"Why are we doing this, again?" Leia asked as Jo once again dragged her out of bed early in the morning. There was barely anyone awake on the small Rebel base on Hoth, only those who kept watch over night. Even the cooks were still asleep, meaning Leia couldn't get a cup of coffee to wake her up.
"Han was able to tell us apart because of my marksmanship." Jo told the Princess as she dragged her through the hall. "It took him less than a day to figure out I was the decoy because I knew how to shoot." Jo looked back at Leia as she kept walking. "If Han can figure it out, so can the others."
"He also said it was because you always stepped in front of me and you told him to listen to me." Leia pointed out. "It appears your servitude has finally found a way to work against you."
Jo stopped in front of the training room doors and turned back to Leia with heated cheeks. "If you think for a single second I'm going to push you in front of open fire to protect our cover, you are the most idiotic girl I have ever met-" She told Leia harshly. "And I know you aren't dumb, so the only other solution is to make you the best damn fighter you can be." As she said it, she turned and opened the doors to the training room.
Just beyond the doors was a grand open space. The room was reserved for large meetings, but it could also be used to train new recruits. Jo reserved the room every morning before their daily routine. That way they wouldn't be interrupted by royal or rebel duties and they wouldn't be watched.
Jo stepped into the room first. Years of training in combat and shooting made her feel at peace as she stripped her outer coat to reveal a pair of spandex leggings that clung to her legs and a thin, loose shirt that allowed her to move as she pleased.
"First we're going to work on your aim." Jo told Leia as she walked over to a control panel. Since the room was used to train new recruits, it had a simulation for them to work on their combat.
Jo chose the easiest setting, then picked up a pellet gun that had the same weight and kick of a real blaster.
"Here-" Jo turned to Leia and threw her the gun. Leia caught it but gave a slight gasp as she almost dropped it. "Don't worry," Jo laughed at her friend's expression. "It's not real."
"Why wouldn't you tell me that before you threw it at me!?" Leia's cheeks reddened in anger, but also a bit of embarrassment.
"Sorry, Princess." Jo used the title as a slight dig. Which Leia seemed to realize as she pointed the gun at Jo and pulled the trigger. "Hey!" Jo screamed as she jumped to the side just as the small round pellet shot past her. "Just because it's not a real blaster doesn't mean they don't hurt!" She warned the girl.
"Oops." Leia said unapologetically. "It slipped." She lied with a smirk.
Jo narrowed her eyes at the girl before she turned and increased the amount of simulated guards. "Fine, let's see what you can do." Jo nodded towards the simulations that filled the giant empty space in the middle of the room.
Leia turned to see several rows of five Storm Troopers. Though she knew they were part of the simulation, she gawked at how real they looked. Every detail was accurate, down to the flexible material around their joints.
"You're stuck on an Imperial ship. You have valuable information on your R-2 unit." Jo gave her a bit of a back story. "You have to kill every storm trooper and keep your R-2 unit safe."
Leia looked back at Jo as she held her pellet gun in her hand.
"Where's R-2?" She asked. Jo lifted her hands to motion towards herself. "You're kidding." Leia spoke dryly.
"Nope. I'm all you got." Jo gave the girl a shrug. "Protect me. I'm helpless." Jo said with a flat voice.
Leia didn't seem to appreciate that as she gave Jo a glare. Still, she turned and raised her gun as she waited for the simulation to start.
Jo leaned over to the controls panel and pressed several buttons. Upon her command, the simulation started.
The first row of Imperial guards jogged towards the girls. Their ludicrous high-knee kick made Jo want to laugh, but she didn't want to risk breaking Leia's concentration.
Jo stood behind Leia as she watched the young girl aim her blaster at the guard to the far left. Her choice of first shoot intrigued Jo, but she didn't say anything as she kept watching.
The first line of guarded disappeared as soon as Leia shot through them. Once they were all gone, the second line started to jog towards them, this time they ran faster and had their guns at the ready.
Leia lined up her shot and carefully hit each guard in the chest, but it took her a second or two between each shot.
The third row sprinted towards Leia and Jo with their guns raised, and this time they fired them. Since they were just a simulation, there was no pain if they were hit, but that didn't stop Jo from being extra cautious about where their lasers landed.
Leia's shots were delayed, and one of the last guards made it into their personal space before she was able to shoot him down.
"Not bad." Jo said with pursed lips. "Not great." She tilted her head to the side. "You could do better." Jo took the gun from Leia and rolled her shoulders to loosen herself up. "Don't wait to see if your shot hits its mark." Jo instructed the girl. "Shoot, recalibrate, shoot. If the first shot missed you go back. But if you wait for every shot you will waste too much time."
"Okay," Leia nodded as she absorbed the knowledge.
