Chapter 4
Present DayIn orbit of Dalhir, Meridian Sector.
The Millenium Falcon – Modified YT-1300 Corellian Freighter
Han Solo was pissed off.
This in itself was not a particularly rare emotion for the volatile Corellian, but then again, his first mate Chewbacca reflected sagely from his co-pilots seat, they had not run into such bad luck since the early days of the Rebellion.
Han slammed his fists down against the consoles in the cockpit of the falcon with unnecessary force and let out a steady, if somewhat repetitive, stream of the foulest Corellian curses in existence, most of which involved the mother of the Falcon procreating with an assortment of unpleasant non-sentient life forms.
The Millennium Falcon was currently floating helplessly in a particularly distant corner of the Outer Rim. Again, not an unusual situation for Han Solo or Chewbacca, however, not only was there a mysterious fault with their Hyperdrive, all their communications were out along with half of the life support and navigation systems.
In short, the 'fastest ship in the galaxy' was currently capable of only morse code via the running lights.
Which would have come in handy perhaps, had there been someone to see them.
There wasn't.
Noticing Han had for some mysterious reason known only to himself, taken off a boot to viciously attack the Nav computer display with, Chewbacca, although he could appreciate his friends actions, (he was a wookie after all), decided the time had come to intervene. He reached over and effortlessly tore the offending 'weapon' from his best friend throwing in a deafening growl for good measure
Han glared at him, his eyes narrowing. He held the stare as he yanked off his other boot then continued his assault.
Chewie let out his patented long suffering Solo-induced sigh.
He observed his friend for a moment then whacked him soundly with other the boot on the back of the head.
Han spun to face him, his hand massaging his head. "Hey! What'd you do that for?"
The wookie growled and did it again.
"HEY! Cut that out already!"
Han swung his remaining boot in retaliation, and for a few minutes they fought a sort of saber-duel, armed with Han's tall leather boots.
Eventually chewie grew bored and swiftly disarmed his friend.
He then rumbled what had become his favorite insult for Han since the rebellion, "Nerf-herder".
Han glared daggers at him, seemingly on the verge of punching him, but then instead resumed slamming his clenched fists against the Nav computer. He hated it when chewie used Leia's insult/endearment on him.
The wookie snickered.
Chewbacca waited, expecting Han to pull his blaster on the ships controls or something similar, but the smuggler soon gave up and sat back, shaking his stinging hands and blowing on them. Then he crossed his arms, bringing his mis-matched socks to rest on the controls in a sulk, muttering angrily to himself about traitorous Wookies and the shoddy workmanship of New Republic Hyperdrive mechanics on Coruscant,
Chewbacca assumed his co-pilot's fit of anger was under control for the moment.
He gestured at the dreary looking little planet they were orbiting and woofed "We'll have to put down there and either fix the ship or com your life-mate for help."
Han sighed, "Yeah yeah… I guess…" /I said we'd be back almost a week ago.. and here we are, stranded in the Outer Rim….Won't her highnessness be impressed…/
He frowned, mortified at the thought of needing to com his wife to come rescue him. He was a Corellian! A scoundrel! An infamous smuggler the galaxy wide!… He didn't need his wife to come and bail him out…It just wasn't right…
Chewie carefully pointed the ship at what the half-functioning sensors detected as a space port of some description and Han sighed with melodrama only a Solo could perfect.
He glumly took in the vague limited information they had on the planet they were headed for. /Dalhir.. there's something familiar about this planet….'Fraali Galactic Spaceport'... Dalhir… Have I been here before?.. No. My memory isn't that bad.. must of heard about it from someone I guess…/
Hyperspace, somewhere in the Meridian Sector
The Lucky Karrde – Republic Class Dreadnought
(Forward Docking Bay)
Talon Karrde adjusted his broad be-feathered Old Republic Admiral's hat minutely, and brushed invisible lint off his Kuati Velvet Captain's Jacket with manicured fingers, noting the golden trim of the garment with pleasure, /This Jacket it so impressive…/. The gold filigree handgrips of his customised DC-74 Dueling Blasters gleamed were they crossed his hips. He buffed a fingerprint off his right hand one with the delicate Naboo lace of his dress shirt's cuff.
Despite this slightly unseemly display of vanity, his outward countenance remained bland and stern. Inwardly he was grinning like a school-girl, very pleased with himself, /I look fabulous/.
He knew it was unlikely that Skywalker would be conscious, but he was Captain Talon Karrde, and he needed to maintain his image as a Cultured Debonair Privateer Extrordinaire.
Mara Jade glanced at him and snorted softly to herself. He froze, mortified, /I wasn't thinking out loud again was I/
He looked at his second in command where she stood stony faced beside him in a corner of the docking hold and shuttle hanger of the Lucky Karrde. It was obvious that she had not taken the time to refresh her appearance en route from the Bridge. She still wore her tight leather cat suit. True, combined with her mane of wild hair and the Old Republic Lieutenant's Dress Jacket Karrde had given her she looked impressive, but if he didn't know about her hold out blaster, he'd have thought she was unarmed. /An unarmed Privateer! It's just not done./
Not far across the flat expanse of durasteel before them, the battered remains of a NR Rogue Squadron X-wing sat dejectedly.
