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In The Shadows
By Sienn
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Rating: PG - 13
Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Spoilers: See Chapter 1
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Chapter 7
Reunions in her family were always precious. Too often had her loved ones
been scattered all over the galaxy, fighting perils of the most terrifying
sort, and she had been unable to get word of them. Over the years, the
development of a Force bond with her brother had made long separations
easier, giving her at least a small means to keep tabs on one of the people
that meant most to her in the universe.
If emotions were logical, it should have been less of a problem to her with
every new mission she saw her family go on. Feelings, however, were hardly
logical. And when Leia Organa Solo felt the presence of the Jedi Master
approach, there was no way for her to stay seated in the big, fluffy
armchair that dominated the small guestroom they had set up as a nursery for
their nephew. Little Ben Skywalker's parents seldom wanted to part with
their son, but every now and then, their duties to the Jedi and the New
Republic would create the need for a babysitter. As long as she could
squeeze it into her time table, Leia would not tolerate that they took
anyone else but her for the task.
The Chief of State shot a quick glance at the artfully conceived Alderaanian
cradle she had bought almost two decades ago for her twins, Jaina and Jacen,
and smiled as she saw the toddler caught in a peaceful midday slumber. He
would not mind her short absence.
Leia left the chamber without so much as a sound to disturb the infant and
quickly made her way through the living room towards the door. It slid open
before she had reached it, revealing the figures of Luke Skywalker and his
wife Mara. The redhead gave her a broad smile, but kept in the background
for the moment. In the years of marriage to the Jedi Master, she had learnt
that these first few moments were for the twins only. Leia appreciated this
- this and many other similar gestures hadd allowed her to gradually rebuild
her friendship to the other woman following the tragedies that had occurred
at the final stage of the war against the Yuuzhan Vong
There was no animosity left between them. Mara Jade had committed a grave
mistake, but she was genuinely sorry and had done her best to make up for
it. It had been an easy task as far as Luke had been concerned. Leia had
held onto her wariness and hesitancy somewhat longer, maybe only to press
her point, but with Ben's birth, she had no longer found it in herself to
put a strain on her relationship to her sister-in-law.
These thoughts evaporated as if they had never existed in the first place as
the petite woman folded into the strong embrace of her brother and allowed
herself a few moments to simply bask in his scent and his physical
proximity, silently thanking the Force that it had once again decided to not
take him from her.
Only after her need to feel him safe and sound in her arms had been
satisfied did Leia step away from him, their hands intertwined between them.
Chocolate eyes travelled over his face, scanning for the smallest sign of a
wound or a scar. Luke Skywalker smiled. "I'm fine, Leia."
As if she didn't believe him and wanted to make sure, the Princess lifted a
hand and trailed her fingers over his cheek. The Jedi Master rolled his
azure eyes, "There wasn't even much to begin with, you know." He explained,
playfully batting her inquisitive appendage away.
Leia sighed, "I told you to take care. Why don't you ever listen to me?" She
softly shook her head and smiled at him. It was a very familiar argument
between them - one that had been settled a long, long time ago. At some
point in the Civil War, Leia had understood that there was no way to keep
Luke out of trouble. It found him everywhere. Especially if he tried to
avoid it. With time, the obligatory argument had become an expression of
deep affection, a series of expressions and sentences that meant as much 'I
love you' as the magical three words themselves. "I should be angry with
you, you know."
Luke breathed a kiss onto her forehead, "I know. That's why I brought you
something from Ord Radama."
"He wanted to bribe you." Mara smirked and turned towards the bags that the
droids had meanwhile brought in. The beautiful woman stooped low for a
moment and came back up with an elongated box of silver paper. Golden lines
traced the pictures of a flower and Luke grinned broadly as he took the gift
from his wife and handed it over to his sister.
"Ord Radama is renowned for his sweets. You'll adore them, I tell you. They
are magnificent."
"And we even made sure they aren't drugged." Mara added.
Leia perched an eyebrow as she looked from her sister-in-law to her brother,
"Drugged?"
The Jedi Master shrugged - a slightly sheepish look graced his features. "It
turned out they got me with the pralines that were served at the feast. They
were injected with enough of that knock-out drug to send me into
unconsciousness for several days on end. And not only those I ate." Luke
slipped out of his cloak. "Our mysterious foe knew that Radaman customs
wouldn't permit any of the hosts to eat from the display set up for the
guests."
"Maybe he simply didn't care." Mara remarked and took her turn embracing
Leia. "Either he is pretty sneaky or pretty merciless. Probably both."
"And we don't have any lead as to who he is. Or who she is." The petite
Alderaanian surmised darkly while she gestured for her brother and his wife
to follow her to the living room.
"We have the holo of the human that came to meet Anandan Kele just before we
were attacked at the reception hall. If we're right and Cal recognises him
as Ethmak Dren. it'll be a step in the right direction." Luke reminded. "It
will prove a link between these two affairs."
