"That could be a difficult problem."

"Probably easier while I'm the only teacher, but - it'd be hard, to make sure whatever structures evolve keep that ability."

Small smile. "Of course, if I wanted the easy path, I'd retire."

"Have you considered living forever?"

"That would dramatically simplify everything. Quite a neat solution, as long as the system's stable against me taking vacations."

"The trick is to time your vacations for the parts you'd rather miss."

"The boring routine parts where absolutely nothing explodes, then."

"If that's your preference."

"I'm less likely to have to fix everything when I come back if I wander off while there's a conspicuous lack of explosions, too. Seems the best strategy all around."

"I suppose so."

She smiles. "Explosions are more fun when someone else does the cleanup, I've found."

"Very true."

She smiles, and notices they're nearly at Occlus's apartment.

"Seems to be your stop."

"That it does. Until next time?"

"Alright. See you then."

"Good night." She lets herself into her apartment, and closes the door behind her.

Ani brings her dinner and conversation a few more times, more days then not, then passes on a message via Luke that she'll be off planet for a while.

She's decided to go herself to the meeting Luke set up with the Noghri - without Luke, who's still tied up in some of his own political work in the New Republic, or Leia, whose political responsibilities eclipse everyone else in her family's.

That people - they're her problem. Her mistake, in some ways. She rescued them, or what was left of their people, during the Imperial days... And bound them into effective slavery to the Empire through their codes of honor and life debt.

She shouldn't have handed their loyalty off to Thrawn, Imperial Grand Admiral or no. She... Doesn't know what she could have done better, then.

But she knows she'll do better now.

Still, she senses this will be a long political slog.

Meanwhile, the Imperials continue to cause problems for the New Republic. Whoever their new commander is, he's good. Shortly after Ani leaves to talk with Noghri, the Imperials hit three separate targets in the Sluis sector at the same time, causing significant damage and vanishing almost before Republic forces can decide which one to respond to. All three worlds are clamoring for reconstruction aid and want to know what the New Republic is going to do about guarding against future attacks, especially Bpfassh, which was reluctant to join in the first place.

Which would be Leia's job.

She makes sure Ani's updated - she doesn't like the woman, but she acknowledges the need to keep different operations in touch, here. She prods Ani for as much as she knows about possible Imperial commanders, coming away with a long list short on details. No one who served directly with Darth Vader survived the Empire's initial fall, apparently, or at least not that Ani knows of - but there's an unaccounted for Grand Admiral connected to the Noghri, and several captains and such who could theoretically have stepped up.

Leia sends Occlus a message asking for any records about Grand Admiral Thrawn to be copied and forwarded to her and to the Chancellor, mentions her suspicions to Mon Mothma (citing the same "confidential source" Leia's used to cover up intelligence garnered from Ani before), then prepares to go to Bpfassh and smooth the situation over as best she can.

(Non-Force related archival material is low on Occlus's personal priority list, but that's what subordinates are for.)

They don't have much information on Thrawn. Recruited from the Unknown Regions shortly after the founding of the Empire, he rose in rank quickly for a non-human, being responsible for several key victories in the early years. He spent much of his time in the Unknown Regions, with no records available about what he was doing out there. Ten years ago, he returned and was promoted to Grand Admiral, the only non-human ever to attain that rank, then was sent back out.

Which matches with what Ani knew... And is better than no leads, but isn't exactly a road map to defeating him.

Still, diplomacy calls - she departs for Bpfassh, mulling over the information she's gotten.

Luke, meanwhile, is more than a little bit put out he can't go with Ani - the situation with the Noghri's too tense - or Leia - the Bpfassh dislike Jedi, due to some historical problem with a Dark Jedi.

Who is rumored to have gone to ground on Dagobah...

Where Master Yoda spent his last years -

He only technically thinks to update his mom before just taking off.

' - You're an adult, and it's your choice, but I'd feel more comfortable if you had some help.'

'I don't mind company. You about done with the Noghri?'

'...No. Nowhere close.'

'If you don't mind, though... Can you ask Occlus if she'd go with you?'

'Yeah.'

He's loosely aware Occlus often works late in the Archives; he goes to find her.