Corellia's Child

Coruscant, nine years after ROTJ

Senator Vail Golden had always believed in the power of his last name. Born to one of the richest and most influential families on Corellia, he hadn't been surprised when, eight years before, the beautiful former Princess of Alderaan had agreed to marry him less than one month after he'd been elected as the first senator to serve in the New Republic. People had gossiped, of course, that Leia Organa only agreed to marry him after coming off a bad relationship with another Corellian, but Vail refused to believe that was true. Leia would have left the ex-smuggler for him anyway. He was quite certain of that.

He looked over at his wife sitting next to him in the expensive, chauffeured hovercraft, and squeezed her hand. She rewarded him with a quick glance and a small, half-smile. Vail could never make his wife laugh, no matter how hard he tried. The only genuine smiles came when she hugged and kissed their daughter, seven year old Shannon. Vail sighed to himself and looked out the hovercraft's window. When Shannon was a year old, one of his aides had pointed out to him the child's name contained 'han'. Vail had fired the aide on the spot, and a large argument with his wife had ensued. It looked bad, he'd pointed out to the stubborn Princess, like she was clinging to some distant, desperate memory. Leia's response had been that it's too late. Shannon had the name now, and they would not change it. Besides, Leia had said, the fact that 'han' was buried inside the name 'Shannon' had never even occurred to her. Vail had no choice but to believe her, but their business-like marriage had turned a few more degrees toward chilly after that encounter.

"Shannon's very excited to be in this concert," Vail said into the silence. Other than politics, discussing their child was the only thing Leia and Vail found they had in common that they could talk about. "She has one of the main solos." He instantly regretted his choice of words. The word 'Solo' was off limits, even in this innocent context.

"So she told me," Leia replied calmly, looking out of the other window.

"Nothing is going to happen," Vail said, unable to keep the annoyance out of his voice. Leia's 'feelings' got on his nerves, and she'd had a bad 'feeling' about this night, too.

"Yes. You've said that already."

Vail gave an impatient hiss. "You're not a Jedi, so quit acting like you are."

"If I'm not, it's only because you've done your best to throw every block you can think of in my path," Leia returned tightly.

"Let's not get into this old song again, Leia," Vail said. "You know how I feel about that Jedi garbage."

"My brother is a Jedi," Leia snapped. "And our daughter could be, too."

"She will never be a Jedi," Vail huffed out. "It's not proper."

"Proper," Leia repeated flatly. "The only thing you think is proper for a woman is staying home and taking care of her husband."

Vail knew it still galled Leia that he had insisted she turn down Mon Mothma's request to be the next President of the New Republic. It had been another huge fight in their marriage, and Leia only backed down when Vail threatened to divorce her and fight for full custody of Shannon. There was simply no way his wife would ever outrank him in the political scene. Vail could never live with that, since he had always dreamed of becoming the President, himself.

The rest of the trip was in stony silence, neither husband nor wife looking at each other. When the hovercraft pulled to a stop, a small group of holo-reporters were waiting for them to exit the car, and Vail deliberately took Leia's hand, smiling and waving like the professional politician he was.

Halfway to the concert hall, blaster fire rang out. Vail Golden dropped his wife's hand and attempted to rush into the crowd of reporters for cover, but a blast caught him in the center of his back. The Senator's last thought was that he'd never been elected President of the New Republic.

"Leia?"

Painfully, the Princess opened her eyes and looked into the face of her worried brother. "Where's Shannon?"

Luke looked away for a brief moment, not wanting to answer, but he could feel Leia's rising sense of panic.

"Luke? Is she dead?"

"No..."

"Where is she?"

"She's been kidnapped."

Leia took a deep, ragged breath, trying not to cry. "I have to find her."

"You've been badly injured," Luke said gently. "The doctors need to get you into a bacta tank. I'll find Shannon. You just get better."

"Promise me..."

"I promise, Leia. I'll find her."

He stepped back as the doctors injected a sedative into his sister, then hustled her away. Only at that moment did Luke realize Leia hadn't asked about Vail, and he hadn't thought to tell Leia that her husband was dead, either.

"It wasn't your fault," Jade said, standing with her hands on her hips as Luke packed his satchel.

The Jedi shook his head in disagreement. "I should have sensed there was danger."

"That's ridiculous," she argued back. "Jedi can't see into the future. If they could, then how did Darth Vader manage to kill them?"

Luke looked up at his student and friend, his eyes flashing pain, and instantly Mara felt guilty. "I shouldn't have said that - "

"It's okay." He said briefly, then returned to his packing.

"Was Leia upset about Vail?"

"She... she didn't ask about him."

Mara sighed, and sat down in a soft chair facing Luke. "I never liked Vail."

"You shouldn't say that," Luke admonished her. "He's dead."

"You didn't like him either."

Again, the Jedi stopped his packing and looked over at the redhead. "He was my brother-in-law. For eight years."

"So? It was eight years too long. He was a vain, shallow, petty little dictator."

"Mara!"

"It's true," she said defensively, refusing to feel badly about Vail Golden's death. "He spent more time preening in front of a mirror than ten casino dancing girls put together. And he was a womanizer."

"How do you know?"

"He made a pass at me a few years back. One time." She smiled without humor. "He didn't appreciate it when I threatened him with my lightsaber. Called me a really bad name."

Luke could barely believe what he was hearing. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Why should I, Farmboy? I can take care of myself, so don't you start thinking females are helpless little creatures, like Goldenboy."

"Do you think Leia knew?"

"The wife always knows, Luke. But like all wives, Leia didn't want to admit her husband was a cad."

"He was a good father," Luke said lamely, trying to think of something good to say of the dead.

"If you say so."

"Now what did he do wrong there?"

"Besides denying his precious child has Force abilities? What about the fact he bought her everything credits could buy? She's spoiled rotten! The child owns expensive gemstone jewelry, her own stable of lyrnies, her own holoscreening room ... and makeup!" Mara gave a disgusted snort. "He encouraged her to wear makeup! Shannon is seven years old!"

