FLYING SOLO ➳ luke skywalker

SIX! IMMINENT DEATH

IN the fear of the moment, Analia completely forgot all about her wounded leg, and so she didn't think to shield it in her fall through the garbage shoot. Instant regret swamped her when she came out at the other end; she helped as a sharp pain rocketed through her leg.

Chewbacca was already banging at the door, trying to force it open so they could get out, while Princess Leia was attempting (and failing) to stay as far away from the ground as possible by climbing on top of the piles of garbage. Analia understood why. Beneath the garbage mounds there was a pool of slimy water, so disgustingly green that it turned Analia's stomach.

That would be the second time she had the uncontrollable urge to vomit in front of the princess in the space of five minutes. This definitely wasn't Analia's best look. Her jitteriness probably didn't help—every time she accidentally met Leia's eyes, she promptly looked away, scratching at the back of her neck or picking at her nails. She definitely didn't seem at all suspicious.

"I'd move out of the way of that chute if I were you," Leia said. "Or else you might get—"

Before Analia had the chance to fully register Leia's words and react to the echoing sound of yelling that was coming from the chute, Luke shot out of the end, knocking Analia right over and into the garbage. He landed on her back but quickly scrambled away, apologising profusely.

"I'm so sorry—" Luke was saying frantically as he offered Analia his hand. She declined, instead heaving herself to her feet (unsteadily, as the small hills of garbage weren't exactly the most stable surfaces).

Ignoring Luke's bumbling apologies entirely, Analia held her blaster up and aimed it at the door.

"Chewie, move," she ordered.

As soon as Chewbacca stepped aside, Analia shot at the door, but this didn't at all have the desired effect. The laser ricocheted off the walls, forcing the four of them to drop to their knees in the wet garbage and hope for the best, all the while Chewie wailed in alarm. Something sticky clung to Analia's hair and, shivering in disgust, she shook it out before she could see what it was.

"Okay," Analia started, quite breathlessly, as she got shakily back to her feet. "That was my bad. Anyone else got a plan?"

At that moment, Han came tumbling out the end of the chute, and the group was complete once again.

"The garbage chute was a really wonderful idea." Han had only been down there a few seconds before he started making snarky remarks. "What an incredible smell you've discovered!"

"Han, don't be a dick," Analia chastised, though she sounded slightly exasperated. Being a dick was sort of Han's default—she had come to know this over the six or so years she had (begrudgingly) spent in his company.

"Yes, Han, don't be a dick," Princess Leia echoed, her voice seething with malice. This comment certainly turned some heads and widened some eyes because, whatever the others had been expecting of the princess, they certainly did not expect her to be one to use vulgarities.

With one last scornful luck towards Leia, Han raised his blaster and turned towards the door. "Let's get out of here."

"No, wait!" Luke cried, but not before Han shot the door, just as Analia had (stupidly) done only moments before. The others instantly ducked, but Analia was too slow to react. The laser grazed her leg and, if it hadn't been for the layering of her trousers and the bandage that was already wrapped around her wound, the pain would've been significantly worse.