"Elara... Dorne...," Xal gasped. "What... the hell?"

She curled up next to him. "I've been very... inspired since that mission with Master Yvisnussiish."

"Mission?" Xal asked.

"Yes," Elara said. "Stopping slavers."

"Stopping them how?"

"I don't recall exactly," Elara said. "But we did stop them. The lieutenant suggested I should not pursue it."

"She's probably right."

"I've had some very... explicit dreams since the mission. Master Yvisnussiish wouldn't-"

"No," Xal said. "I'm sure she wouldn't. Best to drop it. Like Cyr'rnin said."

"Of course," Elara said. "Whatever the cause, you are the lucky recipient." She began touching him.

"Exhausted recipient," he said.

"I have something for that," she replied. "If you'd like. You shouldn't use it often, and only under supervision. But I am a trained professional." She touched him again. "Would you like to try it?"

"You make it very difficult to say no."

"Excellent!" She grabbed her clothing and recovered a stim. She put it against his arm then stopped. "Captain, what do we have?"

"At the moment, mutual interest. I've got too much going on for more."

"Yes, of course," she said. "And when you have Nok Drayen's treasure?"

"I don't know yet," Xal said. "But you are difficult to resist."

She nodded and injected him with the stim. "Do you... see other women?"

"I'm not ready for exclusive just yet," Xal told her. "If that bothers you-"

"I just wanted to know where I stood," Elara said. She climbed on top of him. "I'm still confused about the costumes your cousin made. We were wearing overalls when we met Sheriff Encot. The costumes were gone."

Xal said, "You're wasting the stim."

"You mean, don't ask questions if I don't want the answers. All right, let's see what this stim can do."

Some time later, they were in the galley. Elara sat at the table while Xal cooked. Risha soon poked her head in.

"Smells like Sergeant Dorne is here," she said. "There you are." She sat at the table.

Corso walked in and said, "Is Miss Cyr'rnin here?"

"Not yet," Xal. Elara looked at him. "We have some business," he told her.

Bowdaar leaned in and growled.

"Right over there," Xal said. He was scooping out the food when Cyr'rnin and Jorgan arrived.

"You have news?" Cyr'rnin said.

"I do indeed," Xal said. "He was on Alderaan. Got his target. He is now a finalist in the Hunt."

"Any idea what happened?" she asked.

"None whatsoever," Xal said. "He hasn't contacted me. I must assume he has a reason."

"It's Ter'viro," Cyr'rnin said. "He's protecting us."

"I know, but from what?" Xal asked.

"No one in the Hunt," Elara said.

"I know," Xal said. "That's a question for another time."

"It's enough for now," Cyr'rnin said. "And I have news for Mom and Dad. Jorgan, Dorne, we have a prisoner to interrogate."

"If you're done," Risha said after they left. "You have a droid to deliver."

"That A7 gonk droid?" Xal said.

"How did you know that?" Risha asked.

Xal shrugged. "I know a thing or two about droids."

Risha said, "You knew the designation of a centuries old droid off the top of your head?"

"A thing or three," Xal said. "What are we getting in return for this droid?"

"A shield schematic," Risha told him. "To protect us from the radiation."

"I wondered about that," Xal said.

Risha said, "The droid belongs to a couple of young nobles, Lenn Teraan and his sister Cedonia. Decent people, all things considered."

"Or as decent as nobles ever get," Xal said.

Risha gave him an odd smile and said, "Very true."

"What about that head?" Xal asked.

"It also goes to Alderaan," Risha replied. "That's why I saved this planet for last."

"What do we get for it?" Xal said.

"An experimental hyperspace motivator," Risha said.

Corso said, "Could we start with the head? I swear its eyes follow me around the cargo hold."

"We cannot," Risha said. "The motivator is not on Alderaan yet and won't be for another week."

Xal said, "So, we'll have a week to kill."

"And install the shield," Risha said.

"Miss Risha," Xal said. "When this is over, I have got to teach you how to have fun."

"Welcome home, you ugly little thing," Lenn Teraan said to the droid. It coughed out a rusty beep.

"Etiquette, please," Cedonia told him. "I am Lady Cedonia Teraan," she said to Xal. "Herald of the Gold Aurora."

"And I'm her brother Lord Lenn Teraan, Warden of the Eternal Flame."

"Xaldiba Onoka, Captain of the Secret Visitor."

"I can only imagine how it got that name," Cedonia said.

"I'd be happy to show you," Xal said with a smile.

"You have other business to attend to," Cedonia said.

"What might that be?" Xal asked.

"This droid holds new hope for us- literally," She told him. "Centuries ago, our ancestors hid something inside it for safekeeping."