It was a miracle that anyone could possibly be alive in the tiny wrecked star-fighter. Except perhaps the R2 astromech unit perched behind the cockpit. It was twittering loudly, it's lights flashing in apparent concern.
Mara Jade seemed decidedly unimpressed with this fact however, and was making no effort to come closer or help Karrde's crew open the blackened canopy of the fighter.
Talon frowned inwardly. Suddenly, he had a very bad feeling about this.
Mara was rooted to the spot.
A battle was taking place inside her.
Part of her, most of her, wanted to run up to Skywalker's X-wing and finish him with her blaster.
But she couldn't bring herself to do it.
The rest of Mara wanted to run over and rush the jedi to the med bay as fast as possibly.
Since she was in two minds, she did what any rational woman would do, nothing.
Karrde's crew where using precision laser cutters to get through the scarred and blackened fastenings on the fighter's transparasteel canopy. With the bright light the sparking tools cast on the glass, she could make out the figure of the Jedi hanging motionless from a broken harness in his seat.
She wondered if perhaps he had died.
Her heart clenched in a nauseating mix of fear and joy and she unthinkingly reached out with the force to probe for his presence, to reassure herself.
The moment she opened herself up to it she felt the blinding glow that was Luke Skywalker's presence immediately . She gasped. It was like a beacon. A shining flame of light against the darkness of the universe. /Was it always this strong?.. This bright/
Even the Emperor's presence in the force seemed weak in comparison, /but he was more like a black hole than a star…/. Luke's presence was pulling at her like a magnet. She briefly wondered if the Emperor's jealously of the young jedi's powers had been the true reason behind her mission to assassinate him. She also wondered what Anakin Skywalker, Obi-wan Kenobi and Yoda had felt like in the Force. Her master had spoken of those three Jedi on occasion. The most powerful of the Jedi he had called them, (but still pitifully weak in comparison to himself and Vader of course).
Mara realised that she'd never actually felt a Jedi in the Force. They'd all been dead by the time she started active duty for her master, all save Kenobi and Yoda, and she had never met them. She had no idea how strong the average Jedi was.
A gentle tired sounding voice echoed softly in her mind, /mara jade/
The Jedi, Luke Skywalker, (How had she not figured that out herself? Jedi in an X-wing? Who else could it have possibly been?), reached towards her, seeking to thank her, but Mara quickly withdrew and slammed down her shields as the Emperor had taught her. Before she cut herself of from the force again, she sensed his disappointment and confusion at her reaction.
Mara sneered inwardly. /Traitorous Jedi. He doesn't have a clue what's coming/
Luke was confused.
Exhausted, unconscious, seriously injured, very very hungry… and confused.
He was also intensely curious about the woman that had helped him. Saved him.
Her abrupt rejection of his telepathic communication had startled him.
/Mara Jade/
He couldn't explain how he knew her name.. he hadn't looked into her mind, though he could have if he had wanted… /I must have picked it up accidentally… or perhaps the force told me/
The Force.
Whoever Mara Jade was, she was very strong in the force. He had thought perhaps she was an old republic jedi that had survived the purges, but she seemed to be a young woman. Perhaps she was the child of a jedi, like him or Corran Horn.
He was for the moment, too far gone into his trance and general exhaustion and pain to ponder the mystery that was mara jade at the moment. He would find out who she was when he came to. For now he wanted to slip into a deeper healing trance.
Mara couldn't help but stare as the canopy of the X-wing was forcibly removed, revealing the shattered instrument consoles and the perfectly still figure of Luke Skywalker.
She took in his bloodied face with a few days growth of stubble, the awkward twist of his arm, and the ashen paleness of his skin in a second. There was a gaping tear in his tunic were his targeting system had slammed back into him.
Apart from the injuries, he looked almost the same as the last time she had seen him. Four years previously.
His hair, despite being bloodied, was a golden blonde framing his handsome, youthful face like a halo. The cut of his Jedi blacks showed his trim figure despite the interference of the restraints. She wondered why he wasn't wearing a flight suit. /He must have flown into battle unexpectedly…/ Her eyes flicked once again to his face, noting his full bloodied lips were parted slightly. She wondered what they tasted like…
She found the urge to rush to his side and awaken him once again rising. Her conflicting emotions were tearing her apart inside. For once she was unsure about her course of action. Unsure if the Jedi deserved death at her hand or not. /his eyes.. I need to see them…/ Some irrational part of her was sure if she looked into the blue eyes of Luke Skywalker, she would know the truth. She would know what to do…She closed her eyes, blocking him from her vision.
/No! he is my enemy/
Having gotten her traitorous thoughts under control, she opened her eyes and scanned the crowd.
The crew were all staring in silent awe at the former 'Rogue Squadron Commander', the 'savior of the galaxy', the 'last of the Jedi'… The great Luke Skywalker
/blah blah blah../.
