[Han Solo] - 03(120)

Satisfied that Jenwald was getting the attention she needed, he left the aid station and joined Lando, who looked at him sadly. “Han, I’m sorry. I tried to look after him, but they launched a grenade and I had to hit dirt, and the next thing I knew …” the gambler broke off, shaking his head.

Han nodded. “I know what it’s like. There wasn’t anything you coulda done, Lando. Don’t beat yourself up.” Han took a deep breath. “He was a good kid.”

“Yeah—” Lando broke off as both humans heard a familiar roar. Han hastily waved at Lando and went running away from the aid station toward Chewbacca.

The Wookiee, seeing that Han was still unharmed, grabbed Han’s shoulder and ruffled his hair in a Wookiee greeting. Han took a deep breath.

“Chewie, pal,” he said, “brace yourself. Jarik bought it.”

The Wookiee stared at him for a moment, then threw back his head and voiced a roar of mingled rage and grief. Han silently echoed his friend’s distress.

Chewbacca pulled Han out of the way, began gesturing and growling emphatically. “Mrrov?” Han said. “Wounded? She gonna make it?”

Chewie wasn’t sure, but he thought so.

“I gotta go find Muuurgh,” Han said. “Tell you what, Chewie, you go get the Falcon, fly her over to that apron by the Admin Building. Then we’ll be ready to load ‘er up.”

Chewie nodded and loped away. In moments his tall form was lost to view amid the hurrying troops, dodging between the parked shuttles and tramp freighters.

Han looked back for Lando, but his friend was gone. He went back to the aid station, asked where the Togorians were being cared for. The medic he questioned didn’t know. It took three tries for Han to find out.

Finally, he was directed to another auxiliary aid station, where most of the non-humanoids were being treated. Han saw Muuurgh’s huge black shape crouching beside a pallet, and hurried over.

“Hey, Muuurgh!”

The Togorian turned at the sound of his voice, then leaped up and grabbed Han in a fierce hug. “Muuurgh is glad to see Han Solo. They are taking us up now, and Muuurgh did not wish to go without saying farewell.”

Han looked down at Mrrov. A bandage covered half her head. “What happened?”

“Muuurgh and Mrrov were on guard at the landing field, and three Gamorreans rushed us. She took two hits from a forcepike before Muuurgh tore her attacker’s throat out.”

“Oh, hey, pal … I’m so sorry “Han said. “She’s gonna be okay, isn’t she?”

“She has lost the eye,” Muuurgh said. “And medic says perhaps her hand must come off. He does not know. But she will live. And she will take pride in knowing that the slaves are free, the Priests are dead.”

Han nodded, and couldn’t think of anything to say. The medics approached with an antigrav pallet, and loaded the wounded Togorian female onto it.

Han walked with Muuurgh to the medical shuttle, watched as Mrrov was loaded in, and gave Muuurgh a last, silent hug goodbye.

After watching the shuttle lift off, Han turned back toward the big spice warehouse, figuring that was where he’d find Bria. Seeing Jace Paol hurrying by, Han asked the lieutenant where she was. Paol jerked a thumb back at the Pilgrims’ dormitory. Han jogged over that way, then paused, midway between the warehouse and the dormitory.

Rebel troops were herding Pilgrims out of the dorm, and the dazed, frightened slaves were plainly on the verge of panic. Bria stood before them, a microphone in her hand, and addressed them. “Listen to me!” she called. “The Priests are all dead! You are free now, and we’ve come to help you!”

“They killed the Priests!” one old man shouted, and began to sob.

Wails and moans filled the air.

“Just get on these shuttles quickly!” Bria said. “We have medics and medications to help you feel better. We can cure you!”

The crowd grew increasingly restive. Another moment and there will be a riot, Han thought, uneasily. It was obvious that Bria wasn’t getting through to them at all.

“We want Exultation!” one shouted, and the next moment, they were all chanting and waving their fists in the air. “We want Exultation!”

Bria waved at the shuttles. “Just get on the shuttles! We’ll help you!”

“We want Exultation!”

The crowd surged forward, and Bria, with a disgusted air, signaled her troops. They opened fire with stun beams, and Pilgrims began collapsing in droves.

Having been stunned a few times himself, Han’s body ached in sympathy for the Pilgrims, and he was a bit shocked by Bria’s ruthlessness in ordering her troops to simply shoot the slaves.