a/n: So this is my first Star Wars story. I know, it's pretty big to take on for my first story. I'm trying my best here. Feel free to let me know how I'm doing in a review below.
Basically, if you've never read an Ord Mantell story before, this is set in between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back, and is based on Han's line "Well that bounty hunter we ran into on Ord Mantell changed my mind."
The Investment
The Hoth base had been operative for about a month, and Leia had already decided that it was her least favorite location in the galaxy. The constant freezing temperatures irritated her to no end, and she dreaded spending every day in a snowsuit. The base was always below freezing, and even the living quarters were too cold for comfort. Leia had decided a while ago that there wasn't anything that she wouldn't do for a warm shower.
The Princess walked down the corridor, data pad in hand, passing the hangar. As she walked by, she caught a glimpse of Han Solo on the loading ramp of the Millenium Falcon, arguing with Chewbacca about something called a hydrospike lift. Even in its questionable condition, the Falcon probably had a hot water tank.
She took it back; there was one thing she wouldn't do for a hot shower.
Leia continued down the hall, barely looking in front of her, her entire attention devoted to her datapad. Things weren't looking good around the base. Without some basic military essentials, the rebels wouldn't last much longer, even without Imperial attack. She knew that Rieekan was working on putting together a supply run, but the base was stretched extremely thin and there weren't many freighters to be spared.
Leia stopped in her tracks, looking up from her datapad. She just might know of a freighter that could be spared. Turning the corner into the command center, she sat her datapad down and cleared her throat.
"General Rieekan?" She asked, looking over the older man's shoulder.
The General turned around to meet her. "Princess," he greeted. "Any news?"
"I'm afraid our situation is more dire than we estimated," she said slouching down onto the wall of the ice base. "Without a supply run, I give us," she poked her datapad. "A month. Tops."
Rieekan sighed and put his head in his hand. "A month?"
Leia nodded. "Yes, but I have an idea. A stupid one."
"I'm listening."
"Excuse me, Your Worship," she heard the gruff voice of everyone's favorite smuggler quickly approaching her from behind.
Without looking up from the report she was reviewing, she answered. "Yes, Captain Solo?"
Han grabbed her arm to get her attention. "Did you volunteer me for some supply run to Ord Mantell?"
The accusation got her attention and she made eye contact with him. "I did, because the base is in desperate need of supplies and you happen to have a rather large freighter at your disposal."
Han sighed. "You think I don't have better things to do? Wasn't I just telling you about the price on my head?"
Leia finally withdrew her arm from his grasp. "Yes, but from what I've heard, you don't have the money yet. If you complete this mission, I'll personally assure that you are given all the necessary funds to pay off whatever Hutt you've irratated."
He frowned at her, but eventually gave in, knowing it was best to pick his battles with the princess. Without even saying a word of departure, he took off down the corridor toward the command center.
Kneading her sore muscles, Leia walked slowly into the command center, where she found herself spending most of her time these days. She couldn't remember her last full night of sleep, not awakened by a bitter cold or a rampant nightmare. She crashed into a chair in a very un-princess-like manner. The fortified bunker seemed strangely empty, so empty that she only identified four other figures in the room. She looked at the time on the datapad that she now spent hours at a time looking at. No wonder there were no people in the command center. Base time was 2300, way past operating hours. She figured that three of the four people she had seen were the overnight shift, monitoring for an unexpected nighttime attack, but who was the fourth individual?
Looking through one of the glass monitors, she made out the face of the infamous smuggler speaking to General Rieekan. What had them up so late? Was it the mission she had proposed? Leia focused on listening to their conversation.
She had never been trained to eavesdrop, per say, but her father taught her the importance of always hearing what others were saying.
"I'm sorry, Captain, but I just don't have anyone to send with you," the somber voice of the older general said softly, as though he didn't want anyone to hear what he was saying.
"There has to be someone," Han said, disgruntled. "This isn't the kind of thing Chewie and I can pull of on our own. I'll need at least one other person to help with the negotiations and probably and intel droid for anything we might need with the ship."
"I can't spare anyone, Solo," Rieekan said, holding up a hand.
Leia didn't exactly know when she had risen from her chair or walked across the center, but she heard her own voice loud and clear. "I'll do it."
The two men looked at her. "No," they said simultaneously.
No! Her brain screamed at her. You don't need to be going anywhere with Han Solo. You can't even take care of yourself.
Her tongue betrayed her though. "Why not? I can help with negotiations, and I have a droid that can talk to your ship."
"How long have you been listening?" Han asked.
Before she got the chance to answer, Rieekan interrupted. "Princess, it's too dangerous, and I need you here. End of discussion."
Suddenly, the sleep deprivation, anger, and frustration all caught up to her at once. Leia snapped. "When are you going to stop treating me like a child, Carlist?"
Han suddenly felt like he was intruding on a very private moment.
