Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 10_ Jedi Bounty - Kevin J. Anderson [20]
Since the Twiqeks could not easily spread out into the inhospitable territory of the frozen night side or the burning day side, they were forced either to dig new tunnels or to kill each other off and keep their population to a manageable level.
Nolaa had chosen isolated tunnels far from the cavern cities for her headquarters. From there she could direct space traffic and ryll mining operations. In her takeover she had disposed of the leaders of the most powerful clans. Now she controlled the planet through the ostensibly noble and peaceful rule of the Diversity Alliance--not to mention a carefully chosen assassination here or there when it became absolutely unavoidable.
Tenel Ka crept forward, using all senses: touch, sight, hearing, smell...
and the Force. The air tasted of damp coolness and rock dust with a sour undertone of moss and fungus, and the faint metallic odor of minerals and old blood.
Tenel Ka motioned for the others to follow her as she hurried through an uncomfortably long stretch of corridor. She normally enjoyed running at full speed, but here she felt naked and exposed. Some guard might see them and sound the alarm at any moment. But she heard no movement, no footsteps, only a trickle of water that ran from a crack in the ceiling above.
Tenel Ka chose another dim tunnel and turned left. She had just turned again into a side passage when she heard the clomping of something large around a blind corner ahead. In fact, several somethings--or someones.
Jacen brought himself to a skidding halt, and she pushed him back the way they had come.
The young Jedi Knights scrambled for cover.
"In here, quick!" Jaina whispered, pointing to a small storage alcove.
"NTe've got to hide."
A tarpaulin just large enough to conceal them hung across the opening.
A bright blue triangle had been painted on the rock beside the opening; Tenel Ka did not recognize the symbol, but this was no time to speculate about what' it might mean. Jaina drew the tarpaulin aside and tugged Raynar into the alcove. "What are you waiting for?"
They ducked inside, and Em Teedee barely managed to zip beneath the thick cloth before it dropped back into place. The four sat crouched in the shadows, holding their breath, listening intently.
Raynar looked pale and frightened, but ready to fight if necessary.
Jaina sat next to him, wearing a grim expression. Though the caves were cool, Tenel Ka could feel perspiration trickling down her back beneath her scant reptile armor.
With a clank and a shuffle, three hulking guards rounded the corner.
Their heavy footsteps pounded closer, accompanied by grunts and snuffling sounds.
Around the edge of the tarpaulin, Tenel Ka saw three squat Gamorrean guards stride by on patrol. The huge brutes seemed wary, their piggish eyes open for any intruders. The guard on the right stumbled and lurched into the one in the middle, who shoved him back. The Gamorreans snorted at each other, then continued plodding along.
Tenel Ka narrowed her granite-gray eyes and heaved a faint sigh of relief after the guards moved past the hidden alcove.
Jacen touched Tenel Ka's arm and indicated the storeroom where they had taken refuge.
"Hey, look at this," he whispered.
"Oh my!" Em Teedee brightened his optical sensors to help light up the shelves. "I daresay this is quite an impressive array of firepower!"
All around them, shelves were piled high with blasters and laser rifles, thermal detonators and sonic grenades. The weapons were stacked haphazardly, stockpiled by the Diversity Alliance m just in case they should ever need them for an ultimate battle against their human enemies, no doubt.
Tenel Ka felt cold. Nolaa Tarkona was ready for an all-out war against the New Republic, even if she didn't capture Bornan Thul.
Now, it was more important than ever that they escapewnot just to get their friend Low-bacca to safety, but also to warn the New Republic