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“Good morning,” said the security droid. “This entrance is closed. The family is not receiving visitors at this time. Please come back anther time, or call the scheduling center for further information.”

Ackbar cocked his head and blinked in surprise. “I am Admiral Ackbar.”

“Good morning, Admiral Ackbar. This entrance is closed. Please move back to the sidewalk.”

“It’s all right,” Ackbar said. “I have a key.” He squeezed his eyes shut while he concentrated. “Aleph—lamed—zayin—shin. Yes, I think that’s it.”

“Good morning, Admiral Ackbar,” the droid said. “You may enter.”

The grounds were quiet, except for the tiny cowlpups grazing on the lawns. When Ackbar passed too close to one, it growled at him with a ferociousness all out of proportion to its size.

“Go back to your breakfast,” Ackbar said, amused. “I’m not here for you.”

None of the early rays reached the well-shaded main house, and there were no lights on inside, except in the kitchen, where a butler droid was completing its nightly maintenance. There was no sound from the direction of the children’s rooms, which was a relief—he was not ready to deal with their eager energy. Ackbar supposed that, with Han’s return, the whole family had been up late.

Sleep in as long as you like, children, he thought with a melancholy tenderness. Sleep in while you can.

Ackbar followed memory and the floorboard glow strips through the darkened halls to Leia and Han’s bedroom. Out of consideration for the children, the door was closed but not secured. He hoped his friends were not busy mating.

“Open,” Ackbar told the housecomm. “Lights.”

When the bedroom was suddenly flooded with light, Han reflexively spun over on his back and sat bolt upright. Squinting, he sighed away the rush of adrenaline when he recognized Ackbar. “You,” Han said gruffly. “It’s a lucky thing for you I don’t sleep with a blaster anymore.”

“Not luck,” the Calamari said. “You told me, after the time you and Jaina scared each other half to death.”

Han’s sudden movements had shaken the bed enough to bring Leia up from her deeper sleep. Now she rose on her elbows.

“Admiral Ackbar,” she said, a quizzical expression on her face. “When I invited you to come talk me out of resigning, I thought you might at least wait until I was awake.”

“Good morning, Princess.”

“Don’t try to disarm me with politeness,” Leia said. “What are you doing here at this hour?”

“Getting you out of bed,” Ackbar said. “I’ll wait outside while you get dressed.”

“Oh, you will? Then what?”

“Then there’s somewhere we have to go. I have a speeder waiting.”

“Slow down a second. I’m not on call,” said Leia. “Not for state business. Especially not at this hour—what time is it, anyway?” She glanced sideways at the bedroom chrono. “Oh, heaven—I’m sorry I looked.”

“I understand how you feel,” said Ackbar. “I would rather have stayed in the water myself. Still, there’s somewhere we have to go.”

“Why don’t you tell me a little more and let me make that decision?”

“I’m afraid I can’t do that,” said Ackbar, holding out her robe. “Your head isn’t clear yet. You’ll have to trust me—if you do trust me.”

Leia frowned as she studied him. Finally she sat up and took the robe from his hand.

“Thank you, Princess.” His gaze moved to Han. “General Solo, I think you should come, too.”

“What is this, divide and conquer?”

“Please. This involves you as well.”

“Let me find my pants,” Han said resignedly. “Leia, tell me again why we gave the fishhead a key to the front door—”

Leia peered through the viewpane of the Fleet infirmary’s Intensive Care Unit Number 5 at the pale-faced young man who had just been transferred from a medical cocoon to the bacta tank. A Fleet doctor and two MD-7 medical droids hovered over the biomonitors.

“Who is he?”

“He is Grannan by stock, Polneye by allegiance,” Ackbar said. “His name is Plat Mallar. He’s suffering from severe metabolic disruption due to breathing his own wastes. He may not live. I thought you should see him now, just in case.”

“Why?” asked Leia. “I’m sorry for