WE NEED A VACATION
Chapter 4
"At least the holorazzi won't be able to distinguish us from the other guests," Leia remarked as they got in line at the hotel for the check in.
"You'd think they'd automate the process more," Han grumbled.
"Since this place is so popular, they're picky about identification," Leia said.
"Should've had Nici the Specialist make us fake Ids. Except that it's Nici Junior now and he sucks," Han said to her.
"What sucks, Daddy?" Jaina inquired. How she'd been able to pick out her father's near mumbling in the noisy crowd was not clear, but she already had a special talent for hearing things she shouldn't.
"Nothing," Leia said, giving her the glare she normally reserved for errant government officials. It was how Leia kept unruly diplomats and unruly husband and children in line.
"I wanna go swimming!" Jacen complained.
"After we get checked in," Han assured him. He'd been holding Anakin, and the toddler had managed ten minutes without expelling digestive matter. Leia picked Jacen up with one arm and Jaina's hand with the other. She had no intentions of losing her family to the giant maw of sentients filling the lobby.
On the other hand, she considered, it might not be such a bad thing. There was a spa at the resort. She figured that she could hide out there for two weeks.
"I hate this line!" Jaina exclaimed. Chewie picked her up and put her on his shoulders, allowing her a spectacular aerial view.
"We're moving forward, honey," Leia told her.
"Not in the last ten minutes," Han muttered. "I think this is disorganization by design."
"Governments work that way," Leia shrugged. "Democracy's a messy business."
"Yeah, but expensive resorts aren't democracies."
"Touche." Leia shifted Jacen.
"Dis is taking so long!" Jacen whined.
"Tell me about it," his mother said to him, smoothing his hair. Like Han, Jacen's hair tended to be unruly, a lock of it seemingly permanently covering his eyes.
Jaina was counting how many sentients were filling the lobby. However, she only knew numbers through twenty, after which she was creating originals. All her parents cared about was that it was keeping her amused.
There was now one family ahead of them. "Not too much longer," Leia said to Jacen. Anakin was completely passed out on Han's shoulder, and Jaina was still attempting to count the remaining crowd.
Unfortunately, there seemed to be a problem with the preceding family's reservation, and there was some yelling on the part of the parents and crying on the part of the two kids. Their reservation was missing, despite what was on their datapads. After fifteen minutes, a manager was finally located and took the bereft family aside.
"Here's hoping," Han said as the Solo family stepped forward. "Reservation for six, Solo, three bedroom suite, two weeks." Han barked it out as he would request for landing and takeoff, quickly and clearly.
"Let me see," the droid behind the desk began typing. "Hmm...yes, we have a reservation for Solo, party of 6, but it's for a two bedroom."
"What about the requested hammock?" Han demanded.
"We have it...but it still says only a two bedroom."
"So change it to a three," Han suggested in a tone that indicated to anyone else that he was talking to a complete moron. Han regarded most droids as complete morons.
"I'm sorry, sir, but we don't have any more three bedroom suites," the droid said, trying to be apologetic. "We do have some two bedroom suites. Let me get the price for you..."
"That's higher than for a three!" Han exclaimed.
"Hmm. Our prices have gone up since you reserved, sir. This is our peak season, you know."
"I have documentation that states I reserved a three bedroom suite at this price," Han snapped. "If you're going to give us only two bedrooms, have the decency to charge less!"
"Let me see if I can override it, sir."
Han was torn between wanting to indicate that they were the House of Solo, well known throughout the galaxy and just wanting to be a normal family on vacation.
potential loss of privacy. He kept quiet.
"Very well, sir. We will give you a ten percent discount from your original price."
Han was close to losing his temper, but he had three kids who'd be traumatized for life and a wife who'd probably murder him.
"Fine."
"The living room has a sofa that converts to a pull out bed," the droid informed him. "Will you need a baby crib?"
"Nah. We just let him roll off the bed. Of course we need one!"
Leia nudged Han. "We actually forgot to ask for one."
"The charge is ten credits per day - "
"No. We get the price you quoted, no extra charge for the crib."
The droid sighed. They really should stop programming emotion into droids, Han thought. They were annoying enough without it.
"Let me ask my manager," the droid said, keying in a code for calling the powers that be.
"Han, we did actually forget to reserve a crib," Leia reminded him.
"Let's see if we can get the crib for free."
"And if we don't?"
Han looked at the kids.
"I guess we pay for it."
The droid finally looked up at them. "We can charge you half price for the crib."
"Sold," Han said, releasing his credit card. At long last, they were checking in.
"Will you require luggage assistance?" the droid inquired.
Leia mouthed, No!
"We're fine, thanks."
"How many room keys will you require?"
"By the end of the trip, at least ten."
The droid wasn't supposed to have facial expressions, but clearly disapproval had been programmed into him. "We can give you three."
"We'll take three." Han grabbed the plasticards and handed one to Leia and one to Chewie. "Okay, guys, we're going to our room."
"Yay!" Jaina and Jacen chorused. Anakin, who'd slept through much of the chaos, woke up and began whimpering.
There were banks of lifts, and it meant you had to get to the correct set in order to reach your room. It wasn't as simple as it looked, but somehow, they managed to get everyone into the suite.
Leia looked about. "This is nicer than I expected." The living room was well appointed, and the kitchen had usable space.
Han laughed. "Give the kids ten minutes. They'll have it completely destroyed." The three were racing about, shrieking and giggling.
"I wanna go swimming!" Jacen shouted.
"Me too!" Jaina echoed.
Han looked at Leia. "If you can get the twins into their suits, I'll take 'em to the pool. Chewie says he'll look after Anakin and you can take a nap."
Leia was about ask if she looked that bad, but she wasn't about to turn down the chance for some time alone. The truth was, she was exhausted. The motion sickness from the flight had mostly abated but had worn her out.
"All right, kids, you be good for Daddy," Leia instructed the kids, knowing full well that they were not the least bit interested in listening to her. All that they had on their minds was on the crystal blue pools outside. The resort boasted ten of them.
Han kissed Leia on the forehead. "Relax, sweetheart. Chewie and me've got it all under control."
"I'll go downstairs to get some groceries."
"Take it easy, Princess. C'mon kids, we're going in the water!"
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Leia leaned back into the sofa. She was hoping that the nausea would abate once she got some sleep. It had been a rough trip. Chewie assured her that he would take care of Anakin and would be willing to foodshop if she needed it.
"Thanks, Chewie," she said to the Wookiee. There was a bedroom that was obviously the master one. Leia laid down on top of it. It was exquisitely comfortable.
"And it ought to be, considering the price," Leia muttered to herself, closing her eyes at least.
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Han grabbed a recliner, slathered the twins with sunscreen, and watched as the twins played in the shallow pool right in front of him. A pool bar waiter droid appeared, asking if he'd like something to drink.
"Would I ever," Han said, ordering an Alderaanian beer that was a favorite. He leaned back, put his sunglasses on, and smiled at the twins. They were ecstatic. It's worth the price, to see them smile like that, Han told himself. Just because the pool side resembled the downtown of the Capital City, albeit with recliners, was no matter.
"Daddy! Come in t'water!" The twins called out.
"As soon as my beer comes, I'll go in," he assured them.
The twins' response was to splash cool water on him.
"You guys are asking for it!" Han warned them playfully.
There were many, many server droids and Han's beer arrived rapidly. His eyes nearly popped at the price, but the kids were so happy.
It was worth it.
