Reaching into the other side pouch, he pulled out his blaster, checked its power level, and slid it into the holster pocket built into his flight suit. His comlink went into another pocket, though what use it would be aboard the Wild Karrde he couldn’t imagine. The emergency survival pack went around his waist, awkward to fasten in the cramped quarters. And last, he pulled out his lightsaber and fastened it to his belt.
“Okay, X-wing, we’ve got the cylinder established,” the voice came. “Whenever you’re ready.”
The Wild Karrde’s small docking bay was directly above him, its outer door gaping invitingly. Luke checked his instruments, confirmed there was indeed a corridor of air between the two ships, and took a deep breath. “Here we go, Artoo,” he said, and popped the canopy.
A puff of breeze brushed across his face as the air pressures equalized. Giving himself a careful push, he eased up and out, gripping the edge of the canopy to turn himself around. Artoo, he saw, had ejected from his socket and was drifting freely just above the X-wing, making distinctly unhappy noises about his situation. “I’ve got you, Artoo,” Luke soothed, reaching out with the Force to pull the droid toward him. Getting his bearings one last time, he bent his knees and pushed off.
He reached the airlock at the back of the bay a half second ahead of Artoo, grabbed hold of the straps fastened to the walls, and brought both of them to a smooth halt. Someone was obviously watching; they were still moving when the outer lock door slid shut. Gravity came back, slowly enough for him to adjust his stance to it, and a moment later the inner door slid open.
There was a young man waiting for them, wearing a casual coverall of an unfamiliar cut. “Welcome aboard the Wild Karrde,” he said, nodding gravely. “If you’ll follow me, the captain would like to see you.”
Without waiting for a reply, he turned and headed down the curving corridor. “Come on, Artoo,” Luke murmured, starting after him and reaching out with the Force for a quick survey of the ship. Aside from their guide, he could sense only four others aboard, all of them in the forward sections. Behind him, in the aft sections …
He shook his head, trying to clear it. It didn’t help: the aft sections of the ship still remained oddly dark to him. An aftereffect of the long hibernation, probably. It was for certain, though, that there were no crew members or droids back there, and that was all he needed to know for the moment.
The guide led them to a door, which slid open as he stepped to one side. “Captain Karrde will see you now,” he said, waving toward the open door.
“Thank you,” Luke nodded to him. With Artoo bumping against his heels, he stepped into the room.
It was an office of sorts; small, with much of its wall space taken up with what looked like highly sophisticated communications and encrypt equipment. In the center was a large desk/ console combination … and seated behind it, watching Luke’s approach, was a slender man, thin-faced, with short dark hair and pale blue eyes.
“Good evening,” he said in a cool, carefully modulated voice. “I’m Talon Karrde.” His eyes flicked up and down Luke, as if measuring him. “And you, I presume, are Commander Luke Skywalker.”
Luke stared at him. How in the worlds … ? “Private citizen Skywalker,” he said, striving to keep his own voice calm. “I resigned my Alliance commission nearly four years ago.”
An almost-smile twitched the corners of Karrde’s mouth. “I stand corrected. I must say, you’ve certainly found a good place to get away from it all.”
The question was unstated, but no less obvious for that. “I had some help choosing it,” Luke told him. “A small run-in with an Imperial Star Destroyer about half a light-year away.”
“Ah,” Karrde said, without any surprise that Luke could see or sense. “Yes, the Empire is still quite active in this part of the galaxy. Growing more so, too, particularly of late.” He cocked his head slightly to the side, his eyes never leaving Luke’s face. “Though I presume you’ve already noticed that. Incidentally, it looks like we’ll be able to take your ship in tow, after all. I’m having the cables rigged now.”
“Thank you,” Luke said, feeling the skin on the back of his neck start to tingle. Whether a pirate or a smuggler, Karrde should certainly have reacted more strongly to the news that there was a Star Destroyer in the area. Unless, of course, he already had an understanding with the Imperials … “Allow me to thank you for the rescue, as well,” he continued. “Artoo and I are lucky you happened along.”