Title: Ship from the Past

Author: R.Solo56

Category: Alternate Universe, horror

Rating: PG-16 for very mild gore, mature language, and mild mature situations

Date: 1/28/00

Han, Luke and Leia have been sent on a mission to the Aanroian system, disguised in an Imperial ship so as not to draw attention to the blockade. The mission proves successful, but on the long trip home, things aboard the ship go haywire. Convinced it’s merely the wiring, Han tries to calm an uncharacteristically paranoid Leia, but they all soon find that old wiring has nothing to do with the other people who are on the ship. Or rather, the people who once were. *Inspired by Poltergeist.*

“I win again, Kid,” Han announced happily, showing off his hand. “Pay up!”

Luke mumbled something under his breath and tossed his friend 75 credits. That was the last bit of cash he had on him. Fed up with Sabacc, he rose. “I’m pulling out for the night; I’m tapped out.”

Han just grinned. “Spoil sport.” He gathered up his new fortune.

“Enough, Han,” Leia announced, standing from the bench she had been sitting on for the last two hours. Of course, she had been invited to play, but after the first five games, she had gotten quite bored. It amazed her how he could sit nearly five hours, playing the same stupid card game, and yet start yawning fifteen minutes into a meeting. Men were simply impossible. “You’ve been playing for hours.” She yawned. “I think I’ll turn in, too.”

Han stood and caught her arm as she started to leave. “I’m sorry,” he said surprisingly softly. “Can I join you? It’ll be a lot more fun than Sabacc, I promise.” He grinned roguishly at her.

Hiding a smile, Leia ignored him. She slipped out of his grasp and strode over to a slightly nervous Luke. Reaching up, she kissed her brother. “Goodnight, Luke.”

“’Night Leia,” he answered and left for his bunk. Leia stepped out of the Rec. bay, Han following at her heels.

“Please, Leia,” he begged. “I’m really sorry. You know you want me.... C’mon....”

Surprising him, she suddenly burst out laughing and turned around to face him. “What would you do if I shut this door right now?” she inquired as they reached their bunk.

“I’d keep on knockin’,” he replied.

“And if I didn’t answer?” she asked sweetly, running a finger down his shirt.

Han groaned. “I’d go cry my eyes out in the cargo hold.” He grinned at her sheepishly.

Leia smiled, poutingly. “We can’t have that, now can we?” With that, she brought his lips down onto hers in a passionate kiss.

Han chuckled when they parted. “Oh, no we can’t,” he said in such a voice that she couldn’t help but laugh again. Then, he suddenly lifted her up over his head, entered their cabin, and locked the door behind them.

Leia yelped as he hoisted her up over his shoulder. Giggling she pounded on his shoulder. “Let me go, you nerf-herder!”

Han tossed her on the bed at her request. He instantly stratled her. She lifted her fists, but as soon as he began to touch her, she seemed to forget what she had meant to do and her fingers, instead, stroked tentatively through his hair. She started moaning softly as his hands traveled lower. “Oh Han....”

Han grinned, proud of himself. He could make her forget almost anything with his expert touch. And with that expert knowledge, he quickly, yet gracefully, discarded all their clothes. He gazed at her lucious body. “Baby...” he murmured huskily. “Do you have any idea how gorgeous you are?”

Leia blushed and replied, “Not before I met you.” She smiled adoringly up at him. “Come here, scoundrel.” She held her arms out to him.

He gathered her close willingly. God, it felt so good, so perfect, holding her. And she was all his. His forever. “I love you, sweetheart,” he breathed against her ear. He knew from experience that her ears and neck were especially sensitive, and he felt her squirm a little as he blew a trail of soft wind from behind her ear down to the base of her throat. She moaned his name again as he started over with his tongue this time.

Leia had never been made love to before Han, and she couldn’t imagine wanting to explore with anyone else. She loved this man for everything he was and was not. No one could ever take his place. If there was something beyond this man, she didn’t care to know.

