CHAPTER 2:

Han Solo pulled the throttle back, and the tires spun in the dirt. He knew this motorcycle wasn't designed for the rocky terrain, but he wasn't going to tell Leia that. With a wicked grin, Han leaned forward and pushed the bike as hard as he could. The wind whipped hard against his face, and it felt good. He led the motorcycle through the rocky terrain, making his own trail in the crusted dirt.

Leia tightened her grip around Han as the motorcycle accelerated, her body pressed flush against him. Although most of the wind was blocked by Han, it pulled on her with warm fingers as if it was trying to loosen her hold on him. But it failed. The princess' grip held tight, and her body moved with Han's as he leaned into the turns. Despite the debris kicked up by the wheels, Leia couldn't contain her smile. Her stomach dropped and her breath caught with the dips and bumps of the motorcycle. She felt giddy and alive. Han was right; this vehicle rode unlike anything she had experienced. It was rough and shaky and stable and smooth all at the same time. She could feel the earth below, which was nothing like the more modern vehicles that used repulsors to float above the ground it traveled. Those modes of transportation may have been much faster and steadier, but this motorcycle had a raw edge that grounded her in a way she never experienced. The sensation was exhilarating.

Han guided the vehicle up an inclination, and Leia wondered if he knew where he was going. She doubted it since he constantly complained about the heat. She couldn't imagine him venturing far outside the cooler sanctuary of the base. It didn't matter if he didn't know where he was going, in her opinion at the moment. It only mattered that he knew the way back. Although it was difficult, Leia decided that worrying about such details would take away the joy in their little excursion. She fought against her natural, more rational instincts by closing her eyes and allowing herself to be lost in the sensation of their speed.

The motorcycle began to sputter and slow, and Leia's eyes flew open. Han cursed, and his words floated over his shoulder with the wind. The vehicle wobbled, and he fought to control it. Eventually, the bike came to a complete stop.

"Why are we stopping?" Leia's disappointment was evident in her tone. Han didn't say anything. "Han?"

Solo pushed the kickstand in place with his foot, "Climb off."

She did as she was told, but Han stayed seated on the motorcycle. From the pinched expression on his face, Leia could tell something wasn't right, "What's wrong?"

Han scratched the back of his head and avoided facing her, "Huh?"

The princess' fists found their way to her hips, "You broke it, didn't you?"

"No," Han snapped, "but if I did I could fix it."

"Yeah, well, I've seen how well you've fixed the Falcon."

Han glared at her, and for a split second, she thought she went too far. Instead of yelling at her, he turned his attention back to the motorcycle. He slammed his foot against the peddle a few times in an attempt to restart it, but it did nothing more than emit a few stunted whines. Han then turned his attention to the instruments above the ignition, instruments that he never bothered explaining to Leia. He tapped one of the circular mechanisms and then leaned over to look at the engine.

Leia stepped over to examine the instruments, "What are all those?"

Han looked up and sat back. He pointed to the various instruments as he began to explain them to the princess, "This is the speedometer. Tells you how fast you're going."

Leia's chin dropped, and she side-glanced at him, "Really? A speedometer tells you the speed? Couldn't figure out that one. Glad you're here to explain these things to me."

"You asked!" Han huffed, "Do you want me to finish?"

"What's that one?" she pointed to the one Han was tapping.

"Fuel gauge."

"Oh," Leia leaned in to get a better look at it. A thin white needled rested in the red section. "Does that mean what I think it means?"

"If you're thinking we ran out of fuel, then you'd be right."

"What!" Leia's pitch slammed into Han's ears, and he covered the one closet to her with his hand. "What now?"

Han didn't say anything. He turned his attention to a copper lever on the side of the motorcycle. He pushed it with his foot a few times.

"Are you going to tell me what that is?" She asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

It's the petcock."

"Petcock?" her head tilted as she waited for him to explain. Han returned to kicking the petcock. "What does it do?"

"I thought you didn't need me to explain these things to you," Han flashed her a smug frown.

"Just tell me what it does and why you keep kicking it."

"It switches to the reserve tank of fuel when the other one is dry." Han stopped fiddling with it.

Leia placed her hands on top of her head, "Let me guess; it's empty."

