Han forced himself to breath evenly despite the weight of the ropes, hard on his gut. Obara Hosan sat in a chair across the dingy room, his rat like face twisted in concentration as he lost another round of an odd game to the hugely fat man, the game was played with small shined rocks and what looked suspiciously like bones. He rolled again, feeling the heavy woven material of the rope cut into his wrists and ankles.
"I will tell you though, even with many talented smugglers it will take a long while to get the machinery to Kessel, I don't know why she is in such a hurry." The rat man said speaking in basic. He made no point to conceal what he was saying, so obviously didn't care if Han overheard. The fat man shrugged.
"True, true." He muttered. Picking up some of the shiny rocks in a bulky, round, hand and tossed them to the table.
"She's mad if she thinks she can rebuild Kessel and get it running in so short of time." Obara complained, examining the fallen rocks and picking up his own. Han's head swam with confusion. Kessel? Machinery? And who the hell was this women they spoke of? He knew Kessel to be the once famous source of glitterstim, painstakingly mined from the deep caves of the planet by slaves. A dangerous and cruel place to work. Han had a flush of memories from the planet, days that seemed so long ago. A time when he was just a cocky smuggler. He had actually played a major roll in the destruction of the slavery and spice mining on that planet. Such a long time ago.
"But what could we do? Best to just follow orders." The big man grunted. Obara's face twisted in frustration.
"How do you always manage to beat me Fly?" He asked incredulously. He leaned back in his chair and frowned at the table. The big man, Fly, just shrugged, a grin indenting his huge cheeks.
"You pay to much attention to the runes, ignoring the bones." He said. Obara frowned harder.
"One more game."
"You have nothing left to bet with." Fly said, still smiling.
"I have a few coin."
"Ok." He conceded. "I just hope you're a better pilot then Scappi player." Fly teased. Obara snorted, then sneered.
"She sought me out personally."
"You mean found you drunk on Nar Shaddar." Fly teased, laughing at his own joke.
"No." Obara insisted tossing a handful of the rocks on to the table. "What do you know anyway?"
" I did not mean to offend you friend, only to tease. I trust the new Black Sun would not be built with any drunken buffoon." This seemed to satisfy Obara who smiled and settled into his chair. Black Sun? Why did that name seem so familiar? Han wracked his memory for the origin of the term.
"It won't. The new Black Sun will be undefeated and soon, stronger then the empire!" Han twisted his hands againced the rope.
"Yes, with Madam Har to lead us we will be invincible." Han grumbled in annoyance. Obviously they were dealing with zealots, very much dangerous and annoying zealots to be sure, but not empire. That was a major relief in its self. Han sighed struggled againced his binds.
"Uncomfortable Solo?" Obara asked with a snarl. ⌠Perhaps you wish to learn Scappi?"
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Luke watched the disappearing form of his new found friend scale the side of the hole and retreat into complete darkness.
"I do not know how far up this tunnel goes." She called from somewhere above his head.
"Then maybe I should be the one to climb it." He said, failing to keep the bitterness from his voice.
"And if you would reach the top, you do not know the center as I do, you would be lost and unarmed." She pointed out, far enough above to have to shout to be herd.
"And I suppose you aren't then?" He shouted back..
"Aren't what?" She called.
"Unarmed."
"Unlike the Jedi, Cary more then one weapon on my person." Even shouting, she had climbed high enough that her voice sounded faint.
"Well how silly of me." Luke muttered, not bothering to shout. He knew she wouldn't hear him. He slummed into the dirt, feeling suddenly helpless and weak, and wondering where she managed to hide all these weapons on her person.
"Jedi?" His name in the dark jarred Luke awake. Damnation! Why did he always fall asleep?
"What?" He grumbled. Verve flinched at his tone. Luke felt guilty for snapping but not enough to apologize.
"Do you not hear that?" She asked, then went quiet. True to her words a mechanical banging sound echoed faintly through the hole. Luke jumped to his feet just as a huge rumble echoed through the space and part of the wall crumbled and light poured in.
Luke blinked, blinded for several moments.
"Come Jedi, lets find your pilot." Car' liei said from atop the newly caved in wall, smiling. Luke grinned and jumped from the pit into a hall where it seemed Car' liei had destroyed the wall to get into the hole.
"I do believe this is yours." She said, tossing his light saber. Luke caught it, feeling better just by having the familiar weight in his hands.
"Come." She commanded. He did.
The ran at a steady pace down the many halls, the ambassadors at their heels.
"Down, to the double doors is the landing bay, your transport would be their, can you load and prepare it for flight soon?" Car'Liei asked of the ambassadors. The man looked pale and wide eyed, but Varve nodded and took his hand, running in the direction Car' Liei pointed.
