THE EIGHTH [han solo]

[2.01]

Just a few weeks later and Octavia was perfectly settled in, but she and Han hadn't spoken another word to each other. Leia was visually uncomfortable by their silent treatment, as was Luke. They all ate breakfast together, Octavia remaining ice hold, and Han indifferent. The other two were experiencing increasing amounts of frustration. After the fiasco that was breakfast, Octavia wrapped up, ready to head out on a mission. It was just scouting, but it was better than spending her days doing nothing. A perimeter check, then she'd go out on the Tauntaun that had been designated to her. Others on her scouting mission included Luke, who'd be with her at all times, Leia insisted it was so she wouldn't get lost, but Octavia had a sneaking suspicion that it was because she didn't want her to run off again. Han was taking the other side of the perimeter, so Octavia was grateful that she had Luke to do all the talking. They set out before dawn, and were told by a worried Leia to be back by before dusk. The day went by quickly, Luke and Octavia talked about Obi-Wan and the Jedi, as well as the force. It was indeed an interesting conversation to have, especially since Luke was force-sensitive too. As they were finishing their sweep, Luke noticed something in the sky, Octavia took out her binoculars and looked up at it, puzzled.
"I think it's a probe droid." She muttered.
"Echo Three to Echo Seven.  Han, old buddy, do you read me?" Luke asked.
"Loud and clear, kid.  What's up?" Han responded a few moments later.
"Well, we finished our circle.  We don't pick up any life readings." Luke said.
"There isn't enough life on this ice cube to fill a space cruiser. The sensors are placed, I'm going back."
"Right. We'll see you shortly.  There's a meteorite that hit the ground near here. We want to check it out. It won't take long." Unlike Han, Luke wasn't pretending Octavia didn't exist.
"Woahhh! Steady girl!" Octavia yelled. Her Tauntaun had reared up, Octavia dug her nails into it, attempting to hold on as it tossed her across the ice, she landed headfirst and her vision went black. Luke stood up, drawing his weapon, heading to Octavia, he checked her pulse, breathing a sigh of relief that she was okay, he looked around for the disturbance. A huge Wampa Ice creature hit him flat in the face. He fell unconscious into the snow beside Octavia, and the terrified screams of the Tauntaun were cut short by the horrible snap of its neck being broken. The Wampa Ice Creature grabbed Luke by one ankle and Octavia by the other and pulled both of them away.

[REBEL BASE
HOTH]

"Where's Luke?" Han asked, wandering the Base almost aimlessly.
"I don't know, him and Octavia haven't clocked in yet." Leia responded, busy instructing people around. Han waved violently at a passing deck officer.
"Where's Commander Skywalker?" He asked.
"I haven't seen him. It's possible he came in through the south entrance with Octavia." He said.
"It's possible? Why don't you go find out? It's getting dark out there."
"Yes, sir." The deck officer left hurriedly.
"Sir, Commander Skywalker hasn't come in through the south entrance. Neither has Captain Nightshade. They might have forgotten to check in."
"Not likely. Are the speeders ready?"
"Not yet. We're having trouble adapting them to the cold."
"Then we'll have to go out on Tauntauns."
"Sir, the temperature's dropping too rapidly-" The deck officer said, trying to stop Han.
"That's right. And my friend is out in it." He said, still ignoring Octavia.
"I'll cover sector twelve. Have com-control set screen alpha." The assistant officer said. Han pushed through the troops and mounted a Tauntaun.
"Your Tauntaun'll freeze before you reach the first marker."
"Then I'll see you in hell!" Han yelled, riding out.

[UNKNOWN AREA
HOTH]

