Chapter Eight:

Han turned to Velius once the Falcon had begun its approach to the surface of Delrakkin. "These guys aren't expecting three people, so stay hidden on the ship, alright? Don't come out until I tell you."

The other lifted a brow, but was smart enough to not argue; something Han had learned over the three-day trip to the current planet. The kid was smart, and he knew when to keep his mouth shut, especially after the conversation from the other day.

Once Velius was gone, Han glanced at Chewie. "Here goes nothing. Let's hope they're in a good mood today."

Chewie whuffed in agreement and helped Han lower the ship to a clearing amid a thick jungle. There was no movement at first, but Han knew his contact and the man's goons were out there, waiting.

And sure enough they began to trickle out of the tree-line, and soon the Falcon was flanked on two sides. Han waited, however until the final additions came: the leader of the Jikati Pirate gang and his second in command appeared in their specially modified speeder.

Only then did Han nod to his copilot and stand up. Chewbacca followed Han to the ramp, where they stood until it lowered. They walked down its length with confidence Han didn't entirely feel. The shipment wasn't untouched as promised, but Han was ready to deal with the pirates on that front.

Han stopped just after his feet touched the dark soil beneath the Falcon's landing struts, gazing at the male Vurk sitting at the front of his speeder.

"Zolar Lo," Han greeted him in a businesslike manner. "Good to see you."

The dark green skin of the alien's narrow, angular head tightened somewhat as the man frowned with distaste. The long, curved crest reaching back a ways from the crown of Zolar's head gave the pirate a truly sinister look in that moment.

"I wish I could say the same of you, Solo." The pirate leaned forward. "You are late in this delivery."

"I ran into some trouble, it's not my fault this spice is so badly wanted." Han defended.

The second occupant of the vehicle descended the vehicle mount and came forward, so that Han was now gazing into the eyes of the largest Chagrian the smuggler had ever seen. Not only was the man tall by his species' standards, he was also quite the body-builder. Though Han had seen this man— Prand Bentix— tussle with men twice his stature and win.

"Says the man who is at Jabba's beck and call." Prand sneered down at Han.

Han met the other's gaze evenly. "So you say, Prand, but I don't see much difference in your own status."

The Chagrian's lip curled upwards, his large, pointed head-tails flushing a deeper blue than the rest of his skin to indicate anger. "Insolent fool. I am Zolar's friend. We rule side by side, each of us playing our part."

Han snorted, looking away in disinterest. "You keep telling yourself that, Prand."

The alien swore colorfully and made to grab at Han. Chewbacca snarled a fierce warning, but Zolar chose that moment to cut in. "Prand, let's not be too rough with our guest before we have obtained his... gift to us."

The sarcasm in the man's voice drew Han's brows together. "You will pay me as agreed."

"Will we?" Zolar tilted his head. "You yourself just admitted to not keeping your end of this agreement. Our spice was to remain intact and completely undisturbed."

"We already said that we ran into trouble. It was a set-back, but the spice is all still there!" Han shot back. "You will pay me for my troubles!"

Zolar moved closer by a step. "That will depend greatly on the condition of the spice that is open, Solo."

Prand straightened, bored with the discussion, and snorted at Han in disgust before barking an order. "Unload the spice!"

Instantly the men set to work, and Han, muttering curses under his breatrh, lowered the ramp to the cargo bay so they could begin the laborious task. While the crates were being taken from the freighter to the many cargo-speeders present, Han watched with a wary eye.

Part of him remained tense as he waited to see if Velius would be discovered. Han supposed that with the kid's background, it wasn't likely unless the pirates did a life-form scan.

The moment that thought formed, Han regretted it, because he then caught sight of one female pirate— a white-skinned Twi'lek— tilted her head as if hearing something and began to study the ship intently.

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Onboard the Millennium Falcon, Luke straightened instinctively as an undertrained, but clearly Force-sensitive mind brushed like a feather against his. Luke slunk away from it in an effort to hide, but this only seemed to draw more attention onto himself, and he felt the presence shift almost knowingly.

Luke cursed, knowing he'd been discovered. But there was no point in hiding anymore, and so Luke crept noiselessly into the empty corridors from his concealment, keeping to the shadows and remaining invisible even as he reached the landing ramp.

There he stopped, hidden and listening, waiting for something to happen. On habitual reaction, Luke pulled the hood up over his head a little more, hiding his face once more.

