Beyond - Legends SUBTERFUGE Part Three - SALVAGE Wedge, H/L L/M E/U

SALVAGE (Chapters 1 - 3)


CHAPTER ONE


Trainer Three rounded a particularly wicked promontory of grey and brown rock and dipped beneath an overhang, hugging the canyon floor. Lighter than normal gravity on this, Trebbil, the system?s second habitable world, aided the pilot in applying speeds beyond the Skyhopper?s usual capabilities without undue stress to systems or frame. Unfortunately, it also meant her reaction time had to increase to compensate for the additional sensitivity in her craft?s response time. Their Course Senior had already dented the top stabilizer on his ship while attempting an unorthodox manoeuvre. As a direct result he was now classified Cease Training and awaiting the shuttle back to Coruscant.

?Too bad. He was a good pilot, too.? Momentarily distracted by that errant thought the present victim on the training range glanced away from her instruments. ?Would have made a great pilot.?

And probably still would, although he would be confined to freighters and cruisers rather than single and twin-seater fighter craft. Which was the aim of all potential pilot candidates. While Second Lieutenant Marica Winolder---Windy to her friends---had no intention of winding up in a like situation, she also wanted desperately to prove she could fly well enough to make the grade. At the time she had requested sponsorship into the New Republic?s military the one-time Tatooine moisture farmer had only considered the ranks of Non-Commissioned member. Farthest from her mind was the much over-vaunted realm of officer. Among that rank and file was her childhood friend, now Jedi Master Luke Skywalker.

?But then,? reflected Windy, ?when I left Tatooine I had never envisioned any of this. As little as a year ago offworld was fantasy. Like panning Kessel spice from the Great Western Dune Sea. Farthest from my mind was service with New Republic?s military. Or any military, for that matter.?

Immediately ahead the canyon cut sharp right, then left. Attention snapping back to matters at hand Windy slid the skyhopper through the S-bend. Came out the other side into a wider box canyon. Two branch canyons gave off this route. One was longer, an easier route. The unspoken code among the trainees held that taking that canyon was tantamount to admitting defeat, even though the brass did not consider such an act a total failure.

But Windy felt no pilot worth her weight in spice would capitulate without a fight. And she was not about to give in. Teeth clenched, she plunged into the short sharp turn. Everything about this run was acutely reminiscent of Beggar?s Canyon. She could not help wondering if some bright brain during the Old Republic had selected this training course because they had seen Tatooine?s infamous canyons.

Cannon fire spattered the wall just above, splattering rock shards across the landscape. Not powerful enough to cause real damage to the careening skyhopper, it was nevertheless sufficient to put Windy back on full alert. Intent upon instrument read-outs, she sent her craft skimming the surface. Dropped low enough to weave between the house-size boulders littering the gorge floor. Hot in pursuit screamed the enemy. No matter how Windy twisted and turned her skyhopper she simply could not shake her pursuer.

Aware the course finish line was only a short distance ahead, Windy poured on the power. ?Come on. Just a little further. You can do it.?

A damning shrill filled the cockpit. She listened, stunned and infuriated with herself, at the shrill warning indicating the craft so tightly glued to her tail had locked on. Too late she jerked the nose up.

?Score three cannon strikes on aft shields. Shields diminished to thirty-seven percent.?

Her onboard flight recorder advised her of what observers back in Operations would now see on their boards. Reflex made her yank back on the yoke again. She pulled up, looped over a ledge and jammed the nose back down, to no avail.

?Enemy torpedo away,? came the death knell report. ?Trainer Three destroyed.?

 

SALVAGE (Chapters 4 - 6)


CHAPTER FOUR


Jump time through hyperspace in the modified Interceptor was near double that of other vessels. With little other than instrumentation to occupy her, Jade slipped into a state between meditation and sleep. Whenever she entered that place, where the physical became intangible and the subconscious took control, she sought out her dark master. The Emperor had promised her she would be able to find him there, no matter what physical realities separated them. But this had not proved the case.

To dip too deeply into those grey regions was to court death. Mara jerked away from the over-powering strength of the whirlpool whose edge she skirted. Once more she eluded its siren grasp. Slid deeper into sleep.

There she found the face of her most bitter enemy, though he was still unaware of it. There was no knowing where he was at this moment. Jade?s only clues lay in a lush, verdant background. In attempting to broaden her view through the Force, she inadvertently tickled his perception. The Jedi Master turned. Stared about him. Before he could seek her out, she hastily withdrew.

Heart fluttered with exertion, she regrouped and awoke, to the annoying penetrating rasp of the proximity alarm. ?Oh, shut up.?

Too close, that aborted encounter through the Force. She slapped the alarm OFF switch. As yet she was unprepared to confront Luke Skywalker. That would come at a time and place of her choosing. The Interceptor slowed. Dropped out of hyperspace.

