A Valentine Story

A Valentine Story

Publisher's summary[]

She's a Princess with a fiery spirit and a hot temper to match. He's a scoundrel with a mercenary's sensibility and the heart of a hero. Together they help topple an Empire and restore order to the galaxy…And if they stop fighting long enough, they just might realize that they're in love! Set during the days leading up toThe Empire Strikes Back, Han Solo and Princess Leia find themselves trapped together on a downed starship, lost in the frozen wastelands of Hoth as a storm rages around them. And while the snow flies outside the ship, the sparks fly inside. No matter how hard they fight it, there's more going on between them than just friendship!

Plot summary[]

A lovers' quarrel[]

The narrator gives a brief recap of theHeroes of Yavin and their role during theBattle of Yavin. As theRebel Alliance works to establish a base on theplanet Hoth, sparks fly betweenPrincessLeia Organa andHan Solo. The two argue about each other's choice of fashion and resort to name calling. When Organa accuses Solo of being arrogant and overbearing, he responds that he is not a "sniveling rich boy." When Solo questions Organa's remark that she no problem "getting dirty," she punches him in the stomach.

WhenLuke Skywalker checks on Solo, he remarks that she hits like a "spoiled rich girl" and suggests she is not used to people talking back to her. When Skywalker asks why Organa is upset with him, Solo explains that she took offense when he told her that they were going to dispatch the last ten supply vessels toHoth a day early. He explains that the storm has cleared and that a Rebel Alliance general suggested Solo fly down to the base to bring much-needed supplies to the workers. When Skywalker asks why they argued, Solo explains that he andChewbacca were planning to leave the rebel base within a week.

Organa accused him of running away from his responsibilities. Solo took offense, saying that his only responsibility is to keep himself alive. He thinks that Organa is trying to justify her wealth by "playing soldiers with grownups." Solo explains that Organa hit him after he said something about her hair. When Chewie laughs, Solo responds that he should be the last person to laugh about having anything to do with hair. Skywalker advises Solo to stay away from Organa until things calm down. Solo expresses agreement with Skywalker.

A snowy flight[]

A rebel officer tells Solo and Chewbacca that the carriers are offline. Since theFalcon is undergoing repairs, the officer lends them twoM-class fighters. He warns that one of them has a bustednavicomputer and that itshydroboosters are not on autopilot, meaning it needs a co-pilot. Since the officer cannot spare pilots, Solo and Chewbacca volunteer. They are joined by Organa, who volunteers to fly with Solo. Much to Han's chagrin, Leia is permitted to join in as well.

While flying their M-class fighters, Chewie grumbles inShyriiwook, prompting Solo to tell him that he had no choice in the matter viacomlink. When Solo questions Organa's for accompanying him on a supply run, Organa responds that he has a big ego. Getting down to business, Organa tells Solo that she respects his pilot skills, bravery and appreciates his assistance to the Alliance. However, she states that she is not interested in Solo romantically. She believes he is a mercenary who has fallen in love with the Rebellion.

The crashlanding[]

When Solo asks if she looks down on him because of his class, she responds that it has nothing to do with class. When Solo makes remarks about dating women, the two start to argue again. Over the intercom, Chewbacca roars. As the two transports descend into Hoth's surface, a massive blizzard hits. The blizzard affects the ships' controls and communications. During the descent, Solo tells Chewbacca to turn on his directional beacon but Organa realizes that his comlink is down. She thinks they should head forEcho Base first and come back for Chewbacca. Just then, their M-wing's second engine explodes, causing their ship to lose control and crash.

Organa falls out of her seat but is unhurt. Following the crashlanding, Solo exits the starship to search for Chewbacca despite Organa's concerns. Solo tries valiantly at first to rescue Chewie on foot, but is knocked out by the powerful winds after running 300 metres. Organa brings Solo back into their M-wing to chastise him for his reckless actions. Solo is worried about Chewbacca's wellbeing since his beacon is inactive and they cannot track his ship. Solo blames Organa for the situation and says it would not have happened if he and Chewbacca were flying together. Solo's fierce loyalty to his co-pilot makes Organa sympathize with the rogue smuggler.

When Organa apologizes, Solo says that it is his own fault. The blizzard worsens, forcing the two to huddle together for body heat in the night. Solo is unable to sleep since he is worried about Chewbacca and attempts to contact him via comlink. Admiring the close friendship between Solo and Chewie, Organa asks Solo about his adventures with Chewbacca. As the night passes, Han shares stories of his exploits to Leia, which allows the two to bond.

This includes a story about him and Chewie fighting offNatalon Core Bandits while smugglingBarcarian claw salt. Solo explains that Chewbacca took out three of the bandits before they were captured and left for dead in a starship. He explains that Chewbacca broke his own wrist to free them from their manacle. Chewbacca then repaired the relay so that they could reach a space station. When Organa asks about a scar on his chin, Solo tells her that he got a knife wound. This amuses Organa, who says he plays the part of the pirate. The two develop feelings for each other.

Rescue and aftermath[]

Just when they are about to kiss, a Rebel scout party led byBeta Omega locates them. They are accompanied by Chewie, who is alive and well. Solo hugs Chewbacca and is relieved that the Wookiee made it to Echo Base safely. Solo tries to defend his piloting skills before hugging Chewbacca.

At Echo Base, Solo convinces Chewie they should install thehyperdrive first and attend to other repairs later. Organa joins them and finds that the repairs to theFalcon are almost complete. When she asks if he is still planning to leave nextweek, Solo volunteers to help the rebels carry out work at Echo Base. He also volunteers to help explore a trade route nearOrd Mantell. Organa thanks Solo for his generosity and assistance. While she still regards him as a mercenary, she expresses gratitude that he is deciding to stay longer with the Rebellion. She also commends Solo for being a better man than she originally thought.

Media[]

Cover gallery[]

Cover

Full cover art

Collected in[]

• Star Wars: Empire Volume 4: The Heart of the Rebellion
• Star Wars Omnibus: At War with the Empire Volume 2
• Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Rebellion Vol. 5
• Star Wars Legends: The Rebellion Omnibus Vol. 3

Appearances[]

Sources[]

• "Comics Link" —Star Wars Insider 64

Notes and references[]

External links[]

• Star Wars: A Valentine Story onDark Horse Comics'official website(backup link)