"But it won't tell us where to go from there." Mara scanned the chamber and
sent Leia a questioning look. The other woman pointed towards the door to
the nursery, "Ben's asleep. He's been a good boy and has kept his midday
naps all the time." Together the three of them made their way over to the
only half closed door and peered into the gloom to get a glimpse of the
little child. Blue eyes, awake and delighted, were looking back at them and
Ben lifted his arms in greeting. He wasn't wailing, though, as if he knew
that his parents would not hesitate to come to him now that they had seen
that he wasn't sleeping anymore. It wasn't long indeed until his father
picked him up and his mother nuzzled his cheek. Ben cooed and gurgled, his
childish language music to Luke's and Mara's ears.
"He'll soon be able to say Mommy and Daddy."
The Jedi Master's eyes lit up in joy at his sister's words, "You think?"
Leia laughed at her brother's rapt expression, "Your niece and nephews were
about that age when they managed."
Luke was evidently enthralled by the possibility and laid his forehead to
the child's smaller one. "You heard your aunt? You're going to be as quick
as them, aren't you?" Ben's chubby hands found his father's cheeks and
patted eagerly as the boy squealed and giggled. The Force vibrated with his
happiness to have his parents back with him. "Right," Luke grinned at his
son, "You're going to be quicker."
"And for it works so well on your Aunt," Mara gently took the infant from
her husband's arms and situated him safely in her embrace, "your father and
I have brought something to bribe you, too."
Minutes later, Ben sat between his parents on Leia's couch and suckled with
devotion on a praline of his own, under the ever watchful eyes of Mara and
one of his hands clutching at Luke's fingers, as if the little boy didn't
intend to let his parents get out of sight again any time soon.
Mara was surprised at how happy it made her to know that her little baby had
missed her and she felt her husband's fascination at the maze of simple, but
deep emotions that emitted from the little human. She felt his Force
presence mingle with the one of Ben - an instinctive process on the child's
part, but very much intentional on the man's.
"When will we meet with Cal Omas?" Although the former Emperor's Hand could
have sat all day watching their son, she knew that there were more pressing
matters to attend to. Matters that would ultimately decide whether there
would be more time for her and Luke to spend with Ben.
Leia tore her gaze away from the toddler and focused on the beautiful
redhead opposite her. "Later this afternoon. We'll wait for Han - the Falcon
is scheduled to land in two hours from now. I'd like to hear what he has
found out on Ord Mantell."
"So he contacted you? Everything is okay with him?" Luke chimed in without
averting his eyes from his son. He knew that Han was okay - not only because
Leia had not contacted him anymore before they had left Ord Radama, but also
because the Force told him that his best friend was okay.
His sister smiled. Her relief was palpable, "Yes. He said they ran into some
trouble, but he didn't want to go into any more details on the comm. You
know him - he enjoys leaving me in the dark until I can't help it and start
to try and worm it out of him."
Mara snorted, "I know someone else that enjoys doing that."
Luke cocked an eyebrow, but didn't deign to answer. Instead he wiped Ben's
hands with a clean cloth and offered him another praline. The infant didn't
hesitate and stuffed it greedily into his mouth. "Maybe he has discovered
something that will prove Cal's innocence. If he's putting up such an act,
he'll have something of importance to share."
"We'll find out soon enough," Mara caressed through the blond hair of her
son and smiled broadly as he grinned his adorable grin back at her. "You
arranged something for Ben while we're gone?"
Leia pursed her lips and a wave of annoyance rolled through her. She quickly
quenched it, reminding herself of how protective she had been if it came to
her children as they had been small and helpless. "Of course I did. There'll
be five Noghri watching over him, plus 3PO."
The former Emperor's Hand acknowledged that with a nod and a smile and the
Alderaanian leaned back in her seat. It was good to be back to a friendship
with Mara. It complemented their family. As soon as Han would have landed on
the planet, everything would be perfect.
*~~
Dusk was obscuring the view onto Coruscant's sky by the time the Millenium
Falcon settled on the personal landing platform of the Chief of State. For a
short moment, the hissing of the steam and the hollow thumps of the landing
struts as they found a secure hold on the permacrete drowned out the howl of
the wind. Nightly storms were usual during the planet's spring season and
quite often a problem to pilots. Not to Han Solo, though. He sat the
freighter down as softly as if he were putting a baby to bed and not a
minute passed until the ramp began to lower.
The first form to materialize against the backdrop of the ship's illuminated
innards was small and lanky. Her head-tails flapped leisurely against her
back as Swilja Fenn made her way down to the end of the ramp and bowed
respectfully in front of the group of people that had awaited their arrival.
Leia acknowledged the greeting with a nod and a warm smile, while both Luke
and Mara reciprocated the bow.
"It is good to see you again, Knight Fenn. I trust your mission went well?"
