Truly, the galaxy was beyond imagination in its variety.

They descended along this second ramp, and Obi-Wan found himself lost in thoughts of what all of this might have been like, back before the time of the Republic. He imagined the hive swarming with life, the royal pair presiding over . . .

Then Obi-Wan’s skin tingled, and he became instantly alert. A ripple in the Force, warning him. "On your guard, " he whispered.

Jesson’s primary and secondary right hands gripped his spear fiercely. "What is it? "

Obi-Wan held up his right hand, demanding quiet. He felt something, a tremor in the soft soil beneath their feet.

Soft. As it had been in the previous chamber.

Soft. As if it were constantly plowed up.

"I’ve got a bad feeling about this, " Jesson said.

"Let’s go on to the other side, " Obi-Wan said.

"I don’t think we’ll make it. "

The ground trembled. A quake? "What is it? " the Jedi asked.

"Worms, " Jesson said, his shoulders quivering, his four hands knotting into fists. "I should have known. They were thought to have retreated deep into the ground since the time of . . . " He seemed reluctant to speak. "Well, that supposed Jedi, at least. "

"Was that the service this Jedi Master performed for your royals? " Obi-Wan asked, drawing his lightsaber. The soil beneath them continued to heave.

"I don’t know, " Jesson said, then added, "Perhaps. No offense, Master Jedi. You are indeed a mighty warrior, but if I know politicians, nothing much actually happened-he was just honored for being from Coruscant. "

Despite their danger, Obi-Wan had to chuckle. "My opinion of politicians is much like yours, " he confessed. "But I must say that G’Mai Duris seems better than most. "

An abrupt tingle in the Force-and Obi-Wan grabbed Jesson and jumped back just in time. The soil beneath them burst, and the mouth of the first worm appeared. It was dark brown, its skin covered with countless small spikes, every three or four meters marked off with a segmented ring. If the proportions were similar to other such beasts that Obi-Wan had seen, then it was thirty meters long at the least.

And the worm was not alone. Two more burst from the ground, their mouths gaping hungrily.

It was too late for Obi-Wan and Jesson to run back to the ledge, and too far make it all the way to their destination. All they could do was find a place to make their stand.

Obi-Wan spotted the first of several limestone spurs poking up through the soil. "Get to the rocks! " he shouted, and they dashed for the only visible safety. One of the worms humped along right behind them, moving almost as fast as a human could run.