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Durga left Aruk’s smashed office, and went to his own. He had a long session of work at his datapad before him. He couldn’t let his work for Besadii suffer, so most of his search would have to be done at night, while most Hutts were sleeping.

Grimly, Durga reached for his datapad, and began keying in requests for information.

He had found his parent’s murderers, he was sure of it. He knew the how, and the why. Now to gain the proof that would allow him to challenge Jiliac and demand personal satisfaction for a blood-debt.

Durga’s tiny fingers began racing over his datapad, and the greenish tip of his tongue protruded from the corner of his mouth as he concentrated.…

Teroenza paced slowly down the hallway in the Ylesian Administrative Center to meet with Kibbick. The Hutt “overlord” had requested his presence almost twenty minutes ago, but Teroenza had been busy. In the old days he’d never have dared to keep a Hutt lord waiting, but things on Ylesia were changing, slowly but surely.

He, Teroenza, was taking over. That idiot Kibbick was just too stupid to realize it.

Every day he was making plans, hiring the additional guards Durga had authorized, and fortifying the planet. Instead of hiring mostly Gamorrean guards, strong but even dumber than Kibbick—which was saying something!—Teroenza was carefully choosing toughened mercenary fighters. They cost more, but they’d be worth it in battle.

And Teroenza knew there was going to be a battle.… The day would come when he’d have to openly declare his break with Nal Hutta. Besadii would never take such a bid for independence lying down, but Teroenza planned to be ready. He would direct his troops in battle, and victory would be theirs!

The High Priest was already making arrangements to bring the mates of the t’landa Til priests to Ylesia. His own mate, Tilenna, would be one of the first to arrive. Kibbick was such an idiot that he probably wouldn’t even notice for some time. The differences between male and female t’landa Til were most readily apparent to t’landa Til. To most other species, except for the male’s horn, they appeared virtually identical.

Teroenza was also planning on increasing the defenses, even if he had to sell off part of his collection to do it. He’d checked the price of a ground-mounted turbolaser and been horrified, but perhaps Jiliac would help him out with the credits he needed. After all, he, Teroenza, was the only one who could implicate her in Aruk’s murder. It made sense that she’d want to stay on his good side.

When Teroenza reached Kibbick’s audience chamber, he hesitated before the portal, consciously summoning up enough of a servile air to pass. He didn’t want Kibbick to be aware of his contempt. Not yet.

Soon, though.…

Soon, Teroenza comforted himself. Play your part. Listen to him babble. Agree with him. Flatter him. Soon you won’t have to do this any more. Only a few more months to put up with his foolishness. Soon.…

One of the first things Han Solo did after getting the Millennium Falcon was challenge his girlfriend, Salla Zend, to a race. In the smaller, unreliable Bria he’d never had a hope of defeating her swift Rimrunner, but now …

Whenever the two of them happened to have cargoes bound for the Kessel Run, the two smugglers would race through that dangerous area of space. They frequently ran spice and other contraband to the Stenness System, and the Kessel Run was the fastest way there.

One time Han would win … the next, Salla. The two ships were very evenly matched. Neither of the two smugglers liked losing, and their friendly competitions became increasingly fierce. They began taking chances … dangerous ones. Especially Salla. An expert pilot, she flew her ship alone and was proud of her skill at getting the last bit of power out of her vessel.

One morning Han and Salla left her apartment together, kissed each other goodbye, and promised to meet on Kamsul, one of the seven inhabited worlds in the Stenness System.