Rebel Force_ Hostage Part 2

"Not all it stands for, Your Highness." Kiro smiled sadly. "You'll see to that."

"Not me," Leia said. "The Alliance."

The general nodded. " Exactly. Kiro is based here in Leilani, and he's managed to put together a coalition of survivors who might be willing to a.s.sist the Rebel efforts."

"They're hesitant," Kiro admitted. "After...what happened, they have good cause to be terrified of the Empire."

"All the more reason to fight," Leia said.

Kiro nodded. "I agree. And now that you're here, I know they'll commit.

They... we we-" he reddened "-have always drawn strength from your resolve."

As a princess and Imperial senator, Leia had grown quite skillful at accepting compliments. But this one touched her more deeply than most. "On behalf of the Rebel Alliance, I thank you for all you've done," she told him, aware she sounded overly formal.

"I look forward to working together."

"I've been called for an operation in the Orus Sector," General Rieekan said. "And-"

"Can we have a moment, please?" Leia asked Kiro. He may have been one of her people, and General Rieekan may have trusted him, but he was still a stranger.

He backed away, leaving Leia and the general to speak privately.

"If you need me here, Your Highness, of course I'll stay."

Leia shook her head. "Go ahead. The Rebellion needs you more than I do."

"Just watch yourself," he warned her. "Minister Manaa may be the official head of the government, but his deputy, Var Lyonn, holds the true power. And the man is not to be trusted."

"Few are," Leia pointed out. "It's why the Rebel Alliance is lucky to have men like you."

"And like your father," he said quietly. "I grieve your loss."

Leia looked down. "It's a loss felt by all," she said brusquely. "And I intend to make sure we never suffer another one like it."

Leilani was corroded with rust, its air fouled with chemicals and its skies black with smoke. But when they arrived at the housing development that had been erected for Alderaan survivors, Leia was surprised to find everything s.h.i.+ny and new. There were even a few trees poking up between the small homes.

After introducing her to the Prime Minister and his deputy, General Rieekan had returned to the s.p.a.ceport. At Leia's request, the government officials had brought her to see the accommodations that had been made for her people. Though she had wanted to go alone, Luke had insisted on coming along. He said he was curious, but she knew he just didn't want her to be alone. It infuriated her, the way everyone was treating her like she was some fragile piece of transparisteel, about to shatter into a million pieces. Yes, she'd lost everything-but she certainly wasn't the only one.

"There are two hundred residents in the T'iil Blossom Homes," Deputy Minister Var Lyonn said, proudly showing off the facilities. His gray s.h.i.+mmersilk robe, the same color as his thinning hair, brushed against the ground as he walked. "Families who were off planet on vacation, businessmen, students on school trips-every survivor has a different story, though of course they all end in the same tragic way. It's been our honor as Delayans to offer a safe and happy refuge."

Leia smiled at the groups of survivors picnicking in a ragged patch of gra.s.s. It reminded her of lazy afternoons on the grounds of the palace, snacking on Mernily's custard bread while she watched the gingerbells bloom. The memory was as welcome as it was painful.

"We have established developments like this all across the city," Var Lyonn said. His smile didn't quite reach his eyes. Prime Minister Gresh Manaa, who hadn't spoken since he'd first introduced himself, nodded eagerly. He was shorter and rounder than his deputy, with a fringe of gray hair ringing his bulging chin. His wide eyes made him seem perpetually surprised. He walked a few feet behind Var Lyonn, like a child trailing his minder.

They rounded a hedge to discover a small boy huddled on the ground. When he spotted them, he wiped the tears from his eyes with two balled fists. "I'm not crying," he said defiantly.

"I can see that," Leia a.s.sured him. "Where are your parents?"

"In building seven," he said. "I got lost."

"Princess, we should really keep moving," Var Lyonn said. "We have much to see."

Leia ignored him. "Would you like help finding your parents?" she asked the child.

The boy burst into tears.

Var Lyonn grunted with impatience. "Your Highness, surely we all have more pressing matters to attend to than baby-sitting baby-sitting."

"Then you attend to them," Leia said, with as much politeness as she could muster.

" I'm I'm getting this child back to his family." getting this child back to his family."

"As I've already explained, it's not safe for you to wander around on your own. If you insist, we can all-"

"You go," Luke said, catching her eye. "I remember pa.s.sing building seven on our way in. It's just across the park."

"Excellent," Var Lyonn said brusquely, already walking away. "Rejoin us when you can." Leia nodded at Luke, and followed behind the Deputy Minister. It was clear he didn't want her out of his sight. At least this way, Luke would have a chance to do some exploring on his own.

"We've done what we can with the funds we have," Lyonn said, as they continued to stroll across the grounds, "but of course, the more we have, the more we can help." A number of wealthy former residents of Alderaan had donated funds to Delaya, to help them tend to the survivors. Although the Organa fortune had been pledged to the Rebellion, Leia knew of many who would donate funds at her request.

They wandered through narrow, tree-lined paths dotted with small buildings. There was a cultural center, a cafeteria, even a school. It looked like a comfortable place to live-but Leia suspected that for its residents, it would never be home.

"Time to go," Var Lyonn said, after they'd been there for less than an hour. "I don't know where your a.s.sociate has wandered off to, but we'll collect him on our way out."

"Already?" She'd spoken to only a few of the survivors, all quick to thank the Delayan officials for giving them a new home. They seemed reluctant to say anything more. "You go. I can find my own way back."

"That would be ill advised," Lyonn said. "You're a very public figure-with a lot of enemies."

"I'm not concerned."

