Between the Lines
by suezahn
Disclaimer: All characters depicted herein are the property of Lucasfilm, Disney, etc. My only profit is in the form of readers' feedback. Please be generous!
Note: This story was originally written in 1995 and has now be revised and updated for consistency with the rest of the Kismet series. Please note that the OC name Kristin Aldritch = Keris Aldric now. I decided the old name was too "Earthy." A very special thank-you to my lovely proofreaders: Erin Darroch and Marjorie Joyce. The original story was awarded STAR aWARdS Best Long Story 1995.
Chapter 4
With thermal headgear, goggles, and a thick scarf tucked under his arm, Han Solo leaned against an icy stalagmite. His attention was divided between watching the Tauntaun handler tack up his mount, and a careful study of the fit of his thick insulated gloves as he mulled over recent events.
The repairs he'd planned for his ship had gone fast in the last few days, until yesterday morning when, standing beneath the Falcon with Chewie beside him, he'd realized there was nothing left that he could afford to fix or that the Rebel Alliance stores would supply. Chewbacca had queried, with his typical pointedness, what they should do next. Equally adept at reading his copilot's unspoken thoughts, Han had felt that the Wookiee's taunt was overkill. They both knew there was no longer any official reason to stay.
Han would never accuse Luke Skywalker of good timing, but he had to admit that, for once, the kid had entered right on cue. Luke had come bounding up to them at that moment disproportionately excited, Han reflected now, considering what they were about to do in the name of duty.
"You didn't sign up yet?" Luke had asked with mild disappointment, obviously having expected Solo to join the growing roster of Tauntaun jockeys. "We could really use the help, Han. You'd balance out the rotation of riders."
Han had been torn between his growing desire to finally deal with Jabba the Hutt and his disinclination to leave the Rebellion now that he knew for a fact, no matter how he'd acquired the information, that Princess Leia wanted him as more than "just a friend."
The timing was ironic, moronic, and typical. He'd found himself forced to make a quick decision. Hadn't he already put off paying Jabba for years? What difference would a few more days make? Chewie could find something to do to pass the time.
Han's thoughts were brought back to the present by the arrival of Luke. The young man was decked out in his own Alliance-issue cold-weather gear. "Hi, Han. All set?"
"Ready as I'll ever be, Kid." Han pushed away from the pillar of frozen water and began gearing up. "Let's get this over with." The Corellian pilot stepped up to his saddled mount and grasped the proffered reigns from the handler. With a helpful boost from another handler, he swung himself up into the saddle of the Tauntaun.
Luke was visibly dismayed at hearing his dispassionate tone, and he said nothing but just watched as Han tried to settle himself comfortably into the saddle. Something clearly was bothering Luke but Han wasn't going to dwell on it.
"Hey, snap out of it or we'll never get those sensors placed before nightfall," Han said, frowning down at him from his mount. Forced to shift in his saddle to keep Skywalker in view as the Tauntaun sidled around, Han wrapped the reins more securely around his hands, and looked back down again. "You okay?"
"Sure, Han." He gave a teasing salute towards his friend and walked up to his own mount to pat her on the snout. "Come on, girl. Let's show that Corellian what real riding's all about."
Recognizing the tossed gauntlet, Han let out a self-confident chuckle as he tugged the reins of his mount in the direction of the open hangar shield door. "Last one to the first marker's a Hutt's uncle!" With that challenge, Solo let out a whoop and prodded his ride until she was racing past the rows of X-wings toward the shield door.
"Cheat!" Luke accused with a laugh as he mounted his own Tauntaun and spurred his ride to follow.