Luke and Octavia were hung upside down, ankles frozen into icy stalactites. Octavia opened her eyes blinking a few times, and waking up, shaking from the cold. She immediately looked to Luke, checking he was okay, one side of his face was covered in a dried mask of frozen blood.
"Luke! Luke." She yelled, trying to wake him. He opened his eyes. Luke pulled himself up, grabbing a hold of his ankles, and tried to unfasten the restraints. Exhausted, he dropped back into his hanging position.
"Are you alright?" He asked Octavia. As he hung there, he spied his lightsaber lying near a pile of his discarded gear, about three feet out of reach. The Ice Creature was coming back, giving Octavia a burst of adrenaline.
"I'm fine, just get us out of here." She said, and Luke focused on the saber. His hand strained toward the weapon, he squeezed his eyes tight in concentration. Just as the ice creature loomed over Octavia, the lightsaber jumped into Luke's hand. He instantly ignited it, swinging up, and cut himself loose from the ice. He quickly sliced through Octavia's retainers, and she dug out her secret knife from her boot. She stabbed at the Ice Creature's eye, it roared and the creature moved back, his giant yellow eye bleeding. Luke scrambled to his feet, silently thanking Octavia for distracting it. He swung his lightsaber and the beast screamed in pain.
"Thanks." Octavia said, quickly cleaning her blade and shoving it back down into her boot.
"Welcome." He muttered, turning off his lightsaber. They were both beaten up and exhausted, stumbling out of the cave and looking to the sky.
"How long has it been?" Octavia asked, "Luke? Luke!" She asked, before watching as he fell forward and rolled down the snow bank. Octavia ran after him, he was unconscious, she huddled close to him, trying to blink but it became harder and harder, as ice settled on her eyelashes and eyebrows, her breath was visible, and she couldn't feel her arms or legs. A figure appeared in her vision.
"Dad?" She asked, seeing Obi-Wan in his robes.
"You're so brave Octavia. You need to train." He said, still too far away for her to tell if he were real.
"I don't- what?" Octavia weakly asked, feeling faint.
"There is a lightsaber waiting to be made. Let the force guide you." He said, disappearing into the snowstorm. Han pulled up and leaped off his mount. He hurried to his snow-covered friend, cradling Luke in his arms. Han's Tauntaun let out a low, pitiful bellow, but Han's concern was with Luke, and he shook him urgently.
"Luke! Luke! Don't do this, Luke. Come on, give me a sign here." Han said, but Luke doesn't respond. Han began frantically rubbing and slapping Luke's unconscious face. As he started to lift the Luke up, Han heard a rasping sound behind him. He turned, just in time to see his Tauntaun stagger and then fall over into the snow. Han carried Luke to the moaning beast. Then, with a final groan, the Tauntaun expired.
"Not much time." Han muttered, picking up Luke's lightsaber and slinging the Tauntaun open. He pushed Luke's into the dead animal, winging slightly.
"Ben... Ben..." Luke mumbled. "Hang on, kid."
"Dagobah system... Dagobah..."
"This may smell bad, kid..."
"Yoda..."
"...but it will keep you warm...til I get the shelter built." Han said. He winced, grimacing. "And I thought they smelled bad on the outside." He said, the wind had picked up considerably, making it difficult for  them to move. Han removed a pack from the dead creature's back, taking out a shelter container. He began to set up what could only be described as pitiful protection against the bitter Hoth night. He began to snuggle into it, but then saw her, blonde hair spilling into the snow, he'd not seen it before, too distracted with Like to notice her. Her skin was even paler than normal, her lips blue and some of her skin peeling, icicles on her eyelashes and brows, eyes gently closed. He huffed, swallowing his pride and pulling her into his survival shelter, pulling her close to him to try and share body heat, clutching her blue fingertips in his hands, trying to make her warm again. The reason he was so mad was because he thought she was dead, and he didn't want to loose her again, even though he was probably going to leave, he didn't want her to die.
"Oh I'm sorry Princess, I'm really sorry. Please hang on." He muttered desperately, his words visible on the air like his breath.

"This is Rogue Two. this is Rogue Two. Captain Solo, do you copy? Commander Skywalker, do you copy? Captain Nightshade, do you copy? This is Rogue Two."
"Good morning. Nice of you guys to drop by." Han said, a little weak, but alive. He was still holding Octavia close to him, worried about her and Luke. The small shelter Han set up was covered with snow on the windward side. A makeshift antenna rested gingerly on top the snowdrift. Han spotted Zev's snowspeeder approaching in the distance, and pushed Octavia, still unconscious, off him and began waving his arms frantically at the tiny craft.

