The 'Face of the Rebellion' slapped the datapad down onto one of the lumpy cots in the crews' quarters with annoyance. It didn't matter where the Princess ventured on the ship or in the nearby surrounding fields of wild flowers she frequented in the past weeks - her thoughts kept circling back to her AWOL lover.
Leia shook her head in silent self-chastisement for allowing the argument from the previous night and Han's current absence to get the best of her.
He had been his typical self - impossibly stubborn - insisting he could handle Jabba on his own and demanding she stay 'safely' with the Alliance instead of accompanying him to pay off the criminal kingpin who wanted his head on a platter.
As furious as she was at Han for ditching her this morning to go to Pragada alone, another part of Leia reminded herself that his overbearingness from the prior evening was mainly born out of fear for her safety.
It was still a novel sensation for Leia - to be wanted and desired so much by the sometimes enigmatic man she had fallen in love with.
What happened to the Ice Princess? She puzzled about this with a degree of chagrin.
Leia was well aware of the cold reputation and spurious title she'd earned from Rogue Squadron and others in the Rebellion since the battle of Yavin. It had been easy to convince herself of the necessity of the tunnel-vision focus; there was too much at stake to let emotions and feelings interfere with her ultimate goal of defeating the Empire.
The nickname had been a private source of pain for Leia - to be labeled as unfeeling and all-business, but at the moment a little of that presumed detachment would be beneficial, she mused. Right now, there was something more substantial that was bothering her; something that Leia had naively convinced herself would not have any significant bearing in their relationship - Han's troubled childhood...
Over the course of their time together on Corellia, the brash personality Han had so often exhibited in the past was mostly absent, in its place was a level of playfulness and thoughtfulness she hadn't fully expected from him.
And yet, there was also a controlling undercurrent occasionally surfacing in Han's behavior- however unintentional- that needed to be addressed.
Han's revelation of his own mothers abuse at the hand of his father had shed new light on some of the previous situations they had encountered: his delusional attack while sick with Tetanexus, last nights' argument in which he seemed determined to subjugate her decisions, even at times their intimacy...
As a lover, Han was mostly sweet and attentive, always concerned about her pleasure and fulfillment. He had opened up a whole new world of sexual intimacy and closeness for her.
Yet on occasion, his demanding passions bordered, but never crossed the line to domination - one particularly wild encounter with them in his captain's chair still fresh in Leia's memory and causing an involuntary wetness to grow between her legs.
The Princess squeezed her thighs together in partial guilt at the realization of how much she enjoyed those moments when she submitted to his sexual control. For someone who had a take-charge personality in every other aspect of her life, it was oddly liberating to let go and yield to the vast spectrum of Han's carnal appetites.
...Am I overreacting?
Leia took a deep breath before exhaling slowly; she knew Han was sincere in his desire to break the cycle he had grown up witnessing and all of this needed to be revisited and hashed-out, but right now she just wanted him back on the Falcon...
...I'll take another look at the fighter fuel consumption analyses...
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All houses of ill-repute had them, and Thelena's bordello was no different; an inconspicuous entrance to the depraved world hidden behind its doors for customers who needed to enter or escape without possible notice.
Boba and the remaining operatives that were still functional after battling with the rabid captain staggered into Thelena's House, dragging their presumably drunken and out-cold friend between them while crooning a slightly off-key bawdy song.
With a knowing smile, Thelena directed the small entourage through the greeting rooms that smelled of perfume, smoke and illegal spice. Despite it not even being near noontide, the establishment was already occupied with clients perusing the available girls for their flavor of the day.
Life was cheap in the red-light district, and no matter the time, day or night, everything and anything had a price; after all, business was business...
Thelena had learned that important lesson herself as a teenage runaway - turned prostitute, now a Madame of her own House. She ran a successful establishment, though her earlier years of hard living had taken their toll and she appeared much older than her thirty-eight years.
"Suite fourteen is open for you and your friends," she announced with a flamboyant wave to her one-time business associate and friend. Squeezing Boba's arm, she queried, "Your girls are waiting for you; I must say they are very attractive – do they typically work as independents?"
The Madame prided herself in maintaining a wide selection for clients to choose from, so when Boba had requested the use of a room and 'a free hand' to supply his own ladies for something special, it was fine with her; Thelena could tolerate or overlook anything, as long as the price was right and it didn't interfere with any other customers...
"You could say that, Thelie – and thanks again for allowing us to utilize your amenities," the mercenary offered graciously, giving her a peck on the cheek after the suite door closed, then slipped a stash of credits in Thelena's hand which she quickly slipped in her brassiere with a satisfied smile.
Boba Fett was not a man interested in taking unnecessary risks in his line of business. It was a 'safer bet' to use Thelena's House versus an unknown seedy motel as the backdrop for the captains' little supposed indiscretion - everyone looks the other way in a prostitution establishment...
