[Han Solo] - 03(73)

Bria shrugged. “You get the idea. When I started in with the Resistance, I knew it was too dangerous to see him any more. Too dangerous for both of us.

But I’ve found ways—safe ways—to let him know I’m alive. A couple of times a year, he gets a message through very roundabout channels.

Just, ‘Bria’s okay.” Like that.”

“Go on.” The bounty hunter’s voice was absolutely expressionless.

“Anyway … I don’t want him to wait and wait for a message from me.

Could you .

. . let him know I’m dead? He means a lot to me. He’s a good man, a decent man. Pays his Imperial taxes, honorable citizen, all that. So … if I gave you his name and location, could you just send a message? ‘Bria’s dead.” That’s all.”

To Bria’s surprise, Boba Fett nodded. “I will do so. What is—” The bounty hunter broke off as the door chime sounded. Bria jumped, and Boba Fett rose to his feet in one seamless motion, like a hunting animal.

The chime sounded again. Dimly, from outside the cabin, muffled by the sound sponge, Bria heard, “Bria? Hey, it’s me, Lando!”

“Calrissian,” Boba Fett said quietly. Quickly the bounty hunter turned the sound sponge all the way back up. Going over to the portal, he keyed it open, standing back behind it.

“Lando, no!” Bria shouted. “Go away!” The sound sponge soaked up the noise, absorbing it. Instead of filling the room, her shout was no louder than a whisper.

Clutching his flowers and the bottle of fine wine, Lando stepped eagerly through the door to Bria Lavval’s stateroom. “Sorry I’m a few minutes late,” he was saying. “The florist was closed, and I had to—” Calrissian broke off in confusion, his eyes widening as he took in Bria, sitting on the floor by the armchair, her arms bound behind her, and the sheet-covered mound in the corner. He backed up, realizing he’d just made a very bad mistake.

Behind the gambler, the portal shut. “What’s going on?” Lando demanded, only to hear his voice emerge in muffled, subdued tones.

Seeing the direction of Bria’s gaze, the gambler turned and found an Anomid regarding him.

“Nice to see you again, Calrissian,” the Anomid said. “You are fortunate that I never mix business and pleasure.”

“What—” Lando started, then he caught a glimpse of the big case, lying open on the floor. His dark eyes widened. “Fett …” he said.

“Yes,” the bounty hunter said. “That had better be the last word I hear out of you, Calrissian. I am not here for you. Cooperate, and I may let you live. You might come in handy.”

Lando knew better than to argue. Meekly, he put down the wine and flowers.

Moments later, he found himself sitting several meters away from Bria, just as efficiently bound, his back propped against the sofa.

Boba Fett regarded Bria intently. “Tomorrow, when we dock with Nar Hekka’s docking platform, you and I are going to leave the Queen, walking closely together. I will be armed, but not with any weapon a visual inspection or security scan could discern. You will stay close by my right side at all times, and remain silent. Understood?”

She nodded. “Yes. But what about Lando?” The note of fear in her voice for him made the gambler glance at her appreciatively.

“Calrissian’s life depends on you, Bria Tharen. If you give me your word that you won’t alert anyone, I will leave him behind, bound and gagged, but alive.”

Bria raised her eyebrows. “You would trust my word?”

“Why not?” he asked, with an undertone of mockery. “You value the lives of innocents more than you do your own. I know your type. But just to make sure … I plan to wire Calrissian before we leave with a remote control detonator. If we encounter any problems, the cleaning droids will have to scrape his remains off the walls.”

Lando swallowed painfully.

Bria glanced at the gambler and gave him a reassuring smile. “You’re right about me. I give you my word that I won’t cause any trouble.”

“Good,” Fett responded. “At the moment—” The bounty hunter broke off as an alarm suddenly shrieked through the Queen of Empire with an ear-splitting volume. Lando sat bolt upright, his eyes widening. What the …

Fifteen seconds later the entire Queen bounced—there was no other word for it. The huge ship heaved like a buoy on a stormy sea. Lando’s stomach lurched, and he fell over on his side. He looked over at Bria, who had managed to remain upright, saw her gagging, struggling not to be sick.

“What’s going on?” she gasped. Lando, remembering Boba Fett’s order to remain silent, struggled to right himself.