Chapter Six
Yihza fidgeted behind his desk, Mara had called for a meeting with her, Solo, Cori, himself and guards had been requested. He was hard at work arranging which guards were to attend when Cori Buentle walked in.
"Did you get your message?" She asked.
"Yes." He furrowed his brow.
"What is it?"
Yihza gestured to his screen. "I'm trying to arrange guards for this meeting but can't."
Buentle gave him a ghost of a smile. "I've taken care of that."
"Why?" He blurted.
"You've had it in for General Solo from the beginning. I've taken the liberty of ensuring the guards present are not under your influence- impartial if you will." She stood in front of his desk and crossed her arms. "The truth will come out Minister... is there anything you wish to say?"
"Get out!" Yihza snapped and pointed to the door.
Cori bowed. "See you in an hour Minister." She shut the door behind her.
***
Mara stood at the head of the table, making sure her evidence was ready to be presented and the large holo projector working.
The door opened and Han entered, still handcuffed. He was deposited beside her. "What's going on?" He shifted in his chair.
"Don't worry." Mara patted his arm. "You'll be out of those handcuffs soon."
Han just wore a puzzled expression.
Yihza, Buentle and the requested guards then entered, all sat at the other end of the table. Buentle gave her a nod of encouragement, she didn't want to take Solo to a full out trial anymore than the man himself wanted to go.
Mara bowed when all were ready and clasped her hands in front of her. "Thank you for coming. I am returning the courtesy of showing you evidence of what I have gathered like you did for us."
She switched on the holo that showed Han shooting Senator Ineler. She froze the image and zeroed in on Han's back but left it unfocused. "Now, due to an intrusion and attack on my person." She paused to glance at Yihza. "I came across a strange tattoo." An image of the five triangles pointing to the middle was projected. Han sat in his chair completely lost.
"I decided to do some checking and found this." The back of the 'Solo' was focused. "A strange mark also appears on this attackers neck, clearly showing the named tattoo. If you please- you will find there is no such tattoo or removal mark on Solo's neck."
Yihza gestured for one of the guards to check. The black haired man did, shaking his head when he didn't see anything.
"That proves nothing." Yihza stated, his high collared robe looked like it was choking off his air supply. "He could have painted the mark on."
Cori held up a hand. "Let her finish Minister."
Mara nodded her thanks. "I, myself did research of my own, which was gathered at the time of Ineler's life."
A holo of writing appeared, replacing all others.
Mara paced the room, ignoring Han's continuous confusion. "Yes. The Senator had Rebellion sympathies. He shuttled large credit amounts to hidden Rebel bases. This is one transaction I have found among many. You may look at it if you wish, but I assure you that it is marked with his own unique and original stamp."
"Exactly!" Yihza blurted. "He was assassinated by Solo so his credits and person would stop helping the Rebellion!"
Han looked ready to explode, but Mara silenced him with a warning look.
"Hmm... now that's interesting. But I think I have a better source of information than you Defense Minister, because I found communications between Senator Ineler and Emperor Palpatine himself." A new image of writing appeared.
"Again this is all original and if you read it you will find plans that Ineler was to hand over prominent Rebellion leaders, such as Garm Bel Iblis." Mara highlighted the said name.
"I don't see the point of all this." Yihza remarked.
Mara ignored him. "The Senator was also looking for more power, he was even bold enough to think he could overthrow the Emperor." Mara again displayed records on the holo. "Owning large amounts of shipyards, having many contacts and I might add, credits, Ineler was in fact a great threat to the Empire and Emperor."
Mara could see Han's eyes light up with surprised understanding.
"You're saying the Emperor had Ineler killed?" Cori asked.
Mara shook a finger. "Let's step back a bit. Who would want to frame General Solo? Rebellion hero and very visible New Republic member... Back to the tattoo." Again the image came up.
"Research of this symbol had led me to a group called Quaetak. A small group but vocal one. They seek to forever block the New Republic from entering the Corellian system. Vocalizing the idea that the New Republic would put an end to anything and everything Corellians stood for." She gestured to Solo. "What better way than to charge a high status member. No diplomat would want to step foot on a planet that would do such a thing. Especiallly a member that is himself a Corellian."
Mara moved to step in front of Yihza. "Someone with high government ties would have the resources to pull this type of plan off." She paused and waved a hand at her face, rubbing her neck. "Minister... it's awfully hot in here... you must be very uncomfortable." Before anyone could react, Mara drew a blade and sliced the side of Yihza's high collared robe. The triangle tattoo showed prominently on his pale neck.
