A few leftover spatters of rain from another brief shower dripped outside the open window. Sirra sat with them, her patchy fur standing on end. She didn’t want to be alone, apparently, but she didn’t participate much in the conversation either.
“Take a look at this, Lowie,” Jaina said, holding up the datapad.
The Wookiee studied the list of ruined components with a thoughtful growl. Jacen and Tenel Ka crowded in to get a look as well. Jacen flashed his sister a mischievous grin. “Hard to believe that an itty-bitty ion storm could cause so much damage, huh?”
Jaina sent him a withering look. “If that furry pet of yours hadn’t chewed all the circuits—”
“Hey, that’s not fair! I’d never even seen her before we left Yavin 4.” Jacen removed the fluffy creature from the temporary cage he had made for her and her babies. The little eight-legged rodent seemed very pleased with her soft new nest. “She didn’t mean to cause any trouble—did you, Ion?”
He held the fluffy ball close to his face and stroked her with one finger. The tiny creature made a faint cooing sound. Jacen would set the rodent free when they returned to Yavin 4, but for now he would take good care of her.
“The fault was not Jacen’s,” Tenel Ka said in a mild voice. “And blaming the creature serves no purpose.”
Jaina shrugged one shoulder. “Yeah, I know. I’m sorry. Just don’t let Chewie catch sight of that pesky little thing when he gets back tonight.”
Lowie handed the datapad back to Jaina with a confident bark. “Master Lowbacca believes that we can obtain most of these parts at the local fabrication facility, or create reasonable substitutes,” Em Teedee said.
Jaina felt hopeful. “You mean the factory where your parents work?”
“Blaster bolts,” Jacen said. “Are you sure? There’s a lot of stuff on that list. What do they make at the factory, anyway?”
Lowie gestured with his hands and growled an answer. Jaina could vaguely sense what he was saying. Em Teedee said, “The fabrication facility that employs Master Lowbacca’s parents, as well as most of the other inhabitants of this tree city, produces a variety of sophisticated computer equipment for use in a wide range of transportation applications.”
Jaina’s interest sharpened at the idea of a factory filled with exotic and complex systems.
“Like what?” Jacen asked, placing Ion back in her cage. The little rodent inspected her grubs, rooting around in her fuzzy nest.
After more of Lowie’s growling and gesticulating, Em Teedee said, “Among other things, the facility produces guidance control systems for planetary control towers, navigational subsystems and backups, tactical systems, communication encryption generators, multi-phasic—”
“Hey, I think we get the idea. Thanks, Em Teedee,” Jacen broke in.
Jaina tried to suppress a chuckle. Her ever-curious brother had gotten more explanation than he had bargained for. “Lowie, is there any way we can move the Shadow Chaser closer to your home so we can work on it more easily? The hangar bay where we stored it is way on the other side of the city. Not very convenient, if you know what I mean.”
Lowie shook his head, but growled a suggestion. “Master Lowbacca proposes—” Em Teedee began.
“Yeah, I think I got it,” Jaina said, struggling to understand a few of the Wookiee words. “We can pull out the damaged subsystems one or two at a time, bring them here to Lowie’s house, and work on ’em.” She beamed. “That’s a great idea. So what are we waiting for?”
6
The morning breeze ruffled Lowie’s ginger-colored fur as he stood with his friends outside on the treetop observation platform. The area was broad and smooth, empty of equipment or visitors—the perfect place for them to stretch their muscles and perform Jedi exercises in the fresh outdoors.
The air was enriched with the scent of spring blossoms, new leaves, and sun-warmed wood. Beside him on the wooden platform, Sirra crouched in pensive silence, watching the Jedi trainees as they worked through their individual exercise routines.
Lowie tried not to make it obvious that he was keeping an eye on Sirra. Too great a show of concern on his part, he figured, would probably only annoy his sister and make her more stubborn. They had left many issues unspoken between them, but he knew they would have to talk soon.
He flicked his golden eyes around the platform and watched as Jacen did push-ups and Jaina practiced gymnastic tumbles. Tenel Ka, limber as ever, stood on one leg, the other pulled up high behind her, pointing toward the sky.
Lowie bent over, placed both hands flat on the warm wood of the platform, kicked his feet into the air, and balanced there. When Jaina turned a cartwheel past him, he risked another look at Sirra. His brash younger sister had spoken very little since his arrival yesterday, though she had instinctively remained close to him. Lowie couldn’t help wondering what she was thinking. Did Sirra in any way resent him because he had inherited Jedi potential, while she had not? Did she blame him for Raaba’s death? Did she resent the friends he had brought home with him?
He and his sister were so different that Lowie wondered if there had ever been a time when they understood each other completely. Lowie was thoughtful, analytical, introspective, while Sirra was wild, confident, outspoken. He preferred not to draw attention to himself, while she enjoyed surprising people with her appearance—why else would she trim the fur at her ankles, knees, wrists, and elsewhere in such a strange patchwork style?
Sirra and Lowie had always trusted one another, though—but did she still trust him?
Tenel Ka whirled through Lowie’s field of vision, performing aerial somersaults. He felt himself begin to lose his balance, but quickly regained it and began doing vertical push-ups.
“Hey, Lowie,” Jacen yelled from behind him, “can you spare a little concentration from your exercises to teach us a few words in your Wookiee dialect?”
Lowie grunted his assent. “Master Lowbacca says he would not be averse to the possibility of instructing you,” Em Teedee translated.
Jaina chuckled. “Gee, that’s funny, Em Teedee—it sounded to me like all he said was ‘yes.’”
“Well, I suppose that is an alternate translation,” Em Teedee said, sounding somewhat miffed. “Though it’s rather unimaginative.”
Lowie gave a bark of laughter and looked over at Sirra to see if she had listened to the interchange. She returned his look for a moment, then deliberately turned and sat with her back to him at the edge of the platform, dangling her legs over the side, above the leafy canopy far below. She stared down toward the unseen depths … where Raaba had disappeared.
“Well then,” Em Teedee said, sounding hurt now, “once you’ve taught the others your dialect, Master Lowbacca, I suppose you won’t require my services anymore.”
“Of course we’ll still need you, Em Teedee,” Jaina said. “We’ll never be able to understand every word Lowie says.”
Lowie absently grunted his agreement, still looking at Sirra’s hunched shoulders. It occurred to him that although he had come home to support her in this difficult time, he had no idea how to do it. Clearly, his presence alone was not enough. He wanted to try talking with her, but what if she had problems he couldn’t solve? What if he was part of the problem, having set a dangerous example that his sister felt obligated to follow, though it might mean her death?
Still balanced on his hands but deep in thought about Sirra, Lowie lost his concentration and his balance again, this time with embarrassing results. He teetered precariously for a moment, trying to regain his equilibrium. Em Teedee let out a squeal of surprise, then Lowie toppled over, landing on his rear end with a loud thump.