CHAPTER 5:
Hanging under the black cable, Princess Leia couldn't quite get her gloved-fingers to wrap completely around the thick cord. She relied heavily on her legs to keep her hold on the cable. She squeezed her thighs together for more security. Although the safety clip kept her connected to the cable, she didn't trust it as much as she trusted herself. She let go with one hand, placed it in front of the other and used her legs to inch forward. At first she felt unsure of herself, especially because she couldn't completely close her fingers around the thick cord, and she started to question her sanity. What was she doing? Was she trying to prove herself to the rest of the team? Maybe she needed to prove something to herself? Foolish girl, she knew Han would think. She was certain that he thought she didn't need to prove herself to anyone.
No, Leia rethought her motives. She wasn't risking her life to prove anything; she was thinking of the mission. If the cable could hold Han's weight, he'd be out here himself. She was just doing what he would do. No one could come up with a better plan, a quicker plan, and she was doing her part of the mission, though she knew Han wouldn't look at it that way. She continued to inch her way across the gap, gaining confidence as she progressed and falling into a rhythm.
Luke looked around, "Where's Leia?"
The group's heads popped up and began to look around.
Han looked at Luke, "You don't think…."
"Oh, no."
Luke climbed to his feet and ran to the cable to find the princess one third the way across the gap between the buildings. Han and the others followed Luke.
"Leia…" Luke bit his lip.
"Damn it," Han cursed and muttered to himself, "Can't that girl ever follow orders?"
"Man, is she brave," Hobbie said with an admiring smile.
"She's gonna get herself killed." There was no mistaking the fear in Luke's voice.
Han gave Luke a look. The smuggler's eyes reflected the fear and worry in Luke's.
The last thing Han wanted to think about was Leia falling to her death, but the image of her smashed against the permacrete below was forefront in his mind. His heart climbed into his throat, beating hard and fast, and he tried hard to swallow it down. Han kept his hazel eyes focused on her small form—lit by the full moon—and willed her to make it across.
"She'll make it," Luke quietly said to Han as if the kid heard Han's thoughts. "She has to."
"I told you the cable would hold her weight," Narra said. "She made the right decision."
"It was my decision to make," Han countered through gritted teeth.
Leia was now halfway across the gap, and her confidence was at its highest. Hand over hand, feet pushing her forward. Hand over hand, feet pushing her forward. Her rhythm had picked up and she was moving even faster than before. She smiled when she could see the cable-tangled exhaust pipe on the roof of the Bureau. She could see the anchor. Like she thought, its claws were not imbedded in the metal pipe properly. If the rest of the team crossed the unsecure line, someone or more than someone would fall to their deaths. Fortunately, the anchor could be easily fixed.
Just then the cable slipped down a foot, and Leia froze. Her heart leapt skipped a beat, and her stomach fell.
Han's breath caught in his throat, and his heart quickened its tempo. He found himself frozen in fear. She can't fall. She can't die like this.
Luke grabbed onto Han's upper arm, his nails digging into Han's flesh. She was almost there; the rope had to hold. He closed his blue eyes, unable to watch as he wished her safely across.
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Leia inhaled and exhaled several times, waiting for the cable to unwrap itself from the exhaust pipe the rest of the way, expecting to fall to her death. When the cable didn't unwrap or slip down any further, she started moving across it again, but she lost the confident rhythm she had obtained earlier. She didn't know how long she had been up there, but her fingers were now trembling from exhaustion. Hand over hand, feet pushing her forward. Hand over hand—
Her fingers slipped from the cable, and then Leia's other hand lost its grip on the cable. Luke snapped his eyes open, and his stomach lurched as if he were on the cable with her. He sensed her fear rising and her confidence slipping away. You have to make it.
Han's hazel eyes remained fixed on the princess. She now hung upside down, her legs and the safety clip the only things keeping her connected to the cable. She's so close…she can't…But the amount of strength it would take to pull herself up onto the cable… Han fingered his own safety clip that hung from his utility belt, wanting to go out there and save her. But the cable definitely wouldn't hold his weight, and they both would end up splattered on the permacrete below. Han never felt so helpless in his life.
The princess open and closed her hands, tightened her stomach muscles, and using all of her strength, pulled her body up enough so that she could grab hold of the cable once again. She inhaled and continued on in her journey.
"That was close," Hobbie whispered.
"Too close," Wedge muttered.
