Be ial LT EL
AMIS
ai Soe ®
THE SITH!
“THE Aras i]?
LT
ey Get te
EOSCats
Nothing says “The Dark Side lke this issue's cover by Tommy Lee
edwards. It has Darth Vader, stoemtroopers, TIE fighters, more
an Sever Mn}
page 44.to find out why he's on aur cover.
stormtraopers, and Blackhole,"Who'sTHE FORCE IN STAR WARS GAMING
CONTENTS:
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40
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Peet et rt
fcture it Christ
taking the formative steps tow
lifelong obsession with Sta
wakes up tofind under the
ssorted stack of Kenner trea
hand-sewn Obi-Wan Kenobi robe
hand-drawn card rendering the be
Official Jed Knight. n case you didn't gues,
that boy was m
are personally responsi
transpired in my life regar
197A little boy,
da
not only
Yes, it's true—my parents
otal that has
g Stor Wors,
have to confess, though: When they gave
king up the
ime the Jedi robe, they were
\wrang tree. Don't get me wo
‘with all my heart. tts just th
Kenobi the movie, an Not
the character a seven-year 0
identify with, Plus, he wasn't a
black-clad,respirator-breathing villain who
choked butfoons for falling to do as they
were told. Yes, indeedy do, my hero was—and
remains to this day—Darth Vader. So what if
he turned wimp at theend and dumped that
fogy downa shaft and saved the entire
galaxy from indentured servitude and never-
ending misery? He proved to me that he
wasn't taking any poodoo from anybody. A
goad role model for any child.
It doesn't make you a bad person to reat
for the bad guy. The coolest characters are
always the villains. They have the most
they talk down to
ey take aver worlds
would readily
impressive
people who de
and subjugate huge groups of people just
because they can, and t
outfits, Besides, this is fiction, No mat
malicious these characters are, you can rest
assured that some jejune, idealistic twit ks
going to come along and save the day
Not in this issue of Gamer, however.
the DARK SIDE issue, remember? It's going to
have the Jedi Council quaking in their
smocks. Who cares ifthe Emp
little clones got dissed, or if Luke bas
Shira Brie into a pulp? You can find plenty of
loathsome characters bv
enough of the dark side of the Force tomake
me mus
vei
se, seething with
a \ ee
e58c8
Yoda Don't Preach
Up for the Emperor's untimely passing
You've got Lumiya (so Luke didn’t blast Shira
Into a complete pulp), Blackhole, Maret,
Stele, Jeng Droga, and a bunch of m
spruce up your adventure ven get
gaming stats for both halves of Darth Mau!
(Okay, that last one isa lie}
‘Meanwhile, just in case you didn't notic
we've pretty much declared August 2001
Official Dark Side Month. There's so much
dark side stuff goingon this month that I
be surprised If Shadow Academy
School ads st
popping up on day
}07, you ask? Well
's see. There's alittle old book coming out
ed The Dark Side
right around naw ¢
Sourcebook. an assure you it will quench
thirst for evilyou and your
compatriots might have: Buy this book, read
Ft fram front to back, create a dark side char.
acter, and kick the goodness out of those
burbling ight-siders who can get so annoy
ing. Be warned, though: Too much of the
dark side wall make you wrinkly and baggy
and keky. This is a foct
Enough blathering, On a final nete: For
those of you whonaw envisage me tabea
wretched, evil hateful person, let you in
‘ona little-known tidbit, like Ewoks. And
Gungans, too. Don't ever insult them in front
of me. Those litle lambs sacrificed them-
selves for the betterment of the galaxy Now
ead the dang magazine,
Just about all th
Lucas Licensing Editor Ben Harper spends
‘quality time with his theremin, esse‘our letters are rlling in, and t
amazes me that you're not afraid
to ask the tough questions. This month's
letters run that gamut from
to ludicrous,
There are some keen-eyed hawk-bats
‘out there, too. You've spotted all af our
good mistakes fram previous issues. We've
been quick to lay the blame wiere it
belongs and print conrecthons,
Like the headline says, keep sending us
feedback. Every letter helps shape future
{sues of Stor Wors Gamer. tknow you
don't want te miss aut on being a part
of that
Michael Mikaetian
Managing Editor
To Each His Own..
My 10-year-old son really likes Star Wars
‘Sowhen he wanted to purchase this mag
tne et him. Since rt came ina plastic
cover that did not allow us telook through
the issue, we were not amare that it was
full of what Iconsider to be grotesque and
BUC
We're Just Getting Started
sickening material, had my son mark
‘af the revolting pages for you to see,
At frst Iwas going to glue paper over
the unacceptable pages so that he could
keep his magazine, but there were too
many,| read your editor
‘grasp how you canbe 40 exited about
this magazine. You are putting into the
hands of young people murderous articles
about “Anzati” inserting probosc into thelr
victins sinus cavities to drain mucoid
medium (pages 92-93) and feeding kids
stories
tures, And
people, wonder whete kids get thelr ideas
tobamb their schools ar shoat whoever
nd cannot
pout evil, havering. taloned crea
1 axountry of fee
they choose because they carry somuch
id anger Inside of them. The ven:
jedia they have taken inside their
minds has grown out of control,
ating is awesome!
‘With that aside the Guordian Akai
issue #a (State of the Arts] was usta
copy of the Havoc. | would lke to see other
video games statistics in particular for
‘Demolition and JeiPower Battles the ene
kes suchas the binary lifter lame droid
‘and mercenary from level nt just the
Jed). abo would keto see afeaturein
every issue containing assorted used mer
chandise much ike the one in issue #3 pet=
taning to roids. believe t could makea
{good campargn too! ft had equipment
Page 58, under Defense Bonus _
‘Add the following sentence to the end of
the paragraph:
“Thisxppenaty only applies to levels in
«a heroic class, When multiclasing into.
professional or prestige class, simphy
‘add the full Defense bonus fram the
ew level"
Page 2.compater Use
silldesription, Ship systems
‘The first sentence of the Ship Systems
entry should end with “sensars and
shields", not “sensors, weapons, and
shields
Page 8, Soft Fall
Falling €amoge isin Chapter 2.nat
Chapter 8:Combat.
Pages 87-88, replaces
current Move Object entry
‘Move Object (it)
equines the Force Semitve ond Alter
eats
‘Youan move object using the Force
‘Check A Move Objet sil check
siiows yout plck upand move an object
from a distance. You must be able to-see
the object tobe moved, and must be
and starshipstoo.Some Jed prestige
clases would be nce
Bebsavela
ia Internet
it's good tafee! loved. Hopefully you've
seen the corrections for the Guandion Man
tison our website by now. In case you
haven't see the below i hear youwhen it
‘comes toa those coo! video game vehi
des starships, equipment, and characters.
