A spider web of fiery lines traced themselves on the dark planetary surface as the redoubt's tunnels blew open. The hanger vomited flame and vapor and three small craft riding the wave front of the explosion: An antiquated Y-Wing, even older A-Wing - and could that really be a Nubian V-Wing? Then the first shockwaves hit the Falcon and Lando had all he could do to hold her steady.
"Luke?" the Princess called frantically into the comlink, "Luke!"
"I'm here, don't worry, Leia." Skywalker's voice came back, calm and commanding. "Lando, you concentrate on Fett - we'll handle the rest of them."
"Whatever you say, Jedi." he acknowledged, no longer unwilling to let the kid call the shots after what he'd seen below. "Chewy - "
But the Wookiee had already picked Slave-1 out of the rabble of little ships and was accelerating towards her.
Strapped into a fighter cockpit Luke's Rebel command training kicked in and he automatically took charge. The Master and other Jedi made no objection, Luke was an experienced combat leader - and the son of Anakin Skywalker.
"Okay, let's start with the big one." he continued in his Rogue Leader voice. Setting course for a discoid vessel, about half the size of the Falcon and much sleeker except for the weapons spotting its hull, obviously later additions to what had once been a yacht or official transport.
"Raj, take the starboard, Master, the port." Luke directed. "And I'll go right down her middle."
This was the first time he'd flown combat since his training. The first time he'd been able to use the Force consciously, with knowledge, rather than by instinct. He was surprised how much of a difference it made. Now he could see where the enemy fire was going to be. Had the confidence to disregard the computer in favor of his 'feelings' and could keep his emotions from getting in the way.
It was also the first time he'd flown with other Jedi. They flashed down on the Mandalorian transport in perfect formation, as if they'd flown together all their lives, and broke at precisely the right moment to make their separate attack runs. Luke had always had problems coordinating with his gunners - they were never as fast as he was - but with Chani it was like they were two halves of the same mind, seeing, sensing and reacting as one.
As Luke pulled up and began his turn he saw three of the four little ships coming to the big one's aid. But not Slave-1, he hoped that meant Lando had got her - and Han - then focused on the moment. "First things first. Concentrate on the transport."
He made a second run, this time passing under the belly of the ship, using it as a shield against its consorts. He noted, with no real surprise, that Raj was a darn good pilot. His ancient V-Wing deliberately drew the big ship's fire, then at the last moment veered out of the stream of blaster bolts so they pounded the hell out of a blocky Mandalorian fighter instead.
It was no surprise at all find his Master was equally skilled. Expertly evading an attempted inception by the two remaining little ships Dai-Men orbited the main target and Jayce - acting as his gunner - sent a couple of photons right down her drive exhaust.
Luke hastily peeled away as the ship blossomed into a cloud of radiant particles. Saw the surviving Mandalorians break and run. He'd never had much stomach for pursuing a fleeing foe but he knew this pair could not be allowed to escape to train up more of their kind and accelerated after them.
Fett wasn't a bad pilot but Lando was better, staying tight on his tail as the Bounty Hunter led them on a wild chase through the outer planets of the Abbadon System. First Fett tried to lose them in Abbadon Nine's mini-system of rings and moons. Then, when that failed, he veered into the colorful methane-ammonia clouds of the gas giant Abbadon Ten. But Lando had spent the last ten years chasing claim-jumpers and gas pirates through the clouds of Bespin - he knew all the tricks.
Flushed out Fett made a straight run out system right into the Oort cloud. The Falcon tobogganed through the cold comets and star debris, closing steadily.
Leia watched tensely as Slave-1 grew in their ports.
"Getting there.." Lando muttered, eyes on his gauges. "Okay, Chewy, now!"
The Wookiee hit the tractors and roared triumphantly as the indicator light flashed green.
"Got him!" Lando crowed.
Leia was just opening her mouth when, unbelievably, Slave-1 winked out of normal space. "What happened?"
"He jumped!" Lando reported, frantically searching his scanners.
