Star Wars - Truce at Bakura by Kathy Tyers

Author:Kathy Tyers
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2012-05-16T11:02:38+00:00

Leia caught herself bustling as she led Threepio through a guarded door

arch in the Bakur complex's old Corporation Wing. Artoo wheeled silently

behind, and Han followed at rear guard. Reddish wood paneled Prime Minister

Captison's inner office. His massive desk had been sawed freeform out of the

weathered burl of some rain forest giant. He sat near its center, where a flat

space had been carved and polished, and he was frowning.

Was she that late? Abruptly she realized he was frowning at Threepio and

Artoo, not at her. She brandished the restraining-bolt Owner to show Captison

she had both droids under control. She'd also programmed Threepio not to speak

until she rescinded the command. Asking him to keep quiet on his own just

hadn't seemed kind--or plausible. "I'm sorry to have been delayed," she said.

Captison wasn't a large man, but like Luke, he radiated assurance. "I

hope you were able to take care of your personal problem."

"Yes, thank you."

He extended his hands toward two repulsor chairs. Han pushed one toward

her, then took the other one. Sideways. I love you, Nerf Herder, Leia silently

repeated as she sat down on the gently bobbing seat. "I must make a formal

apology for the deaths this morning. May I contact the families of the

fighters who were killed?"

One corner of Captison's mouth twitched up as he watched Han. "I think

that would be appreciated. Yes, I'll arrange it for you. There has also been a

reconfiguration of Ssi-ruuvi ships outside our defense web," Captison added.

"The web reconfigured to compensate. So much I hear from Commander Thanas, at

any rate."

Leia caught Han's sidelong glance. "Does he report to you and Governor

Nereus?" Han asked.

Captison shrugged. "I've asked him to. Seems the least he could do."

Leia puffed out a breath. "Maybe you don't know how unusual it is for an

Imperial officer to pay the slightest attention to the people he's allegedly

defending."

"Really."

Maybe Captison did know. Maybe he'd cultivated Commander Pter Thanas. "At

any rate, here are the droids I offered. May we try translating whatever you

have?"

"I'm not fond of droids," Captison said drily. "But at this point I'm

willing to use them, if there's a chance they could help."

She shot at Threepio with the Owner. It whirred softly.

As if he'd never been silenced, Threepio chimed in. "I am fluent in over

six million forms of communication, sir."

Leia had heard that sentence so many times she'd forgotten how impressive

it was. Captison's sudden interest reminded her. "That's right, Your Highness

said so over dinner." He touched a panel on his desktop console. "Zilpha, key

in those ship-to-ship recordings we picked up from the Fluties." He leaned

back in his chair and explained, "We've got plenty of their chatter. Sounds

like a flock of birds--great big ugly ones, with deep voices."

"Well, if anyone's good at talking, it's our Goldenrod." Han rapped

Threepio's metal shoulder.

Threepio's head whipped toward him. "Thank you, General Soloffwas

A light changed color beside Captison's elbow. "Here we go. Have your

droid listen to this."

"You can talk to him directly," Leia put in. "His full designation is

See-Three-Pee-Oh, and he answers to Threepio."

"All right," said Captison. "Listen, Threepio. Tell me what they're

saying."

The console

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