‘Westrive to getas much of that stuff as
osslbleinto"State of the Ars” every issue
‘Younever know—some future iste might
have some ofthat good ol stuff all RPCed
‘out [hint hint). fm sure youhaver't seen
the ait table such as the two you men
tioned, though there are similar tables for
‘buying used vehicles and starships in the
core rulebook Chapters 1 and 12}
within to meters of your postion.
ufting and moving an object of up to
5 Hilograms is a simple task, requiring
‘cheek against aC 19 and costing *
vitality point (and a standard action),
Fareach additional oder of magnitude
(Go ke, 500 kgyetc) ef the object, the
DC Increases by sand the vitality-paint
cost doubles.
Weight Vitality Cost
up tos kg.
‘The target can either be an object,
creature, oreharacter, and recelves 2
Aeflex saving theow based on the Move
‘Object skill check, Note that wnat:
tended objects never receive a saving
throw. Attended items—objects held by
a character {grasped, touched, or worn,
for example)}—receivea saving throw
Just as if the-character were making the
saving throw. Grasped items also gain
the character’ strength modifier as a
bonus tothe Reflex save,Tr fian Mantis
Crafts Unique X4Char creation; Class:
Starfighter; Coste Not avalable forsale;
Sie: Tiny (14 ra long): Crew: Unique (+
pilot hardwired astromech); Passengers:
None; Carg Capacity: 70 kg: Comsur
ables: weeks Hypardrve 5) an
rum Speed: Ramen, Defense: 2 (+2
site, +0 amor) Shield Pots 25° Mull
Points 50: DR 5.
‘Weopon: Laer cannans a ire-linked}
Fire Ae: ron; ita Bors: #10 (+2
size, 68 fre control: Damage: dor
ange Madifiers P8052, W/L w/a.
Weopom: Nano misile magaine (om
sles) Fre Ae: Front Attack Bors +5
(a ste, 46 fre conto}; Damage:
dona; Range Medifir: PB 60, 5/4.
Weapon lon Encumbrance System (10
‘tags Fre Ar Front, Attack Bonus +6
Rest OC
vptox0 10
m0 5
3 20
‘Yucan move the objet within 10
rnctersof our postion in around. If te
characters are contesting control of an
abject use enposed Move Objet skill
checks. with the higher result gaining
control for that round.
“To use the Force tostrike a target with
tan object. the Move Object sil check
result (pus the Foroe-users Dexterity
bonus) must equal or exceed the target's
Defense: i the Move Object stilt check is
rot highenough to movethe abject, the
attack fils regardiess ofthe target's
Defense) A character struck by a moving
‘object sufers damage based on the
objeets weight. 5-kg object inflicts 146
damage, and each addtional oréer of
magnitude (sa, 300 kg et) doubles
the damage dice (toad6, 46, and 3 on).
Example: Moringa rock weighing25
hg requires a check against OC 1s. f the
character wished to strike a specific tar-
get (witha Defense 96) with the object,
he would need to roll a 16 or better on
his Move Object skill check to success>
fully hit the target.
(ea se, fie control: Damage: Spe:
lal; Range Modifiers: PB +0, S/MA/L
ra
nts pote thant tad)
sineneer an crafty Ra Manip mtn he
ft Lape ec dt it fal tert
nds hem ate athe
emored 61 ble ei Bee i chek) The
Initio ea of matings tc The oe ae he
‘Sturn Drang-it!
"You made a mistake in issue #3 concerning
atdde's pets. Kate had the bays talls
Moving multiple objects simultaneously
‘spossble, but mare dificult land requires
«a fullround action thes thana standard
action) The heaviest object inthe group
‘set the base OC and vitality cost, and each
additonal object (repariess.of ste)
ads 42 f0 the OC and: to the vitality.
‘point cost Multiple objects cart strike 2
target as part of the same action,
‘You canal telekinetically Hf and
‘move yourslf with this skill though the
[DCinceases by 1. Thus, for characters
between stand soo, the checks
‘made against DC 30.
“itality Point Cost: 10r more (se above)
Page 92, under Ambidexterity feat, Special
‘The Two. Weapon Fighting Penalties table
istable #3,not 8-4.
Page 94, Fightful Presence entry,
under Benefit
Replace the phrase“DC 10 plus your level
‘and Charlama modifier” to"0C vo plusyour
‘Charisma modifier and one-half your
level”
‘age 93 Weapon Finesse feat description
(Onthe ist of weapons to whic this feat
maybe applied nsert“double-baded
IIghteaber" between combat glove and knife.
cutoff tomake therm more docile. Wild
vornskyrsstithave theie poisonous tals,
bt the boys are “neutered” ia that respect
shellyfett
viainternet
Her story checks out. According to the Star
‘Wars Encyclopedia, Sturm and Drang have
no tals. What was printed In Stay Wors
Gamer #3 was the vorskyt entry from the
Upcoming sourcebook Allen Anthotogy.
‘Anyone planning-on using the real
Sturm and Drang can fel free to ignore
the game text about their poisonous
{alls Look on the bright side; you've got
stats for an ordinary vornskyr.and the
party responsible has actually been fed to
vornskyrs for perpetzating thslinjustice.
thear the boys” don't lie tobe teased
about thelr stumps
(continued on page 128}
Pages 99-100, replaces Defect Blaters
Benefit text
Benefit: You must be carrying an acti-
‘ated lightsaber to use ths Feat. When-
ever you arethe target of blaster shot
(or other ranged atte), you can maze a
fefex saving throw against a OC 5 pls
‘he attackers base attack bonus. A cit>
‘eal ht increases the OC by 0. fyou suc-
‘eed, you deflect the blaster shot and
tale ne damage: You must be awrareof|
theattack and not fat footed to use this
‘eat Attempting to deflect bate shot
‘counts aveaction.
If the Reflex save result 5 ar more
pains above the BC. you can defect the
blaster shot ata target within onerange
increment of your postion. lrmediaely
make an attack rll using yourlightsaber
‘bonus with 24 penal the attack
-wcoeeds, the deflected shot isthe tor
‘get and takes damage from
Deflect blasters only defends agpinst
[pervomalseale weapans; you cn'
deflect ship scale weapons
lightsaber.Heroes seem difficult tokill inthe Star Wars
Roleplaying Game. If understand the rules
correctly, acharacter can never go below
era wounds and abways hasa chance to
stabllne—though it gets tougher as the
hours goby. So you cancrash your Xewing
Into a nuclear reactor, causing it to melt:
down allaround you and you stillhave a
chance to survive? Am | missing something?
