Warning... Warning... I didn't obey my own 'rules' when writing this. The rule about ignoring the Vong and everything beyond that not happening... aren't rules made to be broken?

Killik Hive

His cell was dank, dark and smelled cloyingly sweet. The once white shirt was covered with so much dirt and blood it looked mottled brown. His feet were bare, the soles of his feet blackened and charred - a very effective method of ensuring he could not escape. He had no idea how long he'd been held a prisoner in this place.

Every once in a while, he could hear the screams of fellow prisoners as they were dragged to their deaths. And a terrible death it was. The insect-like creatures that held them all captive would choose one of their victims, and take that warm blooded creature to the main hive where all the arthropods would swarm around, impaling the victim with long, sharp proboscises. Then the 'meal' would be sucked dry of all blood, leaving only bones and shriveled flesh and organs. A painful, slow death was in store for all the Humans, Wookiees, Biths, and other beings held in this strange dungeon.

It was only a matter of time before it was his turn, unless some miracle happened. If his friends or family could once again pull off the impossible, and rescue him from his fate, like they'd done before... He coughed violently, and red blood speckled his lips. His breathing was becoming more labored, since he had been beaten unconscious during his capture. The beating had hardly been necessary, since his beloved ship's hull had been breached. He remembered being shot down, crashing onto the planet's surface, his own body as broken as his destroyed ship. He shut his eyes, barely clinging to awareness.

Then he heard a voice... a very familiar voice. "Dad?"

It took all his effort to open his eyes and look. "Anakin?" He decided the high fever must be making him hallucinate. Anakin was dead... he'd been dead for five years.

"Dad... you're not hallucinating."

Great. Now his hallucination was telling him he wasn't hallucinating. "I must be," he mumbled softly.

"No. You're not. I've come for you, Dad."

"Come for me?"

"Mom and Uncle Luke can't get to you in time, and I'm not letting you die like that. You have to come with me. Now."

Han forced himself to raise his head, feeling as though the dark cell were spinning with the exertion. "Where?"

"To the other side. With me, and Chewie."

"Chewie's here?"

Anakin Solo smiled. "On the other side, Dad. And you'll finally get to meet your parents, too."

Suddenly, he understood. "I'm dying."

"Yes, you're dying. But unless you take my hand, it won't be fast enough. The creatures will come for you in a few minutes. So you have to come. Now."

"But what about Leia... your mom? She'll come here to rescue me... and I'll be dead." He coughed again, barely able to get his breath.

"I've already spoken to Uncle Luke," Anakin answered. "He's told Mom. She's upset, but understands not to come here. If they did, they'd all die trying to rescue you."

"Can't... can't let that... happen."

"No, we can't." Anakin reached his glowing hand down to his father. "Just take my hand, Dad. I promise, you and Mom will someday be together again, before you know it. Time doesn't matter where we're going."

Han heard scuffling sounds outside his cell door, the clang of metal keys. Then he looked into his son's blue eyes... the color of Luke's eyes. He reached up, clasping his youngest son's fingers.

It was surprisingly easy to stand up. He watched as the door swung open and the insect creatures swarmed into the room. Han turned his eyes down, saw his own battered, broken body lying on the floor, then heard the creatures scream in anger and frustration that their meal was already dead.

"Dad," Anakin said, taking his arm. "We have to go." He pointed to a tunnel of light.

"Is Chewie really in there?"

"Everyone is in there," Anakin answered, grinning at his father. "Or they will be, very soon."

"Did I ever tell you how sorry I am how I acted -"

Anakin stopped Han from going any further. "I know, Dad. I've always known." He smiled as Han embraced him tightly. "Come on. You'll like it over there. Chewie's been waiting for you to help him fix up the Falcon."

"The Falcon? You mean..."

The Jedi nodded, and guided his father toward the light.

THE END

Yes, I killed my beloved Han in this story! Twenty lashes for DKB! I did warn you some of these stories would be sad.