THE HUTT GAMBI(97)

They’ll go on autopilot, keep on doing what you’ve been drilled to do, even though your mind ain’t giving ‘em instructions for a few seconds.

“But then, if you’ve drilled well, and know your stuff cold—and, kid, you know your stuff, I’ve watched you—then your brain is gonna click back in.

The fear will still be there, but you’ll be able to work past it, around it. It won’t slow you down anymore. You’ll just keep on doing what you gotta do. And you’ll be all right.”

Jarik wet his lips. “But … what if I don’t? Maybe you should get another gunner, Han. I’d rather die than let you down.”

“If you want me to, I will, kid,” Han said. “But I’d rather have you.

I know you, we work well together. We’ve drilled together. But it’s your decision. Just let me know, okay?”

The youth nodded. “Thanks. I’ll … think … about it.”

Han gave him a pat on the shoulder as he walked by. “Get some sleep, kid.

We’re all gettin’ a little worn down.”

Jarik gave the Corellian a wan smile. “Okay, Han.”

Lando Calrissian hated getting dirty, but he was growing accustomed to it.

Readying the Millennium Falcon for serious combat was a grimy, greasy job, but somebody had to do it. Last week, Shug had helped him find and install a “new” gun turret on the Falcon’s starboard side, aft of the cockpit, just above the boarding ramp. But there was still a lot to do. Han, Chewie, and Salla would have helped him, he knew that, but they were tied up either helping Xaverri prepare her holo-illusion, or fixing up their own ships.

Lando gathered that Xaverri and Han were a thing of the past. As he used a hydrospanner to tighten up the bolts on the new quad laser mounting, the young gambler found himself thinking about Xaverri. She was certainly a very fine woman, intelligent, attractive, sharp dresser, good sense of humor—all qualities Lando found irresistible.

He wondered whether she’d have any interest in taking up with him where she and the Corellian had left off. It was obvious that she liked rogues and scoundrels, or she’d never have had a relationship with the Corellian.

Maybe I should try growing a mustache, Lando thought. Might give me a . .

. rakish … air. The corners of the gambler’s mouth curved upward.

Perhaps Xaverri would be interested in traveling with him, when this was all over.

Lando was considering going back to the Oseon system. He had a couple of moneymaking schemes he wanted to try. And he needed to sharpen his already considerable sabacc skills. There was a big highstakes sabacc championship scheduled to be played on Bespin’s Cloud City in about six months. Lando very much wanted to play in that championship. But he’d need to raise a considerable stake to qualify, and the easiest, quickest way to do that was to head back for the Oseon. Things were looser there …

And it would be very agreeable, Lando decided, to have a lovely lady traveling companion.

Only problem was … was Xaverri still in love with Han? And how would Han feel about having his former girlfriend take up with his best buddy?

Well, Lando amended, his best human buddy. Han’s best friend was indubitably Chewbacca …

Immersed in fantasies of himself and Xaverri wining and dining in the finest resorts of the Oseon system, Lando managed to whack the knuckles of his other hand with the hydrospanner. Cursing, he started to suck the injured digits, but his hand was so dirty, he desisted.

“Master?” Vuffi Raa said, emerging from beneath the Falcon’s belly.

The little droid carried various tools in each of his five-armed, tentacle-digited limbs. Its single red eye stared up at Lando.

“Master, what happened?”

Still wishing he could suck his injured knuckle, Lando gritted, “Vuffi Raa, how many times have I told you not to call me ‘Master’!”

“Five hundred and sixty-two times, Master,” replied the little droid promptly.

Lando snarled. “I just whacked my knuckle, that’s all, you little junk heap I’ll be all right. Let’s get back to work. We have to have the Falcon spaceworthy by tonight. Mako’s calling for another drill.”

“Very well,” Vuffi Raa said.

“Hey, Vuffi Raa?” Lando called.

Already on his way back under the ship, the little droid paused. “Yes, Master?”

Lando let the title slide this time. “Are you sure you’re going to be okay piloting the Falcon during this battle?”

“It will strain my circuitry, Master, because, as you know, I am programmed not to cause harm to living—especially sentient—beings.

However, since you will be the one doing the shooting, I believe I can manage to fly.