With their states so far-flung, the descendants of Vilia had been largely able to keep their familial connections private. The deactivation of the Republic's subspace communications relays had dried the interstellar ocean of knowledge, leaving many unconnected pools. Few knew the genealogy of their local Sith Lords in any detail-save perhaps for the subjects of Odion and Daiman, whose leaders' kinship had been worked into their personal mythologies. To a large degree, the Charged, as Narsk thought of them, had prospered from the secrecy. It had made coordinated stabs against outsiders like Bactra possible; it had also protected them against being seen as a common enemy by other Sith Lords.

The Jedi's blood should be on the museum floor.

And now, his implant was buzzing again.

Narsk thought back on his codes. One long burst was Call in Call in. Seven short bursts signaled an impending Bequest. What did alternating short and long pulses mean?

Beware your employer.

Narsk staggered, nearly slipping on the icy floor. His superior had directed him to serve Arkadia. Now Arkadia was a threat, as seen-or, more precisely, foreseen foreseen-by those with resources far greater than his. Whatever Arkadia had in mind likely meant trouble for his true employer-and now the icy Sith Lord expected him to be a part of it.

It was, at once, a thrilling and terrifying place to be. Yes, he'd know her intentions firsthand. But what if he couldn't stop them? Even if he had access to the comm systems in Calimondretta-which he didn't-Arkadia might not give him the chance to get a warning out. What if he became trapped in her scheme, forced to be part of whatever it was with no way of getting out of it?

Beware your employer.

"Are you coming, sir?" The bald-headed aide looked at him, searchingly.

"Lead the way."

Narsk fixed his eyes on the aide's boots as he walked. He had to have an exit strategy.

"This isn't right."

Looking up, Narsk saw the mercenary leader up ahead, muttering and seemingly looking for anyone to talk to. "This isn't right," Rusher repeated.

Narsk silently agreed. "Then you need to do something, Brigadier."

"What?" Rusher asked as the aide went past, pushing the hoverchair. "I can't risk everyone for one person." He looked to the end of the empty hallway. "Even if she risked herself for all of us back on Byllura. I don't have the right to put everyone else on the line." He looked down at Narsk and straightened, composing himself. "Anyway, it's not my job."

Narsk looked at the human. Another specialist, saying things he could've said himself. He chose his words carefully, walking just slowly enough to allow Arkadia's aide to edge out of earshot. "I understand that, Brigadier. But I think whatever happened in that museum may have changed things. Your crew could be in danger if you follow Arkadia's orders."

"Maybe. But they'll definitely definitely be in danger if I don't." Rusher shook his head. "I need more than that." He swore under his breath. "It doesn't matter, anyway. You've seen those tractor beam emitters. We're not making orbit while they're there-and I doubt they'll let us just turn them off." be in danger if I don't." Rusher shook his head. "I need more than that." He swore under his breath. "It doesn't matter, anyway. You've seen those tractor beam emitters. We're not making orbit while they're there-and I doubt they'll let us just turn them off."

Narsk nodded. The redundant stations were a kilometer apart and unconnected. Striking one, deactivating one, would do nothing. "It is a problem," he said. "But there might be a way. We're both in the same business."

"What's that?"

"Demolitions."

Walking beside Rusher, Narsk quickly discussed ideas he'd had since first seeing Diligence Diligence from the bridge of from the bridge of New Crucible New Crucible. At first, the redheaded general listened reservedly. But as Narsk continued, he could see the color draining from the man's face. "Are you ill, human?"

"No, but you you might be," Rusher said. "These are some of the craziest ideas I've ever heard of. What do you know of ships and munitions, anyway?" might be," Rusher said. "These are some of the craziest ideas I've ever heard of. What do you know of ships and munitions, anyway?"

"I worked for weeks in Daiman's top testing center."

"Well, you must have spent them in the ventilation shaft," Rusher said. He snorted. "I won't have a ship left if I do what you ask."

Narsk shrugged. "You may not have one if you don't. And there's another part," he said, "one that can't wait. It'll require someone on your crew, completely beyond Arkadia's suspicion."

Rusher looked at him for a moment, calculating. "Yeah. Yeah, we've got that."

"You have a comlink?"

Rusher produced one from his pocket and smiled. "Modern encryption and everything."