"Can't get anything passed you," Han smirked.

"Just great!" Leia's hand flew up in the air and slapped against her thigh, "I can't believe I listened to you."

"Hey," Han climbed off the motorcycle, "I didn't have to twist your arm too hard, now did I?"

"Just a short tip! No one will notice we're gone!" she started pacing in circles.

"You could have said 'no'!" Han yelled. "You're really good at saying 'no'. In fact, I'd say it's your favorite word."

Leia stopped and faced him, "Didn't you check the fuel before we left?"

Han pushed his lip out as he tried to think of a way to make this not his fault, "I figured it was fueled. It's just like the rebels to not have their equipment up to par and ready to go."

"Like the Falcon's ever up to par and ready for action!" Leia slammed her fists unto her hips and leaned forward just in case he didn't hear her. They stared at each other for a moment, and then Leia broke away, shaking her head, "I can't believe you didn't check the fuel."

"Why do I have to think of everything all the time?"

"First of all," she held up a finger. "You're the one who knows all about motorcycles, remember?" Another finger when up in the air. "Second of all, you're…you…you just proved that thinking is out of your range of skills. If the rebellion relied on your brilliant thinking, the Imperials would have already wiped us out!"

"Hey, Miss Better-Than-Thou," Han yelled. "You're supposed to be the one who plans ahead! I'm the irresponsible, remember? Or do I have to be the one to remind you of your own words!"

A silence fell between them as each tried to regain their breath. The princess straightened her posture and shoved at the errant strands of hair that had escaped her hair clips during the ride. Han watched her as her fingers moved deftly around her head, and his anger began to melt away. Her face was smudged with dirt, and here she was trying to smooth out her hair. He shook his head and chuckled to himself. She probably wasn't aware of how dirty she was.

Leia froze and narrowed her eyes on him, "What?"

Han suppressed his amusement by pressing his lips together, "Huh?"

"What are you laughing at?" Leia's voice fell an octave.

Han just looked at her and shook his head. With her dirt-smudged face and the tangled mess that frizzed out around her head, Leia looked more like a wild teenager rather than the sophisticated princess she was. In spite of her icy glare, she looked more comical than menacing. Han walked over to her and lowered his face until it was centimeters away from hers. Her dark eyes widened, but she didn't pull away. Han hovered there for a moment, soaking up the pleasant sensation he felt from being so close to her. He then gently placed a kiss on the tip of her soiled nose.

Leia slammed her hands against his chest and pushed him, "Whaddya do that for?"

Han flashed her a lop-sided grin, "You looked like you needed it."

"That's the last thing I need from you, Captain," she lifted her chin with indignation, but even the dirt couldn't hide the blush coloring her cheeks.

He found her so…cute that he couldn't bring himself to continue the argument. "I'm sorry. I'll try to remember that in the future," Han turned away from her so she couldn't see his smile.

The princess watched him, not sure why he was backing down, but she decided to let it go. Han was staring out at the horizon. She moved to stand next to him, and was taken aback by the vast view.

"Wow," she breathed as her eyes roamed the desolate scenery.

The pair was standing on an overhang that gave them an unrestricted view of the flat, dry land. The clay-like earth was scarred with deep cracks that looked large enough to house an X-Wing, and Leia wondered if there was anything living in those crevices that they should be worried about. The random spidery vegetation and sharp formations of rock were the only things that interrupted the sculpted smoothness. She had never seen anything like this place. It may have been hot here, but it did have its beauty.

Han stepped away from her and walked in the other direction. Leia stayed where she was for a moment longer before she followed him. It was then she realized that they had a panoramic view of the area. She had been so busy arguing with Han that she'd completely missed the fact that they were on a ridge that wrapped around a large rock formation like a ribbon on a present. She followed the rock formation with her eyes, looking for a place where it ended, but it seemed to go on forever. She turned back to where they came. Her eyes traced the tracks the motorcycle had left in the dusty dirt and for the first time, she noticed that they had been riding this ridge. Her large brown eyes widened at the sight. She swore this was the last time she would ever close her eyes when traveling with Han Solo.

"Where's the base?"

