Free [Last Of The Jedi] - 07 by Secret Weapon (Jude Watson)

glimpse of his face, hidden in the shadows of a hood. But his lightsaber work was extraordinary. The stormtroopers were surrounded now, and Solace and the mysterious Jedi moved as a team. The tall Jedi was obviously familiar with droidekas. He charged, his lightsaber in a spinning arc, and with deft precision struck them at a vulnerable point Solace hadn’t known existed, underneath their shell, near their repulsorlift motors.
    The Jedi leaped over the remaining stormtroopers and landed by her side. She had a quick impression of chromium eyes, pale skin, and a melancholy face.
    He jerked his chin toward the window in the hallway, where Clive and Astri had taken shelter in a doorway.
    She read his intent without words. It was time to get out of there.
    They raced down the hallway together, still deflecting fire from the remaining stormtroopers. Solace signaled to Clive and Astri, who leaped out the window, using their liquid cables. Solace and the Jedi followed. They landed on the roof next door and raced across it, dodging vents and debris.
    The Jedi took the lead. It was obvious that he had planned an escape route. He led them to an empty lift tube shaft that had a small door on the roof. Using their liquid cables, Astri and Clive rappelled down the shaft. Solace and the Jedi jumped.
    The tall Jedi led them into a service level of the building, where laundry and storage were held. They ran down a twisting maze of hallways that were like tunnels. He pried off a grid in the wall and hurried them inside. Crawling, they followed the pipe until he pointed above. Solace pushed the grid out. They climbed out into an unfamiliar alley.
    Stained with rust and mud, the four regarded one another. The Jedi said nothing. Solace didn’t recognize him. She saw now that his hair was white and cut close to his skull. Despite his large frame, he held himself gracefully.
    “Aren’t you going to introduce yourself?” Solace asked.
    “Ry-Gaul,” he said. His voice was low and softer than she’d expected.
    “My name as a Jedi was Fy-Tor Ana,” Solace said.
    “Now I am Solace.”
    “Are there others?” Ry-Gaul asked. “I have been alone.”
    “Not many,” Solace said. “I was contacted by Ferus Olin. He’s trying to gather any Jedi who are left. He was —”
    “— Siri Tachi’s apprentice.” Ry-Gaul’s face underwent a change. The severe lines smoothed out. It was close to a smile, but not quite. “Ferus,” he said, “I was on several missions with him. With my Padawan, Tru Veld.”
    Solace nodded. She had never kept track of the Padawans. She had chosen not to take an apprentice. But Ferus had mentioned Tru Veld. He’d been a friend. Ferus had found his lightsaber at the Temple.
    “Do you know something about him?” Ry-Gaul asked, his tone suddenly urgent.
    “I know he is dead,” she said. “I’m sorry.” It wasn’t like her to tell someone she was sorry about something she had nothing to do with. But something about this large man of few words made her be a little more polite than she usually was.
    Ry-Gaul bowed his head. “It is what I expected. Yet it is hard to hear it.”
    Solace bent her head close to him. “Out of all the beings in the universe, I think I am one of the few who can say I know how you feel.”

Chapter Thirteen
    Ferus didn’t know if it would work. But he eliminated doubt from his mind. If he wondered if it would work, it wouldn’t.
    He turned to the stormtroopers. “You can leave me here. I can find my way alone.”
    The stormtrooper turned to the others. “We can leave him here. He can find his way alone.” Was it really that simple? Simple, it is. Belief, it is.
    To reach the point where it was simple — that was hard.
    Ferus didn’t push his luck. He walked quickly away, down the path, then doubled back to cross the garrison from the rear, where its perimeter was closest to the street. He quickly crossed to a busy boulevard. He expected to be stopped at any moment. Instead he was