“An excellent suggestion.” Baltke nodded a little too enthusiastically. “I’ll pass it along to Commander Fel.”
“Maybe you should stop torturing Han until you can confirm my answer.” Leia used the Force again, trying to make Baltke think that was a good idea. “I am telling the truth.”
Baltke stood and pressed his comlink. “Wait.”
Han’s torturer glanced over his shoulder, then stopped, the laser scalpel still held to Han’s ear.
Leia exhaled in relief. “Thank you,” she said. “By the time you get a message to Coruscant, there wouldn’t have been enough left of him to-“
“Coruscant?” Baltke asked, looking confused.
“That is where your source is, isn’t it?” Leia focused all her attention on Baltke, alert to any hint of deception… in his face or in the Force. “Or is he with the fleet?”
“You’d have to ask Captain Fel.” Baltke’s tone was helpful, as though he really believed Jagged might tell them. “He’s the only one who knows who the source is.”
Baltke cocked his head and frowned, no doubt listening to instructions over a hidden earpiece, and Leia tried not to choke on the growing lump of disappointment in her throat. Even if Baltke was somehow defeating his own truth drug, there was no hint of deception in either his face or the Force. As far as he knew, Jagged Fel was the only person who knew the identity of the mission’s betrayer.
Baltke’s face turned a lighter shade of blue. “You’re very clever, Princess-but cleverness carries a price.” He depressed his comlink again. “Finish it.”
The officer resumed cutting, removing Han’s ear, then stepped back with the appendage pinched between his thumb and forefinger. Han’s mouth opened in a roar, and he shook his head, spraying a line of blood across the man’s blue face. Leia grew so angry and sick inside that she had to fight to keep from retching.
“I hope you remember my warning, Commander!” Leia snarled. “Because I certainly do.”
“Of course,” Baltke replied pleasantly. “And I hope you remember what will happen if you attempt anything so foolish.” Again, the display screen showed the two guards pointing their charric pistols at the back of Han’s head. “Now perhaps we should discuss your daughter’s activities.”
“There’s no point-you know more than I do,” Leia said. She was still in shock from what she had just seen. The Chiss were tough, cunning soldiers, but she had not believed they would actually torture a prisoner-especially not when one of their command officers had promised otherwise. Of course, the fact that Jagged had felt it necessary to make such a promise suggested that Leia was being a bit naďve. “But I’m sure you won’t believe that, either.”
Baltke looked confused. “I want to believe you, Princess. Just tell us why she is leading the Killik ground swarm.”
“How do I know?” Leia snapped. “Because she’s a Joiner.”
Baltke snorted loudly and cocked his head, and Leia began to regain control of herself, to realize that she was not going to help Han or the Jedi by allowing her fear and frustration to control her. She turned toward the hidden vidcam.
“And even if Jaina wasn’t a Joiner,” Leia said slowly, “the Jedi can’t condone speciecide. We’re all opposed to what you’re doing here. Any help we’re giving to the Killiks-that’s the reason.” She glanced toward the display, and when the officer remained standing next to Han’s bleeding figure, she added, “All the Jedi are trying to do is end the war.”
“By defeating us,” Baltke retorted.
Leia shook her head. “No-by destroying the Colony and restoring the Killiks to their prior state of disorganized nests.”
Baltke scoffed. “Perhaps you and Captain Solo are not getting along these days.” He glanced toward Han’s bleeding image. “Perhaps that is why you keep lying.”
Leia used the Force again. “I … am … not … lying.”
“You aren’t lying?” Even under the power of a mind influence, Baltke sounded unconvinced. “Then the Jedi are fools. What you suggest can’t be done.”
“We think it can.” Leia turned to the vidcam again. “You asked why the Jedi are opposing you. Let me explain.”
The floor and interrogation chair began to shudder with a sudden acceleration tremor. Baltke furrowed his dented brow and remained silent for a moment, listening to his earpiece and snorting softly every time he inhaled. The Force became charged with anticipation … and with a strange, stoic fatalism.