Good Gods, she felt so safe with this man! When he touched her like this, it was like all the horrors of the Empire were a simple nightmare and he had finally awakened her. She knew he would never hurt her. He would never strike her, even if he was furious with her. He would never touch her when she said no, never force her into anything she didn’t want to do. But, suddenly she remembered a time when someone had. No! she thought. I shouldn’t be thinking about that! For some reason she suddenly couldn’t shake the odd feeling of entrapment. This made her panic.

“Leia? Honey?” Han leaned over her, confused. One moment they’d been kissing passionately, now, she stared at him in such a way that it made his skin crawl. Her breathing was unnaturally fast and ragged--even for what they were doing--her face had turned a pasty shade of white, and her eyes were filled with the sort of terror Han did not want to put a name to. She looked horrified of him.

Gently he eased off her, not wanting to frighten her more than he already had. Quickly, she bolted upright. She hugged herself, panting and trembling hard. She was having a panic attack. “Leia...” he murmured, putting an arm around her. “Sweetheart, look at me.”

Cautiously, it seemed, she did so. “I-I’m sorry,” she stammered. “I-I don’t know wh-what happened....” Tears began forming in her eyes and she willingly allowed him to hold her in his arms and rock the fear away.

“Shhh,” Han whispered to her. “It’s alright. I didn’t mean to scare you.... Everything’s alright....” Rhythmically, he stroked her hair as he felt her breathing return to normal and her shivering slowed.

Leia sighed and whispered to him. “The last time that happened was....” Her voice caught; she couldn’t say it. Her eyes brimmed with tears again. What was going on? She thought she’d forgotten all about that Death Star ages ago; why would she worry about it now? She was acting as if it were only yesterday--and it wasn’t. No! she thought, and forced the images from her mind. She heard Han murmuring to her again, comforting her. Then she remembered where they had left off. Determined to not let the memories get to her, she reached up and slowly brought his lips to hers--

Han blinked, stunned at what he had just witnessed. They had been millimeters apart when abruptly she flinched away, jerking as though someone had just struck her across the face. Leia now had her hands over her face and she was shaking hard again. Maybe she’s just not ready tonight, he figured, but when he tried to pull her hands away, to tell her it was alright, she wouldn’t let him. She said something, muffled as it was. He thought it sounded like, “It hurts...it hurts....”

Very worried now, he struggled to pry her hands away, to see what she was talking about. Finally, he managed and found a deep, vivid bruise stretching from her left temple down and traveling the line of her cheekbone. A black eye? Where did it come from? How...? Right below it was a thin, dark red line stretching at least three inches, yet blood did not flow out of it. It was almost like a wound from a...whip. What the hell?

Leia’s eyes were about to pop out of their sockets, she was so shocked. It felt like a torture droid had been let loose on her face. It had at one time; this reminded her so much of her time on the Death Star, she felt like crying. And, before she could stop herself, she did.

Han was too stunned to do anything else than hold her. This was too weird. No one else had been in the room and he would be damned before he’d strike out at Leia, so then how did this happen? He remembered when they had been on their way to Yavin IV some five years ago. She’d been in the medical area of the ship and had cursed him away when he tried to help her, but not before he caught sight of a vivid bruise identical to the one she had now that had obviously just began to show. That realization just made things a lot more radical.

Too tired to try and make sense of things, he laid down with Leia and attempted to coax her into slumber. Eventually she fell into a fitful sleep, and Han found himself unable to join her regardless of his fatigue. He was too wary to take his eyes off her.

The next morning, Luke entered the galley and found that his sister was already up. She’d made coffee and was filling a cup for herself. A strong feeling of nervousness filled her and when he announced a greeting, she jumped nearly two feet in the air. “Whoa,” he said. “What’s the matter?”

“Luke...” she began, her voice shaking. “Something strange happened last night.”

Luke led them both to the table and they sat. “What is it?”

“Well, things were fine at first, but then...I don’t know...I had a panic attack, I guess. That was over with pretty quickly, but...something happened and....” She indicated her injured face, and Luke was startled that he hadn’t noticed it before.

