Chapter Nine

"Hello," Han said as he regained some of his composure, his cheek twitching nervously as he withdrew his hand from someone he'd once considered his closest friend next to Chewie. "Nice to meet you." He could tell that Luke knew... sense that he knew. Han glanced over to Lando, wanting to escape the apartment as quickly as possible. "Ya have the schedule for me?"

Oblivious to the two men's discomfort, Lando nodded and handed Han a datapad. "Hapes city of Ta'a Chume'Dan will be the first stop, thirty six days from now."

"Hapes?" Han whispered, dumbfounded. He always let Lando plan out the tour dates and cities, never giving it a second thought. It was Lando's job, and he was paying him quite well to do that job. He was aware of Luke's keen interest in his reaction, and repeated calmly, "Hapes?"

"Why not, Evin?" Lando asked, frowning at Han. "You haven't been there, and the tickets are selling out as fast as the date and venues are announced. The first date will be in a fairly small arena, a dinner club actually. Only holds two thousand beings, but all the Hapan bigwigs and royals will be in attendance. I hope so, anyway. Good publicity. They've all been invited for dinner and a show, free of charge."

"Well, I've always heard Hapans are kinda nasty," Han mumbled, feeling his face grow warm. Hapan Royalty meant Leia would probably be there. This would have been uncomfortable but it was something he might have been able to push past. 'Evin' could have put on the show, aware she was in attendance, but she would never know who he really was - just some currently popular entertainer; a few hours of amusement or something unpleasant she had to endure for a few hours. But things had suddenly, drastically changed in the past few seconds.

"Nonsense," Lando said, shaking his head. "Your music holo-cubes are incredibly popular. Their local shill-mag, Hapes Today, voted you 'Most Handsome Human Male in the Galaxy' just last month."

"Fine, we'll go to Hapes, why not," Han grumbled, scowling down at the datapad. At least if he focused on that, he wouldn't have to look directly at Luke. "I gotta get back to Corellia. Havin' some contractors meet me in a few days to give me estimates on putting up my own studio."

"Your own recording studio?" Lando asked, surprised.

"Nah, my own art studio," Han shot back sarcastically. "I've decided to switch gears and start painting or sculpting or something. Of course my own recording studio. I'm gettin' tired of having to troop back to Coruscant for everything.. rehearsals, recording. I want to stay on Corellia. Let everyone else come to me for a change." Han's initial obsession with remaining on Coruscant had waned over the years, and he had started to feel trapped by the endless skyscrapers and mobs of beings. When a beautiful Corellian country estate with over eight hundred hectares went on the market Han had snatched it up. With security fencing all around, it gave him a sense of protection in a galaxy that, increasingly, was confining him because of his fame.

Luke was aware he hadn't said a single word since Lando's introduction, as he was still reeling from the unexpected encounter. Lando must probably think he was star-struck. Then he reached out mentally to Lando and confirmed that the dark-skinned Corellian was completely unaware that 'Evin' was, in fact, Han Solo. He switched his Force probe back to Han, and suddenly realized his long-time friend was fully aware Luke was mentally snooping, which meant... Luke blinked. Han was Force-sensitive. He needed to say something, and fast.

"It's nice meeting you, too, Evin."

Han turned his gaze slowly back toward Luke, unsure of what to say. "Uh, okay. I've, um, never met a Jedi before." Liar

At the same exact moment Han thought that word, Luke thought it, too. Flustered, Han turned to leave. "See ya later, Lando."

"Hey," Lando called out, and Han paused briefly as he looked back over his shoulder. "I wanted to show you my new designs for your concert outfits."

"Whatever you like is fine," Han said, entering the lift. "I don't need to see the next generation of silk shirts and black pants." The door closed with a hiss, and left Luke standing next to Calrissian, still stunned. He knew he couldn't let this slide. "Where is Ha... Evin staying?"

