[Legacy Of The Force] - 07(81)
Jaina glanced at Zekk and gestured at the metal storm they faced. “No way to manage a safe launch. Get in your cockpit. I’ll get the hangar doors open.”
Zekk shook his head. “You’ll be sucked right out into the void when you do.” He sounded a bit stronger, as though distance from the pool of dark side energy was restoring his spirits.
“I’ll use a shadow bomb.”
Zekk winced. A shadow bomb detonated at that proximity to the StealthXs was certain to damage them. But Jaina knew she was right-opening the hangar doors with a lightsaber and telekinetic nudges from the Force was certain death for the opener. Zekk gave her a pained look and pushed off from the wall, floating on an intercept course toward his StealthX.
ABOARD THE MILLENNIUM FALCON
The Falcon’s comm board made a brief crackling noise, then Leia could hear Jaina’s voice across it. “No checklist, no time. Arming.” Zekk was next. “Shields up.”
“Shields up, copy. Repulsorlifts to max, hold yourself in place.”
Leia felt a weight, something like ten tons, drop away from her shoulders. She keyed her comm board. “Jaina?”
“Firing.”
One wall of the distant, tumbling habitat blew out, venting atmosphere and a cloud of particulate matter. A moment later one StealthX emerged, then another, trailing more debris.
One after the other, they angled toward the Falcon. Jaina’s next words were stronger. “Yes, Mom?”
“Are you all right?”
“As well as can be expected.” Jaina’s tone was joyless.
“What about Alema? And Jag?”
There was a long pause before Jaina’s response. “Both dead, I think.”
Chapter 28
Han and Leia watched their monitor screens as the Falcon’s rear holocams showed them the last few seconds in the existence of the asteroid.
One moment it was there; the next, it was replaced by a bright glow and an expanding pulse of energy.
Glum, Han activated his comm board. “Sensors show an energy yield that says fission bombs to me. I don’t think anyone has used fission bombs since near the start of the Yuuzhan Vong War.”
Leia shook her head. “Somebody was very serious.”
No one answered over the comm board, but a noise came from the speakers-labored breathing.
Leia frowned and activated her microphone. “Zekk, is that you?”
“Not me.”
“It’s me.” The voice was Jag’s, pained.
“Jag!” Four people spoke his name simultaneously, Jaina loudest of all. She added, “How did you get off the asteroid?”
“Got to the surface. Commed my astromech and it gave me distance and bearing to my X-wing. Fortunately, it was upright, just covered in dust. But it’s damaged, and I’m… I don’t think I can calculate a hyperspace jump right now.” Han heaved a sigh of relief. “Don’t worry about it, kid. We’ll run the numbers for you. You just catch up to us.” He activated his transceiver, giving Jag’s X-wing a clear signal to home in on. “Will do, sir.”
“And don’t call me sir. I hate that.”
“Understood, sir.”
SANCTUARY MOON OF ENDOR, JEDI OUTPOST
Luke and Ben, similarly clad in dark Jedi robes, swept into the communications center. At a nod from Luke, the Jedi technician on station there withdrew into the corridor, leaving them alone with the hologram of Han and Leia.
Han’s hologram offered Luke a lopsided smile. “Hey, old buddy.”
“It’s good to see you.” Luke’s gesture suggested he would prefer to be able to embrace his sister and brother-in-law. “A live holocomm transmission all the way from Bimmiel? This is an extravagance for you, isn’t it?”
Leia nodded. “Big news calls for a big show. Luke, Alema Rar is dead.”
Luke let out a long breath. At last. He looked between them. “She gave you no choice?”
“None.” Leia’s tone was decisive. “Jag is badly injured. Zekk is a bit … perturbed, but coming out of it. Jaina is unhurt. Also, the asteroid was destroyed.”
Luke cocked an eyebrow at her. “That seems a little excessive.”
Han snorted. “Not our doing, Luke. An unmarked frigate attacked while we were doing our support-role thing. They launched shuttles that planted fission bombs all over the asteroid. Then they left. Alema’s weird little Sith ship got away, too, but it was unoccupied.”
“And there’s no hint as to who blew up the asteroid or why?”
Han shook his head. “A complete mystery. And you know how I feel about complete mysteries.”
“You don’t care, as long as they don’t interfere with you getting paid.”