Mara rolled her eyes. /idiots./
Even Captain Karrde was staring transfixed. He looked rather amusing in his huge hat with it's lurid feathers, his mouth hanging open.
She strode over the hangar bay floor. "You there! Quit your gawking and do you job! He's just a man you drooling imbeciles!"
Around her people snapped out of their reveries. Many glared and cursed at her under their breath. Mara was unconcerned, the crew of the Lucky Karrde were meant to be hardened Privateers and smugglers. They should glare and curse, it was in the job description.
Mara herself was just careful not to let her gaze fall upon the Jedi again. She was too confused.
One of the deck crew, a handy combination of mechanic and explosives expert, asked out loud what everyone had been thinking, "Is he dead?"
Talon sighed, the last thing he needed was a dead Luke Skywalker on his hands… He'd be crucified! Apparently The Chief of State was his twin sister for sithsake!
Mara shook her head, turning to her boss, "Nope, there will be no orders of public execution from Organa-Solo. He's in a jedi trance. He'll need attention to survive though." She motioned to the medic officers who were hovering nearby, "Well? Get to it scumbags! I don't want a dead jedi on my hands anymore than Captain Karrde does!". She cuffed the man on the head for good measure.
Karrde's mouth opened and closed a few time /She's reading my mind now/
Jade froze. As if she'd heard his thoughts. (again) Then swiftly turned on her booted heel and headed out of the hanger, avoiding Talon's questioning gaze, and leaving the medics to deal with Skywalker.
Karrde watched the door she vanished through close.
/Force Sensitive, Definitely. Jedi, unlikely./
Hyperspace, somewhere in the Meridian Sector
The Lucky Karrde – Republic Class Dreadnought
Mara stared blindly at her datapad.
It was 03:47 hours.
She had had not been able to sleep properly since he had come on board. Dreams and force visions plagued her in sleep.
It had been 3 days in hyperspace since they had picked up Skywalker.
Karrde was planning to either ransom him to his sister and the NR, or hand him over to the Empire and collect the massive bounty on him.
/If the Empire can even afford to pay the bounty anymore../
The dreams which Mara had been suffering from were reflections of the intense force vision she had experienced 4 days earlier, just before she had found Skywalker. The only marked difference was Luke Skywalker's ever increasing presence in them. She would see him writhing in pain at her Master's feet, force lightening wrapping around his slender form, or defying Darth Vader and her heart ached for him. She would awaken in a cold sweat, panting, with no real recollection of what her dream had been about, but with the image of Skywalker's blue eyes piercing her very soul.
It was ridiculous! She had never even had a proper conversation with the man, and she had certainly never 'gazed into his eyes', so how could she possibly know their exact shade? And why did she find herself believing this new version of her Master's death? Perhaps her force abilities truly were back and running, she wondered if the Jedi had anything to do with it. Perhaps she could only use the force when she was in close proximately to a person strong in the force. / Maybe I'll some sort of force parasite…Maybe I believe this new version because Skywalker is influencing me…/
The thought disturbed her.
Skywalker himself was in a stable condition in the med bay, blissfully unaware of the dilemma and pain his very presence was causing Mara.
Mara had not been to see him.
The medics had patched him up, gushing in awe to all who cared to listen (the entire crew) that the Jedi healed at an incredible rate and would be fully healed from the brink of death in a few days. They were at a loss to explain his continuing unconsciousness however. They assumed he would wake from his 'jedi trance' when he was fully healed. They imagined he would be rather hungry.
There was a growing number amongst the crew whose respect and admiration for the young Jedi approached that of a fan club. They sat in a large group during meals, telling each other outrageously overblown 'true stories' about their hero. Mara grudgingly admitted there was some truth to the stories, she knew he'd been the one to fire the missiles that took down the first death star, but she doubted very much that he'd done so without his missile guidance targeting computer enabled.
And he did found Rogue Squadron…/not that founding that mob of riff-raff is something to brag about…/
And she had seen him kill Jabba the Hutt's rancor, (but that had been luck!). But he had certainly never destroyed an AT-AT ground-walker armed with only his bare hands and a lightsaber in the middle of a Hoth blizzard!
Or brought his sister back from the dead with the aid of a magic crystal after a duel with Darth Vader!
Some of the stories they were telling were so preposterous she wondered at the sanity and intelligence of Karrde's crew. /Huh! Magic Crytals! That's almost as good as the one about Obi-wan Kenobi's ghost/
Mara however, hadn't shown any further interest in their prisoner, which had the opposite effect to that which she desired. The entire crew was convinced that she was some sort of jedi or psychic and that she obviously knew Luke Skywalker. With her returning, somewhat uncontrolled force skills, she picked up on a lot of the crew's thoughts concerning her (and other things…) accidentally. They were all growing suspicious of her.
Some thought she was a rogue jedi and would undoubtedly betray them to free Skywalker. Certain members of his fan club (who were mostly female incidentally) were convinced she was an evil sith who was going to try and kill him, whilst others were simply afraid because they did not understand how she could possibly have known where Skywalker's ship was.
