A Matter of Commitment

Story and Art by Dani
hotshoe@toast.net

see You Could Use Another Good Kiss home page
for applicable legal statements and disclaimers

Part 5

It would probably be after midday before there would be a response to Leia's message, and yet longer before she'd be able to meet with E Rafiel, so the princess returned to the plaza where she was supposed to wait for Han and Chewie. She was alert and slipped out of sight when a Security patrol passed by, but they didn't appear to be anything but an ordinary patrol. Leia gained confidence and began to walk along the hawkers' stalls. Noting that Threepio was still close behind, she stepped into a small cluster of beings that were engaged in admiring a couple of aliens who were dancing, and dancing very well.

Threepio, seeing that his mistress was going to pass time viewing the local sights, decided to chat with some Guido droids. Conversing with the natives would give him a chance to practice his dialect. "Hello there," he said, "you must be F011 models..."

"Click!Hi there, Goldie! Click!"

"Goldie?" Threepio wondered in annoyance.

The dancers were a young male and female, very handsome and scantily clad. Their movements were supple, graceful. From a few meters away, four or five musicians began to play along. Pedestrian traffic flowed around the gathering, some pausing to check out the entertainment. Leia was vaguely aware of Threepio, who had begun to argue with two local droids behind her, but she let the two dancers have her full attention. Oh, how she remembered the arts fair upon Alderaan! And all the celebrations. There had always been singers, dancers, acrobats, and clowns. While her eyes followed the young humanoids, her mind slipped back into the bittersweet memories of her youth. A small, sad smile upon her lips, dark brown eyes warmed by things seen and unseen.

That was how she appeared to the Corellian who was watching her from the crowds across from her. He was struck by how lonely and vulnerable she appeared. Yeah, she is a tough little shivik, all right,he thought, but not that tough.She hid the softness, but it was still there. He found it harder and harder to keep his feelings impartial when it came to her. He rationalized that it was just part of a man's nature to want to protect and comfort a woman. And it was also a male's nature to lust after an attractive female of his own species. Han tried to squelch that thought. He didn't like to let his primal urges get the better of him. Besides, sleeping on the couch had been her idea. I'm just not her type,he admitted to himself. But sometimes he could almost imagine that she felt a little something for him, too.

The crowd was breaking up as the dancers finished. Solo began to make his way over to the princess. Leia hadn't seen him and was walking slowly along the various counters that offered anything saleable from hardware to food and drink, from intoxicating inhalants to playthings for children.

Threepio sputtered huffily and left the obnoxious Guido droids behind. He felt the ground below his feet give way in a peculiar fashion and looked down. He had stepped into a drip pan next to a gluefish stand. The smell was not pleasant. The spiteful Guido droids began to cackle mechanically while a reptiloid working the gluefish stand began to protest the mess that Threepio was making as he tried to extricate his foot from the pan.

Leia paused before a counter that offered odd bits of flamboyant apparel. She let her fingers try the feel of a pale blue shimmersilk wrap. What a lovely color,she mused.

"Buy it."

Leia started at the sound of Han's voice close to her ear. "I wish you wouldn't sneak up on me like that!"

"You were expecting me, weren't you?" he asked, then nodded at the flashy fabric. "Don't you like it?"

"Well, yes," she said, eyeing it again. Lots of young females were wearing shimmersilk this season, but they wore little else. Outfits made with shimmersilk tended to be a bit skimpy for Leia's tastes. This one was no exception.

"Then buy it," Han told her simply.

"Oh, I couldn't justify it," she protested.

"Why not?"

"It's so impractical, it's so...so...portsy." She began to blush.

"You don't have to justify it! Besides," he said, picking up the wrap, "I like 'portsy.'" He asked the vendor how much it was and before Leia could argue, paid for the garment himself, handing the package to Leia. She felt her cheeks burning and knew that some kind of response would be expected from her. Han could act so strangely at times!

"Thank you, Captain, but you didn't have to do that."

"I know," he replied, "but sometimes I do something just for the hell of it, y'know? You ought to do that once in a while. If you ask me--"

"Which I didn't."

