"The Mandalorian let the daughter of the fugitives live, " said Darth Howl when the account was finished. "Can you be sure there is no connection between them?"

"I have examined her thoroughly. She feels no sympathy for the ones we seek. "

"What say you, girl? Tell me what you remember of your mother. "

Ax forced her tongue to unfreeze. She had been spoken to, so she must reply. That was how it worked.

"I remember nothing, my lord. That is both a curse and a blessing. "

"Explain. "

"My lack of memory means that I can offer no clue as to the whereabouts of the fugitives. That is a curse, because it would be simplest to avoid dealing with the Hutts altogether. But if I did remember, my feelings might indeed be clouded, and you would be right to mistrust me. I offer you my a.s.surance that I am loyal, and that the Hutts can be dealt with. "

She felt a pressure on her mind, as though a mountain were leaning on it.

"You are confident, " said Darth Howl. "Perhaps overconfident. But you are not lying. "

"Thank you, my lord. " She bowed deeply.

"That doesn't mean, however, that we can trust you. "

She straightened. "If I may address the Council once more, there is something I wish to say. "

"Speak, " Darth Howl instructed her.

Darth Chratis shot her a warning glance, but she ignored him.

"This mission is paramount, and not just because of the world we stand to gain. There is something my Master has not raised with you, and it concerns the actions of the Mandalorian, Dao Stryver. His master was once an ally of the Empire, but in recent years Mandalore has been distant, threatening, even. Yet this one knew my history, knew of my biological connection to Lema Xandret, knew where to find me. He knew all these things-how? I believe that finding him and obtaining an answer to this question is critical to the security of the Empire. "

That provoked another round of whispering. A Mandalorian spy in the Imperial administration? Unthinkable-yet potentially disastrous if it was true. It could signal the turning of hostile Mandalorian eyes onto the Empire. Whole chains of command would need to be scrutinized. Purges would be required. Heads would roll, perhaps even the Minister of Intelligence's. The turmoil could be tremendous.

Darth Chratis stared at her with lips pressed so tightly together he might have been making diamonds out of his teeth.

Then, unexpectedly, Darth Howl began to laugh. It was an awful sound, full of bile and rot and cruelty, and it punctured the tension like a dagger. It echoed through the Council chamber like the sound of breaking gla.s.s, bringing all else to silence.

"Eldon Ax, " he said, when his malignant mirth subsided, "you do not fool me. "

The blood in Ax's veins turned to ice. "I swear, my lord..."

"Do not interrupt "The whip-crack of command was backed up by the full power of the Force. "I know a liar when I meet one. "

Ax could not move. She could only stare in horror, wondering what had gone wrong.

"You speak of infiltrators in the Empire, of Mandalorian infiltration, " her accuser went on. "But I see you clearly, Eldon Ax. I know what stirs in you, which you would hide from all of us. I feel your hatred for the Mandalorian and the desire for revenge. I know that this mission has nothing to do with the Empire. It is all about proving that Dao Stryver was wrong to dismiss you by not killing you. You yearn to turn the tables on him, to defeat him in turn, and then to kill him. That is all you desire. That is what fills your heart. "

An icy smile spread across Darth Howl's face.

She braced herself to receive the punishment she deserved.

Instead he said, "I approve. "

The invisible hand gripping Ax from head to foot relaxed. "My lord?"

"You have demonstrated to me that you are a true servant of the dark side, Eldon Ax. I endorse your plans, and I advise my colleagues on the Council to do the same. "

Relief swept through Ax. Coming so soon after her certainty that she was about to die, it made her feel light-headed. "Thank you, my lord. "

Darth Howl raised a hand for silence. "I have just one clarification to make. "

Ax's Master looked up at him. "Yes, my lord?"

"The issue at hand is not the security of the Empire. There are a dozen sources from which Dao Stryver could have learned the girl's heritage, including, and not to be forgotten, the girl's mother herself.

The issue is not even the world you hope to bring us, although naturally that would be a significant boon to our preparations for war. No, Darth Chratis, the issue is defiance. Fifteen years ago, Lema Xandret made a stand against the Sith and escaped the punishment that was rightly hers. Now comes this opportunity to correct that oversight. We must take it in order to demonstrate to all that our strength has only increased, and that we never forgive. "

The Council greeted his p.r.o.nouncement with a murmur of approval. Some eyes glanced at the holoprojector in the center of the room, as though even the absence of the Emperor's image was enough to inspire respect and fear.

Darth Chratis bowed low. "You have my word, my lords, that an example will be made of the girl's rebellious kin. Their names will be expunged from history, except as an example to those who would defy us. "

Darth Howl didn't look at Darth Chratis. His gaze remained firmly fixed on Ax.

