Vision of the future

lost your mind? They hate the Empire!'

'We need a new fringe group to replace the Cavrilhu Pirates,' Tierce said, his voice one of exaggerated patience. 'And we do not have time to argue about it. Thrawn and D'ulin are in the library across from your quarters. Go take over so that he and I can get to the spaceport. Understand? Now move.'

The snapped command made Disra jump. 'Don't ever talk to me that way again, Major,' he warned, his voice quietly deadly. 'Ever.'

'Then don't ever fall apart on me again, Your Excellency,' Tierce countered. If he was either impressed or intimidated by Disra's warning, he didn't show it. 'Now get moving.'

* * *

The legion of Imperial troops Han had feared would be ringing the spaceport wasn't there. Neither were the hard- eyed guards he'd expected at the entrypoint, the monitor droids along the access street, or the stormtroopers at the door to their docking bay. In fact, from all appearances it looked like they'd gotten completely away with it.

And that all by itself was enough to worry him. A lot.

Lando felt it, too. 'I don't like this, Han,' he muttered, glancing around the street behind them as Han unlocked the bay door. 'This is way too easy.'

'Yeah, I know,' Han agreed, taking one last look around as he took Lobot's arm and guided him through the doorway. Lando's on-the-fly changes to his implant's programming over the past hour may have thrown the Imperials off the scent, but they'd also left Lobot rather dazed. If it came to a fight at the Lady Luck's ramp, he was going to be no help at all. The dark passageway through the docking bay's service and supply area was also deserted.

'Soon as we're aboard you get the engines fired up,' Han told Lando as they stepped out onto the permacrete beneath the open sky. The Lady Luck was still there, looking just the way they'd left her.

'I'll handle the weapons. Maybe Moegid can get into the spaceport computer and get us a quick exit slot—'

'That won't be necessary,' a quiet voice came from behind them. Han spun around, yanking out his appropriated blaster. Behind them on the permacrete had appeared the flickering full-sized holo of a man. A man with blue skin, wearing a white Imperial uniform...

Lando made a strange sound in the back of his throat. 'It's him,' he murmured. Han nodded, feeling numb. It was indeed.

Grand Admiral Thrawn.

'Please lay your weapons on the ground,' Thrawn directed. 'I'd prefer to speak with you face-to-face, but understandably have no desire to be shot.'

'Understandably,' Han agreed, keeping a firm grip on his blaster, his eyes darting around the landing bay. There must be some actual troops in here somewhere...

The holo smiled. 'Come now, Captain Solo,' he said soothingly. 'Surely you don't think you'll be able to simply blast your way out of Bastion as you have from so many other systems during your checkered career. Don't you wish to see your wife and children again?' Han adjusted his grip on his blaster, feeling sweat gathering on his forehead. 'Yeah, that's kind of the point, isn't it?' he said.

The holo shook his head. 'You misunderstand, Captain,' Thrawn said. 'You have nothing to fear from me. All I want is a few words with you, and then you and your companions will be free to go your way.' He nodded toward Lando. 'Ask Captain Calrissian. I allowed him to leave my Star Destroyer.'

'This isn't exactly the same,' Lando said tightly. 'This is your hidden capital. You aren't going to want anyone knowing where it is.'

'Come now, Captain,' Thrawn said, rather scornfully. 'Do you really think I would expect knowledge of Bastion's current location to die with you? The seat of Imperial authority has been moved before, many times. It can certainly be moved again. Still, you apparently need more persuasion.'

A movement at the corner of his eye caught Han's attention. He looked up—

To see a row of stormtroopers lined up along the rim of the landing bay's storage area roof, blaster rifles trained on them.

He sighed. They should have made a dash for the Lady Luck when the holo first appeared instead of letting Thrawn stall them this way. Too late now. 'How'd you find us?' he asked, setting the blaster's safety and laying the weapon on the ground in front of him.