"Leia didn't want her to wear makeup."

"Leia never had a say in anything in that marriage, except for naming Shannon." She shook her head. "Even that was a battle."

Luke turned around and clicked the satchel shut. "Will you watch Leia for me?"

"No."

"No?"

"No. Winter can do that. Cilghal is standing by in case she's needed, and Mothma's already ordered Leia's hospital room to be heavily guarded. There's nothing I can do for Leia by staying on Coruscant. I'm coming with you."

"Mara..."

She stood up, frowning. "Don't be like Vail."

Luke knew he wasn't going to win. "Never."

Onboard a Transport, in deep space.

The Bothan handed a credit voucher to the kidnappers, then looked over at the small box. "She'd better be alive inside there."

"She's alive," the human male muttered as he rubbed his wrist, glancing over at his three companions - a Gamorrean, a Bith and another human. "She bit me! I didn't get paid enough to get bit by that... that..."

"Go put a bacta patch on it," the Bothan said dismissively. "When the ransom comes through, I'll send you your share. In the meantime, have a nice day."

The Gamorrean pushed the box through the hatch, and down the ramp into the transport, then watched as two more Bothans picked up the box and hurried away.

Then the ratty, cylinder-shaped pirate ship shot out of the hanger, and the two vessels parted company.

"It was a triple tragedy for the Golden family today on Coruscant, as assassins shot and killed Senator Vail Golden today, badly wounding his wife, Ambassador Leia Organa-Golden. Meanwhile, the kidnappers used the cover of panic and horror taking place outside to kidnap the Senator's and Ambassador's only child, Shannon Golden, who was preparing to put on a concert inside a nearby auditorium with her teachers and classmates."

"Fortunately, none of the other children, ages five through nine, were wounded inside the concert hall, although they were traumatized from the ordeal of being threatened and locked inside a storage room."

As the holo-reporter continued on, Alli Solo looked up at her husband, appraising his reaction to this news. She knew about Han's past – as a smuggler, a Rebel, and then, briefly, as a New Republic general. Alli also knew Han had been in love with the Princess of Alderaan, and suspected he still had feelings for her, all these years later.

Nine years ago, Han and Leia had a heated argument over the Princess's dedication to her job, and the Princess had told Han her job came first, before personal relationships. In the rush of anger that followed the argument, Han had gone to a bar, gotten drunk then flirted with the first pretty girl he saw. Unfortunately, a holo-cam caught him kissing this girl, and the story made the evening news. That drunken encounter ended his relationship to the Princess.

Alli hadn't known Han yet, when less than six months after the breakup, Leia Organa had married Senator Vail Golden, the handsome, rich playboy-turned-politician. She only saw the aftermath that the Princess's marriage had on the pilot, and his partner's desperate attempts to keep him from self destruction. Alli Solo was then Alli Gils, a divorced mother of two small boys – Trey, age two, and his older brother, Rue, age four.

Trying to support herself by running a small freight business, and raise two rambunctious boys hadn't been easy. Chewbacca had approached her looking for work, and that was the beginning. Han Solo was easily her best pilot, and the Wookiee made certain his friend and partner showed up for work on time and sober. Eventually, Alli had asked Han out for dinner, then one thing led to another. A year later, he'd asked her to marry him, and she had accepted. Deep down, Alli suspected Han still loved his Princess, but knew he'd never get her back – not since she'd given birth to Vail's baby, Shannon Golden, a few weeks earlier. Perhaps all Han wanted was to show Leia she'd made a mistake, and that he was worthy of being a husband and a father. In any case, the boys loved him, and so did Alli, so for whatever his reasons, Alli accepted Han's proposal.

Han looked over at his wife of seven years. "I'm not going to fly to Coruscant," he said gruffly. "Quit worryin' about it."

"I'm not worried," she lied. "Are you still picking up that shipment of crystals on Bothawui?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"I just thought… never mind."

Han's face softened as he looked down at his wife. "I'll be back in four days." He leaned over and gave her a kiss. "Take care of yourself while I'm gone, and don't forget to take your medicine. You know what the doctors told you about missing doses."

"I'll remember," she promised, then watched as he walked out the door. She maneuvered her hover-chair over to the window, and felt a tear trickle down her cheek as he disappeared from her view.

Bothawui

Shannon opened her eyes, frowning into the darkness. She didn't like being in the dark, always insisting that a nightlight be left on next to her bed. "Daddy!" No response was forthcoming, which puzzled her. Usually her daddy came right away when she called. Her mother was far less inclined to come running the second she called, but since daddy didn't come, he must be busy. "Mommy?" She sat up, wondering why her bed was so hard, and why her room smelled funny.

Again, no one came rushing into the room. "Threepio? Where are you?"

The door opened, and light flooded into the tiny room. "Shut up, brat, or I'll make you shut up!" a harsh male voice shouted at her.

It was only then that Shannon remembered what happened in the concert hall's back room. A slobbering Gamorrean and a mean man were pointing blasters at them, calling them bad names, ordering them into a storage room. All except Shannon. The man grabbed her, and ordered her to come with him. She remembered biting the man's wrist, and she remembered that he hit her, hard. No one had ever hit her before, and she screeched and screamed at the top of her lungs, trying to kick the man in his leg. Then the man had put a smelly cloth over her face, and everything went black.

Now she was here… wherever here was. "I want to go home!"

"Tough, brat. You'll go home when we decide it's time. Now stop yelling." He started to close the door, but Shannon was very fast, leaping to her feet and pushing the door open. The being on the other side was a Bothan, not too much taller than Shannon, but much stronger. He grabbed her wrist, his face twisting into a snarl. "Don't like to listen, do you?"

"Let me go!" she screamed, trying to wrench away from his grasp. "I'm going to tell my daddy!"

For some reason, that comment made the Bothan laugh. "Your daddy won't care."

"My daddy will too care! He's going to send you to the spice mines for being mean to me!"

The Bothan couldn't stop himself. "That can't happen, kid, since your daddy's dead."

