“But they don’t mean anything by it,” Luke put in. “It’s all hormonal-a fight or think’ response, I think it’s called.”
“Yeah, I know, I know,” Han said, feeling a flicker of annoyance at the lecture. Jedi Master or not, Luke still didn’t have half of Han’s experience in flying around the galaxy and dealing with other species. “Point is, they can shout all they want without bothering a Wookiee any. So Chewie will talk to their group. Then the three of us get together, we come up with a fix, and we’re done.”
“It’s an inventive approachI’ll give it that much,” Luke said, his tone thoughtful. “Personally, I’d still rather have Leia here. She’s got a genuine gift for conciliation.” “All the more reason for us to take this one for her,” Han said darkly. “The way things are going out there, Gavrisom and the High Council could have her running around stomping out these scrub fires for the rest of her life.”
“The New Republic does seem to be having more than its share of growing pains,” Luke agreed soberly. “Maybe it’s a normal adjustment to the collapse of Imperial domination.”
“That, or what’s left of the Empire is stirring the soup,” Han said with a grimace. “Come on, let’s get down there. The sooner we get started, the sooner we can go home.”
***
They put down in a double-sized docking bay that had been cleared for them in the capital city’s north spaceport complex. Han and Chewbacca were standing at the foot of the Falcon’s landing ramp, talking to a triad of white-maned Diamala, as Luke maneuvered his X-wing to an only slightly out-of-practice landing.
And even before he cut the repulsorlifts, he could sense that there was trouble.
“You stay with the ship, Artoo,” he ordered the droid as he popped the canopy and took off his flight helmet “Keep an eye on things, okay?”
Artoo gave an affirming warble. Dropping his helmet and gloves onto the seat, Luke vaulted lightly over the X-wing’s side to the ground and walked over to the group waiting by the Falcon. The three Diamala, he noted uneasily, were watching him closely … and their expressions did not strike him as particularly friendly.
“Greetings,” he said, nodding politely, as he reached Han’s side. “I’m Luke Skywalker.”
The Diamal standing closest to Han stirred. We greet you in return, Jedi Master Skywalker,” he said, his voice flat and emotionless, his leathery face unreadable. “But we do not welcome you to this conference.”
Luke blinked. He glanced at Han, caught the tightness in the other’s face and thoughts, then looked back at the Diamal. I don’t understand.”
“Then I will make it clearer,” the alien said, his left ear twitching once. “We do not wish you to be part of these negotiations. We do not intend to discuss any of this matter with you. We would prefer, in fact, that you leave this system entirely.”
“Now, wait a minute,” Han put in, “This is my friend, all right? I asked him here, and he’s come a long way to help”
“We do not wish his help.”
“Well, I wish it,” Han shot back. “And I’m not going to tell him to leave.”
There was a moment of awkward silence. Luke kept his eyes on the Diamala, wondering if he should unilaterally stove the disagreement by simply leaving. If they really didn’t want him here . .
The head Diamal twitched an ear again. “Very well,” he said. “The Jedi Master may stay. But only as your adviser, to be absent from actual negotiations. The Diamala will not discuss these matters in his presence.”
Han grimaced, but he nodded. “If that’s the way you want it, fine. Why don’t you show us to our quarters, and we’ll get started.”
The Diamal gestured, and one of his companions handed Chewbacca a datapad. “You have been given a suite in the Spaceport control complex,” he said. “The map will show you the way. The Ishori are already assembled in the meeting chamber. We will begin when you are ready.”
In unison, the three aliens turned and headed across the landing bay toward one of the stairways leading out. “Well, that was interesting,” Luke said quietly as he watched them go. “Any idea what that was all about?”
“Yeah,” Han said. “Well, sort of.”
“Sort of? What does that mean?”
Han threw Luke a sideways look, his expression and thoughts both oddly troubled. “Look, let’s forget it for right now okay? They don’t-well, they don’t like you. Just leave it at that.”