Solo suggested a friendly game of dejarik to lighten the mood as they settled in for the flight to Nar Shadda. He knew the Kid had little experience with women, but he seemed positively cowed by the Princess as she glared at him across the lounge. Conversely, Han decided that she looked pretty cute when she was pissed, with her eyes bright and the color returned to her cheeks. Luke's remark had been a pretty low blow, he thought, even if the Kid wasn't intending that. He didn't know anything about her history with Vader, but that still wasn't a comparison you made lightly, especially when among rebels. Her reaction was actually pretty subdued, considering.
"I'll pass," Leia said, stomping off to the lounge. "I'm going to take a shower."
"Guess it's a good thing I filled up the water tank on Yavin," Han muttered under his breath as she slammed the door to the bunk room.
"I didn't mean to hurt her feelings," Luke said disconsolately as Chewbacca lit up the dejarik table. "I'm just worried about her, that's all."
"She'll come around, Kid," Han reassured him. "Just give her space. She's had a rough few months."
Luke bowed his head. "I know," he said. "She told me about being stuck on Endor. It sounded terrifying."
"The Imps did a real number on her too," Solo added. "She's tougher than a lot of people I know who went through that. Most of them ended up either executed or killing themselves."
"What do you mean?" Gods, the Kid was naïve, still.
"They tortured her, Luke. Tried to blow up her planet in front of her. That's why she acts…."he lowered his voice, "like a startled nek. It screws with your brain, you know?"
"That's why she's so scared all the time," Luke said, chewing his lip thoughtfully. "Han, we have to get her to Dagobah. Ben told me there's a Jedi master there- he can help her."
"Why didn't you go before?" Solo wondered as he made his first move on the board.
"He just told me," Luke clarified.
"Luke, he's been dead for two months. You're seeing things."
Sighing, Luke decided to change the subject. "Why are we going to Nar Shadda?"
"Gotta pay off some money I owe. Plus, the Imps steer clear. Should be a good place to regroup and figure out our next steps."
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Leia's curiosity got the better of her as they approached Nar Shadda, and she joined the rest of the Falcon's occupants in the cockpit to catch a glimpse of the fabled hellhole from space. High above, the glittering lights reminded her of Coruscant, but even from here she could see the veneer of dirty haze that carpeted the main level of the city covering the entire moon.
"Ugh," she said aloud, wrinkling her nose as they approached.
"Don't worry about it- you're not getting off the ship," Solo told her firmly. "And by not getting off the ship, I mean planting your royal seat in the lounge or the bunkroom until we get back. Not saying that you'll stay and then sneaking out the moment I turn my back, you hear?"
"Can I use the 'fresher at least?" she asked frostily.
"Maybe. If you behave yourself." Transmitting one of his many landing codes for the smuggler's haven, he looked at Chewbacca. "Chewie, sorry buddy but I need you to stay here and babysit. Luke can come with me to find Enbeb and get her the money." Chewbacca grumbled, though Luke couldn't tell if he was concerned for Solo's safety or just unhappy about being stuck on board the ship. "We won't be long."
In his few months with the Alliance, Luke had only had a couple of opportunities to join missions to inhabited planets. Other than one trip to Gerrard V that ended with Luke's first experience with a hangover, and a quick pit stop on Kwenn, Luke's recreational activities had been limited to the offerings on the Rebel base. So it was with a certain level of excitement that he donned some of Han's spare clothes and set out with the captain into the murky evening.
"So who is this Enbeb person?" Luke asked, reaching into his coat pocket to finger his lightsaber as an Agonof slithered by, flicking its tongue at the two humans.
"She's just a speculator," Solo explained as he led them to a main thoroughfare. "I had a hot lead on a spice supply right before I met you. Chewie and I were going to check it out with some of the cash we got from the Alliance, but Jabba cleaned me out. So I borrowed some money from Cucu to try to get a fresh start, but by the time I got there someone else had already made it in and out with the spice supply. I'm a couple months behind on paying her back, but I'm sure she'll be reasonable."
"I hope so," said Luke, staring wide-eyed as two Twi'lek women beckoned to him, making lewd gestures and laughing as he turned his head away.
"Just keep your mouth shut and your eyes open."
"How are we gonna find her?"
"She's usually at the Meltdown. Trouble is, so are half the bounty hunters on Nar Shadda. That's why I wanted you to come along. You stand out a lot less than Chewie."
"Is there a bounty out for you?"
"Don't think so, unless Cucu's put one out in the last couple of weeks. You?"
