Han sidesteps Alfreda’s claw, but the bounty hunter spins and scratches his torso. He barely notices.
The woman has made a mistake. She now stands dangerously off-balance. Han catches her claw hand and pins it against her torso. He pushes. She topples and they both clatter to the ground. They fall on his blaster, and it skitters down the alley.
Han lands atop his armored opponent. He now has her at a serious disadvantage. No matter how light or sleek one’s armor, it is an encumberance when the wearer is prone. Han grabs the helmet with his free hand and smacks it against the pavement. Sparks fly from the translator and it begins to hiss.
Alfreda smashes an armored right fist into Han’s ribs. The blow has tremendous power; he nearly blacks out, but manages to hold on to her helmet and claw hand. He ignores the pain and dizziness and bangs Alfreda’s helmet against the pavement again. The translator ceases functioning altogether, and Alfreda hits him another time.
Although the blow feels weaker, Han does not know how many more he can withstand. Her armor is obviously electronically enhanced, and his ribcage is a poor match for a micropower plant. She hits him again and Han gasps for breath.
He feels groggy. The scratches in his chest burn. “P-p-poison!” he gasps. Alfreda hits him again and Han tumbles away. She rolls, then rises to her knees, struggling against the armor.
Han’s abuse of the helmet has loosened the power coupling. A few more good blows can sever the connection altogether. He tries to rise, then finds he has grown too weak. The poison is already taking effect.
“Han!” Leia yells.
He painfully turns in her direction. Alfreda lifts her claw to strike. Leia stands over his blaster, her hands still bound. Han’s groggy mind cannot comprehend how she intends to fire the blaster with her feet.
Alfreda lunges and he rolls. The blades strike next to his head. So sharp are they that the claw lodges in the pavement. Leia kicks and the blaster clatters toward Han. He instinctively holds out his hand and the blaster touches his fingers.
Even through the gauze gathering in his mind, Han knows what to do. He presses the blaster against Alfreda’s armor and pulls the trigger. There is a super-hot flash and a tremendous thump. The armored figure slumps, then crumples away to the ground. Blue streaks of static electricity hiss across the motionless suit.
Leia pushes it over with her foot. “There’s an antidote in the utility belt,” she says. “Hurry.”
Han fumbles with the belt coupling and eventually releases it. The third compartment holds several capsules. He places one between his teeth and bites down. A cool gas hisses into his mouth.
A few moments later, he feels well enough to stand. His ribs ache terribly, but he knows they will heal in time.
“Chewie…” Han needs to know where his co-pilot is. He fumbles for his com-link just as the Wookiee’s questioning bursts over the alley.
“Yeah, buddy, we’re fine. Meet you inside?”