DISCLAIMER: Star Wars and it’s characters and situations are property of Lucasfilm, LTD. I’m not making any money off of this venture, so just rein in those lawyers, George!

CONTENT DISCLAIMER: This story is rated NC-17 due to graphic violence and explicit sex. If you’re under 17 or are sensitive to this kind of material, hit your back button now. There are plenty of other stories up on OZ that don’t contain these things.

Han caught a glimpse of the shadow Leia cast in the amber light on the wall he was looking at as she sat up and tossed her hair over her head and out of the way. Stang, she was beautiful. The most beautiful creature he had ever seen, and he had seen probably more than his fair share. He reached up and ran his hand over her soft skin. She gasped at his touch. Han loved that; every time he touched her he excited her further, and that only served to excite him. He watched in wonderment as that look of half-pain, half-joy that comes with the peak of lovemaking flitted across her features. His own climax came almost instantaneously. Leia collapsed on top of him, kissing him softly.

“Was it good for you?” she whispered playfully in his ear, giggling uncharacteristically.

“Mmm, yes. And you?” he replied, hugging her close.

“As always,” she cooed sensuously in his ear as she slid into position next to him, a leg still thrown over his torso. For a long few moments, they just lay in each other’s arms, enjoying each other’s touch and basking in afterglow. Han broke the silence, almost reluctantly, to speak the thought that had been forming in his mind since nearly the moment Leia had discarded the last of her clothing, “You’re amazing.”

Leia laughed lightly, “Am I really that good?”

Han grinned and kissed her forehead. “Yes, but that’s not why I said that.”

“Oh?” She propped herself up on one elbow and flipped her hair back behind her shoulders. “And just why am I so amazing?”

“Because you’re so much more than you first come across as being,” he stated simply. He continued the thought, as if that were not enough. “I mean…when I first knew you, I thought you were the straightest arrow I’d ever met. Your whole life was the Alliance, and that was it.”

Leia broke in, “That’s not that far from the truth, at least, not when you first knew me, that is. But I interrupted; please continue.” She grinned at him.

He smirked back, “I never would have thought for a minute that you’d be so…responsive, sexually that is. I thought you were as cold and as tightly wrapped as a Zangalese cryo-mummy.”

Leia fell back on the bed, laughing for several seconds, obviously amused. Han grinned; he loved it when she laughed. It wasn’t something she did very often, and she looked so beautiful when she did. She rapped her knuckles gently into his chest as her giggles subsided.

“That’s a good one,” she said as Han propped himself up and leaned over her this time, gently caressing her belly while she spoke. “Alderaanians have very definite, and I think, very positive ideas about sex.”

“Yeah,” Han responded. “You told me that you only do it with someone you’re in love with.”

She smiled up at him. “Yes, that was the basic premise. There weren’t any prostitutes on Alderaan.” She smiled lightly, remembering something. “When I first heard there was such a thing, I was shocked; I couldn’t believe it. Part of me still doesn’t, but one has to be cynical in my line of work.” She cracked a grin at him, and he chuckled at her, kissing her forehead lightly. “Seriously though, it was more than that. It was the ultimate expression of love between two people; you waited for just the right person. And marriage didn’t matter when it came to that; marriage was just kind of the final step in a relationship, accepting that person into your family. In some ways, it was more romantic to lose your virginity than it was to get married. And you did your best to show that person how much you loved him by going out of your way to please him. And in return, you acknowledged the love that you were receiving by being very responsive.

“Explain something to me-you were a virgin when we first made love. How come you know all this?”

She shrugged. “It wasn’t a closed topic, like on so many other worlds. It’s not something you’re taught, really, you just kind of absorbed it through the culture. It was just common knowledge.”

Han digested that for a moment, smiling down at her like an idiot. He finally said, “You know, I think if more cultures had that attitude, there wouldn’t be so many wars. I’m convinced that most wars don’t start because of property disputes; they start because somebody’s sexually frustrated.”

He flashed that famous lopsided grin at her as she erupted in laughter. “C’mere, flyboy,” she managed as she pulled him down to kiss her.

**********

Han hovered toward consciousness. He reached over to Leia’s side of the bed and snuggled up to her, hoping to recapture some of the magic of the previous evening. But as he came more fully awake, he realized he was cuddling Leia’s pillow, and not Leia. He grumbled a little to himself, and raised his head up off the bed, calling her name into the now sunlit room. When he received no reply, he crawled out of bed, ran his fingers through his hair, hoping it wouldn’t look too disarrayed, grabbed his robe off the back of the door, and went looking for her.

A search of the ’fresher and the kitchen turned up nothing, but he glimpsed her through the doors to the garden on his way to the living room. This was their little spot of heaven; filled with exotic plants, it smelled of the heady, earthy scents of the Alderaan summer. Han’s first impression of Leia was one of visual delight; she was dressed in a rather revealing black bodysuit, something she only wore when she was exercising. She rarely wore clothes that showed off her figure; Han loved it when she did. But his relish soon turned to query; just what was she doing?

Leia had set up a small holo-player, copying what looked like defensive moves with an odd looking shaft with a ball on one end. He watched until she completed a series of moves and came to a rest position before sneaking up behind her and catching her up in his arms.

“Mornin’ sweetheart. Whatcha up to?” he said, kissing her neck.

Leia struggled in his embrace. “Ach…Han, I’m all sweaty.”

“That’s okay. It’ll give me a good reason to clean you up,” he cooed, nibbling on her ear.

“As delightful as that sounds,” she replied, slipping out of his arms, “I’m afraid I’m going to have to turn you down. I have a lot to do today.”

Han snapped his fingers. “Stang…you look good enough to eat in that. So what are you doing? And what’s that…thing?”

Leia held the pole in front of her in a ready position. “This is a Tach Chee, the ceremonial weapon of the Hekura. Of course, the real thing has spikes on the mace end and carries a charge on the spear end. But for ceremonial battles, this version is used.”

Han’s brow suddenly furrowed, and his tone grew serious. “Why this sudden interest in the Hekura martial arts?”

“Because a delegation of them is coming in about a week to discuss possibly becoming a member of the New Republic. Unfortunately, I have to fight in a ceremonial battle with their ambassador to prove I’m worthy of having negotiations with. They assure me it’s strictly a formality, but I want to be ready.”

Han shook his head. “You don’t want to get involved with the Hekura, Leia.”

“Why not? And what do you know about it?” Leia challenged.

“I’ve heard things; I’ve seen things…they’re not a nice race of people.”

“Neither are the Gotal, but they’re members of the New Republic,” she shot back.

“I’m serious!” Han finally raised his voice.

“So am I!”

“Look, Leia, I’ve heard things about these people…they might not be anything more than rumors, but…You’ll be lucky if you get out of it with your life.”

“I’ll take that under advisement,” she replied sarcastically. “It still doesn’t change anything.”

“This is a hunter/warrior race, Leia. They live for this kind of thing. I really don’t want you doing this.”

Han saw the anger flash in Leia’s eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Are you forbidding me, Han?”

Han threw his hands up in frustration. “No! You know I can’t do that. I just… I’d really feel better if you didn’t.”

“You think I want to do this? Talking is my strength, not fighting. But sometimes you have to compromise and do things you don’t want to do. That’s what diplomacy is all about!”

The argument had come to a dead end, and the two of them just stood there staring at each other for a long few moments. Finally, she took a step closer to him and caressed his cheek with her hand. “Look, if it’ll make you feel any better, I’ll train with Luke for a few days about this, okay?”

Han sighed. There was no stopping her when she got her head set on doing something. “You do what you have to do.”

She smiled and patted his shoulder and then headed off toward the house. “I’m going to take a shower. Make the bed, will you? The housekeeper droid always pulls the sheets too tight.”

Han followed her through the door. “Why? We’re just going to mess it up again tonight anyway.”

Leia laughed and threw a mischievous glance at him over her shoulder. “If you’re lucky, flyboy. If you’re lucky.”

Han moved to catch her, but she darted into the fresher and locked the door. He banged on it. “You’ll get yours, Princess. I’ll see to it!”

All Han got for a reply was Leia’s lilting laugh.

*********

“I don’t know, Leia,” Luke said, eyeing down the shaft of the Tach Chee. “I mean, I know Jedi fighting techniques, and your basic hand to hand stuff, but you know that anyway. I don’t know what kind of help I’ll be to you. I mean, I’ll do my best, but I can’t promise much.”

Leia shrugged marginally. “I’m really only doing this to placate Han anyway; I think I’ll be fine. Have you at least looked at the holos?”

Luke nodded. “Yeah. Like I said, I don’t know how much help I’m going to be. I can tell you how I’d fight them, but I don’t know if that’s what you’re looking for.”

Again Leia shrugged. “They didn’t say I had to fight a certain way, they just said I had to fight.”

Luke shook his head. “I don’t know,” he repeated. “After watching those holos, I think I’m beginning to agree with Han. Those guys are nasty.”

Leia crossed her arms, set her stance, tilted her chin, and glared at her brother. Luke suddenly remembered why no one, after looking into those determined eyes of hers, even tried to go up against his petite sibling. He sighed. “Oh, very well. Pick up your weapon and let’s begin.” Leia took a step in the direction of the ceremonial weapon, but Luke stopped her. “No. Use the Force.”

Leia sighed dramatically. “You would have to turn this into a Jedi lesson.”

“The Force will be a powerful ally in this battle,” Luke replied soberly.

“Isn’t it a powerful ally everywhere, Master?” Leia shot back a little cheekily.

Luke had to grin at her. “That it is. Now relax, and use the Force to call your weapon.”

Leia sighed again, letting all the tension in her arms and neck escape with her breath. She closed her eyes and imagined the Tach Chee, sitting only a few meters away from her on a bench against the wall. She felt its weight, its balance, visualized it in her hand. The weapon barely moved at first, but finally, slowly rolled off the bench and onto the padded floor of the gymnasium. Leia ground her teeth together as it seemed to come to a halt.

Don’t try so hard, Luke spoke into her mind. Just let it happen.

Leia relaxed again, and before she really knew what she did, the weapon was in her hand. She looked at it, a little astonished. “How…I…I don’t know what I did.”

Luke smiled patiently. “When you figure that out, you’ll be able to do it every time without thinking about it. But it takes time. Now,” he continued, hefting his own weapon, “I think your biggest advantage in this fight is going to be your size. The Hekura average two meters tall and over twice your mass. They aren’t known for their quickness either, just their brute force. So, I think if we work on footwork and confusion techniques, plus Force-guided anticipation of one’s opponent, that’ll get you a long way toward being able to hold your own. Now, I’m only maybe thirty kilos more than you, so I don’t know what kind of a practice dummy I’m going to be, but let’s give this a shot.” Luke held his Tach Chee at the ready. “Okay. Attack me.”

Leia looked at him blankly for a minute, thinking that was an awfully odd thing to say, but finally just started out with a gross overhand swing, a typical Hekuran kill move, aiming to club him in the head, knowing full well he’d block her.

And that he did. He was ready for her long before her weapon contacted his. “Stretch out your feelings; anticipate my moves,” Luke instructed has he took a lateral swing at her that missed cleanly as she jumped out of the way.

Leia exhaled and tried to recapture the feeling she had had when she had called her weapon. All of a sudden, it was if she could see where Luke’s weapon was aiming long before it ever headed in that direction. Luke’s tactic had changed; he was now trying to poke her with spear end of the Tach Chee. She managed to dodge every jab.

“Not bad,” Luke said with a grin. “And you’re quick, too. That’ll be to your advantage, as I said.” Even though Leia wasn’t suffering any damage, she was being steadily pushed backwards. She decided that had to change.

Luke suddenly changed tactics and took a sweep at her legs. Leia hopped over the swinging shaft, and took the opening to take up Luke’s jabbing technique. Although she too was missing every jab, she was definitely now on the offensive. Luke was impressed, and grinned at her.

However, Luke knew that he could stop her any time he wanted to, and as they were getting close to the wall, he decided that now was a good time. He gripped his weapon as if it were a lightsaber, and held it up to block one of Leia’s jabs instead of dodging it.

Leia had been a fairly quick study at basic lightsaber dueling, however, and she, somewhat to Luke’s surprise, easily used the block as an opening to wrench the shaft out of Luke’s hands and sent it skittering across the floor. Luke held out his hand to call the weapon back. That split second was all Leia needed. She flipped her Tach Chee over, and drove the ball end into Luke’s stomach, knocking the wind out of him and sending him sprawling onto his back.

Before Luke had the chance to regain his senses and get back on his feet, Leia was standing over him, the spear end of her Tach Chee only centimeters from his face. “You realize,” she panted, “that had this been an actual battle I’d be duty bound to kill you.”

“Thank the Force this is just practice then.”

Leia offered him a hand. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

Luke accepted it. “No. You did surprise me, though.”

“Well, do I have your blessing, or do I have to argue with both of the most important men in my life about this?”

“Well,” Luke said, calling his Tach Chee back to him and handing it to her, “I still don’t think this is a good idea.” Luke saw her stance change and she got that look in her eye that meant, You really don’t want to mess with me. “But,” he held up his hand to calm her, “I think you’re going to do just fine.”

**********

In the not-quite understood nowhere that was hyperspace, hurtling toward Coruscant, was the ambassadorial liner Yarjanu. Long and sleek and glistening, the ship was as luxurious as it was powerful. The refitted battle cruiser was made to resemble the essence of the Hukura themselves. Deep in the heart of the ship resided a being that the Hekuran Imperium was counting on to carry its heart.

Sevoab continued oiling his spiny, sparse fur, in an effort to make it soft and supple. Normally, he would want his fur to be sharp, as any good warrior would. Yet in this case the exact opposite was wanted. He had considered removing it, but had come to the conclusion after some research that any stubble, no matter how slight, would actually be worse than it would be oiled. It was necessary, as Seed-Prince, to be as well matched to his liaison as possible, and in this case, the softer, gentler and more graceful he could be, the better.

These concepts weren’t foreign to him, but they were unfamiliar. He had been chosen Seed-Prince because he was a great warrior, and he had been extremely honored. But he believed that, perhaps, not being in peak form would be best for this, and thus had not trained seriously in the nearly two months since he had been chosen.

The door behind him opened, letting light into the dark room. “The preparations go well, Seed-Prince?”

“As well as I am able to ascertain, Elder,” Sevoab replied, turning to look at the stately old warrior. He was obviously of a different generation. He had more fur, and his skin was softer underneath it, unlike the almost scale-like skin that Sevoab sported.

Ambassador Takaro eyed the young warrior. “You feel you are ready, then?”

“I have followed all instructions and have purified myself. I do not know what else there is to do; I have never been Seed-Prince before.”

The ambassador bared his teeth, the Hekuran equivalent of a smile. “No, and I do not believe that any man has been bestowed with that honor twice. But,” the elder continued, “I will tell you what I was told when I was Seed-Prince.” He looked the young warrior straight in the eye. “You can never know exactly what it is you will face. You may meet with great resistance, or you may be welcomed with open arms. Whatever the case, you must remain true to you honor and complete your duty, or die trying. For it is with you that the future of the entire Hekuran race lies.”

***********

The Hekura had landed. Leia had been notified that they would meet for the ceremonial combat in the courtyard outside what once was the Imperial Palace. A huge crowd of reporters, onlookers, senators and other dignitaries was gathering.

“Kreth! There sure are a lot of people out there who want to see you get your ass kicked,” Han commented as Leia finished tying up her hair.

“You’re a lot of help,” she replied, giving him a playful swat as she passed him to don the robe that went over the modest jumpsuit she had chosen for the occasion.

Han turned serious. “I still don’t think this is a good idea.”

Leia turned on him, anger flashing in her eyes. “Then don’t come.” She brushed passed him on her way to leave, obviously agitated.

He caught her by the arm. “Sweetheart.” She glanced up at him, her anger slipping away. “Give ‘em hell.”

Leia grinned.

**********

Leia descended the steps of the palace, surveying the open courtyard below her. A small entourage of Hekura were already approaching, a bit ahead of schedule.

“Ambassador Takaro, it is my pleasure to welcome you and your delegation to Coruscant. I trust your trip was pleasant?” Leia extended her hand to the member of the group dressed in the most ornate robes.

“As pleasant as any long spaceflight can be, Madam Minister of State,” Takaro oozed, taking her small hand into his huge one. Han could sense political niceties even standing nearly fifty meters away leaning against a column. He instantly disliked this guy. Takaro continued. “I know you have agreed to our terms, and I see no reason as to delay the ceremony. We will begin whenever you are ready.”

Leia seemed a bit taken aback by the abruptness of the request, but Han knew she was as prepared as she was going to be. “I’m ready now,” she replied smoothly. “I need only remove this cloak.”

“Excellent!” Takaro turned around and spoke to his entourage in his own language. A younger Hekuran, a third of a meter taller than Takaro and dressed in full battle armor stepped forward. “Madam Minister of State, I present to you your ceremonial adversary, the Seed-Prince Sevoab.”

Han didn’t like the sound of that, not one bit. He took several long steps forward, his hand going to the blaster he had decided to wear at the last minute. He was glad he did.

Leia again seemed taken off guard. “But I thought…I was under the impression that I would be fighting you, Ambassador Takaro.”

The old Hekuran laughed, something between a bark and a cackle. “No, I’m afraid my battle days are long over. Do not worry, Madam Minister of State. I said this was merely a formality, and it is. Sevoab will not hurt you, and you may warn him at any time if you feel he is being too rough.”

Leia glanced over at Luke, who was standing not far from where Han had been. He gave her a short nod.

Leia turned back to the Hekura and nodded herself. “Very well then.” She slipped out of her robe, revealing the modest white bodysuit underneath. A thought that he liked the more revealing black one much better fleeted across Han’s mind, but he brushed it away as soon as it appeared. Something told him he needed to be on his toes for this one.

Leia stepped out into the courtyard, calling her weapon to her with the Force. She’d been practicing that much, hoping to at least look impressive. It worked on the crowd; a faint Ooooh rippled through it.

It didn’t seem to impress her opponent, however, as he just stood there like a stone wall. Leia sized him up; he was half again as tall as she was, and built like, well, a building. He was almost square, he was so solid. His legs were at least as big around as Leia’s waist, and his waist…well…Han doubted that Leia would have been able to get her arms around it.

Sevoab planted the mace end of his Tach Chee on the ground and bowed over it. Leia imitated the gesture as best she could, considering the weapon was taller than she was. The pleasantries having been completed, both opponents balanced their weapons in their hands. Leia immediately was on the defensive; knees bent, circling. Sevoab went for the straight kill, raising the mace over his head to club her.

