The order was unnecessary. The shadowy figure had already come to a halt, standing unprotected in the open, its hooded face shaded from the faint light of Luke’s lightsaber.
Luke took a step toward it. “I’m Luke Skywalker,” he said formally. “Brother of Leia Organa Solo, son of the Lord Darth Vader. Who are you?”
“I am Ekhrikor clan Bakh’tor,” the gravelly Noghri voice replied. “I greet you, son of Vader.” —The Last Command
The Obroan Law House was an elaborate affair: a quick fifteen-minute trip by airspeeder from the Royal Palace, in the heart of the capital. And if the Palace reminded Leia an awful lot of its equivalent on Coruscant, the Law House likewise seemed a miniature version of the old Senate Chamber and Assemblage Commons. Vaulted ceilings, ornate columns, all done in a stonework that echoed more of the Old Republic than the new one.
It was late morning as Wedge set them down in the spot that had been assigned to them outside the main entrance. “Well, here we are,” he declared. He’d discarded his flight suit in favor of a more appropriate military uniform, but he still looked out-of-place to Leia. “Nervous, Councilor?” he asked, turning around.
Leia gave him a weak smile. She did indeed feel nervous, she realized—more nervous, in fact, than she had any right feeling. Calm down, she instructed herself, you’ve done this hundreds of times. She went through some of the Force-relaxing exercises Luke had taught her, and tried to ignore the distinct impression that none of them were working.
Threepio, at least, seemed chipper. “I for one am looking forward to today’s events,” he said eagerly. He was a protocol droid, after all, and over the years his talents hadn’t been put to use nearly as often as he’d liked; and he always enjoyed the opportunity to return to his roots. “If my programming is correct, Obroan culture places a great emphasis on ceremony and decorum in their legal proceedings. This will be an excellent opportunity to see that ceremony firsthand.” He glanced around the compartment, and seemed to realize no one was listening to him. “Wouldn’t you agree, Chewbacca?” he tried.
But Chewbacca was looking at Leia, his blue eyes studying her thoughtfully. “I’m fine, Chewie” Leia assured him, trying to smile a little more forcefully. A movement outside caught her eye. “Look, Legate M’eung and his delegation just arrived. We better get going.”
Leia needed only a little help from Chewbacca getting out of the airspeeder and making it up the stairs to the main entrance. The two men standing guard gave her a quick cursory glance before letting them all through—though Leia guessed they were there more for decoration than security anyway, judging by the antique armor and colorful livery. Inside they were greeted by a mass of purple-clad Legates and their legislative aides, all drifting down the long, tree-lined corridor that led to the main Assembly chamber at the far end. Leia cast a look up at the high-vaulted ceilings, marveling again at the similarities with the Republic’s own Grand Corridor in the Imperial Palace.
“Exquisite, is it not?” a voice behind her asked.
Leia turned, to find Premier K’cheng standing beside her. “I’ve always enjoyed coming here,” he continued, his own gaze floating up to the angled vaults. “There‘s something calming, almost peaceful about it. Don‘t you think?”
“It’s beautiful,” Leia agreed.
K’cheng brought his gaze back down to look at Leia. “If you appreciate architecture, you must see the Central Library before you leave.” He glanced at Chewbacca and the others before guiding her a little bit away. “Forgive me if I am perhaps too blunt, Councilor,” he said softly, “but I must ask: what is it exactly you intend to accomplish today?”
Leia blinked in surprise. “To convince your government that we’re your best chance for living in peace and prosperity. To convince you to join the New Republic.”
“Ah,” K’cheng said. “But we have heard all these overtures already. What makes your words any different from the Republic emissaries that have come before?”
“Maybe nothing,” Leia admitted. “But you and I both know the galaxy isn’t the same place it was two years ago. Those words may be more persuasive in light of current events. Don’t you agree?”
“Yes,” K’cheng conceded with a sigh, “but I am not the one that you must convince. The Legates hold the real power on Obroa-skai. You will need their support if any petition is to be approved.”
“I know,” Leia said, taking K‘cheng by the arm. “Will you help me?”
The Premier was silent for a moment. “I will do what I can,” he said finally, just as a gong went off in the corridor. “Come. That is the warning that the conference is about to begin. It will do your cause well if we arrive together.”
So together the two of them headed down the corridor toward the pair of double-doors that connected to the Assembly; Chewbacca followed close behind, with Wedge and Threepio in tow. Leia was relieved to discover the Assembly Chamber, at least, was a slight departure from its New Republic equivalent: while the Assemblage Commons on Coruscant was comprised of slightly-tiered rows that faced a witness chair, here the Obroans had opted for a circular approach, with a space in the center for petitioners to present their case. “You and your delegation may take your positions there,” K’cheng told her, pointing at one side of the center space where a group of chairs had been set up. On the opposing side, Leia could already see Harbid and his stormtroopers, along with a junior officer consulting a data pad. “Good luck, Councilor,” K’cheng added one last time, before moving off towards the seat designated for the Premier.