Luke’s eyes narrowed. “Did Han...?” He was getting mad. He was always extra protective of his sister and would certainly stand up for her, be the need arise. But he was surprised that he even found himself thinking Han would do such a thing. There was no one else there, however.

“No!” Leia announced, offended he would even think such a thing. Then, remembering what logic would include, she calmed down. “No, no, Han didn’t do anything to harm me.”

“Then how did it happen?”

Leia sighed. “I don’t really know. I was fine one minute, then...it felt just like I’d been tortured by that droid all over again, like...like back on the Death Star. Luke, what’s happening?”

Before he could answer, Han entered the room. “Maybe we imagined it; we were both tired.”

Leia stood and walked straight to him. She looked up into his eyes and pointed to the bruise on her face. “Then why is it still here?” she asked, suddenly irritable.

Han raised his hands in defense. “Hey, I’m on your side here, sweetheart. I’m just offering suggestions. I’m no more clued in than you are.”

She sighed again. “I’m sorry. This is all just...too weird.” She bowed her head, trying futilely to figure out this whole situation.

Han came forward, ready to embrace her when suddenly, everything electronic in that whole room went haywire. The lights flickered, the food processor spewed out stuff that did not look at all edible, and the comp terminal was automatically turning itself on and off, screaming it’s high-pitched beeps. “This is not our imaginations!” Leia cried over the noise, trying to find Han’s hand, but blinded by the odd lights.

“Kreth!” Han cursed, finding Leia’s shoulders and wrapping an arm around her. “The wiring’s messed up! No problem; I can fix it.”

“The wiring?” Leia exclaimed. “This ship can’t be any worse off than yours, and that bucket of bolts has never done this before!”

“Watch it, sweetheart!” offended by her comment.

“I think she’s right, Han!” Luke put in. “It’s not the wiring!”

“What else could it be, kid?” he shouted back.

Luke’s eyes assumed that familiar faraway look as he answered. “Not what else; who else!”

Leia’s eyes widened. “What? No...no, Luke!” But, she knew it was true. She could feel it. Feel them. Their spirits. The officers from the Death Star who.... “No!” With that last scream, the room quieted and everything seemed normal again. The ghosts had succeeded in terrifying her again.

She didn’t realize her knees had buckled until she felt Han supporting her weight, leading her to a chair. Cold sweat had broken out over her shivering body and he held her hand, watching her worriedly. She nodded, showing him that she was alright, and after a moment, he turned to Luke. “Will you fill me in, please?”

“This ship is haunted,” he replied, the strange look never leaving his face.

Han choked. “You’re kidding, right?”

“No,” Luke said seriously. “I’m not kidding. I felt the presence of two...three spirits just then. They want Leia.”

Han’s eyes hardened and he turned quickly to the trembling woman in the chair and back up to his friend. “Why?”

“They want her to lead them...into the light.”

“The light?”

“Yeah...wherever spirits are supposed to go,” Luke said. “But...if she does...she won’t be able to come back--”

“What?” Han exclaimed, cutting him off. “They’re not getting to her if I have anything to do with it! Why her?”

“They were on the first Death Star,” Leia said quietly. The two me turned to face her, Han took her hand again. “They chickened out during the fight and jettisoned. Something went wrong on this ship and the life support systems failed. They were found dead and the ship was fixed up. For some reason, their spirits stayed behind.”

Han looked a little sick. “But why do they want you?”

“Simple,” she said, staring vacantly ahead of herself. “They helped Darth Vader torture me. They’re the ones--three of them--who raped me. They still want revenge for what happened with the Death Star and they have a connection with me. What happened last night--they hurt me. I panicked because I felt them; they put the memory in my mind. Now, they’re not going to leave us alone until I go with them. I have to go with them--”

“No!” Han said firmly, grasping her shoulders. “You don’t have to go with them, honey. We’ll find a way out of this; we always do.”

“I have to...” she continued, not registering his presence. “I must.”