"LIAR!" Outraged, she flung herself at the smug, hairy being, only to find the door slammed shut and locked in her face. The room was once again plunged into darkness, and Shannon collapsed onto the cold floor, sobbing.

Onboard the Jade's Fire

Mara nudged Luke's shoulder, breaking his Force-trance. "I've contacted Talon Karrde. He's using his connections to see if he can come up with any names."

"Thank you," Luke said, stretching his legs and arms.

"Is the Force telling you anything yet? Or did I interrupt too soon?"

Luke sighed. "I keep getting the impression this has more to do with Vail than anything. More revenge motivated than money motivated. And…" he broke off, biting his lip.

"And, what?"

"I keep getting images of Han and Chewie for some reason."

"Solo? Do you think he's behind this?" Mara asked, sounding surprised. She'd never met the Corellian herself, but Luke had always given her the impression he was basically a good man, despite the acrimonious way his relationship with Leia had ended.

"I just can't see either Han or Chewie killing anyone in cold blood, or kidnapping a child. And I'm positive he'd never hurt Leia physically. I don't understand why I keep getting visual impressions of both of them, though."

"How long has it been since you've seen Solo?"

Luke thought for a long moment. "Five years now." It had been an unexpected encounter at a spaceport on Corellia, and Luke remembered Han had not been overly pleased to see him, but he'd been cordial. They talked briefly, and the Jedi had been surprised to hear about Han's marriage, but happy his friend apparently found someone to love. He'd not told Leia about seeing Han, however. Any mention of the name 'Han Solo' upset Leia, far more than Luke thought it should. "He wouldn't do this," Luke said with conviction.

Mara nodded, hoping Luke was right.

Onboard the Falcon

Chewie turned his blue eyes toward his silent partner. [You have a good life now, Han.]

The Corellian looked over at the Wookiee. "I know," he snapped back, then softened his tone. "You don't have to lecture me on responsibilities. I've spent the last seven years helping raise two boys, and I think I've been a pretty good husband."

[Yet, you cannot forget the Princess.]

"I'm sure she's forgotten me."

[For some reason, I doubt that. And now her husband is dead.]

Han's face flushed. "So? I won't abandon the boys… or Alli. You know that."

[Nor should you. But what will happen when Alli is gone?]

"She ain't dead yet," Han shot back, fighting down grief as he thought about the muscle disease that was slowly destroying her body. Medicine could be so advanced, yet there were always diseases that confounded even the best doctors. Neurosensory Degeneration was a terrible illness, and while doctors could keep the patient alive with medicine, they could not stop the progress from vague limb weakness, to needing a hover-chair, then artificial respiration, and eventual death. Alli was already in a hover-chair when Han married her, and she was fast approaching the point where she would need help breathing.

[Not thinking about it won't change the inevitable.]

No, Han knew it wouldn't. He didn't tell Chewie that Alli's ex-husband had been contacting the boys in recent months, trying to wheedle his way back into their lives. Once Alli died, it was very possible Han would lose everything he had once again.

Onboard the Jade's Fire

Luke frowned at the holo-image of Talon Karrde. "Are you sure?"

"No," Karrde admitted. "I can't be sure. But there are a lot of rumors floating around that Bothans are somehow involved. Last I heard, a group of insurrectionists on Kothlis were interested in kidnapping rich children to finance their cause."

"Is it possible that's where Shannon's been taken?" Mara asked.

"Very likely, if those are the Bothans I've been hearing about."

"Then Kothlis is where Mara and I will head next," Luke said. "Thanks for your help, Captain."

"Anytime, Skywalker. If I hear anything else, I'll contact you."

The image faded, and Mara smiled at the Jedi. "So, on to Kothlis?"

"Unless you have a better idea."

"Maybe we should try and contact Solo," she suggested. "The Force has been nudging you in that direction."

"I can't. Not yet." Luke sighed and folded his arms across his chest. "What would I tell him? That I think he's involved somehow in Shannon's kidnapping?"

"That wouldn't go over too well," Mara said, smirking. "But I don't think we should ignore the Force."

"We won't ignore it, but let's just wait until the signal is a bit clearer."

Chewie handed Han a disk with the directions to Pontar'ley Corporation, and the Corellian slid the disk into the hovercraft's computer, then turned the vehicle in the right direction. [Isn't being an honest shipper better than smuggling?] Chewie woofed as they drove leisurely through the light traffic.

Han gave a snort. "I dunno… I sorta miss the excitement."

[Excitement? You mean being chased by bounty hunters, shot at by stormtroopers, dodging Imperial starship patrols? That excitement?]

"Yeah," he said, nodding. "It was fun."

[You have a strange idea of fun, Han.]

"Life was never boring back then. Admit it."

[I think I prefer boring.]

"Not me. When's the last time we had a really fun time?" Han asked. "I think it was back when we were chasing Zsinj."

[Then you should not have resigned from the New Republic,] he woofed back.

"Nah. I had to resign. If I'd have stayed, I would have seen her too often."

[You could have worked things out with the Princess,] Chewie insisted quietly. [You are both so stubborn.]

"It's too late, pal. Nine years too late to correct my mistake."

Although Chewie disagreed, he said nothing.

Ce'rlle, the Bothan assigned to watch to human child, carried the food tray into the locked room. The child was lying on the floor, curled up into a fetal position and not moving. "Get up." When she didn't respond, he spoke louder, "Get up! This is the only food you're getting today, brat." Still, she remained unmoving, and the Bothan grew concerned. Had she somehow injured herself? Or did the kidnappers cause her to be harmed? He nudged her leg with his boot, and when she didn't move he felt himself starting to panic. His boss would be very unhappy if the human were dead, at least at this point.

Placing the tray on the hard cot, he bent over and started to turn the child over so he could see her face. It was a mistake – the girl reached out and grabbed his ankles, jerking him backwards and off his feet. His head impacted with the wall, then the room blurred and his vision dimmed. Ce'rlle wasn't too sure how long he lay on the cold surface before he came back to his senses, but by that time the human child was long gone.

