Scott - The Snare

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ISBN 978-1-368-00892-1

Cover art by Lucy Ruth Cummins

Interior art by David Buisn

Visit the official Star Wars website at: www.starwars.com.

THE WHISPER BIRD was in trouble and Lina Graf knew it. As soon as shed brought the ship out of hyperspace it had started jerking around like a bucking bantha.

Lina, what are you doing? her younger brother Milo complained as he was almost thrown out of his seat at the rear of the cramped cockpit.

Trying to fly straight, she snapped back as she flicked some switches on the main console. Warning lights flashed on and off, and no matter how hard Lina tried, she couldnt get the control stick to turn.

The ship shook violently, tossing both children around in their seats.

You call that straight? Milo shouted.

Master Milo, please! the droid CR-8R yelled. He was sitting to the right of Lina, linked directly into the navicomputer. Mistress Lina is trying her best.

But what if her best isnt good enough? Milo grumbled under his breath.

Then you being a backseat pilot isnt helping! CR-8R shouted.

CR-8R, or Crater to his friends, was a patchwork droid cobbled together by Lina and Milos mother from a bunch of different parts. He had an astromechs casing as his body, which was connected to a hovering probot base. He had manipulator arms that spun around in the air as he spoke. He was overbearing, argumentative, and very annoying, but right now, he was also all Milo and Lina had.

Their parents were gone. Auric and Rhyssa Graf were explorers who had been mapping the unknown reaches of Wild Space when they were captured by an Imperial Navy officer named Captain Korda. Lina had always believed that the Empire was a force for good that spread peace and order across the galaxy. How wrong could she have been? Korda had stolen their maps, taken their parents, and tried to blow up the Whisper Bird with Lina and Milo inside. Now they were alone, with only cranky CR-8R and Morq, Milos pet Kowakian monkey-lizard, for company. Lina couldnt admit it to her younger brother, but she was terrified. And even though Milo was trying to put on a brave face, she knew he felt the same way.

But for now, they had bigger problems. The Whisper Bird had sustained considerable damage when they escaped Kordas explosive blasts. The ship had only just barely held together during the jump to hyperspace.

Were approaching Thune, CR-8R reported.

Lina glanced up through the cockpits canopy and spotted a small brown-and-blue planet up ahead of them.

Are we going to make it? Milo asked. He hung on to his seat as Morq clung to him, wailing pitifully.

Of course we are, said Lina. Just as long as we dont fall apart first.

And how likely is that? Milo replied.

Just then, there was a sharp crack from above, and sparks exploded from the consoles power indicators.

More likely by the second! she admitted, waving the smoke away from her face with her hand. Crater, whats happening?

The droid consulted the Whisper Birds fault locators. Where do you want me to start? Systems are shutting down all over the ship. The thrusters are overheating and life support systems are in critical condition!

What is working? Milo asked.

The food synthesizer is operational, CR-8R replied dryly.

Great. Anyone hungry for a snack? Milo said sarcastically.

Just then, a small explosion echoed through the Whisper Bird.

Never mind, CR-8R reported. The food synthesizer just blew up!

Lina wanted to bang her head against the control console.

We need to make planetfall for repairs, she said, trying to hold herself together.

Did you have to use the word fall? Milo said.

Why not? Lina snapped. Because if the repulsors give out thats exactly what we will be doing!

The life support systems are in critical condition, CR-8R repeated.

Will you just shut up! Lina shouted.

Dont blast the messenger, CR-8R snapped. Its not my fault the ship is falling apart around our audio sensors.

Lina hopped out of the pilots chair and checked the readouts on the rear console.

Theres the problem, she announced as she brought up a holographic display of the Whisper Birds engines. The main generator is failing, which is knocking out all the other systems.

Can you fix it? Milo asked nervously. His voice shook, betraying how scared he was.

Lina had always been good with machines. When she was little, she had loved taking apart her toys to see how they worked, instead of playing with them. Of course, the Whisper Bird was a lot more complex than her childhood toys, but she could do it. She had to. She was the older sibling. With her parents gone, she was in charge now.

Lina gave Milos shoulder what she hoped was a comforting squeeze. If you help me, I can, she said.

Milo grinned and gave Lina a mock salute. Aye-aye, Captain, he joked.

Lina laughed and turned to the droid. Crater, you steer the ship, she instructed. Just keep us moving forward, okay? Toward Thune.

Forward wont be a problem, CR-8R replied. If we have to turn in any other direction, then we may have a problem.

You can do it, Lina said encouragingly. She opened the cockpit doors and started running toward the ships engineering system.

Oh, you think so? How kind of you to say, CR-8R replied sarcastically as Milo followed his sister, with Morq wrapped around his shoulders. I mean, Ive only been flying starships since, let me see, BEFORE YOU WERE BORN!

While CR-8R continued to grumble under his breath, Lina reached the main hold, with Milo on her heels. She ran over to a ladder on the far wall and started climbing toward an access hatch on the ceiling.

I can get into the core through here, she called down to her brother. Even if I cant get it working correctly again, I can trip the backup generators. They should be able to supply enough power to get us down.

To get us down safely? Milo shouted up. You forgot to say safely.

I cant promise that, she said as she reached the hatch. But well be in one piece. Probably.