"Yes, I cracked it on Byllura," Narsk said, grabbing it. He worked the controls. "Use this channel, and no other. Arkadia shouldn't be able to hear your transmissions to your ship." Seeing the aide approaching a fork in the hallway up ahead, Narsk shoved the comlink in Rusher's hand. "I have to go. You need to decide now."

Rusher shook his head. "There's nothing to decide, Bothan. What you're talking about is crazy. And I can't do all this for no reason."

Narsk understood. The mercenary worked just as he did. There was only one way.

"Fine," Narsk said. "I want to hire hire you." you."

Rusher did a double take-and let out a belly laugh. "You want to hire want to hire us us?"

"Is that so novel?"

"Our Brigade has only ever taken jobs from Sith Lords."

"And you would be now," Narsk said, "in a sense. And let me tell you about the payment ..."

Gub Tengo's apartment had only felt like a coffin. Now Kerra was actually in one-or its Sith equivalent. Arkadia wasn't one for wasting space on prisoners.

While being marched deep in the icy depths of Calimondretta, Kerra had expected to see something like a traditional detention block. But Arkadia's facility looked more like a data-processing center, with tall rows of stacked horizontal metal cabinets rising into the chilly air. On approaching, she'd realized the contents of the cabinets were alive: prisoners, being fed air and nutrients through tubes. Kerra could see interrogator droids on floating platforms, mining data from the poor beings trapped in the boxes. It was a filing system for organics.

Hefted by the guards into one of the chambers, Kerra had wondered who else might be trapped in the pods around her. Surely, they couldn't all be people Arkadia had captured from her neighbors' territory. Was it a reconditioning area, too, for dissidents? Or, perhaps, a place to punish those who had failed in too many of their ever-changing jobs? Arkadia had never been clear about what happened to those who never measured up.

With the breathing mask strapped over her mouth, Kerra had been shut inside the case. But it had been dark inside only for a moment. Within seconds, the tiny confines had been lit from within by blinding strobes-and shrill, high-pitched sounds had replaced the silence. Either light or sound faded at irregular intervals, only to have the other increase in intensity. It was unpredictable, and meant to be that way. There was no meditation, no chance to reach out through the Force for anyone or anything.

Her only relative peace came in those moments when one of the droids came over the internal speakers, demanding answers about the Republic. Some of the questions she'd expected. What were its most recent frontiers? What is the state of Republic warship technology today? What were its most recent frontiers? What is the state of Republic warship technology today? Others had surprised her. Others had surprised her. What is the biology of the species closest to the frontier? How much has the Republic invested in toxicology studies? What is the biology of the species closest to the frontier? How much has the Republic invested in toxicology studies?

She hadn't answered any of their questions, of course, earning more punishment for her ears. At least she could close her eyes, leaving her seeing nothing but the backlit blood vessels in her eyelids-and plenty of regrets. She'd been wrong to consider Arkadia's "hospitality" for a second, just as she'd been wrong to think that Byllura could have been any kind of a haven. In both cases, she'd said to herself that she really wanted the students to leave Sith space entirely. But, in truth, she would have accepted a passable alternative in Sith space for Tan and the refugees, had one existed. Gub and all of the parents and guardians who placed their children with Industrial Heuristics and Rusher's Brigade had hoped their children would go to a marginally safer place. She'd fallen into the trap of thinking a slight improvement was acceptable, just so she could get back to thwarting Sith Lords.

"Blowing things up is easy," she had told Rusher earlier. "Mercy is hard."

She'd been hard on him, she realized, in part to keep pressure on herself, to keep her her from settling for less for the students. As Sith-serving mercenaries went, he really wasn't that despicable. He definitely seemed to care about his crew. She envied him in that his job was finite. There were so many who needed help-her from settling for less for the students. As Sith-serving mercenaries went, he really wasn't that despicable. He definitely seemed to care about his crew. She envied him in that his job was finite. There were so many who needed help-her personal personal help-that she could barely conceive the scale of hers. There were seventeen hundred refugees aboard help-that she could barely conceive the scale of hers. There were seventeen hundred refugees aboard Diligence Diligence relying on her. But that wasn't a seventeen-millionth of the number who would remain in jeopardy. Was it right for her to focus her efforts on making things perfect for a select few when there was so much more to do? relying on her. But that wasn't a seventeen-millionth of the number who would remain in jeopardy. Was it right for her to focus her efforts on making things perfect for a select few when there was so much more to do?

