YO. Hi Kith HI I’m so sorry that your post took me so long to respond to. > _ < But YES YES Han definitely shows up in this AU! And it’s actually pretty close to how you described it!
The main difference is that Leia is pretty much the one orchestrating the entire scheme. She’s out doing rounds or whatever when she catches the Falcon in her scopes, and she had been alerted earlier that a ship matching its description was last spotted carrying illegal cargo. So she trails after the Falcon in stealth mode, alerts the nearest Star Destroyer, and waits. And as Han and Chewie are being pulled into the SD’s hangar via tractor beam, BOOM. Idea.
Ever since the incident with Alderaan, she's had a mighty need to see the Death Star blown into smithereens (and Tarkin along with it). Her only reliable contact for the job - Dr. Aphra - is currently out of reach, thus she hasn’t been able to come up with a good way to go about things until now. And at this point, she at least knows Han Solo’s name and is familiar with how efficient he is at evading capture. The Empire’s only been trying to catch him for years, after all.
Hmm. She just might be able to pull this off, she thinks as stormtroopers drag Han and Chewie over for questioning.
(”Leave them to me. I will deal with them myself.”)
(“As you wish, milady.”)
So once Leia has them in her custody, she strikes a deal with Han: she’ll let him and Chewie go free and keep the Empire off their scent in exchange for him “leaking” the Death Star’s plans to the Rebellion. She’ll even pay him rather handsomely for his work if he succeeds.
However. She makes it very clear that she can kill him and she will if he even thinks about snitching on her. Like she's literally telling him all this while she’s holding one of her lightsabers to his throat. This, of course, leaves a bad taste in Han’s mouth because he only takes orders from one person - him - but he is being offered enough credits to get Jabba out of his hair for good. And what good is a reward if you’re not around to use it?
(Also, Han totally makes the mistake of calling the Force a “hokey religion” while she’s filling him in. Leia is more than happy to demonstrate otherwise when she holds him in the air with an invisible chokehold.)
Luke and Vader are actually keen on the DS being destroyed as well, since they share the secret belief that Alderaan’s destruction was an unnecessary loss for the Empire. (There’s also that “technological terror” business discussed in ANH, plus it would be a good kick in the Emperor’s teeth for his favorite toy to be blown up.) However, they’re unaware that Leia has just spilled the beans to the Empire’s Most Wanted. That is, until she practically drags Han in by his ear and drops him at Vader’s feet.
(”Good afternoon we’re having, eh, Your Lordship?”)
(”...Quite.”)
Anyways. Han and Chewie are given the plans, the twins set about “accidentally” letting them escape their detention cell, and Vader “accidentally” lets them go free. Once they’re out of harm’s way, Han leaks the plans to Lando (since he’s sorta his own party and is only in this for the money), who then gives them to the Ghost crew. Hera and friends hand them over to the rest of the Rebellion, and a plan is constructed to destroy the DS. It’s executed at the Battle of Yavin, the DS goes kaboom, and there. Done city.
...Or so it seems. Perhaps somewhere along the way, something happens which results in Han saving Leia’s life. (Pirate attack? Cave-in? Something.) Thus, she feels begrudgingly indebted to show the man a little mercy by continuing to keep Imperials off his tail.
(Even though he’s a pain. And a smartass. And calls her stupid names like “Your Ladyship” and “Your Darthiness.” And could stand to wash his clothes every once in a while. And that floppy lock of hair is just a little bit cute - )
(“Pfft.”)
(”LUKE. Stay out of my private thoughts or I will disown you.”)
ALSO. The Force-sensitive pilot responsible for the DS’s destruction is most likely going to be none other than our little blueberry Ezra Bridger. I have big plans for him in this AU, as well as Kanan and the rest of the Ghost crew. ;))))))
