8Han Solo stepped into the refresher and let the hot water ease away the aches in his muscles. He was tired from the ambassador work that Leia had sent him. He certainly didn't want to spend all of his days working at a desk pushing papers around to wear his eyes out. He suspected that he would sooner gouge them out himself than remain an office worker the rest of his life. He longed for adventure, and he could tell that his buddy Chewbacca did too. He stepped out of his luxurious warm shower, put on his stuffy work clothes, and emerged from of the refresher feeling exactly the opposite of refreshed.
He returned to his office within the Imperial Palace to begin the day's work of endless paper-pushing and comcalls. It was going to be a long day.
Just as he sat down and started to work, a knock on the door came, and Han said gruffly, "Enter."
The love of his life walked in, carrying a fairly thick folder, that caused Han let out a mental sigh of agitation. He knew that she came to give him more work, and the look on her face only suggested that it could potentially bore him to death. He was surprised when she said:
"Alright, Han. I know that you want some adventure - you're an all-natural scoundrel who needs some indulgence now and then. Being that I am who I am, I have just what you need," she said, sitting down in one of the visitor's chairs opposite Han. She looked tired on closer inspection. He was going to have to talk to her later about her own heavy workload.
"What do you mean?" He queried, a smile spreading on his face.
"The Corellian Assembly needs to track down this bounty hunter. Or rather, this assassin. The criminal in question has been killing off very prominent members of the Corellian nobility and higher echelon of society. Understandably, the hierarchy is getting increasingly nervous as their main supporters are starting to dwindle. Han, I know how much you've been itching for a job in the Falcon. I just need a Corellian who'll act as an ambassador, who has a deep understanding of what the old High Command wants. Wedge won't do it, and he's the only other Corellian we trust with this kind of thing."
Her husband considered the offer quickly, being that he was still apt to shoot first, ask questions later. With a decided air, he asked, "Are you coming with me, Leia?"
She almost smirked. "Of course. Someone needs to keep you in line. Besides, I have some much-needed contact to do with the Assembly. I didn't want to make a special trip," she stood up to leave, dropping the folder on his desk. "Oh, and Han," she said from the door, "read it over carefully. Even if it is your home planet, I want to make sure we don't have another... incident." She closed the door behind her quietly, and Han reached for the folder, smiling to himself.
Outside Han's door, Leia suppressed the urge to shed tears. This bounty hunter was dangerous - more dangerous than Boba Fett. And after reading the file herself, she was concerned for Han's well-being. The whole bit about making contact with the Corellian Assembly was just an excuse to make her appearance there legitimate. In all actuality, she was just trying to find a reason to keep a close watch on Han. For some strange reason, she has a bad feeling about this mission. Like the assassin they were dealing with was even more dangerous than he seemed.
Just as she finished this thought, Jaina and Jacen came rushing by, each carrying delightful faces.
"Jacen, Jaina, slow down. There are people trying to work here," Leia called out, before retreating to her own office. She put her head in her hands, and silently cried. Time passed too quickly, and she forgot about her meeting with Luke until he knocked on the door, and she quickly rearranged herself, but she knew it was useless in the presence of her Force-sensitive brother. As he entered and saw her feigned expression of calm and happiness, he greeted her:
"Leia, you can't get yourself all worked up. And don't try and use your Sabaac face with me."
The former princess chuckled at her brother's powers of perception. At least she could be honest with him. "You don't know the half of it, Luke. But I wonder if I'm just taking this a little too far. I don't why I have such an ominous feeling. I'm slightly desperate."
"Leia, you can't live in worry. You have to let things be," was Luke's sagely reply.
"You are too wise, Luke," she quipped, trying to cheer up.
"And you work yourself too hard," continued her twin, thinking along the same lines as his brother-in-law. "That's why I agreed to watch over the twins and Anakin. So that you don't have to worry about them, too."
"Why are you always right?" Leia asked.
"I'd prefer not to know," Luke answered, shaking some of the blond hair out of his face. "Now, what about this journey you wanted me to take?"
The rest of their talk went smoothly and Leia resolved not to worry. Everything was fine. Luke reassured her time and again that, "It's Han. He'll be okay. If he's not, he's got you with him, so what's to worry about?"
Finally, their sibling chat was over and Luek departed to settle some business he had with Talon Karrde. Leia didn't even want to know, instead hurrying to the cafeteria to eat lunch, during which she would enjoy Mon Mothma's company. A nice, friendly lunch without politics was what Leia needed, and Mon Mothma also wanted to talk to her on a more personal level. Being that she and the esteemed Madam President had been close colleagues for years, Leia didn't think too much about the content of their conversation.
