A/N: Don't worry, this isn't the end of this story. I will be putting parts of the real book into this, just to show markers as to where we are in the story line of Return of the Jedi.
***(Disclaimer: Italics excerpt from 'Return of the Jedi', by James Kahn and George Lucas. Print. 1983 Lucasfilm Ltd. Del Rey, Ballantine Books, New York. No credit taken.)***
As always, please drop a review if you read!
VI
"Easy, easy… Let her down nice and slow, now."
Han Solo slowly guided his beloved ship onto the landing dock of the Alliance frigate. Chewbacca copiloted, aiding him nicely in his attempt to land the Falcon with minimal damage. After the events that had happened on the trip to rejoin the Rebellion, the best landing would be as if she never touched down at all.
Chewie yowled in relief as the ship touched the floor and rested. In habit, he began the shutdown process, hitting switches above his head, followed by a series of button beneath.
Captain Solo ripped off his headset. Lando patted his shoulder, then made his way out of the cockpit to lower the boarding ramp on the starboard side. Then, Han's seat spun around and he was on his feet, following his friend to the entrance.
On his way out of the cockpit, he glanced at Leia. They exchanged a few seconds of a frustrated look, and then he proceeded past her and out the door.
"Chewie, wake Threepio, please," Leia requested softly. The droid had shut himself down again upon arrival. She placed her hand on the Wookie's shoulder from the seat behind him in thanks, then she made her way after Han and Lando.
The boarding ramp slowly lowered. Leia had never been so nervous before. She had not been herself for the past year, and the Alliance surely had picked up on that. She had demanded a search and rescue and volunteered the Rebellion's best soldiers in order to save Solo. The reaction they would receive would immediately show her her current place within the freedom fighter's army.
Lando made the first steps onto the Rebellion frigate and off of the Millennium Falcon. Receiving him was most of the Rebel Alliance. The Gold and Red squadron pilots were standing among the military control personnel. In front stood Admiral Ackbar, his first officers, also Mon Calimari, and Mon Mothma.
Nervously, Leia glanced at Han, who was standing by her side. He didn't look back down at her until a few moments later. Her eyes begged him to forgive her, but he didn't notice.
Instead, he told her, "should've changed out of those pants, your Highness."
The Princess looked at him with confusion clouding her eyes.
"Don't you think it's obvious they're mine?" Solo asked.
"Don't be so full of yourself," Leia couldn't help but snap back.
He shrugged. "Whatever you say, Princess. But last I checked, you weren't from Corellia, or ever in the Corellian Naval Unit."
Suddenly, Leia was a whole new kind of embarrassed. But, being the leader that she was since the war against the Empire began, she knew she had to keep her head held high and ignore the gossip that may or may not travel. After all, it wasn't her fault she had no clothes to wear after Jabba had enslaved her.
Seeing the panic in her face, Han frowned and muttered a "sorry" briefly before they were expected to step off with Lando.
The Alliance was quiet. The ship echoed as it rocked in dead space. Lando exited first. Leia expected cheers upon their arrival, but she knew what they were really waiting for: to see if they had rescued Captain Solo from Jabba the Hutt.
Leia held her breath as she stepped out next, her footsteps in sync with Han's as they traveled down the boarding ramp. When they made it to the bottom, Lando stepped aside, revealing the Princess and her winning rescue. The freedom fighters erupted.
Looking around the crowd, she saw the likes of Wedge and Dreis jumping to hug one another. High fives were given in celebration. The red, gold, and green squadrons became one, thrilled to have their pilot back. Mon Mothma and Admiral Ackbar had faint smiles, looking relieved to see that the mission had worked.
It wasn't until Chewbacca and See-Threepio stepped off of the Falcon behind them that Leia finally felt a smile spread across her face. She gazed around the crowd in front of her, and then looked up at Han.
Solo looked happy. He grinned as he waved at his supporting pilots and military members. For once, he felt like this was his home. It reminded him that it wasn't just the group that had saved him that made him feel wanted.
Then, Leia had the courage to do something she hadn't done yet. Catching Solo's eye as he glanced in her direction, she flashed him a true smile and grasped his hand in hers. Finally, she was ready for the Alliance to know.
The group began to head towards Mon Mothma and Admiral Ackbar, glad to be received so light heartedly. Lando patted Han on the back once more as he and the Princess caught up to him, and the three walked together, with Chewie and Threepio trailing behind. Leia and Han walked hand in hand the whole way, happy to start something new among the Alliance.
Han, Chewie, Leia, and the two droids greeted Lando's appearance with a cacophony of cheers, laughs, beeps, and barks.
"Well, look at you," Solo chided, straightening the lapel of Calrissian's new uniform and pulling on the insignias: "A general!"
Lando laughed affectionately. "I'm a man of many faces and many costumes. Someone must have told them about my lttle maneuver at the battle of Taanab." Taanab was an agrarian planet raided seasonally by bandits from Norulac. Calrissian – before his stint as governor of Cloud City – had wiped out the bandits against all odds, using legendary flying and unheard of strategies. And he'd done it on a bet.