He struggled to his feet and ran into the hall, rushing back and forth as he attempted to locate her. Unfortunately for him, Shannon Golden was nowhere to be found. His boss wasn't going to be merely unhappy .. he was going to kill him – literally.

Running fast, Shannon found herself outside without being quite certain how she'd gotten away. Uncle Luke and his friend Mara would've probably said it had something to do with the Force, but her daddy always laughed when they talked about the Force, and told her to ignore that kind of talk. Shannon loved her daddy more than anything, so she pretended he was right, and the Force didn't exist. Sometimes, though, she wondered about it, because she could do things her friends couldn't, like move objects without touching them. And she could guess who was inside a room before she opened the door. But she never told her daddy those things, because it made him mad, and she never told her mommy, either, because it made her sad for some reason.

She stopped running and looked around. This wasn't a place she recognized, and while there were a lot of humans and other beings, mostly there were Bothans. Not knowing who to trust, Shannon wandered along the busy sidewalk trying not to be noticed. That was something she could do easily, too. When she didn't want the teacher to ask her a question the teacher would look some other direction, or she wanted to take something from a store that didn't belong to her, no one ever saw her when she put the stolen object in her pocket.

Her eyes tracked up to a ship that lifted off in the distance. It must be a spaceport, she decided. Her parents' ship would certainly be there, and they would take her home.

Kothlis

The Governor of Kothlis was a female Bothan by the name of Ly'y Rei'bedu, and she wasn't happy when Jedi Master Luke Skywalker and his student Mara Jade insisted on meeting with her.

"I'm quite certain no Bothan would have anything to do with Senator Golden's death, or the child's kidnapping," she said, her voice icy. "It amazes me how incredibly prejudice humans are toward Bothans. Every time something goes wrong, we seem to get the blame."

"No one is blaming you personally, Governor," Luke said soothingly. "Nor are we blaming Bothans in general. Humans certainly have their share of bad guys. We just thought you might have heard some rumors."

Rei'bedu's yellow fur ruffled. "I'm not a tabloid reporter, Jedi Skywalker. I don't deal with rumors and innuendos."

Mara opened her mouth to speak, but Luke quickly stood up and reached across to shake the Governor's hand. "Thank you for your time, Governor Rei'bedu."

Reluctantly, she shook his hand, then escorted them from her office. Once the door shut, Mara narrowed her green eyes back at the closed door.

"She's lying."

"I know."

"Why did you let her get away with it?"

Luke smiled. "She won't get away with it, Mara."

"What do we do now, then?"

"We contact Wedge, and see if he can have Ghent intercept any emergency messages from Kothlis to Coruscant. I think there might be, real soon."

"Has anyone ever told you that you're sneaky, Farmboy?"

Kothlis

Governor Ly'y Rei'bedu wasted no time in contacting Coruscant. Her boss, Borsk Fey'lya was furious. "You shouldn't be contacting me like this," he snapped out. "We have couriers for this type of emergency."

"I realize that," she sniffed. "But these are Jedi we're dealing with. And they're already suspicious of us."

"They know nothing," the Senator growled back. "I expect you to keep it that way."

"What would you suggest I do?"

"Nothing. Do nothing! I will take care of matters myself," Fey'lya replied as he reached down and cut off the communication.

Bothawui

Shannon knew that her kidnappers were looking for her. Her first thought had been to contact the authorities on this system. Her mother had always told her if she was in trouble, she should find a law enforcement officer. Unfortunately, it appeared all the enforcement officers were Bothans, and Shannon didn't know if she should trust them. Then again, the beings that had kidnapped her on Coruscant had been a human and a Gamorrean, so maybe all the Bothans weren't bad.

She made her way into the spaceport, looking in each docking bay for her parents' ship. Nothing looked remotely familiar to her… except for that Bothan heading in her direction, walking in a hurry with another Bothan she'd never seen before. The one she recognized was the same one that had laughed at her in the cell, and told her that her father was dead. She ducked down behind some containers, and watched as the frantic beings approached.

"You don't know she came this way," the taller Bothan told the other.

"Where do you suggest we look?"

"Maybe she went to the law."

"We'd have her back by now if that were the case."

Both beings looked over their shoulder as two more beings headed toward them, pushing a loaded hover-cart. "Someone's coming. Let's go."

The Bothans quickly left, and Shannon peeked out from her hiding spot. She strained to hear what the tall human man, dressed in dark slacks and white shirt, was telling the Wookiee...something about getting the boxes loaded into their ship so he could get home. She watched as the pair headed over to an old, battered ship, then lowered the ramp. The man picked up a box, which looked quite heavy, and the Wookiee picked up two of the boxes as he followed his friend inside the ship.

Shannon made a decision – she would sneak onboard that old ship. After she was safely away from this planet, she would come out of hiding, and order the pilots to take her home. And they'd better do it, if they knew what was good for them.

Mara waved her hand at the blinking communication panel. "That couldn't be Ghent already."

"No," Luke agreed. "Even he's not that good." He watched as Mara flipped on the switch, and answered the hail.

"Jade's Fire," she acknowledged.

A crackling voice came over the deep space comm. "Senator Fey'lya here. Is Jedi Skywalker with you?"

"Luke Skywalker speaking," the Jedi replied quickly.

"Yes. Jedi Skywalker. Governor Rei'bedu has contacted me regarding your concerns about, um, your niece. Let me reassure you that no Bothan would have anything whatsoever to do with this unfortunate event," Fey'lya said smoothly.

"How can you be certain of that, Senator?" Luke asked.

"My people made great sacrifices for the Rebellion," Fey'lya returned evenly. "We are a peace-loving people." He hesitated briefly, then added, "Besides, I've been working diligently to bring these murderers to justice. My contacts have provided me with a location where they believe the Princess's child has been taken."

"Where is that?" Mara asked.

"Nal Hutta. I'm sure you're not too surprised to hear the Hutts are behind this crime."

