"I feel terrible" Han admitted to Chewbacca after the stormtroopers had left.
Chewie moaned in reply and gently helped his partner to a platform. A few seconds later, the door slid open and Leia was pushed in.
"Why are they doing this to us?"
"They never asked me any questions."
Leia was about to reply when the door slid open admitting Lando and two guards.
"Get out of here, Lando!" Han snarled.
"Just listen, will you? Vader has agreed to turn Leia and Chewie over to me."
"Over to you?"
"They'll have to stay here, but at least they'll be safe."
Han found himself wondering what exactly Lando considered safe. 'Yeah, I bet you're really broken-up that Leia has to stay with you.'
"What about Han?" Leia asked, struggling to keep her voice steady.
"Vader's giving him to the bounty hunter."
Leia's expression registered surprise and she reached over to squeeze Han's shoulder comfortingly. "Vader wants us all dead."
"He doesn't want you at all! He's after someone called Skywalker."
"Luke?" Han had a bad feeling about where this was going.
"Lord Vader has set a trap for him."
"And we're the bait" concluded Leia.
Han couldn't stand it any longer. "You fixed us all pretty good, didn't you?" Slowly he eased himself off the platform. "My friend!" At these last, accusing words, Han lunged at Lando and his fist connected squarely with Lando's jaw. A second later though, the guards brought him crashing to the floor.
"Stop!" Lando cried suddenly. "I've done all I can. I'm sorry I couldn't do better but I've got my own problems."
Han raised himself slightly to glare at his former friend. "Yeah, you're a real hero."
Lando shrugged then he and his guards left.
"You certainly have a way with people," Leia laughed as she and Chewie helped Han back to the platform.
"I know why Vader wants Luke" Han said abruptly. "He's finally figured it out."
"Figured what out?"
"That Luke's his son."
Leia regarded Han for a long moment then slowly nodded. "No wonder he was so eager to catch us."
"There's more though and I want you to be honest, princess. Who do you love more, me or Luke?"
Chewie snickered.
Leia folded her arms, clearly annoyed. "We're prisoners of the Empire and that's all you can think about? Look, you want me to say I'd rather have Luke here?"
"Would you?"
"Han….it's not the time for this!"
"Leia, this game of yours has to end. There was only ever one qualified player."
Leia smirked. "Tough luck, flyboy, if you can't handle it"
Han managed a sly grin. "I wasn't talking about me. It's about Luke."
"And what's wrong with Luke?"
"Luke's your twin brother."
Instantly the amusement vanished from Leia's face. "You mean, all this time…?"
"I'm not making this up, if that's what you're thinking."
"Then Darth Vader is my father." Leia paled slightly, overwhelmed by the revelation. Thoughts whirled through her mind at a dizzying rate. Luke, her brother? It was so incredible and yet somehow she knew Han was right. All this time, she'd been in love with…her brother? More terrible was the revealing of Darth Vader as her father. After all he'd done…to be known as his daughter…
Leia felt something wet on her cheek and noticed the concerned expression on Han's face. "Why are you telling me this now?"
"Do you think you should know? Leia…I'm sorry. If there's any…"
"Please, just hold me" Leia whispered, unable to say anything else.
After seeing such endurance from her, Han found it hard to believe this was the same Leia. Still, he loved her. Ignoring the faint twinges of pain, Han tenderly embraced Leia and held her close. Even though they were in a potentially dangerous situation, at that moment Han wouldn't have it any other way. 'Good thing Luke's her brother.'
"I'm glad you're here, Han" Leia managed at last.
"So am I."
Darth Vader surveyed the carbon-freezing chamber disapprovingly. "This faculty is crude, but it should be adequate enough to transport Skywalker on his journey to the Emperor." He turned to a nearby technician. "Has Skywalker's ship landed yet?"
The technician flinched slightly. "No, Lord Vader, we've no sign of any approaching ship in the system."
"So…Skywalker is proving himself to be a worthy opponent. Quite surprising…"
Lando regarded Vader uneasily. "Shall I see your ship readied, Lord Vader?" he knew he was taking his life in his hands with the question, but it was a necessary risk.
Fortunately, Darth Vader was not disturbed by the question. "It would seem we have overstayed our welcome. Since Skywalker is not coming, we might as well leave. Very well, Calrissian, take Captain Solo and the princess to my ship."
"That was never a term of our agreement" Lando argued. "Leia was to stay with me!"
Vader replied in a cold, warning tone "I'm altering the deal. Pray I don't alter it any further."
Lando's hand flew to his throat, but a second later, the tightening sensation was gone.
"What about the bounty for Solo?" Fett demanded suddenly.
"The deal was you'd get Solo after I captured Skywalker. Accompany Calrissian, bounty hunter, then you may take your leave."
Fett's attention remained on Vader. "What about my reward for capturing the Millennium Falcon?"
"I'll credit you half, but that's all. Take it or leave it."
"It will suffice, for now" Fett grudgingly replied.
"Don't make trouble for me, bounty hunter" warned Vader icily. "If you get in my way, I will deal with you most unpleasantly. The same goes for you, Calrissian."
Lando nodded hastily and headed for the door. The sooner he got Han and Leia out of here, the sooner he would be rid of Darth Vader.
Then he could breath freely again.
"I'm never going to let this happen again," he muttered.