Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or anything in George's universe. I cannot accept any monetary form of appreciation anyone might be tempted to send my way (as if!). Not only does George have no grounds to sue me, I wish I could sue him for creating a world and characters that distract me (on a daily basis) from more productive pursuits!
Over the next few weeks, Princess Leia and Han Solo fell into a routine of late night exercise and simulator practice. The encounters were never prearranged, but somehow Han always seemed to stroll in after Leia began her workouts. During the day, paths crossing only occasionally, neither made any reference to their nocturnal activity. They never discussed keeping it a secret, but both tacitly preferred to keep their training time private. Leia assumed Han came each night because she granted him access to the simulator, but when she finally offered to put him on the training roster, he declined, stating she needed his help to improve her landing skills. She wasn't sure why he really came, but the activity was a welcome distraction from her otherwise long and restless nights, so she didn't object to the somewhat intense training he subjected her to. He made her fly and land just about every spacecraft in the program, not once, but repeatedly and in all weather conditions and terrains.
"For gods sake, Solo! When will I ever have to land on a rock in the middle of an ocean during a hurricane! This is ridiculous- and impossible!"
"Stop with the back talk and just do it! If you can learn to do the impossible, it makes the possible seem easy, right? Now follow my directions… "
After nights filled with physical and mental stimulation, Leia found that she dropped into a deep sleep undisturbed by painful images from her past. She still wasn't getting enough rest, but the quality of sleep was the best she'd had since she'd been on base.
After a month of almost nightly meetings, Han accepted an assignment that would take him off base for an extended period of least two weeks. Previously, his supply runs had only entailed an absence of a few days at a time. The night before his departure, instead of heading to the simulator, Han flopped down on the padded mat and gestured for Leia to join him. She gave him a quizzical look, but sank gracefully down to the floor in front of him.
"I've been wondering what's gonna happen when the Imps get wind of this training technology. Aren't they gonna want it?" Han asked.
Leia's expression showed disgust. "Why do think it was developed in the first place? This particular application is nothing I ever envisioned. Two years ago the Navy approached with the request and, well, it's really hard to say 'no' to the Empire without getting shut down, so SimCorps said 'yes'." She looked away, shaking her head.
"Ironic isn't it?" she added in a hard voice. "I'm involved in selling military trainers to the Empire. But, it benefits us too. The Alliance got the finished technology first and we will know exactly how Imperial troops are being trained. The company's design team had to work very closely with Imperial military leaders, so it's also provided a nice information source for us. I may not be in the Core anymore, but I still have my finger on the pulse."
"You know, the programmers can add in subtleties that influence Imperial training … you'll be able to predict their responses…" Han offered.
She smiled confidently, "Trust me, I know."
"I might have some ideas on that…"
"Based on your time with the Imperial Navy, Lieutenant Solo?" She asked innocently, raising an eyebrow.
Han was startled. "You know about that?"
"Did you really think I didn't? Don't worry, haven't you noticed a lot of our people here were once Imperials? Myself included. Imperial Senator, remember?" She switched from a mocking tone to a teasing one, "But, being on the training and tactical committee is another benefit of Alliance membership…"
"How about you consider me a consultant?" Han offered with a lopsided smile. "When I get back…"
"We'll see." Leia grinned.
Entering the Command Center the next morning, Princess Leia was approached by Lieutenant Trasi, the communications officer on duty.
"Your Highness, Captain Solo came by this morning before lift off and left this for you." The young woman held up a folded piece of flimsiplast.
"He left me a note?" the princess questioned skeptically, taking the piece of flimsy gingerly. "I'm almost afraid to open it."
"Why? You think it's booby trapped?" the Alderaanian lieutenant giggled.
"I wouldn't put it past him."
"You know, I think Captain Solo is very good looking." She eyed the princess speculatively.
"Well, you're in good company, then. Because I'm sure Captain Solo thinks he's very good looking, too." The princess responded dryly.
"Don't you think so?" the young woman asked wonderingly.
"What I think is that it's time to get to work." Leia stated firmly, tucking the flimsy into her pocket.
Later that night in her quarters while Leia was changing into her workout clothes, the forgotten piece of flimsy fluttered out of her pocket onto the floor. Curious, she opened the folds to discover a small data card along with a note written in a surprisingly meticulous hand:
"No snuff music while I'm gone – listen to this instead."
Disparaging interfering smugglers under her breath, Leia, with some trepidation loaded the data card into the player as she started her warm up. Halfway through her workout, she realized that the upbeat music all had a common theme; boy wants girl, but girl doesn't notice. What's with all these semi love songs? I guess I just never noticed that popular music is all about the same thing.
As she recognized the graphic lyrics of the next song, Leia almost stumbled in surprise. It was one she'd heard before and liked, but she had to wonder whether Han was trying to shock or annoy her by including the tune in which a boy begs a girl for dirty, hot sex. The next song was even more explicit. Typical, she concluded in amusement.
Han, for his part, was imagining the princess's response to his custom soundtrack. Would she pick up on the hint, or just think he was teasing her? Either way, he was looking forward to whatever her reaction might be.
