The dealer called for Leia's initial stake and she reached into her jacket inside pocket, pulling out a small pouch and tipping five thousand credits onto the table in front of her. Han choked on the drink he was sipping.

"I came prepared," she whispered under her breath.

The fresh drinks arrived including the Narcolethe for Leia. The Devaronian waited expectantly. She was going to have to drink it and do it in a way that ended any further challenge from her opponent. Han and Chewbacca watched. She kept eye contact with the Devaronian, picked up the glass and downed the drink in one, putting the glass back down hard on the table.

It tasted like she'd just sucked all the acid out of the Ion Flux batteries, burning like a volcano all the way down her throat to her stomach. She had to use all the control she could muster not to behave in a manner unbecoming of a princess, and unacceptable for a hardened pirate, and spray it back out all over the other players. How did Han drink this stuff? It was revolting. She remained expressionless. Han let out a relieved breath and the Devaronian laughed.

"A worthy opponent," he decided. Chewbacca growled an agreement. Not content with winning at Dejarik, she was going to take everyone on at Sabaac now. Han looked incredulously over his shoulder at Chewbacca and whispered to Leia.

"You're gaining quite a fan there." The corner of her mouth hinted at a smile then it disappeared when he said,

"Shall I get you another one of those." His eyes indicated her empty Narcolethe glass.

"You must be joking," she whispered emphatically. "That stuff will eat you from the inside out."

The dealer passed out the first two cards, everyone put their initial stake in the pot and Leia looked at hers to see what she had, remembering what Chewbacca had told her earlier that evening. A positive Ace of Sabers and a negative Endurance of Staves. She calculated that as positive seven points in her hand with another card to come out. Han put his second stake in the pot, as did the Devaronian and the woman with the metal face piercings. The mousy Androvian folded with a disgruntled snort, packed up his winnings and left the table.

Leia placed another credit in the pot. She may as well see the next card. She watched the cards as they were dealt face up this time. Han got a Balance of Flasks and the Devaronian a Queen of Sabers. Leia's was another Ace, giving her positive twenty two points. Close enough, she thought. The Devaronian's cheek twitched. He thinks he has a good hand, Leia noted.

At that moment, the house randomised the cards, their value and denomination changing as she held them. Now she held two Evil Ones and a Commander of Coins equalling a negative score of eighteen. Still respectable. The older woman threw her cards down in defeat and sat back. Han pushed his cards through the holo-display and called with positive eighteen. The Devaronian showed his negative fourteen and Leia her negative eighteen. Han smiled at her.

The next three rounds went similarly, Leia winning one and Han winning two. The older woman had lost most of her money and Leia calculated she probably had another round in her, then would be out. She had been watching the cards carefully, seeing what came out and calculating what was left. It seemed a fairly logical game save for the randomisation but, if one timed it right and called before the randomisation, a win could be secured, especially if the randomisation occurred after her cards were pushed through the holo-display because it held her score and randomised everyone else's.

Second to last round and the older woman retired from the game. Leia was dealt The Star of Staves, an Endurance and a positive 2 of Sabers, giving her a Pure Sabaac. The Devaronian had been dealt a Demise of negative thirteen points and Han folded. Leia took the lead, quickly pushing her cards through the holo-display and calling the game. The Devaronian grinned as he showed his cards; a pure Sabaac. It was a draw. He nodded with respect at her.

Han sat back. He had been watching Leia's game. She had been holding her own, learning quickly and now a Pure Sabaac hand. It was the last hand in the round and he wanted to see what she would do with it. He waved at the dealer to pass him over and lounged with his arm along the back of the bench seat behind her.

"You're not playing?" Leia enquired. He shook his head.

"Thought I'd watch you," he grinned. "Besides, I need to be ready to get you out of here when you mess up." She narrowed her eyes contemptuously but inside she was hoping that didn't happen. She placed her bet. It was the last hand so she thought she would risk a few hundred on the first cards. Han covered his mouth and met her gaze. Chewbacca gurgled. She was dealt an Evil One and a Star totalling negative thirty two. Chewbacca covered his eyes and moaned. She locked eyes with the Devaronian. He leaned forward.

