I don't know how it happened. One moment, I'm with Leia, then, the next moment, Lando ratted us out and Darth Vader captured us, chained up Chewie, and me, and had Leia and this bounty hunter guy, who I assume was hired by Vader himself, stand back. Vader pushed me onto this weird platform with a large machine above my head.
"How do we know this'll work against Skywalker, Lord Vader?" the bounty hunter asked.
"Captain Solo will test it for me," Vader said, in his rather, deep, and surprisingly smooth, voice. For being an evil mastermind, the dude sure has a calming voice. Chewie growled from the corner, and while Vader and this guy were talking, I sneaked over to them.
"What is he going to do to you?" Leia asked.
"I don't know," I replied, trying to stay calm. When I panic, Chewie starts panicking and no one wants to see that. "But I'll be okay. I promise."
Chewie growled again. The bounty hunter grabbed my arm and pulled me back onto the platform.
"Put him in," Vader commanded. The platform steamed, then began lowering into the ground. "Han!" Leia cried. "Han! I love you!"
I smirked softly at her. "I know." The platform lowered until I couldn't see Leia's face anymore. I closed my eyes and inhaled. Whatever's coming, bring it on! I'm not scared of Vader! And I'll prove him that!
The strange machine above my head started lowering, slowly opening. I heard Chewie growl, but quickly quieted. The machine closed around me. Steam filled the inside...then all went dark...
The Falcon spun around in circles. "Whoo-hoo!" I cheered. Chewie growled at him. "Hey, easy, Fuzzball. I'm not going to crash! This is mt pride and joy, and she's not going down that easy. Besides," I leaned back in my chair, "there's no one out here. It's perfectly-"
The Falcon shook and a large thud sounded from the west side. Chewie growled. "Okay, okay, I heard you loud and clear," I replied sarcastically. "No need to yell."
I shot the Falcon upwards. "Chewie, get down to the cannons and get that thing off of us!" Chewie agreed for a moment, before he decided to question me. "No, I don't know what it was, yes, I'll figure it out. Once you get down there!"
Chewie rolled his eyes at me, then proceeded to run downstairs to the cannon. I flipped on the scanner. I watched it as it beeped, flashing a green dot.
The scanner lagged for a moment. "Come on, old girl," I said. "Don't fail me now!" I gave the scanner a good whack. The screen flickered out, then came back on. With trouble. "Chewie? We've got company! A lot of it!"
Chewie growled a reply, then started shooting at the T.I.E. Fighters. I twirled the ship, dodging a few of the missiles shot from them. After a few moments, Chewie handled all of the T.I.E. Fighters, and cheered. "Way to go, buddy!" I cheered. I did a victory spin, before Chewie growled at me. "Well, maybe you shouldn't have had that burrito for lunch, huh?" I teased.
He growled angrily. "Okay, okay, fine," I sighed. I stopped spinning.
The Falcon shook again, just slightly this time, then there came a beeping. "Chewie, what is it?" I asked, trying to keep the Falcon steady. Chewie roared. "What do you mean you can't see it?" He roared again. I rotated the ship steady as something crashed into the engine. "Chewie!" I cried. "Hang on!"
I closed my eyes as an unavoidable asteroid crashed into our ship. There came a large shaking, I fell, and everything went black again.
I woke to find myself in the cantina on Tatooine. The classic music they always played blasted in my ears for a second, before there was a ringing in my ears. Chewie growled, but it was almost inaudible, from the ringing. Chewie grumbled and shook me.
"Huh? What?" I asked. "What happened? Where am I?" Chewie looked at me with concern in his eye, then pointed at the drink in my hand. I looked at the mostly empty cup, and chuckled, nervously. "Oh, right, I must've had too much to drink."
Greedo walked up to my table, and sat down on the chair in front of me. "So, Han, up to anything?" he asked. I know he doesn't speak Basic, but I learned to speak his language when I had to borrow money from him. I never paid him back. He must finally want-wait. Didn't I do this before?
"Not gonna answer, hm?" Greedo asked, breaking my thoughts. "Are you too good to answer me?"
"What? No, I-"
"Oh, I see how it is, Han," Greedo said. "You just don't have the money, do ya?"
"Well, no, but I-"
"Ah-ha!" Greedo cheered, pointing at me. "I knew it! In that case, I'll just be taking your ship then. I say it's a fair deal for those credits ya borrowed from me, hm?" Greedo stood. Chewie growled at Greedo, and tackled him. "Hey!" Greedo yelled, on the ground. "Get off of me, ya stupid furball!"
