Star Wars_ The New Rebellion - Kristine Kathryn Rusch [83]
He clasped his two-fingered hands and put them on the table. He looked so contrite, so humbled, that Leia’s stomach did a flip. He was still playing games. “The initial results of our independent investigation are in,” he said.
“So soon?” C-Gosf asked. “Our people are still sorting the rubble. They say this is a massive investigation and are unwilling to make any judgments until they have all the facts.”
“Their caution is wise,” Meido said. “But they lack one piece of information.” He leaned forward, his narrow gaze on Leia. “President, where is your husband?”
The discomfort in her stomach grew. Her hands were cold. “He and Chewbacca are following a lead on the bombing.”
“But where are they, President?”
She wouldn’t be able to dodge this, much as she wanted to. “They went to Smuggler’s Run.”
“Smuggler’s Run?” The edges of Meido’s mouth curved upward. Slightly. Ever so slightly. “Your husband used to do business on Smuggler’s Run, didn’t he?”
“This is not a meeting about Han,” Leia said.
“I’m afraid it is, President. Please answer me. Didn’t your husband do business on Smuggler’s Run?”
She didn’t like the direction this was taking. Meido had control, and she was still several steps behind. “Of course he did business on the Run, Senator. Back in the days when you worked for the Empire.”
Her words hung in the room. They sounded petty, and maybe they were. But the New Republic had never judged Han for his smuggling, just as they hadn’t judged Luke and Leia for their relationship to Vader. Meido, of all people, should want to avoid references to the past.
“I simply lived under the Empire’s rule,” Meido said. “I never was anyone important. I was never a renowned person, like your husband. A successful smuggler, who, it seems, never left the profession.”
The chill in Leia’s hands moved up her arms. She knew where this was going. She didn’t want it to go in that direction, but she knew. She knew.
“You’d better have a point,” C-Gosf said. “General Solo is a hero of the Republic.”
“My point is simple,” Meido said. “General Solo is behind the bombing of the Senate Hall.”
Leia slammed her palms on the table as she stood. “I was in that Hall. Are you suggesting my husband was trying to kill me?”
Gno grabbed at her sleeve. She shook him off. The room was deadly quiet.
“You weren’t seriously injured, President.”
“And neither were you, Meido. Is that a crime?”
“The bulk of the blast hit the seats, not the floor. If he knew you’d be there—”
“I’d be quiet now,” Gno said. “General Solo is well respected. His affection for his family is extremely well known. He has jeopardized his life for the New Republic more often than anyone else except perhaps President Organa Solo and her brother. Games like this may have been popular in the Empire, but they are not popular here. We work on mutual respect in this Council. Respect, Meido, not idle recriminations.”
The crimson had almost completely faded from Meido’s face. The white lines were blurring together. “I am not making idle accusations. I’m sorry, but I am not. I wish I were.”
The softness of his voice caught all of them. Leia could see it. Her supporters had all leaned back in their chairs.
“You said this is a preliminary report,” Gno said. “You cannot have proof.”
“But I do,” Meido said. He looked up at Leia, his eyes pale. “I’m sorry, President. Truly I am.”
The thing of it was, she believed him. She believed he was sorry. Perhaps she could feel his regret through the Force or perhaps he was sending it through his body language. She didn’t know. Slowly she sat down.
Meido passed out several copies of a single sheet of paper. “My people intercepted this message. I have sent it to your personal computers. You can verify its authenticity through your own systems.”
Leia took the paper. Her hand was shaking.
CARGO DELIVERED. FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR.
SOLO KNOWS. WE CAN COUNT ON HIS INVOLVEMENT.
Lando. Lando had betrayed them again. Over the years she had learned to trust him,