AUTHOR'S NOTE One chapter to go! Those of you who have stuck with this story, thank you!

DISCLAIMER Don't own them.

Chapter Nine – Seoul

Han Solo led Bail Organa and the majority of the campaign team through the cramped hallways of Seoul's biggest hotel. And by biggest, Han thought they really meant to say smallest and most crowded.

Captain Panaka had already checked out the building and secured the area. Orange and red robed Naboo handmaidens were stationed at every door, along with women in olive drab uniforms, who Han figured must be Captain Pierce's security team.

The group finally reached a cluster of numbered doors. Lando and Senator Amidala quickly ushered Organa through one of them while Master Windu and the woman with Luke's last name opened another. Yoda prodded Luke and Leia into another room in iron out the last problems in the debate opening statement. Han, Carlist Rieekan, and General Kenobi were left out in the hallway.

Kenobi gestured to the only remaining empty room. "Shall we?"

Han pulled open the door and gratefully dropped into the first chair he saw. Once the other men were similarly settled, he asked, "So what do we do now?"

Kenobi settled himself on a couch and closed his eyes. "We wait."

Han and Rieekan shared a look. Neither man was Force-sensitive and the calm, almost laconic manner of the Jedi they found themselves surrounded with was a mystery to each one. Over the years of living with Leia and being friends with Luke, Han had grown used to it. But he knew that Rieekan had not as much practice.

No one said anything as they sat in the small, sparsely furnished room. After an hour or so had passed, there was a knock on the door. Despite how tired he was, Han jumped up to answer it, excited out of sheer boredom.

Senator Amidala was there. She glared at Han when he opened the door, clearly still blaming him for this whole thing, and said, "Everyone's ready."

"Okay." Han turned to tell the other two, but Kenobi was already behind him. Figures.

They followed Amidala through the ramshackle hotel until they reached a small auditorium. "This is it?" Han couldn't help saying.

She fixed him with her fearsome look again. "I don't see why you have any cause for complaint, Captain Solo. This whole thing was your idea."

Contritely, he walked into the auditorium and found a seat. Leia and Luke were already there, while Yoda had perched himself on a raised shelf along the wall. Han had to shake his head. Every time that he saw the tiny Jedi Master, he was more confused. He had never seen a creature like that before.

Rieekan and Kenobi joined several people dressed in the traditional olive drab clothing of Captain Pierce's team. It was very odd that they all wore the same thing, Han thought.

Captain Panaka and the Naboo handmaidens were patrolling the hallways of the hotel. Mace Windu, along with Lando as his aide, was seated off to one side of the stage. Moments later, Bail's assistant, the Tatooine woman, led the Prince to one of the podiums set up on the stage.

Captain Pierce appeared from the other side, led by his aide – a man in the traditional olive drab but with a black and white collar and a cross on a chain around his neck. He settled himself at the other podium. The two candidates looked at each other. Organa raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Ready?"

Pierce nodded. "Ready."

Amidala and Pierce's manager, an older man named Potter, had agreed to officiate the debate together. They had two podiums in the center of the audience, from which they would direct questions at the other's candidate. Amidala nodded to Potter. It had been decided that he would go first.

"Senator Organa," Potter began. "Our first and most pressing question is what do you propose to do to get us out of this terrible war that we're all stuck in down here?"

Organa looked grave. "I have been involved in war for many years, sir. I have seen governments crumble and become corrupt because of the thirst for power. Most of all, I have had friends die because of foolish conflicts."

Han saw General Kenobi suddenly look very sad. Luke and Leia must have felt it as well, for they both looked over at him sympathetically. No one said anything, though, for Organa began speaking again.

"I am against war, Colonel Potter. I have seen the destruction that it causes. Before anything else, I will devote considerable energy and resources to ending your war."

Potter nodded, seemingly satisfied. He gestured to Amidala. "Captain Pierce," she began. "While you face a war, we face a potentially explosive division between our peoples. Many worlds side with the Republic, while the Separatists threaten to rip more and more away from us. How will you take control of this situation? What will you do to bring peace and unity back to our government?"

Captain Pierce was just about to answer when the door burst open. Han and General Rieekan went immediately for their blasters; Master Kenobi and Luke already had their lightsabers drawn. No one moved as a small bespectacled man rushed into the room.

"Radar?" Captain Pierce asked. He motioned for everyone to lower their weapons. "It's okay, this is my Head of Security."

Reluctantly, Han holstered his blaster. But why was Pierce's head security honcho in the debate room? He was supposed to be patrolling the premises with Captain Panaka. It did calm his fears to see that both Luke and Kenobi had put their lightsabers away. They obviously sensed no danger.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Hawkeye," Radar said breathlessly. "But there's a really important surprise announcement coming on that you all have to hear!"

He gestured to someone out in the hallway and a speaker crackled to life. "We interrupt this broadcast to bring you breaking news."

Han frowned. He found Pierce's campaign manager, Potter. "How'd he know that was about to come on?"

Potter smirked and shook his head. "Don't ask."

Someone in the auditorium shushed them. Han turned his attention back to the news bulletin.

"â€Ĥa hotel in Seoul, South Korea had been terminated. The election will begin tonight at eight o'clock."

"What?" Amidala shouted. "Did that just say – "

"The debate is over," Radar said, nodding.

Organa and Pierce eyed each other. "But we just got started," Pierce said.

Radar shrugged. Luke and Leia shared a worried look. Mace Windu merely looked deep in thought.

Finally, Yoda spoke up. "Now, wait we must."