Yes. Kerra only needed to recall the image of Lureia, the little girl with her missing sister's headband. She-and so many of the others just like her-had suffered too long to merit only half measures. Yes, being the only Jedi Knight in the sector gave Kerra other responsibilities. But those didn't absolve her of her duty to those who had put their faith in her. She was beholden. There was no such thing as a "safer place" in Sith space. One way or another, she had to get them the blazes out of here!

The interrogators started in again, droning on about the number of Jedi and where they were stationed. Hearing their questions, Kerra realized she was learning more about what Arkadia knew-or didn't know-than they were learning from her. The Jedi's great trump card, their reputation, lingered after their departure, but many beings she'd met in Sith space seemed to know nothing about the Jedi at all. Rusher had admitted that his knowledge came mostly from his history studies. Even some of the Sith Lords she'd encountered seemed to have little idea how to deal with Jedi. Arkadia had thought Kerra could be bargained with. Odion, in the Chelloa affair, had thought Kerra could be persuaded to see suicide as a rational choice. The twins seemed to have no knowledge whatsoever of what she was.

Indeed, of all the Sith Lords and minions she'd encountered, only Narsk had seemed to immediately have a handle on what the Jedi were all about. "You Jedi are supposed to be about fair play and decency!" "You Jedi are supposed to be about fair play and decency!"

Kerra opened her eyes. The Bothan was right, of course.

But how did he know? Who was was he? he?

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE.

Narsk stood patiently in the tiny round hangar. The place lacked one of Arkadia's lofty names: Embarkation Station 7 was one of a cluster of domes on the surface of Syned, connected to Patriot Hall and the rest of the city through a long series of underground corridors to the south. But the small structure was, in its own way, Arkadia's Black Fang-and the unique silver craft being prepared inside meant more to her efforts than all Daiman's wild starship concoctions meant to him.

And Narsk had simply been invited in. Or commanded to attend, rather. For this ship was for him him ... now. ... now.

Shining before the renewed darkness outside the magnetic field, the shuttle was little more than a fighter with a longer crew cabin. A droid pilot sat in the cockpit, its torso fused to the frame of the ship. The passenger section appeared slightly more comfortable; wide enough for the new hoverchair Arkadia's techs had constructed to replace the shoddy brown one from Diligence Diligence. The floating throne sat, soft and resplendent in regal burgundy, at the edge of the gangway.

"The boy will be here soon."

Narsk looked behind to see Arkadia in the doorway to the dome. No longer in her showy Bequest finery, she had surrounded herself in a flowing turquoise shift. Gone were the fur accessories and the great headdress; now, her silvery tresses hung before her in long braids. In the hours since leaving the anteroom, she'd gone from anger to complete ease. Amazing, given what she'd just ordered him to do.

"Your technicians have been showing me the vessel," Narsk said. "I can see where Lord Quillan sits. Where will I be?"

Arkadia walked aft to the three cylindrical engines, each pointing backward. When she twisted a hidden control atop the central rocket, the exhaust port cycled open to reveal a hollow area inside, just large enough for a small human. Or a large Bothan.

Stepping to the back, Narsk peered inside. There was an oxygen mask and water supply; not a cubic centimeter of space had gone to waste, and yet Narsk could see a passenger riding inside without too much discomfort. "Won't they realize the engine isn't lit?"

Arkadia cycled the cover shut and waved to a technician. Suddenly a furnace-blast of flame and noise came from the false exhaust port, singeing Narsk's whiskers.

As the din subsided, Narsk patted the ship's frame. Such a difference from what he'd seen in the Black Fang. Arkadia's people knew their design.

"We've calculated that the jump to the target's world will take seven hours. You'll have oxygen in the compartment for eight."

"That's not a lot of extra time," Narsk said.

"If you take extra time, you will already have failed," Arkadia said. "As I told you, the target is a Sith Lord-elderly, but not to be trifled with." She studied the spy's face. "You've studied the visuals. I'm guessing you have some sense of who Vilia is, Bothan."

Narsk tried to appear indifferent. "I hear things."

"Then you know I am entrusting you with a great deal."

"And you know my reputation," he said. "It's why you hired me, to enter the Dyarchy. Even if the Jedi hadn't happened along, I would have given you the opportunity you needed."

