FLYING SOLO ➳ luke skywalker

TWO! HYPERSPACE

ANALIA was scrubbing down the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon when the man and the boy (whose names were Luke and Ben, according to Chewbacca) arrived at Docking Bay 94. Analia saw them coming, threw her greasy cloth over her shoulder and exited the ship. She was just coming down the ramp when Luke froze and gawked distastefully at the Falcon.

"What a piece of junk!"

"Hey, watch it, blondie," Analia warned.

"She'll make point five past light speed," Han told Luke. "She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid. I've made a lot of special modifications myself."

"So have I," Analia hastily added.

"Do you mind?" Han shot at her before rounding on Ben and Luke once more. "We're a little rushed, so if you'll just get on board, we'll get out of here."

Analia waved Luke and Ben over to the ramp. Two droids—an R2 unit, Analia was almost certain, and a golden protocol droid hobbled along behind them. Luke smiled shyly at Analia as he passed, and she noted that he had the tiniest of dimples.

"Hello, sir," the protocol said to Han. "Oh, hello, miss."

"Hi, goldie," Analia greeted. "What do they call you?"

The protocol froze and began to proudly monologue, "I am C-3PO, human cyborg—"

"Shut up, Threepio!" Luke's voice came from within the ship.

Analia chuckled, momentarily glancing over her shoulder in an attempt to glimpse Luke, and then returning her gaze to C-3PO. "I'm Analia. Come on up."

"Stop that ship! Blast them!"

Analia's blood ran cold, her heart dropping to the pit of her stomach. A group of at least six Stormtroopers rushed into the Docking Bay, armour rattling threateningly. At once, she reached for her blaster, ducking as red lasers ricocheted off walls.

"Get on the ship, Lia!" Han yelled.

"Yeah, not a chance," Analia responded, rushing to Han's side to aid him. "You're not dying on me yet, big man."

Only a few short seconds had ticked by when a burning pain exploded in Analia's left leg. She let out a loud wail as she crumpled. Looking down, she could see fresh, hot blood pumping from an open wound in her leg.

"Well this is a cause for minor concern," she said.

Han seized her around the arm, heaved her off the ground and bridal carried her up the ramp, all the while he continued to dodge lasers that were flying in his direction. He slammed on the button to raise the ramp as he passed it by, before racing through the Falcon with Analia still in his arms.

"Chewie, get us out of here!" Han shouted. He lay Analia down on one of the benches, across from the one that Luke and Ben were sat on.

"Woah, woah, what happened?" Luke jumped to his feet at once. He hurried over to Analia with concern written all over his face, eyebrows scrunched up and forehead creased.

Without answering Luke's question, Han tossed him a bag. "Bandage her up, kid. Analia, are you okay?"

"I've been—ouch—better," she hissed in pain when trying to move her leg resulted in a sharp jabbing sensation shooting all the way up to her hip.

"Uhm—I've never—"

"Give them here." Analia snatched the bag out of Luke's hand, tore it open and dug through it for bandages. She found a roll and wrapped a thick and tight wad around her leg.

"Should you not, y'know, clean the wound first?" Luke said unsurely, shifting on his feet.

"We're being chased by Imperial Stromtroopers, blondie, infection is the least of my concerns right now. Help me stand."