Leia would have seen that one coming even without the Force. She easily ducked out of the way, and used the opening to take a swipe at the back of Sevoab’s knee. It buckled, just for an instant.

A roar went through the crowd, and even Han found himself getting caught up in the excitement and commending his wife quietly.

Sevoab was a cunning warrior, however. He used the moment of weakness to wheel around on the buckling leg and swipe in Leia’s direction. She almost didn’t make it out of the way.

Han knew that Leia’s object in this fight was to get this guy off his feet. He also knew that she probably wasn’t going to be able to pull the same trick she’d told him she had pulled on Luke, considering all the armor her current opponent was wearing. She was sticking to the legs, and, flipping her Tach Chee over, she stabbed him in his ankle.

Sevoab roared, and hopped around 180 degrees, so Leia was facing him. He then began to swing at her, left and right, driving her back. It was all Leia could do just to stay out of harm’s way.

He took a low swing at her, and Leia did the best Force-enhanced leap of her life over him, taking the moment to club the Hekuran in the shoulder. The crowd roared.

Before the revelry even had a chance to die down, Leia wound up on her back. She had lost her balance when she landed after that leap. Sevoab raised his mace over his head to go in for the kill. Han pulled his blaster….

But before Han could cause an intergalactic incident, Leia rolled to her feet and ducked between Sevoab’s legs. She was behind him again, stabbing his ankles and clubbing his knees. Again the crowd roared. Sevoab’s knees buckled, and he fell to the ground. The crowd’s roar became deafening. Han couldn’t help from cheering himself…

A cheer that turned to a bellow of horror as Sevoab flipped himself back onto his feet while at the same time swiping Leia’s legs. Leia went down face first. She rolled over only to find the Hekuran looming over her, his Tach Chee raised high in the air as if to deliver the death blow. Han pulled his blaster again….

Leia stuck her hand into the air. “STOP! You won.” Sevoab paused, as if confused. “You won,” she repeated.

In the next instant, Takaro was at Leia’s side, as was Luke at Han’s, convincing him to put his blaster away.

“That was most honorable fighting, Madam Minister of State,” Takaro said as he helped her up. “You are indeed worthy of alliance with the Hekura.”

“Thank you,” Leia said, wiping the sweat from her brow.

“You will need rest, no doubt. We can begin the negotiations tomorrow.”

“That sounds fine,” Leia replied, nodding at him.

“Excellent. Until then, good health to you. Come, Seed-Prince.” Takaro and Sevoab retreated to the rest of the Hekuran entourage. Leia started back up toward the palace doors.

Han met her halfway. “You okay?” he asked as he handed her robe.

“I’m a little banged up, but I’ll survive,” she replied. “I’m going to go take a shower. Keep the press busy, will you? Tell them I’ll release a statement later this evening.”

“Oh, leave me with all the dirty work, will you?”

“Well, that’s what you’re here for, isn’t it?” She grinned at him, and then kissed his cheek discreetly. “See you later.” She headed back into the palace, flanked by several aides.

***********

“I was decidedly gentle with her, elder,” Sevoab declared, obviously unsatisfied.

“As you should have been,” Takaro replied. “And you will be even more so with her tonight, when you fulfill your true duty. Now go purify yourself and make ready.”

Sevoab bowed silently, and melted back into his chamber.

Takaro clenched and unclenched his hands in anticipation. Tonight…tonight the greatest era in the history of the Hekura would begin.

**********

Leia finished her prepared statement to the press about the ceremonial battle and the upcoming talks with the Hekura and transmitted it to the general news service. She then slipped off her shoes and put her feet up on her desk, instantly feeling better as the muscles in her legs stretched out. Realizing what she’d just done, she mused to herself that she’d been hanging out with Han too long. Even so, she didn’t move her feet. It was after hours in her private office; she could do whatever she liked. Kreth, she and Han had even made love here once. Leia paused at the pleasant memory, smiling into her tea. It had been just about this time of day, the shadows lengthening and the sunlight turning a warm rosy color. She glanced slyly over at the middle of the rug in front of the door where it had happened. She’d had the rug cleaned the next day with the excuse that it hadn’t been done in a while. Even so, she could still stand in that spot and feel the bliss that had taken place there.

Leia sighed as the memory faded, and she noted how her skirt was sliding up her legs. Before coming here she had changed into a simple shift-like dress with stretch pants underneath.. She did nothing to stop the skirt’s creep, however; no one would see her, and it wasn’t like she wasn’t fully clothed underneath anyway. She picked up a datapad. The sooner she finished this work, the sooner she could go home to Han, who no doubt would have some wonderful dish waiting for her.

She rubbed her eyes while reading some long, rather tedious proposal about requirements for joining the New Republic when the intercom buzzed. “Madam Minister of State?” came an unfamiliar voice.

Now who could that be at this hour? she thought to herself, dropping her feet to the floor and rearranging her skirt. She stretched out with the Force. The presence that returned was familiar, but she couldn’t place it. “Yes?” she answered the call.

“A word with you please. It is Sevoab, Seed-Prince of the Hekura.”

That building she’d tangled with this afternoon? Why would he be here? Especially without the Ambassador? And Seed-Prince? What was that? Perhaps she would be able to ask him. “Yes, please come in.” She keyed the door from her desk and rose to greet him.

Leia almost didn’t recognize him. He had changed into soft leather clothing, and seemed…almost…shy. She gestured to one of the larger chairs over in the conversation circle by her large window. “Please, have a seat. Can I offer you something? Tea? Fruit?”

“No, thank you,” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. He perched as gingerly in his chair as someone of his bulk could. Leia settled across from him in an overstuffed chair. “How may I help you?”

“I have come on a most important errand, Madam Minister of State,” he began tentatively.

Leia could feel his apprehension. “Please,” she said, in an attempt to put him at ease. “Counselor Organa Solo is more than formal enough. How may I address you?”

“Sevoab is my name, Counselor. You may call me that.”

Leia nodded, “Sevoab. I’m sorry, I interrupted you. Please continue.”

Sevoab grunted softly, and shifted in his chair. “As you know, I am Seed-Prince of the Hekura. I have come about my duty.”

“I have heard this title Seed-Prince several times now, yet I have no idea what it means. I think before I can help you, you’ll have to explain.”

Sevoab seemed to deflate a little in his chair. “When the Hekura deem a civilization worthy of joining…” He paused, seemed to backpedal. “The Hekura have deemed the New Republic worthy of joining the Hekuran Imperium. And when the Hekura so deem a civilization, we mate with them, to create one race; a new race of Hekura.”

Leia found that wording rather backward. “I’m not sure where you’re going with this.”

Sevoab exhaled noisily, obviously frustrated that he couldn’t make her understand. Diplomacy was obviously not his forte. “We believe that for true harmony, there can be no racial differences. Therefore, we make ourselves all one race by interbreeding with the new culture.”

Leia nodded slowly. “That’s one way to keep the peace. But I still don’t understand what that has to do with you, or why you’ve come to see me.”

“To encourage this kind of interbreeding, a Seed-Prince is chosen to mate with the highest ranking woman of child-bearing age. That’s you, Counselor Organa Solo.”

“I see…” she said slowly, though she didn’t really. “I’m afraid, however, that is not the way we practice politics here in the New Republic. We make treaties with words, not with bloodlines.”

Sevoab shifted uncomfortably again. “You don’t understand, Counselor. This is the only way we have ever accepted new cultures into the Imperium.”

Leia’s eyes suddenly went wide as she realized what this young warrior was getting at. “You mean…that you FORCE this on your allies? That they have no choice in the matter?” Her voice rose as she became more enraged and afraid at the same time. “That you…you go around forcing yourself on the unsuspecting women of the galaxy if you deem them so worthy? That has got to be the most uncivilized thing I have ever heard! No, I won’t stand for it!” She gripped the arms of the chair, trying to rein in her swirling emotions.

Sevoab rose from his chair. “Please, Counselor, I will be as gentle as I can. I have no wish to harm you.”

Leia glared up at him as her anger bubbled out of control. “Don’t you see that you would be harming me even if you did no physical damage? No, Sevoab, I cannot allow this.”

“I must fulfill my duty. If I do not, I will be dishonored and exiled. There is no worse fate for a Hekuran warrior.”

Leia was outraged, but lowered her voice to a deadly whisper. “I’m sorry about that, but I have to protect my well-being first. I will be discussing this with the Ambassador in the morning. For now, please leave.” She rose to show him out.

Sevoab placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her. Every alarm, Force-related or not, went off in her head. She wrenched herself from his grasp, shoved the chair she had been sitting on in the Hekuran’s direction, and made for the door at a dead run, screaming for Luke’s help in her head.

She never made it to the door.

The warrior tackled her, his arms around her waist. When they hit the floor, Leia felt something in her hips crack, and a horrible pain rushed through her lower abdomen. Even so, she frantically pummeled the behemoth with her hands, and when he turned her over and repositioned himself, she bit savagely at him. She tried to kick him, but her legs just wouldn’t do what she told them to. Her blood pounded in her ears. She felt out of control, but she knew that against this creature, she was most likely fighting for her life.

None of it made any difference to this monster. He grabbed both of her hands into one of his and held them over her head. The other he placed over her mouth. She was surprised that he took care to make sure that she could breathe. All he really did was hold her jaw shut. With his weight on her, she was immobile. Somehow in all of this he managed to rip her dress and pants open.

The fear that gripped Leia now was cold and dark. She needed was to be calm, and to focus. She screamed mentally again for Luke, for Han, for anybody that would hear her.

The devil cranked her legs open, and Leia felt an awful shooting pain run up both her thighs. And then, all of a sudden, she couldn’t feel her legs anymore at all. But there was still that pain in her pelvis which he wasn’t making any better by leaning on it.

And then he entered her. Despite having her jaw held shut, Leia screamed. He was bigger than anything she was ever meant to mate with, and there were spikes or hairs or something on it that poked into her. She had never felt anything so painful in all her life. She panted, trying to chase both the pain and the fear away, but success was fleeting.

Leia darted her eyes frantically around the room, trying to spot something, anything that would get her out of this. And then she saw it. On the window sill, some three meters away, was a large potted plant in a heavy ceramic planter. If she could just smash it over his head….

She reached out with the Force, and with much effort, she got the pot to rise. Slowly…ever so slowly it began to drift toward them…

WHAM! Her head banged against the floor. Spots danced in front of her eyes, and she lost control on the pot for a split second, but it didn’t fall all the way to the floor. Keeping a perilous hold on the plant, Leia hazarded a look at her attacker. He seemed to be going into some kind of ecstasy, and he was taking her along for the ride. His hips weren’t moving, thank the Force, but the rest of him was.

Her head continued to bang against the floor at an ever increasing rate, causing the room to spin and her vision to blur. Somehow, through all the pain she was feeling and her ever-diminishing consciousness, she managed to keep the plant coming ever so slowly toward them. It wouldn’t be long before she’d have to raise it up and position it over his head…

And then, more abruptly than it had begun, it was over. The banging stopped, and his grip and weight on her were gone. Through the fog that was now the outside world, Leia heard, “I am sorry I had to harm you, Madam Minister of State. But our offspring will be the beginning of a new empire.” And then his menacing presence was gone.

Leia put in one last feeble call to Luke, and let her thin hold on consciousness slip away.

Less than a meter away, the potted plant crashed to the floor.

**********

Luke, over ten kilometers from the palace in a shipyard on an errand for Chewie scrounging up parts for the Falcon, heard Leia’s cry for help rip through his consciousness. Within an instant, he knew exactly what was happening to her. In utter shock and horror, he dropped the delicate instrument he was examining. Hang on Leia, I’m coming, he sent back. He ignored the manager’s alien complaints as he ran for his speeder.

***********

Han was at a small vegetable shop not far from the palace examining the latest imports and hoping to find something interesting he could prepare for his warrior bride. He was seriously considering purchasing some kabba roots for some spicy stew when suddenly the idea turned sour. An icy fear gripped him, and the hair on the back of his neck stood up. He hated it when that happened. But he also had learned not to ignore the rare occurrence. Something was happening, and it wasn’t good. Leia. It had something to do with Leia. Without really thinking, he made his way out of the shop, and headed toward her office, going faster and faster the closer he got….

***********

Luke parked illegally on the palace roof. Hold on just a little longer, Leia. I’m almost there. He banged on the lift call button. He used the Force to give his stop first priority. The only being inside was an Ithorian who was already protesting that his stop was nowhere near this, but Luke silenced him with a gesture. You’ll get there soon enough, Luke thought in his direction. Where I have to go is more important. Be patient.

Luke controlled the lift entirely with the Force. It dropped faster than it normally would, and the Ithorian bellowed in terror. Luke sent a few comforting thoughts in his direction, and slowed the lift to a gentle stop before getting out. He sent the Ithorian back on his way, and sent another message to Leia. Hang on just another minute. I’m almost there. He was worried that he’d gotten no response to this point, save a couple more terror-filled cries for help. He took off at a dead run down the fifty meters of marble hall towards Leia’s office, already manipulating the door with the Force.

**********

Han skidded to a halt in front of the door to Leia’s outer office and ducked inside without ever stopping to think that it was odd that it was open. He ran in toward the inner office door, and was a little taken aback to have it open before he could key it. He glanced back to find Luke three steps behind him. Neither of them said anything; they both knew why they were here.

The only thing Han saw at first was blood. Leia was lying in a circle of her own blood that had soaked into the white carpeting of her office. Her clothing, once a soft lavender, was now the sickening red of new wounds and the skirt and pants were shredded below the waist. She lay on her back, her hands thrown over her head and her legs in unnatural positions. Her face was turning four different shades of purple, as were her wrists.

“LEIA!” Han screamed, yanking his jacket off and rushing to her side. He ignored the shattered planter as he knelt next to her, feeling for a pulse and listening for breathing. She was alive, thank the Force. Luke was already on the comm calling for the medical emergency team.

Han folded his jacket and gently placed it underneath her head, which was where most of the blood seemed to be coming from. He examined the rest of her. It took him about thirty seconds to realize what had happened. A red-hot rage burned through him. Who would dare?! With a great effort, he pushed the rage aside; he could be angry later. Right now he needed to take care of Leia.

Glancing around in desperation for another bandage of some sort, he finally yanked his shirt off. He pressed it gently between her legs in the hopes that it would slow the bleeding there too. He was getting blood all over him, but he didn’t care. It was his wife’s blood. He would be willing to drown in it if it meant saving her life. He looked at her. She looked so…lifeless. The red rage turned to black despair. He couldn’t lose her. Not now, and especially not like this. Trembling, he put his head down on her chest, listening to the faint beat of her heart. “Don’t you die,” he whispered to her bosom. “Don’t you dare die.”

Luke finally finished talking to the medical dispatcher and turned his attention back to Leia. She was weak, but her hold on life was strong. Her injuries were serious, and in the dizzying swirl of sensations he was feeling at the moment, he could get no read on whether or not that hold would loosen. The dread and the evil of the act that had occurred here hung in the air so thick it was palpable, and it was making him sick to his stomach. Add to that his own fear and the rage and dread that seemed to radiate from Han, and it was all Luke could do to stay calm.

Han held Leia tightly to him as he whispered, “Don’t you die,” over and over. Unable to say anything, Luke just went and crouched down by Leia’s head, and picked up one of his sister’s hands in both of his. Jedi healing was something he was far from sufficient in, but he did his best, and willed some of his life to her.

In his mind and through the Force, Luke added his own voice in chorus to Han’s.

**********

Han prowled the med center waiting room like a caged animal. He vacillated between being scared out of his head and so mad he couldn’t see straight. And Luke just sat there, hunched over in his chair, staring at his hands, seemingly the picture of serenity. Every time Han looked at him he got more upset. He stopped pacing and pulled on Luke’s too-small jacket which he had put on after cleaning up. Still, spatters of Leia’s blood clung to him in places. He stood a long few moments regarding his silent friend. Finally, Han broke the silence. “How is she?”

“She’s holding on,” Luke replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

“What’s taking them so long?” Han wailed in frustration, flailing his arms about.

“She was pretty banged up, Han.”

Han couldn’t stand it any longer. “How can you just sit there?” he demanded.

Luke looked up, and Han saw for the first time the cold anger in his brother-in-law’s eyes. His face was contorted, and his hands balled into fists. In a deadly whisper, Luke replied, “It is taking every last gram of my effort just to sit in this chair and not go out and cause a Force-storm around this monster so large that it would destroy him and everything around him for five square kilometers.” Luke sank back into his chair, looking a little defeated. “But I know I can’t do that.”

A shiver of pure terror ran down Han’s spine. He knew Luke could do just that if he ever really wanted to. He’d never been afraid of Luke before.

But then Han digested what Luke had said. “You know who did this?”

Luke exhaled noisily and ran his hands over his face and through his hair. “I don’t know. I think so. But everything I got from Leia about this was so clouded by her fear that I can’t be sure of anything. And my own negative emotions aren’t helping anything either.” Luke’s breathing quickened. “I can’t ever remember being this upset. Not even when Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen were killed.”

Han nodded marginally, his own anger slipping a bit, at least for the moment. “I know the feeling.”

“Captain Solo? Jedi Skywalker?” Dr. Rieekan’s soothing voice filled the room. Dr. Rieekan had been Leia’s personal physician since before the war. She was also General Rieekan’s wife and an old friend of the Organa family. Luke stood up, and Han turned to face her. She had been a beautiful woman once, and the traces were still there, behind the lines etched deep from treating too many young people who should still be alive. Those lines were deeper than usual today.

“How is she?” Han asked, desperation in his voice. “Can we see her?”

“In a few moments. We’re still making her comfortable after her bacta treatment, and I want to tell you about the extent of her injuries before you see her.”

“Will she live?” Han demanded.

Dr. Rieekan evaded the question. Instead, she took a deep breath and started in on the long list of injuries and treatments she had just so recently finished dealing with.

“She had a lot of contusions, including some rather deep ones on her face and wrists. We were able to take care of those easily; you should see little to no trace of them, and whatever’s left will be gone in a day or so.” She paused, swallowed, and went on, a bit stilted. “Whoever, or whatever, did this to her was large. He broke her pelvis. Thankfully, it was a clean break, and we were able to repair it with easily and there was no internal damage. She should have no trouble having more children, if you two so wish.” She glanced at Han, who shrugged. That was the last thing on his mind

She heaved a sigh and plowed on. “He must have really had to force her. He ripped the ligaments that attach the pelvis to the inner thighs. I’ve never seen anything like it. Because it was such a clean break, we were able to knit them quite successfully, but it’s going to take her a little bit to figure out how to walk again.”

