You just never know what's lurking around the corner...hope you like this chapter!
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The Rogues were scattered, each one incognito and accompanied by an astromech droid. Han considered this mission to be far more fun than any other. Chauffeuring Rogue Squadron, Princess Leia, and the droids to the airshow on Commenor at least provided some entertainment.
Sticking close to Leia, he still felt some semblance of responsibility towards her, ever since Bail had first tasked him with her safety. He kept telling himself that was the only reason he remained glued to her side.
They strolled through the Celebration Hall, apart from Chewie, who remained far in the background to avoid drawing attention to them. To onlookers, they probably appeared to be on a date.
The thought brought up a bite of anger and he suppressed a scowl. The Princess would hardly be on a date with a no one like him.
At least he would have a chance to enjoy the airshow, something he hadn't done for a long time. And once the Rogues had stolen fighters for the Alliance, they would be well on their way. Pretty easy assignment for him.
Winding their way through the dense crowd, they had little to do until the Rogues were ready for take-off. They walked slowly, casually, and Han admired the shiny, new models of ships that were on display. They were of the latest technology and, although he would have loved to take one out for a spin, he wouldn't trade the Falcon for the lot of them.
He glanced down at the young woman at his side, dressed no differently from any other human woman at the show, and wondered if she could appreciate what she was seeing.
She was on high alert, eyes flitting from one side to the other, scanning for danger. Although there were Stormtroopers stationed at various checkpoints, Han didn't see reason to worry at this point.
He leaned close to her and spoke in a low voice near her ear. "Don't worry. No one's gonna recognize you."
She looked up at him from beneath the brim of her tan, nondescript cap, suspicious and unconvinced. Her brow lowered and her eyes hardened.
"You don't know that."
"I do. I barely recognize you."
Her hair was pulled tightly beneath the cap. No one could have guessed at the dark abundance atop her head. Her matching jacket was pulled over a white shirt that could have come from anywhere, and the pants with the utility pockets were worn by spacers everywhere. One would have to be extremely familiar with her to pick her out of a crowd.
Her frown slanted. "I hope you're right. I don't want to jeopardize the mission."
As the crowd thickened, he grew leery of being overheard. He placed an arm about her shoulders and brought his mouth closer to her ear. She stiffened beneath his touch and his jaw clenched. "Luke's more likely to jeopardize it. His face has been plastered everywhere for over a year and a half now."
She nodded, her body rigid. "Thankfully, it's been less and less these days."
With a brief glance, he saw that her cheeks were pink and wondered at the reaction. His arm fell away and he put some space between them.
Over time, his anger towards her had faded, but there still remained a layer of rigid resentment. He had learned to work well with her when necessary, to make small talk when appropriate, but that unrelenting wall that had threatened to lower in her direction had grown insurmountable.
At times, the resentment got the best of him and he found himself deadlocked in a spiteful argument with her over nothing. Often, it was triggered by her haughty attitude. Other times, it was simply because the sight of her brought back that unrelenting attraction. It made him angry with himself that he still felt that magnetizing pull towards her.
When that feeling overtook him, he usually found a way to taunt or insult her. Afterwards, he berated himself for such childish behavior, but that did not stop him from reacting just as impulsively the next time.
He couldn't imagine what she thought. She confounded him. One day, her eyes would blaze with the scorching heat of Tatooine's suns. The next, she would gaze at him, eyes wide with confusion. Occasionally, when he had been particularly harsh, her eyes would soften with hurt. That particular expression tugged hard at him, but he bit down and sent it drifting towards a black hole.
A loud musical introduction began to play over the public comm system to introduce the beginning of the airshow. The beings around them buzzed with excitement and began, at varying paces, heading outside to see the show. Han and Leia followed the flow.
Outside, in the middle of the stadium, an Imperial Grand Moff stood on a podium, stiff and proud, flanked by two officers on each side. A battalion of Storm Troopers stood at attention behind them, an impervious sea of white.
The music continued to play and Han studied all possible means of escape. They had some time still, but he planned to be prepared. His comm buzzed and he removed it from his belt. He read the display then leaned down to Leia.
"Three of the pilots are in place," he whispered in her ear.
She nodded with a small smile and kept her eyes on the crowd. The music abruptly faded and the Grand Moff began making a speech, thanking all those in attendance, praising the Imperial TIE pilots, thanking the sponsors for backing the professional pilots in the show…it bored Han to tears. His eyes flicked back to Leia.
She was dressed so simply, yet stood so straight and proud. He imagined she did not stand out in the crowd, but to him, she was unmistakably a confident leader. A lifetime of living as royalty insured that she held her head high, intimidated by no one.
