When he arrived on the bridge, a beautiful chamber carved entirely from the trunk of a single huge wroshyr tree, imported from Kashyyyk and shaped by artisans at breathtaking expense, Marchion moved to his captain’s chair without a word to his deck crew. He tapped the button that raised privacy screens around the seat, all of which doubled as comm displays.

Another button, and Kassav, Pan Eyta, and Lourna Dee appeared on the displays.

“Let me guess, you’re scared of the big bad Jedi and don’t want to give us any Paths,” Kassav said, as ever the first to speak and the last to shut up.

Pan Eyta and Lourna Dee remained silent.

“I am not afraid of the Jedi, Kassav. However, because I am not an idiot, I take them seriously as a threat. They could destroy everything we’ve built.”

Kassav looked like he was about to say something else, so Marchion just kept talking, not giving him the chance.

“I know you’ve all been frustrated that we’ve been lying low,” he said. “No raids. Well. You know that new initiative I mentioned? It’s on. We’re going to change things up. I’m going to get the three of you a list of the Emergences—the ones that haven’t happened yet. Go over them, see what opportunities you can find for us. Only catch is no Paths. You’ll have to plan your operations without them. Just standard tactics and techniques.”

Lourna and Pan said nothing, but he could see them calculating, thinking, trying to decide how much this would help or hurt them, what sort of game he was playing, how they could benefit or change his mind, or whether it was finally the time to actively embark upon the plans he was sure both had to murder him, steal everything he had, and take the Paths for their own.

For once, Kassav didn’t speak right away. He probably was thinking the same things as the other two.

“I’m actually impressed,” Kassav finally said. “This is pretty good. But since we’ll be doing the jobs ourselves, and you aren’t actually giving us any Paths, the split should be different. I say the Eye doesn’t get a third for these. How about…ten percent? That seems fair.”

Marchion gave him a smile that was not a smile at all.

“Here’s what I can do, Kassav—if you don’t want the Emergences, I can give them to Pan Eyta and Lourna Dee. Or none of you. Your choice. But if you take the Eye’s information, you pay for it like you usually do, or no more Paths, ever. Returns get divided up like usual. The Rule of Three applies.”

Kassav didn’t like this. Marchion didn’t care.