"Pirates absconded with the unfashionable machine generations ago," Lenn added. "Tracking it down has consumed our family since before we were born."

"The point?" Xal asked.

"What that droid contains will rebuild House Teraan," Cedonia said. "But we need instructions to safely open the hidden compartment. It's rigged to explode, you see."

Corso and Bowdaar stepped back.

"The instructions are at our family's estate, now occupied by House Baliss's forces," Lenn said. "Without those instructions, we can't pay you."

"Do I get paid extra for this?" Xal asked.

"The instructions we need are in a datapad of Teraan family history at our estate's library," Cedonia said. "If you retrieve that datapad, we'll add a substantial bonus to your payment."

Xal examined the droid. "What if I open it right now?"

"And kill us all?" Cedonia said.

"I'm just asking about the reward," Xal said.

Lenn said, "Captain, if you can open that droid, you can have my sister."

"He can what?!" Cedonia said.

"Not forever," Lenn said. "Besides, I am the head of House Teraan."

"How long?" Xal asked.

Cedonia glared at her brother and said to Xal, "Assuming it doesn't kill you, you'll have me for a night."

"A week," Xal said. Her eyes snapped open, and she slapped him. "I've had worse slaps." He examined the droid again. "Tell you what, give me ten minutes. Every minute less than ten is one day. More than ten minutes, it's free. Deal?"

"If it detonates, we lose the chip," Cedonia pointed out.

Xal said, "I assure you, I can get that chip."

"What would you do with me?" she asked. Xal pulled her close and whispered in her ear. She gasped a few times but did not pull away. When he finished, she slapped him again, composed herself, and smoothed her dress. "You have ten minutes." She checked her chronometer. "Your time begins now."

Xal powered down the droid while the others fled the room. He removed the secondary access panel, scanned for the power drain that maintained the battery on the detonite charge. He took one of many tools from his jacket and shot the control module on the charge with a weak ion pulse. Not enough to disable it, but enough to confuse its sensors. He reversed the power flow, drained the battery, and removed the now inert device. Once the charge was out of the way, he used a micro torch to unseal the hidden compartment and removed the holochip. Total time, five minutes and twenty-two seconds.

"Lord Lenn," Xal said. "You owe me a shield schematic. Lady Cedonia, you owe me five days."

Cedonia grabbed the chip and inserted it into a modified reader. After a moment, she said, "The information on this holochip proves House Teraan is owed a considerable number of credits." She looked at Xal cautiously. "When the other families hear of this, we will reclaim our status among the nobility." She removed the chip with shaking hands. "Lenn, take this data and have it authenticated by the Royal Council." She turned to Xal and took a deep breath. "I'll see to our benefactor's... payment." She took a step toward him. "I can arrange a special meal for just the two of us. We'll eat, and... talk... about your... adventures."

Xal smiled. "My adventures aren't for the faint-hearted."

Cedonia shuddered. "I think you'll discover I'm not a faint-hearted woman."

Five days later, Xal returned to the Visitor looking relaxed. He found Corso working on top of the ship. Corso stopped and watched Xal for a while.

"Problem?" Xal asked.

"I don't think that was right, Captain."

Xal sighed. "If she had pushed, her brother would have caved and paid me some other way. If she was genuinely offended, she would have slapped me once and left. She slapped me twice and stayed. She did nothing she did not want to do. I assure you."

"I believe him," Risha said from somewhere out of sight. She soon appeared at the edge of the ship. "I'm a little surprised, though. Cedonia always seemed a little coldhearted to me."

"She was definitely that," Xal said.

Corso said, "How did you know how to disarm that bomb, Captain?"

"He knows a thing or three about droids," Risha replied.

"Lord Lenn and Lady Cedonia have invited us to a party before we leave, to celebrate the reemergence of House Teraan," Xal said. "Miss Risha, you are welcome to come."

Bowdaar stuck his head out of a hatch and said, "Ohahanan aoacworcwo rhwo wwoooowa?"

"I'm sure they will," Xal replied.

"Until then," Risha said. "You can help us install the shield."

"That motivator here yet?" Xal asked.

"A couple of days," Risha replied. "Now, get up here. We have a shield to install.

"Captain," Risha said. "The motivator has arrived. Take the head to a stuffed-shirt named Peema Ahuff, curator of the House Alde Royal Museum. You'll have to sneak through some tough battle zones to get there."

"With a Wookie?" Xal said. "They're not really made for sneaking."

"Ohacraao waoowoc aoacraao scworawh?" Bowdaar said.

Corso said, "You're kind of a rancor in a porcelain shop."

