Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 10_ Jedi Bounty - Kevin J. Anderson [4]
"Your information is most useful," Tenel Ka said. "We may need to do further research. Thank you, Grandmother."
"We'd better have a talk with Lusa," Jacen said.
RAYNAR WINCED AS the green plasteel medical droid methodically cleaned the gashes on his thigh.
"Is it very painful, Master Raynar? Em Teedee asked. The little translater bobbed in the air just above the foot of the narrow padded table in the Jedi academy's tiny infirmary.
In spite of the throbbing streaks of fire that shot along his thigh, Raynar didn't want to appear weak in front of Lusa and Jaina. He shook his head. "I'll be just fine now." But he couldn't control his grimace when the medical droid none-too-gently slapped a graft-patch across the deep scratches from the rakhmar.
Lusa gave an impatient stamp with one hoof and moved closer to Raynar.
He was suddenly aware that the cool, antiseptic smell of the room had been replaced by a warm scent of woods and spices. He breathed deeply and relaxed a bit.
"Thank you, I'll take it from here," Lusa said, shooing away the medical droid. "Jaina, please hand me that anesthetic gel and those bandages.
Raynar watched with detached surprise as the centauriform girl shook back her cinnamon mane and briskly cleansed her hands. With a few quick swipes of anesthetic gel, she deadened the pain in his thigh.
Then she began to bandage his leg, her movements deft and practiced.
"You look like you've done this before," Jaina observed, settling onto a stool beside the table.
Lusa shrugged one bare shoulder. "During my time with the Diversity Alliance I became an accomplished medic. Emergencies often arose when we were rescuing the downtrodden. There were many wounds to heal....
"She smiled apologetically as she continued winding the bandage around Raynar's thigh. "This is the first time I've helped a human, though."
She secured the bandage in place and rested her hand lightly over the wounded area.
"I... you do good work," Raynar managed, feeling a sudden feverish heat that had nothing to do with his wounds. "Thank you."
"That's a useful skill," Jaina said. She grinned and winked conspiratorially at Raynar, then looked across the table at Lusa. "I think our patient ought to heal quite well now. Maybe we should ask Uncle Luke about teaching you to use the Force to diagnose--" Just then the door to the infirmary opened and a Bothan soldier marched in. The simian-faced alien wore the uniform of the New Republic Forces stationed in orbit around the Jedi academy.
His eyes narrowed when he saw Lusa, and his pointed ears twitched.
Em Teedee spun in midair to face the intruder.
"I beg your pardon, sir. Might I be of any assistance?
Do you have business here in the infirmary, or can I direct you elsewhere?"
The soldier seemed nonplussed and didn't answer immediately. He appeared to be pounds xated on Lusa. Raynar, who didn't like the way the Bothan was looking at her, propped himself up on one elbow. A sense of foreboding tickled at the back of his mind--or maybe it was just a pang of jealousy....
"Can we help you find someone?" Jaina prompted.
"No," the Bothan said. He took a step forward.
Raynar, feeling unaccountably protective, stretched out his free hand from where he lay and rested it on Lusa's back. Jaina must have been uncomfortable too, he realized, for out of the corner of his eye he saw her hand move to the hilt of her lightsaber. Lusa's back muscles tensed.
Raynar threaded his fingers through her mane.
He took a deep breath and felt the Force flow through him.
"Hey, how's the patient? All fixed up now?"
Jacen asked, trotting through the infrrmary door with Tenel Ka beside him. He stopped short when he saw the New Republic soldier and eyed him curiously.
Tenel Ka was instantly on her guard. She arched an eyebrow. "Do you require assistance,