"Of course not," Mara said sarcastically. "The Hutts are behind every crime in the galaxy."

"I'm glad to hear you are aware of that," the Bothan said, unaware of her flippant tone. "I wish you luck in finding the child."

"Thank you, Senator," Luke replied, keeping his voice respectful. "We'll head to Nal Hutta immediately." Luke cut the connection, and looked over at Mara.

"Karrde was right," she said, smiling. "Fey'lya is very interested in sending us off on a wild mynock chase."

"Any suggestions where we should really head?"

"How about Bothawui ?"

Luke grinned. "If that doesn't make Fey'lya mad, nothing will. Bothawui it is."

Onboard the Falcon, leaving Bothawui

Han pulled the lever, watching in satisfaction as the stars blurred into streaks. Without the constant close calls and fast escapes, the Falcon's hyperdrive was much more reliable. Of course, it also helped not taking hits from Star Destroyers, either.

"We're gonna be back home faster than I thought," Han remarked, pleased the trip had gone so smoothly.

[I keep telling you this is better than smuggling,] Chewie said, a bit smugly.

The Corellian opened his mouth to respond, but a loud crash sounded from the hold. Solo swung around in his seat, frowning. "What the hell was that?"

Glova

The buzzer on the door rang, and Alli rolled her hover-chair over and looked in the monitor. Her heart dropped to her stomach when she saw the portly man standing outside, tapping his hand against his thigh impatiently. Reluctantly, she slid the door open. "Brill. This is certainly a surprise," Alli said carefully, looking up at her ex-husband.

"A pleasant one, I hope," he replied, his thin lips parting into a forced smile that didn't reach his eyes. "How are the boys?"

"Trey and Rue are fine," she said, looking up from her chair. She noticed he didn't inquire after her health. "They're in school."

"Good," he said, nodding. "I need to discuss this in private with you, anyway." His eyes flicked around. "Where is that Corellian you married?"

"Han. His name is Han Solo."

"Whatever…. I'm filing a court request to get custody of the boys, Alli."

She felt the blood drain from her face. "You can't be serious. You've never shown an interest in their lives before! You left me when Trey was three months old…. they don't even remember you anymore."

"That's going to change. They're my sons, not that Corellian's. He's not going to raise my sons after you're gone."

"I'll fight you, Brill," she said, her voice shaking. "I'll fight you with my last breath."

"That's coming sooner than you think, Alli."

Han rushed into the hold, his blaster drawn and pointed, with Chewie on his heels. Looking around, he could see that one of the containers holding the crystals had been moved slightly, but certainly not enough to cause the noise. Chewie nudged his shoulder, pointing to the left corner of the room. A tiny rivulet of pale blue milk trickled out from behind an empty barrel.

The Corellian frowned up at his partner. "Milk?", he mouthed in puzzlement. Han wasn't a big milk drinker, but Chewie loved the stuff.

[I didn't spill it,] Chewie woofed quietly back.

Chewie headed to one side of the barrel, while Han sidled up cautiously to the opposite side. Then they both pulled the barrel away from the wall, revealing the origin of the milk. A young girl hunched down, clasping the milk bulb to her chest, staring up defiantly at Han. The Wookiee let out a surprised roar.

"How did you get onboard?" Han spluttered in shock. "Who are you?"

"Which question would you like me to answer first?" she said, struggling to her feet. Then she thrust the milk at Han. "Your milk is stale. I like my milk fresh."

Dumbfounded, Han took the milk from the child. "Yes, your little shortness. I'll be sure to stop off at the first system and restock my supplies."

"Good," she nodded, folding her arms across her chest. "And I like white bread without crusts and briselberry jam. Briselberry is kind of hard to find, but it's the only kind I'll eat. And I'm hungry, so you can feed me."

"Who the hell are you?" Han snapped, getting mad.

"My name is Shannon, and I'm royalty. So you'd better listen and obey me, mister."

"O…obey?"

"After you stop for fresh supplies and make me some food that I like, you'll take me home. My daddy is worried about me."

"Home?"

"Home. It's on Coruscant. My daddy is an important Senator, and if you're not nice to me, I'll have him throw you in the spice mines."

"Listen, kid," Han started out, pointing his finger in her face. "I couldn't care less who your daddy is…"

[Han….]

"And the only person I take orders from is me….."

[Han…..]

"Certainly not some snot-faced little rich kid…."

[HAN!]

Solo spun around to face his partner. "What?"

[I think this is Shannon Golden. Leia's child. She must not know about her father, yet.]

Slowly, Han turned back to the girl. "Shannon. Is your last name Golden?"

She tilted her chin up, her face smug. "Yes. See? I told you that you have to listen to me. I'm rich and famous."

Glancing at Chewie, Han gave a sigh. "We need to drop outta hyper to reset our course for Coruscant. And I'll have to let Alli know we'll be late gettin' home."

Coruscant

Leia opened her eyes, looking up blearily at Winter's concerned face. "Winter?"

"I'm here, Leia."

"Where is Shannon?"

"Luke and Mara are looking for her, and half of the New Republic security, too."

"I need to talk to Luke," she whispered softly. "He's in danger. Great danger." Oddly, the sense of danger toward her daughter had lessened since waking up. Almost like the Force was telling her Shannon was in safe hands.

Winter touched her friend's shoulder. "Luke can take care of himself."

After a moment, Leia asked, "Vail is dead, isn't he?"

"Yes."

Guilt coursed through Leia when she realized she felt very little grief over her husband's death. The guilt increased when, moments later, she thought about someone she deliberately had tried not to think about for years.

Over Bothawui

The Jade's Fire had barely left hyperspace when a dozen Uglies started firing at the ship. "Pirates?" Luke asked as he returned fire, grateful Mara had remembered to put up the shields before dropping out of hyperspace.

"Maybe, but I think it's more likely someone was expecting us."

"Fey'lya? We told him we were going to Nal Hutta," Luke returned, not taking his eyes off his task.

"Fey'lya, or maybe Rei'bedu. Bothans are notorious for covering all contingencies.

