The Legion Renewed
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Luke awoke when Briande stirred in his arms. She sat up straight, staring into the distance at something which only she could see.
"What is it?" Luke asked softly.
She answered slowly, from far away. "It's time. Brenna has massed a fleet, and she's moving against one of the outer systems. If we don't stop her, she'll kill every man, woman and child in the system."
Luke's mind worked quickly. He hadn't expected it to be so soon. "How many ships in her fleet? How much armament?"
"Three-no, four star-cruisers, a star destroyer, and a full crew complement for each ship. She plans to take over the unprotected systems one by one until she accumulates enough power to move against the core systems." Briande drew herself away from the vision and looked at Luke urgently. "She'll want to make a demonstration of the first system, to show what will happen to any who stand in her way. We have to stop her."
"Which system?"
Briande closed her eyes briefly. "The Deraan Two system. She's already on her way there."
Luke reached for his clothes. "So are we."
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While Luke warmed the ship, Briande made other preparations. Luke nodded approvingly when Briande emerged from the jungle-forest dressed in the olive-green uniform she had worn when they first met. To anyone who didn't know better, she looked exactly like Colonel Brenna Brellis. It was possible that the resemblence would work for them this time, instead of against them.
Briande was about to climb into the cockpit, but Luke put out a restraining hand. "There's something you have to do first," he said. "It will only take a minute."
Briande didn't understand what he meant at first until he reached into his pocket and took out the kinoll. It was nearly full grown, now-old enough to survive on its own. The tiny animal had become a symbol of Briande's own growth. Just as it would now have to face the world and its dangers using its own skills and instincts, Briande would have to face the trial of meeting her sister.
All these thoughts were running through Briande's mind as she took the kinoll from Luke and knelt to set it free. It scurried to the edge of the undergrowth, stopped, looked back at them once with curious, uncomprehending eyes, then disappeared among the vines and brush that covered the jungle floor.
The almost-Jedi glanced at her teacher, then boarded the small fighter. A moment later, Luke climbed in as well, and they left Dagobah's vaporish atmosphere.
Briande looked over Luke's shoulder as he punched in the coordinates for the hyperspace computer, and frowned. "That's not Deraan Two."
Skywalker leaned back and grinned. "I don't know about you, but I don't intend to take on four cruisers and a star-destroyer without at least a little help." He turned back to his instruments and locked the numbers in.
He just hoped he was right about Wedge...
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Wedge inspected the circuits carefully. Ever since the night Brenna Brellis had escaped, he had become paranoid about them. Repeated checks showed them to be in perfect operating condition, and yet someone had broken in, released a Class-A prisoner, and then broken out again without a peep of warning from these same circuits. And by all available evidence, that 'someone' had been Luke Skywalker. His friend. But how Luke could have done it, Wedge couldn't say. And more importantly, why Luke had done it was even more of a mystery.
The door opened, and an aide came running in. She skidded to a halt and saluted Wedge urgently.
"What is it?" Wedge asked, keeping his attention on the board.
"It's a ship, sir. Incoming. The pilot refuses to follow landing orders and wants to speak to you personally."
"Can't you see I'm busy? Tell the pilot to get lost, land, or prepare himself to get shot down."
"We did, sir. But he insists on speaking to you. Says it's urgent, priority Alpha. Gave the code signals and everything."
Wedge frowned and turned, forgetting the board . "He knew the code signals?"
The aide nodded. "Says his name is Skywalker. Computer voice-print confirms."
"Luke?" Wedge was already on his way out the door, all thoughts of checking the circuits forgotten. The aide had to run to catch up with him.
"Isn't he the one who clobbered you, sir?"
Wedge ignored the question. "Where can I take it?"
"Right in here, sir. I had 'em patch it through for you."
Antilles nodded his thanks and picked up the headset. He didn't even bother putting it on properly, but just held it to his ear. "Luke?"
"Wedge!" Was it his imagination, or was there a note of relief in Luke's voice. "Wedge, I need your help!"
"Listen, Luke, I know you're in a lot of trouble. I'll do what I can to help, but I think the best thing right now would be for you to land and turn yourself in."
"There's no time for that," Luke interrupted. "This is urgent. Brenna Brellis is attacking the Deraan Two system. I need you to gather enough firepower to take out four star-cruisers and a star-destroyer, and follow me there."
"Brenna Brellis? You're the one who released her."
"No, I didn't. It was a case of mistaken identity. We had the wrong person. Her sister is up here with me now. Trust me on this, Wedge, please. Deraan Two is in danger!" There was an audible click and then silence from the other end.
"Luke? Luke?"
"He's veered away, sir, heading out of the system."
"Damn." Wedge put the headset down, then picked it up again. "Get me Admiral Ackbaar."
"Sir? You don't really believe him, do you?"
"Do it!"