Luke smiled at the beautiful Twi'lek and bit down a smirk as he felt her
signature glow with enthusiasm. He had known - instinctively - that teaming
up with Han would be good for the young woman. Her skills were extraordinary
and she possessed a sharp mind - experience was what she lacked. She tended
to theorize everything. Working with Han must have felt chaotic to her at
first, but if he had been right, it would have loosened her up just enough
to make her ready for solitary missions, if she so wished.
"I think it did, Master." Hazel eyes glanced backwards and a smile played
around her full lips, "It was in any case a very interesting experience."
The Jedi Master grinned, "I hoped it would be. You will have your
impressions ready?"
"By tomorrow, Master."
Luke nodded in satisfaction. He had found mentions of a huge, detailed
library that had been maintained by the Old Jedi Order some time ago, during
his study of old records and ancient books, and he had been fascinated by
the concept. He was naturally aware that this amount of knowledge could not
simply be conjured up from one second to the other, but he was intent on
rekindling the idea and creating a library for the New Order.
And while he had made contact with the Galactic Archives on Coruscant to ask
for their cooperation, inspiration had hit him. A mere day later, he had
proposed to the assembled Jedi to have them write a very special kind of
report after every mission they undertook. It was not supposed to be a paper
written according to strict rules - it wasn't destined to resemble a
military report. What he wanted was a huge databank of impressions,
experiences, of personal lessons the single Jedi had learned and that they
could share with their brothers and sisters to give them advice and courage.
Tionne had happily accepted the duty of upholding the library-to-be - her
element was history, knowledge. Swilja Fenn would offer the first entry.
"I'm looking forward to read it."
"Me, too," the deep voice of Han Solo interrupted as the tall Corellian
sauntered towards them and gave her a grin, "I want to see what complaints
she will come up with."
The Twi'lek's smile broke into a broad grin of her own as she turned her
head and looked up at the human. "Not too many, I think. The trip was.
enlightening."
Han's expression grew smug and his hazel eyes twinkled as he gave a short
bow, doing an extraordinary job mimicking the one she had given him on Ord
Mantell, after their run-in with the local low-lives. "Most women say that
after they have had the luck to encounter me."
Luke had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing out loud.
Swilja's cheeks had coloured deeply and she was nothing short of gaping at
the Corellian, flustered by his insinuation and obviously insecure whether
he was serious or not. Then she caught sight of the petite Alderaanian
princess that was coming up behind her husband and rolling her eyes at her
and understood what was going on.
The aspiring young Jedi pursed her lips and cocked an eyebrow at her
temporary comrade-in-arms, "I will certainly mention in my report that the
typical Corellian ego sure matches the scale of a sun and that it is just as
annoying as it is said to be." She bowed quickly and gave her goodbyes
before she excused herself and hurried down the corridor to the lift tubes
as quickly as it was possible if you were intent on projecting a picture of
intact composure. The Twi'lek still couldn't completely suppress the smile
that was once again nipping at her and she knew perfectly well that the
others had seen it.
Only when the doors of the lift tube had slid closed did she allow herself
to slowly shake her head. This mission had been utterly interesting and she
would have many things to ponder.
Back on the rooftop, Han Solo was following the lanky figure with his eyes
and chuckled, "Well, that was a start. If she manages to put more bite into
fewer words, she'll yet make a spiffy lady."
"Surviving all these days alone with you should count for something." Leia
said as she slung her arms around her husband's waist and tipped up her head
for the welcome kiss she had been longing for ever since he had left the
planet. Her Corellian didn't let her wait and Luke and Mara both left them
their moments of privacy. Both Jedi shared a smile and their hands found
each other almost instinctively - too much of themselves did they see in
these two lovers reunited after days of worry and potential disaster.
Finally the Chief of State and her husband separated and Han focused his
attention on his brother-in-law. "So, kid, I heard you've run into trouble
on Ord Radama?"
Luke's azure eyes widened in surprise, "How do you.. Oh well, forget it. I
probably don't want to know how many shady spice den inhabitants are keeping
tabs on my bungled missions."
The Jedi Master's sister stared at the Corellian, her expression smooth and
unreadable, "Maybe I want to know with how many shady spice den inhabitants
you have hung out, though."
Han grinned, "Love, all my old-time buddies are shady spice den inhabitants.
That's why they know all those things. Spice dens are as wealthy a source of
information as any planetary library if you know how to sift through all the
gibberish."
"Oh, I know, dear, I know," Leia had assumed an expression of gentle
resignation and her chestnut eyes glimmered with mirth. "I just wish you
wouldn't actually have fun doing it."
Han just shrugged and turned back to Luke, "For once, though, my source is
less conspicuous. I listened to the galactic news on the way down. The
assassination attempt on you and Mara is all over the waves. It's not every
day that a New Republic Senator is involved in an intrigue spun against the
head of the Jedi Order." He paused for a moment and cut his eyes on his
brother-in-law, mustering him up and down before doing the same for the
former Emperor's Hand. "You okay, right?"