A frown pinched her brow. Eyes narrowing, speculating, Jade studied her destination, first visually, then with instrumentation. Nothing greeted her initial investigation but empty space. Not even the marker buoy remained where it ought to have been for Imperial ships on patrol in the area to access.

?What the hell??

Double-checking coordinates in the on-board computer, Jade programmed a route that would circumvent the area. The longer she was in the sector, the more she was subconsciously convinced someone had played a gigantic joke on her. Had actually fed erroneous data into her ship. But that would have meant facing an infuriated Admiral Thrawn once she returned to CHIMAERA. In any event, everything insisted she was definitely at the right coordinates.

Treacherous thoughts assailed Jade. Made her run another, deeper check through the Force on her ship. Everything checked out. Which meant she was where she was supposed to be even though RUTHLESS and SPITEFUL were not. ?Why? was the biggest, as yet unanswered question to what might have transpired here in the depths of space. Mara pursued the solution with a single-minded purpose she knew Thrawn expected of her.

Back and forth, she wove a tortuous route, segmenting the region. Quite suddenly, her TIE fighter?s shields came up. Metal particles spattered against the Interceptor?s shields. Tumbled away in her wake. She brought the fighter back around, slowing to a crawl to inspect the debris with onboard sensors.

?Ah.?

Read-outs confirmed the fragments were Imperial ship metal. But what ship? There were far too few pieces to account for a star destroyer, let alone a frigate. Puzzled, Jade postulated a point of origin from the direction of the trail and headed back along it.

Before long she encountered the drifting centre pod of a standard TIE fighter. Both its solar vanes were stripped away and damage to the fuselage was so extensive she knew without checking that the pilot was dead, still at his fighter?s controls: a fitting floating coffin. More debris battered her ship?s shields.

Between one breath and the next she was in the midst of an awesome, ever-expanding field of metal bits and pieces. With sensors set on full sweep, Jade killed all forward momentum. Even before the data came in she suspected the awful truth. Here was all that remained of at least one of the missing vessels. Telemetry continued to pour in. Until she was positive of her findings, Mara knew she could not leave.

Horribly bloated and di

 

SALVAGE (Chapters 7 - 9)


CHAPTER SEVEN


Darkness, velvet soft, cocooned the sleeper. It held her in its embrace. At first she welcomed it. But several times in trying to wake she found herself forced back into it, and now she objected strenuously to its confining embrace. She struggled against it, reaching deep within for lessons never fully learned or understood. There she found the key and turned it.

Leia woke but made no attempt to move. Eyes still shut she strained with her other senses in an effort to discover where she was. To recall how she got wherever it was she now lay. Memory eluded her for the moment and she turned back to putting together the pieces that would tell her about this place.

Cold metal about wrists and ankles resurrected terrifying memories of helplessness. Of watching her brother vanish before her eyes into the rancor pit on Tatooine. Heart pounding, Leia grappled with the nightmare. That was past, over and done with. Jabba was dead by her own hands. But the frightening parallels brushed across her mind repeatedly and she lost precious time putting them to rest before she could accurately assess her surroundings.

Darkness, but no natural light. That was simple enough. A suggestion of damp, so she was either below ground or somewhere humid. Cool, too. And it took considerable control to prevent a shiver running up her frame. Quiet. That led her to believe she was alone for now. Undoubtedly there would be some sort of electronic surveillance keeping watch on her. Such Jedi instruction as she had allowed time for around affairs of state helped her moderate her heart rate and breathing once more to trick any sensors into believing she remained unconscious.

Carefully easing eyelids open a fraction Leia peered into the darkness. Prison it was. Old fashion bars formed one wall of her enclosure. Luminescent lichen covered grey stonewalls. She shortened her perspective and realized she was lying on her side on a wide divan. Nor was she wearing the clothes she had selected before leaving the Palace. That meant no one at the Palace would be able to track her whereabouts. A second, larger chill crept up her spine at that revelation.

The most obvious reason for her being here was ransom. Someone in Coruscant?s under city had recognized her while she roamed the streets collecting data for her battle against the Council. Or had somehow trailed her from the Palace in spite of her use of the Force. Had snatched her and was holding her until the New Republic capitulated to whatever demands were being made for her safe return. She had been a fool to return more than once to that particular part of Lorus.

The reason why she was being kept drugged insensible was evident. Her jailers would have no desire for her to identify them once she was freed. If indeed they meant for her to go free. Alive.

?And yet,? she reasoned with herself, ?why was I allowed to revive at all??

Somewhere a metal door shrieked open on rusty hinges. For three beats her heart rate jumped. At length it resettled. Dim glows came up in the passage outside her cell. Expectant, Leia kept perfectly still. Through half-shuttered eyelids she stared in the general direction of the sound. There was no telling how long she had been here---wherever here was.

