CHAPTER 9:

Princess Leia's breath caught in her throat, but the rhythmic, raspy respiration continued its cadence. Her large brown eyes hooked onto the all-too-familiar form that was seated in one of the plush chairs. She couldn't move, couldn't look away from the imposing figure.

"You're just a dream," she whispered into the dark.

"Am I?" his voice startled her. He never spoke in her dreams before. Her eyes shifted to Han.

"He is unharmed for the moment," Darth Vader rested his hand on the table. "But he cannot help you now."

She slipped her hand under her pillow, wrapping her fingers around the butt of her blaster, but didn't pull it out.

"You weren't an easy one to find, Your Highness. But my search for you is now complete."

Leia slowly let go of the blaster and sat up. "Now that you found me," she swallowed, "what do you plan to do?"

"You've caused me a lot of trouble. As you can imagine, the Emperor was very displeased that his ultimate weapon was destroyed."

"Good," she whispered.

Vader expelled a menacing chuckle, "I see your time on the Death Star has taught you nothing."

"And I'm sure that you've learned there's nothing you can do to me that will make me reveal any of the Alliance's secrets," she lifted her chin.

"Don't be so certain about that."

Leia's large brown eyes instinctively shifted to Han for the minutest of seconds.

"You should be dead," Vader stood up and Leia cowered.

"I know," she whispered.

Vader strode to the foot of the bed and Leia's hand slipped under her pillow again.

"You should have been on Alderaan when it was destroyed."

"I know," she whispered, letting go of the blaster.

"You should have been executed on the Death Star, but Tarkin was a fool."

"I know."

"You shouldn't have survived our…sessions , at least not with your mind intact."

Leia shrank into herself.

"Ah," Darth Vader sighed with pleasure, "but you didn't survive unscathed, did you?"

She gazed up into his black orbs and slowly shook her head.

"Nightmares, flashbacks…memories burned into your mind, the innocent lives lost because of you," the Sith Lord loomed over her. "You're damaged goods."

Leia's mouth went dry.

"I'm sure you hide it well. But one day….one day."

"There's no point in taking me prisoner," Leia pointed out. "You know that."

"Yes, you are useless to me."

"Then just kill me," she jutted out her chin.

"You should be dead," Vader repeated.

Her mouth opened but she had nothing to say.

"So here's the man who saved you from execution," the Sith Lord walked over to the side of the bed where Han slept. "So do you thank him?...Or do you curse him?"

"He's not…"

"Don't lie to me, Your Highness," Vader thrust a finger at her, his tone harsh. "My sources are reliable and correct."

"He's not part of the Alliance," fear seeped into her voice. "This isn't his fight."

"Then what is he doing here?"

"He's just a smuggler, a mercinary," she swallowed, hoping that she was convincing enough.

Vader studied her for a moment. "You don't really believe that."

"No," she spontaneously confessed. She closed her eyes, "But still, this isn't his fight.

"If it wasn't for him, you would be dead."

Leia looked at Han as tears welled up in her eyes. She blinked them back, "He was at the wrong place at the wrong time." She returned her attention back to the Sith Lord, "He did it for the reward."

"Hard to believe," he stared at Han's sleeping form. "He's still here."

"Please…"

Darth Vader held his hand up over Han.

"Please."

She was answered with nothing more than Vader's mechanical breathing. Han awoke from his Force-induced slumber and grasped at his neck as he began to choke. Leia leapt at her enemy, knocking his hand away. The Dark Lord laughed and thrust his hand in her direction. She flew across the room, slamming hard against the far wall. She tried to get up but her body couldn't move. All she could do was helplessly watch as Han struggled to breathe.

"What is it?" Han sat up, brandishing his blaster.

Leia blinked, "What?"

"Your breathing changed," Han scrutinized the shadows in the room, "What woke you up?"

She sat up and pushed her hair behind her ears, "Nothing woke me up."

Han studied her face and Leia hoped that none of her fears were present there.

"You gasped," he furrowed his brow.

"I yawned," she lied.

"You okay?"

Leia wrapped her arms around her legs and nodded, "Why wouldn't I be?"