Wel. yes and no, Star Warsi a universe
ofhereet and high adventure—not of
sovsty wearing them down until they
drop. But that descrtes the best case
scenaria for unconscious and dying char
acters Rallinga natural unmodified on
2 saving throw is always afallure, and
‘ot every hero will automatically suc
ceed a DC 0 Fortitude save'on her first
stabileation attempt—let alone the
escalating ave for subcequent ours.
All that ade, there's no" massive dam
age” rule in the Star Wors Rolepleying
ame, but the GMs can alWway'-cal fora
Fortitude save just because the damage
the hera took was catastrophicin nature:
Dwctons Be Deacons calls fr such all
when acharacter takes mace than 50:
points of damage in one go, and there's
ho reason why you cauldr't adopt asim
larrulend, of course, fa character bs
just plain, no question about, blown-
to-smithereens dead, then the GM.
should probably rule that it time to
make up new character, and not worry
about saving throws,
Tih levels of the vatious characte classes
dont go abowe 20, but is there any reason |
‘couldn't have a character who'ka 3rd level
noble and a 1th fevel Jed guardian?
Nope, and youre welcome tada so—just
bear in mind that the rules don't support
such high-level play While there are
some extremely powerful characters—
the tmpefpx fbr example—tevels above
ves" —
ener ose
ar Mac
ed a
— yi
HOLONET TRANSMISSION
Answers To Your
By 10 WIKER
2o are the domain of characters.with
odie powers. And there ust aren't
that many in the Stor Wiars universe.
‘ut if you're keen on playing 26th
Jevel-plus characters in the Star Wars
Roleplaying Game—oe you want to
‘throw such a character atthe players
your gae—you might want to check
‘out the upcoming high-level campaign
book for Duscaons Deacons.
Do characters have torest an entire hour (or
day) to recover one vitality (er wound) point
W they recover more than one ahour for
day? For instance, does a ath-level charac
ter recowera vitality point every 15 minutes
ofrest?
Ifyou wantto go to the trouble of book-
eeeping inag-minute for even rminute)
Increments, you can decide that the
healing ate for damage is based ona
‘smaller time period. But wsing blocks of
one hour (fr vitality) ar one day (for
wound and ability points) i the easiest
way we've found to keep track of recov
ery Ultimately of course's upto you
‘and your gaming group how you want
to handle it
Along those same lines,how many wound
points does a Wookiee receiving long-term
‘are recover each day?
Inthe d2o system, anything that “mutt
ples" a number doesn't stack on top of
‘other things that multiply as well tt adds
‘one increment to the multiplier. Two
effects that allow recovery at"tucice the
‘ormal rate" combine to inereate the
recovery by three times the normal rte.
athird effect doubled the recovery rate
the total would be four times, and sa on.
So aWookiee receiving long term care
recovers three timeshislevelin vitality
per hour. and wounds per day.
Star Wars RPG Dilemmas
What sie category "unarmed"? Fage 48
of the cote rulebook says thata character
can attempt toate another character
tunaemed, but doesnt say what weapon site
category“ unarmed” i, Unarmed weapon
site| alsoimportant fa character wishes
tomakea second punchingattack using.
two-weapon fighting.
According to page 136 of the core role
book, unarmed strikes count as light
weapons for purposes of two-weapon
attack pealiet and wo forth The sie cat
legory ofa character's hare hands is two
‘se eategories smaller than the characte
Tus a Medium-sized characters hands
{orother appendages] count 28 Tiny
Is there a reason fr fie inking lon cannons
ona starfighter? Normally.a single ion can
‘on inflicts a=2 penalty toall checks made
con the affected ship. What happens when
Jan cannons are fie-linked?
‘Fireslinking lon cannons increases the
penalty by one point. So the fire-linked
fon cannons on a wing, for example,
Unfit a -3 penalty to the target ship on
a successful hit
(When using Heal Self or Heal Another,
when do yauchoose ifyou're going to heat
swaunds or restore witality?lo you rll fist
tosee what your result I before choosing?
‘Yu should always declare before you
roll—on any skilmthe effet you're
shooting fo.in the case of Heal Anather
‘and Heal Sef, you should declare
whether you're trying to heal vitality,
‘Wound, ar ability points before you roll
the d20.
When a Force use ola high
Heal Self or Heal Another can the player
‘reduce the result s0 they don't have to
spend as many vitality points? This can be
o sty >Game Mastering Advice
‘Whenever the group |GiM meets to game, they arent really Into
{The first lve i that they joke way, way too much: the second
{that the sesion i over before they ever accomplish anything.
‘Do youhave any tips for a more involving session? Yd bike to
throw some purzles atthe heroes, but the players are way too.
combst-oriented—they much prefer fighting to talking—or
thinking. Help!
‘Group dynamics are abrays a rch sue. some players want
to play one wayand the rest want to pay another it reas fle
tion Ifthe players want o laugh and joke, but the GM wants to
jet some gaming done, thenane ar the atheris lable to be ery
frustrated a the end of the session.
‘good way to start any campaign isto sit down with allthe
playersand deckle—before anyone makes upa character—what
tind of arspaign the players want and whether oF not the GAs
wiling to provide that kind of campaign in most cases, the play-
fersand the GAA cancome tosome kind of compromise “ost
‘combat, withthe oteasional roleplaying challenge pursie,"or
“motly putes and roleplaying, with some combat rid in”
still doesnt have enough vitality points for
the walled result
For Heal Selfand Heal Another. treat the
amount healed as though it were limited
to the result on the dle, oF the amount of
‘tality points the healer has—whichever
lower. Thws,a character with only 2
italty pints left effectively cart ro
higher than 24 using ane of these ils
Hf the hero’has the Profong Force feat. he
can use the higher result he wishes to
spend the wound points
Whee you spend a Force Point sit gone for
cver.or do yougetit back after awhile?
it's spent for good, what's the incentive for
sing the Force Point?
nce spent, Force Point s gone forever.
The only way you get more Force Points
\s toadvance a evel,ot to perform ara
‘matically heroic deed. You do"get them
back”—just net quickly. You could save
them up, but then you'e ignaring one of
yur characte’s resources, since having
unspent Force Points doesn't do any:
thing for you, You're better off spending
them judiciously, and making sure you
always have atleast one—just incase
you need it,
—
—
— Me
—
—
are they?
Species matters not
\Wny do stormtroapers, the utra-clite ofthe
Emplee, have stats worse than an average
thurman?! know they are blaster bait but, to
sea Duniceans Be Deacons analogy, you
‘made them kobolds instead of orc (think
they need tobe ogres)
“Uitraelite may be overstating the
capabilities of the average stormtrooper
but thelr statistics are average fora
‘Human, not worse. Unlike ordinary.