The ship shuddered as it took a hard hit. "We're losing the rear deflectors," Mara said, her voice brittle. "We can either jump back into hyperspace, or head to the planet and hope we make it down alive." A second later, another luck shot got past, and sparks flew from the overhead panel. "Make up your mind, Farmboy, or we won't have much of a choice."

"I say we head down to the surface," Luke said decisively. "Especially since someone wants us to leave so badly."

Without another word, Mara angled the Fire down, and left the Uglies trailing far behind. Unfortunately, neither one expected the Ion cannon fire that blasted from the surface in their direction.

Onboard the Millennium Falcon

Han was getting worried. "Where is she?" He pressed the signal button with more force, as if that could somehow make Alli respond to his hail.

[Perhaps she was needed at the school, or office?]

"No," Han said, shaking his head. "She can't get out anymore, not without a lot of help. Something's wrong."

[Then we should return to Glova. We can contact Luke once we arrive, and he can come pick up Shannon.]

"Good idea, pal, but I ain't lookin' forward to spending more time with that kid. I just can't believe Leia's daughter turned out so, so... ."

[Bossy?] Chewie woofed in amusement. [Strong willed?]

"Okay. So maybe I'm not surprised." He flicked some buttons, setting the course for Glova. "But she's gonna have to live with stale milk and brown bread for the next few days, cuz I ain't coddling her."

[Slumming with you will show her a whole other side to the galaxy, Han.]

"Shut up."

Bothawui

Mara jerked the controls hard to the right as she desperately tried to avoid the laser cannons. "Someone really doesn't like you," she muttered under her breath.

"Me?" Luke spared a second to glance over at the redhead. "Maybe it's you ... this is your ship, after all."

"Funny, Farmboy. I'll have you know I was never shot at before I hooked up with you. Not much, anyway."

"Now you're starting to sound like Han."

The ex-assassin glared at Luke, then was forced to turn her full attention back to the fight to stay alive. "Maybe coming here was a bad idea."

"What gives you that idea?" Luke said, trying to keep a straight face. He was spared Mara's comeback when the Jade's Fire took a hard burst from one of the Ion cannons. "Front shields down to ten percent."

Sparks flew from the nose of their ship as Mara corkscrewed her way down to the surface in a barely controlled crash.

Onboard the Falcon

Han stuck his head inside the hold, watching the little girl play with the holo-creatures on the game table. "I have an emergency at home, so we're going there first," he started to explain.

Shannon's head snapped around, and she glared at the pilot. "No! I want to go home! Now!"

"Listen, kid, I'll call your uncle as soon - "

"NO!" she screeched out. "My daddy doesn't like Uncle Luke! Just call my daddy!"

The Corellian felt a rush of pity for the child, despite her spoiled attitude. She obviously adored her father, and when she found out he was dead she was going to be devastated. He wondered how Leia was holding up, and if she had recovered from her injuries. The urge to contact Coruscant had almost been overwhelming, but he'd resisted the impulse. Besides, he had his own wife and kids to worry about right now. "I'm sorry, Shannon. That's the way it's gonna be. Do you want me to heat you up some Corellian stew I fixed yesterday?"

Her brown eyes grew wide. "Stew leftovers?"

"Yeah. I'm a pretty good cook."

"I'd puke your leftover stew all over this stupid ship," she sniffed in disgust. "But this place is so dirty, I don't think you would even notice."

Han took a deep breath, trying to keep his temper in check. "It's either stew, or you can go hungry."

The child pushed herself off the bench and stalked over to Han, glaring up at the tall man. "I hate you," she hissed out. Her booted toe shot forward, kicking Han in his ankle, and she rushed out of the hold down the hall, leaving him standing on one foot while clutching his throbbing extremity.

Bothawui

Luke forced his eyes open, and found himself staring into a dozen blasters pointed in his direction, held by angry looking Bothans. Slowly he pushed back, looking to the left at the pilot's seat where Mara was still slumped forward. A brief surge of panic welled up before he reached out with the Force, sensing she was alive, but injured.

"Raise your hands, and give us your weapons," the oldest looking Bothan ordered.

The Jedi nodded, removing his lighsaber, then reached over and unclipped Mara's saber, handing both to the being. "She's hurt," he told his captors, as he eased Mara's head back against the seat. "She needs medical attention."

The Bothan turned over the cylinder objects in his hand, frowning. "Lightsabers." He focused his attention on the humans. "You are Jedi."

"Yes. My name is Luke Skywalker, and this is my student, Mara Jade."

"Skywalker. The hero of the Rebellion?"

"One of many," Luke replied. "Who are you?"

"My name is Tee Sar'ren, leader of the Both'sequst."

"Both'sequst? Is that the insurrection cell? The one that's been rumored to be kidnapping children?" Luke questioned, knowing even if the Bothan lied, he would be able to discern the truth.

"We are opposed to the leadership of Bothawui and Kothlis, but we are not kidnappers. Certain Bothans are spreading those rumors to discredit us, and attempt to make us look like we are nothing more than violent criminals."

The Bothan was telling the truth. "So you had nothing to do with Shannon Golden's kidnapping, or the murder of Senator Golden?"

Sar'ren gave a harsh laugh. "The human child was kidnapped for two purposes, Jedi. One reason was to point the blame at us. The second was to make certain Senator Golden's murder appeared incidental to the kidnapping, and throw the trail off the true murderers."

"And you know who that is?"

"So do you, Jedi. Your sister is lucky to be alive, since she was intended to die in the attack, as well. Believe me when I say your niece is not going to be freed, even if Golden's family or the government of Corellia pays a ransom. Unless you somehow rescue her, her body will never be found, and there will be no way to follow the trail back to the true kidnappers."

Luke felt a chill of fear as he realized the murderer was still on Coruscant.

"Come now, Jedi," Sar'ren said, noting the Luke understood what he was saying. "We will make certain the human female receives medical care. We are not the evil beings that Governor Rei'bedu is claiming we are."