"--if you ask me," he continued with Corellian boldness, "you're too damn committed."

"There's nothing wrong with commitment."

"I never said there was."

"Then why are you so afraid of it?"

Han jabbed a finger at her. "Listen, babe, I'm not afraid of anything. I'm here because it's what I want at this particular time. Can't you appreciate that for what it is?" He was staring hard into her eyes, his face seeming very close to hers. Leia felt hot again only this time it wasn't her cheeks. Once more her traitorous mind flashed back to the memory of his bare torso in the moonlight.

"I can appreciate dependability," she managed to retort.

"And you can't depend on me?"

"Only to do what I least expect." Her hand tightened on the package. Han shook his head in disgust. Leia was immediately sorry that they'd ended up arguing again. After all, Han had been rather congenial lately.

"Look," she reached for his hand. "I don't want to fight. Really. I do appreciate this," she held up the package, "and all your help. I've got all day to kill and I'm just dying for a glimpse into the technical aspects of this trade show. Would you happen to know of a knowledgeable spacer-type who'd be willing to show me around?" She smiled engagingly up at him. "Just for the hell of it, y'know?"

Han was frowning uncertainly, then he shrugged and gave in to a smile. "I know just the guy." He proffered his arm, which she accepted without hesitation, and led her away to the speeder. Threepio squished along after them.

Han Solo could tell that his partner was aggravated before they had exchanged any words at all. The Corellian recognized the fighting fire in the Wookiee's usually laid-back countenance. He helped Leia into the speeder while Chewie filled him in on the details of his confrontation with the bounty hunter. Han's first reaction was one of relief. He was glad that the bounty hunter hadn't decided to take the Wookiee on, and doubly glad that Chewie hadn't tried anything rash. But since his friend was all right, Han felt the relief give way to anger. A bounty hunter! Galactic scum! Jabba had his nerve all right.

Leia, who could understand only a few isolated Wookiee sounds, looked to Han for an explanation. "Well?" she prompted. "Are you going to tell me about it?"

Solo didn't feel like laying this scene on Leia; she had enough to think about already. He was glad that Threepio was too far away to hear Chewie and translate for her. "Ah...Chewie just ran into an old friend of ours." Chewbacca fumed.

"Friend?" Leia looked doubtful.

"Yeah, well, if we see him again, I'll take care of it. Don't worry about it. It's a big city, you know."

Suddenly they were all accosted by a horrible smell. They turned as one to stare accusingly at Threepio. The droid suffered their glare with barely contained impatience.

"Can't we get rid of goldenrod?" complained Han.

"Threepio, what happened?"

"Oh, Mistress Leia, it was awful! There were these two terrible Guido droids, you see, and..."

Emil Sonel trudged wearily down the boulevard. His hair was disheveled and there were dark circles below his eyes. Though he hadn't eaten in two days, food was the farthest thing from his mind. Face ashen, he paused before a public comm unit. He drew a ragged breath and punched in the code for his SPEC drop box. Emil knew he was being tailed by Krahar's spies, even though he couldn't detect any physical evidence of their pursuit. His fingers trembled as he left an uncoded message for his native contact. If the senior native didn't find this transmission, if by Sonel's two-day silence she'd become spooked and avoided the box, then she would be safe and the Imperials wouldn't be able to trace her. And, of course, all would be lost for Emil. But Sonel was no longer capable of weighing priorities. He just wanted his baby safe.

When his task was complete, he began to head for the sleazy downport area to await the end.

Captain Krahar studied the print of Emil's message with heady satisfaction. He had his doubts about letting Emil go, but perhaps things would go well after all.

"I want this drop box traced," he instructed his men. "Traced, and that is all. We shall keep an eye on the recipient and allow him to complete his half of the job. But once we have Emil's contact, you will arrest him at once." He handed the print to the lieutenant. "Take a squad down to this tavern and when the contact shows up, bring them all back to me."

"Yes, sir."

