The Adventures of the Crimson Hawk, Part 11

The rain stopped by the next morning. The whole world seemed newly washed and clean, even in downtown Theed. Leia had lunch with her aunt, Mon Mothma, and Senator Brendol Hux of Arkansis District at a small cafe across from the court house. They sipped iced tea and enjoyed sandwiches while discussing the state of politics in Naboo.

“Really,” Hux complained, “these peasants. They think they can have anything they want. They're like spoiled children. When Prime Minister Palpatine takes over the throne, there will be far harsher punishments metered out for insurgents. Take the Crimson Hawk, for instance.” Hux was a tall, handsome man, with a porcelain complexion, slender figure, and gingery red hair that was so slicked back under his straw boater, it more closely resembled the glossy red pebbles found on the banks of the river than part of the human anatomy.

Leia looked over her iced tea glass. “May I remind you that the Crimson Hawk and his men rescued me from a dire fate, or worse?”

“Yes, but they also demanded money.” Hux's voice rose when he was championing his favorite causes. “They made a shambles of the Lothal Arts Festival. More than a hundred people reported stolen property after that fair, not to mention, there was the release of the Wookie natives on the Death Star Airship. I don't mind letting lesser creatures work, but they do have their proper place.”

Leia glared at him. “And I'm sure you know where that would be.”

“Of course I do. They're natives. They're not like us. Barely capable of menial work.” He snorted. “I've heard that Henry Solo practically has his Wookie valet as part of the family! Truly unacceptable. I never understood how an outsider like Solo wormed his way into society in Naboo. And he lets his ward carry on with a man! Shameful.”

Mon Mothma took Leia's hand before she could open her mouth and gave her a stern look, then turned to Hux. “That's enough, Brendol. Luke Skywalker is a good, kind young man, and Henry is my neighbor. What they do with their lives is none of our concern.”

“Henry has a brilliant mind,” Hux went on, “but he doesn't belong here. I heard he signed up Antilles and his ward for the Regatta! It's really gone downhill these days. After Vader finishes his plans, though, I'm sure everything will return to normal.”

The three women exchanged looks. Breha finally fluttered her fan, trying to look dainty. “Oh my, there are conspiracies around every corner in Naboo these days, aren't there?”

Hux continued, ignoring the glare from Mon Mothma. “Speaking of conspiracies, Vader has increased security at all remaining Jubilee events, including the Regatta, the coronation, and the Grand Diamond Ball. There will be a thousand troops at the Regatta alone. Vader has also confided in me that there will be some...special...troops set up to deal with the Crimson Hawk and his men if they do appear.”

“How can you be so sure they'll come?” Leia snapped. “They haven't been seen in weeks.”

“Oh, they'll come.” Brendol stuck his long nose in the air. “How could he resist? It's one of the major gatherings of the Naboo social season. Every noble in the land will be there, the cream of the crop...and their large purses and wallets. There's always plenty of people milling around, and not everyone knows everybody. It's a perfect cover.” He clutched his glass of lemonade so hard, it shattered. “I won't be like Tarkin, who let those fools escape. Vader says he and the prime minster have a fool-proof plan for getting rid of those minor irritations.”

“They don't seem minor to me.” Breha moved away from his now-sticky fist. “You're certainly upset enough over them.”

“They're making the Coruscant Empire look like a lot of jokers.” Brendol wiped his hands, grateful that he hadn't taken off his gloves. “Vader and Palpatine will put a stop to them! I don't know why they felt the need to hire that bounty hunter to do their work. 'Takes scum to know scum,' Vader said. Pah! Barely better than the Crimson Hawk himself.”

Leia had only been half-listening to Brendol drone on. Her eyes followed two men in heavy velvet capes as they made their way silently past the small shops on the other side of Amidala Street. The man in the dark green cape was taller than the one in the navy blue and had broader shoulders. A bit of gold hair peeped out of the hood of the smaller one; the locks peeping out of the hood of his companion were the color of the cinnamon sprinkled on her spice biscuit. A muscular arm in a blood-red blouse and a hand in a thick black leather glove poked out of the black cape, carrying a dented wicker basket. Bits of gold and black could be seen under the gold cape.

