Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 10_ Jedi Bounty - Kevin J. Anderson [27]
Fonterrat's navicomputer must contain the location of the place where the scavenger had found the plague. The two small samples must have been Fonterrat's bargaining tools, samples to show his good faith so that the Diversity Alliance would barter with him for more. But Fonterrat had not trusted Nolaa Tarkona enough--with good reason--to sell her the information directly. And in the end, something had caused Fonterrat to warn Bornan Thul about the danger he carried.
The scavenger 'had clearly wanted to profit from the information, but maybe he had hoped the Diversity Alliance would never use it. Nolaa, however, had used the sample he had given her.
Indiscriminately.
Yes, it was possible, Zekk thought. But where could such a horrible plague have come from? A planet with no human population? Somewhere in the Outer Rim? But surely a planet with a virus so deadly to humans would have been reported long ago.
Or the disease could be some substance that had been found by a mining company in an asteroid or a comet. It was even possible that some crazed alien on an uncharted world had actually developed the virus on purpose.
In any case, Zekk knew he'd have to gain Bornan Thul's confidence, if he was to be of any help to the man. Thul couldn't protect such an important secret forever. Zekk would be able to fend him as soon as the homing beacon activated.
And if he managed to get a lead on Bornan Thul, it wouldn't be long before one of the other bounty hunters was successful as well... someone sly and skillful like Boba Fett.
Still staring at the glowing streak of comet in front of him, Zekk shook his head. He couldn't allow that to happen. If anyone could get Bornan Thul to trust him at this point, it would be his son Raynar.
Zekk set his mouth in a grim line. He hoped Raynar would believe him when he explained the urgency of the situation. Zekk thought he had established a basis for trust with Raynar on Mechis III, but he'd have to convince the young man once and for all that he no longer wished to collect the bounty on his father.
Zekk now knew exactly where he wanted to go.
It was time to pay a visit to Yavin 4. With growing anticipation, he leaned forward and entered a new set of coordinates into his navicomputer.
Zekk turned the Lightning Rod in a quick arc and peeled away toward the Jedi academy, leaving the comet to streak onward alone in the darkness.
TENEL KA WATCHED one of the Gamorrean guards shove Raynar, who fell hard against the mine car that would take them deeper underground.
"I'm cooperating--there's no need to get rough!" the young man objected.
He regained his balance and stumbled onto the personel transport vehicle.
When the guard muttered something vaguely conciliatory, two other Gamorreans cuffed their apologetic companion.
In silence the young Jedi Knights climbed aboard the mine car and eased themselves onto the dirty metal seats. The guards held tight to handles beside their seats as the vehicle accelerated with a lurch.
The mine car picked up speed, carrying them farther from Nolaa Tarko-na's throne room, farther from their impounded ship... and farther from Lowie.
Staring out the open sides of the vehicle, Tenel Ka watched the walls blur by. She noticed places where chunks of rock had broken away, as well as scars and craters left by blaster fire that had ricocheted off the stone. Much of the fighting during Nolaa's revolution must have taken place down here, when the old Twi'Lek clans had fallen to the reactionary Diversity Alliance.
When the vehicle stopped, the companions were ordered to get off.
Though they all stood immediately, Hovrak grabbed Tenel Ka by the arm and yanked hard. "Stop gawking at the walls, human--you've got work to do."
Tenel Ka's poise was good, and she managed