"General Solo? General Solo?" The quiet knocking on his office door jolted Han Solo from the light doze he'd drifted into. Quickly, he sat up running his fingers through his hair and attempting to smooth the rumples out of his uniform, so it wouldn't look as though he'd been asleep. Shuffling the papers he'd been sleeping on into a neater pile, he called,
"Come in." A young woman stuck her head around the door and let out an annoyed sigh as she took in his appearance,
"I've got another file for you. Zinji has been spotted near the Rim trying to build up his forces again. Did you actually go home last night, or did you just fall asleep at your desk again?"
Han glared at her, but was more annoyed that she could tell than that she had asked.
"Why do ya ask?" Maybe he could still sidestep the topic.
"Because you never signed out last night and you haven't shaved this morning."
"Oh." Han rubbed the stubble on his chin and stifled a yawn. "So I put in a few extra hours last night, so what? Other people around here do that and I don't see you gettin' up their tails."
"While that may be true, no one else does it so often that General Reekan had to threaten to sedate them to make them go home!" Solo sighed; he'd been trying to forget about that. "General, you're of no use to the New Republic when you're working on three time parts of sleep a night! The New Republic won't fall apart if you weren't here constantly!" He felt a slight tightening in his chest; it had always been him saying those words before…. "Go home and get some sleep, General."
Placing the files on his desk the secretary quietly walked out. Han glanced at the new documents she'd left him, then at his faint reflection on the shiny surface of his desk. He had dark circles under his eyes from endless nights with little sleep, his chin was sporting a five o'clock shadow, his hair was sticking out at odd angels, and he had undone the collar of his uniform, which was still rumpled from being slept in. His uniform hung from his shoulders bcause of all the weight he'd lost from forgetting to eat. All of this because he'd broken his promise to himself; he hadn't managed to stay 'solo.'
Sure, he'd flirted with women before her, but Han had never once let down his emotional barricades for anyone, ever. If he'd never agreed to transport Luke and Kenobi or just never gone into that cantina… but there was no way he could change that now. How could one woman hurt him so much?
Because she lied to me, Han thought. She was just using me to pass the time. But he knew that wasn't true, or, at least, he thought he knew. Well, Han had also thought she loved him and he'd been wrong. Oh so wrong.
I love you!
I know.
Solo sighed and tried unsuccessfully to push the memory from his mind. He hadn't actually known on Besbin, he'd just hoped. Han had been to afraid that he'd never see her again and that somehow his words would hurt her, to say anything else. And when she had rescued him from carbonite, he'd truly believed that she loved him and he had loved her with every once of his being. No, there was no had in that statement, he still loved her, she just didn't love him back. Well, she was happy now. With a irritating, pre-Madonna prince, maybe, but she was happy and that was what counted. Or, that was what Solo told himself.
Geeze, I'm startin' to sound like some kind of martyr, or something. Turning back to the paper work on his desk, the general half-heartedly grinned to himself. She'd rubbed off on him more than he'd ever admitted to himself. Maybe that was why he'd buried himself under stacks on paperwork instead of just resigning his commission, just like she had after Alderaan. He couldn't have resigned though, what else would he have done? It wasn't as though he could get another job. No matter where he went, he wouldn't be able to escape what had happened. Every holo channel and newspaper in the Galaxy was running stories on the up and coming wedding of the last princess of Alderaan and the prince of the Hapes and the disappearance of a certain New Republic general, who'd been the lover of the princess.
Where am I? Han thought morosely. Living, no, existing under mounds of paperwork on one of the outer most outposts of the New Republic hiding from the media and reality. Solo was startled out of his brooding by the beeping of his comm. Unit. He answered it,
"Solo here."
"Han? This is Reekan. I've arranged to for you to be in command of the three Star Destroyers that are being used as transport for a diplomatic mission to Akkinth. Getting out of your office will do you good and, you have to admit, it should, at the very least, be more interesting than living under a paper mache of political red tape."
"Ya, okay, what ever you say, Reekan. When do I leave?"
"In three days. On go back to your apartment and get some sleep. I don't want you in charge of a fleet after spending nearly an entire week without leaving your office!"
"How do you know that?"
"I never reveal my sources, Solo. Just remember, I have ears every where, so I'll know if you leave or not! Now get a move on!"
"Alright, alright, I'm going! Solo, out."
"Reekan, out." Solo stood up and stretched. Akkinth? Why was the New Republic trying to get a membership from Akkinth? Oh well, maybe he'd enjoy getting out again. Besides, Chewie would be having a fit right now about Han's behavior if he hadn't been visiting his family on Kashyyyk. Maybe nobody on Akkinth would recognize him.
Oh, Leia. What have you done to my life?
Leia frowned at the holo phone image of Mon Mothma,
"Yes, of course I'd be happy to take on the diplomatic venture to Akkinth, but wasn't Luke supposed to be doing that? He said the beings there had great respect for the Jedi."
"Master Skywalker is still uncertain of his diplomatic skills and requested your assistance," Mon Mothma sighed with slight exasperation, "though; I still believe that you should be spending this time in the Hapes, Leia."
Leia sounded slightly distant when she answered,
"It'll be alright Mon Mothma. When do I leave?"
"Three days."