The Sith Lord stared. "And if you're captured?"

"Ask Daiman what I reveal when I'm captured," Narsk said. "I never say more than I need to say. Besides," he added, "as far as anyone off this planet knows, my last employer was Odion."

Arkadia smiled. "That could work for me."

Narsk nodded. He hadn't known what had come of the Bequest, but it was likely that Odion now had a grievance against the dowager. Nothing pleased him.

Arkadia crossed the packed-snow floor to the front of the shuttle, explaining how the ship would automatically carry Quillan and the hidden Narsk to Vilia's hideaway. She was describing the secret passcodes that would bring the vessel safely through her planetary defenses when Narsk noticed movement out on the tundra, beyond the magnetic field.

"What?" Arkadia said, seeing Narsk's expression. Turning, she saw a space-suited figure ambling aimlessly on the ice. "What in the-"

Seeing the Sith Lord reaching for her weapon, Narsk stepped forward. "I think this is the delivery you called for." Stepping to the shimmering aperture, the Bothan waved to the newcomer. Spotting him, the figure waved back excitedly and loped across the wasteland toward their structure.

"It's the fool Duros!" Arkadia stared as Beadle Lubboon approached in an environment suit clearly fitted for a Wookiee. The transparent helmet, barely secured, wobbled around his green head. His armored left arm hung limply at his side as the trooper stumbled across the slick surface. Looking to Arkadia for approval, Narsk stepped to the controls and allowed the young Duros to enter.

Beadle lumbered into the dome, boots clapping against the deck plating. The Duros fumbled awkwardly with his free hand for a pouch slung over his right shoulder. Failing miserably, he began chattering an apology-or, at least, that's what Narsk imagined. The helmet had fogged completely over inside. "Turn your speaker on or take your helmet off, Duros."

With Narsk's help, Beadle unlatched the helmet, which clattered to the frozen floor. "Thank you, sir. If you're Narsk, I have something for you."

Narsk pulled the pouch over the recruit's shoulder. He unzipped it and peeked inside. After many days and several planets, the Mark VI was his again.

Arkadia eyed its courier. "Why did you walk walk here? Rusher could have sent you across on the back of one of the trundle cars." here? Rusher could have sent you across on the back of one of the trundle cars."

"He did, ma'am. I fell off."

"They move four kilometers an hour!"

"Really? The one that hit me felt like it was going faster," he said. "I think I broke my arm."

Arkadia rolled her eyes. "Pride of the mercenaries." She pointed to the exit. "Your commander should arrive shortly with the refugees, Duros. Wait for him in Patriot Hall." Seeing Beadle shuffling in the doorway, she growled, "The big room with the door leading outside!"

Beadle smiled meekly. "Is your infirmary open? I'd like to have something for the pain, if I could."

Arkadia nodded, gesturing for an aide to lead the recruit.

Narsk watched the door close behind them. "Hopeless," he said, shaking his head. "Well, he'll be gone, soon." He paused. "You're really going to let the mercenaries leave?"

"They can leave," Arkadia said. "They just won't live live. Those hyperspace coordinates I gave the brigadier will drop them into the Nakrikal Singularity."

"Why not simply seize his ship?"

"Why bother? He said they were down to just a couple of artillery pieces. And if I want a cannon carrier, my people can build a much better ship than that from scrap." She looked down at the pouch. "Is that the great Narsk Ka'hane edge?"

Narsk pulled out the stealth suit and displayed it, trying to hide his dismay. The Jedi had put it through a lot of punishment. It indeed looked as if a child had been playing with it. He'd be lucky to buff out the smudges before he needed it.

At least Arkadia seemed impressed with it as it was. She ran her hand inside the seam, marveling. "How did you come by such a device?"

"If I revealed all my sources and methods, you wouldn't have much of a need for me, would you?" Narsk said. "But it will get me close to this Vilia, easily enough."

"She's still Sith. She'll sense you coming."

"One doesn't challenge Sith Lords as I do without learning how not to be sensed."

Watching Narsk meticulously return the suit to its container, Arkadia turned back to the shuttle, where the workers were removing the hoverchair after its fitting. His mission would be a simple one. When the vessel arrived on Vilia's world, Narsk would slip out unseen, shadowing Quillan. Once he confirmed that Quillan was in Vilia's presence, he would kill the old Sith Lord.