By the time Han and Leia arrived, Nashtah was already talking to the woman.
“… come alone?” she was asking.
“That was the agreement.” The woman eyed the Solos and frowned. “For both of us.”
“Those agents just proved that the Solos are on your side,” Nashtah said, waving a hand at the dead Hapans. “And I needed a ride. Your assassination plan was a setup.”
“That’s impossible,” the woman retorted. “If you think the council is going to accept the blame for your failure…”
Nashtah placed a hand over the woman’s mouth, then slammed her against a durasteel wall and leaned in close.
“It is not a matter of what the council will accept, Lady Morwan.” Nashtah’s voice was cold and menacing. “It is a matter of what I am going to do.”
The woman’s eyes slid toward Leia as though seeking help.
“She’s right, Lady Morwan,” Leia said. “They were waiting for us. Someone on your council is a spy.”
Morwan’s eyes widened in alarm, and Han had to force himself not to smile. They had learned a lot about the coup already, but Leia had done something even more important-she had started to sow suspicion and discord within the organization itself.
After a moment, Morwan nodded, and Nashtah removed her hand.
“What are you going to do?” Morwan asked. “Spy or no spy, the council has paid you a Hutt’s treasure. They expect you to earn your fee.”
“I will-my way.”
Morwan considered this for a moment, then said, “Very well-but the Council wants you to attend to the Chume’da first.”
“The child?” Nashtah frowned. “What about the Queen Mother?”
“After,” Morwan said. “We will always be able to find the Queen Mother. But now that we have made our intentions clear, the Chume’da will be sent into hiding.”
Nashtah did not even hesitate. “I’ll require another fee.”
“Of course-once you have eliminated the Chume’da,” Morwan said. “Your first fee will be payment for that.”
Nashtah considered this, then nodded. “Agreed.” She stepped back and smoothed Morwan’s vest. “What kind of vessel did you come in?”
“A Batag Skiff.” Morwan lowered her brow, clearly confused. “Your instructions said to come in something small and anonymous.”
“And you did well,” Nashtah said. “Give me the security code.”
Morwan frowned. “The security code?”
“I need transport.” Nashtah glanced at Han. “The Falcon is not very anonymous, even with the false transponder codes.”
“But how will I…”
” You are not my problem.” Nashtah jabbed her thumb into Morwan’s larynx. “The code!”
“Alophon!” Morwan gasped. “That’s the hatch code.”
Nashtah eased the pressure on Morwan’s throat. “And the pilot’s code?”
“Remela.”
Nashtah smiled. “Was that so hard?” She lowered her hand and turned to Han and Leia. “I trust we won’t meet again … I suspect it would be more pleasant for me than you.”
“That’s it?” Han asked. “You’re just going?”
Nashtah thought for a moment, then raised her brow as though remembering something. “Ah-the problem with your son.” She pulled a datachip from her utility belt and passed it to Han. “Contact instructions. Leave a message when you’re ready.”
She started through the exit, then stopped and looked back, smiling. “I hope you will contact me. I’m looking forward to working with you on that.”
“Not going to happen,” Leia said, snatching the chip from Han. “Jacen is our son.”
“And Tenel Ka was your friend,” Nashtah countered. “Yet here you are,”
She disappeared out the exit, leaving Han and Leia to stand there fuming. Han caught Leia’s eye, then glanced after Nashtah, silently asking if they should try to take the assassin out now. Leia gave a quick shake of her head. With him already injured, Han knew, their odds were poor. Besides, there was a good chance that Tenel Ka and her security team-not to mention the Star Destroyer’s-would stop Nashtah on their own. What they would not be able to do, however, was find out who was on Mor-wan’s mysterious “council.”
Leia slipped a hand under Han’s arm. “Come on, flyboy-we’d better get you back to the Falcon and take a look at that blaster burn.”
She turned him toward the opposite side of the cantina and started away, then suddenly stopped and looked back over her shoulder as though she had just remembered something.