[Han Solo] - 03(81)
“Well … I imagine being a Rebel commando leader is fairly time-consuming. Almost as time-consuming as being the mistress of a Sector Moff.”
Her eyes widened, then narrowed. “How did you find that out? I never told you …. ” “Nar Shaddaa is the criminal nexus of the galaxy,” Lando said. “An information broker owed me a favor, and I called it in. Commander Bria Tharen, right?”
Her lips tightened, and she nodded curtly. “Hey,” Lando said, reaching out to touch the back of her hand gently, “didn’t I tell you you can trust me?
You can. I have no love for the Empire. If I weren’t such an arrant coward, I’d join the Rebels myself. I know lots of secrets, and I’m good at keeping them.”
She smiled faintly. “Whatever you are, you aren’t a coward, Lando.
Nobody who stood up to Boba Fett like that could be called cowardly.
You should think about joining the Resistance. You’re a good pilot, you can think on your feet, and you’re smart. You’d be an officer in no time.”
She hesitated, then added, more seriously, “And about Moff Sarn Shild .
.
. all I can say is that appearances can be deceiving. I was on assignment for the Resistance, but I was nothing more than a social hostess and aide for him, though he wanted everyone to think otherwise.” “But you were also spying on him.” “‘Gathering intelligence’ is a nicer term.”
He chuckled. “So where will you go tomorrow, after you leave Nar Shaddaa?”
“I’ll head back to my squadron, and my next assignment … whatever that may be. I’m missing two of my senior officers now … plus an excellent combat trooper.” Her expression darkened. “Fett killed them with no more thought or caring than you or I would step on an insect.”
“That’s why he’s the most feared bounty hunter in the galaxy,” Lando pointed out.
“Yes. “She took another sip of wine. “He’s like a one-man army. ˇ . .
Too bad he’s loyal to the Empire. I could certainly use him in combat!”
Lando looked at her. “It means everything to you, doesn’t it?
Defeating the Empire?”
She nodded. “It’s my life,” she said, simply. “I would give anything I have–or am—to further that dream.”
Lando picked up a piece of flatbread, drizzled Kashyyykian forest honey on it, and took a bite. “But you’ve already devoted years to that goal. When does Bria Tharen get a chance to have a life of her own?
When do you just say, ‘enough’? Don’t you want to have a home, a family, someday?”
She smiled sadly. “The last person to ask me that question was Han.”
“Really? When the two of you were on Ylesia? That was a long time ago.”
“Yes,” she said. “It’s been wonderful to be able to talk to you, find out what he’s been doing. Do you know, Lando, in just a few months it will be ten years to the day since we first met. I can hardly believe it …
where did the time go?”
“Where time always goes,” Lando said. “There’s a giant black hole in the center of the galaxy, and it just sucks it right up.”
She shrugged and smiled wryly. “That explanation works for me. I’ll have to remember that.”
Lando poured her some more wine. “Anyway, you didn’t answer my question.
When are you going to have a life for Bria?”
Her bluegreen eyes were very intent as they met his across the table.
“When the Empire is defeated, and Palpatine is dead, then I’ll think about settling down. I would love to have a child … someday.”
She smiled. “I think I still remember how to cook and do domestic things. My mother certainly spent enough time trying to turn me into appropriate ‘wife’ material, and that included plenty of instruction in ‘womanly’ duties.”
Lando grinned. “I suppose she wouldn’t much like your current rebel image.
Dressed in combat fatigues, armed to the teeth.”
She laughed wryly and rolled her eyes. “Poor mother! It’s a good thing she can’t see me, she’d keel over in utter horror!”
Just then the server brought their steaks, and both dug in with appreciation. “Lando, this is so wonderful,” Bria said. “This beats military chow six ways from sundown.”
Lando smiled. “Just one more reason I couldn’t join the Rebellion,” he said. “I have a penchant for fine cuisine. I don’t think I could stand a steady diet of rations.”
She nodded. “But you’d be surprised what you can get used to …