CHAPTER 2:

"You think this was an assassination attempt?" Dr. Salimni asked as he glanced over at the princess.

Princess Leia Organa's eyes opened in slits and focused on Han.

"That's ridiculous," she said.

Luke's wide eyes settled on Han as he continued to rub his fingers over Leia's hand.

"Who would want to kill Leia?"

Han stood akimbo. "Who wouldn't want to kill her? She has a bounty on her head courtesy of the Empire. She'd make someone very rich."

"This could've just been an accident."

"Nicco spiders can only survive for a few hours or so in space. There's no way it could've just gotten into your room by accident."

"It could've crawled into a ship and found its way to Leia's quarters," Luke said.

"Only if it was in a specialized habitat." Han answered. "It takes seven hours to get from the Iborin system to here. That spider would've never survived the trip."

"Maybe someone was keeping it as a pet and it got out."

Han's lips pulled up to the right. "A small amount of venom causes hallucinations. The traces of venom on its legs aren't enough to kill you, and some on Iborin are willing to take the risk of dying for that six-hour high. Nicco spiders are easily startled and lash out faster than anyone expects. It takes a very expensive expert to handle them. Know of any rich nicco spider experts here on Home One?" he waited for an answer. "This was an assassination attempt."

"Are there any Ibrorians on this base?" Dr. Salimni asked.

"Not that I know," Leia answered. "I don't think so."

"Any missions take place in the Iborin System?" Luke asked.

Leia rolled her bottom lip between her teeth and looked at Han. "You picked up that shipment of weapons on one of Irobin's moon."

Han met Leia's eyes. "You think it's me?"

"Of course not." She closed her eyes.

"That was three weeks ago."

"I'm just saying, that if this was an assassination attempt—"

"It was."

Leia inhaled. "You're going to be the primary suspect."

Han pressed his lips together. "I know."

Everyone remained silent before Chewbacca spoke up.

"Good idea." Han picked up the nearest empty specimen cup and handed it to his best friend. "She said she didn't smash it—"

"I didn't smash it."

"I just said you didn't."

She opened her eyes to slits. "There was a tone."

"I didn't have a tone. You're just—"

"There was a tone. Right, Luke?"

Luke's mouth opened and closed as Han glared at him.

"I…I didn't hear one," he meekly said.

"Because there was none."

"Yes, there—"

Chewbacca roared, and everyone started.

"Why do you need the spider?" Luke asked.

"The blood in its heart can speed up the effects of the anti-venom." Han translated. "We can give her the treatment for Polium sooner."

"Won't Chewie be at risk because of the venom on its legs?" Leia asked.

Chewbacca grumbled.

"Don't worry, Sweetheart. He knows how to handle them." Then Han turned to the Wookie. "What's holdin' you up, you big furry oaf?"

Chewie pulled back his lips, exposing his teeth, and grumbled.

"Before anyone goes anywhere, I need to give you all vaccines to prevent you from spreading the virus to the rest of the base." Dr. Salimni walked out of the examining room.

"It's only transmitted through bodily fluids."

"Which we all have been exposed to, Captain." Salimni returned to the room with four vaccinations.

"Chewie first."

Chewbacca roared and shook his head.

"You're gonna act like a wuss in front of the princess?"

The Wookie's canines pressed into his bottom lip as he held out his arm to the doctor. He let out a menacing roar as the needle pierced his skin, causing Doctor Salimni to jump.

"You, big baby. Now go find that spider."

Chewie mumbled under his breath as he left.

Han rolled up his sleeve and let the doctor vaccinate him. Luke followed suit.

"We can't let anyone know anything about the spider or Leia's illness." Han eyed the doctor. "If anyone asks, say she's on the Falcon recovering from the flu. We don't want the culprit to know we're him."

"Or her," Luke piped up.

Han narrowed his eyes on Skywalker. "Or them." Then he returned his attention to the doctor. "I know this is a level two virus, but Leia's life is in danger." The Solo added, "Besides, you don't want the whole ship to panic."

"I understand your need for silence on this matter. No one will find out from me."

"The medical bay usually gets pretty busy as the day goes by."

"You would know."

Han's eyes slid to Leia. Her forehead was furrowed, but she wore an impish smile.

"Is there a place here that's not used?"

"The left wing. It's being reconstructed after that oxygen tank explosion," the doctor said. "The construction crew was pulled off the project to deal with the carbon-monoxide leak in the Command Center. They're searching for more leaks throughout the ship."

"Good. They have a lot of work. Move her to that wing until we can move her to the Falcon."

"She should be in the isolation ward. Polium is highly contagious."

"Isolate her in the construction area." Han said.

The doctor pressed his lips together. "Fine, but I can't guarantee no one will enter the construction area."