Leia had to admit it; the convention did seem to have its own quality of high-energy appeal. It was almost...fun. Captain Solo had a tendency to become quite loquacious when it came to hyperdrive machinery, and modifications for his freighter. Chewie seemed a bit more reserved than usual, but even he would add an enthusiastic comment or two when a certain displayed technique caught his fancy. Though the princess was not all that interested in supralight hardware, the festive atmosphere and her companions' good spirits tended to ease her anxieties about her own mission here. She followed them around, content to simply try and figure out what half of the experimental machinery was for. Some of it was truly inspirational, if not totally useless. Some of the designers would be valuable assets to the Alliance if they could be persuaded to turn their talents in that direction.

Han leaned toward the engine and defensive components. Chewbacca preferred equipment designed to make hauling freight more convenient. He is always the practical one,Leia thought fondly. It must be he who keeps Solo's feet on the ground.

The princess caught sight of actors improvising outside the open-air pavilion and she drifted in that direction. She watched them until she couldn't resist the odors from an outdoor pit. Some kind of beast was roasting therein and it smelled so good that soon Chewbacca was standing next to Leia wrinkling his nose in sheer delight. Leia could see Han, still involving himself with a demo within the pavilion, but Chewie tossed his head as if to say, "Who cares? Let's have lunch!" He gave Leia a gentle push towards the lines forming for hot roasted beast.

She found herself behind a short, pudgy alien with a long snout. Chewie paid for his lunch and Leia's and hummed in anticipation. Leia assumed this must be one of his favorite dishes. After securing goodly portions of steaming meat, the Wookiee and the Alderaani moved on to a long table which offered all sorts of side orders. Leia didn't recognize many of them, but she chose hers by shying away from everything chosen by the alien in front of her, for instead of serving utensils, he would acquire helpings of this and that by sloshing about with his longish olfactory appendage. That didn't leave much of a choice.

Han noticed the aromas and his friends' absence at the same time. Figures,he thought. He couldn't blame them, though. After military fare and ship's rations, a body tended to overdo it when presented with "real" food. And it did smell good. He hoped that Chewie hadn't forgotten to keep an eye on Leia, as well as his stomach. He spotted them, both with a tray full of food, heading in the direction of some comfortably shaded tables. He was distracted by a leathery being with two short horns who was pushing an ice chest between the tables; on an impulse, Han purchased a bottle of wine from the mobile vendor. He bought himself some lunch and went to join his friends.

Leia was savoring a bite of the juicy meat when Solo strolled up and sat down next to Chewie. He smiled and held up the bottle for her inspection. Leia bowed her head in deference to his choice. It was cheap portside slop, but a nice gesture all the same. She was scooping a bunch of shiny black peas into her mouth when Solo grimaced.

"You like yours alive? Ugh!"

Leia froze. At that moment she felt something squirm against the roof of her mouth.

The Corellian went on matter-of-factly. "I can't eat those unless they're killed and cooked properly."

As calmly as she could, Leia picked up her napkin and spit the little buggers out. She noticed greenly that one of the black things was crawling off her plate. The blood drained out of her face and she began to gag.

Han realized that she hadn't known what she had been eating and quickly offered her the bottle of wine. She accepted it eagerly. Taking a long drink, she impolitely swished it around in her mouth and took another long pull before setting the bottle down. Trying to regain some semblance of dignity, and still as white as the jumpsuit she wore, Leia primly pushed her tray away.

"You all right?" Solo asked, stifling a laugh. Leia nodded. Chewie was chortling. He was trying not to but, still, he was chortling. "You don't look too good." Han stuffed some food into is mouth to keep from laughing out loud. He nearly choked. To Leia's dismay, he totally lost it when he had to flick one of the insects off his own plate. Chewie roared with mirth. The princess tried to glare coldly at them, but it was no use. A small, embarrassed smile finally spread across her face.

After the wine was gone, the group ambled down to the docks. The sun was hot overhead, but the wind off the water was clean and cool. Despite the bustle of the beings around them, a quiet kind of peacefulness had settled on Han, Chewie, and Leia. The princess leaned back against the railing overlooking the water.