His mind flashed on the first time he saw her, in the Jablogian's chamber, bargaining for him. So diminutive and unthreatening…until she opened her mouth. There was a certain, undeniable power in her voice that made her seem larger than her actual stature. Han had seen her make grown men almost twice her size come to instant attention, snapping their jaws shut, sometimes with a glower of resentment. And it was this commanding nature that drove her to act as bravely as any of those men. He couldn't help but admire that about her, in spite of their differences.
But, he had also seen the pain in her eyes at the loss of life caused by the war. There was a deeply sensitive empathy beneath that tough, capable exterior that she kept on display. And, he saw the way she related to those she cared deeply about, such as her father and Luke.
Luke…Han was a bit surprised that their friendship had not blossomed to more. There was a gentle, caring bond between the two that left Han out in the cold, looking in with grudging envy. He had been certain, after Naboo, that Luke was the perfect match for her, the Golden Boy of the Alliance. He had certainly had stars in his eyes for her.
Yet, his massive crush seemed to have vanished, morphing into an affectionate, yet platonic, relationship between the two. It was somewhat of a relief to Han, even while he resented the easy nature of their interactions, something he could never achieve with her.
His comm buzzed again and he read the message then nudged Leia's shoulder. Their eyes met and he lowered his lips to her ear.
"Four in, two to go."
She suppressed a smile but her eyes twinkled.
As the Moff began to wind down, Han returned his attention to the show. Finally, he introduced the 'Elite Imperial Fighter Squad.'
Music struck up again and from either side of the stadium, two formations of four TIE fighters flew in matching patterns to the center of the sky above, joining together to soar straight upwards. The crowd craned their necks to watch.
The four fighters on each side wove between each other seamlessly, switching places then moving in and out of the pattern.
"I could do that, easy," Han muttered to himself.
"Jealous?"
He looked down to find a teasing smirk at Leia's lips. He frowned. "There's no pilot nowhere that'd make me jealous."
She raised her brow knowingly and returned to gaze at the show above them. Han glowered silently.
The TIE pilots continued their intricate maneuvers, diving, spinning, and soaring, all in perfect formation, timed with the music. Han's eyes alternated between the show and Leia, who seemed to be enjoying herself more than he would have expected.
She gave him a sudden glance and caught his eyes on her. He looked away quickly, scanning the crowd, feigning disinterest. He spotted Chewie several meters behind them, eyes raised intently to the fighters.
The Grand Moff spoke over the comm again, thanking the TIE fighter squadron for their "daring performance." The crowd began clapping and cheering as they did an abrupt about-face and returned to the landing bay. Leia applauded without enthusiasm and Han checked his comlink. No news yet.
The second act was introduced, a group of silver fighters that were prototypes not yet released on the market. They came shooting from the landing bay, sleek and shimmering in the bright sunlight. More cheers and whistles abounded. The speed of these fighters was blinding and now Han was captivated.
The comm buzzed again, irritating him with its timing. He peered at it, disappointment cloying at him.
"Everything's in place," he said grimly. "Time to go." Without waiting for a reply, he took Leia by the hand and began to lead her through the throng of beings. His eyes met Chewie's over the heads of most and understanding was instant. The Wookiee headed back inside.
The inner chamber was deserted, with the exception of stadium security guards who seemed completely unconcerned with the human couple that had decided to leave. Nor did they pay attention to the massive Wookiee loitering at the exit, waiting for the humans to precede him outside.
Once they crossed the exit, Han tensed at the sight of the Stormtrooper checkpoint out front. He squeezed Leia's hand to acknowledge them and she squeezed back to let him know she was aware of the possible danger.
With a casual air, he kept his gaze steady and headed for the speeder taxis parked nearby. They hopped inside one and Han told the driver to take them to the Bright Lights Docking Bay. As they took off, he risked a glance back and found the Stormtroopers questioning Chewie. He swore under his breath.
"What?" Leia turned and followed his gaze. "Oh no."
"Driver, can you loop back around to the stadium? Slowly."
The male Bimm driver grunted in affirmation and slowly turned the vehicle around.
As the speeder passed by a hulking statue, their view of Chewie and the Troopers was cut off. Han's mind was racing, trying to decide the best course of action if they caused a skirmish. The situation could go in any direction.
As they came back into view, Han was relieved to see that the Wookiee had held his temper and everyone seemed calm. As they turned into the parking area, Chewbacca began striding towards where the other speeder taxis were parked.
"Thank the Gods," Leia said quietly as Han breathed a sigh of relief.
"All right, thanks," he told the driver. "Take us to the docking bay."
The taxi increased its speed and took off towards downtown Dristingle. It hit Han suddenly that he was still holding Leia's hand and he abruptly let go, wondering, with a glower, at the fact that it had seemed so natural.
At the docking bay, Han paid the driver and hopped out then held out his hand to help Leia climb out. She took it and followed as he tried to ignore the part of his mind that buzzed in the background with the desire to touch her anytime he could. As the speeder took off, Chewbacca arrived in his own taxi. He lumbered out and Han paid that driver too.
