FIVE FINGER DISCOUNT

Chapter 1

Han entered the command center of the Yavin Rebel base; he needed to report on the assignment he'd just completed. The mission had been nerve-wracking, but there was a war going on and nerve-wracking was what war was all about. He'd been trained for it, back in the day, and he had a feeling that General Rieekan knew it.

His other reason for heading for the command center was more personal. A certain petite brunette spent much of her time there, and Han never passed up an opportunity to catch a glimpse of her. Granted, when she saw him, she usually glared at him—and that was on a good day. On a bad day, she'd yell at him. He smiled at the thought.

He noticed that Leia, Rieekan, and Rieekan's accounting droid, LNN-Y2E were all hunched together, speaking sotto voce and shaking their heads. LNN-Y2E was one of the few droids Han could tolerate. He was a well-mannered droid, kept his conversation to the pertinent facts, and didn't panic over every last thing. Some questioned why Rieekan had an accounting droid; Han didn't. He knew that credits were the stuff that wars ran on, and victory required credits in massive amounts.

And it wasn't as if the Alliance could bid on prime contracts for equipment and supplies. The Princess may not have appreciated Han's smuggling credentials, but they were valuable, even she couldn't argue with that. And he was a skilled negotiator.

"General," Han said quietly.

Rieekan turned to him, looking mildly annoyed at the interruption.

"Solo."

"I might be able to help you balance your books."

Leia turned to look at him, her expression a combination of anger

and disbelief. "What would you know about our financial situation? It's none of your business!"

"It was my business when I managed to get sixty-five X-wings for you!" he shot back. "And I run my own business. It's pretty damn essential that I balance my books."

"I'm sure it is," Leia remarked acidly.

Rieekan held up his hand, silently warning the princess to hold back. "You said you can help us?"

"I think so," Han responded in a more normal tone of voice. "I'm willing to try. But I'd really appreciate it if you didn't ask me how, sir."

"Believe me, the less I know, the better," Rieekan agreed. "In fact, any transactions we conduct are already illegal, but if you don't want to reveal your...sources, I'm all right with that."

"General, with all due respect-" Leia began, but Rieekan held up his hand again.

"It's true that we're running out of credits, and more rapidly than we expected," Rieekan said to Han.

"We are going through them much faster than we had originally budgeted," LNN-Y2E, referred to as Lenny, agreed. "We will have to find ways to increase our credit flow."

"And you're going to let him find these credits?" Leia was aghast.

Rieekan shrugged. "Do you have any other suggestions?" he asked her calmly.

Leia lowered her head in defeat. "I've cleared out my personal accounts, and those of my father that I've been able to access. I know there are more out there, but I can't be certain the funds are still in them. Believe me, if I could get them, I'd gladly donate them."

"I know you would, Princess," Rieekan told her kindly. "And your generosity is deeply appreciated. But the fact remains that we need more credits. If Captain Solo says he can get us some, I'm in favor of that."

He turned to Leia. "It's also possible that where Captain Solo is headed, you may be able to access some of your father's accounts as well, but even on worlds where we have strong support, it's dangerous for you to go alone." Rieekan held up a hand, halting the sputtering objections the princess was obviously ready to make.

"I'd feel better if you went along with Solo and the Wookiee," the general continued. "If there are accounts there, you can access them, and they've proven to be good at keeping you out of harm's way. And," he smiled fondly at the obviously annoyed young woman. "You can keep them out of harm's way as well."

What Rieekan hadn't said was what he feared most-that one of them, or all three, might be killed on this mission. He knew, too, that Solo would sacrifice himself to keep the princess safe.

The glance Leia gave Han was an icy one, and the one she gave Rieekan was an irritated one. However, she seemed willing to accept the general's instructions. For now.

"General, with all due respect, I don't think it's safe for the Princess to go with Chewie and me," Han now objected. It wasn't about not wanting to have the princess accompany him, far from it. But he knew better than anyone just how dangerous his idea was. There was a good chance Leia could be injured or killed. That disturbed Han more than he wanted to admit.

"I'm quite capable of taking care of myself!" Leia shot back.

"I didn't say you weren't, Your Highnessness. But I'm probably going to do some things you won't like," Han retorted. It was a weak excuse and he knew it, but it was the best he could come up with.

"I don't like anything that you do!" Leia snapped.

Rieekan held up his hand to indicate that both had best quiet down. ""Princess, you'll be accompanying Captain Solo. Is that clear to both of you?" Rieekan asked firmly. The arguments silenced, he turned back to Han. "How soon can you leave?"

"We need a few hours to get the Falcon ready, but after that, we can be on our way."

"Very well. That'll be all," Rieekan told them.

It was not lost on Han that Leia never said she didn't want to go.

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"C'mon, Chewie, we've got to get the ship ready," Han announced as he approached the Falcon.

{{{What do you think I'm doing}}}? Chewie snarled at his colleague, pulling his head out of a maintenance hatch.

"We've got another mission to fly," Han explained.

{{{We just got back!}}}

"We need to get some credits."

{{{I'll say! This ship is a disaster!}}}

"No, not for us. For...the guys here." Han waved his hand in the general direction of the main hangar.

{{{Oh. That's different.}}}

"And Her Worshipfulness is coming with us," Han added grumpily.

Chewie burst into an explosion of Wookiee-laughter.

"What's so funny, fuzzball?" Han demanded harshly.

{{{You should see the way you act around her}}}, Chewie said, still chuckling.

"I don't act any different around her than I do around anyone else!" Han snarled defensively. "Now let's get this thing spaceworthy!"

Chewie hid his face so Han couldn't see him smirk.

{{{So where are we going}}}? Chewie persisted.

"Kallistas."

{{{You're not exactly a popular guy there}}}, Chewie reminded him.

"I'm not a popular guy anywhere! Now let's get to work! Can't keep her Highnessness waiting!"

{{{You're in love with her}}}, Chewie taunted.

"Shut up and work!" Where did Chewie get off, Han muttered to himself as he headed up the Falcon's ramp, thinking he was in love with Her Crabbiness, anyway? Granted, she was beautiful, and spirited, and intelligent, but it didn't mean he was in love with her...

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