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Vader disagreed. He knew of the Millennium Falcon's power and was quite familiar with the skills of her cocky pilot. 'No, Captain,' he snarled angrily, 'they're alive. I want every ship available to sweep the asteroid field until they're found.'

As soon as Vader had given his command, Captain Needa's image and those of the other nineteen captains faded completely. When the last hologram vanished, the Dark Lord, having sensed the two men standing behind him, turned. 'Now what is so important it couldn't wait, Admiral?' he asked imperiously. 'Speak up!'

The admiral's face turned pale with fear, his trembling voice shaking almost as much as his body. 'It was ... the Emperor.'

'The Emperor?' the voice behind the black breath mask repeated.

'Yes,' the admiral replied. 'He commands you make contact with him.'

'Move this ship out of the asteroid field,' Vader ordered, 'into a position where we can send a clear transmission.'

'Yes, my lord.'

'And code the signal to my private chamber.'

The Millennium Falcon had come to rest hidden in the small cave which was pitch black and dripping with moisture. The Falcon's crew turned down its engines until no sound at all was emitted from the small craft.

Inside the cockpit, Han Solo and his shaggy copilot were just completing shutting down the ship's electronic systems. As they did so, all the service lights dimmed and the interior of the ship became nearly as dark as its sheltering cave.

Han glanced over at Leia and flashed her a quick grin. 'Getting kind of romantic in here.'

Chewbacca growled. There was work to be done in here and the Wookiee needed Han's undivided attention if they were going to repair the malfunctioning hyperdrive.

Irritated, Han returned to his work. 'What are you so grouchy about?' he snapped.

Before the Wookiee could respond, the protocol droid timidly approached Han and posed a question of burning importance. 'Sir, I'm almost afraid to ask, but does shutting down all except emergency power systems include me?'

Chewbacca expressed his opinion with a resounding bark of affirmation, but Han disagreed. 'No,' he said, 'we're going to need you to talk to the old Falcon here and find out what happened to our hyperdrive.' He looked over at the princess and added, 'How are you with a macrofuser, Your Holiness?'

Before Leia could get off a suitable retort, the Millennium Falcon lurched forward as a sudden impact struck its hull. Everything that was not bolted down flew through the cockpit; even the giant Wookiee, howling boisterously, had to struggle to stay in his chair.

'Hang on!' Han yelled. 'Watch out!'

See Threepio clattered against a wall, then collected himself. 'Sir, it's very possible this asteroid is not stable.'

Han glared at him. 'I'm glad you're here to tell us these things.'

The ship rocked once more, even more violently than before.

The Wookiee howled again; Threepio stumbled backward, and Leia was hurled across the cabin directly into the waiting arms of Captain Solo.

The ship's rocking stopped as suddenly as it had started. But Leia still stood in Han's embrace. For once she did not draw away, and he could almost swear she was willingly embracing him. 'Why, Princess,' he said, pleasantly surprised, 'this is so sudden.'

At that, she began to pull back. 'Let go,' she insisted, trying to move out of his arms. 'I'm getting angry.'

Han saw the old familiar expression of arrogance beginning to return to her face. 'You don't look angry,' he lied.

'How do I look?'

'Beautiful,' he answered truthfully, with an emotion that surprised him.

Leia felt suddenly, unexpectedly shy. Her cheeks flushed pink and, when she realized she was blushing, she averted her eyes. But she still did not really try to get free.

Han somehow couldn't let the tender moment last. 'And excited,' he had to add.

Leia became infuriated. Once again the angry princess and haughty senator, she quickly moved away from him and drew herself up to her most regal bearing. 'Sorry, Captain,' she said, her cheeks now reddened in anger, 'being