A FEW PARSECS FROM ANTAR, 40 YEARS ABE:

Many lightyears away from Coruscant, Bail Organa-Solo was staring out through a different ship's viewport at a very different Star Destroyer. This one lacked many of the weapons emplacements that the fearsome, wedge-shaped ships usually sported. It also lacked a TIE-fighter defense screen or any sign of Imperial insignia or markings. Its most distinct feature, however, was its color.

This Star Destroyer was painted red.

"The Errant Venture," Leia said. Her voice sounded like a sigh and she shook her head, but there was no scowl on her lovely face-just a sort of expectant resignation.

Chewbacca wuffed agreement from where he stood, crouching slightly to keep his head from banging against the cockpit's sloping ceiling, at the back of the little group.

"The Errant Venture," Lando repeated proudly, as though he had invented the ship himself. He leaned back in the co-pilot's seat and grinned at his friends. "Nowhere better in the whole galaxy to get your hands on information that nobody's supposed to have."

Chewbacca rumbled a litany of complaints. Han shook his head. "Nah, Chewie, I won't make you come along."

Stella started to ask, "Why-" but Han was already explaining:

"He doesn't like the way the ship smells."

Chewbacca barked an enthusiastic agreement, making Stella grin. "Fair enough," she murmured, leaning forward to engage the ship's automated landing beacons.

"Somebody ought to keep Booster's goons from sniffing around the ship anyway," Han said. "And you can keep trying the hypercomm while we're gone."

Lando looked like he wanted to protest-hypercomm transmissions weren't cheap, after all-but he swallowed the urge with a little shake of his head that unconsciously echoed Leia's reaction to their first glimpse of the Errant Venture earlier.

The Calrissians and the Organa-Solos stared at the garish red vessel as their sleek little ship drew near, Stella's steady hand piloting them into an open hanger.

Booster Terrik, a ruddy-faced, portly man in late middle-age sporting grizzled gray hair and a lush beard, was waiting for them by the time the Lady Luck's ramp lowered. Booster was dressed much less flamboyantly than his ship, his serviceable jacket and trousers of fine but understated quality. His most distinguishing feature was his left eye, which had been replaced years ago by a metal prosthetic that glowed red. Between his ominous eye, craggy features, and solid girth, he would have looked an intimidating figure in any environs-but this grim impression was undercut by the wide grin with which he greeted the new arrivals.

"My dear Calrissians! Why didn't you tell me you had such quality guests aboard as Princess Organa and the mighty Chewbacca?" Booster bowed to the both of them, ignoring Leia's murmured reminder that she was a senator now, then tossed a loose salute to Bail. "And a Jedi Knight, no less. I hope you're not here for any law-abiding purposes, hmm?" Booster chuckled, earning a thin smile from Bail despite the strain of their circumstances. "Oh, and Han's here too I suppose," Booster added, a deliberate afterthought. Han rolled his eyes and fell into step behind the others while Chewbacca sniffed the air and grumbled something uncomplimentary before retreating back up the boarding ramp.

Lando stepped forward to walk alongside Booster, beginning to speak-but it was Stella on whom Booster focused, taking the pretty woman by the arm and adding, "Now my lovely Lady Calrissian. Tell me my dear, when are you going to put your considerable wits and charm to some real use and come work for me?"

"Modest as ever, Master Terrik," Stella laughed while Lando bristled, torn between taking offense that Booster would make such an offer and wanting to beam with pride that his daughter's talents were so widely respected-but before he could speak, Leia pushed past them all.

"We don't have time for small talk," she said coldly. "Breha's in danger. We need to find her."

Booster raised his eyebrows at her uncharacteristically brusque behavior, but nodded. "In that case, my services are at your disposal, your highness. Let's go to my office-you can tell me everything there."