"She's almost there," Narra pointed out.
Finally, Leia reached the other end and was hanging above the Bureau's roof. The cable had wrapped itself high on the tall exhaust pipe, and there was no way Leia would reach the anchor if she dropped to the ground now. She continued her ascent until she reached the top of the pipe. The princess unclipped her safety hook and exhaled. She twisted around, grabbing the pipe with one hand and then the other. Then she released her legs and wrapped them around the pipe. The anchor hung below her. She tightened her thighs and let go of the pipe with her hands. Using her stomach muscles, she arched her back until her hands were near the anchor. Hanging upside down once again, she grabbed the anchor with one hand and braced herself with her other. The princess gritted her teeth as she pushed the anchor to the left and pressed down on it until its claws embedded themselves into the pipe. She let out a sigh and smiled. Tightly hanging onto the exhaust pipe with her sore hands, she released her legs one by one and dropped down to the ground.
Narra raised his eyebrows. "She did it."
Leia pressed her earpiece against her ear. "It should be secure now."
"Let's get moving," Han ordered. His fear hadn't subsided, but it was quickly being eclipsed by his anger.
Luke put his hand on the smuggler's shoulder. "Han, maybe you should go last."
"I'm the team leader."
"Yeah, so you should make sure everyone gets across first."
Han narrowed his eyes on the aspiring Jedi, fully aware that Luke knew how angry he was with the princess. Maybe Luke was right. Maybe his ire would dissipate if Solo had some time to cool off. "Fine."
The smuggler put his hands on his hips and examined his team. Luke was the only one who wasn't in awe of the princess's feat.
"Luke, you go first."
"Sure."
Luke hooked himself to the cable with his safety clip and pulled himself across the gap between the buildings. Han sent Wedge next once Luke reached the other end, followed by Hobbie and then Narra. Han finally clipped himself to the cable and began his journey across the gap between the two buildings. As he pulled himself across the cable, Leia's two close calls replayed in his mind. She had succeeded, and the mission would be able to continue on, but she had defied his orders and almost fallen. Twice. Instead of dissipating, his ire grew and pushed him forward. He crossed the gap between the buildings in record time. Once he was above the roof, he unclipped himself, dropped to the ground, and stalked over to the princess who was surrounded by her comrades. Han grabbed Leia's upper arm and dragged her away from the group.
"Let me go!" she protested.
"Han…" Wedge started after them, but Han shot him a warning look and Wedge stopped in his tracks.
"You're his friend, Luke," Hobbie said. "Maybe you should do something."
"I've never seen him this mad," Luke whispered as he started toward Han and Leia.
Once the smuggler and the princess were far enough from the group to have a semi-private conversation, Han stopped but kept his hold on her arm.
"What the hell were you thinkin'!"
The ire flamed in Leia's eyes. "The mission! You?"
Han ignored her question. "What you did was dangerous and reckless and—"
"And you would've went yourself if the cable could've held your weight." She narrowed her large brown eyes on him. "I was just doing what needed to be done, what you would've done."
"Han—"
"Stay outa this, Luke!" Solo returned his attention to Leia. "Who's in charge of this mission, Your High-and-Mighty-ness!"
Leia glared at him but said nothing.
"Who?" He shook her arm.
"You," she mumbled.
"Han, you're hurting her!" Luke pushed Han.
Solo froze and looked at his fingers wrapped around Leia's arm. He pressed his lips together and let her go. She scowled at him and rubbed her arm.
"I'm in charge here, Leia, and if you can't follow my orders—"
Narra stalked over to the two rebels and one smuggler. "Captain." Narra's irritation was evident in his tone. "We have a job to do. You can finish scolding her later."
"This isn't over, Princess," Han hissed as he walked to the air vent where his team had gathered.
"Yes, it is," Leia said defiantly as she followed him.
Han's eyes widened and retracted. Insolent girl! And stubborn! Han did his best to push the princess out of his mind and return his focus on the mission.
"Wedge, you, Narra, and Hobbie will repel down the back of the building. Redge and Tycho will keep you updated on the Imp's security details position. If things go bad on our end, you'll provide a distraction. Han looked at his watch. "We'll meet at the rendezvous point at oh-two hundred."
Wedge nodded and then led his team to the other end of the roof. Han watched them for a moment with his hands on his hips. Han's anger at Leia, fueled by the fear that still shook him to his core, but he had to get over it if this mission was to be successful.
