Allies Read online

  Books By Christie Golden

  Star Wars: Fate of Jedi: Allies

  Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Omen

  Ravenloft: Vampire of the Mists

  Ravenloft: Dance of the Dead

  Ravenloft: The Enemy Within

  Star Trek Voyager: The Murdered Sun

  Instrument of Fate

  King’s Man and Thief

  Star Trek Voyager: Marooned

  Invasion America

  Star Trek Voyager: Seven of Nine

  Invasion America: On the Run

  Star Trek The Next Generation: The First Virtue (with Michael Jan Friedman)

  A.D. 999 (as Jadrien Bell)

  Star Trek Voyager: The Dark Matters Trilogy, Book 1: Cloak and Dagger

  Star Trek Voyager: The Dark Matters Trilogy, Book 2: Ghost Dance

  Star Trek Voyager: The Dark Matters Trilogy, Book 3: Shadow of Heaven

  Star Trek Voyager: Endgame (with Diane Carey)

  Warcraft: Lord of the Clans

  Star Trek Voyager: Gateways—What Lay Beyond

  Star Trek Voyager: No Man’s Land

  Star Trek: The Last Roundup

  Star Trek Voyager: Homecoming

  Star Trek Voyager: The Farther Shore

  On Fire’s Wings

  Star Trek Voyager: Spirit Walk, Book 1: Old Wounds

  Star Trek Voyager: Spirit Walk, Book 2: Enemy of My Enemy

  In Stone’s Clasp

  Warcraft: Rise of the Horde

  StarCraft: The Dark Templar Series, Book 1: Firstborn

  StarCraft: The Dark Templar Series, Book 2: Shadow Hunters

  Under Sea’s Shadow (in e-book format only)

  Warcraft: Beyond the Dark Portal (with Aaron Rosenberg)

  Warcraft: Arthas: Rise of the Lich King

  This book is dedicated to Jeffrey R. Kirby, for reasons as numberless as the stars

  Acknowledgments

  This book did not come to be in a vacuum. The team of people contributing to this series is an outstanding collection of individuals who continue to impress me with their professionalism, talent, and good humor. Thanks must go to Shelly Shapiro, my editor, and her counterpart at Lucas Licensing Ltd., Sue Rostoni, who continue to be enthusiastic supporters of my writing. More gratitude to Leland Chee and Pablo Hidalgo, who are always so quick and helpful with any questions that arise (and special thanks to Pablo for letting me play on Klatooine, which he created). Appreciation and affection go to my two fellow authors: Aaron Allston is an inspiration in his ability to face adversity and maintain humor and good cheer, and Troy Denning has been positively Yodaesque in his advice and support. I’d be happy to buy all of you a drink at the cantina any time. To the readers who have taken the time to write and tell me how much you enjoyed Omen, I am deeply appreciative and hope you continue to enjoy the series and my contributions to it. And again, as always, to George Lucas, for giving us all a galaxy far, far away.

  Contents

  Other Books by this Author

  Title Page

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Timeline

  Dramatis Personae

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Excerpt from Star Wars: Fate of the Jedi: Vortex

  About the Author

  Copyright

  Dramatis Personae

  Allana Solo; child (human female)

  Ben Skywalker; Jedi Knight (human male)

  Han Solo; captain, Millennium Falcon (human male)

  Gavar Khai; Sith Saber (human male)

  Jagged Fel; Head of State, Galactic Empire (human male)

  Jaina Solo; Jedi Knight (human female)

  Lando Calrissian; businessman (human male)

  Leia Organa Solo; Jedi Knight (human female)

  Luke Skywalker; Jedi Grand Master (human male)

  Madhi Vaandt; reporter (Devaronian female)

  Natasi Daala; Galactic Alliance Chief of State (human female)

  Sarasu Taalon; Sith High Lord (Keshiri male)

  Tahiri Veila; former Jedi Knight (human female)

  Vestara Khai; Sith apprentice (human female)

  Wynn Dorvan; assistant to Admiral Daala (human male)

  A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.…

  ABOARD THE JADE SHADOW

  BEN WONDERED IF HE’D BE HIS FATHER’S AGE BEFORE THINGS STARTED going right for him on any basis other than what appeared to be happy accidents.

  Then he wondered if he’d be older than his dad.

  True, he’d had a couple of uneventful years after the war. But then his father got arrested and exiled for a decade. Jedi who had spent formative years on Shelter in the Maw—and yes, Ben was among that number, how reassuring was that little fact—started going crazy. Ben and Luke had learned about some creepy powerful being with dark slithery mental tendrils of need who was probably responsible for the crazy Jedi, and had been going to pay her a visit inside the Maw when they abducted a Sith. One that was definitely easy on the eyes, but who was nonetheless a Sith, from a whole planetload of them, no less. A Sith who was still with them right now, standing and smirking at them while nearly a dozen frigates crammed with her pals surrounded them.

  Yeah. He would definitely be older than his dad.

  Luke had followed the instructions given by the unnamed, unseen Sith commander of the Black Wave, placing the Shadow in a parking orbit around Dathomir. There was no other choice, not with eleven ChaseMaster frigates ready to open fire.

