CHAPTER 6:
"Luke!" Leia screamed.
Han's blaster was drawn, and he cursed the water for holding him back. But he was heading toward the bank of the river, toward Leia. Leia screamed again and pointed at Luke, completely perplexed that Han was running to her and not Luke.
As Solo approached the shore, he finally heard Leia's frantic words. The princess screamed again, "Luke!"
Han froze and looked back at the boy. A Grendoli had Luke's head between its hands. Luke fought to free himself, but the Grendoli's strength proved stronger. It easily shoved Luke's head under the water. Leia gasped, and Han whirled around only to find that a Grendoli held her by the throat. She clawed at his hands with hers, and her mouth stretched open as she tried to reclaim her breath. Her captor sneered at Han as it held the princess' blaster up in its free hand and tossed it away.
The Grendoli on the bank loosened his grip on the princess' throat just enough to allow her to breathe, but its thick claws dug into her skin. Its tongue flickered in and out as his black lips stretched into a smile, "What tah doo?"
Han's chest rose and fell as he looked between his two helpless friends. He still garnished his blaster, but he it gave him no peace of mind.
"What yaw tah doo? Who doo yaw sauve?" Han clenched his teeth together, and the Grendoli hissed with pleasure, "Doo yaw sauve dah bowie? Awr doo yaw sauve dah guhirl?"
Han's hazel eyes fell on Leia. Her eyes were wide and watery, and she stretched on her toes in a futile attempt to ease her pain. The Grendoli lowered its head, "Dah guhirl?"
Han didn't move, nor did he look behind him. He could hear Luke splashing and gasping, and he couldn't bear the sight of his friend suffering. The Grendoli's gray eyes gleamed, "Dah bowie?"
The moment the words left the Grendoli's lips, Luke's struggle ceased. The Grendoli holding Leia closed its hand tighter around her throat, slowly squeezing the life out of her.
"Stop!" Han screamed.
To his surprise, the Grendoli loosened his grip on Leia. Han chanced a look behind him and let out a sigh of relief to see that the Grendoli threatening to drown Luke had ceased its torture as well.
"What yaw sockreefice fahr dah Wookie?" the creature tilted its head and glared at Han. "Theeze tawhoo?"
"You sick…" But Han had no answers. What could he do? Chewie was his best friend. Chewie was his only friend, right? He'd do anything for his best friend. He should be willing to do anything for his longest pal. But would he sacrifice the lives of Luke and Leia for Chewie? Could he?
"Yaw hoomawns ahr so weak, so frahjhile. So eazzy to kihall," the Grendoli's fur rippled.
But the next thing to come out of the Grendoli's mouth was a gasp and a howl. Leia wrapped her hands around its muscular forearm and pulled her weight up, allowing her to kick the creature in the stomach and groin. She kicked and kicked until she forced the Grendoli to release her. Leia dropped to the ground with a painful thud. Angry streaks of blood seeped from the scratches the Grendoli's claws left on her neck during the struggle. Han started toward her as the Grendoli recovered from her attack and moved in for the kill.
"No!" Leia yelled. "Help Luke!"
Han glanced back to see the other Grendoli push Luke completely under the water. Han hesitated.
"Do it, Han!" Leia screamed.
"Aw, hell!" Han swiveled around and aimed his blaster at the Grendoli in the water. The massive creature had shoved Luke so far down into the water that it left itself wide open. Han hit the Grendoli with his first shot, but it took two more to bring it down.
Leia cowered and crawled away from the Grendoli whose eyes now flashed orange with anger. She bit her lip and stared up at the creature in mock fear. Just as the Grendoli lunged at her, the princess rolled to her left and grabbed Luke's blaster. She fired at the predator, but he artfully dodged the shot. Before she could get another shot off, the Grendoli knocked the blaster from her hands.
"Sith!" Leia cursed under her breath. This wasn't going as well as she had planned. She flipped over on her hands and knees and scuttled away from the Grendoli. But all her effort did her no good. The Grendoli grabbed her right leg and dragged her back to him.
