THE PARADISE SNARE(7)
This droid must be there as a sort of burglar alarm, a sophisticated communications device to help deter portside thieves or space pirates.
Han knew that one of the reasons the Ylesian priests were eager to hire a pilot—preferably a Corellian, their ad had read—was that they’d been losing robot ships to piracy.
As he froze, hoping the droid wasn’t aware of his presence, the young man felt the Dream shudder. We’re undocking! I’ve got to get braced for breakaway thrust!
Quickly he edged away from the bridge and headed back toward the cargo area. Finally, he found what he was looking for, and just in time. A small space that he could sit down in, just the right size to allow him to brace himself with his arms and legs.
The Dream shuddered again, and then again. Mentally, Han pictured the docking clamps falling away, one by one. One more to go, then-The ship shuddered one more time, then lurched violently. Since the Dream wasn’t supposed to be manned, it could utilize acceleration patterns that were much rougher than those used in a vessel with a living crew.
Wham! Han’s body jerked, then he braced himself against the thrust of violent acceleration. The Dream was undocked and away!
Mentally, Han pictured them thrusting away from Trader’s Luck, out of the embrace of Corellia’s gravity field. Closing his eyes, he pictured his homeworld turning lazily against the backdrop of stars. Corellia was a pretty planet, with narrow blue seas, green-brown forests, tan deserts, and large cities. On the nightside it glittered like a battle remote studded with lights The hardest thrust of acceleration hit then, and Han was pinned uncomfortably against the cargo container. We’ve made the jump to lightspeed, he realized.
Moments later, as the ship’s speed evened out, he was able to move again.
He flexed his arms and legs, wincing as bruises made themselves felt. From the fight in the galley, he realized. The thought made him remember Dewlanna with a sudden, visceral sadness. Tears stung his eyes, and he fought them back fiercely. Crying in a spacesuit helmet was a lousy idea, since you couldn’t wipe your face.
Han sniffed, trying to blink back the tears. Dewlanna… he thought.
His friend had given her life to give him this chance.
Get hold of yourself, Solo, he ordered himself sternly. His throat ached, but Han gulped, swallowed hard, then bit his lip until the urge to cry receded. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d cried, and what was the point? It wouldn’t bring Dewlanna back …
Han knew Dewlanna believed in an afterlife of the spirit. If she was right about that, then maybe she could hear him now.
“Hey, Dewlanna,” Han whispered, “I made it. I’m on my way. I’m going to Ylesia, and I’m going to become the best pilot in the sector. I’ll learn enough—and earn enough—to apply for the Academy, the way we always dreamed. I’m free, Dewlanna.” His voice broke. We’re safe, Dewlanna.
Shrike can’t touch either of us, now …
Wedged into his little crevice, the young pilot smiled with grim determination. I’m free, and I owe it all to you. I’ll never forget it, either. If I ever get a chance to pay you back by helping one of your people, I swear to anything that’s out there—any god, or life-power, or force—I won’t hesitate.
Han Solo took a long, deep breath of canned spacesuit air. “Thank you, Dewlanna,” he whispered.
Wherever she was now, he hoped she could hear him.
2
Ylesian Dreams When Han awoke from exhausted sleep, he was completely disoriented at first. Where am I? he wondered groggily. Memory came rushing back in swift, violent images: His own hand holding a blaster .
. . Shrike’s face twisted with hatred and rage … Dewlanna, gasping, dying alone …
He swallowed hard, his throat aching. Dewlanna had been part of his life since he was just a little kid, eight, perhaps, or nine. He remembered the day she’d come aboard with her mate, Isshaddik.
Isshaddik had been outlawed from the Wookiee homeworld for some crime that Dewlanna had never referred to. She’d followed her mate into exile, leaving behind all that she’d ever known—her home and their grown cubs.
A year or so later, Isshaddik had been killed during a smuggling run to Nar Hekka, one of the worlds in the Hutt sector. Shrike had announced to Dewlanna that she could remain aboard Trader’s Luck as cook, since he’d grown to like the foods she prepared. Dewlanna could have gone back to Kashyyyk—after all, she’d committed no crime—but she’d chosen to stay aboard the Luck.
Because of me, Han thought as he located the water dispenser nipple inside his helmet and took a cautious sip. Then he tongued up a couple of food pellets and washed them down with another swallow. It wasn’t the same as food, but they’d keep him going for the day… She stayed because of me.