"Good job," Luke said. Despite his giving Lando a hard time, he was a good pilot.

"Yeah, but that's the easy part. Now we got to stay with this boomer until we get into atmosphere and he drops his cargo into a spiral-in orbit. I'm shutting down the transponder and nonessential systems. We don't want anybody seeing our lights or picking up active sensors. From here on in, it's seat-of-the-pants."

"You thought about what we're going to do once we land?"

Lando snorted. "Let's worry about landing first, how about? I know some people, I have a few contacts. We'll be okay."

Luke nodded. He hoped Lando was right.

Of course, they might stray off course on the way to the planet and get roasted by a coherent light battery and he wouldn't have to worry about it. Not that that made him feel any better.

He reached out, tried to find Leia, using the Force. Pushed to the limit of his abilities... Nothing. If she was there, he was too far away to touch her. Well. They'd be closer soon. If they survived, he would try again. If they survived.

Sitting naked in his chamber and working on his healing meditation, Darth Vader frowned. There was a disturbance in the Force. He reached for it with the power of the dark side...

He could not connect with it, whatever it was.

Abruptly the sensation of a ripple pa.s.sed.

The dark side still had surprises for him. Like a fire, it could warm or burn, and great care must be taken not to trip and fall into it. He had seen what extensive use had done to the Emperor; it had eaten away at him physically. But that would not happen to Vader, for he intended to master the dark side. He was well on the way. It would be only a matter of how long, of when, not if. And when he finally snared Luke, the process would go faster. Two powerful magnets would attract more of the dark energy than one. Together they would manipulate the Force quicker than either could alone.

So strong, the boy. Who could have known? Luke Skywalker-his son-might well be the most powerful man in the galaxy.

He allowed himself a smile, even though the expression stretched scar tissue and was painful. He could withstand pain.

He was the Dark Lord of the Sith, and he could withstand anything.

30.

"I really don't think this is a good idea, Master Luke. I believe it would be much better if Artoo and I went with you and Master Lando."

Artoo cheeped his agreement.

"Look, you'll be fine here on the ship," Luke said. "We need you here in case we need help. Besides, it'll be a lot more dangerous out there than in here."

"Ah. Well, in that case, perhaps we should stay here."

Artoo cheeped.

"No, you heard Master Luke, he needs us on the ship in case anything goes wrong."

"Wrong, what could possibly go wrong?" Lando said. "Just because we've got huge rewards posted everywhere in the galaxy for us, dead or alive, and we've plunked ourselves down smack in the black and evil heart of the Empire?"

Luke shook his head. "Come on. Where would be the last place you'd look for us if you were an Imperial operative or a bounty hunter?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right. They'd figure n.o.body would be that stupid.

Lucky for us they don't know we are that stupid."

Luke shook his head. All this banter was an attempt to make light of the situation. The truth was, this was dangerous, no two ways about it. To Threepio, he said in a more serious voice, "Look, I'll be honest. There's a good chance we won't make it back. If that happens, don't call the Alliance for help. There's no point in putting any part of the fleet in jeopardy."

Threepio said, "I understand."

Artoo whistled and cheeped rapidly. The tone was upset.

Luke looked at the little droid. He squatted down and laid one hand on his dome. "Just stand by the comm, okay? We'll call you if we need you.

If we get in trouble, you can try to come and get us. Threepio has the hands and feet, you have the astronavigational skills. I'm sure the two of you working together can fly the Falcon in an emergency."

"There's a happy thought," Lando said. "Han knew that, it would thaw him out faster than a laser torch." Lando was still trying to keep things cheery, but Luke imagined the gambler had a cold feeling in the pit of his stomach, too. This was not going to be a piece of cake.

Artoo did not seem to think very much of the idea of flying the Falcon, either.

"Don't be rude," Threepio said. "I wasn't always a protocol droid, you know. I've programmed converters, and I once ran a shovel loader for an entire standard month. I've watched Master Han and Master Lando and Chewbacca often enough. I daresay I can pilot this ship better than you can!"