Han rolled his lips between his teeth and looked at Luke. "Your droid can guard the entrance. Those droids can be very insistent."

"You would know." Leia exchanged a smile with Luke.

"Nice," Han rolled his eyes. "One of us will always be with her. Luke, you're on first watch."

"I'm not going to leave her side until she's better."

"You can't—"

"Han—"

"You need to keep up with appearances, do your duties so no one gets suspicious. No one can know she's as sick as she is," Han said. "If you didn't commit yourself to the Rebellion like me, you'd get to stay as long as you want."

Luke frowned and gave Han an exasperated look.

"But I expect you here when you have time off."

"I wouldn't be anywhere else."

Han pressed his lips together in a closed-mouth smile. "I'm gonna share my theories with General Reikken. We'll need someone in the High Command's help to find the assassin."

"Are you sure you should?" Luke asked.

"Reikken can be trusted," Leia said.

"I'll be back," Han said over his shoulder as he left the examining room.

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Han Solo stalked to the Command Center and looked for the only High Command officer that he trusted.

"General Reikken?"

"Solo, Good morning. Here to join the rebellion officially?"

When Han didn't smile, the general sobered. "What can I do for you?"

"I put in a request for a starskin replacement with the princess, but I haven't gotten it."

"Perhaps she just hasn't had time yet."

"Or she's just pissed at me and being spiteful."

The general rolled his lips to hide his smile. "So you've come to me."

"I may be able to repair it, but I need some grit mesh."

"That's hard to come by."

"That's why I'm coming to you." Han's hazel eyes pierced Reikken's.

"Let me…let me take a look at it myself."

"General, we have mechanics to do that," Colonel Liston said.

"But I specialize in starskins, Colonel." Reikken's authoritative tone caused the Liston to step back. "You take over here. I won't be long."

Han flashed a smug smile at the colonel. He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was just something Han didn't like about the guy. Perhaps it was the attention Colonel Liston gave to Leia. Liston was Alderaani, and he often monopolized Leia's free time, and she seemed to have no problem with that. Colonel Liston also spent a lot of time working side-by-side with her. Did that make Han jealous? Was that why Han didn't like him?

No. Han pushed the thought out of his mind, mainly because he didn't like the answer. His smile faded. He turned on his heel and followed General Reikken to the hangar.

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Once Han and Reikken were aboard the Millennium Falcon and the ramp was closed, the general crossed his arms over his chest.

"So what's so urgent, Solo?"

"I think someone is trying to assassinate the princess."

"A rebel here?" Reikken shook his head. "Most of this base is comprised of Alderaani. They practically worship her."

"Not all are Alderaani, and she is worth a lot of money dead."

"But even more alive."

"Can you imagine if someone tried to take Leia alive? That would be dangerous for the best bounty hunter." Han then smiled. "I'd like to see her take on Boba Fett. That would solve a lot of my problems." He sobered. "Anyhow, this morning Leia was bitten by a nicco spider."

Reikken's hands dropped to his hips. "Here?"

"In her quarters."

"Are you sure?"

"I saw the bite mark, an' Chewie's lookin' for the dead spider as we speak."

"But they can't live under space conditions."

"Right. That means someone had to bring it here in a special habitat and put it in Leia's room."

"That seems like a lot of trouble."

"Not if they're determined to kill her."

"They would have to know her security code."

"That's what worries me. Who would have that information?"

"She would, of course, and whoever she gave it to."

"It wouldn't be likely that she'd give that out to anyone. I don't think even Luke knows it, and you know how close she is to him."

"You really think it was an assassination attempt?"

"That's the only thing that makes sense to me."

Reikken pulled on his chin. To think someone here on this base…They vetted everyone. There couldn't be an assassin on the base.

"Think about it, General. There have been too many accidents lately, and this spider bite wasn't an accident."

"You mean the fire in the High Command wing and the cargo incident that killed Colonel Klickon?"

"And the carbon monoxide leak in the Command Center. The blaster cartridges exploding—that had to be rigged. Leia was present at all those so-called accidents."

"Maybe the assassins targeting the High Command?"

"That's possible, but Klickon wasn't a member of the High Command, and only Leia and her staff were in the Command Center when the carbon monoxide leak happened. All I know is that Leia's life is on the line. I don't want to take any chances."

The general inhaled slowly then released his breath.

"We need to find her assassin without him knowing we're looking for him. Or at the very least, get Leia off Home One."

"She's in the medical bay?"

"Yeah. Luke's with her and Dr. Salimni said he'd keep his mouth shut. Can you trust him?"

"He's bound to patient confidentiality. How is she doing?"

"But is he trustworthy?"

"Yes. Tell me, how is she doing?"

"The anti-venom is still in her system, and she contracted the Polium virus."

"The Polium virus? You can't give her filicyrin until the anti-venom clears her system." Reikken looked at his feet.

