Fame and Fortune

Chapter Twenty-nine

Chapter Twenty-nine

Isabell made no sound as she tumbled through the air; it was Leia who was screaming, a high-pitched wail of fear and grief as she ran forward, knowing it was too late... too late to catch her child before she fell to her death.

It was Luke who saved his sister's child - lifting his hand and shutting his eyes, he caught Isabell using the Force. Quickly and easily he lifted his niece back to the safety of the balcony, while Queen Filamina's face changed from vengeful triumph to speechless shock as Isabell floated into her mother's waiting arms.

Filamina still lay on the floor, pinned down by Mara, as she managed to regain her wits and voice. "You have no right to take my grandchild from Hapes. It is against the law."

"Luke, can you please pitch her off the balcony?" Leia asked in a quivery voice as Isabell cried softly against her mother's warm neck. How dare the arrogant Queen attempt to murder her grandchild, then accuse Leia of breaking the law?

"That's the dark side, Leia," Luke admonished, although not unkindly. "You won't have to worry about Isolder or his mother, ever again."

The Princess drew her face back from her child. "They will come after me in the New Republic's court."

"You're forgetting about our evidence," Luke said, breaking into a grin.

"We can't show that," Leia gasped. "He would just die of humiliation. I would never do that to him."

"The Hapan people need to see it. The galaxy needs to see it," Mara said firmly, standing up and jerking the Queen Mother unceremoniously to her feet as well. "The recording can be carefully edited so his, um, privates are left private, although, quite honestly, Daysun doesn't seem like the modest sort, if you ask me."

Leia nodded, unsure if that would be something Han would agree to, but for now all she wanted to do was take Isabell away from this terrible place and hurry to Han's side during his recovery.

They hauled the Queen Mother toward the interrogation room and shoved her inside, where Isolder was still screaming, sobbing and begging for release.

"Take care of your worthless son, Filamina," Leia said before her brother used the Force to shut the heavy, durasteel door. "I hope your people find you soon, or you may die of thirst waiting inside your torture chamber."

Luke and Mara used their lightsabers to weld the metal edges of the door frame tightly shut. No one attempted to stop them as they left the Palace, and Luke felt the few Hapan servants that they passed on the way out seemed to be strangely pleased. They headed back to the Wookiee Princess and shot into space unchallenged.

________________

Later, on Corellia

Princess Leia placed her hand against the warm duraglass tube, looking up with deep concern over the man floating inside, surrounded by green bacta. Quite reluctantly Leia had left Isabell back at Han's estate under the care of Mara and Cighal, with added reassurances from her brother that she'd be safe and cared for while she went with him to the clinic.

"Why isn't he awake yet?" Leia questioned, trying to keep her tone calm. "He should be awake."

Both Chewie and Luke stood behind the Princess, next to a Two-One Bee medical droid. It was the droid that spoke. "He is still sedated, due to being in the bacta. Master Daysun's vital signs are all steady. He is improving by the time-part."

At that moment a human female entered the room and everyone turned their attention toward her. Judging by her white overcoat and badge, she was obviously a doctor. "Hello, everyone." She smiled as they took in her appearance – a short but commanding looking female with long, graying hair that was twisted up in intricate braids, not unlike the hair style Leia favored.