"I understand, " Ax told him. And she did. This was a test of loyalty as much as it was a mission to punish forgotten traitors. Being a Sith was not just about feeling hatred and anger; it was finding a way to focus those feelings toward the attainment of mastery. Ax said she had forgotten her mother and held her no affection, but when Lema Xandret stood before her and the time came to deliver her rightful punishment, could Ax be the one to administer it?

She swore that she would. There was no affection in her bones for anyone. Not even her Master.

She stood in silent obedience as Darth Chratis confirmed the details of his plan. The Empire would provide him with half a division to command as he saw fit. They would await word from Ax on Hutta before moving on to their final destination. An Imperial envoy would be sent to provide cover for Ax, but that person would play no significant role in the affair. He or she would simply a.s.sure Ta.s.saa Bareesh that the Emperor wasn't suspiciously disinterested in the auction of her prize.

"Your ambitions are plain to us, Darth Chratis, " Darth Howl told him. "Deliver us this world, and you will be rewarded. "

With one last, overlong bow, Darth Chratis took his leave of the Council, and his apprentice followed respectfully two paces behind.

Only when they were in the shuttle did he turn on her. His slender staff clicked open lengthways at one end and the other retracted, forming the crosspieces and handle of his bloodred lightsaber. It stabbed at her face, stopping just short of her skin, and she froze.

"You surprised me in there, " he said in a deceptively quiet voice. "Don't ever surprise me again. "

She didn't say: You're a fool. You mishandled the whole thing. If you'd let me talk to you beforehand, instead of raging about my inability to remember anything, I could have told you in advance. Instead of betraying you, I saved you, and our plan, from being dismissed out of hand.

"I will not, Master" was all she said.

Satisfied with her compliance, Darth Chratis deactivated his lightsaber and stepped away. Truce, she thought, for now. With a grunt, he settled back to ride out the trip from Korriban back to Dromund Kaas-and from there to Hutta, and the attainment of all their dreams.

CHAPTER 6.

"The Hutts have created quite a stir, " said Supreme Commander Stantorrs, leaning back in his chair and tapping one finger on his desk. "I've received four Senatorial inquiries overnight, and I expect more during the day. Whether this auction is a scam or not, we'll have to do something about it now. "

Ula said, "We can't be seen to be sitting on our hands, sir. " Obedience and a.s.surance: that was all the Supreme Commander wanted from his aides. A true meritocracy, however, would have demanded much more from its citizens.

"Indeed not!" Stantorrs exclaimed. "When every world in the Republic, from the outlying settlements to the Core itself, is crying poverty, to let a possible source of resources slip through our fingers would be a public relations disaster, not to mention a setback for galactic security. "

"When the Mandalorians are involved, " said another aide, "it's often a security issue. "

"Indeed. And that's why I've decided to pursue this, publicly and politically, to ensure that it can't come back on us later. "

The martial rhythm of the Supreme Commander's tapping put Ula on edge. Give it a rest, he wanted to yell at them. It's a smokescreen, a distraction from the real issue-the cold war you re losing! The Hutts are exploiting and feeding your paranoia at the very same time. Don't you see how gullible this makes you all look?

So wound up was he in his internal dialogue that he almost didn't hear the Supreme Commander's next words.

"That's why I've decided to send you, Ula, to Hutta as an official envoy of the Republic. "

Ula's thoughts. .h.i.t the roadblock of that p.r.o.nouncement and formed a five-skylane pileup.

"You-what, sir?"

"I need someone to investigate and, if necessary, negotiate on our behalf. Not someone senior-we don't want the Hutts thinking we're too interested-and not someone from the military, either, since this is a political matter. We need someone informed and dedicated, and the reports you filed last night indicate that you are nothing if not both. Ula, I want you on the first available shuttle. "

The other aides stared at him with undisguised envy as Ula tried to find a way out of the situation.

"I'm flattered, sir, but..."

"Your portfolios are already full, I know, but there's nothing you can't delegate. And if it's security you're worried about, I've requisitioned a full detail. We can't afford to lose someone of your abilities, Ula. "

Ula swallowed. Stantorrs had shot down his two major objections in little more than one breath. While it was indeed pleasing that the Supreme Commander afforded him such trust, what use was he as an informer in the wrong sector of the galaxy? He needed to be here, in the office, not mucking around with filthy Hutts and potentially coming under fire.