Chewy roared an argument.
"I know it's impossible! Tell it to the computer."
"Could he have hit some kind of suicide switch?" Leia heard herself ask in an improbably calm voice.
Lando shook his head. "No. It was a jump. Don't ask me how he did it with a tractor on him. I'm sorry, Leia, we've lost him."
Chewy moaned an agonized self reproach
"It's not your fault." Lando told him sharply. "You had him. We all saw it."
"That's right." Leia put in quickly. "You both did everything possible. Fett just had one trick to many up his sleeve."
Lando gave her a concerned look over his shoulder. Royal control didn't fool him for a minute. He could see right through the calm princess to the despairing woman beneath. "We haven't lost yet, Leia. We still know where Fett's going."
"Tatooine." she smiled shakily, trying to reassure him and Chewy both.
"Right. Back to plan A. No problem."
Lando was right. They would get Han back - she'd just have to be patient a little longer that was all. Leia let out a careful breath, willing her insides to unknot. It was going to be all right. It was. Luke had said so.
Making her way back to the main cabin she was stopped in her tracks by the sight of massed white armor. She had completely forgotten about the Imperials.
Captain Aiton, helmet off, pushed his way towards her. "Is this ship going to hold still for a while now?"
She flushed, distracted from her grief by embarrassment. "Yes. I apologize for the ride, we were trying to catch one of the Mandalorians. Are your men all right?"
"Luckily we're packed to tight to rattle." He replied. "We've got some wounded from the fight though, is there a sickbay on this - uh -"
"Tub." she finished for him. Good thing Han wasn't hearing this. "Her looks are not the Falcon's strong suit."
"I noticed."
As she led the way to the freighter's tiny aid station he said quietly. "You didn't get your man back?"
So he'd figured that much out. "No." she choked, fighting back tears.
"I'm sorry, Princess."
"It's not over yet." She said firmly. "We'll get him." They would. She could feel it.
It wasn't until after they'd landed and the troopers had marched off that Aiton calling her 'Princess' registered. But she promptly forgot it again as Luke arrived for a hasty council of war.
"Chewy and I'll head back to Tatooine." Lando told them.
Luke nodded. "You won't have any problems establishing yourself in Jabba's court?"
"Not a bit. He's always looking for more muscle."
Chewy, fairly well recovered now there was a promise of further action, growled a mocking comment.
"Yeah but Jabba knows you." Lando countered.
"And Fett knows you." Leia pointed out.
The gambler shook his head. "He'll never get a good look at me, I'll see to that, Princess. Besides I'll be an old hand by the time he shows up."
"But he's got a head start!"
"He won't go straight to Tatooine." Lando assured her. "Not after this business. He'll lie low a while, let the trail cool."
She looked at Luke. He nodded agreement. "Sounds right. Send for me as soon as he arrives."
"You got it."
Dai-Men smiled faintly as he scrolled through a draft of Aiton's report. "Have you ever considered a career in fiction writing, Captain?"
"Got to make things palatable for the brass." the other shrugged.
The Captain's office was barely big enough to hold them all; Aiton sat behind his desk, his Lieutenant at his side. The Master, Mei-Qan and Leia occupied the three guest chairs. Luke, Raj and Jayce stood or leaned where they could, taking up almost all the floor space.
"A shoot out between bounty hunter." Jayce said disapprovingly. "I'm not sure I like being called a bounty hunter."
"Never satisfied are you?" Mei-Qan asked, twisting her neck to look up at him. "Pod-racer, bounty hunter, nothing suits you. What do you want to be called?"
"A Jedi Knight." He replied.
"That wouldn't be wise just yet." The Master said, handing the reader back to Aiton. "Someday."
"I'm just glad you showed up when you did." the Captain told him. "We wouldn't have stood a chance against those guys alone. Thank you, Master Jinn - and you too, your Highness."
"You're welcome." she said. It took a few seconds for the other shoe to drop. "You know who I am? You recognized me?" Oddly enough she didn't feel at all alarmed, just surprised.
