And at that point, the captain suddenly halted in midword, fixing the Wookiee with a suspicious glare. “So why do you care, anyhow?” he demanded, his momentary good humor gone.
Dewlanna answered only by covering Shrike’s bet, and raising.
“Solo,” Han whispered softly, trying it on for size. “Han Solo. My full name is Han Solo.”
He looked up at Dewlanna, and a wide grin spread across his features.
“I like itt It sounds great!”
Dewlanna whined softly and, slinging a long arm around him, gave the boy a hug …
Han smiled, remembering, but it was a sad smile. Dewlanna had meant well, but her discovery that his name was “Solo” had led to one of the worst episodes of his young life. The next time the Luck was in orbit around Corellia, he’d stolen time away from his pickpocketing and burglary duties and had gone to one of the public archives to do some research.
Shrike didn’t like his “rescuees” to spend any time on furthering their education. Each child aboard Trader’s Luck was given an elementary level education via the ship’s computer, so he, she, or it could learn to read and count money. Beyond that, Shrike discouraged the children from pursuing higher learning.
It was partly because he automatically wanted to flout Shrike’s wishes, and partly due to Dewlanna’s encouragement, that Han had kept up his studies in secret. He had a tendency to ignore subjects he didn’t like—such as history—and to spend all his time on subjects he enjoyed—such as reading adventure stories and solving math equations.
Han knew how important math was to anyone who wanted to be a pilot, so he worked hard at mastering as much of it as he could.
Once Dewlanna discovered what he was doing, she monitored his curriculum, making him study subjects that he would otherwise have skipped, leaving gaps in his knowledge. Reluctantly, Han tackled the physical sciences, and history.
He was surprised to discover that some real historical battles were just as exciting as anything he’d read in adventure sagas.
That day in the public archives on Corellia, Han applied some of his newly learned research skills to learning about his new surname. The results were surprising. When Han looked up the last name “Solo” in the historical records, he was astounded to discover that the name was well known on Corellia. A “Berethron Solo” had introduced democracy on Han’s homeworld three centuries ago. He’d actually been a ruler, a king!
But there’d been another Solo, more recently, who was equally famous—or, to put it more accurately, infamous. About fifty years ago, a descendant of Berethron, Korol Solo, had fathered a son named “Dalla Solo.” The young man, taking the alias “Dalla Suul” in an effort to disguise his identity, had made quite a name for himself as a murderer, kidnapper, and pirate.
“Dalla the Black” had become a name to make children quake in their beds on lonely outpost colonies or tramp freighters …
The child Han wondered whether he was related to these men. Did royal blood run in his veins? Or the blood of a pirate and murderer? He’d probably never know, unless, somehow, he could persuade Shrike to divulge what he knew. He read about Dalla Suul’s exploits as a thief, and smiled grimly, wondering if he was actually following some kind of family tradition.
Then he began checking the more recent Corellian news files and society pages in the computer. A search for the surname “Solo” brought up a name.
Tiion SalSolo. She was a wealthy but reclusive widow with one child, a son. Thrackan SalSolo was six or seven years older than Han, in his late teens.
What if I’m related to this Tiion Solo, or she knew my parents? Han wondered. This could be my best chance yet to get away.
When he went back to Trader’s Luck; Han talked it over with Dewlanna.
The Wookiee agreed with him that while it was risky, Han had to take the chance of contracting the Solo family.
“Of course,” Han said, resting his chin on his fist and looking dejectedly at the table, “once I did that, I couldn’t see you again, Dewlanna.”
The Wookiee growled softly, telling Han that of course he’d see her.
Just not aboard Trader’s Luck.
“The last time I ran away, Shrike beat me so hard I couldn’t sit down for days,” Han said softly. “If Larrad hadn’t reminded him that he had something else to do, I really think he might’ve killed me.”
Dewlanna rumbled. “You’re right,” Han agreed. “If this Solo family takes me in, they’re powerful enough and rich enough to protect me from Shrike.”
Han even knew something about the rules and manners required of people living in Corellian high society. Every so often, Shrike would run a major scam on rich folks on Corellia. Han had been part of the background during several such con operations.