My thanks to EsmeAmelia, 2Old4This2, I love dance, and everyone else who has dropped by to read this story. Here's the last official chapter - but there is an Epilogue coming. :)
When Luke awoke, the chrono indicated it was morning. The lights, set on an automatic timer, were coming up aboard the Falcon. Luke slipped down the hall to Han's quarters and manually turned off the overhead light in the captain's room. Han needed his rest.
Luke padded toward the galley and found a few odds and ends to snack on for breakfast. He found it hard to relax. More than anything, he wanted to return to Hoth as quickly as possible and tell Leia about their good fortune.
But he didn't want to push Han. Luke knew the Corellian's nature. He would try to hide or play off any weakness. Han didn't let anyone in, Luke realized, not even him. He wondered about Chewie and Leia. Did Han talk to them? Clearly, the man had feelings for the Princess. Had they taken their relationship any further than the light flirting that masqueraded as fighting? Were they really sleeping together? Luke shook his head at the idea. Best not to think about that. And just who was this Vyyk Draygo? What sort of secret life did Han have hidden in his past? Did he really know the captain of the Millennium Falcon at all?
As if the man could sense Luke's doubts, Han appeared in the galley, looking disheveled and disoriented.
"Hey, Han," Luke said in greeting. "Or perhaps I should say Vyyk Draygo?" he teased.
Han flinched as though he had been slapped, and Luke instantly regretted his choice of words. "Don't ever call me that." In the stony silence that followed, Han fixed himself a cup of caf and left. Luke followed at a distance. The older man sat quietly at the Dejarik table with his eyes closed, caf in hand.
"How're you feeling?" Luke asked, taking a seat near him on the lounge sofa.
Han opened his eyes to glare at the young Jedi. "I can fly if you want me to. It's not much of a hop from here to Kashyyyk."
"That's not what I asked."
Han sighed and rubbed his eyes. "Whaddya want me to say?"
"How about the truth for a change?"
The spacer nearly choked on his caf. After a moment's recovery, he spoke in a tense, carefully measured voice. "What do you want to know?"
"Who is Vyyk Draygo?" Luke's blue eyes pierced Han's hazel ones. "And why did you have your retinal patterns changed?"
Han took a long sip of caf before replying. "An alias I used a long time ago. Vyyk officially died when I entered the Imperial Navy."
It was Luke's turn to splutter. "You were in the Imperial Navy?"
Han turned a cold gaze on him. "Yes, I was."
"So why did you leave?"
"My superior was torturing a Wookiee pilot. I helped him escape."
Realization dawned for Luke. "That's why Chewie owes you a life debt, isn't it?"
Han nodded. The weariness of his expression drew Luke up short. To make up for his interrogation, Luke offered, "Go ahead, Han, ask me anything."
"Are you done asking me stupid questions?" There was just a hint of amusement in Han's voice, and Luke took that as a good sign. But he had to push his luck, because he had to know the truth.
"Just one more. Do you feel well enough to fly?"
Han looked away and took another slow sip of caf, effectively answering Luke's question. No, he didn't. But Luke still wondered what the Corellian might say.
Han appeared to be weighing his words carefully. "Can I fly right now? Sure. Migraine's almost gone." He paused and looked at the cup of caf in his hands. "But should I fly?" He looked up to meet Luke's eyes and sighed deeply. "No. I need another day to recover or I risk it happening all over again." He shrugged and set the caf aside.
"Do you know what triggers your migraines?"
Han nodded. "Temperature extremes. Sudden air pressure changes."
Luke frowned. No wonder Han hated Hoth. And air pressure changes? Bad news for a pilot.
As if Han could read his mind, his friend clarified. "Falcon's pressurized pretty good so I don't get 'em too often. But if we're in and outta hyperspace, settin' down dirtside one too many times over a couple of days, it can get kinda rough. Sometimes I get warp-lagged." He shrugged again and crossed his arms protectively. "That answer your question?"
Luke squeezed his friend's arm. "Yeah, it does." He tried to catch the Corellian's eye, but the man wouldn't look at him. "Look, Han, I know it was hard for you to talk about this, but I want you to know that I feel closer to you now."
Han ventured a look at Luke. "At least someone feels better." He picked up the cup of caf, drained it, and walked back into the galley.
Luke smiled at his friend's retreating back. Despite Han's embarrassment, Luke knew that they had taken an important step forward in their friendship. He'd give Han some space now, so that the man could recover his dignity.
After locating his datapad in the lounge, Luke began to write up his notes about the negotiation session with Trep Reskan. Since they had to pick up Chewie on their way back to Hoth, that meant two sets of jumps in and out of hyperspace. Not wanting to push Han too hard, Luke realized that it might be several more days before he could check in with Princess Leia and Mon Mothma. He knew how he was going to spend his down time. Unlike the mission, this debriefing report was going to be absolutely perfect.
END