?I?m quite certain this latest specimen will more than meet with your approval.? That introduction purred through a translator. The metallic undertones were unmistakable. So was the self-effacing manner of the speaker.

?This you?ve said numerous times in the past,? said another, bored and possibly a bit irritated by their companion?s unctuous nature. ?Since your selections seldom meet my standards I shall reserve judgement until I have seen the consignment.?

A shipment. They were discussing an order of goods. Realization dawned as the conversation continued. They were speaking of her. Leia momentarily lost control. Her heart raced. She had fallen into the hands of slavers. Not good. But then it was not as b

 

SALVAGE (Chapters 10 - 12)


CHAPTER TEN


The moment they left the room however, it was obvious the best-laid schemes of all concerned were about to receive a minor setback. General Rieekan, completely recovered from his ordeal, awaited them in the hall. Unable to contact them, but knowing where they were, he patiently paced the passage across the front of the Royal suites. The minute they emerged from the suites he intercepted them.

?General Skywalker. A moment, if you please.?

Unlike the rest of the group, Luke was not surprised to see Rieekan in the passage. He halted, but gestured to the others. ?Get started. I?ll catch up with you.?

Carlist watched them go, thoughtful, assessing the looks on their faces. From the manner in which Flit and Wedge refused to let him catch their eyes he realized something was definitely afoot. And even should he press the Jedi Master and his friends he would probably fail to receive a satisfactory answer until they were ready to give him one.

?I?m pleased to see you looking well, sir,? said Luke, casually distracting Rieekan.

The General was not put off, even though he realized what the Jedi Master was doing. ?I understand I have you to thank for much of my recovery, young Jedi Master.?

Two were playing the game, now, and Luke realized it. He braced for the expected. ?What can I do for you, sir??

?There?s that little matter of the explosives on board the Fleet?s newest acquisition.? Rieekan reminded him of his promise. ?You did say you were prepared to assist the EOD team in removal of the devices??

Trapped, Luke considered the alternatives. He knew there were only two: to put it off indefinitely and thereby start even more people speculating on what was diverting his attention. Or put to good use the time while Flit was preparing to go undercover. In brief retrospect he realized this would provide the perfect explanation to cover his abrupt return to Coruscant.

?How long should it take them??

Pleased Luke was expressing an interest Rieekan hastened to reassure him. ?Two---three days, at most.?

?Two,? said Luke.

His declaration took Rieekan by surprise. ?Why two? Is something wrong??

?Nothing that you can help with,? said Luke levelly. And with a firm stare he implied Rieekan was prying into personal matters he was certain the old man had no right to press him on.

?Very well. I?ll inform Fleet you?re on your way up,? said Carlist, not about to risk questioning Luke further.

?Give me two hours,? said Luke. ?There?re some matters of urgency I have to take care of first.?

?Two hours it is.? With a nod that expressed his satisfaction, Rieekan withdrew.

Time was of the essence, inexorably trickling away. Luke took a separate route to Cov-Ops where he discovered Wedge and Flit already in deep discussion with Madine. From the outset no effort had been made to keep General Madine in the dark concerning Leia?s mysterious disappearance. Now he was gearing up his department to assist them in their endeavour.

Unlike Wedge, Madine had absolutely no reservations about using Flit. Crix went further, commandeering one of the smaller briefing rooms for their preparations. When Luke entered the room, Madine and Flit were hard at work, their heads together. Wedge hovered behind them, injecting suggestions from time to time. They broke off. All eyes turned to Luke.

?Wedge, we?ve got a minor snag,? Luke informed his friend.

?Already?? That came from Flit.

?Only one?? Crix hid an uncharacteristic smile.

Aware they were not going to favour his absence, Luke explained. ?Rieekan wants me up-Fleet. Now.?

Arms folded across his chest, Wedge planted himself against the table, his back to Madine and Flit. He snorted. ?Let me guess. EOD is getting themselves all in a knot over the frigate, and they want you up there like yesterday so Fleet can finally get that ship on line.?

?Something like that.? Eyes twinkling, Luke teased him. ?Might make a Jedi out of you yet.?

?Force forbid! Thanks but no

 

SALVAGE (Chapters 13 - 15)


CHAPTER THIRTEEN


Sound of CHIMAERA?s magnetic clamps locking onto the TIE fighter resounded through Jade?s vessel. Her tiny ship rocked slightly as it was moved through the hangar above the floor and halted alongside the catwalk. Life-support disconnected from her helmet and suit, Jade set her flight helmet aside then went to work on the flight data recorder. Fingers flew across the computer keypad; she rapidly downloaded all information acquired during her second flight through the patrol zone into a tiny data pack. Before the technicians and mechanics arrived to open the cockpit, she erased all pertinent information to that flight from both the upper and lower memory cores of the fighter. Then she locked down the controls.