“Leia, listen to me!” he cried, shaking her. “What’s wrong with you?”

Suddenly, without any warning at all, Leia began seizing. She shivered hard, making indecipherable noises. “We’ve got to get her out of the room,” Luke announced. “The power is centered in the galley. Bring her to your cabin.” Han looked worriedly up at the Jedi. “Quickly!” Luke said more urgently. “Now!”

Obediently, Han lifted the princess and followed Luke into his cabin, the door locking behind them. He set her down on the bed, holding her hand, trying to awaken her. “Now what?” he asked the man behind him, stroking the trembling woman’s brow.

“Now,” he answered, taking his sister’s other hand. “We keep a constant eye on her and put distance between her and the spirits while we figure out how to get rid of them.”

“Oh,” Han said glumly. “Great.”

They were silent as Luke used the force to calm his sister. Slowly but surely the seizing subsided and she opened her eyes. Immediately, she screamed.

“Leia, Leia, it’s okay,” Han comforted embracing her tightly as she sat up. She only screamed again, fighting against him. He looked to Luke for help, and an explanation.

“Sister,” the Jedi called softly. He touched her head and she turned around. “It’s alright. They’re gone now. Do you understand? Everything’s okay.”

Leia nodded, then went limp in Han’s arms. “Was that supposed to happen?” he inquired, holding the unconscious figure.

“Yes,” said Luke. “She’s alright. She’s just resting.”

Still wary, Han laid her down and pulled a blanket over her, but refused to let go of her hand. For a while, the two discussed what could be done, to no avail.

“Han!” Luke called, searching the cabin. He’d come in to check on his sister, only to find that the room was empty. They had decided to take turns watching her, not willing to give the ghosts a chance to approach her, and Han, of course, wanted the first watch.

Han opened the door to the ‘fresher, his hair wet, and dressed only in trousers. “What, kid?”

“Dammit, Han, you were supposed to watch her!” Luke erupted.

Han looked stunned. “But, I did, kid. She’s right....” He pointed to an unoccupied bed. “Shit! She was fine a second ago, I swear! She was sleeping!”

“Well, she’s gone now,” Luke ground out. “Let’s go find her.”

Han followed his friend out to search the ship, for once forgetting his ‘it’s not my fault’ defense; this was his fault. He screwed up big this time.

They checked every part of the ship except the galley, hoping against hope she hadn’t gone in there. When she didn’t turn up, Han really started to worry, and cursed himself all the way to eating area. As soon as they entered, an icy wind hit them, colder than the barren plains of Hoth. The whole room, it seemed, was iced over, and the comp terminal was on. Han went over to it, studying it. The screen was scrambled, but he could have sworn he heard--

“Han!”

There! There it was again! It was Leia; she was calling him! But, from where?

“Han! Help me, Han!”

“Luke!” Han called. “Kid, over here!”

Luke rushed over. “Where?”

Han pointed to the screen. “In there. I can here her; she’s calling me.”

Luke looked baffled. “How could she be in there?”

“I don’t know!” exclaimed Han. “But, she is!”

“She is in a dimension between life and death,” a familiar voice chimed in.

Luke spun around. “Ben!” It was Obi-Wan Kenobi. “Can you help us?”

“Yes, but it will not be an easy task,” the old Jedi explained. “These three do not easily listen to reason.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Han said impatiently. “Just get Leia back.”

“Patience, Captain. We will get her back, but we must work together. No more placing blames; we don’t have time for that nonsense.” He walked toward the terminal. “The evil is centered in this room. Captain...you say you can hear her in there?” Han nodded. “The appliances. Anything electronic poses as a link between worlds. Luke, can you hear her as well?”

“No,” he answered. “That’s weird. Shouldn’t I be able to?”

“Normally, yes. But, in this case it is a different, very odd link. Whatever link the spirits have with your sister, Captain Solo possesses as well.” He studied the computer. “Can you still hear her?”