Luke smiled, "I'm fine. Got grazed by some enemy fire, but it was nothing
serious."
"I managed to duck in time," Mara supplied smoothly at Han's inquisitive
stare.
"Oh, quit it," The Jedi Master murmured, "I was handicapped, you know. I
would have ducked had I been able to."
The Corellian frowned, "Handicapped?"
"Seems the newsvids don't know about the drug yet. Fortunately!" Leia seemed
relieved at that. There was no need to let the galaxy know just how close it
had been for her brother.
"Drug? What are you talking about?" Han's well-groomed confidence had
evaporated and worry was contorting his features as he frowned in
irritation, "Someone care to let me in on the details?"
"We'll tell you everything," Mara assured him, glancing at her wrist
chronometer, "But on the way to Cal Omas. If I have my arrestee regulations
down right, we'll have but an hour to get all our questions answered,
considering the gravity of the charges brought up against him."
Leia nodded. Her mood had darkened the moment her compatriot had been
mentioned and she was already directing her steps toward the lift tubes,
tugging at Han's sleeve for him to follow. "Maybe I can get two hours. I am
the Chief of State, after all. But I can't stretch regulations too much or
I'll be accused of power abuse for personal matters. That would not help to
make my testimony more credible if it comes to a trial. It's bad enough that
we're from Alderaan, Cal and I. They will take whatever I say in his favour
with a grain of salt. Misunderstood loyalty or whatever the official term
is."
"If it comes to a trial, yeah." Han mumbled.
His wife stared at him and he felt the eyes of his brother-in-law and Mara
on him, too.
Luke was the first to break the stunned silence and address Han as they
stepped into the elevator and thumbed in their destination, "You found
something on Ord Mantell, I take it?"
The Corellian nodded, "You could say that. I just don't know what to make
out of it yet," He held up a hand to stall any further inquiry, "Let's talk
to Omas first. If I see what you have found on Ord Radama.. Maybe everything
will fit together."
Mara leant against the back wall of the lift cabin and stared thoughtfully
into nothingness, "So you also think all of this is connected."
"It's all speculation at this point." Leia interrupted. For some reason, the
thought that all of this could have been engineered to get at them, at her
and her family, scared her profoundly. It would mean the one pulling the
strings in the background wasn't only incredibly resourceful and
influential. it also meant he - or she - was driven by a hatred of such
depth that no scheme would be too elaborate to achieve the desired outcome.
"Don't forget the holo cube, Leia. After all we've found out in the past few
days, I'd be surprised if all this were not connected in some way or the
other." Luke reminded. His voice and his signature in the Force were both
tinged with worry - worry for all of them and for all the innocents that
might still be dragged into this. Innocents like Anandan Kele. But there was
also determination simmering underneath the surface. Her brother was not
intimidated - in effect, she felt as if he might even be somewhat intrigued
by what was going on.
"Holo cube?" Han groaned, "There I'm on vacation for a couple of days and
look what happens. You have a lot of filling in to do tonight,
Highnessness."
Leia smiled, "Most of it you'll learn in a couple of minutes only."
The lift came to a halt and they stepped out into a corridor deep in the
lower levels of the Imperial Palace. The area that was reserved for
political arrestees did not have any windows, for safety reasons, and was
heavily guarded. While the war with the Empire had still raged, it had
provided a safe heaven for political refugees seeking asylum within the New
Republic. Later, during the Yuuzhan Vong conflict, New Republic Intelligence
had moved its headquarters into this area for maximum security. After the
peace treaty with the extragalactic alien race, the corridors and rooms had
been abandoned. When Cal Omas had been charged with corruption and treason,
rather than sending him to a public penitentiary, the Advisory Council had
decided to hold him here until his trial and the subsequent judgement.
The vote had been nearly unanimous - only Fyor Rodan of Commenor had voted
against this added precaution and Leia remembered the spike of suspicion
that had shot through her as he had so vehemently protested against the
Council's intent. Why had he done so? Was it a personal wrath against the
Alderaanian Senator? Or were there shadier, ulterior motives behind his
actions?
Leia straightened. She could not burden her thoughts with these suspicions
while she was talking to Cal Omas. She glanced at her brother. Luke wore an
expression of deep concentration and his eyes swirled almost cobalt with the
thoughts that were flying through his brain. Her sister-in-law, Mara, nodded
to the guards stationed on every side of the door that gave to Omas'
temporary quarters and Han had a broody air about him that made her curious.
If nothing else, the impending talk should reveal to hear what her husband
had found on Ord Mantell and what trouble exactly had befallen him.
*~~
"This is Ethmak Dren," The voice of Cal Omas, Senator of Alderaan currently
suspended from his duties and awaiting trial for his alleged crimes, held
profound disbelief as he regarded the hazy holographic image that hovered
above the small, portable projector Luke Skywalker had brought with him.
Four pairs of eyes had been resting on him while the Jedi Master had set up
the device and positioned it as close to the invisible sensory line that
divided the room into half.