Han’s anger flared and he wheeled around, looking for something to lash out at. Luke grabbed his arm and pulled him back, waving away some of his rage with a bit of the Force, something he said he’d never do without permission. But desperate times call for desperate measures. “Please go on, Doctor,” Luke said, his voice raspy.

The doctor swallowed, and wrung her hands. She looked decidedly more uncomfortable. “As I said, whoever did this to her was large. There was…a lot of tearing, both internally and externally.”

Han seethed with rage. He felt like he was burning from the inside out. He balled his hands into fists. It took everything he had, plus a little help from Luke just to stay anchored to the floor and not say anything.

The doctor continued, “The wounds are healing well, and visually she looks normal. There may be some loss of sensation, however.” She glanced nervously at Han. She took a deep breath and continued. “We’ve cleaned her out, so there’s almost no chance of pregnancy. We’ve sent all the fluid and other evidence we found to the lab for tests. The results aren’t back yet, so I can’t tell you anything about them. Her most serious injury, however,” she seemed to tense again, “is her head wound. She received multiple blunt traumas to the back of her head. We’ve sealed the wound, but her brain is swollen.”

Han finally found his voice. Quietly, almost in disbelief, he said, “What?”

“Just what I said. It’s like her brain is bruised. We’ve done what we can for her, but this is a type of injury that needs to heal itself. If we were to force the swelling to go down, we risk brain damage.”

“She will be all right, though, won’t she?” Han asked, his voice still low.

“It’s a time game, Captain. She could come out of this tomorrow and be one hundred percent. Or she could never come out of it at all.”

Han felt his breath leave him like a spirit, and time seemed to stop. He found himself rooted to the floor unable to do anything but listen to this horror story.

The doctor went on. “The longer she’s under, the greater risk there is of brain damage. The sooner she wakes up the better.”

Luke looked at Han, who felt like he was frozen in time. He nodded to Dr. Rieekan. “We understand, Doctor. May we see her?”

“Yes, briefly. But I must tell you, we had to shave her hair to treat her head wound.”

Han suddenly sprang back to life. “You cut off her hair? She loves her hair…”

“Captain Solo,” Dr. Rieekan for the first time tried to calm Han, “I understand how Alderaanians feel about their hair. I spent a lot of time on Alderaan. But I assure you, there was no other way, and her hair will grow back! With regeneration therapy, she could have all of it plus some in six weeks. Please, try to remain calm.”

Han stood there, panting for a few seconds. Finally, he seemed to accept that and nodded sharply. “Let’s see her.”

Dr. Rieekan led them around a corner and down a short hall to a private room. At first, Han couldn’t see Leia as there was a medical droid standing in front of the bed.

“Are you finished, Em Dee?” the doctor asked.

“Yes, Doctor,” the droid replied. “I was just trying to make her comfortable.”

Rieekan dismissed the droid. “Then that will be all, thank you.” The droid rolled silently out of the room.

And with that, Han and Luke got their first look at her since she’d been wheeled out of their sight to be treated. It wasn’t as bad as either of them had anticipated. Her face was still slightly swollen and tinged yellow from the remains of her bruises. Her head was wrapped in a combination bandage/thermal cap. It was easy to imagine that her hair was under that cap. Because of that, Luke was still having a hard time picturing his sister without all of her chestnut locks. He opened himself to her. While she was still in that place below sleep, much less conscious thought, her presence was strong. And Luke knew she was out of immediate danger. Anything more was uncertain.

Han, however, was coming apart at the seams. To him, Leia seemed dead, even if all the monitors she was attached to claimed otherwise. She just lay there, limp, unmoving, lifeless. Even asleep she radiated a warmth and life that was absent now. “Oh, Sweetheart,” he breathed, his voice cracking. He reached out and touched her hand. It was cold. When she didn’t reach back, Han felt his heart break. Something moved in his chest, closing his throat and filling his stomach with something ice cold. In the next breath, however, the burning fury he had fought down before returned, hotter than ever. Man of action that he was, he stormed out of the room, determined to find the monster that did this to the woman he loved, even though he really had no idea where to start looking. He just knew he had to do something, and standing around feeling bad wasn’t going to get it done.

Luke read Han’s intent the moment he moved. He dashed off after him, but despite his instincts, he didn’t use the Force to calm him down. Han needed-they both needed-to deal with this on his own terms, with no Force-induced intervention.

“Han, stop. Stop!” Luke called after him, his voice echoing in the empty corridor.

Han swung around, fire blazing in his eyes. “Did you see her?” he demanded. “Did you see her?” he repeated, unable to control his own outrage.

“I saw her,” Luke acknowledged quietly. The strain of being strong in the situation was beginning to be too much, and the weight of it was settling in. Luke’s shoulders slumped in exhaustion.

Han, however, was still stark-raving mad. “When I catch the bastard that did this to her…”

“You can’t do that, Han.” Luke cut him off before he could even finish the thought.

“Why the hell not?” Han bellowed. “He practically split her in two, and you just want me to stand idly by? Burning suns, Luke…”

Han’s tirade was abruptly ended as Luke slammed him up against the wall, his patience finally broken. “You can’t do that, Han,” he growled in the older man’s face. “And I’ll tell you why not. It’s against the law, it isn’t morally right and probably wouldn’t make you feel any better anyway, and…” Luke exhaled noisily, releasing his grip on Han slightly. He lowered his voice. “And…Leia wouldn’t want it that way. We’ve all fought so long and hard and given up so much, her most of all, so that this kind of senseless violence wouldn’t perpetuate itself through vendettas and, worse still, in the name of justice. No, we have to let the system work, as much as we may not like it.”

Han’s anger slipped away under the sense of Luke’s words, and he seemed to deflate as his rage left him. He slid down the wall to sit on the cold floor. Luke unconsciously followed him down into a crouch. Han buried his face in his hands. “Oh gods, Luke, if she dies…”

“She’s strong, Han. She won’t die.”

Han felt the tears break free and roll down his face as he looked scornfully at Luke. “Is that the all-mighty Jedi talking, or just wishful thinking?” Han asked bitterly.

Luke shrugged. “Some of each, probably.”

Han sighed noisily, wiping his face with his hands. The two men sat in silence for a long few moments as Han waited for the empty feeling in his chest to go away, or at least, become bearable. Finally, he spoke.

“Well, hanging around here contemplating the moral implications of the situation isn’t accomplishing anything.” He pushed himself to his feet. “C’mon, I need some clean clothes, and we’d better break the news to Chewie before he hears it on some news holo and then totally destroys his apartment.” He started off down the hall.

“Oh gosh, I hadn’t thought of that,” Luke said, hurrying after, marveling at how fast Han snapped back to his old self. Still, he needed no help from the Force to know that Han was still sick about this, as was he. And it was his need to do something, added to his sense of duty to Leia that was keeping him on his feet now.

Luke just hoped that that would keep him through the ordeal he knew was to come.

***********

Sevoab appeared in Takaro’s chambers covered in blood. Takaro frowned.

“You had to harm her?”

“Regrettably, Lord. She struggled much, and was smaller and more fragile than we had anticipated.”

“But the deed is done?”

“I have fulfilled my duty, Lord.”

Takaro snorted in satisfaction. “Good work. Your seed will be the first generation of the greatest era of the Hekura.” He paused, looking out the great window of his sitting room to the glittering stars beyond. “The prophecies of our ancestors will come to pass because of this. All that we see will be Hekuran.” He turned back to Sevoab, suddenly standing straighter, more full of pride. “Go and wash yourself, Seed Prince. Rest easy knowing that your actions have opened the door to what we have all waited and fought so hard for.”

Sevoab went to wash the blood out of his fur, but he knew he would not rest easy. While he hoped for the golden age as much as any Hekuran and believed what he had done was the correct thing to do, he was not as certain as the ambassador that it would be that simple. They had never blended with a civilization as vast, powerful, or technologically advanced as the New Republic. Nor had they blended with one as diverse in its peoples. They had already proven they would not lie down to a dominating force easily. No, this would not be easy at all, much like this encounter with the Councilor had not been. No, this was going to be decidedly difficult.

**********

Han entered Leia’s room in the med center early the next morning just as Luke emerged from the healing trance he had put himself into shortly after Han had left the night before. “I didn’t wake you, did I?” Han asked as Luke rubbed his eyes in an effort to drive some of the general weariness from them.

“No, no, I was just helping her heal.” He still held on to Leia’s hand as he gave Han the once-over. Despite having obviously showered and supposedly rested, he really didn’t look much better. His hair was tousled, he was unshaven, and there were dark circles under his eyes.

“Is she doing any better?” Han asked, flopping into the seat opposite Luke’s.

“Well, I’m no expert, but from what I can tell, yes.”

Han brightened a little at that. “Let’s hope so, kid.” He sighed noisily. “You wouldn’t believe what an uproar the galaxy is in over this, Luke. It’s the only thing on the news vids.”

“Have you talked to them?”

“No; I gave Chewie and Threepio the general gist of what I want said: We have no comment at this time about the attack or her condition other than to say yes, she is in serious condition and we’re very worried about her.” Han slumped in his chair. “I hope that’s vague enough for everybody.”

Luke cracked half a smile, for what felt like the first time in years. “Leia’d be proud.”

Han’s face grew hard. “Don’t talk about her in the third person like that, not when she’s right here.”

Luke pursed his lips, knowing Han was right, and looked away.

Han seemed to let it pass, however, as he prattled on, “And then I get this huge message from Mon Mothma about how sorry she is, how upset she is, how Leia is like a daughter to her, and on and on. The official reason she called is that she’s taking over the Hekuran talks and needs Leia’s notes. But here’s the kicker-she’s called off all the official meetings until at least the end of the week, officially so everyone can concentrate their good wishes on Leia’s recovery, but unofficially because she knows everyone will be screaming for blood because this is not just an attack on Leia, but an attack on the New Republic.” Han shook his head. “What is it about the women of this government? Everything’s about the cause.”

“Wait a minute, Han,” Luke cut him off. “I think she may be on to something. I mean, think about it; everybody knows who she is, and she was attacked in her office. Even if whoever it is didn’t know who she was personally, he would have known what position she held just by reading it on her door. No, this most likely was an attack on Leia Organa Solo, Minister of State, not Leia Organa Solo, attractive young woman.

Han exhaled noisily. “Why does everything have to be political, dammit? Why can’t anything ever be simple?” He scooped up his wife’s hand and pressed it to his cheek, whispering, “Oh, sweetheart, why can’t it ever be simple?”

As if in answer, Leia squeezed Han’s hand.

The movement was slight, and had she not been utterly motionless for all this time, Han would have probably considered it an involuntary twitch. But as it was, Han started, half out of shock and half out of joy.

“She squeezed my hand! She’s waking up!”

“Now Han, don’t jump to conclusions,” Luke began, opening himself to Leia once again. She did seem more awake, more responsive. Leia? he asked into her mind. While she didn’t respond, she did seem to acknowledge him for the first time since they’d found her.

Han stroked her hand and her cheeks, encouraging her to wake up. Luke called for the doctor, and then went back into his Jedi healing trance.

Suddenly, Leia started to struggle somewhat. She let out an audible moan. Luke started out of his trance, and Han jumped. Weakly, Leia started to pat the bed on her left side, mumbling incoherently. Slowly, the cries turned into words, and Han’s name escaped her lips several times.

Han, off to Leia’s right, realized that this was what she did whenever she awoke from a nightmare; she reached for him, and that’s what she was doing now. He took her face in his hands and turned her to face him. “I’m here, sweetheart, I’m here. Leia? Leia!”

Leia’s eyes slitted open. “Han…” she managed again, barely above a whisper. “Where…what … happened?”

Han stroked her cheeks. “You were…attacked, pretty brutally.” He took her hands in his and paused, finding himself with equal urges to comfort her and to press her for more facts in the matter. He ultimately decided on both. “You were beat up pretty bad,” he went on slowly, “but you’re going to be just fine now…just fine. Do you…remember anything?” Luke shot him a look that Han ignored.

Leia choked back a sob. “Sevoab,” she finally managed after a bit. “The Hekurans…” Tears ran down her cheeks.

Luke felt the anger well up in Han again, and broke in with, “Don’t worry about it. We’ll take care of it, you just concentrate on getting better.” He ran the back of his fingers over her cheek. She reached up to squeeze his hand, and brushed her fingertips against the cap she was wearing. She fingered it for a moment, and then a look of horror spread over her face.

“My hair!” she exclaimed weakly. “What have they done to my hair?”

“We had to remove it to treat you properly,” Dr. Rieekan said from the door, finally arriving. “I know how you feel about it, but with regeneration, it’ll all be back before you even miss it.” She came over and ran several scans. “Well, you’ve certainly given everyone quite a scare.”

Though still rather out of sorts, Leia managed a reasonable facsimile of a look that Han recognized as meaning that she didn’t want any double-talk at the moment. “Yeah? How come?” she challenged.

Dr. Rieekan sighed and ran down the list of Leia’s injuries and treatments. Leia listened in silence.

“But you’re awake so soon, and that’s excellent,” the doctor finished. “We’ll have to do some more tests, of course, but things look really good right now. For the moment, I suggest you get some rest. And that goes for you two as well.” She indicated Han and Luke. “It’s been a very long night.”

**********

“Well, this is a lovely position to be in,” Mon Mothma said disgustedly, dropping the datapad that contained Leia’s statement to security carelessly on her desk after reading it for the second time. “I mean, this is unbelievable. This kind of thing doesn’t even happen in holo-novels.”

“I know, but there it is,” Han replied, spreading his hands. After holding Leia’s hand while she gave the statement from her bed in the med center two days after emerging from her coma, he had personally delivered a copy of it to Mon Mothma at Leia’s request. “The question is, what are we going to do about it?”

“That’s what I mean about being in a lovely position,” the elder Stateswoman replied. “The answer is probably nothing, except send them home and tell them not to come back.”

Han lurched forward in his chair. “What do you mean, nothing?”

“Just that, nothing. The only way we could prosecute is if they gave up their diplomatic immunity in this case; but considering why this happened, I sincerely doubt it.”

“Diplomatic immunity?” Han spat the words as if they were a curse. “I thought that was a courtesy to diplomats so they don’t have to worry about whether they can understand the traffic signals or not.”

“Well, that’s part of it,” Mon Mothma said, slipping into her patient explanation mode, something she used often on the Senate floor. “Ironically, this is exactly the kind of situation that the idea of Diplomatic Immunity was designed around. It’s meant to allow diplomats to do their jobs without having to worry about being prosecuted for something that is illegal here, but may not be in their culture.”

“Great,” Han grumped. “So we send them home with nothing more than the message that we don’t like what they did. Then what? Like you said, half the Senate is going to be screaming for blood.”

“Especially after they hear who did this and why,” Mon Mothma put in. “But it’s more complicated than that, even. Before we deal with the Senate, we have to find a way to deal with the Hekura without making enemies out of them.”

“Who the hell cares?” Han asked, suddenly weary of all this political nonsense. “Honestly, they hold less than a sector, and while you don’t want to go up against one face to face, as a collective armada, they really aren’t much of a threat.”

“Still, we have more than enough little fires at the moment; we don’t need another one,” Mon Mothma pointed out.

“That’s your department,” Han pushed up out of his chair, agitated. “I’m just going to go take care of my wife.” He turned to leave.

“Han,” Mon Mothma called him back. “I’m sorry. I wish there was more I could do; I’m just sick over this, but…” She spread her hands in a gesture of defeat.

“I know, I know,” Han said, waving a hand. “Higher responsibility and all that. It’s just that knowing that responsibility is taken care of doesn’t keep me warm at night.”

“I know,” she replied softly. “Send Leia my love, Han. I’ll be in to visit as soon as I’m allowed.”

Han nodded, and left Mon Mothma’s office, his emotions a jumble of old and new rage, disappointment and confusion. Mostly though, he just felt numb.

**********

Three days later, at the beginning of the new week, Mon Mothma addressed the Senate about all that had happened.

“…And so the Hekura have left, and will be back in their own space by the end of this standard week. After that time, their presence in our space will be viewed as an act of war.”

The room erupted in shouting.

Mon Mothma squelched the audio system off and after a few moments, the shouting died. Finally, she turned the system back on and spoke into the restless silence. “I’ve already said that there will be no discussion on this topic.”

“But how can we just let them go?” demanded a Troovian senator, voicing the opinion of many. “This is not only a heinous attack on one of our highest officials, but, if it is as complicated as you say it is. It is an insult to everything the New Republic stands for!”

“We have to let them go because of the rules of Diplomatic Immunity,” Mon Mothma replied wearily. “Members of the Senate, I sympathize with your outrage; believe me, this has deeply affected me as well. I have discussed this at length with Counselor Organa Solo, and the members of the Inner Council. None of us are happy about it, but we all agree that this is the best course of action. But we must remember,” she paused, visibly becoming upset. “We must remember that as fond as we all are of Leia-Counselor Organa Solo-that she is just one person. They could have devastated whole star systems, as the Empire has been known to do.”

“It’s true,” a senator from Bakal, a planet on the rim that had just recently joined the Republic, chimed in. “My people have battled the Hekura several times over the centuries. The histories tell of them looting and pillaging many towns at once, attacking thousands of females, some of them not even mature enough to have offspring.”

“You know all the stories of your people are exaggerated,” scoffed a senator Mon Mothma couldn’t identify.

“What if they aren’t?” a Vespirin senator demanded. “Are we going to stand for this kind of genetic warfare? Think about the power of this weapon. In essence they have created no resistance. Why fight them if you’re one of them?”

“While I disagree with that statement,” Mon Mothma said, holding her hands up for quiet, “I will agree that may be what the Hekura were thinking. But the point is moot. The fact of the matter is this is the only course of action we could legally take. If we had done anything else we would be undermining the very foundation of what we have built this government on. We cannot attack a race over such a relatively minor incident. Again I will say: what has happened is an outrage, but the Counselor is just one person.” She exhaled noisily. “We may not have made any allies, but we have made no enemies, either. I think we will all agree we have enough enemies for the moment. We talk of undermining the ideals of the New Republic. But if we attacked them over this incident, the attack of a single woman who still lives and will recover fully, we would be no better than the forces we have fought and are still fighting to defeat. We must be better than that, or we will become what we say we stand against.”

***********

Leia flipped impatiently through the holonet frequencies again. “By the stars,” she grumbled to no one in particular. “With all the time and energy and credits that go into producing entertainment and information holos in the galaxy, why isn’t there ever anything interesting on?”

