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4th Chapter: the Diplomatic Defense.
Wedge, in the meantime, was mixing a hangover remedy for the unfortunate Corran in the latter's apartment.
"Exhibit Number One in the believe-it-or-not category: a Corellian who can't hold his liquor," Wedge said, measuring out the beri-beri juice.
"Shut up, Wedge," Corran hissed, pulling a pillow over his head.
"Rise and shine, sunshine," Wedge said, handing the juice over. "Drink up."
Corran hoisted himself onto his elbow, and drank the juice, grimacing as he did so. "It's not that I can't hold my liquor," he said darkly. "It's that I can't hold it when Booster shakes the shit out of me."
"So remember not to get him mad next time," Wedge said, unsympathetically.
"I make him mad by just standing there."
"And you call *Luke* a whiner!" Wedge said, shaking his head.
Corran scowled, and tried to totter to his feet.
"Hey, friend," Wedge said. "No attacking your second. We're allies, remember?"
"Allies?" Corran asked.
"The bet, you remember that?" Wedge said, grinning. "You want to beat Mirax and Iella, don't you. Just imagine them winning."
Corran imagined it, and turned pale.
"Or Booster and Karrde? Try that on for size."
Corran tried it on, and turned the proverbial whiter shade of pale. "Okay, uncle. We've got to win, or we'll have Bad or Worse triumphing over us."
"You got it," agreed Wedge.
"So what do we do?" Corran said, wincing as the light hit his eyes.
"Beats me," Wedge admitted. "How did you and Mirax get together? I mean, what attracted you to her?"
Corran thought deeply, while Wedge waited patiently for his pearls of wisdom. Finally, after a very long pause, he said, "Well, she's Corellian. And she used to bring me Corellian food."
"Is that all you can remember?" Wedge said, exasperated.
Corran glared at him. "Well, what about you and Iella, then?"
Wedge was silenced. Finally, he said, "Okay, I'll admit it. When Iella and I were getting together, I let my hormones do the walking, the talking, and the squawking."
"Same here," Corran said. "I don't remember much else."
"Me, either."
"So why can't Luke do the same?" Corran asked, frowning.
"Be fair, Corran. Neither you nor I were trying to put the moves on a professional assassin."
"You think romancing Booster's daughter isn't just as scary?" Corran said, staring at Wedge.
Wedge grinned. "Lucky for you, Mirax was interested. Which made Booster's opinion irrelevant."
"Believe me," Corran muttered, "Booster's opinion is *never* irrelevant."
"To tell the truth, though, Luke's in a spot," Wedge said. "You ever notice that even though they're not together, Mara doesn't like him paying attention to other women? To the point of violence?"
"You're kidding me."
"No, I'm not. Remember Tycho's and Winter's anniversary party? One minute, Luke was dancing with that sexy brunette that came with Wes. The next minute, Mara lock-stepped her to the door, and threw her out bodily."
"Let me get this straight: Luke and Mara aren't married, they're not sleeping together, they're not committed, and she won't let him get any elsewhere?" Corran was horrified.
"Exactly," Wedge said. "Though, from what I hear, he's not entirely deprived. He just makes sure that any liaisons he has are short, discreet, and Mara isn't within a ten-planet radius."
"The poor guy," Corran said. "I had no idea it was this bad. He's got all the limitations of marriage, and none of the perks."
"You've got it,' Wedge said.
"Why does he put up with it?" Corran asked, puzzled.
Wedge coughed. "He's got a major yen for her, I think. If she shows any interest, even *negative* interest, he's thrilled."
"Well, we ought to help him out," Corran said virtuously. "Male solidarity, and all that. Not to mention the fact that we don't want our wives to get any ideas."
Wedge laughed. "I'll agree with that. And don't forget: we'll win the bet."
"That, too. But how?"
"Well, remember when those rumors about Mara and Lando were all over the place?" Wedge asked.
"Vaguely," Corran said.
"Luke was very jealous," Wedge said. "He doesn't like Mara paying attention to anybody else any more than she likes *him* doing it. When anybody mentioned Lando and Mara, he'd change the subject immediately, or clam up tightly. I remember how surprised I was. Usually, he never lets his feelings show like that."
"And your point is?"
"Well, we have to motivate the man, right?" Wedge asked, "There's no way we can motivate Mara. She has everything her own way as it is. So we need to work on Luke. I was thinking that maybe you're right: he needs to be more dominant. And we need to help him do it. Agreed?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Right. So we need to make him jealous. To that end, we should find a handsome escort for Mara. About thirty or so. Somebody tall."
Corran squinted at him. "Why tall?"
"Because Luke's almost as conscious of his height as you are," Wedge said, grinning. "If Mara goes out with a guy who's tall, he'll go ballistic. I absolutely guarantee you."
"I am *not* conscious of my height!" Corran snapped.
"Sure you aren't, shorty," Wedge said, affably. "A fancy background would help, too. Luke's also really conscious of being a hick."
Corran rubbed his stubbly chin. "I might be able to recruit a suitable candidate," he said, slowly. "I know somebody: a guy named Chaz Mardan. A Corellian. He's in the diplomatic corps. Good-looking, polished. And tall, if you insist. Old friend of the family--my grandfather sponsored his career."
"Think he'd help?" Wedge asked.
"Sure, if I asked him," Corran said. "He's got a sense of humor, too. Besides, Mara's a good-looking piece, even if she *is* scary. No great strain on him, I'd say."
"Is he on Coruscant?" Wedge asked.
"Sure. He's attached to the Corellian embassy," Corran said.
Wedge smirked. "Okay, whenever you can get to your feet, go and explain to your friend why we need his help. We don't want the others to get ahead of us, do we?"
At first Wedge this thought caused Corran's sudden pallor, but it became obvious that last night's liquor was about to make its reappearance. He helped Corran to the 'fresher, and listened impatiently outside the door while Corran's stomach righted itself.
"Hurry it up, Corran!" Wedge said, "We're burning daylight!"
"Wedge," Corran said, "Just for the record: your height equals your sadism."
"Forget my sadism, shorty," Wedge said. "And remember how you'll feel if we lose the bet."
"It'll undoubtedly be better than I feel now," Corran muttered, dragging himself toward the door.