Vision of the future

'Yes, sir,' the boy gulped. 'Transmission on, sir.'

'Hello, Admiral Pellaeon,' a voice boomed from the bridge speakers. A male voice, speaking Basic, with none of the more obvious accents or inflections usually associated with nonhuman vocal equipment.

And a voice that seemed oddly familiar, Pellaeon realized with a sudden shiver. In fact, disturbingly familiar. Like an echo out of the distant past...

'You won't remember me, I'm sure,' the voice continued, 'but I believe we did meet once or twice.'

'I'll take your word for it,' Pellaeon replied, keeping his voice steady. 'To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?'

'I'm here to make you an offer,' the voice said. 'To give you something you very much want.'

'Really.' Pellaeon looked at Ardiff, now standing in taut readiness behind the starboard turbolaser command station. 'I was unaware I was weighed down by any such unfulfilled desires.'

'Oh, you don't know yet that you want this,' the voice assured him. 'But you do. Trust me.'

'I'll admit to being intrigued,' Pellaeon said. 'How do you suggest we proceed?'

'I'd like to come aboard and meet with you. Once you see what I have to offer, I think you'll understand the need for a certain degree of secrecy.'

'I don't like it,' Vermel murmured from beside him. 'It could be some kind of trick.' Pellaeon shook his head. 'With an unknown alien ship as bait?' he countered, gesturing at the vessel hanging motionlessly against the starry background off their starboard bow. 'If it's a trick, Colonel, it's an extremely good one.'

He cleared his throat. 'Captain Ardiff?' he called. 'Make preparations to bring our guest aboard.'

CHAPTER

35

There had been no attacks against the Lady Luck along the last leg of their trip, as Han had half expected there to be. Nor did any of the nearly two hundred warships eyeing each other warily over Bothawui seem all that interested in the yacht as it picked its way carefully across to where the three New Republic Corvettes orbited, huddled together as if terrified of the awesome firepower stretched out across the sky around them.

Which, Han decided sourly, they probably were. Gavrisom, and Calibops in general, were a lot bigger on words than they were on action.

The duty officer on Gavrisom's ship had initially been disinclined to honor their docking request, but a few minutes of arguing—and probably a back-scene discussion or two—had finally changed his attitude.

And as he and Lando ducked aboard through the Lady Luck's docking hatch, and the waiting Leia melted into his arms, the whole annoying hassle suddenly seemed worth it.

'I'm so glad you're back,' Leia murmured, her voice muffled by his chest as she clung to him. 'I was so worried about you.'

'Hey, hon, you know me,' Han said, trying for a casual tone but hanging on to her as tightly as she was to him. Suddenly, now that it was all over, it was as if he was finally able to admit to himself what their reckless jaunt to Bastion might have cost. What he might have lost...

'Yes, I know you,' Leia said, looking up at him and trying a smile that didn't fool him for a second. Maybe she was seeing what they'd almost lost, too. 'And I know you've never been able to stay out of trouble in your life. I'm just so glad you got through this one.'

'Me, too,' Han said honestly, giving her a closer look. 'You look tired.'

'I'm just up a little early,' she explained. 'Gavrisom has us on Drev'starn time, and it's just after dawn down there.'

'Oh,' Han said. It hadn't even occurred to him to ask the duty officer what ship's time was.

'Sorry.'

'No problem,' she said. 'Believe me, this was well worth getting up early for.' She hesitated, just noticeably. 'Did you bring it with you?'

Han glanced over her head at Lando. 'Sort of,' he said. 'Is there somewhere we can go and talk?'