[Junior Jedi Knights] - 05 - Vaders Fortress (Rebecca Moesta), Star Wars - Books And Short Stories
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Star WarsJunior Jedi KnightsBook 5Vader's Fortressby Rebecca Moesta###############################################################################Drops of moisture sparkled on the short grass of the landing field in front of the Jedi academy. The sunlight on Yavin 4 seemed especially bright after the morning's rain. Smells of leaves and flowers drifted from the jungle nearby.The air felt comfortably damp and warm to Anakin Solo, who gazed expectantly toward the sky. He brushed his fringe of straight brown bangs away from his ice blue eyes and then shaded them with one hand so that he could see better. The ship should arrive soon, he thought. Anakin's best friend Tahiri stood beside him, barefoot on the grassy stubble. Her pale yellow hair blew free in the breeze, and her sea green eyes also looked skyward. Beside her waited Uldir, the strong teenage son of two cargo pilots. Shaggy chestnut hair framed his proud face.Uldir had stowed away and come to the Jedi academy in hopes of becoming a Jedi. He had persuaded Anakin's uncle, Luke Skywalker, to accept him as a Jedi trainee for a while, even though the teen had no real talent with the Force. Although Uldir was several years older than Anakin, the two youngest Jedi trainees had befriended the new student..Both Tahiri and Uldir were unusually silent today, and Anakin felt himself growing impatient."We've been waiting almost an hour," Anakin said."Do you think something's wrong?" Uldir shrugged.Tahiri didn't respond. Anakin shifted his weight. So far, he had managed to amuse himself by solving puzzles in his head, but he was getting tired of standing. He wanted to sit down, but he knew the wet grass would soak his comfortable flightsuit in no time. He wasn't sure that would feel any better than just standing. Even though Tahiri was a couple of years younger than he was, the long wait this morning didn't seem to bother her at all.Uldir whistled a tune under his breath and retied the belt of his new brown Jedi robe. Anakin guessed it made Uldir feel more like a student to have a robe like the ones Jedi Masters often wore. A Jedi needs to be patient, Anakin reminded himself.Taking a deep breath, he did one of his calming exercises using the Force. He thought back on the quest that had recently taken them all to the planet Dagobah. He, Tahiri, and Uldir had had many adventures there, guided by the Jedi Master Ikrit. One at a time, the three junior Jedi had gone into a special cave to find out about who they were inside themselves. In the cave Anakin and Tahiri had learned that their parents and the people in their past were a part of who each of them was today. But they also learned that only their own choices could decide whom they would become now.Uldir had seen nothing in the cave, though, and Anakin wondered if the older boy had learned anything."I don't think so," Tahiri said suddenly. Just like that, with no explanation."Huh?" Anakin blinked at her. "What don't you think?"Tahiri shrugged."I don't think that there's anything wrong, of course. That is what you asked, isn't it? You asked if I thought that anything was wrong. And I don't. So I said-""Yes... yes, I heard you," Anakin said. "I only meant-"Tahiri gave him an odd look."Really, Anakin! Sometimes I wonder how you manage to get so confused even during a simple conversation. And anyway, I don't know why you'd think that anything might be wrong. Master Skywalker wouldn't have sent us out here to meet Tionne if he hadn't been sure she was going to arrive sooner or later. So I'm positive that everything is fine. Relax and enjoy the beautiful weather. She'll be here any time now.""Well, I hope she hurries," Uldir said. His amber eyes searched the sky. "I don't have much time before my next shift working in the kitchen. I thought we were going to go into the jungle together so you could give me some tips on using the Force to lift leaves.""We'll have plenty of time to practice," Tahiri said confidently."I just wish there was an easier way to learn about the Force," Uldir said. His voice had started low, but changed with a squeak i n midsentence. "It always seems like such hard work.""I guess I don't think about whether it's hard to study the Force and practice, because I enjoy it so much," Anakin admitted.Tahiri gave Uldir an encouraging smile."I have a feeling you're going to start catching on pretty soon now. After all, when Tionne found me on Tatooine-""That's Uncle Luke's homeworld, you know," Anakin explained to Uldir."Right," Tahiri said. "Anyway; when Tionne found me out in the middle of the desert living with the Sand People, I didn't know any more about using the Force than you--but look how much I've learned already. Tionne is a natural teacher, and I'm never bored when she's talking. That's why I love to go along on