"You two ready?"
"Yeah," Luke answered. Leia didn't say anything.
"Luke, you'll go first. Then you, Your Worship. I'll follow behind."
"Yes, sir, Captain." Leia gave him a mock salute.
Han opened his mouth and pointed his finger, then thought better of it. He grunted and turned his attention to the air vent.
Luke opened his rappelling line, embedded the anchor outside the permametal air vent, tugged on it, and then climbed into the vent. The line spooled out from Luke's utility belt, and he held onto the line as he used his feet against the wall to guide himself down. Once he reached the bottom, he pressed a button on his utility belt, and the line released its hold on the vent and retracted into a compartment on Luke's belt.
Leia then followed suit. Han watched the top of her head as she descended down the vent. The moon had shifted and the way the light from it touched Leia's slicked back hair created a halo around her head. His fear dissipated, his ire subsided. She was right; he would have crossed that cable to fix the anchor if the thick cord could've supported his weight, and as much as he hated to admit it, Leia did the right thing, made the right call. But it still didn't make Han feel that much better.
Once the Leia reached the bottom of the vent, she looked up at Han. The moonlight fell upon her face, illuminating her pallid skin. Those large brown eyes that stared up at him lacked the anger and hostility just moments before. Her eyes now reflected determination and a touch of impatience. Han couldn't help but gaze at her. He had only known her for a little more than a month, but the emotions she incited, mostly the fear… he never felt that afraid for anyone so strongly besides Chewbacca. Maybe not even for Chewie. He knew the Wookie could take care of himself. And of course, it was Han who took reckless chances, not that big furry oaf. Chewie only followed him into those dangerous situations, and the Wookie always reprimanded Han afterward. The Chewie would avoid most of their "adventures" if he had a choice, but his life debt to Han wouldn't allow him to do that.
Solo didn't know the princess as well as he did his co-pilot, but she had survived Darth Vader's… hospitality, and she fought her way off the Death Star by his side with no fear, no hesitation. In fact, she even had the audacity to boss him around when he and Luke were risking their lives to rescue her. She wasn't exactly the damsel in distress he expected when they freed her from her cell. Leia could obviously take care of herself.
But that didn't stop him from worrying about her safety. Han began to want to protect her, make sure nothing bad happened to her, maybe because of everything she had gone through.
He obviously had stayed too long with the Alliance.
The princess jutted out her hip, placed her small fist on that said hip, and tilted her head. The impatience in those large brown eyes growing. She then tapped her watch.
Han rolled his eyes, attached his line to the outside of the vent and rappelled down it. He landed, unhooked the anchor of the line, and turned around to find himself inches from the princess. Her eyes widened and her mouth slightly opened as she looked at him. There was not impatience in those large brown eyes anymore; it was something else…
"Cozy, isn't it?" He whispered and raised an eyebrow.
Leia backed against the wall.
Luke popped his head out of the air vent tunnel. "Will you two hurry up. We're wasting valuable time," he angrily whispered.
Leia looked away from Han, crouched down, and joined Luke in the air vent tunnel. Han followed suit.
"Redge, we're in," Han whispered.
"I see you."
The two rebels and one smuggler made their way through the square-shaped vent. Luke and Leia, being more compact than Han, were able to crawl on their hands and knees, but Han had to slither forward on his belly. He used his knees and elbows to propel himself forward. Each of them had a head band with a small light to illuminate. The lights were set on low to avoid detection if they came across a vent opening. The light only provided a dim illumination. It wasn't long until they reached a two-way fork in the road, and Luke stopped.
Luke touched his earpiece. "Which way?"
"To the left," she whispered as she looked at the map on her watch.
"She's right," Tycho confirmed.
Luke looked back over his shoulder, "If Leia knows where we're going, why didn't you send her in first?."
"Just keep moving."
Solo knew that the princess studied the lay-out of the Bureau extensively, and sending her first would have been the obvious choice. But Han felt much better having her between Luke and himself if anything went wrong. He cursed himself. Again, he made the mistake of putting her safety over that of the mission. He shouldn't have insisted she be on his team, but he didn't expect himself to worry about her this much. He didn't think he would put her safety over that of the mission. Leia's focus on the mission had propelled things forward. From the way things have gone, and if the High Command had any sense, they should have put Leia in charge of this team. She's proven herself indispensable and more capable than anyone else.