Even Talon was behaving differently to her, slightly wary.
In frustration at her lack of concentration, Mara threw the data card across her cabin.
She sighed. /Blast the Jedi to the fiery pits of Mustafah/
Her clock read 03:59 hours.
She glared at it.
It twitched violently then fell off her shelf.
It was his fault she was so distrusted amongst Talon's crew, the only people that had accepted her since the fall of the Empire. First he had taken her life as an imperial from her, now he was taking her life as a smuggler too.
Anger surged in her momentarily. She should just go and kill him now…
She was at her door and stalking towards the med center before she had time to think. She felt for her hold-out blaster. Then her concealed Vibroblade. /good./ She smiled. She felt much more relaxed, almost calm.
As she approached the Med-Centre she felt a group of people gathered outside his room. Curiously she reached out with the force and, as the Emperor had once shown her so many years before, probed their minds to see who they were.
They were members of Skywalker's fan club.
Mara sighed.
Witnesses.
Ones that were already suspicious of her.
She couldn't finish Skywalker now, it would have to be later. Perhaps during the pre-dawn shift.
Before she could turn back however, she heard her name called out.
Her attention snapped back to reality.
A woman in her mid thirties was staring hard at her, hands on her hips.
"Miss Jade? Can I help you?"
Mara inwardly cursed, but put on what passed as her 'smile' amongst the crew of the Lucky Karrde. "Yes you can, Innes…" she paused, not wishing to be too harsh the woman, who was one of Talon's favorites and oldest conscripts, "…Jedi Skywalker, where is he resting?"
Lena Innes' glare did not diminish, "You are visiting him at 04:00 hours?"
Mara paused, /sith! How could I not realise how suspicious this looks, but her voice was bland and condescending when she replied, "I am between shifts. I was under the impression he was in a coma."
The woman looked put out. "Erm. Yes. Sorry. Sorry Mistress Jade…. He is unconscious I didn't think…" She paused, her gaze slipping from Mara's as if suddenly realising she had no business questioning her, "Jedi Skywalker is in room B12." Lena gave a jerky curtsy.
Mara ignored her and breezed past.
B12 had a long observation window along the far side. The fanclub outside would be able to see everything she did. /Blast it!./
As she neared the designated room, she grew noticed his force presence growing stronger. She could feel he where he was. /I would have found him easily enough without Innes…/
Crowded around in uncomfortable plast med-centre chairs were anouther 7 'fanclub' members. Mara sighed softly. /great, witnesses./
They all stood from their chairs and stared hard at her as she approached.
She ignored them, heading straight for the door.
Calmly she reached to the door release.
A man's hand slapped over it, stopping her from releasing it.
The silence in the corridor thickened.
Mara slowly brought her eyes up to met those of the man blocked her way. It was one of the mechanics.
"Do. You. Mind?" Each word from her mouth was icy.
The mechanic was unmoved.
"No one goes in there alone. Mistress Jade."
Apparently the burly mechanic
Mara swiftly grabbed the man's hand, pulling his arm towards her and neatly spinning her lithe form. He flew over her shoulder in a graceful arc, landing in a pile against the far wall of the corridor.
Swiftly she palmed the release and stepped inside, sighing to herself as she locked it from inside.
Through the observation window she could see the line of self appointed bodyguards staring at her. She glared at them for a moment then ignoring them moved slowly to the bedside of the sleeping Jedi.
Despite her duracrete shields, she could sense his presence through the force. /It's even brighter…/
Her breath quickened and she felt her pulse speed up with anticipation.
She realized this was why he had a fan club where ever he went. People were subconsciously attracted to the vivid light that shone from the very heart of Luke Skywalker. Even if they were not force sensitive.
Mara allowed herself to take in the details of the man lying before her.
He was wearing a white hospital robe. His skin had returned to the golden tan Mara associated with the Tatooine. His hair was mussed and lay disheveled around his calm face on the stiff med-centre pillow. Tubes of fluids and nutrients were attached to his arm and the other lay at an awkward angle atop the sheets. Mara frowned, then realised it was a cybernetic arm. Obviously it had been damaged, however that was not the doctors field of expertise. Forgotten parts of her force vision returned. /Bespin. Vader must have really taken his arm…/
Mara stepped close until she was standing right beside his head. His breathing was even and shallow, but so soft as to be nigh undetectable. He truly did seem almost dead. A tiny spike of anxiety and concern spiked in her, /perhaps I should wake him/
Again feelings of conflicting emotions rose up within her. Hatred and…admiration? Was that the other thing she felt?
/Why do I care at all about this traitorous rebel/
Several reasons spun through her mind as she stared expressionlessly down at the sleeping man.
/Perhaps I feel comradeship with him because he is force-sensitive. Perhaps I seek a new master? Do I desire the Force/ She dismissed that idea. She had no love for the force, and she was never particularly strong in it anyway. She had not missed it much at all since her Master's death. It's loss had been a nuisance. Not a great sorrow.
