Chapter 44
AN: I will keep trying to update at least weekly, but you all know how school goes, but I have not given up on this story at all. Keep reading and reviewing guys!
The first thing Ari noticed was the air. It was polluted with the smog from the factories and warehouses that she had seen on their rapid descent. "What is our plan?" Ari asked Han, the air making her cringe inwardly. "You'll see," Han murmured back as he entered his code into the panel by the ramp to make it ascend and stay locked until he put in the correct code. Ari felt uneasy on this planet. Very uneasy. Each lungful of foul air made her want to cough. She forced herself to suppress them however, feeling as if the pollution was coating her lungs. The ground under her boots was dead, a light dusting of dirt quickly turned her boots a dull gray color as the trio made their way, Han leading
Ari had one of her feelings just a moment before a cry issues froth from a pile of scrap metal, one of many that seemed to cover the planet.
"Get back," Han ordered as a large nek battle dog came charting at them, numerous, razor sharp teeth bared, snarling.
Without a moment to hesitate, Han drew his blaster and shot at the neck, hitting it in the chest. The battle dog fell where it was while Han spun his blaster back into his holster.
"Did you...I mean...is it..." Ari managed to ask. The whole confrontation had taken less than three seconds.
"No. If it has an owner, I wouldn't want to be in trouble of killing it. "I'd be skinned alive. I just stunned him. Are you alright?" he asked her.
Ari just nodded. "I have never seen anyone move so fast," she complimented.
"Thanks, now, let's get out of here," he nodded to the path they had been starting down before.
The trio was silent; through they were all tense and ready for anything.
Ari soon got turned around and wondered how Han could keep track of where they were going but said nothing about it. She was just happy Han had invited her to come with him. She would have been bored and would have felt useless back at the base.
"Han?" she asked quietly, almost hesitant after a short distance.
"Yeah?" he responded, eyes still scanning the area, not looking at her.
"Who was she?" Ari asked after a moment.
"What?" Han stopped in his tracks, spinning around to face her.
"What you said to Chewie. That she wasn't coming back for this," Ari motioned to her flightsuit.
"Nothing," Han answered. As soon as he said that, Chewie gave a short growl at him.
Sighing, the human smuggler shook his head. "Her name was Bria. Bria Tharen. She was my everything. I saved her from working in a spice mine where the workers were becoming brainwashed in a way...." Now Han's eyes got a far off look. "She left me afterwards. To take care of things was her explanation. I ended up going into the Imperial Academy, which is where I met Chewie."
Ari hadn't heard this story and wanted to ask, but luckily, Han told her, the sad look still in his eyes.
"The Empire uses aliens, especially strong ones, like Wookies for labor. I didn't agree and was dishonorably discharged when I interfered."
Chewie nodded, giving a Wookie's version of a small smile to Ari ask Han continued.
"I won the Flacon in a game of chance. And that was when Chewie and I started to fly ourselves around the galaxy, getting involved with Jabba and the others. That was when Bria came back into my life. She had joined the Rebellion. She and a band of Rebels were going to raid the same factories I saved her from. She promised riches for me and any of the smugglers I could get to help. A large group of us jumped at the chance.
We attacked and won. However, there was one thing I hadn't planned on. Bria. My sweet Bria. She and the Rebels turned on us. We were together and when we started to load up, she pulled a blaster on me. Saying the Rebellion needed it more," Han gave a short laugh at this. "She said they needed supplies and everything to fight the Empire." He paused. "A lot like the Princess," he muttered with a shake of his head, the faraway look fading, being replaced by one of sadness that Han forced away.
Brushing past Ari and Chewie, he started walking again until Ari spoke up, a question burning on her tongue. "What happened to her?"
Han froze mid step and sighed, not looking at Ari or Chewie. "She was killed on Toprawa. I got the message minutes before meeting with your buddy Luke. I also had to contact her father, Renn and tell him what happened..." Han was silent and after this and started to lead them once more.
