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“No, Captain Tanna,” Vader replied. “As a member of Falleen royalty, Prince Xizor enjoys diplomatic immunity.” He sounded slightly amused. “No doubt we’ll understand his presence here better after we have questioned Pavan.”

Rhinann watched Prince Xizor enter the assault ship. The prince did not so much as glance at the large Lambda-class shuttle, though he could not have failed to see the blazon of the Empire on its hull. After a few moments the repulsorlifts powered up and the sleek ship fell away from the ground, rising quickly until it was lost to view against the stars.

A young, ashen-faced lieutenant looked up from his station. “Lord Vader—Captain Tanna—sensors are detecting a buildup of intense heat and radioactivity directly below the droid plant. There’s only one possible explanation—”

“The reactor core is overloading,” Vader said, calmly. He stepped to the console panel and calibrated some instruments, then examined the resulting readouts. “Fourteen minutes until detonation. So much for taking Pavan alive. A pity there will be no opportunity for a second chance.” He turned to Captain Tanna. “Take us up, Captain. When we’re out of harm’s way, destroy that freighter.”

“My lord, the Jedi Pavan has emerged from the building, along with the droid and several others.”

“Excellent.” Vader gave his attention again to the monitor. “We must strike quickly, while we have the element of surprise. A few warning shots should keep them occupied until our troopers take them.” He looked closer. “Ready eight troopers, Captain—that should be enough.”

Captain Tanna looked worried. “My lord,” he blurted, “have you forgotten the reactor?”

Vader turned his expressionless visage toward Tanna. Rhinann shivered; he knew what looking into those black orbs felt like. “I forget nothing, Captain—including insubordination. Are we clear on that?”

Captain Tanna swallowed audibly and nodded.

Kaird was feeling considerably more optimistic. And why not? After all, his prospects for the future had improved immeasurably just in the last couple of hours. He’d gone from being a prisoner to freedom, and had apparently fallen in with a group of malcontents who, if not exactly friendly toward him, at least were not particularly disposed to let him die. Which was fine with Kaird; they didn’t all have to be nest brothers. All he asked was that they let him come along until some outpost of civilization was reached; he could find his own way from there, thank you very much.

He had no intention of going back to Midnight Hall, however. He was done with Black Sun. He would never have a better chance to disappear from their crosshairs than now—assuming, of course, that he and present company could escape the imminent thermonuclear explosion. Even if Xizor somehow survived as well, there would be no reason for him to seek out Kaird, since he would not want any mention getting out about his plan to replace Underlord Perhi with a droid replica.

All of that, however, was in the future, which was an even riskier place to dwell than the past. Kaird knew that, if he didn’t want his tail feathers singed in a really hot fire, he had best look to his present situation.

They rounded a corner and, much to Kaird’s relief, saw the entrance in front of them. “How much time left?” he asked the droid.

“Twelve minutes, fourteen seconds.”

“You don’t sound happy,” the Sullustan gasped, running hard to keep up.

“Prep time for the ship to lift is at least five minutes, and even at top atmospheric speed it’ll take us another four or five to reach minimum safe distance,” I-Five said. “We’re cutting it very close.”

Maybe too close, Kaird thought grimly. But here was the way out, finally. They emerged from the factory—and Kaird found himself staring into the muzzle of a blaster cannon, mounted on the underside of a Lambda-class shuttle not twenty meters away.

Jax saw the huge shuttle looming over them, saw one of the blaster cannons swivel toward them. No doubt Vader thought he’d won; he didn’t know that in a few