[Dark Nest] - 1(48)

An amused twinkle came to Luke’s eye, and Han suddenly realized how ridiculous his declaration must have sounded after describing how easily Raynar had destroyed BD-8, disabled the Falcon’s laser cannons, and neutralized Leia’s Noghri bodyguards.

“Or something.”

“Of course, dear,” Leia said, patting his arm. “But I don’t think that will be necessary. Raynar had to know that attack would never work-not with three Jedi Masters aboard.”

“And a Jedi Knight of much experience.” Saba nodded at Leia, though it was impossible for Han to guess whether this was a gesture of agreement or to indicate whom she meant. Barabels were blasted hard to read. “This one thinkz it was just a warning, a way to make us to leave.”

“I hate giving in to bullies,” Han said. “But I’ll make an exception in this case. We can use the Force and Juun’s datapad to track down the twins.”

Leia nodded. “I think it’s time to move on. We’ve found what we came for.”

“We have?” Han asked.

“The Force-vision,” Luke surmised. “What did you see?”

“Just Jacen,” Leia said. “But he gave me the name of a planet and a system. I don’t recognize them, but maybe Juun-“

“Jacen told you the system name?” Mara asked from the pilot’s seat.

“That’s right,” Leia said. “He looked straight at me and said it. Why? “

“That is a strange kind of vision,” Saba said.

“More of a sending,” Luke agreed. “But across time instead of space.”

The three Masters fell silent, leaving Han and Leia to look at each other in puzzlement.

Finally, Han said, “I don’t get it. What’s the problem?”

“I’ve never heard of a Jedi using the Force that way,” Luke said.

“So he’s creative,” Han asked. “He’s my kid. What’d you expect?”

“I think I understand,” Leia said, beginning to sound worried. “The future is always in motion…”

“But not yourz,” Saba said. “When Jacen spoke acrosz time, you became destined to be there.”

“He fixed your future,” Luke said. “At least for those few moments.”

Leia was silent for a moment, then said, “Well, I seem to have survived it. And my future is my own again.”

“I don’t like it,” Mara said. “Not at all. What exactly was he learning while he was gone?”

It was a good question-one Han had been asking himself since Jacen was a teenager.

Mara brought them out of the alley onto a busy avenue of zooming landspeeders and almost managed to keep up by pushing the repulsor drive beyond its top rating. The avenue snaked through the brightly decorated insect spires for perhaps five kilometers, then spilled onto the great boulevard that encircled the Unu’s complex of red towers, and a few minutes later the hoversled was sliding down the long golden throat of the Prime Hangar.

The bugs were clattering about their business, durafilling micropitted hulls, off-loading bales of some spicy-smelling resin, tapping rivets on starships that should have been scrapped when the Empire was a glimmer in Palpatine’s eye. Han began to hope that Saba was right about the attack-that it had just been an impolite invitation to leave.

Then they reached the bay where the Falcon and Shadow had been left, and Mara stopped short.

A trio of rocket shuttles had been squeezed between the two vessels. Maintenance crews were busy stringing webs of fueling hoses across the entire alcove, thwarting all hope of a quick departure. Even worse, Raynar was standing at the foot of the Falcon’s ramp, surrounded by an entourage of bug attendants and huge Unu soldiers. He was looking toward their end of the bay, clearly awaiting their return.

“So much for thinking he was just sending us a warning,” Han said. “I really hate being right all the time.”

Meewalh and Cakhmaim, who had remained behind to watch the ships and begin repairs on the Falcon’s weapons turrets, were peering out from the top of the ramp. The pair hadn’t made much progress. Both sets of the blaster cannons remained pointed at the ship’s aft.

“We should send the Noghri to fetch Tarfang and Juun,” Leia said softly. “Do you think I can risk a comm call?”

“We’ll have to,” Han whispered. “Unless Jacen gave you coordinates to go with that name.”

“Just the name,” Leia said.

“I don’t think this will come to a fight,” Luke said. He rose and joined Han behind Mara, hiding Leia so she could comm the Noghri without being seen. “But Ben, you-“