[Han Solo] - 03(133)

“Oh, I ran into Zeen Afit and Katya M’Buele last week, and they told me,” Rendar said, dealing card-chips. “They said their group of Rebels treated them square, but the ones you had thrown in with stiffed everyone. That true?”

Han nodded. “Yep. True. They stiffed me, too, but nobody will believe me.”

He scowled. “But I ain’t lyin’ when I say it. Jabba’s on the verge of takin’ out a real bounty on me, ‘cause I can’t pay him what I owe.”

Rendar shrugged. “Tough luck,” he said. “Personally, I make it a policy never to get mixed up with those Rebel groups.”

“Well, that’s always been my policy, too,” Han said. “But this seemed like such a sweet deal …. ” “Yeah, Katya and Zeen were real happy, throwing credits around like they were bantha fodder,” Rendar said.

They’d only been playing for a few minutes, and Han was losing, when he felt a tug on his sleeve. He looked down to see a little ChadraFan standing there. “Huh?”

She squeaked at him, and Han frowned. He wasn’t too good with her language.

“Kabe says there’s someone outside wants to see you,” Rendar translated.

Jabba! Jabba finally got my messages and wants to see me, Han thought.

He’s sent someone to bring me to him. Now I can talk to him, smooth things over….

Han tossed in his card-chips and stood up, motioning to Chewie to finish off his drink. “Okay, deal me out on this hand. I might be back later.”

With one hand on the grip of his blaster, Han and the Wookiee followed the street urchin out the back door, into the alley. They stood there for a second, looking around, but saw no one.

Suddenly Chewie whirled. “Rrrrrhhhhh!”

It’s a trap! Han realized at the same moment.

The Corellian’s hand dropped to his weapon, but before he could draw, he heard an all-too-familiar voice. “Freeze, Solo. Drop the blaster.

And tell the Wook that if he moves, you’re both dead meat. I’d like another Wook scalp for my collection.”

“Chewie!” Han spoke sharply to the snarling Wookiee. “Don’t move?

Slowly, Han drew his blaster, let it drop from his fingers into the dusty alley.

“Both of you turn around. Slowly.”

The Corellian and the Wookiee obeyed.

Boba Fett stood there, in the dim recesses of the backstreet. Han knew that he was a dead man. Jabba must’ve decided to hire a real bounty hunter to make sure the job got done right. Han tensed, but Fett didn’t fire.

Instead his artificially filtered voice reached the Corellian. “Relax, Solo. I’m not here for a bounty.”

Han didn’t relax, only watched in wonderment as Fett tossed Kabe a credit.

The urchin scampered forward and caught it, then vanished into the dimness, chittering happily.

“You’re not here for a bounty?” Han said. “Hhhhhuuuhhhh?” echoed Chewie, as amazed as his partner. “Jabba told Greedo there was a bounty on you,” Fett said. “But he’s just using that idiot to keep you on your toes. A reminder that he’s serious about you paying up. If Jabba really wanted you dead, you know who he’d hire.”

“Yeah,” Han said. “You got a point.” He hesitated. “So … why are you here?”

“I landed an hour ago,” Fett said. “I made someone a promise, and I always keep my word.”

Han frowned. “What are you talking about, Fett?”

“She’s dead,” Boba Fett said. “I promised her a while back that if she died, I’d tell her father, so he wouldn’t spend his life wondering what had happened to her. But she never got around to telling me his name.

So I decided to tell you, so you can send Tharen a message.” “Dead?”

Han whispered, through stiff lips. “Bria?”

“Yes.”

Han felt as though he’d been gut-punched. Chewie made a soft sound of sympathy, and put a hairy hand on his friend’s shoulder. Han stood there for a long moment, trying to deal with all the conflicting emotions. Grief was uppermost in his mind. Grief and regret ….

“Dead,” he repeated, dully. “How did you find out?”

“I have access to Imperial datanets. Bria Tharen died thirty-six hours ago. The Imperials have a confirmed ID on her body. Her squadron was playing rear guard during some intelligence operation.”

Han swallowed. Don’t tell me she died for nothing! “Did they attain their objective?”

“I don’t know,” the mechanical voice said. “Someone has to tell her father, Solo. I gave her my word … and I always keep my word.”