In This Star Wars: Brotherhood Excerpt, Dexter Jettster Is Back, Baby

Sure, Star Wars brings lots of people again as of late, and generally, it could be slightly a lot. But we’re going to make an exception for Mike Chen’s new novel Brotherhood, an Obi-Wan and Anakin team-up set within the early days of the Clone Wars, when it lets us revisit Dex’s Diner and its beloved four-armed proprietor.

io9 is happy to present you a glance inside the subsequent Star Wars novel from Del Rey and Lucasfilm, Mike Chen’s Brotherhood. Set simply after Attack of the Clones, because the fires of the Clone War start to spark throughout the galaxy, Brotherhood sees Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker’s relationship evolve: now not Master and Padawan, however fellow Jedi Knights on the burgeoning entrance strains of an interstellar battle. But when their first mission collectively as Knights takes Obi-Wan and Anakin to the center of the Separatist motion to analyze a bombing on the Trade Federation hubworld, Cato Neimoidia, the duo must discover a new strategy to stability their loving, tempestuous relationship—and turn into the brothers they had been by the point of Anakin’s tragic downfall in Revenge of the Sith.

All that’s effectively and dramatic in fact, however you’re not right here for Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Generals of the Clone Wars, are you? No, you’re right here for everybody’s favoceremony bartending Besalik, Dex! As Obi-Wan’s investigation of what’s happening on Cato Neimoidia begins, in our unique excerpt from Brotherhood the Jedi Master turns to an previous good friend as soon as once more for recommendation… and maybe some dessert. Read our full excerpt from Star Wars: Brotherhood under, or in case you’d desire, you’ll be able to hear it in audiobook type within the video under, learn by Jonathan Davis!

“The Neimoidians.” The hologram of the bombing fizzled as Dex poked at it, then swiped it apart to tug up knowledge on the Trade Federation’s purse worlds. “Unique species. Their brains are wired for calculation. Everything is an instinctive risk assessment to them. Some call it cowardly. I think it’s a strong survival instinct, percentages and risk. I worked with some, back in my black-­market days. Quick thinkers. I’d want them on my side. Picking a side means losing half your customers, though.” Dex straightened up, his large shoulders instantly trying like mountains as he stood behind the bar. “In most cases.”

“So that’s it. Appeal to their sense of risk. How do you recommend going about that?” Obi-­Wan lifted his plate. “Bring them cake?”

“They don’t have a tidy relationship with the Republic, I’ll tell you that. And not exactly with the Jedi, either. If I recall, you were involved with some of that.”

Obi-­Wan’s voice dropped his humorousness. “Nute Gunray is considered an extremist by their government. Senator Lott Dod—­”

“There you go again. You Jedi, getting lost in the details.”

Obi-­Wan tapped his fork in opposition to his plate. “So go with cake then?”

“Perhaps.” Dex stretched out, higher arms reaching overhead whereas his decrease arms clutched his stomach. “It’s simple, really. Cato Neimoidia is the base of operations for the Trade Federation. Long memories, those Neimoidians.”

“Make them forget.” Obi-­Wan waved his hand, prompting fun from Dex. “I don’t know if one Jedi is powerful enough to do that.”

“Not forget. Show them that sending Palpatine might invite more trouble than it’s worth. And show them that a Jedi isn’t going to tear through them like at Naboo.” Obi-­Wan nodded, his thoughts reframing choices to Dex’s new course. “Remember, it’s all numbers to them. It’s what got them where they are. See, all of the Republic types think it’s their ideology.” Dex shook his head with a chuckle. “That’s shortsighted. It’s a strategy, not politics. Their neutrality is different from the neutrality your old friend preaches.”

Obi-­Wan had identified Dex a very long time, going again to a youthful misadventure out within the Unknown Regions. And although they solely noticed one another sometimes, his previous good friend knew simply the best way to needle him.

This explicit jab was so efficient {that a} grin slipped by means of, and Obi-­Wan raised an eyebrow in delicate acknowledgment.