“Yes,” Han answered, his throat dry. “She keeps saying, ‘the light’, and that it’s ‘so cold’ there.” This whole situation was making him suddenly sick.

Obi-Wan looked alarmed. “We haven’t much time. Um...tell her--tell her to stay away from the light. Tell her, no matter what, to stay away from the light!”

Han tried it. “Leia? Sweetheart, can you hear me?”

“Help me, Han! Th-the light!”

He was getting very anxious. “Stay away from it, Leia! Stay away from the light; it’s evil! Stay away, you hear me, honey?”

“The light--it’s s-so c-cold!”

“Leia, do you hear me?” he was shouting nearly at the top of his lungs, trying desperately to get a response.

“Han...?” She suddenly screamed. “They won’t let me get away--from the cold! From the light!” Another scream. “They’re hurting me, Han! Help, i-it hurts!”

“Leia!” Han cried desperately, but there was no response. Furious, he pounded his fist against the frozen wall.

“What happened, Han?” Luke asked excitedly.

Han turned to face the other two men, his face grim and angry. “They’re trying to force her into the light. She said they won’t let her get away. They’re--they’re hurting her, dammit!” He pounded his fist against the wall again. “We have to do something!”

“Calm down, Captain,” Kenobi said.

“Calm down? Calm down? They’re hurting her, and there’s nothing I can do!” Han had murder in his eyes and they all knew he would truly lose it if they did not get Leia back soon.

“We will get her back,” Obi-Wan explained coolly. “But you must stay calm. Acting like this will not help Leia. We must work together. Okay?”

Taking a deep breath, he nodded. “So, what do we do?”

“First I must know who these spirits are,” he answered.

“She said they’re the three officers on the Death Star who....” Luke couldn’t finish it.

Han forced himself to. “Raped her.”

Obi-Wan nodded gravely. “So it’s that kind of connection.”

Under normal circumstances, Han would have laughed, but right now, his love’s life was on the line. “What do we do?” he repeated.

“We have to find the entrance. It’s somewhere in here. Feel around--but be careful; they can reach through!” Obi-Wan said and started his search. Han and Luke joined in. Before long, they heard the young Jedi yell and they were struggling to pull him out of the hole. Then, they realized, he had a hold of someone else.

“Leia!” Han exclaimed excitedly, pulling his friend with newfound strength. “Help, Kenobi! Don’t just stand there!”

“That’s not Leia,” Ben said. “Luke, let go!”

“No!” Leia screamed, angry at the Jedi. Then, she looked beseechingly at her lover. “Han, please, help me! They’re coming; they’re going to hurt me again! Please!” Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Don’t let them take me! Don’t leave me alone with them, please! Please, it hurts, Han!”

Han really wasn’t sure what to do. He hesitated, struggling to decide who to believe. Each sob he heard tore at his heart, but what if old Kenobi was right?

“It’s a trick!” Obi-Wan warned. “That is not Leia! Please listen to me! I know how to get the real Leia back!”

“Stay out of this old man!” Leia suddenly shouted, and that decided it for Han and Luke both. The kid let go, but she wouldn’t. She tried to pull him in. Her cries grew strangely deeper and her face grew bloody and horrid. Han had to look away as he toiled to get his friend back. Finally, they succeeded and with one more curse, the creature disappeared.

Han sank to the floor as much from the strain as the horror from what he had witnessed. “Gods...” he murmured to himself, unable to keep the image of that grotesque creature from his mind, wondering if Leia really was sobbing somewhere, calling for him still. Luke was sitting next to him, an expression on his face that guaranteed he was thinking the same thing.

“I know this is hard on you both,” Kenobi said. “But you must trust my judgement. They will try to trick us many times.” He put a hand on Han’s shoulder, and he looked up. “You love Leia, don’t you?” Han nodded. Kenobi looked to Luke who nodded as well. “That’s good. As long as there are people in this world who love her, the spirits cannot take her to the other side.” Han looked hopeful again. “However, that also means, they will try and take you, too.” Han frowned again. “Captain, can you hear her at all?”

