The town Yavin-just as dusty as Tatooine if not more so-was chosen first for their proposition strategically. It was the closest out of the seven though the smallest, but Luke knew they had the best chance there. He could feel it. And if he could convince one, no matter the size, then that made his cause that much stronger.
He, Leia, Han, and Chewie had saddled up early that morning to head to Yavin before the town could gossip about what they were doing. Wedge had been left as acting sheriff with strict orders not to send for them barring extreme emergency. When he asked Luke why he was leaving, he only told him it was city business. Miss Erso was left with Mrs. Antilles for the day. Luke felt that he was probably being too hasty looking for a suitable man to take her on. But Ezra and a few others had visited the Erso plantation the day before and come back affirming his fears. Luke felt it would be better on his conscious to know there was one less lonely and vulnerable soul on the earth.
As for his choice in companions that morning, Luke felt it best not to leave Han alone in Tatooine and keep him under-heel for now. Chewie went wherever Han went, and Leia knew the plan better than anyone. Besides, where they were going, the people might receive their proposition better from a woman.
As they approached the town, he could see a small party on horses approaching to meet them. Sheriff Andor and his lackeys, no doubt. Luke could tell from half a parsec off. Though the title of "Sheriff" had been granted to him by the town, it was no secret that Andor cared very little for its safety so long as any trouble didn't interfere with his boss's business.
"Skywalker," greeted Sheriff Andor, from the front of his trio. "Ma'am. And Mr. Solo, thought you'd sworn off our little town."
"I'm here for business, sheriff, rather than pleasure," Han quipped. Luke couldn't see, but was sure he was smirking.
"I'll be sure to break the news to the girls, they'll be relieved."
Luke chuckled but then straightened his back. "Sheriff Andor, as much as I'd love to stay out here in the hot sun to talk, my sister, I'm sure, could use some refreshment."
"From what I've heard of her, she doesn't seem the type to melt in the sun." Andor nudged his horse nearer to Leia's, causing Han to put his horse in between the two of them. Luke grimaced.
"We'd like to see Ms. Jade, we have some business to discuss." Luke desperately wanted to move this into the town before any one in his party did something stupid.
Andor nodded, turning his horse around and back towards town. Luke nudged his horse forwards passing in between Andor's companions. He heard Han, Leia, and Chewie follow him, and he was sure the other two followed them. They were effectively trapped.
They dismounted and tied their horses up outside of the biggest building in town. A three-story building yellowed by sun and dust, but in good repair nonetheless. The sign over the door shone with a gleam of new paint: "Madame Ahsoka's."
He left his beloved pistol, the one old Ben had given him when he was still just a young boy, with Andor's man and entered the establishment. Inside Ahsoka's, the first thing to hit a man was the smell. Luke had smelled sweat, livestock, and dirt every day of his life, but they had never seemed tedious until entering that building. The scents of perfumes and incense were pleasant, not overwhelming. The lighting was low and there were beautiful women lounging around the room behind a podium where a tall man stood.
"3 credits for the day, 5 for the night," he said.
Luke pulled out the letter from Ackbar and held it out to the man. "We have been sent by Mayor Ackbar of Tatooine to speak with Ms. Jade."
The man carefully unfolded the letter, read it slowly, and looked up at Luke from over his half-moon glasses. "What business?"
"Kaytoo, let them pass." A woman appeared from a side-room. Her red hair was down around her shoulders, and she was wearing a fashionable gown. He had heard stories of the owner of Yavin's brothel and her beauty, but he was never a man to visit such an establishment. The tales were no exaggeration.
They were allowed to pass, and Ms. Jade approached them. First reaching her hand out to Han, who bowed over it, removing his hat.
"It's been a while Mr. Solo, I'm glad to see you have returned. Even if under queer circumstances."
"Pleasure as always, Ms. Jade." Han let go of her hand as she moved to Leia.
The two women eyed each other, before Ms. Jade finally moved to Luke. He was sure she was surprised that they would bring a woman on official business. Ms. Jade held out her hand in the same manner she had to Han. Luke tipped his hat, and removed it, reaching out his hand to shake Ms. Jade's. The surprise on her face told him was not expecting this, but Luke wanted the nature of this business to be clear from the beginning.