Luke turned the corner and continued on. After a few twists and turns and narrower passages at some places—and with help from Leia and Redge—they finally reached their destination. Luke switched off his headlight as he neared the grate-covered opening that stood between them and the room.
The room beyond the barrier was dark, save for the splatter of glowing lights on the rows of servers.
"I can't make much out," Luke said.
"The view from where I'm at is pretty good," Han quipped.
Leia turned her head to him and pulled a face. Han winked at her. She shook her head and turned her head away from him.
"Hold your position." Redge's voice came through their earpieces. "Security check. Two guards."
Luke pulled back away from the grated barrier as he watched the light from a torch move about the room. The security guards thoroughly checked the nooks and crannies between the servers and under tables, and when he was satisfied, the woman clicked off her flashlight and exited the room.
Luke let out the breath he didn't realize he was holding.
"It's clear," Redge said. "The next check should be in an hour Vivicus time."
"Security cameras have been looped," Tycho broke in. "You're good to go."
Luke and Leia pulled their legs underneath their bodies so they were in a seated position, but things were going to be more difficult for Han. He remained on his belly. Another mistake, Han sighed. He should've just sent in Luke and Leia.
Luke tried to push his fingers through the small holes in the cover.
"Let me do it," Leia offered.
The princess reached across Luke and slipped her fingers through the holes. She pushed on it and then tilted it so Luke was able to pull it inside the vent. He passed it to Leia who leaned it against the wall.
Luke rolled onto his belly and let his legs fall out of vent. Leia and Luke grabbed each other's wrists, and she helped Luke lower himself to the ground. Leia then turned herself around, lay on her belly, and she and Han gripped each other's wrists. Han carefully lowered her out of the vent while Luke guided her down. When she was as far as she could go, Luke put his hands under her arms and set her on the ground.
Things were going to be more difficult for Han. Since he didn't have the room to turn around, he was forced to exit the vent head first. Luke and Leia took Han's hands and he slid forward until both of his forearms rested on theirs. The smuggler wiggled his way forward as the princess and the aspiring Jedi took steps backwards.
"This isn't going to work," Leia muttered.
"Do you have any other suggestions, Your Worship?"
The princess scowled but kept silent.
Han finally was half way out. If Luke and Leia let him go now, the smuggler would fall onto his head.
Maybe that would do him some good, Leia thought.
Then gravity took over, and Han began to slide out of the opening faster than Luke and Leia could guide him out. Luke grip on Han's wrist slipped out of his hand, and the kid fell onto his backside. Leia moved herself so that she stood in front of Han, and he put his hand on her shoulder. She backed up more, hoping she could control his descent before her knees buckled. But the smuggler proved to be too heavy for her small frame, and Leia fell back, pulling Han with her. They both landed with a thud.
The two rebels and one smuggler froze where they were, expecting the Imperials to rush in after the noise they just made. It was then that Han noticed he had fallen on top of Leia. She was sitting with her legs splayed out in front of her, and her hands stretched behind her for support. Han lay between her legs. His chest and head was on her body. One of his arms rested on the ground beside her and the other was latched onto her waist.
"Redge?" Luke whispered.
"No security in sight," Tycho's voice spoke in their ears. "You're good."
Leia turned her head toward Han, her face inches from his.
"We don't have any time for…." He waggled his eyebrows.
"Get off of me," she shoved him away.
Han rolled to his side and placed his hand on his chest. "You're gonna break my heart."
"Will you two get serious?" Luke climbed to his feet.
Leia shot Han a dirty look, and Han feigned hurt. The smuggler stood up first and held a hand out for the princess. She stared at it as if it was a lethal bomba snake. When Han was about to drop his arm, she placed her small hand in his and allowed Han to pull her to her feet. Leia gave Han a haughty look and then turned and offered Luke a hand.
Luke scrutinized the various-sized servers that lined the walls with his mouth slightly open. "How do we know which one it is?"
The walls were lined with various-sized servers. Some were almost touching the ceiling, and others were small enough to fit on tables. Screens were scattered throughout the room. There were smaller servers and computer screens lined up on a long table in the middle of the room. The room was Imperial sterile and neatly ordered.
"Look for the oldest computer," Redge answered.
The three walked the room their eyes roaming the Imperial technology.
"There," Leia whispered as she pointed to an old-fashioned screen and a gray server next to it.
