"Okay," agreed Heath.
Leia did a double take. "Really?"
"No. I'm being sarcastic. Are you crazy? I'm not dropping out for that woman."
"Watch it," Ty warned. "I know how you feel about her, but she is my mother."
"I thought it was a little nutty too," Han admitted, "But hear her out. She doesn't approach this sort of thing lightly." Heath pursed his lips and stared expectantly at Leia.
"She's only down by a few points, and as I'm sure you're aware, we've been actively pursuing your base," Leia said, looking Heath in the eye. "If you pull out, some of your supporters will simply avoid the polls, but I think enough of them would switch over—especially if you actively encourage them to—to give Carrella the win."
"Assuming I say yes, which I'm not, what's the point then of having me confess to the vandalism?"
"One, it closes the matter so the press doesn't ask her any uncomfortable questions. Two, it may get us a few of those undecided voters from the middle to pad the spread."
"Us? So you're still working for her?"
Unable to hold it in any longer, Leia rolled her eyes. "I was never working for her, really. Her victory aligned with my interests."
"That's a rather cynical view, don't you think?" Heath intoned, imitating her eye roll.
"Do you honestly believe you can keep the Empire out of here forever?" Han interrupted. "Even if we scare off this captain-what's-his-name right now, what makes you so damn certain that Carrella Starn is the biggest threat to your precious trees? It's not like the Imps are known for their conservation efforts."
"Heath, please just give them a chance," Ty broke in.
"I'll do it for you," Heath responded, smiling at Ty. "So what's the endgame? Carrella wins, then what?"
"Once we've gotten rid of the Imps and Carrella votes to free up the terrellium supply, the Alliance will buy what they need and then we'll figure out a way to neutralize the mining project."
"That sounds a little half cocked," Heath said critically. "Have you got a plan for how you're going to neutralize the mining project? What does that even mean?"
"I've got some ideas," Leia admitted. "We could manufacture a scandal that forces her out of office. Or the Alliance could fund a shell corporation that buys out the partner companies stakes in Trelm and then blocks any future mining."
"That's going to require some skin in the game from you all," Heath noted. "Why should I believe that you won't just up and disappear once you've got your terrellium?"
"I can only offer you my word," Leia said simply.
"I don't know….it's quite a risk," Heath took a deep breath and leaned back in his chair. "I'm not sure it's worth it."
"Hm. Well then, unfortunately my backup plan involves having 'Kesia Harwano' contact the authorities to report that she was kidnapped by activists from Our Retacy." Leia looked at Heath thoughtfully. "It might be hard convincing them to set bail for that one."
"You wouldn't!" Heath stood up, glaring at Leia. He looked over to Ty for support, but the young man was covering his mouth, trying to pretend that his chuckles were a coughing fit. "What's so damn funny?"
"It's not very often that someone beats you at your own game," Ty responded, shrugging. "You have to admit that was pretty good."
Leia smiled. "So do we have a deal?"
"You are ruthless, you know that?" Heath said with a grimace.
"In my industry, that's a necessity."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Ty took Heath aside to give him some time to cool down as Leia focused on drafting his concession speech. Peeking over her shoulder at the borrowed computer, Han grunted appreciatively.
"You've got quite a way with words," he said.
"Was that a compliment?" she asked as she continued typing.
"Only if you're into listening to speeches," he said with a wicked grin. "Seems to me if you all spent more time shooting down Imperial ships and less time speechifying, we might have this war won by now."
"Thanks for the insight. Now will you bug off?"
"Actually, if you can spare a moment, your Worship, we need to talk strategy."
She spun around in the low office chair to face him. "Yes. You are in charge of breaking into the Imperial's room and stealing the sample that Carrella took from me. Ty and I will move the ship to his hangar outside the city, and then he'll head to the Starncorp building to change the samples that the Imps will use to confirm the quality of the minerals from the Trelm region. We'll all gather back here before Heath goes out to make his speech."
"Back up, sister. What did you say?"
"I don't have time to keep repeating myself." She sighed and started to turn back around, but Han caught her by the shoulder and spun her to face him.
"Nobody is flying my ship but me, got it?"
"We don't have time for that," Leia hissed, her voice laced with frustration. "You are the only one who can break into that room, and we're only flying the ship a few dozen kilometers. We're not even taking it into space."
"Her."
"What?"
"Her. You call my ship 'her' not 'it.' Understand?"
