The Lamproid and—was that a Kitonak?—joined the assault, unloading their blasters into OrbaLin, the bolts ricocheting away from the Jedi but somehow avoiding any of the priceless treasures scattered around.

“Surrender and you will live,” the Jedi promised, drawing a bark of disbelief from the Twi’lek who had answered to Dee.

“There’s three of us and one of you, Jedi. What exactly do you think you’re going to do?”

“What I do best,” OrbaLin replied, his lightsaber a blur. “Give a lecture.”

“What?”

The archivist didn’t miss a beat. “There are many fascinating artifacts here in the exhibition, many I see you have been trying to plunder.” More bolts struck his lightsaber, not one reaching him through the whirling blade. “Although one of my favorites was noted just last night by a member of the High Council.”

“Typical Jedi,” Dee sneered, holstering her blasters to grab the glaive that was slung low on her back, the edge of its jagged blade crackling with energy. “Just doesn’t know when to shut up.”

From her hiding place by the doors, Rhil was inclined to agree as the Twi’lek lunged forward, her glaive clashing against OrbaLin’s lightsaber. Was this really the time for a history lesson? And yet still the archivist continued unabated, somehow managing to deflect every bolt and blade that came his way, all without sounding out of breath.

“Tythonian Mastery Tokens are among some of the smallest items on display,” he said, blocking the woman’s pike and shoving her back with a none-so-gentle Force push. “Although I notice that their display case has been rather savagely smashed. By your associates, I would assume. Such a waste.”

“We’ll be sure to pick up the pieces,” Dee said, slamming her blade into the floor to stop herself from sliding back. “We’d hate to cause a mess.”

She sprang forward, twirling the polearm into another attack.

“You are mocking me,” OrbaLin burbled, parrying every strike with consummate ease. “This in itself is nothing unusual, but I worry that you’re not seeing what’s in front of your face.” The archivist flicked his wrist and Rhil suddenly found herself swiveled around to face a nondescript door on the other side of the hall. That had to be the storeroom, but her path was blocked by the Lamproid and its venomous tail.

And all the time, the galaxy’s most obstinate Ugor babbled on and on, and on.

“I can understand why you have discarded the tokens,” he said, sweeping his lightsaber down to slice the glaive in two. “They have little monetary value.” Dee threw her bisected weapon aside, drawing a pair of vicious-looking sickles that had been strapped to her legs. “Neither are they particularly beautiful, although they meant much to their original owners.”

Sparks flew as the curved blades tried to find a way past OrbaLin’s defenses.