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Han decided to distract the woman's boss with small-talk. "You should consider going into other forms of business, Zolar."

The man turned his head to regard the human, and then decided to humor him. "Is that so? And what do you suggest?"

"I don't know, there's a lot out there. Maybe animals? Find something others want and sell them to collectors." Han shrugged. "I hear there's good money in it, especially if you come across the correct buyer."

"Indeed," Zolar muttered, though Han could sense the man had actually taken to the idea somewhat. "You have an interesting way about you, Solo, I will give you that. It's not every day the delivery boy sacrifices a profitable idea like that to his employer. You could have kept that for yourself and made a killing, as you've implied."

Han glanced toward the Twi'lek, and found her now using a hand-held device that Han knew had to be a scanner. She was being only slightly discreet, but Han knew that he had to play ignorant if he wanted their third party member to remain hidden. There was always a chance the kid wouldn't be found, even on the scanners.

But that was more wishful thinking on Han's part and he knew it.

"...Solo..."

Han shook his head some and blinked rapidly, coming back to the conversation at hand and only then realizing he had blanked out.

And that Zolar was looking to him expectantly.

Stang... Han thought, disgusted with himself. He asked me a question.

To Han's relief, Chewbacca answered for him. [He has been considering alternative career-moves.]

Han forced himself back to full-focus and then Prand spoke up, eyeing Han like a piece of meat. "You know, it's interesting... the Empire seems quite interested in finding the pilot who took the Zabrak to Belkadan. The funny thing is they didn't have the name of said pilot... until recently."

Han frowned at the sudden change in subject. "Why do you care?"

"If we meant to take you in, Han, we'd have already captured you." Zolar dismissed, though he was now eyeing the white Twi'lek openly. "Lucky for you there is no bounty on your head... yet. But when that day comes... we shall see what happens."

[You don't know anything.] Chewbacca growled.

Prand laughed bitingly. "We know plenty. What's gotten into you, Solo? Gone soft, have we? What was worth getting on the Emperor's bad side, huh? The guy you helped is dead, executed for all to see."

Han forced himself not to react. He'd seen that too, but wasn't sure where these two were really heading with this other than to taunt him. These guys were pirates, not bounty hunters. But his comeback was cut off by the arrival of the woman with the scanner.

She glanced at Han with a look in her eyes that Han knew meant trouble. His fingers twitched a hair, itching for his blaster to be in hand. "Zolar, you will be interested to know that Solo seems to have more than just our shipment on his wreck of a ship."

"Hey, the Falcon is the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy, Sister," Han griped.

"Can it, Solo," Prand shot back.

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Luke knew things were heating up: he could feel it, and so he lithely slipped out of the ship. Similar to what he had done before, Luke hid under the ramp for the cargo hold, listening and ready to come to Han's aid.

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Zolar, on the other hand, was intently studying the device the woman showed him, and then he straightened. "You know, Solo, I'm not sure what I'm more disappointed in. The fact that you can't seem to keep your word concerning the shipment, or that you thought you could swindle me out of an honest pay by bringing an accomplice along."

Han saw the last of the crates unload and then he and Chewie became the targets of many blasters. "Hey now, we didn't intend to swindle anything!"

"Then why did you hide your friend?" Zolar demanded.

"Because this is what I knew would happen!" Han snapped. "You would overreact, and then you'd deny me the money I earned."

Prand grinned menacingly at Han. "The only thing you have earned here, Solo, is a death wish. And I will be all-too happy to oblige."

Zolar glared at Han, and then shrugged. "Kill them. We have what we needed from them anyway."

Prand's eyes gleamed with a sick light and he lifted the illegal blaster in hand, aiming for Han's heart...

But the blast, though it ricocheted about the clearing like a zap of lightning that had struck too close, never landed. In fact, there seemed to be a sudden accompanying hum that Han almost didn't recognize.

Until he registered what had happened.

Velius, robed back in his dark cloak with hood drawn, stood between the smuggler pair and the pirates, lightsaber aloft as he deflected the deadly shot meant for Han. After a second of stunned silence more shots began to open up and, to Han's complete amazement, the young man deflected each and every one as if it was nothing to him.

It probably wasn't, Han mused, considering his training. Snapping-to, Han finally lifted his weapon and began to return fire over Velius' shoulder. The youth gave a slight start, as if not accustomed to having help in a battle like that. But he was professional enough to not question it.

