Chapter
26
IMPERIUM SHUTTLE; NAVII LYA PRIME APPROACH
Alitha could not keep her lips from spreading into a grin of genuine glee when she keyed in the final approach to the Night Sky.
When she had finally deemed herself fit to resume her usual activities, she was surprised to find that her creature was no longer responding to her pulses through the Force. When she delved into those mystical rivers to discover why, she had at first been alarmed.
Now?
Now she was anxious to meet this new pet of hers. Jaina Solo, daughter and eldest child of two of her father's most troublesome enemies when he had been alive, two of the founders—in deed if not by name—of the New Republic, was now at her beck and call.
She could sense that the girl was frightened and confused by what was happening to her. But when Alitha had taken a shuttle and departed for the Navii Lya system at haste, she could feel her connection to the child growing stronger with each passing light year.
Now, she could sense the girl's thoughts as clear as they were her own. And her thoughts were betraying what she didn't want them to betray.
Zak and Tash Arranda were on Navii Lya Prime. Allina was dying, and they were trying to steal the information their doctors needed to save her life.
For a moment, until she had quashed the unpleasant feeling, that is, she felt a sort of kinship with Zak that he would go to such great lengths for a girl he barely knew. He was trying to save the life of someone who had taken him hostage for a woman she had believed to be her mother, trying to save someone who, until a few months ago, had hated the Jedi, thought them evil.
But then she understood that such acts were likely the result of unwanted Skywalker influence on him. The Zak Arranda she remembered would never have been so forgiving, would never have trusted Allina after what she had done, and in whose name she had done it.
Still smiling, she keyed her comm in to the frequency of the Night Sky and awaited receipt of the transmitted clearance code.
"Night Sky flight control to incoming shuttle, your clearance code has been verified. Welcome to the backwater worlds, My Lady," the voice of the on-duty officer replied.
Alitha smiled. "Have your commander meet me on the shuttle deck the moment I land. I have pressing business that must not be delayed."
"At once, Empress." And then the line was severed as the officer set about to do her bidding.
Today, Alitha decided, was going to be the day she took that troublesome boy under her wing and showed him the true nature of the Force.
Today would start the downfall of Skywalker and his insufferable Republic.