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Young Jedi Knights

Book 13

Under a Black Sun

Trouble on Cloud City

by Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta

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This one is for Dave Dorman whose brilliant cover art has made the Young Jedi Knights series shine

Special thanks to Matt Bialer of the William Morris Agency, without whom this third story are might never have seen the light of day; Sue Rostoni, Allan Kausch, and Lucy Autrey Wilson at Lucas Licensing for their valuable input; Ginjer Buchanan and Jessica Faust at Berkley for their support throughout this series; Dan Wallace for his research and resource materials; the work of Brian Daley, Al Williamson, and Archie Goodwin in providing background for our story; Debra Ray at AnderZone for her personal support and cheerleading when we needed it most; Catherine Ulatowski and Sarah Jones at WordFire, Inc for keeping everything running smoothly; and, as always, Jonathan Cowan for being our first test-reader.

Jaina Solo, daughter of the legendary pilot and smuggler Han Solo, ran through the dense jungles of Yavin 4 as if her life depended upon it.

Crashing sounds in the nearby underbrush bore testament to the fact that she was not alone.

Her mother, former princess of Alderaan and the New Republic's current Chief of State, would have been aghast at Jaina's disheveled appearance.

Her straight brown hair dripped with sweat. Leaves, branches, and trailing vines whipped at her face, though she hardly seemed to notice.

She let the Force guide her footsteps. The rich spicy scent of jungle foliage filled her lungs. Jaina ran headlong through the alternating light and shadows of late afternoon, out of breath.

The crashing sounds came not from pursuing enemies, however, but from her companions: the ginger-furred Wookiee Lowbacca, and Tenel Ka, princess of the Hapes system and warrior from Dathomir.

Still, Jaina fled-not from her friends or from the Jedi academy where she trained, but from a feeling that she couldn't shake, a sense that something was not right. The feeling hounded her like a nek battle dog snapping at her heels. From far behind, Lowie bellowed a suggestion, and Jaina veered off onto a narrow path that would lead them to a clearing near the river.

"Got it! Almost there," she yelled without slowing down. The unpleasant feeling still followed her like some vicious beast ready to pounce. She hurdled a Massassi tree that had fallen across the path.

Tenel Ka and Lowie converged behind her and leapt over the fallen tree.

Jaina and her friends burst through the dense foliage and into the clearing by the broad, slow-moving river.

Near the water stood a boy, about Jaina's age, with a round face and spiky blond hair. Beside him was a centaurifoffn young woman whose rich cinnamon hair matched the color of her glossy flanks. Her long mane flowed down her bare back. The two had been skipping stones on the water, but at Jaina's approach, the blond-haired young man looked up.

"Well, well, well. Glad you could make it," he said.

"Hi, Raynar, Lusa," Jaina said, coming to a stop and panting hard.

"Are you all right?" Raynar asked.

"The opportunity to exercise was most welcome," Tenel Ka said.

Lowie and the Wookiee's miniaturized translating droid, Em Teedee, added their greetings. Lowie combed his long fingers through the dark streak in his windblown fur.

Lusa gave them a measuring look. "Is anything wrong?"

Jaina shrugged uncomfortably, still unable to pinpoint the source of her disturbing feelings. Avoiding her friends' gaze, she took off her flightsuit and removed her boots.

Raynar glanced around. "Where are Jacen and Zekk? Didn't they come with you?"

Jaina sighed and waded into the river. Once in the shallows, she dug her toes into the mud and pondered. This, of course, was the heart of the problem.

"Our friends Jacen and Zekk opted to assist Anja Gallandro with her lightsaber training," Tenel Ka explained. "She already owns a weapon, but wishes to become more proficient in its use."

Raynar looked disappointed.