[Black Fleet Crisis(71)

Sighing, he surrendered and pushed the hatch release.

The flight-deck crew already had an egress ladder in place for him, and the deck officer was waiting at the bottom of it.

“Lieutenant, ” Han said. “Permission to come aboard. “

“General Solo, sir! Granted-welcome aboard. I hadn’t heard that you were coming to see us off, sir. “

“I’m not, ” said Han, smartly descending the ladder. “I’m coming along for the ride. Have my gear brought off, and then get one of your ferry pilots to take this thing back to the station before you lock down, would you? “

“Yes, sir, right away. ” The lieutenant’s startled look quickly gave way to the slightly worshipful eagerness Han had learned to expect, but never to accept.

“I’m just sorry you didn’t come up in the Falcon, sir. I would have liked to see her. “

“I’d kinda like to see her right now myself, ” said Han. “Where is General A’baht? “

“The general is not aboard, sir. We’re expecting him at any time. Captain Morano is on the bridge. I’d be happy to show you the way. “

Looking past the lieutenant, Han scanned the cruiser’s bay, making a quick inventory of its contents.

“Looks like a tight pack, ” he said with a nod.

“Yes, sir. Capacity plus. Took in half a dozen more E-wings this morning. But we can still get things moved around when we need to, so it’s not too bad. “

“Make sure you can get them launched in a hurry, ” said Han. “That’s what counts most in a scrap. “

“Yes, sir. Would you like that escort to the bridge now? “

“If you could just find out where my quarters are, that would do for now, ” Han said, tugging at the tight collar of his shirt. “Oh, and let me know when General A’baht comes aboard. “

Han lay bare-chested on his back in the bunk of what until recently had been the quarters of the ship’s surgeon. His shirt hung from a wall clip nearby, and his shoes made a pile at the foot of the bunk.

It had been a long day, and Han’s body wanted sleep. But the ship, like the station, was on Standard Time, eight hours out of sync with Imperial City. Han knew from experience that the best way to adjust to it was to extend his day further still, and turn in with the first watch. He had left the overhead lights on as insurance against falling asleep.

But his body welcomed the quietude, and his eyes needed rest from the light, and his mind wanted relief from the thoughts that gnawed at him.

Nothing felt right-being away from Leia and the kids, going off alone without Luke or Chewbacca, resenting Leia for asking when she knew he could not refuse her, hating his own inability to say no. Somewhere he had lost the independence he had once cherished as his most precious possession, and the worst part was that he knew he had given it up freely.

No-the worst part was that here he was, on his own, and he couldn’t remember how to enjoy it. It didn’t feel right to be alone.

Han flung an arm across his face and tried to make it all vanish. In a little while, it did.

General A’baht climbed out of the Poranji jumper with respectable limberness for someone his age.

“General, ” the deck officer said, saluting smartly.

“Good to see you, sir. Captain Morano’s in conference with the task force captains, and the XO is on the bridge. “

“Thank you, ” A’baht said, jumping down and jerking a thumb in the direction of the jumper. “Find someplace to strap this down, will you, Marty? It’s borrowed, but I’ve taken kind of a fancy to it. “

“Yes, sir. Will do. “

There was something about the deck officer’s demeanor-something in his voice, or the way he held his mouth-that wasn’t quite right. But it wasn’t until A’baht turned to walk forward toward the exit that he got a clue as to what it was. That was when he saw that fully half the bay’s crew had stopped work to look his way. Several seemed to be wearing either funereal regret or indignant distress on their faces.

“Marty, what’s going on? “

The deck officer swallowed hard. “Sir, General Han Solo showed up a couple of hours ago-“

“Did he, ” A’baht said thoughtfully.

“Yes, sir. I figured that he was here to see us off, but the captain put him in Dr. Archimar’s quarters. “

“Did he. “

“Yes, sir. I-General, there’s talk that Solo’s here to take over the Fleet. “

“If he is, ” A’baht said evenly, “then Captain Morano gave him the wrong quarters. Where is General Solo now, Marty? “

“I can find out for you. He asked to be notified when you came aboard, sir. “