Release catches popped out. The canopy opened with a pneumatic hiss. Fresh ship air flooded the cockpit, erasing the stale odor of too-long confined sweaty body encased in a flight suit. Safety harness unstrapped, Jade stood. With the data pack concealed in a pocket of her suit, she stepped over the sill of the TIE cockpit onto the catwalk. She paused to stretch out the kinks.

?Good flight, ma?am??

Most of the techs either refused to address her at all, or chose to speak only when spoken to. There were a few, however, whose civility Jade cultivated. And this was one of them.

?Uneventful,? she said. Her scalp itched. Jade scrubbed a hand through her sweat-sticky hair.

?That?s what we like to hear.? Teeth flashed white in a deep tanned face, his natural skin colouring rather than sun enhanced. ?Never can tell with these jury-rigged babies. Sometimes they get cantankerous.?

?There were no flight control or computer problems that I was aware of. Either before, during or after transition.?

?Great. Still.? He frowned, leaned over the cockpit sill and tapped out a command on the keypad. ?Just to be on the safe side I?ll run a full diagnostic. You may need it again soon.?

?Thanks.?

?No problem, ma?am.?

Although aware Admiral Thrawn expected her promptly for debriefing after this, her second trip to the sight of the Imperium?s latest defeat, Jade stubbornly turned her footsteps towards the crew hatch. She went through it, along a short corridor and into the change rooms. Time spent confined in the long-range TIE had left her hot, sweaty and decidedly uncomfortable in her own proximity. Divested of the flight suit, she opted this time to shower and change before meeting with Admiral Thrawn. The data chip accompanied her wherever she went, not once out of sight.

Paramount in the back of her mind throughout her ablutions was concern over irritating Thrawn with taking too great a liberty. Hurriedly pulling on a fresh change of clothes, Mara took the shortest route to the nearest com-unit. There she discovered the Admiral?s whereabouts through a discrete inquiry. It only remained for her to make her way to CHIMAERA?s bridge and his small duty office.

As she exited the turbo-lift, Jade was conscious of an unpleasant undercurrent. No one met her eye. In fact, the Duty Officer and Communications Officer studiously avoided looking in her direction after noting her arrival. Puzzled, Jade curbed an urge to question them. Instead, she slapped the release on the office door. The door opened. She stepped into the room.

Apart from his desk and a small transparency looking out on space to his right, Thrawn?s office was as spartan as every other briefing room and work area on board his flagship. Seated at his desk, Thrawn looked up when Jade entered, unannounced. His expression told her he was expecting her, which did not surprise her. What did set her back momentarily was his lack of comment on her uncustomary tardiness. She crossed the room, suddenly nervous and unsure. His uncertain temperament at this moment rippled across her Force perception. Silently he extended his hand for what she carried.

Jade quickly tendered it. She stood at attention before him while he reviewed the contents gleaned from her

 

SALVAGE (Chapters 16 - 18)


CHAPTER SIXTEEN


Throughout their walk to Covert Operations Luke did not speak. Nor was Lando particularly inclined to draw the Jedi Master out. Something in the grim set of his features curbed all thought of questioning what his companion had in mind. Luke led him to the room where their reluctant guest was housed. Their presence was picked up on a monitor and announced. Madine met them outside the cell.

?Ready to crack this tough nut??

?Whenever you are, General.? Nothing in Luke?s expression betrayed anything. ?But we have to move fast. Time is of the essence.?

?I?m well aware of that, Master Skywalker.?

Blue eyes met brown. Remained there for the briefest moment out of time. Then Madine released the door. No sooner did the door open than Juthan lunged at them.

In their absence he had succeeded in pulling his bound hands from behind his back. Hands swinging, Juthan sought to club the first person through the door. Lando dodged. Close on his heels Madine adeptly sidestepped. He caught their captive by one arm, using Juthan?s momentum against him, and spun him around. Crix slammed their prisoner against the corridor wall alongside the opening. Pinned him there with a knee in the small of his back.

?Ow!?

Stunned by the impact, Juthan gasped for breath, desperate. He struggled to understand where he was and who his captors were. And why they had brought him to this place. The hands and knee that pressed him against the wall abruptly drew away. Juthan rolled around to face the strangers where they stood, then backed through the opening back into the cell. Confused, Juthan studied them.

Minutes passed. Still the trio watched him, silent, betraying nothing. Again and again Juthan found his gaze returning to the man in uniform. A New Republic uniform. In spite of himself, Juthan began to sweat. Before long a tiny crack appeared in his carefully cultivated veneer.

?Tell me what you want.?

?We ask the questions here, Mister Juthan,? said the impeccably attired officer. He pushed Juthan further into the cell. The rest of the group accompanied him in, the last one shutting the door against intrusion.

