Leia, Han, Mara, and the Selonians were all in the living room of the prison
villa, standing up, saying their pointless diplomatic good-byes, when
suddenly the com system in the corner came to life, all on its own. A blare
of static filled the room, Han was startled enough to jump half a meter in
the air, but the others took it all a bit more calmly. "Relax, Han." said
Mara. "Someone out there has just used the auto-on system, that's all/' It
was possible to turn most com systems on by remote control, so that the
authorities could make an emergency announcement. The flat-field screen came
on, showing a crazy-quilt of shifting, scrambling color. Then the image
settled down to show a grainy image of a huge grinning skull It appeared to
a thunderously loud and distorted musical accompaniment. The graininess and
distortion told Han that the signal was being broadcast by a transmit- ter
that wasn't quite up to the job, some piece of equipment that was being
pressed into service. Even as he judged the technical quality of the
broadcast as a matter of reflex, it took Han a moment to realize the full
implications of the system's power-on. "Hey. wait a second!" he said. "This
means the jamming is down! Now we can- "Shhh! Quiet,'' Leia said. ''If it's
worth it to Thrackan to shut off the jamming just to make an announcement,
it has to be important. I want to hear it." She hit a button on the com
system's control panel, setting it to record the message, then sat down in
front of the com screen. "How arc you knowing it is Sal-Solo who-" began
Dracmus, when the skull image faded away and, sure enough, there was
Sal-Solo himself, seated in what looked like the control room of a small
military craft of some sort, smiling with every bit of the warmth and
kindness of the skull his image replaced. There was something awkward, a bit
clumsy about the setup, as if it had been improvised. The image wobbled a
bit, as if it was coming from a handheld holographic recorder. "Greetings to
all of you throughout the CorelHan system.1' Thrackan said as a bit of
static scrambled his image for a second. "I am Thrackan Sal-Solo, Diktat of
Corcllia. I have ordered that all communications jamming be turned off, so
that 1 might inform all those in the Coreliian system-our friends and
enemies alike- of two very important new prizes that Human League troops,
acting under my command, have won. First, let it be known that we have
gained control of Drall's planetary repulsor. The New Republic kept even the
existence of this extremely powerful device secret from you, the people of
the Coreliian system- "Because we didn't know it existed," Han muttered.
"Shhhh!" hissed Leia. "-but now it is our possession. Soon we will control
the repulsor on the planet Corellia as well. 1 understand that these devices
are unknown to all of you. Suffice it to say that with these powerful
weapons we shall be able to protect ourselves from all our enemies, whoever
they may be." Dracmus turned to Kleyvits. "The League now has the Drall
repulsor?" she demanded. "What will this mean?" "The second prize that we
have won is of a more personal nature," Thrackan went on. "We have rescued
the three children of Leia Organa Solo, Chief of State of that same New
Republic." Han felt the blood drain from his face, felt his heart turn to
ice. He looked to Leia and saw the same horror there. "We have saved them
from the aliens who held them prisoner," Thrackan went on. "They are safe,
here, with me now. I look forward to my chance to return them to their
mother. First, of course, she must make her whereabouts known to us. She
herself must come out of hiding and confirm her recognition of the Corel-Man
Sector's freedom. I offer this video imagery to prove that I have the
repulsor, and have the children safe." "Of all the low-down, dirty, rotten-"
Han growled. "The lies that man tells!" The screen went dark again, and then
showed a vast, silver cylindrical interior space, as seen from the bottom.
The image was a bit wobbly still, and the resolution was not all it could
be. but the picture was clear enough for all of that. The hoiocam panned
about to show an assault boat-and the Millennium Falcon-sitting at the
ships. The hoiocam panned up, to show six huge cones rising from the floor,
and a seventh, larger than the others, in the center of the chamber, with
the sky visible through the top of the chamber. "It is at least most
certainly idcntical-ish to our own repulsor-" said Dracmus, before Kleyvits
cut her off with a warning glare. The holocam view swung back down to the
floor of the chamber and zoomed in to a group of forlorn-looking figures
sitting and standing in a confined space. The view faded away, and then the
image brightened to show a closer view of the sad-looking group. It was the
children, held inside a force field containment, with Chewbacca, Ebrihim,
and a Drall Leia did not know held in an adjacent containment. The cam moved
from face to face, showed a close-up of each of them. Jacen, looking sad but
determined; Jaina worried, her gaze straying to Anakin; Anakin glaring
straight at the cam. His face was streaked with tears, and he looked
snuffly, as if he had just calmed down after crying. The cam moved along to
show Thrackan, smiling coldly. Leia choked back a sob, and Han felt a lump
in his own throat. Thrackan had them. Thrackan had stolen children, Han's
children. Thrackan had kidnapped his own flesh and blood. But then Han felt
his sickness at heart, his fear, his horror, turn to cold, hard anger,
clear-sighted anger. Thrackan wanted them scared, and shocked. But already
Han was determined not to give Thrackan what he wanted. The holocam panned
to the second Drall, and then, at last, to Chewbacca. There was something in
Chewbacca's stance, in Chewbacca's expression, that gave Han hope. Chewbacca
stood tall, he looked at the holocam, bared his fangs at it. He didn't look
or act remotely beaten. Han knew Chewie-and that was not a Chewbacca who
thought he was beaten. In that instant Han knew, knew beyond doubt, that
Chewbacca still had a trick or two up his sleeve. Or at least he would have,
if he wore clothes. The image faded away and returned to the original shot
of Thrackan in the ship's control room. "That -ould be proof enough f- all
that I speak the truth," Thrackan said, as another ripple of static whipped
through the broadcast. "I await the answer of the Chief of State, and as
Diktat of the Independent Sector of Coreilia, I call upon all Corellians to
grant me their true allegiance." The skull-and-dagger image came back up,
there was another blare of martial music, and the screen went dead.
