Sailing Little Boats
Chapter 8
An angry retort that was about to fly from his lips was cut off by the sound of a shout and a large object crashing into a wall in the other room, and with almost Jedi-like agility, Han fairly leapt over the preparation table and into the other room. The ear-blasting screech of an alarm cut off another round of Corellian curses - for once, not all of them emanating from Han's lips.
But it wasn't only the sound that had stopped him in his tracks, it was the scene before his eyes. He stopped dead in his tracks, feeling as if he were watching a holo-thriller in slow motion, astounded.
Healer Kay'leb was standing in the middle of the room, hands extended as if he were warding off a great tide. Kampher was leaning against the wall, pressing the alarm button. A collection of people and droids lay in a messy heap on the floor, right inside the opened door. Holo-cams … the word filtered it's way into Han's shocked brain. Holo-cams and reporters – they got through some how!
But it was Toa, the gentlest one of the Healer's couple that shocked him the most. In his hands was his blaster, held steadily and pointed at the pile of living rubble before him.
"General Solo," he said softly, not taking his eyes away from the intruders for even a moment. "I respectfully ask that you move aside. I may not be too acquainted with your weapon of choice, but I know how to pull a trigger, and do not wish to harm you…"
Again, Han Solo felt as if he had been pulled into a different dimension. He felt definitely out of his element. His wife in pain, babies being born before his very eyes, Jedi playing with his mind, peaceful healers handling weapons like they've done it all their lives... Then his eyes met the honey-colored eyes of Master Healer Kampher and something – a voice – filled his mind.
Let go... We're here only to help you...
With just the smallest hesitation, he stepped aside.
**
"Come on, Bé," Luke called soothingly. "He's almost here!"
"Luke, I can't…" Aubé moaned, throwing her arm over her eyes. "I can't…"
"Yes you can!" Luke cried, barley able to contain his excitement. "Just a little more!"
"No, I can't Luke! Oh, Goddess!" she cried, only to have it intertwined with the whimpers of their newborn son.
"Bé! He's here!" Luke gasped with astonishment, wiping the baby's face and mouth with the sleeve of his shirt. "Our son is here!"
"Is he all right?" Aubé sighed, catching her breath at last. "Let me see him!"
"Two eyes, ten toes, two meters of manliness! He's all there!" Luke grinned as he wrapped the infant in his shirt before handing him to Aubé.
"Two meters?" Aubé repeated, astonished, as she pushed herself into a sitting position. "Are you sure he's not Solo's boy?"
"The blond hair says otherwise!" Luke grinned. He felt higher than an air whale as he placed his new son into his mother's arms. "How are you feeling?"
"Cold…" Aubé murmured, positioning the baby so he could nurse. "Especially my lower half."
"I think there are some robes in the closet there…"
"Could have used those earlier, you know!"
"Well, we were kinda busy…"
"We?"
"Ok, Ok… you were busy. I was just in the audience…" Luke muttered under his breath, yet still suppressing a grin. "Just hang tight…"
He returned a few moments later with not one but several robes draped over his arm, but as he tucked the first of many over his wife, he paused and looked towards the vacant lift doors.
"Luke, what is it?" Aubé asked, wide eyed.
"Not what, Bé," Luke replied softly. "But who…"
**
"Han! What happened out there?" The Princess asked frantically, all ready halfway out of her bed when the healer's team plus her husband entered the delivery room again.
"Don't worry, Leia, the kid here has everything under control..."
"What's important is what's about to happen now, Madame," Kampher interrupted. "Kay, I think..."
The new mother suddenly doubled over in pain at the same time that baby Jaina released a loud wail. "Oh, Goddess, help me..." she gasped in terror.
By the Gods, what now? Han thought, no longer concerned with the trembling mass that had been pushed unceremoniously outside the door that was now again locked. Although he had never been a religious man, Han suddenly found himself praying. Oh Goddess, let my son and my wife be all right…