"Hey, don't pick on Chewie!" I replied back.
"Fight!" a voice called from the other side of the bar. People around us started fighting. Chair and bottles were being thrown over our heads. Greedo, meanwhile, pulled out his gun and pointed it at Chewie.
"Hey, don't point that gun of yours at my pal!" I cried.
"Get him off of me, or he gets it!" Greedo yelled. Chewie grumbled a complaint, then climbed off of Greedo. "Ah, good," he sighed, dusting off his clothes. He turned, only to pull his gun back out at Chewie.
I pulled my gun on him and shot him once. The bar stopped fighting, and stared at Greedo's body, steaming, on the ground. "He killed him!" a woman Twi'lek yelled in Basic.
"Get him!" another man yelled.
"Chewie, time to go," I said, placing my blaster back on my belt and walking towards the door.
Chewie made it outside and growled for me. I shoved my way through the crowd, only to be stopped short by a tall Twi'lek man. "You ain't going nowhere, bub," he said, putting his hands on his hips.
"Oh, really?" I asked. I faked a left, then turned right, slid past him, and laughed. I have to admit, I did get a bit cocky, but what's the problem in getting a little ahead of yourself? After all, I've been inside of this bar millions of times and never once got arrested. Even if I did purposefully start a fight. Which doesn't happen too often.
Just as I saw Chewie outside, he called to me. Someone threw a chair at the back of my head, blacking me out again.
I woke a while later, I can only assume, since it was dark, in a cold, damp, cell, chained to the wall, with my arms up. "Ugh, Chewie, what time is it?" I asked, groggily. Chewie's response told me it was a little past nine. "Wha-what happened?" I asked, rolling my head around. Ugh, my head feels so heavy. And my wrists hurt. How long have we been in here?
Chewie told me that we've only been in here a couple of hours after we got arrested from the cantina. "Are you alright?" I asked. He roared an agreement which made me sigh of relief. Oh thank goodness nothing too bad happened. "Chewie? Did you see a way out of here?"
He told me that the only way out was the get the key hung up on the wall, next to the stone door. He said that ring had the only keys to our cages and the way out. And looking around, I saw my blaster was on the table outside. There is currently no guard, so either the guards are shifting shifts, or there's a slacker.
The slackers are easy to handle. They don't like doing the hard work in the Empire, and I sometimes hear them talking behind Vader's back. Those ones you could easily sneak past. The loyal ones though...now that's a different story. They're like masters and apprentices. They're stuck together, and nearly impossible to penetrate through. I could never find a weak point in their defenses.
"Chewie, is there a way to get my blaster?" I asked. Chewie said he could get my blaster if he knocks it on the ground, but he can't find anything nearby the knock it down with. Not even a pebble. Hm. This'll be tricker than I thought. The guards are good this time.
Chewie said he could use his blaster, but he can't reach it with his foot. "Is it propped against the wall?" I asked. He roared a yes.
I stood up. It relieved a lot of stress on my arms, but my legs were asleep, and partly in pain. But there's no time to worry about that now. If I can vibrate the walls enough, Chewie can get his blaster and we'll be home free.
I moved as far from the wall as I could, and kicked it. I kicked it a couple of times, keeping an eye out for a guard, which, weirdly enough, never came in through the door. Chewie roared at me to tell me to stop, reached for his blaster, and shot his chains. At least, I assumed, since I heard chains hit the ground.
Chewie proceeded to shoot something else, probably the lock on his door, since he was out free the next moment. He picked up my blaster, shot off my lock, then used the keys to release my chains. Chewie helped me out, and unlocked the door.
It was a bad choice, however, as there actually was a guard right outside the door. He was just coming in too. "Hey!" he yelled. "You're not supposed to be out here!" My blaster was missing a piece so I couldn't use it. My first instinct was to punch him. Which I did.
I punched him in the nose.
Chewie cheered and he led us down the hallway. Unfortunately, there were more of them. More guards dressed in black.
Chewie shot a wooden bar on the roof, which splintered in front of them and collapsed. We were trapped now though, so we took a turn down a different hallway. "Halt! Prisoners!" came a voice from behind us. Chewie handed me a pack, which had a backup piece for my blaster. "Thanks, buddy," I said. I pulled it out, pushed it onto my blaster, loaded it, then turned around and shot a red barrel.
