Part 36 (1/2)

There was apparently a brisk convection-downdraft blowing, generated as the buildings cooled and the night air slid down into the artificial canyons toward the streets far below. Apparently, because even here, many stories above the surface, Xizor's protections included hand-thick transparisteel plate wrapped around the balcony in an armored bubble. He could see but not feel the night. It was a small price to pay for the safe view.

There was always the option of donning a disguise if he wanted to walk along among the rabble, and thus far, the lack of personal freedom had not bothered him that much.

Guri approached from behind him, her footsteps barely audible. ”All of our security systems have reported,” she said.

”And...?”

”No unexpected activity. Nothing more threatening than usual.” He nodded.

Waited a moment, then said, ”I invited her up here.” He waved at the view. ”She refused.” There was a pause, longer than Guri would normally allow before speaking. She said, ”Your pheromonal attractant was insufficient to bend her to you will; that has never happened before.”

”I had noticed that, thank you.”

”This failure has made her more appealing.”

Xizor said, ”Your point?”

”One wants more what one cannot have. As long as she resists your advances, her charisma grows stronger. The more she resists, the more you desire her. It has become a contest of wills.”

He smiled. ”So it has. Which I will win, eventually.”

Guri said nothing.

”You doubt me?”

”You have never failed before.”

Not really an answer, but true enough. ”And you, my ever-vigilant bodyguard, you do not approve.”

”The more intelligent and dedicated someone is, the more dangerous she can be when threatened.”

He stared at a particularly congested lane of groundto-s.p.a.ce traffic. The running lamps of the vessels seemed to form an almost continuous line of brightcolored light.

He said, ”You of all beings should understand. Much of life is about the search for equals. You are unique. There are others similar to you, but none exactly like you. You are superior to any other HRD ever created.”

”Yes,” she said.

”Don't you ever want to meet one who is capable of moving, of feeling, of thinking up to your level? An equal?”

”Not particularly. What would be the point? Greater than I, lesser than I, what does it matter to my functioning?”

He turned away from the light show in the skies and looked at her. ”Yet you wish for tasks that will challenge you.”

”Of course.”

”It is the same thing. Yes, it is dangerous to contend with one who might defeat you, and perhaps it is even more dangerous to consort with one who might someday stab you as you lie sleeping next to her; still, the possibilities are so much... more.

”There are billions of women, many of whom are more beautiful, more adept physically, even more dedicated,” he continued. ”Maybe even all three.

But this one is the one I want and I will have her.”

Guri nodded once. ”Ah. This is why you eat moonglow.”

He looked at her. She did understand, at least on some level. He nodded.

”After I have accomplished the conquest, when I have grown tired of her, then you may eliminate her.”

”After you have accomplished the conquest.” He smiled. Heard the unspoken ”If you do” in her voice.

After Guri left, he returned to his skygazing. Most people would be thrilled to have found a partner with whom they could live in stimulation for the rest of their lives. He was not most people. He was, just as Guri was, unique. He would wait as long as necessary to taste Leia, and when he had done so, he would be satisfied and finished with her. In his search for equals, she was close, but not quite as good as he.

So far, n.o.body in the galaxy had been, and he did not expect he would ever find such a person. He was, simply, superior to everyone.

He had learned to live with it.

”Threepio?”

”Yes, Master Luke?”

”Everything okay on the s.h.i.+p?”

There was a short pause. Luke twirled the small comlink absently in his fingers. Threepio's voice was somewhat tinny from the comlink. ”On the s.h.i.+p, yes. But Artoo has overheard some tactical communications on a s.h.i.+elded operations channel. Apparently there are search teams in the area. They seem to be looking for a Corellian freighter.”

Luke stared at the comlink. ”Hmm. Okay. Keep a sharp eye out. If anybody starts snooping around you, call me.”

”Certainly I shall. Right away,” Threepio said.

Luke chewed at his lip. They were about to go into the sewers. He didn't need any more problems.

Vader stood on the balcony of his castle, immune to the night breeze that washed over him. He had tried to reach out with the Force and find Luke, but had failed. Surely it was Luke? Who else could it be? And if it was - where he was exactly was probably not as important as why he was here in Imperial Center.

Had he come to challenge Vader? Had he been sent on some Rebel scheme to attack the Emperor? The protective line of Imperial wars.h.i.+ps would stop any attack by the Rebel forces, but it was designed to detect large vessels and not mites. A determined pilot in a small s.h.i.+p could find ways through the Imperial skynet.

What is it, my son? Why have you come here? Let yourself hear me, reveal your whereabouts and I will come to you.

If Luke heard his call, there was no response.

”My lord Vader,” came the voice from behind him.

He turned. The little man who had supplied him with the d.a.m.ning information on Xizor stood there. Vader had left orders he was to be admitted no matter when he arrived.

”You have something for me?”

”Yes, my lord. We have uncovered a pirated copy of certain of the planetary files for Falleen, thought to be destroyed.”

”Why should I find this interesting?”