Shattered Remembrance

 

 

Chapter Twenty-five

 

"You actually think we'll find him here?"  Han frowned over his shoulder at Guri as the Millennium Falcon settled on the immaculate front lawn of the Buaran estate.

 

"Lady Buaran may have information we can use."

 

"Yeah, right."

 

"What's the matter, sweetheart?" Leia put in.  "You don't think all men confide in their wives like you do?"

 

"Of course not.  I'm the perfect husband."  Han winked at his brother-in-law.   "Aren't I, Luke?"

 

Luke's eyes widened.  " I ... I don't remember."

 

"How convenient," Han groused, though Leia detected the laugh in his eyes.

 

"Yes, very," she said, smiling.  "Let's go see if anyone is home."

 

***


The group had barely made it down the ramp before a uniformed butler was hurrying across the manicured lawn to meet them.

 

"See here!" the man cried, waving a white-gloved hand.  "You can't park that ... thing ... on these grounds!"

 

"Listen, you!" Han began, until Leia pulled down his raised arm.

 

"We apologize for the intrusion, but we have urgent business with Lord Buaran," Leia explained.   Without looking back, she could sense both Han and Mara bristling with impatience.

 

"Lord Buaran does not receive visitors without an appointment," the butler said huffily, looking down his aquiline nose at the motley band. 

 

"Here's our appointment," Han growled, pointing his blaster in the man's face.

 

Ignoring Han's weapon, Leia shouldered her way in front of him.  "Sir, I am Councilor Leia Organa-Solo of Coruscant.  I must insist that we are admitted to see Lord Buaran."

 

The servant's bluster wilted slightly at Leia's name.  "I am sorry, madam, but Lord Buaran is not available at this time."

 

"Lady Buaran, then," Guri spoke up, stepping forward.  "I am chief of security at Lord Buaran's manufacturing facilities."  She withdrew a badge from a pocket of her jumpsuit and flashed it at the butler.

 

It didn't escape Leia's notice that Guri held her identification so that her thumb partially covered the card's holo.  No doubt the image on it didn't match Guri's present appearance.

 

Glaring at the group, the man nevertheless nodded.  "I shall announce you to Lady Buaran," he said, heading for the manor house.

 

As they followed behind, Han brought his comlink to his mouth.  "Goldenrod, you better stay here and watch the ship.  If anyone but us comes close, enact the shields and contact me immediately.  But no flyin' her!"  He turned toward Leia.  "I knew we shoulda had Chewie come along."

 

"Of course, Captain Solo," Threepio's voice crackled back.  A low-pitched whistle from Artoo-Detoo could be heard in the background.

 

Privately, Leia had been wishing for the Wookiee since they plucked Luke and the others off the skyhook.  But at Leia's own insistence, Chewbacca and Malla had left for Kashyyyk right before their own departure.  "Artoo may come in handy if we need to break into any computers or unlock any doors," she said, starting up the wide steps of the mansion.

 

"Can't she take care of that?" Han said, tilting his head toward Guri.

 

"Two metal heads are better than one," Mara said casually.  Even as she spoke, her gaze kept scanning their surroundings.

 

Nodding, Han continued, "Send Artoo out, then lock the ship."

 

Moments later, the astromech could be seen trundling down the ramp.

 

"We'll wait for Artoo," Luke said when the butler reappeared at the ornate double-wide front door.

 

Han and Leia followed the servant into the gleaming foyer of the home.  Just as Leia remembered from her previous visit to Bakura, the décor was influenced by a preference to sparkling fountains, glistening white stonework, and an abundance of thriving plants.  Standing in the middle of the entryway was a slender young woman with dark hair fashioned in the latest style.

 

"Your Highness, this is a most unexpected honor."  Lady Delia Buaran gave a half-courtesy.  The Chandrilan woman's smile suddenly morphed into a wary frown, and Leia turned to see what had caused the change.

 

Luke, Mara, Guri, and Artoo-Detoo were just entering the foyer.  Though her synthflesh had been repaired over her damaged abdomen, Guri still wore her dirty ripped jumpsuit, as did Luke and Mara.

 

"You cannot bring that droid into this home!" the butler sputtered, his eyes flashing indignantly at Artoo-Detoo as he moved to intercept the newcomers.  "It doesn't even have a restraining bolt!"