Coruscant

"It's certainly good to see you are feeling better, Ambassador Organa-Golden," Fey'lya said as he entered her hospital room. "On behalf of all Bothans, I would like to pay my condolences as to the loss of your husband, and the disappearance of your child."

"Thank you," Leia said, suddenly feeling unaccountably cold. She drew the blanket up tight under her chin.

"Will you be well enough to attend the memorial service on Corellia?" he asked, his snout wrinkling in concern.

"It's in four days, and yes, I intend to be there," Leia replied.

"Has your brother had any luck with tracing down your child?"

"I haven't heard from Luke, but I'm sure he's coming close to finding her."

"Of course he is," Fey'lya said, patting her hand. "I will see you at the service, then." He turned and left the room, and Leia lay back on the pillow, shutting her eyes while her grief and fear for both Shannon, and especially Luke, intensified.

Glova

Shannon Golden folded her arms across her chest, scowling as the Wookiee pushed her toward the small white house on the outskirts of a village. "This is a stupid planet," she complained, feeling her stomach growl. Refusing to eat the stew hadn't really accomplished much since neither the pilot nor the Wookiee had given in and made her something she liked. Captain Solo had actually punished her for kicking him by making her sit in one of the tiny bunk rooms all alone, saying she could come out if she apologized. She hadn't done that, so she hadn't been allowed out of the bunk room the entire trip. Captain Solo was mean, and Shannon knew her daddy was going to make him pay for being mean to her. "If this is your house, it's as bad looking as your ship."

The house, while on the small side, was neat and tidy - at least it usually was. The lawn, which Alli's oldest son Rue faithfully watered and cut, was looking shaggy and the flowers lining the sidewalk were wilted. Han felt his heart-rate increase, and he took off at a run toward the front door. It slid open at his approach without having to enter the code. The inside of the house was a mess. Objects were tossed aside and overturned. "Alli?"

Chewie entered the home behind Shannon, who wrinkled her nose up. "You need a cleaning droid. Are you that poor that you can't afford one?"

"ALLI?" Han shouted, heading up the stairs toward the bedrooms two steps at a time. The girl and the Wookiee then heard Han's cry of horror as he screamed his wife's name again.

The Wookiee rushed up the stairs, then skidded to a stop when he saw Han kneeling in the hallway, holding Alli's head as she lay flat on her back. Her skin was without color, her lips parted and blue. [Is… she gone?]

Han shook his head. "She's still breathing, but barely. I need to com the emergency medics. See if you can find the boys, Chewie." Shaking, he took out the comlink, and signaled the All-Purpose Emergency code, while the Wookiee checked all the rooms in the home.

A woman's voice instantly spoke through the small device. "Is this a security emergency, or a medical emergency?"

"Medical!"

"At your signal location?"

"Yes," Han hissed out, knowing the woman was just doing her job.

"I have dispatched the medics, sir. May I have your name?"

"Solo. Han Solo."

When Chewie returned a few minutes later, Han's fear was intensified when the Wookiee told him Rue and Trey were no where to be found.

Bothawui

"My head is killing me," Mara mumbled even before she opened her eyes. She felt a hand on her forehead, then opened her green eyes to gaze up into worried blue ones. "I guess we lived through that landing."

"Your amazing piloting skills come in handy sometimes," Luke said, grinning.

Mara pushed herself into a seated position, ignoring Luke's orders to lie back down. "Where are we?"

"In an underground hideout. The Both'sequst underground hideout," he added, waiting for her reaction. It didn't take long.

"What? The Insurrectionists? Are you crazy?"

"That's not the way they see themselves," Luke continued. "The leader claims the Bothan leadership is corrupt, and that someone high up is behind Shannon's kidnapping."

"Why would Fey'lya want to kidnap Shannon Golden?" Mara asked, her voice betraying her doubts. "I don't like the guy anymore than the next person, but that just seems a bit risky, if you ask me."

Tee Sar'ren spoke up from the entrance to the small room. "Do not underestimate Fey'lya's ambitions. He will remove anyone standing in his way to become the next President of the New Republic." He stepped forward, holding Luke and Mara's lightsabers. "We need to leave now. A large contingent of the Bothan army is heading our way. Somehow, they must have discovered our hideout."

"You can't blame us," Mara snapped, standing up despite the dizziness caused by her head injury. "We almost got shot to pieces just trying to land."

Sar'ren and Mara glared at each other, feelings of suspicion radiating from both of them. Luke cleared his throat. "Mara, I believe Sar'ren is telling the truth." He looked at the Bothan. "I need to contact my sister and tell her what's going on."

"That would be far too risky, especially now. We must leave this bunker – immediately." The words hardly had a chance to leave his mouth when the ground shook from the blast of a concussion grenade hit. "Perhaps we are already too late."

Glova

Han watched as the medics loaded the hover-stretcher into an ambulance. As he started to move to head to his own hover-craft to follow to the hospital, a security guard grabbed his arm. "Solo?"

"Yes?" he answered, trying to jerk his arm away.

The security officer tightened his grip, then drew his weapon and pointed it at Han. "You're under arrest for the kidnapping of Shannon Golden, and the murder of Vail Golden."

"WHAT?" Han snapped his head around, suddenly aware that he and Chewie were surrounded by officers. "You need to be out looking for Rue and Trey instead of making up this garbage…I didn't murder anyone, or kidnap that kid!"

The man pointed to the little girl standing in the distance, holding the hand of a female officer. "That's not what she's saying."

Bothawui

Tee Sar'ren handed the lightsabers back to Luke and Mara. "They will not be interested in capturing us," he informed them. "Fey'lya and Governor Rei'bedu will want us dead. If we are alive, we are too dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Mara questioned. "To his goals?"

"Yes," the Bothan said, nodding. "Laws would require a trial, and trials can be messy things." He indicated they should head to the left tunnel, and hurried after the two Jedi until they came to the end of the tunnel. A long tube with metal rungs went up, disappearing into the darkness above their heads. "This will lead to the surface. Hopefully, they have not located the speeder bikes."