"Han-Han-he's got our children. He's got our children, and we-we can't do
what he says. We can't." Leia looked to her husband, her eyes full of tears.
"I know." said Han, the words tearing at his insides. "It wouldn't do any
good, even if we tried." What good would it do, even, if Leia .said the
words, even if she confirmed Corellian independence? At the very least, she
would be driven from office, more than likel
y arrested on a charge of
treason, and tiic agreement repudiated-and that would be nothing more than
simple justice. It was plainly obvious thai Coreilia could not be allowed to
break away, or else the whole New Republic might well collapse. Even a
failed attempt, a failure that managed to seem noble and heroic, that looked
like patriots struggling to throw off tyranny, would badly weaken the New
Republic. Perhaps weaken it fatally. And how many would die in a new round
of wars and rebellions? How many children of other parents would be murdered
in those battles? " know we can't,"1 Han said, the words ashes in his
mouth. "But how can we let him have them?" "This is most horrifying, and
most bad!" said Dracmus. "Thrackan turns even more deeply against his own
blood, his own Den and clan." Kleyvits turned toward Draemus. "What is it
you are saying, Hunchuzue?" It was plain that "Hunchuzuc" was not meant as a
compliment when it came from Kleyvits. "Know you not, eminent Klcyvils?
Thrackan Sal-Solo is of the blood of Han Solo, of Leia Organa Solo's
children! Close as two clans of the same Den! He threatens his own!"
"Impossible!" Kleyvits said. "How could any being do such a thing? I am
astonished! Astonished by so many things. Thrackan asks that you confirm
your recognition of Corellian independence! Have you indeed recognized his
claim? I do not understand, and I must." "Thrackan Sal-Solo lied," Dracmus
said, the disgust plain in her voice. "He said things that were not true,
for his own gain. Half of what he said was false, or else truth phrased to
make lies seem true." "Impossible again! He said that- "Quiet! Both of you!"
Mara shouted. "It is possible, and he has done it." She gestured with her
arm to indicate Han and Leia. "He has done it to this man, and this woman,
and their children. Respect their shock and sorrow. Be gone! Give them time
for shock, for grief, a nd take your foolish debates elsewhere!" "No!"
shouted Han. All his anger at his cousin, his blazing hot fury at the
villainy of his own relation, suddenly found a new target, one closer to
home, one that he could strike at and do some good. Suddenly he found words
that were weapons, weapons that could strike at the bumbling, seemingly
reasonable, manipulative, dissembling enemy who stood before him. "Stay
where you arc! You, Kleyvits. How dare you sneer at Thrackan Sal-Solo,
because he holds those of his blood hostage for gain? You do the same! You
hold us!" "But-but-you are not of my family, not of my blood!" Han stabbed
his finger at Dracmus and spoke. "She is of your blood, and you hold her
spirit hostage by holding us, by forcing her to collaborate with you in
goading us, harassing us. "She has saved my life, and I hers. She has risked
her life for mine, and I have risked mine for hers. She has vouched for me
with your folk. She has granted me her protection. We have lived and fought
together. No, it is not blood-but it is family. We have claims on each
other, of duty and respect. We were allies against you and your Overden. Now
you force her to spit on her allies, against her will, for your own
amusement." "Honored Solo, please--no more!'' Dracmus said. "There is much
more, much more," Han said to Dracmus. "Your people speak the truth and have
no skill in lies. Can you say, with honesty, that anything of what I say is
wrong?" Dracmus suddenly seemed smaller, sadder, pushed down. "No," she
said, "I cannot." Suddenly Han was inspired. Suddenly he had an idea, a
hunch, an instinct. It might be wrong-but if it was right-if it was right,
and he understood the Selonians properly . . . Yes. Yes. "Then let us have
more truth," Han said. "You, Kleyvits. Speak now of your repulsor. Who
operates it? Whose hand-paws are on the controls?" Kleyvits looked
suspiciously at Han. "Why, those of good Selonians, of course." "But whose
Selonians?" Han demanded. "Are they yours? Are they of the Overden?" There
was a moment's deadly silence, and Kleyvits stood stock-still, only her eyes
moving, back and forth from Han to Dracmus. Then her whiskers twitched once,
involuntarily, and the claws of her hand-paws extended just a hairbreadth
before retracting. "I must say no more about that," she replied. Han felt an
angry jubilation, a moment's brutal glee. He" had won. He knew it. But he
could not play the next card in this hand of sabacc. Only Dracmus could turn
it over. This was (he crucial moment. Dracmus could choose not to hear what
she had heard, or else- "You are wrong, eminent Kleyvits," Dracmus hissed
from behind clenched, fully exposed, needle-sharp teeth. "You arc wrong down
to the depths of your dishonored soul. You must, indeed, say more about it.
