Read Star Wars - Love is a Warm Blaster - Unpublished for Free Online

sniffed the vial and then held it out to Daniera. She took a cautious whiff, eyes widening. “The Blue-8118…”

    “I guarantee if you check the bodies for that specific genetic sample, there’ll be trace elements of the poison in each victim’s bloodstream.”

    “But how was it introduced? The vibroblades?”

    “No. This stuff is too fragile. Even with a liberal coating of the Blue-8118, the air would have eaten it away. There had to be a more precise delivery system.” Love held up a tiny, near-transparent dart. “I pulled this out of Induki. Apparently her killer didn’t have time to cover up his handiwork this time with us on his trail.”

    “That explains the huge blaster holes in the other victims. Grieve was trying to get rid of the evidence.” Daniera shook her head. “It all fits, but it doesn’t make any sense. Why would Grieve suddenly change his methods?”

    “He didn’t.” Love started for the door, glancing back over his shoulder. “You know, when you first came in I thought you were going to shoot me.”

    “Why?”

    Love continued out the door. “Oh, no reason.”

    “This is an excellent bit of detective work, Love, but we’re still no closer to our killer.”

    “Wrong again.” He glanced at his chronometer. “I better get going.”

    “Where?”

    “There’s an assassination attempt masquerading as a charity ball that I have to attend.”

    “You mean we, don’t you?”

    Love touched her arm and smiled. “No.”

    Daniera suddenly felt light-headed. She glanced down at her arm, and the blue liquid smeared there by Love’s gloved fingertip.

    “Love, you are a—” Her next words faded away with her consciousness and her last memory before the blackness engulfed her was the sound of Love’s voice…

    “Thank you.”

    Daniera finally awoke to the piercing beep emitted by her jacket. Still groggy and aching all over, she fumbled with her datapad. The screen read: “decryption complete.”

    She touched the pad and waited for the results to appear. Moments later, the datapad tumbled from her shaking fingers. Daniera was already sprinting to her speeder bike before the pad had even hit the ground.

    The Grand Ballroom of the Imperial Palace was filled to absolute capacity. Moving around in the dense crowd required patience, good timing, and prudent use of elbows. By all appearances, the Maltesara Masquerade Benefit was going to be a rousing success. The elite of Coruscant were all in attendance: politicians, businessmen, society matrons, and even some alien royalty. Vivid costumes and extravagant masks lent an air of colorful elegance to the proceedings.

    The New Republic Defense Force personnel stationed around the ballroom were unobtrusive but highly vigilant, as were the costumed NRI agents scattered throughout the crowd.

    The thunderous echoes of conversation and laughter suddenly died down at the blaring of regal synth-horns. All eyes focused on the towering double doors of the ballroom’s main entrance as they slowly parted.

    The Chief of State finally made her entrance, attended by a phalanx of Defense Force guards dressed in bulky ceremonial armor. Leia Organa Solo looked resplendent in a simple ivory gown, star ruby medallion, and an intricate Alderaanian vizard mask. She began the long journey to the podium, moving down the long greeting line of important guests.

    Down near the end of the greeting line, General Cracken stood at attention, patiently awaiting the Chief of State. Beside him, Cabe adjusted his mask.

    “I wonder where they could be,” Cracken asked.

    “Daniera had better be okay,” Cabe said. “I trust that Love about as much as a wampa in a tauntaun pen.”

    “I have every confidence in him.” Cracken glanced nervously at his chronometer. “Well… I used to.”

    Tucked in the shadows of a large column 20 meters from the receiving line, Love watched the proceedings silently. As the Chief of State moved closer, he slid the heavy