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Lilmit's eyes lit with enthusiasm and wonder. "Then this assignment is important."

Anja cocked her head to one side and gave him a wordless look that said, Of course. What did I tell you?

"Now, I'm going to need two doses of spice before I head out," Anja said briskly, folding her arms across her chest and fixing him with a no-nonsense stare. She cast about in her mind for a good reason. "Uh, Czethros has asked me to do a bit of... spying for him while I'm on Mon Calamari." She gave a meaningful lift to her eyebrows.

"Oh, I see. Certainly," Lilmit said, hurrying into his ship and returning moments later with two insulated cryovials and a miniature carbon-freeze unit. "He told me I might need to be flexible on this assignment. Now I understand." He handed her the vials. "Czethros warned me I wouldn't be able to contact him until everything was 'in place." So when you speak to him next time, tell him that I got the message. I won't let anything get in my way this time, not even Han Solo himself."

Anja tucked the two insulated vials into a pocket, then graced him with a thin smile. "I see Czethros was right about you after all, Lilmit.

I'll remember not to underestimate you from now on."

Lilmit squared his bony shoulders. "Yes. You remember that, young lady.

Someday we may even end up working on the same team."

Anja did not try to hide the genuine smile that sprang to her face.

Things were working out even better than she had hoped. She had gotten her needed dose of spice, had discovered Czethros's true colors, and had already hatched a plan to make her former employer pay for at least some of his misdeeds.

With any luck she would also be able to keep the poor bumbling Lilmit out of harm's way while she carried out her plan. Perhaps Kessel would be the safest place for him. For now. She gave him a brisk nod.

"No time to lose." She started to go, then turned back. "And Lilmit, whatever happens, don't let yourself be caught or hurt."

Lilmit nodded, misunderstanding her words. "Yes, I know how important the mission is. I won't let Czethros down. Just let me pack up and go now."

"Of course," Anja said. "I've got what I need. Thank you."

The man scuttled back into his craft and closed the door, sealing the hatch as if afraid she might follow him inside.

Anja looked around to make certain she wasn't being observed, and quickly took a dose of the precious spice.

More andris awaited her. She would go to Mon Calamari and find the stash.

But now that she realized she'd been betrayed and duped, it had become vital for her to foil Czethros's plans. She would keep only a small amount and destroy the rest, denying him that profit. She would ruin this scheme, just as she had helped destroy Lilmit's Anobis-bound weapons.

"You called me your little velser, Czethros," Anja puffed in a low voice.

"Now I'll show you just how unwise it is to get a velser angry!"

She clicked on her antique lightsaber, and the acid-yellow energy blade throbbed and sizzled. She ducked low, narrowing her huge eyes to see the workings of Lilmit's engines. She slashed quickly, severing two of the coolant lines in a sizzle of flashing sparks and smoking lubricants.

Lilmit might not notice immediately, but as he warmed up his engines in preparation for takeoff from Kessel, the engines would overheat and burn out. His craft would be stranded here, out of her way-and out of harm's way-for the duration of whatever was about to happen.

Before Czethros could set his plans in motion, Anja would be far away, putting her sabotage plans into effect on Mon Calamari.

At first, Czethros probably wouldn't even suspect who was doing this to him. But eventually he would learn.

Yes, eventually he would learn.

????? Jaina was surprised at how good it felt to be in the pilot's seat of the Rock Dragon once again, even if they weren't exactly going on a fun trip. The pleasure of being surrounded by her best friends added fuel to the fire of her excitement as they set out on this new adventure.

"How's our navigator doing?" she asked, settling herself more