Secrets of Endor - DISCONTINUED

VI

(Italics excerpt from 'Return of the Jedi', by James Kahn and George Lucas. Print. 1983 Lucasfilm Ltd. Del Rey, Ballantine Books, New York. No credit taken.)

"Easy, easy... Let her down nice and slow, now."

Han Solo slowly guided his beloved ship onto the landing dock of the Alliance frigate. Chewbacca copiloted, aiding him nicely in his attempt to land the Falcon with minimal damage. After the events that had happened on the trip to rejoin the Rebellion, the best landing would be as if she never touched down at all.

Chewie yowled in relief as the ship touched the floor and rested. In habit, he began the shutdown process, hitting switched above his head, followed by a series of button beneath.

Captain Solo ripped off his headset. Lando patted his shoulder, then made his way out of the cockpit to lower the boarding ramp on the starboard side. Then, Han's seat spun around and he was on his feet, following his friend to the entrance.

On his way out of the cockpit, he glanced at Leia. They exchanged a few seconds of a frustrated look, and then he proceeded past her and out the door.

"Chewie, wake Threepio, please," Leia requested softly. She placed her hand on the Wookie's shoulder from the seat behind him in thanks, then she made her way after Han and Lando.

The boarding ramp slowly lowered. Leia had never been so nervous before. She had not been herself for the past year, and the Alliance surely had picked up on that. She had demanded a search and rescue and volunteered the Rebellion's best soldiers in order to save Solo. The reaction they would receive would immediately show her her current place within the freedom fighter's army.

Lando made the first steps onto the Rebellion frigate and off of the Millennium Falcon. Receiving him was most of the Rebel Alliance. The Gold and Red squadron pilots were standing among the military control personnel. In front stood Admiral Ackbar, his first officers, also Mon Calimari, and Mon Mothma.

Nervously, Leia glanced at Han, who was standing by her side. He didn't look back down at her until a few moments later. Her eyes begged him to forgive her, but he didn't notice.

Instead, he told her, "should've changed out of those pants, your Highness."

The Princess looked at him with confusion clouding her eyes.

"Don't you think it's obvious they're mine?" Solo asked.

"Don't be so full of yourself," Leia couldn't help but snap back.

He shrugged. "Whatever you say, Princess. But last I checked, you were never from Corellia, or in the Corellian Naval Unit."

Suddenly, Leia was a whole new kind of embarrassed. But, being the leader that she was since the war against the Empire began, she knew she had to keep her head held high and ignore the gossip that may or may not travel. After all, it wasn't her fault she had no clothes to wear after Jabba had enslaved her.

Seeing the panic in her face, Han frowned and muttered a "sorry" briefly before they were expected to step off with Lando.

The Alliance was quiet. The ship echoed as it rocked in dead space. Lando exited first. Leia expected cheers upon their arrival, but she knew what they were really waiting for: to see if they had rescued Captain Solo from Jabba the Hutt.

Leia held her breath as she stepped out next, her footsteps in sync with Han's as they traveled down the boarding ramp. When they made it to the bottom, Lando stepped aside, revealing the Princess and her winning rescue. The freedom fighters erupted.