"Right."

"What is her survival chance?"

"I dunno. She's already showing signs of stage two. Doctor Salimni is treating her symptoms until we can give her the filicyrin. If Chewie finds the spider, the blood in its heart will speed up the anti-venom's effect and clear it out of her system so she can be treated for the Polium."

The general ran his hand over his beard. "So if the anti-venom doesn't kill her and if the Polium symptoms don't kill her before Doctor Salimni can give her filicyrin…I need to see her."

"Of course." Han answered. "But you can't let anyone on the High Command know."

"You think the assassin could be a member of the High Command?"

"I dunno. It's possible. Anyhow, it's best that no one else knows."

"So who does know?"

"Luke, Chewie, Doctor Salimni. Me."

"The rest of the High Command and personnel will wonder where she is."

"Tell them she has a bad case of the flu, and she's recovering on the Falcon."

"The Falcon?"

"That'll discourage people from trying to see her. No one wants to mess with a Wookie."

Both men turned around as they heard the ramp of the Millennium Falcon lower. Chewbacca came bounding into the corridor holding up the specimen jar with the spider inside. He growled triumphantly. Han took the jar from Chewie's hand and turned it side to side. Reikken leaned in to get a look at it.

"Well, that's definitely a nicco spider," Reikken said. "I'm going to see her now."

Han grabbed his arm. "It's best you return to your duties and see her when you're off. We don't want anyone to get suspicious. Remember, you're here to deal with the starskin."

"Right."

"I'll let you know if she turns for the worse."

"I'll be in to see her as soon as I fulfill my duties."

"She's in the wing of the medical bay that's under construction. Salimni's droid will be guarding the entrance so you'll have to see him to get in."

"Okay. I better get back to the Command Center. Take good care of her."

"You don't need to worry about that."

Chewie growled. Reikken nodded at him before disappearing down the ramp.

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Back in the medical bay, Chewbacca looked into the magnifying glass and drew a scalpel down the nicco spider's abdomen as Han watched over his shoulder. The Wookie pulled the exoskeleton in half to reveal the spider's heart. Then, with the greatest of care, he extracted the heart. Han handed him a petri dish. Once Chewie placed the heart into the dish, Han put the dish on the counter and used the flat side of another scalpel to flatten the organ. Lavender blood seeped out. Chewbacca used an eyedropper to suck the liquid up.

"I hope this is enough."

Chewie discarded the heart and spider in the biohazard container and followed Han to the unconstructed wing.

"How's she doin'?"

Luke looked up. His face was all Han needed to see to know the answer to his question. Han went over to Leia's side. She was restless as if she was trying to find a comfortable position. Ice packs lay upon her stomach and groin and under her armpits. Luke held an ice pack to her forehead. Han could smell the rubbing alcohol that rose from her wet clothes.

"Her fever has reached 104.9," Dr. Salimni said. "And she's hallucinating. She's reached the pain stage. I've maxed out the pain medication. If I give her any more, she'll go into a respiratory crisis."

"We have something that'll help."

Han held up the eyedropper.

"What's that?"

Chewie explained and Han translated for the doctor, "The blood from the heart of the spider. It'll speed up the effects of the anti-venom and clear it out of her system. It's also a great pain killer."

"Will it have a negative effect on the morphine?"

"No. The anti-venom is interfering with the morphine. That's why she's still in pain."

Han moved to stand behind Leia's head. Luke removed the ice pack.

"Hold her head still."

Luke did as he was told, and Han pulled open one of her eyes.

"Vader…" Leia pushed his hand away. "I won't—"

"No, it's Han, Sweetheart. Vader can't hurt you. Now open your eyes and hold still."

Leia opened her eyes. "Han," she breathed.

Han smiled at her. "This will take away the pain."

He held the dropper over her right eye and squeezed the rubber handle. Two drops fell out. He repeated the process with her other eye. She sighed and her body went limp. Luke put the ice pack back onto her forehead.

"She's been throwing up blood. I fear the lining of her stomach is ulcerated. She's close to stage three."

Han grimaced. Stage three. Her chances of survival were waning. Only twenty percent of those bitten by a nicco spider survived stage three.

Chewbacca gurred and mumbled. Han placed his hands on his hips and looked at him.

"Are you sure?"

Chewie growled again.

Han turned to Doctor Salimni. "Chewie says we can't wait any longer. Go ahead and give her the filicyrin."

Salimni grabbed the bag of filicyrin from a work table and connected it to Leia's IV.

"Now, all we can do is wait," the doctor said. "I'll be in to check on her soon."

Solo nodded at the doctor who placed a hand on Han's shoulder as he passed him by. Han ran his finger along Leia's swollen cheek.

"You're gonna be okay." You have to be.