This man with expressionless eyes shattered all illusion of escape. In the face of that implacable, cold glare Juthan quailed inside. He shot a look at the younger man. And encountered an equally inscrutable look in return. Nor did he discover anything to bolster his rapidly fraying nerves when his eyes slid across the dark skinned man. His gaze froze there recognizing this immaculately attired person as Lando Calrissian, one-time Administrator of Bespin Cloud City. A faint inkling of the identity of those he now faced invaded his perception, forcing him to re-access the situation. Matters definitely did not bode well.

Eyes darting back to the fair-haired man with the beard, Juthan experienced doubt and increased fear. Unrelieved black suggested his identity but Juthan dared not believe he could possibly have had such great misfortune as to run afoul of the great Jedi Master. Still, suspicion alone worried Juthan. When he recalled what had transpired below city when he had accosted his prospective target his concerns greatly increased.

Well-versed at this portion of what he considered the ultimate game, Madine patiently waited, watching their prisoner, studying Juthan?s reactions as the smuggler identified Lando. Although Juthan did his best to cover, Madine saw the manner in which he instinctively flinched from sight of the Jedi Master. Only those with a guilty conscience had real reason to fear Luke Skywalker. Now certain Juthan?s resolve was shaken, Crix Madine began interrogating the low-city dweller.

?It has come to our attention,? said Madine bluntly, his soft delivery causing Juthan to twitch violently, ?that you have been aiding and abetting in the illegal traffic of residents off-world for the purpose of personal profit.?

?That?s not true.? Juthan responded to the allegations with outrage, fighting d

 

SALVAGE (Chapters 19 - 21)


CHAPTER NINETEEN


?Admiral??

Distracted, Thrawn glanced up from his terminal and glowered at Captain Pallaeon. ?I thought I left distinct instructions not to be disturbed.?

?Yes, sir.? Unrepentant, Thrawn?s Second-in-Command refused to back down. Or be be dismissed before he had imparted the information which had brought him to his superior?s cabin.

?Well, what is it this time, Pallaeon?

?More news out of our operative on Coruscant.?

Thrawn impatiently flapped a hand. Red eyes gleamed dangerously in reflected light from his computer. ?Coded??

?No, sir. Not this time.?

?Tell me.?

?It appears Princess Leia was not simply keeping to her apartments with some unspecified ailment. She has disappeared.?

Slowly Thrawn straightened. One hand went out automatically to his computer touch pad, saving whatever it was he had been working on. The computer went to standby mode. ?What did you say??

?Our operative was quite definite, sir. The Princess has vanished. She?s not keeping to her quarters due to the early stages of pregnancy or illness. In fact, nobody seems to know where exactly she went. Or when.?

?The others??

?Two days ago Solo, the Wookiee and Skywalker also vanished.?

?Ah.? A blue fingertip tapped a soft staccato on the metal desktop.

?At the same time, Antilles and Calrissian apparently went on manoeuvres with a number of hand-picked veteran ground assault forces and several of the more promising graduates from their latest officer training program.?

This in itself was not particularly unusual. On the other hand, when taken in conjunction with the news of the Princess? disappearance it was definitely cause for speculation. The Admiral settled back in his chair and considered the prospect. Thoughtful, he stared at his subordinate across the small cabin.

?Anything else??

Pallaeon delivered his report matter-of-fact. ?Yes, sir. Some of the junior officers selected to accompany Antilles and Calrissian were the same ones responsible for taking RUTHLESS.?

?I see.?

?On a footnote,? Pallaeon continued, ?among the scum in the lower city a certain person noted for obtaining cargo for slavers has likewise disappeared.?

?Well, well.? Once random pieces fell into place amusement took the place of calculation. ?It would seem someone may have unwittingly done our dirty work for us.?

?Sir??

?Locate Jade and send her to me immediately.?

?You?re going to send her after Skywalker and the others??

?No, Captain.? Determination filled the Admiral?s words. ?She?s going on a mission all right, but not after them. I want her as far from here as possible until we find and deal with them.?

?She won?t like it, sir.?

?I don?t give a credit?s worth of thermal combat gear in a Hoth blizzard what she likes,? thought Thrawn. Out loud he delivered an ultimatum, his tone surprisingly soft. ?Of course she won?t. Who would, given the circumstances? But Jade is too useful to us to throw away on a personal vendetta. No. I have another mission for her. See to it no one drops even the slightest hint that she?s being left out of something big.? When his first officer appeared on the verge of arguing the point, Thrawn held up a finger in warning. ?No one, Pallaeon. If it gets out, I?ll know where to look first.?

Back stiff in the face of that unspoken rebuke and thinly veiled threat the Captain nodded. ?Very good, sir.?

?You?re dismissed, Captain.?

?Sir.?