“Looks like M’eung is already settled in,” Wedge murmured as they moved down one of the side aisles that connected with the center. In a position maybe one-quarter of the way around the main circle Leia could indeed see Legate M’eung, deep in conversation with a group of aides behind him. “He’s only one vote,” Leia reminded them.
Chewbacca let out a low growl. “Yeah, but he’s a loud one,” Wedge agreed, steering Leia towards their assigned seats. “Right here, Councilor.”
Leia took a seat in one of the chairs that lined the circle. It reminded her a little too much of the chair back in her suite: high-backed, and uncomfortable. Dimly she pushed the thought out of her mind. She was going to be spending the next several hours in this thing. “How is this going to work, Threepio?” she asked as the droid took a seat beside her.
Threepio titled his head thoughtfully. “Well, if my understanding of Obroan culture is correct, every petitioner is allocated a certain amount of time to present his or her case to the Premier and the Assembly. There may also be an opportunity for rebuttal by any opponents to the proposal, as well as a question-and-answer session from the Legates themselves. Of course, depending on the length and number of questions, these sessions can span several days.”
“Of course,” Leia agreed, diplomatically, looking across the way at Harbid and his delegation. But the other didn’t seem to notice her. “I take it the Imperials will be allocated the same amount of time as us?”
“Oh, I should think so,” Threepio confirmed cheerfully. “As I said, the Obroans place a great emphasis on fairness and propriety.”
He was interrupted by the echo of a second gong ringing through the chamber. “Attention,” Premier K’cheung said, rising up from his chair. “The conference is now begun. Will the petitioners rise?”
Chewbacca offered Leia another hand as she gingerly pushed herself up. On the other side, Harbid did the same. “Petitioners, identify yourselves,” one of K’cheng’s aides instructed.
Harbid glanced at Leia. “Councilor Leia Organa Solo, on behalf of the New Republic,” she said.
“Captain Harbid of the Star Destroyer Death’s Head, for the Empire,” Harbid added.
“Your names have been noted,” K’cheng said after a nod from his aide. “Councilor Organa Solo, you may go first. Why have you come before the Obroan Assembly?”
“I seek to petition Obroa-skai for membership in the New Republic,” Leia declared.
“This too has been noted. And you, Captain Harbid?”
“The same, your honor, but in the name of the Empire.”
K’cheng waited until the aide had finished writing. “Very well,” he said. “We will consider both petitions in turn. Each side will have one hour to present an opening argument. This will be followed by an inquisition from the Assembly into the merits of the proposal. Are all in agreement?”
Silently the Legates nodded. “Very well,” the Premier said again, resuming his seat. “Councilor Organa Solo, you will speak first. Proceed.”
* * *
In accordance with Obroan custom, they had allocated Leia sixty minutes to present her opening arguments. She only needed thirty to tell she didn’t have them.
“Well-spoken, Councilor,” Legate M’eung began as Leia finished her presentation. “Eloquent, even. But still I must protest. Your arguments are based as much upon dreams and half-truths as they are upon reality.”
Leia turned to look at him, thankful for perhaps the first time in her life for all the practice she had gotten with Councilor Fey’lya in dealing with arrogant bureaucrats. “And how is that, Legate?” she inquired.
M’eung snorted. “You forget this body has seen Republic politics firsthand, when we visited your Coruscant as part of your first petition two years ago. We saw only dysfunction and chaos, not harmony.”
“I agree the Republic’s not perfect,” Leia conceded. “But surely you don’t mean to suggest the Empire’s model was any better?”
“Objection,” the legate to M’eung’s left interjected. “The merits of the Imperial proposal are not being considered at this time. We kindly ask the Premier to remind the petitioner to stick to the matter at hand.”
“So reminded,” K’cheng said, giving Leia a sympathetic look.
“I apologize,” Leia said to the objecting legate. She turned back to M’eung. “Do you have specific concerns, Legate, or just these general accusations?”
“These accusations are considerably more than general,” M’eung pointed out. “But if it is specifics you seek, I am happy to provide them. Is it not true that just recently a high-ranking member of your Inner Council falsely accused the admiral Ackbar of treason and collusion, all for his own political gain?”
“That itself might be called half-true,” Leia clarified for the Assembly. “Councilor Fey’lya accused Admiral Ackbar only after a large, unexplained sum of money was discovered in his bank account.” A sum that was the purely result of an Imperial plant, Leia wanted to add, with a glance at Harbid.
