Vision of the future

'Really,' Luke said, letting his tone cool just a bit. He didn't even need the Force for this one; he'd watched Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin pull this trick enough times to recognize guilty knowledge when he saw it. 'What if I told you a Jedi can always tell when someone's lying?' From behind him came a loud and authoritative chirp. Leave the young one alone. Luke turned his head. Perched on the bushes and craggy rocks on the other side of the cliff face were three more of the creatures. They were each twice as big as the first one; but even without the size differential the subtle differences between adult and young were instantly apparent. 'Your pardon,' he said to them. 'I wasn't trying to intimidate him. Perhaps you can help me in my search for my friend.'

One of the creatures spread his wings and gave a short hop to a bush closer to Luke, twisting his head one way and then the other as if studying the intruder out of each eye individually. You are not one of the others. Who are you?

'I think you know,' Luke said, a quiet sense prompting him to play a hunch. 'Why don't you tell me instead who you are?'

The creature seemed to consider. I am Hunter Of Winds. I bargain for this nesting of the Qom Qae.

'In the name of the New Republic I greet you, Hunter Of Winds,' Luke said gravely. 'I presume you know of the New Republic?'

The elder Qom Qae fluffed his wings exactly the same way the young one had. I have heard. What is the New Republic to us?

'I suppose that depends on what you want it to be,' Luke said. 'But that's a matter for diplomats and bargainers to discuss. I'm here to help a friend.'

Hunter Of Winds chirped decisively. We have no knowledge of any strangers. But we do, the younger Qom Qae chirped from behind Luke. The Qom Jha spoke of—

Hunter Of Winds cut him off with a squawk. Is your name Seeker After Stupidity? he demanded pointedly. Be silent.

'Perhaps you've merely forgotten,' Luke suggested diplomatically. 'A nesting bargainer must have many other matters to think about, after all.'

Hunter Of Winds fluffed his wings. What happens outside this nesting does not properly concern us. Go to another nesting of the Qom Qae, or to the Qom Jha if you dare. Perhaps they will help you.

'All right,' Luke said. 'Will you guide me to them?' They are outside this nesting, Hunter Of Winds chirped. They are not our concern.

'I see,' Luke said. 'Tell me, Hunter Of Winds, have you ever had a friend in danger?' The Qom Qae spread his wings, his two companions following suit. This conversation is ended. Young one: come.

He leaped out from his bush, gliding away toward the canyon floor below on outstretched wings, his two companions following. Turning back, Luke saw the young Qom Qae follow them. Artoo grunted contemptuously. 'Don't blame them too much,' Luke told him with a sigh. 'There may be cultural or political entanglements here we don't know about.' He resumed his climb. 'Or they may just be wary of getting involved in someone else's fight,' he added. 'We've certainly seen enough of that over the years.'

Five minutes later they'd reached the gap. Luke had been right: the cut continued upward toward the top of the cliff at a much more leisurely angle while still keeping them under tree cover the whole way. 'Perfect,' Luke said, peering up along it. 'Let's get up to the top and see where we go from here.' Collecting the syntherope, he started to coil it—

And suddenly Artoo emitted a startled squawk.

'What is it?' Luke demanded, grabbing reflexively for his lightsaber as he spun around. There was no danger around them that he could see or sense. 'Artoo, what is it?' he asked again, turning his attention to the droid.

Artoo was gazing back down into the valley along the way they'd come, moaning mournfully. Frowning, Luke followed along the droid's line of sight—

And felt his breath catch in his throat. Down on the valley floor, their X-wing had vanished.

'No,' Luke breathed, gazing hard at the browns and grays down there. His first, hopeful thought was that his camouflage job had simply been better than he realized and that the starfighter was still right where they'd left it. But a moment of careful searching with Jedi-enhanced senses put that hope quietly to rest.

The X-wing was indeed gone.