The barrel exploded, and the guards went flying. "Ha, ha! Take that!" I called. Chewie and I high-fived, before we stopped. Chewie shot the blocked up wall, and we were out.
Except one guard didn't like that too well, and thought it'd be a good idea to hit me with the butt of his blaster. And not just any blaster. One of those big ones. And in just a few seconds, I was out again.
I woke with a start, shooting up. "Chewie!" I cried when I did. Chewie ran over and hugged me. "Why does this keep happening?" I asked, running my hand through my hair. Chewie just questioned me. "I mean...why? This...I keep blacking out, and all this just feels...weird. It just doesn't settle right."
Chewie just stared at me. "Yeah, of course you don't understand," I replied, swinging my legs over the edge I was lying on in the Falcon. Chewie just grumbled but I cut him off. "I don't wanna hear it." I put my hand up as I walked to the cockpit.
I looked out the window to see a strange-looking Death Star. "Chewie, where are you taking us?"
Chewie replied. "What do you mean it's taking us in?" I cried. "Can't you see it? Why didn't you pull the Falcon away?"
Chewie roared at me. "The engine blew?" I asked. I sighed and rubbed my eyes. This is exactly what I'm talking about. It's all too strange. I'm going to black out again here too. "Are you sure none of this seems weird to you, Chewie?" I checked. Chewie growled. "The weird Death Star does but everything else was bad luck? You've got to be joking."
We waited in silence for the Falcon to get sucked into some sort of invisible tractor beam. We went into a small door that opened, just for ships, and landed gently on the ground. Knowing the inevitable, Chewie and I hid in below deck of the ship. And sure enough, they came on.
When we could, we sneaked out and into the main halls. It didn't take long for them to find us, however. We were nearly seen right away with this heightened security. "After them!" the commander cried.
Chewie shot at a couple of them, but eventually, we were outnumbered, and started taking off. I opened a door, and pulled Chewie inside. The door closed and the guards zoomed past. "Okay, I think we're safe now, pal," I said.
"Not for long," came a voice from behind us. I flinched. "Chewie, whatever you do, don't turn around," I whispered.
"Turn around and face me," he commanded. This voice is rather soft, but very angry. This must be his ship. "I said turn around!" he yelled.
"Okay, three, two, one," I said. "Slow turn." Chewie and I both turned, in opposite directions, to face the man behind us. He's nearly impossible to see in the dark. "Follow me," he said.
He turned so quickly, but he didn't stumble, then led Chewie and I to the center of the room, on a long, narrow bridge. Chewie walked first.
He stopped, so Chewie stopped a few inches from him. The man turned around again.
A lightsaber turned on at his side. The same deep, blood red as Vader's. A Sith. We're dealing with a Sith. This can't get any worse. At least I could see him now. He's nearly completely black, the only sense of life in him is his bright blue eyes.
"Why are you here?" he asked, nearly trembling.
"Well, it's not really our fault," I replied, poking my head out from behind Chewie. "Your ship WAS pulling us in-"
The man growled, which then turned into a yell, and he threw his lightsaber at an explosive barrel off on the side, using his Force to pull it back into his hand. "Why are you here?"
"I'd rather not be here," I replied bluntly. "So...we could just go and be out of your way." Something's going to happen. I can feel it. Something happened all those other times. Each time I was knocked unconscious, and then taken somewhere new after a few hours...maybe days. It's going to happen here too. I just know it. I have a bad feeling about this.
"Answer me!" he yelled. Chewie growled. He threw his lightsaber at another explosive barrel, pulling it back. His lightsaber seems off somehow.
"This is your last chance," he said. "Otherwise you'll die!"
"I said it once, and I'll say it again for you," I replied. "It's not our fault! Your ship pulled us in!"
"LIES!" he yelled. He started shaking. "You'll just die!"
"Chewie, run!" I cried. Since I was at the back, I took off first, Chewie behind me.
I got to the door, pushing the button to open it, letting in white light. "Chewie, we're almost there, we can-"
The Sith pushed his lightsaber through Chewie's body. No. This...this can't be. I'm...I'm just seeing things. Chewie's right here next to me. I...I just know it.
I looked to my side, to see that it really was empty. My hands started shaking.
The Sith pulled his lightsaber back out and pushed Chewie over the side. "CHEWIE!" I yelled. I nearly collapsed.
