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“They said Abeloth was driving their apprentices mad, too,” Jaina replied. “It turns out they were just trying to capture her. She’s immensely powerful—and that makes her immensely useful.”

Jag’s face paled. “Please tell me they didn’t succeed,” he said. “Master Skywalker did destroy her … correct?”

“Well, we thought so,” Han said. “But it turns out she escaped. We think she’s on Pydyr right now, hiding out with the Fallanassi.”

Jag began to look frightened. “I see,” he said. “And the Sith? Do they know where she is, too?”

“Not yet,” Han said.

“Not as far as we know,” Jaina added. “But it’s not going to stay that way. These are Sith, Jag—and there are thousands of them, maybe even millions. They’re going to find her.”

Jag shook his head grimly. “Unbelievable. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, you tell me they have.” As he said this last part, he was looking at Jaina. “And this is why the Jedi remain determined to launch their StealthX wing?”

“Right,” Jaina replied.

“Thinking like that, I see why Luke set you up to be Imperial Head of State,” Han added.

“Yes, I must remember to thank him for that someday,” Jag said, his dry voice suggesting that he was anything but grateful for the burden Luke had so unceremoniously dropped on his shoulders. “In the meantime, you need to contact the Temple. The Jedi should launch now, before the public learns about the arrangement with the Sith.”

Han’s stomach began to hurt. “And that’s going to happen how?”

“The same way I learned of things. Daala has a vid of Jaina and Lando at the trial on Klatooine.” Jag turned to Jaina. “It’s bad, Jaina. Even I had trouble believing there was an acceptable explanation.”

Han winced inside. If Jag was interested in working things out, he certainly wasn’t earning any points that way.

Jaina’s face remained stoic, her voice even as she asked, “If Daala has the vid, why hasn’t she released it yet?”

“You Jedi really stirred things up when you sent Saar and Arelis to Blaudu Sextus. Daala wants me to send Imperial fleets to put down the revolts popping up along the rim.” A tight smile crossed Jag’s lips. “She seems to believe I would actually do that in exchange for not using that vid to embarrass the Jedi.”

A broad smile came to Jaina’s face. “And you’re letting her?”

Jag dipped his head in acknowledgment. “For three days now.”

“You’d do that for me?” Jaina asked, eyes wide with surprise … and joy. “After the way I broke things off?”

Jag’s face remained stoic. “It’s not entirely for you, Jaina,” he said. “I’d like the Empire to develop a good relationship with the Jedi.”

Jaina’s smile did not vanish. “Close enough,” she said, clearly reading something in his Force-aura that Han could not sense. “And, Jag, I’m sorry for the way I put you on the spot when—”

“Apology accepted,” Jag interrupted, glancing from Jaina to her parents and clearly growing uncomfortable. “And thank you. It means a great deal to me, but the Pellaeon is preparing to break orbit, and Daala is going to know that I’ve been playing her soon enough.” He shifted his gaze to Leia. “I wanted the Jedi to know before she did.”

Leia cocked her brow. “Won’t this kill the deal to bring the Empire completely into the Alliance?”

“It will,” Jag replied. “But the more I come to know Daala, the more I realize that my Moffs are right this time. We wouldn’t be joining an Alliance, we would be stepping into chains.”

Leia clasped Jag’s forearm. “Thank you for telling us first. That means the world to me—and I know it will mean the world to the Masters, as well.” She rose on her toes to kiss his cheek, then turned to Han. “I think our decision has been made for us, dear. We have to go after Valin and Jysella now, even if our intelligence isn’t quite complete.”

Han nodded. “Isn’t that what I’ve been telling you?” He clapped Jag on the shoulder. “We owe you one, son.”

“Not at all, Captain Solo,” Jag said. “I’m only doing what’s right for the Empire.”

“Yeah—and for everyone else, too,” Han said. He took Leia’s elbow and turned back toward