time.
Then they were off to play, wading into the sea and leaving stories,
lessons, and parents behind. Jacen was captivated by the idea of the
narkaa and kept plunging below the surface in hopes of seeing one.
Jaina loved the warm current flowing along the beach and said that
floating in it and letting it carry her along made her feel as if she
were flying. And even though the water was nearly as tranquil as Lake
Victory, the little waves that broke at the shore and tumbled over
themselves trying to climb up the beach proved a fascination to
Anakin.
The only blemish in the picture was Leia. She was present in body but
not in spirit. Her mind was on matters far removed from the
beach--matters Han had brought her there to forget, at least for a
time. Politics and diplomacy and statecraft and war were still taking
her away from all of them. And Nil Spaar's reversal from potential
ally to determined adversary was still an open wound.
"Dad?"
Han twisted his head toward Jaina, who had come up unnoticed to stand
close enough to drip water on his leg. "I'm sorry, I can't rescue your
brother from the narkaa," Han said, squinting. "I left my hero suit in
the cabin."
Jaina just ignored his gibe, as she was wont to do when intent on her
own business. "Jacen and I are going to go down the beach and look for
sea motes. Okay?"
"Okay," he said. "But don't go out of sight. If you can't see me, I
can't see you."
For a moment she gave him her impatient I-know- that-Dad look. But
Jaina was learning not to throw away her victories, and said nothing
more than a breezy "Thanks!" as she ran away to where Jacen waited.
Han's gaze flicked to Anakin, who sat at the edge of the water carving
pools and rivers with his fingers for the waves to fill, then to Leia,
who had gone twenty meters up the beach with her comlink. After a
moment's hesitation, he bounced up from the sand cover and started
toward her.
Leia's conversation ended before he was halfway to where she stood, so
he heard none of it. He only saw her switch the comlink off and turn
as if to come back to him. But when she saw him approaching, she
waited for him there instead. "I'm sorry," she said, kissing him
dutifully.
"I didn't think that would take so long. Do you still want to go
swimming?"
"You may as well tell me the news first."
"Admiral Ackbar says the Fifth has taken up station without incident.
No sign of the Yevethan fleet."
"Good," said Han. "Maybe that business is over now."
"I don't think Nil Spaar makes empty threats. If anything, he
understates them."
"Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. I didn't kidnap you away from
Imperial City so you could hold strategy sessions in a bathing suit."
"I know," she said, taking his hand as they started to walk. "Ackbar
says that Senator Tuomi raised a challenge to my credentials this
morning."
"Oh, here we go again--" "Tuomi said the refugee population of Alderaan
didn't constitute a state, and we're only entitled to nonvoting
membership and representation by a legate. And, of course, a legate
can't be president of the Senate."
"Isn't that old news? Wasn't that issue settled when the Provisional
Council was dissolved?"
"There are a lot of new members since then--Dran-nik is one of them.
Members who weren't around when the Alderaan question was decided, who
didn't have any part in the decision. I guess some of them want to
have their say now."
"But can they actually do anything to you?"
"The Ministry Council could, in theory," she said.
"But the chairman was a friend of my father's. I don't think he'll let
this get very far."
Han shook his head. "I have to tell you, Leia--nothing makes my head
around here. It seems like every time I think I've got the gist of it,
someone comes along to rename half the offices and rearrange the rest
of them."
Leia laughed. "I guess it does seem that way sometimes.
But you know that the first concern was to make sure there was never
another Palpatine--to prevent any single person from acquiring too much
power. Mon Mothma told me that the Senate worries more about success
than failure. They'll tolerate ineffective leadership forever, but
effective leadership frightens them."
"Which is nuts," said Han. "How is anyone supposed to get anything
done in a system like that?"
"They're not. That's the whole point. No one's supposed to have the
power that goes along with their responsibilities.
I guess there are some in the Senate who think I've crossed that line,"
she said, clinging to his arm. "Ackbar said Behn-kihl-nahm would call
me when all the shouting was over and tell me how many senators spoke
in support of Tuomi's challenge."
Growling, Han snatched the comlink from Leia's other hand and broke
away from her toward the water.
After three long strides, he reached back and hurled the comlink out to
sea with all the strength he could muster.
