Chapter 15- Hard Feelings
Lena looked around at the apartments that their guide led them to. They were spacious and reminded her of her quarters at Aldera Palace on Alderaan. Han then turned and the sour look he gave Leia and then Talon was enough to tell that he was angry and it didn't take a Jedi to see it. "You told them too much. Especially about the Endor troops. Those Imperials don't need to know that our troops are exhausted. They'll gather up every fightership for parsecs and wipe out the fleet," Han said in a low voice which was as hard as his eyes.
"No, they won't," Leia said, pressing her small hand to Han's chest. "They can't contact anybody else. They've tried." Judging from the relief Lena felt from her sister, Leia was relieved that Han wasn't anything any thing about the Alderaanian soldier.
"Well, you did. Don't tell them so much," Han muttered.
"They'll assume-" Leia began.
"Hold it. Did anyone else hear the aliens' human say they came at the behest of your own emperor? These Bakurans are ignoring it," Cora ventured from her place beside Talon.
"I caught it, little cousin. I'm trying to figure out how to use it," Leia said.
"Good," Cora said with obvious relief in her dark eyes as she squeezed Talon's hand tighter. That was always a go-to when Lena was growing up. If life had gotten complicated Lena, Cora and their brothers went to Talon. He would squeeze their hands gently before hugging them. And his hugs were magical and always made them feel warm and safe.
"But did you-" "Leia started to say again before Cora interrupted her.
"Save it. I don't mind telling you, I'd rather sleep on the Falcon," Han said as he looked around at their quarters. Granted, they were lavish, but lena understood what he meant, The dark side might not have been here, but the animosity that the Bakurans felt was just as real as the dark side of the Force.
"Sir, droids require no rest. May I suggest you humans sleep for a little while? Artoo will stand guard-" Threepio started to say, his metal hand over his restraining bolt. Artoo interrupted him with a beep.
"That's not necessary, Threepio. Captain Solo is only thinking what I'm thinking. And that is that there may be bugs in here that we don't know about as our Jedi skills don't cover that," Talon said.
"Yeah. They don't trust us any more than we trust them. Obviously Nereus is the real power on Bakura. But he's trying to keep the Bakurans quiet by letting them play government games," Lena said.
"You bet he is. And he's as bugged as a closet full of rat roaches about having armed Rebel ships in his system," Han said in agreement.
"But the people aren't," Leia said.
"No. The people just want to survive. So does Nereus," Luke said with some humor.
"So, once he's safe, he turns on us and wipes us out- if we don't pay attention," Han said.
"We will. We have a message," Lena said, going over to the console.
"Commander Skywalker, Jedi Skywalker, we need to talk, as agreed. How soon can you join me at my office?" Thanas asked and the screen went dark.
"Commander Thanas," Luke said.
"Where's his office?" Han asked.
"Probably here at the complex. Let me find out," Luke said as he sat at the console.
"Come on, Han," Leia said. At this moment her feelings were screaming out her fear of Imperials. She still was living in fear over finding out Vader was her father. Lena had already seen her panic over black capes.
"I believe Commander Thanas left a message...Yes, that would be fine. I'll be there in about an hour," Luke said as he disconnected the line. He walked back to the lounge where everyone sat.
"Well?" Leia asked.
Luke stood still, his hands behind his back. "We have Ssi-ruuvi ships in our backyard again. Thanas says it looks like a blockade, just out of the defense net's easy-kill zone. Approximately the orbital distance of Bakura's second moon. I, uh, also have an invitation to the Imperial garrison and Lena and Uncle Talon does also," Luke said, hesitating slightly.
"All of you alone?" Leia asked. Luke nodded.
"Don't do it. Make him meet the three of you someplace neutral," Han said.
Lena shrugged. "Bakura isn't neutral. He's probably got better facilities than we could find in the Bakur complex," Lena said.
"Then take Chewie with you. This Thanas could arrest you all just for being Jedi. Never mind frying the Emperor," Han said.
"But we didn't. He tried to fry Lena," Luke protested.
"They still don't believe the Emperor's dead. But take Chewie anyway. Even disarmed, he's formidable," Leia said.
"How fast could you call in some backup?" Han said, touching his blaster.
"We've all got comlinks. We could get an X-wing squadron off the Flurry in orbit in...oh, an hour," Luke said, thinking.