Calrissian glanced over at Luke and shrugged. "He used to have a nice apartment, near this one, but he gave it up when he bought his house. Evin doesn't much care for Coruscant, so I think he pretty much stays onboard his ship when he's here. He docks the Wookiee Princess in a very secure location, a dock with lots of guards."

"The Wookiee Princess?"

Lando laughed. "That's the name of his ship. It's a real beauty, too, brand new, but Evin has a very, very strange sense of humor."

No kidding, Luke thought before asking, "What type of ship?"

"YT-2000."

"Where is it docked?"

These rapid questions gave Lando pause. "Why?"

"I need to talk to... Evin."

"Again, I have to ask, why? Pardon me for asking, Luke, but you have to understand that Evin gets hounded constantly. He can't go anywhere without dozens of beings surrounding him and begging for his autograph and for a kiss."

"I promise I won't ask him for a kiss," Luke responded dryly. "Or even an autograph."

"So, then tell me."

"I think Evin is Force-sensitive." It was true, and a good reason to give Lando without adding the far more important reason.

Lando gave a belly laugh. "He'd get a kick out of hearing that, Luke. And then he'd kick you to the door."

"You know that's what I do, right? Find Force-sensitives to train as Jedi?"

"I know that, Luke," Lando replied patiently. "But I'm telling you right now, even if my client is Force-sensitive, he doesn't have time to train as one of your Jedi. Evin is a very, very busy boy making me rich. Well, richer than he's already made me."

"Are you going to tell me the docking number, or do I have to use the Force to yank it out of your head?"

"That's very dark-side of you, Luke," Lando replied, miffed, before willingly giving Luke the dock number.

Luke glanced at the flimsi he was holding, showing the dock number Lando had provided. It was very close to Lando's apartment so it took little time to get there. Parked in the space was a shiny new YT-2000, the style looking very much like Han's old ship, the one he had loved so dearly. Luke wasn't surprised it was a design that his old friend had chosen once again.

The ramp was already closed up by the time Luke approached the Wookiee Princess, and Luke pressed the buzzer on the side of the panel. He waited for quite a few minutes with no response. He pressed the buzzer again. Still no reply.

I know you're in there, Han. I can use the Force to lower this ramp if you don't let me inside.

A second later, the hatch opened, and the ramp lowered. Standing at the top was his friend, who no longer looked like his friend, but was still his friend. Han scowled down at Luke. He was now wearing his gun belt, and his hand was casually resting on the blaster.

"I could deflect your shot, you know," Luke said, trying to remain serious. When Han didn't reply, Luke added, "We need to talk. In private."

"No, we don't."

"Han..."

"I ain't Han," the Corellian snapped out. "Solo is dead. I'm Evin Daysun."

"I'm not leaving until I have an explanation. And if you try lifting off, I'll just use the Force to hold your ship from lifting. The Wookiee Princess? Really?"

"You are a pain in the ass, kid."

Luke strode up the ramp and pushed past his 'old' friend. "Who are you calling 'kid', kid?" Without waiting for a reply, Luke found the hold and sat down on a comfortable couch located in front of a game table, obviously much older than this ship and obviously installed by the current owner. But the rest of the interior was shiny and clean, so unlike the Falcon had been. He watched as Han followed him inside, cautiously sitting across the room, then asked as he waved at the old game table, "Are you addicted to Dejarik?"

Han didn't seem amused. "Why'd ya follow me?"

"I want answers."

The Corellian leaned back, not exactly relaxing, but seeming to finally accept Luke's discovery. "So, ask. I might answer some of 'em."

"How? How did you end up in another man's body? Why have you kept yourself hidden? How did you become Force-sensitive?"

Sighing, the Corellian gave up. "All right, but it's a long story, kid, and I ain't repeatin' myself after I tell it so pay attention."

An hour later, Luke was shaking his head in disbelief. Han's story was beyond incredible, yet the fact that he was sitting across the room, alive and well, and honestly relaying the events that led up to his 're-birth' could not be denied.

