Chapter 3

The day seemed to crawl by as Han and Chewie busied themselves conducting a thorough top-to-bottom inspection of the Falcon. The work had helped distract Han from the fact that he hadn't caught a glimpse of Leia since her departure that morning. Prior to their escape from Hoth, this would not have struck him as out of the ordinary — she'd always submerged herself in her work and sometimes entire days would slip by without a Princess sighting — but after several weeks of enjoying her attention all to himself, this sudden and prolonged disappearance left him listless and lonely. It felt a bit like having a single dark cloud drift by to block the rays of an otherwise bright summer sun.

Buddy, she's only gone half a day and you're already bitching? Compared to what she went through? You need a hobby.

But that was the other trouble. Han's list of the items that needed immediate attention was suddenly nonexistent, and his wish list of non-essential modifications was shorter. All those weeks of repairs on the way to Bespin, followed by the work Calrissian's competent mech team had completed during that long day on Cloud City, combined with the odd jobs Chewbacca had done on his own initiative to keep busy while waiting on Tatooine for a signal from Lando, had left little for them to do now other than cosmetic overhauls and major systems upgrades, none of which he could justify or afford right now. So many of the fix-it jobs that had occupied his time in the past were the direct result of run-ins with TIE fighters and other hazards while on missions, but the ship hadn't seen heavy action since Bespin. He couldn't remember the last time he'd found himself with nothing to do, but that was the case today and it development couldn't have come at a worse time because he needed the distraction.

For instance, he wondered if Leia would go back to living in her own private quarters here on the flagship. For some reason, he'd just figured that she would resume living with him aboard the Falcon, but now he realized, with a growing sense of discontent, that there was no reason to assume she would or could make such a blatant and potentially controversial move. Happy as they'd seemed together on the way to Bespin, there had been no formal commitment or even talk about what would happen afterward; he'd meant it when he'd told her that he would return if possible, but in truth he hadn't expected a happy ending to his confrontation with the Hutt. And maybe she hadn't either. In any case, none of that mattered since it wouldn't be practical for her to reside permanently on the Falcon once they resumed smuggling missions. She would have to keep a second residence, and for all he knew, she might prefer it that way after all.

Unhappy with where this line of thought had gone, Han meandered around the docking bay deck, first to satisfy his curiosity as he poked his head into the eclectic range of spacecraft sharing the docking bay, and then to exchange chit-chat and the occasional shop talk with flight crew members or technicians. In the past he'd tended to keep to himself and leave the others around base to their work, but today he suddenly felt downright gregarious, even with the many new faces.

It was only when Han headed back toward his own ship that he realized what it was he'd been subconsciously looking for; Luke Skywalker. Their friendship had been forged onboard the Death Star, and ever since then they'd hung around together whenever he and Chewie weren't out on missions. But Luke was gone and even he hadn't known when he might be back. After witnessing Skywalker in action back on Tatooine, there was no denying that things would never be the same. In the days of the Old Republic, Jedi Knights had worked jointly with the military whenever necessary, but otherwise they'd acted as lone agents; the fact Luke was the last Jedi wouldn't likely change the formula. Luke would have to resign his command of Rogue Flight, if he hadn't already, so he could follow the path he'd started the day he'd met that old wizard Kenobi.

It figures the Kid has to leave just when I'm finally ready to sign up.

Han arrived back at the Falcon only to discover that Chewie had wandered off, probably in search of the canteen. Loitering under the shadow of the Falcon's hull once again, Han resumed watching the busy mechanics and other personnel go about their duties, feeling mystified by his unfamiliar sense of uselessness. Not all that long ago he would have reclined on the upslope of his ship's boarding ramp, mumbling smug comments about suicidal idealists and lost causes, but now all he felt was a sense of being left out — of being left behind while the rest of the universe continued moving forward around him.

Restless, Han made a decision and headed for the exit. Having nothing else to do, he could strike out on another expedition, this time in hopes of spotting the princess. It was a sport he'd enjoyed over the years; she'd been wily prey, easily spooked and potentially dangerous when cornered, but always a pleasure to pursue, all the more so now.