Driven by a wish for increased aestheticism in prisons - and by the bribes
of several wealthy inhabitants of said institutions - scientists had
recently turned their attention on means and ways to confine a person and
guarantee the safety of the visitors without the need to resort to cuffs and
shackles.
The regular penitentiaries had mostly refused to adopt these new
technologies, insisting on the way the more archaic means of restraint
instilled a deep humility in the convicts that only aided their redemption
and their reintegration into society and its rules.
Luke had never put much thought into this argument - he had come to the
conclusion, indeed, that whereas or not such a humiliation had any effect on
the subject largely depended on the degree to which the criminal had already
succumbed to his very personal Dark Side. Darkness was not dependent on
Force sensitivity. If it were so, he mused, the galaxy would be a by far
safer place to live in.
The sensory line that divided the room would note every breach of perimeter
from either side's part. The visitors would be shown out of the room should
they cross it - by hand, foot or any other body part - more than two times.
By the very first breach, the imprisoned would be stunned and brought out of
the room, suffering a stop of visits for at least a week following the
incident.
All these thoughts flashed through his mind as if they wanted to shield his
conscience from the words the Alderaanian Senator had just uttered. This was
Ethmak Dren. The spindly, emaciated human with the steely blue eyes and
close-cropped, dirty-blond hair that had used Anandan Kele to manoeuvre him
and Mara into place for an attempt on their lives - or an attempt to hijack
them, Luke still didn't know which one he should believe in - was the same
that had lured Cal Omas into a contract that could prove fatal for his
career.
"Of course," the elderly human continued softly, "I cannot tell you whether
that is his real name."
"I bet it isn't. Look at what the guy engineered so far. If he has brains
enough to do that, he won't be so stupid as to introduce himself with his
real name." Han was at his brother-in-law's side in a series of quick steps,
leaving his wife standing leant against the wall opposite her compatriot, a
shocked and grim expression marring her delicate, aristocratic face.
"This tells us the Ord Radama matter and the accusations against Senator
Omas are related." Mara agreed. Her features didn't translate any relief,
though. "It unfortunately doesn't constitute an evidence for his innocence,
yet."
Cal Omas closed his eyes briefly in resignation and even though he found a
small smile in himself, somewhere, his grey eyes held sadness as he sought
the gaze of the former Emperor's Hand, "I might have been a pawn only - the
holo cube you received, Leia, suggests that - but I was. I am a pawn that is
not supposed to survive the game."
The Princess pressed her lips together and it was obvious she was trying to
find words of encouragement for her friend, but there were none that came to
her. Eventually, she closed her eyes, too, and whispered, "I'm so sorry,
Cal."
"Don't get all depressed yet." Han interrupted. He dug his hand into one of
his pants' bags and brought out a small data disk that he flipped onto the
table with a sure aim, having it skirt against Luke's hand and bump against
the portable holo player. "That's what I found on Ord Mantell."
"Where?" Leia had pushed off the wall and was approaching with a mix of
curiosity and renewed hope sparkling in her eyes.
Han gave her a lop-sided grin, "Smuggler's secret, darling."
"Han," Mara looked at him in astonishment, "You know that the court won't
accept evidence that doesn't stem from well-determined and legal sources."
The Corellian snorted, "The source is perfectly legal, I assure you.
Business data from the Ord Mantell Company Registry. It's just not been me
who's collected it."
Luke frowned up at him, "You know that a burglar's not a legal source, don't
you?"
Han cut his eyes at his brother-in-law and made a face at him, "You're so
smug, kid. Really, I swear, this data hasn't been collected in an illegal
way. A friend of mine did the investigation, under the guise of his own
company. I figured it would alert whoever trapped Cal if Han Solo were to
investigate personally in the matter. No one would get suspicious if my
friend did it, though."
Leia grinned, "So that's an official proof Cal's lawyer can present?"
"You bet, Princess. And it will be a good one, too."
Luke pressed a button on the holo player and a series of files materialized
in the air between them. Simultaneously the group of five bent forward and
studied the letters that took shape.
"I don't believe it," Mara murmured.
Han was immediately annoyed, "I told you my source was."
"That's not what she means, Han." Luke assured. He met his best friend's
gaze and gestured towards the glimmering data. "Anandan Kele told us that he
was forced to adhere to a contract that would bind him to a specific planet
- that would necessarily bind him to a speecific space route, too."
The Corellian stared, "Don't tell me it was Mon Calamari."
Luke nodded, "It was Mon Calamari."
"So what we have is this," Leia surmised, "Ethmak Dren posed as the
spokesman of a company he claimed to have its seat on Ord Mantell. Fact is,
as Han found out, that Byskaly Enterprises hails from Mon Calamari.
According to Luke and Mara - and ultimately according to Anandan Kele - the
one to force him into this whole matter of a space lane through the Yuuzhan
Vong cluster pressured him to support a contract with a company that is also
situated on Mon Calamari."
