A/N: Before I even get the comments, I apologize for what you are about to read...but I have major plans to please you with the addition this chapter brings, so DON'T WORRY, I dislike what I brought into this just as much as any other Star Wards fan. There's a point though. I have an agenda that needs to be accomplished, because Lucas never played out the story line.

Please read and review!

XVI

The planet of Naboo was full of life. The people, themselves, weren't present, but the atmosphere was bountiful.

When Leia stepped off of the transport, she breathed in warm, pure air – something she hadn't had since she left Alderaan. Around her, fields of green grass rose into hilltops. A city lay in her sights, with tall buildings and round rooftops. Statues lined the entrance, and a large courtyard stood before it.

Everything was quiet. The transport had dropped among the fighter jets that had docked in one of the plains. Next to it, the Falcon made an easy descent.

Leia looked around. When she finally saw Luke travel down the Falcon's loading ramp, her heart leapt in relief. She ran into his arms instantly, as though suddenly needing to hug her friend.

"Luke!" she called before she reached him. And then, they embraced.

Before she backed away, Leia planted a soft kiss on Luke's cheek, making him blush in surprise. He hadn't forgotten their kiss on the Death Star, but it still didn't make this easy. He never had much interaction with girls growing up, especially not in a romantic sense. The Princess always caught him off guard.

Then, as if on instinct, Luke remembered Solo. "Han," he whispered, breaking away from their hug.

Leia let her shoulders drop as she relaxed. "Luke, I told you, Han and I are only friends."

Luke rolled his eyes and pushed past her. "No, Han. Where is he?"

Embarrassed, Leia tried her best to hide her face. She felt shame creeping up on her. Thankfully, Threepio emerged on the ground in front of them, taking the attention away from her before she could answer.

"Master Luke!" the droid called cheerfully. His arms waved about in the air. "Oh, how wonderful it is to see you again!" he cried. "And the Millennium Falcon! Captain Solo will be so relieved to see that she's okay."

"Hey, Threepio," Luke greeted kindly. "Where is Han, anyhow?"

"Oh, dear, he's quite sick, sir."

Then, Chewbacca appeared in the entrance to the transport. The figure of a person leaning on his shoulder stood hunched over next to him. He was, at least, able to stand on his own two feet.

A yowl rumbled from the Wookie's throat as he helped his friend down to meet the others. Solo wobbled on his feet, but was able to walk easily to meet them.

"Easy, Chewie! I'm all right!" Han barked at his companion. Then, he caught a glimpse of what lay ahead of him. Luke and the Millennium Falcon. "You found her!" he announced in astonishment, keeping his eyes on his toy.

Luke raised an eyebrow and smiled, admiring his friend's devotion to his ship. "A bounty hunter had her."

"Bounty hunter?" Solo snapped. His head whipped back around to look at Luke. "From who?"

It seemed like an urgent question.

"I'm not sure," Luke said with doubt in his voice. "She told me she worked for the Empire, but I found them on Tatooine."

"Tatooine…" Solo whispered, biting his lip. He was in deep thought.

"Yeah," Luke confirmed. "I wonder why she'd be taking her there."

Han took in a breath and shook his head. "No idea…" he lied. It was easier to put it in the back of his mind than it would be to explain it all to his Rebellion friends.

Then, Han dropped his hands to his knees in attempt to catch his breath. The world was spinning from where he stood.

Chewie cried out in worry and lifted him up onto his feet again so the big fur ball could act as support once more. Han put up a small fuss, but then accepted it.

Luke, who remembered instantly about the medicine Leia said she needed, motioned toward the loading ramp to the Falcon. "Bring him over here," he ordered Chewie.

Before Skywalker could run onto the ship, Han argued the idea. "Don't worry about it, kid. I'm fine."

"Fine?" Leia snapped. "You can't even walk without the help of the walking carpet over there!" The two glared at her, upset by her remarks. She had learned to love the Wookie, but she still held a sickening edge in her words that caught everyone off guard from time to time. Then, she turned to Threepio. "Go find him an antidote before we have to carry him the rest of the way home."

"Home?" Han bickered. "And just where do you think that is, your Worship?"

Then, a strange voice sounded behind them.

Finally, someone from the Alliance, Leia thought to herself.

When she turned around to greet whoever it was, though, he heart fell. Suddenly, she wasn't sure if they were being greeted or if they were under attack.

A small group of ancient droids crowded around a hooded creature. Each held a blaster in resting stance, but they were still threatening. After all, their best fighter was currently fighting off a Ylesian poison. There was nothing Leia, Han, Luke, or either of the others could do.

