Susan Zahn and Erin Darroch
Just Rewards – Chapter 4
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Summary: "If money is all that you love, then that's what you'll receive."
Disclaimer: All characters depicted herein are the property of Lucasfilm, Disney, etc. Our only profit is in the form of readers' feedback. Please be generous!
Ratings/Warnings: M; mild language; angst; some non-explicit suggestive adult themes
Time Frame: Extension and expansion of Star Wars: A New Hope; during and post-ANH
Tags: Han/Leia. Romance/Angst. Han Solo/Leia Organa
Note: With thanks to our lovely beta readers: CorieMariee, BonesBooth206, YellinYee, and Marjorie Joyce.
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Chapter 4
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The women's barracks occupied a large chamber within the ancient and massive Massassi temple but was little more than a few rows of stacked bunks with individual storage crates bracketing each stack and a short row of temporary freshers in a far corner. For the first time since arriving on the Millennium Falcon following her harrowing escape from the Death Star, Leia had a few spare minutes, and she'd used them to find the space she'd been assigned. Not that she would have the opportunity to use the bed for its intended purpose—the evacuation was in progress and this area would be dismantled and packed for shipping off-planet before the evening was over. Although she was new to the base personnel and had no official duties assigned yet, she'd been caught up in the commotion all the same. Escaping to the barracks was an admission of her own physical and emotional exhaustion. She desperately needed some time alone to gather her thoughts, and wasn't looking forward to yet another confrontation with Captain Solo, something that was already becoming a bit wearying. Begging was not in her nature.
Leia moved down the central aisle of the cool stone-walled room and stopped beside the bunk temporarily labeled as hers. It was nondescript and promised nothing in the way of great comfort, but she nonetheless gazed longingly at the thin, gray fabric-covered gel mattress.
If I had anything left to give, I'd gladly do so for just one hour. That's all I ask….
Before she could succumb to the growing temptation of testing out the bed, she heard quiet footsteps and turned to recognize one of the Command Center technicians approaching. It was almost like looking in a mirror, if Leia could imagine herself ten years older. The uniformed woman was roughly Leia's height and build, and her long hair was neatly wound up in a simple bun at the base of her neck.
"Your Highness? I hope I'm not interrupting you."
"No, I was just thinking…. It's Lieutenant Aldric, correct?"
"Yes, but you can call me Keris."
The woman reached out a hand and Leia shook it in greeting, offering a warm smile in return. "Please, call me Leia."
One of the woman's fine eyebrows rose, as if she were caught off guard by the informality, before she made a slight bow. "Thanks. Looks like we're bunk-mates. That is, we would have been…."
Leia nodded again. "Yes, although it doesn't seem I'll be using it any time soon."
"No, not on this base, anyway. I was just stopping here to make sure my things are secured before it's all taken to the transports." She grabbed the pair of boots that were sitting atop her personal crate and stashed them inside, then locked down the lid. Straightening up, she looked back to Leia and paused, eyeing the poor state of Leia's senatorial gown, so worn and stained that even the quick run through the autovalet on-board the Falcon earlier hadn't been able to do much. It was probably beyond salvage. Not that I'll ever need it again, Leia thought.
"Have they issued you any personal effects yet?"
"No, there wasn't any time," Leia answered.
The lieutenant made a tsk sound, then bent down to reopen her case. "Tell you what. I guess we're about the same size. I've got some extra things you can use until we're settled at the next base. Then you'll be able to get your own things."
"That's very kind, thank you."
"Don't mention it. There's not a lot to go around, but you'll find we tend to look out for one another and we're pretty resourceful, particularly us girls. Share the wealth, as they say. Here, take these." She handed over a set of general-issue Rebellion fatigues made up of gray and moss green pants and a long-sleeved top, a set of undergarments, and a pair of socks to go along with the spare boots she'd pulled back out. As an afterthought, she up-ended the contents of a small duffel bag into her storage case, tossed a handful of hair care and hygiene items into the bag, and gave it to Leia. "There. That should tide you over."
"I'm very grateful," Leia said, and meant it. It hadn't struck her until now just how destitute she'd suddenly become. She'd arrived on Yavin IV as a refugee with nothing but what she wore, all of which had seen better days. That abruptly reminded her of something. "I hate to ask this, but…would you or one of the other women possibly have something a bit more…dressy? I don't mean to sound ungrateful—I'm perfectly happy with the uniform. But there's going to be a medal ceremony in a couple of hours and…."
Keris's reaction to that news was predictable—surprise and disbelief. "We have the time to spare?"
Leia barely refrained from rolling her eyes in complete agreement, but now wasn't the time to show insubordination. Pressing ahead, she said, "I've been asked to present. They'll expect me to…." Leia's voice trailed off, feeling that surge of anger returning at being manipulated into such a position, at feeling used without even being consulted first, without consideration for the emotional toll she was already struggling with.
They'll expect me to what? Look like a princess? Pose as the new figurehead of the Rebellion?
"I see. Well…," Keris considered for a long moment, looking at Leia as though she might be worried about why Leia had dropped off mid-sentence. She nodded by way of assurance. "I don't have anything like that, but I think I know someone who does. Let me see what I can do."
"Anything would be appreciated. I'm in your debt."
As Leia watched the lieutenant turn and disappear into the outer corridor, she drew a deep breath and blew it out in resignation. She could think of no other task or errand to delay the necessary meeting with Han Solo, but it was not a conversation that she felt confident about. Shoving the borrowed clothing into the duffel bag, Leia eyed the bunk one last time, then headed over to the freshers in the far corner to change her clothes, giving herself another few minutes at least.