Chapter Twenty

The biggest change for Luke was the lack of adrenaline. Well, not the biggest change. An awful lot had happened over the last year and a bit. He trained in the Force, became a Jedi Master, learned he had a sister and the truth about his father. He helped bring an end to the Empire and his father renounce the dark side and was now working toward restoring the Jedi Order. Eventually. He wasn't a stranger to battles or wartime stress—that described most of his life since leaving Tatooine—but it felt different. He was calm. There was still anxiety, and yes, adrenaline, around him but it tended to wash over and through him. He absorbed what he needed and discarded what he didn't.

He looked over at Leia who stood in the middle of the control room, hands on hips. From the first moment he saw her, the holo message for Ben then in the detention cell on the Death Star, he was in awe of her. That feeling had only grown but he didn't see her as some model of princess perfection anymore. She was real flesh and blood, racked by her own list of concerns and fears and still the strongest person he knows, and here she was once again in charge. In control. Inspiring.

Leia glanced at the monitor labelled South Entrance as various angles flashed on the screen. Blaster fire flew in all directions and it was difficult to assess exactly what was happening. A small explosion on the East Entrance monitor went off and she smiled slightly. She knew some of the stormtroopers would soon move to the other entrance, further dividing their defensive efforts.

Grand Moff Nolram sat a few feet away from her. Head held high as he tried to maintain an air of importance. Nolram wanted everyone in the room to think he still had a card to play despite his wrists locked in cuffs.

"Are the Rebels now acquiring private property? Taking a factory from its rightful owner?" Nolram sneered at Leia. He did a quick visual check around the room to gauge responses.

"We have no control over this factory or its workers." Leia tilted her head and smiled at Nolram. "Thyre Industries is still under control of the Thyre family. The government of the New Republic is ensuring it remains in their hands."

Leia turned to look at Pyrtor and his father. Moze Thyre sat in a chair against the far wall. He looked exhausted but relieved. Pyrtor stood beside him, a hand on the back of his father's chair. He looked almost exhilarated. Recharged. Ready for the next round.

"My father and I are relieved to move past this unfortunate incident." Pyrtor kept Nolram's gaze as he spoke. Up until that point, his eyes hadn't left Leia.

She was well aware of his reaction to her presence. He was happy to see her. Focused on her every move. Leia was still sussing out the situation but it seemed unlikely that someone colluding with the Empire, or who set a trap for them, would be so relieved at her arrival. The phrase unfortunate incident wasn't ideal but she could ignore it for now. Political rhetoric wasn't her main concern.

Luke kept his own vigil on the wall opposite of Pyrtor. His hand rested on his lightsaber latched to his belt. The fight—Luke thought it was almost more of a scuffle—for control of the room lasted only a few minutes. Dameron and Stralla entered first, taking out the last of the Stormtroopers, and Luke made quick work of pinning Nolram so Dameron could apply the cuffs. Dynsara Thyre didn't even try to resist. She sat down with a stunned look on her face and awaited her fate.

Leia then walked in, smiling, and let everyone know they had access to the communications satellites and had downloaded the weapons plans Nolram hoped to use as leverage. Nolram sputtered and complained that this was theft, unjust, a travesty. She shared a quick look with Luke, making sure everything was fine on his end, and let Nolram tire himself out.

Luke let her know that all was well. Well, nothing else has gone wrong anyway. He leaned against a large window, taking up one wall, that looked over the main factory floor. Most of the production had shut down with only a few machines working. Banks of monitors, displaying the rooms, corridors and work sites in a rotating pattern, lined two other walls. He could see a few people still working but most were gathered in the cafeteria or main foyers in small groups, some trying to sleep, most looking trapped and anxious.

There was a sudden flash and they all turned to the South Entrance monitor.

"What happened?" Leia stared at the monitor, squinting as though that would help her see through the smoke filling the screen. She quickly crossed her arms over her chest in a defensive move.

"Looks like a detonator went off." Dameron leaned in for a better look.

"Which side?" Leia looked between the three men, hoping one of them saw more.

Luke's eyes closed for a moment then opened to catch Leia's. "Imperial detonator. There are injuries but I can't tell how many or how severe."

"On it." Stralla tapped his headset to ensure he and Dameron were connected then hurried from the room.

"Luke, I see your studies have progressed." Pyrtor smiled at him. "I'm impressed that you found that much information in the Jedi archives."

"Jedi?!" Nolram looked at Luke then Pyrtor and back again. He quickly composed himself but couldn't hide his state of high alert. Considering Darth Vader was the only Jedi-like being he would have encountered in a few decades, Leia thought his concerns were valid.