"Chewie, get the Falcon running!" Han ordered over the din.

The Wookiee took off amidst the battle and soon disappeared into the Falcon. Not long after, the cargo hold's ramp lifted. Han took out any pirate he could, though by now most of them had taken cover of some kind.

Han wondered how long Velius could withstand, and hoped it was long enough to get them out of this mess. A particularly daring pirate tried to move around behind the duo but Velius thrust out a hand. A nearby crate shot like a raging bantha into the man, and he fell with a scream.

Han noted one of his comrades stop in shock and that left him exposed, so Han took the shot and the lessened the pirates' numbers by another member. Then, blessedly, the Falcon's engines roared to life and Han tapped Velius on the shoulder.

"Time to go, Kid!" he called.

Velius didn't nod, but he did begin to back-step, all while his blade kept moving fluidly, effortlessly. Han saw the freighter lift some and spin around to get the boarding ramp to their position faster, and Han wasted no time in taking it up.

He turned in time to see Velius wave his hand and saw several pirates knocked off their feet. Han, deciding the kid had things well in hand, turned at that point, and thus missed Velius getting ambushed by Prand.

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Luke grunted from the impact as the huge Chagrian bowled him over while he'd been focused on retreating, bowling over the pirates and watching Han's departure also. His lightsaber flew from his grip and Luke felt the air leave his lungs when the pair landed several feet from the Falcon's position.

Luke received a fist to the face before he could react and saw stars. But that was as far as the alien got before Luke began fighting back. Swiftly, and with a moment of gratitude for his intense training, Luke boxed the Chagrian in the ears, stunning him for a heartbeat.

Luke used that distraction to knee his attacker in the groin, and that finally got the other to remove his weight enough so Luke could stand. He scrambled to his feet and then felt a warning in the Force. Ducking, Luke heard the swish of air and felt the movement of it as a beefy arm swung past.

He grabbed the other's arm and twisted. To the pirate's credit, Prand turned with the action so that his wrist did not break.

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Han got to the cockpit and was about to congratulate Velius on a job well done when he noticed the kid was absent.

"Hey, where'd you go, Kid?" Han hollered. "This ship is leaving!"

Chewbacca bellowed, pointing hurriedly out the viewport. Han followed his line of sight and promptly swore.

"Chewie, turn her back around and then keep the ship steady!" Han growled, standing and returning to the ramp, but having to wait until the ship full-circle so he could see what was going on now.

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Luke backed away from a jab, and then leapt over a swipe to his ankles. But then he received a stomp-kick to the gut when a lucky shot grazed Luke's arm from a trigger-happy pirate, distracting the prince. Luke flew back to collide with a tree trunk, and there he crumpled to the floor, breathing labored as he struggled to remain calm.

The glint of sunlight on shiny metal snagged Luke's attention as the Force sang a clear warning of mortal danger. Prand was charging Luke now like a battle-drunken reek during mating season, a wicked-looking sword in hand that was ready to finish the human off.

The young man reacted purely out of survival instinct. He lifted a hand and calledhis lightsaber to him. It landed in his palm with a comforting slap and in the same instant Prand swung to decapitate Luke, the human rolled between the other's legs, coming up and cutting the Chagrian from waist to shoulder.

Deadly silence reigned for several intense seconds before Prand, gasping his final breaths, fell to the earth in two pieces.

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Han was just in time to witness the kid kill Prand, and the smuggler swore colorfully. Then Velius paused as if to catch his breath, and Han took advantage of the other pirates also being frozen in shock.

"Kid, come on!" Han hollered, waving as Velius' head snapped up.

Han was gratified to see the kid come around and then the other was sprinting for Han faster than the smuggler thought should be humanly possible. Han could only guess the other was using the Force, but nor did they have time to dispute it.

As Velius hurtled across the clearing, the pirates started reacting; mostly in anger, though Han focused on the fact that Zolar was darkening in absolute outrage.

Then the young man leapt up the ramp and Han slapped the release to shut it.

"Chewie, get us out of here!" Han called while he raced to join his co-pilot in the cockpit once more.

Velius was right behind him, though to Han's mild consternation, the kid remained standing while they observed pirates scrambling back into the trees or taking shots at the ship. The shields absorbed the smaller blasts, but then something heavier struck and rocked the ship.

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Luke felt a warning in the Force and jerked his gaze up just as he spied several antique but retrofitted starfighters now rising from the jungle. "We're going to have company out of here!"

