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But that’s the way it is, isn’t it, being Sith? she thought. A Jedi would never let another take the fall like this. Of course, a Jedi would never calculatedly desecrate a sacred site for personal gain.

On second thought, she didn’t feel that sorry for him. This was the sort of thing Sith did to one another. Holpur had just miscalculated. Bad luck for him.

“We will take your words into consideration,” Darima said. He turned now to address the Hutt. “It seems that while Captain Faal does not feel she needs to be punished, she readily admits that the violation took place. What have you to say to this, Tooga?”

“Did we not arrive within moments of your call for aid?” said Tooga, spreading his short arms. “Did we not attack the offending vessel? Surround the other one?”

“You answer a question with a question,” said Darima.

“Very Hutt-like,” Lando murmured to Jaina.

“And what is wrong with that? My questions are rhetorical. We did arrive almost at once. We did do everything we were asked to do. We protected the Fountain.” He eyed Lando and Jaina, to see if they were buying this.

“Protected?” Jaina burst out. “You were supposed to prevent anything happening to the Fountain, according to the Treaty. Seems like you didn’t. Seems like it got violated pretty darn good.”

“We have suffered, like so many, from the Yuuzhan Vong!” Tooga protested. “Our numbers here are few, we have been forced to flee to other worlds, and yet we maintain a presence here. No one could have stopped this. We responded and ended the threat. We even have the criminals to make an example of!”

Jaina couldn’t suppress a snort. She didn’t want to decide in “favor” of either party. They were, Hutt and Sith both, self-centered liars, willing to throw anyone to the boarwolves to save their own hides. She was beginning to wish she’d taken Lando’s advice and just left. Lando regarded her for a moment, then spoke.

“Chancellor … I think Jedi Solo and I have heard enough to reach a verdict. Is there somewhere we could talk privately?”

“Certainly,” Darima said. He indicated that they should follow him. They descended the podium. Jaina kept her eyes forward, but she could feel both Faal and Tooga watching her closely. Darima led them to a small room off to the side. While much cozier in scale than the massive hall they had just departed, it was no less lovely or opulent. It was windowless, but glow rods provided more than enough illumination, and the chairs and sofa looked inviting. There was a small table in front of the sofa upon which rested a covered tray.

“We have prepared some food for you, in case you are hungry,” said Darima. “There is a comm panel on the right side of the door. When you have reached your decision, ring to let us know, or if you require more food or beverages.”

“Don’t suppose you’ve got any Correllian whiskey?” asked Lando. “I prefer Whyren’s Reserve, but I’ll take whatever you’ve got.”

Darima smiled. “I remember you were fond of that. Unfortunately, I do not have any. However, I will send you a bottle of one of our local favorites.”

“Thanks.”

Darima nodded and closed the door. Jaina turned to Lando. “You shouldn’t joke,” she chided.

“Who’s joking?”

“You’re going to drink? Now?”

“Can’t think of a better time. You know your daddy would, too. Especially if he had Whyren’s Reserve.”

“I suppose he would at that.” Jaina sighed and plopped down into a chair. “Lando, what do we do? It’s a miscarriage of justice either way. No one’s innocent here. The Sith did violate the Fountain—and I don’t for a nanosecond believe that Holpur was acting on his own initiative—and the Hutts didn’t prevent it.”

Lando sat down beside her and lifted the cover on the tray. Inside were unrecognizable tidbits. He picked one up, popped it into his mouth, and nodded appreciatively.

“And you know the Sith were lying how?”

She turned her head slowly and looked at him. “They’re Sith,” she said.

“I suppose I see your point. But that’s bias.”

“You had to have seen how Holpur reacted