So...when I started writing this it was intended to be an 'Epic Journey'. Turns out I'm not really cut out to write epic journeys and it ended up being a bit more like a walk in the park!
Anyway, here it is, just as it was written back, oh probably before Luke was born. Maybe one day I'll revisit it and turn it into the vision I originally planned.
So you know, I write in what I think used to be called 'expanded universe' so there'll be no Ben or Snoke, though other characters may well appear in the fullness of time and in one guise or another.
Oh, and finally, if you read Rebel Scum – I was asked if the encounter stayed with Han and Leia. Well, it is referred to in a later fic, however, I've never written about them dealing directly with the incident in question. It's given me food for thought for further writing however, so thanks for planting the seed...
She really didn't have time for this. She would be late for the Senate and there was at least a dozen more pressing things she ought attend to, but somehow she just couldn't let him go without him knowing how proud she was of him.
Or just how much she would miss him.
Leia Organa hurried through the myriad of tunnels to the shuttle bay and located the Millennium Falcon as her Captain was finalising the preparations to leave.
General Han Solo, Captain of the Millennium Falcon, saw her approach from his chair in the ship's cockpit and for a moment felt a pang of guilt. He had spent the previous evening sharing an intimate dinner with her, having only that day enrolled with the newly formed New Republic Military and already he was deserting her on his first mission; though he was only mapping a star cluster and an idle one at that.
He had a feeling he was being deliberately shipped out of the way in an attempt to keep them apart.
No matter, Darth Vader had tried that and failed; Jabba the Hutt had tried that and failed; Leia's trusted assistant Winter had tried that and she too had failed.
Leia's presence here now sent the message to those stuffy old Generals, Senators and Ambassadors who would try to control her life that she would see whosoever she wanted.
And they might as well get used to it.
"Finish the flight plan would you Chewie? I'll be back in a minute." Han said, climbing from his chair and heading out to meet Leia.
She smiled and greeted him with a hug.
"I just came to say goodbye. And to wish you luck." She said.
"It's probably the most routine mission they could find, but thanks. It means a lot." He replied.
"Just because it's routine doesn't mean you can take risks. I want you home in one piece, you hear me?" She admonished.
"Yeah. I hear you." He said, grinning, then narrowing his eyes at her. "But you didn't come all the way over here just to say goodbye, or to wish me good luck for something as trivial or routine as mapping a few stars."
"I didn't?" She said, innocently.
"Nah. You could have done that via a commlink. You came here for something else." He said and pulled her into his arms. He dipped her backwards, a hand supporting the back of her head as he kissed her passionately.
A few of the technicians and support staff whooped or clapped and when he broke the kiss Leia straightened herself, cheeks flushing pink.
"That's what you came here for." He concluded.
"You really are the most arrogant...conceited...scoundrel I have ever had the misfortune to meet!" She scowled, tucking an errant strand of hair behind her ear.
"I'll miss you too sweetheart." He said and winked at her.
"You make sure you look after Chewie for me." She said, the colour in her cheeks slowly returning to normal.
With a mock salute Han climbed back aboard the Falcon ready for take off.
Leia wanted to wait, wanted to see with her own eyes that they were away safely, but the Senate meeting would have begun and her late arrival would be noted by everyone in attendance. It was, after all, she who had asked for attendance to be strictly adhered to.
With a last, quick glance at the cockpit, she hurried to the Council Chamber within the Senate Hall and as anticipated felt, rather than saw, all eyes follow her as she crossed the room and took her seat. Mon Mothma permitted a slight nod of her head in Leia's direction.
"Welcome Senator. I'm so glad you could join us." Her mellifluous voice helped calm Leia.
"My apologies to the Chief of State." Leia said. "As well as to my fellow Senators. I was...er...delayed." Her forehead creased slightly at the rather obvious statement.
Mon Mothma squinted at Leia, assessing her flustered appearance and her inability to make eye contact.
Marsune, the Senator from Mairne, cleared his throat. "Madam Chief of State if I may continue."
Mothma returned her gaze to the Senator and nodding, said. "Of course, please continue."
Leia's mind was a million miles away. She tried to concentrate on Marsune's comments but his voice was so droning that her thoughts kept drifting.
She found herself thinking of Luke and his quest to forge a future for himself through the Force.
And then there was Han.
How hard she had fought her own feelings before finally admitting that she loved him. And when she thought she had lost him forever on Cloud City the ache she had felt in her heart had been almost too much to bear.
"Your thoughts Senator Organa?" Marsune asked, bringing Leia back into the room.
Leia glanced at her comm padd trying to glean some clue as to what the Senator had been discussing.
