A Forest Apart (by Troy Denning)

Author:Star Wars [Wars, Star]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-07-24T23:18:16.050000+00:00

Chapter 4

Chewbacca dropped their nose toward the square blue maw of the entrance tunnel and began a

slow descent into the detention center. Malla took the blaster rifle from between the

seats and began to inspect the underside.

[It is a special-action model, ] Chewbacca explained. [The safety disengages automatically

when you grab the stock and place your finger on the trigger. ]

Malla experimented with her grip for a moment, then shook her head. [I do not trust myself

with that. ] She returned the weapon to the holster behind the driver’s seat, then stared

through the windshield. [I am sure you have a plan. ]

Chewbacca nodded. [A good one. ] He negotiated a sharp crash-corner designed to prevent

high-speed penetration runs, then said, [Find Lumpy and take him back. ]

[When the pale ones realize it is us in their car, you don’t think they will try to kill

him? ]

[That is why we must move quickly and strike hard. ]

Chewbacca negotiated the second part of the crash-corner, and they passed through an open

security gate into a cavernous garage. Illuminated in the same dim light as the entrance

tunnel, it was filled with derelict airspeeders, carboplas barrels, and jumbled heaps of

salvage. Opposite the tunnel, he could barely make out a two-story command deck, its

transparisteel observation wall caked in grime and pocked with blast holes.

The other airspeeder had been backed into a parking bay beneath the command deck. Four

underdwellers were behind the vehicle, struggling to haul a flailing ball of fur toward an

open security door leading deeper into the detention center. As he and Malla drew closer,

Chewbacca began to see lumps and bruises on the bloodied faces of his son’s captors.

[Look at the fight he is giving them! ] He swung the speeder around in front the adjacent

bay. [I count two broken noses and a dislocated jaw! ]

Malla gave him a reproving scowl. [This is no slap match, Chewbacca. ] She rose from her

seat and turned toward the back of the airspeeder. [To fight that hard, Lumpy must be

terrified. ]

[A little fear is healthy-it teaches you to be careful. ] Chewbacca backed into the bay.

[You know what to do? ]

She nodded. [Hit hard, hit fast, come back with Lumpy. ]

[And Princess Leia’s datapad, if you see it. ] Chewbacca rose and slipped into the weapons

turret. [I’ll cover you. ]

Malla raced out the speeder’s rear door, roaring threats and curses. By the time Chewbacca

could lift the heavy blaster out of its mounting socket, she was already upon the

underdwellers, hurling gaunt bodies aside and tearing bony hands off her son. Chewbacca

fired a few bolts at the floor to chase the two survivors through the security door. Then

Lumpy was free, scrambling to his feet-and starting after his captors.

[This way! ] Lumpy waved an arm toward the security door. [It’s a-]

Malla caught the cub by the arm and jerked him back toward the airspeeder. Lumpy squirmed

free. So much for fear teaching him anything.

[Lumpy! ] Chewbacca roared. [Come-]

[It’s a trap! ] Lumpy grabbed Malla by the wrist and tried-unsuccessfully-to pull her

toward the security door. [Hurry!

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