"I will call that bucket of bolts whatever I damn well please, and I will not have you compromising this mission over some stupid egotistical connection to that captain's chair." She shook free of his grasp and turned back to the computer. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have a speech to write and you have a burglary to plan."
Han stalked off, seething. He knew she was disrespecting the Falcon just to get under his skin, and it bugged him even more that her logistical planning was sound. It did make the most sense for her and Ty to move the ship, and it would keep her out of trouble for a while. But at the same time, the whole thing just made him a little queasy. "I've got a bad feeling about this," he muttered. Leia ignored him.
"How is the end of my political career coming?" Heath meandered glumly into the main room.
"Oh for heaven's sake," Leia said. "Is there anyone here capable of acting like something other than a big baby?" She scooted over so Heath could look at her draft. "It's not the end of your career. I softened the 'confession' a bit so that you're just apologizing for creating the impression among your volunteers that politics is a winner-takes-all sport that justifies any means, up to and including breaking into an opponent's headquarters."
"That's a bit rich coming from you, isn't it?" Heath asked. Leia ignored him too.
Ty came out too, heading for the kitchen to avoid the simmering conflict. Leaving Leia and Heath to glower at each other, Han followed him.
"So apparently the plan is that I'm going to deal with the Imperial and you and, uh, Kesia are going to move my ship," Han said to him. "You know anything about flying?"
"Of course," Ty assured him. "I have my own ship. Though I can't wait to try flying a freighter!"
"Don't get too excited, Kid," Han warned him. "You're not flying far. And you should plan on copiloting—my ship can be a little temperamental and Kesia's been around her a lot. She should be able to deal with the main controls without crashing. That way you can navigate."
"Sounds good!" Ty still had a grin on his face. "And thanks."
"Don't mention it," Han mumbled, heading back out to where Heath and Leia were arguing about a particular phrase in his speech. "Hey," he interrupted. "I'm out. We meet back here."
"At 1200 at the latest," Leia confirmed. "If the Imp gives you any trouble, get back in touch and let us know you're going to be late. Otherwise we'll assume…"
"You'll assume what?"
"Nothing good," Leia said, her tone a bit gentler. "Good luck."
"You take care of my girl."
"Will do," Ty piped up, smiling at Leia.
"Thanks, Kid, but I was talking to her." Han pointed with his thumb at Leia as he checked his concealed blaster, and then slipped out the door.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Hey!"
"What the..." Han whirled around, knocking loudly into one of the storage bins in the alley behind the hotel. His hand inched down towards his blaster as he saw the source of the voice, decked out in the uniform of a hotel custodian. For a moment he weighed the ethics of just stunning the unfortunate man, but a closer look revealed that it was not in fact a custodian, but rather Fejj Smap, looking decidedly un-reporter-like in pinstriped coveralls and a matching cap.
"Do I even want to know?" Han sighed as Fejj ducked down next to him.
"What I'm doing, you mean? This is really all your fault," Fejj said to him, more amiably than his words would suggest.
"You get fired from the paper?"
"No, I'm on assignment. My editor was getting pissed that I didn't have the Starncorp story filed, but I promised her something even bigger if she'd give me an extension." Han looked alarmed. "Don't worry, I'm not going to blow anyone's cover right now. I'm just doing some more investigating of that Imperial. I called in some favors…"
"For that?" Han said skeptically, looking askance at the uniform. "What kind of favors?"
"I made friends with some of the cleaning staff several months back when I did an expose on the management's efforts to block them from forming a union," Fejj responded. "One of them let me have his shift today—he's assigned to our friend's floor."
"Really?" Han couldn't believe his luck. "So you have a legitimate excuse for going in?"
"I do," Fejj said. "Why? You need something?"
Suddenly Han was suspicious. "What's it going to cost me, Fejj?"
"An exclusive interview. With you and Kesia."
"Nuh uh. Sorry, buddy—that would be good for no one."
"I just want the background," Fejj pleaded. "I care as much about keeping the Empire out of here as you do—probably more. I wouldn't publish anything that risked their attention."
"So what is it that you want?" Han asked quizzically.
"Just the inside dirt on Carrella. Why she brought in outside consultants, what her campaign is like…"
Han grimaced. He was going to get it from Leia if he agreed to any of Fejj's demands, but at the same time, it was critical that he keep the Imp from discovering Leia's identity and Fejj had the key for an easy swipe. "Fine. Now let's get in there."
