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

general said.
    She took the small side corridor around to the ship’s first array of escape pods. “Yes, I know that. Believe me, I know that. And if you have another way out of this, I’d like to hear it.”
    Willard was silent for a moment. “I can’t lose you, too. Be careful, Leia.”
    Leia didn’t want to be lost, but she felt she didn’t have a choice at the moment. She would just have to see what options arose when she reached the
Aegis.
“Whatever happens, I can’t let them keep using one of our ships this way.” She cut the connection and told Jerell, “General Willard will be in command while I’m gone, of course, but he’ll need your help. Go to auxiliary control so you can relay his orders to Ilen.”
    â€œYes, Your Highness,” Jerell said, and turned to obey. But he called after her, “Be careful!”
    Han took two long strides to catch up with her, shouldered past Jerell, and said, “I know what you’re doing.”
    â€œI know what I’m doing, too,” Leia said, and congratulated herself on her even tone. She stopped at the first pod hatch and opened the control pad to initiate the automatic systems check. The pods were meant for the larger crew complement of the
Gamble
’s pre-conversion state; each one had room for five large passengers.
    â€œYeah, you’ll either talk them out of this, or die trying.” Han leaned against the bulkhead beside her, his voice low and grim. “Or make sure they die trying.”
    Leia’s hand froze on the control pad. It was odd that, in this moment, it was Han of all people who seemed to understand what this meant to her.
    Keeping her voice low, too, she said, “I can’t let them keep doing this, in Alderaan’s name. I can’t.” If she couldn’t talk Metara into at least reconsidering her course, she would have to find out as much about the
Aegis
as she could, whether it meant to stay in this area and where it might go if it didn’t, so it could be tracked down later.
    Han gazed down at her for so long that she started to feel uncomfortable—though the feeling wasn’t all bad. She tried not to fidget, just waited him out. At last he said, his voice cool and calm, “Then it’s a good thing I’m going with you.”
    Before Leia could tell him he absolutely was not, Sian said, “What, they didn’t say she had to go alone? I’m going, too.”
    â€œNo,” Leia began, “you are not—”
    â€œAnd me,” Kifar added. “I know how to jury-rig an escape pod to reattach in its berth. Might need me on the way back.”
    Exasperated, Leia said, “We have no idea what these people truly want. It’s too dangerous.”
    â€œPrincess,” Sian said, “it’s probably more dangerous here. Besides, it won’t look good if we let you go alone.”
    The diagnostics finished and the round hatchway slid open. Inside, the pod’s systems were powering on, the readouts on its control board lighting up. Leia had run out of time to argue. “All right. We’ll go together.” She just hoped they didn’t regret it.

CHAPTER FOUR
    The pod’s inner hatch cycled with a whoosh, the air that had just been pumped into it mixing with the corridor’s atmosphere. Han stepped inside, and Sian followed him. Kifar politely gestured for Leia to precede him.
    Leia stepped into the pod. It had five seats and a simplified control station that could pilot the occupants out of danger while they waited to be picked up by a rescue ship; it could even be set to make an emergency landing, if necessary. The storage containers built into the walls would hold rations, medical gear, and other supplies. The upholstery smelled a little musty, but the pod didn’t look as if it had ever been used.
    Han took the seat nearest the control station, and Leia sat across from him. As Sian