Tales from the New Republic Read Online Free PDF

way he can defend himself against such lies .
    Still, those lies had helped brand Hal and every other Corellian as a potential Rebel agent. While the authorities he had come to for help in finding Moranda Savich were checking him out, she could have been dancing onto any number of ships headed for points unknown. Time once was when nabbing someone with her reputation would have made a man like Nyroska jump for joy, but as the Emperor focused more energy on the Rebellion, priorities shifted.
    “It would be easy for me to lie to you, Colonel Nyroska, and tell you she is the Rebel agent you’re looking for.” Hal shook his head slowly. “She isn’t—at least, I don’t know of any Rebel connections she has.”
    “Thank you for your honesty, Inspector.”
    Hal paused in the doorway and arched an eyebrow above a hazel eye at him. “You didn’t expect honesty from a Corellian?”
    “All I expect of you is respect for our regulations, Inspector.” Nyroska shrugged uneasily. “These days I never expect honesty, from anyone.”
    The Corellian thought for a moment, then nodded. “Have to hope for a return to the old days, then, when those we hunted actually committed crimes. Thanks for your help. I’ll let you know when I find her.”
    Ysanne Isard glared up at Trabler as her aide finally cleared the Immigration checkpoint. “What detained you?”
    He shrugged his massive shoulders. “Profile check, I assume.”
    She almost snapped that he should not assume anything, but she checked herself. She’d chosen Trabler to accompany her because of his unswerving loyalty to the Empire and because she recalled his wrenching the head off a captive Ithorian with his bare hands. He is here for his muscle, nothing more. He will do what I tell him to do when I tell him to do it. The blond hair and Corellian background of his cover identity likely did trip the Xakrean profiling system. Their tendency toward being overly thorough will only slow us down, which is why I want no official contact with them .
    “No matter. They’re bringing our landspeeder around. You are confident you can navigate?”
    Trabler nodded once. “I studied the local maps and always have my datapad to back things up.”
    “Good.” She led the way to the spaceport exit and found a man standing next to a rental landspeeder. He bore a sign that read “Glasc,” her assumed surname. She and Trabler made their way over to him, identified themselves, and took possession of the vehicle. As Trabler slipped into the driver’s seat, she took her place in the back.
    Isard powered up her datapad. “I have the files on Xakrea’s fringe population and am getting comlinked updates as the locals flag files. Since the Rebel will undoubtedly be taking refuge among the scum here, we will hunt there as well. Our quarry will want to alter his identity, and there are only a few places that offer such services here. We will begin by checking them.”
    “As you wish, Special Agent Isard.”
    “There is one address on East Ryloth Street and another on Palpatine Parkway. Which is closer?”
    “Ryloth Street should be.” Trabler glanced at her in the mirror. “That would be your preference, then?”
    “Indeed.” She smiled coldly at the reflection of his eyes. “Anyone who would sell him a new identity will sell him to us. Let’s go, we have a lot of shopping to do today.”
    Hal thanked the hovercab driver and tipped him half-again the fare he’d been charged. “Really, this is it; 24335 East Ryloth Street, right where I want to be.”
    The Devaronian looked around at the seedy neighborhood and back at Hal again. “West Ryloth is more your kind of place, my friend.”
    Hal shook his head and jerked a thumb at the curio shop. “Arky is an old friend.” He gave the cabbie a conspiratorial wink. “You never saw me, hey?”
    “Got it, pal. Never saw you.”
    The Corellian exited the cab and slammed the door shut. He watched the cab pull away, then stepped over a