a/n: as mentioned: this is a (very short) anthology of "outtakes" for Identity; they weren't actually written and edited out, they were conceptual ideas that I knew were happening in the background, but I didn't try to fit in for the sake of devoting time to other narratives. there will be five chapters to this anthology and there is no posting schedule. here you go!
Outtake 1: Han and Rieekan; Council Meeting Talk
Reference: Identity, Chapter Two (2)
Han wasn't sure what to expect when General Rieekan called him over as the emergency council meeting ended. His head was still spinning a little from the possibly explosive information they'd just received, and his main concern was the controlled, iron expression that had settled over Leia's face as the intelligence sunk in.
Rieekan's voice was level, neutral, and short – and Han couldn't resist the wary grimace that spread across his face as he approached the man. He realized that he might be in for a rebuke – Rieekan was a good commanding officer, and he'd always had a healthy, friendly respect for Han, but he was Alderaanian, and Han had no idea what he thought about Leia publicly confirming her relationship with a smuggler.
It would be – disappointing to have Rieekan abruptly become as cold as some of the others had.
Han fell into a natural at-ease posture before the General and looked at him guardedly; Rieekan looked past him, over Han's shoulder to where Leia was speaking quietly with Dansra Beezer – and then, with Mon Mothma, as the Chief of State took Dansra's place.
Han cleared his throat, eyeing Rieekan sharply.
"Got a lecture for me?" he asked curtly – what was the point in drawing it out?
Rieekan turned his head and focused on him, his brows going up mildly.
"No," he said slowly, and then titled his head to the side and inclined it a little, setting his shoulders back with purpose. "Well," he amended, "hardly the one you're expecting."
Han considered him a moment, and then folded his arms, relaxing a little. His jaw remained tight, and he waited.
"If the remarks of Threkin Horm and Dodonna are anything to go by, I'm sure you're taking shit from all sides lately. I have no doubt you've heard enough of others' input on your involvement with the Princess," Rieekan said.
He was speaking with such unruffled composure that Han couldn't identify where this conversation was going – if he was angry at Han's audacity, if he was hostile, protective – Leia was taking a lot of flak for this from the former High Command, and Han bristled at the thought of Rieekan hurling criticism at her, too – he'd always sensed she valued Rieekan more than protocol allowed her to show or admit.
Rieekan gauged the tense expression on Han's face correctly, and cleared his throat shortly, holding up one hand.
"You're not going to hear it from me," he said, matter-of-fact. "Being a marginally perceptive man and a somewhat talented military official, I'm not fool enough to think this hasn't been going on for," he paused, flippantly finding a word: "years."
Han chose his words carefully.
"Somethin' like that," he said vaguely.
Rieekan nodded once, firmly.
"I suspected. Women like Princess Leia do not put their life's work on hold to opt into a personal search-and-rescue mission," he continued, thinking of the Princess's actions after her return from Bespin – personal leave, quiet determination, an unorthodox partnership with a man who had recently betrayed her. "You must mean a great deal to her."
Han said nothing to that – it was uncomfortable territory, and he still questioned where Rieekan was going with this.
The general took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.
"It won't come as a surprise to you that Princess Leia's well-being is…important to me," he said formally.
Han nodded – he felt a sense of gratitude towards Rieekan for expressing something that simple: genuine concern for Leia, as a person, was something he related to – the others seemed to be concerned, first and foremost, with Leia as a pawn or a strategy.
"If you've been – involved with her – for any length of time, it also won't come as a surprise to you that the Empire, ah, that she was subjected to – there's significant damage," he faltered. "She's been through a lot."
Han's shoulders tightened, then relaxed; he didn't look away, but his eyes narrowed slightly.
"She's not damaged," he defended.
"Solo," Carlist started.
"General, Leia's a strong person."
"Solo," Carlist repeated, in the same placating, understanding tone. He waited patiently, unperturbed by Han's reaction; it was hardly unexpected, and he wasn't offended by it – and he had meant no offense. "I am not insulting Princess Leia," he said firmly. "I am not implying she's somehow – less respectable," he said. "I mean damage has been done to her."