Han started to wade out to Luke. He dropped his blaster and grabbed Luke's arms, "Come on, Luke, breathe!"
Luke coughed and gasped but managed to catch some of his breath. Han began dragging the boy to shore. And that's when he saw Leia. The Grendoli pulled her a meter back before he let her go only to repeat the same action.
"No!" Luke squeaked, and he and Han struggled against the current knowing full well they wouldn't reach the princess in time.
The Grendoli dragged the girl until she was lying underneath him. It looked up at Han and Luke, running his black tongue over his lime teeth. Then it flipped the princess over. Leia screamed as the Grendoli moved in for its attack. Luke cried out in fear and anger simultaneously with Leia's scream, and he grabbed his head as the Grendoli dropped all his weight on the diminutive girl.
Han's heart stopped and dropped into his stomach. This couldn't be happening. Han let go of Luke who collapsed to his knees in the shallow water. Han pushed his way through the water as he reached for his holster, "Damn!"
Solo glanced back. Even if he found his blaster, it wouldn't fire. He continued toward the bank, but as the Leia ceased moving, all the fight left in him was gone. He turned away and let out a long, guttural, and painful scream. And then Han caught sight of Luke who openly cried. The Grendoli may have killed Leia, but he wasn't going to let him kill Luke.
Han managed to make it to the bank of the river. Luke's light saber glittered in the sun, catching Han's eye. He swiped the saber off of the ground and rushed toward the Grendoli. Han switched the blade on and brandished it over his head as he approached the Grendoli. The Grendoli's head flipped up, its gray eyes piercing Han's before the fierceness in the creature's eyes faded. It dropped to the ground before Han ever took a swing at him.
Solo deactivated the light saber and dropped it. He stood there as his body shook uncontrollably. He was barely aware of Luke's presence or the words Luke spoke even though Luke had a hand on his shoulder. Luke pushed his way passed Han and knelt down beside the fallen creature. With all his might, he grunted and pushed until the very dead Grendoli rolled off of the girl.
"Leia!" Luke breathed, his smile beaming down on the pale face of the girl.
The princess sat up and fought to control her breath. She looked down at her hands which relished the vibroblade Han had given her. It was soiled with clotted blood and flesh and fur. Her large brown eyes searched for Luke's.
"Oh, Leia," Luke picked her up and crushed her against his chest.
When he released her, Leia glanced down at herself and then at Luke, "I made you dirty."
Luke followed her eyes and noticed for the first time she was covered in blood, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, sure," she blinked a couple of times. "You?"
"Now I am."
Han's forceful exhale tapered off into a chuckle full of relief, and he rushed over to the princess and gathered her in his arms. He whirled her around before placing her back on the ground.
His exuberance snapped Leia out of her trance. She scrunched up her nose as she scrutinized the damage she inflicted on the Grendoli, "Who's the one that's easy to kill?"
Han and Luke glanced at each other with raised brows before they broke out into laughter. However, Leia wasn't laughing. She wiped the vibroblade on her pants, but she was so covered in blood that it made no difference.
"Come here," Han beckoned the girl with a wave of his hand.
Leia went to him without a fight. She offered the vibroblade to Han. He took it and handed it to Luke, "Clean this off, will 'ya?"
"Sure," Luke walked over to the bank
Han cupped the girl's face in his hands. He leaned close and peered into Leia's large brown eyes. There he saw anger and fear and surprise and something else…
Leia brusquely pulled herself out of his grasp and looked away. "What?" she sighed.
Han took a step back and scowled, "Nothin'."
The princess pushed some strands of hair out of her eyes with the back of her hand, unwittingly smearing blood across her forehead. Han sighed as his heart softened at the pitiful sight. He bit his lip, reached a hand out, and touched the side of her face, "Want me to help 'ya clean up?"
She narrowed her eyes on him but then looked down at her hands. Her fingers splayed out, and she marveled at the fact that not a single millimeter of her skin was devoid of blood. Leia scrutinized the rest of her body. "I'm not sure that's possible," she whispered.