"Restart the simulation." Jo nodded back towards the panel. Leia wasted no time as she pressed a button. All of the guards popped up the same as before. "This time, walk slowly towards the guards as you shoot-" To illustrate she took slow steps forward as the first wave of Imperial Soldiers jogged towards her. "Shoot the troops immediately in front of you-" In two seconds flat Jo took out the three guards that stood in front of her, leaving only two on each side. "Then take out the side flanks." She moved her blaster to the left expertly and lined up her shot all in a single blink of an eye. When the two left guards disappeared she turned quickly to the right and fired at the last two.
Jo didn't stop advancing as the second wave started to rush her. With their guns raised she reacted even quicker, shooting the guards in the middle who were her biggest threat.
Leia watched the girl in utter amazement. Her moves were fluid, there was not a single moment of insecurity or hesitation. Each shot was fired with utter confidence that it'd land its mark.
The third wave came right as Jo was in the middle of the room. The troops were practically on top of her before they even started to sprint.
That seemed to concern Jo very little as she shot the two guards in the very middle before they were even able to fire off a single shot.
When they dissipated, Jo fell to her knees and slid in between the two separate groups of Imperial soldiers. Her torso twisted as she shot through the first guard to her left then immediately fired at the second one. Before he even finished fading away, Jo had already turned and fired off another two shots at the guards on her other side.
Once the room was clear of all simulated troops, Jo let out a breath and stood to her feet.
"That was an offensive attack." Jo wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead as she turned towards Leia. "You won't ever do that, got it?" Jo warned her. "If you are in a situation and guards are coming at you then you play defensive, understand?"
"Then why show me that one?" Leia asked shrilly. Jo gave a smug grin as she walked back to the control panel. As she passed by Leia she handed off the pellet gun.
"Because it's fun." She admitted unapologetically.
"Shooting down Imperial troops is considered fun for you?" Leia didn't believe Jo in the slightest. "Is that one of your hobbies?" She turned back to her handler. "Do you like to take down troops in your spare time?"
Jo gave a laugh though Leia meant it as insulting. "Just because my interests don't match yours perfectly don't make them any less valid." Jo kept her tone civil as she upped the number of soldiers, then she added walls to act as a blockade. "I think your need to learn thirty different types of braid is a bit sad, but I don't complain." Jo gave an off handed insult as she stood from the panel and looked at Leia. "Now, practice shooting from a crouch, this time protect yourself. If you see a shot coming your way- duck."
"I thought I'd let it hit me." Leia joked dryly as she moved to a metal canister and kneeled behind it.
"You're hilarious, Princess." Jo let out a lively laugh as she started the simulation. Leia didn't have any time to protest the use of her title before Imperial Soldiers began their attack.
Jo stood by the panel as she watched Leia's movements carefully. She was quite defensive, which was good for the both of them- it meant she was less likely to get shot if Jo was busy taking care of other guards.
Still, Leia was slower than Jo, but she didn't miss often. She easily hit her mark, but only because she took so long to aim.
"You're taking too long!" Jo yelled over all the blasts. Leia didn't answer, instead she tried to speed up. Her movements became more jagged and less natural, but she still hit her mark. "Faster." Jo tested her. Leia was never one to back down from a challenge and she proved that as she sped up even more. Now she fired shot after shot, but with the increased speed her accuracy cut in half and she didn't crouch down to protect herself as often. That proved problematic as a simulated laser blast dove through her shoulder. "And... you're dead." Jo turned off the simulation.
"How do you expect me to get any better if you keep pushing me?" Leia rose to her feet and turned towards Jo with an anger in her deep eyes.
Jo didn't back down by the icy look, instead she walked up and stepped into Leia's personal space.
"How do you think I learned?" Jo's voice was soft and tender, but the message was brutal. "The soldiers who taught me didn't use simulations. The lasers they had didn't leave marks but hurt like they did." Jo's eyes coolly looked between Leia's.
There was a flash of remorse in Leia's eyes. The young Princess has to admit that she sometimes forgot her and Jo weren't exactly the same. Though they grew up alongside each other, they lived very different lives.
"Again." Jo said forcefully as she nodded back to the empty space. "It's the only way you'll learn."
It took another two hours of training for Leia to finally admit she was spent. By then both girls were covered in a thick sheen of sweat. Leia felt gross and exhausted, but Jo thrived on the feeling. The ache in her arms and sharp breaths made her feel alive. She preferred combat training over senate meetings any day.
"I need a hot shower and a gallon of coffee." Leia rubbed her sore shoulder as they walked back to their shared quarters. The halls were more awake now, which meant mechanics and officers alike saw the two princesses in their work out gear- and smelled them too.
"I could use some coffee." Jo agreed with the Princess.
"Princess!"
Jo and Leia turned instinctually turned their shared title.
