"I'm so glad you came to see me."
The man who spoke those words sat across from them. A pair of sleek couches, wrapped in a fabric of blue-black linen and embroidered with gold inset, squared off against each other. On a low-slung table between them rested an elegant tea and kaffe set. Delicate pastries, freshly made, were arranged on a platter off to the side.
Far more stunning than the furnishings was the view behind the man's couch. Facing Leia and Han, and no doubt the defining feature of the office, stood a wall of sleek transparisteel panes. On the other side of those panes rose a vertical rockface, stark and dramatic, with rivulets of water trickling between the crevasses. The red-brown stone dominated the visitor's gaze and cast the office with a tinged hue. The room they sat in, the entire facility in fact, was carved two stories deep into a mountain.
Han took a sip of kaffe and narrowed his eyes at their host. Leia waited for him to respond but he stayed silent.
"Especially since you flew all the way from Kashyyyk to get here." The man graced them with a smile. "That must have been what... three days? Four?"
"Five," said Han.
"Really." The man's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Your ship – has something happened to it? Does it need repairs? We don't have a large facility here onsite but perhaps we can do something to get it back in working condition."
"My ship is fine," Han growled.
The smile brightened. "Of course it is. And yet two extra days to get here is something to be concerned about. Your thrusters must not be up to date. I can recommend a trustworthy supplier if you like."
"I don't like."
The man crossed his legs and settled comfortably against the back of the couch. "The stabilizers are misaligned, then. If you can't maintain consistent speed you're going to lose precious time. Five days." He clucked his tongue regretfully. "I can't imagine."
"Of all the people to lecture me about my ship," Han began indignantly.
"Me?" A beatific innocence radiated from across the table. "I'm only doing what I do best – helping those in need."
"What you do best –" Han spluttered.
"Are you two finished?" Leia asked impatiently. "Or do I need to show myself around?"
The man aimed the full wattage of his smile on her. "The voice of reason at last. I've missed the two of you."
"Sure you have," Han muttered. "You've missed us so much you're ginning for a fight."
"Then I propose dropping you both at the nearest tavern where you can brawl it out," Leia said. "There must be one around here somewhere, right, Lando?"
Lando stood up and held out his arms. Still lean and dashing, he had abandoned much of the flair of his younger days and was dressed in a sober outfit of a button-up shirt and trousers. "How about I give you the grand tour instead. I am glad you stopped by to visit."
"And we're happy to be here," Leia smiled. Lando leaned across the table and kissed her hand, winking up at Leia as he did so. By now the gesture was an established routine between the two of them, an acknowledgement of their first meeting and all the events in their lives that had occurred since.
"I might not have come if I had known the welcome that awaited me," Han grumbled.
Lando's laughter rang around the room. "You haven't changed a bit, old buddy," he said. "Come on – I'll show you around."
They followed him out of his office and into a softly lit corridor. Given the lack of natural light, care had obviously been taken to rescue the interior of the facility from its underground environment. The ceiling was high and layered in tiers that made the space feel larger. Skylights peeked through the roof, letting in shafts of golden light from Alledia's sun.
"We've been established here for year or so," Lando said. "But I only spend about half of my time on-planet. Fortunately my deputy has a career's worth of experience in ore extraction, so I rely on her quite a bit."
"I'll bet you do," Han muttered with a sly smile.
Lando laughed. "Cate's twenty years older than I am. And Darja and I are very happy together."
"Is Darja here now?" Leia asked. She had met Lando's girlfriend only once. The seriousness of the woman's demeanor was a pronounced contrast to Lando's playfulness but Leia had observed how attached they were to each other and how much Lando relied on her steadiness of character.
"Unfortunately not," Lando said. "She had to stay on Coruscant this time. Her gallery is always busy and she's in the middle of staging a solo show for one of her artists." He turned down another hallway and gestured toward a light-filled space up ahead. "This way."
Although the tenor of their tour was the opposite of the tension-filled one from years ago, Leia couldn't help recalling those desperate days spent in Cloud City under Lando's administration. She suppressed a shudder at the memory and was thankful that they were striding underground on a rocky, mountainous planet that was nearly the exact opposite of Bespin.
"So business is going well?" Han was asking his friend.
