[Galaxy Of Fear] - 11(12)

A Sullustan trotted past them. “Hello, Eyal!” the Sullustan called out.

“Hello, Dr’aan!” Eyal called back as the Sullustan passed by.

Tash did a double take as the small Sullustan hurried away. “Did you see that?” she asked.

“What?” Zak asked.

“That Sullustan,” she sputtered. “He-He looked just like Dr’uun.”

Zak turned, but by that time the second Sullustan was out of sight. He shrugged. “Maybe all Sullustans look alike,” he said wryly. “Maybe all humans look alike to them.”

Tash ignored the joke. “Maybe it was the jumpsuit,” she muttered. “They’re all wearing the same uniform.”

She looked at Eyal as if to ask a question, but their guide was too absorbed by Hoole and his small remote.

Hoole entered a code into the remote, and watched as the screen showed him a series of signals. “The remote shows that all systems are functioning. The Shroud should be here in approximately two hours and forty minutes.”

Eyal looked extremely relieved. “This is the best news we’ve had. Will you excuse me? I need to tell some of the others.”

“Of course,” Hoole replied. “What should we do in the meantime?”

“Feel free to look around,” Eyal said. “Or you can walk back down to the river. It is pleasant there. I’ll be back shortly.” He hurried out of the building.

Hoole, Zak, and Tash exchanged glances. Hoole nodded for them to follow him, and they left the hangar. Hoole led them back toward the river, where they sat in the grass near the wooden bridge. Beside them, the wide river flowed quietly and peacefully. They were well out of earshot of the Rebels.

“Do you get the feeling these people are a few starships short of a fleet?” Zak said.

“At least one starship short,” Tash laughed, thinking of their ridiculous ship.

“I agree there is much to question,” Hoole said. “Starting with the fact that anyone is here at all. When I first heard mention of Dantooine and considered it as a place for us to hide, I learned that there was an abandoned Rebel base. However, the Rebels left because the Empire had discovered them. It is highly unlikely that they would use the base again once it had been exposed.”

“Although,” Tash replied, “it’s not such a bad idea. Why would the Empire come back to a place that was already abandoned? Maybe it was a good place for the Rebels after all.”

“But these Rebels?” Zak said skeptically. “Think about the Rebels we’ve met. Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Wedge Antilles. They’re all as keen as laser beams. These people”-he gestured toward the Rebel base-“are, well, a little slow.”

“And would their fellow Rebels really have left them here?” Tash wondered.

Hoole shook his head. “I find it difficult to believe that they are part of the Rebel Alliance. They, however, seem to believe it, and we have no cause to argue with them.”

“So what do we do?” Zak asked.

“They have an earnest desire to leave the planet, and they are harmless enough,” the Shi’ido replied. “I see no reason to refuse them assistance.” Hoole looked at his niece. “Unless you have feelings that tell you otherwise, Tash?”

Tash tried to gather her thoughts. What was she feeling? “I don’t think so,” she said at last. “I mean, I do feel something, but I’m sure it has nothing to do with these people. When Eyal talks, I believe him. I don’t get any feelings in the Force, as I do when people are lying and planning to hurt us.” She paused. “But when I was in the ruins, I felt something from the dark side, something I’ve only felt before around Darth Vader.”

They had met Vader once. Tash and Zak had been his prisoners for a short time. Neither of them liked to think about it.

“I’d say that falls into the category of not good,” Zak said.

“Do you have any idea why you got that feeling?” Hoole asked.

Tash shook her head. She couldn’t bring herself to tell them the other part-that she had found herself reaching out to the dark side. All she said was, “I was trying to figure that out when Eyal grabbed me.”

“Speaking of getting grabbed,” Zak said, “I want to make sure no one gets grabbed by Maga. Uncle Hoole, Maga lured Tash into the ruins, hoping she’d get lost. You should have heard him laugh!”

Hoole’s eyes darkened. “Yes, I’m afraid I was too forgiving of Maga. He poses an obvious danger. However, if we are to help these beings, we will not be staying on Dantooine much longer anyway.”

Tash and Zak had mixed reactions to the news. Dantooine had been a refreshing break from their recent troubles, and neither one of them felt in any hurry to leave. Still, it obviously wasn’t safe to remain near Maga any longer.