by Brian Daley
Han made a sour face. I happen to like to shoot first, Rekkon. As opposed to shooting second. But he lowered his weapon, and Chewbacca did the same with the bowcaster. Rekkon worked the door controls. The panel snapped up, revealing a man of about Hans height, but bulklet through the torso, with brawny arms and wide, blunt hands. His face was fine-featured, with high cheekbones and alert, roving eyes of a liquid blue. His hair was a long shock of bright red. His darting eyes found Hah and Chewbacca first, as his right hand made a reflexive spasm toward the thigh pouch of his coverails. But he arrested the mo-tion, turning it into the rubbing of palm against trouser leg on seeing Rekkon. Han didnt blame the man for being skittish at this point, with several of his team-mates already dead.
The mans mind worked quickly. Were leaving? he was asking, even as he stepped through the door.
Presently, Rekkon replied, gesturing over to where Blue Max sat linked to the data system. Well soon have the data we require. Captain Solo there and his first mate, Chewbacca, will be transporting us off-world when were ready. Gentlemen, may I present Tonal, one of my companions.
Term, his poise recovered now, inclined his head to the two, then went over to inspect Blue Max. Han fol-lowed; someone in this band might be an informer, and he wanted to acquaint himself with each one of them, to do all he could to safeguard himseft and his ship.
Not very impressive, is it? Term asked, staring down at Max.
Not too, Han answered fake-pleasantly.
A nod from Term. You think Rekkonll find what hes looking for? Han asked. I mean, this long shots your only hope of finding your folks, right? Or shouldnt I ask?
Term fastened a frank gaze on him. It is a personal matter, Captain. But since your own safety is at stake, I suppose youre withm your rights. Yes, if I cant lo-cate my father and brother in this way, Ill have no idea how to proceed. Weve fixed all our hopes on Rekkons theory. For a moment he glanced over to Rekkon, who was showing Chewbacea features of the rooms equipment. I didnt throw in with him lightly, but when I saw that the Authority was dragging its feet in its investigations, and my own inquiries led me to hun, I knew I must commit myself to follow Rekkons be-lief.
Torms voice had drifted as his thoughts had. Now he came back to himself. Its most unselfish, very ad-mirable of you, Captain Solo, to take on this mission.
Not many men would willingly risk-
Jet back; you got it all wrong, Han interrupted. Im here cause I struck a deal, Torm. Im strictly a businessman. I fly for money and I look out for num-ber one, clear?
Torm reappraised him. Quite. Thank you for clari-fying that, Captain. I stand corrected.
The door was sounding again. This time, Rekkon admitted two of his co-conspirators. They were Trianii, members of a humanoid species of feline. One was an adult female, trim and supple, who stood just about the height of Hans chin. Her eyes were very large, yellow, with vertical slits of green iris. Her pelt, a var-ied, striped pattern along her back and sides, lightened to a soft, creamy color on face, throat, and torso front. It tufted out to a thick mane around her head, neck, and shoulders. Behind her curled and swayed a meter of restive tail, mixing the colors of her pelt. She wore the only clothing her species required, a belt at her hips to support loops and pouches for her tools, instru-ments, and other items. Rekkon introduced this being as Atuarre.
With Atuarre was her cub, Pakka. He was a mini-ature copy of his mother, standing half her height, but his coloring was darker, and he wasnt as slender or as graceful. He still had some of the fuzzier fur and baby fat of cubhood, but his wide eyes seemed to hold an adults wisdom and sorrow. Though his mother spoke, Pakka said nothing. Then Han recalled Rekkons say-ing the cub had been a mute since enduring Authority custody. Like his parent, Pakka wore a belt and pouches.
Atuarre pointed a slim, clawed finger at Hah and Chewbacca. What are they doing here? Theyre here to aid our escape, Rekkon ex-plained. They brought the computer element I needed to extract the final data. The only one yet to arrive is Engret; I couldnt contact him, but left a message on his recorder with the code word for him to contact me.
Atuarre seemed agitated. Engret didnt make his check-call and didnt answer his com, so I stopped by his billet on the way here. Im sure his quarters are under surveillance; we Trianii do not mistake such things. Rekkon, I believe Engrets been killed, or taken.