"Fairly well," Lando said. They had traversed through a central atrium and were making their way to the other side of the facility. Through the windows ore mining equipment rumbled in rhythmic drilling. "Cate had the idea years ago of relying mostly on automated machinery and droids, thus minimizing the need for sentient beings. It was a little controversial at the time – not much of a jobs program, after all – but it means that we can generously compensate the beings who do work for us." He nodded at Leia. "And we can largely avoid the strikes that are plaguing much of the industry right now."
"Yes," Leia sighed. "The need for raw materials always seems to ram up against the realities of extracting it. Your method may be smarter in some ways but there are plenty of desperate people willing to work for low wages if it keeps them from starving."
"And if I recall correctly," Lando added, "you were a voice for those people within the government."
"There were a few others besides me," Leia acknowledged. "But the strikes rage on and the corporations who own the mines have yet to pay a price. Workers-right laws are few and far between."
"Still," Lando said cheerfully, "I like to think of the strikes as an opportunity to spur another way of doing business. And where there's an opportunity, there's someone waiting to seize it."
"Someone like you," Han chimed in.
"Sadly, yes. If there are no other takers, that is. I'm not entirely selfish."
Leia's eyes were drawn again to the automated drillers on the other side of the transparisteel. "Are you able to retain the workers you do have?"
"Yes, although I admit that for the types of jobs we fill it's a competitive market. But we have learned the hard way that if we treat our employees well they tend to stay with us for the long haul."
Lando paused at a curve in the wall and gestured at the extraction machine drilling into the rock below. "We operate all day, every day. The ore particular to the planet is a highly dense type and used mostly for communication electronics. Most of the automation comes from the exploration algorithms that tell us the best places to dig. It saves us time from trial and error. These particular machines around our headquarters are just for show," he admitted. "Most of the serious drilling occurs several kilometers away."
"Have you had any resistance from Alledia's government?" Leia asked.
"A little." A long-suffering expression came over his face. "There were the usual environmental concerns, but the unofficial line from the government is that they want us to expand our production. That way they can ensure a robust enough economy for their citizens and extract more from us in taxes at the same time."
"Figures," said Han.
"And so much of my time is spent in public relations. Smoothing ruffled feathers, making a case for retaining more of our revenue. The usual." He smiled at them again. "But enough about my work. Let's go back to my office and you can fill me in on your plans for the future."
They were soon seated on the luxurious couches once again. Han snagged a pastry and looked over at his wife.
"We don't have definitive plans yet," Leia admitted. "For now we're using this time to catch up with old friends and do a little exploring. I guess you could say we're waiting to see what might come our way."
"Such a change from when I first met you," Lando smiled. "You refused to let anyone or anything keep you from your aims. Gods help the poor souls who tried to get in your way."
Annoyance rose up in Leia but she kept her expression neutral. "People change. Circumstances change."
"They do," Lando agreed. "In fact you could say that my circumstances are in need of a change. Things have been challenging in one particular area but the current situation we all find ourselves in may present an opportunity for all of us.
"I'm used to running my enterprises at a comfortable distance from the Core," Lando went on. "That distance allows me a degree of freedom that I would otherwise lack. But it also puts me at a disadvantage when I need to procure equipment on short notice. There have been occasions when we have had to halt production due to those types of delays. It is frustrating, particularly because the solution is not complicated. The lack of reliable help, though, hinders me. It puts our long-term earning predictions at risk and reduces our investors' confidence in the enterprise.
"And so," he continued," what I find myself needing is someone fairly reliable – and fast – who can transport specialized mining products at the drop of a hat. The ideal ship would be well-built but not luxurious; flying extraction equipment around the galaxy is not for the fussy types."
"I see what you're getting at," Han said. "And I don't want to work for anyone, much less you."
Lando laughed. "And I would never want to be your boss. You'd work with me, not for me. I'd send you a list of the equipment I need and where it's located and you do the rest."
Han paused. "And how frequently do these deliveries need to be made?"
"It's not entirely predictable, as you can imagine, but not very frequently. Once a month, maybe twice. Occasionally there's a spike in our supply chain shortages but in general our needs arise on a fairly consistent basis. It wouldn't be much actual work and you'd still have the majority of your time to use as you see fit."
Han looked thoughtful. "It might not be a bad short-term gig," he admitted. "I certainly wouldn't promise you anything past six months or so."
