The Adventures of the Crimson Hawk, Part 15

Leia would have enjoyed the hospitality of their host more if a persistent, nagging worry didn't keep gnawing at the back of her brain. They were staying in the largest suite in the back of the house. It wasn't quite as big as the one in Chalindria Court, but it had a sweeping view of the gardens and the repairs on the Falcon.

Henry was buttoning the red silk gown Langdon loaned her, supposedly from a “lady friend” of his. The gown was tight in the lace-trimmed bosom and a little lower-cut than Leia was used to. The ruffled white front was gathered into an enormous red and white bow with trailing flowers on her bustle. Leia could barely breathe in the get-up, but she had to admit, it looked good on her. One of the maids had swept her flowing velvet locks into two braids, caught up into a bun at the back of her head with a wide red ribbon.

“You look really nice like this.” Henry finally pulled away. “There. I don't know how you women deal with so many buttons.” He'd settled on a good dinner suit with a navy jacket and light brown trousers. Leia knew the bulge under the jacket arm was where Henry had been shot by the Imperial soldier's gun. Langdon's people had already looked at it, swabbed it and covered it with ointments and poultices they didn't have in the Falcon.

“We have help.” Leia slowly settled down on the red velvet couch by the window. “Henry, we have to leave. Something's wrong here. No one has seen or knows anything about Cedric. He's been missing three days. That's way too long to have gotten lost.”

“Relax, sweetheart.” Henry kissed her forehead. “Charles is out looking for him as we speak, and I'll get Langdon to send out some of his people. It'll be ok.”

“I don't trust Langdon.”

“I don't trust him, either.” Henry took her hand. “He is my friend. We've been through a lot together. We were on the same pirate ship for years. The sooner he gets the Falcon going, the sooner we can be on our way.”

They were about to lean in for a kiss when the door was flung open with a crash. Charles strode in, carrying a battered, bloodied Cedric in his arms. “I found him being kept down in the boiler room by a lot of obnoxious little Junk men,” the big man grunted. “No better than pigs, really.”

Leia ran her fingers in their white silk gloves through Cedric's gold hair. “What a mess. Charles, do you think you can do something with him?”

“I could try.” He shrugged. “Maybe I'll just dump him in a tub of cold water. That'll get him movin'.”

Langdon came in as they were trying to decide what to do about Cedric. He looked even more handsome in his own pale-blue striped serge suit, with its light yellow, ruffle-trimmed shirt and light blue cape. “Hello, everybody. I came to invite you all to a little dinner party I'm having in the dining room.” He grinned wolfishly when he saw Leia. “My lady, you look like every princess of Europe rolled into one. You truly belong with us, among the shining lakes and snow-capped peaks.”

Leia adjusted her wrap. “Thank you, sir. You look quite attractive yourself.” Henry coughed, but Leia ignored him. It had been some time since anyone gave her a compliment that flowery.

Langdon helped her to her feet. “Would you mind my escorting you, my lady?”

Henry glared at him and took her hand. “She's fine with me.”

His friend remained undaunted. “What about that poor fellow?” He waved his linen-covered hands at Cedric. “Do you need any help getting him to his feet?”

“No!” Henry said, a little too quickly. “No trouble at all. He just needs some rest, that's all.”

A little voice in the back of Leia's head kept screaming that all of this felt fake. Langdon had been the soul of kindness, but there was nervousness and tension under his smooth facade. She could see it, even as they followed his blue-clad servants to the dining hall. She half-listened to Langdon and Henry discussing Cloud City and the profitable copper mines in the mountains.

“Aren't you worried that the Coruscant Empire's going to try to invade and shut you down?” Henry was saying as they were lead into a vast dining hall with a pale flowered wallpaper.

“It's loomed like a shadow over everything we've done here.” Langdon's charming smile finally fell as they came to the long, polished dinner table. “I've just made a deal that'll keep Coruscant out of our way forever.”

To Leia's horror, Vader hovered at the end of the table like a menacing black storm cloud. Charles lunged for him with a Wookie scream she couldn't identify, but two Coruscant soldiers subdued him. Henry's brass light gun was out of his pocket in an instant. He barely fired two shots before it was yanked from his hands and into to a waiting black leather glove.

Vader aimed the gun at the duo. “We would be honored if you would join us, Mr. Solo. Or should I call you the Crimson Hawk?”

Henry held his strong chin high. “Vader. Aren't you at the wrong party?”

“I'm sorry.” Langdon's face was impassive, but his lip trembled. “They arrived right before you did.”

The frosty look in Henry's hazel eyes would have frozen stone. “I'm sorry, too.”

“Hello there, Mr. Solo.” The man in the green and red suit Leia saw in Ord Mantell came up behind Vader. “Captain Han Solo, former pirate and owner of the smuggling vessel the Falcon. I've been looking for you for a long time.”

Henry turned his frosty glare to him. “I'll bet you have, Fettson. How long did it take you to tell on us to this walking junk pile?”

