Disclaimer: Does it *look* like I own Han Solo? Didn't think so. AN: Instead of making this chapter a Han monolog, I'll write the story in the way it happened, 'cause I suspect that Han ain't the best of storytellers... Besides, I'll bet he'd leave out a couple of details anyway, and I don't want that, do I?

Vykk Draygo was still a bit shaken after the pirate attack on his ship. His co-pilot, Muuurg, was hurt, but the Aldreaan healers should get him fixed in no time...

Now Vykk had two choices. He could take a walk in one of the many parks of Alderaan, or he could sell his shipment of glitterstim, telling the Ylesians that it had been stolen.

Vykk knew what he wanted to, but spice-selling on Alderaan was risky business. He could end up in the spice mines on Kessel, and that was not the kind of future he had planned. He had a third choice as well, but being as broke as he was, there was no point in going to any bar. It wouldn't have surprised him if Sabacc was forbidden too... Lousy planet!

All this was the reason for Vykk to walk a path in a very green park. It did not suit him at all... He was a pilot, not a gardner, or whatever it was called...

He was about to return to his ship when he noticed a little girl a few feet away... She had long, dark hair, and it was braided in a bizzar way. Vykk found it cute, somehow.

He didn't really care about the girl, until he saw a boy approaching her. He started pulling her hair, insulting her.

The little girl tried to come up with an answer, but all she said was "Stop it, or I'll.."

"You gonna do what, you majesty? Run to your father..? Making your father ship my father to the mines of Kessel? Your nothing, little princess, nothing but a little girl, and a girl can never be the leader of Alderaan. Woman don't make leaders. Woman makes mothers and wives, and you're NEVER gonna rule ANYTHING."

"Oh yeah, " the girl replied. "Says who?"

"My father. And my father is always right!"

This was when Vykk found it proper to interfere...

"'scuse me, mister. May I have a chat with you? Thank you." The boy hadn't even had time to reply. Vykk noticed that the boy was about 10 years, but the girl seemed a little younger. He seemed to recognize the girl, somehow...

"You see," Vykk said, looking down at the boy. Being 9 years older and quite a bit taller than his opponent was a pretty good feeling. "if your father really is a pathetic little man who thinks women can't be leaders, then I feel sorry for the woman who married him. The fact that you believe every word he says just makes you pathetic too, because it proves that you don't have the brain to think for yourself. In that case, I shall be nice to you, as being a mindless brat is not really your fault, and that you can't do anything about it, but if you EVER bully another girl again, then I'm gonna bring my blaster, and I wont mind if I'll be shipped to the mines of Kessel, if I get the chance to roast what brain you have before I'll get caught. You understand me?" The boy nodded, terrified.

"Good. Now, beat it!" The kid took off, running as fast as his short legs would carry him. Vykk turned towards the girl, whom he recognized from the holo message he got when he landed on the planet. It was, without doubt, the princess of Alderaan. Vykk was surprised to see anger on her face.

"Why did you do that? I could have managed myself. Besides, threatening someone is WRONG!"

"Sorry, your worshipfulness. I was only trying to help, but nothing seems to be good enough for you, now does it? Is all royalty like you? I certainly hope not, cause then I have to reconsider me plan about marrying a rich princess." At this, red spot of anger flecked the girls cheeks, and she would have said something, had her mouth not opened and closed so furiously, without making a sound. Vykk just glanced at her, before he turned his back on her and strode away iWhat a nightmare./i He would never interfere with royalty again. Not if they were all like this.

Leia remembered. She had been a little girl, and Davrham had never picked on her after the incident, but it still wasn't right to threaten kids. But on the other hand, Davrham would have used any excuse to take her right to the throne, and her job as a senator, had he tried. But he never tried. She had the sneaking suspicion that Vykk had put the fear of the Force in him, but for some reason, she couldn't place a face on this Vykk. Nothing. She remembered him walking down the path, in a lizard-skin coat, the empty holster of a blaster on his thigh, but neither a face or a voice could be remembered. And she didn't have time to think about this now, it was a matter for later. Now, it was her mission that mattered.

AN: Thank you so much to all who reviewed. I am halfway done with the next chapter, so don't give up on me. I will finish!