Star Wars - The Trouble With Squibs by Troy Denning

Author:Troy Denning [Denning, Troy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2003-05-08T16:47:31+00:00

“Where’s Second Mistake?” Sligh stood beside Emala, glaring blaster bolts at Han and Leia from the doorway of their own suite. “You gave your word.”

“We thought you could be trusted,” Emala said. “After Tatooine, I suppose we should have known better.”

“You should have known better?” Han stormed.

He pushed through the door, knocking Sligh to the floor and sending Emala stumbling back into the suite. Chewbacca was standing in front of the entertainment center, wearing a pair of headphones and carefully sweeping a bug-wand over the cabinet. C-3PO was near the corner closest, carefully steaming the wrinkles out of one of Leia’s evening gowns. On the opposite wall, a cuttlefish the size of the Falcon was staring in through the observation dome.

Han glared down at Sligh, “Why didn’t you tell us that Second Mistake was Grees frozen in carbonite?”

“Because we know how smart you are.” Sligh scowled and rubbed his chest where Han’s knee had struck it. “You would have asked a bunch of questions, and we really need your help.”

Chewbacca grunted in frustration and, glaring in the direction of the argument, hung the headphones around his neck.

“We thought you could handle the job,” Emala said.

She returned to the entry area and - with a furtive glance up and down the hall - hastily shut the door.

“We were handling it - until you interfered,” Leia said from behind Han, “And we will get Grees back for you. But right now, Lebauer’s price is just too high.”

“Too high?” Sligh retorted. “What’s the big deal about a salvage contract?”

Chewbacca growled a demand, which C-3PO translated from his corner,

“Chewbacca would like to know what salvage contract the pestilence-carrying rodent is talking about.” C-3PO turned back toward Chewbacca. “But I really don’t see much indication of disease. A few flit biters, perhaps-”

“The salvage contract Lebauer wants from the New Republic,” Leia interrupted. She narrowed her eyes at the Squibs. “The salvage contract that Han and I just found out about.”

Emala shot Sligh an irritated look, then sighed heavily and said, “Look, the Shell has been trying to get that contract for months.”

“The ‘Shell’?” Leia asked.

“The Invisible Shell,” Han explained. “Sort of a business syndicate, in polite terms.” He turned to Emala. “You’ve been doing business with the Shell? I didn’t think you were that dumb.”

Emala shrugged. “We needed a supplier,”

“It was supposed to be a one-time deal,” Sligh added quickly. “But the money was just too good.”

Both Squibs sighed and dropped their gazes, then Emala said softly, “Grees wouldn’t stop.”

“Stop what?” Leia asked.

Emala glanced at Sligh, who shrugged and gave a quick nod.

“That deal on Tatooine really worked out for us,” Emala said. “So we’ve been selling art to the Imperials.”

“Which Imperials?” Leia demanded, going into interrogator mode. “Someone aboard the Chimaera?”

Emala glanced at Sligh again, and this time he shook his head.

“Look, I may still be able to get Grees back,” Leia said. “But not if you hold back on us. So far, what you haven’t told me has come close to sinking this deal.

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