[Last Of The Jedi] - 07(22)

She read his intent without words. It was time to get out of there.

They raced down the hallway together, still deflecting fire from the remaining stormtroopers. Solace signaled to Clive and Astri, who leaped out the window, using their liquid cables. Solace and the Jedi followed. They landed on the roof next door and raced across it, dodging vents and debris.

The Jedi took the lead. It was obvious that he had planned an escape route. He led them to an empty lift tube shaft that had a small door on the roof. Using their liquid cables, Astri and Clive rappelled down the shaft. Solace and the Jedi jumped.

The tall Jedi led them into a service level of the building, where laundry and storage were held. They ran down a twisting maze of hallways that were like tunnels. He pried off a grid in the wall and hurried them inside. Crawling, they followed the pipe until he pointed above. Solace pushed the grid out. They climbed out into an unfamiliar alley.

Stained with rust and mud, the four regarded one another. The Jedi said nothing. Solace didn’t recognize him. She saw now that his hair was white and cut close to his skull. Despite his large frame, he held himself gracefully.

“Aren’t you going to introduce yourself?” Solace asked.

“Ry-Gaul,” he said. His voice was low and softer than she’d expected.

“My name as a Jedi was Fy-Tor Ana,” Solace said.

“Now I am Solace.”

“Are there others?” Ry-Gaul asked. “I have been alone.”

“Not many,” Solace said. “I was contacted by Ferus Olin. He’s trying to gather any Jedi who are left. He was —”

“— Siri Tachi’s apprentice.” Ry-Gaul’s face underwent a change. The severe lines smoothed out. It was close to a smile, but not quite. “Ferus,” he said, “I was on several missions with him. With my Padawan, Tru Veld.”

Solace nodded. She had never kept track of the Padawans. She had chosen not to take an apprentice. But Ferus had mentioned Tru Veld. He’d been a friend. Ferus had found his lightsaber at the Temple.

“Do you know something about him?” Ry-Gaul asked, his tone suddenly urgent.

“I know he is dead,” she said. “I’m sorry.” It wasn’t like her to tell someone she was sorry about something she had nothing to do with. But something about this large man of few words made her be a little more polite than she usually was.

Ry-Gaul bowed his head. “It is what I expected. Yet it is hard to hear it.”

Solace bent her head close to him. “Out of all the beings in the universe, I think I am one of the few who can say I know how you feel.”





Chapter Thirteen


Ferus didn’t know if it would work. But he eliminated doubt from his mind. If he wondered if it would work, it wouldn’t.

He turned to the stormtroopers. “You can leave me here. I can find my way alone.”

The stormtrooper turned to the others. “We can leave him here. He can find his way alone.” Was it really that simple? Simple, it is. Belief, it is.

To reach the point where it was simple — that was hard.

Ferus didn’t push his luck. He walked quickly away, down the path, then doubled back to cross the garrison from the rear, where its perimeter was closest to the street. He quickly crossed to a busy boulevard. He expected to be stopped at any moment. Instead he was able to lose himself in the crowd.

He wasn’t followed; he was sure of that. He walked down the familiar streets. Despite the fact that he was worried and frazzled and worn out, he felt something in him lift. Just to be walking these streets, without an escort. Just to be himself, no matter how short a time.

Before they had both left for the Clone Wars, he and Roan had talked about what they would do if they were separated, if Bellassa were overrun, if… There were so many ifs in those days, Ferus thought. But not nearly as many as now. So they had staked out several areas in and around Ussa for a meeting, then assigned each place a code. They also chose several places in the city and several methods to alert each other. Ferus hadn’t forgotten any of it.

Roan had indicated to him to proceed to their third secret meeting place, in the Cloud Lake District, near their old office. It was a large, bustling cafe. Ferus entered, carefully keeping his hood over his face so that he wouldn’t be recognized. He knew this cafe well. Roan had no doubt chosen it because it was always crowded, and it had three entrances and exits.

Roan was waiting.

Ferus kept moving, but his eyes blurred and it was hard to see. The cafe was full, and it was a swirl of color and motion, of sound that hit his ears in a continuous roar. He felt overwhelmed by the sensation. It was home, and there was Roan, waiting. For one impossible moment it was as though nothing had changed.