“And what of Senator Bel Iblis, then?” M’eung continued, his voice getting louder. “Why is he not here, as we requested? I have heard rumors that Mon Mothma has not forgiven him for the events of nine years ago, and uses her position to shame him even now. Is that not the reason?”
“That’s not true!” Leia blurted, and regretted it the moment she did.
“Ah,” M’eung smiled, seeing his opening. “Then perhaps the Senator is not here simply because he has more important things to do. Is that why you have been sent in his stead?”
Leia took a breath. “I would ask the Premier to remind the Legate,” she said to K‘cheng, “that I am a Councilor and one of the highest-ranking members of the New Republic government. I am not a consolation prize.”
“Noted,” the Premier confirmed with a small smile.
She took a beat before staring down M’eung. “The reason I am here and Garm is not,” she explained, “is because his expertise is needed on the war front, and mine is not. A distinction you will appreciate the next time you call on a Republic task force for assistance.”
M’eung’s forehead wrinkled irritably. “Ah, but that is the real point, isn’t it?” another legate spoke up. “The war. Tell me, why should we join the Republic at a time when it seems you are losing your very momentum to defeat the Empire?”
Behind Leia, Threepio gave the droid equivalent of a polite cough. “I beg your pardon, Legate,” he said from his chair, “but I believe that point concerns Captain Harbid’s petition, and is not appropriate at this time.”
“It most certainly is appropriate,” the legate challenged. “The future viability of the Republic is at the very heart of the matter here.”
“We still have over half of the galaxy under our control,” Leia said, not wanting to get caught up in an argument over procedure. “Grand Admiral Thrawn has a long way to go.”
“In your opinion,” M’eung started up again. “They say he now has in his control a complete collection of Spaarti cloning cylinders. How will the Republic repel a weapon of that magnitude?”
There came a polite tap from the Premier’s seat. “Councilor Organa Solo’s protocol droid is correct,” he interrupted. “This discussion falls under the ambit of Captain Harbid’s petition. Do any of the legates have any further questions about the merits of the Republic’s petition?”
No one answered. “Very well,” K’cheng said, glancing at the chronometer. “Then we will take a break at this time. The negotiations will resume in one hour.”
* * *
It was almost evening by the time Wedge dropped them back off at the Royal Palace‘s rooftop pad, and the early onset of twilight filled the horizon with a violet light. “I’ll send someone by to check on you in a couple hours,” Wedge promised, before rising up into the sky and heading off toward the landing field where he and the rest of the Rogues were lodging. For her part, Leia felt even more exhausted than yesterday, if that was possible; deflated and defeated. The first day’s session had not gone nearly as she‘d hoped it would.
“Well, I thought that went rather well,” Threepio commented as he followed Leia and Chewbacca off the landing pad and down the stairs.
“Really?” Leia asked wearily, turning down the hallway that connected to their suite. “How do you figure that, Threepio?”
“We had the opportunity to make several astute points, Your Highness,” Threepio explained, apparently not noticing her weariness. “I thought you deflected Legate M’eung’s questioning rather deftly. It will be interesting to see how Captain Harbid’s petition proceeds tomorrow.”
Interesting was not exactly the word Leia would have used. “I’m just looking forward to a shower and a good night’s rest,” she said as they came upon the door to their suite. Chewbacca typed in the entry code, and the door clicked open.
But the room wasn’t exactly as they‘d expected. “Forgive me, Councilor Organa Solo,” a younger-looking man said as he rose up from the couch, and Leia recognized him as the same aide that had assisted her on the landing field yesterday. “I tried to explain that you were at the Assembly, but he insisted on waiting.”
It soon became clear what he was talking about. Standing in the corner, half-hidden by the dim lighting of the living area as much as by the cowl draped over its head, was a short figure dressed in the brown robes of a Jawa. “He said he was a friend of yours?” the aide added hopefully.
“Yes,” Leia said, examining the figure. The robes notwithstanding, it most definitely was not a Jawa underneath. “Yes, thank you,” she added, dismissing the aide with a nod. “You may go now. You, too, Chewie.”
Chewbacca hesitated for a moment; but a look from Leia sent him trailing after the aide, steering Threepio out the door with him. “Really, Chewbacca, this is not necessary!” Threepio complained. “Princess Leia said nothing about me—”
The rest of his complaint was drowned out as Chewbacca closed the door shut. “Lady Vader…” the figure started once they were alone, taking a step towards her.
“I am the Lady Vader,” Leia confirmed. She studied the face hidden beneath the hood. “What is your name and clan?”
The figure dropped to the floor and spread its arms wide in a gesture of supplication—and as it did so, the cowl finally fell away from its head. “I am called Ekhrikor,” the Noghri meowed, his voice gravelly. “Warrior of the clan Bakh’tor. I greet you, Lady Vader.”
