Hey I am back with another chapter. To those who reviewed and didn't like
it HA! If you don't like it don't read it. Thanks to everyone who came back
with positive feedback thank you so much. I really, really appreciated. The
flamers thank you for inspiring me to write more.
Cloud City
Despite the Empire's occupation of the planet, Cloud city remained much unchanged. Although much of their equipment had been destroyed by the Imperials. Lando led the way explaining his idea as they walked. Luke's mind churned on though, he couldn't figure Han's behaviour, one minute he was sure they had had a moment and the next Han couldn't seem to bare being in the same room as him. He listened with half and ear as Han and Mara laid into one another, their jibes and taunts reminding him of Han and Leia so long ago. Leia Her name brought another pain to Luke. In some ways he couldn't believe she was his sister. That closeness he had always felt for her now had a reason.
"So this is your marvellous plan?" Mara asked scathingly, her long red hair tumbled down her back in waves and her eyes burned. Luke remembered when Leia had burned with that much passion. "The Rebellion is going to mass and strike the Death Star, it hasn't got any defence at the moment and the Emperor is there. We can end this war." Lando pressed Mara snorted, crossing her arms over her chest angrily, Luke touched her aura through the force and was surprised that much of Mara's anger seemed to be based in fear. Before he could think much further her shields came down and Mara fixed him with a glare. "Unless your scared" Han leaned against the wall casually, hands in pockets staring at the Redhead. Mara turned slowly to face the pilot and when she spoke it was soft. Luke felt ice grip him as Mara said, "What?" Han lifted his hands in an innocent gesture that Luke knew belied his true feelings. Han wanted Mara mad Luke knew. "You're precious Emperor is there. Maybe you couldn't really turn against him"
Mara's features tightened slightly and then she smiled. She returned Han's look as she said
"Then you won't see your Princess again"
**************************************************************************** ****** Death star
Mara knew her part. Making sure every Imp was otherwise engaged Mara entered the chamber that held Leia Organa. She stared at the mechanism making sure she knew how it worked. With all her strength she pushed the lever down, silently wincing as it emitted a high pitch wail. Mara took a step back as the carbonated tinged features of Princess Leia turned red as her casing started to melt. Finally the casing fell away and Leia fell boneless to the floor, Mara broke her fall, stopping the inert body from crashing to the floor. Kneeling Mara made sure that Leia's upper body was supported as she checked for a pulse in either her neck or her wrist. Nothing. Leia's features were blank and tinged with ice and water, her eyes were open but Mara could see no light in them. Leia's whole body was covered in fine water as the heat of the corridor melted the ice that covered her. Mara struggled to keep Leia slipping out of her arms; the princess was as insubstantial as snow. "Come on Princess you gotta do something here" Dutifully Leia began to cough and her head pitched back dangerously as she woke up. Leia blinked several times and Mara realized that Leia couldn't see. "Who are you?" Leia's voice shook as she desperately tried to regain oxygen. "A friend" Mara answered. She knew they had to get out of here before someone was alerted that Mara was gone. Leia seemed to catch onto the implication in Mara's tone as she groped for a handhold on the smooth floor. Leia tried to get up but she was as weak as a newborn child, ignoring the chattering protests Mara pulled Leia into her arms, resting the Princess's head on her shoulder. Suddenly the whole place shook and Mara changed her grip quickly. The rebels must've got a shot it Mara peered out of the adjoining corridor. Chaos rained as Imperials and storm troopers evacuated. Mara ducked and dove into the mass hoping in the confusion that no one would see her. She paused as she reached the throne room, she could hear a great battle going on within. Skywalker. Mara thought about going in but then shrugged. Skywalker was on his own. She had her own problems.
