Part 20 (1/2)

”Turbolaser batteries swiveling toward us,” Odonnl put in. ”Pormfil?”

”Engines at full power,” the Kerestian said, his eight cheek nostrils wheezing rhythmically.

”Picking up a transmission, Cap't,” Chin announced.

”Acknowledge it,” Karrde said, watching H'sis.h.i.+ closely. She hadn't moved, but was still half standing staring at the dark bulk and glittering lights ahead. ”Are they activating any tractor beams?”

For about half a second the bridge seemed to hold its collective breath. Then, with a quiet hiss, H'sis.h.i.+ sank back into her seat and began tapping keys on her control board.

[No tractor beams have yet been activated,] she mewled. [The turbolaser batteries . . .]

Her stiffened fur seemed to wilt a little as she tapped more keys. [There is no power in them,] she said, sounding confused. [No. There is power in . . .]

She turned to face Karrde, her yellow eyes narrowing. [There are three functional turbolaser batteries,] she said. [No more.]

”Good,” Karrde said calmly. ”That means we're in the right place. Always good to know that. Chin?”

The owner awaits, Cap't,” Chin said, smiling openly now as he tapped the comm key. ”He'd like to speak with you.”

”Thank you,” Karrde said. ”h.e.l.lo, Booster. How are things?”

”Never better, you old pirate,” Booster Terrik's cheerful voice boomed from the bridge speaker. ”Welcome to the Errant Venture. You shopping today, or just breaking in a new crew member?”

H'sis.h.i.+ hissed softly, her fingers rubbing gently against the control board. But she said nothing. ”We're shopping,” Karrde said. ”For information, mostly.”

”Are you really,” Booster said in a tone that made Karrde picture him rubbing his hands together. ”Well, well. This is definitely my star-s.h.i.+ning day. You want to bring the Wild Karrde aboard, or should I send you a shuttle?”

”We'll come aboard if you have the s.p.a.ce,” Karrde said. ”I'm not in the market for any hardware myself, but I imagine my people will want to browse.”

”Well, come on in, then,” Booster said cheerfully. ”Traders' Alley is open and ready for business, as are the rest of our little boutiques. Go ahead and take-let's see-Docking Bay Fifteen. I'll have someone there to escort you up to the bridge after you've turned your people loose. Don't forget to remind them that Traders' Alley is a cash-only business.”

”Of course,” Karrde said. ”I'll see you soon.”

He motioned to Chin, and the other shut down the comm, ”Take us in, Dankin,” he said. ”You know how to get into the docking bays?”

”No problems.” Dankin said, getting busy at his board.

At the sensor station, H'sis.h.i.+ stood up and turned to face Karrde. [Was this then a joke, Chieftain?] she asked. Her tone and expression were rigid, not betraying anything of what she was thinking. [I do not appreciate being made to look foolish.]

”You didn't look foolish,” Karrde a.s.sured her. ”You merely looked startled, after which you returned to your a.s.signed duties.”

The Togorian looked briefly around at the others. [Humans enjoy making others look foolish,] she said, an edge of challenge in her voice.

”Humans do enjoy jokes,” Karrde acknowledged. ”But humor was not the primary purpose of the exercise.”

H'sis.h.i.+'s fur had been stiffening again. Now, slowly, it settled back down. [You wished to see if I would run in fear.]

”Or freeze, or panic,” Karrde agreed. ”If you had done any of those things-”

[I would have been executed?]

Karrde shook his head. ”I don't execute my people, H'sis.h.i.+,” he told her. ”Not unless a serious crime has been committed against me or the organization. No, you'd simply have been moved to a different position, some post where you'd be less likely to face this kind of stress. An information gatherer, perhaps, or else a shadow business liaison.”

H'sis.h.i.+'s ears twitched. [I do not wish such a post.]

”I'm glad to hear that,” Karrde said, ”because frankly I think you would be wasted there.

You'd be far more useful aboard the Wild Karrde or one of my other s.h.i.+ps.”

The Togorian seemed to think about that. [I would prefer to stay here, if that would be possible.]

”I think there's a good chance of that,” Karrde said. ”We'll speak more about it later.”

He gestured to her control board. ”You can return the datacard to the computer room-we won't need to run that baseline check until we leave.”

H'sis.h.i.+ showed her fangs again. [I obey, Chieftain,] she said. Delicately plucking the datacard from its slot with the tips of her claws, she padded from the bridge.

”Well, gentlemen,” Karrde said, stepping over behind H'sis.h.i.+'s vacated chair. ”You've had your joke, and we all lived through it. Did she pa.s.s?”

”Definitely,” Dankin said. ”With banners waving, I'd say.”

”Agreed,” Odonnl nodded. ”Took her a second to gather her wits, but then she got right back down to business.”

”And she did not forget how to use her console, as some have done,” Pormfil added, whistling emphatically through his nostrils. ”I do not believe even Elkin did so well when he was thus tested.”

”Perhaps,” Karrde said. ”Though I'd wager H'sis.h.i.+ left something behind that Elkin didn't.”

Pormfil sniffed the air. ”The aroma of nervous sweat?” he suggested.

”No.” Karrde pointed at the group of small indentations in the edge of H'sis.h.i.+'s control board. ”Claw marks.”

A familiar figure was waiting for Karrde and Odonnl as they headed down the Wild Karrde's ramp. ”Ah-Captain Karrde,” Nawara Ven said, dipping his head in a formal Twi'lek bow. ”It is good to see you again.”

”And you, Ven.” Karrde nodded back. ”I trust life is treating you well?”

”It is all enjoyment aboard the Errant Venture,” Ven said, smiling thinly. ”Come.

Booster's waiting for you on the bridge.”

The Twi'lek led the way toward a bank of turbolifts, limping only slightly on his artificial leg. ”I notice you've lost some of your turbolasers,” Karrde commented. ”My people were reading only three active batteries as we came in.”

”Fortunes of business, I'm afraid,” Ven said, keying the turbolift call. ”We had to break two of them down for parts for three others, but then had to sell those three to purchase components for the hyperdrive.”

”By my count, that still leaves five from your original ten batteries,” Karrde pointed out.

”Yes,” Ven said, rearranging his head-tail on his shoulder as the turbolift door slid ponderously open. ”The other two are currently under repair.”

They stepped into the turbolift. The door closed again, and the car began to move. ”Only two of the turbolifts in this section are still working,” Ven said. ”You'd be amazed at how many things there are to go wrong on a Star Destroyer.”

”I can imagine,” Karrde said. ”Back during the height of the Rebellion I heard a Special Operations man describe a Star Destroyer as 174,000 design flaws waiting to be exploited.”