Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 13_ Trouble on Cloud City - Kevin J. Anderson [54]
Maybe at least Jacen could change their focus.
Behind them, the black patrol car burst out of the thunderhead knot and into the angry pack of velsers. In utter panic, the Wing Guard pilot swooped up and around.
With the sudden flurry to distract the furious flying creatures behind them, Jacen applied full speed, roaring away from the dangerous flock.
He used his thoughts to focus the velsers' attention on the black craft, their pursuers.
"Better prey," he said, mumbling aloud. "A better target. Ignore us."
Jacen could think of no other way for them to escape.
The velsers swirled and turned to concentrate their vicious attack on the black cloud car. The pilot swerved, trying to flee, but the velsers were much too fast, much too intent on destruction.
As Jacen flew farther and farther from the roiling thunderhead, he saw the velsers attack. His craft damaged, the traitorous Wing Guard pilot spun out of control and dropped down toward the deep gray soup of the storm. Lightning flashed all around.
The velsers swirled in a frenzy and renewed their attack. The black cloud car plunged out of sight, and the velsers flew after it. All of them vanished deep into the stormy grayness.
Another chorus of loud thunder shook the sky. Jacen spun the vehicle about and began the long journey back to Cloud City.
Together again on Cloud City, the young Jedi Knights, Anja, and Lando, though exhausted and ragged from their ordeals, waited for the big show to begin. They sat on a set of open-air scaffoldings, now converted into spectator seats. The gentle winds ruffled Jaina's straight brown hair and she blinked into the bright rising sun as Bespin's twelvehour day began again.
They had found prime observation spots on the hover-scaffolding that had originally been erected for polishing and replating parts of the city's external hull. Lowie had climbed to the highest level and dangled his hairy feet down as he held on with one lanky arm. He seemed not the least bit bothered by his precarious position, high above nothing.
"Master Lowbacca, do be careful," Em Teedee scolded, but the Wookiee paid him little heed.
Lando reached over and tousled Jacen's curly hair. "Why is it that every time I try to take a simple vacation with you kids, something disastrous happens?"
"I have a feeling we just draw adventure to ourselves," Jacen replied.
"A genuine vacation would be nice one of these days," Jaina said.
"But since we're trying to be real Jedi Knights, I don't suppose there'll ever be a time when the New Republic doesn't need us."
Anja sat off to one side, withdrawn and quiet, threading her fingers through her honey-streaked hair. Something was obviously bothering her...
but then again, Jaina had rarely seen the older girl be anything other than bothered. She wondered if Anja was more shaken by their recent adventures than she dared to admit.
"I'm proud of all of you, you know," Lando said. "None of what we did can bring Cojahn back to me or his family, but I do know that' we've all done a good thing. I told his wife about what really happened to him and she seemed comforted to know we found out the truth.
We've exposed a dangerous criminal element. Black Sun is on the move again."
"Yes," Jaina said, frowning. "We'll have to call Mom and give her all the information we have."
"I'm sure the Chief of State of the New Republic can set a few law enforcement wheels in motion," Zekk agreed.
Tenel Ka nodded firmly. "We must be certain they are not traitorous security forces, like some of the Wing Guard here on Cloud City."
"This would never have happened when I was Baron-Administrator.
I guess you just can't find good help these days." Lando shook his head.
"Meantime, I'll just have to be content with helping to expose some of the tainted Exex and Wing Guard members,