Han Solo was one of those few. "Cold isn't the word for it, Chewie," the

Corellian replied. "I'll take a good fight any day over all this hiding and freezing!"

He noticed the smoky wisps rising from the newly welded section of metal. "How

are you coming with those lifters?"

Chewbacca replied with a typical Wookiee grumble.

"All right," Han said, fully agreeing with his friend's desire to return to space, to

some other planet—anywhere but Hoth. "I'll go to report. Then I'll give you a

hand. Soon as those lifters are fixed, we're out of here."

The Wookiee barked, a joyful chuckle, and returned to his work as Han

continued through the artificial ice cavern.

The command center was alive with electronic equipment and monitoring

devices reaching toward the icy ceiling. As in the hangar, Rebel personnel filled the

command center. The room was full of controller, troopers, maintenance

men—along with droid of varying models and sizes, all of whom were diligently

involved in converting the chamber into a workable base to replace the one on Yavin.

The man Han Solo had come to see was busily engaged behind a great console,

his attention riveted to a computer screen flashing brilliantly colored readouts.

Rieekan, wearing the uniform of a Rebel general, straightened his tall frame to face

Solo as he approached,

"General, there isn't a hint of life in the area," Han reported. "But all the

perimeter markings are set, so you'll know if anyone comes calling."

As usual, General Rieekan did not smile at Solo's flippancy. But he admired

the young man's taking a kind of unofficial membership in the Rebellion. So

impressed was Rieekan by Solo's qualities that he often considered giving him an

honorary officer's commission.

"Has Commander Skywalker reported in yet?" the general inquired.

"He's checking out a meteorite that hit near him," Han answered. "He'll be in

soon."

Rieekan quickly glanced at a newly installed radar screen and studied the

flashing images. "With all the meteor activity in this system, it's going to be

difficult to spot approaching ships."

"General, I…" Han hesitated. "I think it's time for me to move on."

Han's attention was drawn from General Rieekan to a steadily approaching

figure. Her walk was both graceful and determined, and somehow the young

woman's feminine features seemed incongruous with her white combat uniform.

Even at this distance, Han could tell Princess Leia was upset.

"You're good in a fight," the general remarked to Han, adding, "I hate to lose

you."

"Thank you, General. But there's a price on my head. If I don't pay off Jabba

the Hut, I'm a walking dead man."

"A death mark is not an easy thing to live with—" the officer began as Han

turned to Princess Leia. Solo was not a sentimental sort, but he was aware that he

was very emotional now. "I guess this is it, Your Highness." He paused, not

knowing what response to expect from the princess.

"That's right," Leia replied coldly. Her sudden aloofness was quickly evolving

into genuine anger.

Han shook his head. Long ago he had told himself that females—mammalian,

reptilian, or some biological class yet to be discovered—were beyond his meager

powers of comprehension. Better leave them to mystery, he'd often advised himself.

But for a while, at least, Han had begun to believe that there was at least one

female in all the cosmos that he was beginning to understand. And yet, he had been

wrong before.

"Well," Han said, "don't go all mushy on me. So long, Princess."

Abruptly turning his back to her, Han strode into the quiet corridor that

connected with the command center. His destination was the hangar deck, where a

giant Wookiee and a smuggler's freighter—two realities he did understand—were

waiting for him. He was not about to stop walking.

"Han!" Leia was rushing after him, slightly out of breath.

Coolly, he stopped and turned toward her. "Yes, Your Highness?"

"I thought you had decided to stay."

There seemed to be real concern in Leia's voice, but Han could not be certain.

"That bounty hunter we ran into on Ord Mantell changed my mind."

"Does Luke know?" she asked.

"He'll know when he gets back," Han replied gruffly.

Princess Leia's eyes narrowed, her gaze judging him with a look he knew well.

For a moment Han felt like one of the icicles on the surface of the planet.

"Don't give me that look," he said sternly. "Every day more bounty hunters are

searching for me. I'm going to pay off Jabba before he sends any more of his

remotes, Gank killers, and who know what else. I've got to get this price off my

head while I still have a head."

Leia was obviously affected by his words, and Han could see that she was

concerned for him as well as, perhaps, feeling something more.

"But we still need you," she said.

"We?" he asked.

"Yes."

"What about you?" Han was careful to emphasize the last word, but really wasn't

certain why. Maybe it was something he had for some time wanted to say but had

lacked the courage—no, he amended, the stupidity—to expose his feelings. At the

moment there seemed to be little to lose, and he was ready for whatever she might

say.

"Me?" she said bluntly. "I don't know what you mean."

Incredulous, Han Solo shook his head. "No, you probably don't."

"And what precisely am I supposed to know?" Anger was growing in her voice

again, probably because, Han thought, she was finally beginning to understand.

He smiled. "You want me to stay because of the way you feel about me."

Again the princess mellowed. "Well, yes, you've been a great help," she said,

pausing before going on, "…to us. You're a natural leader—"

But Han refused to let her finish, cutting her off in midsentence. "No, your

worship. That's not it."

Suddenly Leia was staring directly into Han's face with eyes that were, at last,

fully understanding. She started to laugh. "You're imagining things."

"Am I? I think you were afraid I was going to leave you without even a …"

Han's eyes focused on her lips, "…kiss."

She began to laugh harder now. "I'd just as soon kiss a Wookiee."

"I can arrange that." He moved closer to her, and she looked radiant even in the

cold light of the ice chamber. "Believe me, you could use a good kiss. You've

been so busy giving orders, you've forgotten how to be a woman. If you'd have let

go for a moment, I could have helped you. But it's too late now, sweetheart. Your

big opportunity is flying out of here."

"I think I can survive," she said, obviously irked.

"Good luck!"

"You don't even care if the—"

He knew what she was going to say and didn't let her finish. "Spare me,

please!" he interrupted. "Don't tell me about the Rebellion again. It's all you think

about. You're as cold as this planet."

"And you think you're the one to apply some heat?"

"Sure, if I were interested. But I don't think it'd be much fun." With that,

Han stepped back and looked at her again, appraising her coolly. "We'll meet

again," he said. "Maybe by then you'll have warmed up a little." Her expression

had changed again. Han had seen killers with kinder eyes.

"You have all the breeding of a Bantha," she snarled, "but not as much class.

Enjoy your trip, hot shot!" Princess Leia quickly turned away from Han and hurried

down the corridor.

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