Once Upon A Rebellion
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters from the Star Wars Universe, nor do I make any money while I'm amusing myself with them. I only claim the rights to any new characters that are products of my own imagination; however they can be borrowed by others if you ask nicely.
I know it has been a rather long time since I posted a story, but life has a way of getting in the way of my writing. And since I seem to suffer from starting stories and struggling to finish them in a timely manner, I didn't want to post too soon, even though I had started this one before finishing the last one.
Therefore, I am happy to report I have already completed all but the last chapter or two of this one. By the time I am finished posting what I have written (13 chapters so far), I will have the rest done – I promise!
As with all writers, or at least the honest ones, I crave reviews and they definitely encourage me to write and post faster. Thanks, and I hope you enjoy "Once Upon A Rebellion."
Rating: M (for limited language and violence)
Summary:
Chewie & Han and a team are sent on a dangerous mission to the world of Tal-Edonn to try and retrieve a missing shuttle and crew after receiving a distress signal. The missing shuttle was piloted by one of Han's close friends and was carrying valuable information – vital to the survival of the rebel alliance.
When the team arrives, they find more than they bargained for, and Han is injured when a saboteur is discovered among their own crew. Luke and Leia volunteer to be part of the rescue mission and go after their friends.
The story will feature Han, Leia, Luke, Chewbacca, Wedge Antilles and a few of my own characters. It brings back Colm Jeffries and Jenina (who are now married) from my first story – The Way It Should Be. It is not necessary to read that story first to understand this one, but the background on the Jeffries might be somewhat helpful. There are also references pertaining to my other story, Going Solo, should you care to read it first.
Author's Note: This story starts off very light hearted – and possibly a little out of character, at least for Han Solo's temperament. However, since my stories are hurt/comfort and tend to be a little dark, at least emotionally, I thought it would be fun to show a lighter side to my favorite hero. I hope you enjoy.
ONCE UPON A REBELLION – CHAPTER 1
The Dance
For once, Han Solo was at peace with his world. He, Luke and Chewie, his life bonded Wookie partner, had recently returned on his ship, the Millennium Falcon from an uncharacteristically completely successful mission. They had escorted some VIPs, including the beautiful Princess and Rebel Alliance Leader, Leia Organa, to a meeting on a world of some importance—known simply as GIS IV, that had just decided to join the rebellion. Even her "High and Mightiness" as Han often referred to the Princess, had returned in a good mood, elated at the assistance their new allies were going to offer them. They had also been able to pick up cargo at several stops on their way back to base, and Solo's ship was full to the brim of all kinds of goods. Several people had come by to offer congratulations and to help unload the ship.
What had started as a work group had quickly turned into a rare, upbeat get-together of people that Solo at least didn't hate, and in fact, if he'd admit it, actually enjoyed being with. The spontaneous party had been getting more and more rowdy as folks had drawn together near the ship, taking some much needed time to just talk, laugh and of course, drink Corellian Ale that Chewie had happily unloaded and started serving. Food had almost magically appeared, and Solo had watched all of the goings-on with a lighthearted smile that Chewbacca didn't often see on his human friend's face.
After awhile, Han had even deigned to stop acting like he didn't care about anyone, and was at that very moment whirling a decidedly undignified appearing Princess Leia around in an impromptu dance. Luke, Wedge and several other Rogue pilots looked on, encouraging the two leaders by clapping in time with the music someone was playing on an old fashioned fiddle, and calling out suggestions for ever more intricate dance steps.
Never one to walk away from a challenge, or in this case, dance away from one, Han pulled the beautiful, if breathless Senator closer into his embrace, and with a wicked grin on his handsome face, whispered something into her ear. Smiling up at him in delight, Leia nodded enthusiastically and before anyone knew what was happening, the two of them clasped hands and in a full-out run, disappeared up the open ramp into the Falcon. Much giggling and laugher rang out from inside the famous ship, to the delight of all of those listening, but no one tried to go and see what the mysterious pair was up to. Truthfully, all of those watching were simply pleased to see two people they liked and respected getting a few minutes to relax and have a little fun together. Though the Princess and her Pirate (as some were wont to call them behind their backs) were considered a couple by many on the base, none would dare to mention that to their faces.
Finally, there was a loud banging from inside the Falcon and Han Solo's baritone voice rang out, his tone ridiculous and serious all at the same time. "Hear Ye! Hear Ye!" he shouted, sounding for all the world like one of the pompous bigwigs he usually made fun of. "Now appearing for your viewing pleasure, we present…" and here he dropped his voice dramatically: "Drum roll, please!"
