"The a.s.sa.s.sin droid IG-88 is programmed to protect you-to bring you back alive. You're the only one who can stop him from breaking down that door and releasing the plague right now! Tell him to stay away!"

Suddenly Raynar's vision cleared and he focused on his father, who drew a shuddering breath.

"Stop," Boman Thul croaked. Though his voice came out as no more than a hoa.r.s.e whisper, the powerful droid paused to listen. "IG-88, I order you to save the only part of me that can still be saved: my son. I am beyond help."

With that, he fell against the wall beneath the transparisteel pane to which Raynar's face was still pressed.

"I love you, Father," was all Raynar had time to say before IG-88 clanked over to where he stood. His father nodded weakly as the a.s.sa.s.sin droid grabbed the young man and dragged him away from the chamber of death. A white mist formed across Raynar's vision, and he could see nothing more.

All he knew was that IG-88 was leading him by one arm and that Zekk was holding his other. Lowie loped ahead, his lightsaber drawn to guard against any other enemies. Zekk droned a steady litany of instructions to IG-88, explaining where their ship was and which direction they needed to go. Occasionally Zekk let go of him, and Raynar could hear some sort of safety interlock whoosh shut behind them. For all Raynar could tell, they might have hurried along like that for hours, but it must have been only minutes. When the droid released his arm, Raynar nearly collapsed. Zekk turned to IG-88.

"It's not far to our ship now." Em Teedee chirped, "Many thanks, IG-88.

You are a credit to all droids." As Raynar swayed to his feet again, the big a.s.sa.s.sin droid spun about and then marched back the way he had come, unable to escape his primary programming.

Zekk called to Raynar. "We have to get out of here before any more of those explosives blow and bring this place down around us." Feeling leaden, Raynar followed Zekk and Lowie, not knowing what else he could do. He looked back the way they had come. The a.s.sa.s.sin droid vanished into the shadowy corridors, heading back toward the plague chamber to see if he could do any last thing for Boman Thul.

AS SOON AS she set foot on the Imperial weapons asteroid, Raaba had her blaster out and ready, unsure of what she might encounter. She raced down the corridors. Her instincts were good, and she had found a s.p.a.ce to dock on the edge of the primary biological weapons complex. She understood security systems well and had an uncanny knack for finding her way to the heart of any important facility. It was one of the skills that had made her so valuable to Nolaa Tarkona. This time it might just save her leader's life-or at least, Raaba hoped so as she searched through one tunnel after another. Hold on, Raaba thought. I'm coming. Too many lives had been lost already this day. Coming upon a sealed doorway with a safety interlock and a flashing hazard symbol, Raaba used her blaster to fry the controls. Then she wrenched the door open using the manual override and her own Wookiee strength.

Good, Raaba thought. Directly before her, she saw Nolaa Tarkona emerging from a vault-locked chamber whose bent and battered door stood wide open.

Nolaa's rose-quartz eyes held a strange look, somewhere between overwhelming grief and wild triumph.

"Raabakyysh! I knew I could count on you."

Raaba loosed a happy roar to see her leader alive, but her cry of joy turned to a questioning growl when she looked past Nolaa Tarkona to see the body of Rullak sprawled on the floor in the chamber, blotched with disease.

"Rullak is dead through his own fault-and the human's," Nolaa said, spitting out the word with obvious contempt. She swayed on her feet, looking very unwell. "Bornan Thul is dead, too. Their foolishness nearly put an end to my plan. Most of my guards were killed, and all my generals are lost to me now. But we have no time to mourn them. You must get me back to the fleet."

Raaba paused in confusion. How had Rullak died? And Bornan Thul? But then a pair of blaster bolts zinged past her and ricocheted off the vault door, nearly striking Nolaa Tarkona. The emergency distracted Raaba from worrying about any additional questions. Raaba did not think-she acted.

She spun and fired on her a.s.sailant.

It was the a.s.sa.s.sin droid IG-88. Nolaa Tarkona had her own blaster out now and fired, but Raaba could not let the great leader put herself in danger. Stepping forward, Raaba let loose a volley with her blaster and backed down the hallway, pushing the Twi'lek woman behind her and shielding her with her own body.

