Author's note: Once again, the upload system has been uncooperative. Thanks for your patience and enjoy!
Ignoring proper procedure, Han burst into the conference room. Eyeing Malad at the far side of the table, Han flung the box at the major. "There's your intelligence," he spat. "I hope it was worth it!"
"Thanks for the delivery, Solo, but without Leia's testimony, we have no way of knowing if the information is legitimate," Malad said calmly.
"Oh, sure, Malady," Han replied, his anger rising. "I just happen to be able to create a security box protected by the highest level Alliance codes."
"Oh, really, Solo. And how do you know it's protected by the highest level codes."
"They're always protected by the highest level codes. Everyone knows that. Besides, how would I get those codes, anyway? It's not like I have much clearance around here."
"Of course, you don't, Solo. No one would trust you with information. You probably tortured the princess to get the information, then planned to turn her over to the Imperials after you were done. It's quite a coincidence that they just happened to be on Ord Mantell."
"Yeah," Han countered, barely controlling his anger. "It is interesting that they were there considering that your intelligence marked the sector as secure. Did ya screw up again, or did ya purposefully put Leia in danger for turning you down cold?"
"I resent those implications, Solo. My reports have been checked at the highest levels, and I would never intentionally put one of the most important members of the Alliance in harm's way. You, on the other hand, have no official ties to the Rebellion. You are a mercenary who sells his services to the highest bidder. Who is paying you this time, Solo?"
"That's enough, Major," Rieekan said. "Captain Solo is a hero of the Rebellion, and has proven his loyalty time and time again. I won't have you attack him with unfounded accusations."
"That's okay, General. I can handle this," Han said, his tone grateful.
Turning to the major, Han said, "Ya know, Malad, there's just one problem with your little theory…I didn't get anything out of this but a damaged ship and a badly injured…friend. If Ord Mantell was a setup, why would I come back here with the princess? I coulda just said that she was captured or that she died."
"Ah, but you earn our trust this way." Then he added, wickedly, "Isn't it convenient that the princess is in no shape to confirm your story. What did you do to her, Solo? Attack her with a blunt instrument when she wasn't looking?"
"I would never hurt her!" he shouted forcefully, revealing more of himself than he ever intended.
"Maybe, you didn't have to," Malad said, an evil glint in his eye. "You seduced her, turned her into a smuggler's whore, and now she's just playing along to save her reputation."
Han wasted no time on words. He scrambled across the table and slammed the major against the wall, preparing to pummel him into unconsciousness.
The Alliance brass worked quickly, however, and the general and two other men dragged Solo away from the major. "Don't talk about her that way," he screamed, struggling to free himself from the grasp of his captors.
"Calm down, Han. You aren't helping the situation," Rieekan said urgently, trying to talk some sense into the furious young man.
"I seem to have struck a nerve," Malad crowed. "What you say is of no consequence, however. I have access to new technology which will bring the truth to light."
"What are you talking about, Major?" Rieekan asked worriedly.
"Alliance scientists have developed a new method of interrogation that taps directly into the brain and displays memories on a holo screen. Leia may not be able to access those memories, but we certainly can."
"How dangerous is this?" Rieekan asked.
"The technology is new, but seems to be free of major side effects. It has only caused brain damage in a few cases."
"That's unacceptable!" screamed Rieekan.
Han was even more forceful, shouting, "I won't let you touch her!"
"I've already received approval, General, so your objections are irrelevant. As for you, Solo, I'm having you placed under arrest for assault. You have absolutely no say in the matter."
General Rieekan was stunned. "I won't let you do this…I'll appeal the decision to the Council."
"You won't win, General. Time is of the essence, and we have to technology to solve this problem decisively right now. I'm preparing the team as we speak."
As he was being dragged out of the room, Han said, "Malad, wait!"
"Wait for what, Solo? I've won."
"I know a way you can get the information you need without risking the princess' health."
"What method is that, Solo?"
"Use truth drugs on me…any kind you want. I'll give my full consent and cooperation."
"You don't have to do this, Solo," Rieekan told him.
"Yes, I do, General. I won't let this man experiment on Leia."
"All right, then, Solo." Turning to Malad, the general said, "I will only allow this on one condition."