"I'm looking forward to our evening together," he said lasciviously. Leia didn't react. She had worked out that the next card that came up to be dealt to her would be a negative three. It didn't look good at all. She decided to bluff, shoving two thousand credits into the pot. Chewbacca moaned louder. Han looked from her to the Devaronian. He seemed to hesitate then counted his own coins and matched her bet. The cards in her hand randomised. Han sat up. She had an Idiot - zero points, and a Queen of Flasks - negative two. She needed to be right about the next card. She remained totally stony. The card was dealt face up; a three of Coins. She moved like lightening, shoving her cards through the holo-display before they randomised again. She had an Idiot's Array. An unbeatable hand.

Han grabbed hold of her and hugged her until she was completely squashed.

"I don't believe it," he said elatedly. "I've only seen that hand three times in all the time I've been playing this game." Chewbacca growled and threw his head back, laughing. Leia looked at the Devaronian.

"I think you owe me some information." She leant forward on her elbows, sipping the spice wine she'd ordered to cover the taste of the Narcolethe.

"Would you consider selling your cargo to me instead? I would give you an excellent price," he entreated with a sneer.

"I'm sure," Leia replied. "However, I have heard there might be a new buyer in Al-Adreen. I would like that contact." She sensed the Devaronian's reluctance so she sweetened the deal. "I'm sure you understand that I need to be certain of who I am doing business with. I move a lot of live cargo and I need discreet and reliable trade routes so that I don't have to deal in person. If your information proves genuine, I might consider passing my trade through an agent, such as yourself, on a more permanent basis." The Devaronian's yellow eyes lit up at the prospect.

Han listened in silence. Why had he worried about Leia's ability to handle herself. Rhetoric was her skill after all. He had no doubt she could out-think the Devaronian but getting her out of here afterwards was another matter. It was a good job she was handy in a fight too. Even so, he was very pleased she had brought Chewbacca with her. She had cleaned the pirate out of at least one cargo loads worth of credits and was now working information out of him, and pirates didn't like to lose.

Leia felt like she was a teenager again on one of her incognito missions for the Viceroy; setting up supply lines as a front for passing equipment to the Rebellion, although they were more humanitarian missions and less criminal. She despised slavers. Some criminal activity she could almost understand, but slavery was the most contemptible. The quicker she could get information from this horned, leering demon, the better.

"There is one new buyer of live cargo," the Devaronian elaborated, having judged that Leia's offer of future business was credible. "But he is particularly interested in young cargo. He doesn't take much but pays a reasonable price."

"How do you contact him?" Leia asked.

"I don't have a name, of course." He bared his rotten teeth at her, alluding to her earlier reluctance to swap identities. "But, if I have anything, he can usually be found once a month in here; always sits at the far table." He gestured toward the other side of the crowded cantina. "He's not due for another week but, if you are in a hurry, you can find his colleagues around quite often. They look too much like law enforcement for my liking so I wait for him."

Leia and Han glanced at each other. Law enforcement? He hadn't said Imperials and a pirate would know one – probably even do business with one. That, seemingly, the end of his information, Leia sat back, wine still in hand.

"Thank you. I will probably wait the week. I assume I can also find you here should I wish to conclude our business discussion?" He nodded. Looking pleased with himself, he gestured a flourishing farewell with the brush of his sharp-nailed hand up his forehead and left the table.

Han gathered up his credits and scraped Leia's large pile towards her with his arm. Their winnings were attracting attention and Chewbacca was grumbling a warning, making sure he placed himself between Leia and the rest of the room.

"If you've finished picking up pirates, Your Highness, I think we need to move." Han stood up to go.

"Oh, for goodness sake!" Leia snapped at his comment, pocketing her credits and standing. "I got some information didn't I? Next time you need someone to do the talking, ask me first." She stepped past him.

