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Mirax frowned. “Something just occurred to me—you’re the reason Qlaern Hirf came looking specifically for Wedge.”

Jace nodded. “Wedge is intelligent, resourceful, and respectable, so he was my obvious choice. Corran would have been my second choice, but by the time we sent Qlaern Hirf out, news of Corran’s death had reached Thyferra.”

“You would have sent him to me?” Corran wasn’t certain he’d heard correctly. He’d never had the impression that Jace had seen him as having the same attributes that he ascribed to Wedge.

“Corran, though we established that I was a better pilot than you, this does not mean I have no respect for your skills or experience.” Jace’s tone of voice lightened ever so slightly. “Your long association with the Empire’s criminal class means you understand a host of methods necessary for eluding authority and surviving, which were things I thought would prove useful in keeping Qlaern safe.”

“Thanks. I think.”

“I meant that as a compliment.”

“I’ll remember that.”

Mirax glanced over at Iella. “Too bad the bacta can’t cure annoying personality traits.”

Iella shrugged. “Congenital defect, I’m afraid. Corran’s always been competitive and contrary.”

Corran gave Iella a hard stare. “I always got along with you.”

“Because you knew you’d lose if we ever went head to head where our skills overlap.”

He could have protested her observations, but he knew it was more true than false. “Okay, you made your point.” Corran forced a smile on his face. “Where do we go from here? What’s been decided while I’ve been floating?”

Elscol folded her arms. “Sixtus, Iella, and I will be staying here—taking Jace’s place in the Ashern planning councils because he’ll be going back with you to liaise with the squadron. We’re bringing in expertise on how to take a planet away from its government and how to deal with counterintelligence operations.”

Corran looked at his former partner. “Are you ready for this?”

Iella thought for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll probably get the cleanest shot of any of us at Isard. Diric’s death still hurts, but if I’m to honor his memory, I can’t do it by sitting around and mourning. You made that point very succinctly.”

“Yeah, but here you won’t be among your friends.”

Iella smiled gently and caressed Corran’s cheek. “True, but that means I’ve got fewer things to remind me of Diric and distract me.”

“I don’t think being away from friends would have made it any easier to get over my father’s death, but I understand what you’re saying.” Corran winked at her. “Don’t do anything stupid—especially in the name of revenge. Promise?”

“Sure, as long as you make the same promise.”

“Done.” Corran got up and gave her a big hug, then reluctantly let her go. Looking back at Mirax he asked, “So, what about the rest of us?”

“Our job here’s done. We’ve delivered our charges, and we’ll be safeguarding our liaison officer back to the base, so we’re going home.” Mirax smiled at him. “At least we’ll be doing that as soon as we get some clothes on you, that is.”

“As long as I don’t have to use Jace’s tailor, I’ll be happy.”

“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

“I hate shorts.”

“On you, who’d notice?”

Jace’s riposte stunned Corran, then he smiled. “I was thinking I spent a long time in the bacta tank, but I have a feeling that’s going to be like nothing compared to the trip home. I’m glad you’re alive, Jace. Life’s been much too easy since you’ve been gone.”

16

Wedge exerted the effort to wipe the smile off his face as his X-wing hurtled through hyperspace. Bror Jace’s return from the grave had been a most pleasant surprise, both because he wasn’t dead and because of the insight into Thyferra he provided. Zaltin had long kept tabs on Xucphra, and Isard had not changed procedures so much that Jace’s intelligence reports had been completely invalidated.

He was very happy to have Jace back in the squadron. Zraii had put an X-wing together out of parts for Jace. The Thyferran had it painted red with green trim—the corporate colors of Zaltin—and had been checked out on it within three