Vision of the future

'Hello, Karrde,' Car'das said, the vast network of facial wrinkles shifting as he smiled. 'It's good to see you again.'

'Not that it's been all that long,' Karrde said stiffly. 'I congratulate you on your amazing recovery.'

The smile didn't even falter. 'You're angry with me, of course,' Car'das said calmly. 'I understand that. But it'll all become clear soon. In the meantime—'

He half turned and waved at the back wall; and abruptly the wall was no longer there. In its place was a long tunnel equipped with four guiderails that faded off into the distance. Just beyond where the wall had been, an enclosed quadrail car was waiting. 'Let me take you across to my real home,' Car'das continued. 'It's much more comfortable than this place.' He waved a hand toward the car, and a side door swung invitingly open in response. 'Please; after you.'

Karrde looked at the open door, an odd tightness squeezing his heart. Predators playing with their prey... 'Why don't just you and I go?' he offered instead. 'Shada and Threepio can return to the Wild Karrde—'

'No,' Shada cut him off firmly. 'You want to show someone around, Car'das, you take me. Then if— if—I decide it's safe, I'll consider letting Karrde join us.'

'Really,' Car'das said, regarding her with such obvious amusement that Karrde found himself cringing. Being amused at someone like Shada wasn't an especially healthy thing to do. 'Such quick and short-tempered loyalty you inspire in your people, Karrde.'

'She's not one of my people,' Karrde told him quickly. 'She was asked to come along by High Councilor Leia Organa Solo of the New Republic. She has absolutely nothing to do with me, or with anything I might have done in the past—'

'Please,' Car'das interrupted, holding up a hand. 'I admit this is highly entertaining to watch. But in all seriousness, you're both worrying about nothing.'

He looked Karrde straight in the eye. 'I'm not the man you once knew, Talon,' he said quietly.

'Please give me the chance to prove that.'

Karrde let his eyes drift away from that unblinking gaze. Predators playing with their prey... But if Car'das truly wanted them dead, it didn't really matter whether they played along or not.

'All right,' he said. 'Come on, Shada.'

'Excuse me, sir?' Threepio spoke up hesitantly. 'I presume you won't be needing me any further?'

'No, no, please,' Car'das said, waving the droid forward. 'I'd love to sit down later and have a chat with you—it's been such a long time since I've had anyone I could speak Old Tarmidian with.' He smiled over at Entoo Nee. 'Entoo Nee tries, but it's not the same.'

'Not really, no,' Entoo Nee conceded regretfully.

'So please join us,' Car'das added to Threepio. 'By the way, you don't also happen to know the Cincher dialectory, do you?'

Threepio seemed to brighten. 'Of course I do, sir,' he said, pride temporarily superseding nervousness. 'I am fluent in over six million—'

'Excellent,' Car'das said. 'Let's be going, then.'

A minute later they were all in the quadrail car, speeding smoothly down the tunnel. 'I mostly keep to myself these days,' Car'das commented, 'but occasionally I still need to deal with Exocron officialdom. I use that house back there for such meetings. It's convenient and keeps them from being overawed by my real home.'

'They know who you are?' Shada asked, her tone just short of a demand. 'I mean, who you really are?'

Car'das shrugged. 'They have bits and pieces of my past,' he said. 'But as you'll soon see, much of that history is now irrelevant.'

'Well, before we get to history, let's try some current events,' Shada said. 'Starting with these Aing-Tii monks of yours. David can spin his anti-slaver slant all he wants, but we all know there's more to it than that. You called them in, didn't you?'

'The Aing-Tii and I have had some dealings together,' Car'das agreed soberly, his wrinkled face thoughtful. Abruptly he smiled. 'But that's history again, isn't it? All in its proper time.'