Another image appeared behind the anchor. It depicted a handsome older man, graying, with a firm, strong jaw and intelligent, sharp eyes. "Senator Kameron Suldar, leader of the Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Jedi Activity, will be holding a press conference four hours from now at-"

There came a soft gasp. Luke turned to see Vestara's eyes wide.

"Ves? What is it?" Ben touched her shoulder gently.

"I-that Senator. I know him."

"Huh?"

She turned to Ben. "His name's not Kameron Suldar. It's Workan. High Lord Workan. He's-"

"A Sith of the Lost Tribe," said Luke calmly.

They stared at him. "How-why-" stammered Vestara.

"I've been playing a rather delicate and high-risk game," Luke said, "but it seems to be going in our favor. Why do you think I made such a big fuss over the Jedi departing? Think for a minute. We've searched several planets and we've yet to find the Sith. When you are hunting an animal and it keeps eluding you, what do you do?"

Vestara got it first. "You set out bait," she said quietly.

Luke nodded at her. "Exactly. With the Jedi very publicly gone, Coruscant was wide open. Ripe for the picking."

"Dad-you gave Coruscant to the Lost Tribe?"

"I laid a trap," Luke said. "That's quite a bit different. The Lost Tribe believes it has a destiny to rule the galaxy. What better way to take a huge step toward fulfilling that destiny than to infiltrate Coruscant?"

Ben had been shocked, but was recovering quickly. "Uh, Dad, you maybe forgot one little thing."

"And that might be?"

"Sith have infiltrated Coruscant!"

"I've lured them all to one place. I know exactly what I'm doing, Ben. We'll deal with Ship-and that should, I hope, mean dealing with Abeloth-and then we'll come back to Coruscant and handle the Sith."

"I wonder if it will be as easy as you think it will be," said Vestara. "Sith do not flee from a fight. And you have no idea how many of them are on Coruscant-or how powerful they might grow while we deal with Ship."

Luke could tell she was rattled by the revelation, but he also sensed ... pride? That was to be expected, he supposed. It was easier to turn your back on an ideology that was clearly harmful than on beings you loved who practiced that ideology.

"Sith are also arrogant," Luke said. "Ivaar Workan is posing as a high-profile Senator. I am willing to bet that you know most of the Lords and High Lords by sight."

She nodded. "Yes. They are public figures on Kesh."

"I can't imagine any Sith Lord or even Saber being content with a job that doesn't involve some ego-stroking."

"They are proud of what they do," Vestara said.

"And you're proud of them," Luke said. It was a statement, not a question.

Vestara hesitated, then nodded. "Yes," she said. "It is difficult not to be. To have moved so swiftly and so thoroughly."

"Thank you for not lying," Luke said, giving her a smile. "I'm sure this is a difficult time for you." Vestara nodded again, more comfortably this time. "The Lost Tribe makes for dangerous opponents," Luke went on. "I'll give them that much. I didn't enter into this lightly. But I thought it was the swiftest way to end the threat they pose. One planet-one strike by Jedi they think long gone-and we have the most powerful Lost Tribe members killed or in custody."

"That's ... one of the craziest things I've ever heard," Ben said. "But it makes a really weird kind of sense."

"I'm glad you approve," Luke said wryly.

"Still-you might have told someone," Ben grumbled.

"I did. I told Leia and the Masters. The Masters know about the plan so that they can lead in the Jedi forces the second we're ready. Leia was informed because, as the only Jedi staying behind, she could report to me anything she discovered."

"That's why she didn't protest when they arrested her," Ben said. "She went so quietly when Suldar-er, Workan-arrested her because she knew we couldn't risk anything getting stirred up on Coruscant."

Luke nodded. "The Sith must not be forced to act prematurely. Innocent beings could be harmed. And we also must make sure we strike when they are at their most vulnerable."

"You didn't tell Captain Solo or Jaina?" asked Vestara. "When their wife and mother was arrested? Could you not trust them?"

"Jaina isn't a Master," Luke said. "I can't give her preferential treatment simply because Leia is her mother. And Han-well, Han can't easily conceal his feelings. Particularly when they regard his family. Any Sith worth the name would pick up on his lack of distress right away, and our advantage would destroyed."

