Encounter at Brickfeld

Was it odd or was it appropriate that the crashed Millennium Falcon fit so well in this new landscape? Desolate, barren and mournful. As if it was waiting for something to revitalize it. These, Han Solo thought, were characteristics of both the Falcon and the land in which it was cradled. This planet had a sense of foreboding and a sense of vague evil. What had happened here? Was it just the brown hills and trees and the cold wind? Or was it the fact that the Millennium Falcon was doomed to be a permanent fixture of the area? Yes, the Millennium Falcon was finished. Han looked up at the burnt carcass of the ship and tried to hide his sorrow. The Old Girl had kept him safe and brought him out of many scrapes throughout the years. It had saved his life numerous times and the lives of countless others. Chewbacca not the least among them. And Princess Leia. And Luke, wherever he was.

At least he could say that the Empire didn't take her down. Or could he? Wasn't it the Empire that had forced them to flee Hoth? Wasn't it the Empire that forced them to leave the planet without the proper repairs? The more he thought about it, the more Han despised the New Order.

Chewbacca rumbled beside him. Han sighed. "Yes, it will be lonely without her. I sure plan to come back and salvage the most I can out of her when we get off this planet. Who knows? With a little work, we might be able to keep most her."

Chewbacca rumbled ever so slightly. Han knew he was whistling in the wind. Not much would be salvageable. Plus, it would cost untold amounts of credits to put her back together. Credits that he did not have.

Leia put her hand on Han's arm. Even though she didn't say anything, it helped Han ever so slightly. "Well," he said. "I suppose we had better get going."

"So long you piece of junk," he said as he raised his hand in recognition. "You were the best ship in the galaxy."

Chewbacca whimpered and growled in agreement.

"Why are we standing here? Are we waiting for something?" cut in C-3PO's voice.

The protocol droid tried to turn his body in the makeshift backpack slung over Chewbacca's shoulders. There had been no time to fix his crushed leg and no time to fix his hearing problems. Han had been adamant about leaving the Falcon as soon as possible. C-3PO would have to wait.

They had stowed as much as they could in their knapsacks and bags. Tools, rations, water, datapads, survival gear, comlinks. Han carried his gun at his hip as did Princess Leia. Chewbacca had his bowcaster at the ready despite carrying both C-3PO, the rations, the tools and most of the survival gear. Han carried the datapads, the rest of the survival gear, some water and the medical kit. Leia, despite her insistence on shouldering her weight, only carried water, extra ration packs and a few stimpacks. Each of them also carried a comlink.

"Well, let's find that road," said Han finally. And with that they left the Millennium Falcon and turned towards the direction of the road. A cold wind whipped across their faces as dark clouds began to cover the sky. A storm had come from the East and even Chewbacca shivered.

"What a night."

Olen Piner stared out the window. With a flash of lightning, the sky was illuminated and one could see the downpour of rain. With the muffling sound of water on rooftop, the inside of The Finch felt cozy and snug. A warm fire crackled in the hearth and the five or six patrons, many of them wet, looked contentedly at the innkeeper.

"Yes, indeed. Quite the storm," said Piner. He let down piece of cloth covering the glass window and walked back to the bar. "Good thing you gents got here when you did. It is definitely pouring now."

The lightning flashed again as the innkeeper reached the bar and began for the seventh time to clean the same jug. One of the patrons got up and walked towards the bar. "Perfect night for an accident," he said grimly.

The innkeeper looked up at him with a face that was halfway between a blank stare and a reproach. "Now, Brown, just because it's raining doesn't mean a thing. There was nothing to connect them at all."

"Nothing?" replied the man called Brown. "Nothing? Just because they all happened at a different time of the day might not connect them but how they died does. Slashing. Bears don't do that kind of damage and not to that extent. Neither do wolves. They don't kill for fun. This thing, whatever it is, leaves them for others to find. And always people. It never kills sheep, cows, dogs or the like. Always men or hobbits and even that one dwarf on the Greenway. Those fangs or claws or whatever it has are deadly. Much more so on a dark and stormy night."

