Part 26 (1/2)

As Ben had promised, it was indeed clear that the time was right.

Pulling the hold-out blaster from inside his jacket, he crossed to the door. Wait, Ben's voice came as the Suwantek made another sharp turn.

Stretch out to the Force. You'll know when.

”Got it,” Luke said. Pressing the muzzle of the blaster against the door lock, he got a steadying grip on the edge of the computer desk and waited.

”Captain, we have an intruder,” someone called from the crew pits. ”It just came into the system, and now it's trying to run.”

”Get me a reading,” Ozzel ordered, turning from his contemplation of the burning pirate base far below and striding down the command walkway toward the sensor station. The freighter's configuration was one he'd never seen before, and he moved to the edge of the walkway for a better look.

”That has to be a meld,” Somoril said from his side. ”One s.h.i.+p linked to another.” ”You're right,” Ozzel murmured; and with that, the odd shape suddenly resolved itself. The s.h.i.+p being carried was a Corellian light freighter, probably YT or YR cla.s.s. The one under power was a- Somoril inhaled sharply. ”That's a Suwantek.” Ozzel felt his mouth drop open.

”You don't think-?” ”Tractor officer!” Somoril shouted, spinning around.

”Get a lock on that s.h.i.+p. Now!”

”Do it,” Ozzel confirmed, a sudden hope stirring inside him. They'd come here to silence an Imperial agent who might know their shameful secret- and now, against all odds, they'd been given a chance to bury that secret along with her. ”And launch TIE fighters,” he added. ”That s.h.i.+p is not to get away from us.”

For a long minute, LaRone thought they were going to make it. Then the Suwantek lurched violently and he was thrown sideways against his restraints. ”Quiller?”

”They've got us,” the other bit out. ”Tractor beam.”

”We're still pretty far out,” Marcross said. ”Maybe we can pendulum our way clear.”

”Try it,” LaRone ordered.

The roar of the sublight engines changed pitch as Quiller switched direction, driving the Suwantek at right angles to the tractor beam as he tried to break them free. ”Anything?” LaRone asked.

”Give it a minute,” Quiller said. ”We've got some freedom this direction, but for it to work we need to clear the sweep edge before they can lock another projector on us.”

There was a sudden screaming thud from the stern. ”Or before they can slag our engines,” Marcross added tightly.

”Grave, Bright.w.a.ter-return fire,” LaRone ordered as another turbolaser blast s.h.i.+vered across their aft s.h.i.+elds.

His answer was a stutter of green light from the Suwantek's laser cannons. ”We're way too far away to do any damage,” Marcross said.

”I know, but we might be close enough to confuse their sensors a little,”

LaRone said. ”Come on, Quiller- get us loose.”

There was a flicker in the Force, exactly the way it felt when Luke was fighting the remote; and as the first laser blast hammered into the stern s.h.i.+eld, he fired his blaster at the lock.

The door slid open, and he looked cautiously out. The corridor was deserted. Quickly he went to Han's door, staggering with the Suwantek's continued violent maneuvering, and keyed it open.

Han was standing by the computer desk, holding on to it for support, his face carved from stone as he stared at the repeater displays. ”You all right?” Luke asked.

Han did a double take. ”They let you out?”

”Not exactly,” Luke said. ”Han, Leia's in danger.”

”We're in a little of that ourselves,” Han said, plucking the blaster from Luke's hand and making a face at it. ”Where'd you get this, a krinkle machine?”

”She's trapped in Makrin City on Shelkonwa, and the Empire knows she's there,” Luke persisted.

”Later, kid.” Brus.h.i.+ng past, Han headed out into the corridor.

Luke could hear Chewbacca's bellowing even over the roar of the engines.

Han popped the lock and took a quick step back as a hairy Wookiee arm s.n.a.t.c.hed wildly at him through the opening door. ”Relax-it's us,” Han called.

Chewbacca caught his balance in midlunge, looking both ways down the corridor as he rumbled something.

”I don't know, but whoever it is they've got us locked,” Han told him.

”Get down to the Falcon and get her ready.”

”We're leaving?” Luke asked, instinctive relief at escaping a battle fighting with equally instinctive guilt at the thought of abandoning LaRone and the others to whoever or whatever out there was attacking them.

”Not yet,” Han growled. ”What do you think, Chewie? Bait and switch?”

The Wookiee considered, then warbled a response and headed to the hatch leading down to the Suwantek's ventral hatch. Opening it, he disappeared down the ladder. ”What do you want me to do?” Luke asked.

”Stay out of the way,” Han said shortly. Hefting the blaster, he headed forward.

The lounge was empty, as was the anteroom beyond it. Slapping the door release to the c.o.c.kpit, Han strode inside. He got two steps in before he suddenly seemed to notice the stormtrooper armor.

Luke winced. Too late, he realized he should have clued the other in about their captors. But with only the slightest hesitation Han continued forward. ”Situation?” he snapped.

”Star Destroyer's got us locked,” LaRone said. His face tightened as he saw the blaster in Han's hand, but his voice was crisp and professional.

”They may be launching TIEs.”

”We're trying a pendulum,” the man at the helm- Quiller, presumably- added.

”Any other s.h.i.+ps in the area?” Han asked. ”None,” Marcross said, gazing darkly at Han from the copilot's seat. ”The pirate base also seems to have been effectively neutralized.”

”Okay.” Han peered up briefly through the canopy at the triangle shape looming in the distance above them, then tapped Marcross on his armored shoulder. ”Out,” he ordered. ”What?” Marcross asked warningly. ”I said out,” Han said, stepping back again to give Marcross room. He started to drop the hold-out blaster into his empty holster, apparently realized the tiny weapon would get lost in there, and instead tucked it into the left side of his belt in cross-draw position. ”We've got some tricky maneuvering to do, and I don't have time to explain it to you,” ”Look, Solo-” ”Do it,” LaRone said.

Glowering, Marcross unstrapped and got out of his seat. He squeezed past Han, who took his place. ”Give me comm to the Falcon,” he ordered, giving the controls a quick look. ”Chewie? You ready?”

An answering roar came from the speaker. ”Good,” Han said. ”Somebody get ready to seal the ventral hatch and drop the collar connection.” ”Say when,” Quiller said. ”Now,” Han said. ”And give me helm.” Quiller tapped a pair of switches. A moment later the Falcon blasted into view from beneath the Suwantek, shooting ahead of them and banking hard to the right.

”LaRone, the Corellian's running,” Grave's voice snapped from the intercom.

”It's all right-let him go,” LaRone said. ”Keep firing at the Reprisal.

Quiller?”

”Tractor's still holding,” Quiller said. ”Whatever this trick is, it'd better be good.”