Wedge Antilles, fellow Corellian and ultimate party-goer, immediately jumped up and grabbing a couple of tongs from one of the serving bowls, began making a passable drum roll-sounding noise on the nearest keg of ale
"Thank you!" Solo's voice continued. "Uhh-hemmm. As I was saying, for your great viewing pleasure, we present—The Pirate and The Princess!" And with that, a very different looking couple descended the ramp from the one that had run up it a short time earlier.
Laughter rang out, accompanied by hoots and whistles and not a few cat calls. "Yowza! Yowza!" Wedge whooped—fascinated with what his eyes could hardly believe. Leia, with her head held high and a particularly devilish grin on her lovely features swaggered a few feet down the ramp, dressed in absolutely outlandish clothes. Even though the striped pants were rolled almost to her knees, and her lean legs disappeared into a pair of black hip boots, still she managed to carry off the role of swashbuckling pirate admirably. She had on a white, silky shirt, open almost to her navel (that lovely piece of her anatomy being adequately covered by some flashy gold netting, much to the disappointment of all the males present), and a bright blue sash tied around her slim waist. An absurd looking sword the two of them had obviously manufactured out of cardboard and fake jewels was strapped to her side. Her outfit was completed by a pirate's red and black head wrap, and an eye patch.
If the laughter greeting Leia was loud, it was deafening when the crowd caught sight of the man mincing his way down the ramp behind the Princess. Han had somehow managed to squeeze into a gown of "unusual" beauty. It obviously had never belonged to Leia, since the much larger Corellian couldn't possibly have gotten into anything the diminutive Princess had ever worn. The gown was a gaudy red color, and Han had pulled at the top until it had a rather strange off the shoulder look. He had even managed to push most of his feet into high heels, and had slit the gown up the side, revealing a leg, that if not shapely, was at least hairy. He kept grabbing at a slippery silvery shawl that was draped, in what Luke supposed was intended to be an alluring fashion, around his broad shoulders. A cardboard crown, obviously made from the same material as Leia's sword, adorned his head.
His "bosom" was stuffed with some sort of crinkly paper and it added to the hilarity when Han stopped, peered down at his chest and putting a finger to his lips, which were outlined with bright red lipstick, stage whispered "Shhhhh! Quiet in there you two!" At the additional cat calls greeting that maneuver, Han raised his eyes, which were heavily made up with blue eye shadow and batted his lashes. In a high squeaky voice, he called out "Oh you boys! You just can't keep your eyes off me, can you?"
At that, Leia who had reached the bottom of the ramp, turned and extended her hand to the rather brawny Princess who was struggling not to fall out of his shoes, and said in a deep and sultry voice, "Princess Solo, might I have the honor of this next dance?" as she bowed in Han's direction. He managed the last few steps off the ramp without falling and giving a passable curtsy, extended his hand for Leia to kiss, and simpered at her, "Oh, really! I shouldn't dance with a mean old Pirate like you, but just this once."
Luke's eyes were streaming tears while he tried to gulp in breaths between his bouts of laugher. Grasping his sides he doubled over, trying not to fall to his knees. He couldn't remember ever laughing so hard before in his life. He turned his head toward the stunned fiddle player and gasped out, "Quickly, Maestro! A Waltz, if you please."
At that the astounded man shook his head, placed the instrument under his chin, drew the bow across the strings and began the strains of a haunting melody. Bowing toward Solo again, Leia then took him in her arms and began leading him around in a parody of a smooth dance. Still giggling, she gazed at the grinning Corellian and whispered, "Bet they didn't expect that, did they?" Solo couldn't stop snickering and pulled Leia a little closer. "Nope, and now maybe they'll stop calling us that, 'ya think?" He and Leia had, of course, known about the whispers that often followed them. Both of them pretended disgust at being referred to as the "Princess and Her Pirate" or "The Pirate and His Princess," depending on whom was doing the talking, but neither of them had ever corrected anyone. Leia just shrugged, and abandoning her more masculine role of the pirate, laid her head against Han's shoulder and closed her eyes, swaying in time to the music. Han, never one to miss an opportunity, kicked his shoes off and tightened his arms around her.
Suddenly the background seemed to recede and it was just the two of them, lost in an age old rhythm of dance. For a singular moment in time, nothing else existed. Leia thought back to the mission before this last one, where Han had been so badly injured on Avaya and had almost lost his arm, as well as his life in the process.(See "Going Solo" for back story regarding that mission.) She shuddered slightly as she remembered how close they had come to losing the Captain. Leia had finally begun to face her feelings for the man during that harrowing experience and with a sigh, she allowed herself to give in to those same feelings, for just a little while, that now caused her heart to speed up. Han smiled contentedly, not really analyzing what he was feeling, only knowing that nothing in his life had ever felt so right as having the beautiful Princess in his arms did.
