Hi there people. Here is the next chapter and I'm glad I finished it so soon. There is more to come and that's a promise. Also I'd like to thank you all so much for sticking with me, reading this and reviewing. It truly means a lot to me.

I've been addicted to playing Angry birds: Star Wars for the past week. If you haven't tried it yet, I strongly recomand the game, because it's awesome. (I don't own Angry birds)

Oh and by the way when I was creating the character of Colonel Ardens Odio I had some troubles with coming up with a name. Ardens Odio is Latin (which I have studied 4 years) for burning hatred. Just a fun fact that you might find interesting.

Disclaimer: I'm just playing in this sandbox called galaxy far, far away.

Chapter 12 – Solo's way of escape

Darth Vader led the way through the corridors of the Death Star. Only days ago Leia hardly believed the existence of such battle station and she seriously doubted that it was capable of destroying the planet. Now this was a reality Leia couldn't escape from.

Han walked right beside her, thinking of what was yet to come, when he caught her glance. She looked scared, not terrified, but still he could see she was shaking slightly. Sure he was a bit scared too. He had no idea what was in store for him and he wasn't eager to find out. He smiled slightly, though he wasn't sure if it was convincing. Then he noticed Leia's lips were moving and even though he wasn't an expert in lip reading, he figured what she wanted to say. I'm sorry.

Leia truly was sorry for dragging him into it. She should never even speak with him and he would be safe right now. She saw his lips moving and she too recognized the words. Don't be. But she was. And then happened something she would never have expected. Han took her hand in his and gently squeezed it. She twitched at first, but then she was grateful for it, because it seemed to calm her down a bit.

"Senator Organa" spoke Vader "walk with me."

Han gave her an encouraging look and Leia could clearly see sympathy in his eyes. She took a deep breath, let go of Han's hand and stepped to Vader's side. They walked for some time and Leia had to walk fast if she wanted to keep up with Vader's pace.

"You're afraid, Princess" said Vader slowly.

"I'm not Lord Vader." She replied determined not to show such weakness as fear to an enemy. "You are mistaken."

"Don't try to hide it, Your Highness. I can feel it."

"The way you abuse the power of the Force makes me sick." said Leia with disgust. "You can't hurt me more than you already did, so why would I be afraid?"
"It is you who is mistaken" replied Vader. "Maybe you're not afraid for yourself, but Commander Solo on the other hand…"

Leia stiffened. Pain. That was something she could stand, but seeing the suffering of others… That was unbearable.

Vader looked at her pathetic attempt to hide her feelings. He knew she had a weakness of some sort and since Tarkin destroyed the first one in his stupidity, he had to find another. Now that he had found it, he decided to make a good use of it, irrespective of the consequences.

They were in a larger cell this time, but to Leia it seemed even smaller. She looked at the faces around her nervously and there were many she didn't want there. Especially Han's. She wished he'd be anywhere else but here beside her. The interrogation hasn't even started and she already knew that it was a hopeless situation. She couldn't tell Vader what he wanted to know and at the same time she couldn't expect Han to suffer for Rebellion. For her cause, not his. And even if he was willing to, she knew she could never stand it.

"There is no need for drugs." spoke Vader to technician Tarkin sent. "Nor interrogation droid" he added upon reflection.

"But my Lord, Governor Tarkin ordered…" staggered technician.

"Tarkin is blind." Vader rejected him. "Anyone with brain as developed as womp rat's would know there is no need for it. I have chosen a much better method."

As much as Han hoped this was all just a show to scare Leia, he was smart enough to know this was probably not the case.

"Now Princess" spoke Vader. "Shall we discuss the real location…"

He didn't finish the question when, on Han and Leia's enormous relief a man burst through the door.

"Lord Vader" he said quickly."

"What now?" asked Vader impatiently.

"It's about the Rebels sir" said officer. "We count thirty ships, but they are so small, they're evading our turbo lasers."

"Destroy them ship to ship" replied Vader. "Get the crews to their fighters."

