DRIVING THE CRAZIES
Chapter 5
(Leia)
My head is starting to spin. Now there are arguments about wanting to be independent of the GFFA among their envoys. They do have the option. We don't force worlds to join. But we make it clear that we also cannot provide services, join in trade agreements that are equitable, or give any financial support.
This has to be one of the worst dinners I've been to in my life, and starting as a toddler, I've been to a lot. There's been endless bickering and not a lot getting done.
Finally, I mention ryll and ryll kor.
I never heard a table go so quiet so fast.
"That's really what this is about," I snap at them, my temper becoming frayed. "You don't want the substance regulated because then you couldn't make huge credits possible by trading it on the black market. It's not as if you wouldn't still make money."
"We don't even want to be part of the GFFA," the Minister of State says sharply. "You are only interested in us because you want to take our ryll."
"That is not the case. We are looking to offer security and financial support - "
"And why should I believe you?" he shouts at me. By now, he is very drunk.
"Because the lady knows from where she speaks," Han says, sharply to him. I don't know if the Minister of State can see, but Han is lovingly stroking his blaster. I want to laugh so badly, based on the motions he's using.
The Minister of State is silenced.
"I know what ryll is, what it costs, what has to be paid to the 'protection' rackets, and how much your very wealthy make off it," Han went on.
"And how do you know all this?" the Minister retorts.
Han gives his biggest evil grin. "Because I smuggled it for over a decade."
I'm not sure that's the answer I would have given, but it seems to get everyone's attention.
One of the undersecretaries from Lorell speaks up. "So you're the famous Han Solo."
"The one and only," Han says, not allowing any false modesty to get in his way. Maybe inviting him to dinner wasn't my best idea.
"But what does this have to do with ryll? It's our only export of value," the Lorellian finance minister says.
"You should consider a trade agreement," Han said. "And arrest the bastards who shot Nolo while you're at it."
"I still say there should be military involvement," Thing Two insists. Thing Two is completely clueless; give him a problem, he wants a military solution. He can't think of any other ways.
The table breaks out in shouting again. Finally, Mon Mothma stands up and gives everyone a stare that could freeze fire.
"We agreed that the assassination would be treated as a criminal case for now," she points out. "And you all agreed to it." The evil eye moves about the table. It's a good thing that this is in the dining room of a palace, not a restaurant, because we would have scared everyone off by now.
Not that I would have minded, of course.
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(Leia)
By 2330, we are getting nowhere, and we break. I desperately need sleep. I think if Han hadn't been there I'd have gone completely insane. Okay, I smiled at a couple of wrong moments when I found Han stroking his blaster like he does...never mind. I did get Mon Mothma's Stare of Death, but she's the least of my worries right now.
I sit on the edge of the bed, kicking my shoes off. I wonder if I'm really cut out for this. I wonder if Mon Mothma knows how unprepared I feel for it. I've benefited from a good education and growing up in a governing household, but this sometimes feels way above my pay grade.
They need to hold elections again, but this time, we need to have watchers in place. I'm not convinced that Reg Nolo bought votes - overall, he was a pretty decent guy and really wanted the best for the planet - but I think there are going to be problems with the next one, worse than for the one that happened last month. Their minister of state and interim prime minister don't want the elections and they certainly don't want sentinels. Legally, we cannot force them to hold them.
This shouldn't surprise me. Lorell backed the Empire heavily during the war and clamped down heavily on the Rebels till the end of the war.
"You okay?" Han asks me as he kicks off his boots.
I look up at him and I know my expression is one of pure misery. "I'd much rather be at home and trying to make a baby about now."
Han gathers me in his arms. No matter what the situation, his touch always makes me feel safer, more secure, and more at ease with myself.
"There're no laws saying we can't make a baby when we're not at home," he whispers to me oh so low and sexy. I shiver a little and I'm not cold, trust me.
He has a point. I hadn't even thought about sex for most of the last day. But now his face is close to mine and we kiss, very gently at first, but our kisses deepen and intensify. I breathe in his scent, that luscious mix of male pheromones that never fails to arouse me.
And arouse me it does. We're attacking each other's clothing, basking in the appearance of more skin with each item shed. Han pulls me down on top of him, wrapping me in his strong arms and his hands traveling down my body.
"I think this baby making business could be a lot of fun," Han whispers to me seductively.
Who says a bad trip can't have its great moments?