Bowdaar snarled.

"You two make such a cute couple," she said to Corso and Bowdaar.

"Why does some noble need a head in a jar?" Xal asked.

"It's a history thing," Risha told him. "If you're that interested, ask Peema. His lectures are thrilling."

"What does this motivator do?" Xal said.

"It can jump outside normal hyperspace lanes," Risha said. "So you won't need the backups."

"Backups?" Corso said.

"He's got three backup motivators," Risha said.

"I used to carry two," Xal said. "Then I almost didn't make it back from a trip to the Outer Rim."

"How many trips to the Rim have you made?" Risha asked.

"Three," Xal told her. "Skavak asked me about them specifically. I figured he had a special job."

"I can understand why," Risha said. "I never liked Skavak. I nearly walked away from him, then he showed up with the Visitor. In spite of your numerous... failings..., I trust this ship more than any other."

"Miss Risha," Xal said. "You'll make me swoon."

She rolled her eyes.

Some time later, Xal contacted Risha. "We've got a problem."

Risha said, "Real problem or girlfriend?"

"Skavak used a fake head to steal the hyperdrive," Xal told her. "We need to find his ship."

"Shit!" Risha said and began searching for Skavak's ship. "I'm guessing a girl was involved."

"He corrupted that idiot girl!" Peema yelled from behind Xal.

Risha groaned. "Got it," she said. "I'm sending you coordinates. I'll meet you there."

Xal said, "You're leaving the ship?"

Risha replied, "For the hyperdrive and for Skavak, yes."

At the spaceport, Xal, Corso, and Bowdaar burned their way through a group of mercenaries in time to see Skavak's ship take off. More mercenaries were waiting in the hangar.

Corso said, "How does he always manage to get away?"

Skavak appeared above a holoemitter. "You didn't waste any time, did you, Captain? Bet you ran quicker than a-"

Xal shot the emitter. "He talks too much." He called to the mercenaries, "Do you really want to work for a guy like that?"

"He paid in advance," the lead mercenary said. "And a contract's a contract. Nothing personal."

Xal groaned. "Why do they always say that?"

"Hit it, men!" the mercenary said. Then choked when a blaster shot hit him in the throat. Xal, Corso, and Bowdaar looked at each other. None of them had fired.

"Captain," Risha said over the comm. "Did I mention I was a sniper?"

"No, ma'am, I don't believe you did."

A second mercenary dropped.

"Any time, Captain," Risha said.

The four of them finished off the mercenaries in short order.

"Sorry I'm late," Risha said, once she reached them.

"You made up for it," Xal told her.

"I have some good news," she said. "I'm tracking Skavak's ship. According to Seetwo, he's headed toward House Thul."

"He hasn't installed it yet," Xal said.

"Unlikely," Risha replied. "It is a delicate operation. We've got a couple of hours but not more."

"The bad news?" Xal asked.

Risha said, "The Empire controls House Thul."

Xal sighed. "Can't make it too easy, can we?"

"Luckily," Risha continued. "Someone at House Thul owes me a favor. He can sneak us inside the spaceport."

"Risha!" the nobleman said. "Have you come to torment me again?"

Xal said, "Is there some reason why you're speaking Huttese?"

"This planet is full of eavesdroppers," he said. "But few who comprehend this language. Our business will remain a secret. What is it this time, Risha?"

"Don't be so dramatic, Venar," Risha replied. "We need access to the Thul spaceport."

"Is that all?!" Venar said. "They'll kill me!"

Risha rolled her eyes. "They already have lots of reasons to kill you. They haven't done it yet."

Venar fumed. "Will I finally be free of you?"

"Actually, yes," Risha told him.

"Very well," he said. "I possess an Imperial transmitter that will send an 'all-access' signal to the Thul spaceport security doors. In exchange, you will turn over every recording of my vacation to Nar Shaddaa."

"Agreed," Risha said with a smile.

Corso said, "What kind of vacation was this?"

Risha said, "Don't ask questions when you don't want the answers."

"Yes, ma'am," Corso said.

Xal said, "If your gadget fizzles out early-"

"No," Venar said. "I know not to do that."

"Captain," Risha said. "We need to get to Wardpost Hurne."

When they arrived at the wardpost, Risha smiled and said, "Oh." Xal looked around and saw why.

"Master Agenord!" Risha called out.

"Miss Risha," Agenord replied. "Xal, Corso,..." He looked at Bowdaar.

"Rhooohwarararc," Bowdaar said.

"Good to meet you," Agenord said.

"Are you headed to House Thul?" Risha asked. "We could go with you."

