The Ruins of Dantooine by Voronica Whitney-Robinson Page B

out. Satisfied that they were still undiscovered, he continued, “Your colleague traded information with Bothan spies. He betrayed the Empire.”
    “What?” She shook her head. “He was a scientist. All he ever did was look for answers to nature’s secrets. He didn’t trade them.” But she thoughtback to the other night in the casino and the Ithorian’s conversation with the stranger—a conversation he had never explained. And now would never have the chance, either. Had something illicit transpired between them?
    Finn appeared to be unconvinced. “Well, in the eyes of the Empire, he was a traitor. And even his position couldn’t save him from a traitor’s fate.” He looked at her meaningfully and Dusque recalled their only other conversation, when he had warned her that her job was no guarantee of safety or anonymity. It certainly looked as if that had been true for Tendau. Could it be true for her, too?
    “And if they haven’t already,” he continued, “they’ll brand you a traitor right along with him.”
    “What?” she asked. She felt as though she couldn’t stop asking the question, couldn’t stop walking through a horrible dream.
    He let go of her arm and continued more softly, “You worked with him almost exclusively, day and night, out in the field. You tell me how they could not suspect you. Is there someone else in your labs who would stand up for you, speak on your behalf and proclaim your innocence, your loyalty to the Emperor?”
    Dusque stopped in her tracks. She knew that back in her sterile world, none of the others would say a word. And she had done nothing to set herself apart as a staunch supporter of anything. “No,” she finally said. “No one would. In fact, some would be glad to see me go.” She thought aboutwhat she sadly realized had been her last night with her only friend. She thought about how he said that nature must be put right, no matter the cost. And she thought about how she had done nothing like that. “And make no mistake,” she warned him, “I’m not innocent.”
    Finn looked slightly surprised by her last admission. He stepped back imperceptibly and ran his hands through his unruly hair. “Then you’re already a part of the Alliance?” he asked, confused.
    “No,” she answered, “but I’m guilty just the same.”
    “Doesn’t matter now,” he told her. “We need to get off this rock. If we don’t, they’ll capture you for sure. Trust me on that.”
    A frown crossed her features. She looked down at her torn and dirty shirt and trousers. She realized that she had only her small pack on her and nothing else. Her belongings as well as Tendau’s were back at the Hotel Aerie, just outside the city. “What about my things?” she asked. She knew it was a foolish question, but focusing on the mundane was helping her cope. “Everything is back in our—my rooms,” she corrected herself and felt a lump form in her throat, her voice suddenly husky with emotion.
    “There’s no time. You don’t have a choice any longer. We’ve got to go,” he said. “We’ll keep outside the city limits and stay on the perimeter.” He started to move, but Dusque held her ground.
    “We don’t have time for this,” he said, walking back to her. “Do you not understand the gravity ofthe situation? It’s not like you have a choice any longer.” The exasperation was clear in his voice.
    She regarded him steadily. “Oh, yes I do,” she replied. “I do have a choice.”
    His black eyes grew stormy. “You’re right, you do. You can stay here and die, or you can join the Rebellion.”
    “It’s not that simple,” she whispered, confused again.
    “Nothing ever is,” he said gently. “Then come with me for the Hammerhead’s sake,” he added, and Dusque momentarily bristled at his casual use of the slang for Ithorians. “If you don’t believe in me and what we stand for, then come with me because of what they did to him. Come with me for revenge.”
    Dusque