Rebel Force_ Hostage Part 16

The brothers struck a military pose, arching their backs and saluting. "We're going to be respectful now," Jez said proudly.

Lan elbowed him in the side. "It's respectable respectable," he said, rolling his eyes.

"We've got respect for him, that's respectful respectful," Jez argued. "Full of respect. Get it?"

Lan smirked. "Full of respect-so that's like, the opposite of what I got for you.

Respect less less."

Mazi stepped in and caught Jez's arm just as he threw the punch. "We're going to be respectful respectful to people like Captain Solo here-and that'll make us respectable, so people give us all their respect," he ordered them. He turned back to Han, his face flushed. to people like Captain Solo here-and that'll make us respectable, so people give us all their respect," he ordered them. He turned back to Han, his face flushed.

"That's what the guy said, anyway."

"What guy?" Han asked.

"The guy who told us about the Rebellion," Mazi said eagerly. "We're going to be Rebels now. Fight back. We're s.h.i.+pping out tonight."

Han raised his eyebrows. Leia had designated several of the refugee leaders to act as recruiters in her stead. Apparently they were hard at work already. "Aren't you a little young?"

Identical scowls drooped across the brothers' faces. "No such thing as too young to stand up for what's right," Mazi said fiercely.

"The 'guy' tell you that, too?" Han asked.

Mazi shook his head. "That's all me."

"What gives, Captain Solo?" Lan asked. "Mazi said you'd be impressed."

"Yeah. Sure. I just meant..." He stopped, unsure of exactly what it was he did mean.

Han liked his life. No ties, no obligations, that's what he always said. He and Chewie were totally free. It was the only option for a man like him.

But Mazi wasn't a man yet. He had a choice.

"I just meant I can't believe anyone's going to trust you with a blaster," Han said lightly. "Try not to shoot yourself in the foot."

"At least we'll be able to see our target without electrobinoculars, old man," Mazi teased. "I'm surprised a guy with your ancient eyes and creaky bones can even find find your blaster. Much less remember how to use it." your blaster. Much less remember how to use it."

Han narrowed his eyes. "You better hope I'm too old to catch up with you," he warned.

The boys looked at each other in confusion.

"That's your cue to run," Han teased, balling his hands into fists. "Unless you want to see what these creaky old bones can still do..."

The boys burst into laughter, and took off running down the street. "See you soon, Captain!" Mazi shouted, as he disappeared into the crowds. "Don't forget us!"

"I won't," Han said quietly.

But he was alone again.

"Minister Manaa," Leia said coolly, as the Delayan leader joined her at the Millennium Millennium Falcon Falcon. He had invited her to his office, but she felt safer on her own turf. There was always the chance he could turn on her like his deputy had-but if he did, he'd get an unpleasant surprise. Luke and Elad were carefully hidden, blasters at the ready, poised to fire at the first sign of trouble. The setup had been Luke's idea, but Elad had quickly agreed. It was sweet, Leia thought, the way Elad stayed so close by Luke's side, especially recently. It was as if he saw something of himself in Luke, and felt a special need to encourage and protect him.

No wonder: They weren't that different. Two fighters, willing to sacrifice themselves if need be.

Unlike Ferus.

She forced down her anger. This meeting mattered-Ferus didn't.

"Princess Leia," the Prime Minister said. "Always an honor."

She waited.

"So glad to see you've emerged safely from your ordeal," he said, giving her a goofy, hopeful grin. "The people of Delaya care deeply for your wellbeing."

"So I've seen," Leia said dryly.

"And, of course, I can only offer my deepest apologies for the behavior of Deputy Minister Lyonn."

Leia raised her eyebrows. "Perhaps I should offer you my my deepest apologies. After all the trouble you went to, trading me to the Empire, it seems rather rude of me to have escaped." deepest apologies. After all the trouble you went to, trading me to the Empire, it seems rather rude of me to have escaped."

Manaa twisted his face into an unconvincing mask of horror. "Surely you're not suggesting I I had something to do with Lyonn's despicable plans? Delaya has always been a great friend to the Alderaan people!" had something to do with Lyonn's despicable plans? Delaya has always been a great friend to the Alderaan people!"

"So that's why you've shut them up in those filthy warehouses with barely enough food or water to last out the week?" Leia snapped.

The warmth drained out of Manaa's smile. "I've done everything I can for the refugees.

But my first responsibility is to my own people."

"As my responsibility is to mine." Leia glared at him until he looked away. "Which is why you wanted me out of the way."

He met her gaze again, his eyes steely. The good-natured fool was gone. "You'll never prove it," he said coolly. "And even if you could, what good would it do? Imperial reinforcements are on the way. If I were you, I'd take my s.h.i.+p away-and never come back."

He was right. He'd broken no laws; she had no power here.

"Look around you, Your Highness," he added, gesturing to the smoggy air, the streets crowded with factories. The city was as ugly as Alderaan had been beautiful. "Delaya has long paid for Alderaan's success. I see no reason why we should now pay for its failures."

