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A tingle of fear skittered up and down Jacen's spine. Tenel Ka touched his arm and he could feel the tension rippling through her as well.

"Something is not right," she said.

"I know it," he answered, frowning. He knew they had been quiet, using their Jedi skills, but in such an uninhabited area, he found it hard to believe that the Ugnaught ahead didn't suspect their presence.

The furry creature popped down another dropshaft, and Jacen, Tenel Ka, and Lowie hurried so they wouldn't lose sight of him. "I wish I knew where he was going," Jacen muttered. "This is like a scaredmynock chase."

At the bottom of the shaft they emerged into a large storage area, and Jacen immediately sensed the danger. The large chamber was silent, muffled with shadows; they saw no sign of their quarry whatsoever, though he had dropped into this room only seconds ago.

The three companions stood together, stock still in the shadows.

Jacen glanced around, his Jedi senses at the peak of alertness. He saw no movement. A shroud of deathly quiet hung around them. It was too quiet.

Lowie snuffled, trying to detect scents in the musty air. Each breath echoed in the enclosed storage room. Em Teedee's golden optical sensors glowed in the dimness as he floated above them, unconsciously marking their position.

Tenel Ka pressed closer to Jacen, her back against his. The contact sent a tingle through his senses, though he would have enjoyed it more had they not been in such a tense situation.

Lowie growled deep in his throat. The Wookiee formed no actual words, but the miniaturized translating droid relayed the meaning anyway.

"Master Lowbacca believes the Ugnaught has led us into a trap."

Just as Jacen's hand twitched toward the lightsaber at his waist, all the room's glowpanels flashed on, dazzling their eyes with the burst of light. Blinking furiously in an attempt to focus, Jacen saw only blocky shadows, stacked crates, and hunks of decommissioned machinery wrapped in transparent sheeting.

A moment later seven burly, murderous-looking creatures stepped forward, a mix of races: some human, some craggy-faced brutes. One glistening alien dripped blue slime in tiny puddles onto the floor plates.

The seven were armed with blasters, grenade launchers, and various long-distance weapons-and each of them looked mean and scarred and intent on mayhem.

An icicle of dread slid down Jacen's back. Even three Jedi Knights would not be able to resist a combined attack from these hired killers.

"Don't move," snarled the slime-dripping alien. Weapons came up and took aim, holding them at bay.

A broad-shouldered human with a hairy face from eyebrows to chin growled in a wet, phlegmy voice, "Are these the ones?" One side of his face appeared to have been eaten away by acid.

The seven thugs pulled out images printed on evaporating flimiplast.

The patchy-furred Ugnaught scurried out from his hiding place behind a rusty disconnected pumping generator. He chittered and squealed, pointing vigorously at them.

"Yeah, I know they were following you. Good job," the hairyfaced man gargled. "But this is only half the number we're supposed to kill.

Where are the rest-the Lando guy and the other kids?"

The Ugnaught squealed something. Em Teedee said, "Shall I translate what the Ugnaught has just explained?"

"No," Tenel Ka said quickly.

The Wookiee roared, and Jacen nodded. "I agree, Lowie-if we can't fight them, we'd better turn around and run!"

The thugs shouted in surprise and fired off scattered blaster shots as Jacen, Lowie, and Tenel Ka bolted toward the nearest exit door. Their feet clanging on the metal decks of the lower levels in Port Town, the young Jedi Knights dashed out of the room, sprinting ahead as fast as they could go. Jacen swung around metal-walled corners, his sweaty hands squeaking on grimy durasteel plates as he grabbed them for balance..

Lowie banged his head on the low ceiling and yowled in pain, but kept charging ahead.