The princess gloved hands hovered over the glass plate embedded in the table in front of the server. She glanced up at Luke and then Han. Han nodded to her. She wiggled her fingers over the glass plate before punching a series of numbers and letters on the power plate. The gray server came alive and the lit outline of a keyboard appeared in front of the screen. Han winced at the loud noise coming from the fan of the server.
"Watch the door," Han ordered Luke.
The kid nodded and moved closer to the door with his blaster drawn. Han moved behind Leia, crouched down to get a better look at the screen, and unintentionally warmed her neck with his breath.
Leia inhaled as butterflies inhabited her stomach. She batted Han away. "Give me some room, Captain."
"Are you affected by—"
"Just let me concentrate."
Leia punched in another code, and a list of files popped up. She typed in a few more codes and searched through the data. "Found it."
She pulled out a small microchip the size of her thumb from her utility belt, pulled the cover off, and slipped it into the thin slot on the server. As the microchip retrieved the information on the plans to the Empire's armories around the galaxy, Leia decided to do some searching of her own.
"We're only here for the lay-out files," Han reminded her. "We don't have time for anything else."
Leia glanced at her watch. "We still have thirty minutes."
"Let's just get what we came for and get out."
"It's still copying. There's no harm and seeing what else we can get."
Han shook his head, anxious to get out, but she did have a point.
"Command Team," Redge's voice broke in. "In coming. Just one."
"I thought we had thirty minutes," Luke hissed.
Leia's finger hovered over the keyboard. She grimaced. There was no way to shut down the computer without losing what she had already started to copy. And if she could just find more useful information…"ETA?"
Han wasn't about to wait for an answer from Tycho or Redge. The smuggler shut off the screen and wrapped an arm around Leia's waist. She gasped as Han lifted her off the ground and dragged her under the table. Luke moved across from where Han and Leia were and squeezed himself between two servers. Luke grimaced when he noticed that the keyboard still glowed, and the fan of the server still whirled as it continued to copy the files.
Solo held Leia upon his left thigh and rested his blaster on his propped up right knee. Leia had never been so roughly handled, and it left her a bit shaken, but in a good way. Once again, Han's warm breath was upon her neck, sending chills down her spine. She did her best to recover her own breath, to even it out. She tried to ignore how close he held her, but it was an impossible task. His heat penetrated her body, and his hand upon her midsection felt as if it was burning through the thick material of her jumpsuit. No one had dared to handle her so roughly or to hold her the way he held her now.
The princess couldn't remember the last time she had close human contact since she lost her family. Now it was just Luke's warm, gentle, and comforting embraces and the stiff consolatory hugs from the well-wishers and people who felt sorry for her. Han's arm around her made her feel real, alive. His closeness made her feel safe, and safe was something she hadn't felt since her whole world was destroyed. Leia found herself trembling under his touch, his close proximity. She cursed herself. How could she control every reaction of her body when Darth Vader tortured her and not be able to control herself in Han's embrace?
Han fought to focus on the danger that was coming. Holding the princess on his lap was making it difficult, but there was not enough room for both of them to hide comfortably under the table. He briefly closed his eyes and inhaled the sweet smell of her neck, the floral scent of her hair. He had never been this close to her, never thought he would ever be. He had expected her to throw his hand off her belly, to move as far away from his as she could—though there was no room for that—but she didn't do any of those things.
Solo noticed that she was trembling, and he pulled her even closer to him, tightening his hold on her. He always imagined her fearless, but maybe the haughty-tough-as-nails princess wasn't so tough after all. Of course, the thought of being captured and tortured by Vader as she had been in the past, well, he didn't blame her for feeling afraid. He wanted to make her feel safe, say it's all going to be okay, but he couldn't do that. Who knew who was coming through that door, or what would happen if they got caught?
"One Imp at the door," Tycho whispered into their earpieces. "I don't think he's security."
Han readied the blaster that rested on his right knee. He knew if he had to use it, the blast would attract unwanted attention, and with only one door and the vent as escape routes, their options were limited. The odds were not in their favor, as usual. Han hoped he wouldn't need the blaster.
The door of the room slid open. Luke shrunk deeper into his hiding place between the servers and exchanged looks with the princess and Solo. Leia's large brown eyes were wide and alert. Han grimly pressed his lips together. Luke wasn't sure if his hiding place was best. If anyone turned on the light, he would be noticed. Not that Leia and Han's alcove was any better. It was too close to the computer Leia was using, and the keyboard was still lit. Whoever was coming would be suspicious.