"Look, we all know you talk a lot," he quipped "but I want to speak to you about your card playing." Leia glared at him over her shoulder. He didn't get a chance to discuss it further. Their movement through the crowded bar was becoming more uncomfortable.

"Chewie!" Han directed Chewbacca's attention to a couple of would-be accosters heading in Leia's direction. Chewbacca made short work of re-routing them.

"If we come back here to investigate this contact. We need to bring backup," Han instructed her worriedly. He kept an eye behind them. He was certain a small group had followed them from their table. A fat and multi-scarred humanoid pulled Leia towards him slurring something at her but was met with her blaster muzzle under his many chins and thought better of his advances. Han steered her back towards the door.

"Stay close, Leia," he said into her ear.

Pushing their way out onto the street, Leia felt the cooler and cleaner night air in her lungs, realising for the first time in hours just how stifling and noisy the Scoundrel's Sanctuary had been and also just how much her head was swimming from the effects of the Narcolethe and spice wine. She hadn't had much of the latter; she didn't like to drink much, but the former had finished her off before she'd begun and had only been tempered by her deep concentration on the Sabaac game. Now outside, her ears ringing, she swayed slightly and put her hand to her head. Han caught her with a firm arm round her waist.

"You alright?" Then he looked into her now squinting, unfocused eyes. "Oh, dear." He looked very amused.

"Stop it!" she scolded, hitting his arm weakly. He glanced behind them to see the same suspicious group he'd spotted in the cantina following them up the street. They tried to look casual when he looked at them but they weren't subtle and he knew they would make their move as soon as they reached a quieter part of town.

"Chewie, we've got some admirers. Pick up the pace. We have to get the princess out of here." Chewbacca growled an acknowledgement, waving his arm in the direction of their speeder which was parked up ahead.

"Great. You and Leia go together. I'll get my speeder and catch up with you," Han instructed. Jogging to the speeder, Chewbacca jumped in and hit the ignition while Han picked Leia up and sat her in the seat beside Chewbacca so that she didn't have to climb up, then he slapped the back of the vehicle.

"Go, Chewie." He drew his blaster as a warning to the unruly group but they seemed disinterested now that the main source of their desired income had left. His speeder wasn't far and he was very soon on the way out of Al-Adreen and catching up with Leia and Chewbacca.

#

The hour's trip back to the castle did wonders for Leia's head, the cold wind blowing away the cobwebs and clearing her thoughts. She leant against Chewbacca's warm arm, occasionally closing her eyes. She let her mind drift, wondering how Luke was, where he had hidden the Star. She tried to picture him, reaching out to see if she could locate him but she couldn't feel her brother's presence anywhere. Her mind must still be clouded by wine. Either that or he was too far away.

Feeling an emotional pang, she realised how much she missed her twin. Had she always missed him, even before she had known he existed? She believed she had. They had been together for a while inside their mother, so how could it be otherwise. She breathed deeply and smiled, letting her heart expand, sending loving feelings out into the star-speckled galaxy. Perhaps he would pass by and feel them.

#

The cockpit of the X-Wing was quiet, the lights on the console blinking dimly, the majority of power being directed to life support and star chart information gently flickering across a small screen, as the ship sped through hyperspace towards Takodana.

Luke's eyes opened suddenly, something bringing him out of his meditative state. His heart swelled.

"Leia." He felt his sister making contact, her love all-embracing.  For now, she was safe.  "I love you too." Artoo beeped expectantly. Luke smiled. "Yes Artoo, and you. I'm going back to sleep now." With an affirmative whistle from the little droid, Luke closed his eyes and sank back into his meditation.

#

Chewbacca lifted Leia out of the speeder. She wrapped her arms round his waist in a tight hug.

"Thanks for looking after me, Chewie." He hugged her back, gurgled a goodnight and loped off in the direction of the Falcon. Han and Leia entered the castle, stepping over the odd sleeping customer, and climbed the large stone steps to the rooms on the upper floor.