Han paced outside the medical bay worry turning his handsome features into a scowl. He looked up as Luke emerged. The Jedi looked tired and worn. Without thinking Han grabbed him into a big hug, whispering thanks to the Gods for bringing this man that he loved home. Han tensed slightly as he stared into Luke's eyes. They seemed so old suddenly and Han wanted to take that pain away. Acting on impulse Han brought Luke's face closer and kissed him, the whole world fading away in a rush. Han couldn't feel anything except the warmth of Luke's mouth and the cloth of the other's tunic. Han jerked away as if ice water had been poured over him. "Leia" He didn't say anything else. He didn't need to both had identical looks of shame. "Oh God" Luke burst out, his knees caved in and he fell to the floor, running his hands through his hair. "We shouldn't have done that" Han shifted slightly, he didn't need Luke telling him he was wrong. "Leia's gonna be so upset" Luke rambled. Han's eyes blazed suddenly in anger although he knew he shouldn't have. Everything came at him at once. Luke loved Leia he had admitted as much on the millennium Falcon. "I don't want to hurt Leia" Luke anguished turning towards the wall. Embittered Han turned away as well, shame making the blood rush to his face where it had been in other places a moment ago. "And I do?" he demanded. "You assume I think so little of her?" Luke didn't answer. Han decided he had to say something this was killing him inside. He needed everything to be easy between them again. "You love her" Luke's expression told him that he had knocked the Jedi sideways. "What? Han we've been through this yes I love Leia. That's a given"
'And you just betrayed her' a nasty voice added in his head.
Luke just couldn't understand what was going on with Han. Suddenly it dawned on him, despite his legs aching he leapt forward to intercept Han's leaving. "I love Leia because she's my sister" Han's face slackened and then selfish hope lit his face. "Sister?" Luke nodded. Awkward silence filled the corridor as Luke realized he was holding Han's hand tightly. Quickly he let it go. "Okay, Okay we gotta figure this out" Han muttered, seeming interested in the floor. Suddenly his head shot up and he stared at Luke intensely. "Do you love me?" The question hung in the air for a long time, all air seemed sucked out of the room and Luke could only stare at his companion. Finally he managed a squeaky yes. Han stared through the window, seeing Leia hooked up to machines that breathed for her. Tears filled his eyes but he couldn't lie. "have to tell her" he managed.
Cloud City
Despite the Empire's occupation of the planet, Cloud city remained much unchanged. Although much of their equipment had been destroyed by the Imperials. Lando led the way explaining his idea as they walked. Luke's mind churned on though, he couldn't figure Han's behaviour, one minute he was sure they had had a moment and the next Han couldn't seem to bare being in the same room as him. He listened with half and ear as Han and Mara laid into one another, their jibes and taunts reminding him of Han and Leia so long ago. Leia Her name brought another pain to Luke. In some ways he couldn't believe she was his sister. That closeness he had always felt for her now had a reason.
"So this is your marvellous plan?" Mara asked scathingly, her long red hair tumbled down her back in waves and her eyes burned. Luke remembered when Leia had burned with that much passion. "The Rebellion is going to mass and strike the Death Star, it hasn't got any defence at the moment and the Emperor is there. We can end this war." Lando pressed Mara snorted, crossing her arms over her chest angrily, Luke touched her aura through the force and was surprised that much of Mara's anger seemed to be based in fear. Before he could think much further her shields came down and Mara fixed him with a glare. "Unless your scared" Han leaned against the wall casually, hands in pockets staring at the Redhead. Mara turned slowly to face the pilot and when she spoke it was soft. Luke felt ice grip him as Mara said, "What?" Han lifted his hands in an innocent gesture that Luke knew belied his true feelings. Han wanted Mara mad Luke knew. "You're precious Emperor is there. Maybe you couldn't really turn against him"
Mara's features tightened slightly and then she smiled. She returned Han's look as she said
"Then you won't see your Princess again"
