Author's Note: This is the first chapter of a long story. I plan on uploading a new chapter each day until the story is complete. Reviews are welcome and greatly appreciated.
Undercover Operations
"Are you crazy?" Leia yelled. She knew that the decision was correct, of course, but she certainly did not want to admit it in front of the general.
"Leia, you know he is the best choice," General Rieekan said, trying to soothe her with his voice.
"Couldn't you have picked someone else? Luke, for instance."
The general smiled at that suggestion, replying, "You can't complete this mission in Luke's X-wing. Besides, he's needed for that scouting expedition for a new base. Han Solo is simply the best choice. He knows the region, he's an excellent pilot and fighter, and he fits in well with a variety of people. Plus, he's not an official member of the Alliance, which makes him a safer option."
Leia fumed at that remark. She had tried everything to get Han to commit to the cause, but to no avail. "How much are you paying him for this little excursion?" she sniped.
Her angry reaction caused Rieekan's smile to broaden just a bit. It was so obvious that these two were meant for each other. Their arguments were a constant source of amusement on the base, and most personnel had a great deal of money tied up in a betting pool for the exact date the princess and the pirate would become a couple. "As a matter of fact, Han volunteered. He claimed that he had business in the region and, therefore, would only accept funds to pay for the expenses associated with the trip itself."
Really? she thought. Maybe Han was beginning to change his mind after all.
"Why can't someone else go? I'm sure there are dozens of women who would fall all over themselves to go on this trip with him. There's got to be someone with a lower profile who could do the job."
Rieekan just shook his head. "It has to be you. Our contacts asked specifically for your presence. We've taken all possible precautions to protect you, and we have created the necessary identity papers. All that remains is for you to prepare for the trip."
Beaten, Leia resigned herself to the situation. "Fine. When do we leave?"
"This evening. Report to Lieutenant Afstra for help in choosing your wardrobe. We don't have much, of course, but you should find something suitable to wear. Return here for the reports you need, and then prepare as you see fit. You are to meet Solo at his ship just after the first dinner shift."
"Right," she sighed. "Just remember that I'm doing this for the good of the Alliance," she said as she turned on her heel to leave.
"Leia," Rieekan called. "This doesn't have to be that bad. Think of it as a well-deserved vacation."
Leia just glared at him, then strode quickly out of the room.
"Hello, Your Worship!" Han called from the ramp of his ship. "Has your entourage finished packing your trunks for the trip?"
Leia rolled her eyes and said, "For your information, Captain, I've got everything I need right here."
"Why, Your Highnessness," he exclaimed in mock surprise. "Have you finally realized your true feelings for me?"
"Oh, you're impossible!" Leia hissed, marching quickly past him.
"Aw, c'mon, Leia. I was just giving you a hard time. Here, let me show you to our cabin."
Before she fully realized what he had said, Leia issued a curt, "Thanks." As he took her bag from her shoulder, however, the full impact of his words hit her. "What do you mean our cabin?"
"Well," he leered, "You're my wife, Princess. Don't you think you should be sleeping with me?"
"Apparently, Captain, you are having some difficulty distinguishing fantasy from reality."
"I could make your fantasy into a reality if you'd let me," he countered.
"I doubt that," she said as she grabbed her bag from him and stomped off in the direction of the crew quarters.
"Take the first cabin you come to, Princess. I'll bunk in Chewie's quarters."
The only sound he heard in reply was the hiss of the door closing. "That went well," he said softly to himself.
As soon as the door closed, Leia tossed her bag out of sheer frustration. "Why do I let him get to me like that?" she groaned. "If the Alliance didn't need me, there is no way I would spend a week alone with that man. He is arrogant, obnoxious, completely uncouth…" …and gorgeous, her mind added.
"Get a grip, Leia! He is not that good looking and he certainly isn't the kind of man you want in your life."
Frustrated with herself, she slammed her hand against the bulkhead and continued, "Agghhh! Why am I thinking about wanting him in my life?" Or wanting him, period? crowedthe devious voice in the back of her mind.
"This is ridiculous. I'm going to take a shower and then get to work on those reports. I have a job to do, and I will not let that Corellian keep me from completing this mission." With that, she headed to the 'fresher and allowed the water to soothe her frayed nerves. She quickly banished a stray thought that she was in Han's fresher and slowly rebuilt her composure. By the time she was dressed, she was in complete control, and she immediately buried herself in her work.
Han, however, was not quite so disciplined. With the ship safely on course, he had nothing to do but think about his current situation. "One week with the 'Ice Princess' will be the death of me," he sighed. "Oh sure, she is fun to tease, but she is not much company otherwise. The rebellion this, the Alliance that…I wonder if she ever thinks of anything else."