Those watching went from laughing, and clapping, to snickering and chuckling, and finally to silence, watching the two dance as though they were alone in the universe. In spite of their outrageous costumes, there was somehow a dignity and a poignancy about them that made the women in attendance sigh with the romance of it. The men started ducking their heads and clearing their throats, not quite sure how things had gone from hilarity to seriousness in so short a time. Most of them realized that while they were all in peril for the sake of the rebellion, none had risked more than the two who remained lost in the moment. A last few notes were drawn out by the fiddle player, and then everything was hushed.
Oblivious, and clearly still hearing their own music, the two kept up the dance for a few precious moments more, then suddenly the deafening quiet seemed to penetrate their awareness. Han reluctantly stopped dancing, pulled Leia into a quick hug, and whispered, "We'd better make this look good, or we're gonna' get laughed out of the Rebellion." Ever a good sport, Leia stepped back, lowered her voice again and called out clearly, "Thank you, your highness. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have another princess to go rescue." Bowing to the delight of the crowd that was now stamping their feet and whistling again, the two clasped hands and once again darted up the ramp of the Falcon.
Toward the back of the crowd, no one noticed one man hovering in the shadows, glaring at the pair. His gaze softened slightly as his eyes rested on Leia's retreating form, but his face grew hard as steel as he focused intently on her escort. He waited a few moments, his dark thoughts chasing themselves around in his head, and then disappeared into the dimness of the corridor before he could call any attention to himself.
Gradually, things returned to normal and when Han and Leia came out a bit later, dressed in their regular clothes, not one person bothered to mention to Leia that she had a smudge of lipstick across her forehead, where it was obvious Han had brushed his lips.
Soon talk turned again to the recent mission, and Leia became all business once more. Lounging casually a ways behind her, Han listened as she summed things up for General Carl Riekan, who had been away when they had returned. On seeing what was going on upon his arrival, he had good-naturedly joined in the celebration and had been on the fringe of the crowd when the two had entertained everyone with their antics. Rieken knew Leia was way too young to have so much responsibility and was more than pleased that she had had the chance to relax and just have fun for a few moments. He was one of the few among high command that did not view the Corellian as a threat to the Alderanian Princess, but rather as someone she desperately needed in her life.
Eventually, the ship was unloaded, and all the items sorted and distributed. The clothes the two had worn had been part of a donation from the new alliance world, to be given to "those in need." Han wasn't sure who might be in need of such items, but was exceedingly glad they had been available. Although he generally wouldn't stand for looking so silly in front of anyone, he had seen an opportunity to give the woman he respected like no other a little time of fun—the chance to be frivolous and play dress up, and he had jumped at it. If those particular items of clothing didn't make it into the donation barrel, but instead were stored in one of the bins in his personal cabin on board the Falcon, well, he figured no one needed to know about that.
After their ship was put to rights, Solo and Chewbacca wandered into the pilot's lounge. It wasn't long until the gossip turned to an upcoming mission. Solo was determined to ignore it, having just returned from several in quick succession. He knew he was putting off doing what needed doing—paying back Jabba the Hutt, and therefore leaving himself open to every bounty hunter intent on collecting the death marks out on him, but so far he just hadn't found a good time to do that. And when he was being honest with himself, he knew he didn't want to leave.
That thought had surprised him more than once, but at least he was accepting it now. He just didn't like thinking about what it meant. Putting up with the good natured teasing about his clowning around from earlier, he talked quietly to a couple of the pilots about certain maneuvers they had been trying out, giving pointers and listening to new ideas.
A short while later, while stifling a yawn, he finally decided to call it a day. He was tired and was looking forward to a good night's sleep in his bunk. He only wished he could talk a certain Princess into sharing it with him. Ruefully shaking his head, he knew he had about as much chance of that happening as Chewie did of flying without a ship. Waving at Luke and Wedge, he and the Wookie went back to the ship and turned in.
It could have only been a couple of hours later when a hand was shaking him awake. Han sat upright, reaching for his blaster before realizing it was Chewbacca who had wakened him. "Yeah?" he scratched his head and yawned again. "What is it?" He came instantly awake when he focused on what the Wookie was telling him. "How long have they been missing? Who's going after them? When do we leave?"