Before Hope: Chapter 7 (Written by Kyra Organa)

“Kyra, prepare to jettison all the escape pods,” Han commanded. Kyra was itching to ask Han to clarify his plan, but as she saw that they were practically in the star destroyer’s docking bay, she decided that this is a time for actions, not words.
Once Kyra was done prepping the pods Han ordered, “Kyra, get in the hold,” he pointed towards the scan-proof smuggling compartments, “Chewie, load the spice into the escape pods.”

Kyra, still not fully understanding Han’s scheme, crawled into the compartment. “Just hold tight.” Han said, “You might be stuck down there for a while.”
“Let’s just hope that these compartments do their job,” he whispered to himself.
“Are you sure that the spice can’t fit down here?” Kyra asked finally, knowing that it was worth a lot and Jabba would not be pleased if anything happens to it.
“No,” Han sighed, “the spice’ll poison you.”
She nodded. “Release all the escape pods!” called Han. The ship creaked as the rusty pods drifted out into space. A bright light shone as the Imperials used the pods as target practice, just as he hoped. Han took a deep breath to calm his wits as they landed into the Star Destroyer.
When they landed eight heavily armed stormtroopers following an Imperial officer approached the ship. The troopers wore shiny white plastoid armor and round bleached skull-like helmets with impractically small eyeholes and a scowl echoed into each helmets’ face.
The officer was garbed in a creamy-white sharply creased uniform and a rank indicator plaque which read that her she was a lieutenant. She had pale skin with small black soulless eyes on either side of a petite nose, blond, almost white hair brutally pulled back into a bun, and an oversized mouth drawn into an eternal frown, which comically made her resemble a stormtrooper.
Han Solo and Chewbacca walked down the gangplank of the Millennium Falcon and addressed the officer as respectfully as he could muster, “Greeting Lieutenant…”
“Minn,” she said in a harsh voice.
“Lieutenant Minn…” he continued less formally as he kissed her hand. She flushed a shade of red and backhanded Han across the face. Chewbacca growled, amused. “Do not treat your superiors that way, scum,” scolded Minn angrily and then glared at Chewbacca, “What is this?”
“That’s Chewbacca,” Han said, massaging his face, pondering why he couldn’t meet a woman without them hitting him within five minutes, “my co-pilot.” Chewbacca saluted respectfully. “Don’t mock the Imperial Navy, Wookiee,” hissed Lieutenant Minn, “nothing is stopping me from sending you to Kessel.” Chewbacca growled a curse in Shyriiwook. “Troopers!” commanded Lieutenant Minn, “Hold these two… ruffians… as prisoners until you have searched the ship!”
Four of the eight stormtroopers brutally searched Han Solo and Chewbacca in an undignified way and in the process removed a small arsenal from the two prisoners. Then the soldiers bound the pilots’ wrists behind their backs, then shoved them roughly to the ground. Han hoped his plan worked.
The remaining four troopers and Lieutenant Minn searched the Millennium Falcon, tossing all objects onto the floor and successfully being as disrespectful to everything possible. “Nothing out of place Ma’am,” reported a stormtrooper.

“Bring in the scanners,” ordered Minn. Kyra was suddenly afraid. Two troopers left the ship to get the equipment while the remaining two guarded Minn. ‘I could fight and make a break for it,’ thought Kyra desperately, ‘or steal the Falcon. No. I won’t run anymore. I have to trust Han, he knows what he’s doing.’
The two troopers returned carrying a bulky device and automatically began scanning the ship for spice. “None found, Ma’am,” said one of the troopers.
“Scan for Tibanna gas,” frowned Minn.

The trooper scanned the ship once again and gave Minn the exact same report as before. “Scan for life forms then!” She hissed. The trooper began scanning the ship but stopped and stood for what seemed like eternity above Kyra’s hiding place. “Lieutenant,” the stormtrooper said, “I’m picking up strange signals over here.”
'This was supposed to be scan-proof,’ fretted Kyra. Minn rushed over to the trooper and looked at the read-out of the search. “Fool!” spat Minn, “There’s no readings of life forms!”
“There must have been a malfunction, Ma’am,” The storm trooper replied.

“There must have been a malfunction, Ma’am,” The storm trooper replied.
“I don’t want excuses, go fix it,” Minn growled, “release the pilots, so they can be on their way.” The troopers un-cuffed Han Solo and Chewbacca. Chewbacca stood up and growled ferociously at the troopers, then began to collect the weapons on the floor. Han stiffly hauled himself up, “Come on, Chewie, let’s get off this dump.” Chewbacca growled in agreement.
The couple swaggered to the gangplank of the falcon. Chewbacca went ahead and primed the engines while Han stayed behind. “So long, Lieutenant Minn, it’s been a pleasure to get to know you,” winked Han.
“Get out of my sight,” growled the disgusted officer, “I can arrest you for disrespect to the Empire.”
“Don’t kid yourself,” Han smirked, “you don’t have the heart to do such a thing.” He turned around and entered the Falcon. Within seconds the old freighter was exiting the airlock and entering the orbit of Tatooine. Once Kyra was certain they were out of the range of the Star Destroyer she leapt out of the compartment and into Han’s arms. “Whoa,” Han chuckled, “no need to get exited.”
“It really did work, Han,” she whispered, “They didn’t find me!”
“Of course they didn’t,” grinned Han, “it was my plan after all.” Chewbacca and Kyra both lovingly rolled their eyes. “Let’s land this thing,” Han said, “I’ve got to somehow pay Jabba back for his spices.” Han landed the ship right outside of Mos Eisley. The crew silently filed out of the Millennium Falcon into the warm, dry, desert climate. “Thank you so much for taking me this far,” breathed Kyra, struggling to see Han and Chewbacca’s faces in the dusk light. The sky was a large array of colors, varying from pale pink to bright red to deep blue. The twin suns barely peaked over the horizon as Kyra began to walk into Mos Eisley carting nothing more than a few credits, a blaster, and the clothes on her back. “Wait,” Han called out, his voice nearly getting lost in the pure expanse of the desert, “Chewie and I’ve been thinking on how the Falcon has been getting harder to keep up with and how we might need a mechanic.” Chewie growled quietly on how he’d never been part of that conversation. Kyra stopped walking and turned around, “Mechanic?” she asked.
"We’re referring to you,” Han said, “you’re talented with machines, and you need someone to put you under their wing.” The suns finally laid to rest under the cover of the horizon. “Like I needed when I was your age,” he added quietly.
Kyra rushed over to Han and gave him a kiss on his stubbly cheek. “I guess it’s been worth it after all,” teased Han. She grinned and gave Chewbacca a big hug. Then they walked back, hand in hand into the Millennium Falcon to get warm food. After the meal—which was full of joy and laughter—Kyra wandered into the cockpit and reclined into the engineer’s chair, recollecting on how for the first time in many months, she finally felt at home…