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Luke was beginning to think it may just have been his imagination.

"You see? Luke's not afraid," Leia said proudly.

Luke grinned.

"Running away from the guy with the blaster pointed at your head isn't fear, Your Highness," Han retorted. "It's smarts. Or did they not teach you that in princess school?"

"I guess they were too busy teaching us the importance of fighting for what you believe in, even when the cause seems hopeless," Leia snapped. "Or did they not teach you that in smuggler school?"

"They taught me how to stay alive, Princess. And that's all I'm trying to teach you."

"Oh, my, how lucky I am to have met you!" Leia gushed, affecting a high, fluttery voice. "I don't know how I managed to make it this long without having a big, strong man like you around to keep me safe."

Han shrugged. "You said it, Princess, not me."

"Come on, Han," Luke urged him. "The Rebellion could really use you."

"I won't be any good to the Rebellion if I'm dead," Han said. "And neither will you.

We lift off in a few hours—you want to join us, you're welcome. You want to stick around here? Well…it's been nice knowing you, kid. You, too, Princess," he told Leia. He held out a hand for her to shake.

She crossed her arms.

Han snorted. "Have it your way. C'mon, Chewie."

The Wookiee groaned a mournful goodbye as he followed Han to the main hangar deck.

"You don't think he'll really leave, do you?" Luke asked, once they were gone. Han might be annoying sometimes, but he was still a good pilot—and a good friend.

Luke didn't have many of those left.

"I hope he does," Leia said angrily. "The sooner, the better."

But Luke suspected she didn't mean it. Judging from the look on her face, she wanted Han to stick around as much as he did.

Maybe more.

"You don't think he's right, do you?" Luke asked nervously.

"Not a chance."

"There is, in fact, a ninety-four point two percent chance that Captain Solo is correct," C-3PO pointed out. "Especially if you factor in—"

"Not a chance," Leia repeated firmly. "I believe in the Alliance. We will protect you, Luke. And, you know, I also believe in you."

"You do?" Luke asked, flushing with pleasure.

"Of course," Leia said, like it should have been obvious. "You've already proven you can stand up to the Empire and survive. The Death Star was the most powerful weapon they had. What could be worse than facing that?"

Luke shuddered. "Let's hope we never have to find out."

* * *

Commander Rezi Soresh had been waiting a long time for an opportunity like this. He knew what everyone thought of him. That he was all brain, no guts. That he was quick to obey but slow to initiate. He knew they laughed at him, as people had always laughed—

and so they would pay, as people always paid. Even Ilaani had laughed at him, as if she—

No, he thought. He would not think of the traitor or her son. Not at a time like this.

He had work to do. This new mission was his chance to prove himself to the Emperor, once and for all. Once he stood by the great man's side, there would be no more laughter.

None of the Emperor's officers could match Rezi's ambition, his intelligence, his determination. And certainly none could match his loyalty. The Emperor's goals were his goals; the Emperor's desires, his desires; the Emperor's will, his will. The Empire was his life.

And he had proven that like no one else.

Now he would prove it again, so thoroughly and so impressively that no one, not even the Emperor, would be able to ignore him. And no one would be able to laugh.

The comlink beeped with an incoming transmission. Soresh put it up on the viewscreen.

Hollow gray eyes stared out at him, deep set in a pale, angular face. The shaved head had been replaced by a shock of black hair, which made the man look more human.

Looks could be deceiving.

The man didn't speak. He merely waited for orders; he'd been well-trained.

"I have a job for you," Soresh said. The man nodded, still waiting.

"It's too sensitive to discuss over a comm