Han's lips pressed together before stretching into a lop-sided grin, "Well, it's worth a try."
The princess slowly looked up at the man before her. He wore that foolish grin that always seemed to weaken her resolve. He held out a hand to her, and she stared at it, "I'll get you dirty."
"Don't mind," Han grabbed her hand and led her to the bank of the river next to Luke.
Leia stopped at the edge of the water. Luke looked up, and Han turned around, "Come on." She stood there and didn't say anything. Han tugged on her hand, "I killed that Grendoli out there. There's nothin' to be scared of."
Anger flashed in her dark brown eyes, "I'm not afraid of anything."
Han rolled his eyes, "Ne'er said you were."
The girl's brow furrowed, but before she could get a word out, Han pulled her out into the cold river until it reached her mid-thigh. He gently grabbed her other hand and dipped both of them into the cold river.
"I can do that," the princess' tone was as haughty as ever, and she jerked her hands out of his. Without looking at him, she vigorously scrubbed one hand with the other.
Han's chest swelled with indignation. This was the last time he was ever going to be nice to her! He reared himself up, ready to let her have it. But just as Han opened his mouth, he caught sight of Luke's blue eyes. The boy stared up at him with concern. Han clamped his mouth shut and rolled his own eyes before narrowing them on the boy. The last thing he needed was a conscience.
Leia cleaned her hands as best she could and had moved to her arms. She had no idea how she was going to remove the blood from the rest of her. Nevertheless, she was going to do her best. She chanced a glance out upon the river, and she shivered instinctively. Leia then closed her eyes before refocusing on the task at hand.
Between Luke's look of concern and the pitiful sight of Leia trying to wash herself of the Grendoli's blood, Han couldn't just stand there and watch. With hands planted firmly on his hips, he moved closer to the girl. He wasn't sure how to approach this situation, but for some reason, he felt he had to try. Again, that is. Was he ever a glutton for punishment! He tugged his shirt over his head and held it out to the girl.
"Here," he offered. "Take your shirt off and put this on."
Leia's eyes roamed over Han's chest, mesmerized by how his undershirt pulled over his lean, muscular form, "What?"
"Put this on, and I'll wash the blood off of yours."
Leia slowly reached out and took the shirt from him. She pulled it over her head and moved around underneath it until she managed to remove her own shirt. She then shoved her arms through the large sleeves and handed her shirt to Han.
Han shook out her T-shirt before dipping it into the cold water. He dunked it and rubbed it together over and over. Luke moved over to Leia. He placed a hand on her shoulder and held up a wet, relatively clean rag.
"Here," he cupped her face. "Let me help you."
Leia stood obediently as Luke wiped the blood off of her face with the wet rag. Then the boy carefully cleaned the scratches on her neck. Han grimaced as he swallowed down his jealously. Again with the jealousy. The heat must have been getting to him. It shouldn't be a surprise that she'd let Luke help her and not him. She obviously didn't feel comfortable enough around Han, though he didn't understand why. They had gone through so much together since they met. She had even allowed him to help and comfort her many times in the past. But then, Luke wasn't there. Maybe she would have preferred Luke's help if he was there with them at those treacherous times.
Solo wrung her shirt as tight as he could. He unfolded it and held it up in front of his face. The blood still stained the shirt, but at least it wasn't as bad as it was to begin with. Han flipped it over to check out the other side. The T-shirt was so small, child-size, in his hands. He stole a glance at the princess who was dwarfed by his shirt. Han chewed the inside of his cheek. She didn't look like the haughty rebel leader-princess that constantly irked him. She looked so small, so fragile.
But looks could be deceiving. Han glanced back to the bank where the Grendoli laid dead. Leia did that. He smiled to himself. That Grendoli definitely underestimated the princess. An easy thing to do. Han had probably been guilty of that on more than one occasion. He turned his attention back to the girl, "Think this is as good as it gets."
The princess took her shirt from him. "Thanks for trying, anyway," she momentarily smiled at him but didn't make eye contact.