Luke gave a single nod to Pyrtor, his hand still on his lightsaber. He was keeping quiet for the most part, letting Leia lead this portion of the mission. This was her area of expertise.

He and Leia shared another quick but intense look before she turned back to the room.

Grand Moff Nolram tried to relax into his seat. "This is a minor setback. For the Empire and for me."

"Of course." Leia gave him an almost sweet smile. "We look forward to your next move."

Leia knew she was doing a far better job than Nolram at hiding her nerves but her heart stopped when she caught sight of the explosion. She had no idea where Han and Chewie were standing, how close they were to the blast. She could sense he was still there, he wasn't dead, but couldn't figure out more. If Han, or Chewie, were seriously injured, Leia didn't think she would be able to maintain a cool composure. She didn't know if she wanted to be that person anymore. How could she not react? How could she pretend he wasn't more important to her than anyone else?

They had been separated for most of the time since the Emperor's demise and she was well aware he often faced danger during that time. She worried. She was anxious. But there was also the advantage of distance. She isn't watching everything unfold in real time. The feeling wasn't new—she'd felt concern for his safety for a long time—but compounded now. There was no looking back once she admitted the truth. She would survive if Han wasn't in her life but the life she wanted had him in it.

They weren't far into the mission—Leia and her team hadn't even reached the blast door into the lower levels—when Han comm'd to confirm it was a trap. There were troopers prepped and ready. Whatever the agent sent them was compromised, assuming the information was genuine in the first place. He assured her they had already started their assault and there would be plenty of noise to keep the troopers off their tail.

"I know you like it when I talk about your tail."

Leia was very grateful for private comms channels.

Han's team followed through and caused the promised distractions at more than one entrance, various places on the factory grounds. They fanned out and surrounded the stormtroopers, setting off explosions and firing from all directions. It was pure chaos that brought in more troopers and gave Luke and Leia the opportunity to set off controlled blasts of their own.

Her team moved quickly through the underground tunnels and up to the corridors, making their way to the control room. At least the schematics the agent sent were correct. They knew where they needed to be, keeping away from main passageways and hoping they didn't encounter anyone along the way. They had to backtrack their first few tries when they heard voices up ahead.

It was Dameron who first noticed the surveillance cameras. They were turning off as the team approached and flicking back on after they'd passed through. They noted the timing—less than a minute of dead air—so made their move as soon as the camera light went dark. It clearly wasn't a coincidence.

Luke nudged Leia, a quick telepathic bump to check in. Leia refused to discuss or acknowledge Anakin as her father and didn't want anything to do with the Force, in general, but she was willing to make use of their non-verbal connection. He suspected she convinced herself it was a twin-thing and not a Force-thing.

What are you thinking, Sis? Someone has to be controlling the cameras.

"Maybe the agent?" She still wasn't comfortable responding, though. Leia realized it might look odd to Dameron and Stralla that she was answering a question no one else heard but there wasn't time to worry about it. "Though it seems unlikely. If the information they sent was compromised they likely wouldn't have access to the cameras."

They were relying on Luke to estimate the overall safety of their route. They all agreed this was potentially dodgy and could just as easily be another trap set by Nolram. But they had to make the call and Luke insisted the corridors felt clear. They needed to be wary, alert, but Luke thought they were on the right path.

"It would be better if you could see a few halls over. Or different floors." Stralla peered around a corner, blaster cocked and ready.

"I can sense things around me. I can't see through walls."

"You should work on that one." Stralla stepped into the corridor and the others followed. "It would come in real handy."

Their luck seemed to run out when a corridor lead to an open area with a half dozen stormtroopers. They didn't know if the camera trick would work if they backtracked and didn't want to lose too much time. Realizing the stormtroopers were preparing to fan out and patrol the section, they slipped into an office to wait it out.

As soon as the sound of troopers disappeared down the corridor, Dameron made a move to leave but Luke stopped him. They watched Leia move silently through the office to a door that lead into an inner room. It took only a moment for her to hotwire the door.

She shrugged her shoulders at Luke. "Picked up a few things from this guy I know."

The four of them moved carefully through the new room, an engineering lab, examining maquettes of weapons. Stralla turned on a projector and a holo of a ship's schematics filled the centre of the room. Luke could sense the concentration of energy that filled the space until recently. It was focused energy, intense, troubling, but had since gone cold.

"Well, that seems a bit too easy to be true."

He looked over at Leia who was standing at a desk and examining the computer. He looked over her shoulder as she turned it on. The username was already entered on the login screen. Only the password was needed.

She glanced at Luke while pointing to a small piece of flimsie stuck to the monitor.

