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“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 hell 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.

“Hello 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 button, 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 button, and the turbolift continued its descent.

“Well, I had to try. You know that.”

“I do. Thank you for understanding. Ovin and I will do all we can, legally, to release your wife. He’s heading there now, to talk to her. Captain Solo, I really am late for an appointment, but why don’t you accompany me? I’m visiting an old friend.”

Galactic Alliance prison cells represented a distinct improvement over Imperial