Star Wars (1977) 72

In the wake of the events detailed in the prior issue, Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissian find themselves encircled by a contingent of bounty hunters, with IG-88 and Bossk at the helm. Before the bounty hunters can take them prisoner, Rik Duel and Dani emerge from their concealed position behind Chihdo's carbonite encased form, unleashing a barrage of blaster fire. Capitalizing on the element of surprise, Luke, Dani, Lando, and Rik mount a counter-offensive against the bounty hunters. However, IG-88C manages to summon reinforcements, and they swiftly overpower the protagonists, capturing Lando and Dani. Rik and Luke manage to evade capture and commence planning a rescue operation. Luke attempts communication with Chewbacca and R2-D2 via his comlink, but the pair have already disembarked from the Millennium Falcon to explore the city. Chewie and R2 initiate a search for their companions and encounter a native Stenax inhabitant. Concurrently, Lando and Dani are being escorted towards a carbon-freezing chamber. Lando attempts to offer a bribe to their guard, but Barpotomous Drebble intervenes, having already compensated the guards to freeze Calrissian and transport him to his home world. Dani, in despair over their impending fate, attempts to use her charm on the guard, but finds no success. However, as the guard rebuffs her advances, she retaliates with a swift kick to the face, rendering him unconscious. Drebble witnesses their escape attempt and commands the hunters to pursue them, and Lando and Dani embark on a desperate flight through the city's labyrinthine streets. Despite their efforts, the hunters manage to corral the duo directly back to the carbon-freezing chamber, resulting in their recapture.

In the meantime, Rik and Luke ascend to the city's highest structures, positioning themselves directly above the bounty hunters' carbon-freezing facility. Just as Dani is about to be lowered into the chamber, Luke and Rik launch a surprise attack on the hunters, but are quickly overwhelmed by the sheer number of their adversaries. However, Chewbacca arrives to the rescue, having enlisted the aid of the Stenax. As the hunters fall victim to Stenax spears, Bossk and IG-88C attempt a hasty retreat through the rear exit, only to be intercepted and incapacitated by Chewbacca. With their leaders neutralized, the remaining bounty hunters are swiftly subdued. Lando and Luke express their gratitude to Chewbacca for his assistance and apologize to the Wookiee for yet another fruitless lead in the search for Han Solo. Chewbacca playfully hoists his two companions into the air, and the Rebels make their way back to the Millennium Falcon, leaving Rik Duel to contemplate how to replicate Chewbacca's feat of recruiting the Stenax and freeing Chihdo from his carbonite prison. As the Millennium Falcon departs from Stenos, they are surprised to discover an uninvited passenger. Dani, having developed a strong attraction to Luke, has decided to join the Rebels, leaving Rik to his musings.