CHAPTER 11:

The princess lifted her head as the purple haze danced around them. She inhaled deeply, "It smells so…sweet."

"Leia, don't do that!" Han reprimanded her all the while trying not to take in the noxious air himself, "It's laced with spice so you'll want to breathe it in."

"But…" she inhaled through her mouth. "I feel so…good."

"Leia!" Han clamped a hand over her mouth, "You've never had spice before, have you?"

With his hand firmly clamped on her mouth, she shook her head no, and Han could feel her smile underneath his hand. Just great! Han quickly took off his jacket before Leia could take another good whiff of the toxic air. He pulled her onto his lap and covered both of their heads with his jacket. It wasn't going to make much difference, maybe only buy them an inkling of more time, but he couldn't just sit there and watch her unconsciously kill herself. She leaned her head on his shoulder and he slowly stroked her hair.

"It's dark under here," she giggled.

"Sh, Sweetheart," Han pulled her close to him.

With the spice that seeped between the threads of his coat and this girl wiggling around on his lap, it took Han all the self-control he had not to give in to his desires. He recalled the taste of her lips during their first, awkward kiss. He couldn't put a name to that sensation, but those pouty lips were just as soft as he always imagined. She'd probably kiss him again this instant, and kiss him without restraint. Han stroked her hair as he tried to push that kiss out of his thoughts. He twirled her curls around his fingers, and she was allowing him to do this. Then the girl turned her large brown eyes up at him, and there he saw a hunger he had never seen in them before.

Han smiled down at her; he was certain his eyes held the same hunger as hers. But he wouldn't act upon it. If the princess wasn't intoxicated on the sweet spice, she would never have been so pliable. He respected her and cared for her too much to take an advantage of her. Cared for her? He thought about it. Or maybe he really didn't have to think about it. Would he have come after her if he didn't care about her to some degree? Would he let any other female writhe around on his lap and not do something about it?

"Did you know you have the most beautiful nose I ever seen?" she reached up and ran her finger down the length of his nose, and his eyes closed as her touch incited a tingling sensation that zipped down his nose to the tip of his toes.

"Nose?" he asked, eyes still closed. "No one's ever told me that before."

"Well, I'm telling you that," she yawned and Han winced, "so now someone has told you that."

He chuckled, "I guess you're right."

Leia now held his wrist and compared the size of his hand to hers, "You're hands are really big."

"Nah, you're hands are just very small."

Leia's eyelids drooped and she became heavier in his arms. She took the hand that she held and brushed it against her cheek, "It's so cold in here. How come you're so warm?"

"Leia," he nudged her to get her attention. "Did I ever tell you that you have the smoothest skin I ever touched?"

She closed her eyes, "Have you touched a lot of…skin?"

Han adjusted her in his arms so that she'd open her eyes, "Now that I've touched yours, I can't remember anyone else's."

Leia's lips stretched into a wicked smile as she giggled some more, "Han Solo, a romantic? Who would have ever thought?"

He returned her smile, "There's a lot you don't know about me, Your Worship."

The smile slipped from Leia's lips, and moisture collected in the corner of those large brown eyes of hers, "There's a lot I'll never know."

"I'm glad that I know you even just a little bit," he tried to coax a smile out of her. When that didn't work he tried to rile her up by rubbing his nose against hers.

Leia didn't smile nor did she bombard him with a stinging retort, "Me too." She yawned again, "I don't want you to die…but I'm glad you're here with me." She buried her head in his shoulder, "I'm sorry. That's so selfish of me."

"No," Han placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head, "You're not being selfish. I chose to be here."

"You made the wrong choice," she whispered.

"No, this is one choice I don't regret," he answered truthfully, surprising even himself.

Leia leaned back on his arm and closed her eyes. Han gently shook her to rouse her, "Leia, wake up. You can't sleep."

"But I'm so tired."

Han looked into her face, blinking his eyes to hold back unexpected tears, "Come on, Leia."