[MEDICAL CENTRE
HOTH REBEL BASE]

Luke was sat up in a recovery-room bed, weak but smiling. His face had terrible wounds from the Wampa's attack. Thunder was sat on Luke's lap, mewing violently.
"I'm sorry Thunder, she'll be out soon." He muttered, and the cat settled down slightly, lit looked almost like it was pouting. Threepio walked into the room, and Artoo rolled in.
"Master Luke, sir, it's so good to see you fully functional again." Threepio said and Artoo beeped.
"Artoo expresses his relief, also." Han walked in, Chewbacca right behind him.
"How are you feeling, kid? You don't look so bad to me. In fact, you look strong enough to pull the ears off a Gundark." Han joked, grinning. Luke stroked the cat, smiling.
"Thanks to you." Luke said.
"That's two you owe me, junior." Han turned as Leia entered the room.
"Luke! I'm so glad you're okay." She said, half-hugging him, and then pulled back, puzzled.
"Where's Octavia?" She asked.
"Still in surgery, got hurt pretty bad." Luke said, Han awkwardly looked away. Leia smiled, tight-lipped.
"Well, I'm glad you're okay Luke." She said. A droid exited the surgery room.
"We have competed our treatment on Captain Nightshade. She will be up and about in no time." The droid said, and Leia broke out into a relived sigh. Two other droids rolled her out, she was still asleep, but she looked better than she had when people brought her in. She was breathing steadily. Thunder meowed, and launched herself from Luke's lap, into Octavia's bed, pawing at her shoulder. Octavia began to wake up, her violet eyes drugged and un-alert. Soon enough she fully woke up, and smiled, a very drugged and vacant smile, the pain medication must've been strong with this one.
"Luke! I'm so glad you're alive!" She said. "How did we get back?"
"Actually, that was Han, he saved us." Her face fell ever so slightly, and she muttered a quiet 'thank you' to Han.
"You owe me Princess." He said, the second words that they'd spoken to each other.
"Oh for Kriff's sake!" Leia yelled. "Just make up already!" She huffed and crossed her arms, practically storming out. Luke raised his eyebrows, turning the other way.
"There's no way I'm apologising." Octavia said.
"I did nothing wrong, you're the one who deserted us, everyone thought you were dead! Leia was the only one who kept the line open on the mere hope you weren't dead." Han said, being stubborn as ever.
"I told you I'd be gone! I needed answers! It wasn't my fault I couldn't get in touch with you all! I didn't expect you to wait up for me, I wanted you to all carry on, honestly!" Octavia huffed. Luke had already started to shuffle out of the room, trying to avoid the wrath that would ensue.
"Listen Princess." Han practically spat. "I actually care about you! Is that so hard to get? You ran off and I thought you were dead! I was distraught! You don't give a shit about me!"
"That's where you're wrong Solo! I care about you!" She yelled. "I care about you and I care about Luke and Leia and everyone one this damned base!"
"Well, don't get all mushy on me, Princess!" He yelled back. "You won't have to deal with me for much longer! I'm leaving." He said and Octavia's jaw dropped.
"Han, we need you! The rebellion needs you!" Octavia said.
"We?" He asked.
"Yes. The rebellion would suffer without you and your smuggling skills come on! I'm not going to be the only smuggler for them now am I?"
"Oh, what about you need?" Han asked.
"I need? I don't know what you're talking about." Octavia said, with finality. Han shook his head, fed up.
"You probably don't." He rolled his eyes. She shifted in her sheets, Thunder cowering away from chaos.
"And what precisely am I supposed to know?" She asked.
"Come on! You want me to stay because of the way you feel about me." Han said, and Octavia scoffed loudly.
"Yes. You're a great help to us. You're a natural leader..." She repeated
"No! That's not it. Come on. Aahhh - uh huh! Come on." Han encouraged. Then Octavia found what he was getting at.
"You're imagining things." She stated.
"Am I? Then why are you here? Afraid I was going to leave without giving you a goodbye kiss?" Han asked, scornfully teasing.
"I'd just as soon kiss a Wookiee." Octavia stated, outraged.
"I can arrange that" Han mumbled.
"And besides! I can't exactly move right now!" She violently gestured at her body, which wasn't strong enough to move.
"Fine." He said, storming out. Octavia breathed a sigh of relief, almost crying from pain and exhaustion.