Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 08_ Diversity Alliance - Kevin J. Anderson [42]
Jacen had worried whether, in their preoccupation with each other, the two might fall prey to some nocturnal hunter. He thought it unlikely, though, since Lowie had his lightsaber and his Jedi senses, and Raaba had a good blaster at her side. He sure wouldn't have wanted to tangle with them.
Tenel Ka had dissuaded Jacen from waiting up for Lowie, pointing out that the two friends might choose to stay up all night to relive old memories or to confide in each other. Lowie and Raaba had a lot of things to work out between them, Tenel Ka pointed out, adding that Lowie had the entry code for the security shield whenever he decided to return to the Rock Dragoh's campsite.
Jacen sat up, ran both hands through his tousled hair, and looked over at his snoozing sister. "Hey, Captain Jaina wake up!" he said. "You're missing half the morning."
Pulling down the lightweight blanket under which she had slept, Jaina rolled over on her mat, propped her chin on both fists, and glowered at her twin as she stifled a yawn. "Well...?, she demanded.
"I was just considering our options. Deep in thought."
"Uh-huh," Jacen said, not believing her for an instant. "What time do you want me to help you with the preflight check? If there's nothing else we can do here on Kuar, shouldn't we get back to the Jedi academy before Uncle Luke gets too concerned?"
Jaina quirked a skeptical eyebrow at him, then rubbed her eyes.
"You're right.
Let's do it after the morning meal, in about an hour." Her face disappeared under her blanket again. "Or longer."
Jacen got up and headed for the Rock Dragoh's refresher unit. To one side of the ship, wearing a supple lizard-hide exercise outfit, her hair freshly braided, Tenel Ka had already nearly finished her morning calisthenics, taking advantage of the cool shadows. Tiny pearls of perspiration glinted on her bare skin.
He saw no sign of any extra sleeping mats spread out on the ground, and guessed from the evidence that Lowie must not have come back after all.
Where, then, had the two Wookiees gone? When he emerged from the refresher unit a moment later, though, Jacen found his sister waiting to use the facilities and Lowbacca perched on the edge of one of the Rock Dragon's crew berths, blinking sleep from his golden eyes.
Glancing around, Jacen asked, Where's Raaba? Did she leave early?"
Lowie smoothed a hand over the dark streak on his forehead. He explained that Raaba had felt uncomfortable about staying in a Hapan ship and declined. Instead, she had chosen to spend the night in one of the Rising Stars tiny sleeping compartments.
"You couldn't have been more persuasive?" Jacen asked.
This time Em Teedee spoke up. "Oh no, Master Jacen. I can certainly attest to the fact that he did his utmost to persuade her, but Mistress Raaba was simply adamant. I'm afraid she has a certain... distaste for human company."
The droid made a sniffing sound. "I tried to add my own compelling arguments, but Master Lowbacca switched off my speaker. Again."
Jacen couldn't help feeling that something was not quite right.
It seemed that Raaba didn't want to be around the companions, and that it might be more than simple embarrassment or uneasiness. What could Em Teedee have meant about her having an aversion to humans? An odd tingling persisted at the back of his mind, but Jacen could not put his finger on what the problem was. For Lowie's sake, he hoped it was nothing too serious.
"Hey, do you mind if I go over to Raaba's ship with you and chat with her for a little while?" Jacen asked. "We didn't get much of a chance to talk last night, and I'd like to get to know your friend a little better."
From Lowbacca's enthusiastic reaction, Jacen would have guessed that the young Wookiee considered his suggestion the most brilliant one he had heard in months.
Obviously, Jacen thought as he followed Lowie past