[Legacy Of The Force] - 03(98)
Leia was quiet for a moment, probably studying her own display, and the anger that Han had felt over being taken hostage began to give way to other emotions. Knowing that Leia would be sensing the change through the
Force, he only hoped she realized that the fear he was feeling was only for Tenel Ka. The last thing he wanted was for Leia to think a little thing like having a blaster stuck in his ribs was starting to bother him.
After a moment, Leia asked Han, “You think the Dreadnaughts can actually break through?”
Han nodded. “That’s what they were designed for-to penetrate an enemy fleet and tear it apart from the inside. And if that strategy works…”
“… they’ll go after Tenel Ka,” Leia finished. “And it won’t matter whether they win the ship-to-ship melee that follows. If they kill Tenel Ka, the monarchy will be shattered.”
“And the Heritage Council will still be in position to put the Consortium back together again,” Morwan said. “Very astute, Princess.”
C-3PO reached the back of the flight deck and began to clank down the access corridor.
Morwan didn’t even turn to look. “It sounds as though we’re running out of time, Princess. Will you turn back now … or do I blast your man?”
“Hmmm,” Leia said. “That’s a tough decision. On one hand, I would inherit this old transport…”
“That’s classic transport,” Han corrected. “The YT-Thirteen-hundred is one of the most valuable…”
“Stop stalling,” Morwan ordered. “Turn back now, or I pull the trigger.”
Leia sighed, and the Falcon’s nose started to drift back toward the battle.
“Leia!” Han’s fear had turned to embarrassment; could she really believe he would want her to risk Tenel Ka’s life to save him? “The traitors have a spy!”
“It’s okay, Han,” Leia said. “I have a feeling it won’t matter.”
“Of course it’ll matter!” Han objected. “They’ll know what ship Tenel Ka is…”
“That’s enough, Captain Solo,” Morwan jammed the blaster harder into his ribs. “With a Jedi and two Noghri aboard, I don’t expect to survive this anyway. On my way out, I won’t hesitate to rid the galaxy of one more Alliance braintick.”
“Alliance braintick?” Han pushed his wounded arm forward in the sling. “There’s no call for insults!”
He clamped his hand over Morwan’s hold-out blaster. As he pushed the tiny weapon away from his body, she squeezed the trigger, sending a flurry of bolts burning across his palm and ricocheting off the control board. “Han, no!” Leia screamed.
But Han was already slamming the elbow of his good arm into Morwan’s nose. He felt cartilage crumble and heard her scream, but the blaster bolts continued to come. He brought his elbow back again.
Morwan released the hold-out blaster and reached up to protect her nose. Han stepped away, moving the weapon to his good hand-and letting out a roar of pain as he finally realized just how much his scorched palm hurt.
“Han!” Leia reached out and gently pushed Han back so the Hghtsaber in her hand would have a clear path to Morwan’s head. “What are you doing?”
“Taking my ship back.” Han pointed the weapon at Morwan, who was now holding her face in both hands* bleeding between her ringers and groaning in pain. “What do you think?”
“I think you’re getting yourself shot up again for no reason.” Leia laid her Hghtsaber in her lap, then ordered, “Sit down and keep her covered until the Noghri get here.”
Han dropped into the navigator’s seat. “What do you mean, no reason?” A cloud of gray smoke was hanging over the control board, rising from half a dozen holes that Morwan had shot through the durasteel. “She was going to kill me!”
“I don’t think so,” Leia said. “She wouldn’t have had any reason.”
Han noticed they were still headed toward the battle. “Don’t tell me you were going to send that message!”
“Actually, I still am,” Leia said.
Even Morwan was surprised. “You are?” Her voice was muffled and nasal. “Why?”
“Never mind,” Leia said. She cocked her head, looking into the canopy reflection, then raised her voice so it projected down the access corridor. “It’s okay, Cakhmaim. We have things under control.”
She had barely spoken before Cakhmaim and Meewalh rushed onto the flight deck, Cakhmaim holding a deadly fighting sickle and Meewalh a capture net. When they saw Han sitting in the navigator’s seat with the blaster and Morwan hunched over with her head in her hands, their saurian faces looked almost disappointed.