Part X

In her private quarters in the Rebel base...she'd lost count of how many she'd been in...Princess Leia sat contemplating star charts and contact lists. She was tired. Tired of running, tired of hiding, tired of losing a myriad of battles, physical and emotional. Not that she wanted to give up...that was the last thing on her mind. She'd just found it difficult to concentrate lately. It was hard to find her focus. She felt like a Corellian butterfly, trapped by glass, helplessly beating her ineffectual wings against an inescapable fate.

Her door chimed, and Han walked in. 'Speaking of Corellians', she thought dryly. He paused by the window which overlooked the shipyards and hangers, leaning up against the jamb. He was wearing his somber I'm-not-here-to-make-any-sarcastic-remarks face. He thumbed his blaster absent mindedly. "How're you holding up?" he asked her directly. Well, no need to dance around the subject.

"As well as I can," Leia admitted. Sighing, she turned off her computer and leaned back in her chair. "I'm trying to concentrate on matters of State, resistance meetings, finding another base...anything to take my mind off Luke."

"I can see that," Han responded slowly. "Listen, I'm worried you're working yourself too hard...you need to slow down, take a break. Why don't you, and me, and Chewie take the Falcon and head off base for a few days. We're close to a few resort-type places on a couple of out of the way planets. Hell, you can even bring 3PO if you want."

She considered that for a moment, weighing pros and cons in her mind. A part of her wondered just how Han knew about those places, but she decided it was probably better not to ask. She'd get more than she bargained for with that story. She gave Han a small smile, the first he'd seen in days, and shook her head slowly. "I'm sorry Han, I really am. I just...I can't. I appreciate that more than you know. But there's so much to do now...I'm afraid if I stop working I won't be able to start again." She paused and bit her lower lip. "I just wish I knew that Luke was alright." Her voice cracked softly.

Han moved over to kneel in front of her, taking both of her hands in his. "I know, I know," he said softly. "I miss the kid too. But don't forget this is what he wanted. He wanted to be with Vader...and you backed him up." He held up his hands in a placating manner. "I'm not saying that you're to blame or accusing you of anything...I'm just reminding you of the choices that were made." He took her hands again and stroked the back of her wrist with his thumb. "It's what he wanted, Leia. He'd have gone with or without anyone's approval. I think you should know how much it meant to him to have you support him. It was the best thing you could have done for Luke."

She gave him a watery smile. "Thanks, Han. I feel better for knowing that."

"Well, you know me," he quipped, pushing off his heels and standing up. "I'm always full of good advice." He held out his hand to help her out of her chair.

Leia made a sour face at that remark, accepted his hand anyway, and retorted, "I'm not sure you should give up your day job, Solo. No one wants advice from a scoundrel."

"Here we go again with that argument." Han rolled his eyes and placed his hand on his chest in a mock gesture. "That hurts, Your Worship, really...it stings."

She laughed outright at him, swatting his arm and walked out of her room. Halfway between her quarters and the command centre the first explosions sounded. By the time they'd reached Operation Control, half the hanger bays were on fire. The command centre was chaotic, men and women scrambling over each other and randomly strewn chairs, consoles flashing, alarms blaring.

One of the Generals looked up at them as they hurried over to his station. His face was grim. "We need to evacuate immediately."

"What is it?" Leia asked, her fear controlled "What's happened?"

"It looks like a small squadron of Imperial troops, scanners show several larger ships orbiting out of range...it won't be long before the big guns arrive. You need to leave, your Highness...now."

"How'd they find us?" Han asked. The General merely shook his head. "It was only a matter of time, Captain. Please, get to your ship and leave." He turned back to his console, barking orders to the men around him.

Han grabbed Leia's arm and headed for the Falcon. She wondered, in that small part of her mind that wasn't in panic mode, if Luke was on one of those ships. She sent out a call to him, through the Force...she'd heard him before, on Bespin...maybe he could hear her now. She was met with nothing but silence.