The room was quiet for a minute before the innkeeper could find the words to reply. "Well, whatever it is, it can't get inside The Finch or Brickfeld for that matter. If it is real, it never goes near inns or towns."

"So far," said the gloomy Brown.

The inn was quiet again as everyone digested the conversation. The thunder rolled again as Brown sat down in a chair near the fire. The innkeeper rubbed the jug vigorously while looking vacantly at the window. Suddenly, with a crash the door of the inn flew open and the wind and the rain poured in. The innkeeper dropped the jug out of fright, and all eyes turned to the man standing in the door. The man had a white shirt and a black jacket on and was soaked to the skin. Beside him was a short, pretty woman with what once had been white pants and a white jacket on. However, now they were splattered with mud, and she too was soaked. The innkeeper sighed in relief and looked sharply at Brown. However, as the man and woman walked into the bar, a huge mass of fur could be seen towering above them. A monster of huge proportions ducked his head as he came into the inn. Everyone gasped and chairs were flipped over and many swords were unsheathed in response to this strange creature.

The man in the black jacket looked puzzled. "Is there something on my face?" he asked as he stepped towards the bar.

"Who are you," the innkeeper asked without taking his eyes off the Wookie.

"I'm Han Solo," said the man as he followed the gaze of the innkeeper. "I...Oh…don't worry about him. He's only a Wookie. That's Chewbacca."

Chewbacca rumbled quietly as he closed the door of the inn.

"That's it," said Brown rising after having fallen off his chair. "That thing. That monster. It's responsible for the murders. You creature of Sauron!" He was yelling at this point and the other patrons were readying their swords. Chewbacca growled menacingly, and Han quickly stepped between the Wookie and the patrons.

"Hey, just a minute here," he said with his arms out diplomatically. "I think there has been a misunderstanding. I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about. Has there been some murders? Maybe we can help."

"You've done enough," spat Brown. Many of the other patrons nodded their assent. They were beginning to circle now. The innkeeper looked distraught, but he did nothing to dissuade the men.

"Wait a minute, Brown." A voice came from the back of inn where a man had been sitting in a corner. A small, middle-aged man, shorter than Han but taller than Leia, stood up and made his way slowly to the middle of the room. He eyed Han cautiously and kept his distance from Chewbacca. He looked like a simple traveler, and his face had a look of simplicity and contentment.

"This...thing...does not quite match the description of the 'monster' you are talking about. Case in point, where are the fangs and claws. It can't rip things to shreds like your beast can. From what I see," the man squinted his eyes at the Wookie and almost smiled, "it is just a big furry animal. Like the great apes from Rhûn. It is obviously a pack animal." He motioned to the backpack holding C-3PO who, throughout this encounter, had been forced to stare at the door.

The men were somewhat mollified, but Brown kept his hardened look. Han nudged Chewbacca discreetly and whispered, "Play along."

"If it's a simple pack animal," Brown was continuing, "then what is it carrying on its back."

"Ah, excellent question, friend," replied Han with his best negotiating tone and his most charming smile. Leia tried hard to suppress a grin. "You might notice that we are not from these parts. We are travelers from distant lands. We have traveled from the far West and have only recently arrived in this part of the world. This…"

The innkeeper interrupted, "But there is nothing in the West except the sea."

Han turned towards him with a conciliatory smile. "Did I say West? I meant East."

He then walked towards C-3PO conversationally. " As I was saying, this golden statue is a symbol of one of our Eastern gods. Every traveler from our tribe must bring a statue of the sun god with them. Most only bring a small figure. However, the more illustrious bring larger statues." No one else had noticed, but Leia had seen Han quietly turn C-3PO off.

"The larger statues can only be carried by the holy beasts, the Pykryk. They are exceedingly rare and only available to the most illustrious."

Han glanced around the room to see the effect of his explanation. Most of the men looked less menacing but were still suspicious especially Brown. The innkeeper looked like he was convinced. He was staring at the Wookie in awe. Chewbacca attempted his best beast-of-burden impersonation and lowered himself into an almost ape-like position while growling in irritation at Han.

