[Chapter Four]
Leia raised her hands in surrender. They were far outmatched in a fight, but she did have social skills.
"You can take us," She said.
Han clicked his tongue. "All that effort for nothing. Well, I got to see my favorite stalker before dying."
Boba snapped binders onto Leia, and gave her a shove off her feet. He next went for Chewbacca, but the wookiee had set down his burdens and made fists.
Chewie lunged at Boba and swung in a fury of blurred hair.
The bounty hunter ducked, leaned to the side, parried a fist with his elbow. He then let himself fall to the ground, where he sent two feet into Chewie's knee. The resultant howl made Leia cringe.
Their fight drew on and on, a cloud of sand and dust swirling around them. Chewie landed a few hits, but Boba's movements made him too slippery to grasp.
Han snuck over to attack while the enemy's back was turned.
"Wait. Han." It was hopeless.
Boba, somehow hearing Han's steps, whirled and backhanded the man across the face. Blood and teeth shot out a gaping mouth. Chewie used this chance to make a grab. The Mandalorian leapt sideways out of range, rolled, and sprang to his feet. Chewie rushed again and mounted another series of swings.
Eventually, Chewie left an opening at his face. Boba sprayed some sort of gas from a compartment on his forearm. The wookiee crumpled.
"I studied the Mandalorians." Leia said. She knew diplomacy was their only chance of release. Boba seemed an astute individual. "Let me guess. It's never about money for you. You have riches to last you lifetimes."
"Right." Boba crouched down to tie Chewie's hands with cords.
"The code dictates that you accept any hunt, on the condition the credits match the societal value of a target. And you're devoted to the hunt until you apprehend your prey, or the prey dies. Or. . ."
Boba rose to his feet and faced her.
"Or the employer dies." Leia took a deep breath and waited.
Boba tilted his head. "Jabba is alive."
"You must have seen how many cut-throats were running around in there before you went after us," She stepped closer, letting her tone become urgent. "Check in. Confirm his survival."
He silently regarded her, thoughts ambiguous as his face. He responded by reaching for the side of his helmet.
"Boba here. Status report."
Leia chewed her lip in anticipation, knowing the reply decided her fate.
Boba lowered his hand and walked toward her. She stood her ground, but dreaded the pain.
Instead of a punch or kick, she found herself free. She massaged her wrists.
"Boba Fett. I want you to work for the Rebel Alliance."
[co-conceived by: Bingowings]