“What old friend?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Dresses better than you. Striking eyes. Mandalorian royalty. Used to call you Ben, for some reason,” Dex mentioned with one in every of his hearty chuckles. “That one. I hear she’s quite the savvy politician.”

Obi-­Wan wasn’t going to present him the satisfaction of claiming her identify out loud, or the truth that the Duchess Satine of Mandalore was sustaining neutrality within the Clone Wars to make sure that her folks didn’t return to their earlier warlike methods. “Ah, the simple foolishness of impulsive youth.”

“You keep telling yourself that, old buddy. I don’t know, why don’t you ask her about neutrality instead of an old slug at a diner?”

“Well, it’s simple, Dex. I wanted dessert.” To show the purpose, Obi-­Wan stabbed two items of cake, one from every layer, then took them down in a single chew. “So suppose I convince them. The Republic sends a Jedi,” he continued, nonetheless chewing. “Then what?”

“I’d say it starts with the bombing. What was targeted, how was it done, and why?”

Obi-­Wan clicked a button on the holoprojector to deactivate it, then tapped the datapad earlier than sliding it over. “I’m glad you asked.”

Dex took one look on the numbers and lists on the pad, then pushed it again. “No, no, no. See, you’re looking at the wrong thing here. All you’ve got is facts.”

Another eyebrow rose, although this one had nothing to do with Satine Kryze. “What’s so bad about facts, Dex?”

“Without context, facts are useless.” The holographic pictures returned as Dex tapped the pad along with his giant finger, then began swiping by means of. “You look at this and you see blast radius, casualty total, potential targets. What is the context?” he requested, tapping his finger with each phrase of his query.

“The context is—­” Obi-­Wan took in a breath. “We know the Republic didn’t do it.” Dex began to retort however Obi-­Wan held up a finger. “We assume the Republic didn’t do it. The Separatists say they didn’t. The Trade Federation is neutral.”

“Whoever did it is an extremist. Regardless of side. Correct?” Dex requested. His query got here with a tangible weight, and in that second Obi-­Wan thought-about that Dex would have made a very good trainer for a Padawan.

“Fair to assume. And the Trade Federation considers Nute Gunray an extremist.”

“Extremism only escalates when it’s left unchecked. When you stay neutral in the face of it.” The Besalisk gave a understanding grin. “But what if you could turn the Trade Federation into an ally? Make neutrality seem like the”—­Dex’s chuckle echoed by means of the area—­“risky thing to do.”

Obi-­Wan nodded, the remaining meals on his plate instantly forgotten. Dex was proper: Going to Cato Neimoidia, treating issues strictly as an investigation to clear the Republic’s identify—­that may solely maintain the Trade Federation impartial. And that neutrality would in itself allow the warfare to escalate. “This catastrophe,” Obi-­Wan mentioned, pointing to the looping simulation of the assault, “may also be an opportunity.”

“Oh?”

“Senator Lott Dod acts as a firewall for the Trade Federation. Getting an audience with their leadership is nearly impossible. But this provides us a direct opportunity to speak to them. To be heard. Possibly.” He leaned again on his stool, hand over his beard. “Especially right now, while the war is young.”

“Now you’re getting it. So the first trick is to get them to accept a Jedi. And while that Jedi is earning their trust, perhaps talking them out of neutrality. Easy, right?” Dex seemed over his shoulder. “Wanda?”

The waitress droid rolled to the kitchen window. “Ya need something, hon?”

Dex took a chew from the remaining cake slices, then seemed on the chrono on the wall. “Brew a new pot of caf, please. We’re gonna be a while.”

“You got it, boss. Cream and sugar in yours, hon?”

“Oh, no,” Obi-­Wan mentioned. “I prefer my caf straight black.”

Star Wars: Brotherhood hits cabinets as each a hardcover novel and an unabridged audiobook on May 10—simply in time so that you can get into the Kenobi temper earlier than Obi-Wan Kenobi begins streaming on Disney+ later in May.

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