Star Wars the Truce at Bakura - Kathy Tyers [70]
“I don’t believe that for an instant.” Still, if the aliens went elsewhere for human droid-charges—he might suggest Endor—then Bakura returned to status quo, he remained in power, and he could alert the Empire to oncoming danger.
Sibwarra said, “I’m told to admit that he would be useful in certain experiments.”
“Oh. Certainly.” Hah. Whatever they really wanted Skywalker for, it had to have something to do with entechment. He trusted neither Sibwarra nor his reptilian hosts. If they wanted Skywalker, they mustn’t get him.
Yet surely he could work this proposition to his advantage. “I will need time to arrange things.” Killing Skywalker outright was one option. Or … yes, he could help the Ssi-ruuk take the young Jedi, but ensure that he died before they made use of him, killing two dangerous birds with one carefully planned strike.
But would Rebel officers serve Thanas, if their Commander vanished with the alien fleet? He tapped the long tooth. They would, if it were their only hope of survival.
Still squinting, Sibwarra pressed his palms together and touched his fingers to his chin. “Would a day be sufficient to make your arrangements?”
Nereus despised him. “I believe so. Contact me again tomorrow noon, local time.”
Three quick raps on Gaeriel’s office door interrupted her effort to regain a lost morning’s work. Luke Skywalker’s intimation that the Imperials took Eppie Belden’s mind had preyed on her all the way back to the complex. Immediately on arriving, she’d checked Eppie’s criminal record. Every rabble-rouser arrested during the takeover or the purges had one, even including Uncle Yeorg (a very minor offense).
But not Eppie. Either it had vanished or it was under an extremely high-level security seal. Why would the Empire bother covering up?
She put her revenue-revue program on “hold, security” and called, “Come in.”
A slim woman in a dark green jumpsuit glanced over her shoulder and then slipped through the glide door.
Gaeriel sat straighter. “Aari. What is it?”
“Monitor,” Aari mouthed. “Nereus’s office.”
Gaeriel motioned Aari closer. Her aides had broken several of Governor Nereus’s security systems, but surely his aides had ears in her office as well. “What did you hear?”
Aari’s lips brushed Gaeriel’s ear as she whispered, “The Ssi-ruuk just made Nereus an offer if he’d turn Commander Skywalker over to them.”
A lump of ice formed in Gaeri’s stomach. Luke Skywalker had seen the Emperor die. Obviously he was not simply a new Jedi. He had to be one of the pivotal individuals in the Alliance … in the changing galaxy.
So what did they want him for? Gaeri curled her toes tightly inside her shoes. Luke had deliberately risked her goodwill by using his powers to help Eppie, and frankly she admired his decision. If Jedi were self-serving at heart, why had he acted on his conscience despite her disapproval, when he so obviously—and frighteningly—hoped to befriend her?
Evidently the Ssi-ruuk thought they could handle him. If so, any human—even Wilek Nereus—ought to know to keep Luke away from them. Either Nereus didn’t understand what surrendering Skywalker could mean to humankind or he was obsessed with getting Alliance people off his world, or …
Or he’d try to kill Luke before they could abduct him. The third possibility meant Luke Skywalker, whatever he was, had no time left.
Should she warn him? To do nothing would give weight to Governor Nereus’s side of the Balance. To aid Skywalker might unweight the rest of the universe.
But it was hard to think in universal terms when danger threatened the Bakuran people. Luke had finally convinced her that he’d do everything in his power to help Bakura repel the Ssi-ruuk. “Thank you, Aari.” She stood up and checked her chrono. Sensible people would already be eating dinner. “I’ll take care of this.”
CHAPTER
12
Luke trudged down the white stone corridor toward their apartment suite. After talking to Gaeriel and Madam Belden, he’d spent the rest of the morning and half the afternoon reasoning with shop supervisors. His reputation as a Jedi was obviously