Solo earned his keep for Shrike in a variety of unsavory jobs in his youth. He once joined a pirate group operated by cutthroats Lemo and Sanda. Solo made a name for himself racing dangerous repulsorlift swoops professionally and on the independent circuit.

Solo eventually joined the Imperial Academy, to better himself and his piloting skills. It was by this time that he eventually met one six years old little brown-haired bratty lady. As Han was discussing about a coming exam with one of his friend of the Academy, one little girl started to tug at his sleeve to attract his attention. She said that she was finding him cute, what of course surprised and make laugh Han. Han had passed many years out of the system, if we can say that this way, and was ignoring everything about the Imperial Family. So, ignoring that the little girl was in fact Lady Leia Palpatine on a visit in the Academy, Han began to put himself in trouble, but was saved by Anakin who arrived at this moment, hearing his daugther screaming. Han and his friend run away, knowing that it was better to be elsewhere. Of course, Han didn't know that he would eventually meet back Lady Brat.

Ten years later, Solo had returned to the fringe, his military career in shambles. Despite promising skills, Solo was drummed out of the service when he defied orders and rescued a Wookiee slave, Chewbacca. Solo freed Chewbacca from his captors, and from that day on Chewbacca served as Han's protector and friend. Solo joined a smuggling gang run by Roa. It was here that Solo had his first Kessel Run.

After winning the Millenium Falcon from Lando Calrissian, Solo and Chewie worked in the Corporate Sector for some time, for crime-bosses like Big Bunji and Ploovo Two-For-One. It was on these assignments that Han often tangled with the Corporate Sector Authority. Han was responsible for destroying the secret Authority prison installation, Star's End, as well as helping expose a slave trade ring that extended to some very prominent Authority execs. Han then joined Badure on an ill-fated search for the lost treasure of Xim the Despot. During this search, Han sustained a knife injury that resulted in the signature scar on his chin.

Someday, he landed on Coruscant, having some affairs to do there. He knew he couldn't stay there long, knowing that it was the center of the Empire and the most dangerous place for a smuggler to go. His 'client' was supposed to meet him in a bar of Coruscant. Solo met him there and was about to leave after their affairs were over, but he saw some young, too young, girl at the bar who was starting to have problems. He had observed the redheaded teenage girl and knew she was putting herself in big troubles, flirting with every guy as if she was invincible. He saved her when one guy had started to be rude with her. The girl then invited him for a drink. He wanted to leave, but she insisted. He quickly understood that the girl was flirting with him too, but he knew that she was too young for him. She introduced herself as Mara. Saying that she was scared, Mara asked him if he wanted to accompany her back home. He accepted, thinking that her parents must be crazy to let a girl that young in the streets of Coruscant by night. When he realised that she was living in the Imperial Palace, he understood a bit. The persons living there were known for being decadent, so. The only thing was that Han, always on trips, hadn't the time to see the faces of the Imperial Family. Han was thinking that the redhead's parents were working for the Empire, but he didn't know how high in the hierarchy they were and that, in fact, they were the Emperor and the Empress themselves. Mara thought it was funny to find somebody as ignorant as he was and she invited Han in the Palace. She introduced him to her friend, Leia. Han thought this girl was cute, even with the strange hairdo she had, but he was also thinking that he had already saw this girl somewhere. He couldn't find where exactly. He left the Palace, telling to the two girls that he had work to do.

The next day, as Leia was bored, Mara, who had learned where Han's ship was, decided to go with Leia to visit him. Han had the surprise of his life when he saw the two teenagers. He greeted them in his ship, but soon left them to see Chewbacca and to tell him to stay hidden. They were Imperials after all. As they had started to discuss all together, Mara had to left them alone for some time, knowing that a jealous Luke who couldn't shield himself properly was not far away from them. In fact, Luke was thinking that Mara was cheating on him with Han. He didn't know that it was Leia who wanted to go out with Solo. So, Luke searched in Solo's life and discovered that he was once in their army, but that he had been drummed out after having rescued an enslaved Wookiee. Luke eventually learned that he was a smuggler and made him arrest, ruining his sister's plans. Very angry, Leia managed to free him during the night and escaped with him in his ship.

Han didn't want to let her come with him. He doubted she had a crush on him. She was obviously too young for him, he wasn't really sure of her age in fact. She insisted very much to leave with him and Han finally accepted, but he didn't like that. The big problem was that he didn't know yet who she truly was. Her first name reminded him something. More she was telling about her life (avoiding to tell her surname and her rank), more Han was feeling to know her. Then, he let her alone in the cockpit and joined Chewie who was busy with some things. He asked him about this girl and Chewie, searching in a pile of documents, gave Han something that finally answered his questions.

He went back in the cockpit, asking to Lady Leia Palpatine what was the meaning of that propaganda poster with her face on it with the faces of all the Imperial Family. Han wanted to turn back and to make her return on Coruscant to her crazy Imperial Family, but she made him understand that it was impossible: they would think he had kidnapped her. Searching a way to get rid of her, Leia tried to show Han the advantages of keeping her. As she was approaching him a bit too much, Han tried to remind her that she was only sixteen. She said that it was making no differences, that they always been precocious in their family. He pushed her away, saying that she was very cute, but that she was too young for him. She then started to scream, telling him that if he wasn't obeying, she would torture him and cut off his head, what made Han think that he had already heard some little girl saying that to him ten years ago. He then understood that the little bratty girl was the same little bratty teenager in front of him. Remembering his past, Han quickly landed on a planet nearby with an Imperial Base on it and threw her out. Leia then returned in the Imperial Palace, in another attack of nerves, as his father was trying to explain her again that this wasn't a boy for her...