"We find your pilot now, and the wookie now." Luke nodded, his hand on his light saber tense with anticipation. They increased their speed.
"He is even better then you Fly!" Obara exclaimed, as Han won his third round of the Scappi game. He couldn't help but smile as Fly frowned in frustration at the board. It was an odd game, trying to make the bones and rocks (called runes) land in certain spots to counter moves made by your opponents. To win took half talent, half luck. Han smirked picking up his pieces and setting the table for another game.
"So." He said casually. "I am to be working with you?" Obara nodded.
"Yes, soon, and I am glad you took to the position so quickly."
"What can I say, Smuggling is my true calling." Han said easily. It was the truth once.
"So we have heard, Madam Har demanded you most reverently." Fly said, rubbing his hand over his bald head.
"Did she?" Han asked. "And who is this Madam Har?"
"Rumors say she is the daughter of Darth Maul himself, others say she was once a Jedi, taken by the dark side before she turned eleven. Rumors of course, she is our leader and captain." Fly said. His voice had gone soft and his eyes sparkled with adoration. Sweet gods of the universe who was he dealing with?
"She will make us rich and powerful beyond imagination, more powerful then the emperor himself."Obara leaned intently, a smile of such reverence Han felt sick looking at it. Their obvious adornment of this women when far beyond heathy loyalty to a leader. She obviously represented their change in life status. She was their life. The though sent shivers down Han's spine.
"She had dreams we will achieve, she will see the rise of the Black Sun!"Fly nearly shouted. Then it clicked in Han's mind. The Black Sun, the infamous mob. Han's heart sank.
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The pair had run practically in to chewie, who was throttling his supposed guard, the body's of other 'guards' dotted the ground around him. He growled in relief and embraced Luke hard. Luke hugged the beast back the three made to find Han. Han, the thought of anything bad happing to the pilot made Luke's chest ache. With hard determination Luke increased his speed.
"Here!" Car' Liei shouted, stopping at a door. Luke stopped behind her, his hand curling around his light saber. She pushed her hair behind her ear and kicked in the door.
"Han!" Luke pulled his lightsaber readied his stance, the sene completely took him by suprise. Han was sitting at a table with two other humans, apparently playing a game. Han Shot to his feet, along with one of the humans who launched himself at Luke, a really stupid move. In one easy blow Luke downed the man who fell to the ground, unseeing eyes still wide with surprise.
"Han!" Luke shouted again. The pilot ran to him, only to be intercepted by Chewie who practically picked him up in a hug. A hugely obese man had stood, a small gun clutched in his hand.
"Oh." He said softly as Car' Liei plunged a short, curved dagger into his neck. They ran then, all of them, to the landing bay and then launched from the plant will all the speed they could, hitting orbit in what should have been a record amount of short time.
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Luke felt relief flood his limbs as he fell to his bed. His greedy time in the hot shower had done wonders. In clean clothes and in the safety of hyperspace, three parses from the demented plant, he felt his exhaustion overcome him. He almost let sleep take over but thought of the last time he fell into slumber made him get up. He really needed to speak to Han.
"I wasn't just playing Chewie, I was trying to get information." Han insisted as Chewie growled from the co-pilot seat. Luke leaned againced the entrance listening to their conversation.
"Yeah, I did get information, they work...worked for the Black Sun, the mob Black sun." Han said testy. Luke smiled. Chewie growled.
" Hey guys." He greeted walking in to the cock pit.
"Hey Luke." Han greeted. Chewie shook his furry head and stood. He growled and exited unceremoniously.
"Well then, have a seat Kid." Han said. Luke did, feeling suddenly hot in the face.
"Where is Car' Liei?" He asked.
"Sleeping, I think. I put her in a bed quarter, made the ambassador share. She was much more help then they where." Han laughed. Luke smiled at the sound. Han put the ship on auto pilot and turned to his friend.
"I will just be glad to never again step foot on that planet." Han said. Luke grinned. Very suddenly the room changed atmosphere and Han was painfully aware of how very close they were. Luke leaned in, just inches from Han's face.
"I was so scared." He whispered. " To lose you." Han breathed heavily, he bite his lip and leaned even closer.
"You have me." He said, and kissed him. Kissed him like a starving man consuming and hard. Han stood bringing Luke to his feet as well. The shorter man pressed his body into him and deepened the kiss.
Luke pulled back and looked at Han hard.
"I don't think-" He stared but Han pulled him back and kissed him.
"Not right now, later, please." Han muttered. Luke smiled. He could live with that.
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After the longest period of no updates known to man I am back. I know I probably don't deserve reviews after that hiatus but please anyway? To show you still love me? I still love you all and thank you so much. Oh and still no beta.