"Wait, are you actually considering this?" Leia blurted out.
"I understand," Lando said to Han. "I know there are bigger and better things waiting for the two of you. This would just be a stop-gap measure. Assuming it would be helpful," he added with a smile.
"You'd pay by the hour, I assume?" Han asked.
"Of course." Lando slid a datapad across the table. "I think you'll find our rate very favorable for a freighter pilot these days."
"Legal ones, anyway," said Han. He glanced at the figure and showed the pad to Leia.
"I'm not – we're not – agreeing to anything," Leia insisted. Anger flared in her; she took a breath and tried to recover herself. "Thank you, Lando, for the offer. But this is not what we had in mind."
"Why not?" Han asked. "It's easy work, time-limited, and would allow us to keep looking for other opportunities. And it would let us earn some income instead of just sitting around twiddling our thumbs. Seems like a pretty good plan if you ask me."
Leia opened her mouth but before she could say anything Lando rose to his feet. "You'll need some time to discuss this, I'm sure. And I have some tasks that require my attention. You're welcome to stay here as long as you like. If you need anything just press the button on my desk to ring my assistant." And with that he strode out of the room.
"No," Leia said as soon as the door closed. She rose from the couch and started pacing around the room. "Being a delivery service – you being a delivery service at the whims of Lando and me doing I-don't-know-what – is not what I had in mind for the next chapter of our lives."
"You're the one who's been saying that we're on the lookout for an opportunity," Han argued. "This is an opportunity. It's not for forever and we'll have the freedom to do what we want with the rest of our time. It's actually the perfect plan if you ask me."
"It's not!" Leia spun around. "There's nothing for me in this plan – you'd be the one doing all the work."
"You're not doing any work right now," Han protested. "Neither of us is. I don't understand why you're so opposed to this. It's easy, it's flexible – it's just what we need."
Leia sighed and decided she felt a headache coming on. "It just doesn't feel right," she said. "I don't know what I had in mind for my future, but running Lando's errands for him is certainly not it." She glared around the office. "Let's get out of here. We'll go back to the Falcon and figure it out there. This place is probably bugged anyway."
"Fine," Han said shortly.
Back on the ship Leia stomped around the galley heating up water for tea.
"You just had tea," Han pointed out.
"Well I have to do something," she shot back.
"That's what I'm trying to tell you! We have to do something! And this gig for Lando is something! It's not perfect but it's something." How many times had he said that in the past hour, Han wondered. Is this what insanity felt like? He thought it might be.
"And what I'm trying to tell you is that I don't want us to commit to something we feel half-hearted about."
"Lando's gonna understand if we find something better," Han said. "In fact, he expects it. He's not going to screw us over with payments or anything. Nothing else has come along and we've been flying in circles for months now. What exactly are you expecting to happen?"
In response to his one-hundred-percent completely logical argument, Han was rewarded with a glare and a stalking off. At his wits' end, he gave up and crouched in front of the cooktop. A faulty electrical panel had been dangling for a while and he figured now was the perfect time to bang it back into place.
Three hours later they were still at an impasse. Lando had comm'd Han for an answer and he'd put him off by saying that they'd get back to him with a decision sometime soon. Maybe.
"Help me out here, Leia," he pleaded when they were at a point where words could be exchanged again. "Tell me what you'd rather do instead. Not forever, or even for a year, but right now."
His wife scowled at him. "Something other than this. That's all I know."
"Great." Han rolled his eyes. "That's real helpful to the situation."
Only a stony silence greeted him. Han racked his brain for something else to say. Something to take the pressure off of them and a decision that she apparently thought would set the course for the rest of their lives. Something that might make her happy and even pleasant to be around.
Suddenly an idea popped into his head. "Hey, why don't we go see Luke?"
"Why? So you can tell him to convince me to become an errand-runner for your buddy?"
"No, so you can talk to him and maybe come away with something that's helpful to our circumstances." Han softened a bit at the thought of Luke talking sense into Leia. Perhaps even talking sense into the two of them, if he were being honest with himself. "Maybe Luke will think of something we haven't thought of."
"I don't even know if I want to see Luke right now," Leia argued.
"Well maybe I want to see him. He's my friend. And on top of that, he's family."