Artoo made more rude noises. "Oh, really? Well, at least I don't look like an overgrown garbage can!"

"Come on, Luke," Lando said. "If we're going to go, we need to get moving. We can get ourselves some disguises, and if we hurry, we can be underground before daylight. These two will argue all night."

"Okay." Luke rose from his squat. "See you in a little while."

"Do be careful, Master Luke."

Artoo seconded that.

Luke hoped he didn't look as grave as he felt. "We will."

Lando already had his disguise in place. His head was wrapped in a beggar's scarf and cowl, his normal clothes hidden under a ragged robe.

Luke donned similar garb and covered the lower part of his face as well.

Outside the huge building, Luke and Lando worked their way through a relatively spa.r.s.ely populated area. There weren't many spots completely void of occupants, but this area was in the southern hemisphere not far from the pole-and it was cold. There were appar-ently more comfortable places to live and work. Lando had a "business a.s.sociate" who owed him a favor, and he paid it by allowing them to hide the Millennium Falcon in a warehouse that was half full of what looked like dried plankton and smelled a lot like a Tatooine landfill in the heat of summer.

"Just how many people owe you favors?"

Lando flashed his bright smile. "A whole lot of them who should never gamble. Lucky for me they do."

"So now what?"

"We catch a ride into the Southern Underground. Keep that lightsaber out of sight but close to hand - this is not the kind of place you want to take your granny for tea, if you know what I mean."

"Bad as Mos Eisley?"

"Parts of it are worse."

"Great. Why are we going to such a delightful part of this chrome-plated planet, anyhow?"

Lando led them down a narrow, twisting alley. Luke saw that he kept his hand on his blaster as they moved. The air was frigid; it clawed at the jacket Luke wore,nipped at his ears, and turned their breaths to crisp,white fog as they moved.

Lando paused at the end of the alley, peeped out, then continued to the next confined pa.s.sageway. "Well, it's like this. You ever hear of the celebrated shipjacker Evet Scy'rrep?"

"Sure, I used to watch Galactic Bandits on the holoproj as a kid. They based a whole series on him.He knocked off something like fifteen starliners, got away with millions of credits and jewels. But theycaught him eventually."

"That's right. At his trial, somebody asked him whyhe robbed luxury cruisers. And Scy'rrep said, 'Because that's where the credits are.' "

Luke smiled and shook his head. Lando said, "We're going into a cesspool of a place because that's where my contacts are."

"Lead on. I hope it'll be warmer than here."

Aizor was in his bath, a sunken tub carved from dense black garden stone and large enough to seat tencomfortably. He spent a lot of time bathing, part of his species' heritage. The Falleen were born of the water,and it was always nice to return to it. Vapor rose fromthe hot water, bringing with it the scent of theeukamint oil that swirled in the tub. Blowers sent soothing waves and bubbles circulating through the liq-uid. Here was a place where he allowed himself to relax totally. There was no holoproj, no comlink, no admittance, save for himself and any guests he wished to entertain. And Guri, of course. He would sometimes have music piped in, when the mood struck him, but otherwise, he wanted nothing to intrude on his peacewhile he soaked away the day's tensions.

He leaned back against the warmed stone and sipped a mild after-dinner drink, a smoky blend of wormwood and spice extract, just potent enough to add an inner glow to the water's warmth around him. Life always looked better from in here. Things were almost perfect.

He'd invited Leia to join him but she had declined to do so.

Things were... almost perfect.

Guri strode into the bathroom and stopped next to the tub.

"You know I hate to be disturbed here," he said. Which was, he realized even as he spoke, a pointless thing to say. Guri would not have bothered him if whatever she wanted had been something that could wait.

She produced a small com. "The Emperor," she said. Xizor sat up and grabbed the comlink. "My master," he said.

"I shall be leaving the planet shortly," the Emperor said. "To inspect portions of a certain... construction project of which you are aware.

