by Greg Keyes
less his lightsaber. What's he talking about?
The Gamorrean turned, though, and Han hit him over the head again,
holding the statue in both hands. This time it broke. The Gamorrean, looking
puzzled, collapsed. "You okay, son?" Han asked. "Yeah. A little woozy."
Han hefted the half of the statue that remained in his hands, then
proffered it to Jacen. "Here, a little souvenir." Jacen turned it over in
his hands and uttered a small laugh. Very small, because it hurt his
stressed-perhaps cracked-ribs.
Hart, meanwhile, was rooting for his blaster, one eye on the door.
"I should have known that old smuggler wouldn't sit still to be blown
up," Han muttered.
Looking past his father, through the dust and smoke, Jacen could make
out a pair of figures on the rooftop- Karrde and Shada. They had just
finished the snipers there and were now using the high ground to clear the
streets. The job was almost done.
About fifteen minutes later, Jacen and Han met outside with Karrde and
his people. By some minor miracle, none of them had been killed, though
several would be in bacta tanks for a while.
"I'd say Tatooine isn't going to be one of your safe houses," Karrde
remarked. "I also suggest we get off this ball of rock before the Brigade
convinces the spaceport to impound our ships, if they haven't already."
"I wouldn't worry too much about that," Han said. "The Darklighter
family still has some clout, and we're at their dock. Still, it would
probably be best to get out of here." He shook his head in disgust. "What a
waste of time this was. Now that they know we're here, we'll never find out
anything about their operation."
"Oh, I wouldn't say that," Jacen said.
"What do you mean?"
"We've still got Shalo, right?"
"Unless H'sishi was ambushed on the way back to my ship,"
"I got something from him, something he was hiding. I tried to tell
you." "What?"
"I'm not sure. But he was expecting something. Something big."
Shalo was a good deal more subdued during his second interview, and
much more cooperative.
"A convoy is stopping off here," he admitted. "Day after tomorrow. On
its way to Ylesia."
"What's the cargo?"
"Oh, you know, cargo."
"No, I don't know," Han said. "Please, enlighten me." "Spice, weapons,
maybe a few, uh . . . a few slaves." "Sacrifices for the Yuuzhan Vong, you
mean. You're quite a piece of work, Shalo." "I'm a businessman, Solo."
"Sure. Tell you what, once we're done with this convoy, we'll drop you
off someplace where you can get nice and cozy with your new business
partners. Nal Hutta, maybe."
Tsavong Lah regarded the strange creature before him. It looked like
some shaper's fevered joke, with its short, ruffled feathers, spindly limbs,
and cochlear antennae. It blinked luminous, slanted eyes at him and
stretched its ridiculously wide mouth to speak.
"Greetings, Warmaster," it said.
The warmaster considered her for another moment before deigning to
answer.
"The deception-sect priests and the haar vhinic tell me you have
yielded much useful information concerning the infidels. You seem to have
been most observant during your captivity."
"I would do more," Vergere said boldly.
"So I am also told. You have information regarding the ship that has
been harassing our infidel lackeys." As he spoke, a pair of villips
projected an image of a matte-black ship, lens-shaped, with odd projections.
"I know the ship," Vergere replied.
"And why would you speak this only to me?" the war-master rumbled.
"Because," Vergere said, "I think the identity of this ship would be of
particular interest to you, and because I believe you would prefer to have
this information discreetly."
"You presume much about me, familiar-of-a-dead-priestess."
"If I presume incorrectly, I am prepared to embrace punishment."
Tsavong Lah gave her an abbreviated nod of approval.
"Waste no more of my time," he said. "Say what you came to say."
"I know the ship because it is the one from which I escaped," Vergere
told him. "It is the Millennium Falcon, and its captain is named Han Solo."
"Solo?" Tsavong Lah felt a surge of rage at the name, and his vua'sa
foot-claws clacked restlessly against the deck.
"Solo," the creature said. "Father of Anakin Solo, who caused the late
distress at Yavin Four, or so I'm told. Father ot Jacen Solo."
Tsavong Lah reared to his full height. "You were correct, familiar.
This is of interest."
"Find the Millennium Falcon, Warmaster, and you will find Jacen Solo. I
believe he is aboard her. If he is not, once you have his father, he will
not be long in arriving. It is the way these infidels think."
"Indeed," the warmaster replied, a vast satisfaction rising in his
blood. "And the Jeedai are most particularly weak in that respect."
THIRTY-TWO
Admiral Traest Kre'fey seated himself in the tactical chamber room of
his flagship, the Ralroost. His violet eyes were sternly set, but Jaina
nevertheless felt a brief but tangible impulse to stroke his fur, which was
whiter than the wastes of Hoth. Contrasted with his black flight suit, it
positively shone.
It was a feeling that evaporated immediately when the dignified Bothan
began to speak.
"I've reviewed all of the information presented me," he said. "General
Antilles, is there anything missing? Any other little surprises?"
