Chapter17
Millennium Falcon in Route to Yavin
It wasn't until after the running gun fight through the death star and subsequent space battle that the princess had time for her thoughts to catch up with her. Leia turned to the cocky Han Solo as the ship surged through hyperspace, "You don't remember me do you?" he looked at her with curiosity; she smiled, "about a year or so ago on Ord Mantell." His eyes went wide.
"I knew you looked familiar," he intoned, "looks like you just can't keep yourself out of trouble."
"At least the information in Artoo is still intact," Leia sighed.
"What's so important?" Han asked, "What's he carrying?"
"The technical readouts of that battle station," she replied, "I only hope that when the data is analyzed, a weakness can be found. It's not over yet!"
"It is for me, sister! Look," he pointed at her, "I ain't in this for your revolution, and I'm not in it for you, Princess." He jerked his thumb back towards his chest, "I expect to be well paid. I'm in it for the money!"
"You needn't worry about your reward. If money is all that you love, then that's what you'll receive!" she left the cockpit in a huff. Luke acquired the seat she vacated after having some words with her at the hatch.
"So," Luke asked, "what do you think of her, Han?"
"Tryn' not to, kid," Han replied.
"Good," Luke answers.
"Still," Han continues, "she's got a lot of spirit." He looks to Luke with a smirk, "I don't know," he drawls, "what do you think? Do you think a princess and a guy like me?"
"No," the kid answers with finality.
Yavin 4
They were allowed to land on the jungle moon shortly after the Princess gave her clearance codes. The boarding ramp had barely scraped the hangar floor before both Leia and the astromech had been swept away. Luke had wandered over to check out the fighters and Han watched it all in a brooding manner from his place leaning against one of the Falcon's struts. Chewie eased up behind him and grumbled before handing Han a mechanical device over his shoulder.
"Found it, huh," Han looked up to the group the Princess was speaking to at the edge of the hangar. "I, guess I better go let them know." Chewbacca growled out some parting words and Han stopped a few steps away pointing a finger at his friend. "I told you last time," he grated, "she's not my type, besides I've got to see about someone." Chewie shook his head with a low moan.
Leia looked up as Han approached, "Captain Solo," she greeted then gestured to the older man beside her, "this is General Dodonna," the two men exchanged a nod as she asked, "how can we help you Captain?"
"Chewie found this on the top side," he answered holding up the tracking beacon, "It's a high powered model, if I were to estimate their speed compared to the typical capitol ship I would say we've got about six hours."
"Thank you, captain," Dodonna spoke turning to the princess, "we have a lot to do."
"Of course," she replied, then hesitated in following the general looking back, "was there anything else Captain?"
"I was," he stopped hesitating to ask, "I was wondering if you could give me some info on one of your people."
To say that Leia was shocked by Solo's interest in one of the Alliance's most celebrated commanders was surprising but that he was interested in the very commander that had acquired the Death Star plans had shocked her. She hated the way hope died in his eyes when she confirmed Bria Tharren's death. She further hated the way he had immediately closed himself off from the rest of the base, it was as if his sole interest in the rebellion hinged on that woman. The wookie had thanked her through C3PO but hadn't tried to explain the connection between Solo and Tharren. She now watched as Luke and Han spoke across the hangar the Death star was here and the fighters would soon be launching. She smiled it seemed Luke was trying his own recruitment speech, she hoped Solo was kinder to him than he was to her. Luke's expression was bleak as he walked towards her on his way to his fighter, so even though it was obvious she asked what was wrong.
"It's, Han," he replied, "I thought he would change his mind."
"He's got to follow his own path," Leia says softly, "no one can choose it for him."
Neither Luke nor Leia noticed Han watching them from across the hangar before Chewie's growl gets his attention. "What are you lookin' at," Han asked with a scowl, "I know what I'm doin'."