But he knew he was fighting a losing battle. His eyes were also tired, and seeing her look so peaceful and content, all he wanted to do is join her in sleep. Why was he fighting it? There was nothing he could do to stop either of them from dying. Han pressed his finger against her throat and found a faint pulse. He laid his head upon her chest, wanting nothing more than to hear that strong heart of hers, but it was weak and slow. Han once again adjusted the princess in his arms so that her head rest comfortably on his shoulder and so that he could rest his head on hers. He gave into his tiredness and closed his eyes.

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Han wasn't exactly sure when it happened, but four masked men entered the room and tried to wrench the princess from his arms. He fought them as best he could, but he had no strength, and they easily removed her from his grasp.

"Leia!" Han shouted, hoping to rouse her from sleep. But she didn't respond. He grabbed her hand as they lifted her off of his lap, but her fingers failed to respond to his touch.

He tried to push himself to his feet but ended up falling to his knees, "Leia!" Han wailed, but she still did not respond. He dropped his head to the cold permecrete floor, "Leia…" he whispered, "I'm sorry…" he crumpled the rest of the way to the floor in defeat.

Han pressed his cheek against the cool floor and stretched out his arms. This definitely wasn't the way he thought he'd die, but at least it was painless. He thought about Chewie. Chewie had been so good to him, even when Han wasn't such a good friend. He wished he had been a better friend. Chewbacca will probably be very angry when he hears of Han's death, but he won't hold Leia responsible. Chewbacca felt as strongly about going after Leia as Han did. At least it wasn't Chewie here breathing his last breath. Han wondered if Chewie would return home to his family now that he'd be free of his life debt. Or would he stay on with the rebellion? The Wookie was fond of Luke, and Luke needed someone to watch over him as much as Leia did. Hopefully, Chewie would do a better job than he did if he chose to look after Luke. Luke will be devastated when he learns of Leia's death. Should Han have told Luke about Leia's kidnapping? No, the kid would have just done something stupid.

With nothing left to fight for, Han inhaled deeply. "I'm sorry, Leia…" he whispered to no one, and then he continued breathing in as much of the toxic air as he could.

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Han Solo never experienced a headache as bad as the one that tortured him now. He deeply inhaled but stopped immediately. No spice. Han opened his eyes but quickly shut them against the bright light that bounced off of the ceiling and all the walls around him. He started to sit up, but his splitting headache shoved him back down. Well, at least he wasn't dead, unless this is what death is like.

Solo pushed through the pain and forced himself to sit up. The air seemed clean, more than clean as if it was pure oxygen. Someone wanted him alive. Was it the Doni? If it was, it was a sick joke to play on anyone. He dropped his feet to the floor. The floor was as spotless and white as all the walls around him. The sterile environment sent a chill through his spine, and he wondered how close to death he had come. What about Leia?

Leia! She didn't look too good the last time he saw her. She hadn't responded to his touch or his voice. His heart thumped hard against his ribcage, and he swallowed down the bile the rose in his throat. He recalled feeling a faint pulse on her neck, but was that before the men in masks came in? Before he fell asleep? Did he dream it? Where was she?

She couldn't be dead; he wouldn't accept it, not until he saw her lifeless body with his own eyes. Until then, he would assume she was alive. He'd do everything in his power to find her and finish the mission he set out to do: bring her back to Reeiken and the rebel base alive. And if he failed, would he return to the rebels? He couldn't think of a reason why he should return other than for Luke. But could he handle the death of another person he cared about?

His footfalls echoed loudly as he took unsteady steps. Han glanced around the room. There were distinguishable panels on all of the walls. Some of the panels glowed bright from outside light while others were exactly the same solid white as the walls, ceiling, and floor. Maybe one of these panels was a way out. Han went to the nearest panel and felt around it. Nothing. He continued his search on each panel on the same wall.

