Fate Of The Jedi_ Abyss Part 5

Han took Yaqeel's shoulders and helped Jag lift her, then started toward the tunnel. Bazel Warv's huge form floated off the limousine roof and followed them through the gate, where Han tripped over a cleaning droid with a faulty right-of-way routine. He fell to the floor with Yaqeel's shoulders slumped in his lap.

"Captain Solo?" Jag asked. "If she's too heavy, I can-"

"I just tripped," tripped," Han barked, clasping the Bothan to his chest with one arm and using his free hand to push off the tunnel floor. "The droid got in my way. I'm not Han barked, clasping the Bothan to his chest with one arm and using his free hand to push off the tunnel floor. "The droid got in my way. I'm not old old, you know."

"of course not. I wasn't thinking that."

Han rose to his feet and glared at Jag across Yaqeel's unconscious form. "Kid, for a Head of State, you're a lousy liar."

The color drained from Jag's face. "Captain Solo, I have no doubts about your-"

"Jag!" Jaina's voice came from somewhere on the far side of the huge Ramoan bulk that was still out in the speeder lane waiting to float into the access tunnel. "Will you stop worrying about the old man's feelings and get Jaina's voice came from somewhere on the far side of the huge Ramoan bulk that was still out in the speeder lane waiting to float into the access tunnel. "Will you stop worrying about the old man's feelings and get moving? moving? The last thing you need is a GAS squad seeing you actually help us hide a pair of crazy Jedi." The last thing you need is a GAS squad seeing you actually help us hide a pair of crazy Jedi."

"Right." Jag stepped past Han and started down the tunnel backward. "I'll "I'll take the lead." take the lead."

Knowing there was no time to protest, Han simply nodded, then shot a glower toward the little dome-shaped droid watching from just inside the gate. Its response modules must have detected his anger, because the droid expelled a cloud of steam cleanser and quickly spun its photoreceptor away.

Cursing under his breath, Han followed Jag around a tunnel bend into the hangar itself. Two apprentices stood at the entrance, looking worried and uncertain as to whether they should leave their duty stations. Han pushed Yaqeel's shoulders into the arms of the closest guard, a red-furred Jenet, then stepped out of the way as Bazel Warv's green bulk floated through the entrance behind him.

"Comm Master Cilghal and tell her we lost two more," Han ordered. He pulled the tranquilizer pistol from his waistband and slapped it into the hands of the Jenet's partner, a young Duros female whose dark eyes seemed about twice as bulging as normal. "And if either one twitches before someone gets here to take them off your hands, hit 'em both both with a couple of tranquilizer darts." with a couple of tranquilizer darts."

The Duros accepted the pistol with an air of bewilderment and fear. "They went sick? Both Both of them?" of them?"

"You have your orders, apprentice," Jaina said, lowering Bazel into an empty speeder bay. "Just carry them out."

With that, she started back up the tunnel, Han and Jag following close behind.

By the time they rounded the bend, Han could see Leia just inside the tunnel entrance, standing toe-to-toe with a blue-uniformed captain who had managed to position himself on the threshold before she could lower the gate. A couple of paces behind him were ten troopers in black a.s.sault armor. And ten paces beyond them them, four more GAS agents had Jag's driver, Baxton, at blasterpoint.

But what really bothered Han were the holocams. They were peering down from atop the adjacent safety wall, carefully recording every word and gesture that pa.s.sed between Leia and the GAS captain.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Captain Atar," Leia was saying. "Nothing has happened here that is any concern of yours."

"I decide what my concerns are, Jedi Solo," Atar spat back. He was a tall human with a dark mustache and shoulders as square as his chin, the kind of pushy officer who mistook his chest patch for a badge of ent.i.tlement. "And crazy Jedi are definitely at the top of my list."

Leia shrugged. "We don't have any of those here."

"Yeah?" Atar pulled his datapad off its belt clip and spun the screen around to face Leia. "What's that?"

Han, Jaina, and Jag were close enough now to see a green blob that could only be Bazel landing atop Jag's limousine. A moment later Jaina rose into view beyond the front end of the speeder, staggering slightly and holding her torn dress closed. The cam panned to the top of the safety wall and showed both Solos peering down into the speeder lane, looking horrified and still holding their tranquilizer pistols.

