35

By the time they were ready to leave, the small band was outfitted with all the gear they thought they might need for a long hike through the sewers followed by an assault on a heavily fortified building.

Luke certainly didn’t consider himself a Jedi Master, but he elected to use his lightsaber as a weapon. Chewie managed to locate a bowcaster, and Lando and Dash stuck to their own blasters. Nobody offered Vidkun a weapon—if the shooting started, they weren’t at all sure which way he might be firing.

Dash had expressed it by saying that people like Vidkun were useful—but you didn’t trust them any farther than you could see them. You paid them what you owed and then got as far away as you could, fast.

They elected to go during the daylight hours. Vidkun would normally be off work and thus would not be missed. That far under the ground, it wouldn’t matter what the sun was doing, either.

Luke shifted some of the gear on his belt, adjusted the small backpack so it rode more comfortably on his shoulders.

Dash said, “Ready?”

Everybody was.

“Let’s do it.”

Darth Vader received a call from the Emperor, via the holonet:

“My master.”

“Lord Vader. How are things there?”

Why was he asking that? “Calm. There are no problems.”

“Stay alert, Lord Vader. I have felt a disturbance in the Force.”

“Yes, my master.”

When the Emperor had discommed, Vader stood and stared into infinity. Was it Luke the Emperor sensed? Or something else? Black Sun and its amoral leader?

Well. It was time, he decided, to see if he could back that particular adversary into a corner. To his computer, he said, “Get me Prince Xizor.”

In his sanctum, Xizor was mildly surprised at the incoming call.

“Lord Vader. What a pleasant surprise.”

The image of Vader looked, as always, imperturbable. But when he spoke, the durasteel in his voice was barely covered by a thin layer of civility:

“Perhaps not so pleasant. I have been made aware of your attempts to kill Luke Skywalker. You will cease all attempts to harm the boy immediately.”

Xizor kept his face neutral, even though he felt a violent surge of anger. “Your information is in error, Lord Vader. And even if it were correct, I am given to understand that the boy is a Rebel officer, all of whom are traitors and wanted dead or alive. Is this sudden change of policy an official Imperial decree?”

“If Skywalker is harmed, I will hold you personally accountable.”

“I see. I assure you that if I should happen to come across Skywalker, I will extend to him the same courtesy I would to you, Lord Vader.”

Vader broke the connection.

Xizor took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Again he told himself it was to be expected that Vader would uncover some information about Skywalker sooner or later, as had the Emperor. Few things of any real value could be kept secret forever; still, it was another irritant. This should have no effect on his plans, either; he would merely have to be more circumspect in his actions. When Skywalker could not be found, Vader might suspect who was responsible, but as long as he did not have proof, Xizor would be safe.

Knowing that did not quite erase the lingering echo of fear.

Of course, the Emperor could always shift his stance. He had done so more than a few times and for reasons that often seemed capricious at best. Still, if Xizor could deliver the leaders of the Alliance, that would go a long way toward keeping Imperial favor. With the Rebellion beheaded, a lot of effort would be saved; billions of credits and tens of thousands of men and machines would be freed for the Emperor’s other pleasures, whatever those might be. The Dark Lord of the Sith might rant, but as long as he was that useful, Xizor would be blasterproof and untouchable.

Darth Vader was too much the Emperor’s puppet to go against Palpatine’s wishes.

This conversation was thus mildly upsetting, nothing more, and in fact had given Xizor knowledge he had not had before. Vader was not sleeping, and that was good to know. Underestimating one’s enemy was always a bad thing.

Leia went through the second exercise routine of the day, but kept it light. She might need to move in a hurry, and she wanted to be flexible and warmed up but not exhausted.

Things were about to happen.