Han and Chewbacca have been staring at nothing but filmy darkness for ten hours. It is an exercise in boredom and terror at the same time. It is boring because the journey requires constant attention and there is nothing to do – not even a pinpoint of light to watch. The nebula’s heart has long since faded behind them, and its weak rays do nothing to light the blackness ahead.
It is terrorizing because the nebula’s electromagnetic properties render the flight computer useless; Han is literally flying blind at near light-speed. If a star suddenly appears, he may or may not avoid it. But if a rogue planet or asteroid crosses his lightless path, the Falcon will simply crash. Probably, neither of the crew will even realize they have died. They will merely fade into the formless waste.
“I can’t figure Leia,” Han says. He wants to talk, and Leia is the only subject he can think to discuss. “Just when I think she’s a regular human being, she gets mean and starts acting like a princess. Does she like us or not?”
Chewbacca grunts a response.
“It doesn’t matter?” Han says. “That’s easy for you to say. You don’t understand humans.” Five minutes later, he adds, “Maybe she just doesn’t like Wookiees.”
Indignantly, Chewie snarls a question.
“Lots of people don’t like Wookiees. You don’t have to take it personally.”
“Ooouuugh!”
“What makes you think it’s me she doesn’t like? She probably got herself kidnapped just so I’d rescue her!”
Chewbacca growls, then falls silent.
Something clicks in the Corellian’s mind. He stares out the viewport, barely aware of the emptiness he watches. An hour later, he says “I know who Alfreda Goot is! She’s Leia!”
Chewbacca looks at Han as if he is crazy.
“Think about it. No one’s ever heard of Alfreda Goot. Even if she does exist, how would a stranger have known we were on Ord Mantell? And who would challenge me to a race, except Leia? I tell you, this crazy thing is Leia’s way of trying to prove she’s as good as I am! I’ll bet she’s fallen in love with me!”
Even though he does not voice an objection, the big Wookiee looks dubious.