The rain had subsided a little and the inn still had a feeling of tension. Finally the innkeeper, the good Mr. Olen Piner shook his head sadly. "I'm afraid that I cannot give you and the lady a room Mr. Solo. Your animal's presence would scare away my customers and bring potential danger."

Han was about to protest when Leia put a hand on his shoulder. "Come on Han, let's find another place. The rain has stopped anyway."

Leia could see that Han had a sarcastic comment ready, but he quickly righted himself. "Of course my lady. Lead the way." And then to the patrons and the innkeeper. "It has been a pleasure, friends."

As they left the inn and came out into the dark, dank night air, the patrons all crowded in the doorway behind them. Chewbacca grunted. "No, it was not over the top," replied Han quietly with a glance over his shoulder. "These people are obviously very gullible. They don't know a thing about technology or the lands beyond their borders."

At that exact moment a bright flash flew past the head of Han Solo and he heard a grunt behind them. Han immediately threw himself to the ground dragging Leia with him. Chewbacca did the same although more awkwardly with the droid on his back. Han took out his blaster and looked around. That had been a blaster bolt. From the sounds behind him, someone had been hit, and the rest had no idea what had happened. These people knew nothing of blasters. When nothing happened for a full minute, Han slowly stood up. Nothing had happened beyond that one shot.

Han looked behind him. One of the men had been shot and was clutching his heart. He and Leia ran up to the hurt man who happened to be the innkeeper. Olen Piner gasped for air. As Han looked down he knew that he could do nothing for him. The man named Brown had been kneeling beside Olen, but he now looked up at Han and Leia. There was a vicious fire in his eyes that almost made Han step back. "You'll pay for this," he snarled. "You'll pay dearly."

He was about to rush at Han when the same man who had stood up for the newcomers in the inn intervened. His face was sad, and one could see resignation in it. "Hold, Brown. This man did nothing to Piner. He was just as surprised as the rest of us. Didn't you see that?"

"Stay out of this Fenheath," yelled Brown.

Fenheath ignored him. "Take Olen inside. Tril, get the doctor." He turned to Han and Leia, "You two had better get out of town. Even if you didn't do this, I'm afraid it would not do much good."

The man looked at them puzzled. "Besides," he said. "You appear to have brought trouble with you."

"No! Don't let them get away!" Brown was screaming at this point. He jumped at Han but the smuggler was ready for it. Han spun out of the way of Brown's grasp and kicked him to the ground.

"Let's get out of here Leia. Chewie, come on." And with that, the three of them picked up their heels and ran. No one tried to stop them. As they got to the edge of the town, Han looked back. No one had followed them, but he saw Brown and Fenheath arguing.

They ran until they reached a small group of dead-looking trees. The night was cold and the ground wet. They could hear the noises of the night along with the occasional hoots of an owl above them. The darkness out here seemed to contrast with the darkness of the town. Here, the darkness was liberating. The sweet smell of the forest lifted the soul even if the trees were barren. In the town, everything was depressing. The people, the air, the light of the fire. All of it spoke of danger, hostility and mistrust.

"Well that could have gone better," said Leia still panting.

"I would like to know how," replied Han. He was looking out between two trees at the town they had just left. No one was following at the moment but that could change. A search party could easily be formed to find them.

"Is that how you always lie?" asked Leia "Because if it is, I have no idea how you've made it this long."

"Woah!" said Han turning around. "Are you insinuating that I lie regularly?"

"Well, don't you?"

"No." Han looked hurt. "Only when I need to," he said as he turned around again. However, he quickly spun back. "And I'm not that bad a liar."

Chewbacca rumbled behind Leia.

"That has nothing to do with the situation, and you know it," Han said, looking at the Wookie in disgust. He took one last peek between the trees. "We had better get moving. They might send a search party out."