"What's that, General?"
"I will be responsible for administering the truth serum and will be the only one to ask any questions."
Malad started to interrupt, but the General cut him off. "You and the members of the Council will be allowed to watch the proceedings in the observation room. You can monitor the interrogation closely from there, but I retain sole control of the questioning."
"But, sir. How can we be assured that the information we receive is complete?"
"Are you questioning my abilities, Major?"
"No, sir."
"Then I take it you agree to my terms."
"Yes, sir."
"That will be all, Major."
"Yes, sir."
Malad had been trumped in the end, but he could not contain his glee at the situation. Solo would be exposed as a criminal, the princess would be discredited, and his own background would remain hidden. Things were working out beautifully, and it only took the mention of a non-functional technology to spring his trap!
Han was taken into custody by General Rieekan and led to his private office.
"Are you sure about this, Han?"
"Yeah, General, I'm sure. Do me a favor though, would ya?"
"Sure, Solo. What is it?"
"Get word to Chewie and Luke and tell them what's happening. Also, make sure that no one tells Leia anything about this."
"She has a right to know, Solo. You are taking a huge risk to protect her."
"Yeah, and I don't want her feeling guilty about it. She's got enough to deal with."
Flashing a knowing smile, Rieekan replied, "Okay, Solo, have it your way. You better hope she doesn't find out that you kept this from her, or you'll be forced to face her wrath on your own. I can't help you."
"She's a feisty one, I'll say that for her," he said, as flashes of their arguments on Ord Mantell entered his mind. "But, I'm willing to risk it. Do I have your word, General?"
"On my honor, Solo," the general said, shaking Solo's hand. "Oh, and Solo, I'll keep my questions strictly on the topic at hand. I won't go delving into your more…private matters."
"I appreciate that, General," Han said simply, thankful that he had a trustworthy ally.
At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Rieekan's young lieutenant entered the room, saying "They're ready for you in the interrogation room, sir."
"Thank you, Lieutenant. Tell them we'll be there shortly."
"Yes, sir."
"Are you ready, Solo?"
"As ready as I'll ever be, General."
"Let's get this over with. After you."
"I just love this Alliance hospitality," he quipped, striding quickly toward the interrogation room.
Rieekan smiled and said nothing. Silently, however, he thought, "I'm sorry, Han, but I'll make this as easy as possible. I couldn't face Leia otherwise."
The next time Leia opened her eyes, she was surprised to find Luke sitting by her bedside.
"Luke," she said, smiling. "How wonderful to see you. Where's Chewbacca?"
"He had to go…take care of something, but he asked me to stay with you until he returned."
Leia couldn't believe how protective everyone was being. "I don't need a bodyguard, Luke, but I'm glad that you are here."
"I am, too," he said softly, taking her hand. "How are you feeling, Leia?"
"I'm sore, and a bit dizzy, but mostly, I'm confused."
"What do you mean?"
"I have this big hole in my memory, and the world seems to have changed. I can't really explain it, but time has moved on without me, and I'm still stuck in the past. Am I making sense?"
Luke smiled at her gently, realizing that she had sensed the changes in Han Solo. He wondered what had really happened between them.
"Yes, Leia. It makes perfect sense," he reassured her. "To you, that part of your life never existed, but, to others, it was very real. I can see how that would be frustrating."
"When did you get to be so wise, Luke?" she asked.
"Aw…I wouldn't say wise…I'd say sympathetic."
"You're being quite modest, unlike someone else we know," she teased. "Where is he, anyway?"
Leia had tried to sound nonchalant, but the urgency in her voice was unmistakable. Luke was under strict orders not to tell her about Han's whereabouts, but he hated to lie to her.
Choosing his words carefully, he opted to tell her fragments of the truth. "The Falcon took some heavy damage during your escape. Han's just tied up at the moment."
Leia never knew how true that last statement was. At that very moment, Han was literally tied to the interrogation bunk.
"He doesn't want to see me," she ventured, trying not to look dejected.
"Leia," he said forcefully, trying to gain her attention. "He does want to see you, he just can't at the moment."
"Are you hiding something from me, Luke?"
"Everything I've told you is the truth," he said earnestly.