The leader of the small band sat down. For a mo-ment Han saw the strength and determination leave Rekkons features. Then it was back, that special vi-tality. I suspected that was the case, he admitted. Engret would not forgo contact for days, no matter what. I trust your instincts in this completely, Atuarre. We must presume him to have been eliminated.
He had said this with absolute finality. This wasnt the first time he had come up against an unexplained disappearance. Han shook his head; on one side was the near-absolute power of the Authority, and on the other, nothing more substantial than friendship, than family ties. Han Solo, loner and realist, considered it a gross mismatch.
How do we know hes what he says he is? Atuarre was demanding, pointing to Han.
Rekkon looked up. Captain Solo and his first mate, Chewbacca, come to us by way of Jessa. I presume we all trust her aid and counsel? Good. We leave as soon as possible; Im afraid therell be no time for lug-gage or arrangements. Or com-calls, for any of us.
Atuarre took her cubs paw-hand as Pakka studied Han and Chewbacca silently. When do we go?
Rekkon went back to Max, to find out just that. Just then the computer modules photoreceptor came back on. Got it! he chirped. A translucent data plaque emerged from the slot at the terminals side.
Rekkon seized it eagerly. Fine. Now we must match it against the Authoritys installations charts- But thats not all, Max blurted.
Rekkons dense brows knit. What more, Blue Max?
While I was in the system, I monitored it, you know, to get the feel. This intrusion is fun! Anyway, theres a Security alert on in the building. I think its directed at this level. The Espos are moving into po-sition.
Atuarre hissed and pulled her cub closer. Torms face seemed impassive at first, but Han noticed a tic of anxiety along his jaw. Rekkon tucked the data plaque into his robes, and from them drew a big dis-rupter pistol. Han was already buckling on his gunbelt, as Chewbacca settled his ammo bandolier over his shoulder and threw the empty tool bag aside.
Next time I fall for one of these tempting offers, Han instructed his partner, sit on me till the urge passes.
Chewbacca growled that he definitely would.
Torm had taken a handgun from his thigh pocket, and Atuarre had produced another from one of her belt pouches. Even the cub, Pakka, was armed; he pulled a toylike pistol from his belt.
Max, Rekkon said, are you still in the network? Max indicated he was. Good. Now, look at deploy-ment plans for alerts in this Center. At what corridors, junctions, and levels will the Espos be stationed?
I cant tell you that, Max answered, but I could clear a way through them, if thats what you want.
That grabbed Hans attention. Whatd that little fusebox say?
The computer-probe elaborated. The Security Po-licemen are all supposed to respond to alarms, it says here, and redeploy to cover any new trouble spots. I could just make enough alarms in other places and draw them away in different directions.
That may not get them all out of the way, Hah pointed out, but it could sure thin out the opposition. Do it, Maxie. Another thought struck him. Wait a second. Can you fake alarms anywhere else?
Maxs voice burst with pride. Anywhere on Orron III, Captain. This networks got so much capacity that theyve hooked just about everything into it. Good cost reduction, but bad security, right, Captain?
No foolin. Yeah, give it everything youve got
fires in the power plants, riots in the barracks, inde-cent exposure in the cafeteria, whatever appeals to you, all over the planet. He was thinking that if there were a picket ship in orbit, she might also be kept busy by a rash of false alarms.
Therere two ways out of here that might be open, Max announced, and flashed the positions on the screen. The two paths, picked out on the levels lay-out, both led back to the gallery where the lift and drop chute banks were located. One route was on their floor, the other on the floor above.
Security alarms began clanging and warbling in the corridors. The rooms equipment blazed with ripples of light as every circuit reacted to Maxs prompting. Then, suddenly, the room became dim, except for light from the window-wall. The Centers automatics had shut down main power sources in response to the supposed emergency. Alarms continued to sound, run-ning on reserves.
Illumination in the corridors will be very low, on standby power, Rekkon told the others as they gathered by the door. We may be able to slip by. He carefully set Blue Max back into his eraplacement. As his plastron swung shut, Bollux, followed by Rekkon, joined the rest of them at the door.
If I may suggest, said the droid, I would, per-haps, attract less suspicion than any other individual here. I could walk well in advance of you others, in case there are Security Policemen present.