"Why didn't you find Chewie? Tell him you're still alive?"

"I was gonna, Luke, but then I found out he was Ambassador Chewbacca. A big, fancy job, living with his wife and everyone respecting him. I couldn't... I just couldn't take that away from him, and you know damn well he would have left it all again for me." Han looked at the floor, shoulders slumped. "It wouldn't have been fair."

"Okay, then why not tell me? Or Lando?"

"I dunno. I guess I didn't want to take the risk you'd tell Chewie, or Leia. Not that Leia'd care," he added hastily. "I watched her gettin' married on the oversized holo-screen. I thought I'd have time to find her, tell her I was alive, but I didn't. I was too late."

Luke rubbed his face in dismay. "I'm so sorry, Han. Truly, I am."

"Doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does." Luke bit his bottom lip, then decided to tell Han what he'd promised Leia he'd never tell anyone. "Leia's miserable. She has a terrible marriage."

Han looked up sharply, and Luke was struck by how different Han's eyes were. No longer hazel, but a deep blue. "That jerk is mean to her? Hurts her? I'll kill him myself."

"No, he's not mean," Luke clarified. "And he certainly doesn't hurt her, physically. He just... ignores her."

How could anyone in their right mind ignore Leia? She was a singular force of nature, someone that commanded attention. "But.. she has a little girl."

"Yes. Her contract called for her producing a female heir. The contract has been fulfilled, and Isolder no longer has anything to do with Leia."

"I'm sorry... for her, I mean," Han said sadly. "I wanted her to be happy, Luke. I really did."

"So did I," Luke replied. Then, unable to stop himself, he asked, "How did you decide to become an entertainer? That's so... unlike anything I'd ever imagine you doing."

Han gave a rueful laugh. "Me, too. It sorta just happened. One day I was poor as a gutter rat, then I got drunk and sang a karaoke song to see if I could win a five hundred credit prize, and it seemed like the next day I was the opening act for Vector and Fleece, you know, that Corellian Country act that's been around forever? And before I knew it, I was the opening act and gettin' holo-film contracts. I really can't explain it... it was like taking a small snowball and rolling it down a hill and watchin' it turn into an avalanche while standing there knowing you did it but now you can't stop it if you tried."

"Can I come to Corellia and see your house?"

This request seemed to perk Han up. "Sure. And you can bring your girlfriend, too. Just don't tell her how you know me and who I really am. And you can't tell Chewie... or Leia. Don't tell anyone, in fact."

"Why?"

"When I'm Evin Daysun I'm not embarrassed to be singin' up on stage. I'd just die if anyone knew I was Han Solo."

Luke shook his head in dismay. "Are you going to die now that I know?"

"I just might, kid, I just might."

"Can I ask you to do something for me?"

"Sure. I guess."

"Can I test your midichlorian count?"

Han frowned. "I told you Dr. Nik said he did. Three hundred. It's not very high."

"Indulge me?"

"Fine," Han let out a huff.

Luke removed a small device from inside his robe, holding it up to check the settings.

"Do you carry that thing around all the time?" Han asked, amused.

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do." Luke stood up from the bench and approached Han. "Give me your finger."

Han casually flipped up his middle finger, looking up at Luke innocently. "What? You didn't specify which finger."

The Jedi suppressed a laugh. The man might not look like Han, but he sure acted like Han. Without comment, Luke grabbed Solo's offending digit and quickly stuck the tiny needle into the flesh.

"Ow!"

"That did not hurt," Luke said, studying the numbers. Then he let out a slow whistle. "Three hundred is what Dr. Nik told you?"

"Something like that. Made Old Wrinkle Face so mad he nearly melted."

"It's fifteen ninety four, Han. Well above average."

Han blinked in surprise. "Why would he lie?"

"I don't know, but it's a good thing Old Wrinkle Face didn't get inside that new body of yours. A Sith Lord that makes half the population pass out in a swoon? The rebellion would never have won the war."