“They’re all working,” Han yelled, giving his co-pilot a reassuring wave.  He walked around his ship, eyeing each part carefully, making sure all the cables were secured and not showing signs of wear.  Glancing around the port, a very strange sight caught his eye.  He watched a moment, then, with full concentration, leaned forward to get a closer look at what he THOUGHT he was seeing.

     Walking toward the FALCON in a even, unhurried, almost military stride was a tall, uniformed man, which he recognized as the Regent with which he’d made the transport deal.  But it was what was walking BEHIND the man that was the cause of Han’s rapidly mounting apprehension.  Lined in a single file, according to height, were five children, each carrying a personal case.  As his heart lurched in dread, Han prayed that they were not his passengers, or that if, by some impossible chance, they were, they would at least be members of some race of small people.  He watched in open-mouthed shock as they marched directly up to him, and , at a soft command from the Regent, halted.

     “Captain Solo.”  The man greeted.  ”These are your passengers. Children, this is Captain Han Solo.”

     “Oh No!” The Correllian found his voice and began a vehement protest, “You said DIPLOMATS.  I’m not transporting any KIDS!!”

     “Captain,”  the Regent spoke in the calm, patronizing tone Han remembered from their earlier encounter, and was now beginning to dislike.  “These children ARE the diplomats.”  Solo looked at each composed face as the Regent continued.  “Just as elsewhere in the galaxy, princes and princesses are such at birth, so are these children born to their positions.  They will assume their diplomatic duties when they come of age.”

     Han remained adamant.  “Look, I’ll give back the credits.  Find yourself another pilot.”

     “There is not another who will take them,” the man admitted.  “All the others I could find turned me down.”

     “Did you tell THEM they would be carrying kids?”  Han spat the last word as if it was some contagious disease.

     “Yes.”