A/N: I certainly don't support violence against women, but I do believe fictional depictions of it can highlight the strength of those who endure it. Thanks to reviewers for your support, and sorry for the huge delay. Life got in the way, but here is the ending finally. Thanks all for reading.
Leia kept her hands on her head as the Captain dragged her to her feet and shoved her toward the base, focusing all her will on maintaining her balance as her whole body cried out in pain. The Captain was shouting orders to his men, giving her precious seconds to gulp in air and clear her mind.
Han, she thought. She didn't want to look at him. She felt no shame at what she was doing - protecting her friends - but seeing his face right now might undo her. Yet if she didn't look, just once more, he would undoubtedly do something that got them all killed.
When she met his eyes, it was like being punched in the gut again. Fury was there, and frustration. Despair. Wait here, she mouthed silently. It's all right. Then the Captain was behind her again, his hand on her neck, pushing her through the doors. "Move, princess," he said, almost politely.
There were a handful of men inside, sitting at the controls. "Get out," the Captain barked at them, and they did.
They were alone. The Captain ran his eyes up and down her body, anticipating his victory. Rise to meet, Leia repeated to herself, watching him warily. Rise above.
"Can I lower my hands now?" Leia asked, keeping as much of the fear out of her voice as she could manage.
The Captain smiled mockingly at her, folding his arms over his chest and leaning against a control panel. "Only if you do something useful with them, like take off that cloak. Come on, princess."
She glared at him, but relief flowed through her muscles as she lowered her arms. She removed the camouflage to reveal the shirt and vest underneath, taking her time while she calmed her nerves.
Suddenly the Captain was slamming her into the panels behind her. One hand pinned her there. The other came up to grip her chin, forcing her face to the side, exposing her neck.
It took everything she had not to fight back, push him off. He was close now, but her hands were trapped and she wouldn't be able to reach the blaster at his hip before he did.
"Here's how this is going to work," he said harshly into her ear, his breath hot against her skin. "I am doing you a favor. I know you asked for this to spare your lover the sight of what I'm going to very much enjoy doing to you."
He bit her ear, hard, and she jerked. She closed her eyes and tried not to think about the pain or about Han, tried to remain still. Wait, she thought instead. Watch. You'll only get one shot, and if you botch it we're all dead. The Captain licked her ear where he had just bitten it, and she suppressed a shudder.
"So," he continued, "in return, you are going to do a favor for me." He wrenched her chin back towards him, forcing her to meet his eyes. "When I tell you to do something, you do it quickly. Immediately. Do you understand?"
"Yes," she managed.
He watched her as she formed the word. His hand moved up from her chin and a finger traced her lower lip, slipping inside her mouth and along her gums. His eyes bored into hers, daring her to bite him.
She held his gaze for as long as she could, but eventually had to look away. She didn't bite him, but she closed her eyes.
The Captain laughed quietly and pinched her lip. "Good little rebel whore," he whispered, and withdrew his hand.
"Now," he said, backing away. "Take off the vest, the pants. And unbutton your shirt."
This time she didn't attempt to stall. As she undid each button, she could see more and more of the giant bruise that was beginning to form on the skin beneath her shirt from the earlier abuse.
The Captain noticed it too. He smirked. "Lovely. Don't you think?" Leia gave no reply, and his smirk flattened into a cruel line. "Come here, princess," he said silkily. She went, shivering from more than just the cold air touching her skin.
He gathered her wrists behind her and held them with one hand. Without breaking eye contact, he unholstered his blaster with the other hand and raised it to point at the side of her head. Her heart jumped. Rise to meet. She stared straight ahead. "I said I'd do what you want," she said quietly.
"Yes," he said, smile returning. Pressing the barrel into her skin, he dragged it over her cheek and down her body, leaving a red line in its wake. "Right now," he said, "I want you to beg. Like you did before. You see, I enjoyed it so." The muzzle kept snagging on the little clothing she still wore. But her hands were free and the blaster was no longer strapped to the Captain's hip.
She kept her eyes on his but focused on her hands. His grip was tight. She could break it, but she still wouldn't get to the blaster in time. "Please," she whispered, and his smile grew.
The Captain replaced the blaster in its holster, leaving it unstrapped, and his hand returned to trace the newly raised red line with rough fingers. When they came to rest between her thighs, Leia allowed herself to close her eyes again.
"That's it," the Captain whispered in her ear. "Say it again."
All the time he spends here is time not spent hurting the others, thought Leia. She had led him inside hoping to gain control of the situation, and failed. But she would not fail at protecting her friends. At protecting Han. "Please," she said again, through cracked lips. Rise above.
She allowed herself one regret as she made peace with her situation.
If I could just have gotten to the damn blaster.
The image of the blaster blazed clearly in her mind. With a start, she realized she could actually almost sense it. What had Luke said? The force is strong in my family…
My sister has it.
"Please what?" The Captain said menacingly, his fingers moving, touching, pinching. Leia willed herself to shut him out, to focus on the image in her mind. Please, she thought once more, but it wasn't directed at the Captain.
The Captain gasped. His fingers stilled. Leia opened her eyes.
The blaster hung in the air between them, barrel pointed directly at the Captain's forehead.
For a moment, Leia couldn't believe what she was seeing. Did I know I could do this? Did Luke? She quickly stifled her surprise. She could wonder about it later.
"Please," she said now, voice low but steady, "let go of me. And tell your troops to stand down."
The Captain gaped at her, releasing her wrists and backing away. But he made no move toward the door.
"Captain," Leia said coldly. "When I tell you to do something, you do it quickly."