Down the hall from them was Commander Willard. He walked briskly down to them, when he got close his nose scrunched up ever so slightly.
Jo gave a small grin but hid it as she coughed into her arm.
"Did you need something, Commander?" Leia raised her chin and ignored the embarrassment that plagued his features.
"There have been whispers of a small Imperial Fleet in the Bessmer system. We have a Rebel base on the planet Trache there... but they have been unresponsive to our calls." Jo's back stiffened at the thought of another war so soon.
"Arrange a meeting in the brief room." Leia ordered.
"Right away Princess." Willard bowed before them, then turned and walked away just as briskly as he arrived.
"There's never a dull day in the Rebellion." Jo joked as they entered their quarters. "Shower first." Jo nodded towards the bathroom.
Leia didn't need to be told twice as she entered the bathroom. When the door shut behind her and Jo was completely alone, she fell down on her bed and looked up at the cracked ceiling.
There's never a dull day in the Rebellion, she repeated in her head. It was true. No matter what, they couldn't seem to escape the war. But it was kind of hard to escape when the girl you're obligated to protect is the Senator of Alderaan.
Jo's thoughts were cut short as a hard knock rapped against their door.
"Who is it?" Jo yelled as she kept looking up at the ceiling.
"Han!" There was a slight pause. "Han Solo." Jo couldn't help but laugh at his need to use his last name.
She pushed herself off her bed, looked at the bathroom door that was still tightly sealed, then made her way over to the main door.
When it opened she saw Han leaning against the doorframe. Behind him were Luke and Chewie, though Chewie barely fit in the hallway.
"Is there a party I was unaware of?" Jo's dry humor brought a smirk to Han's face as he invited himself in to Leia and Jo's shared room. "Yes, please come in." Sarcasm dripped from Jo's every word as she moved to the side to let Han enter.
Luke gave her an apologetic look as he passed by, and Chewie only gave a howl as he bent over to fit through her door.
"Chewie says you smell." Han translated without having to be asked. "And coming from him... that's bad." Jo turned to Han with flushed cheeks.
"I was busy training the Princess this morning. What have you done?" She asked him hotly as she closed the door so their conversation wouldn't be over heard.
Han flopped down on the elongated sofa pushed off against the wall with the bathroom door. He kicked his feet up onto the coffee table and looked up at Jo with a smirk.
"Woke up, ate a little breakfast, heard about a possible threat then thought I'd pop in here." He motioned towards the room before he folded his arms and laced his fingers behind his head.
"How grand of a time for you." Jo deadpanned. "Because of you and your excellent observation skills I have to make a fighter out of Leia." Jo walked over to her bed and fell down rather sloppily onto the foot of it.
She brought her ankles up and tucked them under her butt. As she slouched over she looked very unladylike, even less like a Princess.
"Why do you have to do that?" Luke asked as he leaned against the wall by Han. At least he had the decency not to sit without asking.
"We have to be identical-" As she said it, Jo lifted herself until her back was uncomfortably straight, then she lifted her chin and gave a sweet smile.
Right before their eyes Jo transformed from a normal girl to someone of royalty.
"That's a real talent you got there." Han seemed unimpressed while Luke found it utterly amazing. "Can you turn yourself into a class smuggler?" He asked.
Jo relaxed and gave him a steely glare as she said, "Not even I can fake your level of arrogance."
Luke let out a loud laugh at the insult, but Han found it undesirable as he pursed his lips.
"I think I liked you more when you were all flustered in my gun port." The recall of a private moment made Jo's cheeks redden.
Her embarrassment turned to anger in a fraction of a second as she stood up quickly from her bed and glowered down at Han.
Han remained calm as he looked up at her, though he couldn't help but notice how the muscles along her upper arms bulged as she clenched her fists.
Her strength had always been well hidden. She suffocated herself in layers of clothing, making it nearly impossible for anyone to realize how toned she truly was. But there she was, standing in front of him with a fire so hot in her eyes Han thought it could melt the entire planet of Hoth- and he thought she looked good.
"You come into my quarters, put your feet on my furniture-" she spat as she looked at his dirty boots. "And insult me?" Jo pulled her shoulders back and raised her chin. "I suggest you leave, Han Solo, before I have to force you too." There was an edge to her voice that made Luke nervous. He had never heard the soft girl give a threat before, but he knew not to test her this time.
Even Chewie understood as he let out a soft growl and moved towards the door.
"Relax, Princess." Han didn't know it, but by calling her that she felt belittled, as if he didn't want to call her by her real name. "We'll leave." He took his time as he stood, then wiped some lint from his vest before he followed Luke and Chewie out of her chambers. "We'll see you in the briefing, doll." Han looked back at Jo as he stepped out of her door, but she only gave a stiff nod of recognition before the door closed between them.
