“Right …” she murmured, and then it was her turn to kiss him.
She wound her arms around his neck, holding him as tightly as he held her.
Behind them, forgotten, the decicred piece lay on the woven matting covering the floor, shining faintly in the dimness ….
The next morning, Han woke up smiling. He got up and went out to stand on the little balcony overlooking the beautiful Togorian garden.
He breathed deeply, hearing the twittering of the tiny flying lizards and remembered one alighting on Bria’s finger all those years ago, that first time on the beach.
He wished they had time to go back to that beach ….
Hey, he thought, when this Ylesian thing is over, we’ll have all the time in the world … and all the credits we could want. We’ll come back here.
Then maybe we’ll head for the Corporate Sector, do some business. With the Falcon, we can go anywhere, do anything….
He wondered whether Bria would actually leave the Resistance for him.
After what they’d shared last night, he didn’t see how she couldn’t.
They were good together, so good there was no way they’d be apart from now on ….
Han heard a step behind him, but didn’t turn, only stood staring out at the garden, inhaling the spicy scent of the Togorian tree-flowers.
Arms slid around his waist, and he felt her hair against his back as she leaned against him. “Hey …” she said quietly. “Good morning.”
“It’s good all right,” he said quietly. “The best in a long time. Ten years, I think.”
“Did I tell you last night that I love you?” she murmured, kissing the back of his neck. “You need a haircut …. ” “Several times,” he replied. “But you can say it again if you want.” “I love you …. ” “Sounds good,” he said. “I think you need more practice, though. Try it again …. ” She laughed. “You’re getting a swelled head, Han.”
He chuckled, and turned to hold her. “You know, the Falcon is going to be so full of huge Togorians all the way back to the rendezvous coordinates, that you just might have to sit on my lap.”
“I could manage that,” she said.
Sarrah proved to be extremely short for a Togorian, only about two meters tall. But he was in excellent condition, his muscles sliding beneath his sleek black fur like oiled cords.
On their way back to the deep-space rendezvous, Han swung by Nar Shaddaa to pick up Jarik and Chewbacca. He’d been wondering how Chewie and Muuurgh would get along. When he introduced the Wookiee and the giant Togorian, Han was treated to the unusual sight of Chewie actually looking up at another being. Muuurgh regarded the Wookiee assessingly, then said, “Greetings to Han Solo’s friend. He tells me you are his brother-in-fur.”
Chewie roared softly, and Han translated. “Chewbacca sends greetings in return to Muuurgh,” he said. “He is honored to meet a brother-infur from the past, the hunter Muuurgh.”
Solemnly, the two huge creatures regarded each other, then both turned to Han. He looked up at them, and could tell that they liked each other. “You guys,” he said, “have got a lot in common.”
Indeed, said Chewie. They had Han.
“Any friend of Han Solo’s is a friend of Muuurgh’s,” the Togorian announced.
Han heard the door signal to his apartment buzz, and opened it to find Lando standing there. For once the gambler wasn’t dressed in the height of fashion, but in military style rough fatigues, and he wore heavy boots. He was armed with a blaster and a blaster rifle. “Hey!”
Han said. “What’s up?
You goin’ to a war?”
“I just heard about your little jaunt to Ylesia,” Lando said. “I want in.
Can I ride along on the Falcon?”
Han regarded his friend in surprise. “Pal, this ain’t your kind of thing,” he said. “We ain’t expectin’ much in the way of resistance from those Gamorrean guards on Ylesia, but there’s bound to be some shootin’.”
Lando nodded. “I’m a good shot,” he said. “Han, I’ve almost got enough credits saved to buy a new ship, a real beauty of a sleek little yacht I’ve had my eye on. I figure for a share of that spice in the warehouses, this is worth a little risk to my precious hide. Another ten thousand credits, and that little beauty is mine ….”
Han shrugged. “Okay by me,” he said. “You’re welcome to join the party.”
Thus, it was a very crowded—but thankfully short—flight back to the Rebel rendezvous coordinates.
The Rebel fleet was mostly gathered by now, along with most of the smuggler vessels. Bria and the other Rebel commanders conducted final briefings so that each smuggler and each Rebel assault group knew exactly what part they would play in the attack. Each group of Rebel assault shuttles had at least three or four smuggler ships to guide them down through the atmosphere. There were nine colonies now on Ylesia, and there were nine attack forces, each commanded by a Rebel commander like Bria.