"No kidding!" Han shot back. "Chewie cycle the shields!"

The Wookiee did so and then they were sailing away, though more blasts came at them. Luke maintained his balance and monitored things in the Force, also studying the two in front of him. Han and Chewie were definitely a good piloting team, Luke would give them that.

But though the pair was good, there were still a lot of shots coming at them. "Don't you have..." Luke started to ask before something hit them particularly hard and Luke, despite his grip, was thrown into the seat next to him.

Han swore loudly as alarms went off and something sparked and wailed for attention near the back of the ship.

The man turned to his co-pilot, who was already standing, but Luke beat him to it. Reverting subconsciously into prince-mode, Luke leapt up. "You two fly, I will fix the ship!"

"No way, Kid, no one doctors this ship but m..." Han began to shoot him down but Luke spitted him with a look that caused Han to do a double-take.

"Don't argue, just do it!" Luke barked, and with that he disappeared, racing aft and slipping the covering off the floor where acrid smoke was billowing forth.

With a muffled curse, Luke climbed down and got to work, putting his natural aptitude and long hours of experience to good use.

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In the cockpit, and despite the dire situation, Han and Chewie shared a dumbfounded moment. Han glanced back at where Velius had gone and then to his best friend. "Stang, Chewie, he sure knows how to give orders, doesn't he?"

[It would appear there is more to Velius than we know,] Chewbacca said by way of agreement. [But we can worry about that after we survive this...] He added pointedly.

Han shook himself and placed his hands to the controls. "Right. Let's get out of here. What was hit, anyway?"

[The starboard stabilizers. The back end of the Falcon is taking a bad beating too, Han.]

Han spun the Millennium Falcon into a barrel roll once they were high enough up, and then the ship shuddered with strain as something in the vessel groaned ominously. Han swallowed and tried not to think of what it could be even as he shot for open space, where his ship would have far more maneuverability thanks to the lack of mountains present on this world.

Starfighters pursued them and Han glanced at the scopes long enough to get their position. They were split into three wing-pairs, and coming in from port, center rear, and starboard.

Han pushed the Falcon for all she was worth and smiled slightly when the blue of the sky faded to the velvety blackness of space. Han zigged and zagged in an effort to evade the fire coming their way, and Chewbacca returned fire with the gun turrets as best he could.

Finally one fighter's wing was clipped and he fell back to avoid a fiery death.

Han flipped on the ship-wide comm. and spoke to Velius. "How are those repairs coming along?" he asked mildly.

"We won't be getting far, even if we hit hyperspace," came the grim reply. "The left-most engine is overheating because the cooling cores for that one are damaged. And the stabilizers are fluctuating..."

Han swore loudly as yet another blast hit them and made a decision. "Forget the repairs for now. Get into the dorsal turret and start taking out some of those fighters, will ya?"

A moment of silence followed, and then Han heard the clang of a tool dropping. "Will do."

Han waited tensely for the kid to get set, and then Chewbacca got the signal from Velius to let him take control of the top-side turbolasers, and the Wookiee complied. Not moments later Han and Chewie were gratified to hear the steady thump-thump-thump of the Falcon's turret returning fire.

Before the pursuing fighters could scramble, one went up in flames from the unexpected defense and a second took a critical hit to the wings. Han grinned as he and Chewie focused on flying the ship to a point from which they could jump to lightspeed.

[Han, the Cub was right,] Chewbacca warned. [We are losing the port-side engine. We won't make it far before it goes critical.]

Han considered. "We need to land somewhere to affect repairs. What's nearby?"

Chewie pulled up the navicomputer and considered. [What about Elrood?]

"No, too much Imperial traffic there," Han argued as he witnessed Velius take out two more fighters with deceptive grace. "Something with a major city but places to hide the ship..."

[Vestar?] Chewbacca showed Han, and the smuggler nodded.

"That will do. We can land near Port-Esta in the rainforest, but far enough away to not attract instant attention."

[Setting course now.]

Han watched the pirates suffer one more ship's destruction before they finally decided it wasn't worth losing anyone else and falling back. Han didn't dare relax, though, and to be safe he sent an electric burst over the Falcon's hull to fry any possible tracking devices.

This elicited a surprised cry from Velius, but then Han got the signal from Chewie that they could jump. "Hang on!"

With that he pulled on the levers, watching the stars become starlines.