CHAPTER 4:

Night had fallen fast, as it always had on the planet Vivicus, and only the artificial light came from the light posts that were spread wide apart from each other, dimly lighting the empty streets. Han Solo and the team now inhabited a deserted on the highest floor hotel, suite with a living room, a separate bedroom, and a good-sized refresher. Many of the buildings in the neighborhood were shells of their former self and others were reduced to rubble, the after effects of an Imperial take-over. Tycho and Redge connected their computers and data pads on the table that was moved from the center of the room to the window and began their task of hacking into the Imperial data base. Wedge and Luke setup the surveillance equipment along the panoramic window. The tinted windows allowed them to use their surveillance equipment without being detected, and these darkly- tinted windows were black enough to block out the light in the room and keep their secrets. Leia set up the audio equipment that would allow them to monitor the chatter between the Imperial security detail. Wedge and Hobbie had offered to take up the first surveillance shift. They pulled up chairs on opposite sides in front in the long window. Wedge focused his attention the area surrounding the Imperial bureau, while Hobbie kept his eye on the few storm troopers policing the streets. Han hovered over Redge's and Tycho's shoulders to study the screens before them, while Luke helped Leia find open Imperial communication lines.

"No civilians on the streets," Hobbie pointed out.

"Not surprising," Redge pointed out. "Almost everything around here is demolished or deserted."

Han straightened. "Vivicus only has about nine hours of night. We're gonna hafta work fast."

Voices broke through the static intermittently and filled the room. Everyone stared at nothing in the room as they concentrated on deciphering the words that came through the audio equipment.

"I can't get it any better than this," Leia said.

"Sounds like they're getting ready for a changing of the guards."

"Uh, we have a problem," Tycho announced.

"What?" Han asked scrutinized the screen again.

"Those red spots are people. The lighter ones are most likely storm troopers. They give off less heat because of their armor."

The blips moved about the screens. "There's more than we expected."

"They might have been tipped off."

"Maybe," Han pressed his lips together before saying, "Or they could've nerffed up security cos a small militia has been doing hit-and-run attacks. Nothin' that's been effective."

"There's no way five of us are going to be able to take on that many Imperials and make it outa there alive. And it's going to be harder to get into."

"Chewie and me got in and outa places much more heavily guarded than this."

"Without being detected?" Leia put her hand on her hip, and tilted her head.

"The important thing is that we got out." Han shrugged.

Leia rolled her eyes and returned her attention to deciphering the voices coming from the audio equipment.

"Is there any other way we can get in?"

"They have guards at the main entrance, and it looks like they're patrolling the perimeter."

"Just great," Han muttered. "Why do things have to be so difficult?" Han then glanced at Leia. "It's a rhetorical question, Your Worshipfulness. Keep your pretty mouth shut."

Did Han just compliment her? Pretty lips. Of course he was basically telling her to shut up. Her stomach warmed despite the backhanded way he complimented her lips. Then she internally reprimanded herself when she remembered that she didn't care about Han Solo's opinion of her.

"If we took out the guards without them knowing…."

"It only takes one to sound the alarm."

"Then we do it real quiet like," Han scowled at Leia's back.

"The princess is right," Redge pointed out. "We've got to do this another way."

Luke walked over to the window but without the macro binoculars, he couldn't make out much that lay beyond. "Chances of getting out—" Then he furrowed his brow and looked at his tech-savvy comrades. "Why can't you break into the computer that has the plans from here?"

"We can't. They're smart enough to keep their most sensitive data offline. The only way to get to the plans is to physically break into their system."

"We could knock out those two guards in front of that Imp building simultaneously, steal their uniforms."

"That would get us in." Han pulled at his chin. "But we still have the security detail to deal with."

Leia stood up and removed the macro binoculars from her eyes. "We go in through the air vents."

Solo's brow rose as he considered the plan. "That would put us closer to the data room." He walked over to Leia, grabbed her head, and placed a kiss on her forehead. "That's why I brought you on this mission."

She punched him in the gut. Hard.

Bento over in pain, Han gave out assignments. "Wedge, Narra, and Hobbie, you'll provide a distraction if we need it."

"What about me and Leia?" Luke asked.

"You two will break into the data room with me."

Han noticed the confused and doubting faces of the rebels. He also noticed that Leia saw the same looks Han did. She handed Luke the macro binoculars.

"I better change out of this dress." She walked out of the living room and disappeared into the bedroom.

The rest of the team dressed in the common room and checked their weapons and utility belts.

Narra slipped on his jump suit then waited until the princess was out of earshot. "Do you think the princess is the right person to retrieve the plans?"

"Yes."

Tycho piped in, "She could stay here and guard Redge."

"She was the one who got us out of the detention center on the Death Star." Han then said, "As long as there's no trash compactors we should be good."

Luke smiled.

"Trash compactors?" Hobbie asked.

"She's a senator and a princess. And she's a member of the High Command. What is she even doing here?" Narra argued.

"She got us through the Imperial blockade, and she's the one who came up with the air vent plan," Luke argued. "We wouldn't have gotten this far if it weren't for her. You just don't know Leia like Han and I do."

"No, we don't know Leia like you and Han do." Narra glared at Han.

Han narrowed his eyes on Narra. He inhaled and exhaled, trying to control his anger. "I've had enough of your attitude towards the princess. I'm the one leading this mission. Leia is part of the command team for a reason. I don't have to explain my motives to you. And I don't want any more questions. Understand?"

"Yes, sir," Hobbie and Tycho answered, and all but Narra nodded their heads. Narra glared at Han before he finished preparing his utility belt.