"We know it has been the same man - he spoke to Cal and he spoke to Kele. No
doubt Byskaly Enterprises is a shadow business altogether." Mara added.
"Everything runs together on Mon Calamari," Luke murmured, frowning at the
device as if it were its fault that this complicated maze of deception was
having such an impact on all their lives. "What is it that worries you,
Han?"
The Corellian blinked. Belatedly he realized what had happened and grimaced
at his brother-in-law, "I wish you wouldn't do that."
The Jedi Master shrugged apologetically, "Sorry. You were broadcasting
loudly. Couldn't help but eavesdrop."
"Han?" Leia insisted.
"Oh well," the tall man huffed and began to pace back and forth in the small
half that was reserved for the visitors. "Look at how complicated all of
this is. Look at how they have tidied up behind themselves. You cannot prove
anything. Only some days ago we had absolutely no idea where to look - what
to look for in the first place. From the beginning we said this is the work
of a specialist. A pretty good one, too."
"And now, suddenly," Luke joined in, "all the evidence we need shows up,
with hints as clear as a holo banner pointing us to the next step of the
journey."
Han nodded in appreciation, "Exactly. I don't know about you, but to me,
this."
". stinks as rotten as a Hutt's bedchamber." Mara finished the sentence for
him.
"Couldn't have said it better," Han acknowledged.
Leia had been listening silently and now tapped her chin with her index
finger, "So what you are saying is that we're being led on a chase. And this
chase has a purpose."
"To get us killed," Mara sank onto a chair and gave the data card another
once over with her brilliant green gems.
"I'm not so sure about that," Luke objected. "You forget that they wanted to
hijack me. And Han said the trouble they ran into was minor. They weren't
even followed, although those guys must have realized they have gotten away
with the evidence."
"You don't know enough to say anything for sure. You can only speculate." It
was the first Cal Omas had said in a while and the calm words prompted all
of them to look at him. His defeatist attitude had all but disappeared and
he was leaning forward as much as he could without risking a punishing stun
bolt.
"He's right. We need more information," The former Emperor's Hand extended
an arm and switched the holo projector off, tugging it into one of her
cloak's pouches. There was a momentary silence before Luke rose from his
seat and picked up the data chip Han had brought. He held it between two
fingers for a moment, then encased it in his fist. "I'm going to go to Mon
Calamari and see whether there's more to find there. It would help if we had
the name of Byskaly Enterprise's owner. Even a fake identity should help us
some."
Mara had risen at his first sentence and was glaring at him, "You're not
going to go there. Forgot what you said yourself a couple of seconds ago?
This is another trap. Remember what happened the last time you walked right
into one, thinking if you were just ready for everything, nothing would
happen?"
Luke frowned, "I never thought that. And I very well remember the conclusion
we've come to. We still need more information. A name. A lead. Anything.
Otherwise the Senator will be convicted of a crime he has not committed and
whoever wants our hides will be able to continue for as long as he wants."
"Luke," Leia took his hand and looked up at him with pleading eyes, "Don't
rush this. We'll try other ways first. Please."
"Leia, we don't have the time to."
"Kid, she's right." Luke fell silent at the Corellian's interruption and
stared at him in undisguised surprise, "Han, you know exactly."
"Yes. I know exactly that we're running out of time and that this situation
must be solved. But I also know that whoever is behind this knows an awful
lot about us. He knew that I'm associated with Roa and tracked him so that
he could ambush me and Swilja on Ord Mantell. He knew exactly how high to
dose you to send you into coma and pick you off like a dazed squall. And now
he wants us to go to Mon Calamari following a lead that he has planted. Kid,
you know me, I'm no quitter, but there's a difference between courage and
stupidity. I don't have to explain that to you."
The room was awkwardly still for a while and all of them watched the tensed
shoulders of the Jedi Master as he considered his brother-in-law's words and
weighed them against his desire to prevent a terrible injustice and to
protect his loved ones. Finally, Luke's stance eased up and he acquiesced
with a nod. Everyone relaxed, though Han frowned as azure eyes were cut at
him, "A dazed squall?"
The Corellian grinned, "Sometimes there is an astonishing similarity, you
know."
The former farmboy seemed flustered at that, but he didn't get the
opportunity to say another word as Leia pressed his hand and stepped in
front of her husband, "Who's Roa?"
"Just an old friend of mine."
The beautiful Princess cocked her head to the side, "You never told me about
him."
"We parted ways long before we met each other, Leia. I might tell you some
time. We've more pressing matters to attend to, though. If our next step
isn't a trip to Mon Calamari, what is it instead?"
"Ackbar." Again it was the cultivated voice of Omas that focused all of
their attention. "You should contact Admiral Ackbar. He might be retired,
but he has connections. The Mon Cal revere him. He will be able to provide
you with access to every possible data about the planet that you could ask
for."