The gang war that had led to Stantorrs hearing about the Cinzia would be just a minor skirmish if the ship's home was as valuable as the Hutts said it was. Of that Ula was certain, and he was an informer, not a soldier, for a reason. He liked fighting as little as he liked being in the spotlight. He simply wasn't trained for that kind of thing.

There seemed no way to escape it, though, so he accepted with all the grace he could muster.

"Excellent. I know I can rely on you, Ula. Off the record, I'll expect you to keep a sharp eye out for Jedi, of course. Satele Shan says she'll take no official action, but I don't trust her. You know the major players, don't you? You see one of them, you let me know. "

Ula nodded. "I will, sir. "

"And if there's any substance to the Hutts' claims, report immediately. I'll have a fleet on standing orders to offer the world protection from the Empire. "

"Yes, sir. " Like anyone with any political savvy, Ula knew that "protection" was something many worlds simply did not want, for fear of the so-called protectors pillaging natural resources and talent. Also, the mere presence of a Republic cruiser, let alone a Jedi, was likely to draw the wrath of the Sith, who could be even worse. "What if it's nothing?"

"Then we've lost nothing, and you get to keep your promotion. " Stantorrs stood and held out his hand. "I'm elevating you to senior aide, effective immediately, and appointing you as acting envoy to the Bareesh Cartel. Congratulations, Ula. "

Ula shook the Supreme Commander's hand but barely registered the soldierly crush of the strong Duros fingers. Numb from head to foot, he could barely accept what had just happened. The best he could manage was to find ways to profit from it.

As his former colleagues pressed in to offer their congratulations, he realized that this put him in an ideal position to make sure that the Republic didn't gain from the Hutts' offer. He could downplay the importance of any information he discovered-even actively interfere with the auction, if it came to that. Whatever the Hutts had, the Republic wouldn't get access to it.

And then there was the Republic fleet that awaited the outcome of his investigation. If he could send them on a fruitless quest to an empty sector of the galaxy, that could help the Empire in a dozen tangible ways. That the Supreme Commander of the Republic's military forces and parts of the Senate were absorbed in this unfolding drama was also useful. What had started as a minor curiosity could end up playing a deciding role in the conflict, if he was careful.

"When do you want me to leave, sir?"

"Immediately. Your security detail is waiting."

"Thank you, sir. "

Ula swallowed his nervousness, made his farewells, and exited the room.

He didn't get very far. In the hallway outside the Supreme Commanders suite of offices, a squad of six soldiers awaited him. They wore smart service dress uniforms and saluted on sight of him.

"Sergeant Robann Potannin, " the lead soldier introduced himself. "We are your escort, Envoy Vii. "

Potannin was swarthy and muscular, and though he was as tall as Ula, he loomed as though from a great height.

"Thank you. Sergeant Potannin. I'll be grateful for your protection on Hutta. What's the arrangement? Shall we rendezvous at the appropriate s.p.a.ceport when the shuttle is ready?"

"Shuttle departs in one hour, sir. "

"Then I'd better get moving, hadn't I?"

He moved off along the corridor, and the squad fell into formation around him. He stopped, and they stopped, too.

"Where are you going?" he asked Potannin.

"Escorting you to Diplomatic Supplies, sir. "

"That's not where I'm going. I need to swing by my apartment to pack my bag, and I'm sure I can manage that on my own. "

"Negative, sir. All offworld necessities are provided by Diplomatic Supplies. "

"But my clothes..."

"Not required, sir. Ceremonial attire is being tailored to your measurements as we speak. "

Ula had never seen this side of the Republic administration at work. It was surprisingly, and irritatingly, efficient.

"I have a pet voorpak, " he said, improvising wildly. "If I leave it alone, it'll die. "

"Not to worry, sir. Provide us with your key and I'll have it cared for. "

"No, no. That's not necessary. " Ula ran a hand through his hair.

Both packing a bag and his imaginary pet were covers for his real intention. He wanted to send a message from his apartment to his Imperial masters, informing them of this sudden development. Otherwise they might worry at his silence.

Luckily, he had prepared for every contingency.

Pulling his comlink out of his pocket, he said, "I'll call a neighbor. She'll look after it. Give me a moment. "

He walked a short distance from Potannin and placed a quick call. The neighbor was imaginary, too, but the number was real. It led to an automated message service that was regularly checked by Watcher Three's network of agents on Coruscant. After the tone, he recorded his name and ordered two innocuous dishes from a nonexistent menu. The name of the first dish contained nine syllables, the second thirteen, and those numbers allowed Ula's real message to be decoded from stock phrases every Imperial operative knew by heart: he had experienced an unplanned interruption and would reestablish contact as soon as possible.