An Imperial stepped into the room, using a torch to see in the dark room. His white boots clanked heavily against the floor. Luke's face screwed up into a question mark, and he gave Han a look.
Storm trooper, he mouthed to the smuggler and princess.
Solo and Leia exchanged looks. Why would a storm trooper be in this highly secure room?
Luke watched the storm trooper remove his helmet and place it on top of a server near the spot where Han and Leia were hidden. The helmet-less storm trooper noticed the lit keyboard and stared at it. Luke cringed. The storm trooper picked up his torch, and the light roamed over the room. Luke pulled himself deeper between the servers.
"The Imps know there is an intruder, just one so I don't think it's us," Redge's confused voice sounded in the three rebels' ears. "The Imps triggered a silent alarm. I'll see if I can break into it, make it sound like a drill."
Damn it! Just our luck, Han cursed inside his head. Someone else decided to break into the Imperials' computers at the same time Han's team did? If C-3P0 was here, he'd likely give them the odds; Han was glad that the droid wasn't there. Could this intruder be rebel, maybe from another Alliance cell? It didn't matter. The intruder was there. Han scooted Leia and himself further back into the shadows of the table.
Luke's heart picked up its pace as the pseudo-storm trooper drew his blaster. He held it ready and used his other hand to hold the torch underneath the weapon. He took slower steps, careful steps as he searched the nooks and crannies in the room. Then the worst possible thing happened: the light of his torch fell upon Leia's face, and the man's weapon was pointed at the princess. Han lifted his blaster.
Then the intruder's mouth opened wide. He reached up to his neck before falling to the ground. That was when Leia noticed the syringe sticking out of the side of his neck. She looked up to find Luke standing over the intruder, staring at the fallen man. Most of his service in the Alliance so far consisted of training flights, reconnaissance, and the occasional dogfight with the TIE fighters he encountered when he and the Rogue Squadron hunted for a new base. He never saw the faces of those TIE pilots he killed from the pilot seat in his X-Wing. Hand-to-hand combat was new to him.
"It was us or him, Kid." Han pushed Leia forward and they emerged from under the table. "You saved our lives."
"Right." Luke responded but was still dazed.
"Redge," Han addressed his tech team. "What's it like out there."
"There's some confusion," Redge answered. "I was able to cancel the silent alarm and announce that it was a drill. I'm not sure they're buying it. They're looking for a man disguised as a storm trooper."
"He was." Han looked at the dead intruder. "Maybe he'll throw 'em Imps off our scent."
"It's best you get out of there before security is nerfed up. They've already called in back up."
Luke squeezed out from between the servers, and Leia went straight to the computer, switching the screen on. Han moved to stand next to the door. He leaned against the wall, holding his blaster ready to kill whoever came through that door next.
"Hurry up and get what you need, Princess. I have a feelin' the Imps are going to figure out where the intruder is."
"A squad of storm trooper, six," Tycho announced. "They're headed your way. Maybe seven meters out coming from the east."
"Just great!" Han looked over at Leia whose fingers flew over the lighted outline of the keyboard. "Time to go princess."
"I almost have it." She dug her teeth into her bottom lip.
"Just the plans, right?"
"Uh…"
"We don't have time for more, Leia," Luke told her.
"Just a couple more minutes…."
"They're closing in," Redge broke in.
"Wedge." Han held his hand to his earpiece. "It's show time!"
"Rodger," Wedge answered back.
Han removed two canisters from his utility belt. "I'll take care of them."
"By yourself?"
Han shrugged and flashed a lop-sided grin, "It's me."
"I'll join you."
"No. Make sure the princess gets out."
"I can take care of myself," she indignantly said.
"Remind me again. Who's in charge of this mission?"
Leia said nothing, and Han partially opened the door. He then tossed a canister out it as far as he could. There was a loud pop and a thick wall of smoke filled the air. "See you at the rendezvous point."
"Han—"
Han stepped out the door and threw the second canister farther than the first. He shut the door, and Luke and Leia could hear him yelling at the top of his lungs.
Leia smiled and shook her head, "He certainly has courage."
"He's being reckless," Luke grumbled. "You got everything?"
"Almost….wait!" She leaned over the screen. "What's this?"
Luke stood beside her, bending over her shoulder to see what Leia was looking at. "I can't believe it."