[Black Fleet Crisis(17)

“Keys in the ignition? “

The yard boss nodded. “The security system’s been reinitialized for you-just enter new authorization codes. “

Han looked at Chewbacca. “I think Leia can get by without us for a little longer. Let’s wring her out a little. “

“Have fun, ” the yard boss said, his self-satisfied smile restored to full brightness. “You’re already cleared for orbit. “

Waving their ID cards at the scanners, Han and Chewbacca entered the grounds of the presidential residence in full stride and in the middle of a full-blown argument.

“I know, I know, she’s perfect, ” Han said. “I know, we couldn’t have gotten her into that kind of shape in a year of weekends. So what? I hate perfect. “

Chewbacca shook his head and uttered a long, whining growl that bespoke his frustration.

“I am not being unreasonable. How can you say that? ” Han demanded, raising his hands in disgust. “Weren’t you paying attention? Were you even listening while we were landing? “

Jerking his head back sharply, Chewbacca grunted a sharp retort.

“That’s right-hardly a sound. She’s as tight as a new boot, ” Han said, stopping and turning on his friend. “Listen, buddy, I hate new boots. I like my boots covered with scuffs, worn just this side of falling apart, with room for my toes and a little roll in the heels. All those noises they took out, that’s how I used to know when I was pushing her. How am I gonna know how hard we’re hit next time we’re in a scrap? “

Chewbacca shook his head and growled his disgust.

“I thought you’d understand, ” Han said plaintively. “Chewie, they replaced the cushions on the acceleration couches. ” His tone was rich with indignation. “Don’t they understand why people keep old furniture around the house? That’s not my Falcon. It feels like I’m sitting in somebody’s else’s ship. I tell you, I’m gonna have to take a whole day to go around with a wrench and start loosening things-” Somewhere in the middle of Han’s tirade, Chewbacca stopped listening to him. He stood straighter and cocked his head while attending to a sound from farther away. Finally he grabbed Han by the shoulder and gave him a little shake to interrupt him.

“Arroora, ” the Wookiee said chidingly.

“What? ” Han said, twisting around to look toward the gardens. “I didn’t hear her. “

Together they hurried down the walk toward Leia’s voice. They found her on the back lawn, tailor-sitting on the grass with a datapad in her lap. Nearby, all three children lay side by side on their backs, with eyes either closed or staring blankly upward. “I thought you’d be back long before this, ” Leia said, with a hint of impatience in her voice. “I had to postpone an appointment with Senator Noimm. “

Han looked down, embarrassed. “Sorry, honey, ” he said, sitting beside her and reaching for her hand. “There were problems at the yard. “

“And I’ll bet you caused most of ‘em, ” she said, leaning over to kiss his cheek. “Right, Chewie? “

The bronze-furred Wookiee looked away, shifted his weight from one foot to the other, and scratched his head distractedly.

“It’s okay, Chewie, ” Han said. “I’ll rat on myself, so you don’t have to. ” He nodded toward the children, who had neither moved nor made a sound since he and Chewbacca had arrived. “What did you do to them, kill them? “

Jaina giggled at that, spoiling the effect.

“It’s an exercise, ” Leia said.

“What, to see who can levitate the longest? “

“Bite your tongue, ” said Leia sharply. “They’re working on feeling the Force flowing through the grass, through each separate plant, without disturbing the flow. It’s one of the Jedi disciplines of moving lightly, leaving no sign. “

Chewbacca growled.

“Don’t look at me, Chewie, ” said Han, lying back in the grass. “The best discipline I know is the sentence ‘Wait till your mother gets home. ‘ “

Leia smiled and poked him with a forefinger. “I feel like I hardly know enough myself to be their teacher, ” she said with a sigh, “but I have to do what I can. ” More loudly she added, “All right, children, that’s enough. “

One after another, Jacen, Jaina, and Anakin sat up. Jacen plucked a blade of grass and started trying to whistle through it, drawing a glare from his sister and a look of injured surprise from his younger brother.

“Tell me what you learned, ” Leia said.

Jaina looked toward her parents. “The grass doesn’t mind being walked on, but it does feel it. “