her research trips, you know. I wish I could have gone with her this time to Borgo Prime.... I always learn so much." Tahiri looked pensive for a moment; then her face brightened. "Well, she did promise to take me along on her next research trip. Traveling with her is always an adventure. I hope-""That sounds fun," Anakin said. "I wonder if she'd mind if I came along with you.""Yeah, me too," Uldir said."Well, you can ask her yourself," Tahiri said, pointing upward. "That must be her now. But where did she get that strange ship? I've never seen it before."A ship had indeed arrived and was floating down through the air toward the landing field. The craft was very old and had a strange design, with a plump reddish-orange body and broad solar sails that collected sunlight to power the ship. The shimmering metallic sails spread out on each side like wings, making the craft look something like a pudgy copper dragon. Tahiri seemed to dance with excitement as they waited for the ship to land. When the orange sails finally folded and the spacecraft touched down, Tahiri could contain herself no longer. She ran forward, shouting a greeting as her good friend and Jedi instructor Tionne stepped down from the odd little ship.Anakin wanted to give the two of them a chance to talk before he joined them, so he hung back for a moment with Uldir. He could sense through the Force that Tionne was just as giddy as the blonde-haired girl, but he couldn't tell what the excitement was about. Watching the talkative girl and the quiet Jedi instructor together always made Anakin smile. In spite of their differences, the two shared a close bond.They could almost be mother and daughter, Anakin mused. Since Tahiri's mother had died when she was only three, he wondered if she did think of the Jedi teacher that way. Beside Anakin, Uldir cleared his throat impatiently and fidgeted with his robe."Okay," Anakin said, "I guess we can go help Tionne now." They started forward."Welcome back," Anakin called."Hi," Uldir said. Tionne turned.Her large mother-of-pearl eyes sparkled with delight at seeing them."It's good to be back," she said. "Even better because I have such exciting news for Master Skywalker.""So you found something?" Anakin asked.Tionne smiled in an I've-got-a-secret kind of way."Quite a bit, actually. But first, what do you think of my new ship?"Uldir snorted. "If that's a new model, then I'm the son of a nerf herder."The silvery-haired instructor gave a musical laugh."You're right, of course. The Lore Seeker - that's what I named my ship-is really quite old. That's why I loved the design so much.""Well, I think the ship is perfect for you," Tahiri said."It's just right. And so is the name." Anakin nodded.He knew Tionne had called her craft the Lore Seeker because she loved to look for stories and legends about Jedi who lived long ago. He closed his eyes for a moment and reached into the ship with his mind then looked up at Tionne with surprise."It's in excellent condition," he announced. "I'm glad to hear you say that," the Jedi instructor said with a smile."I thought so, too. But because the ship was so old, I was able to buy it from a Randoni trader for a song.""How much did you really pay?" Uldir asked.Tionne shrugged."Just a song. Really. While I was looking for Jedi legends, I came across an ancient song that told about the very first Ran - doni merchants and the vaults where they hid their wealth. The trader was so interested that she offered me the Lore Seeker in exchange for the song. Now come help me unload my cargo, and I'll show you some of my other treasures."Anakin and Tahiri needed no more urging. They hurried to explore the strange ship and help Tionne. Uldir grumbled something about never getting the fun jobs, but lie went along with them anyway. Inside the Lore Seeker's tiny hold, Tionne said,"You may carry this Twi'lek story-chain, Tahiri-each link tells a different part of a story. Please be very careful with it. Uldir, here is a holodisk. It holds a recording of some very old Jedi songs. Anakin, would you please carry this scroll? I'll take the tapestry."'On the way back to the Jedi academy they each carried their packages with extra care. As usual, Tahiri chattered gaily."I can't wait to see Master Skywalker's face when you show him everything you found. He'll probably want to see the Lore Seeker right away. Have you learned any of the old songs from that holodisk yet? Will you sing them to us?""You sure seem to have had a successful trip," Anakin put in.Tionne tossed back her silvery hair and chuckled."Oh, that's not all-I found something even more important. I learned where to find an object that may have more meaning for Master Skywalker than any of these treasures we're holding.""Well, where is it then?" Tahiri said. "In an old fortress on a planet called Vjun," Tionne said."Does anyone live in the fortress?" Anaki...
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]