[Han Solo] - 03(35)

Jiliac was shaking her head slowly back and forth, a mannerism she’d picked up from humans. “Jabba, you know my thinking on this, I have told you many times. Prince Xizor is not one to be trifled with. Best to stay far away from him, and to have nothing to do with Black Sun.

Open the door to them just once, and you risk becoming his vassal.”

“I am cautious, Aunt, I assure you. I would never do as Durga has done.”

“Good. Durga will soon discover that he has opened a door that cannot easily be closed. If he steps through it … he will no longer be his own master.”

“So should we hope he does that, Aunt?”

Jiliac’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Hardly, Nephew. Xizor is not a foe I wish to contend with. He has evidently set his sights on Besadii, but he would willingly take Desilijic, too, of that I have no doubt.”

Jabba silently agreed. Xizor would move in on the whole of Nal Hutta if given the opportunity. “Speaking of Besadii, Aunt,” he said, “what of these Ylesian profits I was reporting on? What can we do to stop Besadii?

They now have nine colonies on Ylesia. They are preparing to start another colony on Nyrvona, the other habitable world in the system.”

Jiliac thought for a moment. “Perhaps it is time to utilize Teroenza again,” she said. “Durga apparently has no suspicion that he was responsible for Aruk’s death.”

“Utilize him how?”

“I don’t know yet …. “Jiliac said. “Perhaps we can encourage Teroenza to declare his independence from Durga. If they fought, Besadii profits would be bound to plummet. And then . we could pick up the pieces.”

“Very good, Aunt!” Jabba was happy to hear the old, scheming Jiliac acting like herself again. “Now, if I can just report on these figures here, and get your input on reducing our costs in—” “Ahhhhhhhh!”

Jabba broke off, interrupted by Jiliac’s deep, maternal coo of affection, and saw the baby Hutt wriggling up to its mother, tiny vestigial arms held up, its bulbous eyes fixed on Jiliac’s face intently. The baby’s mouth opened, and it chirruped inquiringly.

“Look, Nephew!” Jiliac’s voice was warm, indulgent. “My little one knows mama, yes, doesn’t he, precious?”

Jabba rolled his eyes until they nearly emerged from their sockets and splatted onto the floor. Witness the demise of one of the greatest criminal minds of this millennium, he thought, bleakly.

Then, as Jiliac scooped up the baby Hutt and guided it back into her pouch, Jabba glared at the little creature with an expression very close to outright hatred ….

Han spent the next couple of days with the members of the Wookiee underground, finalizing their deal. The time came when he opened up the Falcon, and he and Jarik unloaded the explosive quarrels from the secret compartments. Katarra, Kichiir and Motamba clustered around the boxes, exclaiming excitedly over their new toys.

Meanwhile, other Wookiees from the underground movement made a steady stream inside the ship, loading it with stormtrooper armor. Han was able to pack nearly forty complete suits and ten helmets into the Falcon. If the armor fetched the market price, he’d doubled his investment on the trip.

Not a bad bit of bargaining!

By the time all the armor was stowed away enough so that the Falcon’s crew could move about, night was falling. Han decided that he wanted to wait for dawn for his tricky exit of the cave and straight up flight through the trees. He and Jarik said farewell to their hosts and stretched out on the pilot’s seats to sleep.

Han was awakened before sunrise the next morning by a loud—and familiar!—Wookiee roar. The Corellian opened his eyes and jumped up, nearly tripping over the sleepy Jarik. Activating the ramp, he raced down it. “Chewie!”

Han was so glad to see the big furball that he didn’t even complain when the Wookiee grabbed him, swung him around, and ruffled his hair until it stood on end. All the while, Chewbacca was whining out a steady stream of complaints. What had Han been thinking of, preparing to leave him behind?

Didn’t he know any better? What could you expect from a human!

When the Wookiee finally released him, Han looked up at Chewie, completely confused. “Huh? Whaddaya mean, I was gonna leave you behind? I’m goin’ back to Nar Shaddaa, pal, and, in case it’s slipped your attention, Chewie, you’re a married guy now. Your place is here, on Kashyyyk, with Malla.”

Chewie shook his head, uttering protesting hoots and remonstrations.

“Life debt? Pal, I know you’ve sworn a life debt, but let’s be realistic here!

You belong with your wife, on your own planet, now! Not dodgin’ Imp cruisers with me.”