[Thrawn Trilogy] - 01(92)

“Rebels?”

“No, and that’s what’s strange about it,” Torve said. “They’re not rebelling or making trouble or even sitting on vital resources. They’re simple people, and all they want is to be left alone to continue living that way. The government’s apparently decided to make an example of them, and among other things has cut off all food and medical supplies going that way until they agree to fall into step like everyone else.”

“That sounds like this government,” Lando agreed heavily. “Not much into regional autonomy of any kind.”

“Hence, we smuggle in food,” Torve concluded. “Crazy business. Anyway, it’s nice to see you two again. Nice to see you’re still working together, too. So many teams have broken up over the past few years, especially since Jabba bought the really heavy end of the hammer.”

Han exchanged glances with Lando. “Well, it’s actually more like we’re back together,” he corrected Torve. “We sort of wound up on the same side during the war. Up till then …”

“Up till then I wanted to kill him,” Lando explained helpfully. “No big deal, really.”

“Sure,” Torve said guardedly, looking back and forth between them. “Let me guess: the Falcon, right? I remember hearing rumors that you stole it.”

Han looked at Lando, eyebrows raised. “Stole it?”

“Like I said, I was mad,” Lando shrugged. “It wasn’t an out-and-out theft, actually, though it came pretty close. I had a little semilegit clearinghouse for used ships at the time, and I ran short of money in a sabacc game Han and I were playing. I offered him his pick of any of my ships if he won.” He threw Han a mock glare. “He was supposed to go for one of the flashy chrome-plate yachts that had been collecting dust on the front row, not the freighter I’d been quietly upgrading on the side for myself.”

“You did a good job, too,” Han said. “Though Chewie and I wound up pulling a lot of the stuff out and redoing it ourselves.”

“Nice,” Lando growled. “Another crack like that and I may just take it back.”

“Chewie would probably take great exception to that,” Han said. He fixed Torve with a hard look. “Of course, you knew all this already, didn’t you.”

Torve grinned. “No offense, Solo. I like to feel out my customers before we do business-get an idea of whether I can expect ‘em to play straight with me. People who lie about their history usually lie about the job, too.”

“I trust we passed?”

“Like babes in the tall grass,” Torve nodded, still grinning. “So. What can Talon Karrde do for you?”

Han took a careful breath. Finally. Now all he had to worry about was fouling this up. “I want to offer Karrde a deal: the chance to work directly with the New Republic.”

Torve nodded. “I’d heard that you were going around trying to push that scheme with other smuggling groups. The general feeling is that you’re trying to set them up for Ackbar to take down.”

“I’m not,” Han assured him. “Ackbar’s not exactly thrilled at the idea, but he’s accepted it. We need to get more shipping capacity from somewhere, and smugglers are the logical supply to tap.”

Torve pursed his lips. “From what I’ve heard it sounds like an interesting offer. ‘Course, I’m not the one who makes decisions like that.”

“So take us to Karrde,” Lando suggested. “Let Han talk to him directly.”

“Sorry, but he’s at the main base at the moment,” Torve said, shaking his head. “I can’t take you there.”

“Why not?”

“Because we don’t let strangers just flit in and out,” Torve said patiently. “We don’t have anything like the kind of massive, overbearing security Jabba had on Tatooine, for starters.”

“We’re not exactly-” Lando began.

Han cut him off with a gesture. “All right, then,” he said to Torve. “How are you going to get back there?”

Torve opened his mouth, then closed it again. “I guess I’ll have to figure out a way to get my ship out of impoundment, won’t I?”

“That’ll take time,” Han pointed out. “Besides which, you’re known here. On the other hand, someone who showed up with the proper credentials could probably pry it loose before anyone knew what had happened.”

Torve cocked an eyebrow. “You, for instance?”

Han shrugged. “I might be able to. After that thing at the LoBue I probably should lie low, too. But I’m sure I could set it up.”