Before Hope: Chapter 6 (Written by Kyra Organa)

“Chewie, this is the opportunity of a lifetime!” Han argued.
Chewbacca stayed resolute. Kyra was beginning to panic. Once again the transmitter crackled to life, and a hologram appeared, “I have received orders that all ships entering other systems shall be searched. The tractor beam is locking onto your ship now.” The ship jolted. If Kyra wasn’t panicked before, she definitely was now. The small oddly shaped freighter was slowly being drawn into the gigantic maw of the nearest star destroyer. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” mouthed Han inaudibly.
Chewbacca howled in anguish. Han felt like doing the same. Han was irrational, and everyone knew it. He took a deep breath and began mentally calculating all possible escapes, as in: taking control of the star destroyer, speeding off into hyperspace while still the tractor beam [which he knew perfectly well would tear the ship in two], using the escape pods and pray that the Empire wouldn’t use them as target practice, or turning Kyra over. His mind went to a screeching halt. “Now that’s an idea that might actually work,” mumbled Han, not meaning to be overheard, but Kyra caught it anyway.
“What?” asked Kyra.
Han ignored her and continued his thoughts. If the Empire finds the spice he was transporting: he was dead. If they found Kyra: he was dead. If they found anything out of line: he was likely to have the same fate as all other alternatives. ‘But', thought Han, ‘if I put the spice in the scan-proof smuggling compartments and turn over the girl. Then I will be rewarded “substantially”, keep the spice to bring to Jabba, and then I’ll be rich!’ Han’s delusional dreams continued as Kyra and Chewbacca shot concerned glances back at the Corellian, who was drooling at the thought of so much credits. Kyra began to question her decision of not staying at Nal Hutta.
Han decided that the easiest thing to do was stun the girl. His hand slowly inched towards his blaster. Right as Kyra saw this action, she reached for her blaster. Suddenly in one swift move, they both simultaneously drew their blasters. The atmosphere was tense, the two gunslingers stood aiming their guns at one another. Chewbacca—caught in the no-mans-land of a fierce battle—was wise enough not to intervene.
Han frowned because this girl’s quick reflexes ended his reign of being the fastest gun in the outer-rim, in a draw, literally. Kyra, on the other hand was grinning confidently at her skill and Han’s irritation, but her eyes said other-wise. Han stared the girl straight into the eyes and saw something, fear, pain, loneliness, and trust. At least what small fractured bit remained in this pained child’s life.
Kyra saw something very similar in Han’s eyes as well, fear that he’ll never live a normal life. Also pain for all the things he wished he could undo, such as this very moment, a lonely boy living on the streets of Corellia, and then trust. A want for trust, more accurately; to give it and receive it. They both lowered their near-identical DL-44 blasters. For the brief moment of Han’s emotional vulnerability, he felt free, alive, and as if a burden has been lifted off his chest. Kyra felt the same, for into each other’s eyes they saw themselves. “I-I’m sorry,” stammered Han.
“No, I’m sorry,” Kyra said, throwing herself into Han’s arms. Han smiled, but not his usual charming roguish grin, but a contented, blissful smile, as he finally got something he never thought he’d ever have; someone—a near stranger—trusting him; and him trusting her back. Han suddenly backed-out of the embrace and gave Kyra one of his more roguish smirks, “I have an idea. Just trust me.”