Confrontation

The pinkish glow fell on a pair of black boots. A familiar voice said, "Did you call for help?"

Jaina started and nearly fell off the branch. Growling, Chewbacca bared his fats, though he could make no move to attack.

"Zekk - what are you doing here?" Trying to check her astonishment, Jaina stood and held the glowing light higher, but the leather clad figure took a step backward, keeping his face partly in shadow.

"I had business here on Kashyyyk."

"Imperial business?" Jaina asked, and bit her lip as soon as she had said it. Her heart contracted painfully. "What's happened to you, Zekk? How could you stay here with the Shadow Academy? I thought we were friends."

He ignored the question, and asked two of his own. "Why are you here, Jaina? Why couldn't you have stayed away? I don't want to hurt you."

Chewbacca voiced a snarl of warning at these words, though at the same time, he hissed in pain from his injury.

"Then don't hurt me, Zekk," Jaina said reasonably. She took a step along the branch towards her former friend. "I'm no threat to you. I'm your friend. I care for you."

"Step back and stay out of my way," Zekk snapped. "It's already too late for the others." (197-8)

"I'm not impressed with your tricks, Jaina," he said. "Don't play games with me."

With a whoosh, a sizzling brightness stabbed through her eyelids. Jaina opened her eyes to see Zekk holding the weapon of a Jedi, his face lit by its pulsating scarlet glow. "Don't go for your lightsaber, Jaina," he warned.

She shook her head. "I won't raise a weapon against you, Zekk. And I don't believe you'd kill me either."

Zekk's face distorted with warring emotions. "Then stay away from the Jedi academy. If you ever get out of here, don't go back. The Second Imperium will soon target Yavin 4 - and I will fight as a loyal warrior for my Emperor."

"Emperor? Zekk, you don't know what you're saying," Jaina pleaded.

"Stop treating me like I'm an ignorant street kid!" he snarled back. "You've always underestimated my abilities, denied me opportunities. But Lord Brakiss doesn't. He has shown me what I'm capable of." He tilted his head to look up into the dark nest of branches overhead, as if he could see the daylight far above.

"I've already sent a signal for a fast ship to pick me up. I believe our raid has been quite successful. Time for me to return to the Shadow Academy."

Zekk twitched his lightsaber from side to side as if shaking a finger I warning. "For the friendship we once had, I'll spare you this time, Jaina. But don't ever test my loyalties again." (200-1)

[ RETURN TO EXCERPTS ]