“He's paying fifty thousand credits for you alone, Solo.” The man lifted his hat, revealing a handsome, tanned face with glossy black curls framing a rather nasty smirk. “That's not counting what I get for the native and the runaway duchess.”

“Why don't you sit down?” Two soldiers in white and gray uniforms forced Leia and Henry into chairs as Vader took his seat. Charles shoved the soldier who grabbed his shoulders away and sat down on his own. “Enjoy your dinner. Croydon's chef does remarkable things with the local game. The goose with nut stuffing and cherry sauce is excellent.”

Henry turned his own smirk on Vader. “I'm surprised you care, Gearhead. Don't you take your meals through a straw?” Leia kicked his shin discreetly under the table, but he ignored her.

“I'm surprised you can appreciate such luxuries.” One of Vader's men placed a spotless silk napkin on his lap. “I was told you grew up as a destitute, orphaned pickpocket on the streets of Chicago.”

Henry broke open a crusty roll. “And I heard you used to be a slave on the Tatoonie Islands in your younger years.” He slathered butter on his bread. Leia had no idea how he could eat so heartily. She hadn't even touched her green salad and tender slices of goose.

“I was. I was fortunate to escape slavery years ago.” Vader's green glass lens swiveled downwards, giving him a good glimpse of Captain Solo and Duchess Organa holding hands under the table. He could feel his temperature rise. It was almost like how he and Padme had been at state functions, once. They couldn't keep their hands off each other. It kept him from falling asleep at boring meetings. “You won't be as lucky. Huttman could use strong backs like yours.”

“I was a slave once myself,” Charles roared. “You're crazy if you think I'd go back to it, old man.”

“You and the Duchess will remain here, under Croydon's supervision.” Vader sliced his goose. “I have plans for both of you.”

Leia glared at him. “I'm sure you do. I've already seen your plans. I have no desire to be involved with them again.”

“Don't worry, sweetheart.” Solo gently stroked the back of her knuckles. “I won't let him hurt you. I've handled worse.”

Vader's glass eye took in her rubbing Solo's thumb and forefinger tenderly. Solo squeezed her hand and gave her a look that could only be called pure adoration. It was the same look he'd given his beloved Padme, once upon a time. Before he became so much wiser. The duchess would learn that she couldn't always have what she wanted...including roguish pirates. As for Solo, The Crimson Hawk had foiled his plans one too many times. He would be used, then disposed of.

The moment they finished eating, Leia and Henry were taken back to their suites. The soldiers threw Henry to his knees and stripped off his navy jacket and snow-white silk shirt, binding his wrists to a hook in the wall with his own belt. Two soldiers held Leia, forcing her to watch as Vader pulled out his electrical sword. He drew the tip down Henry's back, just enough to leave flaming scarlet burns, doing it as slowly as possible to maximize the pain.

Leia gasped as he pressed the very tip of his sword into the burn in his arm, enough to leave a dark red mark...and make Henry's handsome face screw up in shock and terror. No sooner had he slowly pulled the blade away then he ordered one of his men to bring a piece of ice from the kitchen. This was applied to the burn, letting it melt in slow rivulets over the crimson scar.

After what seemed like hours, Vader finally pulled away, claiming he had other matters to attend to. His men dropped Henry onto the bed like he was a sack of grain before they also took their leave. Leia was grateful to find a box of medical supplies among the hair tonics and greases. Silk sheets and her petticoats were sacrificed for rags and bandages. She kissed him gently, drying his angry tears and stroking his chestnut waves to calm him.

Charles was tossed in as she gently smeared salve across the scars on his back. The hairy native was followed by Cedric, protesting loudly that his ankle wasn't healed yet, and why couldn't that nasty soldier have some respect for a secretary? “Senator Mothma will hear about this!” The gold-clad man yelled to the back of the door. “You'll all be arrested for kidnapping, larceny, and unlicensed use of a mansion as a military compound!”

“At this point, Golden Boy, I don't think they care.” Charles went to his beloved employer's side. “Henry, are you all right? I heard you howlin' on the next floor, mate.”

Leia smeared a cooling salve on his badly burned arm. “Why are they doing this?”

“They never even asked me any questions.” The industrialist winced as she covered it with slinky white ruffles. “I don't have a clue of what's goin' on. This goes way beyond me n' Langdon, or even me n' Jenkins.”

She and Charles had just finished gently pulling Henry's white silk shirt over his wounds when Langdon arrived, this time with his own men. “Get outta here!” Henry snarled. “You've done enough for one day.”

“Look, I'm here to warn you.” Langdon swept his cloak around his shoulders. “Vader is on his way here as we speak. He's turning Henry over to Fettson as soon as he's ready to leave.”

“Vader wants us all dead.” Leia's hiss sounded remarkably like Vader's.

“He's not after you at all.” Langdon shook his head. “He's after the Golden Eagle. Some kid called Skywalker.”