Han's gut began to tie itself in knots. Atar had had them. And these weren't even shots from one of the holocams. Somehow, he had caught the whole thing on a ... Han remembered the cleaning droid and spun around, intending to stomp it back to its circuits. them. And these weren't even shots from one of the holocams. Somehow, he had caught the whole thing on a ... Han remembered the cleaning droid and spun around, intending to stomp it back to its circuits.

Fortunately, Jag had a better idea and seized the initiative by going to stand nose-to-ear with Atar. "What have you done done to my speeder limousine, Captain?" to my speeder limousine, Captain?"

Atar did not quite snap to attention-Jag wasn't his his Head of State, after all. But he reacted as any security officer would in such a situation, cringing almost visibly as he tried to weigh his a.s.signment against the potential career recriminations of causing a diplomatic incident. Head of State, after all. But he reacted as any security officer would in such a situation, cringing almost visibly as he tried to weigh his a.s.signment against the potential career recriminations of causing a diplomatic incident.

Finally, he said, "We didn't do anything, Head of State." He turned the datapad toward Jag. "If the Head of State cares to have a look-" didn't do anything, Head of State." He turned the datapad toward Jag. "If the Head of State cares to have a look-"

"I'm not interested in holodramas, Captain." Jag plucked the data-pad from the captain's hands and tossed it down the access tunnel, where it could be heard shattering into a dozen parts. "I can see that you've done something-unless those aren't aren't your men holding my driver at blasterpoint." your men holding my driver at blasterpoint."

"No, sir, they, uh, I mean yes, they are, sir." Atar glanced back up the lane. "But we didn't realize the limousine belonged to you."

"You didn't query the transponder?" Jag demanded. He stepped forward, purposely b.u.mping the captain back away from the threshold. "Or did you just choose choose to ignore the diplomatic code?" to ignore the diplomatic code?"

"Neither, sir." Finally seeming to realize that he was being manipulated, Atar stood his ground when Jag tried to b.u.mp him back again, then said, "Sir, we are in hot pursuit of two criminally insane Jedi Knights, and diplomatic immunity does not not give you the right to interfere. If you insist-" give you the right to interfere. If you insist-"

"By all means, feel free to continue your pursuit," Jag said, "after you release my driver and vehicle." "after you release my driver and vehicle."

Jag continued to stand in front of Atar, who glared down at him for a moment before he finally turned and waved his men away from the limousine.

"Thank you," Jag said. "I'll be sure to mention your cooperation to Chief Daala when I meet with her in the morning."

"That won't be necessary, sir," Atar replied with ice in his voice. "She'll have a full report this evening. Now, if you'll stand aside, I do do have my duties to fulfill." have my duties to fulfill."

"Certainly."

Jag pivoted on one foot, taking pains to move aside without removing himself from the area. It wasn't what Han would have done, but he had to admit that Fel knew how to be a major pain in the rear without breaking rules. As long as he was standing in the area, the GAS captain did not dare risk starting a firefight and endangering the Imperial Head of State.

When Atar finally accepted that Jag would not be moving any farther, he let out a snort of exasperation and pushed forward again. By then, of course, Han had slipped over to the gate controls, and Jaina and her mother were standing just in front of the threshold, lightsabers in hand. The blades were not ignited, but the message was clear-GAS would not be coming inside without a fight.

"Jedi Solo, I am am going to arrest Jedi Knights Bazel Warv and Yaqeel Saav'etu. Will you stand aside, or do I have to move you?" going to arrest Jedi Knights Bazel Warv and Yaqeel Saav'etu. Will you stand aside, or do I have to move you?"

Leia did not flinch. "I don't see anyone in imminent danger," she said, "and that means you would need a warrant to arrest them. We're not going anywhere anywhere unless I see one." unless I see one."

The hint of a smile flashed beneath Atar's thick mustache. "In that case ..." He extended a hand behind him and called, "Karpette, front and center!"

A Rodian female stepped forward, her multifaceted eyes sparkling with far too much delight. "Yes, Captain?"

"The warrant."

She was pa.s.sing him a freshly printed flimsiplast even as he spoke. Han saw the miniature printer hanging from her equipment belt and felt his stomach go hollow.

Atar examined the doc.u.ment briefly, then nodded and pa.s.sed it to Leia. "The print is a bit smaller than usual, but I believe you'll find everything in order."

Leia accepted the doc.u.ment, her impa.s.sive face betraying none of the shock that Han knew she was feeling. She examined it briefly, then said, "Very clever, Captain."

