CHAPTER 3

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Tycho Celchu smiled as he took a bite of his flatbread, chewing carefully so as not to embarrass himself in front of his date. It was odd to think that he was actually sharing a date with someone in the middle of a warship. But, in another way, it made perfect sense.

Winter Retrac smiled back at him and took a sip of her drink. When she was finished, she gently placed her cup back on the table. "I think this is the longest stretch of time the two of us have been in one place together."

"Yeah," Tycho said. "It's nice." After a moment, he reached across the table and took her hand in his.

She glanced down at their hands. "It is."

They remained that way for a moment, before separating so they could eat again. Tycho wished they had time for leisurely dates, but with his Rogue Squadron duties and her job in Intelligence, leisure time was something they had very little of.

Even still, Tycho appreciated every moment spent with Winter. He had liked her from the very beginning, when she'd been assigned to keep watch on his group after they defected from the Empire. After Tycho was cleared for active duty, they remained friends, bonding over long talks about Alderaan. They found comfort in those talks, and even though Tycho still vowed to help topple the Empire, his wounds were slowly healing.

But he still refused to take things to the next level with Winter. He felt it would be disrespectful to his family, and to his fiancée, who had died when Alderaan was destroyed. How could he move on so quickly?

But about a year ago, everything changed. Their dear friend, Mara Jade, had been captured by the Empire. In the aftermath, secrets were revealed—that Mara had served as the Emperor's Hand. Tycho was shocked, and felt betrayed by the woman who had become his little sister. Why hadn't she told him? Did she not trust him? In the end, it didn't matter. He just wanted his friend back.

The Rogues clamored to find her. Intelligence was also involved, and Winter was sent to Coruscant on a reconnaissance mission. Those few weeks with no word from Winter had been absolute hell. Tycho kept thinking the worst—that she'd been captured, that she'd been killed. Was she in a cell next to Mara somewhere? Winter had a perfect memory. Tycho knew what the Empire would do to her if she was caught. He also knew that Winter would find a way to kill herself before they got any information out of her.

Then the rumors started flying—that Mara had been spotted inside the Imperial Palace. That she was serving the Empire and known as Lady Jade. Tycho hadn't wanted to believe it.

And then the hologram was passed around Home One.

He was devastated, but his only solace was that Winter was okay. When she returned, he pulled her into his quarters and did what he'd wanted to do for so long. He kissed her. And she kissed him back.

From that moment on, they'd been a couple. Even though Tycho missed Mara dearly, even though the war with the Empire was as fierce as ever, he had never been happier.

Winter cleared her throat, interrupting his thoughts. "I wonder when Luke and Leia will return."

Tycho shrugged. Upon leaving for more Jedi training, Luke had again turned over Rogue Leader duties to Wedge Antilles. Wedge was a competent commanding officer, but the Rogues were eager for Luke to return. And with both Mara and Leia gone, Winter was sorely missing female companionship. "I hope it's soon," he said. "Wedge might turn gray if he has to deal with Wes much longer."

Winter giggled. "What about poor Luke?"

"Gray is less noticeable on blonds."

"Ah." Winter raised her eyebrows at Tycho's assertion, but said nothing else. They ate the rest of their meal in silence.

As they were finishing, Wedge came bounding in the officer's mess. He waved his arm when he saw them. "Tycho! Come on, I need your help."

Tycho groaned. "Can't you see I'm busy?" He gestured at Winter.

Wedge lifted a hand at her. "Hey Winter. Sorry, but I need to steal your man for a bit."

"Go ahead," Winter said. "I've got work to do, anyway."

Wedge turned to Tycho and struck a triumphant pose. "See?"

Tycho groaned again, but stood. "At least tell me what you want first."

Wedge's eyes darted to Winter. "Han just got back. He needs help…unloading."

"Oh. Right." Tycho nodded in understanding. He glanced to Winter, not wanting to tell her what was really going on and possibly get her into trouble. But Winter merely stood and kissed Tycho on the cheek.

"You boys have fun," she said with a knowing look. She knew exactly what they were up to, of course, but let Tycho have his fun every so often. "Don't get in too much trouble."

"Who, us?" Wedge said innocently.

Winter shook her head and left the room. Wedge and Tycho followed her out of the mess, and then headed in the opposite direction toward the hangar bays.

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Han Solo walked down the Millennium Falcon's landing ramp. He paused for just a moment as his feet hit the surface of Home One again. He continued walking, a bounce in his step as he took in the surroundings that had somehow become his home over the past several years.

