Star Wars_ Rebel Force 04_ Firefight - Alex Wheeler [41]
But before she could act, the Star Destroyer made her decision for her. Apparently deciding that the Rebels did have enough firepower to take it down, perhaps because of orders, it suddenly made the jump to hyperspace.
The Rebels were alone.
Leia realized she'd been holding her breath. She let it out in a whoosh and massaged the muscles in her neck, all of them rock solid with tension. Then she smiled and flicked on the comm. "Well?" she asked Han. "Don't you want permission to come aboard?"
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
C-3PO put his golden arms around R2-D2 and gave him a clanking hug. "I thought I'd never see you again, Artoo!"
They stood in the main hold of the Millennium Falcon, waiting for the jump to hyperspace. R2-D2 beeped feebly.
"What do you mean I'm squeezing too tight?" C-3PO asked, letting go.
R2-D2 whistled a long response.
"You told me so? What do you mean you told me so?"
The astromech droid beeped peevishly.
"I most certainly will not admit that you did the right thing by going on this mission,"
C-3PO said.
R2-D2 whirred and chittered.
"Well, of course I'm glad you were able to save Master Luke," C-3PO admitted. "But that doesn't mean you were right to take all those crazy risks." He crossed his arms. "I'm very disappointed in you, Artoo."
The astromech droid beeped plaintively.
C-3PO shook his head firmly. "Oh, no. I assure you, I would not have done the same thing in your place."
R2-D2 didn't reply.
"Believe whatever you want to believe, you bucket of bolts! I know how to take care of myself. And you would be smart to follow my example."
The astromech droid beeped, pointing its manipulator arm at C-3PO.
"Me?" C-3PO asked incredulously. "Follow your example? Do you want both of us to end up on the scrap heap? No, no, Artoo. I think it's best that from now on, you stay close to my side, for your own safety."
R2-D2 trilled a question.
"Yes, for your own safety," C-3PO snapped. "Why else would I want you around?"
He clapped a hand on his counterpart's dome. "Now, let's clean you up. All that rain can't have been good for your circuitry."
C-3PO strutted out of the hold, and R2-D2 wheeled happily after him. It was good to be home.
Leia switched over to autopilot. "I'm waiting," she said, glancing back at Han.
"Waiting for me to take over?" Han said, sliding into the copilot seat beside her.
"Don't worry, Your Highness, your wait is over."
Leia rolled her eyes. " Waiting for a thank-you."
"Thank-you?" Han asked incredulously. "What am I supposed to be thanking you for?"
Leia resisted the urge to frown. Barely: "For saving your life?" she prompted him.
"For blasting those TIEs out of the sky?"
Han shrugged. "I had the situation under control."
"Under control?" Leia laughed. "Without my help, you would have been—"
"Help?" Han echoed: " Help? All you did, Your Worshipfulness, was get in my way.
You're lucky you didn't get us all killed. Not to mention my ship!"
"What about your ship?" Leia asked tightly.
"A busted fuel line, dented warp vortex stabilizers, and a giant hole in the aft hydraulics." Han glared at her. "All because you had to fly her into a war zone."
"Silly me," Leia snapped. "Next time, I'll just stay away!"
"Good!"
Leia stood up. She was tempted to shove Han out of the copilot seat. Or out of an airlock. But instead, she turned her back on him.
"Where are you going?" Han asked, the anger suddenly gone from his voice.
"To find Luke," she said pointedly. "At least he knows how to be grateful."
Han flicked a hand, as if waving aside the idea that anyone could be better company than him. "Ah, I can be grateful."
Leia suppressed a smile. Han was so predictable. He couldn't stand the idea that anyone was better than him, at anything. Especially Luke. "Oh really?" she asked skeptically. "Go ahead, prove it."
"Thank…you," Han said slowly, as if the words caused him physical pain.
"For?"
"For gifting us all with your royal presence, Princess," he drawled. "For honoring us peasants with your majestic—"
"Oh, stow it, bantha brain." Leia gave up and headed out