Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 12_ Return to Ord Mantell - Kevin J. Anderson [28]
"Time to get up, sleepyhead. We want to get an early start."
Jacen, groggy from his lack of rest, blinked up at her. "What for?"
Just then Anakin appeared in the doorway, a travel satchel slung over one shoulder. "I'm all packed," he announced.
"For the fact-finding mission to Anobis," Jaina explained. "Mom said it was a good idea. She sent Dad a transmission this morning of everything the New Republic knows about the planet and their civil war.
Unfortunately, it's not much."
The impact of his sister's words finally sank in, and Jacen came fully awake. Untangling himself from the cushions and blankets, he leapt to his feet. "Where's Dad now?"
"Went down to the docking bay to start preflight checks on the Falcon,"
Jaina said.
"We leave in less than an hour, Jacen-if you're ready," Anakin said, running a skeptical eye over his older brother. "Zekk, Lowie, and Tenel Ka are already there waiting."
As he scrambled to get dressed, Jacen felt miraculously energetic.
They were going to do something to help Anja's planet, he thought.
Maybe they could find a way to banish the sadness from her eyes forever.
The young Jedi Knights were going on a true rescue mission, just like the ones Tionne used to tell them about from Jedi legends.
He flashed his siblings a cheerful grin. "Don't worry. I'll be ready."
By the time Jacen reached the docking bay, Anakin was already at work at the navigation controls and Jaina was examining the external sublight engines. Tenel Ka, Zekk, and Lowie were gathered around Han Solo, being briefed on the upcoming mission.
Seeing Jacen, Han gestured for him to join the other young Jedi Knights.
"So, if this planet is as torn up from the war as Anja says it is," he concluded, "we might just need a few extra helping hands. I think we should all stick together on the Falcon, though. Got plenty of room and there's less chance of running into trouble if we don't slip up." Jaina looked up from her work on the sublight engines.
"But what about the Rock Dragon?" she protested.
Han glanced at the Hapan passenger cruiser. "I think we can station an extra guard or two here without much difficulty."
Tenel Ka's lips curled in a hard smile. "And the vessel has its own...
security systems."
"Indeed, yes," Em Teedee said. "And they are most efficient. I had a fine conversation with them just this morning."
"It's settled then." Han clapped his hands and began giving out assignments.
Jacen was glad to know that all of his friends would be coming along.
They worked well as a team, and he had no doubt that together they could handle anything that happened on Anobis.
He had no sooner begun his task of exwnining the Falcon's lower hull than a familiar figure sauntered into the docking bay. She held herself straight and proud, and her dark, streaked hair trailed behind her like the tail of a comet.
"Hey, what are you doing here, Anja?" Jacen asked, managing to sound brash, if not outright rude. He felt himself turn red with embarrassment as he realized his blunder.
The young woman seemed not to notice. She bent to look at him beneath the Falcon's hull, her big eyes serious. "After what happened yesterday, I wanted to make sure that your ship had come to no harm."
"Hey, that's kind of a coincidence," Jacen said. He started to stand to get a better look at her, but only succeeded in smacking his head on the belly of the Falcon. He quickly ducked down again. "What I mean is, we're all on our way to Anobis-to help your people, like you suggested."
Anja cocked her head slightly as she digested this information, then shrugged as if this were no more than she had expected. "I'm on my way back there myself."
"Hey, Jacen. Don't forget to check those two rear struts when you're finished," his father's voice called from inside.
"Uh, Dad?" Jacen called back. "Do we have room for another passenger?"
"Depends. Who-?" Han jumped off the ramp to land beside the ship, and his question