"No, Admiral," Wedge replied. He glanced aside at Kyp. "Not that I know
of."
"Well," the admiral mused. "Who would have guessed that the Yuuzhan
Vong were another pack of superweapon aficionados. I thought we were done
with that when we were done with the Empire."
"Apparently not," Gavin Darklighter said dryly. "I share General
Antilles's distrust of Kyp Durron, but-
"This I'm getting tired of." Kyp grunted and stood. "If you will excuse
me, I'll go destroy it myself-with my lightsaber if I have to. This isn't
worth the bother."
"Oh, Kyp, sit down and let Colonel Darklighter finish," Jaina snapped.
"Yes, why don't you do that?" Admiral Kre'fey said dryly. "And in the
meantime, why don't you credit me with the brains to sort things out for
myself, without the benefit of your posturing? Believe it or not, Master
Durron, I can sympathize with you to a certain extent. Like yourself, I've
found it more productive to fight the Yuuzhan Vong in my own way,
without bureaucratic shackles. It has made me quite as unpopular as you
are."
Kyp dropped his head fractionally. "Your pardon, Admiral. I'm an
admirer of yours; I'll make no secret of that. If I could have found you, I
would have proposed alliance long ago. But about one thing you are mistaken.
While the New Republic may have little use for either of us, you are still
better liked in most quarters, as present company demonstrates."
"Well, son," the admiral said, "I suspect that in great measure that is
a burrow you've buried yourself in. Don't expect anyone else to dig you
out."
Kyp merely nodded and returned to his seat.
"Admiral," Gavin said, "may I continue?"
"Please."
"I was saying that Durron and his Dozen-or-so went to what must have
been desperate lengths to get this information. You remember, Admiral-we
were there before the Yuuzhan Vong buttoned down the system as tightly as
they could. What he got out of that is the clearest proof we're going to get
that the Yuuzhan Vong are priming something very dangerous indeed. It's my
opinion that we ought to do something about it."
"General Antilles?"
Wedge clicked his tongue. "I agree," he said.
"As do I," the Bothan concurred. "You see, Master Durron, what another
moment of silence would have cost you? Nothing at all."
"I understand, Admiral. My apologies."
"Very well. I've been looking for a good target to take out, and this
will do nicely. The nice thing about super-weapons is that they are usually
big, and this one seems no exception. I should think we will be able to hit
it."
"Hitting it will be the very least of our worries," Gavin said. "From
what Kyp said, the Yuuzhan Vong have pretty much mapped all the safe
hyperspace jumps near the weapon and have them effectively blockaded. Since
Sernpidal is also one of their major shipyards, and since the Yuuzhan Vong
haven't started any new offensives lately, we can expect a pretty warm
reception."
"I'm sure that's so, Colonel Darklighter. However, I have information
that perhaps you do not. Sernpidal is one of the several parts of occupied
territory that has been of interest to me in the past months. I've watched
it-from somewhat a greater distance and with a good deal more caution than
Master Durron, but I have watched traffic to and from it. In the last week,
a large number of ships have departed Sernpidal. I was unable to determine
where they were bound." "A new push?"
"Possibly they are merely reinforcing their borders with new ships,"
Kre'fey said. "Or perhaps they are preparing the way for this superweapon of
theirs. I should hasten to point out that nothing nearly the size of the
weapon has been observed leaving, so it is presumably still there."
"But maybe not for long, if the Yuuzhan Vong are about to renew their
Coreward advance," Wedge mused. "Maybe the whole peace-for-Jedi deal was an
even greater ruse than we suspected-not just to get rid of the Jedi, but to
give them the time to finish growing that thing."
"We're agreed, then, the sooner we act the better," Kre'fey said.
"Sure," Gavin said. "But getting in-
"I have an idea about that," the Bothan said. "If I may."
"Of course, Admiral."
"When Colonel Darklighter and I last entered the Sernpidal system, we
were able to evade the Yuuzhan Vong defenses because when Sernpidal was
destroyed, the redistribution of the planet's mass opened up new hyperspace
entry and exit points in the resulting asteroid field. The Yuuzhan Vong
couldn't risk jumping into the asteroids after us because they hadn't
calculated the positions of those points. By now, they must have accounted
for all such locations. Master Durron, what enabled you to enter the system
after those shifts were accounted for by the Yuuzhan Vong?"
"The Force, Admiral, is a powerful ally. I've had some experience with
using the Force to read gravitic fields. We awaited our opportunity, and we
got it when they tested
their weapon. The size of the gravitic anomaly shifted the gravitic
profile of the asteroid belt enough for us to risk a jump."
"And we may now assume they have countered that possibility."
"It seems likely."
"What I propose, then, is this. I know where I can procure an old
Immobilizer-class Interdictor. She's not much to look at. She was hulled in
battle and left adrift, where she was largely gutted by scavengers. Two of
her mass-shadow generators are intact, however. I'd begun restoring her, but
it's a dauntingly expensive task. She's got no life support, half her armor
is gone, and she lacks engines. However, I could fit her with a hyperdrive
and shields quite easily. We could then tow her where we need her."
