Free Razor's Edge: Star Wars (Empire and Rebellion) by Martha Wells Page B

Metara just hadn’t listened to him. Prodding for information, she said, “Not an Imperial, I presume.”
    It was Terae who answered. “No! Of course not.” She hesitated, then added, “The ship is from a pirate fleet. They have a base near here.”
    Leia swore in realization, drawing a startled look from Kelvan. “An organization of pirates supplied you with these altered systems and now you owe them service.” Suddenly Metara’s attitude toward the merchant ship’s cargo made a lot more sense.
    Terae shook her head, reminding Leia of a sulky teenager. “It’s not like that. It’s a business arrangement.”
    Business arrangement, for the love of
—”Do these other pirates operate by your principles, or do they sell captured crews into slavery?” Leia managed not to put too much sarcastic emphasis on the word
principles.
“Or did you not bother to ask?”
    She saw Terae’s expression turn bleak for an instant and thought,
So the answer is yes.
That was hardly a surprise. Terae said, “We don’t have to act as they do. Once we’ve fulfilled our obligations, we can leave.”
    â€œYes, a great many people have said that when accepting ‘arrangements’ with the Empire,” Leia said drily.
    Terae’s whole body stiffened in offense, and even the more level-tempered Kelvan looked away, his hands tightening on the railing. Before either could reply, Metara pulled her headset off and stood so abruptly that the bridge crew stared at her. Leia saw the captain take a deep breath for self-control, saw the tension leave her shoulders and her posture return to confident and calm. Metara was good at this. But then, if she hadn’t been good at it, this crew wouldn’t be here right now.
    Metara crossed the bridge to climb the few steps to the observation area. Though her face was still cool and neutral, Leia could read in the slight tightening at the corners of her eyes that what she had to report wasn’t good news.
    â€œThey told me what that ship is,” Leia said. “What does it want from you?”
    â€œThey want us to come with them, as we said we would.” Metara projected calm, but the underlying strain was just barely evident. “I told them we hadn’t had time to take the merchant ship’s cargo, and they said they were taking the entire ship. If we don’t comply, I know they’ll fire on us, and we’re outgunned.” She turned to Leia. “I’m sorry, I didn’t—I meant to keep my word to you, but I can’t now. And if we let you leave in the pod, or even give you one of our shuttles, they’ll have you before you can reach the station’s perimeter.”
    Leia pressed her lips together to keep from saying the first thing that came to mind. Or the second. Her secure comlink would be out of range as soon as the
Aegis
left the vicinity of Arnot Station, so she and the others were on their own. She couldn’t afford to alienate Metara now. She settled on, “That merchant ship has injured crew members. And you know what pirates will do with them.”
    For a moment, real anguish flashed across Metara’s face. “I know, and I didn’t mean for this to happen! Believe me, I never intended—” She shook off her distress and an instant later was the calm professional again. She turned back to the railing and ordered, “Thomen, the
Wastrel
will be tractoring the merchant in and locking onto it. Prepare to follow them into hyperspace.”
    Despite the coolness with which Metara gave the order, she was clearly conflicted, and that gave Leia her first real hope that the
Aegis
could be saved.
    She pressed the advantage. “Did you tell the pirates that I’m aboard?” If Metara thought there was some sort “honor among thieves” code among pirates, that they wouldn’t sell Leia and the others out to the Empire