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Cohl shook his head. “Not a chance.”

“Half the Rim is talking about what happened at Dorvalla. We really weren’t expecting you to obliterate the Revenue.”

“I don’t like to waste time—especially when I’m dealing with Neimoidians,” Cohl said. “They’d sooner sacrifice themselves than their cargo. Fortunately, the Revenue’s commander was more cowardly than most of them. As for destroying the freighter, you can consider that a gift.”

The four of them entered the main forward cabin and seated themselves around a circular table. Cindar placed the carrycase at the center of the table.

“I have to hand it to you, Captain,” Havac said, “you’ve got the Trade Federation running scared. They’ve even solicited help from Coruscant.”

Cohl shrugged. “No harm in trying.”

Havac leaned forward with a certain eagerness. “You have the aurodium?”

Cohl glanced at Rella, who unclipped a remote from her belt and keyed a short code. A small repulsorsled bearing a lockbox lifted off the deck nearby and floated toward the table. Rella entered another code and the lid of the box opened, its contents of ingots spilling rainbow light into the cabin.

Havac’s and Cindar’s eyes widened.

“I can’t tell you what this will mean to us,” Havac said.

But a hint of suspicion had crept into his partner’s gaze. “It’s all here?” Cindar asked.

Cohl’s neutral look became a glare. “What are you asking me?”

The humanoid shrugged. “Just wondering if any of it happened to get misplaced along the way.”

Abruptly, Cohl reached across the table, grabbing Cindar by the front of his caftan and yanking him forward. “That treasure is bloodied. Good people died bringing it to you.” He pushed Cindar back into his seat. “You’d better put it to good use.”

“Stop this, please,” Havac said.

Cohl glowered. “You don’t like violence—except on your orders, is that it?”

Havac studied his hands, then lifted his eyes. “Rest assured that the aurodium will be put to good use, Captain.”

Cindar smoothed the front of his garment, but was otherwise unruffled by Cohl’s fury. He slid the carrycase forward. Cohl removed it from the tabletop and set it down on the deck.

Cindar watched him for a moment, then said, “Aren’t you going to ask if it’s all there?”

Cohl stared at him. “Let me put it this way. For every credit it’s short, I’ll take a kilo of meat from you.”

“So, I’d be a fool,” Cindar said with a grin.

Cohl nodded. “You’d be a fool.”

Rella handed the remote to Havac, and Cindar closed the lid on the lockbox.

“Where’s the aurodium going?” Cohl asked mildly.

Havac looked surprised. “Captain, did I ask what you’re planning to do with your payment?”

Cohl smiled. “Fair enough.”

Following the exchange, Rella turned to Cohl. “I’m sure he plans to donate it to his favorite charity.”

Havac laughed. “You’re not far off the mark.”

“Here’s another bonus for you, Havac,” Cohl said. “We had some unexpected trouble at Dorvalla. Someone infiltrated the Revenue using the same technique we used. They hid a ship inside a cargo pod, just like we did. They tracked us when we left the freighter and came close to ruining what I thought was a secure plan. Their ship turned out to be a Judicial Department Lancet.”

Havac and Cindar traded surprised looks. “Judicials?” Havac said. “At Dorvalla, of all places?”

Cohl watched them carefully. “Actually, I think they were Jedi.”

Havac’s incredulity increased. “Why do you think that?”

“Call it a hunch. The point is, no one was supposed to know about that operation.”

Havac sat back in his seat, perplexed. “Now it’s my turn to wonder, Captain. What are you asking me?”

“Who else in the Nebula Front knew about the operation?”

Cindar snorted in derision. “Think it through, Cohl. Why would any of us sabotage our own campaign?”

“That’s what I’m asking,” Cohl said. “It could be that not everyone down below agrees with your methods—your hiring us, for example. Someone could have been trying to sabotage you, not me.”

Havac nodded. “Thank you, Captain. I’ll bear