‘Humans, they are fanatically loyal tothe
Emperor—and have more training than
the average being on the street A
stormtrooper isnt likely tou when
faced with overpowering odds. willscore
some hits, and do alot more damage:
But if bigger toughes, more dangerous
stormtroopers are what you're ates,
then you'find exactly what you wantin
the upcoming febelion Ero Sourcebook
Some of my players want to play a charac
ter ofthe same speces.s Yous. There’.
‘obviously more than one ef them, since
another member ofthe Jedi Counell—Yad
dle—was the same species. What species
Judge Voda by his species, da you?
The serious answer is that Yoda's and
Yaddle’ speci ri]
‘Ask yourself" Why do we get together inthe first place?" The
anserer may seem ke no-brainer “To game:"Games are »
social event. and some people sow up just to sociale, The
gaming s secondary forthe. that’s the case, goth the low,
and dor't worry too muh abguthow much you accomplish in a
‘session_sust don't plan for longer itscate plots that require
‘the players to pay attelon every inutedest they mis some-
‘thing wa. It¢.a question af expeetatlons—yours. and theirs
‘Als thnk about whereyou gather to poy. the players are
spread out around the roam, there area lot of distractions —
computers, televislons, video gamas, rome meat doodad—then
theirattenton wl naturally df. Cut down the distractions, and
try toarrange the seating $0 that the players ae closer tothe
‘action, so they don't suff frm that "oublemakers at the back
ofthe class" syndrome,
you find that you doallthis and they sil joke around, consider
Betting alittle hard-nosed: impose a moratorium on out-of-char-
acter conversations Take a five-minute break once an hour dur
lng which they canjoke as muchas they tke. but when that Five
‘minutes is up everyone et back into character.
ee
George Lucas int telling. It ally n't
Important to Stor Wars ts knove what
species Uhey are Yoda represents the
mysterious, wise and wizered charac-
ter that you see in so many heeoie
imyths—the one who appears to guide
the hero tohis true destiny. His origins
ae not as important as his contribution
to the story.
Feel freeto createsucha species for
‘youand your play group Yoda's and
‘Yadale's strength in the Forer is not a
‘factor oftheir species, but oftheir
‘understanding and experience, Other
members oftheir species—whatever it
hhappens to be—won't automatically be
Jed masters, or even ableto use the
Force, necessarily 5
ero
eae
Ce eed
a fer
One
Cone
Peer ns)
Peron en
Coen aan
FryHi
i By ELAINE CUNNINGHAM
oC eee eee eee we as Lae‘pplause rolled through the Great Tempe ever:
berating from the vaulting ceiling and ancient
stone. To Jaina Sola, the thunderous ovation held
‘echoes of other days and other deeds—and not
all of them from times past. he song of the future, rer future,
was there as well
Orso Jaina assumed
‘The question Uncle Luke has asked her before the ceremony
played over and ove inher mind like a malfunctioning holo-
"What are your plans fr the future?”
‘A.reasonable question, given that she was about to leave the
Jedi academy, burt nothing that came to mind felt quite right.
‘he liked toMy fast ships. She iced to bulld things, to fixand
Improve what had already been built. But such sills seemed
dwarfed by the grandeur ofthis pace, this moment.
‘Much was expected of the nlece of Luke Skywalker the old-
‘st child of Lela Organa and Han Solo. Jaina had always known
‘and accepted this. Responsibility was her birthright, the
inevitable result of her Jedi heritage.
\Never had Jaina been more conscious of this heritage. She
stood upon the dais ofthe Grand Audience Chamber, keenly
wate of the nearby Force-presence of her two brothers and
the friends whold shared their years atthe Jedi academy They
tadiated exhilaration and pride, only slightly shadowed by the
‘uneasiness that came from being the focus of so rmuch
applause, and so many eyes. OFF te one side stood Uncle Luke
het pavents, and several other heroes oftheir generation, All
{his Jaina sensed, though her eyes could perceive nothing but
the dazzle of led lightsabers.
‘The older ledi Knights gathered inthe first row had ignited
‘their lightsabers, ofting them in blazing tribute to the gradu:
ating students. The multicolored weapons spoke of hope and
power—a rainbow refracted froma hidden sun.
“Then the ovation faded, the lightsobers dimmed. Alithe,
‘sverhaited woman moved quietly toward abench at the
front of the dais She settled down, raised het long-necked
‘double viol, and began to play Delicate music filed the hal like
‘moonlight: Tionne had taught the young Jedi through tales of
former glories; ow her song. celebrated their adventures and
‘challenged ther to create new legends.
Jaina’slips quired in a faint, ironkc smile, “The Ballad of the
Jedi Mechanie She'd bet the Millennium Fafcon that Tionne
wouldn't get many requests for that ture!
When song faded inte silence, the new Jedi Knights fled
from the dais and processed down the long hal. The solerse
mien dissolved the moment they let the Great Temple
‘Whoops of celebration mingled with the bright green music of
‘avin 4’ jungles
owbacca let out an exuberant howl and swept jina into
thug. She wrapped her arms around the Wooklee’s waist and
buried het face in his ginger-colored fur. She was then spun
away Into a strong. one-atmed embace, andthe unexpected
scent of ext perfume
Jaina pushed fene! Ka ot toa length and regarded her
witha gi. For once the Oathom gi had exchanged her
‘suo! warirgarb--a bright bief costume fashioned from
‘pple reptile eather—for traditional Jed robes and her abu
dant e-gold hal had been tamed into an elegant crow of
cellsand bab
“Except for the hair color, you look just like my mother,” Jaina
teased
The g's gray eyes brightened at what she clealy perceived
as a compliment
“hy grandmother willbe pleased She often admonishes me
tolook and act ke apricess"she said, slanting glance
toward the royal wessl The former Queen Mother of Hapes
traveled in. starfaring castle,a whimsical structure that tow:
ered high atove the more conventional ships
The lines of fenel Kas face hardened as she studied this sym-
bol of her hemtage ander familys expectations. simi, sub
{ued expression el over the other young. teoccured to
Jaina that she was not the only one perplexed over next steps
To hersurprie kcen was theft to pve vote to thelr
shared concerns, "Anakin aed wl be traveling with Mater
Luke." he sald. brushing aside the lock of brown hale that was
forever creeping over his eyes And not just te Mon Calamari
‘After the vation, wee pom to become his apprentices”
Zell’ green eyes widened in surprise “Both of you? Wort
two apprentices be too uch to handle?*
Jacenfloshed, an Jaina go the amprecion the two of ther
had nad ths conversation before" fet ike the night stepto
take” He ashe is crooked grin “Seems tome ve got plenty
left to learn.”
“No aigument there” Zeb agreed.
