Log Date:
	11/5/98

Log Cast:
	Han Solo, Rhansen (NPC), Leia

Log Intro:
	Han has answered a call for help from an old acquaintance and
comrade in arms: Ariana Millikin, who has acquired something of a checkered
reputation amongst the New Republic forces in recent months due to her
departure from the NRI to become involved with Talon Karrde. In the past
few weeks, however, she has had a particularly difficult time -- being
kidnapped and manipulated by none other than Valak. Now, having (or so she
hopes) shaken off Valak's influence, her relationship with Karrde ended,
Ariana has called on Han for assistance in returning to the NR. And Han
has brought her up to Home One, willing enough to help her out even if he
is privately leery of letting the woman back into anything resembling a
sensitive position until someone -- preferably Luke -- has been able to
determine whether she is still under Valak's influence. And as it happens,
Ariana's arrival is noticed by the Princess as well...

----------
_Well, _this_ is going to be interesting..._ Sending Private Rhansen off to 
  report to his unit commander for further duties, Han watches the kid slip 
  off down the ramp, his shoulders squared and head held high, veritably 
  glowing with pleasure. The kid clearly has no idea that Han had let him win 
  the sabacc hand, but the Corellian has no problem with letting him think 
  that -- at least until the boy tries to take him on for real. But sabacc is 
  only half of what's on Han's mind, and when Rhansen moves off away from the 
  freighter, the General crouches a bit to peer out into the vast hangar bay 
  of Home One, wondering if he's going to spy a certain dark-haired royal 
  personage on her way to find him.

"Well, I just had the most interesting discussion," Leia proclaims as she 
  approaches the _Falcon_, shirking her cloak off her shoulders with the 
  effort often relegated to something far weightier. "Hey, did you make 
  anything for supper? I don't think I've eaten all day."

Leaning down still at the hatchway, Han smiles, and beckons his beloved up the 
  ramp to join him. "I haven't made anything yet," he rumbles warmly, "but I 
  could whip up something, I think. Can't have Her Worship hungry."

Leia makes a face. "You're more dangerous in the galley than you are in the 
  cockpit," she answers and approaches her husband with a warming smile, hand 
  reaching for his. "I'm so entirely ready to leave this blasted place."

Han draws Leia gently to him, and as he wraps his arms around her, he agrees, 
  "That'll make two of us, sweetheart. If the rumblings I've been hearing are 
  true, it won't be too much longer." He flicks her a crooked grin, and adds 
  archly, "If you don't want _my_ cooking, we can always go eat in the mess 
  hell."

Another face, this one more perverse. "We should have some salad greens and 
  nerf steaks we can prepare. That's one thing you do well enough. Now may we 
  go inside before you make a spectacle out of us out here?"

Hazel eyes twinkle devilishly. "What," Han retorts in husky tones, "afraid 
  somebody might think we're married? In case you've forgotten, I can remind 
  ya..." He _does_ draw the Princess up into the ship, but as he does, he 
  kisses the knuckles of her dainty hand, then her palm, and then her wrist. 
  "Like this... and this..."

Leia murmurs, "Stop," while her cheeks attain a rosy glow. If there's one 
  thing Han can do to perfection in public, it is fluster his bride. Note, 
  however, that she does not struggle nor withdraw her hand from his grasp.

Up, then, into the ship. Han grins his rakish grin, but takes mercy on the 
  Princess, merely kissing each of her hands and then gesturing her playfully 
  on into the galley, at his side. "Your wish is my command, Princess. Nerf 
  steak and greens, you said...?"

"That'll do for a start...and do we have anymore wine? I think I have a bottle 
  of Hkassan burgundy left." Leia tosses her cloak over a chair along the way 
  and trails Han into the galley, enjoying the view of his rangy form and how 
  confident it moves through his ship. "Do you remember Ariana Millikin, by 
  the way?"

This raises Han's eyebrows, even as he steps into the _Falcon_'s little galley 
  and starts rummaging through his small refrigeration unit for steaks and 
  greens to assemble into a meal. "Funny you should ask that," he calls out to 
  his wife. "I just got back from taking Rhansen with me planetside to talk to 
  her."

Leia's eyebrow raises substantially. "Did you? I saw her when I was getting 
  ready to return to Home One. What did she want?"

Han locates two nerf steaks, considers them critically, and pops them into the 
  heating unit for defrosting. "Wanted to inquire about whether we'd take her 
  back, for starters," he says, glancing out of the galley nook as he does so. 
  "Interesting little conversation we had there."

Leia, looking intrigued and attentive, leans against an unused portion of wall 
  and murmurs, "Go on...I'm really interested to hear this."

"Well," says the Corellian, as he waits for the heating unit to beep the 
  completion of its task at him, "I agreed to meet her for old times' sake -- 
  Endor." He smiles a little, though his expression is a musing one. "And I 
  was curious, myself. Seems she's been through a bit, lately." Han leans 
  against the side of the galley's hatchway, now looking fully at the 
  Princess. "Says the Emperor had her. And that she's quits with Karrde."

"Quits with..." Leia waves her hand and begs Han, "Slow down, slow down. 
  What're you talking about?"