Ari glanced at Chewie, who just patted her shoulder, his large furred paw covering her entire shoulder, the fur gently brushing against her neck. This was a side of Han that Ari was certain few knew of.
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, she held up a finger to Chewie to say she would be right back. Jogging the few feet to Han, Ari caught up to him. "I'm sorry," she told him softly.
Han just shook his head. "She wasn't the Bria I remembered and loved. No, that Bria died a long time ago..."
"I lost my family too. But you could keep Bria's memory alive- "
"I don't want to do that," Han almost snapped, causing Ari to jump back.
"Sorry, Kid. I am just not Rebel Alliance material. Bad experience as you can tell."
"We aren't all like her though," Ari protested.
Han regarded for her for moment with a small sigh. "You're right."
"So then you'll-" Han shook his head, cutting her off.
"One step at a time," he told her.
Ari just nodded, offering a forced smile that he returned.
Silence returned, but it wasn't as tense. Ari still had a few question, but knew it wasn't the time of place for them.
After walking for about an hour, Han stopped and looked around before entering a small building that was about the size of the Narabe's kitchen on Tatooine. The wooden building looked about to fall apart.
Han confidently lead the way to the entrance. "Let me do all the talking," he told Ari, then pushed the door open.
The interior was dimly lit, even compared to the outside atmosphere. The creatures inside all turned to acknowledge the newcomers. Only two were humans, one sitting at the bar with four other aliens and the bartender, who was an alien Ari couldn't place. The other human sat at the other furniture in the room, a table with a few chairs around it. The man was shuffling sabbac cards, glancing at the other patrons until he saw Han and Chewie enter with Ari and reacted in mild surprise.
"Solo, I thought you'd be..." he shrugged, realizing he had almost said something he shouldn't.
"Hey there Deric. I know what you were going to say. I am not hiding out here though."
"What are you here for?" Deric asked then paused seeing Ari. The girl forced herself to not step back, knowing Chewie and Han wouldn't let anything happen.
"I'm looking for a game," Han told him, putting an arm around Ari's waist. "Just work with me," he whispered to her.
Ari did so, relaxing against him slightly, however, the flightsuit now felt too tight as she felt the eyes of the other patrons on her, all of them males.
"A game huh?" Deric's eyes narrowed. "What for?"
"Credits, or parts I need," Han answered, hugging Ari a bit closer, remembering his promise to Luke for a moment.
"What are you looking for?" one of the aliens, a humanoid asked.
"Sublight engines."
"Those aren't cheap," the other man answered.
"No, but I sell them," the humanoid remarked.
"How much?" Han questioned.
"For you...two thousand."
"What? I don't think so. I won't pay for more than...one thousand," Han told him, dropping his arm from Ari's waist.
"No. That is too cheap. I would lose money," the humanoid argued.
"Fine. Let's play for them," Han took Deric's cards and shuffled them. "All or nothing. If I win, you give me the engines, no cost. If I lose, I will pay you three thousand for the engines."
There was a slight murmur among the patrons of the bar at this. It was a gamble. A good one at that.
The humanoid paused, thinking over the offer then nodded, holding out a four fingered, gloved hand, which Han shook.
"I want to see these pares first though," Han told him. "I don't want to be ripped off." The humanoid finished his drink quickly and nodded, going to do the door.
"Ari, stay here," Han advised her, then added to the thought. "Chewie is going to stay here with you."
Chewie nodded, stepping up behind her, leading the girl to the now vacant stool, though Chewie really wanted to go with Han to help him if he needed help.
Han, satisfied, followed the humanoid outside, door closing behind him.
Ari sat on the stool, tense. Thankfully her lightsaber at her hip offered some reassurance.
The human at the bar smiled over at her. "Hey, beautiful. How about I but you a drink?"
"Umm, no," Ari shook her head, shifting away from the man.
"Come on-" the man stopped as Chewie stepped closer with a low threatening growl.
Looking up at the Wookie from where he sat, the man almost fell off the stool.
Hiding a laugh, Chewie turned back to Ari and an uncomfortable silence fell over the patrons.