He'd been away from the Alliance for a few months now, putting his smuggler past behind him. Now he was ready for his new life to begin, a life that included Princess Leia Organa, High Councilor in the Rebel Alliance and budding Jedi Knight.

Yeah. Now that he was back for good, he really needed to have a talk to General Rieekan about a promotion. "Captain of the Millennium Falcon" was just not good enough for Leia anymore.

Lando Calrissian followed him down the ramp, along with his first mate, Chewbacca. They placed their supply crates on the ground. "I bet you're glad to be back," Lando said. He gave Han a sidelong wink. "I can only imagine that you're in need of some royal attention."

Han rolled his eyes. After the debacle on Cloud City, Lando had officially joined the Alliance and seemed very eager to fight to the Empire. He'd also helped in the search for Mara Jade, and had accompanied Han while he paid off his debt to Jabba the Hutt. Lando'd really proved himself to be a true friend.

But he could still be quite the pain in the neck, especially when it came to ribbing Han about Leia.

Behind them, Chewbacca growled and pawed at Han's shoulder. Han rolled his eyes again. "Thanks, pal, but I don't need you to vacuum up the hair in the Falcon." He paused. "The Princess has her own, much larger quarters on Home One."

Lando threw back his head and laughed while Chewbacca let out a healthy guffaw. The two of them had been relentless, ganging up on him ever since Leia had left to learn to be a Jedi. He knew why—they wanted to cheer him up. Generally, they did a good job. Han liked to grumble and moan, but he really appreciated his friends. He truly was a lucky guy. What he'd done to deserve it all, he didn't know, but he knew better than to question his good fortune.

Han wondered what Leia was doing. She wasn't there waiting for him, so he assumed she was still involved in her Jedi training.

Just as he was about to wander up the ramp for another load, a loud voice called out his name across the hangar. Han whipped around to see Wedge Antilles and Tycho Celchu heading toward him. Han smiled and gave them hearty handshakes. He'd become close with all the Rogues over the past year, and besides, any friend of Luke's was a friend of his. "Hey Wedge. What's goin' on?" he asked.

"Oh, you know, same old thing. Wes acting like a five-year-old, Hobbie stubbing his toe on various objects." Wedge glanced at Tycho. "We heard you just got back."

Han nodded. "Yeah. I had to take care of some business."

"Well you're not strewn about the hold in pieces, so I'll assume everything went well." Wedge glanced around Han to the Falcon. "You free to chat?"

Han looked to Chewie and Lando. "I think we got a report to file or something," Lando said. "We'll be back later on to help unload." Chewie howled good-bye and the two of them left the hangar.

A few moments later, Han, Wedge, and Tycho were sitting in the Falcon's main hold.

"So I can assume that Leia still hasn't gotten back yet?" Han asked to break the ice.

Wedge grimaced. "No. Sorry. And no word from her, either. I'm sure she's fine, though." He added the last bit as an afterthought. Tycho nodded sympathetically, having gone through the same thing himself many times.

Han nodded, not bothering to make eye contact with the others. Leia had gone away with Luke a few months ago, to a planet Luke still wouldn't disclose, to start her Jedi training. Leia had insisted that she wasn't Jedi material, so he didn't expect them to be gone so long. He'd been wrong, apparently.

Well, that was okay. This gave him more time to get his affairs in order, for him to be the man Leia deserved. And he'd be waiting for her when she returned.

"Right," Han said, getting down to business. "Anyway. We met up with your friend. She had some interesting information." He passed a datapad across the dejarik table. Wedge accepted it, and perused it quickly.

Tycho read the datapad over Wedge's shoulder. "The Chimaera's at Coruscant?" His brow furrowed in confusion. "But that's not odd." Wedge nodded in agreement. The Chimaera, Mara's personal Star Destroyer, always stayed in the Core and frequently made stops at Coruscant.

Han jabbed his finger at the datapad. "Check out how long it's been there."

Wedge let out a low whistle. "Nearly a month? She's never been on Coruscant that long."

"What could be going on?" Tycho asked.

Han shrugged. "Who knows. But the Executor recently arrived, as well."

Tycho grimaced, and said what they were all thinking. "Maybe the Emperor's planning something."

"Yeah." Han took back the datapad. Or she got too far out of line and he had to reassert his control. Luke firmly believed that Mara'd been brainwashed, or controlled in the Force somehow. He insisted that she had not turned to the Dark Side, like Vader once had. Han didn't really understand all those subtleties. All he knew was that the Mara Jade he'd known in the Rebellion would have never voluntarily gone back to serving the Empire.

