Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 12_ Return to Ord Mantell - Kevin J. Anderson [55]
"That's a surefire way to fail," Jacen said.
"It's true," Zekk said. A look of pain flashed in his emerald eyes.
"You have to be willing first-willing to do things a new way, willing to look forward instead of back."
"And speaking of willing," Han said, "our offer still stands. If you're willing to forget the word 'impossible,' we're willing to help out in any way we can."
Elis closed his eyes tightly, his face etched with grief, as if he were reliving decades of murder, destruction, and hopelessness in his mind.
"What do you say, old man?" he said, turning toward Ynos without opening his eyes. "Are we willing?" A single tear escaped from beneath one lid.
Ynos's voice was rough with emotion. "Our way has helped no one-except for those who sold us weapons. I do not know how we can make this change.
But, yes, I am willing."
Elis opened his eyes. "Where do we begin?"
Anakin's face lit up as he considered the problem. "I think I just might have an idea."
When the young Jedi Knights began cleanup operations on Anobis, they realized it wasn't exactly the type of battle they were accustomed to fighting... but it was a battle nevertheless.
The nondiscriminating weapons planted by both sides had taken countless victims, and not just soldiers in battle. Many of the deadly traps had been set years, even decades before, and continued to take their toll, as much in terror as in blood.
Jacen doubted the planet's scars would ever vanish-completely, but with the temporary cease-fire brought on by grief and despair, the wounds might at least begin to heal.
Han Solo came back from the Millennium Falcon in the landing grotto.
He rubbed his hands briskly together and smiled at his children.
"Well, I just sent out a message, summoned a little help from a few friends."
"We can use all the help we can get," Zekk said.
Han gave one of his famous wry smiles. "You saying a couple of Jedi Knights can't handle everything?"
Lowie stood tall among them, chuffing a suggestion. Em Teedee translated.
"Master Lowbacca believes that perhaps some of the key commandos from each side could help us locate the booby traps that were planted."
:'If they can remember," Jacen said. "There are so many of them."
"Then we've got a lot of work to do," Jaina observed. "What are we waiting for?"
While the others went off on separate missions, Jacen and Zekk made their way to the dangerous mining tunnels. Accompanied by Anja and two downcast farmers they searched for hidden sonic punchers.
Many times, farmers had slipped into the mining tunnels from the cliff face, and so Jacen, Zekk, and Anja, and the others climbed down the steep mountain path outside and entered through the boarded-up entrances to played-out shafts.
They moved along holding shining glowsticks that bore an eery resemblance to miniature lightsabers. The pale, cold light spilled ahead of them into the passageways. The farmers blinked, warily looking in both directions.
Anja followed, tense and seething, lips pressed together, as if she could barely resist the urge to pull out her ancient lightsaber and strike these enemies down. But she contained her anger and focused on disarming the hidden traps.
"We haven't worked these tunnels for years." Anja narrowed her sad eyes at the farmers. "It would have been foolish to plant a sonic puncher here."
The two young men looked sheepishly at each other. "We don't know much about your work," one said. "We just planted the punchers wherever we could."
They turned a jagged corner to a branching of dark tunnels. The glowsticks shone ahead, but pushed back the shadows only a small distance.
"Wait," Zekk said, holding up his hand.
Jacen felt his senses tingling. "Down there," he said, pointing to the left.
One of the farmers shook his head. "No, we didn't go down there.
I'm sure of it."
"Doesn't matter," Zekk said. "We sense danger down there."
"Could be an older trap," one of the men suggested.
"Old or new, we have to get rid of them all," Jacen said. "You three stay here." He and Zekk edged forward, pushing the glowsticks