 

Luke's whole body stilled as he focused on the servant.  "This droid does not need a restraining bolt," he intoned. 

"The droid doesn't need a restraining bolt," the butler repeated.

 

"This droid is perfectly safe," Luke continued.

 

"It's perfectly safe," came the monotone reply.

 

Leia's eyes widened as she stared at her brother, and she could see that Mara was also surprised.  Luke gazed back, but his expression didn't change.  It was Lady Buaran who broke the silence.

 

"Of course the droid is welcome, Stephon," she stated, her gracious smile returning as she nodded to Leia.  "Though I have come to accept the Bakurans' dislike of mechanicals, I do not share their view.  Please, enter."

 

With one last glance at Luke, Leia turned her attention back to their hostess.  "Thank you," she said.  "This is my husband, Captain Han Solo," she continued, nodding to her side.  Extending one hand to the others, she continued the introductions.  "My brother, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, and his companion, Mara Jade.  And Guri, your husband's chief of security."

 

At the word 'Jedi,' the butler noticeably stiffened, but a sharp look from his mistress curtailed any objection he might have made.

 

"Master Skywalker, this is indeed a privilege," Lady Buaran said, bowing.

 

Luke bowed in return, but did not speak.

 

"How may I serve you?" Lady Buaran asked, splaying her hands in a gesture of hospitality to the entire group.  "Stephon, a decanter of namana liqueur for our guests."

 

"No, thank you," Leia said quickly, heading off the offer.  She was coming to respect the displaced Chandrilan, and fervently hoped the woman had no part in Ra'uf Buaran's treachery.  "Your husband, Lady Buaran.  It is imperative that we locate him."

 

"Ra'uf?  He is usually at his private office this time of day, on his skyhook."

 

"The skyhook has been destroyed," Leia said, carefully watching the woman's reaction.

 

Delia Buaran's face contorted with shock, and she brought her hands to her mouth in horror.  "No!"  Han, Leia, and the butler all rushed to her side as her knees began to give way.

 

"He wasn't on it," Han said, his tone betraying his skepticism.  "But our friends were," he added, nodding toward Luke and Mara.  "Or did you already know that?"

 

"Lady Buaran, do you know where your husband is?" Leia asked again.

 

"No, I ... I already told you ..."  Lady Buaran pulled away.  "Are you accusing us of something?"

 

"We know your husband deliberately set a trap for Luke on the skyhook," Han said, his eyes narrowing.  "He wanted to murder him in revenge for his own father's death.  The question now is, are you covering for him?"

 

Lady Buaran shook her head.  "I know nothing of which you speak.  His father ... Ra'uf has told me little of his father, only that he was an important figure in the Empire."

 

"He was the last Imperial governor of Bakura," Leia said.

 

"Governor Nereus?"  Lady Buaran's eyes widened in sudden understanding.  "I have heard of Nereus's heinous deeds during the Sri-ruuk invasion.  Ra'uf never told me ..."  She drew herself up, and a calm determination came over her.  "What will you do to my husband if you catch him?"

 

Leia could understand the woman's dilemma.  The husband that she loved had turned into a stranger.  But he was still her husband, and to betray him was not a choice to be made lightly.

 

"We will do everything in our power to bring him safely to justice," Leia vowed.  She hoped for Delia Buaran's sake that they could keep that promise.

 

Lady Buaran nodded.  "I do not know where he is, but he does have hidden underground passages that interconnect his factories and our home.  He does not know that I am aware of them."  She smiled weakly.  "A woman is entitled to a few secrets of her own, I suppose."

 

Han turned to Guri.  "Did you know about these passages?"

 

"I did not," Guri replied.

 

"Well, it seems there are secrets bursting out left and right."  Han let his gaze sweep around the entire group.  Guri ignored him, but interestingly enough, it was Mara who looked away.  "All right, Lady Buaran, show us these passages."  He stared at the scowling butler.  "I think you better come, too.  Or better yet, we lock you up nice and tight until we get back."

 

"I beg your pardon!"  Stephon cast a distressed look his mistress's way.  "Madam, I must protest!"