Corel Women's Medical Center, Corel Corellia
Amidala could not believe what she had just been told, Alderaan had been destroyed. It meant that her child was truly dead as she watched the streets of Corel pass by, she couldn't help but think that everything seemed dull. There was no color left in the universe and the last vestige of Padmé and Anakin was now dead. Her hope that those two lost souls would somehow find redemption through their unknowing daughter was lost so completely. She looked back out the window awed that there could be happiness on such a solemn day in some ways it mirrored her own child's birth on the same day as the fall of the Republic, Breanna had given birth while they were in hyperspace, a little girl. Amidala felt fear as they rounded the corner to the front of the med center, there was a throng of reporters with vid droids and everything, and there would be the inevitable questions about Alderaan.
"It is okay milady," Raka answered her questioning glance, "we will be using another entrance and your presence on the planet has been kept quiet."
In the next instant the land speeder ducked into an underground parking garage and pulled up to a nondescript elevator where the lady exited the speeder and entered the elevator. It was just a short ride and a few hallways later that she found herself looking at a dosing Breanna, a rocking and cooing Wrenga, and an utterly bored Crosby.
"May I," the lady asked, and smiled deeply as Wrenga placed the baby in her arms, "Her name?"
"Catalina," Wrenga answered with a smile, "Catalina Arrianya Jixton."
"She's beautiful," Amidala gushed and Crosby snorted, "Arrianya, where do I know that name from?"
"It was my mother's name," Breanna whispered looking drowsily at the lady, "did you see all of the media."
"I did," she spoke to the baby in a cooing voice, "Everybody is excited about Catalina," she tweaked the child's nose and continued, "Yes they are."
"Well, it probably has more to do with Wynessa Starflare's first child about two doors down," Wrenga conceded.
"Really," Amidala looked back surprised, "I met her once on Corruscant. She is a very nice woman."
Trench of the Death Star
Biggs was gone lost in a hail of blaster fire. Wedge had been forced to pull out only moments before. Luke was quite certain he had never been so alone in all of his life, but he knew that he had to hold out just a little longer if he could just get close enough to make the shot. He had killed the targeting computer only instinct and the force would pull this off, but time was short he knew that he could feel the end bearing down on him. Then in a flash the weight was gone and he heard Han wailing a Corellian war cry, and telling him he was clear. Luke released a calming breath, closed his eyes and fired.
Corel Women's Medical Center, Corel Corellia
Wynssa Starflare was splitting her time watching the news on a vid screen, and watching her husband, captain of the Imperial Navy, ace star fighter pilot, salutatorian of his class at Caridia, and the man who generally did everything right; fail miserably at getting his daughter to take a bottle, and she was loving every minute of it. She was enjoying this at his expense, but thrilled at how hard he was trying; she was on the verge of asking him to let her do it knowing that it would only frustrate him further when a knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. The exhausted sigh at the other side of the bed brought her eyes back to him shifting her daughter to her.
"Here," he handed the bottle to Wynssa as she arranged the bundle, "you try to get her to eat, I'll go see who's at the door."
"Of course, Tir," she replied taking the bottle as he left to open the door. She looked up a moment later as the baby started to feed from the bottle to find Lady Amidala smiling down at them and her husband glowering at the child.
"She's precious," Amidala cooed moving around the bed to get a better look, ""I hope you don't mind but I was here to speak with the Diktat and my personal physician gave birth to her second child a few days ago. I heard you were here with your first child and wanted to offer my congratulations. What did you name her?"
"Cherith," Wynssa answered, "Cherith Fel. It means…"
"By the nine hells," Soontir interrupted her from giving an explanation of the name, staring at the vid screen and turning up the volume the three of them stood in rampant silence as the commentator reported the destruction of the Death Star and the subsequent deaths of all on board including among others of importance Lord Darth Vader. Soontir barely caught the Lady as she collapsed.
Massassi Temple Yavin 4
The party that followed the medal ceremony seemed to center around Luke, Wedge and the rest of the survivors from the battle. Han was in no mood for a party he stood off to the edge with Chewie as the wookie obviously tried to get a point across.