“I don’t know, “ a warm, throaty alto voice replied from the door. “I think it’s because a lot of the people who produce it just don’t know how to relate to the common person.”

Leia looked up. In the door stood a tall, willowy woman who had to be the combination of a couple of different species. She looked basically human, except her skin was a warm violet, her eyes were deep purple, and her hair was a rich burgundy. Leia hadn’t the faintest clue what this woman’s origins could be. Even so, she radiated a warmth and ease that made Leia trust her almost instantly.

The woman leaned casually against the doorjamb and carried a large bag. “I’m Dr. Kaja Ble’yss. May I come in?”

Leia nodded. “Please do. I’d get up to meet you, but my legs aren’t working all that well yet.”

Dr. Ble’yss waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about it. If the worst thing that happens to me today is that I have to walk all the way over to your bed to shake your hand, it will have been an extraordinarily good day.”

Before Leia could offer her hand, however, the exotic doctor lightly set the bag she was carrying in Leia’s lap. “I come bearing gifts,” she divulged almost gleefully.

“I really can’t…” Leia began.

“Please, I insist,” Dr. Ble’yss said, sounding like she’d be hurt if Leia didn’t accept the gift.

Leia gave the doctor a measured look, and then skeptically reached into the bag.

It was a woven hat, tastefully decorated with ribbons and artificial flowers. She looked at the doctor questioningly.

“I heard about your hair, and I thought you might like something pretty to put on your head until it grows back.”

“I’ve never owned a hat before; Alderaanians just ornament their hair.” She placed the hat gingerly on her head. “How do I look?”

The doctor beamed. Her teeth were the palest shade of pink. “Wonderful. You’re not done. Open the rest of it.”

Leia fished around in the bag for a moment and come up with several scarves made of fine cloth. They ranged from very simple too highly patterned.

“There should be something there that matches just about anything in your wardrobe. Here, let me show you how to wear them.” She grabbed the most garish one, folded it, wrapped it around her head and tied it neatly behind one ear. “You can wear the knot anywhere, though I like it best behind one ear like this. You can also put a flower or other decoration through the knot. You just have to be creative.” She took the scarf off, ruffled her fingers through her hair, and held the scarf out to Leia. “Here, you try it.”

Leia politely rebuffed the doctor’s offer and chose one of the more delicately patterned scarves. She took her hat off and repeated the doctor’s motions, wrapping the scarf over the bandage/thermal cap and ended by flaring the loose ends of the scarf.

Dr. Ble’yss beamed again. “You are a beautiful woman, Leia. May I call you Leia?” Leia nodded. The doctor went on. “If I were so inclined, I’d be very attracted to you.”

Leia blushed slightly. “Thank you. For the compliment, and the gifts. They were very thoughtful. But I suspect, Dr. Ble’yss…”

“Kaja,” she interrupted

“Kaja,” Leia conceded, “that the main purpose of your visit was not just to deliver these gifts.”

Kaja smiled again, a little less brightly. “You’re a shrewd woman Leia. May I sit ?” Leia indicated the chair in response, and Kaja settled into it. “Dr. Rieekan asked me to come. I’m a psychiatrist.”

Leia couldn’t help but snort. “Forthright, aren’t we?”

“I believe in being totally honest and forthright with my patients. I believe it helps them heal faster.”

Leia sighed. “So why does Grace think I should see you?”

Kaja folded her hands over one knee. “She tells me you’re not sleeping well at night.”

Leia snorted again. “Oh that. It’s just that there’s nothing to do all day, so I sleep, and then I’m not tired at night.”

Kaja cocked a shapely eyebrow. “That’s all it is?”

Leia shrugged. “I don’t know what else it would be.”

“Ever have any trouble sleeping before…all this?” Kaja waved her hand vaguely, indicating the general situation.

“Sometimes…when I’m under a lot of stress or…or something like that.”

“Something like what?”

Leia, more used to shoving her own problems aside, suddenly felt very uncomfortable. An old instinct, the one that had caused all of those arguments with Han in days past reared its head. She became defensive.

“You want me to talk about the attack,” she accused.

“If that’s what’s keeping you from sleeping.”

Leia looked away, unable to say anything.

“Well, let’s talk about that,” Kaja said after a moment. “How are you dealing with it?”

Leia sighed noisily, running her hands over her face. “I’m not, I guess,” she said finally “I mean, I look at Han, and even Luke, and they both have this barely contained rage. I feel as if I should feel that way too, but…but I don’t. I don’t feel much of anything, really. It’s almost like this didn’t happen to me, and that it’s just a piece of datawork that I can just deal with briefly, you know, do the official stuff, and then forget about it.”

“Is that how you’ve dealt with everything that’s happened to you?”

Leia shrugged, toying with the scarves that still lay across her lap. “ I…I suppose.”

“Even the destruction of Alderaan?”

Leia winced, but said nothing.

Kaja drew a breath. “Leia, how old are you?”

“Twenty-nine.”

“Good heavens! You’ve been through an awful lot for someone your age, for someone any age. And if you’ve just been brushing them all aside… Well, a lesser person would have gone crazy by now.”

Leia glanced at the willowy therapist, her insides going colder and colder by the minute as all the horrible things she had experienced suddenly flooded over her.

“Leia, you can’t just let all these hurts pile up because they’re going to take their toll on you whether you realize it or not.” The doctor paused, and after a moment took Leia’s hand. “You’re not going to be able to work for a while. I see this as a great opportunity to deal with some of these things on a personal level.”

Leia sighed heavily, near tears. “I just…I feel like I’ve been in a haze ever since this happened. I just want to be myself again.”

“And you can be, but you have to be willing to go on a bumpy ride. Now, I’ll be there to catch you, but for it to work, you have to be willing to go as fast and as far as you can, and it’s going to be scary. Are you willing?”

Beyond words, Leia nodded, wiping away silent tears.

**********

Chewie emerged from the kitchen just as two delivery droids wheeled rather noisily in, carrying large bouquets of flowers. He growled inquisitively.

“I just thought they’d help her feel more at home,” Han replied.

Chewie commented that it wouldn’t matter how many flowers there were if they didn’t finish cleaning the apartment, which Han had kind of let go over the ten days Leia had been in the med center.

“Right you are pal. How’s the kitchen?” Han paid the droids and sent them on their way.

The Wookiee responded that it was probably cleaner than it had been in a long time and then asked about the state of the bedroom.

“Not bad, if I do say so myself. I even scented her pillow.” Han grinned. He couldn’t hide his glee. His wife was coming home today.

The door chimed. Knowing it was Luke, Han hit the door switch and headed over to arrange the flowers a bit more nicely. “C’mon in, Luke,” he called over his shoulder. “I’m gonna be another few minutes.”

Luke couldn’t help but laugh. “Heavens, Han, you’re busier than a mother aviops. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so…so…”

“Happy? Excited?” Han supplied. “I don’t think I have been. Don’t you get it? She’s gonna be okay! I don’t think I believed it until I knew she was coming home.” He looked at the flowers and realized he didn’t really have an eye for such things. “Threepio!” he bellowed. Luke jumped.

The golden droid appeared from Leia’s office. “Yes, Captain Solo?”

“Chewie, Luke and I are going to pick up Leia. Arrange these flowers, and take the other bunch into the bedroom and do the same.”

“Yes, sir. Oh, it will be good to have Mistress Leia home again.”

“You said it, Goldenrod,” Han beamed. “You said it.”

***********

“You don’t have anything overly elaborate planned, do you?” Leia eyed Han skeptically as she stepped carefully off the lift. Walking was a bit of a chore; she really had to think about it. She’d be going to the med center every other day for physical therapy for quite a while because of it.

“Of course not,” Han protested. “Just a nice quiet little dinner with your family. Here we are.” He opened the door with a flourish.

The smell of burning Alderaanian sweetbread met their noses.

“Chewie! I told you not to start that before we got home!” Han stormed off toward the kitchen, Chewie on his heels defending his actions.

Luke laughed. Leia smiled. It was nice to know some things didn’t change.

“How are you, Leia?” Luke asked as they sat down in the living area.

Leia shrugged. “Oh, I’m here. That sums it up, really.” She paused. “But how are you? I can never quite tell with you.”

Luke pursed his lips. “Oh, I was pretty upset when this first happened. I think if I hadn’t been so busy keeping Han from running off to hunt down the monster that did this to you, I may have just done it myself.” He flashed an embarrassed smile. “But mostly I’m just happy that you’re going to be okay.”

Leia sighed. “Physically, yes. I don’t know about mentally.”

Luke picked up his sister’s hand. “You’ll be fine. You’ve gotten through everything else that’s happened to you; you’ll get through this.” He paused. “Dr. Ble’yss told us about the ‘work’ the two of you are planning to do together. I think it’s a good idea.”

Leia fell back against her seat, looking and feeling defeated. “What does Han think?”

“Han wants what’s best for you. He wants you to be happy and healthy. If this is what it takes, he’s all for it.”

She smiled weakly, but it faded almost immediately. Luke felt his heart sink as he watched her already dim eyes flicker down yet a little more.

“I feel like my defenses have finally been breached, Luke,” she said softly after a few moments. “I’m scared. I fear I won’t ever be the same again.”

Luke drew her close for a hug. “Oh, dear Leia, you won’t be. This will change your outlook on life, without a doubt. But I believe, as does Dr. Ble’yss, that facing your demons will only make you stronger. I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”

**********

Leia had gone to freshen up shortly after Han had gone to bed, and he just assumed that she would follow. But when he rolled over shortly after midnight, she wasn’t there. More than a little worried, he went looking for her. He found her at the kitchen table drinking tea and reading a newspad.

“Hey sweetheart,” Han said gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Why aren’t you in bed?”

“I’m not tired,” she mumbled, fiddling with the pad.

“The doctor said it’s important that you get back on a regular sleeping cycle,” he chided gently as he massaged her shoulders. “C’mon, come to bed.”

Leia wrenched herself out of his grasp. “I said I’m not tired. Leave me be,” she snapped.

Han stepped back, stunned for an instant. He bit back the retort that formed on his tongue. Under normal circumstances, a little vocal sparring kept their relationship interesting, but Leia didn’t need that kind of stress right now, and quite frankly, neither did he.

“Leia,” he said tightly after a few moments, “you need to do what the doctor tells you.”

“The doctor be damned!” Leia declared, slamming her hand on the table. “The doctor doesn’t have a husband who expects her to be back to normal after she’s been violated in ways she doesn’t care to think about!”

Han was totally taken aback now. “Leia, I don’t…I never…” he stammered.

“Don’t try to deny it, Han. Luke even told me you want everything to be ‘just fine.’“

Han was trying valiantly to keep his anger under control. “Of course I do, but I never expected…”

Leia cut him off in mid-sentence, jumping to her feet and pacing away from him . “Well, you can just forget that thought, Han. Things are not ‘just fine.’ I don’t know that they’ll ever be ‘just fine’ again.” She paused a moment, and her breath became ragged. Her voice cracked when she spoke again, barely above a whisper. “I don’t see how you could ever want me like this anyway.”

Han’s demeanor instantly softened as he felt his still-mending heart break open again. “Sweetheart, that’s ridiculous.”

She wheeled around and looked at him for the first time. She choked back a sob. “Is it?” The tears ran freely down her face, and Han could see her start to tremble as her voice raced. “Look at me! I jump at the slightest sound, I can barely walk, I have scars everywhere, and my hair…” She placed both hands on her head and sobbed a few moments before pulling the scarf off, revealing the soft, downy hair that was just starting to grow back. “How could you love me looking like this?” she demanded before breaking down into uncontrollable sobbing.

Han, who had been at a loss for what to do or say through all of this, finally gave in to his instinct to comfort his wife. He went and gently put his arms around her and softly ran a hand over her head. “How can you think that?” he whispered softly. “You are still the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. And besides, I kinda like your hair this way; it brings out your bone structure.”

Leia shoved him away, shooting him a hurt, I-can’t-believe-you-just-said-that look before storming off to her office and locking the door.

Han just stood looking after her, wondering what the hell had just happened.

***********

Sevoab stood in front of the long panel of Hekuran elders. They represented many different generations as witnessed by their different configurations of snout and fang size, fur length and coarseness, and even body mass and structure. Some were short and fat, some thin and wiry, some more hulking like Sevoab himself. Some were nearly hairless, others had very little skin showing. Sevoab noted with bitterness that the elders, whose main purpose was to promote homogeneousness in the Imperium, were as heterogeneous as the galaxy they wished to assimilate.

The long dim granite hall was devoid of color. A damp chill hung in the air that the heat/illumination units could do little to reduce. Sevoab’s talons clicked on the stone floor as he stepped to the center of the room as the chief elder Bodoh called him forward.

“Before the Elders pass judgement on you, Warrior Sevoab,” Bodah croaked, “do you have anything to say in your defense?”

Sevoab noted that he had not been referred to as Seed-Prince. “Yes, Elder.” He had to force his voice from his throat. He drew himself up to his full menacing height and heaved in a breath. He had practiced this speech from the moment he found out that there would be an inquiry into the events that had caused them to be dispelled from New Republic space. He knew he was not an eloquent creature; he hoped what he had to say would be enough. “I have fulfilled my duty,” he began. “That the results were not what you wanted or expected does not matter.”

Most of the elders regarded him coolly, but he saw Takaro’s eyes bore into him, and his resolve faltered slightly. He stammered. “But…but what you decide to do with me or whoever you decide to blame for this incident, in the end, will make no difference. The New Republic is a vast domain, much larger than the Hekuran Imperium, with many worlds and peoples. I have been to their capital, I have seen the representatives of these worlds. The Hekura are a strong people, but we are fools to believe that we could become one with the New Republic the way we have become one with other worlds. There are many, many more of them.”

Sevoab swallowed. This next part had been a hard realization for him, and it was going to be even harder for the elders to accept. But it had to be said. He glanced up. Takaro was still glaring at him; his gaze seemed even more deadly than it had before. “Even if we could successfully invade them, we would not be able to hold them the way we have held other systems. We value sameness. They obviously do not. I believe it would be best to try to find a way to live alongside the New Republic, instead of trying to become one with them.”

No one spoke, but a rustling went through the gathered elders and dignitaries. However, Sevoab could feel the weight of the stares on him. It made his shoulders sag. He knew his words would fall on indifferent ears, but they needed to be said. Even so, he had expected some arguing, an admonishment at least. But this stony silence, it was almost the worst option, almost an unspoken affirmation that his remarks had fallen on deaf ears.

Finally Bodah spoke. “Your comments are noted. It is the decision of the Elders that you, Warrior Sevoab, did not fulfill your duty as Seed-Prince, and as such, have kept the areas of space known as the New Republic from joining the Hekuran Imperium in a peaceful manner. Your punishment for these failings is banishment from the Imperium, the result of which being that you will be dishonored, your name will never be spoken in the Imperium again, and your soul will wonder forever, never knowing peace.”

Sevoab hung his head. He had known this was coming, but even so, it was crushing. It was the worst thing that could happen to a warrior.

Bodah gestured to a hulking guard. “Make sure he is on a transport out of the Imperium within two days.”

The guard, slightly smaller than Sevoab, took his arm roughly. Sevoab wrenched it out of his grasp. “I can find my own way,” he growled.

The guard herded him toward the door, but two steps from it, he wheeled around and faced the panel again. “You will regret this day, Elders. Not because you have banished me, but because you did not heed my words. You will never triumph over the New Republic. Never!”

As the guard muscled him out the door, Sevoab caught sight of Takaro again. He was still glaring at him, but a twinkle had entered his eye.

**********

Han started from his sleep as Leia struck him across the face with the back of her hand. “Hey!” he retorted, his hand going to his nose, which had taken most of the blow.

Without even glancing over, he knew what was happening. Leia was having another nightmare. For as long as he’d known her, as long as he’d been sleeping with her anyway, she’d had nightmares. In truth, they both had, so this was no unfamiliar experience. But as he sat up to check on her, he was dumbstruck. Usually she just tossed and turned a bit, perhaps crying out occasionally. But this…she looked like she was trying to fight someone off. Her arms and legs went in every direction, and her head rolled back and forth on the pillow. Han felt his stomach turn over with fright, but he shook his head clear and went about trying to wake her up.

“Leia, sweetheart, come on, wake up,” he entreated, nudging her gently. “It’s just a dream. You’re safe.”

Leia sat up suddenly, her eyes wide, her now shoulder-length hair flying into and sticking to her perspiration-sheened face. Han grabbed onto her shoulders and shook her lightly. “Leia! It’s me! It’s Han. You’re safe. It was just a dream.”

She looked at him finally, realization registering and the panic leaving her face. She buried her face in her hands.

“It was just a dream, sweetheart,” Han repeated more calmly. “Can you tell me about it?” He caressed her shoulders.

She shook her head. “Just images, people…they were all trying to hold me down…” She broke into tears.

Han pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her and stroking her hair. She leaned against him, but didn’t embrace him back. Han found that somewhat odd, as her normal practice was to hold onto him very tightly, as if to reassure herself that he was really there.

Leia sobbed for a few moments, not saying anything, and then seemed to stop abruptly. Han found this strange as well; she usually spent some time talking, if not about the dream itself, then at least about how she still shouldn’t be halving these nightmares after all this time. At the very least, she would cry for quite a while, just getting it out of her system, all the while holding on to him as if for dear life.

But not now. Now she seemed nearly composed, and was pulling away from him somewhat. Not sure what to make of her behavior, Han just followed his instincts and brushed the tears from her cheeks. “You okay now?” He searched out her eyes with his own, but she avoided him.

She nodded slightly. “I’ll be fine.”

Skeptical, but unsure of what else to do or say, he assented, patting her shoulder. “Okay…”

He leaned in to kiss her softly, but she shrank away as if afraid of the intimacy. He furrowed his brow in bewilderment and dismay as he felt his stomach do yet another little flip. Drawing a measured breath, he tried a different approach. “Would you like me to make you some tea?” It was more of a plea than an offer of comfort.

She turned away and slipped out of bed. “No, I’ll do it. Thank you, though.”

Han’s heart was sinking lower and lower into his belly. It was as if she were falling away from him in slow motion. But no matter what he did, he couldn’t catch her. He tried again. “Would you like some company?”

“No, that’s alright,” she replied as she pulled her robe around herself. “I’m sure you have a lot to do tomorrow. Go back to sleep.” She left to follow what was becoming her habit of going to the kitchen in the middle of the night to drink tea and read.

Han watched the empty door for a long while, feeling totally helpless. His arms were empty, his bed was empty, and his heart ached more and more because the most precious person in the universe to him wouldn’t even let him comfort her.

