Planet of Zargell:
Solo wakes up in a bed, naked, and when he realizes he is alone in the bed he looks around and spots Qi'ra, dressed as an Imperial officer, placing the cap on her head and about to step outside. She looks back at Solo.
"Oh, by the way" Qi'ra says. "You might want to get out of here while you still can. I might have helped the rebels infiltrate this place."
Solo wakes up in an instant. "You what?!"
Qi'ra gives him a devious smile. "I needed a distraction."
She steps outside and Solo quickly gets out of bed and begins putting clothes on. He gets outside, pulling his jacket on; looking around Qi'ra is gone. Then, explosions erupt across the base and rebel soldiers jump out of a couple of parked trucks; three or four dozen of them, firing their blasters everywhere. Chaos ensues! Solo ends up in the middle of the fighting as Imperial troops rush in to fight the rebels. Solo tries to get away from the battle, but is surrounded by explosions and blaster-fire. Solo guns down three rebels as he moves. While in cover, he spots two rebel-medics running over to wounded rebels; one of them dies from incoming fire and Solo spots the Imperial officer firing his pistol at the medics. The last medic, holding up a white flag with the red symbol of a DNA-strand on it ( the symbol of medics in this version ), gets shot down by the same officer; Solo guns down the Imperial officer with a single shot in retaliation. Solo moves on, shooting another pair of rebels and makes it away from the combat. Ensign Munbrin runs up to Solo, pistol in hand.
"You alright?!" Munbrin asks.
"Yeah" Solo nods. "I'm ok. Takes more than a warzone to kill this Corellian."
At that moment, Solo spots a Lambda-class shuttle leaving the base and flying off at speed. Onboard the shuttle, Qi'ra is alone in the cockpit and throws the cap to the side and buttons up the uniform. She smiles as she hold up the datadisc that Solo brought her.
Solo watches the shuttle leave. "Good luck" he says as the shuttle heads for the clouds. "You're gonna need it."
XXX XXX
After the battle, Solo and Ensign Munbrin link up with the Colonel on the landing-platform; in the background, the base is partially in ruins after the recent combat.
"Colonel" Solo says and salutes.
"Good morning" the Colonel says. "I'm glad you survived this mornings skirmish. You ready for your next assignment?"
"Always, colonel" Solo replies.
"Good" the Colonel nods. "We have some prisoners. Rebel scum that have a one-way-ticket to Wobani. I've requisitioned your shuttle for the transport."
"Very well, colonel" Solo says. "And what else?"
The Colonel smiles and offers a nod to a corporal who takes a step forward and hands over a bag to Solo.
"A delivery to the planetary governor" the Colonel says. "He knows you're coming with it." Ensign Munbrin takes the bag. "Good luck, Solo."
"Don't worry, colonel. I got a special relationship with luck."
A bit later and Solo and Munbrin watch as Imperial troops escort rebel-prisoners onto the shuttle and shackle them inside.
Munbrin shakes his head. "Filthy lowlifes."
"It's their planet" Solo says. "We came here and started pushing them around. Can you blame them for pushing back?"
Solo enters the shuttle and Munbrin follows him, holding the bag. The two pilots settle down in the cockpit and begin the ignition-sequence. The Zeta-shuttle takes off and leaves the warzone behind and eventually leaves the planet of Zargell. Flying past the two Star Destroyers in orbit, the warships firing on the surface, the shuttle then shoots off into hyperspace.
Penal-World of Wobani:
The Zeta-shuttle lands and the prisoners are escorted off the shuttlecraft. Solo now carries the bag and turns to Munbrin.
"Get our lodgings in order, will you? I'll go talk to the governor."
"Got it."
They walk separate ways and Solo heads for the governors office. He walks past large groups of forced labors under strict guard, many being beaten or whipped; Solo is clearly disgusted by it. He finds the governors secretary and places the bag on her desk.
"Special delivery to governor Essada from colonel Xodell."
"Thank you, lieutenant. I'll let the governor know you're here."
A few seconds later and a protocol-droid joins them. "Lieutenant Solo, please, follow me."
Solo follows the droid, but as he passes the secretary, he picks something out of his pocket and passes it on her desk and leans in towards her. "Lo'galian perfume, from Chandra. Picked it up from a senators wife on Coruscant." He gives her a wink and follows the waiting droid.