/Then what? Do I worry the emperor was mistaken about him?.. perhaps… Yes, that is it. I am unsure of his guilt. I am worried my master was given misleading information about him…/
She was almost satisfied with this theory until the obvious hit her, literally, with deafening words thundering into her mind from the force.
/YOU WILL KILL LUKE SKYWALKER/
Mara groaned, her hands flying up to shield her face, and felt her legs give way beneath her.
Her knees hit the cold floor hard, painfully, and her head, clutched between her shaking hands, fell forward and onto the bed.
She knelt like that for a long minute while the pain from her master's last command slowly faded to a dull ache and her thoughts cleared.
/oh, that's right. There's the reason I shouldn't be confused. My master is making his wishes well known/
She took a deep breath to calm herself, and was disturbed to find herself inhaling a clean masculine scent. She dimly realised that her forehead was resting on the side of Luke Skwalker's chest. /He smells nice./ Her eyes opened, her eyelashes brushing against the course material of a med-bay blanket. She froze for an endless second, acutely aware of the warmth of his body beneath her head. The urge to bury her face against him and inhale nearly overcame her.
Mara gasped in surprise at her sudden… desire, drawing his intriguing scent further still into her, and quickly jumped to her feet.
She blindly left the room, practically running, ignoring everything the people outside said to her, and dashed back to her cabin.
The moment her door hissed shut she collapsed against it, her breath coming in gasps, her eyes wide in disbelief and disgust. She could still smell him…
She desired Skywalker.
Now she really would have to put a blaster to his brain, her pride demanded it.
Fraali Galactic Spaceport, Dalhir, Meridian Sector.
The Millenium Falcon – Modified YT-1300 Corellian Freighter
Han sighed.
He and Chewie were trapped in an outer rim dustbowl. Well, dustbowl was the wrong word, it was more of 'dust-slum' actually.
The spaceport they'd put into seemed to be a pre-empire fabrication. Everything was at least 50 years old. Even Han couldn't recall having seen a more dilapidated place. Half of the small Spaceport's dock was empty, apparently abandoned. The Falcon was the newest ship in the port as far as he and Chewie could tell. The Dalhiris themselves where almost as rough as their home.
Somehow Han and chewie had managed to maroon themselves on some sort of 'pirate planet'. Everywhere they went everyone was armed to the teeth. A mostly humanoid population with a generous mix of other sentients, the one thing the natives had in common, (apart from weapons and bizarre flamboyant dress-sense), was a violent, speculative gleam in their eyes when they looked at Han. It was an expression the Corellian was unpleasantly familiar with, /… like Ewoks planning a dinner party…/
If not for the not-so-subtle threat in having an 8ft armed Wookie ambling along beside him, Han was pretty sure he'd have been mugged and dumped in a trash compactor within his first ten minutes on land.
Still, they'd put out feelers for both legitimate and black-market sources for the parts the Hyperdrive needed, but had no luck. Well, maybe not that bad, but it would be a good TWO WEEKS until the parts the Falcon's Hyperdrive required would arrive. From Kashyyyk.. Not matter what 'incentives' Han offered, or how threateningly Chewie howled, the Spaceport authorities insisted that no nearer systems had the parts they needed. They were stranded.
Unless of course he and Chewie could do a bit of inventive Hyperdrive mechanical modification and get the thing running well enough to make it back to Coruscant, or at least a system with better Spaceports…
"Hey Chewie! How's it coming along at your end?"
The wookie growled in frustration, and a loud banging was heard from the far side of the ship. Han winced, "Like that hey?" He sighed again, "I guess I will have to call Leia…"
He was going to have to call Leia. He was going to have to call home to his wife of 4 months and get her to come and 'rescue' him.
Chewie found this prospect incredibly amusing.
However, to call his wife, he was going to have to finish fixing the communication systems in the Falcon.
The electronics required there were standard enough thank the stars. He estimated he'd have the fried circuits replaced that afternoon.
Chewie was rumbling something at him from the back of the ship, Han paused to listen, hoping for some good news, but apparently his friend had heard his plan to call Leia and was only ribbing him.
"Cut it our Chewie! I am not Leia's 'toy boy'! I'm all man…"
Chewie snickered, "No, you, are her pet ' Nerf-Herder'."
"Hey! That's pretty rich coming from the 'Love-Carpet'!"
Chewie went very quiet.
The Corellian wiggled his eyebrows suggestively, despite the fact that Chewie couldn't actually see him, "Or was it 'Love-Rug'"?
Silence permeated the Millenium Falcon.
Han smirked smugly to himself as he returned his attention to the circuits before him, "Yeah, that's right Chewie! Her worship's pet names have got NOTHING on Mallatobuck's!."
Chewie growled ominously.
Han ignored him and continued to work on the Comm. Circuits. "Damn!" He sighed. "Chewie! The back up power link is fired as well. We're gonna have to go get more cable before I can get this running."
Chewie appeared at Han's shoulder, looking at the disheveled wires and circuits spread before the Corellian, "You're right."
Han frowned indignantly, "Oh course I'm right!" He leapt to his feet and grabbed his jacket, "Let's go. I could use some food, and I think I need to replace my liquids."