"That could be too late," Leia said. Chewbacca roared in agreement.
"I think I should stay here," Threepio said, even though no one asked.
"Han, Leia, Chewie, we can take care of ourselves. The more we act as if we trust them, the more they'll go along with us. Leia made a lot of progress with the senate just now," Talon said, firming up his voice.
"Not enough, Uncle. An honest exchange is our only hope for a lasting treaty, one that can bring about the defection of many disillusioned Imperials," Leia said as she pursed her lips together.
"Go ahead. Tell me you feel good about working with these people, all of you. But look me in the eye when you say it," Han said.
Leia looked to Luke. "Well, no," Leia admitted.
"Mm, no. I don't feel good. Alert," Luke said.
"Neither do I," Talon admitted.
"I don't either," Lena said.
"Right. And feeling uneasy can't interfere with our negotiations. We must make a start somewhere. We make it at Bakura," Leia said.
"I'd rather take Artoo anyway," Luke said, clearing his throat. Artoo beeped. "For information sharing," Luke clarified.
"Oh. Tell me about the senators. What did you feel from them?" Leia asked as she sat next to Luke.
"They were hostile. "Who are you, and what are you doing here, and what business is it of yours?- at first. But that old fellow, Belden, was glad to see us. And there were others. Others...," Luke trailed off as he looked at Leia and then Han who stood by the window. "Leia's story opened them up. It made the first real change in their attitudes," Luke said.
"I'm so glad. I would prefer to return to our own people as soon as possible," Threepio interjected by the door. Artoo beeped in agreement.
"There, you see? It has to be hard, after years of operating covertly, to be this open," Leia said.
Han turned to face them. "It's like showing your sabacc hand to early in the game. The cards can change faces on you. I don't like it. I don't like these people. I especially don't like Nereus," Han said stonily.
Leia nodded. "He's a perfectly normal Imperial bureaucrat. But, Luke, what else did you sense? Their reaction to all of you-" Leia started to ask as she looked at Talon, Lena, Luke, and Cora.
Luke frowned. "About what you'd expect since they hadn't been warned. Why?" Luke asked.
Leia went silent, her gaze going to the rug. "You've got Vader on your mind again, haven't you?" Lena asked, her voice low.
A hurt look entered Leia's eyes as she pointed a finger at Lena. "I want nothing to do with anything that came from Vader," Leia said sharply.
"Me and Luke came from Vader, Leia," Lena said.
"Then leave me alone," Leia said, clenching her fists.
Lena knew that Luke also wanted to remind Leia that she came from Vader too, but Talon touched his shoulder and shook his head. Leia was going to have to work through her feelings about Vader. Already Leia's face looked remorseful at her outburst.
"Hey, lighten up, Princess. She's only trying to help," Han said, touching Leia's shoulder.
"What do you expect from me? To take it calmly? To announce it to Mon Mothma?" Leia asked.
"Not again," Han muttered.
"Again?" Luke muttered as he looked at his sister, who looked angry.
"Look, nobody's going to tell your secret. Not even, Luke, Lena, the prince, or Cora. Right?" Han asked, looking at the four Jedi.
Luke shrugged. "We agreed. For a while, at least, no one but us finds out you're related to anyone," Luke said, holding out his hand.
Leia took it. Han and the others stepped forward and placed their hands on theirs. A loud roar filled the apartment and Chewbacca placed his hairy paw on Leia's shoulder and the other paw on Han's head. Chewbacca continued to groan and growl. "What did he say?" Leia asked Han.
"That we're his Honor Family. That's the basic unit of Wookie society. It's the best pledge of loyalty you'll get, Leia," Han said solemnly.
"All right. We have work to do. let's use every moment until Luke and Lena have to leave or they call us back for another session," Leia said. Chewbacca growled and they all released each other's hands.
"Right. We've also go to check on repairs. Our group has set up a temporary pit over at the spaceport. Pad Twelve. That's Chewie's," Han said as Chewbacca removed his paw from his head.
"Ah. There, I found our new data files. Artoo, run a check. See what you didn't already get from the drone ship," Luke ordered the astromech who whistled cheerfully.
"Keep your eyes open, kid," Han said.
"And be careful!" Threepio said as Luke, Lena, and Artoo left.