During the laoghter that flowed na conskered her
brother path. Apprenticeship was.ageat Idea, and f Uncle
Luke were taking on students maybe Aunt Mata would con
sider one Mara Jou wos absolutely stellar—practica on
dent.o crackpot and a fighter who cauld mop a cantina flor
‘with a couple of Black Sun thugs without messing up het
aubuinbak
‘A delighted se spread ove Jana face. That was t—path
selected, problem sohed
ut Zeth jing bythe bemused expression an his face,
vas stiltying to get his mind around this concept “So you
tho ae off to become famous ed warlors ke Master Sky
walker.”
“Those were ferent tne,"Iaen sal thoughtfully. “Mas
ter Luke became a edi during the Rebellion and his path was
shaped by necessity We've aways known the Jed ate more
than warior but we dort know what that mor! might Be
‘Maybe its. ou task to releam what was bosThe "Very philosophical itile brother” teased
Jaina ‘And what ae the rest of sto do
Crystal riches meu orcas
‘He responded with a good-natured grin. “Save the galaxy.
‘What else?”
“Hf that's our destiny, we're getting off to a slow start,”
Anakin sald."Mom was elected to the Imperial Senate when
‘he was cen andssina'sage”
Our parents ight say thatthe challenges they fae today
are naless than those of their youth,” Tenel Ka observed, her
‘gaze upon three people emerging from the Temple, a tall man
tnd two veiled woman inthe elaborate gariof Hapan royalty
Jalna nodded Princess Lia had been Chief of State and
temalned asiledcipfomat who hed together the inceas
ingly contentious Republi, Han Slo—Iaina’ personal her as
wells her father-—weasa retired general who seemed tind
Wis way ito the ridstof one adventure of another She
watched with a full, fond heart as her parents emerged from
the Grand Temple and rushed toward the young Jedi, their
faces bright with pride,
Han slapped bath boys onthe backand swung Jaina off er
feet as fhe were stil nec high toa woking.
“Have some regard for your daughter's dignity,” Leia admon-
shed witha sie,
“Dignity overrated "he rejined. “Trust me on this" Newer
theless he ein down ard sent he an apolgete grin So,
What the next adventure?
Luke stepped forward Jina noticed that Aunt Mara wasnt
‘with him, and she sent her mother a quizzical glance. Lela
shook her head, aslight, almast imperceptible gesture. saina
aught a wif of her mothers concer, sad andsubte 3s the
perfume of a crushed flower.
“Jacen and Anakin will be working with me,” Uncle Luke said
quietly. “They will be apprentices, in the ledi traditian.”
Han nade i hed ben expecting this but there was 3
arian sadnessn his eyes He worked up 2 smile and ruffled
Jaina’s bait "What about you, kid?”
“Tmt thinkingabout fina said glancing From her
mother to Uncle Like.
“Good. You've got ime." Han looked over his shoulder at
Chewoocca, “Did you get dala sg aduatin present
vrloaded™™
The big Wookice shot a cautious glance at Leia and moaned.
aa rather subdued-sounding affirmative.
"present" Jaina glanced fom he father her mother A
{amir expression—mingled exasperation and affection —
was dawning on her mother's face:
Lela folded her arms and cocked her head to one side. “Pre-
sent?" she echoed ina challenging tone
Han treated hs wife to his best opus grin, then draped
anarm around Jaina's shoulders "Cimon td tt's have 3 ook
athe"
Jaina’ hear leaped with sudden hope, He father's tastes
and talents ior her own, and is git were usualy spare
Pats orlterstng hemos ed picked Up inode comers ofthe
galaxy. in Han's word, the only non-iving thing worthy of the
feminine pronoun was a ship. lana hadn't dared hope fr het
(own ship so soon! She fellinto step beside her father.n her
excitement easly matching his long legged stride.
tea sighed and tummed totuke, who was hig. a smirk
behind his hand and looking more like the boy hero he'd been
than the Jed Master he had become. “Are you coming?
Mis in broadened."t wouldnt miss”
tea glanced atthe cluster of young Sed, The younger stu-
‘dents had joined them, Obivious to everything but each othe,
they huddled together ina maelstrom of animated chatter, as
if determined to relive and define their time together
"think we can leave without causing offense,” she said
dryly.
luke chuckled, and they followed Han and Jaina t the dock
ing bay. Next to the venerable Millennium Falcon was.a smaller
vehicle, nearly a old and disreputable
“She's got character” Han aid patting the dented metal
fendly.“What do you think?”
Jains "new" ship was alate madelZ-95. The flaed-potition
double wings gave tthe look of one of the more primitive X
wing models The hull looked decidedly battered—several pan
els had been replaced, not always with metal of the same colo,
and the canopy had been reinforced, also without regard for
cosmetic value. Despite the patching, the ship stil displayed an
Impressive collection of dents, creases, and carbon searing
“She's beautifull" aina said, and meant
we made some modifications" her father sald proudly.
"Reinforced the hull,enhanced the motors, put ina hyperdeve,
upgraded the manevering ets. She's got it where it counts.”
ea stared at her husband," cart believe you bought this.
this thing wthaut discussing it”
A strange expression crossed Man's face. Lea's eyes narrowed
im suspicion. "You did but did't you”
"No-one’s going to tel you different," Han said ghbly His
cocky expression suddenly faltered and his gaze sid toward
Luke as if hed suddenly remembered his old friend's ability ta
read the truth things.
The bei Master lifted both hands. "Tm keeping out ofthis
tela started circling the wreck. “Fourlaser cannons and a
proton torpedo launcher? isn't that alot of fire power fr a
‘hip this size”
“Hey, better to have t and not need It than need it and not
have it Han countered
“Uke carrying a lightsaber on 3 date,"Jaina observed with 3
straight face and dancing eyes,
Her father’ eyebrows lifted approvingly, and he pointed a
‘ipgerat Jaina afta award her points for logic and ingenualty.
The cockpit creaked opened anda lithe, red-saited woman
‘vung herself out. She landed lightly and walked with ct-ike
igrace toward the suddenly sllet group,
“it might not be prety, but i'l fh" she announced
Sueidenly laina understood her mother’s concern, More Jade
hhad always been sim the belt cinching her fight suit was fas
tened several notches tighter The sharp, elegant bones of herface cast shadows upon the hollows below. There was an
unhealthy gray cast to her pale skin,and her green eyes were
fever-bright,
Jaina quickly shielded her shock and dismay. She ran forwand
and threw her arms—carefully—around her uncle's wife,
"aunt Maral 'm so glad you came"
“Where eise would be?”
‘At least Mara’s voice was the same: a smoky purr that always
{gave Jaina the impression of velvet over sheathed claws like a
Togorian warrior’ offered handclasp. Her Force presence, how-
‘ever, was even more drastically altered than her appearance.