The docking bay was deserted, with most everyone attending the air show. The unusual silence felt a bit creepy and surreal. If anyone came, they would take note of their presence. In a crowd, they were likely to go unnoticed.
As they ambled towards the Falcon, a lone figure stepped out from behind the front landing strut, blaster drawn, expression grave.
Han froze, a jolt of shock shooting through him. His hand twitched towards his blaster, but their assailant's voice quickly halted the attempt, raising his weapon higher.
"Don't even try it, Solo." His voice was an angry growl.
"Hey, Lando!" Forcing a boisterous enthusiasm, Han decided to play it cool. "How ya been?"
"Pissed off, that's how I've been. Now, take out that blaster, nice and slow, and kick it over here. And I want your big, furry pal to do the same with that bowcaster of his."
Han grimaced and spared the briefest glance at Leia. Her expression was stoic.
"You got it, Pal." He began removing his blaster at an infinitesimal pace, concerned that any quick movement might get the Princess hurt.
"I am not your pal," Lando gritted between clenched teeth.
Han and Chewie laid their weapons down at the same time, the latter growling menacingly.
"Aw, c'mon, Lando, don't be like that." He stood back up, hands raised to shoulder height.
"Don't be like that? You stole my ship! My favorite ship!"
Han felt Leia's eyes turn on him. "It was an emergency," Han explained. "I had to get off Tatooine."
"That was almost two standard years ago!" He took a step closer to them, blaster steady in his grip.
Han was at a loss now. "Yeah, um, sorry about that. I've kinda needed it."
He moved to the front of the ship, where the boarding code entry system was located. "Look, I have no interest in your pretty little girlfriend or your Wookiee. It's just you I'm after. You and the Falcon."
Han had to find a way out of this. He needed to cover the Rogues as they left Commenor and fled to hyperspace.
Leia's voice came quietly from beside him. "If you take him, you take me too."
Chewie roared the same from Han's other side.
It hit him suddenly that Lando had completely dismissed Leia as a threat. He hadn't checked her for weapons and Han knew she was carrying a holdout blaster in the utility pocket on her thigh.
Lando grinned at Leia. "You, my dear, can join us on my ship." His expression hardened as he looked at Chewie. "The Wookiee stays."
Lando always had been a sucker for a pretty woman. He leaned down, carefully keeping his blaster aimed at Han, and picked up his and Chewie's weapons. He stuck Han's blaster in his holster then slung the bowcaster over his shoulder.
"Let's go," Lando ordered with a flick of his blaster. "Put in the boarding code, Solo."
Clearly, he had already tried to board then realized that Han had changed the code.
With Leia following behind him, Han went to the panel, entered the code, and the ramp began to lower.
Chewbacca let out a menacing growl, fists clenched, every inch of his muscular form radiating fury. Han glanced at Lando to find him eyeing the Wookiee nervously. He aimed the blaster closer to Han's head.
With a nod, Lando gestured for the Princess to board, then for Han to follow. One last, mournful howl echoed behind them.
At the top of the ramp, Lando removed a set of binders from his belt and handed them to Leia.
"Put these on him. And make them tight, I'm going to check."
Leia stood very close to Han, her back to Lando. As she placed the binders on his wrists, she stared into his eyes, her own large and serious. Han looked down at her, knowing she must have some plan or idea running through her mind.
True to his word, when she stepped away from him, Lando examined the binders that now clamped his wrists tightly together. Seemingly satisfied, he gestured for Han and Leia to move aside, then pointed to the deck beneath them.
"Pick up that grate," he instructed Leia.
She glanced at Han, perplexed. "What grate?"
"Smuggling compartment," Han informed her.
Her brow rose and she kneeled down to examine the deck.
"Yes, right there, where your hand is," Lando said.
She felt around then found the edge and yanked it up. Placing it beside her, she stood and turned back towards the two men.
"What're you gonna do with me?" Han asked roughly.
Lando eyed him for a moment, pensive. "I'm not sure yet. But, don't worry. I'll come up with a few creative ways to torture you before I kill you."
"Lando, c'mon. You're going to kill me over a ship?"
"Damn right. Now, get in." His blaster gestured towards the smuggling compartment.
With a deep sigh, Han carefully sat on the edge of the deck then dropped down inside the pit. He looked up to see both Lando and Leia staring down at him. The former's expression was smug. The latter, determined. Han saw her gaze refocus on Lando.
"You know, I'm not his girlfriend," she said suddenly.
For a second, her words cut him with a swift, biting anger. Rationality quickly kicked in and he realized what game she was playing.
Lando's words drifted down to him. "Oh, really? Well, why don't you sit up front with me? I'll need a co-pilot." His voice held that smooth timbre he reserved for charming women.
"That would be lovely."
Her voice was the last thing he heard before the grate was lowered over his head and he was encased in darkness.