"I really can't take the credit, Jedi Solo," Atar replied. "When it comes to the Jedi menace, Chief Daala has given the order to facilitate due process in every legal manner."

"So I see." Leia gestured Jaina to remain where she was, just outside the gate, then held the doc.u.ment out toward Han. "What do you think?"

Han took the warrant and squinted down at the tiny lines of legal text. It was a detention order rather than an actual arrest warrant, but that didn't negate its validity. The names were spelled correctly, their species were identified properly, the justifying incident was described accurately, and the chronostamp-less than five minutes old-was certainly valid.

"I'm no expert, but everything seems right." He looked over at Atar. "Who's Judge ... Lortle?" Lortle?"

"Arabelle Lorteli," Lorteli," Atar corrected. "Designated judge for all matters Jedi." Atar corrected. "Designated judge for all matters Jedi."

"Daala's appointee?" Leia asked. "A new one?" appointee?" Leia asked. "A new one?"

"Yes, ma'am," Atar replied. "Now, since even you you agree that everything's in order, we'll be taking custody of Jedi Knights Warv and Saav'etu." agree that everything's in order, we'll be taking custody of Jedi Knights Warv and Saav'etu."

He started to lead his squad across the threshold-until Leia raised a hand in his direction. "Wait."

Atar stumbled back, and Leia turned to Han with one of those defiant gleams that always came to her eye when she smelled something rotten in the halls of power. "I don't know, Han. How do we handle this?"

It was not a real question, of course, since Han was neither a Jedi nor a legal adviser. It was a signal. He watched as Jaina subtly checked to make sure she was clear of the gate's drop path, and he knew she understood it, too.

"It looks like we don't have any choice," Han said. He shrugged and pa.s.sed the warrant back to Leia, then turned to Atar. "Wait here. We're gonna have to get Master Hamner involved in this."

Atar scowled. "We're not waiting waiting anywhere," he said. "You'll bring those two Jedi out here at once." anywhere," he said. "You'll bring those two Jedi out here at once."

Han sighed and turned to Leia. "I think we'd better do as he says, don't you?"

Leia nodded. "Yes, I think so."

She glanced over at the control panel, and the toggle b.u.t.ton rocked to the CLOSED CLOSED position. The gate started to descend so swiftly that she barely had time to look back and meet Atar's puzzled gaze. position. The gate started to descend so swiftly that she barely had time to look back and meet Atar's puzzled gaze.

"Okay, Captain-you win," she said. "We'll be right back."

"What? Wait!" he sputtered. "Why are you clos-"

The gate clanged shut, leaving Han and Leia alone together. Han hit the lockout switch to prevent it from being inadvertently opened by a returning Jedi Knight, and then turned to Leia.

"You know, sometimes I'm really glad I married you."

"Just sometimes?"

"Oh, I'm glad all all the time-but at times like this, I'm the time-but at times like this, I'm really really glad." He took her hand and started down the tunnel to check on the new patients. "How long do you suppose they'll wait?" glad." He took her hand and started down the tunnel to check on the new patients. "How long do you suppose they'll wait?"

"It's going to take the good captain a few minutes to overcome his embarra.s.sment and comm for new orders," Leia said. "So we've got a while."

"Good. Do you suppose Jaina's going to be okay out there?"

"Of course." Leia closed her eyes for a moment, and Han knew that she was reaching out to check on their daughter through the Force. "She's with Jag, isn't she?"

EVEN WITH THE ROOF BUCKLED DOWN INTO THE Pa.s.sENGER CABIN, THE Imperial limousine still had enough headroom for Jaina to sit upright. Jag was another story. Although he was not tall for a human male, he carried much of his height in his torso, an unfortunate trait that Jaina hoped would not be inflicted on any children who also happened to inherit her short legs ... a.s.suming, of course, they even Imperial limousine still had enough headroom for Jaina to sit upright. Jag was another story. Although he was not tall for a human male, he carried much of his height in his torso, an unfortunate trait that Jaina hoped would not be inflicted on any children who also happened to inherit her short legs ... a.s.suming, of course, they even wanted wanted children. Like a lot of things regarding their coming marriage, starting a family wasn't something they had found time to discuss yet, at least not in the way it needed be discussed. children. Like a lot of things regarding their coming marriage, starting a family wasn't something they had found time to discuss yet, at least not in the way it needed be discussed.

At the moment, Jag's long torso was forcing him to do one of the few things that Jagged Fel did not do well: slouch. He was hunched down next to Jaina, his head against the roof liner and his shoulders pressed to the back of the seat.