Instead, Leia claimed leadership. She stepped forward, placing herself between the small army and her friends. "I am Princess Leia Organa with the Alliance to restore the Republic," she announced, stating her title.

"Ah, yousa the Senator of Alderaan," the figure spoke.

Leia paused. Then, an order. "Show yourself. I won't speak to a hooded figure."

Slowly, the creature lowered his hood, revealing a lizard like face with long, scaly ears. A Gungan.

"Meesa Jar Jar Binks," he spoke. "And these are your friends, meesa thinks?" He lifted his head towards the others.

"Yes." Leia glanced at Luke, begging him for help.

"Where are the rest of the Alliance?" Skywalker probed.

Jar Jar stretched his neck out to the boy and observed. "Weesa take yousa der right away! Right away!"

Behind them, Han rolled his eyes and stood up tall to whisper a smart comment to Chewbacca. He smiles cheekily as he spoke, annoyance all over his face.

"Meesa thinks I'm going to blast that giant lizard if he doesn't shut up."

Jar Jar lead the group through the courtyard and into the biggest building, which must have been a house to some kind of court or leadership. Leia took in the delicate decorating, something she missed from her old home. She was thankful the people of Naboo seemed to have shown the Alliance decent kindness, as Alderaan would have.

"Do you have a leader?" Leia asked her escort as they neared the top of a set of stairs.

"Dis the Queen of Naboo," Jar Jar motioned as they neared a huddle of well dressed women. "Queen Apailana."

"Welcome," the Queen greeted. "You are here for the rest of your Alliance. Have they arrived yet?"

Apailana's white face was hard to read. She kept her posture steady, almost as though she were balancing the many jewels supporting her dramatic hair style. It reminded Leia of the kinds of things she had to do on Alderaan to impress their visitors. For such a young Queen, she held the position well.

"The rest of our transports should have docked days ago," Leia replied. Her voice was cold, but still kind as though not to offend her Majesty. She hastily tried to introduce herself, but the Queen interrupted.

"Yes, the Princess from Alderaan." She paused. Then, "I see," she replied sincerely. "I trust my army has picked them up outside of the city, then. We will wait for their arrival."

Leia thought for a moment, then accepted. Silently, she prayed that Han wouldn't object – since Threepio had aided Chewie with a simple antidote found on the Falcon, he had been feeling much better. It had worked in minutes. Solo had a habit of putting himself into places he didn't belong, and situations like these where they were on a time schedule were his calling.

Then, Apailana continued. "You'd be happy to hear there are more of your kind on Naboo."

Leia's spirit lifted when she heard Apailana's words. "We received a radio broadcast claiming Naboo is housing another sector of the Alliance."

"Yes. Our people have been under the Empire's watch since before your time, Senator."

For a moment, the Queen's words bothered Leia; she was not even as old as the Princess, yet she spoke to her as though she reigned in years.

"Please, just Leia," she replied sharply, sick of hearing herself referred to as still working with the Galactic Empire in a fake Republic.

Apailana bid her respect and granted her request. "Leia," she corrected herself. "Years ago, the people of Naboo were under speculation from the Galactic Empire. Our Senator and Queen Amidala witnessed the rise of what has become the Empire today. She died in their hands. Many of my people wish to avoid that outcome at all costs, and will serve you honorably if you will take them."

And then, as if on cue, Han commented on the matter. "We need more people if we expect to go anywhere with this."

Leia turned and glared at Solo, warning him to step back silently.

"Okay, your Worship, got it," he replied, disgusted. Then, he glimpsed Apailana's painted face and observed what seemed to be shock. He felt embarrassed, for he was used to the Princess being the only "Highness" or "Worship" in the room. Sucking in a breath, he looked at Chewie and shrugged. Then, he muttered a "sorry" and focused back on the ground, avoiding Leia's piercing eyes.

The Queen continued. "We have plenty of fuel for your aid," she offered.

"Thank you," Leia accepted, bowing slightly. "We plan on relocating after some repairs."

"You are welcome here," Apailana assured her. "Please, follow me. I will show you where you can stay until your people arrive."

The Queen was quickly on her feet, guiding the group into the next hallway. Leia followed in suit, glaring at Han once more before she began walking. Luke followed, shooting Solo a smirk that read as an understanding. He took Threepio and Artoo with him.

With another roll of the eyes, Han nudged his Wookie friend to follow the others. "Women," he snorted.