Fate Of The Jedi_ Abyss Part 25

"I, uh, I just wanted you to know," Ben said. "Jacen, I I forgive you." forgive you."

Jacen returned to the surface so he could speak. "That's good, Ben. It's one burden you won't have to carry through life. Go with the Force."

"Thanks." Ben was so surprised by the sincerity in Jacen's voice that he almost didn't know what to say. "You too, I guess."

Jacen snorted in amus.e.m.e.nt. "Ben, I am am with the Force." He paused, as though waiting for Ben to say something else, then finally asked, "Isn't there a question with the Force." He paused, as though waiting for Ben to say something else, then finally asked, "Isn't there a question you you wanted to ask me?" wanted to ask me?"

"Well, yeah." Ben glanced nervously toward the woman in the mist. While he wasn't sure that his father would believe anything Jacen told them about the mysterious figure, the question seemed worth asking. "But I didn't want it to seem like I was trying to buy an answer."

Jacen shook his head. "Ben, didn't I just tell you to be honest with me?" He turned toward the Mists of Forgetfulness. "I wish I could help you, but I have no idea who that is."

Ben's heart sank. He half suspected Jacen was lying to him, but he saw no use in entertaining such bitter feelings. Either he had forgiven Jacen or he hadn't, and it would be better for him him if he had. At least he if he had. At least he thought thought that was what his mother had been telling him. that was what his mother had been telling him.

"No problem, Jacen," Ben said. "Have a peaceful ...whatever."

"d.a.m.nation," Jacen supplied. He turned toward the Mists of Forgetfulness, then added, "But Ben, if you really need to know who she is, the lake doesn't stretch forever. Just keep walking-you have all the time in the universe." Jacen supplied. He turned toward the Mists of Forgetfulness, then added, "But Ben, if you really need to know who she is, the lake doesn't stretch forever. Just keep walking-you have all the time in the universe."

Ben scowled, certain now that Jacen was toying with him. "Thanks, Jacen." He glanced toward his stubborn father. "That was bound to be a big big help." help."

Jacen gave him a cruel smirk. "Just choose and act, Ben." He sank beneath the water again, his eyes turning a bright, burning white. "Choose and act."

"Good advice," Ben said. He watched until his cousin had sunk back beneath the water and closed his eyes again, then turned to his father. "Dad, I've just made a command decision. If Jacen tells us we have all the time in the universe-"

"We're in trouble, I know." Luke turned away from the mists, then waved Rhondi and their guides back toward the near end of the lake. "Let's go home."

"But what about the lady in the mists?" the Givin asked, moving to block their way. "You can't leave before you know who she-"

"I know one thing." Luke brought his hand up, planting his palm in the center of the Givin's chest and using a Force-enhanced strike to send him flying out of their path. "It's time to get back to the Shadow Shadow."

STRAPPED INTO THE COPILOT'S SEAT OF THE M MILLENNIUM F FALCON in in full vac suit and battle harness, Han's granddaughter looked exactly like what she was: an eight-year-old girl at play. Her small boots barely reached past the edge of the seat, her helmeted head fell five centimeters short of the headrest, and her gray eyes were as big and round as casino chips. But she was also a child princess on her first real mission, an heiress in training for one of the toughest jobs in the galaxy-and that was the thing that tore at Han's heart. full vac suit and battle harness, Han's granddaughter looked exactly like what she was: an eight-year-old girl at play. Her small boots barely reached past the edge of the seat, her helmeted head fell five centimeters short of the headrest, and her gray eyes were as big and round as casino chips. But she was also a child princess on her first real mission, an heiress in training for one of the toughest jobs in the galaxy-and that was the thing that tore at Han's heart.

He and Leia had talked it over with Tenel Ka, and the Queen Mother had made it clear that any Hapan Chume'da needed to learn the ways of the galaxy early and well. But it just seemed so blasted unfair. How was Allana supposed to have a childhood? When did she get to be just just a little girl? Thinking back on the three children he had given to the galaxy already-the two sons he had lost and the daughter he still a little girl? Thinking back on the three children he had given to the galaxy already-the two sons he had lost and the daughter he still might might-Han knew the biggest mistake he had made lay in letting them grow up too fast, in letting their destinies start pulling them away while they were still too young to vote.

And now here he was, under Tenel Ka's orders to do it all again. He wasn't sure if he had the strength to see it through-but he did did know that he loved Allana too much to give it anything short of his best. know that he loved Allana too much to give it anything short of his best.

A ready ready tweedle sounded from the engineering socket at the rear of the flight deck, and then C-3PO announced, "Artoo reports that all hatches are sealed and all s.h.i.+p systems are functioning at optimal efficiency." tweedle sounded from the engineering socket at the rear of the flight deck, and then C-3PO announced, "Artoo reports that all hatches are sealed and all s.h.i.+p systems are functioning at optimal efficiency."

"Optimal?" Han asked, twisting around to look back at the two droids. "Did we board the wrong YT?" Han asked, twisting around to look back at the two droids. "Did we board the wrong YT?"