Leia stared up at him. During their debate – a debate, not an argument, Han reminded himself – they had migrated around the ring corridor and now found themselves next to the engineering station. Status lights blinked patiently around them. Even the ship was waiting for something to happen. "You're right," she said. Han thought she sounded somewhat abashed. "It's not just about me. He's your friend. We should see him."
Now we're getting somewhere. "Okay," Han nodded. "I'll comm him. Do you know where he is right now?"
"Dantooine, I think. That's where he was staying the last time we spoke."
Han cursed to himself. It wouldn't be a short flight by any means but clearly there were no other options. Lando would have to wait for an answer to his proposal. "I'll set a course there. Let me know if he's gone somewhere else."
Leia nodded. "I'll reach out through your comm." She started for the lounge table.
"I'm not staying on Dantooine with him, though," Han hollered after her. "What's he living in these days, a monk's cell?"
The reply filtered down the corridor. "No doubt."
"Then we'll pick him up and have him stay here with us," Han called. "Go someplace fun. Maybe hit one of the casinos nearby."
"Sure, because your ship is so large and accommodating." Leia reappeared, comm in her hand. "Where's he going to sleep, the med bunk?"
"It's spacious enough." Han watched as she thumbed through his contacts. "He's just gonna sleep there. Or do you think he'll be bringing someone with him?"
Leia glared at him. Han had no idea why. "I'm sure he'll be alone."
"Whatever you say, Sweetheart."
After some finessing of a reply to Lando – thanks for the offer, we're keeping our options open for a little longer, will let you know if anything changes – Han tapped in the coordinates for Dantooine and prepped the hyperdrive. He mentally calculated the days it would take to get there: about three, assuming they didn't stop along the way. Supply levels were fairly good – they had stocked up between Kashyyyk and Alledia – and Lando's insinuations notwithstanding, the ship was in decent shape. Another benefit to this arrangement, Han thought; the Falcon had never been flown so easily and for so long without being under threat of attack. He found himself relaxing once again.
Later that night as they were getting ready for bed he eyed Leia discreetly. She was going through her usual nighttime routine and Han searched closely for evidence of her annoyance from earlier in the day.
"What's the real reason you don't want to see Luke?" he asked. "You've never been reluctant before."
Leia undid the end of her braid and met his eyes in the mirror. She looked down and then back up at him. "Before I quit my job he knew something was going on," she said softly.
"Wait, you told him what you were planning to do but you didn't tell me?"
Leia shook her head firmly. "No, nothing like that. I didn't tell him anything. But he could sense my frustration, I think, with work in general, and as I got closer to that day he might have been able to tell I was getting more anxious. He didn't ask me directly and I didn't tell him, but the news probably didn't come as a surprise to him."
Han thought about that for a moment. Leia turned to face him and took his hands in her own. "You're the only one I would have told – I promise – and..." she paused and squeezed his hands tightly. "Looking back, maybe I should have."
Han waited for her to elaborate but nothing else on that particular topic was forthcoming. "I think Luke would have tried to talk me out of it," she admitted. "If I had told him, that is. And I wanted to wait to see him until we had everything sorted out. But that's not the case and we're still in this limbo and I guess I wish I had more to show for my decision than ending up as a courier for an ore mining company."
"He's not gonna rub it in or anything," Han told her. "Luke's never been like that."
"I know. Which makes me feel even worse somehow." She gave him a wan smile and turned back to the mirror. "I'm just not used to being in this position."
"You mean the sibling who doesn't have it all figured out?" Han joked.
"Not exactly. Just – well, I'm sure it will be fine. I'm probably worrying for nothing."
"Probably," Han agreed. He waited for her to finish brushing her teeth before catching her from behind in a hug. He felt a little lighter despite her worry. If she were just embarrassed about talking things over with Luke, that wasn't such a big deal.
Han met her eyes in the mirror again. She was beautiful, his wife, even with a smear of toothpaste in the corner of her mouth. He kept his arms around her and smiled at her reflection. They would go to bed, he decided. He would take her to bed and they would make love and everything would be fine.
He took her hand and led her out of the 'fresher. They would go to bed and then he would do one last check around the ship and in a few days they would see her brother. They would have fun together, the three of them, and it would restore harmony once again. And then they would figure out what to do with their lives, together. There was nothing to worry about.
It would all be fine.