"Thanks for the getaway." Jaina glanced out the back viewport at the still-confused GAS squad, several of whom were pounding their weapon b.u.t.ts against the closed gate and demanding that it be reopened. "Probably better for me not to be around when that gnakhead Atar finally decides he's been had."

"Probably," Jag said. "But I am am surprised your mother manipulated him so easily. One would think Daala would have more sense than to send a weak-minded commander to keep watch over the Jedi Temple." surprised your mother manipulated him so easily. One would think Daala would have more sense than to send a weak-minded commander to keep watch over the Jedi Temple."

"Jag, that wasn't a Force suggestion." As Jaina spoke, Atar turned to watch the departing limousine. "It was the Sligh Slipper."

"The Sligh Slipper?" Sligh Slipper?"

"A little trick my parents picked up before I was born," Jaina explained. She gave Atar a parting wave. The captain's face reddened, and he began to snap orders into his headset microphone. "Didn't you see how Dad noobed Atar?"

Jag fell silent for a moment, his brow slowly rising. Finally, he let out an incredulous snort.

"It's a good thing your father isn't a Jedi," he said. "Han Solo with Force powers would be very frightening thing."

Jaina smiled and opened her mouth to agree-until she was nearly thrown from her seat as the limousine came to sudden stop. She looked up to see a GAS a.s.sault speeder blocking the exit less than five meters ahead, its cannon turret pointing down the lane. Whether it was targeting Jag's limousine or the gate behind it was impossible to say.

"Those GAS guys are starting to get pushy," Baxton observed from the driver's seat. The privacy screen between them could not be raised because of the crumpled roof, so he didn't need the vehicle intercom. "I can just float over them, sir. Even if they open fire, our armor can take it."

Jag shook his head. "No, that would give them room to claim we intended them harm," he said. "Just step out and ask them to let us pa.s.s."

"And if they don't?" Baxton asked.

"Be insistent," Jag said. "Captain Atar is trying very hard to make us blink, but he's not going to cause an intergalactic incident by attempting to remove Jedi Solo from a diplomatic vehicle."

Baxton acknowledged the order, then stepped out and approached the a.s.sault speeder blocking their path. A young Duros officer popped out of the blaster turret, pointing at the limousine and making angry demands. Baxton stood his ground, shaking his head and pointing his own finger, insisting the speeder be removed. After a minute of shouting back and forth, the Duros suddenly jumped down to stand lip-to-nose with Baxton.

"Looks like Atar's orders were firm," Jaina observed. "Maybe I shouldn't have rubbed it in."

Jag turned to peer at her beneath the crumpled roof. "Rubbed it in how?" how?"

"It was no big deal," Jaina said. "I just waved at him."

Jag closed his eyes in exasperation. "You waved waved at him?" he repeated. "As we were leaving?" at him?" he repeated. "As we were leaving?"

"of course as we were leaving," Jaina retorted. "When do you think I'd wave at him?"

Jag let his chin drop. "You have got got to stop antagonizing Daala's people." He looked away, and the dirty haze of a secret came to his Force aura. "This situation is getting out of hand." to stop antagonizing Daala's people." He looked away, and the dirty haze of a secret came to his Force aura. "This situation is getting out of hand."

Jaina spun to face him. "What situation is that?"

"The whole situation." Jag continued to look away. "Between the Jedi and Daala. It's not doing the order any good."

"Tell me something I don't don't know," Jaina replied. "Like, whatever you're holding back." know," Jaina replied. "Like, whatever you're holding back."

Jag's nostrils flared, and he turned to meet her gaze with obvious effort. "I'm not sure I know what you mean."

"Jag ..." Jaina opened her borrowed raincoat just enough to show the lightsaber hanging from the belt of her torn dress. "Jedi "Jedi, remember? I know when you're lying."

Jag sighed. "I heard something that I shouldn't have-and that I definitely shouldn't be repeating to a Jedi."

"Jag, I'm your fiancee," fiancee," Jaina said. "And I happen to be a Jedi. If that means you're going to try to keep secrets from me, maybe we need to reevaluate-" Jaina said. "And I happen to be a Jedi. If that means you're going to try to keep secrets from me, maybe we need to reevaluate-"

"All right, I surrender," Jag said, raising his hands. "But if you get to play the fiancee chit, so do I. This has to stay between us."

Jaina nodded. "That's fair, I guess."