Star Wars the Truce at Bakura - Kathy Tyers [31]
As she stepped onto the pale spaceport surface, it crunched. She glanced back. The Falcon sat on a satiny bed of white rock and gray spaceport dust.
Enough exploring. Get to work. She strode to meet the Imperial group beside its shuttle.
“Ooh,” Han said sarcastically. “All the pretty white armor.”
“Cut it out,” Leia muttered. “I’m wearing white too.” She thought back to her days as an Imperial senator, the double game she’d played between the Emperor’s coterie and the infant Alliance her father had died for.
Her real father, Bail Organa, who had raised and trained her and nurtured her sense of self-worth and self-sacrifice. Regardless of biology, she would never own another man by that title. Period. Enter data. End program.
The man at the center of the group had to be Imperial Governor Wilek Nereus. Tall and dark-haired with heavy features, he wore a khaki uniform that he might have borrowed from Grand Moff Tarkin, with the addition of a pair of thin black gloves. The other individuals in his group kept shifting positions to watch him. He was absolutely In Charge.
Relax, she told herself. Flow with it. My strengths lie here, along a different path from Luke’s.
Governor Nereus’s delegation made a semicircle around him. “Princess Leia of Alderaan.” He sketched a half-bow. “It is an honor to receive you.”
“Governor Nereus.” She returned his bow, making sure hers dipped not a millimeter deeper. “It is our honor to be here.”
“In the name of the emperor, welcome to Bakura.”
She couldn’t have hoped for a better opening than that protocol greeting. “Thank you for your welcome,” she answered placidly. “You may think me terribly rude to correct your kind words, but it’s no longer valid to welcome us in Emperor Palpatine’s name. Emperor Palpatine died several days ago.”
Nereus cocked a dark, heavy eyebrow and clasped his large hands behind him. “My dear Princess.” He swaggered forward another step. “Have you come to Bakura spreading rumors and lies?”
“It gets better, Your Excellency. He was killed by his apprentice, Darth Vader.”
“Vader.” Nereus straightened several millimeters to loom over her. Distaste dripped through his pronunciation, a sentiment she understood perfectly. “Vader,” he repeated. “His Imperial Majesty should never have trusted a Sith lord. I was prepared to disbelieve you, Your Highness. But Vader as an assassin, I believe.”
“Lord Vader is dead as well, Your Excellency.”
Luke’s chin rose at the edge of her vision. She knew what he wanted her to add. Maybe Vader had died heroically, but ten minutes’ contrition did not make up for years of atrocities.
The governor’s people turned aside in pairs to whisper. Leia seized the initiative again. “Governor, may I present my escorts—first, General Solo.” Han was supposed to bow, or at least shake hands. Instead, he stood aside with a flat disapproving expression. At this rate, he would never make a diplomat.
“His copilot, Chewbacca of Kashyyyk.” Chewie grumbled as he bowed. Wookiees had been deeply betrayed by the Empire. She hoped Chewie didn’t forget himself and start tearing arms off Imperials. The chilly morning breeze ruffled his fur.
She laid out her trump card with flair. “And Commander Skywalker of Tatooine, Jedi Knight.”
Luke bowed beautifully—she’d coached him. Nereus squared his shoulders. After a moment, he returned the bow. “Jedi.” His large nose twitched. “We’ll have to watch ourselves.”
Luke clasped his hands in front of him. Good! Leia praised him silently. He was letting her answer, just as she’d begged. Now she felt repaid for letting him take charge in battle. Maybe there was a future in this division of labor, so long as it didn’t go too far. “Yes, Excellency,” she said. Governor Nereus turned his head toward her again. “We mean to reestablish the Old Republic, including the Order of Jedi Knights. Commander Skywalker is head of the order.” Again she guessed what he wanted her to add: also the only member. Don’t look sheepish, Luke!
“Commander Skywalker,