It made a small white splash out beyond where the Thodian swimmer had
been. A moment later, a sleek dark shape broke the surface near the
splash, then slipped below again.
"Han!" Leia's tone carried both puzzlement and rebuke.
He turned back toward her. "I had to do it. It was trying to kill
you."
"What?"
"Look at us. We're on vacation, for the first time in who can
remember," Han said, slowly returning to her.
"We're walking on a beautiful beach, hand in hand, with no kids
climbing all over us--and we're talking about politics."
She sighed. "You're right. It's worse than I realized."
"Trust me. The New Republic won't fall if the President's out of touc h
for a day, or three. And they're not going to get that mess all
cleaned up while we're gone-you'll get your share of mop and bucket
time."
"Oh, that's comforting."
Han stopped and turned her toward him. "Leia, you've given them enough
of you. Can't you give your-self--us--these few days? If this isn't
where you want to be, or what you want to be doing with this time, tell
me, and we'll do something about it. And if I have to take you farther
from the castle to break the spell the Wizard of Duty laid on you--"
"Illafian Point is fine," she said. "It's beautiful here.
And I doubt you could find a place that was any less like Imperial
City."
"Then stop worrying already.. Try to enjoy yourself, That's why you're
here."
She started walking again and pulled him along with her. "I'll try.
But you're going to have to be patient with me," she said. "I'm kind
of new to this 'having fun' business."
"Oh?"
"Oh," she said. "Being a princess of the royal family of Alderaan was
a pretty serious matter, all things considered.
Bail Organa's idea of recreation was to take some subject you kn
ow
nothing about and try to become an expert in it."
"You must have taken family vacations at drill school."
"Close. We'd go visit friends of my father, or have them as guests at
the palace, and Bail would always be saying 'Leia, this is my old
friend Farblemumble. There isn't anything he doesn't know about
noodlefishing, and he's offered to teach you nineteen ways to make a
trap net out of an old sweater--'" Han was grinning broadly. "So
that's why my clothes keep disappearing."
She poked him with a finger. "And then I skipped right over the part
Where I was supposed to be young and carefree--I was seventeen when I
came here as a senator." She sighed weightily. "Oh, my stars--"
"What?"
"I just realized that I've been on Coruscant as long as I lived on
Alderaan. A little longer, even." She shook her head. "Oh, I wish I
hadn't realized that. I don't even like Coruscant that much, and now
I've spent half my life there."
"Really--that much? Ever been to the Ice Crypts?
Walked the mazes in the Trophill Garden in East Minor?
Heard a performance in the Kallarak Amphitheater?"
"No," she said, and looked puzzled.
"I thought not. You don't know Coruscant, Leia.
What you know is Imperial City. And mostly the inside of rooms, at
that."
"You're right," she admitted. "I told you I wasn't strong on this
'fun' business. --Did I ever tell you my first impression of Imperial
City?"
"I don't think so."
"I wrote my father that it looked like a colony of squibs had moved
into the Queen's collection of braaken glass." Leia laughed quietly
and slipped an arm around Han's waist. "Bail thought the braaken glass
was hideous.
He understood."
As they continued in an intimate silence, Leia cast her gaze about her
at the sea, the beach, and the sky.
"This is nice, Han," she said, as Anakin looked up from his sand
sculptures and came running toward them.
"Thank you. I don't feel quite so much like one of the squibs out
here."
Chapter 11
"Admiral!" The nurse-medic saluted smartly. "Can I help you, sir?"
I was informed that Plat Mallar has been removed from the bacta
tank," said Admiral Ackbar, cocking his head slightly.
"Yes, sir--about two hours ago. He's doing well.
Dr. Yintal was able to speak to him briefly."
"Where is Dr. Yintal now?"
"Emergency, sir. There was an accident out at Biggs Field, just a
short time ago--" "Yes," said Ackbar. "I know."
"Do you have any information about what happened, sir? All we've heard
here are rumors--" "A student in a TX-sixty-five missed his approach
and crashed on a taxiway," Ackbar said. "Two other trainers and a
command shuttle were hit by the debris. I have been told of three dead
and sixteen injured."
"Thank you, sir. That gives us some idea what to get ready for up
here."
"I will leave you to that in a moment," said Ackbar.
"Did you say that Plat Mallar regained consciousness?"
