something else was here... waiting for them, ready to pounce.
Lowie saw it first and sounded the alarm.
"Oh, my! We're doomed," Em Teedee wafted.
There in the viewscreen closest to them came a wicked,looking ship that was no part of their fleet. Its weapons were powered up, ready to fire.
Jacen wished he could think of something to do.
"We're receiving a transmission, Lady Aryn," the communications specialist said.
"Priority one."
"Put it on the front viewscreen," Tyko snapped.
The comm specialist looked back at Aryn.
She nodded.
A face masked by a dark flight helmet appeared on screen.
"Tradewyn, this is the High Roller," the harsh voice came over the comm speakers. "I demand that you release to me either Aryn Dro Thul or Raynar Thul immediately. If you refuse, I will be forced to destroy your ship."
Although this seemed like an absurd demand to Jacen, he was still surprised when Uncle Tyko gave a bark of laughter.
"This ship has the finest defenses and weaponry that can be bought. Don't force us to prove it."
On the screen, the helmeted figure shrugged. "Perhaps you have the best defenses that can be bought legally, that is, but I have access to sources you couldn't even begin to imagine." An energy bolt streaked out from the ship and struck just below the forward viewport.
"If you give me the woman or the boy," the harsh voice said, "I won't need to demonstrate any further. You have ten minutes to decide."
"Screen off," Tyko snapped. The view-screen went blank. "We need to clear the bridge of everyone but essential bridge crew. Kusk, take Lady Aryn down to the security shelter at the center of the ship. Don't let anyone near her until this threat has been dealt with. Get moving! Raynar, you go too."
Kusk sprang up from the navigational console with commendable speed, now that he had been chided by Tyko, and hustled Raynar and his mother from