His co-conspirators dropped the captain's unconscious body in a heap on the floor, with both Thelena and Boba stepping over his motionless form without a second thought, making their way to the fully stocked bar for a drink.
She knew his preferred vintage, pouring him a glass of Nubian '42. "I won't bother asking for any introductions," Thelena smiled with a raised eyebrow, her eyes glancing around at the myriad of faces in the room before settling on the half-dead looking man sprawled on the floor. Captain Han Solo...she had heard stories about him before...
"You're an angel Thelie – I knew we could count on you to be discreet; and we have to keep it that way for a little while longer, otherwise my clients will be none-too-happy with us."
The Madame gave Boba's arm one last squeeze. "I don't know a thing," she offered lightly before blowing him a kiss and a wink, turning on a stiletto and slipping inconspicuously toward the door, locking it on her way out.
"This is some cat-house," V'lander chortled, the Ulerian's eye's roaming around the gaudily decorated surroundings, complete with mirror-covered ceilings and an enormous bed enrobed in silk sheets.
He caught sight of his mangled nose in one of the many looking-glasses, grimacing at the memory of the Corellian smashing his fist into his face. "Kreth, what the hell took you so long with the shot?" He complained to Fett while gingerly touching his swollen and incredibly sore nose.
Boba shrugged non-chalantly at his whining accomplice. "You'll live V'Lander - besides I think it's actually an improvement." He sauntered over to Sasha and Laviennie, who at the moment appeared to be incredibly bored, choosing to study their manicures while occasionally trading bits of gossip over the latest movieholo stars.
"Sorry you girls had to wait for us, we ran into a little more resistance than anticipated from our 'friend'. Give us a few minutes to strip him - you can get yourselves ready for the show." Fett stared a little longer than necessary at the tall, voluptuous blondes, currently pulling their clothing off without a trace of modesty. He was looking forward to seeing them buck-naked and planned on propositioning them after they finished their obscene photo-op with Solo.
Tilo started removing the smugglers' scuffed boots, tossing them aside while inquiring with a touch of apprehensiveness, "How long do you think Captain Solo is going to be unconscious?" After seeing the tenacious fighting of the Corellian earlier, he was in no mood to see a repeat performance. Look what happened to Shrell and Mk'talar...
"Don't start perspiring, Tilo; he'll be out-cold for at least another three to four hours or so before he starts coming back to life. I had to give the captain a higher dose of Quenalin than initially planned; he was rather uncooperative, wouldn't you say?" Boba taunted with a snigger as V'lander cursed under his breath at the reminder, grabbing legs and arms and tossing Han's nude form carelessly on the bed.
All three males paused to admire the curvaceous nakedness of Laviennie and Sasha as they climbed gracefully onto the silk sheets while chattering over the latest clothing fashions they just had to acquire at the nearest opportunity...
"Oh my Gods, Sasha!" Laviennie squeaked as her eyes raked over the bare man's anatomy. "It's a shame the captain has to be unconscious – will that monster still work even if he's zoned-out?" She half-joked with a wicked grin to her friend.
"Don't I wish," Sasha offered appreciatively, adding with a hopeful giggle, "I suppose we could try; Judging by Solo's reputation and his package, I don't think he ever had to pay for a piece of ass – I'd certainly be willing to give him a freebie," she laughed louder with Laviennie tittering in agreement. Both girls began running admiring hands over the smugglers muscled arms, meandering over his chest and down his stomach...
"Cut the crap, girls; you two aren't getting paid to get him or yourselves off," Boba interjected with growing annoyance of the young ladies fawning over the Corellian. "Remember, your compensation will be based on how convincing you can make this little sex-triangle appear, so I expect a great performance."
"Roll him over on his left," V'lander suggested derisively. "His face is really busted up on that side; the pillows should hide some of the swelling."
"My tits would suffice as well," Sasha offered salaciously. "And it's such a handsome face," Laviennie cooed while stroking his jaw with a long red fingernail.
Fett directed the blondes' positions after having set up the holocam. "Sandwich Solo between yourselves, girls...help with his arms and hands Sasha. That's perfect, Honey - now press up against him; that looks excellent, very realistic. Alright, now plant a big kiss on him, Laviennie... If I didn't know better, I'd swear he was one lucky bastard," the mercenary quipped with a thin smile, snapping a plethora of holoshots of the three naked bodies all tangled together...
The best, or more appropriately, the raunchiest appearing holos would be sent to Dodonna and Mothma for the final decision as to which ones would be 'leaked' to the news syndicates. That Princess of his is going to be in for a big surprise...the mercenary sneered to himself.
Fetts thoughts were interrupted by V'lander's loud guffaw. "That fucker's luck has finally run out. When can we finish him off and get our final payment?" The concept of revenge to the vain and greedy Ulerian highly appealing.
"Control yourself, it'll happen soon enough; the sadistic part of me wants the captain conscious and fully alert when I send him to hell - Solo's going to die with the knowledge that his girl thinks he's a cold-hearted, two-timing bastard."