Perceived through the Force, Mara had always reminded aina
of. blaster—steel and strength stealth and speed. But now
her life force burned like a thin, flercely determined fame,
‘With asigh,Jaina put asite her newly conceived plan for
apprenticeship.
‘he felt Mara stifen. The older Kedi pushed Jaina offto arms’
distance and fixed her witha steady gaze, "The answer tayour
question isyes."
oma
Mara cut off Jaina’s objection with a
curtshake of her head and stepped back
“Lets se your lightsaber
‘The git unhooked it rom her belt and
handed it over Mara thumbed it on,
A brilliamtt bive-viotet blade leaped
from the polished handle, The battered:
‘metal of loth ships reflected its light and color—an intense,
restless hue that Seemed poised on the edge of the visibie
spectrum. While most lightsabers awakened witha snap-hiss
and liluminated in. swift, graceful glide aina’s bade popped
Into full and instant readiness. Jacen sometimes teased Jaina
that hers was the only lightsaber in the galoxy that hummed
even when it was off
"Suits you," Mara said vith a wry smile. “| hear you grew
your own crystals”
The approval in her vole Surprised Jaina. ll the other stu
dents had used found crystals ar gems as the foc! for their
lightsabers, and none of them understood why Jaina had been
determined ta create het ow,
grew the crystals for my frst lightsaber." Mara went on.
it connects you, gives you a different feel altogether. You ate,
almast iteraly part ofthe weapon”
“A balance between mechanical and metaphysical Luke
suggested,
“Something ike that. But more tothe point, t's about per=
‘ception, Sometimes you need to focus and sometimes you
need to become the focus. Right?”
‘Mara directed this question at Jaina. she wasn't entirely cer-
tain what her aunt meant, but she nodded sagely.
“since you've already come this far on your own, we can skip
that part of your training for naw and go straight to fying.
“ying?” Han echoed ineredulously, his gaze shifting
between his sister-in-law and his daughter! already taught
her to fy”
Mara sent him a wink. “tan probably work around that.”
Her familys laughter rolled eff Jaina as she ran loving hans
‘over er new ship. While her aunt explained her plans for
appreeticeship tothe other adults Jaina made a mental ist of
fepairs and improvements, Her fingers itched for the fel of a
Fhydrospanner, bt that impulse was nothing compared tothe
urge to get inta the cockpit.
"When can Ifly her?” she broke in
Han scratched his chin, ‘Well we mere planning tohead
straight to Mion Calamari. Why don't you meet us there? I'l be
an easy flight=the coordinates ae already programmed into
the computer And there's neasieslnding than the docking
bayt the Crystal Reef resort”
‘Jaina glanced at Lela, who was eyeing the battered ship with
2 dubious expressian.”Mom? I know fsa, and that it, wm,
‘Bot character, but Aunt mara says tl be fine. And Dad, too."
she added belatedly
"Heythans” Han muttered
While most lightsabers awakened with
a snap-hiss and illuminated in a swift.
graceful glide. Jaina’s blade popped
inta full and instant readiness.
{ela threyrp herhands in surrender “rm not exactly negot
tng froma position of strength. How could | possibly abject
to my sixteen year-old daughter traveling actoss the galaxy im
a fying junk heap, when Im in the Falcon?™
“Keep It up."her husband wormed, only half in jest.
ee 4
Jaina pulled steadily away from Yavin 4, her spirits soaring as
she rose through the atmos phere. Mer new ship rattled and:
shuddered a bit as it rushed upward through the heavy. humid
alt,but the sublight drive hummed with steady competence. t
was a reassuring, almost complacent sound
"An easy trp,” Jaina said, repeating her father's words ina
wistful tone, She supposed there was much to be sald for that.
The maiden voyage in her first ship was a grand adventure in
and of itself
So she settled in to enjoy the simple pleasures of space
travel The intense blue of the jungle moon's skies swiflly deep-
ened to sapphire. Stars winked into life. The exhilaration of
being hurtled through resisting air gave way to.afloating sen-
sation as the 2-95 left Yavin q's atmosphere behind. Except for,
the information coming to her from the ship's sensors and the
rapidly diminishing Yavin system, Jaina might have thought
that the Z-95 was sitting stil
She pulled It into a tight turn, letting the Gforce build as she
ot a fee! for what the ship could do. The orange gas giant
receded swiftly, its light fading with distance.
‘STAR Wane ewan 20The Jaina glances back Yavin was too bright
to study from its moons surface but fom
Crystal tiitanapeine auld matc ou tscarcrg
atmosphere patterns. The albouetes of few miniscule ships
Crawler crs the fading rani light as far and fends
wri attended the led ceremony retired tthe fa-sat-
teredhomes,
A aint smile coved er ips teavog apart of er lf behind
vas had, but itheiped tohave a direction After a few days of
play and relaxation atthe Crystal Ref, sheld tart working with
her new dedi Maser.
na way acen and Anakin ad aleady started Recently ft
seemed that thy been practicing with ther ightsabers every
Rates (ated woos (eth chl eter reer
that made sense Fering improved physical condition, but
primary purpose was helping led attune to the Fore. Uncle
ke nag probably give the boys excites devised to move
them toward the next level of strength and insight
But Mara had decided to bypass that pao sina’ traning
pepe ganda ls pl arty aa
tceship to take but Jaina dd mind the klea one tle
‘ssh turned toward the hyperspace coordinates she
relic rect roving pnpectc igh on tent coarse
toward the Yavin system,
alte te, arent your” murmured Jaina, Curious she
pelted ose te the approaching eee
The shipwas amoatfeg Xing late redel 9 beautiflslek
‘thing witha gleaming hull patterned in bronze and back.
Inspired admiration but absolutely no em.
Iaina patted the console of hes battered 2-95 contented
‘The King was stella, no doubtabout ft but ership sulted
her just fine. She was fairy small ast short of her mothers
size and height which made her considerably smal than
‘most human plots But the new seat her dc put In placed her
‘omfortably nea the control The sensitive pressure pads that
controled dection and pitch had been replaced with the ol
fashioned stick she prefered
she ficed er cabin ight i a friendly halla then veered
way fromthe approaching wing. no hury.she settled in
to enjoy the ft ooping and soaring Joyful asa bird on
the fist sin day.
The fist atack took he by surpis. Sudden the sky Bazed
witht pk light. thin bot, ke a thal sunset coud,
fared tonandes
The 2-95 shields took the hit but the shipya ed sharply
Jaina wrested it back nto control, orercompensating and
seoclighineea pratag ie,
Dust as well—two more bolts streaked past in rapid succes
ston each ising by rosters
“That famous Sola lick, she muttered as she pulled the 2-95
cu of ts sp she cosed the slick gingnrly to one Se and her
Ship shot of at sharp angle away fom Rs attacker,
‘With ne free han, aia fore or he comm sytem and
switched tohaling frequency.