Jo let out a breath once they left and relaxed her shoulders.
She barely had time to process it all when the bathroom door opened.
Steam rolled out in big billowy clouds and through it walked Leia, like a Goddess emerging from the ocean's waves.
"What happened? I could hear you through the door." Leia squeezed the excess water from her long hair as she walked over to her bed. Thankfully the bathrooms came equipped with a closet, or else she would have had to walk out into the room to retrieve her clothes.
"Han doesn't know when to stop." Jo told her with a heavy sigh. "Nothing we should be surprised by." Jo made her way towards the bathroom. There wasn't much time not before they had to get to the meeting, but there was no way Jo would arrive smelly.
"The smuggler seems to bother you more than most." Leia noted innocently. Jo stopped just into the steamy bathroom and looked back at Leia. She wasn't even paying attention to Jo as she braided her hair. "You're usually very calm when someone upsets you, but it appears he's found a way through the cracks."
"Isn't that irritating?" Jo asked. Leia raised her glance to meet her friend's. "How some people just have a way of getting under our skins. It's like-" Jo's eyes moved around the room feverishly as if searching for the answer. "It's like he's on a completely different frequency than everyone else. I can tune them out easily, but he... he always finds a way through the static."
"Hm," Leia found her explanation charming and completely accurate.
When Leia didn't say anything Jo closed the door to shower.
Only after Jo had braided her hair back into a halo and dressed in the same charcoal gray long sleeved wrap and black pants did the two girls leave their chambers to head to the meeting.
"Have you thought of a plan yet?" Jo asked quietly as they neared the room. The rumble inside alerted her that they were late to the party.
"I thought I'd put all my training into action."
Jo stalled at Leia's words.
As the young Princess turned to give her handler a charming smile, Jo realized she wasn't joking. "What? It's not like anything will happen to me. I have the galaxy's most protective body guard by my side."
"Chewie?" Jo joked, though her stomach clenched uncomfortably at the thought of them battling the Imperial fleet themselves.
"Very funny." Leia linked her arm with Jo and pulled her towards the briefing room's entrance. "Chin up, we're Senators now." Leia whispered as a smile crept onto her lips.
Jo gulped just as they entered the room.
All eyes turned to the two beauties as they walked in. The chatter quit instantaneously as a show of respect, but it just terrified Jo. No matter how many times it happened, she would never get use to it.
"Sorry we're late, Commanders, generals-" Jo turned towards the crowd. "Everyone else." She finished lamely.
At the back corner of the room she spotted Han, who chuckled at her awkwardness. Instead of indulging him any further she looked away.
"We've heard about the Imperial Fleet in the Bessmer System." Leia spoke clearly as she addressed the crowd.
"Have you thought of an attack plan?" Commander Dodonna asked. Before either Princess could answer there was a slight uproar among the crowd.
"Attack?"
"We don't know their intentions."
"I assure you," Jo raised her voice to match Leia's in both volume and tone. "The Emperor has no good intentions. If he sent a Fleet to the Bessmer System, he's searching for something." Her voice cut through the chatter and ultimately ended it.
"Searching for what?" A young pilot asked.
"We destroyed their Death Star..." Leia raised a proud brow as she stared directly at the pilot. "The Empire must be scavenging for pieces to build another." She proposed the idea.
"Another Death Star?" The shock was clear in Commander Willard's voice. "So soon?"
"Total control of the galaxy waits for no man, Commander." Jo looked evenly at the kind man. "If the Empire doesn't start to rebuild now, they'll be behind." Jo turned to look back out at the crowd. "We will go to the Bessmer System." Jo motioned between herself and Leia. "With a select few, we will make sure the Rebel base on Trache is still active. From there we will scout out the Imperial Fleet If they have bad intentions, we will make sure they do not leave the system." Somewhere along the way Jo had found her voice- her Politician's voice. It was very commanding as it captured the entire room's attention.
"While we are away, it is imperative that all other systems be watched for similiar activity." All the attention turned to Leia as she spoke. "If they are looking to rebuild their Death Star, we shouldn't make it easy for them." A smirk grew ever so subtly on her lips. "Any disruption that stalls the Death Star is a win for the Rebellion. So reach out to friends, families, anyone you know throughout the galaxy. We will not win this Rebellion by staying silent. We must be vigilant, we must be careful, but most of all..." Leia looked at Jo then and together they said,
"We must have hope."
The briefing room erupted into applause at the arousing speech.
Even Han couldn't stop himself from clapping for the two. Now he understood how others found it so difficult to spot who the real Princess is. Jo could really play it up when she wanted. She had more royalty in her than Han originally thought.
"She's amazing, isn't she?" Luke asked as he watched Leia command the room.
"Yeah... she is." Han agreed as his eyes were glued to Jo.