Leia had just sat down when Mon Mothma emerged from the other side of the room. Leia stood up to help her to her seat.
Once they were both seated, a droid came by with food for both of them. They both sat in silence chewing their food before Leia started with something simple, even though she already knew the answer she would receive. However, the Chandrilan had recently come back from a visit to approve a complex of newly-constructed buildings on Abregado-rae, so the last time they had actually met was about a week ago.
"Mon Mothma, how have you been?"
"Busy," was her simple reply. "I've been helping several different with odd jobs here and there. I'm planning another trip to Chilandra. I have some work there that needs to be done. I am also anxious to see my daughter and her new family." Mon Mothma dabbed her lips with the white linen napkin, smiling.
"Well, I hope that your trip goes well. I am planning a trip to Corellia, but it's not just for the pleasantries. I have some work to do there as well," Leia said, wondering where this conversation was going. She felt that her reply was somewhat flat in contrast to Mon's quiet enthusiasm.
"May I ask the purpose your visit?" Mon Mothma asked.
"I have some conferences there, with some of the other ambassadors. Han won't be very happy to be in them, I'm afraid. He's getting quite bored around here, without an adventure on which to embark upon."
"I hear there's a bounty hunter that Han is assigned to capture," Mon Mothma said casually.
"Yes, I picked him to do it so that he may... have some fun."
Leia's companion smiled knowingly, but took on a business-like manner when she realized the time on her chronometer. "I'm sorry Leia, but I have a meeting with the President of the Banking Union in less than one standard hour. I must get my papers and such arranged. Please excuse me."
"That's alright. I have to go over the itinerary for this next mission. I understand. May the Force be with you." The Alderaanian found herself sitting alone again for nearly twenty minutes after Mon's departure. Her salad was consumed with little interest as her mind attempted to squash all of her worries. Apparently, she hadn't yet perfected Luke's calming techniques. As Leia was finishing her meal, Han sauntered over to her semi-vacant table, blue milkshake in tow.
"Hey, Your Worship. Have a good lunch date?" Han asked, considerably decreasing his milkshake in one sip.
"It was alright. We talked... a lot." Han noticed her silent downcast manner, setting his treat aside and swooping into the unoccupied seat.
"What's wrong?"
"It's-it's nothing." She looked away from him and began to distract herself by adjusting her chronometer.
Her husband slowly caressed the fumbling hand soothingly. "C'mon Leia. You can tell me."
Leia looked him in the face, gazing into the hazel depths of Han's eyes. She sighed, succumbing to their irresistibly concerned glint and general puppy-dog look. "I'm just...worried, that's all. I-I don't want anything-"
He utilized his crooked grin and used his other hand to stroke the smooth skin of her face. "Don't worry. It's me, remember? So, that means there's practically nothing to worry about."
Leia smiled and took his hand, rolling her eyes. "Of course. What was I thinking? The great Han Solo? Get hurt?"
"I dunno honey, but I'm gonna tell Chewie to get the Falcon ready. We'll do a quick systems check and all."
Partially relieved, or at least trying to appear so, Leia took a sip out of Han's milkshake. Suddenly, she heard a horrendous shriek and a war cry coming from the hallway.
"Aaagh! Jacen! Give it back, or I swear, I'll give you a Force wedgie you'll never forget!"
Gleeful laughter followed this statement. "Ha-ha, Jaina! Never gonna catch me!"
Han was tempted to smile, yet at the same time was pitifully embarrased. His kids would never calm down, would they? But then again, he thought, They're my kids. He put on his best impression of sternness and seperated the two twins by keeping one hand on each head, ensuring that neither could escape.
Leia privately rolled her eyes again and finished the milkshake until the last gargled strawful. Han was beginning to handle sibling quarrels by himself; she'd see him later. Disposing of the cup she walked back to her office in heavy concentration.
No matter how reassuring Han was being, Leia had a deep feeling inside of her that made her uncomfortable about this mission. It was forboding, she knew, but why it was there she had yet to discover. She felt for sure that it was another, as Han dubbed it "Force thing." A quiet beeping extracted her from the depts of her thoughts - it was her comlink. Leia switched it on and heard the voice of Winter, Leia's long time friend and now babysitter. "Leia, there's an immediate request for your appearance at a private conference with representatives of Naboo. Urgent business. Come to Level 9 Room 347 A-S-A-P. Winter out."
"Hmm..." Leia mumbled, running toward the turbolift, "I wonder what's so urgent..."