Alliances (Star Wars: Thrawn, #2)(59)

“A dangerously poor design,” Thrawn said. “Lighting from a single direction creates shadowed regions that can be exploited.”

“Which is exactly what we’re going to do,” Anakin said. “If we’re lucky, the lighting controls will be out here where we can get to them, so keep an eye out for them. Let’s get outside before they get nervous.”

A minute later he, Thrawn, and R2-D2 gathered together at the foot of the ramp.

Under the dead eyes of two full squads of B1 battle droids, their E-5 blaster rifles trained on the newcomers.

“Interesting design,” Thrawn murmured. “Small and only moderately armored, but narrow and therefore difficult to target.”

“They’re the workhorses of the Separatist army,” Anakin murmured back. “But don’t get comfortable—they’ve also got droids that are bigger, better armed, and way better armored. Speaking of which, there are two of them now. And, I’m guessing, our host.”

A pair of B2 super battle droids were clomping across the courtyard, a tall, slender human striding along between them. With the lights streaming down from behind him the man’s features and insignia were impossible to make out.

But streaming behind him was a distinctive cloak, a Serennian symbol of nobility.

The same kind of cloak Count Dooku wore.

“To our left,” Thrawn murmured. “Note the vehicle in the corner.”

“Later,” Anakin murmured back tensely, stretching out to the Force. If that was Dooku, this whole thing was about to fall apart.

In fact, it probably already had. With the light squarely in Anakin’s face, there was no way the Serennian hadn’t already identified him.

Still, there was no hint of warning from the Force. Nor had the approaching figure so much as broken step. Not Dooku, then?

“Note the vehicle in the corner,” Thrawn repeated.

Reluctantly, Anakin sent a sideways glance in that direction. Tucked into the northwest corner of the courtyard, attended by another battle droid squad, was a small speeder truck, dark and grimy, with an open-topped rear section. A local vehicle, most likely. A pair of similarly grimy men were standing outside its loading ramp, talking to a man and a woman wearing the same distinctive Serennian cloaks.

“An atmospheric craft,” Thrawn said. “I believe—”

“Yeah, later,” Anakin cut in, shifting his attention back to the approaching figure and the two B2s. The human’s face was still in shadow, but as he approached he looked less and less like Dooku. He and his escort stopped five meters away—

“Well?” he demanded.

Anakin felt a flicker of relief. It wasn’t Dooku’s voice. “Well, what?” he countered.

On the other hand, it was the voice of the traffic controller he’d talked with earlier. Someone expendable in case the visitors proved to be dangerous? “We got your cargo. You got our money?”

“We’re a long way yet from talking money,” the Serennian said coolly. “Let’s start with who you are.” His eyes shifted to R2-D2. “And why you’re traveling with a Republic astromech droid.”

“Is that what that is?” Anakin said, looking down at R2-D2. It was a ridiculous comment, of course—astromech droids were way too ubiquitous for a random unit to be instantly connected to the Republic. The Serennian was obviously seeing if he could spark a reaction. “That means it’s worth more, right?”

“You assume we’re buying,” the Serennian said. “What makes you think we’re not simply taking?”

“Because we got more than just merchandise,” Anakin said. “We also got information.” He lowered his voice. “Like how we got this droid in the first place. But we’ll only talk to someone who can hand over some real money.”

“How about you tell me all about it,” the Serennian offered, “and I don’t have you shot right here and now?”

“Sorry, but this isn’t the kind of stuff you give a hired hand,” Anakin scoffed. “Don’t bother to deny it—I know you’re the flunky who vectored us in.”

“Ah, but even flunkies here have authority,” the Serennian said calmly. He lifted a hand—

Abruptly, the B2 droids snapped their wrist blasters up into firing position.

“You can speak, or you can die,” he continued. “Your choice.”

Anakin looked at Thrawn. “What do you think?”

“Courage is a virtue,” Thrawn said. “Foolishness is not.”

“I guess.” Anakin turned back to the Serennian. “Fine. Let’s start with the woman.”

The Serennian seemed to draw back a little. “What woman?”

“You know what woman,” Anakin said. “The one your people caught snooping around your ship at Black Spire and killed.”

“Ah,” the other murmured. “Yes. Her. What about her?”

“Well, for starters, she wasn’t alone,” Anakin said. “She had a whole team with her.” He nodded back at the Larkrer. “Which is how we got hold of your ship. Captain Boroklif wasn’t going to be using it anymore.”

“I see.” The Serennian gestured toward R2-D2. “Was that hers?”

“I don’t know,” Anakin said. “We found it…okay, here’s how it went down. We got to the ship, found a guy trying to unlock the helm, chased him away. We didn’t know he’d left the droid till we hit lightspeed. And then…” He hesitated, as if reluctant to say the rest.