Heartsick, but unsure of what else to do, Han lay back down and rolled over away from Leia’s side of the bed. But he didn’t sleep any more that night.

**********

Han went to Dr. Ble’yss’s office the next day shortly after lunch. He was a bit surprised to find no one in the reception area, not even a droid. After casting around for a bit trying to figure out what to do, he finally hit the intercom switch.

“Yes?” came a bewildered sounding voice.

“Dr. Ble’yss? This is Han Solo. I was wondering if I could speak with you for a few minutes?”

“Certainly, Captain. Please come in.”

Han entered the large, sunlit room filled with various pieces of overstuffed furniture and objects d’art. Dr. Ble’yss was seated at a large plasticine desk in the far corner. She motioned him over and gestured to a chair opposite her.

“Please have a seat. Can I offer you something?”

Han settled warily into the chair she indicated. “No, thank you.”

She flashed an embarrassed grin at him. “I must apologize for there being no one to meet you. My reception droid is out being repaired. She totally messed up all of today’s appointments, and I had to reschedule them all myself. It’s kind a mixed blessing actually; several patients are missing sessions, but it gives me a chance to catch up on some datawork.” She waved a hand. “But enough about me. What can I help you with?”

Han scrubbed at the back of his neck in nervousness. “Well, it’s about Leia…”

Dr. Ble’yss grinned again. “I surmised that. What exactly about her?”

Han shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Well…she’s not handling this the way I would expect her to.”

The doctor’s brow furrowed. “And how do you expect her to be handling this?”

Han blew out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “I expected her to be a little withdrawn, a little jumpy, a little snippy, to have a little trouble sleeping…and she’s had all those problems to varying degrees, but…it’s more than that, she’s…she’s…” He hunted for the right word. “So…lost,” he finally came up with.

Dr. Ble’yss studied him with intense eyes. “What do you mean, lost?”

Han got up and started to pace. “I mean…lost. She doesn’t talk to anybody, not even me. I think you’re the only person she’s said more than three sentences to at one time since she’s gotten out of the med center. And she doesn’t do anything. She goes to physical therapy when she’s supposed to, comes to see you when she’s supposed to, but otherwise she sits at home and reads. And she doesn’t even read to relax. She reads newspads and official documents…” He shook his head.

“She could be looking for a sense of normalcy in her life,” the doctor suggested. “She wants very much to get back to her normal duties, and keeping abreast of issues may be a way of feeling like she’s on top of things. Did she read for pleasure before the attack?”

Han shook his head. “She didn’t have the time.”

“Well there you go. She isn’t doing it now because it wasn’t a big part of her life before.”

Han sighed, pacing around a bit more. “It isn’t just that. It’s like…she’s afraid of me. She won’t let comfort her, or even touch her! Last night…” He flushed a bit, obviously embarrassed, but his sense of love and duty to his wife drove him on. “Last night, she had another nightmare, a particularly violent one; she woke me up. I tried to comfort her, and she wouldn’t let me…she wasn’t acting like herself. Usually when she has a nightmare, she either cries for a long time or she talks about anything and everything. Not last night. Last night she composed herself and went off to have some tea.” He turned to look out a window, not even able to look at the doctor anymore. “She wouldn’t even let me kiss her.”

Dr. Ble’yss exhaled noisily and pulled her hair back away from her face. “Captain Solo, please, have a seat.”

Numbly emptied of his burden, Han trudged back to his chair and nearly collapsed into it. It took a lot of effort just to look at the doctor.

Dr. Ble’yss pursed her lips and spread her hands. “First of all, I need you to understand that consciously, in her logical mind, Leia still loves you very much, and knows that you feel the same way about her and that you mean her no harm and only want the best for her. Underneath all the pain and hurt and confusion that she’s experiencing right now, you are still the most important being in the universe to her. But she’s going to have to work through all of that before she can really resume that relationship with you.”

Han shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

The doctor sighed. “I often say there’s more than one victim in a crime of this sort. There’s the victim herself, but the people close to her, especially a spouse or significant other, are often deeply affected as well.” She swallowed. “There’s two main forces at play here. The first is Alderaan’s view of rape. Rape was a very rare crime on Alderaan, and when it did happen, it was usually a case where the perpetrator was in love with the victim and the victim didn’t love him back. Of course, love isn’t something that can be taken, so rape was a very serious crime. And, as I said, when it did happen, it was very personal. This was a very impersonal attack.” She paused. “Then, more directly, there is your relationship with her. You see, you are Leia’s mate. You are her chosen life partner, and perhaps more importantly, the father of her children. You represent to her the virile male of her species. And that’s what her attacker was; he was the representative virile male of his species, so subconsciously, she equates the two of you. That’s why she’s afraid to have you touch her. When you touch her, especially in an affectionate manner, like a kiss or a caress, it starts warning bells going off in her subconscious mind: ‘Warning! This person wants to do something to me; he wants to make me the mother of his child, and I don’t want that to happen.’ Never mind that she’s already chosen to have children with you in the past. You represent the virile male to her, and the virile male of another species has tried to force this on her.”

Han wrinkled his brow, confused. “That’s crazy.”

Dr. Ble’yss shook her head. “No, it’s not. It’s actually very logical if you think about it. Like I said, her conscious mind knows that you mean nothing but the best for her, but the subconscious mind is often more powerful.” She looked thoughtful for a moment. “Can I ask you a horribly personal question, Captain Solo?”

Han shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “If it’ll help Leia, I suppose so.”

“How physical is your relationship with your wife? How often does that come into play?”

Han cleared his throat, gathering his courage. “Well, when we’re actually on the same planet, fairly often; several times a week. But we spend a lot of time apart, so we burn a lot of credits on holo-calls.”

The doctor nodded her head with interest. “Uh-huh. And how early on in your relationship were you intimate?”

Han picked a carved knick-knack off of her desk and rolled it between his hands. “That’s kind of a complicated question. To me, it was fairly soon, only a couple weeks. To her, it was more like a year.”

Dr. Ble’yss looked confused for a moment, and then realization lit up her face. “Oh yes, I’d forgotten about your carbonation.”

Han dropped the object from one hand to the other and looked her square in the face. “Trust me, when it happens to you, you don’t forget.”

She held up a hand in apology. “I didn’t mean it that way. We haven’t talked much about the early part of your relationship, and in truth, the only reason I know that is because I’ve read your bio.” She paused, spoke almost to herself for a moment. “So you’ve been intimate nearly all along. Hmmmm.” She looked up. “How did you…woo her, so to speak?”

Han snorted out a laugh. “You haven’t heard that story?”

“I was a civilian during the war, Captain. I still am; I just happen to work at a government hospital.”

Han put the carving back on the doctor’s desk and gestured a bit with his hands. “We always had this underlying …sexual tension….between us. We both denied it for a long time, years even. We took it out on each other by getting on each other’s nerves and having rather loud disagreements.” He smiled at the memory. “There were bets going on about when either one of us would kill the other, or we’d finally get together. I think the whole Alliance knew about us before we did.”

Dr. Ble’yss smiled. “And what happened? What caused you to stop wanting to kill each other and start wanting to kiss each other, so to speak?”

Han shrugged. “I don’t know really. One minute we were snipping at each other like we had in the past, and the next we were kissing. Everything changed after that.” He shook his head. “In a way, we never really stopped fighting. We just make up afterward now.”

The doctor laughed, deep and low in her throat. “That’s what you need to do then. You need to find non-physical ways of showing your affection and support for her. You said she doesn’t talk much; verbally engage her. Don’t pick on her or anything, but get her talking. Talk about the weather, or the garden, or what you had for breakfast. Neutral subjects. Maybe even political subjects. And don’t touch her unless you’re one hundred percent sure she wants you to.” The ideas began to flow from her in a rush now. “Maybe do some things you haven’t done before; send her flowers, leave her little notes around the house. Just don’t attach any strings to them, don’t say anything like, ‘I’m looking forward to seeing you tonight,’ just say things like ‘I love you,’ or ‘You look really good in that dress you’re wearing today,’ or something like that. Let her know you’re there for her, but will respect her space. Oh, and one other thing. You’ve cut back on your hours at the Trade Commission, right?”

Han nodded, “I’ve basically only been working half days.”

“Uh huh. Go back to work full time. It’ll send two messages. First, that you’re not trying to crowd her, and second, that you’ve moved on with your life. While she may be the most important thing in your life, the event is not. You’ve put that behind you. It will hopefully give her the idea that that’s something she needs to do as well.”

Han frowned. “She won’t feel like I’ve abandoned her?”

“No, I don’t think so. Leia is very level-headed and has a lot of common sense. I’m fairly sure she’ll see this as something you need to do and won’t hold it against you. It may even motivate her to get up and do something everyday because you won’t be around for her to “entertain” so to speak.”

Han sat for a few moments just digesting all this. Unsure of what else to say, he looked up, and was about to thank the doctor when she broke in.

“Captain Solo, I know this is hard. This is not going to be a short or easy journey. But I assure you, underneath all the negative feelings that Leia’s experiencing right now, she’s still essentially the same person, and her feelings for you have not changed. After we have gotten through all this, your relationship will be very much the same. I can’t guarantee it’ll be exactly the same, but it will be very recognizable. But you have hang on tight and be willing to put up with her for right now.” She shook her head. “I’ve seen too many good relationships end because of something like this.”

Han smiled sadly. “Well, this one won’t. I’m afraid Leia’s stuck with me.”

Dr. Ble’yss smiled more brightly. “I’m glad to hear that.” They regarded each other for a moment. “Well, if there’s nothing else…”

Han rose to go. “No. Thank you very much for seeing me.”

“No trouble. I’ll be here anytime you need me.” She walked him to the door of her office. “Just keep loving Leia, Captain. That’s what she needs the most right now.”

**********

Two days later, Leia stood in front of one of the large windows in Kaja’s office, staring at the traffic buzzing down below the high tower. They were ten minutes into her session, and had only exchanged general pleasantries. After regarding her for a long time, Kaja finally broke the silence.

“So, are you still having nightmares?”

Leia glanced over her shoulder at the willowy doctor and then turned her gazed back to the traffic. “Occasionally.”

“When was the last one?”

Leia shrugged marginally. “A day or two ago.”

Kaja crossed her legs. “What was it about?”

Leia spoke barely above a whisper, still trying to make sense of the terrifying dream herself. “It was incoherent, really. Faces…they were all trying to hold me down.”

Kaja made a few notes and then asked gently, “Was one of the faces Han’s?”

Leia felt a spark run through her. She snapped her face toward the counselor. “How did you know that?”

Kaja didn’t answer right away. Finally, she gestured to the sofa. “Come sit down Leia.”

Leia perched on the edge of the sofa. Kaja continued. “Han came to see me the other day. He was concerned about how you’ve been dealing with things…”

A flash of anger crossed Leia’s features. “He just wants me to be ‘all better.’” She felt her throat starting to close. Before she could go on, Kaja finished what she had begun telling her.

“He was most concerned with how you’ve been treating him.”

Leia covered her face with a hand, shame washing over her. “I guess I haven’t been very nice to him. He’s just been so…annoying since all of this happened.”

“Hasn’t he been any better lately?”

Leia pursed her lips. “A bit, in the past few days at least. He’s gone back to work full time.” She smiled suddenly, brightening. “He sent me flowers yesterday. We’ve been married almost four years, and were together nearly three years before that, and he has never sent me flowers.”

Kaja smiled. “How did that make you feel?”

Leia bit her lip, pondering. “I don’t know…happy, I guess. Warm. That’s the best way to describe it. Warm.”

“But you’re still afraid of him.”

“No! I…” Leia looked down at her hands and spoke very softly as the realization washed over her like a cold water shower. “Maybe a little.” She buried her face in her hands, the shame returning. “I shouldn’t be…he’s my husband. He loves me…he would never…”

“Leia,” Kaja reached forward and gently placed a hand on her knee. “It’s not that uncommon to feel this way. Han understands. Now you need to understand. Han is your sexual partner, the father of your children. He is everything your attacker was trying to become. In a way, he represents your attacker because of that.”

Leia looked up, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. “I guess that makes sense,” she whispered. She swallowed hard against her tears, pushing down the despair that this realization brought with it. She paced away from Kaja’s warm presence, unable to look the perception the doctor represented in the face just yet. “I’ve never wanted that kind of intimacy with anyone other than Han,” she finally managed.

“And so you feel like that kind of special feeling that you have with him is somehow ruined, spoiled,” Kaja observed.

Leia nodded. “In a way.”

“And the idea of doing that again, even with, or perhaps especially with Han, makes you feel…afraid…dirty.”

Leia let out an audible sob as Kaja yet again seemed to peer directly into her soul. “I don’t think I ever want to have sex again, Kaja.”

Kaja smiled to herself. “You will. Probably not today or tomorrow, but you will. And nobody says you have to until you’re ready.”

Leia turned back to face the doctor, wiping her eyes. “I hope I’m not letting Han down.”

Kaja shook her head. “Leia. In talking to Han, and listening to you talk about him, I think I’m pretty safe in saying that he’s willing to wait until you’re good and ready. He might get a little frustrated; might have to take things into his own hands, so to speak, once or twice.” Leia grinned. “But I’m fairly certain he won’t try anything until you’re ready.”

Leia’s emotions began to settle down, and she wandered back toward the window. Unconsciously, she fingered the pendant she’d worn today. She’d picked it mostly because it went well with the outfit she was wearing, not really thinking about its significance. The holographic locket flipped on, revealing a portrait of herself holding her two children.

Leia peered at the holo for a long moment, and then shut it off, letting the pendant fall back to her bosom. “Kaja, what if I had become pregnant because of this?”

Kaja, a bit startled by the question, looked up suddenly. “But you didn’t. That’s the important thing.”

Leia whirled around to face Kaja accusingly. “But what if I had? How would I have dealt with it? How would Han have dealt with it?” Her voice was shrill, demanding, almost hysterical.

Kaja shook her head. “Leia, you can’t wallow in a sea of what-ifs. You’ll drive yourself crazy. You can only deal with what did happen, and that didn’t.”

Leia seemed to deflate onto the window seat. Her trembling hands closed around the locket. “You know, sometimes I don’t feel like a mother. My children are nearly a year old, and I’ve been with them perhaps…four weeks out of that time.” She squeezed the locket, as if it could give her strength. “Do you realize that most people consider my children to be the New Republic equivalent of what the Hekura were trying to create by attacking me?” Her whole body was shaking now, and tears started to spill down her cheeks. “The next great hope. The new generation of the Jedi. That’s why I can’t be with them now. They’d be corrupted.” She looked up, freely crying now. “Sometimes I wish they could just be children.”

In despair, she beat her fists on the transparisteel window. “Why does everything in my life have to affect the whole galaxy?” she demanded of the traffic. “Why can’t I have something that’s just mine? I don’t even have control over my own body!”

Kaja jumped from her seat, quickly striding to Leia’s side. “Yes, you do. For one brief moment it was ripped from you, but you do have control over your own body. Leia, you’re one of the deadliest women in the galaxy, do you know that? I’ve read your military record; you’re a force to be reckoned with.” She brushed Leia’s hair from her face. “Am I right?”

Leia nodded, sniffling. “I suppose.”

“I mean think about it. That guy was twice your size and three times your mass. If he was anybody else, you probably would have made short work of him.”

Leia smiled through her tears. “Probably.” She looked away, out the window again, collecting her emotions and finally beginning to feel more calm. She turned to Kaja and stated matter-of-factly, “You know, I always knew my life wouldn’t really be my own. But when it started affecting other people around me…” She trailed off, and then started again with a different tack. “I always thought that at least some aspects of my life would be under my power, but since this happened…I feel so out of control, so lost. Like I’ve never even seen the instruments, much less flown the ship.”

Kaja took her hand. “That’s because someone took that power from you. You have to take it back, and convince yourself it’s yours to keep.”

Leia’s eyes filled with tears again as the horrible twilight of helplessness enveloped her. “I don’t know how to do that.”

Kaja looked into the pained eyes of her patient, feeling a bit helpless herself. Suddenly, an idea came to her. “You’ve been studying to be a Jedi, haven’t you?”

“I haven’t kept up with it.”

“Perhaps it’s time you went back to it. Maybe Luke and the Force can help you find your path. Help you realize that you’re not alone and you are in control.”

Leia nodded, “I’ll try it.”

A soft chime went off, signaling the end of their session. Kaja confirmed Leia’s next appointment and sent her on her way, telling her to keep her chin up.

Kaja watched her go, hoping her advice had been sound.

**********

“The Golden Age of the Hekura is within our grasp,” Takaro addressed the panel of Elders. “We must not let this minor setback keep us from realizing it.”

Bodah drew a rasping breath. “Are you sure we are not being too hasty, Ambassador? The prophecies speak of a time when we will be welcomed with open arms. Obviously that is not the case with the New Republic.”

Takaro slammed his fist on the table. “They will welcome us with open arms, of that I am sure. We need only convince the woman.”

Athnos, an elder from the capital city of the Hekura homeworld, pulled the wooden flavor-stick from between his fangs and jabbed it in Takaro’s direction. “What makes you so sure of that? Their government has stated that our presence in their space will be viewed as an act of war. And they have proven themselves to be worthy adversaries. I am not convinced we could defeat them if it came to war.”

Takaro snorted. “Are you speaking of the woman? She is frail and weak, as they all are. I could have taken her myself in only one strike.”

“I am not speaking of that, Ambassador,” Athnos responded gravely. “I am speaking of the many victories they have had against other foes.”

A palpable silence hung in the air as Takaro fought for a response. “We are not other foes, Elder,” he finally managed.

Heeg, a brutish elder from an outer province, laughed heartily. “That is the truth! I say we move forward! Kidnap the woman until she births, if necessary.”

“I don’t know,” Botta, a thin, wiry elder from an outer world of the Hekuran Imperium chimed in. “Frankly, I doubt that would work. Considering what happened last time, the woman would probably go to drastic measures, maybe even kill herself, before allowing herself to bear a Hekuran child. Perhaps a different tactic is needed with this domain. Their biggest enemy is still the Galactic Empire. Maybe if we joined with them…”

“That would never work!” Takaro roared. “They would never accept us! They would make slaves of us. Elders,” Takaro extended his hands, as if pleading and drawing them in all at the same time. “It has been my dream since I was Seed-Prince to see the Golden Age of the Hekura in my lifetime. It is ripe fruit ready for the harvesting. We need only pluck it down. Please. You must allow me at least make another try. I can make this work. I can convince them.”