Han squeezed his eyes shut, his shoulders hunched in on himself. Then he straightened, ready to face the wrath of the ice princess, "What? You can't see it?"

"No," Leia resumed her regal tone. "Would you care to point it out for me?"

Solo moved to stand next to her. He placed one arm around her shoulders and guided her with his free hand, "See where our tracks are?"

"Ooo!" Leia scowled, "Where is the base?"

Han dropped both of his hands and took a step back, "On the other side of the rocks."

"WHAT?" she couldn't believe that they had traveled as far as they did. Why did she have to close her eyes?

"Come on," Han went over to the motorcycle and kicked up the kickstand. "We have a long walk home." He grabbed the handlebars and began pushing the bike. The motorcycle was heavy and fought against his weight.

"I can't believe I listened to you," the princess muttered as she followed Han.

Yes, Han lamented, it was going to be a very long walk, indeed.

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Leia wiped the sweat off of her forehead with the bottom of her T-shirt in a very un-princess-like manner. Han wished Luke was here to see her. Maybe he'd lose his farm boy crush on his perfect princess. Han thought he needed to be cured of that little crush before he got his heart broken. It certainly wasn't healthy for Luke. He already had gotten himself entangled in the rebellion because of his infatuation over the girl. Han watched her as she took another swipe at her forehead and exposed the pallid skin of her stomach. So what would be the reason he'd give for sticking around with the rebels if anyone asked? Leia looked at him with her sulky pout. Money, he'd say, and he tried to push that train of thought out of his mind.

After walking in silence for too long, Han decided to call a truce. "So," he smiled at her. "Whaddya think about the ride?"

She grimaced at him, and he wasn't sure if she hated the experience or if she just didn't want him to talk to her.

He raised his eyebrows and tried to look apologetic, "Come on. You can't tell me you didn't have a little fun."

Leia's expression softened as she remembered the freedom she felt on the motorcycle. "A little," she conceded.

Han slapped on a lop-sided grin, "A little. Maybe a little more than a little?" Han stopped pushing the motorcycle and held his fingers up to measure a little more than a little.

The princess bit her lip to contain her smile, "Okay, maybe it was more than a little fun."

"So you had fun," Han smiled to himself as he resumed pushing the bike. "I didn't think it was possible."

Leia's glare turned icy, "There's a lot you don't know about me, Captain."

Han stared into her large brown eyes, "You're right, Leia."

The girl blinked a few times as if she didn't hear him. She recovered and raised an eyebrow, "There's a lot I don't know about you…Han."

Han's eyes scrunched up as his lips pressed into a smile, "You're right about that, too." His neutral expression melted into a leer, "Maybe we should get to know each other a little better?" He waggled his eyebrows at her, "We're all alone…"

"Oh! You're incorrigible!"

"I try…" Han's eyes fell upon the rock formation behind her.

Leia whipped her head around, "What?"

"Here, hold this," Han pushed the motorcycle into Leia's possession. "There might be a short cut."

The princess struggled under the weight of the motorcycle. She bent her knees and tried to keep the handlebars straight. She leaned back, fighting to keep the bike in one spot, but gravity was winning, "Han…"

Han had climbed into the large crevice in the rock formation and was exploring it further, "Hey! I think we can take a short cut through the rocks." He scratched his head and measured the space in his mind, "I'm not sure the motorcycle can be pushed through here, though."

"Han!"

Solo turned around to see the motorcycle pulling Leia closer to the ledge. She tried to dig her feet into the ground, but the earth was too dry. The back wheel was already hanging over the ledge. Leia was losing the battle.

Han started toward her, "Let it go!"

But Han wasn't sure that even if she did let go, the motorcycle wouldn't pull her over when it fell. Fear for her safety stabbed his heart, and he felt like his feet were stuck in molasses. When he reached her, most of the bike hung precariously over the edge, and he was struck by the sheer will she exerted. He grabbed her under arms, and jerked her away from the bike, "Let go!"

Han and Leia fell into a heap as the motorcycle slipped over the ledge, taking a piece of the ledge with it. Once the pair overcame their initial shock, they crawled to the edge and peered over.

"Guess we don't have to worry about whether or not the motorcycle's going fit through the rocks," Han shrugged.