The secretary smiles wide as she looks at the perfume and looks back at Solo who glances at her with a smile over his shoulder. The door shuts between them.
Governor Essada walks up to Solo with extended arms. "Lieutenant! Welcome back!"
"Governor" Han says and is then forcefully embraced.
"Come, sit" the governor says. "Can I offer you something? I seem to recall that you prefered Corellian brandy."
"The governor remembers correct."
Governor Essada pours two glasses and hands Solo one before they sit down in the governors large office. Solo picks up a box from the bag he was given with Colonel Xodell.
"From Xodell" Solo says and hands the box over.
"Aaaah, yes" Essada says and accepts the box. Essada opens it and picks up the item inside. "You know what this is, lieutenant?"
"I havent got a clue, governor" Solo says as he drinks the brandy.
"This is an identity-plaque, that onced belong to a Jedi Knight" Essada explains.
He holds it up and the Jedi insignia is seen on the flat device. A lid opens and activates a hologram that includes text and a picture of an aliens head.
"Kayo Kai Kahn" Essada continues. "He died fighting the separatists on Zargell. I asked Xodell to keep an eye out for the old Republic military facility where he was treated. Where he died from his wounds." Essada studies the hologram with intense eyes. "Sources say that on that day, Kayo Kai Kahn killed over twenty clones, destroyed almost fifty battledroids and took down three large walkers... All on his own. Before eventually succumbing to enemy fire. It took an entire company of separatist clones to gun him down in the end. The Jedi have always fascinated me. Off course, everything related to them is nowadays forbidden. A shame."
"They were traitors, werent they?" Solo wonders. "A jedi orchastrated the separatist movement, started the war, and when the Jedi thought the moment was right to strike, they made a move against the Emperor."
Essada nods. "Yes. They had planned the Clone Wars all along. They wanted to create turmoil and chaos so that they could overthrow the Republic. Thankfully, the Emperor and his generals managed to prevent it. They saved the entire galaxy from tyranny." The governor looks out the window at the facilty beyond. "The scum that is sent to me, ungreatful bastards, who work to undermine all we have achieved, this place is too good for them. I hate them all. The Emperor has brought us order and stability. And they want to destroy it all."
Solo doesn't appear as if he agrees. "Forgive me, governor, but for a man who hates our enemies as much as you do, how come you're so fascinated by the Jedi?"
Essada chuckles. "Good question, lieutenant. Just must know the stories. The legends."
Solo nods. "Sure. The Jedi could jump over buildings. Lift rocks with their minds. Force people into saying and doing stuff they didnt want. They could see into the future. And all thanks to the Force."
Essada eyes Solo. "You seem sceptical, lieutenant."
Solo shrugs with a smile. "If the Jedi could see into the future, how come they lost the war?"
Essada laughs and raises his glas in a toast.
XXX XXX
Solo exits the governors building and walks across a bridge taking him from one building to another. His focus is drawn to a brawl that erupts down below at ground-level. A Wookie gets beaten by guards with stun-rods; another Wookie steps in and protects the first one ( the second one is Chewbacca! ), takes a lot of beating but keeps fighting, throwing guards around him. Chewbacca is eventually taken down by two guards with electro-whips and then more guards move in with stun-rods. Chewbacca is in the end subdued as two electro-snares are placed around his neck and he is stunned and knocked unconscious. Two large guard-droids move in and pick up Chewbacca and drags him away.
A mean looking officer addresses the prisoners and guards. "Hang the beast up to dry! Let the rest of them know what happens if they don't learn their place in the Empire! Do you scumbags hear me?! The Republic was soft on you lot, but not the Empire! The Empire knows how to deal with you scum! And the Empire will not accept any form of insurrection or insolence! Do you understand?! Get them out of here and get them back to work."
Solo does not like what he sees.
Later at night. Chewbacca is strapped to an X-shaped rig, arms and legs outstretched. Three guards are having a laugh as they poke and prod Chewbacca with stun-rods, drinking straight from bottles of alcohol. Chewbacca roars and howls from the pain while the guards are having a sadistic laugh at the poor Wookies expense. Solo appears out of the shadows and pistol-whips two guards and punches out the third with his fist. Solo hurries to release Chewbacca from the rig and helps him down.
