Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 14_ Crisis at Crystal Reef - Kevin J. Anderson [5]
The Lightning Rod rapidly left the tall Massassi pyramid behind, flying low over the jungle canopy to foil any scanning attempts. The tangled foliage was like a lumpy carpet below her. After she had rounded the sharp curve of the small moon, Anja arced off into space.
Determined to let nothing distract her from her goal, Anja ignored the comm chatter as alarms were raised. She would be gone well before the defensive fleet could intercept her.
Anja set the coordinates in the Lightning Rod's navicomputer, filling them in from memory. Spice... she had to have spice. There was no time to weigh the many options: she would go directly to the source.
Starlines unfolded around her and the Lightning Rod plunged into hyperspace... heading for Kessel.
????? it was the start of as perfect a morning as Zekk could ever remember.
Outside, bright sunshine poured down on the Jedi academy, and a fresh breeze carrying the scents of a thousand luscious jungle plants waited in through the thick stone window openings. The young Jedi Knights were used to getting up very early, and today they had special reason, since Peckhum was due to leave.
At morning meal, Jaina greeted Zekk and Peckhum with a hug.
There had been no mistaking the pride in her eyes when she saw the new lightsaber hanging at Zekk's belt. "Looks like a fine weapon, Zekk.
If you want a sparring partner later on, come see me."
"After I show Master Skywalker."
"Hey," Jacen said as he sauntered in, grinning. "Two Gamoffean guards are walking down a narrow, deserted canyon when suddenly a rancor comes out and starts chasing them. One of the Gamoffeans stops to put on his best running shoes. "Don't waste time,' shouts the other one, 'you can't outrun a rancor with those!" 'I don't have to outrun a rancor,' says the first one as he finishes lacing his shoes, 'I just have to outrun you!"
" A chorus of chuckles and groans rewarded him.
With additional jokes, Jacen was in rare form during the meal, and they all laughed so hard it was difficult not to choke as they ate. Tenel Ka offered a rare toast of friendship to the entire group seated at their table. Lowie surprised them all by presenting a dramatic Wookiee speech while Em Teedee provided hilariously inaccurate translations, which the companions now recognized with their increasing grasp of Lowbacca's native language.
Jaina, sparkling with good humor, teased old Peckhum fliroughout the meal and squeezed Zekk's hand under the table. The old spacer laughed and enjoyed the attention.
Even when it was time for Peckhum to go, Zekk's mood could not be dampened. "I'm sorry you couldn't meet Ania," he told the spacer.
"I knocked on the door to her quarters, but she didn't answer. Must be keeping to herself again. She's got... a lot of things to work out in her head. Besides, her communication skills aren't always the greatest."
As they left the temple and walked through the dim corridors leading out, old Peckhum gave Zekk a mock stern look. "Speaking of, uh, communication skills-if I hadn't switched schedules with another freighter pilot so that I could come to Yavin 4 and visit my favorite Jedi trainee, I might not've heard about your progress for another month.
You didn't mention you were going to build a lightsaber last week when I talked to you."
Zekk hunched his shoulders. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I guess maybe I was afraid I'd fail. There was always a chance that I might build a faulty weapon and I'd have to throw it away and start all over.
Worse, I thought maybe the wrong kind of blade might try to draw me back toward the dark side."
The old spacer gave a thoughtful nod. "I understand that, but don't forget that you can trust me. I'd like to know whenever something important is going on in your life. I'm always willing to rearrange my schedule so I can share a special occasion with you."
Jaina snorted. "And you can put that nonsense about going over to the dark side behind