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He frowned at her. “Book?”

“The Crook, the Wook and Me. Volume two of my memoirs.”

Han's jaw dropped a little more. “Who's a crook?”

Throwing the tester to the floor, Oxic shucked out of the Nautolan's grip and stood to his full and impressive height. “It's a fake! A counterfeit!” Shuffling to the wall, he supported himself with one arm and began to sob. “Not even worth the metals it was forged from!”

The floor shook again, more violently.

Oxic composed himself and swung around to face Koi Quire, his red-rimmed eyes ablaze. “Obviously the Republic Group never realized that they had spirited a fake from the Rotunda. That suggests that the authentic old Republic emblem had to have disappeared earlier— perhaps at the earliest phase of the Rotunda's renovation.” He locked eyes with Quire. “The name of the construction firm hired to oversee the renovation!”

“Naffiff Brothers,” she said.

Oxic balled his fists. “Sils Naffiff, yes … now wealthy beyond all expectation. He could have fabricated the counterfeit even before the renovation commenced!” His eyes found Jadak. “Or might the actual seal have been stolen by the person to whom you were to deliver the Stellar Envoy?”

“An Antarian Ranger,” Jadak said.

“Yes, yes, I wouldn't put it past one of those people to plunder a treasure!”

“You'd be better off figuring this out somewhere else, counselor,” Han said.

The strongest quake yet shook the room, knocking Oxic and Quire off their feet and vibrating the emblem's brackets loose from the wall. Jadak was just helping Quire up when the emblem tipped to the floor and smashed to countless pieces.

“A just fate!” Oxic said in disgust, then whirled on Jadak and Poste. “What would you two say to throwing in with us to continue the search? I'll pay you well. And Jadak—what else is there for you?”

Jadak glanced at Quire, who smiled. “I'm in,” he said.

“Me, too,” Poste said.

“I want to go,” Allana started to say, when Leia interrupted.

“Don't you even think about it, kiddo. I'm afraid you're stuck with us.”

The lot of them raced into the landing bay, where the light had taken on a different quality. Han looked up to see a horde of Yuuzhan Vong gricha attempting to seal the lift shaft.

“The Falcon will never fit through that,” Oxic said. “There's room in my yacht for all of you, Captain Solo.”

Han glanced at the sleek yacht that had followed the Falcon in, then leveled a look at Oxic. “Leave her here?”

“Has it occurred to you that the Falcon is meant to be entombed here? The ship's final mission executed? Its destiny fulfilled?”

Han's silence was momentary. “She'll fulfill her destiny when I say so!”

Oxic nodded in respect. “Suit yourselves. Princess Leia, Amelia, See-Threepio … I hope we meet again under more favorable circumstances.”

Han extended his hand to Jadak. “Your rucksacks are aboard the Falcon.”

“I figure we can make do without them.”

“Stay out of trouble, Captain,” Han said.

“You, too, Captain.”

“And grow up, will ya,” Han said as Jadak and Poste were heading for Oxic's ship. “Start acting your age.”

“I'll give it a try on one condition.”

“What's that?”

“You agree to take good care of my ship.”

The Solos bolted up the Falcon's boarding ramp, exhorting C-3PO to pick up the pace. Han skidded to a halt in the ring corridor and swung to Leia. “You and Threepio are going to have to raise her. Hot-scamble!”

Her eyes searched his face.

“I'll be up top. She's not sporting quad lasers for nothing.”

Leia took her lower lip between her teeth and nodded.

“I know,” Han said as C-3PO entered the corridor. “It's going to be tight. Rotate her around a hundred eighty degrees and bring her nose up. I'll do the rest. Got it, Threepio?”

“Got it, Captain Solo.”

Han smiled. “And make sure nothing happens to her.”

“Not a scratch,” Leia said as Han ducked into the ladderwell.

Leia had the repulsorlifts quick-started by the time Han harnessed into the high-backed chair and clamped his hands on the twin firing grips. Outside,