"Han!" I scream, pointing out the window at the star destroyers.
"I saw 'em I saw 'em!" Han says. "Now can you shut up for a while? I'm trying to think!"
I thought we were over this. Over the fighting part. I guess not. I angrily sat down in the seat, looking tensely through the window.
"Let's get out of here. Ready for light-speed? One…two…three!" He screams and then pulls back on the throttle. The engine sputters and then dies. Flak bursts continue to rock the ship back and forth.
Frantically, Han speaks, "It's not fair!"
Chewie growls at him and throws his hands up into the air. Han desperately pulls back on the throttle, again. Of course it doesn't work. This stupid bucket of bolts never does… especially when we need it the most.
"The transfer circuits are working! It's not my fault!" Chewie puts his head in his hands, whining as the ship continues to be hit by laser bolts.
"No light-speed?" I ask in an expecting tone.
"It's not my fault." He says again.
"Sir, we just lost the main rear deflector shield. One more direct hit on the back quarter and we're done for!" 3PO screams.
Han pauses for a minute and then decides on something. He pulls back on a lever and then gets up, pulling another lever.
"Turn her around." He commands. WHAT?!? THE EMPIRE IS RIGHT BEHIND US AND HE WANTS US TO TURN THE SHIP AROUND?!?!?!
Chewie also barks in puzzlement.
"I said turn her around! I'm going to put all power in the front shield." He sits back down.
"You're going to attack them?!?!" I ask in amazement.
"Sir, the odds of surviving a direct assault on an Imperial Star Destroyer…" 3PO starts. Man he is annoying. "SHUT UP!" I scream.
The Falcon banks, making a steep, twisting turn. In the next moment were are racing towards the Star Destroyer. We bob and weave to avoid the laser bolts being shot at us.
I don't know how it happened, but there we were, clinging to the side of the Star Destroyer, waiting for the empire to decide to leave.
I guess…
"Captain Solo, this time you have gone too far." 3PO of course says. Chewie growls a very clear 'Shut up' to 3PO, who replies, "No, I will not be quiet, Chewbacca. Why doesn't anyone listen to me?"
Han of course ignores him. "The fleet is beginning to break up. Go back and stand by the manual release for the landing claw." He says to Chewie who struggles from his seat and climbs out of the cockpit.
"I really don't see how that is going to help. Surrender is a perfectly acceptable alternative in extreme circumstances. The empire may be gracious enough…" 3PO rambles on, but Han motions me to turn him off, and I reach over and flick the switch. Thank you.
"Thank you." Han says. I get up and lean on the control panel. Why did I get so close to him? I can feel his shoulder against mine. A tingle shoots up my spine, and I try hard to ignore it.
"What did you have in mind for your next move?" I ask him.
"Well, if they follow standard Imperial procedure, they'll dump their garbage before they go to light-speed, then we just float away."
I smile. "With the rest of the garbage. Then what?" Garbage just like this ship.
"Then we've got to find a safe port somewhere around here. Got any ideas?"
I think for a minute. "No. Where are we?"
"The Anoat system."
"Anoat system. There's not much there."
"No. Well, wait. This is interesting. Lando."
The blue computer mapscreen on the control panel shined on our faces.
"Lando system?" I ask.
"Lando's not a system, he's a man. Lando Calrissian. He's a card player, gambler, scoundrel. You'd like him."
I smile and bend my head down, "Thanks."
"Bespin. It's pretty far, but I think we can make it."
I look down at the computer and read the information. "A mining colony?"
"Yeah, a Tibanna gas mine. Lando conned somebody out of it. We go back a long way, Lando and me." He says, leaning back and then turning off the computer.
"Can you trust him?"
"No. But he has no love for the empire, I can tell you that." Well that's a good thing. There are sounds that are coming from the ship, and Chewie barks over the intercom. Han stretches over to look out the cockpit window at the other 2 Star Destroyers.
"Here we go, Chewie. Stand by. Detach!" He said.
The Falcon moves up and then we are floating in a bunch of garbage into space. Han leans back smugly in his chair and gives me an invisible smile.
His crazy plan really did work. I shake my head and then start to grin. "You do have your moments. Not many, but you do have them." I say, and then reach over and give him a quick kiss on the cheek before sitting back down, smiling.
Yes Han Solo.
That just proved it.
I do love you.
I love you, Han Solo.