Bodah ran his claws through his sparse hair. “Very well, Ambassador. You may have another chance. But do nothing to put the Imperium at risk. Do not venture into their space. Do not take an armada, or even more warriors than you need as personal bodyguards. And if you fail this time, it will be the last mistake you make.”

**********

There was a newscast blaring from the comm of the transport Sevoab was on. They had just taken off and were waiting to be far enough out of the planet’s gravity well before heading into lightspeed. Sevoab wasn’t paying much attention to the broadcast; he was too preoccupied with what he was going to do now. They were taking him to Ziaya, a desolate world where dishonored warriors were normally sent. He’d never been there, but Sevoab had heard stories of horrible violence, subsistence farming, long cold winters, and short, hot summers. He was no farmer, he was a warrior! He wondered where he would fit in on this world of lost souls…

“In political news, the Council of Elders has granted Ambassador Takaro permission to try again in bringing the New Republic into the Imperium.”

Sevoab’s ears perked up at that. This was just speculation, right? The announcer went on, “The Ambassador had no comment other than to say that he had no immediate plans, but hoped to put something into action soon.”

Sevoab felt the rage seethe through him. How dare that doddering old fool try this again? Didn’t he know that he was just going to bring down the Imperium? The Imperium that Sevoab had been willing to sacrifice himself for? Sevoab knew he couldn’t let that happen.

He ripped the restraints holding him to his seat with little trouble and clubbed the pilot over the head with his wrist restraints. He pulled the limp body down the corridor and dumped it into the cargo hold. He locked himself into the cockpit, and turned the ship back toward the Hekuran homeworld.

***********

With trembling fingers, Leia extended her hand toward the stone that sat on the edge of the small pond in her garden. With a small squelching noise, it lifted itself out of the mud a few centimeters, but drifted back down before it had even gotten above the ground. Leia sighed and dropped her hand into her lap. “You said this was supposed to be easy,” she complained to Luke, who was sitting beside her.

Luke smiled knowingly. “Once you figure it out it is. It’s figuring it out that’s hard.”

Leia rolled her eyes. “Now you tell me.”

Luke smiled again. Slowly, surely, Leia was beginning to become herself again, especially when she was with him. Now, some three months after the attack, she even looked mostly like herself. She had most of her hair back, and was wearing it up, coiled around her head in the usual way. He had noticed, however, that she was still somewhat skittish around Han, but he had confided in Luke that he’d actually made her laugh the other day. Han had seemed absolutely giddy when he’d told him that, and Luke’s heart had warmed as well. These Jedi lessons had really done her well. As she became stronger in the Force, she became more confident in herself and those around her.

He nudged her gently. “Give it another go. I know you can do it.”

She heaved a sigh. “All right…”

Extending her hand, the stone again began to slowly rise out of the mud. This time, however, it didn’t even clear the muddy hole into which it was nestled before settling back down. Frustrated, Leia growled through her teeth, and stormed up to the stone. She grabbed it, threw it high into the air, skirted out if its path, planted her hands on her hips and demanded, “Is that good enough, Master?” before breaking into laughter.

Sensing Leia’s mirthful mood, Luke broke into laughter himself, both at his sister’s antics and, perhaps more so, at her mirth and general good humor. This was a side of Leia that they all had been sorely missing recently. He strode over and wrapped her in a friendly hug as their collective laughter died.

“C’mon,” he said, patting her back. “I think it’s time for a different exercise.”

They went and sat under a small tree. “Get comfortable,” he instructed her as he tucked his legs up under him. Leia imitated his posture. “Now, close your eyes and relax all your muscles.”

Leia closed her eyes, but Luke could see she was still sitting rather stiffly. He frowned to himself. “Leia, I said relax.” He went and put his hands on her shoulders and willed a few calming thoughts to her. As her muscles began to ease beneath his fingers, he began to instruct her. “I want you to immerse yourself in the Force. I want you to reach out and feel it within yourself, in me, in this tree, in the plants in this garden, in the insects and amphibians in that pond, out to all the people on this planet, and in the galaxy. As far as you can reach. Just let yourself drift in the Force, and let it take you where it wants to go.”

As Luke felt her slip further and further into her meditation, he also felt her become more and more at peace with herself. The darkness that had plagued her for so long was receding. The light was winning. Luke could feel it radiating from her; so much so that it warmed his hands. He let himself float in the surf of the peaceful, happy emotions emanating from her and reflected them back.

After a long few moments, she opened her eyes and smiled at him. “What did you see?” he asked.

“My mother,” she replied, her smile broadening. “Jiselle Organa. She was brushing my hair. I had a nursemaid, but my mother always insisted on brushing my hair before bed. It was our little time together every day. She was telling me how mature I’d been at court that day. I was seven, and it was the first day I’d been officially presented at court. She was telling me how proud she was of me and how I represented hope to Alderaan.” Her smile grew a little sad. “That made me feel so proud and grown up…and happy.”

“It doesn’t make you feel sad?” Luke asked, a little perplexed.

“It should, shouldn’t it? But it doesn’t.” She spoke in earnest now. “You see, I’ve always represented hope to somebody for some reason or another. But in my efforts to try to live up to that, I’ve sometimes forgotten what it feels like to have it myself. Especially here lately…the idea itself has seemed foreign.” She swallowed against forming tears. “But listening to my mother, I actually felt it again. I knew what it was like to have hope. And in that instant,” her voice caught in her throat, “I felt like myself again. Luke…for the first time…I think I’m actually going to get through this.”

Luke felt his heart leap as he squeezed her shoulders. “I never doubted it for an instant.”

***********

“And then!” Leia sat in Kaja’s office, recalling the events of the past few days. She was almost giddy. “After he left, I found this little note that said, ‘Your smile is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.’ I haven’t felt that good in…oh, I don’t even remember how long!”

Kaja smiled broadly. “It sounds like you had a really good day.”

Leia nodded enthusiastically. “The first one in too long.”

Kaja leaned back in her chair. “Have you thanked Han?”

Leia sighed, her mood suddenly deflating. “No. I suppose I should do that.” She shook her head. “I haven’t been very nice to him lately.”

“Are you still so afraid of him?”

Leia paused, searching her thoughts to find the right words to express what she felt. “I don’t know that I’m afraid of him so much as I’m afraid of opening myself up to him…of losing control, physically or emotionally.” She shook her head sadly. “I can’t imagine what this might be like for him.” She paused, considering what she had just said. “No, I take that back. I have a very good idea what he’s going through.” She covered her eyes, swallowing a sob that formed as the despair washed over her again. “I’m going to have to find a way to make all this up to him.”

“How do you know what it is he’s going through?” Kaja asked gently.

“It must be a lot like what I went through after he’d been carbonized,” she replied, the all-too-familiar pit in her stomach forming again. “That year he was gone…I think that’s the hardest thing I’ve ever been through, maybe even harder than this. Everything I’d been through up to that point, even the destruction of Alderaan, I’d found a way to deal with it. It was over and done with, and I could find a way to move on, even if it was only by ignoring it. But with that…there were too many uncertainties.” Her breathing grew ragged. “He was alive…but I didn’t know where he was or what he was going through.” She blinked back the forming tears, but several escaped to slide down her cheeks. “All I knew was that I loved him… and the feeling I had with him…” She trailed off, unable to speak for a few moments as the emotions roiled around in her stomach and made her head spin. “I was going to get him back, or I was going to die trying,” she finally choked out. She took a sip of water to steady her breathing and force down the lump in her throat.

But it rose again, this time as a result of a mixture of old and new anger. She leaned forward and tapped the end table, speaking in a hush. “That was the first time that I allowed myself to be angry with him for everything he’d done to me. This time it was personal.”

“Be angry with whom?” Kaja asked, looking perplexed.

“Vader.” Leia spat the word in disgust. “Do you know that this is the first disaster in my life that he hasn’t been at least indirectly responsible for?” She looked away, the anger and despair threatening to overtake her. She felt as if she were imploding in slow motion and couldn’t stop. “How dare he? And to his own daughter, no less?”

“What?” Kaja asked in a hushed voice.

“Oh, haven’t I told you that little tidbit?” Leia replied bitterly. “Yeah. He tortured me within a centimeter of my life, destroyed my homeworld, took the only man I ever loved from me, and tried, I don’t know how many times, to kill my brother, and I’m his daughter! I always knew I was adopted, but I never imagined that my natural father would be the most evil thing that the galaxy has ever seen!” She dissolved into tears, unable to control her anger and bitterness any longer.

Kaja moved to Leia’s side and rubbed her back, unsure of what to say. “Why is my life such a soap-opera, Kaja?” Leia asked between sobs.

Kaja shook her head. “Part of it’s your parentage. Part of it’s your position. You’re a victim of circumstance, Leia. But like I said, a lesser person would have crumbled under what you’ve endured. You’ve done remarkably well. Flourished at times.”

Leia sighed deeply, finally beginning to calm down as the emptiness that comes after crying began to fill her being. “How do I get back to flourishing?”

Kaja drew a breath. “Only you really know the answer to that. But we’ve made some real progress, and by getting in touch with some tangent things that are obviously still very sensitive issues for you, we’ve made even more progress today. I told you the road wouldn’t be easy, Leia, but your rate of improvement is incredible. I’ve had patients that have been through a lot less than you have still be practically catatonic at this point. I’m not saying that we still don’t have a long road ahead of us, but you’ve taken a huge step today by acknowledging the anger you still feel for the things that have happened to you in the past. You are going to get better Leia, I can promise you that. You just have to hang on and have hope.”

***********

Leia puffed as she jogged alongside Luke. “How come you’re not sweating?” she panted.

“Because I’m letting the Force do most of the work for me,” he replied. “There was a time when you could do this too,” he chided gently.

“Stop, stop,” she called from behind him as he got ahead. He turned around to find her leaning against the wall of the sports facility they were using, struggling to get her breath back.

“Leia?” He jogged over. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” she grunted through long pants. “I thought this was just going to be a friendly run. But then,” she laughed bitterly, “that’s silly. Everything’s a Jedi lesson when I’m with you.”

“Leia…” Luke could feel the anger emanating from her. He had to take a step back.

Leia turned away, visibly exhaling. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for.”

Luke chewed the inside of his cheek, pondering. Leia’s progress had been very much up and down recently, and he was becoming very concerned about how much she was struggling. When she was really calm and centered, she was very good, nearly as good as he. But as she struggled, so did he. Being calm when it came to Leia was not an easy thing. She had always been very special to him, not only as his sister but also as his friend. That she was struggling with so many inner demons right now made his heart ache, and he found himself wrestling with his own demons as well. Was he doing the right thing in teaching her? There were so many things he didn’t know himself. Just how close to the Dark Side were they? How much of a potential did they have for it? How many of their own emotions could they really have, and to what degree?

Luke felt Leia’s anger slip away as he went and put a hand on her shoulder. “No, you’re right, at least somewhat. I sometimes forget that I’m not just your master, but your brother and your friend, too.” She turned to look at him, a look of gratitude and relief spreading over her face. “If you don’t want to do any Jedi exercises today, we don’t have to.”

She smiled at him. “No… I think it might be a good idea. Just what I need today.”

He grinned back. “Okay. For a Jedi there is only peace…calm. Lose yourself in the Force.” Leia shut her eyes and Luke felt her inner calm return. “Good. Now…let’s go. Let the Force do the work for you.”

They started off at a moderate run, and were most of the way around the track before Luke threw his next command at her. “Okay…good. Now, leap.”

She shot a look at him. “Leap?”

“You heard me.”

Luke felt something flash in Leia, but she took a couple more steps and launched herself into a forward somersault. She seemed to be back in control by the time she landed. “Good,” he called from two steps behind her. “Now do two more.”

As Leia leapt into the air this time, Luke definitely felt her anger flare up. It increased on her second somersault and kept increasing as she, without prompting from Luke, continued on with a series of backflips, cartwheels and somersaults. “Leia!” He called after her. “Leia, stop!”

Leia landed her last backflip facing Luke, and what he saw in her eyes and felt from her sense scared him. She was livid, and not at anything in particular.

He jogged up to her and took her by the shoulders. “Leia, you have to calm down. You have to be at peace when you use the Force. What are you so angry about?”

She shook her head, trembling with the intensity of her rage. “I don’t know,” she hissed through gritted teeth. “I just know I am.”

“Well, you need to get control over it. That much anger can lead you down the path of the Dark Side.”

She wrenched out of his grasp. “I’m tired of living in a vacuum, Luke,” she snapped at him. “I get exhausted trying to control my emotions, and I feel empty from being afraid of having any at all.”

“I admit it can be frustrating at times…”

“Frustrating??” Leia’s brow knitted as she began to tremble again. Her voice dropped to a deadly whisper. “Luke, you have no idea. You have no idea at all.”

She turned on her heel and headed off toward the locker room as Luke could only stand there flustered, at a loss to explain what had just happened.

**********

Sevoab left Takaro’s security droid in a broken heap behind him as he crept up the garden path to the Ambassador’s lavish home. Ducking behind a large bush, he peered up at the terrace overlooking the garden. He could see no lights coming from the part of the house that faced him. Taking a glance over his shoulder, he headed up toward the house.

Hopping over the railing on the terrace, Sevoab found himself facing a large glass door. He sighed; he did not want to have to break that door. Maybe he’d get lucky and the lock would break under his strength. Taking a firm grip on the handle, he drew a breath and heaved.

The door came open much easier than he’d anticipated; he had to take a step back to keep from losing his balance. The door hadn’t been locked. Shaking his head, he stepped inside and silently shut the door behind him.

It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dark room. He was in the Ambassador’s study. There was a desk to his right, two couches in the center of the room, and various decorative weapons on the walls.

But as he explored his surroundings, a great terror began to settle over Sevoab’s shoulders. Now that he was here, what was he going to do? He hadn’t really thought that far ahead. Should he go looking through the house for Takaro? Maybe he wasn’t even home. Then what? He really had no desire to harm anyone, especially the innocents of Takaro’s staff.

But Sevoab didn’t have to make up his mind, for as he stood there pondering what to do, the lights flipped on, and the diplomat himself stood in the doorway.

“What are you doing here?” Takaro demanded. “You’ve been banished.”

Sevoab quickly gathered his wits around him again and spoke the words that had been foremost in his mind since the moment he had decided to come here. “I have come to keep you from destroying my homeworld.”

Takaro snorted. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Yes you do.” Sevoab started walking slowly toward the older being, as if he were stalking him. “This is about the follow-up mission you are planning to the New Republic. You will not succeed. You will only bring war to the Imperium. A war that we cannot win.”

“That’s nonsense,” Takaro huffed. But he took a step back.

“No it’s not. It’s the truth and you know it. It’s only your pride that’s keeping you from realizing it.” Sevoab continued his slow advance.

“We have been expanding the Imperium in this way for generations. It has always worked in the past, and it will work now.” Takaro took another step back.

“No it won’t!” Sevoab grabbed him by his tunic and snarled in his face. “Before I became Seed-Prince, I had never been outside the Imperium; I knew no other way. But in seeing the vast peoples and resources of the New Republic, I knew there was no way we could ever conquer them; if they didn’t embrace us willingly, it wouldn’t work. We could never become one race with them. We are barely one race ourselves.”

“Listen you little…” Takaro blustered.

Sevoab shook him like a rag doll. “No, you listen. This grand experiment of the Founders has failed, and by continuing to try to make it work, we will only bring destruction upon ourselves.”

“No!” Takaro kneed Sevoab in the belly and freed himself from the warrior’s grasp. Sevoab fell to the floor, prostrate. “You do not know of what you speak,” Takaro hissed.

Sevoab glared up at him, rage seething past the pain. “I know that you are no more Hekura than I am; the Founders were meter-high rodents whose only real strength was their ability to mate with practically anything.”

Takaro kicked Sevoab in the head, knocking him over. “How dare you speak ill of the Founders? You are nothing but a kotap, a banished one.”

“How can I be disrespectful by speaking the truth?” Sevoab challenged. He climbed to his feet, brushing the blood from his eyes. “And it is the truth about the New Republic, you impotent excuse for a warrior, that you cannot face, because you know it will be the end of what little power you have left. But it is that truth that brings me here today, because I am not going to let you destroy what is left of my homeworld; the homeworld that I have dedicated my life to, that I have sent my friends to their deaths for, that I was willing to give up that it might live on. You are not going on that mission, Takaro, and I will kill you if it comes to that.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Takaro snarled.

Sevoab grabbed the smaller being and threw him against the wall. “What have I got to lose?” he challenged back.

Takaro didn’t answer; he just stood for a long moment glaring into Sevoab’s eyes as if daring him to do more. Sevoab was about to prod him for an answer when he felt the sliver of pain in his neck. And then the darkness came….

**********

Takaro stepped over the collapsed carcass of the young warrior to signal for his housekeeping droid. “Just your head, Seed-Prince,” he growled.

The droid arrived. “Dispose of the body, and replace this carpet, along with anything else the blood may have gotten into,” he instructed it. “Oh, and polish this up,” he handed it the ceremonial rapier he had pulled from the wall.

He turned and addressed Sevoab’s severed head as the droid began to pull the body from the room, a satisfied smile creeping over his face as he spoke. “Now, as tradition dictates, I assume the title as I have killed the Seed-Prince. The Golden Age of the Hekura will begin with me in every sense of the word.”

*********

Kaja drew a breath and stepped into the mechanic’s bay. She hoped she looked more confident than she felt. She’d been told he was here. She hoped he was. She had a thing or two to say to him.

There was a figure descending the ladder of the X-Wing that had been indicated to her. “Jedi Skywalker?” she called, more demand than request.

The figure dropped to the floor and pulled a rag from his jumpsuit and began wiping his hands. “Dr. Ble’yss, I’m surprised to see you here.”

“I thought you couldn’t surprise a Jedi,” she shot back hotly.

He smiled patiently. “Rarely. I mean…it’s unexpected to see you here”

“Well, I don’t normally come down here. In truth, it’s the first time I’ve ever been in a mechanic’s bay, but I need to talk to you.”

“Obviously. What can I do for you?”

Kaja forced herself to calm down even though her urge at the moment was to ream him out. But she decided the logical, professional approach would be the best one to start with. “What exactly have you been doing with Leia?”

Luke looked a tad bewildered. “I’ve been training her to be a Jedi, just like she and you asked me to.”

“And what’s all this nonsense about controlling her anger?”

“You have to,” he replied calmly. “Anger is the quickest path to the Dark Side. Having Leia fall would be disastrous.”