Leia's face lit up, "An excellent idea! I know that he's on planet,
actually. I'll contact him immediately." She smiled at her Alderaanian
friend, "Don't worry, Cal. We'll get to the bottom of this. Before the trial
begins." The Princess brushed a kiss over Han's lips beamed at her brother
and his wife, then she left the room in a determined pace.
The other three visitors turned to follow her.
"If you would stay for a word, please," Cal Omas quickly said, indicating
the vacated seats.
*~~
Her mood was considerably heightened as Leia made her way along the corridor
towards the lift tubes. They were still not anywhere close to finding out
who was behind all these schemes and intrigues - or to uncover which goal he
pursued - but the chance that they would manage to clear Cal before the
trial even began had just risen.
To Leia, this meant almost more than getting to the bottom of the mystery
itself. In the course of her life, she had grown used to the fact that
people wanted to kill or at the very least neutralize her. What bothered her
deeply, though, was if these people tried to use her friends to complicate
her life. Or punished them for being befriended with her in the first place.
The notion that Cal would not be victim to a ploy directed against her and
her family cheered her up and relieved her.
Her positive set of mind and her smile would have lingered somewhat longer,
though, if not for the tall figure that was travelling the corridor from the
opposite direction.
Wrapped in elegant and expensive Vedan cloth of the best quality, Fyor Rodan
of Commenor strode confidently towards her, his trademark smile the usual
testimony to his arrogance and vanity.
"Your Excellency," He bowed curtly, very curtly, and Leia felt her smile
freeze on her lips. The human Senator never showed her more than the minimum
of respect required by etiquette and she made always sure, meticulously,
that he was aware of the mutuality of his emotions.
"Senator Rodan." She inclined her head, wondering whether her tone of voice
was too cool and eventually deciding that even if it were, Fyor Rodan was
not deserving of any sparkle of warmth whatsoever. "I'm surprised to see you
here."
Dark eyes glinted at her. His smile seemed glued to his face, foreign and
stiff. She was sure he would have preferred to sneer at her, but he had had
the best aristocratic education. He would not show such feelings in front of
an adversary. "We are all free to visit Senator Omas if Intelligence cleared
us, aren't we?"
Leia folded her hands in front of her belly and did her best to smile every
bit as ugly as he, "Of course. You will understand, though, that I did not
expect you to come and support him during this trying time of injustice."
Fyor's smile broadened, "But, Your Highness, the evidence is incriminatingly
obvious. I'm persuaded of his guilt."
The Alderaanian straightened somewhat more, "Of course you are. How would it
look if you doubted the authenticity of your own proof?"
The Commenorian glared at her, "What are you suggesting, Your Excellency?"
Leia feigned surprise, "Suggesting? What am I suggesting, Fyor? I was
stating an obvious fact, was I not?"
"I get the impression you are tempted to ignore the data I've provided. I
can understand you, of course." The haughty smile had returned and he was
stepping closer to her, towering over her, and filling his voice with all
the disdain and contempt he had always held for her and her home planet.
"Senator Omas is your friend. He is from Alderaan. Tragic, what happened all
these years ago." He clucked his tongue against his teeth and was watching
her intently.
Leia did her best to keep her expression passive and swallow the rage and
hurt that were swirling in her heart. "Isn't it understandable, you will
think, that someone who has lost so much seeks to regain it? And that he
might not care for the legality of the means he uses to restore his wealth?
Maybe," he grinned and folded his arms in front of his chest, "he even
revels in the fact that he's getting back at the galaxy that has born an
evil capable of destroying a whole planet."
He sighed and nodded, sadness contorting his features. It could not soften
the evil glint in his eyes, "These are the words that travel the Senate
these days. Of course you're well aware of it. You're the President. You're
fully conscious of the delicacy of this affair, of the rumours that are
spreading, of the opinions and factions that build. You know," he leaned
forward, "the value of impartiality, Princess."
It was all Leia could do to let her hands rest on her body and not lash out
at the outrageous man. In moments like this she thought to understand best
the fascination and addiction of the Dark Side.. How satisfying would it be
to strangle all those poison-laced words out of this creature that called
himself a representative of his people?
She forced a deep breath into her lungs and pushed the rage out of her
thoughts. She would not play into his hands.
But he wanted her to do so. His words made it obvious as he continued, "And
yet, I find you here. Using your influence to extend the usual time for
visits, discussing evidence and data your husband and brother have
gathered."
He stepped even closer to her, his voice a challenging whisper, though he
made a point of keeping his hands behind his back, presenting a defenceless
attitude to the guards stationed at the lift and the doors to Cal's
quarters. They would not be able to hear the exchange between their
President and the Commenorian Senator, but she felt their vigil minds as
their loyalty to her and their suspicion of Rodan made them watch every
movement of his.
"Some might accuse you of favouritism, Leia. Others," he sneered, "might
doubt the authenticity of your proof. How easy would it be for the Chief of
State and for the Jedi Master to manipulate evidence? To fake it? To destroy
it?"