"If I were you, Minister, I would give the Alderaan refugees the refuge they've been promised. Food, bacta, clothing." She ticked the items off on her fingers. "There are those who will help fund the effort on my say-so. But that money is to go to the survivors. Not to the Delayan treasury."

"I don't see how you're in any position to give me orders," Manaa said, distaste in his voice.

"True," Leia admitted. "I'm an enemy of the Empire. As everyone who helps me is an enemy of the Empire."

"Exactly."

Leia felt like a krayt dragon toying with a woolamander. She hated this. But it was necessary.

"I can't imagine the Empire would take very kindly to your helping me," Leia said.

"Much less collaborating with the Rebel Alliance."

"I haven't!" Manaa exclaimed. "I wouldn't!"

"And I'm sure Darth Vader will be very interested in your denials, especially once he receives anonymous reports of all your activities in support of the Rebels."

The blood had all drained from his face. "You wouldn't," he whispered.

"I'm sure Vader wouldn't blame innocent Delayans for the actions of its leader, but then..." Leia's chest tightened so much she could barely force the words out. Saying it out loud doesn't make it true, she promised herself. "The Empire didn't hesitate to fault the people of Alderaan for my actions, did they? I brought down their wrath on my planet...What makes you think I couldn't do the same to yours?"

Manaa's breath exploded from him in a miserable sigh. He sagged like a broken-down droid.

She was disgusted with herself. But she'd won.

"What do you want?" he asked, sounding defeated.

Leia told him.

"Well, it's done." Leia settled into the co-pilot's seat with a sigh. Chewbacca was down below, tinkering with the hyperdrive. Luke and Elad were doing calisthenics in the main hold. She and Han were alone in the c.o.c.kpit.

"You made a deal? deal? " Han asked incredulously. " Han asked incredulously.

"That was the idea," Leia said.

"I know, I just can't believe you're letting that dung grubber get away with it."

"Sometimes you have to make compromises," Leia told him.

" I I don't have to do anything," Han pointed out. "Someone tries to get me, you better be sure I get don't have to do anything," Han pointed out. "Someone tries to get me, you better be sure I get them them."

" Some Some of us try to take a longer view," Leia said. "We care about more than just the next payday." of us try to take a longer view," Leia said. "We care about more than just the next payday."

"And some of us don't have a royal treasury to play with," Han retorted. "Or did you think I carted people like you across the galaxy for the fun of it?"

"I think you do it because you want to. Only reason you do anything," Leia said angrily. "Whatever you want, whenever you want. You're like a spoiled child."

"Hey, hold on there. If anyone here's spoiled, it's you."

" Me? Me? " "

"Yeah, you, sweetheart," he snarled. "You expect me to junk my whole life, just on your say-so? Spoiled Spoiled."

"I don't expect anything from you but aggravation. You're just like him him."

Han was lost. "Him who?"

"No one!"

Han never understood how they always ended up arguing-but usually he at least understood what they were arguing about about. Not this time.

"How you live your life is your business," she said, ice cold. "You can't commit to anyone but yourself? Fine. Fine. But don't think you'll get my respect." But don't think you'll get my respect."

"Where's all this coming from, Highness?"

She exploded. "Stop calling me that!"

Apologize, he told himself. It doesn't matter that you didn't do anything. Just It doesn't matter that you didn't do anything. Just apologize. apologize.

"You want me to stop calling you that?" He smirked. "Then how 'bout you stop sitting up there on your throne and judging us peasants?"

"I don't have a throne anymore," she said in a rough voice. "The Empire blew it up blew it up."

That stopped him.

He'd always thought of their arguments as an exchange of friendly fire. They fought the way children fight, backing off before drawing blood. Most of the time, he only said the things he did to get a rise out of her. He'd always a.s.sumed she felt the same way.

But this was different. There was true anger in her eyes. Like she meant every word.

"I fight for something greater than myself," she said. "So does Luke. Elad. But you?

Nothing's greater than the great Han Solo, right? You don't care what the Empire does, if it doesn't directly affect you. Who knows if you care about anything."

"Don't tell me how I feel," he growled.

"Do you feel?" She laughed harshly. "In that case, I guess I'm wrong, you're not heartless. There's only one other reason for you to behave like you do. You're a coward."

Han slammed his fist down. "That's what you think, Princess?"

"That's what I think, Captain Captain."

He stood up, fearing that if he stayed any longer, whatever was between them could break beyond repair. "I don't know who you're really mad at, Princess, but it's not me.

Deal with it, don't deal with it, I don't care. But leave me out of it."

He stormed out.

It made a good exit line, there was just one problem: He wasn't sure he believed it.

Sure, maybe she was picking a fight to make herself feel better. Or maybe she was just telling him what she really thought of him.

Maybe she was right.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO.

X-7 was a patient man. Impatience was for those who had an ever-growing collection of needs. They rushed from one thing to another, always in motion, never satisfied. But X-7 had only one need: pleasing the Commander. He found it easy to remain still. To wait.