Shada had gotten waylaid by Pellaeon who was making his case again. Karrde went over to speak to Solo and Leia and they discussed his plans for the information sharing project and Luke and Mara's recovery of the Caamas Document.
"Speaking of Luke and speaking of strong women." Solo grinned down at his wife. "How's your organization going to manage without Mara?"
"We'll have some problems," Karrde admitted. "She's running a good deal of the organization after all. But we'll adjust."
"Besides, he's got someone new to take her place," Leia told Solo. "Shada's officially joined him- had you heard that?"
"Yeah, I did." Solo was eying him in a way that made Karrde distinctly uncomfortable. "You know, I asked you once what it would take to get you to join the New Republic. Remember? You asked what it had taken to get me to join up-"
"Yes, I remember," Karrde cut him off sharply. "Kindly bear in mind that I have not joined the New Republic. And my relationship with Shada is nothing like that."
"Neither was mine." Solo had that cocky grin on his face again and wrapped an arm around Leia. "That's okay. Give it time."
"It's not going to happen," Karrde insisted. He was not the sort of person that had affairs with his employees not matter how much he admired them. It just made things- messy. And Karrde could not abide a mess of that sort and the drama it entailed.
"Yeah. I know," Solo said sarcastically as he looked past Karrde. "Is that Shada talking to Pelleaon?"
Karrde glanced in that direction and saw Shada leaving the group of Imperials and moving towards them. "Yes, it is."
Solo laughed as he took in her appearance. "Oh, you're in big trouble, ol' buddy." It was undeniable that Shada looked particularly beautiful today. Karrde had been having a hard time keeping his eyes off of her, along with half of the other attendees.
"Surely you aren't in trouble already, Karrde?" Shada asked as she came to stand beside him.
"I will be if you decide to take Pellaeon up on his offer," Karrde said smoothly hoping to curtail anything further Solo could say that might prove to be embarrassing.
"I would never work for the Empire even for someone as honorable as Admiral Pellaeon."
"That's good to know," Leia told her. "I'd hate to think of someone with your skills out there working against us."
"Well, Shada," Solo said still looking smug. "It certainly looks like the corridors of power are open to you now."
"Only because I'm attached to a powerful man, Solo," she told him in a frosty tone. "The same way they are only open to you because you are attached to a powerful woman."
Solo looked stunned, but Leia and Karrde both laughed. Solo recovered quickly and hugged his wife closer to him, "I guess it is a good thing I like strong and powerful women then."
"And it's a good thing I like scoundrels," Leia said smiling up at her husband.
Karrde thought it was a good time to take their leave. "Shada, shall we get some refreshment?" he asked.
"Excellent idea."
"Good luck," Solo called after them and Karrde knew he would need it. Despite his best intentions, he was finding it harder to ignore his attraction to Shada than he thought especially when she looked so magnificent and had shut Solo down so handily.
They stayed for the toasts and had circulated amongst the dignitaries until Karrde was satisfied that he knew how each of the major players felt about the treaty. Shada had hung on Karrde's arm with an impassive smile on her face while shrewdly observing the crowd.
The reception was beginning to break up when Shada and Karrde went back to the Wild Karrde. As soon as they were onboard, they left the Chimaera and made their way for the spaceport on Bastion. Tomorrow they would be meeting with Pellaeon and Imperial Intelligence to begin setting up the Imperial side of the information sharing. Celebrations were well underway on the Bastion and Karrde had given his crew leave to join in the festivities as they liked and perhaps pick up some information on the mood of the general populace.
"Are you tired, Shada?" Karrde asked after they had docked.
"Not particularly."
"Would you like to go out for a bite to eat and a drink? We did play a role in this peace. It seems like we should celebrate as well."
"Didn't you celebrate enough at the reception?" she asked, though she already knew the answer to that.
He grimaced in response. "That's not exactly my kind of celebration. What do you say?"
"Why not? We are all dressed up." Shada smiled and toyed with her pearls. "We might as well have somewhere to go."
"Indeed."
"Some of them are not at all happy about the treaty. On both sides," she told Karrde as they sat in the restaurant finishing their meal.
He was staring thoughtfully out the window at the city below. "Yes, that will make our job much more difficult." He turned back to her and gave her a wry smile. "Are you sure you really want to be legitimate?"
"Karrde…"
"Yes, I know you do." He sighed. "I assure you I will see this through however difficult it may be for us all."
"Don't blame me. It was your idea after all," she pointed out.
He gave her a peculiar look she couldn't decipher. "I would never have thought of it if not for your aversion to smugglers and information brokers."
"What are you trying to say, Karrde?" Shada asked suddenly suspicious.
His normal sardonic smile returned and his tone lightened. "Merely that when you grow frustrated with dealing legitimately with these people you have no one to blame but yourself."
"Gee, thanks. I guess that means I just can't shoot people that irritate me anymore, huh?"
"No, unfortunately not. Especially not your employer."
TBC