Leia knew the drill. Slowly she held out her hand, the same way she had done with Khabarakh on Kashyyyk. Ekhrikor accepted it gingerly, and then placing it to his nostrils he took a long and deep whiff. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Lady Vader,” he said, still smelling her hand. “Truly it is an honor to be in the presence of the Mal’ary’ush.”
“You may rise, Ekhrikor clan Bakh’tor,” Leia said, fighting the instinct to help him up. That would not be behavior fitting the Mal’ary’ush and daughter of the Lord Darth Vader. “I am glad to meet you as well, though I must confess surprise at your presence. How did you find me?”
“The Noghri people are always keeping watch for the Lady Vader,” Ekhrikor said, “even if she does not know it. When we became informed of your mission here, the dynasts instructed me to aid you.”
“I see,” Leia said, choosing to overlook the implication they were essentially stalking her. “Am I correct then that you are one of the commando teams ‘searching’ the galaxy for Khabarakh clan Kihm’bar?”
“That is correct,” Ekhrikor nodded. “He wished me to send you his greetings, as well.”
Leia smiled. Good old Khabarakh. The last she’d seen him, he’d been hurrying back to Honoghr in his little patrol ship, his hold full of supplies that might help cleanse his world. “And I thank you for bringing them,” Leia said. “Yet I fear you may have risked much by coming here.”
“For the Lady Vader, the risk is nothing,” Ekhrikor assured her. “The Noghri people would gladly die for the Mal’ary’ush.”
And he meant it, Leia knew. She’d seen the Noghri honor code firsthand, and offhand couldn’t think of a species—other than maybe the Wookiees—that took a life debt so seriously. “The Noghri people will always be honored in my family for their commitment,” she said. “But it is not only yourself you put at risk. If you are seen with me, you may compromise myself and my friends. There is a Star Destroyer captain about the Palace, and Grand Admiral Thrawn may have other spies elsewhere in the city.”
“I understand,” Ekhrikor assured her. “Believe me, it pains me putting you and your companions at such risk. But the risk was necessary. I had to warn you. You are in danger here, Lady Vader.”
“Danger?” Leia repeated dumbly before catching herself. “What sort of danger?” she tried again, more regally this time.
Ekhrikor let out a low purr; the Noghri equivalent of a growl. “The negotiations you participate in are a charade. The Obroan government will never vote to join the Republic.”
“Premier K’cheng assured me he would provide whatever support he could,” Leia said. “Surely you aren’t suggesting…”
“I do not refer to the Premier,” Ekhrikor explained. “The Grand Admiral has placed an Imperial agent among the Legates. As long as he remains upon the Assembly he will not permit a vote to pass in the Republic’s favor.”
Leia nodded, suddenly understanding. “M’eung.”
Ekhrikor gasped. “Then you knew already? Truly the wisdom of the Mal’ary’ush is well-praised!”
Leia gave a mental shrug. It was pretty obvious, in hindsight. “You can prove M’eung’s involvement with the Empire?”
There was a slight hesitation. “Yes,” Ekhrikor admitted. “But I still urge you to reconsider your mission. Even with his agent exposed, the Grand Admiral will not easily concede Obroa-skai. He has many tools in play. You must flee, before it becomes too late.”
“I’m sorry, Ekhrikor,” Leia shook her head, “I appreciate your concern, but I can’t walk away. My mission here is too important to give up to Thrawn without a fight. Surely the Noghri of all people would understand that.”
Another hesitation. “I understand,” Ekhrikor said at last. “The Noghri people value courage. You are worthy of your reputation, Lady Vader.” He glanced out the window. “I regret I cannot be seen more with you,” he told her, “but such would put both our lives at unnecessary risk. Nevertheless, my team will provide what help we can. We will watch over and protect you, Lady Vader. Do not fear.”
“Thank you, Ekhrikor clan Bahk’tor,” Leia said. “And thank you for your message tonight. You may have helped my cause more than you know.”
“Then it was worth whatever danger it may have been to come here,” Ekhrikor replied. He lifted up his hood and replaced it over his head. “Farewell, Lady Vader. Until we speak again.”
He gave her one last bow before unlocking the door and slipping out. A moment later Chewbacca slipped back in, trailed closely by Threepio. “What a peculiar fellow,” Threepio commented, looking over his shoulder. “I never could abide those Jawas. What did he want, Your Highness?”
“Chewie?” Leia asked softly.
Chewbacca nodded; he at least recognized a Noghri when he saw one. “Nothing important, Threepio,” she told the droid. “Come on, let’s get ready for bed. It’s going to be another long day tomorrow.”
But for the first time since arriving here, she felt energized. Already plans were forming in her head. So M’eung is on Thrawn’s payroll. It seemed the Force had been with her all this time after all.
Now if it would just stay with her until tomorrow.