That seemed good enough for Han. Han feigned looking away as Leia wiggled and jerked under Han's shirt as she put her shirt back on. She then began pulling Han's shirt over her head. He helped her remove the shirt the rest of the way, leaving the two facing each other with Han's shirt between them.
Leia's large eyes found Han's, and he swore she looked almost apologetic. He looked down at the shirt in their hands before he was able to meet her gaze again. "Are you okay?" he whispered. He just couldn't help asking. He hoped she wouldn't make him regret it.
The princess shrugged and looked back at the dead Grendoli on the bank, "I'm alive, aren't I?"
Han winced, but then Leia turned her attention back on him. She gazed upon him with the most mischievous smile he'd ever seen. He returned her smile, placed his hand on the top of her head, and gave it a little shake, "You sure are."
Luke waded closer to Han and Leia. He held the vibroblade out to Han. Han took it but then held it out to the girl, "I'd feel better if---" Han stopped and shifted his weight. "You should keep it for now."
Leia arched an eyebrow and bit back a smile before she took the blade from him and slipped into her boot. She then waded back to the bank, "Don't you think we should get back to finding Chewie?"
Luke and Han were forced to take several quick steps to keep up with the short-legged girl. She replaced her utility belt, and Luke did the same. Han strapped on his blaster rig but felt the point was moot since he no longer possessed a blaster. Leia held her own blaster in her hands, "Here. Take this."
Han looked at the weapon in her hand. He shook his head, "Nuh-uh. I'm not gonna have you runnin' around out here without a weapon."
"I have the vibroblade," she countered.
"That's not enough."
"It was not too long ago," she smirked.
Han's eyes widened with anger, and he held his finger poised for some scolding. Luke stepped between the two with his blaster in his hand, "Here. I have my light saber."
Han looked at Luke. He didn't want the boy unarmed either. But Luke proved to have some talent with that ancient weapon in the past, and the light saber didn't require close combat to use. Han grunted and then took Luke's blaster, shoving it into his holster, "Everyone happy now?"
"I'd be a lot happier if we stopped wasting time here," Leia grumbled as she pushed pass her two friends and picked up the thermal sensor.
Solo rolled his eyes. Luke placed a hand on Han's shoulder before moving to follow Leia.
"Looks clean," she whispered.
"Doesn't feel clean," Luke whispered back.
"I know," she looked over at Han.
"Of course, they're still watching us," Han sighed. "They're probably just hidin' really good."
"I don't think so," the princess handed Han the thermal sensor. "We're heading the wrong way."
"What?" Han scowled.
"They're on the coast, not the crater." She stated matter-of-factly.
"Now what makes you think that?" Han took the thermal sensor from the girl's hand.
Leia tilted her head, "That Grendoli has sand graduals under his claws and in his fur."
"Weren't you the one that said we should get going?"
She walked over to the Grendoli carcass, "Yes, but I'd like to go in the right direction."
"Not too long ago, you and Luke insisted they were at the crater," Han yelled. "Remember? You two had a feeling." He waved his fingers around to emphasize his point.
"They were," Luke answered.
"But they're not there anymore," Leia finished. "At least, I don't think Chewie is."
Luke walked over to Leia and bent down to get a better look at the dead Grendoli, "Leia's right. There's sand in its fur."
Han stomped over, "Doesn't mean there isn't sand where the crater is."
Leia didn't bother crouching down next to Luke. She already had an up close and personal experience with the Grendoli's fur. She looked out over the river, "The sand graduals are made up of crushed shell."
Han knelt down next to Luke to get a better look. She was right. The sand grains consisted of crushed shell. This Grendoli definitely had spent some time on the coast recently. But that didn't mean---
"We should go toward the coast," Leia stated.
"What? No!"
"I'm with Leia," Luke stood up.
"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Han rolled his eyes.
Luke reddened but didn't say anything. The two stared at Han, waiting for him to make a decision. Han ran a hand over his face. He felt completely confused and helpless. Chewie's life could well rely on the choice Han made.