IG-88 fired again. In desperation, Raaba shot back, but she knew she couldn't hold off an a.s.sa.s.sin droid forever. They had been very lucky to escape injury for this long. With stubborn determination, Raaba pushed her leader back toward the questionable cover of a corner at intersecting corridors. A blaster bolt grazed Raaba's knee, singeing fur, and she dove after Nolaa Tarkona. Then a strange thing happened. As soon as Raaba and Nolaa Tarkona disappeared into the adjoining tunnel, the blaster fire ceased abruptly.

Stunned and suspicious, Raaba peeked back around the comer, only to find that the droid had apparently lost all interest in them. Instead, IG-88 clanked slowly, almost mournfully, through the vault door and into the steaming, sparking plague chamber. Although Raaba did not understand why the droid had given up his attack, she wasted no time questioning their good fortune. Instead she grasped Nolaa Tarkona's arm and propelled the Twi' lek leader down the long corridors toward the place where the Rising Star waited. As they ran, Raaba explained that the New Republic fleet had arrived to drive back the Diversity Alliance armada.

Without slowing, Nolaa Tarkona attempted to switch on her mobile comm unit. When there was no answer, Raaba s.n.a.t.c.hed the comlink from her belt and handed it to her. They were almost to the Rising Star now. A burst of static and then a squawk of surprise and delight came over the comlink.

"You're alive! Esteemed Tarkona, is it truly you?"

"Yes," she said. "Raaba and I will be with you shortly, but we need your help to escape from this accursed asteroid."

"Anything, Esteemed Tarkona," the voice on the comlink replied.

"Drive the human fleet away from here," Nolaa said. Apparently out of breath, she coughed a few times and gasped. "We'll join you soon. And then I will personally lead you to victory."

HAN SOLO WAS taken by surprise when the Diversity Alliance armada did an abrupt about-face from its cautious retreat and surged toward the New Republic fleet. Like a pack of nek battle dogs, the battered survivors of the little armada pressed their attack, pushing back the ships under Han's command. Chewie roared beside him, and Han gripped his controls.

"I see it, I see it!" He swerved to avoid an oncoming strike cruiser, adding more power to his front shields, then did his famous corkscrew maneuver to elude the turbolasers. One of the New Republic snub fighters behind him wasn't so lucky, and spiraled out of control with a damaged S-foil.

"Boy, those guys just got inspired!" Han said. "I wonder what they're trying to defend."

Chewie roared.

Han agreed. "Right. Or who."

He toggled the Falcon's comm system to the coded military frequency.

"All right, blue and green groups-attack formation delta. Remember your training."

Han knew that sooner or later he would turn the plague-storage asteroid into cinders, but first he had to make sure his kids were safe. At the moment, though, all resources were engaged in fending off the Diversity Alliance.

As the New Republic fleet harried the scattered Diversity Alliance warships, Jaina watched from the c.o.c.kpit of the Rock Dragon, still desperately trying to return to the Imperial weapons depot to help her stranded friends. She flew near the Millennium Falcon, protected in part by her father's shields and his talent with the laser turrets-but she knew that she and Jacen could shoot as well as Chewbacca, and she wanted to do her part in the fight on her way back down to the asteroid.

Diversity Alliance ships...o...b..ted the weapons depot, reluctant to retreat into hypers.p.a.ce: somewhere down there on that rock, their leader Nolaa Tarkona still had business to complete. Jaina spotted the blown-out atmosphere containment dome she had wrecked during her escape earlier.

Right now, she wished she knew what was happening to Zekk, or Lowie, or the others they had left behind.

She needed to be sure her friends were away from the depot before the New Republic fleet blasted the asteroid to incandescent dust. The s.p.a.ce battle was sheer chaos. The Diversity Alliance ships fought vigorously, taking outrageous chances, careening toward New Republic cruisers and then flitting back. Nolaa's s.p.a.ce navy had performed no drills, made no concerted effort - they just shot at their enemies in a free-for-all that caused little damage but much confusion. The Diversity Alliance fleet hit their own vessels as often as they struck the New Republic ships. Jaina soared around in the Rock Dragon, seeking an opening where she could cripple one of the ships. New Republic vessels already outnumbered the enemy fleet, but Nolaa's soldiers fought anyway, recklessly.