"Ms. Jade, it's a pleasure to meet you. Sheriff Luke Skywalker over in Tatooine." He held his hat against his chest.
"I've heard of you. The men that come here, they tell stories of the great sheriff of Tatooine who drove back the Imperial Company single handedly." She had taken a step back. Her face was placid, but Luke felt that she was trying to charm him nonetheless.
Luke set his jaw and nodded. "I hate to inform you, ma'am, I am not that man. I took no pleasure in the events of a year ago, and had plenty of help."
"Then you are the man they speak of. Tell me, what important business has Ackbar sending a small band over?"
"Ma'am, if I may, could we speak in private?"
"Ain't nothing you can't say to me in front of my girls, and I don't know how private a group of our size will be." She gestured to the women around the room, who were all pretending not to pay attention to the characters in their home.
Luke needed control of this information as long as he could, and he was not about to announce his business until he had to. "Ma'am, please, our business concerns Scarif, and the annexation of Jakku."
Ms. Jade looked shocked once again. There was fear behind her eyes, and Luke was glad the business of Scarif had rattled more than just Tatooine. "Follow me." She took them into a large room adjacent to the main room. "This is my office, please, make yourselves comfortable."
Sheriff Andor wasted no time lounging on the couch by the door. Luke pulled out a chair across Ms. Jade's desk for his sister and sat beside her. He quickly eyed Han who stood by the door, with Chewie right beside him. The cowboy nodded at him quickly, pulling out a cigar from his back pocket.
"Thank you for your time, Ms-" Luke started to say.
Ms. Jade waved her hand at him. "Get on with it, Skywalker."
He cleared his throat. "Well, as I'm sure you're aware, the city of Scarif has been annexing town after town, village after village on its borders."
She nodded, pouring herself a drink, but not offering any to her guests. "Leaving us to wonder who is next, yes."
"Well, we over in Tatooine were thinking to stop them here- er, there."
She looked between Luke and Leia as Luke stared her down and Leia opened the book she had brought with her in preparation for her part. "Go on." She lit a cigarette and sucked in the smoke, blowing it out towards her guests.
Leia went into her part, explaining the law and their reasoning behind becoming a city as well as the requirements to become a city.
Ms. Jade nodded. "And where do I come into all of this?"
"Well, everyone knows that you run this town, Ms. Jade," Leia said. "And Tatooine can fulfill all the requirements for becoming a city except for the minimum population of 1,001."
Her eyebrows raised as she took another drag. "And you think Yavin will get you there. Honey, there can't be more than 200 people in this dusty town. Your town isn't that much bigger."
"We have 347-"
"348, Mr. and Mrs. Motha had their baby last night," Luke reminded her quietly.
"348, with your 200 that makes 548 or so." Leia finished.
"So what about the other 400-some odds?" Ms. Jade didn't sound convinced.
"There are 6 other towns in the area. All around the same size, even if only half join together, we'd have a chance."
There was silence before Ms. Jade laughter cut through it. She put out her cigarette in the ashtray on her desk, laughing to herself. "What makes you think your little plan is even going to work? Or that the people of Yavin would even want to join in?"
"We-"
"You say you're trying to avoid annexation, but you come in here with your law books and your letters from the mayor. You're just trying to annex us, just like Scarif."
Luke could tell Leia was at the end of her patience. "If Tatooine wanted to annex Yavin, there would be little you could do to stop us." The threat in her voice was loud and clear, Luke sighed.
"And so, given what my sister here has told you," Luke gestured to Leia, pulling his own pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. "D'ya mind?" He asked and she waved. He lit one with a match and inhaled deeply. "Given that Tatooine could annex Yavin without your approval, the mere act of coming to meet you shows the difference between us and Scarif."
Ms. Jade eyed him. "Because you've given us fair warning, Sheriff? Hell, excuse me if I don't drop to my knees right now and thank the Almighty."
