Raatu’s snarl vanished, and Tozr immediately snapped his comlink shut.
“We’ll wait,” the Bith said.
“Good idea,” Mara said. “What I want to know is how Lumiya got their membership list.”
“Let’s see if I can sniff that out,” Raatu said. He typed a few more commands, then a message came up asking for a password. He tapped the keys some more, and another message appeared. GAG ACCESS ONLY.
Raatu disconnected his datapad so fast that its speaker popped, and Tozr let his chin fall to his chest.
“Crimey,” the Bith said. “Now we’re just borked.”
A second message appeared on the wall screen: YOUR
ATTEMPT TO BREACH SECURITY HAS BEEN NOTED.
“How did Lumiya slice into GAG files?” Mara asked.
Luke didn’t bother guessing. He was beginning to fear the answer was a lot less complicated than they realized-and the thought was causing an icy lump to gather in his belly. He stepped over to the apartment door and motioned the building manager over.
“What’s the name on this lease?”
“Defula,” the Neimoidian informed him. “Bant Defula.”
“Defula?” Mara asked, coming up behind Luke. “Who’s his employer?”
The Neimoidian removed a small datapad from his robe pocket and tapped in a command. “My records indicate that he’s a senior executive with Astrotours Limited.”
“Never heard of them,” Mara said. “What’s their comm code?”
The Neimoidian turned his datapad so she could see.
Mara frowned. “That’s the same suffix as GAG’s code.”
Luke looked at the number and frowned himself. “Maybe it’s just a coincidence,” he said. “Just because two comm codes have the same suffix doesn’t always mean they’re related.”
“No-but it usually does,” Mara said. She turned to Raatu. “See what you can find out about Astrotours.”
Raatu kept his hands away from the datapad. “Does it have anything to do with GAG?”
“That’s what we’re trying to find out,” Luke said. “Go ahead. You’ve already tripped their security gate.”
The Rodian let out a reluctant nose-whistle, but quickly brought up a poorly done information page advertising Outer Rim adventure cruises with stops at rugged worlds such as Hoth, Geonosis, and Dagobah.
“Who’d want to go to Geonosis?” Tozr asked scornfully. “It’s nothing but a bug nest!”
“I think that’s the point-nobody would,” Mara said. “And Hoth and Dagobah aren’t exactly vacation paradises, either.”
“I don’t know,” Luke said. “Dagobah’s all right.”
“Only if you enjoy feeding leechwings,” Mara retorted. She shook her head in disgust, then entered the comm code the building manager had provided for the renter. A moment later she arched her brow, then turned to Luke with a worried expression-but spoke into the comlink. “Corporal Lekauf-why am I not surprised?”
Luke suddenly found himself very angry. If Astrotours Limited was a GAG front company, then Lumiya had not sliced into the GAG files-she had been given access to them.
He pulled his own comlink and tried to open a channel to Ben, but Ben’s comlink was still being blocked, probably because he was still in the security zone around Crix Base-or already aboard the Anakin Solo.
“Don’t bother denying it,” Mara was saying to Lekauf. “I recognize your voice.”
Luke took the comlink from Mara, then said, “Corporal, this is Grand Master Skywalker of the Jedi order. Do you know whether Colonel Solo and my son have already boarded the Anakin Solo?”
“The Anakin Solo, sir?” Lekauf did his best to sound confused.
“Don’t play stupid.” Luke held the comlink between him and Mara so she could hear, too. “This is my son we’re talking about.”
Lekauf hesitated, then said, “I believe they have, yes. GAG was scheduled to take her out on a short shakedown.”
“Then contact Crix Base and tell them to delay the Anakin’s departure,” Luke said. If Lumiya was working with GAG, then she was working with Jacen, too. “My son is not going anywhere with Colonel Solo. Do you understand?”
Lekaufs only reply was a nervous silence.
“He asked if you understood!” Mara snapped.
“I understand, ma’am,” Lekauf said. “But I’m afraid what Grand Master Skywalker asks is impossible. The Anakin left for Hapes an hour ago.”
“Hapes?” Luke asked. He felt Mara take his comlink from his belt-since he was still speaking to Lekauf on hers-then saw her slip away to start making arrangements to follow. “Did I hear you correctly?”