A silence fell over the room as Princess Leia entered, trying to clasp the utility belt around her waist. She had heard part of the conversation and was acutely aware that her presence was the source of their awkward silence. Leia expected her comrades to object to her being part of the team—let alone the command team—and to have no faith in her, but it still hurt nonetheless. And angered her. None of them had the guts to say this to her face. Cowards, she thought to herself. At least the High Command didn't shy away from sharing their opinions.

Leia was unfamiliar with the clasp on her utility belt and her fingers fumbled as she tried to close it. She cursed under her breath.

Han sported a lop-sided grin as he perused the princess's form fitting jump suit. He was suddenly aware of all the curves she had, and it changed his perspective of her. He had found her attractive, but never imagined that underneath rebel uniforms and loose white dresses she wore she was all woman. He wanted to make some comment that would rile her up, but because of the conversation he just had with his team members, he thought better of it.

"Havin' some trouble?" Han asked, placing his hands on his hips.

"I'll get it."

"Lemme help you."

Narra rolled his eyes, and Wedge and Hobbie exchanged looks.

Leia looked up at Han. "No thank you. Luke can help me."

"Fine." Han crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at her. He had to help Luke with his utility belt and that Luke helping her would be entertaining.

Being singled out by the princess made Luke blush, and he sensed the wide eyes and open mouths of his comrades. He looked at Leia and then to Han. Han smiled and crossed his arms over his chest as Luke rose from his seat at the window. The former farm boy walked over to the princess and stood in front of her. He, too, hadn't seen Leia look so….womanly, and he felt awkward and clumsy. He glanced at her breasts then quickly looked down at the belt, taking the ends of it from her. Luke tried to fit the clasps together like Han did when he clasped Luke's belt, but he was having no luck, and being so close to her looking the way she did….his temperature rose, making him even more uncomfortable. Hopefully, Leia didn't notice.

After watching Luke fumble with the belt, Han said, "Lemme do it."

"Luke can do it," Leia insisted.

"Obviously not."

Solo took the ends of the belt from Luke and nudged him away. Han then roughly pulled on the ends, bringing the princess closer to him. She sharply inhaled and kept her eyes focused on the belt. The smell of her hair distracted Han for a moment, and he wanted nothing more than to linger there, but he was acutely aware of their audience and quickly clasped the belt. Leia's large brown eyes met Han's for a moment that felt like an eternity. Underneath the disappointment and hurt lurked fear and something else...

"Thanks," she mumbled as she broke eye contact and backed away from him.

"Any time," he replied as he contemplated the emotions he saw in her eyes.

"I'm in," Redge announced. "I'll have control of the security cameras in the bureau in a couple of seconds."

Han looked at his comrades. "Let's go."

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The team crouched down as they walked across the roof, hoping no one would spot them. They squatted in front of the lip of the roof and surveyed the gap between their building and the Imperial bureau.

"It's about fifteen meters across," Wedge estimated.

Fifteen meters, Han exhaled. The gap looked smaller than fifteen meters, but this was their best option. Han pointed the cable gun at the roof of the bureau and launched the thick black cable. It swiftly shot across the fifteen meter gap between the two buildings. The cable wrapped several times around an exhaust pipe but the claw didn't catch securely.

"Damn," Han muttered.

"That was our only cable gun," Wedge pointed out. "What now?"

"We go through the back way. We take down the security detail at the back entrance of the building," Hobbie suggested.

While the team chatted about different plans, Leia picked up the cable gun and went over to a rail. Holding onto the gun, she wrapped the cable around a rail five times before releasing the claw. The sharp hooks of the claw imbedded into the permasteel. Leia then pressed her weight down on the cable. The cable didn't give way. She rolled her lips between her teeth as she thought about the plan before turning her attention to the conversation between her comrades.

Hobbie suggested. "The grated fence should be quick to cut through."

"If we can't take them out simultaneously, one of them could sound the alarm, and we'll have a whole squad of storm troopers on our ass." Narra frowned.

"Narra's right."

"I'll go across," Leia said. "I'll secure the cable on the other end so you can all cross."

"No," Han shot her plan down.

"Why not?"

"It's dangerous," Luke pointed out.

"It's always been dangerous," she countered. "We all were going to take the risk."

"It's not secure." Han sat back on his haunches.

"I put my weight on the cable," she argued. "It'll hold for me."

"The other side could come undone," Luke said.

"It'll hold."

"She's the lightest one here," Narra said.

Han and Luke exchanged looks. Luke inhaled and pressed his lips together. Since he known her, she had been trying to take a part in risky missions but was always thwarted by the High Command. And he had seen her walking the catwalks at the base, sometimes leaning over the rails, her face contorted in deep thought. He could see the thrill and abandon in her eyes as she suggested her idea. Luke found himself becoming angry at Han. He was the reason Leia was here in the first place. Luke understood her need to find her place in the world after losing everything, but Leia seemed too willing to risk her life to find what she needed.

"Absolutely not. We just have to come up with a better plan." Han sat back against the lip of the roof. He pressed his hand against the earpiece in his right ear. "Redge, we've ran into a snag. Can you and Tycho find another way of getting in?"

Redge answered back, "Give me a minute."

The team sat there listening to their earpieces, their eyes focused on the ground. Leia was the only one ignoring her earpiece. Crouched down, Leia made her way back to the cable, climbed on top of the lip of the roof, and attached the security hook on her utility belt to the cable. She then climbed over the lip of the roof and allowed herself to slip under the cable so that she could wrap her legs around the cable. Hand over hand and legs pushing her body forward, she made her way across the thick cable.

Luke suddenly popped his head up and looked around, "Where's Leia?"

"Damn it," Han cursed as he saw Leia making her way across the cable.