She smiled a little. "Rather calculated and unfeeling for a Jedi," she said.

"It was what was necessary for the greater good," Luke said. "They all understand."

Ben turned to Vestara. "You know this Workan guy. What motivated him to arrest Leia? And do you think she's in any real danger?"

"He took Leia to make sure the last Jedi on Coruscant would be safely watched," Vestara said without hesitation. "And to cement his personal power. To capture and contain such a prize reflects well on him. As for whether he'll harm her-I don't think so. Not right away, at least. She's too important and beloved a personage to openly harm, and any 'accident' would be far too suspicious. And she's a marvelous bargaining chip if it comes to that-a famous political figure, and the sister of Grand Master Luke Skywalker. But she's not going to be released anytime soon, I can tell you that much."

"I agree with Vestara on all counts," Luke said. "Upsetting as it is, we can't make any attempt to rescue her until we're ready to move on all the Sith on Coruscant. She'll be all right."

"So we're still going after Ship first?" asked Ben. He might understand his father's logic, but he clearly didn't think he had to like it.

"Let me put it to you this way: do you want to handle Ship and Abeloth and the Sith all at the same time?"

"Uh ... no," Ben said.

"So plot a course," Luke said. "The sooner we're done with Ship, the sooner we can head home."

"You let my mom get captured by Sith?"

Luke remained unruffled. "I did," he told Jaina. "And the Sith have no idea that we knowingly did so." Calmly, he explained his plan to Jaina. She folded her arms and glared at him while he spoke, but she listened, and as he continued he saw her body posture ease.

"I am sorry Leia got caught in the middle of this," he said. "But she knows how to handle herself, and I don't think she's in any current danger."

Jaina sighed. "I know. If anyone can deal with this, it's Mom. I just wished I'd known what kind of a risk she was taking."

"She knew, and she agreed to stay behind," Luke said. "There's an extra benefit-having her as a quote-unquote prisoner is lulling the Sith into a false sense of security. That will work to our advantage."

"I guess you're right. How did Dad react when you told him?"

"I haven't told him about the Sith yet," Luke said. "You're safely away from Coruscant. Your father isn't. I'm sure the Sith are watching him constantly, and the instant Han knows-"

"They'll know we're on to them," Jaina grumbled. "I hate it when you're right about things like this, Uncle Luke. Did you know that?"

"Trust me, I hate it, too, sometimes," Luke said.

"So when do we go back and kick some Sith off Coruscant and get Mom out of jail?"

"As soon as we deal with Ship. We have to be able to focus all our attention on each enemy and take them out one at a time. The last thing we need is Abeloth showing up to help the Sith once we begin the attack."

"Did you not hear that part where I said I hate it when you're right?"

Luke chuckled. "We won't waste a moment, I promise. I don't like the thought of Leia in prison any more than you or your father does. So let's get to Upekzar and then get back home."

"That's the first thing you've said that I like," said Jaina. "You're improving."

ABOARD THE MILLENNIUM FALCON.

"THAT IS NOT WHAT I WANTED TO HEAR, LUKE," SAID HAN. "WHAT I want to hear is, I'm bringing back my Jedi and we're going to bust my sister out of jail."

"Han, I wish I could say that, but I can't right now," said Luke, his holographic face sympathetic. "I know you're worried about Leia. So am I. But the fact of the matter is, she's in no immediate danger, and I need to find and stop the Sith and Abeloth. Talk to Wynn, he-"

"I have talked to Wynn!" Han shouted. He felt his hands ball into fists and forced them to relax. "And Padnel. They're both terribly sorry, but n.o.body is going to lift a finger without going through committee meetings, debates, presentations, and forms filled out in triplicate!"

Luke spread his hands in a helpless, frustrated gesture. "Then you have to be patient. What do you think Leia would want you to do? This government is fragile and tentative as it is. Just-be patient. Let it find its way to justice at its own pace. You know Dorvan. He's a stickler for doing the right thing. And Padnel is Leia's friend."

"I know," Han muttered. "But it's this Senator Suldar I don't know, and don't like, and whose head I would like to break open."

"I understand how you must feel," Luke said. "That's what I'd want to do if it were Mara in there. But Leia is in no danger, and if I were you, I'd want to get Amelia to safety as soon as possible."