Yihza tried to get up, but Mara pushed him non-too gently back down in his chair.
Cori calmly stood up. "Defense Minister Bruc Yihza. You are under arrest for the framing and attempted murder of General Han Solo."
Yihza sneered at the woman. "Attempted murder? You won't get away with that."
Cori smiled evilly at him. "I can and I will. It was you who filed for the execution of General Solo, knowing full well that the charges were false. Remember Minister... you hired me in the first place because I am very good at what I do."
Yihza's face fell, the guards stood him up, handcuffing him while one unlocked Han's own binders, mumbling a sincere apology.
Han rubbed his wrists, gratefully looking at Mara.
Yihza shrugged the guards off. "You haven't proven who did kill the Senator." He shrieked.
Mara shrugged. "I don't have to but will." The young red-haired woman squared her shoulders. "I did."
Yihza stopped fidgeting, the whole room fell silent.
"Emperor Palpatine did conceive Senator Ineler a dangerous and real threat, so he sent me; the ex- Emperor's Hand to deal with him."
Mara felt Han move beside her for support, one that she was grateful and unashamed to accept.
Cori gazed at the young woman. "Guards, have Yihza placed in a detention cell." They left with Yihza screaming about a New Republic hostile take over.
Han stepped forward. "I-"
The lawyer cut him off. "I think that if history were to change, placing Ineler in power, we may still be under the rule of a tyrant... Either Ineler himself or still Palpatine." She paused and looked at Mara. "We may have even been without leaders such as Iblis who would lead us to victory."
Closing her briefcase, Cori walked around the table to stand in front of the other woman. "Thank you." She stuck out her hand.
Mara wordlessly accepted the handshake.
The blonde woman grinned. "I'm glad all this was cleared up in here rather than at a trial. I'd hate to see you work a court room." She nodded her head to Han. "I'm very sorry about this General. I'll see to it personally that you get a public apology. I'll also have Yihza's blockade removed." Cori smiled once more and walked out of the room.
Han clasped Mara's shoulder. "Mara I-"
The woman shrugged him off. "Go see your family Solo." Mara herself walked out the door, leaving a worried Han to look after her.
Yihza fidgeted behind his desk, Mara had called for a meeting with her, Solo, Cori, himself and guards had been requested. He was hard at work arranging which guards were to attend when Cori Buentle walked in.
"Did you get your message?" She asked.
"Yes." He furrowed his brow.
"What is it?"
Yihza gestured to his screen. "I'm trying to arrange guards for this meeting but can't."
Buentle gave him a ghost of a smile. "I've taken care of that."
"Why?" He blurted.
"You've had it in for General Solo from the beginning. I've taken the liberty of ensuring the guards present are not under your influence- impartial if you will." She stood in front of his desk and crossed her arms. "The truth will come out Minister... is there anything you wish to say?"
"Get out!" Yihza snapped and pointed to the door.
Cori bowed. "See you in an hour Minister." She shut the door behind her.
***
Mara stood at the head of the table, making sure her evidence was ready to be presented and the large holo projector working.
The door opened and Han entered, still handcuffed. He was deposited beside her. "What's going on?" He shifted in his chair.
"Don't worry." Mara patted his arm. "You'll be out of those handcuffs soon."
Han just wore a puzzled expression.
Yihza, Buentle and the requested guards then entered, all sat at the other end of the table. Buentle gave her a nod of encouragement, she didn't want to take Solo to a full out trial anymore than the man himself wanted to go.
Mara bowed when all were ready and clasped her hands in front of her. "Thank you for coming. I am returning the courtesy of showing you evidence of what I have gathered like you did for us."
She switched on the holo that showed Han shooting Senator Ineler. She froze the image and zeroed in on Han's back but left it unfocused. "Now, due to an intrusion and attack on my person." She paused to glance at Yihza. "I came across a strange tattoo." An image of the five triangles pointing to the middle was projected. Han sat in his chair completely lost.
"I decided to do some checking and found this." The back of the 'Solo' was focused. "A strange mark also appears on this attackers neck, clearly showing the named tattoo. If you please- you will find there is no such tattoo or removal mark on Solo's neck."
Yihza gestured for one of the guards to check. The black haired man did, shaking his head when he didn't see anything.
"That proves nothing." Yihza stated, his high collared robe looked like it was choking off his air supply. "He could have painted the mark on."