“No, no I can’t,” he replied gravely. “What happened?”

“She’s drifting farther away from us,” Obi-Wan replied. “We haven’t much time left.” He thought for a moment. “We have to call them out here. I can go in Leia’s place; I can lead them into the light.” He looked around, and started calling, “Airistol! Kanai! Jarison! I know you’re all here! Come out and fight like men! Stop hiding around and let the girl go!” An ill wind blew as he continued to speak. “I can lead you into the light! I’m more experianced than she is! You already stole her innocence, don’t steal her life too; there’s no need!”

“Why should we listen to you, old man?” a deep voice boomed. “We can still get what we want without you!”

“Then what does it matter?” the old Jedi asked calmly.

“What?”

“It doesn’t matter how you’re led into the light; it’s that you get into the light. Spare the girl; you’ve already taken enough from her, and you’ve left a lasting impression. Isn’t that enough? What more can you want?”

“We want her to pay for what she’s done.”

“And she has. Sometimes emotional scars run deeper and more painfully than physical ones.”

“He sounds like he’s on their side!” Han exclaimed to Luke quietly.

“He knows what he’s doing,” Luke said. “He’s only pretending to be on their side; he’s convincing them to give Leia back.”

“Well, the way he puts it makes me consider the alternative,” Han mumbled sadly. The old man was right; Leia was scarred for life. Shut up dumbass; you want her to come back! And so does she; you heard her! Calming himself down, he listened to the old man “hagle” with the spirits.

“Just let the girl come back; she can’t go into the light anyway, too many people here love her. It will take too long. Let me lead you.” There was silence. “Airistol?” he called. “Jarison? Kanai? I know you’re there!” Nothing. “Send her back! Take me, you here? Take me!”

There was a flash of blinding light, then an explotion so big it sent Han and Luke straight across the room. They watched as the spirits showed themselves; pale blue skinned men with staring, insane eyes. They took Obi-Wan Kenobi and vanished. The ice evaporated and all was quiet. “They’re gone!” Luke exclaimed, jumping up.

“Yeah, but where’s Leia?” Han inquired, frowning. Abruptly, the portal opened up again. A figure seemed to be thrown out of it, covered in blood. Stunned, Han caught the body before it hit the ground. It was Leia. “Kreth!” he cursed in astonishment, examining her. She was shivering so hard, he could barely hold her, and the blood--oh, the blood!--made his veins freeze. In a rush to get her as far away from the galley as fast as possible, he carried her to the ‘fresher, stripped her down, and set her in the tub, filling it with warm water. He wasn’t at all sure what had happened, but his survival reflexes urged him to get her warm as soon as possible.

Luke entered after the water reached a respectible level and guarded his sister fairly modestly. “Well, at least it’s over now,” he said quietly. Han nodded in mute agreement as he cleaned off the unconscious woman.

Leia was aware of only one thing as she reached consciousness: warmth. It surprised her that she would feel so grateful about it. Had she been cold when she fell asleep? When had she fallen asleep? Alarm bells went off in her mind. What happened?

Okay, okay, think, Organa, she commanded herself. They went on a mission to the...Aanroian system, things went fine--amazingly--they were on their way home. She no longer heard the rumble of the engines and concluded that they must have reached Coruscant. She had been bored...of Sabacc. They had been playing Sabacc! She remembered because she couldn’t figure out how Han set his priorities. Then, they had gone to sleep...no, wait, Han had talked her into--or rather caressed her into--making love to him, but...something went wrong.

In a flash, it all came back to her. The memories, the ghosts, the cold, and the pain--oh, the pain! Maybe she wasn’t on Coruscant. Maybe they had forced her into the light. Maybe the end had come. This couldn’t be the end, it just couldn’t! What about Luke and Han--oh Han!--and the New Republic they had been organizing? Oh Gods, oh Gods....

“Wake up, sweetheart; it’s alright,” Han called to her softly. “It’s over now.”

