Author's Note: I must apologize to those who did write in a review... I have
no idea what I did, but all of them were deleted. I'm sorry.
Chapter Two
A balding man with a bright red, high collared robe was waiting among other similarly dressed men. The group of men waited at the edge of the bay, moving forward only when the battle-scarred ship lowered and powered down. When the landing ramp started to lower the bald man emerged from the group and started to walk forward, the others following him.
Smiling faintly when he saw Han Solo swagger down the ramp, his expression quickly soured when he saw a red-haired woman trail behind him. He had though Solo would be traveling alone.
Wearing a fake smile he stepped forward to greet the two newcomers. "Welcome to Corellia General Solo." He reached out and clasped the hesitantly offered hand. He glanced to the woman beside him. "And this lovely woman is?"
Mara cut Han off before he could answer. "Mara Jade." She ignored the man's offered hand.
The man instead bowed to Mara. "I am the Defense Minister Bruc Yihza." He paused the clasp his hands behind his back. "I'm afraid there will be a short delay to your quarters. I was only expecting you General Solo." Yihza inclined his head to Han.
Both Han and Mara made a mental note of that bit of information.
"The delay will not matter. It gives us time to stretch our legs." Han waved off the apology and started walking towards the exit and the busy street beyond.
Yihza seemed flustered for a moment. "Yes of course." He gestured for one of his companions to hand over his comm-link. "Here, we will contact you as soon as your rooms are ready."
Han took the offered comm from the man and lazily saluted him. "'Till then." The Rebellion hero and the woman continued towards the street.
***
Out of sight, Mara almost laughed at the confused look on the Defense Minister's face. "I thought there were certain protocols to follow on Corellia."
Han smirked as he made his way through the crowded street. "There are, but sometimes you've got to put the prissy politicians in their place."
This time Mara did laugh. "And when are we going to get this top secret information?"
Han raised a finger, but quickly drew it away- remembering the incident on the 'Falcon.' "That's one of the beauty points. You act like you don't care and then there's none of the diplomatic crap that you usually have to deal with."
The red-haired woman smiled. "It seems Organa hasn't yet taught you the finer points of diplomacy."
Han raised an eyebrow. "You don't see her around do you?"
***
The two travelers were provided with spacious and elite rooms at the top of the most prestigious hotel on Corellia.
A large living room was in the middle- circular in shape and a modest kitchen located at the back. Two bedrooms were on opposite sides of the living room, both large as well. A floor to ceiling and wall to wall window topped off the quarters, offering a full view of the city beyond and the setting sun.
Yihza saw them inside to ensure that everything was in order and taken care of. Han asked for two expensive Corellian steaks, vegetables and various herbs. He later told Mara he was going to make supper, it wasn't everyday he got to make some good old fashioned Corellian food. Han then nonchalantly asked when the 'secret' information would be presented. Yihza smiled slyly and explained that it would be discussed the next day.
They then went their separate ways to unpack, shower, rest and change but not necessarily in that order.
It was after Mara had showered and was getting dressed that the smell of cooking steak wafted into her room, invading her nostrils.
She quickly finished getting ready and stepped out into the living room. Han was just turning around in the kitchen and spotted her.
"Good. I thought you were sleeping or something." He raised a pan and scrapped some vegetables onto two plates. "Supper's ready." Han brought out their food, setting it on opposite ends of the table and gestured for Mara to sit. "Dig in."
Mara gladly sat before the food and was happy to find that it tasted as good as it smelled. "This is good." Mara speared a red spicy vegetable. "I never pictured you as a cook."
Han looked surprised. "Really? I didn't think you'd know the difference between good food and bad." He raised a hand before Mara could shoot back an angry reply. "Sorry, it was supposed to be a joke. Thank you for the compliment."
They ate in silence, but neither cared. They were both too famished to talk and the food was too tempting to ignore.
When finished, Mara cleaned up, not caring that a maid would do it for them later. Han went to sit on the oversized couch in the living room that faced the huge window. He watched as the city's lights started to come on as the sky darkened. Mara joined him when finished cleaning, but stood by the window instead of sitting down.
Han hesitated before speaking. "May I ask something?"
Mara raised an eyebrow at his question, normally Han would just ask it. "Depends on what it is." She continued to stare out the window.
"Why don't you talk about your days during the Empire?"
She had to admit it, but she was surprised with his question. Mara tried to hide her feelings with a shrug. "There's nothing to talk about."
