CHAPTER 22:
Han drew his blaster and whipped around. He found himself face-to-face with the Fivoca bounty hunter, Vilogo. He was a second-tier bounty hunter but moving up fast in the business. If he captured Han, he would be considered on the level of the fearsome Boba Fett. Han couldn't let that happen.
"Vilogo. Still chasin' Boba Fett's tail?"
"Once I turn you over to Jabba, Fett will be chasing mine."
"Well, you gotta catch me first."
"Looks like I already have."
"You're takin' your life in your hands," Han threatened.
Vilogo laughed. "You're the one with a blaster pointed at you."
"You gonna kill me? Jabba wants me alive."
"I don't plan on killing you."
"And I don't plan on goin' with you."
"We'll see about that."
Vilogo squeezed the trigger of his blaster before Han could shoot. However, the Fivoca's aim was uncharacteristically off. Han fired his blaster as he dove to the left. Vilogo's shot grazed Han's right arm, and he dropped his blaster. His arm tingled and his head fogged up. Vilogo wasn't trying to kill Han but stun him. If the bolt hit Solo square in the arm, he would've been out. Han shook his head and tried to focus his eyes on his enemy.
The Fivoca's blaster lay on the ground. He stumbled and swayed, and his green fur rippled as he batted as something behind him. Not something; someone.
"Leia!"
The princess's arms were wrapped around Vilogo's neck, and her legs straddled his chest. She bared her teeth as she squeezed his neck as hard as she could. Han stood up, but as he stepped on his right leg, it buckled beneath him. He muttered a Alderaanian curse. Pins and needles assaulted his leg and traveled up through his arm. He tried to stand again, but to no avail; he fell to the ground. Han crawled towards his blaster.
Vilogo's neck was as thick as Leia's body, and it took her both arms to choke him. Vilogo wheezed, and his dark hairless face turned a pale green. He had backed himself up to the wall next to the ship and slammed his body against it over and over. Leia grunted every time her back hit the wall, but she didn't let go. Vilogo clawed at her arms with his talons, drawing blood. He pulled forward and then threw himself at the wall as hard as he could one more time. Leia's head bounced against the wall, leaving a bloody spot where she hit. The force of the blow took her breath. She let go of Vilogo and slid to the ground. The Fivoca didn't give her a chance to recover. He pulled back his leg and kicked in her side. She doubled over as he continued to kick her.
Han reached his blaster and picked it up. However, his right arm hadn't recovered enough feeling, and his usually-steady aim shook. He grimaced as he tried to pull the trigger, but he didn't have enough control of his fingers. Han transferred his blaster to his left hand, aimed as well as he could, and fired.
The bolt grazed Vilogo's shoulder. He grabbed the spot shoulder and cried out before turning towards Han and bearing his sharp teeth. The Fivoca then reached down, clutched Leia's hair, and dragged her towards Han. She held her hair to lessen the pain. As she slid across the floor, she snatched Vilogo's discarded blaster with one hand and tucked it into her belt. When they were just a couple of feet from Han, Vilogo pulled her to her feet by the hair and used her body as a shield.
"I'm sure Jabba would find her valuable."
"She has nothin' to do with this."
"She does now."
Han held out his blaster. "I'll go with you, just don't hurt her."
"Care to drop your blaster?"
Han opened his hand and the blaster clattered against the ground.
"If you think I'm going to let you take Han, you're gravely mistaken," Leia said.
Vilogo jerked her hair, forcing Leia to lift her chin. The Fivoca laughed, and Leia cringed.
"A lot of fire in this one. Tell me, little one, what are you going to do about it?"
The princess growled. She twisted around, pulled the blaster from her belt, and aimed it at Vilogo's abdomen. The Fivoca caught her hand and forced her to point it at her stomach. He shoved his finger over her trigger finger and started to squeeze. Before he could get a shot off, Vilogo fell to the ground, pulling Leia with him.
Han picked up his blaster and looked up at their defender. He grimaced as he saw an Imperial officer flanked by five Stormtroopers. He pointed his weapon at the officer. Leia lifted her head and narrowed her eyes.
"Hemit," she breathed.
Han glanced down and saw her tuck her blaster into her belt behind her back.
"Princess Leia Organa," the Imperial officer said as if her name was the most vulgar thing he ever had in his mouth. "This is the last place I expected to find you. But this is a world of criminals, so I'm sure you fit in. "You even keep the company of criminals.
"It's finally good to meet you, Han Solo," Hemit sneered. "I've heard much about you."
"Funny, I never heard of you."
Hemit smirked. "I must say that I'm surprised that you joined the rebellion. From what I heard, your loyalty lies in yourself."
"Han has nothing to do with the Alliance," Leia said. "I hired him to be my pilot. That's all."
"Then he picked the wrong job. Your Highness, you're a criminal and a traitor. He should've known better than associate with a known traitor."
"It is you who is a traitor, a traitor to Alderaan."
"I believe that the destruction of Alderaan lies on your shoulders."
She swallowed but kept her shoulders straight. "You turned your back on your own home the moment you joined the Empire."
"Weren't you a member of the Imperial Senate?"
"I fought for the rights of the beings in the galaxy."
"Yes, while you secretly served the Rebellion. You put our planet in danger."
Leia opened her mouth then closed it. Han glanced frowned when he saw Leia's face. While her expression remained neutral, her eyes revealed her guilt.
"You know it to be true," Hemit taunted.
"Alderaan was always in danger. It was the center of the galaxy. The Empire needed to make a statement about their power."
"Rebel propaganda. I'm not interested. You will pay for your treason. Stand up. Both of you."
Han stepped on his left leg and pushed himself up. He then lifted his right foot and pushed it against the ground. He was relieved to discover that he had gained some control of it. The last thing he wanted was for the Imperial officer to know his weakness. Leia slowly stood up but didn't raise her hands.
"I will be rewarded well for catching the most-wanted traitor in the galaxy."
Leia scanned the area. She licked her lips as her hand went behind her back. Han clenched his jaw, fearing that she would get herself killed. She whipped out her blaster and pointed it at Hemit. She fired but missed her target. The Stormtroopers prepared to fire.
"Stop!" Hemit ordered. "A very unwise move, Your Highness. Solo's life is insignificant in the Empire's life. But yours is a different story."
Leia watched the Stormtroopers point their rifles at Han.
"Are you going to be responsible for another death?"
Leia's eyes traveled across the row of Stormtroopers. She rolled her lips between her teeth and lifted the blaster to her temple. The Stormtroopers lowered their weapons to shoulder level.
"You won't be rewarded if I'm dead."
Hemit's green eyes widened for the briefest moment. His lips then slid into a sly grin. "Darth Vader may want you dead, but the Emperor prefers you alive. I'd prefer to gain favor with the Emperor, but gaining favor with Darth Vader would be just as good."
Leia glanced at Han who glared at Hemit. Han's hazel eyes slid to the princess. She then held out her arm and released the blaster. Han dove and caught the blaster in the air. He fired at the Imperial officer as he shielded Leia with his body. Hemit cried out when the bolt hit him in the chest. He fell backwards. The Stormtroopers shot at Leia and Han. Han fired a few more shots but his aim was off due to the tingling in his arm. There were two Stormtroopers left. Han cradled Leia's head and rolled himself and Leia out of the way of the laser bolts. Lying on top of Leia he raised his blaster.
Just as he was about to shoot, shots rang out from behind him, hitting the Stormtroopers square in the chest. Han's mouth fell open, and he lifted his head. He twisted his body around and sported a lop-sided grin.