[Han Solo] - 03(122)

He figured that Teroenza had summoned a ship, only to fall prey to the assassins yesterday. “All right!” he shouted, and swung Bria around.

“Thank you, Teroenza!”

He gave her a short but passionate kiss, then turned back to regard the boxes of booty. “Okay, we’ll need a repulsorlift dolly,” he said.

“There’s one aboard the Falcon. Chewie, you—” “Don’t move, Solo,” came a voice from the past. Han froze as Teroenza crawled out from where he’d been concealed behind the white jade fountain.

The High Priest had a blaster rifle in his hand, and his eyes held a mad glitter that told Han there was no way to talk his way out of this one.

“Hands raised,” the Priest directed. Han, Chewie and Bria all put their hands up. Han glanced at the others, trying frantically to think of a way to get out of this. But Teroenza had the drop on them but good ….

“I shall enjoy this, Bria Tharen and Han Solo,” Teroenza said. “I have summoned a pilot, and he is coming to collect me from Colony Four. I shall be free of this wretched world … and I shall have my treasure. I shall miss my mate, but, on the whole, not a bad bargain.

Perhaps Desilijic can use my services …. ” “Hey,” Han said, “Jabba’s a friend of mine. You kill me, he won’t take it kindly.”

Teroenza laughed wheezily. “Hutts do not have friends,” he said.

“Farewell, Solo.”

Pointing the blaster at Han, Teroenza’s small, stubby finger began to tighten on the trigger.

Han shut his eyes. He heard the sound of the blaster’s whine–-and he felt nothing. No pain. No searing heat.

After a prolonged moment, Han heard the sound of a body fall with a loud thud. He shot Bria instead of me! he thought, and opened his eyes.

But the body on the floor belonged to Teroenza. There was a huge, gaping hole where the Priest’s bulbous left eye had been.

Han stared wildly, wondering if he’d gone mad and was imagining all this.

What’s going on?

Beside him, Bria gasped.

Han watched as Boba Fett stepped out of a dim corner of the room, his blaster rifle held in his arms.

Oh, great! he thought. Now Fett will just kill us all!

The bounty hunter kept them all covered as he walked to Teroenza’s huge form, and then knelt on one knee. Keeping them covered with the blaster rifle with one hand, Fett used a vibro-saw with the other. The little instrument whirred, slicing easily through flesh and bone as Fett carefully cut off Teroenza’s horn.

Han’s head was whirling with shock.

Finally the bounty hunter rose to his feet again, and then began backing slowly away, the grisly trophy tucked under his arm.

Han couldn’t help it. “You’re leaving?” he blurted.

Did Boba Fett’s mechanical voice hold a slight undercurrent of amusement?

Han couldn’t decide if he was imagining it. “That’s right,” the bounty hunter said. “The Priest is a Priority bounty. I’m not here for you.”

And, having reached the opening in the wall, Boba Fett backed through it and vanished as suddenly as he’d appeared.

Han’s mouth dropped open, and he felt light-headed with relief.

“Bria!” he yelled, and grabbed her again.

The three shouted and celebrated for a long moment, in the deserted Treasure Room.

Han headed off to the Falcon to get the repulsor dolly. When he returned, they spent several minutes organizing the boxes for efficient loading.

Suddenly a Rebel assault shuttle settled down on the permacrete beside the Falcon. Han stared at it in surprise as Jace Paol and a squad of Rebels disembarked. “Bria …” he said, “hey, what’s going on?

This is our treasure. We’re taking it, and we’re going away in the Falcon … right?

Together … right?”

He looked at her, and she stared back at him. She bit her lip and didn’t answer. Han felt a cold knot settle into his stomach. “Bria .

. . honey .

. . remember, you promised? We’d be together, right? Always?” He swallowed. “Bria …”

Chewie roared with anger and frustration, and suddenly Bria’s blaster was there, in her hand, covering them both.

“Han,” she said quietly, “we need to talk.”





15


The Last Kessel Run


Han stared at Bria’s drawn blaster, poleaxed. “Honey, what are you doing?”

I need it all, Han,” she said. “Not for me, but for the Resistance.”

She waved to the Rebels and they came in, took Han’s repulsorlift dolly, and began stacking boxes on it.

Han stared in disbelief as the first load of treasure went out the door.

“Bria …” he said hoarsely, “you can’t do this. This ain’t happening.