I do not own any of these characters and most of these situations

DAY 24 (continued):

The Falcon groaned and shook violently. Leia glanced up and stared at the ceiling of the ship.

"Princess Leia," Threepio shrilled. "We must get to the escape pod."

"Sounds like they're coming through the starboard-side docking ring," Leia commented.

"The starboard-side docking ring would be the most efficient way to board a ship with the least amount of damage," Threepio added. "Princess Leia, please hurry along. It sounds like they're going to breach the docking ring any moment now."

"We're not going to the escape pod," Leia countered.

"But Captain Solo ordered us."

"Threepio," Leia placed a hand on her pushed-out hip, "since when have you known me to do anything that Captain Solo orders?"

"Oh," Threepio's golden orbs found the floor. "I do see you're point."

"Good," Leia's attention remained focused on the grinding coming from an unseen source. "Keep yourself hidden."

"What about you?"

"With the way things always seem to go for Chewie and Han, they're going to need back-up," Leia answered.

"Captain Solo will be angry—"

"He already is," Leia shoved the droid in the direction she wanted him to go. "Keep quiet," Leia lowered her voice. "You don't want whoever's coming in to hear you. I'm sure they'd find you quite valuable."

"Oh dear," Threepio exclaimed as quiet as he could.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Han leaned against the bulkhead between the cockpit and the starboard-side docking ring. His hand hovered over his blaster, but he hoped that he wouldn't need it. The last thing Han wanted was a shoot-out in his beloved ship, but he had no idea what was coming through. Scavengers didn't usually expect a live crew aboard, and Han hoped that that gave him and Chewie the upper hand. Sith! If only they were able to get the power up and running. Han expelled a nervous breath. If the power was up and running, they wouldn't be in this predicament. Scavengers scavenged. If they attacked working ships, they'd be pirates. Not that there was much of a distinction between the two, but Han had an irrational respect for pirates.

"Can you hear me, Chewie?" Solo asked. Chewbacca's voice boomed through Han's earpiece a little louder than Han expected, and he winced in response. Han glanced at the secret compartment where Chewie was concealed. "Stay ready."

Han's mind traveled to Leia. He should have personally escorted her to the escape pod and then jettisoned it. But where would she find a safe haven in this desolate system? Don't do anything stupid. Yeah, he probably should have told her that. Hopefully Threepio will keep her in check.

The starboard cracked and Han winced. What are they doing to my baby? Han gritted his teeth together as if the damage being inflicted on the Falcon was happening to him. Somebody was about to pay big. His hand wavered over his blaster, but he held his relaxed posture in hopes that this intrusion could end peacefully.

The starboard door hissed open. "I don't know why we're botherin' with this piece of junk, Arus," a tall slender Ryn said.

"Creko si lokpoli," answered his companion, an Anzati.

"Is there anything I can help you with, gentlemen?" Han asked.

"Oh, looky here," the Ryn smiled and his tongue darted in and out. "We got a welcoming party."

"Only I'm not so welcoming," Han shifted so that his blaster was in plain sight.

"Shioco li!" Arus' bulbous nose twitched.

"Ain't he a funny one," the Ryn pulled nervously on his mustache. "You plannin' on givin' us trouble?"

Han's eyes shifted to Arus. Anzatis were legendary assassins with prehensile proboscises that suck out the "luck", or rather brains, of their prey. Many would mistake an Anzati for a misshapen human, but Han knew inside the Anzati's swollen cheeks hid his proboscises.

Solo inhaled as he shifted his posture to a more ready stance, "Now why would I go and do that?"

The light tuffs of hair on the Ryn rose and fell with his laughter, "That's what my pal, Arus, was wondering."

"After all," Han continued as if he wasn't interrupted, "you are breakin' into my ship."

Arus' yellow eyes narrowed, "Lioppi ci breni sa."

"Yeah," the Ryn smiled. "We thought this ship was broken down garbage. We're just tryin' to keep the galaxy clean."

Han nodded and returned the smile, "Good for you." Then his smile faded, "As you see, my ship may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts."

"Is that why the power's down?"

"We're having some technical difficulties."