"Anyway," he continued, "I just thought it was interesting. Mirax said she'd be in contact as soon as the Chimaera heads out. Her next mission might be a big one."

Wedge nodded. "Good. Well," he glanced to Tycho, "since we're here, we might as well help you unload."

"Yeah, can you do that?" Han stood up and went to leave the hold. "I gotta meet with Rieekan right away. Thanks for your help!"

He glanced back over his shoulder and saw Wedge and Tycho share an incredulous look. He chuckled to himself before heading down the ramp.

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Several minutes later, Han was sitting uncomfortably inside General Rieekan's office. The Minister of War was peering at several datapads. Han shifted in his seat, wanting to get this show on the road but not wanting to be rude to Rieekan. While Han'd had trouble with authority in the past, he'd always respected Rieekan. He was a competent leader, and wasn't full of himself like some other members of Alliance Command.

…Not Leia, of course. Definitely not Leia.

Finally Rieekan placed the datapad on his desk. He clasped his hands and looked at Han. "You are aware, Captain Solo, that I tried to recruit you to the Alliance for many years."

"Yeah, you and several others," Han couldn't help but respond.

Rieekan's lips quirked into a smile. "You have quite the record, Captain Solo. Valedictorian at the Imperial Academy, and your experience in the Alliance speaks for itself. You've been unofficially serving the Alliance for quite some time now. What are your feelings about that?"

Han cleared his throat. "Well, sir, I'm dedicated to the Alliance." Not to mention a certain Alderaanian princess.

"That's good to hear. I take it that your personal affairs have been taken care of?"

"Yes, sir. I'm probably still on a few Most Wanted lists, but at least Jabba won't be sending thugs out for me any longer."

"Excellent. Now that you're here for good, I was hoping you'd accept a place on my leadership team."

Han had to keep his mouth from dropping open. He'd hoped to get a promotion to some sort of military position, but had not been expecting Rieekan himself to ask him to be a member of his leadership team. The Minister of War only chose the best and brightest of soldiers. The most reliable. Han was many things, but reliable had never been one of them.

He swallowed hard before answering. "It would be an honor, sir."

"I'm glad to hear that." Rieekan stood and Han followed suit, snapping a salute. "I expect you at at a briefing tomorrow morning at 0800, General Solo."

Han could not keep the surprise off his face this time. "Did…did you say General?"

Rieekan grinned. "It could be admiral, if you'd like. Take your pick."

You're doing this for Leia. Think of Leia.

For a moment, Han didn't know what to say. Then he grinned and shook Rieekan's hand again. "General Solo has a better ring to it."

Rieekan walked around the desk and clapped his back. "I'll take that as a yes."

"Yes, sir."

Rieekan produced general's rank pips and pressed them onto Han's disheveled jacket collar. "Get some rest, General Solo. It's good to have you back."

"It's good to be back, sir."

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Han was heading back toward the Falcon, looking forward to bragging to Chewie and Lando that he'd just been made a general, when he heard a voice that made his hair stand on end, and not in a good way.

"Captain Solo! You have returned!"

Han turned around, slowly. Heading toward him were a trio of droids—Threepio, Artoo, and Red. Three droids who bickered senselessly and seemingly couldn't stand to be around each other, but they were always together. Han had not missed them while he was away.

"Hey, Goldenrod," he said, not even bothering to hide his grimace. He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "No time for chatter, I gotta get back to the Falcon."

"Oh, we will accompany you!"

Han rolled his eyes and kept walking. "Don't need an escort."

"But Captain Solo, you have been gone for so long. It is so nice to see you again."

Han couldn't resist. He whipped around and pointed in the droid's face. "That's General Solo to you, now."

"Oh my." Threepio seemed startled, even though he was still wearing the same expression. "General Solo, you say?"

Han straightened up proudly. "That's right."

"Oh." Threepio turned to the other droids. Artoo let out a rude-sounding tweet. Red beeped. "Yes. That's very interesting news, General Solo. Congratulations."

"Thanks," Han drawled. Just what he needed—congratulations from three droids. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some general business to attend to." He turned back around and hurried away.

Just as he was about to turn the corner, he heard Threepio whisper, "Alliance Command must really be getting desperate for leadership if they decided to promote Captain Solo!"

Oh yeah. When Luke and Leia returned, he was going to have a nice, long chat with them about the importance of memory wipes and reprogramming.