Chapter Text
Han’s advice about the hat was spot on, Leia realized the moment she walked out of the ship and onto Hoth. They’d arrived toward the end of the transports, and a worried-looking woman met her with an armful of clothing. “Can you change in the ship?” she asked. “It’s technically against the rules to wear a uniform before you’ve been sworn in, but it’s too cold to wait, and no one will care on Hoth. Your quarters are a 10-minute walk away.”
Feeling like she was already turning blue, Leia pivoted and the two women walked back up the ship’s ramp. “Captain!” Leia called.
“Down below. Watch your step, your highness, don’t fall in.”
Leia looked over the edge of one of the subfloor compartments and into Han’s upraised face. “May I change into my cold-weather gear here?”
“Suit yourself. Cabin is in the back, next to the cleaning room and opposite the medical bay.”
“It’s this way,” Leia said to the other woman, leading her through the ship. “What’s your name?”
“Captain An Troung,” she answered.
“Captain Troung, I’m about to be Colonel Organa. Although you can call me Leia.”
“You can call me An. I don’t have a military background, either, ma’am. I’m to be your assistant. Well, me and another person, a Major Lill, for the next week. Then he’s shipping out.”
“How long have you been here?”
“Two months. I tried to get you the warmest fabrics we had. It takes a few weeks to acclimate, but even then, it’s still cold.”
Leia opened the cabin door. Han had taken the square footage from his cabin to make room for the spacious cleaning room, so his quarters were tight. Everything —the bed, a desk, a chair — folded into the wall so there was more floor space, but it was a bit claustrophobic for someone who had recently been imprisoned. Leia told herself it was nothing like a cell — which it wasn’t, it was much warmer and worn and smelled of fried electronic wiring — and looked through the clothes An held. “How does this …?”
“Oh. This goes first,” An said, plucking out undergarments. “Then this …” a long-sleeved thin shirt and pants, “Then this ..” light-weight, white insulated trousers and a padded vest, “And last, this.” The last item looked somewhat like a flight suit, but white, and quilted. “You’ll never be warm on Hoth, but this many layers will keep you from freezing. Probably.”
Leia started stripping, and An helped her into her new uniform. “We need to get your name tag, but I didn’t have time to print it out yet,” An said. “And everyone already knows who you are, anyway. I thought the clothes were the most important.”
“You thought right,” Leia said, pleased. She tugged on the shirt, pulled up the pants and stepped into the flight suit, zipping it up while she looked for something for her feet.
“Oh — The insulated boots aren’t done yet, either, it’ll be another hour. They take the longest,” An said apologetically.
“That’s OK, I can wear these, if you don’t think anyone will care.” Leia put her dress boots back on.
An took a step back. “You look very dashing, ma’am.”
Leia laughed. “I feel like I’ve been stuffed into a casing.”
“They look like they fit — do they feel too tight?” An asked anxiously.
“No, they’re fine, it’s just not what I’m used to.” Leia hesitated, then rotated her shoulders and frowned. “There’s something wrong with the bra …”
“Oh, no, ma’am, that’s just the way they are. No one has one that fits properly.”
“Oh. Okay. How long do we have till the ceremony?”
“We’ll just make it. Although if you’re late, I’m sure they’ll wait,” An said, checking the time. “I’ll show you where to go, and get you a map of the base when we’re done.”
“Thank you.”
The two women walked back toward the Falcon’s ramp just as Captain Solo was about to exit, too.
“Better,” Han said, taking in Leia’s new clothes. “Don’t forget the hat. And get her some gloves,” he said to An. “The double-fabric kind with built-in heaters that are waterproof. Everyone here needs to make comfort a priority in an environment like this.”
“Yes, sir,” An said. “Would you like to accompany us to Colonel Organa’s induction? It’s in a few minutes.”
“Yeah, let me get Chewie, he’ll want to go, too.” Han jogged around to the other side of the ship and came back with Chewbacca, who gave Leia an encouraging pat on her back.
The four of them walked to an open area, where military personnel stood around, chatting before the ceremony. Han saw Luke and caught his eye, and Luke came over, greeting Leia with a hug and shaking An’s hand, before making his way to the front of the room. Luke would be commissioning as a commander.
“They’ll want you at the front, too, ma’am,” An said.
Leia glanced at Han. Twenty-fours hours ago, I had a family and a home and a planet and a job, Leia thought. Now, I have … I have …
Breathe in. Breathe out …
Leia swallowed hard.
Move on.
She held out her hand and smiled at Han.
“Thank you again for everything, Captain. If I don’t see you before you leave, I hope you have a good trip.” She turned to Chewbacca and said warmly, “And I’ll miss you, Chewie. Take care, and I hope we see you soon.”
(“You will be an excellent leader, Colonel. I look forward to seeing you boss everyone around when we return.”)
Leia laughed and said, “I’m not sure how that’s different from the way I behave normally, but thank you. Have a pleasant journey and be careful. Perhaps I’ll see you next month.”
“Doubt it, but thanks. Take care, Princess.” Han said, giving her a lazy two-fingered salute, and she nodded at him and turned to go to the front of the room. To Han’s eye, she already looked half-frozen and he knew without a doubt that if he made it back to Hoth in a month, she’d be long gone. There was no way she was going to fit in here or be able to take the spartan accommodations. He’d give her a few days, maybe a week, before she gave up.
People were starting to find their seats, and the others who were going to be commissioned sat in the front row. Leia found her place and took a deep breath and slowly let it out.
Breathe in, breathe out, move on.