5432112345

Too easy to be true but it worked.

"I'm not certain what you expect to happen next." Dynsara was getting her nerve back. She looked from one former Rebel to the next, waiting for a response of fear or deference. She wasn't used to indifferent. "This factory is still private property."

"Dynsara, please." Her father's voice cracked as he spoke. "It's over. It was over weeks ago. You need to let this go."

Leia had only few interactions with Moze Thyre in the past but he was always a forceful, domineering presence. She couldn't help but compare him to Bail. Moze was tough. His voice was sharp and he didn't disguise his anger or disappointment. He didn't bother with politeness when a direct statement, however harsh, got results faster. But he was also fiercely loyal to his family, even his eldest son who spent more time in bars than boardrooms. He always treated Dynsara like she could do no wrong.

Bail was equally forceful but worked with a calm assurance. He rarely raised his voice or exhibited anger and no one doubted his strength or conviction. He was loyal and supportive. Kind but firm. Leia always considered herself lucky when she thought about Pyrtor's relationship with his father versus hers with Bail. She thought she won the dad lottery.

But that was before she knew the truth. Her actual father was a cold-hearted sadistic murderer who tortured and maimed his children, terrorized the galaxy. That was a hard one to beat for anyone keeping score and Leia was definitely keeping score.

"I hope you realize, Princess." Nolram kept his focus on Leia. He was already dismissive of the Thyres, understanding that race was already lost. "There is still time to negotiate. I'm sure we could both benefit from an exchange of information."

"We are happy to listen to any information you care to share." Leia reached into her pocket and pulled out the datachip. "Any new information, of course."

"That's Thyre Industries property!" Dynsara spit out her words. She stood up, saw Dameron shift toward her holding his blaster, and sat back down.

"We had no military contracts with the former regime." Pyrtor stood tall beside his father. As Moze retreated, Pyrtor grew. "If any such contracts do exist, there were made against the expressed wishes of Father and the board. Thyre Industries support the efforts of the New Republic and plans to work closely with the provisional government."

Leia raised an eyebrow at Pyrtor. She didn't expect such an immediate pledge of allegiance and wondered if there was a second part to the declaration. She felt certain there was more negotiations to come.

The door burst open and Han walked in. He looked a mess, hair dishevelled, clothes covered in dirt and mud. There was a cut on his temple, some blood still trickling down, and what looked like a large bruise forming on his cheek. He looked relieved as soon as he saw Leia unharmed and in charge.

"What happened?" It took considerable willpower to not rush into his arms, though her voice did hitch up, sounding more anxious than she intended.

"Their detonator blew up their own damn door!" He was smiling, a wide, can you believe this shit grin. His expression flinched, almost a slight twitch, when he saw Pyrtor. "Wedge and crew just dropped to help secure the area."

"Do you need to see a medic?"

"No."

Han watched as Pyrtor move forward. He seemed to barely notice Han's entrance and was entirely focused on Leia. Han gave himself a quick check, told himself to not lose his cool, but on instinct his hand moved closer to his blaster.

"My father requires medical attention." Pyrtor stopped directly in front of Leia.

"I'm fine. Fine." Moze's voice trembled. It was hard to hear him from only a few feet away.

"We haven't been subjected to terrible conditions since the takeover but Father also hasn't been sleeping well. We've only had limited access to water. Not enough to eat."

"We'll get him to a medic. Provide water and whatever else he needs." Leia looked over at Dameron and nodded, letting him know he could take Moze out.

Dameron, however, turned to Han.

Leia, realizing she might have overstepped her bounds since she wasn't officially in charge, followed Kes' gaze. Han was staring at her, hands now on hips, possibly looking a bit pissed. Without a sigh or a nod, he pulled a commlink from his pocket.

"Chewie, send up some escorts. We have a few prisoners and one for medical."

"Thank you, General." Leia didn't smile but she tried to convey her gratitude, her relief that he was fine, or mostly fine, and not causing a scene because of Pyrtor, with a quick look.

"General?" Pyrtor sounded shocked. He looked from Luke to Leia and back again. "When did that happen?"

Luke thought Pyrtor might laugh. He seemed to be enjoying himself a little too much. Luke wondered if it was the rush of relief after time spent under Nolram's thumb but suspected Pyrtor liked his notoriety in the room. He was the only one who really knew all the players. He had clearly stepped into the role of head Thyre and all the power that entailed. This wasn't the vain Pyrtor he met on Kochi or the frightened and angry one from the cabin. It was a new confidence. Like he wasn't hiding in anyone else's shadow. Like he was ready to make his move.

