Read Online Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens Lost Stars by Claudia Gray, Phil Noto - Free Book Online

they were starting to
have these moments of self-conscious weirdness.
    Maybe one of her friends had told someone that they were gossiping about how hot he was during target practice. Neither Jude nor Kendy would talk behind her back, but Jude might be socially
clueless enough to say the wrong thing in front of Nashor Ved. That would be the worst—especially since it seemed to make Thane want to pull back from her.
    I said there wasn’t anything between us. So he shouldn’t be behaving this way. Unless he wants there to be something between us. But he doesn’t, does he?
    Do I?
    Ciena snapped herself out of it. Mumma always told her not to make something out of nothing. She didn’t need to jump to conclusions.She needed to get in the air.
    “You’ve practiced on the speeder bike simulator multiple times,” said the commander who taught Small Craft Flight. The several dozen pilots in Ciena’s
section—including her roommates, as well as Thane and his—stood in the craft bay within the enormous structure of the academy. Outside, dusk had fallen and the city lights of Coruscant
glittered. “It is themost basic form of low-altitude craft, and therefore the first you should master. Handling the bike should be well within the capacity of every cadet in this
class.”
    Ciena tried to disguise her excitement. She’d been in simulators too long; she was ready to go. And the speeder bikes seemed
so easy
—
    As if he’d heard her, the commander continued, “In order to ensure that your first flightis both memorable and challenging, we’ve made it a competition. A race.”
    “Is there a prize?” called Nash Windrider, which made people laugh. Unlike most instructors, the flight commander allowed some levity from time to time. He said it bolstered
“martial spirit,” which they were supposed to cultivate.
    The flight commander even smiled slightly as he replied, “Indeed, Cadet Windrider,but you should learn the task before you presume to perform it.” A hologram rose from the center of
the bay, showing a three-dimensional map of the area surrounding the academy. Small, brightly colored points blinked in ten different places, from all the way down at ground level up to the Sky
Loop. “What you see signposted here are Reitgen Hoops, each big enough for a single speeder bike to easilypass through. We’ve cleared the surrounding airspace, so you may choose your
individual course and need only account for your classmates’ vehicles.”
    Farthest first,
Ciena immediately decided.
Most people will get too caught up in trying to reach the nearest hoop, so you’ll have a clear course. Then you slip through the others
on your way back here.
    The commander concluded, “The firstto fly through all ten hoops will be given fifty points in the rankings.”
    A shiver of disbelief and anticipation swept through the cadets. Fifty points! That was better than acing two or even three exams. Cadets in ranking trouble knew this could pull them back from
the brink. Meanwhile, Ciena could only think,
This would do it. This would make me number one, far ahead of anybody else.

    “Eager, are you?” the commander said. “Then get to your craft and await the signal!”
    Ciena dashed for her speeder bike and powered up. As the engines hummed to life, she checked the chinstrap of her dark gray helmet and the armor strapped around her forearms, calves, and thighs.
Most important was the repulsor belt, which would activate if she fell from the bike. But she didn’t intendto fall.
    This is going to be mine,
she told herself as she took hold of the handlebars and felt the controls through her textured gloves. The engine beneath her vibrated with what she imagined was
excitement, as if it were a spirited beast instead of a mere machine.
    The lights overhead shifted, turning slowly brighter. She held her breath. Then came the brilliant flash that meant
go
.

    Ciena gunned it as they all flew out in a rush, like a swarm of