"The Senator has a point." Leia said, stalling as she scanned her padd for information. A dozen dissenting voices assaulted Leia at once and she felt as though the room was closing in on her.
"I...er...I seem to have lost my place in the translation." Leia conceded, her breath seeming to catch in her throat.
"I think perhaps a brief recess might allow Her Highness time to regain her place." Mon Mothma said. "We will reconvene in twenty standard minutes."
Senators rose and, many sighing in frustration, filed out of the room leaving just Mon Mothma seated opposite Leia.
The Chief-of-State observed Leia as she struggled to find her place in the Senator's translation on her comm padd and saw her smile as she finally found what Marsune had been petitioning for.
Relieved, Leia looked up and saw Mon Mothma studying her.
"My apologies again. I have been somewhat...distracted...this morning." Leia told the Chief.
"What is it my child?" Mon asked, her voice as always a calming influence.
"I..." Leia began, "I'm just being foolish."
Mon Mothma arched an eyebrow. "Foolish? Senator Leia Organa?" She said, then smiled. "Tell me my child, what is it that troubles you so?"
Leia thought for a moment. She was being foolish, she knew.
"I won't recall the session until you tell me." Mon Mothma threatened. "And some of the Senators are already on very shaky ground with their spouses, another late night and it could spell the end."
Leia smiled and took a breath. "Ever since the first Death Star either Han or Luke or both of them have been with me. Now, Luke is somewhere across the Galaxy and Han has been sent off to map a star cluster. I suppose I'm just feel strangely vulnerable. Foolish, as I said."
"Leia, people who hold a position in office often have difficulties in finding those they can truly trust. You are luckier than most to have found not just one such friend but two. It's quite understandable that you should feel a little lost without them." Mon soothed.
"But.." Leia added. "Pull yourself together, right?"
"I wouldn't have been quite so blunt. However, there are at least three Senators who will take advantage if you show even the slightest sign of weakness." Mon advised.
"Marsune wants to petition his neighbouring planet for water reserves." Leia said, returning her attention to the situation at hand.
"And do you consider that a fair petition?" The Chief asked.
"Water is a highly precious commodity, however, I believe that the reserves are minimal and necessary for when the planet suffers drought." Leia replied.
"Droughts can be unpredictable." Mon suggested.
"Actually, planetary analysis shows that they suffer a period of severe drought every two years," Leia read from her padd.
"And on the basis of that analysis do you support the petition?" Mon Mothma asked.
"Under these circumstances I feel unable to offer my support, no." Leia responded.
Mon Mothma nodded approvingly.
"I shall recall the Senate. And Leia..." Mon Mothma said. "This conversation did not take place."
Arriving back at her quarters, Leia sank into a sofa and allowed the quiet to wash over her. She had experienced an odd sense throughout the day which had taken her sometime to comprehend. Once she had recognised it as a force touch from Luke, she relaxed and even enjoyed his gentle caress from across the Galaxy. He would have sensed her discomfort and reached out to her confirming that he was still with her, in spirit if not in deed.
Leia focussed, exhaled and the last remnant of the tension she'd felt at the Senate Hall left her body.
Though their time together had been limited, Luke had taught Leia a few small Jedi tricks and this calming measure was one of them. He'd promised her more when he returned, though it was unclear when exactly that might be.
Winter arrived with a pot of Dahlayn Rose tea, something that had soothed Leia even as a child. She'd had a theory that her father laced the tea with a narcotic that somehow tranquillised his hyperactive daughter.
"Good day Your Highness?" Winter enquired.
"Three steps forward, two steps back. Pretty much the usual really Winter." Leia replied.
"I have your messages if you are ready for them?" Winter offered.
Sipping her tea Leia considered telling Winter what to do with her messages, but instead nodded in approval. Winter perched gracefully on the edge of the sofa.
"Commander Skywalker called. He has posted an encrypted message in your personal account." Winter read from her padd. "You have an invitation to undertake a diplomatic visit to Hapes, sent from the Queen Mother herself; an invitation from the Bothan Ambassador to take tea with him at your earliest convenience; Admiral Ackbar invites you to take supper with him in his quarters tomorrow night, I have advised him that supper would not be appropriate for a man of his standing and that you will receive him here, in your own quarters, and for dinner. He has confirmed his attendance; that appalling Lando Calrissian called and grunted something about returning to Cloud City, I couldn't tell you any more as he was virtually incoherent; and you had two...no, three calls from General Solo who tells me his message is 'private and not about to be censured by an over protective, power crazed...' should I continue with his description of me?" Winter asked.
"No need Winter. I can imagine." Leia laughed. "Anything more?"
