Part 39 (1/2)

Leia's face was sheened with sweat by the time Han let her out of the cabin's secret armory. ”It's okay,” he said, offering her a hand.

”They've finished and gone.”

”They were certainly thorough enough,” she commented, ignoring his hand and stepping out of the cramped s.p.a.ce on her own. ”I could hear them walking around in here at least three times.”

”They weren't very happy about the speeder bikes in the cargo bay,” Han said as Leia sat down on the bed. She didn't look very much like a princess right now, he thought, with stray hairs plastered to her neck and her tapcafe server's covergown still wrapped around her. But underneath it he could still see all that royal dignity stuff. It made for a nice combination, actually. ”But I did a little song and sync about military surplus, and they seemed to buy it,” he added.

”They've probably gone off to run the serial numbers,” Leia warned.

”Let 'em,” Han said with a shrug. ”We'll be long gone before they can track any of that down. Bright.w.a.ter just called-they're on their way back.”

”Bright.w.a.ter being one of these stormtrooper deserters you told me about?”

”Don't worry, we can trust them,” Han a.s.sured her.

”Though we probably don't need to tell them exactly who you are. Anyway, I've got Chewie prepping the engines-a couple of hours out to where we stashed the Falcon, and we'll be done with them.” He c.o.c.ked an eyebrow.

”Unless you want to stick around and see if you can talk LaRone into joining the Rebellion.”

”Former stormtroopers?” Leia countered with a wry smile. ”I don't think so.” She hesitated. ”Especially since I can't even talk you into joining up.”

Han grimaced. So she had noticed. That was a little awkward. Still, it was kind of flattering that she'd taken the time to figure it out. ”It's a pretty big step,” he reminded her.

”I know,” Leia said. ”Especially for someone who's used to taking orders only from himself. But it was a step we all had to take.” Her eyes drifted to the hidden closet and the suits of stormtrooper armor. ”And after Alderaan, I don't think it's possible to be neutral anymore,” she added quietly. ”Either you support the Empire's oppression, or you fight it.”

”I suppose I could stick around a little longer,” Han hedged. ”But I'm not ready to pledge undying loyalty to Mon Mothma and Rieekan and the others.”

”Then don't start with them,” Leia said, looking earnestly back at him.

”Start with loyalty to just one person.”

Han looked at her, a funny feeling in his stomach. Was she actually saying...?

”Chewbacca wants to join us,” Leia went on. ”Do it for him, and for what his people have suffered under the Empire.”

The funny feeling vanished. ”Oh,” he said. ”Oh what?”

”Just oh,” Han said, back on balance again. ”Anyway, I'd better go let Luke out of his closet.”

Leia's eyes widened. ”You mean you haven't done that yet? You've been standing here talking to me and he's still stuck in there?” ”He's got a lightsaber,” Han said blandly. ”He can always cut his way out if he gets bored.” ”Han-” ”See you later, Princess.”

But she had a point, Han had to admit as he headed back out into the corridor. Maybe he could start with allegiance to just one person.

Someone like Chewie.

Or maybe even someone else.

Jade listened in silence to LaRone's story as Quiller drove the speeder truck through Makrin City's quiet streets. ”You should have gone to your unit commander,” she said when he'd finished. ”There are procedures for dealing with incidents where there's a strong probability of self-defense.”

”Procedures that wouldn't have involved us being turned over to ISB?”

Grave asked.

”Point,” Jade conceded. ”But you still should have turned yourselves in.

Now it's too late.”

”Probably,” LaRone said, trying to read her face. All of it wasted effort-he had no idea what was going on behind those bright green eyes.

”But to be honest, at this point we don't really want to go back. After Teardrop ...” He stopped, a lump rising into his throat.

”Yes, and be a.s.sured that I'm going to look into that,” Jade promised ominously. ”Ordering the slaughter of civilians is against everything the Empire stands for. If it's true, I promise you someone's going to suffer for it.”

LaRone looked sideways at Marcross. The other grimaced in silent agreement. For all her strength and competence, this Emperor's Hand had an awfully naive view of what the Empire actually stood for. But she would learn.

”What are you going to do with us?” Quiller asked. For a long moment Jade was silent. ”You're deserters,” she said at last. ”You swore an oath of allegiance to the Empire, and you broke it. That's technically as treasonous as Ch.o.a.rd's own conspiracy.”

”We understand,” LaRone said. ”But with all due respect, our oath was actually to defend the Empire and its citizens.” ”And you think that's what you're doing?” Jade retorted. ”Flying around the galaxy like loose laser cannons?”

”We're certainly doing a better job protecting the citizens now than we did on Teardrop,” Grave said. LaRone winced. But Jade didn't respond.

They were in sight of the Greencliff s.p.a.ceport before she spoke again.

”What name is your s.h.i.+p running under at the moment?” ”The Melnor Spear,”

LaRone told her. ”I'll call the Executor and give you clearance,” she said. ”Get off Shelkonwa and don't come back.”

LaRone glanced at Marcross, then back to Jade. ”Thank you,” he said. ”May I ask why?”

The young woman gazed out the windscreen as they pa.s.sed through the s.p.a.ceport gate. ”You helped me identify a traitor and take him into custody.” She hesitated. ”Besides, a few days ago I was ready to offer a complete pardon to a man who'd done more against the Empire and its citizens than any of you could ever possibly do. He'll never, get to use it. You might as well have it instead.”

”Yes, ma'am,” LaRone said, wis.h.i.+ng he knew what she was talking about.

”Thank you again.”

Quiller drove the speeder truck beneath the Suwantek and came to a stop.

”Just stay out of sight and out of trouble,” Jade said, pus.h.i.+ng up the door and climbing