Into the Void: Star Wars (Dawn of the Jedi) by Tim Lebbon Read Free Book Online Page A

hundreds
     of people there, a varied mix of the many species who had spread out from Tython to
     colonize the system. Humans and Wookiees mingled with Twi’leks, with their prominent
     head-tails, and red-skinned Sith. Near-human Zabrak, with their vestigial horns, walked
     alongside Iktotchi, whose heavy horns gave them a fearsome appearance. Kalimahr had
     been the first planet settled after Tython and its moons, and it remained the most
     racially mixed and diverse. It was proud of its diversity, and it was a pride well
     earned. Even on Tython it was rare that so many species were seen in one place at
     any one time, and Lanoree paused for a moment in the center of the lobby to feel the
     ebb and flow of so many people in transit.
    She paused also to try to spot any pursuer. Still nothing. She’d seen no one obviously
     stop when she had. And although some people looked at her as they passed by, she sensed
     that it was only out of interest when they recognized the Je’daii star. And on occasion,
     perhaps even distaste. She knew well enough that some Kalimahr thought themselves
     above the Je’daii.
    I’m alone too often and for too long
, she thought. Perhaps a subtle paranoia was a natural part of being among so many
     people once more.
    Leaving the spire’s lobby, she passed a group of Dai Bendu monks chanting one of their
     strange, haunting ululations. A small group of travelers had settled around them,
     and some were swaying slowly in time with the song. Just outside the main doors, down
     a wide, long ramp that led to street level, a circle of feline Cathars was meditating
     upon an image of their god painted on the ground. The image was beautifully wrought,
     and their meditations had drawn several smoke snakes up from the ground to dance in
     a slow, hypnotic pattern. Lanoree had heard of the Cathars’ smoke snakes but had never
     seen them.
    Such diverse beliefs being celebrated in such close proximity. Her immersion in the
     Force meant that she believed neither, but it was still pleasing to see such inclusivity.
    The streets outside were bustling with people, trade stalls, performance artists,
     religious groups, speakers, security officers, and children and adults alike pointing
     and chattering in delight at their surroundings. She felt almost unnoticed, and she
     welcomed that. But she also knew that it was an ideal environment in which to be followed,
     and that feeling persisted. Though she cast her Force sense around, there were so
     many people that her thoughts were confused. She would have to remain alert.
    Cloud Chasers floated above, and occasionally drop ships came down to pick up passengers.
     But Lanoree had studied maps on her ship and knew that the tavern she sought was close
     by. She chose to walk.
    “Bet you’ve never seen one like me, eh? Eh?” Tre Sana grinned at her over his glass
     of wine. His yellow eyes and blazing red skin gave him afearsome appearance, but she perceived a gentle intelligence behind the startling
     exterior.
    “Your coloring is quite rare,” Lanoree said. “Rarer still for a Twi’lek, the extra
     lekku.”
    “Rarer? Oh, yeah, rarer indeed.” He stroked the third head-tail that grew behind the
     usual two. “Least you use the right terminology. You wouldn’t
believe
what some people call these things.”
    “I probably would.”
    “They call me freak.” He growled suddenly and leaned forward, baring teeth that seemed
     to have been filed down to points. “A scary freak!”
    “You don’t scare me,” she said.
    “Hmm.” Tre’s lekku—those three long, curious tentacles growing from the back of his
     skull—twitched a little, one tip stroking over his left shoulder, the other two pointing
     like fingers tapping at the air.
    “ ‘Yeah, well,
this
bitch is a Je’daii,’ ” Lanoree translated.
    Tre’s eyes opened wide. “You know Twi’leki!”
    “Of course. That surprises you?”
    “Huh. Huh! Nothing about the Je’daii can surprise