When I return, we must get together. I have a few things I would like to discuss with you."

"Of course, my master."

"Tales have reached me concerning one of the Rebels, Luke Skywalker. It seems you have an interest in him?"

"Skywalker? I have heard the name. I cannot say I have an interest in him."

"We shall speak of this on my return."

The conversation ended, the Emperor disconnected. He seldom bothered with opening or closing salutations.

Xizor put the small comlink cylinder on the edge of the tub and allowed himself to sink deeper into the tranquilizing water. Well. It was to be expected that the Emperor would find out about his plans sooner or later.

It affected nothing, as long as Xizor remained cautious. Rumors were not proof.

Guri bent, picked up the comlink, and left.

As he watched her walk away, he briefly considered telling her to disrobe and join him in the water. He had made her do that a few times when he wanted company he could trust absolutely, and she had demonstrated to his satisfaction that she could pa.s.s for a woman in virtually every way during those times...

But-no. He was saving his energies for Leia. She would learn to see him in a better light, he knew. He could wait. Patience was one of the ultimate virtues.

He took a deep breath and sank beneath the water. His lung capacity was great and he could stay under for a long time, a throwback to his reptile heritage. The water warmed his face, and he luxuriated in it.

Overall, life was very good.

It was warmer in the Underground, but it smelled at least as bad as the warehouse where they'd left the Fal-con. At least it did to Luke. The various humans and aliens they'd pa.s.sed didn't seem to notice the stink.

It bothered Luke that in order for you to smell a thing, tiny and invisible particles of it had to be inhaled and sampled by your olfactory system. Whatever was causing that awful rotting, fetid odor, he didn't like the idea of microscopic bits of it going up his nose.

They were in a maglev train station not far below the surface. The waiting platform was crowded, and there were Imperial stormtroopers in armor and uniformed officers circulating in the huge room.

"I think maybe it's time we got some better disguises," Lando said. "We wouldn't want some surveillance cam taking note of us in these rags."

"What did you have in mind?" A Squid Head brushed past them, in a hurry to get somewhere. It had no regard for beggars.

"I've been thinking about that. Ideally, we want to look like somebody n.o.body'll pay any attention to."

"Stormtroopers?"

Lando nodded. "Yeah. Or maybe the Elite Storm-troopers would be better.

Their faces are covered, and since they are so well regarded, n.o.body is apt to bother them."

Luke looked around. "I see one about my size, over there by the ticket droid."

"Yep, and there's one about my height and weight, by the periodical dispenser. Maybe we should do our duty to the Empire and report something strange going on in one of the 'fresher booths, you think?"

"Just as any loyal citizen would," Luke said.

He and Lando grinned at each other.

Leia awoke, feeling groggy. There wasn't any way to keep track of time that she could see. She had dozed for a while; Xizor had called and asked her if she wanted to take a bath with him-a bath! come on! - and she'd fallen back asleep.

She got up and moved to the computer console. "What time is it?"

The device told her.

My. She'd been asleep for almost six standard hours. Quite a nap, that.

She was also hungry. Even as she thought this, the door slid open and Guri entered, carrying a large domed tray. She put the tray on the computer table in front of Leia. "Food," she said. She turned and left.

Leia lifted the dome. A seven-course dinner had been artfully arranged on a series of dishes. A salad, a couple of different kinds of soypro patties, cooked vegetables, fruit, bread, containers of drinks. It looked great and smelled pretty good, too.

Leia picked up a piece of bread and tasted it. It was warm, chewy, had a slightly sour flavor. Excellent. Might as well eat. If Xizor wanted to kill her, he could have done it by now; probably he didn't plan to poison her. Like sleeping when you could, eating was one of those things you had to do when it was available. And if it tasted as great as this stuff did, well, that was a bonus.

The Luke-size lieutenant frowned as he entered the stall, Luke right behind him. "What are you talking about, I don't see any-uh? What...?"