**************************************************************************** ****** Death star
Mara knew her part. Making sure every Imp was otherwise engaged Mara entered the chamber that held Leia Organa. She stared at the mechanism making sure she knew how it worked. With all her strength she pushed the lever down, silently wincing as it emitted a high pitch wail. Mara took a step back as the carbonated tinged features of Princess Leia turned red as her casing started to melt. Finally the casing fell away and Leia fell boneless to the floor, Mara broke her fall, stopping the inert body from crashing to the floor. Kneeling Mara made sure that Leia's upper body was supported as she checked for a pulse in either her neck or her wrist. Nothing. Leia's features were blank and tinged with ice and water, her eyes were open but Mara could see no light in them. Leia's whole body was covered in fine water as the heat of the corridor melted the ice that covered her. Mara struggled to keep Leia slipping out of her arms; the princess was as insubstantial as snow. "Come on Princess you gotta do something here" Dutifully Leia began to cough and her head pitched back dangerously as she woke up. Leia blinked several times and Mara realized that Leia couldn't see. "Who are you?" Leia's voice shook as she desperately tried to regain oxygen. "A friend" Mara answered. She knew they had to get out of here before someone was alerted that Mara was gone. Leia seemed to catch onto the implication in Mara's tone as she groped for a handhold on the smooth floor. Leia tried to get up but she was as weak as a newborn child, ignoring the chattering protests Mara pulled Leia into her arms, resting the Princess's head on her shoulder. Suddenly the whole place shook and Mara changed her grip quickly. The rebels must've got a shot it Mara peered out of the adjoining corridor. Chaos rained as Imperials and storm troopers evacuated. Mara ducked and dove into the mass hoping in the confusion that no one would see her. She paused as she reached the throne room, she could hear a great battle going on within. Skywalker. Mara thought about going in but then shrugged. Skywalker was on his own. She had her own problems.
Han paced outside the medical bay worry turning his handsome features into a scowl. He looked up as Luke emerged. The Jedi looked tired and worn. Without thinking Han grabbed him into a big hug, whispering thanks to the Gods for bringing this man that he loved home. Han tensed slightly as he stared into Luke's eyes. They seemed so old suddenly and Han wanted to take that pain away. Acting on impulse Han brought Luke's face closer and kissed him, the whole world fading away in a rush. Han couldn't feel anything except the warmth of Luke's mouth and the cloth of the other's tunic. Han jerked away as if ice water had been poured over him. "Leia" He didn't say anything else. He didn't need to both had identical looks of shame. "Oh God" Luke burst out, his knees caved in and he fell to the floor, running his hands through his hair. "We shouldn't have done that" Han shifted slightly, he didn't need Luke telling him he was wrong. "Leia's gonna be so upset" Luke rambled. Han's eyes blazed suddenly in anger although he knew he shouldn't have. Everything came at him at once. Luke loved Leia he had admitted as much on the millennium Falcon. "I don't want to hurt Leia" Luke anguished turning towards the wall. Embittered Han turned away as well, shame making the blood rush to his face where it had been in other places a moment ago. "And I do?" he demanded. "You assume I think so little of her?" Luke didn't answer. Han decided he had to say something this was killing him inside. He needed everything to be easy between them again. "You love her" Luke's expression told him that he had knocked the Jedi sideways. "What? Han we've been through this yes I love Leia. That's a given"
'And you just betrayed her' a nasty voice added in his head.
Luke just couldn't understand what was going on with Han. Suddenly it dawned on him, despite his legs aching he leapt forward to intercept Han's leaving. "I love Leia because she's my sister" Han's face slackened and then selfish hope lit his face. "Sister?" Luke nodded. Awkward silence filled the corridor as Luke realized he was holding Han's hand tightly. Quickly he let it go. "Okay, Okay we gotta figure this out" Han muttered, seeming interested in the floor. Suddenly his head shot up and he stared at Luke intensely. "Do you love me?" The question hung in the air for a long time, all air seemed sucked out of the room and Luke could only stare at his companion. Finally he managed a squeaky yes. Han stared through the window, seeing Leia hooked up to machines that breathed for her. Tears filled his eyes but he couldn't lie. "have to tell her" he managed.