Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 11_ The Emperor's Plague - Kevin J. Anderson [53]
The breeze picked up, whistling along the knife edges of the barren rock.
The air smelled like hot dust. Tall brown ferns protruded from cracks in the ridge, rattling their dry leaves together. The sun shimmered thick and orange near the horizon. Raaba piled another heavy stone on the cairn. She would finish her work here soon. Her star skimmer might also be tainted with the organism; her own systems might still bear the plague. Raaba had to quarantine herself here, at least for a while.
After seeing Nolaa's long and suffering death, Raaba wanted no part in spreading such a scourge throughout the galaxy. She would wait here, for as long as it took.
A group of large rodents with hard shells on their backs scuttled out of their warrens in the cliffside. They stood in groups like miniature soldiers, watching the Wookiee woman's strange activities. Raaba glanced at them, then turned back to her labor. She piled boulder after boulder atop the place where she had interred the leader of the Diversity Alliance. Finally, she had an impressive monument, a marker to commemorate all the dreams and dedication Nolaa Tarkona had stood for.
Her need for equality and reparations had been valid, but her tactics had taken her beyond the reach of reason.
"Rest in peace, Nolaa Tarkona," she said, looking across the burial mound to the distant horizon. The world was empty, but peaceful and quiet. A good place to think, a good place to heal. Someday she would come back to the galaxy; someday she would find Lowbacca. But only when she was ready.
"Yes, I'm sure," Zekk said, looking directly into Master Luke Skywalker's eyes. "I wasn't ready before, but now I am. It took a while for me to understand that I don't have to use the dark side if I don't want to. I need you to teach me the right way. Teach me to use the light side of the Force, so I can become a true Jedi Knight."
"Do you still have your lightsaber?" Luke asked.
Zekk was surprised.
"No, I got rid of that when I gave up being a Jedi, after the Shadow Academy was destroyed. I'll... I'll have to build a new one."
"We'll do it the right way this time."
Luke Skywalker gave a thoughtful nod.
"It's been a while since we got any new trainees here at the academy-and now we're getting two in one day. I have a feeling we needed some new blood here," he said with a faraway look. "Yes, I think it's high time."
The Jedi Master clasped Zekk's hand. "I know how hard this decision was for you. But a well - considered decision is far better than one made in haste."
He raised his eyebrows and flashed a mischievous smile at his new trainee.
"Would you like to tell my niece, or shall l?"
Zekk grinned. "I'll tell her myself."
All the attendees of the Jedi academy, along with Han and Leia, Anakin, old Peckhum, dozens of New Republic engineers, and a multitude of dignitaries had gathered to celebrate the newly completed reconstruction of the Great Temple. After a ceremony involving several speeches, awards, and commendations in the grand audience chamber, the entire assembly moved outdoors for a celebratory festival.
During the festivities, the young Jedi Knights, both old and new, withdrew to their favorite place by the wide river that flowed past the Great Temple. They waded into the water and spent hours talking and splashing and enjoying the feeling of wholeness that came from being together again. Em Teedee delighted in his new microrepulsorjets, zipping in and out among his friends or bobbing along on the surface of the river.
Lowie actually engaged the little droid in a couple of water games. Lusa and Raynar stayed near the shore, sharing memories of the losses they had experienced and the lessons they had learned. Tenel Ka and Jacen challenged each other to swimming races, while Jaina and Zekk floated lazily and discussed what materials might be most