Outside Thrawn?s cabin, Pallaeon paused to tug his jacket straight and compose himself. His superior had been too specific for him to permit himself even the slightest sneer at Jade. Any emotion out of the ordinary during his exchange with the Emperor?s Hand was likely to arouse her suspicions. She was far too good at reading those around her.

?Her and that thrice-damned, Sith-spawned mystical talent.?

Pallaeon was furious at being forced to admit there might be some truth to the stories concerning the means by which the Emperor and Vader had

 

SALVAGE (Chapters 22 - 24)


CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO


Phosphorescence slithered back and forth across the surface of the ocean, pale gold and pink. The rain had moved off some time during the afternoon while they rested. Now the city smelt freshly scrubbed. Appreciative, Luke inhaled deeply, savouring the moment. He caught the faint scent of flora displays in window boxes, street displays and the dainty trees lining each primary boulevard. Soft lights illuminated every street. The Jedi Master gazed upward. Like a milky bow the asteroid belt arched across the twilight bowl, cutting the sky one-third, two-thirds, partially blotting out the stars. Puddles splashed beneath their feet.

?What?s the name of this bar??

?Huh?? Deep in thought, Han initially failed to hear the question.

?The bar. What?s it called??

?Oh. Gaylor?s.?

?That?s it? Just---Gaylor?s??

?Uh huh. Gaylor?s a retired spacer. Runs a clean joint. Serves mostly cheap booze. Prices are outrageous, of course.?

?Of course.?

?But if you want information, Gaylor can get it for you.?

?For a price.?

?Naturally.?

?Can we afford him??

?Probably not, but the New Republic sure can. And Madine made sure I had the necessary credit access before we started this jaunt.?

?That?s nice to know,? said Luke. He had no desire to rook anyone out of finances unless pushed to it by extreme circumstances.

On the heels of Luke?s words Han led him down five steps, through a narrow entrance and into a dimly lit, smoke-filled room. After the fresh night air adverse odours assailed Luke from all sides. Aphrodisiacs struck the back of his mouth the moment he drew his first breath in the fusty room; thick, cloying amid the acrid aroma of sweat. The stench of spilled food and drink, the blue haze of tabacc sticks further compounded the nose-twitching atmosphere. Perversely, the interior of the place was actually cleaner than the bar in Mos Eisley. Even so it was all Luke could do not to sneeze. At his side he heard Han sniff. Sniffed again as they threaded a narrow path between tables.

?There.?

Halfway along the right side a booth stood empty. Before anyone else could claim it, Han drew Luke to it. They sat down, conscious of glares from several patrons leaning against the bar. Unlike most establishments Solo frequented, particularly when he required information, Gaylor?s patrons were a cut slightly above average. It took a crew with a comfortable credit balance or those with contractual business to afford to visit Ghorman; only diplomats, military personnel on assignment, or wealthy tourists tended to stop over here. Itinerants were clearly not tolerated. After reviewing those present, Solo shook his head reflectively.

?Or,? Han amended under his breath, ?they weren?t.?

?Something wrong??

Adeptly reading his brother-in-law?s body language, Luke scanned his surroundings. The manner in which Solo?s eyes narrowed upon studying the room alerted him to something out of the ordinary. At least from Han?s experience.

?Just inspecting the clientele. Looks like things are slipping around this joint,? said Solo. They were interrupted before Luke could query him further.

?What?s your pleasure??

Both glanced up at the waiter. Without skipping a beat Luke purchased a mild concoction while Han demanded Corellian brandy. His order caused Luke to tip his head. Han grinned. Their waiter returned in short order with their drinks. Han sipped it. Time slipped by. Gradually the bar filled until it was nearly impossible to move. From somewhere a band appeared and struck up a fairly popular number. Still they waited. And watched the crowd. A figure abruptly cut off their view of the other patrons.

?Are you two gonna order something else? Or are you just gonna nurse those glasses? If so, you?ll have to leave. Can?t have non-paying customers holding down space paying customers want.?

Luke half-expected Han to rise to the challenge. But a glance at his brother-in-law revealed Han Solo knew this ma

 

SALVAGE (Chapters 25 - 28)


CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE


On board the MILLENNIUM FALCON, Chewbacca went through the stand-by checklist one more time. His diligence had all ready caught one small mechanical problem; a minor item only if things remained uneventful. Somehow he doubted it would continue quiet. Not given present circumstances. Artoo Detoo released a high-pitch whistle and a whoop from the cockpit entrance. Before Chewie could bark at him, the little droid plugged in and displayed his announcement in Wookiee-speak on the nav-puter monitor.

<Stormtroopers are making spot checks of all ships presently on the ground.>

As inventive as his partner, Chewie uttered Wookiee maledictions and pulled out his com-link to transmit the pre-agreed upon emergency recall. At the same time he hoped Han and Luke were not trapped in a situation where his actions would prove detrimental to them. Then he gestured to the droid.