Then hypers.p.a.ce shimmered, the folds of the universe blinked-and even more ships appeared. Another battle fleet.

"Blaster bolts!" Jacen exclaimed at her shoulder. "Who's coming now?"

Jaina had a sudden dread that Nolaa Tarkona had access to additional warships hidden in reserve, another portion of her fleet armed with stolen weapons. Tenel Ka recognized the ships first.

"That is the Bornaryn fleet." The ma.s.sive form of the flagship Tradewyn took the head of a phalanx as the merchant convoy, surrounded by numerous security vessels and fast fighters, plunged into the fray. The comm system crackled with Aryn Dro Thul's iron-hard voice.

"This is the Bornaryn fleet offering our a.s.sistance to the New Republic.

I understand my husband and my son are down there."

Jaina recognized another voice as Tyko Thul's.

"If you Diversity Alliance troops know what's good for you, you'll give up right now."

The New Republic ships drew together, and the Bornaryn vessels closed in like the other half of a jagged jaw, squeezing the rampant alien ships.

Turbolaser fire crisscrossed s.p.a.ce, and Jaina added her own shots, but she didn't cause any serious damage. One of the Diversity Alliance ships, a small but heavily armored strike cruiser, erupted in s.p.a.ce, leaving yellow afterimages on Jaina's eyes. The rest of the enemy fleet began to move away from the depot, driven out of the system. As part of the New Republic fleet peeled off in pursuit, Jaina swerved the Rock Dragon back toward the asteroid.

"That's a good start at least," Jaina said, watching the warships with satisfaction. Now they could at last go back to retrieve their friends.

Dodging turbolaser fire from the battle in s.p.a.ce overhead, Jaina found a free airlock on the asteroid and docked the Rock Dragon again. Before Jaina had even finished powering down the cruiser's engines, Tenel Ka had opened the airlock and begun scouting out a route to the plague chambers. Grabbing a mobile comlink, Jacen flicked it on.

"Em Teedee, can you hear me? We need to know where you are so we can help you."

A Wookiee roar blasted from the tiny speaker.

"Yes, Master Jacen, you are quite audible-but, Master Lowbacca urges you to reconsider. Several plagues have already been unleashed. It's far too dangerous here! Do not attempt to open any safety interlocks. He says to set whatever explosives you have left and save yourselves. We will make every effort to find our own way out."

The little droid gave an electronic equivalent of a gulp.

"Of course, we could be doomed."

Deep in the asteroid tunnels, Zekk kept running with Lowie and Raynar.

"The Lightning Rods up here somewhere," he said. "Once we're away, we can get the New Republic fleet to open fire and blow this asteroid into powder."

Raynar sniffed, overwhelmed by grief at the death of his father. "There's nothing here worth preserving," he said. "Let's destroy it all so it can't harm anyone else."

Zekk's green eyes looked at the young man with hard understanding. They rushed down the corridor through half-opened pressure doors and barricades that had been tom from their hinges by the a.s.sa.s.sin droid.

They raced along tunnels past domed landing bays and access areas. Zekk knew the Lightning Rod was just down one of those corridors. He could almost smell the old cargo freighter's lubricant fumes and exhaust. He wanted nothing more than to be off this weapons depot. Running ahead, though, Lowie skidded to a halt and let out a roar, grabbing for his lightsaber. Zekk felt the cold tingle of Jedi senses an instant before another cl.u.s.ter of Diversity Alliance soldiers emerged from the branching tunnels.

They had been lying in wait, ready to ambush the companions as they returned to their ship. These alien fighters were not interested in taking prisoners. The soldiers stepped out, drew their weapons, and with a mingled roar from various species, they opened fire. Zekk and Raynar threw themselves against the walls. Lowie held his ground, powering up his lightsaber and slashing to deflect blaster bolts. But he, too, had to press for shelter against the curve of the wall. The nine Diversity Alliance soldiers continued shooting. Blaster bolts ricocheted like a sideways - slanting rain of sparkling flames. Zekk yanked out the blaster pistol he had taken from the munitions chamber and fired.

