Guri turned her head slightly to glance at Chewie. Turned back to look at Leia. "You have the advantage, it would seem. What do you propose?"

There was a good question. What were they going to do now?

One of the Bothan techs leaped up, grabbed the computer, and jerked it loose from the leads. The undamaged screens went blank.

"Go!" Melan yelled at the tech. "We'll cover you!"

The tech ran for the rear of the room. A section of the wall slid back to reveal an unmarked emergency exit. The tech with the computer barreled through the opening.

Melan, meanwhile, emptied the charge in his blaster at the attackers coming in again. The weapon clicked dry, and he tossed it aside.

"Run!" he yelled.

Luke didn't need to hear that twice. But before he could take a step, a blaster bolt hit Melan.

The Bothan went down.

Luke dropped to one knee.

"G-G-Go!" Melan said. "Leave me, get out!"

Luke saw the black-clad attackers stream in. You didn't leave your wounded comrades in battle. He stood between Melan and the incoming tide.

"Idiot! L-L-Leave!"

Luke chopped the blaster from the hand of the first man to reach them.

Wondered briefly why the man didn't cook them, but had no time to reflect on it as five or six more shooters came in.

"Luke," Melan said. "Thanks. I-"

Luke glanced down. Melan went limp and his eyes rolled back, showing only the pale sclera. A final, shuddery breath escaped, and he was still.

Dead.

The number of men crowding into the room increased. There were ten, fifteen of them now, all pointing blasters at him but not firing. What-?

"Turn off your saber," one of them commanded in a rough voice. "You can't win."

Luke looked at the speaker. The figure stood in a shadow, was hard to see until it stepped out into the light.

The reptilian alien was about his height, covered with black scales, with a mouth full of pointed teeth. Definitely a meat-eater. He thought he recognized the species as that of a Barabel, but he wasn't sure; he hadn't seen a lot of them. Barabels didn't leave their homeworld very often.

Luke saw that he didn't have a chance, even using the Force. He clicked his lightsaber off.

"Wise move," the Barabel said. "My people have great respect for Jedi Knights and I am sorry I must do this, but it is business. Take his weapon."

One of them moved in and removed the lightsaber from Luke's grasp.

Luke looked back at the Barabel. "What do you want?"

"Sorry, but we want you, Skywalker."

Chewie said something. He didn't sound happy.

"Chewie doesn't think this is a very good idea," Lando said. "I agree with him."

Leia said, "Look, I know you owe Han and you want to take care of me, but we need to do this."

Dash leaned against a wall, a blaster trained onGuri, who sat in a chair and was bound with cuffbands and a steel cable. They weren't taking any chances with her. Dash said, "You're going to waltz into the heart of the Empire, just like that?"

"I have some connections on Coruscant," Leia said. "That's where our friend here came from." She nodded at Guri, who offered nothing.

"Somebody is playing games I don't much like. Luke is in danger; this...

person who says she represents Black Sun is our only link to them."

Lando said, "You know, there were rumors a few years back about human replica droids. Seems like I heard somebody had perfected the method, got them good enough so you couldn't tell the difference between one of the replicas and a real human by looking. That was about ten, twelve years back. It would fit with the age the scanner gives us about her." He glanced at Guri.

Guri smiled but said nothing.

"So what if she is a droid?" Dash said. "What gooddoes it do for you to know that?" - Leia shook her head. "Not much good at all," she said. "But if we can get to whoever sent her, maybe that does. She's got to be worth a lot to them."

Chewie moaned something.

"Chewbacca says that if you go to Coruscant, he is going as well."

Leia glared at Threepio.

"Don't blame me, I'm only translating what he said."

"Fine, you can go with me. Lando, you and Dash wait here for Luke. We'll take Guri with us. Whoever or whatever she is, she's our pa.s.s."

"How are you going to get there?" Dash asked. "Book a compartment on a liner? They check those things going into Coruscant, you know."

"I'll contact the Alliance and have them supply us with a small ship."

"I don't like it," Lando said.

"Why not just take her ship?" Dash asked. "It's bound to be cleared."

"And maybe blow ourselves to tiny pieces? We've already determined she's not the most trustworthy being we've ever met. Could somebody steal your ship? "

Dash laughed. "They wouldn't get very far if they tried."

"I still don't like it," Lando said.

"I'm not asking you to like it, I'm telling you to do it." Which pretty much ended that conversation. Leia tried to sound as if she were in charge and as if she knew exactly what she was doing, but that was a stretch. If Guri was a replica droid, surely she must be valuable to whomever had sent her. Maybe that person would be willing to talk to get her back. Conventional wisdom had it that the best plans were usually the simplest ones, and if that was true, this was a great idea.

Conventional wisdom aside, it wasn't much; still, it was what she had, and she would follow it up as best she could.

"Excuse me," Guri said.

Leia turned to look at her. "What?"

"There is an easier way."

Leia stared at her, then at the others. "What are you talking about?"

"You want to go to Imperial Center and meet with the leadership of Black Sun, correct?"

"That was the general idea."

"That is why I was sent-to provide you escort for such a trip."

"Then why the threats?"

"It was the fastest way."

"I wouldn't trust her, Leia," Lando said.

"I don't, but I'm reasonable. Go on."

"It will be very risky for you to try to sneak past the Imperial pickets around Imperial Center. I can greatlylessen that risk."

"No offense, but Lando is right. Why should we trust you?"

"Because I work for Prince Xizor."

Lando and Dash both inhaled sharply.

Leia looked at them.

"Xizor is the head of Black Sun," Dash said.

"I can arrange for you to speak with him, if you like."

Leia frowned. "He's here?"

"I have his private comlink codes."

"I don't like this," Lando said. He waved the blaster.

Lando didn't much like anything lately.

Chewie growled and harned.

Neither did Chewie like it.

"You are wanted by the Empire, as are your companions. I can arrange disguises, get you past customs and straight to the prince," Guri said.

"It would eliminate much of the risk."

Leia sighed. It sounded reasonable, despite Guri's attempt to capture her.

"All right, we can at least listen to what your master has to say."

Before the others could protest much, she waved them silent.

"May I stand?" Guri asked.

"Yes."

Guri came to her feet in a smooth motion.

"Dash, unbind her," Leia ordered.

"There is no need," Guri said, smiling. She flexed her arms. The bands around her wrists popped as if they were made of cheap plasto. She took a deep breath and strained; the cable around her shoulders gave a metallic groan, stretched, then snapped.

"Oh, man," Lando said.

Guri moved to the room's com, waved her hands at it. A few moments pa.s.sed. Then a deep, masculine voice said, "Yes?"

"Guri, Highness. I have Princess Leia Organa here. She would like to speak with you."

"Where's the image?" Lando asked.

"My master prefers not to send it out, even on a shielded channel," Guri said. She looked at Leia. Leia said, "Greetings, Prince Xizor."

"Ah, Princess Leia. How delightful to make your acquaintance at last."

His voice was compelling, at least.

"Your... droid here says you wish to see me."

"Indeed. I have information that might be of use to you."

"Concerning...? "

"The attempted a.s.sa.s.sination of Luke Skywalker. A friend of yours, is he not?" It took much of Leia's control to avoid gasping. Xizor knew about the plot! "We are comrades, yes," Leia said. "Tell me, how do you know of the attempts on Luke Skywalker's life?"

"Not over the comlink," he said. "We must discuss such matters face-to-face. If you will allow Guri to escort you, I will explain all when you arrive."

Leia looked around the room. This certainly was unexpected. What was she going to do?