Fame and Fortune

Chapter Twenty-seven

Chapter Twenty-seven

The Hapan Navy intercepted the Wookiee Princess and the squadron leader, identifying himself as Commodore Brand, informed Corran they would be shot down if they attempted to land inside the Palace walls.

Another voice came over the speaker, "This is Rogue Leader," Wedge Antille's calm voice returned. "Shoot at that ship, Commodore and all hell will break loose."

"You are in Hapan space and you are unauthorized to be here," Brand responded hotly. "I strongly suspect all hell has already broken loose."

"Would you like to engage us, then?" Wedge said, spinning his X-Wing to put himself between the YT-2000 freighter and the Hapans. "My boys haven't been in a real tussle for a while, so we'd like the practice."

"Put your freighter down outside the Palace walls, then," the Hapan replied, annoyed and aware he was disobeying Prince Isolder's orders. It wasn't Isolder's hide that would pay the price, however. It was his squadron that would die for no reason other than keeping Queen Leia from visiting her child. It seemed like a worthless thing to die for. "I'm not interested in a bloodbath."

"It's nice to hear someone with common sense for a change," Wedge said, a smile in his tone. "Princess, you heard the nice man. Set her down."

"Copy that, Rogue Leader," Corran replied to his former flight squadron commander. "Appreciate the assist."

"We'll be waiting to do the same when you leave," Wedge responded, pulling his X-Wing up and away from the planet's surface.

With Corran in the pilot's seat and Chewbacca smashed in the too-small co-pilot's chair, The Wookiee Princess was set down in a field near the Palace. When they got close to Fountain Palace, Corran showed Leia the gun turrets that were pointed menacingly in their direction from the top edge of the Palace walls. It truly was more prudent to land nearby, rather than trying to avoid laser fire if they tried to land inside the Palace hanger.

Leia was unbuckling her restraining straps and rising from the navigator's seat when Han's pain hit her like a sledge hammer. Leia gasped and slid to the floor of the cockpit, crying out and moaning.

*Princess?* Chewie rose from his own seat, and knelt down beside Leia. *What is wrong?*

She shut her eyes against another agonizing wave of pain, taking deep, shuddering breaths. It took all her will-power to stay with Han, to make certain he understood he wasn't alone and they were coming for him. No matter how bad it got, she resolved not to break free and to give him her support through their Force connection. If she pulled back, he would die. She was certain of that. The guilt she felt over Han's illness and eventual death because of Vader's actions doubled when it suddenly occurred to her that Han was, once again, suffering because of people associated with her life.

"Maybe you should stay here," Corran told her as he put his arm under Leia to help her into a sitting position. "Chewie and I can head toward the Palace, and Luke and Mara are probably landing inside the Palace as we speak."

Chewie gave a startled woof. *Inside the Palace? They will not allow that!*

Leia gave Chewie a watery smile. "Luke told me through the Force a bit ago they won't know he's landing until he's set the ship down. He's shielding the Jade's Fire from anyone seeing them come in."

No matter how many centuries he lived, the tricks and abilities that Jedi displayed always would amaze the Wookiee. He also failed to understand why Han would refuse to access those abilities if it were really true he now was able to do just that. He stood up and grabbed his bowcaster from behind the co-pilot's seat. It was time to rescue Han or die trying.