I have a notion that Chewie’s not surprised that often, but here’s a time when maybe he was.
Four days ago, Chewbacca finished fixing the damper for the
rear center spin control using a bit of electrical tape and an eating utensil
snipped in half and pounded flat. He reattached the panel and knocked twice on
it for good luck.
When the Falcon was still flying straight the next day, he did
it again as he passed the spot, just in case that was why.
Each day since, when he’s passed the panel on the way to and
from his bunk, he’s quickly and quietly knocked twice.
Three days ago, Chewbacca reattached the navigational
antenna on the top hull. They were out of 6-centimeter screws so he stuck in
some shorter ones, glued the whole thing down with epoxy that maybe wasn’t
quite rated for vacuum, and added a whole lot of hope. The spot was right above
the corridor to the cockpit, and when he passed under it he shot a stern look
at the ceiling: You better hold together up there.
When the nav computer was still working the next day, he
kept looking up each time he entered or left the cockpit, because better safe
than sorry.
Two days ago, he repaired a weld on the cooking unit so it
would make heat again instead of just sparks. The connectors had been fixed so
many times the ends wouldn’t reach anymore, so he stuck an extra bit of wire in
there, welded it to both pieces, and hoped for the best. He laid a hand on the
cooktop in a quick, quiet blessing.
When Han didn’t die in an explosion the first time he tried
to heat up a meal-pack, Chewie thought: better do that again, for luck.
Chewbacca has a lot of little rituals like that. Small
things, probably silly, but it seems like when he remembers to do them his
repairs hold together, even if he fixed the thing with spit and fur because
they couldn’t afford to do it right. Or because they forgot to stock up on
six-sided washers, or because Han threw that one specialized wrench at the
bounty hunter they were running from, and they left both wrench and bounty
hunter in the dust.
He doesn’t do these things if he knows Han’s around. Han
would tease him. Even though Chewbacca is fully (and secretly) aware that Han
whispers sweet nothings to the ship when he thinks his first mate can’t hear.
But then, after a quick stop on Syvon to pick up food and
drop off a certain piece of unofficial cargo, suddenly Chewie’s down with the
Syvonian Flu, and although humans usually only sneeze a bit, it hits Wookiees
hard. He’s stuck in the medbunk for five solid days, dizzy if he tries to stand
up, hallucinating little furry creatures that appear to be dancing on the
ceiling while singing raunchy songs.
Han brings him broth and flatbread.
When Chewie finally staggers to his feet, the lights are
dimmed in the medbay and the ship’s engines are humming quiet and smooth.
Nothing’s pinging. Nothing’s knocking. No alarms are blaring.
Chewie hasn’t knocked on a panel or reminded the nav antenna
to stay on the ship in five whole days. He never took his rituals all that
seriously, but still. Don’t tell Han, but Chewie’s amazed the ship hasn’t
fallen apart.
He makes his way down the corridor toward his own bunk,
still unsteady on his feet. As he rounds the corner, he sees Han heading that
way too, just passing the panel over the spin control damper. Han lifts a hand,
and… knocks twice.
Chewie’s short, surprised laugh isn’t that loud but the ship
is so quiet. Han turns, sees him, smiles.
“Held the ship together for you,” he says, “but I’m not sure
I got them all. She’ll be glad you’re back to do it right.”
I have little doubts she would have sassed her way out.
Yeah, maybe.
Honestly, though? I don’t get the defensiveness I see on this post. I LOVE that she was in over her head and glosses over it. One of the things I really liked about Leia was she got to be in over her head is an angry impulsive type way. All the girls in the stories I read as a child were know-it-all, ultra-competent sorts or sensible mothers but Leia was the hotheaded impulsive little sister who ran into danger while her brother went “WAIT” and insisted she could handle it. I loved that she got to be dumb sometimes. It meant a lot, as a hyperactive little girl, to have a hyperactive little princess.
And part of the fun was having people around her who’d bail her out and smile about it, because they’re just as stupid sometimes too.
So many Leiafans insist she could handle everything. Naw, she couldn’t handle everything and that was okay. Neither could the other two. But when all three got together they were invincible.
THIS. None of them would have made it out of the Death Star alone. Leia would have died if she hadn’t been sprung from her cell by Luke, Han and Chewie (because everyone always forgets about Chewie but he was a vital component of the rescue too). The guys would have died in the hallway if not for Leia’s quick thinking, Luke would have been killed by the diagona if not for Han, they would have been crushed in the trash compactor if not for Luke, Artoo and Threepio (let’s not forget the droids either). And so on, Ben taking down the tractor beam and distracting Vader, Chewie and Leia piloting while Luke and Han take out the TIEs, etc.
It’s not Leia the badass dragging around two dumb-dumbs making quips and getting shit done while the they cower behind her skirts as I think fandom sometimes likes to believe. They’re a team, they all have their individual strengths and let’s face it would all be dead without the others.
Ooh I agree! Being a Strong Female Character doesn’t mean you’re always in control and rolling your eyes at those Loveable Male Nitwits. If it were a male character saying this line, I don’t think we’d all rush to assure each other that he really did have it under control, we’d fondly laugh at his defensive posturing. I like that Leia is fiery and sarky as hell but that doesn’t mean she has a clue what she’s doing half the time.
Steel Phoenix Studios 