He stopped short in happy surprise, however, when he spotted General Carlist Rieekan walking toward where he still stood beneath the prow of the Falcon. The last time Han had seen the older man, one of Leia's fellow Alderaani survivors, it had been amidst the controlled chaos of Echo Base on Hoth, when the general had decided to inform Han of the princess's stubborn and suicidal decision to remain in the command center. After that, they'd rushed off in opposite directions, never to see one another again until now. Whether or not the general had intended to play match-maker, his fateful decision had set Han and Leia on the path that had lead them to today. At one point Leia had confided to Han that Rieekan would probably approve, which brought some small measure of relief to Han now as he watched the general draw near.

"General!" Han called out, greeting the man with a broad smile and proffered hand.

"Hello, Captain Solo. I'm glad to see you're fit," Rieekan exclaimed, accepting Han's hand and giving it a solid shake. "Princess Leia's told me that the rescue went well, more or less. It's good to have you back."

Well, that explains where she's been for at least part of today.

"Thank you, sir. Glad to be back. It looks like I'm just in time, huh?"

Rieekan's thick grey eyebrows quirked up, and then he glanced around them with a nod. "Yes, as a matter of fact, you are. That's part of why I've come to see you. And of course to welcome you back," he added with a friendly pat on Han's upper arm.

"Oh yeah? That sounds ominous," Han responded only half in jest, feeling some of his enthusiasm fade into wariness.

He'd always enjoyed a somewhat candid relationship with Rieekan, often talking about topics like military history, strategy, and the state of the war in general, but he'd remained circumspect in revealing his own past, and Rieekan had seemed to respect this — many within the Rebellion had arrived with questionable backgrounds. Even so, Han had figured that his own demonstrated knowledge of such topics must have left a good impression on the general because regular offers of a rank had soon followed.

More to the point, Han was also aware of the general's long and almost paternal relationship with the princess. Although they'd skirted around the topic of Leia, this fact had never been far from Han's mind. As his own relationship with Leia had evolved, so had Han's impression that the general was vetting him on a more personal level, particularly once rumors of romance between himself and Leia began to fly after that impromptu Majority party while they were all still based on Serricci. Following the mission to Ord Mantell and the very public exchanges that had resulted, Han had assumed it was only a matter of time before the general would get right to the point and ask about the exact nature of Han's relationship with Leia, and yet no questions had ever come. But maybe today, with his deathmark gone and the turbulent arguments between himself and Leia hopefully a thing of the past, the time was right. Hell, she'd done the unthinkable and left the Rebellion — no matter how briefly — to come rescue him!

Just how much did Leia tell him in that debriefing, anyway?

Feeling the need for some privacy, Han jerked his head and a thumb toward the entrance to his ship. "Come on inside so we can sit and talk."

Rieekan agreed, and Han led them up the ramp and into the central hold of the Falcon, then he pointed toward the curved bench wrapped around the deactivated holochess table.

"Have a seat, General. Want a drink? I've got some Corellian whiskey that hasn't been aired in over half a year, and I'll admit, I could use a little right now." Han rarely drank without occasion, but this seemed like the perfect time to start.

Rieekan hesitated — it was against regulations — but then he gave a short nod. "I'd hate to see you drink alone. Just one, though. My day isn't over yet."

Han stepped into the tiny galley adjoining the main hold and grabbed a pair of short tumblers, and then stopped at a storage locker to pull out a green bottle still three-quarters full of dark liquor. He set the glasses down, screwed off the cap, and poured enough for two good swallows into each glass. As he recapped the bottle and set it to the side, he gingerly slid into the opposite bench.

Rieekan held his glass out and waited for Han to mirror him in a toast. "To your health and future," he said.

Han met the older man's sky-blue eyes and eased into a grateful smile. "And to yours." He finished half his glass and watched Rieekan do the same.

"Ahh, that's very good," Carlist murmured in appreciation. "Your people really know what they're doing when it comes to this."

"Thanks. Wish I could take the credit, but all I know is what to do with it."