"I'm sorry, Luke," she said. "It's just that I need him…um…I need him to fill in some of the blanks. I have no memory at all of what happened or how I was injured."
"What do you remember?"
"The last thing I remember clearly is arguing with Han before the Falcon even left base. He was teasing me about being his wife on the mission."
"And I take it he made you mad," Luke said lightheartedly.
"Of course he did…that's his special talent."
"That's not what Han would say," Luke said with a grin.
"I don't want to even think what Han would say his special talent was, though I could probably guess," she said with a small measure of exasperation.
Luke laughed knowingly, replying, "He's not that bad, Leia. He's just good at pushing your buttons, that's all."
"But he doesn't do that to you," she said petulantly. "Why am I his favorite target?"
He's not interested in me, Luke thought, but said, "I can't give him a good challenge—you can."
Shaking her head, Leia replied, "All we do is fight and make each other angry. Where's the challenge in that?"
"That's not true, Leia," Luke said emphatically. "Han has been a good friend to you. Besides, you two may bicker, but I think you both secretly enjoy those fights."
"Who in their right mind would enjoy fighting all the time?"
"Come on, Leia, admit it. Don't you enjoy it just a little?"
Leia thought about it, but hesitated to answer.
Luke continued, "What about that time on Udek 5? You really got Han good."
"I did, didn't I?" Leia laughed, savoring the memory of the victory. She had to admit that her encounters with Han were always stimulating. There was never a dull moment with that man around.
Luke was about to say something else when the doctor entered the room. "I need you to leave, young man. I've got to run some tests on the princess."
"Sure, Doctor." Turning back to the princess, Luke said, "I'll be right outside, Leia. We'll talk some more later."
"You don't have to stay, Luke. I'm sure you have other things to do."
"I don't mind at all, Leia. I'm just glad that I can talk to you," he said, squeezing her hand gently to emphasize his concern.
Smiling warmly, Leia replied, "I am too. Thanks for watching out for me."
"Anytime. I'll see you later."
"Bye, Luke," she said softly, watching her friend leave the room.
As the doctor calibrated his scanners and set up his equipment, Leia was left with some time to think. She was grateful to Chewbacca and Luke for visiting, but she couldn't help but wonder why Han had not come to see her. She knew how much the Falcon meant to him, but couldn't he have spared a few minutes to check on her condition?
The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became. When Han was shot in the leg during the Mazanas mission, she had been the first to visit him in the medcenter, canceling a meeting in order to check on him. Even now, she could feel the embarrassment she had suffered when a colleague playfully accused her of calling off the meeting because of her feelings for the smuggler. She had hotly denied the charge, insisting that she would have done so for any friend.
Still, in her private thoughts, she wondered about the veracity of the statement. Would she have shirked her responsibilities for any friend? She was almost positive that she would drop everything to check on Luke or Chewie, but would she have experienced the same level of concern?
The news of Han's injury had hit her with the force of a physical blow, and she had rushed to his side. The sheer power of her concern had surprised her, and she had been quite flustered upon reaching Han's room. Han, of course, had been quick to take notice of her distress and teased her unmercifully. "Sweetheart, I didn't know you cared so much about me."
"I don't care, you egomaniac," she had replied. "I just wanted to make sure you could fly on the next mission. It's crucial to the Alliance that we obtain that shipment."
The conversation had degenerated from there, with Han attacking her obsession with the Rebellion and Leia criticizing him for his mercenary tendencies. Still, after she left the room in a huff, Leia had experienced a profound sense of relief that Han was in relatively good health. Despite all of their differences, she realized that she cared about this man and that he was an important part of her life.
Today, however, she began to question that judgment. He obviously wasn't concerned about her, or he would have come to visit. She had been seriously injured on a mission they had shared, and he had not even bothered to check on her progress. Maybe Han Solo wasn't the man she thought he was. Maybe he was incapable of caring for another human being. Still, Luke seemed to think that Han had a good reason for staying away. Perhaps she should give him the benefit of the doubt. By all accounts, he had taken excellent care of her after she was injured. She owed him the chance to explain, at least.
Come soon, Han, her heart cried out. I need to talk to you.