Leia turned back to Pyrtor. "How long have you and your father been here?"

"We arrived a few days after we heard about the Emperor." Pyrtor looked back and Moze gave a soft nod. "The board approved removing Dynsara but she refused to leave Sieggaro so we came here to deal with details."

Leia glanced at Han, pointed to her right temple. He raised an eyebrow, mouthed What? in response.

"With Palpatine and Vader gone, we were stuck in a limbo, trying to put out fires, secure holdings. I thought Dynsara was behaving oddly. A little too confident." Pyrtor noticed the exchange between Han and Leia but continued talking. "Then Nolram and his Stormtroopers arrived, clearly with her support, and locked everything down."

Han returned to his work, having Dameron flip through the surveillance cameras, making note of any Stormtroopers still in the building or suspicious activities. He listened to Pyrtor and Leia, telling himself it was a part of his job, and tried not to get too irritated by Tech Boy's smug tone or her polite curiosity. She should be angry. She should have told the guy to fuck off. Put him in cuffs. Maybe he was telling the truth and he and his dad walked into this Imperial power grab but a long stay in an interrogation room still seemed like a good idea.

"We had a contact at the factory." Leia placed her hands on her hips. She was addressing Pyrtor but giving Han quick glances. "They were sending information about the occupation but went silent a few days ago."

Han looked up and saw her pointed stare. He rolled his eyes when he figured it out. Wiped his coat sleeve across his temple, wiping away the fresh trickle of blood. She shook her head before turning back to Pyrtor.

"I only learned about Rubinz when they pulled him in for questioning." Pyrtor had a brief moment when his confidence faltered. "It seems they detected his last missive out. I suspect he knew what was coming. I had no idea. Father and I had no idea."

"For the record, I didn't know either."

Luke could almost smell the fear coming off Dynsara. She was trying to separate herself from Nolram's actions.

Leia kept her eyes on Pyrtor. "What happened to him?"

"They shot him. In front of us."

Nolram chuckled. "It's what happens when someone betrays the Empire. Standard procedure." He turned to Dynsara. "If everyone followed protocol, we might not be in this situation."

Dynsara maintained her intense interest in the monitors and didn't acknowledge Nolram's comment.

"I'm sorry, Pyrtor." Leia placed a hand on his arm. She knew from personal experience how hard it is to watch someone die in front of you and feel powerless to prevent it. Pyrtor put a hand on Leia's, giving it a light squeeze.

She knew Han had stopped to look at them. She could feel his gaze. Leia considered turning to him, offering assurance that this touch meant nothing beyond simple comfort, a gesture between old friends, but stayed focused on Pyrtor. Instead, she slowly removed her hand from his arm and took a small step back.

"What did Rubinz do here?" Luke wanted to have a better sense of this man who gave his life to stop Nolram.

"He was the head technician in the engineering department. His lab was off the office you hid in. I'm assuming it's where you acquired those plans."

Leia thought about the quickly scrawled note with the password. She imagined Rubinz' rush to write it, leave it out in case anyone responded to his last message to the Rebels, knowing that his time was likely already up.

"How did you know which office we were in?"

Pyrtor nodded toward the bank of monitors. "Dynsara wanted Father and I here so we could watch your capture. And, I suppose, to keep an eye on us. They were mainly focused on the east then south entrances, monitoring the soldiers stationed around the perimeter. There was enough activity to keep them distracted from the rest of the factory."

"Good to know the plan worked." Han didn't look up from his work and didn't know if anyone glanced his way.

"They also paid little attention to what was happening in this room."

"You were keeping watch on our activities." Leia took another step back. She walked to the console, did a quick scan of the monitors. There were a lot of cameras to keep track of and probably easy to miss something if you were pulled elsewhere. Pyrtor followed her, taking his spot beside her once again.

"I was off to the side and happened to be in front of the monitors showing the lower levels." Pyrtor pointed to the screens to the far right. "The security system is set to rotate through the feeds on the main monitors but I could turn cameras off for short periods without detection."

He pointed to a set of controls on a different console.

"As long as they were off-line for less than a minute, no alarms were activated. I tried to guess which corridor you would take next but then I realized you might follow a path if I disabled a camera at the right time."

Leia and Pyrtor were standing a few inches apart. He wasn't attempting to make contact again but he reached past her to point at the monitor or console. Asserted his intention to occupy the same space as her. It seemed a bit ridiculous to call it a bold move when compared to Han's actions but it was something Pyrtor wouldn't have tried before.

"I had no idea you were so aware of the security systems in the factories." She moved away again, making the distance obvious, intentional. "A year and a half ago you didn't understand how a commlink could be tracked. When did you become so involved?"