No, no, no, no, no. This can't be happening. My legs feel like jelly and my hands won't stop shaking. My head is pounding nearly outside of my skull, my heart sped up, and I can't stop the tears from coming down my cheeks. "CHEWIE!" I cried again. I knew it wasn't going to work. But...something inside me told me if I called again, he'll come back up. If I called again, I'll wake up from this nightmare. That he'll be alright.
"Now die," the Sith said, right above me. My breathing became bated, and I could barely breathe. My vision darkened and got blurry. I didn't care he was above me. Chewie just died. And I'll never see him again.
I heard the sound of his lightsaber, then I blacked out again.
"...n. ...an. ...Han! Han! Wake up!"
I opened my eyes, and shot up. "Take it easy," a soothing voice said next to me. "Easy, Han. Don't push yourself."
I put my hand on my chest to calm down my breathing. After a few moments, my breathing felt normal again. "I can't see," I said.
"That's just hibernation sickness," she said. I recognized her voice as Leia's. "Your vision will return with time."
There was silence for a moment while I regained my strength. Leia helped me stand, and held me up. "Where...where's Chewie?" I asked.
"He's here, don't worry," Leia said. Chewie grumbled nearby.
"Take me to him," I replied. Leia walked slowly. I could feel the ground, but my steps were uneven and sloppy. I could tell when I stumbled and nearly fell. And Leia had to keep catching me. "Here you go," Leia said. She grabbed my wrist and led it to Chewie.
She put my hand on him and let go of it. Chewie wrapped his arm around me, and Leia let go. Chewie pulled me closer. I inhaled deeply. All of that. It...it was a dream from the carbonite. It was just a hibernation dream. But...it felt so real. I was hyperventilating when I woke from the ice. Why? If it was all just fake, then why did it feel so real? Why do I feel so relieved?
"Chewie," I whispered. Chewie started walking me outside, along with Leia. I heard a second pair so I could only assume. This is really weird. It's all too real.
It's just a dream, Han. Nothing bad happened. Chewie's not going to die.
Chewie and I planned to put bombs in Starkiller Base. We entered a large room. I paused. This room. It feels familiar. Too familiar. Why?
Chewie and I agreed to meet back up by the exit once we finished planting our bombs.
I placed all mine, and had stopped by the door when I saw Ben. My son. Our son. Leia would love to see him come home. I'd want to see him be a part of our family again.
I walked towards him. "Ben," I said. "Ben, please, come home. We want our son back."
"Your son is dead," he said, turning around.
"No, he's not," I replied. "He's still in there. I know it. I can feel it. Come home with us."
This is giving me Deja Vu. Why? What is happening?
"Your son is no longer here. And you know that," Ben said. This look in his eyes. It's sad. It's a sadness I've never seen in his eyes before. "No, son. We still love you. Your mother and I want you to come home. Please. We can help you."
He stayed quiet. The sadness flickered in his eyes. I could see him thinking. And...just for a moment, I saw him. Our son. Ben Solo. "Could...could you help me with something?" he asked.
"Anything," I replied. Ben held out his broken lightsaber to me, keeping his hand low. I glanced down at it, then back into his eyes.
Before I could respond, he turned on his lightsaber. I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen. That's it. I know why this place felt familiar.
It's the place I dreamed of when Vader froze me in the carbonite. The place where Chewie died. It wasn't just any weird dream...it was a vision of the future. A strange, distorted vision. It was about me.
I inhaled. I ignored the pain in my stomach. Ben Solo. He's gone. His glint in his eyes. It's gone. But...I don't think he's dead. He's just hiding. Hiding from Kylo Ren. My son. I believe in you.
I put my hand on his cheek. I heard Chewie roar, but it was distant and muffled. There came some other yells.
Vader's carbonite ice. That thing performed a miracle. A miracle I wouldn't appreciate now, but...who knows. It did help me grow closer to Chewie, in fear of losing him. Sometimes, I still woke up with that nightmare.
It all makes sense now.
"Goodbye, son..." I whispered.
Author's Note
I've only seen the original movies once so I based Han's personality on the Skywalker Saga on my PlayStation, so I hope this was okay. I thought this was kinda a cool idea, and I'm all totally for the idea that Han had a dream he was Indiana Jones, so I decided to make another dream for him. I wanted a lot of Star Wars angst stories, and I hope this one will be a good read. I wanted to expand a little on Han and Chewie's friendship, because I thought it was a fun idea, so I decided to give it a shot!