Horrified, Luke's jaw dropped at the suggestion. "Why would there be a bounty on me?"
"I dunno," Han responded casually, "I imagine the Imps would like to have a word or two with you about the Death Star." He chuckled as the Kid started looking over his shoulders, hunching down into the borrowed jacket. "Don't worry, Kid. The Alliance keeps tabs on that sort of thing. They'd know if you'd been pinned. Here we are."
A green neon sign with an arrow, presumably intending to be welcoming, pointed them in through the rough doorway. Inside, a long bar formed a barrier between the restaurant, which was mostly empty, and the drinking side of the venue, which was packed. Scattered menus, sticky with food stains, lay across the dingy metal tables and Solo grabbed one as he led Luke over to the bar. They sat down on the last two open stools, which turned out to be broken. Solo balanced well enough on his, but Luke managed to knock the ripped vinyl seat off its base. He bent down to pick it up, grateful that the clattering had been absorbed by the dull roar of conversation and clinking glasses.
"What'll it be?" the bartender asked, making a show of wiping his towel across the bar in front of them.
"Two Sunburns," Solo told him, holding up two fingers. Nodding, the bartender turned around to mix their drinks, and a moment later slid two glasses filled with a viscous orange liquid at them.
"Fourteen credits." Solo passed the man a twenty credit coin.
"Keep the change." Then he leaned in closer, sliding another twenty credits towards the man. "You know when Cucu Enbeb is coming around?"
The barkeep pocketed the additional credits. "I'd bet she'll be here soon, within the next hour. She usually takes that booth over there." Glancing over, Han saw that the booth was currently occupied by a group of Rodians.
"'Kay, thanks." He looked over at Luke, who was sipping gingerly at his drink. "Don't down that too fast, Kid. I've heard about you and alcohol."
"Heard what?" asked Luke indignantly.
"Wedge mentioned something about a dance recital in the mess hall after hours one night."
Luke set his drink down. "Fair enough. So what do we do now?"
"We wait."
Trying not to be obvious, Luke kept his eyes on the door, wondering when the speculator would arrive. Han hadn't described her, but Luke was sure that if she associated with the smuggler, she was probably a striking woman.
He narrowed his eyes as two men walked in together, chatting. One of them was dressed far too elegantly for the surroundings, and three waitresses hurried over as they sat at a table in the restaurant side. He could see the men flirting as they gave their drink orders. Then, the one Luke had spotted looked him straight in the eye, furrowing his brow with half-recognition.
"Hey, isn't that…." Luke started, but was interrupted when a smoky, tenor voice addressed them from across the room.
"Han Solo." As Luke expected, Cucu was a stunning woman. She clasped a cigar between ruby red painted lips as she strode purposefully over to them, swaying her hips under a tight black gown. "Darling, where have you been?"
"Hey, Cucu. Sorry it's been a while."
"I've been dreadfully worried about you." She dipped over him as he turned around to greet her, pressing his face into her bosom. Expertly, he backed away, taking her hand.
"You look lovely, Cucu." She took the cigar out and fanned herself with her hand, pretending to blush. "I was doing my best to get back."
She blinked her purple eyes at him and then noticed Luke. "Hello, young man. What's your name?"
"Luke, ma'am." Luke tried to stop staring at the hint of warm, chocolate colored skin that peeked out through the slit in her dress that continued up almost up to her hip. The woman had to have been not quite a head shorter than Chewbacca.
"What a good boy you've found, Han. Tell me, where is Chewbacca?"
"He had to run an errand," Han told her, squirming away as she pressed him and Luke against the bar. "Look, Cucu, I've brought your money."
"Han." Cucu looked at him reproachfully. "What makes you think I was worried about money? I just wanted to see you back safe."
"That's funny, Cucu, cuz I heard you were thinking about putting a bounty out on me."
"Perish the thought, my dear!" Cucu took another drag of her cigar. "It wasn't a bounty, it was a reward for your safe return." She reached out and stroked his arm, squeezing his biceps. "I'd hate to think of anything terrible happening to you."
"I see," responded Solo flatly. "Well, here's your money, anyways."
Cucu counted the credits, concealing them in her décolletage. "You know, Han my dear, unfortunately it was fairly costly putting an advance on the reward money for you."
"How much do you want to call off your dogs, Cucu?"
"Dogs! Is that what you think of me? You know I always use Trandoshans."
"How much, Cucu?"
"Fifteen hundred."