It occurred to him that he rarely saw Leia smile. Every once in awhile, he and Luke had been able to coax her out of command mode. On those rare occasions, she had displayed a quick wit and a playful sense of humor. He remembered the time that the three of them had enjoyed a friendly evening of card playing. Though she was a bit wary at first, she became caught up in the game and the camaraderie. Boy, was she a fast learner—she had even bested him in a few rounds.
The kid, of course, was so smitten with Leia that he couldn't concentrate on the game. "Isn't she wonderful, Han?" he asked after Leia had left. "Doesn't she have the most beautiful smile?"
"Whatever you say, kid," he replied laughingly. "Too bad she doesn't have a heart to go with it."
Glaring, Luke quickly defended her, "You're wrong about her, Han. She just has to appear strong so that she can do her job. Everyone depends on her."
Luke had a point, of course, but she didn't have to be so cold. Still, she does have a beautiful smile. Convinced that he was losing his mind, Han decided the best way to clear his head was to get a drink and hit the sack.
As he walked out of the cockpit, however, he was surprised to find Leia seated at the holochess table. "Hi, Han," she said. "I was hoping we could go over your part in the mission. I just feel better if I know all the bases are covered."
"Whaddya mean, sweetheart?" he asked. "It not like this mission is so hard to figure out. We pretend to be on our honeymoon, meet with our contacts, get the information, and fly out of there. We don't need reports to do this mission."
Frustrated because she felt he wasn't taking the mission seriously, Leia shot Han a withering look. "Han," she said, her voice rising. "This information is crucial to the Alliance. It may not be the riskiest of missions, but we still need to be familiar with the layout of Ord Mantell and the latest intelligence reports. Such a cavalier attitude could get us killed. Frankly, I'm surprised you've lived this long."
"Listen, Your Exaltedness! I've already been to Ord Mantell, and I went over the reports before we left. I don't need a snooty princess telling me how to run this operation."
"Hold on, laser-brains. I'm in charge here, and it is my duty to make sure this mission runs smoothly."
"Duty!" he countered. "That's all you care about, isn't it? You don't give a damn about other people. Your only concern is your precious Rebellion!"
"That's not true," she replied hotly. "I do care about people!"
"Oh really, Princess?" he said, moving close to her body. "And just who do you care about?"
The suggestiveness in his voice, combined with his proximity, flustered Leia. Though her traitorous heart screamed that she should say "You" in response to his question, her iron will savagely chained that thought and locked it away.
"I'm waiting, Princess," he said, flashing his cocky grin.
"Well, if you must know," she said, regaining some of her composure, "I care about Luke."
Hearing Luke's name sparked a surge of jealousy in Han. "Luke, huh? Well, if you care so much about Luke, why aren't you with him? You've been stringing him along for months."
"I have not!" she replied fiercely. "We're friends, Han! He knows I don't feel that way about him."
"He sure hasn't gotten the hint, Your Highness. You know what I think? I think that you don't feel anything at all. You're so cold, it's a wonder we haven't all died of frostbite."
Stricken, she replied in a soft tone that was almost too calm. "You're right, Han. I'm an unfeeling droid focused only on my assigned duty. Now, if you will excuse me, I've got some work to do. I wouldn't want you to catch a chill from standing in my presence."
Han was already silently cursing himself as she left. "There was no reason for you to attack her like that, you jealous idiot. If you'd just been patient, she might have admitted her feelings. Why'd you have to go and hurt her?"
The thought of her pained expression drove him to action—he had to go after her! He reached her just as she was about to enter her quarters. Her gait was much slower than normal, and she was hunched over, deflated. He hated himself for doing that to her.
"Uh…Leia," he stammered as she turned to him. "I shouldn't have said that…it couldn't be farther from the truth. I…" He paused for a moment, not knowing how to make things right.
Leia's supposedly non-existent feelings were etched all over her face as she said, "I really don't want to talk about this now. I'm going to bed."
When she moved to enter the cabin, Han reached out to touch her, but thought better of it. Instead, he lowered his head and reached his hand out to touch the door she had just closed in his face.
"You've really done it this time, Solo," he muttered. If she had yelled at him or accepted the apology, he wouldn't have been so worried. Her spirit seemed to be broken, however, and it killed him to think that he had been the cause.
The night would be hard on both of them. Leia allowed herself to dissolve in silent tears, ultimately crying herself to sleep. She wasn't so much angry with Han as she was fearful. Could she really be the heartless, unfeeling woman he had portrayed? She hated the fact that she couldn't control her temper and couldn't control her feelings. She couldn't control anything, really, and that scared her to death.
Meanwhile, Han kept replaying the argument over and over in his mind. Leia's stricken face haunted him, keeping him awake for most of the night. When he finally managed to fall asleep, he reached out to her in his dreams. This time, he told the truth, revealing feelings he didn't even know he had. However, before Leia could say anything, before she could forgive him, he awoke with a start. The universe would not let him off the hook so easily.