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“Oh, we’ll have a private meeting with Dorvan,” Luke assured her. “For one thing, I’d like you to brief him on who in the Senate you think he’ll be able to work with. Beings like Lando’s friend Senator Wuul. I also have a favor I’d like to ask him.”

Leia glanced at Saba, who seemed more amused than anything else. “But we don’t want to warn him about Treen?”

“Not yet.” Luke leaned over and said in an exaggerated whisper, “Trust me.”

Leia rolled her eyes.

* * *

It was The Perre Needmo Newshour that got the scoop. Luke, along with Leia and Han, had always been impressed with the format Needmo had chosen to keep the public informed. Except where a segment was clearly identified as an editorial, as was the case with the late, greatly missed Madhi Vaandt’s segments, the news was presented in a clear and unbiased manner. There was no mudslinging, no vicious scrambling for ratings—and Luke suspected that the fact that The Perre Needmo Newshour eschewed such things was why it actually landed in the top five week after week.

Needmo himself had volunteered to conduct the interview, and Luke was looking forward to it. He now settled in the interviewee’s chair, having endured the unusual activity of having makeup put on his face and his hair styled, and made himself comfortable.

“I’ve been interviewed before, of course,” he told his host as he sipped a cup of water, “but usually it’s on site and right in the middle of the action. I haven’t been in a studio before.”

“I am proud that we are the first, then,” Needmo replied, his small eyes crinkling in pleasure. “I have a top-notch team, Master Skywalker. They’re consummate professionals.”

Luke nodded. “I saw the interview you did with Rokari Kem, of Qaras,” he said. “I’m glad she’ll be coming to Coruscant. We need beings who can combine compassion with levelheaded leadership.”

“Indeed we do. She has granted me another exclusive once she settles in as Senator. I’m looking forward to it.”

The studio was a hive of activity. He’d met the director, Jorm Alvic, and the producer, Sima Shadar. Now tech specialists checked lighting and sound quality, and droids hummed and whirred on various errands. Jorm, a human in his early middle years, leaned forward into a mike and announced, “We’ll be live in one minute, gentlebeings.”

“We’re ready, Jorm!” said Needmo cheerily. A slender Twi’lek adjusted both their personal mikes, brushed a stray lock of hair off Luke’s forehead, and scampered off the set. The energetic music of the opening credits began to play, and the cam operator counted down. Three, two, one—

And go, he mouthed.

“Good evening, gentlebeings, and welcome to tonight’s edition of The Perre Needmo Newshour,” said Needmo. “We open our show tonight with an exclusive: a one-on-one interview with the Grand Master of the Jedi Order, Luke Skywalker. Welcome, Master Skywalker.”

Luke smiled. “Thank you. And you’re welcome to call me Luke. Before we continue, while I’ll be happy to answer your questions shortly, I need to tell you that I have chosen your show as a platform to make a very important announcement.”

Luke sensed through the Force that Perre was taken off-guard, but the elderly Chevin was such a professional that neither his body language nor his voice betrayed his surprise. “Why, I’m honored, Luke. I’m sure that with all that’s going on throughout the galaxy, you’ll have a lot of important things to share with us. By all means, please continue.”

Luke turned so he was facing the cam. “Over the last forty years, I have endeavored to build and manage the Jedi Order in accordance with our highest ideals: cooperation, peace, freedom, decent treatment for all beings. Recently, in my absence, the Jedi were faced with a terrible choice—disobey the Chief of State and risk having our very Temple attacked, or answer cries for help from beings struggling to free themselves from slavery. They chose to overthrow Daala’s government, and since that time the Jedi, including my sister, Leia Organa Solo—who was once Chief of State herself—have been working closely with