Henry narrowed his eyes. “Luke. He wants to get him out of that training. Vader used to be a Jedi guard. He knows what it'll mean if the kid becomes one of them.”

Langdon shrugged. “I have no idea. All I know is he and a short man with a bald head and a big mouth were seen in a smaller airship coming up the road to Bespin.”

“Rusty!” Cedric let out a gasp. “He would be noodle-brained enough to encourage Luke to come. He's so impetuous. I knew it would get him into trouble someday!”

“You've fixed us all real good.” Henry didn't care how sore every muscle in his body was. He lunged as hard as he could for Langdon, fists flying. “You're no friend!”

It took two of Langdon's men and three of Vader's to club Henry enough to make him let go. Leia threw herself around him like a shield. “I thought you had everything under control, Croydon,” Vader snapped as he arrived. “I hardly expected to walk in on a bar brawl.”

“It would be a brawl, if your boys would fight fair.” Henry glared at him. “I'd take you on, Vader, if you didn't have an unfair advantage, being a robot and all.”

Bob “Boba” Fettson shoved his long hunting rifle at Henry's chest. “I think we ought to bring him along now, Mr. Vader. Before he makes any more trouble.”

Leia held him even tighter. “I won't let you do this! It's Luke and me you want!”

“You will be held for ransom at Bast Manor.” Vader yanked her from Solo's grasp and shoved her into the arms of one of his men. “The Wookie native and the blond man will be sold in Coruscant as slaves.”

“What?” Cedric's gold eyes widened. “You can't do that! I'm a regular citizen! I work for Senator Mon Mothma!”

Langdon glared at Vader. “You said they'd be left in Bespin under my supervision!”

“I'm altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further.” His men dragged Henry to his feet. Vader clapped his wrists in heavy iron handcuffs. “You, Henry Solo, aka Captain Han Solo, aka The Crimson Hawk, are under arrest. In lieu of a formal trial, Mr. Fettson will bring you to the prime minister of Tatoonie Island, Jenkins Huttman, who will decide your fate.”

Henry sneered, his hazel eyes hot with rage. “I'm surprised you could get all that out of that speaking tube of yours, Robot Man. Didn't think you had it in you.”

“Bloody bastards!” Charles managed to slam antique chairs over two men's heads and reach for Vader's windpipe before they slapped handcuffs on him, too. “You let him go! He was only tryin' to help my people and Naboo, you swine!”

“Charlie, save your strength.” Henry patted his friend's bound wrists. “They'll be another time. The duchess...Junior...you have to take care of them. Ok?”

“Henry.” Charles' voice was a low rumble. “Don't let them do this. You can get away. We can get away.”

“Not this time.” He looked over his shoulder at the quivering man in the tattered yellow linen suit. “You too, Goldenrod. Make sure Rustbucket doesn't do anything too crazy, ok?”

Cedric managed to salute him. “You have my word, Captain.”

Leia kicked her assailant in the shin, long enough to throw herself into Henry's arms. She gave him the deepest, longest, most passionate kiss she could manage, snuggling in his warm embrace. “I love you, Henry,” she declared. “I couldn't bring myself to tell you before, but it's true.”

“I know.” His kiss was slower and more urgent. “Remember that, 'cause I'll be back.”

“This is making me sick.” Fettson yanked Henry from Leia's grasp. “Quit stalling. Jenkins has waited long enough for this, and I want my money.” He looked up at Vader as two of his men shoved Henry out the door and down the stairs. “Don't forget the extra for finding that little birdie for you.”

“I won't.” Vader brusquely shoved Leia at his men. “Take her, the native, and the servant to my ship. I'll meet you there. I have someone I need to deal with first.”

“No!” Leia struggled, trying to get to Henry. Vader's strongest soldier finally responded by throwing her over his shoulder. Kicking him did no good; he just held her feet down. “Let me go, you jackals! I'll see to it that each and every one of you rot in hell when we get back to Naboo!”

Charles was about to rip Langdon's lungs out when he saw a flicker of movement out of the corner of his eye. A familiar head of yellow hair peeked out from behind a bush, followed by a shorter man in white and blue. “Lad!” He let out the loudest roar he could. “Get out of here!”

“Luke, no!” Leia twisted around on the man's shoulder, trying to see her friend. “Don't! Don't follow us! It's a trap!”

“That's right!” Cedric's eyes were even wider than usual. “Rusty, you undersized fireplug, get out of here, and take Mr. Skywalker with you!”

“Cedric!” Rusty pulled out his own gun. “I think we'd better split up, kid. You go find Henry. I'll get the rest of of them.”

“Right.” Luke headed for the gardens, where he'd parked the Rogue. He was glad he'd gotten the airship mode working. It got them there in half the time. As he made his way across the back lawn, he caught a glimpse of a fluttering black cape ducking into the gardens on the edge of the mountainside.

“Vader,” he whispered. The impetuous young man ducked under a stone arch, following the black wisp into the greenery without hesitation.