"Leia, I told your father-"
"That you would protect me. Yes, I know. But my father would also understand that this rebellion needs supplies. I'm clearly cut out for this mission, Carlist. Let go. I'm not Alderaan's little Princess anymore," she said, almost yelling.
Silence echoed through the bunker for at least thirty standard seconds before the General spoke.
"Report back in the morning for your mission briefing," he said, and exited the command center.
Leia released a breath that she didn't know she had been holding.
"Well," Han spoke, startling Leia, who had forgotten that he was in the room. "You told him, Princess. I can't believe you wanted to be with me that bad. All you would've had to do was tell me."
"I don't want to be with you," Leia said, defensively. "I want off this damned planet. And I want to be treated like an adult for once."
Leia pushed past him and into the hallway. She held herself rigid and walked quickly back to her quarters. As soon as she closed the door behind herself, she sighed.
What am I doing? She asked herself. So desperate to be treated like an adult that I volunteer for an off world mission with Han?
She went about her nightly routine without thinking about it, too focused on her reasoning in the moment she volunteered. Why had she really said she'd go? Was it to escape the frigid cold of Hoth or to prove herself to Rieekan? Or was it something else entirely?
Leia had heard the rumors. She knew what people thought about her and Han. Sure, they spent time together. They were friends when they weren't at each other's throats about the newest problem on base. The two of them had been brought together mostly by Luke, who Leia was also quickly becoming close to. Luke, who she would be leaving alone on this cursed planet to freeze. She suddenly felt guilty.
At some point, she dissolved into a restless, but uninterrupted sleep, half dreading and half excited for what tomorrow's briefing would bring.
On the way to her briefing, Leia ran into Luke, quite literally. Dropping her datapad into the snow, she quickly picked it up, fearing the worst. Once she realized that there was no damage, she looked up at the young Jedi.
"Sorry," she said, frowning at him. She realized that she was apologizing for more than running into him.
"It's no problem," Luke said, a hand outstretched to help her up. "I'm assuming you're on your way to the briefing with Han."
Leia sighed. "News travels fast around the base."
If Luke knew, then the entire Rouge squadron must have known about the trip. There was no doubt in Leia's mind that they were already placing bets on what would take place on the trip. Of course, nothing would, but the Rouges were notorious for betting on everything, especially Leia's nonexistent love life.
Luke nodded. "Be careful, okay?"
"Always, with Han around," Leia answered reassuringly, and pulling the commander in for a hug.
She looked down at the data pad which displayed the time to be 0800, and she whirled around the corner into the briefing room where Han and Rieekan were already waiting for her. She panicked for a moment but then remembered that she wasn't late, they were early.
"I'm sorry," she apologized anyway. "I ran into Commander Skywalker in the hallway."
Han barely rolled his eyes, but Leia didn't miss it.
"It's alright, Princess," Rieekan said, turning around. "If you and Captain Solo would take a seat, I'll explain your mission."
The mission was a bit more complex than the things Leia was used to. She figured a covert operative agent would probably be more useful in this situation but it quickly occurred to her that after the accident on Coruscant, they didn't have any spies left. She and Han were to infiltrate a weapons deal, posing as wealthy investors interested in the weapon trade, and trick the dealer, Bresage Padsay, into giving them some supplies which they would bring back to the base without drawing any attention from the Imperial forces on Ord Mantell.
Leia had been worried about the possibility of being recognized by their dealer, but Rieekan had assured her that this man had no interest in the Imperial Senate and would never have seen her face before.
Han, Leia, Chewbacca, and C-3PO were cleared to leave the base at 1200 hours. Leia ironically found herself counting down the minutes. She longed for a warmer climate and something to do besides inventory. Ord Mantell would be right in the middle of the warm season, orbiting the Bright Jewel Sun just perfectly to provide sunshine and warmth for the duration of their trip. She packed some lighter uniforms and some actual clothes from her case that had made it to the Hoth base, which was not much.
Han met her in the hangar shortly before their departure, C-3PO falling in step behind her.
"So good to see you Captain Solo," the droid greeted, uncharacteristically cheerful.
"Yeah, nice to see you too Goldenrod," Han responded as the droid stepped past them onto the ship. "What's gotten into him?" He asked, looking at Leia.
"Maybe he's just happy to be getting off of this planet," she responded, boarding the ship. "As am I."
Han smiled as he palmed the door shut behind them.
As Leia boarded the Falcon and took her case into the crew quarters, she finally realized what she has volunteered for. What am I doing? She thought, as she heard the engines of the ship begin to turn. She slowly ventured into the cockpit and strapped into her seat for takeoff. However, as she watched the icy planet disappear from view behind her, her fear slowly began to dim to a slight feeling in the pit of her stomach. I'm going to be okay.
a/n: Review because I have no idea what I'm doing!