"Possibly," Agenord said. "Kira and I have been tagged with trackers so we can be targeted with a satellite laser. It's offline at the moment, but that won't last."

Risha paused. "You've been targeted by an assassination satellite? Can you remove the tracker?"

"With a full body scan, but we don't have the time," Agenord said. "The laser will be integrated into a more dangerous weapon. I really shouldn't be telling you this, Xal. Consider it payback for the Temple."

Risha blinked. "Right. Superweapons. I'm starting to understand something Kixi told me."

Kira said, "We could use your help getting into the Thul compound." She nodded at Risha's rifle. "Are you any good with that?"

"Yes!" Risha said, coming back to herself. "Yes, I am. I would be happy to help."

"Then, let's go," Agenord said.

Risha caught Xal's expression, moved close to him, and whispered, "Problem?"

Xal whispered back, "You haven't seen him fight."

When they reached the Thul compound, Agenord said, "Same as the Esseles. Aim wide, two lightsaber lengths on either side of me."

"I'm a better shot than that," Risha told him.

Agenord replied, "Your shots would be wasted. Anyone in that range, I can get myself. I need four of you to get the stragglers."

"Right," Risha said. She shrugged her rifle from her back, laid down, and scanned the courtyard. The boys did the same.

Agenord, Kira, and Teeseven rushed a group of Thul soldiers and attacked. Eight men and two battle droids, and Agenord was through them in under a minute. Bowdaar growled in frustration, but Xal and Corso seemed used to it. Agenord cleared two more groups before enough additional forces arrived for anyone else to fight. Once Agenord's team was inside the bunker, Xal and the others headed toward the hangar.

They rushed the hangar, expecting armed resistance. Instead, they found a single Neimoidian maneuvering the motivator into position.

"Don't shoot!" the Neimoidian said. "I'm not with those guys!"

"Where's Skavak?" Xal said.

"He took a shuttle offworld to get supplies. My name's Vonddado Briimyo. I fix starships. Skavak kidnapped me."

"Sounds like him," Xal said.

"I heard you and Skavak arguing on the ship's holo," Vonddado said. "You want the Arkanian hyperdrive? Take it! The spaceport comm channel announced there's a shuttle leaving in a few minutes. I can be on it if I hurry."

"Then hurry," Xal said, examining the hyperdrive. Vonddado ran off, and Xal said, "Son of a bitch."

"Captain?" Corso said.

Xal returned the hyperdrive to its case. "It's got three independent droid brains integrated into its system." He turned to Risha. "Did you know about this?"

"I didn't understand all of the explanation," Risha said.

"It can make micro adjustments in hyperspace, even outside of the lanes," Xal said. "It's an artificial purrgil brain."

Corso said, "I thought those were a myth."

"It's a pretty consistent myth," Xal replied.

Risha said, "Will it work?"

"Yes, ma'am," Xal said. "It can even jump near a black hole. Let's get it back-"

The sound of a laser blast cut him off. Risha turned toward the noise.

"It's Agenord," Xal said. "He's fine."

"I'm sure he is," Risha said.

The laser fired three more times before it stopped.

They were loading the hyperdrive into the back of the speeder when Agenord, Kira, and Teeseven showed up. Kira seemed annoyed with something.

"You got it," Agenord said. "Good luck. You'll need it."

Xal said, "I thought Jedi didn't believe in luck."

"It's still nice to say," Agenord told him.

Risha said, "Did you get your guy?"

Kira barked out a laugh. "Yeah! Agenord got him! Didn't you?"

"I did what I had to," Agenord said.

"Not like that, you didn't!" Kira replied. "I'm here to save you from the Dark Side. Do you remember that?"

"I didn't turn."

"Not this time," she said.

Risha was about to ask, but Xal touched her arm and shook his head with the most serious expression she'd ever seen from him. She nodded and said nothing.

"We don't have time for this," Agenord said. "Angral is still building the Desolator."

"Darth Angral?" Risha said. "The Sacking of Coruscant Darth Angral?"

"Yes," Agenord said. "We need to go before Thul regroups."

"Right," she said. "Thul. Can't forget the planetary nobility."

"They're not all bad," Agenord told her.

"I know," Risha replied. "That's not what I meant."

They returned to the wardpost, and Agenord, Kira, and Teeseven left immediately. Risha watched them go.

"You're not the first to react that way," Xal told her.

Risha smiled. "When you told me he would change the galaxy, I thought you were exaggerating." She laughed. "I have not been humbled in a long time. Let's get that hyperdrive installed. It's time-"

Xal's comm beeped, and Cedonia Teraan appeared. "Thank the stars! We're in desperate need and you're the only one we can turn to."