You must say a great deal more." "I-I must say no more- "Who?" 'Dracmus
demanded. "Who controls the repulsor? We capitulated because you had shown
your power. But the power was not yours! It is dishonor! Who?" "I must say
no more- "I will be ANSWERED1" bellowed Dracmus, a Dracmus who suddenly
seemed the size and spirit of an enraged Wookiee. Her eyes blazed, her fur
bristled. Her claws were out, her teeth were bared, and her tail-stump
iashed with anger. "WHO?' "It is-they are-they are-the-the Cast-outs. The
Sacorrians. The Selonians of the Triad.'1 "Sweet burning stars,'1 Mara
whispered. "The Sacorrians. The Triad. I don't believe it." The room was
silent again, but the silence seemed to echo from every corner, to shout at
them all, to fill the room with its deadly emptiness. "If an ourworlder, a
human skilled in lies, had told me such a thing. I would join with the
honored Jade and refuse to believe it,'' Dracmus said, speaking at last,
speaking in a voice as low, as quiet, as threatening and ominous as far-off
thunder. "But you, a Selonian, speak the words, Klcyvits. and I am forced to
believe. The words sicken me. The truth fills me with revulsion." Kleyvits
dropped to all fours and cringed at Dracmus's feet. Plainly, it was no empty
ritual. It was Kleyvits submitting to Dracmus and begging for mercy. "Rise
up," snarled Dracmus. "Rise up and come with me. Others must be sickened by
the truth. Others must hear. And then the days of the Overden will be over."
Klcyvits got up on her hind legs and bowed deeply to Dracmus. Dracmus did
not acknowledge the bow, but turned and left the room, her head held high,
the humans forgotten. Kleyvits followed after her, head down, shoulders
slumped, the roles of victor and vanquished utterly reversed. And, suddenly,
the humans were alone. "I don't understand," said Han, drastically
understating the case. "1 had a hunch there had to be some ringers brought
in. 1 figured it had to be outsiders who had researched its operation that
were actually running the repulsor. I figured that would make Kleyvits look
a little bad-but nothing like that. What happened?" "I'll explain later,"
Mara said. "Right now, see to Leia." Han turned toward his wife, who had sat
back down in one of the splendid, luxurious chairs that filled this
splendid, luxurious prison of a villa. She was sobbing quietly to herself,
the tears falling quietly. "Oh, Han. Our children. That man has our
children." "I know," said Ha
n. "I know. But he is not going to keep them. I
promise you that we will get them-But suddenly Leia was on her feet, looking
up, an eager, faraway look in her.eyes, the change in her demeanor
bewilderingly fast. Han exchanged a glance with Mara, and it was plain they
were both wondering, for a fleeting moment, if Lcia had suddenly become
unhinged. But Han should have known better. Leia was made of sterner stuff
than that. "It's Luke!" she said. "Luke is coming this way. I can fee! him,
reaching out with the Force to me. He's homing in on me." "How soon is he
coming?" Han asked. "How fast will he- Han's question was answered even as
it was drowned out by the roaring thunder of a fast, low-flying aircraft.
The tremendous noise filled the room, rattled the windows, and knocked
several knickknacks off side tables. The sound receded as suddenly as it had
arrived, as Luke's X-wing buzzed the villa. Han rushed out the open doors
and saw the X-wing flying off into the distance before swinging around to
make another pass. The X-wing came in low and slow this time, circling the
villa. Lcia and Mara had joined Han outside, and all of them were
frantically waving their arms, as if there was some mad chance that Luke
would miss them, after flying in directly on top of them with pinpoint
accuracy. The X-wing made one long, slow circuit around the perimeter of the
villa, firing one or two bursts of turbolaser fire to encourage the guards
to be on their way. The guards took very little convincing. By the time the
X-wing set down next to the Jade's Fire, they were all headed straight for
the nearest spot on the horizon. The canopy of the X-wing swung open, and
Luke climbed out as fast as he could and jumped to the ground. He threw his
arms around his sister, and then around Han. Mara hung back from these more
effusive greetings, but at least managed a sincere-looking smile for Luke.
"Oh, Luke, it's been so long, and so much has happened!" said Leia, giving
him yet another hug. "That it has, Leia, that it has," said Luke. "I don't
know that it's been all that much time," said Han, "but I'll go along with
the part about a lot happening." The last time they had seen Luke, he was
bidding them all farewell on their way to a nice, quiet family vacation on
Corellia. Han hadn't expected to encounter anything more exciting than a