Rieekan chuckled and leaned back against the cushioned backrest. "Well, I suppose I should get right to the point, Solo. I'd like to know your intentions."

Strap yourself in because here we go.

"Look, you can ask Leia. Everything was completely consensual."

Rieekan's eyebrows shot up in surprise and stayed there as amusement washed across his face before the usual unflappable look returned to his craggy features. "While that news does not surprise me, it wasn't what I came to talk with you about…"

Realizing his blunder, Han felt a blush creep up from beneath his shirt collar, something he hadn't experienced since his youth. He cleared his throat and then tossed back the rest of his drink, barely noticing the burn this time as it went down his throat. "Oh," he gasped.

"But since you brought it up, if you'd rather we started there…?" Rieekan continued in a lighter tone before trailing off, providing him an opportunity to still save face. He jumped at it.

"You mean about what I plan to do now that I'm finally a free agent?"

"Yes."

Han sighed, his eyes dropping to look at his empty glass, finding this topic only a little less awkward. "I've barely had time to think that far ahead."

"I can only imagine how hard it must be catching up. From what the princess has told me, time stopped for you while you were in carbonite. I suppose that's both a blessing and a curse."

Han glanced up at the mention of Leia, again wondering how much she'd told the general. The only other long-term survivor of carbon freezing had gone insane from sensory deprivation due to a glitch in the process, and that man had only been encased for two days. But being completely out of sync with the rest of the universe wasn't exactly a piece of jeel cake, either.

"I was lucky," Han mumbled.

"Indeed," Rieekan nodded in quiet agreement. "Now that your situation has changed, I thought this might be a good time to talk about a commission once again. Before you make up your mind, I hope you'll reconsider my standing offer."

This was something else Han had anticipated — the matter of his accepting a leadership role within the Rebellion. It had been a recurring topic between them since Han's impromptu handling of part of the evacuation of the rebel base on Findior. Most in High Command had been alarmed by Han's issuing orders and making decisions without going through the proper channels, but Rieekan's reaction had been the exact opposite; he'd been impressed and grateful for Han's demonstrated initiative and skill. In hopes of smoothing any ruffled feathers on both sides, Rieekan had offered to make Han a de facto commander. Much as Han was secretly flattered to know that at least one member in High Command had appreciated the situation and his efforts, he'd decided to turn down the offer, citing his problem with Jabba and his preference to stay uncommitted.

Han frowned down at the checkered tabletop, remembering how his court martial and expulsion from the Imperial Academy over a decade before, and the almost irrational response from High Command after Findior, had both left him convinced that he was better off avoiding the hierarchy all together and so he hadn't found it difficult to graciously reject Rieekan's offers. But his decision with Chewie this morning had changed the game.

"Chewie and I want to stay and help out. We're ready to make it official. As for the rest…" Han paused, trying to find the most diplomatic way to say it. "I still think I can do more good by sticking to what I've been doing. I figure you still need good pilots to smuggle supplies and agents around."

"We do," Rieekan conceded with only a hint of disappointment showing. "You've both been valuable assets and we're glad to have you stay. I'll make the arrangements to swear you both in. The clearance process was completed shortly after you joined us at Yavin, so it's just a matter of paperwork to make it formal."

Rieekan took a long moment to study Han before adding in a more candid tone: "I think it's time you should know that the princess has been vouching for you to High Command ever since you helped get her from the Death Star. She believed in you, even when no one else would, and she was right."

That statement left Han speechless. Considering how Leia had criticized him in the past, he'd become convinced of the exact opposite. But now her behavior suddenly made sense; Leia had always been tenacious in pointing out his leadership abilities to him, and likewise demonstrably disappointed whenever he turned down Rieekan's offer, as if each rejection were a personal insult. It also explained why Rieekan had so quickly warmed up to him while they were still licking their wounds on Findior following the near disastrous battle above Yavin IV — it was Rieekan who'd been influenced by Leia and not the other way around.

"I had no idea," Han said, mulling over the unfamiliar mix of humility and appreciation he felt.