Chewie shrugged and headed towards the Falcon's ramp.
They returned to a repairs shop that they'd found earlier and Han haggled for a few minutes over price, then they stopped off in a tap-caf.
With a surprisingly nice glass of froathy cold Lum ale in one hand and a burger containing an indigenous meat of some sort in the other, Han felt his spirits improve. He'd talk to leia tonight. It had been two weeks and he'd missed her, not that he'd ever admit that to Chewie of course.
He munched cheerfully enough on his questionable lunch, only playing vague attention to the people around him.
Chewie sneezed.
Han raised an eyebrow, /since when do Wookies sneeze? They don't have allergies...for obvious reasons…/ Shrugging the question off he turned away and looked out the grimy widow beside their booth. He couldn't see much. /I wonder is Leia will be angry or concerned? It's hard to tell, she's so moody… Angry is probably a safe bet though…Still, I'm sure Luke's been able to reassure her we're alright with his hokey Jedi …/
Han's musings were cut off abruptly when Chewie bellowed in his face. "Hey! What was that for Fuzzball! You almost made be drop my burger!"
"Behind us. Listen."
Han took another bite and glared across the table, but dutifully listened to the conversation taking place at the booth behind Chewie.
An pale orange twi-lek with a missing lekku and a human with an impressive beard wearing Dalhiri style elaborate clothes were whispering into each other's ale.
The human was grinning, one of his front teeth had a gem imbedded into it, "…just docked. Apparently they had a real nice run if you know what I mean…"
The twi-lek smirked, "Don't I just! What I wouldn't give for a place on Karrde's crew!"
The human sighed, "Yeah, I know what you mean, I've been hanging around this gods-forsaken dust bowl a good three years now. Still nadda. I figured once I'd found…" he glanced around, checking ineffectually for eavesdroppers, "..torugaa.… I'd be able to find a ship to run with and finally make a name for me self!"
The Twi-lek took a swing of his ale and commiserated, "Me too. That place is full of credits… Spacers like us come of Karrde's ship with pockets bursting. How'd they get such a sweet deal?"
"I guess you gotta know someone buddy."
"I do! I my cousin Radan works off the lucky karrde itself! He's the one who told me about this place."
"Cousin ey? Me, I just found it the old fashioned way, looked."
"well, Radan and me go way back. We got outta Kessel together, we got matching lekku because of it…" He gestured at his one remaining bound lekku."
"Really? I think I've seen him around then. I could've sworn I saw you a week ago with your left tassel missing." The man chuckled to himself.
The twi-lek slouched back dejectedly into his chair, "Yeah.. He's not around much though… I'm getting sick of waiting to get a place with him." He paused looking reflectively into his glass, "Once I almost stole a ship from the holding yards… was gonna blast off this rock."
"Ah! The holding yards! A thing of beauty that place. There's some fine ships just sitting there… I'll admit the thought's crossed me mind as well. 'specially some of them sweet Old Rep. ones. They don't make ships like that anymore I tell you…"
The Twi-lek nodded, and started to say something, but his eyes drifted in Han's direction. Han nodded in a gruff casual greeting vague sort of way then returned his attention to his forgotten burger. The twi-lek leaned over to his companion and a minute later he and the human left, glaring meaningfully at Han and Chewie.
Han smirked, "Did you hear that?" he checked no one was watching the, "Tortugaa! Here! The Hidden Pirate Port! It's somewhere on this rock! I thought that place was a spacers spice dream…"
"Yes, I heard, I was more interested in this Ship Holding yard. We might be able to find the parts we need there."
Han nodded, "Yeah, of course, that too." He stuffed his remaining burger into his mouth and stood, "Okay Chewie, let's stalk us some wannabe-pirates and find ourselves Tortugaa!"
Chewie stood and shook his head, "why did I point out this conversation to you? I should have let you continue day dreaming about Leia…"
Han slapped his friend's shoulder, "That's right, Leia," he leered, "… the sooner we stalk those two idiots back to this mysterious ship yard, the sooner I get the real thing." He smirked and wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Chewie sighed and ambled out of the Tap-caf, following the lingering scent of the Twi-lek and the human.
"Humans."
Han just grinned, "Aw, you know you love me fuzzball."
In orbit around Coruscant
The Alderaan – Leia Organa Solo's personal Star Yacht
Leia Organo Solo was worried, or as she had said to the New Republic Senate: 'mildly concerned'. Her brother had vanished in a crippled X-Wing after a particularly vicious and unexpected battle with the Imperial Remnant over a week ago, and her husband and Chewbacca were overdue on Coruscant by almost two weeks.
She bit her lip. /As if this whole 'Daughter of Darth Vader-Jedi Conspiracy' wasn't bad enough/
The cockpit of the Alderaan, her personal ship, glowed with the soft lights of the many instruments surrounding her.
C-3PO was bumbling around behind her babbling about how Master Han and Master Luke were undoubtedly 'DOOMED!' and wondering aloud what would become of him and poor Princess Leia?
The aforementioned Princess sighed and turned to her droid, "Threepio, please, calm down. Everyone will be fine."
