CHAPTER 10:
Princess Leia Organa walked through the narrow corridor leading to Assembly room 5 on Admiral Ackbar's ship, Home One. Han Solo was still on her mind, the conversation they had in the morning, and she did her best to push it out to no avail. As she entered the room, she greeted the pilots and soldiers whom she passed, stopping to briefly talk to them. Her eyes passed over the crowded room; the reality of what was about to happen was setting in. Her adrenaline had begun to surge through her blood.
As her large brown eyes scanned the room, they stopped on someone she thought would be the last person to be at this meeting: Han Solo. He and Chewbacca were talking with two soldiers dressed in fatigues. With a furrowed brow, Leia made her way through the crowd and stopped in front of Han and Chewie.
"What are you doing here?"
"Uh, we'll…." The soldiers backpedaled.
"I'll catch you later," Han smiled. Then his smile faded, and he turned to Leia. "No hello?"
Chewbacca growled.
"Sorry," Leia apologized. "How are you doing, Chewie?"
The Wookie grumbled and groaned.
"That's good to hear." She realized she had not spent a lot of time with her once-constant companion since they returned to the base. Of course, she had been busy with the Alliance duties and spent most of her free time with Han—sometimes with Chewie—but mostly just with Han. Leia felt a little guilty.
The princess turned to Han. "So what are you doing here?"
"No hello?" Han feigned hurt. "No kiss? Nothing?"
Chewbacca took that moment to excuse himself. The last thing he wanted was to mediate the argument that was about to explode.
Leia placed a quick kiss on his cheek. "This is the last place I thought you'd be. So answer my question."
"I was curious about the plans for the attack. You know, see what you've gotten yourself into." He tapped the tip of her nose.
She brushed his hand away. "And the security team let you in?"
Han shrugged. "Friends of mine."
The princess narrowed her large brown eyes on him. "This meeting is highly top secret. You're not supposed to be here."
Han touched his chest and he contorted his face to resemble hurt. "You don't trust me?" He bit back a smile when she rolled her eyes. He loved when she did that.
"That's not what I'm saying," Leia huffed. "The High Command can be a stickler about these things."
"Huh." Han looked to the corridor entrance from which he came before turning back to Leia. "I said 'hi' to Mon Montha when I passed her. She didn't seem to have a problem with me being here."
"Leia raised an eyebrow. "Mon Montha."
"Hey there's Raff and O'Neal." Han waved over the two soldiers dressed in fatigues. "Hey, how you guys doin'?"
The men came over and greeted Han.
"Your Highness," the greeted Leia.
Although she was suspicious of Han's sudden friendliness with someone from the High Command—Mon Month, no less—she let their conversation go (like she had a choice) and smiled at the men. "You guys look ready for combat," she said as she examined their high tech gear.
"We are," O'Neal said.
"Can't wait." There was enthusiasm in the young Raff's voice. "This is my first battle."
Han's heart weighed heavily as he contemplated the youth and enthusiasm that Raff displayed, but he hid his worries with a lop-sided smile and clapped the boy/man on the back. "Just make sure you keep your head down."
"I will."
Han's mouth dropped open as he saw Lando Calrissian across the room.
Leia looked at Lando. "I heard was given the rank of General."
"He sure climbed the ranks fast," O'Neal commented.
"That's Lando." Han said. "Excuse me."
He went over to his old friend to greet him, leaving Leia and the two soldiers to carry on their conversation about the new gear they were wearing. Raff and O'Neal, like many of their comrades, wore camouflage fatigues fit for a planet heavy with forestation or jungle. Their helmets were flat and ribbed on top and a thick band encircled the sides of their heads and ended in ear covers. The protective helmets safe guarded their ears from explosions and close range blaster fire and contained comlinks that would allow them to hear and communicate with each other in battle. They were a new design, expensive, something the Alliance could not afford in the past. Leia, in charge of liaisons and finances was pleased by the equipment and donations from their allies and other governments, some who resided in close proximity to the Emperor's realm and would have not dared to lift a finger against the Empire in the past. Many in the galaxy were depending on the success of the Alliance.
Mon Montha stood at the circular display monitor that lay in the middle of the room and the crowd hushed up. A three dimensional display that showed the Death Star hovering over a small moon farthest from Endor as she spoke of the sacrifices made by many Bothans to get these plans.
Mon Montha then introduced Admiral Ackbar who informed his tense audience how the ships designated to destroy the vile space station would penetrate it and blow it to pieces. Ackbar then waved his hand and the tech working the monitor pressed a lever and a yellow outline starting from the surface of the moon stretched over and encircled the Death Star projection. He announced that General Lando Calrissian would lead this squad on this dangerous mission once that shield was down.