"When I understood the direction Dynsara was taking the company, the level of interaction with the Empire, and the development of weapons using Thyre technology and intellectual property." He straightened his posture. "I couldn't stand aside. I needed to stop her."

"But you didn't make further contact with the Alliance?"

"I'm not a Rebel, Leia. But I am a Thyre. This company is my legacy. I didn't want to see it ruined." He closed the distance between them, placed a hand on her upper arm. He looked sincere. His gesture looked comforting. "When I caught sight of you and Luke on camera, I took my chance."

Luke was a bit surprised that Han didn't spring into action. He didn't think Han was going to punch Pyrtor, though he also wasn't ruling it out, but doing nothing was unexpected. Han didn't even try to rile her up, distract her with some rude, brusque comment so she paid attention to him. Instead, he stood stock still. Jaw clenched and eyes watching her closely.

Leia didn't immediately react to Pyrtor's touch or Han's intense stare. She looked calm, patient, like she was waiting to see how all of this played out.

When Luke returned to the fleet a few months after Hoth, Leia admitted some of the truth to him. She admitted to breaking up with Pyrtor much earlier and using the supposed relationship as a protective shield. It provided her with a lot of convenient excuses. She wouldn't discuss Han or the circumstances of his departure but Luke knew it wasn't good. He didn't press the issue, other than a few dropped comments that she sometimes accepted and other times threw back in his face. The best he could do was provide her with the means to explore these questions, maybe regrets, on her own.

She had been more willing to talk since Endor though Luke suspected it was a means to avoid the topic of their father. She didn't provide details other than she and Han were together. They were keeping it quiet as far as High Command and others were concerned but there were in a committed relationship.

The first time Luke saw them be physically affectionate it was a bit confusing. Not a bad confusing, just odd. The four of them were having dinner on the Falcon and Han draped his arm over her shoulder. A relaxed and comfortable gesture that almost made Luke laugh. How could something so simple take them so long to figure out?

Han said even less. If Luke dared ask how things were going with Leia, Han looked like he was assessing the level of threat posed. The best Luke got in response was a terse, Good. One time Han gave a half-smile and said, They're going, which didn't really provide much information or context. Luke decided it was best to take the cues from both of them. Don't pry. Let everyone figure it out on their own. Be there if needed.

No one needed to tell Luke that his two friends—well, one sister and one friend—were finding some happiness amid the usual turmoil of their lives. He knew Leia was deeply troubled by the news about their father but he could also sense the balance, the strength, she was discovering with Han. Luke felt certain when Leia was secure enough, supported enough, she would face the legacy of their father. But that was a challenge for another day.

They all turned when the door opened and four soldiers, still dressed in mismatched Alliance uniforms, stepped in. Leia suspected it would probably be some time before they no longer looked like the scrappy underdogs.

Han pointed at Nolram. "That guy to a secure room." Then nodded at Dynsara. "Put her in a different one."

"I won't be there for long." Nolram stood up, keeping his perfect posture and arrogance in place. "As soon as Imperial forces know what's happened, I'll be released in no time."

"No one's looking for you, pal." Han threw Nolram a jeering look. "It's every Moff for himself these days."

Dynsara followed Nolram and two of the men out of the room. She didn't stop to look back at her brother or father. All the colour had drained from her face.

Han nodded to Moze Thyre. "Are you able to walk? We could get you a stretcher?"

Moze stood up, slowly but on his own. Han was surprised how tall the old man was when he straightened out. He carried a look of slightly deflated pride.

"I can walk."

Moze moved toward the door, touching Pyrtor lightly on the arm as he passed, and stopped in front of Leia.

"Thank you, your Highness. Leia." His hand hovered over her arm but it didn't land. "I trust you and Pyrtor can work out any details."

When the door closed behind Moze, Leia turned to Han.

"Do we have a plan for interrogation?"

"Letting them sit in it for now." He finally took a step toward her. He kept his hands on his hips as he looked down at her. "Probably transport them before questioning. Probably move them last so they have a lot of time not knowing what's going on."

His cut had stopped bleeding but still needed cleaning up. The bruise looked sore, tender. She wondered if he was going to end up with another scar because he was too stubborn to stop for bandages and bacta. She thought about running a finger along the newly formed scar. She thought about the map of scars that already marked his body.

Leia bit the inside of her cheek to keep her smile in check before turning away at the sound of Pyrtor clearing his throat.

"I should also say thank you. For coming for us."

"It's all a part of the job." She didn't watch Han walk back to Kes and the monitors. "But glad that you and your father are safe."