"It's nice here," she murmured.

"Yeah, it is, isn't it?" Han said quietly.

"The Empire's not so powerful here..."

"Neither is the Alliance..."

"It works, though." Leia gave Han a sour look.

Somewhere within hearing, a band started to play. Leia closed her eyes and tilted her face up to the sun. Han wondered what she was thinking about. The music grew louder as the breeze carried strains of unfamiliar melodies to them. Han watched as some couples and triples on a ferry offshore began to dance. He seized upon a sudden inspiration. He bowed before the startled princess.

"Do me the honor?" he offered, extending both of his arms. Chewie groaned.

Leia couldn't resist the invitation. It had been so long... "S'my pleasure," she beamed. Han placed his hands on her waist, while she put hers upon his shoulders. After several false starts, they were moving together in time to the music. Another awkward step or two and they both gave in to laughter. Han pulled Leia a little closer. Either she didn't notice or didn't mind.

"You know, Captain," she said slowly, "you've been a great help to us."

"Oh?" Han was enjoying the way her hips moved against the heels of his hands.

"Yes." Leia met his eyes. "And I'm grateful."

"Are you?" Han let his hazel eyes look deeply into Leia's.

"Yes. I know that I don't act like it, but I do appreciate your sticking it out."

Han looked away. He realized that she'd probably had a little too much wine, but he had a mounting urge to throw himself bodily at the feet of the Rebel Alliance if only Leia would continue to be grateful. No doubt about it, Solo,he thought, it's been too long since you've held a warm, willing female in your arms.Solo had a gut feeling that all it would take was a simple verbal commitment and he'd have Leia: a warm, willing--but no! That angered him, for he wouldn't be bought. But then again, Leia was above that sort of thing. Wasn't she? Maybe it wasthat wine. Maybe he just needed to find some friendly female companionship for the evening. Would he feel any differently about Leia in the morning? The idea seemed ludicrous while he moved slowly, his arms full of everything a man could want in a woman. He had come to realize that he wanted her badly, but something was holding him back. And it wasn't her attitude, for a woman's disdain had never inhibited him before. It could be the fact that he had so little to give her in return, that his conscience wouldn't allow him the luxury of taking her words at more than face value.

At last, he resigned himself to it. He had to be sure that Leia could accept him for what he truly was. A rogue Corellian, a free spacer. It meant she'd have to overlook any possibility of him ever being around for long. In all truthfulness, he didn't want to hurt her. She had to make her own choices.

Later on, Leia made a vidcall to the ICE. Celia politely informed her that E Rafiel would be most happy to see her after she got off duty and repeated her address. Leia glanced at her chrono. It was almost that time now. The afternoon had slipped away so quickly. It was too bad, for she was beginning to enjoy the company. Han could be very pleasant at times and Leia had realized that she, too, could relax and "let go" once in a while. Even Solo seemed reluctant to rejoin the hustle and bustle of the crowds.

"Back to work?" he guessed when she stepped out of the booth.

"Right."

"Can we give you a lift?"

Leia considered this and declined. "No, I don't think so." She smiled quickly. "It's been a lovely afternoon, though. Thanks."

Han ducked his head. Having decided to let her make her own choices, Solo found her warming up to him to be a favorable sign. But that didn't lessen the impact of the odd premonition of danger he experienced as she disappeared from sight.

Captain Krahar paced nervously back and forth in his office. They had lost the senior native agent. Someone had indeed called to pick up Emil's message, but the transmission was traced to a public comm unit such as the one Emil had used. By the time the Imperial stormtroopers arrived, they found only an empty booth. Now, success hinged entirely upon the meeting that Emil had requested. Medon clenched his fists. Nothing must go wrong now! Nothing!