“Kewing acknowledge”
22 vouMe | nueen 5
er ancient system crackled. “This Is Bai Jumper, acknowl.
‘edging enemy fighter”
The voice was mate, probably human, and melodic and reso-
nant enough fer Coruscant opera. I was an unlikely voice for a
pilot whose ship sported such a roguish nam.
“Bail Jumper; m not your enemy” Jaina said as calmly as she
could manage. She glanced at her sensors The X-wing wos gh
ing pursuit, steadily casing in on her much-oser ship. "My
name is Jaina Solo, and fm a student pilot on my way to a fary-
ily vacation. t doesn’t get much less threatening than that.”
“Negative. My scanners identify you.as Onyac Str, a ship
stolen from my emplayer by agents of cats Too! and Drive”
2 shumped back into her seat and groaned. “setter start
running, Oad. Mom fs going to kill you when she hears about
thist”
“A pathetic bluff. My sensors indicate no other ships within
hailing fequeney, much fess lethal fring range,”"ebserved the
disembodied woice.
“That's not what meant, but never mind, "aia sal, "Us-
ten, my only connection with Kars s that | used to get parts
from them, They went out of business about three years back”
"Negative, caris Corporation supplies parts and industrial
Intelligence to Subpre Corporation, which intends to replicate
the Onyx Str in quantity”
“Sure, fifty yeas agot" Jaina exploded. "Subpro hasn't been
building the Z-95 Headhunter for years. Theres lots of old Z-
_95's around. don't have a copy of my ship's providence handy,
but chances ae, you've got the wrong ship.”
Negative. Onyx Stars unique. a prototype developed by
Bahalian Shipyards.”
‘Two things simultaneously occurred ta Jaina, hitting her
‘with a speed and force that reminded her af her last fencing,
‘match against Jacen and Tenel Ka. First the pilot was not just
misinformed, le was insane..According to him, the first 2-05
ship had yet to be bul, Second, she heard her father mention
‘Bahallan—a small, well-regarded shipyard that was known to
‘smugglers asa front company for the Tenlass Syndicate.
“This isn't the Balle sector,” Jana pointed out, naming the
base for the powerful criminal organization. "You're fong way
from home, Ball Jumper. Isnt it possible that you're confused
‘about other things. too?”
“No confusion, My mission is clear Destroy the prototype
before it gets to Subpra. Bai Jumper cut.”
Silence replaced stati. Blue flame exploded into the endless
night Jaina’s warning sensors blinked and buzzed, confirming
that the proton torpedo had a lock
Instinctively Jaina reached out through the Force. sensing
and then measuring the angle of approach. She clenched both
hands around the stick and pulled back, hard.
As the Z-95 traceda tight upward circle, the hum of the sub-
light drive rose in pitch toa scream of protest, Pressure built in
‘the cockpit fromthe rising Gs until stars began to dance and
‘explode at the periphery of aina’s vision, More lights began to
blink on the console, warning of possible system fatlure. The
‘proton torpede scorched past, a near miss,Jaina cased upas much as she dared. Stars spun, and the
orarige gas giant whirled past. She abruptly pulled out ofthe
Joop and twisted to one side.
She glanced at the navigation computer A glowing screen
‘marked the coordinates for the hyperspace jump, as well as her
‘cumtemt position, And directly between the two points was.a
tiny glowing icon, moving steadily toward her position. The X-
‘wing vas between her and the safety of hyperspace. She had
{to go around it... through it.
Jaina rebelled against that Idea even as her hand reached for
the targeting device. Te Xwing pilot hid a madman’s delu-
sions, He wasn't about to be deterred by a couple of warning
shots. f Jaina fired, shed have to aim tok,
Reluctantly she circled around to face the attacking X-wing.
She pulled the targeting screen closer and activated her
‘weapon systems Blinking red arrows appeared on the screen,
surrounding and then stalking the image represettng the X-
wing. They flared triumphantly to announce a target lock.
Stil Jaina hesitated. “Bail jumper, we
don't have todo this. Twrmaside and let me
pass”
In response, abarrage of ruby fire
exploded from behind the transparisteel
canopy. coming froma place where no
‘weapon should have existed.
Jaina instinctively inked, moving away
from the incoming missiles. She took a sold
bit. The cabin lights winked off then blinked uncertainty back.
“No astromech droid,” she muttered. For some reason. the
pilot had filled the compartment. designed to hold a droid with
another laser canon
fut that should have been impossible! The X-wing was
designed fora single pilot, but its systems were too compl
‘ated for one person to manage. An R2 unit handed astro-
navigation functions, platted hyperspace jumps, and rerouted
“systems inresponse to damage. Maybe a droid pilot could
manage to do all of that, but it would be hard presied,
On the other hand, this possibility made her decison easier.
Jaina had fewer problems with the idea of vaporizing a droid
‘than reducing a living pilot to stardust.
Just to make sure, she reached out with the Force: There was
2 presence, faint but definitely alive, in the X-wing, The truth
‘came to her suddenly
Cyborg." she murmured in a voice tinged with dread
That would explain the lack of an 2 unit—a cyborg pilot
would have neuralimplants, interface ports that hooked
Alrectly into the ship's computers
This might also explain the pilots confusion. Cybernetics
vastly enhanced intelligence, but in time, the human mind
receded under the constant assault of information. Some
cyborgs became little more than fesh-and-bload droid, but
the minds of afew pratested this lass of humanity with a vehe-
‘mence that drove the hast insane. Occasionally. cybernetic p5y-
chosisset in, and the cyborg could no longer function as either
thuman ora computer peripheral
This pilot was obviously suffering a few glitches inhisinter=
face. Guess that rules out negotiation,“ Jaina said. Reluctantly
she reached for her targeting controls.
She took a long. calming breath and opened herself up to
Athe Force Trusting her instincts, she fired.
Her frst attack was a simultaneous burst from a pal of laser
‘cannons, which the X-wing neatly dodged. Jalna caught her
breath in mingled admiration and eancern,
There was no way she could match that. She was a decent
pilot, but the cyborg was quite IHeraly an extension of his ship,
His data banks might have been jomnbled, but judging from the
‘way he was flying, he stillhad perfect control over most fur
tions, Even with the Farce, she was definitely outclassed
Jaina fred again, then juked sharply to evade the count
attack The tno ships fell into a deadly dance, dipping and
swooping lke a pat of vahitian hats wying for territory. Streaks
‘of laser fire uminated the blackness ofthe void, so many that
a tangled web of fading lines etched the sky.
