Star Wars_ The New Rebellion - Kristine Kathryn Rusch [94]
“I’m not interested in profit,” Nandreeson said. The flames licking out of his nose were even longer now.
“Don’t kid me,” Lando said. He had sunk to his chin. He had to crane his neck to keep his mouth out of the water. “You’re always interested in profit.”
“All right.” Nandreeson pulled his long, scaly body out of the water. “I will be honest with you, Calrissian, since you do not have long to live. I am interested in profit, and I will profit from you. After you die, everything you own will become mine. You have no heirs, no mate, no family. No one will argue with me. No one will dare.”
“I don’t think the New Republic would like that.”
“I don’t think they will interfere.” Nandreeson sat on the slimy rock ledge, his big feet dangling in the water. He picked a fly off the nearby wall with one tiny hand. “They will be too busy fighting a new rebellion.”
Lando began treading water with his hands again. He was in good physical shape, but he hadn’t been in water for a long time. His muscles were already aching from the unfamiliar strain. “New rebellion?”
“Of course.” Nandreeson took down another fly and munched it thoughtfully. “Every government must deal with armed rebellion at some point in its career. For your friends on Coruscant, the rebellion will come sooner rather than later.”
“We’ve been fighting the Imperials since the Empire folded,” Lando said. “They’ll give up soon.”
“I’m sure they will,” Nandreeson said. The flames were gone. He was smiling again. “But I am talking of a rebellion, Calrissian. From the inside. You remember. The way your friend Leia Organa Solo operated when she was in the Imperial Senate. A rebellion, fully armed, fully ready, with idealism on its side.”
Lando slowed his treading. “There’s no reason to rebel,” he said. “The Republic is a good government. It treats its people well.”
“Does it?” Nandreeson asked. “The people on the Run are terrified of the New Republic, afraid that it will interfere with free trade.”
“The Run has always hated the government, from the Empire to the Old Republic. Smugglers hate rules,” Lando said.
“And then, of course, there are places like Almania, a planet that sent your New Republic a distress signal as the ruling Je’har began a systematic slaughter of all who opposed them. The Republic never responded.”
“The New Republic tries not to interfere with local rule,” Lando said.
“Even when that local government is committing genocide? Really, Calrissian, for heroes, your New Republic is doing quite poorly.”
“Who are you to say?” Lando asked. “You are nothing more than—”
Flame shot into the water all around him, sending smoke and steam into the air. He coughed, then wiped his face with his hand. He was going to drown before this day was over if he didn’t think of something.
The flame stopped, and the smoke gradually cleared.
“You should really consider what you’re going to say before you say it,” Nandreeson said. “I do control your life.”
“You’ve made your point, Nandreeson. Now let me out of here and let’s deal.”
“I apparently have not made my point,” Nandreeson said. “I will not be dealing with you.” He slid back into the water and swam toward Lando, staying far enough away that Lando couldn’t grab him, but close enough that one temperamental burst of flame would scorch Lando’s face. “When Jabba the Hutt died, I could have become the most influential crime boss in all the galaxy, and I would have, except for you, Calrissian.”
“I haven’t come near you in years,” Lando said.
“Exactly. Nandreeson is the best crime lord in the Run. Nandreeson is well-known throughout the galaxy. But Nandreeson isn’t omnipotent. Nandreeson can be bested. Why, someone as inept as Lando Calrissian stole a fortune from Nandreeson when Calrissian was a mere boy. If it could be done once, it could be done again.” The flames were licking out of Nandreeson