"Can you walk?" Solo asks.
Chewbacca looks up at Solo and replies in Shyriiwook, the Wookie language.
"I'm sorry" Solo says. "I don't… I don't speak that. You need to get out of here. Do you understand? There is a shuttle leaving in less than an hour. You need to sneak onboard it. It will get you to Manaan. Do you understand? Manaan?" Chewbacca nods and says something in Shyriiwook, clearly exhausted from the torture. "You understand? That's great! Ok, you need to get going. Shuttle-bay forty-nine, one hour. Ok?"
Solo lets go of Chewbacca as he slowly limps away. Chewbacca turns and looks back at Solo.
"Go on" Solo says. "You aint got much time."
At that point, Ensign Munbrin shows up and looks at the scene with confusion. "Han, whatta hell is going on?"
"It's alright, Munbrin, I got it covered" Solo says.
"Han, what have you done now?"
"It's alright, I got this" Solo says to reassure his co-pilot. "Don't worry about it and just walk away."
Munbrin looks at the guards, at the Wookie and then at Solo. "You can't be serious? You're gonna help that thing escape?! You realize we'll never leave this place! They're gonna shackle us both and drop us into the mines!"
"It's alright, damn it!" Solo argues. "Just shut up and keep quiet!"
Munbrin shakes his head. "Alright?! What do you mean, it's gonna be alright?! It's not like that thing is a bottle of brandy or a box of spice! It's a god damn Wookie! A slave you just helped escape by knocking out three guards! Damn it, Han, you're gonna get us both locked up at this place for good!"
"Munbrin, I beg of you, calm down."
"Or what? Or what, Han? What are ya gonna do? Shoot me?"
"Don't."
Munbrin picks up his communicator from his belt. "You've gone too far this time. I'm not getting locked up at this place over a lowlife Wookie slave. Not even for you."
Solo shakes his head. "Please, don't."
Munbrin moves the communicator to his mouth. "Security…"
Solo pulls out his pistol and with a single shot guns down Munbrin. Munbrin, in shock, falls to the ground. Solo runs up to him and kneels next to his co-pilot.
"I'm sorry, kid" Solo says. "You gave me no other choice."
Munbrin is unable to utter a word as he struggles to stay alive. In the end, he lets out his last breath and dies. Solo sighs, holsters his pistol and moves on over to the Wookie.
"Come on" he tells Chewbacca. "We aint got much time."
Solo and Chewbacca make their way through the base, moving from cover to cover, keeping out of sight. They hurry onboard Solo's shuttle and they both sit down in the cockpit; Solo in the pilots seat and Chewbacca in the co-pilots. As Solo begins to start up the shuttle, Chewbacca helps him out.
Solo watches the Wookie with some disbelief. "You're a pilot?"
Chewbacca replies in Shyriiwook and nods and continues prepping the shuttle for take-off.
Solo shrugs his shoulders. "How about that. Who knew." The shuttle is then ready to take flight. "Hang on. This might get a bit rough."
The Zeta-shuttle takes off and heads for the skies. Over the radio, Solo and Chewbacca receives a transmission from Wobani as they head for space.
"Shuttle Epsilon Three-Three-Zero, return to base immediately. Your lift-off is in direct violation of procedure. Turn around now or we will have to treat you as a stolen shuttlecraft and shoot you down. Do you understand, Epsilon Three-Three-Zero? Turn back now or we will open fire."
Solo operates the controls. "This is where the fun begins."
Chewbacca says something in return and shakes his head. Two TIE Strikers pursues the Zeta-shuttle through the atmosphere.
"Hold on" Solo says and operates his controls.
The shuttle makes a steep climb, basically straight up as its afterburners ignite. Solo and Chewie are pushed into their seats. The two TIE Strikers tries to follow but have to brake away eventually. The shuttle leaves the atmosphere. Chewie growls and points. Solo looks at what the Wookie is point at; an Imperial Gozanti cruiser and four TIE Fighters coming straight for them. The TIE Fighters catches up to the shuttle and opens fire. The sluggish Zeta-shuttle takes several hits. Solo pulls a lever and retro-thrusters ignite on the shuttle, slowing it down suddenly; the four TIE Fighters flies past at full speed. Solo increases throttle immediately and follows a TIE and manages to gun it down.
