Star Wars: Wanderers

Chapter Eight

Rebel Fleet Command
Three months later

"For your valiant efforts in service of the Rebel Alliance, we recognize you and honor you," Mon Mothma proclaimed, her arms spread wide before the crowd. "You represent the very best of us, and your courage and sacrifice will not be forgotten."

Everyone clapped and cheered. The three former rebels, now citizens of the New Republic, reacted to the praise in three very different ways. Leia Organa stood regally and held her head high before the chancellor, the barest hint of a smile on her elegant face. Luke Skywalker shuffled his feet and looked at the ground, embarrassed. Han Solo grinned like a schoolboy who had just been told that classes were cancelled forever.

Liberty slipped in quietly through the entrance at the back, quickly blending into the crowd. It had taken her all this time to gather the Imperial prisoners, send them to where they were supposed to be, give Eliza Solo immediate medical treatment so she could be stabilized until they reached a proper medical facility, obtain clearance to leave said medical facility, and transport her to High Command, which was where she was now located. Jasper was with his wife now, in the medical wing three stories up, and Liberty had gone in search of their son, to bring him the good news.

It was interesting, yet unsurprising, that Eliza's son had turned out to be a rebel after all, as she had originally intended him to be. There was a sort of poetry to it, almost. Liberty was not often given to fanciful thinking- she had rarely had the luxury- but the outcome of this long and terrible war made her think that perhaps there was hope for the galaxy after all.

The ceremony over, she made her way over to the trio in whose honor it had been held. "General Solo?"

The man in question extricated himself from Princess Leia's embrace (reluctantly, it must be told) and turned to face her. "Yes?"

"I'm Captain Tilden of the Hands of Liberty," she informed him. "I've come to inform you that your parents are safe and await you upstairs in sick bay. They have been-"

"Wait, what?" Han looked so startled it was almost comical. "How- ?" But he could not finish the question, so caught off balance was he.

He hadn't given a thought to his parents in years. He had no reason to think they had been anything other than going about their business on Corellia, where they had always been. And now this... Captain was telling him they were safe, as if they had been in danger, but how had they gotten there, and where... who... He had so many questions, he couldn't voice them all at once. He just stood there, staring at Captain Tilden wordlessly, while the princess and the Jedi looked between them curiously.

"Your mother was arrested by the ISB on charges of treason and rebel conspiracy about twelve years ago," Tilden summarized. "Your father searched for her for many years until he joined my force three years ago, and we have been scouring as many ISB bases as we could, looking for her along the way. We finally found her about three months ago. She was not in good condition, mentally or physically, but she has improved dramatically on both counts."

Realizing belatedly that she sounded rather clinical, she attempted to insert a bit of compassion in her face and voice as she continued, "She's quite a versatile woman; I've never known anyone to survive the ISB's interrogation techniques for an extended period of time without breaking. They're both quite eager to see you. If you'll follow me?"

In one smooth, sweeping motion, she gestured with one of her wide sleeves toward the door, and turned on her heel and walked away. Han and company stood for a moment, stunned, then hurried to follow her.

"Wait a minute!" Han was not satisfied with Tilden's explanation. "My mother was the Deputy Commandant of the Imperial Academy on Corellia! She was adamant that I enter the Academy myself- that's why I left home, because I wanted to go my own way. How could she have been-- I mean, there must be some mistake!"

"There is no mistake, General," Captain Tilden said, turning her head sideways to look at him. "You match the name and description your parents gave, although you're a bit older now. And the description you just gave of your mother is the same one she gave of herself, albeit incomplete.

"She couldn't tell you or your father she was a rebel spy, otherwise you would have been considered rebels by association. But she intended for you to follow in her footsteps- that's why she wanted you to enter the Academy. It was her wish that you become a deep-cover spy for the Rebellion, as she was." Tilden smiled wryly. "A bit ironic that you ended up as a rebel anyway. I suppose life has a way of working itself out."

Han just stared wordlessly, his mouth gaping like a fish. He tried to speak, but found he didn't have a voice. This was all so new, so sudden, that he didn't know how to react. He barely noticed Leia give his hand a reassuring squeeze.

"Hey," she whispered. "At least I get to meet your parents."

Han debated whether to laugh or cry and settled for a weak chuckle. Leia squeezed his hand again and stood on her toes to kiss his cheek.

They entered the turbolift and Tilden pressed the button that would take them to sick bay.