Leia gave Pyrtor a single nod before focusing on the work at hand. After a quick conversation with Han and Luke, she set up at the communications desk and transmitted the weapons plans to the Turhaya. She contacted Dodonna and updated him on the mission. She and Luke reviewed lists pulled from the security system and personnel files.

Every few minutes, she gave a quick, almost furtive glance in Han's direction. He was standing behind Kes, who worked the controls on the security cameras, occasionally leaning forward to point at something. He looked scruffy. His hair askew. Stubble on his chin. They didn't wake up together that morning so she didn't know if and when he shaved. Funny how that was a thing she expected to know.

Like she knew he preferred the left side of the bunk and the way he moved his arm to point at the screen meant he was in more pain than he would admit.

She didn't feel comfortable saying boyfriend. Everyone said Pyrtor was her boyfriend and that relationship felt so far removed from this one that the name didn't feel right. She disliked lover and consort for different reasons. She suggested partner but he wouldn't go for it. Said Chewie was his partner and that made things confusing. Han landed on person. As in, You are my person. I am your person. Leia thought that was too broad a term. Too vague.

Yet somehow, it fit. They weren't easy to define and she liked it. They could make this up as they went along and trust they were in it together. She could be the responsible, dedicated Leia working to liberate a factory from a desperate-for-power Grand Moff and also be the Leia who stole glances at her somewhat scruffy and definitely handsome person while thinking about running her fingers through his soft and slightly too long for the military hair. And when she lost herself a little too much in these musings, he could wink at her without pausing his work and she couldn't hide her laugh.

"Hey Princess, you done over there?" Han handed a flimsie to one of the men by the door. "We need hands debriefing the workers. You, too, Luke."

Luke moved away from the window. He was glad for an assignment. "Is everyone still in the cafeteria?"

Leia moved to join Luke and Han when Pyrtor took her arm.

"Actually, Leia, I think it would be beneficial if we had a discussion?"

Han clenched his jaw again. He still didn't trust Pyrtor and it sure didn't help that he was now fully embracing his big business personality. Pyrtor liked being the boss a bit too much.

"Concerning?" Leia carefully pulled back her arm. This mission had run smoothly so far and she was waiting for the hitch. There was almost always a hitch.

"Concerning Thyre Industries commitment to the new government, of course."

"Of course."

Leia knew this was a good thing. Having the largest tech and mining company acknowledge and commit to the New Republic, especially so soon after the collapse of the Empire, was enormously important. It was a boon for her as a politician and diplomat in the new government to negotiate and sign this deal. It was also going to be a huge pain if Pyrtor had other ideas or Han decided he was jealous and needed to stake his claim.

Han's commlink beeped and Chewie's roar was heard as Han opened the channel.

[Transports arriving. Prisoners ready to go.]

"Got it." Han leaned over one of the terminals. "Chewie, the first debriefs are everyone on the floor. We're sending Nelson down with the list. Luke, and maybe the Princess, are coming down to help. Then pull in some of the Rogues. We're commandeering the factory shuttles."

"Excuse me? We're willing to cooperate but that's…"

"People been trapped here more than week." Han looked directly at Pyrtor. "Gonna get folks home as quick as possible."

She watched as Han gave Nelson the final instructions before sending him off. It was so rare to be on a mission together and not argue about plans or protocols. So many angry words thrown at each other when they didn't know how to express other emotions, especially during tense situations. Now she was trusting him to know what to do and agreeing with decisions. It was a strange thing. Maybe she'd have to find a reason to start a fight later. For old time's sake.

When she turned back to Pyrtor, he was staring at her. There was a flicker of recognition in his gaze.

"Won't you need the board's permission to make that commitment?" Luke asked.

"When it became obvious we would have to forcibly remove Dynsara, I was given executive powers." Pyrtor looked between Luke and Leia. She knew he was measuring their interactions. He seemed suddenly suspicious about what was happening around him. "It's an emergency measure only but it is within my purview to make this decision and enact it."

Leia recognized the tone. He was pleased with himself. He liked the power.

"I thought perhaps we could talk over matters now." He looked around the room, giving a small smile when he stopped at Han. "I'm sure it won't take us too long to work out the preliminary details. We have some history to help us along."

Her hands went back to her hips. She was being challenged. Even though she knew the negotiations needed to happen she didn't like that Pyrtor's offer felt like a dare.

"Princess!"

Leia turned at the sharp sound of Han's voice. She tried not to look or sound exasperated.

"Yes, General?"

"The sergeant will escort you to one of the offices." He nodded to the woman standing just inside the room. "She'll keep guard at the door while you and Tech Boy talk." He pointed a finger at her. "And keep your commlink ready. If we say move, move."