"You're coming with me?" Fejj raised his eyebrows. "I'm not sure…"
"I don't care what you think," Han said. "We can't screw this up. You go in first and give me a wave if it's all clear."
They rode the service elevator in silence. Han could tell Fejj was nervous, even though he'd clearly been planning an illicit search of the Imps room even before Han showed up. There was no time to offer encouragement though as they reached their floor and Han ducked into an alcove, watching as Fejj made his way down the hall.
He heard the door open and close, and held his breath, counting to ten before peeking back out. Fejj's hand popped out of the door, beckoning him in.
"Okay, I'll clean and you search," Fejj said. "What are you looking for?"
"Not entirely certain," Han admitted. "Maybe an envelope or a paper or something, probably with some hair in it?"
"I'll keep an eye out," Fejj responded, flipping through some papers on the bedside table before straightening the covers and pillows.
The Imperial was clearly cautious about his belongings. A file folder sat on the desk, held together with a combination lock. Han started there, expertly breaking in and flipping through the files but finding little besides information on the markets and production centers for various elements. He shut and locked the case back up, methodically going through the desk drawers. The only thing inside was a binder with a local restaurant directory and map to the hotel's fire escapes. Sighing quietly, Han put that back too.
"Where could it be?" he said under his breath. He looked around for any other likely spots around the tidy room before turning to the closet. He slid the door open, finding a neat rack of stiffly pressed jackets and trousers and began rummaging through the pockets.
A noise at the door made both of them jump. Someone had inserted a key card and was fumbling with the handle. Panicked, Fejj waved at Han to hide in the closet as he scurried into the 'fresher room with a bucket of rags and cleaning supplies.
"Good morning, sir," he heard Fejj call brightly. "Just finishing up your room. I'll be done in a few moments."
"That'll be enough," the Imperial said. "Don't mind the rest."
"Are you certain, sir? I haven't finished the 'fresher."
"Yes. Thank you." Han slid further back into the closet, pressing himself into a side wall and arranging the pants back in front of him as silently as possible. As he did, an envelope fell out of one of the pockets. Han shoved under his jacket to muffle the noise and slid his finger across to open it, soundlessly cheering his small victory as a few locks of curly blonde hair fell out. He shoved the hair into one pocket and folded the envelope into another as he strained to hear what was going on.
The door opened and closed, the sound of Fejj's stammering disappearing as the lock clicked shut. Han held his breath, his fingers on his blaster. If he had to shoot the guy at this point, he thought rapidly, he'd have to make it look like a robbery. If only he'd thought to wear gloves. The Imperial's footsteps got closer. Han pressed back further into the closet.
There was a clicking sound as the locked file folder opened, and Han could hear papers shuffling and the sound of a pen scratching. He shut his eyes for a moment, hoping to give his hearing an edge over his other senses as he noticed the distinct tones of a comlink dialing.
"Are the samples ready for comparison?" the main said crisply. "We're close to falling behind on our timeline. All right, good. Get them over to Starncorp by the end of the day. Let me know when you're headed over. I want to supervise the analysis personally. I don't trust that Starn woman." With a beep, he cut off the connection. He walked over towards the bed and activated the internal hotel comm. "Room service, please." Han groaned inwardly. Now he'd be here forever. "I beg your pardon? Closed?" Han's eyebrows shot up in glee. The kitchen was closed. "When will it open? Very well." With a loud sigh, the Imperial closed the connection and opened the desk drawer. Han could tell he was flipping through something, and then heard him mumble, "What sort of backwater planet doesn't have Chandrilan?" Finally he closed the desk drawer, and with an enormous sigh of relief, Han heard him walk out the door.
He was planning to count to five hundred to give the Imp time to clear out, but was saved from the wasted time by the reappearance of Fejj, who burst in a moment later and flung open the closet. "Did he see you?"
"Nope. And I found what I was looking for." Han stepped quickly into the 'fresher unit and pulled the small bit of hair from his pocket, dropping it in the toilet and flushing. "There. Mission accomplished."
"Good. Now let's get out of here." Han followed Fejj into the hall, checking quickly to make sure they were alone.
"You want to come back to Ty's with me," Han asked, not sure what else to do with the reporter at the moment.
"Thanks, but I'm busy," Fejj replied.
"Doing what?"
He gestured down the hall. "I told you, I took a custodial shift. These rooms won't clean themselves." He paused hopefully. "Want to help?"
"Thanks, but no thanks." Han tipped a pretend cap and walked quickly back to the service elevator. "Have fun."