"Sir, ten fighters have already been lunched, but Governor Tarkin refuses to send more."

Everybody was silent and the only sound that was heard was Vader's metal breathing. Leia noticed that he clenched his fists several times, before he spoke again. "Very well" he said. "I shall take my personal squadron to get rid of them. Tarkin is a fool to underestimate the Rebels and I will not make the same mistake." With that he was about to leave the room, but stopped on the doorway. He turned around and ordered: "Colonel, I entrust you this interrogation. You mustn't do any harm to Princess, but you can use all means necessary regarding Commander Solo. I want him alive, when I return."

"Yes my Lord" said Odio obediently.

"Princess will reveal you the location of rebel base sooner or later. It shouldn't be too hard." added Vader. "In past I have trusted this task to somebody who betrayed me and who betrayed Empire. Do not repeat his mistake." Then he left, metal door closing behind him.

Leia looked at Han nervously. She was pretty sure Vader's words had the exact same impact on him as they had on her.

"Well well" murmured Colonel Odio and walked from Leia to Han eyeing them pleased. He stopped at Han with a mocking smirk on his face and said: "I will enjoy this, Solo. I truly will. You made fun of me and made me look like a fool on numerous occasions."

"Oh Colonel" replied Han and smiled. "You give me too much credit for that last one."

Leia would laugh if the situation wasn't that serious.

"Hold him" ordered Odio angrily, his face colored red.

Two stormtroopers, who were the only ones in the room beside Han, Leia and Odio, violently grabbed Han for his upper arms. Han struggled for a few seconds until Odio's fist hit him hard in the jaw.

Leia automatically suppressed her cry with her hands. There was no need for that though. Odio was so busy with his revenge towards Han, that he didn't even notice how well Vader's plan worked.

Han turned his head to one side and spit some blood. He lifted his head and looked at Odio with burning hatred in his eyes. Then he turned to Leia, who still held hands in front of her mouth and said resolutely: "No matter what Leia, Don't tell a thing to those bastards."

Just as he spoke the last word, he received another hit. Leia's heart was breaking and was on the edge of despair when she saw Odio preparing for yet another punch. But just as Odio swung his fist, Han bent and avoided the blow. Then he straightened up fast, not allowing the stormtroopers to get a good hold of him. He hit Colonel Odio with his forehead, causing him to fall.

Leia didn't hesitate for a second. She quickly reached for a blaster that hung from the nearest stormtrooper's belt and shot its incautious owner. Han freed from one pair of hands grabbed the blaster of the remaining stormtrooper, while Leia killed him too. Both Odio and Han lifted their blasters at the same time, pointing them at each other. Han shot first.

Han and Leia stared at three bodies for a brief moment, then he looked at her. "Let's get outta here" he said. Leia nodded and they left the room. Once outside they heard alarm buzzing and saw officer and technicians running everywhere.

Han leaned to Leia and nearly yelled so she could hear him: "Everybody's in a hurry. Nobody will notice."

"Let's hope so" spoke Leia quietly and followed Han, as he ran in direction of the hanger bay.

When they have been running for what seemed like an eternity, Han suddenly stopped.

"What?" asked Leia impatiently.

"My friends" said Han and stared at the floor with an empty expression, thinking.

"What? Han what are you talking about?"

"My friends, I've got to warn them" he said and looked her straight in the eyes.

"Han if Alliance succeeds, this station might blow up any second."

"That's exactly why I have to get them outta here, Leia."

Leia bit her lip. "Okay, let's go" she said at last.

"You're not coming with me." said Han. "Go find a ship and get away from here." With that he turned and ran the other way.

"I'm so going." She said and started after him. "Wait for me Han Solo." she yelled angrily.

They took a ride with a turbolift crossed some hallways and were already very near Han's quarters.

"We're almost there" he told Leia.

As soon as they walked around the corner, Han spotted two figures at the end of the hallway.