"Well, there goes that." He handed her the money, glad that he had already paid the tab at the bar. "Nice working with you, Cucu." She reached out and patted his butt as he stood.
"Always a pleasure, Captain Solo."
Grabbing Luke, Solo stomped out of the bar. Luke looked over to the table where the familiar man had been dining with his companion, but they were long gone. Shrugging, Luke hurried to keep up with his friend.
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Leia found Solo's datapad and was amusing herself by downloading Holonet reports when she heard a banging on the side of the ship. Peeking out, she saw a man standing outside; tall and dark, wearing an expensive looking suit and cloak.
"Chewie!" she whispered to the Wookiee, who was down in the mechanical bay fiddling with some pipes. "There's someone outside."
Chewbacca scrambled up, pointing to the princess to join the droids in the rear hold. Artoo whistled at her when she came back, and she patted the little astromech fondly.
Looking out the viewport, Chewbacca sighed when he recognized Lando Calrissian. Lando banged again.
"Chewbacca? Chewie, you in there?"
Pointing a stern finger at Leia, who was peeking out of the hold, Chewbacca lowered the boarding ramp and stepped out, standing between Lando and the entrance to the ship.
"Hey, Chewbacca, how you been?" Chewbacca whuffed at him, shrugging. "I need to see Han."
Chewbacca shrugged. "C'mon, you must know when he's getting back. I saw him at the Meltdown." Another shrug.
"Look, it's nothing personal, okay. I need to talk to him about Tiatkin. She never came back after she took those passengers of his to Alderaan."
Lando was accustomed to wildly varying standards of fashion, but he still could have sworn that the girl who came barreling out of the Falcon was wearing a nightgown.
"What passengers?" she demanded, clearing having been eavesdropping.
"Hello, what have we here?" Chewbacca tried to grab Leia to shove her back into the ship as Lando extended a hand.
"I asked you a question," Leia said tersely.
"I beg your pardon." Lando bowed deliberately. "I am afraid I never learned their names."
"It was a man and a woman, older?"
"Indeed. Friends of yours?"
"You might say that." She shook her arm, trying to get the Wookiee to let go. "What happened to your pilot?"
"I don't know. She never came back. I assume she was trapped when Alderaan was blockaded."
"I'll tell you what." Leia finally succeeded in freeing herself from Chewbacca's grip. "You get me a ship to go to Alderaan, I'll find your pilot. She can bring the ship back."
"You?" Lando rubbed his moustache. "You're going to sneak past the blockade onto Alderaan?"
"Absolutely." Chewbacca roared at her, grabbing for her arm again but Leia ducked out of the way, dashing to Lando's other side.
"Seems like Chewbacca here isn't real thrilled with the idea."
"It's none of his business."
"None of whose business?" Han and Luke walked into the hangar, and Luke's eyes lit with recognition when he saw Lando. "What are you doin' here, Lando?"
"That's where I knew him!" he said to himself as Solo joined the small group gathered outside the Falcon, fingering his blaster.
"I thought I told you to stay on the ship," he growled at Leia.
"I don't remember appointing you Emperor of my life," she growled back at him.
"You don't need to be talking to this guy." He gestured dismissively at Lando. "He's trouble."
"I'm trouble?" Lando pointed at himself incredulously. "You're the one who makes my best pilots disappear."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Tiatkin never came back from Alderaan."
"Kriff." Solo was briefly speechless. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"Anyways, I was hoping maybe you'd heard from your friends there, maybe you have a lead on where she is…"
"No." Solo shook his head. "'Fraid not."
"All right then." Lando turned, giving Leia a wink. "I'll be headed back to the Meltdown then. I'm late for a meeting."
As he walked out, Chewbacca launched into an arm waving rant about Leia's attempted plot.
"You really are an idiot sometimes, princess, you know that?" Solo said, tossing her a package wrapped in plastic. "Here."
"What's this?" She pulled open the wrapping, shaking out the billowing clouds of soft dove grey cloth. It was a long sleeved tunic with matching pants and a belt. He handed her a pair of boots. "Try these on. I had to guess at the size."
"Thanks, Han." She held the outfit up, reveling in the feeling of the clothes against her cheek. It had been a long time since she'd worn anything decent.
"Now go put it on, and then we're all going to talk like civilized beings about where we go next. No running away."
"You know," said Leia as she marched back up the boarding ramp, "You'd be a lot more attractive if you weren't so keen on barking orders."
"You too, your Highnessness," Han called after her. "You too."