 

Lady Buaran hesitated, then turned to Leia with sad eyes.  "Your Highness, I will cooperate fully.  As long as Stephon is not harmed, I agree that he cannot be allowed to warn my husband."

 

Complaining vehemently the whole way, Stephon was tied up and locked in a coat closet.  Lady Buaran assured them that no one else was in the mansion, and both Luke and Mara confirmed her statement with the Force.  Unlocking her husband's study, she led them to a concealed panel behind a bookcase.

 

"The passage diverges in a few hundred meters," she explained.  "The path to the left goes to his factory in the Lowount district.  To the right, the shipping facility in Stybridge.  I believe that passageway also branches off to his docking berth at the Stybridge spaceport."

 

Leia remembered that was the name of the spaceport where they'd located Buaran's private yacht, detouring there to sabotage the ship's power conduits.  That didn't mean that Buaran wouldn't be heading that direction, of course.

 

"Looks like we'll need to split up," Han said, rubbing his chin. 

 

"Luke and I can take one direction," Mara spoke up quickly.  "With Artoo."

 

Leia could see Han holding back a grin.  "Guri, perhaps you can come with Han and me."

 

"Yes," the HRD returned simply.

 

"Good," Han said with a wink.  "Each couple gets its own droid."  He looked back at Lady Buaran.

 

"While I do not condone Ra'uf's actions, I cannot join you in hunting him down," the stately woman said.  "I will wait here."  She was casting discreet glances Guri's way, and Leia wondered if Buaran had informed his wife that his security head was a droid.  It had been obvious that the butler had no inkling. 

 

Leia and Han exchanged glances.   Lady Buaran would slow them down.  And yet ...

 

"I give you my word that I will not contact Ra'uf in any way," Delia Buaran vowed.  "Nor will I release Stephon."

 

Han's hazel eyes narrowed, and Leia knew what he was thinking.  Could they trust the wife of their quarry?

 

"She's telling the truth," Luke said quietly.  "I can sense it through the Force."

 

Leia blinked.  Han just stared at Luke.  Mara looked sideways at him a moment, then confirmed his words.

 

"I agree.  I sense no deception in Lady Buaran."

 

"Very well," Leia said, nodding toward the Chandrilan.  "We will contact you as soon as we can." 

 

***

 

They traveled the short distance to the passage juncture in silence.  But before parting, Han stopped Luke with a firm clasp of his arm.  "So were you going to tell us that your memory is coming back, or were we just supposed to guess?"

 

Luke gave Han a confused frown.  "What are you talking about?  My memory isn't returning."

 

"So all that mind-control, and sensing emotion stuff ...  That just popped into your brain out of the blue."

 

"During my training, Mara explained how those skills could be used," Luke said slowly, his face scrunching up in thought.

 

"But we never really practiced them," Mara pointed out.

 

Luke shrugged.  "I just ... knew I could."

 

"We are wasting time," Guri announced.  From her bland expression, Leia knew the droid wasn't impatient, merely stating a fact.  An accurate fact, no matter how intriguing Luke's use of the Force was.

 

"Yes, we should get going," Leia concurred.  "Comlinks?"  She felt for her own as she looked questioningly at Luke and Mara.

 

"I have one," Mara said. 

 

"Okay, let's head out."  Han checked the power level of his blaster, even though he'd already checked it before leaving the ship.  Habit, Leia knew.

 

A habit that had saved their lives on more than one occasion.

 

***

 

Delia Buaran's hands trembled as she pushed the heavy bookcase back into place.  She had known that her husband had Imperial sympathies when she married him.   But the New Republic had been firmly in power when she met Ra'uf; Emperor Palpatine's tyranny, a distant memory.   Ra'uf Buaran had cut a dashing figure the first time she spotted him, with his dark eyes and meticulous manners and dress.  It was only after they married and returned to Bakura that Delia began to notice her husband's temperamental moods.   He could fly into a rage over seemingly inconsequential matters, then romance her with lavish gifts and flowery complements.  But he always was very secretive about his life growing up on Bakura.  Now she knew why.

 

A familiar sound suddenly froze Delia in place – the creak of the nerf-hide leather on Ra'uf's office chair.

 

"You shouldn't be troubling yourself cleaning behind there, my dear," a deep voice commented casually.  "That's what we have servants for."