Just as Han moved to another area, a panel on the wall across from him hissed open. Startled, he jumped back and reached for his blaster that wasn't there, the blaster Leia accidentally dropped when she almost fell of off the cliff. Han closed his eyes and then opened them. He had to keep his mind clear. The room exposed by the open panel was shadowy, and Han couldn't distinguish anything lurking in those shadows. Obviously, someone wanted him to go in there. Han's first instinct was to stay right here, where ever here was. He didn't like being led blindly led around or told where to go. He thought about Leia, again, on the Death Star and how she led him into the garbage chute. And he willingly followed. Han slammed his fist against the wall and was rewarded with a pain worse than his head.

Han cradled his fist, leaned against the wall, and slid to the floor, staring at the open panel. Sitting here wasn't going to help him find Leia, if there was a Leia still to find. He sighed. Even if she was still alive, there was no guarantee that she was in the same place as he was. An image of her eyes flashed in his mind, those large dark determined eyes. Han pulled himself to his feet. Even if he was walking into a trap he had to find her, and the only way out of this room was that open door.

With a hesitant step, Han crossed into the darkened room. The moment his foot touched the ground the slender room lit up, blinding Han. He blinked a few times before his eyes adjusted to the bright light, and continued into the room. Once his feet were firmly planted on the floor, the panel behind him hissed shut. Han whirled around and clawed at the seam of the panel but to no avail. There was no turning back. Han bit his lip and looked around the room. It was very similar to the one he woke up in, but the walls were closer together and the room much narrower. And again, there were no visible doors.

Han grit his teeth and kicked at the wall. That move got him nowhere. Taking in a cleansing breath, he moved to each panel and tried to find one that seemed weak. And just as before, another panel on the far end of the room hissed open. Han swallowed down his anger. There was a slim chance that if he played this sick game, he'd find Leia. And he'd do anything for her. Anything? He'd do anything for Chewie, no doubt about that. But anything for a girl whom he met only three weeks ago? They went through a lot in those three weeks. Enough to do anything for her?

Solo groaned and crossed through the open door. Just as before, the door he exited slid shut. The room was illuminated by blinding light, and Han squinted as his eyesight adjusted to it. This time Han wasn't alone.

"Sargoza!" Han ran full speed and slammed the large man to the ground. He raised his fist, ready to smash it into Endo Sargoza's smiling face.

Sargoza just laughed, "Is this the way you pay someone back for saving your life?"

Han lowered his fist, but he kept his aggressive position. Sargoza awkwardly climbed to his feet and brushed at his elegant tunic, "Yes, Solo. It was I who saved your life. Well, not me personally, but it was I who ordered it. The Doni will be mighty upset when they find their little death chamber vacant." Sargoza's belly jiggled as he laughed, "Never cared much for the Doni and their savage ways."

"There ways are no more savage than yours," Han spat.

Sargoza tapped his chin, "Perhaps you're right. But my ways are much more entertaining and painful."

"Where's Leia?" Han demanded.

"I thought you'd never ask," Sargoza wrapped his chubby hands around the edges of his velvet coat and tipped back and forth on his feet. "After all, she's the reason you're on Finel."

Solo stood, "Where is she?"

"All in good time," the large man walked over to a white repulsor chair and reclined in the plush seat. He lowered his chin and surveyed the man in front of him, "I am curious about something."

"I don't care," Han's patience waned, "If you know where she is, you better take me to her now!"

"Or what?" Sargoza held out his hands. "You are in no position to order me around."

"I don't see your henchmen anywhere close by," Han threatened.

"But you won't hurt me," his lips stretched into a smug smile. "If you do, you'll never find what you're looking for."

Han seethed, his chest rising and falling, "So what are you curious about?"

"Why did you come after the princess?"

"Why not?" Han shoved his hands in his pockets.

Sargoza's head tilted to the right, "Because the Alliance ordered you not to."

Han's eyes widened. How did he know…? Leia was definitely set up and by someone in a higher position than even Han thought. He shifted his weight, "Isn't that reason enough?"

