39

Corran Horn tightened the straps on his life-support controller, adjusting the boxy device as he went to get it centered on his chest. He much preferred having the controller built into his command chair as it was on his CorSec X-wing, but the Z-95 was more primitive than that, so he had to wear it. He punched a button, putting the device through a self-check, then got a tone indicating everything was in good working order.

Mirax smiled broadly as she came walking over and succeeded in forestalling the dread her black Imperial uniform sparked in him. “We’re getting ready to head out. Are you okay?”

Corran nodded. “Yeah. We’ve gone over all the Headhunters from nose to stern and they check out.”

“So I gather. I recall seeing you and Erisi in close conversation.”

Corran felt hot color rise in his cheeks. “That was a prelude to a group discussion. We ended up adjusting the sensor packages and zeroing the blasters at 150 meters. We figured that dogfights would be close and shots of over 150 meters in the canyons here are going to be rare.”

“Take care of yourself out there.”

“Hey, my job is making sure to keep TIEs and others off you.” Corran reached out and tapped the tip of her nose with his finger. “Look, it will be crazy out there. In all likelihood Rogue Squadron will get a few more heroes inducted into its Hall of the Dead …”

Mirax gave him a smirk. “Corran, if this is one of those ‘tomorrow we might die so we should be together tonight’ speeches, your timing is lousy since tomorrow is now and last night ended when this morning started.”

“I know.” Corran laughed at the nervousness he felt. “I guess what I’m trying to say is this: Before Coruscant I found you interesting and attractive. Since we’ve been here I’ve gotten to know more about you, to see how you react under pressure and how effortlessly you seem to get along with others. I admire the qualities that I’ve seen in you and, well, if we both come out of this, I’d like the opportunity to get to know you even better.”

“Corran Horn, are you asking me out?” Mirax’s dark eyes sparkled. “Or was there some pool that you lost?”

“If there’d been a pool, I’d have bought up all the tickets.” He sighed. “Mirax, we’ve got enough things going against us, like our respective backgrounds, that the chances of things working out are bad.”

“But we’re Corellians, so what use have we for odds?” She pressed a finger to his lips, then leaned forward and kissed him. “And just to let you know, you’re not the only one who’s been impressed here, so you’re on. You’re taking me to the biggest and best victory celebration the New Republic throws on this rock.” Mirax tapped a finger against the box on his chest. “Life-support gear optional.”

“I’ll be there.” He kissed her in return, then looked up and saw Wedge heading over to the black airspeeder Emtrey was to use to get them to the construction droid. “You better get going.”

“The Force be with you.”

“And with you.” Corran smiled as she ran off. He felt particularly lucky and hoped that sensation would continue throughout the mission, then he turned and found himself face-to-face with Tycho Celchu. “Captain.”

“I’m glad you’ll be flying the black and gold Headhunter. I think it’s the best of the lot, which is why I used it the other day. I just checked it out, everything looks fine, and I know I can trust you to bring it back in one piece.”

“I’ll do my best, sir.” Corran refused to look him in the eye. “If you will excuse me, sir.”

“No, wait a minute.” Tycho shifted to the right to block his path. “I want you to know you’re wrong about me. I didn’t meet Kirtan Loor the night you saw me. I’m not working for the Imps.”

Corran exhaled slowly. “Captain, Wedge has asked me to let it go, and so I will, for now, but there are too many odd things here to make me leave it alone forever.”

“Such as?”

“Such as your being here when Alliance Intelligence thinks you’re buried in rubble on Noquivzor. Such as my seeing you here with an agent of Imperial Intelligence. Such as your vacation at Lusankya.” Muscles bunched at the corners of Corran’s jaw. “Such as Bror Jace being ambushed and killed by Imperials after you obtained permission for him to travel and plotted his course for him.”

Tycho’s face slackened slightly. “But that’s all circumstantial. Nothing is proven.”

“Nothing’s proven yet.” Corran looked him square in the face. “The fact that there’s no solid evidence against you just means you’re real good.”

The other man’s blue eyes sharpened. “Or, Lieutenant Horn, it means I’ve left no evidence because I’m completely innocent.”

“I guess we’ll see about that, Captain Celchu.” Corran rested his fists on his hips. “When I return, I’m going to make ferreting out the spy in our midst a hobby. I’m good at that sort of thing, very good.”

Tycho opened his hands. “And you’re honest, so I know I have nothing to fear.”

His calm reply surprised Corran. There was an utter defenselessness about it he’d never encountered before. He wasn’t certain how to take that remark, so he shunted it aside. “Well, Captain, if you do have anything to fear, I’ll find it.”

“Fly well, Corran.” Tycho gave Corran a nod, then walked off. Beyond him Corran saw Pash Cracken looking in his direction, but he turned away quickly and rubbed at an invisible spot on his red and green Headhunter’s cockpit canopy.

Corran walked past him toward his own fighter. Erisi glanced up from where her blue Headhunter with red trim sat, then walked over on an intercept course. Corran forced a smile on his face. “Set to go, Erisi?”

“Yes. I still wish we were flying together.”

“I’d be happy to have you on my wing.” With Asyr’s joining the flight, Wedge had adjusted assignments so Pash flew with the Bothan and Erisi joined Rhysati. That left Corran alone, but he’d been alone before in combat zones and both he and Wedge knew anyone other than Pash Cracken would have a hard time keeping up with him anyway. “With me flying solo we can lull the Imps into a false sense of security.”

“The last thing they’ll feel is regret.” Erisi smiled easily at him. “Are you feeling well? You’re not coming down sick like Nawara and Shiel, are you?”

Corran shook his head. “No. I’ll be fine. I, ah, I just had a confrontation with Tycho. The Empire owns him, I can feel it. I told him that when I got back I’d dig up all the clues concerning the spy in our midst and prove he was involved in getting Bror Jace ambushed and jeopardizing our mission here.”

“I can see how that might have you out of sorts.” She reached out and stroked his arm. “If there’s anything I can do to help you, let me know.”

“Thanks, Erisi, I appreciate it.” He winked at her, then stepped back and let a loud whistle echo through the cavern. “Let’s go, Rogues. It’s time to get moving. Our people will be in position inside fifteen minutes, which means our prey will show up shortly thereafter. Shoot straight and fly fast.”