His first shot struck a clumsy Gamorrean just above the knee. The creature squealed and fell on his side, out of commission. The others scrambled out of the way, but were more interested in shooting than in taking cover. After all, they were faced with only three young companions, and just one of them had a long-range weapon. Zekk shot again and again, but his opponents managed to keep to shelter. Lowie strode recklessly forward with his lightsaber, and Zekk followed behind him.

This was their last chance, and if they couldn't make it back to the Lightning Rod, he was going to go down fighting. After all this time of trying to find himself, searching for a way to remove the shadow of guilt from his past, Zekk understood that he had to get his friends out of this situation, even if it meant sacrificing himself so they could get to the ship. Lowie was a good enough pilot.

He could take Raynar out of here, back to safety. Zekk had been with the Shadow Academy, and he had fought against Luke Skywalker's Jedi Knights on Yavin 4. He had gone to his birth world of Ennth in hope of rejoining his people, but he'd found no home there either. Then he had become a bounty hunter, searching for lucrative targets, but not understanding why he needed to seek them. He had not bothered to ponder the consequences if Bornan Thul were caught. No matter what his skills, no matter how good he was at his job as a bounty hunter, Zekk could never be just a mercenary. He had to think through his actions, and he had to choose what was right. Luckily, Zekk had learned his lesson in time, so that he could fight on the right side-and now he had to carry that fight to its finish. He stood next to Lowie, prepared to fire. Diversity Alliance soldiers pushed forward until the volley of blaster bolts grew so thick that Lowie could not deflect them all. A long bolt singed the ginger fur on his arm.

Then, just when they were at their most vulnerable point in the middle of the corridor, Boba Fett emerged from a side pa.s.sage. The grim man in battered Mandalorian armor stepped out boldly. He held a blaster pistol in each gauntleted hand. The Diversity Alliance soldiers cheered, welcoming Nolaa Tarkona's crack bounty hunter. They stopped firing, happy to let Boba Fett finish their job for them. Fett trained both blaster pistols at Zekk, and Zekk was more afraid of those guns than of all the other weapons held by the alien guards.

He recalled how the masked man had reluctantly a.s.sisted him, and also how he had tricked Fett into helping Boman Thul get away. He swallowed hard, prepared to die. Suddenly the bounty hunter whirled about with such speed that Zekk could barely follow his actions. Boba Fett fired both of the pistols continuously, strafing from one Diversity Alliance guard to another. He ruthlessly mowed them down as they stood paralyzed with shock.

Without wasting time on questions, Zekk reacted as well, opening fire and taking out the aliens Boba Fett hadn't already shot down. In the suddenly silent, smoke-filled corridor, Boba Fett stood motionless, victorious.

Rock dust and sifting debris drifted down from the ceiling. The smell of melted metal burned Zekk's nostrils. He couldn't move. Lowie held up his lightsaber, not knowing how to react. Raynar had stepped up behind Zekk and Lowie, directly into the line of fire-but no Diversity Alliance fighter remained alive.

Zekk's astonishment gave way to scorn. He looked at the black slit in the helmet of the bounty hunter.

"So you're a turncoat? Just like that, you're on our side?" Lowie also grumbled his disbelief.

Raynar exclaimed, "I thought you were working for Nolaa Tarkona. She had you out looking for my father."

Fett turned to him. "Nolaa Tarkona wanted the location of this depot. I gave it to her. My work for her is finished, paid in full."

Zekk stared in astonishment, remembering how Boba Fett had told him that all obligations to an employer ended once the bounty had been delivered.

"So what made you choose our side? A twinge of moral responsibility?" He raised his eyebrows.

Fett's impenetrable helmet gave the slightest shake.

"A bounty hunter does not take sides."

"Then why are you here?" Raynar asked. A flush colored his cheeks.

"Tyko Thul hired me. He offered a large reward if I could bring you and your father safely away from this asteroid."

Raynar hung his head. Zekk could barely speak himself. "Too late, Boba Fett. Bornan Thul is dead from the plague."

