Entry 112

I contacted Luke from my shuttle. He was on Chandrila with his sister and brother-in-law.

"I have Ben. He appears to be in good health," I said through the video transceiver.

I could see Luke smiling broadly on the monitor. He was about to say something when his frantic sister pushed him out of the way and spoke to me. "Can I see Ben?"

"Sure." I got up and unstrapped the boy from his crash webbing and held him up in my arms in front of the transceiver camera so he could see his mother. "Momma!" Ben cried out happily.

Leia didn't respond right away. She covered her mouth, muffling a cry of joy as tears streamed down her face. "Ben…" she finally was able to choke out. "Oh Ben…Daddy and I love and miss you so much."

I could hear Han in the background. "Let me see my boy." Leia stood aside making room for her husband. The image of Han Solo filled the monitor. "Ben…son." That is all he got out before his voice choked with emotion. After a moment he was able to pull himself together. "When will you get here, Litassa?"

"We should arrive to Chandrila within two days."

Leia shook her head. "We'll meet you halfway. Where are you?"

"I am a short jump from K'don. I'm just about to enter a hyperspace lane to get back to the core."

"Are you traveling the Perlemian Trade Route or Hydrian Way?"

"The Perlemian Trade Route."

Leia looked to her husband. "What's a good halfway point?"

The smuggler chewed his lower lip in thought. "The planet Roche."

Leia nodded before turning her attention back to me. "We'll meet you in orbit above Roche. We'll bring a ship with a docking berth big enough for your shuttle." She looked to her son in my arms and started crying again. Han put an arm around her shoulder and did his best to comfort his wife.

"Thanks Litassa," he said before addressing his son. "Ben, you be good for Captain Colay. Your mom and I will be on a ship right away and we'll see you in a day."

"Bye Daddy." Ben said happily.

"I'll see you soon." I turned off the transceiver and put the boy back into his seat. "Ben, after we get on the way, I'll get you a snack."

He gave me a big smile and my heart ached when I thought of Leia and Han spending months wondering if their son was alive or dead. That is a feeling I hope I never ever have to endure.


Entry 113

Leia said they were going to bring a ship big enough to dock my shuttle and she was not exaggerating. When I exited hyperspace my entire front viewport was filled by the sight of a Mon Calamari Star Cruiser. It may not be the biggest battleship in the galaxy, but I was impressed that Leia had the pull to commandeer such a massive ship just to pick up her son.

I looked over to Ben who was beaming with happiness. "Your mom and dad are on that ship."

He nodded enthusiastically. "Mommy, Daddy and Uncle Luke."

My brow shot up, impressed at his strength and control of the Force at such a young age.

We followed the docking orders transmitted to my shuttle and within ten minutes we were safely berthed in the underbelly of the huge starship. I went to unbuckle the boy, but he was already out of his crashwebbing and running to the rear of the shuttle where the loading ramp was located. "Wait up," I said before pushing the button to lower the ramp.

Leia, Han and Luke along with a dozen other people were there to meet the boy. I could feel the intense relief and joy projecting from the Solos. Han snatched up his boy in his arms and hugged him tightly before handing him over to Leia. Luke gazed up at me and grinned as I walked down the ramp. I know he wanted to run up and pull me into his embrace, but the dozens of reporters taking holovids of the reunion restrained him.

When I got to the Solos, Han's Wookiee friend grabbed me up in a hug that nearly cracked my ribs. As soon as I escaped his grip it was Han's turn to give me a brotherly hug.

"Thank you," he whispered in my ear. "I think Luke wants to hug you next." He stepped back and smiled as the Jedi pulled me into his embrace.

"I was afraid I would never see you again," he whispered. I pulled away confused by that comment.

"Why?"

He motioned to his astromech droid by his side. "I found out about Commander Darten's concerns."

I scowled at the little droid. "I told you to keep quiet."

Luke shook his head. "Don't blame him. Artoo told See Threepio in confidence…and well, Threepio immediately blabbed to Han who told me."

I looked at the onslaught of reporters surrounding the Solo family. Each was pushing and shoving for position in an attempt to get holovids of the reunited family. "Luke, let's meet at Chandrila. I need to get off this ship and away from all of these reporters. I don't need the publicity."

He nodded in agreement. "Let me come with you." He gestured to the media. "I doubt they'll notice me leaving on your shuttle." When I hesitated his lips curved into a sensual smile. "Please."

I chuckled. "Okay, but don't you want time with your nephew?"

He glanced over to Ben. "I do, but Leia is going to whisk him off to see a doctor and then a therapist. I probably wouldn't' get much time with him until they arrive on Chandrila anyway."

"Okay, I'll give you a ride."

I was about to return to my shuttle when a commotion occurred across the bay. I couldn't see over the crowd, but I could tell something or someone was pushing through the mass of reporters towards our position. When a New Republic naval officer followed by an armed platoon escort elbowed their way through the crowd I thought the military was making an opening for the Solos to escape the reporters. To my surprise the young officer stopped, looked directly at me and motioned for me to come to his position. "Captain Colay, Major Rayos from the New Republic Intelligence Division and Colonel Vilanter from the Chandrila Bureau of Investigation require your presence in the ship's conference room. They wished to ask you a few questions about Ben Solo's rescue."

It was a reasonable request, but one I would not acquiesce to without first debriefing my commander and getting his permission.

I looked at the man's rank and nametag before responding. "Ensign Tadala, I need to get permission from my commanding officer before participating in any New Republic debriefing."

The young officer cleared his throat and gave a sidelong glance to the Solos before responding. "I have my orders, Captain Colay. This is not a request. You are aboard a New Republic vessel under the control of Admiral Diakos who insists you cooperate with investigators."

I looked over to Leia and Han indignantly, but my irritation with the couple faded when I saw their shocked expressions.

"So," I said slowly. "I'm being placed under arrest?"

Ensign Tadala blanched slightly while giving me a pleading look. "I would prefer your cooperation."

"Now wait a second," Han addressed the officer heatedly. "Captain Colay saved my son. We're not going to treat her like the enemy." The former rebel general scowled at the ensign before laying his hand not so casually on the butt of his blaster.

"Sir, I am just following orders." The man looked extremely uncomfortable with this confrontation. "The Admiral was very clear. Captain Colay is not cleared for takeoff until she talks to investigators."

Han took a step toward the man. "You heard her. She needs permission from her commander."

The ensign lowered his gaze before signaling to his men. "I am sorry, but I have my orders."

What happened next shouldn't have surprised me knowing Han's impulsiveness, but it did. Han pushed the ensign back while he unholstered his blaster. When I saw Luke's hand touch his lightsaber I knew this was getting out of hand. "Stop! I'll go."

Han turned to me. "Are you sure, Litassa?"

I pushed past him. "Yes, I'm sure." I turned to the ensign. "But I can tell you right now, it will be a cold day on Mustafar before I help the New Republic again." I looked back to Luke. "Let my commander know what happened."

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