"See Threepio will be here shortly with a transcript of today's session and I believe he has some further messages as a result of that session also." Winter concluded.
"Can't wait!" Leia said, her voice filled with irony.
"If I may Your Highness..." Winter started. "You seem somewhat troubled. How can I help?"
"You could try to get along with Han." Leia suggested.
"Couldn't I just rip my fingernails out or stick hot pins in my eyes?" Winter asked, her face a picture of sincerity.
"If you just got to know him..." Leia began.
"Then I fear I might lose respect for you, Your Highness. Winter said, rising.
"I love him Winter. And he loves me." Leia said quietly. "He's courageous in battle and..." Leia started, defending Han.
"Courageous? Or fool-hardy? If, as you say, you love him, either could break your heart if he was to rush headlong into a situation without considering all the options. However, I do believe that you love one another and if a love is strong enough, it can survive anything." With a sigh Winter added. "Very well, I will try harder with General Solo. And I will support you, no matter what."
"Thank you Winter." Leia smiled. "Just the transcript of today's meeting to look forward to now."
Whilst Winter prepared dinner, Leia retired to her secure transmission room and checked the message left by Luke. He was uncomfortably vague as to his whereabouts but advised her all was well and that Artoo-Detoo was looking after him. He told her she was not to worry and to just do what she did best, lead the New Republic into a strong, bright future. She smiled at his confident outlook and considered whether she ought to contact Han.
It was an indulgence she knew, but he would only call her if she didn't contact him and likely as not end up riling Winter into the bargain. She put in her call and waited until he appeared on screen. He had forsaken his Military blues already and was wearing an open necked shirt and black jacket. She'd missed his cock-eyed grin even though it had only been a few hours since she'd last seen it.
"She gave you my messages then!" Han observed.
"Of course she did. Winter is an exceptional personal assistant. How's the mapping?" She asked, quickly removing any chance Han had to question her assessment of Winter.
"Oh, you know. Little star to the right, big star to the left and an enormous sparkly one right in the middle." Han said sarcastically.
"You are taking this seriously aren't you Han?" She frowned.
"Hell, yes. That big sparkly one's got my full attention. I got Chewie watching it right now, make sure it doesn't go wandering off on me." He answered.
"Han!" She chided.
"I'm taking it seriously. Honest. But sweetheart, there's nothing out here but a bunch of stars. It's like Hoth. Only deader. So how's your day been?" He queried.
"Eight petitions, felt like twelve, two upheld." She told him.
"Who opposed you?" He asked.
"The usual." She replied.
"You could always come and join me stargazing." He gave her a wink to go with his smile.
"I have to go. Threepio's bringing me the appeals from the six petitions we didn't uphold." She said, wanting to add that the call was an expense the Republic couldn't really afford but she knew he was already aware of that. "Stay safe." She said and signed off.
Han Solo sat staring at the screen longer than he really needed to. Maybe he thought she'd remember something she needed to tell him, or maybe it was just so he could visualise her in front of him a moment longer. Either way it was Chewbacca who brought him back to the here and now with a bellow.
"What's up with you furball?" Han yelled rushing back into the cockpit.
Chewbacca answered with a series of throaty yowls and barks.
"Yeah, yeah, I see it." Han said, looking through the viewport. "Is that a big star or a little one?"
Chewbacca growled something that sounded a bit like who cares.
"Well, Chewie." Han said clambering into the pilot's seat. "If it's a little star exploding we're in trouble but if it's a big star exploding then we're in big trouble. So which one is it, little or big?"
Not that Han was waiting for his response, he was already inputting co-ordinates into the navicomputer to hasten their exit.
"Simple mapping mission!" Han went on, grumbling while Chewie growled in the background.
"Yes of course I'm getting us out of here! What do you think I am, stupid or something!" Han barked at Chewie. "You just keep your eyes on that monitor and I'll keep doing the fancy flying!"
The shock wave when it came wasn't nearly as fierce as Han had expected.
It was enough to send his ship's all-too-delicate instruments into overdrive of course and from the smell of burning somewhere out back he had a feeling it wasn't just his instruments that were fried.
Sometimes, Han wondered why he didn't just trade this old bucket of rust in and get a decent flying ship.
Then he remembered all the times she had gotten him and Chewie out of the kind of scrapes other ships wouldn't have made and then he realised he kept her flying because she was a life saver and he loved her. And, he felt sure, somehow she knew it.
"Better shut it all down Chewie before we have a complete burn-out." Han conceded.
Okay, so he wasn't going to be getting back to Coruscant any time soon but at least when he did he'd be able to report something a tiny bit more interesting than he'd originally thought.