"Oh, I like this," Wedge said, rubbing his hands together. "It's
crazy-begging the Admiral's pardon-but-
"You're going too fast for me, Admiral, General," Jaina said.
"We jump the Interdictor into one of the blockaded coordinates,"
Kre'fey explained. "No crew, with rudimentary automation. The instant it
arrives, its shields go up and the gravity wells go on."
"And it lasts about half a minute, if that," Jaina replied.
"Which is plenty," Wedge explained. "The gravitic fluctuation will
shift things enough to move the safe entry point. We should be able to
calculate where to. Two seconds after we send the Interdictor, we start
piling star-fighters through. Hopefully the difference in location will be
great enough that we'll miss whatever nasty surprise they have waiting for
the next ship to attempt a deep-space jump."
"Exactly, General," Kre'fey said. . "That'll work," Gavin said. "At
least, I think it will."
"It will get us in where they aren't expecting us," Wedge said. "More,
we can't ask for."
"It will be enough," Kyp said excitedly. "It will do." The rogue Jedi
stood. "1 am prepared to place my people under
your command, Admiral, for the duration of this mission. I'm sure
you'll put us to good use."
"I'm sure I will, Master Durron. We should begin coordinating now. In
two days' time, the Yuuzhan Vong will discover that someone in this galaxy
still has teeth. Strong, sharp ones. Let's reconvene in three hours' time to
discuss the specifics. For now we're adjourned."
THIRTY-THREE
"I really wasn't designed for this," C-3PO said, for something to the
power of a hundredth time. "The waiting is really the worst of all."
Han checked the console, saw nothing again, laced his hands behind his
head, and leaned back. "That so, Gold-enrod," he said. "Personally, I think
it would be worse to have our hull blown open by proton torpedoes."
"Well, yes," C-3PO admitted, "that might be-"
"Or lose power and life support and drift forever in the cold dark of
space."
"Oh, how horribly vivid. That certainly doesn't appeal-
"Or worse yet, what if we're captured? They'll give us to the Yuuzhan
Vong for sacrifice. Just think what the Vong would do to you, Threepio. They
wouldn't do it fast, not given how much they hate droids. They'd do it slow,
keep you aware for every second of the terrible-
"Captain Solo?" C-3PO interrupted plaintively.
"Yeah, Threepio?"
"I've reconsidered. Waiting isn't so bad after all. Why, for all I
care, we can wait forever."
"Don't let him get to you," Leia said from the copilot's chair, her
eyes closed. "Everything will be fine."
"Oh, thank you, Princess," C-3PO said. "It is nice to be reassured,
from time to time."
"You're welcome, Threepio. It's the least I can do, considering we'll
probably be vaporized in this next exchange. I'd
rather you went
comfortably."
"Vaporized?" C-3PO gasped. "I-I believe I'll see if
Master Jacen needs some help with-with whatever he's doing."
"You do that, Goldenrod," Han replied. C-3PO clanked off, making
worried noises.
"That was mean, Princess," Han remarked. "I like this side of you."
"I was trying to sleep."
"Well, /can be quiet."
"No, that's okay. I'm awake, now. What's going on?"
"Not much. Karrde showed up a while back, with four ships. Should be
more than enough, given the size of the convoy Shalo described."
"When do we expect them?"
"Any time now. An hour from now or ten."
She nodded and sat up sleepily. "You got my son a little banged up down
on Tatooine," she accused.
"Well, he's not the first and he won't be the last to take a bruise or
two on that forsaken planet." His cocky tone relented a little. "I didn't
think I was putting him in real danger."
"No, I understand," Leia said softly. "Being a mother creeps up on me
sometimes. It's a shame it didn't creep up on me more often when they were
little."
Han took her hand. "We didn't have the luxury to be perfect parents,"
he told her. "Whatever that is. The thing is- they turned out okay."
"I know. That isn't the issue. Han, they won't ever be little again.
It's over. Even Anakin is almost grown, and I missed so much of it. And
Jaina-"
"There's nothing wrong with Jaina she won't outgrow."
Leia shook her head. "I don't know. She can be so bitter sometimes, and
I really can't blame her. For all of her toughness, she's also fragile." She
patted him on the shoulder. "Like someone else I know."
"Ah, carbon sluff," Han said. "I ain't breakable. You ought to know
that by now."
"We're all breakable, Han."
"Huh."
"But I digress. I don't think it was a bad thing to take Jacen down
there. You two seem . . . better for it."
Han shrugged. "What you said-about missing so much time when they were
little. Maybe I, uh . . . feel a little of that. Maybe I sort of like having
him around, working with him. When he's not going all moral on me, at
least." He patted her on the shoulder. "Like someone else I know."
Leia shot him a fond smile disguised as a sarcastic smirk. She quickly