That makes sense, Atuarre said. Espos wont waste time and power shooting a droid. Theyll halt him, though, and that will warn us off from any traps.
The door slid up, and Bollux started off down the corridor, preceded by the noise of his stiff suspension. The others followed afteraRekkon and Hah in the lead, with Term behind. Atuarre and Pakka came next, and Chewbacca brought up the rear, his bow-caster cocked and ready. The Wooldee was watching the conspirators as well as rear-gnarding. With the possibility of a traitor in the group, he and Hah trusted no one, not even Rekkon. The first wrong move on the part of any of them would be the Wooldees signal to shoot.
They came to a turn. Bollux went around first, but as the others approached it, they heard Halt!
You, droid, get over herel
Hah, peeking cautiously around the corner, spied a contingent of heavily armed Espos clustered around Bollux. He picked up bits of the conversation, mostly questions about whether the droid had seen anyone else. Bollux put up a front of supreme ignorance and lethargic circuitry. Beyond the gathered Espos, the corridor opened onto the chute gallery, but it might just as well have been on the other side of the Corpo-rate Sector.
Its no good this way, Hah said.
Then its the more desperate route for us, Rekkon replied. Follow me. They went back the way they had come, at a trot. As they rounded the next corridor, the footfalls of the Espo detachment drifted to them. They hadnt gone far when they heard another squad approaching from the opposite direction.
Nearest stairwell, Hah instructed Rekkon, who led them a few meters more, then ducked through a door. Keep it as quiet as you can, Han whispered in the semidarkness of the emergency-lighted stairwell. Up one floor, and well make our way to the balcony overlooking the chutes. Of course, Chewbacca, for all his bulk, moved quietly, as did the sinuous Atuarre and her cub. Rekkon, too, seemed used to running with stealthy efficiency. That left only Hah and Torm to guard their steps, both laboring to keep the noise of their movements to a minimum.
When they reached the second floor of that level, they found it empty. Blue Maxs flurry of crazy alerts had drawn the security forces away from their con-tingency posts. The fugitives raced along the corridors as through a hall of mirrors, keeping close to the walls.
They came to the balcony overlooking the gallery. Crouching low, they edged up to its railing. Han risked a quick peek over the top, then drew his head down again. Theyre setting up a crew-served blaster down by the chutes, he told them. Therere three Espos working it. Chewie and I will fix that up; the rest of you get set to jump. Chewie?
The Wooldee rumbled softly, his finger tightening on the bowcaster. He moved off, staying low, along the railing. Hah leaned close to Rekkons ear and whispered, Do us a favor and watch things here; we can only look one way at a time. He scuttled off in the opposite direction from his partner. With Rekkon armed and watchful, Hah doubted that any turncoat would show his hand now.
He paralleled the railing, rounding its corner, down to the far wall. Peering over the rail, he saw the Wooldees big blue eyes edging up over the opposite railing. Halfway between them and several meters be-low, the gun crew was making final adjustments on the heavy blaster and its tripod mount. In a moment they would be ready to activate the weapons deflector shield; going after them would then become an almost hopeless venture, and the drop chutes would be inac-cessible. Apprehension would be a matter of time. One of the Espos was bending even now to throw on the shield.
Hah stood, drew, fired. The man who had been about to activate the shield slumped, clasping a burned leg. But one of the others, with no regard for niceties like fire-discipline, spun and sprayed a steady stream of destructive energy from a short riot gun. The riot guns fire blasted material from the walls and railing; the Espo slewed the weapon around carelessly, search-ing for his target.
Hah was forced to duck back out of the way as the rain of energy lashed through the air, striking walls, ceiling, and most things in between. That innocent by-standers mightve been hurt didnt seem to have en-tered into the Espos calculations.
But the Espo gave a cry and fell, his finger easing off the trigger, accompanied by the metallic twang of Chewbaccas bowcaster. Hah looked over the rail again and saw the second man slumped over the first, brought down by one of the short quarrels from the Wooldees weapon. Now Chewbacca stood, jacldng the foregrip of his bowcaster down to recock it and strip another round off its magazine.
