Star Wars_ Tales of the Bounty Hunters - Kevin J. Anderson [126]
Boba Fett grew older.
On the planet of Coruscant, the world that had been the capitol of the Old Republic, the capitol of the Empire, and was now the capitol of the New Republic, in the Imperial Palace, in the quarters he shared with his wife, Han Solo sat on the edge of their bed with his mouth set in an obstinate line.
“No. I won’t go. Treaty signings bore me, and besides that worthless son of a slorth Gareth tried to cheat me at Laro last time we were there.”
Leia stood with her arms folded, her exasperation showing plainly. “You cheated him back!”
“I cheated him better. Anyway that fool should feel lucky all he had to deal with was me,” Han pointed out. “When I was a kid, getting caught dealing seconds was a felony and they hung you for it.”
“That’s not true,” Leia said—but a touch doubtfully, Han thought; he had known her long enough to know that cheating at cards, and the consequences of it, wasn’t among the things they taught princesses.
“It is too true,” said Han righteously. “Anyway King Gareth was lucky nothing worse happened to him than losing to me, that’s the point here. So I don’t know what you expect me to do, go up to the fellow and say, ‘I’m sorry, your scummy Royal Highlessness, that I cheat better than you do’?”
Leia sighed. “I wish you wouldn’t use the word ‘royal’ as though it were an insult. I’m—”
“You’re adopted,” Han said quickly.
It brought a reluctant smile to her. “You’re not going to come, are you?”
“You’d wish two weeks of diplomatic boredom on me?”
“You’re sure you’d be bored?”
“I was bored last time, except that one night.”
“I don’t think Gareth will play cards with you again.”
“So I’ll be bored every night.”
Leia sighed. “You’re not coming.”
“I’m not going.”
“I was thinking of taking the children with me. They’re old enough and it would give them some useful experience in dealing with—”
“It’s certainly safe enough,” Han conceded. “If they don’t die of boredom.”
“I could leave Threepio with you to keep—”
“You’d leave me here with Threepio? What did I do to deserve that?”
Leia Organa worked hard at keeping the smile off her face. “All right, I’ll take him with me, too.”
Han Solo looked up at her and grinned. “Deal.”
She leaned in on him and whispered, “You better not be in jail when I come back.”
“Hey, hey,” he objected. “This is me.”
He called Luke.
When Luke’s image appeared in the hologram, Han said, “Hey, buddy. You busy tonight?”
A smile lit Luke’s features. “Han! How are you?”
“Fine. Look, Chewie’s gone home and won’t be back for another few weeks, my wife and kids are off—”
“—the Shalamite trip,” Luke nodded. “Right. Why didn’t you go?”
“—and I was thinking,” said Han doggedly, refusing to get sidetracked, “we might go and see if we could dig up some trouble tonight.”
Luke shook his head. “I can’t, Han. I’ve invited a group of the Senators to dinner … you are welcome to join us, though.”
“Trouble sounds more attractive,” Han growled.
Luke grinned. “C’mon, Han. You know I can’t cancel my own dinner. Besides, this is Coruscant. We’re two of the best known people on the whole planet. Where are we going to find trouble?”
“I’ve managed it before.”
“And you sat in jail for two days before you convinced them you were really you. Leia was worried sick.”
“Yeah,” Han pointed out, “but Leia’s off-planet right now. By the time she gets back, this stay in jail will be nothing but a pleasant memory.”
Luke laughed. “Han, come to dinner with me. You’ll enjoy yourself.”
“With half a dozen Senators? I’d rather have a tooth pulled.”
“You know,” said Luke quietly, “you might think about joining the Senate.”
“Without anesthetic I’d rather—”
“They’d elect you in a heartbeat.”
“And impeach me in a month.”
“Why?”
Han thought about it. “Bribe taking,” he said finally.
“You wouldn’t take bribes,” said Luke calmly.
“Well, I admit it would depend on the bribe.”
“Han, what’s bothering you?”
The question startled Han. “Nothing.”
The steadiness of Luke’s gaze was unsettling. “You’re not telling me the truth, Han. Or you’re not telling yourself