  “A wise decision,” Vestara said. “I’m fond of my own life, so I’m glad you’re cooperating, but if you had attempted to flee they most certainly would have destroyed you.”

  Luke eyed her thoughtfully. Clearly, he wasn’t so sure.

  “So,” Ben continued, “what are they going to do with us? Are we going to be the main attraction at some kind of Sith ritual party?”

  “I’ve no idea,” Vestara said. She might be lying through her teeth. She might be telling the truth. Ben simply couldn’t be sure.

  “Your cooperation is appreciated, Master Skywalker,” came the voice that had first hailed them. Ben and Luke exchanged puzzled glances. Of course, Vestara had told them who was holding her captive, but why the courtesy and respectful title?

  “I am High Lord Sarasu Taalon, commander of this force,” the voice continued. “Your reputation precedes you. We have studied you, and your son, a great deal.”

  “I wish I could say the same,” Luke said. “I know nothing about you and your people, High Lord Taalon.”

  “No, you don’t. But I am prepared for that to change … somewhat. Your vessel carries a Z-95 Headhunter.”

  “It does,” Luke said. �
�I presume you’re about to ask me to come over to your flagship and chat over a nice glass of something.”

  “You and Vestara, yes,” Taalon said. “You will have to turn her back over to us, of course. But there is no reason we can’t be civilized about this.”

  “No thanks,” Luke said. “Anything you have to say to me can be said at a distance. Vestara isn’t the worst companion I’ve ever traveled with. I think I’ll let her stay here with us for a while longer.”

  Ben looked again at the Sith girl. His father was right. She wasn’t the worst companion he’d ever traveled with.

  “Let us revisit that subject in a moment,” came Taalon’s reply. “As I’m sure you know by now, Apprentice Vestara Khai has done a commendable job of keeping us informed of what has transpired. We are aware that you are having … difficulty with certain Jedi who were fostered inside the Maw. We believe this is due to the intervention of a being known to us as Abeloth, whom Vestara encountered. Many of our own apprentices are displaying the same symptoms as your younger Jedi.”

  “Your younger Sith were in the Maw as well?”

  “No. But such identical displays of aberrant behavior cannot be attributed to anything else.”

  Ben was skeptical. But there was so much they didn’t know yet. His father’s blue eyes met his and he shrugged slightly. It was possible.

  “We are many. You are only three,” Taalon continued. The third to whom he referred was Dyon Stad, a Force-sensitive human who had joined Ben and Luke on Dathomir and was currently aboard his own Suieb Soro yacht. “We have a common cause.”

  “Are—are you proposing a formal alliance?” Luke was so surprised he didn’t even bother to hide it. Ben, too, literally gaped for a moment. Vestara seemed more shocked than any of them, judging by her expression and her feeling in the Force.

  “Precisely.”

  Luke started to laugh. “I’m sorry, but that doesn’t sound like a very Sith thing to say.”

  The voice was cold when Taalon spoke again. “This creature, this … Abeloth … has the audacity to reach out and harm our apprentices. Our tyros. To toy with the Tribe—the Sith. The insult cannot be borne. It will not be borne. We are going into the Maw and teach her a lesson.”

  Ben glanced at his father. “That, however, is a very Sith thing to say.”

  Luke nodded. To Taalon, he said, “It may be that we do not need to teach her a lesson, as it were. We may simply need to find out why she is doing this.”

  “And ask her nicely to please stop?” Ben thought Han Solo could learn a thing or two from this Sith about infusing one’s voice with sarcasm.

  “You just asked me nicely to help you out. Clearly you’re capable of good manners,” Luke replied, unruffled. “If it accomplishes the goal with fewer or perhaps no casualties, how is that not the best solution?”

  There was silence. “It is possible she may not be amenable to … polite conversation. What then, Master Skywalker?”

  “I will do whatever is necessary to free the ill Jedi from her control,” Luke said. “I assure you of that.” His voice was not harsh, but there was a tone in it Ben recognized. The deed was almost as good as done when Luke Skywalker spoke like that.

  “You agree, then?” Taalon asked.

  Luke didn’t answer at once. Ben knew what he was struggling with. And he was surprised that it was even a struggle for the Grand Master. Luke was a Jedi. These were Sith. There couldn’t possibly be an alliance. Everyone would constantly be watching their own backs.

  But then again … He glanced at Vestara. She came from an entire culture of Sith. They couldn’t be backstabbing one another constantly—they’d have become extinct long ago. Somehow this flavor of Sith had learned how to cooperate. Vestara had proved it was possible. She had worked with Ben and his father before, on Dathomir, and that cooperation had saved Luke Skywalker’s life.

  “We do have a common goal,” Luke said at last. “It would be better to work toward it together rather than getting in each other’s way. But don’t think that I will not be expecting treachery at every turn. There are fewer enmities more ancient than that of Sith and Jedi.”