Leia studied the outline of the floating Death Star. Ackbar's presentation seemed too easy to Leia. Yes, the shield would have to be taken out, and they would have to go through a shaft that led to the core of the space station. There was great risk, but if the Death Star was not operational, only Star Destroyers and TIE fighters would be the rebels' only obstruction. While a swarm of TIE fighters and Star Destroyers would be hard to get past, it would not be impossible. The Empire did not expect the Alliance to attack the Death Star—this was a surprise attack—so the number of Star Destroyers would be limited. Wouldn't they be? It all seemed too easy.
Admiral Ackbar then gave the floor to General Madine. The General explained the plan of how the shield that projected from the moon of Endor would be destroyed. Leia's heart sunk. Of course, the Emperor would not leave the unfinished space station defenseless, especially since it was not operational and that he was personally on the Death Star overseeing the construction. That was why it was necessary to have ground troops, but breaking into the shield generator would be the most dangerous mission of the entire plan. She was certain that that shield generator was well-guarded.
Leia leaned towards Han. "I wonder who they found to pull that off?"
Han opened his mouth unsure how to answer.
"General Solo, is your team ready?"
Leia's jaw dropped and she stared at him with incredulously.
Han Leaned forward. "Uh, my team's ready. I don't have a command crew for the shuttle."
Chewbacca raised his hand and roared.
"That's gonna be rough, pal. I didn't want to speak for you."
The princess put her hand on Han's arm. "General." She smiled. "Count me in."
"I'm with you, too, Han."
Luke Skywalker stepped forward and all eyes fell on him. Leia jumped up and rushed over to him, throwing her arms around him. She pulled back and looked into his face.
"What's wrong?"
"Ask me again some other time," he told her.
Before she could say anymore, Han and Chewbacca came over to greet Luke for themselves.
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It was their last night before the offensive would begin. Leia gasped and sighed before she rolled off of Han. She lay next to him, and panting, he rolled to his side and kissed her passionately.
"I love you, you know," he breathed.
Although she knew it, it was the first time he said it. She gazed into his hazel eyes, stroked his face, and kissed him, letting her lips linger there for a moment. Then she pulled back and smiled.
"You're only saying that because we just—"
He cut her off with a kiss, gently pushing her on her back as he hovered over her. Exhausted, he laid his head on her breasts, and she ran her fingers through his hair.
"I still can't believe it."
"What?"
"That you committed to the Alliance." She smiled. "And accepting the rank of general, General." She was quiet for a moment as she stared at the ceiling. "This isn't going to be an easy mission."
"With me leading it would could go wrong?"
Leia smiled and shook her head. "That's what scares me," she joked.
He kissed her breast. "I'd feel better if you remain on Home One or stay at the base on Sallust."
"You know I can't."
"I know," he conceded.
Perhaps it was better that Leia remained with him. At least then he could keep her safe—hopefully. Han knew they would be walking into a hive of Imperials. Could he lead the team and keep her safe?
"I can take care of myself," she said as if she read his mind.
"I know. I just don't want to lose you."
"You can't get rid of me that easy."
He raised his head to look into her face. "I mean it."
Leia pulled herself up on her elbows, and Han lifted himself off of her and took her face in his hands and once again kissed her. She returned his kiss with fire and fervor, relishing the short time they would have together before they began the mission.
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Leia stared at the bulkhead over her with the back of her forearm resting on her forehead. It was her turn to have insomnia. Han peacefully slept on his stomach next to her, snoring slightly, with his arm lying over her waist. She was aware of how little sleep he had gotten since he was freed from the carbonite. He didn't have to tell her how he feared he would never wake up again.
Leia had fears of her own, but some were alleviated when Han officially joined the Alliance. He chose her over his previous carefree life; he wasn't leaving her. At least not now. This mission, she bit the inside of her cheek as she thought of it. This mission was the most dangerous one that he ever took on. And he was the one leading it. Of course, Han would have it no other way. He wasn't the one to take orders from anyone. Except her, she smiled. He begrudgingly took orders from her when she was the one in command of some missions, though he was not always cooperative.
Now Han was leading a team into a nest of Imperials. Most missions he had participated in the past did not involve Han leading any teams. They were mostly covert missions involving skills and connections only he had, and it was usually just him and Chewie, save for the missions Luke and Leia joined him on. Han was a natural leader and she had no doubts that if anyone could pull off this mission it would be him, but Leia knew any loss of life under his command would weigh heavily on him.