AN: I will keep trying to update at least weekly, but you all know how school goes, but I have not given up on this story at all. Keep reading and reviewing guys!
The first thing Ari noticed was the air. It was polluted with the smog from the factories and warehouses that she had seen on their rapid descent. "What is our plan?" Ari asked Han, the air making her cringe inwardly. "You'll see," Han murmured back as he entered his code into the panel by the ramp to make it ascend and stay locked until he put in the correct code. Ari felt uneasy on this planet. Very uneasy. Each lungful of foul air made her want to cough. She forced herself to suppress them however, feeling as if the pollution was coating her lungs. The ground under her boots was dead, a light dusting of dirt quickly turned her boots a dull gray color as the trio made their way, Han leading
Ari had one of her feelings just a moment before a cry issues froth from a pile of scrap metal, one of many that seemed to cover the planet.
"Get back," Han ordered as a large nek battle dog came charting at them, numerous, razor sharp teeth bared, snarling.
Without a moment to hesitate, Han drew his blaster and shot at the neck, hitting it in the chest. The battle dog fell where it was while Han spun his blaster back into his holster.
"Did you...I mean...is it..." Ari managed to ask. The whole confrontation had taken less than three seconds.
"No. If it has an owner, I wouldn't want to be in trouble of killing it. "I'd be skinned alive. I just stunned him. Are you alright?" he asked her.
Ari just nodded. "I have never seen anyone move so fast," she complimented.
"Thanks, now, let's get out of here," he nodded to the path they had been starting down before.
The trio was silent; through they were all tense and ready for anything.
Ari soon got turned around and wondered how Han could keep track of where they were going but said nothing about it. She was just happy Han had invited her to come with him. She would have been bored and would have felt useless back at the base.
"Han?" she asked quietly, almost hesitant after a short distance.
"Yeah?" he responded, eyes still scanning the area, not looking at her.
"Who was she?" Ari asked after a moment.
"What?" Han stopped in his tracks, spinning around to face her.
"What you said to Chewie. That she wasn't coming back for this," Ari motioned to her flightsuit.
"Nothing," Han answered. As soon as he said that, Chewie gave a short growl at him.
Sighing, the human smuggler shook his head. "Her name was Bria. Bria Tharen. She was my everything. I saved her from working in a spice mine where the workers were becoming brainwashed in a way...." Now Han's eyes got a far off look. "She left me afterwards. To take care of things was her explanation. I ended up going into the Imperial Academy, which is where I met Chewie."
Ari hadn't heard this story and wanted to ask, but luckily, Han told her, the sad look still in his eyes.
"The Empire uses aliens, especially strong ones, like Wookies for labor. I didn't agree and was dishonorably discharged when I interfered."
Chewie nodded, giving a Wookie's version of a small smile to Ari ask Han continued.
"I won the Flacon in a game of chance. And that was when Chewie and I started to fly ourselves around the galaxy, getting involved with Jabba and the others. That was when Bria came back into my life. She had joined the Rebellion. She and a band of Rebels were going to raid the same factories I saved her from. She promised riches for me and any of the smugglers I could get to help. A large group of us jumped at the chance.
We attacked and won. However, there was one thing I hadn't planned on. Bria. My sweet Bria. She and the Rebels turned on us. We were together and when we started to load up, she pulled a blaster on me. Saying the Rebellion needed it more," Han gave a short laugh at this. "She said they needed supplies and everything to fight the Empire." He paused. "A lot like the Princess," he muttered with a shake of his head, the faraway look fading, being replaced by one of sadness that Han forced away.
Brushing past Ari and Chewie, he started walking again until Ari spoke up, a question burning on her tongue. "What happened to her?"
Han froze mid step and sighed, not looking at Ari or Chewie. "She was killed on Toprawa. I got the message minutes before meeting with your buddy Luke. I also had to contact her father, Renn and tell him what happened..." Han was silent and after this and started to lead them once more.