Han gave her an I-know-better-than-that look. "There has to be. It's taken up over half of your life so far."
Mara gritted her teeth. "Nothing to talk about." She repeated.
Han leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms behind his head. "All right, but let me give you a piece of advice sharp-shooter. I felt the same way as you did before I met Leia and realized I was wrong."
Mara quirked an eyebrow. "You suggesting that I marry a woman?"
"What? No!" Han got flustered and sat up. "I mean only if you wanted to... What I mean is a very good friend that will be there when you need them most."
She flipped her hair and snorted. "Point noted."
Han opened his mouth to reply when their apartment door burst open and a flood of black dressed police came in, followed closely by the Defense Minister.
"What's the meaning of this?" Han demanded as he bolted off the couch, Mara slowly came to stand beside him.
Yihza coldly glared at the man before him. "No murderer has the right to ask such questions. General Han Solo, you are under arrest for the seven- year-old murder of Senator Atam Ineler. You're punishment will be death." Yihza gravely finished.
"What?" Han tried to shake off the two officers trying to arrest him. "I didn't kill anyone!"
"I suggest you cooperate General. You are only making things much worse."
Mara stepped forward, a dangerous expression on her face. "Where is your evidence?"
Yihza dismissed her question with an upturned nose. "It will be provided in due time."
Mara got angry. "Then you have no right to arrest him. Release him."
"It will be shown." He stonily repeated. Yihza gestured for the guards to take Han away, but Mara stopped him.
"General Solo has to the right to counsel and trial."
Yihza got flustered with the delay. "He will get a trial, but he will have to retain counsel from someone already on planet. No New Republic members will be allowed planet-side." He glared at Han. "That includes your wife and brother-in-law."
Mara stepped in front of the Minister again when he turned to leave. "Then I will be his counsel, until he finds a more suitable one."
Yihza's jaw locked in anger. "Very well. You will be provided with his detention information." He swept out of the room.
Han looked worriedly down at Mara. "I didn't do it." He whispered.
Mara surprised them both by squeezing his hand in support. "I believe you."
The guards then surrounded Han, blocking him from Mara's view and marched him out of their quarters. Mara stood still for a few seconds to make a mental list of things she must do. She sighed when she realized what the most important one was at the moment. Mara moved over to the comm unit to get a hold of Han's wife.
Chapter Two
A balding man with a bright red, high collared robe was waiting among other similarly dressed men. The group of men waited at the edge of the bay, moving forward only when the battle-scarred ship lowered and powered down. When the landing ramp started to lower the bald man emerged from the group and started to walk forward, the others following him.
Smiling faintly when he saw Han Solo swagger down the ramp, his expression quickly soured when he saw a red-haired woman trail behind him. He had though Solo would be traveling alone.
Wearing a fake smile he stepped forward to greet the two newcomers. "Welcome to Corellia General Solo." He reached out and clasped the hesitantly offered hand. He glanced to the woman beside him. "And this lovely woman is?"
Mara cut Han off before he could answer. "Mara Jade." She ignored the man's offered hand.
The man instead bowed to Mara. "I am the Defense Minister Bruc Yihza." He paused the clasp his hands behind his back. "I'm afraid there will be a short delay to your quarters. I was only expecting you General Solo." Yihza inclined his head to Han.
Both Han and Mara made a mental note of that bit of information.
"The delay will not matter. It gives us time to stretch our legs." Han waved off the apology and started walking towards the exit and the busy street beyond.
Yihza seemed flustered for a moment. "Yes of course." He gestured for one of his companions to hand over his comm-link. "Here, we will contact you as soon as your rooms are ready."
Han took the offered comm from the man and lazily saluted him. "'Till then." The Rebellion hero and the woman continued towards the street.
***
Out of sight, Mara almost laughed at the confused look on the Defense Minister's face. "I thought there were certain protocols to follow on Corellia."
Han smirked as he made his way through the crowded street. "There are, but sometimes you've got to put the prissy politicians in their place."
This time Mara did laugh. "And when are we going to get this top secret information?"
Han raised a finger, but quickly drew it away- remembering the incident on the 'Falcon.' "That's one of the beauty points. You act like you don't care and then there's none of the diplomatic crap that you usually have to deal with."
The red-haired woman smiled. "It seems Organa hasn't yet taught you the finer points of diplomacy."
Han raised an eyebrow. "You don't see her around do you?"
***
The two travelers were provided with spacious and elite rooms at the top of the most prestigious hotel on Corellia.
