Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 08_ Ascension - Christie Golden [113]
Lecersen had been concerned before, but now he fully understood just how badly he had messed up—and how much Daala held the reins. He had underestimated her. Badly. She saw the blood drain from his face, and smiled the grin of the sand panther.
“I am happy to leave the GA in the hands of your little conspiracy,” she said, “though my sources are telling me that Treen is running the show in your absence. You should have stayed put, Drikl. The Jedi are leaving Coruscant, and while I am not one to discount Wynn Dorvan, I don’t know how well he’d do in an ambush one dark night against—oh, let’s see—two fake Jedi?”
The gloves were off, and she was showing terribly, terribly sharp claws. Lecersen swallowed hard. Had the blasted woman figured everything out?
“Bwua’tu’s still alive” was all that Lecersen could manage to say.
Her face hardened even more. “Alive and, from what I hear, still incoherent. I’d rather he died than live with a damaged brain, never to remember, or think, or—” She caught herself. “But he is not what I wish to discuss. I’m keeping you alive because I can use you, if you’re willing to be used. But don’t you dare mistake this bargain for anything else. You will work with me, and serve me as I retake the Empire. And in return, you’ll get to live. Serve well, maybe you’ll get a little more.”
The word escaped him before he could call it back. “How?”
She knew what he meant. “You haven’t heard a single rumor of my whereabouts because until today, I haven’t been in Imperial Space. I have another base of operations. I have many beings who have been loyal to me for a long, long time. With your penchant for using, abusing, and discarding beings, loyalty and devotion aren’t things I expect you to readily understand. Not everyone in this galaxy is out for himself. I’ve got old friends willing to break me out of jail, old comrades-in-arms willing to give their weapons, artillery, ships, and lives if necessary to me and my goal. I’ve got teams supporting those species who have been displaced or overthrown due to the slave uprisings, and who are eager for a benevolent Empire to give them back what was once theirs. And as you’ve no doubt rather ruefully begun to realize, my spies are everywhere.
“So, what’s it to be?” She leaned forward, green eyes blazing with intensity. “I have an opening on my team—and I have a blaster. It’s up to you.”
SOLO SAFE HOUSE, CORUSCANT
“GRANDPA, ARE YOU SURE WE CAN’T INVITE THE SQUIBS TO LIVE HERE?”
Leia grinned at Han, who was tucking their granddaughter into bed. “The Squibs would hate it here,” Han said confidently.
“Why? It’s small, but it’s nice.”
“Trust me, they would.”
“I miss Threepio and Artoo,” the little girl grumbled. Anji jumped onto the bed and Leia observed that the animal was growing almost as large as Allana, and that perhaps it was time to suggest that Anji start sleeping on the floor. She debated the bed’s ability to fit them both when Anji reached adulthood.
“We do, too,” Leia reassured her. “But we can’t ask Zekk and Taryn to spend all their time watching the Squibs. They’ve got to get some sleep sometime.”
Allana made a face and cuddled her eopie. “I know. But … does someone even have to be watching them? I mean, it’s clear they want to stay and get their deal.”
“Honey … with Squibs, you just never know,” Han said. “Now get some sleep, kiddo.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead. Leia did likewise, patting Anji, as well.
They closed the door and looked at each other. Han opened his mouth. Leia raised a finger to her lips, nodded at the door, and they went into the kitchen. Han poked about for something to eat while Leia prepared some tea.
“That meeting was supposed to be just a formality,” Han said.
“I know,” said Leia. “I’m worried, too. I don’t know what can be taking this long. Treen was quite sincere that she didn’t want the job, but there was …