Han flexed one of his hands, unfolding his arms and rubbing his palm on his trousers stiffly. He figured that was a better way of putting it, but it wasn't a satisfying thing to hear – though Han was hardly, as Rieekan pointed out, ignorant to the depth of trauma Leia had suffered.
He'd been sleeping with her for too long to have remained unaware.
Han lifted his hand to his face and brushed his jaw with his knuckles, finding himself immensely out of his element with the conversation.
"What're you trying to say, Carlist?" he asked, dropping formalities. He pointed at himself a little sarcastically. "You think I'm just more damage?"
Rieekan shook his head.
"No, I don't. I think nothing of the sort – far from it," he said emphatically. "It seems to me that you've been good for her, and furthermore, I have no input on Princess Leia's personal life."
Han snorted derisively.
"You mind mention' that to everyone else?" he growled, flicking his eyes around at the collection of people still milling around.
Rieekan smiled a little wryly. He sighed, looked around, and then gave Han a hard, serious look.
"This isn't easy for us, for Alderaanians," he said dully. "The – even if we only allow the barest flicker of hope that there might be survivors, being disappointed will be devastating – and this is her father. The Organa family was always very close." Rieekan took a deep breath. "No matter what happens, I think this is all going to be very hard on her. Even without this – the dust is settling, and without the war to distract her, a lot of things may get…very hard."
Han set his back teeth against each other.
"I'm trying to tell you point blank that she may need professional help," Rieekan said quietly.
Han arched a brow warily, a little incredulous – not because he didn't agree, but because he knew, and he was sure Rieekan did to, that Leia would never –
"Therapy? You want to have that conversation with her?" he muttered callously.
"I want her to survive," Rieekan answered simply. "If Princess Leia is going to reject powerful alliances for you, I want to know that you are going to be up for it."
"Up for it?" Han quoted.
"For her," Rieekan said sharply, "and everything that will come with her."
For a moment, Han felt smaller; he felt out of sorts. He'd always had a good rapport with Rieekan – equal, friendly, jovial, but for the first time, he looked at the general like he was a true superior – somehow, Rieekan's opinion on the whole affair was more daunting than the others – the others seemed to say –
How dare you think you have a right to the Princess of Alderaan.
But Rieekan, Rieekan's opposing mantra was –
I am trusting you with the Princess of Alderaan.
Han appreciated the trust, and he was more than up for the task. He wracked his brains for a way to convey that with dignity, but he just wasn't the type to wax philosophical with a bunch of flowery words, and all he could do was give a small shrug, and a determined, understanding nod.
"I'm up for it."
Rieekan simply nodded, wholly accepting the conviction that was present in the statement. He extended his hand, giving Han one last long, good look as they shook on it, and then he nodded shortly over his shoulder, a wry smile touching his lips.
"You better save Her Highness from Mon Mothma," he advised sagely.
He released Han's hand, Han gave him a small, respectful salute, and turned, striding towards Leia. The defiance that had been in his posture since he walked in and faced men like Dodonna and Horm ebbed away, and as he came to stand alongside Leia, she was taking a step back from Mon Mothma, her expression sharp, and final.
Han did a very subtle double-take – Mon Mothma looked quite shaken, and she was very pointedly refusing to acknowledge his presence - and he rested his hand gently on Leia's arm.
"Ready?" he asked gruffly – he knew he couldn't wait to get out of here, away from all these people – her muscles were tense under his touch, and he pressed his palm into her soothingly.
She gave a small nod, and a murmur of consent, and he loosened his grip, turning to let her follow him out at her own pace. He stood just outside the door, waiting, as she gave cordial nods goodbye, and then she caught up to him, slid her arm into his, and gripped him tightly without saying a word.
Han spared a moment to glance over her head and catch Rieekan's eye, and when he did, he gave another firm, confident nod – yes; he was up for this. He didn't care how difficult things got – it had been such a struggle to win Leia's heart in the first place; he wasn't about to be defeated by anything that came up down the road.
voila! they're all going to be fairly short - as the partitions in Identity are usually on average only about 8 pages.
-alexandra