C-3PO's golden head tipped to one side. "I highly doubt that, Captain Solo. There are only a handful of these antiques still in service, and the odds of another one accidentally occupying the Falcon's Falcon's berth are-" berth are-"

"Don't tell me. Just have Artoo do a double check." Han glanced over at Allana and winked. "Optimal everything everything just isn't the just isn't the Falcon." Falcon."

Artoo trilled a few notes, then C-3pO said, "It seems there's a perfectly good explanation," he said. "Before putting her plan into action, Mistress Jaina spent thirty-two hours fine-tuning the s.h.i.+p's systems."

Han knew it was her way of trying to make amends for keeping Jag's secret-which only made his stomach churn that much harder. "Was Jag Jag with her?" with her?"

A negative chirp came from R2-D2.

"Well, that's something. At least we don't have to check for those fancy eavesdropping bugs of his." Han turned forward again, then glanced over at Allana. "You ready for the checklist?"

Allana nodded enthusiastically. But she did not direct her attention to the datapad in her lap.

"Grandpa, why are you still so mad at Jaina? She's trying really hard to show you how sorry she is."

Han sighed. "I know, sweetie. And I guess I'm not really mad at at her. It's more like I'm mad her. It's more like I'm mad for for her." her."

"Because she's in such a hard spot about Jag?"

"That's ..." Han paused, realizing he wasn't being honest with Allana because he wasn't being honest with himself himself. "Maybe. I think it's more because she still doesn't know the kind of spot she's in."

"And being mad at her will change that?"

"probably not," Han admitted.

Allana furrowed her brow, and her crash helmet slid down so far that the rim almost covered her eyes. "Then why are you doing doing it, Grandpa?" it, Grandpa?"

Han frowned. "You're a lot like your grandmother, you know that?"

Allana smiled. "Really?"

Han let his chin drop in defeat. "Yeah, really," he said. "Okay, if I promise promise to stop being mad at Jaina, can we get this bucket launched? Your grandmother is waiting on us, you know, and it's a long way to Shedu Maad." to stop being mad at Jaina, can we get this bucket launched? Your grandmother is waiting on us, you know, and it's a long way to Shedu Maad."

"Especially with all those crazies on her s.h.i.+p." Allana winced, then added, "Don't tell Barv I said that, okay?"

"Your secret's safe with me," Han said.

Allana nodded. "I know." She picked up her datapad. "Ready to check off."

"Finally." Han turned his attention back to the control panel, then started down the list that was as much a part of him as Allana herself. "Repulsorlift drives ready to engage?" Han turned his attention back to the control panel, then started down the list that was as much a part of him as Allana herself. "Repulsorlift drives ready to engage?"

"Check."

"Ion drives on standby?"

"Check."

"Nav computer spooled up?"

"Check."

And so they continued, until they had exhausted the list and Han knew the s.h.i.+p was ready to launch. But he didn't stop there, because there was still something that Allana needed to learn about crazy capers, and it was his job to teach her.

"Barabels in the gun turrets?" Han asked.

Allana studied her datapad for a moment, then frowned. "Grandpa, that's not on the list."

"It's not?" Han lifted his brow in mock surprise. "You sure?"

Allana shook her head and looked up, then saw his expression and realized he was putting her on. "Yeah, I'm sure." sure." Han smiled. "But we still need them, right?" Han smiled. "But we still need them, right?"

Allana nodded, then thought for a moment and reached out to touch the intercom b.u.t.ton on her seat. "Dordi, Zal-are you in the turrets?"

The confirmations came so quick that the Barabels were almost transmitting over each other. "Dordi on the back ..."

"And Zal in the belly."

The report ended in a fit of hysterical sissing that left Allana frowning at the speaker. "Did I say something funny?"

"Nope. They're just Barabels," Han told her.

During the war against the Yuuzhan Vong, Dordi and Zal had been adolescent pilots in Saba Sebatyne's all-Jedi Wild Knights squadron. Now that they had finally reached adulthood, there was talk of them starting a nest with Saba's son, Tesar.

Han thought of a Temple overrun by dozens of voracious Barabel younglings, then smiled and added, "n.o.body "n.o.body really gets Barabels." really gets Barabels."

Allana's eyes lit with comprehension. "So, it's like after we saved Kessel, when you and Lando sat down with all that Gizer-"

"Yeah, it's kind of like that," Han said, not wanting to know how much of that that conversation she had overhead. "What about Wilyem?" conversation she had overhead. "What about Wilyem?"

Allana depressed her intercom b.u.t.ton again. "Wilyem, are you-"

"Yessss," the Barabel's raspy voice answered. "Wilyem in the tail."

Another fit of sissing erupted over the intercom speakers.

This time, Allana merely shook her head and asked, "Grandpa, are you sure we need them?"

Han feigned disappointment. "What's the first thing you do on a job?"

Allana smiled confidently. "Find the tracking beacons!"

