FULL CIRCLE
By: Lynda Vandiver
Han Solo swept his eyes across the canopy of stars dotting the black shroud of space; the hum and flicker of the controls the only light and sound in the cockpit as the bulky freighter silently slid through space. Han loved this type of flying, sub-light; he'd been traversing the galaxies for thousands of solar days in his life and he knew the beauty and fury of space as well as the 'landmarks' as no casual traveler would notice; the Tubiana asteroid belt, the twin Ephorus comets that streaked along edge of the galaxy, the rotating Helix nebula and the Pangolin constellation. The vacuum of space allowed one to see millions of miles with the naked eye. Han never tired of the sight, still as eager to see new worlds and have new experiences as he was in his younger days.
A bleep on the sonar screen alerted him to the starship that had entered his field of vision. He concentrated on the ship; it seemed to be traveling at sub-light speed. Quickly calculating and monitoring the speed and direction of the ship, he realized it was coming in his direction.
"Chewie. Get up here. We have company." He called through the intercom.
Moments later the Wookiee shuffled into the cockpit and settled in his co-pilot's chair.
"See….out there to the left." Han motioned with his hand.
Chewbacca woofed an acknowledgment.
"I'm gonna magnify it on the screen…see if we can tell what kind of ship it is." Han said as he
flipped a switch on the console. After viewing the object in question, Han put a thoughtful finger
to his lips as he studied the image. "It's not a large freighter or a med ship or a commercial passenger carrier. Could be an independent…what do you think, Chewie?"
A short woof from Chewbacca was joined by a shake of his shaggy head.
"No, I agree, it isn't a destroyer. In fact," Han straightened in his pilot's seat and peered out the cockpit window, it looks round…. saucer shaped."
Chewbacca adjusted his screen and gave a mumbled growl.
"Yeah, we'll wait until it gets a little closer." Han agreed.
Both pilots watched in silence as the ship drew closer.
"Hey, Chewie…that looks like a Corellian YT-1300 Freighter, just like the Falcon!" I didn't think they even made those models any more."Han gave a small chuckle to himself. "Boy, the adventures and narrow escapes we had in that ship." He was silent for a moment, then admitted with a sigh, "I still miss it. Wonder where she is now?" He said wistfully. "I still can't believe she was stolen from me."
A mournful wail of nostalgia came from Chewbacca.
Han ran a calloused palm over his whisker stubbled cheek. "Hope it's not someone who knows what we're carrying on this freighter. "We could be on the run."
Han and Chewbacca continued to watch the magnified display on their screens as the ship floated closer and closer.
"Chewie! Han exclaimed. "That looks like the Falcon. It can't be. She must be a rusted out bucket of bolts after all these years." But Han couldn't shake the feeling that he knew that
ship. "Let's pull her in and check it out." Han flipped the power switch that activated the
tractor beam. There was no resistance from the ship and Chewbacca woofed a question.
"No." Han replied, monitoring the gauges. "I don't think it's an abandoned ship. Maybe
there's someone on board that doesn't want to be noticed."
The sauce-like ship floated into the landing port of the large freighter and settled on
the docking pad.
Han and Chewbacca left the cockpit and made their way to the landing port; and upon seeing
the ship, looked at each other….there were dents and large pock marks on the hull of the
ship and a twisted anchor rod just below the sensor dish. Han's heart began beating fast…could it be?.. Chewbacca shuffled to the edge of the ship and looked back at his friend. Han approached slowly…reaching the landing ramp of the ship, he ran a hand, caressingly
across the supports of the ramp…remembering…wondering….
There was no movement from inside the ship. Han drew his weapon and Chewbacca
clasped his bow caster to his chest. "Let's go." Han slapped the power plate that opened the
hatchway of the ship…and rushed in, blaster at the ready…He looked around quickly,
noting that no one was to be seen…then took in the full view of the entrance way….
the walls…. the lights… the decks…even the smell inside the ship. He took a few steps
forward…almost in a daze….it was the Millennium Falcon…. and with deep emotion said "Chewie….we're home."