solo_sword | Jag's office- Coruscant- Wednesday

Since Tahiri's trial started, Jaina had been there in court every single day she was able to be. Which meant she knew how badly it was going. They were told they couldn't use ex-Rogue Squadron pilot Nawara Ven for her lawyer, and the one they assigned to her didn't seem to be trying too hard to actually defend her. And after today, Jaina had had enough and went to Jag's straight from there.

She breezed past Ashik with a wave and walked right into Jag's office. "I've got a favor to ask."

"So do I," he replied, looking away from the report he'd been watching. "Announce yourself first when you come into my office."

Jaina sighed, and pushed a stack of datapads to the side of his desk to make room for her to perch on it. "Imperial Head of State Jagged Fel, Sword of the Jedi Jaina Solo wants to see you. Proprieties observed. Now can I ask my favor?"

"I could have been right in the middle of delicate negotiations or Working on something
highly classified, you know."

"You weren't. Ashik would have told me." And if it'd been important, she would not have gotten in. Jag didn't hire anyone incompetent to work with him ask closely as Ashik did.

"I suppose he would have, yes," he conceded. "So what's the favor?"

Knowing she'd annoyed him with that entrance, she smiled and slid off the desk so she could sit in his lap and give him a proper kiss. That he didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, when she pulled away, he even smiled. "Okay, that's a favor I can get behind," he said.

Jaina thwapped his shoulder. "That's not the favor, that's the bribe. I figure if I'm going to become a politician's wife, I have to start thinking of things like that."

"So you should," he agreed in his most serious voice, nodding and settling her into his lap. "And I approve of the nature of the bribe. So, Jedi Solo. You have my full attention. Ask your favor."

And now she had to get serious. "It's about Tahiri."

Jag's smile disappeared, too. "That's what I thought."

"Jag, she's already lost two advocates. She's going to get someone the court appoints, and the court has it in for her," Jaina said.

"I know that both you and I have had our issues with the Chief of State, but I really don't think she'd go so far as to pack the jury or deliberately appoint someone to lose Tahiri's case for her."

"I do."

He eyed her. "Really?"

"Of course! Daala's smarting from Niathal's suicide. Tahiri is a perfect target for her frustration. You think she's going to let that go?"

Jag nodded slowly, considering it. "I'm sorry that Judge Larteli wouldn't permit Nawara Ven to represent her, and that Mardek Mool didn't work out, but what do you expect me to do about the situation?"

"You know people. You have a lot of connections. You could find someone," Jaina said.

He blinked at her. "Jaina, I can't use my connections to influence the outcome of a trial."

"I'm not asking that," she said quickly. "I'm just asking that you see if you know anyone who'd be willing to tackle the job. You know she's not going to get a fair trial otherwise."

Jag sighed and leaned his head back against the chair for a moment with his eyes closed. Jaina didn't push him. If he could do something about it, he would, because he always tried to do the right thing. She just had to let him sort out whether he could. "It will have to be completely unofficial," he said at last. "It won't be through the offices of the Empire."

Jaina smiled, more than a little relieved. "Of course not."

Jag opened his eyes again, reaching over to brush her hair away from her face. "All right. I promise you that I will find her the best, most decent, most honest, hardest working lawyer I can," he said.

"Oh. I was trying to get her someone who'd win."

[NFB, NFI, OOC's cool. You know. If you're into that sort of thing. Dialogue from Allies by Christie Golden.]