"'We're'?" the Ryn and the Anzati exchanged glances, and Han cringed inside. "Where is the rest of yall?"

"I was referring to me and my ship," Han shrugged. "I thank you for the visit, but I'd appreciate if you leave me and my baby alone to work out our differences."

Arus emitted a high pitch cackle, "Cormi quili ka."

"Yeah, Arus," the Ryn nodded. "We got ourselves a comedian."

"You should see how funny I am with this," Han fingered his blaster.

"Hey, easy there, sir," the Ryn heldh is hands up. "We're unarmed."

Han eyed the Anzati, "Why do I find that hard to believe?"

"We're just scavengers, sir," the Ryn spread his fur covered hands. "We're just lookin' for a little profit."

"Well, you're not gonna find one here."

"Dila mmoenve qui," Arus raised his chin.

"My friend says we'll be the judge of that," the Ryn chewed on his mustache.

Han drew his blaster and Arus' proboscises shot out of his mouth. Once proboscis shot towards Han's blaster and knocked it from his hand. The other proboscis headed straight for Han's face. Chewbacca howled as he shoved the secret compartment cover aside and leaped out. With a quick, nimble hand, Chewie grabbed the proboscis aimed at Han and yanked hard. The Anzati cried out in pain as he was thrown across the deck toward the cargo hold. Han wasted no time. He ran headlong into the Ryn and knocked him into the starboard walkway.

Chewbacca went in for the kill. He flew through air with the full intent of tearing out the throat of Arus. Just as his ferocious claws were about to make contact with the Anzati's flesh, Arus stepped back and Chewbacca fell to the ground.

Han slammed his hand against the lock on the interior door of the starboard-side docking ring, and the door zipped shut, locking the Ryn on the other side. Then Han turned toward the battle between Chewie and Arus. His heart dropped at the sight of the unmoving Wookie. Screaming at the top of his lungs, Han charged toward Arus.

Then his world came to an end. Han dropped to the ground, unable to move a single muscle in his body.

"Yhilocoa shimmies reha," Arus cackled as he stared down at his paralyzed victims.

Arus continued cackling as he backed his way toward the cargo hold. Balanced precariously on the top of a stack of empty crates, Leia took a long steady breath to calm her self. Patience…patience… Arus took one too many steps back, making him self vulnerable to the diminutive princess. The crates rained down in a loud chaotic mess as Leia leaped onto the Anzati's back. She managed to capture Arus in a choke hold, giving her time to lock her ankles around his torso. Leia squeezed Arus' neck as hard as she could. He stumbled around, and he pulled on Leia's arm in an attempt to loosen her hold.

"Leia!" Han breathed as the paralysis afflicting him melted away. Han scrambled to recover the blaster.

Arus whirled around and slammed himself hard against the engineering station. Leia felt the air violently shoved out of her lungs, but she held tight as Arus slammed himself--and her in the process-- against the engineering station again and again. The Falcon shivered and moaned as the engine came back to life.

However, the status of the Falcon's well-being was the last thing on Han's mind. With blaster in hand, he ran toward Leia and Arus. The Falcon bucked, and Han lost his footing. The blaster slipped from his hands and slid across the slick floor. Chewbacca's fingers contracted over the butt of the weapon. He lifted it and took aim. The Anzati managed to shake Leia from his back, and he was now moving in for the kill. Winded and in pain, Leia could only stare up at her foe and wait for him to strike. A laser blast screeched through the air and struck Arus square in the back of his head. His proboscises flopped out of his slack mouth and uncurled.

Chewie yelped as he climbed to his feet. The Falcon banked hard to the left, and all its passengers were tossed around like rag dolls.

"Chewie," Han yelled. "Go see what's going on with the Falcon. I'll look after her."

Chewbacca roared and ran toward the cockpit while Han rushed to check on the stunned girl. "Leia!" he dropped to the floor, gathered her into his arms, and compressed her against his chest. "Oh, sweetheart," he placed a kiss on top of her head, "what were you thinking?"

Of you. "Is Chewie okay?" Leia mumbled into Han's chest.

Han pulled back so he could look into her face, "Yeah, he's fine. Whadda bout you?"