Blue flame exploded into the endless
night. Jaina's warning sensors
blinked and buzzed, confirming that
the proton torpedo had a lock
‘The Z-95 took a hit to the port maneuvering jet Sensors
‘whined and flared in warning as the system began to sputter
‘out Before Jaina could react, her ship jolted again 3s another
‘beam battered her shields
Realization set in, knowledge as bleak and cold as space
itself: Sometimes, the Force wusn't enough,
‘Then an image flooded Jaina’s mind,one bright enough to
‘counter this darkness=the memory of Mara lade admiring the
bive-violet blade of Jaina’s lightsaber, and the crystals within.
“Sometimes,” she'd sai, “you have to finda focus, ondome:
‘umes you have to become the focus”
Suddenly Jaina understood what Mara had been trying to
‘ell her She reached out, notin an attempt to sense and focus
‘the greater Force, but into every corner of her battered Z:95.
‘Anew and yet familar awaroness filled her, ke avrakening
tofind herself in a remembered dream. She knew her way
around the inside of a ship and was confident that, given time
and parts. she could fix any damage ta the Z-95. But now she
saw and felt the ship ia ways she had never thought possibie.
Every bolt and rivet was.as apparent to her a3 the lights on
her control panel, as detailed as a zoorvin on a holographic
systems report, as mucha part of her asthe color of her eyes
ar the calluses on her small hands. The hum of the drives. the
tensed readiness of armed weapons, the sputtering death of
the port maneuvering jet allspoke to her in a language of
sounds and sensations that she could understsed
And not just understand, but coatrol. What a crystal was toa
lightsaber, Jaina became to her Z-95,The Aktien attack cut dbot tseplahairy.
Jaina sensed the Incoming proton torpedo
Cry ste Ee
fared, She didnt need to look tthe console to know t hada
feud es oa hel baer
Isha sed Peter her a bear vosnrersig eben
sudden unbalanced surge spun the Z95 on ts horizontal axis
ihear ernoh/ ruse foes ives ler secarates
the faltering pot jet instead
The result was simi fo what Han often achieved with an
seers ced sek oar cas cece perience a
Fale The sles et faced bo Fy kien terpet then
Pei dyima tam siendy steariea weaatle power
Jaina modes sight adjustment that brought the ship out of
Its spin and sent it hurtling directly toward the X-wing. She
fired two of her laser cannons, Both hit the target, but the
sturdy X-wing merely shrugged off the blows
The cyborg pilot countered with a barrage of incoming fire.
Jaina put her ship into.a complex evasive dance, as instinctively
1s she might have blinked, and with as litle conscious
thought.
‘When the lethal fireworks faded, she veered away, keeping
enough distance to give her time to take stock of the situation.
Hership described a wide arc, beyond the practical range of the
X-wing’s laser cannons.
Cee ee
peice cee et nn ai are eid
De ence ett
familiarity +2, tarfighter evasion; S¥ Fort +10, Ref +10, Will +5; SZ
es et ne
east
Ce ec a
See ec tc ee cee
COR a ee ey
Read/Write Basic, Repair #10, Speak Basic, Survival +4
Feats: Alertness, Ambidexterity, Armor Proficiency light, medium,
Ce ee ee reer
Starship Dodge (starfighters), Starship Operation (starfightersh,
Weapon Group Proficiency (blaster pistols, blaster rifles, heavy
Cee ae
Ce
Craft: Modified incom 7-658 X-wing; Class: Starfighter, Cost: Not
Seed Cea ta
sengers: 0; Cargo Capacity: 75 kg: Consumables: 1 week; Hyper-
Cae ee eee
Ce eee ey en Lec
Ces
Weapon: Laser cannons (s fre-linked)
eed
eee ee cee
ere eee ey
Weapon: Two proton torpedo launchers (3 torpedaes each); Fire
etree ere nee eee er en ae
dion; Range Modifiers: PE 40, S/MV/L n/a,
Pree ed
The cyborg fired anyway.
Beam after beam followed Jaina along her sweeping path,
like spokes in an elliptical wheel. At this distance, evasion
Fequired no more than a subtle undulation, as a small boat
might rise and fall over gentle waves. Some of the bolts
eared past, some dissipated just short of their target
‘Anew solution occurred to Jaina. She had four laser canno
and very little weapon power remaining while the Z-95's mo
fied engine tried to keep their recharge rate up, Most likely, t
Xowing's firepower was similarly depleted.
She continued te dance and circle, teasing laser blasts fron
the cyborg pilot. Again and again, her sensors warned that th
X-wing was arming its weapon systems. Finally, the warning
flashed, but the cyborg’s lasers did not Jaina sank back with
sigh of relief.
Her ship was less optimistic
Warnings pulsed and flared as the cyborg pilot repeatedly
fired his depleted weapons.
"M's finished,” she said with exasperation. “Get over it!”
But the single-minded pilot came on, setting a direct path
for her 2-95, Aftera startled moment, Jaina realized his inten
He was going to stop the protatype” ship even if that meani
Using his awn ship as a missile
‘Swiftly but reluctantly, Jaina shifted power to her forward
shields and reached for the weapon controls. She splayed her
fingers wide and tapped them in a sharp, rapid pattern over:
four of her laser cannon triggers,
Ruby lights streamed forward, so rapidly that they seemed
converge into a single devastating blast. Jaina leaned the shi
sharply aside.
‘A brief, brilliant explosion lit the void. Jaina flinched instin
tively as debris clattered into her ship, She continued her wid
away from the potentially lethal shrapnel that was the
cyborg’s last remaining weapon.
Her heart thudded like Ewok battle drums as she circled
back, carefully dodging the floating remnants of the ship. An
entire wing formation spun by, and a chuck of twisted metal
that appeared to comprise most of the cockpit.
Jaina sighed with relief, She'd aimed for the underside of t
ship, trying to graze the ship and take out the cargo compart
ment. A breach of that magnitude would trigger immediate
evacuation, whether the pilot liked it or not. She'd heard abou
the dangers of going Ev—extra-vehicular—but the way she
saw it, anything was better than getting vaped.
Her eye caught a small black shape that cut a void against
the background of stars. She powered down and drifted close
Tumbling lazily through space, clearly visible through the
translucent material of his sealed suit and helmet, was the
cyborg pilot,
Once he had been a human male of exaticappearance and
Impressive condition, A fitted black fight suit emphasized
muscles in fine trim. His clean-shaved face had sharply define
bones, and his skin was a coppery hue—so metallic in appear
ance that for a moment Jainadidn't notice the cybernetic
parts, External ports of the same copper color had been place