"I don't sense anyone directly overhead," Luke told Sar'ren. "Unless they're Force-sensitive, and good at shielding."

The ground shook as the hidden rebel base took another hit, nearly knocking Mara off her feet. Debris from the ceiling cascaded down around their heads. "Shielding?" Mara coughed as Luke started up the ladder. "That's just what we'd need right now... a dark Jedi waiting at the top of the stairs."

Luke looked back down, grinning. "It wouldn't be the first time."

Coruscant

Winter helped Leia braid her hair, then watched as the former Princess of Alderaan carefully stood up, testing her trembling legs.

"Are you certain you feel well enough to head to Corellia? You could delay the memorial service," she pointed out.

"No, that wouldn't look right. And besides, I'm sure Vail's parents are having a hard enough time right now without putting off the funeral." Leia allowed Winter to help her walk toward the door, but before they could leave the comm panel lit up. Sighing, Leia headed back and pressed the 'on' button. "Ambassador Organa-Golden speaking."

The Corellia Government seal appeared, then a man's craggy face appeared. Leia recognized the Governor of Corellia instantly, and he seemed both pleased and nervous. "Ambassador, I have great news! The local enforcement authorities on Glova have found your daughter."

"Shannon!" Leia sat down on the edge of the bed in relief. "Is she...?"

"She's fine... the medics have already checked her out. And we've caught the mastermind responsible for her kidnapping and Senator Golden's death, as well."

"That's wonderful," Leia said, smiling at this wonderful news. She would have to contact Luke and Mara immediately, so they could come home.

"Yes, it is wonderful. And it all makes sense, too. After all, who else besides Han Solo would want to see your husband dead?"

Leia was grateful she was sitting down, and she could feel the blood drain from her face. "Wh...what?"

"I'm sure it's a bit of a shock, but your daughter insists Han Solo paid the men who actually did the kidnapping and shooting. We've arrested him and his Wookiee partner, and charged them with murder and kidnapping. If his wife dies, that will be another murder charge, too. We think he might have had something to do with his step-sons' disappearance, as well. That's the way it is with these types of criminals... once they get started, nothing can stop them."

"That's... that's just not possible. None of this is possible."

"Are you calling your daughter a liar?"

"No... no."

"In any case, Solo is being processed and will be transported to Corellia tomorrow so he can stand trial. Corellia's death penalty by injection is too good for people like this, if you ask me."

"Corellia? Can you send Shannon there? I was just about to head there myself for my husband's funeral," Leia managed to finally say.

"Certainly. I look forward to seeing you, Ambassador." The Corellian Seal reappeared, then the holo-screen went dark.

"Han wouldn't...he wouldn't."

"No, I agree," Winter said. "Something is wrong here."

Leia wrapped her arms across her chest, feeling suddenly very ill. "I have to contact Luke."

Han looked up as the guard opened his door, and a tall, stern looking man dressed in a Glova Authority Uniform entered. "Stand up," the man ordered.

Slowly, Han stood. "I need to see my wife...she's sick. My kids are missing. I'm telling you again, you have the wrong man. I didn't kidnap Shannon."

"Your wife died en route to the hospital, Solo."

Those words, spoken coldly by a total stranger, felt like a punch to Han's gut. "Dead?"

"The doctor has tested her blood, and the tests show she overdosed on the very medicine she needed to stay alive. I'm adding her murder to the long list of charges against you and your Wookiee, Solo."

Stunned, Han could barely formulate a response. "I found her like that... we were off-planet..."

"Off-planet, and involved in a kidnapping and murder scheme. You could have easily tampered with her medicine before you left, and arranged to have some low-lifes dispose of those poor boys. I believe this was all long thought out, and you did all of this for revenge - because Ambassador Organa-Golden left you."

"You're crazy," Han snapped. "It's been nine years - "

"Plenty of time to make all those complicated plans."

"You're crazy," Han repeated, his throat tight. Alli was dead... her sons, the boys he'd spent the last seven years raising, were missing. Han knew he'd been privileged to have been a part of Alli's life, for she was a good, kindhearted person. Han had loved her, maybe not in the same way he'd loved Leia, with a deep, all-consuming passionate love. But it was the gentle love between two good friends. And now he was charged with her murder, and the stupid security forces assumed he was behind the boys' disappearance. "You need to be looking for a man named Brill Gils. He's the biological father to Rue and Trey. He's the one most likely behind Alli's death..."

"I'll be sure to keep that in mind, Solo," the Officer said snidely as he walked out of the cell, slamming the door shut behind him.

Coruscant

Leia gave a frustrated sigh as she turned off the communication panel. Despite several hours of trying, she had not been able to contact the Jade's Fire. "Where is Luke? He should have at least left me a message."

"You would know if something had happened to him," Winter said, trying to reassure her friend. "We need to get going to Corellia."

"I know," Leia admitted. "I can't wait to see Shannon. And I'm sure there must be some explanation with Han being involved, although I can't think how."

"You've never stopped loving him."

Leia looked sharply at her friend. "That's being presumptuous."

"Is it?"

"Yes." Leia turned away, not wanting Winter to see her face, fearing her emotions would be too obvious. She knew she should be acting like the grieving widow, but her heart was racing at the thought of seeing Han Solo again after so many years. Together, the women headed for the shuttle that would take them up to the Rebel Dream, Leia's personal transport ship.

"This is wonderful," Fey'lya said into the viewer as he listened to the news about the current situation. "Solo is the perfect one to take the blame. I couldn't have planned it any better if I would have tried."

Governor Rei'bedu frowned. "This still does not eliminate the problem with the Insurrections on Bothawui. And the General tells me that the Jedi are now with Sar'ren. If they know, or even suspect, we are in serious trouble."

"Then the Jedi must not survive. Isn't that so?" Fey'lya snapped. "Do whatever you must. Just be very certain none of this can be traced back to me."

"Yes, Senator. What about the Ambassador?"

"I can't take the chance of eliminating her right now. It will have to wait, until Solo has been executed."