"Yeah, and we set up shop on Endor for a while. What about it?"

"We pulled everyone out of the Dathomir school at the time. Jacen's government shut the school down. The Jedi have yet to reopen it."

Comprehension dawned on Ben's face. "So there's no school, and it's legal for you to visit."

"Yes."

"That's kind of getting by on a technicality, isn't it?"

"All law is technicality, Ben. Get authorization for landing."

DATHOMIR.

Half an hour later, Luke had to admit that he was wrong. Most Most of law was technicality. The rest was special cases, and he, apparently, was a special case. of law was technicality. The rest was special cases, and he, apparently, was a special case.

He stood on the parking field of the Dathomiri s.p.a.ceport. Perhaps "s.p.a.ceport" was too generous a term. It was a broad, sunny field, gra.s.sy in some spots, muddy in others, with thruster scorch marks here and there. Dull gray permacrete domes, most of them clearly prefabricated, dotted the field; the largest was some sort of administrative building, the smaller ones hangars for vehicles no larger than shuttles and starfighters. A tall mesh durasteel fence surrounded the complex, elevated watch towers dotting its length, and Luke could see the wiring leading to one of the permacrete domes that marked it as electrified. The s.p.a.ceport facilities offered little shade, so the Skywalkers stood in the darkness cast by Jade Shadow Jade Shadow, but even without the heat of direct sunlight, the moist, windless air was still as oppressive as a blanket.

Luke poured thoughts of helpfulness and reasonability into the Force, but it was no use. The man before him, nearly two skinny meters of red-headed obstructiveness, would not yield a centimeter.

The man, who had given his name as Tarth "not "not Darth" Vames, again waved his datapad beneath Luke's nose. "It's simple. That vehicle-" His wave indicated Darth" Vames, again waved his datapad beneath Luke's nose. "It's simple. That vehicle-" His wave indicated Jade Shadow Jade Shadow. "Neither it, nor anything with an enclosed or enclosable interior, can be inland under your control or your kid's." He turned his attention to Ben, who stood, arms folded across his chest, beside his father. Ben glared but did not reply.

Luke sighed. "Is any other visitor to Dathomir operating under that restriction?"

"Don't think so, no."

"Then why us?"

Vames thumbed the datapad keyboard so that the message scrolled downward several screens. "Here, right here. An enclosed vehicle, according to these precedents-there's about eight screens of legal precedents-can be interpreted as a mobile school, especially if you're you're in it, especially if its presence const.i.tutes a continuation of a school that's been here in the past." in it, especially if its presence const.i.tutes a continuation of a school that's been here in the past."

"This is hara.s.sment." Ben's words were quiet, but loud enough for Vames to hear.

The tall man glowered at Ben. "Of course it's not hara.s.sment. The order came specifically from Chief of State Daala's office. Public officials at that level don't hara.s.s."

Ben rolled his eyes. "Whatever."

"Ben." Luke added a chiding tone to his voice. "No point in arguing. Vames, are you also prohibited from answering a few questions?"

"Always happy to help. So long as it's within lat.i.tudes permitted by the regulations."

"Within the last couple of days, have you seen any sign of a dilapidated yacht called She's a Chancer?" She's a Chancer?" Luke knew the yacht had to be here; he had run his blood trail to ground on Dathomir, and the girl had not departed this world. But anything this man could add to his meager store of knowledge might help. Luke knew the yacht had to be here; he had run his blood trail to ground on Dathomir, and the girl had not departed this world. But anything this man could add to his meager store of knowledge might help.

Vames entered the s.h.i.+p name in his datapad, then shook his head. "No vehicle under that name made legal landfall."

"Ah."

"Dilapidated, you say? A yacht?"

"That's right."

Vames keyed in some more information. "Last night, shortly after dusk, local time, a vehicle with the operational characteristics of a SoroSuub yacht made a sudden descent from orbit, overflew the s.p.a.ceport here, and headed north. There was some comm chatter from the pilot about engines on runaway, that she couldn't cut them or bring her repulsors online for landing."

Ben frowned at that. "Last night? And you didn't send out a rescue party?"

"Of course we did. As per regulation. Couldn't find the crash site. No further communication from the vehicle. We still have searchers up there. But no luck."

"Actually, that is is helpful." Luke turned to his son. "Ben, no enclosed vehicles." helpful." Luke turned to his son. "Ben, no enclosed vehicles."

"Yeah?"

"Rent us a couple of speeder-bikes, would you?" Ben grinned. "Yes, sir."

About the Author

TROY DENNING is the New York Times New York Times bestselling author of bestselling author of Star Wars: Tatooine Ghost; Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Star by Star: Star Wars: Tatooine Ghost; Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Star by Star: the the Star Wars: Dark Nest Star Wars: Dark Nest trilogy: trilogy: The Joiner King, The Unseen Queen The Joiner King, The Unseen Queen, and The Swarm; The Swarm; and and Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Tempest, Inferno Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Tempest, Inferno, and Invincible Invincible-as well as Pages of Pain, Beyond the High Road, The Summoning Pages of Pain, Beyond the High Road, The Summoning, and many other novels. A former game designer and editor, he lives in western Wisconsin with his wife, Andria.

By Troy Denning

Waterdeep Dragonwall The Parched Sea The Verdant Pa.s.sage The Crimson Legion The Amber Enchantress The Obsidian Oracle The Cerulean Storm The Ogre's Pact The Giant Among Us The t.i.tan of Twilight The Veiled Dragon Pages of Pain Crucible: The Trial of Cyric the Mad The Oath of Stonekeep Faces of Deception Beyond the High Road Death of the Dragon (with Ed Greenwood) The Summoning The Siege The SorcererStar Wars: The New Jedi Order: Star by Star Star Wars: Tatooine Ghost Star Wars: Dark Nest I: The Joiner King Star Wars: Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen Star Wars: Dark Nest III: The Swarm War Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Tempest Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Inferno Star Wars: Legacy of the Force: Invincible Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Abyss