when he had finished, turning back to the C-5MO. 'Excellent. Now, if you'll keep them transmitting, I'll go out to my landspeeder and make sure they're holding the frequencies properly.'
'You wish to leave them transmitting?' the droid asked, starting to sound distressed again. 'But, sir—'
'You can't expect us to buy such a large order just on your word that they're transmitting correctly, can you?' Han put in. 'Don't worry—one of our people will still be here.' He pointed across the way at a man in a dark green coat examining the line of servant droids.
'He'll stay here until we get this checked out and get back to you,' Lando added. 'You
'Certainly, sir,' the droid said, brightening considerably. 'You'll simply need to show your corporate authorization when you place your order.'
'Good,' Lando said, lifting his eyebrows at Han. The other took the hint, easing Lobot toward the nearest exit sign. 'We'll be back in a few minutes.'
Two minutes later, they were out on the street again. 'Nice touch, that bit about leaving someone behind,' Lando commented to Han. 'Should buy us a few more minutes before they start asking themselves awkward questions.'
'As long as they don't start a conversation with the guy, anyway,' Han grunted. 'So what's the plan? Straight back to the ship?'
'It was,' Lando said. 'Unless you think it would be worth the time to be a little more devious than that.'
'I wonder,' Han said, rubbing his cheek. 'Those droid transmissions ought to blanket any more echo searches, at least for now. But they
'If we don't get caught,' Lando warned. 'They take a dim view around here of people riding cargo carriers.'
'It's worth the risk,' Han said, making it clear that he'd already made up his mind. 'Come on—nearest access is this way.'
CHAPTER
22
The conversation—or at least the part Karoly had been able to hear through the half-open door—had been short, sharp, and unpleasant.
And very enlightening. The Cavrilhu Pirates, allied with the Empire?
On one level, she supposed, it wasn't that much of a revelation, particularly not after that overheard conversation between Solo and Calrissian. Imperials had been doing under-the-board business with the dregs of the fringe for years, after all, from that accursed murderer Palpatine's cozy relationship with Prince Xizor on down. Now that the vast, star-spanning Empire had been reduced to a pitiful handful of sectors, all the more reason they would have to hire out some of their dirty work. But on another level, this was indeed something new. Zothip hadn't been talking to Moff Disra as a hireling would to his master, but as a full equal. A very unhappy equal, moreover, if the pirate chief's tone and streams of invective were any indication.
Even more interesting, given Zothip's veiled threats to go public, it would also appear that this arrangement was neither sanctioned by nor even known to the rest of the Imperial leadership. Karoly had originally followed Zothip with the idea of exacting revenge against the pirates for their part in the Lorardian slaughter three years ago. Now, she had stumbled on something far more interesting.
'You think he'll come?' one of the pirates' voices intruded on Karoly's musings.
' 'Course he will,' Zothip grunted. 'You think he wants us announcing our deal on the all-Bastion comm broadcast frequency?'
'He won't be coming alone,' Control's voice warned. 'He'll have guards with him.'
'Not many of 'em,' Zothip said. 'There aren't a lot of people that slug trusts.'
'A hidden backup might still be a good idea,' Control said, and Karoly could hear the verbal nudging in his tone. 'Just in case.'
'Oh, all right,' Zothip conceded with ill grace. 'Crans, Portin—go get back in the passageway. If I whistle, come out and kill everything that's not us.'
There was a pair of acknowledgments and the sound of approaching footsteps. Moving with considerably less noise,