Cori held up a hand. "Let her finish Minister."
Mara nodded her thanks. "I, myself did research of my own, which was gathered at the time of Ineler's life."
A holo of writing appeared, replacing all others.
Mara paced the room, ignoring Han's continuous confusion. "Yes. The Senator had Rebellion sympathies. He shuttled large credit amounts to hidden Rebel bases. This is one transaction I have found among many. You may look at it if you wish, but I assure you that it is marked with his own unique and original stamp."
"Exactly!" Yihza blurted. "He was assassinated by Solo so his credits and person would stop helping the Rebellion!"
Han looked ready to explode, but Mara silenced him with a warning look.
"Hmm... now that's interesting. But I think I have a better source of information than you Defense Minister, because I found communications between Senator Ineler and Emperor Palpatine himself." A new image of writing appeared.
"Again this is all original and if you read it you will find plans that Ineler was to hand over prominent Rebellion leaders, such as Garm Bel Iblis." Mara highlighted the said name.
"I don't see the point of all this." Yihza remarked.
Mara ignored him. "The Senator was also looking for more power, he was even bold enough to think he could overthrow the Emperor." Mara again displayed records on the holo. "Owning large amounts of shipyards, having many contacts and I might add, credits, Ineler was in fact a great threat to the Empire and Emperor."
Mara could see Han's eyes light up with surprised understanding.
"You're saying the Emperor had Ineler killed?" Cori asked.
Mara shook a finger. "Let's step back a bit. Who would want to frame General Solo? Rebellion hero and very visible New Republic member... Back to the tattoo." Again the image came up.
"Research of this symbol had led me to a group called Quaetak. A small group but vocal one. They seek to forever block the New Republic from entering the Corellian system. Vocalizing the idea that the New Republic would put an end to anything and everything Corellians stood for." She gestured to Solo. "What better way than to charge a high status member. No diplomat would want to step foot on a planet that would do such a thing. Especiallly a member that is himself a Corellian."
Mara moved to step in front of Yihza. "Someone with high government ties would have the resources to pull this type of plan off." She paused and waved a hand at her face, rubbing her neck. "Minister... it's awfully hot in here... you must be very uncomfortable." Before anyone could react, Mara drew a blade and sliced the side of Yihza's high collared robe. The triangle tattoo showed prominently on his pale neck.
Yihza tried to get up, but Mara pushed him non-too gently back down in his chair.
Cori calmly stood up. "Defense Minister Bruc Yihza. You are under arrest for the framing and attempted murder of General Han Solo."
Yihza sneered at the woman. "Attempted murder? You won't get away with that."
Cori smiled evilly at him. "I can and I will. It was you who filed for the execution of General Solo, knowing full well that the charges were false. Remember Minister... you hired me in the first place because I am very good at what I do."
Yihza's face fell, the guards stood him up, handcuffing him while one unlocked Han's own binders, mumbling a sincere apology.
Han rubbed his wrists, gratefully looking at Mara.
Yihza shrugged the guards off. "You haven't proven who did kill the Senator." He shrieked.
Mara shrugged. "I don't have to but will." The young red-haired woman squared her shoulders. "I did."
Yihza stopped fidgeting, the whole room fell silent.
"Emperor Palpatine did conceive Senator Ineler a dangerous and real threat, so he sent me; the ex- Emperor's Hand to deal with him."
Mara felt Han move beside her for support, one that she was grateful and unashamed to accept.
Cori gazed at the young woman. "Guards, have Yihza placed in a detention cell." They left with Yihza screaming about a New Republic hostile take over.
Han stepped forward. "I-"
The lawyer cut him off. "I think that if history were to change, placing Ineler in power, we may still be under the rule of a tyrant... Either Ineler himself or still Palpatine." She paused and looked at Mara. "We may have even been without leaders such as Iblis who would lead us to victory."
Closing her briefcase, Cori walked around the table to stand in front of the other woman. "Thank you." She stuck out her hand.
Mara wordlessly accepted the handshake.
The blonde woman grinned. "I'm glad all this was cleared up in here rather than at a trial. I'd hate to see you work a court room." She nodded her head to Han. "I'm very sorry about this General. I'll see to it personally that you get a public apology. I'll also have Yihza's blockade removed." Cori smiled once more and walked out of the room.
Han clasped Mara's shoulder. "Mara I-"
The woman shrugged him off. "Go see your family Solo." Mara herself walked out the door, leaving a worried Han to look after her.