Han kept his haze eyes on her as he reholstered his blaster, "Bad dream?"

"No," she firmly said, and she lay back down on her side facing away from Han, pulling the covers over her shoulders.

She squeezed her eyes shut and willed Han's presence away. Bad dream. What did he know? It was none of his business. Leave me alone, she wanted to scream. She felt him settle back into the bed, and her anger disipated. Then, to her surprise, without a word, he rested his arm on her hip. Leia froze. His arm and hand were warm, and his heat seeped through the covers, through her skin and into her bones. The knot in her stomach unfurled and her and the memory of Darth Vader faded away to a whisper. It was a bold move on Han's part, to touch her so casually, so intimately, but instead of resisting, she relished the comfort he gave her.

In just minutes she fell into a dreamless sleep.

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The smell of bacon, doret syrup, and pancakes roused Princess Leia from sleep. She rolled onto her back and stretched her arms above her head. Then she turned her face toward the source of the smells to find Han Solo watching her. She sat up.

"Good morning, sleepy-head," he smiled at her.

"What's all that?" she smiled back.

"Thought you might be hungry, so I ordered room service."

"That was thoughtful," she climbed out of bed and walked over to the table.

"Well, I was hungry, too," he sported a lop-sided grin.

She shook her head, "Of course." Leia sat down across from Han and he pushed the plate in front of her. "Thanks."

She picked up a piece of bacon with her fingers, rubbed it in the doret syrup, and took a bite, "Mmm…"

"I thought you'd like it," Han resumed eating his breakfast.

"You do have good taste."

He leaned back in his chair and continued to eat. She followed suit, focusing on the plate before her. She could feel his eyes on her, inciting a heat rise to her cheeks. Leia pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped one arm around her legs as she dipped another piece of bacon in the syrup. She was doing her best to ignore him, but her discomfort urged her to say something.

"What?" she looked up.

"Huh?" he didn't look away.

"You're staring at me," she picked up her napkin. "Do I have doret syrup all over my face?" She wiped at her face.

"No," he smiled. "I was just thinking."

Her brow furrowed, "About what?"

"About how beautiful you are in the morning," he took a bit of his pancake without removing his eyes from her.

Leia felt herself blush, "Are you teasing me?"

"Not at all," there was such sencerity in his voice that she had to look away.

She smoothed down her hair and pulled her knees closer to her body, "My hair must be frightful."

"Disarray looks good on you," his eyes took on a seriousness that made Leia squirm a bit in her chair. "In fact, I think I like this look best."

"Thank you," she frowned, uncertain of his intent, "I think."

Han chuckled and she turned her quizzical eyes to him, "What?"

"Who woulda imagined a guy like me would be sharin' breakfast with royalty," he draped an arm over the back of his chair and shook his head.

Leia's face fell. Royalty. She lifted her chin, "Breakfast with a lowly smuggler. I guess life is full of surprises."

Han didn't take her comment as a slight, which took her off guard. Instead, he favored her with a lop-sided grin, "Yep."

She studied him for a moment before turning her attention back to her meal.

"Everyone has bad dreams now and then," he said quietly. "Nothin' to be ashamed of."

Every now and then, yes. Almost every night? "That's an interesting fact, Captain."

"After everything you've been through…"

"I never said I had a bad dream last night," Leia stopped moving her fork around and glared at him. "And if I did, it's none of your business."

"Then that little gasp last night," Han raised his eyebrows, "must've been some dream."

"As I said, it's none—"

"Probably about me," he grinned. "That's why you look so…uncomfortable, so embarrassed."

Leia's mouth dropped open then snapped shut, "I can assure you, that you never make any appearances in my dreams whatsoever!"

"Such strong protest. I must be good," he winked at her.

"You're insufferable!"

"But not in your dreams."

Her large brown eyes widened and retracted and she sputtered, "Dreaming of you? That would be more of a nightmare."

Han's expression sobered and he rested his elbows on the table, "You wanna talk about it?"

Leia pressed her lips together, "No."

They finished their breakfast in silence.

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Just as Rugger said, Marbo retrieved Han and Leia and took them to the safe house. As they entered the home, a man and women, who's makeup and hair were similar to Leia's, greeted them.