Leia's eyes narrowed. There was only so much she would take from this
insolent, self-addicted disgrace to his planet. She knew her smirk was
sinister, she knew it was the one Han called her 'Dark Side smirk', but she
did not care. "And how easy, Senator," she whispered, intoning every word
carefully, "might it be for the heir of Commenor's ruling house to do the
same?" She took a step forward and had the satisfaction to see him
instinctively retreat. "How easy, Senator Rodan, would it be for you to take
one of your lower secretaries to deliver a threat to my apartment, a
holo-cube the size of your palm, and erase all evidence? How easy would it
be to allow yourself to play a role in someone else's schemes to get rid of
me and my family, as you despise us so much?"
Rodan glared daggers at her, the grin still on his face, but with an air
more artificial than ever before, "You have no proof, Your Highness. I have.
I can prove Omas' treason."
Leia inclined her head again, in a mock-gesture of respect and relent, "Do
try. Meanwhile, I will prove YOUR treason and I will uncover in whose games
you are a little pawn, serving only to do the dirty work for your Master."
She felt the rage explode within the other at the insult as soon as the
words had left her lips, and the big hands of the much taller man took her
arms in a vice grip before she had had time to budge.
There was fear within her, but it was, absurdly, overshadowed by deep
exhilaration. He had given himself away and he knew it. It only fuelled his
fury and his words were barely constrained as his nose almost touched hers,
"Careful, Leia."
"She is not the one that should be careful, Senator." The words were sharp
and clipped and Leia saw the shock on Rodan's face as he recognised it. His
eyes strayed from hers and looked over her shoulder, seething rage mixing
with something much more primitive.
"Take your hands off my sister." Luke Skywalker's eyes burned into the other
man's and the glimmer of defiance that had started to appear left Rodan as
quickly as air sucked into vacuum. The Senator withdrew his hands and took a
step back, though the rage had not vanished from his eyes.
He was trying to compose himself, though, no doubt aware of the situation's
potential for disaster. Disaster for him. In a time that should rightfully
see him triumph, he could not allow himself a blunder.
Then again, Fyor Rodan was a proud man and the jibe of the Alderaanian had
stung him deeply. "I didn't intend to hurt her. I was caught up in the
moment." He hissed, "The times are trying, Master Jedi."
Luke had stepped forward, putting Leia behind himself, despite the fact that
he knew she would be telling him that she were perfectly capable to take
care of herself soon enough. He did not care. "They are, Senator."
"And I don't react well to insults. The Princess should consider her words
more carefully." His voice was acid as he glowered at Leia over the Jedi's
shoulder. She merely cocked an eyebrow at him, the simple gesture a clear
indication that she had been serious. Her audacity appalled him.
However, he had not been aware of his mistake. The chocolate eyes of the
woman had held a challenge. The azure pools that were seeking his gaze now
held a warning. A merciless one, at that. "I advise you to consider your
actions more carefully, Senator Rodan." Luke Skywalker was leaning forward
in much the same manner Rodan had done with Leia mere seconds ago, but there
was no impassioned rage lurking under his words. There was cold
determination and even with all the despise Rodan held for the man, he was
not fool enough to challenge the leader of the Jedi Order. "Make this
personal, touch my sister ever again, and you will regret it."
He didn't wait for an answer. Instead, the Jedi Master straightened and took
a step away, "Apology accepted, Senator Rodan. You have things to see to,
I'm sure."
The blood had drained from the Commenorian's face and he was quivering in a
mixture of fear and rage as he bowed ever so curtly, turned on his heels and
stalked off to the lift tubes. The farther he got away, the more his fear
evaporated and the more his rage grew.
"He's in deep, I tell you." Leia commented, straightening her gown, as if
nothing had happened. Luke followed the Senator's steps until the lift doors
had closed, then turned around abruptly and worriedly eyed his sister, "Are
you okay? Did he hurt you?"
The petite woman smiled, "Not really. He did me a favour."
Luke frowned, "He did? By threatening you?"
She nodded, "Exactly. He gave himself away. It was worth it. Besides," she
came to him, rose on her tip toes and brushed her lips over his in an
affectionate display of sisterly love, "I knew I didn't have to be afraid
with my brother around." Leia smirked, "Either you'd have chopped him to
pieces or Han would have grilled a hole into his head."
Luke battled unsuccessfully against a smile of his own, "Still, I'd never
have thought he'd go this far. Another lead to follow."
"Certainly." Leia craned her neck, "Where are Han and Mara anyway?"
"Senator Omas wanted to know more about the investigations about Pwoe's and
Niuv's ties to smugglers. I figured the two experts should stay. Besides, I
felt..."
". the need to protect your sister?"
Now Luke smiled broadly - a bashful, endearing smile, "Guilty as charged."
Leia laughed and kissed him again, "You're forgiven."
To Be Continued