The further downport Leia got, the worse she seemed to feel about it. She had gone back to the speeder and collected the foul-smelling Threepio. Together they had traveled across town to E's modest flat. Leia left Threepio outside to watch for any Imperial activity. E Rafiel seemed genuinely glad to see Leia. She related at once how she had been corresponding with Emil via SPC drop box and how, several days ago, Emil had stopped making his pickups. All the drops that E made just accumulated. She had continued to leave her reports in hope that Emil would be able to resume sending. When E had received Leia's message, she knew that something had gone wrong. On her way home, she told the princess, she had stopped at a comm unit to erase all her entries from the box's memory. To her surprise, she'd found that already done and a lone message from Emil.

"It was uncoded," she said, "which meant that we can't use that means of communication any more. Maybe, the line was traced, I don't know. I got out of there fast."

"Well, what did the message say?" Leia leaned forward. If Emil was still abroad, then her mission would shift to one of rescue.

"It said that I would be contacted by the Alliance soon, and that I should send their representative to the Starfall Tavern as quickly as possible."

"The Starfall?" Leia frowned. "Do you know where that is?"

"I've never been there but I can tell you the location. It's rather rough down in that section of town."

She knew it was an unworthy thought, but E Rafiel wondered if Emil had given her away somehow by using the drop box. She kept her fear to herself, vowing to be strong. Rafiel was young and inexperienced. She'd never even been off planet. What's more, she'd always had buffers to keep her contributions to the rebels anonymous. And though she knew that she was a part of the Alliance and she fervently believed in everything they were fighting for, the only way they touched her life was in the form of an empty drop box. Now, they had become real people with real problems. And worst of all, contrary to all of E's suppositions, they had appeared to her in the form of a petite young woman no older than herself.

Leia was very sensitive to the feelings of those around her. She could almost feel E's dismay, almost as if the girl had expected a burly commando-type to ease her fears about the way her life had been disrupted. Leia listened quietly as E explained the information her last reports had contained. The princess tried to determine just what kind of stuff she was made of. She was, after all, the senior native, and Leia had to find someone to replace Emil. While it was obvious to the princess that E was nervous and a little shaken by this new intrigue, she kept a firm grip on her emotions. Rafiel asked to be of as much help as possible.

"Do you have any kind of weapon here?" Leia asked.

"I have a stunner," E answered slowly. "I've never used it."

"And hopefully, you'll never have to," Leia said earnestly. "I suppose that you know that your affiliation with us may have been betrayed today when Emil used the drop?" Rafiel nodded, wide-eyed. Leia nodded back. "Well, I'll go meet Emil. You stay here and follow your normal routine. But," she added, "at the first sign of any threat by the government to yourself, you can go to this address." Leia wrote down Nida's locale and handed it to E. "Ask for Han Solo. If nothing else, he'll be able to get you off-planet and back to the Alliance base where you'll be safe."

"But what about you?" E inquired. "If the Empire knows about me, then they must know about you!" She looked around herself suspiciously. "This could be a trap."

"That's true," Leia admitted, "but I think that if they suspected you or if they were even watching your place, they'd have moved in by now. I think that they know they're after me, you see."

"Well, if you think that they don't suspect me, maybe I should go along with you. I could help. That is a very bad area you're going to."

Leia gave her a reassuring smile and shook her head. "No. I'm hoping that you'll consider taking Emil's place for us."

"Me?"

"Yes. I know it will be dangerous and you'll need some training, but right now, you're all we've got--and as such, I'd rather you didn't risk your cover any further."

"I understand."

After Leia had left, E thought what a brave one this Leia was. She went to her closet and procured her new gun and checked its charge. She peeked out the windows but the darkness concealed any menacing Imperials who may have lurked out there. It occurred to her that if she was suspect, then she'd be better off to leave now, before the enemy could pin her down here. And if she wasn't suspect, she could come and go as she pleased, anyway. So why not go to this other rebel, Solo, and tell him what Leia had planned? Maybe then he could go to help her. Downport at night was just short of suicidal if you didn't belong there. With a giddy air of satisfaction at having a purpose, she sneaked out the back way.

A Matter of Commitment

Story and Art by Dani hotshoe@toast.net

Story and Art by Dani
hotshoe@toast.net