Ari glanced at Chewie, who just patted her shoulder, his large furred paw covering her entire shoulder, the fur gently brushing against her neck. This was a side of Han that Ari was certain few knew of.
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, she held up a finger to Chewie to say she would be right back. Jogging the few feet to Han, Ari caught up to him. "I'm sorry," she told him softly.
Han just shook his head. "She wasn't the Bria I remembered and loved. No, that Bria died a long time ago..."
"I lost my family too. But you could keep Bria's memory alive- "
"I don't want to do that," Han almost snapped, causing Ari to jump back.
"Sorry, Kid. I am just not Rebel Alliance material. Bad experience as you can tell."
"We aren't all like her though," Ari protested.
Han regarded for her for moment with a small sigh. "You're right."
"So then you'll-" Han shook his head, cutting her off.
"One step at a time," he told her.
Ari just nodded, offering a forced smile that he returned.
Silence returned, but it wasn't as tense. Ari still had a few question, but knew it wasn't the time of place for them.
After walking for about an hour, Han stopped and looked around before entering a small building that was about the size of the Narabe's kitchen on Tatooine. The wooden building looked about to fall apart.
Han confidently lead the way to the entrance. "Let me do all the talking," he told Ari, then pushed the door open.
The interior was dimly lit, even compared to the outside atmosphere. The creatures inside all turned to acknowledge the newcomers. Only two were humans, one sitting at the bar with four other aliens and the bartender, who was an alien Ari couldn't place. The other human sat at the other furniture in the room, a table with a few chairs around it. The man was shuffling sabbac cards, glancing at the other patrons until he saw Han and Chewie enter with Ari and reacted in mild surprise.
"Solo, I thought you'd be..." he shrugged, realizing he had almost said something he shouldn't.
"Hey there Deric. I know what you were going to say. I am not hiding out here though."
"What are you here for?" Deric asked then paused seeing Ari. The girl forced herself to not step back, knowing Chewie and Han wouldn't let anything happen.
"I'm looking for a game," Han told him, putting an arm around Ari's waist. "Just work with me," he whispered to her.
Ari did so, relaxing against him slightly, however, the flightsuit now felt too tight as she felt the eyes of the other patrons on her, all of them males.
"A game huh?" Deric's eyes narrowed. "What for?"
"Credits, or parts I need," Han answered, hugging Ari a bit closer, remembering his promise to Luke for a moment.
"What are you looking for?" one of the aliens, a humanoid asked.
"Sublight engines."
"Those aren't cheap," the other man answered.
"No, but I sell them," the humanoid remarked.
"How much?" Han questioned.
"For you...two thousand."
"What? I don't think so. I won't pay for more than...one thousand," Han told him, dropping his arm from Ari's waist.
"No. That is too cheap. I would lose money," the humanoid argued.
"Fine. Let's play for them," Han took Deric's cards and shuffled them. "All or nothing. If I win, you give me the engines, no cost. If I lose, I will pay you three thousand for the engines."
There was a slight murmur among the patrons of the bar at this. It was a gamble. A good one at that.
The humanoid paused, thinking over the offer then nodded, holding out a four fingered, gloved hand, which Han shook.
"I want to see these pares first though," Han told him. "I don't want to be ripped off." The humanoid finished his drink quickly and nodded, going to do the door.
"Ari, stay here," Han advised her, then added to the thought. "Chewie is going to stay here with you."
Chewie nodded, stepping up behind her, leading the girl to the now vacant stool, though Chewie really wanted to go with Han to help him if he needed help.
Han, satisfied, followed the humanoid outside, door closing behind him.
Ari sat on the stool, tense. Thankfully her lightsaber at her hip offered some reassurance.
The human at the bar smiled over at her. "Hey, beautiful. How about I but you a drink?"
"Umm, no," Ari shook her head, shifting away from the man.
"Come on-" the man stopped as Chewie stepped closer with a low threatening growl.
Looking up at the Wookie from where he sat, the man almost fell off the stool.
Hiding a laugh, Chewie turned back to Ari and an uncomfortable silence fell over the patrons.