They continued their trek, following the road they had used to find the town. Han had no intention of returning to The Falcon and decided on traveling the road further in the other direction. However, he was wary. The strange monster the inn patrons had been talking about was troublesome. Yet, he was confident that he, Leia and Chewbacca could handle it. As long as they found it before it found them.

They had been walking for about fifteen minutes in the dark. They had not heard any sound of pursuit so far, and Han was glad of that. Tall trees rose along the sides of the road and the land to their right sloped down to the small river. They rounded a bend in the road and came upon a fence line to their left separating the road from an empty field. And there sitting on the fence munching an apple was the man called Fenheath. A walking stick was leaned against the fence and a knapsack was hanging from a rail. He looked rather silly sitting there with his legs dangling and kicking. He had a cloak on that he did not have on in the inn and was wearing a hat that looked more like a sack of potatoes.

Han stood stock still in the middle of the road. However, his hand had immediately gone to his holster, and he was ready for anything suspicious. The man kept munching on his apple for a minute until he finally looked up. "Oh, hello," he said.

The man jumped down off the fence and strode over to them. "Here you are," he remarked as he looked them over.

"Where did you come from?" asked Han warily. "And what do you want?"

"I don't want anything," said Fenheath as he took another bit out of his apple. "And I get around. I know most of these paths like the back of my hand. I've traveled a bit and know my way around the woods."

Han looked around at the trees that surrounded them. Chewbacca looked suspicious but had his bowcaster lowered. "If you don't want anything, why are you here?"

"Oh, I don't want anything, but someone else does. He would be much obliged if you would follow me. I can take you to him."

"Who is this 'other person' and what does he want?"

"I don't know, at least not for sure," Fenheath casually shrugged.

Han glared at the man. He couldn't see any deception in his face, but that could mean nothing. "What if we don't come? What if we don't trust you? Or your friend?"

The man looked hurt. "Why wouldn't you trust me? What have I ever done to you?"

Han inwardly winced. Was this man really that simple? "You've done nothing, yet. But others haven't been so welcoming. Aren't you afraid that I'm some sort of wizard able to conjure up giant monsters?" He motioned towards Chewbacca.

Then, the man did something which caught Han off guard: he laughed. It was a pleasant thing to hear, and the sound of it brightened the dark forest. "You are no wizard, Master Solo," he said still laughing. "I know evil when I see it, and you two," he nodded at Leia smiling, "are hardly servants of The Enemy."

Han was about to blow the man off when Leia stepped up. "Han, I think we should at least meet this person he's talking about. I don't think he is trying to trick us. Besides, maybe he can help us. We are not exactly in familiar territory. We could use a friend in this place."

Han looked exasperated. "But what if it's a trap?"

"Sometimes you have to take chances," replied Leia. "You should know that better than anyone. It's not like we have anything to lose. We are stuck here."

Han frowned and looked at Chewbacca. "What do you think," he asked. The Wookie grumbled and even those not familiar with Shyriiwook could tell he was agreeing with Leia.

"Oh, alright," said Han. "We will meet this friend of yours….Um…"

"Fenheath," volunteered the man. "Walden Fenheath."

"Right...Fenheath. Just remember that if I even so much as sense a trap, I'll put a blaster bolt in your belly."

Fenheath just stared at him. "Blaster bolt?" he asked puzzled.

Han sighed. He took out his blaster and aimed at the nearest tree. An instant later a red bolt hit it, and splinters flew everywhere. Fenheath was duly impressed.

Han holstered his blaster. "Just remember that I can shoot quite good, and you will be on the business end if you betray us."

"Betray you?" Fenheath looked seriously concerned. "That's only what evil beings do."

Han rolled his eyes. "Just tell us where this friend of yours is."

Fenheath brightened up again "Oh, he's somewhere around here. Just follow me." He took the last bite of his apple he had been holding throughout this conversation and threw it across the fence and into the field. He waited until it landed and then motioned for them to follow. He climbed over the fence and set off across the field followed by Han, Leia and Chewbacca. No sound was heard as they marched. The darkness enveloped them, and they passed swiftly and quietly across the field and into the forest beyond.