[Dark Nest] - 3(84)

The interrogator spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “That is entirely up to you … as is your husband’s fate.”

On screen, the young officer picked up a laser scalpel and activated the blade. Han responded with a sneer, but Leia could see the fear beneath his show of disdain. The officer brought the blade close to Han’s eye, then made a very precise serpentine cut down Han’s cheek-just proving that there were no rules for this interrogation. The letter S appeared in faint crimson, and blood began to dribble down Han’s face.

Han held his sneer, not even flinching. “I can only get prettier.”

Please, Han, don’t provoke him, Leia urged silently.

“It’s just a scratch,” the interrogator said. “As long as you cooperate, it’s the worst your husband will suffer. But if you refuse, my protégé will be required to demonstrate his skills.”

A surge of hatred rose inside Leia, and she had the sudden urge to show this little man who was really in control here, to reach out with the Force and squeeze his throat shut. Instead, she swallowed her anger and settled for narrowing her eyes.

“This may surprise you, but I’m willing to tell you whatever you wish to know.” She turned toward the hidden vidcam she sensed to one side of the display screen. “You’re already aware of the Falcon’s mission, and the Jedi have nothing else to hide.”

The interrogator followed her gaze and smiled. “Impressive. Others might guess that a cam exists, but not its precise position. I’m sure you have many such talents, Jedi Solo.” His smile faded abruptly, and he leaned in close, breathing fetid air in her face. “But I must warn you against using those talents to escape. Regardless of whether you succeeded, your husband will be in no condition to join you.”

He glanced at display screen again. When Leia looked, the cam panned back. Behind Han stood two Chiss guards, their charric pistols pointed at his head. Leia took this in, her hatred of the interrogator now growing to include his superiors and all the others whom she knew were watching, and she expanded her Force-awareness around her.

As expected, she felt two Chiss guards standing behind her, as well. But she also felt a more familiar pair of presences lurking above and behind the guards, approximately where a ventilation duct might be. Cakhmaim and Meewalh had escaped custody-or, more likely, they had never been captured in the first place.

Leia turned her attention back to the interrogator.

“I don’t appreciate your threats,” she said. It was a code phrase that would alert the Noghri to the fact that she was about to give an order. “But threats are sometimes effective. While Master Sebatyne and I can take care of ourselves, I would be very unhappy if any harm were to come to Han or the other members of our crew.”

The interrogator frowned, confused by what seemed only an indirect response to his warning. “If you are asking for a guarantee of their safety-“

“I’m not asking anything, Commander …” Leia paused, waiting for the interrogator’s name to rise higher in his thoughts. “… Baltke. I’m telling you that whatever happens to Han and the others, I’m going to do the same to you.” She turned to the hidden vidcam. “And to you.”

The tightening of Baltke’s lips was barely perceptible, but Leia knew that his superiors would point it out to him later as the moment he had lost control of the interrogation. For now, however, he seemed to believe he was still in charge. He spent a moment trying to stare Leia down-snorting softly with each breath-and she felt the Noghri withdrawing to carry out her instructions.

Finally, Baltke stepped to Leia’s side and extended a hand toward one of the guards behind her. The hand returned holding a hypoinjector.

“Don’t be afraid, Princess.” Baltke pulled up the sleeve of her robe and reached down to press the hypo to her forearm. “This is only something to help you relax … and assure that the answers we receive from you are true.”

“Oh, I’m not afraid, Commander.”

Leia created a loud Force-thunk in the corner behind her, then used the Force to redirect the hypo into Baltke’s thigh and depress the injector. He gave a startled cry and pulled the hypo away so quickly that even Leia barely saw what had happened. Given that the vidcam’s view had been partially obscured by the commander’s back, she hoped the monitors in the control room had not seen it at all.

“Commander?” asked one of the guards behind her. “Is something wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong,” Leia said reassuringly. Normally,

she