Alliances (Star Wars: Thrawn, #2)(60)

“The ship’s course was preset,” Thrawn put in. “It was locked in. We had no choice but to come here.”

“Who did that?” the Serennian asked.

“I assume Boroklif did before they got him,” Anakin said. “So we figured, as long as we couldn’t go anywhere else, we’d deliver the cargo and maybe you’d unlock it or wipe the whole computer and start over.”

“I see,” the Serennian said thoughtfully. “An interesting story. I trust you appreciate the fact that you now have nothing left to bargain with?”

“Yeah, well, that’s the thing,” Anakin said. “See, we told you the course was preset. What we didn’t tell you was that there was another preset layered underneath it.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about both sides were playing the same game,” Anakin said patiently. “See, Boroklif put this course into the computer, like I said. But he put it on top of another course the woman had already laid in. I guess she was setting it to fly to wherever her gang has their base; you know, just in case they had to leave in a hurry. I figure Boroklif found it and couldn’t erase it, so he just laid his course on top of it. I don’t know—gets kind of confusing.”

“Don’t worry, I’m following it,” the Serennian said drily.

“Good, ’cause it’s pretty tangled,” Anakin said. “Anyway, the other guy—the guy we caught messing with it—I guess he was part of her group and was trying to change it back when we threw him off.”

“And he had this droid with him,” the Serennian said, his voice dark. “What makes you think he was one of her robber gang?”

“Well…” Anakin looked at Thrawn and shrugged. “Who else could he have been?”

“Lugging an astromech droid behind him?”

“Yeah, that doesn’t seem right,” Anakin said, screwing up his face as if trying to sort it all out. “Well…they were trying to steal your cargo. Maybe he stole the droid from someone else.”

“Perhaps,” the Serennian said. “Was there anything else?”

“Yeah, one more thing.” Anakin pointed at the B2s, whose wrist blasters were still pointed at him and Thrawn. “I figured you’d want to know where she was sending the ship. Brix here—this is Brix,” he added, nodding to Thrawn, “—Brix thought you might not want to pay us, or might even shoot us. So we…well, we kind of locked down the computer.”

“Locked it how?”

“Used a two-stage encryption passcode,” Anakin said. “I’ve got one stage, Brix has the other. You need both of us to get in before you can even start scrubbing off the preset to see the course she put underneath.”

“I see.” For a long moment, the Serennian looked back and forth between them. Anakin stretched out to the Force, mentally urging him to spot the flaw in their scheme. If he didn’t, they would have to nudge him.

And then, there it was: a flicker of sudden understanding. If R2-D2 had been present during the encoding, he might have a visual record of the encryption. If the Separatists could pull that out of his memory, the two ship thieves would once again have nothing to bargain with.

“You’ve certainly thought things through,” the Serennian said, clearly trying to sound chagrinned. “I suppose we’d best go inside and discuss what this information is worth.” He waved casually at R2-D2. “We’ll bring the droid. He may know more about the thieves.”

“Long as we get paid, he’s all yours,” Anakin said. “Lead on.”

The Serennian made a dismissive gesture to the B2s, who obediently lowered their arms and blasters. “You, too,” he added to the squad of battle droids, still holding their blasters on Anakin and Thrawn. “Go help Palter with the shipment.”

“Should we check out the freighter?” the lead droid asked.

“Team Four will do that,” the Serennian said. “Wait with Palter until Team Three gets the workers here, then help them make sure they get everything unloaded and stacked right.”

“Roger roger,” the lead droid said. They turned in unison and headed off across the courtyard toward the dusty vehicle in the corner. The Serennian watched them a moment, then turned and started walking toward a door in the southeast corner of the courtyard, his cloak billowing behind him.

Anakin followed, R2-D2 rolling at his side, Thrawn a couple of paces behind them. The two B2s waited until the newcomers had passed between them, then fell into guard positions on either side.

There was the sound of footsteps behind Anakin as Thrawn closed the gap between them. “Beside the door,” the Chiss murmured. “A set of switches. Armored conduits lead upward along the walls to the lights.”

Anakin gave a microscopic nod in acknowledgment. So not only had the base been built inside an existing building, but the Separatists’ retrofitting had been a quick job, simply fastening the security lights to what was already there instead of installing something more permanent.

Which suggested that the base wasn’t intended for long-term use. Whatever they were up to, they were planning to do it and get out.

Another group of B1s was coming across the courtyard toward the Larkrer, presumably the Team Four the Serennian had mentioned. Anakin eyed the droids, running a quick calculation of their closest approach to him. It wouldn’t be perfect, but it would be good enough. Reaching over, he gently tapped R2-D2’s side.