The golden droid seemed unconvinced, "Oh, of course Princess Leia. I'm quite certain you are correct. But I am worried about R2D2. You know how much trouble he gets into."
Leia stretched her neck out. "Yes Threepio… I'm going to make another call now."
The droid shuffled towards the exit, "Certainly Princess Leia, I will be in the main lounge should you need me."
With the droid gone Leia allowed herself a moment to collect her composure. Threepio was not the most calming presence to be around in a crisis.
For what seemed like the millionth time, Leia punched in the encrypted codes to comm the Millennium Falcon. Static flared.
"Falcon, this is Alderaan, come in."
Leia waited anxiously for a few long seconds.
She sighed, but repeated herself.
Again. Static.
She felt hot tears pick behind her eyes.
/Han! Where are you/
"Falcon, this is Alderaan, come in.. .please…"
Leia listened to the static for a minute or two, then turned off her com, unsuccessful in raising her husband, yet again. He was two weeks late. /I suppose you just call that missing… not late../
She felt tears sliding down her cheeks, and let them fall unhindered. Leia Organa-Solo did not cry very often, but she felt more alone than she had in years. Perhaps since she'd cried herself to sleep in a cell on the Death Star after Tarkin had destroyed Alderaan. When she had been awaiting her 'termination'.
When the Millenium Falcon didn't land on Coruscant as expected, she'd assumed her arrogant Corellian husband had run into some inconsequential delay, mechanical or otherwise. But as the days went by she'd grown more and more concerned. Already dealing with the disappearance of Luke, and the "Lady Vader" accusations of the entire Galaxy or so it seemed, she'd needed her husband's support. Whispers had swiftly made their way around the Senate and soon spread to the Holovid News and Gossip channels.
She'd tried to ignore them, she knew what a waste of time paying attention to the tabloid holos were, but she'd been watching the Holo the night before, in a vain attempt to distract herself from her worries, when she'd flicked to a Coruscant celebrity gossip show. Before she had registered what she was watching she'd been frozen in place by the image blown up behind the vapid looking Holo host's face. Her husband.
Well, the holo looked a good 10 years old, but it was definitely her Han. He was in a casino of some sort seated at a Sabacc table looking quite wasted with a cigarillo dangling from his mouth. The furry arm of a wookie was visible to his right, and perched on each of his knees was a scantily-clad dancer. A Twi-lek on his left and a blonde human girl on his right. He had a huge grin on his face. Leia stared, transfixed, as the 'reporter' gave the 'latest' on Han Solo.
"…long history of womanizing, Leia Organa-Solo can't really be surprised at her new Corellian husband's disappearance. Our sources, close friends of the Solo's have confided exclusively to C-Holo StarNews, that the former smuggler has already had a string of affairs since his marriage to the Princess of Alderaan earlier this year. Apparently Princess Leia has been forgiving and understanding of her husband's philandering ways so far, but rumor is rife that this last indiscretion with Holo Actress and teenage singing sensation Keeli Klee could spell the end for the recently appointed Chief of State's marriage. The Chief of State has made no comment on the situation save remarking during a Galactic Senate session that she was "Mildly Concerned". Our source has revealed that the reason General Solo has been unfaithful to his wife may have something to do with the bizarre Sith Mating rituals the daughter of Darth Vader is reported to enjoy partaking in…. In other news, the Princess's twin brother, Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker, missing in action for over a week after an alteration with the Imperial Remnant in the Meridian Sector has been officially declared dead. Senator Borsk Fey'lya of Bothawui has remarked that he is relieved that the threat of Skywalker following in his father's footsteps is now passed. What the Senator doesn't realise is that there might be another heir to Vader's legacy out there! We'll cross live to the Commenor Tap-Caf waitress who claims she is pregnant with Skywalker's child in just a few…"
She hadn't turned on the Holo since.
Admittedly, she'd had fleeting concerns about Han's disappearance, but she'd dismissed them swiftly. She had no doubt that Han Solo loved her with all his stubborn Corellian heart, (after all, the man had kidnapped her) and the 'scandalous' holo's of Han from years before where neither new nor hurtful to her. Han has always been honest with her about his past, and she found the stories Chewie told her about his "mis-spent youth" amusing rather than upsetting. What had really scared her was how absurd their explanations for Han's disappearance were.
She knew from experience that tabloid holos were either eerily accurate, or completed wrong, and they were wrong about 95 of the time. So, while she could take heart that according to that logic her brother was neither dead nor fathering illegitimate children with tap-caf waitresses, and she was not in danger of traumatizing her husband with 'bizarre Sith Mating Rituals', where did that leave Han? Not having an affair, just gone.
Missing.
She knew he'd never do this too her on purpose, so something must have happened to him.