Kaja heaved out an exasperated sigh. “I agree, but she’s not going to get better unless she can feel and deal with her anger.” She began to babble, everything in her head spilling out in a rush. “The healing process for this kind of a victim has very definite stages, and anger is one of the most important ones. If she can’t feel and deal with her anger, she won’t be able to move on with her life; she won’t be able to get to a place where she can deal with her emotions enough so she can do…whatever it is she has to do.”

“For a Jedi there is no passion, only peace,” Luke replied almost stoically.

Kaja pinched the bridge of her nose, trying valiantly not to lose her temper. She put herself into her best explaining mode, and, taking a few steps toward Luke, said, “Leia can’t be a Jedi right now. Her emotions are too much in turmoil.”

“Then what did you send her to me for?”

Kaja clasped her hands. “To get her to find a focused place where she wasn’t constantly assaulted by everything that’s happened to her. She lives with that continually now…her Jedi training and her therapy with me is all she does. When she’s with you, she’s not thinking about it; it’s a break, and she needs that.”

Luke wiped his brow with the rag he had wiped his hands on, leaving a smudge of grease on his forehead. “So what is it you want me to do?”

“When it comes up, let her feel whatever it is she needs to feel. Do what you have to do; pull her out of the Force or whatever, but let her feel the emotion. Pushing it down is only going to hurt her more.”

Luke chewed his lip, but nodded. “Okay.”

Kaja let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “Thank you.” She turned to go.

“Dr. Ble’yss?” Luke called her back.

“Yes?”

“When can I start training her as a real Jedi again?”

Kaja swallowed a lump that suddenly formed in her throat. “I don’t know. Soon I hope.”

***********

Han returned from the fresher to find Leia tossing in bed. He sighed. It was going to be another one of those nights. She’d have a nightmare, wake up, rebuff him, and go off and have some tea, and then pretend the whole thing never happened come morning. Maybe if I just let it go, she’ll sleep through it and not remember it. That had happened a few times. And when Leia made it through the night without waking up, she was actually fairly pleasant; it was almost like none of this had ever happened.

He sat down on his side of the bed, just listening to her for a long few moments. She was whimpering. He hated it when she whimpered; it meant she was really in some kind of physical or emotional pain. When she was violent, he knew she was at least trying to fight it off; but when she whimpered, it was like she was lying down and taking it, and that broke his heart more than anything.

Finally, he couldn’t stand it anymore. He reached over and shook her gently. “Leia, sweetheart, wake up. It’s just a dream.”

Leia came awake through a haze of incoherent mumbles and one well-defined, heart-wrenching, “Papa?”

Han felt his stomach twitch. “No sweetheart, it’s me, Han.” He caressed her cheek. It was wet.

“Oh Han!” She sat up and threw her arms around him, to his not-unpleasant surprise. Even so, he wasn’t really sure what to do. This seemed awkward for some reason. With some trepidation, he patted her back gently.

Leia sobbed into his neck, holding him tightly. Han began to relax; this was more familiar. He drew her a little farther into his embrace, stroking her hair. After a few moments, he asked, “Can you tell me about it?”

Leia sniffled. “I dreamt…I dreamt…” She gasped for breath.

“Shhhh…calm down. It’s okay, I’m here, it was only a dream. Take a deep breath.”

Leia let out a shuddering breath and began again. “I dreamt that I was leaving Alderaan to go on that blockade run…you know, the one where I picked up the Death Star plans, right before I met you.” She stopped briefly to glance up at him, trying valiantly to smile through her tears. She only managed a small upturn of her lips, but he smiled back, brushing a few stay hairs away from her face. She continued, the pain coming back to her face. “Only this time, I knew I wasn’t coming back. I knew I was never going to see any of those people again. My father, my friends, my home….” She started to cry again. “It was like what I felt when they took you, only a hundred times worse, and my life stopped when they took you.”

Han rested his chin on her head and rocked her gently, unsure of what to say. She spoke very little of what she went through during his carbonization, and what she did say hinted at the fact that she didn’t really want to talk very much about it. He let her say what she needed to say, and didn’t push the subject.

“Han, if I knew I wasn’t going to see you again, I don’t…”

“Shhhhh…” he cut her off. “Don’t say things like that. We’re both gonna be old and gray before we die. Our grandchildren are gonna have grandchildren before we even have to think about it.” He took her face in his hands and lifted it to look into her eyes. “Huh?”

She smiled; this time a genuine, full smile. The light in the room was dim, but that smile made it broad day to him. His heart leapt. He beamed back, and then snuggled her back into his arms, pressing his cheek to hers.

He held her for a long time like that, just relishing the feeling. It had been so long; too long. He breathed in the soft floral sent of her shampoo, savored the tingle of her soft skin under his fingertips. He drank her in, as if she’d been some drug he’d been on that had been ripped from him and was now being returned.

Leia’s breathing had slowed, and Han nuzzled against her, rubbing his cheek against hers. As he moved to withdraw slightly so he could get into a better position, his lips accidentally brushed against hers. He paused. She hadn’t pulled away. He hadn’t kissed her since before she had been attacked, and after being rebuffed a few times, had stopped trying. Cautiously, he touched his lips to hers again. Again, she didn’t pull away. If anything, she’d leaned into him a little. Tentatively, he forged on with his experiment, gently pressing his lips to hers. She kissed him back! His heart kicked into hyperdrive. Even so, the rest of him moved in slow motion. He didn’t want to push her, and for some reason, he was nervous himself.

The kiss lasted for the briefest of moments, but before they even parted completely they were together again, pressing more fully against each other. A shiver ran down Han’s spine as he felt her ever so slightly curl her fingers around his neck.

They separated again after several moments, and Han saw the mix of emotions roiling in her eyes. He didn’t know what to make of it, and was instantly afraid he’d done the wrong thing. “Leia, I…”

But before he could go any farther, Leia’s head sank onto his chest. “Hold me Han,” her muffled voice drifted up, quickly silencing any fears he had. His arms were around her even before she had finished the words, drawing her closer. Her head moved up to rest on his shoulder, and she whispered up toward his ear, “Show me what it is to feel joy again.”

Han felt a lump form in his throat at the words. He gathered her close, dropping kisses into her hairline.

For a long time they stayed like that, Leia occasionally returning a kiss on the cheek or chin, but mostly just receiving. He stroked her back and shoulders and arms, but no place more intimate; he didn’t want to push her. But when he unintentionally grazed a thumb against the outer curve of a breast, Leia let a soft little “Oh,” escape her lips. Han knew that sound, and knew then that it was all right. He kissed her more firmly then, and with some hesitation, let his fingertips graze ever so slightly over her breasts.

He felt her chest expand with her deep breath, and took that as a signal to increase the contact. He touched her more fully, but still kept his touch light. His fingers found the laces of her nightgown, and he pulled at them. They came open, with no protest from her.

He took her in his arms, lowering her back onto the bed. He rolled over next to her, easing her nightgown off her shoulder. He placed a reverent kiss there, and then looked up into her eyes. She gave him a small smile, and with a few more feather kisses, her nightgown had found its way to the floor.

He gathered her close, kissing her passionately, delighted to feel her reciprocate. Her hands had begun to wander as well, and Han felt himself become aroused. He ignored it, however. Tonight was all about Leia, and if that meant he was left frustrated, well, so be it.

They spent a long time just holding and stroking and kissing each other, discovering each other for what felt like the first time. Han’s hand crept down her hip, and without thinking, he guided her leg over his hips. As soon as it was there, though, he knew he was in trouble. She could feel his arousal, there was no doubt about that. How was she going to react? Would she draw away? Be frightened? Han was frightened for her. He pulled away slightly, but to his surprise she pulled him closer with her arms and her leg.

Han’s amazement furthered when he felt her re-adjust herself to press more fully against his erection. Her hands worked their way under his shorts, and Han could do nothing but help her remove them.

As they settled back together after their brief separation, Han asked with a cracking voice, “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“No,” came her reply. “But…Han, you’ve been so wonderful through all of this…”

“You don’t have to do this on my account…”

She cut him off. “This isn’t about you. Through this whole thing, the one thing I keep coming back to is the fact that you love me so much.” Her voice broke again. “How could I have ever been afraid of you?”

He pulled her close, comforting both her and himself as his own tears threatened. “You stop me the second you have any problems, okay?” He felt her nod against his shoulder.

Wiggling together, he pushed inside her slowly. Hurting her was the last thing he wanted to do. He stopped short as he heard her take a sharp intake of air. “Are you okay?” he asked desperately.

“Yes,” the strangled reply came. She buried her face into his neck and held on to him tightly. “Don’t stop, please.”

Han’s heart turned over again. He was totally confused. She was holding him tightly and begging him to make love to her, but she was crying. He didn’t know what to make of it. “Leia…” he tried again.

“Please, Han,” came her bitter-sounding plea.

Not knowing what else to do, Han pushed on, uniting himself fully with her, only to hear her tears intensify. It brought tears to his own eyes.

And suddenly, he understood. They weren’t tears of pain, or sorrow, or fear, but only of fortitude. She was crying because there was so much going on in her head and heart at the moment, and this was the only way she could deal with it. And his own feelings for her spilled over now too as he allowed himself to cry openly, holding her to him as tightly as he dared.

They lay that way for what felt forever, joined body and soul, their emotions spilling onto the pillowcases. They fed off each other; one of them would calm down somewhat, only to hear and feel the other sobbing, and then they would start up again out of empathy for the other.

Han could not remember the last time he had cried that much, if ever. But finally, finally, they both calmed down. He slipped his body from hers, finding he had no desire to pursue the act. But still he held her close, not wanting to let her go.

She pulled away a bit, looking up into his eyes. What he saw in her still confused him, but the resentment and utter lifelessness that had been so prevalent in months past were gone. With trembling fingers, he brushed the wayward hair from her face. He spoke the words that summed up all that he had been feeling during the turmoil of not only this evening, but of the months past. “I love you.”

He saw her swallow. “I know. I love you too.”

With the uncertainty past them, they huddled together and fell into an exhausted sleep.

**********

“Are you sure you wanna do this?” Han asked for what was probably the twentieth time that morning.

“Yes! I’ve been sitting around the house for months now doing nothing but feeling sorry for myself. It’s time to do something constructive.”

“I would hardly call what you’ve been doing the past four months not constructive,” Kaja called from behind her. “I think you’ve made tremendous progress in things that have been bothering you for years.”

“I agree. Which is why it’s time for me to go back to work.” Leia gathered up her briefcase as the lift stopped on the floor to her office.

“Yes, but are you sure you’re physically up to it?” Han inquired, finding another way to voice his general concern.

Leia rolled her eyes. “Physically, I’m in the best shape I’ve been in years. Will you stop fretting over me?” She increased her stride down the corridor to illustrate her point.

Ever since she had announced that she had decided to go back to work on a part time basis, Han had been fussing over her like a mother Wookiee. Kaja, Luke, and Chewie had all been very supportive, each of them saying something to the effect that this was a good step. Luke had even refused to come today, only leaving her a message wishing her well, while Chewie had met her at the door as she left, giving her a big hug, but also letting her go off without his accompaniment. Leia had asked Kaja to come, but had practically begged Han to stay home. He insisted on going.

The trio arrived at Leia’s office door, and she palmed it open. Her entire staff, including C-3P0, stood there holding flowers and other small gifts. The outer office was decorated with streamers and swags. “WELCOME BACK” was emblazoned in large letters over her private office door. She received hugs from several female runners.

“Thank you all so much,” she said after several minutes of general merriment. “I appreciate all of this, though I don’t think I’m going to be able to eat all this candy! You’ll have to help me.” She smiled at them and soft laughter broke out. “But seriously, I’m sure I have a lot to catch up on, and while I’m sure you all have been working extra hard in my absence, you’re still going to have to put in a few extra hours for a few days while I get caught up. Now. What’s first?”

“Well, Your Highness,” Threepio stepped forward. “You have four hundred and seventy-two messages, and that’s not counting all the messages that were left simply wishing you well.”

“Great, Threepio,” Leia replied, taking a few hurried steps toward her personal office, knowing that if she let him, Threepio would take up all her time from now until he needed to recharge his power cells. “Just download them into a datapad and I’ll get to them as soon as I can.”

Threepio looked disappointed, if that was possible for a droid. “Very well, Your Highness.”

“Brenna,” she motioned to one of her aids. “Would you and Veress join me in my office to brief me on what’s been going on in the Senate?” The young women she indicated stepped past her into her office. Leia swept her eyes around the room, giving everyone a broad grin before going up to give Han a small kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be home early.”

“You…you mean…that’s it? Back to work like nothing happened?” Han stuttered.

Leia smiled patiently at him, and stepped closer so she could lower her voice. “I told you not to come; there’s nothing for you to do here. You will never know how much I appreciate the way you’ve been there for me through all of this; believe me, I wouldn’t be standing here now if it weren’t for you. But at some point you’ve got to stop babying me. I can take care of myself, and I’ve got this whole office full of people here watching out for me.” She reached up and caressed his cheek. “Go home, sweetheart. I’ll be fine.”

Han chewed his lip, obviously not very sure, “Okay…”

“Good. I’ll see you tonight.” She kissed his cheek again, and turned to Kaja.

“You going to be all right?” Kaja asked in that warm alto of hers.

Leia, dropping the front she had put on for Han, drew a deep breath and responded, “I think so.”

Kaja nodded. “Okay. Feel free to call me the minute you have any problems.”

Leia pasted a smile on her face that she didn’t really mean. “I don’t think I will.”

Kaja’s smile seemed more genuine. “Good.” She turned to go, taking Han by the arm. “Come on, Captain Solo. We’re not needed here anymore.”

“Okay…” Han repeated dumbly, stumbling after Kaja while trying to keep his eye on Leia and walk in the other direction at the same time.

Leia shook her head as the door closed on Han and Kaja. She turned to the room and clapped her hands. “Well. Let’s get back to work, shall we? I’ll be in my office if anyone needs me.” She smiled at the sound of the words, relaxing back into the swing of things, and headed for the open door to her private office.

She took two steps inside and stopped dead. She suddenly felt very cold. Every nerve in her body lit up and every muscle tensed. Her eyes darted around the room. “Something’s not right here…” she whispered, more to herself than anybody in particular.

“Your Highness?” asked Brenna.

Leia shook her head. “Nothing. I…” she trailed off, unsure of where she was going with the thought.

“Would you like some tea?” asked Veress, sounding concerned.

Leia felt her knees buckle a little, and she drew a deep breath in an effort to steady herself. “Yeah,” she said. “I think that would be good.”

“Princess? Why don’t you have a seat? You don’t look so well.”

“I’m just…a little overwhelmed….first day back and everything. I’ll be fine,” Leia rambled, trying to cover her discomfort. Brenna led her over to the conversation circle by the window and Veress placed a cup of tea in her hand.

Leia sipped gratefully at her tea, trying in vain to clear her head. It didn’t work; the horrible buzz that had entered it when she stepped into the office remained.

“Well, why don’t we get started,” Brenna said, obviously uncomfortable. “The Senate here of late has been embroiled in the trading dispute between the Bothans and the Corellians…”

Leia jerked so suddenly she spilled her tea.

“Oh!” Veress cried as Brenna dashed for some tissues. “All over the new rug, too.”

“It’s all right,” Leia said, still trying to collect herself. “I’m sure it will come out.” Why couldn’t she hold herself together today? She’d been doing so well lately. “Why don’t we move this over to my desk?” she suggested.

Both the aids agreed that would probably be a good idea, and they picked up their things and moved over to the opposite corner. As Leia settled into her desk chair, she caught sight of the closed door. It had been painted.

“Princess?” Brenna ventured.

“I’m sorry, what was that?”

“What do you want me to tell the Bothans?”

“I’ll…have to look at the figures some more,” Leia extemporized.

“I just summarized them for you.”

Leia sighed, trying once again to clear her head. Success was fleeting. She reached across the desk. “Could I see the report please?”

Veress and Brenna looked at each other, but Brenna handed the pad over with no protest. Leia flipped through the figures, trying her best to make some sense of them. She wasn’t even sure why this was a sore point or who was making the complaint, she was that distracted today. She was just beginning to notice the lopsided figures on the Corellian’s side when she pulled her feet up under her chair, absently noting the pile of the new rug.

Leia’s breath caught in her throat as tears sprang to her eyes. She dropped the pad as her hands began to shake. Her stomach knotted itself into what felt like a hundred kinks. Her heart began to race. “I think…I’d better go home.” she managed to whisper.

**********

Luke sat watching Leia practice with the remote, outwardly passive. Inwardly, however, he was struggling, because he knew she was.

Kaja had diagnosed Leia’s episode at the office as a flashback from post traumatic stress disorder, and had been treating her for the past two weeks. Leia hadn’t returned to the office since, but had been making rapid progress back from that huge step back. But today, she seemed to be stagnating, and was rather short-tempered.

Leia managed to deflect a brief series of bursts from the remote, but missed the next two shots, catching one in the arm and the other on her stomach. Luke drew a breath and used the Force to switch the remote off. “Maybe it’s time for a different exercise, Leia.”

Leia turned to him, the frustration evident in her eyes and stance. Luke felt her forcibly calm herself and re-attune herself to the Force. She said nothing, but took up the en-guard stance that was required for the exercise that Luke had in mind. Luke flipped on his own lightsaber, and paced within a meter of her position. This kind of rehearsed duel was always dangerous, Luke knew, but he was always careful when they did this, and he thought perhaps a more animated opponent would drive her to concentrate more.

They circled for a few moments before Luke finally made the first strike, a diagonal sweep. She blocked it easily, and then swung her blade up in the opposite direction in an effort to get his saber out of his hands. It didn’t work, but it did push him back a step.

Luke was relieved to see that Leia’s concentration and center had returned, and he went back on the offensive. His vertical swing was parried, and when he came at her from the side, she twisted her wrist and wrenched the saber from his hands. Automatically shutting off, the handle went skittering on to the pavement. Luke called it back, but he barely had a chance to even switch it on before Leia was driving at him from all angles.

At first Luke was pleased; she was very focused, and the most physically active he’d seen her since her little episode at the office. But with every swing, he could feel the anger in her intensify a little more. It rose in her like an eddying storm, and with every angry sweep, Luke found himself exerting more and more energy just to hold her off. He was about to stop her; she was skating too close to the Dark Side. No matter what Kaja had said, he couldn’t let Leia fall. But then he heard her grunt, “You bastard…”

Luke was taken aback by the epithet. Who was she directing that at? Certainly not at him. But through her blind fury, he had a hard time figuring it out. She wasn’t very focused. She drove at him uncontrollably, shouting things with every strike.