"Everything was fine when I left," Xal said.

"Duke Baliss is claiming you invaded our former home," Cedonia said. "He's demanding satisfaction."

"I never went near it," Xal replied.

"I'm well aware of that," Cedonia said. "He claims we could not have opened the droid without the codes."

"It's a lie," Xal said. "I can show them how I did it."

"Of course, it's a lie!" Cedonia said. "It's all pretense. Once we have support, we can regain our former home. Duke Baliss wants to prevent that. He is sending his son, Xin Baliss- Alderaan's finest marksman- to challenge Lenn to a pistol duel to the death."

"House Organa?" Xal said.

"We cannot gain support unless we can prove we can stand on our own," Cedonia said. "Please, Captain, will you be our champion? My brother has a mind for diplomacy and business, not combat. He'll be killed."

"What do I get?" Xal asked.

"The standard champion's fee, which, I assure you, is considerable."

"What else?" Xal said.

Cedonia fumed for a moment. "Very well. I refused three of your requests. I will... complete all tasks... as you described. Is that enough?"

"Not quite," Xal said. "Ask correctly."

Cedonia held back an unladylike exclamation. "Fine." She looked around her. "Please, sir, your worthless little bitch begs to serve you."

Xal smiled. "I will be there immediately." He disconnected and looked at the others. "She came up with that, by the way."

After a moment, Corso said, "You're right, Miss Risha, some answers I don't want."

An impressive crowd waited for them in the Organa dueling chamber. Organa had a whole room just for dueling, Xal thought. Nobles and their games. Lenn and Cedonia stood with an Organa retinue. Another nobleman stood at the other end, a sneer on his face. His people smiled as if they knew the outcome already.

Corso whispered, "He looks like rancor droppings bundled in shimmersilk."

"You're not wrong," Risha said. "Captain, I thought this might be interesting, but I can see how it will end. I'll take the hyperdrive back to the ship."

Xal said, "Corso, go with her, in case Skavak shows up." The two of them left.

"Pathetic," Xin Baliss said. "This vile-looking offworlder was the best champion you could find?"

Bowdaar said, "Acwo oarawhao acooanwa ra rhanracaoworc ohahaoac whoo rarcscc."

"Silence your vile pet or I'll have it sent to the zoo," Baliss replied.

"Relax, Bowdaar," Xal said. "I've got this."

"Even for a mercenary, you're absolutely repugnant," Baliss went on. "Where exactly did you acquire that stench?"

Xal started to laugh. "You never faced an actual pistoleer, have you?"

Baliss raised himself up. "I am the finest marksman on Alderaan."

Xal laughed again. "This ain't target practice." He looked at Cedonia. "Alderaan nobility needs some better hobbies."

"He's fought twenty-five duels to the death," Cedonia said. "In each one, he fired a single shot."

Xal sighed. "I've done more than that in one fight."

Baliss said, "You must be the vermin who invaded my family's home and stole our property."

"I never even went there," Xal said. "I opened the droid on my own."

"Impossible!" Baliss said. "No common thug could have dismantled so complex a device."

Xal rolled his eyes. "Let's get this over with." He took his place, loosened his pistol, and declared himself ready. Baliss did the same. A timing droid counted from three. Xal fired before Baliss had his pistol half out of the holster. He hit the nobleman in his arm, tearing it off completely. Xal sighed. "Nobles need better hobbies."

Cedonia ran to Xal, hugged him, and whispered, "You saved my brother's life." She leaned close and whispered something else.

"You... filthy mongrel!" Baliss yelled while his people did their best to stop the bleeding.

Xal looked at him. "Do you want to lose the other arm?"

Baliss glared and said, "House Baliss concedes."

Xal said, "Bowdaar, you can head back to the ship. Lady Cedonia, you owe me a few rewards."

She smiled and said, "Your worthless little bitch is ready."

Two days later, Risha found Xal in the engine room, adjusting the motivator. He ran a simulated hyperspace event through it and adjusted it again.

"We followed the instructions exactly," Risha told him.

"Two of the droid brains don't get along," Xal told her. "It requires a few redundant steps."

"I finally understand why you hide your skills, Captain. You don't want the kind of responsibility your cousin has."

He stopped for a moment and said, "That's one of the reasons. What about you? Have you stopped chasing Agenord?"

"I don't want to be anyone's afterthought. But he did give me a clearer perspective. I needed that."

"You're invited to the party," Xal told her.

"I might just go." She examined the readout. "Oh. I see what you're doing. We did have it adjusted wrong." She rolled up her sleeves and grabbed some tools. Daddy, she thought. I think I met a nice guy. Nicer than most, anyway.