Lifting an eyebrow, Han peers at his wife for a moment, and then is distracted 
  by the chirp of the heating unit. He pulls out the nerf steaks, and gets to 
  work preparing them for actual cooking. As he rummages around in tiny 
  storage cabinets for spices, he asks, "Where'd I lose you, Princess?"

Leia counts off on her fingers. "One, the Empire had her? She used to be in 
  NRI, didn't she? Has anyone told Saris Treblis about that? Two, I thought 
  she and Karrde were inseparable. Three...well, has anyone wondered about 
  what happened when she was with the Empire?"

Steadily, Han replies, "Yes... she was in NRI. Left 'em for Karrde, or so I 
  understand. If Treblis _doesn't_ know, he doesn't deserve the job, though 
  I'll admit I haven't brought up the issue with him." Scents of garlic and 
  rosemary waft out a bit from the galley as the Corellian finds the spices he 
  wants, sprinkling them over the pair of steaks. "From what she's told me 
  now, whatever existed between her and Karrde is now... overwith. She didn't 
  go into detail" -- and he pokes his face into view, showing a deadpan 
  expression -- "and I didn't ask; didn't seem like the kind of thing a 
  gentleman asks a lady, nevermind my reputation to the contrary."

Leia's fingers lay on Han's cheek even as her nostrils flare appreciatively 
  for the scents wafting from the pan. Warmth and fondness for the Corellian 
  easily flows: affection is far simpler for Leia in private. Then, smile 
  fading, she murmurs, "I wondered about whether Valak saw her. She wants to 
  come back with us, and I'd be delighted to have her, but...."

Han smiles down at Leia, pausing in his efforts at steak preparation, though 
  his smile fades as hers does. "She did say the Emperor had her, yeah. I'd 
  heard something about her getting kidnapped planetside -- seems that's where 
  she wound up going. We talked some about that, too."

Leia shakes her head, a frown worming its way into her delicate visage. 
  Reluctantly she notes, "Han, you know I'm protective of Alderaanians, but I 
  can't ... I just don't want to trust her until someone's spoken with her. 
  Jessalyn, Luke, even Sinjon, that Horansi Force user. Not until I'm certain 
  Valak isn't using her."

"I recommended that myself," Han answers gravely, unusually so far him. "She 
  doesn't trust herself -- she said as much to me, and her eyes and face were 
  screaming it. But she's scared of talking to Luke, too." He pauses, then 
  adds gruffly, "I told her about the Kid helping with my nightmares."

Leia's fingers tighten about Han's chin, her eyes darkening at this memory. 
  Han's suffering, well and truly, is Leia's as well. "I remember," she 
  breathes, sympathy welling from her. "I'll see if Luke can speak with her. 
  I'd find Karrde and verify that end of the tale if he were easily 
  accessible, but these days he's not."

He leans over to brush a kiss along the Princess's brow, and offers with it a 
  small and gentled version of his lopsided smile. Then Han turns to pop the 
  spiced steaks back into the heating unit, programming it to properly cook 
  them this time, before beginning to rummage anew for dishes in which to 
  assemble salads. "Interesting, that," he murmurs thoughtfully, regarding 
  Karrde. "If she's running from him _and_ the Emperor. All kinds of 
  information in there I bet it'd be wise of us to find out."

"And before she has access to some certain information. If we take her with 
  us, we need to keep her isolated and guarded on Home One." Leia frowns all 
  the more, though the smile and kiss ease that expression. "Well, I'm being 
  overly cautious these days. Luke's still recovering from his time with 
  Valak, and with Mon Mothma on Home One I don't want to take any chances. In 
  Valak's place I would want to use her; she still has significant ties in the 
  Republic."

Han turns again, momentarily interrupting his efforts to rinse off the greens, 
  and reaches to slide his arms around the Princess. "I know, sweetheart," he 
  rumbles. "And I think she knows it, too. At least _consciously_, she doesn't 
  want to betray us." Again, he pauses, before continuing, ever so slightly 
  awkwardly, "I don't know a damned thing about the Force... but yeah, I'm 
  worried, too, that Valak might still have a hold of her head."

Nodding, Leia muses, "And that requires someone with more Force experience 
  than I have for certain. No, I'll have to ask Luke or Jessalyn to speak with 
  her...and I'll have her isolated." She leans against her husband, giving him 
  a helpless smile - how can she not smile? - and admits, "I'm really tired of 
  Valak, you know."

"I know," murmurs Han in reply, feelingly. Perhaps it's his memory of keeping 
  sleepless vigil at his beloved's bedside after that same individual had 
  nearly slain her that makes his fingertips and lips upon her cheek more 
  tender than usual, that makes his hazel eyes spark with a flare of heated 
  emotion; if it is, though, he doesn't say so, merely cradles the woman he 
  loves close to him.

Leia is more sensitive than many women and assuredly attuned to Han's moods, 
  Force or no. His concerns and thoughts are so readily apparently to her. She 
  raises her features to him, purses her lips, and silently implores him to 
  bend forward and allow their mouths to meet.

[End log.]