Nentres grinned. "Practically the whole command did."
"There weren't many young and pretty Imperial Senators." Aiton explained. "Your image was very popular with the troops."
"Especially the one in that low cut gown, leaning forward." Nentres added.
Leia winced. She remembered that shot. She'd meant to convey intensity and commitment but all anybody had seen was her cleavage.
"I think I know the dress." Luke grinned.
She turned to glare at him but he just kept grinning until she finally smiled back.
"I'm glad Lando isn't here. He'd never let me live this down. Leia Organa pin-up girl of the Imperial Star Fleet!"
"Not just the Imperials." Luke admitted. "I've run across a few holos in Alliance barracks too."
"Oh great!" she groaned. "I'm never going to be able to take an inspection again without wondering what they've hidden away in their lockers."
"Try and take it as a compliment." Mei-Qan advised.
"I assure you our admiration is very respectful." Aiton soothed.
"For the most part." Nentres added.
"I just glad you were more interested in stopping the Mandalorians than turning us in." Leia told Aiton.
He turned serious. "The destruction of Alderaan opened a lot of eyes, Princess." He grimaced. "But if you talk to much you end up posted somewhere like Had Abbadon. And your family -"
"I know." She interrupted. "I've heard about the special 'schools' and special 'housing' for Fleet dependants."
"Then you understand why my men and I can't join you. Still, if there's ever anything we can do for the Alliance on Had Abbadon, we owe you one, Princess."
"I do understand." she assured him. "And thank you."
Chani and Raj left together in the latter's battered old caravel painted with gypsy signs, going back some unfinished business. But not before Chani had given Luke a very thorough good-bye kiss right in front of Leia, then tossed the gently steaming Princess a grin and a "Don't be greedy." before running after her partner.
Luke, still slightly lambent about the ears, added an apologetic shrug and quickly escaped to the Jinx's cockpit. The Master and Jayce looked up from their pre-flight checks to give him matched looks of mild inquiry.
"Being a Jedi doesn't help much with women does it?" he asked ruefully.
Jayce grinned broadly. "Not in the least."
"Mei-Qan was subjected to a bad influence during her training." Dai-Men explained kindly.
"I'm going to tell Kensai Anuril you said that." Jayce warned.
"Go right ahead. I've said as much to her more than once."
Luke wedged himself into a corner for take off and the jump to hyperspace. Uncomfortable but better than going back to the main cabin and facing Leia.
After the jump Jayce murmured something about seeing how their passenger was doing and vacated the copilot's-pilot's chair.
Luke fell into it gratefully. Hopefully Leia would have cooled off by the time they reached the Fleet. "We were lucky to find somebody like Aiton in command on Had Abbadon." he observed, for the sake of something to say.
Dai-Men gave him a look of mild exasperation. "There's no such thing as luck, young Padawan." he scolded. "Nothing happens by chance. It was the Force that brought Captain Aiton to Had Abaddon, just as it brought us. Trust in the Force,
Luke, and it will show you the way to accomplish anything."
Ben had said the same thing, and Yoda too, in slightly different words. But for the first time the truth of it sank home. It was as if the whole universe changed; suddenly everything that'd seemed random and meaningless stood revealed as part of a great unifying pattern working towards the single goal of balance and harmony.
That's what it meant to be mindful of the Living Force! to be aware of how the patterns intersected in the moment and of the possibilities they offered. He didn't have to worry about how to save Han. All he had to do was go to Tatooine and a way would present itself.
"Trust in the Force." he whispered dazzled. He wanted to laugh at himself, or cry. How could he have failed to see it all this time? It was so simple; just let go of fear, stop struggling, stop trying to control and feel the guidance of the Force.
Dai-Men turned away to hide his smile. But there was a trace of sadness in it. Now that Luke had grasped the heart of being a Jedi, he wouldn't be needing his Padawan Master much longer. Soon their paths would diverge again - and Luke's promised to be a very hard one indeed.