"Just briefly, right after he came out of the tank. He and Dr. Yintal
exchanged a few words. But the prisoner's sleeping now."
"Mind your words--Plat Mallar is not a prisoner," Ackbar said
sharply.
"I'm sorry, sir. I understood that he was an Imperial pilot, from an
Imperial depot world--" "You are mistaken," said Ackbar. "He is a
brave young man who risked his life to try to help his people.
And I have taken a special interest in his welfare. I expect him to
receive the very best care this facility can offer--is that
understood?"
"Yes, sir," the nurse-medic said contritely. "I understand, sir."
"I would like to see him now. Is he still in Unit Number Five?"
"Yes, sir. I'll take you there--" "That is not necessary," Ackbar
said. "See to your preparations."
The bacta tank in Intensive Care Unit 5 was vacant and drained. A
young Grannan male lay in the IC bed nearby, monitor bands on his broad
forehead, soft thorax, and left wrist.
Standing close by the bed, Ackbar leaned over the patient and studied
him closely. Plat Mallar's fingers were drawn up short into his
skin-cuff, and his eye crease was closed and sealed with a thin bead of
a glistening secretion. A clear gas tube pumped methanogen into Plat
Mallar's respiratory sacs; an opaque red tube carried his poisonous
wastes away.
But his skin had regained the typical Grannan color and luster; despite
the surroundings, he no longer appeared on the brink of death.
"Good," Ackbar said to himself. "Good."
Hoping that Plat Mallar's sleep was as restful as it appeared, Ackbar
moved the self-adjusting chair over beside the bed, then settled his
large body into it. Setting his comlink on the bed beside him where he
could reach it quickly if called, Ackbar placed his hands on his knees
in a familiar and comfortable posture.
"Sleep, little one," he said quietly. "Sleep and heal.
When you are ready, I will be here."
Leaning forward across the control yoke, Han Solo peered sideways out
the windshield at the steps leading to the main entrance to the General
Ministry.
"Where are The Sniffer and The Shooter?" he asked Leia. "I don't see
them. You didn't tell Nanaod you were coming back today, did you. Do
you want me to come in with you?"
"No," she said, gathering up her robes so that she could climb out.
"But I hope you'll be at home when I get there. I might need you
then."
"We'll be there," Han said, nodding. "You sure you don't need me to
come up, now?"
"I'm sure," she said. "I'm just going to go do what needs to be done,
and we'll see what happens after that."
The entrance to the Grand Ministry had once been the reception entrance
to the Imperial Palace. Forty polished stone steps led up to triple
metal-mosaic doors sheltered under a great cantilevered stone awning
edged with eight stars--symbols of the founding signatories of the
Declaration of a New Republic.
The security monitors spotted Leia as soon as she stepped out of the
speeder. A courtesy droid met her at the doors and opened one.
Walking with long-strided purpose, she started down the main promenade,
ignoring the expressions of surprise and whispers of curiosity she left
in her wake.
By the time she was. halfway down the main promenade, The Sniffer and
The Shooter came running up from behind to join her. She did not break
her stride, but continued into the General Ministry's central
offices.
The office staff rose at once as she entered. An older woman emerged
from a back room and rushed forward to meet her.
"Madame President," said Poas Trell, the first administrator's
executive aide. "We weren't told you were coming--the first
administrator is over at the Senate this morning--" "That's all right,"
said Leia. "No special preparations were called for. Where is the
minister of state?"
"Minister Falanthas is meeting with the Vorkaan de
legation. But I
could have him paged--" "No," said Leia. "That's not necessary
either.
Do you have the emergency petitions for membership?"
"The originals? Why, yes--they're in Minister Falanthas's secure
file."
"I want them," said Leia. "And an endorsement tablet."
"Of course, Madame President. Won't you let me call the administrator
and Minister Falanthas?"
"Completely unnecessary. They have their work to do, and I have mine,"
Leia said. "We'll use your staff conference room, if it's available.
You can witness."
Plat Mallar stirred in the infirmary bed and made a noise that might
have been a soft groan. Setting his datapad aside, Admiral Ackbar
leaned forward and watched as the young Grannan's eye crease opened and
his eyes sought to focus.
"Good morning," Ackbar said, patting Mallar's hand. "Don't be
afraid.
Do you know where you are?"