<Uncouple all ground lines and get back on board.>

Artoo whistled softly, disconnected from the onboard translator and hurried outside to comply with Chewie?s instructions. Meanwhile the Wookiee prepared for immediate lift-off.

As it happened, still several blocks south of Gaylor?s Bar, Han heard the tiny beep and drew out his com-link. At his side, Luke halted and patiently waited. Neither said a word at the sight of the flashing red diode. They flagged down the nearest hover-cab, this one driven by a human. Han paid the driver the standard fee. Then he slipped over an exorbitant sum and made a fairly common request.

?See how fast you can get us back to port.?

Unimpressed, the driver advised him. ?On Ghorman speeding carries a serious fine, sir.?

For a moment Luke was afraid they had encountered an honest cabbie. That he would have to resort to ?leaning? on the man. More credits changed hands. Their speed increased. Pleased with the results, Han settled back and projected a casual air.

As though unimpressed by their present pace he remarked to Luke. ?Last guy drove me there made it in just under twelve minutes.?

Without missing a beat Luke responded to the cue. ?Really??

Beneath them the hover-cab obligingly leapt forward. Han gave his brother-in-law a lazy wink. Landscape flashed by, a blur through which individual objects were indescribable. Outside the city they surmounted the first ridge and momentarily left their stomachs behind. Apart from a mild grunt, Han made no comment concerning poor compensators in the passenger cabin. Two sharp switchbacks threw them against one outside wall, then the other. Sight of Han?s disgust made Luke supress a laugh. They swerved again and he hurriedly grabbed a handhold just in time to prevent lurching against the door padding again. Somehow he ignored muscles bruised by the impact of Han sliding into him. Again Han thudded into him. Their hover-cab roared up and over the second hilltop, and sped downslope into the spaceport.

As they crossed into the port outskirts, their driver slowed to within acceptable speed limits. He wove through pedestrian traffic, maintenance droids, cargo-levs, other hover-cabs and official traffic with equal alacrity. Everywhere Luke looked he caught flashes of white.

?Stormtroopers.? Under his breath he muttered that observation aware Han had also seen them. Groups of three to seven were halting all traffic for inspection.

?Stop here.?

His order produced an immediate response. Thrown forward by the unexpected cessation of movement, Han grabbed for a hand strap, missed and flung out his hands to brace himself. Somehow he successfully arrested his perilous projection toward the rear of the front seat at the cost of a wrenched shoulder.

?Dammit, kid. Warn a guy, will you??

Unrelenting, Luke commanded him. ?Out.?

That tone was not one he employed lightly. Without pausing to question the Jedi Master, Han tossed a handful of credit chips at the driver just as a traffic control droid appeared. Solo scrambled clear of the hover-car before the droid drew alo

 

SALVAGE (Chapters 29 - 31)


CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE


Four large ground troop transports encircled the massive dome complex and halted at predetermined positions around the perimeter. Overhead, their drives muffled by cloud cover, hovered atmosphere fighters. Sensors swept the area prepared to track anyone who should attempt to escape. The lead vehicle drew into the parking lot. Its escort blocked all speeder access from the ground area to the main road.

Seated next to the driver, Captain Arrin Validan, newly appointed Base Commander of Mandorel, eyed their objective. Unlike his predecessors, he was about to demonstrate a hard line toward interlopers and those whom the Empire considered second-class citizens. His perspective on these subjects was the primary reason Grand Admiral Thrawn had conveyed the position on him. Had passed Validan the additional responsibility of the labour camp and estate once belonging to Horst Niant.

Validan had known Niant personally. They had been classmates at the Imperial Academy. Consequently he was not entirely surprised by the discovery that his predecessor had permitted such intrusions on Mandorel. After all, Niant had grown up dirt poor on a rim world. Unfortunately it had made him fair game for graft. This Validan had no intention of stooping to. Creche-raised, he was a ?by the books? officer, pure and simple. Secretly he hoped his handling of matters on Mandorel would eventually lead him to the coveted position Horst had achieved: Captain of a corvette or star destroyer.

To that end, Validan pursued with unflagging determination the project of removing from positions of authority on Mandorel all undesirables. The Gamorrean, Tshukon, a collector of antiquities and sometime slave owner, topped that list. The Captain was specific in his orders. His people were to proceed with caution. After all, the Empire?s remaining museums would benefit immensely from what was rumoured to be in the Gamorrean?s latest collection. In fact, he relished the idea of reclaiming priceless relics for the Imperium. There were also the females to be considered.

Lieutenant Agamel, his aide, instructed their troops over the com-link. ?Take up your positions.?

White armoured personnel decanted from the other transports, surrounded the building and grouped at the three airlocks accessing the installation. Satisfied with their display of discipline, Validan stepped down from the command speeder. Two more stormtroopers closely trailed him.