Han opened his eyes wide with sarcasm. "Hey, don't look at me. I just told them you were a 'fair' pilot. I had no idea they were looking for someone to lead this crazy attack."
"That's all right, I asked for it. I want to lead this attack." For one thing, he liked dressing up like a general. People gave him the respect he deserved, and he didn't have to give up flying circles around some pompous Imperial military policeman. And that was the other thing – he was finally going to stick it to this Imperial navy, stick it so it hurt, for all the times he'd been stuck. Stick it and leave his signature on it. General Calrissian, thank you.
Solo looked at his old friend admiration combined with disbelief. "Have you ever seen one of those Death Stars? You're in for a very sort generalship, old buddy."
"I'm surprised they didn't ask you to do it," Lando smiled.
"Maybe they did," Han intimidated. "But I'm not crazy. You're the respectable one, remember? Baron-Administrator of the Bespin Cloud City?"
Leia moved closer to Solo and took his arm protectively. "Han is going to stay on the command ship with me…we're both very grateful for what you're doing, Lando. And proud."
Suddenly, at the center of the room, Mon Mothma signaled for attention. The room fell silent. Anticipation was keen.
"The data brought to us by the Bothan spies have been confirmed," the supreme leader announced. "The Emperor has made a critical error, and the time for our attack has come."
This caused a great stir in the room. As if her message had been a valve letting off pressure, their heads with comment. She turned to the hologram of the Death Star, and went on. "We now have the exact location of the Emperor's new battle station. The weapon systems of this Death Star are not yet operational. With the Imperial fleet spread throughout the galaxy in a vain effort to engage us, it is relatively unprotected." She paused here, to let her next statement register its full effect. "Most important, we have learned the Emperor himself is personally overseeing the construction."
A volley of spirited chatter erupted from the assembly. This is it. The chance. I hope no one could hope to hope for. A shot of the emperor.
Mon Mothma continued when the hubbub died down slightly. "His trip was undertaken in the utmost secrecy, but he underestimated our spy network. Many Bothans died to bring us this information." Her voice turned suddenly turn again to remind them of the price of this enterprise.
Admiral Ackbar steps forward. His specialty was Imperial defense procedures. He raised his hand and pointed at the holographic model of the force field emanating from Endor. "Although uncompleted, the Death Star is not entirely without a defense mechanism," he instructed in soothing Calamarian tones. "It is protected by an energy Shield which is generated by the nearby Moon of Endor, here. No ship can fly through it, no weapon can penetrate it." He stopped for a long moment. He wanted the information to sink in. When he thought it had, he spoke more slowly. "The shield must be deactivated if any attack is to be attempted. Once the shield is down, the cruisers will create a perimeter while the fighters fly into the superstructure, here...and attempt to hit the main reactor..." he pointed to the unfinished portion of the Death Star "…somewhere in here."
Another murmur swept over the room of commanders, like a swell in a heavy sea.
Ackbar concluded. "General Calrissian will lead the fighter attack."
Han turned to Lando, his doubts gilded with respect. "Good luck, buddy."
"Thanks," said Lando simply.
"You're gonna need it."
Admiral Ackbar yielded the floor to General Madine, who was in charge of covert operations. "We have acquired a small Imperial shuttle," Madine declared smugly. "Under this guise, a strike team will land on the moon and deactivate the shield generator. The control bunker is well guarded, but a small squad should be able to penetrate its security."
This news stimulated another round of general mumbling.
Leia turned to Han and said under her breath, "I wonder who they found to pull that one off?"
Madine called out: "General Solo, is your strike team assembled?"
Leia looked up at Han, shock quickly melting to joyous admiration. She knew there was a reason she loved him – in spite of his usual crass insensitivity and oafish bravo. Beneath it all, he had heart.
Moreover, a change had come over him since he emerged from carbonization. He wasn't just a lone anymore, only in this for the money. H had lost his selfish edge and had somehow, subtly, become part of the whole. He was actually doing something for someone else, now, and that fact moved Leia greatly. Madine had called him General; that meant Han had let himself officially become a member of the army. A part of the whole.
Solo responded to Madine. "My squad is ready, sir, but I need a command crew for the shuttle." He looked questioningly at Chewbacca, and spoke in a lower voice. "It's gonna be rough, old pal. I didn't want to speak for you."
"Roo roowfl," Chewie shook his head with gruff love, and raised his hairy paw.
"That's one," Han called.
"Here's two!" Leia shouted, sticking her arm in the air. Then softly, to Solo: "I'm not letting you out of my sight again, Your Generalship."
"And I'm with you, too!" a voice was raised from the back of the room.
They all turned their heads to see Luke standing at the top of the stairs.
Cheers went up for the last of the Jedi.
And though it wasn't his style, Han was unable to conceal his joy. "That's three," he smiled.