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They settled into her gleaming office. Only the Solos, Daala, and Dorvan were present. Daala pressed a couple of buttons and the door slid shut. “I’m recording, by the way. Not to have evidence for a trial, but to have a record of any agreements we might reach.”

Leia smiled. “Still, it wouldn’t be in our best interests to admit to any shooting sprees or smuggling actions.”

“I suppose not,” Daala said. “But we aren’t here to discuss plea deals.”

Han stirred, restless. “So why are we here? I was kind of looking forward to getting bailed out in time for dinner. A meeting could go long and ruin my evening.”

“And mine.” Daala sat back, a posture that looked almost relaxed. “Here’s what I want. I’d like the two of you to take an offer to the Jedi Order, and perhaps help me resolve this thing.”

“Acting as advocates for who, precisely?” Leia asked. “I’m sure you don’t expect us to represent you.”

“I expect you to do what’s best for the Galactic Alliance,” Daala countered, a bit sharply. “Which happens to be helping the two sides resolve their grievances with each other and return the Jedi Order to its longstanding role as a government resource. As long as you’re making progress toward that goal, the government will overlook your recent crime spree in helping several criminally insane Jedi escape the planet. If you actually succeed, the case will be dismissed.”

Han scowled. “If you expect us to sell out to dodge a few trumped-up charges, save us all some time and just arrest us now.”

Daala sighed and rolled her eyes toward Dorvan. “I told you this would never work.”

Dorvan raised a hand for patience, then turned to the Solos. “Your suspicion is understandable,” he said. “But that’s not what the Chief is asking. She’s just looking for someone to help cool tempers, present her case, and see if there aren’t some reasonable accommodations that both sides can make.”

Han looked back to Daala. “Reasonable accommodations?” He allowed a crooked smirk to creep across his mouth. “Things must be getting pretty hot in the Chief’s seat, huh?”

Daala’s eyes grew hard, but Dorvan admitted, “Particularly since Cha Niathal’s funeral. It’s beginning to interfere with the state’s other business.”

Han and Leia exchanged a look, and he gave her a little shrug signifying consent. “There’s a problem, though.”

“Yes?”

“Leia’s a Jedi. Doesn’t that sort of slant our outlook in your eyes? Make us sort of biased?”

“Absolutely.” Daala leaned forward again. A small smile crossed her face. “Han Solo, you’ve held a commissioned rank in the New Republic armed forces.”

“Uh-oh.”

“The privileges and rights of which carry over into the Galactic Alliance. And in times of Alliance crisis, which this is, the Chief of State, as commander in chief of the armed forces, can return retired officers, even those not in the reserves, to active duty.”

Han sank back into his chair and covered his eyes with his hand. “Don’t say it.”

“Sorry, but I must. I’m returning you to the rank of general and assigning you the responsibility of searching for a reasonable solution to our mutual problem. Unless you’d like to formally resign your commission, which I will take as a sign that you don’t want this assignment or the clemency that comes with it, in which case I will have to execute the arrest warrant.”

Dorvan cleared his throat. “We realize that you don’t care for the public at large to know that you have ethics and would in fact try to fulfill your duty to the Galactic Alliance here. So the exact terms of this deal won’t be revealed. Just an announcement that former Chief of State, Jedi Leia Solo, and Alliance hero and scoundrel Han Solo are making an effort to resolve the disputes between the government and the Jedi.”

Han peered at his wife. “Did he say scoundrel?”

“He did.”

“It’s gotta be wildly popular scoundrel or it’s no deal.”

“So recorded, so noted.” Daala looked between them. “So do we have a deal?”

“I don’t see how, in good conscience, we can refuse.” Leia leaned forward to extend a hand. “It’s a deal.”

Daala shook it, then shook