Han! Oh thank the force, everything was alright! Slowly, she opened her eyes, finding it was rather difficult. Nevertheless, she managed, and the sight of her lover nearly made her weep with joy.

Han smiled tearfully down at her. “Oh, Leia...I thought I’d lost you forever,” he whispered, bending down to kiss her gently. “How are you feeling?”

“Warm,” she answered, squeezing the hand that held hers. “Where are we?”

He stroked her head. “Coruscant, at the med. center. No need to worry.”

Leia was silent for a while before asking, “All that stuff on the ship, with the spirits--that all really happened...didn’t it?”

Han nodded gravely. “Yes, it did. You remember everything?”

“Yes.” She frowned. “Everything.”

He was quick to hold her. “Well, it’s all over now. They won’t bother us again.” He brushed his lips across her brow. “When they took you...I could here you calling to me. I--I’m sorry I left you, sweetheart. I should have been there. To stop them.... I felt so helpless...being able to hear you, but unable to help you.... I’m so sorry.” He hugged her tighter.

“It wasn’t your fault, Han,” Leia murmured. “They would have gotten to me anyway, believe me.” In a whisper, she continued. “I heard you too. I heard you warn me about the light. The spirits--when they realized we could communicate...they punished me by hurting me again...and they took me away from you...I--I couldn’t hear you anymore.” She paused, struggling to swallow the lump rising in her throat. “But...you still helped me get through. I was thinking of you the whole time. Thinking of you holding me...making love to me.... It helped me feel a little warmer...a little more hopeful that things would turn out right. When they started torturing me...it was so painful I...I could hardly think...but I hung on...telling myself if I could just hang on a little longer...they wouldn’t win, they wouldn’t take me.” Finally, she stopped, the lump in her throat becoming too large for her to control. She buried her face in the curve of his neck, shaking with emotion.

“Oh, honey....” Han couldn’t help but follow her example, his salty tears smothered when they reached the point where his cheek met the top of his lovers head. “I love you so much.... Kenobi said as long as there was someone on this side who loved you, they wouldn’t be able to take you.”

Leia lifted her head. “General Kenobi? But he’s....”

“Dead, I know. He’s always shown up for the kid, and this time I got to see him too. He’s the real hero; he convinced them to give you back to us...to me.” He grinned crookedly. “And I used to thing he was an old psychopath. He returned to me the most precious gift I’ve ever had...I’ll never be able to thank him enough....” He kissed her again.

Leia smiled shakily, trying to speak, but afraid that if she did, she would burst into sobs of pure relief, gratitude, and love for the man who held her. Her mouth worked for a few moments before she gave up and smothered a cry in the warmth of his shirtfront. She held on to him tightly, desperately, as she wept into him, feeling him shaking as well.

“Oh, Leia, Leia...” he murmured into her hair, clinging to her feircely. “It’s alright now. Everything’s alright now...shhhh....” They stayed like that for some time, until Luke entered.

He walked up to them and regarded his sister. “Feeling better?” he asked softly. Han moved aside and Luke hugged her warmly.

She nodded. “Yes, now that it’s over with.” She kissed his cheek. “Can you thank General Kenobi for me some how?”

Luke smiled. “He comes unexpectedly. But, he knows that we are all thankful for his help. Don’t worry about it.”

“You know...” Leia began thoughtfully. “I feel different now, somehow. Like...like my fears of...intimacy...have finally been put away. The thought of those officers doesn’t really bother me like it used to.”

“That’s good,” Luke said. “That’s what was supposed to happen. Although that event still isn’t pleasant to think about, it won’t interfere with your life anymore. You’ve found peace within yourself and put the memories away.”

“Well,” Han put in. “I don’t completely follow what you said, kid, but as long as those nightmares of hers are gone. I hate seeing her so afraid like that.”

Leia smiled at him, hugging him as he came closer, whispering to him, “no more nightmares.” And indeed there weren’t. That memory, that horrid, terrible, painful memory, had been cast aside, put away after years of fear and grief, and it would haunt her no more. The officers were gone. For good.