"Han" yelled the smaller figure.

"Fion" responded Han and then recognized the man behind him. "Xilon"

Fion started to run to Han, smiling widely. But then… explosion.

There was an outburst of fire and light. Pieces of metal were flying everywhere, while the sound was deafening. The floor shook and Han staggered to the wall, covering his ears. He closed his eyes and turned the other way to protect his face. Then the booming stopped and Han slowly looked around. Where Fion's face was only seconds ago, there was nothing but curtain of dust.

He saw Leia standing just some feet away. "You okay?" he asked with husky voice.

"Yeah" she coughed in response.

Then he heard some more coughing, but it wasn't Leia's. He worked his way through the dust in the air until he saw a shape of a boy picking himself up.

"Fion" he said when he reached him and helped him up. "Fion are you alright?" The boy looked confused. "Fion say something."

Fion didn't say a word. He pushed Han away and ran in direction where he had last seen Xilon.

"Wait!" yelled Han and went after him.

Leia needed a few seconds to steady herself. Her knees were shaking and her heart was beating hard inside her chest. She took a deep breath and tried to get over the first shock. Then she went after Han. Dust was finally beginning to settle down. She came closer to what she recognized were Han and a boy he called Fion. She found them both on the floor. Fion was leaning over the body of a young man, shaking him and begging him to wake up. Han kneeled beside the boy and felt the pulse of the man on his neck. Seconds passed slowly. Then Han sighed and lifted his head to meet Leia's eyes. He shook his head sadly.

"Xilon, wake up" whispered boy through tears. "Please… Xilon…Xilon."

"Fion" spoke Han gently. "He's gone."

"No he isn't" replied boy quietly. "He can't be."

"We have to go, Fion." Said Han and softly pulled the boy away from the body, which caused that the boy only clang to it more.

"I'm not going. Leave me alone. Xilon… wake up, wake up."

Leia couldn't do anything, so she just stood there, being a silent observer of a heartbreaking moment.

"Listen to me, Fion." said Han and his voice was breaking. "Xilon wouldn't want you to die here, he'd want you to live. Come with me."

The boy finally let go of the body and let Han pull him up. Only then was Leia able to take a better look at the boy and the dead man lying on the floor. Even though Fion was much younger the similarity between the both was impossible to miss. Brothers, she realized. They were brothers.

Han dragged Fion away, but the boy still refused to leave completely. Leia who walked behind them looked at him sadly, when she saw him turning back to the place where his brother's body lay. His face was gray from dust and the tears made clearly visible trace as they ran past his cheeks to his chin.

"I have to notify others" said Han loudly. "Fion, have you seen them? Do you know where they are?"

The boy remained silent.

"This is important."

"Ke- Kezzel is" spoke Fion quiet sobs shaking his small body. "…fighting… He's in co-control tower. I don't know whe-re Hectnor is…"

"Okey" said Han and thought for a moment while still dragging Fion behind him in direction of the hangers. Then he remembered the comlink on his belt and lifted it to his lips. "Hectnor. Can you here me? This is Han Solo."

"Han, what happened to you?" came a voice from the comlink, but it was somehow static. Han figured that it was probably problem in communication department that was caused by the battle.

"Doesn't matter." replied Han. "You have to get away, Hec, the station could blow up. I'm leaving and I'm taking Fion with me. Do you know where Gren is?"

"Yeah he's on Tatooine, he got transferred, remeber? What about Xilon?"

"Xilon…" said Han quietly. "Xilon died."

There was silence from the comlink.

"Hec, go. Leave now."

"O-ookey" came the response but the sound was breaking badly. "Ha-n. Go-o-uc"

Han turned off his comlink and quickened his pace.

Once in the hangar bay, Han quickly scanned the place and soon spotted the ship that now belonged to him. Millennium Falcon. He led Fion and Leia inside, placing Fion on the bench beside the holo-chess table. Then he and Leia entered the cockpit. Han sat in pilot's chair and immediately starting turning on the controls.