"Understood."

"When you're done, we need you at the debriefings." He stood close to her again. It looked like he might touch her arm but reached past her and pointed at Luke. "Putting Luke in charge so report to him."

Leia gave Han a small salute, managed to hold back a smile, then followed the sergeant out the door.

Pyrtor took a few slow steps following Leia out, pausing as he reached Han.

Han kept his hand near his blaster as he stepped closer. He really didn't have any intention of using it and wasn't trying to intimidate Pyrtor. It was his go-to move, a reset gesture to ensure he was prepared and on target.

Pyrtor gave the pilot, now General, an almost taunting smile. "It seems a few things have changed since we last saw each other."

"You keeping score?"

Pyrtor laughed. "I'm sure she finds it endearing that you signed on but things are about to move quickly and I doubt if you'll be able to keep up."

"You thinking of anything in particular, Tech Boy?"

"Leia's place is in the government. Behind closed doors. Far removed from the world of Generals or smugglers or whatever you decide to try next."

"Sounds like you got this and her all figured out."

"This is a passing phase. Things will settle and she'll want her old life back." Pyrtor smirked. "That's where I come in."

Han shrugged. "It's Leia's call." He placed a hand on Pyrtor's arm, an imitation of Leia's earlier gesture. "But I'm not too worried."

Pyrtor pulled his arm away, clearly not expecting that level of contact, and walked out.

Han turned back to the room and saw Luke and Kes staring at him.

"What?"

Both men quickly shook their heads and said, "Nothing" as they all got back to work.

By late afternoon, Leia was finished with Pyrtor, signing a preliminary agreement for Thyre Industries to cease all dealings with the Imperial remnant going forward, and reported to High Command. She then spent hours with Luke's team interviewing the workers. None of them had direct interactions with Nolram and most felt terrorized by the Stormtroopers. They were all anxious and desperate to leave.

Pyrtor lingered nearby, reassuring everyone they would be taken care of, encouraging them to talk to personnel before boarding a shuttle. He was playing the role of the caring boss concerned about his employees' well-being but Leia, and probably many of the workers, knew he was more worried about lawsuits and delayed production.

When she was finally free, she found Han on the grounds near the transports. He was with his team, reviewing holos of building plans. She caught his eye then watched him give a just a sec gesture to his team and walked over to her. He stopped a few feet away and rested his hands on his hips.

Beings were still wandering the grounds, getting to shuttles, cleaning up debris. More New Republic troops were unloading equipment, helping with the survivors and whatever else was necessary. Madine and Grann were seated at a table a few feet away, reviewing lists and data. Han looked past Leia and noticed Pyrtor standing near a transport on the landing strip.

"Calling it a day, Princess?"

"I wasn't approved for overtime. I don't want to get in trouble with mission lead."

"Pretty sure mission lead has some extensive overtime hours planned for you." He smiled, wiggled his eyebrows so she would laugh. She did.

They both had to step back as a repulsor-cart, loaded down with crates, passed between them, followed by two maintenance droids.

"I'll hold you to that promise." She folded her arm across her chest.

"We got all night." He nodded his head, indicating the campground set up on the other side of the building. "Your tent or mine?"

Leia looked a bit sheepish, then exhaled a quick breath. "They're sending me back."

"Back where?" His tone was suddenly serious.

"Transport leaves in five minutes for Home One."

He looked behind her again at the transport and noticed Pyrtor watching them. He was waiting for her to arrive before boarding. Han didn't step closer to her and didn't move his hands from his hips but he sighed. Loud enough that he knew she heard it.

There were too many people around them, too much activity, and pulling her off to the side for a quiet moment would be just as obvious as pulling her into his arms right there. He looked at her. Stared deeply into her dark brown eyes. He could do that all day. He had planned to do it through the night, too, but that was now off the table.

"I'll see you when we're done here." He gave her a half-smile. "Probably a couple more days then we'll be back on Home One."

Leia winced and Han laughed. She looked adorable when she needed to break bad news to him. He probably wouldn't always think that but it was working right now.

"There's talk about sending me to Lothol. My first mission as an official ambassador for the New Republic."

He nodded, impressed. "Congrats."

"Thank you." She smiled and fidgeted slightly. She wanted to cross the distance but wasn't sure how to take that first step. She did, however, expect Han to make that exception, to make a bold move. It was a bit irritating that he wasn't holding up his end of the bargain.

"Any idea how long that's going to…"

He was cut off by a Rogue calling out to him, looking for information on shuttle schedules. She waited as the two men yelled back and forth.

