Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order_ Dark Tide 02_ Ruin - Michael A. Stackpole [119]
“You bargain like a merchant.” The villip’s lip curled into a sneer. “Elegos would have been ashamed at how low you’ve sunk.”
“Well, you’ve taken care to see we won’t ever know what he thought, haven’t you? You and me, Shedao Shai; the bones against Ithor.”
“How long until we meet?”
Corran hesitated for a moment. “A lunar cycle. I’m a Jedi. I want to fight under a full moon.”
“Remember the lesson of Sernpidal. I can make it so you will fight beneath a full moon. Two planetary cycles. There is a tabletop mountain west of here. We will do it there.”
“Two weeks.”
“Four days.”
“Ten.”
“I tire of this game, jeedai.” Fury poured through the words. “A week. No longer.”
Corran nodded. “A week.”
The villip’s face softened for a second, then sharpened. “Seven planetary cycles from now, a truce until then. It shall be done.”
“Good, very good. I’ll see you then.”
“Yes, you shall.” The villip’s voice sank to a gravelly growl. “Come prepared to die.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Admiral Pellaeon stood on the Chimaera’s bridge, his hands clasped behind his back. He stared at the hologram of his New Republic counterpart. “Yes, Admiral Kre’fey, I agree that we got away better than I expected in all this. The Jedi truce is longer than I had hoped.”
“I agree, Admiral, and we are putting the time to good use.” The Bothan paced slowly, the holocam panning to keep him in the center of the image. “The modification we made to our gunnery seemed very effective and took two of their smaller ships down quickly. I’m not certain how they will respond in the future, but by switching tactics in a battle we can take advantage of their weaknesses. I have fleet techs working on the modifications now.”
“As do I,” Pellaeon replied. “You expect the Yuuzhan Vong will not live up to this agreement if their fighter loses?”
“That, or my cousin will urge an immediate and full strike if Horn dies. This bargain has not proved popular here.” Kre’fey scratched at his snowy throat. “Regardless, we know we will face the Yuuzhan Vong again. I have some new ideas, the files on which I am transmitting to you now. I have a ship in reserve to help us, if you think we should proceed.”
“I’ll review the files and let you know.” Pellaeon gave his New Republic counterpart a nod. “Do wish Horn the best for me. Were I forty years younger, I would offer to take his place.”
“He will appreciate hearing that, sir.” The Bothan flashed fangs in a smile. “I don’t think there’s a person in the fleet that wouldn’t say the same thing. Well, maybe one, but there is always an exception to the rule.”
Corran slowly screwed the butt cap onto his freshly recharged lightsaber. “So, Chief Fey’lya, I’m getting the impression you don’t approve of my having made this deal with the Vong leader. For the four hundred twenty-seventh time, in fact.”
The Bothan stabbed a clawed finger at him. “And I’ll make the point a thousand times more, if I need to. You had no right, no authority to usurp the New Republic’s perogative to make war with your stupid duel. I will make that point until you understand it and recant this bargain.”
The Jedi’s green eyes hardened. “Perhaps you need to understand something: I don’t give a bucket of Hutt spit for what you think. I would remind you that because of your unwillingness to sanction the Jedi, I was recalled into the New Republic military. I made that deal under that authority.”
“You were not the ranking officer on the ground.”
“Actually, I was. General Dendo was wounded.”
“But you didn’t know that.”
Corran gave him a toothy grin. “You telling me I couldn’t have felt it through the Force?”
That brought the Bothan up short, but earned Corran a frown from the third person in the crowded cabin, Luke Skywalker. “Corran, now is not the time to play such games with Chief Fey’lya.”
“You’re correct, Master. No time for games at all.” The Corellian Jedi glanced down at the lightsaber in his hand. “Chief Fey’lya, you’ve forgotten