Maybe It's Better This Way Author: Hugo "Animal" Chikamori E-mail: hchikamori@yahoo.com Rating: Classification: Buddy Story Spoilers: None, except whatever comes out of Animal's demented mind... set just after Darksaber. Summary: Callista leaves Luke, Luke despondent, Han tries to help his friend, and all manner of mayhem ensues. DISCLAIMER: All characters, such as Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa-Solo, Han Solo, belong to George Lucas. Mara Jade is the brain-child of Timothy Zahn and is also copyrighted to George Lucas. None of these characters are being used with the intention of making monetary gain, but just for the purposes of entertainment. ------------------------------------- YAVIN 4 "Have you lost your ever-loving mind????" Han Solo bellowed at his long-time friend. "Not that I've noticed." Luke responded acerbically as he rummaged through his duffel-bag. Artoo sat by the bed and warbled mournfully. "Callista is gone, face the facts." Han stood by the door, his stance still not conceding. "All you're going to do is waste a lot of ion trail trying to look for her. She made her choice, you gotta make yours." "Well, at least she could have told me that she was going to go after Daala." Luke looked up at his long-time friend. "And what could you have done!" interrupted Han, his tone sarcastic. "pinned her up against the wall with a force hold? She doesn't have the Force anymore. You can't go doing that to non-Jedi, kid." Luke opened his mouth as if to speak but Han waved him shut. "Look, Callista knows how to take care of herself. Hell, she's been around longer than you, but you seem to keep conveniently forgetting that. She's not helpless, Luke." "But..." "She isn't helpless, kid. Get it through that thick head of yours." Han growled, looking much like Chewbacca, teeth bared. "Just because I don't have the Force, does it mean I'm help- less?" his hand indicated his Blastech DL44. "I didn't mean that you were..." Luke objected. "Well, you're saying Callista is." Han retorted. "And she hasn't survived this long...buddy, without survival sense. Now get that through your head." "But...Han, I feel like I need to..." Luke gave Han a pleading look as he threw something else into the duffle-bag. "Yeah...kid, you need closure." Han grinned. "So why don't we get you some closure. Where'd you wanna go looking first?" "But your family." Luke questioned with a trace of concern. "Won't Leia be concerned?" "Naw...Leia's your sister...she'll understand." Han said with a nonchalant smile on his face. "Chewie and I will be glad to get out from underfoot. She has enough problems with the twins and Anakin. You finish packing, I'll meet you down by the Falcon." He looked back at Luke with a serious expression. "To tell you the truth, Luke, she's more concerned about you." (Han and Leia's quarters at the Jedi Academy) "I know...Han." Leia said. "I sensed Luke was distraught over Callista leaving. I can always call Mirax to get me from Yavin." She agreed with Han's assessment of Luke needing to get away from the Academy for a while. Streen could always take over the teaching as could any number of the senior Jedi Knights. "Luke needs someone to watch over him during this time." "So you're ok, with my going with Luke on his expedition?" "Just so long as you come back...nerfherder." Leia retorted with an affectionate gaze. (at the Millennium Falcon) Luke said to Han, as he approached with Chewie. "You know, I can go by myself." He motioned at the X-wing near by. "Nope, you're coming with us." Han nixed that idea right in the bud. "Leia won't allow me to go unless you..." he pointed a finger at Luke. "come with Chewie and me. So let's get on board, we're out of here. Now where do you wanna investigate first?" "If you say so." Luke said. "How about Chad III?" "What better than to go directly to the home-planet and start out from there." Han quipped as he fired up the Falcon. Less than two parsecs outbound a beep on their com alerted them to an incoming message. "Answer that, Chewie." Han said. "I'm a bit busy." Chewbacca yowled something into the comm, eliciting an out- raged "WHAT??? Han??? You there??? Chewie, put Han on the comm." Chewie poked Han across the cockpit. "Lando?" Han shouted "What are you calling me for?" "I need a favor, buddy." Luke and Chewie rolled their eyes as Lando replied. "I need you guys to drop by Commenor to pick up a shipment of aqua- mining equipment headed for Chad." "How'd you know I was headed to Chad?" Han said suspiciously. "I don't think we broadcast that on wide-band." "No, but your wife told me." Lando said snidely. It was Han's turn to roll his eyes. "Figures, my wife would know where I was going. Hey, Luke, are you emitting again, or did Leia poke around in my mind?" Luke shrugged.