Lyonn and Manaa shared a look. "I'm afraid we don't have that luxury," Lyonn said, his tone civil but firm. "If something were to happen to you here, we would never forgive ourselves." He paused. "Of course you'll want us to take every precaution against having the Empire learn of your presence here."

It was only his cold smile that made it sound like a threat.

"I should probably return to the hotel anyway," Leia said gracefully. "I do need to prepare for tomorrow."

This was partly true. She had agreed to officiate at a large memorial ceremony.

Hundreds of people would attend, all expecting her words to heal their wounds. She couldn't even heal her own.

But that wasn't why she agreed to return to the hotel. General Rieekan had been right: Manaa and Lyonn were hiding something. Picking a fight wouldn't be the best way to find out what it was. That was Han's way. Shoot first, ask questions never. Leia was more patient-but no less determined.

"You sure this is the right place?" Luke asked. Once they'd found building seven, the small boy had led him around to a playground in the back, claiming his parents would be waiting for him. But there was no one there. The boy looked more terrified than ever.

"Don't worry," Luke said. "We'll find your parents. They're probably out looking for you right at this moment."

"I didn't want to do it," the boy said.

"Do what?" Luke asked in confusion-and then rough hands grabbed him from behind, twisting his hands behind his back. A bag dropped over his head. Luke kicked out blindly, and his foot slammed hard into someone's stomach. There was a loud grunt, and his legs were kicked out from beneath him. He dropped to the ground, his head slamming into the duracrete.

"Careful, don't hurt him!" someone snapped.

Luke was scooped up and tossed onto a hard surface. There was a loud bang just over his head, like a lid being slammed shut. An engine rumbled, and the floor vibrated beneath him. It looked like he was going for a ride.

Like it or not.

CHAPTER FIVE.

Luke strained against the wrist binders. They wouldn't give. He twisted his arms toward his right hip, straining his fingers toward his belt. The men had taken his blaster-but they hadn't thought to search for other weapons. If he could just reach the hilt of his lightsaber...

There!

Luke was about to activate the blade, when he hesitated. It wasn't just the close quarters-he knew he might miss the binders and slice off a limb-it was a feeling, almost an inner voice, urging him to stop.

Have patience. Watch. Wait.

It was the kind of thing Ben might have said-but this wasn't Ben's voice. It came from somewhere deep inside of him. It was less a voice than a certainty that he should allow events to play themselves out.

Is it the Force? Luke wondered. Luke wondered.

Or was it just his own fear?

Either way, Luke decided to listen. He still had his lightsaber. When the time came to use it, he would be ready. Until then, he would have patience. Watch.

Wait.

The lid swung open. Luke squinted into the light. Two figures stood over him, silhouetted by the sun, their faces hidden in shadow.

"We don't want to hurt you," the taller one said.

"And we won't-if you come quietly," added the other. "If you don't..." He left the threat unspoken.

"Where are we?" Luke asked.

Instead of answering, they yanked him out of the speeder, holding him upright as his legs buckled. Though his muscles quickly recovered, he let himself sag as they half-pushed, half-dragged him down the narrow path.

Let them believe he was weak.

"You're making a mistake," Luke warned, as they approached a ma.s.sive building of faceless gray ferrocrete. Several similar structures stood on either side. Luke suspected they'd brought him to the warehouse district. But why? "If you tell me what you want, maybe we can work something out."

"We got what we wanted," the shorter man growled. "You."

Once again, Luke considered going for his lightsaber. Here, the odds were one against two. Not great, since the two had blasters and all he had was a lightsaber he could barely use.

Watch.

Wait.

It defied sense, but Luke trusted his instincts. Just as Ben had instructed him.

The men shoved him into the building. Off balance, he stumbled through the door, toppling forward. They caught him just before he hit the ground and jerked him upright.

Luke gasped.

It was a warehouse, as he'd guessed. But the only thing stored in this warehouse were people.

People everywhere-hundreds of them, perhaps a thousand. Sprawled on thin mats, leaning against the walls, sickly and pale. Huddled under threadbare blankets, fighting over foil-wrapped protein supplements. The building was hundreds of meters wide and at least six stories high, with landings on each level circling a wide open central area. The thick air stunk of rotting bantha meat.

"What is this place?" Luke whispered, forcing himself not to turn away from all the gaunt, hopeless faces.

"New Alderaan," one of his captors said bitterly. "Home sweet home."

"You can sit."

Luke's captors had shoved him into a small makes.h.i.+ft enclosure, bounded by two hanging sheets and a few thin sheets of plasteel propped against each other. The man facing him had a round face dusted by a reddish gold beard. Laugh lines framed his wide mouth, but the eyes beneath the bushy blond eyebrows shone with sorrow. "I said, sit. sit. " "

When Luke didn't move, his captors each put a hand on one of his shoulders, and forced him to the ground. He sat awkwardly, his arms still pinned behind him.

The bearded man glanced at the others. "Leave us."

The short, stocky one frowned. "Nahj, it's not safe."

The seated man gave him a thin smile. "I hardly think he poses much of a threat.

And-" He gave Luke a pointed look. "He knows you'll be standing just outside, blasters at the ready. He's no fool. Are you?"

Luke said nothing.

The men nodded, and slipped out of the lean-to.

"You can call me J'er Nahj," the bearded man said, once they were alone. "And you are?"

Luke didn't answer.

"You're wondering why they brought you here," Nahj said.

"They did it because you told them to," Luke guessed.

"Not exactly." He sighed. "Not you."

Luke's eyes widened. He should have realized. "You were trying to kidnap Leia? Leia? " A flush of anger rose in him, and he readied himself to go for his lightsaber. " A flush of anger rose in him, and he readied himself to go for his lightsaber.