"I didn't think so. I suppose she has her reasons for not making that information public…"

Rieekan gave another of his enigmatic smiles that left Han wondering if he should read between the lines, and then he changed topics again. "Now, there's one last thing I need to talk with you about, but this time I just need your opinion. The princess was willing to vouch for your friend Calrissian so he could come aboard the medical frigate when they returned from Bespin. However, now Calrissian has volunteered for a position within the Rebellion. He's given personal reasons for wanting to help out, and he says he's a pretty good pilot. I have to assume there's some truth in the claim if you've allowed him to fly your ship."

Han couldn't have been more stunned if Rieekan had suddenly leveled a blaster at him and asked for his personal credit chip.

Lando? Volunteered?

The general continued. "I've come to you as a character witness. Do you believe Calrissian to be a dedicated and reliable person who would take his duties seriously?"

Still in shock, Han had to think before answering as he reconciled his past experiences with his more recent ones. "I think so. Back on Bespin he did what he felt he had to do to protect his people. When he realized the situation was impossible, he staged an ambush, warned the city residents to evacuate, and salvaged what he could by getting Leia, Chewie and Luke out of there." Han shrugged, as if there wasn't really any more to say. "It was my fault he was put in that tight spot in the first place, but he made the best of a bad situation."

Rieekan nodded, appearing satisfied. "I'm pleased to hear that. Then it's just a matter of finding the right role for him. Any recommendations?"

Again caught on the spot, Han had to consider the question. Then a memory came to mind and he nodded, tapping his index finger on the tabletop for emphasis. "Do a little research on the Battle of Taanab. That'll probably tell you all you need to know."

"Taanab? Really?" Looking thoroughly intrigued now, Rieekan grinned, and then raised his glass to finish off his own drink. After letting out an appreciative sigh, he moved to get up. "I'll let you go now. Thank you for the excuse to enjoy your private store. You've got excellent taste."

"Wait a second, General. About…"

Han stopped, unsure of where he was going with this, but realizing he should probably say something after all. Rieekan settled back onto the bench, giving him an expectant look, and Han was half-tempted to reach for the bottle again.

"Has it been done before?" he finally asked.

When Rieekan's expression grew puzzled, Han fumbled for a better way to express his budding idea. All the crazy, tenuous fantasies of a life together with Leia — thoughts he'd toyed with and dismissed while on their long journey — now seemed not so far-fetched anymore, at least not from his point of view. He hadn't voiced them to her, not even in their most intimate moments, because he hadn't wanted to give either of them false hope. But now, after talking with this man, someone who'd witnessed her previous life and knew her better than anyone, Han was reminded of the potential obstacle her royal heritage could pose. He'd had some little familiarity with Alderaani culture in general — it had been a Core world, after all — but royalty was always a different beast. Perhaps their having any sort of future would never be a real option if she was still prohibited from bonding with anyone outside her sphere of nobility. Maybe all this had been nothing more than his wishful thinking from the start.

"I mean, she's a princess. Is there any chance — I mean, I'm not exactly royalty…"

Rieekan's features softened, and Han desperately hoped the man was getting the gist of his tongue-tied query.

"I've known the princess a long time, Solo. I probably don't need to tell you this, but if there's one thing you can be sure of, it's that she won't be satisfied letting others dictate her course." Rieekan got to his feet and reached out to pat Han on the shoulder, as if wishing him all the luck in the universe. "Why don't you just ask her?"

Easier said than done, Han thought as he processed the suggestion and balanced his empty glass on its bottom rim, letting it rock back and forth beneath his fingers. Then he grew still. Was that an endorsement?

Watching as the general turned and headed for the lowered ramp, Han acted on another impulse and called out once again to stop him. "Is there anything I should know?"

His thoughts were along the lines of unanticipated legal complications and royal strictures and Kest knew what other kinds of unforeseen cultural hurdles, but Rieekan's broad smile caught Han up short.

"She likes gardens."

The answer came from so far out of sensor range that Han just stared as the general disappeared, leaving him alone with his confused thoughts.

"Gardens?"