Leia pushed her hair behind one ear, "I saw him go down." She looked into Han's eyes, "I saw you…"

"Anzatis use telepathy to paralyze their opponents," Han explained as he enveloped her in his embrace. "That's all. We're okay."

"Telepathy?" Leia stared at the fallen Anzati over Han's shoulder. "What are those… tentacles… coming out of his mouth?"

"He uses them to suck the brains out of his victims," Han explained.

Leia's nose wrinkled up in disgust, "I've never known an Anzati."

"They're rare and not known to associate with senators unless it is business," he said as he examined the dead body. "They usually make their living as assassins. Luckily, this one wasn't that good."

The Falcon tipped from side to side until it finally leveled out. Han's eyes shifted to the right and then to the left. Leia watched his anxious expression. "I think the Anzati fixed the power," she panted.

"Huh?"

"The power?" She smiled and waved her hand in the direction of the engineering station, "He used me as the wrench." Han's expression darkened, and Leia expelled a stifled laugh, "Guess your mechanical techniques, however primitive, do work on this piece of junk."

Han shook his head, "Guess we're lucky you have a hard head." He held her chin in his hand, "Leia…" Han exhaled and released her, "Come on." He helped her to her feet.

Leia stood took a couple of steps before sinking back to the ground, "I…I think I'll just…" she winced as she inhaled, "sit here for a moment."

Han grimaced as his heart was torn between Leia and his ship. Leia waved him away, "Go. I'm okay. It's okay."

Han glanced up at the ceiling of the ship, and his brow tensed. Then he crouched down next to her, "I'm not going to leave you."

Her large brown eyes pierced his, and she whispered, "Yes, you are."

"Not today," Han whispered back.

"Not today," Leia repeated before looking away. "You should go check on Chewie. And find Threepio."

Han's hazel eyes hardened, "You're right." He abruptly stood up and stared down at her. When she refused to look at him, he turned away and started toward the cockpit.

Leia leaned her head back against the engineering station, closed her eyes, and carefully exhaled. Wasn't it just hours ago that she was warm in Han's bed, in Han's arms? That seemed like a lifetime ago. It still amazed her how fast things could happen, how fast things changed, even though she should be used to life's instability by now. Sometimes it was just too much to take. Leia bit her bottom lip.

"Hey."

The princess slowly opened her eyes and found Han standing in front of her.

Han scratched the back of his head, "Look…I'm not so good at this."

Her brow crinkled, "At what?"

"All this," Han huffed as he waved a hand around before it settled on his hip. "I'm…I'm sorry." He shook his head and took a couple steps toward her so that he stood just centimeters from her. He pressed his lips together and looked down on her. "Leia, you're not going to push me away."

Leia's lips part and her large dark eyes gazed into his. Han crouched down, and he placed a hand on the top of her head, "I'm here right now, and I'm not goin' anywhere."

"Han…"

Han sat back on his haunches, "Where do you hurt?"

"This isn't necessary," Leia gently removed his hand from her head.

"Tell me where you hurt," Han repeated.

Leia's large brown eyes stared into his. "Everywhere," she whispered.

"I don't want you to hurt," he whispered back.

"Whether you want it or not," Leia's mouth pulled up to the right, "I will hurt."

Han shrugged, "Maybe." He sighed, "But if I could take away some of your hurt…would you let me?"

Leia sucked her bottom lip in between her teeth and slowly nodded. Han scooted forward, "Good. That's a start."

He glanced over at the lifeless body of Arus. He'd have to get Chewie to take care of that. Hopefully, physics took care of the Ryn he'd locked into the starboard-side docking ring walkway. "I don't know about you, but I'm not too comfortable sittin' this close to an Anzati, even if he happens to be dead."

Leia placed her hands on the deck and began to push herself to her feet. She grimaced, and Han was there at her side ready to help. She looked at him and favored him with a small smile, "Let's take this slow."

Han returned her reserved smile, "Wouldn't want it any other way." He guided her hands around his neck, and he threaded one arm under her bent knees and the other under her arms. Then he lifted her from the ground. "Whaddya say we go see if Chewie's found Threepio?"

Leia rested her head against Han's shoulder and allowed herself to get lost in the warm comfort of his arms.