"Not that ancient, General. It's a fake," she informed General Kobar without looking at him. He began to argue, but she held up her hand in an authoritative manner and he thought better of it. Han always found it amusing and a little exciting when she used her well honed regal authority to shut people down.

Turning back to the light, she held the page up, turning it over and over in her hands so that the light permeated through the ink of the wording. She had taken a big risk on the fact that she was right. Just as she was beginning to doubt, she spotted a very small section of ink that was denser than the rest. Reaching up and removing one of the metal clips from the braid in her hair, she used it to scrape gently at the ink, revealing a very small data strip, no larger than her fingernail, which she held up between her thumb and forefinger. Han was impressed and Luke moved to get a closer look at the tiny object.

"General. This is your code," Leia announced. "A message hidden in the text of the historically inaccurate page. Can we read this with the equipment we have? If not, get Artoo to help you."

She placed the tiny strip in Madine's hand and he crossed to a computer console where Artoo had trundled over to assist. General Kobar joined them, more subdued now.

Leia folded her arms and frowned.

"That's not all is it?" Luke knew something else was troubling her and spoke quietly so that just she and Han could hear.

"No," she admitted, equally quietly. "There is no one on this base who could read that text, and no one who would know that the historical information contained in it was inaccurate, except me." She paused to let them think about what she was saying. "My father was the only one who knew what he was asking the Bothans to do and, subsequently, me. It must mean something." She felt very uneasy.

"Do you think it's a message for you?" Han asked, reading her face.

"How can it be?" she quizzed. "It looks like it was written before I was born and yet, I am the only one that can decode it. It doesn't make sense." Han put a reassuring hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently.

#

Artoo emitted a series of beeps which disturbed them all from their deliberations. They crowded round the computer display as a stream of strange symbols that Han had never seen before wrote themselves onto the screen. Madine looked up from his chair at Leia.

"It's an old Rebel code. Over to you." He rose to let her sit in his place. She studied it for a moment. It was indeed an old code. One that had been replaced a very long time ago, just as they were always replaced, to ensure the Empire wouldn't be able to keep up. She knew the key, however, and began typing it onto the control board. The symbols systematically translated themselves into Basic and she scanned the message quickly. It was a report by Rebel spies on the discovery of covert Imperial activity and Leia read it out to the others.

"It says here that they discovered an Imperial facility where they appeared to be carrying out experiments on slaves which were being brought in from Rattatak, Thyfeera, Takodana and some other Outer Rim planets. Presumably they thought that, by using outlying planets, they would escape scrutiny and the slaves wouldn't be missed."

"What were the experiments?" Luke asked.

"It seems the spies weren't able to ascertain the exact nature of the experiments, but it confirms here that the slaves were all children."

Han read over her shoulder.

"It mentions that the facility was abandoned soon after the Rebel's discovery but, if we have seen this same activity, does that mean someone's started it up again?" Concern crossed Leia's face again.

"It's a possibility and one we ought to look into," she agreed. "We've alerted them to our presence on Thyfeera now and it's unlikely they will be coming back for more slaves, but they have no idea we know about the facility."

"When we get a recording from that tracker, it's a good bet that's where the facility will be," Luke noted. Leia nodded, running her tongue over her lower lip, then biting it in concentration. Looking at Han, she had an idea.

"You were talking about visiting Takodana weren't you?"

"Yes. Chewie and I have some repairs to do on the Falcon and we were going to talk to our contacts there about supplies." He studied her, anticipating what she was going to say next. "You want to go check this out?"

"We could," she suggested. "Perhaps we could just get your repairs done and see what we can find out while we're there." Han sighed and looked intensely at her.

"I have a bad feeling about this."

"You always have a bad feeling," Leia chided. "We don't know that there's even anything going on there. This might all be coincidence so it will probably be a harmless trip." Han raised an eyebrow. He'd lost count of the number of trips he'd accompanied her on where she had promised a harmless investigation and it had ended up in a whole mess of trouble. Leia looked at Madine. "What do you think, General?"

"I think we certainly need to see what we can find out, but perhaps covertly. There is no point risking another skirmish like today. If we find anything out, we need a plan of attack this time."

"An intelligence gathering trip only then. I'll tell Blake to take care of my official duties for the time being," Leia agreed.

"Come on." Han suddenly felt hungry. Let's plan the trip over some food. I'm starving." Chewbacca growled an agreement. He was always ready for food. Luke and Leia both realised how hungry they were and nodded their approval at the suggestion. Leia rose from the chair and gathered up the hide bound document.

"Do you mind if I hang on to this? I'd like to study it further," she asked the General.

"No, go ahead. We don't need it now." The four of them made their way out of the Command Centre and down the corridor to the mess hall to find some food.

#

While they all ate hungrily, Luke suggested that Han, Leia and Chewbacca make the trip to Takodana without him. He had decided that a return to Chandrila archives for more reading was perhaps a good idea after all. Intelligence gathering on Takodana didn't require all of them, and his Jedi presence would probably draw unwanted attention.

Han thought the trip might still make a welcome break for Leia.  Even though she wanted to gain information, he was certain it could be done by socialising with the locals and without too much fuss. They weren't going to engage anyone at least.

"I hope you don't mind me tagging along on your visit," she said.

"Not at all. I can introduce you to my friend."

"Friend?" Leia smiled. "It would be nice to meet some of your friends. Wait..." she suddenly looked sceptical. "It's not going to be another Cloud City is it? Because that friend wasn't that friendly to begin with." Chewbacca grumbled enquiringly as to whether it was the right sort of place for Leia.

"No. It'll be fine," Han assured them both. "Maz is a very old friend. Besides, Chewie, you know you love visiting her. She spoils you." Chewbacca grumbled a reluctant agreement. Leia looked delightedly at Chewbacca.

"Well, Chewie. We mustn't keep you from her then," she teased. Chewbacca put a furry paw over his eyes in defeat causing laughter from the other three.

"That's settled then," Luke confirmed, finishing the last of his dinner and rising from the table. "You know where I'll be if you need me." He leaned down and kissed Leia on the cheek then shook Han's hand and Chewbacca's enormous paw.

"Take care," Leia said.

"Always," Luke assured her. He gestured at Han. "Don't you be getting him into any trouble now," he teased her. She giggled impishly, which made Han smile, and Luke took his leave, pulling up the hood on his cloak and sweeping out of the room.

Leia leaned back in her chair and watched him go. A long way from the farm boy she had met a few years ago, he had a powerful presence. She was full of love and admiration. Proud that he was her brother. Han touched her arm.

"We'd best get going. It's a day's journey. Go and pack your things and Chewie and I will meet you on the Falcon."

"OK. I'll let Blake know the plans so she can cover things while I'm gone," Leia agreed. She patted his hand, rising from the table. "See you shortly."