"Can you co-pilot for me?" he asked Leia.

"I can try" she answered and sat in the chair next to Han. At that moment she was very grateful that her father insisted on her learning how to fly different models of ships, because this was all those ships combined, but far more complicated than everything she had ever seen.

"We'll fly out with the next group of fighters" said Han and pointed at squadron of four TIE's preparing to fly in the battle.

Han turned on the engines and whispered to ship. "I've heard you were the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy. Don't let me down baby."

Leia smirked, but didn't say a thing.

Then the energy field protecting the entrance of the hanger bay opened and Falcon blasted out into the space.

Out there, there was fire everywhere. Enemy-fire, friendly-fire and everybody seemed to be shooting at Falcon.

"That's not good" said Leia when they received a hit from a nearby TIE fighter.

"It's not Imperials I'm worried about" replied Han. "It's your damn Rebels. They seem to be a bit smarter and in our case that's really bad."

Leia wanted to say something about "damn rebels", but she held back her comment. Instead, she said: "Can you intercept their communication channel?"

"I'm not sure" answered Han and tried some buttons on console desk. After a few seconds he said: "Go ahead, try it."

"Rebel fighters" spoke Leia through a microphone set on headphones she was wearing. "This is Leia Organa speaking. My clearance code is 235771. I'm currently aboard the ship registered as Millennium Falcon. Do not shoot at us. Organa out"

"Good job, Sweetheart" said Han who was amused by the way she talked through the communication channel. "Now let's get the hell outta here."

"Wait, what?" asked Leia surprised and then added angrily. "We're not going anywhere. We're sticking here and helping them."

"Not in my lifetime, Honey"

"You arrogant piece of Bantha…" started Leia.

"Stop it right there, Your Holiness" Han cut in while maneuvering ship and avoiding being hit. "I'm not getting myself killed. And besides this isn't attack, but an escape. Solo's way of escape."

"Is that," asked Leia when another bolt hit them. "unsuccessful or suicidal?"

"What you want from me is suicidal."

"No," she snapped back "the way you drive is suicidal."

"Now wait a minute, nobody…" said Han in protest.

"No, you wait a minute" interrupted him Leia. "These men need our help. We can't just leave them."

"I can" said Han coldly, but then saw Leia's expression. Her eyebrows were raised in anger and her hands crossed on her chest. "Fine" he exhaled in resignation and turned Falcon back in direction of the Death Star.

"Look, there." said Leia and pointed out at the lonely X-Wing fighter that was flying on the surface of the Death Star. He had three pursuers on his tail and the middle one just managed to hit him. Luckily it wasn't fatal.

"Get behind them." Ordered Leia and though Han did as she told him to, he made a mental note to tell her, that Han Solo doesn't take orders from anybody. Especially not princesses. "X-Wing pilot is aiming for that shaft in the surface"

"I'll get him from above" said Han and seconds later managed to destroy one of the side TIE's, with what was undoubtedly one of his famous maneuvers, he loved to brag about. Pilot of one of the remaining two TIE fighters was apparently so surprised that he managed to hit the wall with his fighter and lost control. He bumped into the leading TIE fighter, sending him into space spinning. Then he crashed into the nearest wall, disappearing in large explosion.

"You're clear X-wing pilot" spoke Han through the communication channel. He saw an ion missile coming from an X-Wing and going straight into the shaft.

"Let's get outta here," said Han "and this time for real."

Seconds later the Death Star exploded in a brilliant flash of light and Leia's stomach turned at the sight. It was so much like Alderaan.

Han woke her from her thoughs. "Destination, Your Highness?" he asked with false humbleness.

"Yavin" replied Leia.

"Ha" exclaimed Han victoriously. "I knew you'd tell me the location of the base sooner or later."

Leia wanted to give him a good punch, because she strongly believed he earned it, but wanted to kiss him at the same time. She decided for a safe disitance reaction and said only: "Don't push it, Solo."