He meant it literally. Some kind of...transformation, I think. [She still finds it dubious as an excuse, and she doesn't bother hiding it. Han will understand, if anyone will. Her hands are unclenching as she speaks, coming to rest at the small of his back, even if the rest of her is stiff and unyielding still.
His question is a good one, but it's not one she has an answer for. If they were my people, I would have.]
I don't know. [Her thoughts drift to the sky whales below, on Ceta, though she can't explain why.] Maybe they didn't have the resources.
[It's hard to say, not having seen any of it, knowing as little as they do. It takes a certain kind of zeal-- or maybe just having nothing to lose-- to embolden someone to go up against a force that can destroy a planet. Accidentally or otherwise.
He's got a bad feeling about it, no matter which way he looks at it.]
[Another question she doesn't have a satisfactory answer to. There's no returning Caducus Primary to its former glory. The man who committed the crime isn't likely to pay for it more than he already has.]
Keep it from happening again, I guess. [She sighs.] I don't like the situation, but our options are limited.
[If he had any idea how to get home from here, they'd already be on a ship. Although the range thing is another good point. One more thing to consider if they end up trying it.
That last bit, though, gets a broad, crooked smile from him. Han runs his thumb over her cheek.]
[Their access to fuel at this point seems pretty questionable to her. If the other planets in this area are comparable to Ceta, they're going to have a hard time refueling, let alone picking up additional food and other supplies. This is a problem that's going to take time to solve, unfortunately.
Leia doesn't smile, but her expression grows softer around the edges. One hand comes up to rest over his heart, an old familiar gesture.]
[It's a problem he's been devoting a lot of his attention to. The Corellian girl in the engine and that man on the junk moon had both made some implications, and though he's not committing to anything the idea is worth kicking around. At least the notion of escape is a distraction from the futility of staying.
He folds his hand over hers, palm rough and warm, and shakes his head. Nothing important.]
[Probably not, she's guessing, but she's curious nonetheless. And now that she's vented her spleen, Leia'd like to talk about something other than the death of millions.]
[Of course that's what he's been looking for. He gives her a wry smile.]
There's a Corellian working in the engine room.
[In case they haven't met, yet. It's hard to keep track of who's who on this ship. Mainly that's worth noting because it means she's probably their tech expert so far.]
She told me she was Alderaanian. [People from different planets meet, certainly, but her first inclination is to wonder if they're being played. But what would the point be?]
[Well that's a worrying inconsistency, all the more so because of who the conflicting stories were told to. She brought Corellia up, Han recalls that pretty clearly.
There are reasons, he can imagine, why one might lie. Still, he frowns at the thought.]
It was strange. [She shakes her head.] She thought Organa was an Alderaanian name, but she didn't seem sure.
[And she certainly didn't seem to recognize its significance. Leia's pretty sure it isn't pure conceit to expect the royal house of Alderaan to make an impression in others' minds.]
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His question is a good one, but it's not one she has an answer for. If they were my people, I would have.]
I don't know. [Her thoughts drift to the sky whales below, on Ceta, though she can't explain why.] Maybe they didn't have the resources.
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[It's hard to say, not having seen any of it, knowing as little as they do. It takes a certain kind of zeal-- or maybe just having nothing to lose-- to embolden someone to go up against a force that can destroy a planet. Accidentally or otherwise.
He's got a bad feeling about it, no matter which way he looks at it.]
So what do we do?
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Keep it from happening again, I guess. [She sighs.] I don't like the situation, but our options are limited.
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We could try to leave, but I'm not sure there's anywhere to go.
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[And who knows how far away they are from the place Caducus Primary was? If they're going to leave, she'd rather it be to their own galaxy.]
We're stuck here, at least for now. [She's quiet a moment before she adds, a little tentative:] You're the best part of this entire mess, you know.
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That last bit, though, gets a broad, crooked smile from him. Han runs his thumb over her cheek.]
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Leia doesn't smile, but her expression grows softer around the edges. One hand comes up to rest over his heart, an old familiar gesture.]
If you were in the middle of something...
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He folds his hand over hers, palm rough and warm, and shakes his head. Nothing important.]
Exploring, mostly.
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[Probably not, she's guessing, but she's curious nonetheless. And now that she's vented her spleen, Leia'd like to talk about something other than the death of millions.]
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[Of course that's what he's been looking for. He gives her a wry smile.]
There's a Corellian working in the engine room.
[In case they haven't met, yet. It's hard to keep track of who's who on this ship. Mainly that's worth noting because it means she's probably their tech expert so far.]
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[Even if they aren't already acquainted, that's one more person with an interest in getting back to their galaxy. And that seems valuable.]
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A girl named Maya. I don't think she's been here that long.
[But, that's a month or so she has on them. Plus access to the engines.]
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[Leia's mouth purses.]
She told me she was Alderaanian. [People from different planets meet, certainly, but her first inclination is to wonder if they're being played. But what would the point be?]
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There are reasons, he can imagine, why one might lie. Still, he frowns at the thought.]
Did she know you?
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[And she certainly didn't seem to recognize its significance. Leia's pretty sure it isn't pure conceit to expect the royal house of Alderaan to make an impression in others' minds.]
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So maybe not someone we want to put a lot of trust in.
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[She'd rather not rule any of their potential allies out, but she's hesitant to think of Maya as anything more than potential so far.]
We'll see what the explanation is.
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Yeah.
[At least they've got each other. She's right, that's one bright point, and thinking on that he keeps rubbing her shoulder.]