“For example, Bornaryn has diversified into exotic star-ship fuels,” Tyko added. “Just yesterday, we acquired Xtib.”
A tense silence fell over the table. Xtib was the processing company that produced TibannaX, the special Tibanna isotope used in StealthX engines to conceal their ion tails.
After a moment, Mara raised her eyes and locked gazes with Tyko. “I hope you don’t intend that as a threat, Chief Thul. We’re a little short on patience these days.”
“Is there a reason Bornaryn would need to threaten the Jedi?” Tyko asked, refusing to be intimidated.
“You’re obviously aware of our discussions regarding Raynar,” Luke said, rising. “Rest assured that the Jedi would never take such an action lightly, but we will do what we must to bring this war to a swift end.”
“Thank you for your frankness, Master Skywalker.” Some of
the stateliness seemed to drain from Madame Thul’s bearing, and she motioned for him to return to his chair. “I don’t know why, but I do take some small comfort from the reluctance in your voice. Please stay and finish your dinner.”
“I’m afraid that isn’t possible,” Luke said.
“But we would like to know how you came by your information,” Mara added, also rising. Her stomach was knotting in anger, though not because of any threat Bornaryn Trading might pose to the Jedi’s TibannaX supplies. Someone-almost certainly a Jedi-had betrayed the confidence of Luke and the order. “Who told you?”
Madame Thul lifted her brow. “You truly expect me to reveal that?”
“You really don’t have a choice,” Mara said.
“This is outrageous!” Tyko snapped.
He started to rise, but Mara flicked a finger in his direction, and he dropped back into his chair, paralyzed by her Force grasp. Gundar, the thick-necked bodyguard who had been doubling as their waiter, reached for his blaster and started to leave his station near the kitchen.
Luke wagged a finger at the hulking human, then used the Force to pin him against a wall and looked to Madame Thul.
“I take security breaches very seriously,” he said. “Don’t make me use the Force on you.”
Madame Thul sighed, then looked away. “You mustn’t be too hard on them,” she said. “They were convinced they were doing the right thing.”
“They always are,” Mara said. “Who was it?”
“The Barabel and his Wookiee,” Madame Thul said. “Tesar and … Lowbacca it was, I believe.”
Mara could sense Madame Thul’s truthfulness in the Force, but she still found it difficult to believe-if only because it proved just how deeply divided the order remained even after Luke’s gambit.
“It makes sense.” Luke sounded as defeated as Mara was shocked. “I had just hoped for better.”
“If you are disappointed, perhaps you should look to yourself for the reason,” Madame Thul suggested. “Tesar and the Wookiee have good hearts, Master Skywalker. They would not betray your confidence unless they believed they had no other choice.”
“Or unless they were under the Colony’s control,” Mara said. She turned toward the restaurant’s transparisteel wall and looked across the green glow of Victory Square, toward the golden sheen of the Jedi Temple’s giant pyramid. “They were back among the Killiks for more than a month.”
Luke’s concern-or perhaps it was sorrow-permeated the Force-bond Mara shared with him, but he retained a neutral expression as he spoke to Madame Thul.
“Thank you for your hospitality,” he said. “The y’luubi was beyond description. I’m sure the Yuza Bre will continue to prosper under Bornaryn’s ownership.”
“You really must leave?” Madame Thul asked.
“I’m afraid so,” Luke said. “Until the troubles with the Colony are resolved, it’s probably better for Bornaryn Trading and the Jedi to keep their distance.”
Madame Thul nodded. “I understand. But before you go, I hope you’ll allow me to make one gift to you-friend to friend.”
Tyko’s eyes widened. “Aryn, I don’t think that’s a good idea. We might still have a use-“
“I doubt it.” Madame Thul scowled at her brother-in-law. “It’s obvious that we’re not going to sway Master Skywalker with a droid, so we may as well give it to him.”
Mara frowned. “A droid?”
Madame Thul smiled. “You’ll see.” She turned to her bodyguard. “Gundar, you can bring in ArOh now.”
Gundar activated a remote, and a terrible squealing arose in the kitchen. A moment later, an ancient R series astromech droid lurched into view, its locomotion system so corrupted and corroded that it resembled an ancient sailing ship zigzagging into a headwind. Someone had recently made an effort to polish its brass casing, but the tarnish along the crevices and seams was so thick, it looked like paint.