And the possibility of Han's death weighed heavily on her. He worried about her survival, had adamantly voiced his concerns, but now that Han was now an official member of the Alliance, a general, her fears for him tripled ten-fold. She had crilikflies in her stomach, and pressure pressed down on her chest. Han was a risk-taker; he would take on the most dangerous parts of the mission. The famous Solo luck he had could run out.
Leia felt clammy and sick to her stomach. She checked her watch. She still had several hours before she had to get up. She looked at Han. He was smiling in his sleep and that eased the crilikflies in her stomach a touch. Perhaps she should have slept with him before. She just could not bring herself to do it before now; her experience at Jabba's palace still haunted her. But this may be their last night together and she did not want to regret it if anything happened...
Leia had to get some air. She gently took his arm that lay across her body, lifted it, and froze. Han did not stir. She slipped underneath his arm and placed a pillow where she had lay, putting his arm on it. With the grace of a durna cat and without touching him, she climbed over him and out of bed. Leia then pulled one of Han's sweaters over her head and put on her pajama shorts. She put on her shoes without lacing them and exited the Falcon.
Leia passed a few guards but other than that there was no one stirring on the cold ship. Leia made her way to the observation deck but found that she was not the only one awake.
"Luke."
Luke turned around and smiled at her. She walked into his embrace.
"What are you doing up?" he asked her.
"I could ask the same of you?" she stepped back, tilted her head, and peered into his blue eyes.
"Couldn't sleep."
"Same here."
"Worried about the mission?"
"Something like that."
"Han will be okay," Luke said quietly as he turned his attention to the stars.
"So is the mission keeping you awake too?"
He was going to lie to her, but he knew Leia would see right through any of his lies. He could never lie to her, especially not now; now she was his sister. Luke had kept things from her in the past, things he would have to tell her soon. Leia had a right to know. And if he did not survive his eminent battle with Darth Vader, if he could not turn his father away from the Dark Side, she would be….
Luke had kept things from Leia since he last confronted Vader, and although they remained close, it had put a silent wedge between them. And now he held more secrets. He hated himself for not being able to open up to her, but he was more ashamed of his origins and how she would react. Knowing who her real father was, how would she react to that?
"No, it's not the mission."
"What is it then?"
He made brief eye contact with her then looked down at the floor. "Yoda died."
"I'm so sorry, Luke." Leia put an arm around his shoulder. "I know how much he meant to you."
"He was nine hundred years old," Luke informed her, trying to comfort himself. Everyone dies. At least Yoda had a peaceful death, something Luke suspect he would not have.
"Wow." Leia's large brown eyes widened. "Is there anything I can do for you to make you feel better?"
"I don't think so." Luke shook his head.
The princess bit her lip before saying, "That's not all that's bothering you."
Luke gazed into her eyes. He could see the turmoil and pain she felt for him and her desperate need to know. He could feel how bad she wanted to make him feel better. But what was weighing on him was not something he was quite ready to reveal. He did not want what he knew hanging over her head on the day the offensive would begin.
Luke kissed her forehead. "I will tell you. I promise. But just not now."
Leia nodded, accepting his answer. He couldn't love her more. Luke embraced her, and she buried herself in his arms, rested her head on his chest, and closed her eyes, realizing in that moment how much she missed him.
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Darth Vader stood the deck on his Super Star Destroyer, the Executioner, gazing out the large one of the large windows at the front of the ship. He was waiting, but waiting for what, he wasn't certain. He knew the rebels would soon arrival, but it was not their arrival he was waiting for.
Then there was a disturbance in the Force, a familiar disturbance. Vader stalked across the deck and approached Admiral Piett. "Where is that shuttle going?"
Admiral Piett's pallor paled slightly. He leaned over the tech. "Shuttle Tiberium, what's your cargo and destination?"
"Parts and technical group to the farthest moon."
"Do they have a code clearance?" Vader asked.
"It's an older code, but it checks out," the Admiral answered. Knowing it better not to lie—for he had witnessed what could happen to one who angers Darth Vader with his own eyes—he said, "I was about to clear them."
Vader's mechanical breathing was the only sound on deck as he looked out the closest window. Yes, Luke Skywalker was aboard that shuttle. As the Emperor foreseen it, Vader's son had come to him. The Dark Lord Luke's panic and the guilt.
Still not good at hiding his emotions. Vader was pleased.
"Shall I hold them?" Piett asked.
"No. Leave them to me," the Dark Lord instructed. "I will deal with them myself."
"As you wish, My Lord," the Admiral said. Then he ordered his tech to allow the shuttle to pass.
Darth Vader returned to the observation window and gazed at the unfinished Death Star. The fall of the Emperor would soon take place.