A large living room was in the middle- circular in shape and a modest kitchen located at the back. Two bedrooms were on opposite sides of the living room, both large as well. A floor to ceiling and wall to wall window topped off the quarters, offering a full view of the city beyond and the setting sun.
Yihza saw them inside to ensure that everything was in order and taken care of. Han asked for two expensive Corellian steaks, vegetables and various herbs. He later told Mara he was going to make supper, it wasn't everyday he got to make some good old fashioned Corellian food. Han then nonchalantly asked when the 'secret' information would be presented. Yihza smiled slyly and explained that it would be discussed the next day.
They then went their separate ways to unpack, shower, rest and change but not necessarily in that order.
It was after Mara had showered and was getting dressed that the smell of cooking steak wafted into her room, invading her nostrils.
She quickly finished getting ready and stepped out into the living room. Han was just turning around in the kitchen and spotted her.
"Good. I thought you were sleeping or something." He raised a pan and scrapped some vegetables onto two plates. "Supper's ready." Han brought out their food, setting it on opposite ends of the table and gestured for Mara to sit. "Dig in."
Mara gladly sat before the food and was happy to find that it tasted as good as it smelled. "This is good." Mara speared a red spicy vegetable. "I never pictured you as a cook."
Han looked surprised. "Really? I didn't think you'd know the difference between good food and bad." He raised a hand before Mara could shoot back an angry reply. "Sorry, it was supposed to be a joke. Thank you for the compliment."
They ate in silence, but neither cared. They were both too famished to talk and the food was too tempting to ignore.
When finished, Mara cleaned up, not caring that a maid would do it for them later. Han went to sit on the oversized couch in the living room that faced the huge window. He watched as the city's lights started to come on as the sky darkened. Mara joined him when finished cleaning, but stood by the window instead of sitting down.
Han hesitated before speaking. "May I ask something?"
Mara raised an eyebrow at his question, normally Han would just ask it. "Depends on what it is." She continued to stare out the window.
"Why don't you talk about your days during the Empire?"
She had to admit it, but she was surprised with his question. Mara tried to hide her feelings with a shrug. "There's nothing to talk about."
Han gave her an I-know-better-than-that look. "There has to be. It's taken up over half of your life so far."
Mara gritted her teeth. "Nothing to talk about." She repeated.
Han leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms behind his head. "All right, but let me give you a piece of advice sharp-shooter. I felt the same way as you did before I met Leia and realized I was wrong."
Mara quirked an eyebrow. "You suggesting that I marry a woman?"
"What? No!" Han got flustered and sat up. "I mean only if you wanted to... What I mean is a very good friend that will be there when you need them most."
She flipped her hair and snorted. "Point noted."
Han opened his mouth to reply when their apartment door burst open and a flood of black dressed police came in, followed closely by the Defense Minister.
"What's the meaning of this?" Han demanded as he bolted off the couch, Mara slowly came to stand beside him.
Yihza coldly glared at the man before him. "No murderer has the right to ask such questions. General Han Solo, you are under arrest for the seven- year-old murder of Senator Atam Ineler. You're punishment will be death." Yihza gravely finished.
"What?" Han tried to shake off the two officers trying to arrest him. "I didn't kill anyone!"
"I suggest you cooperate General. You are only making things much worse."
Mara stepped forward, a dangerous expression on her face. "Where is your evidence?"
Yihza dismissed her question with an upturned nose. "It will be provided in due time."
Mara got angry. "Then you have no right to arrest him. Release him."
"It will be shown." He stonily repeated. Yihza gestured for the guards to take Han away, but Mara stopped him.
"General Solo has to the right to counsel and trial."
Yihza got flustered with the delay. "He will get a trial, but he will have to retain counsel from someone already on planet. No New Republic members will be allowed planet-side." He glared at Han. "That includes your wife and brother-in-law."
Mara stepped in front of the Minister again when he turned to leave. "Then I will be his counsel, until he finds a more suitable one."
Yihza's jaw locked in anger. "Very well. You will be provided with his detention information." He swept out of the room.
Han looked worriedly down at Mara. "I didn't do it." He whispered.
Mara surprised them both by squeezing his hand in support. "I believe you."
The guards then surrounded Han, blocking him from Mara's view and marched him out of their quarters. Mara stood still for a few seconds to make a mental list of things she must do. She sighed when she realized what the most important one was at the moment. Mara moved over to the comm unit to get a hold of Han's wife.