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Mace had no more time for pleasantries. "Listen: I know taking the prisoners will cause trouble with Kar. And I know you'll be in trouble for letting them go with me. Why don't you stay with us? Bring your dogs.

Keep the Balawai in line, and don't let any of them get lost. It's not like Kar won't know where we're going. I told him myself. And if you're along, he won't have any trouble finding us: you can feel each other in pelekotan. Right?"

Again they had exchanged glances, and again they had nodded.

"If Kar wants these prisoners, he can take them from me himself. How can he blame you for losing if he's afraid to step up?"

To a dark-soaked Korun, this was undeniable logic.

"Right," the bruised guard said happily. "Right. Thinks you're a tumblepup in vine cat skin, him? Let him yank your tail. Will find out quick enough, I think."

And so Mace Windu had acquired a pair of Korun shepherds for his flock of Balawai.

Mace had cemented Nick's assistance with a similar technique. As they were about to turn aside from the ULF column, Mace had stood thoughtfully alongside Nick's grasser. "Nick," he'd begun, "I'm going to need an aide."

The young Korun had squinted suspiciously down from the saddle. "An aide?

What for?"

"Like you said when you picked me up in Pelek Baw: I'm not from around here. I need someone who can look after me, give me advice, that kind of thing-"

"You want advice? Flush the fraggin' Balawai and shag your Jedi butt back up the column. Make some kissy-face with Kar and Depa before they chop you into sausage. Any other advice you want, feel free to ask."

"That's what I'm doing."

"Huh?"

"I need someone who knows his way around out here. Someone I can trust."

Nick snorted. "Good fraggin' luck. I wouldn't trust anyone out here-"

"I don't," Mace told him. "Except you."

"Me?" Nick shook his head. "You really have gone bats. Haven't you heard?

I'm the least trustworthy guy in the ULF. I'm the weak coward, right? I'm the useless butter-brain who couldn't even get you out here from Pelek Baw without screwing it up-and now I'm screwing up again by playing along with this whole nikkle-nut Free-the-Balawai parade-"

"You're the only trustworthy man I've met on Haruun Kal," Mace had said solidly. "You're the only man I can trust to do the right thing."

"Hoo-fraggin'-ray. Look where it's gotten me."

"It's gotten you," Mace said, "a chance to join the personal staff of a general of the Grand Army of the Republic."

"Yeah?" Nick began to look interested. "What's it pay?"

"Nothing," Mace admitted, and Nick's face fell, but the Jedi Master went on, "Though when I leave this planet, I'll be taking my staff with me."

Nick's eyes recovered a little spark.

"With a brevet rank of, let's say, major? And once we get to Coruscant, I'll be needing staff instructors to train officers in guerrilla tactics.

A few months as an urban - and jungle-warfare consultant affiliated with the Jedi Temple should make you pretty attractive to all those mercenary captains out there. You might even get your own company. Isn't that what you want? Or am I confusing you with some other Korun whose fondest dream is to travel the galaxy as a mercenary?"

"You bet your sweet-I mean, No, sir. General. Major Rostu at the general's service. Sir. Uh-is there any kind of swearing-in, or anything?"

"I hadn't really thought about it," Mace admitted. "I've never inducted anyone into the Grand Army of the Republic before."

"I feel like I should raise my right hand or something."

Mace nodded thoughtfully. "Put your left hand over your heart, raise your right and stand at attention."

Nick did so. "This is-uh, y'know, I' feel kind of funny about this-"

"It is not to be undertaken lightly. The Force stands witness to such oaths."

"Sure enough." Nick swallowed. "Okay, I'm ready."

"Do you solemnly swear to serve the Republic in thought, in word, and in deed; to defend its citizens, resist its