Han flinched inwardly. Luke was right. Allana should have been his first priority. Sitting beside him in the copilot's seat, her legs dangling, she said, "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

Which, of course, only emphasized the need for him to get her far away from Coruscant. Sleemos might come for her next.

"You're right, Luke. I need to take care of my little girl."

Luke smiled. "That's the right call, Han. Let me know where the two of you end up, all right? And let me know the second you hear anything about Leia."

"Will do," Han said, and thumbed the OFF b.u.t.ton. Behind him, the Squibs, who had kept silent on pain of extreme bodily harm, now piped up.

"So where are we going?" asked Emala.

"We're still sticking with you, right? Because Jag told you to keep us with you," warned Grees.

"Good, I was getting bored sitting around this ship all day. I need to stretch my legs!" said Sligh.

"Dad? We're not really going to leave Mom behind in a prison cell, are we?" Allana looked up at Han with a mixture of worry and indignation. "Because I thought Solos didn't run from fights."

"We don't, honey," Han said. "But we do get our children to safety. Everybody buckle up."

"You wish to depart right now, Captain Solo?" said C-3PO, disbelieving. "But we haven't shut down the safe house properly, nor checked our supplies, nor-" R2 tweedled reprovingly. "Oh, hush, you. Some of us don't like to leave things in disorder when we leave on trips!"

"Luke's right," said Han. "We gotta get Amelia safe."

"And us, too!" said Sligh. "Let's go!"

For once, Han didn't let their piping, cheerily annoying voices get to him. He was a man completely focused on a two-part mission.

One: get Allana to safety.

And two: get his wife the h.e.l.l out of prison.

OUTSIDE THE OFFICES OF THE CHIEF OF STATE OF THE GALACTIC ALLIANCE.

Han was not normally the most patient of men. He was particularly not patient when his family was in jeopardy. But he thought Leia would be proud of how quietly he stood outside the offices of the Chief of State, not bothering anybody, just waiting. Patiently.

Of course, Leia probably wouldn't approve of why he was waiting-patiently-but that didn't matter right now.

Through the transparisteel windows, he saw the door to Dorvan's office open. Wynn looked tired. Han could sympathize. Desha Lor looked up at him and said something Han couldn't hear, then pointed to where Han was standing outside.

He smiled and waved at them.

Dorvan's face grew even more tired looking, and he nodded. He picked up his briefcase and started out the door.

"h.e.l.lo again, Captain Solo," Dorvan said. "Where's Amelia?"

"She's with some friends," Han said. "Figured I'd get her safely offworld before those barvy members of the Senate Subcommittee to Investigate People Going About Their Business decides an eight-year-old child is a threat." He gave a cheerful and entirely fake grin.

"I see. I'm afraid I'm rather late for-"

"I'll walk with you. I mean, I've got nothing better to do. It's not like my wife is going to be around."

Dorvan was walking while they talked. "Captain Solo, you know both the interim Chief of State and I are friends of Jedi Solo, and we deeply regret-"

"Not yet. You don't deeply regret anything yet. Trust me." They stepped in the turbolift together. It started to descend. Han leaned forward and pressed the STOP b.u.t.ton, then turned to face Dorvan.

"I'm getting my wife out of prison. She doesn't belong there, and you know it. She's done absolutely nothing wrong and has dedicated her entire life to the ideals of the Galactic Alliance. I am not going to sit meekly by and watch them do to her what they did to Tahiri. Now. You're either going to help me, or I'm going to consider you in my way."

"Is that a threat, Captain Solo?" Dorvan didn't bat an eye.

"Only if you don't help me."

"I could have you arrested for threatening the Chief of Staff of the Galactic Alliance, you know."

"But you're not, are you?"

Dorvan regarded him steadily. His gaze wasn't cold, but it was appraising, and Han knew he was turning things over in his head, weighing all the options. Finally Dorvan said, "I'm afraid I can't help you in any official capacity."

There was no extra emphasis on the word official, but Han got it. Forcing himself not to grin in triumph, he reached and punched a b.u.t.ton, and the turbolift continued its descent.

"Well, I had to try. You know that."