The third gun crewman kicked the bodies of his fellows out of the way while firing wildly with his pis-tol and yelling for help. Hah shot him just as the Espos hands were closing on the heavy blasters grips. Chewbacca was already over the balcony railing. Han, straddling the railing on his side, called, Rekkon, get em moving! He pushed himself off.
He missed his footing and fell to all fours, then raced to help his partner throw assorted Espos off the blaster cannon. Term leaped down, landing lightly for all his weight, and Atuarre came after him, all grace and form. Her cub launched himself off the rail, gathered his limbs and tail in for a somersault, and landed next to her. Atuarre slapped him on his way, as if to say this was no place to show off, even for an acrobatic Trianii.
Last to come was Rekkon, moving skillfully, as if this were something he did all the time. Han wondered for a half-second about this versatile university don who never seemed to lose track of the problems at hand. In sending all the others ahead, Rekkon made sure no potential spy remained behind, to be tempted by an unguarded back.
Torre stopped short of the drop chutes, luckily for him. The fields have been shut offi he shouted. Rekkon and Atuarre were with him in a moment, fumbling at the emergency panel beside the chute opening. Rekkons sturdy fingers closed around the panels grille, and he yanked it away without ap-parent effort.
Calls and a general hubbub could be heard in the upper corridors. Han squirmed himself down behind the blaster cannon, setting his feet on the pegs of its tripod, and switched on the deflector shield. Heads up! he warned his companions. The partys start-ing!
A squad of Espos, wearing combat armor and car-tying rifles and riot guns, burst out onto the balcony above, fanning out along the rail, and started firing down. Their bolts splashed in polychrome waves from the cannons shield. Torm, Rekkon, and the others, directly behind Han as they worked on the drop-chute panel, were protected, too, for now. Chewbacca stood behind his partner, firing his bowcaster whenever he had an opening. Soon his weapon was empty, and he pulled another magazine from his bandolier. He chose explosive quarrels and started firing again. The deto-nations filled the gallery with smoke and thunder.
Hah had raised the cannons snout to extreme ele-vation, and now he swept it across the railing. Heavy blaster charges flashed and cra
ckled; parts of the rail-ing and the balconys edge exploded, melted, or burst into flames. Several Espos were hit, falling to the floor below, and the rest backed hastily out of the line of fire, darting out to snap off a volley when they could, in a constant, determined exchange of shots. The fire-fight and its echoes, heat, and smoke enveloped the gallery.
Han kept the Espos heads down with long traverses of the cannon, letting go at the floor of the balcony, scoring the walls. The gallery heated up like a furnace from the energies unleashed. Red beams of annihila-tion bickered back and forth, and Hah knew that the cannons shield wouldnt hold out forever against con-stant fire from the riot guns and rifles.
A squad of armored figures appeared in the low corridor, the one leading directly onto the gallery. Hah depressed the cannons mouth and filled the lower hallway with raging destruction. These Espos drew back, too, but, like the others, stayed just out of range to risk firing whenever they could. Atuarre, Pakka, and Torre, drawing their guns, joined Han and Chew-bacca in returning fire, while Rekkon kept working at the chute.
Rekkon, if you cant get that drop field working, thatll be all for us, Han hollered over his shoulder. A Security man leaned out from the balcony above and snapped off a shot. It rebounded from the guns shield, but Han could tell from the residual heat the deflector let through that it was beginning to fail.
Its no use, Rekkon decided as his strong, sensi-tive fingers probed the mechanisms. Well have to find another way out.
This is a one-way street! Han shouted without looking back. Chewbaccas angry, frustrated roars sounded above the din.
Then you dive headfirst down the shaft! Torre bellowed back. Hans rejoinder was lost in an elec-tronic whooping that filled all their ears, catching at their hearts. It was a warning signal, standard through-out much of the galaxy.
Hard radiation leak, Rekkon shouted. That wasnt one of the alarms Max put in.
Not only that, Han thought, but it had only just be-gun to sound, and it was sounding right in the corri-dors off the gallery. A hard radiation exposure would leave little chance for any of them to live; theyd be receiving lethal dosages even as they listened. Hah swore at himself for ever having gotten out of a nice, cushy racket like gunrunning sideways through moun-tains. He scrambled up. Get ready. Were going to have to shoot our way through them, or else we all get signed off.
