Star Wars®: Rebel Force #2: Hostage by Alex Wheeler

Author:Alex Wheeler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic
Published: 2009-11-15T00:00:00+00:00

Luke was almost relieved when he heard the knock. He’d spent the last hour pacing restlessly, listening to Kiro Chen and Leia strategize. He didn’t feel that it was his place to express any opinions — even Han was keeping his mouth shut. But it was more than a little frustrating to stand silent.

Not that Luke disagreed with everything Leia said. The success of the Rebellion was crucial. Beating the Empire mattered. He was just no longer sure it was all that mattered. But Leia didn’t want to hear that, not from him. She’d made that perfectly clear.

Any distraction would be a welcome one.

He opened the door and took a step backward. Fess Ilee stared back at him. Luke didn’t know what it was about the man that made him feel comfortable and unnerved, both at the same time. He stepped aside, allowing Fess into the room.

“Your Highness, we have a problem,” Fess said abruptly.

Leia arched an eyebrow. “We?”

“Greetings, sir,” C-3PO interrupted, eager to finally observe some protocol. “Might I offer you a drink, or perhaps some fresh-baked sweesonberry loaf?”

“He’s not staying,” Leia said sharply.

“I’ve come only to bring a message, and then I’ll go,” Fess said.

“Well? I’m listening.”

Fess looked around the crowded room, the suspicion clear in his eyes.

“Everyone in this room has proven their loyalty to the cause,” Leia said. “Except you.”

Fess looked doubtful, but he gave in. “You can’t attend your meeting tomorrow. You’re in danger.”

Leia cast a sharp glance at Kiro. “What meeting?” she asked innocently.

Fess shook his head. “There’s no time for that now. I know about the meeting you’re planning for tomorrow — and so do Halle Dray and J’er Nahj. They’re planning to grab you and hand you over to the Empire.”

“I’ve spoken with Nahj, and he seemed like a good man,” Leia said skeptically. “I can’t believe he would resort to kidnapping.”

Luke winced. “I believe he would, Leia.” As he told them the truth of how he’d first met J’er Nahj, Luke felt a sharp stab of guilt. His lie to Leia had nearly put her in danger.

Leia was looking at him curiously, like she wanted to ask why he’d kept this a secret until now. But she didn’t. Maybe she just thought he’d lie to her all over again.

Instead, she turned to Fess. “Why come to me with this? You’ve made it very clear that you’re against us.”

“I’m with anyone who stands up to the Empire,” Fess admitted. “Halle and Nahj mean well, but they tend to act rashly. I let them believe I agreed with them because I thought it might be the only way to stop them from doing something they can’t take back. I see I was right.”

“Except you weren’t able to stop them,” Leia pointed out. “So you’ve come here, to stop us, instead. I won’t run away. I came here to find reinforcements for the Rebel fight, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

“Even if it gets you killed?” Han asked sourly. “Last time you messed with the Empire, they weren’t exactly rolling out the royal welcome wagon.

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