Luke chuckled and took another drag. "No, we came here so that we might be partners in this, equals. Divided we are nothing, but together we could be strong, Ms. Jade. Apart, we'd have no chance against the men in Scarif. If you don't take this offer, what will you do? Wait until they knock on your door and make you sign away your town at gunpoint? The town that you built up from nothing?" He sat up and forwards in the chair, staring dead into his hostess's eyes. "They don't even need your signature, did you know that? It could be anyone that signs away your town, even someone who don't even live here."
She laughed. "Now I know you're lying."
Luke put his hand on Leia's book and pushed it across the desk to her, sending papers flying. Ms. Jade jumped slightly in her chair and Luke sat back. "The law is very clear. Or unclear, in this particular case."
Leia stood to point out the phrase in question as Ms. Jade read. The hostess sat back and thought for a moment, quiet in her thoughts. Leia sat back down and she shared a look with Luke. He was unsure of her thoughts, but she reached out to grip his hand. He gripped her hand back tight, hopeful.
Ms. Jade bit her lip in thought and folded her hands over her chest. "We would be partners, Sheriff Skywalker."
Luke almost sighed in relief. "You have my word, Ms. Jade."
She scoffed. "Words didn't mean anything even back in old days. I want a contract, with your signature, and Mayor Ackbar's and any other yahoos that join us in this foolish quest."
"Is that a yes, Ms. Jade?"
She sighed. "Yes, it is."
Leia cried out in excitement, gripping Luke's hand. The three of them stood. Leia embraced Luke as he shook Ms. Jade's hand and then Leia shook her hand.
"Cassian, tell Bodhi some champagne is in order," Ms. Jade called out to Cassian as she lit another cigarette.
Not long later in a place quite near, a man sat in a long, sleek hallway. The walls shone bright with cleanliness, and the only thing that marred the floor's dark gleam was the blood red carpet running along its length, seemingly without end. The man tried not to fidget with impatience and unease, but his traitorous knee bounced in tandem with his heartbeat. He wouldn't have been summoned if it wasn't important.
He was nearing his fifth year with the company, already having risen to his high position purely from his own merit. With his recent work, he was sure he would be considered for another promotion this coming quarter. This meeting was most likely not concerning that.
Finally, the door opened and his knees straightened in an instant, causing his vision to blur. The secretary nodded and gestured inside the room. "He will see you now," he said, holding the door open.
The man straightened his tie and collar, pulling his pin-striped vest flat over his stomach. He quickly put each foot in front of the last and cleared his throat. The secretary closed the door behind him with an ominous thud.
"Ah Motti, come in, come in." The Boss behind the desk bid the newcomer. He gestured to the chair across from the desk and Motti sat. The Boss did not look up from the papers he was examining through his spectacles. Motti tried to breath, waiting to hear what he had been summoned for.
After what felt to be another hour, the Boss finally set the papers down and whipped off the spectacles, setting them aside. "So, how goes the front?" He folded his hands on top of the desk and looked at Motti expectantly.
Motti blinked at the Boss for a second and then sputtered. "Sales are up 3.7%, and the marketing depar-"
The Boss waved his hands. "Yes, I read the most recent communication as well, Motti. I mean about your department. How's the special project going?"
What does he know?
Motti wasn't even sure that he knew what the news he had received the day before even meant. How could this man?
"Well, the recent acquisition of Jakku went through without-as they say-a hitch, sir. I think you'll find-"
"And you haven't received any news since the acquisition of Jakku?" The stone face behind the desk betrayed nothing.
Motti received communications about the towns surrounding the ever growing city of Scarif every week. The Boss knew that. Those communications were not what the Boss was asking about.
"There has been some news about some rabble from one of our latest considerations: Tatooine." Truth it was then, hopefully it would set him free. "But- but-"
"But what, Hotti? Spit it out."
"We don't even know what it means. It could be nothing." His heart was sinking in his chest, pounding that damned rhythm, his knee following in kind.
The Boss nodded, picking opening a new file. "See to it that it is."
The door opened behind him and Hotti stood, bolting out the door.
A/N: thank you for all the support, if you like this fic please check out my other Han/Leia fic "After my Father's Funeral"
no reviews necessary, thank you for reading