Han tugged at his collar for the umpteenth time, as the hovertaxi pulled up in front of his hotel. If there was anything more uncomfortable than normal dress clothing, military dress uniforms would be it.

It had not been his idea to wear the uniform. But, of course, since he was speaking on behalf of the military itself, they required that he were his shiny uniform with all his medals and what not. He felt like a vapin' holiday decoration with all his glittery metal pins, and the tightness of his trousers forcing him to walk like a soldier at all times.

"You look comfortable," Luke chided as Han slid into the cab.

Han gave an annoyed grin." Oh yeah, fun is definitely the word I would use."

This part of the deal hadn't been told to him until recently. Up until then he'd thought this whole thing would be a quick job - just stand there, say a few things about the wonderful qualities of the military, then use the rest of the time as a paid vacation. Damn did Ackbar screw him over! The old fish didn't fill him in on the actual entailments of the request until almost a week after Han had accepted.

"You ready?" Luke asked.

"You kidding, if it didn't take so much concentration to breath in this uniform, I could do this in my sleep," Han replied, pulling down on the ends of his shirt and adjusting his collar again.

Truth be told, Han was overjoyed that the day was finally here, because now all he had to do was get through it and he'd be home free. No more dress clothes, no more sucking up. It also meant no more bouts with Leia, and life would be perpetual coasting once again.

"Next stop sir?" the cabby asked.

Luke mumbled a familiar address and the cabby nodded back.

"We going somewhere other than the Senate?" Han asked.

"Um, I told Leia I'd come by to pick her up at o'eight hundred," Luke said, trying to brush off the deception.

Han let his head fall backwards as he looked up at the ceiling. "This is one of those things you could have mentioned earlier," he said in an annoyed tone. "I told you before to leave this alone."

"I am leaving it alone," Luke said unconvincingly. "I wanted to ride with you both. I never said you have to talk to one another."

Han growled under his breath. Luke could be a pain in the rear sometimes with his persistence. It was understandable that he wanted to preserve something they'd all had long ago - their friendship in youth - but he didn't seem willing to give up on it, even when there wasn't anything left to save.

Sometimes Han wondered if Luke knew something he didn't, as if there was something in the Force that told him to keep trying at this. If there was, Han hoped it would keep its mouth shut and leave them be. It would be so much easier to avoid Leia and the conflict that came with her if Luke wouldn't keep bringing them all together.

You would think with all the arguments Luke has started by putting them in one room, he'd get a clue and leave them alone. He was just making it worse by forcing them together; it only made them want to be apart more. By this time, Han would be happy never to see Leia again in his life.

That wasn't entirely true, he had to admit. Something in him really didn't want to never see her again - just maybe not till she's old and gray, and not beautiful anymore. By then, it would make it so much easier to hate her. Her looks - her long soft hair and warm pale skin - always made Han do a subconscious double take. It was annoying to think about because it disguised what she was like inside: cold and distant.

That's what Han had convinced himself she was. He knew better somewhere in his head, but up in the front of his thoughts, that was what he told himself. She had made the decision to turn herself off long ago, and he could see it in her even now.

Of course, he was just the same. He'd never admit it to himself aloud, but he'd gone down that lonely road as well. It was an almost darkly funny thought at how they'd gone down the same path as strangers - alone but on the same path.

They pulled up to Leia's apartment and she opened the door to the cab. Han could see the surprised and exasperated look in her eyes as she got in the car, sitting opposite her brother. She said nothing but it spoke volumes of her irritation.

Luke's comm unit beeped and he pulled it from his belt.

"Yes, this is Master Skywalker." He appeared to strain to her the voice on the other end. "I'm sorry, Kam, you're breaking up, just hold on moment."

Han nodded at Luke as the Jedi Master slipped out of the vehicle to get a better signal, leaving Leia and him alone.

~ ~ ~

Luke walked a few meters from the cab and the signal on his comm cleared. "It's fine now. What were you saying?

The voice of Kam Solusar came over the comm.. "The temple contacts have been receiving reports of protests outside the Senate, Luke, and some are becoming rather violent--"

"A protest is nothing of too much concern, Kam. I'm sure will be fine," Luke replied. He was thankful for Kam's concern, but he didn't understand why the Jedi Knight considered it so important.

"Luke, they aren't protesting the initiative for the most part. They're protesting you and Leia."

Luke quieted for a moment. "Go on."

"There have been rumors of factions that might consider eliminating both of you from the picture, forcefully," Kam said, his tone grave even through the comm distortions.

In a moment of realization and Force-sense, Luke felt a huge weight dump on his shoulders as her saw what was going to happen. He turned at the sound of revving engines, only to find the cab was gone.

- - -