  A sigh. “This thing we both fight might be older than that,” Taalon said. “Well, I did not expect this to be a particularly comradely union. Very well. You deliver Vestara Khai. Together, in an alliance not seen since this galaxy was new, Sith and Jedi will confront and defeat their mutual foe—one way or the other. And after that … well, let us see where we stand then, shall we?”

  “Vestara stays here.”

  The Sith girl froze. There was a long silence.

  “I cannot permit that.”

  “Then we have no alliance.” Another long silence.

  “She has information we require. She comes with us, or there is no deal.”

  “Information about how to reach and confront our mutual foe?” Luke said, turning Taalon’s own flowery words back on him. “That, I do not object to permitting her to share. That was the information you were talking about, wasn’t it?”

  “She will come to no harm while entrusted in your … care,” said Taalon. “None. Or we will attack and destroy you down to your marrow and obliterate your very cells.”

  “Provided you keep your bargain, she’s perfectly safe. Jedi aren’t in the habit of torturing children.”

  Vestara frowned at being referred to as a child. Ben started to smile a little, despite the situation, then realized that she was the same age as he was. He shot his dad a disappointed glance.

  “Then I believe we have an agreement,” Taalon said.

  “Not just yet. We need to decide who is going to be in charge of this alliance first.”

  “I would suggest we command as a pair, you and I,” Taalon said. “No Sith will take orders solely from a Jedi. And I am sure you would bridle at being told what to do by a Sith High Lord.”

  “I would indeed. And I would suggest we begin this joint command by sharing information. You first.”

  “Ah, but Master Skywalker, you have our source of information right there with you. Start with her. We will be prepared to depart within a half hour.”

  “So will we. I’ll be in touch. Jade Shadow out.”

  “Dad,” Ben said the second the communication was terminated. “You just agreed to help the Sith.”

  Luke shook his head. “No, son. I agreed to let the Sith help us.”

  Ben regarded him, incredulity mixed with curiosity. “You trust them to keep their word?”

  “I trust them to do what is best for them. And as long as what is best for them is best for us, then we’ll be fine.”

  “And when it’s not?”

  “Like Taalon said … we’ll see where we stand then. I’m prepared for that. There are two old sayings, Ben: ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend’ and ‘keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.’”

  Luke pointedly turned to Vestara, who stood straight with her hands clasped behind her back. “Now,” he said, “High Lord Taalon assures me you know everything they do.”

  She lifted a small information chip. “Most of it’s here,” she said.

  “And what’s not there?” Luke asked.

  Vestara smiled slightly and tapped her temple. “And this is where it will stay until it is necessary. We have a card game on my world. It is called Mahaa’i Shuur, which means Ultimate Success in the tongue of the natives. The rules are complicated, but the goal is simple. The winner is the one who never, ever has to play his last card.”

  Luke Skywalker watched Vestara Khai the way, long ago, a bartender named Wuher had watched him at the Mos Eisley cantina—coldly, expecting the unexpected, and looking for an excuse to cease being civil. Her back was to him, hands on her hips, her long brown hair hanging loose. She was looking out over the gathering of Sith vessels that were starting to fall into formation in preparation for departure, and he didn’t have to sense her in the Force to make a damn good guess as to what she might be thinking. As soon as he had the though
t Luke amended it.

  She was Sith. So were they. In Luke’s mind, that automatically meant they could not be trusted. Even if they were sincere in this desire to unite forces and approach the Maw with a lot more firepower than the Jade Shadow would have mustered alone, there had to be a trick, or a trap. They were Sith. Deception was a keystone of their culture.

  Vestara Khai was Sith. But she was also a girl who seemed to have at least a few virtues along with her vices, something Luke found unexpected and disconcerting. No doubt she was contemplating treachery. But he was willing to admit that she also might just be missing her people. A soft sigh escaped her, as if confirming his thoughts.

  He had assigned Ben the job of being the first to read through the information Vestara had given them, thinking the task would distract his son from the admittedly attractive female his own age who was going to be living in such close quarters with them. He was not worried for Ben’s state of mind regarding the Force. Ben had been through more things in his short life than most beings had in century-long ones. He wasn’t likely to be tempted by offers of power or greatness, the usual tools those who tried to corrupt Jedi liked to employ.

  But it was, Luke realized, entirely possible that Ben might get a little confused now and then. Vestara was strikingly attractive, and had presumably been through things comparable to what Ben had undergone. And she was extremely, in fact exceptionally, strong in the Force. It was a combination that might make any father at least a little anxious for his Jedi son’s well-being.

  The Shadow was quiet, the air heavy with all the “not talking” that was taking place. The only sound was Vestara’s single, almost inaudible sigh and the occasional sounds of Ben shifting position in his chair as he read and occasionally cross-referenced data.

  The sudden noise alerting them to an incoming message therefore sounded especially loud. No one actually jumped, but a sense of surprise rippled through them all. Luke glanced at the screen and frowned slightly. Three words flashed.

  VESTARA KHAI. PERSONAL.

  As far as Luke was concerned, they might as well have been EMERGENCY INCOMING ATTACK.

  “Who’s it from, Dad?”