He thought about Leia often during the long trip, not sure what drew him to seek her out almost every night, but no longer denying that he was drawn. He couldn't seem to help himself. The more time he spent with her, the more he was fascinated. He enjoyed her company, her intelligence, her sassiness…and he couldn't stop looking at her, either. Not just looking, but watching. Watching the way she held herself, the way she moved, the changing expressions on her face – especially when her haughty mask would disintegrate into laughter or annoyed exasperation. He suspected she had a passionate nature, but she was closed off to everything but her fight against the Empire.
That was her major flaw, he decided, she had no passion for living. In fact, she was practically joyless. Even when she laughed, it never completely reached her eyes. There was always a seriousness behind the amusement, an awareness of grief lurking at the edges, just waiting for a chance to spring out and take over. She hid it well, but he saw and recognized it for what it was. She avoided the base's recreational activities, sparse as they were, and most attempts to include her in any impromptu get-togethers were rebuffed. It was as if she wouldn't allow herself to enjoy anything. He couldn't help wondering what she had been like before the Empire's destruction of her previous life.
Persistent variations of these thoughts combined with a morbid curiosity caused him to impulsively run a search on his data pad:
Princess Leia Organa.
Immediately, a huge menu of information files appeared on screen. Opening an Imperial Center newsfeed from eight months ago, the screen was filled with the headline, "Senator Leia Organa Denounced as Traitor to Empire". Scanning the article he read, "The Alderaanian princess pronounced dead in a subspace accident last week has now been found to have had ties to the rebellion. The Imperial Security Bureau has just released evidence of Organa's involvement in espionage, treason and terrorism throughout her tenure in the Senate…"
Han closed down the propaganda with disgust.
Instead, he attempted to open another file, then another. It wasn't until the third unsuccessful attempt that he realized Imperial censorship was at work. They really did wipe out her past, he reflected, at least any evidence of it. But there has to be a way around the blocks…
By entering Alderaanian landmarks as key words, Han narrowed the search down to an archived site for Aldera Palace that offered holographic views of the public chambers – including the gallery. Opening the link, Han was able to view the portraits that had last been on display of Alderaan's Governing Officials and Royal Family.
Scrolling past images of First Chairman Bail Organa and those of the Governing Council, he found one titled Senator Leia Organa. In the holograph, Leia appeared very much as when they first met, her expression displaying the confidence, determination and passion of a young woman who knew what she wanted in life and how to achieve it.
Moving to the portraits of the Royal Family, Han tried to reconcile the Princess's image with the Leia he knew. The girl on the screen was elaborately coiffed, wearing a shoulder skimming formal gown that hugged her tiny waist and flared out into a full skirt and train. She was standing with one hand on the back of an empty throne and was gazing into the distance with a serene expression on her face.
Official portrait of Princess Leia Organa, Royal House of Alderaan, on her 20th birthday. There was a linked article that began, "When will Leia assume the throne? Just a year away from her majority, the Royal Princess continues in her role as Imperial Senator while speculation rises as to when she will return to be crowned Queen. Reports from the Viceroy's office indicate that the politically minded princess has no immediate plans to take on the title and responsibilities of Alderaan's reigning monarch."
Queen, Han thought, reflecting back to Leia's comment that the Empire had destroyed her past, present and future. This must be the future she meant. The girl in the picture looked every inch a princess and future Queen, regal and totally untouchable. She looked nothing like the fiery woman who had flipped him to his back over a music selection. Disquieted by the evidence that the gulf between a princess and a guy like him was even wider than he realized, Han reached to shut off the data pad when another link caught his attention.
An Inside Look at a Day in the Life of Leia Organa, Princess of Alderaan
The documentary holovid followed an eighteen-year-old Leia, highlighting a normal day. It showed her at work as a political aide for her father; as the head of a large charitable organization; and as the Royal representative at an official civic function. The culmination of this long day featured a formal political reception at Aldera Palace.
Since the filming took place just before Leia's election campaign for Senator, Han suspected it was a marketing tool to garner public support. Although the vid displayed how active Leia was in royal duties and planetary politics, what interested Han was the insight to her personality. Throughout the day's multitasking, Leia demonstrated a dry, quirky sense of humor that repeatedly revealed itself during interactions with her blonde aide and ever-present bodyguards, whom she facetiously referred to as Grim and Disgruntled. She was livelier than Han was used to seeing her and though obviously chafing at the restrictions and formality of public life, she carried out her official duties with grace and regality, relaxing to a more open manner in the privacy of her family circle.
A scene Han especially liked and replayed several times showed Leia with her father and aunts in a private, unguarded moment before the formal reception. She and Bail engaged in witty repartee, challenging each other in a game of words that was both amusing and spirited. Her open, demonstrative affection towards her father and aunts surprised Han by its unexpectedness and total incongruity to his personal experience.
Thinking about the things he'd learned, Han realized that he would likely have fallen for the princess under any circumstances, no matter how unattainable. Why do I always go for the long shot? Given his newfound insight into Leia's losses, he realized that toying with her was out of the question, even if she was interested - which he doubted. But he couldn't seem to dissuade himself from the idea that he might be able to slowly pull her away from the brink of encroaching despair.
A/N: This chapter feels very sappy to me. I've cut out a lot, because it was much worse, but I think it might still be a bit much. I was trying to cover some of Leia's back story to emphasize the change in her circumstances and to give insight to her motivations in the next chapter.
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