“That’s for Alderaan,” she grunted, landing a vertical strike against his blade.

“And for my family.” Another strike.

“And the galaxy.” Lateral this time.

“And for Han.” Another lateral strike.

Luke felt her sense change now; the anger was still there, but it was tinged with despair. It was so intense he had to shut it out so he could concentrate on keeping himself from losing a limb. But he noticed the tears streaming down her face.

She landed another strong strike against him. “And for Luke.”

Another vertical strike, “And for me.”

Her voice strangled as she struck again, “For me,” she repeated.

She landed one last, heavy blow, but instead of drawing back to strike again, she threw her weight into it and pinned Luke into his stance. Afraid of moving, lest he harm her or vice versa, he just stood there holding her at bay, staring into her eyes

Her eyes started to liquefy, her lip trembled, and her hands began to shake. Her fingers lost contact with the activator switch. The beam disappeared, and Luke had to think fast to shut down his own saber before either of them were hurt. Her handle slipped from her fingers, clattering on the permecrete. She slumped against Luke, and he heard her whisper, “For me…” before she dissolved into uncontrollable sobbing, sinking to her knees.

Luke dropped his own saber to the ground and opened himself back up to his sister. The anger had dissipated; the despair that had tinged it had taken its place. It was dark and black and all-consuming and Luke felt a pit form in his stomach and a lump form in his throat. He sank to his knees next to her and wrapped his arms around her, taking some of her burden onto himself.

**********

Leia sat studying the crumpled tissues in her hands. She’d finally managed to stop crying about fifteen minutes ago, but was still having a hard time finding her voice. Han came up from behind her and handed her a cup of tea, taking the tissues from her in exchange. She took a long sip of the tea, feeling it warm her belly. Finally, she managed, “I’m sorry, Luke.”

He smiled at her. “It’s okay. You were barely in touch with the Force; I don’t think it’s going to have any lasting damage.”

She swallowed as tears threatened again. Luke had managed to bring her back to her apartments, and Kaja had been called. They had sat there for nearly an hour as she sobbed. Han had begged Kaja to give her something; he couldn’t bear this, but Kaja had insisted that this was good for her.

“How do you feel now?” Kaja asked gently.

“Empty,” she replied quietly. Words were a struggle as the lump in her throat was still prominent. She forced a deep breath and plunged on, hoping the more she talked the better she would feel. “But in a way it’s a good thing. Ever since this started, I’ve had this…” she poked her belly several times, “thing in my stomach. It kept threatening to rear up before me and take over my life. But for the first time, it’s gone.”

She chewed her lip, letting the peace that follows a long cry settle over her. She looked around the room. First to Han, her loving husband, who had been so supportive and patient through all of this. Then to Kaja, her doctor and friend, who had shown her the light. And finally to Luke, her brother and teacher, who hadn’t been afraid to be tough with her when she needed it. She shook her head. “I don’t know how you all put up with me. Not just through this, but from the beginning. I must have been a real handful at times.”

“You could be a little irritating now and then,” Han replied, throwing her a grin.

“I’ll bet,” she acknowledged softly, managing a small grin herself. “When Alderaan was destroyed, it left a hole in my heart so large there was almost nothing left. I didn’t know how to deal with it, or what to fill it with. So I just shut it up behind a huge force-field, and found that life was a lot easier to deal with when I wasn’t thinking about that. I let Luke in a little bit because he was always so sweet to me and somehow always seemed to know when to keep his distance.” She smiled at him, seeing him blush a little. “And then Han decided he was going to try and slice into the controls so he could shut it off.” She heard him chuckle and glanced up to see him grinning at her.

She sniffled, blinking back tears again. “I don’t know when it was exactly it was that he got in, but he did, and just as I realized it…was ready to admit it…they took him from me.” She leaned back against her chair and set about staring at her knees, unable to look at anyone as she let this all spill from her, but she was glad to get it out, and glad to have her family hear it.

She heaved a sigh. “And then, just after I got him back and I wrapped up that little odyssey, my whole universe turned up on its head as I find out that my real father was the most evil man the galaxy has ever known.” She glanced up at Luke. “At least that news had a bright side.” He smiled at her.

She plowed on, feeling her point nearing, even though she herself wasn’t really sure what it was yet. “And now this. For the first time, I was really put out of it. I’d never been seriously injured before. Oh, the torture I’d been through on the Death Star was painful, but it wasn’t designed to leave lasting damage. But this…for the first time I couldn’t pick myself up, dust myself off, and go on. All I could do was sit there and feel sorry for myself. I’d never done that before.”

Kaja leaned forward. “We’ve talked about that, Leia. Sometimes you have to do that to keep yourself sane.”

Leia nodded absently, but then looked Kaja square in the eye. “Perhaps, but you know something? I don’t feel sorry for myself anymore. I feel…empowered. I did the best I could under impossible circumstances, and I’m still here. I’ve lost some things, but I’ve gained some things too. And yes, there are some things in my life I’d like to change, but overall I’m happy.” She looked at Han and then to Luke, extending a hand to each of them. They both came to join her in a family hug.

After a few moments, Leia drew back from them and said, “Ya know what? I’m hungry. I want to eat a huge meal of food I shouldn’t have.”

Han squeezed her arm. “Now that I can do!” He moved off toward the kitchen.

Leia smiled up at Luke and told him to go call Chewie before turning to Kaja. “Would you join us for supper?”

Kaja smiled. “I’d be honored.” She placed a hand on Leia’s shoulder. “You’ve turned the corner, Leia. The end is in sight.”

“I owe so much to Han and Luke, but without you…” She shook her head, unable to find the right words.

“You did it yourself, Leia. I just pointed the way.”

“Well, then, we’re going to drink a special toast to my navigator tonight.”

***********

Leia blinked her eyes a few times as she came hazily awake. The sun was just beginning to peek through the curtains. She glanced at her bedside chrono. Oh-five-thirty. It was earlier than she usually got up, and she was an early riser. Making a face, she rolled over, pulling the covers more tightly around her; she was chilly. She rolled closer to Han, whose back was toward her, hoping to take advantage of his body heat.

Leia’s eyes flipped open again. For some reason she just couldn’t keep them shut. She found herself looking at Han’s broad back. She realized suddenly that she missed him. She missed hugging and kissing him. They had been dancing around each other since she’d been attacked. Things had been better lately, but even so, everything still felt very forced. It dawned on her how he must have felt through all of this. “I’m sorry, Han,” she whispered to his back, pressing a hand against it.

Han grunted in his sleep, rolling onto his back. Leia was barely able to snatch her hand away before it would have been trapped under him. She propped herself up on one elbow, looking down on him. He was so adorable when he slept; hair all tousled and all the worries of the day removed from his face. After appreciating him for a moment, she snuggled up next to him, enjoying his warmth and scent. Han smelled so wonderful; like coffiene and lube oil and the shampoo he used and something under all that that was just Han. She loved it. She turned her nose toward his skin to inhale more deeply, and a few moments later found herself placing soft kisses against it.

She felt Han run his hand up her back at the same time he stretched slightly. “Sweetheart?” he asked sleepily.

She leaned against his chest and looked up at him. “Good morning.”

“‘Morning,” he returned, stealing a glance at the chrono. “It’s early. You okay?”

“Yeah, just couldn’t sleep anymore.”

“You didn’t have a nightmare did you?”

“No. Just…woke up.”

They regarded each other for a few moments before Leia climbed more fully on top of him and pressed her lips softly to his.

“Hmmmm,” Han hummed as the kiss broke. “To what do I owe this honor?”

“I love you,” was her simple reply.

He grinned at her before reaching up to kiss her softly in return. Leia found herself wanting more, and shifted her position to take more command of the kiss, turning it much more passionate. Han responded by running his hands up her back again. Leia’s skin tingled under the touch, and she savored the sensation.

Leia’s instincts took over as she smoothed her hands over his chest as she moved on to place a few kisses against his jawline. She moved down to his neck and happened upon his larynx. She opened her mouth and sucked gently on it. She wasn’t horribly sure what she was doing or just how far she wanted this to go yet, but she was enjoying it up to this point at least.

Han rolled over onto his side, pulling her up to kiss her firmly. Leia’s arms found their way around his body. Her hands eased down his back to the swell of his behind. She squeezed it gently.

Han started. “Leia!”

She looked at him innocently. “What?”

“I…I…well…I just didn’t expect that, that’s all,” he sputtered.

She grinned at him. “It’s not like I’ve never done it before.”

His features grew sober. “No, but you haven’t done it in a while.”

She ran her hand through his hair. “I know. I realized this morning how much you must have missed me. I’ve missed you too.”

She kissed him again, pushing her hands underneath his shorts this time. They were quickly removed, as was her nightgown. They made love slowly, reverently, caressing every centimeter, exciting every nerve. Leia really expected to be nervous or scared, especially when he rolled over on top of her to position himself between her legs, but this was easy, familiar, and she enjoyed every second of it.

And as their bodies joined, she felt something ignite in her that she thought had been extinguished forever. She nourished it, cherished it, and let it go where it wanted to go.

And as their passion drew to its zenith, Leia luxuriated in the waves of pleasure that crashed through her, sparking every nerve ending to life.

Afterward, as they lay next to each other panting, Leia felt the heady floating sensation of afterglow wash over her. “I forgot it felt this good.”

“I forgot you felt this good,” Han murmured.

Leia chuckled as Han drew up next to her. “Can I ask you a question, sweetheart?” he inquired.

“You can ask me anything; you know that.”
Han cleared his throat. “Well, when the doctor was treating you, she said there might be some….loss of sensation….”

Leia cut him off to save him the embarrassment. “No. It was fine. You couldn’t tell?”

He grinned at her. “Well, I kinda thought so…”

“If anything, it’s better.” She smiled up at him. “How about you? How frustrated have you been?”

He turned a little pink. “Well, I’ve had to take a couple extra-long showers recently.” She laughed. “But mostly I’ve missed just being able to be with you…to hold you and touch you.”

She reached up and touched his cheek. “I’m sorry, Han.”

He took her in his arms and held her close. “No, don’t be. I’m just glad we’re through that now.”

“Me, too,” she said to his shoulder. “Thank you.”

He rubbed her back. “No charge.” She could hear the smile in his voice.

She glanced at the chrono. Oh-nine-oh-two. She smirked. “I’m glad I don’t have to be anywhere today.

Han kissed her forehead. “You sleep my little princess. I’ll watch over you.”

She smiled up at him, and fell into the most peaceful sleep she’d had in years.

**********

Leia relaxed in the lounge chair in the small garden off the quarters she’d been given. This was her first official mission after going back to work after nearly six months off. Tatara lay just inside the Outer Rim, and was outside the generally accepted border of the New Republic. Its sun was warm, and the gravity was slightly less than standard, so Leia felt very relaxed. This mission was also a very easy one; Tatara had been very active in the Rebellion, but had decided not to be a charter member of the New Republic because of internal struggles. They had since been resolved, and the planet’s people now wanted very much to be members. The next few days were going to be mostly official ceremonies with very little negotiation as most of that had been resolved before she’d even come.

At the moment, Han was inside taking a nap, and she’d sent Threepio off on some spurious errand to get him out her hair for an hour so they could both get some rest before the official dinner that evening. Even though this mission was an easy one, the trip had been long, and she was tired. She took a deep breath of the warm, sweet wind, and was just dozing off when something made her sit bolt upright.

“What was that?” she whispered to herself. She thought she’d heard something. Taking a breath, she relaxed into the Force and stretched out with her feelings.

Something was definitely not right here. A menacing presence hung in the air. She was just about to get up and go into the apartment to wake Han and gather her weapons when a gravelly voice called from off to her left.

“Good afternoon, Your Highness.”

Leia snapped her head in that direction. “Ambassador Takaro.” She recognized him immediately. “What are you doing here? And how did you find me?”

“This mission of yours was big news, carried on all the news channels. Finding exactly where you were staying merely took a few credits. So I’ve come to seek an audience with Your Highness,” he replied, sketching a bow.

“You couldn’t do that through official channels?” she ground out through gritted teeth.

He bared his teeth a little at her. “I’m sure I would have been refused.” He took a few steps in her direction, out of the bushes he had been hiding in. “And you see, I must have an audience with you. It is imperative to the future of both our societies.”

Leia gripped the cushion of the ottoman she was sitting on, sending her nervousness and rising fear into it. “This has been decided, Takaro,” she declared in a voice that belied her unease. “Our societies are not going to have anything to do with each other.”

“That is a mistake. We have so much to offer each other. And it all begins with you and me.”

Leia felt the hair on her neck stand up. Her encounter with Sevoab rose up before her. She swallowed the fear that accompanied it and shut the memories out. “I don’t care what sense you mean that in; it’s not going to happen.”

“It is. It must; it’s preordained.” He stepped closer and reached out for her.

Leia skittered to her feet and dashed away from him. Unfortunately, he was between her and the door to the apartment. “You’re crazy,” she spat at him.

He shook his head. “No. I am fulfilling my destiny.”

Leia attempted again to reason with him. “You won’t succeed. Even if you manage to do whatever it is you’re planning to do to me-and you won’t if I have anything to do with it-the New Republic will make you and the rest of your government pay for it. In the end all you’ll have to show for it is a decimated society. It’s not worth it.”

“We’ll deal with that when it comes. But this first step must be taken.” He advanced on her again.

Leia thought fast. Both her lightsaber and her blaster were inside the apartment. And then she saw it. Takaro had a Tach Chee strapped to his back-a true Tach Chee, carrying spikes on its mace and a charge in its spear. She reached out and called it to her with the Force.

It came easier than she expected it to. It landed in her palm with a satisfying metallic slap and almost instantaneously she was brandishing the spear end in his direction.

He bared his teeth at her again. “The feisty ones always make the best mothers.”

Leia quashed the flash of anger that sparked in her throat. She jabbed the Tach Chee at him a few times, trying to drive him around so she could get into the apartment. He must have surmised what she was up to, however, as he would have none of it.

He cackled at her, picking up one of the deck chairs and ripping a leg off of it. He swatted at her weapon, trying to get it out of her hands. She evaded him.

“Don’t make me hurt you, Princess,” he growled at her, taking a few more violent swings at her.

“You couldn’t hurt me any more than I’ve already been hurt,” she bit out, still struggling with the anger that threatened to overtake her.

He lunged at her, bearing the leg high aloft, aiming for her head. She parried it with the shaft of the Tach Chee, wrenching it from his claws. He roared, grabbing her around the waist, picking her off the ground. She jabbed him in the shoulder with the spear, shocking him. With a strangled bellow, he dropped her, staggering back a step.

She rolled, and was back on her feet almost instantly. He charged on her again, but she swung the Tach Chee over her head, connecting the spiky mace with his crested forehead.

The Hekuran fell to his knees, and then over onto his side. Leia advanced on him, hoisting the spear over him, preparing to drive it into his skull.

“At least I will have died in the service of my people,” he rasped out.

Leia stood there a long moment, panting, the Tach Chee wavering over her head. The rage and fear she had battled since she had first discovered him here were pushing her to finish the act. Letting out a primal shout, she drew the spear back and drove it into the ground next to the demon’s head.

“No,” she gasped, releasing her anger with her breath. “You go back and suffer your dishonor. Maybe you can convince your people that diplomacy by force, any kind of force, is wrong.”

**********

“So they sent an official apology, explaining that was not what they intended for him to do when they told him he could look into it further. Takaro killed himself on the way back to his homeworld, but they said they would have banished him due to this breach of protocol,” Leia explained to Han and Luke as Luke began the descent into New Alderaan’s atmosphere.

“That’s easy for them to say considering he’s dead,” Han groused.

Leia shrugged. “Perhaps. But I get the feeling the rest of the council is not as zealous as he was.”

“Are there going to be any further negotiations with them?” Luke asked as the repulsorlifts kicked in.

Leia shook her head. “Not unless they show a great change in their policies.”

The Life Debt, a small personal transport that unofficially belonged to Luke, settled onto the well-trimmed field that served as New Alderaan’s only landing pad. The ramp lowered to reveal Winter balancing Jaina on her hip and holding Jacen by the hand. Leia rushed to them, Han on her heels.

“Oh, my babies!” she cried, taking Jaina from Winter’s grasp. “Look at how you’ve grown!”

“They’re both walking now,” Winter supplied by way of greeting. “And speaking in short sentences.”

“Daddy,” Jacen cooed from Han’s arms.

Han laughed, ruffling his son’s hair. “Yeah, I’m your daddy, kid.”

Leia handed Jaina to Luke after another hug, and then embraced Winter. “How are you?” the willowy woman inquired.

Leia smiled, enjoying the feelings of love and exuberance that came from her family. “I’m well. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this good.”

The two women started off arm in arm toward the house. “Ackbar’s been keeping me apprised. I wish so much I could have been there for you.”

Leia nodded, “I do too. But I need you here, and I had a great support system as it was.” She glanced back at Luke and Han, who were rolling around in the grass with the children.

“I know. If I hadn’t been sure of that, I would have come back.”

Leia smiled again as the pair entered the house, only to be joined shortly by Han and Luke with the children in tow. “Mommy, Mommy!” they cried, toddling to Leia’s side and pulling on her dress.

“Now children,” Winter admonished. “You’ll get your mother’s dress all dirty.”

“Don’t worry about it, Winter,” Leia said, scooping a child into each arm and falling back onto the sofa to cuddle them. “I’d wallow in mud for these two.”

Winter smiled. “I’ll see about getting supper.”

“How do you feel?” Han inquired as he settled down next to her, taking Jaina into his lap.

“Really good. I can’t get rid of this smile. I can’t tell you the last time I felt this light.”

“Kids’ll do that to ya,” Han replied, and commenced in tickling his daughter.

Luke laughed at the sight. “How much longer before I can bring them home, Luke?” Leia asked him.

“Six months, if you’re up to it.”

Leia made a goofy face at her son, “I’m up to it now.”

Luke smiled at her. “I can tell. I think you’ve conquered the darkness, Leia.”

She looked up at him, her features growing slightly somber. “Well, this darkness, anyway. There’s always more out there, isn’t there?”

Luke pursed his lips. “True. But the hardest darkness is the one that comes from inside, and you’ve mastered that. I think you’ll be able to handle anything else that comes your way.”

“Enough of this philosophical talk,” Han broke in. “We came here to enjoy ourselves.”

Leia took his hand. “Right you are. And I can’t think of better way than to spend time with my family. Come on,” she continued as she hoisted Jacen up so she could stand. “Let’s go see what Winter has for dinner.”