"How's your head?" Han teased. Leia gave him the briefest of sideways glances.

"It's fine," she said, curtly.

"I thought you took that Narcolethe very well," he praised. She wasn't in the mood to be patronised.

"Did you expect me to do otherwise?" she challenged. "That stuff's freighter fuel. You shouldn't drink it," she advised.

"Talking of things we should and shouldn't do." He stopped her walking with a gentle touch of his hand on her arm. "Sabaac? Where did that come from?" he asked dumbfounded.

"It's fairly logical. Once you have the measure of your opponents, you can predict what they will do, calculate what card is coming up next, then all you have to do is time your move. Exactly like politics." She spread her arms.

"You counted the cards?"

"Of course," she said, disdainfully. "Don't you?" He shook his head in amazement. He was realising they had more in common every day. "I remember who says what at each Senate meeting," she continued. "Cards are easy." She took a now heavy bag of credits from her inside pocket. "Will this be enough to pay for the new parts for the Falcon?" Han grinned.

"More than enough, but, Leia, do you realise how much money we could make playing Sabaac together?" Leia scowled, pushing the bag of coins hard into his chest.

"Don't be greedy!" she scolded, turning and walking crossly down the corridor to their room. Really? He was trying to suggest she take up gambling? Typical! As far as she was concerned gambling houses were almost always run by organised crime, not something she agreed with funding, not to mention the terrible social consequences that it had. Not satisfied with what they had, he had to push it.

Han followed, struggling to keep up even with his longer legs.

"But this could be a good source of income for us. I just thought..." She had rounded the corner in the corridor out of sight but her angry voice carried well.

"I suggest you stop thinking!"

Once the war was over, it could be so much fun travelling round playing the tables. They could earn a fortune. He had to work on those unshakeable morals of hers.

"Come on, Sweetheart. You have to admit it's a fun idea; just you and me, flying round the galaxy together." Leia turned in the doorway to the room, blocking his path.

"What's wrong with honest hard work?" she asked. "Why are you not satisfied with having just enough. You have to go too far."

"Gambling's not dishonest," he defended. Leia raised an eyebrow. "Anyway, I was talking about fun. I don't think you know how to have fun." It was like poking a Rathtar with a stick.

"Turning me into an immoral gambler, dragging me from one seedy bar to another, isn't my idea of fun," she glared. He leaned his tall frame on the door frame, inches from her, one arm on the lintel.  He looked down at her, the familiar devilish smile playing on his lips.

"What is your idea of fun? Maybe we can try that." He admired the fire flashing in her eyes, the colour of her lips as she shouted, the way her angry gestures made her body move in a strangely sensual way.

Leia felt flushed and knew it wasn't just from her anger or the wine. She felt his warm breath blowing her hair gently and felt her body responding to his. She ran her tongue over her lips. She was either going to hit him or kiss him. She couldn't decide.

Han's smile broadened.

"Oh. That's your sort of fun," he goaded playfully. When she looked indignant he waggled a finger at her lips she had just wetted. "That's your 'tell', Sweetheart." Hit him, she decided.

"Well, you'll just have to imagine it," she provoked and slammed the door on him.

Spinning round to face the room, her hair sweeping over her shoulder with the movement, she slammed her fists on the sofa back and rested there a moment, breathing deeply. He knew just how to wind her up to the point of screaming, he was intensely antagonising. What angered her more was that he was so annoyingly handsome. His physical presence drove her insane and she was pretty sure he knew it too, using it against her at every opportunity, making it impossible for her to win. It always flustered her. She grabbed at her head with both fists and made a muted frustrated noise then turned and opened the door again, holding on to it with one hand. Han was still standing in the same position, waiting, watching his own finger casually trace a crack in the door frame. He just raised his eyes to meet hers. She shook her head admonishingly.

"You drive me completely crazy!" she told him, grabbing his shirt and pulling him into the room. He wrapped his arm tightly round her waist and kicked the door shut behind him with his foot.