Star Wars: Rotta's Revenge

Chapter 1

5 ABY
Leia sat in her senatorial quarters on Chandrila, sorting through paperwork. It was by far the most boring part of her job, made even more so by the fact that there was no real need for it. The Senate had been reassembled with the formation of the New Republic, and with it Leia's position as the Senator from Alderaan. It was a purely honorary position, as Alderaan no longer existed and Leia had no one to represent. Despite her heroics during the Galactic Civil War, she had no real power in the new Senate. No one was willing to heed her warnings of the dangers posed by the remnants of the Empire, so enamored of peace were they. It was a sentiment Leia understood, yet it frustrated her that they could allow their personal desires to blind them.
Suddenly a bell chimed twice, indicating visitors. "Come in," Leia called, happy for the interruption.
The door opened and Han Solo strolled in, looking cheerful. "Your Highness," he said, executing a mock bow. He tried and failed to suppress a grin.
"Han! You're back!" Leia laughed delightedly and ran to embrace him. He and Luke had taken the Falcon to Ryloth a couple of weeks ago on the basis that Luke had sensed the presence of a Force-sensitive youngling there. Luke had received permission from Mon Mothma, the new Chancellor, to start a new Jedi Academy, and he was busying himself with finding younglings to train. "Where are Luke and Chewie?"
"Chewie's working on the Falcon," Han said, pulling back slightly to look down into her face, smiling as he did so. "The hyperdrive started acting up on our way here. We dropped Luke off at the academy so he could get his newest student situated." He kissed her softly on the lips. "How's the senator business going?"
Leia scowled at the question. "It's not going at all!" She pulled away from him and sat back down on the couch. "No one will listen to a word I say! I'm no better than a figurehead!"
Han sat down beside her and put his arm around her. "Don't say that," he argued. "You're much more than a figurehead. The Rebellion would have ended in a shambles if it wasn't for you."
Leia rolled her eyes at the hyperbole. "Don't exaggerate," she said, smiling despite her best efforts to maintain a scowl.
"Don't tell me what to do," Han retorted, grinning broadly as he leaned in to kiss her. She kissed him back, still smiling.
The annoying buzzing of Han's comlink interrupted their bliss. Han scowled as he pressed a button to activate the comlink. "Chewie, do you mind? I'm kind of in the middle of something here."
"It's actually me, Han." Lando Calrissian's voice came through the comlink. "Chewie patched me through to you, since what I had to say was so urgent. We've got problems, buddy. Big problems. Are Luke and Leia with you?"
"Leia's right here." Han frowned at his friend's tone. "And Luke's at his school. What's going on, buddy?"
"We've got a price on our heads," Lando said. "A pretty big one, too. Turns out Jabba had a son, and he was away from Tatooine the day we got you out. He doesn't know exactly which of us killed Jabba, so he's on the hunt for all four of us. Tell the others to be careful. I'll be in touch again soon, unless one of you comes up with a plan earlier."
"Thanks for letting us know, Lando. Take care." Han terminated the transmission. He and Leia looked at one another for a moment, their eyes full of mutual concern.
At last Leia sighed and broke their eye contact, looking down at the pile of papers in front of her. "This shouldn't be too hard to deal with," she said. "Right?"
"Right." Han Solo echoed her doubtful statement as he racked his brains trying to come up with a plan. He sighed internally. He couldn't ask her now, not when they had this to deal with. It would have to wait until after. He hoped that he wouldn't lose his nerve in the intervening time.
Leia stood up. "I'll go contact Luke and tell him about this," she said. "Once we're all in the same place, we can work something out." She bent and kissed his forehead, holding his face in her hand for a moment. "I'll be right back." She went through a side door into another room.
Han leaned back on the couch and sighed. He took a small box out of his pocket and played idly with it, lost in thought.