Chapter VIII
Han Solo stepped out of the lift and rounded the corner heading down towards Luke's apartment. According to Coruscant officials, the kid was under in-house custody As he neared the door, Han was alarmed to find it unguarded. Drawing his blaster, Han crept down to the door and pressed his ear to the door. Not hearing anything through the thick durasteel, Han keyed the pad to open the door. Luke was sitting on his sofa with two guards taking up seats nearby. He was gesticulating in the air with one hand swooping in towards the other. "So then it's time for our flight. I've got Wedge and Biggs on my wing as we come into the trench.." Han couldn't help but smile at the kid's enthusiasm as he put his blaster away. The noise at the door had attracted the attention of one of the guards who jumped from his chair cursing. "Haskins! I told you we should be on watch! Let's get back out there." Han snickered as he heard the other guard protest, "It was your idea." as the door closed behind them. Luke looked up at his old friend and extended his hand. Which Han took and pulled the kid up into a hug. "How you doing, kid?" Luke shrugged, "Okay. And I was just getting to the best part." Han smiled and then took on a mock stern look. "You know those two could be written up for insubordination." Luke smiled, "Only if they got caught. Besides, I sensed you as soon as you got off the turbolift. If they were going to get in trouble I would let them know." Han just shook his head and chuckled. "I doubt this is what Fey'lya had in mind for in house arrest." Luke shrugged and for a moment reminded Han of that farmboy he met on Tatooine so many years ago. "Hey, can I be held responsible for what Fey'lya has in mind?" Luke sat back down in the sofa and motioned for Han to take a seat. "So, when are you planning on breaking me out of here?" Han did his best to give a blank expression. "Who say's we're going to break you out?" Luke just rolled his eyes and motioned for Han to continue. Han stood up and glanced at the chrono. "I got to be going, kid. Chewie's watching the kids while Leia and Mara are out cooking up some plan. You just take it easy and try to stay out of trouble. Although I'm sure it will manage to find you even under protective custody." Luke just smiled. "Hey, it's me." Han gave him a mock-stern look and muttered, "That's my line." "Yeah, you must be a bad influence on me. Just the other night in bed, Mara was.." Luke started to blush and clamped his mouth shut with an audible pop. Han burst out laughing at Luke's expression and his slip. "What was that, kid?" "Not for all the credits on Coruscant. What are Leia and Mara up to?" Han had quieted down to a chuckle and shook his head. "Don't know. But I think they're planning on going with Rogue Squadron to Bastion when the first transport is taken down. Han shrugged and his characteristic lop-sided grin overtook the serious tone their conversation had taken. "So, what about the other night?" "Not for all the credits on Coruscant." Han clasped his brother-in-law on the shoulder and nodded. "All right kid. You just take care of yourself and try to keep the guards out of trouble." Han stepped out the door and shot one last jab at his friend. "Be good. And I'll just ask Mara about the other night." The doors slid shut on Luke's plaintive "HAN!"
Han Solo stepped out of the lift and rounded the corner heading down towards Luke's apartment. According to Coruscant officials, the kid was under in-house custody As he neared the door, Han was alarmed to find it unguarded. Drawing his blaster, Han crept down to the door and pressed his ear to the door. Not hearing anything through the thick durasteel, Han keyed the pad to open the door. Luke was sitting on his sofa with two guards taking up seats nearby. He was gesticulating in the air with one hand swooping in towards the other. "So then it's time for our flight. I've got Wedge and Biggs on my wing as we come into the trench.." Han couldn't help but smile at the kid's enthusiasm as he put his blaster away. The noise at the door had attracted the attention of one of the guards who jumped from his chair cursing. "Haskins! I told you we should be on watch! Let's get back out there." Han snickered as he heard the other guard protest, "It was your idea." as the door closed behind them. Luke looked up at his old friend and extended his hand. Which Han took and pulled the kid up into a hug. "How you doing, kid?" Luke shrugged, "Okay. And I was just getting to the best part." Han smiled and then took on a mock stern look. "You know those two could be written up for insubordination." Luke smiled, "Only if they got caught. Besides, I sensed you as soon as you got off the turbolift. If they were going to get in trouble I would let them know." Han just shook his head and chuckled. "I doubt this is what Fey'lya had in mind for in house arrest." Luke shrugged and for a moment reminded Han of that farmboy he met on Tatooine so many years ago. "Hey, can I be held responsible for what Fey'lya has in mind?" Luke sat back down in the sofa and motioned for Han to take a seat. "So, when are you planning on breaking me out of here?" Han did his best to give a blank expression. "Who say's we're going to break you out?" Luke just rolled his eyes and motioned for Han to continue. Han stood up and glanced at the chrono. "I got to be going, kid. Chewie's watching the kids while Leia and Mara are out cooking up some plan. You just take it easy and try to stay out of trouble. Although I'm sure it will manage to find you even under protective custody." Luke just smiled. "Hey, it's me." Han gave him a mock-stern look and muttered, "That's my line." "Yeah, you must be a bad influence on me. Just the other night in bed, Mara was.." Luke started to blush and clamped his mouth shut with an audible pop. Han burst out laughing at Luke's expression and his slip. "What was that, kid?" "Not for all the credits on Coruscant. What are Leia and Mara up to?" Han had quieted down to a chuckle and shook his head. "Don't know. But I think they're planning on going with Rogue Squadron to Bastion when the first transport is taken down. Han shrugged and his characteristic lop-sided grin overtook the serious tone their conversation had taken. "So, what about the other night?" "Not for all the credits on Coruscant." Han clasped his brother-in-law on the shoulder and nodded. "All right kid. You just take care of yourself and try to keep the guards out of trouble." Han stepped out the door and shot one last jab at his friend. "Be good. And I'll just ask Mara about the other night." The doors slid shut on Luke's plaintive "HAN!"