"Look Chewie," Han cut him off, "I appreciate it but I'm not in the mood, I just want to be left alone." Chewie launched into another extensive set of barks and growls only to be interrupted again, "I'm tellin you none of that matters," he looked across the room to where the Princess stopped from a conversation to take a holo with Wedge and Luke, "not anymore. I'm takin' off go have fun you're as much a part of this victory as anyone." The wookie replied with a couple of barks. "No," Han replied, "it's not the same." Chewie shook his head as his friend walked away, he watched Han slip all the way across the room without getting stopped or caught in a conversation, swipe a bottle off the makeshift bar and stalk into the night. The wookie did not look forward to his mood tomorrow; he was still looking through the open bay doors when the princess stood at the edge briefly before slipping into the night herself. He had time to briefly wonder about this before he was swept into the festivities.
Leia could feel the weight of the last few days pulling at her as she walked into the darkness twenty steps from the hanger bay the tears fell freely. She staggered through some brush collapsing to her knees next to a bolder on the edge of a stream. Her body hunched eyes downcast as her shoulders shook with sobs she didn't notice the man sitting on the rock. She nearly jumped out of her skin when a hand rested on her shoulder standing, spinning and whipping a sleeve across her eyes in one fluid motion. She could feel her heart ache as she realized who had found her, why did it have to be him of all people.
"Captain," her tone was prompt and professional, "I did not mean to disturb your ruminations, I apologize," she gave a curt nod, "but while I have you here I was wondering if you might be interested in making another charter trip," taking a breath she continued, "I need to scout a new base location." She grimaced, "I'm afraid the compensation will not be quite as generous as your trip with General Kenobie," her tone turned hopeful, "but it will fair."
He stared at her in such a way that it seemed he was measuring her soul she found herself somewhat mesmerized by hard hazel eyes. The spell was broken when he blinked and took a slow swig straight from a bottle of Corellian whiskey. The eyes that locked back onto hers were softer filled with compassion but still bored through to her soul making her both uncomfortable at being the recipient of that consideration and angry that he would dare think that she would need or want his sympathy. He then turned completely away from her and stared up at the bright stars which lit the sky, it was in their glare that she noticed the moisture in the corner of his eye. His silence however was becoming unbearable considering how much he always wanted to talk and she was about to ask if he was ignoring her when his low voice suddenly cut the silence.
"It's okay to cry you know," he glanced at her without moving his head, "when your world's been destroyed."
"I was not aware," she seethed that he would dare imply that he understood, "that you had any experience in the matter."
"I do," he said simply still not looking at her, "a planet doesn't always explode when a world is destroyed." She stared on in shock her righteous anger at his earlier implication deflating swiftly with his words as he offered her the bottle.
"Does it," she took it whipping the mouth on her sleeve before taking a swig catching him smirking at her propriety as she did. "Does it get any better?" She asked as she gave it back to him. He took a long draw.
"No," he answered shaking his head looking at the bottle, "and this doesn't help," and he hefted the bottle into the brush smirking with satisfaction as it shattered. "I'll talk to Chewie about the scouting trip," he place a hand on her shoulder turning her back towards the temple, "it shouldn't be a problem." She allowed him to lead her back through the brush but stepped deftly from his grasp once they were back in the open area around the temple.
"I can make it from here Captain," she looked back at him, "thank you."
"If you're sure you can make it," he acquiesced and she understood his double meaning.
"I am sure," she looked back into those smoldering eyes, "and really thank you." He simply nodded before turning back toward the hangar where the Falcon was stationed.
Throne Room Imperial Palace Coruscant
Armand Isard had not known fear like this since he was a child he was currently kneeling in front of the emperor's throne. His daughter Yasanne stood behind him her expression grim.
"For your failures," the emperor spoke calmly as if berating an ill behaved child, "you will be executed, Director Isard carry out the sentence."
"Yes, your majesty," Yasanne answered as Armand's stomach sank, "if I could," she hesitated, "I would like to have a few private words with my father first."
"Of course Director Isard," he waver her on, "but do hurry."
"Do you know," she whispered in her father's ear, "why you are being killed?" He shook his head still unable to speak and she continued, "Captain Van Rosser," she paused allowing him time to remember the name, "could have made me happy," her voice was harsh as she whispered, "and you took that from me." Armand squeezed his eyes shut as the blaster pushed into the back of his head and then he knew no more.