[Han Solo] - 03(125)
Durga glanced down at his one souvenir from this disastrous day. A long, blood-smeared horn. At least Aruk has been avenged, he thought.
May he rest in peace ….
The Hutt lord keyed his intercom and his pilot responded immediately.
“Arrange for pickup of those mercenary troops,” Durga instructed.
“And set course for Nal Hutta. I’m done here. Take us home.”
“Yes, Your Excellency,” the pilot responded.
Durga settled back and sighed. Picking up Teroenza’s horn, he stroked it thoughtfully, and began planning for the future ….
Han Solo and Chewbacca were still arguing about what to do with the Corellian orphans when they came out of hyperspace six hours later, and their comm system began to beep, signaling an incoming message.
Chewie insisted that they must take the children back to Corellia, so they could be cared for by family. Han protested the waste of fuel and time.
“Dump ‘em in a spaceport on any civilized world, and someone’ll take care of ‘em,” he argued.
Chewbacca commented that as a father himself, he felt their only course was to take the children back to Corellia.
Han glared at the Wookiee as he activated the comm to receive the incoming message. Jabba the Hutt’s image materialized atop the control panel. “Han, my boy!”
“Hello, Jabba,” Han said. “What’s happening?”
Jabba frowned slightly at the Corellian’s lackluster greeting, then the Hutt lord forgot his displeasure. “Han, congratulations to you! The raid was a complete success! I am very pleased!”
“Great,” said Han, grimly. “Is that why you made an interstellar call?”
“Oh … no, Han,” Jabba chuckled. “I have a load of spice I want you to pick up from Moruth Doole on Kessel. Bring it to me immediately on Tatooine, understand? The deal is arranged, the spice is paid for.”
“Okay, Jabba,” Han said. “My usual cut?”
“Certainly, certainly,” Jabba boomed. “And perhaps a nice bonus for quick delivery.”
“I’m on my way, Jabba.”
“Fine, Han my boy.” Jabba peered at the Corellian thoughtfully. “And, Han.
. . get some rest afterward. You look a bit haggard, if you don’t mind my saying so.”
“Right, Jabba,” Han said. “Will do.”
He broke the connection and scowled. “Great. A load of whiny kids, and I gotta take ‘em with me on a Run. Maybe I oughta consider gettin’ out of the smuggling business, Chewie.”
Chewbacca’s only comment was that while they were on Kessel, they needed to pick up some traladon milk and flatbread for sandwiches. Han groaned aloud ….
Twelve hours later, with the load of spice safely secured in the belowdecks smuggling compartments, Han eased the Falcon up from Kessel.
Leaving Chewie to pass out food to the children, Han headed toward the Maw, checking his course. Suddenly a light flashed on his control board, and he realized that an Imperial customs ship was bearing down on him! “Chewie!
Get up here!” he shouted, and began pouring on speed.
Moments later, the Wookiee was in the cockpit. “Strap those blasted kids in!” Han shouted. “Then get up here! We’ve got two Imps on our tail, and it’s gonna be a rough ride!”
“Hrrrrrnnnnn!”
Han sent the Falcon hurtling along, faster even than the day he’d raced Salla. As Chewie slipped into the copilot’s seat, Han heard a muffled squeak behind him, and glanced back to see a wide-eyed urchin staring at the Maw. “What are you doing up here?” Han snapped. Great, just what I need! A snivelin’ kid!
“Watching,” the little boy said.
“Aren’t you scared?” Han grunted, flipping the Falcon up on her side to avoid a wash of ionized gas from one of the black hole clusters.
The Imp vessel shot at him, but it was a clean miss.
Great! Gettin’ shot at with these kids here!
“No, sir!” the kid chirped. “This is neat! Can you go faster?”
“Glad you like it,” muttered Han. “Kid, I’m sure gonna try …. ” He poured on the speed, skimming past the first of the black hole clusters. Their velocity made everything blur, almost as though they were going into hyperspace.
Han had never gone so fast in the Falcon. “Whooooo!” he shouted, as they narrowly missed being pulled in by a black hole’s gravity well.
“Whooooo!” echoed the kid behind him.
Han began laughing like a maniac as they hurtled along. “Like that, eh, kid? Watch me outrun these Imperial slugs!”
“Go!” yelled the child. “Faster, Captain Solo!”
“What’s your name, kid?” Han asked as they came around the last curve of the Maw’s terrible gravity wells, sheering so close that the engines strained in protest.