"Yes," Sargoza folded his hands in his lap. "You were never one to do what you're told."

Han clenched his jaw, "So where is she, Sargoza?"

Sargoza held the arms of the repulsor chair, slid his body forward, and awkwardly stood, "Are you certain you want to see her?"

Han's hands clenched into fists, "Whaddya do to her?"

"Not a thing at all," He held his hands out, "Nothing more than order my men to free her from the Doni as I ordered them to do for you."

"Then where is she?" Han shouted.

"Solo," Sargoza shook his head, "if you don't calm down and act civil, I will not take you to her."

Han's eyes narrowed on Sargoza, sucked in his lips, and relaxed his hands, "Is this civil enough?"

Sargoza bellowed a deep guttural laugh, "Civil enough for you." He waddled over to a panel in the wall and it smoothly slid open, "Come on, boy. She's in here."

Han shoved Sargoza out of the way and rushed into the room. He froze, unable to breathe, unable to move. Sargoza stood behind him, "What's wrong, Solo? She's right there."

Han grabbed Sargoza's collar and slammed him into the nearest wall, but Sargoza's smug smile never left his face, "Why are you wasting your time on me? Why don't you go see her?"

The angry man held Sargoza against the wall, his hate for the man radiating in his dangerous stare. But then he released him. Han's shoulder's dropped and he slowly turned to the girl in the glass box. He forced himself toward the box, telling himself that he had to face reality. He had to see her for himself. And he didn't hide his pain, and he didn't care about the pleasure Sargoza was getting over his suffering.

The gleaming white room was just as spotless as the other rooms, and Han's careful footsteps pounded against his ears. Han's eyes fell on the girl inside the glass casket. Her long curled hair was fanned around her pallid face, and the flowers and ribbons with which the Doni had decorated her hair were still in place. The only color on her face was the rouge on her lips that someone must have repainted. She wore the dress that the Doni gave her, and her hands were folded upon her stomach. Her feet were bare, and Han examined each delicate toe, the tiny nails reminding him of the pink sea shells that he collected as a child on the shore of one of Corellia's beaches.

"Leia…" he half whispered, half sobbed. She looked as if she was sleeping, as if she'd wake up and yell at him for some absurd reason at any moment. He tilted his head and pressed his hands against the glass. This couldn't be happening. She couldn't be dead. But there she was, lying peacefully under the glass on which his hands rested, lying as still as death itself. He pressed his forehead against the cold glass and closed his eyes. An emptiness that began in his stomach swallowed any emotion he had left, and he felt dead inside.

"So there she is, Solo," Sargoza's gloating voice brought Han back to reality. "You got what you wanted."

"This isn't what I wanted," he whispered, his eyes never leaving Leia's face.

"Well, we can't always get what we want," Sargoza paused and then added, "Well, maybe you can't always get what you want. I, on the other hand, have gotten more than I wanted."

"And what is that?"

"I get the pleasure of turning you over to Jabba, if he can afford the price," Sargoza laughed. "But before that, I would like you to meet an old friend of mine. Seems that he has a problem with you and would like to resolve it."

Han turned around, hands on his hips, "A lot of people have a problem with me, and I'm not in the mood of resolving anything with anyone."

"I'm afraid you don't have much of a choice in the matter," Sargoza shrugged. "He is looking forward to seeing you."

"What's gonna happen to the princess?" Han asked.

"Not my problem," Sargoza said. Then he nodded toward the door. Two guards stepped into the room and flanked Solo. "We've wasted enough time. Come say hello to my friend."

Han turned back to take on last look at the girl in the glass box, and the guards had to forcefully pull him out of the room. He didn't care who Sargoza's friend was, though he figured it to be Jabba himself. Jabba didn't customarily leave Tattooine mainly because of his weight problem, but in Han's case, Jabba would gladly make the journey to Finel. Nevertheless, Han didn't care about his fate. He didn't care about anything anymore. He let himself be led to wherever he'd meet his destiny.