The Solos were pushed back into their stone-floored cell and the door abruptly slammed behind them. Han was feeling more defeated than he had in a long time. They needed to find a way out of there, and they needed to find it fast.

"Do you suppose Xizor actually believes that he can do whatever he wants just because he has the two of us?" Leia asked.

"I don't know," Han answered honestly. "You know him a hell of a lot better than I do."

"I hope the New Republic knows better than to compromise everything we've accomplished simply to spare our lives."

"You think they'll see it that way? Do you think they'd give us up so easily?"

"I hope so, but I'm not sure if they would. If I could I'd tell them to."

"I don't think Xizor would like that."

"I don't either. I just hope they know that we're not important in the grand scheme of things."

"Are you saying we're expendable?"

"In a manner of speaking, yes. If losing us can save millions of lives, then yes, we're expendable. Just like anybody else would be in this situation."

He hated when she got all rational. "Well that's just great. We were able to defeat the Empire and come out alive, and this is how I'm going to die."

"Truthfully, Han, I'm not sure Xizor would kill us even if they did refuse his terms, it would be worthless. He'd find some other reason to keep us around. We're not done yet, Han. Maybe the New Republic will have something planned. Or maybe they'll decide we aren't expendable."

"I know we're not done. They're not taking me without a fight."

"All right then, what are we going to do?"

Han thought for a moment and then shrugged his shoulders. "I haven't got the slightest idea."

"I'm sure we can come up with something."

Hours later, they still had failed to come up with any ideas. Even if they could somehow escape, where were they going to go? They were in the middle of nowhere. Although they were closer to the Falcon than they had been before, it would still take them a considerable amount of time to get there. And even if they did make it, chances were that they wouldn't be able to take off.

Han was restlessly pacing back and forth in the cell when he looked up to where the wall met the ceiling and noticed a small crack. It wasn't much, but being such an ancient building there was a chance there was a weakness there and they might be able to dig themselves out. Deciding it was worth a second look, he moved closer and ran his fingers along the jagged edge, feeling the slightest hint of air seeping through.

"What is it, Han?" Leia asked from the opposite wall.

"There's a crack in the wall here. It might've eroded on the outside and there's a chance we could push it through and get out."

"Are you sure?" Leia asked as she shot up and walked over to him.

"Yeah, here, feel," Han guided her hand to the spot on the wall where he'd felt the air come in, and he saw her brown eyes widen before she looked at him and smiled. He returned with a grin of his own, but before they could explore their options any further, they heard footsteps coming down the hall and they quickly moved away from the wall.

The door opened and revealed Guri, pointing a blaster towards the two of them. "Your people wish to make a statement to us. We thought you should both be there to hear it." She motioned for them to follow and they left their cell behind, following Guri back to the control room where they took their seats just before Xizor entered.

"I Thought you'd like to be here when we receive the message from your people. Guri, play the message."

Guri punched up the control panel and Mon Mothma's holographic image appeared. "Prince Xizor, we have taken some time to contemplate your offer. We realize that General Solo and Princess Leia are important assets to us, but we also realize that letting the Black Sun organization rise to power once again would not be in our best interest. We feel that the trade-off of those two lives for the sake of the New Republic is more important. We regret that we had to make this decision and hope that you will reconsider sparing the lives of our friends. If you release them now we may be able to work out some sort of agreement. But if you don't, we will be forced to take action against you. And to Han and Leia, if you receive this message, we are truly sorry, but we know that you will understand our decision."

The holographic image disappeared and left the room in silence. Leia was glad to hear that Mon Mothma had made the right decision. She didn't want to die, but she was willing to give up her life for the sake of everyone else, just as she always had been. And she knew deep down that Han felt the same way, even if he was unlikely to admit it. Xizor, however, would most certainly not be taking this well. She was right about that.

He turned and glared at them with fury burning behind his eyes, looking ready to lash out. Somehow, he managed to restrain himself and he let out a slow, calming breath before he spoke. "It seems that you two are not as important as we might have hoped. Your precious New Republic seems all too ready to let you go."

"They just know that the value of two lives, whoever they might be, is incomparable to millions," Leia responded.

"Maybe they'll change their minds later. I won't give up so quickly. Take them back to their cell until I figure out what I'm going to do with them."

Guri led them back to the cell, this time at a much more urgent pace.

Han knew that he would have to make a move soon if they were going to get out of there. He only hoped that crack in the wall was as rotted through as he hoped. Guri left them alone once again and Han waited until he thought she was out of earshot. "Leia, we need to get out of here. I think we might be able to break through this spot on the wall." Without hesitation he began digging away at the crack with his fingernails. This was going to be tougher than he thought.

"Han, it's pure concrete. Do you think you can dig a hole in it with your fingers?"

"This place is ancient, Leia. I don't think it's actually concrete. I think it's more like some sort of hardened clay that just looks like concrete. There's a good chance it eroded and washed out some on the outside. It might be thinner than you think." He continued to dig at the spot.

"If you say so, I'm willing to try anything at this point. I'm glad they knew enough to let us go, though."

"Yeah, right."

"What, you don't think they made the right decision?"

"I agree with it, I just don't like it. There's nothing wrong with that, is there?"

"Of course not. I don't like it either. But I told you he probably wasn't going to kill us."

"Yeah, I just don't want to stick around and see what he wants to do next. Especially when I'm afraid it's going to involve you."

Her ears perked up. "Han, someone's coming."

Han stepped away from the wall just before Xizor himself opened the door. "Princess, follow me. Solo, you stay here." Leia looked back to Han, not wanting to follow, but knowing she had no choice. She tried to give Han a look telling him that she would be fine. She knew how to deal with him. She had done it before.

Xizor gave Han a sly smirk and slammed the door. Han's rage overtook him and he slammed his fists against the wall. But the pain in his hands wasn't the first thing he noticed; it was the fist-sized chunk of the wall that fell to the floor, leaving a small hole where the slightest bit of sunlight peeked through. Maybe there was a way out of this after all. He only hoped Leia would be all right.