The last thee TIE's come around and begins another attack run. Solo does the same trick again, but instead of firing at a TIE Fighter, he quickly turns around before he ignites his engines. They head straight for the Gozanti cruiser. The cruiser and the shuttle exchange fire as they fly straight at one another. Chewie growls at Solo as he is not comfortable with the ongoing chicken-race. Solo reaches over and pulls on two levers. In the last moment, he veers off, avoiding the Gozanti; his shuttle releases the cargo-section and it slams into the other ships shields. As Solo leaves the Gozanti behind, the three TIEs take pursuit.
"Is the hyperdrive ready?" Solo asks and Chewie replies in Shyriiwook, nodding. "Good. Then to hell with this."
Solo pulls a lever and clamps along the shuttles dorsal release four large canisters that are dropped behind the shuttle. The canisters flies straight into the three TIE's and blasts two of them to pieces as the canisters explode. The last TIE Fighters veers off and flies away, abandoning the pursuit.
"My favorite cocktail" Solo says with a grin. "Tibanna Sunrise. Now, let's get the hell out of here before a cruiser cuts us off."
The shuttle shoots off into hyperspace, leaving Wobani behind.
Planet of Mimban:
The Zeta-shuttle flies in towards the planet of Mimban, enters atmosphere and finds a huge tower, a mile across and six miles in height; it is a massive city in the shape of a huge skyscraper. They land on a landing-pad extending from the main structure. As Solo and Chewbacca exit the shuttle, strong winds hitting them instantly, they are greeted by a woman followed by six mean-looking guards.
Solo offers the woman a charming smile. "Bayla Rom! Long time no see."
The woman nods. "No kidding, Solo. And for good reason I suspect. The spice you sold us was of such poor quality, two dozen people died within a week after you had left."
"Hey" Solo says, holding out his arms in a defensive gesture, "I just brought you the Hutt spice. That was all I did. Can't blame me for the quality."
"Really? So why haven't we seen you around since then?" Bayla wonders.
"I got preoccupied elsewhere. The Empire is a pretty big place" Solo says. "But now I'm back."
Bayla nods, not trusting Solo. "What's up with the Wookie?"
"He needs a transport out of here" Solo explains. "And I need to get rid of my ride as quickly as possible."
Bayla raises an eyebrow at this. "You've deserted? So they finally got tired of your schemes, huh?"
"Something like that, yeah" Solo nods. "How about it, Bayla? The internal-systems alone should give me at least six or seven thousand."
Bayla takes a look at the shuttle. "I'll give you five. It's the best I can do with a stolen Imperial shuttle. Five thousand, and I can guarantee you that it will be chopped up into spare-parts before the day is over. There wont by any trace left of it. No proof you landed here."
Solo shakes his head, he knows he's being swindled, but he has no other choice. "Alright… You got yourself a deal."
Solo and Bayla shake hands.
"One last thing" Solo says. "How much for the jacket?"
Solo and Chewbacca enter the pillar-city; inside are large hallways, narrow corridors, balconies and catwalks, all overcrowded. Imperial propaganda everywhere. Solo now wears Bayla's jacket instead of his uniform-issue flight-jacket.
"Right" Solo says and turns to the Wookie. "This is where we part ways. You should be able to find a transport to Kashyyyk from here. Good luck, pal. See ya around."
Solo slaps Chewbacca over the shoulder and turns and heads down the hallway. Chewbacca looks at Solo for a moment. Solo is making his way through the innards of the pillar-city, making his way through the crowds, surrounded by people, food, markets and Imperial propaganda; he suddenly realize that the Wookie is following him around wherever he goes. Finally, Solo stops and confronts the Wookie.
"Look, I don't know what you're doing, but you and me, we're done. I got you this far, but from here, you're on your own. Do you understand? So stop following my around. It's creepy as hell."
Solo starts walking again, but Chewbacca keeps following him around.
"Seriously. Listen; you're on your own. Go find a transport and get the hell out of here. Ok? I don't need your help and I'm not looking for friends, so just quit following me around. Alright?"
Solo starts moving again, but Chewbacca keeps following him. It is starting to get on Solo's nerves. Solo then pulls down a food-stand and in the chaos that causes he follows it up by pushing a large alien into the crowd which results in a fist-fight braking out. Solo uses the confusion to escape, leaving Chewbacca in the middle of the chaos.
