Chapter 2 Missing in Action

Bob was going to head to the control room, but first he had a stop to make.

"Hey, Cewie. The repairs all made?" he asked the wookie working on the falcon.

Chewie growled an affirmative.

"You sure? I think Han was planning to spend a few more days here if you wanted to take apart the engine to do some finer details." Bob didn't bother trying to be subtle as he dropped the hint. Chewie growled again and went back to work, and Bob went to the control room, satisfied with his work.

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Lark was still trying to figure out what to say to Leia when she found her. Maybe her mother would have a few ideas, although Kimmy would probably say she shouldn't be matchmaking. Kimmy didn't exactly approve of Han's type either, although she and Jesse were both impressed by his piloting skills.

She sensed Han coming before he actually entered the room. When he entered, Leia looked up and then back down, her cheeks flushing slightly.

General Rieekan straightened up from a console at Han's approach. "Solo?"

"No sign of life out there, General. The sensors are in place. You'll know if anything comes around." Han answered.

"Commander Skywalker reported in yet?"

"No. He's checking out a meteorite that hit near him."

"With all the meteor activity in this system, it's going to be difficult to spot approaching ships." Rieekan muttered, more to himself than Han.

"General, I've got to leave. I can't stay any more." Han blurted out.

Lark glanced at Leia. She seemed distressed and intent on not showing it.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Rieekan said.

"Well, there's a price on my head. If I don't pay off Jabba the Hutt, I'm a dead man." Han said.

"A death mark's not an easy thing to live with. You're a good fighter, Solo. I hate to lose you."

"Thank you, General." Han turned to leave and saw Leia trying to look busy. "Well, Your Highness, I guess this is it." he said with the most amount of feeling Lark had ever heard from him.

"That's right." Leia didn't return the emotion. Lark instantly recognized the tone of someone trying not to show how upset they were, but, unfortunately, Han didn't. He shook his head,

"Well, don't get all mushy on me. So long, Princess." Still shaking his head, Han left.

Lark stepped closer to Leia. "Go after him." She whispered.

Leia gave her a sharp look. "Why would I do that?" she demanded.

Lark knew better than to say 'you love him'.

"We need him." She said, giving Leia a gentle nudge in the direction of the door. Leia hesitated, and then followed. Lark grinned in satisfaction and moved closer to the door to eavesdrop.

"Han!" Leia called.

"Yes, Your Highnessness?" Lark could hear the sarcasm in Han's voice. She inched her face around the corner.

"I thought you decided to stay." Leia's back was to Lark, so she couldn't see her face.

"Well, the bounty hunter we ran into on Ord Mantell changed my mind."

"Han, we need you!"

"We?"

"Yes."

Lark took a sharp breath. She'd been right about Han. Now all they had to do was convince Leia.

"Oh, what about you need?"

"I need? I don't know what you're talking about." Leia's voice was adamant.

"You probably don't." Han shook his head and turned away.

Leia pulled him back. "And what precisely am I supposed to know?"

"Come on! You want me to stay because of the way you feel about me."

"Yes. You're a great help to us. You're a natural leader..."

Lark rolled her eyes. Come on, Leia! Quit playing dumb!

Apparently, Han felt the same way. "No! That's not it. Come on."

"You're imagining things." Leia's voice was slightly aloof, a sure sign that Han wasn't imagining things.

"Am I?" Han must have sensed it too. "Then why are you following me? Afraid I was going to leave without giving you a goodbye kiss?"

"I'd just as soon kiss a Wookie."

"I can arrange that. You could use a good kiss!" Han spun and started to walk away for a second time. This time, Leia didn't stop him.

"Hey."

Lark jumped as someone touched her elbow. She let out a relieved breath when she realized it was only Bob.

"What just happened?" he asked.

"Leia and Han had a shouting match. Han's leaving."

"No, he's not."

"Really? Who's gonna stop him?" Lark put her hands on her hips.

"He might be ready to leave, but the ship's not."

"Yes, it is. He told me it was this morning."

"That was before Chewie took the engine apart."

A mischievous light came into Lark's eyes. "You're wicked."

"I know." They slapped high five.

"Don't try to blame me." A familiar voice echoed down the corridor. A few minutes later Thrrpio, a protocol droid accompanied by Artoo, and astro-droid, came into view. "I didn't ask you to turn on the thermal heater. I merely commented that it was freezing in the princess's chamber. But it's supposed to be freezing. How are we going to dry out all her clothes? I really don't know."

Artoo beeped a stream of protesting whistles.

"Oh, switch off."

Lark cleared her throat.

"Oh, hello Miss Lark." Threepio said. "Would you by any chance know where Master Solo is?"

"With the Falcon. Why?"

"Mistress Leia is wondering where Master Luke is. He hasn't come back yet."

"He hasn't checked in?" Bob immediately became serious.

"No, I was going to see if Master Solo knew anything."

Before Threepio had even finished, Lark and Bob were on their way back to the control center. A few minutes later, Han joined them with a deck officer.

"Sir, Commander Skywalker hasn't come in through the south entrance. He might have forgotten to check in." the officer said.

"Not likely. Are the speeders ready?" Han asked.

"Not yet. We're having some trouble adapting them to the cold."

"Then we'll have to go out on Tauntauns." Han said, already swinging into action.

"Sir, the temperature's dropping too rapidly."

"That's right. And my friend's out in it." Han's voice left no room for argument. Lark and Bob waited for the officer to leave before approaching Han.

"Han, you're going out in that?" Bob asked.

"Don't try to stop me."

"Just the opposite. I'll come too."

"No way."

"Why not?" Bob followed Han at a brisk pace down the corridor. "You're allowed to risk you're life, but I'm not?"

"Exactly."

"Han."

"Look, Bob, stay here, look out for your girlfriends, and I'll be back tomorrow." Han swung up onto an ice lizard.

"But…"

"Bob." Han locked gazes with Bob. "Stay here."

Bob muttered some choice words under his breath.

"Your Tauntaun'll freeze before you reach the first marker." An officer said as Han exited the cave.

"Then I'll see you in hell!" Han called back.

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