"I am Geriob, and this is my wife, Lortis," he shook their hands using both of his. The wife just inclined her head.

"Children," Lortis clapped her hands, "go out and play."

Leia watched the two kids who were reading books on the floor scramble out of the door. She watched after them. Was it safe? Did they know what Rugger planned for today? Of course, they did. Dread settled in the pit of her stomach.

"Come," Geriob beakoned them, "Rugger is waiting."

Han, Leia, and Marbo followed Geriob down a short hall and into a room. The room was tiny and the modest bed, a matress on the floor, took up most of it. There were neatly folded piles of clothes lining the walls and a broken mirror fixed to the wall on the far end. A small window allowed a stream of sunlight into the room. Geriob stopped in front of a wardrobe, opened it and knocked on the back panel. It slid open. He then led them down a steep set of stairs and into a dark, dank, and smoky room with a table and a few chairs. A row of weapons leaned against the wall. Rugger was seated at the far end of the table.

"Welcome, Princess, Captain Solo," Rugger remained seated with a flimsy spread before him.

He waved a hand toward the chairs, and all but Geriob took a seat. Rugger waited for Geriob to exit the room before he said anymore, "Everyone is in their place and just waiting for the signal."

"And what is that?" Han asked.

"You'll know when the time comes," Rugger shrugged.

"You're risking my men's lives, not to mention the lives of the locals," Han angled himself toward Rugger. "I think we have a right to know."

"All in good time."

Han exchanged looks with Leia.

"Don't you trust me?" Rugger held his hands out.

"No," Han said plainly.

Rugger sighed, "Princess, General Madine has my back. That should be good enough for you."

"But it's not," Leia pursed her lips. Rugger's secrecy could only mean it was something they weren't going to like.

Rugger shook his head, "We're wasting time."

"Then I suggest you tell us."

The low tone in Han's voice prompted Rugger to explain, "The locals will march to the governor's palace demanding reform."

"Will they be armed?"

"Some," Rugger shrugged. "My men will be among them armed. We armed all those we could get weapons to. We're hoping the governor will give into the demands."

"But you're not expecting that," Han leaned back in his chair.

"Well, they are Imperials."

Leia leaned forward, "The governor won't put up with any protests. You know that."

"All we need them to do is to fire first," Rugger's green eyes met the princess'. "We'll have the sympathy of other planets, maybe encourage other cities here and elsewhere in the galaxy to take up arms against the Empire."

"If you're successful in taking the city," Han pointed out.

"All we need to accomplish first is taking the governor's palace."

"You're risking innocent lives."

"You know better than anyone, Princess," Rugger's expression hardened, "sacrifices must be made during war."

She paled, losing all power of speech.

Han's anger seeped into his words, "If you're implying-"

"I'm implying nothing," Rugger held out his hands. "Just stating facts."

Han glared at the gray-haired man for a moment, "And just what is our role in this uprising?"

"You'll be on the tactical team," Rugger explained. "You have a reputation of getting into and out of…sticky places."

The Death Star. "Security will tighten once this gets started."

"No," Leia looked at Han. "We're not going to storm the palace."

"Not you. Just Solo. I figured since you have training in triage, that would be your role."

"No." her protest was firm. "The High Command did not authorize this attack. If General Madine knew what you were planning—"

"Who says he doesn't know?"

Leia narrowed her eyes on the man, "If he knew, he would have sent an army."

"You're right. But we cannot pass up this opportunity. With or without the Alliance's approval, this battle will take place." Rugger looked to Solo, "You know we need you."

"This is the map of the governor's palace?" Leia indicated the flimsy on the table. "Captain Solo, will assist you with the logistics, but he won't be leading the attack."

She felt Han's eyes on her, but he said nothing.

"Captain Solo and our men take part in creating a distraction so your men can infiltrate the palace," her tone gave no room for objections. "Once we've completed our part of the mission, we'll return to the Alliance and plead your case for more men."

Rugger studied the princess for a moment, tracing the map with his finger, "Then I guess it's settled."

Without further debate, the rebel leaders plotted out their plans.