CHAPTER 19:
After the generous meal Commander Jeleof returned followed by his wife.
"I hope you enjoyed the meal," he inclined his head.
"It was wonderful," Leia returned the bow. "We appreciate your hospitality."
"Now it's time to get you back to your ship and off the planet before Lord Vader arrives," he stated. "It's clear that you cannot enter the docking bay as is. There's a checkpoint, and we are taking it quite seriously."
"So what's your plan?" Han folded his arms.
"It will be easy to pass the Wookie as a slave."
"The Wookie has a name," Han challenged.
"I'm not concerned with details," the Commander dismissed the smuggler. "Solo, we have a hazy video of you. We're lucky the technology here isn't up to par. The Empire will take care of that now that you and the princess made such a dramatic escape. Anyhow, we'll alter your appearance to be safe."
"Makes sense," Han muttered.
"Luke, you don't have anything to worry about. You managed to evade being spotted in your part of the escape."
Luke nodded.
"As for you, Your Highness," Jeleof put his hands behind his back. "You are too recognizable for a disguise."
"I can't dress like your wife?" she asked.
"The security guards will demand that you show your face."
"What about a disguise?"
"Only alien females can enter the docking bay, and they are thoroughly checking each one since you disguised yourself once before."
"Then what can we do?" Luke asked as he stepped closer to Leia.
"We have a way of smuggling aliens off of the planet," the Commander lowered his head as if he was ashamed. "Since your ship is a cargo ship, we will it load a cargo to be sent to Fuommin. I have the necessary papers to get you through the checkpoint."
"Whadda bout Leia?" Han interjected.
"We have a special crate that she will hide in," Jeleof gazed at Leia. "She will not be discovered when they scan the crate."
"How do we know you're not gonna turn her over to Vader after you trap her in a crate?" Han pointed an accusatory finger and the Imperial.
"Han!" Leia uncharacteristically raised her voice. "After all he's done for us, how could you say that!"
"He's an Imperial."
Luke shook his head and placed a hand on Han's arm, "He is an honest man."
"Is that the Force speaking to you?"
Chewie grumbled in Han's direction, and Han shot him a threatening look.
"No," Luke's cheeks reddened in anger. "It's based on his actions."
"Sorry, but based on experience I'm leery of trusting anyone in an Imperial uniform."
"That's fair," the Commander frowned. "I don't much trust terrorists that interfere with the Emperor's vision. The Wookie will care for the crate. I suggest we start preparing for your escape. Lord Vader will arrive soon, and I heard he has personally been searching freighters."
Luke bit his lip and shared worried looks with Leia, "Has anyone else recognized it?"
"Most of the Imperials here are not high ranking," he shook his head. "It's not well known, and Lord Vader has preferred to take on this mission personally. Let's get started."
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Han frowned as he looked into the mirror. It was odd not to see his face staring back at him. Instead, an old man with wide-set dark eyes, a bulbous nose, and deep wrinkles gazed skeptically back at him.
Luke tilted his head to the side, "Wow. Jeleof's servants did a great job."
"Slaves," Leia quietly corrected.
"We have to remember what Jeleof is risking helping us," Luke chastised. "We wouldn't be able to escape without him."
Leia dropped her head, "I know. I hope nothing goes wrong."
"Me too," Han briefly put his hand on Leia's head.
Jeleof and Chewbacca entered the room carrying a large crate. Leia stared at the crate with wide brown eyes. Jeleof opened the crate to expose the intricate inside. There was another cover that Jeleof pulled open like a door. The compartment he exposed walls that were thickly cushioned, and though Leia knew it was for comfort and that these cushions had a sheath that interfered with sensors, it made the space inside that much tighter.
"Ready, Your Highness?" Jeleof held a hand out to her.
"As ready as I'll ever be," she took his hands. Then she looked deep into his eyes, "Thank you. I don't know how we'll ever repay you."
"You already had when you rescued my brother-in-law. I am very fond of him. He is a good being."
The princess climbed into the crate and found a position to lie in that didn't aggravate her wounds. Although she was small, she still had to bend her knees to fit inside. Leia's eyes found Han's unfamiliar ones. He slowly inhaled before attempting to convey a lop-sided grin.
Jeleof reached into the crate and pulled out a thin tube. He placed it around Leia's head and adjusted it so that the holes in the tube were under her nose.
"The oxygen levels will be low once you are closed in and the crate is packed."
"What if the oxygen runs out?" Han's voice conveyed his concern.
"It won't," Jeleof assured Leia's friends. "The mechanism converts the carbon-dioxide the princess breathes out into oxygen."
Chewbacca gruffed and growled. Han nodded, "Yeah, the Falcon definitely could use something like that."
"Okay, Your Highness," Jeleof took hold of the inner door. "It's time."
"Wait!" Han pushed Chewie out of the way. He pulled his blaster from his holster and handed it to Leia. "Just in case."
She nodded, and Jeleof closed the inside door. He looked up at Leia's friends, "Now we have to pack the top compartment."
Silently, the rebels helped the Commander load local ale and whiskey, valuable art pieces, and artifacts from the ruins out in the jungle. Chewie helped Jeleof close and seal the crate. Han stared at the crate as he tried to control his respiration as best he could.
Luke put a hand on Han's shoulder, "She's okay."
How did Luke know? He wasn't locked inside a crate. Despite this fact, Luke's words brought him some comfort. Han watched Chewie lifted the crate with ease. The rebels followed the Imperial to the transport vehicle. The vehicle was loaded with other crates somewhat larger than the one Leia hid in.
"What's all this?" Han asked.
"Your cargo," the Commander answered. "The security would be suspicious if I hired a cargo ship the size of yours for one small crate."
"What's in it?" Luke asked.
"Medical supplies," Jeleof answered without looking at him. "We are fighting a war, and many innocent civilians are caught in the middle. They don't deserve to suffer because of our actions. I trust you won't give these supplies to the rebels but deliver them to the civilians who need them. You can choose the place where they are needed most."
"An Imperial with a heart," Han commented. "How can you trust us to give those supplies to civilians?"
"Because you have trusted me," Jeleof answered. "The princess will see my wishes are carried out. Before she betrayed the Empire, she dedicated herself to the care of those who suffered from rebel attacks."
Han opened his mouth, but Chewie silenced him with a low grumble.
Jeleof climbed into the driver's seat, "I suggest we be on our way."