That was how she came to be in her personal ship, orbiting Coruscant. She'd taken a leave of absence and she was going to find her husband, her brother and her friend. She knew that the NR had some of their best agents searching already, but she couldn't sit on Coruscant and twiddle her thumbs waiting for them like some defenseless housewife. Especially since it meant she'd have to listen to Fey'lya and the rest of the anit-Jedi senators attacking her brother in his absence, or rejoicing in his supposed death. They all seemed to have conveniently forgotten that his X-wing had been damaged while he was protecting a New Republic convoy. A convoy he'd only been a part off at the High Council's request. No, she wasn't going to sit around and listen to their hateful gossip. If he'd been hurt it was while he was protecting them.
She was Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan! /Well, Chief of State Leia Organa-Solo…/. She'd achieved many things that she was proud of. She was the youngest elected member of the Imperial Senate, she'd fought for the rebellion, choked Jabba the Hutt on her own slave-chain and defied Vader himself. Her father Bail had raised her to be strong. She was going to find Han, Luke and Chewie, and if needs be, rescue them. It wouldn't be the first time after all.
But while she tried to stay confident, her heart was sick with worry. The people she loved most in the Galaxy were all gone. Her husband, her brother, and her dear friend Chewie. Worst of all, she had no idea where to begin her search. Luke's damaged ship had apparently made an unplanned Hyperspace jump from the midst of battle, so she truly had no idea where he might be, and Han and Chewie had been en-route home from the Corporate Sector via the Hydian Way when she'd spoken to them last.
A vast area of space.
/Well, at least I know which side of the galaxy to look in…/
She shook herself out of her misery, "This isn't the first time Han and Luke have vanished Leia. Afterall, they were lost in the freezing blizzards of Hoth and they were both fine… You're over-reacting. They are fine."
She took a deep breath.
"Luke is a Jedi, he can take care of himself… and Han and Chewie have been banging their way around the most dangerous places in the Galaxy since I was in pigtails... They are alright."
/I just wish I knew where they were/
An idea tingled at the back of her mind.
She knew that they were still alive, she knew it with certainty. She knew it through the force.
Maybe the force could help her find them.
She tentatively slipped into light meditation as her brother had been trying to teach her. Letting go of all her worries and concerns, she let the peace of the Force fill her mind. It took awhile, but eventually she felt at one with the life giving energy that surrounded her galaxy. Carefully, she let her mind wander through the vastness of space, the huge track of systems between the core and Almania, seeking her brother, seeking Han and Chewie.
She didn't know how long she sifted through stars that way, but suddenly she felt something. A bright glimmer in the force, far away. Han! He was alive! She could feel him! And Chewie was with him! Excitedly she reached out towards her husbanded wrapping him in a force hug before she was pulled back into herself. Her eyes snapped open and she grinned.
Her husband was alive and well. Knowing that Nerf-Herder of hers, his precious ship was laid up someplace for repairs. She could find him. And give him a piece of her mind! /I'll teach him not to let me know he's alright! Corellians! No manners/
A yawn escaped her. She glanced at her chrono. 3 hours had passed.
Leia gasped in shock.
Her eyes felt heavy and she stifled another yawn. She decided she needed to rest, she'd been having trouble sleeping without Han and she'd been over-exerting herself. When she was rested she would track down that foolish husband of hers, and with he and chewie aiding her, she was certain they'd be able to find Luke. Han had a knack for knowing where and when the 'kid' needed to be dragged out of trouble.
Leia let her eyes drift closed and again called on the force, this time letting it guide her in setting the Nav Computer.
Long fingers darted swiftly over the console, deftly entering complex co-ordinates with complete confidence. She'd seen Luke do it before, with nav computers, locked doors and protected datapads, and had always felt it to be dangerous, but she felt confident in her Force abilities in a way she never had before. Sensing Han with such clarity across the vastness of space had given her new faith. Glancing down she saw she'd entered the exact co-ordinates for a jump to a third-rate, force-forsaken outer rim dustbowl of a planet in the Meridian Sector. Exactly the sort of place that Han and Chewie would end up. He had after all, met Luke on Tattooine of all places.
/Ðalhir… At least it has a pretty name../ She smiled, she'd never been there. The closest was probably Obroa-Skai with her father as a child, or Yavin during the rebellion. It seemed like a logical place to start looking, and she trusted in the force. The chances of her entering in a random sequence of co-ordinates into the nav comp. and coming up within an inhabited system, let alone in the orbit of a planet, were several million to one. Nevermind that Dalhir was in an area of the galaxy where logically Han and Chewie could actually be. "I doubt even Artoo could give me accurate odds on that.."
Leia pulled the lever and eased her ship into Hyperspace.
The stars blurred into lines in her forward display.
She felt only calm as she made her way to her cabin to rest. Threepio said something to her but she only smiled and continued serenely on her way. The droid paused, confused at her sudden change of mood.
As she drifted past, C3P0's delicate sensors took in her vital signs and processed the expression on her face. Her body temperature was normal, her breathing shallow and regular and her eyes were slightly unfocused. He made an internal note to himself that she was behaving in a manner very reminiscent of Master Luke.
As the door to her cabin closed he headed to his power station twittering to himself as if R2D2 were beside him, "Well, she is Master Luke's sister I suppose. Perhaps his calming influence will be good for her in the face of such hardship."