[Jedi Apprentice] - Special Edition - 01(37)

He stopped at last. Sweat rolled down his face and soaked his tunic. The floor was littered with droids. He felt dizzy from his wound.

The tech worker who had taken shelter behind a console popped up. Obi-Wan recognized him as a Pho Ph’eahian by his four arms and matted blue fur. “You’ve been hit.”

Obi-Wan winced as he looked at the wound. “It’s not bad.”

“We have a med kit here. Hang on.” The tech worker hurried to bring the kit to Obi-Wan. “I have some medic training, don’t worry.” Using his four arms, he unwound a bandage at the same time he cleaned the wound, shook bacta on it, offered Obi-Wan a sip of water, and bandaged his arm.

“You should get to the loading bays,” Obi-Wan told him when he had finished. “The ship is being evacuated.”

“Where is Uni?” the worker asked.

“On the bridge. He won’t leave the ship until everyone is safe. And he’s hoping to get to a port to save the ship.”

“Then I’ll stay. He’ll need someone in the readout room to monitor the equipment.”

Obi-Wan nodded at him, admiring his courage. “What is your name?”

“Rhe Pabs.”

“Thank you, Rhe Pabs. I’m heading for the bridge now. I’ll tell Uni that you’ll remain.”

Rhe Pabs nodded. The ship suddenly shook from another blast, and Obi-Wan staggered, his arm slamming against the console. He stifled a cry of surprised pain.

“You should see a real medic,” Rhe Pabs said.

“And you should evacuate,” Obi-Wan said. They exchanged a grin, and Obi-Wan raced out the door. The corridor was now crowded with the inhabitants of the BioCruiser. Some were carrying belongings, some were panicked, some were just bewildered. Over the speaker system, he could hear Andra’s calm voice.

“Panic will delay us. Watch out for your neighbor. Proceed to the loading bays. We have room for all. Safety is our first concern. Help your neighbor.”

Obi-Wan dashed through the crowd, heading for the bridge. When he burst in, Kad was sitting at the main controls.

“Do you know how to fly this?” Obi-Wan asked him.

“Yes.” Kad’s face was taut. “I sent the others to the escape liners. I will not leave the ship.”

“The tech readout room is still operational. Rhe Pabs has agreed to remain.”

“Good.” Kad’s eyes searched the skies outside the wraparound cockpit window. “Your Jedi are doing well. Two Offworld ships are down.”

Obi-Wan saw Anakin’s starfighter zooming in and taking aim at an Offworld battleship whose guns were blazing at the BioCruiser. The BioCruiser staggered from an explosion. Anakin dived, proton torpedoes firing. Another Offworld ship suddenly peeled off from its attack on the BioCruiser and swiveled its gunports toward Anakin’s ship.

“I hope your Jedi has eyes in the back of his head,” Kad murmured.

Obi-Wan hoped so, too.

In many ways, Anakin felt most comfortable alone in the pilot seat of a starship. There was just him and the ship and the infinite ways he could maneuver. Although it was recognized at theJediTemplethat he had gifts as a pilot, he did not get much of a chance to fly. That was why he was so frustrated to learn that if only he could turn backtime , he could have been one of Clee Rhara’s pilots in the training program.

He knew the Offworld ship was behind him. He did not have to look. But he did not take evasive action. Not yet. He knew the ship would wait until he was out of range of the attacking Offworld ship. They would not want the wreckage of Anakin’s ship to spiral into its neighbor.

At the very last second, he pushed the ship, screaming, to the right, then climbed straight up, flipped over, and came upside down toward the ship at his rear.

“Didn’t expect that, did you?” he shouted as he fired his proton torpedoes. The Offworld ship disintegrated into a shower of fire and light. Anakin felt his blood rise with the sight. He knew he should not feel triumph, but he did. He was outgunned by the power of the Offworld ships, but he would never be outmaneuvered.

Garen’s voice came over the comm unit. “Two ships heading for the escape liners. I’ll take the one on the left.”

“Copy that.” Anakin dived. The controls felt warm in his hands, even though he knew they weren’t. A ship felt alive to him, an organic creature he controlled. He had felt that way since the first day he’d put his hands on the controls of an airship, back when he was a young slave boy with a cantankerous Podracer on Tatooine.

He saw Garen ahead now in his sight line. Garen swung to his left, and Anakin swung farther to the right. Four Offworld ships were bearing down on the escape liners. He could clearly see theBroken Circlelogo on their wings.