?Lead by example.? An ancient axiom drummed into him by his favourite crèche tutor, now dead these past six years. It was supported by Academy instruction and reinforced by the memorable valedictorian speech given by Grand Moff Tarkin. And Validan stuck to it.

At a predetermined signal the stormtroopers broke the locks sealing the dome and entered. By pairs, the remainder followed. Validan caught up with the first team just inside the nearest lock.

?Remember,? he ordered over his com-link, ?do no more damage than is absolutely necessary. Take the females and any guests alive if at all possible. Even the plants are precious in this place. Lieutenant Agamel is responsible for the Gamorreans.?

Instructions clear the stormtroopers pressed in from the dome perimeter, and fanned out. Parties of two and three wended their way through meandering paths toward the centre. Upon reaching it they discovered Tshukon in the company of his three wives and several guests. One elegantly attired humanoid female was singing an aria to the strains of a string instrument played by a companion. Around the pool danced and swayed a third woman. In the pool a fourth performed an intricate water ballet in counter-point. Six more women reposed on cushions nearby, watching silently. Obedient slaves.

Dumbfounded by the scene, the stormtroopers froze at the edge of the ordered forest, uncertain. Not wanting to break the absorbing tableau. Even their Commander was momentarily enthralled by the vision. Sight of them caused the singer to br

 

SALVAGE (Chapters 32 - Epilogue)


CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO


Not about to give an inch, Leia remained silent. Something about the disturbance outside led her to believe it was diversionary, designed to draw off the majority of the guards within the house. On the heels of that thought the office door burst open and an aide dashed in, unannounced. Uniform smudged and torn, the man presented an ashen visage to his commanding officer.

?Sir!? In his distress he sketched a partial salute. Validan ignored the omission. ?The compound?s under attack by a large force. We count over thirty ground troops. Two craft were detected emerging from hyperspace just above Mandorel shortly before the power plant went down.?

?What about the planetary shield??

?Down, sir. Sabotaged half an hour ago. There?s a running firefight in progress in that vicinity at this very moment. Rebel adherents. We?ve driven them back and repairs are under way, but it?ll be a good two hours or more before---?

Behind the aide one side of the doorframe abruptly disintegrated beneath a barrage of blaster fire. Injured and unconscious, the trooper was flung across the room. His limp form landed in an ungainly heap against the wall to Leia?s right. Instinct took hold. The Princess grabbed Varina and spun her into the opposite corner of the room, out of the line of fire. There they huddled with no more protection than the walls at their back and side.

Prisoners temporarily forgotten, the Base Commander ducked behind his desk, blaster held ready. Although the finish resembled wood it was, in fact a cunning metal replica, designed to provide him with maximum security should the need arise.

Before smoke from the smoldering doorframe cleared, a figure in unrelieved black hurtled through the opening. He rolled across the floor and to his knees against the opposite side of the desk without quite touching the surface. Unaware of his opponent?s proximity, Validan peered around the desk, checking for any sign of threat. A huge Wookiee appeared in the outside hall. Validan leveled his blaster and took aim at the all too convenient target.

Even as his finger tightened on the trigger a hand snaked out of nowhere and plucked the weapon from his grasp. Shocked, the Captain started halfway to his feet. And found himself staring into clear, cold blue eyes framed by light brown hair. Out-manoeuvred, the Base Commander slowly drew himself up. With an unconscious jerk at his tunic to straighten it, Validan recovered his dignity. He swallowed hard to moisten a throat gone strangely dry.

?Skywalker, I presume??

?Captain.?

They eyed one another, sizing each other up. Aware of his vulnerability, Validan gave his chin a self-conscious twist. He screwed up his courage and stepped around the desk, right into an unexpected roundhouse from a fist wrapped around the hilt of an unlit lightsabre. Down he went. Knuckles stinging, the Jedi Master bent to check the man was definitely unconscious. Convinced the Base Commander was no longer a factor in the battle, Luke turned.

With a glad cry, Princess Leia pulled free of her companion and leapt across the room with a glad cry. ?Luke!?

?Leia.? Luke Skywalker gave her a swift, warm hug.

Beyond his sister Luke saw a strange woman watching them. By her expression she was trying to ascertain whether he was lover or husband, a logical choice for any Princess. Then Leia drew free. Took his outstretched hands in hers and stared up into his face. The light in his eyes warmed and comforted her. She shook her head.

?Why, Luke? You could all be killed.?

?We couldn?t do otherwise,? he said. A towering Wookiee filled the doorway behind Luke, Han at his side.

?Leia!?

Joyous, the Princess pulled away from her brother and threw herself toward her anxious husband. ?Han!?

Arms enfolded her. Unabashed in the presence of a stranger, they kissed. Barely able to contain tears of joy, Han stroked her hair, pressing his lips against the crown of her head when she cuddled against