Fett seemed unaffected.

"Then I will complete the rest of my a.s.signment, and see that Raynar gets out safely. I will cover your retreat. I trust you can make it to your ship without a.s.sistance?"

Zekk regarded the masked man with distrust.

"It doesn't trouble you that your very next bounty is to a.s.sist the enemy of your former employer?"

Boba Fett straightened, as if the answer to the question should be obvious. "I don't judge right or wrong. I just do my job."

Zekk squared his shoulders and suddenly knew he was stronger than Boba Fett. His mind was clearer. His heart was cleaner.

"Then I guess I don't want to be a bounty hunter after all," he said, and tossed his long black hair over his shoulders. "I don't let a paycheck decide between right and wrong for me."

Leaving Boba Fett behind, he walked with Lowie and Raynar down the last remaining tunnel to the Lightning Rod and their escape from the asteroid.

RAABA'S STOMACH LURCHED as she threw the Rising Star's engines into full reverse and pulled away from where she had been docked against the asteroid. Yes, it looked as if they might escape after all. But something was terribly wrong with her leader. Nolaa Tarkona coughed again, and her pale face streamed with oily perspiration. Her single head-tail writhed and contorted in convulsions of pain. Watching the Twi'lek woman, Raaba hovered just above the rocky surface. Nolaa's breathing was labored, but her eyes burned with unquenchable fervor.

"Hurry," she said, "we must get back to the armada. Our time of triumph is at hand. Don't hesitate now."

But Raaba could not deny the evidence before her eyes: Nolaa had been exposed to the Emperor's plagues. One of the diseases had killed the human Bornan Thul, and another had killed Rullak-and now it was apparent that one was also working its poison on Nolaa Tarkona herself. Raaba shook her head to clear it and growled a question: how many plagues had been let loose in the Emperor's biological weapons chamber? The Twi'lek woman looked surprised.

"Three, four, perhaps a dozen. What does it matter? Many of the canisters were destroyed." Nolaa reached inside her cloak and pulled out a fistful of vials labeled HUMAN, FAST-ACTING. "Don't you see?" she said. "We have what we came for. The means to destroy our enemies for all time!"

Raaba felt her chocolate-colored fur stand on end. She sucked in a deep breath, but coughed instead. Only then did Raaba understand what she had done. Yes, she had rescued her leader from the plague chamber-but at what cost? The Twi'lek leader was sick, perhaps dying from one of the plagues she had encountered. Certainly, she'd been exposed to both the human and the Quarren specific organisms. Even if Nolaa's intention was to kill every human in the galaxy, how could she not recognize that she also endangered every Quarren and every Twi'lek, at the breathe. By going into the plague chamber to rescue her leader, Raaba herself might have been exposed to a virulent plague that could also be fatal to Wookiees.

Perhaps she was doomed as well. With her clawed hands shaking, Nolaa Tarkona attempted to work the copilot's controls and take the Rising Star on a heading toward the armada. Raaba knew that the time for a decision was now.

Jaina, Jacen, and Tenel Ka finished setting their last explosives in record time and threw themselves into the c.o.c.kpit of the Rock Dragon. Em Teedee had just transmitted a message from Lowie, Zekk, and Raynar in the Lightning Rod to inform the other young Jedi Knights that they were on their way, escaping from the asteroid. He also pa.s.sed along the news about the death of Borran Thul. But they had no time to grieve now. Not in the middle of a battle, with the fate of the plague storehouse at stake. Like a team long accustomed to working together, they flicked switches, sealed airlocks, and programmed courses with deft hands guided by the Force.

"Fifteen seconds," Tenel Ka stated in a firm voice, referring to the amount of time left on the five detonators they had found and been able to set without going any farther into the weapons complex.

"Fifteen seconds? No sweat," Jacen muttered.

"Almost got it." Jaina slapped the repulsorlifts to full.

"Ten, nine..."

Tenel Ka hit the switch to release the Rock Dragon's airtight seal on the depot docking hatch.

"Eight, seven, six..."

"Hang on. This ride's going to be anything but smooth," Jaina shouted.