"Maybe a week. Maybe more." Leia unfolded her arms then clasped her hands behind her back. "But the roster isn't set yet. Maybe there's space for a good pilot."

"Don't think we get to pick and choose anymore." Han ran a finger over his left breast pocket where his military insignia would be if he chose to wear anything resembling a uniform with insignia. "Not sure where they're sending me next."

It was her turn to let out an audible sigh. They had chosen an awkward spot to have this conversation. Traffic was increasing. Everyone was moving quickly past them, trying to get assigned tasks done or on to shuttles and transports. It was beginning to look like life in the New Republic would feel a lot like the evacuation, setting up, then evacuation again of Rebel bases. Constant, busy and crowded.

She tilted her head. "I guess this means I'll see you around."

Han replied with a half-smile. "Looks that way."

"Princess!" Leia turned back to see one of the transport's crew waving at her. "We're approaching the close of our clearance window!"

Han started to back up, keeping their eyes locked. He spread his arms as if he was saying, oh well. "Keep in touch."

Leia looked strained, like she wasn't sure what to do next. She glanced back at the transport, saw the crew member had gone inside but Pyrtor was still waiting for her by the ramp.

"Han!"

He stopped, hands dropped to his sides, waiting for her to finish.

"Pyrtor is on this transport, too." She waited for his usual reaction whenever Pyrtor's name was mentioned but he only smiled, raised his eyebrows slightly.

"I don't want you to think I'm hiding anything."

"Not worried."

He started backing away again, still not breaking their gaze. She laughed watching him. He looked a bit ridiculous and so very handsome. He was far enough away now that she would have to shout so she mouthed I love you instead. He mouthed back I know before finally turning around and returning to his team and the schematics.

"Alright. Back at it." Han flipped the large datapad with the blueprints toward him. "Break up into pairs. We'll use separate entry points into the building. Looking for beings, alive or dead. Find anything that looks like a trip wire or explosive, don't attempt anything on your own. Send the coordinates…"

"General?"

Han stopped at the sound of her voice and turned around. All his team members turned to look at her, too.

"Can I have a word?"

Han handed the datapad back to one of the men and walked toward her. He was happy to get some additional time together but also confused. He kept his hands on his hips while he waited for her to speak.

So, it was extra confusing when Leia took a step forward, grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him closer. She leaned in, raising herself on her toes, and kissed him.

It was one of the few times in Han's life when he had no idea what to do. He was stunned, confused, but then natural instincts kicked in. One hand went to her cheek and the other wrapped around her waist.

They kissed again, a deeper, longer, more lingering kiss. When they pulled back, they smiled at each other and it might have ended right there. This kiss, two kisses actually, was significant enough. It was acknowledgement, understanding, staking claim, admitting their truth for everyone to see. It was what Han had been asking her for. It was what Leia had wanted to happen but couldn't push past the many ingrained lessons of her father, her society, her struggle with integrating the various pieces of her personality.

But they didn't stop there.

She arched slightly as he leaned her back. Their bodies were pressed together as they lost themselves in a passionate, all-consuming kiss.

His team, who had been relaxed and half talking to each other, stopped what they doing to stare. They knew something was going on between Han and Leia, almost everyone did, but it was mostly something people talked about in theory. Seeing proof, very open and amorous proof, was startling.

They watched as Leia ran her fingers through Han's hair. His hand moving up and down her back. Others stopped what they were doing to stare at the couple.

There was a whoop and a cheer. Then a few chuckles. Something that could only be described as a titter. When the kissing didn't stop and they realized the couple had largely forgotten they were all standing there, someone started clapping.

It didn't take long for the applause to grow as everyone standing in the vicinity joined in. It got faster, louder. There were whistles and shouts of approval. By the time Han and Leia finally broke apart, the crowd sounded like smashball fans cheering on a victory.

Leia stepped back. She quickly straightened her shirt and adjusted her hair. Han was wearing a wide, almost unwieldy grin.

It was Leia's turn to walk backward while maintaining a steady gaze with him. "Safe travels, General."

"You, too, Ambassador."

Han watched her turn and walk to her transport. She passed Madine, who was laughing, and Grann, whose jaw had almost dropped to his chest. She waved once more before stepping on the ramp. A crew member was there to meet her but Pyrtor was gone.

Han turned back to the group of men, who were still laughing, some still clapping.

"Yeah, yeah." He reached for the datapad. "Calm down. Let's get this job down so we can get the hell out of here. I got other places to be."

A/N: Many thanks to everyone who stuck around until the end. An extra thanks to everyone who offered comments, reviews or sent messages. So many thanks.

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