“Aunt Breha, may I be excused?” Tiny hands pushed her up and away from the table so quickly, she almost knocked over the crystal-cut iced tea decanter. “I thought I saw two people across the street I knew.”

“Very well, dear.” Her aunt patted her hand. “Just be careful out there. Look both ways before crossing the street. And don't linger too long. We'll be going back to Chalindria Court soon.”

“I'll be fine, Auntie.” Leia darted across the street, making sure she did look both ways. She just dodged a hack driver with a pair of young people spooning in the back when she saw the pair duck into a pottery shop on the end of the row, alongside an alleyway.

She had just stepped into the shop when her chocolate-brown eyes noticed the flutter of black cloth going out a door. Ignoring the bleats from the little man behind the counter, she followed them past a storage room filled with all manner of dishes and vases and into the back. To her surprise, when she got into the alley, it was empty. There was no one there but a little gray mouse who gazed up at her with curious onyx eyes.

“Sir,” Leia said quickly to the shop owner, “who were those two men in the cloaks? The ones who were just here?”

The diminutive fellow tried to appear as innocent as a round-faced shopkeeper with a handlebar mustache longer than her hair could. “What men, miss?” He held out a small glazed figure. “Perhaps I could interest you in this? It's our own Queen Padme, in her red ceremonial gown. Personally, I never understood how she could wear those huge headdresses and not get a sore neck...”

“I'll buy it,” Leia interrupted, “if you tell me about those two men who were just here. They were the Crimson Hawk and the Golden Eagle, weren't they? Did they rob you?”

The shop keeper looked right and left. When he was satisfied that they were completely alone, he leaned over her. “Lass, you have the wrong idea! They would never harm me.” He revealed the basket the Crimson Hawk held. “My wife is sick, and I've had a hard time keeping up with Palpatine's taxes. The Crimson Hawk or his men have been here every few weeks, leaving food or money.” His voice dropped into barely a whisper. “He's done this for others, too. Men in cloaks will appear, or they'll wear simple suits and hats that shade their faces. They'll give me the food or money, tell me the Crimson Hawk is watching over us all, and leave.”

“Do you know where they went?” Leia waved her hand at the door.

“Now you know, miss, why most working people in Naboo think they're shape-shifters.” The shop keeper handed her the figure he'd wrapped in pale pink tissue paper. “No one has ever witnessed them leave. I think they just meld into the shadows, like good demons.”

“Thank you, sir.” Leia placed the delicate statue in her purse. “May the Force be with you!”

“And you too, Miss,” he called as she darted back into the alley.

The alley was dark, damp, and musty, even on a beautiful afternoon in late June. She jumped as a rat scurried along the wall of the old tavern in the back. The other sides were flanked by ancient old buildings and criss-crossed with rusty fire escapes and ropes hung with dozens of colorful sheets, blouses, and underthings. She couldn't see any way for the Crimson Hawk and the Golden Eagle to have escaped but through way she came. No thick velvet cloaks fluttered in the soft breeze on the street.

Another squeak came from above. She gazed over her head, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. The barest hint of a human outline perched on the edge of one of the balconies. “How ya doin', Your Grace?”

“I could ask the same of you, Crimson Hawk.” She raised her scowl upwards, trying to discern his shape through the darkness. “Where have you been these last few weeks?”

“Busy.” A hand hidden by black leather untied a clothesline and swung down gracefully, as if he were the bird he'd taken his name from. He landed easily on his feet, directly in front of her. “Nice to know you missed me.” He had the same flirty smirk, his regal nose and soft lips the only part of his face not covered by a hood and goggles.

“Please.” She could feel the heat rise in her delicate cheeks, even as she rolled her eyes. “I'm here to warn you. Don't go to the Royal Regatta. They're setting a trap for you!”

“Who?” He tossed the rope aside. “That skinny moron I saw you with today? That guy doesn't scare me. He couldn't scare a marmalade cat.”

“Hux is more formidable than you think.” Her scowl turned into a worried frown. “No, it's Vader. Hux told us just a few minutes ago that he and Palpatine have some sort of plan in mind for you at the Regattta. The way he was describing it, I don't think he intends to give you the key to the city and a ticker-tape parade.”