"That comes later," Han said, shaking his head. "It's the first rule of comes later," Han said, shaking his head. "It's the first rule of escape." escape." He tapped the control panel. "I mean before we even board the s.h.i.+p." He tapped the control panel. "I mean before we even board the s.h.i.+p."

"Oh, yeah," Allana said. "Make sure you have the right crew for the job."

"And what kind of job are we pulling?"

"A crazy one." Allana's eyes brightened with pride. "And that's why you wanted Barabels."

"Exactly," Han said. "When you need crazy-"

"-call a Barabel," Allana finished. "Got it."

"You're a quick learner, kid." Though Han meant it sincerely, his pride carried with it a note of sorrow. She would need need to learn fast, because everything that fate had demanded of his own growing children would also be demanded of her ...and perhaps more. He turned away so Allana wouldn't see him choking down the lump in his throat, then checked a gauge. Then he grinned at her and said, "Okay. Maybe you'd better let your grandmother and Saba know we're ready to get out of here." to learn fast, because everything that fate had demanded of his own growing children would also be demanded of her ...and perhaps more. He turned away so Allana wouldn't see him choking down the lump in his throat, then checked a gauge. Then he grinned at her and said, "Okay. Maybe you'd better let your grandmother and Saba know we're ready to get out of here."

"Okay."

Allana started to reach for her helmet microphone set, then quickly dropped her hand, even before Han could remind her that they were under comm silence. She closed her eyes, reached for Leia in the Force, and smiled as she felt her grandmother's touch.

"You'd better go," she said. "Grandma feels like she's in a hurry."

"What about Saba?" Han asked. "Did she feel like she was in position with those StealthXs?"

"I ... think think so," Allana said, twisting her lips in confusion. "She just feels kind of hungry." so," Allana said, twisting her lips in confusion. "She just feels kind of hungry."

"Close enough." Han commed the flight-control officer to let them know that the Longshot Longshot-the false transponder code under which the Falcon Falcon had been berthed at the s.p.a.ceport-was ready to depart, then said, "Buckle up your crazy-cap." had been berthed at the s.p.a.ceport-was ready to depart, then said, "Buckle up your crazy-cap."

Allana rolled her eyes. "With you around, who needs a cap?"

Once the dome had retracted, he lifted the Falcon Falcon out of her berth, then tipped the nose up and pushed the throttles forward. With the inertial compensator not yet engaged, the acceleration pinned him back in his seat, and they shot through the opening into a bank of gray Coruscant smog. Allana squealed in delight while C-3PO sputtered in electronic surprise. out of her berth, then tipped the nose up and pushed the throttles forward. With the inertial compensator not yet engaged, the acceleration pinned him back in his seat, and they shot through the opening into a bank of gray Coruscant smog. Allana squealed in delight while C-3PO sputtered in electronic surprise.

"Captain Solo, perhaps you should check your instruments," he said. "You're still accelerating, and we're already traveling in excess of the legal velocity at this alt.i.tude."

"I know, Goldenrod," Han said. "We've got to make this look good."

A moment later they emerged from the haze into the bustling expanse of Coruscant's contrail-laced troposphere. Han activated the inertial compensator and pushed the throttles to the stops, climbing for s.p.a.ce at maximum repulsorlift power. R2-D2 tweedled a report.

"Oh my," C-3PO said. "Now you've drawn the attention of Galactic City Air Traffic Control. Artoo says they're querying our transponder."

"That's why we're called the bait, Threepio," Allana explained to the droid. "We want them to chase us us instead of Grandma." She turned to Han. "Right?" instead of Grandma." She turned to Han. "Right?"

"Pretty close," Han said. "But we're actually pulling a Toydarian double-reverse spinner."

Allana scowled as though Han had just pulled a spinner on her. "A toy what?"

"Toydarian double-reverse spinner," Han explained, taking his eyes off the darkening sky just long enough to glance over at her. "Look, Daala's pretty smart, right?"

Allana nodded. "Give the other guy credit," she said, quoting one of Han's favorite high-stakes credos. "If he's good enough to be in the game, he's good enough to take your credits."

"Exactly," Han said. "So, we gotta think Daala knows that we we know she'll be watching when we try to sneak our barvies off Coruscant." know she'll be watching when we try to sneak our barvies off Coruscant."

Allana looked down, using her fingers to keep track of Han's points, then finally nodded. "Everyone knows. Got it."

"Good. So we're going to show her a little respect."

Allana raised her brow. "We're going to bow bow to her?" to her?"

"Not that that kind of respect," Han said, shaking his head. "We're going to let her know that we think she's pretty smart." kind of respect," Han said, shaking his head. "We're going to let her know that we think she's pretty smart."

Allana's eyes widened, and she asked, "And you think that will make her careless?"

"A little bit," Han confirmed. "Everybody likes to feel smart, so when you show them you think they are are smart, they tend to take you at your word." smart, they tend to take you at your word."

"And taking our word is the same as taking our bait?"