Worlds Between War: Star Wars One-Shots

Here's to the Madcaps

It was truly a remarkable sight for the Yavin 4 Rebel Alliance base to be utterly silent. The hangers usually filled with X and Y Wing pilots busily reporting for scouting duty were lifeless with only the drowsy ships neatly lined up along the length of the soundless bay. The command center commonly busy with generals relaying messages and technicians transmitting information via headsets and glowing tabletops of electronic grids were empty. The computer scanners were sleeping soundly and their perpetual humming had been replaced by the echoed silence of being powered down. Even the cafeteria and the service droids who ran it rested under the spell cast over the entire base. The bright overhead lights hanging from the rafters cast no trace of illumination and the long rows of tables for Rebel soldiers to dine at were spotless in the places where crumbs and spills had once been.

This is what things looked like on Life Day.

It was on this day alone that the Rebel Alliance would be completely at peace. War was forgotten for one rotation during which time, the men and women of the Rebellion would join their families to celebrate the galaxy-wide holiday and enjoy the absence of war. It was the closest thing to pausing time and every soldier, pilot, and Rebel leader took advantage of it.

Except for Leia.

The young former senator of Alderaan marched leisurely through the barracks of the Yavin 4 base with an electronic clipboard glowing in her hands. In the dim lighting of the sleeping corridors, Leia carefully marked off each room number on her handheld as she passed the coordinating room. She made note that each room was locked properly and the internal temperature of the dorm was lowered to the standard temperature to conserve energy. "216... check... 217... check..."

Her voice sounded odd and displaced in all of the suffocating silence but the solitude was comforting to her. She had gotten used to the idea of being alone ever since-

"218... check..."

Leia brushed a stray piece of brunette hair out of her eyes and continued checking off rooms. She had persistently assured General Dodonna that she would be fine on her own for one day and even though he had repeatedly invited her to his home on Commenor to celebrate Life Day, she declined. No use in celebrating Life Day if your loved ones were dead.

"219... left unlocked. Lights still on."

Leia rolled her eyes when she read the room assignment list and realized to whom 219 belonged. She made a mental note to reprimand the captain the next time she saw him. Tucking her computer tablet under one arm, Leia reached for the doorknob. She stopped when she heard voices on the other side of the door. He was still here?

"Han?"

Leia pushed the door open slightly and peeked in. Of all people, Leia least expected Han Solo to be hanging around the lifeless base and missing out on a celebration. Nevertheless, there sat Han in a reclined position on his bed with a wine bottle at his side and a dented metal mug in his hand. Across from him, Luke Skywalker sat in one of the chairs with a mug of his own in his hand. Han flashed a welcoming smile. "You're just in time for the party, Your Worship. Happy Life Day!"

Leia looked back and forth between the two young men and blurted out what she had been thinking. "What are you guys doing here?" Han held up his mug. "I'm showing Luke how to be an alcoholic. Why don't you join us?"

Leia rolled her eyes and remained in the doorway. "I meant, what are you doing at the base? You've got leave to go be with family." Immediately, Leia regretted her words. She remembered hearing about the death of Luke's family at the hands of the Empire and it was obvious that a smuggler like Han wasn't much of a family man. If Han was offended, he didn't show it. "The whole orphan thing makes that a little complicated. Ya wanna drink or not?"