“I doubt he would. He'd be more likely to toss us into jail and throw away that key.” The Hawk laughed. “Don't worry, Your Worshipfullness. We've dealt with Vader's traps before.”

“I'm just...concerned, that's all. As a friend.” Her eyes darted up to his thick, concealing goggles. “Why are you doing this? Hiding your face, disappearing into the shadows, helping people you don't even know...”

His gravely voice was hesitant. “I was doing it for a friend. Yes, I have them too, Your Duchessness. Now...” He shrugged. “Maybe I'm doing it a little for the people. They're not so bad. They sure as hell don't deserve what Palpatine's doin' to them.”

“Could you...” Leia continued softly “...take off your goggles? I won't tell anyone what your eyes look like. I promise.”

“All right, Sweetheart. But I'm only doing this because you asked so nicely.” He slowly tugged the grimy goggles up over his forehead, and then onto the top of his hood. His eyes were almond-shaped and hazel, gold flecks glittering like nuggets in the deep orbs...and she knew them. She knew them well. “Happy now?”

“Very.” She leaned closer to him. “Why do you hide yourselves? Mon Mothma and the Rebel Society would love it if you and your men would join them. We could work together. All of us. We're all after the same thing.”

“Sorry, but we have to do this our own way.” His breath came quicker now. “I really should be goin'. My boys are gonna miss me.”

“I should be, too. I told the others I'd only be a few minutes.” Neither of them broke their gaze for a second. “I shouldn't feel like this...”

The soft leather gloves wrapped around her torso, drawing her close. “You're trembling.”

“I'm not trembling.” Her mind was racing. He was so close, she could smell him. His scent was a heady mix of grease, sweat, fresh baked bread, damp velvet, and...chemicals?

“Yes, you are.” He ran his gloves through her braided hair.

“No, I'm not. I'm...” Those soft, pink lips cut off her rambling. His kiss was deep and passionate. Her knees buckled under her. She could feel her heart melting into goo, like a gelatin dessert left out in the sun. It was better than anything ever described in any penny dreadful. It was like...

“What's going on out there?” Hux's grating voice smashed her romantic daydreams into tiny slivers. She barely noticed the Crimson Hawk yanking the goggles back over his eyes and climbing up the clothesline to the fire escape and safety.

Leia swung around, her voice sharper than she intended. “What are you doing here?”

“You didn't come back, so I told your aunt I'd look for you.” He darted over to the clothesline. “I saw the Crimson Hawk! Right here!” He pointed at the ground beneath his feet. “It might have been my imagination, but I thought he was kissing you!”

Leia gently touched her lips where the Crimson Hawk kissed her. “It was your imagination.” She took Hux's arm. “Why don't we rejoin Aunt Breha and Mon Mothma? They must be worried by now.”

“You know,” Hux began in his infuriatingly condescending voice, “I'm going to be in the Regatta tomorrow, driving Vader's ship the Twilight. Mon Mothma and the Grand Duchess are already invited. You'll be thrilled to come along as my escort, of course.”

Leia gave him a wan smile. “I'm sorry, but I already agreed to go with Henry Solo. Perhaps another time?”

“Yes,” Hux muttered through a strained smile, “another time.”

“Han,” said a soft voice from the shadows as they strolled down the alley, “why did you do that? If she identifies us, we're in big trouble!”

“I don't think we are.” The Crimson Hawk threw his black cloak back over his shoulders. “She won't give us away.” There was a distinct smirk in his voice. “Not after that kiss.”

“Han,” the gentle voice added as they made their way to the shop, “do you love her?”

“Yeah, kid.” The Crimson Hawk's voice was tinged with longing...and perhaps a bit of regret. “Yeah. I do.” He put an arm around the lad's shoulders. “Let's go. We still have a few more deliveries to make. Need to tell you what she said about Vader and the Regatta, too...”

The duo were too busy leaping over fences and shimmying up water spouts to notice another figure in the shadows. This one wore green and red, a battered green straw hat shading his face. His eyes remained on the two bandits until they clamored over the roof tops and out of sight.