Solo enters a docking-bay where people and droids are performing maintenance on a ship. Solo walks up to a green-skinned Nikto who is truly surprised to see Solo.
The Nikto bursts out laughing. "Well, gods be cursed, whatta hell?! Really? You're back?"
Solo shrugs his shoulders. "Well, this is the best place to go to in the entire sector if you want to disappear."
The Nikto nods. "That it is. So, you've gone rogue, is that it? Han Solo, a deserter? A mutineer?! Did they finally get tired of your scams? Or did you bed an admiral's daughter once too often?" The nikto laughs at his own joke.
"Does it matter?" Solo asks. "I need a quick way off-planet. You know of a crew who's hiring? You know me; I'm a driver, I'm a pilot. I can fly anything with an engine, and if it can't fly, I'll make it fly."
The Nikto chuckles. "Yeah, that's all true. Sure, I know of a couple of ships looking to take on some crew. If you want to leave right now, there's a ship six levels down. The Traders Luck, captained by a real vicious bastard called Garris Shrike. Tell him I sent you and he'll take you on."
"The Traders Luck?" Solo says and considers it. "What sort of ship? Pirate or smuggler?"
The Nikto grins. "What ever the moment requires."
A bit later and Solo is moving through the crowds and hallways. He finds a row of windows and spots the Traders Luck docked with a docking-arm along the outside of the pillar-city.
"The Traders Luck" he says to himself. "Looks like a proper privateer, alright. Hell, why not; Might be fun."
At that point, Chewbacca comes up to Solo, furious and growls and snarls, pushing Solo up against the wall.
"Hey! Hey! Hey!" Solo says in defense. "Calm down, will ya! What's your problem, pal?!"
Chewbacca gestures with his arms while he growls and snarls at Solo, clearly upset.
"Look, buddy, I don't understand a word you're saying, or howling or whatever you wanna call it."
A man speaks. "The Wookie says you should not act like a man without honor, when you clearly are a man of conscience."
Both Chewbacca and Solo turns and looks at the man that had spoken; both are equally surprised.
"The names Beckett" the man says and lights a cigarette. "Tobias Beckett, captain of the Crimson Dawn."
"Han Solo" Solo says.
Chewbacca introduces himself to Beckett.
"Chewbacca, huh?" Beckett says and nods. "A word of advice, Han Solo; it's generally unwise to upset a Wookie. They've been known to rip the limbs of people they don't like. That said, I am a bit curious why Chewbacca here hasn't killed you already since he clearly has a beef with you."
Chewbacca explains.
Solo looks at the Wookie and then at Beckett. "What? What did he say?"
Beckett looks impressed. "Chewbacca here says you rescued him from Wobani. And that you were an imperial pilot. And a good one at that, according to him."
"A good one?" Solo says, almost offended. "I'm the best there is."
Chewbacca says something to Beckett that makes him laugh. "The best pilot in the Imperial Navy is flying a cargo-shuttle?"
Solo is truly annoyed and turns to Chewbacca. "I took care of that patrol didn't I?"
Chewbacca turns to Becket and explains what happened. Beckett nods, appearing impressed.
"Not bad, kid" Beckett says. "Listen, I got room for a few more members on my crew. My ship is leaving right now as soon as I get back onboard. You're welcome to tag along. I wont lie; I could use some Wookie-muscle and a co-pilot in the cockpit."
"Co-pilot?" Solo says, not impressed at all.
"Look kid" Beckett says, "if you're half as good as you say you are, the two of us will get along just fine. So how about it?"
Chewbacca says something and Beckett turns to Solo.
"I guess it's up to you, kid."
"Up to me?" Solo says, a bit surprised and glances at the Wookie. "Why? What did he say?"
Beckett grins. "Seems that the Wookie has sworn an oath to repay his debt to you, since you saved him from Wobani. Wherever you go from now on, he goes. And I don't think it's negotiable, kid."
Solo sighs and looks at the Wookie. "Chewbacca was it?"
Chewbacca nods and says something in Shyriiwook.
Solo gives in to it all. "Alright… To hell with it." He then turns to Beckett. "You got yourself a deal."
Beckett and Solo shake hands and Beckett grins wide.
"Welcome aboard, kid."
To be continued…
